Haters Gonna Hate

I loved the Royal Wedding. I dont wanna hear all the bitching and complaing about this and that and that and money blah blah blah, and who is too cool to watch. How absolutely brilliant that 2/3's of the world can tune in and celebrate love. Hell we tune in and mope about so many terrible strifes happening in the world. Why not a celebration of love?

Its not that bad. It was traditional and proper and classy and I dont think its a bad thing that we can reflect back on what is so important and what our traditions are, and how we carry them forward in to the future. I say thanks for the reminder Kate and Will, and thanks for demonstating to all the followers of many trashy role models today that this is how a lady acts. And fairy tales do come true.

The crowning momemt for me was when I realized Catherine Middleton's dress was identical to my mothers wedding dress, who is also named Catherine, always knew my ma had class and style.

CHEERS

Social Media Musings

Facebook is taking over the world. Facebook is everywhere. I feel like Facebook is at every point I turn, its my personal life, my business life, my hobbies, my interests, my family, my journal, my expression, my curiosity, my personal brand. I am completely obsessed with it just as the next person, but lately, when I think of how much its dominating the world, I'm having a little "Facebook Fatigue" and I know I am not going to win this battle. The cool factor is gone, now its become business.
Its like Facebook has become the Internet itself. And its become social interaction in itself. Instead of TV commercials flashing their website at the end of a 30 second spiel they announce "Sears Canada, Find us on Facebook" with that little blue icon thingy. Seriously? Find SEARS on Facebook? Why wouldn't they just say go to Sears.com, where you can get more info and actually buy shit. Because (scary music) FB is the new Internet.
Or why did the so-called respected newspaper "The Globe and Mail" print a story today about the "Like" button. Because that fucking "Like" button is mighty powerful these days. See That Rant Here by the Lovely Hannah Sung. A story on the "Like" button applies to pretty much everyone, and appeals to everyone to read.
Even this blog you are reading, "Schoolyard Musings" is linked to its "Fan Page" on FB so that all my RSS feeds post onto the Fan Page. (Become a Fan Here LOLZ)

Currently, I am reading "Crush It" by Gary Vaynerchuk . This guy is basically saying, social media IS BUSINESS. So move over old methods and get on the fucking bandwagon so you don't get left behind. And its true, hes right. Social Media is now, its the future and its still evolving. Its just really mindfucking me lately. I tuned into watching Global News the other night, and what dawned on me was that nearly everything they were talking about was like OLD NEWS. Old because I had seen it on Twitter or some blog site earlier that WEEK OR that day. What is the future of TV Newscasts if we have this insanely new sophisticated network online? Crazy.

I was out for dinner with a lovely 30 something professional couple a small time ago. And naturally at some point in the dinner convo the word Facebook came up. And like "show and tell day" in fucking Kindergarten this woman pipes up and rudely interrupts me to point out and brag that she is not on the Facebook so there is no way she could know what I'm referring to. Politely I explained my story to her in words and phrases that she could understand. But this was my inner monologue: "HAHAAHHA you think you are soooooooo 'keep keep keeping it real' ehhhh!!! You are so hip and interesting that you haven't 'caved' into the addicting Facebook ehhhh lady. Wow what strength you have and what bragging rights you have, its as if I'm 300 pounds and you have just told me that you don't eat ice cream. Wow, lady, too bad for you that you remind me of those people in the 1990s that bragged that the Internet was a fad and to keep on faxing away. Get with the NOW or get waaaaaay left behind".

Yep that's what I thought in my head.

Truly, our world has been changing, its still changing. You can hang on to the old methods for nostalgia sakes or you can jump right in and start making it work for you. Facbook is a means to promote and develop your personal brand. It doesn't (and it shouldn't) act like an open book to your personal life. But this personal brand is whats going to get you your place in your community and career and other networking areas.

All this social media is spinning my head, its kinda overwhelming me, I know I'm not alone. But, I know that I gotta keep up, I gotta stay on top of it, cuz I don't want to get left behind. Throughout the movie "The Social Network", the Mark and Shawn character stressed about how Facebook had to remain "cool",  I feel it has officially lost its cool factor, but the weight of the impression has not been lifted and never will be. Its here to stay until we evolve with the next big thing.

Im still a Pisces!! Whew!

