Is It Possible To See It All

We Love to Travel

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about

I enjoy travel, sports, music and anything else that jumps up at me for the moment, which is why I blog. There will be lots of travel posts, pictures and our videos as well as a smattering of sports and humor. I enjoy promoting Canada and am unabashedly a proud Albertan

About John

Calgary, Alberta

I am Canada-based and love music, travel, sports and food, including wine.  This blog will likely be used as a personal storehouse for remembering what we have seen and what we are planning, and we want to share this with whoever is interested, which may be nobody.

A major passion is music.  I love promoting Canadian music, finding new artists from anywhere and sharing what I find to be very good songs from any and all genres.

I also love sports and usually have an observation or two, and I will do so on occasion.

Read on, enjoy ( I hope) and be polite.

106 responses to “About John”

  1. catastrophicfindings Avatar
    catastrophicfindings

    Lovely blog, really enjoy all your travel stories! I’m still new to blogging but feel free to check out some of my travel posts and other ramblings!

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks for your kind review. I will check out your blog. Hope to chat sometime over a post or two.

      Reply
  2. Weenie Girl Avatar
    Weenie Girl

    Hi John,

    Looks interesting, especially since I love to travel, too. I’ll be back when it’s not bedtime.

    WG

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Pop by anytime.

      Reply
  3. El Guapo Avatar
    El Guapo

    John –
    I’ve just nominated you for the versatile blogger award (apparently I’m supposed to notify you!)
    Couldn’t see any evidence you’ve gotten it, and I thinkk you should have. So you did.
    http://guapola.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/there-goes-the-neighborhood/

    Well done, my good man.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks, now I have all this extra work to do, and Christmas is just around the corner, and work is crazy and I’m losing my hair from stress and thanks very much., I appreciate that as well as your support. I am cutting and pasting this to your blog so you aren’t seeing double.

      Reply
  4. Versatile Blogger Award « Mona Lisa Memoirs

    […] I want to send a big shout-out and thank you toย Johnย atย http://joebeans2002.wordpress.com/ย for this nomination. (Thanks buddy, I appreciate this […]

    Reply
  5. thefibitz Avatar
    thefibitz

    John – I nominate you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Here are the rule for the Versatile Blogger Award:

    -Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post
    -Share 7 things about yourself
    -Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading
    -Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks for the nomination. Forgive me if I pass as I already did this exercise once. I popped by your space and hit the old follow button, have some reading to catch up on there as well. I really appreciate the shout out though, and am glad that you enjoy what I do enough to give me a nod.

      Reply
  6. El Guapo Avatar
    El Guapo

    Thought I’d pass this on to you – Fritz and the Tantrums. The song is overplayed right now, but this is a very minimalist performance – Sax, 2 voices, tambourine, seems to have been recorded then edited together. Not quite live, but an impressive rendition.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Had to search for it, that one didn’t work up here. Great tune. Found a live version as well, tight band, right in my sweet spot. Man, i haven’t been on this page in a while, will have to update a bit lol.

      Reply
  7. El Guapo Avatar
    El Guapo

    Yeah, I’ve been listening to them for the last 45 min. going to order their stuff. Thought you’d get a kick out of them.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I did. Downloaded that one and doing some exploring myself

      Reply
  8. Lily Avatar
    Lily

    Thanks for following my blog! I really like what you’ve got going on here!

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      No problem Lily, Us Canucks have to stick together haha. Thanks for adding me as well.

      Reply
  9. A Gripping Life Avatar
    A Gripping Life

    Thanks John for following my blog. I think I’ll enjoy yours, as well. I look forward to hearing your political views. I have opinions but I’m mostly open minded and always ready to learn more. (Mostly I like to make fun of everything like my daughter, Lily in Canada! haha!)

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      You are Lily’s Mom. Love her blog. Also, I need to revamp my about, you will see pretty much 0 politics here. It is far to crazy a subject and not worth the effort, cause it seems everyone has tunnel vision.

