Where is Smithers, British Columbia? It’s two blocks and one mountain range south of Sarah Palin’s house. Pop 5509. Town dining comprises of the Japanese, the Chinese, the Italian, the burger place or the pizza joint. On Friday nights after a bender of karaoke at the Hudson Bay Lodge, the strip joint closes at 11pm and all the loggers, snowboarders and retirees amalgamate in the over-flowing toilet melting pot of the only dance bar. A night of cheap whiskey hits a frenzied pitch when the blown-out speakers rumbles out “Thunderstruck” and a brawl erupts – usually amongst family members. This is where wildlife also shop in the grocery store parking lot. This is where if you hear a shotgun blast – you just run and keep going. This is where the Zeller’s gal told the sport’s store owner what you bought yesterday. This is where an extension on a trailer is admired as practical architecture. This is where I was for three months. Welcome to nowhere.

Read the rest of this entry »