The Italian Challenge!!

The Italian Challenge...oh and what a challenge it was!

So, who here watches Man vs Food?  Okay, so if you don't watch the show, or you've never heard of it, it's about this guy, Adam, who travels around the world and competes in food challenges.  An example would be, eat this five pound steak in one hour, and it's free.  That sort of thing.  The show is pretty awesome and funny and gross.  haha. 

So, one day Adam travels to Niagara Falls, Canada.  ....Hey!  I work in Niagara Falls, Canada! 

He goes to Mick and Angelo's.  ....Hey!  I go there all the time!

And he competes in the Italian Challenge.  ...What?!? I've never heard of it.

So, he competes in the challenge and the food won.  He couldn't do it.  His picture gets put up on the Wall of Shame - the wall leading into the washroom area.

So, what do I do?  I ask my brother, Charlie, if he wants to do the Italian Challenge.  His answer... "Uhhhh....YES!"

The Sloan boys vs Food.  Round One.  It's ON!!!

....the food won.

And boy did it ever.  Who were we kidding?  There was enough food to feed a hungry family.  What exactly did we have to eat in the 1.5 hour time frame?  I'll tell you what:

-Soup of the day
-Loaf of garlic bread...LOAF of garlic bread
-Lasagna (the biggest piece of lasagna I've ever seen!)
-Spaghetti
-Meatballs (3 giant ones)
-Manicotti (3 of them)
-Cannelloni (3 of them)
-Chicken Parmigiana (2 big pieces)
-Italian Sausages (at least 6 or 7 of them)
-AND...and piece of cheesecake

Total weight of food...SEVEN pounds!  And that list is what EACH of us had to eat.  No sharing in this challenge!!  OMG...I'm a little embarrassed to say that we tried.  haha.  At least we can say we didn't finish.

Anyway, next time you're at Mick and Angelo's and you need to head to the can, look to your left and you'll see pictures of Adam, Charlie, and yours truly - moi. 

It's a bit late...

But...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday! 

As most of you know, my family received some bad news recently (on the 23rd actually).  My uncle Rob has been diagnosed with cancer.  Yes...that scary "C" word.  He's in his mid thirties, not much older than myself.  This past Christmas, as we sat around the table next to the tree, it was a little different than years past.  It's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of food and presents, and sometimes we lose touch of what truly makes Christmas special - the time you get to spend with your family.  This year, all that "other stuff" was an after thought.  This year, we were together - as family.  We were there for each other and although it wasn't the happiest of days, it was truly special.

My uncle has less than a year to live.  We received the bomb today (on the 30th).

On Christmas, we were filled with hopes and prayers...and then today happened.  Will the hoping and praying stop?  Never. 

If I had one wish, I would wish that everyone would go to the ones they love and give them a big hug and tell them how much they mean to them.  Because you never know when the bomb will come...

Anyway, this blog kind of changed wind pretty quickly.  I do hope everyone had a awesome Christmas and that everyone did get a couple nice things, ate some pretty delicious food, and got to spend time with someone they love.

Ciao babies!  xo

You HAVE to try this!!

http://www.youtube.com/user/tippexperience

My favourite website of the day.  It's so funny!! 

Some of my favs are:


-farts
-hugs
-dances with
-kisses
-has sex with
-pisses
-eats
-moonwalks with
-fights
-cooks

I'll keep you posted if I find more that make me LOL.

Happy NCCED!!

It's December 16th, and that means it's NCCED!!  What does that mean?  Take a guess...Okay...if you don't know, you'll never guess it...

It's National Chocolate Covered Everything Day!

What are you going to indulge in?  I, personally, enjoyed some chocolate dipped cookies.  My chocolate covered **** is free for the taking.  What?!  My chocolate covered strawberries is what I meant to say.  I bought too many at the grocery store.

You're sick.

CopShop 2010

Today was a great day!  Why?  Well, I'll tell you why.  I participated in CopShop.  So, what's CopShop, you ask?  It's a bunch of police officer volunteers that get to go shopping with underprivileged kids from the community.  Here's how my day went:

It starts off with the kids arriving to the mall by limo bus.  Once they meet their police officer buddy for the day, they're treated to a pizza party lunch from Boston Pizza.  My little guy had four pieces!!  And he was a pretty small kid!  haha...He told me that pizza was his favourite food.  Awesome...we have something in common.  He also got a can of Coke that looked WAY too big for him.  haha.  All I could think of was, "Fuller, go easy on the Pepsi."  (Anyone?...Anyone?...okay it was a reference from Home Alone).

After lunch, they were able to get a photo with Santa and their police buddy.  I can just imagine the face I'm making...I'm pretty sure I blinked...haha.  So, after you get your photo taken, you're free to shop around the entire mall.  Each kid is given a $200 gift card to buy whatever they want!  Talk about every kid's dream come true!!

My new friend had a list of toys he wanted.  He also wanted some nice clothes and some gifts for his family.  Thank you Zellers and Old Navy for their awesome sales!  We were able to cross everything off that he wanted!  It was so awesome.  His giftcard was down to less than a dollar once we were finished.  Talk about great shopping while on a budget!!  A lot of the stores were giving us an extra discount which was really nice.  One jewelry store even gave every kid who walked in, a beautiful necklace with a pendant on it.  It was all wrapped up and everything.  Gift for mom, check!

Anyway, once the little shoppers are finished, they meet up for some snacks, and the final goodbyes.  All their parcels were to be delivered to their homes, later that evening. 

It was truly a great day.  Seeing the children's faces light up, is the best Christmas gift anyone could ever get.  After seeing the other kids around me, I couldn't help but smile.  One kid always wanted a bike, so with his giftcard, he was able to get one.  Another girl had always wanted to get her nails done, and once we were all together again, she couldn't stop showing them off.  

Some of these kids have it pretty rough at home.  Knowing that I was part of this very special day for them, is the most rewarding thing I've done in quite some time.  It's easy to get wrapped up in all the Christmas hustle and often we forget how lucky we are.  I hope and pray that everyone of those kids makes it through and is able to remember today and how much fun they had.

It was also quite refreshing to see how many groups came together to make this day possible. 

Now, back to my paperwork...  ;)  Happy Wednesday!  

Dilemma Part Deux

Okay...so I usually forget something when I go to the gym.  Usually it's a water bottle or headphones, or something simple like that.  A few days ago, as you all read, it was my shower sandals.

So what did I forget today?

Clean underwear.  So, here's the dilemma, after my shower, do I wear my sweaty underwear under my clean clothes?  Or do I go commando?