      Reply
  10. motherbarbarian Avatar
    motherbarbarian

    Saw you had commented on Keelan Foley’s blog, and decided to check out yours. I look forward to browsing all your posted music. Best blogging wishes from a fellow Albertan.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks for stopping by. Always room for another Albertan.

      Reply
  11. Savannah ๅธŒๆœ› Hardcastle Avatar
    Savannah ๅธŒๆœ› Hardcastle

    Nice blog here, John. I enjoy travel. Hope to see many more of your awesome stories / adventures.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks Savannah, Been ripping around yours a bit and enjoy it. I started as a straight travel blog a while back and they are both the hardest and the most fun to do. Hope you don’t mind sifting through the other stuff to get to the travel stories haha.

      Reply
      1. Savannah ๅธŒๆœ› Hardcastle Avatar
        Savannah ๅธŒๆœ› Hardcastle

        Thanks!
        ha ha, and not at all. Should help me learn more before I start my own travels.

        Reply
  12. Drive Thru Guy Avatar
    Drive Thru Guy

    Just wanted to say that I think you have a really great blog here and I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award at http://lifeinthedrivethru.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/special-presentation/

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks

      Reply
  13. Subhan Zein Avatar
    Subhan Zein

    Hello, John,

    Thank you very much for following my blog. I hope I do not disappoint you. I hope each of your visits in my blog will always be a joyful ride! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Subhan Zein

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks Subhan, I took a quick trip to your blog, very nicely done. Very personable and I liked your about page. Stop by whenever you can, we love comments around here and it is very light-hearted. Enjoy

      Reply
      1. Subhan Zein Avatar
        Subhan Zein

        Thank you for visiting my blog, John! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Yes, I am looking forward to reading your posts! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Subhan Zein

        Reply
  14. butimbeautiful Avatar
    butimbeautiful

    What do you mean when you say you’re a conservative? Just out of curiosity. I actually don’t know many.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I am going to take that out of there. I am not political to a major extent, but I do tend to be on the conservative side of things on most issues. I had my liberal leanings when I was younger but discarded most of it as I got older. A Canadian conservative is, for the most part, a centrist. Does that make any sense?

      Reply
  15. butimbeautiful Avatar
    butimbeautiful

    I guess it does, in Canadian terms. In Australia, that would mean that you believed more or less in moderation, politically speaking – neither far left nor far right. Is that you?

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Pretty much. I am fiscally conservative and ambivalently centrist on most social issues. I make up my mind on each issue individually, which means I can veer left or right.

      Reply
  16. Independent Music Promotions Avatar
    Independent Music Promotions

    Hi John, this is James from Indie Music Promo (Vancouver). I’m working with one Canadian artist I hope you’re impressed with but couldn’t find contact info for you. Feel free to email me and I’ll send you the details. Thanks very much!

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      joebeans2002@gmail.com. Look forward to it.

      Reply
  17. Enchanted Seashells Avatar
    Enchanted Seashells

    Hi! Thanks for following! I’m tone deaf, but my hubs plays trombone, guitar, and ukelele. I play Adele and Christina Perri and katy Perry over and over again and cause people to ask if I’m still 13 years old. (I’m not, duh, or how else would I have a 31yrold son?)

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      No problem for the follow, thanks for the link. We be the same generation, I am 13 as well with a 32 year old and a 30 year old, both sons.

      Reply
  18. aFrankAngle Avatar
    aFrankAngle

    Friend of Guapo’s is a friend of mine … and one being around one more Canadian is good.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Guapo is a blast. He’s everywhere. Nice to meet you.

      Reply
      1. aFrankAngle Avatar
        aFrankAngle

        … and greetings from Cincinnati.

        Reply
        1. John Phillips Avatar
          John Phillips

          Go bengals. Especially dalton. Great sleeper pick on my fantasy team. And hi from Calgary

          Reply
          1. aFrankAngle Avatar
            aFrankAngle

            He’s doing well for a second year player! After not getting it done last week, tonight is a must win.

