JUST lovin it!!

Today has been like no other 
don't ask me why or how because I JUST can't say.

Exhuming the fumes by the fatal impact I narrowly missed being totally deflated and flattened by.  Now, before you jump to conclusions, realize that toxicity can latch themselves on to you whether family or coworker or boss (the person who ultimately decides whether to keep or fire you?)

JUST about everything and the #bestofeverything going on around me right now.  To tell you me week in a nutshell:  my manager TOLD me (didn't show, coach, recommend, give examples) NEVER to use JUST.  Thank goodness on my time off I can JUST just JUST just about anytime I want to.  So there!  Take that!  Bhwamm!  Mental fart to get that outta the toxic gas chamber from my belly.  

Today is the tomorrow of tomorrows
it is the last day I gave birth.  To a "cowgirl".  That was a distinction that very few can ignore.  My youngest baby, Kelsey, was born 21 years ago tomorrow.  The day was smack in the middle of the #CalgaryStampede held annually for over 100 years in Calgary, Alberta, CANADA.  Being born on a stampede day meant you were not assigned:  "It's a girl!" but "its a cowgirl" ~ no exclamation or caps required.   And, oh boy, do we have a gal now.  She's awesome.

You know that host of the 1988 Olympics town.  Or where the evils of oil reside (to some at least) TransCanada Pipelines who was shot down by both Obama and the american public, influenced by naysayers and fear mongers alike, equally responsible are the great MEDIA houses of CNN and CNBC who sharpen the tune based in a direction they want the public opinion to go.  

Remember the Lionardo Dicaprio thing?
Well, where I live is where he said freaky weather patterns were a clear signal of global warming when he came to win (finally) his Oscar performance in The Rendering, filmed near here, where I live.

Just about communications became the finale to my week :: which was Tuesday, not Sunday like everybody else.  In fact, in any given week, my Sunday could be any day of the week.  A meeting, I know, amazing ::... I didn't think I'd ever be part of a meeting with anyone of importance where I work ...:: but there I was smack dab in one.  

We embrace opportunity to express ourselves so I don't think I can get fired for asking some pointed questions yesterday.  I got in a couple of sharp remarks.  AND because this is my one-day weekend, I'll let er rip:  one was about something dear to my heart ::... volunteerism ::...

"What we call "viral" is really the pulse of the people dancing to the same tune." 

~Jeannette Marshall 

Its about community where the founders of HP actually got it right.  You create a COMMUNITY, not a CULTURE and you strike gold.  Seriously.  Think about it.  When has it not caught on?  Of course in every community there is a leader.  The difference between being part of the online community under the umbrella of social media is that the leader happens by the will of the people.  It isn't based on anything less pure.

Politics have no place on social media unless politicians post a disclaimer:  "I am not responsible for my honest opinion" which could go against the norm, or the establishment, or the BIG boys.  

I take what I learn and I share what I learn along the way.  Where else can you fill your brain up with really smart stuff and connect with 100% awesome people?  Its safe to say it isn't likely it will be a parent, a sibling, a teacher, a boss.  It is VERY likely, if you let yourself flow, where you can uncork your true hidden potential.  

There are no judges anymore because they got snuffled out by popular opinion and that becomes the highest votes among humanity.   What we call "viral" is really the pulse of the people dancing to the same tune.  It can't be influenced by media or companies because every individual has the right to surround themselves with whom they choose.  And the power will bubble to the extreme wise.  

I strive to be surrounded by the best with the logic that if you truly want to be the best, why not learn from the best? why not shadow the best? why not exchange with the best? why not look at the prettiest pictures, most magnificent art?  

You are in charge of your destiny by selecting who you spend your time with, where you spend your time, how useful are you being?  

Parts be known: The Calgary Stampede UPDATE

UPDATE July 14 2016
Well a gal can try right?  It doesn't mean she'll be successful.  (The first or 100th time at least).

I didn't get a return call from anyone from ZeroPoint Media never mind Anthony Bordain's people.  It was a big leap of faith to even think the man himself would respond.  There are still takeaways to be learned from.

