Wasting Time

I grew up in a slightly different era, especially when it comes to things like media. Back in the day, it was newspaper, radio and a t.v. with just one or two channels (imagine!). My father used to call the television "the idiot box" and us kids were only allowed to watch a few, select programs each week, not that there were a lot to choose from anyway.
We were outside all the time, playing with all the other kids who were also outside. In fact, you could hardly get us indoors and my mother used to call me multiple times to come in for the night, then flick the porch light on and off when I didn't listen, then, horror, ring the bell. The latter was a souvenir from our travels through Europe and embarrassed me to no end when she rang it, so needless to say her tactic worked! haha!
After leaving home and well into the first years of my marriage many years down the road, I/we never even owned a television. In fact, in an ironic twist, my parents bought us our first t.v. after our son was born in 1985, saying it would deprive him somehow if we didn't let him watch it when he was old enough to do so.
Nowadays, I could easily revert back to a no t.v. household. However, since we do love to watch movies, and they are so accessible through NetFlix and our cable provider, it looks like the 'idiot box' is here to stay. haha!

Time keeps on slipping...

Today's Amusement

ARE YOU A GENIUS? SET YOUR TIMER AND SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO FIND YOUR NAME IN THE WORD PUZZLE BELOW. 

Fort Mac Fires: 10 DaysTo Reflect

Ten days after Fort McMurray went through the trauma of the biggest wildfire in Alberta's history, (maybe Canada's too) things have settled just a little. A mass evacuation occurred after wind direction changed and swept the fire into the city, which ended up destroying 2400 structures, most of them homes. Fortunately, the only loss of life happened in a traffic accident involving an evacuee, well away from the city. Still tragic but considering what could have occurred, things went well.
On that note, I read an interesting commentary on why the residents of city were able to all get out safely and it wasn't attributed to luck of any sort. The commentator felt that the fact that so many people who live in that community are well trained in safety and emergency procedures due to their work in the oil and gas industry. I can't argue too much with that statement but regardless of why, no human loss of life is an amazing story, especially when you see photos of the what happened.
Yes, a lot of devastation and much trauma to those who were forced to flee, lost homes, or are displaced for an indefinite amount of time. But, as difficult as this has been, and will continue to be, we should all be thankful that everyone made it out alive.
It's been great to see the response of not just Albertans but the entire country as well, pitching in to help out, with cash donations to the Red Cross, opening their homes to those displaced, helping stranded motorists, doing whatever they can to comfort and support the victims of this fire they call "The Beast". In the face of such trauma and strife, it restores your faith in mankind to do right and work together to help their fellow man!

People still didn't panic, even under these harrowing circumstances

Firefighters had to make tough choices about abandoning lost causes and focusing on what could be saved.

The fire was so large it was creating it's own micro-climate and weather conditions

Water bombers spread fire retardant in order to give time for ground crews to do their work

Many citizens pitched in to help those who ran out of gas and had no supplies of any kind, such as water.

Temporary accommodations set up in Lac La Biche for evacuees

Fire crews couldn't save certain areas where the fire was out of control

Some homes were spared, while those across the street burned

Cocktails For Cancer

Carnival Cocktails For Cancer is a fundraiser for the Alberta Cancer Foundation which was held last week, and the subject of a post never completed due to circumstances at work. But, better late than never and just looking at the photos and recollections of the evening puts a smile on my face. It was a fun evening, with some great people and some great businesses, all the while bringin up memories of a one of a kind lady. 

Organized by Jesse Willis of Proof and his beau, Laura Dunnigan, the event was a fundraiser put together in honour of Laura's stepmother, Jennifer Gardiner, or Jen Unplugged as she is affectionately known by many. Jen died recently of colorectal cancer and  was a real fighter to the end. She also wanted to raise awareness of the disease and bravely bared herself in a documentary that showed what's involved in dealing with this nastiness.

The swanky side of the Carnival :)

I was looking for Waldo.

The Green Fools helped create the mood

This was a cute carny styled bartender

These bartenders bared all at the Peep Show! haha1

Judging by the scar on her neck, this magician needs to work on his saw trick 

Proof didn't just act as host but also fired up their own signature cocktail!

Jesse Willis with a spokesperson from The Cancer Foundation representative

The Dancer

This must be The Kit Kat Club

Guests were also dressed teh part

The strongman also mixed a strong drink

The bearded Lady told us our fortunes 

I don't even want to know what was going on here!! haha

International Female Ride Day with Ride Stop n Go

Wow, we've been busy at work, now that motorcycle season is revving up. We're down a person in the office and the Ft. McMurray fires are a top priority, as we look after our valued clients who have been so adversely affected by the fire.

