My Travel's: Prague

I spent two and a half days in Prague, and I wish that I would have had more time. The main reason why additional time was necessary is because my brother (Chris), our two travel best friends (Jill and Jeff) and I got completely lost when left to our own devices.

In Europe, when with a tour, getting lost is a very serious problem. If we had unlimited time, it wouldn`t have mattered. Chris and I got lost quite a few times in London, but we really had nowhere we needed to be. In Prague, we had one partial free day, one whole free day, and then we needed to get back on the bus and head for Munich. Therefore, lost time equals lost sightseeing, and I wanted to see as much as possible. And it really was silly, how we got lost. We passed our stop, but didn`t get off. The stops the tram made were announced aloud, and were also written on a wall; however, Czech is quite a difficult language to understand. A nice woman tried to help translate for us, but I don`t think she spoke English very well. It took us an extra hour and a half to reach our desired destination, and by that time we were all hot, sweaty, and slightly pissed off.

We had done quite a bit of sightseeing the day before, including St. Hedwig`s Cathedral, St. Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, Wenceslas Square, and a Jewish Cemetery. Our full, free day was going to be dedicated to shopping. Prague is known as the cheapest city in Europe, and it absolutely lived up to this legacy. Our main mission was to find Jill – and later, myself – amber jewellery. It was apparently very common in Prague, and tripled in value once you crossed into North America.

The streets in Prague are tiny, and wind in many different directions. We found ourselves working our way through the city with a huge crowd of tourists. We went in and out of many different stores, but didn`t quite find anything that caught our eyes. Then, we walked by a small pashmina store and decided to go in. It was one of the best decisions I made the entire trip.
We were greeted by two very friendly Turkish men. They switched to English when we started looking around, and one of the men began asking us questions about ourselves. He was so friendly and welcoming, and we began to feel very at home. I had also just had some of my money stolen from a very rude cigarette saleslady, so I was happy to be talking to a local person who was actually being nice to me. He was from Turkey, but came to Prague to open a business and, hopefully, make money for his family. Each of the pashminas in the store was handmade. They varied from 70% to 100% cashmere as you worked your way further into the depths of the overflowing store.

Our friendly store owner next showed me how to properly tie a pashmina. He said that if I was going to wear a European pashmina, I must tie it and wear it like a European would. He also demonstrated a trick to determine if a pashmina is 100% cashmere or not. If it is, you can thread it through a ring. After we each bought a few pashminas from this gentleman (and by a few, I mean MANY), the second man emerged with a steaming tray of espresso. We all stood at his cash register counter, sipping espresso and sharing stories of travel and life. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

After the espresso was finished, he took us down a winding channel of passageways to a wholesale jewellery store. He wanted to help Jill find the best amber for the best price. We spend a good hour – if not more – in the store, and both Jill and I walked away with some of the most beautiful jewellery I have ever seen. (I must note that while Chris and Jeff were being good sports about all this girlie stuff, they must have been bored out of their minds!) I bought a green amber necklace, and my brother bought me a turquoise necklace for my birthday. I wear the amber almost every day, and keep the turquoise for special occasions.

In the evening, our tour guide took us to a place called "The Beer Factory." If you are a beer lover, pay close attention to this next paragraph. It is a huge bar in a basement directly off of Wenceslas Square. There was a cover charge to get in, but it was very minimal. Once inside, there were a number of large, wooden tables lining the walls of the room. At each table was a beer tap with 8 or 9 spouts. There was an electronic scoreboard on the wall. The entire bar was competing with one another, table against table, to see who could drink the most beer. Each time you refilled your glass from one of the spouts, the scoreboard updated how much beer your table had consumed. We were going at it for hours, and I am happy to say that we won! Beer is also very cheap, and after the lovely Czech to Euro exchange rate, we were spending about 1 Euro per beer. That works out to under $2 Canadian. Not too bad, if you ask me!

I saw a lot in Prague, and it would have been nice to see more. As much as I loved it, however, I don`t think that I need to go back again. I would, of course, if it was a part of a tour. But there are so many other places in the world I have yet to discover. Prague, we had some great moments, and maybe we`ll meet again. If not, so long...

