My Hobbies….

My Music

I’ve loved music my whole life, even if I didn’t start writing songs until I was 47. There’s something about putting words and melodies together that just clicks with me—it’s a way to make sense of life, to take all the ups and downs and turn them into something real. Writing songs gives me a place to be honest, to tell stories, and to capture moments that might otherwise slip away. Once I start, I can’t stop, and somehow, that’s turned into hundreds of songs that mean more to me than I could have imagined.

Small workshop with blue walls, wooden floor, and various tools and equipment. There's a yellow chair in the center, and a small window with a white frame. On the left, a drain machine and a box with foam inside. At the back, a shelf with black tanks connected by red hoses, and a blue container. On the right, a work table with a toolbox, a blue gas cylinder, gloves, and other tools. A raffle drum is on a small table.

Rick The Artist.

Wood sculpture has been a big part of my life for a long time. There’s something about working with wood that makes you slow down and really pay attention. Each piece is a bit of a conversation between me and the grain, figuring out shape and form as you go. It’s more than just making something—I think of it as a way to clear my head, stay grounded, and feel like I’ve made something that matters. It keeps me centered and reminds me why creating, in any form, is so important.

Rick the Bailiff

As a court-appointed bailiff in Ontario, I carried out creditors’ legal remedies—vehicle and equipment repossessions and commercial seizures for landlords and government bodies. The work brought me into everyday lives at challenging moments and gave me a deeper understanding of people, resilience, and circumstance.

My Dogs

I’ve always loved having dogs around—they make life brighter in ways nothing else does. Walking with them, playing, or just sitting quietly together gives me a kind of calm and focus I don’t get anywhere else. A lot of my songwriting happens in those moments, whether I’m out on a walk with them or just watching them be themselves. That connection to life, rhythm, and companionship inspired my first album, My Dog, and continues to shape the way I write and create. Whether I’m making music or working with wood, they remind me to slow down, pay attention, and enjoy the small, important moments—things I try to capture in every song I write.