Hand things in ON TIME and other school goals

I can’t believe summer is almost over. Despite the rain, I had a great couple of months. Camping with my family, two Jet Engine Funny Car races with Grandpa, carnival rides at the Fringe Festival with Mom, hanging out at my grandparents’ canola farm – and of course, plenty of running.

But next week I’ll be starting Grade 8, which means the end of vacation.

Grade 8.

Mom says she can hardly believe it.

In two more years, I’ll start high school. Dad thinks I should already have an idea of what I want to be “when I grow up.” Maybe he’s right. It’s just…I keep changing my mind.

Although I didn’t win the Martyn Godfrey Young Writers’ Contest, I loved writing that short story. Grandma thinks this means I should be a journalist.

I LOVE to run. Especially alongside Grandpa’s canola fields. And Coach Taylor says my legs can “really move” – but am I fast enough to make a living as a track and field professional?

Of course, Grandpa would love for me to be a canola farmer.

Not to mention all of the other cool jobs out there…

There’s a whole lot of options to consider. I’m not going to let it pressure me, though. This school year, I’m going to focus on my homework and making the track team. I’ve been practicing, but who knows whether "Lightning" or the red-haired kid have been as well?  Or maybe there will be someone new at the school...

Mom says I've set some good goals, but she suggested one other: Hand things in ON TIME.

Oy.

I always do the work. I just sometimes forget to…hand it in.

How about you? Any school goals for this year?

Gotta jet – the sun is shining and there isn’t much of summer left. Have a great day.

- Chase Superman Duffy

Riding high at the Fringe

Rides as the Fringe's Sustainival run on CANOLA biodiesel

We’ve lived “near” Edmonton my whole life, but until this week, I’d never been to the Fringe.

Fringe is a 10-day festival full of plays, street performances and great food – Mom says they have the best Poutine outside of Quebec. Most of the shows are written and performed by local artists, which is pretty inspiring. Last year I wrote a short story for the Martyn Godfrey Young Writers’ Award. Maybe this year I’ll try writing a play!

Wouldn’t it be cool if it was featured at a Fringe Festival one day?

I loved every minute of my first Fringe experience, especially when my friend Sophie and I got to go on some rides. But not just ANY ones – special rides.

Mom told me this carnival was created by an Edmonton man named Joey Hundert. He calls is Sustainival.

Why?

Well, it turns out Joey’s rides run on biodiesel made from – yep, you guessed it, CANOLA. Just like the Jet Engine Funny Cars Grandpa and I saw last week!

I didn’t feel anything different, even on the Ferris Wheel. But Mom and I could smell it – a little like popcorn. So guess what we ate on the way home? Delicious.

If you’re going to Fringe, don’t forget to check out Sustainival.

Gotta jet – there’s only a few days left of summer and the sun is shining. Time for a long run!

- Chase Superman Duffy

Hot August Nights!

Grandpa and I went to Hot August Nights last Wednesday night. SO cool!

The whole night was a smorgasbord of loud engines, awesome cars, and cotton candy (can’t forget the cotton candy!), but the best part was watching Kevin race his Jet Engine Funny Car along the quarter mile track.

Kevin is the driver of the first ever Jet Engine Funny Car to run on 100% canola biodiesel. I met him in Medicine Hat a few months ago at my first ever drag races. That was fun, but Hot August Nights in Edmonton was so much better. Kevin raced twice.

You wouldn’t believe how amazing it was! Grandpa let me use his phone to take a video of it but I couldn't upload it so here's a link from YouTube.

Next week, Mom is taking me to the Fringe Festival in Edmonton where I get to go on some carnival rides powered by canola biodiesel. How exciting is that?

Gotta jet!

- Chase Superman Duffy

Dragons in the clouds

My friend Sophie got a trampoline this summer. I think she wants to be a cheerleader, so she’s practicing her tumbling. Good thing!

Maybe I should, too.

Last week, I attempted a flip. It didn’t work out so well. I didn’t get hurt or anything, but I landed flat on my back in the middle of the mat, a little bit winded. Like when one of those super fast race cars zips past you and steals your breath.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day and I was lying there looking up at the big Alberta blue sky. It’s practically famous, you know? I love the mountains, but there’s something special about living on the prairies. Blue sky and yellow canola fields as far as the eye can see.

Sophie was the first to notice the dragon, though. At first I didn’t believe her. I kept looking for a giant tail to wrap itself around a cloud. Until I realized she was talking ABOUT the clouds and the amazing shapes she could see in them. I saw the dragon! And for about an hour we looked for as many different cloud-formations as we could. White seahorses, and castles, wizard faces and even a dog!

It was fun until those clouds turned dark and rain threatened– yet again. Yep, it’s been one of those kinds of summers.

How about you? What’s the coolest cloud shape you’ve ever seen?

Gotta jet!

- Chase Superman Duffy

See you at Heritage Days?

Last week, Grandpa and I went to the Shellbrook Museum in Saskatchewan. Shellbrook is where the first Canadian canola crop was grown, more than 80 years ago.

When Mr. Fred Slovunuk and his wife immigrated from Poland, they brought a handful of seeds with them, and what started as a small plot of canola turned into giant fields of yellow. You can read the whole amazing story of canola’s beginnings in the book, Fields of Home. (This will be a link to the page where they can get the book...)

But after visiting the museum, I got to thinking about my heritage. Mom and I are going to Heritage Days in Edmonton this weekend, where I’ll sample all kinds of great food and learn about different cultures.

I’m a proud Canadian, but I love to learn about other countries and their peoples. Heritage Days is going to be amazing!

Grandpa asked me what I would take with me from Canada if we had to move. That’s a very good question. I’m going to think about it for a few days and let you know.

How about you? What one thing from your country would you want to take with you? Let me know here...or on Twitter. My user name is SupermanDuffy. 

Gotta jet.

- Chase Superman Duffy

Taking a break

Happy rain day - again!

Grandma says taking a "break" is important to an overall health and wellness plan, so we're having a family "shut down." I've got a big stack of books to read, Grandpa is having fun in his wood shop, and Grandma is making cookies. Even Mom and Dad are taking a day off.

I'm not even supposed to be on the computer.

So - gotta jet before I get caught.

Hope you and your family have a chance to take some time off! Why not send me an e-mail and tell me what you did on your day off? My e-mail is chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com.


- Chase Superman Duffy

Racing against the mosquitoes!

Maybe I'll be able to run as fast as a deer!

 I am on fire this week!

Between an inspirational writing week at WordsWorth, a great trip to the Calgary Stampede (even though I didn’t see Will and Kate), and a solid few days of running, it’s been a perfect July.

Minus the rain and mosquitoes, of course.

I’m really gearing up for track training.

Grandpa says I need to work hard, like the race horses we saw at the Stampede. I did some research, and just like for track and field, a horse’s training schedule depends on the race – most importantly, the time and distance. And just like humans, their fitness plan has to be properly coordinated to prevent injury.

I wonder if they eat canola, too? I’ll have to ask Grandma about that. The proper fuel is key, right?

And so is knowing your body well enough to understand how to achieve your personal best. Take me - I’m a sprinter, but I still need to log some longer runs to keep my endurance at peak.

Lucky for me, the canola fields are in full bloom and I can run along the roads by Grandpa’s crops. This year, I’m going to shatter my record!

Maybe then I’ll outrun the mosquitoes...

Gotta jet!

- Chase Superman Duffy