Mornings with Danny and Laura on 91.5 CKPR

2012-01-04T10:03:00.002-05:00

So we jumped the gun and got upset (in a joking manner) when we realized one of the on air guys..Miggz...has pens with his name on it AND his work email address...basically a calling card...pen.

What? We don't get pens? What the heck!

So...we called Miggz to see where the pens came from....of course his phone was off. IT'S NEVER OFF!! So we left a nasty voicemail message (of course we told him we loved him at the end of it).

We then sent off an email to the boss...about what a jerk he is and why didn't we get pens? What kind of promotion was being run that did not include all of the on air staff? What about Bill Hogan? Dave the mid day guy? Where were our pens? Of course..it was all in jest...for the most part. I wrote it...and signed Danny's name.

We finally found a home number for Miggz....and got him on the line! He had gone to bed late...about the time Danny and I were arriving at work...but too bad!! We had to get to the bottom of this "Pen" issue!!

You see...in our control room..pens go missing. Miggz has spoken about that a lot...so..his kind, sweet mother...bought him about 150 pens with his name and email address on them...and that's where the pens came from. Ooops......

The lesson...as always....never jump to conclusions. We have a meeting with our boss now...gotta go...
Talk to you tomorrow?

2011-11-07T11:10:00.003-05:00

Friday is Remembrance Day....here is some information on the Poppy that we wear in Remembrance.....

HISTORY

Each November, Poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population. Since 1921, the Poppy has stood as a symbol of Remembrance, our visual pledge to never forget all those Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations. The Poppy also stands internationally as a “symbol of collective reminiscence”, as other countries have also adopted its image to honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

This significance of the Poppy can be traced to international origins.

The association of the Poppy to those who had been killed in war has existed since the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century, over 110 years before being adopted in Canada. There exists a record from that time of how thickly Poppies grew over the graves of soldiers in the area of Flanders, France. This early connection between the Poppy and battlefield deaths described how fields that were barren before the battles exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

Just prior to the First World War, few Poppies grew in Flanders. During the tremendous bombardments of that war, the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing “popaver rhoes” to thrive. When the war ended, the lime was quickly absorbed and the Poppy began to disappear again.

The person who was responsible more than any other for the adoption of the Poppy as a symbol of Remembrance in Canada and the Commonwealth was Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Medical Officer during the First World War.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

With Britain declaring war on Germany on 4 August 1914, Canada’s involvement was automatic. John McCrae was among the first wave of Canadians who enlisted to serve and he was appointed as brigade surgeon to the First Brigade of the Canadian Forces Artillery.

In April 1915, John McCrae was stationed near Ypres, Belgium, the area traditionally called Flanders. It was there, during the Second Battle of Ypres, that some of the fiercest fighting of the First World War occurred. Working from a dressing station on the banks of the Yser Canal, dressing hundreds of wounded soldiers from wave after wave of relentless enemy attack, he observed how “we are weary in body and wearier in mind. The general impression in my mind is of a nightmare.”

In May, 1915, on the day following the death of fellow soldier Lt Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, John McCrae wrote his now famous work, an expression of his anguish over the loss of his friend and a reflection of his surroundings – wild Poppies growing amid simple wooden crosses marking makeshift graves. These 15 lines, written in 20 minutes, captured an exact description of the sights and sounds of the area around him.

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae left Ypres with these memorable few lines scrawled on a scrap of paper. His words were a poem which started, “In Flanders fields the poppies blow…” Little did he know then that these 15 lines would become enshrined in the innermost thoughts and hearts of all soldiers who hear them. Through his words, the scarlet Poppy quickly became the symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

The poem was first published on 8 December 1915 in England, appearing in “Punch” magazine.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

His poem speaks of Flanders fields, but the subject is universal – the fear of the dead that they will be forgotten, that their death will have been in vain. Remembrance, as symbolized by the Poppy, is our eternal answer which belies that fear.

Sadly, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae died of pneumonia at Wimereux, France on 28 January 1918. He was 45 years old.

I found the following information through http://www.salvationarmy.ca/?s=poppy&x=18&y=6

DID YOU KNOW?

The poppy should be worn as close to the heart as possible on the left lapel of the outermost garment

An old poppy should never be reused.

Poppy’s found lying on the ground should be placed in a cemetery or at the foot of a war monument.

In 1915, John McCrae, a Guelph, Ont. native and doctor serving with the Canadian Forces Artillery, wrote about the poppy explosion in his famous poem In Flanders Fields.

The average donation for a poppy is a loonie.

In recent years, the distribution of poppies has been steadily climbing. Let’s keep up the trend.

2011-11-04T10:02:00.001-04:00

Hey there!! Long time no see!!!

Last night...Superior High School held it's Student Recognition Evening....Matthew had taken Jump Start last year and won an award for technology...here's the thing..it wasn't just people in his grade..it was everyone who did well in their classes last school year...so you can imagine....well...let me start by asking you this...what's our last name? Zaina...starts with a Z. So, we conversed and have decided to ad an A to our name...Azaina.....so we aren't always waiting til the end. Just kidding actually...out of respect that we will always stay until everyone received their award. The staff did a great job though...they kept it moving fast...it was only about 45 minutes!! They know what they're doing!!!

The picture though? A blur!! lol! We all forgot to bring a camera so I had to try to use my cell phone camera. Turns out...there were a few Z's missing from their list....so I was surprised at how fast Matt's name came up!! So...it was a blur...of Matt going in one direction and the principal facing the other way. Ahhh...memories!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

2011-05-12T09:29:00.000-04:00

Morning all!!

It's the day before Friday the 13th!! Do you have any superstitions? I don't...but there is one thing that bothers me even when it's not a Friday the 13th. I cannot stand it when the volume level on the tv is at 13. Seriously. My hubby laughed at me (in a nice way) when I told him he had to go up one or down one...but the level could not be at 13. I have no idea why that would bother me so much...cause I certainly don't mind watching channel 13. Also...if I eat chocolate easter eggs (I use this as an example because we still have an abundance of these)...it has to be 12 or 14. Usually 14.

I love status updates on facebook...this morning we talked about a couple that caught our eye...the first one is from a friend of ours..a coworker, so we won't put her name on here...but here is what her status said...oh..we need to add that she is expecting...

one of our facebook friends...who is expecting posted this last night...

.....just went to take out dinner out of the oven and realized I accidently SHUT it off 25 mins ago when I was checking the time...and the other day I went to put a loonie in a parking meter but turns out it was the newspaper box...grrr...would really like my brain cells back.

This one had me laughing when it was posted this morning...this is from Judy...frin her status update this morning....
Judy...s awake. If you're expecting bright-eyed and bushy-tailed go catch a squirrel.

One of the things I love about facebook is reading these status updates...people are so funny!

Have a wonderful day!!

2011-05-02T09:53:00.003-04:00

May is here!! and the snow continues...but hopefully...this is the last of it? Tomorrow sunny and 14! Hope that helps you get through the day!

The boys came for a sleepover this weekend...Brandon is 4 and Garrett is 3. I think though, that they may be using me for my wii and Toy story 3 game..anyways....they decide where they want to sleep...either with me, their Uncle Matt or Auntie Vic...they chose to sleep with Auntie Vic Saturday night. Yesterday, Victoria said she was laying in bed with her eyes closed, andI heard Brandon lean over to Garret and say "Garrett, I had the greatest dream last night!!" Garrett said "Really?!", in his cute little voice. Then Brandon starts telling him about having a dream about tractors, and one of the tractors was his buddy, then he was standing on it and threw a lasso onto a fence! Victoria said it was so funny listening to them talk about it!!

Ahh..kids. We are celebrating Mother's Day all month here at CKPR...we have questions every weekday to answer and win a $250 prize pack!! As we were talking about it this morning, I was reminded of the time my daughters Kayla and Victoria decided to make me breakfast for Mother's Day. I waited in my room...I could hear the commotion in the kitchen..and after a while, they came in with breakfast all ready for me. Some juice and toast. I LOVED it!! There is nothing like seeing your children, proud of their accomplisments. It took some time to eat the toast..which by the time they buttered, it was cold. I giggled as I snuggled them and enjoyed breakfast. Ahhh...memories.

Have a great day!!!

2011-04-26T09:37:00.002-04:00

Happy Tuesday!!

Some fun things to share from the show for you this morning!!

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADA AND AMERICA:
• No hockey team in Canada named after ducks.
• Canadians keep the peace, Americans carry a piece.
• Doesn’t say ‘flocons de mais grillés’ on a US box of Corn Flakes.
• Americans have a ‘buck’; Canadians have a ‘loonie’.
• Americans have sunny beaches in Florida to visit each Winter, while Canadians have
... sunny beaches in Florida to visit each Winter.

Don't feel guilty about your chocolate consumption...it was Easter after all! Check this out...you'll feel much better about it!!

THE RULES OF CHOCOLATE:

• If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you’re eating it too slowly.

• Chocolate-covered raisins, cherries, orange slices, and strawberries all count as fruit. So eat as many as you want.

• Eat chocolate before each meal. It’ll take the edge off your appetite and you’ll eat less.

• If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

• Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.

• Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? Because no one wants to quit.

• Put ‘Eat Chocolate’ at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.

• Money talks. Chocolate sings.

Have a great day!!!

2011-03-25T09:33:00.003-04:00

I spent some time with the Harbour Youth Services Girls Club at Kingsway Park School yesterday...this club is called the "Kids Come First" club. I had such a great time with them!!
I read “The Monster Who Ate Darkness” to them...their theme right now is "Monsters"
They asked all kinds of questions about my job....then they wanted autographs!!!
This all started with a letter I received a few weeks ago from the girls...the letter was hand written...by the girls, who are in grades 1 to 4...a colourful letter it was...and it had all kinds of cutouts of the things I love...a camera, baseball, a picture of a family, headphones, books and of course...popcorn..these girls did their research!! The letter was asking if I could help out with an event coming up....the 2011 Amazing Raising Cash For Kids Race! This will be held May 28th....and it is in support of the Harbour youth Services' after school programs...where kids have aceess to the resources and support they need to dream big!!
These programs are great for the girls club who I visited yesterday...and for the boys club...and the programs are at more than one school...so if you wanted to help out..go to hyskids.com and sign up for this fun event!!!

Here is the link to the information page:
http://www.hyskids.com/Newsletters/Amazing%20Race%20invite%20(2)_pagenumber.002.pdf

An icon passed away this week....Elizabeth Taylor passed away. She was laid to rest in a simple ceremony yesterday. There was no procession to the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, just limousines carrying family members. The service started after a 15 minute delay. Her publicist says that's because the screen legend wanted to be
late to her own funeral. You have to appreciate the humour!

Have a Great Weekend!!!

2011-03-24T10:23:00.002-04:00

Happy Thursday!!

Today we had Constable Mark Caccamo, School Resource Officer to talk to us about the events that we have heard in the news regarding attempts to lure kids into vehicles in our city.

The conversation was so good, it was a great opportunity to help adults and kids to talk about what to do to keep safe. Some highlights:

For the Parents:

Don't become too comfortable or complacent, even in your own neighbourhood. Make sure your kids get to where they are going.

When it comes to their clothing, you may want to rethink having their names on items, this is one way "strangers" gain their attention, by calling them by their name.

Keep an open dialect with your kids. If they know they can tell you anything, they will.

When it comes to strangers, know that if your child has met them once, they may think they would be safe to talk to or go somewhere with. If your child behaves in a manner that indicates this person makes them uncomfortable, pay attention.

You could consider coming up with a code word to use for people who may have to pick up your child.

For Kids:

Don't go in ANY vehicles. If there are relatives that may pick you up, you would know that before you left school or anywhere you happen to be.

You might want to come up with a code word with your parents so that anyone that may come to pick you up from school or wherever you are would have to know the code.

No one expects you to stop and write down a description of a person who has made you uncomfortable, but what you can remember would be helpful.

Be aware of your surroundings. If a anything looks suspicious, tell your parents or an adult you trust.

We are working on posting the interview will be posted on our website soon.

More than 500,000 people were polled for an ABC TV and People magazine movie poll - asking the question - who takes the title of THE most romantic onscreen couple of all time.

Making the list:

The romance between Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in 1939 classic "Gone with the Wind" was rated the second most romantic film pairing

....while Richard Gere and Julia Roberts' unlikely coupling in "Pretty Woman" landed them third in the survey.

"Casablanca" couple Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall came fourth,

...and Spencer Tracey and Katharine Hepburn - who starred in nine films together - rounded out the top five.

and #1 on the lis:

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's doomed relationship in 1997 film "Titanic" has earned them the title of most romantic onscreen couple of all time

TRUE HOLLYWOOD CASTING CALLS:
Excerpts from actual recent ads for acting gigs in Tinseltown ...
• “We are looking for a male little person, 20-to-50, all ethnicities, who can ride a miniature horse.”
• “Frighteningly skinny people, male or female, ages 18-to-70. Only submit if you are borderline emaciated. Please note on your submission if you would consider doing nudity for a higher rate.”
• “Need a double-jointed hand model, male, 20-to-50. Double jointed where thumb and pointer finger can bend back to the wrist. Also where all fingers can bend back to the wrist.”
• “Amputee hand double, male, 18-to-100. Looking for anyone that has missing fingers on either hand or both. This is open to both union and non-union.”
• “Looking for male or female Mayan extras, 18-and-over, Screen Actors Guild members. Piercings a plus.”
• “We are looking for males or females, 20-55, who can resemble zoo animals. A guy who resembles a bear would go to the bear cage. A lady that could look like a peacock will walk to see the peacocks. This will take a little work on your part.”
– QMI Agency
• “Looking for Hispanic men, 18-to-45, that are willing to wear a loin cloth.”

Have a great day!!!

2011-03-23T09:50:00.003-04:00

Hello!! Happy Hump Day!!!

Tomorrow on the show...between 7 and 7:30 we've invited a police officer to come on the air and talk with us.

The stories have been in the news..about kids being approached by people, either trying to get them to get into their vehicle or approaching them and talking to them in explicit language.

Fortunately, all of the kids who have been approached knew exactly what to do. But we want to reach as many people as we can...adults and kids...and talk about what to do if someone was to try to get a child in their car..or approached them.

We have asked a Thunder Bay Police Officer, the School Resource Officer, Mark Caccamo to join us on air Thursday morning between 7 and 7:30. We'll talk about the incidents that have occured...what parents need to discuss with their children..and we want the kids to be listening too...this is all about the kids.....because we want them to be safe.

AGAIN - as we always say, it it wasn't for these kind of people - our lives would be boring:
On Monday, a 92-year-old woman (Helen) of Fort McCoy, Florida decided to go next door to visit her neighbor, a 53-year-old male named Dwight Bettner.

And she had a very specific goal in mind: She wanted to basically "get busy with this man - or at the least make out with him"

Only Dwight wasn't into Helen. And when she said she wouldn't leave unless they MADE OUT, he slammed the door on her.

So....Helen...the 92-year-old responded by going home, grabbing her .380 semi-automatic handgun . . . and firing FOUR SHOTS into Dwight's house. Dwight was hit by some debris but wasn't seriously injured. Then he called the cops.

When they got there, Helen told them she was shooting at, quote, "his car that he loved so much." She was arrested for two felonies: Aggravated assault and firing into an occupied dwelling. She's still locked up today.

Dwight told the cops that he's had issues with Helen trying to get all up on him before. Quote, "I feel she is enamored with [me]." He says he even tried to introduce Helen to his girlfriend once . . . after which she threatened to shoot him.

Then there's THIS story...

In Guatemala, the constitution makes it illegal for close relatives and spouses of government officials to succeed them. So, for example, if the CLINTONS were in Guatemala, Bill would've had to divorce Hillary before she could run for president.

Right now, a man named Alvaro Colom is the president of Guatemala. When his term ends next year, his wife Sandra, wants to run for president. Only she can't under constitutional law.

So . . . the Coloms came up with a solution.

Alvaro DIVORCED her, which will make her eligible to be president. They filed for divorce back on the 11th. Because they said the divorce is "mutual," they didn't need to cite a reason for the divorce on the form.

Her potential opponent in the race - naturally, is calling it quote: "shenanigans".

The Guatemalan Constitutional Court is going to review the case and determine whether Sandra should be allowed to run.

(what a unique concept - talk about determination!!!!)

2011-03-21T10:44:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the FIRST full day of SPRING!!! Sure...our yards are full of snow..that just fell yesterday...but the season has just changed...and hopefully..we start to see it soon! That was one yucky winter!

Thanks to Shawn, a friend of mine for bringing us a "Slinky" to celebrate the start of SPRING!! Danny thought playing with slinky's would be a great way to bring in spring...so Shawn made it happen. We had some great fun with it this morning!

Wow! Our Mounties have to start watching their weight!!!

Some Mounties might have to go on a diet.
R-C-M-P figures show almost a-quarter of the force's officers are
considered obese.
The R-C-M-P says there are plans to toughen up the physical
fitness test that Mounties must take every three years.

We’re back from March Break and here are the top five signs March Break is over: (remember, it's all in fun!)

5...teachers spent the weekend counting how many days there are until June
4...people just back from Florida dressed like its minus 20 outside
3...the kids all look a bit nervous because the only thing they never got around to over March Break was... their homework assignment
2...some people are still at the airport...... looking for their luggage
1...school bus drivers stopping and starting up the road trying to remember which driveways they’re suppose to stop at

Have a great Monday!!!

2011-03-17T10:22:00.002-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

My friend Neil from Ireland came on with us this morning to talk about the goings on in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day. One of the things he shared with us was that some bosses let their employees of on St. Patrick's Day...while others give them the next day off. Which would you choose? I know I'd take the next day!!

Pothole Patrol!! The roads are getting bad our there...Potholes everywhere! If there are any that you think should be reported potholes by calling 684-2195 during the day and 684-3117 after 4 p.m.

A local woman doing quite well for herself!! Check out AMBRE MACLEAN tonight at Crocks!! She's from Thunder Bay!! She's a singer / songwriter...and she is performing TONIGHT at CROCK's. She has 4 cd's to her credit- and - they are all availalbe on ITunes...her latest is called "Murder At The Smokehouse"
You can check her out on FACEBOOK, MY SPACE or her website, ambremclean.com
......check her out TONITE......at Crock's between 8 and 10

Some Irish fun for you!!

