The weight is off my shoulders!

This week is going to be the week!  The weight will finally be lifted!!  I can't wait to move on and finally be free after 28 years of 'whatever this is called'.  Ask me about it sometime, and I'll share a few stories...

Unfortunately I still have problems in my life.  One has just resurfaced, and I see it coming on strong, and I don't know what to do about it.  If I tell you, you'll tell me the solution is quite easy.  The fact is, it isn't.  Sigh.  The highs and lows of Mr. Sean Sloan.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I've seen Christmas lights on houses.  I've seen Christmas commercials on TV.  and my radio is tuned to the all Christmas songs - 24 hours a day.

I have just one word...


YAY!

This just in!

This blog is coming to you from the Brantford Film Festival!  I'm here alone, and I feel so artsy!  The man behind me has a French accent, and the lady beside me smells like catnip.  Oh!  A man just walked in with his nose in the air like he owns the place.  And he has a ponytail.  A PONYTAIL!!  Where are they all from?! I'm loving my life right now!  I'm going to watch the feature The Quirk of Fate, and 4 shorts - My Friend Peter, La Premiere Etoile, Challenging Impossibility, and The Blanket Theory.  I'll give you my reviews in a few hours.

There are around 25 people here, and the average age is around 45.  lol!  It's about to start....and have to turn my phone off!  The feature drink is the 'pink panther'  hahah  Ok, ok...shhhhhh....

One week until....

7 Billion and counting...

Today (well, I guess technically yesterday) the world's population was expected to reach the 7 billion mark.  Wowza!  That's a lot of peeps!



Happy Hallowe'en!!



Scariest Jobs in North America

CareerBuilder.com did a survey....so what are the scariest jobs in North America?  Here are the top 5:

5.  Cemetery worker
4.  Mortician
3.  Member of the Armed Forces
2.  High rise window washer
1.  Bomb squad technician

Number 2 would freak me out the most I think!  ...out of those 5 at least.

I think the scariest job for me would be a miner.  I would HATE to crawl around in dark caves and underground.  The thought actually sends shivers down my spine.  urgh!  Never, never, never.

When I was in Vietnam (the first time), I went through a couple giant caves.  I hated every second of it.  Shhh...I've never told anyone.  Anyway, that is one job I wouldn't do -  no... 'couldn't do'.

3 O'Clock Pick Me Up

There's a radio station out of Guelph, Magic fm, and everyday at 3, they have the 3 o'clock pick me up.  It's the song that will get you moving in your seat.  It's the song that will make you turn up the radio.  It's the song that will get you through the day.  I always hear it on the way TO work, but I still look forward to it.

Yesterday was the first day I was disappointed.

Britney Spears - Oops I Did it Again.

Not impressed Magic fm, not impressed.



However...I did dance, turn up the radio, and sing along.  I guess it served its purpose.

Hooked

So, I get a 1.5 inch tattoo on my foot, and now I'm hooked.  Every other day, I'm online looking up more tats.  My body is your canvass, now paint me.  That's what I'm going to say the next time I go and see my artist.  haha.  Seriously though...I have SO many thoughts right now.  Here are a few that have been in my mind for a while now.  What do you think?

Inside the arm (near the top)

Inside the left wrist (I've wanted this since Egypt)

On my shoulder (I've wanted this since I lived up north)

There you have it.   Those are my top three.  They're all just black ink.  Maybe I should just go in and get them all done at the same time.  haha.  One of the only things holding me back, is that a new tattoo keeps me out of the pool for 2 months and I can't really afford that in my 'training'.  (I use the word loosely). 

HAPPY 100!

GTR's 100th post!  Yay!

Japan...I MUST go back!!!

So the last time I was in Japan, there was an earthquake, and then a tsunami.  If I go again, there will be another natural disaster - however this one will be in my pants.

Japanese Burger Kings are about to offer ALL YOU CAN EAT whoppers for $11!  WOWZA!

Everyone knows, Burger King is the only fast food burger I eat.  No McDonalds, no Wendy's, no Harveys - just The 'King' gets into my belly. 

