I’m talking about carry on bags. Many passengers prefer to carry on as opposed to checking luggage for various reasons: fear of lost bags, wanting to avoid an extra charge to check or, hey, there’s no need because you’re traveling light, right? But that’s just it, a lot of you aren’t and you’re taking up more than your allotted space on the aircraft and slowing down the whole damn process. It is so inconsiderate.

Just because you have kids, does that entitle you to a lot of extra space in the overhead compartments? I don’t have a kid, and I get that there’s some extra stuff you need, but I see a lot of parents pushing the boundary, hauling multiple huge and overstuffed bags. (As in, more than the allowed amount for themselves and each of their darling children.) How many iPads, toys, snacks, diapers, bottles and, what, breast pumps, do you need or a four hour flight? And it’s not just parents. Please take note, on Air Canada you’re allowed ONE carry on that measures up to 23 by 40 by 55 centimetres and ONE personal item, like a purse or a briefcase that measures up to 16 by 33 by 43 centimetres.

I know everyone is crazy busy. (Isn’t that a badge of honour nowadays? I blame hours lost to Facebook.) But please take the time to check the type of aircraft you’ll be boarding and be sure that your “carry on” will fit under that seat in front of you or overhead. Because when it doesn’t and it has to then be checked it holds the rest of us up.

And when you’re boarding in zone 5 and you arrive to find the space above your seat is already full, please seek out the owner of any belongings you are about to reorganize before doing so. On yesterday’s flight another passenger kindly did so rather than plopping his heavy carry on atop my laptop case. But then he asked if it was ok if he just squished my Prada purse into the tiny sliver of space leftover. Um, no. That’s Prada. And it was there first. Plus my homemade chicken sandwich is inside!

Oftentimes the airline employees at the gate are also to blame as they don’t consistently check the size of bags people are dragging on. Last June Air Canada promised a crack down on carry on bags, but if yesterday’s flight is any indication that crack down didn’t last long.

We can bitch and complain all we want about high density aircrafts and shrinking seats and storage space, but until we all refuse to fly, the responsibility to fly by the rules will begin with us as passengers. I actually think airlines should charge for any carryon beyond a purse or briefcase and ease up on the checked bags fees.

Or I know, just include all bag fees in the price of the ticket to begin with. It might speed up the whole process and we’d all arrive a little sooner and little more sane.

Safe and on time arrivals to all this March break.

Unlike some other ski resorts that are big, soulless corporate developments,  Aspen came about organically. It was originally a hunting area for Ute Indians and grew into a silver mining town when the first white settlers arrived in the late 1800s. The skiers showed up in the 1940s and have been coming ever since.

And I know why. The snow transforms even the clumsiest hack into a graceful hero, effortlessly swishing down the mountain like you’ve been on skis every day of your life. No ice. No moisture. No heavy snow. So if you love to ski like I love to ski, you cannot leave this earth without visiting Colorado when the snow is flying.

Aspen vs Highlands vs Buttermilk vs Snowmass

You have 4 mountains to decide from in the Aspen area. Buttermilk is the “family mountain” with acres of runs for tots and beginners. Snowmass is by far the biggest, but it, Aspen and Highlands mountains are all comparable, with terrain for intermediate to advanced skiers. It’s tough to pick a favourite but if I had to it would be Highlands for all those double blacks.

But of course it’s not just about the skiing. The town itself is small enough to wander through in an afternoon. You will not need a car here. And if you love to eat the way I love to eat, Aspen offers up a better selection of restaurants than any other ski town, anywhere. It is world class by any standard.

Where to eat

For lunch on the hill you must, and I mean must, book a table at the legendary Cloud 9 (check out this youtube video). In the olden days people would ski off the roof. Recently renovated without losing too much of it’s patina, it is an experience not to be missed. You will likely be too tipsy and full to ski after lunch. You’ve been warned. Wear a helmet.

Lunch at Cloud 9

Ajax Tavern is another fantastic option for lunch or an apres ski snack. Order the truffle fries and if it’s not too cold wait for a seat outside, because that’s the other thing about Aspen. It gets a lot of sunshine.

There are several bars around town that cater to the apres ski hours. You’ll find a sophisticated and mature, but not at all boring crowd at The Little Nell. Across the street at the Sky Hotel is what I would call more of a Vegas bunch. And on the other side of town the newly renovated J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome, it feels like Ralph Lauren had his way with the place.

For dinner, it will be hard to choose. Don’t miss out on sushi at Matsuhisa, part of the Nobu family of restaurants. And then there’s Casa Tua where the risotto is divine and will fill the void brought on by all those turns. For an excellent French meal sit at the bar at Cache Cache. Jimmy’s makes the best martini in town and in the mood for live music? The Belly Up bar is the place to be.

And a trip to Aspen is not complete without a cross-country ski or snowshoe out to the old school Pine Creek Cookhouse, where you will have a gourmet and hearty lunch, after which I promise it will take twice as long to ski back to town.

Pine Creek Cookhouse

I’ve visited Aspen with various groups of friends and family over the years. From a rockin’ good time to a quiet few days in the mountains, whatever your fancy you will find it here. I know I should check out out other ski resorts in the state, but I never want to miss the chance to return to Aspen. Why mess with perfection?

If you go, let me know what I’m missing from this list. It’ll give me a reason to return. (Like I need one.)

Oh and one more thing, pot is legal in the state of Colorado. In case that matters to you.

Photo above: Me on my most recent visit, atop Ruthie’s Run, Aspen Mountain

When you’re looking for a thriller, try Devil’s Knot.  Not sure how how this one passed me by, considering it’s directed by Atom Egoyen and stars some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The cast includes Reese Witherspoon as a grieving mother and Colin Firth as private investigator, not to mention a myriad of other familiar faces that pop up in smaller roles. It’s based on the true crime story about “the West Memphis three”, a trio of teenagers accused of murdering three little boys in a small Arkansas town.   Can you say Salem witch hunt?

When you’re looking for a romance, try 5 to 7.  In France, 5 to 7 refers to the time of day that’s best suited for an affair – the two hours between work and home, when one’s time is not always accounted for.  Anton Yelchin plays a young writer who falls in love with a beautiful French woman (Berenice Marlohe) he meets by chance on the street. The catch is she’s married, and can only meet him between 5 and 7 at a New York City hotel.  Star crossed lovers get me every time!

When you’re looking for your next buddy cop show, try Scott and Bailey.  This British show follows two female detectives as they work to solve crimes and try to disentangle their messy personal lives in Manchester, England. What I love about Scott and Bailey – and many other British shows – is that it is so much grittier than most North American programs.  The cops here aren’t all glossy, with shiny hair and perfect white teeth. And gadzucks, they actually wear the same outfit twice!  Oh, and the accents. Love the accents.

When you’re looking for a comedy, try The To Do List. Parks and Recreation’s Aubrey Plaza stars as a sexually inexperienced high school grad who’s got a sex-filled bucket list she wants to work through before she heads off to college.  Some well-known comedians fill out the cast list, including SNL’s Bill Hader.  It’s all a bit silly, yes (not only because Plaza looks about 28) but at times, it’s also spew your wine out funny.

Got any movie or TV shows to recommend? Please do pass them along! And Netflix, if you’re reading this, when is Bloodline season two coming?

1984

The year (of one many) we spent Christmas up at Whistler. Here with some of my friends.

Circa 1989

The year my friend Effie came over at some point. (Bad pants!)

1993

The year I did my first overnight news anchoring shift at what was then known as UTV. (Global TV today.) My first day on the desk was Christmas Eve! I didn’t mind. I was really excited to get the job.

Circa 1996

I basically remember nothing about this Christmas. Seems like a relatively happy one.

Zipping forward a bunch of years… (so much easier to find photos now that everything is digital!)

2004

The year we decided to do a wig theme at our annual girls’ Christmas party??

2005

Not technically Christmas but close enough!  The year I went to New York after Christmas. Here with my friend Tracy.

2006

The year we did a holiday photo shoot…

…And I got a dog magazine instead of a dog

2007

The year Anna came for Christmas. How cute and young we look!

2008

This was a big one. The year I got Ruby a few weeks before Christmas…

… my first Christmas with this guy. (I guess we forgot to tell him he could keep his shoes on.)

And the year we got a TON of snow in Vancouver!

2009

The year Christmas day was beautiful and sunny, perfect for a family walk at the beach.

2010

The year I made a crappy Christmas dessert. It wasn’t me, it was the recipe, I swear. They still haven’t let me live it down!

