Photo by llcadle/Wiki

These paragraphs were originally intended for writers of flash fiction I turned down at Mannequin Envy. This piece could use some editing itself!

I believe that in order to receive anything, whether it is charity, blessings or advice, one has to do so with open hands.  I like to think that these things are given in the same manner.  Once they are given, the giver cannot bully the receiver into demanding how they use these gifts, only trust they will be used with thoughtfulness and care.  This way the receiver has the opportunity to take the gift and use it how he or she best sees fit without guilt or obligation.

When I give critique, I give it freely.  I do not have any expectations that the writer use any or part of the suggestions I’ve given.  That is for the writer to decide.  I try to be straightforward and kind, honest and helpful.  This doesn’t mean that I believe my opinion is the only one.  Writing, as any other art expression, is always open to interpretation – mine is simply one person’s view.

When I receive critique on my own works I do a few things to prepare myself to be fully receptive.  First of all, I do not read or attend a critique on my work when I am not in the mood to be open to critical comments.  We all have times when we feel the world is attacking us and this is not the right time to be critiqued.  With E-mail, it is easy to leave the letter unopened until you are in a better mindset.

Secondly, I like to take a deep breath.  Sounds pretty feng-shui, tofu-loving, Zen-ish but it really does help.  I find it helps to mentally clear the desk and ready myself.

Next, I try and ascertain the level of experience of the reviewer.  I’ve received written critiques where the reviewer used poor grammar and misspelled words.  I’ve thrown them away before I reached the end.  “Garbage in, garbage out” is the saying, and a writer doesn’t need to take hits to his or her self-esteem from people who are not qualified to read the back of a cereal box, let alone edit it.  To give you a little background on my own qualifications, I have worked in numerous magazines, newspapers and also in print advertizing doing copy writing and editing.  I have ten years of schooling in English, German and Ancient Greek and have published poetry and short fiction in various places.  During my very first critique, the reviewer called my story ‘absurd’ and said he couldn’t understand the point of it at all.  That same story earned me a place on a television show featuring writers.  Funny how that works!  In short, know who is trying to give you advice and decide if they know more or less than you.

Finally, pick and chose.  If the person gives you a critique and you feel they don’t  understand that Suzy was abused in her childhood by Uncle Joe, therefore she’ll never ride horses again, then stop.  Breath.  Take a step back.  Is it possible that you didn’t include Uncle Joe in the story at all?  Is it possible that you’ve made too far a leap and left the reader confused?  The beauty of writing a story is that we, the writers, are privy to all this wonderful back story and character detail that may never make the final edit.  Remember that you only get one chance with a reader, especially in flash fiction, to make your point known.  If your critique says you have confused him or her, you probably have.

On the other hand, if you have been expressive in including the story about Uncle Joe and how he repeatedly used a riding crop on Suzy while she was sweeping out the barn telling her to work faster, the same crop he used on Thunder, her favourite plow horse, and therefore she could never ride Thunder again, then you might have a problem if the reviewer expresses their concern.  As one writer has said, editing is all about “murdering your darlings”.  Sometimes writers are more in love with their own words than anyone else.  Pick and choose what you are willing to cut, to rearrange, to rewrite.  Be fair to the story but also be fair to your readers.  Creating stories for the purpose of publication is not about pleasing one’s self but pleasing the reader.  “If you wish only to adore your own words, send it to your mother” was some advice I received on my last piece of work.  Harsh, but true!  Once the story is out in the world, it is no longer up to the writer to explain his or her intention; the story must do that completely on its own.  It is never a wise idea to become too attached, or fall too deeply in love, with your own work.  It makes it too hard to edit.

This leads me to the purpose of editing.  When was the last time you wrote a piece of work, poem, short story, essay or letter to the mayor, that you didn’t need to revise?  Self-editing and revision is only the first step, critiquing the next.  Workshops and mentoring may also be stops your work may take before finding its way into the hands of the publishing editor…and by then you may not even recognize your baby anymore.  How attached are you to having its nose be taken off and stitched on to its backside?

Finally, take the critique as merely one person’s opinion.  Reviewers do not have some inside track on what the majority of people enjoy, they only know what they like and what they don’t.  Your reviewer may have a deep-seated fear of dogs so critiquing a story whose narrator is a doberman pincher would probably evoke some negative comments.  Yes, critics are slightly human, too, even though it is hard to imagine!