However, it was International Female Ride Day on Saturday and BlueCircle's very own Angela Murray, also with Ride Stop n Go, had been organizing a ride for well over a month. She felt that the ride should go as planned and that all proceeds from the event would be donated to the Red Cross, who are doing all the disaster relief up in Ft. Mac..

To start out the day, BlueCircle was pleased to host a light breakfast, as we have lots of room to muster a large crew and park bikes on our street and parking lot. We were pleased to serve up the only coffee we start our day with, Saigon Dark Roast, donated by our local roasterie, Fratello Coffee Roasters, plus a fantastic array of delicious scones donated by our friends over at Cob's Bakery In Willowpark.

As usual, Ang and Ride Stop n Go are like magnets to those in the riding community and about 80 ladies showed up, on everything from cruisers to adventure bikes, with a couple of trikes and Spyders thrown in to the mix. 

Unlike last years' ride which gave us the full gamut of snow, hail, rain, wind and icy patches on the road, this year saw beautiful , sunny weather and the ride went smoothly. Everyone ended up back at Cycleworks Calgary for a wrap up BBQ and some door prizes, and a total of $815 was raised. Not only that, but Cycleworks Calgary matched the pot, as did  and so did Yvonne Walsh on behalf of Teck. We all know that the provincial and federal governments are also matching donations, so an amazing event that was meant to celebrate and empower women also raised the equivalent of $7335.00 to help out our friends and neighbours in Fort McMurray. Way to go Ang!!

Who wouldn't buy a ticket from these smiling faces?

One 'rebel' parked 'inside' the perimeter!! haha!

The bikes are lining up

Cool paint on this ride

Troy, from Ride Stop n Go, was thinking he might just wear the apron and nothing else! Woohoo!

The street is filling up!

This lady rider was sporting some nice Italian leather saddlebags and matching seat on her triumph

The Blue Circle Tower, all two stories :) 

Ang gives the details of the ride.

The startup group at BlueCircle consisted of of 64 ladies, met on the road by a contingent of gals from Red Deer and area

Kick stands are going up.

International Female Ride Day 2016

International Female Ride Day is just what it says it is, a worldwide event that celebrates women who love motorcycles and going for a ride. 

It's been going on for quite some time now and building with each year. There are plenty of people and groups involved in making it such a great occasion, with Motoress being a great example.

Not only do they have a lot of exceptional content on the Motoress website but they've applied their creative talents to developing a cool logo that's free to use by any person or organization who has good intentions and wishes to help promote this special day.

Thank you Motoress for sharing your artwork :)

If you happened to read my post on January 20th 2016, I had talked about my observations regarding the ever increasing number of women who love motorcycles and want to ride their own. Naturally, there have always been some daring gals who bucked the trend and rode motorcycles way back when it was considering unladylike. My own Mum rode a scooter in her nursing days back in the U.K. during the war. And, back in the 70's, my then girlfriend had her own bike, a purple Yamaha 750.

If you have ever travelled in India, China and other parts of Asia you soon realize that millions upon millions of people ride scooters and motorcycles since they're the easiest and cheapest way to get around. And, of course, lots of women in those countries ride too.

Where in the world...?

This young lady from Pakistan did a solo tour of her country, pictured here at the Pakistan- China border. Might not seem like much to the western world but a little rare in that country for a young woman to go off on her own on a motorcycle.

We are helping celebrate IFRD here at BlueCircle, with our very own Angela Murray ( also of Ride Stop n Go)  organizing and leading a ride from Calgary and heading east toward the Drumheller region and back. 

The ladies are riding on their own of course, but since they are meeting here at Blue Circle, we'll help out by getting them warmed up with coffee from our local roasterie, Fratello Coffee Roasters, and filled up with a bit of breakfast nosh from our pals over at Cob's in Willowpark.

The ride stops at Top Rocker for lunch  then back to Cycleworks Calgary, where there will be more food, beverages, and some great giveaways which Ang has lined up from some of the great people who wanted to support the ride.

Just like last year's ride, this is a rain or shine event, and in case anyone ever wants to suggest that the ladies aren't for real, there was a solid group of about 25 riders who rolled on through rain, snow, sleet and wind at the 2015 event.Way to go gals!!

The Calgary contingent of the 2015 IFRD, with another group from Red Deer joining in at the north end of the ride

Part of the group of riders at the 2015 IFRD event

Cruisin'

The ladies like the Sport Bike

Evidently, these women are sticking with Indian tradition and riding Royal Enfield motorcycles