Ahhhhhhhh...Coffee

While we’re well aware of the cons to drinking coffee, we’ve learned that the positive benefits can sometimes outweigh the negative effects. A 2006 issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch claims that moderate coffee consumption, (3 to 4 cups per day) is actually beneficial to your health. Here are some reasons to keep lining up in the drive-thru.
1. Coffee is the #1 source of antioxidants in our diet While fruits and veggies are still the richest sources of antioxidants, it turns out that for most of us, coffee is the main basis of antioxidant consumption (according to the Institute of Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt University). Black tea and bananas came in second and third place, respectively. Surprisingly, both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee provide similar amounts of antioxidants.
2. Coffee increases your metabolism Studies also show that coffee is very beneficial in terms of weight loss. It is a common misconception that coffee is an appetite suppressant, however, your morning cup can significantly speed up metabolism by about 10 percent. The National Research Council on Diet and Health found that metabolic rates will be highest during the first three hours following consumption. Just make sure to skip the added sugars, syrups, and whipped toppings found in many store-bought coffee drinks.
3. Coffee can improve short-term memory(if you can remember to drink it!) According to studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, caffeine is a cognitive stimulant that actually boosts brain functioning. Furthermore, coffee reduces levels of beta amyloid, a protein in the brain that is responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. It's also yummy.
4. Coffee lowers the rates of some cancers According to WebMD, coffee drinkers are 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer. By drinking 2 cups per day, you’re also slashing your risk of getting colon cancer by 25 percent. Some studies have also found ties to lower rates of breast and skin cancers as well.
5. Coffee can reduce risk for Type 2 diabetes WebMD also asserts that coffee contains chemicals that lower blood sugar, making heavy coffee drinkers half as likely to get diabetes as light to non-coffee drinkers. 1-3 cups per day can reduce the risk for diabetes by single digits, but people who drink 6 cups or more per day can slash their chances by up to 54 percent.
6. Coffee is actually good for your teeth We all know that one of the biggest cons of drinking coffee is a stained smile, but the beverage can also have a positive effect on teeth. According to a 2009 article published in the Wall Street Journal, people who drink coffee are less likely to have cavities. Roasted coffee beans have antibacterial effects against microorganisms like Streptococcus, which play a hand in causing tooth decay.
7. Coffee can help prevent/stop headaches Have you ever wondered why caffeine is one of the main ingredients in migraine medication like Excedrin Migraine? WebMD explains that blood vessels increase in size during a migraine-- caffeine works to decrease the size of blood vessels before they can affect nerves in the brain. So, drinking coffee in the early stages of a headache can help minimize the severity later on.

LOVING YOUR INLAWS

It's Mother-In-Law Day -- Here are just a few tips from experts on how to deal with your in-laws:
* Treat your spouse well. Nothing pleases parents more than knowing that their son or daughter is being well-loved and pampered. (brush them regularly and give them lots of treats to keep their coat shiny)
* Present a united front. Never squabble with your spouse in front of his or her parents. If you think hot issues may come up, discuss how you will deal with them ahead of time. If they erupt, stifle yourselves until you can deal with it in private. (wear shin guards for "under the dinner kick protection")
* Recognize the fact if you were raised in a different family structure. Remember, his or her mom believes her baby is perfect. (you may know differently.  "WHO LEFT THEIR SOCKS IN THE FRIDGE AGAIN?")
* Ask mom-in-law to teach you how to cook a certain meal that he comments on while visiting her house -- even if it's stewed possum. And if her cooking is terrible, forget about honesty being the best policy. (Blame the possum)
* Frequently ask their advice, even if you don't plan to take it. They'll be glad to feel they still have influence on their child's life -- even if they don't. (this also works on bosses)
* Discover what their likes and hobbies are. Even if it's hunting and you're an animal rights activist, show interest and don't start an argument. (unless it's hunting YOU)

The EZ ride home with Mark and Viv ends

It is Friday February 26th, 2010, and I’m not very good at goodbyes.

Nearly a year ago exactly, I was called to the boss’ office.
Viv was already sitting there. “What do you think of doing a show together?”, he asked.
“I can NOT work with that woman”, I growled.
“What…with this jerk?”, Viv shot back.
And so it began.
It has been almost a year of millions of laughs and smiles and silly jokes. It was the kind of job you looked forward to stepping back into every day, because you knew you were going to forget your problems and just have fun.
And now, just one week short of our one year anniversary…I have to bid my favourite on air pal goodbye. While I save 5 dollars on an anniversary card…it will be hard to see her go.
Viv is off to another job for our company. I can’t adequately describe how talented, funny and crazy she actually is.
She has the roar of a lion…and the heart of one too.
She is fearless, thoughtful, and can burp like a giant jungle ape.
Once, I saw her fly around the world backwards, to go back in time so that she could make it to a shoe sale. Although that might have been Superman.
I couldn’t be prouder and happier and sadder.

It is Friday February 26th, 2010, and I’m not very good at goodbyes.

Making work outs-work out!

I've been doing a little working out for a while now. Proper nutrition is absolutely key...so I'm always reading up on new science and ideas. I found this and thought I would pass it on to you. Good luck with your work outs!

What you put into your body directly effects what you get out of it. So, if you’re cracking a beer before you grind out an 8-miler, you’re doing yourself a disservice. You should wait and crack that beer when you get back (seriously). So, according to some experts...here are some better ideas. As always...be careful. BEFORE
• Caffeine -- A study at Vanderbilt concluded the following: Caffeine’s use ... has been proven to increase physical endurance but has many side effects and precautions. However, caffeine’s use for short-term endurance appears to have no affect on the athlete.
• Water -- If you’re dehydrated, depending on how dehydrated you are, it could take as long as 24 hours to build yourself back to a rehydrated state. Further, on a shorter-term scale, you don’t want to chug a bottle of water 5 minutes before you go running. Water is absorbed by your stomach and small intestine at 5ml per minute and 500ml per hour respectively, so you should be able to fully absorb most of a bottle of water if you chug it one hour before you plan to work out.
• Not sugar -- Whatever you drink, make sure it’s not loaded with sugar. As extreme as some sodas claim to be, they offer only a short burst of energy which burns out and can cause you to "bonk." This happens when your body’s energy stores (glycogen) are burned up and your metabolism isn't able to keep up and produce more. This leaves you with no energy, and a fairly wobbly set of legs to limp home on. (which you likely already have)
• Half-strength sports drinks -- Sports drinks, like Gatorade, are too concentrated as they are sold to be effectively and efficiently absorbed by your body. The reason it’s effective at all, though, is because it replaces electrolytes that you sweat out during exercise. Just replacing water does not replace those ions (like sodium). And when you have those ions in your body, it is easier for it to retain water. However, to be most effective, dilute your sports drink by one half before drinking it to hydrate (that goes for after your workout as well)
AFTER
• Chocolate Milk -- Milk has water and electrolyte like sports drinks, but also includes protein which is key for helping you to recover after a strenuous workout.  Putting it on Count Chocula doesn't count.
• Protein shake -- A protein shake is potentially a better choice than milk if you’re more concerned with getting the correct number of milligrams of l-carnitine than you are quaffing some chocolaty goodness. However, it’s best if you go old school with protein shakes, too, and make your own using whole foods as opposed to buying prepackaged muscle-milk-type drinks.
• Beer -- Researchers at Granada University in Spain found out something pretty cool a few years ago. When it comes to recovering and rehydrating after a workout, beer is a little better than water. Sadly with beer...goes chicken wings and nachos...ooop back to working out again.

Looking to be a little less? This may help.

Here are some simple, easy-to-remember diet tips from doctors, chefs, and the general public. They’ve been compiled by award-winning author, Michael Pollan in his latest book, Food Rules:
• Rule #1: If it grew on a plant, eat it. If it was made in a manufacturing plant, skip it.
• Rule #2: Avoid foods with ingredients you wouldn’t buy for your pantry, like celluose, ammonium sulfate and xanthan gum. They’re simply additives created to extend shelf life, make old food look more appetizing than it really is, and get you to eat more.
• Rule #3: Don’t eat breakfast cereals that change the color of your milk. Cereals like that are highly processed, and full of refined carbs, sugars, and chemical additives.
• Rule #4: Do all your eating at a table. Your desk is not a table. Pollan points out that if you eat while you’re working, watching TV or driving, you’re eating mindlessly, which means you’re eating a lot more than if you were at a table, and paying attention to what you’re doing.
• Rule #5: You can eat all the junk food you want – as long as you make it yourself. After all, it’s a lot of work to make French fries, cakes and ice cream. If you had to make them yourself, you’d eat a lot less.
• Rule #6: Eat when you’re hungry, not when you’re bored, or need comfort, a reward or entertainment. Try this test: Reach for an apple. If you’re not hungry enough to eat it, then you’re not really hungry.

One of those days

Sooooo...Thursday started out okay. Viv and I got to chat with Chantal Kreviazuk before her show at Centennial Hall. She was wonderful...friendly...shared a few laughs, and invited us to the show. I had the honour of introducing the show...which started with local singer Meaghan Smith (who was tremendous...funny and wow what a voice).
I got to sit backstage for a bit with a few of the hard working stage guys. (they said I should plug the Matt Dusk Show on the 12th, because they think he's awesome!) I did the intro, and sat down to enjoy the show. Chantal came out, did a few songs and started making fun of the "radio guy who she did an interview with, who told her she sounded like Josh Groban".
Of course EVERYONE in the place thinks it's me...BUT IT WASN'T.
At that moment I just wanted to crawl under my chair...when she said it was the "20 something talk radio guy". I am waaaaaaay past 20 anything, and I know she is not that blind...plus...EZ rock is not a talk station...WHEW!.
AFTER she left our studios she went for a chat elsewhere, and that's where that happened.
It was one of those Seinfeld moments...where you just know that you've done nothing wrong...but you're doomed anyway. Despite watching the rest of the show from under my chair...the music was wonderful...and as always, it was a pleasure to see a concert in the intimate setting of Centennial Hall. At some point over the next few days the Chantal interview will be posted up on the website...so check back for it.

Chantal is coming tomorrow!

EEEK! Viv and I are going to meet and have a chat with Chantal Kreviazuk tomorrow on our show. She will be in town at Centennial hall tomorrow night, and has been kind enough to agree to stop by. I've been enjoying her latest disc "Plain Jane" (love it), and trying to figure out what to ask...that would:
(a) Be interesting...and
(b) Not make me look like a total dork.
Any thoughts you might have would be helpful...email any questions you might have for me to ask to mlapointe@radio.astral.com and hurry!

If it's funny, it's not SPAM

I get them all the time, so I'm sure you do too...Forwards. The emails that someone on your list found funny...so it lands in your inbox along with the other assorted spam, and occasional ACTUAL USEFUL email. I got this one this morning from my pal Roger, and thought I would pass it on this way...so I'm not clogging your Inbox.

10 RULES FOR GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
1. It is time to clean out the refrigerator when something closes the door from the inside. (or tries to break out)
2. Keep it clean enough for healthy, dirty enough for happy. (my favourite)
3. Never make fried chicken in the nude. (see: bacon, soup, or anything with the word "flaming" in it)
4. Do not engage in unarmed combat with a dust bunny big enough to choke the vacuum cleaner. (do what i do...move out)
5. You make the beds, you do the dishes and six months later you have to start all over again.  (true that)
6. If guys were suppose to hang clothes up, door knobs would be bigger. (I have rooms I haven't been in for weeks...I just can't find the doorknob anymore)
7. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance. (the quicker the better)
8. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator. (does this mean the little bar fridge I have in the bathroom or the side by side I have in the bedroom?)
9. Cobwebs artfully draped over lampshades reduce the glare from the bulb, thereby creating a romantic atmosphere.  (plus it keeps the spiders warm)
10. When writing your name in the dust on the table, omit the date. (note: writing your name will lead to you being blamed for not dusting)

Robotic Sympathy

 

I happen to have an above average amount of affection for Ground hog's day.  It's my favorite holiday.  It's also my birthday.  It's a safe assumption that my feelings for Groundhog day would be more than slightly muted if I had not been born on February 2^nd but as it stands me and the fuzzy rodent have close ties for life.

 

So that must be why I'm taking such a personal stance on PETA's latest antics.  They are pressuring the organizers of the Pennsylvania Groundhog Day festival to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a ....get this....robotic stand-in...WHAT? 

They argue it's unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and bright lights.  Unfair?  Has Phil ever had to scrounge for a bug in his life?  Has his little groundhog family ever felt hunger pains rumbling in their little groundhog tummies?  NO! This unscientific, unsophisticated shadow spotting gig is the best Phil could ever do and I'd be willing to bet he's the envy of all his little groundhog buddies. 

Hey PETA, if you're worried about suffering turn your attentions to the suffering of man-kind going on in Haiti right now.  Take the 300 bucks a robotic rodent would cost and send it to the suffering people in Haiti. 

Even a prognosticating ground hog can see your energies are wasted in this blustery environment of human suffering.

Marriage 10 Commandments...an old one

I know this is an old one...but I ran across it this morning and thought it was kind of silly. Worth a smile or two.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MARRIAGE Commandment
1. Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning. Commandment
2. If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep. Commandment
3. Marriage is grand -- divorce is at least 50 grand. Commandment
4. Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen. Commandment
5. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is. Commandment
6. Marriage is when a man and woman become as one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one. Commandment
7. Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you said. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish talking. Commandment
8. Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical, and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife. Commandment
9. Every woman wants a man who is handsome, understanding, economical and a considerate lover, but again, the law allows only one husband. Commandment
10. Man is incomplete until he marries. After that, he is finished.

You may have one or two of your own to add...have at it!

Tv or not Tv

With the Conan-Leno late night debacle all but over, let’s look back at some other big tv boo-boo’s. Entertainment Weekly lists what it calls "TV's 50 Biggest Bombs and Blunders." Here's a dozen or so from the list.
1. NBC putting Jay Leno at 10pm.
2. Fox yanks "Family Guy" off the air, twice in 1999 and 2002.
3. ABC airing "Cavemen" based on the Geico ads in 2007.
4. ABC episode of "Moonlighting" were David and Maddie hook up in 1987.
5. UPN infamous sitcom "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer" in 1998.
6. Premature exiting: Pernell Roberts from "Bonanza" in 1965 at the end of the 6th season. Shelley Long walked out of "Cheers" in 1987 at the end of the 5th season, and David Caruso leaving "NYPD Blue" during the second season of the show.
7. NBC airing "Coupling" an adaptation of England's sex obsessed version of "Friends" in 2003.
8. ABC overdoes it with "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" between 2002-02.
9. The WB cuts Felicity's hair, producers decided it would be dramatic for star Keri Russell to chop off her signature long, curly mane at the start of the second season.
10. NBC and World Wrestling Federation teamed up to create an alternative football league The XFL in 2001.
11. Terrible late night talk shows including Fox with "The Chevy Chase Show" in 1993 and the syndicated "The Magic Hour starring Magic Johnson" in 1998.
12. ABC letting reality hosts destroy the Emmys by celebrating the Emmys new category Outstanding Reality Host nominees "Survivor"'s Jeff Probst, "Dancing With the Stars"' Tom Bergeron, "Deal or No Deal"'s Howie Mandel, "Project Runway"'s Heidi Klum, and "American Idol"'s Ryan Seacrest host the entire show in 2008.
13. CBS Jackie Gleason apologizes for "You're in the Picture," a game show which featured celebrities sticking their heads into an illustrated backdrop, then guessing what famous scene they were a part of.
14. ABC when "The Brady Bunch" added Cousin Oliver in 1974.
15. CBS for dropping a bunch of kids in a New Mexico ghost town and letting them created their own society, called "Kid Nation" in 2007.

Feel free to add one of you own!

Help for victims of Earthquake in Haiti

Canadians are encouraged to support Red Cross relief efforts by making a financial donation to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund. Donations can be made online at www.redcross.ca/helpnow, by calling toll free 1-800-418-1111 or at any Red Cross office.

 

Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian

citizens believed to be in the affected area should contact Foreign

Affairs and International Trade Canada at 1- 800-387-3124.

Hangin' out with the Barenaked Ladies

Whew...yesterday was a crazy one. Anytime we have special guests coming in, we always get nervous. I go on line and try to dig up some cool stuff to ask. I pace. I double and triple check stuff. More pacing. Check the clock. You get the idea. Yesterday the Barenaked Ladies were awesome. Funny, polite...just a couple of cool guys you want to chat with all day. It's easy to forget who they are and all they have accomplished. 11 albums now. 20 years of music. Wow. The new album will be out the end of March...so watch for it. And watch for album number 12 at some point, that we may have named by accident yesterday..."What...you don't like diarrhea?" To hear the entire interview...click this link

Decision, Decisions!

THREE WAYS TO MAKE A DECISION WITH CONFIDENCE from Women's World
[1] You’ll be happier with a decision if you make it between 9 and 11am. Why? Because science shows we’re biologically primed to think more clearly and make more intelligent choices during that time. The reason? In the old days, our ancestors had to decide their hunting routes in the morning and since figuring out where to find food was a major daily decision, we’re now hard-wired to be better decision-makers in the morning. Plus, morning’s the time your confidence is highest, and you’re less likely to be anxious or depressed.
[2] Don’t make a decision when you’re hungry. Cambridge University researchers found that subjects who had skipped a meal were 50 percent more likely to make an irrational decision. It makes sense: When you’re hungry, you’re more likely to be cranky and irritable, which can lead to bad decision making. Also, Florida State University researchers found that low blood sugar – which can occur when you don’t eat for a while - can also affect our decision making. In fact, when given a choice of three different answers over 60 percent of subjects picked the worst, most illogical one when their glucose levels were low.
[3] Think about something else. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that thinking too hard about something actually disrupts the balance of the two hemispheres of the brain, leading to poor decision making. So if you’re struggling with a decision, think about something else for a while. The answer should come to you.

or...i might suggest "eenie meenie miney moe", a coin toss, or doing exactly the opposite to what your spouse says to do.  I take no responsibility for consequences!

Your Compliments

 

Thank you.  Oh Thanks.  Yes, it is, thank you.

This seems to be all I said today after wearing a shirt that apparently a lot of people liked.  No less than five people complimented me on the dusty rose silky blouse from Le Chateau, that if I do say so myself looks great!  I'm a good compliment taker.  I simply say thanks when I get a compliment instead of some who shy away thinking they don't deserve the recognition....when they really do!  However my problem was with what they were complimenting...my clothes.  Okay so I have the ability to pick a style of shirt that may compliment my body and skin tone that also happens to be in style that someone else designed, crafted and sold....can I really take recognition for that?  I will. 

BUT. 

What about complimenting my work ethic (assuming I have one) or my penmanship

(which really doesn't deserve any compliments) or my energy ( which I do get lots of comments on, not sure they are compliments); things I work for everyday.  It really is nice to hear someone likes my clothes and I'm as guilty as the next for mentioning style instead of accomplishment to my co-workers and friends but starting now I'm going to work on being more personalized in my compliments.

Tim Hortons Lady, your pour is perfection.

Catherine, your smile makes me smile.

Gary, you always have the music logs ready and organized on time.

And Mark, you are completely strange.  Believe me he'll take this as a compliment.

Bads that are good for Kids.

FOUR BAD HABITS THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOUR KIDS Some bad habits may actually have some benefits for your kids. Here’s the scoop from First magazine:
• Myth #1: Texting ruins their spelling. That’s False. A lot of teens can text 80 words per minute, mostly because of shortcuts like “OMG” and “LOL.” A study in the journal Reading and Writing found that teens who use slang in texts, IMs and Twitter updates do just as well on spelling tests as kids who don’t communicate electronically. Why? Because they understand that “chatspeak” isn’t acceptable in schoolwork.
• Myth #2: All sweets promote cavities. That’s False. In fact, eating dark chocolate and drinking hot cocoa may protect your child’s teeth as well as as fluoride. Scientists at Tulane University found that a compound in cocoa beans promotes the growth of enamel-hardening crystals, which make teeth less vulnerable to bacterial damage and decay. Tannins in chocolate make bacteria “slippery” – which keeps microbes from sticking to your teeth and forming cavity-causing plaque.
• Myth #3: Staying up late turns kids into zombies. That’s actually a toss-up. Staying up late all the time does make kids groggy and less able to concentrate during the day. However, letting your child stay up late occasionally may make them more alert the next morning – as long as they can sleep in. A study at Stanford University found that volunteers who stayed up as late as 2 am fell asleep faster, and woke up less often than those who went to bed early, because people sleep more soundly when they go to bed really tired. However, a regular sleep schedule is best.
• Myth #4: Videogames can ruin your kid’s eyesight. That’s False. Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York found that volunteers who played an hour a day of high-action videogames were 43 percent better at seeing color contrast – the tiny difference from one shade to another in the same color family. A skill that’s crucial to everyday functions like reading and interpreting the facial cues that reveal people’s emotions.

So Mom...can I stay up late texting, playing video games and eating chocolate???...Can I?  Huh???

Jetting off somewhere?

If you're heading off on vacation anytime soon...you likely already know about new security measures at airports. If not...you better start making some calls so you don't end up being late or worse! If you do happened to get stuck...just hope you run into this guy...check out the video on this link.

The CUE to success!

 

The number one New Years Resolution is to lose weight.  Most of us have on at least one Dec 31^st  vowed to get healthy, drop those extra pounds that have been holding us down and then grabbed eight deep fried mushrooms and jammed them in our faces.

A huge key to getting that weight under control for life is controlling the amount you eat...read eight deep friend mushrooms is a little excessive! Here are some tips from David Kessler, physician and author of The End of Overeating, on how to get your abundance of consumption under control to ensure you have an abundance of happiness with your body instead!

We're all wired to focus on the most salient stimulus in our environment. If there's a fire next door, we're focused on that fire. For some people it's drugs or gambling or alcohol or nicotine or sex. But for many of us, it's food. What is it about food that makes it salient? Sugar, fat and salt. And when you layer those three ingredients together - as is the case with highly processed foods - food becomes hyper-palatable.

There are three qualities that conditioned hyper-eaters possess: They have a loss of control when they face certain foods, they often don't feel full even if they've eaten a lot, and they're preoccupied with thinking about what they're going to eat next. Half of obese people, 30 percent of overweight people and 20 percent of people at a healthy weight score very high on these characteristics.

A cue can be the sight or smell of food, a location where you've enjoyed the food before, the time of day or even being in your car. It can lead to you eating the food, and then you develop this cue-arousal-reward-relief cycle. Each time you indulge, you strengthen the possibility that you'll do it again.  You can get rid of some cues, but then you turn on the TV or walk down the street and another cue might hit you. What you have to do is cool down the stimulus itself.

The first step is to impose some kind of structure in your diet. If you know when and what you're going to eat next, the cue is not going to have as much power over you.

You can want to be thin, you can try to deprive yourself, but that's not going to work in the long run. The issue isn't just weight, it's how we view food. And unless that changes, the brain's reward pathways are always going to win out.

