Terry Fox: A hero for all
It was on day two of a trip to Vietnam seven years ago when I turned a corner and saw Terry Fox. Or more accurately, the image of Terry Fox, promoting the Terry Fox Run in Ho Chi Minh City. Until that moment, I had no idea that Terry Fox was known outside of Canada. But here he was, in a third world communist country, a Canadian hero inspiring hope and raising money for cancer research. Standing on the bustling, frantic street in Vietnam overwhelmed and intimidated by massive culture shock, I was never so proud to be Canadian. I […]
Star struck at Charcut
Ever since Top Chef Canada was on TV earlier this year, I have wanted to dine at Charcut in Calgary. For the uninitiated, the chef and one of the owners of Charcut, Connie DeSousa, competed on the Canadian version of this popular reality show. Each week, I loved watching her approach to food and cooking, and her quiet but forceful way that earned her a third place finish on the show . “Team Connie” was alive and well in #yegfood while the show was on, and we are still convinced she should have come in first. So when the opportunity […]
Single and the City
If it was only a Carrie Bradshaw kinda life. Late thirties, early forties and single in Edmonton is a challenge. Maybe it is a challenge in other cities too. Logic says that no matter where you live, as you get older it gets harder to meet people. The pool gets smaller as people marry off and have small litters of little ones. But I only know late-30’s and single in Edmonton. And I have many friends that fall in the same category who also feel the pinch of Edmonton single life. So even though I am typically private about these […]
Best songs for the gym: “Kick ass like Popeye” mix
I thought it was time to take things little lighter and share with you my favourite songs for the gym. This recipe of songs for me is like Popeye and spinach; a medley of tunes that help me lift more, jump higher, go longer. Music is very personal and I admit, the entire list may not be your cup of tea. But I know I am always looking for a new song to freshen things up, and maybe there’s one here that you can add to your own mix that adds extra hop to your box jumps or another 10 […]
We are a city in denial
It is usually warmer than this. This cold is not typical. The Oilers are poised for greatness. Our murder rate is an unfortunate anomaly. Edmonton is safe. The snow and ruts have never been this bad. All this road construction is a sign of progress. We never get this much snow. We never get this much rain. They say the mosquitoes aren’t as bad as in the past. Compared to the average (snow fall, rain fall, mosquito count, crime rate – take your pick), we are doing pretty good. Our summers are always really nice. I love having four seasons. […]
“I have cheated on you.”
I confess. I have cheated. Yes, paper books, I have cheated on you. I am having an affair with my e-reader. It started off as innocent flirtation. Kobo Touch is a cool, handsome gadget that admittedly has some pretty smooth moves. But my love of paper books runs deep. We have been together a long time. Flirtation is healthy, I reasoned, especially since Kobo and I would only ever be occasional travel companions. I rationalized that our relationship would start with just a book or two; simply two friends getting to know one another. Nothing more. Why? Because I love […]
Why I am not a foodie
If you don’t know me, you might read this title and think I don’t like food. If you do know me, you will be a bit confused. Why? Because I love food. Big HEART love it. I just hate being called a foodie. I think I have done many of the things to credibly qualify as a “foodie”. I was editor of a food magazine, Food for Thought, for nearly 5 years. I knew how to roast a turkey and make my own stuffing by the age of 12. I had horseshoes on my ass when I got to go […]
Why you should hug a soldier
If you are reading this, you have a soldier to thank. Why? Think about who, in part, gave you the ability to freely talk, work, move and think today? A soldier. Many soldiers, in fact. Ones that fought in combats of the past and ones that serve today. That’s why today, or any day, you should hug a soldier. Today is the 67th anniversary of D-Day. In case you don’t remember high school social studies, D-Day was the day during WWII when allied forces stormed the Nazi-occupied beaches of Normandy, France in an effort to free a path to Germany […]