THE STEW Magazine 02-12

February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 1

ISSUE 3.2 | FEBRUARY 2012 | FREE

Inside:

the Polyamory issue

Love outside the box Pages 4-5 Family friendly theatre production Page 8 Williams Lake author Verena Berger Page 13

PAGE 2 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

Other famous polyamorists: Albert Camus, French philosopher and novelist; Havelock Ellis, psychologist; Nina Hartley, American pornographic actress / director and sex educator.

Famous polyamorists, then and now

On the Cover: Man, do these three make polyamory look good.

Of course it’s not all good times and hanging out in a stairwell with a glass of wine, at least not all the time.

We struggled with a few different themes for our second February issue, trying to keep it somewhat focused on romance.

The idea of looking into the polyamory lifestyle seemed like a good way to write about love and loving while also looking at something maybe not a lot of people know or even talk about, maybe even something a little bit controversial. We sort of like that kind of thing around here.

Polyamory; open marriage; swinging; all are alternate lifestyles that may not be for everyone, but for those who have chosen to pursue them, they wouldn’t live life any other way.

While most of the time discussion of such topics is avoided or kept behind closed doors, there are occasionally those who step out into the spotlight, proud of the lifestyle that they’ve chosen.

And you might -- or might not -- be surprised to find out who some of these people have been.

Charlie Sheen: Mr. Sheen was in the news last year thanks to a lengthy and very public contract dispute with his former employer over which resulted in his removal from the hit sitcom Two And A Half Men. What you also might remember from Mr. Sheen’s many, many, many public appearances during this period were the discussions of his “Goddesses” — the two women who shared his home and his life, graphic designer Natalie Kenly and porn star Rachel Oberline. They both left him later that same year, though that was likely a result of the constant media scrutiny, and not a failing of polyamory as a concept.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

FEMINIST PIONEER  A recently discovered letter seems to indicate that Amelia Earhart may have supported being in an open marriage.

Hugh Hefner: The founder of Playboy magazine unsurprisingly has a long history of romancing multiple women at the same time. Even into his 80s, Hefner could be found dating as many as seven women at once. This lifestyle inspired the creation of the television show The Girls Next Door, which featured Hefner’s romantic

relationship with three different women.

Will Smith: Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett have been fairly comfortable talking about their open marriage, saying on an episode of Oprah (because, where else?): “Our perspective is, you don’t avoid what’s natural. You’re going to be attracted to people.

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all others.’ The vow that we made was that you will never hear that I did something after the fact. If it came down to it, then one spouse can say to the other, ‘Look, I need to have sex with somebody. I’m not going to if you don’t approve of it - but please approve of it.’”

Amelia Earhart: They sure didn’t talk about it openly at the

time, but a recently discovered letter between Earhart and her husband George Putnam seems to indicate she supported the idea of living in an open marriage. From the letter: “I shall not hold you to any midaevil [sic] code of faithfulness to me, nor shall I consider myself bound to you similarly. If we can be honest I think the difficulties which arise may best be avoided should you or I become interested deeply (or in passing) in anyone else.”

Ms. Earhart was certainly an early feminist, but it looks like her liberal ideas may have extended even further than we could have imagined.

Jean Paul Sartre: Noted existential philospher may have enjoyed the benefits of an open marriage more than his wife Simone de Beauvoir, but their relationship lasted 50 years, a considerable feat in any age, and of any lifestyle.

Even more impressive was their choice to undertake this lifestyle in 1929, when such things were simply not done.

Whether the relationship brought them happiness or not, they should be commended for their bravery at forging what must have seemed like an entirely new, never-before-seen path.

February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 3

Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 20 pgs Servings Per Container 1 Amount Per Serving

Calories 0 % Daily Value* Blood, sweat, and tears Mostly just sweat and tears, It’s that season again when Todd joined up with the Fitness Challenge Read more about it at thestew.ca A little older, a little wiser Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but Juli turned forty last month.

Love oustide the box Pages 4-5

Women & Wellness Page 7

Ingredients (or things that helped us get through the last month): Fuzzy sweaters; birthday cake; mimosas; warm socks; learning that the baby prefers the laundry bucket to the playpen; storytime with baby before bed; books by Dr. Seuss; cocoa in instant coffee; winning a new kitchen sink! (thanks 3Gen, we actually needed that); pizza from the new pizza joint; delving into old show tunes; a new batch of orange wheat beer (oh yeah, tastes like spring); early morning birthday surprises; getting back into acting with the Studio Theatre; lots and lots of Kleenex and DM cough medicine; warm blankets on the sofa; Vicks Vaporub; hot showers followed by Vicks Vaporub; Halls cough candy; more Vicks; mint tea; recycled paint; painting the living room a brand new colour which is much warmer than what we used to have; saving money by purchasing ice cream by the 20L jug; trying not to eat ice cream every single night just because we have a 20L jug; feeling the first warm hints of spring in the air; wondering how long it will be before we can remove the snow tires;

Family-friendly theatre Page 7

Poetry by Lorne Dufour Page 12

Local author Verena Berger Page 13

What to do in the Cariboo Pages 10-11 Make death wait.

Get healthy.

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PAGE 4 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

Different studies have placed the percentage of poly relationships at anywhere between 1% and 9% in North America

LOVE OUTSIDE THE BOX

BY JULI HARLAND THE STEW MAGAZINE

Polyamory: from the Greek word poly, meaning many or several, and the Latin word amor, meaning love, is the practice, desire, or acceptance of having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved.

It has been the focus of recent Canadian policy makers. It is commonly lumped in with discussions of the Bountiful, BC court hearings. Some say that polyamorists are nothing but a bunch of hedonistic swingers and nymphomaniacs, and others call it nothing but a degrading sin against nature.

To those in the practise and their supporters, it is just one other way of expressing love and relationship in our diverse world.

And we do love diversity over here at The Stew.

We spoke to a couple of women who have been not only living the poly lifestyle but have started or volunteered with support networks and social groups for others who walk the same path.

To Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association volunteer June (not her real name), polyamory is: “Being open to and having multiple loving relationships. Romantic ones, because we all have multiple loving relationships with family and friends.”

To Victoria poly group founder, Zoe Duff, polyamory is: “Having the expectation of honest communication and the realization that people are multi-faceted and no one person is going to meet all my needs. And I wouldn’t expect

that I would be able to be the only person to meet a partner’s needs either. And there’s a freedom to explore the buffet that is life. All the experiences, including relationships, and that people that you form relationships with bring such intenstity to the fabric of your life that it’s a joy to be able to experience multiple situations, and do it honestly and openly and with understanding and compassion.”

What it isn’t is a big sex-focused orgy full of wanton depravity.

Unless, of course, that is what all partners are in favour of. But that’s the exception rather than the rule.

Typically, a poly lifestyle looks just like any other. Except there are, perhaps, more people

involved.

“Polyamorous families volunteer in their communities, they help in school programs, they help take their kids to school, they help with homework, they deal with the same things as other families,” says June. “They struggle with having enough time to spend with their families, make money, have a job.

It really doesn’t look very different than a monogamous relationship just that there’s one more person in it.”

For Duff, the lifestyle was one that she had been searching for since before she knew what it even was.

About twelve years ago she had fled to BC to escape an abusive

monogamous relationship with her six children in tow. With kids in school and a limited social circle Duff sought connections online through Yahoo Personals.

At the time the dating site was monitored by zip code. Plunking in the popular 90210 code, Duff was connected to a number of people from the L.A. area who were talking about this ‘poly’ lifestyle. She had never even heard the term before.

“The more I sort of surfed and read up on it, I thought, you know, I’ve been poly my whole life, I just didn’t know you called it that,” Duff recalls. “I thought I just did really badly at monogamy. When I was in monogamous situations I

was devoted to that situation and I did all the textbook stuff, but it was just really not fulfilling and I didn’t like the concept that people have to cheat and sneak around on each other. It was usually the guy, my other partner, that was sneaking around. I would think, why didn’t you just tell me that? I was always wanting that level of honesty, and I wasn’t really concerned with jealousy or anything like that. It was that he didn’t tell me stuff.

