We’re still here, and so are you—win/win! This episode finds us enjoying ourselves in the Shed with a lot of Listener Mail (thanks to all of you - so appreciated!), a dissection of what makes Costco shoppers tick, our genuine awe at KJ’s ever more sophisticated art skill, PJ’s new(ish) job, RJ’s cool new high tech wallet, throwing shade at Cybertrucks, and more. Spring is slow arriving this year and as a result so are we—we’re sticking with that story, but only for the moment. Have a look at the art on the website, and take in the Dog version of the news - we’ll be glad you did! 

A belated and hopefully auspicious Happy Chinese New Year! We’re sorry to have been away for so long. This was recorded December 30, but then there were virii and work commitments and Buddy ate our show notes… we’re sorry and feel really grateful anyone misses us. In this episode we share yet another brilliant money making idea (MMI™), we discuss how our Christmas celebrations went, and we get to talk about a couple of Tales from the Shuttle (PJ did a month back at the old job over Christmas). RJ has podcast and movie notes and KJ has a Christmas movie. That he’s in! Very exciting. And, as you might guess from this episode’s art, we sample some doughnuts, which requires us to issue a misophonia alert! (Also known as newjerseydetectivophobia). Settle in and get to know us all over again. You won’t regret it. Much. Not right away, at least.

RJ took a boat trip, touring the bay and inlet in a sporty rental with some in-laws, and we get to hear about how urban boating works these days: rules you have to follow, examples of navigational hazards we landlubbers are blissfully unaware of, and how a real ship’s captain behaves when questioned. We even managed to transition into Snappers with at least one nautically related one, and we take another marvelling look at the seamy underbelly of the dental industry—the mysterious “Little Man” who collects and somehow profits by your old crowns and bridges. Who is this person? How do you get that job? Do you have to be within a maximum height limit? Questions, questions, questions, laughs and a few answers await in this our 176th epic episode.

Okay, we were maybe a little caught up in our lives, Christmas, work, and families…we were getting behind both in new episodes and in revelling in email about episodes we did publish. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, from special precious knowledge about how to stop a pit bull attack, to how great Taylor Swift is, to theories on why Christmas decorations are up earlier every year, and to the happy sound of the carousel you can hear from the park. But really…we spend about half the episode enjoying reading your responses to past episodes, and to discussing those responses. You can hear it all right there in our voices, so have a listen to us enjoying you enjoying us.

KJ, famous Shed Dog stage and screen actor, continues to be sought after in the acting world. Less important is our apology for the long delay between episodes. PJ has been asleep at the editing switch once more. Still…have you ever wondered what bath bombs do or what they’re made of? Me neither, but all of a sudden here’s KJ explaining it and working on making his own with Pattie of Vancouver. We also have Snappers in this episode, and whoever is feeding him these killers needs to knock it off. Halloween is reviewed (we’re talking to you, Jessie of Montreal) and there’s yet another solid gold money making idea from PJ. A long delay, yes, but worth the wait? You be the judge.

We cast the net of shareable experiences and learnings wide in this episode, as your faithful correspondents report from the far-flung reaches of Portugal and the Northeastern United States in autumn. Thrill to the pounding surf of Maine! Marvel at everyday Roman ruins! Let your mind wander free as we describe 40 degree heat, pounding rain, beautiful fall colours, and untold thousands of acres of olive trees! You’ll get valuable tips on managing rental cars and dealing with immigration and passport issues, as well as hearing our unique insights on such things as Portuguese cuisine and motel temperature management techniques. Think of the money you’ll save as you realize you’ll never have to go to these places after our vivid narration! So, grab a pulled pork sandwich or a lobster roll and settle in!

By the time you read this, the Barbie Movie bandwagon we’re jumping on with two emphatic feet will probably be collecting dust on a Hollywood back lot, but in this episode we respond in a big way to Susinn of Vancouver’s challenge back in Episode 169: see the movie, give our thoughts. We also take time to enjoy another round of KJ’s Snappers, and PJ and RJ compare their starkly contrasting notes on economics instructors they had 50 or so years ago. But mostly: Barbie! 

Podcasts are a lot like a stroll in the woods: one minute you’re wandering along soaking up the silence and sun, flowers and trees, and the next minute you’ve missed a step and find yourself worried about survival. In this episode, just like in the real world, we are going along enjoying Listener Mail after complaining about health care (as is our wont) when suddenly an idle reference to current politics leads us into the murky and dangerous waters of discussing racism. Walk with us here to see how we fare—you’ll be able to feel us concentrating. After we emerge from that swamp, we wash off in the cool clear waters of a conversation about PJ’s (as of this recording) upcoming trip to Portugal and KJ’s remarkable journey as an artist. All’s well that ends, they say, don’t they? Keep those feet moving!

We are even more directionless than usual here, and we’re hoping the resulting unplanned conversations about the nature of light and heat, about the use of cookies and the practice of asking whether they’re acceptable, and about the concept of dark patterns in web design are both entertaining and educational. We also get to enjoy sharing listener mail with you, do a bunch of KJ’s Snappers, and talk about approaches to berry picking. Finally we receive a Barbie challenge from special Guest Susinn of Vancouver. So centre your chi, picture a limpid pool deep in a silent forest, and put on some bug spray: it’s the Shed Dogs! 

We recorded our record 169th episode on the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, and noting that fact led us to a conversation about the effects of nuclear bombing, levels of background radiation in several places, and the degree to which those effects are widely understood. But somehow we still managed to get to discussing the proposed Enhanced Games, the English Corner, and KJ’s very clever approach to an audition for a part in an animated series. After discussing another of PJ’s YouTube pastimes (“Vice Grip Garage”), RJ also proposes a rock solid theory on who drives which flavours of vintage North American cars. We look forward to responses from those of our audience that feel they fit the theory…or don’t. Get listening and start writing! 