Never give up
It doesn't mean that I will give up trying new things to experience new adventures in life.  One must never stop trying new and experiment.  If you stop trying, you may as well curl up and read a good book, listen to beautiful music and move on.   Have the faith that "you miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take" (Wayne Gretzky quote).

Forget disappointment
It doesn't mean that I won't still watch "Parts Unknown".  It may mean though that I won't be as much of a fan because I take to heart how others treat us.  Try not to take it personally is something I continue to work on. 

Lesson learnt
There are lessons to be learned in the chapters of our lives.  One will meet people on the way up the ladder of life and success.  One should be aware of how one treats others because that often can mean how quickly we may fall down.  Karma is an interesting perspective and humility is a brave characteristic to show whether you are sailing in good times or need others' support when you falter.  Be kind to others at all times and wear it like a beacon of light for others to be drawn to.

Remember the little people
because it is the relatively unknown persons who are your champions, cheerleaders and fans.  We may not always know who they are or acknowledge them.  Take every opportunity to treat others as you wish to be treated by remembering to:

Practice the Golden Rule
  

Anthony Bordain, Parts Unknown

Anthony Bordain
is my intellectual crush.  I've never identified anyone like that before.  Although, in actions, I probably have worshipped Steve Jobs story, rise (not his nasty personality part) :: but how he was an imagineer, and I would dub "mental energist (T) optioneerJM (c) or a closet fan of Guns N Roses' Axel Rose.  From the first time I caught glimpse of him in a 1980s grammy when the group stumbled on to the stage, pretty obviously incoherent, wasted, loaded.  On what?  I don't think I was understanding of the drug scene back then.  Nose started in the books, in the 80s, that is for sure.

Parts Unknown
what I was starting to say is that I just love "Parts Unknown".  And being a strong believer of the mode of you can't say you are a fan of something, without proving it, or dislike something that you are not prepared to try to fix.   I commented on Anthony Bordain's Facebook Page 

Guess what I did now? 
I have been watching Anthony Bordain on TV, long before he was on CNN.  Thru osmosis, from someone who is not a very big TV-water, "Parts Unknown" caught my attention.  Slowly I'll admit.  But you have to remember, I'm not a big show-watcher, except the nightly news (drilled into me by my parents), where no matter what you've been doing, where you've been.  You will either eat or cook dinner or relax post meal with the news.

Suggested accommodations:  The Azuridge Estate Hotel near Priddis

Comment on FACEBOOK:

You show a the world thru unique eyes. It could 

be war torn Lebanon, crumbling buildings, smoke in the far ground of 

billiowing bombs. Caught in a time warp mentality and sensitivity that 

 truly is a gift. So, is instinctively being curious by nature. One can only 

imagine  how the ideas to travel where, who to host you, how will it go? 

I could be taking a really big stretch here, probably not. Food is the one

 common denominator that we all have. You don't have to proclaim you

 are seeing global warming first hand (Leonardo DiCaprio did, causing

 himself embarrassment when filming his only Oscar performance, 

among many  great ones. I will forward a proposal to Anthony Bordain

 directly. With my Twitter handle as identification on the return address

 ~ you'll know I'm authentic.

InstaGram

anthonybourdain

Verified

anthonybourdain

 Enthusiast. Frequent flyer. Used to cook for a living.

• 491 posts
• 1.4m followers
• 71 following
• 
  

This is the deal

I would love to host Anthony this summer for infamous Calgary Stampede.  Why infamous?  Because you may arrive innocent, but you leave infamous.  After all, there is a lot of food to be had in these here parts.  Think of "The Chuckwagon" restaurant southbound in a little hamlet south of here.  Or a Stampede Breakfast, always free, always hotcakes, sausages, orange juice before they turn into barbeques with a keg of beer, big side of beef, marinaded for forever, then slowly grilled so that the succulent juices don't escape without the feel of a fork.



