Quirk Magazine

ns de MAGAZINE

Volume 8 • Issue 4 July - August 2018

CONNECTING

LETHBRIDGE

RECOVERY: The New Cool

APPLEFEST! Juicy Festivities

CURB APPEAL Low-Cost DIY Projects for Your Home

FLOATATION THERAPY MAKING WAVES IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA

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Surreal Float

A new wave of therapy for the mind and body comes to Southern Alberta

The Mistaken Identity Model of Addiction

An excerpt from author, Paul Noiles, soon to be released book that explores the very complicated struggle of addiction

Lethbridge Artist Profile

A look into the works of local artist, Linda Sprinkle, who works with an interesting variety

of mediums and subjects

Applefest!

Once again, the Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association is hosting their annual Applefest! event. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great opportunity to learn about permaculture, fruit rescue, and

to just come out and have some fun

Curb Appeal

Here are some great ideas to improve your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curb appeal with some low-cost

projects that can make a huge difference

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From The Publisher It’s official, we are now into the summer season, although the warm temperatures have been around for quite some time it’s hard to believe summer has just arrived! Summer is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the outdoors and the Jean Van Kleek multitude of ongoing festivals. Most recently, we Photo: Thomas Porter enjoyed the Jazz Festival, Dragon Boat Races, and Gay Pride Festival just to name a few. Coming July 20th will be the annual Applefest! , a wonderful event that keeps growing each year, spearheaded by the Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association. This issue, they share with us just a few of the many attractions you can enjoy that weekend.

We also visit “Surreal Float”. This new venture, housed in the old police station in Taber, brings us flotation therapy, a natural way to reduce anxiety and stress as well as improve health. Flotation therapy has been around for over 30 years, but has recently experienced a resurgence in popularity in major centres and has now arrived to Southern Alberta. It’s a fascinating modality that we are certain you will find interesting to explore.

In keeping with the health theme, we are publishing an excerpt from author, Paul Noiles new book “Recovery: the New Cool”. Paul’s book is very insightful as he writes about addiction from the perspective of someone who has “been there”. His writing is very powerful, and it is his hope to help those who struggle with addiction.

I was recently introduced to local artist, Linda Sprinkle. Linda works full-time at Lethbridge College in the Financial Awards department, but in her spare time has managed to amass a wonderful variety of artwork using traditional as well as some other very interesting mediums. This issue, we had the chance to share some of her work with you.

With summer comes the opportunity to do some work to the outside of your home. We have compiled a list of some low-cost DIY projects that can be fun to do and increase the value of your home at the same time.

We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we’ve enjoyed bringing it to you!

Volume 8 • Issue 4 • July - August 2018

www.quirkmagazine.net ISSN 1929-2112

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1010 - 10th Ave. N., Lethbridge, T1H 1J8 403.382.7240 Printed by Warwick Printing, Lethbridge, AB. Publisher Jean Van Kleek info@quirkmagazine.net Design & Layout UniVerse Graphics Writers Ginger Malacko Jean Van Kleek Michelle Zandstra Georgie Erickson Dil Jopp Proofreading Cindy McInnes General Inquiries info@quirkmagazine.net Advertising Inquiries info@quirkmagazine.net 403.382.7240

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The magazine is not responsible in any way for the content provided by contributing writers and/or advertisers or other third parties who advertise or provide content for this magazine. Unless indicated otherwise, all opinions, advice, information and resources offered or made available in this magazine are solely those of third parties who advertise or provide content for this magazine. This magazine and its content do not necessarily reflect the views of Shabella Publishing or its employees. No endorsement or approval of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services, including those available or offered through this magazine or any websites, is expressed or implied by Shabella Publishing or any related company or its officers and directors. Links to websites of third parties are meant for convenience only. The publisher does not review, endorse, approve or control and is not responsible for any such websites.

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The Style of Being Quirk Word Find Lethbridge & Area Photo Contest Pet Photo Contest Adorable Adoptables

8

Lessons Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Learned From my Dogs / Dog Recipe

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by Ginger Malacko

Desert Living

I’m a gardening rookie; a tardy but very enthusiastic novice. I’ve never really grown anything (except older) but this spring, after a year of living wrapped in concrete, I determined to bring a little greenery into my life. I’m not sure how much progress I’ve made other than to report that my first little tribe of potted plants has yet to die. Perhaps I’ve developed what they call a green thumb. Or more likely, I happened to bring home the toughest plants to kill.

Either way, I’m especially enjoying the succulents for their strangely chubby leaves and their indomitableness. These amazing little desert plants store lifegiving water in every cell in preparation for inevitable drought. This is a very clever habit to get into because droughts are par for the course in the desert – as they are in life.

I recall an intensely heavy discussion I had with a friend who wanted to know how I managed to stay happy despite some devastating events that were going

on in my life at the time. I would say I was smack dab in the middle of a drought and I think you know what I mean. There are stretches of time when blessings just aren’t plentiful and we’re left feeling lean and thirsty. The sun pounds relentlessly on our backs and the sand gets…well, absolutely everywhere. Life can’t always be abundant. Health, wealth, romance, and even purpose, ebb and flow and sometimes seem to disappear altogether. But happiness can remain. We can store it in every cell and reserve it for the dry season ahead, just like a sturdy little jade plant that refuses to perish in the merciless desert.

Relationships that make you strong can be tended so that you have those people to call upon. Places and experiences that brought you fulfillment can be revisited. Life lessons and light bulb moments can be recorded and reviewed. Books, music, art – these can all be kept on hand and taken like a daily supplement. Memories should be celebrated. Favorites should be often appreciated. Happiness should be a deliberate way of life rather than something that happens to you when times are good.

Only you know what stores will be necessary to get you through the next drought. But with a good well of happiness to draw from, that vast desert is not a tortuous wasteland at all, but an oasis where you refocus on what your happiness really is and where it really comes from.

