Sunshine in your Coffee – top ten morning songs

OK, OK. I usually hate top ten lists, but this collection will make your day better, happier, uplifting even. So what’s wrong with a little sunshine in your coffee? Even if it comes in a top ten list.

Anyway here’s my top ten morning songs… set your radio, phone, whatever you use or need to get your day going. I tried to make the links commercial free because who needs advertising to start your day? It’s about the music, so I also chose sound quality over video

Insert smiley face here. Have a great day. Someone loves you.

10. Good Day Sunshine / The Beatles
Exactly…Good Day Sunshine. Thanks Sir Paul, such an upbeat song and that piano dancing along with your feet as they hit the ground. Yes, it’s hot, “Burns my feet as they touch the ground.” Must be baked by now, eh Paul? And don’t we all love that lass named sunshine. Warms your soul she does.

9. Running down a dream / Tom Petty
What a way to start the day. Road trip? I call a road trip. SHOT GUN! “It was a beautiful day …me and Jer (Dell) were singing a little Run Away.” The road that leads to dreams, “There’s something good waitin’ down the road.” Isn’t there always? It’s never too late or early to hit the road of dreams. Chase it. Start the day by running down a dream.

8. I Wish / Stevie Wonder
Now if Stevie can’t get you moving, you seriously need a prescription (see Carol King). And it’s great to look back on a time in our lives when life was precious and easier, a time when we didn’t have any responsibility, when our only worry, “Was for Christmas what would be my toy,” but more importantly, it wasn’t the toy, “We were happy with the Joy the day would bring.” And if you can’t find joy, “sneak out the back door” and “write something nasty on the wall,” oh yea.

7. Billy Jean / Michael Jackson
No politics. Nothing. Just a good vibe. The song makes you wanna get up and dance. See, I’m moon walking right now. Well, sort of – running shoes on carpet is not the best environment for a little MJ pretending. Ummm maybe not the best guy to emulate, but hey right now it’s 1983 and Michael isn’t pretending he’s Peter Pan.

6. Breakdown / Jack Johnson
Now we are not talking about a mental breakdown, but wouldn’t it be nice if your car broke down on the way to work and you got out and took a leisurely walk outside. Explore your world. There is so much to see and do. Slow down and enjoy… “All the people in the street / Walk as fast as their feet can take them.” Join your own rat race. (And if your car doesn’t breakdown see Tom Petty.)

5. Beautiful / Carol King
“You gotta get up every morning with a smile on your face.” Now we all can’t be total happy freaks every day. I don’t really trust these kind of people. Either they’re on Prozac or they’ve been living in a cave for the last two decades. Anyway, we are all beautiful and we need to believe it and tell ourselves this every morning. Look in the mirror and say, “You’re beautiful…” And if that doesn’t work pop some Prozac and move into a cave.

4. Hey, Hey, Hey / Michael Franti
Because it’s Michael Franti, a man of peace, hope and vision. And if there’s one mantra I love, it’s live for the day , “Don’t let another moment slip away” and “Don’t let nobody tell you it couldn’t be done.” OK, double negative, but that’s not the point. Live your dreams.

3. Beautiful Day / U2
Explore your world and don’t see it in black and white – green and blue, perhaps, or maybe through those freakish glasses Bono wears. Live it, see it, and love it, “See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out/ See the Bedouin fires at night / the world is right in front of you…” Sometimes we take too many things for granted. Every day is a beautiful day. And the very poignant line “What you don’t have you don’t need it now.” How true. Be happy with what you have. And park the Visa card for a month. Do you really need another sack of hammers?

2. Three Little Birds / Bob Marley
Really, chill. Why start the day in a panic (see Prozac, if you can’t do it on your own). “Don’t worry…Everything gonna be all right.” Chill. Look out the window and be happy for what you have. Watch the sunrise, “Smile with the risin’ sun.” And yes, I saw him in 1979, my claim to fame.