This was also the year my uncle Davor came from Croatia to spend the holidays. A tradition we are continuing this year.  (My two uncles and my mom.)

2011

I remember this Christmas well because a few days before, I got into a big fight with my mom. Then on Christmas Eve, she surprised me with this painting I wanted from local artist Athena Bax. I felt like a right pile of pooh.

2012

The year my dad brought his crazy dog Max to my house for Christmas brunch. I don’t think he’s calmed down much yet.

2013

The last year we spent Christmas with James’s dad. Sadly, he passed away four months later.

2014

The year we ran into Santa at the pet store.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all the best wishes from my family to yours this holiday season. I’ll see you in the new year!

Hugs,

Kristina

Top Photo: Christmas 2014

As per usual, these are not necessarily new books that were published this year, just ones that were new to me.  I envy those who get to read them for the first time.

Here were my top pics of 2015, in alphabetical order:

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

 Ove is an old grump, allergic to change and a slave to order, who lives alone in suburban Sweden. When a new family moves in down the street, he gets even more ornery after they repeatedly interrupt his nefarious plans – he’s trying to kill himself.   As heavy as that sounds, this is actually a heart-warming story with a curmudgeony hero with a heart of gold.  Along the lines of “The Rosie Project” and “The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared” – the best word I can use to describe this book is “delightful.”

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

And you thought politics were tough at your kid’s school? Big Little Lies follows the story of three very different women who come together because their children all go to the same kindergarten.  The school begins to divide when one child accuses another of bullying. Entertaining and suspenseful, the real scandals here move beyond the schoolyard and into the bedrooms of Australian suburbia.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

You want a page-turning successor to “Gone Girl”? This is it. It’s “Gone Girl” meets… Actually, I can’t tell you or I will ruin it. When we’re first introduced to heroine Ani FaNelli, she definitely does seem like the have it all, luckiest girl alive: a rich finance, a swanky job… but hey, why the bad attitude and acid tongue? You’ll find out soon enough. Reviews were mixed on this one, some readers hating it. I couldn’t put it down.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

It’s 2044 and teen Wade Watts is living in virtually reality, much like everyone else on the planet. He goes to school there, hangs out with friends there and even drools after girls there. Things really get interesting when a Steve Jobs type figure dies and leaves his fortune to anyone who can solve his puzzles, hidden in the virtual universe he created. Ready Player One’s dystopian world had me analyzing my own dependence on technology while simultaneously wishing I could take part in this sci-fi scavenger hunt. I heard a major director may be turning this one into a movie.  Can’t wait!

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

The world is coming to an end, not via vampire plague (oh Justin Cronin, when is the final novel in your trilogy coming out?!?) but thanks to a worldwide flu pandemic that leaves billions dead in just a few weeks. Moving back and forth in time from the end of days to two decades in the future, it follows a group of motley traveling actors as they try to find a foothold in this brave new world.   This well-written and gripping sci fi novel may very well be my favourite book of the year.

The Rocks by Peter Nichols

The Rocks is a hotel perched on the cliffs of Majorca, Spain. It tells the story of two families living on the island whose fates are intertwined by a disturbing incident that occurred 60 years before. The story is told in reverse, one of my favourite literary techniques, so you don’t discover what led to these messed up relationships, missed opportunities and broken hearts until the final pages. If you’re off on a sunny beach vacation this holiday, be sure to take this one with you.

Two honourable mentions, “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins and “All The Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr.  I’m only including them because I am in the minority: everyone else seemed to like them a lot more than I did.

I’m currently reading “Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan (I love books about books) and then “Fates and Furies” by Lauren Groff is next on the list.  Let’s see if they make it to next year’s list!

On this pilgrimage I am hosted by the Canadian organization, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Every year CIJA takes a group of media, politicians or business people to educate and promote awareness of the region. Given how much is going on here outside of conflict, it is an understandable agenda. CIJA hosted our freshly minted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on what was reportedly his first visit to Israel in 2008. Christy Clark joined a delegation before she was Premier of British Columbia.

Guiding us this week is Idan, a certified tour guide, to paint a picture of the history, geography, culture and politics and it reminds me of my visit 20 years ago when I was similarly overwhelmed by the expertise of the guide I had then. The descriptor “tour guide” doesn’t do justice to the profession here.

