Cando North Dakota Blog

Farewell Cando

2011-06-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

I first came out to Cando, ND. partially due to where a dart landed on a map, the cost effectiveness of living and the high speed Internet connections. This became my headquarters for living, although I didn't have too many visitors it still felt like home. And the time here was productive, the scenery was gorgeous and the town people were very welcoming and nice.

I've learned a lot about patience and relaxing in my time here. Coming from a fast paced life it's a shock how laid back things are here. At first it was frustrating -- the lack of competition and the schedules but once you figure it out life is good again. I'm thankful the town of 1200 people had the folks to assist with everything though and they did excellent work.

Food choices… Again I'm spoiled, living in all these great cities with places open at all different hours. I got to start eating healthier again and making my own meals always surprising myself with how awesome the food turned out. I saved so much money, explored my culinary skills again and took a lot of fun photographs of meals . I had plans on opening a coffee shop in town, but work kept me too busy to expand in this field. I hope someone does, a nice place for the kids and adults to go to.

Amazon Prime became one of my best friends while out here. If you do not upgrade your account to Amazon Prime (80$/free if student for year) you end up paying for rural delivery charges, plus if you upgrade everything is 2nd day shipping. Bob the UPS driver was a staple to my living out here with his daily deliveries of necessities and goods from Amazon.

Now onto the water, with Minot currently risking flooding as mouse river overflows I hope all the folks make it out and without too much damage. One thing North Dakota has is a lot of good people, folks who volunteer to keep each other safe. When Grand Forks and other areas were flooding people stepped up and helped with sandbagging and everything else. It's good to see people step up and help out. North Dakota is a helping and caring community. Hearing the news coverage saying Red Cross has enough volunteers helping out with food distribution and such and will keep people in the loop for what is needed next.

I'm not going to miss the mosquitos though, I don't know if it was my unique flavor, but the ND mosquitos really liked me. And with all the still water around the area… Yah…. bye mosquitos!

Internet Speeds in Cando, ND.

2011-03-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

When I first moved to Cando one of the deciding factors was that there was decent Internet access. Upon driving into town I noticed the telco box with fiber dropped to it so I knew it would be suitable. Most all of the wireless APs were locked down.

The cable modem company serving Cando is Midcontinent Communications. With a quick call I had someone out installing, setting up and turning on cable. For a fraction of the costs in other states I get better speeds than some of the higher paying packages. A few speed tests are shown below. Nothing too fast for uploads but decent download speeds.

Server: Grand Forks, ND.
Download: 18.39mbs
Upload: 1.88mbs

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1212145341.png

Server 2: Grand Forks, ND.
Download: 18.44mbs
Upload: 1.86mbs

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1212146147.png

Allegiant Air adding new routes to North Dakota

2010-09-18T08:20:00.001-07:00

AllegiantAir.com is adding new routes to North Dakota. For people looking to visit this great state you can get here for some great prices. AllegiantAir isn't listed on travel discount search sites so its important to go to the site directly when looking for flights.

Currently Allegiant Air offers the following routes to North Dakota:

Grand Forks, ND -> Las Vegas, NV & Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Bismark, ND - > Las Vegas, NV & Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Fargo, ND - > Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Orlando, FL
Phoenix-Mesa,AZ
Minot, ND -> Las Vegas, NV (Coming Oct. 2010)

Cando Businesses

2010-09-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

What is Cando missing from its realm of businesses and things to do? I have been tossing around ideas for the last year about what the town of Cando needs. Does Cando already have everything it needs, or does it need something more, something new?

Traveling to Cando

2010-03-13T09:14:00.001-08:00

You have two choices for airports that are about equal distances.

- Minot, Nd
- Grand Forks, Nd

Depending on where you are flying in from really determines which airport you choose. Personally I prefer Grand Forks, Nd when I fly in and out of Las Vegas, Nv because allegiantair services non-stop service from this location. Keep in mind that smaller towns/airlines don't fly all the time, generally allegiantair flys two days a week in and out of grand forks to las vegas. Once you land it is about a 90 mile drive to Cando, so plan on two hours depending on your speed.

If you are up for a scenic trip I would suggest driving (not during winter), coming through Montana and Wyoming are just some of the most perfect scenery. Amtrak is also a solution that is relaxing. I took Amtrak from Wisconsin to ND and had such a scenic trip. I paid a few dollars extra to get my own room and plugged in my laptop and worked while watching the world pass by.

Tip for Amtrak to Cando, it arrives super early, or late however you may see it so have someone waiting for you or your car ready. I believe it drops off around Devils Lake and is an unmanned station at that time.

Cando The VooDoo That You Do

2009-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

I remember growing up in small town Oregon, during Halloween everyone was out in full force in costumes trick-or-treating. Expecting the small town tradition I picked up a 10 pound bag of assorted candy at Costco to give away to the kids.

In preparation to spookify my place up I went into town to buy a pumpkin to carve. The town was either all out of pumpkins or they don't exist in my area of North Dakota. After four stops and a tour around the town only to find plastic pumpkins it became obvious that pumpkins don't grow in North Dakota and/or they don't import them like other towns do.

The front porch light is on, the candles are lit in the window and a spooky import horror film is playing in the living room. The evening passed with only one group of children trick or treating, and they passed up my Cando home.

Either this town is against Halloween, they all went trick-or-treating to a bigger town or my house was just too spooky. Either case I have 10 pounds of candy that need eating.

Trick or treat?

Getting involved in Cando

2009-10-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

It has been my intention upon moving to Cando to get involved in the local community, church, politics, and economy. I have to admit I got a little sidetracked with day to day life and work that I have put it on the back burner. It is my goal to get involved this fourth quarter in all aspects.

