The Journey Continues

Things are beginning to come together, now that fall is beginning to feel a bit more like winter. Yes, I said it. You can officially blame the first snowfall on me now.

By "together" I mean some of the little pieces of the life I think I want to have are starting to form themselves into something tangible, something real. I'll try and explain this. I've been back to work for a couple months now and I'm starting to feel like the routine I've reestablished is feeling more and more sustainable.

During my time off, I really wanted to regain some balance in my life. Some ideal combination of satisfaction with my work, things that I enjoy and get energy from and of course my personal relationships. So far, things are feeling pretty good.

I'm starting my new job Monday and I'm really excited about the opportunity I think it will bring. I get to lead a group of six young and talented people and truly build the kind of culture and team environment I myself crave at work. To be sure, there's a huge learning curve ahead of me - no way around that. But I'm 100% committed to putting my shoulder to the wheel and working as hard as needed to become proficient in the technical aspects of the work. I'm confident that my ability to work with people on issues of importance to them will be a huge help getting me started. And I know I have lots of colleagues who'll support my transition and be true friends, and that means absolutely everything.

I'm having a great time with my two passions away from work: radio and hockey. The show is an absolute blast, and although I'm still struggling a bit with my sleep at times, the enjoyment and anticipation of each weekly episode keeps me jazzed up like nothing else. Hockey remains something that I also look forward to and get lots of juice from. Our team has struggled at times to keep a full roster on the ice, but I love the guys on the team and we all pull together and have fun regardless of the score. And since I don't see a lot of guys my age still tending goal, I'm movitivated to enjoy this ride as long as I can.

The last but most important part of my life feels like it's in a good place too. Priscilla is back with us and we're a family all over again. It is so wonderful to go out together and just talk and laugh and enjoy each others' company. I know we all look forward to connecting at the end of the day and sharing stories or adventures on the weekends. Tonya seems to have found her stride at work too, and although each day brings new challenges, I think she's happy to be back in the action when all's said and done. We're thinking of a special trip out west during Christmastime, and that would be something memorable.

So, for now, life is pretty damned satisfying. And for as long as I can say that, I'll celebrate each and every day like it's my last. I truly hope I feel this way until my days are done.

The Good, The Bad and The Patently Unexpected

This is been a weekend to remember, for a number of reasons. As I was thinking about the proper way to chronicle all this cornucopia of experiences, I heard the refrain of an Enrico Morricone movie theme. It's truly been good, bad and holy crap.

Things started out well enough on Friday. Tonya and I left work a bit early and headed out of town to Montana, in order to "land" and complete our immigration process. The drive was not bad, a little longer than normal due to traffic and road construction, but not overly so. And we were able to arrive in Kalispell in time for a late dinner at our favourite BBQ joint Famous Dave's. 

After a good night's sleep, we did a bit of shopping (as you do when in Montana) and headed to the border with a carload of clothing, groceries and Alaskan beer. So far, so good. We were the only car at the crossing when we arrived and, dutifully declaring our intention to land to the agent, were ushered inside. The agent was a bit surly, grousing about "this is supposed to be done from Monday to Friday during business hours" - yeah, right - but undeterred we smiled and, after a few minutes, our patience was rewarded. We were officially Landed Immigrants in Canada. (Sidebar: The "helpful" agent indicated our ID cards would arrive in the mail SIX WEEKS OR LATER, which means we can't travel by air during that time. But as I'm still in the Good section, I'll save that for another rant). Cue O Canada and pass the poutine please. At this point, ALL GOOD.

Back on the road on the north side of the 49th parallel, we stopped in Fernie, BC for a great cup of organic, hippy-fuelled espresso and pointed the car toward Calgary. It was getting dark but a nearly-full moon poked its face over the Foothills and we expected smooth sailing. Cue the BAD music.

