A Day Trip to Kemptville's Big Sky Animal Sanctuary!

It was a beautiful sunny day, a perfect time to visit Andy Parent and all the wonderful animals at the Big Sky Animal Sanctuary in Kemptville.

My friend Jay and I had a great time walking around the grounds of the farm, taking photos and chatting with Andy about all the stories associated with these rescued animals. The dogs, the horses, goats, sheep, even Dakota the buffalo and Arnold the world's largest pig have all been brought here to live their lives in a beautiful, peaceful setting. Owner Andy Parent has a very impressive success rate for finding these animals loving, permanent homes. Of course they are also welcome to stay at the sanctuary - so donations are gratefully accepted! Check out the Big Sky website for information about one-week kids' summer camps, and Big Sky's big summer fundraiser, 'Animalfest', taking place July 5th and 6th. www.bigskyranch.ca!

CHEO Telethon: A Winner Again!!!

Congratulations to everyone involved in the 25th anniversary edition of the CHEO telethon this past weekend!!! 5.9 million dollars raised, a record set! Your generosity will go towards care, research, and much-needed equipment for CHEO, a world-class facility for youngsters in our region. Pictured here, JR with a very special CHEO telethon co-host!

Thanks to GioVanni for the photo.

Kitty's Arrival

This is my new cat. He was a stray cat and we tried to find his owner, but no one claimed him. So, he lives with us now. His name is Kitty. He has no idea how to use the litter box. But we love him anyway. He really likes watching tv.

www.climbforlife.ca

Pictured: Ottawa native Dan Hopkins readies for his expedition to the top of Denali in Alaska...to raise funds for nutrition programs to help children in the north. In Friday's blog, I gave the incorrect web address for Dan's journey. The correct link is www.climbforlife.ca
Apologies!! Best of luck Dan!!!!

The 'Honey-Do List'

I'm off for a girls' weekend in Kingston, so naturally I did what most wives would do. I left my husband a list of things I hope he will do over the weekend. Nothing huge, there are only 3 things on the list: clear away the dead brush beside the cottage, paint my outdoor accessory box, and build a bench. I think this 'honey-do' list is fairly reasonable. But when I mentioned it to JR, 'wow'... what a reaction! He's not a fan of the 'honey-do' list, thats obvious. As a matter of fact, he thinks that when MEN go away for the weekend, THEY should present their wives with a 'honey-do' list! This was quite a popular topic on the 'Morning After' show, with JR trying (struggling) to convince men to 'turn the tables', and leave their wives a list of chores they expect to be taken care of before they return from a 'going away with the boys' trip. After 2 days of phone calls to the radio show, not ONE man thought this was something they could get away with. My favourite call was from the guy who began, 'JR, I totally agree! If I went away for the weekend with the guys, I would ABSOLUTELY make a chore list for my wife! I love the idea! Unfortunately, my wife won't let me go away for the weekend'! I'm still chuckling over that one.
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Its a HUGE weekend for women, with 'Sex and the City' finally in the theatres! A lot of my girlfriends are dressing up, getting together for 'cosmopolitans', then heading off to see the ultimate chick flick. This movie has certainly done wonders to promote 'Manolo Blahnik' shoes. I'd never seen a pair of 'Manolo Blahnik' shoes until I was out with some friends one night a couple of years ago. One friend had done well in the 'stock market', and bought herself a pair of high-heeled 'Manolos', of course I pressed and pressed to find out how much $$$ they cost. They were $850.00. At the time, I was wearing my trusty black shoes from Payless, for which I shelled out $29.99. Anyway, we headed to the summer patio of a local establishment, and found ourselves walking across a cedar deck with 2 inch spaces between the deck boards. Both heels of my friend's $850 Manolo Blahnik shoes got caught in the decking and snapped right off. And here I am, two years later, still wearing my $29.99 Payless shoes. What's the moral of this story? I'm not sure.
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Every once in a while, a real story of inspiration comes your way, and this is definitely one of those. Ottawa resident Dan Hopkins is leaving town this Sunday, on an incredible expedition...all the way to the top of 'Denali' in Alaska, North America's tallest and most dangerous mountain.
Dan's great uncle, Hudson Stuck, was the first to summit Denali in 1913 and Dan is honoring this challenge with a similar trek. He's also raising money to support food programs for native children in the North. We wish him a safe journey and congratulate him for taking on such a noble feat. Better still, we can all help Dan by stopping by the Royal Oak on Wellington Street any time tomorrow (beginning at 11 am), where there will be live entertainment, prizes, etc, all to raise funds for Dan's expedition. Of course, Dan will be there, so give him a pat on the back. I wonder if he's like a typical guy and he still hasn't packed yet.
You can follow the story and Dan's progress at www.climbforlife.com

I Ran, I Run, I Will Run, How about that Beer Mile?!

