Interviews Bucket-list

When journalists get talking, inevitably they start to drop names to put a Hollywood agent or socialite to shame.

From talking to mayors about their kids to Members of Parliament about hockey and party leaders about travels; from Jimmy Herman (from Dances with Wolves) about addictions, to George Stroumboulopoulos about moshing at concerts; and from Canadian astronauts, veterans and engineers to more musicians and great artists than I can keep count... I've had my share of chats with charismatic people who made for an engaging interview.

It's the sort of conversation that you just don't want it to end because it's just a completely invigorating battle of wits or enlightening and hilarious or sad stories that really challenge a writer to get it right.

So when I hear of a great story, like a great man and his dog, like Roosevelt and his Scottish Terrier, Fala or Mackenzie King and his Irish Terriers, Pat and Bob. Or when I read a biography like George Carlin's outspoken critiquing and critical thinking on social issues. I think, would I love to have been able interviewing them. Not to say that normal people aren't interesting, yet a witty mind like of someone like Dr Seuss would be fun to pick through and quote.

Maybe I'll just do that from these people's speeches and letters -- could be fun. Of course, like most writers, I have a bucket list that gets longer as I try to get through it.

Here's a short list with whom I'd love to sit down if they were still around:

Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Jane Goodall, and Alexander Bell -- a few of the heroes of science.

Mark Twain, Hunter S. Thompson, Margret Atwood, and Ernest Hemmingway -- writers with long conversation over drinks.

Dorothy Lange, Yousef Karsh, Ted Grant, and Henri Cartier-Bresson -- amazing photographers who I admire.

Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, and Janis Joplin -- voices of a generation before my own came into existence.

Fidel Castro, William Churchill, the Dali Lama, and Mohandas Gandhi -- leaders in peace and freedom.

Mother Teresa, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, and Helen Keller -- saints of tolerance and patience.

Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, the Wright Brothers, and Alan Shepard -- flying off on adventure fearlessly.

Babe Ruth, Larry Bird, Johnny Bright (CFL running back) and Maurice Rocket Richard -- breaking sports records and striving in life.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Princess Di, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn -- charm and grace embodied.

Julia Child, Jamie Oliver, the Iron Chef, and Gordon Ramsey -- masters of one of my favourite subjects, cooking.

This list is hopefully not missing anyone incredible, and I know I've likely missed Olympians and other great speakers and leaders.

But more so plenty of those 'ordinary' people who became heroes by their actions. Those great local people who deserve 15 minutes of fame.

One great source of those stories are indie magazines and weekly newspapers. Those people were the most fun and rewarding to talk with like this young teacher who was awarded a top honour for making a difference in her class and caring about her kids.



Or this guy who had hunted down a speedy, shy and elusive jackalope. Sadly I was unable to have enough room in the newspaper layout to print this photo. So as usual, it was the tall tale that got away. The guy was really neat to talk with about hunting and the camaraderie out in the woods.

It's just as hard to get those shy people to open up, but once they do, it's awesome.

The real question is who do we miss hearing the real story from? Those who are those unsung heroes from all walks of life; those who are old and feel they are forgotten; those who are the local wise-crack or just plain wise; those who do all kinds of amazing things and are humble in their talents or contributions.

Take some time to listen, for those who need to tell their story too.

No gripes with newspaper

There hasn't been much activity on my site for the past few months and for good/poor reasons. I've been going through what is called slow fuse but total burn-out. Working 10-14hrs a day with few off will apparently do that and yet I had few complaints.

Despite the bizarre work schedule and writing time-lines, I enjoyed it and come out with no regrets. I put so much time and effort into my articles that it was occasionally depriving me of sleep and sanity. It didn't drive me crazy, just made me wonder why I tried so hard if next week it was going to be in the recycling bin or buried online. Completely worth it though to find and break my limitations and find out what I didn't care for or really enjoyed about the business of writing.

Short list of non-good times:

Fire & collision scenes = Not excitement or drama, only cold, icy & scary to hope it wasn't someone I knew.
County meetings and local politics = more interesting than I'd think and straight out of Leacock's writing.
Local swim meets = splash zone and worse on a cold camera lens and CMOS sensor, but 200 kids -- track a dozen?
School/community fundraisers = nice philanthropic attempts, but came up disappointingly short sometimes.
Economic development committees and a conference or two = exceeded my expectations entirely, but still dry.

Worst part, interviews going hostile or confused, or not even happening for lack of call-back leaving me with half/no article to write on a subject that needed sources to fly.

Most unfun was sleepless nights, away from my lovely lady and close friends, finishing up articles for a few days before deadline. There was always one with notes from a source didn't make sense, or wouldn't be good to quote as questionable facts, even less fun to salvage.

