Every weekday at 2:30pm, be listening: I'll ask you a question. You then go online to find that answer, call me back at (705) 727 1075 to win!(Sept. 8-12) win Golf for Two at Orr Lake Golf, Time Well Spent.
Sept 8 below
Oasis' Noel Gallagher was attacked by a 'fan' at V Fest in Toronto last night.
Check out the video below. Cue in at 1:30 to see it go down.
The guy was caught and charged with assault.
Sept 8
The weekend is gone. It was quite eventful: our PM has called an election for October 14 and the MTV Music Video Awards went down.
As to the former, we knew it was coming, but I'm not convinced it's necessary. In fact, I'm kind of annoyed because I didn't want to spend the next month and a bit listening to the mostly empty promises and usual 'politiking'. I'm pretty sure we're going to end up with the same people in parliament. I am a firm advocate of democracy and being an active participant as a citizen. But I'm to the point where I truly wonder if my vote makes a difference. I vote because, otherwise, as they say, I have little right to complain. I feel pressure, though, to 'vote stragecally' instead of voting for someone who will represent me well in parliament. Stephan Dion even said today that a vote for the NDP is a vote for Stephen Harper and a minority government. Oh really, Dion? I thought a vote for a certain party candidate is a vote for that party and the candidate!
I also think the Green Party should be allowed in the national televised debates. I think they have proven themselves even keeled and enough of a national party to be part of the debate. And, after all, we Canadians apparently care deeply about the enviroment. That's what the surveys say, at least. I don't think the GP has much chance getting more than 1 seat, if that, but it'd be nice to add another voice to the mix.
Well, now that I've writen about the impending federal election, I don't even feel the MTV Video Music Awards is even worth mentioning [it's not]... but I will.
I hate awards show. They are incestuous and pompous and boring. I didn't watch the VMAs and I'm glad because reviews are out saying it was boring as ever. Plus Britney Spears won a bunch of awards. One writer called this a "pity party" before he changed the title of the article [click here . It was titled "Why Britney Spears' Top MTV VMA Win was a Pity Party"]
Look, I'm not supposed to say bad things about artists. La dee da. Britney isn't an artist though. She's a tragic figure that should just be left alone. People should stop using her to make money. [No denying the music is catchy though.]
So check it out. Above is the video that won for Best Cinematography at this mickey mouse awards show. [Full winner list here]It's a pretty good video. Also, the White Stripes are pretty cool. Mostly I post this, though, because Jack White, who also acted in Cold Mountain, is one of only 2 men that my best friend and I both find attractive ("In a weird way!" haha The other is James McAvoy. Beyond that we will never have to worry about fighting for the same guy.)
Below is another video that has wonderful cinematography. It has won no awards.
Happy Monday!
Sept. 4. Above: Murtz, Lisa, Rob
Last night, I was in Toronto at the premier screening of a new reality TV show called Reality Obsessed. It’s a reality TV show about Reality TV. It’s entertaining, cute and funny. Best of all, it’s a Canadian production.
Murtz Jaffer, the 28 year old host, is the king of Reality TV, having followed all of it from the beginning. He started his Reality TV website in 2000 when Survivor first hit the air.
Murtz says “Because I watch 9 hours of TV a day, and I read about for another 2 hours… when I say this show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the last 10 years, when I say that I’m really proud that it’s Canada that does a reality show about reality shows… I think that that’s what I want people to know. I want them to know it’s something our generation will be remembered for.”
Fans of Reality TV know the one and only Boston Rob. A handsome man who has been vacationing on Canada’s West Coast lately, he was there last night to support Murtz.
“The fans in Canada are unbelievable. I think you guys breed reality fans… because it seems like they’re a lot more hard core than they are in the States. “ says Boston Rob Mariano.
Rob tells me, “It’s funny. Five or six years ago, when I first met Murtz, I said, if he ever got his own show, someday, that I’d come and be on the show. And low and behold it happened! So I had to make good on my promise.”
But, at first, he didn’t believe that Murtz, the skinny self proclaimed nerd from Toronto, had his own show.
He continues “I said ‘Murtz, nobody gave you your own show… there’s no way! There’s no possible way that anyone would actually give you a show’… after about 5 or 6 more phone calls I thought, ‘Ok I guess he has his own show, I’m guess I’m going to LA’”.
Rob, along with a couple other the other big Reality TV characters, is being featured on an episode of Reality Obsessed. They compete to see who is the Ultimate Reality TV star.
