tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63410272012-01-30T10:47:57.203-08:00'Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.' Robert FrostShannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.comBlogger4721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-27067586177519713442012-01-28T21:58:00.001-08:002012-01-28T22:13:31.500-08:00

So I went to the grocery store this week. This is not an unusual occurrence now that it is winter, but what made it rather noteworthy was that I decided to peruse the meat section. I don't buy meat at the grocery story any more. I pretty much buy all my meat at the Market now, but I guess I was just curious to see what they had on offer. After scanning shelves upon shelves of chicken breast and

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-19741064075522888402012-01-19T18:00:00.000-08:002012-01-19T18:43:17.436-08:00

I've said it before, I'll say it again, here in Canada and, indeed, in most Western countries, we do not have a health care system, we have a sick care system. It seems, at least from where I am standing, that the vast majority of resources directed towards human health focus solely on how to treat diseases and conditions once a person has become sick, rather than focusing on how we can avoid

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-81056891024312744762012-01-10T17:33:00.000-08:002012-01-10T19:32:42.451-08:00

It seems both my mother and sister had determined that my kitchen was lacking in some regards, as they both gave me various kitchen items for Christmas. Granted, I did put a couple on my list, but only after my sister came to visit one day and exclaimed (with slight judgement I think) "What, you don't have a wire whisk?!'. Apparently I was also lacking a decent peeler, a spice rack, a working

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-85807627324369836112012-01-04T14:30:00.000-08:002012-01-04T19:02:01.908-08:00

For the past few years, instead of making a New Year's resolution, I've written down a list of goals to be accomplished throughout the year. I even break them down by theme - health, career, education, self-development, finances, etc. I then detail how I plan to achieve these goals. For example, I plan to follow a weekly budget for my variable expenses by using cash, a mason jar system, and by

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-68437778350914158492011-12-06T15:57:00.000-08:002011-12-06T19:42:43.222-08:00

In less than 48 hours a second edition of M.E.A.L will be taking place The Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, Plant Earth. To say I am excited,would be a substantial understatement. The way things seem to be shaping up, this is going to be a fantastic evening. To summarize by letter:MEETWhat is MEAL all about? I've been asked this question umpteen

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-78673143710459988942011-11-11T19:57:00.000-08:002011-11-13T18:53:38.953-08:00

Lately I've been writing a lot. I know what you're thinking, so let me qualify that. Lately I've been writing a lot...in my head. Every day, I have tonnes of absolutely amazing thoughts running through my mind. Often they are even in the form of coherent, interesting sentences. Unfortunately, two things seem to present rather large hurdles when it comes to getting my writing onto paper (and by

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-39157378545100053552011-10-24T17:12:00.000-07:002011-10-24T18:13:38.588-07:00

Often when I meet someone and tell them I'm a foodie and quasi-environmentalist, they eventually, with great hesitation, get around to asking me the inevitable question "So, uh, are you a vegetarian?". Well, that is unless I've already regaled them with tales of my lamb dinner in Vermont or shared my 'bacon makes everything better' philosophy. In any case, I find the assumption that

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-82430741318780266852011-10-04T06:37:00.000-07:002011-10-10T18:51:12.971-07:00

I'm going back to school.Wow, I really never thought I'd utter those words again. But here I am, waiting on the arrival of my new Visa Aerogold credit card so I can reap some Aeroplan rewards from this slightly daunting decision. Yes, that's right, I'm actually fronting my own cash for tuition, which is a first for me. And after watching too many episodes of 'Til Debt Do Us Part', I figured I'd

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-58132810473952797112011-09-08T17:25:00.000-07:002011-09-10T12:08:38.089-07:00

Although no longer a student, I have found myself thinking 'it's a new year!' on several occasions this week. Perhaps it's because I work at UPEI and am thus surrounded by back-to-school proclamations, and throngs of eager and not-so-eager students. The business building has come alive again after a summer of hibernation. Yesterday, as I biked to work with my backpack on, I couldn't help but muse

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-25632889382140084032011-05-11T10:08:00.000-07:002011-08-10T11:27:52.031-07:00

As I write this, there's a chocolate cupcake with red icing sitting beside me. It's resting on an upside-down, homemade chocolate chip cookie. Yes, that's right, a double-whammy of chocolate goodness is within arm's reach of me. I have thusfar resisted temptation (it's been a few hours since I acquired these goodies). I figured it's about time for an update on my journey towards saying farewell

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-30333797933098104872011-04-24T15:11:00.000-07:002011-05-01T19:53:50.635-07:00

*Note - I intended to post this last weekend, but got distracted by chocolate Easter bunnies and the such, hence it is dated*I'm in Vancouver and today is Easter. I flew out to the West coast last Sunday to attend a conference on rural tourism, which was taking place in the interior region of BC and planned to spend an extra few days in Van City to catch up with some old friends and enjoy the

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-69689786566525661382011-03-29T18:47:00.000-07:002011-03-29T19:19:46.093-07:00

This past week was definitely one of the highlights of 2011 for me. Finally, after weeks of organizing and a wee bit of stressing about getting things done, the big day was upon us. No, I didn't get hitched, but I did get to be part of a fantastic celebration of local food on PEI. Myself and a gang of other people here on PEI that are passionate about local food hosted an event called A Local

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-86481215204440086902011-03-18T19:57:00.000-07:002011-03-21T19:01:07.286-07:00

