Miramichi Blog

For those of you following Kellie's obsession with Phantom Street Rods, his site just got cooler! I've added a video clip to his website that shows the famous retractable roof in action! It's a must see for hotrod, classic car & costom do-it-yourself enthusiasts. *Did I get enough key words in there?

The video was shot by Gerry himself using a standard digital camera that also has a feature allowing him to record short video clips. The clip was HUGE at first...over 6megs...so we sent it off to Franks Video Service who cleaned it up, drastically cut down the file size and put it in various formats for us to choose from....all in record time! Thanks Frank, and Gloria (the woman behind the man!) for quickly pulling this together for us.

There are many ways video can be used to promote your product or service as outlined in this past Bread 'n Molasses article "Beyond the Brochure". Give it a read and you might pick up some ideas for your business or personal project.

later,
STacy

It's me again, I'm having a blogging frenzy today!!

Well folks, the long wait has ended, the drought is over -- Irene has written the ever elusive Chapter 6 of our Novel Collaboration. Yay!! Everyone, a big round of applause for the lady who saved my day!

If you've forgotten what's happened so far in the story you can read it from the beginning by clicking here. Now is the time to step up and volunteer to write Chapter 7. Send me an email and let me know you'd like to do it.

Now, without further ado, here's Irene:

Chapter 6
Posted by Irene, November 26th 2003

Maybe this was the Laughing Bear Lodge but nobody was laughing, Dallan, least of all.

What a shock it had been for him, the spoiled son of wealthy parents, to find himself with a dead body on his hands. Well, not quite. What he had on his hands was the leg of a pair of pants – with a dead body in the pants. He had dropped that piece of material fast once he realized what it was, and then he yelled for the doctors he was trying to guide around the area. He had to get somebody’s attention.

And now, moments later, the place was crawling with police officers busy directing the removal of the body.

Naturally, they found it necessary to question Dallan.

“How did you happen to find the body?” one of the officers asked the rather green-faced young man.

Then the dreaded question, “What were you doing here?”

His answer, “Having a little leak” would have brought forth guffaws if the situation weren’t so serious.

With straight faces, the police officers asked the doctors and Dallan how long they had been at the scene and if they had seen anyone else around. Even as young, spoiled and ignorant of crime scenes as he was, Dallan couldn’t see any connection between their length of time at the scene and whether or not they had seen others in the vicinity. That discolored corpse had been in the water much longer than that!

Having sent the body to the crime lab for further inspection, the police, before vacating the premises, warned Dallan and the doctors there would be more questions. Dallan’s nervousness and his sometimes curt responses had led the police to believe that he knew more than he really did. The police added that they would want to question everyone at the Laughing Bear Lodge and reminded them that no one should leave the lodge for any reason.

The news of a corpse found so near Laughing Bear Lodge made the local newspaper. The wire service also carried it and the newspapers in Alberta where Dallan Bowden’s parents lived picked it up.

“Oh, what have we done?” wailed Mrs. Bowden when she read about Dallan’s plight.

“What do you, mean “What have we done?” yelled Mr. Bowden, unaware of the predicament his son was facing over at Laughing Bear Lodge.

“Our precious Dallan is being questioned about a corpse that was found near Laughing Bear Lodge,” Mrs. Bowden cried. “And to think, we thought we were sending him to Miramichi to help him form character! This will ruin him for life.”

“We’ll go there right now and straighten this thing out,” shouted an angry Mr. Bowden. Secretly, he felt guilty about what he’d done to Dallan but he wasn’t quite ready to admit that.

“We’d better call first,” suggested Mrs. Bowden. “Maybe we can find out exactly what’s going on.”

What they learned during that phone call made them decide to leave immediately for Miramichi. It seemed that the police, in their haste to find the killer, mistook Dallan’s nervousness and curt responses as evidence that he was hiding something; perhaps knew more than he was willing to divulge. Of course, that was the furthest thing from the truth, as anyone would know who was familiar with Dallan. He was too lazy to go to the trouble of killing anybody. That would have been too much work!

The Bowden’s hurried to their son’s side. All the way there Mrs. Bowden prayed her rosary while Mr. Bowden cussed his son’s ineptitude.

