Awkword Christmas Family Photos

Some things are best left to professionals. Here are a few of my favourite Christmas family photos! Enjoy.

Michelle in the Ikea Box!

Congratulations to Michelle Pomerant, who was chosen to live in a plexi-glass house outside the brand new 400,000 square foot Ikea!! As I write this, Michelle has been living in her temporary home for close to 2 days. If she can make it all the way to the new Ikea store opening on Wednesday morning, Michelle will be the FIRST person through the doors, with a TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR Ikea gift card!! Her plexi-glass box is quite luxurious, decorated with Ikea furniture, curtains for privacy and yes, there is a heater! Michelle's husband Mark and three children can visit as often as they like. Although, Michelle did say that one of the reasons she entered the 'First in Line with Ikea' contest, was to get some peace and quiet for five days! We will be chatting with Michelle on Bob's Breakfast to see how she's making out. What's the first thing Michelle is going to buy when she enters the new Ikea on Wednesday? Personally, I would go straight for the one dollar Ikea breakfast.

Ho Ho Ho! A Personalized Video from Santa!!

Your friends at Bell have created a new web app that celebrates the joy, wonder and magic of the holiday season! Its called Magic Santa!

Simply visit www.magicsanta.ca or www.perenoelmagique.ca

Santa Claus will send a PERSONALIZED video greeting to your kids, or to your unsuspecting spouse!

Alfie on the All Star Team!!

The All Star Game is coming to Ottawa in January and we want Daniel Alfredsson on the team! Daniel has played all 1,069 of his NHL games in an Ottawa Senators jersey. We all know him as a leader both on AND off the ice. Help number 11 get on the All Star Team in his adopted hometown!! Vote here, and vote often!!

http://vote.nhl.com/:b=ie9/#/ballot

Adoption Story Contest!

This is Hudson Munson, who we adopted from the Ottawa Humane Society 15 years ago! He is a very distinguished elderly boy now and we love him to pieces. Do you have a Humane Society adoption story to tell? In 500 words or less, tell YOUR story about the Humane Society animal that came into your life- and the happiness you share! You could win $250 in pet supplies from the OHS store! Deadline for entries is noon December 1st. And don't forget to include a photo! All details at www.ottawahumane.ca

Save animals - get this Calendar!!

Ottawa photographer Sean Sisk has worked for months to put together a gorgeous 18-month calendar called 'Pets with Personalities'! For just 25.00, this calendar will make a great Christmas gift- and it will benefit the lost and abandoned animals in our community! Here in Ottawa, we love our pets! And the 'Pets with Personalities' calendar highlights pet-lovin' personalities and their best four legged friends.
And there's no better way to kick off a brand new calendar - than with a big bash! Join us next Sunday at D'Arcy McGee's on Sparks Street, from 1 to 5!

There will be music, prizes, lots of laughs and of course the 'Pets with Personalities' calendar will be available for sale. I am thrilled to be the emcee for the afternoon, and I hope to see you!

Details at www.facebook/PetsWithPersonalities or www.siskphoto.com (info@siskphoto.com)

Hallowe'en! Oh the Pressure!!

(ab0ve) One of the worst Hallowe'en costumes ever. Although, I am definitely not one to judge. As I struggle once again at this time of year, to create a costume that will be the talk of the ladies room! While it is tempting to buy a costume, every once in a while I like to put a bit of effort into Hallowe'en. This is one of those years! I just have to remember that I need to be able to DRIVE in my costume. And breathe. And use the ladies room. Suggestions?

Coming Soon to a Neighbourhood Near You

This past week was a 'first' for BOB's Breakfast, 5 days of morning shows in 5 different neighbourhoods, and we had a blast! Byward Market, the Glebe, Little Italy, Kanata and Orleans....and next week, we are on the road again in 5 new neighbourhoods! We have $1000 cash to give away on the spot each morning, and free coffee and donuts from Tim Hortons. Stop by! After all, isn't it time we met face to face? lol

Live Where You Live

Hey! This is going to be great fun! Bob's Breakfast is on the road, starting on Monday! Join Vinney White, Melanie Adams and yours truly as we take our show to YOUR neighbourhood! We will have lots of laughs, games, prizes and special guests along the way. Please take a few minutes to stop by if you can! We promise to make it worth your while! At the very least, we are prepared to bribe you with free coffee and donuts. Here's the schedule for 'Live Where you Live, with Bob's breakfast!



Mon. Sept 19th
Byward Market
74 George St.

Tues. Sept. 20th
Bank St/Glebe
852 Bank St.

Wed. Sept 21st
Kanata
4048 Carling Ave.

Thurs. Sept 22nd
Little Italy
353B Preston

Fri. Sept 23rd
Orleans
5929 Jean D'Arc Blvd

Mon. Sept. 26th
Bells Corners
59A Robertson Road

Tues. Sept 27th
Hintonburg/Westboro
401 Golden Ave.

Wed. Sept 28th
Stittsville
1519 Main St.

Thurs. Sept 29th
Gloucester
1750 Cyrville Road

Fri. Sept 30th
Merrickville
1832 Main St.

A Celebration of World Suicide Prevention Day, Sept. 10th, Ottawa

Get your tickets now and don’t let the stigma that surrounds suicide keep you from attending “A Celebration of World Suicide Prevention Day”. This concert is presented by LivingWorks Education Inc. on Saturday, September 10, at Ottawa’s CentrePointe Theatre, and features three-time Juno Award winner Susan Aglukark and Irish rock band Friends of Emmet. The evening will benefit suicide prevention programs in Ottawa and area, the Collateral Damage Project, and support The Arctic Children and Youth Foundation, chaired by Susan Aglukark.

Scott Chisholm, Founder and CEO of the Collateral Damage Project, states: “We need to create an open and proactive dialogue on suicide to get rid of the stigma that surrounds it.” Chisholm further states: “This event is the first of its kind in Canada, and perhaps around the world, as it brings Ottawa together in creating a suicide safer community.”

In attendance will be Denise Batters and Alex Baumann, CEO of Own the Podium, who are members of the Collateral Damage Project advisory team and have each also lost loved ones to suicide. Baumann states: “We need to show strong community and national leadership by being a part of breaking the stigma of suicide.” Denise Batters lost her husband, former Member of Parliament Dave Batters, to suicide after a struggle with severe anxiety and depression. Denise Batters states: “I have taken a cue from Dave in openly discussing mental illness and suicide. I strongly encourage Ottawa residents to make a proactive stand for suicide prevention and join us on September 10th.”

Keith Geraghty, bass player of Friends of Emmet and passionate suicide prevention advocate, said: “This is going to be a very exciting evening for suicide prevention.”

The list of community and national partners with this event also includes: Canadian Mental Health Association – Ottawa Branch, LivingWorks Education Inc, Your Life Counts International, Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and the Ottawa Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Tickets are still available at the Centrepointe Theatre Online Box Office at: http://www.centrepointetheatre.com/events_tickets/ or by calling (613) 580-2700.

The All New Ottawa Folk Festival!

(above) Steve Earle

The Ottawa Folk Festival kicked off Thursday night, 4 days of stellar entertainment at the brand new venue, Hogs Back Park! Its a gorgeous, natural site by the river .. a beautiful back-drop to watch some of the best singer-songwriters out there! For the complete line-up, check www.ottawafolk.com



(above) Steve Earle

(above) Steve Earle and Alison Moorer

(above) Bruce Hornsby

((above) Justin Townes Earle

(above: Hawkesly Workman

(above) Hawkesly Workman

Humane Society Wiggle Waggle Walkathon is Back!

OK, so I am not the most technically savvy person on the planet. Can you see the poster above? Probably not, unless you have Superman-like vision. Or maybe a magnifying glass. The good news is, you can download a copy of this poster for yourself, just go to www.ottawahumane.ca
Right on the front page of the Ottawa Humane Society's website is everything you need to know about this year's Wiggle Waggle Walkathon!
Bring your dogs, your friends, your family, enter a team or walk solo! Its a huge fundraiser for the animals at the Ottawa Humane Society and it is a ton of fun! It takes place Sunday, Sept 11th on Riverside Drive across from the RA Centre. Hope to see you there! If you can't make it, I would be more than happy to walk on your behalf. Here's a link to my Wiggle Waggle Walkathon donation page:

http://www11.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=462941&lis=1&kntae462941=4B2C54A5C56F45998A3480354FD7337C&supId=327632210

thank you very much!!!! Sandy

Bernie Needs a Home!

THIS....IS BERNIE.

Why is Bernie the subject of this blog post? Because his story is quite unique. Bernie has been at the Aylmer SPCA, waiting for a home....for TWO YEARS. Two years of being 'passed over' , waiting patiently for someone to take him home. He is a great dog, a friendly dog, a dog that deserves a home.

This is the information about Bernie, as provided by the Aylmer SPCA:

" BERNIE is a handsome, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped 2-3 year old
Labrador mix who loves the water and enjoys playing with other dogs.
This big boy would enjoy a home with a fenced yard so that he can play
safely while the family is working or relaxing outdoors. He needs a
home with a firm but gentle, consistent, loving owner.
Being a black dog, Bernie is continually passed by in his cage. He
loves to be outdoors in our fenced playpen. . . and enjoys playing ball
with our volunteers. This lovely boy has been a resident at our Shelter
for almost 2 years!!
Bernie has had some basic Obedience training and our Staff would be
available to assist with Bernie's training and adjustment in a new home. Bernie becomes very attached and possessive of his family; hence, the consistency with the training."

For more information, please visit with Bernie, at our Shelter, 659
Auguste Mondoux, just off the Pink Road, in the Aylmer Sector of the
City of Gatineau.
You can also check out the Aylmer SPCA website, link here.

http://www.aylmer-hull-spca.qc.ca

Bluesfest in Pictures

For 12 days, music fans were treated to traditional blues, searing rock, funk-a-delic, techno pop, hip hop, pop rock, world beat and everything in between. Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest brings us something we have come to cherish: the chance to see live music in the best possible way: outdoors, during a Canadian summer. I was about 30 feet from the stage on the final Sunday of Bluesfest when Mother Nature whipped through. Scary, yes- but with an emergency plan in place, no one was seriously injured, and you could feel an entire city breathe a sigh of relief for that. I am choosing to remember Bluesfest not for that one dark moment. But for the hundreds of moments that shone. Here are some photos from the festival. Can't wait for next year.


(Flaming Lips)

(Soundgarden)

(Sara, Tegan and Sara)

(Tegan, Tegan and Sara)

(Bootsy Collins)

(Monkeyjunk)

(Monkeyjunk)

(The Roots)

(The Roots)

(The Roots)

(Ben Harper)

(Gentlemen Husbands)

(Big Jeezus Truck)

(Big Jeezus Truck)

(The Sheepdogs)

(Larry McCray)

(Tragically Hip)

(Dropkick Murphys)

(Peter Frampton)

(Huey Lewis)

(Leon Russell)

(Dana Fuchs)

(John Fogerty)

(Metric)

(Buddy Guy)

(Rosie Ledet)

(Tea Party)

(Tim Robbins)

(LA 33)

(Blue Rodeo)

(Blue Rodeo)

(Maria Hawkins)

(Tony D with James Harman)

(Death From Above)

(Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Tom Wilson)

(Jane's Addiction, Dave Navarro)

(Janes Addiction, Dave Navarro)

(Brothers Dube)

(Brothers Dube)

(Brothers Dube)

(Cheap Trick)