Gone FISHing

“Who are you being while you’re doing what you’re doing?” This deep and loaded question comes up when learning The FISH! Philosophy. FISH! is quite simply a way of life based on a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to the choices we make every day at work and in our personal life. The four main practices of this simple yet in-depth life/workplace strategy are:

1. Be There - being emotionally present for people, giving them your full focus, actively listening without judgement
2. Play - tapping into your creative side to make otherwise mundane tasks more enjoyable, bringing a more playful and curious attitude to everyday life
3. Make Their Day - finding meaningful encounters with everyone you come into contact with, giving others a reason to smile with a lasting impression
4. Choose Your Attitude - accepting that you choose your thoughts which in turn impact how you act, making a conscious effort to take responsibility for how you respond to others and life in general

I just had a chance to attend one of the daylong FISH! workshops at Stone Tree in Owen Sound. After getting past the mere coincidence of being the only male in the class, I was able to comfortably settle in for an enriching exploration of self-awareness through a series of interactive discussions, fun games and powerful videos. Our fearless leader was the very motivational and inspirational Deb Fawcett, also known as The FISH! Lady.

Like many attending the workshop, my pre-conceived notion was that FISH! must be an acronym for something. But in actual fact, the title is derived from the origins of the philosophy. Deb showed us the story of a group of guys working long and gruelling hours at Pikes Place, a fish market in Seattle. With the business on the verge of bankruptcy and staff morale at an all-time low, the owner gathered his troops for a last ditch effort at brainstorming a new vision. When one of the workers made the seemingly ridiculous suggestion, “let’s become world famous”, the team came together in an exceptional way. The wheels set into motion and the doomed fish market transformed into a vibrant and fun atmosphere like none you’ve ever seen. The workers have since become famous for their crazy antics and good-humoured rapport amongst themselves and with their customers. Quite simply, they learned how to ‘show up’ and adapt a bulletproof positive attitude regardless of their long and physically demanding hours on the job.

Whether you’re behind the cash at the fish market or sitting in the executive chair, The FISH! Philosophy can be applied. To learn more, visit http://www.itf.ca/.

Eat Your Greens

This week, we finally gave in and fired up the BBQ for the first time in 2010. I won’t go so far as to say it was a bad attempt. In all fairness, we did have just a bit of grill master’s rust to shake off in our first firing up of the season. Regardless, the Atlantic salmon turned out quite well with its last-minute marinade of lemon juice and margarine.

The asparagus, on the other hand, wasn’t up to our usual standard. Though the tips were slightly grilled and tasty, the stems were a little in the way of overcooked and softened.

Sometimes it’s best to stick with what’s tried and true. Until last summer, asparagus was about as popular in our household as the common cold. Then on one fateful evening, we were at the house of some friends for supper and had the best asparagus ever. The trick they showed us was simple. After you wash your greens and cut off those tougher bottom tips, try pan-frying the asparagus in a moderate amount of olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and some ground pepper and allow to fry for around 7 (or more) minutes, turning frequently with tongs until softened. The asparagus will have a slightly charred look and that’s exactly what you want. Give it a try and I’m willing to bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the difference compared to steaming or BBQing these fine greens. Our household has converted.

Now if only someone could give me a secret to tastier broccoli!

Playoff Fever Strikes

I’m not one to closely follow the NHL during the regular season. Playoff season, on the other hand, is a totally different ball…I mean…puck game. This year’s post-season showdown wasn’t on my radar until game 7 of the first round series between the underdog Montreal Canadians and first place Washington Capitals. A Habs fan I am not. But the excitement of an upset and subsequent advancement of a Canadian team were enough to get me enthused in the playoffs once again.

The ‘big bad Bruins’ are actually my team of choice. And so far, so good for Boston. Please forgive me for rooting for a bunch of Canadian players in non-Canadian jerseys!

But NHL playoff season is more than just the team you are cheering for or the thrill of overtime. In my mind, it signals that period of transition between spring and summer. The weather is heating up and the streets are becoming alive again with late evening activity on local restaurant patios, the aromas of BBQing, and cars joyriding with windows down and music up. In some subtle way, these seemingly unrelated little pleasures add to the excitement of the playoffs.

I hope you are able to capture some of the thrill and stress relief this season that only a game 7 overtime, half pound of chicken wings and fizzy beverage can evoke!

A Lesson in Taking A Hike

Having grown up on the rugged East Coast, I’m all for an outdoor adventure every now and then. Let’s just say I learned a thing or two about the outdoors over the weekend in a section of Balmy Beach where some might fear to tread. We decided to take a family hike to Indian Falls.

Despite the efforts of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority to protect and maintain this natural wonder of the wilderness, hiking the trail to view the cascade is a lesson in careful calculation. The flat rocks that dominate the pathway and protruding tree roots have you watching your step more often than not. There are also sections where water from the river running parallel has spilled onto the trail. Some may find that guessing where the trail has suddenly veered off is a frustration. They might view the steep drop-offs after climbing the tricky hill as fearsome and treacherous. Others might welcome the challenge of the great outdoors.

We were somewhere in between. Our toddler of a daughter was ambitious though she needed a lot of parental guidance and handholding. The dog was obviously thrilled to explore. The parents were cautious but forged ahead knowing that the lookout at the Falls would be worth the sometimes rough terrain along the way.

Yes, it was worth it. There was no close-to-dried-up trickle as reported at some of the local waterfall spots in recent years. Indian Falls was a healthy flow and the photo op was fantastic. For those who haven’t yet seen some of Grey County’s hidden-in-the-bush treasures, this one is a place to start. Just proceed with care during the hike.

Next time, we plan to take the trail behind the Owen Sound Transportation Visitor Centre in Springmount to catch a glimpse of Jones Falls.

