Archive for September, 2009
ONE STAR AT A TIME
Growing up, most of us went through musical phases by genre, but in my case I seemingly went through phases based on geography. At one point I was in a British chapter, listening only to Duran Duran, Blur, Pulp, Oasis and The Verve. During junior high I was stuck on the U.S. of A. and couldn’t get enough of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots. Looking back, the most loved part of my musical trip around the world was most definitely Canada.
Canadian music has, without a doubt, had the deepest impact on my personal musical history. While I’m not sure if the same is true for most of you, I know that for myself, I can pinpoint almost any time in my life and attach a song to it. When I entered high school, “Naveed” by Our Lady Peace was forever on repeat. During the summer of 1996, many day trips down Vancouver Island were filled by Sarah McLachlan’s “Building A Mystery.” High school graduation was marked with Bif Naked’s I Bificus and I can recall countless snow-filled walks through my mom’s neighbourhood in the Comox Valley with Sam Roberts’ debut record spinning on my Sony Discman.
Perhaps it’s simply the fact that, because these artists are homegrown, there’s a naturally instilled sense of pride when listening. Whatever the reason for the intrinsic connection to music of the Canadiana variety, it amazes me how nourishing it feels to re-visit my past by listening once again. Several days ago I purchased “Bobcaygeon” by the Tragically Hip on iTunes and have since lost count of the number of times I’ve listened to it. That is, however, when I’m not relentlessly spinning Closer, Sarah McLachlan’s greatest hits collection.
Maybe these songs feel safe to me. Maybe these songs represent times in my life when everything turned out alright and serve to remind me that everything is still turning out alright – or even better than before. Regardless, despite it all, this music ensures that I walk to work each day with a huge grin on my face. Yes, even on Mondays.
A Little Goes A Long Way
Do you paint? Run an auto shop? Knit? Distribute books? Own a shop of interesting and unique treasures? Provide a service that benefits the community? I’d like you to consider for a moment the fact that whatever you do can be of even further benefit if you wish.
When I first set out to bring a dog into my home, I found a wide range of rescue organizations across BC that were taking care of – literally – thousands of dogs that were neglected or homeless. Through that search, I stumbled upon Jordy’s profile page. At the time he was living in a foster home in Duncan on Vancouver Island, being cared for by a non-profit group known as Furever After Small Dog Rescue.
Monty, pictured above, was one of Jordy’s foster brothers. When first brought into care, Monty was filthy, emaciated, his teeth rotted and his fur was so horribly matted that the weight of the knots caused sores and bruises all over Monty’s tiny body. Both Rebecca and I had the chance to meet Monty and see the progress he’d made in foster care on the day I went to pick up Jordy to bring him home. Today Monty has bounced back triumphantly, only through the care and funds of Furever After.
Most of these dogs require emergency dental care, as well as even basic veterinary care (and most aren’t spayed or neutered), food, shelter and rehabilitation in order to be adopted out. This coming November, Furever After is holding a charity dinner and silent auction to raise these desperately needed funds. The group is entirely run by volunteers, and when the money dries up, the expenses must come out-of-pocket. 100% of money raised goes to helping the dogs!
If you have a service, product, item you’ve made or the like that can be auctioned off at this dinner and silent auction, please contact me as soon as possible. No item is too big or small and the dollar value isn’t important. Tax receipts can be provided for all items with an attached invoice/receipt detailing item value and business information.
For more information or to donate your item or service, please send me an e-mail. Any help is much appreciated! To learn more about the fundraising dinner, please click here or visit the Furever After Small Dog Rescue website.
Island Profile: Autumn On The Island
What happens to be my most favourite season never ceases to stun me. As soon as the afternoon light changes, I know that Autumn is on its way, bringing with it change, renewal, crisp air and colours that cannot be duplicated. It is a season that is particularly beautiful on Vancouver Island. That said, and without any further words, I’ll let the photos do the speaking for me.
Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr
Photo: Calypso Orchid on Flickr
Photo: thorinside on Flickr
Photo: fleshelectrons on Flickr
Photo: ecstaticist on Flickr
Photo: paulhami on Flickr
Photo: alaskapine on Flickr
Photo: Phil’s Photos. on Flickr
Photo: iwona_kellie on Flickr
Photo: Cyprien on Flickr
Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr
Photo: iwona_kellie on Flickr
Photo: junemaffin on Flickr
From Europe To Yaletown
In European Renaissance, those of royalty or upper-class society often married simply for the preservation of bloodlines and social status. More often than not, these men and women sought entertainment and companionship on the side from particular people who were educated, independent, trained in the arts and added a sense of sensuous luxury to life.
These particular people were known as courtesans.
Less than two months ago, fifteen years of planning finally came to fruition in the form of Yaletown’s newest boutique, Qortezan. The shop reflects owner Edie Orenstein’s personal sense of empowerment, manifested in retail form: “I wanted to create a sensual environment of pleasure that includes all the senses.” Edie believes there’s a difference between sensuality and sexuality, and Qortezan has been designed to highlight taste, touch, smell, sound and sight through textures, layers and an expansion of these elements.
Filled with beautiful silks, rich colours, enticing scents, entertaining books and candles designed to flicker just right, Qortezan was a boutique I fell in love with the moment I walked in the door two weeks ago. I should also add that Jordy accompanied me the first time – Qortezan is completely dog-friendly!
Men will find no shortage of handsomely tailored, hand-made shirts, crafted in Montréal from Italian and German fabrics. What’s more, the entire line is accompanied by a number of shiny cufflinks to provide contrast and refined style.
Some cufflinks are just for fun too…
One cannot enter Qortezan and ignore the fact that it’s also somewhat of a treasure chest of pleasure. Too often there’s still a stigma attached to items, lotions and potions designed for romps in the bedroom, but this is one shop aimed at breaking down any potential shame. Instead, Qortezan provides a comfortable and safe ambiance to indulge your carnal side.
Aside from her desire to bring a few of her favourite little things from overseas to our slice of the globe, Edie Orenstein also has an immense passion for flamenco dancing. Not only are traditional, hand-stitched manton scarves and leather flamenco shoes available for purchase (direct from Seville, Spain) at Qortezan, the shop will soon be transforming into a dance space for special events.
My personal favourite part of the shop is the vast array of bras, panties, nylons, bustiers and feathered delights. Largely featured is one of my most-loved lingerie lines, Blush. I should also mention that, in addition to mens’ clothing, us ladies can also find some fabulous pieces that can be worn outside of the bedroom.
Lastly, but certainly not least, Qortezan is fully stocked with everything one would need to bring this sensual environment from the shop to the home. Rare mens’ colognes, sweet perfumes and essentially-scented candles can be found all through-out the shop. I’m not normally a girl who likes cologne on a man, but I certainly wouldn’t kick him out of bed for wearing Pal Zileri’s signature scent or a dab of Lab.
If you’d like to visit Qortezan for yourself, visit the shop in person at 1035 Mainland Street in Yaletown, downtown Vancouver, just south of Nelson Street. No stranger to social media, Qortezan can also be found online, on Twitter, on Flickr and on Facebook.
Regular musical acts (including an upcoming appearance by Jim Byrnes), wine nights, fragrance evenings, phenomenal sales and so much more will be happening on a regular basis, so be sure to sign up for Qortezan’s e-mail list.
Are You Ready To Barf?
Let me be the first one to say that I personally think clothing on dogs borders on the ridiculous. I must also preface these photos by saying that, when soaking wet, Jordy is visually half-size. His thick and down-like fur often takes hours to dry properly, and with the rainy season on the way, I don’t think it would be fair to subject him to being soaked to the bone each and every time he needs to go outside.
That said, Jordy got a rain jacket. At least it doesn’t have polka dots.
