A Weekend in Calgary: The Blizzard and the Birthday

Stuck inside after a blizzard.

I hate blizzards. I hate the cold, the blowing wind, the snow, the zero visibility and the white-knuckle driving. On the other hand, it's Mother Nature's way of bringing your life to a standstill so you can catch up on whatever things you've fallen behind on. It's also an opportunity to invite your neighbors over for food and drink. And afterwards, you can make your front yard into a mini ski hill. Whatever you did during and after the blizzard, I hope you spent your time safely and had fun.

Cooked up some Laksa on Friday night as the storm raged outside.

I have been a winter driver here in Calgary for over 20 years, in all sorts of vehicles. I've had my share of scary moments where I've seen my life stand still, where seconds turn into eternity as my nails dig into my steering wheel and I wonder, "When am I gonna stop?" Driving in situations like this have become a part of life. You just have to remember to have common sense, leave a lot of extra space between the car ahead of you and drive slow.

Friday evening, I picked up the kids and stopped at T&T Supermarket to get some food for the weekend. During that time, I made another "Trip to the Asian Supermarket" video for the YouTube channel and picked up ingredients for the Laksa cooking video. I felt very productive. Earlier that day, I took advantage of the approaching storm to record a nice video greeting for BusanKevin's Xmas collaboration video.

Once dinner was sorted out, all we had to do was sit around and chill out. I drank wine and surfed the internet as the wind blew.

By Saturday morning, the wind had stopped blowing and I was already bored of being stuck inside. The street outside was alive with neighbors shovelling away the snow from the previous night, carving out paths in the huge drifts so they could get to their vehicles, also buried in the white stuff. I had to get out. My friend, Sue had invited some neighbors over for food and wine so I knew what I had to do.

Poutine: Canada's single most glorious contribution to food.

After a little lunch, I picked up some wine and made my way to Sue's place. Upon my arrival, I saw the neighborhood kids having a great time sledding in the front yard. Sue made two huge mounds at the top of the front yard for the kids to drop in from, sliding all the way down to the street. Tried my hand dropping in strapped to a snowboard. Results were not so good.

Sue's improvised 'Ski Hill'

Drinking lots of wine is a great way to warm up

Had a great time with Sue's neighbors. Drank wine and rum and cokes, using ice we made out on the deck. The kids played all evening upstairs, then came down later to watch a dvd. At the end, they were asleep on the couches til morning. A wonderful evening.

Sunday was my birthday. It was of course, cold. The kids bundled up and hit the 'ski hill' again before we went for a trip to Value Village for some shopping. After picking up a retro track jacket, we said our goodbyes to Sue. Went home later and took a nap as the kids played games. I was awoken by a phone call at about 5:30 pm. It was Kim reminding me of the dinner she had cooked.

I  dropped off the kids, and made my way to Bridgeland. I had forgot about Kim's dinner, seeing as we had only talked about it briefly on Friday on the phone. I thought it would be a nice way to wind down a nice weekend. So I get to her place, take off my jacket and walk into the kitchen, like I always do. I notice that in the livingroom, there are appetizers on the coffee table. Hmm. I'm thinking that it was nice of her to make a special dinner on my birthday, so I walk into the livingroom.

Surprise...

A smile comes across my face as I come around the corner and see my closest friends sitting on the couch. With Kim starting to laugh, Kaori, Sue and Miyuki start to laugh at the look on my face. Food, good conversation and more wine follow.

Happy Birthday to ME!

As much as I hate the thought of getting closer and closer to 40, I still think that the best years of my life are ahead of me. I have great friends, I am independent, creative and I love my kids. What more do I need in my life?

A Trip to Texas: Part II

As promised, I bring you part 2 to "A Trip to Texas". Enjoy!

A Trip to Texas

Imagine my delight when my mother asked me to come visit her in Texas for Thanksgiving. Its been 7 years since my last visit to her place, so of course I wanted to go! As a bonus, my aunt and uncle from Toronto were also visiting, so it was a family reunion of sorts.

Tommy Bahama's, The Woodlands

 

I got off the plane, realizing that I hadn't eaten anything since the morning so we ended up going to the Woodlands for some dinner at Tommy Bahama's. The restaurant sits in a beautiful town square-esque part of Market Street. I could write about the delicious Tuna poke with fresh avocado, or the southern crab cakes, the roast chicken with asian vegetables or the fish tacos, but I'll just show you the pics.

Tuna Poke with Avocado

 

 

Roast Chicken with Asian Vegetables

 

 

Fish Tacos

 

Southern Crab Cakes

Nighttime in Woodlands, TX

The next day started with my uncle waking me up at 7, asking me if I wanted to go play golf. Golf in November is a rare treat for someone that's used to putting away his clubs in October and not taking them out til mid-April. That is the life of the Canadian golfer.