Farmers’ Market Fever In the Air

Once ‘spring fever’ has run its course in Grey-Bruce, many local residents are ready to open their wallets and reusable cloth grocery bags for some long overdue ‘farmers’ market fever’. From summer until the fall harvest, roadside stands and agribusinesses are plush with fresh local produce, homemade jarred goods and countless other products that have been grown, raised and prepared in some way, shape or form here in the region. While stores such as Around the Sound Local Food Market and Meaford’s 100 Mile Market do a great job of satisfying the appetites of local foodies year round, outdoor markets are typically seasonal.

The good news is that the seasons are changing and two of the most popular farmers’ markets around are making big plans for 2010. The Old Train Station Pavilion in Bluewater Park will be the site of the Wiarton Farmers’ Market every Friday from 1 to 6pm beginning Victoria Day weekend. From what I hear, this is a perfect little market with an ever-growing list of local vendors.

And you might as well set Fridays aside to do some ‘market-hopping’ because starting June 4th, the Meaford Municipal Farmers’ Market gets underway. The setting couldn’t be more pristine beneath the Harbour Pavilion next to sparkling Georgian Bay. This market is also held weekly with this season’s hours running from 3 to 7pm. Visit http://www.meafordfarmersmarket.ca/ to stay on top of the latest market news. One new feature for 2010 is a special Volunteer Meaford table. Each week, a different local organization can promote their volunteer opportunities to those who may be looking to get more involved in their community.

Both Wiarton and Meaford markets wrap up on Thanksgiving weekend. But let us not forget about the markets that brave all four seasons. Saturday mornings just wouldn’t be the same without the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market next to the City Hall parking lot. This market has been around since 1845 and is still going strong. Check out http://www.owensoundfarmersmarket.ca/ to find out the latest.

And if you head a few kilometres southwest of Owen Sound on Grey Road 3 every Tuesday, you’ll find approximately 250 vendors at the Keady Farmers’ Market from 7am until early in the afternoon. This one also happens year round and features livestock auctions. Go to http://www.keadylivestock.com/.

My Dog Blog

“She’s sooooo cute! Can we get her?” The e-mail message from my wife sent through the Petfinder website was something along those lines. And yes, the accompanying beagle photo was pretty eye-catching. But the fact of the matter was, we already had 2 cats and a very active almost-2-year-old in our ever-shrinking house. Was now the right time to welcome another family pet into our lives?

Then came the long list of the beagle’s finest attributes… “She’s already fully grown and small enough that she won’t really take up extra room. She’s gentle, loves kids, is house-trained and hardly ever barks. They’re going to spay her.” With an upbringing where having a dog was almost a given, it didn’t take long to twist my arm to at least go check things out. So we hopped in the car and headed to Rockford to the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter.

This was actually my first time visiting the Shelter. I was very impressed with the cleanliness and wealth of volunteer dog-walkers and other maintenance workers on the premises. We took our prospective new addition to the family for a ‘test walk’ in the adjacent large field… a perfect haven for a dog of any size.

Yes, she lived up to her promise of her ‘dog personal’ ad. We put a hold on her so that we could make a decision within 48 hours. Though in less than 24, a phone call from the Shelter put us on the spot. “Another couple is here and they’d like to adopt the beagle here and now. What’s the verdict?”

In a few days, Lexie will be joining us. I look forward not only to the newfound companionship, but also to the more active lifestyle owning a dog will bring. Early morning walks and more time spent outdoors can only be a benefit.

The great care exhibited by the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter made the decision process much easier. There are no employees at the Shelter with all funds coming directly from public and business donations, adoption fees and fundraisers. Those who donate their time to this important local facility tend to be animal-lovers in the truest sense.

Visit the website of the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter at http://www.gb-animalshelter.com/ to learn more.

Time to Hit the Trails

Who would’ve thought that the flowers would be blooming and grass would be greening by the first week of April? Then again, the patterns of the seasons over the past few years haven’t exactly been like they used to. Some so-called experts attribute it to global warming while others would much rather blame a strange but normal weather cycle that inevitably rears its head a few times each century.

Whatever the case, it’s hard not to enjoy the freakishly warm temps and blooming buds. Many summer oriented local businesses are benefiting from these conditions as residents shed their winter and spring gear for lighter clothing, swimwear and other summertime apparel. Area beaches and other summer attractions are already seeing a surge of early visitors. Case in point… One of the oddest images I’ve seen in recent memory comes from a weather story on Rogers TV where a shirtless man was soaking up the sun on the shores of Wasaga Beach with the snow capped silhouette of Blue Mountain visible across the water. As John Lennon once sang, “strange days indeed”!

Though I can’t say I’ve been brave or crazy enough to sun bathe on the beach as of yet, I have taken it upon myself to roam the fairly new Tom Thomson Trail. Boasting just over 43 kilometres of hiking paradise, this sometimes rough but usually user friendly path stretches from Owen Sound through Leith and Annan to the Town of Meaford. It’s an easy jaunt to the main access point for yours truly with our residence only a few blocks from the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. I encourage you to visit the trailhead kiosk and starting point next to the Owen Sound Boat Launch (north end of 2nd Avenue East). You are bound to learn lots about the history and many volunteers involved in the creation of the Tom Thomson Trail.

I won’t imply for a fleeting second that the fam and I embarked on the Tom Thomson Trail marathon. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the many other rich and rewarding trail experiences that our region has become famous for. Evidently, there is a very lengthy summer ahead to explore those as well! But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself the vast network of trails we are so lucky to have in our proximity by visiting the Bruce Grey Trail Network website at http://www.brucegreytrails.com/.