Ottawa Race Weekend is coming up!! Thousands and thousands of runners from all over the world are now arriving in the nation's capital to 'pound the pavement'. The 5K, 10K, half-marathon and of course, the big 'kahuna', the National Capital Marathon will be on the agenda for running enthusiasts of all levels....from those who wish to 'just finish the *#%$$!! race'...to serious competitors vying for world-class titles.

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Local entrepeneur, writer/journalist, broadcaster on our sister station 580 CFRA and now 'The Team 1200' and quite possibly the only 'over-achiever' I know, Mark Sutcliffe, has just started up a fantastic magazine, called 'iRun'. It is 100 percent dedicated to the 'iRunNation'. A must-read for everyone who laces up and goes 'out the door' ..a few times a week, every day, in sweats, or wearing top-of-the-line attire, it matters not what level you are, if you run, you will love this magazine. I especially enjoyed the article about the 'greatest runner who has ever lived: Terry Fox. And......I must mention......the Beer Mile people.

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Beer Mile people compete on a standard 400 metre track. 4 laps equals one mile. Yes, it is a running race. In the Beer Mile, you drink a can of beer before each lap. Four beers, four laps. According to the official website, www.beermile.com, Seanna Robinson of Hamilton Ontario holds the women's record in the Beer Mile, with a time of 6:42.

That is a record that is just waiting to be broken.

I may have to challenge the time of 6:42.

I need a pair of running shoes and 4 cans of beer.

And a timer.

And a responsible ride home.

Stay tuned.

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p.s. check out the website for 'iRun' magazine, here's the link

http://www.irunnation.com/current-issue.php

Pulled Pork Day!

Yeeeoowww!! The black flies are here! And the mosquitoes! Ouch! Outside of being covered from head to toe .... I have no idea how to avoid the big chunks of flesh that the bugs are ripping from my neck and my feet. One of our listeners suggested the 'therapik.
http://www.buyatherapik.com/
Its a battery-operated thingy that heats up and you put it on your skin to relieve bug bites. But I can't help but think that with the 'Therapik', you are replacing the sting of bug bites with the pain of burning flesh. Or maybe its just me. They say bugs are attracted to dark clothing. So I went gardening today dressed in pastel pink. Apparently they are also attracted to pastel pink. Maybe tomorrow I will try a nice lime sherbet outfit.
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Its the first long weekend of summer! Not officially summer yet, but the May long weekend is definitely the kick-off to an entire season of bbq's, garage sales, camping, cottages, outdoor concerts, and wearing shorts to work. Does your workplace allow you to wear shorts? If not, you should get a petition started. I think everyone should be allowed to wear shorts to work. If you have a desk job, you should still be ok to get away with a nice blazer on the top, and shorts on the bottom.
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Have you ever had a 'pulled pork' sandwich? We were introduced to this 'southern' specialty recently. Friends made it for us, pulled pork on a bun, and we immediately needed the recipe. Turns out, we also needed to buy a 'slow cooker'. Today was the day that we slow cooked a hunk of pork . Three ingredients were tossed into the slow cooker at 7 am this morning: a hunk of pork, some diced onions, and 2 bottles of barbeque sauce. I usually have a nap in the afternoon (crazy morning show hours make it hard to stay up til ...oh, 8 pm without a nap), but today, on 'pulled pork day', I couldn't sleep in the afternoon because of the smell of the slow cooker. I just lay there thinking about having pulled pork. The odour was so strong, I went for a walk and I could smell it from up the street. By the time it came to finally eat our sandwiches, I had sensory over-load and I was walking, talking, and dreaming pulled pork. We ate, and it was pretty good, but no where near the level of euphoria I had dreamt about. A lesson to be learned here....aromas from a slow cooker can consume your day. Try to stay out of the house, keep busy, resist the urge to repeatedly lift the glass cover, do not watch the clock. Today I devoted my entire day to a pulled pork sandwich. Do not let this happen to you!

'FORE' the Animals is back!

