The Goat's Daily Dose of Weird: July 11- DO IT FOR DENMARK!

I kind of lost it a little bit talking about this live on-air so here is my voice-tracked version of the "Daily Dose of Weird" for July 11, 2014. 

Why did I lose it? Well I glanced over at the monitor screen on my show-prep computer and the elderly couple from the commercial was staring at me frozen in time. I felt as if I had just done something naughty myself because their glare was so intimidating. 

The stats here are crazy; I can't believe that Denmark knows these weird figures about their citizen’s sex lives! For the full effect of this weird news segment you really need to watch the entire "Do It For Denmark" ad in the Youtube video posted below.  

My Awesome Day in Nelson featuring Kootenay Insurance Services and Fresh Tracks Cafe Express from Whitewater

I had a kick ass day in Nelson yesterday!

Yes, my humpday was a little different than a normal day. I was on-location at Kootenay Insurance Services for their first annual Community Appreciation Day. On top of all amazing presentations to Nelson's hard working first responders I got to hang out with the AWESOME staff at the Nelson branch of Kootenay Insurance Services. We have worked with Kootenay Insurance Services in the past, they are a huge supporter of community initiatives--- last fall they actually ran a contest with us where they gave a $1000 to the Kinnaird Youth Indoor Skate Park. 

Here are John and I holding the big ole' check with Kootenay Insurance Services CEO John Sullivan. 

On top of an inspiring day with with local heroes from Nelson & Beasley Fire Department, Search & Rescue, the Nelson Police and RCMP I had a killer day food wise. 

Our awesome Account Executive Dustin picked up lunch for us from the new Fresh Tracks Cafe Express from Whitewater Ski Resort. Honestly I am getting hungry again right now at 9 am writing about my amazing burger. 

I absolutely love it when a restaurant (or in this case a food-truck) can find a way to disguise or add incentive to eat foods that I would normally not eat. With burgers it is so easy to pick off things that are outside of your comfort-zone. But, even though I don't eat wheat or onions I found myself downing every last bit of my burger. 

I had the handmade pork and BBQ duck burger. I absolutely love duck, but unfortunately rarely see it featured on menus so I was ecstatic to see it on the Fresh Tracks Cafe Express menu. Worth every carb this burger features pineapple peanut slaw, sesame caramelized onions, tomato, spinach and honey miso mayo! Yes, it was cheat day for me and I will happily admit to you that before I touched my burger I ate every last fry. I don't normally eat fries, but these fries were incredible. Perfectly crisp I did not share; I kept them all for myself. 

I absolutely loved my burger; it is how I imagine summer tastes as a flavour. Like I said, I normally do pick onions off my burgers but the caramelized onions really added to the mixture with the honey miso mayo and pineapple peanut slaw. It was the perfect combination of flavours; light and balanced. I can't wait to have this again and try it with the spelt bun!

I try to hold off mentioning things I have not tried myself. Usually whenever I eat out I am with others and we all kind of share tastes of everything, but Dustin and I had the same thing so I have only gathered taste bud feedback from the handmade pork and BBQ duck burger with fries. But, everyone at our office in Nelson has been raving about the Glory Bowl from the Wild Side of the Fresh tracks menu. Featuring roasted tofu, candied almonds, spinach, grated beets and carrots on a brown rice bed with house made dressing; it has sparked my interest and may be the first meal I have had without meat ever. Yes, I can honestly tell you I cannot remember ever eating a meal without any meat! 

I did hold off ordering the Filipino Tacos because of my recent tirade of Mexican meals from Confusion Taco and the Element, I can guarantee that I will explore this dish this summer as well. 

You can check out Fresh Tracks Cafe Express from Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson outside of the Whitewater offices on Lake Street. Tuesdays they make an appearance in my neck of the woods in Castlegar outside the Sandman Hotel and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays they are on Baker Street in Nelson around the 200 Block.

For the full menu from Fresh Tracks Cafe Express click here. They also have a page for you to 'like' on Facebook too! 

On top of that awesome meal I got to wash it all down with Riva water--- from Nelson! A pretty cool story, my new friends from the Okinshaw Water Company were hydrating everyone who stopped by the Kootenay Insurance Services event. With bottled water straight from the mountains near Nelson it really added to my ultra-Nelson day! 

I had such a great time with the entire crew of people who made this awesome day possible. I really hope Kootenay Insurance Services puts this event on again next year! 

Amanda Lang’s “The Power of Why”

I've never been more excited to finish a book than I am right now and it is totally for good reason, I want to read it again. I have been reading Amanda Lang’s “The Power of Why” since December 2013 and it has taken all of my patience and willpower not to push through the entire book. I absolutely loved every page of the book and I am feeling very inspired right now; hence the excitement in my writing.

