Corky and the juice pigs

I heard the best line today on muchmusic. (Sarah, bear with me, I know you heard me laughing about this already). I was watching the Top 20 rehab rockers. Some of the usual suspect like Ozzy-#1, Scott Weiland-#6, Elton John, James Hatfield, Steve Earl, Keith Richards (the poster boy for heavy drug use) plus the unusually surprising like Michael Jackson (unusual in that I didn't realize he had to go into rehab for an addiction to prescription meds).

Anyway another who made the list was Courtney Love. And in light of her recent newsmaking events such as not showing up for court dates and fighting with photographers (didn't she)? and losing custody of Frances Bean for a few months, Ms. Love responded to how she is intends to get her life stable once more.
"I'm gonna rock my way out of trouble." I love that line. What does she mean and how does she intend to do it?
Next time I face a challenging story, I'm going to tell my editor not to worry because 'I'll rock my way into a good story.' That'll get me off the hook. Sure it will.

I have a word for you--it's called 'krumping.' I first heard it last night because someone has made a docu movie called 'Rize' a style of dance that has its roots in a group of clowns who invented the dance as kind of a counter dance movement to the gansta image associated with hip hop. Apparently people flock to the Great Western Forum to take in an anuual contest. Sometimes, something new is often followed by the confirmation of that that something new is new to other people as well, even though really, it's kind of well, old.
Anyway, it was on the Late Show I think. I would describe it as agressive break dancing. The smooth, undulating movements that are characteristic of break dancing are rivalled by the jerky, yet fluent ( i know, how can it be both?) and less polished moves in krumping. They're in time with the beat yet they aren't but somehow, they keep the rhythm These guys were amazing - punching and kicking at the air, dancers take turns rotating in 10-15 second intervals, partly because it seems to take a ton of energy to even attempt.

You have to see it for yourself and I think you'll know what I mean.

Next, my thoughts on Live 8. And FYI, tis better to have been a 'has been' then a 'never was.'

Switchin' to glide

I was just sitting here and thinking about the word balance (in relation to one's life not the type that gymnasts and dancers possess) and and how its meaning is defined by the individual.

I can say that most of us in western, capitalist societies have pondered what determines balance. My pace is not your pace. Some people work 10 hour a day, six days a week. Others claim they need at least eight hours of sleep per night; some individuals require a mid afternoon nap to keep functioning to the best of their abilities (I don't nap and I don't envy anyone who spends their time coccooned in their beds, sleeping like a Who in Whoville while the Grinch robs them blind).

Some people subscribe to the belief that life's too short not to get out and take advantage of all that's available; others caution that people miss out on the little things if they don't slow down once in awhile. And what's more, we live in a society that gives us options - numerous choices - that beckon us. How do we use our time or rather how do we use our time wisely? And what is a wise investment of time? Can it be found in balance? Or does nothing succeed like excess? And what about success--does excess lead to success? Think about people you know and those you don't and how excess and success interplay.
I have to admit I think in our society it can, maybe not as a hard and fast rule because like balance, people define success in different ways and on different levels.

But returning to balance... what is it? and can one achieve it? Before I even begin to describe my views on what balance means to me I must say that balance is not static. It is not something that once achieved can be ignored. One can seek balance but once their life takes on a balanced appearance and manifests itself in a life that has meaning, purpose or happiness. For example, one must live a life that is in alignment with some overarching moral guideposts or religious belief system, such as in the former one may live by the Golden rule whereas in the latter one would turn to the Good book (depending on their religion). I have friends that insist what goes around comes around (same as charma)? My favourite - and I realize I'm straying here - 'I'm basically a nice person.'
Would you have many friends if you said otherwise?

Steven Covey in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People says balance is related to time management. By examining which area we devote our time, and shifting where we invest our time we can accomplish more and enjoy a richer life. I've tried it and I admit it works.

Japan has what it refers to as pillars that represent different areas of your life (health, finances, family, for example) and strives for balance in that manner. And the list could go on.