FORE!!!!!!
that's about the only golf term I know. But that doesn't stop me from being at the Ottawa Humane Society 'Fore the Animals' Golf Tournament, coming up June 11th at the Mississippi Golf Club in beautiful Appleton. Sure, there are LOTS of golf tourneys that come along every summer...so why is this 'different'? It just 'IS'! The people are always super fun, the day is fun, and the door prizes and auction items are fun too. What other golf tournament gives 'alpaca poo' away for a door prize? (its great for the garden) Or ...auctions off a 'last will and testament'? C'mon...you know you need one! Quirky prizes, lotsa laughs, trust me, its a great time. And its all to support animals! So get your friends and work-mates together and sign up today. Details at
http://www.ottawahumane.ca/golf/index.html

Governor General Performing Arts Awards

(above) Can you guess who this is....? Hmm....hint: he starred in 'American Pie', 'Best in Show', 'A Mighty Wind', 'Waiting for Guffman'...and a lot of other movies, as well as being one of the major funny guys in a little show called SCTV ...remember Bobby Bittman, and Earl Camembert...and...the list goes on! Yep! Thats Eugene Levy. I snapped this shot of him walking the 'red carpet', on his way to be honoured with a Governor General Performing Arts Award last night at the NAC. I have been taking a photography course for 4 weeks. Last week, we learned about 'composition'. In this shot, I neglected to capture the rest of Eugene Levy's face. Oops. Learning, still learning.

(above) Martin Short. At least I got a photo with 'most' of his face. Martin Short was hysterical last night, honoring his dear friend Eugene Levy. Both from Hamilton, they became friends in University and decided to try theatre and comedy. Today, they are two of the funniest men in show biz. At the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Gala, Martin Short had us in tears as he relayed stories from the 'early days' of SCTV with Eugene Levy, and how their friendship is as strong as ever today.

Also being honoured at the GG's Awards Gala...Michel Pagliaro, French Canadian rocker who had some huge hits in the 70's (Rain Showers, 'What the Hell I Got') and is still a very successful musician and producer. It was a real 'blast from the past' when Michel Pagliaro and his band played last night. Loved the video of our Governor General placing the medal around his neck, with his big mane of long grey hair specially coiffed (not!) for the occasion!

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The Tragically Hip were also honoured last night with a performing arts award from the Governor General. Quite a sight to see the boys from Kingston, (with families in tow) sitting quite regally next to the Governor General, medals draped around their necks, suited up in their finest tuxedos. The evening ended with the Tragically Hip ripping up the stage with 'Fully Completely', 'Ahead by a Century' and a couple of new tunes.

Pretty cool stuff!!

And,

The Police Rock!

Elvis Costello rocks!

Sting and Stewart Copeland

share a warm moment on the stage. Who says they don't get along?

(above) Sting and Andy Summer

....The Police!

For the 12,000 people who were at the Police concert on Thursday night at Scotiabank Place, it was quite an amazing night. Sting and the boys were in fine form! Despite all the reports about 'rifts' between Sting and Stewart Copeland, the band appeared to be having as much fun as the rest of us. Roxanne, Message in a Bottle, Every Breath You Take...every song you played a gazillion times on your stereo back in the 80's...the Police pulled them all out, with some pretty incredible jamming that made the crowd go crazy. Stewart Copeland is a true master! There was one 'oddity' of the night though....Sting mentioned that it was great to be 'back' in Ottawa, not having played here since Sept 15 1979. At the 'New Theatre'. Hmmm....no one seemed to remember that show. And, having lived in Ottawa my entire life, I've never heard of the 'New Theatre'. A little bit of checking on the good ol' internet, and it would appear that the Police did, in fact, play the 'New Theatre' on September 15th 1979. In Oxford, England. Oh well, you can't expect them to remember everything!

What are you Wearing? Value Village!

Ralph Lauren....Stella McCartney...Versace...Value Village?! Yes, Value Village! The hottest name in haute couture! Ok..maybe not..but definitely the hottest name in pretty cool fashions that cost under ten bucks. I was at a party last night where my friends Erin and Claire were both dressed super cool, casual chic, looked great. Here's the best part: they were both wearing clothes that were 'fabulous finds' from the store 'Value Village'. From head to toe, boots, jeans, tops, jackets, Erin and Claire were dressed for about 20 bucks each! Gotta love that!! Its an adventure to go to Value Village and scour the racks of used clothing. Just take 'em home, throw in the wash and step out with your 'vintage look' for 10 or 20 bucks. I have donated bags and bags of clothing to Value Village, but never actually went inside to shop. But thats about to change! I just have to make sure that I don't buy a sweater that I already owned once before.