I have looked up to Amanda Lang for a long time. Everyday when I would get home from broadcast school I would watch her program The Lang and O'Leary Exchange and marvel at Lang’s consistent poise, class and optimism going head-to-head a lot of the time with Kevin O'Leary. I was so excited when I picked up “The Power of Why” that I immediately shoved all the other books I bought that day aside. Including Ron Burgundy’s book…

I knew immediately when I started “The Power of Why” that it was a book that was not meant to be rapidly consumed. I normally power through books I am passionate about. Not this time. 
"The Power of Why" is written so powerfully that each segment of each chapter has a substantial message, so I read each story individually to take her lessons in marketing and business to heart.

I’m going to be honest with you; I went to university to go to university. When I was “learning” I was memorizing theories and facts to get a grade that would lead to a diploma. I never really thought about a career in promotions and marketing, all I could think about was getting through university to get to broadcast school. I had always been interested in politics and history; they are subjects I excelled in back in high school so it made sense to pursue in at university.

I know this is not how it is for most people who get a degree, but for me it was a box to check off and I wanted to finish it as soon as possible. For me the difference between learning back then and learning in broadcast school, reading “The Power of Why” and working in radio is that I actually want a future in the industries and want to develop the skills. I am constantly curious and want explanations rather than a pass these days. Don't get me wrong, in the common year of Radio and Television Arts at NSCC I definitely underachieved in areas that did not hold my key interests but I still cared more about those marks than most during my degree. 

Please do not get me wrong; I loved my time at St. Francis Xavier University.  It helped develop me into the independent conscious adult that I needed to be before I started my education in broadcasting. Simply put, StFX taught me valuable skills that helped me develop into a confident and competent professional person, something I am not sure I would have been if I had not gone to university. 

I thought I would explain that so you could get a better understanding of why I read this book so slowly. I can totally read; that was not the issue.  I wanted to fully appreciate every story. Amanda Lang does an incredible job taking you through multiple stories in each chapter; each one deserves full attention because they are all great lessons in growth to learn from.  Whenever I would get a little down or run low on ideas I would pick up “The Power of Why” and read a chapter, it would usually change the way I was thinking about an issue or at least inspire an idea that was floating around the back of my mind waiting for some inspiration.

I have been trying to wrap my head around a lot of things these days. I have been trying to innovate both big and small aspects of my daily life before I turn twenty-five next week and this book has been a big inspiration. On top of Sarah Silverman’s “Make It A Treat” mantra I have adopted, I have also made “why?” the number one question or comment my mind jumps to at all times. This started a little earlier than MIAT and has been pretty effective when communicating new goals and new ideas with people.

I have joined the gym down the street and it is changing the way I run my day to day. I like to think of it as innovating to make the most of my time. I workout on my lunch hour and as I finish with cardio I check my inbox on my iPad and respond to all my emails and it gives me time to read more into radio and marketing articles. It also gives me a chance to do show prep for my next show and research whatever my curious mind is wondering about. I like to think my boss is innovating here too by allowing me to not take a conventional lunch hour and understanding/trusting me to be accountable while at the gym. My bosses realize that those minutes doing cardio are uninterrupted work minutes and my perception of work is much more positive because there is trust. I am more likely to stay late or work from home because I appreciate getting a full workout in. I do not abuse the trust and everyone ends up happy. Again, just a little example…

I have nothing but kind words and praise for “The Power of Why”. It truly is an honest and inspiring book that I think can have applications for daily life for everyone.  Thank you Amanda Lang, from now on I am keeping your book at my desk for any moments that I need a little inspiration.

Throwback: Disney & McDonald’s Hercules Plates

Back in 1997, little Kate was a HUGE Disney nut. Yes, I was obsessed. I thought any other animated films

were inferior to any Disney movie (rightly so), there were few that could compare (Swan Princess, Thumbelina). Hercules was one of the big ones I can remember being released to crazy fanfare, I loved it. I saw it multiple times in theatres and was SO excited for its release date.

My family had at least one fast-food meal a week. Usually Saturday afternoons, I remember how excited we would be to go to McDonald’s (most weeks) when the toys were good. To us, the Hercules toys were the BOMB. I know it sounds so lame now, but as a kid in the 90s the Zeus football was hot stuff. The plates were extra and super cool, because they were extra on top of the happy meal and a SUPER treat. My sister and I totally fought over the Megara plate… screw The Muses, right?

Well our plates are long gone after long time use in the microwaves for snack and not so serious meals. In case you are wondering, each plate will run you about $5 on EBay (on the cheap) but more likely $9. Or, you can pick up the whole set of six plates in mint condition for about $50. There are some more pricey sellers looking for hundreds of dollars, clearly these people live in a bubble of lunacy. I forget how much they cost back in 1997, but I have a feeling they ran about $2.99 with a meal purchase. Let me know if you can remember how much they were, I was just a wee filly back then.

I loved these plates, they were colorful and durable… until you put them in the microwave. I do maintain they are the best nacho plates ever.