Is there a universal meaning of balance? And who has the edge? The person that lives hard and fast, constantly on the go? Or is a lower-key, slower-paced lifestyle? A blend of both?

Just some of my thoughts. So to avoid going deeper and getting too analytical, I'll cut it here.

Congrats to the Spurs for winning #3.

In the summertime

Sometimes I question why I don't spend more time watching news and news shows. As a result, I spend my mornings tuned in to Canada A.M. and my home page set to CBC.ca. I start each day with a hearty bowl of oatmeal, a steaming cup of coffee and a healthy serving of Canadian content.
At lunch, I indulge in back-to-back Canadian comedy shows--This Hour has 22 Minutes and Canadian Air Farce, and if I get home earlier, it's The Red Green Show although I find Red a tad less entertaining than the other two.
Tonight I started to watch the local news but hearing about some driver who made bowling pins out of human beings at a Victoria bus stop, a homicide in the Vancouver area which left the dead man's fiance to give birth to and raise the twins she is expecting and a Vancouver business school that was forced to close its doors to students after the owner most likely skipped the country due to owing a heap in back taxes. Ahh what a wonderful world we live in.
That 's why I watch Seinfeld episodes every night; it gives me a laugh and keeps my mind off wondering how our planet will evolve and how stupid we can act.

Everybody's got issues...have you?

I have confessed to those who know me that I am deplore most reality TV shows. I put the blame on the oodles of these ridiculous to the fans of the one that started it all--Survivor. That's right. If that show didn't draw record numbers on a weekly basis, things could have turned out different. When networks saw how popular (and cheap) they could produce reality shows a funny thing happened. We got more and more and more and...well you get the idea. I haven't done a count so if someone wants to tally up the number of shows since Survivor....Having said that, I spent my day working on some stories for this week's paper and watching a fourth season marathon of The Surreal Life the MTV show where they bring seven once famous celebs who have faded from the public together to live together as a family in an LA mansion.I had entertained a couple epsisodes of season one but just couldn't justify spending my time watching an entire episode. Well, from like, 11 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. I endulged - I did get my stories written - in the day to day of Chris Knight (Peter Brady), Chyna Girl (Chyna from the WWE), Da Brat, Jane Weidlin (Go-Go's, America's top model male and female (Markus Shekenberg-sp. and Adrianne Curry) and Vern Troyer (Mini Me).Chyna has some major issues to overcome, Jane Weidlin is insecure, Da Brat is brutally honest, Vern puts on a tought front; the two most normal seem to be Chris and Markus.Well, I pretty much saw it all: excessive drinking, skinny-dipping, S & M, verbal slinging, confessions of suicidal tendencies, fight or flight parenting skills, tears of joy and laughter, late night phone calls from a supposed 'abusive boyfriend' and stripteasing and lapdances. I tell ya, this had it all. And I was buying every minute of what they were selling me.My favourite 'plotline' was where 22-year old Adrian falls for 40-something Chris. Any guesses why?I also chatted with my daughter on messenger for about an hour and I called to wish my dad a Happy Father's Day.And for those of you who are fans of "Animation domination" on Fox, check out American Dad. It's funny, it's risky and it has an alien and a talking German goldfish.

Bawitaba

It's 2:44 a.m. and I've just finished updating my blog with the help of a bottle of red wine. I added a few links which for reasons known only to me took a lot longer than it should have. It's par for me however.
I dashed out the door at 9ish this morn to take some pics of the Alcan Half Marathon. The weather was sunny and warm today. Glad it isn't like southern Alberta-flooding galore and I know I wouldn't be prepared for that. Who wears gum boots these days? Not me.
I spent the day reading one of my Stuart Maclean books, watching a bit of TV and dinking around with my blog.