I hope these few paragraphs have been helpful in preparing you to receive critique.  As writer Chuck Palahniuk says, “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can hurt like hell.”  Be careful out there – writers are playing with sharp objects.

The reality is Facebook is not your private diary.

In reports one and two, The Facebook Friends Experiment established the reasons to build a bigger audience for your brand and how to begin adding friends.

Now That I’ve Got More Friends, How Do I Interact With Them?

Chances are that once you’ve built a large friend base, that you may not know your new Facebook friends very well.  Here are a couple of tips to stay interactive and approachable:

• Post a new status update every day but no more than 3 times a day.  Status update is a great way to let people know what you’re doing or how you feel about something benign, i.e. current movie.  Post a question to get a polled response!  Don’t post what you had for lunch, please!  Do post where you had lunch and if you liked the restaurant.  Don’t post your political views, do post on solutions to political policies.  Be you…but don’t slam the door on people who have differing opinions.
• Facebook loves to notify you of other people’s birthdays.  Take advantage of this by wishing them well on their special day.  If you are at a loss for what to say, keep it to a simple “Happy Birthday!”
• Respond to others’ statuses. Try to set a goal of commenting on something interesting that one of your newfound friends says at least one a day.  Keep it light and fun, or pose a question.  Sincere flattery always works well.
• Don’t fritter away your time playing games.  Remember you are on Facebook to build your social network, not to waste time. Get on, do your thing, move on.  Set yourself a time limit of 10 minutes…then get back to work.

But I Want Facebook To Be Somewhere I Can Let Loose!

The truth of the Internet today is that nothing you say online is private.  Employers are checking Facebook accounts before they hire prospective employees.  By remembering Facebook is only one more tool to present your best business face, you will not only gain respect from your Facebook friends, you will create a legacy of integrity in communication with others.  Facebook is not a diary or a place to air your dirty laundry about your past employer.  Be a person that people can rely on to be even keeled and not a hothead.  High tempers and diva attitudes get old real fast.

If you want your Facebook to be your private place, that’s okay, too.  This report is to help those that want to take advantage of social media to do so.  Remember that Facebook allows fan pages, which you may find works better for your business.  Also, Mashable.com released a report on adding a Facebook like button to your web pages to increase views, which can be another way to keep Facebook handy but not entirely personal.  Darren Rowse of ProBlogger fame originally added friends to his Facebook account until he was at his friends limit (5000), whereupon he sent this message to unfriend everyone except family.  So, the friending technique in this report can be used until it doesn’t work for you anymore.  By that time, your business may be so popular you may not need it!

See Facebook Friends Experiment: Report Four to gain insight of the long-term goal:  promoting your business.

The odds are overwhelmingly good that even people you do not know will accept your friend request.

In report one, the Facebook Friends Experiment was explained as essentially adding every friend that Facebook suggests to add in order to achieve an audience to promote a product or a brand.  This is especially valuable for owners of small businesses or those that are self-employed but it can work well for large businesses with people who are invested wholly in its mission and values.

How Does Facebook Decide What Friends to Suggest?

Facebook’s friend suggestion is an automatically generated list based upon the friends you already have.

Underneath the friend suggestion, it displays how many mutual friends you have in common with this person.  Facebook will suggest from one mutual friend to an infinite number of common friends.  The highest number of mutual friends I achieved in this experiment was 43.  Typically, the number of mutual friends will be lower until your friend base is over 200.  From there Facebook seems to be able to generate suggestions faster, as well as find common friends because of a larger mutual friend group.

One downside of adding friends from the suggestion box only is that future Facebook suggestion will be shaped upon who initially accepts your friend request.  For example, if many people accept your friend request that you formerly attended high school with, chances are your future friend suggestions will be more former high school acquaintances and the friends of those new Facebook friends.

I Don’t Know These People.  Why Would They Accept My Friend Request?