Bits and Pieces

by Jean Van Kleek

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Surreal Float Relaxing the Mind..

Healing the Body

By Jean Van Kleek

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Over the past few years, flotation centres have become abundant in major centres around the world. This “new” holistic treatment now referred to as “REST” (restricted environment stimulation technique) has actually been around since the mid-fifties when it was called “sensory deprivation therapy”. While the word “deprivation” doesn’t sound particularly enticing, the goal of floating is to minimize stimuli to the body in order for it to relax and potentially heal. This is achieved by immersing your body in a flotation tank filled with epsom salts and removing light and sound from the room. The temperature of the water, and the temperature of the room are the same while the epsom salts create a highly buoyant float that, working together, create an environment that some say reminds them of what it would be like to float in space.

Without outside stimuli, the body and mind aren’t bombarded with information to process.

In a time where we are constantly overloaded with information to our senses, many feel burned out, short-circuited and drained. Stress is a killer and has been proven to be a major cause of dis-ease. We live in a very stressful world, and without realizing it, we are constantly in “fight or flight” mode with our cortisol levels suffering and our nervous systems in chaos because of it. It’s no wonder this modality has made a resurgence as people search for a way to simplify, uncomplicate and find ways ward off the anxiety felt in modern life.

Noreen & Dennis Klok Owners; Surreal Float

“From the welcoming reception area, to the well-appointed float rooms and large washrooms that host a bidet and plenty of room to groom oneself post-float, the centre flows seamlessly from room to room in a well-thought out plan that maximizes the experience” Taber entrepreneur/businessman, Dennis Klok and his wife Noreen, were travelling in B.C. where they came across a floating centre. While the B.C. centre sparked their interest, it wasn’t until a visit to Calgary that they decided to try it out for themselves. They were very impressed with the experience and how it made them feel.

They began researching and started thinking about sharing what they had learned about the benefits of floating with Southern Alberta by opening up a centre in their hometown of Taber. When the old police station came available to bid on, they threw their hat into the ring. Dennis and Noreen decided that if they won the bid, that would be the answer they needed on whether or not to go ahead with this new venture.

They got the bid and proceeded with the challenging task of converting the old station,

cells and all, into a beautiful spa setting. Dennis laughed as he said the cells lent themselves well to flotation rooms as they were already plumbed from having a toilet and sink in there for the prisoners. As he showed me around the various areas of the spa, he shared the history of each room, some of which he was familiar with as a teenager growing up in Taber. He showed the guard room, the holding room, and the long hall that used to walk prisoners from the jail to the courthouse. Looking at the building now, you would never know it was once a jail.

Dennis has done most of the renovation himself, including designing and custom building the flotation pools. They wanted to make guests as comfortable as possible during their floating experience and chose to have open, large pools, as opposed to the “pod” version that is smaller and

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“When the old police station came available to bid on, they threw their hat into the ring.”

Police Chief Gordon Hacking (left) and Mayor Stu Boyle has a lid that closes over you. Dennis and Noreen have made every effort to create an environment that is inviting, relaxing, and user-friendly for their guests. From the welcoming reception area, to the well-appointed float rooms and large washrooms that host a bidet and plenty of room to groom oneself post-float, the centre flows seamlessly from room to room in a well-thought out plan that maximizes the experience. Noreen has taken courses to offer other wellness modalities onsite as well, and they have lots of room to expand on a multitude of complementary services in the future. Although they have only been in operation for a few months, they have already noticed the “ripple effect” of their customers sharing positive experiences with others. Dennis and Noreen are very excited about their new venture and the opportunity to introduce a centre that contributes to the health and happiness of those who come to experience a “Surreal Float”.

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My First Float: The Writer’s Perspective

Prior to visiting Surreal Float, I had heard very little about this “new” holistic approach to optimum health and wellness. After I toured the facility, and the process was explained to me by Dennis and Noreen, I decided to “take the plunge” as it were. There is soft lighting in the room, and music quietly playing in the background. There is a robe and slippers waiting, as well as earplugs to protect your ears while floating.

The first step is to take a shower, perfectly located alongside the pool for ease of entry.

Ideally, you should be naked, but if you are uncomfortable with that, you can wear a bathing suit. Once I was in the pool, the lights went out and the music turned off. There was silence; and darkness. I have to admit, I went through a minute or two of anxiety through this process. I like to be in control, and suddenly there I was, naked, in the dark, with no sense of where I was. I had a little talk to myself to remind me that if I was really uncomfortable, all I had to do was wave my arm and the lights and music will come on again. I realized then, that I still had control and everything was going to be ok.

Without any stimulation, my mind relaxed in a way it has never done before. And once my mind relaxed, my body followed. I could actually feel the muscles loosening up in places that normally seemed permanently tight. My heartbeat slowed, my mind calmed, my breathing became relaxed and, for a moment in time, I didn’t have to do anything, or be anybody. It was very freeing.

I have practised meditating for many years, but still there are times I have trouble clearing my head of thoughts. I also often have trouble with those random annoying strings of thought that come while trying to go to sleep. In the floating pool, it took no effort to keep these thoughts at bay. Before I knew it, the hour was up and the lights slowly came on and the music up. I exited the pool and enjoyed the rain shower where I was supplied with wonderful shampoo, conditioner and bodywash. I was clean, refreshed, and more importantly; relaxed. In a word, it felt like my “angst” was gone. I didn’t realize that angst had become my friend as I carried it around like it belonged there. I felt free, lighter, centered, and very relaxed about everything. My first float...but certainly not my last.

Once I did this and relaxed, a real sense of calm came over me and I began to experience what is very difficult to put into words, because it is rare we get to experience this type of sensation. It was like I was nowhere, but everywhere. I imagined it was much akin to being in the womb, or floating in space. You hear nothing, you see nothing; you just “are”. There was no sense of surroundings, there was me… and only me, in a void that amplified my “presence” with myself.

