Summer Kick Off

Last weekend was the first long weekend of the summer. Although the weather didn't really say "summer" to me. On Saturday my friend Scott Thompson got married. We headed down to Sarnia and just made it in time for wedding. Yes, we were actually walking up just as the mothers of the bride & groom were being seated! It was a nice outdoor ceremony.

Sunday was another chilly day. Jason worked in Goderich and when he was done, we headed to his friend Corbin's house for a BBQ. It was good to meet some of the Dryden boys. A bunch of highschool friends that now live in this area of the province. We were all wowed by the amazing display of fireworks that Corbin & Cathy provided...including one that exploded little parachuters!

We decided to head to Niagara Falls on Monday. We rarely have the same day off so we took advantage. After a bit of a detour in Burlington to find me a bathroom, we finally made it to the falls. I was blown away by the number of Starbucks! Seriously, there was one on every corner! Between the Starbucks there were all kinds of cheesy tourist traps. One place even allowed you to create a cast of your hand in wax. Ummm, ya. I thought that was a little strange. Since deciding to go Niagara Falls, all Jason could talk about was Dracula's Haunted House. So, of course, we had to go! I warned Jason that I would probably be jumpy. I wasn't prepared for HIS reaction in the haunted house. To be fair, he was the one being grabbed by the invisible creepy-crawlies. At the end of the evening, they had fireworks over the falls (because it was Victoria Day). It was a great weekend.

Catching Up

A new blog post? Really? Yes...it's true. I know I've been very negligent lately with my blog. I've had several people comment on this....so I thought it was time to post. I have to admit the main reason for this procrastination is FACEBOOK. This phenomenon is so addictive! Although, it's been pretty cool to reconnect with people I haven't seen in years.

So, what have I been up to lately? Hmmmm....well, after much consideration (and obsessing) I purchased a Mac Book Pro. In fact, I'm sitting on my couch with my feet up creating this entry! I love it. I haven't really discovered all the features yet, but so far so good.

My nephew Josh turned 6 a few weeks ago and we had a special day together to celebrate. We went mini-golfing, rode the go-karts and bumper cars and of course, had lunch at McDonalds. It was a lot of fun.

Mini Blinds, Paper Cranes and South Africa

While in my car on Sunday afternoon, I heard an interview on CBC radio with the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa. Listening to the songs they played re-ignited my interest in South African music. Of course, I loved Paul Simon's Graceland album. From there I discovered Ladysmith Black Mambazo. However, it's been a while since I've listened to this style of music. I LOVE it! Great discovery.

Yesterday I started installing some mini blinds on my windows. At first it was a little tricky, but I was able to get 2 of 3 finished! I even got to use (for the first time) my cordless drill I got for Christmas! I'm so proud of myself. :)

Today, my mom turns 60 years old. As I like to remind her, she is now double my age. We celebrated the occasion when we all got together for Easter on Friday. By about Tuesday I decided it would be fun if I could give her 60 "somethings" for her birthday. But what would the somethings be? I finally decided on writing 60 memories on slips of paper and then folding them into paper cranes. What a delightful idea!! Tuesday night at work I downloaded paper crane instructions from the internet and taught myself the proper order of folds. For some strange reason, I didn't really work on them again until THURSDAY!!! When I left for work I had 5 done. Only 55 to go. I worked diligently during our newscasts (and our producers both thought I was insane...and maybe I was) and had 28 done by the time I got home at midnight. Since I had to have them done the next day, I made myself some tea, popped in a Gilmore Girls DVD and got to work. By 2:30 my finger tips were very sore and I had 54 paper cranes done. I went to bed as I could not fold another. My plan was to make another 6 and give them to my mom later...claiming to have found them after the fact. However, Jason wouldn't let me off the hook so easily. I taught him the folds with our napkins at brunch and we slipped downstairs and folded 6 more while everyone was cleaning up. So, the project was finished. And, my mom LOVED it! It provided some entertainment that afternoon as she unfolded and read aloud the anecdotes of our childhood. So Duane, if you're reading this...you owe me one. You of little faith, didn't think I would finish!!

The Big 3Oh

The big day has come and gone. Last Friday I turned the big three-OH. It actually turned out to be a great day! For some reason, I had been letting the number bother me, but I decided it was just another birthday and one to celebrate...so I did!

I started the day off by going to Tetherwood Spa with my sister Jo-Anne. It was such a great way to begin my birthday. We lounged in the sun room with a coffee and then had a relaxing spa pedicure. It felt so great, and our toes looked fantastic!! We had to wait for the polish to dry, so we headed back the sun room for a while.

Then I met Char for lunch. Being the old woman that I am, we met at Swiss Chalet for some chicken. Yes, I know...BORING...but why mess with a good thing? I love the chicken!! After lunch we headed out to do a little shopping. Overall, it wasn't terribly successful, but I did manage to get a new black sweater and an INSPI(RED) shirt from the Gap. I'd been wanting one for a while, so I thought I might as well pick it up then.

After an afternoon of shopping I headed home to get ready for the evening. Jason picked me up and we went for dinner at CASA Restaurante on King Street. What a fantastic place...great food, nice atmosphere. Unfortunately we were running a little late, so I kept a few people waiting at the Palasad! It was all good though. By the time I got there, everyone had figured out they were all waiting for me and were well acquainted!

I was so glad to have so many friends come out to join me. If you were one of them, I'm sorry I was running from table to table the whole night and not able to spend a lot of time with anyone in particular! I guess that's how it goes. But, I do appreciate you coming out to celebrate! If you weren't at the Palasad, I'm sorry I missed you!

03.14

Happy PI day everyone!

To Tattoo? Or Not To Tattoo?

For the past few years I've been kicking around the idea of getting a small tattoo on my lower back. After much consideration, I determined I'd get an autumn maple leaf. I'm very proud to be a Canadian and fall is my favourite season. (and I much prefer realistic foliage to the stylized leaf of the flag) Up until now I have been too chicken to actually get the tattoo. However, I decided to give myself a deadline...my 30th birthday.

Guess what is looming in the near future? Yes, my 30th birthday. So, now the time has come. To tattoo or not to tattoo? That is the question. I've been polling people for the past week, with mixed results. I've heard everything from cute to sexy. And then there's the flip side... "tattooing a woman's lower back is like sawing a violin in half". (well, that's a little dramatic) It's the only place I think I would consider getting one, and besides...I'd never have to see it!

So, until I am absolutely certain, my back remains a blank canvas.

Family Fun

The roar of the engine, the smell of diesel fuel, the rush of wind as you fly across the open field. This is snowmobiling, and I had forgotten just how fun it is until Sunday. Jason & I headed out to John & Karen's house in the afternoon. After bundling up in snowpants, scarf, hat, helmet, etc. we were good to go. Apparently I was taking it a little fast around the corner of the yard on my second time around because I TIPPED it! Yikes!! It was a gentle tip and soon we were back on track. (whew, but I took the corners a little more cautiously after that!) It was super cold on Sunday and my face felt like it was going to crack and fall off, but it was so worth it to whip across the vast expanse of white snow.

When we had enough, we headed inside and played a rousing game of "Polly Pocket" With Abby. A unique game where your little doll-player starts out in her underwear and you have to make your way around the board to find the pieces of your outfit. Being the super-shopper I am, I was able to get my top, skirt and purse before anyone else and won the game! Wahoo!

John went and picked up pizza from Alvinston (I had no idea you could order pizza in Alvinston) and we finished it off with apple pie. Jason & I were both introduced to a new concept from John: maple syrup on apple pie! After dinner I discovered my severe lack of skills at foosball and after a demonstration of Josh's newest suction-cup gun, it was time for the kids to head to bed and us to head back to Petrolia (just in time for the Superbowl)

Little Elliott

I love this photo! It is a picture of Elliott Robitaille. He is the son of my dear friend Amy and her husband Patrick. I just love the look in his eyes. He really is adorable! I'm so happy for them. And, of course, can't wait for a visit so I can hold him again! Babies are such a great way to start people!!

My friend Laurence sent me this quote today... and I thought it was worth sharing. "Music is what feelings sound like."

A Large Fortune ...Cookie

One day, as I walked into the newsroom, I noticed something peculiar. Everyone I passed was opening a fortune cookie. Perhaps there was some sort of chinese luncheon I missed? Strange. I made my way to my desk and I too was offered a fortune cookie. Our assignment supervisor had a HUGE chinese take-out box (with a CNN logo on it) filled with fortune cookies and was handing them out like he was Santa Claus. I took my cookie and asked Andy if I could please have the big take-out box when he was done with it. It just made me laugh and I had to have it!!
On Saturday night, Karla Ann came down for a visit. After an awesome dinner at Foolini Koolini's and lots of great conversation...we decided to make a giant fortune cookie for the giant take-out box. Being the crafty creature that she is...KA had made fortune cookies before. This skill came in handy! We determined to fill the box with regular fortune cookies and place one large one on top. The next day I delivered it to Jason. I think his face said it all! He He. If only I'd thought of the giant chopsticks!!

My Friend, the Radio Producer

On Monday night, I was driving home after my first afternoon shift. It was about 11:45pm and I had my radio tuned to FM96. When the song was over, I heard a familiar voice hit the airwaves... my friend Greg! I knew that he had a radio show, but had never heard it (due to the late hour) I was so proud! Greg writes, produces and hosts the show called Albums That Matter http://www.fm96.com/station/albums_that_matter.cfm on FM96. Check it out Sundays at 9pm or Mondays at 11pm.

Greg & I met while doing our co-op placements at (then) The New PL. He was in high school, I was in college. We really hit it off and have remained friends since then. Because our schedules are very different, we don't see each other often, but perhaps that will change with my new "evening shift". Greg is one of the funniest people I know. In fact, I like to call him my Superhero of Destiny. :) And of course, it's always fun to discuss our favourite show Gilmore Girls.

Grammie's 80th etc.

One week after celebrating Steve's 40th birthday, we celebrated my Grammie's 80th birthday! This is definitely a year of "ohs" in my family...with my 3-oh approaching much too quickly for my liking. Saturday was spent with family and friends, drinking coffee, eating cake and celebrating the remarkable life of my Grammie. Based on previous posts, I'm sure you can tell she is very special to me, so it was great to be able to celebrate such a milestone with her. I always like to tease her that she's half a century older than me!

Saturday night Jason & I went on a "double date" with Connie & Steve. We headed out for dinner at Wagg's and then did a little "rockin' bowling" at the Marcin Bowl. I actually surprised myself with my skill level that night! I'm not a bowler by any stretch of the imagination, but I actually got several strikes & spares and ended up with a final score of 102. Due to a technical glitch...Steve ended up winning with a fake score of 115 but really Jason was the winner of the evening, edging me out by ONE point.

Yesterday Jason & I spent the day watching Prison Break. Yes, I'm obsessed with that show...I've even posted about it before. What can I say? I love it. We ended up making our way through 10 episodes with 12 more to go.

Today I started my new regime at work. I discovered last Wednesday that as of today, my schedule would change to 3:15-11:45pm. Needless to say, this is a big change. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it yet, but I'm trying to look at the positives. I got to sleep in this morning and I'll be able to go to midnight movies if I want. (I probably won't but the option is there if I want!) It will be nice in the summer when I can head to the beach BEFORE work. However, it also means I won't see some of my favourite co-workers anymore as they will be gone by the time I get here, and I'll have no "evenings". I'm adjusting.

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I've been a busy girl. I'd like to introduce all my blog-readers to the person that's been taking up all my time... Jason!

Less Than A Week To Go...

Wow, I can't believe today is December 20th! Five days until Christmas! I'm actually feeling pretty prepared this year. My shopping is done, I only have ONE project unfinished (a scrapbook for my Grammie) and a relatively free schedule from now until the big day! As of Friday, I'm on vacation until January 2nd. Wahoo! In that time I have SO many people I'm getting together with...hopefully it all works out. I can't wait to meet Baby Elliott!

Yesterday I discovered the joys of text messaging. How convenient...it's like MSN on the go. Very cool. I'm hooked.

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with my friends Chris & Dana. Chris & I work together but never really get to see each other. Dana used to work with us and the last time I saw her was the summer. It will be nice to catch up and we're going to one of my favourite restaurants...Coppa Di Gelatto.

I think I'm going to rent "Christmas Vacation" tonight. It's one of my favourite holiday flicks and I haven't watched it yet this year.

Be sure to check out Simon & Claire's travel blog on the right of the screen. They are on a year-long trip around the world and Simon is an amazing photographer, so it makes for some pretty sweet armchair traveling.

I Did It!

Yesterday I finished my Christmas shopping. What a great feeling! And I didn't have to fight the crowds at the mall. I went to Petrolia and went shopping with my sister. It was great because there were no line-ups and I got unique items that I wouldn't have found had I just gone to the mall. As a bonus, I ran into a few people I haven't seen in a long time. Feels good to have that done :)

Getting to know me...

This is one of those things that gets sent around in your e-mail circles. I know some people find them annoying, but I think they're kind of fun and sometimes give you some insight into people that you wouldn't have known otherwise. I decided to post my answers here so you could learn a little something about me today!

1. What is your occupation? Graphics Girl - A-Channel, London
2. What color are your socks right now? black3. What are you listening to right now? Matt Costa - The Road4. What was the last thing that you ate? a berry smoothie for breakfast
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes… every day. Although I couldn't really when I bought my car :)
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Sassy Red
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Char
8. Favourite band: that's a really tough one...some of my top favourites: Beatles, Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Matt Costa, Dave Matthews Band, U2
9. How old are you today? 2910. Favorite Drink? gingerbread latte11. What is your favorite sport to watch? none
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, that reminds me, I need to make an appointment14. Favorite Food? BBQ Steak15. What was the last movie you watched? The Holiday16. Favorite day of the year? Christmas Eve17. What do you do to vent anger? vent to Char18. What was your favorite toy? my cheerbear19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall20. Hugs or kisses? Both
21. Cherries or blueberries? Cherries22. Living arrangements? one roommate... Jodi23. When was the last time you cried? Monday night
24. What is on the floor of your closet? Christmas presents25. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Nicole26. What did you do last night? went to Williams for a chai latte with Sue.27. Favorite smells? fresh laundry, the beach28. What inspires you? hmmm, a deadline29. What are you afraid of? blue foods
30. Favorite dog breed? I'm not much of a dog person, but I think I like labs
31. Number of keys on your key ring? 632. How many years at your current job? 7.533. Favorite day of the week? Monday night...because of Prison Break (otherwise Sunday)34. How many states have you lived in? None ...just Ontario35. Favorite Holidays? Christmas & Canada Day
36. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? I LOVE motorcycles and heavy machinery... well, I'd say a tractor. I've driven a tractor.

I take that back...

Ok, last night I was singing the praises of the fluffy blanket of snow. Um, I take that back. While it is still really beautiful...it has basically shut down our city! Today everything is closed from the University to the bus line. I went out to shovel this morning (after shovelling at 9pm last night) and the snow was about 2 feet deep against the door. I managed to scoop out a little path to the sidewalk which was also completely filled in. So, I cleared a path to our laneway. Jodi (who is a teacher on SNOW DAY) is currently out there trying to uncover her car. The photo above shows how much snow fell after she came in last night at 10pm. Today is the first day in 7.5 years that work actually called me to say... "hold off on coming in until we see how things go". The crazy thing is that tomorrow the temperature is going above zero and will stay there for a few days, so I guess it won't be lasting long. In the meantime, if you live in London, enjoy your snow day. If you don't live in London, apparently you have no idea what I'm talking about!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

My intention was to rant about how much I hate the snow...and for the most part I do. However, as I went out to shovel the drive tonight, I realized that the snow can actually be quite beautiful...almost poetic. I went out tonight about 9pm and it was so quiet. The snow was coming down in giant white flakes and landing silently on the ground. Even the cars that drove past were somewhat muffled under the fluffy white blanket. When you don't have to drive in it, the snow can be a wonderful thing.

Random Thoughts

I consider myself to be a pretty healthy person. So, when woke up with a cold yesterday, I was surprised and a little annoyed. I take vitamin C on a daily basis in the winter months to avoid such situations. However, here I am...my sinuses all stuffy and a nice red nose. And tired! I can't believe how tired I am. Last night I took a Nyquil and went to bed by 9pm! Usually Nyquil is a magic drug and I get a nice sound sleep, but last night I tossed and turned, propped my head with pillows, then removed them, even trying to sleep in the chair in the livingroom for a while. All this to say I have a cold and am not enjoying the stupor that I feel I'm in.

I can't believe it's already December 6th! I haven't even sent out ANY Christmas cards yet! Yikes. I really need to get moving on some things...and SHOPPING is one of them. I bought gifts for my nieces & nephews in September and since then have had this idea in my head that I'm ahead of the game this year. However, I haven't done any shopping since. Now I'm perplexed for good ideas and am soon running out of time! On Saturday I'm planning a trip to Port Huron and am hoping that will finish things off.

Congratulations to my friend Sarah. She got a new job this week at City TV in Toronto. She'll be doing a lot of the same things she's currently doing at her job at OMNI but I think she's looking forward to a change. I believe she starts the 2nd week of January. Way to go Sarah!

Welcome to the World Elliott

I am happy to report that Amy & Patrick are the proud new parents to Elliott Graham Robitaille. He was born on Wednesday, November 29th at 3:10pm. They are all doing very well, and to quote Amy, he's "impressing us with his cuteness every minute of the whole day that we have known him."

what's on your i-pod?

I thought it might be kind of fun to see what people are listening to. Leave a comment and list the last 5 songs played on your i-pod.

Mine are:

All Of You - Tony Bennett
F-Stop Blues - Jack Johnson
Politik - Coldplay
Seymour Stein - Belle & Sebastian
Girl Next Door - Matt Costa

Crazy Day

During my lunch-hour today, I heard an interesting page on the intercom system. Apparently there was some sort of "situation" in the lobby. I decided to go and take a look. It was the same man that had come to the station last week when he wanted to let his views on poverty be known.

Today he came back and was more assertive than the last time. There was quite a little crowd gathering in the upper part of the lobby with several staff members in the lower part preventing the man from entering the building.

Before the police got here, he had urinated on our Christmas tree and lit up a cigarette inside the building. He was taken away without much incident, but it was definitely and interesting afternoon at the A-Channel Studios.

He Comes From The Land Down Under....

Last night I went to see Xavier Rudd at Centennial Hall. I think he's about the most talented multi-tasker I've ever seen! I thought it was pretty impressive when I saw Jacob Moon http://www.jacobmoon.com use the "jam-man" to loop his own music and play over it. But this was even better!

Xavier sat on a little platform amidst various drums, guitars, didgeridoos, and tropical-looking plants. As he sang, he also kept time with his barefoot on some sort of drum machine. He would also play the guitar, harmonica, didgeridoo as well as a multitude of other drums (even a clay pot at one point) But the impressive part was he was doing this simultaneously! VERY cool.

I was introduced to his music through my friend Laurence this summer. We both became a little obsessed and when I found out he was coming to London, we jumped on board and got tickets. It was an awesome concert and I encourage you to check him out at http://www.xavierrudd.com or watch the video below.

Due Date Party!

On Saturday I went to my first "due date party". :) My friend Amy decided a few weeks ago that since she was due on a Saturday, she might as well have a party! This was such an "Amy" idea. As predicted, no baby yet. But, it was a good time to get together and anticipate the new bambino! Can't wait to hear the big news!

Jeff Craig

This is my friend Jeff. He keeps bugging me to put him in my blog, so here he is...his very own post. Some of the things Jeff likes: Smoked Salmon, "Rescue Me" (TV show), Shakespeare In Love, scaring away burglars and bad jokes. Things Jeff does not like: Danny Bonaduce, apple pie (apparently) and making dubs of my Grammie's DVD.

Comments

If you're here reading my blog, I'd love for you to leave a comment. Otherwise I think no one's reading! Thanks.

I'm so glad we did this trip. What an awesome experience. I just adore my Grammie and this trip proved to me how brave she was to come to Canada and leave everything she knew behind her. What a love story!

The Main Event....

On Wednesday, we were up early and headed to Pier 21 for the day-long celebration. Grammie was thrilled when she got her VIP badge with her name on it. We walked around and saw the exhibits and took in the really cool multi-media presentation. Soon it was time for the vow-renewal ceremony. There were 18 couples that renewed their vows after 60 years of marriage. It was so cute!

Lots of mingling and listening of stories (which boat, how the couple met, etc) and then it was off to the Gala Dinner. It was a beautiful evening with celtic dancers, the Premier of Nova Scotia, an orchestra, piper and A CONGA LINE to finish the evening off!! It was a hoot, seeing all these 80+ year old women shuffling along in a line to "It's A Long Way To Tipperary". He he.

Day Two - Warbride Reunion

Our second day we had "free". We weren't really sure what we were going to do until we got there and looked through some brochures. We settled on heading to see an exhibit on Anne Frank at the Museum of Natural History. It was pretty neat, but there was a large group of school children there and after a while...we were ready to go!

We had some lunch and then headed down to the boardwalk as it was a lovely day. We took a nice walk along the water and enjoyed the time outside.

The VIA train carrying 250 warbrides was due to arrive at the train station at 4:30 so we headed over to welcome them. The station was a buzz of activity before the train even arrived. Cadets, Red Hat Society, Reporters, Warbrides and general well-wishers were all gathering.

We happened to meet a sweet lady named Jeanie that came on the same boat as Grammie just a few months before her. She was there with her daughter and we made an instant connection. When the band started playing the old war-time songs, Grammie & Jeanie were dancing away. It was such a great moment, I realized I was so lucky to have this chance. What a great memory!

Because of all the well-wishers that lined the tracks on the way to Halifax, the train was an hour and a half late. But, it was worth it to see these ladies (still full of the spunk and sense of adventure that brought them to Canada in the first place) get off the train. Many were overwhelmed with the welcome as it was like a cross between a Hollywood Premiere and Military Honour Guard.

We decided to have dinner with our new friends at a restaurant close-by.

Warbride Reunion

This week I flew to Halifax with my Mom & Grammie to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Canadian Warbride. What a wonderful experience for us to share!

We headed out Monday morning for the Hamilton airport. It was my mom's first time on an airplane so she was a little nervous. Once we were onboard, I was disappointed to learn that we did not have seat-back TV's on our plane. :( Fortunately, I brought a book so I just did some reading.

When the flight attendant was passing out the snacks, she asked my Grammie if she'd like "jet mix". However, she thought she was offering "bread sticks". To her disappointment (and my amusement) it was a pretzel mix that was in the package...not bread sticks! he he...too funny.

As we were approaching Halifax, I noticed the trees looked like they had snow on them. "Hmmm, I wonder if that's really snow, or if it just looks like that because I'm up high?" Well...it was really snow. I couldn't believe it...we had left a beautiful day in Ontario (one of the FEW this fall) and landed to Halifax's first snow. It was really wet and gross. Fortunately it had turned to rain by the time we arrived in the city.

Our first night we were all pretty pooped so we had dinner at the hotel and relaxed in our room.

