The Radio Girl

Saturday Drive, July 19th

We hit several Okanagan farmers markets and fruit stands today.  I love fresh produce.  Touching it, smelling it, photographing it.

My fella thinks it's only a matter of time before I get the boot for fondling the fruit.  (Yeah, I can rhyme.  Produce inspires me.)

I also like smelling the garlic heads.  Yugoslavian garlic was $1.

The farmers market was pretty busy.  Okanagan growers were selling fresh corn on the cob, local honey, flower bouquets and homemade birdhouses.

There was also a live auction in the building next door.  We stopped in for a peek, but didn't buy anything.

We don't need any more 'stuff'.

Here's my favorite pic of the day - our neighbour's grandaughter with her big smile and her little watering can.  She posed for a picture then quickly dismissed me. 

She was very busy 'watering the worms'. 

Funny Money Stuff

This is one of the best blogs posts I've read in forever. 

It was written by Tom Bradley, the Big Cheese at Steadyhand - a Vancouver based mutual fund company.  Tom compiled a list of true confessions that he'd like to hear from bankers, CEO's, financial advisors and other important folks in the money biz.

If you have a sense of humour about your finances, this will make you giggle. 

Or at least chuckle, if you're manly.

Smells Like Rain

Sometimes at the end of a really hot Okanagan day, we're graced with a quick and refreshing thunderstorm. 

We didn't get one last night, but around 10pm the wind blew in some interesting clouds.  And if you supersize (click on) the last picture, it looks like you can see the moon in the lower left corner. 

It's not.  It's just a water spot on my camera lense. 

But it looks kinda cool.

Sunday Drive, July 13th

My fella and I went out for lunch yesterday using a gift card I received through one of my freelance gigs.

A free restaurant meal is always a treat, but we both agreed we like campfire food at the lake much better.  We're turning into hillbillies.

On the way home we stopped at the Oyama farmer's market, looking for carrots, peppers and green onions.  Must have been a busy weekend because they were sold out of almost everything, but they did have some cool stuff to look at, like all these old school license plates covering the walls:

The highlight was our late afternoon drive home along the lake.

The sun reflects off the water, showcasing a million different shades of blue and green.  In some spots it looks like the waters of the Carribean.

If you're visiting the Okanagan this week, here's our local forecast from Weather Underground:

	Today Sunny with cloudy periods. UV index 8 or very high.  High 31C(88F).
	Tonight A few clouds. Low 14C(57F).
	Tuesday Sunny with cloudy periods. High 30C(86F).
	Wednesday Sunny. Low 10C(50F). High 27C(81F).
	Thursday A mix of sun and cloud, 30% chance of showers. Low 13C(55F). High 26C(79F).
	Friday A mix of sun and cloud, 40% chance of showers. Low 9C(48F). High 27C(81F).

Veggie Bouquet

My fella and I are engaged. 

We have been since April of last year. 

Or November.  I'm horrible about remembering specific dates, except for our monthly anniversary which is the 24th, the day we met.  That was more than four years ago and we still celebrate every month.

We haven't actually set a wedding date. We'll just get married when the mood strikes us. 

It certainly won't be a big production.  Just a casual deal on a foreign beach with very close friends and family.  And no shoes. 

But it will have to be in a country where I can easily make one of these - a vegetable bouquet. 

If you know me at all, you're aware of my extreme passion for all things 'vegetable'. 

I was thrilled to read this post (and swipe this photo) from an excellent blog, Moose in the Kitchen.  The blogger was recently at a wedding where the brides carried veggie bouquets instead of traditional flowers. 

Here's my favorite quote from her post:

"I haven’t checked, but I do like to think that they went home the next day, dumped their bouquets in a large pot over medium heat, sprinkled in some white pepper, and turned them into a nourishing soup."

Vegetables.

The perfect way to solidify a new beginning. 

Friday Night at Echo Lake

We're going to a BBQ this afternoon so we changed up our weekend routine a bit. 

Instead of hitting the Friday night farmers market, we packed up the cooler and fishing rods and drove out to Echo lake last night.

The water was crystal clear, but tinted green from the surrounding forest.  When we first arrived there were some partiers across the lake, but as soon as they left we could here fish jumping, woodpeckers working and even the lake loons. It was like a nature movie.

My fella brought his new belly boat and joined some other little boats in the water.   Echo Lake is full of fish, unfortunately none of them wanted to come home with us.

The scenery was amazing though, including the drive home at sunset.

If you like exploring Okanagan lakes, rivers and hiking trails, pick up a copy of this BC Backroads Mapbook. 

It's an excellent resource that you can find at most local drug stores and gas stations.

*Sidenote:  Every time I see the sign for Echo Lake, I think of the 80's tune 'Echo Beach' by Martha & the Muffins.  Remember this one?

Home Staging - Is it Worth It?

Most of us have only two goals when trying to sell our home: 

• 1- a hefty profit
• 2- a quick sale 

That's why some Canadians are turning to professional home stagers.  But how much do they charge?  And are they really worth it?

I recently interviewed certified Canadian Staging Professional, Kristin Wohlgemuth.  In this CBC radio piece. Kristin explains what a homestager does and why she believes she can help you sell your home.

*To find a stager near you, log onto the Canadian Staging Professionals website. 

And if you're looking for a pro homestager in BC's North Okanagan Valley, contact Kristin through her website.

Who Pays the Highest Gas Tax?

MSN Finance has an interesting slide show revealing The Most Heavily Taxed Cities to Buy Gas here in Canada.

Check it out.

Summer of '69

After my daily morning walk to the lake, I had the urge to crank up some really good summer music. 

Bryan Adams and Summer of '69, courtesy of YouTube:

Sunny Okanagan Weather

Okanagan weather looks perfect for the rest of the week.

This sunny beach forecast was swiped from the lovely folks at Weather Underground: 

	Today UV index 8 or very high. High 29C(84F).
	Tonight A few clouds. Low 13C(55F).
	Thursday 60% chance of morning showers, clearing late in the day. High 20C(68F).
	Friday Sunny. Low 8C(46F). High 27C(81F).
	Saturday Sunny. Low 10C(50F). High 29C(84F).
	Sunday Sunny. Low 12C(54F). High 32C(90F).

Kitchen Drama

I just finished producing a radio piece on 'home staging'.

Home staging or 'fluffing' is the term used when a professional home stager walks through your home before you sell it, with the goal of making it more appealing to prospective buyers.  It's an interesting concept, but does home staging really work?  Is it worth the cost? 

The audio will be up here by Friday.

But on the topic of staging, I may have mentioned in a previous post that I like setting up (staging) vegetable photos.  I know it sounds strange.  It IS strange. 

Last night after peeling carrots, I decided to take a picture of the kitchen scene. 

As I was 'staging' the carrot peels, someone called my cell phone, which began to vibrate. 

It was on the kitchen counter tucked under a piece of tin foil, which also started vibrating and rattling across the counter.  Since I didn't hear the phone ring, I assumed the piece of tin foil was shaking because there was a mouse hiding under it. 

I'm a woman.  This is how I think.

Immediately beginning to panic, I dropped a roll of paper towels. 

On a candle.  Because the best way to peel carrots is by candlelight.

I could go on to tell you about the cute firemen that showed up to hose off my paper towel roll, but then this story would turn into fiction. 

There were no firemen.  There wasn't even enough flame action to set off the smoke detector.  But it was the still the most excitement our kitchen has seen in a while. 

And now you know how much prep work (staging) goes into my photos.

*Sidenote for my witty bloggin' buddy Oklahoma Don:  Feel free to swipe as many veggie shots as you need - I have a LOT more where these came from!

Google Search

Lately I've noticed that internet surfers are finding my blog via some very odd Google searches.

You're probably computer savvy about search engines - but if not, here's an example:  If you're traveling to Mazatlan and you're interested in going deep sea fishing, you might log onto Google and type in the words "Mazatlan  deep  sea  fishing  charter". 

That's a Google search.

Here are some of the search words and phrases that have led people to my website in the past two weeks:

• girl in pool Nickelback rockstar
• driving past Mexico free zone
• hardcore choppers
• airline cacahuates
• Arizona properties for Canadians
• radio Guayabitos
• propane hotplate Kelowna
• cacahuates crunchy shell
• Puerto Vallarta Walmart
• girls bad gas
• how much did Kendra Wilkinson earn in 2007
• drivemex.com
• buying property in the US
• Alberta car registration living in Mexico
• the Canadian Snowbird book
• what is there to do for young snowbirds in Arizona
• tomato salmonella
• Lukeville border crossing stats
• cost of living in Mexican village
• arf meow
• rincon del cielo Nuevo Vallarta
• yes you can retire on 24000 a year
• what kind of car does Bridget Marquardt drive

*Sidenote: I left out the nasty searches.  Here's me playing the naive card, but I cannot believe what some people are trying to find on the internet.

And how in tarnation do those creepy searches lead to my site?  Ick.

Mexicano Mercados

Yesterday I posted about the Friday night farmer's market we try visit every week here in our little Okanagan beach town. 

The pictures got me thinking about the great markets (mercados) in Mexico, that we used to shop at almost every day.  They offered everything from souvenirs to fresh produce, nuts, fish, homemade desserts, hats, pottery, art and dvd's.  And everything was roughly 1/3 of the price we pay in Canada, especially fresh fruits and veggies.

Can't wait 'til December when we can go back!

Friday Night Farmer's Market

My fella and I usually kick off the weekend with a Friday night trip to the Walmart farmers market. 

The market used to be held downtown but local shopkeepers complained that all the customers were blocking the streets (which I thought was a good thing since it drew lots of people downtown - go figure.) 

Anyway, the smart marketing folks at Walmart offered up a section of their parking lot for the Friday night market and now it's bigger and better than ever.

My fella met me there tonight after he finished work. 

I took my usual path, walking along the railway tracks by the golf course.  And I kept my streak alive, finding 2 forgotten golf balls hiding in the grass.

Cutting through our local park, I got a pic of the huge landscape clock which is roughly 25 feet in diameter.  And there's a new addition to the neighborhood - this shiny white blimp, flying high in the sky over a local car wash.

The farmers market was slow tonight compared to last week.

But there was lots of fresh produce to choose from...

We had to skip the bulk smokies tonight - no turkey or chicken ones available.  But my fella got another treat - a homemade strawberry/rhubarb pie.  (He has to get one somewhere cause it certainly won't be coming out of our kitchen!)   

And after cruising the market, we slipped into Walmart for a few minutes while I got my treat for the week... a new can of tennis balls.

Bring on the weekend! 

Florida Mom For Sale

Have you heard about this? A 42 year old single mom from Florida is trying to sell her house and herself on eBay and Craigslist.

Here's the full story.

Hockey Fans Sing Oh Canada

I love this YouTube video. 

I'm not from Edmonton, but I still get chills watching it...

Have a wonderful Canada Day!

Okanagan Weather

It was 39C in the Okanagan yesterday afternoon, 43C when you factor in humidity.

Our weekend was a mix of tennis, BBQ's and a very productive farmers market/fruit stand search.  We found some good local markets with tables of fresh fruit and veggies, and my fella was happy to spot this homemade jam/pickle stand.

Surprisingly, the local beaches were all pretty quiet.

Perhaps this shark had something to do with it ...

If you're heading to the Okanagan Valley this week, here's our local forecast from the folks over at Weather Underground:

• 	Today Sunny with cloudy periods. 30 percent chance of showers late this afternoon. High 37C(99F). UV index 8 or very high.
  	Tonight Cloudy periods. 30 percent chance of showers early this evening. Low 20C(68F).
  	Tuesday Increasing cloudiness. 60 percent chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. High 31C(88F).
  	Wednesday Sunny. Low 16C(61F). High 31C(88F).
  	Thursday Sunny. Low 14C(57F). High 31C(88F).
  	Friday A mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers. Low 14C(57F). High 26C(79F).

Whose Line Is It Anyway with Richard Simmons

We fell asleep early last night and by 3 o'clock this morning I was wide awake.

So I logged onto YouTube and found these old clips from the tv show "Whose Line Is It Anyway".  This scene, with special guest Richard Simmons, had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.

Friday Home Office

Quick post today.  I have a lot of errands to run and because I walk everywhere, it will take a few hours as opposed to the 30 minutes it would take by car. 

Errands and a workout all in one.

I've been researching my latest CBC radio piece this morning and I wanted to show you my home office. 

Every morning when the weather is nice, I set up shop out on our backyard deck by the creek.

Here's my desk. 

Not much on it except a hunk of fresh garlic we just got from a neighbour.

This is where I cool my shoes from the hot Okanagan sun.  And here's a shot of my visitors chair - although I have to admit, I don't get a lot of guests during the day. 

I do have some noisy co-workers over in the next cubicle. 