Check out Phantom Street Rods new website! www.phantomstreetrods.com

Can you tell I'm obsessed with these cars? I just think it's sooo cool to build things in general, like simple things like crafts and things. Because I'm hopeless when it comes to physically creating something. I can't draw a straight line using a ruler -- and that's no joke. I can make almost anything using words but stick any other tool in my hand other than a black pen and you're asking for trouble of the big mess kind. It's not even funny.

So yeah, I'm impressed by people who make things. Stacy makes really cool things -- fridge magnets, candles, clocks, soaps, salt scrubs and tons of other stuff that I would never even try to do. I mean she cuts shapes out of wood using power tools and mixes dangerous chemicals -- hello, can you say emergency room?!

Stacy can make things and still she's impressed by Phantom Street Rods. I mean Gerry made a whole car! A car! It boggles the mind.

Anyway, I really like the website too. There's some cool flash at the beginning. Check it out!

Yay! Irene has volunteered to write the next part in the novel collaboration. I'm so excited! Thanks, Irene!

The other day our very positive leader, Terry, received his horoscope from Astrocenter.com This is what it said:

Is today a bit gray, dear Scorpio? It is very likely. You won't be able to see how you can get out of your current situation. You may have some financial or physical problems at the moment. If this is the case, it is because you don't rely enough on your own abilities and good sense to pull you through. Of course, it is possible that you don't take care of your body as well as you should, but that's easily remediable.

Hello! That's not very positive! So, here's what Terry replied:

Hi
I am sorry to disappoint you Astrocenter.com but on the contrary today was quite bright. I completed the projections for qualified applicants for our Mighty Community project, had a successful morning lining up Tourism meetings for both the tourism associations and a Shared Visions meeting for the Knowledge-based sector of the Mighty Miramichi Region with the Tanker Mr Malley attending.

On top of that my accountant is able to complete the things I didn't think were possible and we have lined up an on the road sales consultant to market our product within NB as already there is an interest in Fredericton as well as Grand Falls.

Our Back end is ahead of schedule with some neat break throughs so we will be able to roll out Mighty Community ahead of schedule, WOW GREAT STUFF! Sunshine everywhere on a Rainy Day! Imagine that!

For this evening, which is still part of the day, it was even brighter, as having the opportunity to meet with NB Investment Mgt Corp. who are interested in investing 120 million in business in Atlantic Canada, which is significant for our growth, as businesses have to grow for us to grow. Meeting these influential wise individuals was significant. They are now aware of our Mighty Community and that they are part of it.

Opportunites surround us. Sunshine everywhere. . . love it. Oh Happy Day!

So, in conclusion Astrocenter.com I had a fantastique Day, and it is not over yet. Did no one ever tell you Astrocenter that you do not effect the Mighty Miramichi Community, unless we let you in, sorry, no room for a bit of gray. I always say, "If it is going to be, it is up to Me!" So I Enjoy my Day! A little sunshine will always remove the gray.

So, there you have it from the boss himself. This is one of the reasons why Mighty Miramichi is such a great place to work.

I can't continue like this.

I'm going stark raving mad! Stark raving mad, I tell you!

I can't sleep.

I can't eat . . .

Oh, who am I kidding?

Let me start again. [*Clears throat*]

I can't continue like this.

I'm going stark raving mad! Stark raving mad, I tell you!

I sleep all the time.

I can't exercise.

I can't stop eating.

So here I am -- hat in hand, on bended knee, pleading and begging with you, because YOU are the only one who can stop this insanity and help me.

Please, please, please, won't you at least try to help me? Will you? Huh? Please?

You will!! Thank you!! You are such a pal! I don't know what I'd do without you.

Now, all you have to do is send me an email and let me know that you would love to write the next segment in our online novel collaboration.

What are you waiting for? You said you'd help. Send me the email now, then go read what's already happened in the story and then write the next part.

Can't wait to hear from you!

Just when you think you're going to have to suffer through another cloudy sugarfree day... in walks a ray of sunshine laden with sweets & goodies. That's right, we had a visit from our local candy lady!

Rhonda Barry of Barrylicious dropped in with her homemade candies, fudge, almond bark, peanut brittle... shall I go on? I endulged in the divinity and it was VERY good. You can find her stuff for sale in some local stores, and craft sales.

Great day today! Leslie and I went for a walk at French Fort Cove *If he says I was wheezing and falling behind don't believe him* and we also had a lesson in server technology.

Fun stuff I gotta tell ya! I'm boldly going where Stacy has never gone before. There are lots of acronyms like DNS & SOA and the words "tell it where to go" seem to be used in abundance along with some pointing and redirecting. Hmmm, the more I think about it, the more it sounds like my behaviour at work. You see I've been getting a bad rap lately for being bossy. I'm not really. I just delegate and organize which involves some pointing and redirecting. I think I'm going to enjoy server management!

We had a surprise birthday party last week for Terry, our boss man. We had a friend of his invite him to lunch on that day and when they arrived, we were all there to yell surprise. It was an absolute fiasco trying to plan it around his schedule!

He kept trying to change the plans...wanted to go for breakfast instead, wanted to meet earlier, then later, then the day before, then the day after! We were ready to throw him in the Mighty Miramichi van along with the cake and drag him to the party! But it all turned out in the end with friends both old & new showing up to celebrate.

I'm still not convinced he was completely surprised but he'd never tell us and ruin our fun. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

It's getting late and I still have crafts to make for a sale on Saturday.

later

Yesterday, I was kind of half-listening to a band on television and they were really upset about people downloading their music for free off the Internet. They said it was like if you went into a record store, loaded up your arms with all the CDs you could carry, and then left without paying whistling "See ya, suckers! Be back tomorrow!"

They certainly have a point. It never feels good when someone steals from you or if you don't get compensated for the job you do. But I'm not sure it's as black and white as downloading bad, buying CDs good. Yes, if you've got plenty of money, I would say it is that black and white, buy the CDs.

But what about the poor people? What about me!?

When I was a kid I went through that whole "crazy for the lead singer" phase. It started with John Travolta and the soundtrack from Grease when I was just a bitty gal. I soon graduated to an 8-track tape (remember those?) of Shaun Cassidy in my tween years. Really got rolling with Rick Springfield, John Mellencamp (or Cougar as he was known then) and Bryan Adams in my early teens. And later it was a full-out battle of the bands with the likes of The Monks, XTC, The Ramones, The Clash, Def Leppard, Platinum Blonde, Bon Jovi, Poison and Whitesnake.

Ohhh, the good old days. [*Sigh*] I had albums, cassettes, posters, magazines and "lead singer du jour" paraphenelia up the ying-yang, thanks to the kindness and generosity of my parents. But eventually all things must end, and so I struck out on my own to learn the value of a buck.

I was a slow learner. It took me awhile to comprehend that if you don't pay the telephone bill, one day you pick up to call home for the monthly "Can I please borrow some money?" conversation and there's no dial tone. But eventually I did learn valuable financial lessons like books and tapes are nice but they don't take your hunger away, you can buy a lot of Kraft Dinner for the price of a single bottle of perfume, and heat is vital to existence during the long Canadian winter.

But I'm off-topic, what I'm trying to say is that once I left home and had to pay for my own albums, I stopped buying them. Not because I no longer liked music but I couldn't afford to buy an entire album without knowing whether I'd like it or not. So, I got away from it, I made other choices. When you've only got limited funds to spend on entertainment for yourself, you want to get the most value for your buck.

There have been brief moments of financial freedom where I've chanced it and dared to buy an album without knowing for sure whether I would like it or not. But I'm a writer! Those moments have been few and far between and mostly filled with the latest Mellencamp because I'll probably like it no matter what.

Then came the Internet and access to all the music in the world (albeit from a 56k modem dial-up connection.)

So, you would think I'd be all set now, that I'd never buy another CD, (downloaded anything lately on dial-up? lol) but actually the exact opposite has happened. While I'm not the obsessed fan of my youth, I'm buying more CDs than I have in years. The free and easy Internet access helps me to find artists I might not have heard of otherwise, to explore different types of music I probably never would have gotten into before, and to make more informed choices when I go to buy CDs.

For me, file sharing programs like Kazaa, Morpheus, and the old Napster are like a trip to the sample table at the supermarket -- I taste, I like, I buy.

What do you think about downloading music off the Internet? Is it a black or white issue or do you see the grey? Comments anyone?

I think the local newspaper is going to run an article about Bread 'n Molasses. Several months ago I was interviewed by a reporter over there but like so often happens in this line of work, other stories needed more immediate attention and ours got put on hold. Then last week I heard from her again. After some follow up emails I think an article will appear within the next couple of weeks. So, I'm pretty excited about that!

The article should help shed some light for people about what exactly Bread 'n Molasses is all about. Because by being an online general interest/ cultural magazine made by average people for average people, we are doing something sort of different.

Sure, there are other online grassroots magazines, but many of them tend to have strong political agendas or to focus solely on arts and literature. There aren't many out there who cover such a vast range of topics, all positive and upbeat, while still maintaining a regional focus and allowing anyone interested to provide content. I've searched the web high and low and I can't think of anyone else doing this.

Anyone else know of another publication doing anything similar?

Stacy and I just got back from a fantastic supper at the Portage. I love their fried chicken dinner with rice. Yummy! This evening we both tried the Turtle Cheesecake and it was quite delightful. I totally ate too much and now I'm all sleepy and lazy, don't know how I'll get anymore work done.

And there's so much work to be done!! I mentioned yesterday that things are pretty crazy around here. Well, one reason why we're so busy is that Mighty Miramichi's parent company, INM Group, just rolled out to all of Atlantic Canada. Check out the Mighty Community Site and leave a comment to let us know what you think!

You know when it's been a week and nobody at Mighty Miramichi has taken time to blog, things are crazy busy. And boy! Are things crazy busy? Or is it just me? It seems like we've got so much going on none of us can even slow down to tell you all about it.

As for me, I finally finished the November issue of Bread 'n Molasses and got it online for the world to see. And I do mean the world. In the few days since the issue went live I've received email from readers as close as Saint John but as far away as British Columbia, Florida and even Brazil!

We just continue to pick up new readers every month and our visits increased again for the month of October. Remember, visits measure the people who actually drop into the site and spend some time browsing. We finished at a whopping 5605 visits! Wow! That's pretty cool!

November Bread 'n Molasses is an exciting issue for me. First, there's the story I wrote about Gerry Goguen and his Phantom Street Rods. If you haven't read it yet, stroll on over there and do so right now. Even if you have zero interest or knowledge about cars this is a pretty exciting story for the river. Gerry has done what everyone said was impossible, invented something brand new that there is no doubt the rest of the world will want to buy, and he's going to stay right here and hire local people to help him make as many of these things as he can possibly sell. Now, that's exciting stuff!

Of course, street rod enthusiasts didn't even need to hear that whole spiel in order to get excited -- Hello! Can you say retractable hard top?

I interviewed Gerry and I've spoken to him a couple of times since, he actually dropped by the office today so we could see the car up close and personal. Because he loves what he's doing and he believes so completely that this product is going to be huge, he's so upbeat and positive and enthusiastic that it's contagious. You literally can't be in his presence and not feel just as enthusiastic as he does and believe wholeheartedly that he'll be very successful with it.

If we could all be only half as passionate, committed and focused on something, employment on the river would cease to be a topic of discussion.

Another exciting item from the November issue is our first story published entirely in French. Sans espoir, sans vie is a work of fiction written by Sean Dent, a native of Ireland who lives in Montreal. I like this story because it's sort of sad and melancholy, like I tend to feel in November, which you'd know if you read my Editor's Note.

Speaking of my Editor's Note, I'm so glad I wrote about Flo! I think having verbalized and written down and actually published how much she taught and influenced me, I feel better, sort of like I found her and got to tell her. So, now if I never find her, I don't think I'll carry any regret that I never thanked her. I highly recommend that you take a few minutes to write about anyone you always wanted to thank but never did, it's very cathartic.