I knew all this "your zodiac sign is wrong" shit was shit.
You gotta read this article
http://planetwaves.net/pagetwo/2011/01/13/your-zodiac-sign-is-not-wrong/

And Here is CNN
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/13/no-your-zodiac-sign-hasnt-changed/

DUTY

I thought I could pull a fast one. I bought a bottle of wine at Costco in Kalispel, and thought the boarder guards let me go without paying the duty. NOPE. So this bottle of Napa Valley Sledgehammer Zinfandel better be FAN-fucking-TASTIC. As I type this Im thinking, havent I written a blog about paying duty already??? ahhaha probabley.

Sledgehammer, Napa Valley, Zinfandel 2007. $14.99USD + CDN duty = $10000000.

This wine was a fucking monster! Smooth tannins, but a real punch in the face. The 14.5% alcohol also kicked my ass after one glass. the bouquet was, vanilla-cigar-dipped-in-blackberry-jam then the cigar was rolled around in lava rocks.  I loved it. Buuuuut moral of this love story is, paying duty is not worth it. Dont get all caught up in the moment with the sick selection and shiny lights in the USof A. Unless you are down there 48 hours and bring back the allowed ammount. Just Dont. Napa is like, my favorite place for Cab and Zin, but I coulda got a Chilean merlot for $12.99 and had the same experience, sans the epic buzz.

Lamebook.com

You know those people who post the stupidest shit on their Facebook, those "friends" that irrate the shit outta you, well, welcome to lamebook.com, you can submit thier riduculous shit for others to laugh at.

http://www.lamebook.com/

Whatever

I like how Mt Washington on Vancouver Island got a friggin 5 minute commerical during the primetime of the 6 o'clock news hour on CBC. Ya sure 3 metres in 3 days is sick, thing is, thats not totally abnormal for Mt Washington. Old news CBC. Oh and dont you hate that EVERY ski hill is mentioned in the ski report on CBC and Global BC EXCEPT Fernie. Fuck we are NOT in Alberta despite what the parking lots say.
Ive been to Mt washington on a pow week, you cant drive to your condo, gotta get the cat ride in, you cant see SHIT, you cannot remove goggles at ANY cost or your goggles will be perma fogged, the snow is soooo fucking heavy and wet, its not steep enough for that wet snow, theres no night life, pouring rain at the bottom uggg hahahaha I wasnt impressed, and yes Ima spoiled princess powder bunny.

I vote for the Alberta boarder to extend to Morrissey. Seriously, lets start a petition, I know you BC'ians looooooooove signing petitions!

A Rockpile Christmas

Now Avail At Freyja, $5 CDs of "A Rockpile Christmas"

My Review. Its so bad its good. Its frightful, Its delightful.

Weekly Rant

Open Letter All To Freegans:

You know what? Everyone really IS laughing at you. Go ahead there and sift through garbage and eat garbage and tell me you've "figured" it out, ohhh ya you are sooo clever beating the "man" by eating bagels from a dumpster and bragging you live on a dime a day, ooooooooo. You know what else? Fuck you. If you want to live in a society of no money then get the fuck off my sidewalks and roads and dont you dare enter my hospital. Im breakin my back working in this society paying taxes and generating something in my local and global ecomony and you just think you can come in and freeload with your ignorant comments, distorted views and stinky trash ass. Fuck you. Look the fuck around, take a good damn look at your beautiful country and the AMAZING opportunities you have in Canada, and by geez, how the fuck do you think all that comes together???? The facilities to educate yourself, heal yourself, have a baby safely, enjoy a movie, have a music festival, etc etc.... You dont think any of that costs anything? And those people dont deserve compensation so they can be apart of society and pay taxes for all the things we in turn use adn need, and have money for their families? fuck you. If you wanna live in the dump, go ahead, but you better fucking stay there. Get a clue.

Beauty Basics

Okay, I feel compelled to post this. Time after time I get asked and asked by ladies in the community on how to apply make up. I know! Its so silly, but ya, it is confusing, but this should be easy, but its not!  Cuz no one really shows you these things. Even though its your gaddamn face to the world! I swear, honestly some of this should be basic life skills that they should teach in high school. Seriously, they really dont teach you how to eat properly in high school, may as well teach the ladies how to put on a face...for the so many reasons a lady should know this stuff !

Im not trying to give a lecture on makeup, Im just saying, regardless of how you think society should be, the fact is that we live in a society where you want to know how to put your best face forward at times, makeup can and will make you feel more confident and sexy, its just the way it is so lets all learn the basics people!

These videos from The globe are fantastic, you can always you tube some insturctions on something you arnt sure of. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/beauty-basics/

I saw him, I was offended.

