Due to the fact I am occasionally inclined to write posts that have to do with my hometown, I have decided to start a secondary blog for the moments when I get such urges.

This will enable me to separate the posts that only people living in Medicine Hat will be interested in, from my more creative and random writings.

If you are interested in my opinion about local happenings and businesses you can find my alternate blog here.

Any such posts will no longer make their way to Theriaka//Double Dose.

Thanks so much taking the time to read this update – tune in again for all new ramblings!

One thing which you will quickly become aware of is the fact that I am an avid book lover, and I’m not afraid to show it. As such, one of the things about living in Medicine Hat that gets to me after a while is our distinct lack of quality book stores. We have one Coles, and two or three second-hand book stores.

I’m a great fan of second-hand book stores as I can often find unusual books and of course it definitely helps my pocketbook. That being said, you never really know if you will be able to find anything you are interested in. It makes the task of finding series in order and certain authors very difficult.

Coles, which is located in the Medicine Hat Mall, is a decent book store – the only drawback is that it is disappointingly tiny. Of course they have recently gone though a renovation which opened up the store remarkably – allowing for more shelves and more room to move around without stepping on other customers toes.

As nice as it looks, and as friendly as the staff is, it can only hold a small inventory of books. Sure, you can order books in, but personally, when I go book shopping it is my intention to find a book that I can read now.

I’m not usually a supporter of the big chain businesses – but I’ll make an exception in this case. It is nearly impossible to make it as an independent bookstore, and I would rather have access to books than avoid the big businesses. And damn it if I don’t want to sit and sip a delectable coffee while happily reading my newest purchase – that they actually had in stock.

I’ve done a little research on the size of cities in Canada that have a Chapters or other large bookstore. I’ve found that while the majority are the big cities (which have several), there are a number which are slighter larger, or smaller than the Hat, which are graced with one. If population is the determining factor, I think we are about ready!

We need to get the people reading – it’s so hard to find books here, most people just don’t bother. Kids have so little access to books they might actually like, they grow up with video games instead.

Do you think I’ll ever get my big book store?

Much to my delight, this humble blog of mine was mentioned on MY96, a local radio station, this morning. I believe that in the last 24 hours this blog has received more attention than it has since its conception, a detail that I am not at all opposed to! Before I get into the meat of the post I simply wanted to thank local DJ Grant Buchanan for that.

I can see why people would think that a city should act like a city and town should act like a town. The higher the population the more work there is to maintain a degree of order. There is a huge difference between the two of course – this is not a point I would ever argue.

However, when people hear the words ‘small town mentality’ I think they can’t help but wince. After all it is a label that is given with nothing less than horror and derision.

Yet other than the stereotype that involves a lack of privacy, what is so terrible about it? Heaven forbid that those in a city would know kindness, consideration, have a low crime rate and a sense of community. I can’t see a single thing wrong with the ability to come together as a group when tragedy strikes. What greater success would there be than a city that manages to maintain some aspects of the small town mentality?

No matter where I move to in this life of mine, big city or small, I hope I never become so jaded as to believe I need to become the kind of person who would be inconsiderate to others simple because they may have inconvenienced me. I am not so naive as to think that all of the 60,000+ people who live in this city are quality individuals, but for the moment I will give each one of them the benefit of the doubt, and treat them with the respect that any human would deserve.

Perhaps it is because I would like to believe in the fundamental goodness of the human race, but I would like to think that this kind of small town opinion would do far more to benefit the residents of a city than it would to harm them.

Viva la CHAIR!

:)

It is Stampede time in the Hat, and with that comes the annual parade that so many families enjoy.
Hatters have been saving their precious spots with lawn chairs for years – it is something of a tradition to many. Of course, as the city grows, so does the number of people who attend this parade.

Local radio DJ Grant Buchanan from MY96 wrote on the station’s Facebook group “there’s no way you should be allowed to leave an unattended lawn chair along the parade route to save your spot. you should have to be there…or you lose your place!”

This was followed up by a flurry of upset people phoning in and leaving angry comments. Some of which included:

“…i think it is rude that ppl leave them there overnight and unattended…i know where im going next year for a new chair :)”
and
“TOTALLY!!! this makes me so mad!! like so what you left a chair there… your chair is gunna be in the street fool”

Now, I’m aware that in the scheme of things this is a pretty small issue, but just humour me on this one.

Let me ask you something Grant– is that really the kind of attitude that you want to incite in the citizens of the Hat? No one touches the chairs that are set up – it is an unspoken rule of conduct during the Stampede. Is your intention to change this? Would you rather that people toss the chairs out into the street, destroying the property of others? Or perhaps we should show a complete lack of regard for our fellow citizens and simply use their chairs.

Sure it is a little irritating when you arrive early and find that there are no spots left because they are all taken by empty chairs. Yet at the same time, this happens every single year – there is no surprise in it at all. So instead of complaining about it, take advantage of the system and put your chairs out the night before as well!

I think it is an amazing thing to live in a city where this is even possible. In most cities the chairs would be stolen or damaged without a second thought. Why encourage a mindset that is so prevalent in other countries?