Canada's History Magazine: Round Two

Well, another week has passed, and I am diligently working away at my magazine internship. Some of my writing is online again, along with entries from my former section one classmate, Neil Babaluk. Check out the link below, and learn something new!

http://www.historysociety.ca/bea.asp?subsection=ext&page=spl

Whatever happened to Jim Morrison?

A few weeks ago I caved, and purchased a BlackBerry. I figured it would make my life easier, and boy was I right! The only downside is that I now have access to the Internet twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. When I can’t sleep at night, I have started randomly “Googling” people. Usually, I Google a name, place or event I heard about during the day. One site usually prompts me to connect to another, and before I realize it, two hours have elapsed and it’s 2 a.m. This has happened quite a few times as of late. But, instead of running away from this waste of time, I have decided to embrace it. Each and every time I stumble upon someone or something interesting in my late night Google sessions, I will blog about it. The first blog of this section is Jim Morrison, front man for The Doors.

I found the DVD “The Doors” starring Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan in my basement yesterday. It still had the plastic on, and I don’t think anyone remembered it was there. My boyfriend and I love watching movies about rock stars, so we brought it over to his place. I also had my BlackBerry handy, and Googled additional information while the movie was playing. Needless to say, I feel I am well-versed in Morrison's life story, and have a few things I would like to discuss about him.

Jim Morrison was an interesting character, to say the least. Both the movie and the websites I visited talked about his off-kilter mannerisms and insightful, slightly crazy outbursts. Much of his extreme character can be attributed to copious amounts of drugs and alcohol, but I like to believe that he was naturally a "different" kind of guy. In addition to writing music and singing for The Doors, he wrote poetry. When asked about it once, Morrison replied: "If my poetry aims to achieve anything, it's to deliver people from the limited ways in which they see and feel."

Morrison was born in 1943, and he died in Paris, France in 1971. Pam Courson, his long term girlfriend, found him dead in a bathtub. There was no autopsy performed because French authorities did not suspect foul play. The cause of death on his birth certificate was listed as "heart failure." There are still a number of conspiracy theories surrounding his death. There is also a picture on the Internet that features "Morrison`s ghost," but I don’t believe it's real and refuse to post it for that reason. Morrison in buried in Pere-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, and his grave has become both shrine and tourist attraction.

It's tragic, but many people around Morrison commented later that he seemed like he always knew he was going to die young. He died at 27 years old, the same age Courson was when she died three years later of a heroin overdose. Also, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain were 27 when they died in similar drug and alcohol related circumstances.

I will end this post with a video of The Doors performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967. They were performing their hit song Light My Fire. The show wanted Morrison to alter the line "Girl, we couldn't get much higher," because drug references were not allowed on public television. Morrison – true to form – ignored the request, and sang the song as it was originally written. Sullivan was so furious he refused to have The Doors on his show ever again.

Unfortunately, I could not copy the video directly into this post. Visit the website below, and check it out for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LtPVBqQsf8

Bye Bye Beatles

The following is one of my favourite videos ever. It is a clip of the Beatles last concert on a rooftop in London on January30, 1969. They were requested by police to stop playing ebfore the concert was over, as people living nearby were complaining about the noise. Who knew it would be the last time John, Paul, George and Ringo would play together. Enjoy!




P.S. John Lennon is wearing Yoko Ono's coat...

The History of RRC: Part Two

Fondest memories from RRC Alumni:

Alyson Pile (Graduated from Creative Communications in 2008): “My best memories of CreComm are all from the newsroom. Those nights where we worked late always ended up being a really good time. It gave you a sense of camaraderie. And after late nights of big projects, you know that nothing will be harder than CreComm.”

Tammy Hardie (Graduated from the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program in 1980): “I remember Bill Younger sharing his slides… and of course, all the fun practical jokes my classmates and I played on one another in the labs.”

Maureen Frolick (Graduated from the Biological Technology program in 1990): “My fondest memory was graduation day, but also two of my classmates, Deolinda and Susan.”