Anyway, you get 30 minutes to eat as many as you can.  And like I said...all for only 11 bucks!   I think I could actually only do 2 tops, but I'd love to try! 

Road trip?



Poor Sean



I'm just having a 'rain cloud over my head' kind of day.  Who needs a hug?

$70,000

What does the average woman spend $70,000 on in her lifetime?

Give up?

Hair STUFF!  This includes hair products, hair cuts, hair colouring, hair accessories, etc etc etc

That's NUTS!  I guess girls really do care about their hair.  Then there's me, who cuts his own hair about the sink, because he's too cheap to pay the 15 bucks.  I guess that's another thing though...a girl's haircut always seem to be over a hundred bucks.  A man's is usually less than 20. 

Anyway, here's a couple more little tidbits.  Females, on average, spend 40 minutes a DAY working on their hair.  Wow!  That works out to just a little less than 2 years of an average lifetime for a woman.

.....crazy.....you're all c-c-c-c-crazy!

Tims is going....Italian?

I was pleasantly surprised this morning when the lady at Tim Hortons asked if I wanted to try the new white hot chocolate.  You go there too often when you know the staff and they give you a sneak peak of what's to come before it hits the menu.  I tried the cheddar bagel before you.  I tried the snack wraps before you.  And now I've tried the hot white chocolate before you.

It was AMAZING!!!!  Thinking about it makes my mouth ooze with excitement.

As I enjoyed my mug of hot white chocolate, I asked the two people working, what the next new item on the menu is going to be.  I was shocked by their answer....

.....LASAGNA!

What the...?!?!  Would you like some lasagna with your coffee?  It just doesn't fit in my mind.  They told me it doesn't taste very good.  I'll be the judge of that.  haha.  I'll let everyone know when I try it.  It just seems so....weird!

The workers (Lisa and Chris) told me that the deep fryer was on its way.  I believed them.  They were joking.  haha.  I guess I was still in shock by the lasagna.

Hell...I'm still in shock.  SO WEIRD!



More and More Everyday

...that is all.

Hug Her and Tell Her You Love Her

23,200 women in CANADA will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.  5,300 will die.

October is breast cancer awareness month, so....

Hug your mom and tell her you love her.

Hug your sister and tell her you love her.

Hug your aunt and tell her you love her.

Hug your friend and tell her you love her.

Hug your grandma and tell her you love her.

Hug your cousin and tell her you love her.

Hug your wife and tell her you love her.

After you do that, tell them to check themselves regularly and visit their doctor regularly.  The best protection is early detection.

Let's stand together and beat this wicked disease.  I hate it.  And I'm sure you do too.



Brantford's Rebirth

Brantford - Formally known as the armpit of Ontario.  It's where I was born and it's the place I call home. 

Growing up Brantford, the city didn't offer too much.  With Toronto and London and KW and Niagara, all just down the road, it was a city that forgot to get an identity.  Sure, people lived there, but that was about the extent of it.  There wasn't a whole lot to do.

I'm pleased to say Brantford is on the rise.  I actually love it here, and I don't see myself living anywhere else.  One thing that I'm really starting to love, is the abundance of festivals this city is having.  Off the top of my head, there has been the always great International Villages Festival.  Brantford has also recently played host to a Bluesfest and an amazing JazzFest.  Riverfest and Hockeyfest are now circled on the calendar, and there's even a Ribfest and ComedyFest that I would love to attend next year.

So what's left?

Well, in the next couple weeks, The Brantford Film Festival is going to be on.  It's the second annual, and I'm SO excited to go.  There are a couple movies that I CANNOT wait to see.   One is going to be a tear jerker for sure!

Brantford is becoming a place to LIVE and not just a place to live. 


......and I couldn't be happier.  :) 



Correction...