The good parts? When I was told I made a difference in someone's life or non-profit cause, it made up for the rest of a long haul. I wrote about exciting local sports and fun hobbies, tournaments and charities drives. It was an intrinsic reward to hear that I got it right about little known subjects like fur trapping, medical sonar technician, or martial arts training.


Free local sports games and fun concerts, more than I could race between the arenas, pools and community halls on a weekend before Monday deadline. Meeting and interviewing intriguing people was amazing -- more than a few of them shy/humble, but really interesting once they uncorked their hidden passions.

It was half frustration in getting let go because I finally admitted I wasn't cut out for the long hours, short deadlines of a small weekly newspaper, and hard to get to that point. It felt like I had no life even though I was doing an amazing amount of work out in the community and adrenalin high. Yet if I went out for a beer, someone would frown on it.

If I said something controversial, ignored a lobbying interest, or wrote unpopular truth, I would hear about it loudly.

What I did learn the most and enjoy was when an interview turned into something more than the 15 minute special news spot and a feature worth profiling something out of the ordinary. Those were the best parts when I could pitch something to my editor that was more than basics. For the record, editors have a wry sense of humour, wealth of experience and seem to love still learning new subjects.

When what I was writing clicked and I got a rare great response. When what people were doing was out of the ordinary and they didn't realize it until they read the article and went wow, that was too kind of you to paint us in that light, but thank you.

After writing nearly 250 articles and three car oil changes over the last six months, I saw my share of action -- moments of disbelief that I was having so much fun, or there lack of. Going through articles for scrapbook and portfolio, I had grown as a writer. So I can only hope writing independently and freelance will be just as amazing a journey.

If I get another shot at a newspaper? Great.

But the best part? My own desk and a press badge. Mission complete.

Sub-zero Alberta?

Take off to the Great White North eh. Those famous wanna-be Canucks Bob & Doug Mackenzie had the Americans convinced it was frozen up here 365.

To brave typical Alberta winter can require layering of thermal shirt and long johns, woolly socks, wind-proof or snow pants, toque, scarf or neck warmer, ski mitts, even ski mask and goggles against the wind.

It's not the Great White North for nothing and before I found Baffin -40C rated boots I remember resorting to donning multiple pairs of wool socks.

That was a couple winters ago. Currently, the dress code is still ready for shorts weather.

Penguin hosers took all the cold this year so Bob & Doug need to do a reunion tour to update on the climate.

(Exhibit A walking on ice was taken in November 2009 -- I got cabin fever that year real bad.)

Christmas Day a friend in Calgary was complaining it was green and I had no sympathy coming from Victoria BC where it's a rainy Christmas regularly. Another friend wondered if we got skipped this year for winter.

I hadn't thought twice and figured it was a Chinook wind melting the fun of the tobogganing hill.

It was perfect weather for ice fishing, nice and sunny. I even did one of my last assignments of the year out on the lake. It only snowed hard in mid-November.

Yet in the past few years, I remember not wanting to leave the house voluntarily for weeks of December or January because the windchill was so frigid. I haven't even hit cabin fever yet so far, knock on wood... cabin.

The barometer is staying balmy so I'll reminisce on the signs of winter not appearing yet.

Had to kick my car doors to unstick them after frozen twice over-night instead of nightly.
Only been scared to be driving on overly icy roads a few times.
Have only driven in one blizzard, not weekly.
My heating bill is unseasonally low and that's okay.
Haven't gotten frost-bite practically for exposing any bare skin for two minutes.
My camera lenses have only fogged up once from a long assignment outside.
I haven't made any hot cocoa or taken any with me on photo shoots.
I haven't unpacked my parka and am still only wearing a polar fleece hoodie.
Have only used my snow shovel once to clear the driveway and three times for porch.
I've gotten colder in the hockey arena than when exiting it.

It's great for now. Yet I'm scared February is going to hit with a vengeance of blizzarding in the frozen wastelands. That or we'll have late snow in May -- not entirely unheard of around here.

Supposedly it's supposed to dip down to -15C by the end of the week. For now, it's a bit confusing and I had to double-check my direction of travel as I saw two flocks of Canadian geese flying north last week.

Suits me fine when I can't go home and decide whether I should declare it pre-maturely sandal weather.

P.S. I had to go through some of my archives even just to find some frosty photos. This last one was taken in late April 2007 when it started to finally defrost. I'm hoping it won't be a repeat deep-freeze.

P.S.S. I take full responsibility for jinxing this warm-front with my observation ^_^


~~ PLR ~~

more clean Sunday school jokes

Went through a collection of jokes, and some of them are pretty decent, but some were nothing in comparison to the real wisecracks and cheeky fun heard in the pews after church. Anyhow, picked out half a dozen and the last was just something that made me smile because of some of the lil'churches I've attended over the summer on my internship roadtrip. So do enjoy.