Well...nothing says comfort like an unfurnished basement.

Ahhh...Sh*t!

I came home from the gym and I went to the trunk of my car, and I was horrified to discover that a case of Coke Zero had exploded EVERYWHERE in the back of my car.  Damn cold weather!

I said a few choice words and then thought to myself, "this looks like a problem for tomorrow."

haha..perfect.

It's official!

My ticket to Vietnam is booked!

I'm heading back!!  This time I'll be kicking ass and taking names.  Okay...probably not...but I'm still SUPER excited to head back!  The people, the shopping, my friends, the SOUP!!  I CANNOT WAIT!!

See ya in a couple months, NAM!!

Dilemma

So, I've started working out at the gym again...the gym I used to work at.  Anyway, the other day I got myself in a little pickle. 

I go to the gym and I have a great workout.  I exhausted and covered with sweat and I head into the locker room.  I grab my towel and soap from my gym bag and then the horror hits me like a ton of bricks....

I forgot my shower sandals!!!

So...this is that pickle I was talking about. 

What do I do?  Do I take a shower barefoot?  If you've seen a men's locker room...ew.   Or, do I put on my nice warm, dry clothes and head out into the blizzard?  Let me remind you, I'm covered in buckets of sweat.  Again...ew.  This is quite the dilemma.

What did I end up doing?  Wouldn't you like to know...

Well...I'll tell you what I did.  I took a shower...BAREFOOT!  My feet itched for two days.  ew.

Cure the winter blues

I went to the grocery store, cart in hand.  I walked up and down every aisle.  I looked for all the things I could find that were on sale, or a good price (in my mind).  I grabbed noodles, and rice, and granola bars, and cookies, etc etc.  When I went to the cashier, the total wasn't very much.  To my surprise, I actually had enough cash in my wallet.  As I left the store, I gave all the food, that I had just bought, to a man collecting food for the food bank.

It felt GREAT!

The man was overjoyed.  What didn't seem like a lot, is quite the opposite to someone in need.  The money I had in my wallet - my Tim Horton's money - was enough to buy bags of food for some of the less fortunate families, here in town.  I give up my coffee and sandwiches for a week, and a family gets to eat.  Period.  Sometimes a little goes a long way. 

...and boy does it ever feel good to give. 

You should try it.  :)

Bah Humbug!

Today is the annual Ugly Christmas Sweater pubcrawl.

And I have to work. 

I could cry.

My outfit was going to be awesome.

Bah Humbug.  I quit!

Time to Embrace Winter!!

I often find myself complaining about winter.  And let's be honest, winter has hardly begun.  Although, I hate the winter roads, I hate brushing my windows off, I hate the cold, the list goes on....

it's time to

EMBRACE WINTER!!!

We live in CANADA and we should love winter!!  On the weekend, I went skating for the first time since grade four.  I thought I was going to fall on my rear end...I didn't!  I actually had a lot of fun!  I hope to try ice hockey this winter for the first time (eek).  Some friends and I are already starting to plan a weekend trip up to Blue Mountain for some awesome skiing and boarding.  I want to snowshoe and x-country ski to keep fit.  I have a lot of winter plans in my mind.  If I'm able to accomplish half of them, then I'm bound to have an amazing winter.  Here's to winter, and here's to a lot of fun!

When did Canadian television become so good?

So, today I turned on my tv and it was on CBC.  No big surprise there.  I find myself watching more and more Canadian television.  In fact, the channel rarely changes.  I loved Corner Gas when it was on.  I've become a big fan of Little Mosque on the Prairie.  Dan For Mayor was pretty good.  And now my "new" favourite show, Men With Brooms. 

I don't know why I love these shows so much?  I think it's because the characters remind me a little of myself.  For instance, I think I could move to Dog River, Saskatchewan tomorrow, and fit right in. 

Now last night was a special treat.  It was a double episode of Men With Brooms, and then the "Christmas Special" of Little Mosque On the Prairie (Oh the irony...lol). 

So, Men with Brooms...there are three friends who curl together.  They need a fourth player to make a full team.  Where do they find this fourth player?  At a donut shop.  They see the worker sweeping up a mess and *magic*.  He's the fourth player.  Anyway, this fourth player is accused of being a chronic hobby jumper.  He goes from volleyball to fencing to knitting (lol) to curling to bowling.  Anyway, he reminded me of myself.  I am TOTALLY a chronic hobby jumper!

Now let's see...what have I done this year...geocaching, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, photography, drawing, swimming, running, cooking, squash, the list goes on!!  It's a bad habit...I know!  I love doing things for a month or so, then BAM!  I switch and try something else.  And it's not like I stop enjoying the activity, it's just that something else catches my interest.

Anyway, I reinstated my gym membership today.  hahaha.  Hopefully this hobby sticks around for a while.  I still need to lose my Christmas fat from last year...and probably the year before.

As for Canadian comedies...KEEP THEM COMING!!

The end of a Legacy

As the final hours of Movember come to a close, I realize that I was part of a legacy.  A legacy that I can only hope will repeat itself, year after year.  I will become so much uncooler in a matter of three minutes.  Tomorrow I will be sending my mustache off in good fashion.  Everyone is invited to the farewell.  We will be throwing my hairs into the wind where they can be reborn into the soils of the earth.  I will miss him so much.  The wake will follow at noon, in Niagara Falls.

All joking aside, the money that was raised is going to a great cause.  I'm just happy to see so many people involved with the fundraiser this year.  Thanks to all those who supported me.  Very much appreciated!!  :{)

Until next year....Sainara Mustachio!!

Magic with some elements

Here's your chemistry lesson of the day:

If you take the abbreviations of Uranium, Nickle, Cobalt, and Radon, and put them together, you get UNICORN.

I can't stop LOL.

Movember Update...Day 29

So, with only TWO days left of Movember, the question comes to mind; Do I keep this sexy piece of lip fur after it's all done?  I'm kind of getting a little attached to it.  I decided to take a poll amongst my friends, family and coworkers. 

100% for 'shave it.' 

0% for 'keep it.' 

haha.   No lie.  Not ONE person thought I should keep it. 

I guess December 1st, I'll be taking the razor out.  I may have a tear in my eye.

Movember Update...Bonus

So, everyone knows what an emoticon is, right? 

Examples:

:)  Happy

:D  Really Happy

:(  Sad

:S  Sick

:X  Kiss

:P  Tease

:O  Shocked

:{)  Movember

I saw this a couple weeks ago, and I thought it was really cute (like me).  :{P

Potter Watch

Those of you who have read the books, will understand the title.

So, this is going to be short and sweet. 

I saw Harry Potter 7 for the second time today.  I love it...a lot.  A couple of my friends still want to see it.  Who am I trying to impress?  What's a third...or possibly fourth time?  I'll go.

Movember Update...Day 28

I went to my Grandma's house today and my cousins and aunt were there.  My 5 year old cousin looks at me and whispers into her mom's ear, "I don't like Sean's mustache.  It looks funny."

Okay...people...two more days!

Movember Update...Day 27

So, I'm at my work's Christmas party.  An 8 year old girl taps me on the arm.

"What is that?  Is that a mustache you're trying to grow?"

Well, aren't you a little princess.

Don't speak no Americano

Every Thanksgiving, everyone goes around the table and shares what they're thankful for.  Today being American Thanksgiving, the discussion was brought up, "What American things are you thankful for?" 

• Well...music for one. Whether rock and roll or country, jazz or motown, the blues or grunge, a lot of great music has come from our neighbours down south. 

• Food is another.  Those Americans do love their food - That's for sure!  Anyone ever try a true, southern barbeque?  Mmmm...slow cooked pork, black eyed peas, turnip greens, creamed corn, and a good old fashioned American apple pie.

• The American army - fighting for our democratic values and our free way of life.  Thankful to have such a powerful ally that shares common beliefs.

And then this lady tells everyone what American thing she is thankful for.  Are you ready? ...the American thing she is thankful for is that most people there speak english.  hahaha.. I said, "Pardon?"  I didn't even know what she meant by her comment. 

Anyway, it reminded me of my friends living abroad.  They have been living out of Canada for over three years now.  They have travelled to more places than I can ever imagine.  Anyway, last month, they went to Australia and they were excited because it was the first time in three years, that they've travelled to a country that speaks english as a predominate language.  Although, I think the first lady was being a little cynical, my friends are quite the contrary.  Anyway, it made me smile. 

To check out stories from their AUS-some adventures, check out http://www.starlightstarbright09.blogspot.com/.  It's Emily's blog.  Yes, the one always bringing me "good" news.  And the only one who actually comments in the sections down below.  haha.  I love all the comments I get in my inbox and on my phone too!!  I'm not hating.  haha

Happy Weekend!

Gobble Gobble to the Yanks

Happy Thanksgiving to all those south of the border!

Would you rather?

Does anyone remember that game we used to play when we were younger - 'would you rather'?  Who am I kidding?  I still play it.  For those of you out of the loop, the game is quite simple in nature.  You basically just ask each other questions that begin with the phrase 'would you rather.'  For example, would you rather eat a lemon or eat a hot pepper?  Would you rather see your boss naked or have your boss see you naked?  You get the picture?  Of course, when we played it in our younger days, the questions were quite crude (but funny!).  The only rule was - you HAD to answer the question.

So, today I heard a crazy story.  It was about a 63 year old man who went to the doctor and found out that he only had three months to live.  I forget what disease he had (something to do with his liver), but it doesn't matter.  So, what does this man do?  He decides to cash out his life savings and LIVE the final days of his life.  He travels around the world to the places he always dreamed of.  He bought himself a Mercedes Benz.  He spent every waking second he could with his family.  When he got the horrible news, he made himself a 'bucket list' and tried to cross everything off.  For those of you who don't know, a bucket list is a list of everything you want to do, before you 'kick the bucket'.  I have to give this guy credit.  He certainly took the news well and made the most of what time he had left.

So, the final thing this man wanted to do, was to get a full scan of his body.  He wanted his family to know everything, for the benefit of their own health.  So, here's the kicker; the scan showed that he had been misdiagnosed.  The fatal disease he believed to have had, was actually quite treatable.  So, what are we left with?  A man who just wasted all his money and now has nothing, or a man who has just been given the greatest gift of all - life?  It really got me thinking...  Did he really 'waste' all his money?  He got to do everything he always wanted to.  To me, that's not a waste at all.  In my opinion, it's like he's been given a second chance.  He's only 63.  He still has a lot of life to live!  Money and all the material things are just that - things.  He has family, his faith, and now his life.

So, that brings the question:  Would you rather do everything you've always wanted to and then die a peaceful death 3 months later, or, do everything you've always wanted to and struggle to get by the rest of your life? 

I already made my decision.  When you're alive and have a family, at least you're lucky enough to have something to struggle for...

Movember Update...Day 22

A woman at Tim Horton's looks at me and says, "oh now I can see it."

Too bad we all can't grow them like her.

What do you remember??

So, what happened today, back in 1963? 

If you said JFK was shot, you're right! 

Now of course I don't remember this.  Most likely because it happened 20 years before my time.  However it was the theme of the discussion on the radio today and I found it very fascinating.  They were asking listeners to call in and share stories of where they were when a certain event in history occurred.  They had people calling in and sharing stories of where they were when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon.  They also had people tell us what they were doing when the world found out about Princess Diana's tragic car accident. 

Is there one moment in history that you will never forget?  Something historical, where you will always know where you were, and what you were doing, at the time you found out the 'news'?

I thought and I came up with two answers.

The first - 9-11.  I think most people would be in the same boat.  How can we forget that horrific day?  I can remember sitting in my grade 12 economics class in Wawa, Ontario.  My friend Emily came into the classroom and told everyone what she had seen on TV earlier that morning.  We were all clueless.  Approximately 15 minutes later, the entire school was called into the auditorium where our principal explained what had just happened.  The thing was, he didn't know what had happened.  At that point, no one did.  We watched the news on the big screen as the nightmare unfolded.  Classes were called off in the afternoon.  At home, as every plane crashed, my stomach turned more and more.  What was I watching?  Was this real?  I was scared, angry and helpless.

The second - the death of Michael Jackson.  Don't laugh.  haha.  I can't tell you the exact date, but I can remember the day perfectly.  We had just arrived in Egypt to visit our friends.  When we saw them, after a few hugs, my friend Emily shared the news.  Yes...the same 'Emily' from above.  Always the bearer of good news, she is.  Anyway, after quickly absorbing our first taste of Egypt, we began to watch CNN.  But only for a few minutes...thank goodness!!  The rest of the trip was great!

Anyway, I just thought it was kind of cool, how people can retain certain memories, if those memories are associated with something that can make a big enough impact.

Happy Monday everyone!!

Movember Update...Day 14

Okay...two weeks in...

The Movember chronicles continue...

So, I walk into Tim Horton's and the lady looks at me and says, "you know you have a caterpillar on you lip?"

