I am ½ of the Starfm Morning Mess, heard weekday mornings 6am-9am!I was Born in Minnedosa and raised in Erickson,working in 6 radio markets over 17 years, most recently at Z99 Regina.In June of 2000 Iwas lucky to be one of the original staffers to turn on the transmitter at 94.7 FM.I’ve been married to Tracy for almost 15 years and have two incredible children, David and Liberty.David is in 4th grade
and Liberty is in Kindergarten.I love to travel and Bar-b-q.I’ve also been know to take part in various other cooking contests, but grilling is the best.I also love Mexico!That’s why Star Jet is so near and dear to me.I love the climate, the people, the food, the drinks.It’s all good.Hawaiian shirts are a staple in my closet.I’m a political junkie, and watch hours of NFL on Sunday with David.Our teams are:1)Vikings, 2) Bears, and 3) Broncos.Like most Westman families, we struggle with both time and $$$ but find a way to make it all work as best we can!
You’d be surprised to know that I:
-was in air cadets as a kid
-played the alto saxophone for 6 years
-married my high school sweetheart
-tought Sunday school (Can u believe it?) -Was on TSN in ’91 after streaking at the Grey Cup
-voiced ads for the US grocery chain Kroger, Ashley Furniture
and americanidol.com
AMBER VANDALE
I moved to Brandon from Winnipeg in 2004 with my husband who is in the military. I must admit that I was not excited about the move, but fell in love with Westman and Brandon very quickly. I now, happily, consider this my home.
I have a fear of small spaces and being chased. I tend to get a little grumpy when my blood sugar is low or if I haven’t had enough sleep. The thing that makes my husband most angry with me is that I leave the cap off the toothpaste. I have only on rare occasions taken a lunch with me to work as I have a terrible short term memory. On the flip side I can remember poems from French class in grade four and what outfit I wore on the first day of every year of elementary.
I love being a Mom! Actually, you might be wondering where the heck I have been lately. Well, I am certainly not gone, just on a little break. On November 1st, 2009 our family welcomed a little girl into the world. Abigail Violet is a lovely baby with lots of alert time who has been able to lift her own head since she was only a couple days old.
I will be back on the air May 01/10! I look forward to sharing all my Mommyland adventures with you, but if you can't wait, I'll be calling with updates every Monday morning on the Mess.
ON PREVIOUS EPISODES OF THE MORNING MESS............................
September 10/09
Tracy Munn from the Brandon Humane Society was with us talking about the Wag A Tail Walk A Thon this weekend. Follow the link below to get more information.
According to a new study breastfed babies seem more likely to do well at high school and to go on to attend college than infants raised on a bottle. Any Doctors/rocket scientists in Westman bottle fed? What is the longest you've seen a mom breastfed????
Derek from Komfort Kitchen in Brandon thought it was silly Tyler was driving to North Dakota for the "best burger in the world". Tyler goes to MInot regularly to buy the Hardee's Monsterthickburger, and even contemplated buying a franchise for Brandon. They wanted $2 million, so that idea was out. Enter Derek from Komfort Kitchen in Brandon. He tried to duplicate the burger, MANITOBA style and was SUCESSFUL!!!! A Pound and a half of goodness, called "The Sloppy Tyler". For $12 you can buy this bad boy at Komfort Kitchen: (check out the vid)
WE DID IT!!!!! I'm going to be a CKX Weatherman and I am so pumped!
Thanks to all who joined the facebook group to help me live a dream. I have always wanted to be a weatherman, but was never given the chance. After my wife told me about an episode of Ellen where she wanted to be on the cover of O, I thought maybe I could do the same. Here's what happened with Ellen:
This weekend, with help from my kids, I put together an audition tape for CKX. This could be my big break............
Here's the song to inspire YOU to live YOUR dream!
And FINALLY PAYDAY!!!! Here's what happened when CKX came calling!!!
Horrayyyyyy!!!
THEN IT WAS SHOWTIME BAYBEEEEE!!!!!! Here's what aired on CKX!!
Was Britney Spears in Brandon on the weekend? Lots of talk around town this morning. Some saying they saw her tour buses on the North Hill Tim's, but no Britney. Some reports of a gal looking a lot like Britney surrounded by body guards.
In the ebrandon discussion window, EastEndChris wrote "don't think Spears was even there. But there were about 20 young people that definitely could've been her dancers! A couple of girls had UCLA track pants on, and one guy - could ONLY be from L.A! - was doing a really zen-looking lotus pose on the big rock in front of Esso lol!" Lovebug wrote "We seen a fleet of buses rolling down the highway in our little town of virden today! As bus after bus rolled by we realized that it had to be a tour of somesort and after bus number 8, there it was! The big shiny pink CANDIES tour bus with BritBrit herself plastered on the side! Pretty exciting for us small town folk! Even better though was the SUV on the other side of the road completely taken apart, bumper removed, bags unpacked, with 2 patrol cars!"
Thanks to our Facebook friend Chatelle for this photo of Britney's bus:
Billy Bob Thornton was on CBC radio in Toronto yesterday with his band the "Boxmasters" to promote their tour with Willy Nelson. Host Jian Ghomeshi asked Billy when his band was formed and he said he didn't know what Jian was talking about. Really, he didn't really seem like he wanted to be there. Then Billy Bob gets right angry when asked about his "passion for music". He later insults Canadian audiences and compairs them to mashed potatoes and gravy. All I can say is "UNCOMFORTABLE".............................
