T.O. Not a Fan of Jessica Simpson

Terrell Owens (aka T.O.) -- a football player who likes to speak his mind -- shares the same viewpoint with yours truly that Jessica Simpson should be kept away, far, far, away, from Texas Stadium. When asked about Simpson T.O. replied: "Right now Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite -- in this locker room or in Texas Stadium." Ouch. Hope Jessica gets the hint and does not show her face again at a Cowboys game.

Luddite Land

Found the gloves. Just in the middle of packing, but what I'm really trying to adapt to is the idea of being offline for the next 10 days. You see my parents are Luddites. Okay, in all honesty they probably have no idea what the word means, but they are Luddites nonetheless. No DSL, no internet connection at all, no computer, no answering machine. My Mother really does not understand what all the fuss is about internet. When I tried to coax her into learning she waved her hands at me saying "No, no, no!" They are happy just the way they are. At least they now have a second phone. Needless to mention that my teenage years were made ever more difficult with only one phone at home -- and it was in the kitchen. My Mother would actually correct my grammar when I would finish a telephone conversation. Anyway, now there are two cordless phones and no internet. But they do have a typewriter.

I'm Thinking About Packing

I'm thinking about packing, I really am. Laundry is in the dryer, piles of clothes on the bed, and the suitcase is out. The only problem is that I can't find my gloves, the only pair I have in Texas. They're not especially warm but are leather and fit my tiny hands. Dammit. I hate when I misplace items. Unfortunately, I think I may have actually lost because the apartment searches I've conducted so far have yielded only Hubby's gloves. Of course, it's something small like this that I will become obsessed with beyond all other activities I should be focusing on. Wonder if I can pick up a cheap pair at DFW tomorrow morning around 5am...

Packing = Procrastination...Yet, Again

I know, it's beginning to be a habit. Whenever I must pack for a trip I invariably leave it to the last minute. I hate packing. I hate unpacking. It's especially annoying when trying to pack for an area that is roughly 40 degrees cooler than where you're located. Do I pack lots of sweaters or will my Dad have the wood furnace blazing, and thus creating a tropical climate within my parents' home? Coversely, my Hubby's folks like to keep their home on the cool side so I really do need sweaters. I've already dropped the idea of wearing a skirt to church when home because I really don't want to be bothered with bringing extra dress-up clothing, slip, tights, shoes, handbag, only to shiver outside as my folks chit-chat. I know, I really should start packing...but, maybe after laundry, dishes, surfing the net.

Heat

The heat quit working on the top floor of our apartment this morning. Yikes! Luckily it's going to be in the 60s for the next couple of days because the management office for our rental is a tad slow about fixing things. I'm Canadian I can handle cold, but Texas has made me used to heat, lots of heat.

Please Ban Romo's Girlfriend From Texas Stadium

I knew it. I knew it the moment Fox Sports featured a glimpse of Jessica Simpson in the stands at Texas Stadium. I knew Tony Romo would not perform well on the field and the Cowboys would lose. (Please see the "Cheese Heads Get Grated" blog from November 30). Unfortunately the Cowboys did lose to the Eagles. Remember the Carrie Underwood incident -- yes, the night of the infamous Romo Bobble. I still cringe when I think of it. For some bizarre reason, Tony Romo does not play well when he has a girlfriend attending a game at Texas Stadium. He suddenly becomes nervous, tries too hard, and is not focused on the game because he's too distracted by who's in the stands watching him. It seems like he wants to impress them so much that he loses sight of the game plan. Perhaps he thought he had shaken the 'girlfriend curse', but the curse is still there. Jerry Jones should seriously think about banning Tony Romo's girlfriend from Texas Stadium. And, really, what was with the outfit Jessica Simpson was wearing to yesterday's game? It was a girl's short-sleeve Romo jersey in PINK over a black shirt. She really should have gone to her old neighborhood mall at Collin Creek to pick up some really cute Dallas Cowboys gear at the Cowboys Pro Shop. At least wear the team colours, Jessica, when you watch the games at home, at a friend's home, at a bar, but please, not at Texas Stadium.

Real Housewives of O.C.

This show still cracks me up. I hope no one outside the US watches this tv show and assumes this is how everyone lives. Those ladies are great, but the lifestyle is really extravagant. Lauri is just, well, over-the-top at times. She's been engaged for over a year and she's just looking for wedding dresses 10 weeks before the wedding. What I can't believe is that she is opting for a huge ivory/white wedding gown and this will be her third wedding. Personally, if you have a grown daughter who asks to be your maid-of-honor then you really should re-think the poufy gown and go for something more simple and elegant. Loved her husband's response when she suggested getting an RV and going to Yellowstone, yes, camping is not for everyone. I'd opt for a five-star hotel over an RV any day. Someday I'd love to stay at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. Hubby tells me to keep dreaming.

Advice

When making reservations at a bed and breakfast in a cute, touristy small town months ahead of the dates you are staying (because rooms are booked months in advance), remember to also make dinner reservations. Usually these cute, touristy villages have only one or two good restaurants, which generally get booked with reservations in advance.

Nip/Tuck

I've been watching Nip/Tuck since its second season and I'm amazed at how the writers of this show keep it fresh. Just when you think the show cannot possibly push anymore boundaries it does. The episode last night was full of surprises that I don't want to reveal, but I love how they are changing Sean and Christian's personalities. Since moving from Miami to Beverley Hills, Sean is morphing into the way Christian was in Miami and Christian...is becoming responsible? The mugging was frightening, but interesting how Julia turned to Christian for strength and support. The whole crystal meth addiction storyline is scary, but it's great that Nip/Tuck is highlighting the devastation this drug causes. Last night's episode leaves me wanting more, but we'll all have to wait until the writer's strike is resolved. Perhaps I should rent the first season while biding my time.

Hockey in the Big D

The Ottawa Senators won against the Dallas Stars last Friday night. Hubby was ecstatic and I cheered for the Stars just to get under his skin. We were surprised by the number of Sens fans in attendance. What always amazes me is how little clothes some Dallas women wear to watch hockey games. There were some in halter tops with nary a heavy woolen sweater in sight, and the restrooms were full of preening women piling on make-up. Apparently one goes to Dallas Stars games to be seen and not necessarily to watch. Meanwhile, there I was with my fleece jacket looking appropriately Canadian. Some things you just can't shake.

Cowboys Better Than Pats?

Yes, that may very well be the case according to Jimmy Johnson of FOX Sports. The Cowboys won 28-27 against the Detroit Lions thanks to a last minute rally. Honestly, I am surprised that they actually won. I was ready to throw in the towel during the beginning of the fourth quarter, but Hubby told me to hang in there, and reminded me of the come-from-behind victory against Buffalo a couple of months ago. I was so on edge watching Tony Romo pass the ball down the field after the two-minute warning as the Cowboys gained yards. Frankly, I don't know how Romo stays calm during these last minute do-or-die situations. He should definitely write motivational books when he eventually retires from football. Not sure what the current Cowboys defensive line should do except perhaps play a bit more strategically, but they did win the NFC East yesterday.

Hockey Game

Hubby and I are going to our first Dallas Stars game of this season. Of course we couldn't miss seeing the Ottawa Senators since they rarely play the Dallas Stars. We are in a conflict over which team to cheer for, so I told Hubby he should wear his Senators t-shirt with a Stars fleece over top just in case. I'm happy because our seats are in the platinum level, which is unlike any other hockey experience. Platinum level has bigger seats, wait staff, and in the lobby they have chic restaurants, lounges and bars. It changes the experience of watching a hockey game. Of course, I can't imagine anyone from Dallas sitting through a whole hockey game in an old, freezing cold arena with bathrooms that make your skin crawl...ahhh, memories...misty, water-colored memories...

Retire Early?

Hubby sent the link to this article earlier this afternoon. It's all about retiring early and living a pared down lifestyle. Sounds great, but I'm a bit apprehensive about giving up certain luxuries like restaurants and travel. But I'm convinced this will persuade Hubby to buy out our BMW lease so we can drive it for 20 years. Okay, that's pushing it I guess...but, I've grown quite fond of the BMW. Wonder if we can retire early...

Movie Star = A Public Life

Yesterday it was reported that movie star Julia Roberts pointed her finger and scolded the photographers trying to get her photo by her kids' school. So, let's get this straight, it's okay to be photographed and interviewed about the latest movie you're trying to sell to the public, but only on your terms. Unfortunately, when you become a movie star you sign on to a life in the public eye. When you leave your home you are subject to public scrutiny. It's the price one pays when becoming a movie star. You would think that Julia Roberts would know that. If Julia Robert does not want her kids in the public eye, she should either retire from making movies until they've graduated from high school, or enroll them in private school and/or homeschool them. Please retire from making movies if you don't like photographers following your every move. Oh, and perhaps you could convince your friend George Clooney to retire from movies as well since he hates having photographers following him around. Just remember that if you choose to star in movies that millions of people will pay to view, then you subject yourself to their bottomless curiosity. Don't be shocked and angered when followed by photographers.

Where are you Christmas?

Finally got the Christmas tree up -- balls, lights and all-- yesterday. I'm playing the Christmas tunes and trying to tackle Christmas cards today. Still having difficulty getting into the Christmas spirit with this beautiful 'fall' ('fall' in Canadian standards) weather. When I walk outside and hear the crunch of leaves beneath my feet my first reaction is to rake them up in a pile and jump in...childhood memories hanging out in my brain. But, I must focus on Christmas...after I purchase more Christmas stamps tomorrow.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I never really understood the sentiment of longing for snow expressed in the Christmas tune 'White Christmas' until we moved to Texas. Today is the second day of December and the leaves are finally red and yellow -- which usually happens in October in the Great White North. We walked to State-Allen Lounge for brunch in short sleeves and basked in the sunlight. Decided to finally get the Christmas tree together, but it lacks the Holiday feel when you're decorating a Christmas tree in shorts and a tank top because it's 81F outside....not that I'm complaining, it's just that it feels more like October than December. So, I've got the radio tuned to 103.7 -- a channel that has been playing Christmas carols and songs for the last three weeks. Take away the tunes and there's nothing like a blanket of snow on the ground to jump-start the Christmas sentiments.

Bumper Sticker

Here's a bumper sticker spotted recently on a Mercedes SUV in the Dallas neighborhood of Uptown:

"My Dog is Smarter Than Your Honor Student."

What time is it?

Okay, it's been two days since we got back from Maui and I'm still on island time. Woke up at 11:30am, 7:30am island time. Had porridge for lunch and I'm still sipping the coffee. Hmmm....kona coffee...hmmm. The best coffee I've ever had was when we stopped at a small fruit stand on the road past Hana -- think it was called the Ginger Fruit Stand. Anyway, we were looking for Charles Lindberg's grave and couldn't find the road to the church so we stopped there for directions. They had fresh-baked cookies and sold only organic fruits. They also made smoothies using a blender that is run by riding a bicycle (yeah, it's funny to see a bicycle in the middle of the fruit stand). Hubby and I bought coffee and it was amazing!! We wanted to buy some but the woman told us that they don't produce enough of their own to sell. They did sell coffee beans from Ono Organic Farms, and I'm still kicking myself for not buying some of those beans. Everyone was so laid back there. They just laughed when they heard that Japanese tourists had gotten stuck trying to go over the barrier where the highway was closed. They joked that if they waited until dark before going to help them then they'd make more money...well, honestly, the barrier was put up because the highway is closed due to last year's earthquake, but perhaps the tourists can't read English. And yes, we did finally find Charles Lindbergh's grave, which is in a lovely churchyard overlooking the Pacific ocean.

Cheese Heads Get Grated

The Cowboys beat the Packers last night and are now 11-1. Whoohoo! There were loads of crazy 'cheese heads' at the game -- still can't believe that people wear foam cheese on their heads. Crazy fans. The big moment was when Packers quarter-back Brett Favre was hurt. Is this the end of the season for him or the end of the line? Tony Romo played well -- he made the first touchdown pass look easy. Let's hope he can focus on the game for the rest of the season and not get too distracted from the ladies he's dating. Hope he remembers not to invite them to games...remember what happened the night Carrie Underwood was in the stands last January? Still trying to shake the memory of when he let that ball slip through his hands while setting up for the field goal (aka the bobble incident). Still cringe when I think of it. Focus on the game Tony.

Cowboys vs Packers

Before I pull myself away from the computer to finish the laundry, I must mention that there's a HUGE football game tonight for Dallas Cowboys fans. The Cowboys take on the Green Bay Packers. It's Brett Favre vs. Tony Romo. I can't wait. Even though Hubby and I are both exhausted we will be watching the game on television tonight. Just a bummer that it's being televised on the NFL channel and not one of the big national networks. Luckily in Dallas we will be watching on channel 27. Go Cowboys go!!! NOTE: There are LOTS of Cowboys fans in Maui.

R.I.P. Gecko

Back from Maui this morning and the four hour time change has messed up my 'internal guidance system'. So, I went for a walk in the sunshine to try and jump-start it. Let's just say it was refreshing outside -- 60s. Sadly, I found the remnants of a gecko on the sidewalk in front of our place...and he was quite flat. Must have met his fate under a bicycle tire or large foot. Ironically while in Maui we discovered that geckos are a sign of good luck. Rest in peace Gecko.

Maui = Ahhhhhhh!

We got back from Maui bright and early this morning (5 am). I'm so relaxed right now..ahhhhhh. Wow. Will write more later as I'm up to my belly button in laundry. Must find our way back to the Road to Hana again.

Flying to Maui Tomorrow!

Yes, I can hardly believe we are flying out to Maui on American Airlines in less than 24 hours. Have I finished packing yet? No, but I've got all the clothes piled on the bed and just need to put them in my suitcase. I have one last load of laundry in the dryer. It's the little things that slow me down, like trying to decide what to wear tomorrow for the 7hr flight; what coat/jacket to wear; what shoes to wear. Hubby is really happy that we are off to Maui tomorrow as he really needs a break from work. I am grateful and thankful that we are able to fly to Maui.

PC Woes

Having problems with the pc today. When I tried logging into blogger I was told that my cookies had been disabled. Must talk to Hubby about this because the only cookies I know about are gingerbread located in my fridge. So, I'm blogging on the Mac, but blogger isn't quite compatible with Mac. But, I am thankful that we have two computers. Let the gratitude begin.

Maui Countdown

Maui countdown: 3 more days!!! Woohoo!!! Guess I really should start thinking about packing and forget about how zonked I am from yesterday's Cowboys vs. Redskins game. (I am a believer now).

How 'bout them Cowboys

After almost two years living in Dallas Hubby and I finally attended our first Dallas Cowboys game yesterday. (Okay, I will admit that last year I was less than enthusiastic for the 'boys, but this year they are WINNING and I love a bandwagon!) What an experience! We thought we'd go two hours before the game to be "early". Hahahah! Yeah, and when we got there the parking lots were almost completely full. To go early to a Cowboys game means to arrive at least four hours pre-game. The parking lots are insane: people sitting around in lawn chairs under 'tents', grills full of every imaginable meat, impromptu games of football, and we even saw flat-screen televisions on tailgates (guess that would explain some of the generators we saw being load up after the game). The parking lot we were in was a converted field with a bit of gravel strewn about -- it honestly felt like I was at Shawville Fair as we were making our way to Texas Stadium. Love how they have special routes for pedestrians into the stadium, which includes walking past crazy fans who take pleasure in heckling those who dare wear fan-gear of the visiting team. Texas Stadium is showing its age and is worse for wear (the bathrooms are awful) so it's a good thing that the new stadium will be open in 2009. One thing though is that there isn't a bad seat in the place. The Cowboys vs Redskins game was great. Hubby predicted it would be a blowout for Dallas and he was wrong; it was a close and exciting game. We were sitting in the end zone with the sun shining on us amidst all the crazy Redskins fans. The fans really get into the games. It was just as much fun to watch them as it was the game itself. I will admit that it's easier to follow football games on television than it is in the stadium, but nothing beats the exhileration of watching a Cowboys game at Texas Stadium. Go Cowboys Go!!

Borders

Since it is less than a week until we take off for Maui, I decided to mozy down to our neighborhood Borders and peruse the travel books. They had a multitude to choose from, but I finally settled on a Top-10 book (Hubby loves these lists) and one listing various places to visit and great vistas along routes called "Maui Revealed, The Ultimate Guidebook" by Andrew Doughty, printed by Wizard Publications Inc. Of course whenever I'm in Borders I always end up buying more than I planned when I arrived. Found a great book for Hubby (although it weighs a ton) and will be part of his Christmas gift; and I picked up a book for myself on Peter Jennings. Bookstores are my weakness. Now I must decide what book to bring for Maui: a light, fluffy 'beach' book, or literature. This may take more time than packing.

Hair in My Eyes

Had an appointment with my hair-god Brian yesterday and got the bob looking shorter, tamer, and in control. Also got some sunny highlights and the color looks amazing. The big change is that I got a long fringe/bangs. I was apprehensive since the last time I asked for bangs (5 years ago) the stylist totally butchered them and they looked dreadful...and I couldn't wait to grow them out. Brian was great and showed me how to tame them and emphasized that I must blow dry my bangs everyday even if I let the rest of my hair air dry -- thanks to a couple of cowlicks at my hairline. Love the new 'doo', but the fringe is sooo long that it keeps getting in my eyes. The price one must pay for style.

Maui Countdown

Maui Countdown: 7 days to go! That's one week. OMG!! Am I prepared? Somewhat, I still have to work on lists for packing; decide what reading material I should bring (beach read or work of literature?); and littles details that I can't think of at the moment, but they probably will end up being critical in the end. But, before the Maui trip on Thanksgiving Day (anyone know if airport shops/restaurants are open on Thanksgiving?) I've got a dinner party in two days, which means a major clean sweep of home. Then, we are headed to a Cowboys game on Sunday afternoon. Woohoo! The Cowboys are taking on the Washington Redskins and I can't wait, but first I must whip up some cupcakes for Saturday and clean, clean, clean.

It's 85F and I'm about to mix up a batch of gingerbread cookies for Christmas. Yeah, I'm trying to get in the Christmas spirit early but it still feels weird starting Christmas baking while wearing shorts and a tank top.

The Cowboys defeated the NY Giants yesterday. Can't wait until Sunday's game as Hubby and I will be going to see them take on the Washington Redskins. Hubby and I even bought Cowboys shirts to wear. Woohoo! Go Cowboys go!

Just saw Celine Dion's appearance on today's Oprah show. She was pure cheese, but that is Celine: pure fromage. Her show is closing in Vegas in December so now it will be safe to visit Vegas again. Someone really needs to talk to her about cutting her young son's long hair. Very long hair. Longer than I ever had it as a young girl. Kids like to fit in and be like everyone else because they will be teased to death if they stick out at all. Please keep his hair short until he decides to grow it long as a form of rebellion from you. Wonder if he'll write a tell-all autobiography in 25 years.

The new season of 'Real Housewives of Orange County' premiered on Bravo last night, and for some perverse reason I get a kick out of watching these families with way too much money in their hands. For example, one mother leased a brand-new Mercedes for her daughter who is currently studying to be a nurse -- and the daughter's reaction was underwhelmed and shocked. The mother was surprised her daughter wasn't jumping up and down screaming with delight. Now, let's see, how many nurses do you know that drive around in a Mercedes? Then there is another wife/mother who looks like she stepped out of a wax museum. She has had so much work done on her face that she no longer ressembles a real person. She is the perfect example of a 'Plastic Woman' that I mentioned a few weeks ago.

Today it's sunny and 76F in Dallas. Honestly, I can't believe it's November. When I lived in the Great White North I absolutely hated November to the point where I dreaded the month. November back home is a cold, dark, dreary month with the leaves off the trees and the grass a shade of dead. Perhaps that is why I would start playing Christmas music mid-month back home to lift my spirits. Maybe this is 'Bizarro' world in Texas because I love November here. The weather finally cools down to the 70s and it's great to get outdoors and do things. Meanwhile, the leaves are beginning to turn color, although not as vibrant a display as back home, but still the crepe myrtle leaves turn a deep burgundy and other leaves mostly yellow. November is a joy here.

Josh Ritter

Before I forget, last week while in Austin Hubby and I went to see Josh Ritter in concert. It was special because it just happened to be my birthday and we just found out about the concert the night before. He performed at The Parish -- a small, intimate venue. Josh Ritter was amazing live. Loved how he interacted with the audience and recounted tales of his youth in Idaho -- especially during the song (and my fave) 'Kathleen' and finished it with part of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'. Shivers went down my spine when the lights were dimmed and he started playing the song 'Wings'. Must admit that it was the only time where I've been at a concert and they had to close the windows because the band playing at the bar next door was too loud! If you like folk-rock music and you've never heard Josh Ritter, check him out -- especially the CD "Hello Starling".

No Place Like Home

Finally feel like I have recovered from the week away. Although it is great to get away, there is nothing like the feeling of arriving home again. The big pile of laundry from last week has finally been conquered and now I am organizing my plan of attack on the cleaning front...that is after I check my email, update the blog, surf the net! Ahhh, the joys of procrastination. We are having guests over for dinner a week from Saturday, so at least I have a deadline. Oh, but where to begin? Maybe after I make a cup of green tea.

Maui countdown: 17 more days!!! Let's hope the rain stops next week.

Gecko Here, Gecko There

One of the neat things about living in Texas are the encounters with lizards. Growing up in the Great White North meant that my only previous encounter with a lizard was a university friend's pet lizard named for Janis Joplin. So far this year I have had at least four encounters, which is surprising considering that I had zero last year. Perhaps they have flourished in 2007 due to all the rain we had in the spring. The first couple of times freaked me out as they were while I was walking and noticed something quickly cross my path. I kept telling Hubby that I'd seen a gecko, you know, like the one in the Geico ad, but he did not believe me until he saw one for himself Sunday afternoon on the drainpipe outside the garage. We were in the car and arriving home from Austin when he shouted to me. I thought he yelled "Deco! It's your Deco" -- I thought he was referring to Art Deco because I love Art Deco. But, it was our friendly neighborhood gecko heading face-first down the drainpipe. This morning I spotted another one on our second-floor balcony by our potted geraniums. The wonderful thing about geckos is that they munch on bugs -- especially cockroaches, and the roaches down here are big enough to eat a small child. I love my gecko.

Maui countdown: 22 more days!! Woohoo!!!

My Liver Hates Me

Still recovering from Halloween celebrations on 6th Street in Austin. It was absolute craziness with the street closed to traffic and people dressed up in costumes. Of course on 6th Street it is one bar after another with the odd tattoo shop scattered in between. Couldn't quite convince Hubby to get a tattoo. Anyway, lots of drunk people doing stupid stuff. I think people act differently when they are in costume -- a part of their personality emerges that is usually kept hidden. Maybe they think that the dressing up gives them a right to act out in some way. My favorites last night were: the guy dressed up like Hunter S. Thompson (complete with broken cigarette in cigarette holder), the woman dressed up like Marge Simpson (complete with huge blue wig) walking a small dog in a hot dog costume, the guy dressed like Hulk Hogan circa 1985, and last, but not least, Captain Morgan himself. Somehow, amidst all the madness, we ended up at Coyote Ugly thanks to Hubby and the sales guys hanging out with us (Hubby promised to take me out for sushi tonight to make up for it). Coyote Ugly is just a strange experience in itself. I was tempted to get up on the bar and dance with them, but I was afraid I'd topple over. After that, we ended up at the hotel bar and had a nightcap. My livers hates me today.

Just saw parents allow a toddler to 'play' on the escalator for fun. Luckily for the child he was not wearing those God-awfully ugly croc shoes.

Maui countdown: 25 more days!!!

Lost in Room Service Land

I am hanging out in Austin this week as Hubby has work-stuff to do, and I decided to tag along like 'Lost in Translation' -- except that everyone speaks English here. Okay, so maybe it's not quite the same experience but I'm spending time at a big hotel in a strange city....vaguely familiar. So far I've managed to keep myself away from the bar, but I could not escape the siren-call of the spa. This morning I splurged and got a facial. To be honest, I am not one to spend much time getting facials, manicures, or pedicures. In my view they are an extravagance (probably a by-product of my Calvinist background) that I only allow myself a couple of times a year. More frequently I treat myself to store-bought clay masks, and attempt to do my own manicures and pedicures...although I have yet to master the french manicure. The European Facial was amazing. I love how they pipe in the new-age music and it was such a treat to be pampered with the hand and foot massage. Came close to falling asleep as I felt like my body had transformed itself into jello. Hmmm...perhaps it is good to pamper yourself sometimes. Here I am, lost in Room-Service Land.

Maui Countdown: 28 more days!

Lipstick Mafia

There was a great article in last Sunday's NY Times regarding the chilly relationship between Candace Bushnell and Darren Star. She is the author of 'Sex and the City', 'Trading Up', and 'Lipstick Jungle' and he is the television producer that brought 'Sex and the City' to HBO. Since the mid 90s they have been the best of friends, even taking holidays together. Star's bid for the rights to bring 'Lipstick Jungle' to television was outbid by NBC a couple of years ago, and the show will finally make its appearance sometime in January 2008 (here's hoping). But, surprisingly, he is producing a new ABC show 'Cashmere Mafia' that will premiere late November 2007, which apparently also centers around the friendship of several strong forty-something ladies. So sad that business comes between friends, but it's a boon for women everywhere that we get two new tv series focussed on successful women of a certain age.

Maui countdown: 30 more days!!! Yikes! Better start that crash diet so I am bathing-suit-worthy.

Tragically Not Hip

Last Friday evening Hubby and I ventured out to see a band at House of Blues. The band was Tragically Hip, a hugely popular Canadian band that has been around for more than 20 years. Tragically, the band's popularity has failed to resonate beyond Canada's borders, but Friday's concert highlighted the possible reasons for the band remaining in cult status in the US. Those in attendance at House of Blues that night appeared to either be a) Canadians who had flown into Dallas just for the concert, or b) Canadian expats living in Dallas/Northern Texas. The opening band was from Halifax with such a banal name that I cannot remember it -- some emergency band. They were...quirky. The Tragically Hip bandmembers are starting to show their ages much as many of their fans are. Gord Downie, lead singer, wasted valuable stage time playing with the microphone stand. That's part of my life (that I'll never get back) wasted watching his feeble ploy at theatrics. By the end of the show I was seriously thinking about asking for part of our ticket price back for the time spent viewing him dancing around the stage with a hanky and his silly microphone theatrics. Either he doesn't really give a damn anymore or more seriously, he's losing his voice and this is his attempt at filling up the allotted stage time by f***ing around onstage. I would be more forgiving if they had played more popular songs instead of pulling out b-sides. To top it off, for the encore they played 'New Orleans is Sinking' and then two obscure songs I didn't recognize. Isn't an encore a time to give the audience what they want, namely your biggest and most popular songs. After this concert I finally realized why the Canadian band Nickelback is so popular in the US: because they play short, catchy, radio-friendly tunes with generic lyrics that anyone can relate to. Maybe they are not the most eloquent but they did play a stadium here in August and get a great deal of radio time (whether we like it or not), while the Tragically Hip could not sell out House of Blues. Perhaps Gord and the boys are happy and settled in their place as a cult Canadian band. But, if you want to tour the US, at least advertise, set up some media interviews, and try to get on a radio station. Make an effort.

Maui countdown: 34 more days!

Rise of the Plastic Woman

Recently I have noticed women of a certain age not really looking their age. Actually they don't really look 'normal'. It looks like they've escaped from the wax museum, or have had their faces frozen in a wind tunnel. This 'plastic woman' has been seen recently in the US, I have spotted varieties in California and Texas, but I am sure they are scattered throughout North America -- predominantly in areas of concentrated wealth. They are out there and if you haven't seen one yet, be patient you'll seen one soon enough. The scary part is when you look at the 'plastic woman's' face and then look at her bony, vein-popping hands. I'm all for looking as good as you can for as long as possible, but the plastic surgery phenomenon in the US is out of control. The advertisements bombard you everywhere you turn. Perfection available for a price, and the 'plastic woman' has the money to provide a lifetime without wrinkles. We must stop the 'plastic woman' phenomenon before she becomes the basis for what we think of as normal and beautiful. We should embrace wrinkles and normal aging, and advocate that aging and wrinkles are not only acceptable, they are beautiful.

Patio Season is Here!

Patio season is here! That's right, folks. Only in Texas would patio season start in October. A couple of weeks ago I received an email announcing the commencement of patio season from Sambuca Restaurant. It's crazy but true that October rocks in Texas. Love it.

Maui countdown: 36 more days! Guess I should dig out the Maui travel books and start making plans.

Champagne + Shopping = Dangerous

After lunch last Sunday Hubby and I ventured to downton Dallas to visit the flagship Neiman Marcus. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Neiman's is opening its flagship on Sunday afternoons in October. The 1913 building was decorated in bright lime green, very festive and modern. Inside there was a small bar set up where champagne cocktails were served. Let's just say that shopping while sipping a champagne cocktail can be dangerous on one's wallet. Loved the displays of current art, the historical fashions on display, and the creative decorations for each level of elevators. My favorite were the elevators covered in Neiman Marcus dress labels -- it must have taken someone hours to do that. Also on display were gowns that Neiman's commissioned from top designers to reflect the fashion of tomorrow. The displays were outstanding. Hubby especially loved the 'tv room' on the men's floor which was turned to Sunday football. Of course, even this 'tv room' couldn't stop the mass exodus prior to the 3pm Cowboys game!

Maui countdown: 38 more days!

Do Not See 'Heartbreak Kid'

Hubby and I went to the drive in Saturday night and saw the first feature 'Heartbreak Kid'. What a terrible movie. It was a huge disappoinment. So, do yourself a favor and do not pay money to see this movie. Check it out when it comes on cable tv. If we were at a movie theater I think Hubby and I would have walked out -- but, you can't do that at a drive-in without ruining everyone else's experience.

Last year I really did not care for NFL football, probably because of how the Dallas Cowboys played. But this year the Cowboys have magic on the field. I truly believe that they are at the threshold of becoming a championship team if not this year, then next. They just need to clean up a few problem areas like fouls/penalties. Yesterday's game against the New England Patriots was painful to watch at times. Thank God for Tivo. The Patriots blasted through the Cowboys defense. Hopefully the Cowboys will use Sunday's crushing defeat as a learning lesson. I have to tell you that Hubby is totally freaked out by my current football fanaticism.

Hubby and I are going to the Galaxy Drive-In tonight. It's South of Dallas outside the small town of Ennis. I love going to movies at the drive-in so I am excited. It's got quite the retro look and feel about it, especially with the old window speakers and the 1950s and early 1960s music piped through them prior to the show. Great to get out of the city and breathe clean air and see all the stars sparke in the big sky. Gotta love that moon-roof.

Maui countdown: 40 days!

Morton's Still Has My Heart

Hubby and I had a lovely wedding anniversary dinner at Del Frisco's last night. The filet was tender and cooked to perfection, but I was not impressed by the sides: the mashed potatoes had too much pepper and the the mushrooms were bland. The service was attentive, but it was unnerving how Hubby's water glass was refilled at least 20 times last night -- every time the person passed with the water pitcher they filled his glass!! I still prefer Morton's. Before I forget, I have to mention how amazed I was at the wide selection of hand creams, lotions, moisturizers, perfume, hairspray in the ladies' restroom at Del Frisco's. They even had packs of Marlboro cigarettes....but, Morton's still has my heart.

Maui countdown: 41 more days!

Today is my fifth wedding anniversary. I still can't believe that it has been five years since Hubby and I tied the knot. The time has flown by since the whole white dress, church ceremony, dinner, reception. I truly love Hubby, but thank God we never have to do the "wedding" thing again. So much stress was created for months preceding the wedding, and then the day zoomed by. I have suggested to Hubby that for our tenth or 15th wedding anniversary that we could perhaps renew our vows in an intimate ceremony on some tropical island. But, for now it is dinner tonight at the upscale steak house Del Frisco's. This is Texas so it is almost state law that one goes to a fancy steak restaurant for a special occasion.

Maui countdown: 42 more days!!

Damn those crickets outside!! They're driving me nutty. Hubby can't hear them, or he hears them and he just doesn't notice them. If I wanted to listen to crickets I would be living in the forest not in a huge American city. Ughhhh!

It's finally cooled down to the 80s on the thermometer. Now I can enjoy the great outdoors without fear of melting onto the sidewalk....and the hair no longer looks like a big ball of wool.

Maui countdown: 44 more days!

Cowboys' Folk Hero

Oh, my God! After watching the Cowboys vs. Bills game last night I thought I was going to have a coronary. I have no idea how Tony Romo and his team mates (especially Nick Folk) stay calm and cool on the field. After throwing five interceptions, they earned 9 points in the last 20 seconds of play to win by one point. At 20 seconds I was packing it in and heading to bed when Hubby asked where I was going because the game wasn't over yet. I had given up. My faith was gone. But, I headed back down to the living room and was astounded by what the Cowboys proceeded to accomplish. Just amazing how rookie Nick Folk kicked not one, but two 53 yard field goals after the Bills' coach called a time-out just as he was kicking the first. I was amazed. In fact, I'm still amazed by it. How do they stay so cool, calm, and collected? As for myself, I had a difficult time settling down to go to sleep after that game.

Maui Countdown: 45 more days!!

I have no idea how it happened, but I became addicted to VH1's 'Rock of Love with Bret Michaels' about a month ago. We happened upon it one Saturday morning after watching the VH1 Top 20 Countdown (Hubby is determined to stay on top of current music). Watching those women claw at each other while also partying like there's no tomorrow was entertaining. You'd never see these ladies on ABC's 'The Bachelor' (which I'm actually watching because the current bachelor is from Texas). When 'Rock of Love' ended just over a week ago Bret had chosen Jes, which surprised me since I thought he and Heather got along better -- although Jes is a class-act. The 'Reunion Show' was on last night and it was quite frosty between Bret and Jes. They hadn't seen each other in six months and they greeted each other with a peck on the cheek. Jes is a strong woman and stood her ground regarding her feelings about the show and Bret. She actually said that she thought that Heather was a better choice for him. Soooooo, it looks like Bret did not find true love...My crystal ball shows another 'Rock of Love with Bret Michaels' on the horizon. More trashy goodness!

Maui countdown: 49 more days!!

Monster Strollers

A couple of days ago Hubby and I had a lunch date at North Park, and then he went back to work and I spent the afternoon shopping. North Park is the shopping mall mecca of the United States. What a gorgeous mall full of high-end and mid-priced shops, not to mention the incredible works of art that the Nasher family graciously have on display for the public to enjoy. My favourite area is the 'green square' the mall encloses, which is landscaped with trees, shrubs, and flowers. It's a great escape for reading as it blocks all sounds of traffic and you almost feel like you're not in the city anymore. The area is also a great short-cut through the mall -- as long as it isn't 100F outside. But, what I really noticed the other day at North Park is how large baby-strollers have become lately. It's like they have morphed into all-terrain vehicles. Guess it's good to have a sturdy stroller if you're into walking through parks while encountering inclement weather, but why bring these monster strollers into a MALL. I think designers should create a sleek design for a lightweight but chic stroller that women can haul in and out of their cars with ease while going shopping. It would be lighter and easier to push while also taking up less space in shops. Keep the monster strollers for sidewalks and the park.

Looking for Wentworth

Apparently they are shooting a scene for 'Prison Break' in the 'hood today. Not sure if Wentworth Miller will be there, but according to the Dallas Morning News the scene involves a helicopter with guns pointed out of it. Oh, Wentie...apparently he frequents our neighborhood Blockbuster. Just makes me want to rent more.

Last Sunday Hubby and I paid for the US Thanksgiving trip to Maui. Only 50 more days! Can't wait...must start thinking about dieting.

It's October 3rd and I've started Christmas shopping. Still can't believe I'm this organized. My Mother wants costume jewelry (specifically a broach) and I found a sparkly rhinestone encrusted pin at Macy's. Should brighten up a lapel or sweater. Not sure what else to get her, although I know I won't be buying any sweaters for her since she finally told me last month that the mock-turtleneck I gave her last Christmas is "too tight" around the neck, and so she can't wear it. My Dad's Christmas gifts are almost done thanks to the free-shipping from LL Bean (until Dec. 21st)and no sales tax since we're out-of-state. They've got some great 'wrinkle-free' shirts for men. Thank God for catalog shopping since I've vowed not to enter a shopping mall during the month of December. Now if I could only figure out what latest video game my lovely niece and nephew would like.

State Fair of Texas

Bright and early Sunday morning (okay, well 10am), Hubby and I made our way though a Fair Park entrance in Dallas to attend the 171st State Fair of Texas. Wow, that is one gigantic fair. We spent three hours just walking through and we didn't see all of the exhibits. Loved the air conditioned buildings. My favourite was the handi-craft building with the butter sculpture, and the prize-winning quilts hanging on the walls are works of art. Love the contest kitchen where contestants compete live and the public can sit and watch. They also had a 'celebrity' kitchen where local celebrity chefs from restaurants around the area would cook. We didn't make it to the car show, but I did try a Fletcher corny dog -- this is where they invented the corn dog. My favourite food was the fried cookie dough. Very yummy. Hubby preferred the fried latte...of course that was from Desperado's stand and the guy working there recognized Hubby from our many visits to the restaurant on Greenville. The art-deco buildings and sculptures are magnificent (built in 1936 to celebrate the fair's centennial). We agreed that we must return when the fair is finished to visit several of the museums. The midway is massive and hot as it is sheltered from the wind. We were tempted by the ferris wheel (the largest in the US) but weren't sure if our stomachs were strong enough. The State Fair of Texas is the biggest and best!

It's happened again. Just after I start watching a couple episodes of a new television show that has premiered on a network for the fall season, the network decides to yank it off the air. Hubby and I started watching 'Nashville' on Fox a couple of weeks ago and actually liked it -- which surprised both of us. I thought it showed some potential if they would only focus more on the music business and less on the gossip and social life aspect of breaking into the Nashville music business. We were looking forward to watching it on Friday night but we couldn't find it on the tv schedule. Then I tried searching it on Tivo to see if Fox put it on another night, but it wasn't there at all. I really wish networks would let shows run to the end and tie up loose ends before cancelling. It just makes us not want to bother watching any new television shows. Thank God for cable television networks! I now live for 'Mad Men' on AMC...but that deserves its own post.

Why, Kiefer, Why?

Oh, Kiefer, what have you done? Got caught behind the wheel after imbibing too many drinks. Have to admit that I'm not surprised as he does like to drink. In the late 90s when he was working on 'The Glass Menagerie' at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa he spent quite a bit of time hanging out at the Elephant & Castle pub drinking. How do I know? Well, before I met Hubby he spent a great deal of time as a barfly at Elephant & Castle (or E&C as he lovingly refers to it). When we first started dating he told me about how he had 'hung out' with Kiefer Sutherland at E&C. Yeah, Hubby was at the bar while Kiefer was across the room at a table. Oh, Kiefer, when will you learn about designated drivers?

I watched most of the Democratic Health/Finance Debate last night on PBS (good old KERA). It was great to see the candidates speak out on their plans for universal health care and getting their little jabs at each other as well as the Republicans. Judy Woodruff is a superb moderator and managed to keep them all in line. Joe Biden and John Edwards really stole the show, while Hillary just frightens me with her vague answers (especially the one about ending the war in Iraq). Loved Joe Biden's plan to end the war in Iraq -- his years of political experience really shone through the rhetoric. Meanwhile, where was Obama???? MIA. He just dropped the ball.

A complete 24hrs after finishing that 'Magical Leek Soup' and I feel so much better. I was having nasty chocolate/sugar cravings while subsisting on that stuff, but now that I'm back to eating a 'balanced' diet the cravings have disappeared. Maybe my body was trying to make up for the lack of nutrients I was digesting.

Magical Leek Soup

Yesterday I decided to try the Magical Leek Soup (Broth) recipe from the book "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mireille Guiliano. Okay, I will admit that I actually bought the book (and I did read it) over two years ago, but I've always had the intention of trying to make this 'weekend' soup thing. One is supposed to make the soup, then drink the broth and eat the cooked leeks over a weekend...or 48 hours. It is supposed to be "an emergency weekend remedy"...guess it's supposed to cleanse and de-tox. Anyway, Hubby left for a business trip yesterday and will be gone for a couple of days so I saw my window of opportunity. I cut up the leeks, made the soup, and began the 'cleanse'. After 24hrs, the smell of leeks is oozing from my pores. Our place smells like a huge leek, and the result of imbibing leeks for a 24 hour period is a massive amount of, well, gas. My advice is to try this "Magical Leek Soup" when you're alone and/or with the windows open. (I will admit that the broth tastes better the day after it has been cooked). Good luck.

Have I mentioned that I've started watching the tv program 'Rock of Love with Bret Michaels'? It started just over a week ago last Saturday when Hubby and I were taking it easy, drinking coffee, chatting, and flipping channels on television when we came across VH1 and this show started. Guess we've missed most of the series as he's down to the last handful of eligible 'rocker chicks', but man-oh-man it's addictive. It's like watching a train-wreck -- you don't really want to watch but you just can't tear your eyes off the mess. Yesterday he met the parents of Lacey, Heather, and Jess. Jess seems to be the only woman there with sound and clear thinking. Lacey is completely nuts...but entertaining. Heather, well Heather is the stripper with a heart of gold-plated brass. He should pick Jess, but Heather somehow looks the role of rocker girlfriend.

Hubby and I were thrilled last Friday to receive the Christopher Burkett photograph we purchased in Carmel last August. Yesterday we put a nail in the wall in the living room and placed it above the sofa. I always feel bad about putting nails in walls. Not sure where this guilt comes from. In our last home hubby and I put numerous holes in the wall trying to get two paintings to hang evenly side-by-side...until we finally figured out that one was ever so slightly bigger than the other. Luckily the paintings hid the holes, but I can only imagine the puzzled looks of the couple who purchased our home upon discovering the tiny nail holes in the living room wall.

Happy 100th Birthday Neiman Marcus

According to the advertisement in today's Dallas Morning News: "On September 10, 1907, three visionaries, Herbert Marcus, Carrie Marcus Neiman, and Al Neiman, opened a store in Dallas, Texas, that still defines the word luxury a century later."
Thank you Herbert, Carrie, and Al for having the vision to open such a wonderful department store in what was then a western frontier city with dirt streets.
Happy 100th Birthday Neiman Marcus!

Here's the chocolate chip cookie recipe.
PS Great to see the lovely (and fellow Canadian) Linda Evangelista featured in the Neiman Marcus ads.

Cowboys are leading the NY Jets 10 - 6.
Go, Cowboys, Go!!!!
Should I try out for the cheerleaders now?

That's Not a Comeback, Britney

Just watched Britney's performance opening the MTV Video Music Awards. Oh, my....She was wearing a matching set of bra and panties, and after having two children she really shouldn't be exposing that navel and torso...really. The dancing was okay, but she didn't seem to be 'there'...she just wasn't into the performance. The kicker was that she actually quit lip synching at several points and so it really killed the illusion that she was singing. Was this performance supposed to be her comeback? Was this performance supposed to kick-start her flagging career? Britney didn't show an ounce of enthusiasm, so why should anyone care anymore? Britney, give us a reason to care.

Hubby and I are going the the drive-in tonight to see a double feature. I'm actually excited as I've never been to see a movie at a drive-in theater. Really. But, whenever I think of a drive-in I always think of the movie 'Grease'.

Is Bret Michaels Bald?

Happened to catch Rock of Love on VH1 earlier this morning and couldn't help but wonder if Bret Michaels of Poison fame is now bald. He's always seen with his head covered and blond locks flowing underneath a bandana, cowboy hat, or helmet. I've found pictures of him on the internet with a full head of hair back in the 80s 'big hair heyday'. Is he trying to hide something with all the head gear?

Hubby is away on business for the next day so I'm giving myself an algae facial, blogging, and watching old Woody Allen movies (Hubby hates Woody). Maybe I can start reading 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert if I can tear myself away from the mac. Damn. Ever since Hubby bought the mac notebook I have been addicted. It was love at first click.
Catching up on Tivo tonight. Watched this week's episode of The Fashionista Diaries. Still surprised about Jane magazine folding. I've been looking for the September issue for a couple of weeks so I could read Rachel and Andrew's article. Bridget still needs to lose the whiney voice, but it was that evil woman at the PR agency who needed a slap. It was just awful how she treated that intern by making fun of her shoes...she's an intern therefore she can't afford to buy this season's shoes.
Received an email from North Park regarding the upcoming Fashion at the Park beginning November 1. I'm seriously thinking about purchasing a ticket. There are runway shows as well as a High Tea hosted by Hamish Bowles for the launch of the Vogue Living book.

There is a wonderful riddle concerning old Hollywood that can be found on www.crazydaysandnights.blogspot.com. It was posted on Friday and I have been obsessed with it this past weekend. Supposedly a talented young actor with a slight build found success on stage and in Hollywood as an 'actress'. He/she found love with a closeted 'A' list actor, and won awards as an 'actress, but soon dropped out of Hollywood, and a couple of years later the 'actress' died. The actor then resumed his career as a man. It's mysterious and captivating....and I am obsessed. Check out www.crazydaysandnights.blogspot.com.

I phoned the Canadian Consulate in Dallas a few days ago about renewing my Canadian passport in the US. Specifically, I require certain papers because I do not have a 'guarantor' that has known me for 2yrs in the US. Anyway, the woman rushed me through and when it came to my name I spelled it out for her -- as I always do as people always get my given name wrong. Over the phone she had problems with my last name, which is a very common surname in North America. When I received the papers today my surname was spelled correctly, but my given name was spelled incorrectly. In fact, I've never seen it spelled that way...it's not even the common way of spelling it. Guess I was blown away because the most common/accepted first letter of my name is 'C', and the person put a 'K' instead. Plus she got the last three letters wrong, which is a common mistake. I'm just ticked off because I spelled my name for her and asked if I should repeat it, and she said "no, I've got it." Just had to vent about it.

PS: Those crazy barristas at Starbuck's always spell my name in wacky ways. The most bizarre spelling was in San Francisco...they spelled my name as a mountain range and inserted a 'K' at the beginning...

I can't believe I'm going to admit this, but Hubby and I went to see Kenny Rogers perform with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra last night at the Myerson...and we weren't the youngest people in attendance. Kenny put on a wonderful show and he really interacts well with the audience; he is quite the entertainer. We went early and had a buffet dinner at Allegro. When we received the bill we realized we had the 'early bird special'...guess that's why we felt like we were the youngest there, but we did see more people our age in the audience. Perhaps they grew up with Kenny Rogers songs as kids, much like Hubby and I did. I can remember elementary school trips where we would be singing The Gambler and Coward of the County on the school bus. Guess I am aging myself. Just wish that Kenny hadn't had the plastic surgery.

Bloomingdale's in Dallas?

Just heard the news that Bloomingdale's may expand to Dallas. Apparently the store was in Dallas at Valley View Mall in the 80s, but closed in 1990. Here's hoping with fingers crossed.

Last Saturday night, as Hubby and I sat on the beach at Carmel to watch the sun set, we saw four dolphins in the water. They put on quite the show for us. Everyone at the beach congregated to the water's edge to watch them swim around. One or two dolphins did a couple of 'jumps'. It was really special to see them frolic in the twilight.

To Big Sur, With Love

Hubby and I returned to Dallas late last Sunday evening from California. Had a wonderful time in San Francisco. Love that city. I climbed one of the big hills, California Street up to Nob Hill, and found more admiration for early settlers of the city after I made it to the top. The reason for the mad dash up the gigantic hill was to visit Grace Cathedral, an absolutely stunning church. I was hoping to walk the labyrinth, but they were working on it that day. Another discovery on this trip was Bloomingdale's...and Bloomingdale's sales. New favorite restaurant(since Hawthorne Lane is now closed is Jeanty at Jack's . We also took in a San Francisco Giants game. What a great ballpark!! Love how it opens to the water.

After Hubby was finished and packed up at the trade show/conference we visited the California Palace of the Legion of Honor to take in some culture. What a gorgeous museum of art set on a hill overlooking the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco. Highly recommend their cafe for lunch.

The last three days of our trip were spent in Carmel. Ahhhh, Carmel. Of course, no trip to Carmel is complete without a drive down Hwy 1 to Big Sur and lunch at Nepenthe. Highly recommend the ambrosia burger and triple berry pie. There's something about Big Sur that soothes me and stirs my soul. I feel at home although I've never lived there. I love Big Sur. If I had all the money in the world I would live in Carmel/Big Sur.

Owen Needs to Unearth His Inner Beatnik

Was shocked this morning to hear that funnyman Owen Wilson supposedly attempted suicide this past weekend. He must be going through some major dark stuff to try to end it all. Who knows what inner demons must be eating away at his soul. He needs to drop the acting gig, move far from Hollywood and focus on writing, perhaps unearth his inner beatnik. Can't you see Owen Wilson as an eccentric English Lit prof at a small liberal arts college? Okay, perhaps that is a bit far-fetched since he is a couple credits short of a degree...but, writing screenplays and the odd novel may just save his soul.

Hubby just phoned and he's surprised that I haven't packed for the trip on Sunday...Oh my, better start thinking about it.

Just saw an Allied moving truck take a sharp right turn and mow down a stop sign. Yikes! This is what is written on the truck: "Allied, The Careful Movers."

It's Friday and we're leaving for San Francisco Sunday morning. Guess I should start thinking about packing. Have started laundry...that's a start, right? Very excited about trip to the cool coast of central California. Will be happy to escape this hot city. Have I mentioned how much I love Sweet Leaf tea? Yummy. It's helping me through the heatwave.

Three days until San Francisco trip!! Very excited...guess I should start thinking about packing...

The Fashionista Diaries

I started watching The Fashionista Diaries last week and now I'm hooked. Okay, I have a weak spot for reality tv, so it really shouldn't be a surprise. The show follows six young assistants, straight out of college, finding their way in the fashion world of NYC with Jane magazine, Flirt! cosmetics, and 7th House PR. I was rooting for the girl from Queens, Nicole, as she tried to make it in PR, but she really was a fish out of water. Bridget's incessant whining is annoying and I so want to slap her and tell her to quit whining. Remember, no one likes a whiner. Ughhhh. There's some chemistry with Rachel and Andrew at Jane magazine, but Bridget may have her whiney claws hooked into him as they are now flatmates. Janjay is really mature for her age. Hate that Nicole resigned this week, but not before she told them how shallow they are. Bravo Nicole!!! As she put it: "I'm from Queens and as real as they come." What's with this snotty PR company? Something is wrong if you favour a well-dressed, stuck-up chick who speaks in an annoying voice. Oh, wait, it's okay because the boss also speaks with the whine...Ughhhh....get thee to a voice/dialect coach asap!!! How can your clients stand to listen to you?

Baby, It's Hot Outside

Fifth-straight day of triple digit temperatures in Dallas. Baby, it's hot outside . How am I surviving? Barely. Visited my 'hair god' at Baca Salon yesterday for some highlights and a 'do'. I'm trying to 'work' the whole 'Posh Spice' cut as it's great to get the hair off one's neck when it's so bloody hot here. I love how he styled it...here's hoping I can make it look as good as when he does it. It's also wonderful to have some 'hair-therapy' as I usually chat up a storm when I'm in the chair. The worst part was walking to and from the salon yesterday. When the mercury is hovering around 105F I walk verrrrry slowwwwly.

Chase Bank Loses Information

What is Chase Bank doing? Hubby and I opened an account with them in January 2006 and we gave them our signatures as verification. Now I received a phone call from someone -- who could barely speak English -- stating that they do not have our signatures on file because 'they've lost them'. Dear God, who are these inept people that Chase Bank is hiring to work at their banks? Bank of America is looking more attractive...

Trying to stay cool, but it's difficult when it's 104F. I'm not even going to leave the house today because it's that hot. With the 'heat index' it feels like 110F. Where's my sweet-tea?

Just phoned Revenue Canada and it was scary. Perhaps it was because the fellow could barely speak English, or maybe it was because he coughed into the phone without saying pardon (how rude), or maybe it was because I received a GST refund and I'm currently living in the United States (since January 7, 2006). Perhaps it was because the phone call took 17 minutes...and all I discovered was that the GST refund was for 2004.?????? (I haven't received/been eligible for a GST refund in five years) I'm too tired to argue with them. Whatever. Oh, and they still have yet to process my return for the one week that I lived in Canada for 2006, which was sent April 2007...God help us all if this is how the Government of Canada is performing. Perhaps I should take it easy on them since it is summer holidays. All I ask is that they hire people that can communicate in English because I could not understand what the guy was saying, and he could not understand me. God help us.

Hubby is happy now that we finally saw The Simpsons Movie this past weekend. Very funny, although not all characters are given much screen time. Love the little pokes at Fox. "Spider-pig, spider-pig..."

American Idol is in town today and all the crazy kids are trying out. Fox 4 was covering it live this morning from Texas Stadium and there were thousands lined up outside the studio. One guy from Ohio had his hair done up a la Sanjaya mowhawk -- obviously he just wants his 15 minutes of fame on national television. One North Texas man was in Canada for a wedding on Saturday and drove 24hrs to get to the auditions but missed the deadline for signing in this morning. I would hate to be hanging out at Texas Stadium today as it is supposed to go up to 97F this afternoon, and that's excluding the humidex. Whew! I love the ac.

Went for a walk to Walgreen's and Borders at West Village. Love hanging out at Borders and reading the new mags while sipping on a caramel latte from Seattle's Best. Of course, I did end up spending money...but, most of the items are part of Hubby's Christmas-gift-package. When one is on a budget, it is best to spread the Christmas gift purchasing over a number of months. This is my tip-of-the-day. It's so hot outside that I thought I was going to melt into the sidewalk as I made my way home. I've been home for over an hour but I'm still zonked -- the heat really drains one's energy. Maybe I need to have lunch...

Just back from the dentist and I'm officially swearing off soft drinks...or soda, as my dentist calls it. Apparently my love of Pepsi, Coke, Sprite, ginger-ale, and rootbeer has taken its toll on the enamel of my teeth. Yikes!! Also, bottled-water does not contain fluoride and since I drink it I am not receiving enough fluoride. The dentist actually gave me a prescription for a toothpaste with super-strength amounts of it. If only I'd known about this when I was 15.

Vogue Cover for Winona

Ten days away and our mailbox was jammed full of bills and magazines. Bills don't thrill me, but mags do. Words cannot describe how elated I was to see Winona Ryder on the cover of the August issue of Vogue. Love, love, love Winona! I haven't read the new issue yet as I'm still reading the July issue (which, by the way, contains a lovely article on the late Isabella Blow) and I'm a stickler about reading things in proper order. I'm hoping to get to it this weekend. Back in the 90s I remember getting my hair chopped off into a pixie cut just like Winona did. Sure, I looked cute but I just couldn't pull-it-off like she did. The Vogue cover looks so compelling -- much more than the July issue. Very excited!!!

I missed it. I missed the big explosion in Dallas. They were cleaning it up by the time I heard about it. Why? Well, post-Canada visit I decided to watch less television, turn-off the radio and enjoy the quietness. No longer would I let mindless tv shows rot my brain. Plus, television makes it too easy for me to procrastinate regarding my domestic chores. So, yesterday morning when I noticed the dark smoke billowing over the Dallas skyline during my morning walk (my effort to get into shape) I assumed it was merely a big fire somewhere and thought nothing of it. It wasn't until late afternoon when I happened to turn on the radio that I heard about certain freeways (as highways are called in the US) being closed. So, I'm reconsidering my stance on television even if it means I must hear about Lindsay Lohan's DUI and Britney Spears' bizarre actions.

Knocked out by a Timbit?

I survived nine days without internet access. In the beginning it was difficult, but it's surprising how life carries on without logging on to check email, or see what's new on Perez Hilton. Had a lovely week with my parents. The weather was brilliant! Of course, in the Ottawa Valley area 80F is considered hot...so I was really enjoying what would be considered spring weather in Dallas. I taught my niece (8) how to make water balloons, but my nephew (10) taught me the secret to making them explode when they hit someone. He also showed me how to throw a fast ball and a 'change-up' in baseball -- I'm still not sure what that is. My niece told me that she is no longer a sweet girl. She is now evil. How quickly they grow.

After enjoying the slow-paced life in Shawville it was time to hit the highway to Toronto. We went through Renfrew and took Hwy41 and then Hwy7 at Kaladar. Then we turned onto a highway (can't remember the number) that goes through Tweed. Luckily there was a Tim Hortons in Tweed. After a quick pit-stop we were on our way with coffee and timbits. As we were making our way to the 401 I was devouring the honey-dip timbits (my fave) when out popped the crown on my back molar!!!! Aghhhhhhh!!! We were in the middle of nowhere! Aghhhhh! Luckily we had a bottle of water, so I went into worst-case-scenario-survival-mode as I quickly cleaned off the crown, 'rinsed' my mouth, and promptly plopped the crown back in place. We didn't have time to search for a dentist so I thought the safest place for it would be where it usually was: in my mouth. Let's just say that eating was a tad tricky. To add to that, we encountered a nasty traffic jam on the 401 going through Toronto. It was madness. Then our flight was delayed an hour, but luckily the pilot was able to 'make-up' the time we lost by getting us to DFW on schedule. Just how do pilots do this? Is there a special route for planes that have been delayed? Is there a secret short cut above the clouds? So why can't they be faster all the time?

Chilling in TO

Driving in downtown Toronto is nuts...absolutely nuts. They really should not allow street parking on busy streets. The insanity of Queen Street!!!

It was great to spend the afternoon with GL and her lovely baby boy. She made me a yummy dinner of barbecued pork chops with sauteed swiss chard. I will definitely try cooking the swiss chard at home. Hubby and I had lunch with one of his former coworkers...just wish I could remember the name of the restaurant. Think it was called Torino...funky Italian eatery on Queen Street West.

At the moment I'm chilling on the 34th floor of the Sheraton while Hubby is drinking himself silly at some bar. Hope he's not hungover and cranky tomorrow as we must drive 4hrs to Pembroke.

Almost packed...really. Just hoping and praying that our flight is not delayed tonight as there is a huge thunderstorm heading this way...please let there be no funnel clouds!!

I'm trying to motivate myself to start packing. I've got the suitcase out...I will start packing...soon. But, first let me update my blog...and send instant messages to my hubby.

Packing=Procrastination

In two days hubby and I will be flying home to Canada. Am I excited? Yes...can't wait. Have I started packing? No. I hate packing. The only thing I hate more than packing a suitcase is unpacking one.

I certainly intend to pack -- can't leave home without a well-packed suitcase. Two days ago I started a list of what-to-pack, not only for myself but for hubby as well. You can't get better intentions than a to-do-list. I've started thinking about clothes and what should be laundered. But, I just can't bring myself to get the suitcase out and make piles of clothes. And so I will procrastinate...I will wait until a couple of hours before we must leave for DFW and I will throw items into the suitcase with no rhyme or reason.

Last month North Texas received more rain than it did for all of 2006. In fact, there were ten consecutive days in which it rained -- which hasn't happened since 1932. I don't know if this is climate change or a freak of nature, but I am officially sick of it.

Well, actually I am sick from it. All this rain has raised the fungus/mold count in this area, and so my nasal passages are clogged and I'm feeling miserable. I wish the rain and dark clouds would vanish until November. Last summer we had one day of rain and I could breathe easily. Bring back the hot, dry Texas summers.

I wonder if there is an anti-rain dance...

The Police Concert

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, I finally got to see The Police in concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. It was the summer of 1983 when I became an adoring fan at the height of their popularity just as the Synchronicity album (remember those vinyl discs?) was topping the charts. When they announced they were taking a sabbatical in 1984, I waited...and waited....and waited for another album, another tour. It finally happened...in 2007. Guess they needed to top up their retirement funds.

The concert was great. I would like to say it was phenomenal, but there was something missing. The three of them played with little interaction...barely tolerating one another. I wonder if they actually speak backstage or between concerts. Sting either flubbed the lyrics to several songs and/or he couldn't hit the high notes so he just didn't bother singing them. This really irritated me and detracted from the performance. I don't mind changing the timing of songs and altering them from the recordings as was the case with Beds Too Big Without You (which I loved) --if you want them to sound like the recording don't go to a concert. Loved their rendition of Can't Stand Losing You, and King of Pain -- it was neat to see Stewart Copeland using the different percussion instruments. Andy Summers was phenomenal on guitar. I can't believe he's in his 60s. While Stewart Copeland was king of percussion...in his own unique way. The concert just felt too stiff and scripted. They probably play the same set list every show.

I am glad that I finally got to see The Police in concert. I am also glad that we didn't pay $250 each for seats on the floor. The nosebleed seats weren't that bad considering we had binoculars/opera glasses, apart from the woman a couple of seats from us who had a piercing scream between songs. Not sure what she was on because this concert certainly wasn't scream-worthy, but I know she wasn't on pot because this is one of the few concerts where the smell of pot was not hanging in the air. Perhaps it's the smoking ban indoors...or perhaps it's because it's Dallas.

Sosa Joins 600 Club

Sammy Sosa joined the 600 home-run club last night during a game against the Chicago Cubs. Only four other players have reached this pinnacle: Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, and Babe Ruth. Not bad company. And....we missed it by one night...

Saved by an Irish Pub

The Dubliner, an Irish pub located at the Rangers ballpark, saved my life last night. Hubby is quite amused by this as he was able to partake of Guinness while this episode took place.

Yesterday we decided to go see the Texas Rangers take on the Chicago Cubs. We had tickets from a rained out Boston Red Sox game in May that we needed to exchange. Unfortunately we could not do the exchange via telephone or email, so we took our chances by doing it at the ballpark. Needless to say the selection for comparable tickets was limited. So we ended up on the Lexus Club Level, Third Base with seats in the sun. Oh, it was 96F yesterday excluding the humidex (which I didn't want to know)...the hottest day of 2007 in Dallas...so far. By the time we made it up to the club level and checked our seats we were sweating buckets.

After picking up a couple of Sosa souvenir t-shirts we grabbed a hotdog in a place that was air conditioned, then we decided to hit The Dubliner as it had the a.c. blasting. It was a great reprieve. Watched the first four innings waiting for Sammy Sosa to hit the 600 home run mark then the headache started. The sun had set about 30 minutes previously, but I was feeling overwhelmed by the heat. Finally I told hubby I could not longer take it and had to leave. He was concerned and walked out with me and suggested we stop by the Irish Pub. Well, the Dubliner fixed me up, and after a half hour in the air conditioned heaven (as hubby had another Guinness) I felt like the pub had saved my life....Drama queen, I am. We decided to watch the rest of the game in our seats.

No, Sammy Sosa did not hit the 600 home-run mark that evening. But, it was thrilling each time he went to bat as thousands of camera flashes sparkled in collective anticipation and the ballpark was enveloped in magic.

Paris, je t'aime

Although I've never been to Paris, I fell in love with the city this past weekend. How is this possible? Hubby and I went to see the movie "Paris, je t'aime" this past weekend. It took a bit of persuading, but luckily for me the new pirates movie has received bad reviews and so we saw a matinee viewing at the Angelika.

The movie is a compilation of short movies by various directors depicting different parts of Paris with theme of love. It was compelling and at various times I was laughing (at the mimes in "Tour Eiffel"), and then moments later had tears in my eyes (watching Juliette Binoche as the grief-stricken mother in "Place des Victories"). Always interesting to see the different directing and creative styles of each director. Now I want to visit Paris...maybe next year.

Twister

Last Friday was April 13...Friday the 13th. I thought nothing of it. Just not into superstitions: I love black cats, think nothing of walking on cracks on the sidewalk or spilling salt. Perhaps I should clarify, I am selectively superstitious as I purposely avoid passing anyone on a staircase, I touch wood to avoid jinxing something I've said, and opening an umbrella over one's head while indoors is something I avoid.

Last Friday was our first experience in Texas with a major storm front that produced tornadoes We've seen the tornado warnings on the local Dallas stations, but they have usually been for rural areas beyond DFW...until last Friday.

The air last Friday was thick with humidity and dreadfully still. When the air is humid and still you know a storm is on its way. I didn't really think much of the tornado warnings late that afternoon, although I did ask hubby to try and leave work a bit early to avoid the storm. When they announced that sirens had been sounded in Ft Worth I developed a sinking feeling in my stomach. (I had a dream about a tornado Wednesday night.)

When I actually heard the sirens in Dallas my pulse started racing. I tried to stay calm, but I was worried about hubby who was picking up take out at Blue Orchid on Oaklawn. He was home within minutes and we ate downstairs in the spare bedroom huddled in front of the tv watching the local weather people trying to predict where the tornadoes might touch down. Then we lost electricity, although luckily it was only for about 15-20 minutes and when it came back on the possible tornadoes had passed us by heading on an eastward path. We were lucky. What a freaky Friday the 13th.

On a side note, the movie Twister was shown on one of the movie channels the next night. After Friday night I have a new appreciation for the film. (I was surprised to see Philip Seymour Hoffman in a supporting role as a storm chaser.)

Orlando

Last Sunday hubby and I finally returned from a trip to Orlando. Hubby was there for a trade-show and I tagged along to keep him company....as well as checking out Disney World. The anticipation of the journey also helped me through the in-laws visit. Of course now that it's all over -- the in-laws visiting and the Orlando trip -- I am zonked.

We stayed at the Swan -- not an 'official' Disney hotel, but it is a Starwood Hotel (http://www.starwoodhotels.com) and we like getting those SPG points (although we have yet to use them). The hotel has these giant swans on the roof, which helped immensely to spot it as we traversed the maze of Disney roadways that mysteriously lack street signs. Hubby was disappointed by the hotel's inability to deliver packages without signatures, as I was disappointed by the decor (the rooms need a fresh coat of paint and the bathrooms need new tiles). The benefit was its close proximity to EPCOT and Disney-MGM. Another plus was the Todd English restaurant Bluezoo (http://www.thebluezoo.com) at the neighbouring Dolphin Hotel.

Hubby and I managed to spend a few hours exploring EPCOT the Sunday before the trade show (he was quite pleased with the Guinness at the UK pub). Then I explored EPCOT the next day with my parents as they joined me for part of the day. They just happened to be in Florida (Daytona Beach) that same week. My Mum couldn't get over "how fat everyone is down here"! Of course I can't say much since my size 4 years are long gone. It was lovely to see them and spend time with them.

I visited Disney-MGM Studios on Tuesday. Fun place for adults, but I can't understand why people bring babies and young toddlers to this park. On this note, visiting Disney has been an excellent form of birth control. While I did see some well-behaved children with excellent parents, the vast majority were ill-behaved and lacking manners. It's unfortunate that "Nanny 911" can't be cloned and sent to homes on an 'as needed' basis.

Wednesday was spent purchasing Disney souvenirs and then lounging by the pool and swimming a few laps. Foolishly I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs and got a nasty burn. Sitting down was a bit uncomfortable for a few days.

Thursday evening we arrived early at the airport and eagerly awaited our flight to Dallas, which was first delayed and then finally cancelled due to inclement weather at DFW. We scrambled to find a hotel close to the airport, a Hilton Garden (I think), and then to re-book a flight. The earliest flight hubby could find was 8:50 a.m. on Sunday, three days later!!! We made the best of it and luckily Orlando is not a bad place to be stranded. A clunky air conditioning unit at the Hilton Garden made us switch hotels to the Sheraton Suites (http://www.sheratonairport.com) just up the road. The outside of this airport hotel belies the freshly refurbished interior. It was a pleasant and much 'nicer' room/suite than at the Swan (especially the bathtub/watercloset). Only bad part was the breakfast room/buffet.

Hubby rented a car Friday (fire-engine red Ford Mustang -- must be a guy thing) and we were off to visit my parents at Daytona Beach (after he finished a phone meeting). They were staying with my Mum's childhood friend (this friendship goes back more than a half-century) at her time-share. We spent the afternoon there and joined them for dinner at a buffet. My parents had gone on about the buffets earlier in the week so I really wanted to try one. Unfortunately, my tummy was upset later that evening so buffets are not for me.

Saturday was spent sleeping in as hubby was exhausted from the trade-show, and exploring Kennedy Space Center (hubby was in his glory). I made hubby take the long-way there so we could drive through Cocoa Beach. Ever since watching I Dream of Jeannie http://www.idreamofjeannie.com after school as a child I have wanted to visit Cocoa Beach, home of astronaut Tony Nelson and Jeannie. Hubby, who has never watched I Dream of Jeannie, did not share my excitement but indulged me nonetheless. He was very excited about Kennedy Space Center and it was really neat to see the Saturn rocket.

We were so happy to get back to Dallas on Sunday!!! There's no place like home.

Sudoku Madness

The in-laws left this morning. Luckily their ten day visit went smoothly. Although there were a few tense moments on my part while trying to watch 'Lost' last week. The in-laws do not watch this show and kept asking questions every five minutes. Thank God for Tivo ("the world's greatest invention" according to hubby) as we were able to pause while I explained 'Lost' background information.

Over the course of the in-laws' visit we took them to see some of the popular DFW tourist destinations: Ft Worth stockyards, Sixth Floor Museum (& spot where JFK was shot allegedly by Lee Harvey Oswald), Dallas Arboretum, and, of course, the outlet mall in Allen and Target (a must for all visiting Canadians -- why they haven't expanded north of the border is beyond me).

When we were not doing the tourist thing I noticed that the in-laws always seemed to be working on sudoku puzzles. I was intrigued as I have always found crossword puzzles interesting and challenging as opposed to number problems, and yet the in-laws were so absorbed in these number puzzles. After five days I finally found a sudoku puzzle from Sunday's paper and attempted it to discover what the allure is. Surprisingly I couldn't put it down (even though it was a difficult one). Then my mother-in-law bought me a pocket sudoku book, and since then I have been overtaken with sudoku madness. The best time to work on a puzzle is right before I go to sleep. Poor hubby. The in-laws have left but the madness continues.

Music & Lyrics

Music and Lyrics is a sweet movie. I went to see it several days ago and cannot get that 80s Pop video out of my thoughts. Hugh Grant was perfect as the has-been 80s Brit-new-wave-rocker. It is impossible to dislike him, although his character's relationship with Drew Barrymore's character was not as easy to fall for. Despite the cuteness of their building attraction and relationship onscreen, I had difficulty buying into it considering their age difference. It would have been far more interesting if the female protagonist had been in her late-thirties and had actually been a fan. Cute movie....but, the romance and/or Drew Barrymore's character could have had more facets.

Tony and Cappy R.I.P.

Moving to a new city is an exciting adventure. It takes time to 'get into the groove', like finding personal favourites of your new city, such as what radio station to wake up with. After a day or two in Dallas we found a station we both liked, Mix 1029, which has an eclectic mix of current music (and the call numbers also happen to be my birthday).

Hubby fell hard for the radio station's morning show with "Tony and Cappy". He would tell me amusing stories regarding the duo's radio escapades...although, I have a terrible habit of sleeping in, so I would usually catch the last 90 minutes of the show. I loved their banter, Tony the bachelor with the dogs and Cappy the family guy in the suburbs. My personal fave was when Cappy surprised one of his favourite grade-school teachers back home as she was teaching. You never knew what was going to be said next.

This week I noticed that instead of Cappy's voice there was a Victoria chick that usually does Hollywood gossip. I didn't pay much attention as I find her annoying, and just assumed that Cappy was on holiday. But, this morning I woke early and hubby asked me what happened to Cappy as the radio promos just said Tony and Victoria...no Cappy. I googled Cappy and found his MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=32784856 . Cappy was fired!!!! Out of the blue a week ago, Clear Channel (the owners of Mix 1029) told him that they wanted to go in a new direction and he wouldn't be part of it. They should have at least said something on the air about his absence, or had a blurb on their website. Instead it is like he never existed.

Tony and Cappy, it was just too good to last. Mornings won't be the same without your banter. R.I.P.

Heart-Shaped Pizza

We bought into the Valentine's hype. But, can I help it if I love getting flowers and being wined and dined? I received a lovely bouquet of red roses from hubby when he arrived home from work and then we were on our way to a popular Addison steakhouse. It must be popular because there was a queue outside the door as we arrived. Not a good sign. We just thought they were overwhelmed with the arrival of all the 7pm reservations, but it took over five minutes to check in as the hostesses were too busy answering the phone and managing the reservation system. Got a sinking feeling when we were told that it would be a fifteen to twenty minute wait for a table.

After thirty minutes of standing in a crowded lobby/bar, the evening was feeling more cattle-call than romantic. It seemed like everyone was getting a table but us. We decided to ditch the restaurant, but hubby wanted to have a word with the manager while I wanted a quick escape. Only after complaining (and being halfway out the door) were we offered a table. I just wanted to leave since the manager offered no apologies and stated that "a half-hour wait was good on the busiest night of the year," and "...that some people had been caught in traffic." So, what exactly is the point of making a reservation a week ahead? The restaurant was ill-prepared and took too many reservations. With the plethora of steakhouses in the DFW area you would think that this restaurant would want to stand out by offering exceptional customer service. Wrong. Good food is only part of the equation in a fine dining experience, and this steakhouse (with the name of a British prime minister best known for his appeasement with Nazi Germany) is sorely lacking in customer service and ambience.

Seething and venting during the car ride home we vowed never to set foot in that particular steakhouse again. We did end up having a quiet romantic evening eating a heart-shaped pizza from Papa John's in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace. It was such a fine evening after all that we decided to make heart-shaped pizza an annual valentine tradition. Thanks Papa John's.

Tragically Hip

Tragically Hip are coming to Dallas. (Although some might argue that we who ARE tragically hip live in Dallas, that is a matter of opinion.) They are scheduled to play at the Palladium Ballroom the evening of March 16, 2007.

I am very excited!! The prospect of seeing Tragically Hip perform in a club is unbelievable. I last saw them at the Corel Centre in Kanata (or whatever it is called now...originally the Palladium) with at least ten to fifteen thousand other people. The acoustics were absolutely dreadful as every sound bounced off the steel and concrete. So, the thought of seeing them in a smaller venue is enough to make me hyperventilate. But, there is a catch: my husband's parents will be visiting with us during that time...and I just can't imagine them attending a Tragically Hip concert. Timing is everything isn't it.