Hmph.

Maybe one day I'll blossom into a beautiful butterfly...

Movember Update...Day 13

So, the other day I was at work, and the older female secretary looked at me and proceeded to tell me that she has longer hair on her legs.  Awesome.

Happy Pepero Day!!

On November 11th, Koreans celebrate Pepero Day!  I learned this today from my dear friend Emily who is currently teaching in Vietnam.  If you don't follow her blog, you should... http://www.starlightstarbright09.blogspot.com/

I guess Pepero Day is the equivalent to 'our' Valentine's Day.  Children and lovebirds exchange chocolate covered pretzel sticks and other small tokens of 'love'.  The Pepero, as far as I know, is actually the name of the chocolate covered pretzel stick. 

Anyway, I thought I remembered seeing these treats at the grocery store (in the "Asian" section).  I went to the store to see, and I was RIGHT!  Anyway, I just HAD to celebrate Perero Day.  The only problem...I had no one to celebrate it with. 

I waited until my sister came home from soccer practice and lo and behold, PEPERO DAY!! 

Yeeehaaa

They were actually pretty good!!

Oh, and if you were wondering, November 11 because two Pepero sticks together, look like an "11".

Happy Pepero Day!!

Today, I say thank you. I will never forget.

November 11th is the day where we honour those who fought and gave this beautiful country the freedom we are able to enjoy today.

We don't have to live in a world filled with war and hate because of the ultimate sacrifice of these brave and courageous men and women.

I take my hat off to the soldiers, sailors and airmen and women who are overseas, still fighting, today, for these same freedoms we have come accustomed to.

Thank you. 

Their obligation, their duty, was to fight, and die if need be.

Our obligation, our duty, is to never, ever, forget.

Sloan the Shark!

So, I just got back from the pool, and I just had to mention how AWESOME my swim was.  I was on fire!  I swam 1.5 km in record time.  haha.  Anyway, as I was swimming, I said to myself, "Self, I'm going to blog about this swim because it's so great!"

My greatness was confirmed in the shower, when an old man came up to me and asked if I swam competitively when I was I younger.  He told me I looked incredibly fast and that my strokes were really smooth.  Everytime he looked up, I was passing him.  I couldn't believe it - it was so nice!

On a different note, what's with old men coming up to me when I'm in my most vulnerable state - when I'm naked?  LOL.  Anyway, I took the compliment and now I have a new friend.  haha.  I also got the low down on the showers.  Apparently I was at the worst one.  He proceeded to tell me, in order, the best showers to go to.   He told me the order in regards to temperature.  And then he told me the order in regards to pressure.  And then he told me the order in regards the overall shower experience. 

20 minutes later, I was a raison.

Movember Update...Day 10

I walk into work, a girl looks at me and asks,

"I thought you were going to grow a mustache?"

humph.

The things that makes me smile :D

So, one of the greatest pleasures in my life, is when some jackass speeds past me, and then I catch up to him/her at the red light. 

Or, when they blow my doors off, and then get stuck behind some truck, just to see me pull ahead of them yet again.

And everytime, automatically, I look at the driver as I catch up and pass them.  Every single time.  haha.  They usually avoid eye contact like the plague.  I'd love to see the face I, unintentionally, make.  It's probably a look of disgust. 

I actually take it quite personally when someone passes me.  A few 'choice words' usually escape my mouth.  haha...oh well. 

The things that make you smile.

Movember Update...Day 8

I want to rip my lip off.

Mmmm...

I'm not one to laugh at someone, however, pictures say more than words.  I want to see this episode - very much so.

Hallo-what the f***

A Legion branch in Campbellford, Ontario is to reopen after the controversial Halloween festivities that took place last week.  I actually heard of this last night, for the first time.  For those out of the loop, like me, a Halloween party was thrown at a Royal Canadian Legion branch in Campbellford last week.  The winning costume for best couple - someone dressed up as a member of the Ku Klux Klan with a rope around another man's neck.  The other man is covered in black face paint.  And that was the best costumed couple of the night!

Wow.  What can I say?  I wasn't there, so I don't really know what actually happened.  Apparently the FORMER POLICE OFFICER, that was dressed as the man with the black paint, is apologetic if he offended anyone.  If he offended anyone?!  Really?  How can you dress like that and expect NOT to offend anyone.  I'm as white as they come, and this story disgusted me.  There isn't too much in the world that can symbolize more hate than the KKK. 

Why on earth, would you want to dress up as someone who hunted people at night based on the colour of their skin?  You're poking fun at the thousands of victims that were assaulted and murdered for no reason.  You're embarassing me, as a human being.

If they truly are sorry, I'm the one who feels sorry for them.  Not only do they wear this riducolous costume, they wear it to a Legion party of all places.  The Klan were the American version of the Nazis.  No way around it.  Our veterans fought so that those pychos didn't control Europe.  This is a slap in the face for all those brave men and women who fought for our freedom.  The Legion is a place to celebrate our heros and our victories -and then we have some ape that comes in dressed in a KKK robe/hood with his prey.

The thing that really baffles me, is that they WON!  WTF!?  Who voted for them?  How the...?  What the...? ...crazy, I tell you.

And the icing on the cake is that this wasn't the only costume in poor taste.  Another man at the same party was dressed as Hitler.  No joke.

500 lbs...here I come

Yesterday - fish n chips before the auction

Tonight - all you can eat ribs before a night in a hot tub

Tomorrow - pizza n wings with the shift after work

The rest of the week - water and lettuce

Period.  No exceptions.

Sugarland - Stay

So, a friend of mine posted this song on Facebook the other day.  I listened to the lyrics and it hit so close to home, it brought tears to my eyes.  This past year has been nothing short of hell.  It's really hard to keep a smile some days.  Anyway, this song is for you.  And remember, there are a lot of us that still love you.


Sugarland - Stay


I've been sitting here staring at the clock on the wall
And I've been laying here praying, praying she won't call
It's just another call from home
And you'll get it and be gone and I'll be crying

And I'll be begging you, baby, beg you not to leave
But I'll be left here waiting with my heart on my sleeve
Oh, for the next time we'll be here
Seems like a million years and I think I'm dying
What do I have to do to make you see she can't love you like me?

Why don't you stay? I'm down on my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely, don't I give you what you need?
When she calls you to go, there is one thing you should know
We don't have to live this way, baby, why don't you stay? Yeah

You keep telling me, baby there will come a time
When you will leave her arms and forever be in mine
But I don't think that's the truth
And I don't like being used and I'm tired of waiting
It's too much pain to have to bear to love a man you have to share

Why don't you stay? I'm down on my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely, don't I give you what you need?
When she calls you to go, there is one thing you should know
We don't have to live this way, baby, why don't you stay?

