Gymn Days

Given that Hubby and I will be flying to Maui in a week, I have been hitting the gymn hard the past couple of weeks. Two miles a day, five days a week for a total of ten miles. Could be much better, but I will work at it. Meanwhile, my feet are aching and I'm zonked most evenings.

Today at the gymn I noticed behaviour that irritates me to no end: a woman talked on her cell phone while on the treadmill. Very LOUDLY. Others in the gymn were wearing headphones listening to music or watching television, but one could still hear her. Do people have no shame? What about boundaries? Also, how can one workout effectively on the treadmill while carrying on a cell phone conversation? Grrr! I miss the days before cell phones when phone booths were tucked away in some private spot.

Sunday Night With The Cowboys

Hanging out on the sofa eating cheese puffs (man, are they addictive or what?) and watching the Cowboys battle the Eagles. Thinking about dinner but that would require getting my butt off this comfy sofa. Hubby is away on a business trip to Ottawa and spending time with his folks and I get to be messy. Not too messy, but I leave dishes in the sink and clothes on the floor. I'm in heaven since NBC is featuring the Cowboys game tonight. Football in HDTV is better than being at the stadium.

Get A Mammogram

For all the ladies out there, if you are in your late thirties please go to your family doctor and ask for a baseline mammogram. Doctors may not find anything and can use it as a base from which to judge your future mammograms. Don't forget to do the self-exam, but I think it's better to find something on an x-ray when it's tiny. I went for my first mammogram last January and they found micro-calcifications in my right breast, and I then went for a six-month follow-up and luckily nothing had changed, but I still need to go every six months. It doesn't hurt that much -- just a bit uncomfortable -- and the key is to discover a problem early enough that it can be treated and managed. Ladies, you have the power to ask/demand a mammogram, so get yourself to a doctor and ask for a mammogram.

Check webmd.com for breast cancer symptoms.

Gourmet Magazine, 1941-2009

Two days ago Conde Nast announced that it would cease publishing Gourmet magazine, and since that time I have been going through various stages of grief.

I was shocked that Conde Nast killed the oldest food magazine in the United States, and I am still in disbelief that they did it without a fight. Are there not other ways to salvage it, such as: increasing subscription rates, changing it to a quarterly publication while gradually increasing its presence online with podcasts. Their argument is that they still have Bon Appetit magazine, but it unfortunately is full of recipes, while Gourmet was so much more than that.

These past couple of days I have been feeling guilty over the past Gourmet issues I have recycled or tossed (after clipping favourite articles and recipes) in the process of moving across North America -- especially the December issues. Now I will be scouring used book stores and online for copies. The December issues were the first I bought off the newsstands and they are what got me hooked.

Anger consumed me yesterday as I found myself phoning Conde Nast to cancel all our subscriptions we still receive from them and asking for a refund on the remainder of my Gourmet subscription. If they cancel Gourmet then they do not deserve our loyalty or our cash. Damn you Conde Nast. I hope your other publications flounder.

Meanwhile, I have been sad these past two days knowing that I will no longer be receiving Gourmet in the mail every month. For almost twenty years I have lost myself inside pages of this magazine reading about fabulous travels, wonderful food, far-off restaurants that I might one day visit, and tantalizing recipes illustrated with photography sure to induce salivation. My favourite issue was always the December issue and I am disappointed that Conde Nast chose to end with the November issue instead of the Holiday issue.

My only hope is that in a few years, long after Conde Nast has forgotten about Gourmet magazine and the brand has dwindled to cookbooks, some small publishing house will have the courage to either revive it in a new transformation or recognize the need for a new magazine that caters to all that is the art of good living.

Glee

Think I've finally found a new television series to avidly follow. It's called Glee and can be seen on Fox every Wednesday. The story revolves around a high school glee club and it's full of humour with a dash of campiness not to mention the musical numbers thrown in every now and then. Now, the little high school I attended in Quebec did not have a glee club -- at least when I attended -- so I do not understand what glee clubs are, but I'm really loving this version of one. Tonight's episode is fabulous with Kristin Chenoweth guest-starring (I want the pink cowboy boots she's wearing during the Carrie Underwood number, but in red). Fingers crossed that she will be a guest-star in an upcoming episode.