1. Long Train Running / The Doobie Brothers
Start the day with love. I mean really,“Without love, where would we be now?” The quintessential question of life. Something we can’t get enough of. Love is the ultimate way to get your morning going. The guitar riff alone is enough to put a jump in your day. What do you need? Maybe a train to catch and get the hell outta here.

Basically make a playlist, pop some Prozac and hit the road…. Enjoy the day, week and month.

Gadget Gone GaGa

Lady Gaga has noting to do with this article, but the shoes are nice.

Flash! Flash! New toy weekend – a Samsung Nexus S. So much fun. I haven’t come up for air in days. I’m like a scuba diver, scouring a sunken TNT filled ship. My wife, however, not so happy. She’s  on the surface  seriously considering abandonment or chucking something to ignite the dynamite.

My poor partner in domestic crime. I think I talked to her twice the whole weekend. Not cool. All I know is that I responded like a doped up jackass to some hazy questions I was incapable of understanding. I have no idea what I agreed to, but I have a funny feeling, I will be watching a lot of Animal Planet and shopping at Fabricland for the next few weeks or months or years.

On refection, I see the need for someone to develop a “Quality Time App,” an application that slaps you upside the head and knocks you back  into reality. It works something like this. Not paying attention? Spouse or any family member sends a text message to a desired device – laptop, desktop or smart phone and because you’ve given loved one permission, two giant fingers pop out of the screen and attempt an eye jab. Ah, but you think you’re so smart because you’ve downloaded the “Three Stooges Block (TSB) App, but the Quality Time App (QT App) is smarter, drops one a finger and pokes you cleanly in the eye because it has seen those movies too. The “Q.T.” App is perfect for parents, students or anyone involved in serious relationships, including feline bonds or prison romances.

These smart phones are so addictive because the configuring never ends. I must have read fifty top ten app lists for the android, including a top ten list for top ten lists. But I guess that’s the point of addiction. It’s a continuous barrage of digital endorphins. Really, how many apps do you need? Another stock application? Is there yet another level? Do you really need to know how many calories in a double down? You can never get enough. There’s always a new app or device.

And don’t think games and devices aren’t structured that way. They need to keep you involved or you just might put it down and actually talk to someone or fix a leaky faucet (app for that?). They need to keep you active – always one more whatever. They are like cigarettes – “the first one is free.” The rush you can’t live without. Meanwhile, the tobacco companies just keep jacking up the nicotine or make it twice as potent (remember weed in the 70′s? You could smoke a garbage bag full of that stuff and still remember all the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody). 

Don’t get me wrong. I love gadgets. My Nexus is a dream. The pictures are bright. The sound is clear and it’s great to have one device for all my needs – phone, Internet and storage. But best of all it’s an Android, so I’m not part of the evil Apple empire. However, we need to know when enough is enough. We shouldn’t need a Quality Time App.

And please remember, sometimes it’s nice to go for a walk on a crisp spring day without robo-cop telling me how far I’ve gone or encouraging me every kilometer.

South Florida and the Keys – Camping in Saran Wrap

The plan was to camp down the Keys. We had our tiny “pup tent,” a shelter offering no more protection than Saran Wrap on a “Super Ham and Cheese” in the Everglades. (See previous entry – i.e. Alligators and Burmese Pythons.) We were a bit worried because we didn’t have a campsite reservation and apparently the sites fill up real quick, (I tried booking online two months ago through Reserve America but no go), so we decided to take the first available campsite. We arrived in Key Largo and pulled in to the John Pennekamp State Park. The ranger-looking guy at the booth told us we must of won the lottery, “Sure we’ll take four nights without looking at the site.”

When we pulled into the site we cried – the site was nothing more than a gravel pit beside two RVs – one with a blaring TV, the other blasting air conditioning. And not a single tree offering protection from old guy in underwear walking around his RV. But valuable lesson learnt – look at the campsite first and the guys who work the park booth are salesmen not Ranger Ricks. The 180 dollar gravel strip was not what we had in mind.