And finally, one of the most exciting things about the November issue is all our contributors! So many new names mixed in amongst the ones we already know and love! It's fabulous! I can't wait to see who shows up in next month's issue. Rest assured I'm already hard at work on it.

Last night I had a dentist appointment at 5:30. I love my dentist! I've been seeing him for a couple of years now and he's the best dentist I've ever had. In the past I've had problems with swelling and bruising from man-handling while my face was frozen. And once I almost passed out from the excruciating agony of having a tooth pulled when I wasn't frozen enough.

I never liked going to the dentist who rolled his eyes dismissing me as a typical hysterical woman when I screamed in pain because the freezing hadn't taken. Give me a break Mister arrogant Dentist man! We all know which gender can handle the most pain, right? There's a reason why only the ladies can have the children.

But a few years ago I found my dentist and put all that nasty business behind me. He's very thorough and has a gentle hand. You nearly fall asleep in the chair while you're getting a filling. And I'm not kidding! His assistant tells me it actually happens all the time.

I'm always well frozen and if I ever feel any discomfort I trust I can give him the signal and the procedure will stop until I'm frozen enough for him to proceed without hurting me. I think that's important with a dentist -- that you feel comfortable and trusting.

Anyway, Wally dropped me off at my appointment on his way home, which was very good of him because I think it may have been out of his way. Thanks Wally! Stacy was supposed to work a little longer and then come pick me up after. I estimated I'd be ready around 6:30. As it turned out I arrived early, got right in, things went really smoothly and I was out of there by 5:45.

I called the office to let Stacy know I finished early, but I knew she had just got back from her walk at French Fort Cove with Lisa, and there was no way she was ready to knock off work and go home yet.

The thing about around the Square in Newcastle on a Tuesday night is they roll up those sidewalks between 5 and 6pm. There was no place for me to go and kill some time, especially with a frozen face and two brand new fillings. So, I stood around and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . for 45-50 minutes until Stacy showed up. She thought some of the stores would still be open and I'd be shopping. I think she felt bad to see me standing there waiting.

But really, there was no need. I am such a good waiter! I can wait hours and not get the slightest bit impatient. If I had a comfortable seat and some refreshments I could probably wait days. I appreciate the time to think. I'm always writing in my head, working on characters, plots, and scenes for my fiction, wondering how things work and what things are for my non-fiction. So, I love to watch people and wonder about them.

Who they are? What their lives are like? Where they got that jacket? Is that hair colour a dye? Is he wearing a wig? What's that car she's driving? I imagine what their lives must be like, notice the way they walk, talk, laugh, flip their hair, or whatever. After observing lots of people and inventing lots of lives, eventually some of that trickles into my writing and I think helps me to create more realistic three-dimensional characters and stories.

And that's why I'm good at waiting, because I don't see it as a waste of my time when I should've been doing something else, but rather I see it as an opportunity to invest some time reconnecting with my spirit that I might not have had otherwise.

So, here's my advice for the day . . . the next time you find yourself in a 'beyond your control' situation where you have to wait don't get impatient and waste the time being angry and cursing the people who have done this to you, instead embrace that time, accept it, and use it to work out some things in your head if you need to, make plans, meditate, sing, get creative, or just enjoy the fact that you can stop and rest for a few minutes. There'll be plenty of time later to worry about all the things you still have to do.

Being made to wait for an appointment, a ride to work, in a long check-out line, or whatever the case may be, is really a gift. It's the universe's way of saying slow down and take some time for you, don't throw it away. The only way waiting is a waste of your time is if you choose to waste that time.