Anyone familiar with 'Evening Magazine?' I was watching it tonight and they were giving out a bunch of 'Best of the Northwest' awards. They gave for most daring hairdresser--no biggie really. I started to think about what I would do if I wasn't a journalist and I decided tonight that being a hair stylist would be a career option I would consider. For those who know me, why would you be surprised? If not, then either you don't really care or you think I'm limp in the wrist maybe (not that there's anything wrong with that--I'm not homophobic).

I watched Orange County Choppers....I love that show. Tonight the guys were building a custom vintage bike for Jay Leno. If you haven't seen it, maybe take it in. I promise you do not need to have a keen interest in motorcycles to enjoy it. It's kind of a (shudder) reality show but it's got a sense of reality to it which is more than I can say about most of the crap that's on the air.

Here's some beneficial tips for filing a complaint I got from CBC. The show was based on people who had received poor customer service but had a legitimate complaint. When you phone in to most companies, the messenger that you speak with is either reading from a script or just trying to disuade you from pushing your concern. Number one, ask to speak with the manager or supervisor in charge; if you're told one isn't available, it's probably B.S. Keep trying. Two, be nice. Getting angry is not helpful cuz usually the person at the other end tunes you out. If you hear them typing, it doesn't mean they're actually doing anything. Sometimes they pretend to check on something and tell you 'we don't have any in stock' or 'I'm not showing we have any right now,' anything they can do to turn you away. So be nice, but be firm; insist or demand they resolve your problem. If a resturant screws up your order, ask what they'll do to make up for your inconvenience. Three. If you do not receive satisfaction or a company refuses to help you tell them you will be posting comments about their service on their website and anywhere else. In this instance, a lady couldn't get satisfaction about a two-year old bed that was falling apart but after the expert that CBC brought along to help with the lady's complaint and posted a message on the company website, she got a new bed even though the manager had refused earlier. I think I'm going to try this approach myself.

In case anyone is wondering, my blog title is title of a Kid Rock song. I gained some respect for him today after watching Driven on muchmore music today.

K, that's it. Peace out.

Rock and roll high school

Tonight I covered a high school grad at Kitimat City High; it's a school designed to meet the needs of students who face challenges and difficulties in their home environment that would, most likely, prevent them from graduating high school.
Classes are small; this year's class had nine students compared to last year's where there was almost double the amount. In a society that makes it easy to step on board with the wealthy, the beautiful, the gifted, was it ever refreshing to see these kids - who have travelled a hard road, but are no less gifted, attractive or wealthy in many ways (it was evidenced by the number of proud parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, friends and faculty members) - rceive their high school diplomas.

So BC had a tsunami warning and several people living nearby were unaware of it has some questioning the warning system.... my boss told me there was a tsunami warning issued here a few years back. People were actually driving down to the beach to watch it. Which is better - being an unwitting potential victim or a witless informed citizen?

Take it easy

I interviewed a marathon runner on Thursday, wrote about him on Sunday and sat through a council meeting that felt something like a marathon tonight. But at least I had some time to myself at work today. I farmed some old issues to look for follow up stories to things I covered last summer.
The whole interviewing, drafting, crafting and final review process relating to my work as a journalist is improving I feel. My purpose in writing here is to either allow some random thoughts to flow into my mind and find a way to merge them into something that has some sort of flow and rhythmn in less than about 10 minutes. So far, I am having the most trouble finding my flow which in turn affects my speed.

So Michael Jackson was found not guilty on all counts. I wasn't surprised. The words 'guilty beyond a reasonable doubt' that the jury must use as a guideline when reaching a decision made it obvious to me with Jackson's case that he would not be doing time.
I think that the number of inconsistencies on the prosecution's part hindered its case against him. The day Macaulay Caulkin took the stand and discredited the housekeeper's claim that the then child star slept with Jackson in addition to other charges regarding the singer's actions was the end of the ballgame for the family pressing charges.
So where does Michael go from here? Many are speculating whether his career is through. Seems to me it was on the way down anyway. He had his time and that time was the 1980s.
Is America ready for a reality show featuring Jackson? With gluttony of reality shows on TV One would think so. But I'm not convinced. Give him a couple years to chill or reinvent himself, maybe change back into a black man. How about vegan cooking with Michael Jackson? He and his favourite fan could hide out in the kitchen and cook up something special for admirer's family. Or how about a new spin on a familiar favourite? It could be called 'Who wants to marry Michael Jackson.'