An Irishman, by the name of O'Malley proposed to his girl on St. Patrick's Day. He gave her a ring with a synthetic diamond. The excited young lass showed it to her father, a jeweller. He took one look at it and saw it wasn't real.
The young lass on learning it wasn't real returned to her future husband. She protested vehemently about his cheapness. 'It was in honour of St. Patrick's Day, 'he smiled....."'I gave you a sham rock"

"I had an accident opening a can of alphaghetti this morning,' said Murphy. 'Were you injured?' inquired Seamus. 'No, but it could have spelled disaster,' concluded Murphy.

An Irish lass, a customer: 'Could I be trying on that dress in the window?'
Shopkeeper: 'I'd prefer that you use the dressing room.'

Hey," said a new arrival in the pub, "I've got some great Irish jokes." "Before you start," said the big bloke in the corner, ", I'm Irish." "Don't worry," said the newcomer, "I'll tell them slowly."

Donncha is shocked at finding out all his cows are suffering from "Bluetongue." 'Bejabbers,' Donncha murmurs, 'I didn't even know they had mobile phones.'

Murphy lost a hundred dollars on the Melbourne Cup, a famous Australian horserace. He also lost another hundred on the television replay.

'O'Halloran,' asked the pharmacist, 'did that mudpack I gave you improve your wife's appearance?'
'It did surely,' replied O'Halloran, 'but it keeps fallin' off.'

Paddy and Seamus have just opened a new restaurant on the moon. It serves great cheese dishes, but the atmosphere ? - terrible.

'What's wrong with Murphy?' asked Father Green.
'I don't know, Father. Yesterday he swallowed a spoon and he hasn't stirred since,' said Mrs Murphy.
'How far is it to the next village?' asked the American tourist. 'It's about seven miles,' guessed the farmer. 'But it's only five if you run!'

2011-03-15T09:47:00.002-04:00

Morning all!

Finally...some sunshine and a high of 5 degrees!!! Of course..there's some rain in the forecast later today...and the forecast for later in the week...snow. Hopefully that all changes....

March break boredom set in at my house at about 2:30 yesterday afternoon...so we have made some plans for our son for the next couple of days to keep him busy! I couldn't believe he was so bored already..day one of the break. We put him to work..bathing and helping groom our dogs. That took up about an hour of his time. There are a lot of options out there...we need to use as many as we can to keep him busy!

Some of the things we talked about on today's show:

Jon Bon Jovi blames Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple, and creator of Itunes) for "killing" the music industry with iTunes.
He says he's "saddened" that kids no longer get the "magical" experience of buying records since they have been replaced with digital music.
Bon Jovi has no regret in laying the blame directly to Steve Jobs. Jon told The Sunday Times Magazine, "Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album; and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it."
He continues,"God, it was a magical, magical time. I hate to sound like an old man now, but I am, and you mark my words, in a generation from now people are going to say: 'What happened?'. Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business."

Gas prices have been hovering around the 1.33 / litre mark
You probably know that having enough air in your tires is important - because it can improve your gas mileage - by about 3%. BUT - here are more sneaky ways to save money on gas!

Don't drive aggressively:
90 to 95 km's / an hour on the highway is the most fuel-efficient speed for most vehicles. Speeding will cost you more

Try to hit the pump mid-week:
Gas prices tend to rise slightly on Thursdays; then drop back down on Tuesday or Wednesday

Buy gas at night or early in the morning:
Gas is stored underground....and its denser when the ground is cold. So, you actually get slightly more gas for your money if you pump before the sun comes up.

Have a great Tuesday!!

2011-03-04T09:54:00.003-05:00

We had a topic on the show this morning that sparked a lot of interest from our listeners!! We asked about people's favourite restaurants...from when they were kids or even dating and hanging out with friends. The response was awesome....Ponderosa, Doodles, A&W, The Beefeater, The Skyline Drive In...so many..my personal favorite was Pizza Delight on Red River Road..it was where Eddy Lee's Restaurant is now..which is my favorite Chinese food place!! We definitely brought a lot of fun memories back to mind for a lot of people.

Here is a followup to a video we posted on our facebook site...about a 10 year old girl who sang a Lady Gaga song on Youtube....

Lady Gaga granted a 10-year-old Winnipeg girl a share
of her spotlight on Thursday, inviting YouTube singing sensation
Maria Aragon onstage for a duet on ``Born This Way'' in front of a
roaring crowd at the Air Canada Centre. About midway through a
nearly two-hour set, Gaga invited Maria on stage and the packed
audience bellowed its approval. With an orange stuffed monkey slung
around her neck, Maria hugged Gaga tightly then sat on her lap at a
black grand piano, taking the lead on vocals. Maria shot to
Internet fame after a video of her performing Gaga's outsider anthem
went viral and drew more than 17- (m) million views.

We also talked about how it is the weekend....and how some people will be going out and having fun...that may include some alcohol...so we read out a list of how to know when it's time to go home...you know...so you don't end up like Charlie Sheen...

YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO GO HOME WHEN ...
• You have absolutely no idea where your shoes are.
• You drop your 3 am burger on the floor, pick it up and carry on eating.
• There are less than 3 hours before you're due to start work.
• The man you're flirting with used to be your 5th grade teacher.
• You think you're in bed but your pillow feels strangely like pizza.
• You challenge the bouncer to an arm wrestling competition.
• You decide to audition for “American Idol” via the security cameras.
• You mistake a police car for a cab and shout obscenities when it doesn't stop for you.

So, whatever you have planned for this weekend, hope you have a blast doing it!!

2011-03-03T10:58:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you...but yesterday's cold weather made me REALLY cranky! It does not happen often...but man that was cold...and I just couldn't shake the chill I caught in the morning. Today...it's so much better...I don't feel like curling up in a ball.

I am hooked on the upcoming Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton!! I LOVE Royalty!!! Not sure why...because I sure would not be bowing to anyone or serving them hand and foot ('cept hubby Joe and our kids...but that's a different story) Yet...I love to watch movies about them..and I love watching these kinds of events. And yes...I am even keeping an eye on the happenings through the official website...which is here if you choose to follow too. Who knows...I may even order up something off the internet...so I can have a keepsake!!

http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/

This is one of the topics we discussed this morning.....

MOST-PAUSED MOVIE MOMENTS:
A new survey asks which movie scene caused viewers to hit the pause button in order to take a longer look. The top 5 responses ...
5. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” (1988): A scene in which a dress worn by animated hottie ‘Jessica Rabbit' rises up.
4. “Trading Places” (1983): A then-24-year-old Jamie Lee Curtis appears topless in a scene that even she refers to as the ‘Freeze Frame’.
3. “Star Wars” (1977): A blooper scene in which a ‘Stormtrooper’ hits his head on a ceiling.
2. “The Back-Up Plan” (2010): A scene in which Jennifer Lopez briefly bares her beauteous butt.
1. “Basic Instinct” (1992): Sharon Stone's provocative leg-crossing scene, frozen by more than a third of film fans in the poll.
– LoveFilm.com

2011-02-28T10:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday all!!

I am loving this Facebook update by my friend Diana..with the responses from friends. I like it so much that I have to share it...enjoy...and remember the message here....

Diana
Well the cleaning didn't get done today, but I did manage to spend lots of time with my girls, dinner (home made pizza) and off to see a movie...Gnomeo and Juliet, what a great day.

Catherine
THIS is what life is all about, D. No one cares how clean your house is. Wrap those girls tightly in your arms and enjoy the moment! Just wish I was there with my girls to enjoy it together.

Sheri
We worry so much about keeping a clean house that we sometimes forget to enjoy our kids. Glad you had a day with the girls! Our kids grow so fast. We moms need to take a step back and allow ourselves time to enjoy the small things in life. I know I know.....sapppy but true! :)

Diana
So very True Sheri!

We all need to remember that what matters is the impact we make on our kids...and that the house doesn't have to be perfect. We could at least put down the cleaning stuff while our kids want our attention. It's the memories we make with them that count.

2011-02-15T11:01:00.002-05:00

So how was your Valentine's Day?
We had a great day....Danny and I were out and about with our Candy Bouquet contest handing out "Bundles of Love" to our 10 lucky winners. I got home and went straight to bed...this cold has not let go of me yet..and all the running from the CKPR van in and out of offices and homes without a jacket was not a smart idea. So, I fought off a chill all afternoon.

My hubby Joseph and I created our dinner...homemade pizza...with yummy toppings..pepperoni...bacon...onions..peppers...it was so good! Dessert - cupcakes! We had gone to Kayla's house Sunday to bake cupcakes for Brandon's kindergarten class...we made lots so we brought some home. It was a quiet..relaxing night.

I saw a lot of facebook updates talking about how unhappy some people were yesterday...which did not make me happy. It's too bad that so many feel they need to have a significant other to celebrate the day with. I know..that's the point...but most of us have spent a Valentine's Day or two alone...at some point in our adult lives. It's all about doing the things that make us happy. Going to or renting a movie...picking up or going or going out for dinner...perhaps alone..shocking I know, or with friends.

I remember going to Eddy Lee's and picking up a chiness dinner..and going home to watch what I wanted to watch. Whether it was a comedy or a romantic movie..I did just what I wanted to do with my Valentine's Day. We are our own entertainment committee after all!

Today is Flag Day in Canada.....the 46th birthday of the Canadian flag....it was approved by the Commons on today’s date in 1965. Very cool to take note of...too bad it's in the winter...guess you could still barbecue and enjoy it...but will have to take the meal inside.

WE JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS UP....

• ‘Harvey’ has to be the unluckiest dog in England. The Kent woman who adopted the stray Jack Russell terrier from a rescue group brought him back just 2 days later. Was he not a good companion or misbehaving? Nope. She explained she was returning him because the ginger & white pooch ... clashes with her curtains. WOW.

• Romania’s beleaguered witches, who recently began paying tax for plying their trade of foretelling the future, may soon face another setback. Proposed legislation threatens fines or even prison if ... their predictions don’t come true. The new bill would also require a witch to have a permit and provide customers with receipts. You would think as witches, they would have seen this coming?

2011-02-11T09:14:00.002-05:00

FRIDAY!!!!

We head into a weekend that promise plus temperatures. So exciting!!
We have all kinds of Valentine fun Monday morning for you to enjoy!!

We came across this list of reasons it's good to be single...even if it is Valentine's Day....

Today is "Satisfied Staying Single Day" – as we head into the Valentine’s Day weekend Not everyone is married or has a significant other………….and there’s nothing wrong with that!!! So…today is a day for YOU!!!

With Valentine’s here on Monday – some single people would like to point out that they’re quite content buying candy and flowers for no one but themselves!!! AND…there are benefits to staying single:

Flirting – you don’t have to feel guilty about staring at that cutie from the coffee place

Your Money Is Your Own – if you want to blow a week’s salary in Vegas, go for it! There’s no one to nag you to put it in the bank for a rainy day!

All The Covers Are Yours – no waking up cold; no pulling blankets off someone else just so you can get a few hours sleep (and, no one snoring all night)

Let Your Spirits Fly – are you having a great day? Your partner can’t come home and dampen the mood. Conversely, you don’t have to cheer anyone up.

You Can Leave Your Socks Anywhere You Want – no one will nag you to pick them up!

You Only Have One Set Of Relatives To Deal With - while it can be great to have a large family get together with both sides of an extended family, it can also be a headache at times. If you’re someone that prefers a more quiet holiday by just dealing with one goofy family (your own), being single can afford you a calmer celebration.

Here’s a few more:

You don’t have to hide gift receipts
Everything in your house or apartment is yours
You don’t have to share
The only people complaining about music volume are your neighbors
If you feel like going for pizza at 2 in the morning – you don’t have to explain it to anyone
AND………….YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE THE "I HAVE A HEADACHE" EXCUSE ANYMORE!!!

.

2011-02-10T10:06:00.002-05:00

All right...enough of this cold stuff. So..Environment Canada says tomorrow will be a high of -8....but the windchill will make it feel like -29!!! Just hang on now...Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be oh so much better with highs of plus 1 and minus 1.

Yesterday my hubby Joe and I were out and about with our truck...and decided it was time to have that "tickety tickety" noise checked out. We went to our mechanic at D&M Automotive...Joe went in and came back out with two mechanics....when they heard the sound...their faces changed to that of pain....which I laughed at...at first..then realized...Oh...geez...that's going to cost us a lotta money!! So..we dropped the truck off. Within hours though..we received a call from Bill, our contact there..he told Joe..the truck was REALLY low on OIL!! Oooops...one of the lifters was stuck...they fixed it. It did not cost us what we thought it would!! Whew!

Today's wacky story......

PUT ON A HAPPY FACE:
A Japanese company has invented an ‘electro-smile’ device that hooks onto a child’s ears like eyeglasses while a hi-tech strap fits snuggly under the chin to send a pulse of low-voltage electricity through the kid’s cheeks. That, they promise, will cause a forced smile on the child’s face, no matter what their mood. (No more worries about grandma feeling your kids aren’t happy to see her ... just crank up the voltage!)

2011-02-09T08:46:00.002-05:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! ONE MORE DAY OF THESE WICKED WINDCHILLS!!! For a while at least. It's going to start warming up starting tomorrow.

I was so excited to be asked to MC this event coming up Saturday...it's the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society “HAVE A HEART” Dinner, Dance & Silent Auction. It'w all happening at the Slovak Legion. Symposium is at 6, dinner at 7...then it's dancing to the music of Ti Amo. It is going to be so much fun...and it benefits the animals at the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society!! We all win!!!

THE WORLD'S MOST POLITE ROBBER!

An elderly man walked into a Shell gas station in Seattle and made a purchase before asking the cashier to do him a favor.
The elderly man produced a gun and told the man behind the counter, "Could you empty that till for me please...I'm robbing you, sir." The man said he was committing the crime to feed his family and repeatedly apologized for what he was doing. Taking $300, he even said he would return the money if he was ever back in a better financial position.
The man was arrested...it was found he was a

I received this email today...this is a GREAT idea!!! Pass it on if you like.....

Apparently this is a standard procedure all paramedics follow at the scene of an accident when they come across your cell phone.

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?
Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign

The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell(mobile) phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE.'
For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1,ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!
Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!

Please forward this. It won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest.
ICE will speak for you when you are not able.

2011-02-08T10:06:00.002-05:00

I found this story Sunday and talked about it yesterday...it was in the Toronto Sun....This man is questioning how he could inadvertently board a flight from Ottawa with fireworks in his carry-on bag without getting caught.

He says he had a Roman eight-ball candle, Roman 10-ball candle, a big pack of extra-large sparklers and an airbomb. Mark Bennett flew to Thunder Bay via Toronto on Jan. 29 with Air Canada....AND he says he had a lighter in his pocket.

Fireworks are banned by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority in carry-on AND checked luggage. Bennett says he let off fireworks for Victoria Day....threw them in a bag and forgot about them.

The Nepean resident said the fireworks were hidden underneath the bottom stiffener in his duffel bag...and he says he did not find them until he was packing his bag to leave Thunder Bay...so he took the fireworks out of his bag...he left them here.

This guy was at Toronto's Pearson International Airport for about two hours between flights....he even went outside to smoke and had to pass through security again.

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority says they can't take any action regarding the incident until Bennet contacts them.

When I finished talking about this story, I did say that it was an alleged story as Mark had not contacted CATSA...so I questioned whether it was true or not. Well...I received an email from a woman right here in Thunder Bay..who not only says it is a true story...but she has these fireworks in her home. Mark was here visiting her home..and it was there that he found the fireworks and left them behind.

This makes the story that much more scary to me!!!

On a lighter note.....

SKUNK GIVES COUPLE WAKE-UP CALL:

A Florida couple who heard noises under their bed were surprised to find they had an unexpected guest -- a skunk.

Odell Wadlington had to call in local wild life trapper James Dean to help get the animal out of the house.

Dean was sprayed as he tried to capture the skunk.

The powerful smell stuck to Wadlington as well and when he got to work that day he was sent home.

He said, "I had that brand on me . . . (The boss) didn't want to deal with that."

2011-01-31T09:54:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's Monday again. Who wants to return to work? For that matter, who wants to go outside to get to the vehicle that gets us to work? So cold.

I am working on when the newest member of our family will arrive....she is an eight month old Bassett Hound. We were told someone was looking for a new home for her..so we said of course...our next thought was "what will we name her?". We thought of many names...Because we already have our Jack Russell Terrier, Elvis...we thought..what about Aaron, Graceland, Presley, Tupelo or even Priscilla? We then determined that the dog likely has a name..and we should stick to that. We received a call last night...with more information about our new pup...her name....Presley. It's like the stars aligned and it was meant to be. It is however, going to sound weird...if while outside the dogs get out of hand..and we have to call them...Elvis!! Presley!!! This is going to be great!!!

The All Star NHL game was awesome last night...unfortunately, Staal's team lost to Lidstrom...11-10. It was cool...some players had mics on...so the commentators were able to speak to them AS THE GAME WAS BEING PLAYED!!! I loved this!! Of course, this was a game played more for entertainment than anything else...so no superserious attitudes on the ice last night. It was nice to hear that Patrick Sharp was chosen as MVP of the game with Eric Staal right behind. Then it was the football Pro Bowl. I watched about five minutes of that game...watching Joe's favorites...sorry...I just cannot remember their names right now!! I was tired. lol.

It's bubble wrap appreciation day!!

An annual event on the last Monday of January celebrating the padding we all like to pop. Check this site out....
NET: http://www.fast-pack.com/bubblewrapappreciation.html
Get your bubble wrap out and pop away!!!

I thought this story was interesting this morning...thank goodness my kids are brutally honest with me (though they do not think I try to dress younger)...

1/3 OF GIRLS THINKS MOM'S CLOTHES ARE EMBARRASSING:

A third of girls consider their mom's clothing choices to be embarrassing.

One in four believes their mother wears clothes that are too revealing, and more than two thirds claim never to want to dress like them.

Less than a third think their mother dresses appropriately -- with many claiming she shops in the wrong stores or simply tries to copy young fashions

2011-01-27T09:46:00.002-05:00

Thursday is here...it is one of my favorite days!! Mainly because it is followed by Friday!!!

