A few year's ago, my doctor began sending me off every year for a PSA test. I couldn’t understand why someone who had no history of prostate cancer on either side of his family would need such a thing but she insisted and I’ve learned to respect her advice so I relented. In November 2007 I went for my yearly physical and again I got a PSA test but this time something was different. It was high, so high in fact that she shipped me off to a specialist who started testing me for various things and when he’d ruled out everything but the worst he sent me off for a biopsy. To make a long story short I had prostate cancer. I was in the hospital getting it removed within six months.  It is now a year after my surgery and I’m cancer free. The reason I’m cancer free is I got it so early. Why? I was warned about this ticking time bomb by the PSA test my doctor insisted on. Doctors often use the PSA test and DRE (digital rectal exam) as prostate cancer screening tests; together, these tests can help doctors detect prostate cancer in men who have no symptoms of the disease. If you’re over 50 and you're male, these simple tests can save your life. Again, what have you got to lose?

Things are heating up for the fall. My next gig is at the Fresh Start Bakery on the 11th of September and there are a few more to announce as soon as we get confirmation. One More Day Above Ground has been very successful in the US on Americana Radio. To date it’s getting spins on almost half of the stations in that format mostly in the northeast and southwest. It’s a growing radio format that was created as an alternative to mainstream country because a lot of great music was not being played on the radio. It’s broader in some cases including Country, Alt. Country, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, Bluegrass, World Beat and Celtic music. It is the un-genre of genres for those who just enjoy good music. We’re thrilled to be connected with Peter Hay from Twin Vision who’s been spearheading the marketing campaign on radio and has done a wonderful job.

My daughter is moving to Vancouver in a couple of weeks and although I wish her well I’m going to miss her. We’ve always been the best of friends and this will leave a big hole in my heart. I know when someone is moving on to greener pastures you should be happy for them but even at my age I’ve still not been able to mature enough to not feel sad that someone I love so very much will not be able to go for lunch with me every week and then set out for a three hour walk in the river valley to talk about everything under the sun. Sure there’s email and phones and Facebook. I know if you want film work you have to go where the film industry is and I know that is her dream. I also know I want her to be happy. But my daughter is moving to Vancouver in a couple of weeks and although I wish her the best I’m going to miss her.

I have to admit I only saw two shows, the one my daughter Ellie wrote and acted in (Cadaver) and the one her boyfriend Blake was in (Spiral Dive). I meant to see a couple of others that people I knew staged and one directed by a dear friend but time did not permit. The shows I saw were both outstanding in my unbiased opinion. I was thrilled that both got good reviews and everyone who saw them that I spoke to were glowing in their praise. I’ve always been proud of my daughter because as well as being an outstanding human being she is a talented actress and an accomplished singer. I have to admit though I’m more of a fan of good writing than good performance and so I was doubly thrilled that she has expanded her horizons and added another facet to her already three-dimensional talent scope.

Living in Edmonton can be a challenge when there is snow on the ground and its bitterly cold outside but it awakens in the spring and from May through to October I doubt if there is a better place on Earth. The many festivals and events that frequent our city make it the place to be.