“I think it will be very entertaining. We had a lot of fun shooting it [… ] I think I brought my best to the table” Rob says of the episode he shot.
Other episodes include answering the question of whether cameras elicit chemistry among the stars and whether someone can actually learn to dance in a period of 5 days.
Reality Obsessed runs TVtropolis Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays with one new episode a week.
Sept. 3
I can't believe it's September already! More so, it's been a year since I've been here at KOOL FM. This year, for me, has gone by at warp speed!
Fall is my favourite time of year, probably more so than spring. I love the crisp air and the beautiful colours. I love putting on a warm sweater and taking a walk under firey red trees while sipping a chai latte. Maybe I love it because it's the end of something; the glorious last showing before nature goes to sleep. I don't know what it is but I do love Fall. Last Thursday, it was just like a fall day. I loved it.
But, hey we still have summer for 19 more days! Fall doesn't officially start until 11:44 am on September 22 this year.
Drew Wright is eliminated from Canadian Idol. That is insane! After his performances on Monday, I thought for sure he was a shoe-in. The crowd at Pizza Hut in Collingwood was just stunned. We all just kind of sat there going "No! What?".
Like I've said before, I loved the entire Top 5 this year. But I need to say that Mitch shouldn't be in the Top 2 over Drew. He's sweet, he's adorable, he's talented, but I can't say he's better than Drew when it comes to the overall package. Mitch does do a nice Ryan Adams though! [Click here -my favourite Ryan Adams song as done by Mitch]
He won't win. Theo will win. .... maybe. After Drew's elimination, I'm not sure. Theo is wonderful, though getting a little sure of himself I think. His vulnerability is something I liked. I hope to be talking to Drew today sometime. Listen for a quick interview with him on air.
Aug 27
I love fortune cookies; not so much for the fortunes but for the crispy vanilla cookies! When I was a kid I found a recipe to make my own. That night I [and my brothers too maybe?] made dinner for my family just so I could also make the special fortune cookies.
Well, it turns out the cookie you get with your Chinese Take-Out is an American invention! Below is a funny little video of Chinese people being introduced to the Fortune Cookie.
Aug 27- Below
Earl Stevenson leaves Canadian Idol this week. I know he wasn't some people's cup of tea, but I quite liked him. The turning point, for me, was when he sang "Light My Fire". Also, the fact that he sang Ryan Adams, one of my favourite artists, and did him justice, well, let's just say I'll miss the guy.
But alas, the competition must roll on. And it rolls on with our boy, Drew Wright, in Top 3!!!!I heard today Earl saying he'll be moving to Toronto as soon as he can and maybe getting a place with Mookie! Below is Earl singing "Sparrow in the Sky" in his home town of Lloydminster SK. [Click here for Ryan's Two, the song that Earl covered. Ryan, to me has the most perfect voice when singing live. It's not nearly as pristine on the records.]
Aug 26- belowThis is for real! See video below.His name is Craig Billmeier aka Hot Lixx Hulahan.Now I realise I'm neither a good real-guitarist nor a good air-guitarist. Oh well!
Full Story Here
Aug 22, above
Drew Wright came to visit us earlier in the morning; he's making his rounds on the 'press tour'. It was 10:30 and he already seemed a bit tired. The schedule is go!go!go!It was nice to meet him after seeing him on Canadian Idol the past 2 months and cheering him on witht he crew in Collingwood. He's a genuine guy, very calm and kind. (And yes, ravishingly good looking. Those blue eyes...!) The CTV/ Idol cameras were here too. Look for KOOL FM on Monday's Canadian Idol (...maybe!). A few more pictures are posted in the Photo Gallery with more to come of him actually in the control room. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions to be asked. It's good to know that, if Drew were an ice-cream flavour, he'd be Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ("Why's that?" "Oh.. It's just my favourite flavour")
Ps. I got some exclusive photos signed. If you want to win one, join me on Tuesday in Collingwood at Pizza Hut for the results show gathering.
Aug 20
I hung out in Collingwood last night with the Drew Crew at Pizza Hut. We watched the Canadian Idol Results Show together. It's very cool to hang out with so many other Idol Fans.
