KAMPAI!

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for life. Show a man how to make sushi, and he's eating in heaven! Tonight, for our latest company "event", we were graced by the expertise of Steve, one of the head sushi chefs at Sakana Grill. Sitting around a teppanyaki grill, 18 of my colleagues and I had our own bamboo mats, aprons and tons of ingredients. First, Steve distributed the sake, a warm rice wine. We then toasted ("Kampai!") together, the first of many to come in the night, and he proceeded to show us how to make a basic cucumber roll, a salmon roll, an outside California roll (outside, because the rice faces outwards, instead of the seaweed), and the Sakuna special house roll. Of course, we got to eat everything he made plus anything we made as well (and most of us washed it down with sake or plum wine). Wow, there was so much food! We were basically told to eat half of what we made and then transform the remaining half into a creative presentation that would be judged, the winner taking home a bottle of sake. Most people were beyond stuffed after eating half. Well, knowing that this meal was coming, and having a severe craving for sushi for a few weeks now, I was prepared to eat everything. Needless to say, I did not bring home the sake because I ate my presentation! They let us take the mats home, though. Now I just have to remember all the technique that we were shown...









YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE CLIPLESS PEDALS UNTIL YOU CAN USE THEM DURING CITY RIDING. Having gotten fairly comfortable with these new pedals, I decided to ride into town for our company event. I approached an intersection that is currently under construction, where the bike path has been "displaced": a barrier now blocks the original path and a new path has been created. So, I descend this new path towards the intersection. There's no much room from when the path ends and the road starts, so a rider has to break pretty hard to avoid throwing oneself into traffic. As I was watching the flurry of cars approach quickly, I had to also maneuver around loose rocks and construction debris. In that moment, I forget about my pedals. So, as I quickly stopped, I started toppling. Funny how time all of a sudden grinds to a halt when something terrible (well, in my case, embarrassing) is about to happen. It wasn't a hard fall, but I can recall every sliver of time as it occured. Of course, only AFTER my fall, was I unclipped from the pedals. And of course, the group of young high schoolers I passed at the top of the path saw the whole thing and were just howling.

With just 6 weeks left before the Calgary Marathon, I'm finding that most of my "spare" time (i.e. when I'm not in the office or hosting royalty) is spent on the Bow River Pathway. Since the marathon route will criss-cross this pathway, it makes for good training for the actual race. There's even a nice hill by where I usually start that has a 45 degree plus incline that goes for at least 200 metres (although my legs are usually burning by the time I do 100 up that slope!). WHAT IS UP WITH THE GEESE HERE? On a recent run, I approached one of these creatures. Or, should I say, one was coming at me! And it was hissing!! I seriously thought this thing was going to lunge at me and take a bite out of my leg. Then, it happened again just a few days later. I didn't notice it the first time, but nearby, was another goose and about 5 or 6 gosling. These gosling were just wandering around, bumping into each other and pecking at the ground. So, it appears that the aggressive stance by the attacking goose was a way of protecting its family. What an interesting display of familial care in the animal kingdom!

Speaking of familial care, I sometimes hear the funniest things on my run:

Grandmother: Ok, Charlie, you have to wear this helmet (click)
Charlie: Oww, oww, oww, oww
Mother: Mom, the helmet is pinching Charlie!!
Grandmother: Did his head get bigger?
Mother: No, just his hair.

A ROYAL VISIT TO CAMP TIMMY'S

Day 1...
Dim sum lunch at Central Grand... the Royal Couple were so hungry that we wolfed down the meal in 20 minutes flat!

Walk through Princess Island Park, past the River Cafe, through Eau Claire and up the TD Square to visit Devonian Gardens.

Home cooked meal for the Iron Chef matriarch herself; a hallmark of greatness, in culinary terms, is acquiescing yourself to dish washing assistant while your son stumbles through the preparation of a full course meal!