Do Not Subscribe to American Vogue

Just off the phone with an operator at American Vogue and I feel ripped off.

Way back in June I received promotional mail from the magazine telling me "to subscribe so that I do not miss out on the upcoming September issue of Vogue." I had previously been a subscriber and had let my subscription lapse at the end of 2008as I had decided it was no longer worth it. Perhaps it was because Hubby was away on a business trip and I was feeling down, but for some strange reason I had a moment of weakness and sent in the promotional card to get a subscription.

Two weeks after sending in the card, I received the July issue. Initially I was surprised because I was under the impression that they would be billing me first and then beginning my subscription with the September issue. Also, I was disappointed because the issue was tinier than the fall LL Bean catalog, not to mention that loathesome (and husband-stealer) actress Sienna Miller was featured on the cover. A few weeks later I received the August issue. I did receive a couple of invoices, but as the summer was busy with activity and a couple of trips I did not get around to sending in the cheque until the end of August.

I kept waiting for the September issue to arrive, but it never did, and as the October issue is now on newsstands I finally phoned Vogue. It appears that they did cash my cheque on August 31, but "it takes 4-6 weeks to process the cheque"! So, they stopped the subscription, received my payment, but won't re-instate the subscription for 4-6 weeks, which is the October issue. Basically they have my money for a month before they will do anything.

I cancelled the subscription and asked for a refund as the ONLY reason I subscribed to Vogue was to receive the September issue. The reason I feel ripped off is because by adding my name as a subscriber in June they are 'padding' their number/list of subscribers that is used to sell advertising space in the fall issues. More subscribers means Vogue can command more money for advertising and lure more companies to advertise in the magazine.

That is it for American Vogue; I will not buy another issue. Now, I haven't given up on French Vogue (follow on Twitter: FashionWeekLive), or British Vogue, but they are difficult to locate on newsstands in silicon valley.

It's Always Sunny Here, With a Chance of Crazy Drivers

It's another sunny day in silicon valley, although it started it off with fog -- reminds me of the movie 'L.A. Story' where he pre-tapes the weather segment. I was actually happy when it rained late Sunday afternoon/early evening as we haven't had any major rainfall since mid-June. Strange as it may seem, I miss rainy days where you just hang out on the sofa watching movies or reading. Sunny days make me feel like I should be out doing stuff constantly.

We made it back from Lake Tahoe after hours and hours (and hours) on the California highway system. South Lake Tahoe was a bizarre combination of nature and casinos. Five minutes from the Heavenly Gondola is the Nevada stateline with a half-dozen high-rise casinos. The gondola ride up the mountain was amazing as you can see most of Lake Tahoe from the observation deck at the top. Must admit that I was freaked out by the height.

The great thing about staying around the Heavenly Gondola/Village is that you can walk to shops, restaurants, bars, and the casinos. Hubby enjoyed the double Crown Royal rye and coke at Hard Rock Cafe, while I found amusement at the nickel slot machines -- big spender that I am. At Harrah's Hubby decided to try his hand at roulette so he could get a casino chip as a souvenir for yours truly. The first night we had no idea what we were doing and just put chips on our birthdays! Although, towards then end I noticed a pattern on which numbers it landed on. So, the next night he decides to try again, and thims time he puts chips on corners and between numbers. Hubby did well, but he stuck with self-imposed limits and left the game when he got to a certain amount. I can see how certain personalities would become addicted to gambling, so you really have to go into a casino with limits as to how much you will spend, or just bring in your limit in cash and that's it.

Yes, the ride home from Lake Tahoe on Labor Day was insane. We had planned on going the 'short' route home via the southern highway to Sacramento, but the traffic jam was insane. It took fifteen minutes to get four blocks, so I convinced Hubby to take the northern highway. Guess we would have been okay except that I convinced him to stop at a restaurant for lunch. It was bumper to bumper traffic due to construction on the highway...although NO crews were working that day. Perhaps people get nervous driving in construction areas because the traffic jam suddenly ended when we left the area that was being re-surfaced. We did observe that Californians drive in the left lane instead of using it for passing slower moving vehicles -- of course Ontario people do that too.