Dressing Up

Time for an update! Here are some photos from Halloween. I was an ipod and my friend Lawrence was "The Man In Black" Johnny Cash.

Reminiscing

I thought it might be fun to post the story of when I went to the Price is Right. I found this in a long-lost file in my e-mail. Hope you enjoy...I'm going to try and post the video soon!

Well, we did it! Our dream of seeing the Price Is Right & Bob Barker in the flesh (as weathered as it is) has come true! We had no idea how difficult and gruelling it would be to get on the show.... we showed up at 5:30am on the morning of our taping to wait in line for an hour... only to find out we had STAND-BY tickets...we hadn't gotten there early enough.
I guess the "hard-core" Price Is right fans arrived the night before and camped out. We were told to come back at 11:30am to see if anyone would not show up. (I'm not sure why you wouldn't once you have the tickets!) Anyway, we went back to our hotel for a nap and showed up at 11:30 to wait in line again...this time for about 1 1/2 hours. Keep in mind this is in an outdoor waiting area. We can't believe how many Canadians were there....those Canucks love their Price Is Right.
Well, the moment finally arrived when the stand-by people started getting tickets... would you believe that we missed it by 3 people?!!!! AUGH!!!!!!! Fortunately we noticed a group of red T-shirts that said "University of Guelph loves Bob" (for those of you from far away...Guelph is about an hour from London, where I live)

We went over to talk to them and told them our story. Our luck was changing... there was a group of 16 of them, but to qualify as a group you need 20 people. They had already given their 4 extra tickets away that day, but were coming back the next and said we could just meet them in the parking lot at 10am. (sounds like we were making some kind of illegal deal ...don't worry, its all ligit)

What a GRRREAT alternative to arriving at 2am and sleeping on the street just to get a ticket! We had a nice sound sleep in our hotel room and met the Guelph crew the next morning. Turns out one of the organizers won his way on stage only to be outsmarted by the secret X. Bummer. But he did get to spin the big wheel and keep the desk set from contestants row.

OK, we know we're in California, but the temperatures yesterday were COLD. It was overcast and raining and we waited 4 1/2 hours in this outdoor "shelter" with hard metal benches and a concession stand. Wow, talk about dedication.
The moment finally arrived when we were "interviewed" by the producer. Basically he asked our name, where we were from and what we did. Karla got the added question of if she watches the show. (what kind of a question is that anyway??? Like she'd wait that long for a show she's never heard of)

After we were ushered to more hard benches in a windy corridor, we were asked to sign a release form to be on the WAYNE BRADY show! (for those of you that don't know, he's the hilarious black guy from Who's Line Is It Anyway?) How cool is that? And then he walked by!
As you can imagine, the excitement was overwhelming. Not only would we be on The Price Is Right, but the Wayne Brady show too!

FINALLY we were allowed to enter the studio...about 10 minutes before taping began. If we have learned one thing on this trip, it is that NOTHING is as it appears on TV. (you'd think I'd realize that before since I work in the industry!!) The studio was SO SMALL. Like think small and then it was smaller. It was like a miniature set or something....crazy....and surreal.

After putting up with a cheezy version of the American National Anthem, the announcer appeared and "entertained" us until the man himself walked out on stage. Wow, what a moment! Because of the wild and crazy fans cheering, you couldn't hear anything the announcer said, including the names to come on down. There was a stage manager with signs that said the people's names. One of the first people called was the guy sitting directly in front of us from the Guelph group!!! It was so exciting to actually have someone to cheer on. He won his way on stage to lose an SUV in Lucky 7. However, he did well on the Big Wheel ($0.85) and was in the showcase showdown at the end of the show. He lost. However, the woman that won is a cute little lady that was across from us in line. She's from Minnesota and vacations in Yuma.

We were on the edge of our seats the whole time! It was exhausting! THEN Wayne Brady came out to tape some shtick for his show. He wanted to "come on down" and guess where he sat in the audience??? Yep, in the empty chair right in front of us! So, we will definitely be on the Wayne Brady show the end of next week AND on The Price Is Right March 3.

Bye Bye Bob

Today was a sad day in television history. I found out that Bob Barker is retiring from the Price Is Right after 35 years! Devastating news to fans of the show. I'm just glad I got to go when I did. Must head to bed but will post more tomorrow. :(

Congrats Nicole and Nelson!

On Saturday, I was privileged to witness my friend Nicole exchange vows with her (now) husband Nelson. The story of how they met was so cool (and you can read all about it if you check out her blog on the side of this site) I'm just so happy for them both.

Karla & I actually made the invitations for this affair. That was kind of cool to be able to be involved that way. The ceremony was really nice, she looked lovely. I loved her dress with the red...very cool. Now she's heading to YORKTON, SK!