Wow, looks like there is a place just as/or more ignorant then Fernie this Halloween....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/kkk-costume-at-legion-halloween-party-disgusts-many-in-ontario-town/article1783090/

Things Looking Good!

Overnight at Fernie Ski Hill!

The Schoolyard Business Exellence Awards

K, couple things on my mind this week. Lots going on in the fall eh? Its like town slows down but life picks up, people just out doing shit and working on future shit. Im loving it, all good things.

So, okay, the Fernie Chamber puts on a Business Awards Gala every year. In order to be a finalist for an award, people in the community have to put forward your name and why they think  you deserve the award. Some of the awards are like "Best Customer Service" "Business of the Year" "Entreprenuer of the Year", things like that.

So when I found out for the 3rd year in a row I was nominated for Entreprenuer of the year, I was really...heartwarmed, because its not the Chamber putting these names together its people in the community that took the time to write my name down and that ts really flattering. No, Ive never won, haha, but being a good sport Im still pleased someone notcied my hard work and Im definantly gonna drink to that, drink some Macallan 18 year in fact.

So that being said, I looked at all the nominess this year for all the different business awards and I thought, wow, yes all these people and business' are outstanding and all very deserving. But they there were some glaringly obvious names missing.

I just want to point out that, all the people nominated are very deserving but Schoolyard must hand out some addtional imporant awards.

Schoolyard Musings Business Excellence Awards for Outstanding Business Work in Fernie.

1. Most Passionate -Tanya Malcolm from Womb to Grow. Tanya has dedication, passion, sass and the smarts to shine in business. Her business has taken the initative to include the community and invite them into her passion by hosting events like the "Red Tent Event" and currently, the theatre production "Birth". Tanya herself is a vibrant community member participating as a volunteer and arts supporter. Cheers to Tanya and her business, you are a winner to me girl!

2. Most Good-Looking Staff Appricated - Charlie and Staff at Bulldogs North. Damn is it hard to run a bar year round in Fernie, keeping the locals and the vistiors excited about music and food. And these guys have been at it for awhile now. Im stoked they took a huge risk getting into a business like this in a town like this and having the drive to make it work. All big winners to me and much thanks for being open, thank you for bringing music to Fernie, thank you for supporting local music and thank you for burgar and beer night. Thank for dealing with all the shit that happens at a metal show, but you brought it in cuz it made the people happy.

3. Most Coolest -Keiran Summers at Give'r Shirt Works. Great product, Great staff, Great service, Great community supporter, sponsoring and giving shit away all the time in this town for a small business. Also, totally making a sick balls-to-the-wall move by expanding into a big space in the old Fields building. Thats takes balls dude, good on ya and cheers!!

4. Most Best At Stuff- Brett at Mugshots. Huge community supporter with his donations, always working, employing lots of peeps and always super nice, and the ruebans and clubs are really good and they serve Oso Negro. Boom. He's also an AMAZING caterer. Like the time this summer he had to cook for a wedding of 90. Both stoves at Elk View broke and he ended up cooking the 90 meals on a camp stove and noooo one noticed the difference, it was fantasic, I know cuz I was there.

5. Most Awesome - Boardstiff. Seriously are these guys like open 24/7? I like that Geof has set a standard for downtown retail hours. Maybe we arnt all on board yet cuz we are lazy/or too cheap, but they are the example to follow. I like that Boardstiff is a community supporter. I like that Geof made that Turkey Tent Sale happen this fall. I like that they are in the middle of downtown and they always look like somethings going on. Overall, Fernie should feel happy that Boardstiff is commited to this town, even tho lots of y'all are heading over the boarder to get your winter shit.

6. Most Ballsy - Picnic Restaurant. Basically just a huge thanks for taking a shit ass building in our downtown and socking thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars into making it one fucking good looking street corner and bragging place. Again, another ballsy risk and it makes our town better, thanks.

7. Most Killing it - Becka and Jesse at Poison Apple Tattoo. This amazing woman barely looks up these days cuz shes either tattooing or drawing. She created a fucking monster with her shop and its killlllling it. Why? Cuz shes a brilliant artist and a hard ass. I love her and Im so happy Fernie has a spot like this. Shes booked till like next March so thats why shes expanding and only bringing in equally sick qualified artists. Poison Apple just showcased at the Calgary Tattoo Convention and garnered some serious industry buzz. she also was profiled in "Inked" magazine - ya thats kinda a big deal.