Quick 9 at the Village Golf Course

An afternoon of shopping for the kids made for a full day. Of course, it was time to eat again. This time, we saw a brand new resto near the interstate beckoned us... Mama Juanita's. It was time for some TexMex.

The Customary Tortilla Chips and Salsa

Cheese Stuffed Poblano Pepper

Normally, I love stuffed poblanos, but this one suffered the wrath of good old American gluttony. An over-the-top, oversauced, over-cheesed monstrosity that would go better with a Big Gulp.

The Combo Fajita

I was pleasantly surprised after that poblano of what was to come next. I followed the owner's suggestion and ordered the combination Fajita platter. It was a platter of 4 kinds of meat: pork, steak, chicken and shrimp, served on a sizzling platter on a bed of caramelized onions accompanied by your choice of warm flour or corn tortillas. Fajitas are always dramatic, wherever you order them. They are preceeded by their telltale sizzling sound as the server approaches the anxious diner. A trail of steam and the charbroiled aroma of meat follow as this signature dish is delivered to the table. Mama Juanita's fajitas were sublime. I won't try to describe the taste. Fajitas do enough talking on their own.

The Cancer Survivors Plaza, Museum District, Houston

My last day in Texas was simple. I went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. There were a couple exhibits in town that were worth checking out. I'm also a sucker for the giant dinosaur skeletons and shrunken heads.

Oooooh, dinosaurs...

My favorite parts of the museum were definitely the Rainforest exhibit and the Aztec artifacts. There were also some pieces from the Famous Jeweller to the Tsars, Faberge...not BRUT by Faberge, but the one that made all the eggs. Anyways, the rainforest exhibit was filled with tribal pieces, textiles, tools, weapons, art and photographs of daily tribal life. The pinnacle of this exhibition were the shrunken heads, which I haven't seen since a childhood trip to the Smithsonian in DC. The Aztec artifacts were also very interesting to me, since I have always wanted to see the ruins in Mexico. I think museums are the best way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, especially when you travel to other cities. There are a few great museums in Houston and I hope to visit the others when I return.

So my weekend was relaxing and fun, filled with a bit of culture and great food. It was short-lived, but I was starting to miss my friends. As I conclude this entry, I am already thinking about my next big trip...Manila! Take care and enjoy watching the video. Thank you for your support and please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe! Until next time...

Part 2, coming very soon!

A Sunday in Calgary: Museum of the Regiments

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to visit Western Canada's largest military museum in Calgary. With the kids in tow, I felt it would be a great way to show them Canada's military role in history. They were excited and anxious to see the many detailed dioramas and displays in the various wings of this huge place, as was I. This was my first time at the Museum of the Regiments and I was truly surprised at it's size.

The tank display at the Museum of the Regiments

The museum is located in Calgary, accessible from Crowchild Trail across from the old Currie Barracks. It is clearly visible from the road as you can see the outdoor displays of tanks, artillery and the CF-5 fighter jet. Walking around outside on the grounds, you can check out the tanks up close and personal, but no climbing please.

The inside is even more interesting, as the museum is divided into the various Canadian Regiments of the military. Each section follows history from each Regiment's origin to the present. The displays are detailed and sometimes gritty, depicting the grim reality of the battlefield, so be warned if you have small children. The Museum of the Regiments is run by volunteers who are always on hand to help or give you any information on the various aspects of this important part of Canada's history.

If you visit on a Saturday or Sunday, it's a great way to spend an afternoon. If you are hungry afterwards, head across Crowchild Trail to Calgary Farmer's Market for a bite to eat or a cup of that Clover brewer coffee. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Enjoy the video!

Until next time...

Burger Fix Part 3: Peter's Drive-In

For most Calgarians, Peter's Drive-In is an institution. Whenever I'm driving on 16th Avenue and peer over at that white and blue building, the smell of charbroiled burgers, the lineup of hungry guests and those lurking seagulls in the parking lot only mean that something delicious is close. I can't remember how many times I've paid homage to this landmark burger mecca, but I was about to once again.

A Present from Peter

The menu of Peter's has remained pretty much the same since their debut in 1962. You won't find grilled chicken sandwiches or fish here. I can also assure you that you won't see anything that resembles a salad...nothing here even rhymes with salad. Now that we're clear on that, let's move on to what Peter's does have; Burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, ice cream treats and some of the best shakes you will ever attempt to drink through a straw. As a matter of fact, Peter's claims that you can mix up to 3 of their 30 milkshake flavours for a combination of more than 4500 flavours.