They seem very friendly but I wish they'd stop pooping on my office floor.

US Airlines in Big Trouble

Many frequent flyers feel that air travel has deteriorated. 

And last month, most of the US airlines started charging passengers an extra $15 for the first bag they checked as luggage.  There has long been a charge for your second checked bag, but the first one used to be free.  Jim Jubak from MSN Money recently offered an excellent explanation behind this new airline fee. 

(*Sidenote:  I really like Jim Jubak.  Not in an "I have an infatuation with an older man" way.  More in a "what a great explainer he is for simple minds like mine" kinda way.) 

Anyway, if you were wondering why the airline industry is falling apart, Jubak nails it in this four minute video.  Just click on his picture to play it.

We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulty

My computer crashed late Sunday night.

Given a choice, I'd donate my left thumb to research ... or eat all the bugs on Fear Factor, rather than be without my laptop.

Early Monday morning I was the first anxious customer waiting outside Geeks Are Us or Geeks for Hire,  whatever the computer repair shop is called.  Within a few hours they diagnosed the problem:  my hard drive was fried.  But for $225, they could replace it and re-install all my data, including my audio and radio interviews.

I am laptop dependent - my whole life is in that little rectangular box:  bank accounts, investments, taxes, current radio projects, business accounting software, contact info, music, videos, a book draft, my photos, Spanish homework, passwords, etc. etc.

The only info I've actually saved onto a back-up disc are my radio projects. 

After rightfully scolding me for 'not practicing safe computing', the computer Geek fella admitted that only 10% of his customers back up their important files.  Most of these folks work from home and, like me, the footprint of their entire life is locked away inside their PC.  I'm a big dummy, but somehow I feel better not being the only dummy.

I'm grateful that the brilliant Geeks can recover all my data.  And of course I've learned a valuable lesson.

BACK UP MY FILES.

I sure miss my computer.

First Summer Weekend

Back to our regular weekend routine.

We followed a quiet BC forestry road up the mountain to find a new fishing lake. 

Driving higher and higher up into the mountain we saw the usual wildlife - gophers, squirrels, chipmunks and hawks.

We certainly didn't expect to see these cows hanging out on the side of the mountain.  I've always thought of cows as slow and plodding, but these two were very sure footed.  The landscape was rocky, lots of jagged edges and steep drops, but these two were navigating like mountain goats.

Following this 'Fish' sign, we ended up at a quiet campsite on Dee Lake.

A quick rainstorm howled through the area after we started the campfire, but my fella had his golf umbrella in the car.  Within 20 minutes the sun was out again. 

If you like being outdoors, the Okanagan Valley is like one giant playground in the summer time.  But bring enough gas money - it's $1.40/litre here.

Bad Gas

I hear everyone complaining about the price of gas and up until now I haven't joined the herd. 

I'm not better than the herd, just more clueless, because I walk or ride my bike everywhere.  But everything changed yesterday when it cost $64.56 to fill up my little chevy cavalier. 

The last time my gas gauge hit empty and I had to completely filled up the tank, I paid about $45 dollars - or more accurately, 455 Mexican pesos.  My last complete fill up was back in February when we were driving through Topolobampo, Mexico on our way home from Guayabitos. 

Since then, I've topped up here and there but never went below half a tank. 

And now it's $20 more to fill up my little chevy.  That's quite the price hike.  No wonder people are using credit cards to pay for their gas. 

You can still find the lowest (HIGH) priced gas near you, by logging onto Gas Buddy.   Or you can cheap out like I do and walk.

Random Rant

I read an excellent online post yesterday from LA Times money blogger, Tom Petruno.

Long story short - Petruno showcased a report that stated many mutual fund managers DO NOT INVEST IN THEIR OWN FUNDS.

"Chances are your mutual fund manager doesn't eat his own cooking.  A new report from Morningstar Inc. looks at fund managers’ personal holdings of the funds they run, and concludes: "The number of managers showing no faith in their process is staggering."

In other words, relatively few managers invest alongside their shareholders. Too often, a fund may be good enough for you, but not for a penny of your manager’s own money."

But the fund manager is allegedly the 'expert'.  If the expert doesn't have confidence or see value in their own fund, how can they expect others to invest? 

It's like sitting down at your favorite restaurant and overhearing the head chef say, "Are you joking?  I wouldn't eat this slop in a bazillion years!"

You can read Petruno's entire post here.