The Man from the south, an untold story.

So there was a man,
the way which we meet was quite unusual for sure.

April 16nd, Sunday, Sunny day 19.
Taking the COHO ferry from Victoria - Port Angelers
Customs officer: "Where are you heading today sir?"
Pirate: to visit a friend.
CO: "how do you know this friend?"
P: "well officer, i haven't officially meet him i just left my truck at his house two weeks ago.. its a kind of a funny story. I had no place to park and didn't want to pay $6 a day for parking leaving my truck down her for two weeks, so i found this house and left the person my email, his name is Laird."
CO: "ummm ok, where does this person live?"
P: well its up the road out of town, turn left at the top of the hill and its about a block in, one block away from the beach"
CO: "everything here is a block away from the beach"
P: "well its there, i don't know the address"
CO: ok, Mr G-Gallus, so im going to hold on to your passport and you are going to bring your truck down her for us to check out"
P:"ummm ok, sure"

His name is Laird..
His is retired, and loves scotch. Also the finer things in life, skiing and getting shit done! He works hard restoring and renovation houses he bought many of years ago. In a town, in his mind is slowly dying. but the tourism is somewhat keeping it alive.
What im posting here could properly be illegal or unethical, but you should all know about this man!

First Responses after leaving a message on his door with my email.

Apr. 18th
Should be fine, would have been better if you parked closer to the dog's car (brown Mocha Mobil) that way it looks like you are here at the house instead of a transient. If it is long term I have a house I am working on 6 blks up the street.

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Apr. 19th
Hi Larid,
Thankyou again for letting me park there, i will be down in the next couple of weeks to pick it up and import it.
Just a random question do you have any relation to a Brian and Kathy XXXX from Fruitland WA, 2 hours north of Spokane along HWY 25? I see from your email that your a skiier perhaps, i was working at Red Mountain just near Nelson BC.
Do you need anything from victoria when i come down?
Thanks again.
Sam

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Apr. 19th
It was a strange year here. It snowed hard in Nov. and dec. and then rained. So the Ridge wasn't open and when it did get good the Park would have it closed down for Sever storm warning. This year was a bust. I mostly back country downhill. Hike for twenty minutes or more and ski for about 3min. Is that crazy or what? My biological father was adopted and lived on a Reservation I think in Idaho. He does have a sister that came to his funeral some years back. He left when I was 3 or 4 so I don't know too much about him other than he would always talk about his High School basket ball titles. Kind of Like Al Bundy on Married with Children. Anyway, on the return trip on the Coho ferry pick me up a bottle of duty free scotch. They are really inconsistent on their supplies. Sometimes they have Glenfidach or Bushmill's I will gladly pay you back. Liquor here in Washington is as bad as Canada. Feel free to give me a call on the ferry on the return trip. Don't call until you are at least 1/2 way across so you don't get stuck for roaming charges. Unless your phone is registered in Canada.
(360) 808-XXXX

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Another five or so message get sent back and forward, mainly aguing about the ferry times, and me pirate sam proving to me right after he disgruntly calls the coho depo to find the times have changed due to spring. was one of our quite funner of few interactions.
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24th. May
Laird,
How have you been down there? your mountains over there still amazing me looking from vic, are there any glaciers up there or is it to mild?
So ill be coming down to visit and pick up my truck around the 15th, ill know better dates and time closer to the day but ill be down in cali for two weeks then hopefully selling my truck on the way back. Ill make sure i pick up the right bottle of scotch for you on way over as a thankyou for helping me.
have a great sunny day,
cheers
Sam

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May. 25th

Just got back from a trip down to Yachats on the Oregon coast. Spent 4days there. Good chance I will be here in town that days but if I am not the key is in the top drawer of the old sewing machine cabinet on the porch. Going to be gone the weekend before though. Will either be fishing or going a graduation party of friend (ones we visit in Oregon) she is graduating from the UW pharmacology as a pharmacist. will be boring! rather fish for halibut and get the shit kicked out of me from the heavy seas. Don't have any room in the freezers for more fish, but what the hell.

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You can make up your own opinion,
I could tell when i saw his house, without even meeting him that there was something different. A man, with some amazing energy that is shown through his everyday life!
The love, time and passion.. for a simply amazing lifestyle.
the un-majority stereotype of america.