I can't take it any longer but my will is getting stronger
And I think I know just what I have to do
I can't waste another minute after all that I've put in it
I've given you my best, why does she get the best of you?
So next time you find you wanna leave her bed for mine

Why don't you stay? I'm up off my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely, you can't give me what I need
When she begs you not to go, there is one thing you should know
I don't have to live this way, baby, why don't you stay? Yeah, oh

Movember Update...Day 5

So, I go into work today, and my boss is like, "yeah, you'll need to shave that before your next day in."

An hour later....

He comes up to me with some money, "Okay I'll let it slide because it's for charity."

THE MUSTACHE IS BACK ON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!

YAHOO!!

An interesting fact about the Spongebob Squarepants...

Okay...so my sister told me this little interesting fact today.  Here is everything you need to know:

-Spongebob Squarepants lives in Bikini Bottom.

-Spongebob works at the Krusty Krab.

-The owner of the Krusty Krab, and Spongebob's boss, is Mr. Krabs.

-Hence, Mr. Krabs lives in Bikini Bottom.

I repeat...

Mr. Krabs lives in Bikini Bottom.

...just a little something I found interesting. haha.

Let's change the face of prostate cancer!

Well...for those of you who don't know, November has been officially been changed to "Movember", in this neck of the words.  Men (and possibly women...eek) all over the world will begin growing mustaches for men's health, in particular - prostate cancer.  It's day 4 and I officially have stubble!!  Yay!

So, apparently a "mo" is slang for a mustache.  Together, the words November and mo, make the word Movember.  I learned this today.  I swear on my life, I thought Movember were the words November and molester put together.  Molester because that's what you look like on around day 17.  Anyway, the "mo" part, comes from mustache.  It's all making sense to me now. 

If anyone would like to sponser me, I won't turn your money away.  For those of you I work with, be prepared for a month of fundraisers!  That is unless my sergeant sees my face and tells me to shave.  haha.

1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

It's the most common cancer to afflict Canadian men.

4400 Canadian men will die from this cancer this year.

Every mustache makes a difference!!

I said, pardon?

Only in the States...

So, I was checking out MSNBC.com the other day, and I came across a story about little Katurah Petty (your guess on the pronunciation of the name is as good as mine).

Anyway, her and her friend decide to go rob a Walmart.  Okay.  Walmart?  Sure.  Why not? So, what did they steal?  $271 worth of computer software.  Yeah.  Okay.  So what?  Why am I writing this?  Well...here's the kicker...

So...apparently...she was in LABOUR when she decided to rob the Walmart!!  I said, pardon?  Yeah, no joke!  She was fully in the process of delivering a baby when she stopped by the local Wally World.  I wonder if her water broke at the store itself?  If so, I hope they had some of those Caution: Slippery Floor signs handy.  Anyway, the lovely Katurah was charged with theft and forgery...as she was driven to the hospital.  The things that make me smile.

She named her son Robbery.  Friends call him Rob.

WTF? :O OMG. lol... :D

So I heard a crazy statistic the other day; the average teenager, age 13 to 17, now sends 3,339 texts per month. That's about 110 texts every day.

I'm way behind in the times!  I send maybe...MAYBE....twenty texts a day.  Who are they texting so often?  What are they texting about?  God forbid...are they sexting?  When I was that age, I wouldn't even have had a cellphone.  So, I thought, well, I'm not THAT much older then the age bracket of the study.  Am I?

I decided to go right to the source - my sibilings.

Sean asks, "Hey, how many texts do you send a day?"

Joe replies, "I don't know.  Maybe 50.  50 to 100.  I don't know."
If he says 50...than it's totally 100.

Sean asks, "What about your sister?"

Joe replies, "I don't know.  Probably the same."
WHAT?!?  This calls for further investigation.  Let me grab a pen and a pad.  No...not that pad.  Get your mind out of the gutter.  Back to question at hand.

Sean asks, "So who do you text?"

Joe replies, "Friends and family.  Why?"

Sean replies, "Leave the questions to me please."

Joe responds with, "oh my God."
...or in texting, simply put - OMG.  See I'm still hip.  I'm still with it.

Sean asks, "What do you text about?"

Joe replies, "Things that are going on.  Movies.  Video games.  Stuff we're going to do.  Gossip."

I LOL (laughed out loud) and I had enough material for my next blog.  ...and here we are.  So, 110 a day.  I still find the number outstanding.  If I was 17 again, would I be sending 110 texts a day?  Would I pay for my cell phone myself?  Would my life be a mediocre movie staring Zac Efron and Matthew Perry?  ...I would hope not.

Anyway, the things that make you go hmmm.....  ;)

You can keep your 17 and 110.  I like my 20 texts a day life with, what some would call, its more traditional ways to gossip.

Gobble Gobble...

Where has Sean been?  Eating...that's where.  Thanksgiving week is now over.  My favourite time of year.  The one time every year, that I literally need to undo a button. 

This year was extra special because my second favourite brother came home.  I went to the airport, Saturday morning, to pick up Charlie.  No one knew he was coming home.  It was awesome!!  My grandma was the funniest!  She just kept saying, "Charlie...look it's Charlie". 

The food was amazing!  Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc. etc. YUM!!

And no dinner is complete without ambrosia salad.  For those who don't know what that is, it's that salad with the dreamwhip and the fruit and the coconut and the mashmellows...yes....THAT salad.  Holy Cow.  I love it.  It seems to be a staple at every holiday meal and it's usually the salad that gets passed around the table, until it reaches me.  Then it finds a home. 

So, Charlie told me a little interesting fact.  Ambrosia means food of the gods.  I didn't argue that.  I find it quite heavenly.  Anyway, I decided to wikipedia it when I got home (surprise surprise).  Apparently it's "often depicted as conferring ageless immortality upon whoever consumes it."  Well...that would explain my youthful visage.  Also, it was said to be delivered to the gods by doves.  So, come Christmas time, I expect my ambrosia salad to be served to me, a la dove.

Hope everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving!!

Punctuation Saves Lives

"Let's eat Grandma"

vs.

"Let's eat, Grandma"



Why Fall is so Awesome!

