Gold in High Def

Extra proud to be Canadian today.

Say It Ain't So

While all of the news seems to be focused on the Saints winning the Super Bowl (good for you Saints!)...this is what caught my eye.

Howard Stern Confirms 'Idol' Talks

Howard Stern told his satellite radio listeners on Monday that he is considering leaving Sirius -- and radio altogether -- to become a judge on "American Idol."

Stern confirmed a report that Fox is interested in hiring the Sirius shock jock to replace Simon Cowell on the reality show.

(full article at www.msn.com)

If this happens...I will stop watching Idol. I know, I know, who cares it's American Idol? But it's a fun show and they do have some talented people sometimes, even if it is frustrating when people remain on the show longer than they should because they are cute or have a sad backstory. Regardless, I like Idol and I hate Howard Stern. Granted, I have never met the man, so I hate the Howard Stern I have been presented with (maybe he is a lovely man in person, but I am okay with never meeting him). Do they really think he would be the best choice to replace Simon? You will never replace Simon of course, but couldn't they at least try to find someone a little more appealing to the public? Some one with a little bit of experience in the music business, whether it be they are a singer/musician or they sign acts, write songs, etc.? Sure Ellen Degeneres isn't in the biz, but she does love music and she has said she will be more of a people's voice than a music critic. But when you take the one person who has signed huge acts, written hit songs, and has major credit in the business and replace him with Stern?? That makes no sense other than they want someone with an acerbic tongue.

Anyway...just my thoughts for a Monday morning.

On a positive note, I am excited for the start of the Olympics this Friday!! T and I have our sweatshirts all ready to break out and wear and root for the home team!! Even though she kind of has two home teams...I won't let her know that until she's older! Until then Go Canada!!

Starting Early

First we take the World Juniors tonight....then we take the Gold in February!!! T is all ready to watch the game (if only it was broadcast on a channel we get in the US). Mom's ready too with her sweatshirt and jersey, but I don't think Dad will be donning his Canada hockey jersey with us.

(man is it hard to get this girl to pose)

Random Rants and Raves

Ok, I don't know about you, but I can't look at that bear bum anymore. :o)

Anyone out there had those Fiber One bars? Or at least seen the ads? The latest one has a guy coming back 4 or 5 times, in disguise, to steal more samples. We used to buy them all the time, because they are actually quite tasty, however, the ads neglect to inform you of one small side effect. Gas. Flatulence. Farts. Whatever you want to call it, you get it. And, if you are like some people in this household and decide to eat more than 1 in a day (like 3)....well, just ask Mark what happens if you want the specifics.

Growing up, I loved to watch You Can't Do That on Television. It was awesome TV. Alanis Morissette used to be on the show! Well, Tuesday, Barth died. He was awesome, but so gross at the same time. An integral part of the show. Where is TV like that these days? YCDTOT and Degrassi...all the good TV comes out of Canada!

I am trying to find some sort of decor to put in the bathroom now that it has a sparkly new paint job, but what do you hang on bathroom walls?? It's been harder than I thought, or maybe I am just thinking too hard about this. Anyone have any good bathroom decorating tips/ideas?

HBO's new show is ri.DIC.u.lous. And yes that was intended. Is there really no other worthy topics out there to base a show on, this is what's left? Granted, I've never watched an episode, but I really don't want to, and why would I?

SYTYCD this season just seems to be missing something from seasons past. There's no personality this time around. The dancers are great, but they all just seem to mix together and no one really seems to stand out. And this last episode, the 100th? Lame. Were those encore routines even done live? Doubtful seeing as they never spoke to the dancers. Or maybe they were live and they just wanted to give more time to the spectacular Katie Holmes number. Lame-O. Definitely not live. Definitely lip synced. Massively Lame-O. It was fun to see Wade (Pink Elephants on Parade) Robson step in with the kids for a number though.

How is it impossible that I can't find a cute pair of sandals when I live a mile away from DSW? I have been searching for 2 months now...guess I will wait until next summer.

I finally got this shirt from Express that I have wanted for months and months...and I love it. Only, it's in green and I got a discount because the seam on the zipper had ripped (2 minute fix). I wish I could wear it every day.

Oh, and stay tuned. We're going to get Mark his own little platform for all of his politics, sports, jokes, stories and anything else he can offend with! You won't want to miss this.

Until then kids...enjoy the weekend!

Mental Vacation

I'm guessing we've all taken the time to enjoy Mark's sentimental ode to Rigby, but I think it is time for something new to grace our blog.

Unfortunately, my brain seems to have taken a vacation (it's the only part of me that gets to go) and I have no energy or wittiness to write something. I don't think it's very often that I am at a loss of words, and there has certainly been a lot of happenings since we left for Idaho. I would love to offer my thoughts on Michael Jackson passing, but I think it's a little too late. I will say that I was shocked, saddened and a little disappointed at the amount of jokes and inappropriate comments made far and wide about the man. Yes his past was not perfect. No we don't know specifics, but the man died, he has 3 children and a family, he was probably the greatest artist to influence popular music today, have some respect. Thriller was 1 of the first 2 albums (yes albums) I ever owned. I still have them. I don't think anyone will ever top him at his highest, he will be missed. Moving on.