Even though this was not our “ideal” camping trip. The campground was immaculately clean, perhaps a bit too manicured for our liking. If I had children with me, it’d be an ideal place to hang out for a few days – in a trailer NOT a tent – because there is tons to do: fishing, the best snorkeling in the Keys, two beaches in the park, glass bottom boat rides, fishing, and showers. But it is not primitive camping unless air conditioning and satellite TV were used by the ancient Seminoles in the area. Two days and we’d had enough. Time to head to Key West.

The drive was wonderful with lots of little parks with beaches to stop and enjoy the scenery like Anne’s Beach (MM 73.5) or the Veteran’s Memorial beach (MM 40 – Little Duck Key). Another great stop is Curry Hammock State Park (it’ll cost you six bucks for the day) – the beach was quiet and the snorkeling great. We stopped to eat at The Fish company in Islamadoa and had the dolphin sandwich. Not the mammal – the fish – they really have to rename the fish. You mean I’m gonna eat Flipper, mommy? The ocean view was stupendous.

We finally hit Key West. I sucked in the warm tropical booze filled air as packs of scooters zipped by. Our hotel location was perfect – at the south end near Duval Street. Drop the bags and let’s get the party started. Duval street is bar after bar. You can stagger from the Atlantic side to the Gulf of Mexico. The first thing I noticed was people walking down the street with drinks. Really? I got a conflicting opinion on this, but from a self-interested bartender – of course he wanted us to stay and drink at his bar and NOT on the street. I think the rule is – don’t act like an idiot and you’re OK (and perhaps don’t bring outside liquor into another bar or restaurant).

The next day we did the Hemingway thing – Hemingway house at 12.50 per person. Expensive, but necessary, just to go into his writing room and breath in the cat urine. In fact the whole house smelled like cat piss. The next time I read ‘ol Papa, I’m going sit in a litter box and see if I garner any extra insight. Then on to Capitan Tony’s “Hemingway spent a life time here.” The place was a shit hole. Sloppy Joe’s was better. And the final Hemingway touch – hangover number, bla, bla.

With hangover number, bla, bla in check (Gatorade and Advil – our Key West breakfast of champions) we decided (needed?) to rent scooters rather than numbing our way around town. The scooters are dirt cheap, about 25 bucks for a full day. What a great way to bomb around the island, especially since we needed more Tequila and Margarita mix. Buy booze from one of the vendors in the Old Town and you need your children as a down payment. Albertson’s in the New Town, mucho better. A final trip to the Southernmost Hotel for happy hour – cheap, cheap appies and drinks, another trip down Duval and we were ready to head back to Fort Lauderdale and then home.

Awesome trip. I can hardly wait for next year… after I take canoe lessons (or learn to swim faster than a gator or water moccasin), learn all the words to “Frère Jacques,” leave the tent and backpack at home and make reservations in Key Largo and Key West, but most of all when my liver finally recovers from the beer, tequila, cigars and great experience.

South Florida and the Keys - Part One

Minus fifteen and we are heading to south Florida – the land of alligators, sunshine, oranges and conch, home to Dexter, Horatio Cane, the Dolphins and Jimmy Buffet. With our backpacks loaded, we are ready to feast at my brother’s joint and then camp the Keys, the centre piece of our vacation or so we thought.

First stop, Fort Lauderdale where the humidity hits me like a damp towel, springing my hair into bozo the clown contortions. My brother and me, our first Floridian embrace (a long time coming). Then cigars, beer, Irish Whiskey and finally dumping Simon, my nephew, in the drink.

But we run out of beer, so it’s time to hit the musty streets on bicycles in December, unheard of in the blistering cold climate of Western Canada. We scream into the warm night all the way to the local gas station. Crappy beer but what do you expect at midnight. I don’t know what it is, but when I go to the US I have to have at least one can of Budweiser (Super Bowl hangover?), but I’m glad I got it done on the first night because there are so many great beers in the US. The “wuzzzup” jokes continue until the beer runs out, again.

The next day we are off to Whole Foods with my Sister-in-law (or whole pay cheque as me bro calls it). Are you serious? Fresh Blue Point Oysters, crab and shrimp? Blueberries that aren’t previously frozen? Wow. We take the oysters home (a little pricey, but sooo worth it) and eat a few raw – with Tabasco and Worcester sauce and the rest we “Rockefeller” up with spinach, Hollandaise, red onion, garlic and Stilton. Heaven. Stone crab was in season and looked delectable but too expensive so I bought Florida shrimp instead and these puppies were incredible, plump and sweet – sautéed with a bit of lime and red onion. We ate them like popcorn. I was also amazed by the Florida avocados – massive and a bright neon green (just like gator eyes). Can you say guacamole every day? Tossed in with left over shrimp the next day on some scrumptious fresh bread – an awesome lunch. We also picked up a schwack of Yuengling Traditional Lager, a huge step up from the tall boys (we also parked the bikes for sober riding). The food and drink sends me reeling for the real estate pages.

Next was a full moon canoe trip on the Everglades in Loxahatachee National Wildlife Refuge – home to alligators, water moccasins, coral snakes and Burmese pythons (luckily you can kill these foreigners because they are invasive in the Everglades… but still, these massive constrictors eat alligators, small children and pasty white Canadians). Oh joy, canoeing through a swap with scary reptiles that can either paralyze or death roll ya. But hang on, I’m Canadian and canoeing is in my blood. Yea right, that tradition left my family right after the Plains of Abraham.

The first part of this harrowing boat trip was frightful. We spin in frantic circles, screaming at each other while neon eyes glare at us, just waiting (Go ahead, Simon, stick your foot in the water…dare ya! Says Mr. Alligator). The panic subsided about half way through the trip as we finally got control of the boat and moved pleasantly down the middle of the saw grass canal (right means left in a canoe). After regaining our confidence (with a couple of “Full Sail,” IPAs), we sang French Canadian songs as the gators darted out of our way.

An awesome trip, one to be remembered for a lifetime and all possible because Tanya, my sis, actually cares about our world, reptilian as it may be. But as a suggestion, go with someone with more experience than a relative called Jacques who died in 1759. It’ll make the experience less stressful. With our fears settled, time to move south to the Keys.

Winter plunge – think positive

Right now, it’s -31 with a -39 wind chill. Awesome. Blasts from the polar region makes life interesting and challenging. How many people have experienced -31? Polar Bears, the Inuit and Popsicles. We are unique (try explaining -39 to a Kiwi). When it’s this cold, activities abound; for example, the car sprint – run to your car, start it and sprint back inside. In fact, this challenge has the potential for a new Olympic sport – the twenty metre car dash. Of course Canada and Norway would compete for the gold.

At home, you only have a few options. One, get under a warm blankie, sip hot tea and read a book, usually something by a Russian author, long, cold and dark. Another option is to take a scorching hot shower, drenching yourself for the length of a Russian novel and then quickly jump into bed. Keeping warm, keeps you on your numb toes. And you may need more than a novel because you never know how long the blast will last.

Now one mustn’t drown in icy cold depression during these nasty Arctic blasts. On the positive side, there is always some place colder – Igloolik Airport, Nunavut was -43 C at the time of writing. Antarctica, a balmy -49 C and Mars has an average temperature of – 67 C. So it could be worse, way worse. Think your ears are ready to fall off in -25? Your whole face would fall off in Nunavut or on Mars.

Then there’s the “Death Star” benefit. These freezing temperatures kill everything that does not belong here. We will never have a Burmese Python problem – go ahead Mr. Snake take a slither outside! This is also why fleas or bed bugs don’t make a living here. Dog has fleas? Let him outside for thirty minutes or so. Bye bye, fleas. Same for bed bugs – put the mattress out for a few days and voilà, gonzo bugs. But best of all it keeps creatures like people from Toronto from moving here. A little chilly for ya, Mr. Maple Leaf fan? Or nasty insects from British Columbia (unfortunately not Canuck fans), like the nefarious pine beetle which are too afraid to cross the border into Alberta.

Need to burn those extra Christmas calories? Try doing the car dash in your slippers and jammies – the calories just drop like frozen turkeys. And sprinting with bags full of groceries, definitely keeps your weight in check as well as balance – put that bongo balance ball away. Definite health benefits, not to mention the amount of smokers who give up rather than risk death puffing outside.