I can't believe next weekend is Thanksgiving. Fall is my favourite time of year, hands down.  The weather, the food, the fun - so perfect!  Consider the lazy days of summer to be over. I find a lot of fall haters out there.  I guess the main reason people hate it, is because fall brings on the cold and the winter.  I think fall is awesome!  So awesome, that I've written down 91 reasons on why fall is so awesome - one for everyday of fall.

1. Pumpkin pie is awesome!
2. Wearing slippers again is awesome!
3. Trick or Treating is awesome!
4. The falling leaves are awesome!
5. Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's is awesome!
6. St. George Applefest is awesome!
7. Waterford Pumpkinfest is awesome!
8. Car seat warmers are awesome!
9. Finding the perfect Hallowe'en costume is awesome!
10. Turkey is awesome!
11. Running with long sleeves is awesome!
12. Holding a cup of hot coffee in your hands is awesome!
13. The changing colours on the trails are awesome!
14. Having a nice warm bed in the morning is awesome!
15. Geocaching is awesome!
16. Oktoberfest is awesome!
17. Breathing in the cool air is awesome!
18. Misty mornings are awesome!
19. Season premieres are awesome!
20. Early Christmas shopping is awesome!
21. Grandma's applepie with vanilla icecream is awesome!
22. Back to school is awesome!
23. The final BBQ of the season is awesome!
24. Comfortable hikes along the Grand are awesome!
25. Football is awesome!
26. Haunted houses are awesome!
27. Less busy amusement parks are awesome!
28. The Norfolk Fair is awesome!
29. No more bugs is awesome!
30. Putting on a nice sweater for the first time is awesome!
31. The Festival City Run is awesome!
32. Remembering our veterans is awesome!
33. Buying girl guide cookies is awesome!
34. Wearing socks again is awesome!
35. Eating soup again is awesome!
36. Listening to country music is awesome!
37. Biking is awesome!
38. Less traffic is awesome!
39. The Terry Fox Run is awesome!
40. Seeing deer (and other wildlife) on the trails is awesome!
41. Eating candy is awesome!
42. Drinking hot chocolate is awesome!
43. Getting caught in the cold rain and finding a warm place to dry is awesome!
44. Making tomato sauce for the entire year is awesome!
45. The wind is awesome!
46. Parades are awesome!
47. Pubcrawls are awesome!
48. Cross-country running is awesome!
49. Getting back to the gym is awesome!
50. The family getting together is awesome!
51. Getting lost in a cornstalk maze is awesome!
52. Carving jack-o-latterns is awesome!
53. Hot apple cider on the stove is awesome!
54. Using the vegetables from your garden to make delicious salsa is awesome!
55. Jumping in a pile of leaves is awesome!
56. Wearing a poppy is awesome!
57. Roadtrips are awesome!
58. Homemade pickles are awesome!
59. Mom's baked cookies are awesome!
60. Renewing magazine subscriptions is awesome!
61. The harvest is awesome!
62. Seeing a 'ghost' is awesome!
63. One last boat ride is awesome!
64. Different shaped guords are awesome!
65. Drinking a witch's brew is awesome!
66. Taking pictures in the fall is awesome!
67. The return of flannel is awesome!
68. The smell of chimneys is awesome!
69. The cold feeling on the tip of your nose is awesome!
70. The early dark nights are awesome!
71. The beach when it's cool is awesome!
72. Slow cooked meals are awesome!
73. Pyjamas are awesome!
74. The Run for the Grapes is awesome!
75. Watching a movie under the blankets is awesome!
76. Apple picking is awesome!
77. Finding the perfect pumpkin is awesome!
78. Bird watching is awesome!
79. Goodbye to mowing the lawn is awesome!
80. Scarecrows are awesome!
81. Food with squash is awesome!
82. The return of jeans is awesome!
83. Hayrides are awesome!
84. Riding a horse is awesome!
85. Fake bats are awesome!
86. The colours of fall are awesome!
87. Booking winter getaways is awesome!
88. Good times with great friends is awesome!
89. Working overtime and making lots of money is awesome!
90. The lack of sweat is awesome!
91. Making green tomato relish is awesome!

The Fight

Today marks the 19th annual Run for the Cure.  I take my hat off to all those who are participating today.  The run started in 1992 and has now become Canada's largest single-day, volunteer-led fundraising event dedicated to breast cancer research, education and awareness.  The event is now run in 56 communities across Canada.  Last year $26.5 million was raised!  That's truly incredible.  Hopefully this year brings similar success.

Breast cancer is cancer originating from the breast tissue.  Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common type of non-skin cancer in women and the fifth most common cause of cancer death.  The cancer will effect one in every eight females.  How many women and girls do you know?  More than eight, I'm thinking.  A woman dies every 13 minutes from breast cancer.  Cancer tarnishes families and tries to destroy friendships.  It always gets in the way and is never welcome.  I hate it. 

I hope this is the last Run for the Cure. 

I say that because I hope they find a cure from the bottom of my heart.  I hope that there's no need for this fundraising run every again.  But until that day, it is truly inspiring and uplifting to see that there are still so many caring people in the world that willing to fight - willing to fight for our moms, our aunts, our girlfriends and wives, our sisters, our teachers, our friends, our cousins, our grandmas, our daughters, our fathers and brothers and grandfathers, our neighbours, our coworkers, and everyone else this wicked disease has ever touched.

Breast cancer has no age restriction.  I urge all my family and friends to begin self-exams regularly.  The sooner it's found, the better the chance they can get 'what doesn't belong' out of there. 

Again, thank you to all the wonderful, amazing, caring people out there who ran today.  Your efforts are not overlooked.  Much respect and praise goes out to you.

The Movie Test

This math test will determine your favorite movie! 

This is pretty darn amazing!

So I did the quiz...and the result...Star Wars - my favourite movie! I'm kind of surprised. Don’t look at the movie list till you have done the math (it's more fun that way!)

Try this test and find out what movie is your favorite.  Don’t ask me how it's done.  It is pretty awesome though!

Okay folks, so here's the test.  Grab a calculator if you must...

1. Pick a number from 1-9.

2. Multiply by 3.

3. Add 3.

4. Multiply by 3 again.

5. Now add the two digits together to find your predicted favorite movie in the list of 18 movies after the break.

Movie List:

1. Gone With The Wind
2. E.T.
3. Blazing Saddles
4. Star Wars
5. Forrest Gump
6. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
7. Jaws
8. Grease
9. The Joy of Anal Sex With A Goat
10. Casablanca
11. Jurassic Park
12. Shrek
13. Pirates of the Caribbean
14. Titanic
15. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
16. Home Alone
17. Mrs. Doubtfire
18. Toy Story
Now, ain’t that something…..?