8. Most Bragging Rights - The Staff at Yamagoya and Cam. Lets be honest, we all brag about your overall quality to all our friends and family that live outta town. When people visit Fernie we showcase how rad our town is with a night at Yamagoya. You guys are the reason most people stay in Fernie. You gave us culture, you gave us a place to eat weekly and totally feel amazing about it, you gave us a place to be seen on a first date. Its the Truth! Also wicked community supporters. Lift those Alpine Martinis high and ching ching! Chineechawa Bitches!!

Honorable Mentions in no particular order:
1. The dude that reno'd and added the acarde to the Vogue
2. Cincott
3. Lillis and Claude

Anyone with the drive and passion to do business in Fernie is top shelf in my books. Big Winners and Hugs all around.

See yas this Thursday at the "real" awards!

Thanks, thanks and thanks.

Just wanna make a point to say, "Whoooa! Last Saturday downtown Fernie was Crazy!"

Crazy busy with locals and tourists. What an excellent weekend for Fernie. Im sure there were numerous factors that contributed to it. One being that a couple weddings were happeing on 10/10/10 so wedding attendees had all Saturday to browse the shops, Two, long weekend.
But also Boardstiff got the ball rolling for a Turkey Tent Sale, in which Freyja, Commit, Bunches and Guides Hut jumped in and all put spots on EK radio. Thanks to Geof for getting it going, not like anyone else was doing anything to promote shopping in Fernie or any kind of economic stimulus, cough cough.
Thanks Geof! and Thanks to all merchants who were out cash to promote what turned out to be a nice weekend for everyone. And thank your Fernie for shopping local, its an investment in your town and the money all stays here in one way or anyother.
-jus saying.

Im hearing some MAJOR talk

OOHHHHH wow, been here what 7 winters now and I've never heard such hype for a snow year! Wow I hope its true, 3rd page of the Free Press follows up on this hype...click here to read it online

HYPE HYPE

What Would You Say?

Two Ladies walk into a quaint little fashion boutique. Both have children, one lady has a 3 year old boy and the other lady has a 6 month old on her hip. After several minutes of casualy looking over the merchandise the mother of the 6 month old asks the sales clerk "would you mind if I changed my baby's diaper on your couch". The couch a green velvet store centerpiece in the middle of the store.
The sales clerk, flabergasted says "well uhhhh, ummm".
"Is that a problem?????", demands the out-of-town lady.
"Well we dont have a public washroom, there is one across the street", respnds the clerk.
"What?? I cant change my diaper in your store????", the two women visually pissed off gather their items in a hurry and storm out.

.....In what mind did those women think changing a kids shitty diaper in the middle of a boutique would be appropriate?????? Would they have asked to do this in the Gap?

Moms whip out a teet whenever and where ever these days regardless of what others think to breastfeed, and thats politically correct, but now we have to deal with the smell of shit to accomodate motherhood now too?????? What the hell?????

What would you have done with your child???? What would you have said to the mother???

I googled this and the article I found was when Kim Kardashian tweeted about a woman in a restaurant pulling an impromtu diaper change right there in the resto. It sparked a media whirlwind - read here

BEAR IN AREA, pffftt

You know what I dont understand...

I enter the Annex park trail from the Canadian Tire side, I run with headphones on all the way along the river till I am exiting off the trail to where it forks with the dyke trail. When I entered on the other side there were no signs, but when I exited I realized there were two signs "BEAR IN AREA". Ohhhh thats why I never passed anyone on the trail. Ahhhh WTF!! Was I just in the "Bear Area". Why didnt you tell me on the other side before I ran the whole damn thing. Every summer this boggles my mind! hahahah its funny, until I one day I come up on a bear and realize, oohhhh the sign said this might happen, but I, unfortunately came from the other side where there was no warning.

I get out of the Annex park, thankful I wasnt eaten. Then I run up to Rip and Richards, and fuck, there's another "BEAR IN AREA" sign. So Im like, "eff? Im not in the clear yet??"

Then I run under the highway and come out by the shaded think trail along the quattrain apartments. And what do I see.....

2 ...

HUGE...

...Doods carrying a big DeWALT ghetto blaster on their shoulders blasting a Taylor Swift/Miranda Lambert song drinking some beers.

....Now that was frigthning!

WTF? hahhah oh the sights you see in Fernie sometimes.

Guilt Trip

whoa. whoa. whooooooa.