In person, it’s really more Maverick-esque, à la Top Gun.
GIGGLE FIT
This girl cracks me up – I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be related to her.
View From The Top
Don’t get me wrong – I adore the Fall season. It’s without a doubt my favourite, filled with blowing ruby leaves, chilled rain, snuggly sweaters, piping hot tea, the return of some of my favourite TV shows and it’s on the precipice of snowboard season. However, once those frigid winds start whipping, I’ll be escaping Vancouver in favour of sunshine for the first time in my life. In fact, my escape will look a little something like this…
Photo: hyku on Flickr
To most, Phoenix might not seem like much (though the average daytime high in November of 25 degrees can’t hurt). But for this girl – who has never been east of Medicine Hat, AB or south of Tacoma, WA, it’s a big deal. I’ve never, ever been anywhere and the only reason I ever got a passport was so that I could drive to Seattle last October to see Jenny Lewis at Showbox at the Market. I’m even stopping over for two hours in San Francisco on the way home, so there’s another notch on the travel belt – technically speaking.
My ticket is booked, fun times confirmed and now all I have to pay for is taking the brand new Canada Line and those pesky luggage check fees with U.S. Airways. While I don’t know entirely what’s planned, I’ve been told that all that’s between me and a handgun at the prestigious Scottsdale Gun Club is a quick seven-minute instructional video. Take cover.
Paws For A Cause Was A Huge Success!
After months of planning, preparation, anticipation and tireless fundraising efforts, the BC-SPCA’s Paws For A Cause finally arrived. While these walks were simultaneously taking place in communities all across British Columbia, Jordy, Charley, my mom and I found ourselves at Marina Park in Comox.
The sunshine decided to take a day off, but rain clouds didn’t damper the excitement everyone felt. Dozens and dozens of beautiful, amazing, playful dogs turned out to support their fellow animals.
I’m still waiting to hear the final tallies regarding how much money was raised both Province-wide and in the Comox Valley, but I have no doubt that the goals of $950,000 and $20,000 respectively were reached.
My readers have been completely awesome! Many contributed funds and many more offered supportive words of encouragement – both of which kept giving me the drive to keep up with the efforts I had undertaken to make. I’d like to take a minute to offer a huge thank you to my financial sponsors for their generous donations: Katrina Mellis, Danielle Ciavarro, Marda Mischa-Miller, Tyler Ingram, Tania Morrison, Sixty4Media, Madeline Lagden, Lindsay Davis, Phil Ogynist, Buster the Dog, Jennifer Stoddart, Mikis Manolis, Duane Storey, Tanya Martin, Winnie Sung, Nicole George, Colleen Brown, Blain Sepos, Erin McConnell, Dom Richards, “Jenn,” Sarah Dawson, A.M. Chalupa, Marlee McConnell, Craig Jangula, Eileen Henderson, Sea To Sky Network Solutions and Double S Sales (Courtenay Sears).
Between all of you, $1,590 was donated to help many grateful animals!
One of my favourite things about events like this is not only the socialization they provide for dogs – which is crucial to their well-being – but it’s also a lot of fun to watch the animals play and interact together. Anyone who doesn’t believe that dogs are loving, intelligent and communicative creatures is completely nuts.
A last hearty and huge thank you to everyone who participated, donated, encouraged and cheered all of us on around British Columbia. It’s classic cheese to say, but you’re the true heroes for giving of what you have for the betterment of another creature. One friend who donated told me that she did so because “there’s an animal out there that needs food more than I need a new shirt or a couple drinks at a pub!” That’s hitting the nail on the head and then some.
Stay tuned to my Twitter for final totals! (And don’t forget: just because this event is over doesn’t mean the need is gone. If you’d like to support, donate to or volunteer at your local shelter, please visit the BC-SPCA’s website.