In the news this morning there was as story about a male and a female caught in a home at about 4 this morning. They were each 31 years old. The male did get away..but police caught up to him not too far from the house. Yesterday we told you about a women who was pushed as she was getting into her vehicle in the McIntyre Centre..at 4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON!! A bold daylight robbery. This all makes me so upset. With the store robberies and the increasing credit union robberies...it makes me wonder where it is safe to go. I know it sounds negative...but I am thinking what others are also thinking.

Please keep an eye on what's going on around you...we need to watch out for our fellow Thunder Bay residents and get help when it is needed.

We talked about this yesterday morning...we didn't all start out with great jobs and spouses who helped boost our income. We didn't always have the things we have now.

I myself figured out my plan to get where I wanted to go way back when...and started on my path.
I just wish these people who would rather go for the quick money would just get a job. They might appreciate what they have and realize that just because it's in front of you..it doesn't mean you can just take it.

That's just what I think.

Have a great Thursday!!!!

THE AVERAGE COUPLE ARGUES 312 TIMES A YEAR

The average couple will argue with each other a whopping 312 times a year – mostly over cleanliness. It was also found couples are most likely to have an argument after dinner on a Thursday evening with everything kicking off at just before 8 p.m. The average fight also lasts just 10 minutes.
Researchers discovered stubble in the sink, dirty marks in the toilet and taking too long to get ready are regular triggers for arguments. Other reasons for relationship fights include flicking through TV channels and not replacing an empty toilet roll.

TOP ARGUMENT TRIGGERS
1. Stubble in the sink
2. Dirty marks in the toilet
3. Flicking TV channels
4. Not replacing the toilet roll
5. Leaving the seat up
6. Leaving lights on
7. Leaving dirty cups around the house
8. Leaving wet towels on the floor/bed
9. Hoarding stuff
10. Not flushing the toilet

2011-01-25T10:14:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Tuesday!! Here are some of the topics we covered this morning!!

MORE WAYS TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES:

A few more tips to help you survive the cold & dark of mid-Winter ...

• Take a vitamin D supplement, which has mood-enhancing benefits. In colder months, you just can’t get enough naturally from the Sun’s rays.

• Re-decorate. When it’s grey outside, make it bright inside. Add splashes of color to your home. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, paint your walls yellow for maximum happiness infusion.

• Pick up a few buds from a local shop to display in your apartment for some much-needed freshness and a little life.

• Plan a mini outdoor getaway. Don’t spend your days-off inside and waste daylight you can enjoy. Go sledding or explore a nearby town.

• Have a romantic dinner by candlelight. Take advantage of the darkness and turn your apartment into the ultimate sultry escape.

– Taken from “Cosmopolitan”

It's a day to eat haggis and drink scotch!!!

It is Robbie Burns' birthday!!!

One thing that we do hold here in Thunder Bay is the Robbie Burns dinner...(usually the closest Saturday to his birthday)

Elsewhere, Burns Night is celebrated on 25 January with Burns suppers around the world, and is still more widely observed than the official national day, St. Andrew's Day.

The first Burns supper in The Mother Club in Greenock was held on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 they discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759.

The format of Burns suppers has not changed since. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements, followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace, comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Burns' famous Address To a Haggis is read and the haggis is cut open.
The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is when the reading called the "immortal memory", an overview of Burns' life and work, is given; the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne...which Burns is credited with writing..

===============
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The Academy Award nominations

Best Picture
“Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
“The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
“Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
“The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
“The King's Speech” (12!!) Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
“127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
“The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
“True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
“Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
James Franco in “127 Hours”

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”

Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Animated Feature Film
“How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
“The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet
“Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich
Art Direction
“Alice in Wonderland”
Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”
Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
“Inception”
Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
“The King's Speech”
Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr
“True Grit”
Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Directing
“Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
“The Fighter” David O. Russell
“The King's Speech” Tom Hooper
“The Social Network” David Fincher
“True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Talk to you tomorrow!!

2011-01-24T09:57:00.002-05:00

Happy Monday!!

Hope everyone made it through the weekend without losing it because of the cold!! Let's face it...being cold for so long...being in the dark more than when we are in the light...can have negative effects on us. Here are some ways to beat the winter blahs...

WAYS TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES:

• Turn on your lights as soon as your alarm goes off. Trying to get ready for work in the dark will only make you sleepier and more sluggish.

• Wake up to the smell of coffee. Set your coffeemaker to turn on a few minutes before you rise and breathe in the irresistible scent.

• Bundle up and take a walk during lunch. The artificial light you’re under all day is no substitute for the real thing. Getting out and actually soaking up whatever sunshine you can while breathing fresh air will lift your spirits.

• Make ‘Happy Hour’ pacts. It can be so easy to run home straight after work, but parking yourself in front of the TV or Facebook every night will only depress you. Agree to meet your friends once a week for drinks.

• Have before-dinner fancy time. Is there any better way to take advantage of the last hour of daylight?

-taken from “Cosmopolitan”

We'll have more info on how you can beat the winter blues tomorrow!!

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD?

We saw this story from Naples, Italy – A 28-year-old man who was shot in the head by a stray bullet during New Year's Eve celebrations is now recovering after ... sneezing it out through his nose. While sitting in a waiting room awaiting a doctor’s appointment, he sneezed and the bullet shot out of his right nostril. Unbelievable!!

AHHH...GARLIC!!
Feel a cold coming on? To relieve symptoms, natural medicine experts recommend that, in addition to vitamin C, you also take regular doses of garlic. – “Natural Health

Plus.......we received an email about this last week...

if you type in "horrible men drivers' in the Google Search

....you'll get a correction that says: 'did you mean horrible women drivers'?

Have a great Monday!!!

2010-12-15T09:59:00.002-05:00

Hi all!! I have just recently returned from a Weekend of Chaos in Vegas...am trying to get it all written down to share..will post that for you soon! Meantime, here is a list of signs that you have had too much holiday cheer!!! Hopefully, none of us will resemble any of these signs this Holiday Season!!!

SIGNS YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH HOLIDAY CHEER:

• You have to hold on to the floor to keep from sliding off.
• You hear a duck quacking ... and it's you.
• Someone uses your tongue for a coaster.
• You refill your glass ... from the fish bowl.
• You complain about the small bathroom ... after emerging from the closet.
• You see your underwear hanging from the chandelier.
• You tell everyone you have to go home ... and the party's at your place.
• You ask for another ice cube ... and put it in your pocket.
• You realize you're the only one under the coffee table.

2010-12-09T10:15:00.002-05:00

Hi all!!

I saved our list of "Rules for Women" so I could share with you here. I just want to remind, that it is all in fun...so enjoy the day and hopefully you will enjoy this list as well!!!

COMEDY: RULES FOR WOMEN

Never do housework. No man ever made love to a woman because the house was spotless.

What do you do if your boyfriend walks out? You shut the door.

If they put a man on the moon, they should be able to put the mall there.

Go for younger men. You might as well. They never mature anyway.

Women don't make fools of men. Most of them are the do-it-yourself types.

The best way to get a man to do something is to suggest they are too old for it.

If he asks what sort of books you're interested in, tell him checkbooks.

2010-12-08T10:10:00.002-05:00

It's a cold, cold day!!! But, as we talked about the weather on the air this morning...we do benefit from the beauty of our surroundings!! We enjoy all of the seasons and the beauty they offer..we can hike, camp...and do so much more in our beautiful surroundings. Maybe we could try to keep that in mind as we wander out into the cold, with many layers of clothing, heavy mitts and hat...and salt. lol.

Here is one of the topics of conversation from the show this morning.......

5 BAD HABITS YOU WANT TO KEEP
Yes, some bad habits—in moderation--may actually be good for you. Ladies' Home Journal reports that some bad habits can have surprisingly good effects....read on!!

1. Television
The good: When you watch shows that exercise your mind, it can actually make you smarter. Some shows can give you a cognitive workout, while others will encourage you to reflect on your marriage and family life. Still others will almost always teach you something new.
The bad: If you turn into a couch potato and watch TV excessively while your family does other things, it's a problem. Sitting in front of the TV for too long can drain your energy.

2. Facebook
The good: Facebook can help you deepen relationships and connect with people from your past with whom you long ago lost touch. It can be a valuable resource for information, too. Posting a message that you need the name of a good plumber or tips for planting a vegetable garden can result in information you would not have otherwise received.
The bad: When you spend so much time on Facebook that you neglect your work, family or household chores, you may need to restrict your use by building it into your schedule.

3. Gossiping
The good: When we gossip about other people, it can make us less critical of our own lives. A celebrity's third trip to rehab or the neighbor's failed marriage can make you realize you're doing just fine. Gossip, which is human nature, also relieves stress and can create a culture of closeness.
The bad: If you purposely spread vicious stories about someone else that could be potentially damaging, it's time to stop. Too much gossiping can make you seem insecure or egocentric.

4. Coffee
The good: Regular coffee consumption is actually good for you! Numerous studies have shown multiple health benefits, including a lower risk for stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, liver cancer and gallstones.
The bad: If you indulge in fancy, high-calorie java drinks, they can make you fat since they're not only packed with caffeine, but also calories. And pregnant women shouldn't drink coffee at all because it can increase the risk of miscarriage.

5. Being Messy
The good: So what if your desk is a pile of papers and the junk drawer is so crammed with stuff it won't open? Moderately disorganized people also tend to be more creative and efficient than those who are obsessively neat.
The bad: When the boss looks at you like your desk is a fire hazard or you can't find your favorite jeans in your closet, it's time to clean up. Being messy is fine--to a point. Complete disorder is a problem. Schedule weekly tidy-up sessions to keep things under control.

Have a great day!!

2010-11-17T09:49:00.001-05:00

We have to thank Cheri for sending in this list of things that help remind you that you may be growing old...it was funny...but what was the message she was sending us? lol!!! Read on...

YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING OLD WHEN...

5. You can remember when cellphones were actually used to make phone calls.
4. You enjoy hearing about other people’s operations.
3. That gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals.
2. You can go bowling without drinking.
1. You’ve quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

Here are a couple of emails we received from people who heard the Top 5 List....

Just recently we visited our grandchildren in Red Deer Alberta. We hadn’t seen them for over a year and the youngest who is 4 took an immediate liking to Grampa Rod, my husband, who is 56. She sat on his lap reading a book when she suddenly looked up at him and said “Grampa, are you old”. Taken by surprise, he said “no”. She said “Well what happened to your face”. It was priceless

I was listening to your show this morning and it reminded me of when my daughter was around 4 years old and started JK and asked my father if he was a pioneer. He was only 51 at the time.

Love it!! Thanks for listening, and joining in on the conversation!!!
Have a great day!!!

2010-10-29T09:09:00.002-04:00

Happy Halloween!!!

It was a scary morning as we broadcast our Halloween show by candlelight!!!! Spooky!!!

TAKE A DRIVE AND CHECK OUT THE HAUNTS

Ford Street near Frederica

Frederica near James Street

291 E. Francis

#228 Highway 130 in Rosslyn - dinousaurs, zombies, witches...Everything!!

HALLOWEEN RULES

When it appears that you have killed the monster, never check to see if it's really dead.

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 numbers, never pair off and go it alone.

If you're searching for something which caused a noise and find out that it's just the cat, leave the room immediately if you value your life.

If appliances start operating by themselves, move out.

If you find a town which looks deserted, it's probably for a reason. Take the hint and stay away.

If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are of the female persuasion. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.

Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine.

If your car runs out of gas at night, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

2010-10-25T10:09:00.002-04:00

It's voting day!!
Make sure you get out to your polling station...bring your voters card and your ID!!
You have until 8 tonight to make your vote count. Election coverage on 91.5 ckpr begins at 8pm.

It's also the day that Global National broadcasts live from Marina Park. The public is invited to go and watch, so feel free to check it out!! We had Dawna Friesen on the air with us this morning, she was great! So very down to earth. We also asked her if she wanted to read the news so she did the 7:30 cast, with sports! We had a lot of fun with her this morning.

Talk to you Tuesday Morning!!

2010-10-22T11:08:00.003-04:00

Who doesn't feel good about a Friday? I guess people who work the weekend...anyways!! Happy Friday!!

Are you ready for Hallowe'en? We've got most of our decorations out...just have to put the coffin out on the 31st..it's got a skull, The Punisher design on the front, with eyes cutout that have red lights in them! Scary!!!

Joe is putting together Brandon and Garrett's costurmes...they are going out as Transformers Characters!! Very cool, they have the Bumblebee helmets, Joe is building the rest of their car costumes out of cardboard. So exciting!!

I even have the candy ready to go...it's been hidden in the basement for over a month!!

Monday, Dawna Friesen, Global National's new anchor and executive editor will be with us on the show!! She joins us in the 7am hour...we may even be lucky enough to have her read a newscast for us!! We are excited to have her with us.

One thing you might like to know is that she actually worked her, at Dougall Media early in her career! We are very interested in hearing about her travels and reporting experiences.

Oh, and Monday is our day to vote in our Municipal Elections! Make sure you vote!!!

Talk to you Monday!!

2010-10-19T11:00:00.002-04:00

I have seen a lot of people on a Facebook There are facebook pages urging people to wear purple tomorrow. The first one I saw is called..."R.I.P. ;; In memory of the recent suicides due to gay abuse, wear purple"...here is the write up.....

It’s been decided. On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes and at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools. RIP Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase and Billy Lucas. You are loved.

Join this event and invite everyone on your friends list. Don't let their deaths be for nothing. Let it mean something, and let's do something to change this country for once.

This has been a huge issue that seems to be becoming more prevalant today. I sincerely hope that by wearing the colour, the attitude will change.

2010-10-12T10:03:00.001-04:00

Happy day after Thanksgiving!!

I loved our family get together. There is nothing like a house full of people...in the kitchen, in the rec room, on the deck with kids running around and playing on the swings and in the fort.....then finding spots for everyone to sit and eat..we had so much fun!!! I love family time!

Kayla was there with her two little ones...Matthew was in charge of taking pictures and Victoria made pumpkin pie from pumpkins from our very own garden!! She was the gardener this year...and the pies..were amazing!!

My mom was there of course, she's in charge of turkey cooking....and it turned out my brother...who is a cook..ended up making the gravy!! It was soooo good...'course the trouble with that is everyone wants it...so there is none left. I can always pick up a packet of gravy mix for leftovers...

And Joe...was the carver. Yum!!

I need to also mention Elvis our dog...he was a good dog! No growling...no jumping up at anyone...he did circle the table a large number of times waiting for something to fall...

So...that was my day...I am quite interested in these Rice Balls that Danny said his sister made. Their mom was well known in the family for them...so it was a great treat to have Carmela make them and surprise them all!! Mmmmm...Rice Balls.......

2010-10-07T10:06:00.004-04:00

Ryan and Terry

Kristy and Terry

Matthew and Joe were Terry's drivers that day.....

Yaay!! We met Mantracker!! Unfortunately, he called us "Buttonheads"...but I think that's a term of endearment?

Nicholas stopped in to meet Mantracker!! Turns out...he and his friends play "Mantracker"!!

So...lets go back about a week. I've been trying to get these pics up from Mantracker - Terry Grant was in for an interview! Here they are!! (yes, I need a camera with a flash)

I was sent an email by Laurie telling me they had heard the show was shooting in the area. We contacted the company and within 24 I was talking to Mantracker himself...on my cell! I had successfully hunted him down!!

He was such a great interview and really shed some light on how the show is done. You really need to check out the show. It will have you on the edge of your seat!!!!

2010-10-04T10:25:00.002-04:00

It's Monday, but the long weekend is coming!!! Well, for most of us....
It will be a well deserved extra sleep in day!!!

These colds are hanging on...but we've got the vitamin c in the house..chewables so everyone can take them. Except Brandon...I gave him his when he and his brother Garrett were over...he gave it back and said..."I don't like these grandma...(he then looked at me with one eye closed...kinda like a wink)...they make me do this".
Too funny! Ahhh..kids.

I am looking forward to my afternoon...the weather is so beautiful..I want to head out for a walk. I love the colours, the leaves crunching under my feet and the smell in the air on a warm fall day. Just gotta get through a meeting and a workout at the Complex first...

Have a great day!!!

2010-09-30T12:30:00.001-04:00

I knew it was going to happen. Last week our younges grandchild Garrett came over and he had such a wicked cold..runny nose and a deep cold voice. I knew it would soon spread through our house...that's why I was not surprised when Friday after work..my throat started to hurt..and my nose was burning.

Of course..I had a baseball banquet to go to. I really wanted to get out and have a good time but the raw, raging sore throat would not allow it. Home by 10. Saturday, I had signed up for an hour at Boot Camp for Hope...10-11am. There I was, Superman position (on your stomach looking down with your arms and legs off the floor) and my nose starts to run. Thank goodness I had the foresight to bring kleenex with me. That was a tough workout.

Then it was home to shower then off to our company's annual golf fundraiser for the George Jeffrey Children's Treatment Centre...still sick. All day I felt it coming...and it worsened with each hour, but I really wanted to have fun darnit!!!!

----- The line to the left...that's how close I was to winning the longest drive!!! My teammate Rhonda won it by a hair!! At least someone on our team won something! We did have fun, despite the cold attacking me. Then it was off to a birthday party that I really could not, not go to!! Jonathan Wilson's 40th!! So..off we four went after golf to celebrate with Jon!

Home at 11:30...and ready for bed. And stayed there until 6pm Sunday. I got out of bed to shower and put my pj's on. And back to bed.

So far this week..I seem to be fighting it off..with others telling me they suffered through colds for 3 weeks..another friend said they had a nasty cold for 7 weeks!!
Hope mine goes away and stays away!

2010-09-20T10:41:00.002-04:00

Whoops! How did that much time slip by since my last blog?

So since I last blogged....we entered the world of the pvr...we had to...my hubby Joe is a huge San Diego Chargers Fan...and the only way to guarantee him seeing all of their games is to pick up the Shaw Cable Sunday Ticket...which meant an upgrade to a pvr unit. I'm okay with this...cause I won't miss any Y&R episodes!! This is actually going to be great..shows I can't watch because they are on too late....you know, after 8:30....

Had a great weekend of shopping...picked up our Halloween Candy, a costume for Elvis our Jack Russell Terrier...it's a devil costume..complete with ears!!
I also found the Slinky Dog from Toy Story!!! So excited about this, Brandon and Garrett are going to love them!! I know I do already! Great start for Christmas...it's the third Christmas gift I have found for them..and I have not bought any for anyone else...ahh it's all about the kids!!!