Speaking of which, its garage sale season again!! Yay!! Here's my garage sale story. Many years ago, I donated a 24-volume set of Wildlife Enclyclopedias to charity. I'd poured over these books for hours when I was a kid...eventually they ended up in boxes and moved from house to house, and it was finally time to give them up. So I gave them to the Salvation Army. Years later, I was making the rounds at neighbourhood garage sales, and someone was selling some Wildlife Enclyclopedias. I couldn't resist, I think they were $5.00 for the set. I took them home, opened one of the books, and there it was, written on the inside cover. 'Sandra Sharkey, Grade 7, St Peters Junior High School'.

Now that the snow is finally gone, we're back outside doing spring clean-up, gardening, getting the lawn back in shape. This is the time of year when grubs rear their ugly heads (and I don't feel bad saying that, grubs have really ugly heads), and your lawn has big patches of nothing but dead grass. I wish I had grubs. Because grubs are not as bad as what I have. 'Voles'. Voles have moved in, I guess late last fall, because as soon as the snow melted, I saw their handiwork. My lawn is a series of above-ground tunnels. The tunnels are about 2 inches high, but go as long as twenty feet in all directions. Voles are like mice but they live underground. At my place. Walking across my lawn has become a bit of a sport. My lawn is now hilly. I feel like getting one of those big alp-horns and singing songs from 'The Sound of Music'. So, if you have grubs and are complaining about it, it could be worse. You could have voles and require hiking boots to walk across the lawn.

A Big Hollywood Star Stops By!

Eric McCormack's visit to BOB FM was just the distraction we needed when the Senators were down...

Here is JR, Eric McCormack and me, wearing my Scotiabank Place 'box hostess' top. I bought this top early last summer, only to discover later that it was the chosen uniform for the servers in the boxes at hockey games and concerts. Anyway...thats not important.

Eric McCormack is just as handsome in real life as he was on 'Will and Grace' (which I still watch in re-runs about 4 times a week). He's also really really nice! Probably because he's Canadian.
Eric stopped by to talk about his involvement with the Canadian Cancer Society, having lost his mother to cancer. He is extremely passionate about the cause and wishes to spread the word about the Canadian Cancer Society 'Relay for Life', sponsored by BOB FM on June 13th at the Nepean Sportsplex. Get a group together and enter the 'Relay for Life', an important event for cancer research. Details at www.939bobfm.com!

BELIEVE!!!!!!!

WE MUST BELIEVE!!!
THE OTTAWA SENATORS CAN DO IT!!
TWO TEAMS HAVE DONE IT BEFORE!!!
AND WE ARE NOT FINISHED 'BEING RED'!!!
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF RED FOR US TO WEAR!
dddddddddddddddddddd
I HAVEN'T EVEN SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF HOW MANY RED THINGS I CAN STILL WEAR!
The Ottawa Senators are down 3 games.
Fast forward to 10 pm tomorrow night (tonight, if you are reading this on Wednesday)
We WILL be cheering! We WILL be saying that this is the come-back to beat all come-backs!!
We will probably be commenting at around 10 pm tomorrow night (tonight, if you are reading this on Wednesday), about the fact that Ottawa just made an amazing come-back over Pittsburgh, right up there with the Led Zeppelin come-back last fall.
ONE MISSION. ACTUALLY, 3 MISSIONS. TO WIN THREE GAMES IN A ROW. ACTUALLY, THEN ONE MORE GAME.
MAKE THAT, FOUR MISSIONS.
BRING IT ON!!!
GO SENS GO!!! GO SENS GO!! GO SENS GO!!! go sens go go sens go go sens go!!!!!!!

What? There are other things going on in this city besides Ottawa Senators games?

Its a busy weekend, especially for animal lovers! Do you look like your dog? Are you a red-head with an Irish setter? Do you wear polka dot shirts when you're walking your dalmation? Do you have the same curly hair as your poodle? This Saturday, get to 'Wag the Dog' at 1071 Bank Street and enter the 'Do you Look Like Your Dog Contest'! You could win a 42 -inch flat screen tv! Proceeds to the Ottawa Humane Society, details at www.wagpetshop.ca

This Sunday, 'Forever Friends Dog Training' is hosting their 3rd annual K9 Spring Fling , with proceeds to dog rescue! All kinds of events, prizes, doggie stuff, from 10 to 4 at 'Forever Friends', 17 Grenfell Crescent. details at www.bulliesinneed.ca

Also on Sunday, the John Mlacak Centre in Kanata hosts the 'Family Fun Carnival and Bazaar' from 10 to 4 pm! There will be games, prizes, baked goods, and entertainment, with all proceeds to the Westminster Pet Sanctuary. Details at www.westminsterpetsanctuary.com

The 'Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair' takes place from 10 to 4 on Saturday at the RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive. Over 90 exhibits to help you make 'green choices' in all areas of your life...from the food you eat to the vehicle you drive! Details at www.ottawaecofair.ca.
Admission is FREE!!