The ironic thing is that on Friday I was watching Regis & Kelly as I was eating my breakfast. They were announcing the winners of their costume contest. The past few weeks, people have been sending in photos of their Halloween costumes. Well, the 2nd prize went to someone from Maple Ontario. I thought that was cool, that a Canadian got second. And then they announced the winner....it was Colonel Sanders riding a chicken and he was from Yorkton, SK! I couldn't believe it!! That's where Nicole is moving. Apparently it's not very big and it's in the middle of nowhere. Too funny!

My Friend, The Giant

This is a photo of my friend Simon beside a car in Helsinki! It is actually smaller than a smart car (if you can believe it) I thought this photo was just too funny to not pass along! he he he.

Paul Brandt

Last weekend Char & I went to see Paul Brandt http://www.paulbrandt.com/mainindex.html with Jo-Anne & Nick. He is our favourite country singer (well, other than Johnny, but let's face it...he's dead. We're not going to see him in concert!) Anyway, we got our tickets a while ago to see him at the Norfolk County Fair.

We set off about 5pm and the concert was at 8pm...plenty of time. It was a beautiful day so the drive was nice. We took the beetle so Nick (who is 6'6" tall) rode in the front with me. That was good as he kept me on the right roads! We decided to stop along the way at Pizza Hut for supper. It has been a l-o-n-g time since I've eaten there, but the choices were limited. (so I thought) We had the Super Supper for Four. We left, stuffed full of Caesar salad, bread sticks, chicken wings and of course, pizza. It was about 6:45. As we were leaving town (which one, I have no idea) we drove past a Swiss Chalet. I was so disappointed we hadn't seen it first. I would've much rathered chicken than pizza. Oh well.

We got to Simcoe about 7:30. In my head I was picturing a big parking lot next to the fair grounds and a clearly marked path to the grandstand. Ha ha...funny how things in your head are so idealistic! We drove really far down a side street before finding a tiny little spot in which I had to parallel park! Driving a standard + parallel parking on an incline = not fun. However, I accomplished my task and was eager to get to our seats.

Once we entered the fair grounds, we asked at EVERY information booth we saw and no one really knew where to direct us. As we were fighting the crowd, we heard the music start! YIKES...I just wanted to be in my seat. We finally found the entrance to the reserved seating area and took our (wooden) chairs. What a great show. Except for the 15 year olds in front of us that talked through the whole thing and played games on their cell phones. What's up with that? How annoying.

The Cutest Couple Ever

On the weekend, my friend Amy & her husband Pat came over. I was hosting an evening of board games and they decided to make the trip from Mississauga. Amy & I went to highschool together, but more importantly, we worked at the Petrolia Discovery together one summer. It was our favourite job...working together on projects like organizing Canada Celebrations, dressing up like Darren The Oil Derrick and telling people from around the world about our little town of Petrolia.

We have shared some great memories which we re-live each time we get together. Our first trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, sending an apple pie to Halifax (on a plane with her brother) town-wide yard sales, Paul Simon concert, she's even the one that lured me to my surprise birthday party.

Well, sometimes we forget how things used to be, or could be, when people live in different cities. Saturday night reminded me of how much I treasure Amy as a friend and made me wish they lived in London. They are just the cutest couple ever. I only hope that I can find a husband with whom I fit with like Amy & Pat do.

And, the cuteness continues...they are having a baby in 5 weeks! Eeek! In fact, I'm headed to the "Due Date Party" on November 18. If there's no baby...we have a party. If there is a baby... we have a party and get to see the baby. If the baby comes on time, it turns into a waiting room party. You see, as Amy puts it: it's a win, win win situation!

SNOW!

I could not believe my eyes today when I looked out the window to see a complete white-out from the SNOW! Yes, that's right...it's October 12 and it snowed off and on all day. In fact, when I went out to my car after work, the windshield and rear window was covered. I thought I could just brush it off with the wipers and the defroster. Ha, not so fast! Old Man Winter had left his icy fingerprints on my windows and I was left without my defensive snow brush. Silly me, I hadn't moved it from the basement to my trunk yet. Fortunately one of my co-workers found one in his trunk amongst the golf clubs and rollerblades and I was able to borrow it! Let's just hope this was a fluke and we are in for some beautiful autumn days ahead. I mean really...it's my favourite season and so far it's been so crappy!

Footloose & Fancy Feet

A few weeks ago my mom & I booked a day together. We were going to start at the spa for a pedicure, do lunch and then go shopping. Well, some unforeseen circumstances arose which kept us busy until mid-afternoon, but we were able to move our spa appointment. This was my first full-blown pedicure, and it was amazing! We went to Adora Spa on Front Street in Sarnia. The really cool part is the pedicure chairs (kind of like big recliners with a whirlpool for your feet) face the window overlooking the river. A beautiful location. I think we should really try and do that more often as it felt amazing, and our toes were really pretty afterwards!

