Happy Canada Day! 

I have so much I want to blog about but haven't had the time. And heck, with the heat, who wants to be inside anyway? Hope everyone is having a great long weekend.

The watermelon and homemade pizza is beckoning from the patio table!

Allium

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Okay so the title doesn't totally work but hey, it's catchy.

It's becoming more and more expensive to drive vehicles and fly airplanes these days. Prudent people are increasingly trading in their gas guzzlers for more efficient cars or even trying to go car free as often as possible. Buses and bikes are seeing more use as a result. Airlines are also scaling back on flights and even reducing airspeed in an effort to save on fuel costs. I can't help but agree with many out there that rising fuel costs are a blessing in disguise. That sadly this may be the only way our society will make a more ecological change in the way we do things. 

So even if we want to be gentler on the environment we still need to get places. Unfortunately, the way we live is not always logical or efficient. Living far away from where we work doesn't make a lot of sense and yet many people choose to make long daily commutes. There are so many residential waste lands far away from not only work but... well, anything. You have to drive to get groceries, take your kid to school, go see a doctor, rent a movie... It doesn't help that people in general love box store shopping. Everything you need and more things you don't, all in one place, cheaply made and a price to match.

North America is a car centered society. It's entirely redundant, expensive and ecologically unsound for every household to own and maintain at least one internal combustion vehicle and many families own more than one! Here in North America the mentality is often one of abundance and entitlement to that abundance no matter the cost to others or the environment. In many jurisdictions the costs of insuring and maintaining vehicles is becoming increasingly prohibitive. Automobiles put a huge strain on our domestic, civic and provincial infrastructure. Purely from a land use perspective to dedicate the space to park all these vehicles is simply wasteful.  

It's truly a shame that with a little forsight and community spirit as a goal we might all live with useful shops including a decent grocery store in walking distance and if we didn't work nearby there was some sort of transit option to get there with ease. Europe is an excellent model for this kind of living.

So here's where we get to trains. 

When rail systems are well maintained they can be a fantastic way to travel long or short distances. Trains can be incredibly environmentally efficient and safer than alternatives like driving on highways. Trains are a more comfortable way to travel because you can get up and stretch your legs, have space to catch up on work, and survey the passing scenery usually without that including endless highway. You can meet and connect with other people on trains, grab something to eat or have a snooze. All this you can do before getting to your chosen destination. The only downfall to train travel as I see it is the fact that it's not quite as fast as other options. All the more reason to slow down your life a bit, if you ask me the benefits far outweigh the converse.

It would be encouraging to see serious investment in train travel over Canada, throughout BC, on Vancouver Island and locally around Nanaimo. I would love to travel around Canada with my bike and backpack. I'd love to see far reaching places beyond what you can see from the limiting few highways. It would be great for tourism for most of these rural places if it were easy and comfortable to access the area. A trip up island for a couple of days via train would be fantastic. On the other hand, a trip down island to Victoria would be handy as well, not to mention much safer than driving the congested Malahat.

I walk around Nanaimo and imagine the train tracks already in place being used to their full potential and even expanded with more track laid. I can imagine a main downtown train station at 109 Front Street, right on the corner of Esplande where a dilapidated, slummy drug addict hangout currently sits. How brilliant would it be for people in North Nanaimo to hop on a train and come downtown for the day or evening event. It would be equally great for someone in South Nanaimo to go into North Nanaimo for a quick trip. No cars needed. No parking concerns. Ahhhh.... 

Trout Slapped and Falafel Heaven

Further to this posting...

Why put needed sidewalks on busy roads where they don't exist when you can just redo perfectly satisfactory sidewalks you already have? This is the corner of Albert and Kennedy downtown Nanaimo and not the only sidewalk getting a facelift. 

I don't even know what more there is to say about this.  

On a more positive note, while walking downtown to get some groceries from Thriftys last night we stopped and had supper at the Thirsty Camel. It was as fantastic as ever. I see that the Thirsty Camel is now making speciality coffees and more quick breakfast type items. The muffins sound amazing! 

Here's a shot of our supper- a Falafel Patter and a Chicken Platter. Best falafel I've had (and I've long made a great falafel!). The chicken is always so fresh and delicious. It probably has to do with the fact that it's locally grown and non medicated chicken from Piper's Meats. The tahini, the hummus, the olive oil... it's all so good! My stomach is starting to growl for more!

Non Off Gassing Shower Curtains?