A Sunday School teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"
One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."


A little boy was overhead praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am.


An elderly gentleman passed his granddaughter's room one night and overheard her repeating the alphabet in an oddly reverent way.
What on earth are you up to?" he asked.
"I'm saying my prayers," explained the little girl.
"But I can't think of exactly the right words tonight, so I'm just saying all the letters. God will put them together for me, because He knows what I'm thinking."



A child came home from Sunday School and told his mother  that he had learned a new song about a cross-eyed bear named  Gladly.  It took his  mother a while before she realized that  the hymn was really "Gladly The Cross I'd Bear,"


An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of religious service when she was startled by an intruder. As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled, "Stop - Acts 2:38!" (..turn from your sin...) The burglar stopped dead in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, "Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you."

"Scripture?" replied the burglar, "She said she had an AXE and two 38's!"


YOU MIGHT BE IN A COUNTRY CHURCH IF . . .
1. The doors are never locked.
2. The Call To Worship is "Y'all come on in!"
3. People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the ark.
4. The Preacher says "I'd like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering" - and 5 guys stand up.
5. The restroom is outside.
6. Opening day of deer hunting season is recognized as an official church holiday.
7. A member requests to be buried in his 4-wheel drive truck because "I ain't never been in a hole it couldn't get me out of".
8. In the annual stewardship drive there is at least one pledge of "2 calves".
9. Never in its entire 100-year history has one of it's pastors had to buy any meat or vegetables.
10. When it rains, everybody's smiling.


thanks to the wonderful people who have collected these clever and cutesy jokes over the years:
http://louisvilleemmaus.com/jokes.html

Bachelor breakie

Warning, this meal is not cholesterol conscious nor something my woman wouldn't let me make for that reason. Apparently heart disease runs in the family or something.

Lazy and wholesome, this makes for comfort food, therefore one of the best meal ever for a bachelor.

It's pretty simple and takes about 10-15minutes to put together and only requires an flipper and a skillet of awesomeness.

Fry up the sausages then the perogies -- boil first for more speed. Throw some sauerkraut to fry for a moment.

If making this for supper, crack a beer open and enjoy the quick & easy grub.

Some would say that ketchup is no good compared to sour cream but I lacked sour cream at the time.

My German roots account for the sauerkraut. As a bachelor meal, this classifies the fermented cabbage as a veggie still.

So between perogies, full of cheese and potato, sauerkraut far outweigh getting scurvy.

Comfort food is good when I'm home-sick as I made lots of it during college and high-school.

It may be heavy, but it does the trick after a long winter day or to get you through another one for breakfast.


Enjoy and beware of orcs in case your skillet is still in use.

~~ PLR ~~

Tomato, Eggplant and Feta Penne

What do you do with an eggplant? I didn't know what to put it in, other going to the deli for baba ganoush, musaka or grilled. Eggplant is simple to fry. And lower cholesterol, more on that in a moment.

Just need a few other ingredients and grill things real fast and throw it together and pretend it's all fancy.

In case you've never dealt with eggplant, wash it and chop it like a potato -- seeing as both are night-shade plants and part of the same family.

It has a bit of a spongy consistency, but when it cooks up it shrinks.

As you can see, list of ingredients are a few tomatoes
a small can of tomato paste
an eggplant
1/4 cup of cilantro
1/2 cup of feta cheese
a few grilled sausages

Boil 3 cup of penne at the same time as prepping other stuff.

Cube up eggplant to throw in the frying pan until fried up good.

Chop in tomatoes and paste, cilantro and sausage to fry it up good. Crumble up the feta into the mix and stir into penne noodles.

Just a FYI of awesome random facts from good ol'Wikipedia because eggplant is pretty nifty.

The plant is used in cuisines from Japan to Spain. It is often stewed, as in the French ratatouille, the Italian parmigiana di melanzane, the Turkish karnıyarık or musakka, and Middle-Eastern and South Asian dishes. Eggplants can also be battered before deep-frying and served with a sauce made of tahini and tamarind. 


The fruit is botanically classified as a berry, and contains numerous small, soft seeds, which are edible, but have a bitter taste because they contain nicotinoid alkaloids; this is unsurprising as it is a close relative of tobacco.

Studies of the Institute of Biology of São Paulo State University, Brazil, have shown eggplant is effective in the treatment of high blood cholesterol.


There's some other nifty history and fun so check it out if you like. Other than that, it's pretty tasty.

All else you need is some good company and a bottle of red wine.

Bonne appetite!