The Compassion Experiment

Last year I was unable to host a garden party - I didn't have a garden - and instead I was slowly rotting in an apartment building from hell, dreaming of a better life. This year I've found myself lucky enough to be in the position to throw another Garden Party and by god, that's exactly what I'm going to do! The previous Garden Party's were a big success and I'd love to do those party's justice by throwing a new format party: the BBQ/Concert/Fundraiser party. Like previous years, most of the performances will feature myself - I'm reliable and affordable(free) - but this year will also include a performance by the delightful Rosalinde Sara P. This year the food will be a smorgasbord of tasty delights and will feature gourmet BBQ pizza cooked to perfection by of one of the best chef's I know, my sister Pam. There will be plenty of drinks, water and juice and though the backyard has nice tree coverage, we'll also have shelter from th...

George and myself at the Milton Mutt Strutt 2016. As some people know, I'm currently being sued thanks to an accident George and I had while still living in our apartment building last year. Though I can't go into details - in this particular case - it wasn't George's fault, or mine, it was just an accident. But someone is trying to take advantage of the fact that we were covered by apartment insurance and they are looking to make a quick buck from my insurance company, State Farm. Living with a reactive dog is rough. Living in an apartment building with a reactive dog was nothing less than a nightmare, every single day. I was physically ill for a year straight due to the stress of having to get George in and out of the apartment building at least twice a day. It was awful, but what choice did I have? After the incident in question, things were even more stressful, would we have another accident? I lived on the 12th floor and couldn't use the elevator...

     I was given advice by a writer who's opinion I respect, Steve Abbott. He told me the best way to get more readers to tune into my blog was by posting more work - at least one blog a week - and that each post should include a picture or two.      I've taken this advice to heart and have written regular blogs ever since, in an attempt to grow my audience. It couldn't get any smaller.      This blog, I call it: The King and Little Surfer Girl, contains a funny poem and a short story that is part of an anthology I re-edited last year.       I'll just keep these coming, it's fun.       Hopefully it's fun for you too.       Cheerio,      Mike, Tito, George and Ghost Spencer      May 2016 The King of the Friend Zone He’s the King of the Friend Zone, He’s a lucky guy, He’s friends with many women, Though he doesn’t know why. Women like him, They...

Our thoughts are with the people of Fort McMurray and with their animals. This fire has truly been a tragedy and we can only hope that most - if not all the pets - will be reunited with their families. It's during tough times like these that people need their pets most, to comfort, to listen, to just be there. Their presence can bring a calming effect that can only come from furry loved ones and if you're a pet owner, you know exactly what I mean. At the Oakville Milton Humane Society, the staff, volunteers and donors have all come together to help out the families of Fort McMurray with a huge donation drive that had people pulling up in trucks with skids of pet food and everyday people walking in with hands full of treats, beds, collars and anything that can be used to help out the domestic animals of Fort McMurray. It has been a revelation of sorts to see the way people have opened their hearts at this terrible time and has been a real eye opener. People coming off the...

I've been a creative writer since I was still in high school and have amassed a huge catalog of stories, books and novels that no one has ever read. I've recently decided it's finally time for some of my older stuff to see the light of day - if only because it doesn't cost a cent to post my work. The first story I'm releasing is Fish Food. It was originally set to be published in a horror magazine based out of Calgary, but it folded before it my story was printed. I wrote Fish Food at a time when my ultimate goal was to become a graphic horror fiction writer. I've since changed a lot as a writer, but this story is a good representation of the writer I used to be. I wanted to post the story as I originally wrote it, but then I read it. The original version was too over-the-top violent, even my liking, so I've made some changes to it. Fish Food was the first story in my Animal Revenge Series, which makes it a perfect fit for The Compassion Experiment blo...

As promised, The Compassion Experiment is back with a new blog two weeks in a row! I'd like to start out by congratulating Melissa McClelland (Ladybird Animal Sanctuary, Whitehorse) for co-winning the Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album - Leave No Bridge Unburned. This marks the first time a Juno Winner and Juno Performer has been in my living room. I've included the video I made of the Ladybird Animal Sanctuary founders - Lisa Winn, Janine Stoll and Melissa McClelland - a couple months after they had first started their amazing rescue.  These days LAS is doing incredible things for the animals of Hamilton and are saving lives every single day, which is completely inspiring. When LAS applied for their charity status they asked if they could use this interview with their application - and of course I said yes!  When they ultimately secured their charity status (meaning: if you donate you can get a tax receipt), I couldn't help but feel a little pride k...

Making A Difference Mike P I was lamenting to friends Brian and Nancy about the fact that the cats at the shelter no longer have access to 'Stretch and Scratch' - individual cat scratchers that can be attached to the kennels at work. "What's the problem?" they asked. "It costs as much to get them across the border as it does to buy them in the first place. We need a place in the US that we can have them shipped to and then someone has to go and pick them up," I said. "We have a friend who lives in Buffalo. We'll ask him if it's okay to have them shipped to his place and we'll go pick them up. We'll even buy two boxes of scratchers and donate them to the shelter," they offered. And voila! - two weeks later every cat in the shelter has their own 'Stretch and Scratch'. Making a difference can be so simple, sometimes all you need to do is speak up. It's been awhile, I know, but life gets in the way a...