We strayed from our usual route, and chose Highway 22 just for variety's sake. Hey, they don't call it the Cowboy Trail for nothing, right? A few KMs after the turnoff, we saw several deer beside the road. (Did I mention it was dark by now?) Just as our collective sphincters were relaxing, we saw the unmistakeable hind quarters of a MOOSE off the roadway, just visible in my headlights, which I should note were now on HIGH BEAM. Whew! Two near misses, no harm done. We were just settling into normal road trip banter (e.g. "Geez, that douche-bag with the BC plates sure didn't have to tailgate me for so long before deciding to pass across the solid line!") when it happened. 

Out of nowhere, a (stunning) 8 or maybe 10-point (male, obviously) deer ran, no SPRINTED, into view from our right. His intention, apparently, was to cross the road. Let me just say this for the record - HE DID NOT MAKE IT. Thanks to my goalie-honed, raptor-like reflexes I was able to simultaneously veer left and brake hard. But alas, there was an horrific (for the deer) collision. Thankfully the d-b behind me at that point (probably from BC also) was far enough back to miss plowing into the rear of the Jeep. Apparently s/he was in a hurry to get to Longview before the jerky store closed, whizzing past me on the left and never looking back.

Tonya and I verified that our respective undies were unsoiled (each checking his/her own, for the nasty-minded out there) and we exited the vehicle for a peek. (It was stopped by now, duh.) After removing the dangling front fender moulding and rear bumper trim from the passenger side, I returned to the scene of the impact to survey the damage. The first thing we noticed was one half of Mr. Deer's heretofore lovely rack of antlers was in the roadway. Flinging it out of traffic and into the darkness, I noticed the second fender moulding nearby and placed it into the cargo area, with its two companions. The deer, I noticed after some distressed searching, was probably 40 feet off the roadway in the right hand ditch, from whence he came. I thanked all that is holy he was not moving, having nothing in the car with which to humanely dispatch him save a key ring and a couple of goalie sticks. Eww. We made it home without further incident, save yours truly wondering what this little bit of deerscaping will run me at the body shop. Chalk this episode up as definitely BAD.

This morning, I awoke early to play a bit of pick-up hockey with some guys I'd not met before. A fellow at work had posted a "goalie wanted" ad on our Outlook bulletin board. I made it down to the Olympic Oval at the U of C not really expected much other than a good skate. The guys were pretty skilled and I was on the receiving end of a snowman (that's an 8 in the goals against column) heading into the 3rd period. Fortunately, my luck was about to change. I hunkered down (and charged forward, not unlike a certain deer I had recently met) and bagelled (put up a 0) the opposition in the third, as my lads stormed back with 4 unanswered goals for the tie, the last scored in the final minute with me on the bench for an extra attacker. Boo-yah! But then things turned PATENTLY UNEXPECTED, for as we were coming off the ice and heading for the dressing room, little did I know that my professional hockey career was about to begin.

That's right, my friends. At the tender age of 43, I am now part of the fraternity of those who play not only for love of the game, but also for a payday. You see, some other guys were waiting as I came off the ice and begged me to play for them. It seems their goalie was a no-show and they waved FIFTY BUCKS in my face if I'd stay and play another game. Are you kidding me? (I thought quietly to myself - no way was I passing up a pro contract!) Long story short, I stayed, played and sashayed (nice rhyme eh?) my way to a cool 7-1 win and some cold, hard cash. Heading home, I grabbed a quick shower and parlayed (still on the -ay suffixed rhyme, sorry about that) my $50 into a couple Cokes, bucket of corn and a big screen showing of Casablanca down at Chinook Cineplex. Final assessment: UNBELIEVABLE!

It just goes to show, you never know how a weekend will turn out. I may never live to see its equal again, but through the magic of blogging, I at least get to share it with the world. Peace out, and heads up for those deer eh!

Taking Stock

As much as I am loathe to say the words, it's pretty clear summer has given way to fall here in the foothills of southern Alberta. And just like those hardy pioneer forebears who settled here and put aside the bounty of the harvest for the upcoming winter, so I find myself preparing for leaner times ahead.