“I imagined it was much akin to being in the womb, or floating in space.”

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Top Sensory Deprivation Tank Benefits

1. More “Mindfulness” & Reduced Stress The 2014 Journal of Complimentary & Behavioral Medicine study mentioned above, which tested the effects of sensory deprivation on markers of quality of life in 65 adult patients as part of a cooperativehealth project, found a significant correlation between “altered states of consciousness during the relaxation in the flotation tank” and “mindfulness in daily life.”

Scientists randomized study participants to either a wait-list control group or a flotation tank treatment group. The sensory deprivation tank group participated in a seven-week flotation program, consisting of a total of 12 float sessions. After being tested for measures of psychological and physiological well-being — including variables like stress, energy, depression, anxiety, optimism, pain, sleep quality and mindfulness — results showed significant reductions in: • Stress responses • Depression symptoms • Anxiety • Pain Scientists also observed improvements in general optimism, sleep quality and “mindful presence” (or awareness) during the study.

2. Reduced Anxiety & Depression In 2016, researchers from the Department of Psychology at Karlstad University in Sweden tested the effects of sensory deprivation tank floating on symptoms of anxiety disorders, including general anxiety disorder (or GAD), which remains one of the most challenging mental health problems to treat. Study findings showed that GADsymptomatology significantly changed for the better for the 12-session float group over a four-month period.

In fact, 37 percent of participants in the float-treatment group reached full remission from GAD symptoms at post-treatment, while the majority experienced at least some significant beneficial effects related to sleep difficulties, problems with emotional regulation and depression.

All improved outcome variables at post-treatment, except for certain symptoms of depression, remained at the 6-month followup point after the study. No negative effects surfaced in the floaters.

“Sensory deprivation floating is now considered a cost-effective, natural and helpful stress-preventative method for decreasing potential sick-leave absences and increasing general well-being in the workplace.”

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3. Improved Energy & Work Productivity Stress-related illnesses now top the most common reasons for reduced productivity at work, employees using sick days, lost sleep and employee fatigue. Problems attributed to stress include mental fatigue (also called “brain fog“), lack of concentration, burnout syndrome, migraines or tension headaches and digestive or gastric complaints.

Facing these daunting stats, more employers are offering complimentary floating sessions, or similar approaches like breaks for meditation, in order to keep stress levels low. While stress-reduction is a common doctor’s recommendation for patients who are already dealing with these problems, it seems to be most helpful when stress is prevented or managed before it reaches damaging levels. Sensory deprivation floating is now considered a cost-effective, natural and helpful stresspreventative method for decreasing potential sick-leave absences and increasing general well-being in the workplace.

4. Less Pain Several studies, as well as patient testimonials, suggest float tanks could serve as natural painkillers. The primary way that floating helps ease pain is through evoking a relaxation response, which eases tense muscles and helps improve rest and recovery. One study examining the effects of placebo treatments versus flotation tank therapy found that floating sessions reduced stress-related muscular pain in patients diagnosed with “burnout depression.”

The patients treated with this flotation-restricted environmental stimulation technique for 6 to 12 weeks exhibited less pain, lower blood pressure levels, less anxiety and depression, reduced feelings of stress and negative and increased happiness/optimism, energy and positive affectivity.

5. Help Overcoming Addictions A study from the 90s aimed at identifying the effectiveness of sensory deprivation on reducing addiction found that “REST” is a versatile, cost-effective treatment modality with demonstrated effectiveness in modifying some addictive behaviors, and has promising applications with others.”

Interestingly patients addicted to nicotine, alcohol or drugs generally saw improvements associated with refocusing the mind or rebalancing the various physical and mental effects of stress.

According to science, sensory deprivation helps patients overcome addictions by: • Induction of a general relaxation response • Serenity and relief by non-chemical means • Internal refocusing to concentrate on personal problems • Disruption of habits through removal of trigger cues and response possibilities • Increased feelings of control over addictive behaviors • Enhanced learning processes Research findings related to treating addictive behaviors with REST now support its use for: • Quitting smoking • Overeating • Alcohol consumption • Drug misuse

Surreal Float

5220 50th Ave. Taber, AB

If you have any questions or would like to book a float please call: 403.223.4006 or email: dennis@surrealfloat.ca

The Mistaken Identity Model of Addiction

Excerpt from; “Recovery: the New Cool – an awakening of consciousness.”

Publisher’s Note:

Normally we have a policy of publishing pieces exclusively highlighting local authors and artists, however, given the universal context of Pauls’ work, and the talent with which he presents his story, I wanted to share his thoughts on this most important issue that affects so many in our area of the country as well.

His writing style is refreshing, and his words non-judgmental, as he tackles a very complicated, emotional subject with the understanding of someone who has “been there” . This book has been a labor of love for Paul, as he strives to help as many people as possible who struggle with addiction.

It took years of suffering, relapse, daily surrender and a near death experience before the awakening of consciousness finally took hold and I lost all desire to use.

Looking back, I see with great clarity that it all began after reading Deepak Chopra’s book, Overcoming Addiction, in 1999. The paragraph below really caught my attention:

I see the addict as a seeker, albeit a misguided one.

The addict is a person in quest of pleasure, perhaps even a kind of transcendent experience – and I want to emphasize that this kind of seeking is extremely positive. The addict is looking in the wrong places, but he is going after something very important, and we cannot afford to ignore the meaning of his search. At least initially, the addict hopes to experience something wonderful, something that transcends an unsatisfactory or

Author: Paul Noiles

even an intolerable everyday reality. There’s nothing to be ashamed of in this impulse. On the contrary, it provided a foundation for true hope and real transformation.

I could relate to the impulses of this “misguided seeker” within me in my own history, while the language allowed me to let go of some long-held shame that I had never been able to alleviate using the 12 steps. My 12 - step work had been significant, but I continued to relapse, so I knew I needed more. At the time, I knew instinctively that this “misguided seeker” idea was important to my recovery, yet did not know why.