Photography 101

I signed up for a photography course this week so I could learn how to take photos that have impact. The classes are 3 hours long. I had my camera with me, so this is a shot of the inside of the photography course class-room. Hope you enjoy the way the brown door contrasts with the dark color of the overhead projector, with just a hint of light from the window.

My Hair is Too Big for the Car!

Def Leppard, Reo Speedwagon and Styx are coming to Scotiabank Place this Saturday night. In case anyone wants to get back to their 80's style hair, here are some examples for you. You're welcome.

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!!

For Ottawa Senators fans ....today is just like Christmas morning!!! DAY ONE OF THE PLAY-OFFS!!!!
Its the most wonderful time of the year!
At least I think it is. I really can't imagine NOT being an Ottawa Senators fan (or a fan of NHL hockey, any team for that matter) . It can be a very l-o-n-g spring if you are not watching or listening to hockey games, especially if your city's team is playing. At work, they're talking hockey. At the store, they're talking hockey. At church, the priest is praying for the team. On the bus...at the park...on the train...at the restaurant...everyone is talking hockey at this time of year. And if you're not into it, good luck trying to change the subject. You may convince someone to talk about the weather for a moment or two, but the talk will inevitably go back to play-off hockey. Remember that old saying...'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'? Go ahead, try it. Watch some games and just try not to get involved. I bet you'll be screaming at Chris Neil to 'throw down' before you know it.

Its also 'hockey pool' season and that starts tonight too. Did you get the 'picks' you want? I'm not in a play-off pool, but I 'was' in an NHL season pool, my very own version. It was called the 'Hotness Pool'. Bob FM listeners (ok, female listeners) voted at the start of the season for their favourite 'hot' hockey players, and we entered the list of 9 players.
Here are the results:

HOT PLAYER POINTS
Mike Fisher 47
Joe Sakic 40
Sheldon Souray 36
Sidney Crosby 72
Wade Redden 38
Chris Phillips 18
Antoine Vermette 53
Ray Emery 0
Cheechoo (never got his
first name) 37

HOTNESS TOTAL 341 points

What's it all mean? Don't know. I don't exactly have anything to compare this to. Anyone else have a 'hotness pool'?

Barbados is Too Much Fun!!!

'yours truly' with Jennifer Moore, aka VP of the Mike Fisher
Fan Club ...hard at work!!

Sparty does the 'limbo'!!! Shake it Sparty!!

Sens Army Operation Barbados Beach Party
Eugene Melnyk and Rob sing 'Jumpin Jack Flash'

While the Ottawa Senators did what they needed to do to get into the play-offs, 200 Sens Army fans did what 'we' needed to do to cheer them on......from Barbados!! I was joined by the VP of the Mike Fisher Fan Club, Jennifer Moore (and her husband Steve), along with a beach full of crazy Senators fans for a trip that included a lot of cheering, fist-pumping, and oh yeah....plastic cups filled with rum punch. Thank you to everyone at Berts Bar for hosting 3 fantastic nights! We watched the Sens take on Montreal (not a great outcome) but how about the Leaf trouncing, 8-2 for our beloved Senators! Zoom Airlines and the Accra Beach Resort were also 'operation Senators' from the get-go. Everywhere you looked, for 4 days in Barbados, all you could see were red Senators jerseys. It was unbelievable!! Thank you to the 'host with the most', Senators owner Eugene Melnyk (and Ken!!), who partied right along with everyone at his favourite watering-hole, Berts Bar. Eugene didn't miss a beat, even singing a little Rolling Stones karaoke with my husband Rob. Thanks to Lisa T., Kathy D, Gail, Jeff, Roy, and the entire Senators operation, nothing but class all the way.

And now...BRING ON THE PLAY-OFFS!!!

p.s. I did not bring my Mike Fisher cardboard cut-out to Barbados. He's already too well travelled and I wasn't sure if he could endure 100 women on the beach. And here's hoping the real Mike Fisher heals quickly!

Daffodils

The Canadian Cancer Society is selling daffodils right now to help fund important cancer research. They will be at workplaces, malls, etc, with bunches of beautiful blooms. Buy some. Support an important cause, and fill your home with the closest thing we've seen to spring so far this year. Now, if only the Cancer Society was selling snow shovels too......

