All posts by Jennifer Fisk

He had a front row seat to cool

My Dad, Tom, was a television cameraman for more than three decades. He covered 8 different Olympic Games. He was gone every spring, covering the play by play action of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was a part of the broadcast team for countless CFL Grey Cups. He traveled the country and the world doing Indy races, Commonwealth Games, Brier matches, pro golf and more. He was behind the camera when the Pope & Queen came for visits, at G7 Summits & other major news events. He was the play by play camera for pretty much every Oilers game you saw […]

When you haul your butt up a mountain

Whether you’re hiking, climbing or skiing, when you use your legs and feet to get up a mountain, you discover: Perspective. It’s obvious that as you climb higher, your point of view changes. How a mountain or valley appears from up high is different than it appears when you are down low. But the mountains give you more than just a different view. Mountain tops give you a different way of looking at life. How you look at yourself, nature and our place within it changes with gains in elevation. When you are surrounded by the results of geologic forces […]

My favourite books of the last year (or two)

It’s been awhile since my last favourite book list. Admittedly, there was a long stretch when I was hard pressed to find a good book, let alone recommend one. And then the drought ended and good books started to flow again. Some of the selections below were published this year, while others are a year or two old. Regardless of their birthdate, in my opinion, all are worth the effort. As you Christmas shop or plan your holiday break read, keep these gems in mind: Descent Tim Johnston Once I got into this book, I could not put it down. […]

Ten lessons after ten years in business

Ten years in business comes with a lot of hard work and a little good luck. For those that don’t know me, in 2005 I started a communications and marketing consulting company called Freestone Communications. We are small but forceful, providing communications counsel, support and service to a variety of organizations of all sizes and shapes. After ten years of this awesome ride, I figured it was the perfect time to share what I have discovered thus far. 1.       Money is not the motivator. Many people start their own business, buy a business or dream of owning their own business […]

Confessions of a beginner climber

I’ve taken up climbing. And not the corporate ladder style. After an introductory class in the climbing gym, I headed outdoors. First climbing sport routes, then mountaineering with some ice climbing, onto multi-pitch climbing and so on. I’ve been fortunate to have had many good climbing experiences in a relatively short time, especially for someone living in mountain-less Edmonton. However, after a one year accelerated program of learning, I must confess: Jamming and twisting your feet, which are equally jammed into tightly fitted climbing shoes, into mountain cracks and then using that vise-like leverage to hoist your body weight up to the […]

What’s your tire swing?

Every now and again, we need to be reminded of a time when life was simpler, less complicated. When you didn’t have a care in the world. When you didn’t know how to over-think and over-analyze. When you didn’t retreat to the past or worry about the future. When you were so focused on the present moment, without even realizing it, because your goal during every waking hour was simply to have fun. I could pour out 500 words on the topic. But sometimes a photo says more than words ever could.

41 Lessons earned and learned over 41 years

We all have baggage, but the real question is what you do with it. Check it and fly, or spend your life stuck in the terminal? Show gratitude often. Feel it all. Even when you don’t want to. Fear should keep you alive, not hold you back. Squash fear like that spider crawling on your bed. The only predictable thing is unpredictability. Give back. Try hard to never say, “What if?” RSVP when you are asked to RSVP. Seriously people! Learn to love to sweat. When you are young, your family gives you energy. They’re your entire world. As you […]

When your dog dies

You are smacked hard in the face with the true meaning of unconditional love, and the sad realization you don’t have it anymore. You feel like there is no place for your love and affection to go. You miss their quirks. How they chased airplanes like you were under nuclear attack. How they loved eating lettuce. How the sole purpose of a toy was to tear at its heart, rip out the squeaker, play with the squeaker for days, and then add it to the collection of dozens of squeakers living in every nook and cranny of your house. You […]