A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

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On the Trail: Bridal Veil Falls

Exploring the world around us is a great way to connect with nature, or other things. And it seems, as society continues to evolve, that people tend to miss a lot of what is out there to see. 

Geocaching can often help with that as it makes you look at things differently, well sometimes anyway. 

What I love about geocaching is its ability to make me see and go to different places – many of which I likely never would have found without the game. 

On the trail logo

Welcome to On the Trail, a periodic feature on the blog where I’ll tell you about some of the places I’ve visited or hiked to. I’ve tried to start reconnecting with the world around me a bit more, and one of the best ways to keep doing it is to get out and hike/walk some trails. 

The first installment of this is from a recent vacation, which took a couple of us through the Pacific Northwest, including heading into Canada and into the Candian Rockies. 

There will be a few of these posts from this trip as it’s a good way to get this feature going. 

When researching this road trip, I realized we would have the chance to see a whole heap of cool waterfalls. And for those who know me, I am a massive fan of waterfalls. 

Bridal Veil Falls is located within Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The falls are quite easy to find and not far off the main road, which made it a no-brainer to stop, even with the jet lag and several-hour drive in front of us. 

Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls in Chilliwack, British Columbia

The trail isn’t too tough, though you do get a little bit of elevation on the way to the falls. The trails are groomed and well maintained. The walk up to the falls was nice and peaceful, as well as scenic. 

Now, I won’t lie – I was a little worried. Being we were in a new area and traveling, we had a lot of things in our car. One thing I read about some Canadian parks (and hell, they may not say it, but the US parks, too) is people getting their cars broken into and all. But nothing happened while we were here, thankfully. 

Once to the top, we didn’t really think about anything other than the falls. They are majestic. The name stems from the 400-foot drop over the rock face, which creates the illusion of a veil. They were pretty amazing to look at. 

Scrambling up to the top was well worth it, too, as it got you close to the falls and you could really appreciate nature at its finest. 

The hike back down was easy, though looking at the map, it seems there was another way to go down that would have circled us to the parking lot. I wish we had done that trail, if not just to see what it had to offer. Either way, we got back without issue. 

Final thoughts: 

Positives: Trail is relatively simple, and leads you to amazing falls. Can be done in less than an hour. Plenty of parking and there are restrooms available. Very scenic. Easily accessed off the main highway. 

Cons: Bathrooms were not clean at all. 

Overall: Well worth stopping at if you are near. 

Geocaching note: There is an Earthcache (GC49JKF) with this waterfall, so that’s fun. Two other traditional caches are here as well: GC1EFDN and GC7BQTF are located just off the trails. Unfortunately, even with using the hints and photos, we came up short on both of them. They’ve been found since, so it was likely just us!

To watch a Relive video of this hike, please see below!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Another day, year for the man known as NoNamedDufus

Forget about the past, you can’t change it.
Forget about the future, you can’t predict it.
Forget about the present, I didn’t get you one.

I really wanted to be clever for this post.

Alas, I don’t know if I have it in me. See, there’s this prolific blogger out there. NoNamedDufus is his name. (By the way, what did the doctor say when that was put on the birth certificate, huh?)

Maybe I should have ended that with eh?

See, Dufus is Canadian. Yeah, we could go so many different ways with that one, eh? I’m not sure though. See, he’s Canadian. But lives in French Canada.

I think.

Oh, Canada, indeed!

Nobody truly knows as the legend of the Dufus goes worldwide.

He’s a traveler. Been to hundreds of countries, they say. But apparently he’s been kicked out of all of them. Nobody says why, either. Something about Punnery or something along those lines.

See, Dufus is a master punner, among other things. He has this talent of really making people laugh, chuckle or roll their eyes. All with one pun. Just one.

Apparently, in some countries, puns are a bit frowned upon. A ban would follow. So Dufus would wander to the next country, pun the heck out of its people, and be banned. The biggest problem is Dufus doesn’t always know the language where he is traveling. But, you see, he’s a whiz at sign language, which comes in handy. Therefore, he gets by.

But today is not a pun-free day. See, Dufus is 61 (so he says, but that is debatable, with his world travels and all), which gives him a licence to pun you into the ground, if he so chooses. He’ll likely be playing golf though. Well, unless there’s still snow in Canada, which is probably true. There’s snow in Canada 11 months out of the year, no?

Maybe that’s why Dufus became so punny? Being shacked up for that long would make anyone go bonkers. Maybe it’s with all the books he reads. He is, after all, quite the reader.

I always wondered how Dufus landed his wife, especially with the name Dufus. Boy that must have taken some pushing, eh?

“Seriously, Mrs. Dufus doesn’t sound that bad…”

Maybe he met her at the library? I can see it now…

“I need to go get my library card because I’m checking you out!”

On that note, allow me to wish one of my favorite bloggers a wonderful birthday

And just remember, what does every birthday end with, Dufus? A Y, of course. Duh. Joyeux anniversaire (I think I spelled that all right)!

Fundraiser (LAST DAY!): I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — a minimum of $5– you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted lap quilt or pillow. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

The results of bullying are reaching extreme levels

Oh, society, you keep outdoing yourself.

Life is a precious thing, as we all know. But I have to be honest when I say I have no faith in the future of humanity or society as a whole.

Yes, I’m going to get a little serious with this post. I usually try and avoid things like this, if not just because I know people can get emotional and quite crazy when talking about things like this.

But if society and this world doesn’t find a way to change (and it likely won’t), this world could be in some serious trouble when the youngsters of today are adults.

Taking away politics and the economy, one of the biggest issues I think we need to worry about is bullying. This situation can happen at any level — high school, college, and in adulthood (if you don’t think wars and such are a form of bullying, check things out and think about it — it is). But the scary situation is in the younger ages.

When I was in middle school/high school I felt what it was like to be bullied. Not so much in a physical way, but in mental ways. Name calling and all the catty crap that happens in high school. I wasn’t part of any particular clique, but I kind of roamed. I had friends in all different “social classes,” but I also had “enemies.” By enemy, I mean people who felt it was their nature to call me (and many others) names or crap like that.

It made high school pretty much such.

See, I hated high school. With a passion. I consider those years some of the worst of my life. I didn’t go to my last high school reunion because I didn’t want to look back at that time in my life. The people who I want to deal with from that era, I do, whether it be by seeing them on occasion, being close friends or seeing updates and such on Facebook.

I assure you, for the group I graduated with, it isn’t many.

A couple friends I graduated with tried to assure me that many people had “grown up and gotten past that stage.” My response was simple — I don’t care.

See, people grow up. I understand that. But for those who were on the opposite end of that situation growing up, you don’t forget. For me, those years were awful and it was because of a certain set of people. I have no interest in seeing or talking to them again. I don’t forget.

To be fair, I probably said some unkind things to people as well. It’s a trickle-down effect. One gets slammed and then continues it down the chain. I hope my words back then to others weren’t as bad as what I felt. If it was, it’s probably karma that really got me. And if that’s the fact, I full apologize to those I said things to — though I wouldn’t expect anybody to ever forget because I know the feeling.

That leads me to the reason for this post.

No matter what was done to me during that time period in my life, I got through it. Whether through a physical altercation or two, or just ignoring and battling through it, I got by.

And I’m still here.

An alarming amount of kids these days aren’t graduating high school because of bullying. Why? Because they are committing suicide. That’s a scary situation, folks.

In all the years I received harsh treatment, I never once considered that. Never. Even in the past two years when my life has taken a downward spiral with the economy, it’s never crossed my mind. Ever.

But 14- and 15-year-old kids are figuring this to be the best thing.

It doesn’t matter why someone is being bullied. Whether it’s because of how they dress, the color of their skin, their sexual preference or where they live/come from, it shouldn’t matter.

Leave them alone.

Have you heard the name Amanda Todd?

If you haven’t, you should Google her name. The name has been in the news and all over social media for a couple of weeks. Amanda was a 15-year-old who lived in Vancouver.

Notice I use her name in the past tense. That’s because she committed suicide a couple of weeks ago. This was the culmination of several years of being bullies, online and off. It got so bad that this poor girl decided the best way to escape everything was to kill herself.

This story, obviously, is spreading. I’ve seen it in many different publications and online media places.

As it’s told, the story is one of a young girl who made a mistake when she was a seventh grader. She would webcam with friends to meet and talk to new people. Some stranger talked her into flashing the camera. A year later, a man contacted her on Facebook with the threats of sending said photo to everyone if she didn’t put on a show.

Scarier? The stranger knew many details about her — address, school, friends, names of friends and family etc.

Soon, the naked photo had been forwarded to “everyone.”

From that, Amanda apparently developed some serious issues, including anxiety and depression. Drugs and alcohol followed. She changed schools and tried to find new friends. But the man followed and created a Facebook profile, using that naked photo as a profile photo.

The bully started up again. She cut herself as a way to release the pain. She moved again. Maybe things would get better? A boy started to seemingly like her. But some girls from her first school came and beat her up. It was filmed. She was left along. After that, she tried to down bleach to commit suicide. She was saved — that time.

And how is all this known?

Amanda told the story. Take a peek at this YouTube video she posted a month before killing herself. It’s a nearly nine-minute video, but I encourage you to watch. It’s heart-wrenching in all aspects. This video has more than 5,000,000 views.

The sad part of this is Amanda isn’t the first teenager to commit suicide from being bullied, whether cyber or in person. And, unfortunately, she likely won’t be the last.

But this is an issue that needs to be dealt with in a much better way than it is. Parents are part of this, too. Society today has the parents whose kids can never do wrong. It’s been that way for a long time, but more numerous now. When I was in newspaprts, I was accosted many times by parents who thought I should write more about their kid, or this other kid shouldn’t get written about because he or she wasn’t as nice as their kid.

I’m all for backing your kids in anything they do, but one needs to keep it in perspective.

We have to remember that things like this aren’t reversible. Amanda Todd’s smile will never be seen on Earth again. She won’t be able to hug her parents. She won’t have a fairy tale wedding, have kids and grow old with her husband.

And that’s sad.

Instead, the people who bullied her will continue their lives. They’ll get to experience those things. It’s my hope proof is found and the people who bullied Amanda will be dealt with in a legal manner so that they, too, will suffer. It’s my hope they find the person who has cyber bullied Amanda and punish him to the full extent of the law. Apparently, a hacking organization has outed somebody, but Vancouver police said he’s not the person.

I honestly don’t know the next step in society. As the world continues to grow and develop more and more, society is going to change. It’s not the 50s anymore. There’s a lot of hate and it comes out quite easily now.

For anybody — but especially somebody who hasn’t even graduated high school yet — suicide should never be an option. Always find something to live or push for. Instead, it seems like it’s becoming more commonplace for people to consider this a justifiable solution.

And that’s sad. Not just for the person and his or her family and friends, but for society as a whole.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

My love affair with Montreal

The view of Montreal at night from Mont Royal.

I love Montreal.

To my close friends and family, this isn’t a surprise. They’ve known since my first trip in, oh, 1997 or 1998, that this love affair grows. I’ve been there about a dozen times, though I haven’t been since 2009.

That’s too long.

Why am I blogging about this now?

The 2005 crew at Mont Royal.

Probably because I am starting to organize photos. And with that comes seeing old photos from my Montreal trips. With so many people, too. Early on, there was a core of us who would venture up there each year. Usually for three days or so. Sometimes some new people would come. Other times, it would be a smaller group. In total, if I count right, there were 13 different people who made the trip up with me over the years. Thirteen! The groups changed here and there. Some went back more than others.

But I always found a way to go.

People have bagged on us at the last minute. There’s been times when we had groups come up at different times. But those trips were oh so fun.

Montreal Expos games. The Montreal Allouettes of the Canadian Football League. Trips to clubs and bars and find eating establishments. Being up there one year for Canada Day was quite the experience, too.

We’ve met more people than I can remember — some, however, I’ve kept in touch with.

Amazing experiences, strong beer and weekends of fun have always been the norm. One year, one of the guys going with us also noted that his grandmother had grown up in Montreal. After he did the research, we ended up finding the place and taking a few photos. We even talked him into knocking on the door. Alas, nobody answered.

There are stories upon stories from these trips. So many that it could probably fill a book. Instead, they hold a special place in my mind.

Over the years, I’ve tried to make Montreal a permanent place in my life. If given the chance, I’d move there in an instance and wouldn’t think twice about it. I love Montreal that much. I’ve applied for school there and jobs. Maybe some day.

The Expos were always fun, when they were still there!

We once went there when the exchange rate was so favorable to the US dollar that we almost doubled our money. Talk about feeling rich! I just looked at the exchange rate and the Canadian dollar is worth just a smidgen more than the US buck now. How times have changed.

Since the first trip, I’ve witnessed the change in “safe” travel. When we first went, we needed our licenses. A few times, our birth certificates. Now you need a passport. To drive into Canada. We also discovered the quicker ways in and out of Canada — the secondary border crossings. It’s easier because there are fewer cars. Though a few miles off the main path, it’s well worth it because we don’t get caught in the long lines at the main crossings.

One year, staying in the main crossing, it took us three hours to go about 2-3 miles and get through customs.

Three hours!

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve been there. A few of us went in 2009. I then went to Ireland in 2010, so that made me skip Montreal. Last year was tight on the wallet as it was the first part of my current situation. Who knows about this summer. I’d like to think it’s possible.