Bloodlines and Chipmunks

The New England Historic Genealogical Society has determined that Hilary Clinton and Angelina Jolie are related. They are ninth cousins, twice removed.
Hilary is also related to Madonna, Celine Dion, and Alanis Morrissette.
Meanwhile, according to the same historians, Brad Pitt is a distant cousin of Barack Obama.

Here's the link to the full story: http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=ce12227a-8a7d-431f-b4c0-b00ecd598cba


And now ..... I have become an expert on 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'

Pictured here: one of the chipmunks, not sure which.

Just returned from a week in Zihuatanejo, Mexico where the sun never stopped shining, the temperature never dipped below 30 degrees, and the average price for a cold beer at a local establishment was $1.00.

It took us almost exactly 24 hours to get home from Mexico (Ixtapa airport to Ottawa) because our connector flight was delayed, due to 'technical problems' on the plane. Once I was finally on the plane that had the 'technical problems', I really hoped that the issue was something to do with the in-flight movie, or the coffee maker.

Speaking of the in-flight movie, on the way to Mexico we were treated to 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'. Once I got past the fact that its a Christmas movie playing on a plane in March, I was part of a captive audience that watched those chipmunks and their crazy antics.

Then, on the flight back from Mexico, the airline treated us once again to 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'. And I watched it again. I have now officially seen Alvin and the Chipmunks more than 'Citizen Kane' and 'The Godfather'. Its the best movie about chipmunks that I've ever seen. But it really made me homesick for the squirrels living in my basement.

The Big Juicy Drinking Game

This is a photo of Ritch Fullerton and his neighbour Don, the day after Big Juicy dumped over 50 cm on the Ottawa area. I think they're handling the snow quite nicely.

Big Juicy Lives Up to His Name!!!

Pictured here...toughing out 'Big Juicy'..the Hamer family (and friends)..
Nice to see that 17-month old Carter got a bit of a break from snow shovelling...

The powerful snow-storm dubbed 'Big Juicy' did not disappoint! According to Chris St Clair from the Weather Network, who was on my tv this morning, Ottawa received a whopping 50 cm of snow yesterday!!

Math has never been my strong suit, but I think we are now just about 40 cm short of the all time record for SNOWIEST WINTER IN OTTAWA!! 1970 - '71 still leads with 444 cm.

2007-2008 to date: 405 cm

C'mon, Old Man Winter!!! Is that the best you can do!!!! We want that record!!

p.s., please sign the petition that we will send to both Old Man Winter and Mother Nature. www.petitiononline.com/bobfm

also, you can print out your own '2007-2008 Winter Survival Certificate' (suitable for framing of course) right on this website, http://www.939bobfm.com/

the link is right on the main website page. Hope you haven't run out of places to put the snow!

Springsteen Fan Gets a Great Moment

If anyone deserves to meet Bruce Springsteen, its my friend Jonathon Harris. Jonathon has seen 'the Boss' around 200 times (he's lost count),
probably on every continent. Last Sunday night, March 2nd, in Montreal, Jonathon met the man himself just before show-time. Here he is, on the left, with Bruce signing a book called 'For You', a collection of fan stories and poems by Lawrence Kirsch, also pictured here. Way to go, Jonathon! Actually, I think it should be a rule: once you see an artist 200 times, you automatically get to meet them.

And now..the Heroes of the Day!!

Its time to say 'Thank You' to 2 wonderful people in our community who have done some amazing things:
Maggie Furmanczyk, who works at the Riverside campus of the Ottawa Hospital. What did Maggie do? Well, when she heard about the Westminster Pet Sanctuary's need to raise $3000 for an animal rescue van, Maggie took action! She is an artist, and offered to paint portraits for hospital co-workers, with all proceeds to the 'Majic Critter Bus' campaign. Maggie raised $950! YAY!!! Way to go Maggie! If you would like to contribute, go to www.westminsterpetsanctuary.com

And congratulations go to Grace Papenburg, an 11 year old student at 'Reine-des-bois' School in Orleans. Grace loves animals very much, and gave a presentation to her class. She is not afraid to stand up for animals who need our help, and that makes her a true hero in my books. Grace also encouraged her class-mates to sign the petition at www.helpbabywildlife.ca , a very important initiative which encourages people to share this world with wildlife, in an atmosphere of respect rather than conflict. Way to go, Grace!!!

B-R-U-C-E!!!!!!!

Bruce Springsteen and Roy Bittan, Sunday March 2nd at Bell Centre in Montreal

The band!!!!