As an organization, CIJA endeavours to enable Canadians with an appreciation of the challenges facing Israelis. CEO Shimon Fogel wrote in The Times of Israel, “This approach is grounded in the basic premise that most people know very little about Israel and Israelis, and therefore care little about the difficult challenges that Israel faces in the turbulent Middle East.”

My three days in Jerusalem have been peppered with fascinating discussions with local influencers; a Palestinian talk show host, a journalist and fixer, a lawyer crusading on behalf of terrorist victims. (To put it lightly. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner and her non profit group Shurat Hadin stares down the likes of The Bank of China and Facebook in court and has won BILLIONS in judgements.) Everyone has their own version of the story of the conflict and a unique position on where the answer lies, be it a one state, two state solution or something altogether different. Some don’t want to be quoted. Or photographed. Some say this conversation never happened. But all seem to agree that everyone, Israeli and Palestinian alike, seek the freedom to move about, do business and live in peace.

What may come as a surprise here is that everything is in such close proximity. You may need a passport to enter tiny Bethlehem, but it’s just a short taxi ride from the hotel. The Old City? That’s an easy wander along a cobblestone road. Thousands of years of history, conflict, debate and confusion all within a few square kilometres.

And of course this is true of the entire country. Enjoying a wine tasting at the world class Golan Heights Winery then taking a short drive to a hilltop for a view of Syria a few hundred metres away where a civil war rages on, is nothing short of bizarre. Standing in a vineyard in Kibbutz Yiftah, that’s Lebanon in the hills straight ahead.

Wandering along Ben-Yahuda shopping district late one night, alone, I feel as relaxed as I do in a similar situation in, say, New York or Toronto. (Except the people here are more helpful with directions.) This is a place that simply cannot be grasped by reading a newspaper. It is one of the most politically interesting, complex, fascinating, geographically and culturally relevant places on the planet. It is the global nerve centre for tech innovation and Canada matters a great deal to Israel. If you care at all about how it affects your own world – because it does – skip that next weekend in Vegas, save your shekels and put Israel on your bucket list. Near the top.

Find your own Idan (that’s a must) and start in Jerusalem for your history lesson (you will need the context) and move on from there. That’s exactly what I’m doing now as I head off for some fun in Tel Aviv. There’s a hooka pipe in my future. More on that, and more pictures, next week.

This Starbucks is all about master roasters and small-batches with options from Colombia to Hawaii and beyond. There are printed menus with tasting options that range from lemony to chocolatey and is that brown sugar I detect? Is there such a thing as a coffee sommelier?

Around the time I was new to the west coast, back in 1987, Starbucks opened it’s first Canadian location in Vancouver. Back then it was a unique and oddly fascinating consumer experience. I couldn’t put my finger on why I loved it; but experience was the key word. It appeared to be coffee focused, but it was about more than that. With its funny way of ordering – will that be a tall or a grande? – to-go cups and inviting furniture, it felt like a club. And we all signed up for a membership.

And then of course, as with any outrageously successful brand that decides to engage in global domination, being on every street corner in every corner of the world, it became a whole lot less special. The more Starbucks expanded, the more pedestrian it was. The $5 coffee became ordinary.

Somewhere along the way Starbucks became the brand to hate as we all sought out independent cafes in our home town, which were authentic, community focused and of course served better coffee.

But Starbucks is all about re-invention. They may have started out selling coffee beans, but they quickly expanded to offer every coffee drink imaginable along with coffee mugs and makers. From Starbucks to McDonalds, every big brand knows you’ve got to stay fresh if you’re going to stay relevant. They don’t always get it right, of course. Remember last year’s La Boulange? Starbucks’ partnership with the Parisian style brand to expand its offerings of pastries seemed to miss the mark.

With the Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room, Starbucks hits the bullseye. Located on the same block as the city’s latest food hall it represents one of today’s hottest retail food trends: The market. Think Harrod’s food floor. Think farmers’ market. The Starbucks Roastery is to coffee what Eataly is to Italian food.

The underlining key to success wasn’t the theatrics of the room (fantastic) or the latte (good) or the fennel sausage sandwich on a soft pretzel (very good). It was the service. Sitting at the bar, I was hooked when I met Kristie from Texas, pictured above, who served me breakfast. Her middle name is Brittanica when it comes to the facts surrounding her job and the products she sells. She knows about the mechanics of the coffee roasters, the flavour nuances of the various beans and what you can read in the Starbucks library. Because she’s read it. She proudly reported that Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz visits “on most days”.