Food critic
My first boss who was head of marketing for a really big, respectable museum, historically capturing the feel of the western pioneer's spirit (a must see), well he is now a pretty well known Food Critic.  The first time I heard him was a long while after I had worked under his arm, experimental entrepreneurialism at its core.  Never realizing that fast forward 20 years, solopreneurialship will be more of the norm than the expected.  

Well, I'd host a selected site by John, along with Anthony and we'll have a gay old time.  I hardly know how long it takes to run an episode of one of these so I'm going to have to predict.    I will have to set out an agenda, see if it meets the approval of Zero Point Zero, the parent creator of Anthony Bordain's "Parts Unknown".  Did they scoop him up from somewhere else or create his brand as he is known?

Zero Point Zero
Since they're the money men that is where I will start.  Befitting name on where I will begin.  Before lift off.

Lift off
Would be agreement by both Zero Point Zero and Anthony to fly to Canada, Calgary that is, to film a tribute to the west.  Nowhere more fitting than the biggest outdoor show on earth other worlds known as the biggest purse in rodeo.  

The lull 
I would imagine Anthony will fly through the night on Thursday, July 17th.  That will give him a chance to check into this amazing boutique B&B nestled in the rockies.  About 20 minutes to the border of Calgary, and about another 30 minutes to the Stampede Grounds ... for the week.   A lull before the storm.


After a long day
It will be dependent on how tired Anthony is.  One can only imagine the stamina it takes to travel AND appear upbeat all at the same time.  Often with a grizzled beard that bespeaks that parts is often what we leave unknown.  It take a lot to plan, travel and do a show I would imagine.

 We can have a glass of wine or a cognac nightcap after he checks in and is settled.  The host and hostess keenly sitting nearby with the munchies.  This will be a lovely respite and clear the palate for the onslaught of beer and calories to follow.  

We will review the bustling 4 days I've planned for him, make any changes, last minute thoughts.  It should be nice.  Relaxing.  Maybe he won't mind if my husband Rob comes for that.  They'd really get along.  Two guys shooting the gab on anything that appeals to them.

Day 1
We'll go to one of the restaurants I have in mind that sound like "Chuckwagon" first.  It will be a chance to get him to see the landscape.  The very one that caught the attention of the movie makers of The Reverent, in particular one Leo Dicaprio, maybe just decide to come up to join us :: where we will talk about:

* history of the area, in their own words: perception
* some facts about the city and citizens 
* review of what is actually climate change and Chinooks.  

Chinook winds are a unique phenomena to  Calgary and surrounding areas at the Foothills of the Rockie Mountains.







The first day could go on a bender when Leo shows up.  The township amazed, the media unaware, that there was something very cool happening :: Leo and Anthony meet and chat about the area, his experience filming locally, the people, his own discoveries.  I'd be the hostess, of course (comes with being a citizen and a social media enthusiast who came up with the idea first).  Tweeting and posting as it happens.  Not just promoting "Parts Unknown" but the western spirit captured by the annual "Calgary Stampede".

EXCEPT FROM CBC:  (click on link to read more) 

"I've never experienced something so first-hand that was so dramatic. You see the fragility of nature and how easily things can be completely transformed with just a few degrees difference. It's terrifying, and it's what people are talking about all over the world. And it's simply just going to get worse," said DiCaprio.

"We were in Calgary and the locals were saying, 'This has never happened in our province ever.' We would come and there would be eight feet of snow, and then all of a sudden a warm gust of wind would come."

Day 2
Up at the crack of dawn, we meet down south of Calgary at a traditional Stampede Breakfast.  Always free.  Usually hosted by the executives of very big oil companies.  Who will sit down with Anthony and myself to talk about the region, oil prices, recovery.  

Alberta's Premiere, Rachel Notley, serves up pancakes to a youngster.

I'm thinking the CEO of TransCanada Pipelines would be ideal.  After all, it is the one Canadian news item that registers across the border and with politicians and leaders like Obama, Clinton, and even The Donald stated they'd want a piece of the pie if the pipeline was finally approved.  Let Anthony ask his questions, while munching on the traditional breakfast piled high with pancakes, bacon and sausages.