I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but this is the first time I've watched Idol from start to finish instead of tuning in at the Top 5 mark. I've come to really like all the Idols that are left and was hoping for some sort of non-elimination round!Well, sitting there with Drew and Mookie in the bottom two was actually kind of emotional for me! Yes, feel free to laugh. I wanted Drew to stay but I also really didn't want to see Mookie gone either. When Mooks was kicked off it was a relief but also very sad.At least he's a) going to have a good career anyway and b) he's from Toronto so we can see him at the clubs here and there, I'm sure.
Phew... and it only gets more tense as the group gets smaller.
On Friday, Drew is coming back to town. He'll be at KOOL FM around 10:30am and on air with me around 10:45am. I hope to see Drew fans at the station with signs and cameras!!! (431 Huronia Road, Barrie)He'll also be performing in Collingwood at 5pm on Friday.
Aug18
I had a nice weekend; went to Canada's Wonderland with my Little Sister, her sister and her sister's Big Sister. That place can be a money grab! But we brought our own food, the tickets were donated (Thank you Canada's Wonderland), and we took part in the local locker-economy. People have taken to selling their locker keys amongst each other at Splash Works. This is because the thing costs you $11 up front and you only get a $2 deposit back! So people go around selling their keys for about $5 meaning they get $3 more back than they would have and the person who buy it ends up paying, in total, one he returns the key for deposit, $3. Unless he sells the key again, in which case the locker is free. (We paid full price and sold the key for $5. shhhhh)
This is an interesting study of free market economies... something like that.
Top 5 on Canadian Idol perform the songs of the Beatles tonight. Two things: 1) Join me Tuesday at Pizza Hut Collingwood for the results show gathering and 2)Drew Wright fans, come to the radio station before 10:45am on Friday to cheer on Drew Wright and maybe get some pictures with him. He's joining us in studio. Friday is his homecoming, whether or not he makes it to Top 4! (There will be a concert on the main street in Collingwood that evening.)
And speaking of Idol, here's a satirical blog from The National Post. It's weeks old but I think it's hilarious! (click here)Here's an excerpt:
"Every year, this province is rich in natural Idol resources. But following the back to back victories of Alberta’s Kalan Porter and Melissa O'Neil, Canadian Idol implemented the National votE Program (NEP). The NEP automatically redirects 20% of all votes cast in Alberta to Idols from eastern Canada.As usual, Albertans are crying -- “It’s so unfair. Those votes belong to us!”. Grow up, Alberta. Are you a part of Canadian Idol or not?"
**
And, finally today, a 'oddment' from a painter called Duane Keiser. I hadn't heard of him before today but I'm immediately taken by his work. It evokes the styles of painters from centuries before. An 'oddment' is a small painting (2"x3"), kind of a left over, sometimes done on scraps from bigger paintings. You can buy them for $150. More paintings and details click here.
The painting below, called Fiesta Pepper 2, is sold.
Aug 14
Our email system at work has spam filters, apparently. Maybe they don't work so well because every day I get at least one spam email, sometimes many, while some people's direct emails don't come through. Go figure.
Often, these emails are from scammers, not just the fake Viagra emails. I've gotten emails asking me to give my bank account number so a widow can deposit a large sum of money from her dying husband. Some have been obviously fake job offers to make large sums of money by doing next to nothing (one was to work for an art dealer).
Sometimes the scam is simple- you post an ad for a room to rent. You get a response from someone overseas who is moving here for school, or whatever. They ask for your address right away and say they will send the cheque for the rent. They'll send a cheque for too much. They'll ask you to send back the balance in cash. Once you do so, you find that their cheque didn't clear.
Note: you shouldn't rent out a place without at least talking to the person directly.
How some people fall for these scams is beyond me. Really, send them your bank account number? Just accept cheques from strangers for no real reason?
Anyway, the point of this is to say that there are people called Scambaiters. They willingly take the bait from the scammers but turn it around to humiliate the scammer and/or waste the scammer's time.
Below is a video from a Scambaiter who got a couple of scammers to re-enact the Dead Parrot sketch from Monty Python. This Scambaiter promised scholarship money!Here's a link to the complete story behind the Scambaiter's revenge. Click Here.
There's a book out that follows the history of scammers from the middle ages to now. It also gives you a HOW-TO on scamming the scammers. By Eve Edelson... more details here.
PETA, oh PETA. What is wrong with you?They're using the bus tragedy in Manitoba to make their point. What do you think? Is this too soon? Is this just totally inappropriate? Is this ad effective in making people want to become vegetarians?Click here to see the poster (It's only text. No disturbing images.)