Blade II. Actually, my dad fell asleep during the movie, but my mom, though easily frightened by gory scenes, kept strong til the end!










Mom and pops sitting in Devonian Gardens.

Day 2...
Morning service at the Calgary Chinese Alliance Church Chinese Service.

Lunch consists of Viet subs at Pacific Place.

Shopping/culinary workshop by mom at T&T. I now know the difference between "duong gwa" and "geet gwa".

Wisk the royal couple to Drumheller to see the badlands and hoodoos.

Dinner is all-you-can-eat snow crabs at Booker's Crabshack, celebrating my mom's birthday, generously sharing her birthday with another kinda famous queen.

Games 2 Oilers/Ducks with pops back at home.







The King and Queen at Horseshoe Canyon, me messing with their camera's panoramic feature.

Day 3...
Leave for Edmonton. The royal couple is supposed to keep the driver awake. But, alas, even their superpowers can't overcome the EXTREMELY boring drive from Calgary to Edmonton. They're out by the time we hit Gasoline Alley. The drive resorts to naming cows, wishing he could go over and tip one over....WAKE UP!!!

Lunch at Good Buddy's with the King's sister and husband. Man, I haven't had this kind of food in quite a while. I am nostalgic about Congee Wong.

Visit to cousin L and their beautiful poodles, Bruin and Franky. Or should I say, ACTING SARGENT cousin L! I part ways with the King and Queen, knowing that they are in good hands. I follow cousin L to Sears where we have one terrible experience with 2 of their managers. Then off to Spruce Grove.

Visit with cousin V and M, and their cute kids L and C. Play some Candyland, catch up and then the King and Queen arrive. We feast royally on some awesome steaks. Top it off with strawberry rhubarb pie a la mode.

Spend the night in Edmonton.










Family portrait in Spruce Grove. Gotta stop wearing technical shirts with 3M reflective logos when taking flash pictures!

Day 4...
I left their royal highnesses to sleep in while I join D for breakfast, who is making a homecoming herself. Amazing breakfast at Alberta Family Restaurant (what a quirky name for a business? well, there's no confusion about what this business does, where it's located and who it caters to...) Actually, the conversation was even more amazing. A stroll along Whyte Avenue (in its full, undefecated glory, prior to tonight's probable shenanigans) and a drive to D's old high school.

I remind myself that I REALLY, REALLY miss (and love) tickling the ivories.

Leave Edmonton for Calgary.

The Royal Couple zonked out again. This time, the driver stays awake listening to the new Starfield CD. AWESOME!!

Stop off at the Deerfoot Outlet Mall, only because I haven't been there yet. This mall that has, at most, 15 stores has 2 dollar stores!

Dinner is at home, sirloins on the barbie.

Game 3 Oils and Ducks on the tele. Crazy game.

The Incredibles, part one. This time, my mom zonks out first, so they decide to call it a night.

Day 5...
Banff - Cave and Basin (apparently, the cradle of the entire Parks Canada ministry)

Picnic lunch along the Bow near downtown Banff.

Quick drive to Sulphur Mountain gondola and hot springs. Then, I realize that we've been here before, on a previous visit to Alberta when my cousin V got married. So, no sense in tracing old tracks.

Quick visit to Lake Louise. The ice castle is gone and the lake is in a neat semi-frozen state.

Dinner at home wherest the Queen cooks up a meal for our friends J, P and E.

Mom and dad are offered the continuation of The Incredibles. They politely decline, opting instead for reading and watching the, how appropriate, crowning of the new American idol.

They start packing...







A twist on the typical Lake Louise shot, where the merging mountains are seen only in reflection.










Oh, oh! Let me hold the camera too long and I start fooling with the settings and taking candid shots (never was a big fan of portrait shots). I believe that candidacy captures an unscripted and unrehearsed sincerity.









Unfortunatley, in a place of such stunning beauty, racism still rears its ugly head.











Here's E kickin' it live with the Queen and King!

