I look outside and I see the sun setting over the frost tipped trees of the boreal forest; the land around me covered in a powdered layer of pure white snow. The lights outside are slowly coming on one by one and the world is illuminated again in a sea of various shades of reds,… Continue reading Beer Advent 2016: Old World Countries, New World Beers
On October 14, 2015, I posted my very first blog post (Blogging 101: What's in my head). In all honesty, I had no idea what I was doing then; in truth there are times when I still don't. I simply knew that I wanted the opportunity to write and this website has given me the… Continue reading Season 2: Happy Birthday CJBuzz!
"Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself." For the last three years, I have been blessed to have a best friend in my life I could not imagine a day without. She can be stubborn and irritable when she wants to be, but I know she loves me when, at the end… Continue reading Pit Bull: An Angry Rant
I have been staring at a blank screen on my computer for the better part of an hour now thinking of something clever to write. It's sad, but true. Quite often, I have so many topics of things I would love to write about ready to go; subjects or opinions that I am rather passionate… Continue reading Quiet Does Not Mean Silence
I've been back in Fort McMurray for nearly three weeks now. I had intended on writing sooner but the weight of re-entry into the city has been more taxing on me than I had originally thought possible. The level of devastation I have seen in the aftermath of the fire has been indescribable. Despite my… Continue reading Epilogue: Life Beyond Re-Entry
Far over the boreal forest old From Sturgeon hold past Athabasca road We must away ere break of day To reclaim our long departed home. 33 days. That's how long it has been since we were evacuated from our home. 33 days since fire and smoke engulfed our city. 33 days since we fled not… Continue reading Tales from the North: There and Back Again
We all have those moments when you do something without even realizing it. It was you doing it, and you did the task willingly, but there was a brief disconnect between the conscious and subconscious for whatever reason. For example, you’ve put your car keys somewhere other than where they normally go. You remember having… Continue reading Seemingly Insignificant: Pieces from the Fort McMurray Fire Evacuation
It's been 5 days since we've been forced to evacuate from our homes and our city - 5 very long and hard days. Most of us have been watching the news in horror as more pictures come in from the fires still raging up north and what remains of the fire ravaged neighbourhoods we left… Continue reading Tales from the North: We are the City
I wake up this morning and I realize that I am looking at a completely different world. The room that I wake up in is not mine. The items carefully placed in it are not of my choosing. I continue rubbing my red and stinging eyes as the world around me finally comes into focus.… Continue reading Tales from the North: Exodus
I didn't go to work today. I'll admit it without any hesitation. I'm not sick and I'm not playing hookie, so to speak. I made this decision after spending an evening watching large clouds of thick dark smoke blot out the sun and wild flames engulf acres of trees. I made this decision because of… Continue reading Tales from the North: My World’s on Fire
The CJBuzz 