I'm actually pretty disturbed to find out that my vinyl shower curtain is not only made in an environmentally irresponsible fashion but is also actually off gassing every time I have a shower. The majority of the off gassing is apparently taking place in the first month of the shower curtain's out of the package life. What kills me is that when I replace it it's just going to go to the landfill and not decompose. It's more likely that it will leach the chemicals into the ground. 

I've long wanted to get away from as much plastic and other synthetic items as possible but I still find myself not even aware of such items as shower curtains. It didn't occur to me to consider that the brand new vinyl shower curtain put up for our moving in made such an environmental impact. We had glass shower doors on our last owned home which I suppose is an alternative option if you have a conventional modern bathtub enclosure. In this home we have a beautiful claw foot tub so I need to find non off gassing shower curtain.   

A quick google search comes up with a few interesting articles:

The Toxic Nation: Guide to Vinyl 

Los Angeles Times

Treehugger.com

Digg

It looks like I can buy an alternative from Ikea, Sears...

Pricer options include:

Hankette's Organic Cotton Curtain

Dream Design's Hemp Curtain

Organic Canada's Hemp Curtain

Organic Lifestyle's Hemp Curtain

I imagine it wouldn't be hard to make your own either. After seeing the general price of a hemp/cotton alternative and the fact that I'd need two to fully enclose my claw foot tub when showering, I think I'll do just that. Make my own. Stay tuned for future pictures and perhaps a tutorial. 

Perfect Night For Sushi!

What a perfect beautiful night for sushi! 

I'm not sure if what I make would be considered 'real' sushi since I don't use seaweed to roll with and I don't always use fish but it's damn tasty. I actually don't care for the taste of seaweed much so use rice paper instead. 

For those interested in making sushi and haven't given it a go yet I'll add my basic recipe!

Sushi rice is best to make earlier in the day so it has time to cool all the way through. I usually make one and a half times this recipe so we have enough for lunch the next day as well.

Put 2 cups of sushi rice in a pot with 2 cups of water. Cover and cook on low for 15 min. Remove from heat and let stand 10 min. In small bowl stir together 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 3 tbsp sugar and 1 1/2 tsp salt. Transfer rice to large (non metallic best) bowl and pour vinegar mixture on top and toss to cover rice. Set aside to cool.

I warm some water in a frying pan on the stove on low. I put a rice paper in the water until softened (not too soft) and then place it on my cutting board. I spread some rice (not too much) on most of the rice wrap leaving the top bare so when I roll it up it's not too thick and will all stick together well. I then lay across the bottom of the rice wrap matchsticked cucumber, carrot, green onion, avocado, red pepper and some toasted sesame seeds. You can put whatever you like in it! Fish, smoked salmon, mango... I even have a friend who's tried apple. Then I carefully roll up. When I'm finished rolling all the sushi up I cut in inch wide pieces. 

I'd love to hear if you try this and like it or please share your own sushi recipe with me! I'm usually willing to try something new!

Third Most Walkable City in Canada?

NNB

They should clarify that distinction to "most drive to walking destinations". I walk often and I find "dangerous" to be a better descriptor than anything else when it comes to walking in the city of Nanaimo and the fact that it's dangerous seems almost entirely attributed to the lack of sidewalks this city has built. Is this problem exclusively a South Nanaimo problem or are there a lack of sidewalks on many main roads in North Nanaimo as well? Somehow I think not. 

With newer and more exclusive neighbourhoods, sidewalks being found on not only one side but both sides of the street is fairly common. What's ironic to me is that many of the people who live in neighbourhoods like these don't like to leave their overly large houses on small lots unless it's in their cars. Yes, this is a pretty big generalisation but in my experience a fair one. Most of these neighbourhoods don't offer anywhere to walk to even if you wanted to get out for a walk! They're residential labyrinths purposely designed to make it hard to find your way out once you've driven in. They're gateless (well, some are actually gated) gated communities with the only roads leading anywhere productive to be on the outside perimeter. So while they have sidewalks on each and every street winding this way and that, few people are out walking and less with any destination in mind.

There are many of us who can't afford to or simply can't imagine living in these kinds of subdivision "communities". I for one enjoy living in a small but decent sized home with character on a block where I know and talk to my neighbours. I like living where I can walk to the grocery store and enjoy all that the city's community has to offer in the way of parks and eateries. I like getting to know people and having people get to know me on my daily and evening walks. It is however a bit tiresome to be running from one side of a busy street to the other to avoid being hit by a speeding car because there are no sidewalks and no better place to cross when wanting to walk on the "safer" side of the sidewalkless street.

