Weird Things Happen To Me: Before I Die...

Weird things happen to me ALL THE TIME.

Honestly, it is kind of nice to have strange occurrences brighten up my day to day routine. I was just perusing one of my favourite websites that I use daily at work “Morgue File” and found an unexpected delight (as my boss would call it). I’m not sure if this photo was taken in Nelson, BC where I stumbled upon the “Before I Die...” wall or if my message was is so unique and strange that it stayed on the wall for an extended period of time, either way it hit me in the face today.

As I flipped through pages of photos of “art” I found the wonderful wall that had people lining up in Nelson to publicly share their goals and life ambitions with my message intact. Yes, my small hands have not only impacted someone’s view of an amazing public art exhibit but they have also contributed in a tiny way to one of my favourite sites.

Strange, eh?

My goal on the wall that day was very ambitious. I think I am better qualified to work towards it today than I was that day, but I am moving further away from working in the industry my dream pertained too... I’m not sure if I should be encouraged or discouraged seeing this photo about a year-and-a-half after expressing my dreams. I’m not sure if I was drunk with ambition or just a little buzzed... I know one thing is for sure, I miss that beautiful sun shine! Summer cannot come fast enough!

I’m not going to tell you my chalked-in goal, I’ll let you guess.

Now it is your turn, finish this sentence: Before I die I want to.... 

Checkout MorgueFile here: http://www.morguefile.com/

Dear Winter...

Dear winter,

Please stop. Kindly move along and allow an early spring to begin.  I appreciate that this is not the worst winter on record, that there has only been a slightly annoying amount of snow and nasty so far this year compared to others but I have had enough. After living in a part of the world that experiences all of the awesome parts of winter (and celebrates them) without it’s crappy grossness.

This is the first East Coast winter I have had to experience as a true adult and I am not enjoying it. I am out of winter wear; I’m really struggling to recycle my warm outfits to make it through an entire week in office appropriate clothing. Seriously, I would be all right if we could make 80s pant suits fashionable again at the office. I would be totally fine wearing shoulder pads for a little extra warmth. I keep a pair of wool socks stashed at my desk at ALL TIMES just in case my toes loose all their feeling.

I’m not a big baby. I can deal with the cold, but the cold isn’t what is annoying. It is being wet and cold day-in-day-out. If I spend any more time in my bathtub trying to thaw I think I will develop scales or turn into a mermaid.

The worst part?

Having to shovel snow before going to work. It is nearly 3pm and we still have not been plowed out. From the neck up I am totally ready to go to work. From the neck down, sweatys and my trusty wool socks. There is NOTHING worse than waking up and getting ready for work, shoveling a ridiculous amount of snow, cold winds blistering your skin as more snow falls from the sky and then working up a thick layer of sweat from tearing apart small mountains of snow that is packed down by ice.

Owning a dog I now know that I need to have winter boots to live in Canada. But, they are all so god awful that it pains me to think about spending money on them.

To be clear, I do not hate winter. I think I just hate winter in the Annapolis Valley. Last year winter in the Kootenays was awesome! World-class skiing and amazing winter celebrations made it all bearable. I feel like living away from the Valley for one winter really has changed how I see it now.

As I sit here stewing, waiting to be dug out of this relatively small amount of snow that kept me home from work today I really just needed to get a rant out. Again, I do not hate winter but I really cannot wait until this gross one is over.

Learning From My New Hood: More On Moving!

We finally bought coffee today so I have a feeling that means good things for my neglected blog. 

I have learned a few things about moving this time around that never have been an issue before. No two moving experiences are the same; moving back to my hometown (well the next town over) has been a very strange experience. Let me explain (for a little background click here).

In the months before leaving the Kootenays I learned an important lesson, one that you should learn from watching one episode of Hoarders; that buying lots of crap is the enemy. This time around I am not bringing anything into my house that I don’t want long term, this is annoying the hell out of my relatives/anyone with things they want to get rid of and give away. Yes, it is important to get things together in your living space in order but this time I am putting my foot down and waiting it out.

We have picked up some important things for the apartment from my family like a bed and mattress; we bought a couch, TV, fridge and oven but other than that things are pretty bare bones around the house.

The strange thing is I have no desire to buy anything large. I would like a new dresser and vanity but everything I want right now is small. I have a new obsession with decorating that I have never had before. No, I have not been spending hours on end on Pinterest (I actually just set my iMac up yesterday and have been spending barely anytime online).  

Joss & Main has become a weird love of mine as well. I could spend every dollar I make for the next ten years on that website. Seriously, I welcome all housewarming gift card gifts.

My question for you is what is the first thing you bought for your house? Did you get excited about it?