After our foot pampering, we went for dinner at Montana's. I know it doesn't really fit the mood, but it was good food in a relaxed atmosphere and we were able to enjoy catching up. Following dinner, we headed to see my Grammie. It was a nice way to end the evening as we always have so much fun together. I can't wait for Halifax...it's going to be a blast!

Halifax, Here We Come!

In November, I'm looking forward to a 4 day trip to Halifax with my Mom & Grammie. "Pier 21" in Halifax is where most of our immigrants landed. During the war, my Grandad was a Canadian soldier in England when he met my Grammie. They were married at the end of the war and soon after, she came to Canada as a "war bride". Well, Canada has declared 2006 "The Year of The Warbride" and on November 8, Pier 21 is having a big celebration. We are flying out for 4 days to take in the celebration and some additional sightseeing and fun. I think it will be a really good time to spend together. (and hang out by the ocean!)

Feeding an Addiction

As you probably know, when I find something I like I usually become very passionate about it. Well, I've found a new passion! This season I started watching Prison Break. It was quite by accident. I wasn't looking to add a new show to my roster. But, I happened to be at the cottage with my sister Jo-Anne when the season premier was on. She's a regular viewer so, of course, she wanted to watch. (so's my brother...must be a family thing) That's when I got sucked in!

The storyline is amazingly intricate and the characters are so well developed. The unfortunate thing is that I started watching at the beginning of season 2. After asking around, I found out that my friend Chris owns season 1 on DVD. YEAH!! For anyone that's watched TV shows on DVD, you know how great it is and how easy it is to become glued to the set! Example: an hour long show is shortened to 42-45 minutes with just dips to black where the commercials used to be. So, 2 episodes are just an hour & a half and three episodes are just over 2 hours. Well, I'm sad to say (especially after my last post about TIME) I've watched 14 episodes since last Wednesday! YIKES. But, it's SO good!! And, it makes stuff that's happening in season 2 make that much more sense.

Tonight, it's back to the future as season 2's next episode is on. And it doesn't hurt that my favourite con: Fernando Sucre (who it SO hot) is riding around on a big Harley. Sweet!

Time

A few weeks ago I heard someone say "where you spend your time is where you place your value". Seems like a simple enough concept, but it really hit me. I want to spend my time on things I value. Things like playing Candyland with my 3-year-old niece, having tea with my Grammie or making pie with my Mom. You can see a common theme... my family is important to me and I want to make them a priority. I also want to spend more time with good friends and learning new things. I'm going to try and say "no" more often to things that are not a priority and not worry about it.

Out of Africa

Last week my friend Sheri came over. She's just returned from 6 months in Africa! Yep, she was living my dream!! She travelled all over the continent, spotting every animal native to the region. I even saw a short video clip of an elephant chasing her car! There were so many pictures of beautiful scenery, adorable children and just a fascinating culture. I don't know if I'd be able to eat a "smiley" (sheep head) but other than that...I'm dying to go. Sheri is a Registered Nurse and was able to work in an orphanage and with Mercy Ships. http://www.mercyships.org/site/c.agLOI4OFKrF/b.1676795/k.2408/Flash_Main.htm She was captivated by the people and how generous they are. Sheri is definitely a free spirit and not afraid to take risks. She is solid in her faith and such a giving person. I love having her as a friend. She is inspiring.

A Wedding and a Yoko

On Saturday I headed to Toronto for the wedding of my friend Joe. The ceremony was at 11am at the UofT so I had to leave quite early. I made it with time to spare! Unfortunately it was looking like it might rain when I got there. I decided I better take my umbrella with me. This in itself is not unfortunate. The unfortunate part is that is a Scooby Doo umbrella. Carrying it in to a wedding doesn't look very chic. However, I think I pulled it off quite well. : )

After about a half hour delay, the ceremony started. It was absolutely beautiful. You could tell a lot of attention had been paid to details. A string quartet serenaded the bridesmaids down the aisle. Then, it was time for Karyn and her dad to enter. The music stopped and Joe strapped on his guitar and SANG her down the aisle. It was so sweet.

Between the ceremony & reception I was able to scoot over to Ryerson and see Yoko. Then back to the reception. I must say an hour of mingling with people I don't know in uncomfortable shoes for cocktails & hors d'oeuvres is not my idea of fun. But, I managed to survive. It was actually really nice, complete with a jazz pianist. The reception was about 10 courses long!!! There were lots of interesting things on the menu including shark fin! We were well entertained by multimedia presentations, stories, toasts, etc. It was a beautiful wedding and I wish Joe & Karyn all the best!