It was many years later that I discovered two additional, powerful quotes that fit perfectly with Deepak’s. The first one came from Gabor Maté’s, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, “Ask not why the addiction, but why the pain.” Secondly, in The

“It is my belief that the birthplace of all addictions is an identity crisis from the stressful environment in which we were raised, along with our genetic predisposition at birth i.e. our personality.”

Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle stated, “Every addiction starts with pain and ends with pain.” These highly respected men were both making PAIN the big player in addiction and not the person with an addiction.

Gabor Maté even went on to say that trauma (pain) from early childhood environment was the leading cause of addiction, because it hinders childhood brain development.

Truth was beginning to amalgamate for me in this emerging common theme; however, from my own experience in recovery, I felt like something crucial was still missing. It was a short time after the near death surgery that the missing piece began to emerge. It surfaced in the form of two questions about the true nature of addiction after a session of self-inquiry, a practice I had been practicing since 2010.

Self-inquiry is the opposite of meditation. Meditation is about stillness, silence and a state of BEING, while self- inquiry is about the bold, fearless questioning of our BEING, discerning the answers. The whole idea is to slowly and deliberately question and investigate everything, leaving no stone unturned. My practice entailed, and still entails, a period of self-inquiry right after meditation.

This particular session of self-inquiry kept pointing me to go beyond the pain, to its true source and, as I did, the first question arrived.

The first question: “What does someone with an addiction believe about themselves when in pain?” In the self-inquiry, I realized that I had always believed I, myself, was the PAIN. In my mind, this meant if I were feeling any negative feeling, I must therefore be a bad person. This belief had been running mostly at an unconscious level because I had established that truth as a little boy. And so, in my case, the answer to the first question was the belief that I must be a terrible person. The avoidance of the deep shame due to this belief was preventing me from knowing the truth of who I really was.

Paul Noiles we need to feel connected to others and life itself. We then learn to go outside ourselves in search of relief and eventually we find the substance(s) or behavior(s) that work. The constant hits we derive from addiction function to provide us with the perception of the sense of wholeness and false sense of connection for the first time in our lives.

It's important to understand that addiction is not our fault as we were wired for addiction through the mistaken identity long before we ever picked up our substance of behavior of choice.

Already really excited by this discovery, I heard my higher consciousness say, “Someone must be experiencing the pain and who is that person?”

Life becomes a relentless search to escape from the pain of not liking – even hating – ourselves. We are perpetually seeking outside ourselves to soothe the constant anxiety of the mistaken identity. Trapped in the race to maintain the false sense of wholeness, we eventually become oblivious to our self-hatred. Ego development takes over to hide it from everyone, including ourselves. The famous statement, “never underestimate the power of denial,” fits us perfectly.

It was from these powerful questions that the Mistaken Identity Model of Addiction was born. It is my belief that the birthplace of all addictions is an identity crisis from the stressful environment in which we were raised, along with our genetic predisposition at birth i.e. our personality.

For instance, I was born a highly sensitive little boy (HSP) which caused even more stress. Finally, if there are genetic patterns of addiction, depression and mental illness in one or both of family trees, this could increase our chances of developing an addiction.

Recovery is the simple, but not easy, quest to find something, and that something is our true spiritual selves. It is really a fearless search for “Who am I?” and it involves the letting go of the voice of addiction.

The second question then became: “Who is really experiencing the pain?” Up to this point, I had not understood that there was a fake me, created to survive the physiological, physical or emotional pain, and the real me lay beyond all the pain.

Stress impacts who we are as little children, and we react by creating the Mistaken Identity, known in psychological terms as the false self.

Eventually it creates a chronic pain condition that hijacks the mind, body and spirit. It’s a coping reaction to deal with the environment of pain, anxiety and fear. It literally can stop the important final brain wiring that

The mistaken identity monster becomes two-headed: one head rising from the belief we are less than others, and the second, built out of necessity, fashioned to be better than others. Embedded in its puffed up chest are the core issues of shame, rejection, fear, no trust, nonacceptance, beating ourselves up, self-pity, and feeling separate, alone and disconnected from ourselves and others. So the double-headed adversary grows, and the mistaken identity must reactively gain a snowball momentum over time, ever compelled to pick up the pace. This miserable journey makes us the blockers of our own light.

It’s an inside job, a paradigm shift in who we believe we are, face to face with all the blocks. The work is painstaking and almost impossible, because waking up is so painful. It took years of consistent recovery work before the miracle happened for me. Patience with yourself is essential.

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We peel the onion, layer by layer, so we can have a better understanding of who we are through an awakening of consciousness. Once we remove all the blocks, we will retrieve and reclaim our true nature (infinite spirit) and oneness with the source, and the addiction will slowly melt away.

Much of the effectiveness of the mistaken identity model comes from removing the focus from the parents or any other “perpetrators,” and places the responsibility for recovery where it should be: on ourselves.

The next step in the evolution of recovery

Recovery has become the new cool. Addiction is no longer about being an alcoholic or person with addiction, relegated to the darkness of church basements, or only visible as a patient who might become addicted to opioids. And the planet is undergoing a massive shift in consciousness.

In this new day, we get to be our own unique version of it all. Because we are all of it: Deepak Chopra’s “misguided seekers,” doggedly searching outside ourselves, in a quest for relief from the pain of not knowing who we are; entangled in the root cause of unresolved pain (trauma) identified by Gabor Maté and Eckhart Tolle; dragged down by the complications of Maté’s identification that addiction has a lot to do with the environment of early childhood; confounded by the contributions of the likes of Bruce Alexander and Johann Hari, who advocate that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety but human connection and bonding.