Got some last minute tickets and headed down the 417 for the Bruce Springsteen show in Montreal on Sunday night. It was an amazing show! Springsteen 'vintage' fans were treated to 'Jungleland' and 'Because the Night'. The new material from Bruce's 'Majic' CD is really starting to take a life of its own in concert, from'Radio Nowhere' to 'Gypsy Biker'... Kudos to the fans in Montreal, who had tons of energy all night long. One special moment among many: Bruce handing his harmonica to a tiny little girl in the crowd who was perched on her Dad's shoulders. Now that's something she'll never forget. It was a great night, and I think it took us less time to get home from Montreal than it takes Orleans residents to get home from Scotiabank Place after a Sens game.

Mike Fisher Fans!!! Its the Party of the Year!!

The countdown is on! If you haven't signed up for the BOB FM official Mike Fisher Fan Club, do it now on this website! Weekday mornings March 3rd to 11th, one lucky fan club member will be chosen to join us on 'the Morning After', AND be the proud owner of a life-size Mike Fisher cardboard cut-out courtesy of Coke Zero! On Wednesday March 12th, we will draw from the seven qualifiers, and THAT lucky person will officially be named 'Vice President of the Mike Fisher Fan Club'! First job: joining the Sens army in Barbados! Transportation by Zoom Airlines, accomodation at the Accra Beach Resort and a couple of wild nights watching the Sens on the big screen at Berts Bar, with Sens owner Eugene Melnyk! Mike Fisher fans: all this can be yours!

Its March! Spring is here! Spring is here!

Its March! Yeah! Spring is just about here! I took these pictures this morning, just to show how close spring is. As you can see, my dog Molly is playing in a small amount of snow. Its a small amount because spring is almost here. Sorry for the sideways shot, I just got new software and I have no idea how to use it.

. and this is another spring-like picture, which I took while standing in the snow. The snow is disappearing rapidly, as only last week, it was waist-deep, and today its just below the waist.

At Least The Dog Will Dance with You!

You know, for my money, you just can't match the entertainment value of a golden retriever dancing to John Travolta and Olivia Newton John's song from the 'Grease' soundtrack, called 'You're the One that I Want'.
Here it is. Enjoy! Now, if we could just get our husbands to dance with us. Heck, never mind. Getting the dog to dance is much easier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbVbPvlDoM

Mmmm...Fresh Fig with Gorgonzola Mousse. Wait! I Had that LAST Night!

Tickets to the Ottawa Humane Society's fabulous Fur Ball are going fast, so get yours now at www.ottawahumane.ca!! The theme this year is 'Beauty and the Beast', and honorary chair Laureen Harper returns for an evening of music, spectacular auction items, and gastronomic delights by Thyme and Again. Its all happening at the National Gallery on Saturday March 29th. I am honoured to MC this event, with all proceeds to the animals...and now....just in case you were wondering, here is the menu for the evening...

FUR BALL MENU....(drooling is ok, in fact encouraged)

~ Passed Hors d’Oeuvres ~

Smoked Salmon on Dill Scone with Lemon Cream and Golden BeetsPhyllo Cup with Wild and Tame Mushrooms in Brandy CreamCaramelized Onion and Cheddar in Roasted New Potato

~ Dinner ~

Fresh Fig with Gorgonzola Mousse drizzled with Star Anise Infused Port
Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Jumbo Prawn Brochettewith Worcesterchire-Bourbon Jus
Red Beans and RiceGreen Beans and Roasted PeppersAssorted Rolls, Flatbreads and Mini Baguette with Butter

Dessert

Brown Sugar Crème Brulée with a Festive Fruit SalsaOrganic Coffee, Decaf, Tea and Herbal Tea

Everyone has a Double

When there's nothing on TV, even staring out the living room window is not delivering any excitement, here's something fun to do. Go to www.google.com, click on 'images', then type in a name. You will then see photos of people who share your name. Here are other versions of Sandy Sharkey, John Rodenburg, and Matt Hamer.

Sandy Sharkey
Matt Hamer

....and John Rodenburg

So, how are you enjoying 'Kindness Week'? It first occurred to me that it was 'Kindness Week' when I watched two guys get into a brawl at the Rideau Street McDonalds at 7 o'clock last Monday morning, which also happened to be Family Day. These guys were not in the spirit of either occasion. However, 'Kindness Week' has certainly improved since then.

I love the idea of giving someone a 'kindness card' when you see them do something kind...whether its helping someone with their groceries or holding the door open or not sending a big torrent of water their way when you drive through a giant puddle. Ottawa police are handing out 'kindness citations'. Sure beats getting a fine for not coming to a full stop. Thank you to Detective Brenda Kerr for walking right into the BOB FM studio this morning to deliver a citation to JR, who has been a bit of a 'doubting Thomas' with regards to Kindness Day. His face did lighten up when she told him that she had hand-cuffs.