Two videos and some links. See below
Aug 7
Music Love is the section of this page where I share with you music that I like and bands that I think might just be awesome and hope more people will hear. This section is open to your suggestions so send 'em in!
Above is a band that I've featured before. The Elms have just landed in England to begin a short European tour.
Above is their third Mono-Film- a one-take acoustic version of a song from their upcoming album. I think this one is boss! My favourite so far. What do you think? (Here's the direct link to the video incase the above doesn't want to work)
On Myspace, I get a lot of 'add requests' from bands. I've taken to actually listening to a their music before I decide to add them. If I think they're terrible, I don't bother; if I think they're good I add them and usually send a personal hello.
Two bands stood out recently. Check out The Micah Walk Band. They have a new album out called Bright Side Fantasy. It's Car Driving Music! Click here for their Myspace.
Also Tim Blane from Boston is very enjoyable, fun, groovy music. I was pleasantly surprised when I first listened. Click here for his/their Myspace. Seriously, please click that link!
And finally... There's a bunch of buzz about a band called The Airborne Toxic Event. Our Universal Records Rep, Amanda, sent us some links about these guys. What caught my attention is the name. They got it from a book by Don Delillo called White Noise. The main character get exposed to 'The Airborne Toxic Event' and has to deal with the fact he's going to die. Well, I read that book and pretty much hated it. Then again, it was a forced read and I never quite finished it. I might give it another chance. I still have my copy because it was too pretty to send to a second hand store.
But, back to the music. This band has been anointed 'The Next Big Thing'. Below is an acoustic performance of their song "Sometime Around Midnight". Nice! What do you think? (Here's a direct link to the video)
August 1
On the Online Scavenger Hunt today, the question was about the first arm transplant: when and where? I got the idea from an article on the BBC about a farmer who just had a double arm transplant. [Click here for video and story.]In that article it said "Arm transplants have been carried out before - the first occurred in Austria in 2003 when a man received transplanted forearms and hands." This was the answer to my question for the day. A lot of people called in with a date of 1998 for a guy in France. That was a just a hand transplant though and was actually reversed as the man felt his body was rejecting the strange 'dead' hand. But, a listener, Danny, brought to my attention the transplant of an arm on an infant. Because the donor was the child's twin, there were no rejection drugs needed. That baby is seen above. Thanks for the info, Danny! Click here for the story.I guess I shouldn't assume the BBC to always be 100% on their facts...?
July 31
Looking for a more interesting watering hole?How about a 'Pub in a Tree'?If you go to Limpopo, South Africa, to Sunland Farms, you'll find the "Big Baobab Pub". It's a bar inside an extremely large, extremely old baobab tree. (seen above)It complete with with electricity, dart board, telephone and room to comfortably fit 15 people.
This particular tree on Sunland Farms seems to have quite a history, housing bushmen and Dutch settlers a hundred or more years ago. African legend says that at the time of creation, each animal was given a tree to plant. The hyena took this one and planted it upside down (because, without the leaves, they really do look like upside down trees). Baobab trees grow extremely large and become hollow when they are very old. They do not grow rings like regular trees so no one is completely sure how old they are. Carbon dating says up to a thousand or more years old; botanists say, no way they're that old!
Click here to read more about this bar and the fascinating baobab tree.
July 28
Apollo astronaut, Edgar Mitchell, has come out saying that there is, indeed, extraterrestrial life. He says that people who knew about the UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, told him about it. As you would expect, he says that the people who told him were under severe threats to keep quiet; they wanted to reach out to someone 'credible' he says.
Click here for an interview with him.
So what do you think? Do aliens exist? I really don't care because, if they do, that fact hasn't affected my life yet.
.
AboveJuly 24
Maybe he isn't dead; he's just time traveling with Doctor Who!This is an 1800 year old roman Bust that is going up for auction in London.
More details here.
I've never had to do groceries for a family but I grew up in a family of six and saw how much the grocery bill could be. Even staying on my $50 a week- for -food budget as a single is hard!
Here's a link (Click here) to a story from someone who was challenged to put her family on a budget of $100/w for groceries. It is an American article so food prices may differ but our dollars are pretty much even.
Some of the tips to save money: plan to spend more time planning and making meals, don't buy pre-packaged foods, like baby carrots, and snack on fruit like bananas and regular carrots. This woman was forced to go to more expensive grocery stores (no Price Choppers, farmers markets or backyard gardens allowed) and yet, even if she added $75 more to her budget, she said she could save over $300 a month shopping the way she learned to shop.