The strangest thing in California is that people rarely use their signal lights when turning or switching lanes. We never noticed this in Texas -- although Dallas was peculiar because drivers would do U-turns in the middle of streets instead of driving around the block (this happened a lot in Uptown). No, in California people don't think it's necessary to let other drivers know they are turning. Also, California drivers do not know how to merge. Most of the time they don't look to see if a car is coming and they just merge into the lane assuming that the car in that lane will let them in. We use the horn frequently here, but then people take offence to that even though you're trying to avoid an accident. California drivers are crazy and drive with little regard to the other drivers on the road, and so driving defensively is a must to avoid collisions.

Lake Tahoe

Finally getting excited about our Labour Day weekend trip. I've heard so much about Lake Tahoe, so Hubby and I have decided to see what all the fuss is about. Since half of the lake is in Nevada I may get a chance to visit a casino. Hard to believe it's been over a year since we were at Choctaw in Oklahoma. I'll have to try my hand at blackjack (or as my Gramma called it: 21) to get a casino chip as a souvenir. Here's hoping there's no smoking in casinos. Must check the weather forecast and figure out what to pack.

Mad Men Season 1

While Hubby has been gone on a business trip this week I've kept my evenings busy by re-watching season one of Mad Men. I love the costumes and sets, and although I wasn't around in 1960, it does look authentic and the colours jump off the screen -- especially in high def. This show just pulls you into the storylines of the characters and leaves you wanting more. Can't wait for August 16 when the third season is set to begin. Did Betty have the baby? Did Joan get married? Will Roger Sterling be back at Sterling Cooper? Are Betty and Don back together? Is Peggy running the show at Sterling Cooper? Did Pete and Trudy adopt a baby? And, what happened to beatnik Midge?

Childhood Memories: RIP Les Lye

This evening while checking news on the net I discovered the death of veteran actor Les Lye. While the name may not be familiar to most people, he was a regular on 'You Can't Do That On Television', one of my favorite television shows that I watched was a kid. I lived for Saturday mornings when the show came on...I think it started at 11am on CJOH...I loved that it was all kids -- except for Les Lye. The best part was the slime that fell on the each person when they said 'what?'...gooey green goodness. Great escapism for a pre-teen. I also remember being in awe of my older cousin whose locker in high school was located next to one of the child actors, Kevin, who I thought -- in my ten-year old brain -- was dreamy.

Les Lye was also part of 'Willie & Floyd', another childhood television staple. Only Canadians of a certain age will recall this show (even Hubby doesn't remember it). My older sister won a write-in contest from the show and we excitedly crowded around the television as they read her winning paragraph on why she liked her school teacher. Her prize was a small knitting machine for children. As a seven year-old I was quite impressed. That was the most memorable part of 'Willie & Floyd' for me.

Perhaps this is all part of getting older when those who were on radio and television in your childhood start dying: Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and now Les Lye.

LL Bean Catalog Bigger Than July Vogue

Yesterday I received both the July 2009 issue of Vogue and the late summer 2009 LL Bean catalog in the mail. Much to my surprise, the LL Bean catalog was heavier and had 25 more pages than Vogue. I realize that the July issue is usually one of the smallest (next to January), but this is tiny. The huge fall issue usually has more pages of ad space before the table of contents than the total amount of pages in this issues, which comes to a grand total of 134. I've been feeling guilty since dropping my subscription last December and so I'm back to supporting this Anna Wintour rag. Here's hoping they've toned down the politics, cut-back on the British writers/editors to add more of an American viewpoint, and kept the sleek design layout.

Strange Days

Yesterday was such a strange day. First, in the morning came the news of Farrah Fawcett's death. After her lengthy battle with cancer it came as no surprise but sad nonetheless. As a child I can remember staying up past my bedtime on Fridays to watch 'Charlie's Angels', and it was a game with my sisters to pretend we were the angels battling criminals. I was always the 'smart' one, Sabrina, and as my older sister became a teenager she tried to emulate Farrah's hairstyle...even though she had dark brown hair. Of course, as a child, I was totally in awe that Farrah Fawcett was married to "The Six Million Dollar Man" in real life. I really thought she had it all in the mid-1970s.

As the day progressed yesterday I was shocked to hear that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital with a cardiac arrest. I was certain that he would receive the top medical help and would recover, but I was wrong. Apparently when the paramedics arrived he had no pulse and was not breathing. Not good. Not good at all. My jaw dropped when I heard the word that he had died. Michael Jackson dead. It can't be real.