Hi, me again!
Just thought i'd get in a quick blog before my meeting this morning.
I have to tell you a story about something that happened to me last week, it will blow your mind... really!!
I received a phone call from a Jeff a couple days ago, I recently adopted two baby kittens, and I honestly have to admit that kittens are my weakness. Anyhow, Jeff called me of news of a baby kitten that had ran away from home and landed in the Mazda dealership. This kitten must have been only 2 months old, so I HAD to go see her. She was a beautiful calico kitten, very playful and happy. She was incredibly dirty and her whiskers were all curled up as though she had been burned. It looked like she had been through a horrible ordeal. Ed mentioned that a lady had been in looking for a baby kitten that had ran away the day before, and she said that her kitten seemed to "love cars" so she figured that that may be the reason why she would end up at the dealership. And sure enough.. that is where the kitten had ended up! It seemed so weird, aslmost as though it was a scheme or something... how would a cat be so interested in a car??? I thought it was weird, but it was true. When Ed put the add on the radio stating that they had found the kitten there was no response. The lady hadn't left her phone number or her name, so there was no way to get in touch with her. When I visited the dealership to see the kitten, I was ready to take her home. We sat and talked for a little while, and as soon as I made the decision that I would adopt the little kitten, Ed looked outside and recognized a vehicle that was driving by, as the woman that owned the kitten!!!! He ran out and chased the car down to Sobeys, and caught the woman. She was very excited to get her kitten back!
When the woman arrived at Mazda to pick up the kitten I was still there. She explained to us that the kitten was let out the night before she disappeared, and did not come home that evening. In the morning, the lady's sister jumped in her vehicle and went to work. After parking the car at the Miramichi Mall, she got out and then heard a little MEOW.. and the cat went running out from underneath the car. She had been sitting up in the motor somewhere from the night before! The cat REALLY DID find an interest in vehicles. That explained why the kitten was so filthy and the reason why its whiskers were all curled up and burned.
I thought it was so ironic that the woman came in and asked the people at Mazda if they had seen her little kitten, and then right after she left, the kitten found its way to the dealership. It was even more weird how Ed just happened to see the lady drive by the next day... right when I was about to pack the kitten up and take it home. Things really do happen for a reason I guess..

And that is my story for the day. I thought it was so neat how the kitten ended up back to its mother, I guess "somebody" didn't want me to take that kitten home that day... :) I already do have 2, I guess that is enough for now....

check back with yas later!
Mel

ps. The party was fun fun fun!!!

I watched some of the Canada A.M. broadcast this morning live from Halifax Harbour. I knew Gary Beals and Richie Wilcox from Canadian Idol were scheduled guests and I was interested to learn what they've been up to since the show ended. Unfortunately, I didn't really learn much about them. Both are apparently busy and having a great time but no specifics were revealed.

I did see an interesting segment though with Marlene Mahan who owns the Schooner Larinda. The Larinda was just here a little while ago. After Miramichi she sailed on to Halifax where she ran into Hurricane Juan and sunk during the storm. Three weeks later the Larinda rose to the surface in the Harbour but unfortunately she's been badly damaged. Marlene said they were able to salvage some artifacts and personal belongings but the ship itself is beyond repair. Insurance won't cover the costs of rebuilding but the Mahan's are keeping the Larinda dream alive setting up special funds where people can donate to help them rebuild. The thing about the Larinda was that their main purpose was to teach youth how to be part of the crew. They'd take them on sailing excursions strengthening skills like team building at no cost to the kids.

Anyway, I was saddened to hear that the ship can't be salvaged and thought I'd share that bit of news in case you hadn't heard.

Since it is the first of the month, I just checked out the mightymiramichi.com reports for October and wow! We had 11,458 visits last month! The report function is pretty cool. It tells us how many visits & hits the site gets, broken down daily & hourly, which pages are viewed most often, the search words people used to find our site, and much more!

The traffic last month mostly came from Canada, the US and Germany with average visits per day at 369. The most popular pages visited were Property 4 Sale and the Photo Gallery closely followed by Automotive, Nightlife, Restaurants & Things to Do.

Castlevania Sports Cards is our customer who received the most hits last month. Congratulations Richard on really working to promote your webpage.

This would probably be an appropriate time to discuss the difference between hits & visits and what it all means...but I think I'll save it for another time. I'm kinda tired from a busy day of making soap and crafts, played with my neice, laundry, cooking, etc. Maybe I'll do an article on it for the next Bread 'n Molasses. This month's issue should be out soon and I'm especially excited about all the great articles our customers have sent in.

Our coupons page for the coming month has turned into 2 pages of great deals and is promising to be the best yet! Be sure to check it out when you're reading Bread 'n Molasses.

Talk to you later.