They should have made my living arrangements a reality show. I could haved called it Mr. Know-it-all and the two peabodys. And no I am not Mr. Know-it-all.

Mastering the knack of my Sharona

Unbelievable. I tried to use a different word but I kept coming back to this one. Caught bits and pieces of a show that was basically regurgitating one hit wonders by bringing them in front of an audience where they sang their hit.
The had groups from the 70s - The Knack; the 80's - The Motels and Tommy Tutone; the 90s - Vanilla Ice and Haddaway.
In the second half they returned to the stage to sing a cover of a current hit of their choice. I think that's how it worked.
Now, I will admit I was a fan of these songs and in the case of The Motels, I still listen to their music and I do not think they are a one hit wonder.

A thought occurred to me. Wouldn't life be grand if we all could revisit a high point in our lives, a time when we were at a the peak of our success? Why does celebrity afford second chances, express sentencing (think Russell Crowe) and even reality TV shows to spice up a floundering career (insert your favourte one here).

I wouldn't mind the opportunity to go back in time either. I could apply for that job I didn't, take that bartenders course that I didn't or stick with school when I didn't or take one step forward when I didn't; lots of didn'ts in my past.
And hindsight makes the mind grow wiser but the grow fonder and suddenly, I'm 10, 15 or 20 again, doing the same things I did the first time around.

The theme from Hockey Night in Canada

I flicked on the TV when I got home and caught a Montreal Canadiens Oldtimers vs. the Legends of Hockey game.

The names carried me to another time in professional hockey, which was not tainted by scandal, rising salaries and strikes. It also took me back to a time when I would sit with my dad and we would watch Hockey Night in Canada. I think that genetically, I was born to be a Habs fan. Watching the game tonight I saw names from the Canadiens dominant time that consumed most of the 1970s; I think they won like 6 Stanley Cups with four in a row from 76-79.
I saw Guy Lafleur (the flower), Pete Mahovolich, Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard, and more recent names from the 80s and 90s including Gaston Gingras, Guy Carrboneau, Chris Nilan, Benoit Brunet, Shane Corson, Stephane Richer.
I get feelings from a time that I cannot return to. A time when I was building memories with my dad that will grow deeper, more meaningful yet harder to retrieve as the years pass.

I think that almost every story I write I can attach to myself. Today for example, I covered a re-enactment of an MVA using the jaws of life for the high school's dry grad campaign; in the afternoon I was at the multi-level care unit. One era has passed by me on the train of life and the other may become my future; God only knows.

I'm not sure if these kind of thoughts make me more appreciative of my current life, or make me look back in regret at things I did or did not do or finally, if these thoughts make me look forward with trepidation at what my life will represent and if I will make it that long.
Sometimes expressing your deepest, personable thoughts that cling to you like plastic wrap but without the freshness.

I should laugh a little and enjoy the moment.

What you are

Went for a long walk today. And in Kitimat, I can always count on crossing paths with another walker. Because the sun was shining against the rugged, snow-speckled mountains, I knew other Kitimatians would have the same idea. (Kitimatians refers to the residents of Kitimat-of course).
It's easy to kill an hour walking in the town because it's designed for walking. There are sprawling walkways throughout the town, fanning out in all directions which gives walkers and runners a more relaxed and inviting surrounding.
The concept of "taking a walk" brings various meanings to mind, from stretching your legs, to getting outdoors for some light exercise, to removing yourself from an intense or frustrating situation, to walking and talking with a friend.
I think as much on walks as I do when I am sitting at home or at work. So for me, a walk is usually a catalyst for invigoration followed by the feeling that I am wearing size 13 shoes and that most of my bodweight has shifted to the soles of my feet.

