Who Was That Guy?

There are a number of things in Hamilton that are named after people. Mostly, I have little idea who these people are.

So courtesy of Google and Wikipedia, I'm going to introduce you to some of these peeps via facts that I think are neat.

Meet Sir Allan MacNab:

• born in Niagara, ON in 1798
  
• when he was 14 he fought in the war of 1812
• was a lawyer in Hamilton
• successfully defended some area Tories after they were charged for tarring and feathering a local reformer who was accused adultery
  
• he was knighted for leading British militias against William Lyon Mackenzie's rebels
• with another dude was responsible for the construction of the Great Western Railway
• his house was Dundurn Castle
• was the Prime Minister of the Province of Canada for a couple of years

Happy Birthday Dad

A very happy birthday to the coolest guy ever!

Babies, Offspring, Spawn

Just wanted to give a shout out to all of my friends who recently gave birth, or found out that they will be giving birth. Good luck with that parenting thing...


(photo courtesy of Awkward Family Photos)

How Many Times Have I Found Myself Saying This...

www.marriedtothesea.com

Can We Talk About This Guy For A Minute?

The shaggy guy on the left if Josh. Josh is romantically linked to that bronze beauty on the right (who happens to be one of my roommates). But we're talking about Josh right now. Josh is in a piano tuning, fixing, loving program right now. He learns how to help pianos be healthy.


Maybe last weekend he brought us big heavy, wooden gift. Maybe it looks a lot like this:



Josh gets 1,000,000 love points from our whole house for being awesome.

Can We Talk About This Girl For A Minute?

This is Chelsea L.


This lady is originally from the United States of America. There are a few products that one can get in that country that one cannot easily obtain up here in the great, snowy, sled dog laiden north. While visiting a grocery store in her country of origin recently she remembered one of these products and checked to see if they had it.

She came back and presented me with this:



Chelsea L - you get 1,000 points and a large chunk of my love.

Inappropriate?

Do you ever wake up hungry and craving something that you really shouldn't? I totally woke up this morning craving the biggest cheesiest pizza. Strange.

For All Those Lonely Dentists

Exhibit A - Lady Gaga singing a song from her new album - "Teeth"



Exhibit B - Lady Gaga accidentaly bashing out the teeth of one of her dancers while in concert

Haiti

Prayers are needed.

I Love This Man

Some Things In Life Just Thrill You To Pieces

In Case You Were Wondering

There are only 37 days until the Olympic games start. Eeee!

I Loaf You Dough Much

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Maybe You Were With This Guy On New Years Eve?

marriedtothesea.com

Extra, Extra, Read Allllll About It!

Just when you thought that you couldn't be famous for being crazy without being arrested, along comes me, the Olympic torch and the Hamilton Spectator.

Today's Spec features a wee blurb (by reporter Dana Brown) on the front page about how Olympic crazed I am, and a picture of my crazed Quatchi and Mukmuk loving self is on the second page.

You can go here to see them all together. Eeeeee!

It's My Torch To Bear/Bare

If That's What You Want For Yourself

www.marriedtothesea.com

You Better Not Cry, I'm Telling You Why - The Olympic Torch Is Coming To Toooown!

Ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok....ok.

Let us just calmly talk about a beloved symbol of amature sport for a second - IT'S COMING TO HAMILTON TOMORROW AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A PARTY AND YOU CAN SEE THE TORCH AND QUATCHI AND YELL AND SING AND BE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LOVE AND JUNK!

Cough.

You may find out alllll of the helpful details here, but I'll also cut and paste some deets ici:

The public are encouraged to come early to Dundurn Castle and check out activities beginning at 4:00 pm provided by sponsors Coca-Cola and RBC. Dundurn Castle will offer free guided tours from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, and free roaming tours from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with interpreters stationed throughout the home.