Have a great day!!!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATION...

‘Invention of the week’. It’s called the ‘Park Spark’ – and it was just unveiled in a Cambridge, Massachusetts dog park. The methane digester converts dog poop into energy, and that energy is now powering a gas-burning lamp in the park. Because of this, people can now see where their dogs poop at night, and continuously feed the machine, for a sort of eternal flame

Are you afraid of snakes? Did you know that snakebites cause at least 100,000 deaths and up to 400,000 amputations worldwide each year.

90% of Hong Kong’s population uses the public transport system everyday! In Hong Kong…car dependancy is literally a thing of the past!

Forget the brides – there’s a website that now focuses on men getting in shape for their big wedding day! It’s called fat boy groom.com

2010-08-09T09:52:00.002-04:00

We had a guest dog over the weekend. Nanook. It was a trial for his owners, my brother in law and his wife and for us as well..to see if he would be okay if left with us. They leave town for a month in the winter so they thought leaving him with a family member would be easiest.

It was great! He was a bit pouty, and this look on a Samoyed Husky is kind of a funny one....after the first night though, he was warming up to his temporary home. Nanook and our dog, the Jack Russell Terrior also took some time to get used to each other..with it being our dog Elvis' house..he was not pleased at first with having to share. So..he tried to dominate the much larger dog, which did not work, so what happened was they ended up being playmates. It was quite cute to see them chasing each other in the back yard. I was happy to see they were getting along.

Until dinner time. You just can't leave an easy going slow eater like Nanook with the hyper, eat like a shark Elvis. We learned they had to be split up.

The second night, I opened the door to see what was going on with them, hadn't heard anything for a while. There they were. Two white dogs. Gone grey. What a sight!
They had been digging! Elvis never digs, Nanook apparantly sometimes digs..so I guess the two of them together equals one big digger. I was worried about what my brother in law and his wife would say when they was what was a fluffy white Samoyed Husky when they dropped him off..turned into a flat furred, grey wolf looking creature. Neither dog was allowed upstairs that night. It turns out Nanook gets himself into this state quite often. Whew. I felt like a bad dogsitter.

I guess we'll see what happens when the snow falls and Nanook is our guest. At least he'll have a lot of snow to get to before the hopefully frozen dirt.

Have a great day!!

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATION

At the International University of Monaco, a master’s degree in ‘Luxury Retail Management’ is being launched this Fall. Students will learn about private jets, yachts, and upmarket brands such as Gucci. – “Globe & Mail”

The worst time for “road rage” is Monday afternoon and is most prevalent among males 26 to 35 and the web site roadragers.com has some interesting statistics…. Like the fact that 40% of people think road rage is a bad habit

New research by dog psychologists now suggest that a dog has the intelligence of a two year old…..which makes sense since a lot of two year olds… also have you cleaning you cleaning up their poo for them

On this date in 1173 construction on the Tower of Pisa started and it took over two centuries to complete…..and still in the end it wasn’t straight… how bad were those builders??

2010-08-03T10:06:00.002-04:00

What a great week off!

We took the family, including Kayla and her two boys to Quebec for 5 days. What an adventure!

It started out Sunday, July 25th at our house...we were getting ready to leave, the boys were so excited!! Brandon..the 3 year old was getting his shoes together and had an important question..."is the plane picking us up at the front door, or the back door?" Hilarious!!

Later, on the plane, the boys were seated and ready to go...more hilarity when the boys started their countdown to the blastoff! Then, when were up in the air, still climbing..Garrett, the two year old hollered out.."I'm in space!"...gotta love kids!

We arrived at Hotel St. Paul...which was in the lower part of Old Quebec City near the waterfront...we had booked a simple room, large with two murphy beds and cots...well, they upgraded us. Something was wrong with the room..something about the plumbing. They sent us up the hill to another place, a bed and breakfast! So...off we went...7 travellers..all our belongings dragging behind...(cause we did not realize we would have to climb that big of a hill!) and found la Montagne....this place was great!!! It's about 300 years old! After the three flights of stairs to get up to the place...we found it to be so beautiful...some stone walls...kitchen...living room with pull out couches...a loft bedrrom and a deck outside. Here's the thing about la Montagne...it is right smack dab in between the Old Port of Quebec and the Frontenac Castle. It was a bed and breakfast...located at the top of the famous Break Neck stairs....

The deck was overlooking the an incredible panorama on the St-Lawrence River and looking up...the Chateau Frontenac.

We did a lot of sightseeing...One stop was The Citadel for the changing of the Guard...now you know what their uniforms look like...red with the bear fur hats...well..to the kids...these look like life sized...Christmas Decorations! Garret...he's two...saw them and the first thing out of his mouth..."Nutcracker"!! We did not expect this...we watched them march on...the band followed..and Garrett wanted to follow too! After the Changing of the Guard, we toured the Citadel. Garrett fell asleep during the tour...he didn't wake up when one of the cannons was fired off...but he did wake up so he could have his picture taken with the nutcracker at the gate!

We had so many adventures and so many laughs!! On the Plains of Abraham where we had a picnic, the many green spaces we found for the boys to let out some energy..the shops, the Ghost Tour, the restaurants...just walking together was so much fun!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS....

Classic college comedy "Animal House" opened 32 years ago this week (1978). At the time, actor Donald Sutherland refused to accept 15% of the box office gross for his 2days' work on the film, demanding $50,000 instead. The decision is estimated to have cost him $20 million.

Only 7 out of every 1,000 people will live to be 100 years old!

Family Circle magazine survey 2,500 adults – and asked them "should a couple stay together for the children"? 51% of Men say ‘yes’ // 35% of Women said ‘yes’.

The president of Iran picked a fight with a new ENEMY . . . Paul the octopus. That would be the octopus in Germany who predicted World Cup games. No joke! During a recent speech, the President of Iran REPEATEDLY mentioned Paul the Octopus and called him, quote, "an example of methods of propaganda and superstitions of the West.". There's more, quote, "Those who believe in this type of thing cannot be the leaders of the global nations that aspire, like Iran, to human perfection, basing themselves in the love of all sacred values."

2010-07-21T10:28:00.002-04:00

Who knew I would actually enjoy some country time? Seriously...growing up in the country...while it was beautiful and we did keep busy as kids...as an adult, during camping trips...I didn't actually care much that I was in the country.

We were camping at Sibley over the weekend..and I have to say, I cannot remember being so relaxed. It has been a long, long time. The kids loved the chipmunks that would come right up on their knee for a nut...guess they've become very tame..as are the deer who will, with some caution eat food right out of your hand. The poor skunk that was seen with the container over it's head...our friend Bruce tried to get it off...but in pulling on the container, he lifted the skunk right off the ground! It didn't even lift it's tail!! But, the skunk got away. Hope he wiggled out of that container.

The kids, ours and the ones all around us had so much fun. You could hear them laughing from many sites away. My son and his friend Chelsea made themselves a tent..they used wood from the site, some duct tape (orange)and Joe's camo sleeping bag to make their tiny shelter. They also decorated an old tree...with pop cans and other shiny things to decorate...and it was Christmas!! Presents on "Christmas Day" were painted rocks, daisy's and pine cones. Such creativity.

I cannot wait to go camping again.

Water Cooler Conversations...

Tuition fees for Canadian universities have tripled in the last 10 years. Experts say…if this keeps up…within 20 years – a basic bachelor of arts degree in Canada will cost over $100,000.

Some garden hoses are now coming out with warnings that it’s unsafe to drink the water from them. The problem – the hoses are made from recycled rubber – so they don’t know where that rubber came from. To be safe - don’t drink from the hose!

A man in Iowa is in jail after punching another guy who refused to give him a hug. Onlookers called police when they saw the 23-year-old suspect punching cars on Sunday night. The suspect, was drunk, he told police that he got angry and punched a car when the man refused his hug. Then he punched the guy for refusing the hug. He was charged with assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

2010-07-07T09:38:00.002-04:00

We presented Brandon and Garrett with their little Jeep yesterday!! They LOVED it!!! We had Matthew drive it around to the front of the house as the boys sat on the steps with their eyes closed...when they saw it...they screamed and ran towards it. They took turns driving it for over an hour before we parked it in the garage with Joe's Jeep. I got pics of my men with their Jeeps...Brandon and Garrett were so excited. I asked Garrett if he liked his surprise...and he said "yes, but that's Matthew's Jeep"...of course they thought that! Matthew drove it to them!! When I told him "nope...it's Brandon and Garrett's Jeep"...he jumped up and down clapping his hands. Gaaad I love kids.

WATER COOLER CONVERSATION FACTS......

Interesting musical fact – it was this week back in 1985 (25 years ago), singer Phil Collins admitted to David Letterman that the title of his then #1 hit "Sussudio" means nothing………it’s simply a made-up word!

One million people gathered in Toronto’s downtown for their annual gay pride parade this past Sunday. Listen to this – this annual parade brings in $100 million a year to the economy in Toronto.

Police are warning that during tough times…fraud artists prosper as more and more people will try anything to get out of debt. AND, 10 Canadians a month still fall for the Nigerian Letter Scam –you know – where you’re promised loads of money if you just help a prince in Africa deal with some banking problems.

2010-07-06T10:00:00.002-04:00

Are we spoiled right now or what? I am loving this weather...though I am not much of a sun worshipper...I do enjoy the warmth. Yesterday, Joe and I were out looking for a gazebo for our deck so we could enjoy the weather without the sunburn...and we could not find anything that would fit on our deck. Next year we'll have to look sooner...so...instead, we found ourselves in the toy department looking at the kids Jeeps!!! See...everything happens for a reason...now the boys, Brandon and Garret can ride in style! Just like Nono (Joe) and his Jeep. It's a Jeep thing with these boys.

WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS

Researchers say computer keyboards can be up to 5 times dirtier than ... toilet seats. That’s because they become easily fouled with food, dirt, and germs just like other frequently touched things like doorknobs and money.

Over the weekend, it was the big UFC pay per vu. This is big business. UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) mixed martial arts TV programming is now broadcast in over 130 countries, reaching 430 million homes worldwide in 20 different languages.

The Ontario Provincial Police have warned motorists that they shouldn’t drive for longer than 8 or 9 hours at a time this summer while on vacation…. driving for 17 hours straight leaves the operator of the vehicle with the same abilities as someone driving impaired

The semi finals at the World Cup are set….. the Netherlands play Uruguay; Germany takes on Spain. PLUS – did you hear this? FIFA (the governing body of soccer), is upset with the President of Nigeria who has banned his country’s soccer team from playing international matches for two years to punish them for their poor performance at the World Cup.

2010-07-05T10:16:00.002-04:00

Wow!!! That was quite the weekend!!

Friday, I went out to my best friend Theresa's house in the country...waay out there...turns out...she owns a mountain! They also have a dog named peanut (came with Theresa), chickens that lay blue eggs!! AND!!!Horses!!! I am so happy for her. She has always wanted to live in a home in the country surrounded by farm animals and natural beauty.

Travelling home on the highway...got to thinking about all those cones they use during construction season. Where do they come from? The cone truck? Do they have a home? And wouldn't it be hilarious if the company that provided cones to highway construction was called "Madonna's Cones"? Just sayin'.

Saturday...gorgeous day!! We went exploring....I cannot believe I have never been to Silver Harbour! We went out for a ride in the jeep...we had Elvis with us..and decided to go to Silver Harbour to check it out. It was great!! The waves were huge and the water was crashing against the rocks...we walked around and checked out the spectacular views....

Elvis..when close enough...would chase the waves and try to eat them!!! He also swam for the first time in his little dog life...and didn't know how, at first. But when he started...and when he wasn't trying to eat the waves...he was awesome!! He swam in circles.

There were two guys who launched their sea-doos from there..wow! The waves were huge and they were flying! Looked awesome!

It was quite the day out.

Kept waiting for those thunderstorms that never did happen. Did see some lightning as I fell asleep...

Sunday was quite quiet, which is what is needed sometimes. I went out with my son Matt to pick up some stuff for his birthday...and we also cruised around to see what was going on in the city...then it started to rain! For the ladies...I have to share this...we were travelling near Boulevard Lake...we rounded a corner and there they were...two runners...males...no shirts...in the rain. You know when it's just the right moment. That was it.

Have a great day!!!

2010-06-21T10:16:00.002-04:00

What a fabulous weekend!!

We went to Whitefish to a friends camp and had an absolute blast. We fished...until it rained...then we headed back in to enjoy supper. There is a group of people who put on a pot luck on Saturday night's...we really enjoyed our time there.

Sunday...Matthew turned 13 at twelve noon...and of course it was Father's Day. The boys went fishing with Joseph's dad for the afternoon...so, of course I took the opportunity to lay low and relax!!

We put dinner together for the men when they got home..ribs, chicken kabobs...corn on the cob...and Birthday/Father's Day cake! The little ones...Garrett 2 and Brandon 3 have discovered they love to eat the icing on the bottom of the candles..so as I was cutting the cake...this candle would slowly appear and be directed towards the icing...accompanied by a giggle and little feet running back to the table. Those kids!! lol.

I also was presented with one of the first strawberries from our teeny strawberry patch in our garden. It was amazing! We also have some raspberries on the go...not ready for eating yet though.

Great weekend.

Hope yours was as great!!!

2010-06-15T10:13:00.003-04:00

Hello all!

I was on remote at Value Village Saturday. It is truly amazing the gems you can find there. They say there are regulars who come looking for one of a kind treasures and rare finds. While I was there, I noticed a large, red box on the counter near where we were set up. The lid was on it. I was busy so I didn't have time to go and satisfy my curiosity about what may have been inside!

About a half hour before we were finished, I saw someone had taken the lid off...I had a wee bit of free time til I was on next...so I went over to the counter. Wow! It was a box of puppets...a lion, a giraffe and four more...along with a little stage set complete with curtains! It was an amazing little theatre! I had to buy it!! I had my daughter's two little men...Brandon, 3 and Garrett, 2 in mind as I purchased this wonderful treasure!! They LOVED it! They were so excited to use their theatre and we enjoyed many plays put on by the "Little Man Theatre Company"!

But I was really surprised that my 12 year old son and his friend put on a play...and recorded it. See...something so simple can entertain so many.

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATIONS......

On this date back in 1956, Paul McCartney and John Lennon met....and the rest, as they say, is history.......

After Paul's song, "Penny Lane" became a Beatles hit, the street signs for the actual Penny Lane in Liverpool disappeared with such regularity (as they did on the real Abbey Road), that the town reverted to simply painting 'Penny Lane' on the buildings, rather than have street signs.

Contrary to popular belief, the title for "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" was prompted by 4-year-old Julian Lennon's description of a painting he brought home from school, not the drug, LSD.

* Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" for Julian Lennon, John's son.

* Though the Beatles were still largely unknown in the U.S. in October 1963, Ed Sullivan got his first glimpse of Beatlemania on Halloween of that year. His plane at Heathrow Airport outside London was delayed due to hordes of screaming Beatles fans welcoming the boys back from an overseas concert. When he was notified about the cause of the delay, Ed Sullivan said, "Who the heck are the Beatles?" That experience prompted him to book them on his show in 1964. (The Beatles, for their part, had not previously heard of Ed Sullivan).

2010-06-11T10:25:00.001-04:00

Too busy to blog? Gaah!!

It has been crazy busy around here. With summer closing in...it's not going to change, so we must make the time to blog!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATION....

The world comes together for the next month in South Africa – it’s the FIFA World Cup 2010.

32 countries particpating in what is truly the ‘biggest sporting event’ ever!!

The highest attendance for a soccer game, was in 1950 at Marcana Stadium in Rio De Jenero, Brazil. The game: Uruguay vs Brazil. 199,584 fans. The stadium has since been renovated….and seat around 82,000 fans!!

The World Cup has been held every 4 years since the first tournament in 1930 (except in ’42 and ’46, because of World War 2)

To date, the final of the World Cup has only been contested by European and South American teams. The two continents have won nine titles apiece. Only two teams from outside these two continents have ever reached the semi-finals of the competition: USA in 1930, and Korea in 2002.

Paolo Rossi was the top scorer at the 1982 World Cup in Spain with six goals, leading Italy to its third title

Over 1 billion people are expected to watch soccer on a daily basis over the next month.

AND…already looking ahead to 2014 – that’s when Brazil hosts the next world cup.

2010-05-31T10:44:00.002-04:00

Our "One Way ticket To Fabulous" contest winner and her friends had an amazing time Saturday...and so did I!!!!

My morning started at 8am...the limo picked me up and whisked me away to Kathy Thompson's house where she and her two friends Jacqui and Jenn!!!

And then we were off!! Robert, our limo driver took us to Salon on 10th...the experience was as lush as the name of the salon! They really know how to pamper the ladies!!! We were treated to having our hair, makeup and nails done!!! We all had a wonderful time!

Lunch was amazing at the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites in the Portside Restaurant. We talked, laughed and were recognized by other diners! For dessert...cheesecake! It was soooo good!!!

And then...it was off to Intercity Shopping Centre to spend our $100 gift cards!! Which we did!! It was soooo much fun shopping with these ladies!! When the people in the stores heard why we were there, they were almost as excited as we were!

And finally, off to Silver City Thunder Bay Cinema's to see...Sex and the City 2!!! It did not disappoint. We loved it. Of course, we behaved ourselves...Danny had given me the speech before I left Friday to make sure we all kept reserved at the movies. Sigh.

And then our experience came to an end...but we have the pictures and the memories of our "One Way Ticket To Fabulous"!!!

2010-05-27T04:41:00.003-04:00

American Idol wrapped up last night....our Idol expert Lodi Nacirema has put together her thoughts on how it all went down....

Well, well, well... Lee DeWyze is DeWinner!! I can't say that I am totally
surprised. I even think Crystal thought Lee would win as well. She looked
too calm standing beside him. Can I say that I am happy with the result?
Well, let's just say I'm content. To me, they are both great artists and
have futures in music. Lee is probably more commercial and contemporary,
whereas Crystal is an "old soul" (even though they are the same age). I had
actually forgotten that they both auditioned in Chicago. I liked that one
shot of them sitting almost side by side at the auditions (with one person
between them), not knowing each other. That is kind of eery!