Michael Jackson is another part of my childhood. I can remember as a small child watching him with the Jackson 5 perform as guests on the "Sonny & Cher Show", and I remember his first solo single "Ben" being on the radio and loving it, only to hear my parents say it was about a rat...what? I'm still a bit confused about that one.

It was his solo album "Off the Wall" that really made an impression upon me. I was just beginning to listen to the radio intently as most pre-teens did back in the late 1970s, when music videos first came out. Michael Jackson's videos for "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and especially "Rock With You" really were my favorites. Most videos at that time showed a band playing and were boring, but Michael Jackson's videos popped. I can remember when his videos were on television I could not take my eyes off of them, and they even provoked me to dance along at home.

Then came "Thriller". While I never purchased, or received, "Off the Wall" (although I can still picture the album cover from staring at it in the newspaper advertisements all those years ago), "Thriller" was purchased. I was in highschool and I can remember being in a shopping mall and hearing the whole album being played in a department store. It was everywhere. Everyone had it. It seemed like every song became a hit and it saturated the radio. Then the videos came out.

I can remember when the "Thriller" video was released and it was major news and buzz. There was a long version of it that was like a movie short, but then most video shows would only play the short version. Squeamish as I was back then (and still am) the "Thriller" video scared me. Honestly, it really freaked me out. "Bille Jean" was not scary and I liked the beat, and so I preferred that video.

I can remember a friend loving Michael Jackson during that period -- she had his posters up in her locker and she had a crush on him. While I liked his music, I just didn't find him sexy. He had changed. He no longer looked like the Michael Jackson from "Off the Wall". He seemed more feminine and delicate.

As the 1980s progressed my taste in music changed and I started listening to 'alternative' and 'college radio' music like R.E.M. and I turned my back slightly to Michael Jackson. Although, I loved the song "Man in the Mirror" during my university days and can remember dancing to it in my dorm room and at clubs. In fact, it was that song that was in my head yesterday evening as I tuned in the the cable news channels to get the latest on his death.

It's been almost thirty years since "Off the Wall" was released. In those years Michael Jackson morphed into a strange -- almost creepy -- looking person who displayed odd behavior. What happened to him? For me, when I think of Michael Jackson, I will always picture the beautiful young black man dancing in the "Rock With You" video and pictured on the cover of "Off the Wall". That was Michael Jackson at his finest.

Missing Texas Half Price Books

Last Sunday Hubby and I checked out a local used bookstore. We both love wandering around the aisles of shelves crammed with old books looking for hidden treasures. In particular, I enjoy looking for out of print books and get a thrill when I find one. It actually makes me want to jump up and down shouting, but then I realize that it's subjective and only myself cherishes my "new" book.

While this particular local used bookstore was good, there was something missing. Maybe it was that the aisles were too narrow and made me claustrophobic, or perhaps it was a particular smell that permeated the shop -- Hubby and I decided that it was the smell of garlic due to the adjacent restaurant. What this used bookstore clearly wasn't was Half Price Books.

The Half Price Books store that we used to frequent in Texas was big, not massive, but it had wide aisles that two people could be looking on either side of the shelf with no major space issues. There was a bench by the 'latest' books and magazines racks that could help you peruse and make decisions while sitting. The sections were clearly marked and organized. I could spend a couple of hours at Half Price Books, especially considering the amount of time it took me to go through all the discount racks outside the store.

Now there is a Half Price Books location about a 15 minute drive from where we live, But it is less than half the size of the one in Texas. The first time we went there I thought "is this it?". I went to the back of the store to see if there was a section we missed but there wasn't anything else. It was a huge disappointment. Hopefully they will expand over time. Until then, we'll have to search for other used bookstores.

Why All the Palin Hatred?

Just don't understand all the hatred for Sarah Palin that still exists. Why should anyone care about her anymore since she is no longer running for VP? Let it go. David Letterman was rude, but hey, he's getting old and trying to remain relevant with all the young talk show hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien.

Still, why do people feel threatened by her? Perhaps some can't handle a woman in a position of power who still remains feminine instead of embracing the shellacked helmet hair and ill-fitting suits of other female politicians. Maybe it's her conservative views that insight others.