I’ve always said the best part about Montreal is it feels like you are going to Europe in North America. And, depending when you drive up, it’s a trip that can be done in about five hours. It feels longer because you go so many hours through the Adirondacks, but it’s a pretty easy trip.

Darren making friends at the Canada Day parade in 2006.

I’ve been there through many seasons, too. Winter, spring, summer. Never really in the fall, though. I bet that would be awesome with the colors. I’ve been there to ring in the New Year, celebrated Canada Day and the Fourth of July and have been there when major events were going on in the city. Montreal really is the city of festivals and the summer is quite wild.

And we always found different ways of having fun.

From sporting events to comedy clubs. From bars to clubs. From dressing up and hitting up “classier joints” to enjoying a beer down on the pier. From being told we couldn’t go into a bar because of our shoes to having one of the best steaks we’ve ever enjoyed (and cooked right next to us). From late-night chats on the balcony to the amazing views from Mont Royal. From the motocross action on the streets to all the entertainment we’ve seen.

These memories will never leave me.

Ever.

I enjoyed being there when my “little bro” took his first trip above the border. I still can’t believe the year we were bouncing from bar to bar on Crescent Street and ran into two people who we went to high school with. I’ve enjoyed every establishment we ever entered — from seedy to high class.

And the poutine. How can I forget about that?

The first time I ever had it was at Dundee’s. I’ll never forget it. One o’clock in the morning and on the outside deck, having some Labatt and poutine. Holy crap was it divine.

Don’t know what poutine is?

It’s french fries. With an amazing gravy. And cheese curds. Yes, it’s unhealthy as all hell. But it’s like heaven in a small dish. Amazing. I have it every time I return to Montreal.

There was once a time two of us went a day earlier than the others. See, one person backed out at the last minute. So I had a hotel for an extra night. Being I was stuck with it, me and another went up early. Well, not really early. At night. We went through a nasty storm, got through customs in less than a minute and arrived at the hotel at about 1 a.m. After parking, we went to check in and were told they were over-booked.

Montreal has the cleanest metro system I've seen.

Uh, say what?

I produce all the paperwork and they are stuck. Deal with it, I say. Figure something out. I’m not paying a dime more, either. We got an executive suite for the weekend.

Talk about awesome.

We’ve stayed at many different hotels. Some with incredible views. Some with awesome locations. Some with all of the above.

One year, two of us went for five days. Three or four others came up a few days later. What an experience. And this is where stories and memories will always last. We ran into some guys from Europe who were involved with the F-1 race the week earlier. Needless to say, they can handle their drinks. Soon enough it was me and them as the other member of the crew headed to the hotel. The night went into the wee hours of the morning and we ended up at Burger King where a fella was begging for some cash. So we chatted for a while with him, bought him a burger and told him I’d give him 5 bucks, but he needed to take a photo with me.

Snapshot taken. Sheesh!

I always feel like a different person up there. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I can blend in. I can have fun. I can people watch. And nobody knows me.

Well, outside the time we ran into those two we went to high school with. And the time we got pulled into customs and ran into a few people from our town (they were heading up for a baseball game).

But I enjoy it up there. I can kind of be in a different world. I can’t wait to go back. Maybe this summer. I can hope anyway, right?

Simply put, I can sum up Montreal in a few words.

I love Montreal. And that feeling won’t change anytime soon.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! 

Get a chuckle and some entertainment

OK, I decided I wanted to laugh today.

Or at least be entertained.

And when I’m really in the mood for laughing and entertainment, I look around YouTube for some funny videos. And if I’m going to laugh a bit today, I should probably share it with those of you who read the blog, no?

So, without further ado, allow me to share videos I found on YouTube. Enjoy!

1. Several years ago, there was a commercial campaign by Molson in Canada called “I am Canadian.” It was quite a success, but it spurned many offshoots. The Quebecois one was one of my favorites. Here’s the original (which is funny in its own right) and the parody.

Original

Parody

2. One word — HILARIOUS.

3. This video is about 3 1/2 minutes long, but it’s one of the most incredible things I’ve seen when it comes to daring stuff. Wild. Enjoy this.

4. OK, if you’re a sports fan at all, you know Canada is hockey central. A few years ago, when the Edmonton Oilers were in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, this display happened during the signing of the Canadian national anthem. Pretty incredible stuff.

5. Good stuff here. Comedian Rob Paravonian takes a musical and funny look at the Classical piece “Canon” by Johann Pachelbel.

I hope you enjoy these videos. I’m not sure I’ll make this a regular weekly feature on A ‘lil HooHaa, but I might do it on occasion.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com.