Re: my last blog (the one about the relaxing song)

So, to be honest, I didn't really give that song a fair chance.  Well, I just did and WOWZA!  It's pretty insane.  8 minutes felt like 8 seconds.  I had some pretty crazy effed up dreams/ images going through my mind too.  I totally let myself go in the song, and it felt kind of good.  My head was spinning, and I was in a total state of relaxation.  I woke up, when the song ended, and it felt like I just had a full night's sleep.  Give it go.  Now I triple dog dare you!

The World's Most Relaxing Song

 http://soundcloud.com/justmusiclabel/marconi-union-weightless/s-kttxT

Well, if anyone needs to relax, listen to this song.  Apparently it's the world's most relaxing song.  It was created by scientists, sleep experts, and a funky new age band.  People are generally 65% less anxious after listening to it (...not too sure how you can measure anxiousness on a numeric scale, but whatev).  I guess it's more relaxing than a massage (...again, not too sure about that).  

I gave it a listen for about 1 minute (it's an 8 minute song), and then I had to fast forward because I was getting bored.  I did this about 10 more times before I closed the window.  I wasn't a fan, and I didn't real feel anymore relaxed, but what do you think?  Give it a listen.  I dare you. 

...And it starts!

Well...today I can check another thing off the FFF list.  Today I bought my first Christmas present of the year!  Yes, it's true.  So, who will be the lucky recipient?  Ally of course! 

What is it?  Well...I can't tell you that!  She might be reading!  Shhhhh.....

Cheers to the Footsies!

Okay, so if you've ever looked at ANY photo album of my friend Emily's, you're bound to see a "Footsies" picture.  I may be spelling that wrong.  Correction:  I'm probably spelling that wrong.  Anyway, as my friend travels around the world, she always gets a picture of her feet (and the feet of whoever is with her), standing at some exotic location.  I've seen her feet at the Great Wall of China, at the Pyramids of Giza, and at the Taj Mahal.  Those are to name, a very few.

One day, she's going to collect all these photos, and make a coffee table book.  How cool is that?!  I love it!

So....since I love it so much, I had to copy it somehow.  haha.  ....And I knew just what would be my "signature pic"....

It just so happens that I have TONS of 'cheers' pictures.  So, there it is....I'm going to cheers wherever I go.  I'm going to take a pic of every cheers, and eventually, once I have thousands to choose from, I'll make a book.  I'll even print a copy for whoever wants one.

Here is a taste of what expect:

Well...Cheers to a new start to GTR!

I won't post ever Cheers pic, but I will post the ones I love.  Thanks Em!  :)

     

FFF!

So, why did I not write all summer?  Well I was busy with The Not So Bummer Summer.  For those who don't know, it was a list of 100 things to do this summer.  Who ever did the most, won!  I jumped out of a plane, I got inked, I went to Quebec, etc etc.  Overall I finished second.  Yeah, I know....how is that possible?  I'm still not sure how that happened.

Anyway, cheers to a Fucking Fun Fall!   Yes...that's what I have since renamed the FFF list.  I get a chance to redeem myself - another chance to come out on top.  We'll see what happens. 

A lot like the summer list, this list is composed of 100 items to try and complete by the time limit (which for this list is November 30th).  So, what's on the list?  Well one item on the list is to start or restart a blog.

....and here we are.  Enjoy!

Wake Up Already!

Okay, okay...

After hundreds of requests (okay...maybe not 'hundreds'), I'm back, and I'm back with a vengeance.

Green Tomato Relish lives on to see another day.

YAYYY!!!

Everyone show me your excited faces!!!



Zzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Where on earth has Sean been?  Sleeping?!?!  Well, as a matter of fact, that's exactly where he's been!

I just woke up from a refreshing 16 hour sleep.  The day before, a 15 hour sleep.  NEVER has jet lag affected me like this!  Hopefully, I'm all caught up now. 

I have 5 days off....well 4 days off now...to catch up on tons of stuff - including Green Tomato Relish!  I need to blog about my 3 weeks in Asia!  My adventures in Cambodia.  My narrow escape from Japan.  My good times in Vietnam.  My secret vacation picks for 2012. 

Also, I need to post some pics from all my adventures the past month.  I hope they turned out well.  To this second, I still haven't looked at any myself.  Okay, keep Green Tomato Relish on your favourites...new posts to come shortly!!! 

Groundhog Update

I guess all the groundhogs saw their shadow...

EARLY SPRING!!

Well...I'll believe it when I see it.

Happy Groundhog Day!

If the groundhog was smart, he'd stay in his hole.  LOOK AT ALL THE SNOW!  I guess that means 6 more weeks of winter for us.  Boooo.

Winter Watch

It's a little funny.  Every time you turn on the radio, or watch the TV, you hear about the giant snow storm heading this way.  It's supposed to hit at around midnight today.  I'll be fast asleep.  The news reports I'm hearing are very armageddon like.  In fact, a lot of newscasters are calling it snowmageddon.

Apparently it will the biggest snowstorm in quite a few years.  Some parts in Niagara are going to get 40 cm overnight.  That's more snow in one night, than we typically get in the entire month of February.  

What does this mean?  Well, schools have already been canceled (without a single snowflake on the ground yet).  Hotels are booked solid (with people wishing not to commute in the morning).  People are stocking their basements with food (incase they're snowed in).  It's crazy!!

And, the icing on the cake...

It's no longer a winter storm warning, it's a blizzard warning.  What's a blizzard?  It's when there's zero visibility for more than four hours.  ZERO VISIBILITY FOR OVER FOUR HOURS!!!

Thank god I don't work tonight!!  :)

When do I go to Vietnam again?

Number Seven

Today I watched Winter's Bone, the seventh of ten Oscar picks.  It was a 'WTF' kind of movie.  It's not that I didn't like it, just that I'd probably never watch it again.  To be completely honest, I'm not sure I totally understood it.  Anyway, seven down, three to go!

Number Six

Just finished my sixth Oscar movie - The Social Network. 

I was a little disappointed.  After hearing SO many great things, I found the movie a little boring.  I guess that's what happens every time.  The most popular movies never seem to live up to the expectations I create in my head.  That being said, it's not a 'bad' movie, just not really that exciting.

Oh and P.S.

I'm back at a "Type 3.5"

My life is back to perfect.  :)

Balls to you!

If you haven't seen the viral video of Liza Minnelli saying, "Balls to you," you must go and watch it right now.  I don't know how many times I've seen it.  Over 100, for sure.  It makes me smile every time.  It only takes two seconds (literally) so go and watch it now!  Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2tUHWw3WLQ&feature=related

So, "Balls to you" has become a catch phrase in the Casa de Sloan.  Whenever someone is bothering one of us, our response is, "balls to you!"  And we don't just say it...no no no, we have the have the buggy eyeballs and the bopping head to go with it (please refer to the video).

Sean - "Joe!  Did you eat the last banana?  I was saving it for my lunch!"

Joe - "Balls to you"

...and we all break out in laughter.

Ally - "Sean, you need to drive me to the mall."

Sean - "Balls to you"

...and we all break out in laughter.

See the theme?  Anyway, next time someone bugs you, just say "Balls to you."  Even if they don't get it, everyone will bust a gut laughing.

Happy belated Robbie Burns Day!

I was unable to blog this week, due to work (boo!), but here's to Robbie Burns!!  Hope all my Scottish friends had a great night!  (Do I have any Scottish friends?.....hmmmm...)

Happy Robbie Burns!!

It's all about Oscar!!

Oscar nominations are out!  Yes, the Oscars - the Academy Awards - the one award show I love watching every year.  I don't know what it is that draws me in every year?  Maybe the glitz and glamor?  The Hollywood dream?  Who knows...

The one thing I do know, is that I make it a goal to watch all the best picture nominations before the big show.  AND...I never end up accomplishing that goal.

So, I ask myself, will this be the year?  Will this be the year I see all the best picture nominations before Oscar comes to town?  Well let's get down to this years picks:

Oh...and by the way, they pick 10 movies now...not only 5.  Here we go...

1.  Black Swan - Seen it!  Yes, that's one.  The movie was...well weird, but good!  A very dark, psychological thriller.  On a side note, I think Natalie Portman has a great shot for the best actress win. 

2.  The Fighter  - Seen it!  Two for two!  And can I just say, this was probably the best movie I've seen all year.  It was funny, inspirational, and had heart.  Christian Bale is my pick for best supporting actor.

3.  Inception - Seen it!  Wowza!  Three in a row!  Let's keep going!  This movie was AWESOME!!  I actually bought it.  Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite directors.  I'm pretty sure this movie will win all the special effects awards.

4.  The Kids Are All Right - Haven't seen it...yet.  Well, the streak had to end somewhere.  I've heard this movie is pretty funny and that the acting is first class.  I can't wait to see it!

5.  The King's Speech - Seen it!  Four out of Five!  Awesome!  This movie was surprisingly funny.  Colin Firth is the one to beat in the best actor category.

6.  127 Hours - Haven't seen it.  This movie looks insane.  On my 'to see' list for sure!

7.  The Social Network - Haven't seen it.  I know!  How could I not have seen this movie?  It's the movie that defines our generation.  It's our Breakfast Club.  Our Clerks.  Our Dazed and Confused.  Anyway, I'll be watching this movie FOR SURE...and ASAP.  Will this movie win best picture?  We'll have to wait and see.

8.  Toy Story 3 - Seen it.  Not only have I seen this movie, it's also the only movie on the list that made me cry.  haha.  It always makes me happy to see an animated film in the best picture category.  It was awesome!

9.  True Grit - Haven't seen it.  I am planning on watching it this weekend though.  I've heard nothing but great things. 

10.  Winter's Bone - Haven't seen it.  Haven't heard of it.

Well, there you have it - The 2011 Academy Award best picture nominees.  Five out of ten.  Not bad!  I have a month to watch five movies.  Can I do it?  I think I can!!

You'd be dead!

So, I went to pick up my little cousin from school today.  As I waited for her to come outside, I noticed three little boys playing in the snow.  Here's how their conversation went:

Boy 1: "You can't pick up the snow!  You'll get in trouble!"

Boy 2: "I'm allowed to pick up snow because I'm older than you.  I'm five and a quarter!"

Boy 1: "Well...I'm five in three quarters!"

Boy 3: "Yeah, well, I'm five and a hundred quarters!"

Boy 1: "That's impossible.  If you were five and a hundred quarters, you'd be dead!"

At that point, I started laughing out loud - I couldn't help it.  Some kids are SO funny!

A record in the making!

Alright, pop quiz...

What is my favourite thing to talk about?

Give up?

If you said, "poop," then you're exactly right!

So, after wings and beer night, I had my usual diarrhea.  No surprise there.  Anyway, the diarrhea hasn't gone away!  It's been three days now.  I hate it!  But it makes me laugh every time I get "the urge."  So, after using the facilities today - I clean myself up, run into my sister's room, and shout, "That's poop number five.  At this pace, I'm breaking all Egypt records!"

Turns out she was on a 5 way phone call with a bunch of her friends.  haha.  They ALL heard.

They were on speaker phone and I hear one say, "Was that your dad?"

LOL...yes...yes it was, children.

So, if you could please direct your attention to the chart below:

This week I've been sitting at a type 5 stool.  Not the most comfortable, and definitely not the cleanest.  Egypt was a type 7, so at least that's the 'good' news.

I think my favourite BM is a type 3.  Hopefully I'm there by Sunday.  I'll keep you posted.

Now, if you could please direct your attention to the next diagram

Now, I have NO idea what's going on in this chart, but isn't the little police poop cute??

Blue Monday

Today is 'officially' the most depressing day of the year.  That's right - Blue Monday, the 3rd Monday in January.  Why is it so depressing for people?  There are a few reasons.

a) The weather sucks
b) Christmas bills are due
c) Failed New Year's resolutions

Now today I had a 'blah' day.  Was it depressing?  No, not really - just not very exciting.  Do I meet any of the above criteria?  Well, not really.  I'd like to think the weather sucked, because it's so cold out, but it's was actually really sunny (and a very nice winter day). 

Anyway, hopefully tomorrow is better (and I hope nobody I know had a Blue Monday).

Top Ten Reasons to go to the London Wine and Food Show

What does lavender flavoured salad dressing, garlic toasted flax seeds, and sundried tomato hummus have in common?  If you guessed things I bought at the London Wine and Food Show, you're right!

Tami and I went on the weekend and it was fantastic!  So delicious and so much fun!  Here are the top ten reasons to go:  

10.  You get to drink.  A lot.  Favourites included the apricot beer and the icecream shot (complete with mini cone and whipped cream).
9.  You get to eat.  A lot.  Favourites included the butter chicken and the honey waffles.  OMG...my mouth is watering right now.
8.  You get to watch a high end fashion show.  I felt like I should have been on Fashion Television!  I wanted to get up on stage and strut my stuff.
7.  You get to go to a cheese seminar and learn/ taste tons of different cheeses.  ...and then leave crack sweat on your seat as you get up.  haha.  I blame the sick black devil blue cheese (or whatever the hell it is).
6.  You get to meet an ultra gay South African that learns that this is your first W. and F.S. and gives you super full drinks at half price.  He was SO funny (and SO flamboyant...lol)
5.  Free Stuff!  Yes...it's all about the knives, the samples, the tote bags, the pens, the pads of paper, the magnets, etc
4.  Diane.  Our new friend and guide to all the free stuff.  She made my night.  No...actually...my life.
3.  You get to visit the casino for a surprise gift.  Our gift - a glass cube picture thingy.
2.  Spilling drinks all over yourself.  Not once.  Not twice.  But thrice. Damn red wine.  haha
1.  People watching.  Yes, it was fantastic.

Will I be going back next year?  Absolutely!

This is funny!

So, I'm eating lunch.  What am I having, you ask?  I'm eating a mini meat pie with a tea.  My dad walks into the room, sees this and asks if I'm a 70 year old woman.

Too funny.

It's true.  Now off to finish my crochet scarf.  (lol...JUST KIDDING about the scarf...just so we're all clear!  haha)

I'm an addict

Yes, it's true.  I'm an addict. 

I'm addicted to green tea with honey.  I made the switch from coffee about two weeks ago.  I can't get enough!  Mmmmm...so good.  My mouth is literally watering right now as I type this.  Anyway, the other night, I went and had a coffee - it may as well could have been tar.  It was so bitter and so....*gross*.  And I used to love it so much!  I do miss the smell of a hot cup of coffee, but the green tea is SOOOOOO good.

That is all.

One Year

It was a year ago, yesterday, when the earth shock in Haiti.  Leaving the country in shambles.

- 316,000 dead

- 300,000 injured

- 1,000,000 homeless

I can't comprehend these numbers in my head.  They're just too large.

The country and its people are still in recovery.  I hope and pray that things get better soon.

 

 

Is this not the most beautiful picture you have ever seen?

New Year

New Year...new design. 

It's still simple (which is what I want), but it's a little less 'boring'.

Cheers to some great blogs for 2011!!

Damn you Auto Correct!!

So, I meant to blog about this a few weeks ago.  It's about the auto correct on the iphone.  Now, I don't have an iphone, just the blackberry for me, but I hear the auto correct feature is frustrating beyond belief.  So frustrating that's actually hilarious in certain circumstances.  AND....they've made a website about it.  YES!

Damnyouautocorrect.com

    You NEED to check it out!  It's beyond funny.  I pee my pants every time I go to it.

For those who don't know what auto correct is, it's what it sounds like.  You're texting someone and the phone will automatically correct certain words for you (whether you like it or not).  If you push 'send' too quickly...well...that's where the funniness begins.

Here are some examples from the best of 2010.  So FUNNY!  Enjoy!

 

OMG...I'm laughing so hard.  I could have posted the entire website on here.  Go check it out if you want a good laugh!