P.S. Oh! Speaking of backyard gardens.... I think they're great. I'll try to compile a list of we resources to help you plan one. If you have any little square of land, you can have a productive garden!
July 22
I was able to attend the Canadian Idol Top 9 performances. It cost me $16... for parking! And I was able to meet some of my favourites. No pics though; I’ll tell you why below.
I arrived at the Metro Convention Centre in downtown Toronto and, after getting my bearings, made my way downstairs to the John Bassett Theatre lobby. It was buzzing already, at 5:30. And, as I waited around for my guest to arrive, the place got busier and busier. Drew’s Crew seemed to arrive first with sweet printed Ts and signs. Mookie’s Kooks arrived next; a bunch of guys in t shirts and carrying signs that I saw stuck in flower beds and on lawns in downtown Toronto. There was a small group of Mark Day supporters (all older women). And there were the Theo and Mitch signs. Zack Werner even came out and made a point of mingling and letting people take pictures with him. I thought it was nice. I popped in and got my shot, as you can see above.
Zack Werner even came out and made a point of mingling and letting people take pictures with him. I thought it was nice. I popped in and got my shot, as you can see above.
In the John Bassett Theatre, they have a station for you make signs. Apparently no need for me to carry around my big ol’ signs for hours; I could have made them there!
Yes, I had signs: one for Drew and one for Theo. (I got my brother to make them for me just before the show. Thanks Stephen!)
When I arrived to my seat, there were some other 'media folks' too. When I told Murtz Jaffer, of insidepulse.com, that I was ‘media’ working in radio he was surprised “I thought, for sure, you weren’t media ... with those signs!”Well, if I’m going to be there, I’m going to go all out and cheer and wave signs. I’m not above that!Murtz has a new show coming to TV in the fall where he busts the myths of reality-TV shows. It sounds like it'll be funny!
They do a big preshow and introduce the idols, make us practice cheering. Ben is much more likeable off camera, I think. He’s really loosened up this year on air but, off air, he’s much much more comfortable.
The show was great! Much better singing than Top 10.
When I got home, I watched the performances again. Let’s go through the Live vs on TV.
Theo: The first thing I noticed was that he is really short and has a big head. Literally, his head seems a little big for his body!He is one of my favourites. Live, his voice is even better!
If you paid very very close attention, you would have seen me with my “Theo is Awesome” sign in the audience. Theo was one of only three of them to get a standing ovation from the floor level audience. Mitch: Gosh, Mitch is good looking! And what I love about him is that he smiles when he sings. When I watched the performance again on TV I couldn’t help but think it didn’t sound as good as it did live. I think TV loses something for him. Earl: He is the second to get a standing ovation. People nearly leapt out of their seats for him including those who didn’t have Earl signs. He really is amazing. I was not a fan at first. But geeee! You know that part where the judges said something like “thank you for proving how smart we were to pick you for this”? Well, what you didn’t see on TV is that they actually were patting themselves on the back… literally Zack and Farley were patting their own and the other judges backs. Not seriously of course. Sebastian: Boy is smokin’ hot. Even more so on person. I thought his vocals were better than anything he’s done so far. Listening back to it on TV, I could hear how ...not-so-good they were.
Katherine: Katherine, I think, is the only one for whom TV is very good to her. The live performance lacked a certain presence and it looked very forced to me. But she is only 16! It looked way cooler on TV except the very end where the spot-light on her was red. The awesomeness of that shot didn’t show up on TV.
Drew: Hellllloooo! Kid is short! But what a performance!! He knew what he had to do to stay in the competition; he did it well and he sounded great. The person beside me, from TV Guide, said “Your boy done good!” But I was too distracted by Ben’s Bumble Bee suit to register right away what she was saying. When I watched it back, I saw that Drew seemed rather tickled with the Bee suit… is there an inside joke I’m missing? *edit July 25- I've been told there was a random Bumble Bee suited person in Blind Melon's video for that song*
Go Drew! No sign of my sign on the TV broadcast.
Also, I should note that the “fans of the Night”, who got front row seats, were two girls who love Drew! The one told how, last week, she voted about 450 times. She did said she only had to stop when she was on the subway because there was no signal. I hope she was phoning in and has by the second billing, otherwise, that's one heck of a bill she's racking up!
Mookie: Moooooooooookie! That boy is a star. When you saw on TV lacked only the feeling of being in the same room as him. He got the third standing ovation. People literally jumped out of their seats after he fell to the ground. What a kid!