Anyway, about the 2 hour finale. For a while there, I almost forgot that it
was about Lee and Crystal! What a Simon Love Fest!! Although I must say it
was well-deserved. After all, he made that show what it is and I I'm
seriously wondering what will happen next year. It was great to see Paula,
although she is still kind of "out there". Some things never change. The
best part of Simon's farewell I thought was when all the Idol winners (minus
David Cook) came out on stage, followed by their fellow contestants.
Although I didn't see Clay or Adam. That was very cool to see. Now that
would make a great concert tour... The Top 10 American Idol winners.. maybe
even a special. Now there is something to think about after next year of
course.

The rest of the entertainment was good. There were a lot of older acts that
were paired up with the current Top 12. Some of those songs certainly
brought back memories! Overall, it was a decent show. When compared to last
year though I think it fell short. But maybe it was because of the "Farwell
to Simon" part of it.

Sadly, another year is over. We have our new Idol and he will do well. But,
don't count out "MommaSocks". I'm sure that we will be hearing both of them
on the radio soon. It's just too bad they didn't debut a new original song
to promote. I am still confused about that. But let's not go down that road.
It is getting late and I must stop my babbling. I also wish they had of sang
their duet from a few weeks ago. That was awesome!! I sure hope they sing it
on the tour!

Speaking of the tour, that is the next Idol thing on my agenda. The Top 10
Idol Tour 2010 - August 29th - Minneapolis. I already have my tickets and my
gang of fellow Idol fans to join me. It is always fun and I know this year
will not disappoint. I must say bye for now, but I will keep in touch from
time to time. If you are a true Idol fan, you should attempt to make one of
their concerts, either in Minneapolis or in Winnipeg. They are well worth
it.

Until next time,

Lodi

2010-05-26T04:29:00.002-04:00

Ooooh!!! It was performance night - Lee and Crystal going head to head, one coming out victorious! Here's Lodi's rundown....

I knew at the onset that this evening would be great. They have been the two
favourites all season long. In my opinion, they have been neck and neck. It
was like a teeter-totter. One would have a good week and then the next week,
the other seemed to be stronger. Tonight was no different.

Round One: Contestant pick - their favourite song from the season. Lee
started and sang "The Boxer" from Inspiration week. Crystal chose "Bobbie
McGee". According to the judges, they liked Crystal better. I don't know, I
liked both. Crystal's was just more upbeat. I say tie, leaning a little more
toward Crystal.

Round Two: Executive Producer's (Simon Fuller) choice. Lee sang "Everybody
Hurts". He came across as a little nervous to me. But I agree with Simon
C... a good choice for him. Crystal was asked to sing "Black Velvet". I was
a little scared for her during her walk down the stairs in those heels. It
took my mind off her singing for a moment that's for sure. Anyway, the
singing to me was okay, but in spots was more like yelling. She has sang
better. I personally would give this round to Lee.

Round Three: Song to be released as single. Lee's song was "Beautiful Day".
Now am I crazy or did that song sound like U2? Don't they sing a song like
that? Anyway, maybe I'm just tired. Crystal sang last with a song called "Up
to the Mountain". All I have to say is WOW!! That to me was Crystal at her
best. It wasn't the typical "Idol" song. It was totally different, just
like her. Round Three to Crystal.

So to sum it up, again they are neck and neck. Like any great race should
be. Who will win the night? My vote goes to .... Crystal. As Ellen said, she
is unique. She has stayed true to herself throughout this whole competition.
I think she was the best tonight. Lee was good, but showed his nerves and
didn't soar like Cystal did. But it all comes down to the votes. Illinois Vs
Ohio. They had four hours to vote and I sure hope that these two got the
support that they deserve.

Tune in for the results on Wednesday night. A two hour finale with the Top
12 back to perform. It will be a special night for Simon as well being his
last show. I'm sure there will be some great moments supplied by Ryan and
the gang. You don't want to miss it!!

Lodi

2010-05-20T05:38:00.001-04:00

It's down to the wire on American Idol...looks like Lodi has called the outcome again...

It was almost as if I could have written the script myself. Lee is safe
first, followed by Crystal and we say good-bye to Casey. I think he knew it
was coming. He might have had a little glimmer of hope, like all the Idols,
but it can't last forever. I will miss seeing Casey James every week (sigh),
but hey, I will see him again next Wednesday at the finale, just like all of
the Top 10 (maybe even Top 12).

As the showed finished tonight, there is something that they don't show us.
They flip a coin to to see who gets to sing first or second on nest week's show. This is where the real strategy begins. Everyone wants to sing last. It leaves the longest impression (unless you really blow it), but that is rare. I would say that
90% of the people who sing second win the competition.

As for winning, usually there is a stronger contestant, but not this year.
(Although even in those cases, that isn't a guarantee...Adam Vs Kris; David
Vs David) To top it off, both Crystal and Lee are very personable people.
They both can sing and they both have a great story that is just begging for
a happy ending. They both deserve it. It will be really tough. Over the
course of Idol this year, we have never heard who had the most votes. So, we
really don't know who has more of a following and support. One is from
Chicago and the other a small town in Ohio. So, who will get the strong
support of the Southern States this year? All these are good questions. We
will have to wait and see how they sing next Tuesday. They will sing their
"Idol" song, usually a previous song that was strong for them and a new one
that no one has heard. Three songs... three chances to win votes. I can't
wait. I wish I could vote. I say that every year. Some year I will do a road
trip to Grand Marais to cast my votes, although a lot can be said for
relaxing in my own living room and enjoying the show.

Anyway, rest up and wait for Tuesday. I am truly looking forward to it. It
should be a fantastic show.

Lodi

2010-05-19T07:13:00.001-04:00

Lodi Nacirema is back sharing last night's American Idol excitement with us!!

There is nothing I like more than a close competition. Blow-outs are boring.
Although a lot can be said for upsets as well. Last night show might lead
to any of the above. The top 3 sang two songs last night - one of their
choice and one chosen by the judges.

Casey started first. I think he did really well. His voice is actually very
good. Sure, he is nice to look at, but you really have to admit that he can
sing. I think that his looks are his downfall. People don't give him credit
for his talent. Will his two performances be enough to send him through to
the finale? I'm not sure. The judges choice of "Daughters" by John Mayer I
thought was really good. He suited that song and as Kara said, he was
singing to the women. But if the women vote, who knows what will happen!

Next was Crystal. I have to admit, she is my favourite and has been since
the start. She is so different from all the other women contestants that
they have had. She has a lot of talent and I really hope she makes it
through. She sang a Melissa Etheridge song first and Ellen chose a Paul
McCartney song for the second. It was an all right choice for her and she
hit notes that even surprised her! She has been strong this whole
competition.

Finally was Lee. Wow. He was sure in fine voice last night. He has also been
a front runner this year and deservingly so. But he sure picked a great
night to outshine all the others. His choice was a Skinner song which was
good. Not as well known as other ones he could have picked, but I dont'
think it mattered. But the judges choice by Simon was incredible.
"Halleluliah" by Leonard Cohen was the song and it brought the house down.
He is for sure in the finale with that performance.

So, the final two by performances alone should be Crystal and Lee. Casey did
well, but he has been in the bottom 3 in the past. Last week's results with
Crystal being with Michael in the bottom I still feel was a set up by Ryan.
I doubt if she was really in the bottom two. A finale with Crystal and Lee
would be a real show-down. Two great artists fighting to the finish. Casey
and Lee would probably end up being a blow-out which I really don't want to
see. Although I really shouldn't say that. You never know what will happen
in the end. It all depends upon the votes. It was only last year that most
people thought Adam was a shoe-in over Kris and look what happened. As long
as the show is good and they perform well, that's all I can ask for. HOLD
ON... WHO AM I KIDDING? I WANT IT TO BE CRYSTAL AND LEE!!!! Tune in tonight
to find out!!

Lodi

2010-05-17T09:51:00.002-04:00

Proud Moments....

You hear about the moments when a mother is about to give birth to a child...the father...in the room...anxiously awaiting the arrival..with the video camera and the camera to capture it all...

Well, if you've been in that position...it can be well...an interesting time...and there comes a time when you don't care who sees what and you just want that baby to come out!

Then when you see him standing there with that camera on you and you're in the middle of a contraction...he's not in any pain....it's probably a good thing he's standing out of reach.....

That's why this story is kind of funny to me...and perhaps some other mothers out there....

I met a woman over the weekend who says she has four beautiful children...and that she and hubby decided that 4 was enough...and instead of her being off for at least 6weeks after an operation...it was also decided that he would be the one to have a procedure...a vasectomy.

We all know what men think and how they react when the word "vasectomy" is mentioned....yikes!! So...I am wondering how he felt when he was just about to have the procedure done.......with his feet in the stirrups....nurses prepping him and the doctor getting ready...as his wife walked in with a camera to capture the moment!!! She had it all set up with the secretary....

Her husband had her removed from the room...but it took some time for the procedure to begin...because the doctor was laughing too hard to...well...go there.....

Water Cooler Conversation…

Spanish researchers claim that people who drink 14 or more glasses of wine each week…catch colds 40% less often than those who don’t drink alcohol at all! Apparentley, the grape skins contain antioxidants which fight common colds!

The magazine "Hello Canada", is out with their ‘most beautiful Canadians list’. Some of them include: Justin Beeber; Michael Buble; Ryan Reynolds; Celine Dion; curler Cheryl Bernard; Glee’s Corey Monteith (he plays Finn).

It was this week back in 1686 – Daniel Fahrenheit was born. He invented the mercury thermometer.

2010-05-13T05:39:00.000-04:00

Someone went home on Idol last night...Lodi Nacirema has the details....

Ryan Seacrest should be shot!! How dare he torture me like that! I swear I
was on the edge of my seat the whole second half of the show last night. I
had a hard time enjoying Bon Jovi.. but I did. I kept saying over and over
in my head.... “in no particular order”. That has to be the answer. There is
no way that Crystal could be in the bottom two. Especially after Tuesday’s
performance. I was also thinking that it could be the one of the worst
upsets to date on that show.. and how ironic, when Chris Daughtry is on the
show. Was this going to be a twist of fate? Lucky for me and many others I
am sure, it all worked out. It is sad to see Michael go, but his save in
Week 9 lasted quite a while.

Now for the rest of the show. I was glad to see that Fantasia has come back
down to earth. The last time she performed, it was way out there. She has
talent, she just has to get back on track. Daughtry was outstanding. What a
voice. I still can’t believe he only got to the Top 5. But he is proof that
you don’t actually need to win. Use the exposure you get from this popular
show and run with it. Bon Jovi did not disappoint either. This is one of the
best bands with a great lead singer.

Ryan did not mention what’s up for next week, but usually Top 3 week is
Judge’s choice night. The judges pick a song for each artist to sing and they
also perform another song of their own choice. Don’t forget the highlights
from their trip back home to their home town. It’s usually a pretty
memorable night.

Just one last thing before I leave you for another week. The Top 10 will
also be travelling to Winnipeg on their tour this summer. They will be
there on Tuesday September 7th. Maybe this suits you better than
Minneapolis. Whichever city, it is well worth the drive. Keep it in mind.

Talk to you next week.

Lodi

2010-05-12T05:30:00.001-04:00

Another Tuesday..another American Idol!! Lodi Nacerima is here to tell us what happened last night....

I really love music from the movies...even more when I know what movie they
are from. Maybe that is why Simon was so confused tonight. I am surprised
that he didn't research these songs beforehand. I know that they know ahead
of time what each contestant is singing. But, maybe he is above that.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting how Jamie Foxx talked about being a
contestant versus an artist. In my opinion, that divides the group of four
in half for sure. Michael and Casey are contestants while Lee and Crystal
are artists. What a difference for sure! Except to me, Lee fell a bit short
tonight. He is still good, don't get me wrong, but as Randy says... it was
just "okay". On the other hand, Crystal was back with a vengence. She is
"All right" for sure. And boy or boy, I love that microphone stand. Very
cool.

Michael was fine, doing a Michael Jackson song from the movie Free Willy. To
me, I agree with the judges, it wasn't his best. No goosebumps. Casey was
good I thought. His choice of song was funny, especially considering the
"history" between him and Kara. He put a spin on Mrs. Robinson and was back
to strumming his guitar. He seemed much more relaxed. The camera sure eats
him up!

The duets were the best though. I'm not sure of the song that Lee and
Crystal sang, but it sure sounded great. What a pair. I am expecting them to
sing that one again on finale night. Casey and Mike's Bryan Adams' song was
outstanding. More great guitar playing and cool vocals from the boys. I love
that song. It doesn't hurt that it is from a Johnny Depp movie and it was
very fitting coming from these two guys.

So who will go? This is tough. Crystal for sure is safe. Lee will be safe
too, he's too good to go home now. So that leaves Casey and Big Mike. They
have both been in the bottom 2 and Mike almost went home in Week 9. Even
last week, when I thought Casey would go, Mike was in the bottom with Aaron.
So based on history and the performances from tonight , I am thinking it
will be Big Mike.

Waiting to find out is agony for me. To get me through a Wednesday work day,
I think of who will be on the elmination show. They sure have been good so
far this year. This one is no exception...Daughtry, Fantasia and Bon Jovi!!
Wow! It just keeps getting better and better. You don't want to miss that
for sure!

More talk tomorrow,

Lodi

2010-05-06T04:22:00.001-04:00

Wow! Getting down to the wire on Idol! Here's Lodi Nacirema with her thoughts on last night's show.....

Well you can't win them all! I knew my record couldn't continue forever. I
was surprised by the outcome of tonight's show, but probably not as
surprised as Casey. When Ryan separated Crystal and Casey in one group and
Michael and Aaron in another with Lee being safe, I felt for sure that it
would be Crystal and Casey in the bottom two. Not because of Crystal, but
just because Casey didn't sing that well Tuesday night. Micahel and Aaron were
really good. As soon as I found out that it was Big Mike and Aaron, I knew
it had to be Aaron. Out of the two, Mike sang better, plus Aaron sang first.
Remember? The kiss of death!! Even if there are only 5 singers. Going first
is not fun. You have to be outstanding for the voters to remember you. I
felt bad for Aaron. I'm sure that he wasn't expecting it.

As for the entertainment, Harry Connick Jr. was very good. He is talented
for sure. The group numbers were good. I still wonder a bit about lip
syncing, but not as much. I'm still suspicious though. Lady Gaga did not
disappoint. What a show. She would be awesome to see live. Guess what, what
a coincidence. She is playing in Minneapolis the same week that the Top 10
Idols are in Minneapolis. Idols on Sunday and Lady Gaga on Wednesday (last
week in August). Save those holidays and go catch some great concerts!

Okay, let's move on to next week. Songs of the Cinema with Jamie Foxx as
mentor. The Top 4 will perform songs from the movies. A broad category. I'm
sure they will "be true to themselves" and pick something that suits their
style. They do have to make those judges happy! Never mind the judges, make
their fans happy and get those votes. They mean more now than ever. We are
getting closer. It's so exciting!!

Talk to you next week.

Lodi

2010-05-05T14:21:00.001-04:00

Hello all!! Sorry this is late!! That's what happens when you have to hang out with police at the Landfill and then off to McDonald's for McHappy Day!!!

Here's Lodi Nacirema with her thoughts on last night's Idol.....

Last night the Idols sang Frank Sinatra. Harry Connick Jr. was their mentor and he actually went one step beyond and did the musical arrangements for the contestants. He is one very talented guy!

Anyway, the song choices were pretty good and I thought they all sang well, except for Casey. He really was out of his element. I was a little surprised by that, but he tried at least to look the part. Hair slicked back and a nice outfit. But unfortunately, looks aren’t everything!

It seems to me that now that Siobhan is gone, they have to bug someone and who else but the lone girl! Give Crystal a break. I thought she was great! They told her to be true to herself and don’t change who she is. Come on people, she changed her style to suit the music genre. I saw that, couldn’t they? And by the way… she looked fantastic.

Okay, so lets get down to it. The best of the night I think was Lee. So from top down, my choices would be Lee, Michael, Crystal, Aaron and then Casey. With only 5 left, it is pretty cut and dry. You have to be strong every week from now on. One bad week and you are gone. So too bad Casey James. I guess I will be seeing you on tour in August!

Tune in on Wednesday to find out if I’m right. Lady Gaga sings, so you don’t want to miss that!

Lodi

2010-05-03T10:01:00.002-04:00

The good news...the fire ban has been lifted! The bad news...it's not great weather for a bonfire in the back yard...but that's ok!! 'Cause we're above zero! So, while temps aren't scorching they aren't awful!

The kids can play outside, we can go for walks and baseball season, well, practices in the city have started. So, really, pretty decent.

I worked the Folklore Festival Saturday and wow, a lot of people streamed through the doors to check out the entertainment, kids section vendors, food and drink! Right now, it looks as though they may have set a record with about 12,000 people checking out this years festival.

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATIONS.......

Yesterday, marked the 43rd anniversary of the Toronto Maple Leafs last winning the Stanley Cup. 43 years ago to the day, that the Leafs last hoisted the greatest trophy in hockey.

Kate Gosselin’s ex – Jon Gosselin….you gotta feel sorry for this guy. He’s making money anyway he can…including selling his autograph for $10 a pop.

Researchers say their 99% sure they’ve found the remains of NOAH’s ARK on Turkey’s "Mount Ararat". They say they know the wood they found was over 4,000 years old

John Lennon’s hand-written lyrics to one of The Beatle’s most celebrated songs, "A Day In The Life", will go on the auction block at Sotheby’s in New York in June. The sheet of paper is priced at between $500,000 and $700,000. It’s likely to get more than the record $1 million that was paid for the lyrics to "All You Need Is Love", 5 years ago.

2010-04-29T06:13:00.002-04:00

Happy Thursday! It's the day after another elimination on Idol...and looks like Lodi Nacirema is happy with last night's results!.......

What a great wrap up for country week! And no offense, but thank goodness
it was Siobhan to go and not Casey. In my opinion, he didn't deserve to be
in the bottom three at all, although he has been there a lot lately. Some
contestants just don't have the supporters... no matter how good they sing
or look!

There was lots of entertainment this week for results night. Rascal Flatts
sang twice - once with Shakira. The song was good I thought, but it might
have been better on her own. Lady Antebellum was good, no surprise. The
third group had a connection with Carrie Underwood who introduced them.
Let's just say they were interesting. I think they were also on her special
around Christmas time.

