HMB Lodge & Retreat: It’s Just So Easy

I was looking forward to a day with just me and the mister after a hectic week that included making Valentine’s cards with a 5-year-old and 3-year-old whose idea of fun is mushing together my expensive and brand new (unopened since I bought them 5 years ago) craft ink stamping pads (“Look Mommy! A new colour!”). Scratch that: I was looking forward to a day with just me and the mister because the last time we were together, alone, with no kids, for more than 3 hours was my third kid’s birthday 15 months, 5 days, 17 hours and 52 minutes ago. Continue reading

Posted in Travel, Lake Cowichan | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sustainable Valley, BC?

In December I had a job interview with Nokia. They were looking for a technical writer for the Nokia App Store, located in their Burnaby office. The office is gorgeous: The atmosphere is a mix of après-ski and Finnish minimalism. (Just to give you an idea, a fireplace sits in the center of a circle of six huge floor-to-ceiling tree trunks (possibly fake) and three sofas in the common area.) Continue reading

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And They’re Off…With A Whistle

There was no confetti falling on a convertible car with our newly elected mayor sitting in the back, waving at the cheering crowds, along North Cowichan’s main drag. But today’s eagerly anticipated (at least by me) municipal council swearing-in ceremony did start with a parade, if only a small one. Continue reading

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Thanks to You, I’m Famous (ish)!

I was encouraged by some of my most loyal readers (all two of you) to submit an article to the Cowichan Newsleader about my thoughts on the election. On Monday, I called John, the editor at the Newsleader, and asked if I could send him an article. The conversation took 30 seconds; the guts to call him took 30 days. Continue reading

Posted in Blog, Community, Election | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

A momentous day: 10,000 views

It’s a momentous day. Continue reading

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An Education from a Stranger on How to Vote

An hour into last night’s All Candidates meeting in Crofton, I was yawning. Same old question-answer format; with 22 candidates the answers take forever. But I stayed for the duration because I received an unforgettable education from a stranger on how to vote. Continue reading

Posted in Cowichan, Election | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Maple Bay All Candidates Meeting: My Take

Walking up to the All Candidates meeting last night at the fire hall in Maple Bay, I said to my friend Heather, “There are 22 candidates in total, and I bet there will be 22 people in the audience.” Was I wrong. Continue reading

Posted in Cowichan, Maple Bay | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments