Family can make you do the most unexpected things, in no small part because they themselves do the most unexpected things. Like moving to Newfoundland. Nobody does this unless they’re moving back home. Certainly not born and bred mainlanders, or so the legends (and more often than not, the facts) say. But I have an […]
My Life Is A Song #97
Fame is fleeting. More often, it is completely absent. This is especially true of my family. It is likely true of most of your families as well. When presented with such dearth of familial fame, it is not uncommon to bask in the secondary glow exuding from those around us who have been blessed with […]
My Life Is A Song #93
The year 2010 was a big one for our family. My wife was on maternity leave with our son and the job I had expected to work at during this time had evaporated due to the lingering aftereffects of the 2008 economic meltdown combined with the cratering of natural gas prices. So, you know, kind […]
My Life Is A Song #90
I’m going to tell you a short story that I am all but sure is wrong. Memories are like that a lot. But perhaps it’s the feelings more than the facts that make them important. When I was a kid I had an uncle who was the quintessential cool uncle. He was single, wealthy, at […]
My Life Is A Song #88
Memories are one of, if not the most treasured human experiences. They are also notoriously unreliable. Thankfully, sometimes that fallibility rewards you with discovery. That is how this song came to be known by me. One of my favoured hazy, mushy, beloved childhood memories is of my father playing piano after Christmas dinner at my […]
Miquelon Lake Provincial Park – review
Another summer weekend means another trip northward towards the provincial capital. This time we were camping southeast of the big city at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park. With four brand new, extra ply trailer tires adorning our trailer, we anxiously set out in hopes of finally making it to a campground without blowing any tires. I’m […]
My Life Is A Song #36
Merry Christmas! Yes, I’m actually kicking off your weekend with a blog post on Christmas Day that undoubtedly none of you will actually read until two or more days from now. You are likely expecting a Christmas song which is understandable but ultimately not happening. The song I’ve chosen has nothing to do with Christmas, […]
My Life Is A Song #15
I come from a musical family of sorts. My parents sing in the church choir as did my grandfather. My father plays guitar and piano. My mother plays piano. My sister, mother and niece sing in a women’s barbershop choir (no I’m not currently in the midst of an illicit drug intoxication event, that is […]
Aspen Beach Provincial Park – Review
If Crown Land camping is heaven for blue collar Central Albertan RVers, then Aspen Beach Provincial Park is the stairway they climb to get there. Aspen Beach is a massive campground and resort located on the southern shores of Gull Lake a few short kilometres east of Bentley, Alberta. With plenty of amenities, outdoor activities, […]