So as NOT to Offend

 

Happy Holidays!  It's the new greeting of the season...I mean no one is allowed to say Merry Christmas anymore...you'd never want to...gasp...offend anyone!  I say forget it!  If you celebrate Christmas, than say Merry Christmas, if you celebrate Kwanza than say Happy Kwanza...if you a feets of strength festivus kinda holidayer than let me know by greeting me in YOUR way.  This gives us a chance to learn a little bit about each and become more tolerant instead of the other way around.  That ‘s the way I see it...but if you're still concerned about the words you choose this "holiday" season here are some politically correct Christmas Carols to not offend anyone with...unless it's your voice that is offending!  Happy non-denominational non-specific day of this month!

O Holiday Tree

Have Yourself A Merry Little Day Of Winter

Frosty The Snowperson

Chestnuts Roasting On A Safely-Contained, Continuously-Monitored, Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Outdoor Fire (For Which I Do Have A Permit)

Higher Power Rest Ye Merry Gentlepeople

Grandma Allegedly Got Run Over By An Unidentified Non-Human Perpetrator

Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Unendangered Foliage (If Office Policy Permits)

Hark! The Herald Mythical Winged Creature Sings

I Saw Mommy Greeting Santa Claus With A Purely Platonic Expression Of Inoffensive Mutual Affection

I'll Be Home For A Short Period Of Time In December

Happy Holidays Everyone

Just wanted to say thanks for another fun year. We hope you've been enjoying the Christmas music...after today's Christmas eve show, I'll be gone for a few days...then back for a few morning shows before new years...listen in if you can...other wise, just have a wonderful holiday with friends and family. Stay safe and happy and healthy.

If you want to track Santa on Norad...try this link.

Happy Festivus Mr. Castanza

HAPPY FESTIVUS! Wednesday is Festivus. Festivus is an annual holiday created by writer Dan O'Keefe and introduced into popular culture by his son Daniel, a scriptwriter for the TV show Seinfeld. Although the original Festivus took place in February 1966 as a celebration of O'Keefe's first date with his wife, Deborah, many people now celebrate the holiday on December 23, as depicted on the December 18, 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Strike". ... According to O'Keefe, the name Festivus "just popped into his head."
... The holiday includes novel practices such as the "Airing of Grievances", in which each person tells everyone else all the ways they have disappointed him or her over the past year.
... Also, after the Festivus meal, the "Feats of Strength" are performed, involving wrestling the head of the household to the floor, with the holiday ending only if the head of the household is actually pinned.
... These conventions originated with the TV episode. The original holiday featured far more peculiar practices, as detailed in the younger Daniel O'Keefe's book The Real Festivus, which provides a first-person account of an early version of the Festivus holiday as celebrated by the O'Keefe family, and how O'Keefe amended or replaced details of his father's invention to create the Seinfeld episode.
... Some people, influenced or inspired by Seinfeld, now celebrate the holiday in varying degrees of seriousness; the spread of Festivus in the real world is chronicled in the book Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us.

Easy Snow Shovelling

Assuming you just can't get someone else to do it...you need to be careful when you start heaving around the white stuff.  NOW is the time to think about it...so that when it hits, both you and your back, are prepared.

Andrew Drewczynski, an ergonomist at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, says technique is important. But most people don't know anything about it. "They just go out there and start flailing away." ... By outfitting shovelers with heart-rate monitors and digital strain gauges, researchers with the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety Center for Safety Research in Massachusetts learned that poor technique is both inefficient and hazardous. T
he researchers concluded that a bent-handle shovel design can reduce back strain by allowing a shoveler to stand more upright.
Other experts have come to different conclusions, deciding that a straight-handled shovel optimizes leverage by allowing a greater range of lower hand positions.
 ... By analyzing the technique of professional shovelers such as grave diggers and construction workers, ergonomic experts have learned that the secret to efficient shoveling is moving a relatively light load at the correct rate. For most people, the ideal load of snow per shovel-full is 10 to 15 pounds. Each shovel stroke should take four to five seconds, or 12 to 15 strokes per minute. Although the greatest theoretical efficiency is achieved at 18 to 21 strokes a minute, this is an Olympic-type standard, unsustainable for all but the most powerful and well-conditioned.
 ... How far you throw the snow is also crucial. After extensive studies, experts have generally concluded that the optimal throw distance is about 3.3 feet.
 ... Drewczynski says many people bring a deeply flawed approach to the task of shoveling snow: "They don't like doing it, so they try to get it over with as fast as they can. They overload the shovel and they try to work too fast."
 ... Another common mistake: improper equipment application -- like using a wide, plow-style shovel to lift and throw loads of snow. For digging and moving snow, most people should use a light shovel with a relatively small blade.

Or...got a neighbour with a teenager?  A little cash can go a looooooong way towards a snow free driveway!

Most Popular Youtube Vids of 2009

YOUTUBE'S MOST-WATCHED VIDEOS OF 2009 (Global views)
1. Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent (120+ million views)
2. David After Dentist (37+ million views) -- In May 2008, 7-year old David DeVore Jr. was taken to the dentist to have an extra tooth removed. Because this was David's first surgery and his mother couldn't be there, his father decided to video tape the experience to share with her and their family. After the surgery, David was feeling extra loopy from the anesthesia he was given. While in the car, he was asking his father questions like "Is this real life?" and "Is this going to last forever?" and also telling him that he had four fingers. Seven months later, David's father uploaded the video on Facebook. Being overwhelmed with people wanting to see the video, he decided to upload it to YouTube, but didn't notice there was a private option. Just 3 days after the upload, it had been seen over 3 million times. The video has been a cash cow for the family. The DeVores were made 'YouTube Partners'. This gives YouTube the right to run ads over the videos they post and, in exchange, are given a share of the revenue. They also sell "David After Dentist" T-shirts.
3. JK Wedding Entrance Dance (33+ million views) -- The wedding occurred on June 20, 2009 at Christ Lutheran Church, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The video was posted on YouTube a month after the wedding at the request of the bride's father who wanted to share it with relatives who weren't there. The video begins with ushers closing the church doors with everything appearing normal, getting ready for the start of a wedding. "Forever" by Chris Brown then begins to play to the surprise of the audience. The ushers, groomsmen and bridesmaids then progressively dance down the aisle, culminating in the groom, Kevin Heinz, tumbling through the group. Ultimately, Jill Peterson dances down the aisle, eventually met by her husband-to-be. According to Jill, "[they practiced for] an hour and a half" before the ceremony.

50 Million Reasons to Smile

 

Although I try not to be and I know it's an ugly emotion....I'm women enough to admit when I'm jealous.  And I think you're with me when I say I felt just a tinge of jealousy when I heard about the couple in Winnipeg who won 50 million bucks a few weeks back. Okay, okay more than a tinge....

Now those feelings are even more shameful as it turns out Kirby and Marie Fontaine are pretty nice people.  They've been quietly helping out people in Winnipeg since cashing in on the biggest lotto jackpot ever in Canada.  Just the other day a 13 year old ringette player was shopping for new goalie pads with her Mom when the Fontaine's offered to pick up the $750 dollar tab!  I know there are lots of hockey parents here in London that could use a break on that equipment.

Not only that but they've also been helping out at a local church packing Christmas hampers...now these are the kind of people that deserve to win the lottery!

Moral of the story? Maybe the next time you wish to win the lottery you'll remember the Fontaines, their good deeds and remember that by doing good you invite good in. At least then even when your wallet is empty, you'll feel rich in your heart.

Thanks!

I just wanted to take a minute and say thanks for all the cards and best wishes...for both my birthday (yesterday) and Christmas. It's been wonderful hearing from everyone...and it's always nice to be remembered. We hope you're enjoying the Holiday music...and Viv and I are planning some Christmas fun for our Christmas eve morning show next week. thanks again!

Holiday Balance

Tips from the Feng Shui Diva:

The holidays are a lot of fun but they also bring a lot of stress.  Everything we have to do for the holidays is piled on top of everything we normally have to do. Here are some suggestions for the home to lift your spirits and things to do to reduce your stress level during the most wonderful and stressful time of the year.

  Tap into your happy childhood.  Go through your old photos when you were a carefree kid excited about the holidays.  Use a color copier to enlarge them to 8x10, 11x14 or 16x20 mini posters for decorations.  You can put them in inexpensive plastic box frames or clip frames. If you have old holiday pictures of friends and family who will be coming to visit you, make some fun mini posters of them too.  Think of how good that will make them feel to see themselves in your home.

  Watch the clutter.  Obstacles in the home can create obstacles in your life, so don't create obstacles with your decorations.  If you have to step over it, duck under it, or squeeze by, its going to add more stress to your holiday too.  Too much clutter makes the natural energy flow in your home slow down and get stuck, which makes us feel stuck or depressed.  A good cleaning and clutter clearing before you add decorations is a good idea.

  Chuck the negative stuff.  Everything inside your home has a memory or meaning attached to it. When you look at an item it will either give you a positive emotional response, a neutral response or negative response. The more negatives you have around the home, the more negative the energy in the home. Getting rid of all the negatives and surrounding yourself with positives raises the energy in the home and helps keep your energy positive and upbeat.  Keep that in mind while you are decorating and don't put up any decorations that make you have any negative feelings.

  Angry? The more stressed we are, the easier it is to become angry. However, it is physiologically impossible to be angry when your muscles are relaxed.  Anger cannot exist without muscle tension.  If the holidays start getting to you, take an adult "time out" and go limp like a rag doll.  Relax your body without tensing one single muscle. Not a clenched jaw, or your baby toe.

  Keep your mood more positive during the holidays by getting a good night's dark.  Melatonin is the hormone that controls our mood and our sleep.  It is produced by the pineal gland at night in the dark. Light makes the body think its daytime.  To keep your body making the right amount of melatonin to keep your mood more positive and help you get enough sleep, make sure you are sleeping in the dark.  Don't sleep with the light on, or TV or with a streetlight coming through your bedroom window.  Or your holiday light display.

  Removing negatives and adding positives around the home to lift your spirits will help create more joy and less stress this holiday season.

Support some local kids

I received this email the other day and thought I would pass it on.
Hi Mark,
I’m not sure if you can help but I’ll ask anyways.  My daughter goes to SK at Academie de La Tamise (The Thames Academy) on Dundas and Highbury.  The principal, Josee Corrigan entered the school in a competition put on by Aviva Insurance.  The website containing our idea is located at [ http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1082 ]http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1082 People supporting this idea can go online to [ http://www.avivacommunityfund.org ]www.avivacommunityfund.org, register once and vote for our idea (search “La Tamise”).  This takes 2 minutes. 
They can then go back online the next day and vote again.  This takes 10 sec.  The problem is that our school only has 160 students and with staff and parents voting their little hearts out, we’re only getting 650 votes a day.  Centres with more people and support are killing us as they have about 9,000 votes.  Aviva picks the top 25 vote getters and chooses the best ideas from there.  They choose ideas until all $500,000 of prize money is given out.  Our idea is the only one from London and it can beautify a small part of London if we can get enough votes. 
People can vote everyday until Midnight EST Thursday December 17’th.  If we can get everyone in London to vote imagine what that says about London’s support.  350,000 votes, we’d kick butt.  If you can, we’d appreciate the plug.  If you go online, you can see how desperately the kids need this funding.  All it takes is 10 sec. a day.  I’m curious to see if our fellow Londoners can respond to this too.  you can reach me at the number below if you have any questions.  I know, you have to be careful what you plug.
Thanks again for your time.  
Thanks Steven

Good luck Steven and to all the kids at Academie de La Tamise!

Missing Socks No More!

 

I have solved the great mystery of the missing sock!  You know what I mean...at the end of the laundry basket there are always at least two socks leftover ( if not three) and none of them match, not even close. Then you save the socks in hopes that their partners will someday return.  You keep these lone rangers in your sock drawer or some kind of basket near the dryer ready to partner back up like a stray hippo waiting to board Noah's Ark. 

But that boarding never happens. 

Days go by, years, and there they sit their clean soles never to touch the ground again.  Where have all the matching socks gone?

Feeling more than a little under the weather yesterday I took a sick day and hopped into bed...ALL day.  When I woke up feeling a little better I knew the one thing that would put me back on the mend for sure...clean sheets.  As I stripped the duvet from it's cozy cover two little stow aways jumped out! I'd been looking for these socks for weeks! (maybe months, I don't clean the sheets very often!) 

Then as I carefully "unfolded" my clean sheets three more MIA socks made an appearance!  What an incredible feeling.  Mark the date because I'm proud to say I may be the only Londoner with an even number of socks all matched up!  Check those linen closets and you to could solve the mystery.

You've got to celebrate the small stuff!

The Gadgets of Christmas

Talking key chains, hats that sing and dance, electronic gerbils...the gadgets of Christmas.  Here's a few more...clink on the links to see them.

Giant Stress Ball: Sometimes the average stress ball just isn’t quite enough on those really bad days at the office. So why not ask for one of these giant stress balls this Christmas? No different than the usual type, except a lot bigger.
Nevada Stainless Steel Playing Cards: They’re extremely light so they won’t damage the card table, but they will do serious harm to your bank balance, setting you back about $100.
Electronic Mooncandles: They glow like any normal candles minus the oozing wax and the potential fire hazard. From the remote control you can choose between two brightness settings as well as 4 or 8 hour light. On one model there is an option to change the color of the glow from the remote control.
Sound Asleep Pillow: It functions as a normal pillow, or you could attach the removable audio jack, plug in your mp3 player and drift off with the soothing sound of music oozing out from between the sheets.
Big Bubble Maker: Remember those little pots of bubble liquid we used to have as kids? Simply dip the oval shaped stick into the liquid and blow. Yeah well this is just like that. But a ka-zillion times bigger. Drag it along with you to make huge bubbles. They even claim to be as big as a bus! Comes with a recipe book so you can cook up your own magic bubble formula from household liquids.

Happy Shopping!

Saving and celebrating

HOW TO SAVE MONEY THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON From BetterBudgeting.com (with clever comments from me)
Most folks are pretty cash-strapped these days, but believe it or not, it IS possible to enjoy the Christmas season without a big budget.
Christmas Cards:
* Christmas cards always go on sale in December, and the longer you wait the better! (great advice as long as you thought of it LAST year)
Wrapping Paper:
* Use pretty magazine pages or the comics section of the paper to wrap small gifts. (I have done this and been made fun of.  BE WARNED...your choice of magazine is crucial here.  No one is interested in learning that you have a subscription to "Hugh Jackman's Naked Behind" weekly)
* Use your children’s artwork. (it's only cluttering up the fridge door anyway)
* Save used wrapping paper all through the year, just roll them back onto the paper tube and place a small piece of scotch tape on the edge to hold in place. These really work great for small gifts where the previously folded lines won’t even show. (Also a great way to save on kleenex and paper towels!)
* Make your own gift tags by cutting a small piece of matching wrapping paper and folding it in half. (I find a big black magic marker will write right on the wrapping paper just fine...no tag required)
Cut up old Christmas cards make wonderful gift tags too! (again...careful selection of which part of the card will keep you out trouble.  Try to not cut Santa's head in half.  And never use cards that old flame's gave you, or this year's Mistletoe will go entirely un-used.)
Decorations:
* The stores have incredible sales every year for decorations, buy close to the holiday or even better, after the holiday! You could fill your house with nice Christmas decorations every year for a small fraction of what they originally cost! (then you could put them away in a spot in the basement or garage where you will never find them again.  I have 3 Christmases worth of decoration SOMEWHERE.
* Save your children’s (or grandchildren’s) holiday crafts and artwork from school each year, after a few years you’ll have a houseful of free and beautiful decorations. As an added bonus, your munchkin will feel good about seeing his artwork on display. (they also make great kindling for the Yule fire)
* Pop some popcorn and string it up all over the house. Or cranberries.  Or bacon.  I do love bacon.

Tying up the kids...Wait...

Sparkling lights, jingling bells, crowded markets, busy parents and excited children are the signs of coming Christmas. Parents seem to be the the most busy category on the eve because they have to keep their kids busy in order to make all arrangements for the Christmas.

The simplest way to keep them busy is to get them involved in an activity of their interest. What could be the most interesting activity for the kids? I think kids get excited while playing games. But taking them to some amusement park or play ground can cost you lot of time. What if you make your drawing room a play ground for them? Here is the list of the activities that can change your drawing room to a play ground to make your kids busy. Following are three best ways to keep them busy:

1. Playing word puzzle games can prove to be very constructive and brain storming activity. These games can keep them busy for the hours. Printable worksheets of puzzle games can easily be made available from the market.

2. Writing wish letters to Santa is another desirable and fun activity for the kids. There are many enjoyable ways which can keep kids engaged in writing these letters for the hours. You can provide colorful and fun templates to the kids for sending invitations of Christmas parties, writing stories and food recipes about Christmas.

3. Christmas math worksheets can improve math skills of the kids. This activity during Christmas holidays provide knowledge along with fun.

Fun and FREE Christmas gifts

Money tight? Or maybe you just like the personal touch...here's a few things you do for someone at Christmas that don't cost much at all.
Coupons: You can easily make coupons this Christmas for your friends, family, and coworkers, for free. Think of what they’d like to do -- a movie night, a game night, a dinner at home - then create the coupon for them to redeem later in the year. If you have a computer, you can be pretty creative with photos or clip art...make em fun!
Homemade Treats: Homemade treats make the perfect free Christmas gift. Candy and coolies are always appreciated - especially for those who don’t bake themselves. (hint hint)
Photo/Memory collection: Whether it's for your friends or family, a collage of pictures makes a great free Christmas gift. A great idea is look through your files of photos of your loved ones. Print the pictures out on photo paper and assemble them on large piece of cardboard. This makes a great free Christmas gift. You can also make a "memories" type photo album...and instead of printing it, save it to a little flash drive for their computer or digital frame.
A Romantic Dinner: This is a great free Christmas gift idea for boyfriends/husbands. Prepare your girlfriend/wife a meal from scratch on a night that you know will be really hectic for her. For example, if she calls to tell you that she's going to go and finish up the Christmas shopping that evening, have dinner ready when she gets home. She'll love you for it. (listen to "I saw mommy kissing santa clause" for inspiration)
A Night Off: Do your friends have a really hectic life? Work, kids, soccer practice, etc? Give your friends the nights off. Offer to take their children to soccer practice and then take them to your house for dinner. This will allow your friends to relax after work. A night of relaxation is a wonderful free Christmas gift.
A mix CD: Everyone has favorite songs. Make your loved one a CD that has all their favorite songs on it this Christmas. If it's for someone extra special, put songs on there that remind you of them. This is another great Christmas gift that is free. It just requires searching for the music and burning the CD. A disc of holiday music would be a good thing too...just in case they're out of the London area and can't listen to the non stop Christmas music on EZ rock.

Best and Worsts of 09 begin.

WORST INVENTIONS OF 2009 according to Time magazine
• Time Magazine has named NASA’s Ares Rocket as the Best Invention of 2009, saying it “dazzled even the skeptics.” But they also came up with the worst inventions of the year.
• The Smile Police: Employees at Keihin Electric Express Railway in Japan have their smiles scanned by software to maximize cheeriness.  (Nothing like a fake forced smile to brighten your day.  Just try not to growl).
• The Jane Austen Monster Mashup Novel: It started with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Please let it end soon. (although I would like one as a stocking stuffer...in my Zombie stocking)
• Snuggies for Dogs: It's bad enough that humans wear "the blanket with sleeves." Do we have to put them on dogs as well? ( I disagree...what if the dog is on the sofa and he wants to change the channel or read.  In a normal blanket, his paws would freeze and drop off instantly.  In a Snuggie...he stays warm)
• The Gas-Mask Bra: You have to admire the good intentions of the inventor who made a bra that converts handily into a pair of gas masks. (don't ask...I have no idea what the panties turn into)

MISSING FROM THEIR LIST AND KIND OF COOL
The Slap Chop...LOVE THE COMMERCIALS!
The Wedding bra...with a countdown timer that can only be deactivated by sliding a ring into a special compartment.  Seriously.  This is an actual thing.
The Guitar t-shirt.  Just go to this link.

Got any to add??

Facebook and Twitter crazy

Check out the link to the You tube video of a couple interrupting their wedding ceremony to update their "status".
He could have stayed home and Tweeted "I do".

Holiday Cheer, Bottle Free!

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The lights! Time with family and friends!  The stress! ...Wait, what? 

It's true, this time of year can be a wonderful time to reflect on and enjoy all of the good things we have in our lives...but with all of that comes planning, purchasing and decision making adding up to one of the busiest most stressful times of the year. Knowing what you're in for can make a huge difference and go along way to actually enjoying yourself instead of just merely surviving.  Here a few things you can do to reduce stress and increase holiday cheer! (that doesn't come in a bottle!)

Try not to worry about things out of your control.

Problem solve with people around you...you don't have to do it all on your own!  

Exercise. A few extra minutes of exercise a day can benefit your overall health, take a quick walk in your neighbourhood or Victoria Park and enjoy the lights.

Avoid the Christmas baking, decrease the amount of fat and sugar you eat to keep your mood stable

Meditate, or take a class in relaxation and stretching techniques --like Tai Chi or Yoga.

Give yourself an early gift and get a massage. A massage can be beneficial for the mind and body.

Above all...have a positive attitude!

Happy Holidays!

Gift ideas...and warnings!

I didn't write this one...but there's some interesting ides to consider.

THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T BUY YOUR WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS

Here’s what one blogger had to say:

Kitchen Utensils: Some men are very fortunate to still have a wife that cooks supper every evening. Unfortunately, those are the same foolish men that will turn around and buy their wife a griddle for Christmas. This is a really bad idea. (Unless you enjoy getting bashed in the head with a griddle)
Clothing That Is Not One-Size-Fits-All: Clothing is simply too risky because you are likely to pick the wrong size. Too big and they think you are saying they are fat, and too small means that you are hoping they will lose weight. Either way, you come out looking like a fool. Leave that whole category alone.
Self Improvement Anything: Along the same lines as the clothing category a husband should never attempt to be a self help guru. Buying your wife that “How to Become a Sex Goddess Overnight” book or video is not likely to draw rave reviews. Leave the whole yoga, weight loss, personal growth area to the men that like sleeping on the couch.
Any Small Appliance: Okay so you really do need a new vacuum cleaner. Gentlemen, if you attempt to slide that in as a Christmas gift you will likely be the only one that ever uses it. A gift for Christmas should not be something that requires her to do daily work.
Tickets to the Local Tractor Pull: Now, unless your wife is the biggest fan on Earth of tractor pulls, then you better not make this mistake. The point is, if the gift is really for you and you are trying to disguise it as a gift for her, you are risking a very early divorce. Keep your priorities on her, and buy those tickets to the tractor pull separately.
Fake Anything: While most men are smart enough to not try to the fake jewelry thing, they are not above going for that fake Gucci bag or iPod. Have the common sense to buy your wife a Christmas gift that did not come from the back of someone’s van. Yes, guys. They know the difference.

Oh Christmas Tree!

With the Christmas tunes in full swing, here's a bunch of info on snagging the right tree.

Decide Where to Place the Tree - Avoid placing your tree near a heat source (sunny windows, radiators, heating vents, and fireplaces). Try to keep the tree out of high traffic areas where it might be bumped or overturned, or where someone might trip on light cords. Avoid any spot that might be dangerous, such as next to a fire in the fireplace or up on a wobbly table. Measure Twice - Before you go shopping or hunting for that "perfect tree," you'll need to decide where it will fit in your home. See placement tips above, but once a spot is chosen be sure to measure BOTH the ceiling height and the width of that space. Write these numbers down on a piece of paper. Also, measure your tree stand to determine the maximum diameter of the tree trunk you can use in it. Finally, measure the height of your tree stand as well as the height of your treetop decoration. Use all these measurements to determine the perfect height and width of the tree you'll select for your home. Take a Tape Measure - Take the tape measure with you when you shop. You'll need it to measure the trees you consider so you don't take home a 7" diameter tree trunk for your 5" diameter stand or a 9 foot tall tree if your ceilings are only 8 feet. Before Leaving Home - Take heavy gloves to protect your hands, and a tape measure to help select the right size tree. Find an old blanket to protect your car from pine needles and sap. Take twine or rope to tie it securely to the car (unless you know the tree lot will provide this). Locate a saw so a fresh cut can be made before placing the tree in water. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water so your tree can start drinking water as soon as it gets home and has a fresh cut. Find your tree stand (or determine if you'll need a new one) and set it up. Confirm the maximum tree trunk diameter that will fit into the stand.
Tree Stands - Choose a tree stand that is sturdy and the right size. Pay attention to the size of tree trunk that each stand will accommodate. The taller your tree, the bigger diameter of the trunk. If you have a tall, wide room, be sure to get a large stand for the large tree you'll select. If you'll put your tree on a table, a smaller stand will work fine. Look for tree stand models that hold lot of water. You'll spend less time refilling the water pan throughout the season. Get a stand that is easily adjustable so the tree can be leveled. For more, see our article on Top Picks for Tree Stands. Choosing a Tree - Trees with shorter needles (such as Fraser or Noble Fir) are often easier to decorate than others, as they offer some space between branches for decorations as well as some stronger stems to hold heavier ornaments. Learn more about the many types of Christmas trees and find out the characteristics and uses of each type. Get more information on types of trees. Space Between Branches - Keep in mind that a tree looks better when the ornaments hang straight. Many trees today are groomed to be lush and full, so aware that ornaments may hang at an angle on these sheered trees. For ornaments to hang straight you'll want a tree with some space between the branches. To test a tree, take an unbreakable ornament with you and hang it on several branches to see if there is room for it to hang straight.
Select a Fresh Tree - How can you tell if a tree is fresh? The needles should look shiny, green, and fresh -- not dry or brown. They should not fall off when you pull on a branch. Read more about Selecting a Fresh Christmas Tree in this article from About. Transporting your Tree - If possible lay the tree inside your car or trunk for the drive home. This will be difficult unless you have a large van or truck. If you drive with the tree on the roof of your car, you must tie it securely to the car. You may want to wrap it in a tarp or old blanket.
Make a Fresh Cut - Once you are home cut off at least 1/2" from the bottom of the trunk so the tree will begin to soak up water immediately. Get It the Right Height - Depending on your ceiling height, measure and cut more off the bottom of your tree so it fits perfectly in your space. If you're not going to display the tree inside your house right away, stand it in a bucket of warm water in the corner of your garage, sheltered patio, or basement, out of the sun.
Make Sure It Is Stable and Level - Your tree should stand perfectly vertical. If your carpeting is thick or uneven, you may need to put down a piece of plywood so the tree stand sits on a flat, level base. Protect Your Floor - Place a plastic or other waterproof covering on the floor where your tree will stand so you don't ruin the carpet or get watermarks on hardwood flooring. Place the Tree in the Stand - To keep loose needles off your floor, you may wish to get the tree in the stand outside. Whether you install it inside or out, you will need to tip the tree on its side and tighten the leveling clamps of the stand around the base of the trunk. Next, with help, lift the tree to a standing position, being careful not to damage the feet of the tree stand. Then make any needed adjustments in vertical alignment so the tree stands straight. Finally, carry your tree (with the stand attached) inside and into the room it will live in and fill the water reservoir of the stand with water immediately. Optional: Secure the Stand to a Base - If you have a very large tree or are worried about it tipping over, you should try to attach your tree stand to a large, flat piece of plywood before you put the tree in the stand. This will broaden the base of the tree and give it stability.
Adjust the Top - You may need to make small adjustments on the top of your tree, depending on your ceiling height and the type of ornament (angel, star, etc.) that will be placed on the top. If your tree is too tall, clip away any stray branches that may be in the way, but avoid chopping off the tallest vertical branch if you can. This is usually a stiff branch and will be a steady foundation for the tree top decoration. Use any clippings you may have to decorate your mantle or to make a centerpiece. Trim Any Straggling Branches - If any of the lower branches look imperfect or hit the furniture or walls, trim them off. Try to trim at an angle that is about parallel to the floor, so cuts are less noticeable. Use these extra boughs and branches to decorate your mantle or table, keeping them in water until you arrange them.
Water, Water, Water - Always keep your fresh tree in a stand that holds lots of water. Check the water level daily. For the first few days, you may even need to refill the water every few hours! (Set a timer to remind you to check it.) After about a week the water intake will slow down and daily refills should be fine. Water, or more? - Plain water is all you need to keep your tree fresh, though there are water additives and sprays you can purchase that promise to keep trees fresh longer. Ask about them where you buy your tree, or at a local garden center. How to Water - The best way is also the hardest way. You'll need some towels, a water jug, and some patience. Climb in close to the tree stand. If you can't see the water level, place one finger into the water reservoir and begin to add water slowly. (A watering can with a long spout is helpful.) Stop adding water when you feel the water on your finger. Wait a few moments to make sure no water leaks onto the floor. Secure It - If you have children or pets running around and are concerned about them knocking the tree over, be sure to secure it to a wall or a stable piece of furniture. Tie it securely in several places with fish line, twine, or cording attached to small eyehooks. Be sure that the tie lines are out of reach and won't pose any danger to children or animals.
When Christmas is Over, Recycle - Call your waste management company or city hall to find out how to recycle your tree for mulch. Do Not Burn Your Tree! - You should never burn your Christmas tree or branches, as this could present a severe fire danger. Dispose of your tree according to local regulations via trash collection, chipping for mulch, or recycling.

Wha? Huh? Bu?

Sorry. Feeling a little left out of all this American Thanksgiving hoopla. The parades, the music specials (Beyonce and Mc Cartney tonight), the turkey...and the shopping...THE SHOPPING!! We've heard about the big deals going on south of the border...and as good as they sound, I don't think I would have the heart to line up all night for a 4am opening in the cold and rain...to then battle with my neighbours over a cheap tv. But perhaps I don't understand the true meaning of Christmas. The extra turkey dinner would be AWESOME though. (Bust out the stretchy pants for a quick practise run before Christmas dinner). No daytime football watching or parade viewing for me, but I will do my best to make it through my day with a "thankful" attitude.

Great Service

I find, that all too often I will be too quick to complain about things, but far too slow to compliment. And this time of year with frustrations and too many things to do...it can get even worse. So...just for fun...Viv and I have started a little thread on our facebook fan page, where you can take 30 seconds and pay a compliment to someone in a local business, who really went out of their way to do a great job for you. The helpline person who really helped when you called, the store clerk who was friendly and efficient, the cab driver who got you home. Let's say HEY to the unsung heroes...facebook folks can click on this LINK...become a fan of the show and put in your 2cents. You'll be helping set the tone for a HAPPIER Happy Holidays.

Polar Bear Attack!

These are pictures of an actual polar bear attack that took place in Churchill Manitoba. 

The pictures were taken while people watched and could do nothing to stop the attack!

Reports from the local newspaper say that the victim will make a full recovery.

Warning: Viewing these photos may result in smiles, giggles and having a better day. View at your own risk.

Viv

Brain Aerobics

From Frankenstein to Einstein, great thinkers through the ages have all known one thing: No matter how much you exercise your mind, you can’t be a couch potato and still be the smartest person in the room. Here’s how to boost your mental muscle according Prevention magazine:
• Take a nature walk. Researchers found that walking in a park instead of on a city sidewalk increased memory and attention span by 20%. Lucky for us, we have a ton of parks in London. Springbank, Forks on the Thames, and don't forget the Ponds. Crowded sidewalks and noisy traffic require the brain to focus on getting you from point A to point B, but natural settings don’t have those distractions, so your brain can use the downtime to process information.
• Get your blood flowing. A study from the University of Pittsburgh found that aerobic exercise actually increases the size of the brain’s learning centers. Bigger brain equals bigger thoughts (or at least more room for the few thoughts I have to run around in)
• Lift weights with your eyes closed. Dr. John Martin is a neuroscientist at Columbia University. He says that strength training fine-tunes the brain’s balance centers. Since we rely heavily on vision to coordinate movement, pumping iron with our eyes closed forces the brain to work smarter and make new connections. (you might want to warn your gym partner about that one...don't want to konk them on the noggin with your barbell)
• You’ll think faster if you play ball. German researchers found that 10 minutes of bouncing a ball from hand to hand increased the attention and concentration of volunteers. Learning to juggle fires up the wiring between brain cells, so they can carry more information. (plus if you get good, you're just a unicycle away from a new career!)

Homework and Judge Judy

Two Canadian lawyers recently negotiated a settlement so their two youngest children never have to do homework again. Sherri and Tom Milley successfully argued that there is no clear evidence homework improves academic performance. Their Differentiated Homework Plan calls for their 10 and 11 year-old children to get their work done in class, to come to school prepared, and to revise for tests. They must also read daily and practice their musical instruments at home. Sherry says, "It was a constant homework battle every night. It's hard to get a weeping child to take in math problems. They are tired. They shouldn't be working a second shift. Why were we putting our family through that stress? If we don't want it all, we shouldn't have to have it."
You have to like that attitude!  A little less stress for Mom and Dad...and a lot less home work for the kids.  Everybody wins!!

Why you should warm up to soups

 

Calling all geeks!

Yes, I admit it...I am at least 75 percent geek.
When my tv turns on, it defaults to the space channel.
I get email notices from Space.com when there is cool stuff happening with NASA.
I have watches that light up when you press buttons. Many many buttons.
AND I know I am not alone. So...HEY YOU GEEKS!!!! If you're a fan of the Big Bang Theory tv show...you may want to join their facebook fan page...very cool. Lots of vids and photos. If you have a geek on your shopping list, may I humbly suggest the greatest website in the universe... Thinkgeek.com.  They have t-shirts that are working electric guitars!  Need a cool watch?  Check out this baby...tokyo flash.

Spread the geek!   (and happy shopping)

The bank machine that tried to withdraw my finger.

I can’t tell you how many times I have safely and easily used an ATM. Card goes in…boop boop boop…money comes out.
Last week however, it went something like this.
Card goes in…boopboopboop…money gets stuck coming out…I reach in to retrieve it…big metal tooth comes up and nearly takes my finger off. Had I been a hair slower, instead of just ripping the skin off the top of my finger…I would likely still be attached to the machine, smiling politely at the ever growing line up of would be withdrawers behind me. I know the metal tooth thingy is a necessary security thing…but in this case it was a digit eating monster.
So beware…this holiday season, if your cash gets jammed on the way out of the ATM…DON’T REACH IN. Call me…I will come and use my card to get it reopen and take your cash.
I’m generous that way.

IT'S FRIDAY THE 13TH

Today is Friday the 13th, an unlucky day, some say.
Let's break it down by the numbers. This is 2009's third Friday the 13th. T
he next instance of three in one year will happen in 2015.
Next year, 2010, we'll have just one Friday the 13th -- in August.
The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. The term triskaidekaphobia derives from the Greek words "tris", meaning 'three', "kai", meaning 'and', and "deka", meaning 'ten'. the whole word means three and ten.
In numerology, the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular (like those pants I bought on sale with 5 legs).
There is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from the Last Supper or a Norse myth, that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.

Also...according to legend...it gets noisy in Port Dover!

Happy weekend everyone!

Deck the Halls with Deals!!!!

 

This is one of my favourite times of the year!  The unsightly summer tan lines have faded...the promise of functions filled with food are a plenty...and the guilt of last years Christmas over spend has faded...it's time to get shopping!!!

The key to smart shopping (read having money left to buy yourself a gift or two...)is planning ahead, knowing where to get the deals and staying organized.  Here are a few of my tips from Real Simple magazine to get it all done and still see shopping as a great sport...instead of a nasty chore!

Get advance copies of store circulars - Just go to GottaDeal.com. They posts ads and circulars weeks before the big shopping day, featuring everything from clothing to technology to house wares, and more. 

Check social networks - Tweeting will emerge this year as one of the best ways to learn about can't-miss deals in real time. On social networking sites, post a question like, "Looking for an iPod dock for under $150. Any leads?" You Facebook friends and your "tweeps" -- that's slang for your Twitter posse -- are likely to respond quickly with tips and links.

Print out your receipts - Don't think of it as "game over" once you've made your purchases. Keep an eye on prices for two weeks afterwards. Many stores will make an adjustment to your credit card if an item you bought goes even lower in price.

Lookin for Love in Internet places

DO'S AND DON'TS OF EMAIL DATING You’ve filled out your online dating profile, picked out a potential date or two, and you’re ready to introduce yourself via email. Stop right there! If you say the wrong thing, you may wreck your chances of making a real connection. So, here are the dos and don’ts to remember before you press “send.” This comes from CNN, and relationship expert, Wendy Atterberry:
The first online dating email tip: Keep it short. Think of dating emails as appetizers. You want to keep your date hungry for more, not ruin their appetite by providing entrée-size portions.
Then: Don’t double-email. In other words, send only one email for each email you receive. Atterberry says writing several emails before you’ve gotten a reply to the first one makes you look obsessed and desperate.
Ask at least one question in each email. Some people have a hard time figuring out what to write to someone they don’t know. So make it easy by giving them at least one question to respond to.
Also, don’t rant. It’s okay to make a quick joke about the neighbor who waits for the elevator instead of walking up one flight of stairs. However, Atterberry says it’s obnoxious to write a five-paragraph essay about how lazy and self-absorbed everybody is.
Wait at least 12 hours to reply. If you respond immediately, you look like you’ve got nothing better to do, and replying too soon can make them feel pressed to try to keep up with you.
Don’t confess your secrets, insecurities, or job frustrations. If you have to confess something, admit that you skipped your weekend workout to hit a jazz festival in your neighborhood. It’s not a deep, dark secret, and it’ll give them an idea about your hobbies and interests.
Finally: Be cautious about sharing personal information. Remember: This person is a stranger. So, don’t share your last name, home address, work location, or personal email address. You don’t want a stranger to know where you live and work before you know a lot more about them.

TV Celeb-guy paycheques

SIMON COWELL IS THE big money man on TV According to Forbes.  Here are this past years top male money machines on TV.
American Idol judge Simon Cowell snagged $75 million last year. (keep in mind he manages Il Divo, Leona Lewis, and was in charge of keeping Paula's coke glass topped up at the judges table)
Cowell beat out the Donald...The Apprentice host Donald Trump ($50 million) and Idol presenter Ryan Seacrest ($38 million), (based on estimated pre-tax earnings from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009. ... Rounding out the top five:
Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen, who netted $21 million, (the pay of at least 2 and a half men) and Office star Steve Carell, with an estimated $21 million.
The remainder of the Top 10:
6. Howie Mandel ($15 million) (yay...go Canada!)
7. Kiefer Sutherland ($13 million)
8. Jeff Foxworthy ($11 million) ("you might be a rich redneck if...)
9. Hugh Laurie ($10 million) (being grumpy pays!)
10. David Caruso ($9 million) (but he spends at least half that to in sunglasses repair)

How many of them earned their dough?

50 million ideas

I don't know about you, but I had a ticket in this past weekend's Lotto Max. I spent the days before the draw planning out how I would divvy up the dough. Take care of a few friends and family members. Do some ridiculoulsy weird things. Then quietly disappear. Travel. Hand out some money here and there to quietly help people change their lives.
Live.
Surprise surprise...I didn't win. So no naked run through the halls of the radio station to say goodbye. No paid off mortgages for pals. No cool fast car. Instead...the Fontaine family will enjoy the dream. From the sounds of it...they can use it much more than I could have anyway. (click on this link for an article)
I will miss the martini's on my south sea-going yacht, and the fast drives in my many many many cars...but I will smile knowing that Mr. Fontaine will have a much happier and healthier life as a result. Best of luck winners.  For the rest of us...it's back to the lotto booth for this weekend.  15 mil sounds pretty good!

Here Kitty Kitty

My cat Spike loves to eat any and everything. Bacon to mango, chips to bacon, bacon to ...well you get the idea. There are some things though, that Spike shouldn't have, according to Karl Jandrey, professor of clinical small animal emergency and critical care at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. _
Tuna! Cats can actually be addicted to tuna. While a little every now and then probably won’t hurt, a steady diet of tuna meant for human consumption can lead to malnutrition - because it won’t have all the nutrients a cat needs. Also, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning, or lead to Yellow Fat Disease. This is an extremely painful and sometimes fatal disease that comes from a deficiency of Vitamin E. It’s the result of a diet that’s high in unsaturated fatty acid - and tuna’s usually the culprit. _
Onions in all forms -- powdered, raw, cooked or dehydrated -- can break down a cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. That’s true even for the onion powder that’s found in some baby foods. Onions can also cause gastrointestinal problems – the same goes for garlic and chives. _
Alcohol! Liquor, wine, and foods containing alcohol - none of these are good for your cat. That’s because alcohol has the same effect on a cat’s liver and brain that it has on humans, but it takes far less to do big damage. Just two teaspoons of whiskey can cause a coma in a five-pound cat, and one more teaspoon could kill it. The higher the proof, the worse the damage. _
Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a cat - and there’s no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include rapid breathing, restlessness, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee, caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas and energy drinks. It’s also in some cold medicines and pain killers. Check the labels, and keep all of these away from your cats.
Check with your vet...and break out the treats...Kitty watches you when you sleep.

Rob plus Viv

Dreams really do come true.

Everyone has THAT person.  Not the one they want to spend the rest of
their lives with or owe everything to...the celebrity/singer/famous person
they HAVE to meet.

For as long as I can remember my one person  was Rob Thomas...lead singer
of Matchbox 20.  I've always LOVED his music.  There's no need to explain
why I LOVE his music so much because I believe we shouldn't question pure
enjoyment.  So I love it because I LOVE it!

I finally got my opportunity to realize this dream on Wednesday...as part
of a meet and greet at Rob's (ya, we're on a first name basis now) concert
at Massey Hall in Toronto. Now this is a huge moment...I mean all the
anticipation...all the dreams of what it could be...it will all be real
now...you know the Real World (hehehe)...what if it didn't go as planned?
What if he didn't love me the way I love him? What if I pass out?

Turns out...it was truly a dream come true!  Rob was AMAZING!!! I
introduced myself and my Mom who I picked from a long line of sucker ups
to come with me, and he could not have been more genuine. I told him I
thought what he did was incredible and he said I was incredible because
without fans he's be singing to himself.  So Rob Thomas thinks I'm
incredible ...who am I to argue!

It was so validating to meet such a talented person who makes an
incredible amount of money doing what they love who understands that
without the fans...they'd be sharing their vocal talents with a bar of
soap and a steering wheel like the rest of us do.

After meeting Rob, I am a MUCH BIGGER FAN...as hard as that for anyone who
knows me to believe.  He's real, he knows how lucky he is to have the
status he does and he does it for the fans...every song was 110
percent...no phoning it in no sitting on the bench.  I know I'm not the
only one in Massey hall or who has experienced a performance by Rob that
feels that way.

It's refreshing to meet a "celebrity" who is worthy or their
"celebrity" status!

If you want to see a picure of Rob and I click here for our Facebook fan page
 

Toys Toys Toys

I can't help it. When I see toys I turn into a 5 year old (which is a nice switch from my usual 7 year old self). When I feel down...I walk the aisles of Toys R Us for a few minutes and feel better. I still have a collection of old toys at home. Etch a sketch, silly putty, slinky, View master...they live in a glass case of honour. So when I saw this, I thought I would pass it on to those who remember the good old days...

TOY HALL OF FAME ADMITS THE BALL _ The ball has earned a place inside the National Toy Hall of Fame in New York. Along with the Big Wheel and the Game Boy, the ball was chosen Thursday to join its all-star lineup of 41 classics, including the bicycle, the kite, the jump rope, the teddy bear, the stick, marbles and Mr. Potato Head. The Big Wheel tricycle was launched at the 1969 Toy Fair in New York, and Game Boy was an instant hit for Nintendo in 1989. To get into the Toy Hall of Fame each toy must be widely recognized; foster learning, creativity or discovery through play; and endure in popularity over generations.

The Wizard of OZ

Dr. Mehmet Oz is one of the top health experts in the world, and co-author of You: The Owner’s Manual. Here are his top four parenting rules to help kids stay healthy and happy.
Rule #1: Talk to them. According to Dr. Oz, the most important predictor of success and happiness is not whether your parents loved you, but whether you knew they loved you. The knowledge increases the levels of oxytocin – the bonding chemical – which helps your kids feel safe. Kids who feel safe learn more, feel more confident, and are more likely to be successful throughout their lives.
Rule #2: Be a role model worth copying. Research shows that kids are less likely to follow instructions when parents say one thing, and do something else. For example, if Dad’s a couch potato, saying “Go play outside” won’t cut it. Instead, get outside yourself! The human brain has mirror neurons, which encourage people to copy each other. This means if you hike or play basketball, your kids are more likely to do it, too.
Rule #3: Feed your kids good fat. The human brain is about 60% fat, and to work properly, it needs healthy fats, like Omega-3 fatty acids. So, feed your family nuts and wild-caught Pacific salmon.
Rule #4: When it’s bedtime, tell your kids to put down their homework and turn off the TV. Kids between the ages of three and 12 need about 11 hours of sleep a night to help them grow, and build brain cells. On the flip side, young kids who don’t get enough quality sleep have more academic problems and behavioral problems, including defiance and hyperactivity. Bottom line: Homework can usually wait ‘til tomorrow, but sleep that’s missed during your kids’ growing years is gone for good.

