It's a Canadian Summer

Canadians love talking about weather.  We talk about it all year long.  We love to call our friends in foreign countries to regale them with tales of 40 below winters and snow as high as a third grader.  We complain when it's cold, when it's hot, when it's wet - we are never happy with our weather but we sure are proud of it.

Currently, the Pacific North West is going through a heat wave, of tropical standards.  It's melting our rain boots and umbrellas.  I have to keep dunking the boys into a bath of cold water because my air conditioning decided to break down at a choice time.

It was so freaking hot last weekend that I took off again for the Caribou region to sit in Green Lake.  It was amazing there - we just kept jumping in the lake again and again - which made me think of the summer things special to Canadians.  So lucky readers, you get another list:

1.  That 'summer' smell only available to us Canucks (and possibly some Americans) - the one that only happens in the dead of summer.  It's the smell of heat, pine, and soil that sits in the still air and you can usually only smell it when lounging in a lake (or perhaps walking through a forest).  I made everyone stop at one point and 'smell summer'.  Luckily I have indulgent friends who obliged me and took a whiff.

2. Lake swimming.  I have made it abundantly clear that I love to swim in lakes.  Oceans are okay, pools are refreshing, but nothing beats a lake warmed by the summer sun and jumping in repeatedly from the dock (by the way - another favorite thing is the feel of the warm wood under my feet).

3.  Roadtrips.  I love summer drives.  The Sea to Sky Highway is up there, as is the stretch from the valley past Hope, the Rockies around Revelstoke and Golden.  It could go on and on.  It's driving in a car listening to country music turned up, the sun beating down, and the fact your surroundings are lush and green.  It's also stopping off at Tim's for double doubles or iced lattes, munching on ketchup chips, and letting that Canadian road wind ahead with the feeling of summer lasting forever.  Fruit stands, families in RV's, and roadside stops to the 'Enchanted Forest'.  

4.  Fruit stands.  Buying bags of peaches and nectarines that are so ripe the juices run down your arms (so you have to jump in the lake), cherries that are so fresh they are black, and popping blackberries, raspberries and gooseberries.

5.  Lying back with friends and watching for shooting stars.  Age hasn't taken away my sense of wonder.  I still make wishes on shooting stars - and I don't want to be told they are satellites.

6.  Hunting for wild strawberries on the side of the road

7.  Sipping beer (this summer is bud light lime)/coffee with baileys/hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows around the fire.  I like it best when the boys talk about conspiracy theories and aliens because I get that scared feeling I used to get watching ET.

8.  Sunsets.  Preferably over a body of water.  The best?  At Long Beach, BC where I am once again reminded that I live in the most beautiful country in the world.

9.  Skinny dipping in a lake (Okanagan Lake is on my mind) under a full moon with a few best friends and then spending the rest of the night sipping wine overlooking the orchards and vineyards of that lovely region.

10.  Having amazing friends to share all these things with.  Oh, and they may laugh at my cheesy reflections but deep down they love Canadian summers as much as I do

We're a nation that's in the deep freeze for most of the year - we gotta enjoy this season while we can . . . 

Province to review BC Ferries

Vancouver Sun reports...

The province is launching a review of TransLink and BC Ferries, Finance Minister Colin Hansen and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond announced today.

The review of the publicly funded and independently regulated transportation authorities, requested by Bond, is aimed at ensuring customers and ratepayers are receiving maximum value for services, a provincial government statement said.

"During these challenging economic times, we must ensure that services provided to ratepayers are done so in a way that is financially sustainable and provides maximum value for all British Columbians," Hansen said in a statement. "Both BC Ferries and TransLink have been mandated to provide vital transportation services for millions of people, and we must ensure the governance arrangements are operating as efficiently as possible and the authorities are meeting their service objectives."

The reviews, to be completed by Sept. 30, will look at all aspects of the operations, from regulatory environment to corporate structure to financial performance. A final report containing recommendations will then be made public.

Bond noted it's been six years since BC Ferries became a private operation, and two years since TransLink's governance model was revised. "It is important we ensure both organizations are meeting their financial and service expectations that came about with the new models," she said.
The review will specifically look at the division of responsibility between the province and the respective entities; the size, composition, appointment process and compensation for the board of directors and the regulatory environment, including responsibilities, authorities and powers of the Ferry Commission as well as the regional transportation commissioner and Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation; and operating costs and service delivery models.

Weather Watch #2

ok - so whose idea was it to come back to England for the summer?

Protect our island environment

Art posters with conservation messages for visitors to the Islands Trust Area are now available free of charge to businesses and locations frequented by visitors.

Work by three artists was selected earlier this year in an art competition sponsored by the Islands Trust. Dawn Stofer of Denman Island, Debbie Bowles of Mayne Island and Darlene Olesko of Lasqueti Island had their work selected for the posters by a judging panel.

The message on each poster is "Please help us protect this special environment". I particularly like the picture (above) by Debbie Bowles, which emphasises the many different users we encounter on our island roads.

Three unique posters are available in two sizes: (8.5 X 11” and 11 X 17”) from the Islands Trust Offices at 700 North Road.

The Dog Days of Summer

I now know that parents with screaming children should  not be glared at.  No!  They are highly embarrassed by the actions of their children.  They can not be judged!  How do I know?

I have two dogs.  

I am embarrassed by them on a daily basis.  

Here it goes:

1.  Get into full elevator, tell Mop to 'sit'.  Congratulate self on good master skills as the elevator says 'awwww, what a good dog'.  Mr. Mop then proceeds to lick himself (loudly) in front of eight people.  

2.  When having a heart-to-heart at sidewalk cafe, dogs decide to pick fight with each other sending Brooklyn into high-pitched squealing with teeth bared as passersby stare on and moment of intimacy between friends is lost.

3.  Take dogs to home of non-dog people, leave them in room while out believing they will behave only to come home to a ripped up carpet with chunks of it all over the bed.  Mop poops carpet the next day.

4.  Brooklyn decides to stop for a big poop at the entrance of Tiffany as hoity toity Japanese girls scream in disgust as they exit store with new jewellery.

5.  Child sees little Brooklyn and asks if she can pet him.  Seeing as he is terrified of children he cries and hides behind my legs.  Mother looks at me with contempt.

6.  Get off plane in Salt Lake City and decide to let dogs out of crate on way to connecting plane.  Mr. Mop poops in front of two Mormons in the middle of Gate 12.  Take dogs outside.  Bring them back, go through security AGAIN (where their water is taken away and Brooklyn runs away when the stupid guard takes his collar off) and then Brooklyn poops as we head back to Gate 12.  

7.  Mr. Mop attacks puppy English Bulldog at park.  Owner shoots darts at me.  As I take him away, I hear another dog-owner say 'he was the first dog to attack my dog too'.  Assholes.

8.  Mop and Brooklyn gang-hump a dachshund.

9.  Mr. Mop finds a tampon (unused thankfully) and chews it, only to spit it out in front of my contractor who is putting in my laminate.

10.  Brooklyn drags out a pair of dirty undies to chew on while friends over for dinner.  Proceeds to run in circles and bark when I try to take them away.  

The Ice Cream Continued

Silly dog

Smart Dog?

You Scream, I Scream, Mop Gets Covered in Ice Cream

Obviously one of the best things about summer is the food that goes with it:

cherries, blueberries, blackberries, ice cream

I love ice cream.  I mean, who wouldn't?  Actually, the Engineer's sister doesn't like ice cream.  I yell at her every time I find that fact out because each time I am shocked.

For those Lower Mainlanders, I urge you to head down to the beach resorty town of White Rock for a meander along the sea with an ice cream cone in hand.  Why?  Because they have the BEST freaking ice cream there!!

It's called "White Mountain" and they serve homemade ice cream.  In homemade waffle cones.  This equals awesomeness.  

My flavors of choice?  Chocolate Rainforest (chocolate ice cream with pieces of honey-covered cashews, caramel and fudge) and Midnight Mint (chocolate ice cream with perfect flakes of chocolate covered mint).  Clearly I like chocolate.  

Due to the fact that it was a crazy hot day, I had to lick that sucker down fast to stop it from melting down my arm.  I couldn't, however, stop the drips coming out of the bottom of my cone.  Drips that landed on the sidewalk and delighted Mr. Mop to no end.  Being the smarter of the two, he quickly figured out that if he stood directly below me he could eat my drips.  He also got many drips on his white head (bad thing about having a dog with white fur is that everything shows).  In fact, his head was quite covered in chocolate after the ordeal.

Brooklyn didn't attempt to get the ice cream.  He just stood wagging his tail and blinking.

But maybe Brooklyn is the smarter of the two . . .  he did wait until we got to the comfort of our air conditioned home to lick all the ice cream off of Mr. Mop's head.

Ferry inconvenient....

On Wednesday August 12th, the Nanaimo Port Authority will be closing the inner harbour to all marine and air traffic for a short period of time to facilitate an air show by the Snowbirds.

As a result, the MV Quinsam’s 5:20 pm scheduled sailing from Gabriola Island and 5:55 pm sailing from Nanaimo Harbour have been cancelled. Service will resume with the 6:25 pm departure from Gabriola Island.

Also, the Dangerous Cargo sailings scheduled for that day will be moved to Tuesday August 11th at 10:35 am leaving Nanaimo Harbour and 4:15 pm leaving Gabriola Island. Customers are reminded that these Dangerous Cargo sailings do not accommodate other passengers.

BC Ferries apologizes to customers for any inconvenience experienced as a result of these changes.

The Last Wedding

I think it's possible that I just attended the last wedding of an really close friend.  Okay, maybe I have a few more of those.  But I am fairly certain it's the last time I will attend a wedding in which I am a worker.

That's right, my bridesmaid days are over.  But I wasn't even a bridesmaid this time.  I was the EMCEE.  Which, FYI, is a much harder job that being a bridesmaid.

I was an emcee for my cousin's wedding.  I was only okay at it, I took advice from my mum (no offense mum) and wasn't my usual bubbly self.  I attempted to be smart and emotional, a la Oprah Winfrey.

This time, I knew the couple well.  As in so well, I was the one who got them together.  The Engineer was the best man and best friend of the groom, and I am a very close friend of the bride.  Therefore I got to be much more myself.  And if I do say so, myself is pretty funny.

So here's the biggest difference between being a bridesmaid and an emcee:  the emcee's job STARTS basically when the bridesmaid job finishes.  Or rather, the emcees job starts when the drinking begins.  I was also so nervous all day long, that I only ate a bit of roast beef and an appetizer my friend shoved in my mouth while I spent the two hours between reception and ceremony trying to figure out the projector.  

Granted, I got out of the most boring of all tasks - the picture taking.  I truly dislike the pictures.  Ironic seeing as I love being photographed.  But I really do abhor the posing and smiling, especially when it is 30 degrees outside.  Even the bride at the wedding felt like she left her own party to take thousands of photos.  There is no simple solution to this problem if you want wedding photos.  Comments welcome . . .

Anyways, I was so nervous.  I had empty stomach.  And completely sober.  But that stage actress in my awoke like the beast it is when I got started.  I forgot how great it is performing for a live audience who gives you energy and gets your adrenalin pumping. Oh, and by audience of course I mean guests at a wedding.

There are no real funny stories coming out of the wedding.  Nothing zany.  It was nice, it was fun and as soon as my job was over I was double fisting Growers Cider which could explain the horrific hangover the next morning.  

I did try to set up any single man at the wedding with my girlfriends - seeing as we were at the wedding of my last matchmaking attempt.  In fact, I believe I told one guy he would have NHL babies because her eggs were of NHL breed.  Oh, and I may have performed Spice Girls on the stage.  

The other thing about the last wedding?  I have officially become that girl.  The girl in the long-term relationship who tells the Engineer to get a move on.  The girl who sits at a table where people ask when her time will come. The girl who when the bride says (into the microphone) the 'three of us wondered who would be first, and I guess it's me' is one of those three, and the LAST.  That's right.  I've become desperado.  

More painful than being a bridesmaid for a ninth time . . . .

You Can Take the Girl Out of the Country . . . .

But you can't take the country out of the girl.

Isn't that how the saying goes?

Clearly it's true in my case.  Not that I was ever that country, I grew up on a farm and I still failed pretty miserably at the rustic ways.  Peeing outdoors?  All over my jeans.  Cleaning out the grain bins for harvest?  Had an asthma attack sending me to emergency thus never having to do that painful chore again.  Cow whisperer?  Flew a kite that got away and tangled in a bulls horns.  

But there is a deep down part of me that is all farm and country.  My pride perhaps.  I take great pride in being from Alberta and at least knowing where my bread comes from.  I only buy Canadian grown meat to support men like my father and those around us.  I am also pretty good at driving  a tractor.  If you think driving in circles is good.

Last weekend, I hightailed it to my friend's amazing cabin on Green Lake, which is near 100 Mile House, BC.  It was AMAZING. I love love love being at the cabin.  I half grew up at a cabin with my best friend near Lake of the Woods, ON, and have since been obsessed with someday owning my own piece of cottage heaven.  I love lake swimming.  So much so, that once passing Ruby Lake, I yelled for the Engineer to stop the car so that I could race down the hill and jump into the summer-warm waters of the clear lake.  I must admit that I was a bit of a wimp this weekend.  It was windy.  And the sun was hiding.  So I enjoyed the water from the boat.  Ha!

Anyways, across the lake is a ranch called The Flying U.  I have heard about this place for years, and have even written a teleplay about it.  So of course, I practically freaked out when we got in the truck and headed for saloon heaven.

This is where my country comes in.  Halfway between the karaoke choruses of Shania Twain and Madonna, I decided to go on a bit of an adventure.  It started with me looking for the bathroom and ended with me climbing the fence of the corral in the pitch dark (wearing a dress and flip flops) and sneaking to the barn.  The farm dog came bounding after me, but I used my super dog whisperer skills and he rolled on his back.  I then went to the barn to find in padlocked so went to each of the windows.  I talked to the horses.  TALKED TO THE HORSES.  Okay, by this point I hope you realize I was three sheets to the wind.

Next, I maneuvered my way onto the  . . .  okay, this is how non-farm girl I am, I can't remember the name.  And it's too late to call my dad.  The thingy that the cows go up to get into the truck that eventually leads them to their death.  Which again, in the dark and in flip flops is tricky.  And then I got all emotional.  The smell of the dried cow patties, the wood, the barn and dirt took me back to my childhood and my grandmother.  So there I am looking at the stars, standing on a cow pattie and lamenting to my grandmother how much I miss her when I hear a round of 'Sarah!' 'Sarah!'. 

Oh right, my friends.

So I jumped down, hurtled my way over the fence and ran to them.  Telling them my great adventure of 'breaking into the barn'.  I think that's when they knew it was time for me to go home . . . .