You're "bacon" me hungry!

haha...actually...if you're making me anything, it would be disgusted.  So, a dream of mine came true today.  Yes, they have finally made of sculpture of Kevin Bacon....out of bacon. 

I'm actually giggling as I type this.  haha.  It's so bizarre and gross and I LOVE it!!  The 'work of art' is called Bacon Kevin Bacon or simply BKB.  The artist, Mike Lahue, is selling this masterpiece on eBay.  The current bid is $510 (US).  A little much for me.  I guess the good thing here is that the proceeds go to charity.  Here's what the eBay profile page says about this pies de resistance:

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own the most delicious piece of Bacon-on-bacon themed pop art ever created.  Whether you are a fan of American film icon Kevin Bacon, animal protein art enthusiast or just a lover of bacon, the undisputed king of all meats - Bacon Kevin Bacon is a must have."

"Don’t worry, BKB has been well lacquered and will stay tasty for generations to come so stop listening to your inner-doubt, put in a bid and make every person you will ever know jealous of your legendarily epic greatness."

...."animal protein art enthusiast"?  LOL!  I wouldn't consider myself one...until today!  I guess the thing's not edible, which is a total downside.  The medium of choice - bacon and bacon bits, and you can't even take a nibble.  It makes me curious on how he got it all to stay together?  

So, the eBay page contiues to say, "Owning Bacon Kevin Bacon will automatically make you the coolest person you will ever know, a champion of the underground meat sculpture movement and honestly should really tie any room together nicely.  After all, bacon does make everything better."

'Coolest' person isn't even the word!  Here are some pics...enjoy!!  :)

Hurry!  Don't be disappointed.  7 days left to bid!  Don't let this opportunity go to waste!!

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Okay, so it's time for the recipe of the week!  This week's dish comes from one of my favourite recipe books, simply titled, Favourite Brand Names: Italian Cooking by Publications International Ltd.

So, last week was my mom's birthday, and amongst many gifts, I gave her the choice of what I would make her for dinner.  To my surprise and excitement, she chose chicken tetrazzini with roasted red peppers.  This is a crowd favourite, let me tell you.  It's also one of the easiest things to make. 

I don't make it too often, and after you see the ingredient list you'll know why.  haha...but it's SOOO good!

This meal is great when you're making dinner for a group of 6 to 10 people.  I find it tastes best the day it's made, although the leftovers aren't 'that' bad.

Okay, so if you're ready to get started, here we go.  The whole recipe can be done in 4 easy steps.  The prep, the sauce, the noodles, and the mixing. 

Here's what you'll need to have on hand:

~6 ounces of uncooked egg noodles (I love the no yolks brand)

~3 tablespoons of butter

~1/4 cup all-purpose flour

~1 can (14 ounces) chicken broth (I usually pick a low sodium kind)

~1 cup whipping cream (oh yeah!)

~2 cans (6 ounce each) of sliced mushrooms (I usually omit, due to people's fear of mushrooms)

~1 jar (7 ounces) of roasted red peppers, drained and cut into 1/2 inch strips

~2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I actually use about a chicken breast per person)

~1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning (...and if you don't have any, just mix some basil and oregano and parsley)

~1/2 cup (or more!) grated Parmesan cheese (and use the good stuff...non of that Kraft crap...lol)

The Prep

If you haven't done so, cook your chicken.  I like to chop it up and cook it in a little EVOO.  Make sure to season it well with salt and pepper.  I like to fry a little garlic with it as well (it gives it a nice taste).  Once that's done, set it aside. 

Have your peppers and mushrooms (if you're using them) all ready to go.

Also have your Parmesan cheese grated and ready to go.

The Sauce

Okay, so this will be the toughest part of the recipe (and it's not that tough).  The main thing here is to have all your ingredients already measured.  This will make for nice transitions when making your delicious sauce.  You may also want to double the ingredients here, if you wish to have a lot of sauce on your pasta, or if you're entertaining a lot of people. 

Start by melting your butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  I like to continuously whisk it, so it doesn't burn.  Add the flour and whisk until smooth.  Add the chicken broth; bring to a boil over high heat.  Once it's boiling, remove from the heat and slowly add your whipping cream.  Continue stiring until well blended.  For a different flavour, here you could add a couple tablespoons of dry sherry.  I personally like to add a few dashes of nutmeg.

The Noodles

Cook your noodles according to package directions. 

The Mixing

Here is where you can be as creative as you like.  Personally, I just throw everything into the pot and do a big mix.  You could also just mix the sauce with the noodles, and then add the peppers, mushrooms, cheese, and chicken separately on top of each person's plate (so much more work!).

Regardless, make sure the noodles, the sauce, the peppers, the chicken, the mushrooms, and the Parmesan cheese all get put together one way or another.

Add the sauce to the noodles slowly.  You don't want your poor noodles drowning the the thing. 

Final Words

And there you have it.  A delicious, easy, 'not-so' healthy meal, that will  please even the pickiest of eaters.  The whole thing shouldn't take you longer than 20 minutes.  I like to serve it with some nice crusty bread and a big veggie salad (with homemade dressing of course...stay tuned...haha).

Enjoy!

P.S.  HBd Mom!!

Happy 50th!

It was 50 years ago today, when that prehistoric family first hit the tube.

Here's a little interesting fact for you,

Fred and Wilma were the first married couple to be shown in the same bed on prime time TV!

GASP!!

Lucky

Okay...so this lucky, lucky, LUCKY kid is sooo lucky.  He needs to go and buy a lottery ticket right now.  You always hear about drinking and driving...you hear about driving and texting...what about driving while tired?  This kid is lucky there were no passengers in his vehicle. He's lucky there were no cars around him.  He's lucky there wasn't a pedestrian near by.  He's lucky to be able to walk away from this. 

He's 22 and driving to school on the highway, north of Deer Lodge, Montana.  He fell asleep behind the wheel and took out the end of the guard rail.

The guard rail came through the right headlight, engine compartment, firewall, glove box, passenger seat, rear seat and exited out the driver’s side rear window.  That is 120 LF of guard rail that threaded through the suburban.

This is what can happen when you fall asleep behind the wheel...and just remember...he's lucky.

 

ZEDONK!

Okay, so today I somehow got onto the website for the Institute for Creation Research (LOL...I don't know either), and I saw this article and it excited me.  A zedonk.  How cool does this thing look, and how much cooler does it even sound?!  Zedonk-a-dee-donk-donk. Come over to my crib, so we can Funk-a-dee-funk-funk.  I love it!!  haha. 