Regardless of her politics, when the media makes personal attacks against a female politician it sends the wrong message to young women. It may make them think that it's okay to make scathing remarks about the way a woman looks if you don't like and/or agree with them. So, instead of debating her beliefs you belittle her attire and appearance. It may make young women decide to second-guess, or even forego a career in politics.

I think there is a deeper reason for the hatred and it is a fear and loathing of women. Let's respect women in power and give them the same courtesy as their male counterparts.

Baking

I've been thinking about baking banana bread since watching this season's premiere of 'Weeds' on Showcase the other night. Just not sure if I have all the ingredients, so it may become a banana cake.

Not sure why I've got desserts on the mind, but I do. It's this damn sweet tooth I am afflicked with, and it's caused nothing but cavities and unwanted inches on my hips. At least I finally kicked the soft drink habit two years ago.

Last Friday I made butterscotch pie. Really I did. I even made the pie crust from scratch. Shocking. Unfortunately for the pie, I learned that one should make the crust hours before in order that it chills in the fridge long enough to roll out into a thin crust. The filling was divine...hmmm...it was very good. Since I didn't have a double-boiler I improvised by cooking the butterscotch cream filling in a pot place ontop of a frying pan filled with water. It was a bit messy, but it did the trick.

I had planned on making blueberry cobbler this week, but the banana bread/cake thing has taken over my thoughts, and I've got lots of bananas.

Life After People

Last month I was having diffulty falling to sleep and counting sheep just was not working. I quietly turned on the television so as to not wake up Hubby but there wasn't much on in the wee hours. All I can say is thank God for Comcast On Demand.

As I was perusing through the titles of TV shows I came across one called "Life After People" and was intrigued. What a bizarre name for a program...of course, I chose it.

Lying in bed I was riveted as the program explained what would happen to the world after people disappeared. It does not explain why the entire earth's population has vanished, but just the effects of a world devoid of humans. The computer generated special effects are amazing as it shows the deterioration of skyscrapers, bridges, and some of the world's greatest cities. As one can assume, all man-made objects require regular maintenance or else they will eventually decay and return back to the basic elements.

I have been hooked on this History channel show since discovering it that one night thanks to On Demand. The strange part is that as riveting as it may be, it actually helps me fall asleep at night. Perhaps because it worked that first evening, or maybe it's the narrator's voice, I don't know why but it works for me.

'Jon & Kate' Sickness

What is the national obsession with the TLC show 'Jon & Kate Plus Eight'? I just do not understand the fascination with watching a couple that have a set of twins and then were crazy and had sextuplets through invitro fertilization. Why would anyone watch this show?

Okay, I admit that I caught an episode while on the treadmill at the gym because there wasn't much else on at 11am. It was amusing to watch her shop for groceries and made me feel glad that my grocery bill would never amount to as much as hers did. But I had to turn the channel when she interacted with her husband at a toy store when shopping for birthday/Christmas gifts. She spoke to him like he was one of her children. It was embarrassing and I felt uncomfortable for him and I had to change the channel. If I spoke that way to Hubby our marriage would be over and vice versa. Perhaps couples should watch this to see how NOT to treat your spouse. Honestly, is anyone really surprised that this marriage is on the rocks?

After watching this trainwreck of a marriage does anyone in the United States still want to tune in to watch more episodes? I only feel pity for their poor offspring who will have this unfortunate chapter of their lives captured on film forever. Jon & Kate need an intervention immediately to save their children from years of therapy later on. Let's do them all a favour and not watch this horrendous show.

Packing

I've really got to start packing. At this point our bed is covered with clothes, but I still haven't dug out the suitcase. Instead, I've been busy buying music from iTunes and watching a documentary on PBS, 'We Shall Remain', about the 1838 relocation of Cherokees from Southeastern US to Oklahoma territory. Must start packing.

Trip

I'm starting to get excited about the upcoming trip home later this week. Unfortunately, I'm not as enthused about packing; in fact I hate packing. Packing makes me irritated, and so I tend to procrastinate and that makes it even worse.

Can't wait to see my friend Amanda. We're going for dinner on Thursday evening and it will involve lots of alcohol, news and gossip. The sad thing is the forecast calls for cold, rainy weather that day/evening. What to pack?

What's Up With Elizabeth Edwards?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you have heard that Elizabeth Edwards has written a book about her husband's affair. All the media outlets are giving her air time to promote it so that people will run out and buy a copy. What I want to know is: what drives her to do this?

If I were Elizabeth Edwards I would keep all of this private. Time has a wonderful way of burying scandals until they become footnotes in history. New scandals emerge to shock the population and gradually we forget past transgressions. Lie low and the tabloids will drop the subject, but if you try to capitalize on your scandal by writing a book then be prepared for the glare of media scrutiny. The National Enquirer, which broke the original scandal, probably has already paid hacks to follow Rielle Hunter around trying to get DNA.

Oh, Elizabeth, when will you realize that your man let you down, and if you take him back you must accept all the dirty laundry: skanky woman he cheated with and the possible child he fathered. But, most of us wash the dirty laundry in private and do not write books and go on 'Oprah'. Does she need: money, fame, sympathy?

All is Lost on Lost

Last night's episode of 'Lost' still has me baffled and questioning what the point is for this season. It has been explained that the six must go back to the island to save it, but Locke and Sun are in the present while the other four are in 1977. The beginning of the season was interesting when Ben and Locke were trying to get the six to go back to the island, but the second-half has been, well, a tad boring. Here's hoping that they wrap up this year with a huge cliff-hanger and the writers make next season more action-packed without giant plot holes.

Phineas and Ferb

Last weekend Hubby was at a photography workshop around Yosemite and I tagged along. While I didn't actually attend the workshop with him I did the 'Lost in Translation' thing and hung out at the hotel we were staying at. I indulged myself and went to the spa for a facial. When I went back to our room I soon discovered that the channels on the tv were either sports or children's programming. Somehow I found myself watching the Disney channel's marathon of the cartoon 'Phineas and Ferb'. Shockingly, I could not switch the channel as I became more and more engrossed in this crazy cartoon.

At first, I thought it strange that Phineas had a triangle for a head, but after an hour I stopped noticing it. I was amused by the bizarre and outlandish inventions the step-brothers create in their backyard, and how they never get into trouble because their parents never discover their antics.

Since arriving back home I have been searching for the Disney channel and --gasp-- recording 'Phineas and Ferb'. Hubby thinks I've gone loony; he laughs and shakes his head when he checks the DVR recordings and sees 'Phineas and Ferb'. Perhaps now my niece and nephew will think I'm cool.

When an ipod Just Isn't Enough

Word has it that President Obama, who is visiting the UK for the G-20 Summit, presented Queen Elizabeth with an ipod. Apparently, the aforementioned ipod was loaded with photos of the queen during her last visit to the United States, but what kind of gift is an ipod to a reigning monarch in her 80s? After giving the Prime Minister of England a boxed set of classic American movies on DVD (that were apparently non-compatible with British DVD players), this is another indicationn that the White House is in dire need of a top-notch protocol officer...or perhaps a staffer that could give more thought and substance to these official gifts. Do they really believe that DVDs and ipods are not availble overseas?

Breaking Bad

Yesterday we received season one, first disc, of Breaking Bad from Netflix. It's a television show on cable, I think AMC, that won some awards and the second season has recently started and so Hubby and I thought we should check it out.

The show centers on Walt, a high school chemistry teacher, who discovers he has terminal lung cancer shortly after turning fifty. A meek, mild man, Walt is emboldened by his diagnosis to seek a financial nestegg for his family by starting a meth lab. Perhaps it is some sort of mid-life crisis, or a sense of breaking free from his overbearing (and pregnant) wife, and his responsibilites at home.

Much like the substance he cooks up with the help of a former student, Breaking Bad is highly addictive. We watched the disc in one sitting and will pop it in the mail today so that we can continue watching.

Problems Sleeping

It's Saturday morning, sometime before seven, and I can't sleep. Alright, I've slept through the night but I have woken up and I can't fall back to sleep. It's been two weeks in a row where this has ocurred. Strangely, on weekdays I have no problem sleeping in. It's strange why I can't sleep soundly on Saturday mornings...and it drives Hubby crazy.

Helicopters and Hospitals

One can only hope that the Government of Quebec finally gets an air ambulance system up and running in the province as a result of the untimely death of Natasha Richardson. Perhaps if one had been operating she may have made it to the trauma center in Montreal within minutes instead of hours.

I never really gave much thought to medical helicopters until we came upon an accident (in the middle of nowhere) on a mountain road South of Taos, New Mexico last year. By the time we got there the police had stopped traffic going both ways and allowed for enough space for the helicopter to land and load the victims. It was amazing to watch it land on a tiny highway clinging to the side of a mountain, and how it probably saved lives that day because an ambulance would have taken hours in Memorial Day weekend traffic from Santa Fe.

Quebec has many remote areas (I know because I grew up in one) served by regional hospitals and if you require seeing a specialist you must travel hours to Montreal. (We always felt that the government believed the province ended just past Montreal.) Not every regional hospital has a CT scan or MRI. Actually, I think there may be more MRI machines in Dallas hospitals than there are in Canadian hospitals. (At the time we first moved to the US there was ONE MRI for the Eastern Ontario region and it was running 24 hrs a day!!) The regional hospital in the town where my family lives has a CT scan thanks to local fundraising, so I really do not know if the hospital in Ste Agathe has one.

Perhaps it might be in the best interest for all if the regional hospital in the Mont Tremblant area is equipped with a major trauma unit, CT scan, and MRI. Since this world-class ski hill caters to international travelers wouldn't the Quebec Government want to leave injured skiiers with the best medical experience? It's no secret that downhill skiing involves injuries so why not have the best medical facility available like Aspen does. The Aspen Valley Hospital is a 25-bed facility with a level III trauma center, CT scan, MRI, and state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I would choose Aspen over Mont Tremblant any day.

California Blonde

This morning I dragged myself over to my hairstylist because I could no longer tolerate my root situation. What with these tough economic times I was attempting to drag out the time between highlights...and I made it a whole eight weeks, six days. I tried, I really did, but those pesky white hairs drive me batty and I had become obsessed with them.

I love my stylist. She is super attentive to the highlighting process and, as a result, my blonde tendrils are healthier and less prone to split ends. The downside is she takes three hours to highlight and cut my hair. Okay, today it was more like two hours, 45 minutes, but that's still a long time. Perhaps it's because she uses an iron to straighten my hair instead of blowing it out. All the time it takes to be a California blonde.

Weighty Issue

Here's a link to a great column by Meghan McCain regarding a recent attack by Laura Ingraham on Ms McCain's weight. It's weird to think that in 2009 women are still prejudiced by their weight...and it's still a socially accepted practice as anyone can see by magazine covers.

American Idol Rule Change

I was surprised by American Idol changing their rules somewhat in order to 'save' a contestant from being kicked off because he/she did not receive enough votes from the American public. Perhaps the producers no longer trust the opinions of the voting audience and are scared that they might end up with another Taylor Swift. You might remember him. He won American Idol a few years back and yet his CD did not sell like hotcakes. In fact, I don't think it sold at all, although you can probably find a copy at Overstock.com.

In these shaky economic times the producers want to manipulate the show towards making the big bucks. I got that hint just by watching the auditions and Hollywood Week. Each show you could see them pushing certain singers, and even now you may notice that certain contestants seem to get better lighting than others. It's all about making money. But, I can't help but watch week after week, especially because I can vote now that we're living in the US.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Since moving to California last fall, all we have heard on the television news is how this state is in a drought. We must all be careful with water. But, for almost a week it has been cold and rainy here in sunny California. While it is wonderful for the water resevoirs it is terribly depressing weather. I miss the sunshine on my face.

Inauguration Envy

Like everyone else on the planet I was consumed by the inauguration yesterday. I sat glued to the sofa watching every moment. As a Canadian I was slightly envious of how well America transfers power from one administration to another. It's wonderful that there is time for the new president to be briefed and organized, as well as moving to the new digs in DC.

The big envy on my part is the inauguration. Love the pomp, pageantry and parades. It's amazing how everyone joins in the big party. Could this happen in Canada? Perhaps if they held it in November or May, but definitely not in January in Ottawa. Hopefully I'm not the only Canadian who took in yesterday's festivities and thought, "Why can't we do it this way?"

It's a Geico!

Overheard at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai last November:

"Look! It's a geico!" An older lady exclaimed while pointing at a gecko. Must be great advertising if someone refers to a reptile used in a television advertisement by the name of the product it is touting.