12:00 pm-6:00 pm Free tours of Dundurn Castle

4:00 pm Activities begin at Dundurn National Historic Site

5:30 pm Celebration begins; entertainers include Tom Wilson, John Ellison, Jude Johnson, Hamilton Youth Steel Orchestra and more

6:30 pm Olympic Torch Relay enters Hamilton

3:30 pm-8:00 pm HSR special shuttle from the north side of King Street between Hughson and John to Dundurn Castle


Sooooo, you should probably come to the party, or at least see the torch go by. It may not be back for a good many years. You'll remember it. And if you come to the party you can come and take pictures of me stalking Quatchi.

Things I Like (In Memory of Mrs. Morgan's Old Blog)

1. Coca Cola Classic
2. The Simpsons
3. Allison Janney
   

So Close Yet So Far Away

To continue beating on a dead horse, or a recovery laptop...I get lovely lappy back this afternoon with a new hard drive and OS. Much blog posting will happen and things will get back to "normal".

And just so you have something different to read - in lappy's absence I have made around 15 or so meters of popcorn strings, 25 beer cap Christmas tree ornaments, a coke bottle angel, and a smattering of paper snowflakes.

How Am I Even Breathing?

My little baby, my lappy (aka my laptop computer) is still in the hospital. The good Mr. BvO has diagnosed it with a corrupted operating system and possibly the beginnings of a hard disk failure. So it must remain the hospital for a blood transfusion and possible surgery. It will not be back in my sweet loving arms until late Monday or Tuesday.

Those of you who know me well, know that this is a severe kink in my life. I do have to say that it isn't so much the lack of internet at my disposal that is bothering me (although, i will say that occasionally it becomes an inconvenience) but the lack of media playing. I use the lappy as a sleep and relaxation aide - I fall asleep while listening to tv shows that are on my external hard drive and picture what is happening in them, thus allowing my brain to stop spinning.

So sweet lappy, I pine for you and your safe return. I am trying to be strong in your absence, but I must admit, I am distraught.

Critically Ill

My laptop is in critical condition at a talented friend's tech hospital. Posting may be limited while this crisis is sorted out.

Your sympathy, understanding, eggs benny, big macs, cokes and macbook pros are appreciated.

- Management

Does This Ever Happen At Your House?

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Just A Reminder

74 days until the Olympics start

Things That Make You Go Awwh

Next in our all good gifts series: the local nail salon/joint/place.

Let's talk about pedicures here people. I don't care if you're man, woman, or transgendered, if ya gots feet then they would probably love some lovin. Many commercial districts have these little nail places in strip malls. You know the ones, in those smaller shopping plazas with the pizza place, the convenience store and some other place to get food or clothing or both. And they have these nail places. The ones I generally notice have some sort of Asian related name. Ok, now you know where to look.

Here is why you should be looking - these places often have great deals. I'm talking 10-15$ less than your average upscale marble encrusted, mineral water giving spas (not that spas aren't great and very delightful to go to, i'm just sayin'). Now, I'm not sure if you've ever had a pedicure. But they are fairly fantastic. You don't have to get your nails painted, which doesn't matter, 'cause really, nail painting is just the sprinkles that are on the icing which is on the cake. You get a good soaking that's all relaxing and nice, a bit of a foot/calf massage. Then they get rid of all the masses of dead skin on your feet. You know all those places where your feet are peeling (especially now that we're in the transition from sandals to socks). They get all the grime and sin out from your toe nails (don't worry, there is no judging) and then they chop dem nails up nice. Chop, as in not rip (i know a significant number of the male population that rips, hecks, i know chicks who do it too, hecks, sometimes i do it). So then your feet are just nice. They're clean, they're not so rough and your nails are all clean and proper. Mmmm. Proper.

It's easy to make these outings a pairs things - your Mom and your sister, your Mom and your Dad, you and a friend, you and your lover, you and your mail carrier, you and your cousin's dog trimmer, whoever. If you grab coffees on the way, the whole experience could be done for 50$ and it lasts a decent amount of time. So let's recap - you can have an hour of face time with someone you like (or someone with bad feet that you just have to help), or you can have an hour with someone out of the house, you get clean, smooth, nice nailed toes, and you can cross another person off your gift list. It's win-win people.