Anyway, how did this magic happen?  Well, I guess there's a place called the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, just north of Atlanta, Georgia, where donkeys and zebras share the same parture.  Cue the Barry White soundtrack.  Anyway, one summer night, something magical happened. A donkey gave birth to my new favourite animal - a zedonk, aka a zonkey.  Another name I enjoy too much. 

The baby is doing well.  The mom is being a total ass about all the fuss, but going to be just fine.

I Love Lasagna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z5PtivrKho

Don't we all Ben, don't we all.

Really? The Dumbest Things People are Obsessed with on the Internet

Okay...so trutv.com came out with a list of the "10 Dumbest Things the Internet is Obsessed With".  Let me just say, I was very disappointed.  I don't really know who came up with this list, but really?!  This is the best you have?  I could come up with a better list in my sleep.  Anyway..without further adieu, here's the dumb list:

10.  Bacon (the internet is obsessed with bacon...really?  hmmm...I don't think I've ever looked up bacon. I don't know anyone who has.  It is quite delicious though).
9.  Betty White (Awww...I ♥ her!  Like number one on this list, quite cute and delicious!)
8.  Nip Slips (well...guilty as charged.  haha..jk)
7.  Tumblr Blogs (what does this even mean?  ...and the word "tumblr" looks like it needs another vowel...)
6.  Cute Animals (haha...I must admit, I have looked at these with my little sister before.  Piglets, Bunnies, Kittens, Puppies...etc Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, Be beautiful because you hate me). 
5.  The Palin Family  (lol...I can honestly say, I've never looked these people up in my life AND I never will, unless Sarah has a "number 8".  haha  jk)
4.  Classic Video Games (what's wrong with a little nostalgic fun)
3.  Star Wars (ummm...maybe because it's so awesome!)
2.  Cats (really...there are people out there looking up cats on the internet.  Well..I believe it, but is the internet really "obsessed" with cats so much that it made it to number two on this list?  hmmm...I would HOPE not...but you never know...haha)
1.  Cupcakes (WHAT?!?  I don't really know where this list came from...but cupcakes?!?  Why hate on something so cute and delicious..why?

Well there's the list folks.  That's right, Star Wars, Cats, and CUPCAKES make up the top three of the dumbest things that people on the internet are obsessed with.  No Lindsay Lohan or Tiger Woods.  No mentos/diet pepsi experiments.  No pictures of people shopping at Walmart.  No Farmville (phewf).  Just good old fashioned, delicious 3 bite desserts.

Grab a fork!

"Two Vermont businesses are teaming up to help create the world's largest-ever dish of macaroni and cheese.  The 2,100 pounds of pasta will be cooked in a giant cast iron kettle in downtown New Orleans Thursday afternoon using Cabot Creamery cheese and butter and King Arthur Flour, mixed with milk, elbow macaroni and bread crumbs.  The goal is to break the Guinness World Record, but the real prize will be what comes after the dish is made; the pasta will be sold to raise money for several nonprofits in the New Orleans area."

This both excites me, and disgusts me, at the same time.

UBER pumped!!

So I'm super excited about Jeremy Fisher's new CD coming out on October 26th, 2010!!  I know NOTHING about it, other than the release date.  I just found out about it today and I can't wait.  He's also doing a cross-Canada tour to promote the album.  Too bad the closest stop is in Toronto on December 4.  I wish he'd come a little more south...  But who knows, maybe I'll drive up to the big city.  We'll see how good the album is (who am I kidding?  it will be great!)

Damn! That wine's got bite!

Okay, so I found this kind of crazy.  A man and his wife were making wine at their home in Woodbridge, Ontario on the weekend, when the man scooped up some grapes from his crate and found a black widow spider!  For those of you who don't know, the black widow is one of the most dangerous spiders on the planet.  According to Canadian Geographic, it's venom is 15 times more lethal than that of a rattlesnake.  I guess the grapes were bought at the local grocery store and were originally shipped from California.  Crazy, eh?  The spider has now found a new home at the Toronto Zoo.  I named him Sean.

Apple of my Eye

Well, for anyone in the Brant County area, the third weekend of September can only mean one thing.  That's right...the St. George Applefest!  I went and as always, I did my mama proud!  I pounded back an apple fritter, an apple cupcake, some caramel covered apples and an apple dumpling.  No where was there an apple without a ton of sugar to be found!  If that wasn't enough, I went back on day two....for another apple fritter.  My god, they're delicious.

With Fall just around the corner, apples can be found EVERYWHERE!  What a perfect time to make a mouth watering apple crisp.  I hate baking, but apple crisp is SO easy, everyone can do it (and it tastes SOOOOO good).

Here's a quick and easy recipe that will keep that tongue licking your lips.

Nana's Apple Crisp

Ingredients

• 6 tart apples - peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• a pinch of nutmeg
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place apples in a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a bowl, mix melted butter, flour, sugar, vanilla, oats, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon to form a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle over apples. Dot with remaining 1/4 cup butter, and sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon cinnamon and the nutmeg.
3. Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned and apples are tender.

MMMMMMMM....I want some RIGHT now!!  Granny smiths work really well in this (and all apple recipes).   I can't wait until next year's Applefest.  Only 364 days to go...

"Somewhere the hurting must stop..."

Well...it's that time of year again.  Time to lace up the runners and go out running.  I run often, but once a year, I run for a Canadian hero - for Terry Fox.  I run for cancer research - for hope.  I run for my family.  I run for my friends.  What can I say?  That Terry Fox gets to me...every single year.  I can't hear or watch his story without "getting something in my eye". 

Today marked the 30th anniversary of the Terry Fox Run - The Marathon of Hope.  This was my 9th year participating in the event (and I plan to continue the trend for as long as I can).  Terry Fox had died a few years before I was born, but his spirit somehow ignited inside of me and has continued to burn for 27 years.

His vision was so strong, and his courage will be next to impossible to surpass.  We all know his story, so I won't go into it right now.  Instead, I'll leave two poems.  Two poems which I believe Terry would love everyone to hear.  Enjoy and welcome to my blog!

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited....

It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot destroy peace,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot steal eternal life,

It cannot Conquer the Spirit

author: unknown

Spending Your Dash

I read of a woman who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend,
She referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning.....to the end.

She noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears.
But she said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between the years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth...
And now those who love her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more,
And love the people in our lives,
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a while.

So, when your eulogy's being read,
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say,
About how you spent your dash?

-Linda Ellis