Pirate

Wild Summer Play

So Mid May, Time is flying by.
Time in once again getting the better of me, less than a month until i head down to cali to catching up with the aussie crew coming over, before the real summer take on full swing.
Last week, actually nearly three weeks ago i guess, i went down to visit Laird down in port anglers. I left my truck at his house when i first came up to Victoria, left a note with my email on it and we have keep in contact. So thought it would be nice go down for a visit and actually meet him. But the boarded wanted to give me a hard time once again so had the enjoyable pleasure of their company for the most part of two hours. It's a good story, ill leave it at that! well it always is with me and boarders as many of you would know by now.

Totally killed my job interview at wild play, it was just so smooth... the job was for me, its the job for me! the people are super rad and working outside with people getting stoked is awesome. did a week of intense training and now a fully qualified guide with them which enables me to do AD (accessed descents) when people are too tired or scared to continue. And the best part of the job is that i get to work with MIM! She just got promoted to GSA (guest service attendant) Team Lead! I love(7)* her for the amazing energy she bring to our relationship.

I knocked together some kickass planter boxes the other day, and we have some herbs, strawberry's and peppers growing out the front. Getting all moved into my man cave in James Bay, I live in a duplex just with three other girls about 10 minutes walk from downtown.. surround by water on three sides.



* The numbers next to love is the scale of love.. the number limit has not been set. (the system came from a extended discussion on love with mim, after i listened to a physiology lecture about the emotion of love)

Summer Wind!

It has been quite windy as of late, getting blown north and south then out west.
currently reside in victoria, hopefully for the summer. job interview with wildplay tomorrow hope i kill it!
Bought a truck down in the states, chevy s10 pick up.. had alot of dramas' getting it back into canada, which now it's ended up being parked in port anglers (90min ferry south of vic).
On the way out i stayed with brian and kathy for a couple of days, did my first head gasket replacement on a truck. Super stoked on the whole thing, i should be able to import it sometime in the near future.
In Seattle i had my first official couch surfing experience with a gal called diane, she was hitting the town for the night so i tagged along, Sake bombs, great sushi, salsa dancing, drunk Russian women... shal i say more?
It was a great time and has really opened my mind up to the great community which is couchsurfing. ( www.couchsurfing.com )
Picked up a freebord in Spokane last week, took it out with the rossy boys for a ride around aittle hard with some much gravel on the road still from the winter but got an idea, have been riding it out here around vic.. give it another couple of weeks and be shreading her hard!
Before i left Rossland, we had a sake and sushi night at the brothel, aswel as the first Habb's game of the play off which resulted with me having ridiculous sharpied on handlebars care of rosie, nick and the hawk!
Good time are in the future, so far it has been great.. Good vibes, maybe a couple of karma points. wish me luck for my interview tomorrow, hope it goes well!
Ill leave you with some pictures of the trip out here, an area called sun lake. just out side of coulee city, an amazing park which is in a canyon with some awesome lakes through out.
Enjoy, keep it klassy world!

Summer Wannado's

- rock climbing outdoor
- learn to fly fish
- island hiking trails (multi day)
- critical mass
- bike as much as i can
- grow a vegie garden
-

more to add soon.

Sunbaking in 5degrees next to a snowbank.

Sometimes it has to be done, it has officially been the 5th day of sunshine since November, which after my new found love for summer has been killing me!
Spring comes, the birds a chirping in the trees, snowbanks are transforming, dust is everywhere from the winter road maintenance and here i am laying on the deck getting some southfacing rays! It's been too long, with only a week to go until the ski hill closes summer plans are full into swing.
On the upcoming events entail:
Heading down south to buy a pickup truck
Then heading out to the island to secure some summer work.
looking forward to getting behind a camera again and getting some amazing shots, can't wait to see Mim again in victoria, and the random bikeride we take around.
yeah not long now, getting stoked for the next couple of months!

Roasted Red pepper souppp!

Also add some hot sauce for extra kick,

Red Pepper Soup

Makes six large servings, 12 demitasse size.

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 1/4 cup sliced onions
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
12 large red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
Salt and white or black pepper
Crème fraîche for garnish
Thyme sprigs for garnish.

Put oil in large pot. Add onion when oil is hot. Cook onions until they begin to soften and take on color. Add garlic and cook another minute. Add wine and cook down quickly and on high heat, until only one tablespoon is left. Add peppers, stock, thyme and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes. In food processor or with an immersion blender, puree mixture in until smooth (if a food processor, in batches). Adjust seasonings to taste.

Soup can be served warm or chilled. Serve in demitasse cups or soup bowls, topped with a dab of crème fraîche and a tiny sprig of thyme.

Do ahead: Cover and chill overnight or for as long as 2 days or freeze (whisk well before serving if thawed).

shREDable filmed at Red Mountain 2010 - 2011

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