Amberly: She had on the most beautiful dress. On TV it wasn’t really obvious how beautiful it is. She sounds just as great live as on TV.
Mark Day: When the judges referred to his last performance as a “joke”, I didn’t feel so bad about using the word “mockery”. This week, he redeemed himself in my mind. But he’s still the least talented among the bunch; at least when it comes to performing. (He can sing better than Seb, but that’s not saying much).
He wiped a tear at the end of his song and it looked very fake to me. There were no tears in his eyes! I watched it again on TV and sure enough… no visible tears in his eyes. I get how he would cry after singing that song given what it means to him, but there were no real tears that I could see. Whatever.
Afterward, I got my guest to the main doors only to realize that the escalators back down to the main lobby were all going up. I wandered around and finally found someone from Idol who told me to use the Elevator to get back to the theatre. See, I wanted to get back to meet the Idols who were signing autographs in the balcony.
I went around the corner to the elevator and who comes around the corner but Earl!! He was sightly sweaty but very happy looking. I went to him and shook his hand and congratulated him on an excellent performance. He smelled very much of cigarettes but looked great in that purple shirt.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bunch more people coming around the corner.
It was some Idol staff escorting Mookie and Sebastian! They joined us at the elevator just as I was telling Earl where I worked. Earl asked “So, do you talk about this on air?” I told them that I did; that I’m actually watching the season from start to finish because the talent is so exciting. I told them that you, the listeners, love the show too and enjoy discussing it with me.
I then congratulated the two new arrivals and told Mookie he was fantastic and is a star. He smiled very shyly and said thanks. Cute kid.
We got into the elevator and went down. Now that I think of it, I should have stayed on the level where we boarded to try get to the balcony… but alas I was just all turned around.
When we got off the elevator, I was about the walk around the corner with them to wherever they were going but realized I probably wasn’t where I needed to be. The security guy saw me hesitate and he told me I needed a special pink band to follow the guys. He asked me where I wanted to go. “Umm… I wanted to get to the balcony…” He told me to go back to Level 100. I got back in the elevator as the door was closing, some people called to keep it open. Ben Mulroney, who’s rather tall, Sass and Jake got in along with Idol Staff.
I got back to where I started (Level 100, not where I wanted to be after all) and they all got off. I decided to give up trying to get to the balcony to see Drew and Theo. My neck was killing me still (an injury from a week ago) and I just wanted to go home.
And I didn’t get any pictures with the three darling Idols because I thought it was pretty awkward to ask for a picture with them while waiting for an elevator. Plus we were just having a nice chat and I didn’t want to turn all Paparazzi.
Oh well! Next time!
... for your viewing pleasure.
These are the pictures I was talking about just over a week ago. Now that the Canadian Idol episode has played with the footage, I'm allowed to post these on here (or so I've been lead to believe). I could have shot Drew Wright for hours; he's photogenic! When I said "viewing pleasure" above, I also meant it; he's just really really nice to look at as well as hear sing! I won't say 'pretty' because that apparently offends men. haha!
Go Drew!
July 9 My older brother, Johan, first made me aware of this rule and I think it's something that should become law.
It is simple: in the first 15 minutes, or so, of hanging out with someone [usually of the opposite sex], if you are in a relationship and he/she doesn't know, you need must find someway to make that known.
It can be as easy as, say, you're talking about where people are from and you go "I grew up in Barrie, but my girlfriend/boyfriend is an Orillia gal/guy". Or whatever!
That way, there's no confusion. The other person doesn't spend the night falsely thinking, "Hey we are getting along so well right now, maybe there's something here!"I just thought this rule was a given and yet, more and more, I'm running into people who are either ignorant of the rule or purposely ignore it.
Once, I met a guy at the airport and we really clicked, turned out we lived in the same city, held the same values and interests etc. Had we gotten together, it would have been one of those cool love stories.
We ended up hanging out, going for coffee, lunch, dinner; he even asked to join his little music group, sent what I saw as flirty text messages. I remember thinking, the first time I met him, that he mustn't have a girlfriend because there was a perfect moment in the conversation where he could, have mentioned her and it would have been flawless.
This was the moment: he said " .. then I went back home and my best friend informed me he was gay and that he had always had a crush on me...awkward".. and he could have added "and I mean, I have a girlfriend so I don't know what ..." Right? But he didn't.
In fact, this guy never ever ever told me about his girlfriend. The thing is, an ex-girlfriend [who had competed on Canadian Idol] was talked about but never his current woman of like... 10 months.How did you find out, you ask? Good question.
Facebook. He accepted my add request... and on his page was posted a sickeningly sweet video montage of him and his girlfriend... and how they met ...and how they bought a dog ...and "Now there are three". Aww, ain't that sweet.
Wow. I confronted this jack and he sputtered some nonsense about... "well, maybe, ok I was thinking I could might break up with her... just .. well, I thought you and I were just friends... erm...I don't ever mention her to some people because they don't approve... I thought we were just friends. "And the truth is that I would have been fine with us just being friends, but I was in a completely different mindset given that, well, I didn't know he was "taken".
[ Oh, funny thing. Apparently the GF knew 'all about me'; I had actually met her at their work but, well, didn't know "who she was".]
The reason I'm talking about this is because last night, I hung out in downtown Barrie with some of my fine co-workers and their friends; got talking with one of the guys who is just gorgeous. On top of that, well spoken, interesting and actually has a job! Plus, I found out he's childhood friends of someone whom I really respect. Well, I found out this morning, that he has a girlfriend. But there was no mention of her in the 4 hours last night (though, an ex was briefly mentioned...). In this instance, I'm not saying the the 15 Minute Rule was intentionally broken. I don't think there were any tricky intentions.
I just think people should be aware and the 15 Minute Rule should be followed as a courtesy; so as to not get a poor girl's hopes up.
Le sigh. Ps. "Not taken til there's a ring" ... yes /no? I don't make moves on another's man. And my friend, Noah, wants me to mention that he thinks underage girls ought to have to wear their age on their sleeve or something because it's getting harder and harder to tell if they're 23 or 18 ...etc.
July 9. 08
Two things have become favourites of mine: creative street art (click here) and mass public 'pranks'-- which also is a form of art. Improv Everywhere, a group from New York, is great at the mass panks. Check out this one they did at Grand Central Station. It was so delightful, they got a round of applause at the end.Go to their main page on Youtube (here) to see more pranks.
Yesterday in Collingwood, there was a "rally" for Drew Wright. He was there. He performed some songs. He looked and sounded great!I was told, however, that I couldn't post any pictures of Drew [and I got some sweet ones!] on the station's website until after the footage of the rally has play on Canadian Idol. That will only happen is he makes it to the Top 10. He likely will; but we would hate to see him kicked off because we all just assumed he make it and not bother to vote!.Right? Right!
What I am allowed to post is pictures of the crowd. You'll find them below. Also, I've finally got up some pictures from my trip to Costa Rica. I meant to post them ages ago but I tried a couple times and things just weren't working out. Then, you know how it goes: other things need attention, the pictures get forgotten.
Enjoy the photos below..
July 02.08
Theo Tams better record a full live version of this song. I love his arrangement.
June 30.
The above is a quote from my brother when he was about 8. We walked into Zellers and there was a gigantic Pooh Bear suspended from the ceiling over the toy department. Nat yelled out "Look at that gigantic Pooh!" We haven't let him live it down. Anyway, I came across the Russian version of Winnie the Pooh. The animation is delightful. You don't even have to know Russian because it's the Winnie The Pooh stories you already know and love. Something to make you smile, especially if you don't have the day off~!
After work Tuesday, I joined my Little Sister in Alliston for a fun time at The Hair Gallery on Victoria Street. It was a time for all the Bigs and Littles to relax and be pampered: we got our hair washed and styled and our nails done. All for free!But on top of that, the people at The Hair Gallery arranged some more special treats, unbeknownst to even the BBBS director: McFlurries from McDonalds and little rose bouquets from Burns Flowers! It really was a wonderful surprise. As I went around snapping pictures, I could tell the Bigs and Littles were having a great time.
A big Thank You to The Hair Gallery, first and foremost, and to Burns Flowers and McDonalds, for a lovely night out.
Above: The flowers from Burns Me and my Little Sister after getting our hair done.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been run by a military regime since 1962. "The regime has violently surpressed democratic uprisings in the past and has come under fire recently for limiting aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis".1
Apparently, those in power fear that contact with women's underwear will sap them of their power!!
Send your panties to the Myanmar Embassy in Ottawa:
903-85 Range Road Ottawa, ON K1N 8J6
This is an initiative by Montreal based Rights and Democracy, and the Quebec Women's federation.