Narrative
Anthony could include a side story with a narrative about what has happened to Fort McMurray and indirectly, the rest of the province of Alberta :: wildfires that evacuated 10s of thousands of two weeks from their homes.  The amazing spirit and resilience the province's people demonstrated.  Even newcomers to Canada from far and wide, talk about the hospitality they experienced first hand when they arrived here.  How it was a chance to repay in with kindness.   That story could take a good take a chunk about the Alberta people, their spirit, and how they bounce back as survivors.  

Kate and William take in the Western Hospitality at this annual event.

We'll take clips while shopping
because Anthony has to fade into anonymity by donning on some western style.  Where he witnessed executives looking just as comfortable in their jeans as they are in their suits for shareholders or investors. To the traditional Smith-Built hats where only the true believers in the western spirit shop there.  Then The Alberta Boot Company, a must for visiting dignitaries fit for future Kings (Prince William) and his Queen (what's her name? insert).  After measurements, Anthony will be bequeathed with the White Hatter, you got it from Smith-Built, ceremony which inducts Anthony as an honoree Calgarian. 


Excerpt from Visit Calgary:



The White Hat Ceremony is a long-standing tradition in Calgary, a symbol of the Western hospitality and good cheer we like to share with visiting guests. The white Smithbilt hat has been bestowed on numerous celebrities and dignitaries on their visits to our city since the 1950s, when Calgary's Mayor, Don MacKay, started the tradition.





MacKay was inspired by the white hat after traveling to Toronto with 250 excited Calgary fans to see the Stampeders compete in the 1948 Grey Cup (the Canadian Football League championship game). The exuberant group sported white cowboy hats, which soon became a hit with easterners, and presented a hat to Toronto's mayor as a way of saying 'thanks' for the city's hospitality. Years later, when he was mayor of Calgary, MacKay began distributing them to visiting dignitaries.

Smith Built Hats

A tradition, a mainstay since 1919.  Crafted western hats for visitors, dignitaries, citizens, tourists alike.



CNN Ratings
bringing human-interest ratings is something that I interpret is at the core of CNN.  Yes, they bring us knews, up to the minute, sometimes bungled among rumours, striving to be considered true journalism for today, as the traditional dynosaurs fade into the sunset.

This scenery is only an hour from Calgary

The evening dinner
After hotdogs, hotcakes, and hot women (I'm sure Anthony would notice), John will join us after our mid-late afternoon naps.  To escort us to his favorite restaurants.  The one he saves for the ones he wants to impress the most.  If it is in Banff, so be it, Anthony will get to see the beauty on our doorstep, mere 1.5 hours from Calgary.

Sidebar on Banff

The history, the art, the crafts, the treats (like fudge), Bernard Callebau chocolate, those things that delight tourists,  are famous from the region. 





Day 3
The midway experience.  The shows, the free stuff from the Coca Cola stage.  I'll ask our Calgary musical spiritual voice, Paul Brandt to take us to the midway,  the best food to snarf down, backed by the mini donuts.  Have a listen to the following clip from Paul Brandt's "Alberta Bound" to get into the mood:

Paul Brandt
We'll chat about some of the great talent in music that is coming out of Canada, and in particular, Country and Western music.  Where Keith Urban came to the dance hall where visitors two-stepped or local taught them how to dance it.  

We'll eat grub till we're so stuffed, only the Chuckwagon and the Grand Stand show could erase the unease  .... of gas.  Thankfully, the thunder of the cowboys, horses and chuckwagons drown out any escaped puff of air, or otherwise.












Day 4
We'll head back down to the Stampede grounds by 11 to take in the real rodeo action.  To watch broncing, bull busting, wheel barrel racing fun. After that, we'll head down to the Ranchman's, the unofficial biggest country and western dance hall in the world.  Still going strong, after decades.  We can chow down to some cow grits and chat with the owner's daughter, whom I know, met along my journey in sales.  This can easily turn into an all-nighter (1am at least) where Anthony learns how to two-step (hmm, we'll have to find out if that could be the Stampede Queen?)