Day 6...
Nothing planned today. It was a quiet day, with Mom and Dad waking up at around 8, having a small, simple breakfast and then going for a stroll. The weather has been just amazing for their entire visit and they wanted to soak in the fresh air one more time. Around noon, we put all the bags into the car and headed for the airport. They got their boarding pass and we said our farewells. Until the next royal visit!











A tribute to a royal set of hands. Each wrinkle line represents a soiled diaper changed, a life-giving meal prepared, a deserved spanking prescribed. One of many hems sewn, too many heavy shopping bags lugged, another lecture articulated. An apple peeled, a watermelon deseeded, another mess cleaned up. A desparate phone call picked up, another piano lesson driven to, a guilty tear wiped, and a scared hand held. She really only needs one, but with two, she has done some amazing things.

WARMER TEMPERATURES

Warmer temperatures, at points soaring past the 30 degree mark, make it forgivable to think that Calgary went straight from winter (albeit a mild one, probably best described as an early spring that showed up sometime in January) to summer. Runners and riders are teeming on the paths, more than usual, donning tank tops and shades. Despite the obvious strain from working out, everyone seems to be in a good mood, smiling or waving to those passing in the opposite direction. There are definitely more Canada Geese now, waddling from one side of the path to the other, leaving fresh, umm, mementos which serve as obstacles to dodge on the course. Aside from the endorphin rush that comes from a nice run or ride, I look forward to the beautiful backdrop and the communal gathering of people who just love being in the outdoors.

With warmer temperatures, there are also other things that one notices. Especially whilst blazing down one side of Edworthy Park. The speed of this downhill descent fills me with glee and causes me to grin. But I soon regret this, as without warning, I ride right into a swarm of bugs. Soon, I find myself choking on the unfortunate few who have found their way into my mouth, my nose. Trying to hold my balance while fighting the urge to heave, I quickly swallow whatever's in my mouth. At least I can be grateful for nature's complimentary on-trail protein boost! This experience is not restricted to riding only. A couple of times, these unplanned "snacks" have also occurred while running. Oh well, you kind of get used to it...

Warmer temperatures are also bringing out another interesting phenomenon. I heard about it a couple of weeks ago and thought it was just silly. When I actually saw it, feelings of silliness turned to admiration. DINGHIES ON THE BOW RIVER! Apparently, one can jump into a dingy (or another type of inflatable conveyance) in Banff and laze the down this river which takes you all the way into the city's centre. Commonly, one travels with 2 of these devices: one for human transportation and one for beverage transportation. So, when I was out for my latest run along the Bow, I see fleets of these dinghies, moving slowly along the river, the occupants seeming to have a great time catching rays, laughing, and keeping well "hydrated"!

Warmer temperatures also have caused me to set my sights on camping in the Rockies. Having lugged with me my meager inventory of various camping gear, an Ontario hike leader certification (which I'm sure is not recognized here) and an awesome new 2-person tent from my loving small group, I'm so stoked about making the mere 1 hour drive west into open backcountry. Well, to solidify this whimsical desire into reality, members from the aforementioned small group will be making their way to Calgary in the middle of July. To do camping, of course. And not at the comfortable, amenity-filled Camp Timmy's, but the real thing surrounded by one of God's most magnificent creations. Though it's still a couple of months away, I am so excited, to the point that I'm starting to study different trail maps and thinking about what other gear I "need"!

Warmer temperatures was also one of the reasons why my parents chose May to come visit me. Sadly, they're not as into snowboarding or the cold as I am, so it would probably be a wasted trip for them to come in the winter. So, after arriving this Saturday, they will be here for the better part of a week and I'm looking forward to that!

FAITH AS SMALL, MOUNTAINS SO BIG

The lingering aroma of sweat. The fact that 40% of homeless people have an addiction (but no mention of what percentage of volunteers have addictions that are somewhat better hidden). The tour of emergency housing, "step-up" housing and finally, the low income rental units. The "store" where guests are afforded one new outfit after every dinner (and where 1 Calgary Flames jersey and what appeared to be a new pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans were waiting to be sorted). The Sikh group from the local temple that prepares an ethnic lunch every Saturday (and lucky for me, today is Saturday). The conversation with "Mike" about how he used to work for a dairy farm and how impressive it was that he knew so much about the Great Lakes and rock maple. The misconception that there is an "us vs. them", when truly, most of "us" are 1 or 2 paychecks away from "them". The revelation that true compassion is being able to love when there is no reason to love, to understand not from an intellectual level but through shared experiences. And Don's sharing with us his journey through abuse, countless group homes, equal time spent in and out of jail, Yonge Street Mission, stealing cars, and his current journey with the Seed.

Today was the volunteer orientation at The Mustard Seed.

From last week's visit:



















Just moments before this picture was taken, Ella has a "run in" with Nina. See, Nina has gotten use to little kids. Or, should I say, she's gotten use to finding food remnants on the faces of little kids. So, upon introducing Ella to Nina, Nina gives Ella a big slurp on the face, sending Ella on her butt. Ella cried for a bit and was more cautious after that!











Ah! The life of a yellow retriever!! This was the day that this retriever's owners tricked her into swimming across a large creek and doing multiple hill repeats!

FAMILY, WINE, SETTLERS, AND CHEAP BBQ!

A 36 hour visit is pretty short but we sure crammed in quite a bit in that time period. D & Z (and, of course, their beautiful retriever Nina) are trekking their way to Victoria. Prior to their arrival, I find myself at Petsmart looking for a "gift" for Nina. How does one buy a gift for a dog? It seems that dogs can never have enough toys so I find myself stuck in the toy aisle, confused by the selection of chew toys that loom around me. Why do they make toys that are "cute" by human standards (like a cuddly monkey or a chubby rabbit)? Can dogs really make that distinction? Just then, a lady enters the aisle with her dog. The dog makes a B-line towards this toy found on one of the lower shelves and snatches it. It's a chew toy shaped like a jack (those multi-sided things that you play with on a sidewalk while bouncing a ball). It's plush, the size of a basketball and is in different colours (wait, aren't dogs colourblind?). Thankful for the impromptu focus group survey, I grab one of those jacks and a red Petsmart tennis ball.

As they pull in, I help with some of the bags. Nina has a much needed conversation with Mother Nature and then we head inside. As soon as Nina steps in, she spots the tennis ball and darts for it. Instantly, the ball is in her mouth and she retreats to a corner, wagging her tail wildly in contentment. The plush jack is pretty much ignored, but she would eventually grab it and play with it too. That's when I find out that, embedded at the ends of each arm of the jack is a squeaker, chirping each time she bites down on it.

Dinner at Sushi Towa, breakfast at Second Cup, lunch at Saigon Palace. Romps through Edworthy and Fish Creek. Lessons in limnology and river ecologies. AND LOTS OF SETTLERS! The second dinner was a full course steak dinner (not like the simple ones that I usually prepare). Z's culinary prowess proved that a great meal can be prepared in the simplest of kitchens. To help compliment the meal, we welcomed a troop of eventual empties that would contain: Big Red House California Red, Fat Bastard Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon, NKMIP Merlot, Jackson Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sandhill Chardonnay. Dinner was topped off by some delicious mousses. Originally, we were going to head down to the Red Mile after dinner, since it was game 7 of the Flames vs. the Ducks. But, because of a certain choking incident, we agreed that the now famous stretch of 17th Avenue would be pretty quiet. So, we played more Settlers. Z is a really good player. But, we figured that with all the wine consumed, this should help level the playing field. No such luck, as Z whooped us! Still, both D and I managed to win a game during those two days of playing.

So, they're off now, on a spectacular drive through the mountains to eventually arrive on the coast. Meanwhile, back in Calgary, I'm discovering the wonderful community of Craig's List. Convinced that broiling steak is not safe in the long run (a couple of steaks have already set on fire due to being so close to the oven's broiling element), I've long considered a BBQ grill. There is a natural gas hookup in my patio so a natural gas BBQ grill would be preferable. Yet, the fact that natural gas grills are typically more expensive than the propane equivalent has made me gun shy. "Broil King NG BBQ - $20". What?! Apparently, there is someone in the NW that just recently purchased a new grill and is looking to unload his old one. So, after a quick inspection to make sure that all the elements work, I walk away with a CHEAP GRILL! MUCH THANKS TO G WHO HELPED ME CART THE THING BACK IN HIS F-150!!

Now, to prepare for my parents' visit in a couple of weeks...

BEING LOST BECAUSE OF TENTATIVENESS IS BAD!

With nicer weather taking up residence in Calgary, it's hard to let a sunny afternoon pass by without doing something outside. So, I decided to explore the Glenmore Resevoir (I was there with D in the winter time and we were on foot, so we didn't make it very far). I was told that there was quite an extensive contained trail here. Gentle slopes, flanking trees, and lots of wildlife made for a great ride! Part of the trail went behind a hospital, and it was nice seeing some patients and their families sitting on the benches along the trail, taking in the warm spring air and beautiful scenery. I passed kids on their bmx's, joggers and a couple who were rollerblading. I remember them because they were pointing out some of the houses near the trail and how they thought the renovations looked nice. It's hard NOT to be distracted by the different kinds of scenery found on the trail. Anyways, I'm blazing along when I see some orange constructions signs, indicating a detour of the path. The detour leads me onto a bridge that crosses over one of the larger roadways, the Glenmore Trail. I suddenly realize the mental picture of the trail map I took is now useless because I'm feeling lost. If memory serves me correct, I'm pretty far from where I parked my car, and judging by the direction that this trail was now heading, I'd be heading even further away. I decide to turn around. So I pass the hospital, the kids on their bikes and the observant rollerbladers; I go by the same ravine and the same marshes. I finally reach the beginning of the trail, some 40 minutes later. I'm just about to get off my bike when I see a familiar face. Actually, 2 familiar faces: the rollerbladers that I had passed were now out of their blades and loading up the car! They were relaxed and looked like there were there for a while. I kicked myself for not staying on the trail. I kicked myself even harder when I get home and look at the trail map once more...









Kinda reminds me of a time when C and I went to Frontenac Park for some early autumn camping. We had a trail map (a nice one with topography from MEC) which indicated where the different junction points and campsites were. There was this one part of the trail that snaked its way through a valley deep within some towering trees. The path that we followed soon faded and we had to go by topography and distances. Well, this proved not to be effective as we suddenly found ourselves lost. We ended up pacing back and forth for quite some time. At one point, we decided to drop our packs and do some unencumbered reconnaissance. Frustrated, we decided to eat lunch, feeling terrible for eating our Clif bars because we expended energy trying to get unlost. Well, after about an hour, we decided to go back to the point where we first determined that we were lost. It was on a wooden bridge that overlooked a marsh. We stopped on the bridge to ponder. Then C turns his head and looks up. There, on a ledge just a few metres up was the junction marker! Ah, we felt like such idiots - it was there all the time and if we hadn't stopped the first time, we probably would've seen it!










I see a recurring theme. Tentativeness can be such a destroyer of progress. I think tentativeness is a result of fearing the unknown. So, rather than taking the risk and deciding, the fallback position is just to do nothing. Or retrace steps, since what has passed is familiar, comfortable. I wonder how much more can be accomplished (from a humanity point of view) if we cast aside defaulting to familiarity. Most of my peers are first generation progeny of landed immigrants. Obviously, our parents took the plunge into the unknown at some point, not really knowing what lay ahead for them in a foreign land. I can't personally say that my parents intentionally instilled a fear of taking risks, so I have to think that the rest of my upbringing did that do me.