Island Profile: Oak Bay, Victoria
Famously known for its grand museums, lush gardens and proud British heritage, there’s one area of Victoria that’s almost always overlooked by locals and tourists alike. While British Columbia’s Capital city is frequented by those looking to ride trolley buses and indulge in high tea, the neighbourhood of Oak Bay is truly like stepping back in time.
Photo: Sopow on Flickr
Known as Victoria’s “Seaside Village,” Oak Bay can be found just ten minutes east of downtown where Pandora and Johnson Streets merge to create Oak Bay Avenue. Lined with historic architecture, tiny shops that define the word “quaint” and more tea shops than you can imagine, this neighbourhood is certainly a shiny jewel in Victoria’s crown.
Map: Victoria Golf Club via Google Maps
The Coast Salish people of the Songhees First Nation were the first to inhabit what is today one of Victoria’s most charming neighbourhoods. Once The Hudson Bay Company established a trading post in the Victoria Harbour, European settlers set up homesteads and rolled out farmland through the area.
Photo: Oak Bay – My Home
Photo: Turbulentflow on Flickr
Today the community of Oak Bay has a much different face than it did at the turn of the 20th century. Streets are lined with homes so old that many still require skeleton keys, children ride their bikes up and down leaf-strewn sidewalks and the smell of fresh-baked bread seems to be around every corner. One thing that hasn’t changed in all this time, however, is the natural beauty…
Photo: TylerIngram on Flickr
Photo: Yogi on Flickr
Each year the community meets at Willows Park for the annual Oak Bay Tea Party, designed to help raise funds for local charitable groups. The Oak Bay Tea Party also happens to be the first and only time I’ve ever won a jumbo stuffed animal at an amusement park game. If you’re dying to know, it was Charmander from the Pokémon series.
Photo: Ryoh A on Flickr
Photo: OurBC
Oak Bay will always hold something very special for me. Between the sweet-as-pie tea shops and English candy stores full of sugary delectable treats, it’s one of my favourite places in all of Victoria. Oak Bay feels safe and warming, a village where you can wrap yourself in a cozy scarf, slowly wander to Oak Bay Avenue for a London Fog before finding yourself watching ducks on the shores of the marina.
A word of caution for golf buffs: though it boasts gorgeous views of Juan de Fuca Straight, the Victoria Golf Club is said to be haunted. In September of 1936, 30-year-old Doris Charnock Thomson Gravlin and her husband mysteriously disappeared. A few days later, her beaten and strangled body was discovered under some bushes on the green. Her husband Victor’s body was found a month later in shallow water beside the golf course. Since then and still to this day, dozens have sworn to have seen Doris lingering the course at dusk.
Photo: Score Golf
Photo: joneboi on Flickr
Photo: Calypso Orchid on Flickr
Next time you find yourself on the southern-most tip of Vancouver Island, give yourself a day or two to explore Oak Bay. Victoria is accessible by air, ferry and train. For more information and a listing of area accommodations and attractions, visit Oak Bay Tourism’s website.
LAST DITCH EFFORT
With only six more sleeps until this year’s Province-wide BC-SPCA Paws For A Cause, I’m getting excited to participate in such a great event that helps any and all animals. Most people think of cats and dogs when they think of their local shelter, but as I’ve said in previous posts, even farm animals and wild animals need a little help sometimes.
Photo: Wy@rt on Flickr
As of today, I’ve reached 52% 57% of my goal. I’m hoping to reach $1,000 by Sunday’s walk and this is my last beg, plea and petition to all of you.
…Even if all you can spare is your pocket change, that’ll buy some tins of cat food or a few apples for displaced horses.
…Even if you don’t like me, you can donate anonymously if you still want to support the animals!
What you give can and does make a difference!
Photo: studom on Flickr
To those who have already generously given, I offer you a huge heartfelt thanks! There will be many wagging tails, purring kittens and oinking pigs because of what you’ve helped accomplish. Those wishing to donate, please visit my donation page before midnight on September 12, 2009 and check back next week for pictures from the Comox Valley event!