Freezing Rain and spare tires...

Yes..we did get a tiny little cold snap..actually I don't know if I can call -9 C a "cold snap", as much as a balmy winter day. Considering how cold the rest of my fellow Canuks have been in other areas of this Great White North, I feel truly lucky I only have to contend with an impromtu ice rink outside my door. Nothing that a big bag of rock salt can't cure. I am wary of stairs at this time of year, as I do recall sometime last year I fell down the stairs so had my whole pelvis went out of place (check posts from last year). I do not cherish the idea of biting that bullett again, so I'm making it a point to be especially vigilant about the staircase leading up to the apartment upstairs..that sucker will be de-iced every half hour if freakin need be.
Aside from the 2 days of freezing rain..still no snow! Am I happy? Of course! I hate shovelling that shit, especially when its all powdery and the wind is whipping it in 4 directions at once. So when you think you're done, you go in, and after 5 minutes come back to find that the wind has put all the snow back where it was. Lucky you gets to don the mitts, touque and coat again, grab the crappy shovel, and, cursing under your breath as to why you didn't spring for the $700 snowblower, you're out in the biting wind trying to shovel another path. Eventually you give up, take off the boots in the doorway, stepping into a melting puddle on the floor and wetting the bottom of your sock. Then as you take off the coat and extra sweater, you feel the static electricity zapping you, while the hair on your head tries to plaster itself to your face, zapping you as it does so. Well...I'm sure i'll happen sooner than later, but I'm praying we don't have a decent snowfall til past mid December. Which is sure to happen.
Anyhoo..in other news.....my Mom decided to buy both of us a membership to the local gym. Mom went tonight with her friend, so I go tomorrow night. I have noticed with dismay that most of the recent weight gain has accumulated around my middle. I now have resolved to get rid of this spare tire, because I don't like the way it looks, and I don't like the way I look in my clothes. I'm gonna aim for 3 days a week..maybe more if I can swing it. I hope I can go when no one is there to bother me. But, apparantly this club is the biggest in this town, boasting over 300 members. And every dollar earned from membership sales goes right back into the gym..buying equipment and such. I was told that the gym is the in these here parts, which I guess is saying an awful lot. Anyhoo..exercising will help..maybe it'll help me cut down on my smoking.. all I want is to get to my goal weight..for now. But do it in a way where I won't yo yo and gain it all back again. Wish me luck on that k?
Well, I'd better get some sleep. Another day another dollar.

Pain..pain..go away!