The first thing we bought for our new house was a set of dishes that made me as excited as the boys were that day when they bought their new toys (Kev’s new car and Butter’s new motorcycle). It was a great call then and I am still very happy with it now. My first BIG buy for the house was the couch and reclining chair. I was happy that I managed to get it delivered to the house and set up before the boys got home in time for our weekend guest. Folding chairs were not cutting it. 

What is your favourite thing about moving?

Clearly for me it is looking at the walls and the space and all the potential we have for decorating and making our little cookie-cutter lodge our own. Seriously, it is like being in elementary school and getting to decorate baked goods for Halloween.

What is your least favourite part of moving?

Mine was waiting for things to arrive (specifically my car). Honestly, I am not sure that I would ever ship my car again. For the first couple of weeks I felt like I was back in high school. No car (well other than my parent’s mini-van). No space. No freedom. I am so happy that is over!

Life still feels like a vacation (kind of) at this point. It is weird to think that this is what real life is like. Everything is coming together slowly, the boys are settling into their routine with the Air Force and summer is coming to an end.

On a happy note, the neighbourhood kids are back in school now so the hours that they are screwing around on our lawn have been cut down. I sound like a horrible person saying this but it is so nice to have kid-free afternoons. Generally they do not speak to me (I do not make eye contact) but they love the boys. The neighbourhood children would follow them into the house if they could. The posse of children seems to know exactly when we are coming and going during daylight hours and always greet us. Toys appear on our lawn (sometimes intact), other times large sticks and other children’s debris show up too.

If I ever go missing it maybe because of a children’s reenactment of 2008’s “The Strangers”. You may or may not remember this classic Liv Tyler film that basically comes down to the following:

Anyway, I think the coffee will help with focus for the next blog. This one has been all over the place. There is so much to talk about! I know I skipped over some great events and happenings here in Nova Scotia on the blog and I am hoping to be more diligent in the future. I have to update my social profiles to my newly out of the radio world details so the blog maybe a work in progress for a little while.

Now to drink my embarrassingly bad cup of coffee without cream and sweetener, I may have the appliances to do the job but nothing else is clicking right now. After two years using k-cups my ability to brew a pot of coffee at home leaves a lot to be desired. Struggles.

Kootenay Festival 2014

I had an amazing time at Kootenay Festival Saturday! Unfortunately it took me a day to bounce back from all the sun and heat, but I can finally tell you all about it on this Monday afternoon!

What can I say; the Kootenays are home to amazing artists from all walks of life. Whether their craft is perfect wood oven fired pizza or creating amazing home décor woodworking, there is a place for it at Kootenay Festival!

On top of all of the physical art the stage was packed with incredible acts from the moment the festival kicked off at 10:30am (with the Scottie School of Highland Dance) to the closing act Cod Gone Wild who played until 7pm. All of the musical acts delivered and I was blown away by the dance troops that took the stage too.

One performer that really impressed me was Bobby Bovenzi; not only did he perform he instructed. His interactive drum and dance circle is not to be missed if you ever have the chance to see it and take part make sure you do! He had absolutely everyone involved cheering and chanting along with the pounding rhythm drums and noise-makers. It was a highlight of my day.

Bobby Bovenzi left the crowd in awe! 

Every festival I attend I break from my normal dietary habits and indulge like a person who has never seen food before; Kootenay Festival was no different. I had a little bit of everything. I always try to order up things that I am not skilled enough to make at home, that normally leads me to Kootenay Filipino food. Of course I had to order up their amazing pork rolls.

I added Gypsy Wagon Wood-Fired Catering to my festival menu for the first time with their incredible breakfast pizza (that is scrambled egg on the pizza). If you followed my blog while I visited La Jolla’s Open Aire Market earlier this year you know how much I love a good breakfast pizza! 

And, with the heat I HAD to hit up both JillyBean’s Ice Cream truck for a waffle cone and have a little breakfast gelato from Nelson’s Little Miss Gelato. How can you say no to bubblegum gelato? It was so hot that I sweat out all the calories throughout the day; that’s how that works right?

Good Ol' Goats

It was such a fabulous day, I spent it with the two people I am thankful for that made me smile (yes doubling up on a happy moment and event blog). Liam, for ordering a medium bag of kettle corn that was the size of a small child and Idaylia for being her always cheerful, helpful self.

I do have to just note a couple of talented musicians who took the stage during the festival that were remarkable. They guys from Roy Has Fire never fail to disappoint and rock every show they play. The Good Ol’ Goats were showstoppers and had everyone clapping, dancing and moving their feet. Last but not least Cod Gone Wild made me feel like I was back at home on the East Coast rocking out downtown Halifax at the Commons.

Cod Gone Wild!