An early Holiday food spoiler

Holiday parties are already starting to fill up your sked. From Real Simple magazine, the bad stuff at holiday party buffets:
The UOWB. That’s short for unidentified object wrapped in bacon. It could be anything from a piece of melon, to a scallop, to shrimp, wrapped in half a slice of bacon. Yes, grilled or boiled shrimp is low-fat, but when it's wrapped in bacon, the calories can climb to more than 100 per morsel. (4 of those is nearly equivalent to an entire meal.)
Stuffed mushrooms. The bad news is, they’re almost always stuffed with cheese. The savior is the mushroom. New research shows that compounds in mushrooms increase the body’s production of white blood cells – making them more aggressive at fighting off infections!  (Now there's an H1N1 vaccine that's delicious.)
Mini tarts or quiches. Anything in a pie or a pastry shell can be packed with calories and fat, even if it contains fruit or vegetables.
Pigs in a blanket. It’s hard to find any merit in a hot dog wrapped in a buttery crust.  (Except of course that they are fantastic.) 
Spinach artichoke dip. Just because "spinach" is in the title doesn’t mean it’s good for you. One popular recipe for homemade dip is estimated to contain about 235 calories and 21 grams of fat in one serving. That’s about TWICE the amount of fat as there is in a small order of French fries. (so i guess I shouldn't dip my fries in it?)

Healthy Holidays everyone.

More H1N1 advice

Just in case you've missed the thousands of articles and warnings and what not...here's a little more H1N1 stuff.  Contact the Health unit for more info.
WAYS YOU PUT YOURSELF AT RISK FOR H1N1 From health.com
Worrying Too Much: It's easy to get carried away, with all the hype about the scary swine flu virus; however, it's important to look at things in perspective. Overall, H1N1 has not proven to be anymore of a threat than the regular seasonal flu, and most people who do catch the virus fully recover. Worrying Too Little: The healthiest approach to flu season is to take a position somewhere between panic and indifference. Typically, high-risk flu patients are at least 65 years old, under age 2, pregnant, or have preexisting medical conditions. But H1N1 seems to be able to cause severe illness in some otherwise healthy children and young adults, and people over age 65 are less likely to get ill. The bottom line: Age group or health status doesn't make you invincible, and we should all take flu prevention seriously.
Hugging, Kissing, Shaking Hands: Close contact with infected individuals is one of the easiest ways to pick up a virus. That doesn't mean you should be antisocial all flu season long, but you should be aware of possible transmission opportunities. If you are in a situation where physical hellos or good-byes are necessary, try not to touch your mouth or eyes afterward until you can wash your hands. Smoking: Smoking cigarettes weakens the tiny disease-fighting hairs tucked inside nasal passages and the lungs, which trap and dispose of germs. This can leave your body more susceptible to attack. Plus, research shows that H1N1 burrows deeper into the lungs than seasonal flu, leading to infections that may be more severe than those caused by the latter.
Hitting The Gym: Some behaviors that in moderate amounts keep you healthy can actually weaken your immune system when taken to the extreme. For example, over exercising can leave your body struggling to cope with added physical stress—especially if you're not sleeping, hydrating, and fueling your body adequately. Unfortunately, the gym is also a great place to pick up viruses, from the sweaty treadmill to the benches in the locker room; plus, germs likely even catch a ride home on your gym bag. Wipe down the machines and mats before and after you use them.
Drinking Alcohol: A recent study in BMC Immunology found that mice who consume large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time are left with weakened immune systems and might have a harder time fighting off infections for at least 24 hours. Another side effect from drinking too much: Alcohol can quickly and easily dehydrate you, which interferes with your nose's and throat's ability to trap germs and expel them in the form of mucus.
Relying Solely On Sanitizing Gel: First, check the ingredients in your hand sanitizer: It should contain 60 to 95 percent alcohol, ethanol, or isopropanol, to work best. Second, don't replace old-fashioned hand-washing. Hand sanitizers are effective germ killers when a sink is not available, but there is no research to prove they actually kill viruses. Using soap and water is still your best bet to washing away the flu.
Washing Hands Incorrectly: Frequent hand-washing, as often as 10 times a day, is one of the most recommended defenses against the flu, but 39 percent of respondents seldom or never wash after coughing or sneezing. And almost half of the respondents who do wash only do so for 15 seconds or less, despite recommendations to wash for 20 seconds or more. Whistle "Happy Birthday" twice while scrubbing all surfaces on hands and between fingers, and dry hands completely. Turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door with a paper towel to keep hands clean.
Mishandling A Face Mask: If you're going to wear a mask, make sure you're using it, and removing it, correctly—or it's bound to do you little good. Masks accumulate the virus, and you have to be extremely careful taking the mask off. Make sure the mask doesn't brush against your nose or mouth or eyes; throw it out, and definitely wash your hands after. Remove the mask by the straps or strings in the back so you avoid touching the front of the mask, which will be the most contaminated.

Wait a sec? It's Halloween? Uh-oh.

Just in case all the pumpkins, witches and black cats didn't clue you in...and you need a last minute costume...
Dirty Laundry - Grab a laundry basket and cut out the bottom. You may need to secure it with string to create "suspenders" that will hold the basket in place around your waist. Fill it with dirty laundry and you’re good to go.
Cereal Killer - If you like puns this costume is for you. All you need are empty mini cereal boxes, fake blood, plastic knives and some safety pins. Stab the cereal boxes with the knives and apply fake blood. Attach the cereal boxes to a plain t-shirt using safety pins and there you have it — a scary cereal killer. Bunch of Grapes - Start with a purple or green sweat suit or leotard, green or purple balloons, and brown tights or leggings. Blow up small purple or green balloons and carefully pin the ends to the sweat suit or leotard.
A Recyclable - Wear a trash bag and adorn with empty bottles and cans.
Backwards Man - You simply put on a shirt and a pair of pants backwards, then put a couple of T-shirts or other padding into the pants butt, to give yourself some "back." Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Mouth to...well...just read it

 

You've heard the advice always wearing clean underwear in case you're in an accident (which always seemed a little strange to me since even if they are clean before the accident chances are after...well you get the idea....) But what about your bra?

 A doctor in Chicago has developed a bra that doubles as a face mask to cup (pardon the pun) your face in an emergency. Not only your face, I mean think about it.... a bra has two sides, so you'll be able to help out a friend by disrobing in an emergency, talk about being supportive!

You're probably thinking what I thought when I fist saw the story...this has to be a man...Wrong!  The women's name is Elena Bodnar and here she is displaying her invention proudly.

It begs the question, in this day of forest fires, terrorists attacks and swine flu could women's underwear be our best defense?

I'm not sure but it will give the next guy caught with his face in a bra at Le Senza a whole new excuse!

Everything I learned, I learned from Horror movies

Okay...so you're faced with a Zombie, or a vampire...or a reeeeeaaly long meeting at work and it's Friday afternoon!!!!!! What do you doooo?????
When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead. It isn't. If you find that your house is built upon or near a cemetery, was once a church, had previous inhabitants who went mad or committed suicide or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices in your house, move immediately.
Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.
Do not search the basement, especially if the power has just gone out.
When you have the benefit of a group of people, NEVER pair off and go it alone. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.
If you're searching for something that caused a noise and find out that it's just the cat, leave the room immediately if you value your life.
If you find a town that looks deserted, it's probably for a reason. Take the hint and leave now.
If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice; more if you are of a female. Even though you may be faster than the monster, you can be sure that it WILL catch you.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Halloween etiquette: Trick-or-treat but be polite

 

I've never been the kind of person at a loss for words...even as a child. For that very reason Trick-or-treating always took a little longer for my family.  As many youngsters may simply knock, say Trick-or-treat and move on, I would use the opportunity to get to know my neighbours a little better...you know...ask how the cat is, see if I could get a tour of the house and in more than one instance if they had some other candy that I could have since I wasn't a fan of what they were handing out. Yeah, let's just say my Halloween adventures were usually cut short.

To avoid that from happening to your kids this year Britain's authority on etiquette, Debrett's, issued its first guidance on how to behave while getting the grub.

Jo Bryant is their etiquette adviser and she says Good manners are very important.

Common questions are: Is it acceptable not to open one's doors to trick-or-treaters? How many times should children be allowed to ring a door bell before moving on? And can one forego a Halloween costume at a party?

Debrett's has posted its advice to the etiquette-challenged on its Web site....good luck trying to get your kids to read it!

Here's some of the info:

Trick-or-treat should be used as an ice-breaking formula, not a real threat. Halloween fun should never feel menacing... it says. Children should not be too greedy - if they are offered treats, make sure that they don't take too many and that they do say thank you.

Other advice includes respecting people's privacy - don't repeatedly ring door bells for candy - and if you really don't want to be bothered by trick-or-treaters, it is perfectly acceptable to leave a bowl of treats at your doorsteps so children can help themselves.

Have a fun and polite Halloween!

"Sniff Sniff"...what's that???

Winter’s just around the corner. While closed windows and doors are a no-brainer when it comes to keeping in the heat, they can also trap unpleasant household smells. So, here’s a quick lesson in odor removal from MSN:
• Let’s start with a little instant dry cleaning for old clothes: Put a small amount of vodka in a spray bottle and lightly mist the garment. The alcohol kills bacteria without leaving a scent. Costumers use this trick to get the smell of mothballs, sweat, and mildew out of the vintage clothing in their wardrobes.  (Don't also spritz it with Vermouth...or you may be tempted to add an olive and lick your clothes)
• Whenever you eat an orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit, run the peels through the garbage disposal. You’ll take care of sink stink without the risk harmful fumes.
• Odor buster #3: Vanilla extract. If you wipe your freezer with a cloth dampened with vanilla, you’ll get rid of all the smells that linger on ice. To disinfect the freezer, use a solution of white vinegar and water. It gets the icebox clean without leaving a “chemical” smell.
• To deodorize food storage containers, soak plastic ones in warm water and baking soda. For glass jars and dishes, use a mixture of one teaspoon powdered mustard to one quart of warm water.
• You can get rid of the musty odor in your basement by using an onion. Just slice it in half, put it on a plate and leave it overnight. The next morning there might be a slight onion smell, but that soon goes away – and takes the musty basement smell with it.(of course you now have to get rid of the onion smell!)

Not Sleeping? Maybe this can help

Have you ever had one of those nights where you just can’t fall asleep, no matter how tired you are? Or, what about when the quality of your sleep is so poor, it feels like you never even shut your eyes? Well, there’s help. Here are a few simple fixes for the three most common sleep problems, from CNN.
• The first sleep problem: night waking. This is when you fall asleep normally but a few hours later you’re wide awake. There are a couple of solutions here. First, look into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to learn some relaxation techniques. You can find a Behavioral Therapist at NACBT.org. The easiest fix is just taking that alarm clock with the bright red numbers off your nightstand. Even a small amount of brightness is strong enough to enter your retina when your eyes are closed, and that sends a signal to your brain that upsets your internal clock and tells you it’s time to be awake. An eight-week study in Finland found that sleep quality improved after just six days without an illuminated alarm clock.
• Next sleep problem is getting up too early. This is when you wake up at four in the morning and are exhausted by dinner time. It can be a vicious cycle, but breaking it is simple. Decide on a morning wake up time, then count backwards eight hours to get your bedtime. Then stick to those times like glue, even on weekends! Getting your body on a regular sleep schedule will increase your energy and make you feel more alert!
• Third common sleep problem: constant worrying. You feel like you just can’t turn your brain off. Stress and insomnia are related, and scientists believe that, in insomniacs, the area of the brain that controls stress is more active at night. So, you need to calm your brain down. Try distracting yourself by concentrating on your breathing, as you do this, your mind calms and you fall asleep. ... If you’re having trouble sleeping on a regular basis, you might have a serious sleep disorder like sleep apnea. So, contact your doctor and describe your symptoms. Know that you’re not alone...about 30 million people are suffering with you!

Political Tips for Halloween

 

Whenever I'm trying to think of something to blog about I always try to go with something that is on my mind...NOW!  This week it's defiantly Halloween!  Maybe my favourite holiday!  I mean come on....candy...dressing up...candy....getting to act like a goof and entertaining people...candy!

Chances are Halloween is on your brain(s!) so I thought you might want some Halloween safety tips, you know aside from don't let Mark anywhere near your candy, so I Googled it.  Yep, that's how us radio announcers get our info...just like you with the Google!

The interesting part about my search was the number one match to my Google search.  It's a Government of Canada site all about safe Halloweening...who knew Stevie and the rest of the politicians were so worried about your children's candy?  (Maybe if they paid more attention to the candy they take off our cheques every week....sorry...off topic)

Either way there is some helpful stuff they you may not have thought of so here's the link.

After this you may want to go as Steven Harper for Halloween...on second thought maybe something less scary!

Some silly fun to break the tension of H1N1

AND NOW...TODAY'S BEST FLU JOKE OF THE DAY! What is the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu? For bird flu you need tweetment and for swine flu you need oinkment.

For some serious details on H1N1 and on Vaccination clinics, go to HealthUnit.com

What is REALLY scary

 

When it comes to fear emotion wins over logic every time.  I ran across a list of fears, you know since its Halloween season we will be seeing these count downs everywhere.  And what do you think number one was? Snakes!  Seriously...snakes?  How many times do you open a paper to the headline "4 killed in viscous snake attack"...ummm NEVER!

The second biggest fear was spiders...again see above. Others include heights, the dark, dogs, the dentist...come on people!

The only real valid fear I could see was number 4...other people.  Now, we're getting to something to really be afraid...ourselves.  Just think of those headlines that we do see "4 Killed in Tragic collision" or "London police investigating rash of home B&E".  It really is selfish human nature that is the most frightening.

I would much rather face standing on a really tall ladder, with a snake tied around my neck while getting a root canal than to ever have to worry about my family or myself falling victim to tragedy on the roads or other indecent human nature.

How about in this time of revelation of fear we scare each other with a giant helping of decency. Drive safe, look out for one another and when you're buying your Halloween candy this week why not spring for the full-size chocolate bars!

A sure way to get your house egged on Halloween

Looking to get some free TP in your front yard, or maybe a few eggs on the house? Try handing out this stuff to the candy starved Trick or treaters.

WEIRD HALLOWEEN HANDOUTS
In a survey of parents, here are the weirdest Halloween handouts:
Animal Food -- Doggie bones and cat treats? Well it will keep their coats shiny!
Random Foods -- Besides apples, parents in the survey noted that their kids had received canned vegetables, potatoes, bulbs of garlic and frozen dinners. Forget the chocolate bar...I want some canned cabbage!
Toiletries sample-sized soaps, shampoo, conditioner and even band-aids.  Okay, the kids might not appreciate this stuff...but I do!
Odds 'n Ends -- Free trial software CDs, golf balls, batteries, and packs of pushpins, bobby pins, staples and paper clips.
Out of Season Candy -- Halloween candy is supposed to be gross -- fake ear wax, boogers, scabs, and even gooey eyeballs are all fair game. But what’s really gross is the obviously leftover candy from a way-past holiday, like old chocolate Easter eggs and Christmas candy canes.
Marketing Material -- Cards and coupons for everything from babysitting and bowling to roof repair and real estate have been discovered among the sweeter scores.

Forever Young Hair

 

As women...we get a raw deal when it comes to appearance.  Let's face it...so much of what people initially think of us do is based on how we look...sad but true.  Sure there's always time to win them over with our amazing personalities but first things first our clothes, shoes and hair is on trial...especially by other women!

I believe one of the easiest things a women can do everyday to look polished and professional is her hair and part of that is keeping up with what is in NOW....yes ladies..NOW not when the ink on your high school diploma was still wet!

Here are 6 hair mistakes that age you most...you're welcome!

1. Too Short
"If hair is healthy and plentiful, there's no reason to chop it into a conservative crop just to make it more age-appropriate," says Thom Priano, a hairstylist at Garren New York in New York City. Even as they move into their 40s and 50s, plenty of women still look better with long hair.

Instead: If you do go short, keep it slightly shaggy - think Sharon Stone's crop. You'll look more modern, and the maintenance will be easier without blunt lines. "You should soften things up as you get older," says Jason Stanton, a hairstylist in Los Angeles and London. Use a pomade on the ends (more will be too slick) to give your cropped cut shine. Try Nioxin Smoothing Reflectives Defining Pomade (nioxin.com).

2. Too Long
Excessive length can drag hair down, pulling your features along with it - the anti-face-lift. The worst offender: long, parted-down-the-middle, shapeless locks, which also telegraph the "me decade."

Instead: To keep some length, consider a choppy bob that sits just below the collarbone, suggests Paul Labrecque of the eponymous New York City salons. "Asymmetrical or less-than-perfect shapes deflect attention away from wrinkles," he adds. Since longer hair can look dry and frazzled, treat it weekly to a deep conditioner: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment contains exfoliating apricot seeds.

3. Too Dark
Holding on to that jet-black shade could be aging you. Extremely dark hair against a light scalp makes thinning more visible. It also casts shadows on your skin so wrinkles look more pronounced, says Gary Howse, creative director of the Gary Manuel salons in Seattle.

Instead: Go two or three shades lighter with either permanent color or highlights around your face, says colorist Sharon Dorram of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger in New York City. Or opt for a warmer hue: For example, if you are a cool, dark brown, choose a creamier chocolate instead. Increase coverage of even the most dye-resistant grays with No Gray for Women, a booster you mix with your regular color to help it adhere better. In an informal test at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, adding No Gray into the dye mixture provided better gray coverage than at-home permanent hair dye alone.

4. Too Light
"Hair the same tone as your complexion washes you out," says Louis Licari, a celebrity colorist with salons in New York City and Beverly Hills. He points out that even Madonna's blond isn't as blond as it once was - which makes it more skin flattering. You'll also need to put on a lot more makeup to brighten up your features if you go too light.

Instead: A bit of contrast can give your skin a healthier glow. "If you're too light, add in some deeper, caramel lowlights," suggests Priano. For DIY dyeing, Licari recommends you buy several boxes in similar hues and pluck and dye a few hairs to see which color is the most brightening when you hold it up to your cheek.

5. Too Drab
Gray hair doesn't have to add 10 years - as long as you keep the color vibrant. "Yellowing gray hair is as bad as yellowing teeth," says Howse.

Instead: Prevent silver strands from dulling your features with products that contain shine enhancers and UV filters. Try Mizani Gloss Veil Shine Spray (mizani-usa.com) as a finishing mist. On hair that's more than 50 percent gray, use a shampoo with blue or violet undertones to neutralize yellow. Try Joc Anti-Yellow Silver Shampoo with UV filters (oloffbeauty.com). If yellow tones cling tenaciously, as they tend to on 100 percent white hair, Howse recommends coloring hair a light shade of blond to take the aging effect away.

Sporting a bold cut or color can also ratchet up your age. Hairstylists equate it to wearing too-trendy clothes or overdoing your makeup.

Instead: Keep your style evolving without becoming a slave to trends. "Look for photos of celebrities your age with great hair [say, Halle Berry or Susan Sarandon]," says Howse. "Then show your favorites to your stylist." Bangs are another way to bust out of a hair rut: "They usually make people look younger," says Howse. He suggests road testing them first: Put your hand over your forehead when you look in the mirror, then take your hand away - which look do you prefer? Ask for bangs that are full, not wispy (which can be aging), and that reach the center of your brows. Or opt for a longer, side-swept fringe. But skip both if you've got a stubborn cowlick or tight curls.

Kid Talk. The Language of Love

A bunch of kids were asked what "Love" was...and as always, they got straight to the heart of the matter:
» "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toe nails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8
» "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4
» "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5
» "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6
» "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
» "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7
» "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7
» "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5
» "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
» "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
» "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4
» "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8

Keeping Facebook safe

Sadly there are too many computer literate people who spend too much time being a pain in the butt. Hackers, scammers, spammers...whatever you want to call them. We have to keep our info and various accounts safe...here's a few easy ways to keep your Facebook account safe to Face another day.
• Be suspicious of anyone who asks for money. Call your friend to ask if the e-mail or Facebook message really came from them. (If it did...you might want to change friends!)
• Don’t use the same password for all of your online accounts. If your Facebook password is the same as your personal e-mail account password, then thieves can hack into both.  (and be sure to make them easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to crack.  "12345" is NOT a good one)
• It’s a good idea to have two e-mail contact addresses on file with Facebook. Criminals who hack into accounts usually change the password to lock out the rightful owner. So Facebook will use the secondary e-mail in an attempt to determine the real owner of the account.
So between uploading new photos, poking and changing your status today...take a few moments to be secure.  Oh...and become a facebook fan of Mark and Viv and EZ Ride Home with Mark and Viv.

Proceed with WILD Caution

Where the Wild Things are has been one of the most anticipated movies of the past few years.  Who didn't enjoy this classic 10 line story as a child or enjoy reading it to your children. The popularity paid off as it finished number one at the box office this past weekend, raking in over $34 million in ticket sales. But director Spike Jonze's and screenwriter Dave Eggers' adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved kids' book has some parents saying that they didn't feel the movie is appropriate for children.

Here are some reviews:

"[The film] was joyless. There were maybe 15 minutes of the hour and a half that my kids were into it," said James Griffioen of Detroit, Michigan.

His 4-year-old daughter asked, "Why is this movie so sad?" in the middle of their family's matinee viewing, while his son, a 20-month-old who normally can't get enough of the 1963 children's classic, was simply bored, he told CNN. Read the full story >>

USA Today's article also revealed a bevy of disappointed parents:

[Jennifer] O'Brien, 37, of Phoenix, took 7-year-old Eileen to Where the Wild Things Are on Sunday, hoping the girl would enjoy the movie as much as O'Brien loved the 1963 picture book. Mom was wrong. "She was pretty scared," O'Brien says at the AMC Century City in Los Angeles. "We spent most of the time in the lobby playing video games. This isn't a children's movie." Read the full story >>

As with most parenting issues, it's probably wiser to inspect what children will be exposed to beforehand, rather than complaining about it afterward.

AWESOMELY funny video

So this guy goes into a store....well watch the VIDEO and you'll get the idea.

Watch out! Health stuff to keep your eye on.

A few small things that could become BIG things from Health Magazine
• The pimple. Yes, it could be an actual pimple, but it could also be basal-cell carcinoma -- a slow-growing form of SKIN CANCER. So how can you tell the difference between a pimple and something more serious? If the pimple’s actually basal-cell carcinoma, it usually has a pearly appearance when light shines on it, and you can see tiny blood vessels around the base of the pimple. So if you have a pimple that looks suspicious -- or won’t go away -- see your dermatologist. Basal-cell carcinoma is 95% treatable when caught early.
• Next, don’t ignore: Nosebleeds. If you get them, that may be a tip off that you have high blood pressure and need to get it checked! High blood pressure can cause nose bleeds because the small vessels in the nose have tiny cracks, and the high pressure pushes blood out of them. In fact, in one study, almost 20% of people treated for high blood pressure emergencies at the hospital had nosebleeds. So if you’re getting out-of-the-blue nosebleeds, see your doctor.
• One more small symptom you should never ignore: Leg pain. Yes, it could be a cramp, but it could also signal a HEART PROBLEM. The first sign of a clogged circulatory system is often leg pain - not chest pain - because the legs' longer blood vessels become blocked by plaque earlier. If the blood vessels are blocked, less oxygen gets to the muscles in your legs – which is why you feel pain. So if you have unexplained pain in your calves, thighs, or feet – and it gets worse when you exercise – it’s time to make a doctor’s appointment.

Hey Crackberry addicts...are you ready for what's next?

I LOVE my Blackberry...but my constant checking...is driving my friends, and myself...NUTS. OOOOOOOOh...now there's something new to drool over. How about this...a Blackberry watch? Okay...it's not really a Blackberry, but it will sync up and notify you of messages and stuff...and it looks really cool. Now you can subtley check your messages at the dinner table, or while pretending to listen to the boss. Check out this link for a photo and more details.

Walk this way

For anyone who's ever completed a marathon, a half marathon, a sports tournament or maybe just a hard weekend of gardening...and had to go to work the next day.... this video is essential.

Enjoy, and congrats on your physical strength!

Halloween is coming...what are you afraid of?

Everyone has that one (or more) odd little thing that gets under their skin and makes them squirm...check the list and see if your phavourite phobia is here!
* Ablutophobia - fear of bathing.
* Acerophobia - fear of sourness.
* Alliumphobia - fear of garlic.
* Allodoxaphobia - fear of opinions.
* Amathophobia - fear of dust.
* Anglophobia - fear of England or English culture, etc.
* Anthophobia - the fear of flowers.
* Arachibutyrophobia- fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.
* Aulophobia - fear of flutes.
* Automatonophobia - fear of ventriloquist's dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues - anything that falsly represents a real being.
* Barophobia - fear of gravity.
* Cacophobia - fear of ugliness.
* Caligynephobia - fear of beautiful women.
* Chorophobia - fear of dancing.
* Cibophobia - fear of food itself.
* Consecotaleophobia - fear of chopsticks.
* Dikephobia - fear of justice.
* Ephebiphobia - fear of teenagers.
* Euphobia - fear of hearing good news.
* Geniophobia - fear of chins.
* Germanophobia - fear of Germany or German culture.
* Hellenologophobia - fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology.
* Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia - fear of the number 666.
* Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia - fear of long words.
* Lutraphobia - fear of otters.
* Mnemophobia - fear of memories.
* Mottephobia - fear of moths.
* Nomophobia - fear of being out of mobile phone contact.
* Odontophobia - fear of teeth.
* Omphalophobia - fear of belly buttons.
* Panophobia or Pantophobia - fear of everything.
* Papaphobia - fear of the Pope.
* Phagophobia - fear of swallowing
* Spectrophobia - fear of mirrors.
* Trichophobia - fear of loose hairs.
* Triskaidekaphobia - fear of the number 13.
* Venustraphobia - fear of very beautiful and attractive women.
* Vomitophobia - fear of vomiting.
* Zemmiphobia - fear of the great mole rat.

Kitty Kats and Teens

Got a Cat or a Teen in your house?  You may have noticed a few similarities...

WHAT TEENS AND CATS HAVE IN COMMON
• Neither teenagers nor cats turn their heads when you call them by name.
• No matter what you do for them, it is not enough. Indeed, all humane efforts are barely adequate to compensate for the privilege of waiting on them hand and foot.
• You rarely see a cat walking outside of the house with an adult human being, and it can be safely said that no teenager in his or her right mind wants to be seen in public with his or her parents.
• Even if you tell jokes as well as David Letterman, neither your cat nor you teen will ever crack a smile.
• No cat or teenager shares you taste in music.
• Cats and teenagers can lie on the living-room sofa for hours on end without moving, barely breathing.
• Cats have nine lives. Teenagers carry on as if they did.
• Cats and teenagers yawn in exactly the same manner, communicating that ultimate human ecstasy — a sense of complete and utter boredom.
• Cats and teenagers do not improve anyone’s furniture.
• Cats that are free to roam outside sometimes have been known to return in the middle of the night to deposit a dead animal in your bedroom. Teenagers are not above that sort of behavior.

Escape with us this weekend

How tired of you of being afraid to spend a dime? This recession saving stuff is getting on my nerves big time…so this weekend I plan on letting loose at the London International Travel show. I’ll be there Saturday and Sunday to do some broadcasting, but mostly I’m there to scope out my first vacation destination in a dozen years. I’ve had it with waiting for the sky to fall in or the bottom to fall out or whatever might happen. Exotic nibbles, languages I don’t understand, and a sky I’ve never seen before…mmmmmm…remember what those were like? Time spent making memories and taking in all the sights and sounds. Sadly, vacations have become luxuries…but really, they’re necessities. They clear out the brain, invigorate the body, and remind us why we work so hard all year long…so we can play for a little while. C’mon out and play a little while this weekend at the Western Fair. This weekend I’m going to pick up pamplets, ask questions, sit in on seminars…and do more than just dream of a sunny getaway…I’m gonna get me one!!! And even if I do cheap out…it’ll at least be nice to dream for a bit.

Give me a day off, STAT!

 

Need a break? Some time off from the daily grind?  Well you may want to move to Lithuania....the perks including eight weeks vacation time.  Eight glorious weeks to frolic and flounder about with family and ...ummm...fawns. (sorry I was running low on F words and my boss has warned me enough about that other F word)

Some company did a world survey of workers on the job for ten years...so where do we come in? Well, sadly Canada shows up at the bottom of the list with only 19 vacation days...19?...only 19!!!! Compared to 40!

That's 21 days of bar-b-ques...21 days of R& R....21 days of actually living!  Here's  link to the article....I strongly suggest you forward it on to your boss, you know since it's more than likely you are at work!

Hockey Magic

 

There is a slim chance you'll get me to sit and watch a whole game of ...well...anything.  I love sports, I really do, I'd just rather be playing or watching the really exciting parts.  I'm defiantly a highlight reel kinda girl, give me a good highlight and my sports passion is at it's peak!

And here is a GREAT highlight!  Brought to us by a nine year old Oliver Wahlstrom in Boston. It was a shootout attempt in the Boston Bruins "TD Bank Mini 1-on-1" Competition begins as expected: Deliberate skating to the puck before picking up speed into the zone. But once he gets between the faceoff circles ... well, let's just say I wouldn't have been shocked to see him pull a rabbit out of his helmet before sawing a woman in half. This is hockey magic.  Enjoy!

Click here to check it out!

Eating hits and myths

WHAT HELPFUL EATING ADVICE WAS PASSED DOWN TO YOU?
WashingtonPost.com asked readers to post the helpful advice that had been passed down to them. The responses:
• No coffee after 3 p.m.
• After reaching 30 years old become a vegetarian
• Eat at a set table, preferably with others.
• Eat vegetable soup for dinner most of the week.
 • An apple is better than applesauce; applesauce is better than apple pie; apple pie is better than sour apple flavored anything. (chocolate cake beats them all...well I think so)
• Don't eat a at a place called "Mom's" if Mom isn't there.
• Beef is for fancy meals, not every day.
• Walk after every meal.
• Always sit while eating or drinking. Never eat on the go or at the keyboard.
• Eat slow, with your mouth close, chew and savor your food.
• Never say you don't like a food until you have tried it at least twice. ... And one person posted: "From my 80-year-old grandmother, who STILL has a 20-inch waistline after 6 kids:
* If you eat it standing up, it won't go to your hips (yea but who wants huge feet?)
* If you eat it in liquid form, it has no calories (as long as it's water)
* If you eat it on vacation, it has no calories (see above)
* If you're not hungry, you shouldn't eat
* If it's on your plate, you better eat it

Dumber Than Us for Wed October 14th

A man gets tossed from a train and says thanks...in a cheeky way on today's Dumber. Click here to listen.

Click here to listen.

Vote Kelly Much VJ 2009!!!

Here at EZ Rock we are so proud of our Kelly Peter! She has made it to the top 16 finalists for the Much Music VJ search!!!  We want Kelly to go all the way and get this job...even though we'd miss her around here!

To support Kelly simply click here and vote so that she can succeed in beating out 4000 other Canadians that were hoping for this gig!

Laser Flake

There's a splash in the cereal world today over a possible cornflakes hoax.

The British PR office for Kellogg's claimed on its Twitter feed today that it has succeeded in etching its brand into individual corn flakes so they stand out against any copies. Leaving many questions...IS this a marketing stunt, an elaborate hoax or a bizarre attempt by one of the world's biggest food producers to protect an iconic breakfast cereal from imitators?

"Now you'll always be able to tell your Corn Flakes from your corn fakes!" Kellogg's UK announced on Twitter, with a link to an image of branded cereal.

Let's assume it's a marketing stunt or hoax because the thought of a cereal company actually using the resources it would take to laser etch each piece of cereal is leaving me less satisfied then a stale bowl of Fruit Loops.  So does it work?

Shreddies did it a couple of years ago with the Diamond Shreddies campaign...one that I will forever consider one of the most genius marketing campaigns that any company has ever launched on us.....and it would appear that Kellogg's simply wants a piece of that clever reinvention of a classic breakfast staple. 

The problem is when coming up with a marketing twist to rival that of the success of the Shreddies campaign you really should bring you're "A" game...Laser etching?  Everyone knows that last time lasers were funny was in the Austin Powers movies.  And in this time of belt tightening who wants to think about a cereal company taking the time, money and effort to laser etch each little flake?

Come on!  If you're going to give me a hoax, make me think, make me laugh, make me do a double take-rub the eyes- did you see that point! Instead I'm left not caring if it's true and craving a bowl of Mini-wheats.

2009 American Music Award Nominees

THE 2009 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
They were announced yesterday (Tuesday), and will be handed out Sunday, November 22 on ABC. UH-OH..Beyonce is up against Taylor Swift again. Somebody better put a leash on you know who!
Pop or Rock Music Favorite Male Artist Eminem Michael Jackson T.I.
Favorite Female Artist Beyonce Lady Gaga Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo or Group Black Eyed Peas Kings of Leon Nickelback
Favorite Album Lady Gaga / Fame Michael Jackson / Number Ones Taylor Swift / Fearless Country Music Favorite Male Artist Jason Aldean Darius Rucker Keith Urban
Favorite Female Artist Reba McEntire Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood
Favorite Band, Duo or Group Rascal Flatts Sugarland Zac Brown Band
 Favorite Album Rascal Flatts/ Unstoppable Taylor Swift / Fearless Zac Brown Band / Foundation Rap/Hip-hop
Favorite Male Artist Eminem Jay-Z T. I.
Favorite Album Eminem / Relapse Jay-Z / Blueprint 3 T.I. / Paper Trail Soul/R&B
Favorite Male Artist Jamie Foxx Michael Jackson Maxwell
 Favorite Female Artist Beyonce Keyshia Cole Keri Hilson
Favorite Band, Duo or Group Black Eyed Peas Day26 Mary Mary
Favorite Album Beyonce / I Am...Sasha Fierce Black Eyed Peas / The E.N.D. Michael Jackson / Number Ones Soundtracks
Favorite Album Hannah Montana: The Movie Hannah Montana 3 Twilight Soundtrack Alternative Rock Favorite Artist Green Day Kings of Leon Shinedown
Adult Contemporary Favorite Artist Daughtry Jason Mraz Taylor Swift
Latin Music Favorite Artist Aventura Luis Fonsi Wisin Y Yandel
Contemporary Inspirational Favorite Artist Jeremy Camp Brandon Heath Mary Mary
Artist of the Year Alternative – KINGS OF LEON Country – TAYLOR SWIFT Pop/Rock – LADY GAGA Rap/Hip-Hop – EMINEM Soul/R&B – MICHAEL JACKSON

A day at the museum

Had an awesome time on the weekend at the ROM in Toronto. I hadn’t been there in quite some time, and it was good to wonder the echoey halls full of ancient thingamabobs.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are there until January 3rd…or at least little pieces of them in a very dark room in very dark display cases. Reminded me a little of the stacks of old newspapers I have yet to recycle from 1967.
The dinosaurs were EXTRA cool. Big and small, and all smiling for the camera.
There is a fascinating Egyptian exhibit of the Book of the Dead as well (in scroll form…the ancients did like their scrolls didn’t they?). (Don’t wonder around singing “King Tut”…you get the evil eye)
There is a superb rock and crystal exhibit…with monstrous rubies and emeralds…even some moon and mars rocks. (no touching…evil eye again)
Finally…shopping.
The ROM gift shop is a hoot (expensive…but a hoot). I nearly splurged 40 bucks on an umbrella with a wrapped handle that looked like a samarai sword (complete with case you can strap across your back). I managed to escape without it…but may have to go back in case I want to Ninja around in the next rainstorm. Take a day and wrangle the kids and a camera and some extra batteries, strap on your comfyiest comfy shoes…and go ooh and ahh for an afternoon.

Turkey, Not just for Sandwiches

If you were lucky enough to have the whole crew at your place for T-giving dinner then you probobly have a bombed out looking turkey taking up prime real estate in your fridge.  Here is a great link to Canadian Living magazine's article on Turkey leftover recipes.  They are so good the family might ask for seconds....of the seconds!

Viv

Snacky Whacky

Feeling snacky? Me too. ALL THE TIME. But the wrong snack can sabotage all that hard work you do eating healthy and getting in a little exercise from time to time. According to Elisa Zied, author of So What Can I Eat?!, snack food is "deceptively high in fat, salt and calories.". So what can you eat — when you're too broke, stressed, or pressed for time to hit the local health food store? Get an energy-boosting, low-cal quench for your quarters, say experts, with this moment-by-moment plan.

Midmorning Choose: Whole-grain fare like popcorn or whole wheat crackers. "They're high in filling fiber, which takes a while to digest, so you feel satisfied until lunch," says Zied.
Avoid: Breakfast bars or muffins. "They consist mainly of sugar and fat," explains William Evers, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. "Plus, they're filled with empty calories" — you'll digest them quickly and be starving an hour later.

Lunch Choose: A packet of whole wheat crackers with cheese or peanut butter, both of which contain a combination of protein and complex carbohydrates. Your body converts complex carbs into sugar more slowly than it converts simple carbs (found in processed grains or sugary snacks), so you stay energized and alert for a longer period of time," explains Cheryle Hart, M.D., author of The Insulin-Resistance Diet. And protein, she explains, which you digest fairly slowly, "stays in your system for a while, ensuring you won't feel famished later on."
Avoid: Potato chips or candy, which will basically send your system on a roller-coaster ride. These simple carb-packed snacks cause blood sugar to soar — resulting in a quick pick-me-up that's always followed by a crash, as your body releases the hormone insulin in an attempt to regulate those sugar levels. Once it has succeeded, you'll probably feel sluggish for the rest of the day.

Late afternoon Choose: A package of mixed nuts. Because they're high in monounsaturated fats — sometimes known as good fats — says Evers, you'll digest them slowly and feel fuller longer.
Avoid: Snacks labeled "low fat" or "low calorie." It may seem logical to nibble from that 100-calorie pack, Evers notes, but it will put you at greater risk for overeating later. Since these "treats" are loaded with quickly digestible simple carbs, you're hungry again in record time.

Quiet Thanks

Psswsst, I have a secret...come closer....closer still....closer....oh you have great breath!

Oh, ya my secret. Sorry. This weekend is going to be hectic, you'll be lucky to find even two minutes to yourself between all the cooking, baking, counselling, screaming and of course giving thanks.  Mark this website...its from Crayola and has lots of free downloads for the kids to colour, paint or ball up and throw at each other.  It could just buy you three minutes of peace and even if it doesn't at least you'll have some great new crafts to post on the fridge...which will keep you entertained when you hit the fridge at 2 am for some turkey! 

Viv

Deep Fried Thanksgiving

 

A Deep Fried Delicacy: The How-To on Deep Frying Turkey

Deep-fried turkey, a concept that started in the south, has risen in popularity nationwide. It's a perfect twist for barbecues, block parties and holiday feasts. To get you started, we have turkey frying tips for both outdoor and indoor turkey fryers plus several deep-fried turkey recipes. For a deep frying turkey experience that is fun and produces delicious results follow these guidelines:

The Turkey - Size Matters

Smaller turkeys, 8 pounds to 10 pounds and turkey parts, such as breast, wings, drumsticks and thighs, are best for frying. Size does matter as a 12 pound to 14 pound turkey is the maximum size bird that should be successfully deep fried. In addition to the obvious safety concern of lowering and lifting a big turkey into a vessel of boiling oil, larger birds simply cook longer. The extra cooking time may result in over exposure to the skin, which could be over cooked.

           

         

    * If a larger bird (over 15-pounds) has been purchased, follow these steps for the best results. Detach the dark meat (leg and thigh portions) from the breast and fry the two turkey parts separately. Fry the leg/thigh sections first in oil that has been preheated to the desired temperature (see chart below). Cook to an internal temperature of 175°F to 180°F. Remove the dark sections and reheat the oil. Then fry the turkey breast to an internal temperature of 165°F to 170°F.

Amount of Oil

Many turkey fryers feature a "fill line" indicating the suitable level of oil to add to the pot, but if that feature is absent from your fryer, follow these guidelines before marinating the turkey:

    * Place the thawed turkey in the fryer basket and place in the empty pot. The minimum oil level should be 3 inches to 5 inches from the top of the fryer. Add water until the top of the turkey is covered. Remove the turkey, allowing the water to drain from the turkey. Note the water level, using a ruler to measure the distance from the top of the pot to the surface of the water.

    * Drain or pour out the water and dry the pot thoroughly. If the fryer has a drain valve, be sure there isn't any excess water in the spigot. Open the valve to drain the water and remember to close the valve before adding oil.

There are turkey fryers that don't require oil. New outdoor, oil-less turkey fryers use infrared heat - a technology popular in gas grills - to cook and the result is a juicy, tender bird with crispy skin.

Cooking Preparation

    * Remove the turkey from the wrapper. Be sure to save the label that indicates the weight of the turkey. Use the turkey's weight to compute the total frying time.

    * Thaw the turkey completely. Remove the neck and giblets from the two body cavities.

    * Heat the oil to the desired temperature shown on the chart below.

    * While the oil is heating, prepare the turkey as desired. If injecting a marinade into the turkey, puree ingredients so they will pass through the needle. Even so, you may have to strain the mixture to remove larger portions.

    * For whole turkeys, inject 60 percent marinade deep into the breast muscles, 30 percent into the leg and thigh muscles and 10 percent into the meaty wing section. Do not inject the marinade just under the skin as a water-based marinade will result in the hot oil popping and splattering.

    * Remove any excess fat around the neck to allow the oil to flow through the turkey.

    * Remove the wire or plastic truss that holds the legs in place (if applicable). Cut off the wing tips up to the first joint and cut off the tail.

    * Remove the pop-up timer from the breast (if applicable).

    * Do not stuff turkeys for deep frying.

    * To reduce spattering, thoroughly dry the interior and exterior of the bird.

• After adding marinades and/or seasonings, place the turkey in a clean roasting pan on the countertop for no more than 30 minutes to 45 minutes. This allows the marinades and seasonings to permeate the turkey and raises the turkey's internal temperature so as to create less splatter during the frying process.

For more...check out the link below.  BE CAREFUL!!!  (and save me some leftovers)

http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/cookinfo/fryturk.html

Hey, Thanks!

 

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how amazing my life is.  Why?  I'm doing it for you, so that you in turn will realize all the amazing things in your life....no matter how obscure!

So here we go 10 things I am thankful for (and yes it was hard to only pick 10!)

10) Wal-Mart greeters

9) The last piece of dessert...Always the sweetest, and I always get it!

8) Pay at the pump

7) Dogs that misbehave...things that are too perfect make me nervous

6) No name brands that taste just like the more expensive ones

5) High heels

4) Sweatshirts that still smell like the dryer sheet even though you can't remember the last time you washed it

3) The weather network local weather jingle

2) Diet Dr. Pepper, it really does taste more like regular Dr. Pepper!

1) Friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances and total strangers...without you...well it's really just me and it's the people in my life that make it so amazing!

Have a great Thanksgiving Day weekend!  I would love to know some of the things you are thankful for...drop me a line at svivier@radio.astral.com or on Facebook.

A fun morning thought

Got sent this today, and thought you might enjoy it.

A WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST

She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.

I hope you made it past the first one at least.

Brrrrrrrr, and such.

We didn’t have much of a summer, but we could be in for a heck of a winter. The Farmers’ Almanac prediction for a Numbingly Cold winter is out, but what are the real experts saying? Here are some signs from mother nature:

Woodpeckers sharing a tree (Woody has a girlfriend) Early departure of geese and ducks (chickens!)

Thick hair on the nape (back) of the cow’s neck (my dad had the same thing…it was a sign he needed to go to the barber)

Pigs gathering sticks. (also a sign the big bad wolf is blowing down someone’s grass house, and is on the way)

Insects marching a bee line rather than meandering (unless they’re bees of course)

"See how high the hornet's nest, 'twill tell how high the snow will rest". (“See the guy who trusteth the hornetseth, freezing off his butteth)

Narrow orange band in the middle of the Woollybear caterpillar warns of heavy snow; fat and fuzzy caterpillars presage bitter cold. (earmuffs and a tumbler of scotch are also a sure sign!)

Noticed any signs yourself??

Savings Smile

 

Saving money is in right now, frugality is in fashion.  People are looking for anyway to save a buck and brag about it...I include myself in these braggarts.  I come from a long line of the frugal...my Mom will drive to five different stores to save five cents a pound on lamp chops...even though they never eat them. My Meme would clip coupons until her hand cramped every Saturday morning and when she passed we recycled enough coupons to wall paper the White House. 

While searching today for new ways to flaunt my money saving assets I found a great online forum in which readers submitted their own money saving ideas.  Some were very helpful, while others...well...you just have to read them to believe it.

"In our town we have garbage collection that costs us 2 dollars a bag. We have 1 old guy who always walks down town every day and carries a small grocery bag of his garbage and puts it in the municipal garbage containers that line the business core. This way he saves 2 dollars a week. I forgot to say that he is known to be worth over a million. Wonder why."

"I worked with a women who, when we went out to dinner as a group, would claim she wasn't hungry and therefore wouldn't order anything but would eat off everyone else's plate and then when the bill came pay nothing. One time she stopped for gas and as the attendant started putting gas in her tank asked him the price at the station across the road and when it turned out to be marginally cheaper she had him stop filling her tank and went across the road."

AND my personal favorite....

"My grandfather was so cheap he would time the light bulbs and if they didn't get the 1000hrs. he would return to the store and demand a refund. Now that's cheap!"

Tender Tootsies

WEAR GOOD SHOES
Hey there shoe overs: think carefully about your shoe choices today if you want happy feet in the future. That's the message of a new study, which found that women who wear sensible shoes are much less likely to have pain in their hindfoot when they're older. (pains in the hinie are more a result of children or spouses...not shoes!)
In the study, women and men (1,900 women and 1,472 men ages 50+) were asked whether they currently had pain, aching, or stiffness in one or both feet, and if so, whether it affected a specific part of their foot. Overall, 29 in 100 women and 19 in 100 men reported having foot pain on most days. But while men's current and past footwear didn't seem to affect their chance of having pain, women's did. Women who had a history of wearing good shoes were 67 percent less likely to have pain in their hindfoot than those who wore average shoes.

Your job, only better

 

As most of you are getting set to enjoy a long holiday weekend with your friends and family...eating turkey, ham and pie...oh the pie!  Mark and are set to join you on your radio in our usual slot from 4-7.  We love what we do and we love that you are listening...just keep in mind as you hear us on your holiday Monday...we're eating pie during the songs!

So really the only thing that would fix my workplace is a little more pie...how about yours?  I thought I'd share the results of a survey from Kellogg's cereal about what employees thought would improve their workplace.

-40% of employees would appreciate a day off on their birthday (I agree! I always take my birthday off...or at least the next day...yikes, thanks a lot birthday shots!)

- 38% of employees think Christmas shopping breaks would be a great benefit to have (two words, retail therapy)

- 20% of employees think workplace beauty treatments would be a great benefit to have (I know there are days I need some beauty, those are called Mondays)

- 50% of employees think lunch should be a full hour ( I stretch mine out all day)

- 40% of workers say flexible summer hours are a more desirable benefit than a financial bonus. (What about flexible hours and a bonus so you have time to spend that extra cash?)

The Wii never gets old!

   

When the Wii came out a few years back around Christmas time I have to admit I could have cared less.  Up until that point my video game experience consisted of aiming the Duck Hunt gun 2 inches from the TV screen while my brother yelled at me to stop cheating.  So when I had an opportunity to take a Wii home for a week to try it out...you know as a "work" project...I wasn't ready for the true uniqueness of the system and my continued addiction. 

If you haven't yet, you need to Wii!  Seriously, EVERYONE is doing it...like a group of seniors in Houston last week...actually 550 to be exact!  It has now been marked by the Guinness World Record books as the Largest Wii Bowling Tournament ever. And you thought your family parties were a hoot!

While the record-setting tourney was indeed impressive, the mark might not stand for long: another Houston tournament has been scheduled for Thursday. Click here if you happen to be in Texas that day and want to stop by.

The Zombie Rich

In the months since Michael Jackson's death, his music has sold over $100 million. He actually be making more money dead…then alive! According to Forbes magazine, a few other celebs have been doing pretty well for dead people too. It’s enough to make you pull the sheet up to your nose and whisper “I see rich people” in Bruce Willis’ ear.
* Elvis Presley -- $52 million, more than 30 years after his death, the King of Rock and Roll pulls in millions from royalties, merchandising, and Graceland.
* Heath Ledger -- $20 million, a lucrative Dark Knight merchandising deal helped make him one of 2008's top dead earners.
* John Lennon -- $9 million, The Beatles: Rock Band and the remastered catalog will give Lennon's postmortem income a major boost this year.
* Marilyn Monroe -- $6.5 million, still iconic almost 50 years after her death, Monroe's image has been used in ads for Mercedes-Benz, Unilever, and others.
* Steve McQueen -- $6 million, Dolce and Gabbana, TAG, Heuer, and Ballantine's Scotch have tapped into the Bullitt star's cool, raking in millions for his estate.

Manliest names ever

LOVED this one. A little fun we had on DUMBER THAT US at 4:45.
Click on the Link...and have a laugh. Join us again tomorrow for more fun!

Women by the numbers

According to Women's Health, the Average Woman doesn't get enough sleep: her head is cloudy, and she can't complete the simplest task. Here are more stats on that precious pillow time…take a peek and see how your numbers stack up.
• 21% of women get the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night
• 11pm is the time the Average Woman goes to bed on a week night
• 6am is the time the Average Woman rolls out of bed on a weekday • 15% of women hit the "snooze" more than three times
• 73% of women sleep in on the weekends
• 20% of women eat right before they go to bed
• 24% of women pop sleeping pills so they can have a sound slumber
• 16% of women have nightmares at least once a month. The most common nightmare is that someone is chasing her
• 35% have dreamt about fooling around with a celebrity. The top 3 celebrities the Average Woman dreams about are; Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey, and Robert Pattinson.
• Top 3 things the Average Woman does right before she hits the sack: watches TV, reads, and surfs the Internet.

Doc Talk

Jennifer Reynolds from Canadian Family magazine joins us from time to time with great info for your family.  This week we're talking all about health...here are some great ways to strengthen your relationship with your child's doctor.

We asked our medical expert, Dr. Jeremy Friedman, chief of pediatric medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children what you can do to create a better patient/pediatrician partnership.

1 Come prepared for the appointment. Write questions down in advance and never be afraid one is silly, he says it is likely something your doctor will have already been asked by a different parent.

2 Bring your spouse/partner to the appointment. It is nice for the doctor to meet the whole family plus it helps to have another set of hands if you have a busy toddler with you.

3 Try to stick to the rules of the doctor's practice regarding phone calls and after hours. If you feel the rules are unreasonable, speak to the staff. If you are still not satisfied after a conversation, perhaps that particular practice is not a good fit for your family.

4 Be honest and open. If you are using alternative or complementary medicines or practitioners, advise your doctor. If you are having difficulties coping with your child's ailment, share this with your doctor.

5 Keep your doctor up-to-date. Dr. Friedman said he loves to hear about his patients' accomplishments and healthy milestones and not just fevers and earaches. An occasional note and photo is nice.

THREE SIMPLE THINGS WOMEN WANT

Just the title makes me nervous.

Another "Do-it-yourself" Dumber

Craig Squires sent along this link, hoping it would be "Dumber than us"...and we think it's dumber than just about anything.
Take a peak and have a laugh.

Neuticles

Craig...thanks a bunch, and thanks for the laugh.
If you run across a dumber story...please send it along to us.
mlapointe@radio.astral.com

Make your own Dumber!

 

Bryan and his GF enjoy Dumber than Us at 4:45 each day, and found a goofy story that they were nice enough to send along.  Check out the link.

Thanks so much Bryan!!! I can't wait to get one to freak my Mom out at Thanksgiving!

WHAT? YES I WAS AT KISS? WHAT?

I still couldn’t hear my alarm clock this morning. THAT’s how loud the KISS show was last night.
But I loved it. The music was good…but the spectacle was spectacular.
Viv ended up being the night’s photo op…with people lined up to take a picture with her. (become a Facebook fan to see the pics “EZ ride home with Mark & Viv)
I did some make up on some folks (who found their KISS spirit after seeing us acting like 5 year olds at Halloween), and blew 40 bucks on a t-shirt. The band rocked.
There was a rising drum kit, rising guitar platforms, a flying Gene Simmons, and a swinging …well you get the idea. We traded seats with a family with two young kids (Hi Joe!), so they could see better…and by the end of the show…the kids were rockin’ harder then we were (ahhh…to still have that energy).
Loved seeing all the people in make-up…hilarious. (you forget you have it on, and try to have a conversation with someone and wonder why they’re looking at you funny)
I assumed that with my cat makeup on, I would be incognito. So as we’re leaving the JLC…I feel a nudge and a “MARK”! Old neighbour Vickie. Screams. Photos.
So much for incognito.
It was just a night of silly fun and loud rock and roll…something we could all use a little more of.

COULD YOUR BOSS WANT YOU DEAD?

 

What a great turnout at our Michael Moore movie preview last night....Great to see you all there!  If you weren't there it was the first chance for Londoners to see Mr. Moore's latest take on the American culture in Capitalism: A Love Story. It was VERY eye opening; I defiantly recommend you take a couple of hours to watch it. 

One of the things I found most shocking was the fact that some companies are taking life insurance out on their employees...in hopes they will die! It's called dead peasant insurance and in most cases you or family would have no way of knowing if a company has taken out a policy as the company is named the sole beneficiary when or if the employee dies.  In other words the company would profit from your death!

This is absolutely despicable and wrong.  In the film, two families where a young parent had died were shown.  Each of their companies had taken out this dead peasant insurance resulting in a profit of in one case millions for the company while the families struggle to pay funeral expenses and hospital bills.

It really makes you feel like little Red Riding Hood while big business hides under the sheets at Grandmothers house.

Here's an article with more information on dead peasant insurance.

Capitalism: a love story

Last night Viv and I hosted the London premier of Capitalism: a love story...the new Michael Moore film.
I don't want to ruin it for you...but prepare to be astonished.
You will shake your head.
You will laugh a little (or quite loudly like Viv).
You will likely feel like crying A LOT.
We didn't go through the same level of crisis that the USA did, but we can still feel their pain...and Moore paints a grim picture.
He also offers an alternative...if you don't mind a little revolution.
Big thanks to the London Free Press and Alliance Films...and of course BIG ROGER at Silver City London for all the help.
AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT...see you next time.

Flu Vaccine

Jennifer Reynolds from Canadian Family magazine will be joining us all week long!

Today we chatted about the issue of flu shots this year.  Here are her notes, and you can find more on The Canadian Family magazine website.

Cheers!

 

H1N1 and instilling healthy hygiene habits in your preschooler

This year there will likely be two flu shots-the regular annual flu shot which will be available next month, and the H1N1 shot. Our medical expert, Dr. Jeremy Friedman, chief of pediatric medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children, recommends both. In the meantime, there are some easy ways to teach your children good hygiene to protect themselves against illness.

• While we used to encourage children to cover their sneeze and coughs with their hands, they should be taught to cough and sneeze into elbow, sleeve or into a tissue, which should be promptly thrown away. You can also use humour to get your point across like "Are you spraying germs at me? I like when you share but not your germs."
• Next is hand-washing. At least six to eight times a day, especially after going to the bathroom, sneezing, playing outside, handling pets and before and after meals. Ensure they do all the steps-wet hands, use soap, lather for 15 seconds, pat hands dry, turn the faucet off using the name paper towel and dispose in garbage.
• Remember to notice and remark upon good hygiene behaviour if you want it to continue without constant prodding from you.

HOW TO BOOST YOUR MEMORY!

Forgot your way home? Your kid's names? Join the club...here's some ideas on being a better rememberer.
Floss every day
Michael Roizen, co-author of You -- The Owner's Manual, says: "The plaque between teeth can cause an immune reaction that attacks arteries, which then can't deliver vital nutrients to brain cells. Solution? Floss every day.

Multitask at the gym
Just as working out can keep your body in good shape as you age, stretching your brain can keep it in top form, too. And doing them together is double the fun: Do a crossword puzzle while riding a stationary bike or listen to language lessons on your iPod while running. Scientists say that working the body and mind at the same time revitalizes brain cells.

Go fish
Look to the sea for healthy ways to feed your brain. DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in salmon, trout, and some fortified foods such as yogurt, is a super saver for your memory. DHA decreases arterial inflammation and improves repair of the protective sheath around nerves. The result is less age-related memory loss, less Alzheimer’s disease, less depression, and a quicker mind.

Steal your kids’ toys
There’s a new version of that Rubik’s Cube that you loved as kid. It’s the 3D-like Rubik’s 360, and it’s probably good for brains of any age, because it sharpens flexible problem-solving skills. The key: As you play, you’re working on your memory, strategy, and spatial skills — all required for improving brain health — at the same time.

Just do it
Elevating your heart rate three times a week for 20 minutes — even just by walking — bathes your brain in oxygen and helps it grow new cells. And if you have no time for the gym during the week, that’s OK: Recent research shows moderate to vigorous exercise even just once a week (say, a weekend jog) makes you 30 percent more likely to maintain your cognitive function as you age.

Start a bridge club
If book clubs bore you and dinner parties leave you exhausted, then maybe a brisk game of bridge is just what the doctor ordered. The combination of strategy and memory in bridge challenges the brain to learn new information and exercises cells so they don’t die.

Use chopsticks
Studies show that engaging the concentrated areas of nerve cells in your fingertips directly stimulates your brain. Truth is, any fingertip activity — using chopsticks, knitting, or even rolling a pen or pencil between your fingers — also helps your brain by boosting your circulation. And good circulation helps eliminate waste products that can prevent nutrients from reaching your brain. Play electronic games No, you’re not too old for a Wii or one of the new handheld brain-exercise games. And it may even be good for you, since simply trying something new gets your brain juiced.
Be careful with meds If you ache every time you work out and never sleep well due to night sweats, there’s a pill for that. But be careful: Research in Clinical Interventions in Aging reveals that nonprescription sleep aids may cause some "cognitive impairment" — like confusion — in older adults.

Hot Toys for you HOT-lidays!

It's almost here!  No, not Thanksgiving...although that is around the corner...Christmas silly!!! Okay, there are still 91 days but it's never to early to find out what the kids (big and Little) will be wanting this year...or should I say what you will be getting up at 3am to stand in line for in minus 30 degree weather because you heard a store "might" have one....

This past weekend Toys R Us released its list of the hottest toys for the holidays...so without further whining or begging....

Here is the Toys R Us "Fabulous 15," a subset of the 36 toys on the Holiday Hot Toy List:

    * Bakugan Battle Brawlers New Vestroia Maxus Helios 7 in 1 from Spin Master

    * Chixos Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft from Spin Master

    * Color Me a Song from Crayola Beginnings

    * Disney Netpal from ASUS

    * Disney-Pixar Toy Story Interactive Buddies Talking Action Figures (Buzz and Woody) from Thinkway

    * Disney Princess: Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll from Mattel

    * Fast Lane JLX Oover Drive Radio Control All Terrain Vehicle from Toys R Us

    * Laugh & Learn Learning Farm from Fisher-Price

    * Little Mommy Baby Ah-Choo from Fisher-Price

    * Mindflex from Mattel

    * Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35 from Hasbro

    * "Star Wars" Fan's Choice Anniversary Edition Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser from Lego

    * "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Construction Devastator from Hasbro

    * Wii Sports Resort from Nintendo

    * Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster from Cepia

Instead of having to buy one of those great Disney Princess toys you can win a whole slew with our Disney Princess contest...enter your little princess on this website...NOW!

ENERGY WITHOUT THE ENERGY DRINKS

Don't turn to energy drinks to get you through the day. Try one of these tricks:

Roll up and down on your toes. This stimulates your circulatory system, which will deliver much-needed oxygen and fuel throughout your body. You’ll be more energized and sharper.

Turn off the Internet and go socialize with friends. Humans are social animals, and we need regular socializing to keep ourselves in peak health and energy.

Take a walk outside. It will get your blood going will do wonders for your mood and motivation. Seeing the sun is a signal to your body that it’s not bedtime yet.

Listen to tunes while you work. It’s well known that our brain’s pleasure centers light up when we hear music. (Crank up EZ rock)

Wear brighter colors. This trick is related to the mood you project to people, and the reciprocating mood they project towards you. If you wear bright, happy colors, you’ll get that attitude projected towards you, which will boost your own mood and energy levels.

Change your socks for refreshment. It’s an amazing trick. Bring a change of socks to work, and change your socks midway through the day (say, after lunch). You’ll be amazed at how much fresher you’ll feel. This trick is especially handy on days with lots of walking -- like during a hike or family outing to the amusement park. For fun, take the old socks and leave them in a co-worker's drawer, but you didn't hear it from me.

Cats Vs Sharks

I'm just not a cat person.  There are some cats I don't mind.  Mark's cat Spike for example...although I'm not sure Spike knows she is a cat....

Anyway it may be an unfair match-up but I do love this top 20 reasons why Sharks are better than cats list.  If you disagree....I want to know! Join our facebook fan page and post your angry comments!

For now, long live the shark...and dog!


1. There is no LOL Sharks meme.

2. Cats, the musical.

3. If you throw a cat in the ocean, which we do not explicitly advocate, a shark will eat it (if it is around and notices).

4. Every Bond villain worth his salt has a shark-filled aquarium (sure they have a cat too but it doesn't intimidate anyone).

5. People sometimes back over cats in their cars while in a rush to get to work. The world's largest fish is the whale shark and you couldn't back over it unless you had a decent-sized yacht.

6. Early explorers braved falling off the edge of the world, malaria, and the unholy trifecta of rum, sodomy and the lash, but were deathly afraid of sharks.

7. Cats are creepy. People who claim cats aren't creepy are creepy.

8. No cat movie has inspired a line as memorable as ‘We're gonna need a bigger boat'.

9. The guy with an eye patch hustling you out of last week's paycheck is a ‘pool shark‘, for which there is no feline equivalent. If you're in tough financial straits, you visit a ‘loan shark' so you don't have to eat cat food.

10. A cat couldn't eat Samuel L. Jackson (unless it was his pet and he was left dead in a locked apartment for some time... which is highly unlikely given that he's a celebrity. We digress...).

11. Sharks taste good in a soup or sandwich; cats require too much sauce.

12. A cat will annoy you by clawing up furniture. A shark will spare you years of such petty annoyances with a fatal mauling.

13. Most sharks can live 30 years or more. Nobody has a 30-year old cat that hasn't been taxidermied or the subject of some kind of lab mutation.

14. No tabby has ever sent a beach full of bikini-clad beauties sprinting for the shore.

15. The worst a cat could have done to Ahab is give him fleas.

16. Jobshark is a website for people with career ambition, so named because sharks move constantly. Cats sit by the windowsill for 7 hours at a time.

17. Without the phrase "jumped the shark", it would be difficult to explain this season of Entourage.

18. Dolphins are thought to be the most intelligent creatures of the deep, but sharks eat dolphins. Who's the genius now lunch boy?

19. No one has ever purchased a baby shark because it was so adorable in the pet store only to regret the decision later on in life when it became a hissing fatbody whose constant shedding ruins your dark clothes.

20. Even if we had a tale about some drunk offing Cuddles, the Cat Fanciers' magazine centerfold, we would not have included it in the title of our book, "The Man Who Scared a Shark to Death and Other True Tales of Drunken Debauchery"

WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE -- WITH FIVE MINUTES, FIVE DOLLARS OR FIVE FRIENDS

Your life will benefit from being of service to other people and your community. If you’re someone who isn’t sure how you can help, I have the solution! If you have five minutes, five friends or five dollars, you can do good in your community. Here are a couple of easy ways to get started from Time magazine: • If you have five minutes look into micro-volunteering. There’s a group called The Extraordinairies. They’ve created an iPhone app that you can download from their website, BeExtra.org. When you have a few minutes, you open it up, choose a task and they’ll walk you through your volunteer duties. • If you want to work a little kindness on an actual person, try Kinded.com. Here you log on and print out a card. Then you do something kind for someone, carry their luggage, help them cross the street -- that kind of thing. Afterward, you hand them the card, and hopefully, they’ll pay it forward, giving the card to the next person they help. The goal is to get an online timeline of the acts people performed and see how far along the card will go! • If you have five extra dollars, head down to the grocery store and buy some canned goods for our local food bank. Remember people are hungry all year, not just at Thanksgiving! • Finally, if you have five friends and you want to do good in your community, start organizing them on Twitter and Facebook. Together, you can go clean up a beach or a park, or organize a food drive. Every community has needs and it just takes a few people, pulling together, to make big changes.

Finally...a really cool talent

Okay, I know you're really busy...but this is major cool. Usually on those dopey talent shows, you see a bunch of wannabees who had too many friends at the bar tell them how great they sing/dance/juggle. But this video will show you a unique talent. It's a long clip...but wow...hypnotising.

Work can be fun!

I have a lot of fun at work....but come on I'm supposed to right? I guess there are some jobs that shouldn't be so happy go lucky....you know maybe like being a police officer?

Police in Florida have been caught on security camera video playing Wii Bowling for hours during a drug raid at a suspect's home. With guns drawn and flashlights cutting through darkened rooms, Polk County, Florida, undercover drug investigators stormed the home of convicted drug dealer Michael Difalco in March. As investigators searched the home for drugs, some drug task force members found other ways to occupy their time. Within 20 minutes of entering Difalco's house, some of the investigators found a Wii video bowling game and began bowling frame after frame.    Here's video


I can't blame 'em we all need a little laughter on the job...no matter how "serious" our jobs seem to be.  Besides Wii bowling is seriously addicitve...maybe more so than the drugs they were looking for!

Hero's everywhere

Matt Zeisel, a teen with Down Syndrome, had longed to play in a football game, but never had a chance to get off the bench -- until his coach and the rival team agreed to give him the chance of a lifetime. At 5’3 and 110 pounds, Matt has spent much of the football season sitting on the bench, watching his teammates at St. Joseph Benton High School in Kansas City race across the field.
Matt has Down Syndrome, and his doctors have said that it isn’t safe for him to get involved in contact sports, so, for his own good, his coach, Dan McCamy, has kept him on the sidelines. But at the game last week, Matt’s team was down by 46-0 when Coach McCamy had a bright idea. He called a time-out and went to ask the opposing team a question. He wanted to know if they would let one of his guys run in for a touchdown. The team quickly agreed to the coach’s request.
Then, for the first time all season, Coach McCamy called in the "Matt Play." With Coach McCamy and his teammates’ urging, Matt jumped up off the bench and raced out to the field. He took hold of the football, and, as soon as the referee ended the time-out, he ran a full 60 yards from one end of the field to the other, throwing the ball down to score a 6-point touchdown. After cheering on Matt’s play, his teammates scooped him up for a big group hug.
Coach McCamy posted a video of Matt’s touchdown on YouTube the next morning for his parents to see, and, since then, the heartwarming play has been watched more than 275,000 times. Here's a link to the video

Bye Bye summer

The first day of fall. Or is it the first day after summer.
Hmmmm.
Since summer never really happened, let’s just go on to the fall thing.
Time to sweep out the garage, and get ready to start thinking about where to store the summer gear. (the big pile of soon to be relocated winter gear will give me a spare corner)

The fall clothes will be making a new showing shortly. Away with my summer sneakers, and out with my fall running shoes. Summer’s brightly coloured “band” t-shirts will now be usurped by my darker autumn “concert” t-shirts.

The cat is shedding less. She’s either building up a winter coat, or giving up on her scheme to ruin all my black clothes.

The grass will likely need at least one last good cut, before Mr. Mower is relegated to the dark recesses of the shed (replacing the sadly handy show shovels).

And summer evenings spent strolling the neighbourhood will instead be fall evenings spent raking leaves (or inside watching the new shows…the House premier was awesome).

It all seems too soon. Not that I mind making autumn memories, I just didn’t get much time to make any summer ones. Despite what the calendar (and forecast) say…maybe we should hang on to summer with both hands and not let go just yet. I mean, c’mon…last week was awesome!
Sun, blue sky, mild temps…it was July in September! Is a little August in October too much to ask?
I have to admit to looking forward to the colours changing, thanksgiving, and a few favourite old sweaters.

Maybe we just need some good “autumn” music. I can think of a Van Morrison song, Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward, and the song Autumn Leaves…but that’s about it. Got any more?

Always a Disney Princess

 

I couldn't be more excited about our Disney Princess prize package Mark and I are giving away on Thursday! To me this prize represents a lost childhood dream.....

So many years ago, I believe it was called the 80's, I would beg my Mom to take me into Toys R Us.  These pleads almost always went unanswered either because we were nowhere near a Toys R Us or my Mom was wearing ear plugs a familiar practice among my family members....but that's another story.

On those RARE occasions when we did get to visit the home Geoffry the Giraffe I only really wanted to spend time in one aisle...the pink aisle!  I believe this magical aisle still exists filled with Barbies, babies and all things pretty in pink!  At the end of the aisle was the most magical sight of all....a pink vanity set complete with a pretty pink chair and white velvet cushion, mirror and all the fake eye shadow my lids could handle.  I sat on it...glared into the mirror and could see my reflection as a true princess! As much as I loved that vanity, as many times as I sat on it while my Mom nervously shuffled her feet, as many times as I cut it out of the flyer (using child safe scissors of course) and put it in my Mom's wallet. I never got one.

It's too late for me and my pink vanity dreams but you can still make the dreams of your daughter or little princess come true all the details here on the website!

Princess Viv

And your little dog Toto too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WIZARD OF OZ Theaters around the country will be showing The Wizard of Oz tomorrow, which is 70 years old this year. The one-night event is promotional stint to make us all go out and buy Oz on Blu-ray Hi-Def.
This will be the first big screen showing since its last national theatrical release in 1955.
Some Wiz facts for you Wiz-wizards!

L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, on which the movie was based, has 13 sequels. At first it was considered a moderate success, largely because it had cost so much to make. Only after its re-releases in 1947 and 1955 did it start turning a profit and finding wider audiences.

The Wizard of Oz isn't the first Oz film. The earliest Oz film series were produced by author Baum in 1908 and 1914. These were silent films. Another well known but unsuccessful version was created in in 1925.

The Wizard of Oz we all know and love grossed approximately $3 million in its initial release. It did not show what MGM considered a large profit until a 1949 re-release earned an additional $1.5 million. Put that up against blockbusters of today doing over 100 million in a weekend!

The first television broadcast of The Wizard of Oz was on CBS on November 3, 1956. The network paid MGM $225,000 to televise the movie that year. Since then I've seen it at least a billion times. Except for the flying monkey part. I still cover my face with that comes on.
 
I do still love the old cartoon though...does anyone else remember it?

Happy wizzing.

Join me at the AIDS walk

Although you never need an invite to come and support all of London's great organizations.... here is your official initiation to join me this Sunday at Victoria Park for the 19^th Annual AIDS walk for life.  It looks like it's going to be a great weekend and Funds raised support three local HIV/AIDS organizations: Camp Wendake, London Regional AIDS Hospice (a.k.a. the John Gordon Home), and the AIDS Committee of London.  Since being active is so important to your health why not take a Sunday walk with me!

Click here for the website and sign up details...I'll see you Sunday!

Boycott the Bully

KANYE WEST'S CHILDISH TRACK RECORD
A sad track record, as compiled by People magazine...
At the 2004 American Music Awards West lost as best new artist to country singer Gretchen Wilson -- and stormed out of the show. "I was definitely robbed," he later told the Associated Press. "I was the best new artist this year." He later apologized to Wilson.
In September, 2005, during a Red Cross fund-raising drive for victims of Hurricane Katrina, an uncomfortable Mike Myers stood nearby as West delivered a minute-long televised rant criticizing the government's response to the disaster: "George Bush doesn't care about black people," he said.
In 2006 West was having a good night at the MTV Europe Music Awards when, after picking up the best hip-hop artist award, he lost best video to a French duo named Justice vs. Simian. Outraged, he crashed the stage and interrupted their acceptance speech with a profanity-laced rant: "If I don't win the award show loses credibility."
Despite five nominations, West failed to win a single trophy at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, his second year going home empty-handed. His reaction? He threw a tantrum backstage. "Give a black man a chance," he yelled. "That's two years in a row!" He then declared that he would never come back to an MTV award show.
If only he had kept that promise. 

Boycott the Bully

How to make Kanye "Gone-yea"

I’m not sure what I find more frustrating. Award shows, or the idiots who ruin them.
Let’s start with the award show.
It has little to do with achievement any more. For the most part they are just another venue to spout more celebrity based propaganda to continue to stoke the media money machine.
Music or movies…tack an “award winner” sticker on it…and it’s gold!
And could we please have another dozen award shows, because there just aren’t enough.
The MTV awards cluttered up our tv’s last weekend, and this weekend the EMMY awards will try to brainwash us into watching more silly lowest common denominator nonsense.
Enter Kanye West.
Between his on camera rants about not winning enough awards himself…to his on camera rants about George W (accurate at least)…to his latest on camera rant…he was just doing what we pay him to do.
Be a celebrity.
Each time he acts like an idiot, is he punished with lower cd sales? No. Is he banned from award programs? Of course not. The MTV folks are rubbing their hands with glee at the press the show is getting as a result of Kanye West stealing a special moment away from a talented performer.
I stayed up to watch Leno…just to see what they would do with West. West tried to hang on to a little ‘tude, while he danced around the fact that he was a selfish, egotistical, jackass.
I’m glad I recorded the moment when Leno asked West what he thought his mother would have thought of his actions. For an instant, West had the same look on his face that Taylor Swift had on hers…just after he ruined her moment of triumph.
I’ll be watching that over, more than a few times. West shuffled out onto Leno’s stage, did his little practiced apology, and the crowd cheered.
AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
Instead of cheering the bully, they should have ignored him.
Completely and absolutely.
Silence.

Shhhhh.
 
You hear that Kanye? That’s the sound of everyone not caring.

Thanks for Stuffing the Truck!

 

As I've done numerous times in this blog I want to say thank you to.... well.... YOU!!!

The incredible spirit of Londoners was again alive this morning with the Libro Financial Group Stuff the Truck event.  Libro put out a challenge to Londoners to bring can goods to any of the London or St. Thomas branches on their way to work to help out with the growing needs at the London and area food bank. 

I hung out with the amazing group at the Dundas East location where despite a chilly morning, spirits were warm and the laughs were many.  Brian, from the food bank, said usage of the food bank is up 25 percent in recent months.  This shocked me and outlined the need for more events like this.

So congratulations Libro financial and all of the sponsors of this great event for seeing a need and responding.  Most of all congratulations to you, London, for taking care of each other...just like family.

Click here for more information on the London and Area Food Bank.

First day fears, and Mrs. Byrd.

I remember the long walk. It seemed like it took forever.
My mom was holding my hand as we walked up towards Eastmount Park school in Hamilton.
First day.
I remember looking at it like it was Alcatraz.
We stood there for a while…looking and wondering. I was trying to figure out why I was being abandoned…and she was trying not to cry. In we went.
Next memory…in the classroom with a bunch of strange faces. Chaos. Crying kids and sniffling moms and a room with walls full of pictures and numbers and letters. I gripped mom’s hand a little tighter. Then, the woman who was to be my keeper for the year, Mrs. Byrd…my kindergarten teacher appeared. She was tall. (of course I was short at the time)
Mrs. Byrd was patient and kind and understanding. Looking back on it now, I wonder how she wasn’t also bald, medicated and crazy. I don’t remember my Mom leaving, but I imagine it was a torturous walk home for her. Until she got the hang of being able to sit quietly on the porch with the paper and a cup of tea. After that, she seemed happy when it was time for me to go to school…hmmmm.
I DO remember that first walk home later that day. I don’t think I shut up the entire way. I was a four-and-a-half year old full of adventure and stories and curiosity. I had faced the monster and had triumphed…ready to return for another battle.
I had no knowledge yet of show and tell (public speaking…eeech!), homework (math…eeech!) or bullies ( the great “baseball card stealing tragedy of 1969”). I only knew that I had new friends waiting for me the next day…and new fun to be had.
Oh yes…and I had a crush on Mrs. Byrd.
Still do.
Happy first day of school.

It's Gone

 

I hate to do this.

I hate that I would even have to do this.

But...

My bike was stolen this week.  I know, I know, I'm not the only one.  Things are stolen in this city everyday, cars are broken into everyday, we have to lock up our valuables...but why?  

I mean why is it when I work hard for something of value and then decide to take that thing in public I am then expected to lock up like Fort Knox?  Sorry but the security detail available to Barak Obama just doesn't make sense for everyday people, at the same time it seems we are the ones who need it more. 

In the past couple years my truck has been broken into, two cameras were stolen and my cell phone....then my GPS was taken...now my brand new Trek road bike....in broad daylight!

Someone must have seen something.  Something that didn't quite look right but for some reason decided not to speak up.  And I'm not just talking about my bike but for all of the bikes, and GPS devices and cameras that are taken everyday we need to stand together to protect our "stuff"...the stuff of the people who work hard everyday to treat themselves once in a while to a pricey gadget or toy. 

Here we go cliché time....it could have been worse.  No one got hurt. It could have been a more valuable item.  WHO CARES? I'm still out a bike!!!

I say this has gone far enough.  Open your eyes.  When you see someone fishing around, looking suspicious...take note, ask questions...stand up against those attempting to take the easy way out. 

You never know, next time they may just be riding MY bike, using MY GPS to find YOUR house.

Michael Jackson Alive!

Check out this video...supposedly taken secretly as the ambulance carrying his "dead" body, arrives at the hospital.
 
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9b8_1251194026

Fueled up Smile

Next time you pull in to fuel up...you're waiting for the guy in front of you to figure out where his  reward point card is before you can pull up...think of this pic and smile!

Saturday, blueberries, and cows.

On Saturday I was asked to head out to Park’s Blueberries and do a little work for our sister station BX93. I always love the drive out Longwoods road, because it’s so peaceful. Lots of trees and fields…much calmer than the highway. Not this time
FIRST I hit a road closure and detour at Adelaide road. To the locals, an inconvenience. To someone as directionally challenged as me (there is not east/west…there is only right/left)…it was a tragedy of epic proportions. Trembling, I followed the orange detour signs (which could really be a more supportive and relaxing shade of blue)…and drove bravely off…into oblivion. What felt like days later, I finally relented. Head down, tail between legs…I shuffled up to a few very nice people and humbled my XY chromosome combo. I asked for directions.
“Oh…just go down that road right there and turn left”.
“OHHHH….THERE IT IS”, I faked.
Back on track to Park’s.
A few minutes later, adventure number two.
A truck coming the other way was flashing his lights. Thinking “speedtrap”, I slowed down, and peered anxiously through the light rain.
No cops.
Cows.
They were just cowing around, back and forth across the road.
I stopped, they stopped.
I rolled ahead a little, they stopped.
“Hey cows”, I thought I’d try a familiar approach, “Howsa bout moooooving on?” (got that one from Rich)
Cows walking towards the van now.
They seemed to have spotted the large graphic of Taylor Swift on the BX vehicle, and are fans. Traffic is starting to back up in both directions now. I try pleading, threatening and begging. (remind you of your last family reunion?)
Then a moment of genius.
If it’s Taylor Swift they want…hang on to your udders. I leaned out the window and in my best Nashville Twang, let em have it with my finest “Love Story”.
The word STAMPEDE is probably too gentle a description of what happened next.
I made it to Park’s on time.
I hope the cows made it home safely.
I hope Taylor Swift doesn’t sue me.





Mark La Pointe can be found on line at killervoiceovers.ca

Red Green makes it look so easy

 

As any women (and men who've ever tried to help with the laundry) knows not everything goes in the dryer, so in comes the drying rack.  The good old-inexpensive-always-there-when-you-need-some-delicates-dried drying rack. 

It's become evident recently that I need a new drying rack. I realized this after I threw mine to the ground when I stubbed my toe on it and it broke. (Perceptive little devil aren't I! ) For some reason I just haven't been able to bring myself to spend the 20 bucks to get a new one and now I know that reason. 

In my unfinished basement, as I struggled to use sheer will to make the rack stay together it caught the corner of my eye.  A shiny, silvery savior...DUCT TAPE! I'd never actually used duct tape before in fact for a long time I thought it was called duck tape....oh stop laughing you did too.

I pulled the tape easy and bite off a hunk with my teeth just as I'd seen my Dad do many times before.  This is easy!!!!  Okay around the corner, smooth it out...make sure to get that part in and voila!  Oh, a little more then and some on that side and maybe....oh dear....Well it certainly won't win the subtlety award but it is together!

Did I mention I did this while it was already full with clothes?

As I moved to leave the basement I stopped to take one last proud look....just in time to see all of my clean clothes tumble onto the dirty basement floor....guess its laundry night again tonight!

ATTACK OF THE FROGS!!!!!

What I did on my Summer Stay-cation.

Nothin. Really. I’m so broke I can’t even afford a ”g” for the word “nothin”. Here’s a quick rundown. *I caught up on some movies I hadn’t seen. (Juno is awesome) Which was better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
*Poked myself in the eye with a sharp stick. Seriously. It hurt for 3 days.
*Exercised. P90X never ends…and neither does the pain.
*Window shopped. The one kind of shopping I can afford.
*Went for walks. Found my way home. Thank you breadcrumbs (old school GPS).
*Blogged. How bored was I?
*Complained about how cold it was. Then it got hot.
*Complained about how hot it was.
It’s good to be back.

Tops Off

I'm a big believer in living in the moment, seizing the day and experiencing life to it's fullest....even when it's offering a big old hunk of embarrassment.

That very life plan was tested today during a routine visit to the Timmies near our radio station on Wellington Road.

Mark, Chris Harding from sister station BX93 and myself made our way over for a coffee, the boys wearing whatever it is boys wear in 30 degree weather and me in a poly-blend dress with a deep V in front and back, a little risky but as long as the shoulders are up and back it's a great bet on a hot day! So  why am I mentioning the dress?  Just wait.

While standing in line, chatting and enjoying a laugh the dress decided to take a break or maybe make a break....It slipped off my shoulders exposing my..huh hem...upper half.

I screamed.

Dropped my wallet.

Covered up.

Then waited.

Luckily ( for me) Mark was facing the opposite direction and only turned my way in time to see me clutching my upper half with a red face. Chris on the other hand got the whole show.

Then I did what I do best....laughed...because really what else is there?

That dress will now be mainly featured only in my closet.

No word yet on any potential new Timmies dress code policy but I will keep you posted.

 

What? No Paula??

Paula Abdul leaving Idol? Who will drink "Coke" and babble like a crazy cat lady? Oh wait...Simon is still there. Some theories from Richard Rushfield, who used to work for the LA Times and will join Gawker.com soon. She wasn't joking about the money. Abdul was making downwards of 2 million. And she had had enough of this. It's been reported since that she asked for $20 million in a new contract and Idol was willing to bump her up into the range of $4 million. Her manager said she was very serious about not coming back unless the increase was something major. She can get more elsewhere. People say, "But Paula is nothing without Idol!" The proper phrasing might be, she would've been nothing without Idol. But now she is an on-screen character of the biggest show in the world and she's a free agent. There are a lot of networks out there (four to be precise) who would try anything — anything — to take even a small bite out of the Idol juggernaut, and they'd be willing to pay a lot more than $4 million to do it. Why not an Idol competitor starring Paula on another net? Living in the Cowell shadow is only fun for so long. And that amount of time is something less than 8 years. Having to make a fraction of his money, have a fraction of the respect and clout he gets around the set and around the world, eventually the "I'm just lucky to be here" feeling wears off. And once it was announced a few week's back that Seacrest's contract too would soar into the stratosphere, all incentive to take table scraps and keep riding in the back seat evaporated. She wants to be her own woman and mogul. Eight years of filling in the assigned ditsy-whipping girl slot on the panel on someone else's show, forget about whether the slot is deserved, can make you start dreaming about what kind of show you would really like to be doing. Believe it or not, Paula brims with ideas for her own shows — witness her cheerleading competition in the last year. It's not about the money but... the right amount of money could have solved all the above problems. Rushfield guesses that, somehow or other, Idol decided over the last month or so that this should go back to a three judge format — it was universally agreed the four judge panel had become a monster — and the third judge would be Kara whose contract they announced last week ahead of this. They also put out the eye-popping figures Seacrest would be pulling down on his new deal before going into Paula's negotiation. Considering Ryan still had a year left on his contract, there was no reason that had to happen, and if they were really going into a serious negotiation with Paula, having that out there didn't help. ... According to a source close to the show, "FOX offered Abdul a raise, but it was much less than what she was asking for." She asked for about $20 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and rejected a 30 percent raise. If she was making under $3 million a year, a 30% raise would still not bring her anywhere near what her Idol co-workers are getting paid. ... Hours after Paula Abdul announced her departure from American Idol, NBC reality boss Paul Telegdy said he is "absolutely" interested in bringing her to the Peacock Network. He told the New York Post: "I think she is a huge talent. America has huge affection for her. I don't have specifics about shows or show ideas." Mark La Pointe is on line at http://www.killervoiceovers.ca/

Two-year-old Tennis Player

If you've ever felt like tennis was a tough game to master you need to meet two-year-old Jonah Ziff from Britian.  Little Jonah has taken the tennis world by storm by mastering the backhand, forehand and overhand serves...could potty training be next?
 

Check out the video of him playing here

Katy Perry is rolling over in her grave (that she isn't in yet)

You have to check out these Ukranian guys doing the Katy Perry hit HOT and COLD.

AWESOME POLKA PARTY FUN!!!

When real words can't say it....

Here's a great website to use when words that actually exist can't describe how you feel.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

Caution: there is some graphic language.  Not suitable for young eyes or Mark!

Viv : )

Trivia to amaze your friends and impress your family

I LOVE TRIVIA. Silly little facts and anecdotes about all sorts of goofy useless stuff. (you already know that if you listen to the show). Ran across these little tidbits, and thought I'd share them with you. Play-Doh Play-Doh was accidentally invented in 1955 by Joseph and Noah McVicker while trying to make a wallpaper cleaner. It was marketed a year later by toy manufacturer Rainbow Crafts. More than 700 million pounds of Play-Doh have sold since then, but the recipe remains a secret. Potato Chips If you can't eat just one potato chip, blame it on chef George Crum. He reportedly created the salty snack in 1853 at Moon's Lake House near Saratoga Springs, New York. Fed up with a customer who continuously sent his fried potatoes back, complaining that they were soggy and not crunchy enough, Crum sliced the potatoes as thin as possible, fried them in hot grease, then doused them with salt. The customer loved them and "Saratoga Chips" quickly became a popular item at the lodge and throughout New England. ... It was in the 1920s that someone named Laura Scudder invented the airtight bag by ironing together two pieces of waxed paper, thus keeping the chips fresh longer. Slinky In 1943, naval engineer Richard James was trying to develop a spring that would support and stabilize sensitive equipment on ships. When one of the springs accidentally fell off a shelf, it continued moving, and James got the idea for a toy. His wife Betty came up with the name, and when the Slinky made its debut in late 1945, James sold 400 of the bouncy toys in 90 minutes. Today, more than 250 million Slinkys have been sold worldwide. Silly Putty During World War II, while attempting to create a synthetic rubber substitute, James Wright dropped boric acid into silicone oil. The result was a polymerized substance that bounced, but it took several years to find a use for the product. Finally, in 1950, marketing expert Peter Hodgson saw its potential as a toy, renamed it Silly Putty, and a classic toy was born. Go ahead...pull one of those babies out in conversation today...pretend it's yours. I won't tell.

The Trouble with Picnics

 

Today I decided a leisurely way to spend my lunch would be enjoying a sandwich outside picnic style to salvage any bit of summer we are getting.  After picking up a quick chicken salad sandwich at Timmies I attempted to dash across Wellington to the tourism London building across from the radio station.  Anyone who knows this area will realize that no dashing goes about when crossing 4 lanes of one of the busiest roads in the city at lunchtime.  Finally I make it relatively unscathed after almost twisting my ankle and dropping my diet Pepsi, and it's time to look for a spot to picnic.  That table no sun, that table too many bugs...okay I guess this one will do.  Sitting down a gust of wind decided to join the party and blow my running magazine clear off the table.  Recovering the magazine and starting to regret the whole eating outside thing as the sun completely disappeared behind the clouds. The one thing that will save this adventure is my sandwich, I've been looking forward to this chicken salad sandwich all day! I begin to unwrap the cover as a small piece of egg falls to the table.  Puzzled I continued to realize that this just wasn't a piece of egg but rather a single solider in an army of egg salad sandwich...NOOOO!!!! How could this happen?  I quickly job through my memory to find a clue...how could my delicious chicken salad sandwich not be a chicken salad sandwich at all?  Then it hit me.....I accidently order egg instead of chicken...oooppss.

The picnic ended shortly after.

Beauty and the Beast

According to a recent study: “WOMEN GETTING MORE BEAUTIFUL _ Scientists say evolution has led to women, but not men, getting progressively more beautiful. “ Did you catch that? Women but “not men”. Hmmppfff. We grew legs, crawled out of the ocean, got bigger and hairier, managed opposable thumbs, built a fairly decent tool shed in the backyard that only leans a little…but guys…in the looks department…we’re getting the short end of the evolutionary stick. Here’s the science: “Researchers found that attractive women have more children than their less attractive counterparts and that a higher proportion of those children are female. Once those daughters become adult they tend to be good looking themselves and so the pattern is repeated as women over the generations become steadily more aesthetically pleasing. The scientists claim that because attractive couples are less likely to have boy than a girl, men, in contrast, remain as aesthetically unappealing as their caveman ancestors.” As unappealing as our “caveman ancestors”??? HEY JUST CAUSE A GUY HAS A UNI-BROW, WEARS A BEAR SKIN AND PAINTS STICK PEOPLE ON HIS CAVE WALL…DOES NOT MEAN HE’S A CAVEMA…oh wait. Men have learned to embrace their inner caveman (bbq lighting…”fire good”). We still hunt and gather (have you been in the garage lately? We don’t even know what’s IN those boxes). And on occasion we harass a passing dinosaur (“did you see that? The guy cut me off!!”). We may not be evolving into a more beautiful gender, but we don’t care. We don’t have to look at us. Perhaps along with their improving evolutionary beauty, women will need to develop a new trait. Near-sightedness. If they don’t gentlemen, before too long we may be in a lot of trouble.

Why Just 7?

 

So this Swiss adventurer named Bernard Weber is leading a group of experts charged with finding the "new" 7 Wonders of the world.  Although these distinctions won't be handed out for another couple of years, official list due in 2011 ( don't you wish your job had those kind of deadlines?), they have recently released a list of the top 28.  Guess how many Canadian locations have made cut?  One. It's all up to the Bay of Fundy now.

Here's my question, why just 7?  I mean with so many amazing locations in our own country how can we realistically narrow down the breath taking, fantastic sights this planet has to offer? As fluffy as a gig Bernie and his friends have the distinction will highlight these areas making them tourist hotspots and with that brining millions in tourist bucks. 

Canada wants tourists and their coin, even from right here in Canada! (imagine that)  When's the last time you dreamed about an exotic location in your own country?  They do exist...Montmorency Falls in Quebec, Lake Louise in Alberta, what about Algonquin Park just a few hours drive from here?

As wondrous as the world is don't forget our home grown wonders!  In the meantime vote for the Bay of Fundy like our nation is depending on it!

Click here to see the 28 official finalists.

A Cool Photo

Caught this rainbow on my way home last night.  At the corner of Wellington and Commissioners.  Enjoy!  