Perhaps over the weekend I will mull over my thoughts and get back to my overblown dream of becoming famous in the world of blogospheres.

Until then, belated Happy Canada Day to all of my Canadian fans and early Happy 4th to all of my American fans. Canada, next year I will be back to enjoy all that Canada Day goodness...it's been far too long since I was home to celebrate. So to compensate, T and I are hitting the outlets tomorrow...nothing like discount shopping to perk a gal up!

A Moment Long Overdue

Today I walked into a 7-11 (or sev as we like to call it here) for the first time in I don't know how many years. As I walked inside, the aroma of Slurpee hit me like a wall. Oh Slurpee, how I have missed you. It's been probably a year since Slurpee and I last saw each other....too long in my books. There were many trips to the local sev during junior high and high school, it's like going to church, you just have to go.

I can remember my first Slurpee...mmmm orange. It's a good memory.

As I went to fill up my 22 oz Slurpee cup I was happy to see all of the usual suspects for me to fill my cup with, all but one (had it been there, the amount of perfection would have been intangible). I started with a little 7Up, then some lime Crush and topped off with orange Crush. If Grape could have been there...wow, it would have been quite a moment.

So in honour of my Slurpee, I thought I would share with the world a few Slurpee stats.

• Canadians purchase an average of 30 million drinks per year (that's almost as many as the population of Canada!)
• Winnipeg was named Slurpee capitol of the world for the 9th time in a row in 2008 (we rule!), even though we are a very, very chilly city (Slurpees in the middle of January, you betcha!)
• Stores in Winnipeg sell, on average 8330 drinks a month, the rest of Canada - a paltry 5990 per month
• The Pina Colada flavour is not kosher
• The term Slurpee was coined in 1967 by Bob Stanford
• Slurpee is in my spellcheck because apparently it needs to be capitalized!

Thanks Wikipedia for all of your knowledge. We love you Slurpee!!!

North vs North

The wee one and I will be heading off for an international escape tomorrow...wish me luck on the drive, any hints for well behaved 10 month olds in a car for 7 hours would be welcomed! Perhaps I will treat you all to some foreign words of wisdom as we explore all that the great motherland has to offer, well that which is located in our city anyway.Hopefully the spouse survives without us...as I suspect he will, albeit with dirty dishes and unwashed clothing! But survival nonetheless. Perhaps he will keep our readers occupied with his political blatherings, sports statistics or random ventings since there will be no one here censor or shut down such ideas!!

To the North!!

Cross Border Musings

I think we're all glad the election is over...even if we hoped for a different outcome...and in that vein, as I drove back home from my "home and native land", a few things struck me about each country and I wanted to share them with you. I always tell Mark that I can tell when I am in Canada and no longer in the US. The main reason is that there are no billboards for hotels, casinos, pro-life causes, lawyers or anything else along our highways, just speed limits, "Welcome to Wherever" signs (in French and English of course), the occasional dead animal and litter.
The US Custom guards always ask the oddest questions. When we were travelling home last Christmas, the only question the agent posed to us was, "Do you have any Mandarin oranges?", to which we replied no (even though I had really, really wanted to bring some home with me - thanks a lot no citrus over the border rule!!)
A small town is a small town no matter what country you are in. From random signs (We love Canadians - which I found an odd sign since it was in a Canadian town...?) that only locals get, to wild turkeys roaming alongside the highway in Morris...small towns retain their "smalltownness" everywhere you go.
For some odd reason it seems Americans don't know what a washroom is... at least the Americans I have come across anyway. Every time I ask where the washroom is I get met with a blank stare and a "what?"...until I say bathroom or restroom...why is that?
North Dakota has an absurd amount of country music radio stations...does any one place really need more than one? In my opinion there doesn't need to be any, but I know some people like that sort of music, so one should do just fine. ND seems to have about 39575 country stations - way too many.
ND also has a great speed limit...75mph. I don't think anyone passed me for the entire 4 or so hours I drove through that state, and I was doing just shy of 80. Once I crossed into MN and the limit drops to 70 (I do just under 75) I think every other car on the road passed me!! I guess Minnesotans must love to speed.
Gas is still ridiculously expensive in Canada. Expensive enough that I fill up just before crossing the border and not again until I come home...thank you Manvel, ND for having a gas station so that I didn't have to park my car on the side of the highway and walk to Grand Forks with a 5 month old in her car seat!!
Sometimes when you visit stores or restaurants in other countries, they change to suit their locations, but it is nice to know that, like the church, Wal-Mart is the same where ever you go...always retaining that little bit of trashiness that brings you the comfort of knowing you are at Wal-Mart.
For some reason Canadian cable channels feel it is necessary to carry US channels in Canada, so I was privy to 3 different states (MN, MI and WA) and their political ads. Canada had an election last month (albeit to the lowest voter turnout in many, many years) that was called on September 7 and was held October 14th. Started and ended in just over a month...now that's the way to hold an election!
And whether or not Canadian cuisine exists (find me one person who has dined on the exquisite poutine and they will tell you it does!!) there is nothing like being able to go to Safeway and pick up all the Habitant pea soup, pierogies, Canadian mint bars, and caffeine free Mountain Dew!! O Canada!! How I love thee!

