down to earth

Hi everyone! In the waning days of winter, at least on the south coast of BC, I really start looking forward to the promise of spring and a chance to enjoy a lazy afternoon overlooking the sea and the coast range. Recently I have gotten some frightening news about a family member that was in a major car accident. The details of which at the time I do not know much. I am aware however that he was the victim of a drunk driver. As a person that struggled with alcohol addiction for many years I understand the inability for a person to make sane decisions when they are intoxicated. I can only ask from the bottom of my heart for those of you who do consume alcohol to arrange for your transportation before you start drinking. I made the mistake way to many times of making it easy for myself to drive when I shouldn't have. How many times have you done the same? Alcohol is an extremely dangerous drug, disabling your ability to make rational decisions, while at the same time giving you a sense of immortality. Not a safe combination when you are behind the wheel. The only answer for some of us is to give it up all together. If you think you could be in this group don't worry, there's many of us out there that share alot of your fears and problems.

A new project?

Well there goes January! The closer we get to spring, the more I start thinking about and preparing for the bounty of outdoor activity that blooms with the season. I was listening to a program on good 'ol CBC radio the other day that had a topic that caught my attention, as many of the fine programs do on the CBC. This one stood out because the guests were outdoor types that had recently given up some of their sporting activities due to the dangers involved and or severe injury sustained during them. This got me thinking about a new system to help outdoor enthusiasts plan for the best and prepare for the worst. I need to do alot of work to advance my idea. I believe it will help reduce injury rates and also could aid search and rescue opperations. The best part is it is very low cost and the technology is extremly simple. I don't really want to talk about it much more until I have done some more research and shopped around my idea, in case it has already been done. Keep an eye on my blog for more news on this idea.
I need to check the long range forecast for the island, I may de-winterize the 5th wheel a little early this year to try some late winter rv'ing. Corbin has been bugging me since November for us to go to Comox Lake, but now he asks me almost every day. I would like to see how the old rig performs in the cooler months as well. I'm sure the furnace would keep it plenty warm, however the solar panel may not be able to keep up with the load on the batteries from the furnace fan. The great thing about the lake is it's only 20 minutes away from home, so if worst comes to worst we can always pack up and be infront of a glowing warm woodstove within an hour. Hopefully we get an early spring, we can only wait for the groundhogs to pop up tomorrow, they seem to have a pretty good hold on the weather forecast. Hmm, suddenly I have a craving for campfire roasted meat on a stick.

freedom of speech

Greetings from the epicenter of climate change! The last few weeks of weather up here have been strange indeed. Radical temperature swings, higher then normal temps, freezing rain. Alot of folks are talking, and maybe finally accepting the onset of climate change in Northern Alberta. I wrote a shote post a few months ago about an early snowfall up here and my expectation of the last plus temp day for a while. Boy was I wrong. Many days have been warmer here than back home on Van Isl. To me, this is slghtly problematic as much of our business up here depends on freezing temps. We end up pushing through most of it and some of our best days have come during the worst of conditions, it says alot for the abilities of our operators to put out the production we do during adverse weather. I really do enjoy this work, I think every little boy at some time in his life wants to drive the big trucks, and for good reason, it truly is a fun job. That being said there are negative aspects to the industry that I am not very happy with at the present.I am a West Coaster, I consider myself to be a slight conservationist (not to be confused with conservative), and I rely on a spiritual relationship my surrounding environment to help me remain level headed. I believe in protection of sacred lands, and respect for those who we borrow this land from. We must leave some areas unspoiled to show appreciation for the land, water and air that we use and in some cases expliot on a daily basis. I beleive in a fine balance between nature and human necessities. Canada is losing this balance. We have a government that is blindly steering the ship into the rocks. I was going to say that I am shocked, but kind of predicted this during the last election. We are in the early stages of economic disaster, the government knows it and the only way they can right the ship is to sell the wind that pushes it forward. To them this cannot happen soon enough and they are willing to override any law, person or organization that stands in their way. I like to call this "oppression by legislation". Thay see anyone that is not in agreance with their agenda an extremist radical. The nation has never seen such a vulgar display of disrespsect to it's native people by a federal government since the residential schools. I am disgusted and ashamed to know that my tax dollars are funding this utter irresponsibilty shown by our leaders over the past days. I have written a letter to Premier Christy Clark explaining my stance on these issues and would like to ask of you all to follow suite. You can email her at premier.gov.bc.ca. Or go to the BC Liberal website and leave a comment there. She has stated that she wants accountability and openness in government and is the only leader with an election coming up. Her re-election depends on her stance on the Northern Gateway pipeline and the Oil Tanker Moritorium that is and has been serving the coastal BC waters for 30 years. This moritorium must stand and our first nations people must be respected. Our children deserve a clean, healthy environment as does the wildlife and the millions of people that travel from all edges of the earth to marvel in the pristine beauty and awe-inspiring ruggedness that so many of us take for granted. I cannot ask you enough, please get involved, educate yourselves, take a stand. This could be our last chance.

