tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11617226582643122782011-11-30T23:20:28.189-05:00I'm a Canadian writer who is currently based in Edmonton, Alberta but is constantly travelling around researching my projects. Read about my adventures in life and on the page!dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.comBlogger1541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-25417554725523069032011-10-11T11:03:00.001-04:002011-10-11T11:04:39.610-04:00

I recently re-launched my website, www.daniellemc.com, and have my blog integrated to the site. Please check it out!(I will be redirecting this URL over there soon...)

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-19476249294152477312011-09-02T09:55:00.005-04:002011-09-02T10:24:25.552-04:00

On a recent trip to Toronto I was able to get together with a good friend from my undergrad years at McGill University, Katie Reed. We met at her shop, Sole Survivor, in Kensington Market. Katie, who is 28 years old, has owned and operated this cobbling business for two years. As a young woman, she bucks the cobbler stereotype (in fact, she is the only female cobbler in the Greater Toronto

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-71085676238091525212011-08-31T14:39:00.009-04:002011-08-31T15:19:14.124-04:00

Some shots from a recent road trip from Edmonton, Alberta through to BC and WA (and back): A harbour on Salt Spring Island, B.C. Salt Spring has a vibrant artist community - and many of their pieces are out for public enjoyment. Salt Spring Air seemed to have a thriving business: saw three of their Beavers take off in quick succession while enjoying an ice cream cone one afternoon.

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-42573889911452058132011-08-06T14:22:00.002-04:002011-08-06T14:33:05.502-04:00

There are so many tablets on the market that it can be difficult trying to decide which one to buy. Here, guest blogger and tech-toy junky Doug Pagnutti gives his take on which pass the test for the average consumer:My favourite one so far is the Asus 10" Transformer. The tablet itself is pretty much like all the other Android honeycomb tablets but the keyboard that comes with it is genius. Not

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-4777681662611681242011-07-30T13:56:00.007-04:002011-07-30T15:36:40.256-04:00

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be in Yellowknife, NWT for the Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In doing research for my book on northern Canadian aviation history. Here's a little photo album from this amazing event:It may be ranked one of the coldest places in Canada during the winter, but July was warm, sunny, and surprisingly bug-free!After a great meet-and-greet on Friday night and a pancake

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-64454288450775270832011-07-13T16:12:00.004-04:002011-07-13T17:40:52.962-04:00

I just found out I'm a finalist for Chatelaine's 2011 Women of the Year Awards, which is very exciting! While I was originally nominated for the 20-Under-30 category, when the finalists were announced, I'd been switched to "Mavericks." I had to pause: me, a maverick? According to their criteria, women in this category are "Trailblazers, pushing boundaries socially, politically, creatively or in

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-12929926773885416992011-07-09T08:57:00.005-04:002011-07-09T09:25:17.878-04:00

Aviation history - indeed history in general - is often seen as a little dull by the general public. While there are those who love lists of dates, facts, and might even have a footnote fetish like I do, most people do not. I think most of us do like humour, gripping stories, and special events that highlight the adventure and romance of of bygone eras.Me with Alberta Aviation Museum exec

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-38803200372289205402011-06-29T12:30:00.003-04:002011-06-29T13:19:11.040-04:00

I've been busy organizing and running a conference the past month (more on that soon), and so have been remiss in my blogging, but that doesn't mean the world stopped or the ol' wheels in my head ceased turning.Lately I've had a string of encounters involving women of all ages, that has made those wheels work overtime:1. There was the women writers evening I felt got a little too man-hatey for my

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-4925636649376731712011-05-26T10:27:00.007-04:002011-05-26T11:42:23.156-04:00

The afternoon of May 7th I found myself attending two more sessions at the Edge of Print Conference that raised a lot of questions for me.The first was "The Multi-Niche Writer: Spinning Your Idea through Genres and Media" with Judy Schultz. Judy is an accomplished writer and tv host, and certainly knows how to spin a concept in a dozen directions, but I experienced a lot of push back listening to

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-23177251427289287702011-05-17T11:40:00.011-04:002011-05-17T12:28:27.633-04:00

So in my last post on the Edge of Print Conference that took place in Edmonton May 6-7th, I mentioned the keynote set the stage for a day of debating the pros and cons of e-publishing, social media, and other 21st century writerly dilemmas.The first panel discussion I attended only fueled the fire. Made up of Jerome Martin (Spotted Cow Press), Sarah Ivany (Freehand Books), and Todd Anderson (U of

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-38072250229851507812011-05-10T18:44:00.009-04:002011-05-17T11:35:21.655-04:00

Another weekend, another writing conference! This last one was Get Publishing's Edge of Print event, and it was a heavy-hitter of sessions, panels, and pitch camps, plus lots of time to network.The day opened with a keynote from Minister Faust (aka Malcolm Azania, aka Captain E-Town) called "Honing Your Edge." As his bio says:"Internationally-acclaimed, award-winning Edmonton author Minister

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-85279923838004827322011-05-04T12:25:00.013-04:002011-05-06T12:03:06.400-04:00

I wrote a whole post about going to the Creative Nonfiction Collective Conference in Banff, Alberta, but a glitch killed it and somehow all that came through were the photos!I don't have the spirit to re-write the post, but have included some links to great sites, authors and works I learned about this weekend.Don Sedgwick of Transatlantic Literary Agency suggested the following:http://

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-32605302714172480572011-04-20T18:42:00.006-04:002011-04-20T19:22:44.056-04:00

I have a crush. It doesn't happen often, but I am completely intellectually smitten with Colleen Fitzpatrick after sitting in on her sessions this past Sunday at the Alberta Genealogical Society convention. Dr. Fitzpatrick (she has a PhD in nuclear physics) is a forensic genealogist, author, and speaker, now that she isn't doing contracts for NASA. In the first of the three talks I heard, she led

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-32342115494955578892011-04-13T09:41:00.002-04:002011-04-13T10:13:57.059-04:00

There are a fascinating array of reality shows out there dealing with the vagaries of personal finance. My favourites so far include Gail Vaz-Oxlade as quirky yet hard-ass host of Til Debt Do Us Part and Princess (still haven't been able to catch the TDDUP Home Edition on HGTV since I gave up cable, though! Gail, are you proud??). These shows have been my Finance 101 courses. They've taught me

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-64284840730790574682011-04-05T07:10:00.007-04:002011-04-05T08:05:18.078-04:00

When I lived in Wyoming I was spoiled fitness-wise. Sure, it could get cold in the winter - especially with the wind - but it was sunny most days, I could shovel the snow with a broom, and there were lots of wide open spaces for hikes with the dog. The recreation centre also had a $30 monthly pass that got you unlimited use of the equipment, pool and classes. And they were good classes: yoga,

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-24414991876621734152011-03-28T09:21:00.006-04:002011-03-28T09:49:49.749-04:00

In O Magazine's February 2011 issue I saw an article about combatting pantry clutter, so when I realized I was bumping up against the limit of my monthly food budget I decided to set myself a challenge: create meals for four days based solely on what was in my pantry, fridge, and freezer. A quick inventory revealed the following odds and ends: two leeks; a bag of carrots; cans of diced tomatoes,

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-75783735369520525242011-03-17T10:22:00.006-04:002011-03-17T10:56:52.946-04:00

I often write about aviation history these days and am invariably asked if I'm a pilot. Back in university when I was focused mostly on First Nations history and missionaries, people also made assumptions about my religious background (although interestingly few wondered if I was FN, even though I fit right in at Kahnawake and Kanesatake).I've heard the argument that you need to be an "insider"

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-53515353095667524662011-03-07T10:35:00.005-05:002011-03-07T12:23:58.502-05:00

The last few days a bad cold meant I could barely hold my head up, let alone sit at my desk. But I could read, and luckily I was in the middle of Rosemary Sulivan's fascinating biography on Margaret Atwood's early years: The Red Shoes (1998).I have always been ambivalent about Atwood and I don't really know why. Maybe it's because by the time I was sentient in the 1990s she was already part of

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-85614586520410968152011-03-01T10:54:00.005-05:002011-03-01T11:23:31.017-05:00

I've had education on the brain quite a bit recently.After all, I was just involved with the Young Readers' Conference at a local Junior High last Friday, and really impressed with the innovative teaching happening there. Although, a couple of weeks ago I chatted with a disillusioned friend (M.Ed) trying to teach critical thinking and social responsibility to her grade school-age students, only

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-2800493436942796422011-02-27T15:23:00.003-05:002011-02-27T16:16:34.602-05:00

Last Friday I spent the morning as one of the speakers at a Young Readers Conference in Edmonton. During each of the two 40-minutes sessions, I worked with 25-odd students ranging in age from 10 to 15, talking about aviation history. It was terrifying. Exhilerating. Fascinating.I got an email about this "gig" out of the blue last December from one of the conference organizers. It was the same day

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-19962892455694334112011-02-20T19:14:00.002-05:002011-02-20T19:26:12.635-05:00

Blogging has unfortunately dropped to the bottom of the writing pile. Before it comes tweeting, facebook status-updating, grocery-list writing, emailing, powerpoint slides, website copy, grant applications, and magazine articles.But this blog entry still comes before poetry and my book projects, which sit in boxes on the highest shelf, just out of my reach. Snippets of dialogue and images form in

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-61309917152882504772011-02-04T11:02:00.003-05:002011-02-04T13:29:19.076-05:00

I've been a little quiet on the blogging front since my return from the Yukon, which I blame mostly on all the shovelling I had to do last month. According to my Edmontonian friends and colleagues, it is definitely one of the snowiest winters in living history. Now that the storms have moved off and are pummelling central and eastern Canada, I can recap some of the culinary and creative

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-22304535810169797172011-01-17T12:44:00.002-05:002011-01-17T13:03:19.031-05:00

This week has seen a steady stream of cold temps (by southern Canadian standards, my Yukon friends keep reminding me) and snow. For the most part it's just been a few centimetre here and there, then yesterday it decided to dump on us. Again.This morning I woke up to at least another 10 cm and the snow is still falling. As the one who works from home, the shovelling has largely fallen to me (

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-35869191906144422842011-01-10T11:23:00.005-05:002011-01-10T12:06:25.921-05:00

On Friday afternoon the snow started falling... and falling... and falling... By Saturday morning there was a good 20 cm of fresh powder. Even though motorists were advised to stay off the roads, they didn't look that bad in our area yet and so we piled the dog into the Honda Element (with snow tires) and headed for a hearty breakfast at Cora's. Then off to the dog park with our snowshoes. We

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-87466366228324507662010-12-28T17:07:00.005-05:002010-12-28T19:17:30.745-05:00

It's that time of year. The time of year when magazines, tv shows, internet sites, and everyone else make top ten lists. So I will too. About my time up north (although it's very hard to pick just ten!). Here they are in no particular order: 1. Working, reading, watching tv, chatting, and napping at Berton House on the sectional snuggled up in the HBC blanket. 2. Experiencing ice fog in minus 40-

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-14919986139856652452010-12-24T10:56:00.002-05:002010-12-24T11:06:26.722-05:00

A season of goodbyesOf memoriesFalling like snowSettlingOn Me.So many promisesHopes tied togetherFinger in the middleHolding placeMaking sureWishes wrapped up tightAs arms around waists.

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-59216198921864110332010-12-21T12:42:00.002-05:002010-12-21T13:01:47.689-05:00

I've met some neat writers, historians, and storytellers during my time in the Yukon and I wanted to share some of their 2010 works with you (while I sit in the Whitehorse airport awaiting my flight home to Edmonton!): 1. Michael Gates' History Hunting in the Yukon is a collection of essays from this local historian and researcher. I got to meet Michael and his wife Kathy at their home last week.

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-27356980940208965282010-12-08T21:25:00.006-05:002010-12-08T22:21:52.544-05:00

With a week till I leave Dawson and the temperature at a balmy -15 Celsius, I decided yesterday I would climb Dome Mountain one more time.I'd climbed the Dome twice before. Once with Doug when we first arrived in the Yukon in late September. It was -10 degrees, sunny, and there was just enough snow to make the powerline trail treacherous. The second time was late October. That time I took the

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-71212508784821314412010-12-07T11:06:00.003-05:002010-12-07T11:15:10.926-05:00

The Edmonton Journal featured an article about the Yukon in its Saturday travel section and a friend forwarded it to me. Of course I couldn't resist writing in! My letter was published today (but the photo's my little blog addition):Edmonton Journal December 7, 2010 Re: "Yukon's northern charm beckons; Newcomers thrill to area's rich history," The Journal, Dec. 4.I got a real kick out of reading

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-41694981784613461242010-12-01T22:05:00.006-05:002010-12-02T01:25:29.517-05:00

When technology works it's a glorious thing.No, the Writers' Trust of Canada hasn't managed to snag a Star Trek teleporter, but they did use Skype to successfully beam me all the way from Dawson onto a 15-ft screen at the Berton House Gala in Toronto last night - which, if you've had any experience with Skype, is nothing short of incredible.Apparently I came in loud and clear to the host, Vicki

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-10948171819370811182010-11-30T10:15:00.005-05:002010-11-30T12:12:22.891-05:00

I love to walk, and since arriving in late September I've tried to get out and explore the town of Dawson (and environs) on foot as much as possible. Heading out my door and across Eighth Ave I can join up with the 9th Avenue Trail behind Robert Service's cabin, which links up to the Crocus Bluffs trail and up to the cemeteries on the hill. Apparently here you need to watch your step, as this

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-53178407374054097362010-11-26T12:25:00.008-05:002010-11-27T10:50:26.305-05:00

The Yukon has a long, distinguished history of bearded men. Images of hairy-faced fellas abound from the gold-rush era. There were many good reasons to grow a beard in those days: warmth, protection from the elements, plus it was a good place to stash gold nuggets...Flash-forward to the 1940s and well-coiffed moustaches were the rage across the Western world. But 'up here' men were encouraged to

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-19765384994361677902010-11-14T02:12:00.006-05:002010-11-14T02:53:17.341-05:00

Dawson may be known for the Klondike gold rush, Jack London, Robert Service, and Pierre Berton. But it has another claim to fame - the Sourtoe Cocktail - and last night I was inducted into the club as member #39600.After dinner at the Drunken Goat we ambled over to the Downtown Hotel, home of the Sourtoe. We sidled up to the bar and announced to the bartender, a lovely aussie lady, that we were

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-22129270629982954222010-11-10T16:56:00.008-05:002010-11-11T15:23:22.023-05:00

When I first came to Dawson in late September and scoured the town for hangouts, Bombay Peggy's floated to the top of the list. Don't get me wrong, the Billy Goat, Downtown, Eldo and the Pit are fun, but Peggy and I became fast friends.Maybe it's the sense of history, or the original art on the walls, or the great bar staff. Maybe it's the proximity to KIAC, making it a natural gathering place

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-24287809088823859672010-11-02T17:42:00.006-04:002010-11-02T23:57:12.143-04:00

Flying from Old Crow to Inuvik I managed to snag a window seat away from the wing, but it was an overcast day so I wasn't able to glimpse the scenery below too often. When I did, somewhere over the border between the Yukon and the NWT, it looked pretty unforgiving and I couldn't help but think of some of the crash stories I'd been hearing during my research. When I landed at Inuvik airport I felt

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-47794967270271512932010-10-29T01:34:00.008-04:002010-10-29T14:27:54.153-04:00

On Wednesday, October 13th, after a day and a half to do laundry and regroup in Dawson, I repacked my bag and headed out. Destination: Old Crow, the Yukon's only fly-in community. Old Crow is not a hub of tourism. The group of us staying at Patti and Kenny's Ch'oo Deenjik Accommodations was pretty indicative of those that come to the Yukon's most northern community: there was me, a

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-44045445587222051682010-10-25T19:35:00.003-04:002010-10-26T11:12:51.359-04:00

I left Whitehorse for Watson Lake on Sunday, October 3rd - a perfect fall day by any standard. Driving down the Alaska Highway with the sun on my face, rocking out to my mixed CDs (not many radio stations along this stretch of road), life was good. I was headed to WL for a few days of northern aviation research. I had a list of names, a B&B booked, and a vague idea of visiting the airport. Beyond

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-56683003086818135502010-10-24T11:35:00.004-04:002010-10-24T23:56:06.102-04:00

Since coming to the Yukon I've been lucky to meet and hear some fantastic musicians. It may be a small territory population-wise, but it's big on talent in this writer's humble opinion. I met Gerald Edzerdza (on right) in Watson Lake when I interviewed him for my book on northern aviation. It turns out another of his loves is making music and this spry 80-year-old regularly travels for fiddling

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-50193954807328726462010-10-21T23:33:00.004-04:002010-10-22T13:10:03.153-04:00

Upon my arrival in Dawson I realized I didn't actually have the address for Berton House handy. A quick tour of town would surely reveal it, I thought. First stop: front street. Looking out over the Yukon River I thought I spied a cozy cabin. Maybe this was it? But how to get to it....?Then I found this handsome hovel in the middle of town with a built-in cat door, and we all know Pierre Berton

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-6070738179912095672010-10-21T11:45:00.006-04:002010-10-21T12:58:29.770-04:00

On a good day the drive between Whitehorse and Dawson is 6 hours. When you hit snow and ice... a little longer (there were a couple of cars still in the ditch from the snowstorm the day before).I strongly recommend stopping at the Braeburn Lodge to fortify yourself with a family-sized cinnamon bun. In the off-seaon it's a little intimidating with all the big, bearded guys in Harley Davidson gear,

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-58816104701542863042010-10-20T11:06:00.004-04:002010-10-20T12:52:17.652-04:00

The air was nippy when we arrived at Muktuk Adventures north of Whitehorse, but the sun was warm enough to melt the weekend's snow and turn the road and yard into a mud pit. The 100+ huskies didn't seem to mind, and those that weren't fast asleep on top of their huts barked in greeting. On the porch were half a dozen "old-timers" who get free rein after years of dedicated racing. Some hobble over

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-18248546831483309002010-10-19T12:05:00.003-04:002010-10-19T13:22:04.885-04:00

After a few wet days in Skagway it was lovely to feel the sun on my face as we drove the Kia back into the Yukon.I'd read about the Carcross Desert in the tourist guides - apparently the smallest desert in the world at 260 hectares - and was game for a hike after I'd scarfed some Skagway smoked salmon on rosemary Triscuits (a delicious combo!).When I was living in Wyoming I'd hiked the Killpecker

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-29541193584714273192010-10-14T10:43:00.004-04:002010-10-14T11:18:19.020-04:00

Two days after the calendar told us fall had officially begun - and on our first morning in Whitehorse - Doug and I awoke to this wintry scene. All I could think was, "This is going to be a long winter..." The rental didn't come with a scraper, so out came my ski mitts and I had at 'er while a number of SARtechs (Search and Rescue technicians) looked on amusedly. But I managed to dig the car out

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-14623813197658983362010-10-05T10:02:00.006-04:002010-10-05T13:38:00.919-04:00

When we woke up in Whitehorse (Yukon) the morning of September 24th, we were greeted by snow - and lots of it. We were due in Skagway (Alaska) that afternoon and saw the forecast there was rain. We told ourselves the things foolish travellers always do: "It's only a couple of hours away!" "We'll go slow!" "How bad could it be? "In a rental car with semi-bald four-season tires, the mountain passes

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-81012677654885867952010-09-21T07:37:00.005-04:002011-02-04T10:54:15.072-05:00

This weekend was Alberta Arts Days, the time of year when the Texas of the north proves to the rest of Canada it is not a cultural sinkhole. That it is more than just tarsand and delicious beef.Actually, I don't think the province cares what the rest of the country thinks - they do this for the sheer enjoyment of it.And there is plenty to be enjoyed. Friday evening I was sipping wine and noshing

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-25388433737882180282010-09-15T11:08:00.007-04:002010-09-15T12:03:26.789-04:00

Friday, September 10th:Left Edmonton at 7:30am. Hit some construction on the Henday and missed my turn. After a short detour back on the road. Stop in Edson for Tim Horton's breakfast sandwich combo.Doug at trailhead. Used Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies hiking guide to choose Trip #123: Beaver, Summit and Jacques Lake. It had a very good shoulder-season rating, promised to be easy,

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-52491921121128771172010-09-07T09:07:00.003-04:002010-09-07T10:06:55.421-04:00

Where can you buy a piece of art for $3 and a bag of buttons? Or sell an ugly pink chair for $5 and a loaf of bread? Or trade your book for a toilet? Kijiji!Those are just a couple examples of my local online transactions this summer. In fact, some have even called me the Kijiji Queen (or in less-nice times, the Kijiji Nut). Here are some things I've learned:1. As at thrift stores, garage sales,

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-6673454602749561302010-08-09T09:23:00.004-04:002010-08-09T10:11:39.199-04:00

I can finally reveal my deep, dark secret life: I was a juror for the Isabel Miller Young Writers Award. Whew! There, now you know.It was very hard for me to keep this secret for so long. Back in May I was approached by the Writers Guild of Alberta and my mission, if I chose to accept it, was to sit on a jury and judge hundreds of submissions of poetry and prose from 12 to 18 year olds. "Sure!" I

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-82811519191094776022010-08-01T18:49:00.001-04:002010-08-01T18:50:53.713-04:00

One of my friends sent me a link to this song/video by two London, Ont. artists in response to the "Oh... Canada rap." They don't call me Dani Canuck for nothing!

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-66623056616975706112010-07-24T11:24:00.000-04:002010-07-24T11:24:23.404-04:00

Pretty darn catchy, eh guy?