Depending on how many acquaintances, social groups and friendships you keep in ‘real life,’ you may or may not have any idea of the people now being suggested to you to add on Facebook.  This is all right!  Keep in mind that you are trying to build an audience, not a friendship in the literal sense of the word.   If you put in a request to add a Facebook friend that you do not know here are the outcomes:

1.     They accept your friend request.

2.     They do not accept your friend request, whereupon Facebook will stop suggesting you add them.

3.     They write you a message asking who you are and why you wish to be their friend.  You will respond telling them that you believe you have mutual friends and that Facebook suggested that you add them.  Most likely, they will add you.

4.     They accept your friend request to find out for themselves who you are.

Three out of four options have people accepting your friend request.  Good odds, isn’t it?  And now you have access to find out more about them and interact with them ‘where they live.’  You can’t beat a captive audience like this – better than a television commercial and more engaged than a radio spot.  But now what do you do with them?

See Facebook Friends Experiment: Report Three. It’s all about being authentically you.

Facebook is the commercial break from life.

What is the Experiment About ?

Facebook Friends Experiment  is using the power of the Facebook Friend Suggestion application to gain a larger friend list.  The basic premise is to add every person that Facebook suggests to add.  Facebook draws its suggestions from the people you are currently friends with.  As your list of friends grows, Facebook generates more friends based on your current friend list.

Why Conduct This Experiment?

There are many reasons people may want a larger friend base.  Some people play a ‘numbers game,’ where the person with the most friends is determined to be the most popular.  Some people connect their self-esteem with the amount of friends listed, even if they haven’t talked to those friends for years.  Some people are merely social.  Some are interested in everyone’s gossip (think of the old party telephone lines).  Some people like the interaction with a crowd.  Some just like to lurk.  Some join up for the photos…sometimes it’s the only way to see one another!

The reasons for this experiment contain none of the reasons above.  Besides wanting data to see exactly how one does get a large friends base, it should also be noted that social media is a ‘commercial break’ from life.  Interactions with ‘friends’ can also be interactions with potential clientele, depending on your business.  By keeping your list of friends growing, you are potentially grooming an audience following.  Social media is the new business model.

Sounds Like Using People, Doesn’t It?

In a word, no.  Simply slapping up your product will not encourage Facebook friends to buy your stuff.  They may get so tired of it they remove you as a Facebook friend altogether.  Social media still needs to be social.  And a friend has to be a friend, even in the Facebook world.  By keeping your status updates fun and friendly and having simple chit-chat with your growing list of friends, people will want to support you instinctively.  This is what good friends do!

See Facebook Friends Experiment: Report Two for more information of what happened next and why.

…arrived today!  1000 of them to distribute and encourage (or harass) people into reading my stuff.  Here’s the front:

The back of the card didn’t scan up very well because it’s a washout of the front design with some more encouragement (harassment) to have people contact me for an interview.

And since we’re on the subject of harassment, let me encourage y’all out there in ether-land to read me at www.examiner.com/calgary .  I’m located under the Sports and Recreation tab in Geocaching.  I’m the recreation, as always.

See you there! (..and don’t forget to subscribe or I’ll have to harass you some more….)

There are few books that are created solely for the purpose of personal craft, more so than any fictional novel.  There are not made to market or to meet sales projections; no one offers advancement on royalties.  The book is a scrapbook.  The trend is called scrap-booking.  Many a faithful ticket stub keeper and postcard collector will tell you, though; expressing the history of one’s life in a tangible fashion is as ancient as cavemen recording their hunting achievements on rock.

            Whether you design a scrapbook as a tribute, to tell a story, or to preserve a memory in time, the moments in tooling and creating the art plays second fiddle to the emotions and memories that accompany the project.  The scrapbook is merely the vessel that allows one the time to reflect on the experience that is only captured by pictures or words.  And given the proper instruction, who would not want to relive a moment that was important enough to photograph or write about?

            Scrap booking does not have to be an expensive, time-consuming, all engrossing project, as much as craft stores can make it seem.  It can be as simple as a pair of scissors, some glue, some photos and some old magazines.  The level of quality is left entirely up to the artist…in this case, you.

            To begin, you will want to decide on the theme of your book.  Some people chose to make books of their travels, a wedding, a new baby, a holiday, or to record a friendship. This will help you determine what style of album or journal to purchase – or even create, if you are the ambitious sort.  For the less ‘gung-ho’ crowd, pre-made, bound, colorful scrapbooks are available to purchase at any craft store.  This is the easier option, especially if having an empty page motivates you to fill it.  Another option is to decorate an already existing photo album, preferably one that allows pages to be added or removed.  A journal or diary can make a lovely, even unconventional, scrapbook, or just a sheet of paper encased in a page protector is a good start.  If you are looking to make a memory book with more of a homemade touch, many paper stores carry a wonderful variety of handmade paper, beautiful to bind with a linen thread.  This last option is definitely more of a project for the dedicated and the determined crafter.

            For most families, having time to collect and sort through photos and memorabilia can be an impossibility.  That is why sandwich baggies and plastic containers with lids were invented.  While sitting and watching the latest episode of Survivor, one can arrange photos by page.  In that fashion, one can merely take a bag from the container at whimsy and complete.  Of course, there will be more than just photos in your box if you are going to make a memory book.  You will need some basic essentials.

            Because a scrapbook is defined as a book of miscellaneous items, almost anything goes.  It goes better and best the more relevant and flatter it is (depending on the style of book you wish to create.  Your art does not have to be restricted to conventional rules.  Go wild.).  Some ideas are sketches, musings, pressed flowers, poems, stickers, old movie stubs, greeting cards, children’s artwork, stamps, remnants of gift paper or fabric, maps, or significant quotes or song lyrics.  Purchased professional scrap booking additions, such as die-cuts or decorative photo frames, are easily available at any craft location, usually on sale if you buy after the season has ended.  This is a great deal if you have just found the time to develop those Christmas photos in March, finally.  Simply add those thematic elements to your photo baggies and you are ready to create a page of history.

            Before you begin to do the layout of your page, have a few materials handy in your container or nearby.  A pair of scissors is required to crop the pictures and take out all the unnecessary, yet frequently photographed, extraneous background.  Crop a few photos and leave the rest whole for variety.  Avoid a common mistake. Be careful not to get over zealous and remove half of Grandma’s hairdo – it will make her look lopsided.  Some glue, a glue stick and/or double sided tape will make sure that your art stays in one place.  A damp cloth is good prevention from sticky fingers from damaging other photos.  A marker or gel pen helps to tell the story or to label photos.  Most importantly, make sure all materials are acid-free and lignin-free or protected against those two notorious detriments to the preservation of art.

            Although your first impulse may be to paste everything down on the page all at once, take a moment.  Try to arrange the photos and other items on the page and layered in the fashion you like before touching the glue.  This way you can preview the final product before you make your final decision.  Another tip is to do your written additions on a separate piece of paper.  This way you can sound out your sentence and perfect your penmanship before you make a permanent entry into your memory book.

            If you do make a mistake, do not fret.  As a diary is personal and unpredictable, so the scrapbook should be also.  Don’t be afraid to get in there and muck around a little.  Sketch, paint, and make collages.  Worries about making each page pristine should be cast aside.  Entropy and chaos certainly reflect one’s life much more than orderliness… despite the fact that we desperately try to make it not so.  Have fun, relax, and enjoy reliving the memories and recording a lasting witness of this so-called ‘ordinary’ life.  You may discover how extraordinary it really is.

On a clear day, can you really see forever?  No, but you can see up to 150 kilometres unassisted claim the folks at the Calgary Tower.  Sitting 160 metres (525 feet) above ground, there is much to be seen from the observation deck – and perhaps you might find some version of forever up there. 

            Take yourself on a field trip and explore this city from a different perspective.  Let’s see if you can find these items:

Looking North:

*Centre Street Bridge – site of the gangster movie Prime Cut (1972) starring Gene Hackman and some other people who are not so famous.

            *Chinatown – home of some of the best rice vermicelli around.

            *Bow River – because of being glacier fed, its blue-green hue is unique.  Something you can’t tell from up close.

            *Calgary International Airport – way out there, bring your binoculars.

            *LRT/C-Train – probably the best way to get to the Tower as (you will see) there is no parking metres to be found for miles.  Bing-bong.

            *City Hall – where you won’t see a secret passageway inside leading to an unused LRT tunnel.  But you will see the building.

            *Municipal Building – this very prominent tiered structure looks like a triangular set of steps.  Stairway to taxes, anyone?