Don't you just love dining out every once in a while? But you're still recovering from all the Christmas bills? Great news! The new 'Cheap Eats Ottawa' book is out! 'Cheap Eats' serves up recommendations on Ottawa area restaurants using this criteria: breakfast must be under $5.00, lunch under $10.00, and dinner under $15.00! To get your copy, go to http://www.cheapeatsottawa.com/. Keep it handy. Just don't bring it with you on a first date.

Ooops, Correction!

Ooops. There's a wee bit of a mistake in the earlier blog entry with regards to the Mike Fisher Hockey Camp taking place in Orleans this July ! All information remains the same, including the all important website www.mikefisherhockeycamp.com. But now, the correction: proceeds to the Mike Fisher Hockey Camp go to: Rogers House, Make-A-Wish Foundation of eastern Ontario, and the Mike Fisher Foundation. There. The editor apologizes for any confusion. Ha. As if this blog has an editor.

Lets Get the 'Magic Critter Bus' on the Road!

For an animal rescue organization, reliable transportation is an absolute necessity! The Westminster Pet Sanctuary got some good news this week, they have found a new rescue bus (a former prisoner transport bus)....now they need to raise $3000 to get it! This bus will help transport animals that are in need of emergency help. It will also be required to bring rescued animals to and from the vet clinic, and to carry food, supplies, etc. For a $50 donation, you will get a 'paw print' in your name, or your pet's name, which will be put on the side of the bus. So far, $150 has been raised, so there's still a way to go! Please consider a 'paw print' , go to www.westminsterpetsanctuary.com. P.s...if you own a business, this would be a wonderful sponsorship opportunity!

Mike Fisher Hockey Camp!

This summer, Ottawa Senators' Mike Fisher is offering kids in the Ottawa area an incredible experience they will never forget. You'll want to sign them up right now for the 'Mike Fisher Hockey Camp'! Mike himself is hosting this camp (with appearances by fellow Sens players) from Jul7 21st to August 8th at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex in Orleans. Atom and 'Pee Wee' players will have the time of their lives...and not only that, its all for charity! Proceeds to Rogers House, the Childrens Wish Foundation, and the Mike Fisher Foundation. For more information, www.mikefisherhockeycamp.com. Better hurry, spots are filling up fast!

Busy Day For Mike Fisher

Pictured above: Mike Fisher and Fun-With-Photoshop bride Carol Manson.

And, how self-less!

Carol made me a bride too!

Hey Winnipeg: Size Does Matter

Pictured above: The World Famous Rideau Canal Skateway, Unesco World Heritage Site, Guinness World Record LARGEST Skateway at 7.8 kilometres, enjoyed by over one million skaters each winter. Home of Winterlude Festival, attended by thousands from all over the world, featuring concerts, competitions, races, all against the scenic backdrop of Canada's Capital buildings including historic Parliament Hill and the majestic Chateau Laurier Hotel.

Pictured above: the Winnipeg Skateway, challenging Ottawa for the title of World's 'longest' skateway. Students have been shovelling the Assiniboine River to extend this backyard trail to 8 kilometres. As you can see, its become quite popular.

Nothing like taking a good old-fashioned challenge and making a song out of it. Check out: 'They Wish That They Had Our Skateway':

http://www.939bobfm.com/audio/the-morning-after/ourskatewaysong.mp3

Thanks to Bob FM's own Lou Maiorino for his vocal talents.

Snowed-in Superbowl Sunday!

Its the day millions of people have been waiting for: Superbowl Sunday!!
Here in Ottawa, you had to get up extra early today to dig the car out. Nothing can stop the run to the store for Superbowl supplies: chips, dip, Doritos, pizza, chicken wings. And of course you'll need a vegetable platter. It costs $15.00, a nice assortment of raw carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, celery, cauliflower. And its always the one thing that's pretty much left untouched at the end of the night.

The viewership for the Superbowl is something like 90 million or a billion, so the commercials are huge and for many (me included) its the thing I enjoy most about the broadcast. If you don't get the American network broadcast and you miss the excellent commercials (not that there's anything wrong with commercials for 'Corner Gas' or 'Canadian Idol')..you can click here 'after the game', and the Superbowl spots are yours to enjoy on-line.

http://sports.aol.com/nfl/superbowlads

You can also get some laughs from the best Superbowl ads of 2007, youtube has put together the top ten from last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACZgJAlPP-4