December has been a busy month. In the past few weeks I have fallen on ice twice. First it was dropping the puck at a Vancouver Giants game. I slipped on the ice, fell on my right side and tore some muscle tissue. Two weeks later at the Grey Cup parade I fell on black ice before the parade started in the staging area. This time I tore muscle in my back. It is a good thing I didn’t fall on my head, which would probably make me think properly after all these years. I told the folks at the Hockey game that I came to drop the puck but instead dropped myself. I am recovering thanks to Dr. Robert Armitage.

Bruce Allen and I are huge Darlene Love fans. Carole and I got to talk with her and see her perform in Palm Springs earlier this year. Here she is checking out my business card!

Every year Bruce and I wait for her annual appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. His lady Katyann helped make arrangements for the two of them to fly to New York and take in her December 18 performance on Letterman. This will be her 24th and last appearance on Dave’s show as he is retiring in May. Her performance of Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) is a classic R&B Christmas song. I wish I could be there, but will be in front of the TV to watch her once again.

Bruce has been on the road with Michael Buble and with Bryan Adams for more than a month, mostly in Europe. Bryan will be here on January 14th at Rogers Arena. Michael appeared in Dublin, Ireland and decided to sing Danny Boy to the concert crowd. He wasn’t sure if he had the words right so he called his dad and Lewis found the sheet music. Michael rehearsed it to his satisfaction and gave an emotional performance at the concert. He was amazing, putting his heart and soul into the song. The crowd’s reaction confirms my reading… it went over bigtime. Thanks to Lewis for the video. It is outstanding.

Thanks to Bruce and Michael for asking me to do the voice over for his fourth annual Christmas special, Michael Buble’s Christmas In New York. This is my third year as announcer and it is a great honour for me to be part of this most watched special, December 16th 8 pm on CBC and December 17th 8 pm on NBC. Michael’s special features Barbra Streisand and Miss Piggy, (leaving a certain frog green with envy).

Also on the show is Ariana Grande and the sensational Rockettes – the show was recorded at Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center. Michael will do his version of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). Michael truly loves Christmas as all of us do. A great way to wind up 2014. Merry Christmas from me and Carole!