            *Performing Arts Centre  - where they perform like arts…and stuff. 

            *Calgary Public Library – they’re very serious about not taking the coffee inside you just purchased at the coffee shop connected to the building (security at front doors and everything).  The Tower, on the other hand, is coffee-in-hand friendly.

            *Police HQ – another place that doesn’t mind one holding a Chai Latte, unless they’re in cuffs, of course.

            *Olympic Plaza – flooded for splashing in summer and skating in winter, just call it Calgary’s giant bathtub.

Looking East:

            *CP Rail – watch the trains head toward Saskatchewan and hum a little Stompin’ Tom Connors to yourself.  No one will mind.  Really.

            *Calgary Zoo – local folklore has it that Dinny the Dinosaur was painted bright green with the surplus bridge paint.  But not so bright that you can make him out from here.

            *City Transit Bus Barn – contrary to popular opinion they don’t hold rodeos on Thursday evenings, not even the occasional petting zoo.

            *Saddledome – the architecture of the building speaks for itself.  Ride ‘em, er… colossal-sized cowboy?

Looking South:

            *Talisman Centre – or the thing that looks like a big circus tent.  No, it’s not a car lot.

            *Chinook Mall – the gigantic beetle crawling down the side of the building is not visible from here but can still give you the shivers.

            *Glenmore Reservoir and Dam – which used to be the site of a popular picnic area.  The tables don’t float.

            *Rocky Mountains – pointy.

            *The Red Mile  - 17^th Avenue just doesn’t look the same in the daytime/non-hockey-game nights with everyone keeping their shirts on but still a sight.

Looking West:

            *Palliser Hotel – Gene Hackman in Prime Cut again.

            *Banker’s Hall – visit the Tower during office hours and see bankers at work.

            *Knox United Church – the tiny stone building with huge stained glass windows dwarfed by the skyscrapers.  That’s the one.

            *University of Calgary Campus – you can’t see the 1984 time capsule buried in Scurfield Hall under a stairwell…but you can imagine.

            *Alberta College of Art and Design – with famous graduates – my sister-in-law, Wendy, being one.

            *Jubilee Auditorium  - another place where taking the C-train is probably your best bet.

            *McMahon Stadium – there was an old Tonight Show joke around here once but was cancelled due to lack of laughter.

Unexpected Sights in the Gift Shop:

            *Pepper mills in the shape of the Calgary Tower – elevator not included.

            *Pens that have water and tiny floating towers in them – purchase your very own Tower and get great penmanship all at once.

            *Maple syrup in bottles in the shape of…. – a definite theme in the gift shop

People you might meet on the Observation Deck:

            *Families that would like you to take their photo – which rarely turns out if they are standing against the window – too much light behind them.  It’s true.

            *People looking east and humming Stompin’ Tom Connors – see above.

            *Window washers – they don’t like to be distracted.

            *People looking for change – to plug into the pay-binoculars.

            *Little kids looking for a step up – windows begin at about 4 feet off the ground, but kids love to sit on the window ledge and scare their parents by banging on the glass.

            *Tourists carrying pepper mills in the shape of… – couldn’t resist.

            Hope your field trip to the Calgary Tower is full of fun and surprises and a few of these listed items!  For more ‘serious’ facts about the Tower, including admission and hours of operation, visit www.CalgaryTower.com.

There is something special about February that makes the rest of Canada envious of Albertans.  If you have guessed Cupid in a cowboy hat, you are a few days too early.  If you opted for Bald Pride Day, you are too late…sorry, Dad.  The statutory holiday that falls on the third Monday in February, every February since 1990, is called Family Day.  A day to honour the pioneer spirit and the importance of family, whatever shape or form your family may take.

           Family Day will be a special one for Terri Jackson this year when she’ll be reunited with her own family.  Jackson has recently moved to Calgary, leaving two daughters and two pre-school grandchildren in another province.  Hers is a common story for many Calgarians.  It seems as if almost every person living in this city of nearly one million citizens has been transplanted from other places.  What is uncommon is the deep level of commitment she has for her family.