This new song is smoking up the radio waves south of the border. The song by "Smoke Jumpers" or "Jump Smokers" is full of ideas about what should be done to Chris Brown for allegedly beating up girlfriend Rihanna. Wasn't sure at first but it has a great beat.
Toymaker Mattel is dealing with loads of complaints from concerned moms over the introduction of their new Dora the Explorer toy [see pic], which critics have railed for being too sexed-up.
Mattel says they've simply designed an older version of the character that will appeal to kids aged five to eight. The typically short-haired tomboy look has been scrapped for long flowing hair and a more stylish look, but she does not show much skin or even wear makeup.
Mattel assures moms that the original Dora is not going away and that the new version is just a toy to appeal to older kids. Are moms taking the new-look Dora a bit too seriously? Are they wrong in worrying that Dora could be a bad influence on their kids? Are there any cartoon characters that you believe are a bad influence on kids? Do toy-makers have a responsibility to make their toys age appropriate, or does the responsibility lie in the hands of parents?
DORA, the new design:
Huatulco Mexico, and Star Jet 4 with Marlin Travel, Signature Vacations and Westman's Vacation Station was February 26-March 6, 2008. 94 people came aboard to beautiful Huatulco, and below is a video diary, and if you like pictures, we have 4 facebook photo albums that can be accessed by anyone, even if you're not a facebook friend. Just follow the link below, grab a tequila and turn on the salsa............ :)
VIDEOS..........................
Day one: Friday, February 27th at 1pm, we landed in Huatulco Mexico temperature +31. Winnipeg was -31. 62 DEGREES difference. Amazing.........we could not wait to get to the hotel and start swimming, drinking and having fun!
Day two: Saturday, February 28th at 10am, orientation with Marlene from Marlin and the crew from Signature Vacations. Our crew, dressed in thier Survivor Canadian edition gear, couldn't wait to start thier holiday to remember in Huatulco!
Saturday was a day to enjoy the resort and get the frost out of our bones!!!
Amber couldn't wait to get a drink outta the coconut!!! Later that night she would escort a group of party-goers club hopping and the coyote ugly video's from that night are still being approved by censors!!!! (wowza)
Day three: Sunday, March 1st. Golf day at the Togulunda golf course in Huatulco. Tyler golfed with 25 guys and two gals, and his foursome was Tracy (his wife), Calvin and Ernest. Here's one where he could actually hit the ball!!
Day four: Monday, March 2nd. This is from Monday's broadcast from the Dreams Huatulco's Oceana restaurant and bar. We're within earshot of the ocean and outside in the fresh air every morning. We start in the dark, but by 7am, we have a handful of people and by 8am a nice big group comes for a coffee!!!. This was just after 7am on Monday......here's what the setup looks like:
After the broadcast was done, it was time for a truly incredible Survivor challenge. Four teams took Kayaks into the ocean to retrive water pistols from the bouys out in the ocean. Upon the participants quick return, team mates filled the guns over and over with ocean water, and the first time that could bounce a ping-pong ball out of a glass bowl, and fly a Canadian Kite would win. Here's a few shinanigans involving the water guns.........you can see the Kayaks in the background! People on the resort though we were actually on the CBS version of the show!!!
Then it was off with "Indiana Jones". He was our tour guide for the trip, for the bar hop, the boat rides and the city tour of the Huatulco area. Here he takes us to a gorgeous area where many went for a luxurius "mud bath spa" for less than $50. What a view.........
In La Cruicisita, we sampled some mazcal and ate dried grashoppers...........yumm........
Day Five: Tuesday, March 3rd. Group Salsa dancing lessons for all! While some caught on quick (Amber), others were just brutal (Tyler). Here's a sample of some great dancing and some great effort:
Someone tell him to stop:
The group gathered at the resort dance club and we took it over for Mexican Idol. We had 3 celebrity judges and a dozen people doing thier best Kareoke. Two talented sisters from Dauphin who created thier own song won the contest (hear it later as we had them do it on air). And this is Tyler and Amber killing the song "Picture" by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow to close out the night. Cover your ears now.
Day Six: Wednesday, March 4th. CANADA DAY. Everyone was told two weeks in advance that the Starjet Survivor theme for this year was Canadians in Hatulco, so all Starjetters were invited to bring anything Canadian on the trip. The day was filled with Canadiana and Canadian activities including hockey?
Then it was off to see Indiana Jones again for a Cadamarran Boat ride of some of the bays of Huatulco. Sunny untouched beaches and a gorgeous rock click background made for an incredible afternoon of boating, snorkelling, tequila and beer. Many had "rubber knees" getting off the boat afterward, it was sooooooooooo relaxing!!!!
Day Seven: Thursday, March 5th. Ontoneyo is a Mexican DJ from Tiajuanna, who was dying to be on Canadian airwaves, so we made him a guest on the Morning Mess!
We finished our last full day in Mexico with some shopping and a Sand Castle building contest for our last Survivor Challenge.
Day Eight: Quick Radio show, and bags packed. We end with the greatest song of the week............the theme that won the grand prize at Mexican Idol earlier in the week........
We left the resort at 11am and flew back to Winnipeg at 2pm. We landed at 7:15pm to -6 degrees. At Portage the temp had dropped to -11. By the time we arrived in Brandon at 10pm the temperature was -17. The following day, Westman and the sun-burned Star Jetters woke up to -27!!!!! Yuuuukkkk........but what fun we had! Thanks to Marlene, Jodi, Cathy, Amber's husband Graham and Tyler's wife Tracy for all the fun. Tracy did all the video you see here. Now to the 5th anniversary in 2010!!!!! Here's how you get on board:
