WHY GOD WHY?

Oh for the love of all that is good in the world (not that there's much left) can someone PLEASE explain to me why everything these days seems to be taking AAA batteries??????

No?

Me neither.

Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Today's Blog is brought to you by the letter....

... as in slack. Because the boss is in Montreal for the weekend, and it's normally slow on Fridays anyway. So, since I haven't updated in awhile, I figured I'd just go with the moment. WARNING: there's been some serious lack of sleep in my life, so I'm praying that this will all (somehow) make sense.

Well, to start, our good friend Vinny over at the Big Leather Couch, was GOING to make reference in his Sports Friday blog to the FIFA U20 tournament that just wrapped up last weekend. However, in an effort to not drive me completely batty, he has opted not to. The reason behind his ommission is because I was smack in the middle of that incident.

My company does the security for BMO Field, which was the hosting venue for Toronto. I won't write too many details here - mainly because it was all such a blur that some of us even needed to read the newspapers the next day just to get an idea of what really went down.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_13032.aspx

The building went into lockdown mode, with no one being allowed in or out. After the game was done, we had to wait for over an hour and a half inside, praying that the riots outside would abate and we could go to our cars. The police officers insisted on escorting us to our vehicles in groups, and no one was allowed to be seen in any shirt, credentials or jackets that could make them a target for the violence outside.

We were terrified. We didn't sign on for this - they don't pay us enough to put ourselves out there. Yet, when it came right down to it, our boys were out there, despite the danger to themselves. Four of our guards got injured in the melee. I barely slept that night. Fortunately, the series wrapped up on Sunday with a double game, and the worst of it was the Argentinian fans celebrating by climbing fences and cranes left by the media in the parking lot. No injuries (well, at least to guards) and we didn't need an armed escort to the car.

Let's see, what else is going on? Oh yeah, been working non-stop at both jobs and am downright exhausted. I should be taking tonight to sleep, but no, silly me. My friends at work are taking me out for a belated bday celebration. My poison is tequila,

and everyone knows it. I have a deep sense of forboding....I think I'm in trouble. LOL.

They are also taking the list of ingredients for the Earth version of the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster so that we all may feel like we've had our brains smashed out with a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick. (All you cool froogs will know what I'm talking about).

Let's see...what else is happening in my world...?

Ah yes, let's move onto the "real" job, as my family likes to refer to it. I personally refer to it as the Pits of Hell DayCare, because I feel like I'm babysitting all 30 men that work here. Especially the one young gentleman on the order desk, Warren, or as I like to refer to him, Moron. Quite frankly, I'm tired of him making major mistakes, and ME having to clean up after him. Not to mention that his mistakes make MY job a lot more difficult. The other day I almost strangled him, and wouldn't have thought twice about it. When the boss yells at me for Warren's mistake, it's time to throw in the towel ~ almost. I am looking for something else in the fall. But I have to wait until then .... becausseeee.....

I'M GOING TO THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH IN LESS THAN A WEEK!!

(And no Vince, I don't mean here )

Mom, Dad, bro, sis in law, hubby and of course my gorgeous nephew are going to be spending a week in Orlando FLA, and I can't wait. Rod & I are driving down with the folks (which is why I haven't even LOOKED at my Harry Potter book - I'm gonna need reading material). The only thing that bites is that I don't think Rod's going to bring his laptop, so I won't have internet access for those (hopefully none) rainy days.

I am so psyched - I can't wait. It's been eight years since my last visit to the House of Mouse. Rod & I have saved for six months for this, and the reward is that we won't have to nickle and dime ourselves. We have more than enough money to enjoy the whole trip without worrying.

I'd like to say that there's more excitement happening in my life, but that's about it. But you know what? I'm glad - cuz if there was any more excitement, I don't think I could handle it. :P

Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Sleeping @ work

Here's a funny to start off the week - got lazy today - won't happen again.....


What to Say If You Should Get Caught Sleeping at Work

The top ten list of things to say when caught sleeping at your desk by the boss ...

Number 10 "They told me at the blood bank that this might happen."

Number 9 "This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in that 'Time Management' course you sent me to."

Number 8 "Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-Out. You probably got here just in time!"

Number 7 "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm."

Number 6 "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."

Number 5 "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. What? Are you discriminatory toward people who practice Yoga?"

Number 4 "Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem."

Number 3 "The coffee machine is broken ..."

Number 2 "Someone must've put decaf in the wrong pot ..."

And the #1 best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk ...

Raise your head from the desk and say, "... in Jesus' name. AMEN!"


Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Chasing Cars

*I love this song, and just felt like posting it today.*





Chasing Cars
Snow Patrol

We'll do it all, everything, on our own
We don't need anything or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world

I don't quite know how to say how I feel
Those three words are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
to remind me
to find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes

They're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well

I just know that these things
Will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world





Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

My Take on the HP craze....

Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Canadian Idol Top Seven - Ladies....& T.O's theatre community says Farewell, as the curtain falls on a legend

Well, I WAS going to post from youtube as I usually do, but the jackasses at CTV decided that it was copyright infringement and removed the clips from the site. So, unfortunately, I don't have any to share. BUT, here are my top five choices for the ladies:

*Montana Martin Iles
*Carly Rae Jepsen
*Annika Odegard (I wish I had last night's performance to share with you - she was phenomenal)
*Mila Miller
*Martha Joy

I'll share results tomorrow with y'all - and we'll see if I'm right.

Now, onto some very sad news for those of us in the Toronto theatre community.

This morning, "Honest" Ed Mirvish was pronounced dead at his home at the age of 92. This is what was printed in the CTV news story.


The businessman known as 'Honest Ed', who entertained Toronto for decades with crazy slogans at his legendary discount department store, has died at the age of 92.


A statement from the family says he died early Wednesday at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

Born July 24, 1914, in Colonial Beach, Va., Mirvish was just weeks away from his 93rd birthday.

After moving to Toronto in 1923, Mirvish lived with his family above their downtown Dundas Street grocery store.


At 15, Mirvish's father died and he dropped out of school to support his family.

He was best known for his world-famous "Honest Ed's" bargain store on the corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets.

The store featured discount prices and funny slogans like:
'Welcome, don't faint at our low prices, there's no place to lie down.'
'We don't offer service. We have a slogan--serve yourself and save a lot of money.'


In a tradition that began on his 75th birthday, Mirvish gave away 1,000 free turkeys in his store to shoppers every Christmas.


Toronto Mayor David Miller, who is in Cleveland, said Mirvish's passion for Toronto was second to none.


Miller said in a statement that Mirvish could only be described as a local hero who helped to make Toronto the great city it is.


Toronto councillor and deputy mayor Joe Pantalone described Mirvish as "incredibly influential" and crucial to the development of west-end Toronto.


"He has been a pioneer and an icon. If Ed Mirvish had not been around, Toronto would not be the cosmopolitan and the cultural capital that it," Pantalone told CTV News on Wednesday.


"The city owes a lot to Ed Mirvish, that's why this is a time of sadness but also reflection and appreciation. We would not be who we are if Ed Mirvish had not made his contributions in the economic and cultural field."


Mirvish played a crucial role in expanding Toronto's entertainment scene.


In 1963, Mirvish saved the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto from demolition, spending $500,000 on restoring it.

Mirvish and his son David ran Mirvish Productions, staging major theatre productions around the world.


Mirvish bought and restored the Old Vic in London, England and with his son built the award-winning Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in 1993.


His theatres hosted such blockbusters as "The Lion King," "Mamma Mia" and "Miss Saigon."
Former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman said Mirvish's contributions to theatre in Toronto were unsurpassed.


"He was a great Canadian and he was a great Torontonian. He loved this city and he was Mr. Toronto and Mr. Entertainment," Lastman told CTV News.


"He brought live entertainment to Toronto. What a sacrifice, what a deal he had made at that time. He took an old shack and he renovated it a put a fortune into it."


In 1978 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada and promoted to Officer in 1987. He was also the recipient of more than 250 awards.


In their statement, the family said funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.


I had the pleasure of being part of the Mirvish family for three years as an usher at the Royal Alexandra theatre. Ed and his wonderful wife Ann would frequently drop in to see a show, whether with friends, or by themselves. He always had a kind word for everyone on the staff, from the custodians to the management. He never showed his age, and we always said he wore life well.

Those of us who worked for him knew him as a generous man, and one who would have more than likely, filled in for his employees if there was a shortage. He was hands on with all his ventures, giving way more and more in the later years to his son David.

I wish I had more to say on the man. Truth is, his legacy speaks for us all. Without him, theatre wouldn't be the mainstay of Toronto's entertainment district like it is. Without him, we wouldn't have had the pleasure, honor and opportunity to be the premiere city for the hottest show in North America - Mamma Mia. Without Honest Ed's, many underpriviledged families wouldn't be able to furnish their small apartments, or buy clothing for themselves.

Without Ed Mirvish, Toronto would just have been another spot on the map.

He was a legend. He was loved and admired and respected by all who knew him, and all who knew of him.

What a way to go.

Rest In Peace Ed. You will be sorely missed Mr. Mirvish.

Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

SCHMOOZE AWARD - AND ON MY BDAY TOO

Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Biiiiiirrrttthhhhhdaaaaaay dear MEEEEEEEE

Happy Birthday to me.

(and no I'm not telling how old I am....)

AND to top it off, I've been chosen as a SCHMOOZER by my gal Dixie!!!

I am honored to be chosen for this one. :D I do my best.

So, on this wonderful day, I am choosing the following blogs as my choices for 'The Power of Schmooze' (as soon as I find someone Dix HASN'T tagged) LMAO.

Matt-Man over at Bagwine Ruminations
Ambulance Driver at the blog of the same name (just follow the link)
Crystal (yes girl, I've tagged your ass again) over at Boobs, Injuries & Dr. Pepper
Beck over at The Pop Eye for her wonderful cynicism
And the lovely Trollop With a Laptop for leading me down the XXX path...oops, did I just say that out loud?

There are at least a dozen more authors that I read out there in the blogosphere that deserve this award, but I'll leave them to be tagged by others.

Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Canadian Idol - Top Seven Guys

Oops. Should have incorporated this into my first post - but what the hell right?

So, it's another round for the guys, and the decisions are getting tougher and tougher. Each guy was stellar last night, so I had no clue who to vote for. But here are my top five for the finals.


Tyler Mullendore




Greg Neufeld



Brian Melo




Dwight D'eon




Liam Styles Chang




Now, the ladies have been falling apart a bit this season. Let's hope they can keep it together and really pull through.



Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

I Was Only Looking

Just felt like posting something today - this is a great tune by Lawrence Gowan. If I could eventually figure out how to do my own audio codes, I will gladly post the song itself.

Edited to add: I figured it out!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Here ya go. :D

I Was Only Looking
Written by Lawrence Gowan
Lead Vocals by Lawrence Gowan

When you gonna ask me what I’m doing here
When you gonna look me in the eye
When you gonna tell me there’s no future here
When we gonna say our last goodbye
Wonder if you’ll ever be my friend again
Hope I didn’t drift to far away
Wonder if your heart will ever mend again
Wonder if you’ll hear me when I say
Now I know that I’m lost without it

I was only looking for that beat again
I was only trying
To bring some rhythm in my life
The tempo was gone
And I had to go on without it
Trying to find it again
Put it back

Never thought I’d look to see your face again
Never thought I’d stare into those eyes
Never thought the wind would bring me here again
Always thought we’d said our last goodbye
But I was only looking for that beat again
I was only looking for that drive
I was only trying to find my feet again
That’s the only way that I’ll survive
Cause I know that I’m lost without it


©Lawrence Gowan 1982



Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the release of one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time - THE GRAND ILLUSION.

Here's hoping this works. Long live STYX - in every form, with every member, for every album and every song.



I'm off for the rest of the weekend. Will be back on Monday. Try to behave yourselves, ok? :P


Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

For Bond

Ok, for Anndi too. LOL. And of course, everyone else with a particular, umm, fetish shall we say.

I promise to post a proper blog soon.

The lovely Gwen Masters over at Lust Bites posted a wonderful blog for today, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to share with my SP family.

Is Four Inches Enough?

There's pictures too. :D

SMOOCHES Y'ALL.


Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Just thought I'd share...

I WANT CHOCOLATE!!!

Just thought I'd share that fact - have a great Thursday everyone!

Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Canadian Idol - Ladies Top Nine

Wow - um, ok. I wasn't exactly blown away by their performances last night. In fact, I almost fell asleep. Out of nine, only three caught my attention. Here they are:


Mila Miller - ATTENTION SP! This isn't even in the same league as Taylor's version, but all in all, she was very entertaining.




Naiomi Joy Blackhall - while it wasn't a WOW performance, this girl has got charisma, and a lot of natural talent. I enjoyed this one immensley. To me, she's got a Sade vibe happening.




Carley Rae Jepsen - I love this girl. She knows what works for her. While she didn't take a huge risk, at this point it's all about getting the audience to fall in love with you - and that she did.




I really hope the girls step it up, because right now, the guys are leaving them in the dust. I was very disappointed in them this week. I expected better.


Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Canadian Idol - guys top nine

Alrighty - I've had some requests to continue posting the top performances from each round. Last night the guys performed, and over all, did a great job. One or two disappointments, but otherwise, an overall hard decisions for me to make.

Liam Styles Chang





Dwight D'eon




Greg Neufeld




Brian Melo - A Toronto born boy who didn't make the cut last week, but definately redeemed himself this week.




Tyler Mullendore




The ladies try it again tonight. Stay tuned tomorrow. :D


Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.