K, just read the article on "guilt" in the new September ELLE Canada. So its basically talking about some neuro researcher and his findings about us wanting luxery goods, but feeling guilty that we think we need them to be happy, even tho we can afford them we dont want to want them - really facinating shit - I tried to find it online for y'all but I cant.
Anyway....
It goes on to talk about all the guilt we feel on a regular basis and how guilt is basically the most powerful emotion we have to motivate our actions. WHOOOOAAA. This just kinda rocked my world. I think I need more time to meditate on this....brb

The Flannel Feenom

After all these years of shaking my head and trying to look past the icky impression it leaves on me... I still cant get over how some girls and grown women leave the house for a day on the town in their flannel pajama pants. Im not talking about sweats okay, just this recent phenom of public outings in flannel pjs.

Everytime I see a fat ass sluging down the street or taking up space on a mall bench in flannel pants avec skating penguins or ballerina teddy bears I cant help but think bad thoughts. Im totally going there, Im just saying it. These people get a big floppy homemade concert sign "FAIL!"

Your appearance does speak for something. Its just does. Im not expecting everyone to be a fashionista or spend copious ammounts of cash on clothes, this is absolutely not what im saying. Im saying that your apperance is representitive of who and what you are. Just like how people in certain cliques like to dress to distiguish themselves in society of who they are and what they are about, like skaters, or guidos or rich babes or sporty dudes. We all dress to express.
These woman are basically saying "Im too lazy". This flannel feenom is like wearing a sign on your chest that says, "Im lazy and all the welfare sterotypes you are thinking right now are most likey true about me", or "Im a hoarder" or "I hate myself and I dont want to do anything about it". This expression statement is speaking volumes of thier lives.

People like to dress themselves as an expression of who they are, and thats why im trying to wrap my head around this flannel feenom. These women must know the statement this carries, so why do it? Do they really not care at all and this is a fuck you? Or are you so lazy that you are not embarressed of your fail? I would be embarressed if I was this lazy, I'd try and hide it from others in society. But hey this is just my opinion, Im trying to understand theirs... and Im tyring to understand why a parent would allow thier teens to dress and leave the house in this way, way to set them up for real life after high school!

Little shop owner tired of being shit on.

Just wanna say a big congrats to the Tranrockies, looks like a great event as usual. However, for the 4th summer in a row, thanks a lot for putting your Start or Finish line RIGHT in front of my business. Great work, all the fencing and spectators were the perfect way to ruin my sales for the day. But dont worry, Im aware Im supposed to be all happy and stoked this event is in town for the day. Even though Im in town for 365 days supporting the local economy too and raising money for community charities in my spare time, but hey Ill shut up, because, mountain biking is the only thing in Fernie right??? I mean retail in Fernie is so highly lucrative that a weekend of summer sales doesn't really matter to us, we have all fall and spring to rake in the cash cuz tourism is red hot and locals have lots of work and money in the off season around here.

Ill just stock up on toilet paper for all the people coming in here looking to use my can. Oh and thanks for not asking or consulting me and just TELLING my staff what your plan is. AWESOME and EFFECTIVE communication! I hope one day perhaps one of these bikers travels back to Fernie and stays in a hotel instead of their RV and shops at Freyja. I cant wait for that day, after all these years Im still waiting. Man, it will feel so so good to finally make up a small fraction of what I have lost with this event blocking my other customers out. RIDE ON!

Adventure Day

My sis and I made the trek to Silverwood last week. We used to go all the time as kids so thought, "what the hell, for old times sake". We left Fernie at 7:30am Mountian Time and arrived in the park ready to go at 11:30am Pacific Time. There was a big border wait, so account for that. Anyway, after paying $42USD and a bunch of other fees and costs, we were well on our way to bake in the sun on amusement rides and cool off in the Water Park. Silverwood, is straight up a great time, and like us, can be done in a day trip. Its a pricey day, but once you do all the rides and ill out in the sun, you can get kinda over it and be ready to jet. I even had time to enjoy a two foot piece of red rope licorice and try my hand at some games in which I won some funny shit.


One thing I feel I must stress is that, you absolutely must like/tolerate tons of kids, large families, greasy meat, and long long lineups.

If you do the day drive, I highly recommened stopping in Sandpoint on the way home for a "5hr Energy Shot" - You know you've seen em in 7 Eleven, they are AMAZING, no caffiene, no sugar, just vitamin Bs. That shit is CRAZY good for energy, with no crash later.