If you have been reading the news this week, the recurring warning is "avoid hiking around mountains or jogging along mountain trails and don't launch a boat without putting on a life jacket. One man washed up at the bottom of a river, a lady got mauled to death by a grizzly and an long-serving member of the RCMP fell from a boat and drowned. Makes me feel so much better that I am living in a vast wildlife area with mountains, a river and many bear sightings.

The trees in Kitimat grow in a compacted, dense mass that clings to the mountains like thick, green moss on a rock. And the sight of snow-peaked mountains in 25 degree temperatures astonishes me every day. I may be alone in Kitimat however if you are going to be spending time by yourself, much better to do it in Kitimat than in a large city like Vancouver.
Here, loneliness is permitted; there loneliness is a sin. Here, one is normal, everyday, mundane; there, it's dangerous, vulnerable and unusual.
Here, one can get to know many; there one can get lost, left out and pushed to the fringe.

Neither is good nor bad, only different. Just my take on it.

Couldn't get it right

At least that's how I feel sometimes. Regardless of my efforts, I didn't get "it" right. It could refer to most anything although right now it centres on my work at the paper and searching for the big question-- you know the one, the question that will land me a research grant and $5,000 that goes along with it.
Course I'm interested in the grant, besides I may find that I discover something rivoting that some magazine, newspaper or e-zine will want to purchase.

This week the convocation is taking place at Thompson Rivers University. I'll have to wait another year before I receive my degree--maybe then I will have an answer to the question "if it's a graduation ceremony, why do they call it a convocation?"

I realized today that I am not excited to return to school this fall. Even with Sarah around to make life more enjoyable, and knowing many of the returning fourth years, the sentiment I have for my graduating classmates is unequalled. Really doesn't feel like it's been two years in Kamloops. It does however feel like it's been two years out of Kelowna. Maybe longer.

Living in what I call controlled isolation in Kitimat has made me aware of TV's fatal future. My astonishment at the growing number of reality TV shows is both disturbing and puzzling. The latest: Dancing with the Stars and Making the Cut with designer Tommy Hilfiger. Wherever networks and advertisers can make a buck.
Makes me believe that my idea for a reality show has potential because merit-based TV is fading from the Top 10. Maybe it isn't TV programming; maybe the problem with TV is me.

That 70s show

Computers have been my nemesis for the past six days. As I mentioned in my last entry, I was laying out the paper. My editor told me above all, don't panic--I panicked. I felt overwhelmed on several occassions but I stuck with it. I logged about 24 hours over the weekend. I packed things in around 3 a.m. on Monday morning and was back by 8:30.
I got the paper finished with an hour to spare and breathed a sigh of relief. Felt good.
Today, I spent most of the day waiting for my computer to be fixed--it can't be. It's toasted. I tried to work on the my editor's--it was running really slow. I got little done today. But I got a free lunch from the good people at Alcan, the aluminum king of the world.
Tonight, I made an attempt to pay some bills and again I was told to wait. I was getting frustrated yet it was all for not as it turned out the server was down and I was able to get my hard-earned dollars into the hands of my money-grubbing creditors.
Can't wait for tomorrow to be done.

Kept thinking about the 70s, and the days before computers were a household item, the days when you had to go to a movie theatre to watch a movie, pong was the only game available on an overpriced home video system and you could get an entire meal at McDonald's for less than a buck.
Although my music collection was small (Kiss, Boston, Billy Joel, various K-Tel compilations and Saturday Night Fever) playing it on my friend Jeff's hundred dollar Sears stereo system with the glowing blue lights is etched into my mind like summer sleepovers and the first time I had sloppy joe hamburgers.

A touch of cynicism - the result of time's erosion on my otptimism - makes me appreciate the simple, unfetterred things of that time, where the biggest worries were whether the girl I liked, liked me back and if I had money to head to the groceteria near the elementary school.