“So when I started reading up on polyamory stuff, it was like, I’ve been wanting this my whole life, this is very cool. And there’s a word for it, and wow!”

After searching for others who thought the same way a little closer to home, Duff found the closest group was across the water in Vancouver. Not to be deterred, Duff quickly put the word out and started a poly group, herself, in Victoria.

That was 11 years ago. She still attends the regular gatherings to this day. “We’re social people, we want to find people who think the same. It’s a natural flow.”

For June, the change in lifestyle came as more of an evolution than a sudden realization.

“Many years ago, for myself, the motivation was, I was in a very long term monogamous relationship,” June explains. “I wanted to explore in other realms, other romantic and physical relationships, and it felt like a really good growth opportunity. I approached it with my husband and he was very open to the idea and we thought it would be really great if he were to also be open to other romantic relationships.

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February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 5

There is an unconfirmed rumor that Brad and Angelina are poly; or it could just be the wanton fantasies of half of North America.

Either way, it is fun to think about.

“So we went to the polyamory community and felt it was really open.We didn’t get into the swinging community, though that is certainly an option, but [for us it was] about opening to other options and possibilities.

“For some people it is an essential part of who they are, and they’ve identified it early in their lives, and for others it sort of comes up in mid-life, and it would be nice to explore other aspects of your sexuality and relationships.

For us it was the latter.”

For June and her husband, there is their main relationship, and then both have dating partners outside of the home.

“There is nothing unethical about having a relationship with more than one person, as long as everyone is open and honest,” says June.

In Duff ’s house, the scenario looks a little different. Duff lives with both of her long-term partners, Jayson (whom she has been partnered with for 11 years) and Danny (together for over three years) who all share the same room. Though they all share space, the sexual aspect of the triad is all heterosexual, as is the orientation

of both of the men involved. Date nights are scheduled, though sex is not expected or planned, and romance and sex are both spontaneous and organic in nature.

Duff ’s youngest child also shares the home with the triad.

Her other five children have all grown and moved out on their own, though Duff says they do get together regularly and they all are well aware of and support her lifestyle choices.

“They know of my philosophy,” she explains, ”and as they age, you tell kids what is appropriate to them at the time. And so they’re all cool with the concept. They remember the last attempt at monogamy, and they are quite happy that after being a battered wife, that I am loved and supported by two men who worship the ground I walk on. They’re just wonderful, they treat me like a queen.

“My daughter says that she thinks of it as having two stepdads, and they are both wonderful.

She just loves how they are with me, that they take such good care of me. And they both interact differently with my kids. My one partner has daughters, so I have two step-daughters. There are

eight kids all together, and so he is better with girls. My other partner is a gamer, so he gets on better, really well, with the boys. So the kids have two dad types that they can go to, depending on what they need or which one they feel more comfortable with, but they are on good terms with both of them.”

But as warm and fuzzy as the women make it sound, it is not all fun and games and sexy outings.

A big downside, according to both women, is how other people may view you.

“I would say that everyone is very conscious that it is not mainstream, and even though it is increasing in popularity as a choice, it is very clear that it is outside the monogamy norm,” says June. “It is not a topic that you raise at business and at work, though it is nice to be able to be open.

“Not everyone has felt safe in disclosing themselves to their friends and coworkers and such.”

Duff, who has had a feature story about her and her unique family appear in the Victoria Times Colonist which was later picked up by the Vancouver Sun and the Province newspapers as well, says that people can get quite

rude.

“Some people don’t want to be our friends. Some people who are family don’t want to have contact anymore. I had a problem at work because it was too public for my boss so I took a lateral transfer to another department and my manager, now, is quite supportive,” she says.

“Some people would come right out and say to you: ‘Do you really need to put in the paper that you’re a slut?’ and make comments like that. But mostly it’s just been people don’t want to be around you and you don’t quite know why.”

And then there are the more practical issues that come along with the lifestyle. First of which is simply finding others who not only share your views, but who you mesh with.

“It’s bad enough trying to get a man and a woman,” muses Duff, “or two people with personalities that mesh, but then the more people involved the less meshing that is going on here. It’s hard to fit that.”

Other things like allocation of health benefits, housing concerns, job security, and even simply orga-

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MAGAZINE

nization are all aspects of the poly lifestyle which can be a challenge to anyone in it.

Jealousy is also something which can rear its ugly head on occasion.

“It is a big topic in the community, and it is about communicating,” says June. “Your partner and you agree on ways for you to do things to help with those emotions.”

Duff puts it like this: “[Jealousy] comes up, we’re only human. But we talk about it. You say, ‘Hmm, I didn’t really like that, it’s tweaking me, let’s talk about why that makes me feel uncomfortable.’ And they’ll do the same with me. You have to also be open with yourself.

You have to be able to look inside yourself too.”

And it was looking inside themselves which led these women into the fulfilling lifestyles that they now lead. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

These women are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.

They are just the same as the rest of us, they just happen to have a little more love to go around. juli@thestew.ca

PAGE 6 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

Love is a unique experience that we all share

BY TODD SULLIVAN THE STEW MAGAZINE

As we enter into February, love is in the air. Or is that just the first hints of spring? Or is there perhaps little difference between the two?

The experience of love, I think, is something that unites us all together as people.

Each and every one of us has loved someone, and each and every one of us has been loved by someone. Even if it was only a parent or a child, a cat or a dog, every one of us has experienced this feeling.

And yet love is as perfectly unique and

individual an experience as you can imagine.

While we can all agree that we’ve experienced love, we can’t necessarily say that what I feel as love is the same thing as what you feel as love.

Love is hard to quantify.

You can’t measure it.

You can’t put it under a microscope. You can’t squeeze it between your fingers or taste it or build a castle out of it or shoot it into space and see what happens to it in zero gravity.

We can pretty much all agree that we’ve felt it. But what we’ve felt... who knows. Poets and painters and songwriters have been trying for years to explain this

crazy feeling. Obviously there’s still work to be done in that field, because there never seems to be any shortage of poets and painters and songwriters.

And as much as the actual experience of love can vary from person to person, so too can who we love and how we love them. What I feel is unique to me, but so is how I feel it, and how I choose to express that feeling.

I would say that I’ve never been a very good romantic. I wouldn’t say that I’m not romantic, because that’s not entirely true. There is a part of me that’s quite romantic, but I have

difficulty in expressing that side, in letting that side out. I wish I had an easier time tapping into that. Maybe I’ll get there one day.

To me the best love stories aren’t necessarily the ones with the happy endings. Sometimes love stories don’t end happily. Sometimes you burn bright and then you burn out. Sometimes love is a struggle.

Sometimes it’s made up of blood and sweat and tears instead of romantic picnics and makeout sessions.

Those are the sort of love stories I appreciate.

The ones that show the struggle. The ones that are real. Those are the

stories I relate to. Maybe it’s because the struggle makes the eventual victory that much sweeter.

Or maybe it’s just because I recognize the struggle in my own life.

I’m not really one to say how or who or even why someone should love someone else. We’re all here for a fairly short visit to this world, and I think while we’re here, we all pretty much want the same thing: to be happy. And I think the fewer barricades we can put up between people and their happiness the better.

That’s what love means to me. todd@thestew.ca

SPEAK

Call or Fax us: (778) 412-2600 Email us: letters@thestew.ca Find us on the web at http://www.thestew.ca or Friend us on Facebook!

Love is many things, but it’s never cruel

BY JULI HARLAND THE STEW MAGAZINE

Rules of loving; as given from the big guy upstairs Love is patient. Patient means capable; willing to endure. It is synonymous with accommodating, tolerant, understanding and forgiving.

Love is kind. The definition of kind is generous and good. It is also known as altruistic, lenient, and compassionate.

It does not envy. That means that love doesn’t

get jealous. There is no rivalry, resentment or backbiting.

It does not boast. That means that love is not to be used as a source of unreasonable pride.

There is no room for “My love is better than your love.”

It is not proud. There is no arrogance in love.

One can not get high and mighty in the name of love, it just doesn’t work.

It is not rude; which means it is not abusive, it does not exhibit unkind behaviour or words.

It is not self-seeking; meaning it does not think only of itself.