Why College, not University?

Irene L. Bayne (Graduated from the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program in 1980): “I tried U of W, but found I was unfocused on the outcome of my degree. I found directed courses and working towards a definite outcome was the way for me to go. I have never regretted leaving university for community college. I have been working in my chosen field for thirty years next year.”

Chris Link-Muirhead (Graduated from the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program in 1980): “I found college more suited to what I wanted to do as a career.”

Alyson Pile: “I chose Red River because of the Creative Communications program,” she said. “I always enjoyed writing and the program had such a good reputation that I just knew it was the right path for me.”

Maureen Frolick: “I chose college because it is more job oriented. I was able to take a two year program at RRC versus a four year program at the University of Manitoba.”


Our Current President:

Dr. Jeff Zabudsky is the 44th President and CEO of Red River College, and was appointed to the position on August 30, 2004. He has been involved in post-secondary administration for over 20 years, and has worked in Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. Some of his numerous accomplishments include: completing the fundraising for the building of the Princess Street campus, expanding regional campuses such as the one in Steinbach, and assisting in achieving record high student enrolment for five consecutive years.

Zabudsky is involved with various programs outside the college, and is Vice-President on the Board of Winnipeg Harvest and Chair of the 2009 United Way of Winnipeg campaign. He is also a member of the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council, the Manitoba Immigration Council, and the Manitoba Poverty Reduction Council, to name a few.

On January 31, 2010, Zabudsky will be stepping down. He is relocating to Ontario, where he will become President and CEO of the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Currently, no replacement has been named, but Cathy Rushton, the current Vice-President of Finance and Administration, will serve as Interim President.

The History of RRC: Part One

From Nothing to Something:

Red River College came into existence in the mid-1930s. It was initially called The Industrial Vocational Education Centre, and was founded locally by three Winnipeggers: R.J.Jones, T.O.Durin, and and Otto Peters. The goal was to teach unskilled and unemployed youth basic, usable skills. The first students lacked desks, blackboards, and even classrooms. Everything had to be built, and the college literally started with nothing.

The government began providing monetary support in 1938. During the Second World War, the college also provided training for men going overseas. In 1948, after most Canadians had returned from the war, the college was opened to the community. It was renamed Manitoba Technical Institute (MTI). It became the first post-secondary, public school in the province that taught students vocational skills.

In the 1950s, the college continued to grow. MTI began to distinguish itself as different from any other type of post-secondary institution. Graduates were trained for specific jobs, and could walk right out the door and find work. Unique certificates and diplomas were issued to graduates, which was a huge advantage when trying to find employment.

In 1969, Manitoba joined a movement that swept across North America. Vocational and technical training programs in the Winnipeg community were fused, and the combined complex was renamed Red River Community College. The college expanded under this new name throughout the 70s and 80s.Distance Education was initiated in 1979. A Board of Governors was created in 1993, and the Aboriginal Education and Institutional Diversity Division was set up the same year.

In 1998, the college was renamed the Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology. Transformation of Campuses:The first RRC campus, The Industrial Vocational Education Centre, was located at 331 Henry Avenue. It moved around to various small buildings, and by 1944, had claimed the entire five-storey Ford Motor Company building at 1181 Portage Avenue. In 1950, the school of nursing transferred from St. Joseph's Hospital to MTI.

As the demand for programs at the college grew, it became necessary to move to a larger facility. In 1963, one was built at the corner of Notre Dame Avenue and King Edward Street. It was named the Manitoba Institute of Technology.

In 1985, in an effort to better serve the province, a campus was opened in Portage la Prairie. Many other campuses followed: Selkirk and Winkler in 1986; Gimli and Steinbach in 1992. The Market Driven Training program (MDT) was launched as an affiliate program of the college in 1986. In 1997, the Industrial Technology Centre opened on Kind Edward Street. In 2002, Stevenson Aviation opened a new campus at 2280 Saskatchewan Avenue. The Princess Street campus opened in 2003, and it continues to win awards for being an innovative and sustainable building.

Explosion of Students:

At the end of the 40s, the college had an enrollment of roughly 1000 students a year (both full-time and part-time).

In 1963, when the college opened its new location at Notre Dame Avenue, there were roughly 2000 students a year.

By roughly 1970, the college had exploded, and saw about 10,000 students a year. By 1985, enrollment was at 25,000 students year.

Today, RRC teaches roughly 40,000 students a year, and that number continues to climb.

Expansion of Programs:

Some of the first courses to be offered at RRC were carpentry, welding and forging, power engineering, machine shop, needle trades, and radio.

By 1948, when the college opened as the MTI, there were 34 courses for students to choose from.

Around 1968, as the college was rapidly expanding, many new programs were added to the existing options.

Students were now able to take Advertising Art, Computer Analyst/ Programmer, Hotel Management, Creative Communications, Preschool Education, ESL programs, Commercial Studies, and Teacher Education.

The Teacher Education program in 1975 marked the first college-university joint program with the University of Winnipeg.

Origins of the Students Association:

The first RRC Students Association (SA) formed at the MTI in 1950. Its annual membership fee was 50 cents. In 1974, the SA was incorporated into the college as a business entity. The Association opened "The Crazy Ox," which became the first of many business ventures. The SA was also responsible for creating an on-campus daycare centre in 1975.

My Magazine Debut

Well ladies and gentlemen, I am finally in print at a magazine. Well... almost. Last Monday, I began my four-month internship at Canada's History Magazine (formerly The Beaver) located at the University of Winnipeg. It was both challenging and exciting, and I felt right at home. The staff are unbelievably friendly, and didn't hesitate to give me things to work on. I am proud to say that my first short news stories were published on the magazine's website this past Friday, and there is a byline mentioning my name at the top.

Here is the link, so you can check it our for yourself: http://www.historysociety.ca/bea.asp?subsection=ext&page=spl.

Hopefully I will have news stories posted on the website every Friday. I am also working on a short story that will actually be printed in the magazine itself in April.

Stay tuned, and enjoy!

In The Chamber: 2010

Last night, I went to the theatre for a school assignment. I love plays, and I had never visited this particular venue before. I was very excited to see what it was all about. Our class went to watch a two-part production titled Last Men. Each part was fifty minutes long, both had a single man as the actor.

I will first talk about the venue itself, as this was the most exciting part for me. The theatre is located at 211 Bannatyne Street, in the heart of the Exchange District. It is a hop, skip, and a jump from school, which was a bonus. The building is very old, with wide, creaky stairs and high ceilings. I love it. There is nothing better than watching something artistic in an old building downtown.

Of the two plays, the first really affected me. It was titled Last Man in Krakendorf, and was written and acted by Gordon Tanner. He was fantastic, and really made the play come alive for me. He was funny, ironic, and dry at times. He was also quite good-looking – for an older man, at least. That, however, is the extent of the good things I have to say about this play.

The entire fifty minutes basically consisted of one large PowerPoint presentation about how pigs in Manitoba are being mistreated. It is true that pigs are forced to live in horribly small spaces, and that there have been a number of fires that have caused a high number of the animals to perish as of late. I didn't disagree with Tanner`s idea to write a play in an attempt to highlight this unfortunate situation. What I disagreed with was the comparisons Tanner made to prove his point.

I stopped appreciating the play around the time a joke was made about the poor souls who perished during 9/11. Tanner related pigs burning to death with people who decided to jump out of the World Trade Centre buildings to avoid a similar death. He made a very dry joke about it, and even mentioned that it might not quite be time for that particular bit of humour yet. It wasn't. This is the time of year when magazines, television shows, and news stations are revisiting the last decade. A lot of people are remembering and reflecting on 9/11. He shouldn't have gone there. There was also another comparison between the death of pigs and Christian martyrs, but I think i’ve said enough.

I have learned that a one man show is not the type of theatre that appeals to me. I prefer larger productions with more actors. The scripts in both plays were well written, and the actors were talented, but I can`t see myself attending a production such as this ever again.

Profile of a WWII Veteran

My mother requested that I post this story on my blog. I wrote it for a class assignment about Remembrance Day last term, and she loved it. I realize that was a few months ago, but I feel the story is very touching. Enjoy!

“I’m still very much against war,” explained Jim Causley, a 92-year-old Second World War veteran. “There isn’t anything great about war, except when it ends.”

After Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939, Causley and a friend decided to join the Canadian Forces. “I was at Queens University when war broke out. They took my friend, but told me to go back to school. I obeyed, and went back to Queens for 2 more years. When I graduated, I went immediately into the artillery.”

“Once I graduated, there didn’t seem to be anything else but to join,” Causley explained. “We felt it was our duty.” Causley went to an officer’s training school, and was then given a leave of absence. “At home, I got a letter asking if I wanted to go to England. I said yes.” It was the fall of 1941, and he was 24 years old.

Causley began his overseas career as an artillery soldier. He was then transferred to an anti-aircraft unit. “We would fire and hope we would hit somebody,” he said, with a slight smile. “Just not our own people. We became air superior to the Germans.” Causley’s luckiest moment overseas occurred while he was serving in England. “Just before D-Day, my unit was disbanded, and fortunately, I missed D-Day. I can’t say I ever regretted that.”

The worst war experience Causley could remember was in Germany. “Just across the road from us, there was a mine field,” he explained. “Engineers were trying to deactivate them, and somehow one of them stepped on a mine. It happened just as a car was coming down the road, so we had bodies all over the road.” Causley quickly stopped speaking. “That isn’t the nicest story,” he said quietly.

War brides were common during the Second World War, and Causley met his future wife, Paddy, while stationed in Southern England. “She was working as a helper with the food, and we met there. We married in 1943, and our daughter, Dianne, was born a few years later.” Unfortunately, the couple’s time together was short, and Causley was sent to Belgium soon after the marriage. “I didn’t worry for Paddy,” he said. “Her father fought in the last war. I knew she would be alright.”

Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, and Causley recalled hearing the news. “I was going to Brighton from London to see my wife and daughter when they told us the war was over. I went back to Germany, and finally I was told I could go back to Canada.” Causley returned first, and his wife and daughter joined him later. “I was stationed in London, Ontario, and while I was there, the war in Japan ended as well.”

While refusing to ignore its importance, Causley will no longer celebrate Remembrance Day. “I wear a poppy, but I have never been a very good man for joining in the ceremonies. When we first got back, our old unit used to have yearly reunions.” The reunions lasted until about 5 years ago. “The ranks are being decimated quite severely,” he said. “There aren’t many of us left.”

“I was never a very good officer,” Causley explained with a laugh, when asked why he did not pursue a career with the Canadian Forces after the war. “I did my job, and that was it, but I never wanted to stay on. That didn’t interest me at all. I still feel that Germany at that time was an evil thing, and it had to be eradicated, but it’s not easy being a soldier.”

City Takes Action to Improve Winnipeg

The efforts of my first internship issue of the Projector came out yesterday, and here is one of the many stories I wrote for the issue. Enjoy!

The City of Winnipeg is going to address the concerns of its citizens.

A series of open houses in late November outlined Winnipeg’s Call to Action plan, an aspect of the new Speak Up Winnipeg approach.

Kristen White, a Downtown Winnipeg employee, was unaware that such a program existed.

“I read the paper, I watch the news every night, and yet I haven’t heard anything about this,” she said.

Dianne Himbeault, Acting Manager of the Planning and Land Use Division for the City of Winnipeg, defined the Call to Action program in detail during an open house at Canad Inns Fort Garry.

“It is essentially a first check back in a huge review of the city’s development plan, which has gone through a public consultation process. We’ve been engaging citizens for the last six months in discussions about how the city wants to grow. We’ve taken what we’ve heard citizens want improved, and put them together in an action plan, which is the Call to Action plan.”

Speak Up Winnipeg launched in April of 2009. The city began collecting information about what citizens believe should be improved in and around Winnipeg. A website, SpeakUpWinnipeg.com, was created to collect feedback. The website is still available for Winnipeggers to access and make suggestions.