"Small" fries

On this day, I opted for something simple, so the double cheese it would be. I also got an order of small fries, or what Peter's calls 'small' anyway. Trust me, if you are eating alone, don't order the large fry or the seagulls will be visiting for free lunch.

Not a pretty sight

Burger nirvana...

The burgers are charboiled, dressed in a signature fashion that makes them uniquely Peter's. Each patty is made from fresh chuck, individually submerged in their BBQ sauce before being tucked into freshly baked, custom-made buns. They are then lovingly wrapped in their foil before making their way to your mouth. As you can see, we're not making pretty burgers here. Just consistently delicious.

I'll leave you with this tip: if you are coming to Peter's Drive-In, just remember: they only take CASH. Don't catch yourself making that realization when you're in the drive-through queue. Yes, it's happened before. Also, when you're making your order at the Drive-through, don't expect them to tell you how much the total is going to be. Expect an, "ok, thank you" then move on. A little 'Soup Nazi', eh?

Until next time...

A Saturday in Calgary: The Glenbow Museum & Chinatown

I don’t often stop to think about why I do this since I’m having so much fun that I just don’t care. The world is getting smaller and smaller it seems, as people I know come out of the woodwork to find me in my little piece of cyberspace. Just last night, I got a message on my Youtube channel from a person that works with me from time to time. She said her mom was looking for videos about the ‘giant baby’ at the museum and happened to click on my video from Saturday. Talk about dumb luck.

This piece is something that must be experienced in person

The giant baby I am referring to is the sculpture by Australian artist, Ron Mueck entitled, “It’s a Girl”. 15 feet long and eerily realistic, this piece is a must-see. If it’s been a while since you’ve been to the Glenbow Museum, go. This exhibition is in town until January 24, 2010. If gargantuan newborn babies aren’t your thing, perhaps Haida manga is. Yes, Haida manga. 2 things, like peanut butter and chocolate, that seem to go well together. Graphic artist and Haida storyteller, Michael Nicholl Yahgulanaas, has an amazing display of large-scale drawing and sculpture on exhibition also until January 24.

Sunset, hitting a building in downtown Calgary

What better place to go for dinner after a day at the Museum than Chinatown. Since I moved so close to downtown, I’m there practically every weekend. Its great. A friend from work told me that the best deal for Peking duck was a hole in the wall called, Gee Gong. I wanted to see if his claim was true. 3 courses of Peking duck in the heart of Chinatown for only…

Peking Duck at Gee Gong Restaurant, Chinatown

Well, if I told you how much a 3 course duck meal costs at Gee Gong or how it tasted, there wouldn’t be anything to show you on the video, would there?

A Busy Week.

Since my little trip to Kensington last week, I have made 2 more videos, reconnected with famiy in the Philippines, planned a trip to the mountains and bought new a camera. Yes, I broke down and replaced my old Sony DSC W30 with a brand new Canon Powershot SX200 IS and its so much better. No more finicky selection wheel that switches modes by itself. I have been taking lots of photos, but I'm really waiting for a good opportunity to use it at night.

Cooking up some chicken adobo for a cooking video

The Youtube channel is doing well. I am still getting most of my viewers from Facebook, though I have been making good use of my YT friend list to promote from within the site to get more subscribers. Speaking of subscribers, I have 2 new ones: JoyMac13 and HANAFUBUKI. Thank you for your support! JoyMac13 is like my twin sister. Check out our channels and you'll see what I mean. HANAFUBUKI does some amazing videos of her walks with poetry and reading. Check her out for sure.

Portrait of Jumpei, Sushi Bar Zipang

The cool thing about the new camera is the wide angle lens that I'm not used to. Its great and I only wish that my camcorder did the same. Yes, I can take HD video with the Canon, but its MOV and I can't edit them in Pinnacle. I could convert, but its an extra step and just a pain.

Pho from Bolsa Restaurant, Calgary

Lunch with Sue and Cher

Tried out the Bolsa Restaurant in Calgary on Macleod Trail South for some food and conversation. Mostly talked about dating after divorce and how much of a crap shoot it can be. All I can say is that I'm tired of games at this age and I wish things were more straight forward. I guess at the same time though that I choose how its all gonna go down...right? Think I'll just take some time off and enjoy life with my family and friends.

Lunch at Fatburger with Telf

So, that brings me to this weekend. I am getting ready to do a little grocery shopping for my weekend with the kids and picking up ingredients for the cooking video: Okonomiyaki. I am also gonna start painting again, since I have the space and a big empty canvas. As for any road trips...we'll figure it out when we get there.