To celebrate St Patrick's Day is to rejoice in two of life's greatest gifts: the Irish accent and Guiness beer. Jen and I left work a smidgen early yesterday, desperately hoping the fifteen minute cushion would mean being able to land a table for ourselves and the gang that would be joining. Jen, lover of all things sunny and warm, even went so far as to wonder if the Olde Triangle would have its

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-55108645188775168252011-03-16T18:05:00.000-07:002011-03-16T18:43:09.701-07:00

So it's Day 3 of my plan to reduce sugar consumption significantly by only eating sweets after 8pm and then only in moderation. So far, so good. Yesterday, I had a fantastic time playing hooky (with boss' permission) and attending the PEI ADAPT Council's annual conference. It was all about agriculture on PEI and for the most part, the presentations were inspiring and informative. The day was

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-52303566447414868122011-03-14T17:11:00.001-07:002011-03-14T18:10:26.438-07:00

How sweet it is.....Sugar.Am I an addict? For most of my adult life, I've told myself and others that I am a candyaholic. It's really my only major vice - I don't do drugs, drink alcohol in excess,gamble, eat fast or fatty food, or spend my nights glued to the TV. Surely one should be allowed a single vice in life right?Sigh. Unfortunately the answer is no. At least not the vice of consuming

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-19284010339898050812011-02-22T20:43:00.000-08:002011-02-22T21:07:28.029-08:00

Over the past few months I've met a number of wonderful people who are passionate about food and brimming with enthusiasm. It has made the return to PEI that much sweeter to find a community of like-minded folks here. So, post-thesis, I determined I needed a new project and something to fill all the spare time I imagined I would now have. Well, as it turns out, time remains a hard-to-come by and

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-49227949830058999672011-02-15T09:48:00.000-08:002011-02-21T20:07:33.448-08:00

It has recently come to my attention that I am at my best when armed with a 'plan'. There must always be a plan in motion or on the horizon, otherwise I find myself stressing at the lack of stress in my life. This, in turn, leads me to waste my free time eating copious amounts of chocolate and watching terrible t.v. shows like 'Dance Your Ass Off', which makes me wonder whether I should have

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-30504224606483549092011-01-02T20:34:00.000-08:002011-01-30T19:30:35.790-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about beginnings and endings lately, probably because my life in 2010 was overflowing with both, from ending my life in Kingston, to starting afresh in PEI with the intention of staying rather than simply making a stopover. In the process I landed myself a new job, a great apartment in downtown Charlottetown, found someone to love, made fabulous new friends and missed old

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-30726350097400002702010-12-29T20:33:00.001-08:002010-12-29T21:20:39.509-08:00

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Writer's note: I started this blog post a month

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-18052889028002174102010-11-07T17:55:00.000-08:002010-11-08T09:02:51.742-08:00

In life, there is steak and then there is STEAK. Yes, that's right, the capitalization of the second version makes all the difference in the world.This past weekend I had STEAK of the Porterhouse variety and it was, as the title suggests, the Best.Steak.Ever. It's possible, however, in my assessment of this particular steak, that I am also considering other elements of the dinner that made it

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-83841384590993557222010-10-28T19:30:00.000-07:002010-10-28T20:00:34.757-07:00

I'm sitting here on my comfy red microfibre couch. It's 11.30 p.m. on a Thursday evening. The calendar tells me it's October 28th, but the breeze blowing in from the window is deceivingly summer-ish and my thermostat reads 24.5, despite my attempts to cool the place to 21 degrees.Life is good.Earlier this evening I had dinner with four of the most wonderful people I've been blessed to have in my

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-38336215212855681192010-09-06T20:33:00.000-07:002010-09-06T21:12:25.110-07:00

I am moving again.This move is not across time zones, only the Hills borough bridge - from Stratford to Charlottetown. I am, nevertheless, filled with that familiar mix of anxiety and excitement that always accompanies transition.Transition.I turned 30 last month. And while I won't deny that I entered my fourth decade with a smidgen of trepidation, a good dollop of indulgent self-criticism and

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-48863603818225542862010-06-06T09:01:00.000-07:002010-06-06T09:38:00.127-07:00

The past three weeks have been ridiculously hectic for me, as I transition from life in Kingston, Ontario to life in Prince Edward Island. It didn't help that it was mostly the month of May, also known as 'The Time When Canadians Come Out of Winter Hibernation'. So after four months squirreled away in 'my' house out in the country, I found myself quite abruptly plopped back into life in the

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-74130439345040071402010-05-12T20:55:00.000-07:002010-05-20T20:38:21.132-07:00

I was enamored with Claire's Restaurant before I even set foot in the dining room. And it didn't have anything to do with salivating over an on-line menu, as one might expect. In fact, there is no on-line menu because Claire's menu changes with the seasons, which brings me to my first reason for aforementioned infatuation: the menu is seasonal because it's based on what is available from the

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-16147741306577710622010-05-11T12:06:00.000-07:002010-05-11T20:54:41.919-07:00

In my life, I have discovered that places are like people. There are some places where you can always go, knowing that you'll find a feeling of familiarity and of 'being at home', just as there are people in your life with whom you know you can always feel comfortable just being yourself. There are other places that you'll find yourself in for a slice of your life and, if you are open to it,

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-75381934021106889802010-04-10T13:39:00.000-07:002010-04-10T14:48:20.368-07:00

