"Me Time" at Le Chamois Whistler

To put this to the test, Richard Yearwood and I escaped the hustle and bustle of the city Easter weekend for some fun in the sun in Whistler, thanks to Whistler Tourism.  It was exactly what I needed.  While we didn’t exactly slow down, we did have a huge amount of fun and discovered all sorts of new aspects to Whistler from music and art to learning to snowboard in the Spring sun to zipping through the trees with Ziptrek Ecotours.   Best part for a Van City Gal, was this kind of escape can be planned stress free at the last minute or simply on a whim.

Richard and I, in what I like to think of as Ewok Village Whistler

For a full account of all of our Whistler Weekend Adventures over the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, you will have to stay tuned to Roamancing as we launch the site and our social media feeds over the next month and put up a variety of posts from A Morning in the Life of an Ewok to the first in a Le Chamois inspired series on the World’s Best Tubs to Snowboarding Tips from Whistler Blackcomb Ski & Snowboard Hottie Sean Matthews.

In the meantime, a few tips for those looking for a highly recommended escape from the daily grind:

• If you, like me, fantasize about leisurely soaks in the tub with a good book and a glass of wine, the tub at Le Chamois was an absolute dream come true for me, jets included.  And now sadly, while I didn’t get the opportunity to try this, I’d harbour a guess that it fit two comfortably.  Richard, similarly enjoyed his roomy shower.

Tub Heaven at Le Chamois Whistler

• There’s ART in Whistler!   And really good art – inspired by the mountain culture and the natural surroundings.  When you’re taking a break from the mountain, go search it out.  I really enjoyed what I saw.  Had to give Richard my credit card to curb the spending cravings.

TWSSF State of the Art

• If you give the techno music in the clubs a pass (unless of course that’s your thing) there is actually some good music in Whistler.  The Mountain knows its acts and will bring them in, often for free. We caught both Broken Social Scene and Marianas Trench for free on Easter Weekend.  I’ll be keeping a close eye on the new Jazz Festival coming to the mountain in September.

Marianas Trench at TWSSF in Whistler

• Even though the snow is not at it’s best in the Spring, the skiing is still immensely enjoyable, especially if you go with the layered look and salaciously strip down throughout the day.  It’s a great way of building that tan for the summer, especially if it is not limited to the goggle region.  Blackcomb Mountain is open for the season until May 30th, so there is still time to grab a few runs.  To find the best runs and ski conditions, test out the Whistler Blackcomb Live App.  It’s free.  Oh and think Preventable: wear a helmet (and possibly a bum pad, if you’re snowboarding) and get lessons if it’s your first time.  The Whistler Blackcomb Ski & Snowboard School are excellent and they have a hottie or two working for them (HELLO Mr. Sean Matthews).

Sean Matthews, Snowboard Instructor & Whistler Hottie

• If you’re like me and like to geek out a little, while taking in the mountain air and getting that Whistler adventure rush on, then I’d recommend checking out the Ziptrek Ecotours. We did the Ziptrek Bear Tour, which made me feel like I’d joined a band of Ewoks.  It was awesome!  Being someone that was initially terrified, I had fun and felt in safe hands with our knowledgeable and humorous guides.  Thanks Peter and Edwin!

Richard Showing off on the Ziptrek

Now I should also note that some of the art and music mentioned about is one of the advantages to hitting Whistler when an event is on.  We were there for the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, which included one of my favourite art exhibits, State of the Art, and a series of free outdoor music concerts, including Broken Social Scene and Marianas Trench.  You have to wait a year until TWSSF is back, but in the meantime, there are some other cool festivals in Whistler coming up, including:

• Outstanding in the Field ~  July 9th, 2011
• Konkanee Crankworx ~  July 16 – 24, 2011
• Slow Food Cycle Sunday ~  August 21, 2011
• Jazz on the Mountain ~  Early September, 2011

Now to answer the age old question (or at least mine), can you find love in Whistler?  Don’t laugh.  Yes, I have been told that I can find plenty of love there for a night (which really isn’t what I’m looking for just now), but actual love.  Despite the chuckles and scoffs that I can hear as I write this, I do believe you can.  Whether it is taking someone you are building a relationship with on a weekend escape to take time for each other or you seriously connect with someone on a weekend escape, it happens.  We met a couple from the States that actually met in Whistler (video to come on Roamancing) and despite the transient lifestyle of Whistler, there are folks that stay and are looking for that special someone.  This is especially true for the gals, as lets face it Whistler is a bit of a sausage fest.  Ladies – you just have to be somewhat discerning in your selection (ie. give the married men on a weekend romp a wide pass.  If they are treating Whistler like Las Vegas, they are probably not the fellow to be batting your eye lashes and tossing your hair at).

So did I find love?  Too soon to tell, but I did get a phone number or two.

~ Emme xoxo

Photo by Florence

1) I feel like doing a bit of Spring Cleaning and getting a fresh new look, so will be playing around with the blog look. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Colour, font …etc.

2) Back to planning my Travel Adventures and as such am toying with the idea of bringing a few other storytellers along for the ride. So hopefully, we might hear from a few old friends like Sid and Brie (and maybe even Sir Von Ritter), and I’ve invited a UK artist, Lainie, that I quite like, to play around in the space a bit, as I think her imagery and travel experience might be a good fit for the adventures.