Portage and Main

We spent the last week up in Winnipeg and had a great time! Mark was a sport and let me have my way to leave Tuesday so we would have more time at my folks, so to say thank you, I made him a nice, great big 4th of July breakfast on Wednesday, and left him make all the decisions of what to do that day! That included shopping at a hge sporting/fishing goods store without me (maybe that was more a gift to myself than anything else), a steak BBQ, miniature golf (I let him win) and ice cream. He also got to relax, go for some runs and take a couple of naps in the swing in the backyard, not to mention go hit some golf balls!

To top the day off, we went to a football game, AND the Bombers actually won!! It was awesome. We had great seats (thanks Dad), and the best-worst hamburgers known to man. It's been a long time since I've been able to go to a CFL game, and it's still just as fun. The only downfall to the game... there is zero legroom between rows in the stadium... and I'm not even super long-legged... imagine what tall people have to go through!

Friday Mark and I went to the zoo. I hadn't been to the zoo at home for years, so it was fun to go and see it again. It was basically the same, except now they charge admission, granted it's less than $5 a person, but when it used to be free.. anyway, we checked out the animals, hung out with some monkeys and heard a billy goat. Perhaps I am the only one who has never heard a billy goat before (really, when does one hear a billy goat in day to day life?)... luckily the zoo in Winnipeg had a billy goat and I was able to remedy what was lacking on my life. This video doesn't do it justice, but I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! Poor billygoats, only a mother could love that voice.

After the zoo, we hurried home and got ready for the real reason for the trip north. My friend Katherine's wedding. It was beautiful. She had it in her parents backyard, which doesn't sound beautiful, but when your backyard is lined with amazing trees and overlooks the river.. it's a bit different than the regular backyard. The ceremony was wonderful and the recpetion was a lot of fun. I was able to meet up with another girl I went to school with and had not seen since grade 9, and Mark was able to try his luck at the blackjack tables. Katherine and her husband decided to have blackjack tables and for every hand you won, you got $1 (paper, not real). When you had won $10 worth you traded them in for a raffle ticket and at the end of the night they drew tickets for a number of prizes. Mark enjoyed himself and really wanted to win the golfclubs, but alas, luck was not with him and we didn't win anything, but it was still a fun night!

Saturday was a relaxing day, we went to the Forks (where the two rivers in Winnipeg meet) and walked around, then we did a bit of shopping, went for dinner and ended the night with some gelati, mmmmm.

All in all a great trip.... minus the 937492674 mosquito bites I received. Apparently I must emit an irresistable frangrance to mosquitoes.... lucky me.

Why I love Canada, by Mark Smith

In honour of Canada Day (July 1), I wanted to post some of the reasons that I love Canada. Canada has supplied us with some great inventions, i.e. the thermos, snowmobile, telephone, basketball, hockey, ginger ale, Trivial Pursuit and the zipper, but it is more than just brilliant people, I’m looking at you Trebek. Canada is what we would be like if there wasn’t so much testosterone running through our veins. Canada is the second largest country in the world and has never picked a fight with us, except for burning down our White House in 1812, but we’ve forgiven you for that and have written it out of our history books. Canada has given the U.S. some of the greatest talent imaginable:
Hotties like Kim Cattrall, Natasha Henstridge, Tricia Helfer, Shania Twain, Estella Warren, Neve Campbell, Evangeline Lilly, Pamela Anderson, Rachel McAdams, Elisha Cuthbert , Carrie-Anne Moss and Melanie Farmer.

Sports stars like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Steve Nash.
Comedians and actors like Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Jim Carrey, Tommy Chong, Eugene Levy, Howie Mandel, Colin Mochrie, Rick Moranis, Mike Meyers and Leslie Nielsen.
And true bad asses like Neil Young, Bernie Ebbers, Don Cherry , Bob and Doug McKenzie, and Jack Bauer.
How can we Americans not love a place that eats everything with gravy, drinks beer like mother’s milk, has two national sports that are basically fights with some sort of scoring system (Hockey and Lacrosse), has more donut shops per capita than anywhere else in the world, allows forward progress of its receivers before the ball is snapped and has a national symbol that is a Beaver? You read that right, a Beaver. I think it is high time we stop with our condescending talk about the queen-loving, mullet-wearing Eskimo neighbours to the north who want to be our 51st state. It is time they get the respect they deserve. I for one love Canada and everything Canadian, except for maybe your healthcare and French Canadians. So on July 1st enjoy a donut, a piece of back bacon, poutine , a nanaimo bar and an ice cold Molson and thank God that you are lucky enough to live in Canada or its cocky, Shatner-stealing, Mexico-touching neighbor to the South that has the pleasure of sharing the longest border in the world with this great land. Happy Canada Day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg