Laurel E Anderson

lo land

black & white & grey all over!

"Some day...there will be a story you want to tell for no better reason than because it matters to you more than any other...You'll stop looking over your shoulder to make sure you're keeping everybody happy, and you'll simply write what's real and true...That's when you'll finally produce the work you're capable of."

Things are changing around here so watch closely and check back frequently and see if you can spot the changes.

In Canada, BOTH groundhogs agreed on an early spring which set my heart a flutter.

BUT I can't say the same thing for the rodent south of the border. Easy for him to be carried out of his hole/cage, yawn and proclaim, "I'm still tired so let's go back to bed for six weeks." He hibernates and gets away with it. I hibernate and don't get away with it on so many fronts. So, I'm going with the stronger currency and my Canadian roots and clearing some room in the closet for spring clothes! I have to! I need hope to see me thru more snow!

I know that my site is still kinda sucky but I'm blaming it on the hibernating mentioned above. Good news is that hubby, after many protests (over a year), finally talked me into letting him order me a new and yummy macbook pro (to match the new silver ipod he bought me for V Day and gave to me early). Apparently my old macbook and my green ipod mini have bit the dust and it's time to move on. So, moving on I am and hopefully I can get this site in shape as I will be able to do everything on one computer and more importantly, on my laptop from the front porch or forest (after winter of course).

Super Bowl - we all know who is supposed to win and I would care more if I had wagered a Vegas bet on the underdog and they won and then I would win and have more frivolous funds for my March trip to California. Hopefully the game is good and the commercials are better because I am just not sold on the half-time show. Petty and Paula? Is that for real!?!??!

People are people so why should it be that you and I should get along so awfully?

Listening to Depeche Mode on the way in to town this morning and this was playing.

Well, the site is taking longer than anticipated but keep watching as this page slowly turns into something new. Oh look! It already has a few changes. Can you spot them?

I am still around. The new site should be ready soon! It's been a hectic few months with lots going on including: a move to a new home, Christmas, a family death and jury duty. Things can only go up from here right? Yes, that's right because now I am in the full swing of January and the snow has been melting-yippee (false dreams of winter ending early keep me going), I'm booked for a trip to visit Sandi in California where we will do such fun things like-to to see Matchbox 20 and Alanis in Vegas at the Palms, peruse the San Diego Zoo, SHOP, spa at the outdoor spa in Cali where they film that terrible show The Bachelor, drive around gated communities trying to become an OC housewife:)-okay, maybe not AND most importantly, going to the ELLEN SHOW! Yes, we are going to dance with Ellen! I cannot wait! Things are looking lovely!

Oh yeah, back to the new site. It will be much, much different. It's time. That's all. It's time. Please wait for me:)

This High School Musical thing. It's all the rage with certain age groups. It definitely has it's demographic down.

Now call me silly or late to the game or whatever BUT is High School Musical not a copycat, borrow, take off, rip off of GREASE?

Okay, I am bad. I am lame. I am busy. I just bought a new house. I need a new web design and don't have time and need a new laptop and i run a mac so i can't update my site from it blah, blah, blah. Things will get better soon i promise-blah, blah, blah.

AND so the reason for today's rare post is that I have participated in something and must do the following to get the something:

By the end of the calendar year, I will send a tangible gift to each of the first five people who comment here

Since I am STILL under construction here and appreciate your patience and the fact that BOTH of you are checking in regularly no matter how stale things are getting here, I thought I would post a few pics of me 'hanging out' on Bainbridge Island! It doesn't get much better than hanging at the beach. There is something about the water, the ocean, the sounds, the sand, the treasures.......Here I am attempting to balance on driftwood while I strike a pose or two. Try it! I dare you!

August 27, 2007 ****On Hiatus****Under Construction***Please use other Ramp****Closed for Repairs**Minor Bridge work being completed**

There is lots to tell. Lots of new stuff. A new website. A new angle. Perhaps even a twist or two. But basically lots of new stuff coming in September. The website is changing-hopefully before the fall leaves do!

So I hope you will check back from time to time and when the new site is up there will be new stuff, some old, but mostly new AND a collage of our Vegas Bday bash!

See you later on in September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's gonna be a fun ride! Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

Today is my birthday and there has been much talk about how you are 'only as old as you feel' around here and most of that talking has been done by me and to me and to anyone else who will listen:) And while I really do feel that way, a little reinforcement never hurts. And so today (it's really the 11th as I write this for on the 12th I don't plan to be anywhere near a computer as I 'do' lunch and sip champagne and cosmopolitans ALL day) I am fresh in from shoe shopping and I went to the mailbox and this was waiting for me-a beautiful card with a painting on and 'in' it. It is from my sweet and VERY talented sister Teedee. I opened it up and started to cry-so many different emotions, too many to list or explain. Now the scan is not nearly as good as the real deal but I will explain the significance and talent behind this birthday wish of a card. The background is painted and then a photo of me with my first two wheeler on another special day, with my special day bonnet on and my so 70's flip-flops and the special basket I wished for soooo badly, is applied to the painting and then she painted my bonnet and made my hair longer and very red. Inside it says, 'Forever young 'n' groovy, baby!' Happy Twenty-Twenty Lola! (what great vision you have).

There is really not much more I can say about this except thank you and love you Teedee. You made my day! Groovy baby, groovy!

The countdown begins today. The month long birthday celebration starts right now! One month from today we will be in Vegas with some close and super fun friends. We will be celebrating our 24th birthdays (okay, that is code talk as we aren't really turning 24 but we're gonna party and dance like we are-taking it ALL the way back to the eighties! LOVE 80's muzak.

Okay, so back to MY birthday rituals (hubby and i are both celebrating the 24th milestone this month and the bash in Vegas is for both of us). I will start celebrating here in the nation's capital this Thursday which is my actual birthdate. It's a girls afternoon and possibly more.....We are having lunch at the infamously fancy Chateau Laurier Hotel. Oh, um, for you Sandi, it's a Champagne lunch! Yum!!!!! Perhaps some Cosmos to follow and shopping and other frolicking and fun. Just me and then girls. I cannot wait! Should I wear 'big girl' shoes (Heather)?

Festivities will continue on Friday the 13th (my lucky number). There will be cocktails in the new outdoor living room, followed by a seafood dinner and dessert with children and hubby (they will be busy taking in the Fifa U20 quarter finals on my birthday and while I also have a ticket, sitting on a bench seat surrounded by 10 + thousand people and waiting for more than 1/2 an hour for a beer or a beer is NOT my idea of birthday fun anymore-I mean, hey, I like to have fun but it is a special birthday (yes hubby, more special than every other year-they're all special).

The next weekend I am flying to Toronto (home town cheer) solo! Staying with my sista one night and hotel hopping for the next few. Planning a few celebrations and impromptu get togethers with Toronto friends, especially those that can't make it to Vegas. Once Monday hits, the family joins me and we will spend a few days as tourists in my home away from home. We are taking in two Canadian Idol shows (wish you were here Rob) and then for a yummy dinner to celebrate hubby's 24th.

BTW the Ottawa Senators still rock and had a good run AND they did lose to the better team that series. I will wear my beak, hunters hat, moustache and/or whatever else Sandi has planned as I lost the bet (see post just below for details).

In other breaking la la land news, Ms. B 'broke a leg' and 'chipped a tooth' (all good things in showbiz) this past weekend when she danced her heart out. Wednesday and Friday night she 'jazzed' up the stage as a Super Model and Saturday and Sunday she graced us with her sophisticated ballet moves as a Firefly (proud mom beaming).

And finally, before we cut to commercial aka the rest of the day, let me say, "Happy Anniversary" to my one and only! 14 years and still standing.....together. Now that's an accomplishment worth getting up for on a Monday morning, no?

June already! Where are the 'june bugs?' Perhaps they are late. Works for me as I have enough bugs to deal with this week:) Between the Ottawa Senators threatening to have me become a participant on one of those 'What Not to Wear' shows (see Sandi's blog), jazz recital rehearsals, ballet recital rehearsals, actual recital performances-two for jazz and two for ballet, dancer's birthday, son's soccer game and practice and work and household stuff, I am feeling really bugged:) All is under control (except for the Senators) and the secret to success for the rest of the week is wake up pills-no just kidding, those didn't work in high school and they sure wouldn't work now-I'm WAY more tired now then I ever was in high school! The real secret is sleep and lists. Probably not so much sleep but LOTS of lists so I don't forget anything. Well, let's be real! I'm going to forget something but let's just hope it's not one of the really important things like Ms. B's birthday!

I'm too tired to go into the whole Ottawa Senators fracas but will say this-I did get to experience attending a Stanley Cup final game last night and I still have a headache and am at about 50% hearing loss (hoping that's temp

orary but only time will tell). And what an experience it was. The first period was great and then it just didn't happen. Maybe the Ducks are hungrier? They're used to pillaging for food @ the pond. The Senators, on the other hand, have been catered to in true Roman and Senate-like style. Do they want it bad enough? I think some do but we need all the boys on board to make a dent! The Ducks have a tight trap and aren't afraid of checking and running after the puck. We lacked in both of these areas last night. And then there was Jiggy in net getting 'Jiggy with it.' He was a force last night-more so than our Emery who I am sure sometimes felt he was playing defense and net at the same time. Can you spell relief? F^&k, get the puck out!!

It's back to the pond now and the stats speak for themselves as far as a team coming back when down 3-1 but here is where some of that fanatical religion that was forced on me as a child, starts to surface. I DO believe in miracles (JUST like Barry Manilow does) and God, I am asking for one now!

BUT wanted to let the 'world' know that I do indeed now have tickets to a Sens Stanley game and I will NOT give credit for this coup to Sens Marketing or Management but to a little angel that shall remain anonymous. Icing on the cake? I paid the fair price and no scalper or stubhub representative is richer for my purchase.

Now, GO SENS GO as thanks to Sandi, there is a lot more at stake than the CUP. It's a wager and a hefty one at that. The losing bettor must wear the winning teams outfit, gear, paraphernalia and more, as outlined and designed by the winner-and wait, it gets better-on the Friday of my birthday party in VEGAS! Oh yeah, and you must wear it ALL DAY! All I can say is I hope Sandi likes a blinking SENS thong and looks forward to fulfilling her lifelong fantasy of dressing up like a gladiator or something...........

Right now I am too tired to go into my feelings, first of despair and then of disgust regarding Ottawa Senators Stanley Cup round tickets. BUT be warned. When I am not so tired (tomorrow), I will rant and rant and rant!

I can barely stand it! Sandi is at the game at the Pond and I am watching from home here in the nation's capital. WE are texting like mad and the Ducks are currently drowning the wings 2-0! Will our final showdown hope become a reality??????!?! Should know within 40 minutes!

After a week of many things that included several VET visits (read lots of $$$ spent and eventually, relief that our loyal Mountain Dog would be okay-we heart Yukon:), a two day, flat on your back head cold sinus thing that turned into three days, a major business decision, a friend in major need (I heart you too K) and an anxious hockey game that ended in the bestest way ever with the Ottawa Senators winning the semi finals and moving on to vie for all things Lord Stanley (fingers crossed big time for the Ducks to drown those Wings (sorry Detroit, you must have winged the wrong number) @ the pond tomorrow so that Sandi and I get a quick visit before our Vegas bash in August (we made a pact that if it turned out to be the Ducks vs The Sens for the cup, that she would come here for a game and I would go there so hoping, hoping and hopping just a little bit)), I received this priceless 'moment of the week.'

And I thank you in advance for your patience in dealing with my overuse of brackets today (as I do most days).

Now let's hope the Ducks drown Detroit in the pond so I can take a trip to Cali!

Happy Mama Mama Day! WELL, not quite. It's barely noon and Mama's Day has been a blur so far. Special? Not quite the word I'm looking for. Different? VERY! Maybe my son really did want to do something a bit different than what most sons would do for their Mama Mama on Mama Mama Day. And so with his younger sister along for the ride (foreshadowing here), the adventure begins! Weeeeeeeee -NOT!

Oh, I should mention here that the number '13' is my fave and that usually, Mama Mama day is one of rare leisure for me. Now, many that know me know that I am often one to buck tradition, beat to my own drum or do it differently just because I can. It seems my children are following in my footsteps......First we have the overnight lame dog crying in the hall as he is oh so stiff from his play date with a randy lab the day before so my eyes are extra tired and while there was lots to do at this place that somewhat resembles a home, I fought the urge to get up before the kids so that I wouldn't wreck their Mama Mama Day surprise.

Boy was that the WRONG thing to do. So with me lying in bed, drifting in and out of sleep and the dog whining and snoring, the kids were downstairs making the traditional Mama Mama Day breakfast in bed. But, this is where things went a little off from what the script called for. In my mind or daydream or whatever it was, I saw son with a knife and the next thing I knew the two of them were at my bedroom door and son's hand was dripping with blood. "Just a little cut," he said. I bolted from my bed and said, "I don't think so" as we went to the washroom. Immediately son felt very weak and was whiter than usual (we Irish have pale skin to start with) and so I told him to sit as I took a look-ouch- and then used my first aid RED-rest, elevate and direct pressure. BUT, the blood would not stop so I told our front row viewer aka little sister/daughter to get dressed and brush her teeth as we may be going on a field trip. Not fully convinced that I wanted to spend many, many hours in emergency, I tried to reason with the bleeding thumb, promising hours of uninterrupted video games and no chores for a week. Well, I might as well have been talking to a deaf thumb as all pleading to cease and desist went ignored. Finally I gave in and we all put on flip flops and hightailed it out the door and in the process left' overnight lame dog' alone, hopping he could wait for his washroom break. Now might be a good time to mention that hubby in in the middle of flying home from Germany (these things only seem to happen when he travels but then, he travels A LOT so forget that statement).

I'll skip ahead now and say, only a little over 2 hours and $13 (in parking-yeah, lucky number), we were on the road again. The road most traveled as we spun thru the java drive thru before heading home to clean up wound blood that dripped all over and perhaps something from Mr. Mountain Dog. Thankfully, man's best friend waited for us so there was one less mess to clean up.

At this point, the half made Mama Mama Day breakfast was tossed and we all ate cake for breakfast. OH, and I opened the beautiful homemade cards that the kids made for me and will try to abide by the recurring theme of relaxing and doing nothing today.......Well, gotta go do some nothing laundry.

Girl power! We all have a past. WE are all who we are and, act the way we do in part, due to life experiences. AND, if we chose to tell our story, it is our right. It is certainly not someone else's right to take away our truth. Let's get it all out there and DO something about it!

"You are lying. You are making it all up. It never happened and what did happen wasn't wrong." This is a common defensive of those in the wrong. Of those that did bad things and often consciously. Why is it often 'the bad' guy getting all the audience and the belief and support while the already wounded, who finally comes out of a deep and dark hole and starts shedding the protective shell that has allowed them to survive, but just barely, ends up in the line of fire again and instead of becoming whole, feels trapped and runs back to the dark hole. Things happen and they must be acknowledged, discussed and hopefully, at some point, healed.

NOTE:Watch the SENS play at New Jersey tonight and flip to Nascar Racing and watch friend and Ottawa resident Pierre Bourque race his first race of the 2007 season #7 car

Yeah, I'm still here but barely:) With visions of loveliness (concerning my website redesign (using THAT word lightly) and refocus) I have attempted or at least half attempted to get started. Here are the reasons/excuses for my tardiness in this pursuit. They are in no particular order and some may be fictitious in order to further the storyline in a flattering way to the writer.

*we had another power outage which blipped every plug in the house (including the one to my brain)

*my hubby has been traveling like crazy and since he is my personal tech guy, I am somewhat lost without him (shhhh, don't tell him)

*I have been VERY busy planning our big Vegas birthday bash to be held in August (woo hoo)

*I have many a vision but not a lot of talent (when it comes to web design and I don't want to pay anyone and be at their mercy:)

*I was in the midst of planning to sell one of my businesses and instead, made a 360 and increased business by a third (yeah I know, I'm still not sure what is up with THAT)!

*I'm preoccupied with my neighbour's quest to sell her house through grapevine and feeling somewhat anxious as although I have issues with every neighbour, the evil you know is better than that you don't (hopefully I will move too)

*I've been busy with another new hobby of skulking around new home design centres and wasting many a professional's time designing a house with massive upgrades, requiring specific quotes on marble and granite and bedrock stone (yes, like on the Flintstones) and hardwood and more and then running far away into the meadow when it's time to sign. Perhaps I have commitment issues....Well, whatever the problem is, I will soon run out of developers to bother and may actually get back to my website

*I have been more than preoccupied with the layout of my book and the beautiful drawings/art my illustrator will create (when half of my shorts don't have endings yet which is kind of sad as they are shorts (really short stories) and don't require quite as demanding an ending as other story forms.

*Against my better judgment, we went satellite with our television and I can watch shows 3 different times in one day due to time shifting! AND I love it!

I've been tardy and I know it. Long story but I cannot update my site from my laptop and must head far, far away (well downstairs to the pc) to update. Obviously this is cramping my style and that of both of my readers:) Things are a changing though and when I get back from the ocean and the mountains, things will be different. I promise!

I've always said that 13 was my favourite number (anything with a 3 in it helps). So now here we are, on the 13th of March and it's 8 degrees Celsius (for my U.S. readers) outside with just a hint of rain in the mix. We need the rain to rid the streets of the dirty and still plentiful, snow. So, it's the 13th day of the 3rd month and my bathtub is no longer threatening to land on my dinning room table and while I feel stranded on an island full of drywall, dust and particles of mysterious substance, I take comfort in two things. One, I GOT MAIL today! Real mail. You know, the kind with correspondence from a real person and not a product company. Real mail that doesn't look, act or sound like a bill. Real mail that is personal and full of 'treat and surprise!' Thank you boys:)

The second reason that I am not fretting too much about all the trades walking in and out of my house, leaving smells, footmarks and feelings of invasion of privacy, is that at some point this month I will be listening to the ocean and perhaps gazing at a mountain or two. We will travel, everyone except the 90 pd mountain dog, to a land far, far away. Okay, not really but when there is a hotel involved with maid and room service and no making beds or cooking, I feel far away from my daily reality!

And so I will focus on this upcoming adventure tomorrow-the day that I've been told would be best if we weren't home. Apparently scraping stipple ceiling, re-stippling and painting is more than a huge mess and unpleasant to be around. Please pray for my furniture and the plastic that will cover all that was unable to vacate the prem. Oh yeah, and if you see a mom, two kids and a mountain dog at the side of the road or circling your street for hours waiting to go home, invite them in for a break! They will need it!

It's still cold although not as cold. And it's still white outside but not as deep. The river is still frozen but I see puddles. Little puddles which give me hope. Lots of hope for the Easter Bunny and Spring!

Meme alert! Lola is playing meme-a rare thing! I've Been Tagged (not as bad as being toilet papered)

Rules: Each player of this game starts off with ten weird things or habits or little known facts about yourself. People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts as well as state this rule clearly. At the end you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names
Ten Weird Things About LOLA

1./ Lola is neurotic about static and static cling. She cannot stand it if her clothes get staticy or stick to her and her hair even more so. She has taken to walking around the carpeting in certain stores in the malls, especially in winter, to avoid a staticy hair fiasco.

2./ Lola loves ice in her drinks but hates the ice outside during the cold winter months-except that she likes ice to skate on. I told you, she’s neurotic about a lot of things!

3./ Lola likes sauces and food but not always together. When she was little, Lola had to have a separate plate for any foods that might ‘leak’ into other foods on her plate. Cream style corn (okay it was the 70’s) was always served in its own bowl.

4./ Lola loves loud muzak but only when she is alone or in a nightclub.

5./ Lola is right-handed but does a lot of things ‘better’ with the left side of her body.

6./ Lola’s closet looks like a retail store. Everything must be folded and hung up so all can be seen and on most days, colour and season coded.

7./ Lola is an only child with 2 half brothers, a half sister and a step sister. Like I said, she’s an only child but considers all of these siblings true siblings no matter what their ‘official’ connection is.

8./ Lola has essentially lived on her own since the age of 15.5.

9./ Lola’s front teeth are extremely sensitive to cold and so she has always eaten around them which is why she still has the little ridges around her teeth that you have when you are young but usually wear down from eating.

10./ Lola secretly wishes she was a child of the 60’s, mostly for the fantastic fashion.

There, I did it. I think this is only my second meme ever! Not as easy as I thought and so I have a new appreciation of them-and so does Lola:)
I tag whoever wants to take the few minutes to share and include in that BOTH :) of my regular readers! You know who you are:!

I adore this site. If you love to craft or bake or cook or just to daydream about all the things you would like to create one day, go here and get cozy! It's just so comfy over there at Alicia's place. Oh yeah, the writing is just so whimsy:) too!

Ms. Franca has passed away after a lengthy illness. She was 85. More importantly, she put a face on ballet in Canada and was known for always striving for perfection. A beauty to the end, she rocked the ballet world.

I heard this a few weeks back and it has stuck with me (kinda like the cold outside which I am NOT too happy about). It was part of a statement read by the owner of the legendary racehorse Barbaro (he won the coveted Kentucky Derby last year), who died after many complications associated with a leg injury incurred at the Preakness Stakes last year. It's a wonderful story with a sad ending. The owners knew he would never race again, yet they spent a lot of time and money and love to see if he could at least live out his days (perhaps studding here and there) peaceful after such a great victory.

A firm believer in the old saying, 'a picture says a thousand words, my full intent was to post some photos of my most recent travels. But alas, my ancient and very tired and extremely cold and did I mention, numbing mind, will not allow me to remember certain things that stop the photo from being as big as King Kong's left foot. Please be patient. Someone has to and its not going to be me!

Don't you ever want to just escape for awhile? You know, hide under the pillows, close the blinds and pretend you're not home and maybe squirrel yourself away in a homemade fort?

We are definitely experiencing a climate of hibernation here right now and knowing that it's January and that we've gotten off pretty easy until now does not help my psyche when it comes to dealing with the weather. It's cold and snowy and icy and too windy! Am I complaining? You betcha! My sis-in-law says we're not allowed to complain until our nose hairs stick together. Well, mine officially have so I feel I have free reign on that. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel (see post below) and I will get through it one way or another! Anyways, no matter what the weather, take an opportunity to hide from the world for a day or two if you can. It's called 'me' time and we could all benefit from some!

Six more sleeps until I jet off for a few or more days! Heading to California and neighbouring state Vegas. Anything can and will happen. I love my reunions with the 'Three's Company Crowd.' Friends that I literally stumbled upon and then called squatters rights to the living room of their hotel suite two summers ago. Sweltering heat and a less than positive attitude at my originally booked 'hotel' led to me taking Jack and Janet aka Sandi and Wendy, up on their offer to crash at their place at the tried and true Milford Plaza. Well, a quick and in your face friendship like that either forms or doesn't and to extremes on either end. Luckily, I was on the good end and thus, a new 'Three's Company' was born with Lola/Chrissy, Jack/Sandi and Janet/Wendy. Two years later and we are still going strong! Can't wait to get there, frozen oranges or not! Let the good times roll!

New books, new books! YUM! Just received in the mail, the much anticipated 'From Boys to Men' already past a first and maybe second printing by now. Excited to read and extremely proud of and excited for La Jolla boys Rob and Ted who edited this collection AND for Dogpoet and Hot Toddy and Aaron and Vestal!!!!! You GO boys!!!

Also received 'My Sister from the Black Lagoon' and if I can hold out, I will take this on the plane to L A next week. And finally, another book by Sue Monk Kidd-I loved the Bee book and am reading the Mermaid book so it just made sense to buy this collection of stuff (plus, I am writing a collection of stuff).

Sock Monkeys don't talk smack! It's been a busy weekend full of complications, sadness, shocking things and feelings of being overwhelmed. At the same time it has been a time of reflection, of thankfulness and of focus. My thoughts and heart go out to those suffering the ache all the way thru their heart-the ache only known when you lose a loved one, never to be found again on this earth as you once knew them.

And for other friends that are facing insurmountable difficulties, the hill will eventually curve down. You've climbed all that way and will soon be able to coast down. I promise.

And please bear or bare, depending on your mood 'cause after all, it is Monday, while I putter around making changes, additions, deletions and more. I was thinking quite seriously-well as seriously as you can during a two week holiday and hiatus from all things regular, about killing this site for lots of reasons but after lots of hmmmming and some cosmos and champagne and beloved lattes over the holies, I decided to give this little space one more chance!

Since I am entering a new writing phase I thought I would share this retro photo of my mother and I. Look! The sun is beaming down on us. How lovely.

I love America. Living in Canada and being Canadian definitely has it's privileges and I love Canada but I also love America. Whoever said you couldn't have two lovers? The different climates, the hustle and bustle of big and different cities. New York, Hollywood, San Francisco and all things New England and of course, the shopping, the culture and an entertainment mecca unique to the U.S. And making things even better is how well our little dollar has been doing against the almighty black and white currency. Makes shopping and traveling that much more fun!

Of course there are many, many differences between Canada and the United States and that's part of what makes travel interesting-the differences. One of the differences between the two countries came to me via a t.v. commercial yesterday. I wasn't really watching but when I heard, "drug tested and background checked" I looked up to see a young man vacuuming a house while the owner sat in the background smiling. Seems she was delighted, not only that her carpets were going to be super clean and that she didn't have to clean them, but comforted by the fact that this young man in her house had recently peed in a cup and all was fine and dandy. We just don't have commercials like that here. I don't think we have much peeing in cups for jobs either although living in the nations capital makes me think it would make the job search easier if all one had to do was pee in a cup as opposed to proving that they are indeed bilingual and can converse and write in both official languages. Never mind that the majority of the job candidates applying for positions that demand bilingual workers will never even have to use the second language. Peeing in a cup just seems so much easier and straightforward.

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