JoyMac13's youtube channel

HANAFUBUKI's youtube channel

A Trip to Kensington

Yesterday morning I got a call from my friend, Sue (see Dolly Parton on the Halloween post). She had some time to kill and wanted to know if I was down for breakfast. I readily accepted, as I am always ready to go somewhere new to eat. She asked me if I had ever been to Nellie’s. I told her I had never gone there, to which she responded, “Well, we have to go to Nellie’s!”


Nellie’s is in the Calgary community of Kensington. It’s a bohemian area of the city with lots of great little shops, pubs, a park and the oldest building in the community, the Plaza theatre which still showcases many indie and foreign films. It’s also walking distance to Memorial drive and the Bow River, with its well travelled pathway system.

Breakfast at Nellie’s is generous and reasonably priced. The service is friendly and attentive as your coffee mug will never go empty. I ordered the Nellie’s Tostada, which featured a baked whole wheat tortilla topped with scrambled eggs, chives, peppers, black olives, tomato, avocado, hot sauce, cheese, salsa and sour cream. They also managed to fit some fruit on there. Sue chose the California omelette with cheese, avocado and chicken, topped with salsa and sour cream. Be sure to ask for the sour cream and salsa on the side, as the portions are very plentiful.

Total for the great meal came in at about $25 for 2, including the 18 cups of coffee we drank. The atmosphere for this location is laid back and makes for a great place to talk and chill out. I’ll add that Nellie’s has 7 locations throughout this great city, so if you’re not in the Kensington area, just google it and you’ll probably find one nearby.

After breakfast, we walked around Kensington, stopping at the different shops and checking out the events calendar at the Plaza Theatre. I love the kinds of areas that are great for walking. You can really spend a lot of time just discovering. In the video, you can see our visit to Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut and Livingstone & Cavell Extraordinary Toys. If you never been to Livingstone & Cavell, you have to go. It will definitely stir up the nostalgic memories. Until next time.

A Trip to Okotoks: Halloween 2009

I have a confession. I have never been out to a Halloween party in my life. Luckily for me, neither has my friend, Kaori. Our adult Halloween experience has always consisted of handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters, maybe watching a dvd then maybe going to bed early. Fast forward to 2009. I think this year was the year that we really went out and made up for the fun that we missed.

This all started with a Facebook message from Kaori, saying that she has never dressed up for Halloween. I was surprised at her message, imagining another person that has never really experienced the magic of this wonderful holiday. I knew now that our mission to have a great first Halloween experience.


A few days before, I had an invitation from Sue (see, “A Trip to Indian Graves”) to a party at a pub in Okotoks. It was her aunt’s place. Knowing it’s never a dull moment with Sue, I was game. So I called Kaori up and it was time to find a costume!


Kaori went all out on shopping day, ending up with 2 outfits. We figured that she could always use the one she didn’t wear next year. So this year, Kaori the Witch was ready to party with the Expendable Crewman from Star Trek. I’m hoping I will be there for Kaori the sexy maid next year!




This video is the chronicle of our adventures. I’ll warn you now that there is crude language, drinking, recreational drug use and an 80’s cover band. Hope you all had a great Halloween, whether you partied (responsibly) or did the candy thing. Enjoy the video!

Burger Fix: part 2

Boogies Burgers, Calgary

I had another craving for a burger, and this time it was daytime so I had a few more options. I have been hearing a lot of good things about this place called, Boogies Burgers, on Edmonton Trail so I had to go and check it out. Luckily, I live nearby so it was just a quick drive up the hill.

Boogies Menu. A great selection of signature burgers, or build your own.

As you can see, the place is bright and clean. Service is friendly and fast. The food is all made to order so it's delicious. Today, I opted for one of the signature burgers, "Shawn's Burger". It is a triple patty monstrosity with cheese, bacon and fried egg with Boogie's Signature Red Sauce and all the fixings. They even bring you a steak knife in case you can't fit the thing in your mouth. Good sign.

Shawn's Burger. I added the cell phone for size reference.

With a burger this size, I wasn't gonna order fries but they do have 3 kinds of fries; regular, spicy and yam. Of course, what burger joint would be complete without onion rings. They got the rings too. The sign of a good burger is one where you can appreciate the taste of the meat, rather than the fixings all over it. Though this burger had a lot of 'stuff', I could really taste the freshness of the beef. In fact, the Boogies red sauce is not overwhelming, but compliments the overall taste of the whole burger. Sorry for getting too deep.

I ate the whole thing. WOOT!

Verdict? With places like this, I can really appreciate living in Calgary. Why do I say that? When you have a hometown, you need these kind of places that are unique...places you miss when you go away. Places you tell your foreign friends about. Dining, whether it's an elegant night on the town with a hot date or a quick lunch at a great burger joint, is an experience. So go experience Boogies Burgers!