Day 5
Depending on how Day 4 sounds or has gone, we can make this a 5-day excursion, rich with lots of spirit and traditions, long faded from many memories.  A day we spend with the spirits, hosted by the elders of any one of the indigenous nation who live close by.  Then the casinos, the typical tourist attraction.

We could eat at Chief Chunkee's.  Maybe if we juggle the schedules around, line the people up, we'll have an extra day and then stay overnight in Banff.  Maybe Anthony will invite my husband along?   Eating at this restaurant, they can talk about how well they are treated by their neighbours.  Where we have lived in harmony for years, helping each other.  Or share their plight, disappointments and human strife.

That's a wrap
A gal from Calgary can always dream, right?  Or nothing ventured, nothing gained.  

I'll keep you posted if anything does happen. You can count on that.

wRiTiNg PeRsOnAlLy To EvErY fOlLoWeR oF mInE

Photo by Ralph Hicker ~ www.hickerphoto.com

wRiTiNg PeRsOnAlLy To EvErY fOlLoWeR oF mInE 
who believe in the #bestofeverything :: that you have a voice, an opinion, something important to say, under one tall and wide banner under the umbrella of hashtag :: #bestofeverything.

tHe DiE hArTs WiLl StArT a ReAlLy CoOl LaNgUaGe ThAt Is UnIvErSaL
you may want to tune into what I'm meandering about, and there is lots.  There never seems to be an end in sight for one's imagination, as long as they create, investigate, and narrate on things or stuff or garbage one want's to talk to.  

uSe YoUr FuNkY nEw StYlE wHeN cOmMeNtInG oN
tWiTtEr Or FaCeBoOk with #bestofeverything where the truly talented enforcers on social media meet.  Just because someone needed to create a clubhouse for the diehard social media enthusiasts.  Only ONE major IMPORTANT rule ((AND you THOSE testers OR negative SCENE will BE deleted.

The positive + helpful + insightful + non-denominal religion site (so if you can't share on Facebook without Ala's or God's words, along with their disciples  under the umbrella of hashtag :: #bestofeverything.

I will inject music that I find really unique 
and inspirational or fun here.  Again, you can submit your own ideas under comments on this blog (remember clubhouse?)  Only rule, they can't have ever won an award of any kind for their music, acting, or whatever else comes forward:  like chef, writer, blogger, personalities are out there under #bestofeverything :: because the more that hashtag is used everywhere, we'll see if it can be trending on not just Twitter, but also Facebook, Google Search Results, Google Plus, G+ so audience become voters simply when they comment (which can be like a vote, if you will, by the members of the "clubhouse")  :: so that everyone assembled, really starts to help each other, support everyone on that group that they themselves promote.

WHERE have THEY gone?
Indeed, this is a song that I thought we need to hear :: a song that came across my radar from surfing iTunes on Apple.  I went to the earliest recording by it to ensure I captured the right, first person.  Which are often not necessarily that got credit for it.


Mood or what?
does YouTube sense my mood or what?  Quite the line up for me right now:  Coldplay's "Paradise" :: Keane's "Everybody's Changing" :: Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars) :: Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run". Go ahead, subscribe to my You Tube channel optioneerJM :: I dare you :: double dare you.  Where's your sense of adventure, and why are you reading this?  I'm not wild.  Trust me.  Maybe I am getting a bit more so in my creative side and writing.  Quite the line up for me now :: 


Family traitor?
That reminds me.  Of family lore.  You see, I am a huge Michael Buble fan with an attitude adjustment. My husband's ex-brother-in-law (ya, I know, if you can figure that out, you're better than me), wrote the tunes for @MichaelBuble +Michael Bublé  he didn't even acknowledge him, never mind thank him for writing the song he won his first Juno for?  Is that a too deep?  Does that put me on the controversy radar now?

PlayLists payOFF!
You know what?  That is an under-promoted feature of Apple.  Maybe someone can tell me who's responsible for the radio stations and playlists?  I seem to be a procrastinator on my blog. Radio or playlists are out of this world.  People have been assembling playlists since the dawning of iTunes.  More used as a tool, than a benefit.  Now, step forward whoever was the brainchild of playlists for sharing?  