Yup..woke up this morning and I just ached all over...I can feel the hips trying to pop out of place again, and for the past 3 days my hands feel like they're on fire. I've been working alot with my hands, especially with my knitting, cause along with the dog sweaters I've also started knitting an afghan (and praying I have enough yarn of the right colors to finish the freakin thing this time). But the pain has been so bad I've stopped for the past few days...and it bothers me when I can't finish a project. Right now as I type I have to go slow because my fingers are swollen to twice their size, and I feel like theres little fires happening in the joints. I also noticed with amusement that I have a finger that is starting to get kind of crooked. Well, arthritis runs in the family, and I suspect that I have a touch of it..not enough to make me stay in bed, but enough to make me take 2 ibuprofen in the morning. I waited for them to work, and realized to my dismay that they didn't help at all...but I waited til the evening and I took 2 more. I dislike taking medications, mainly because I have to daily...so anything other than the regular meds totally sucks ass. I do think my carpal tunnel syndrome is resurfacing in my right wrist again, which bothers me somewhat. It is a strange feeling when you can't feel any sensation in your hand for extended periods of time.
Anyhoo..I think I'm due for another chiro appointment..perhaps a tune up will help me feel better. I am noting that I haven't had to see the chiropractor for quite a while this time. The back rest on my chair helps immensely...now for a pillow for my bed.
Lately my Mom has decided to sort thru stuff in the apartment we live in (above the restaurant), and clear out some clutter. I realized tonight at how clever Mom was in Tetrising stuff into closets. My room for instance was so crammed full of shit, it was almost impossible to squeeze me and my meager belongings into it. Tonight I went through the closet, and discovered, propped against the back wall..a dining room table..you know the kind..with the dropleaf, and heavy as all get out?I also had a 2 dresser drawer crammed full of pictures Mom and Dad never got around to putting in photo albums...I leafed through a few photos, and was dismayed to find my infamous Grade 8 photo with the afro 'do...damn it..I thought I had ripped all those ugly pics up. I did find a baby photo of me...though the picture is kind of blurry...I only have a few baby photos in existence, as most were destroyed in a fire when I was a kid. Saw some adorable toddler pictures of my sis N...then I thought I would keep the dresser in my room. Maybe I could put them into albums. I could make copies too for everyone, and for the old Polaroid photos I could scan them onto my comp and save them to disk.
So I put those photos away because they were distracting me from cleaning my room...came across some books that I used to own years ago and left at home. I have to say that I probably have more books than articles of clothing...and I have lots of clothes. Right now in my room I have probably close to 50 or more books stashed...thats not including a cabinet in the dining room where I stashed the rest of them..books I'd been collecting for the past 10 years. Pretty scary. Dad had called tonight and I had mentioned our task , and he suggested I box up my books and bring them to the house. I told him absolutely not. The one rule I have is wherever I stay my books stay too. I have spent years collecting books, and especially plays, mainly ancient texts translated(Greek and Roman theatre). Every time I go to a book store, I end up buying as many books as I can..and whatever plays they have there that I don't have in my collection, I snatch up right away. I think if I were to have a copy of every book, play,etc I ever read in my life, Moms new house wouldn't be big enough to put them all. I love to read..in fact that is the next thing I love best besides theatre..and something I do quite well, thanks. One little dream I have which to others may sound a little coo coo, but who gives a shit...I wish that someday I could buy myself a house, and do up one of the rooms as my own personal library...with the bookcases actually built into the wall, an nice easy chair maybe a fireplace to relax by on winter nights, and I even want the ladder on wheels so I can slide from one top shelf to another to get the book I want. Its been a little dream of mine for as long as I can remember. A room filled with thousands upon thousands of books. Not a computer room..in fact the only thing I'd allow electric in there is the light. Just quite, cozy solitude, curled up in a nice chair, reading a book. Sigh. Thinking about it always makes me feel better. How about you? What little dream do you have? It doesn't have to be your biggest dream..just a smaller one that you'd like to see happen someday. For me, I may not have the dream exactly how I want mine..yet, but I am getting a bookcase in which to stash my hardcover and paperback beauties. So for the time being, as I live "in the meantime", that will make me feel better. So please share..until then...stay warm!

Well I found out what happened to the missing person...and my thoughts on teenagers in general.