Look at Bruce Avenue as a prime example. This road has three schools located on it and doesn't have a sidewalk apart from a few random sections like the new addition of a one sided sidewalk next to the mall. So either kids are dangerously walking to school on the shoulder of the road each day or they are being driven to school however few blocks they live away. 

Pine Street is another street lacking in basic sidewalk requirements. Once it passes Third Street (or is it Fitzwilliam at this point?) it goes up over a limited vision hill and with the speed so many drive on this section of road a pedestrian must constantly be aware of impending danger. Pushing a stroller or wheelchair on this uneven gravel shoulder is next to impossible if your goal isn't to drive right into the littered bush. This road is even worst if cars are going top speed as it winds around to become Park Street. 

Harewood Road isn't much better unless you're talking about roads to successfully speed on. In that case it seems to be a very favourable road for that activity. Obviously a big part of the safety in walking on these roads has to do with drivers driving responsibly but this is a topic I'll save for a different blog posting.

I find myself questioning why $500,000 is being spend on "beautifying" a park that already exists and is already beautiful when the people who live here can't even walk to it in relative safety. Now I don't actually have a beef with money being spent on updating and renovating a park so it has a slightly different look for the sake of having it "feel" new and improved but it does seem to me like ridiculous city priorities.

I suppose that's how it works in bureaucracy and it's overwhelming singular interest in economy and wealth. Spend all the money on those who "contribute" most to the city. The tourists and those who live here who are more well to do. At least I imagine that's the city's thinking when it comes to city improvement projects. 

I'd like to see this city more useable for all the members of it. I believe something like sidewalks on at least one side of each street would enrich the community and offer a safer opportunity for people to leave their cars behind. It could encourage people to get outside where they would meet their neighbours and benefit their health and well being by moving their bodies and being in the fresh air.

There are a number of studies and books written about the enormous benefits of simply being outside. Studies that showed that sick people will recover at remarkable rates if they have even a small view of something outside. Children in particular can gain a great deal from being outside. Last Child in the Woods is a fantastic book outlining the pitfalls of our children being away from nature, including obesity and adhd type behaviour. 

The other obvious benefit of building sidewalks and walking when possible is not having to fill up your gas tank as often. With the ever growing cost of fuel it's a good time to be considering alternatives. Walking is certainly an affordable and proactive option.

Sore Sight

I don't like to drive often but needed to do a big grocery shop this morning at the Thrifty's downtown. Sitting at the intersection of Victoria Crescent and Nicol Street waiting for the light to change offers a sad sight. So many "shady" characters hanging out next to the highway on the same strip of grass that announces "Welcome to Nanaimo" or some such sign. It was hard to see the sign past the shopping carts. Skinny young gangster types obviously hooked on crystal and who's bodies are so ruined by drugs and street life that they can barely walk like they are younger than ninety years old. Unshaven men who look older than they probably are seem as if their only drive to go elsewhere is if they're told to move on and women who may have been beautiful long ago, covered with scabs and barely clothed giving every man they walk by a come hither smile. The New Hope Centre is supposed to discourage the lounging around on that strip of grass but it seems every time I walk by it's littered with people and the garbage they leave behind. 

The homelessness issue is one I feel so conflicted by. There are many people out on the street with mental illness who have little other option since taking care of themselves is obviously not feasible. There are many others out there who are there thanks to drug addictions. I'm sure there are even a few who are out there because they have no where else to go. Difficult home lives and the like. What can be done? What is being done already to help with this problem? I have to scratch my head when some suggest the police "do something" about it. Being homeless isn't against the law. 

The housing initiatives I've read about happening in Nanaimo over the next few years have me asking more questions. For one are they going to be placed all over Nanaimo? Many of the people that need housing need to get away from the downtown area and the life they've know for so long. They need a new perspective. Many people on the street need mental health assistance. These people aren't able to be independent. Is there going to be appropriate housing for these people?

I'm not sure how I feel about too many "low barrier" style housing options. I'd like to think that the bulk of the new housing goal is to help people get a step closer to breaking free from homelessness, drugs, crime or whatever their personal problems associated with being homeless are and getting people independent and contributing to the quality of their own lives. I guess I hope that it goes beyond putting a simple roof over their heads.

I would feel so much less contempt for some of these people if they weren't littering (garbage, needles...) or generally showing minimal concern for the community that cares about enjoying where we live. I suppose many of them would show more care and concern if they were less looked down upon and ignored. Quite the conundrum. 

A big part of me wonders why no one cares to think more about why people are becoming homeless in the first place? Why the appropriate mental health professionals are coming up with evaluations for individuals just barely above what's deemed needing full time care? I mostly wonder though why we put so little thought as a society into supporting families in raising children into becoming mentally healthy, stable individuals who care about their community and other people. 