Well, maybe that's a bit of an overstretch. It's not like I have to fear death by freezing or starvation or the lonely, cold prairie nights spent alone with nothing but cold stars for company. But it is far more than a mere metaphor to think of winter as a time to brace for the inevitable transitions to come.

After the relative bounty of the summer, a time when cares and concerns of the bitter season were far from thought, I find it appropriate to make some small accounting of my time away from work and from the rigours and routines of daily life. Really, what have I learned? What have I accomplished?

I think the single most significant realization I take from the summer is that I rediscovered things I truly enjoy doing. Going back to radio has been a life-changing experience, in so many ways. Regardless of who might be listening in the ungodly hours of the morning, I love being able to produce and deliver a show I am truly proud of. I look forward all week long to those few short hours in the broadcast booth, where I alone am responsible for connecting, sharing on a most personal level. I gain unfathomed energy from the anticipation of and the reflection on my creation of something truly unique and personal.

I've also rekindled my love for reading. I savoured some truly classic novels over the summer and look forward to carving time out of my evenings for some ongoing literary reflection.  There will also be time for films and concerts this fall and winter too. And maybe after our young resident art history expert arrives and sets up shop, some gallery visits too!

All this is to say that I'm really glad for the time away. Work is work; it will always be there and will always be important in its own right. But life, I remember now, is so much more. I look forward to friends and friendships revisited in the weeks and months ahead. And life too, shared and cherished in new and soul-satisfying ways.

Back Home and Back To Work!

After 5500 kilometers and temps as high as 40c we are back home in Calgary, and none the worse for wear. The legend of the Jeep Cherokee continues to grow; this time as a mighty puller of heavy U-Haul trailers and one who chuckles at stiff headwinds. As for me, I've had just about enough of these cross-continent labours of love.

Don't get me wrong. I love a good road trip, the operative word being good. Like, for instance, going somewhere fun. With nice scenery, perhaps. Or even pleasant weather. And definitely NOT involving excessive manual labour. Score on this trip: ZERO!

OK, there is maybe an element of satisfaction to factor into the equation. A job well done and all that. Turning a page, finishing a chapter, closing a book. (I think that's the requisite number of literary metaphors for this entry.) Maybe I need to see the bigger picture and look at what's beginning, in the afterglow (and the searing heat) of what's ending.

Tomorrow we will submit our passports to the Canadian government for their issuance of our Landed Immigrant status. All three of us will then be free to work and do most anything here in this great country, save voting or serving in the Canadian Forces. Those privileges are reserved for citizens, and we have a couple years to wait yet. Having Priscilla with us again is a big plus, too. I know we will enjoy having her close by again.

Oh, and one other small detail: I'm going back to work tomorrow. Yes, the nice folks down at Suncor Energy Centre have seen fit to let me resume my previous employment. Fancy that. It will be odd getting up and actually dressing for work again. I'm sure the routine will return quickly, but in some respects I feel like a kid on the first day of school. Hope my new Keds and Toughskin jeans wow the ladies as much as they did back in the day.

So I end today as I started nearly six months ago - embarking on a journey. At present, colour me both contented and determined to face whatever comes next with vigour and a none-too-small dollop of reality. Work is work; important, certainly but not everything. I've picked up a few loose bits of my life that I'd dropped somewhere along the way, and I have no intention of letting them slip away again...

Packing Things Up On The Scene

Thanks to the band Radio 4 for the title of this blog entry.

The last time I drove to this part of the world during the hottest part of the year, I said it was the last time. Well, here we are again. Oklahoma in August. 38C/101F. Ugh...

Sadly, this is not the actual trailer...

But I can at least draw some solace in the fact that this is definitely the last road trip to this part of the world. We've packed our remaining personal effects into a U-Haul trailer and will head north to cooler temperatures and our new life in Canada. Our old life in the States is behind us now, with an air of finality we've only started to comprehend.