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-44161872669955552502010-07-24T09:41:00.004-04:002010-07-24T11:11:57.348-04:00

June 7th Andria and I departed Ottawa in a 14-ft Uhaul truck, complete with 6 wheels, Mother's Attic and lots and lots of stuff.We noticed the licence plate fittingly - since I'm a Canuck and Andria's from the States - had both Canadian and American flags. We decided this was a something of a two-nation frienship tour across northern Ontario and the Prairies... and since we had only intermittent

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-6659883346035519182010-07-13T11:03:00.009-04:002010-07-13T14:05:55.248-04:00

My friend, Andria, arrived in Montreal June 3rd, which turned out to be perfect timing, as by that point my brain couldn't hold any more information about history and aviation (or anything else for that matter)...I met Andria when I was living in Wyoming and while she has logged many air and road miles, she'd never been to Canada before. Imagine my surprise back in our local coffee shop last

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-81442879787850109552010-06-15T13:23:00.007-04:002010-06-15T14:29:15.565-04:00

While many were working on their yards and tans the past few weeks, I've been making the rounds of conferences. Which, in weather-changeable Alberta, is probably a safer bet.The Creative Nonfiction Collective conference back in April started off the 2010 season. Held at the gorgeous Banff Centre, I let myself be inspired by the immensely talented writers around me and delighted in the deer

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-45509574011870220182010-05-14T09:25:00.004-04:002010-05-14T10:01:24.353-04:00

This past weekend was a big one for our little family. It marked the opening game of Doug's rugby season with Edmonton's Leprechaun-Tigers (yes, that's really their name, although they usually refer to themselves as the L-Ts. I wonder why?). Go green! Doug played on teams all through high school and undergrad, and his last season was in Montreal with the Westmount Ravens in 2005. Grad school in

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-32477554702795916652010-05-07T10:04:00.006-04:002010-05-07T10:41:11.306-04:00

We've been in our new house for about a month and a half now and people are clamouring for pictures of the renos. No before and afters yet, folks, but here are some in-process shots of our 'half-way there' house:The main bath back in mid-March when I took down the hinged mirrors, demo-ed the DIY ceramic tile backsplash, and revealed that it used to be painted (ceiling and all) this day-glo

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-7590076928858431092010-05-04T09:34:00.009-04:002010-05-04T10:53:27.513-04:00

Dawson may be a small town (1,200 permanent residents) and the Yukon Territory may be one of the most sparsely populated places in the world (30,000 people in 2006), but it seems everywhere I go I find connections to the place I will call home from October to December of this year.The first 'coincidence' was a couple weeks back when my colleague and friend, John Chalmers, invited me to take my

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-34896081857788980342010-04-19T11:31:00.004-04:002010-04-19T12:14:45.405-04:00

I'm taking a break from reno work in Edmonton for the next week and focusing on my 'real' work: writing, researching, and promoting myself shamelessly. So yesterday morning I packed up the Mini Cooper -still sporting Wyoming plates - and jumped on Highway 16 out of Edmonton headed for British Columbia.A few months ago I was invited to go to Vancouver to give talks to the Quarter Century in

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-87044753272200119942010-04-15T08:45:00.006-04:002010-04-15T19:57:01.255-04:00

I am sitting here trying to think of how to start this post. Staring at my hands poised above the keyboard I see various shades of paint, the bit of subfloor still lodged under my fingernail, and the cuts and bruises from banging into things like walls and pry bars.These are not the hands of a pampered writer/historian. These are the hands of a labourer.And I certainly look and feel more like a

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-60936181543397786632010-04-02T08:47:00.003-04:002010-04-02T09:06:47.384-04:00

I am sitting in the Ottawa International Airport (YOW - my favourite airport code!) after a whirlwind trip to my hometown, and am now awaiting a flight to my newly adopted hometown of Edmonton.Not much would have lured me away from the chaos of my first house and all the accompanying DIY projects, but I can't turn down an exciting opportunity (by history geek standards). And being interviewed for

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-30339949965909907752010-03-23T11:31:00.005-04:002010-03-23T11:56:14.746-04:00

On Tuesday, March 9th I hit the road for my big move from Wyoming to Edmonton, Alberta. Here is that journey in photos!Leaving home bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the 2-day, 17 hour drive north. What I saw in my rearview mirror. I can't believe Doug made it all fit!My "Ellie" had had engine troubles the week before and so I was worried I might have to join this roadside community in Idaho if I

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-77506189097069193712010-03-05T07:31:00.007-05:002010-03-05T09:43:04.154-05:00

Only a few days left until I leave for Edmonton, Alberta and I thought I'd share some wisdom for future travellers to the Equality/Cowboy State. Hope this comes in handy for the next people who come this way (like the new engineers Doug's been training!)...Adobe Town. A very cool, and very hidden place in southwestern Wyoming for a hike or camping trip. Book & Bean in Green River has awesome

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-12639552207756063482010-02-26T07:49:00.003-05:002010-07-24T09:39:38.697-04:00

Last night I went to my last Rock Springs Poetry Slam hosted by my good friend, Janice Grover-Roosa (yes, another hyphenated last name!) of the local library system. While my first passion is writing books, there is something about the instant gratification of poetry that I love, and that has kept me coming back to the form over the years.This is one of the pieces I read last night:Wyoming Love

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-60377496964046876972010-02-23T15:03:00.005-05:002010-02-24T13:04:48.073-05:00

My friend (who is from Wyoming) recently sent me the following by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, and apparently because I understand it and am now sharing it with y'all, that makes me at the very least an honourary Wyomingite. Of course I had to tweak it a bit and put my Canadian stamp on it...If 'vacation' to you means going shopping for the weekend in Casper or Cheyenne (while the kids swim at the

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-49461807900042992372010-02-23T10:29:00.006-05:002010-02-23T12:48:29.070-05:00

Well, just as I've gotten the hang of high altitude baking, it's time for me to move to Edmonton - which sits much closer to sea level. Before I depart, however, I would like to share a little of my hard-won knowledge. (Some of you might recall my initial attempts that resulted in 'flat tire cookies').As anyone who knows me well will tell you, I'm a pancake fiend. When I lived in England and

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-58892694172405226542010-02-14T09:24:00.003-05:002010-02-14T09:55:30.716-05:00

I was delighted when writer and aviation historian John Chalmers (apparently inspired by the spirit of Robert Service, 'bard of the Yukon') sent me the following lines last week. He has generously allowed me to share them with you (with some pictures I tracked down online)! Danielle Goes NorthStrange things are done in the midnight sun, when a writer works on a novel she's just begun,When words

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-78608425624996057602010-02-03T15:43:00.005-05:002010-02-03T20:35:02.965-05:00

It is now official: Doug and I have purchased our first home.Our days of pouring cash into some landlord's pocket are numbered. So are the days of trying to figure out what goes with 1960s brown camo carpeting or brown and cream vinyl kitchen tiles that extend to the backsplash (answer: nothing). Next month when we move into our new detached digs in Edmonton not only will we be building equity,

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-52288905387373456142010-01-20T17:30:00.009-05:002010-01-20T18:51:37.075-05:00

We may be stuck in a holding pattern when it comes to the move from Wyoming to Edmonton, but at least I know where I'll be living from October to December of this year: the Yukon!I just got a call from the Writers' Trust of Canada that I was chosen for the Berton House Writer's Retreat in Dawson City, YT. For three months I get to live in this town of 1,300 "hardy and generous" people (as one

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-33750698928749478582010-01-15T15:52:00.004-05:002010-01-15T16:16:01.674-05:00

I do not believe in New Year's Resolutions, and thank goodness it seems like not many people in this town do either. The great onslaught of new gym-goers with crashing blood sugar have not appeared in the post-holiday season. Or maybe they have traditional jobs keeping them away during my 8:30-10:30 time slot.Whatever the reason, you'll hear no complaints here. While the media constantly reports

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-72083978271729864642010-01-06T16:32:00.008-05:002010-01-06T17:45:23.790-05:00

The muscle cramp in my leg has finally gone away and the cut on Doug's cheek is slowly healing, but the wonderful memories of our 5-days snowshoeing trip will live on...On the last day of the last year we drove 4 hours from Green River, WY to the Jackson Hole area. Of course we had to stop en route at the Wind River Brewing Co. in Pinedale where Doug had to sample their darkest brews to figure

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-63628727159334789082009-12-30T09:15:00.003-05:002009-12-30T09:59:45.686-05:00

It's a funny feeling, being split between two worlds, but it also seems to be at the core of this writing thing.The other day I was musing about how living here, in southwestern Wyoming, my physical world is high plains desert: sage brush, antelope, and very few lakes, rivers, and trees. Researching the setting for the first part of my novel, though, I'm transported to northeastern Ontario, a

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-75013085335013769092009-12-26T08:46:00.004-05:002009-12-26T09:12:27.458-05:00

So the story of the Butterfly and the Diving Bell might have given my brain the kick it needed to get going on the novel (see last post), but it was another Bell that got me going in the right direction. That would be James Scott Bell, who apparently writes suspense novels but whom I know as the talented author of Plot & Structure: Techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-12925458065321213922009-12-20T11:48:00.004-05:002009-12-20T12:15:50.134-05:00

Last week while talking to some friends of mine at the Book and Bean, I busted through a creative wall. Since completing For the Love of Flying back in the spring I've felt the full range of emotion you'd expect with completing a book: euphoria, exhaustion, satisfaction, anxiety... but mostly, I've felt a bittersweet sense of loss. I find there is nothing better than being in the midst of a major

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-74998505724031788652009-12-14T18:18:00.005-05:002009-12-14T19:33:21.586-05:00

Doug had another set of days off last week, but after a bunch of long-distance, long-haul travelling and a particularly gruelling "hitch" (days on), we decided to go the "staycation" route and hang out close to home.This turned out to be a good thing since here in Southwestern Wyoming we got hit by a week of frigid temperatures and a couple of decent snowstorms. So we hunkered down, got stuff off

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-56671055830810674632009-12-07T09:52:00.006-05:002009-12-07T13:58:08.614-05:00

From Vegas we flew north - way north - to the city of Edmonton, Alberta, where Doug and I will be moving sometime in the next few months. Doug had a one-day orientation scheduled at his soon-to-be workplace the day after we were scheduled to drive back to Green River from Vegas, so I decided it might make sense for both of us to fly up on a fact-finding mission (I'd never been to Edmonton before)

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-16596516539923931052009-11-25T09:07:00.007-05:002009-11-25T22:13:10.830-05:00

Most of our trips this year have been into the backwoods and we are generally happier in low-density areas, but we decided that one place on our must-see list while we're in Wyoming had to be Vegas, baby!So I spent hours scouring the web looking for the best deals and Sunday, November 15th we packed up the Mini and started the 9-hour drive accompanied by Vegas-themed music. Other than some dicey

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-42149705559794759702009-10-13T14:48:00.007-04:002009-10-15T00:29:44.237-04:00