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The recovery community worldwide is endlessly blessed by the innovative, respected contributions of these trailblazers to such a devastating condition. All of their deeply considered wisdom gifted me the cumulative basis from which, with divine guidance, synthesis of the Mistaken Identity Model of Addiction became possible. My intention in sharing it, is to extend direction to the misguided seeker, the same lost one burdened by pain (trauma), wearied by environmental influences and numb with disconnection.

Addiction is about PAIN, the pain of not knowing who you are; the solution is about AWAKENING, awakening to the truth of who you are ~ Paul Noiles

Evolving from stigma to cool – Recovery is the “New Cool” We need to shift our focus from a fear-based philosophy onto the beauty and diversity of the millions of people in long-term recovery, not only to further de-stigmatize and legitimize recovery, but to recognize, catalyze and celebrate it as the powerful force it is, in changing the world. Having personally experienced the transformation of addiction/recovery from the curse I thought it was to a blessing available to anyone, I am committed to reaching as many people as possible to experience the new cool.

“Recovery is the simple, but not easy, quest to find something, and that something is our true spiritual selves. It is really a fearless search for “Who am I?” and it involves the letting go of the voice of addiction.”

After all: • It’s cool to discover who we really are.

• It’s cool to wake up clean and sober from whatever was our addiction.

• It's cool to discover that surrender is a place of great strength and power, not weakness.

• It’s cool to start each day with meditation and prayer.

• It’s cool to be of service for others who are still suffering like we used to suffer.

• It’s cool to give away what we have been freely given.

• It’s cool to have real friends who support, challenge and grow with one another.

• It’s cool to know what our issues are and make our amends.

• It’s cool to be vulnerable and to connect/bond with other like-minded people with the same goal.

• It’s cool to have a program of holistic recovery that leads to a spiritual awakening.

• It’s cool to not have to lie to ourselves or others or be a fake person anymore.

• It’s cool to not have to run from our PAIN and suffering anymore.

• It’s cool to surrender to a Power greater than ourselves but also is part of ourselves.

• It’s cool to discover that the LIGHT was in us all this time.

• It’s cool to learn how to stop beating ourselves up and love ourselves unconditionally.

• It’s cool to help others do the same, one person helping and serving another.

• It’s cool to let go of self-centeredness and be at peace.

From Paul Noiles upcoming book on addiction/recovery called “Recovery: the New Cool – an awakening of consciousness.”

About the Author – Paul Noiles

Paul Noiles has a deep passion to serve people who suffer but especially people in recovery like himself.

Paul has worked at two treatment centres teaching meditation, consciousness, fitness/health. He has facilitated family groups and aftercare programs.

He has a deep passion for many different modalities of recovery because the research shows that we have a better chance to rewire the addictive mind and have lasting recovery.

He is currently editing his first book called “Recovery: the New Cool – an awakening of consciousness” differs from other addiction/recovery books on the market because it addresses addiction not merely as a disease of the brain but as a chronic brain condition that hijacks the mind, body and spirit.

This hijacking results from what Paul terms the “Mistaken Identity Model of Addiction”, which is the foundation for the book.

Quirk - 19

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Quirk - 21

The Art of Being an Artist By: Jean Van Kleek

Linda Sprinkle

Local artist, Linda Sprinkle, can’t remember a time when art wasn’t a large part of her life, and as a small child, used to even dream about drawing. She says her mom tells her the story of how she used to display her very young daughter’s drawings to friends as she beamed with pride. Linda has spent her whole life honing her craft and exploring new ways to express her creativity. She began with drawings and sketches, eventually trying her hand at watercolors in a class taught by well-known local artist, Bob Croskery. She loved it, and continued with watercolors for many years while working and raising her family. She did show as well as sell some of her pieces back then, but art wasn’t a top priority at that time of life.

When things in her world slowed down some, she had more time to focus on her artwork and returned to watercolors. She felt a need to try something new, and expanded into acrylics. She found that acrylics lend themselves well to big and bright artwork, and the texture acrylics provide add another dimension as well. Always thinking of ways to expand on her work, Linda came up with the fascinating idea of using Jigsaw puzzle pieces as her palette. She searched the second hand stores and bought hundreds, yes hundreds, of used puzzles and sorted them all out into the various colors. She says the most interesting part of these “puzzle paintings” is that you see a different aspect every time you look at one. She adds, ” All the pieces are from different puzzles; some have tiny people in them, or eyes, or clocks or words, yet from a distance they look like regular paintings.” While she loves this medium, it is very time consuming, so this very imaginative artist did some more thinking, and her work morphed into using torn paper from old magazines to add to her already substantial repertoire of innovative ideas in design.

“Linda’s subject matter is as varied as her mediums.

From drawings of candy wrappers, to trees, wildlife, birds, people and cars, Linda sees art in everything around her.”

Linda’s subject matter is as varied as her mediums. From drawings of candy wrappers, to trees, wildlife, birds, people and cars, Linda sees art in everything around her. These days, she often incorporates torn paper into her acrylic paintings, adding another exciting dimension to her work. Linda admits she is obsessive, and maybe a little ADD, but all of what she is, is what makes her work so unique and expressive. She recently volunteered to paint several murals working with other artists at the Edith Cavell centre and St Mikes. She found it very rewarding to help brighten up and create a warm environment in these facilities for the residents. She also enjoyed the process of working with other artists towards this goal in community service. Linda has since been commissioned to create murals for private homes, and recently, along with artist Sue Wilkie (president of the Lethbridge Artists Club), completed five pieces of work on large pieces of metal in the Sports Council building for the City of Lethbridge.

Linda Sprinkle is not only a very talented and prolific artist, she also has a masters degree in post-secondary education and works fulltime at Lethbridge College in the Financial Awards Office. What’s next for Linda? She’s not sure exactly where her mind will take her (it’s very busy in there), but you can be sure this artist will always be finding exciting, innovative new ways to fill any blank space that comes her way.