Well, after tonight's elimination, we are down to the Top 5... 4 guys and 1
girl. If I recall correctly, this was the case the year that Jordin Sparks
won. So don't count out Crystal. Of all the girls, I knew that she would be
the last girl standing. Maybe, she will be The Last One Standing? We have 4
weeks to go to find out.

Next week are the songs of Frank Sinatra with Harry Conick Jr as mentor. I
usually enjoy these types of songs (the Standards), especially when they
dress the part. But really, what type of week don't I enjoy?

One last thought... the Idol tour tickets will be on sale starting May 14th.
The Top 10 will be in Minneapolis on Sunday August 29th at the Target
Centre. Think about checking out the concert, maybe adding it to a summer
trip to the States. They are always great concerts. But seats do sell fast,
so don't delay! I will definitely be there!!

Talk to you next week,

Lodi

2010-04-28T05:40:00.000-04:00

Lodi Nacirema has the rundown on last night's Idol.....

Country week with songs of Shania Twain. I was looking forward to this all
week and the night sure didn't disappoint. She was a great mentor to the
contestants and worked her magic. The standouts for me were Michael, Aaron
and Casey. They really took her suggestions and went with them. The judges
all raved, with the exception of Simon's comment to Big Mike. I still don't
really understand what he meant by his performance being "wet". But, I am
not alone I'm sure.

I didn't quite agree with the judges when it came down to Lee and Siobhan.
Usually, I really like Lee but the start of his song was just weird. It
sounded off. The middle was good and the end okay, but the four judges just
loved it! The only one that kind of mentioned it was off at the start was
Randy. The others thought it was great! Oh well, maybe my ears are plugged.
Whatever. As for Siobhan, her rendition of "Any Man of Mine" was okay. She
changed it a bit and maybe that's whay I wasn't crazy about it. Maybe, I'm
just not that crazy about her. I just wish that she would stop with the big
notes. That is her calling card I guess. Maybe she needs it to impress
people. I just didn't think it fit.

Now down to Crystal. I am nervous. I love the song she sang. It is one of my
favourite Shania songs and I think it fit her style. But, if you listen to
the judges, it was the worst! She was one of the only singers that actually
sang it country on country week! With only 6 singers left and no saves, boy
the people better her back her up and give her the votes. Remember I talked
about an upset last week? Believe you me, I wasn't thinking about Crystal.
If it is, it would be as bad as Chris Daughtry or Constantine. I would be
depressed for sure.

In my opinion, Ellen was right. It is going to be very tough to pick who is
going home. I think they all sang great (or good at least). It may all boil
down to popularity this week and who actually votes and supports their
favourites. Out of the 6, only three have ever been in the bottom 3. Aaaron,
Michael and Casey. The other three have always been safe. But to me, these
three probably sang the best out of all of them. So, let's do a switch. I
will put Lee, Siobhan and Crystal in the bottom with..... Siobhan going
home. (I'm crossing my fingers and my toes!!) Phew! I don't think I will
sleep a wink tonight and I truly hope that I am wrong about the bottom three
or at least two of them. To me, I would prefer Siobhan to go home out of
all of them.

Wednesday night is result night with Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum
performing. Oh yeah, Shakira too... on country night? What... no Shania!
What's that all about! I was hoping to hear her sing. Oh well, maybe they
will surprise us. Talk to you tomorrow.

Lodi

2010-04-27T09:57:00.002-04:00

Happy Tuesday!

So, last night city council voted down the online and telephone voting system. I think it would be a great idea, I think more people would vote if they could do so from the comfort of their homes. But, at this point, there may not be enough time to get the system in place. Maybe for the next elections? We'll see.

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATIONS

We know you could not get through the day without this tidbit of info....A study out of the Univeristy of Maryland….reveals:...many university / college students are addicted to the Internet, social media and their cell phones - and show signs of withdrawal if kept away from them.

Barack Obama has played golf 32 times since taking office, beating George W Bush's record.

According to research the average woman dates 24 men and spends more than $3,000 before finding Mr. Right. Over 2,100 women were polled. Although men traditionally still foot the bill, women pay for hair, clothing, accessories, etc. The study also showed that seven percent of women - have been on between 40 and 60 dates before finally finding someone to share their life with.

In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator!!

2010-04-26T10:13:00.002-04:00

Back from a week of vacation...that partially felt like an actual vacation!!! Sleeping in, relaxing, shopping, relaxing...it was sooooo much fun!!

I was happy to come back to work though! Helps when you love your job! What I really want to do is to be able to take the time to just sit...and watch a movie. I know, it sounds odd, but I have not watched much over the past few weeks and would really like to zone out for a bit!! Holiday de-briefing? lol!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS.......

A new report out, says that health care costs are up in Canada because of Mom’s too “posh to push”….. some women opt for C-sections that don’t necessarily need one because they don’t want to do the work that goes with labour…. And in the end it costs a lot more for them to recover from a Caesarian.

According to Forbes magazine, David Beckham is still the highest paid soccer player in the world – even though he can’t play. You gotta love those guaranteed contracts. Celebritynewworth.com, reports his estimated worth around $175 million

India has 545 million operational cellphones, a number that’s expected to reach 1 billion by 2015. That exceeds the number of people who have access to toilet or sanitation facilities in the country – about 366 million.

It was this weekend in 1981, IBM introduced the very first personal computer

2010-04-22T08:45:00.001-04:00

What happened on Idol last night? Lodi Nacirema knows, looks like she knew what was going to happen, before it happened!!

Well, I hate to "toot" my own horn, but can I pick them or what? I was a
little nervous though at the end. I was praying that Casey would be safe and
Tim would go. No offense to Tim, but I think Casey has more to offer
(musically of course!)

For me the show was all right. Past years have been better. It seems as though
there wasn't as much entertainment as other years. They tried a bit more
comedy and in my opinion, the show should stick with music. I liked George
Lopez though, he was funny.

Carrie Underwood returned with a great song. Alicia Keys performed and was
good, but not great. I have seen her sing better. Elton John was great, as
well as Annie Lennox. They are always great in my books. I wish that Black
Eyed Peas would have sang a more well known song. Even my 11-year-old wasn't
crazy about it.

All in all, the important message of poverty and sickness in Africa, as well
as in the USA was passed along loud and clear by many celebs, as well as the
judges and past Idol winners and contestants. Hopefully, the show will achieve
what it set out to do. I liked the idea of telling people about what a
donation of $10 would buy. Even in today's poor economy, most people can
afford that. Donations of $10 over and over will add up for sure.

At the end of the two hour ++ show (Ryan did warn us on Tuesday that it would
go over), I think I heard that next week's mentor would be Shania Twain. I
would assume then that it is country week. She was a great guest judge this
summer for auditions, so I expect nothing less as a mentor. I am looking
forward to that immensely.

We are now down to the Top 6. Things will only get more interesting as time
goes on. Is there an upset brewing in Country week? We haven't had one yet
this year. Tune in to Idol on Tuesday to find out.

Lodi

2010-04-21T09:49:00.001-04:00

Lodi Nacirema fills us in on how she thought things went on Idol last night...

This week's show was all about inspirational songs leading into the two hour
show on Wednesday called "Idol Gives Back". They have done this for the past
few years and it is always an awesome show with a lot of money raised going to
charity. Alicia Keys was Tuesday night's mentor and passed on some good points
to the contestants.

Inspirational songs is a broad category. What is inspirational to one may not
be the same to another, especially Simon. He made fun of Michael's choice of
Hero, stating that he shouldn't have picked a song about Spiderman. Come one
Simon think deeper than that! Also, he gave Casey a hard time for his song
choice right at the top of the show. Just because it isn't a gospel song,
doesn't mean that the meaning of a song isn't inspirational. Casey chose
Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop". It was upbeat and I enjoyed it. Although, most
of the judges thought it was just okay.

The same heavy hitters shone brightly again. Lee and Crystal were awesome. I
even thought that Siobhan was pretty good this week. She tackled a song that
both Whitney and Mariah sang. I'm not a big fan of hers, but those judges
always give her a hard time... asking her to figure out who she is. Give her a
break! She knows who she is, she is one out of 7 singers left who is trying to
win American Idol. She sings the songs that fit the category that week and
does her best. Stop trying to brand her into a category.. pop, country, R&B,
and so on. If you want her to choose, don't have all the different categories
for goodness sake. As for her outfit... very cool. She looked like a garden
with vines, flowers and butterflies all over (or leaves if you are in Simon's
world!).

Okay, enough of my ranting. The bottom three for this week will probably be
Casey, Tim and Aaron. Tim because he just didn't sing that well, Casey because
he sang first and he sounded the same as usual and Aaron just because the
others were stronger. Out of those three, I would choose Tim to go home.

Don't forget to tune in for the big "Idol Gives Back" show. A two hour event
starting at 8 p.m. They promise a lot of great performances. I heard Elton
John, Black Eyed Peas and of course, Alicia Keys to name a few. There will be
one singer going home for sure. No saves left. It would have been nice to save
someone at this "charity" event, but oh well!

Read more on tomorrow's blog.

Lodi

2010-04-15T16:45:00.001-04:00

Two people went home last night! Here's what Lodi Nacerima thought about the "chosen" ones...and of course...Adam Lambert......

Wednesday night, result night, double elimination. Adam Lambert. What could be
more exciting? How about getting it right! Andrew went first. Quite quickly I
might add. I kind of felt bad for him. Sometimes Ryan surprises me. Anyway,
poor Katie had to wait until the end of the show. She stood on the stage with
Michael and Tim. I knew it had to be her. The other two were too good last
night to leave.

Anyway, as far as performances go, Brooke White (Season 7 - David Cook
winner)and Justin Gaston performed first, singing an Elvis song. Very nice.
But let's get to Adam. Finally toward the end of the show it was his turn. He
did not disappoint. What a voice and laser show to go with it! Very cool. Good
song.

Overall a good show. Although, I still think they could cut it back to a half
an hour result show. An opening group number, a guest performance and right to
the bad news. Short and sweet I say.

Next week is Idol Gives Back with the song theme being Insirational Songs with
mentor Alicia Keys. This show is usually great with the Wednesday show being
full of great performances to raise money for Africa. Be sure to tune in.

I just have one thought to leave with you until next week. It has been bugging
me for a few weeks now. Do you think they lip sync the opening group number?
This is the first year I have thought that they might. It sounds too perfect.
If it is, it's a shame. I hope not. They are talented singers and that would
really surprise me because the live concerts are awesome!

Have a good week. Talk to you again on Wednesday morning.

Lodi

2010-04-14T05:27:00.002-04:00

Loci Nacirema was watching Idol last night (as if we needed to be told this!)and gives us a rundown on her view of how the night went.....

Finally, it is Tuesday night. It always seems to take so long to come. This
week maybe it was because I was waiting to see how Adam Lambert would do as a
mentor and what type of music they would sing. It also seemed like forever
because no one went home last week. So was it worth using the save on Michael?
We will see.

This week, the Idol hopefuls had to sing Elvis songs. They flew to Las Vegas,
saw the Cirque du Soleil show and met Adam in Vegas. What do Elvis and Adam
have in common? ENTERTAINMENT. They are performers, not just singers. I think
Adam was trying to tell the contestants to do that, but alas, I don't think
they did for the most part. Most of them still just stood on stage and sang.
Not much movement and overall, just okay. It would be cool to see Adam do an
Elvis song. Wow! I could just imagine. Anyway, back to the contestants.....

The shining stars to me were Crystal, Tim and Michael. Andrew tried to change
things up a bit with Hound Dog, but he changed it too much. It wasn't very
good. Siobhan screamed again. Katie tried too hard I think. She reminded me of
a little girl dressing up, trying to look like something she is not. As for
Aaron, he took the judges advice from last week and tried something more
upbeat. It was okay and he should be safe. Lee and Casey did their same thing,
played their guitars and sounded similar. They were good, but nothing
different.

So, who do I put in the bottom and going home? Andrew for sure. Personally, I
would put Katie and Siobhan in the other two seats with probably Siobhan
being safe and Katie going home. She has been in the bottom three before. The
other six are either too well liked or just did better this week and will be
safe.

Will I be right? Tune in on Wednesday at 9 p.m. to find out for yourself.(P.S.
Adam will be singing - bonus!)

Lodi

2010-04-12T09:52:00.002-04:00

What a weekend! There are times I am not kidding when I say I come to work to wind down..not that this job is easy...but I get to sit for a few minutes!!!

Work Friday night, more work Saturday morning, bridal shower, working a bingo Saturday night...then more running Sunday...makes it a weekend of not much rest. Fortunately not every weekend is that crazy busy.

We are really enjoying the strange weather. Just because the bad stuff doesn't last long. The snow Saturday morning was in the forecast, but to see those big fat flakes coming down! We were happy to see it melt as fast as it came.

Enjoy your Monday!!!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS.......

Did you know that more redheads are born in Scotland than in any other country. 11% of its population has red hair!!

AND…speaking of redheads – the odds are greater, that you’ll have a clean house if you are a red-headed female who works in retail.

A German meatseller, who became so angry because he wasn’t paid for his meat, decided to solve the problem by taking the meat off diners' plates, at one of the restaurants he supplies. According to police, the argument started in the kitchen when he was told that the restaurant didn't immediately have the $535 to pay his bill.

So…what did he do? He then proceeded to take back his meat, including the pieces that had been cooked and served. Police say no arrests were made because no offense was committed

2010-04-09T10:36:00.002-04:00

I got my house back!!! After our fire...3 weeks ago...things are back to normal..and even a bit better. We did have the contractor make our front stairs a little bigger and the siding has gone on nicely...can't tell old from new.

So now...just need to find some things to make the front look even better...plants..maybe some stones for the garden...off to the Home and Garden show at the Sportsdome and CLE this weekend!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATION.......

Environment Canada reports that Canadians getting rid of batteries is starting to pose a serious health threat…..this year it’s estimated Canadians will throw out… 500million batteries.

A very weird story marking an anniversary today – 14 years ago, a man in South Carolina committed suicide… his heart was donated to a man who needed one…. That man contacted the dead man’s widow to thank her and they eventually fell in love and got married….then, it was 2 years ago today - …. that man ….killed himself

Victoria Beckham is the latest star to take up…. Yogalosophy….. that’s the combined study of yoga and astrology…. She was apparently introduced to it by …. Jennifer Aniston

2010-04-08T03:37:00.001-04:00

American Idol Expert Lodi Nacirema joins us with her thought on the latest season of Idol...

I don’t know about the rest of you, but my favourite part of watching Idol
is from the Top 10 down to #1. Sure, the auditions are hilarious, but the
show is about finding talent and this is where the best show it. This week
was no exception.

Lennon/McCartney week did not dissapoint. It was just too bad that Paul
couldn’t have been there to mentor them. Come on Simon… didn’t you have
any pull? Anyway, I found it very hard to pick out who should go. To me,
that’s always a sign of a good show.

For the past few weeks, the bottom three always included Katie and Tim. Much
to my chagrin, they were never voted off. But this week, I hoped they would
be safe. They were both great and really showed why they made it so far.
After seeing the show, if I had to pick a bottom three, I was thinking maybe
Aaron and Andrew and possibly Siobhan. Aaron because he sang first out of 9
(kiss of death!) and was a little boring, Andrew because the remarks from
the judges weren’t that great and Siobhan because her song was “sleepy” as
well.

So, Wednesday comes along and as usual, we have to wait through an hour show
to find out who goes home. Rhianna and Jason Derulo performed, as well as
David Archuleta (Archie) from Season 7. After all is said and done, all the
girls are safe , even though Ryan tries to psyche them out. The guys are
split into two groups and I see that two of my bottom three choices are in
one group with Big Mike. So, I was feeling pretty confident with myself.
Then, Ryan sends Aaron back to safety. So, that leaves Andrew. Surprise,
surprise!! Mike is left to sing for his life and hope that they will save
him.

This “Save” was started last year and gives some control back to the judges.
In my opinion, it was the Chris Daughtry fiasco of Season 5 that prompted
this. But, is Mike in the same ranks as Chris D? After all, it is still the
Top 9, with a few weeks left to use it. (Up to the Top 5). Once it is used,
it is gone.

In the end, Mike is saved. To be truthful, I was surprised they used it so
early. Don’t get me wrong, I like Mike. I just hope they don’t regret it.
Because of Mike’s save, TWO idol hopefuls go home next week.

Speaking of next week, OMG!! Adam Lambert will be the mentor!! What type of
music will it be? Ryan didn’t say. I’m just excited to see him again and he
will probably perform on Wednesday. So, tune in next week...what more can
you ask for.... Adam and two idols going home.... very exciting. I can’t
believe that people say that DWTS is better than this. Just watch Idol’s
ratings soar next week.

Lodi

2010-04-07T10:29:00.000-04:00

Water Cooler Conversation Facts....

International Beaver Day!!!

Why is it Beaver Day? This day celebrates the species that restores the most valuable terrestrial ecosystem—wetlands.

You may not know it…but…Beavers…act as our life support system by restoring wetlands that absorb carbon dioxide and help moderate the droughts and major floods that are increasing with global warming.

The average size of a Beaver is around 3 feet. They can weigh anywhere between 30 and 60 pounds.

Beavers live in streams, rivers, marshes, ponds, and shorelines of large lakes throughout North America, parts of Europe, and Asia

Even though we are celebrating the beaver today – they can often be a recipe for conflict with humans. Beavers flood roads, cut down trees, plug road culverts, and can even cause dangerous flash flooding when one of their dams break.

The importance of the Beaver in the development of Canada through the fur trade led to its designation as the our national animal. The Beaver is on our 5 cent piece.

Beaver – and the entertainment world:

…you had "Leave It To Beaver"…the 1950’s / 1960’s comedy about Theodore Beaver Cleaver

…and who can forget…..the TV Ontario childrens classic: Children’s Underground Club of United Moose and Beaver for Enthusiastic Reporters…..or Cucumber for short. The show featured a moose and a beaver reporting from their famous tree house!

2010-04-06T11:09:00.003-04:00

Haley Irwin joined us this morning - we had so much fun! I think she may have liked doing our weather, Daily Dish and Water Cooler Conversations with us!

I really loved to hear her talk about her goals at the Olympics and I wish you could have all seen her face glowing as she talked about it. How to her, it was just a goal, until she heard the crowd...and returned to her bench and was attacked by her teammates congratulating her!