We are in the home stretch of our time here in Wyoming. As we've done in other places we've lived (Vancouver, Montreal, the U.K) we've started making a 'Gotta Do Before We Leave' list. Top on Doug's: a canyon hike in Utah. So last Wednesday morning we jumped in the Element ("Ellie") and the Mini and headed along the I-80 West. Before venturing into the wilderness, though, we made our requisite

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-60597599172120784202009-10-06T17:18:00.006-04:002009-10-06T18:00:32.780-04:00

October, I decided, is about getting back into shape.I feel like the last few months I've been letting both my mind and body lie fallow. This isn't a totally bad thing. After all, think of farming: agriculturalists know you've got to give a field a chance to rest, to regain nutrients, so that it can sprout forth a new crop next season. So the summer might have meant a mushy brain and less than

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-32523726401064166902009-09-21T19:13:00.006-04:002009-09-26T12:28:07.690-04:00

Even when you lose someone special, the show, as they say, must go on. A few days after our return from Ottawa, Doug and I were scheduled to fly out to Houston where Doug was to receive a week's training to become the Rock Springs Schlumberger office's radiation specialist officer, and where I would give a talk at the Houston Aviation Alliance's monthly luncheon.The humidity hit us as soon as we

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-37001087106751622462009-09-09T15:02:00.004-04:002009-09-09T15:41:46.642-04:00

This past Sunday, September 6, 2009, my wonderful mother-in-law, Dawn Kenny, passed away. Last November this upbeat, energetic woman was diagnosed with an exceedingly rare form of cancer, cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) at the age of 48. There has been no shortage of exclamations from friends and family: "It's so unfair!" "How can it be?!" But rule #1 on the playground is life's not

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-25640658794985393762009-08-19T18:41:00.010-04:002009-08-24T10:49:49.591-04:00

After our escape from misery Sunday afternoon, we checked into the Grand Targhee Ski resort, which was the perfect place to hang all our gear to dry, work our boots over with a hair dryer, do some laundry, and catch up on sleep. Never mind that the restaurant was closed Monday-Wednesday, the hot tub was on the fritz, and one of the beds had stained linens: it was warm and dry and we didn't worry

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-24807494469459501822009-08-18T10:40:00.009-04:002009-08-24T09:14:27.644-04:00

After Doug suffered through two gruelling weeks of being out at various rigs (we figured he slept at home 3 nights out of 14), I whisked him off on a trip to Jackson Hole in northwestern Wyoming and Teton Valley in eastern Idaho.On Friday the 7th we headed up to Pinedale with a friend of ours, Andria, and her two dogs, Belle and Chase. It was a beautiful, sunny day and perfect for the day hike we

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-81459783628822615132009-08-17T09:56:00.007-04:002009-08-17T12:52:11.681-04:00

Nothing says summer like an outdoor music festival, so when I heard there was a FREE one nearby some friends and I piled into a car and headed out for the afternoon. The Oyster Ridge Music Festival (known by those in the know as Oystergrass) is a three-day annual festival in Kemmerer, WY that brings together a variety of musicians, but mostly in the bluegrass, folk, and rock genres. Of course, it

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-26781912167215440412009-07-28T12:11:00.004-04:002009-07-28T13:00:23.190-04:00

Since we got back from Colorado, Doug has been extremely busy with work (for those who were wondering, he passed his oral exams with flying colours) and I've settled into my new schedule of working on For the Love of Flying things in the morning and doing background research for my novel at the library in the afternoon. Of course, life can't be all work and no play! The weather's been hot and

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-91392568910005419592009-07-20T13:12:00.008-04:002009-07-20T14:45:06.660-04:00

On Monday, July 13th, Doug had to go to Denver for two days of oral exams to move from the training/apprenticeship stage of his job to full-fledged Field Engineer status. The company would have paid for his flights, but we got the go-ahead to drive there instead (only 5 hours) and so set off around noon from Green River, WY on the I-80 eastbound and then headed south at Laramie for the more

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-45478708041561519942009-07-08T13:40:00.006-04:002009-07-08T17:33:11.412-04:00

After our aborted Adobe Town camping trip, we had an extra day to fill before Doug went back to work. I had read that there were some pretty interesting sites nearby and suggested we do a picnic dinner and evening hike at the White Mountain Petroglyphs, Boar's Tusk, and Killpecker Sand Dunes this past Monday.The site of the White Mountain Petroglyphs is an easy 1/4 mile walk up from a dirt road a

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-6151575300517312562009-07-06T17:05:00.004-04:002009-07-06T17:56:24.045-04:00

Yesterday morning, Doug and I and Riker headed out in Ellie for Adobe Town, an amazing geological formation in the Red Desert about a two-hour drive south-east from our house. Armed with GPS maps, our camping gear, and about 5 gallons of water the plan once we exited the I-80 was to take the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roads and then take the jeep track as far as we could along Skull Creek

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-76248906859985451172009-07-04T17:19:00.004-04:002009-07-04T18:31:20.683-04:00

Although I missed my official book launch at the Book & Bean in Green River, WY on June 15th because of car problems, the owner and I decided to schedule a little meet and greet on Saturday, June 20th. I made sucre a la creme (using my aunt Micheline's recipe) and gave out maple candies to the few folks who came by to chat.On Wednesday the 24th, possibly the sunniest, warmest day the county had

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-63411486505573506982009-06-30T12:47:00.005-04:002009-06-30T13:34:36.464-04:00

While I tried to make the best of it in Regina over the weekend of the 13th, it was still very frustrating to be stuck paying hotel bills, eating restaurant food, etc when I really just wanted to get home. The folks at the Honda dealership were, however, nice enough to lend me a vehicle for a few hours on the Saturday, so Riker and I headed down to Wascana Park for a walk, some sunshine, and