            Jackson’s life has been littered with extremes.  Having a father who treated her with the utmost respect and unconditional love instilled a sense of maturity in her at a young age.  “I never remember him raising his voice to me in anger and certainly never was spanked.”  She uncomfortably compares him with her mother, with whom there was a very painful relationship.  When her father passed away Jackson was in her young teen years.  She felt it painful to continue being a part of her family.  Even so, Jackson refuses to express any negativity about her childhood.  She says she owes her new life to her husband, Charlie, and to finding God.  “It is only because of my beliefs that I can forgive my mother,” she says.

            “Because of my childhood, I was very scared to start a family of my own,” says Jackson when, only nine months after getting married, Charlie and Terri were surprised to discover they were expecting a child.  “When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, being a good mother became almost an obsession with me.”  She pauses and adds resolutely,  “I was determined to be a good mother…and to give my kids what I had so longed for in a mom.”

            The more Jackson felt the new life growing inside her, the more excited she became.  “There was an undercurrent of pure joy at the thought of being a mother I didn’t even know was there,” she says, smiling at the memory.  Jackson knew that this was a turning point in her life.  She made the decision, along with the full support of her husband, Charlie, to become a stay-at-home-mother.  “Although we really needed the money, I didn’t want to have to depend on others to baby-sit.  For ten years we lived meagrely…too meagrely at times.  Charlie took work–building fences, painting houses, and doing any odd job he could find to get us through.  It really made us think about what was important in our lives.  We had to make choices.  I could go to work and earn money to buy a washing machine or go to the Laundromat and make it a fun outing.  My family became my passion and my career.  I think we made the right decision.”

            After baby girl, Lena, was born, her sister, Valerie, arrived shortly.  They fast became each other’s best friends.  “That’s not to say they didn’t fight,” laughs Jackson,  “They could have it out with the best of them.”

 And what did they do for fun besides wrestle?  “Anything that didn’t cost money,” quips Jackson.  “The girls grew up outside in nature,” she says.  “We went for a walk or a bike ride nearly every day, if not twice a day, and tobogganing in the winter.  I invested one dollar for a giant roll of paper from the local newspaper and let the girls colour until their hearts were content.  We never could afford to eat out, so a huge treat was to get a 25 cent ice cream from McDonald’s.”

Jackson says that she believes that families should be ‘inclusive’, not exclusive.  “There were always neighbourhood kids over at my house.  In fact, they would knock at the door and ask to play with me!”  Jackson thinks that instilling her daughters with a heart for the poor was the reason her home was a popular hangout.  “Valerie and Lena would spread a blanket on the floor and load it up with canned goods.  They pretended it was an airplane and they were taking it to Africa to feed the children.”  She says it was a game that other kids were fascinated by.  “No matter how poor we were, Charlie and I wanted them to know that there are families more in need than us.”  Being in a neighbourhood surrounded by people on social assistance, that theme struck home with a lot of the children.

Jackson recalls an especially hard time for the family.  “It was Lena’s fourth birthday and I didn’t even have enough ingredients in the house to make her a birthday cake, much less buy her a present.  A wonderful lady from my church called me up, out of the blue, and insisted on throwing Lena a birthday party.  She supplied the games, the napkins, the invitations, the cake, and the lunch with all the trimmings.  Everything with a clown theme!  It was a very humbling experience.  That’s why I think that we have to include our friends as part of our family, too.”

After spending nearly a year apart from her children and grandchildren, Jackson still is faithful in maintaining constant contact.  “I try to send the grandkids a small package nearly every week.  I’ve made many trips to the Dollar Store.  We call each other very often, and Charlie and I have spent more time on the road this year travelling to see them than we care to admit.  When they’ve been able to come see us here, we put everything on hold to spend time with them.”

Which is why this Family Day will be so important for the Jackson’s in 2004.  Lena, their oldest daughter and single mother to their two grandchildren, will be coming to Calgary permanently.  Until she finds work, Lena and the kids will be staying in the Jackson home.  “I’m going to have to remember how to cook for five again, instead of just two!”  jokes Terri Jackson.  Some of that cooking Jackson plans to do outdoors on Family Day when she takes the grandchildren for a hike in the mountains, followed by a wiener roast over an open fire pit.

Does she realize that Family Day is in February?