What should I get involved with? Any suggestions?

Please Don't Eat Me!

2009-07-04T10:01:00.001-07:00

Mosquitoes love to feast on me however I can't find any in my house in Cando, but they keep taking jabs at me and making me itch. There was a mosquito waning for cando today, I am hiding inside wearing long sleeve shirt just hoping this bug dies on it own or I can kill it to reclaim my blood.

I wonder how bad the bugs get here, I should invest in some mosquito repellent, that icky feeling of camping but indoors...

Summer in Cando

2009-07-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

I've been gone for a while, I left on Easter Sunday and returned today to a beautifully green and perfect weather in Cando, ND. This is the first time I've seen my yard, it is grass filled and has many plants including rose bushes and a fruit tree in the back.

Anyone looking for a place to relocate to in these tough economic times should consider Cando, ND. It is easy to fall in love with the scenery and the weather, today it was 74 degrees F with the lakes are sparkling blue and people fishing at every possible spot along my way into town.

Michael Jackson RIP

2009-06-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the room at the InterContinental in Austin, TX exactly where I sit now, the same place, same room, same hotel... I was when I eagerly placed my ticket order for Michael Jackson on March 12th 2009 at 1:01 am and received confirmation of purchase.

Seat location: section BK 406, row L, seats 579-580

Today I sit in the same place I was when i placed the order in sorrow and disbelief of the news of Michael Jackson's death.

The Game - Beautiful on the other side - http://bit.ly/1RV8Bo

The artist did this sidewalk chalk drawing of michael jackson in austin, tx the day after the news.

Cando, Japan

2009-05-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have found the sister city of Cando, ND, and that would be in Tokyo, Japan in Harajuku. Time to file that paperwork and request.

Technology in Cando

2009-04-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

A recent visit to our local pharmacy had me amazed with the technology yet lack of technology at the same time. The gal (pharm tech) asked me if I had any questions about the antibiotics I was to start taking and I came up with one. She walked me behind the counter and introduced me to a video screen where I was having a consultation with someone via cam two hours away. Cool technology, probably something they over pay for by the looks of the huge mount display on top of the monitor.

I go to checkout and purchase the drugs to find out they don't take credit cards. All the technology in the back, and no credit card machine in the front? I was told that the new owners would probably get one in the near future.

Getting Warmer...

2009-04-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

The snow has melted, this is the first time I have seen my lawn. I actually have a yard and the backyard is full of random nicknacks. I can see that each time when I went to take out the trash I was walking on top of rose bushes buried underneath.

The sidewalks in my front yard are oddly placed and I can see where a few trees used to be, now cut low reveling a stump. Although the yard is plagued with dead brown and yellow grass you can see color coming back in, little patches of green life.

The streets are coming back to life, children playing and riding their bikes. The weather allowing motorcycles to now ride and drivers with their windows down enjoying the fresh air.

To mow my own lawn, or to hire someone to assist with the task? There's something about doing it yourself, for a while atleast....

Flooding in Cando, North Dakota

2009-03-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

I just came back from a trip a little worried that Cando would be flooded and my house well be floating away. The news has been covered with news of Fargo, Bismark, and other eastern portions of North Dakota flooding. My prayers go out to the familys and the crews working the floods.

I landed in Grand Forks, the weather was pretty bad and everyone was wondering if their flood protection they installed after the last great flood would be put to the test. Many of the eastern bridges were closed but I was able to make it out as I was headed west back to Cando.

I didn't see any signs of flooding on the drive back to Cando and hope I don't have to experience a flood during my first year of being in Cando. First a rough winter, then flooding..... I am hoping not, but it sure would be a different experience.

Restaurants, Eateries and Treats in Cando

2009-03-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Cando doesn't have many places to go eat out at but here is what I've gathered so far.

1. Dairy Queen (Seasonal)
2. Dee's Diner
3. Durum House
4. Bakery

I've been to all of these except for Dairy Queen as it hasn't been open since I first moved out here in the winter.

Just a short drive away to Devils Lake has a few more fast food places, diners and one place I should mention. This place has treated me well, has good quality food and the chefs enjoy crafting sauces for me.

Ranch Steak House
1119 Highway 20 S
Devils Lake, ND 58301

Guess the owners of Ranch Steak House have another restaurant on the lake. Its a nice place for lunch and would be good for the fishermen and camping around there.

Air Raid Sirens in Cando?!

2009-03-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

When I first arrived in Cando I was startled by the air raid sirens that went off. I remember my first time like it was yesterday. I was sitting in the living room watching television and suddenly the air raid siren goes off. The only experience and what I know of air raid sirens is from the movies at the atomic bomb museum in Las Vegas and World War II movies. I immediately went underneath the table and waited for the bombing to start.

No Im not writing you this from a bunker, the bombing never happened, or atleast not yet. The air raid siren goes off throughout the day during certain hours. 6pm and 10pm come to mind. I think it's time the town invests in some church bells to go off. Way friendlier and more modern.

Moved to Cando, North Dakota

2009-03-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

Cando, North Dakota has become my home, simply by throwing a dart at the map and moving in. It took a little more than that, but the fact that Cando has high-speed Internet access, real estate for a great price, small businesses, and Devils Lake less than 30 minutes away for everything else.

Cando is located less than 100 miles from the Canadian border and just less than a two hour drive to either Minot or Grand Forks offering International airports. Amtrak has a stop in Devils Lake as well as Grand Forks and Minot on the world famous Empire Builder train.

The people here are friendly, and there is room for growth.