cabin life-Summer vacation

Back in the 1930's my Grandfather Norman and his brother "Red"  bought two cabins deep in the woods south of Prince George B.C.  The cabins were skidded from a logging camp to a beautiful lakeside lot on a lake called "Bobtail".  It's along the Blackwater road which used to be called the Telegraph Trail and you can still find pieces of the old telegraph wire that used to run through there.

The forests are huge Fir and Pine trees, although much of the Pine has been killed off by the Mountain Pine Beetle.  There's an abundance of wild life and great fishing on the lake.  Steep hills and mountains and hundreds of lakes and rivers surround the area.  Since I was about 5 years old I spent my summers at "The Cabin" and have thousands of magical memories.  Great boyhood adventures and wonderfull family memories .  My wife and I even got married there.  Trina spread wild flower seeds everywhere that are now full and beautiful.

ARRGH--THE HUMIDITY!!

YEP--I REALIZE THATS NOT A PICTURE OF ME-----BUT IT IS WHAT MY HAIR PRETTY MUCH LOOKS LIKE IN THIS HUMIDITY......YIKES!  (THIS IS CHERYL BY THE WAY--NOT SHANE--HIS HAIR LOOKS FINE)

 I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT MY NEW BASEMENT SUITE IS A GODSEND IN THIS HEAT.  THE OLD APARTMENT BUILDING I'D BEEN LIVING IN WAS LIKE DANTE'S INFERNO WHENEVER THERE WAS A HEATWAVE---AND YOU CAN ASK BOTH SHANE AND ROBIN WHAT I'M LIKE WHEN ITS HOT AND I DONT GET ENOUGH SLEEP.  IE: IF I HAVE TO SUFFER---YOU ARE TOO!!!   CRANKY STUFF ASIDE---ITS SO MUCH BETTER FOR MY DOG AS WELL.  (SIDE NOTE TO ANYONE WITH A PET:  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DONT TAKE THEM WITH YOU IF YOU'RE DOING A LITTLE SHOPPING IN THIS HEAT----IF YOU THINK ITS UNBEARABLE FOR YOU IN A HOT VEHICLE---ITS WAY BEYOND THAT FOR ANIMALS--THEY DONT SWEAT THE WAY WE DO---AND BESIDES--THEY'RE WEARING FUR!)

middle class

Well...here's hoping everyone had a wonderful Canada day .  With our 141st birthday falling on a tuesday it created a bit of confusion as to what days we all took off.    At least the weather was gorgeous for outoor fun. 

Canada day is also a time to reflect on what it means to be Canadian.  One of the wonderful things about Canadians is how we are generally a very happy and generous country.  We really do care about other people and want to do whatever we can to help others out...we feel bad when we see others suffering.  I think it comes from our ancestors...many who came to Canada with a desire to create a better life and weren't afraid of hard work.  And they knew if they helped others out that one day that person might be able to help them out if they needed it.

play safe

Play safe....as a parent I know I've said it dozens of times to my kids.  I don't think they even had bicycle helmets when I was a kid and I definetly earned my share of bumps on my melon.  With all the safe gear kids have nowadays there is no reason not to wear it.  Big scare this past weekend when my nephew plowed his quad into and underneath a trailer.   The crash sheared off the handlebars and gas tank .  Little Carson's face smashed into the edge of the trailer which seperated his top gums and teeth from his skull but thanks to a full face helmet thats where the damage stopped.  Dental surgeons re attached everything and amazingly there should be no permanent damage.   But if it weren't for that helmet this blog might  have been a whole lot sadder!  Did a lot of praying thursday night.

Mysterious twins

Wow can you imagine trying to get anywhere if you were either one of those co-joined turtles?  "I wanna go this way...No I wanna go that way".  Are fertility drugs to be blamed for the over abundance of celebrity twins?  Think about it...Julie Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Diana Krall and soon....the wonderbabies for Brad Pitt and Angalina Jolie.  All week we'll be giving away tickets to see RyanDan...Ryan and Dan Kowarsky.  The identical twins...in both looks and incredible voice.  There is some weird and wonderful stuff about twins that we'll share.  Listen in to win tickets!

Yeah!  Cheryl's back from her vacation...she's joined the bike to work gang and will give you some tales from her adventures soon.  She had to put the seat down to the lowest level.  If Robin was here the "short stuff" remarks would have been flying.  I'll leave it to him.

golf entry

Here's the scoop on a free round of golf with me as your host.   I'm hosting the Realty Executives  annual golf tournament in support of the Edmonton food bank and I've got an opeing for two!  The date is Friday June 20th and includes a continetal breakfast , round of golf and steak dinner.  Of course there's all kinds of prizes .  So send me an email --telling me why you should go golfing with me, tell me a golf joke or funny story and I'll make the draw this friday June 13th.  You can email me anytime at smichaels@radio.astral.com

Getting a little tired of this rain?  Me too....we try to keep a positive spin on things on the EZ Rock morning show but summer is such a short season.  I try to get all my summer chores done before the kids are out for school  but even the painting and roofing have to be put off.   I'm just hoping that the home repairs don't interfer with the summer fun come July. At least it's inspired me to do more practise with the guitar.   RKM music is setting Robin Allen and I on the track to learning a musical instrument.  We both regretted not learning as youngsters so we're taking the plunge now.  Me on the guitar and Robin on the Accordian.  Robin has already discovered that you should never practise the Accordian with your shirt off!  And I'm getting blisters on my fingers but its been a great experience so far.

BYE BYE

I'M ON HOLIDAYS TIL THE 16TH----SO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE OTHER TWO N'ER DO WELLS ON THE MORNING SHOW.   

I DONT FISH--SO LETS JUST SAY---I'M GONE SLEEPIN'.......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE!!!

CHERYL

golfing for charity

Well here we go with the wonderfully busy charity golf tournaments.  I usually  host at least half a dozen a year where everybody has a great time, fun prizes and a great bar b q.  First up this year is The Realty Executives event June 20th at River Ridge golf course--the views here are spectacular!  Its kind of at the end of Ellerslie road.  The event is in support of Edmonton's Food Bank.

We're giving away two spots next week for fathers day to golf with me and my best buddy Chris.

If you would like to join us....here is the entry form....at the bottom.

By the way I got a few emails from people wondering how the guitar lessons are going with RKM music.  Three lessons down and I'm feeling pretty good...my fingers are getting tougher and I can play some chords and scales.....no serious stuff yet.  Teacher Al has been great  and is very good ...challenging but not too much.  Also if you're thinking about buying a musical intrument now is an excellent time as there are many sales on since this is kind of a quiet time of year.  RKM music is in Sherwood park and Millwoods.

comfort recipe

We usually associate comfort food with cold days but even in summer some comfort food feels and tastes great.   One of my favorites is Coquilles St. Jacques...now if you don't like seafood this one isn't for you since Scallops are the main ingredient.  It's a french cassarole that was invented to use up mashed potatoes. Cafe Select has always made one of the best but I wanted to be able to make it at home so I tried a few different recipes and this is the best one I found courtesy of Food Network Canada.  It only took me about 20 minutes and was very good but needs a little more seasoning than is listed .  A little more salt and pepper and next time I'm gonna try a little Terragon.

Sandi Richard's Coquille St. Jacques

  Yield:  4
Recipe Courtesy Sandi Richard, Fixing Dinner. Ingredients:

SEX, THE CITY AND MOVING

OKAY--AS MARTINA MCBRIDE WOULD SAY--"THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS".......

YES--I LOVE LOVE LOVE INDIANA JONES--AND STILL PLAN TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL ONCE THE CROWDS DISPERSE---BUT ITS GOING TO BE GREAT TO SIT DOWN FOR A MUCH NEEDED VISIT WITH FRIENDS CARRIE, SAMANTHA, MIRANDA AND CHARLOTTE.  I, LIKE MANY OTHER WOMEN WAS GLUED TO THE SHOW "SEX AND THE CITY" WHILE IT WAS STILL ON TV AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST--I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE ENDING WAS PRETTY LAME.  I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER SAYING--"THATS IT?"   WHEN THE END CREDITS ROLLED.....    AND IF YOU'RE LIKE ME  (OR POSSIBLY NOT)--YOU IDENTIFIED WITH ONE CHARACTER MORE THAN THE OTHERS.  (I TEND TO BE A 60-40 MIX OF MIRANDA AND CHARLOTTE--WITH A TEENY BIT OF CARRIE THROWN IN).   MY BIG THANKS TO OUR PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A SWEET LITTLE GET TOGETHER AT THE ELEPHANT AND CASTLE IN CITY CENTRE BEFORE THE 6:45PM SHOWING OF THE MOVIE THIS FRIDAY..  WE OF COURSE, ARE PLAYING SEX AND THE CITY TRIVIA THIS WEEK FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TIX TO THE MOVIE THAT EVENING---AND AN INVITE TO OUR EXCLUSIVE GATHERING RIGHT BEFORE.  THE E AND C IS GOING TO HAVE COSMOPOLITANS AND MUNCHIES FOR US---WE'VE GOT MR. BIG CHOCOLATE BARS--AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL PRIZE UP FOR GRABS AS WELL.  (CANT TELL YOU WHAT IT IS NOW--ITS A SECRET--BUT IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE COMING--YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!)