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-57347524864508208702009-06-15T19:46:00.004-04:002009-06-15T20:26:06.209-04:00

Those few hours Doug and I spent stranded along the Trans-Canada seem far away now. Maybe because they are. I have been car-less for exactly nine long days: the tranny blew on Saturday, June 6th and we're now the 15th, the day that was supposed to be my U.S. Launch Party and all-around fun time at the Book & Bean in Green River, WY. Instead, I will sit in my new "home" at the Best Western in

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-75251815408425337122009-06-13T20:55:00.006-04:002009-06-13T21:52:01.854-04:00

Friday, June 5th started with a lot of coffee. I took the first shift at 7am and at 11:30am we arrived in Dryden, Ont. There we made a quick stop at The Bookcase to leave behind five signed books which slotted nicely into their great section on bush flying and the north.A couple of hours later after switching off at the wheel, we were in Kenora, which Doug remarked “has clearly outgrown its

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-18698247508806074502009-06-11T09:41:00.007-04:002009-06-11T09:59:32.523-04:00

Public humiliation has never been something I’ve consciously sought out, but you have to be prepared for a certain amount if you’re putting yourself out there as a speaker, writer, or say, Chapters bookstore greeter.Luckily, that didn’t happen to me this time around. While I arrived in the Thunder Bay Chapters parking lot with butterflies the size of condors in my belly, I doused them with a good

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-5161010180376403482009-06-09T09:59:00.009-04:002009-06-10T10:36:07.391-04:00

I’m currently sitting in the Regina International Airport (Saskatchewan, Canada) awaiting a flight to Calgary, to make my last stop on this first book tour.I wasn’t supposed to be in an airport this trip. On May 19th I loaded my luggage and dog, Riker, into the back of my Honda Element. After a four-day solo drive and a pick-up of 10 cartons of books, I arrived in Montpellier in the Laurentians

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-57499316553829272912009-05-13T19:54:00.006-04:002009-08-26T16:01:24.232-04:00

In the 15 years since NASA predicted Jupiter would be struck by a series of large meteors and comets, no Jovians have appeared on Green River’s doorstep.The welcome mat is out, however, as Dina Mishev wrote in her 2007 book, Wyoming Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Global Pequot). On July 5, 2004, perhaps still buoyed by Independence Day celebrations,

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-18604779698562662902009-05-05T10:39:00.012-04:002009-05-05T11:27:01.450-04:00

Holy Mecca for the LDS (Church of Latter Day Saints) aka Mormons. This area is called Temple Square for good reason.Brigham Young, who led the Mormons to Salt Lake City from the east. I have no idea why they wouldn't have stopped in the high desert country of Western Wyoming (where no tulips are in sight - see below left)The flowers were certainly out in force while Doug and I were there -

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-30750836295633266762009-04-24T08:10:00.011-04:002009-04-24T08:59:53.958-04:00

Yee haw - time to catch up on what's been happening down here in Wyoming!The last few weeks have been crazy and the next couple of months promise to be as well. First off, the book has officially gone to the printers after a seemingly endless stream of edits, PDF proofs, rewrites, and indexing. I'm sure it felt even longer for my poor editor/designer/publisher Robin Brass. Now we just keep our

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-72744694940182555792009-04-01T09:14:00.008-04:002009-04-01T10:08:00.127-04:00

After a month of being solidly at my desk and Doug being off on jobs constantly, we decided to make a break for it last weekend. He had a few days off and I was feeling on top of my work and unable to do any more editing without a brief change of scenery. So, we packed the dog off to the vet's (for boarding, not the little blue needle - although there were days when he woke us up so many times

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-47038343629133703162009-03-26T08:45:00.006-04:002009-03-26T09:18:21.948-04:00

This was the headline for last week's Green River Star editorial by Kathy Gilbert and from what's been going on around the U.S. and the rest of the world, I tend to agree.Gilbert was writing in response, of course, to the national recession and everything it entails: increased unemployment, reduced drilling for natural gas and oil (Wyoming's major economic export), and the general sense of doom

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-2708732177772578622009-03-19T19:42:00.007-04:002009-03-19T20:17:44.072-04:00

Many people seem to think writers produce in a fit of creativity and mostly spend their days awaiting inspiration while going on cool trips to far-off places, and possibly drinking absinthe. While I get zaps of inspiration from time to time, I find creating any piece of writing mostly takes a lot of hard work. My writing life is made up of about 1% thunderbolts and 99% slogging. Not very

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-54591854815356229052009-03-13T13:42:00.004-04:002009-03-13T14:06:31.310-04:00

I am so stressed out right now, I'm finding it stressful thinking about writing about how stressed I am. The last time I felt this overwhelmed my mum was undergoing cancer treatments, I was struggling through a difficult master's program, and Doug had taken me on what was supposed to be a 14km hike and I was standing at Despair Pass at the 20km-mark (and was way past despair).This time around, it

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161722658264312278.post-85046808412738791452009-03-06T09:37:00.003-05:002009-03-06T09:42:18.856-05:00

Last night I went to another Poetry Slam event in Rock Springs. Not content to sit on the sidelines, I composed a few and entered the competition. I had a blast and got some good scores and feedback - luckily! It has, after all, been many moons since I've written and performed poetry. Here is my favourite of the three I did last night:Family-Friendly U.S.A.Playful CityScenic bywayFor most just a

dmchenailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463568893134013091noreply@blogger.com2