Yummy! Here I am eating a Gummy Bear Apple.

I love chocolate.  I mean, I LOVE chocolate.  Doesn’t everyone?  If you are a bit of a connoisseur, you know that not all chocolates are equal. 

There’s the grocery store aisle chocolate that’s really just strange candy stuff wrapped in silly packages.  It’s exactly like the little mini bars you find at Halloween.  In my view, this stuff will do in a pinch when you are in a crisis of chocolate depravation or something like that.  Then there is the fancier stuff you find in the drug stores.  Not bad but it sometimes gets boring after the 4th piece or so.

Then there are things like imported chocolates, gourmet truffles or other such mouth-watering, handmade pieces of heaven.  Now we’re talking.  This is the level where I lose all sense of reality.  Yes, I have actually dreamt of drowning in a giant copper kettle filled with melted Belgian chocolate.

One of the best places for chocoholic connoisseurs to satisfy their needs is at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory located in the Village at Blue.  This tiny shop was one of the first to locate in the Village back in 2002 and ten years later, it is still one of the most successful chocolate shops in the country!

Rocky Mountain is part of a national franchise with over 50 locations.  You’ve seen them in malls; you know, the places with the crazy huge caramel apples covered in marshmallows or other goodies?  (I do believe the nutritional value of the apple cancels out any caloric issues you may have so don’t worry.  They are surely almost calorie free, right?)

In 2005, the local operation was purchased by Claus Fleischmann who had relocated his family to this area looking for the active and healthy lifestyle found in our community.  I recently asked him why his chocolate is so darn good and he said, “ 80% of the products we sell are made fresh daily right on site.  They are unique and over-the-top creations you can’t find anywhere else and we use only the highest quality ingredients without cutting any corners.”  He’s right.  Clusters, bombs, truffles, chocolate covered blueberries, sponge toffee, fudge, candy apples …. just try to resist.  It can’t be done.

If you are looking for a special Valentines gift for that special someone or perhaps a unique house warming or hostess gift or, simply a treat for yourself, it’s well worth a visit to the store.  The shop is located in the centre of the Village beside the Firehall Pizza Company and is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm; until 9 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.

• Check out the Ice Sculpture Festival from December 27 – 31 in Downtown Collingwood  PS.  There is free parking Downtown now until January 1st, 2012

• Go Bowling in Collingwood or Meaford

• Rewind and rejuvenate at the Scandinave Spa

• Try out the new Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster at Blue

• Go to an arcade in Creemore

• Go skating of course!

• Head on Over to Rounds Ranch Pardner!

• Play Paintball or Laser Tag in Wasaga Beach

If by some miracle the snow should decide to fall, here are a few more ideas:

• How about a snowshoe tour?  

• Cross-country, snowshoe or hike along the trails and across the suspension bridge at  Scenic Caves 

• Rent a snowmobile for an hour or a day

• Take the family Dog Sledding in Rob Roy!

Do you have some favourite ideas to share?  Please add your comments and let everyone else know too.

3 Dogs
4 Cats
17 Female Rats
12 Male Rats
1 Corn Snake
i Bearded Dragon
1 Fish
2 Newts
1 Hedgehog
3 Rabbits
4 Degus
1 Chinchilla
1 Mouse
1 Ferret
2 Budgies               
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree…  Nah, just kidding on this one

There is only one thing I find more surprising than this tenants compassion for all things living and that is, they were not breaking any rules.  Provided the dogs and cats are licensed, there is not a darn thing anyone can do about this zoo in the ‘hood.  Can you imagine how thrilled the neighbours must be?

I surfed on over to the Town of Collingwood’s Restricted Pet By-law and sure enough, none of the lovely critters listed above is restricted.  Now on the other hand, you may NOT keep a kangaroo, elephant, walrus or alligator in your home.  Darn.  There go my plans for John’s birthday gift.

Did you know that I am considered an Immigrant?  I was surprised to learn that, too (seeing as I was born and raised in Canada, eh!?)  The type of immigrant I am referring to is a DIGITAL immigrant.  (Sometimes we are called ‘tech’ immigrants, too.)  Apparently, because I was born in the early 1960′s, I am considered a digital immigrant as most digital technology came about after my birth.

If you were born after the advent of digital technology, you are considered a ‘digital native’, because you have grown up with technology, that is, it existed before you did!  Assumedly using such technology is second nature to you youngsters…

Thank goodness I was able to look this up on my iPhone, which connected to the internet through a wireless network while I ordered my coffee through a drive-thru coffee shop, or I wouldn’t have known about this important bit of techie-info!

The festival kicks off on Friday with OFF THE PAGE: a cabaret style, live show that showcases words in all the various ways we express them.  The host this year is Canadian funnyman, Sean Cullen and features performances in music, dance, poetry, puppetry, drumming, storytelling and art in a unique and interactive setting.  Tickets are just $27.00 which offers superb value for a show if this caliber!  Full details can be found online at the WORDSTOCK website.

On Saturday, there are several events taking place in and around the downtown core and all are FREE.  There is something for everyone including line-ups that include author readings, poetry sessions, events for children and teens, workshops for aspiring writers and more.  New this year is a segment called OFF THE AIR with presentations by CBC radio personalities and authors, Terry O’Reilly and Dr. Brian Goldman.  A complete event schedule can be found on the website as well.

Last year’s festival was a huge success and we are expecting as much if not more of the same this year.  Come on out and join the festivities and don’t forget to get your tickets for Off The Page before they are gone.  See you at the show!

Even though Beach Area 1 in Wasaga Beach has seen many changes in the last few years since the great fire, some things never change.  While poodle-skirted gals and side-burned guys are rockin’ to Elvis in Collingwood this week-end, the beach crowd is out in full force in Wasaga.  Even kitchy (but oh so fun) stores like Pedro’s, a fixture of many years, seem to be doing a brisk trade.

Have I mentioned I love living here?

The purpose is to track such fishy data such as the types, habits and numbers of fish passing through.   It could be argued as an invasion of privacy or another example of big Brother watching but I suspect the fish are not going to complain or write any letters to the editor.
 
If you are a very patient sort of person, you can do a little spying by watching the video stream by clicking here.

Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with John Nichols on The Peak 95.1 radio station in Collingwood about Wordstock, an upcoming literary festival here in Collingwood which I co-chair.  It was actually kind of fun and John made it easy.  I didn’t drool on the mic, cough or cry.  One down, two to go.

On Tuesday morning, I’m joining the oh-so-awesome Mariane McLeod,  News Director at 97.7 The Beach radio to talk about cottage country real estate – a sort of overview about the local market and maybe even a quick chat about our home solar project if time permits.  I’m hoping Mariane puts a shot of something in my coffee.  No wait, then I’ll have to go… never mind.

On Tuesday evening, I’ll be on Penny Skelton Live on Rogers TV with some of the Wordstock team to talk about… Wordstock of course.  That one scares the heck out of me.  What do you wear on a TV show?  Do you think a cocktail dress is overdoing it?  Are PJ’s only for high school kids?  What if I get a runny nose?

If you are looking for some comedy, tune in.  Or not.  Maybe, better not.  Thanks and good night.