Mainstream parenting these days seems to push children away to make them "independent" despite the fact that they are children and in every way need to feel dependant on their parents or guardians. A baby who came from the most intimate of places- inside our womb is born and placed in a barred box in a room down the hall, away from the comfort of our arms. We have devises like bucket car seats and swings to put our children in so we don't even have to hold them. There are self feeding bottles so you needn't be troubled with being near when they are hungry. Schedules and control are central to many parenting practices. This teaches our children not to trust themselves or their parents. Many parents aren't even raising their own children because of the "need" for a second income. Older children and teens quickly decide that their peers are their real family. How frightening is this? That they rely on one another for emotional support and growth. How can you mature if what you strive to be like is the same age and maturity level as yourself?

I propose a great deal of societies problems could be solved by trying to focus on families now. Endorse back to the basics, sensible and natural parenting practises and perhaps teaching families skills like how to cook basic, nutritious yet appetising whole foods meals and other ways to make staying home with your children affordable and generally helping families to thrive.

There are studies done that say the most important years in a person's life are the first three. That how the child is raised and treated during this time can determine what kind of person they could become. Having their needs met in these early years can make it easier for these children to one day meet their own needs and other's later in life. I read one study (and damn it if I could find it now!) in which convicts were questioned about their upbringing and virtually all had difficult and dysfunctional family situations often including abuse. 

It's easier for me to feel compassionate for these people when I recognise the many reasons that they are out there. 

TV Follow Up

I swear I won't go on and on about tv but this is a hilarious comic that needed to be shared!

And the sun will come out....

Sunny with cloudy periods. I'll take that. I'm just happy for it to dry up a bit here. It's not a terrible thing for it to be at least warm in summer! The evening sun is coming in my living room window and my dog is sprawled out, soaking up the heat on the hardwood floor. Curry is doing it's thing in the crockpot and I just need to finish up making the naan for supper. 

I must get out for a walk this evening. Cabin fever was slowly setting in and I need some fresh air!

One of my favourite things to do when I'm walking around town is to look at houses. I particularly love old heritage homes, but really any house is fair game when it comes my 'constructive critiquing'. "What the heck were they thinking when painting that house pepto PINK and all those odd additions... tsk tsk... They really should address the water damage thanks to all the stucco." 

The one thing that stands out to me the most is when TV's are placed in front of big picture windows in living rooms. I've seen so many ranging from giant flat screen tvs to smaller box tvs nestled in those big rectangular entertainment units. I've even see more than one tv plus equipment piled up in front of a window. These people really don't want to beat around the bush when it comes to their priorities. Why look outside when you can look at the TV? Who needs sunlight anyway when the tv emits perfectly good radiation over everything day and night?

I actually find it disturbing, although pretty standard to be walking in the evening and seeing house after house with tvs flickering away. When the tv isn't conveniently placed in front of the window you can usually see everyone in the family sitting perfectly still as the picture reflects off their faces. I suppose this is a much better sight than seeing the flickering of tvs in each room with the family separate from each other. I'm often surprised when normally intelligent, motivated people are drawn in and completely consumed by tacky low grade television, they've likely seen before, for hours at a time. 

How many people out there don't even own a tv anymore? Why is cable considered a "need" for people of lower income? How can it even fit into some people's budget? The most basic of cable is $32.95 a month. That's almost $400 a year of time wasting mind suck! How much do you spend on cable tv? 

There are many article out there that would caution against letting young children even watch tv. Just to name a few: Infants weaned on tv cannot concentrate, Too Much TV Can Have Negative Impact on Children, TV Has Negative Impact On Very Young Children's Learning Abilities, Trash Your TV.... 

What happened to getting outside after supper in the evenings to sit on the porch or out for a stroll? Can you imagine conversations with family and friends in the evenings or games being played? How about a quiet book to feed and relax your mind? 

I say do like the bumper says and:

Here I sit, buns a flexin'...

I'm hoping this blog will give me the opportunity to comment on where I live, the unsustainable and short sighted choices we make and some of the many possible alternatives. 

I first started thinking about writing this blog on one of my many daily or evening walks around Nanaimo. I mainly walk in the downtown and Harewood area since this is where I live. I'm constantly blown away by the way people choose to live and the way our city isn't set up to encourage being more sustainable and healthy. I love this area with it's history, character homes and accessibility to the downtown core as well as the many parks and eateries. 

Allium