There is no greed or narrow-mindedness in love.

It keeps no record of wrongs. Which means that it lives in the present.

Love does not delight in evil; which means that there is no pleasure in the misdeeds of others.

But it rejoices with the truth. In honesty and well-being there is happiness and joy to be shared with others.

It always protects, always trusts, always

hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

This is taken right out of the New International Version Bible. If God, himself has told his people to love freely and with compassion and tolerance, without pride or unkind words, why do so many people take up arms against those who are different from themselves in the name of the one who said, quite simply, that love never fails?

No matter how much people may oppose ‘outside the box’ relationships: lesbians,

gays, transgenders, polyamorists … all the huffing and puffing in the world isn’t going to stop the fact that they all feel love, share love, and some of them are much closer to the god-given rules than those who rebel against them. When the only crime that is being committed is that we don’t agree with who someone sleeps with, perhaps we should remove the plank out of our own eye before we start pointing at the sliver in our brothers’. juli@thestew.ca

February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 7

Question of the Month

Working to remove the stigma from mental illness is an important struggle.

Too many don’t get the help they need.

Women & Wellness:The Early Days Editor: ‘Women & Wellness’ arose out of a snowstorm and a family’s loss.

The January 2001 snowstorm meant Helen MacDonnell could not get out for a break. Instead, she hit upon the idea of a January party — wine, women, and treats.

She invited 20 friends, had a blast, and repeated it in 2002.

There would be no party in January 2003. Helen’s brother Duncan died by suicide that month.

She realized — too late — that he suffered from bi-polar disorder, something she knew little about.

Therefore, she began her journey to understand mental health disorders better. She was astounded to learn how common mental illnesses are and how stigma and lack of awareness prevents sufferers from receiving help.

In January 2004, the first ‘Women & Wellness’ was held at Helen’s Riverview, New Brunswick home, where 54 women gathered to laugh, cry, share stories, and the positive energy only a group

of women can create. Over $1,200 was donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association — Moncton. To date, this event has helped raise more than $600,000 in total. The event has grown each year with the kind donations of guests and generous corporate sponsorships, including its new national sponsor, Shoppers Drug Mart. It has evolved into an annual coast-to-coast fundraiser with events held in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and BC. Last year the proceeds raised in Williams Lake helped support the CMHA Multiculturalism program in Williams Lake. This year’s donations will go towards the local Crisis and Counselling Program with CMHA. The event, founded on both the notion that we all deserve an occasional break and the belief more must be done to support those with mental illness, their families, and friends.

Remember, regardless of whom you are, there is no health without mental health.

Cariboo women will gather in Williams Lake on February 29, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm to raise their glasses and their voices to break the silence about mental illness. The evening will be comprised of inspirational guest speakers, entertainment, delicious hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and fabulous conversation among guests. There is no cover charge to attend ‘Women & Wellness’ and every woman is welcome. The goal is to raise awareness about Mental Health and at the same time, it is a fundraising event.

For information regarding this event, please contact before Feb.17, 2012 Sheila Cohen, CMHA, at 250-305-4487or by email at sheila.cohen@cmhawl. org, or Bettina Schoen, CMHA, at 250-305-4420 or by email at bettina.schoen@cmhawl.org.

— Sheila Cohen Family Counselor Parent and Teen Program Canadian Mental Health Association Cariboo Chilcotin

Make your own laundry soap Well, I have recently become aware of something that I thought was great!

There are recipes online everywhere for laundry soap, and that is a huge financial cost, especially for families.

So I searched around for a recipe that would make a large amount for the lowest cost, and found one at The Grocery Cart Challenge blog (http://grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com).

This was not the only site that had this recipe, and I do not know who originally made this recipe — if I did I would definitely make sure to give them recognition.

This blogger also does a grocery cart challenge, where she only spends $60 a week on groceries for a family of six. No I am not getting paid to advertise, I just want to make sure you check her out, her ideas are awesome!

Anyways, back to the laundry soap recipe. Here it is: ⅓ bar of Fels Naptha Soap (I used sunlight bars instead, at a cost of $1/bar)

½ cup of Borax (cost approximately $6 for a big box) ½ cup washing soda (cost approximately $6 for the box) 32 cups warm water (free from the tap) 5 gallon bucket (I used a REALLY big stock pot that I have had for years...so that was free) Grate ⅓ bar of soap (try not to grate your knuckles or fingers, as I did), and put into a large pot. Add six cups of warm water and heat until the soap is completely melted (this took me about a half hour, but my soap was grated really fine).

Add washing soda and Borax, stirring until dissolved.

Pour four cups of hot tap water into the bucket. Add the soap mixture and stir together. Add another 22 cups of water and stir to combine. Let the soap cool and set for 12-24 hours. It will have the consistency of hand soap. You would use ½ cup for a top loading washer, and ¼ cup for a front loading washer.

Let’s see how this breaks

Fine Frugality

Send your answers to letters@thestew.ca

Todd Sullivan todd@thestew.ca publisher / editor-in-chief

“I once had a date that started at the theatre and ended at an after-hours biker clubhouse, and I’m not sure if I could tell you how one led to the other, or exactly what happened in between.”

Juli Harland juli@thestew.ca sales manager / executive editor “I had a blind date set up and when I answered the door he told me he left something in the car`, and then drove away. A killer blow to the self-esteem, I tell you.

Angela Shephard angela@thestew.ca fine frugality (crafters beat)

Jamie Horsley tonesoup@thestew.ca tone soup (music beat) “’Unique?’ Probably 2 years I spent on and off dating a chick from San Jose. Stupid? Nothing's stupid when you think you're in love.”

Carol Davidson stir@thestew.ca stir (health beat) “My worst date experience was where the guy kept staring at me. He'd ask me a question and while I'd answer it, he'd totally zone out and stare. Holy crap was that bizarre.”

Torrey Owen torrey@thestew.ca In My Shoes (city beat)

Natasha Peeman hairdooz@telus.net beautydooz (health & beauty beat)

Michelle Daymond candoitconsulting150@gmail.com Eating Local (food beat)

By Angela Shephard down financially. All the materials that I paid for came to $13, but I still have enough left to make several more batches. The amount of laundry soap made by one batch of this recipe is just over 4.48 liters.

How well does it measure up to name brands?

Well, I did a weird test to find out: I used a name brand laundry detergent with a colour safe bleach on a white cloth shower curtain (left unwashed for two months) and it took three washes for it to get completely white. The laundry soap I made took four washes, but that was without the colour safe bleach, Oxy, or vinegar.

INE Z A MAG

What was your most unique dating experience?

Had I used any of these, I am fairly confident that it would have taken one less load.

All in all, my laundry soap materials cost as much as one 4.43 litre bottle of name brand detergent, but it will make three times the amount of detergent. And if you spent one more dollar for another bar of sunlight, you could make six times the amount of detergent.

And it took just a little over an hour (and few accidentally grated knuckles) to make!

I’m fairly certain that you could do it too, and probably without the bandaids! angela@thestew.ca

“Can't think of one! I think the unique thing about me has been not ‘dating’ a guy, just kinda living my life and having my relationships form naturally that way. I can honestly only think of one time in my life where I had a traditional date, and it was pretty tame!”

Michael Jones jjonesmii@yahoo.com One Seoul Searching (overseas beat)

Laura Kelsey laura@wordsmore.com Poetry Editor “The guy turned to me and said ‘So, we gonna f*ck in the back of my truck or what?’ I said no and got a drive home.”

THE STEW Magazine is an independently owned and operated monthly arts and lifestyle magazine published in the Cariboo Chilcotin. All information contained in this magazine is correct, to our best knowledge, as of press time. Opinions expressed by correspondents and contributors are not necessarily those of THE STEW or its employees. We reserve the right to edit letters to the editor for grammar, punctuation, content, or length. All letters must be signed by the author. THE STEW Magazine accepts no responsibility for correctness beyond the amount paid for that portion of advertising space occupied by the incorrect item. We reserve the right to refuse any advertising or editorials submission which we believe to be inconsistent with the philosophy of this publication.

The contents of this publication are copyright The Stew Magazine 2012.

PAGE 8 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

Up next for the Williams Lake Studio Theatre is Crimes of The Heart which will feature our own Juli Harland’s return to the stage.

Family-friendly production takes the stage in Glendale

BY TODD SULLIVAN THE STEW MAGAZINE

If you’re looking for a family-friendly outing in the month of February, the Williams Lake Studio Theatre might have just the thing for you in their upcoming production of The Clumsy Custard Horror Show and Ice Cream Clone Revue.

The play, written by William Gleason, is directed by Sandi Alaric, who has a bit of history with the show.

“I was in the play,” Alaric explains. “I played the ingenue role, about a hundred years ago, in Armstrong. And then my son, Sean, it was the first play I could take him to, to see Sunday rehearsals.

So he was only in about grade three, and it was his first live production that he had ever seen, and even saw all the backstage stuff, all the creation that went along with it.”

The play must have an impact on her son, as he brought it to life himself

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just last year. “He directed it in Prince George this spring.

“So I figured it was time to come full circle, so now I’m directing it here,” she says, and then laughs, “Because I’m too old to play the ingenue.”

The title might seem cumbersome, but then the whole play is a fairly epic endeavour. Sporting a cast of 19, Alaric says that there are a lot of newcomers to this show, including some new faces behind the scenes.

“We have, actually, two people who only came along to support someone else at auditions who are now in the play. We have new actors, we have new seamstresses, we have a crew of, I think, at the last count there was, six people, actually sewing all the costumes that are needed, and that’s going to be marvelous, the cos-

JULI HARLAND PHOTO

CLUMSY COSTUMES  Working out some fashion issues at a recent rehearsal for The Clumsy Custard Horror Show and Ice Cream Clone Revue. tumes are just wonderful.”

While the play is definitely designed to

appeal to children — she says that ages six and up should be very able to

enjoy it — Alaric also assures parents that there will be things for them to enjoy. “I think of it as sort of like Shrek — there’s something for adults, and there’s something for kids.”

Most importantly, she says, it’s just meant to be fun. “I think in the economic times right now, I think it’s just a play, not that needs to be done, but I think the town, or theatre-goers, need something that they can just sit and enjoy and laugh and exit without any deep interior thoughts about the play, just enjoy it and have fun.”

The Clumsy Custard Horror Show and Ice Cream Clone Revue runs Wednesdays to Saturdays from February 22 until March 3. Tickets are available at About Face Photography in Williams Lake.

Here’s John and Jane.

The snow is starting to melt. It’s not quite spring, but the worst of winter has passed. It’s time for Jane to start planning out any seedlings that need to be started indoors before planting outside in the spring. It’s also a great time for John to finish sprucing up the interior with a fresh coat of paint before all the outdoor work starts demanding to be done.

And with a little luck they’ll even have time to hang out in their new infrared sauna they installed on the weekend, because with all the hard work they’ve been up to, a little relaxation is always in order. Good thing they could get all that, and more, at Canadian Tire.

It’s all you need.

1050 S. Lakeside Drive, Williams Lake • 250-392-3303 Mon-Wed 8am to 8pm • Thur-Fri 8am to 9pm Sat 8am to 6pm • Sun 9am to 5pm

February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 9 TODD SULLIVAN PHOTO

HAVE WE GOT A MEAL FOR YOU  Karamia’s Donairs in Williams Lake has introduced a ‘Beat The Meat’ challenge. Anyone who thinks they can scarf back five one-pound Tradesman Donairs can take a shot at the title, a place on the wall of fame, and a free meal, though be warned, if you don’t make it to the end, you have to pay for what you ate.

Play Your guide to where to go and what to do for the month of February

PAGE 10 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

Cariboo Growers

With so much happening on February 11, there’s no reason to stay home.

Williams Lake’s Year-Round Local Food Co-Operative The non-profit store is on the corner of Third and Oliver Street

February 7 at 6:00 to 8:00pm, Cariboo Regional District Library, Williams Lake: Budget and Money Management workshop.

Benefits of financial literacy, budgeting explained, preparing a realistic budget, needs vs wants, community resources available. Admission is free.

Creating a look of romance

February 7th at 7:pm, 100 Mile House Community Hall, 100 Mile House: Life After Growth - World Renowned Author, Educator and Speaker RICHARD HEINBERG. Tickets available at Didis, Donex and The Open Book in Williams Lake. For more information please call 250-3953354. Co-sponsored by the South Cariboo Sustainablility Society and the Agri-Culture Enterprise Centre

with cut, colours, extensions & updos.

12B N. Broadway Avenue Williams Lake

February 7, Womens’ Contact Society, Williams Lake: The Women’s Con-

(250) 392-1994

tact Society and Shoppers Drug Mart are hosting a free presentation on emotional health - free lunch will be provided. Reservations are required by calling WCS at 250-392-4118 February 8 at 9:30 to 11:30am, Amata Transition House, Quesnel: Mothers’ Support Group, an eight week group starting Wednesday Feb8 in the group room.

Please call to register, Michelle or Gillian 250-992-7321 February 9 at 7:00pm to 8:30pm, Chuck Moberly Theatre, Quesnel: A Night with Flimmaker Shawn Swanky. Shawn presents a new collection of short films and discusses the Vancouver film industry. Admission is $5.

Shawn will be in attendance and will answer questions.

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Join the Challenge!

Cariboo regional District Library Program Room, Williams Lake: Armchair Traveller: Japan with Carl Johnson.

Preregistration required: Come to the library to register, or call us at 250-392-3630 to book your seat. Admission is free February 9 at 7:00pm, Library Activity Room, Quesnel: Mighty Jerome.

This DVD was chosen to be shown in February as it is Black History Month. The presentation follows Harry Jerome’s rise, fall and redemption as one of Canada’s greatest athletes. His life and career as a track and field athlete was full of triumphs and trials; he is ultimately shown to be a champion on and off the track.

February 10 at 10:00am to 3:00pm, Boitanio Mall, Williams Lake: White Cane Event! The Cariboo White Cane Chapter invites you to meet us at Boitanio Mall starting at 10:00am - there will be some Service dogs on hand - for more info call Denise at 250-989-1363 February 11 at 5:00pm to 11:00pm, Elks Hall, Williams Lake: Williams Lake Stampede Dinner,Dance & Auction! The Williams Lake Stampede Association is holding a Dinner,Dance & Auction. Cocktails at 5:00pm, Dinner at 6:00pm. Tickets are $25.00 per person - dance to Clancy Wright & The Silverado’s.

February 11 at 5:00pm, 108 Mile Community Hall in the 108 Mile Ranch: 5th annual all you can eat spagetti

night fundraiser All you can eat spagetti night fundraiser for the 100 Mile House and District Soccer Association.

Tickets $12.50 at Donex, Dowes Diner, Nuthatch books. For more information call 250-791-6647 February 11, Billy Barker Casino Hotel, Quesnel: Valentine’s Dinner and Dance.

5:00pm. Tickets $40 per person.

February 11 at 6:00pm to 10:00pm, Legion hall, Williams Lake: Legion Valentine Dinner & Dance! The Legion Branch 139 is hosting a Valentine Dinner & Dance starting at 6:00pm come out and have some fun February 11, Legion Hall, Quesnel. Valentine’s Dinner and Dance. Dance to the beat with local talent ‘Newcountry Touch’. Tickets $15.

February 11, at 7:00pm, Maple Park Alliance Church, Quesnel. A Sweet Evening with After Eight - Fundraiser for Cambodia 2012. Please call church for ticket pricing and details at 250-747-3248 February 11 at 7:00pm to 9:00pm, Martin Exeter Hall, 100 Mile House: The 12th Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert is back!

Tickets are now available.

Matinee at 2:00pm, evening at 7:00pm featuring Jayden Stafford, Dale McEachern, Gord Colliar, and the Loose Rooster Band. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at Work and Play, 100 Mile Feed Store, The Log House Apparel, tack and Harness.

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February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 11

Also happening this month is Juli ‘Misty Vine’ Harland’s return to song and dance on February 14 at Diamonds and Dust in Williams Lake

February 11 at 5:00pm, College of New Caldonia, Quesnel: Valentine’s Dinner, Dance and Auction. Supporting the Quesnel & Distrcit Child Development Centre.

Tickets available at Bo Peep Boutique, Blumko Flower Art and the Child Development Centre. TIckets are $40.00/ person $80.00 Couple. For information please call: 250992-2481 February 12, 100 Mile Snowmobile Clubhouse 900 Ainsworth Road, 100 Mile House: Winterfest 2012 snowmobile ride and fun day.

Registration at 8am; ride leaves at 10am sharp.Have fun and support the BC lions Society for Children with disablilities and Easter Seals Services in BC For more information contact: Ish Penney at 250-395-4945 ishpenney@gmail.com February 16 at 7:00pm, Cariboo regional District Library Program Room, Williams Lake: Armchair Traveller: Walking the Camino de Santiago with Joan Beck . Preregistration required: Come to the library to register, or call us at 250-392-3630 to book your seat. Admission is free February 16 at 6:00pm, 100 Mile Library, 100 Mile House: Cariboo Regional District Library presents “The Chocolate Farmer” film screening. Admission if Free. In an unspoiled corner of southern Belize, cacao farmer Eladio Pop works his plantation in the tradition of his Mayan ancestors. A tender and moving tale, this lush cinematic journey captures a year in the life of the Pop family as they struggle to preserve

their values in a dramatically changing world.

February 16 at 7:30pm to 9:00pm, Scout Island Nature Center, Williams Lake: Scout Island Nature Centre & the WL Field Naturalists present a FREE public talk on Fire Ants in our area with Dr. Higgins - don’t miss this fascinating evening starting at 7:30pm From Feb 17 - March 17, Parkside Art Gallery, 100 Mile House: Evolution of Art, by Len Monical, a selection of work in pencil, charcoal, silkscreen, oil, studies, sketches and new bronze sculptures showcasing the life works of one of the Cariboo’s premier artists February 17 to February 25, Boitanio Mall, Williams Lake: 21st Annual Daybreak Rotary Club Book Sale upper level Boitanio Mall - all proceeds will be used to support Rotary and its Community Projects.

February 18th at 10:30am to 1:30pm, 100 Mile Junior High School Gym, 100 Mile House: Winter Carnival 2012. Free admission; indoor fun; games, crafts, stories, bouncy castle, puppet show, snacks, book give-aways;

sponsored by CCRR and success by 6 (Family Enrichment Centre). For information please conact Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (250) 3955155 . Sponsored by Safeway, SaveOn Foods, CCR, Success by 6, and Children First February 18 at 6:00pm, Quesnel Legion Hall , Quesnel: 5th Annual Entertainers Hall of Fame Awards Night Dinner & Dance. $25/per person February 23 at 7:00pm, Cariboo regional District Library Program Room, Williams Lake: Armchair Traveller:Bermuda with Mary Trott . Preregistration required: Come to the library to register, or call us at 250392-3630 to book your seat.

Admission is free February 23 to 25, Martin Exeter Hall, 100 Mile House: 100 Mile Performing Arts Society presents “A funny thing happened on the way to the forum”. Tickets available at Donex, Didis and Curves.

PARENTAL ADVISORY: ADULT-THEMED CONTENT

2012 Rotary Foundation & International Service Dinner & Auction. An enjoyable evening of fun, fellowship, and fundraising co-hosted by Quesnel’s two Rotary clubs, Sunrise 2000 and Rotary Club of Quesnel, for the benefit of The Rotary Foundation and related International Projects.

Tickets available from any Quesnel Rotarian February 26 at 7:30pm, Chuck Mobley Theatre, Quesnel: Quesnel Live Arts presents Ballet Kelowna.

Ballet Kelowna is breathtakingly beautiful, bold, and fresh, captivating audiences with classical and innovative dance.

Because they are a small ballet company, the performances are intimate, carefully crafted, and precious, rare pieces sure to captivate audiences through the movement of dance. Season tickets available at the Farmer’s Market this fall.

Individual tickets are $25 and will be sold at Bo Peep Boutique, Quesnel Music, Save-on Foods, and C&R Video.

February 29 at 8:30am to 4:30pm, Williams Lake: WorldHost Workshops.

Chamber of Commerce is hosting 2 WorldHost Workshops. 8:30-12:00 Customers with disabilities & 1:00 4:30pm Service Across Cultures. 1 - Workshop $90. Both Workshops $150 (includes lunch) Workbooks & Certificate included. To Register call the Chamber at 250-392-5025 or email visitors@telus.net Come join us for a fun-fulled, high engery day!

February 29 at 6:00pm to 9:00pm, Williams Lake: Women and Wellness evening. CMHA - CCBranch

is hosting Women and Wellness doors open at 6:00ppm - join us to laugh, to cry share stores and enjoy an evening of wine, treats and entertainment - contact Sheila Cohen at 250-305 4487 March 6, at 6:00pm to 8:30pm, Women’s Contact Society, Williams Lake : Credit and Debt Management.

Guest Speaker: Kirby Fofanoff, Manager, CIBC. Benefits of Financial Literacy, Credit and Debt Explained, Choosing and Using a Credit Card, Debt, Managing your Choice, Community Resources Available, Educational Resources Available. Free Admission.

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February 25 at 5:30 to 8:30pm, Billy Barker Casino Hotel Showroom, Quesnel: 635B Oliver St., Williams Lake

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PAGE 12 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

It may not be December, but it still feels like it. Here’s to the spring solstice next month!

We gather today December twenty first with the society that has gathered for thousands of years

Our numero uno candle burning forever while all our prayers disappear in the light of the SUN

With Stone Henge elders with grunts and groans of early history long before writing covered our guilt we gather once again

SUN transforms gender transforms GOD transforms our existence into planes planes of hope planes of fear and planets of celestial trust the SUN continues the universal dance returning to us

We learn beyond regret how evolution carries us as we slowly return to worshipping the SUN

Our home this planet EARTH tries twice each year to rent asunder the chains of gravity attempting to redefine freedom as a kind of insanity while deeper than thought our natural knowledge of animal trust call us back

Now each day will grow longer the light from our SUN stronger and stronger until butterflies float as the kisses of summer until the blades of grass once again sing until we see her once again as a vision in blue jeans until each moment remains the very gift of living

Solar Society

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Calling all artists!

Join us at

August 3-6, 2012 If you are a Visual Artist, we would like to invite you to apply to be part of the 2012 Mini Mural Project. During the festival you will paint a 4' x 4' 'Mini Mural' over the festival weekend. Once the Mural is painted it becomes part of the permanent collection of Island Mountain Arts and gets rented to residences and businesses around the town of Wells for outdoor display.

We are also looking for proposals for other temporary art projects and installations to grace the community and our venues over the Festival weekend and ask that you contact us with your ideas, thoughts and proposals.

The deadline to apply as a visual artist is May 1, 2012. More information and application forms can be found on the ArtsWells website (www.artswells.com) under "contact" and then "applications" - scroll down to the visual arts section, or email: artswellsfestival@imarts.com

February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 13

Though best known as a novelist, Canadian writer Margaret Atwood has also published 15 books of poetry, as well as children’s books and non-fiction.

StewSpots

Exploring Kool-Aid and Cariboo Stew

Looking to get your copy on the latest edition of THE STEW Magazine? We’re available for pickup in a variety of places around the Cariboo Chilcotin.

Please remember that this list is always evolving, and we’re always looking for new places that our magazine can call home, so if you know of someplace that you think should be a drop-off point for THE STEW, or if you own a business and you’d like to have a few copies of our magazine on your shelves, plus let us know.You can reach us by email at either todd@thestew. ca or juli@thestew.ca.

Locations listed in alphabetical order 100 MILE HOUSE 99 Mile Supermarket A&W Chartreuse Moose Chevron Dairy Queen Donex Higher Ground Natural Foods KFC Lone Butte General Store Marcel’s Boulevard Cafe Nuthatch Book Store Parkside Art Gallery Pharmasave Safeway Save-On Foods Subway Tim Hortons Visitor Centre IN LAC LA HACHE Fast Trac Gas and Convenience Store IN WILLIAMS LAKE 7-Eleven A&W Alley Katz Bean Counter Canwest Propane Cariboo Growers Cariboo Spring CRD Library (Magazine & News Section) Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Center Cool Clear Water Dairy Queen Dandelion Living Denny’s Restaurant Dollar Dollar Elaine’s Natural Foods The Gecko Tree Halls Organics Hobbit House Karamia’s LD’s Cafe M&M Meat Shop McDonald’s Mohawk Movies on the Go New World Cafe The Open Book The Overlander Hotel Quiznos Red Shred’s Safeway Sandman Inn Save On Foods Shell Shopper’s Drug Mart Starbucks Station House Gallery Subway (Downtown) Subway (on the Highway) Tim Horton’s Tourism Info Centre TRU WLCBIA Women’s Contact Society Zellers Restaurant IN HORSEFLY Clarke’s General Store Cornerhouse Cafe The Post Office RaceTrac Gas IN MCLEESE LAKE Cariboo Wood Shop McLeese Lake General Store

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY VERENA BERGER

STEW STORIES  Verena Berger has published a short story collection, Kool-Aid and Cariboo Stew, available at local bookstores, from amazon.com, or from her website at verenaberger.com

BY JULI HARLAND THE STEW MAGAZINE

The stories are charming and relateable; the characters are real, plucked straight out of the Cariboo and put on the page, as seen through the eyes of a witty, Swiss immigrant to the wild, wild west.

Verena Berger has gathered her many creative non-fiction tales, as told over the last 10 years, into one easy-to-read and incredibly funny collection called Kool-Aid and Cariboo Stew.

The stories tell tales from when Verena and her husband Willy — though he was only her boyfriend at the time — moved from Switzerland to the expansive lands of the Cariboo, stories of the foibles and faux-pas which were all a part of learning a new language and a new culture while trying to start a new life in a strange land.

“We came up to see what this land was all about that Hans [a friend of Willy’s from Vancouver, where the couple spent their first year in Canada]

IN QUESNEL 7-Eleven (on the Highway) 7-Eleven (in West Quesnel) A&W Aroma Foods Billy Barker Hotel & Casino Bliss Burger Palace Carry All Books Granville’s Coffee Green Tree Health & Wellness Karin’s Deli Museum & Tourist Centre Quiznos Riverside Bistro (West Park Mall) Safeway Save On Foods Shopper’s Drug Mart Steeped Subway Tim Horton’s (on the Highway) Tim Horton’s (Downtown)

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bought,” says Berger.

“Coming from Switzerland, that was not a possibility for young folks to just buy land. There’s not that much land in Switzerland to begin with. And if there is it’s very expensive.

So when we came up here and we saw Hans and he told us how much land he owned and the freedom, it was just incredible. So we just started driving around and looking at acreages.”

Berger reminisces about her early struggles with the English language: “I remember the first time I went to the library.

I like to read fiction and so I picked out from the ‘A’s, a Margaret Atwood book and stumbling through the first page. I just couldn’t understand it. Because I didn’t learn English in school, I just came here and picked it up working. A lot of immigrants do. Well, now there is ESL programs, but back then there wasn’t,” says Berger.

But the language barrier wasn’t going to keep her away from her love of the written word.

“I went back and picked up children’s books and worked my way up from there,” she says. “It’s Margaret Atwood who inspired me. I thought, I am going to learn the language until I can understand her books.”

Now Berger is not only able to understand

Atwood’s books, but she is writing books of her own, as well as teaching classes on creative writing to students from Williams Lake, Wells, Kamloops and beyond in schools, conferences, and privately at home.

Berger’s book is available at local bookstores all over the Cariboo, as

well as online at Amazon. com, and at her website at verenaberger.com.

For more information about her collection of stories, excepts from her book, writing exercises or information about her lessons, check out Berger’s website at www.verenaberger.com. And happy reading!

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FEBRUARY 3-25 Upper Gallery:

Children’s Art Collective A group show of work by local youth created during summer art courses.

Main Gallery:

Bopping with Mr. Mynah Tricia Sellmer, Alexander Forbes, Henry Small, and Tina Moore present a multimedia show of the tale ofa swingin’ Myna, featuring art, music, song, and poetry.

Station House Gallery 250-392-6113

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It’s blissful for one, but it’s decadent for 2.

This Valentine’s, treat you and your loved one to a couple’s day at the spa. Personalized packages just for you!

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PAGE 14 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

We keep trying to grow our own stuff here at The Stew HQ, but nothing ever lives terribly long. Juli has better luck raising babies.

Buy one, get one

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Celebrate fresh, delicious, local food Enjoy this recipe from our Eating Local Challenge Winner

I woke up at 5:30 am on Saturday, January 28, the day of our Second Local Food Forum.

After enjoying a cup of coffee, I looked out my window and started to laugh — of course, there was a blizzard, and by the amount of snow on the ground, it was obvious it had been snowing all night!

Isn’t that how life usually works? You work so hard to plan something, then life intervenes and your day changes from what you originally planned!

Needless to say, with the help of fourwheel-drive, I made

it to Thompson Rivers University and the Food Forum began.

Forty-two brave souls trekked through the blizzard to contribute their thoughts, opinions, and enthusiasm to the creation of a Second Food Action Plan for our community!

With winter outside, inside we all enjoyed fresh coffee and chili from the Bean Counter (chili was made with local ingredients), sweets and bannock from the Oliver Street Market vendors, and energizing conversations with peers.

I am still in the process of reviewing and compiling all the notes that were taken during the Food Forum, and will be sending out information when it is complete. If you would like to be added to my mailing list (and you do not already receive my e-mails on local food), please contact me at candoitconsulting150@ gmail.com.

GROWING FOOD NATURALLY WORKSHOP SERIES

Eating Local

By Michelle Daymond Come and learn about growing your own food from our experienced local farmers and long-time home gardeners! This winter / spring, Thompson Rivers University Continuing Studies has partnered with the Williams Lake Food Policy Council to host a series of home gardening workshops.

Courses will be offered once a month beginning February 25, and will continue until the fall.

Topics covered include garden design, seed saving, composting, planting, garden maintenance, cooking with fresh produce, and preserving for the winter.

Contact the Continuing Studies department at (250) 392-8010 or visit www.tru.ca/williamslake/cs for more details and to register.

EAT LOCAL CHALLENGE – WINNER! “This magical, marvelous food on our plate, this sustenance we absorb, has a story

to tell. It has a journey.

It leaves a footprint. It leaves a legacy. To eat with reckless abandon, without conscience, without knowledge; folks, this ain’t normal.” – Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World In January I set the challenge to uncover the stories behind one local meal you cooked, asking you to send me the recipe with details about where the ingredients came from. I know many people out there are still eating from their own root cellars, and are shopping for their food at Cariboo Growers, but not many of you entered the contest! The winner of a Cariboo Growers Community Membership and gift certificate is Karen Thompson, San Jose Cattle Company. Her inspiring and delicious sounding menu for a local meal follows.

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More than just strippers! Come see Third Degree play on February 11th!

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February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 15

Not only does eating local food help support the local economy, it’s also good for the environment, as there is less fuel burned to ship the food to its final destination.

Herbed Prime Rib Roast 5 lb. Prime rib beef roast (born and raised in our fields) or moose roast (Thank you Ben and Clint) 1 clove garlic, slivered (from my garden / cellar) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp each dried oregano and basil (dried herbs from my garden) 1 ½ tsp dried mint (from my garden, dried last summer and fall) 1 tsp pepper With tip of knife, cut slits all over roast; insert garlic slivers. In small bowl combine oil, herbs and pepper until paste-like and spread all over top and sides of roast. Place roast bone side down on rack in roasting pan and roast at 325 F (160 C) for two hours or until meat thermometer registers at least 140 F

(60 C) for rare.

Transfer to cutting board, tent with foil, and let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Tip: For any type of roast always remove the roast from the oven when the meat thermometer reaches 5 degrees below desired final temperature. Tent with foil and let stand for 15 minutes before carving. For round, rump, and sirloin tip, the meat is best if not cooked past medium.