It sounds like something small, but with that lack of care for your fellow humans, and the ability to control your irritation, comes higher crime rates and acts of violence. I would rather have a terrible view of the parade every year for the remainder of my life than change the attitude of my fellow citizens.

I say put up your chairs for as long as you are able! Let the city be reminded every year that Hatters are capable of being respectful and decent humans. Let the world stare in awe at the chairs that line the streets – untouched. Dare to feel a little dash of pride in your community!

I recently went to my first movie at the Monarch Theatre located in Medicine Hat, Alberta. As a regular movie goer, I am used to the tightly packed, Hollywood-esque, chain theatres that feature multiple big name movies at any given time. I had never before been to a theatre that features only one movie. This rather important detail is explained by the fact that there is only one theatre in the building, something I had not clued into before I went.

I demonstrated my incredible lack of knowledge by specifying exactly what movie I wanted to see, and at what time, when I purchased admission. Imagine my embarrassment when I realized there was only one movie available, and one showing of said movie (of course due to the fact there was only one theatre). I even paused for a moment after paying, waiting for the ticket that you are given at the big theatres. How silly. Of course you don’t need one. In essence you are paying for admission into the building. If you’ve paid, you go into the lobby, if you haven’t, you don’t.

Despite my horrifying realization that I am a person who is far more at home in the modern, busy world of long lines and copious amounts of technology, I enjoyed stepping out of that world, even if only for an hour and a half.

Go to the Monarch Theatre for an experience that is more than your over hyped, mass media, money driven normalcy. So many of us say that we want more than just the mainstream films that we are spoon fed time after time. The Monarch Theatre offers you this with their unique selection that often includes Indie films, Classics and Documentaries. They are the perfect choice for anyone seeking an experience that is out of the norm.

Not only is the popcorn absolutely fantastic, but the high backed chairs that the theatre sports won’t leave you feeling as though you’ve just endured an intense session in a medieval torture chamber.

My personal favourite touch? The lush maroon curtain that shrouds the screen. I felt the thrill of genuine excitement as it pulled back and the movie sprang to life. There is a distinct lack of romance and charm in the modern world, but do not despair, hope is not completely lost. You can relive a slice of the past at Medicine Hat’s very own Monarch Theatre.

-Enjoy-

I did!

Life, this fragile tether to our world – it is everything, and nothing, in the blink of an eye.

We take it for granted. We are here, and firmly held to our place in the world. No one dares to think that it could disappear without warning.

It is a naive view, and yet many think they cannot live otherwise. And so we let time pass, and tell ourselves “I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll be somebody in a year or two.”

Live instead.
Dare to believe in the impossible – in what your eyes cannot see but your heart cannot deny.
Love with everything you have – give your heart, toss aside self doubt and your fears of rejection.
Chase that which you only let yourself dream about in the darkest hours of the night.
Speak your mind so the world can get to know the real you.
Be who you are meant to be everyday, do not wait for some distant point in the future.
Don’t be afraid to laugh or cry, rejoice or mourn. These are the things that make us human, and allow us to live to the full extent of our capabilities.

Remember those that you have lost, who left before their time. Your memory of them, the place they held in this world and the lives they changed are their legacy.

One tiny little droplet of water is rather harmless in itself. A little bit of H and a dash of O. You would think that it would be unable to make much of a difference to anything or anyone.

You would be wrong.

That little droplet of water, if it found itself clinging helplessly to the tip of a sleepy humans nose, could change the course of destiny. Any intake of breath would cause the droplet of water to slip slowly inside the nose, where it would gently caress, and stimulate every nerve ending it came in contact with.

If said sleepy human was mostly unconscious and standing rather precariously in a slippery shower… the results could only be earth shattering.

There is an understandable appeal to the ‘superhero’ super-cult. We all dream of being more than we are, more than just a regular human. The embodiment of that dream attracts the young, the old, the hopeful.

There is a reason why super hero comics are re-fitted and made into movies – why the movies are re cast and tweaked, and shot again. Why, even though we’ve all seen a super hero movie, we’ll still pack into the theaters to see the latest one.

Aside from the fantastic action shots and the attractive actors, there is something else, something that makes such a movie more public friendly.

Some are more well received than others. The stories that are created that parallel reality, where if there were a few minor changes, if people like that really existed – the ones that could be possible. They draw us in the most. Because everyone would love to believe, and the closer to reality the easier believing is.

Of course, the irony is that there are people like that in our world. And technology beyond our imagination is out there. But no one wants to hear about the real life stories happening in their neighborhood. There’s not enough of an escape in it, because no matter how incredible, it is still reality, and still flawed. And there is no guarantee of a happy ending.

But this is life. It is reality. And when the movie is over, it is where you will inevitably return. What too many fail to realize is; in this life sometimes you must be your own superhero.

Spring is the season that brings with it the renewal of life.

It is a fresh start for all creatures.

This detail translates even into our lives as we do spring cleaning, planting, and prepare our homes and families for the year ahead.

Yet we should not be afraid to take it one step further.

Take advantage of the spirit of the season. Forgive transgressions from the year that is gone. Put old grudges behind you. Clean out the cobwebs from your past that are holding you back.

Grab hold of life with both hands.

And live.