And art formations everywhere. Beautiful ice crystal patterns covering windows in a solid block of ice. Spring is here when we can finally see out our windows. The tranquility outside is unimaginable – not a dog to chase you or a bird to poo on you. Not a sound anywhere except the crackle of the air in your lungs.

Yes, yes this is the perfect time of year. Beautiful, quiet and over population is never a problem. But don’t get to comfortable, spring is only three months away. Or Florida in five hours.

Books and Booze – the Ultimate Paring.

Top Shelf Books

Certain drinks are paired rather magnificently with food. Think Bordeaux with blood rare beef or a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with oysters on the half shell. Or perhaps a lager like Samuel Adams with fish tacos. How about ice cold vodka with smoked salmon and pickles? It's getting close to Christmas, so here are some great ideas for the perfect gift – a thrilling piece of literature paired with a tantalizing bottle of libation (wrap as you please) and testing before giving, greatly encouraged – Cheers! Salute! Santé! Sláinte! Skål!

The Girl with/who novels, Steig Larsson – Although there’s not much drinking in the books (more shopping at IKEA and running away from very nasty people), the young heroine, Lisbeth, might stop for a few moments in between hacking computer networks and tattooing obscene gestures across a sexual predator’s chest and have a couple of drinks. The books are very hard to put down, so the reader also needs to stay awake until the blood shot hours of the morning. So for this selection (and package the whole series together because like last call shooters once you start, you can’t stop) go with a six pack of Red Bull or any high powered energy drink and Vodka – ice cold. Put it in the freezer before you hand it out as a gift. And let’s go with the Swedish spirit of choice Absoult – pick your flavour perhaps pepper (spray) or lemon.

Dubliners, James Joyce – One of the best short story collections ever. Dublin comes alive – good and bad. You can smell the Christmas Goose in the “Dead” or the musty old room in “The Sisters.” The drink? So many great Irish beers to choose from. Throw a copy of the book in with a six pack of Guinness, Kilkenny or Caffery’s, but be careful Guinesss is a Protestant beer and might offend some Catholics, but this not a concern for Joyce. Also try Smithwicks or Harp. (And if you want a more recent novel Anne Enright’s “The Gathering” would pair very nice as well.). Also try a nice shot of Irish Whisky like Bushmills 10-Year-Old Single-Malt or some Michael Collins to go with the creamy Irish Ales.

The Sea, The Sea, Iris Murdoch – Lovely story about a man who tries to isolate himself on the English coast, but gets ravaged by guests from his past. Wonderful book, you can taste the sea and feel the wine. In the book Charles loves his Spanish Rioja – Marques de Rioja is a great bargain or Bodegas LAN Rioja Crianza or DON Tempranillo (although not a Riojas – a very nice Spanish wine). He also has a few episodes with whisky, but since the novel was written in the seventies, well before the “single malt” craze, the poor bastard probably had to drink Johnny Walker red label or J and B. However you don’t. See Rebus below.

Any Rebus novel (see reading list), Ian Rankin – The great Scottish police constable Rebus loves his drink. Think of those dark rainy Scottish nights, ducking into the the local pub for a dark creamy pint and a whisky just to warm the dampness from your bones. The constant inclement weather in the novels makes winter the perfect season to read Rebus because it’s also Scotch season. And unlike poor Charles, Rebus drinks the good stuff – single malt scotch. For scotch, the choice is endless, but try Balvenie – Double Wood 12 yr. or the Signature. They are great bargains. Also any Macllan is wonderfully soothing although the higher the age, the higher the price. If you want a bolder scotch try Lagavulin 16 or Talisker 10.

Disgrace, The Life and Times of Michael K, J.M. Coetzee – These two novels take place in the great wine producing regions of South Africa – Paarl, Worchester and Stellenbosch, but during apartheid. Both novels give you a sense of what the Cape Town area was like before wine. Try the Stellenbosch Cabernet or Stark-Condé Syrah or a Ken Forrester Cape Breeze Chenin Blanc. Beach House, a Sauvignon/Semillion blend, is a great deal for under 15 bucks. Or go bubbly with a Graham Beck Brute.

The Sea, John Banville – Another Irish novel, so keep up with the pints, but Max loves his brandy – so much that he passes out on the beach and nearly drowns. Careful. A Martell or Hennessy Cognac would go pleasantly with the novel.

On the Road, Jack Kerouac – the cheapest California red you can find. The key here is quantity, not quality, so a nice box of wine would work well. If you don’t have a headache the next day, your not getting a full blast of the classic American novel. However, the California wine industry has improved enourmously since the days of Jack, so no use in getting an ugly headache from drinking cheap wine. The choice of great wine is endless, but a nice Zinfindel like Ravenswood or a Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Blackstone Syrah from Sonoma County or Hahn Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast would go great with the novel, but it must be red. The beat boys sipping a glass of Chard, don’t think so.

Some other notables …

Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy – Vodka, of course, ice cold out of shot glasses. Should be served with a large portion of cold fish. Try a Grey Goose or Iceberg a wonderful spirit from Canada.

Fall on your Knees, Anne Marie MacDonald – Moonshine, of course. Her father was a bootlegger, so try some good Rum like 1 Barrel (Belize,dark rum) or Mount Gay Special Reserve (Barbados,white rum).

From Charles Dickens … I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

And to all a great Christmas and good holiday cheer all the year.

First published on The Center for Fiction.

Deck the Halls with Greedy Balls

I’m sitting on my comfy couch relaxing on Friday evening watching a little “Tree House” (a commercial free TV station for kids under six) with my niece. My eye balls slap the floor as I watch a toy commercial sleazily slipped between between Harry and his Dinosaurs and The Cat in the Hat. My niece looks over to me and says, “I want that, uncle.” Unbelievable. Can’t those marketing monsters stay away from pre-school kids. I mean really. Do they have to destroy perfectly innocent little minds with Christmas commercials in a shop free zone. I don’t know where to direct my anger – the television provider, banks, toy companies, or the outlets that sell them. They are all culpable, feeding off each other like sharks on cocaine filled kiddie candy.

Next comes a phone call from my bank. Again on the same stress free, family filled Friday night. “Hello, it’s your bank calling. I hope you weren’t doing any thing special,sir” says the kid with an accent. I’m not sure if he’s from Toronto or India. “Not really,” I say with my niece sitting next to me. “I’m hear to help you with all your banking needs, sir.” “Great can you lower the interest rate on my line of credit?” “Have you thought about a secure loan? If you put your house up as collateral, we’ll gladly lower your rate, sir.” “So you want my house and then you’ll lower my interest rate.” “That’s right, sir.” It’s a good thing my niece is next to me or I’d blow a gasket at prime plus 4.5.

So let me get this strait the fact that we haven’t missed a payment like EVER and we both have secure jobs – my wife working for the government for 30 years and me in the same industry for over 20 years is not enough. In addition to paying thousands upon thousands of dollars in interest to you, Mr Bank, thus allowing to you make over 3 billion in profit last year. And being your valued customer for over fifteen years. That’s not enough security. You want my house. “A secured loan, sir.”

Don’t these bank executives look past the numbers, the formulas? Isn’t this what caused part of the collapse in the US? People putting their house up for collateral and when the market crashed and these poor people were put out on the street? On Wall Street protesting. Don’t these executives realize that the original purpose of banks was to keep money flowing so capitalism works (you need to expand we’ll help, with modest interest). Not lend money at exorbitant rates to make billions in profit. Hardly a flow of capital.

Then I get a letter from self same bank saying they want to increase my Visa limit. Because you’re a valued customer, unsecured and we’ll only charge you 11% interest. A valued customer, yea right. More kitty to the 3 billion.

I guess it must be the Christmas season – toy commercials on Tree House, the bank phoning me to rearrange my accounts so I can free up some more spending money, and a kind letter increasing my credit limit. Yes this is the banking season. Get the money flowing, so we can add to our 3 billion dollar coffer (coffin for the rest of us).

And just what do the banks do with this profit? Does it flow back into the economy or stay in a lint filled corporate pocket for a rainy day when they’ve totally thrashed the economy or need to retire? What kind of interest rate do they get on their own profits? Or perhaps they invest in other banks, just to keep the money secure and in the family. Banks listen to me … these protests around the continent are just the beginning.

Scary thing is in the back of my mind I see a fat guy in a three-piece, smoking an illegal cigar with a blood diamond on his pinky, chuckling and muttering “fool” under his breath as it reads this.

We will Never forget

The respect given on this Remembrance Day was overwhelming. The AeroSpace Museum service was overflowing with people, an extra two hundred and fifty people showed up. The great thing is the organizers didn’t turn people away, rather they accommodated them by opening the huge hangar doors so people could pay respect to our national heroes. And at other locations, standing room only. The sad thing… only two living vets in the museum. Last year, the only vet left from the First World War passed away. How many heroes are left from the Second World War? Even with a substantial number of these vets still living (thank goodness), they are getting up in age – in their eighties and nineties. And what will happen when the final WW II vet is gone? By the fantastic show of support this Remembrance Day, we will not forget the great sacrifice.

Another great sign is noticing so many young people at the service – either partaking (cadets) or listening intently with their parents. I also saw many, many young people with poppies walking around the city. Another great sign.

But I also saw many, many young people working. Stores and malls opened at their regular holiday hours – 11:00 A.M. Why can’t they open at noon or at least after 11:11? What do the mall keepers do? Blow a horn and stop people? Nice dedication, a loud speaker at a mall. Perhaps 11:00 is not a bad time because with the Internet anyone can watch the national service in Ottawa two hours before the stores open. How many did while getting ready for work? Still, the vets didn’t fight for shopping mall hours. Freedom, yes, but the privilege to shop until you drop? Pretty weak and disrespectful.

What’s also special about this Remembrance Day is the end of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. We still have “consulting” troops but we are no longer in a combat role and a reduction in casualties should ensue – the number ends at 158, hopefully – and our total number in ALL wars ends at 114,000. Forever, right?

However, Remembrance Day is every day. Do something nice. Give up a parking spot. Remember an act of kindness. Lest we forget … everyday, even November 16th or June 6th.

Remember NOT Shop Til You Drop

11:11, November 11th, 2011. Remembrance Day (Canada) Veterans Day (US)

The week before Remembrance / Veterans Day is the flood of war movies. We see and feel the crash of the waves on the beaches of Normandy. The bullets flying. The tattered vets with tears welling up in their eyes as they remember the many friends they lost on that blood soaked day. But they fought on. For us. They sat in those boats, planes, walked through deserts and jungles, shaking, scared not knowing if they’d ever see their friends or families again.The ultimate sacrifice. Nobody knows how those men and women felt as they sat in the belly of the whale waiting to get spit out into battle.

But Remembrance or Veterans Day is more than just watching “Private Ryan” for the umpteenth time. It’s a time to pay respect for the vets who died in the mud, blood and stink of Europe, Korea, and Afghanistan (and for our American friends add Vietnam and Iraq).

And as we all know at 11:11 on the 11th day of the 11th month, the armistice was signed in World War One – the war to end all wars. But war didn’t end in 1918 with 35 million casualties. No, war continued. WWII – 60 million people died – over 2.5% of the world population. Korea – over 3 million soldiers and civilians and the two countries are still in a state of war. Vietnam nearly the same number of senseless deaths. Afghanistan – over 3000 deaths and increasing daily. Will it ever end?

War is ugly but we still need to remember the brothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, mothers and daughters who fought and died for what they thought was the advancement humanity. Even if you’re a pacifist and don’t agree with war, take the time on this holiest of days and reflect on the idea of no war.

However, it is also the time of the year when the onslaught of Christmas commercials begin. Can’t these marketing morons wait a few more days until we morn the dead? Have some respect.

And what will a large percentage of us be doing at 11:11? Flocking to the malls. Forget the vets. I want to get the latest Barbie Camper or Lululemon underwear before they sell out. We should remember the fallen, but our screens will fill up with commercials begging us to buy, buy, buy. And we attack the malls. What did those vets die for? Walmart? To see a generation of young people not “get it” and fight for a bargain at The Gap – a gap indeed.

It’s not a youth issue. It goes beyond. This is one case where the government should step in and close all businesses until after noon on November 11th. It may not teach kids and their parents respect, but it will show respect for the people who died and those who came back with a horror forever etched into their memories.

And corporations … You wonder why people are protesting against your nefarious dealings on Wall Street? Here’s a perfect example. Run those commercials. Open those malls. We, the corporations of the world, don’t care. It’s all about the money. Cash. Greed. Lack of respect. Maybe it’s time to move the Occupy movement into shopping malls and make the corporations show some respect.

Article first published as Remember NOT Shop Til You Drop on Technorati.

A Consciously Delicious Food Plan

My Chick Pea Salad

Food, food, food that’s all I seem to be thinking about these days and not in “the how much junk can I stuff into my mouth” kind of way, but in the what am I putting into my body way. I need to know what effects these choices have on the environment and my body? As a result, I have created a food plan. I don’t want to say diet because and I’m not trying to lose weight (and diet is like sooo girl talk). Although I have lost some weight (six pounds in two weeks), I’ve only shed some “Dorito fat” more than likely from snipping the chip bag from around my neck while I watch TV. Now I eat a peach because it’s non-processed and makes me feel great, the essence of the new food plan.

The plan is simple. No processed food, so nothing in a bag, bottle or can with a few exceptions like olive oil (I need it to cook and it has only one ingredient). Meat is part of the plan (I try to buy organic) because I need the energy to complete my moderate workouts and it doesn’t have a label, so it’s not really processed in the way chocolate bars or rice are. The nice thing about the plan is that I’m not buying any conglomerate food – no Pepsico, Dole (no bananas) or Nestle food products. I think it’s disaster that these companies control a large part of our diet. It’s time to return dietary control to local farmers not suits in office towers.

There are so many nasties in our food and public enemy number one is salt. Man, it’s unbelievable how much salt is in our food. No wonder so many people have heart problems – salt = high blood pressure = heart problems (nice NY Times article here on the subject). On my food plan, I cannot eat any processed food and this type of food includes massive amounts of salt (check out that bag of Doritos you have in your cupboard), so my salt intake is way down, a very nice benefit. And although my plan includes some canned or bagged food (try finding fresh veggies when it’s minus forty out), it must be salt free. But this is a difficult endeavour. I searched my supermarket over two hours trying to find a can of chick peas without salt.

On my plan I can use salt, but only with two considerations. One, it has to be sea salt because it’s much more friendly on the environment. They don’t need a giant mine and huge machines to rape it from the earth. Sea salt is just dried sea water, a much more natural and simple process. And second, I want to add salt to my food rather than some unknown goggle-wearing guy in a factory. But remember salt is salt, it doesn’t matter the kind, in excess it’s bad for you.

Another thing I’ve noticed is how difficult it is to go out if you are on a food plan (unless you have very understanding friends who cook the most delicious non-processed meal in the world). We went out to a show jumping event a few weekends ago. I didn’t prepare ahead of time, so by the time we got there, I was ready to eat a horse … hahaha. Anyway I looked for over an hour trying to find something natural that wasn’t either fried in fat, dragged through a salt mine or stuffed in a bag with ingredients a science major couldn’t pronounce. It was impossible. I was thinking about joining the horses and chomping on some nice, natural oats, but had to settle for some unknown meat on a stick.

I love the idea of my food plan, but you really need to be prepared. You can’t just show up at a movie theatre or sporting event and expect to find food that is natural. Or even go to a restaurant. Think about it. How much restaurant food comes out of a bottle, bag or can? Exactly. I am only trying my plan for thirty days, but man what an eye-opener. But the BEST thing? I feel great.

P.S. Check out the Nation they have a whole issue dedicated to food.