Fall-Winter-Spring-Fall. Missing something?

It is nearing the end of July and we are having to close our windows at night...cause it's so chilly. What happened to "Hot enough for ya"? Sure we wanted to pop the twenty-ninth person that said it...but at least it was "hot enough for us". Running through the sprinkler, sweating on the beach, spritzing with a water bottle...all of summer's little rituals...missing. On the other hand, my bill for air conditioning is waaaaay down. The cat doesn't look like a wrung out dishrag, and you can garden (between showers) without baking like a potato in the fire. Speaking of gardening...the flowers are happy. Congrats and thanks to all the folks in London who regularly spend so much time and love adding colour to their homes for all of us to enjoy. It's noticed and appreciated (don't forget that Communities in Bloom is coming! And speaking of gardening...I have bees. Ground bees. They are friendly enough (no kamikaze runs at me yet)...but I would prefer that they live at my neighbours house...but so far my attempts at shooing them have been unsuccessful. I don't want to kill them...but I also don't want to run the lawn mower over their area and end up a headline in some tabloid. "EZ rock DJ killed by bees who apparently don't appreciate a lot of Phil Collins". Anywhoo...any suggestions would be helpful. And yes...I tried the hose. WAIT...the hose...RUNNING THROUGH THE SPRINKLER!!! HA! SUMMER IS HERE!!! mark la pointe is online at Killervoiceovers.ca

A Hot Air Balloon Ride is a must!

The thought either frightens the heck out of you or it's one of the most exciting adventures you can think of.

It's on many bucket lists.

And last night I got to doit!

I have a great friend named Anna.  Anna, like many of us have a few things that she could live without ever doing or seeing...a sort of "If I never had to..." list.  One of her "If I never..." is seeing a squirrel . She see's squirrels as rats with cuter outfits, a phrase she coined way before Carrie on Sex and the City. The other "If I never..." for Anna is taking a ride in a hot-air balloon .  When it comes to flying high in a hot-air balloon Anna says "Nylon and fire, no thank you."

But after one of the most majestic experiences of my life last night I'm working to convince Anna and any other hot-air balloon nay sayers this is a must have for your bucket list.

Safety is the number one issue anyone who is scared to ride in one of these amazing balloons. Coincidently ( or not) safety was the number one issue with the guys from Sundance balloons. We checked in early in the day to see if the ride was on, were instructed to call later on and right up until take off it was unclear if we would go. Steve, our piolet, let us know if we take off it's only because its safe to do so.  

The next reason against is a fear of heights.  I've personally never suffered from this fear but my Aunt and Mom who were in the basket both were concerned with this.  Immediatly upon reaching our top height they looked down saying "You can't even feel the height!"

If you've been sitting on the basket about taking a hot-air balloon ride, hope in and do it.  You won't regret it!  Tell Steve and Dustin Viv says hi!

A Funeral with T-shirts

Despite desperately needing a nap after the morning show, I had to tune in, and catch every second of the Michael Jackson Memorial. Glad I did. I've been to funerals (too many)...and this was just another one (mind you a big one...with commemorative t-shirts). Could have done without Mariah Carey's annoying "waving my hands while I sing" thing...but the song was nice. Rev. Sharpton was inspiring. Brooke Shields was real. Like you, I also asked "who is that", when the kid from Britain's got talent performed. Guest after guest spoke of how they would miss their friend and how he touched their lives. Any hope I might have had of not getting choked up vanished when Michael's daughter Paris spoke. I made the mistake of leaving the TV on for a few minutes after the tribute, and had to endure Anderson Cooper ghoulishly asking Larry King "What the coffin looked like from up close". Like a long box, dummy. Hopefully the millions of people who sat and watched like me, took something positive away from the experience. The thought that maybe we need to celebrate our differences, embrace both our weaknesses and our strengths...and realize that as separate as we may seem sometimes...we really are just one big family. And time is always shorter than we think.

Thanks for the memories Micheal.

The shock is slowly wearing off, and the reality of another of our icons leaving before us, is setting in. I was on the air when news came of Micheal Jackson's death. It was almost surreal. Like you...it made me a little introspective...and I sat and thought back over the years. I grew up watching the Jackson 5 Saturday morning cartoon. Years later, I remember calling my local radio station (then CKOC in Hamilton) and bugging the crap out of the DJ to PLEASE play BEN again. Eight years later, I was not the bug-er, but the bug-ee, as I was on the radio in Simcoe playing Rock with You. I recall nearly breaking my ankle trying to Moonwalk in a control room that was waaaaaay too small. I can still remember the night they premiered the Thriller video on tv...it was mesmerizing. It instantly made all other videos of the day look like Dad's home movies. Halloween's have been alot more fun every since that video...it's a staple at every party I've been to since. We all have moments of MJ in our memories. Over the next few days though, the jackals will be circling. The Perez Hiltons and the tabloid tv vampires. I urge you to turn them all off. Ignore them. Don't waste your time or your money on their pain mongering. Instead...share a few memories. Raise a responsible toast to childhood heroes. And maybe dig out your old Micheal Jackson albums from the basement...and take another shot at the moonwalk.

Looking Back at the Relay for Life

Another Relay for Life has come and gone in London. Viv and I were honoured with the invitation to host a few hours on the kick off evening on Friday. We arrived early and watched Nick from A channel do his usual excellent job on stage (he really works hard in this town!) Then it was our turn. Looking at all the faces...the tributes...and the t-shirts...it was hard to know what to say. Survivors, family, friends...those who have only memories to cherish...they were all there. Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, heart to heart. We video-ed the opening few laps (you can see them on our facebook page EZ ride home with Mark and Viv)...and spent as much time as we could down on the track with the teams. We commented on how lucky we were to be healthy. We spoke about the people we knew who had been touched by cancer (miss you Dad). We took in the moment. The candle lighting ceremony happened around 10 on Friday night. The lights of TD Waterhouse were dimmed and all the individual tributes to cancer victims lit up the night. In the stands of the stadium, more candles spelled out the word "Cure". I hope someone was watching.

The Great Golf Day

The Hallowed time is upon us again...the annual Staff Golf Day. In past years I have been able to avoid the event with excuses of having to work, not having to work, or alien abduction. This year however, we were told "NO EXCUSES". It's not that I don't like the game...but that the game doesn't like me. I played once at a resort waaaay down south. A monkey stole my ball. Seriously. (which reminds me, I meant to send the monkey an anniversary card this year) To prepare for the fiasco, Viv and I ventured out to a driving range to hone our skills. And by "hone" I mean "humiliate" and by "skills" I mean "suck". The serious golfers on either side of us pinged and ponged that little white orb far and wide. There was a thick cluster of balls around the 150 and 200 yard markers. Show offs. There was also a thick cluster of obviously defective balls, about two feet in front of Viv and I. Drive? We could have thrown them farther. "Hey", Viv noticed,"Look at your club". A quick peek revealed the problem. The big metal ball thingy on the end was crooked. I touched it, and it fell off the metal sticky thing and landed on my foot. Likely not lawsuit worthy, but I'm mulling it over. The big boss, TOM, is lending me gear to play in our staff golf horror-palooza...so when I saw him today...I thanked him for the upcoming loaner and neglected to tell him about my previous club decapitation incident. I also asked if he could loan me some balls. I won't bother telling you what he said. Look for video of the fiasco on our facebook page EZ ride home with Mark and Viv.

Headband tan

 

As the weather starts to warm 'tis the season for interesting fashion statements. Denim shorts, bathing suits, tank tops and tube tops of every kind. And of course the farmer tan.

 

Oh yes, the farmer tan. A preventable foe that we just can't seem to shake. Year after year the laws of SPF baffle us until around July when we start to get the concept of blocking the sun on our exposed parts so as not to leave the impression of wearing clothes we disrobed hours ago. I myself have already failed to use the SPF as a protector against the farmer tan in, what I consider to be, the worst way. Out for an afternoon run over the weekend I grabbed my iPod, running shorts and headband to keep my newly short do out of my eyes. I didn't want to have to re-do my do ( ladies you hear my on this one) so I placed the headband partly on my forehead and the rest holding back my hair. It worked! The breeze kept my hair suitably dry and off I went with the rest of my day, run done and great hair to boot.

 

Later that night hanging out with family I excused myself to the washroom, did my thing, and as I wash my hands took a peek in the mirror. There right across my forehead like a bright red bang line was the worst headband tan I've ever seen. What?!?! Did my family notice this? They must have, it was like a bright neon sign reading "This women has no idea how to use sun screen." When questioned on it my family admitted, giggly, that yes they had seen the tan and yes it was the funniest thing they've seen in a while.

 

Lesson learned. Headband tan, bad. SPF, good.

Flying Elephants

I'm sure your life is twice as busy as mine, so finding time to lay out in the sun (when we get some) for a few minutes is pure gold. I found a few golden moments a few days back. Headphones and lotion on, I stretched out in the backyard for some serious vitamin D absorption. A few blissful minutes had passed, when I felt an odd "plop" on my chest. Thinking my HIGH-larious neighbours had dumped something on me...I opened one way and looked down. No neighbours had pranked me. Instead I was covered from collar bone to belly button in bird poop. Painted. Schmeared. He must have been saving up, or he was a flying elephant, because I was more poop than pale skin. I looked like the guy who brought an ipod to a poop fight. So over to the hose I stomped. Icey cold reality splashed off my shame (it took awhile). Reasonably rinsed, I returned to my lounge chair, jammed the headphones back on, and continued my sun bath. With one eye open.

Lost…and FOUND!!!

 

Have you ever lost your wallet?  You start to evaluate the true measure of the loss.  How much money did I have in it?  How long with it take to get a new drivers license?  Birth Certificate?  Did I have that receipt for the vacuum I really want to return?  A sinking feeling to say the least.Now multiply that feeling by all the lost wallets in the world and you're still light years away from what it must feel like to lose a child.

That feeling was all too real for the parents of little 4-year-old Daniel Conner last night after they realized he'd wondered away from his Dingman drive home.  Police were called, responded, and within a matter of minutes a full scale search involving police, firefighters, EMS, OPP, and RCMP was underway.  The people who are trained to deal with these emergent situations reacted the way they skillfully know how....but they weren't alone.

One by one regular citizens heard the news of the missing boy and responded the way human nature trained them to do by showing up.  Some with dogs or four wheelers, coats and flashlights and more still in the very clothes they heard the news in.  Close to a hundred regular heroes scoured the area determined to bring Daniel home, and they did. 

After almost eleven hours after wondering away the 4 year old was found safe and sound near his home giving his parents a feeling of relief that they will no doubt never forget. 

Everyday police, firefighters and EMS respondents put themselves into dangerous situations for the greater good of fellow mankind and I can't thank them enough for their bravery.  Today I want to also acknowledge the bravery that lives in us all and the humanity that made this little boy "our" little boy.  Daniel is safe back with his family the Conners and I hope he knows somehow that family extends far beyond the doors of his Dingman drive home.

Is it nerves or the coffee?

I'm sorry what were you saying? 

It's a phrase I find myself saying a lot these days, I can now admit it...My name is Viv and I am distracted.  Now, in some jobs being distracted isn't a big deal but in most it just doesn't fly. Oh you want some examples...okay, distracted pilot....hello crash zone.  Distracted cement pourer...crooked sidewalk.  And how about a distracted mechanic...umm I actually wanted the tires rotated, not removed completely, thanks. 

So why am I distracted, well I'm nervous, it's true.  This isn't a feeling I'm very familiar with, in fact I had to look the meaning up to make sure this is what I was experiencing.  Definitions for nervous include....appearing or acting unsteady,(check) erratic, ( yep) or irregular use of inanimate things ( that's my daily habit ).  It's settled I'm nervous.

The nerves are coming from a new challenge I undertaking, becoming a cycling instructor.  It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, something I've been training for and something I think I'll be good at but still the nerve prevail as I prepare for the final steps this week. 

Now that I know I'm being effected by this nervousness, I resolve to summon the inner Viv, the child that lives in us all.  The one who stood on top of the monkey bars after climbing them without the ladder, looked down at the 12 foot drop and laughed while the Mothers gasped.  I'm calling on the invincible feeling that taught to ride a bike in the first place.

Now matter how grown up I am, I never want to lose that Viv.

How's your grass?

Brown spots...eeech. Weird patches that are growing like mutant grass from another planet...while other blades are stubbornly refusing to do a thing. That's my lawn. And of course...the weeds. I have a "yanky-outy-thingy" (yes that's it's actual name)...but it leaves monstrous divets in the lawn that a few neighbourhood pets have disappeared into. TO THE SPRAYER AISLE BATMAN! With the new chemical ban in effect, I thought I'd try out a new product that contains "Corn-something-or-other", to try to keep the weeds down. I think it helped some...but I still have some weeds trying to test my sanity. Sooooo to deal with the other weeds that HAVE shown their ugly mugs...I'm trying an ECO-SENSE product. You have to spray it carefully, because it will turn everything brown...but it seems to work pretty well. It smells like vinegar. Contents say it IS vinegar. Hmmm...perhaps other condiments would help as well. A little ketchup for the dandilions. Some seasoning for the thistles. I no longer have a lawn. I have a salad. Have a great "lawn" weekend.

Our Cool new Cinemas

Wow...last week was a crazy one. First the Gala night at the new Westmount Cineplex...then the opening on Friday (where I had to wear a Star Trek uniform after I lost my bet to Viv). If you haven't been to the new theatre's yet...GO. The new VIP areas are awesome. Grown ups only, bit comfy chairs, and in seat service. Yes...you can say "While you're up, can you get me a drink"...and they don't stomp to the fridge and give you the stink eye...you know...like they do at home. It makes going to the movies an "event" again. Tell them I sent you. Them might let you in anyway. P.S. For photos and video...go to our Facebook page, EZ ride home with Mark and Viv.

Technology Pickle

 

Technology is great! Thanks to GPS I never have to fold a map again, something that used to cause me great stress.  Thanks to caller ID I can prepare myself to hear my Mother's voice on the other end of the line and ready my mind for a 45 minute monologue about what kind of wool is best to use to make baby blankets.  And Facebook, love the Facebook.  I can now instantly see pictures of my old next-door neighbour's cousins wedding anytime I want. Very useful.

But with all that is good, a downside can be found.

I just found it with the Facebook message option.  A great quick option to send friends and families a note simply by typing in their names.  So type I did, Lindsay. Great.  I proceeded to detail my weekend (including a couple of rants) to Lindsay and suggest we get together next weekend using a few inside joke nicknames about our significant others.  I finished up with a quick, Cheers! And sent it along.  Then I checked the newsfeed, I have to know who feels lucky today ( thanks status update). Then it hit me. Gulp. I neglected to check the last name of Lindsay and realized that my oh so perky and personalized message went to a not so close Facebook friend.  Not a disaster but a lesson all the same. Double check before you click!

Oh and by the way, now neither Lindsay wants to hang out with me this weekend!

Looking for a hero?

I've been spending my weekend walking in the footsteps of super heroes.  Ordinary men and women with normal jobs dressed in tights in their off time doing things most people just baulk off.  Beyond the personal accomplishments of keeping bodies in shape and breaking personal speed or distance records these seemingly normal humans are taking on the extraordinary task of inspiring change.  Move over Barak, runners have been doing it for 113 years in Boston!

These are people like the 64 year old women originally from the
Philippines I just met in the lobby of my hotel.  She was a runner all her life but it never dawned on her to enter a running race until the age of 60 when she thought a marathon might be fun.  She's now completed six full marathons and placed top three in each of them in her age group.  The light of her accomplishment sparkled in her youthful eyes (I can barely believe she's 64) and her energy is infectious.

Or what about  Dick and Rick Hoyt.  A father-son team who will run their 1000th road race together tomorrow.  An amazing accomplishment for any one until you consider the fact that Dick is 65 and Rick can neither talk nor walk. Dick has pushed his paralyzed son over finish lines for the past 25 years.  Just last weekend I watched this inspiring duo cross the finish line in the Ironman in Hawaii on TV. I had the luck to meet them today.
Makes that scarf you've been trying to finish knitting look like a synch huh?

Perhaps my most enlightening moment today came from my very own cheering crew.  My husband Jeff, father-in-law Jamie and I entered a 5Km race as a warm up for today's big event even though I'm the only one running tomorrow.  Jamie who recently got into distance walking (don't know who pushed him into that) decided to give jogging a try despite being  arthritic for the past 12 years.  He did it, in stealer time only 32 minutes! My husband and I were shocked, but the surprise on Jamie's face said it all.  He surprised himself and I suspect realized limits he thought he had no longer exist.

If one by one these people can surprise themselves by pushing their physical and mental limits could pushing the limits on our humanity be much farther?  There are no frowns in Boston this weekend.  No one looks down on others or judges their worth.  We are all worthy. There is only encouragement, celebration and inspiration to make this place we live just a little bit better. 

Doesn't sound like a bad way to live does it? 

That's my super world.

The Big Day

As I write this, Viv is doing some serious stretches, getting set to join a field of thousands of like minded running maniacs, on a tour of Boston (the hard way). She is stretching her calves, her glutes, her bingus, and all sorts of other muscles whose names I don't know and therefore must make up (see "bingus"). She is going through the mental exercise of making her mind think that her body actually enjoys running over 26 miles...up and down hills...non-stop. She has lost toenails while running courses shorter than Boston. She has calluses on her feet thick enough to act as heat shields on the space shuttle (she showed me once during a "gross out contest"...she won). I wonder if she is thinking of that right now...while I am sitting comfortably, eating a bowl of Count Chocula and sipping my second coffee of the morning. Instead she is likely thinking of the generous folks who logged on to our website and supported our "Boston Bandit". If you did, your name is on her shirt...and she is running for you and for London's Children's Hospital. Run Forrest...run.

The Boston Bandit need you!!!!

It's almost here! It's almost here!
The Astral Day of Caring -10th annual radiothon for Children's
Hospital (try saying that ten times fast) is just around the corner! Each year the buzz surrounding this event starts well before the first donation is pledged and the emotions from heart wrenching stories  last a lifetime.  The event brings a transformation to all involved.  I wanted to do something, anything to help...but what? 

Well, my surgeon skills are less than par and I don't even know how to spell Cystic Fibrosis ( I looked that up) let alone how devestating it can be. So I thought it best to leave the important work up to the caring staff at Children's.  They work miricles everyday. So that leaves me out of becomming a staffer.

Everyday? Everyday? What do I do everyday??? I know...Run!!!  Last fall I ran a quilifying  marathon  and on April 20th I will participate in the 113th Boston Marathon for the first time.  This has long been a goal of mine.  I put hours of training in through rain, sun and snow; pain, injuries and exhaustion.  Tough...true but no where near the strength exemplified by the children and parents that need Children's everyday.

I will dedicate each mile, Km, step I take in the Boston Marathon to those children, their parents and the increadible staff at Children's hospital.  I will run in a shirt with the names of some of the brave Children fighting right now in our city.  I will run in hopes that someday they will join me.

Please join me in this journey in honoring these amazing people.  I am the Boston Bandit, trying to raise as much as possible for an amazing device that will help transport the most fragile of the Children's patients, infants.

Click here to pledge me!

Viv

How????

How could I manage to nearly de-finger myself...in the shower?

Coffee, coffee, me like coffee

Coffee, coffee, coffee...Viv's on straight black coffee!!!!!

I've never been a coffee girl. It wasn't a personal choice it just sort of happened, I never really thought much of the smell and never needed the extra boost.  I'm sort of on ultra boost all the time. I've always secretly laughed at those in my office who trail back and forth to the near-by Timmies day after day, hour after hour.  Thinking how could they fall into that trap?  Who needs coffee?
But for some reason last fall I started to dabble.  My cousin and I walked into a Tim Hortons.  She ordered a half hot chocolate/half coffee and I thought "Huh, didn't know you could do that???"
I tried it....it was good...really good.  I stared getting one everyday. First it was half and half then I moved to a quater and three quaters...then I switched to black.  Yep, in just a few weeks I had moved to the hard stuff.  Someone call A&E I need an intervention. 

Viv

Twighlight Highlight

A big thank you to all those who joined us for the Twightlight viewing our basement on Friday night!  It was a ton of fun!  I must say that is the largest group of people to see me in my PJs.
It was a lot more fun than my usual Friday nights with a jar of Cheez Whiz and a box of Triscuits.

Let's do it again soo, this time how about your basement?

March Break Animal madness

If you get the chance, head over to Ray's Reptile show at Westmount mall before it ends on Sunday.

Bailout Shmailout

Hey...where's my bailout?

Days makes my Day!

Life is busy.

 

Wake up, workout, eat something, clean something, trip over something, say something I shouldn't say.

 

Drive somewhere, wait in line, buy something, forget something, remember it just too late. Head to work.

 

Say hello, say good-bye, update, email, fax, voicemail, dial, re-dial, leave a message, retrieve a message, meet, greet, eat and repeat.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. My life is great! Each day presents a new challenge that I welcome with open arms. Those challenges however take a lot of effort that can wear on a person leaving them needing some time each day to unwind and gear up for the next batch of life.

 

I need a few minutes each day, 40 minutes to be exact. Some turn to the bubble bath while others prefer a strict cleaning regime, much more productive than most guilty pleasures. My release starts with three simple letters and carries me off to a land similar to my own but BETTER, much BETTER. A world where there's no such thing as a bad hair day, you don't have to have a job to have a great new outfit everyday and even if you do have a job you spend most of your time chatting with the great looking man in your life about how destined you are to be with each other. Oh yes, each day my PVR is there for me when I bust through the door with four little words that will melt whatever the day has thrown at me away. Days of our Lives.

 

Will Sami and Raef get together? When is EJ going to find out about Nicole's lies? Man, Kate looks great for a grandmother!!! Sure none of these things matter and that's exactly the point.

 

I say soap operas. You think cheesy, bad acting maybe totally predicable. I think the great escape.

The Great Green Conundrum

Happy St. Patty's day! What happened to my green?

A Spectacular Sunday

So...how was your Spectacular Sunday?

Beef or Chicken?

I love food!  Seriously the reason I get up in the morning is breakfast.  Just thinking about peanut butter melting into the vast nooks and cranny's of a perfectly toasted whole wheat English muffin makes me want to jump out of bed before the rooster crows.

What I loathe about food is deciding.  There are just too many choices all delicious and satisfying in their own way.  Chicken or beef?  Sushi or subs?  Angel hair pasta or deviled eggs?  Most of the time I just don't decide. I end up standing in front of the fridge, door ajar, shoving olives, cold rice and string cheese into my face until I'm too full at actually eat.

Lately I've been using a couple of really cool websites that take the whole deciding factor out of eating. 
allrecipes.com and http://www.cookingbynumbers.com/frames.html are are great sites where you simply type in the ingredients that you have on hand and voila!  A quick list of simple recipes all decided for you. 

These sites have been a real time and sanity saver in my life.  I've even found myself in a peculiar position during dinner...at the kitchen table!

Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Viv