2012

A few days in to the new year and back to work after a good holiday break. As someone that lives life for today I was quick to nullify any notions of any new years resolutions, rather I strive to take the best out of the situations that can throw us off course from time to time. These little annoyances and things that slow us down are there to keep us in check really anyway. I almost reached my goal of running a mile in eight minutes, but fell short by 18 seconds, I am ok with that, I tried hard and managed to knock a whole minute of my first timed session in only a month. I will keep training, but have started to use the rowing machine more than the treadmill. I still find it tough to keep a regular gym schedule, the work day is long and rest sometimes takes precedent over exercise. I have recently learned a few things about the way we deal with certain foods and some that are much more damaging than I ever thought. I will now be avoiding grains, such as wheat, soy, barley and brown rice. These foods are rejected by up to 80% of us and contain many protiens that are linked to thyroid problems that can lead to obesity and diabetes. I have had stomach problems and discomfort in the past after comsuming most types of grains and cereals, so it only makes sense to omit them for a while and see if it helps out. The bonus to omitting these foods is you also drop most of your refined sugar intake at the same time, another major contributer to health issues down the road. I guess I have reached that stage in my life where I have to start caring more about my overall health, both mental and physical. I know you can't turn back the clock, but with a few of the choices I have made over the past few years I feel better today than I have in a long time. I look forward to some new adventures and life lessons that are sure to come in 2012. No resolutions, no regrets, may everyday be as good as it gets.

passion in poetry 1: the mountain bikers' duel

Twisting, turning, muscles burning.
Logs and ladders, ever learning.
Trees whisper secrets only known by elders.
An art form created by precission welders.
Over root and rock the tires bite.
Only fear holds you back, a constant fight.
Legs like pistons, your body the fuel.
Mind over matter, the mountain bikers' duel.
From blinding speed, a sudden halt.
An incline built by an ancient fault.
You press on empowered, you will not be defeated.
Around every corner, this struggle repeated.
Deep down inside, you harvest the power.
For soon you will conquer this granite tower.
A well deserved rest, you feel no pain.
An elixer of adrenaline courses your veins.
With great anticipation for the upcoming event,
you prepare your machine for a rapid descent.
Now hoots and hollers, no words are spoken,
as laws of physics are bent and broken.
Bars over axle, a relapse in time.
Dust yourself off, upon the saddle you climb.
No damage done, nothing hurt but your pride.
Cinch up your helmet, with courage we ride.
Through cedar and fir you dip and you dance.
You would flow on forever if given the chance.
But this ride must end as adventures gone past.
May every next ride be as good as the last.

episode 10: writers block?

Hello everyone! With the holidays near and lots of other projects on the go I sort of feel as though I have been neglecting the blog posts, not that I am bound to this or anything. I finally started running again, this time on the treadmill as the snow covered Northern Alberta ground has chased me indoors for exersize. At first I was sceptical as to my enjoyment level of stationary running, but I must admit I rather enjoy it. I have challenged myself to get below an eight minute mile by the new year which means I have to knock a full minute off my current pace. I am going to try for eight and a half by the end of this weekend, that gives a whole two weeks to knock off the remaining thirty seconds. I prefer my mountain bike this is for certain! A thirty minute hill climb on the bike is much easier than nine minutes of running. To be honest the hardest part of this whole idea is working up the motivation to do it, it's much easier to write blog posts.
I have been putting off writing about certain topics that are of my concern. I do not know the reasoning behind it, but you never know who might be reading your stuff so I suppose I am being cautious. Many of you know that I work in the mining/energy sector. There is obviously a tonne of controversy surrounding this field right now and I would not want to jeoprodize any of my relationships by saying the wrong thing, even if I see it as the right thing. My only hope is that we can all find a way for this industry to work while maintaining a strict adherance to environmental principles and practices. I will say that as a person in the field I see many good things happening as well as many improvments that need to be made. I am happy to say that I have never worked in a position where safety of the workforce has been prioritized as highly as it has in this one. The rest of it is up to us as a voting public to chose leaders that can maintain the best environmental and trading practices to ensure a healthy balance of ethical growth. There are plenty of ways to voice your opinion on some of the major issues surrounding this industry and I encourage everyone who cares about the future of this planet to become involved in some way.
Well then, with winter approaching and holidays near I wish everyone the best and I will most likely have a couple more posts before the new year, I had a bit of a mishap with my ceasar salad recipe last week, so I will try to get it up on Christmas Eve, that is when I am planning to make it next, this time I will add the oil slower so the mayo doesn't seperate. I also learned that baking is not my forte, but Corbin loved my cookies just the same. Kids will eat anything if there's enough sugar in it.

episode 9: Mike's Credo

Over the last couple of years I have been interested in Canadian literature. Wether it be fiction or non, new books or old classics doesn't really matter, as long as the author is Canadian it fits the bill. Out of a stroke of chance (delayed flight) I had some spare time at YQQ and was able to browse the book rack outside the gift shop. There, after looking at every book in the smallish assortment was an epic classic of which I have never heard of. This book was a fiftieth anniversary edition, written and wholly based around the newly named Salish Sea. The same waters which I have spent my whole life around, fishing, working, admiring and as I write this from 1500 km away, longing for. Lovingly and beautifully created by author Muriel Wylie (Capi) Blanchet it is a chronicle of the summers spent touring the South Coastal waters of British Columbia in their pleasure craft the Caprice. A widow and her five children. This book is a window into the past beauty of this rugged, unforgiving land and has re-kindled a fire inside me to explore all it has to offer. This is a small excerpt from the book "The Curve of Time".
Mike's own Credo, as he called it, was simple. He had printed it in pencil on a piece of cardboard, and had it hanging on his wall. He had probably copied it word for word from some book--because it expressed for him how he had learned to think and live. I put it down exactly as he had it.
"Look well of today--for it is the Life of Life. In its brief course lie all the variations and realities of your life--the bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty. For yesterday is but a dream, and To-morrow a vision. But To-day well lived makes every Yesterday a dream of happiness, and every To-morrow a vision of hope. For time is but a scene in the eternal drama. So, look well of today, and let that be your resolution as you awake each morning and salute the New Dawn. Each day is born by the recurring miracle of Dawn, and each night reveals the celestial harmony of the stars. Seek not death in error of your life, and pull not upon yourself destruction by the work of your hands."
So far I have only read maybe a third of this book, and as I read on I am sure to find a few more paragraphs which I may share on my blog. This is such a captivating read for me and I highly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in Canadian culture and history. Mike's Credo really jumped out at me because this is also how I have learned to live my life, and am constantly learning more.