Kootenay Festival 2014 was one for the books! To find out more about next year’s celebration click here.

One more thing, this photo snaps a moment in Castlegar’s history that is pretty cool. Castlegar’s sister city in Ebetsu, Japan sent representatives to help celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of the city’s twinning.

My New Favourite Treat--- Hidden Garden Foods Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have a new favourite food item and surpassingly there are more vegetables involved than I like to admit.  I discovered these bad boys at Ferraro Foods in Trail a couple of weeks ago in Trail, BC and I have been addicted to them since.

 I am so sold on the chocolate chip flavoured cookies made from pumpkins that I have not tried the other flavours (including red velvet cupcake) yet! Tonight, after a crazy day at work I think I am going branch out and try a new flavor and be in my happy place as I watch more of season two of Orange is the New Black!

Another great BC product! Check out these guilt-free treats! Gluten free, no preservatives or artificial flavours and they taste just like my great-grandmothers amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe that’s loaded with guilt inducing ingredients among other things.

Hidden Garden Foods, a BC business making better foods for British Columbians! :) 

June 11, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Seventy-Six Trombones”

Today’s sculpture is another impressive work of art from a talented BC artist. “Seventy-Six Trombones” is by Douglas Walker who is from Black Creek. Walker is a favourite from Castlegar’s previous Sculpture Walks; he won last year’s People’s Choice Award with his entry “Honkfest”. “Honkfest” is now on permanent display as part of Castlegar’s permanent collection outside of City Hall off Columbia Avenue.

There is so much to take in when you look at both “Honkfest” and “Seventy-Six Trombones”. As you can see I tried to capture “Seventy-Six Trombones” from as many angles as possible to show you as much detail as I could; but like all of the sculptures on display here in the Sculpture Capital of Canada, you need to see it in person to really appreciate it fully.

Last years People's Choice Award winner "Honkfest"

On a side note, I was surprised at the difference in the sky and lighting from the different angles I took the photos at. Every photo looks like a different time of day even though I took all of the photos early this morning on my way to the station; weird.

I like “Seventy-Six Trombones” because it is the most beautiful way to recycle instruments. As a person who has her high school band instrument (a tenor saxophone, thanks for asking) sitting in a case unused for over a decade at her parents’ house, part of me want to display it forever as a piece of magnificent art for the world to see. I also like to think it would be a nice way for it to retired after all of the times my slow figures and poor memory for scales let it down in front of a large number of people. As part of a piece of art like “Seventy-Six Trombones” it would forever be appreciated and fawned over by the people it failed to impress musically. Apparently in my books saxophones have feelings too.  

“Seventy-Six Trombones” is on display outside of its rightful home, Kootenay Market. Thank you to Kootenay Market for sponsoring this contender for the 2014 People’s Choice Award.

Will Douglas Walker be adding another work to Castlegar’s permanent collection? I look forward to seeing this autumn! You can submit your votes for the People’s Choice Award around Castlegar at the red boxes. These red boxes also have the Sculpture Walk maps so that you can check out the entire route, the maps double as a ballot as well! Voting closes for the People’s Choice Award on September 30^th, 2014.

For more on Douglas Walker and "Seventy-Six Trombones" click here. 

For my previous sculpture (without any insight into musical instruments psyches) “Beelte the Bear” click here. 

Just A Few of Longer Radio Breaks

It has been a while since I uploaded some show audio outside of my daily weird news update. Not that these breaks are any less weird... here are a few from late May/early June 2014.

The Best Salad I Have Ever Had at The Wooden Spoon Grand Forks

If you read my blog you know it is not a common occurrence for me to order a salad at restaurants. Today I am getting straight to the point of this blog and it is the Wooden Spoon in Grand Forks’ “Grand Chicken” salad. I had the “Grand Chicken” for the first time Family Day weekend when I was in town for the Chamber of Commerce’s big Family Day celebrations. Everyone in town raved to me about the amazing food at the Wooden Spoon so I drug my boyfriend to the hot spot for lunch.

As you can see the salad is huge. So my boyfriend had his panini and then helped me devour my salad. He instantly wanted to order a second one to have a full “Grand Chicken” to himself. The salad has a base of mixed greens with roasted pumpkin, candied chili, roasted almonds and topped off with chicken and feta.

I was finally back in Grand Forks for another great event and had to take our Street Teamer to the Wooden Spoon for another salad.  She picked the “Grand Chicken” salad as well and loved it too! Thank goodness they had not changed their menu; I had been thinking about the salad for months. When I mentioned to my boyfriend that I went back to the Wooden Spoon for the salad he was so jealous. They don’t make food like that at Basic Military Training!

