Be honest, ladies. You envy the way Superman looks at Lois Lane, don’t you? The man of steel’s blue eyes and broad shoulders can make a girl swoon. And guys, Mystique has a certain magnetism that the male eye can’t resist, doesn’t she? You wouldn’t kick her out of bed for leaving a few blue scales behind.

It really goes almost without saying that the oil and gas industry is the economic backbone not only of Central Alberta, but also of the province of Alberta as a whole.

You wonder why something that requires as little physical effort as lifting, shaking and smoothing out a duvet cover would warrant as much nagging effort on your part every morning. Yet each day you play out the same tired old scenario. You walk past your child’s bedroom while he or she is downstairs eating breakfast to see the bed covers rumpled from the night before and pajamas on the floor. You know that it would be so easy to tidy up, to restore order in only a few minutes, but you resist the temptation, remembering what you know about doing for your child what he or she is quite capable of doing. So, instead you shout down a reminder - “Before you leave for school, please remember to make your bed!”

“How is your sex life?” I often ask patients.

How many attempts have you made at losing weight? Be honest. After all, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, if you’re a chronic dieter you’re in good company – 50% of all North American women are participating in some kind of diet at any given moment.

I drive by it all the time, this cute little storefront in Lacombe called Bla Bla Junior. It is adorable, brightly coloured and catches your eye whenever you travel down Hwy. 2A and see the whimsical flags. Many times I have driven by and meant to stop but have not had time until yesterday. I met with co-owner Sofie Blunck to discuss her business philosophy and get a look inside this amusing and colourful business.

Every Albertan knows someone working in the field, the oilfield that is. Many of us grew up around a town that has a lot of the province sustaining resource that allows many of us to do what we do, no matter the industry. Likely every business in Alberta has been supported by someone in this industry and without the resource and that employee many of our businesses would wither away.