We served this roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw and dressing, and homemade seven-grain bread.

Herb Tea Alfalfa blooms, wild rose petals, wild current leaves, wild mint, red clover blossoms, (gathered and dried last summer.)

Place herbs in warmed pot, add

boiling water, steep 5 minutes.

I am out of room to print all of her recipes, but would be more than happy to pass them along to anyone interested. I will also have copies printed and available at Cariboo Growers.

In the spirit of Joel Salatin’s comment about the “magical, marvelous food on our plate”, I am very happy to share Karen Thompson’s story with the Community: “It was fun writing out this menu, it made me think, as I so often do, how lucky we in this community are to have such wonderful, fresh food available to us. I am so fortunate to have been raised where the majority of the food we ate we also grew, processed and / or stored, and that knowledge was passed

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on to the next generations. I have always felt secure as long as I have a garden and a cellar. I believe our community is also secure as long as it has food sustainability.

“I recently watched a movie entitled White Water, Black Gold which once again made clear how far much of humankind has be-

come removed from the earth that sustains us, from ‘green’ gold, our local agriculture community.

“It is a privilege to be able to have wild meat to serve my family. I believe it is our duty to care for the land that sustains such abundant life, us included. The best times I have known

have been while eating a healthy, home cooked meal with family and friends, knowing how, who, and where the food was harvested, the work and joy of preparing it, also knowing that as we are nourished from this land so must we nourish the land.” candoitconsulting150@ gmail.com

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PAGE 16 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

How does a soundtrack album end up running eight minutes longer than the film it was a soundtrack for?

Undun by The Roots a spectacular, existential concept album

The Roots Undun This album came out back in early December and I didn’t get a chance to review it then, but I didn’t want to miss telling you about this one. Undun is The Roots’ 10th album. It’s an existential concept album that tells the story of the short, difficult life of fictional character Redford Stevens, a character inspired by the Sufjan Stevens song, ‘Redford’. Stevens even appears on the album to help The Roots recreate a cover of ‘Redford’.

The first ten tracks tell Redford’s story in the hardlife funky urban style that you’d expect from The Roots — and perfectly executed at that. The last four tracks begin with Sufjan Stevens’ Redford and continue into a four-movement piece that reminisces on the turmoil of his life using piano and orchestral melodies, the

climax of which, ‘Will To Power (3rd Movement),’ is a turbulent jazz piece with help from avant-garde pianist D.D. Jackson.

I did not expect anything like this from this album but nothing could have been more perfectly fitting. Undun is a masterful achievement by a group of musicians that truly understand their craft. Simply spectacular.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack) A year ago Trent Reznor

and Atticus Ross were steeped in praise for the soundtrack to David Fincher’s film The Social Network.

Now they’re back in the spotlight for their work on Fincher’s latest film, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

The album opens with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’ by Trent Reznor and Karen O, which was used in the movie’s teaser trailer. Then begins the dark, ambient soundscape that is the soundtrack for this movie. Since I haven’t seen the film, I can only assume that this soundtrack underlies the entire movie, as the ambient portion of the album is actually eight minutes longer than the running time of the film itself.

Tacked on to the end of the album is a How To Destroy Angels cover of Brian Ferry’s ‘Is Your Love Strong Enough’ which apparently plays through the end credits of the film, just as Bryan Ferry’s original version played through the end credits of the classic 1985 movie Legend (directed by Ridley Scott, starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sarah, and Tim Curry). “Is Your Love Strong Enough” has always been one of my favourite songs and How To Destroy Angels’ cover of it is perfect.

I can’t really comment much on the over twoand-a-half hours of ambiance that is the core of this soundtrack as I haven’t seen the movie and how it relates, but knowing this team, I’m certain it’s pretty incredible.

I couldn’t care less about this movie or its story but I kinda want to see it just to see how well the music fits. As a stand alone album, it’s pretty good. There’s often a time when you need some quiet ambient music, and this will do quite nicely.

Skrillex Bangarang (EP) Then there’s this Skrillex guy and his dubstep army.

Or is it dubstep? Some would call it ‘American’ dubstep, while dubstep purists might disdainfully call it brostep. Whatever you call it, it’s the rage-fuelled adolescent phase of a beautiful electronic child called Dubstep, born a little over a dozen years ago in South London to happy parents, UK Garage and Drum ‘n’ Bass.

But Skrillex has been quite progressive with the North American dubstep movement and has done much to bring it more into a mainstream spotlight.

Watch for him at this year’s Grammy Awards where he has five nominations, including Best New Artist.

If you want a better understanding of the American dubstep scene, watch videos

of Skrillex performances on YouTube. If you really want to understand Skrillex, watch a Skrillex interview on YouTube. He’s really just a guy making the music he loves to make because he loves to make it.

Skrillex is kinda like this generation’s Marilyn Manson. Not like he’s the antichrist or anything. Not that he even has anything to say about anything. But just in the type of icon that he is. He’s new, and different, and groundbreaking, and aggressive, and honestly, he’s really good at what he does, and most important of all: parents can’t fucking stand it!

Imagine the day your grandparents heard your dad listening to an album full of loud distorted guitars for the first time in their life and said “what the hell are they doing?” That’s right, if that’s your opinion of dubstep, you are officially OLD! (I’m starting to get old — I’m trying to like this stuff, honest, I am.)

I approach dubstep with caution, mostly because I usually can’t stand more than about ten minutes of it at a time, but I think that’s just the sign of bad dubstep (and there’s lots of it out there), because I found myself entertained by this album from start to finish. If you’re a fan of this stuff, you’ve probably already got this album. If you’re at all curious about this type of music, you really need to check this album out. If I lost you back at the Skrillex heading, forget I said anything.

Lana Del Rey Born To Die Have you seen the music video of the pouty-lipped starlet who softly sings a heart-wrenching lament about a failed relationship with a boy who is consumed by his video games? If so, that’s Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games’ and it got passed around the Internet pretty well last year.

She pieced the whole thing together on her laptop using her own footage and bits of video snagged from the Internet (a practice which will become a serious criminal offence if the American SOPA and PIPA bills get passed; under the rule of these bills the posting of one such video would actually result in all of YouTube having its .com domain name revoked).

The ‘Video Games’ music video and its Internet success was what led to her record deal and current release of her album Born To Die. The critics can’t make up their minds about this album.

She seems to have a fairly vocal following of haters and they seem to be basing most of their opinions on how she presents herself. She wasn’t impressed when her manager

For the month of February, romance is on the menu.

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250-398-7600

February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 17

While thinking about 80s nostalgia, we were mortified to realize that decade was now 30 years behind us.

labeled her “Gangsta Nancy Sinatra” to the press. She prefers the term Hollywood sadcore. I’ve seen the phrase “Hybrid of Portishead and Nancy Sinatra” used more than once by reviewers.

Whatever you want to call it, she seems to have a sad, jaded, noir outlook on life that comes from living a life of American excess and riches. The album sounds like a noir Hollywood drama a-la David Lynch sung by a pop starlet. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the album.

Sure, it’s got a dash of filler but it’s a solid first offering by a girl who wants to do her own thing musically. Personally, I’d much rather listen to this than the next dance pop bimbo.

Lamb Of God Resolution Lamb of God is probably the biggest name in American heavy metal these days.

They’re modern, they’re popular, and they’re heavy as fuck. Resolution is the #2 best selling album in Canada and debuts at #3 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart (which measures album sales in the US), and it’s also the #3 album in Australia.

In an interview with MusicRadar.com, guitarist Mark Morton explains that previous albums have all been

reactionary to the album that came before it. “That wasn’t the case with Resolution... This time, we were very free and open. There were no anxieties about what we should or shouldn’t try. If it sounded right and felt right, that’s what we did.”

This album has it all. It opens with a nice doom piece with the fairly doomed title ‘Straight For The Sun.’ ‘Cheated’ is a punk homage that asks Johnny Rotten’s infamous question, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” And the album’s last track, ‘King Me,’ is the biggest of all. Literally. It’s a six and a half minute epic that starts ominously slow and brooding and then swells into orchestral grandeur. After about a minute and a half it fades to more brooding, spoken-word, and then in chunks, the first metal riff.

Through the rest of the song the orchestra and the metal play back and forth. It’s not an original concept but it’s certainly one that works, and Lamb of God nailed it.

Metalheads need to listen to this album. True metalheads already have.

Gotye Making Mirrors I put the call out to friends on Facebook and Twitter and asked what everyone else has

THE STEW MAGAZINE’S

Tone Soup

Monthly

MIX

By Jamie Horsley been listening to lately. The first answer I received was Gotye.

It seems there’s been a quiet buzz about this guy lately. A few months back I saw his video for ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ shared by a friend in my Facebook feed. More recently a cover of the same song floated across my Facebook again, only this band was all playing on one guitar. Yeah, all five of them!

That was pretty neat.

But, oh my god, what a good song! It’s a beautiful, softly sung song about a past relationship, but then he hits the chorus and starts belting it out like he’s Phil Collins or something.

The passion and the emotion and the simplicity of the lyrics — “Now you’re just somebody that I used to know” — are something we can all relate to, and the whole package just kinda gives you goosebumps the first time you hear it. It really resonates.

So I decided to dig a little deeper and see what I could find out about this guy. And just in time, too, it would seem.

Gotye is Australian. Apparently the single ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’

was released back in July in Australia. The album Making Mirrors followed in August.

Both the song and the album are receiving huge critical acclaim in Australia and around the world. ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ is the biggest Australian hit since Savage Garden’s ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ in 1997. As of December 31 the single has been certified 7x Platinum and the album, Making Mirrors, is double Platinum in Australia.

As it turns out the album was just released in North America on January 31, so I decided to check it out. I’m thoroughly impressed. What I first assumed was another indie one hit wonder turns out to be a pretty phenomenal album. Seriously. I can’t stop listening to it. There’s a very 80s influence here but there’s more to it than just an album that sounds like 80s pop.

‘State of the Art’ is an interesting piece that uses vocoder vocals to tell a story about a family that gets a state of the art Lowrey Cotillion (D-575) electric organ, which really was a masterpiece of its time in 1981. ‘I Feel Better” sounds like a cut straight off an old Motown

These are the songs that rocked our world during the last 30 days

Juli Harland: ‘Black Coffee’ - Peggy Lee ‘Fever’ - Peggy Lee ‘I’m a Woman’ - Peggy Lee Jamie Horsley: ‘IsYour Love Strong Enough?’ - How To Destroy Angels ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ - Gotye ‘Carmen’ - Lana Del Rey Carol Davidson: ‘Mr. Big Stuff’ - Jean Knight ‘At Last’ - Etta James ‘Love is in the Air’ - John PaulYoung (cheezy, yes, but a total classic!)

Michelle Daymond: ‘Rumor Has It’ - Adele ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ - Adele ‘One and Only’ - Adele Laura Kelsey: ‘Kiss It Off’ - Little Feat ‘Vein of Creation’ - Nylithia ‘Bright Lights’ - Gary Clark Jr. record. ‘Don’t Worry, We’ll Be Watching You’ sounds like it should should be part of a soundtrack for a dark, suspenseful movie.

The whole album is kind of all over the map while

80s nostalgia threads its way through the whole thing.

This is truly a no-filler album.

Don’t miss out on Making Mirrors by Gotye. tonesoup@thestew.ca

Start your day off fresh with breakfast at Subway.

Two locations, one great taste.

Downtown: 336 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC • (250) 398-7821 Highway 97: 1196 Broadway Ave, Williams Lake, BC • (250) 398-7800

PAGE 18 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

We firmly believe that if our publisher, Todd Sullivan , can drag his ass down to the gym for 30 minutes each day, anyone can.

Make death wait with just a little exercise each day February is Heart and Stroke Month. You may have heard the slogan “Make Death Wait” in the TV ads where the ominous voice of Death decides who he’s going to nail next with a heart attack. Men, women, young, old...Death isn’t fussy. A heart attack can hit anyone, (yes, anyone) and although there are certain risk factors that increase the chances of having one, it can also be prevented.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, one in three (that’s one third!) of people who die of a heart attack, die prematurely. Oh, you think you’ll survive a cardiac arrest? In the parking lot at work? At the hockey arena? At home in bed?

Sure, the ambulance is fast but they aren’t miracle workers, and a five-minute delay is too long. Do whatever you can to not

The human body is amazing, and it puts up with a lot.

Luckily for us it can be very forgiving when we’ve been abusing it for awhile.

Stir

By Carol Davidson have one in the first place!

It’s easy!

Perhaps it’s the early death of a beloved former co-worker over Christmas that has got me thinking about this, but it drives me crazy that so many people suffer and die from health problems that could be prevented with a few simple lifestyle changes. A doctor friend of mine said a very high percentage of her patients would rather go on medication (with all the side effects and risk factors) to treat a health issue, than

simply take charge of their well-being and make some lifestyle changes. I find that unbelievable, but sadly its true. I can hardly fathom what that kind of attitude is costing our health care system.

People tend to be reactionary, and it’s often the death of a loved one that spurs them into action to make those important lifestyle changes. But why wait for the death of a friend before doing anything? The human body is amazing, and it puts up with a lot. Luck-

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ily for us, it can be very forgiving when we’ve been abusing it for a while.

Even if someone has been suffering from a chronic health problem for a long time, the body can go a long way in healing itself if given the chance.

Ex-smokers who had black lungs and shortness of breath will have healthy lungs again just a few years after they quit.

Losing weight and eating properly can be enough to allow sufferers of Type II diabetes to go off of insulin. Elderly people who have a moderate exercise program are less dependent on walkers and canes for their mobility.

There is a neat 10-minute video on the Internet that I love. It’s called 23½ Hours. Google it and you’ll find it. It answers the question: What is the single most important thing you can do for your health? The answer: Exercise! 30 minutes a day.

That’s it.

Exercise is an amazing cure for so many health problems, and the best

part is that it’s absolutely free. The video gives you all kinds of amazing facts about what the benefits of exercise are, and preventing disease is one of the biggest benefits. So go for a walk. Take your spouse.

Walk your dog. Walk your neighbour’s dog!

Bring your neighbour, too.

We have a lot to do each day, but we can all spare 30 minutes (or three 10 minute segments) to invest in our health. I defy anyone to tell me they feel lousy after a walk!

None of us plan to suffer from chronic health issues, and given the choice no one would willingly take on a disease that robs them of a good quality of life. But sadly, so many people seem resigned to just living with bad health as it creeps up on them over several years, rather than be proactive and do whatever it takes to avoid being dependent on medications or other therapies.

I do realise there is a certain unfortunate segment of the popula-

tion that is stricken with disease through no fault of their own. They are in the minority, and you will know if you are truly one of those people. For everyone who is capable, get out there and get moving!

I concede that everyone is at risk to some degree — I had a triathlete friend of mine suffer a heart attack and he was the picture of health. Due to his fitness he recovered quickly but will still be on medications for the rest of his life. A less healthy person may not have made it.

A large portion of our less-than-healthy population needs to stop complaining about their aches, pains, and ill health, and DO SOMETHING about it. They know who they are.

Check out the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s website at www.heartandstroke.com. It has lots of information on helping you determine lifestyle risk factors (I need to cut back on salt and reduce stress), and there are tools for helping you achieve your health goals. The grim statistics are there, too, if you want to dig deeper.

Sure getting healthy takes work, and it could take months or years of effort, but if it means that you and your family benefit for many years to come, isn’t it worth it? stir@thestew.ca

Dandelion Living

Changing with the seasons

Registered Public Accountants Serving Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, and Quesnel 250-398-2279 • www.cls-ab.ca • (877) 493-2279

Things are always changing over here at Dandelion Living. Just like the seasons, we evolve and bring new delights. Join up Feb. 18 from 10am to 6pm when local designer Arwen will be here to help you try on the latest earth-friendly fashions. And, like the seasons, we’re all natural too.

MARY FORBES 271 Oliver Street (in the old Delainey’s Building)

February 2012 | THE STEW Magazine | PAGE 19

PAGE 20 | THE STEW Magazine | February 2012

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