She smiles.   “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Genealogy. It’s a scary word for most, conjuring images of hours spent in the dusty cellars of a city records office, squinting at microfilm with miniscule fonts. Not anymore. Today, more and more people are researching their family’s history on-line.

But before you get too ambitious, understand the first rule of genealogy: start with what you know. It is best to begin with your self. After all, in genealogy, discovering the past is realizing the present—namely you.

Take Charles Nienkirchen, for example. He is a professor of Christian history and spirituality at the Nazerene University College. His last name, literally translated, is “new church.” One might think he would be a man merely interested in dates and places, but not so. His father was 50 years old when Nienkirchen was born—a large generation gap, to say the least. When his father passed away in 1984, Charles’s interest in genealogy sprouted. He felt he needed to discover where he “fit” in the world and found researching his family’s roots was a good place to start. And start he did, with very little information.

“There were many dead ends and trails that led nowhere in the beginning,” says Nienkirchen, “But I am a person who is passionate about passion. When I do something, it’s wholeheartedly.”

Nienkirchen’s passion for researching his roots has, at times, supersceded all else.  He remembers his wife feeling like a “genealogy widow.” “I would spend two or three nights a week solely researching. And at that time, surfing the Web wasn’t as common or as helpful as it is today. I spent a lot of money on stamps and for copies of documents.”   

Nienkirchen says he wouldn’t consider himself to be the most organized person but describes himself as a “closet scrapbooker.” His material ranges from a carefully arranged and protected documents binder, a curio cabinet filled with all types of boyhood treasures, to a beautifully laminated booklet his young children made when they all went to visit long lost relatives.

Fortunately for Nienkirchen, his search for long-lost family was successful. “I uncovered one crucial document that told me everything I wanted to know about where my family came from. It was my grandfather’s application for naturalization, so that he could receive a Canadian pension. The document told me the region of Germany he hailed from—the missing piece of the puzzle for me.”

Nienkirchen and family went to Mecklenburg, Germany in 1989, at the time of the fall of the Iron Curtain, with hopes of finding more clues. The clue they found was Heinz Nienkirchen, Charles’s fifth cousin on his father’s side of the family.

“I am not a Nazi! I play music!” blurted Heinz, fearful that Hitler’s transgressions was representative of Germany as a whole.  Heinz was a member of the German army but never fired a gun. Communication with his newfound relatives was not a problem as Heinz had learned English when he was a POW in England. He often said this was the best thing to come of the war. It was also true Heinz was quite the musician. He played the cello, the piano, the accordion and the trombone. He also conducted numerous orchestras. Coincidentally, Nienkirchen and family are also very musical.

So fruitful was their meeting (it was the first contact between relatives on either side of the Atlantic in over 100 years) that Nienkirchen, along with the support of Canadian uncles and aunts, brought Heinz over to Pembroke, Ontario the next year for a visit. The pair even made an appearance in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper for their incredible story.

At their first meeting, Charles noted that the physical similarities between his deceased father and Heinz were amazing. That fact hit home with Nienkirchen when Heinz came to Canada.

“He seemed to take up an immediate attraction for my mother.” Nienkirchen pauses. “She was a little uncomfortable with that,” he adds bashfully. Which leads to the question, is romance part of our genetic make-up?

Sadly, Heinz passed away not too long after his visit to Canada. “I’m glad that we could bring him some joy in his last years,” says Nienkirchen.

Heinz’s wife passed away shortly before the cousin’s initial reunion. He never remarried. Having no children, Heinz immediately took to Nienkirchen as if he was his own child. “Meeting Heinz and bringing him to Canada was truly one of the highlights in my life,” says Charles. “There seems to be a rare moment in time when everything comes together. For me, there was a usually relaxed atmosphere that preceded the wall coming down in East Berlin that happened to coincide with our travel plans. Without that, none of this story would have been possible.”

Getting started in your own family genealogy project is a matter of talking to family members, recommends Nienkirchen “Most of the time, older folks just want someone to listen to their stories,” he says, “Though if your family has a lot of skeletons in the closet, there are ways of getting around that, too.”

Most genealogy books suggest getting every scrap of information on living ancestors, even if you think you know it all already. It is likely that, once you have gathered together documents for your immediate family, you will need to proceed further, sourcing out bits of information, whether it be emigration papers, a death certificate or contacting an adoption agency. Work on one generation at a time. Most importantly, keep the information together.