            Reply
            1. John Phillips Avatar
              John Phillips

              I’m watching carefully. Fantasy playoffs start tonight

              Reply
              1. aFrankAngle Avatar
                aFrankAngle

                Good luck.

                Reply
  19. aFrankAngle Avatar
    aFrankAngle

    Hey John … Thought of another possible place for when in Genoa …. Portofino … and of course I have a post on it …. and the videos are great. Enjoy.
    http://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/on-a-stern-view/

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I’ll check it out.

      Reply
  20. Sunshine Avatar
    Sunshine

    Thank you so much and wishing you all the best. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      You as well

      Reply
  21. benzeknees Avatar
    benzeknees

    Can someone from Calgary still call themselves an Albertan? I thought Calgary was becoming a universe unto themselves much like Toronto? Of course with me being from Edmonton, you know we are rivals in football, right? I don’t watch hockey so it doesn’t count, but I am an avid football fan. I was born in Winnipeg so I will always be a Bomber fan for life, but now I share my loyalties with the Eskimos. It gives me twice as much football to cheer for & when they play against each other I cheer for good plays!

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I am a Canadian lol. I was born in Winnipeg, lived in Saskatchewan for 15 years. This is our 3rd go round in Alberta, having spent a couple of years in St Albert, and a couple in Okotoks. All in all, prefer Calgary’s climate and Saskatoon’s culture. To me the day’s were to short in Edmonton and it never got hot. (Run for cover as well). As a further run for cover, I gave up on the Bombers, and actually wore a Rider Jersey to the Banjo Bowl a few years ago. lol

      Reply
  22. El Guapo Avatar
    El Guapo

    I think the real question is, which US state is Canada a suburb of?
    *runs for cover* ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I think I have cover covered haha. At this point, I have never been happier to be Canadian.

      Reply
      1. El Guapo Avatar
        El Guapo

        I’ve taken a few trips to Canada. Never had a bad time.
        It’s a beautiful country!

        Reply
        1. John Phillips Avatar
          John Phillips

          Greatest country in the world lol.

          Reply
          1. Polysyllabic Profundities Avatar
            Polysyllabic Profundities

            Ah, a fellow Canadian….Yay!! Love your blog….glad I followed Guapo’s link!

            Reply
            1. John Phillips Avatar
              John Phillips

              Where from? We in Calgary. El g has a great blog. And a fun person to have hanging around. Plus his musical taste is very familiar

              Reply
              1. Polysyllabic Profundities Avatar
                Polysyllabic Profundities

                His musical taste is amazing…and his blog is fabulous. I’m in Ontario…about 2 hours north of Toronto. Muskoka to be exact. I have a friend that moved to Calgary a couple of years ago, she loves it!

                Reply
                1. John Phillips Avatar
                  John Phillips

                  Great city, getting better all the time. One of the best places in the world, We love coming home to here from where ever we went. Muskoka, wow, lucky you. Beautiful country up there.

                  Reply
                  1. Polysyllabic Profundities Avatar
                    Polysyllabic Profundities

                    It sure is….I left for a while, but this is home. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

                    Reply
                    1. John Phillips Avatar
                      John Phillips

                      Kind of how I felt when we left Saskatoon, but I got over it. Instead of a billion lakes, rocks and trees, I settled for mountains, rocks and trees, good trade. And a different kind of skiing.

                    2. Polysyllabic Profundities Avatar
                      Polysyllabic Profundities

                      You sound happy….and that is what counts! It’s a beautiful country and there are many treasures to be found in it.

  23. benzeknees Avatar
    benzeknees

    Riders?! Wash your mouth out with soap!

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Its what happens when you live there for so long. They get under your skin. Have to love a team where the fans don’t care if you win or lose.

      Reply
  24. Subhan Zein Avatar
    Subhan Zein

    Hi John,

    Nice meeting you here. Looking forward to reading more of your adventures! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Subhan Zein
    #PS: I hope that’s polite enough ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Quite polite. lol Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
      1. Subhan Zein Avatar
        Subhan Zein

        Pleasure. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Subhan Zein

        Reply
      2. Subhan Zein Avatar
        Subhan Zein

        Pleasure, John Phillips. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
  25. Simon Sundaraj-Keun Avatar
    Simon Sundaraj-Keun

    Great blog and I enjoyed the pictures. Thank you for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks for the follow

      Reply
  26. Brett Avatar
    Brett

    John, I like your site and need to explore it further. I’ve also added it to my blogroll at http://www.OCanadaBlog.com. Two Canadian bands I highly recommend if you have not come across them are The Hidden Cameras and Great Lake Swimmers. Best, Brett

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Live the swimmers. I’ll check out the other.

      Reply
    2. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Love. That is. Fat thumbs lol

      Reply
  27. Tammy Avatar
    Tammy

    Hi John! Is there an email address that someone might be able to contact you at?

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Joebeans2002@gmail.com

      Reply
  28. Donald Lockwood Avatar
    Donald Lockwood

    Hi John, I love your blog and travel stories!

    I am from Colorado but I’m living abroad in Vietnam for now! I was adventuring through SE Asia but decided to root for a minute to gather resources.

    Speaking of Canadian music, I recently found and fell in love with Grimes – a Canadian and electronic indie dream pop princess.

    Also, thanks for following my blog. I hope the my posts can help you reach more fans and followers. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I’ll check her out. Thanks for the follow as well. Canadian music is a growth industry right now. I look forward to any tips you put out there. Se Asia is on our list but we seem to go off in tangents with our traveling. Right now, it is all about sailing. Have a great one.

      Reply
      1. Donald Lockwood Avatar
        Donald Lockwood

        Is sailing really as gloriously adventurous as one would imagine? Out on the open seas with the wind in your sails, it’s such a romantic fantasy many people dream of, I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to actually do it.

        Reply
        1. John Phillips Avatar
          John Phillips

          Yes. Every bit. The difficulty lies in actually liking it. Living aboard takes some sacrifice but it has its rewards. For example, you are taking your living space with you. No packing, no hostels etc. And the wind is free. We found it to be very peaceful out in the water, yet having an edge of adrenaline. It is a fun experiment so far.

          Reply
          1. Donald Lockwood Avatar
            Donald Lockwood

            Sounds like something I should give a try some day if I can manage it. How far our do you go? Do you travel great distances? When you are out there far enough, does the water ever become perfectly still?

            Reply
            1. John Phillips Avatar
              John Phillips

              Coastal for the mist part but a 40 or 50 mile hop between islands would not be uncommon. The idea is to pick good weather and move along the coast to the next destination and then hang around for as long as one wants to. A lazy cheap form of travel that has some benefits of home. As for still waters. Likely yes but on s sailboat that doesn’t work so well. Turns it into a powerboat.

              Reply
  29. Kevin Gillespie Avatar
    Kevin Gillespie

    Hi John

    Pleased to meet you. :).

    Many Thanks for visiting my Blog, MUCH Appreciated. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Not a problem. Thanks for stopping by

      Reply
  30. joseasanoj Avatar
    joseasanoj

    Hi,Thank you for following. It’s my privilege. if you get time please read my book “My Day Out With An Angel” and let me know the feedback at jose.a.sanoj@gmail.com

    https://www.createspace.com/4234223

    Peace & love, Sanoj

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I will try and do that

      Reply
  31. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    Hi, John! Thanks for dropping by my blog and the follow. I’ve got great friends living in Alberta and I’ve seen the beauty of that place through their pictures. Following you back for inspirations and more images from everywhere. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      You’re welcome. I love Alberta. Great place and great people. Thanks for the follow back. We do love to travel and have many more stories to tell and pictures to post. If only I had the time haha.