The medal was beautiful..and Haley told us that if you put the bronze, silver and gold medals together they will form a picture of the artwork used on them in it's entirety.

We look forward to having her return to the show!!!

Water Cooler Conversation…

If you don’t happen to have Bon Appetite magazine lying around the house – we have some hilights of the latest edition.
…pizza is our favorite take out food, followed closely by Chinese food
…ice cream is our favorite comfort food

Baseball fever is on. Sunday night was the opening of the 2010 Major League Baseball season. In all – 4, 826 games make up the regular season; and, the average baseball players salary is $2 million.

A little nostalgia for you – it was this week back in 1980, the last episode of Hawaii 5-O was broadcast, bringing it to a close following it’s 12 successful seasons.

2010-03-31T10:01:00.000-04:00

Water Cooler Conversation….

Did you know that Austria has Europe’s hairiest women? Only 40% of them regularly shave their legs and underarms.

How about this idea? There’s a church in Peterborough, Ontario called The Christian Victory Church, and they want to increase attendance. How are they going to do that? By offering free $20 dollar gas vouchers to any new people who attended service on Sunday…. Six people showed up

In the interest of being more knowledgeable in the world of language, here’s a word you can toss around for the day. We call this the ‘word of the day’. Today’s is: NINNY-HAMMER. Ninny-hammer…a fool or a silly person

2010-03-30T10:06:00.002-04:00

Do your kids copy what you say? I've heard my own kids repeat some things I have said...and I didn't like it. Makes you think about what you are saying in front of them. One thing that didn't bother me too much was that I would clear my throat as I would be sitting down to get something done. I noticed my daughters started doing the same thing. So cute.

Kayla, my oldest daughter has two little men...Brandon is 3 and Garrett is 2. Garret picked up something I say to them. I ask them if they want something to drink, they say no, I ask them if they want a cookie, they say no...I ask them if they want a sandwich...they say no...so..I end it with something my own dad used to say to us when we kept saying no to what he would offer us..."you want a kick in the pants?" I got a text yesterday morning from Kayla...saying "Garrett just asked me if I want a kick in the pants"...oops..lol! The things they pick up!!!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATION FACTS

One month to go to file your 2009 taxes. Some stats from the Canada Revenue Agency reports that last year 22 million Canadians filed their taxes. AND…the average refund was $1,500….with around 60% of Canadians getting money back!

The seal hunt gets started this week on Canada’s east coast….where they have a seal population of over 6 million…. About three times what it was 30 years ago. The government is allowing sealers to take over 300,000 seals

Did you know there’s an International Car Association? They have come out and said that we spend $24 billion annualy on car washes – globally.

A man in Utah over the weekend was accused of stealing two phones from a convenience store - he was arrested….after asking the investigating officer for directions. The man matched a description a convenience store clerk had given to officers. The address the robber was asking directions for, turned out to be the same one the officer was checking out. He was arrested after the police found both phones and a small amount of marijuana. Police say charges are pending.

2010-03-29T10:17:00.001-04:00

Water Cooler Conversation Facts:

A 6 year old boy from Eastern China had surgery over the weekend, to remove 11 extra fingers and toes he was born with. Each of his feet had 8 toes, and one of his hands had 7 fingers, while the other had 8. The surgery took more than 6 hours…but doctors said they consider the operation a success. (wow, that’s 31 fingers and toes)

Here’s some nostalgia for you: it was this week back in 1886, the Ontario government passed the Workman’s Compensation Act – the first act of its kind in Canada….to help protect workers on the job.

What’s your I.Q? The average IQ is between 90 and 109. If you score above 132, you are considered a genius. The smartest person on record: William James Sedis of New York City, he had an IQ between 250 and 300. He was reading the New York Times at 18 months old; he taught himself Latin and Greek by the age of 3. As an adult, he could speak 40 fluent languages. He was born in the late 1800’s…died in 1944.

2010-03-18T10:07:00.002-04:00

Today is Awkward Moments Day, a time to celebrate the humor of life's uncomfortable situations:

Toilet overflows in a home not yours.

Credit card declines

Parking on the wrong side of the gas station, then turning the car around to realize you are still on the wrong side.

Losing your bikini bottoms or top while waterskiing

Getting a little too much drinky at the bar and finding out the next day that you were the "pro exhibitionist".

Ever put on a pair of pants from the previous day, later on you realize that yesterdays underwear is hanging out the bottom of a pant leg.

Going to the bathroom with the door open thinking no one is home.

Asking a woman when she is due...when she's not pregnant

This email came in from Brian. It reads exactly as he sent it.....
....dinner guests......5 alarm chili and beer......washroom break.......whoops......no toilet paper.....lol....

Here's what you can do when faced with awkwardness.....

Smile like you don't notice.

Be super friendly and laugh a lot. (But don't overdo it...)

Ask about the family, just remember to not let the subject slip into something more awkward (disease, old relationships, etc.)

Don't get up and leave

Don't be afraid of human contact, shaking hands might be germ-filled, but it won't kill you.

When talking with someone you know, mention the awkward moment. Make a joke about it. (ex: "I think a tumbleweed blew by just now...")

Find something to do with your hands, but be careful not to rely on it.

If someone is a complete psychopath, or boring to the point of inducing mental illness, or (especially) is a cocky jerk, there is nothing wrong with the old, "Um, I have to go over here now."

Sometimes it is a good idea to give said person a generous hug. It can break the ice.

2010-03-18T06:23:00.001-04:00

Bauer Hockey is launching a massive recall of around 100,000 kids’ hockey sticks after Health Canada testing raised concerns about lead.There are 13 models of sticks that failed to meet the acceptable standard for lead content in the U.S.
The company is telling parents of children with the sticks to call 1-888-734-0443. Bauer will take the stick back and give a free, elite level stick

2010-03-16T08:41:00.001-04:00

It's Lips Appreciation Day!
A day to do something nice for your lips!

SOME FACTS ABOUT KISSING!

You burn 26 calories in a one minute kiss.

The average person spends two weeks of their life kissing.

Eskimos, Polynesians and Malaysians rub noses instead of kissing.

Romans kissed each other on the eyes or the mouth as a greeting.

In Russia, the highest sign of recognition was a kiss from the Tsar.

Victorian etiquette required a man to kiss the back of a ladies hand.

A standard greeting in Europe is a kiss on both cheeks - could be two. . . could be four.

African tribes pay homage to their Chief by kissing the ground where he has walked.

In Ireland, you will have good luck if you kiss the Blarney Stone.

The scientific name for kissing is philematology.

========================
Keep those lips soft!

Applying glycerin on the lips with a little honey to it too is quite helpful in healing the cracks of the lips and to make them soft and smooth.

Always go in the sun wearing sunscreen on your lips. Otherwise lips get dry, dark and patchy.

Keep the body hydrate by drinking lots of water. People who do not drink sufficient water are more prone to get dry lips and dry skin. Water or fluids keep the body moist which keeps the skin soft and supple.

Apply lip balm or petroleum jelly on the lips to keep them smooth.

Many people keep wetting their lips with their tongue, which makes the lips dark, and color and lose the moister. Stop wetting lips with tongue rather apply moisturizer.

=======================
Aloe Vera Lip Gloss Recipe

Homemade Recipe for lip gloss made with Aloe Vera that will leave your lips soft and moisturized.

Ingredients

1 tsp. Aloe Vera gel
1/2 tsp. coconut oil
1 tsp. petroleum jelly
Directions......Combine the ingredients in a small glass bowl until well mixed. Heat for about 2 minutes in the microwave. Stir and pour into a small container. Let cool completely before use.

========================[==
Water Cooler Conversation Facts:

A new web site business has been set up called Deathswitch….. for $20 dollars a year, you set up a series of e-mails to friends and family and your other on-line contacts…. Then if you don’t check in with Deathswitch on a regular basis because you have died… they send the e-mails out …..to let people know you’ve died.

This may make you stop and think, when you get ready to brush your teeth. Did you know that putting the cap back on the toothpaste tube encourages bacteria to grow? It traps moisture, which speeds their growth!

Being at the right place at the right time – over the weekend in Hollywood, a guy put money in a parking meter, preventing the car’s owner from getting a parking ticket. That car, just happened to belong to actress Renee Zellweger. She returned the favor by giving him a $100 gift card to Starbucks.

On average, you open your fridge….22 times a day!

2010-03-15T10:27:00.003-04:00

This is the best weather we've had in a very long time! It's almost like Mother Nature's feeling badly about how she's been treating us. Hope she's not playing some kind of cruel joke on us! Driving through the Boulevard Lake area yestereday, I saw so many people there playing with their kids at the park and then all throughout the route walking with their families and pets. The city streets were full of people as well. I seriously don't think I've ever seen so much outdoor activity in one day.

Today will be just as nice, make sure you get out and enjoy it!!

Water Cooler Conversation Facts:

Did you shake anyone’s hand this morning? Medieval knights developed the custom of shaking hands to prove that they were unarmed, and the gesture remains a universal from of greeting more than 1,000 years later.

The number one trait that defines true beauty for both men and women is great skin. An AC Nielsen survey of 46 countries found that one in three people spend most of their beauty budget on skincare - with Americans and Asians leading the trend.

Story out of Toronto over the weekend. Two men in their 20’s were being treated for hypothermia after they decided to go swimming in the harbour at the foot of Spadina Avenue, in Lake Ontario at three in the morning. Here’s the best part, the police officer who spotted them, said the two men may have been drinking!

It was this week in 1496, when Christopher Columbus set sail for his second trip to the New World.

2010-03-12T10:11:00.001-05:00

Marie Avgeropoulos is a Thunder Bay born actor who currently lives in Vancouver. She's already been in movies you've heard of...Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I Love You, Beth Cooper, as well as television commercials Marie is making her way to stardom.

When we tried to coordinate an interview with Marie...well, as you can guess the three hour time difference makes things very difficult.

Danny and I are on the air until 10am....but would need to talk to her before our timeslot is over...so that means the latest we could call her is 6:30 in the morning...her time.

So...this was the next logical step to take to get an interview with Marie......I sent her an email containing a few questions.

Marie will be visiting Thunder Bay in April so she says she'll be stopping in to see us...in the meantime..here is our email interview....

1. Were you excited about the Percy Jackson movie?

Yeah I was excited for the opportunity to be a part of a film with such well established and highly respected talent . That was my second time working with director Chris columbus & any chance I get to work with my him at the helm is exciting. He has such a poise and grace for someone that has seen a world of great success. In this business it starts from the top down and there is no other person I would rather direct me than him.

2. What are you working on now?

Right now I am working on the Fringe starring Joshua Jackson, (airs April 8th) and another comedy film where I will be Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon- Levitt.

3. Is being an actor what you've always dreamed of? If not, what did you want to be and what changed your mind?

I discovered my love for the arts and acting in high school. I had a great drama teacher, Val Bauer at PACI that presented it to me in a way that was magical and it dazzled me. . It was from that point on that I knew what my calling was.

4. Will drumming turn into a backup job if you need it to?

I don't think so. I use it as a tool to escape from the stresses that work gives me. Its sort of therapy for me. For work I get lost in characters...and when Im at play, I get lost in music. For now I don't want to mesh the two.

5. Is there any advice you have to offer to aspiring young actors, what would it be?

The only limitations that exist are the ones you put on yourself . Persistence is important and key in this business, and don't listen to those who tell you its a waste of time . Chasing your dreams is never as waste of time. oh and small towns are great, but not for building a career in the arts! :P

Water Cooler Conversation Facts:

England’s Plymouth University is celebrating a huge achievement. This week, marks the 3rd year that Plymouth University is offering a degree in "surfing". The only University in the world to still have this honor.

French cognac house "Remy Martin" is set to sell a limited edition of its booze for the astronomical price of…$15,000 a bottle. Just 786 bottles of "Louis 13th Rare Cask" are being sold worldwide, and they’re each packed in a black crystal decanter.

A recent British study has found that if you suffer from acid reflux…try sticking a piece of sugar free gum in your mouth after every meal. They say the gum boosts your production of saliva, which is alkaline and helps neutralize stomach acids.

2010-03-10T10:22:00.000-05:00

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATIONS

According to BBC News….single men between the ages of 25 to 35, are the biggest food-wasters!!!

If someone broke into your house in the middle of the night what would you hit them with? According to a new poll, almost one in three people hold a "weapon" in their home to use against intruders. Some of the more popular weapons: a golf club, a baseball bat, and some people even mentioned a hammer……..close to their beds to use in self-defense

Botox parties are all the rage! This is where you invite some friends over, and then a plastic surgeon will give everyone injections to get rid of their wrinkles. First you have to offend your friends by inviting them, which suggests they have a lot of wrinkles….and then, you have to come to the realization that you’re all getting together to have needles stuck in your forehead!!!

2010-03-09T11:18:00.000-05:00

As I said earlier in the blog, I loved the Oscar presentations this year...turns out it was the most popular presentation as far as ratings go, in five years.

I even managed to catch some of the interviews before the show...out on the red carpet as everyone entered the Kodak Theatre.

I tried to watch Ben Mulrooney as he was interviewing the nominees as well as all of the famous people in attendance....when along came Gabourey Sidibe - she portayed Claireece “Precious” Jones in “Precious” and was nominated for Best Actress. I wanted to hear more details about how tough it was to play her part. If you read what the movie was about..and you can if you copy and paste this wikipedia link address....you’ll see why she was nominated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precious_(film)

I couldn’t imagine even acting out the life Gabourey portrayed. It would have been interesting to hear her take on the story. I wanted to know what it was that helped her become that character and hear her words on the amazing cast she worked with.

Instead, Ben saw that Meryl Streep (I believe that was who it was) was up next and spoke quickly to Gabourey...telling her she was beautiful, yadda yadda yadda...then said “We know you have to move on...” or something to that effect...meaning...a star waaaaay bigger than you is coming up. He rushed her off! I was disappointed and feel Gabourey knew what he was doing too.

It was clear that he was moving her out of the way...for something that was to him, more important...which means to me, that no matter what the story is about...some people just don’t get the jist of it. Everyone is important. I don’t think he did his homework on Gabourey Sidibe. Someone in his position, even if you don’t know all about the person you are talking too, should be able to find a way to converse with them...if they know what they are doing. It was a really weak interview on his part and he was clearly only there to meet the BIG stars. Not get US the information we seek.

That’s what I got out of that interview anyways...then I changed the channel to watch some professionals interview the stars.

PS.....I watched “A Perfect Getaway” last night. Wow! I highly recommend this movie! Am now a huge fan of Timothy Olyphant!

2010-03-08T10:07:00.002-05:00

I miss my laptop. I took it in for a checkup...it won't be back til...maybe the end of this week. I really am okay without it...until I try to do some work at home. I tried using Matt's wee laptop...and found it so hard to work with...I tried Victoria's regular sized laptop...but neither one is the same as mine! The keyboard command keys are in different spots...I hit certain ones by accident and erase everything I've been working on...and that's why I want mine back. Sigh. Hope it's ok.

I really enjoyed the Oscar's last night. I normally don't watch and I didn't see the whole show but the entertainment by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin was awesome. It was great to see the 80's Brat Pack introduced for a tribute to the lated Director, John Hughes. Those were the movies I grew up with and I loved them. It was a great show. I might even watch again next year.

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATIONS......

A New Jersey family's attempt at crafting an artistic snow woman late last week, a replica of the famous nude Venus de Milo, got them a request from police to cover her up after there were complaints from the nieghborhood. The mother actually told police the sculpture was "curvaceous, bodacious and booty-licious." At the request of the officers, the family ended up adding a green bikini top and a blue sarong bottom and kept their creation dressed until the weekend, as the mild temps….started melting the snow woman.

The big banks in Canada started reporting their first quarter results last week, and so far they’re having a pretty good run…..numbers have been posted by CIBC and Bank of Montreal Actually, Bank Of Montreal posted a first quarter profit of $657 million.

They can’t find the stick and gloves Sidney Crosby was wearing when he scored the Golden Goal on Sunday against Team USA….we all saw him toss them in the air…. Its’ believed they were collected in a bin with other equipment but when the Hockey Hall of Fame called to get the gloves and stick…. No one could find them

Some insects can lives for 3 months without their heads????

2010-03-05T10:13:00.001-05:00

The 82nd annual Academy Awards are set to go for this Sunday night.

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will co-host the evening at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

It was Louis B. Mayer, the studio boss of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s idea that actors, writers, directors should be honored for their efforts. The first awards show took place in 1929.

How much does that Oscar weigh? 7 pounds.

What is the Oscar made of? Gold, platinum, britannium

How long is the warranty for the Oscar? For life – it will be fixed or replaced at anytime it’s required.

Since 1950, the statuettes have been legally encumbered by the requirement that neither winners nor their heirs may sell the statuettes without first offering to sell them back to the Academy for $1. If a winner refuses to agree to this stipulation, then the Academy keeps the statuette

In the past the Oscar producers have tried to limit acceptance speeches by asking winners to only thank…. 5 people

It takes about a half dozen people to put together an Oscar outfit….from fittings to picking the accessories about six people are involved in dressing each major female star…while for each male star getting dressed involves two people… an assistant to pick up their rented tux and a girlfriend or wife… to help them tie their tie

2010-03-04T09:56:00.000-05:00

It’s International Sleeping On The Job Day....

In 2002, the German town of Vechta reported that civil servants allowed to sleep for 20 minutes after lunch worked more efficiently and effectively. Some 22 percent of the German population napped.

NAPPING

WHAT IT MEANS:
Napping doesn’t mean you’re lazy. In fact, there may be some link between naps and financial success; in the survey, a third of frequent nappers made more than $100,000per year.

Studies have also found that naps improve cognitive function, memory, and alertness, and one study in Greece found that people who took three 30-minute naps a week cut their risk of a fatal heart attack by 37 percent—largely due to the fact that naps cut down on heart-damaging stress.
Researchers have found that prime napping time is between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. But with most of us at work during those hours, sneaking in some shuteye takes a little doing.

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATION FACTS...ON “SLEEPING”

Surveys show that 2 out of 3 people sleep on their sides

Wikipedia defines SLEEP as: a naturally recurring state of relatively suspended sensory and motor activity, characterized by total or partial unconsciousness and the inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles.

To drop off to sleep, we must first cool off; body temperature and the brain’s sleep-wake cycle are closely linked. That’s why hot summer nights can cause a restless sleep.

A survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that 30% of Adults have admitted to sleeping while on the job!!

Imagine being a DUCK? Ducks at risk of attack by predators are able to balance the need for sleep and survival, keeping one half of the brain awake while the other slips into sleep mode.

2010-03-03T10:02:00.002-05:00

Last night I dreamed that I was on the air with Danny...and swore!!! Obviously I cannot tell you what was said...but it was shocking!! BUT! Danny and I soon realized that it was 3am...and there would be no bosses listening. Very odd dream.

I did not eat anything weird...I did not have any alcohol...I have not been worried about my job...so not sure where that came from. Was very happy though when I woke up to find it was indeed a dream!

I went and saw Valentine's Day over the weekend...and loved it. It was a full two hour movie that was not too fast or too slow. It was perfect. What was funny though was when I looked over at my best friend Theresa and through the darkness saw popcorn all over the front of her shirt...I pointed and laughed...and then she pointed and laughed at me...and my popcorn all over the front of my shirt. You aren't watching the popcorn at the show...you're watching the movie!

Anyways...another thing that made me very happy was the trailer for the new Sex and the City movie! I cannot wait to see this when it comes out...and may just, for the first time in my life...go and see a movie on the day of it's release!!! Am looking forward to the end of May!

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATION FACTS

There’s no doubt that this is a busy, busy, busy week at the Vancouver International Airport…with visitors and athletes leaving the city. On Monday morning, 39,000 visitors left the city, as well as 77,000 pieces of luggage.

As you know, Canada ended up setting a record for the most Gold medal wins at the Olympics. Now…the numbers are coming out. Athletes who won Gold got paid $20,000; Silver…$15,000 and $10,000 for bronze medalists. The budget for this payout is $3 million, because you have to factor in all the payouts for all the members of the men’s and women’s hockey teams; the curling teams.

Did you know that it was this week back in 1901, the Ontario government launched it’s $1 million highway program. Which….is kind of funny now…because the average numbers say it costs around $1 million per kilometer!!!

Do you know a song by Johnny Cash called "Guess Things Happen That Way"? That was the 10 billionth song downloaded on Itunes over the weekend. It was downloaded by a 71 year old man from Woodstock, Georgia, and for that….he won a $10,000 gift card from Itunes!!!!

2010-03-02T10:46:00.000-05:00

wATER COOLER CONVERSATION FACTS.....

The Irish band U2 has topped "Billboard" magazine's annual ‘Money Makers’ list, earning more than $108 million last year through tours, CD & digital sales, publishing royalties, etc. Bruce Springsteen is 2nd with $57 million; Madonna 3rd with $47 million.

According to medical researchers in Belgium, you can influence the gender of your baby just by eating specific foods. The study, published in the "Applied Health Solutions Journal", shows a steady diet of fruits and vegetables will give you a good chance of producing a bouncing baby boy.

A Winnipeg woman has been trying to sell her breast milk…. She posted a message on Kijiji offering three months worth of breast milk for $500 dollars but they pulled the ad down because you’re not allowed to sell bodily fluids on Kijiji

Did you know: in the early days, sea captains kept pigs on board because they believed, should they be shipwrecked, pigs always swam toward the nearest shore. The pig is rated the fourth most intelligent animal. There are more than 180 species of pigs, found on every continent except Antarctica. They come in just about any size and color, have an average lifespan of 20 years. Pigs are often thought to be dirty, but actually keep themselves cleaner than most pets.

2010-02-25T10:38:00.003-05:00

WATERCOOLER CONVERSATION FACTS.......

Doctors in Britain think they may have a cure for peanut allergies. They’ve had great success feeding allergic people small amounts of peanut flour – until they build up a tolerance.

A McDonald’s in Sweden is the first with a drive thru for: snowmobiles!!!

The BAY in downtown Vancouver has decided to keep their doors open 24 hours to deal with 50,000 customers a day buying Olympic clothing.

Maybe you’re planning on visiting the Canada Games Complex today. It was built to host the aquatic events of the 1981 Canada Summer Games, including: swimming, diving and water polo. AND…you’ve seen the sort of twisted wooden sculpture near the entrance? It was created by a man from Cambridge, Ontario…depicting a ‘twisting motion’ – which is common in most sports!!!

2010-02-23T09:59:00.002-05:00

WATER COOLER CONVERSATION FACTS

In an average hour, almost 80,000 people are airborne over North Amercia.

The home of the Vancouver Canucks is GM Place....which for now...is known as "Canada Hockey Place". GM Place opened in 1995, at a cost of $160 million.

A very popular tv chef in the Tuscany region of Italy is in big trouble. During one of his cooking shows...he shocked the nation when he unexpectedly begain praising the pleasures of feline flesh. Basically, he said the he has tried and enjoys eating CAT STEW....and even went as far as calling it a delicacy. He was suspended from his show until the network says things calm down.

If you have an IPhone or IPod Touch...take note: It’s been a long held tradition at the ski hills for fans to ring cowbells to urge the skiers on… well now you can go to the app store and get… cowbell2010…..shake your phone and it sounds like a cowbell which can be used to cheer at skiing events

If you have to choose between total lack of sleep or food for the next 10 days - go with lack of food. You'll die from total lack of sleep sooner, than from starvation!!!

2010-02-22T10:00:00.002-05:00

WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS.....

Some news organizations are hearing complaints for spoiling the suspense by reporting the results of Vancouver Olympic events. Wins are reported almost immediately, rather than until they show them on prime time tv.

The Barbie doll turned 51 last weekend. She’s had more than 125 careers since she made her debut. But, her 2 newest ones were for the first time chosen by voters from around the world. More than half a million people voted, and news anchor came out on top for the famous doll's new career. The Barbie News Anchor doll will debut in the fall, with a pink suit with black accents, a news folder, a camera and a microphone. The 2nd choice: a computer engineer Barbie…sporting pink glasses; a cell phone, blue tooth and a pink laptop.

A recent poll found almost half of Canadians were so disenchanted with their work, they would consider jumping ship if a comparable job were available….the problem is company’s raising the bar for performance without adequate training or proper rewards

A 37-year-old former registrar at Britain’s University of Surrey, is facing fraud charges for offering bogus university degrees in return for ... spanking sessions in a hotel.

2010-02-18T10:01:00.002-05:00

I am sitting at my desk wondering what on earth I am going to blog about today. Then I see it. The piece of paper that I had autographed by none other than Vicente (pronounced Bicente)from Taco Time! To Laura...Muy Bonita! Nice! Wonder how much it would go for on ebay? There's gotta be some other Laura that would love to have this treasure! The commotion that guy caused when he was here! The women were crammed in the hallways...he WAS cute so...I can see why they all wanted to meet him.

WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS!!!

Music giant EMI records, has put their iconic Abbey Road recording studio up for sale. "The Financial Times" is reporting the business is worth an estimated $20 million. (that’s where the Beatles recorded their music)

It’s estimated that 1-in-5 of us has inherited ‘unfitness genes’, meaning no matter how long we pound the treadmill, we’ll still be out of shape. 600 people were studied, with researchers from 14 institutions around-the-world, and they’ve come to believe that our DNA may affect our ability to burn off fat through exercise. The researchers have applied for a patent for a blood test that would pinpoint those carrying the ‘unfitness genes’.

A 73-year-old man from Florida was arrested for robbing three banks, unarmed, and successfully leaving with approximately $600 in each heist. He admitted to robbing the banks in order to pay for his home mortgage. He told the police that he fully intended on paying the banks back. The man handed each teller a note that said he was conducting a robbery and would like six $100 bills

Vacuum your mattress tonight before bedtime. Did you know that the average bed-bug can survive up to one year without feeding!

2010-02-17T10:10:00.002-05:00

This blog site was not cooperating with me yesterday...but I have figured out the problem...yesterday's Finn Pancake recipes are here now along with the Water Cooler Facts from yesterday and Today!

Water Cooler Conversation Facts:

Behavioral experts out of the UK’s Unviersity of Portsmouth have come to the conclusion that inftants begin to ‘lie’ to parents as early as 6 months old. Fake crying is one of the earliest forms.

Did you know that parents in Japan, give Kit Kat bars to their youngsters when they’re taking exams. The phrase "Kitto Katsu" translates to "you will surely win". So, the chocolate is given as a good luck gift.

According to Readers Digest magazine, ‘figure skating’ became an Olympic sport in 1908 at the SUMMER OLYMPICS in London.

Did you watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics? There were a few nations that only had one athlete…including MEXICO. He’s a downhill skier…………and……….he’s 52 years old!!!

In honor of Shrove Tuesday here are our recipies for Finnish Pancakes
Danny’s

4 eggs
1 cup of milk
1 cup of flour
3 teaspoons of icing sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
======

Laura’s

Ingredients
•1 cup all-purpose flour
•2 eggs
•1/2 cup milk
•1/2 cup water
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•2 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.

ENJOY!!!!

WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS....

Did you know that the cost to develop a new medicine is huge…and it takes about 14 years from start to finish. It costs $300 million…and has a 2% chance of success.

China is making a beer from…fresh cow’s milk. It look like beer, but has all the nutrients and vitamins of milk.

Last week was Invention Week…and a group of inventors, unveiled the “Heineken Bot”. Basically, it’s a Heineken beer mini-keg-on-wheels. It’s programmed to zoom around a party…pouring drinks for people. Check it out online, google: Heineken bot.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station had a big weekend. They put the last big addition to the space station. A new room with an enormous bay window that promises to provided unprecedented panoramic views of Earth. The rooms name: Tranquility. All part of $400 million in improvements to the space station this week!!!!

2010-02-16T10:14:00.003-05:00

In honour of Shrove Tuesday we present our Finnish Pancake recipes for you to try! Let us know if you like!!!

Danny's

4 Eggs
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Flour
3 Teaspoons Icing Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt

Laura's

1 Cup Flour
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Water
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour and the eggs. Gradually add the milk and water stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter, beat until smooth. The butters in the mix so no need for oil or butter in the pan!! Enjoy!!

2010-02-05T10:47:00.002-05:00

Here it is!!! Your second Super Bowl Snack Recipe!!!

Happy Superbowl Sunday!!

Super Bowl facts: About 7.5 million parties are held on Super Bowl Sunday with 43.9 million party attendees. The game is broadcast into 232 countries and territories and in 34 languages. 8 million pounds of avocados are sold in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday.

BACON WRAPPED SAUSAGES

Ingredients:

3/4 pound regular bacon
1 pound package small smoked sausages
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preparation...Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut bacon slices in half.
Fry the bacon but do not let bacon get crisp.
Cool bacon 5 minutes on paper towels.
Wrap each sausage with a piece of the precooked bacon.
Roll each little bundle in brown sugar, fasten with a toothpick, and place on wire rack.
Place rack in 13" x 9" baking pan lined with foil.
Drizzle maple syrup over the sausages and sprinkle with pepper.
Bake 25-35 minutes until sausages are hot and bacon is crisp.
Remove rack from pan and cool sausage bundles 4-5 minutes before serving.

Serves 8

It's important to use the wire rack because the drippings that come from the bacon and sugar burn easily. You want to keep the little sausages out of the drippings.

2010-02-04T11:54:00.003-05:00

Superbowl Sunday is almost upon us!!!
Thinking of a different kind of snack? We've got one for you!!!
We'll have another one on tomorrow's show!

These tiny puff rolls made with beer may be filled with crab salad, tuna salad, chicken salad or whatever suits your fancy for a tasty appetizer. They are quite easy to make, are a perfect bite-size sandwich, and perfect for parties. Beer puffs work equally as well with sweet fillings for dessert bites.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup beer
8 Tablespoons (1 stick or 1/4 pound) butter
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
Filling of your choice

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat baking liners.

In a heavy saucepan, heat beer and butter until it barely comes to a boil and the butter is melted.

Add flour and salt, lower heat, and stir constantly until the mixure pulls away from the side of the pan and forms a ball.

Remove from the heat and let rest for 1 minute.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating each one in until the dough is shiny.

Drop or pipe dough in 1-inch rounds onto prepared baking sheets.

Bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees F.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees F, and turn baking sheets.

Bake beer puffs an additional 10 minutes until brown and dry.

Turn off oven, crack open the oven door, and let puffs dry further until cool.

2010-01-25T15:24:00.002-05:00

I was looking through photos...missing the heat...and the fun of the Bahamas...there truly is no place like home...but getting pampered the way we did at the Royal Bahamian Spa and Offshore Island...kinda spoils you. I'm adding some pics and video...the video on this blog shows our chef at "Kimonos" Japanese Restaurant...the other chefs there call him "Baby Chef". He was very entertaining!

A story was done in Nassau about the radio broadcasts at Sandals...they chose a picture of our broadcast area to use for the story!! Yaay us!! Check it out by clicking on the link below....

http://www.tribune242.com/news/01232010_nkn-canadian-press_news_pg5

2010-01-21T12:34:00.006-05:00

Wow!! Still not caught up on everything since we got back Saturday!!!

Our Resort was so beautiful...there wasn't a single spot that was not gorgeous..lots of backdrops for pictures. That's helpful when there are at least 8 Weddings per day there! Now that they are working with Martha Stewart for their weddings, I'm sure that number will rise!!

There was always plenty of room for everyone, and always somewhere to go and have a seat for some quiet time or just to soak up the sun and the peace.

We toured the city and the Forts..walked around downtown to check out the shops and ended up a the "Straw Market". This is where you can buy all kinds of handmade items, including bags and small toys. There are also wall to wall purses, wallets and sunglasses ! Coach, Prada, Dolce and Gabanna...of course knock offs. There is talk though that some vendors are lucky enough to have real brand name bags that have the slightest stitch flaw...that they can sell. I'm pretty sure the bags I bought...are fakes. I'm okay with that. It was fun to check them out and get some gifts.

2010-01-11T21:41:00.002-05:00

A couple of shots of the resort...the pool by our broadcast center at night...it's even more beautiful standing beside it...the statue just feet away from the pool. I've also added a shot one of the entrances here as well as the main entrance with the huge statues!!

Tuesday we head out on a tour of the city...will be taking some shots to share with you!

2010-01-11T12:19:00.004-05:00

Happy Monday!
Our first couple of days at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort has been so luxurious, fun and of course filling!!!

Danny and I are here with our winner Paddy and his girlfriend Natalie as well as our boss Brad and my hubby Joseph

It's a beautiful resort as you'll see in our pics.

The group of us hopped on bus and headed downtown to check out the shops. Natalie had told us she wanted to find a place called the "Straw Market". A place where you can bargain for your purchases which include bags and wallets by the names of Coach, D&G, Prada as well movies for $5....just not sure about the sale of some movies that have not even left theatre's yet...hmmm...

Back at the resort, we were treated to a fabulous dinner to welcome us here. It was a Surf and Turf meal...yummy!

Today was a major relaxation day for our group. We all went in different directions to relax under the sun by the pool, the Cay Offshore Island and perhaps a little nap.

Tonight we will be treated to the General Managers Cocktail Reception and tomorrow we'll be taking the "City and Country Tour" to experience Nassau.

2009-12-08T10:37:00.003-05:00

And then there were 10? I think Tiger Woods has a problem. He must need a LOT of attention..and let's face it...a famous man is going to get a lot of attention...especially while travelling without his wife.

There were reports that a blonde woman was taken out of the Woods home by ambulance at around 2:30 this morning. They won't say who it was...Elin, Tiger's wife is blonde, her twin sister who is there is also blonde but there is supposed to be another blonde in the home...Elin's mom? So...we probably won't find out who was taken to hospital til later today maybe even tomorrow. Could we hazzard a guess at who it was? Elin? After even more women stepped forward to say they had been with her hubby? Her mother? It would be quite alarming to hear your child is going through this kind of craziness any age.

It's a story that you don't want to hear any more about until the next page is turned. This story is turning into a novel. Sad, but true.

Talk to you tomorrow!!

2009-12-07T10:31:00.002-05:00

I thought we were done with roasting Tiger Woods...until this morning when word came that THREE more women have stepped up saying they have also had affairs with him. WOW.

How do you think his wife Elin is dealing with this? You know, the one who gave him two children over the past couple of years? I'm thinking that if she only knew about the original three...maybe there may have been the slightest glimmer of hope...but if she had no idea about the three latest women...I think Tiger's marriage is done for. That's just my opinion though....

On a lighter note....A new study from Scandinavia says cell phones are not harmful to your health. Unless youhave a jealous wife with a three iron and you've been using the cell phone to call your girlfriends.

Water Cooler Conversation Facts....

A Russian professor has figured out a technique that allows alcohol to be turned into powder and packed in pills. This technique solidifies any kind of booze including whiskey, cognac and beer. The professor suggests that ‘vodka pills’ may come in handy at parties as you’d be able to calculate your exact required dosage.

Did you know that Melba is named after an Australian opera singer…Dame Nellie Melba.
…how about Alfredo? Fettucine Alfredo is named after early 20th century Italian chef Alfredo di Lelio – he invented the dish for his wife at his restaurant in Rome.

Are you worried about viruses attacking your computer? McAfee says websites with a ".cm" extension are the riskiest. 37% of any websites ending in ".cm" pose a security risk. The warning comes, as most websites end in ".com" / and it can be very easy to make an error.

Britain’s military has closed a hotline that took reports of UFO’s. The Ministry Of Defence says that after 50 years of UFO sightings, it has not revealed evidence of alien life or threats to the United Kingdom.

2009-12-03T09:39:00.005-05:00

Happy December!!!

How about that Tiger Woods? Sick of that story yet? Just goes to show ya, no matter how big an icon they are, they will be scrutinized if something goes amiss....anyways...I'm sure there are many different ways to look at the story...like this one...how could he not? With all these women hitting on him, he is a huge star afterall...well, that's not how I would see it but there are those out there that would. Might I add, mostly men.

When I heard the initial story Saturday morning, that Tiger was unconscious after he had hit a fire hydrant, then a neighbours tree...and his wife Elin had to smash a window with a golf club in the SUV to get him out...I wondered...did she run down the driveway with a golf club in her hand after she supposedly heard a crash? Or was she chasing the SUV with the golf club? I am guilty of thinking "he cheated...and she caught him". Looks like I was right. Yikes.