He was also very jealous of the desserts that I brought home with me. I could not pick just one so I brought home a slice of the Ponderosa banana cake and a slice of the lemon yogurt berry cake.  Both of the desserts were amazing! You can see them pictured here in the display window. I would recommend splitting them both with a friend.

If I had to choose just one I would go with the Ponderosa banana cake. It was divine. The chocolate chips on the top of moist, dense banana cake were perfection. Both desserts were amazing! I imagine the lemon yogurt berry cake would be even more amazing with ice cream… yum!

The next time you drop by Grand Forks stop into the Wooden Spoon and enjoy an amazing lunch (or breakfast… yes they are open for breakfast too)!

The Wooden Spoon is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8am until 3pm for breakfast and lunch. You can visit the Wooden Spoon on 3^rd Street, Grand Forks. They also have a patio; it is the perfect spot to have a sunny lunch while in beautiful Grand Forks!

I hope to try the breakfast menu the next time I visit. The homemade cornbread with spinach, bacon, poached eggs and maple syrup sounds amazing; I am a sucker for cornbread!

You can "like" the Wooden Spoon on Facebook here.

June 8, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day "Northern Leopard Frog"

After a very busy Sunfest weekend I thought I would throw on a sculpture for todays feature that I see every single day when I go to the gym. “Northern Leopard Frog” is an impressive sculpture that scales the wall of Peak Physique on Columbia Avenue in Castlegar.

Kevin Kratz & James Karthein are the masterminds behind “Northern Leopard Frog” and another one of their works was named Peoples Choice Award Winner in 2012 and is permanently displayed in Castlegar as a result. You may have seen it, it is called “Patient Hunter” and it is a large blue heron on standing on a pier. It has become iconic in Castlegar and is used often in our towns marketing photos. 

Much like the heron the “Northern Leopard Frog” is a large sculpture, it nearly takes up the entire wall outside Peak Physique. The detail is incredible on this metal work sculpture, as you can see in comparison with the actual northern leopard frog pictured here.

I am very excited that this my fourth sculpture feature blog is another incredible piece from British Columbia. “Northern Leopard Frog” was crafted in Krestova! 

Thank you to Dr. James Singer and his family for sponsoring "Northern Leopard Frog" and being part of the beautification of Downtown Castlegar!  

For more about Kevin Kratz & James Karthein's "Northern Leopard Frog" click here. 

For my previous blog about Castlegar Sculpture Walk's “Eye of the Wind” click here.

Castlegar Sunfest 2014

Hanging out with Craig!

Happy Sunfest!

I am pretty pumped about Sunfest this year, why? Well because it is my first Sunfest! I have officially been living in the Kootenays for 11 months + 1 week (I am just twenty-one days away from a full year)! This is one of the last events that I can say that I have not been part of. 

One really cool part of Sunfest was the Craig Mortiz show last night at Kinsman Park. He took Mountain FM by storm yesterday when he came in. The lovely Jenny Fines interviewed him because I was on my lunch break at the gym. Apparently Craig is not on Kootenay time! Between the country boy and country fan-girl giggles they had a great chat about his upcoming album and his last appearance here in the Kootenays years ago for Trail Silver City Days. I do not normally post other peoples interviews, but Craig Mortiz is the exception to the rule.

His show was awesome! Lots of dancing from my partners in crime, couples and of course the kids! Enormous productions provided the awesome light show and killer sound that had everyone on their feet. Craig Mortiz and his band were the stars of the show though; I would have to say the highlight moment for me was when they covered John Micheal Montgomery's "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" one of my all-time favourite country songs. I'm not a dancer, but I let a small child lead me around the grass dance floor for that one! 

Castlegar's own Lisa Nicole was even there jamming to Craig's tunes!

Here the song we featured on Mountain FM from Craig Mortiz, played for the first time on rock radio it is called "Ready to Roll".

This one really stuck out to me during the show... it is the "booty call song" (formally known as "Only When Your Lonely").

Craig Mortiz was the highlight of Sunfest Friday for sure!

I am really excited to go check in on our Mountain FM "Kiss My Glass" contest that is running as I type this blog up over at the park. The last person with their lips to the glass will win $600 cash from Adam's Windows and Doors! 

Sunfest continues tonight and tomorrow at Kinsman Park in Castlegar! I'll update with the results of "Kiss My Glass" a little later today :) 

Update: Our four finalists split the "Kiss My Glass" $600 prize after keeping their lips locked on the glass from 9am until 6:50pm! Big thanks to Adam's Windows and Doors!

I treated the Street Team to deep-fried oreos and we enjoyed a TON of amazing food vendors. Kootenay Kettle Corn and Filipino food were my guilty pleasures today; along with handfuls of salt water taffy. It is a good thing Sunfest weekend is not every weekend that is for sure!