      Reply
      1. Angie Avatar
        Angie

        It’s a pleasure to browse through and I think you can slowly write and show those stories for us here. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
        1. John Phillips Avatar
          John Phillips

          Slowly would be the word.

          Reply
          1. Angie Avatar
            Angie

            Slow but steady is good. ๐Ÿ™‚

            Reply
  32. My Tropical Home Avatar
    My Tropical Home

    Hi John, I like how neat your blog looks, and love love love the photos. Thanks for visiting my blog. I think my blog would be a tad too serious for your taste ๐Ÿ˜‰ but I do hope you’ll enjoy my photos – I’m just beginning on that journey. Have a great week!

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      I’ve popped in a few times and enjoyed. ๐Ÿ˜Š

      Reply
  33. On Tributes | A Frank Angle

    […] bliss like LouAnn, or reach the Alishaโ€™s intellectual depths. I donโ€™t follow music like this Calgary John, provide daily humor like this Athens John, and certainly canโ€™t write like this Seattle John. […]

    Reply
  34. topa Avatar
    topa

    Thanks for following my blog. It’s always interesting to see what other people experience, so I am looking forward to your next posts! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks for stopping. Bit slow right now. Short break.

      Reply
  35. Uncle Spike Avatar
    Uncle Spike

    So John, you decided to join the small clan of Uncle Spike followers, sometimes known as The Spikeyโ€™sโ€ฆ. That makes me a happy blogger now โ€“ I really appreciate you making that special mouse click.
    Hope you like my upcoming posts and if you get bored one day, maybe youโ€™ll enjoy trawling through some of my older stuff too.
    If you have any likes, dislikes or suggestions about my blog, just let me know, either through โ€˜commentsโ€™ or via email. Always welcome reader input ๐Ÿ™‚
    Have a great old dayโ€ฆ
    UNCLE SPIKE

    Reply
  36. KG Avatar
    KG

    Thanks for the follow John. Seems like we have similar interests. Will come back for more ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      No problem. Thanks for stopping by

      Reply
  37. sowayfarer Avatar
    sowayfarer

    We like personal storehouses! This in particular!! – Sowayfarer

    Reply
  38. Sports Talk with Ari Avatar
    Sports Talk with Ari

    Awesome blog. Its amazing that you have a passion for so many things. I have a passion too, and maybe you can follow my passion to become the next great sports announcer at sportstalkwithari.com.

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      It’s called getting older. I’ve had the time to accumulate the passions lol

      Reply
  39. Miss Lou Avatar
    Miss Lou

    I see you are a lover of Canadian Musicians… – http://www.hayleysales.com/about/

    I recently discovered Hayley Sales after following a comment to a blog which let me to another blog and another and well… Gotta love the community that is word press – ๐Ÿ™‚

    I ended up buying her album off of Itunes – she is fantastic. This is my favorite song of hers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65vnC1mPd-E

    Enjoy! Lovely to meet you by the way, I’m Lou, Lover of french fries dipped in chocolate sundaes!

    ML
    x

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Too too funny. I am also the real Canadian music blog which you found through guapo and introduced you to Hayley. Decided to move music to a second blog as it a passion and was taking over this one.

      Reply
      1. Miss Lou Avatar
        Miss Lou

        LOL!! Too Too Awesome.. lol

        *slapping my own forehead*

        Reply
      2. Miss Lou Avatar
        Miss Lou

        I’ve just noted the blog address – joebeans and am having a good ole chuckle!

        Reply
        1. John Phillips Avatar
          John Phillips

          I have twice the fun.

          Reply
          1. Miss Lou Avatar
            Miss Lou

            Right! lol ๐Ÿ™‚

            Reply
  40. Avantika Avatar
    Avantika

    hey ๐Ÿ˜€ thanks for the follow, just went through your blog, and you’ve got some great stuff!

    Reply
    1. John Phillips Avatar
      John Phillips

      Thanks for stopping by. Drop in anytime

      Reply

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