Finger Lickin' Good!

The Sparks Street Mall's International Chicken and Rib Cook-off is on til Sunday! JR, Milky and I had the difficult task of 'judging' the chicken and ribs last night, along with special guest judges pictured here. Jean-Guy Brunet, kids Evan and Alicia and wife Tracy. (thanks to Milky for the photo) I must admit that in this photo, everyone looks w-a-a-y too 'clean'. At the other end of the table, we were pretty much covered in chicken and rib sauce. Get out and take in the Chicken and Rib Cook-off on the Sparks Street Mall, it is fantastic!

Rhymes with Orange

Here's JR in his orange Holland shirt, supporting the soccer team of his ancestors. Its the most orange shirt I've ever seen. How much more orange can JR's shirt be? The answer, is 'none'.
At least we know he can't wear it on the golf course because it doesn't have a collar.

BOB FM wins an Award!

Yesterday was a very cool day! I’ve always been proud of the fact that 939 Bob FM is the ‘world’s only pet friendly radio station’, and lo and behold, along comes a very special honour from the Ottawa Humane Society. ‘Media Award for 2008’! We are beaming from ear to ear. Its not very often that an occasion calls for me to actually brush the dog and cat hair off my clothes!
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I was paddling in my kayak today and one of the things I love about kayaking, is how ‘quiet’ you can be. In fact, its one of the few times that I am quiet. The benefit of being quiet while on the water, is that wildlife isn’t as scared of you as …say, you were in a jet ski. As I paddled along a shoreline I came upon a blue heron that had just caught a fish. A really big fish. Too big for that skinny throat, I thought. Sure enough, the heron tossed the fish into the air, grabbed it and proceeded to swallow it. But then, the fish got stuck. It appeared to be lodged in the heron’s throat. I paddled quickly to the scene, my mind racing, it was obvious that I needed to give this great blue heron the ‘heimlich manouevre’. Would he stand still and allow me to do it? How much pressure would I need to put on his rib cage? Where is a heron’s rib cage? Was there a place to tie up my kayak? So many questions, so little time! I raced towards the huge bird, the bird who’s life I was about to save. But suddenly the great blue heron opened its mouth, burped, and swallowed the entire fish. Good thing.

I have absolutely no experience in administering Heimlich manouevres on great blue herons.


The Sparks Street Mall International Chicken and Rib Cook-off starts on Wednesday and continues til Sunday! This is a huge event with competitors from all over North America vying for the right to say ‘their chicken and ribs are the best’! This is the smokiest, tastiest, stick-to-your ribs bbq fare and the portions are big so bring your big appetite! On Wednesday night, JR, Milky and yours truly will be ‘cook-off judges’! I’m looking forward to it, although I’m not much of a judge when it comes to food. I like almost everything, except jello salads in a mold, with various vegetables trapped inside the jello. You see these things at bridal showers and baby showers. Yeccch.
Anway, hope to see you on the Sparks Street Mall!!

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!