Hello from our basement in west Edmonton, and thanks for dropping by to take a listen to the podcast. The entire editorial and production team appreciates the gift of your time. Here are three things from my little life that left behind still discernible tracks of happiness and gratitude. As the great Tyson said, get it all done before she goes. 

1. Scrabble – I’m trying to find the words to describe the joy it is to sit down across from Rob with a Scrabble board between us and a couple of hours that can’t get us.

2. Colour – Dessert for Easter dinner is not a trifling affair in Shelagh’s kitchen.

3. Reading – There is always a better way for me to do things. I rely on characters to bring that lesson home.

The music in the podcast is original—the work of Edmoton pianist and composer Brendan McGrath. The end bells were made and are played by Edmonton metal artist and humanitarian, Slavo Cech.

I am at [email protected]

Thanks for dropping by the podcast. Edmonton is in the season that many people wait endure the winter to get to: playoff hockey season. The hometown Oilers are playoff bound. And, yes, McDavid has been elevated to a minor deity in this city, but, come on, have you been watching Draisaitl lately? And, so, this week, Leon Draisaitl goals 

48

49, and

50 

in one game against the Ducks are this week’s three things. 

The original music in the podcast is from Edmonton pianist and composer Brendan McGrath. The end bells are courtesy of the Rogers Place horn and Slavo Cech. 

I am at [email protected]

I do wish Skip and Billy G and Marcus were still around to swap theories with about how deep the Oilers will go in the playoffs this year.

Hello from west Edmonton, and welcome to the Three Things podcast. The premise of the podcast is straightforward, and easily replicable: try to notice three things from my own life that leave behind tracks of happiness and gratitude. Turn down the loud speakers, try to ignore the algorithms and just try to notice what I notice. This week:

1. Downtown vibrancy – some notes from a concert at McDougall United Church

2. 118 Ave – some notes after a trip to the music store

3. Water in the house – some water music

The original music in the podcast is just the best. It’s the work of Edmonton composer Brendan McGrath. The end bells are courtesy of Edmonton metal artist, jewelry hider and humanitarian, Slavo Cech. 

I am at [email protected]

Hello, welcome to spring, bonjour from Edmonton. For those who still follow the French Republican calendar, bienvenue à la saison Germinal. For those who follow Ian Tyson, we’ve made it through another on the Northern Range. Here are three things that left behind some tracks of happiness and gratitude as we did: 

1. Resources - What I have learned teaching. 

2. The East - What I found at the Nova Scotia Archives.

3. The West - What I heard on Edmonton AM.

The original music in the podcast is from Edmonton musician Brendan McGrath. The end bells are courtesy of Edmonton metal artist humanitarian, Slavo Cech. 

I am at [email protected]

Thanks so much for dropping by the podcast. It’s a little experiment, going on 113 experiments now, to see, if, in the maelstrom that is life in 2023, I can invoke the stillness to name three things that made for some happiness and gratitude each week. I am always grateful to hear from you, especially when you share your own stories of happiness and gratitude. This week’s offering from me:

1. Digging – The CN Tower still has a great pull on me. No, not that CN Tower!

2. Building faces – Have you seen the giant cat of MacEwan University? How about the nearby giant emoji face?

3. Music room – For the record(er), we owe a lot to music teachers.

The original music in the podcast is from music teacher and composer Brendan McGrath. The end bells are courtesy of Edmonton metal artist and humanitarian, Slavo Cech.

I am at [email protected]

Hello, and thanks for dropping for the podcast. I remember the day 112 episodes ago I realized I wasn’t realizing enough. I noticed more was being noticed for me than ever before—the algorithms, the politicians, the news media, the general anger out there. So I resolved to try to notice more of what I was noticing, and, to boot, try to notice things that made for some happiness and gratitude. I get immeasurable help along the way. This week’s offering:

1. Medium/message – My buddy Barry pointed me to a bridge on Facebook.

2. Curling – It remains a hard, hard, hard, hard sport to understand, but I love watching it.

3. Liner notes – Sure, reading about music is like dancing about architecture, but it still helps me see things better.

The original music in the podcast was composed and performed by Brendan McGrath. The end bells are courtesy of Edmonton metal artist and humanitarian, Slavo Cech.

I am at [email protected]

Hello, and thanks for dropping by the podcast. This is my ongoing effort to trust myself when it comes to noticing things that make for happiness and gratitude. It’s some kind of record, as is asked of all of us. This is what came up the top this week:

1. Socks – On some days, I have a tight connection to my socks.

2. Serious dream – An account of some time in the shadow kingdom.

3. Maracas – The music of the seed display at the neighbourhood grocery store.

The music in the podcast is as original as its composer, the talented pianist, Brendan McGrath. The end bells again sound thanks to the faithfulness of Edmonton metal artist and humanitarian, Slavo Cech.

I’m at [email protected]

Hello, and thanks for dropping by the Three Things podcast. This is where I keep a promise to myself to try harder to notice things for myself, at the expense of having things noticed for me by the algorithms. Specifically, things that leave behind tracks of gratitude and happiness. This week's noticings:

1. Timing – I admire people who not only say the right thing but say the right thing at the right time. There’s an extra dose of the bliss of being alive when the timing is perfect.

2. Specifically – Saul Alinsky, George Saunders, Mark Connolly and Tom Petty, specifically.

3. Sounds of home – An ode to the furnace and the other infrastructure of living here in February.

The music in the podcast is original. It comes from the original Brendan McGrath. The end bells are courtesy of Edmonton metal artist and humanitarian, Slavo Cech.

I’m at [email protected]

Hello and thanks for checking out this week’s Three Things podcast, which is made up of three things from my little life last week that left behind tracks of happiness or gratitude.

1. Boss – Springsteen is coming back to town.

2. Belief – Having a beer at Aradia, looking forward to Ted Lasso, season 3.

3. Bike – A few words in thanks to my bicycle.

The original music in the podcast is from Edmonton composer Brendan McGrath. The end bells are supplied, as always, by Edmonton metal artist and humanitarian, Slavo Cech. The sun is now up at 7:51 am.

I am at [email protected]

Thanks for dropping by the podcast. Each week I try to do three things: notice, remember and record three things that made for some happiness and gratitude in the maelstrom. This week: 

1. Waves -  in the live stream of traffic in Edmonton

2. Radio - the kitchen counter feels more complete now that we have a radio again. 

3. Resonance - I hear this alot: "that really resonates with me." A print helped me understood the root of things.

The original music in the podcast is from Edmonton composer, pianist and teacher, Brendan McGrath. The end bells are courtesy of Edmonton metal artist and humanitarian, Slavo Cech. 

I'm at [email protected]