That's really what I want to shout at the top of my lungs to all these critics and nay-sayers of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. I am sick of scrolling through the messages on the listservs I subscribe to, only to see highly educated people who recognize that the food system is broken taking digs at chef Jamie Oliver for his reality TV series that is focused on helping the residents of Huntingdon

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-15941622882224267582010-04-02T20:06:00.000-07:002010-04-02T20:56:57.457-07:00

C-SPAN StudentCam 2010 First Prize MS Winner - 'Childhood Obesity: A Challenge Facing America' from Matthew Shimurahttp://studentcam.viddler.com/videos/watch.php?id=9932b9968 minutes, one 7th grader, and an epidemic of epic proportions - borne by the children of the world's most powerful nation. This is not the American dream. One out of every seven preschool children is considered obese. That

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-5882924272300754262010-02-25T18:31:00.000-08:002010-03-12T21:43:30.293-08:00

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get". At least that's what Forrest Gump said. I disagree. Most boxes of chocolate come with a paper insert that tells you what to expect from each and every chocolate. And even if a box of chocolates didn't come with such a guide you could just take a little nibble and if you didn't what was inside you could feed it to someone

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-56465539690267313882010-02-12T21:05:00.001-08:002010-02-12T21:50:19.414-08:00

So I've been kind of busy as of late, now that I'm well into my second year of my masters program, I've kicked it up a few gears with regards to my work ethic. As a result, I've put a lot of other things on the back burner (pun intended!). Exhibit A: Posting to All Shanadian. Well, in any case, I thought I'd make an attempt at a short post, while I wait for my banana bread to finish baking.

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-88263220386538790862010-01-30T12:38:00.001-08:002010-02-01T20:45:48.139-08:00

So I'm about two and a half weeks into my love affair with the Primal Blueprint. Technically, though, the first week was an 'easing in' phase which really went more like this:Days 1 to 3: Ate very Primal, felt pretty good physically and very satiated in generalDay 4: Ran out of vegetables, basically subsisted on fatty meats. Felt very carnivorousDay 5: Went to town, stocked up on everything

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-76802492983738511142010-01-23T15:16:00.001-08:002010-01-25T20:18:18.866-08:00

'It costs too much' is, by far, the most common argument I hear with regards to why people are not inclined to purchase food that is sustainable - to their health, to their community and to the environment. I'm talking mostly about local and/or organic foods, as that is the little slice of the food world I currently find myself in, but the same claim is often laid upon conventional foods that are

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-34940152167524802132010-01-14T21:39:00.000-08:002010-01-15T20:58:43.303-08:00

It has come to my attention over the past few years that us North Americans have, at some point along the way, probably while our governments were building super highways and capitalists were plotting ways to turn the nourishment of Mother Earth into commodities and value-added 'products' and women were fighting for equal opportunities, lost one of the most fundamental and natural instincts

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-81396579710186395672010-01-07T17:46:00.000-08:002010-01-07T20:01:53.614-08:00

This year I will turn 30. OK, I just had to put that out there. Apparently it's a big deal, the big Three-Oh-No-I'm-Not-Young -Anymore-And-I-Have-Wrinkles-And-People-Aren't-Impressed-By-My-Youthful-Ambition-And-I-Have-Gray-Hairs. Well, you get the idea. I mean, really, when's the last time you met someone who was excited or even mildly looking forward to their thirtieth birthday?And yet,

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-51599537850175501942009-12-28T19:42:00.000-08:002009-12-28T19:51:36.851-08:00

I posted this Christmas letter to many wonderful friends - old and new - whose addresses I was able to procure. Alas, I wasn't able to send a hard copy to everyone I wanted. So here's the electronic version. I've been tempted to edit it as I didn't do so after writing the letter (it took 10 hours...5.5 of which were writer's block), but have fought the urge..so an unedited version!CHRISTMAS

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-71670683875932788902009-12-20T14:45:00.000-08:002009-12-22T20:12:21.980-08:00

I'd convinced myself that the moment I left Vermont and crossed the border into Canada, I would be freed from the seemingly never-ending opportunities to indulge in tempting foods grown locally. Then I realized I'd be crossing the border into Quebec and spending a weekend in Montreal, where the French-Canadiens still 'souvien's that 'bonne nouriturre' is a key ingredient to a 'bonne vie'. Plus,

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-30441574575157719852009-12-02T20:38:00.000-08:002009-12-09T16:42:37.219-08:00

I must preface this blog post with a warning to readers that it *may* contain some controversial/sensitive subject matter. Do not proceed if you are staunchly opposed to strange food combinations, Americans teaching Canadians how to play hockey, or the BBQing of poultry on a special occasion.*************************************************************Sadly, my sojourn south of the border has

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-61896454364909126172009-11-19T14:03:00.000-08:002009-11-22T14:20:22.215-08:00

On occasion, or perhaps more often than that, I throw out reading suggestions to random people that I may or may not know very well. I have a mainstay list of must-reads that I surreptitiously slip into conversation:'Oh you want to go to the San Fransisco zoo someday eh? That's cool, San Fran is an awesome city! You know, if you enjoy zoos, I'm sure you'd enjoy the book Ishmael. The main

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-9637171404463311362009-11-14T18:12:00.000-08:002009-11-17T20:48:31.104-08:00

I found myself suffering title-ist block as I sat down to write this blog entry. Clearly this is because my last attempt at post titling ended in me alliterating my way out of thinking up an even mildly witty title. So this time I cheated. I typed 'quotes about food' into Google's search engine and voila, found the perfect quote for this particular post (what is wrong with me? I have an addiction

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-62653368954772371522009-11-12T10:28:00.000-08:002009-11-13T07:25:08.365-08:00

After two weeks of lusty infatuation with the state of Vermont, unlike many men I've dated in the past, it has not lost its appeal. In fact, I've become even more endeared with this wonderful state. Quite possibly this is because I've had such fantastically surreal food experiences and met so many intriguing, warmpeople that I've been able to put the 14 hours of daily darkness and other

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-39076663279915553982009-11-02T20:25:00.000-08:002009-11-06T20:02:44.860-08:00

I'm on the backside of a week living in my new favorite place on the continent - the state of Vermont. Before I came here the only things I knew about Vermont were as follows: it has decent skiing, it's home to Ben & Jerry's, the fall foilage is amazing and, whatever I might have gleaned from sporadic episodes of Newhart back in the late 80’s. Michael Moore, in his latest film Capitalism: A

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-59783080939752405512009-10-27T13:08:00.000-07:002009-10-30T08:45:24.790-07:00

Pumpkin Lane. What a lovely name for a road! Little did I know when I decided to see where it led, that I would find myself face to face with my dinner choice. Well, OK, not technically this evening's dinner, because clearly the ground beef I'd made into meat balls earlier in the day was not from any of the Holsteins that stopped, stared and then posed for a picture. It was an idyllic farm

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-68366027820195912792009-10-24T15:16:00.000-07:002009-10-24T18:24:31.314-07:00

Well, technically the title of this post should be 'Girl Going Locav-or-ganic', because, despite having spent the past year immersing myself in the scholarly and popular literature concerned with local food and preaching the tenents of 'going local' to anyone that would listen to me, the truth is I have been, by and large, a hypocrite. Here's my story....until now:Baby StepsI've spent most of my

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-39937881862352864842009-10-20T20:00:00.001-07:002009-10-20T20:09:28.904-07:00

This past Sunday I successfully completed my first half marathon! I’d been training since April and was rewarded with a better-than-expected finish time and the jubilation that comes with completing a challenge that you may have had doubts you could accomplish at some points along the way. While following John Stanton’s training program (from his book ‘Running), I also committed myself to eating

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-73497629353580800212009-09-29T12:26:00.000-07:002009-10-05T12:02:10.149-07:00

Excuse me while I do something I've never done before and get 100% behind an idea that could change the world. OK, OK, maybe I'm exaggerating..or maybe I'm not. Who knows? Adam Smith's idea of a 'free market' changed the world. So you never know, Slow Money might just be the beginning of a paradigm shift in the way financial capital is raised and invested. It might just level the playing

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-39818615856297215202009-09-23T20:31:00.000-07:002009-09-27T21:30:17.191-07:00

When, I wonder, did North Americans start valuing the services of a doctor far more than those of a farmer? Not only do we pay doctors way more to provide health care services, but the vast majority of us consider their occupation far more prestigious and commendable than that of the humble farmer. I'm not going to lie, I've held my own biases in this respect as well, especially when trying to

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-43281386370521974212009-09-09T19:07:00.000-07:002009-09-10T05:07:31.880-07:00

'Convenience'. It seems that this word has become an ideal unto itself. Something that we should all strive for in our daily lives. To sum up what I believe to be the dominant mantra of my generation: 'Convenience is always good.'Building on this, I'd venture as far as to say that, by and large, my generation and those that follow have adopted an implicit, unspoken mantra that

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-91389348280298980092009-09-01T20:06:00.000-07:002009-09-01T21:16:55.330-07:00

This week I finally got to meet my two new roommates for the coming year. They are, in short, fantastic! They've both JUST come back from teaching in Korea and one of them became a vegetarian while she was overseas. She was so excited about coming back to Canada, where there are an endless sea of soy-based products - veggie burgers, veggie dogs, soy milk, tofu, etc. I think in Korea, at least my

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-1160953193817227912009-08-27T19:35:00.000-07:002009-08-29T20:58:07.315-07:00

The likelihood that I'll ever win an Oscar and be able to say 'Thank you Mom' is negligible at best, and even if I were to have Mr. Oscar in hand, the band would start playing really loudly before I got through even a small percentage of the things I would want to thank my mother for.So, instead, I will employ the wonderful world of blogging to send thank-yous to my mother. Her name is Terry.

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-66488170532129557272009-08-26T17:53:00.000-07:002009-08-26T18:42:54.661-07:00

It's pronounced 'keen-wah'. And it's my new favorite food!A couple of months ago I decided to go to a holistic nutritionist for dietary advice. I'd been to a regular (normal?) nutritionist a couple of years previous, but figured a different perspective on what one should eat was worth the investment. Well, as it turns out, my new nutritionist had much advice not only on what to eat, but also on

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-755819309659037282009-08-21T20:43:00.000-07:002009-08-24T14:45:15.188-07:00

My first meal upon arriving on PEI back in June featured a delicious Atlantic salmon fillet grilled on the BBQ. As I savored its delightfully familiar, rich taste, I asked my mother where it was from, expecting her to say 'Sobeys' or 'the Superstore'. I was completely thrown off when she replied 'Chile'. What?? But this is Atlantic salmon isn't it?? I was confused. My geography is not that

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-28010270497158294912009-08-18T21:18:00.000-07:002009-08-18T22:31:08.298-07:00

It's 12.27 am now. I just biked home from the movie theatre and should probably go to bed, but I can't. You know those rare times when something finds you at precisely the moment you need it? Like a book that you find yourself picking up from a used bookstore that ends up changing everything, or a long forgotten photograph that falls out of your old purse and makes you smile for the rest of the

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-79875134032065115992009-08-14T12:31:00.000-07:002009-08-14T20:33:56.949-07:00

Everywhere I go now, I find myself faced with food dichotomies - global vs. local, quantity vs. quality, shelf life vs. freshness. I wonder if it's because I'm immersed in researching local food systems, kind of like when you buy a new car and suddenly you seem the same model everywhere. Or maybe it's because there's a movement afoot, maybe, just maybe, people are starting to care more about

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-64974447637931102402009-08-14T12:29:00.000-07:002009-08-14T12:31:23.518-07:00

The past week and a half, I've found myself sitting down to more farewell dinners then I care to count. It seems that food and farewells go hand in hand on the Island - you can't escape without getting 'stuffed' from the well-intentions of your hosts, especially if they are family. Sometimes I swear they try to feed you as if you won't eat again until you return to PEI at Christmas. Such is life

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-6587133369629763082009-08-06T08:22:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:08:48.036-07:00

PEI is home. There is no denying this. No matter how many times I uproot myself from this Island that I grew up on, no matter how many kilometres away I plant myself, or how many times zones I have to adjust my phone calls, this little cradle shaped piece of land on the East Coast of Canada will always be home. And I will forever find myself 'coming home', returning as the holidays demand or as

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-70729409864578737012009-07-09T18:59:00.000-07:002009-07-16T19:47:26.196-07:00

All Shanadian has been with me since January 2004. I believe I originally created this blog as a means of distraction from the current task at hand - at that time, it was my Business Honours research paper. Then it morphed into a travelogue for the next few years, while I ceilidhed it up in Scotland and Ozzed it up Down Under. During my stints in Canada it served more often as a scrawl wall,

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-67420040175742041332009-06-30T21:14:00.000-07:002009-06-30T21:28:16.085-07:00

It starts something like this:'I was Prince Edward Island born, and Prince Edward Island bredand when I die, I'll be Prince Edward Island dead!'Oh Prince Edward Island Island, Prince Edward IslandIsland, Prince Edward Island IslandP.E.I.!!!Some come from the Westand some come from the EastBut where ever they go, they know PEI's the Best!Hmm...from thereon in, it gets a bit fuzzy, but you get the

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-4098561819951280342009-05-29T19:42:00.000-07:002009-05-29T20:07:49.931-07:00

I'm nearing the end of my vacation/escape/academic sojourn. Currently, I'm shacked up in Nowhere, Pennsylvania a.k.a Sate College, where *gasp* Penn State is located. Apparently they have a big football stadium and a big campus to put it in. No wonder, there's no other sign of civilization in this part of the state to outbid the college on real estate. I'm not exaggerating either. Find

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-57908017635874388372009-05-18T10:59:00.000-07:002009-05-18T13:21:09.085-07:00

I am in Victoria, British Columbia. This is my sixth day on the West Coast and so far, everything has been spectacular. A mini-rundown of my travels thusfar, including a bit of a prelude (i.e. my last days in Kingston before I hopped a train to catch a plane out here):May 8 - 11 - PRELUDE TO A TRIPSo my last weekend before traveling was a crazy, hectic one that lead partially to frustration and

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-80982234950276463922009-05-07T21:02:00.000-07:002009-05-07T21:37:03.967-07:00

There was spring lamb, chocolate cupcakes, a party hat to end all party hats, an entertaining karaoke version of Sweet Caroline and over the top ice cube throwing. A grand night all in all was had at the Tir Na Nog. And here I find myself in front of Mr. Mac. It's 12.05 am and I haven't done my half hour of writing for today - much time was devoteed instead to cursing the ethics process at

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-56973250198907525042009-04-28T20:57:00.000-07:002009-04-28T21:22:22.700-07:00

I have to admit off the top that this blog post is a bit of a cop out. It's the result of a bargain I made with mysefl. Recently I recommitted myself to spending half an hour every day doing free writing - in hopes of recovering my creative self, which seems to have burrowed itself away since I returned to academia (a point to ponder further, but not now). And while I'm pluggin creativity, I urge

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-44804001927799419082009-04-05T14:35:00.001-07:002009-04-05T14:45:39.135-07:00

So I joined this on-line writing sit called Helium.com and yesterday morning, instead of doing schoolwork I sat down at my computer and decided to write on one of the subjects that Helium was looking for articles to be written on. There were already 24 other submissions on the topic at hand and this was 'rated' category, so I'll get to see if my piece is 25/25 or rises in the ranks. As of this

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-78990866879442215602009-01-24T11:00:00.000-08:002009-01-24T11:31:19.424-08:00

So I'm back in Kingston and well into my second semester of grad school. Despite a 50% decrease in my course load (I'm taking one course this semester compared to two last semester), I am finding myself much busier and have been very much neglecting my writing and artist.   The reasons I am busier are many, but primarily it is because I'm in a position now to really dive into my thesis research

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-69574560866447165252008-12-31T21:08:00.000-08:002009-01-01T17:48:13.170-08:00

I am sitting in my bed at Mom & Jim's house in Long Creek. It is 1.11 a.m of 01/01/2009.  The snow started to fall about three hours ago - prelude to a blizzard that is going to thump the Maritimes tomorrow.   This seems as fitting a scene as any to do a little reflecting on the year that has passed and the year that is to come.   - Many hours later - So my attempt to write an insightful blog

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-81602418401257996662008-12-24T09:03:00.000-08:002008-12-24T20:32:04.263-08:00

For all those whom I didn't reach with a Christmas card, I wish you wonderful moments for today and all the days to follow. Here is my Christmas letter for 2008:As I sit down to pen this Christmas letter, I find myself unsure of where to begin. It’s tempting to give the typical chronological summary of the wonderful experiences and people this year has brought me. I am, however, reluctant to fall

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-84808572826412291812008-11-13T20:47:00.000-08:002008-11-13T21:03:48.675-08:00

You know in Star Trek when suddenly you all the lights on the Enterprise have gone out, the ship is shaking violently and there's a red alert. Yeah, that's us right now. And by us I mean Planet Earth.  Unfortunately there's no script that tells us things are going to be resolved in the 45 minutes by some stroke of technical genius (Data) or brilliant leadership (Captain Piccard). I'm not sure why

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-54109200894280668152008-11-03T16:17:00.000-08:002008-11-03T18:23:14.422-08:00

I've discovered I have an allergy...to expectations.  Oh how I cringe at the idea of living up to someone else's expectations. Heck, I have a hard enough time living up to my OWN expectations. Well, it turns out that in deciding to go to grad school I've opted to let myself be subject to others' expectations. I can't count the number of times I've been reminded that I'm a grad student - and

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-14367555802054392972008-10-15T20:12:00.000-07:002008-10-28T20:01:48.686-07:00

So I've not been vigilant with my writing as of late. Truth be told, I've not been particularly vigilant about a lot of things as of late. I'm not going to list the excuses, nor make apologies. I'm not sure what the point would be, and I'm quite sure no one but me would be interested in considering the reasons for my lack of vigilance in writing, eating, studying, etc.  Luckily for me (and for

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-92156141537525287952008-10-01T08:28:00.001-07:002008-10-01T08:40:44.337-07:00

Well, I promised to write more often now that I'm settled in Kingston and apparently have loads of time to watch TLC's What Not to Wear, and discover the delights of indpendent shops in Kingston such as Cooke's Fine Foods, which provides a much appreciated venue for alleviating ALL withdrawal symptoms experienced since leaving Scotland. So, yes, I should have time to write a blog post, but as

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-34713977029217916942008-09-15T20:51:00.000-07:002008-09-15T21:11:34.206-07:00

This summer I neglected the person who needs me the most: me. Somehow, amidst the endless summer engagements, my manic workload, and the whole 'wrap up one life, begin another one' saga, I forgot to look after myself. And, as I found out the hard way, there are all sorts of repurcussions to getting caught up in everything that's going on 'outside' and ignoring what's going on 'inside'.So here I

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-59473352308915981822008-08-08T20:30:00.000-07:002008-08-08T20:34:12.908-07:00

I can't believe it's been almost two months since I posted. I need only look at the last date of my posting to determine the approximate time when life went from being busy to being ridiculous. Seriously, I feel like I've not had a spare moment to breathe in the last 6 weeks. Both my body and my mind are in disrepair due to the lack of care I have been showing them. Well, what can I say?

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-49768197879431216132008-06-10T19:04:00.000-07:002008-06-10T19:07:53.918-07:00

Saturday night I have the luxury of sleeping in my own bed. I took my bike on the bus back to Charlottetown as a precaution. Just in case I get no sleep, I want the option of taking the short trip on Sunday. It strikes me that my propensity to commit to something is entirely dependent on the circumstances and, perhaps, amount of alcohol I’ve consumed. It took me about two seconds to commit

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-8333707773721324532008-05-26T16:28:00.000-07:002008-05-26T16:40:19.461-07:00

DAY TWO OF FOURI cannot sleep. For the love of me, I cannot sleep. I spend the majority of the night tossing and turning, sneaking peeks at the bedside clock. At one point I even pull my sheets off the bed and try out the floor. Sleeping is normally not a problem for me – I’m good to go once I’ve put my earplugs in and turned the light out. Fred’s company also helps, but there wasn’t room for

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-48970910520128812322008-05-21T16:34:00.000-07:002008-05-21T16:58:35.875-07:00

PART ONE OF FOURThe Night BeforeI decided to give the gym a miss for the second day in a row, temporarily relinquishing my ‘gym rat’ tendencies. I had pushed myself far too hard earlier in the week, with two workouts per day on both Monday and Tuesday. I was still might sore in the legs and arms for ‘Mean’ Gineen’s bootcamp class and early morning PT session and figured I should be kind to the

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-54153351075570688552008-05-05T07:09:00.001-07:002008-05-05T07:46:36.594-07:00

It hurts to move from a standing position to a sitting one. Seriously. I daresay, I have certainly been putting my body to the test as of late, especially the legs! I can't believe the Tip to Tip is less than two weeks away. I feel like I've not had enough practice rides on the bike, although I have certainly been doing tonnes of cardio and strength training at the gym, where rain and wind are

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-11451352285423045472008-04-29T18:57:00.000-07:002008-04-29T19:56:30.918-07:00

Tomorrow is officially the last day we can fundraise the minimum $600 required by each participant in the Tip to Tip for Africa. That's not to say we can't keep fundraising, but we have to make sure we have $600 by May 1st as that is the minimum we committed to raising.So....I'm sure the burning question you all have (aside from 'Is the Frosty Treat in Kensington going to be open on Victoria Day

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-50371830262995799142008-04-21T17:43:00.001-07:002008-04-21T18:26:15.243-07:00

So with less than four weeks until the Tip to Tip takes off from North Cape, here's where things stand with my training:TRAININGPhew. I am exhausted. And sore. And it feels great!Before I even committed to the Tip to Tip I was mentally preparing myself for some major change-ups in my exercise routine, and this challenge certainly provided an incentive to put those plans into action. While I

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-53561338678280237222008-04-15T18:44:00.000-07:002008-04-15T19:39:07.049-07:00

Every journey has a beginning, but we often miss the first steps of our own journey to an unknown destination.We don't realise that we are moving away from the familiar, towards something that will revive and redefine who we are. There are baby steps in the beginning. A thought that sneaks up from some unknown place in our subconscious or a dream that we can't shake the next morning. Maybe a

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-5680137278880848882008-04-10T05:49:00.000-07:002008-04-10T06:42:39.457-07:00

Wow, so it's been a month since I posted a blog. I daresay I'm becoming a rather lazy blogger. This is not, however, to suggest that I am being lazy in life. Quite the contrary, life has been ridiculously busy/fun/crazy/exhausting as of late. I shall do a brief recap of the past month's main highlights (not including Jen Mac's orange hair, which was certainly a fabulous highlight!)Florida/NYC

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-46531750079882730462008-03-10T19:04:00.000-07:002008-03-10T19:25:22.667-07:00

So tonight, after very little thought, I dumped Allan. I know many of you probably weren't even aware I had a boyfriend. Fair enough, I haven't blogged in awhile and it was, in any case, a very short-lived, destructive relationship. I really didn't tell anyone about ti while it was going on, because I was ashamed of myself for getting into a relationship with him in the first place. I guess I

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-27308279344585580212008-02-09T18:50:00.000-08:002008-02-09T19:01:42.608-08:00

Sooo..yeah, it's been awhile. I'd say I'm embarassed I haven't blogged in ages, but I'm not. I've been writing more in the past month then in the past year. It's merely that what I've been writing is not for public consumption. You see, I started this book called The Artist's Way - a definitive 12-week course-based book on recovering your creative self. Really, it's a book about discovering

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-19975593502856460052008-01-09T14:32:00.000-08:002008-01-09T14:49:20.526-08:00

It's the new year. I can't believe it. I never can, that's the absurd part. You'd think after 27 years it'd come as no big surprise that every 365 days we say another rotation of the earth around the sun has taken place. I'm going to skip the whole year in review - my Christmas leter will suffice and I might very well find myself on Facebook doing one of those ridiculous, but addictive notes re:

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-51033256121573160182007-12-23T12:49:00.000-08:002007-12-23T12:56:51.700-08:00

Under the suggestion of a certain American, who suggested that it would be preferable to receive another mass Christmas letter from me, rather than a unique birch bark card, I did both. I made the cards and I wrote the letter.  For those who addresses I did not have, or were too far flung from Eastern Canada to get the letter in time for Christmas (I didn't finish it until mid-December), I am

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-80029235262652491492007-12-04T18:28:00.000-08:002007-12-04T18:52:09.228-08:00

Apparently December has arrived. I didn't really take notice until this weekend, when the snow started to fall. And still it comes down, much to my surprise and delight. Yes, that's right, I've discovered that the perks of working at UPEI don't stop at getting first dibs on the leftover food from meetings and getting a 20% discount at the bookstore. Turns out we also get to, on occassion,

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-4843349707037018252007-11-12T19:16:00.000-08:002007-11-12T19:32:40.191-08:00

The following are excerpts from a piece passed on to me by one of my favorite people, Joan Fleming. I don't know who the author is, but wanted to share some of his/her insights about love.It is a mystery why we fall in love. It is a mystery how it happens. It is a mystery why some love grows and why some love fails.Just as life itself is more than the sum of the bones and muscles and electrical

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-2527412660941258722007-10-31T18:28:00.000-07:002007-11-01T11:28:09.504-07:00

Tonight, on all Hallow's Eve, I found myself reminiscing about, well, childhood and the annual promise of a pillowcase overflowing with mini chocolate bars, lollipops and bags of chips. Costuming for the night of trick-or-treating was always given the utmost consideration and concentration. In the end, it was usually Mom that put in the most hours, using her creative genius and the sewing

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-5241453457404882562007-10-28T19:12:00.000-07:002007-10-28T19:38:25.150-07:00

So I have a TV with 60 channels and I'm watching the Fifth Estate on CBC. Go figure. I haven't watched more than ten hours of t.v. since I got home in June, but I'm glad I flipped it on tonight.Right, so tonight the topic of discussion is global warming and, more specifically, how big business and government have employed spin doctors to raise doubts about the scientific validity of claims that

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-43621122120087473112007-10-23T18:41:00.000-07:002007-10-23T19:11:45.980-07:00

I'll be the first to admit that my blog is self-censored. Whose isn't? There are simply some subjects that are not for public consumption. But then, if a blog is supposed to be a journal, and you're skipping the real meat of what's going on in your head and heart, well that begs the question - what's the point? Why am I writing a blog that is, for the most part, self-censored and self-centred

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-30868360025902951482007-10-09T20:16:00.000-07:002007-10-09T21:01:34.595-07:00

Is it possible to gain 5 pounds in 5 days? I hope not, but my belly tells me I may very well have accomplished this feat. I look forward to many, many hours at the UPEI gym starting tomorrow.Thanksgiving 2007 was spent in Toronto with my friend, Andrew. I flew up to TO on Friday evening, after the most hectic week I've had in a VERY long time.It all started well enough last Saturda with me

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-34293301424723158312007-09-27T07:59:00.000-07:002007-09-27T09:06:48.248-07:00

Oh right. Now I remember. How could I forget? It was yesterday, but still . . .HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY TO MY OLDER SISTER, SAHRA!Some might say I'm cruel to mention both her age and the fact that she is older, but what else are little sisters for? Really though, as we both creep up in age, the four year gap doesn't seem nearly as big as it was when I was say, 11 and Sahra was 15. Oh boy, those were

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-77598656617065186832007-09-19T16:50:00.000-07:002007-09-19T18:56:06.811-07:00

A few days ago I read something that I intuitively knew to be true, but which came as quite a revealation considering how often people deny it. What I read is this:Every single decision we make (or don't make) is emotion-drive. Not 50% or 90%, but 100% of the choices we make are directed by one of two emotions: fear or desire. And most of the time, most people let their fear direct their

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-45425414060472524992007-09-15T19:53:00.000-07:002007-09-15T19:54:57.733-07:00

The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequence - Winston ChurchillDestiny may lead you to the path, but it's up to you to do the rest.

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-58011640768457634752007-09-09T12:42:00.000-07:002007-09-09T13:27:02.325-07:00

I'm starting to think I prefer the lifestyle that can be maintained via a non-conventional employment arrangement which would involve me waking up when I want to, going outside to muck out the horse stables or milk the cows or whatever for a few hours, then spending the rest of the day as I wish. No cheque, but three yummy meals prepared for me and a bed to sleep in. Yes, I think I am having

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-32776279626123708572007-09-01T18:46:00.000-07:002007-09-01T19:29:47.494-07:00

"So I went to a prenatal class this week." I have to say, when I first made this remark to Jen & Joan over lunch at the Farmer's Market, I wasn't even thinking about how odd this might sound. Joan just nodded her head, waiting for me to continue, but Jen's jaw dropped and she looked extremely confused "Am I missing something?' she asked.A legitimate question given that 1) I had not made any

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-75552999996509695372007-08-22T18:47:00.000-07:002007-08-22T18:57:58.069-07:00

This weekend past I went to Halifax with Rana to shop for wedding dresses (hers not mine!) It was nice to get off the Island, despite the rainy weather and my horrible navigation skills, which found us lost many times over the three day trip. Upon Rana's insistence we had dinner at Lonestar one night. Now I am not a fan of chain restaurants, but I will give Rana this...the fajitas were pretty

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-35823156979204262982007-08-16T19:59:00.000-07:002007-08-16T20:21:42.105-07:00

Thanks to the popularity of horse racin, gambling and floating advertisements, I have a day off work tomorrow!! Yes, that's right folks, it's the Gold Cup & Saucer parade tomorrw morning - rain or shine. Such an important event here on PEI that we get it off instead of August 6th, which the rest of the provinces get off as a civic holiday. Anyways, I'm ditching the parade in favor of working out

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-86106465841935090562007-08-07T17:01:00.001-07:002007-08-07T18:50:13.551-07:00

I was going to write a venting blog. I haven't done that in a long time. Mostly because I've been very content with life, especially in the last year. Well, the past two weeks have been wearing on me... I wish I could say I don't know why, that it must be something innocuous like the heat or my horomonmes or my impending birthday, but it's not. It's Men. Details aside, I've basically realised

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-23911536963432899112007-07-29T12:25:00.000-07:002007-07-29T12:58:22.616-07:00

Summer came late to PEI this year (I will refrain from commenting on the obvious reason for screwed up seasons and the such..), but it FINALLY arrived and in a big way. The past week has been FULL of sunshine and high temps (for East Coast Canada anyways!)I heart my mountain bike, it's been a fabulous way to get around town since I moved in to Carvell Court and ceased constant reliance on using

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-82142030911331173392007-07-26T10:06:00.001-07:002007-07-26T18:25:15.328-07:00

OK, so anyone who knows me well, knows I am addicted to personality tests, most specifically the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator Test. It turns out that the reason this stuff intrigues me so much is because I am an ENFJ Personality type. I know some people dismiss the significance of these things (probably in part because of their personality type!), but I've found it to be useful in

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-61695289019867165392007-07-18T17:39:00.001-07:002007-07-19T05:05:57.444-07:00

If you haven't seen Muriel's Wedding, put your best slippers on, slip out to the closest video store and get yourself a copy. I guarantee you'll love it. If nothing else you'll have a newfound appreciation for ABBA.Is it just me or is EVERYONE getting engaged/married/preggers??? Seriously,. I think I've been kidding myself that it's only because I'm back on PEI that I find myself surrounded by

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6341027.post-58193524422360374092007-07-08T11:56:00.000-07:002007-07-08T12:37:26.588-07:00

For some reason Blogger doesn't want me to title this post. That's OK by me, I'm happy to be titleless!So..I've been back on PEI for four whole weeks now. Wow, a whole month and I've managed not to go stir crazy. I suppose this is namely due to the fact that I've been spending all my time job-hunting, working out and looking for a place to live. My investment in the first two has paid off

Shannon Courtney - writer, foodie, eater, cook, thinker, idealistic realist.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10736557098960554284noreply@blogger.com0