Contact Linda through the Lethbridge Artists Club website https://lethbridgeartistsclub.wordpress.com /artists-gallery-new/linda-sprinkle/

Quirk - 23

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Quirk - 25

Camp Carmangay Sunset Photo: Alice May Winner: July Photo Contest

HOW TO ENTER: Submit your Lethbridge or surrounding area photo in a jpeg format with a size of 1 MB minimum. The winning photo will be published in the following issue of Quirk Magazine. We have modified the rules this year to include enhanced photos. This is because most photos are enhanced to a degree. The integrity of the photo must be maintained to qualify with no added elements besides what the picture originally contained. Quirk Magazine retains the right to use all photos for promotional purposes.

Entry Deadline July 31, 2018

Quirk - 26

Email your photos to: info@quirkmagazine.net

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Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association

AppleFest

2018

by Dil Jopp Vice President of LSLA, AppleFest! 2018 event co-ordinator Lethbridge’s Galt Gardens has been host to hundreds of community events since its creation in the early 1900s and it is Galt Gardens that will be hosting AppleFest! 2018 on Saturday, August 11th. The event starts at 11am. Vendors will be there till at least 5pm and the family friendly beer gardens and entertainment will continue till 8pm.

The Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association (LSLA) was born on July 20th, 2012. It started mainly as a group effort to create a sustainable form of housing that would incorporate off-grid technologies, shared gardening and natural building. A modern community that provides for people in a way that is environmentally harmonious has always been central to our mission. After several meetings as Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association, we realized it would be important to have a key event to produce start-up capital.

We wanted an event that would address one or more key environmental issues. Central to our thinking were ideas on reduction of fossil fuel consumption, promotion of alternative energy sources, a more localized economy, and better use of our local resources. It is common knowledge that the amount of fruit that goes to waste from fruit trees, both public and private, is a large problem. It wasn’t difficult to take the idea of trying to minimize the waste of fruit in the city as a starting point for our special event.

The Interfaith Food Bank gave us permission to hold the first AppleFest! in its parking lot in September 2013. There were a handful of vendors that rainy day, and a tiny turn out. Less than a hundred people ventured out to hear some music and check out the “apple action” that was taking place; pressing apples to make fresh apple juice and peeling apples to make delicious apple pies which were all eaten at the event!

The festival itself has evolved over time. As with most things, the efforts in creating this event have brought about growth, or evolution of sorts, that make it even more attractive to the masses. It has done this while keeping it's roots of sustainability and local "fruit rescue" at the forefront of its ‘raison d'etre’. The LSLA itself has seen changes in its focus since Quirk - 28

its start. Our main initiatives are now both the “Fruit Rescue Program” and “Permaculture Lethbridge”. Both of which you can learn more about if you come to AppleFest! 2018.

Less waste please

The Fruit Rescue Program (FRP) was born under the umbrella of the LSLA’s early goals of addressing local food security. The FRP’s efforts have saved many thousands of pounds of fruit from going to waste since it began all those years ago. The program as it stands now is a connection service of sorts - we connect willing pickers with unharvested fruit trees, pretty simple. We have a list of fruit tree donors on one side of the database and pickers on the other. Between July and October, as the growing season advances, the FRP co-ordinators keep themselves busy by checking on the progress of the fruit trees, and when the fruit is ready and ripe, they arrange as many picking events as they can. The picked fruit gets divided up between the owner of the tree, the pickers themselves and a few organizations around town including the food bank, the soup kitchen, and of course, many apples get saved for the day of AppleFest! itself. Don’t hesitate to message the FRP if you are interested in picking. Volunteer pickers are always welcome!

On the day of AppleFest! 2018, you will find us in the south west edge of Galt Gardens pressing apples and making tasty juice out of the apples that have been picked by the FRP and its volunteers leading up to the event. Again this year, visitors to the festival are invited to bring apples from their own trees to the apple pressing area where we will juice as many as we can get through (remember to bring portable containers to take your juice home with you).

Organically grown

It’s been great watching how the the festival has grown organically over the years. The number of visitors to the festival has risen steadily each year. Last year estimates were between 900/1100; a huge increase from 75 attendees in year one! The expansion of the kidzone means there are more “green’” activities designed with the younger visitor in mind. Last

Gilles Leclair, former LSLA president busy with the apple juicing, 2015.

Humble beginnings at the first AppleFest in 2013 at the Interfaith Food Bank. year we had our first beer garden at AppleFest!

The Pogo Bros, who organise Octoberfest, are teaming up with us again to provide lots of liquid refreshment for those who want to relax in the gardens and enjoy the great music provided by a variety of great local musical talent.

Not just a festival

The introduction of “Learning Tents” in 2016 was a key moment in the development of the festival from an educational point of view. Not only could the people who came to the event expect great musical entertainment, a great selection of green vendors and tasty food; they were also offered the opportunity to attend free workshops on a variety of sustainable topics.

This year you can hear about the important role of the bison on the prairies, and about how eating bugs (yes, you read that right.. bugs!) is becoming more and more popular as a source of protein in a world where the population is ever increasing. Maybe you want to learn about non wasteful menstruation products or how to make tea from the herbs in your garden? Do check out our website for more details closer to the day so you can be sure not to miss the workshops that you are interested in. We are incredibly grateful to the Southern Alberta Art Gallery for donating their library for the day so that the workshops can take place in relative quiet while still being conveniently close to the main festival events.

AppleFest! is also a great place to connect with the LSLA members. We love chatting about Permaculture Lethbridge and explaining the whole idea of ‘zero waste’ to people who are

interested in reducing the amount of garbage that is sent to the local landfill.

With the help of our major sponsors; Heart of the City, Purple Carrot and Solar Optix ,our dream of going into communities in and around Lethbridge and organizing community apple picking and apple juicing events in the future seems to no longer be a pipe dream. If we don’t have an industrial apple press of our own by August 11th we will most likely have it by the end of this year’s growing season.

We want everyone to leave Galt Gardens on August 11th having been at least a little bit inspired to make some changes in their lives because if we want global change we need to start with local change… and that’s about making the small changes in our own lives.

The LSLA seeks to educate, empower, evoke, create and connect with people in all ways of Sustainable and Regenerative initiatives which further develop and strengthen the resilience of our communities and their local food production, water conservation, alternate energy options and ecologically based building practices. WE are the resource of CONNECTION in the Lethbridge and surrounding area. We pride ourselves on maintaining and fostering healthy, reciprocal relationships with all businesses, individuals and organizations who are engaging in sustainability for our community.

Family friendly festival ...

Fun times in the KidZone.

“The festival itself has evolved over time. As with most things, the efforts in creating this event have brought about growth, or evolution of sorts, that make it even more attractive to the masses” Quirk - 29

How to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal Without Sending Your Bank Account to the Curb

by Georgie Erickson

There are some wonderful home improvements that can be made these days to make our home more attractive as well as increase its value. The problem is, our budget doesn’t often match the cost of renovations that can become a major expense when left unchecked. The following are some excellent ideas to spruce up your home with a little time and effort, while keeping your bank account happy. It’s a great opportunity to be creative as you explore the possibilities in making your house inviting and unique. It’s never been easier to try DIY projects for your home. There is so much helpful information and tutorials on the internet. If you can dream it, there will be a tutorial for it somewhere on google!

1.

Many people have their address number displayed on the side of their home, but if your house sits back from the street, or you have a long driveway, the numbers might be hard to see. Create a beautiful way to show off flowers while elegantly displaying your address. This example has a fence post with a hanging flower basket, but there are many versions of this you can create with a little imagination.

2.

Transform two ordinary pots into beautiful planters by flipping one upside down and gluing or cementing another pot, upright, on top.

They look elegant, beautiful, and they are perfect for lining a walkway or a front patio. You can also find inexpensive terra cotta pots and paint them whatever color you’d like.

4.

Instead of a traditional look of having your house number on the side of your home or a column, try this beautiful idea. Create your own stencils using paper in a thick stock, then paint the numbers on a planter pot sitting on your front patio. So simple, so eye-catching.

3.

5.

Boring wood or metal columns can instantly be upgraded by using a stone veneer that wraps around them. There are many tutorials online for this, and it’s easier than you may think.

Garage doors don’t need to be boring. Bring the Italian countryside to your home by creating a pergola over your garage door and adding some climbing plants or vines.

Quirk -- 33 31 Quirk

7.

6.

Create a vibrant pop of color in your front yard by making a flower bed at the base of trees and planting vividly-colored flowers and plants.

Where do your water run-off spouts go when it rains? Into a rainwater collector or onto your lawn and yard? Why not transform it into a beautiful stone river bed? Just dig out a trench from your spout leading to a drainage area, and line it with river rock.

8.

If you have a front porch, it simply won’t be complete until you have a front porch swing. Buying a pre-built porch swing can be costly, but if you build it yourself, it will be just a fraction of the cost. A porch swing can also be just one more of many uses for recycled pallets. Once again, there are many tutorials online on how to build with pallets.

9.

Quirk - 32

Upgrade your garage by adding windows – but don’t worry, you don’t have to install them or purchase a brand new garage door, just paint them on! Using a little tape and some black paint, you can give the illusion of windows for just a few dollars.

10.

Adding a simple brick edge to your flower bed or walkway can be a major improvement to the curb appeal of your home. The best part? Bricks are relatively inexpensive. You can also often find used bricks on buy and sell sites.

11.

Adding window boxes to your home is a classic way to instantly boost your curb appeal and beautify your home. They are not expensive to buy, but if you are even a little bit handy, you can build them at a very low cost (free pallet material can also be used for this).

13.

Once again, inexpensive bricks can come to your curb appeal rescue.

Using bricks and a bit of mulch, you can add tree rings around the trunks of the trees in your front yard. It’s fine details like this that give that finishing touch.

12.

If building is your strong suit, building a picket fence is a fun weekend project that will completely transform the look of your front yard. It not only improves the aesthetic appeal of your property, but also allows you to create a functional way to frame your yard and other landscaping features. It’s best to check your local building codes before starting this project.

14.

Did you know that you can stain your concrete?

You can… it’s easy and inexpensive For around $40, you can buy a can of concrete stain and create beautiful patterns on your front walkway or entryway. Such an easy way to upgrade your home.

15.

15.It’s incredible what a little molding and paint can do for a front door. Not to mention, this project can be completed in just a few hours. You can look online or go to a local building store to get some great ideas.

16.

If you have a concrete porch that’s lacking in character, you can give that look a 180 by creating a pallet wood deck right on top. There is no end to what you can do with pallets!

17.

A/C units might be one of the ugliest things that we have outside of our house, and it seems like they’re always in plain sight of the street.

Help hide your unsightly air conditioner by planting a few bushes, shrubs, or flowers around it.

18.

I love this idea! Take a boring wooden fence and make it a magical art piece in your yard with this fun project.

19.

Solar lights. One of my personal favorites in outdoor décor. Nothing is more welcoming than a yard that lights up at night with warm friendly glow.

There are so many options now in ways to tastefully accent the outdoor of your home with solar. From garden accents, to fence post caps, walkway guides, strings of mini lights in your trees and bushes, to solar security sensor lights, they all contribute to beautifying as well as protecting your home. And best of all, nothing is added to your electric bill.

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Entry Deadline July 31, 2018 Quirk - 35

The Lethbridge & District Humane Society has been a no-kill haven since its inception in early 1970. It is their goal to take care of strays and abandoned pets until a home can be found for them to thrive and have a new start in life. Some animals stay for years before finding a family to love them.

With the support of Park Pet Hospital & Northside Veterinary Clinic, Quirk would like to introduce a few of the residents who have been waiting for quite some time. Rescued pets are exceptionally loving,

and very grateful for a chance to be with you. If you have room in your home and your heart, please give the Humane Society a call to give one of these furry friends a chance to belong, and be loved.