“Currently, we have identified about 80 issues that the city is going to undertake in the next 12 to 24 months,” Himbeault explained.

White was still unsure about the overall success of the program after she received more information about it.

“It’s a good place for people to speak their minds, however, it will be interesting to see if people’s ideas are actually followed through with. I think that people are going to be sceptical because they don’t think their points will be heard. Overall, I think people will be hesitant to use this website.”

The main areas of improvement identified include: Sustainability, Safety and Security, City Competitiveness, Communities, City of the Arts, and City Building. At the open houses, a room was filled with numerous boards of information outlining the different areas of the plan in detail. Passers-by were encouraged fill out surveys, write their ideas on colourful sticky notes, or speak to one of the many staff from the city that was present to answer questions.

“I think that Winnipeg has a lot to offer,” White explained. “I think that it’s not reaching its potential, and could be a much better city. I do enjoy living here, but there are still a lot of issues that need to be addressed for it to prosper.”

For more information, or to leave a comment, visit: http://www.speakupwinnipeg.com/home/call_to_action

Searching for the Perfect Greek Salad: Boston Pizza

Over Christmas, I went to Boston Pizza for dinner. I saw that there were Greek salads on the menu, and decided to give one a try. I know that every restaurant makes their salads differently, and I was prepared for that. Unfortunately, I have nothing positive to report.

The real, Greek way to make a salad DOES NOT INCLUDE LETTUCE. I tell everyone this, and no one believes me. I understand lettuce is used in North America, I have come to terms with that, but I still do not like it! Vegetables are expensive, and lettuce is needed to ensure the recipient of the salad gets more than a small plate of cut up stuff...

BUT, there still needs to be at least a few vegetables, and the salad I received barely had any. There also was not very much feta cheese, and way too much oil and vinegar dressing. I left feeling a bit cheated. Until my next taste test at another restaurant, I will have to be content with making my own Greek salads at home.

Pseudo Christmas Cheer?

Recently, an interesting story has caught my attention. The Obama Administration, who have peppered the people with a never-ending array of media since Obama's inaguration, distributed 800 ornaments to be decorated by over 60 community organizations across the USA. The theme was American Landmarks, and the finished products were displayed on the White House Christmas tree of 2009.

Chancellor Avenue School in Newark was responsible for decorating 10 of the ornaments. On the December 16, 2009 episode of The John Stewart Show (which is a whole separate type of pseudo craziness in itself), "reporter" Samantha Bee attempted to uncover the dark side of the issue. The title of the skit was "Obama's Socialist Christmas Ornament Program," and the show was trying to illustrate that the Obama Administration was attempting to turn Americans into socialists by first influencing the youth. We've heard this type of accusation against Obama before. I wanted to write a bit about how I feel the Christmas decoration idea was a good one, and how it was a pseudo-event that gained President Obama and his family even more media attention.

The Obama Administration, in my opinion, was trying to unite people within the country. Americans were given the opportunity to think about famous landmarks, and create something to pay tribute to them. The Administration was also, of course, looking for more publicity. And why not? Obama has played a different game than any other President before him since taking office. This is a time when technology is changing and evolving rapidly, and he intelligently realized he needed to hop onto the band wagon. People will continue to discuss a media issue until something else happens. One strategy to combat that is to introduce new information all the time. People rapidly move onto the new issue. Obama gets this.

I believe a festive idea like this was incredibly smart. American people were able to tell their friends and family that they decorated an ornament which sat on the White House Christmas tree. That's pretty cool. If he sent me an ornament, you bet I would spend time decorating it and send it back. People also had the opportunity to use their creativity, and express themselves. The fact that there was division regarding this issue only further proves its effectiveness. People were talking about it. They were telling others about it, blogging about it, and reading about it.

To watch the clip from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, follow this link:
http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart/full-episodes/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart---december-16-2009/#clip246091. Just don't take it too seriously...