Starbucks appears to be returning to its roots. It is once again about serving high quality coffee, etcetera, in a re-invented, modern environment. Just as it did back in 1971 when it opened its first location at Pike Place Market, just nine blocks from the new Roastery, it’s in touch with what a lot of people want. People want the best quality, to be part of a community and great service. People want an experience.

If you can’t get to Seattle, don’t fret, in the days to come you can expect to see similar versions of The New Starbucks in a big city near you.

Where and how you’ll be celebrating All Hallow’s Eve is a factor. Will it be cold or hot? Do you need a coat? Will your costume allow you to sit? Dance? Comfort is key. And how easy will it be to visit the bathroom?

Halloween seems to become an excuse for some women to dress like tarts. And that’s fine – perhaps the french maid represents your alter ego – but such an approach can be a bit overdone and obvious. Cute and the right amount of sexy is a good way to go. And the opposite is true too. Don’t expect to get asked for many dances if you’re dressed like a garbage can.

With makeup, again, think about how it will wear over the course of an evening. A sweaty party and many of hours dancing later means your look might be smudged when you don’t want it to be. This is especially true for men. Men in makeup is just not something I want to see. Ever. But that’s just me.

Finally, before deciding on a costume practise your good taste. This is supposed to be about being fun and creative. So, Donald Trump good; Syrian refugee bad.

The following is my list for the top costume themes we can expect to see this October 31st. May it trigger a few ideas to make them your own.

• Donald Trump (very easy to pull off)
• Kaitlyn Jenner
• The Toronto Blue Jays (depending on what happens next)
• Adult Minions
• Mad Max (I’m leaning toward this one for myself. Will I muster the courage to shave my head? Doubtful.)
• The many incarnations of Miley Cyrus (A great group theme)
• A Volkswagon (Get creative. See note above about comfort)

Photo: Vlado Matisic, Nepal

At 12 years old, I tried to understand the lure of the world’s highest peak. (8,848 metres or 29,029 ft.) To me it seemed, and still does, one of the most frightening places on earth and most definitely the last place you’ll ever find me.

Many years later this impression was intensified when on my father’s recommendation, I read John Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, a non-fiction account of the 1996-climbing season that killed eight climbers trying to descend from the summit. It was the deadliest time on the mountain until last year’s avalanche that killed 16 Nepalese guides near Base Camp.

From page one, I was hooked and it remains one of the most gripping stories I’ve ever read. Krakauer, a journalist for Outside Magazine, was covering the expedition (and made it to the top) and gives his first person account of the tragic events. If you haven’t read it, I can’t recommend it enough.

This weekend I went to see Everest the movie with my dad, the man who ignited my curiosity about this stark, harsh and unbelievably beautiful place. (Imax 3D no less. The place to see it.)

While the film, by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur, covers the same ground, it is not based on Krakauer’ book. Krakauer himself is depicted in it and calls the movie “total bull,” likely in part due to his sometimes unflattering depiction.  (Some of the fallout from the tragedy was centered on pointing fingers at who helped, or didn’t help, whom.)

Starring Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Hawkes and Josh Brolin – among many other familiar faces – the acting is good, especially considering much of the cast performed far from the comforts of their trailers.

While much of the higher elevation scenes had to be shot in studio, the climbing cast was filmed on the trek to Base Camp and in the Dolomites in Italy.  Brolin apparently had to overcome a fear of heights in order to film.  The cinematography focuses less on Everest’s majesty and more on the ice, snow, glaciers and crevases that make this mountain so inhospitable.  Not surprisingly, one of the lead cameraman worked on Warren Miller’s ski films.

One shortcoming is that the movie doesn’t delve enough into why the tragedy occurred: by the 90s, climbing Everest had become big business and guides were often hauling people up, quite literally, who had no business being there. That matched with terrible storms lead to the loss of life that included some very experienced climbers.

But what the film lacks in depth it makes up for in action and suspense. I’m just glad I was experiencing mother nature at her harshest from the comfort of my cinema seat.

My book rating: A 

My movie rating: B

For those interested in learning more about the status of climbing on Everest, check this article from Outside Magazine.

Top photo courtesy Mountains of Travel