For you see, while we were on the road this time, we received word that our permanent residency status in Canada has been approved. All we have to do is send in our passports for the requisite stamps and within a couple of weeks we'll all have new ID cards which will allow us to live and work in Canada without restriction. Priscilla is included in our application, and she'll be joining us later in September.

There are some things we'll miss from this neck of the woods, though. Real barbecue, Shiner Bock and Blue Bell Ice Cream come to mind. But I won't be sad to leave behind the bugs, the heat or the likelihood of death by tornado. Good riddance to those, I must say.

So at the end of it all, things are looking pretty effin' positive as we head back to work in the next week or two. But we still have one last, hot drive to remind us what we leave behind. Oy.

New Blog Launch - UP ALL NIGHT!

Hey there friends and fans. As I spend more time preparing for and reporting on my radio show on CJSW, I've decided to launch a new blog dedicated exclusively to Up All Night. If you're interested in following my adventures in radio, here's the link: http://upallnightcjsw.blogspot.com/

As part of the new blog, I'll be posting news, notes and playlists for my shows, as well as opportunities for music fans to weigh in our favourite artists and submit feedback on show ideas.

So check it out and let me know what you think!

DJ Mark is UP ALL NIGHT on CJSW!

Okay hipsters.  Time to get serious about your late-night radio.

This past Tuesday saw the official "launch" of my new show, Up All Night, on CJSW 90.9 FM here in Calgary. And while some might opine the time slot (2am-6am) is, shall we say, less-than-savoury, I beg to differ.

Sweet logo - special thanks to Haley Em!

For one, it takes a devoted listener (or someone in a friendlier - say European - timezone) to tune in during the wee small hours. No mollycoddling for my fans, no sir. Only the most hardy and hardcore devotees need apply.

Plus, I feel no constraints on my show content. I can play pretty much whatever I damn well please. Old school alternative? Check. New Canadian artists? Check. Jazz, reggae, lounge???  Check, check, and CHECKMATE!  Four hours of nothing but feet-scootin', butt-rockin', sleep-chasin' beats!!!

So, if you've got the chops, check out the show. And if the middle of the night is no good for you during the week (sissy!) I've a limited time only offer for you: This Friday (August 13) from 7am-10am, my pal Kat Lord (host of CJSW's The Jazz Baby) and I will be holding court on the morning airwaves. This is a limited-time offer, so you know we can't do this every day. Not unlike the Slap-Chop. So for the love of all that's good and wholesome, tune in and check us out!!!

North To Alaska!

I was thinking recently that it's been far too long since I've embarked on an epic road trip. The idea of hitting the highway and seeing the world from behind a windscreen has an almost primal appeal. And since it doesn't get much more epic than Alaska, the idea moved from concept to reality quite rapidly.

For the record, it's been 8 years since I've spent the summer in the 49th State. My folks still live there of course, and Tonya and I both have sisters there, along with some very dear friends. I've never driven the Alaska Highway and Tonya's lone trip was in 1989. What's more, we're already "halfway there" from the perspective of our Lower 48 neighbors. So with all that in play, it was pretty obvious that a trip was in order. So, we're packing up the Jeep and heading out early tomorrow morning.

According to our trusty copy of the 2010 Milepost, it's 2160 miles from Calgary to Anchorage. We plan to take it in three driving days. Day 1 will take us through Alberta into northern British Columbia and an overnight stay in Fort Nelson. We'll head from there to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory on the second day and cross the Alaska border and down into the southcentral part of the state for some long overdue catching up time.

We plan to stay 8 or 9 days and then head back to Calgary, but by a slightly different route. We'll head down the Cassiar Highway into the heart of BC and see parts of the province neither us has experienced to date. And perhaps we'll get our hands on some terrific Okanagan wines in the process too!

