Wayne Tippett has just two things of any real value left in his life: a 10-year-old car and a granite tombstone.

At 51, Tippett is broken, bankrupt and bunking in the guest room of his parents' Burlington home after a divorce settlement that's left him $75,000 in debt and racking up $1,000 more each month.

Today, he'll appear in court at a default hearing to try to explain why he can't afford to pay his ex-wife (the couple had no children) $3,300 a month, $16,000 in retroactive alimony and $42,000 of her court costs out of a complex case he himself still doesn't understand.

Even his ex-wife's lawyer calls the situation "a total tragedy." And while he says Tippett "is paying for his own foolishness and stubbornness," the settlement is, in many ways, a frightening example of bad timing, lack of adequate information, and a divorce court system that can be deadly unpredictable.

"You're absolutely insane if you want to go into the (divorce) court system," says London, Ont., family law lawyer Peter Eberlie, who represented Tippett's ex-wife Darlene Cormier, also 51. "Any court case is Russian ...   more »

I have a bone to pick with women today.  Nothing major but worth noting.  I've learned something during my short life about women.  When a man has an opinion of dissension from a woman, it is often labeled abuse.  How convenient.  So for you men reading this, be wary of the traps you unknowingly fall into.

And for any woman I'm dating that may read this ... <smile>  I've got the backbone to know my opinion is not a form of abuse.  It may be wrong, it may be right, but it's not abuse.

Thankfully the women in my life are people I vet carefully and frankly I don't enter into relationships with anyone that is like the woman I describe above.  So for all intents and purposes, this post doesn't apply to the women in my life.

Who deserves to be a hero?  The word is used without as much regard.

I think of men and women that have done great things, great people.  But again, what does it take to be a hero?   A hero can be someone that rises to an occasion to do a great thing, but a key element is sacrifice.

I've had affection for certain words, like legend, instinct, and hero.  Perhaps the most difficult one for me to discuss is hero.  The reason is simple.  I think of how parents make the ultimate sacrifices in life for their children.  If you truly love your children, you live for them.  And if you do it right--maybe, just maybe one day they will look back on you as their hero. 

I wrote a song, Seek No Solace. In my original poetic version there is a verse:

Systematic instinct, heroes will notice, take control seek no solace.

With that verse I was communicating that great people will tip their hat to other great people when doing the right thing comes naturally.  Being a father should be one of those things.

My father has done more for me than anyone I know.  He is my hero.  My father and mother have both been there for me in times during my life I had no one else to turn to.  One day I had children of my own.  I didn't realize it at the time but as I grew as a father I held myself to my parents standards.   Of course my parents were not perfect, we all have flaws.  And the things I saw missing in my life, I hoped to make right for my own children. 

For as high a regard I have for my father, and from what I understand I was his ...   more »

I love these ads.  For some people these ads remind dads to get involved or not to be afraid to be involved.  For me... it's the other way around.  I am surprised when my neighbors complement me on being such an involved dad.  I've been doing it for 11 years.  I'm not surprised by the ad, I'm surprised that everyone watching them is surprised.

This first ad is one I don't want to set up.  Let is surprise you.  It's great.  And please, don't be surprised to think a father can do this.  If you are surprised... go out and rent Dan In Real Life.

As for this next ad. I have to say men be careful.  This behavior can be condemned as immature.  I know.. I've had it spun that way in my own life.  Sometimes you can't win in the court of public opinion.  People can be so easily led by deception.

Assuming guys that you have a good steak to start with there are two major factors to consider aside from how rare or well done you like your steak.  

1. How high your rack is to the fire.

2. Resting your steak

If you screw up everything else these two things can still produce a great tasting juicy steak.

I'll keep this simple.  I'm not writing about grilling a steak, although some people will grill a steak then broil it for a finish.  For a straight up broil understand that just like in grilling you flip once.  If you flip it more than once you will lose out.

I use a glass broiling dish.  Drizzle in some olive oil.  Coat both sides if you like.  Salt both sides, pepper both sides and that is all you reall ever need to bring out great taste from a great steak.  If you have a sub-par steak then you may want to coat it with some Spanish paprika for some kick along with a dash of celery salt and onion salt.  To produce a great taste throw in some chopped carrots, trust me it makes a difference. 

Broil on the top rack.  Remember to have the oven on broil guys.  Not high bake.  The broiler cooks from the top to sear your meat.  You should only need broil your steak from two to four minutes on each side.  Just keep an eye on it.  You want it a slightly crispy texture on the surface not all the way through.  The pink inside is NOT a bad thing and will not mean your steak is fatty or hard to cut.  It is actually opposite.  Also, having some pink in side means you have flavor! 

To lock in flavor you must let your steak rest.  This ...   more »

Lately I've been receiving a lot of e-mail from recently separated men going into divorce.  It's never good to see.  Just as many have kids and this really tears me up.  I've been there and walked that road.  As I've honestly and genuinely come out of divorce with a better life, I do feel an obligation to other men, to share how we as men can get over divorce. 

For starters you should read my article: A Man's Guide to Divorce - A Man's Guide to Separation if you have not already.  Most men that find me have generally googled something regarding divorce and found me through this article.

I also have a complete section here on labeled: Men's Help.

The reality is for us men, there are few resources.  And most web based resources ultimately bash women in order to raise our self-esteem and while that is certainly a solution it's negative energy. In fact one blog I found and made contact with seems to be at odds with itself in trying to take my positive approach while still dealing with it's resentment towards women.  http://whatmenthinkofwomen.blogspot.com/  The fact is I think this guy digs up some amazing stuff that has merit but he walks a razors edge when it comes to lumping all women into one group.  Read his blog with care and use your moral compass to guide you as you make your own decisions in what he writes. 

Guys, we should never forget that women are beautiful creatures and worth our love, the fact you have been dumped or abused or whatever is not an indictment of all women. 

You will undoubtedly search the web for answers, you can look for books on the subject high and low.   There is ultimately one answer.  You.  Your self esteem.  You ...   more »

Healthy goes far beyond reading the label

I eat smart. And while I do have a sweet tooth I make up for it by exercising anytime I eat foods high in calories.   I do make sure to never overdue it and I have some rules for myself.  The opinions in my article are my opinions and while I use facts to stand on, I'm not insisting I know all about the subject or that I am an authority.  I'm just a guy taking care of himself with less than 2 percent body fat.  

YOU must be acutely aware of the size ongoing.  If it takes reinvesting in smaller dinner plates, do it.  Here is one straight from my home, we have a creed, "We are Hindsley's not heathens."  We don't eat out of the bag or box.  This serves two purposes in my home.  It indoctrinates a level of class with my children and it starts them on portion control.  How many times have you eaten your way through a whole bag of chips or some other snack?  What woman doesn't eat straight out of the ice-cream bucket?  Oh!

Do not let someone serve you large portions, your human nature will overdrive your common sense.  You will eat more.  As an aside, eating slower will also give you a feeling of fullness faster. No one will listen to me on this, but in my day I've learned it to be true. 

I don't usually let on that I'm in a relationship because of privacy.  For today, welcome to a bit of privileged information.

I'm in a healthy relationship.  I've kept it under wraps a real long time.  The lady I'm with is giving, she is normal, she is upbeat, content, , has great family values, loves children, makes sacrifices, loyal to a fault and very very smart. She is also divorced.  BUT She doesn't bring any emotional baggage, not one iota.  I can say that as it's been almost a year and I've even met her ex husband and there is no tension. 

All of this is by no accident.  Frankly, I wouldn't tolerate second best.  Flat out.  They say once bitten twice shy.  You never understand it until it is you that is bitten. I've been bitten and I was twice shy.   When I started to date again I ran into a number of types, from women that wanted to cut loose after divorce (wanted to experiment etc...) to women that had their own issues which I saw as bad omens based on what I had FINALLY learned in exiting my own long term ordeal.  I just had no room to be a victim again.  I have no toleration for bullshit is what it comes down to.

And guys (and girls) that is what I'm writing about today.  I was reading a new article at askmen.com today while eating lunch and figured I had to weigh in as I often do.   The article was about "the other man" or "an ex" or "a threat" in general.  But for me I saw it as it applied to my life in my own past.  Before I get to my own diatribe, I do encourage you to read the askmen.com article: Is He A Threat?...   more »