3) Ahimsa is getting a new set of interns, including a dancer and musician – Alyzee and Bronwyn – and I truly believe that it would be criminal to leave their whole education in the hands of the bright eyed and flower field frolicking Erica. Really someones got to introduce them to the ghetto (not really sure that this is the ghetto, but lets pretend it is for a second or two at least). Might even try to occasionally steal Liz from time to time, purely for the selfish reason as I can’t believe Ahimsa now has a professional photographer on staff and no one has thought to organize a photo shoot for me. Scandalous!! Well two can play at that game. Time to pull out the shiny objects, in the form of colourful summer drinks to lure the interns away with.

Here’s Bronwyn playing at The Cellar:

Wish me luck!

Kisses,

Emme xoxo

I know you’re all dying to know what I’ve been up to and I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you (or more aptly Fuzzywiggle Furrypants would and she doesn’t like getting her paws dirty).

Photo by Tris Hussey

In all seriousness, it’s time for some changes in my world – good changes – big changes. A little spring cleaning for the soul if you will.  Starting the year off with a fresh new space and a fresh new look.

What are these changes that I speak?

• Well for one, its time to finish the novel, ‘Single in the Suburbs’ that originally started me down this path.  And then get started with my Mom on it’s sequel, ‘My Mom, the Junkie’.
• Two, it’s time.  I feel ready.  For what?  Well, some gals would say ‘their Prince Charming’, for me it’s ‘My Snuggly Old Blankey’.
• Three. I’m striving for balance. I bit of a lofty goal I know, but if you don’t try, you’ll never succeed.

This new space is my journey to the above and it’s pages will be filled with the characters and settings that inspire me along the way, along with those heroes that do their best to catch me when I fall.  Because no matter how independent we are, every gal needs her heroes .

Photo by John Biehler

Speaking of heroes, I would be most remiss if I didn’t mention two, aside from my family, that have really helped to inspire this new space and clarify it’s direction.  An enormous thanks to Tris Hussey, you sexiest of devils, for the whisperings of WordPress themes and SEOs in my ear.  And a great big thanks to Jennifer Priest, who is coaching me on finding my path to fulfilling my dreams.  I’m finding my sessions with her to be incredibly inspirational, so I will share an account of my journey with her here.

For all the Sexy in Van City fans out there, no worries, it will continue with Kittyn.  So stay tuned as she puts her own cat spin on the site.  You can always get a blast from the past here too.  Just scroll through my ‘Little Black Book’ for  Sid’s, Sir von Ritter’s, Miss Roo’s and my old Sexy in Van City Posts.  They’re the ones dated February 2009 or earlier.

Love and Light (and as always Kisses),

Emme xoxo

To me, some of the things of great importance, that make me feel proud to be Canadian, include:

• The ability to follow my dreams.
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Knowing that I can do whatever I set my mind to.
• Family
• Love – both loving and being loved.
• Education
• Health Care
• Humility
• Compassion
• Culture
• Independence

I look at our current government and I fear that they don’t uphold many of the things that are important to me and make me feel proud to say that I am Canadian.

Our current PM, Prime Minister Harper promised us that there would not be another election for four years, yet a year later we’re back at the polls.  Why?  Because he wants a majority government.  Well I am sorry, but his greed for power is not good enough for me as a Canadian.  He broke his word to the Canadian people and has shown his true colours.

What did Mr Harper do this past year, aside from kissing George Bush’s ass? There was a little Bill by the name of C10 that caused me to wonder how long it would be before we saw him standing in front of a bonfire out front of a library.  What was Bill C10?  Basically a bible belt sanctioned Bill designed to destroy freedom of speech and culture in this country. Funny, this somehow reminds me in many ways of how Sarah Palin pursues her political agendas.  Are Church and State not meant to be separate entities?  Our country is composed of citizens with a variety of spiritual believes, not just those of Christianity.  As a representative of our country, are you not suppose to represent the country as a whole, rather than simply the views of your own Church?  One relief – Harper has decided to drop Bill C10, not surprisingly just as we headed into the election.

My concerns go beyond Bill C10 though. You look at our current Conservative Party and who are they really – the Reform Party wearing a vintage dress. A little bit of makeup advice here – makeup can cover up a blemish on the skin (of our country), but it doesn’t get rid of it.

What worries me the most is Harper’s affinity to George Bush and Bush’s politics.  You can so clearly see this in his campaigning.  Slander campaigning.  What the F…!  We are Canadians not Americans. Where’s the integrity? It is incredibly belittling that you would think so little about your countrymen to think that we would fall for such a slanderous campaign.  To be quite frank, it totally disgusts this voter.  And what’s next. Are we going to start mirror the American Education and Health Care Systems?

I have a surprisingly large number of American men trying to court me at the moment and I joke that I’m their backup plan if Obama doesn’t get in in the States.  Well, if Harper gets a majority it’s me that will need the backup plan.  And what happens, if both Harper and McCain get in? Sir Von Ritter – Europe might be looking good. Do you have room for both me and the cat?  Seriously though, what we are worried about is much worse than what the Americans are worried about, as we’re actually worried about Bozzo getting a majority.  Should we not be painfully embarrassed by that alone?

So whom am I voting for on election day?  Whomever is most likely to beat the Conservative delegate in my riding.  Which I am happy to say in this riding is a vote for culture.  Don’t forget to vote Tuesday October 14th between 7 am and 7 pm at your local polling station.

So gentlemen, before you kiss me – what are your politics?  Not supposed to ask those questions? Well you know what, I think we should, as it certainly says a fair bit about someones morals and what they hold important to them.  And really as long as you don’t say Conservative (or Republican), it will be a long, deep and ever so sweet kiss.