Manitoba's Gems: Asessippi Ski Hill & Resort

Over the past three winters, I have attempted to learn to snowboard. My lessons usually took place at a nearby hill that was way too small to learn on effectively. While I was able to stand on my board without assistance at the end of each lesson, any skill or technique was completely over my head. This past News Years, I visited Asessippi, and was determined to not only learn the basics, but learn them well. I went on the trip with my boyfriend, Jeff, and our two good friends, Tyler and Kristen. All of them are phenomenal snowboarders, so I knew it would take all of my effort to keep up.

We arrived at the hill around noon on January 1, 2010. It is a “small” hill to my friends, but it looked like Mount Everest to me! Bravely, I decided to bypass the bunny hill and head straight to the top. I am absolutely terrified of the chair lift, but Jeff catapulted me off the top so I wasn’t run over by other snowboarders. Even with his hand to hold, I fell right away after he released me. Then, I just sat there. It is quite intimidating learning something new, especially when that something may result in serious injury if one isn't careful. The seasoned snowboarders and skiers whizzing past me were not a comfort either. But I was determined, and with Jeff's assistance, I managed to limp my way down the hill.

After the first run, I was already beginning to see why people enjoy snowboarding. There is something spectacular about flying down an icy slope on a board attached to your legs. I did not learn how to carve, but by the end of the first day I could make it down the hill alone. Jeff stayed near me - of course- in case I had a serious wipe out, but I was doing all of the work myself. I contemplated trying to launch myself over a jump, but I probably wouldn't be sitting here writing this blog right now if I had done so.

Once I figured out how to work my way down the hill without killing myself, I was able to focus my attention on my surroundings. Asessippi is actually a pretty cool place when you stop and look around. The hill is located inside a pretty valley in Riding Mountain Park. It has three chair lifts and 17 or 18 runs (if you count the bunny hill). There is also a place to go tubing, if that is your thing. Many of the runs are connected, and there is even a heated beer hut halfway down the hill. It is not the largest operation i've ever seen by any means, but for Manitoba, it's pretty impressive.

By the second day, I was exhausted and very, very sore. I decided to spend a number of hours drinking beer and reading a book in the bar while my trio of friends continued to board. This was also an experience, and I became fairly well-acquainted with a bartender from New Zealand named Max. He thought it was hilarious that I hurt myself so badly I couldn't continue to board, but what does he know. In addition to the bar, there are also three large sitting rooms and a few "Sugar Shacks," which are rooms people can bring their own food into. There is the standard fast food type stuff for purchase, as well as the regular array of nachos and cactus cut fries in the bar.

Whether you decide to snowboard or not, Asessippi is a fun day. I would recommend that all Manitobans check it out at one point or another. Russell, the nearby town, has a few hotels that offer sleep and ski packages that are a great deal. There are also a few interesting historical sites around the area - to see them, refer to my earlier blogs - that are definitely worth the trip. I don't know if I will make it back again this year, but if not, I can guarantee I will return next winter.

Ode to a Fantastic White Wine

Over Christmas, I did a lot of socializing. Usually, holiday socializing equals holiday drinking, and I did quite a bit of the latter as well. After a certain amount of time, one can no longer drink beer, and I reached my breaking point on or around December 23. I decided to switch to wine for the remainder of the holidays, and I can't express how smart of a move that was.

I went to the liquor store, and wandered up and down the aisles aimlessly. My family are connoisseurs of good wine, and as a result, I have become quite jaded in my selections. Don't even talk to me about Naked Grape - that stuff is only decent when mixed with ginger ale and a large amount of ice. I finally found myself standing in front of the Italy section. I went to Europe this summer – as most of my readers are probably painfully aware of by now – and I drank a lot of wine while I was there. The best wine was in Italy. I walked slowly down the aisle, scanning titles for anything that looked familiar, and finally I found one.

Pasqua Night Harvest Pinot Grigio White Wine, bottled in Verona, Italy. The name sounded familiar, so I bought it. Later that evening, when Jeff and I opened the bottle, it tasted familiar too. Now, I can't be one hundred per cent sure, but I do believe I drank the same wine when I was in Venice. Either way, it tastes pretty good. If you are in need of a beer vacation, or are simply looking for something a little bit classier, try this white wine. It's only about $13 a bottle, so it won’t break the bank either!