They are a gift!

Call: (403) 320-8991 Website: lethbridgehumanesociety.com

Bosco

(male Weimaraner Lab cross) Bosco was born in September of 2012. He can be a bit nervous with someone new at first but then settles down and is fine. Bosco is a fairly energetic strong dog who is well trained and walks well on a leash. He does not want to live with smaller children, teens are ok. Bosco is looking for a home that can keep up with his energy and provide him with the exercise he needs.

Anna

(female boxer) Anna was born in July of 2015. She is a boxer who is extremely affectionate and will lick your face of if you let her. Anna greatly enjoys going for walks (and she needs those to work off a bit of excess weight). She loves everyone, sometimes showing it with a bit too much excitement when she jumps up but will learn to calm down a bit with a bit of training. Anna is a wonderful girl who will be a great addition for a new fairly active family.

Malibu

(white and orange shorthair male) Malibu was born in beginning of 2017. He is a very rambunctious and energetic young man who is always happy to take a moment for a for a quick cuddle and some petting. One of his favorite things to do is to ride on someone’s shoulder and rub against their head. Malibu is pretty easy going with the other cats and likes all people who come in. He will be a great addition for a new household.

Ramsey is a good looking orange and white kitten, about 6 months old. He loves to play wi his toys, and with his siblings. He's got a great purr, which he uses as soon as you pick hi up! He's energetic and fun, very entertaining to watch.

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Skye

(grey tabby female) Skye is a very petite and slightly timid little tabby. She came to the Humane Society during the spring of 2017 with her kittens although she was barely old enough to have them. Skye takes a bit to get to know people, but once she does sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very loyal and enjoys attention. She especially loves to play with toys.

Brandi

(lab/border collie cross black & white) Brandi was born in the spring of 2016. She is a very sweet girl who knows some commands: sit, down, stay (sort of) and walks pretty well on leash. Brandi is very excited to see anyone who visits her. She does have a fair bit of energy and is looking for a new home that can give her the time for nice walks and some playtime activities. Brandi will be a great companion in her new home.

Max

(male border collie) Max was born in the fall of 2012. He is a typical border collie with the herding instincts. Max enjoys his time with the volunteers and prefers time in the compound rather than going for walks but we are working on that. He can be very affectionate although may be a little timid at first. He is also very alert to everything that may be going on around him. Max is looking for a family that can provide some activities to work with his energy level. He would like a home with no small children or other pets.

Park Pet Hospital 142 Columbia Blvd. West Phone: 403-328-0028

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LESSONS I’VE LEARNED FROM MY DOGS

By Jean Van Kleek

Tradition.

I realized this past especially cold winter, that I unintentionally began a “tradition” with the poodles. Each evening I would settle in to watch TV with a bowl of veggies and fruit by my side (along with a couple of cookies so as not to be “too” healthy). The dogs would stare me down, so I began including some treats for them. It started with a begging strip, dental chew and cheese that morphed into them also sharing my snap peas, carrot and cucumber. I don’t think they especially like the latter treats, but it’s our bonding time so they pretend to love it. It got so that Shani would start waiting in the hallway with her paw up around that time. Such a simple thing, but it became a very special time to them. I realized that tradition is very important. We continue traditions each year as a way to connect and provide some continuity in an increasingly disconnected and random world. My family used to go on Sunday drives to Cochrane for ice

cream, I still remember those fond memories as we’d sing with our mom in the car. Christmas always comes with traditions from my Hungarian grandma.

The shortbread cookies, the card games and jigsaw puzzles are all still a mainstay in our celebration each year.

Traditions are important, as they are shared time that brings us closer. Shared time is something to cherish and is something we often have too little of.

Life is short, but simple traditions will last forever with those you love.

Memories are all we leave behind… make them good ones!

“I realized that tradition is very important.

We continue traditions each year as a way to connect and provide some continuity in an increasingly disconnected and random world.”

RECIPE Beef Vegetable Cookies

UxÄÄt 9 f{tÇ| Kiwi

Simple and healthy. Again a soft, chewy cookie. No crumbs.

As my cookie people know I do not use flour. My binding agents have been ground chickpeas, lentils and quick oats, (uncooked) mashed naked potatoes. No butter, milk or salt.

I decided to get clever today and put quick oats in my food processor making it into flour! To make life easy use your processor for all except ground beef.

In this order use a large bowl to mix accordingly. Preheat oven to 350 F. Place parchment paper on a large baking tray/ cookie sheet. Now you are ready!

1 pound lean ground beef (or around 454 grams) 2 cups quick oats (in processer to flour consistency) 3 beaten eggs (I use free range) 3 tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil 1 1/2 cups ground flaxseed ( not roasted) 1 apple ( not green like granny smith) cored and seeded I can drained lentils (drained and pureed) 2 medium carrots skin on (minced) 2 stalks celery. Leaves removed (minced) 2 cup peas pureed (I just used frozen...thawed) Quirk - 38

Mix like crazy. I use disposable gloves. Drop onto your cookie sheet. Press in uniformly to about one inch thick.

Score with a knife to a size big enough to give your dog a couple of bites per cookie.

Bake at 350 for about an hour.

*Michelle's recipes include well researched ingredients to help make your dog happy & healthy.

Check for doneness like you would your cake.

These must be refrigerated for maximum 5 days. Or freeze in zip lock bags.

Thank you.

Hope our best friends love these!

Michelle Zandstra

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From the Ground Up

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This workshop will teach you practises that will ground you in & out of the arena. www.lodestoneleadership.com

403.634.5056

janet@lodestoneleadership.com â&#x20AC;˘ Magrath, AB *Funding available through Canda Job Grant

1421 3rd Avenue South â&#x20AC;˘ 403-329-4445 www.thestovepipecompany.com