On my November 11th rant, I bitched about a pet peeve of mine..people who order pizza and then neglect to come pick it up. Lo and behold tonight as I was working, the phone rings, and as I pick up, I recognize it to be the same number that'd called me to order that night! What luck! I let my Mom know it was them, and I made their pizzas. About 20 minutes later a 40- something couple walks in the door. I explained to them that I'd gotten a call on that night and had even left a couple messages on the voicemail. Turns out the man's teenage daughter (who was supposed to be staying at her Moms that weekend) went over to her Dads place while he was out of town and had a little "get together", which included the guy who'd called the restaurant to order a pizza. I could by the look on their faces that they were embarrassed to hear it. I told the father that thanks to the kids I was out about 25 bucks, which was the cost of the pizza, and I told him it came out of my pay (a white lie, but I wanted justice to be served didn't I?)The father said he was going to have a chat with his teenage daughter, and send the kids down to pay up. Hell..funny how I inadvertently busted her little "romantic rendevous". Well, if she was a smart girl, and her boyfriend a smart boy, they coulda held off the 2 minute mattress mambo to pick up the pizza, and no one would be the wiser. I imagine if her dad is a responsible Dad, she should be chained to the stove by now and not let loose until she reached the age of majority. And the father out with his rifle, firing buckshot "warning "shots at Romeo's behind as he's running away. Lol. I'd better get that coin. If they do show their faces, I may say (or rather Pizzaslinger might say) "Hope you wore a freakin condom".
I mean come on people...you know any teenagers who say they're "just hanging out", and you want to remind them to check to make sure they don't put their shirt back on inside out before they get home? Teenagers of every generation I think have always thought that other people would truly believe what they say they're doing is the actual truth. Teenagers..one thing is certain...no one really believes everything everyone says anymore to be fact. Especially when it comes from a teenagers mouth. Why do I say this? Hmmm...lets see....how 'bout because I was a teenager once? Yeah...I'd want to go to a party, but I'd tell the folks we were "hanging out", just "watching a movie"..but in reality, I'm stuck in the can while my friend is puking her guts out in the toilet while I hold her hair out of the way, and hoping she doesn't miss and spray that mess all over me, cause the friend drank whiskey that night...and we all know how unmistakable the smell of whiskey is. Especially if its lying in a puddle on the floor with a few partially digested Corn Nuts and Cheetos floating around in it. Or those kids who smoke the pot, and come home reeking of cologne or perfume and cigarette smoke, thinking it'll mask the smell. You aren't fooling anyone.
Now don't get me wrong..I'm not out bashing teenagers..far from it. I admire teenagers for their sense of adventure, and the fact that they still have a bit of that optimism carried over from childhood that hasn't yet been snatched away by the grim realities of day to day living after High School Graduation. I just think that if they want to do something they shouldn't they need to be aware of the consequences (Grounding, Tv priveleges revoked, a cast iron chastity belt, buckshot to the behind..etc) and be willing to take the punishment. Heres something for teens to ponder. If a parent asks you where you went...tell them you went to Bills party down the street, had a few beers, helped Sally to vomit and then walk her home, and then you staggered home. They may not like it, and you'll probably get grounded anyways, but chances are the punishment won't be as severe. Seriously. Because you told the truth. Saying you're sorry would help too. Getting surly and defensive is the one way the punishment increases. Don't cross your arms when the parents are lecturing....ever. Don't talk about how you're 15 and aren't stupid..believe me...everyone goes through the "stupid" phase at age 15. There are absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS to that rule in my opinion. Look contrite. Say you're sorry "Sir"..or "Maam". Don't fight back because thats what they hope..so they can punish you worse. The rule growing up for me was never to lie to the parents. Of course if the question never came up I was under no obligation to relinquish information. However.....if I was asked.."did you drink"..I said yes. When I did I just got the comment "don't do it again". Hopefully this helps out any teens who happen upon my posts. And hey..check to make sure your shirt is on correctly before you walk through the front door. You're late again and they want an explanation. Don't make it worse.

Slow day...

Actually the past few days have been mind numbingly slow..at work that is. So far all is well in Strangers camp...I'm still knitting..I usually put in 2-3 hours of that when I'm done work. Sometimes I'll do it, while watching TV and surfing the net....makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something. Been reading both Plato and Aristotle before going to sleep each night..mainly cause lately I have had a hard time falling asleep. Or perhaps I don't really want to. I mean, who would really, especially if you dream about animals eating you alive and stuff? Mind you, I'm prone to intense dreams..been like that forever it seems. Doesn't exactly help with the procrastination, or the resulting insomnia that follows. last night I admit I didn't get to sleep til around 5 am..right around the time the birds start waking up and singing their morning songs.
I was thinking lately that all this distraction ( the books, knitting, multitasking,etc) is my own crazy way of not allowing me to think too far ahead at my future goals, or even to worry about where I'm going to. When my mind does start to wander, I think of all the things I want and don't or cannot have at present, and it kind of makes me sad. And I don't like to feel that way at all. So the way I've got things going is making it so I don't think beyond the next few days. I decided, that, for the time being, to avoid severe disappointment, I'll not make any future plans definate past a week in the future. I'd just like to spare myself the grief of something not working out for me again. Maybe some of you can relate to that, or understand on some level where I'm coming from.
Now something a little off topic..something I wanted to type about what happened tonight. I'd just closed for the evening and was doing cashout when someone called. I looked at the call display, and it said private name. I thought I'd ignore it.....that was until like he eighth ring (funny how people in the back forty have no idea of phone ettiquette..I was taught 6 rings, no more..if someone can't make it to the phone by the 6th ring they are in all likelyhood not there or DON"T WANT TO ANSWER THE PHONE), so I picked it up and said "Hello? (This was after hours, so I don't say the business name, cause then people still think you're open..)...That I thought would give buddy the hint I was closed. Well..a very inebriated voice on the other line goes " Uh..yeah...hello....can I get....hang on...(Sound of mouthpiece covered by a hand and indistinct muttering in the background)
I said."Hello? I'm closed."
The drunk dude- "Hello? (he's back on the phone.)...what?
I say," I'm sorry..I am closed."
Drunk dude- (Sound of someone belching long and loud into the mouthpiece)Uh....when do you close?
I say "10pm"
Drunk dude-..uh.....(sound of phone back on reciever..line is dead)

Okay..I don't mind if people call as to enquire about our hours.........however.........ettiqette would dicate that you DON'T BELCH DISGUSTINGLY INTO THE PHONE!!!!!! At the very least he could've apologized for being so uncouth...but..as they say out here in the Back Forty.."What do you expect? He's from Manitouwadge." As if thats a perfect excuse for being a disgusting pig. The day I run into a 30-something SOBER gentleman in Manitouwadge would be the day hell freezes over.
Yeah so sorry I don't have more..though out here winter hasn't made a permanent appearance yet..still no snow on the ground..and today it was 5 degrees C. Lucky us eh? Blogger question..what was the weather like when you looked outside today? Have a good one!

Ah..I couldn't stay away..too many crazy dreams. And a discussion of one of my favorite things!

Decided to blog again ..I know I haven't heard from many on my "roll call" in previous post. Perhaps you have taken a vow of no computers for a time. Perhaps you are simply too busy. I understand. Believe me. Just shout out when you have the chance.
I needed to post again. I had some fucked up dreams again. One dream I had a couple nights ago was where I was being chased by wolves, and they caught up with me and started biting me..taking chunks out of my legs and arms. It didn't hurt..I think I was on the outside looking in. Last night the dream I had involved a guy (unknown) who wielded a serrated knife at me from the outside of the house I was in.Instead of going to the phone like a normal person and calling the police, I grabbed a chef knife and went outside to do battle. I ended up winning the battle..a few parrys and thrusts and stabbed him good several times. Then I woke up. I didn't find myself scared when I awoke. Usually I just wake up, and stay confused about what the dream actually means all freakin day. those of you who read my posts on a regular basis know that I always have fucked up dreams. Why they have to be so freakin violent, I dunno. Maybe it's Pizzaslinger's dreams.
In other news..I've banished Neitzsche to the "I'll read this one much much MUCH later" book pile. In its stead, I've begun Aristotle's "The Nichomachian Ethics". And am finding it much easier to read, and absorb. Wish I had someone else out there who was reading it too. Could be some interesting discussion. Yes, I must seem strange for some..I like reading books like this in my spare time. maybe its a huge turn off for people. I know that for the most part, a "normal" conversation here is discussing the weather. Thats about it. Here's another fear of mine..that my brain will turn to mush from lack of use. Ask anyone who's known me since childhood...I was the type of kid who would prefer to sit on the steps of the school at recess and read a book, rather than play in the recess yard with the other kids. Apparantly one time in Grade 1 (by that time I could read novels) my teacher called my Mom in to talk to her about my behavior. The teacher says," All Stranger wants to do is read. She doesn't interact with the other students." My Mom's response? "So what? Let her read if she wants to!" To my Mom..there was nothing wrong with me. I liked that. I love getting books as gifts. Last Christmas my sis N got me "Memoirs of A Geisha", by Arthur Golden. I read and reread that book 2 dozen times. A fantastic book.
So here's a Blogger question for all of you...what are you reading right now? It can be a magazine if you aren't a bookworm. You can even name a newspaper if thats your speed. And another question..whats the best book you ever read? For me its a toss up between The Diviners by Margaret Laurence, and Margaret Atwood's The Edible Woman.

Okay..so the last post wasn't that great..

.....judging by the lack of response I get as of late. I think everyone who reads a blog entry should post. I would like to see exactly how many people come to this page to see what lil' ol me is up to. I deleted the majority of the last post...people reluctant to comment..not that this is a forum to attempt to change Stranger's mind about the bonds of holy matrimony, and other stuff. I still would like to hear from all of you. Most of the people who visit this blog have been neglecting their own....so I say...come on man! Get it together! Here are the following people I do know to be visiting me from time to time.... in no particular order...
--my sis N.
--Dave G.
--Sugarfoot
--FloraPang
--Oh Great One
--Wayne
--Pinky The Poet
--Zinky
--my friends N and J out in AB
--Fire Lily
--JD Coulter
-- Believe it or not..the ex referred to as Ostrich also frequents this site, mainly cause he thinks he can censor what I say. Buddy..you are the only one on this list that I wouldn't mind in the slightest to go and get bent.
Anyhoo..thats the roll call...please call in and let me know you're still kicking. Drop a line, cause I don't want to write another post until everyone (well, everyone except Ostrich) is accounted for. I allow anonymous comments too if there are a few of you who don't have a blogger page. SO I hope to hear from you soon..if not, this may be a little bit of a hiatus.

Okay..another update on the car..and my Friday night

Apparantly, not only was the distributor fucked, the "alleged caddy expert", mentioned in the previous post, it was installed BACKWARDS!!! Yup..and the parts were loose. I read the report from GM on the car and the car was backfiring, and running quite rough. Not only was the dude completely inept, but he made a huge faux pas and installed a distributor that was refurbished! Umm..with Caddy's (esp a collectors like this one is) you're only supposed to replace parts with brand new ones. Unused. Pristine. I am completely appalled at the blatant misrepresentation. Don't believe for a second that these big corporations have "Qualified, experienced Mechanics" (their description..not mine) as they state. Its just their way of saying"..Umm okay..now what I need you to do Consumer..yeah..turn around...okay good. Take down your pants. Yup..Hang on I'm gonna shove this big corporate dick right up your unsuspecting ass!"
As George Carlin so eloquently said "The person who coined 'Let the buyer beware was probably bleeding from the asshole!'"
Wow..that was intense eh? I think my alter ego Pizzaslinger popped by there for a sec and took over.Lol. I have friends who think Pizzaslinger is really just me in waking life. Though I haven't gone Ninja on a customer who's pissed me off, at times I've been close and have to say..well, Sugarfoot..maybe you're partly right. Tonight I had another pet peeve happen. Normally we open Fridays and Saturdays at 11am and close at 3 am (add an hour of prep before opening and an hour after close to do cleanup) and anyone who reads this can agree that that is one long fucking day. Welcome to my world. Although my day started at 8am thereabouts. I woke up and took care of the birds. Then at 9am, stock was delivered to the restaurant so I had to go inspect it and make sure our whole order was there. Then to put it all away. After a quick jaunt to the Post office, I returned to the restaurant to begin prep. That was at 9:30am. Prep was done in time for opening at 11am. So I work all day and all night. Mom came home from Thunder Bay at 5pm, bearing gifts, so I was happy. She then said she was exhausted from the drive so I just kept working. She leaves aroound 9pm to go upstairs. It get close to 1am...I'm still working and working on my 3rd pot of coffee, and she calls and asks if the bars are busy. I found out there was maybe 20 people in the bar, so Mom says to close at 1:30am.I think "Great! An early night!". At 12:50am I get a phone call. A guy orders a pizza..and I tell him it will take exactly 20 minutes to cook. He says ok. So I make the pizza. 20 minutes later, it's done. No guy. Another 20 minutes roll by..still no guy. Its 1:30am and I waited. Finally I called his place. Got the answering machine. Left a message. Waited. Still no guy. Now I'm really pissed. Decided "fuck it" and closed anyways. After I finished cashout and cleanup it was almost 3am anyways..still no guy. So food gets wasted. And I'm out some coin too.So yeah..the biggest pet peeve is someone ordering and not picking up your fuckin order. I wondered for a while as to what Pizzaslinger would do if I let her go nuts...

What would Pizzaslinger do
If she were here right now?
She'd probably beat an ass or two..
Thats what Pizzaslinger'd do.
Friday night she waited there
For asshole to appear.
She tracked the little fucker down
And kicked him in the rear.
When he begged and pleaded Pizzaslinger
His life to be spared.
She took out the pizza paddle
And she beat his face squarrrrreeed.
What would Pizzaslinger do,
If she were here right now?
She'd probably crush a ball or two
Thats what Pizzaslinger'd do.
.....my apologies to the creators of South Park for this little ditty.
For those who've now run to the nearest basin to puke or for those who have fainted in abject terror..fear not..You have nothing to fear. Just don't cheese her off. And make sure you leave a fuckin tip.

Whew! I'm back. Wow..I need to put Pizzaslinger on some Valium or something man. She gets a little out of control sometimes. Shes like the Eminem of the Back Forty.

my week thus far...

Nothing much to say. I worked. I went home. I did get another sweater knitted for my Uncles dog..god shes cute! Still muddling through Neitzsche. Grrr. Does the guy have to be so freakin wordy? I know I'm bad for that at times too, but come on! His is just ridiculous. Am contemplating setting that book aside temporarily and going to work on digesting Plato. Maybe he's a better read..I dunno.
So my Mom has gone to Thunder Bay this morning to pick up the Caddy (finally!), after over 2 months of Canadian Tire blowing smoke up our asses about what was wrong with the damned thing. One day the car would barely move if you pressed on the gas. It would just slowly crawl. So Mom sent it to Canadian Tire in Marathon where they assured us they had a mechanic on site who could fix Cadillacs. Now Caddys have on board computers that can be tricky to fix , if not impossible if you aren't up on how the suckers work. Well, a simple problem turned into repeated phone calls to ask what the hell was going on with the car. These calls were answered by an inept chick ( I can envision her now, chewing bubble gum and twirling her hair with her pen) who not only could not give us an answer besides "I don't know", she couldn't pass us off to someone who could. So Mom went to Marathon..keeping in mind ladies and gents that Marathon is 90 Kilometre drive from here...and finds out that the mechanic fucked up the car even worse than when it was brought in. So Mom told off the manager..making it very clear that just because shes a woman, it doesn't mean that she's stupid about cars. So the manager ends up firing the alleged "Caddy expert" and so now we have to wait..and wait..and wait some more for them to call and let us know what can be done. Despite the fact they told Mom she'd get a call in 2 days..they never called, which I thought was quite bad if you want to run a business. So Mom had to call Head Office in Toronto. Would you believe that theironly offer was to ship the car to a GM Dealership in Thunder Bay? But made no mention of fixing the car, at no cost, to at least the way it was before the guy fucked it up worse than it was. Their attitude was Oh well. So we had to wait a little bit for the GM dealership to get it fixed. Turned out it was the distributor. Well, at least with GM they stand behind their work, even if it costs a bit more. SO a piece of advice for all you out there...you're better off getting work done on your car at the dealership where you bought it. It may be expensive, but if anything goes wrong, they will make it right..
As for Canadian Tire..they have completely lost my business..I won't get anything from their store ever again. And I urge you to do the same. You see the problem with these major companies is that they think we're all common folk who don't have a brain in our heads, and that we'll be satisfied with shoddy merchandise or workmanship. I have a problem with a company who thinks so little of my business. So I'll keep my money in my pocket til I can find a better store in which to do business.They say word of mouth advertising can be the best advertising or the worst for a business. One person who is dissatisfied will tell 9 people, who each, in turn, will tell 9 more. Thus the number of people who have heard about Canadian Tires lack of customer appreciation will rise exponentially. Maybe I won't make them go under, but it'd be nice to hear that their earnings in the next fiscal year have gone down substantially. I say fuck them and the horse they rode in on.
Anyhoo..I gotta go..long Friday for me..time to feed the birdies and get prep done in the restaurant...........
Oh before I forget..Rodeo..our newest aquisition, finally sat on my shoulder last night. Hes getting used to both me and Mom, so thats good.
Gotta go!

Ho Hum..

Not much happening in my neck of the woods right now...it was a busy weekend work wise..and I'm happy that my Mom was here to help...lets see..still muddling through Neitzsche....still knitting..albeit slowly because I find my hands go numb..grr..freakin Carpal Tunnels coming back. Cheeses me off..you'd think after 2 4 week rehabilitation appointments I'd have no more probs. No matter..I just ignore it most days.
Soon, I will be baking for the Christmas season, and hopefully I'll get some advance orders for my baking, which I'm told rocks peoples worlds. I think..very cool..plus its money in my pockets too. I have devised a payment plan for my Student Loans which if I execute to a T, month after month..will guarantee I pay it off in less than 3 years, rather than the projected 8. Because, lets face it people..having debt hanging over ones head suck the big one..you know what I mean? So I in an effort to become debt free, am going to do with out luxuries for a while. Even my tips will be used to pay off the debt. When I'm done..I'll finally be free of it, and then I can decide where I go from there. Tho if I was working out West, I could pay the damned loan off in 6 months. And another 6 months of hard work and long hours would guarantee me enough coin to go back to school and get my Masters degree. All I need is the coin. I'm also doing something that some may think is absolutely absurd, but I say what the hell. You know the show "Deal or no Deal?" Well, they are doing 5 episodes with Canadian players, so I'm going to see if I can become a contestant. That would be cool, and maybe I can scare Howie by shaking his hand..lol. He should just wear gloves if he doesn't want to shake hands..lol. Anyhoo..this is my life thus far..how was your weekend?