Be sure to stay tuned for the occasional travel post. And all my legions of radio fans, don't despair. I'll plan on returning to the CJSW airwaves upon my return to Calgary in August. Of course I'll still be working in the wee small hours but hey, it's a great gig regardless.

So until then, wish us ¡Buen viaje! and safe travels eh!

"Are We On The Air, Sugar?"

Yes, Geraldine, it's true.

For those unfortunate enough to be awake in the wee small hours of Tuesday morning and near your radio or computer, you might have heard yours truly broadcasting on the Calgary airwaves. Yes, that's right. After a hiatus of more than 15 years I am once again a real live radio DJ.

How's that, you ask? Well, it went down something like this. I submitted a volunteer application to CJSW 90.9 FM (our local college radio station broadcasting from the U of C campus) here in Calgary a couple months back. I've been wanting to get back into the music scene for a while now, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. After two relatively painless orientation sessions, I set to work on the low end of the food chain - cataloging music in the library.

Ironically, most volunteers hate this part of the deal. They find it tedious and unappealing. Not me. Quite the contrary, actually, as I really dig seeing all the new music that comes in to the station as well as the 100K+ title library we are privileged to maintain. Though it's mostly CDs these days, there are still lots of great albums which are only available on vinyl. What's more, many are out of print, which even makes them all the cooler.

I'd probably logged 20 hours or so in the last few weeks and was content to keep plugging away and trying to help out in any way I could, when last week the Program Director (Mark Shields) pulled me aside and asked if I might fill in for some open shifts that needed temporary hosts. He knew I'd done radio before and deftly put me alongside an expert DJ (thanks Hayley Em!) for a quick refresher in the broadcast booth last Monday afternoon.

Although quite a bit has changed in radio since the early 90s, the basics are still the same. Good on-air presence, a sense of timing and, of course, enough musical sensibility to actually program a show that flows from start to finish. Another hands-on session with Mark the PD on the 30th allowed me to "solo" for over an hour. Afterward, he apparently felt I was capable of handling things on my own, so he plugged me into an open overnight slot which needed a host. Which brings me to this morning.

I arrived at the station 'round midnight (cue Thelonius Monk) and started selecting music from the library. Overnight shows like this one (2am-6am) don't get heavily programmed with ads or public service announcements (PSAs) or other required content, so there's a lot of freedom to play a range of music. We are required to select 4 songs per hour off the current playlist, as well as insuring at least 4 Canadian-content offerings are played. But still, with 12-15 songs per hour (I do try to avoid the live version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida) means a lot of preparation is needed to adequately cover a 4-hour shift.

When the clock displayed 2:00 I was on the air! The time passed quickly as I served up a blend of old-school college radio staples along with our new material, plus a generous sampling of blues, jazz, reggae and some choice international beats. I think the final product, though still a bit rough by my standards, went over quite well. No one called to complain which means a) I did OK or b) no one was listening. What the heck - I had a blast despite being up way past my bedtime.

Even better, I'm on again in the daylight hours this week (Wednesday July 7 from 4-6pm MDT) so perhaps my legions (ha!) of fans will be able to "stay up" this time around. If you're not in Calgary, no worries. We stream live 24/7 on our web site.

Thanks in advance for your support and hope you can listen in!

Last Dash to the Finish!

Well, we're getting really close folks. Tonya and I completed our medicals in support of our Canadian immigration application this past week. By all accounts, we passed. Barring a late flunking of the blood test for syphilis, that is.

Priscilla is flying up from Big D later this week to complete her examination. Once that's done, the results go to Ottawa for final OK, then off to Los Angeles to get married up the the rest of our application.

The best part is that for our immigration classification, completed medicals precede final approval by as little as a month. Which means if we're lucky, we could have our landed immigrant status before the end of the summer.

Fingers crossed, if you please. Next stop, the tattoo shop for my Maple Leaf insignia!