We have a lot more talented, musical people worldwide that can't get a break.    Lol, maybe, just maybe, you're like me :: I can't draw a thing, i can't lay out much to the style of which I'm in love with (look for Jim Carrey's personal website if you want to test my theory)  tell me what you think.  I'll start on Twitter with #bestofeverthing #website +jimcarrey52x (in Twitterese) for website supremacy ::  You can disagree, post your own, copy and paste me and I'll #rt to get you more followers.


Classic oldie ::
Puff, the magic Dragon by Peter, Paul & Mary.  That is probably where my childhood registers.  I will have to go back and look up what year it came out and how old I am.  As a mini-experiment for how early do we think our earliest memories are.

You Tube Channel
I actually don't know what happens if an outsider, anyone other than me, to be polite listens to my station?  You Tube is getting pretty smart with predicting our wants.  They get to see just about anything!!  The You Tubes titles you subscribe to, viewed, or bounced off (not recording eWwWw ).  So thrilled, in fact, I just Tweeted :: 

"Loving the music that YouTube is selecting for me  ( available on my YouTube channel optioneerJM ) ~..~ jm" you can Follow me and then #RT and I will follow you on Twitter and give you a boost to your traffic.

Identity Stamp *^*
I've used *^*JM as my signature on Twitter.  I just thought creatively with words and a keyboard to come up with it.  Not really artistic, no.  Imaginative tho don't you think?

~..~ jm
Lately, I started to adopt ~..~ jm pretty much everywhere.  Maybe that is the banner I've shucked myself under as I hit 55 this year.  With new fears, new goals driving them, life moving along.  Have you thought of one?  Well, if you're the two or three followers, you can use your new identity stamp with #bestofeverything so I'll notice and re-share and re-tweet everywhere.  Kind of a scratch each other's back in helping support someone else's dreams, not just be self-centered on your own.

Every breath I take

The Police with "every breath i take, every move

 you make, every step you take, I'll be watching

 you" came on just now, so I'm signing off but

every song I saved, I saved to #bestofeverything 

so that all my choices are stored in my YouTube

playlist.  

Apple

Every once in a while, I will share what is striking

a chord with me from Apple's iTunes, a 

company I will continue to support, with a dream

that maybe one day, they will advertise on this

Blog.  So I can quit work and write for a living.

in the meantime

a lady has to live a little dream.  Imagine no 

tomorrows that are filled with sorrow.

Optimism supreme

That the two followers I have will divide and

multiply.  Then help and support each other.

Sounds pretty simple.  Is it?

What I'm making

Potato salad

this recipe is something that I always seem to 

make up, get better at, as time moves along.

Incredients

6 mid-size potatoes, cubed and boiled

4 eggs, boiled, hard

1 strip of bacon

2 dived by one half onion

1 stalk celery, everything green included

6 sprigs of fresh parsley or italian parsley~cilantro

1 carrot

3 radishes

1/2 pickle (large Klassens)

Cook the bacon with 1/2 of onion (or 1/4 as set out before) lightly brown

Put celery, other 1/2 (or 1/4) of onion, parsley, carrot in chopper shown

Dice pickle, eggs, and set aside

Make Dressing

Dressing

While potatoes and bacon mixture is cooling make the dressing.

4 Tablespoons mayonaise (prefer Kelman's but will 

      exchange with "Kraft Mayo" at a price i.e.  advertises on blog)

2 Teaspoons "no name" mayonaise (will

      exchange with "French" at a price i.e.  advertises on blog)

1 Teaspoon mustard spice  (will name, for a price i.e. 

      advertises on blog)


Salt and pepper to taste (I often leave out salt 

   but heavy on the pepper)




Mix everything together and let sit in fridge for at least 2 

hours before serving with main dish.  For vegans, without bacon, could 

be a protein laden main dish.



Share

If you make this recipe, be sure to @optioneerjm on Twitter 

or share with me on Facebook, Pinterest or G+ for a share by me - don't


forget the link to this blog.  Please and thank you.