A file folder or a binder with dividers is an inexpensive way to start. Or, if using a keyboard is more comfortable, there are a few popular family tree computer programs on the market. The only drawback with using a program is that you may be tempted to not record everything faithfully. Write every source down, where it came from, book titles, and page numbers. This is one hobby made for pack rats! The library, of course, is a wealth of information. Keep even suspect information, as it may have a grain of truth to it.

There is a wealth of Web sites dedicated solely to the subject of genealogy, such as Rootsweb.com, or Familysearch.org. There is even a Web site that offers a free on-line crash course in six easy lessons, complete with on-line quizzes and printable worksheets found at Genealogy.about.com/library/lessons/blintro.htm.

As for Nienkirchen and his ancestral research? “I’ve put genealogy on the back burner for now,” says Nienkirchen. “I’m hoping that there is enough information here for one of my children to pick up where I left off—if they so chose. I find that, in virtually every family, there is one person that is the ‘caretaker of the stories.’ They keep the history alive for the others.”

Could that person be you?

It is approximated that more than 4 million people in North America are allergic to peanuts or their derivatives.  It is such a dangerous allergy that nearly every school and community food service has banned the use of any type of nut product within its boundaries.  But where does that leave a generation of parents who grew up on the staple of PB & J sandwiches?

            Joe St. Denis is all about improving that standard.  And when it comes to entrepreneuring an alternative approach to peanut butter, he’s your man.  NoNuts Golden Peabutter, yes ‘pea’ butter, is produced right here in Alberta’s own backyard and is dramatically changing the way people think about bread spreads.

            As the saying goes, necessity was indeed the mother of invention for St. Denis, born and raised here “for 57 years!” he notes.  When grain prices hit bottom in 1985, many farmers looked to raising alternative crops as a means of survival.  St. Denis started with fava beans and five acres of peas.  He was a pioneer in his field, no pun intended, and became somewhat of a teacher to other farmers here and around the world on the subject of growing and marketing pea crops.  In fact, while coming back from a business trip in Tunisia, the idea of Peabutter was formed.  St. Denis had a layover in Toronto and his first experience with the chickpea dish, hummus.  Most people would have simply enjoyed the food but for St. Denis the gears were already turning.

            He had discovered a variety of pea that turned brown, instead of green, when ripe. After three years of trial and error (and still learning, he admits), this special pea became the main ingredient in Peabutter.  When mixed with a bit of canola oil and icing sugar, the spread is exactly identical to its allergy reactive cousin, peanut butter, in both look and taste.  So much so that St. Denis recommends that “parents should include a note if their children take Peabutter sandwiches to school, just so no one gets in trouble.”  Currently, he is debating adding a food colour to make the spread more distinguishable from regular peanut butter.  “I’m not really keen on food dyes, though” he adds, relating keeping his product pure against the marketing failure of the green and purple Heinz ketchup.

            Creating public awareness is St. Denis’s number one challenge.  He knew he had a good sell, but he was being turned down time and again from the food manufacturers, seven in total.  And despite a unique product that definitely fulfills a need, St. Denis has never been able to receive funding from the provincial government.

That being said, when the going got tough, St. Denis got going…to the Farmer’s Market.  He struck out to become the manufacturer and marketer, financial backer and spokesman.  A regular one-man band, if you will.  He expresses a warning here, “Make sure that your family is one hundred percent behind you, because this type of a venture takes a toll on not only you, but your family and your bank account.”

            But the hard work is paying off, slowly but surely.  NoNuts Golden Peabutter won three out of four awards at the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors last year, including the prestigious titles of Best New Product and Best Innovation.  St. Denis also notes with pride in his voice that Peabutter just recently took home the Canadian Agriculture Food of Excellence award as well.  Other numerous awards are listed at www.peabutter.ca.  He has expanded Peabutter into eastern Canada and is looking forward to breaking into the United States market within the year. 

 “The real reward, though” he says humbly, “is the notes I get from parents of children with peanut allergies thanking me.  It’s wonderful to know that someone who couldn’t enjoy the simplicity of a peanut butter sandwich now can.”                               

The simple pleasures.  Sounds like a true Albertan.