Continuing our trademark quest to gather and share knowledge with faithful listeners, in this episode we get a first hand review of KJ’s quest for deep connection and insight via Golden Teacher mushrooms, and of Rich’s first hand observed report on how the shell game scam works, direct from the mean streets of Paris. We also talk a bit about eSIMs and AirTags for those of you soon to jet off to those mean streets yourself. On top of those chewy morsels, RJ gives us a surprisingly interesting and wholesome look at, of all things, a coffee maker repair shop, and PJ muses about human nature after a conversation with his dental hygienist. There should be something here for everyone, is what we’re saying, so dig in and fill up!

This time around the Dogs provide an uplifting (not) view on the state of the world with respect to climate. But we cheered up while hearing that KJ’s “Beachcomber” work is still paying residuals, that PJ had fun on Canada Day, that a pastoral setting accentuates the Pops, how East Van’s own English Corner is going, and whether VanDusen Gardens gets it done (it does). So, come on along with us and see that it works out for you, too! 

Rob of Saskatoon returns to join us on a gripping journey through RJ’s recent confrontation with his citizenship, and let’s face it, himself. We manage to make a couple of complete meals out of just the titles involved in that process before moving on to other things like what it was like for Rob and RJ and Mike of Rossland to come to Canada as Young Americans around 1970 (hint: discard the notion of Canada’s warm regard for our southern cousins), the results of KJ’s recent foray into expanding his consciousness even further, the Robson Zoo, and a hearty round of agreement on what a fine fellow Chroner of Duncan is (hear his visit with us in Episode 52). It’s a lot of good clean fun with four old good friends—join us! 

RJ’s revered elder brother and serial listener Rob arrives from Saskatoon and his current listening position at about episode 61 (or put another way, about two years ago in Shed history), joins us in the Shed to the excited joy of all three Dogs. Mayhem ensues, and listeners will want to focus as a fast paced hour of chatter and laughs and coffee takes us through the recovery of an iPhone 14 from 30 feet of water, RJ’s long lost wallet, BC by-election results, happy news for Bowinn Ma, million dollar ideas, unusually ridiculous Snappers, memories of Charlie the Lonesome Cougar, and more, with constant cross talk and Buddy the actual dog participating the whole way. We really had a lot of fun on this afternoon and we’re really hoping you’re able to catch some along with us.

Today you’ll learn (and tomorrow you’ll tell your friends about) the shocking new news about dental hygiene, and you’ll never believe what we tell you about sitzpinklers! Remember, you heard it here first. As an antidote to that graphic conversation, KJ steers us into uncharted waters as he reveals to us his recent learning and future plans around Golden Teacher mushrooms. We get to share some fun listener mail, too, and along the way we hear about the perfect sandwich, an exploding gas station, and RJ’s homage to Mutual of Omaha as he tells us the latest news from the Robin Cam he set up under his deck. There are things to learn and things to dream of here, so close your eyes, centre your chi, and journey with us.

Love, derision, amusement, anger, wonder, curiosity, satisfaction and many other emotions accompany a tour of snappers (with bonus words from Brett K. and RJ), medical news on Alzheimer’s and tooth brushing, robins nesting under RJ’s deck, and KJ’s fascinating recent stint in Ottawa. We get some positive news on Sun Life, which is PJ’s new friend with benefits, and tips, too, on how to decide which health facility to attend when your next Big Moment arises. There’s a lot here to take in, so if you’ve had a balanced breakfast after a good sleep, you’ll get a lot out of what was a really fun episode for us!

This episode is more than just okay. In fact, we expect an avalanche of encomiums as we coin an all-new acronym while sharing a truck repair story that’ll singe hair (and find out that even the pros do dumb stuff now and then). It’s certainly egoism that leads us to think you’ll want to hear it, and egoism will decide if you do, not mere caprice. As usual we will cavil about the things that annoy us (like people other than Stevie who use phrases like “what the deuce”), but there are more than a few iotas of smiles to be had, so we hope you’ll settle in and have a cocktail while you listen.

Over the past few years we’ve said many times how much we appreciate, even love, the listener mail we get. Many times, the response to a segment generates more interesting conversation than the bit they’re commenting on. In this episode we have mail from Leigh of Courtenay (honourary weather Dog), Rustica of Portland, and Joanne of Rossland, covering, among other things, weather wardrobe, simple syrup, Diet Coke, a really bad movie, composting, and (our upcoming) T-shirts! We hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did, and maybe feel inspired to write your first (or your hundredth) letter letting us know what caught your attention.

Episode 160 continues our lazy-faire approach to content management, and we give you another wide ranging session where we just…well, we just enjoy ourselves. We begin with RJ lawyering up, and continue on as the Junos and the Oscars (again) pass under our watchful eyes. We then cover Uncle Tim’s birthday and a fond farewell to one of our high school teachers. Sue finds some stolen mail, and then a “newspaper delivery man” skulks around a house in the wee hours. We have trouble digesting Uber Eats and then get all excited about season 2 of The White Lotus. Your mind might not end up spinning but may well end up pleasantly full.

In this episode we go with a light touch on the editing. Those of you who have joined us in the Shed will recognize the ways time slips away, interruptions come and go, laughs are had. This time, we let our listeners hear nearly all of it!  We make our way through the Oscars, through a really bad movie, through Buddy’s endless antics, through giving KJ professional advice, through some backstage business, through our marketing pitch, and yes, through even more. Sorry to our Courtenay listeners, but it does go on and the hope is it’s just soothing careless waves-on-the-shore company and we hope you and everyone just pictures us and joins us as we coast along having fun.