2/20 with Tracy: Cardigans, Gordon and Spanx...OH MY!

2/20 with Tracy...questions by Steph.

Q: If you could live in any period of time other than today, which would you pick and why?

A: 1950's. I am bizarrely happy in a cute little dress and a cardigan, cooking up a storm.

Q: The Partridge Family or The Brady Bunch?

A: Partridge Family. I LOVED David Cassidy and even had the Partridge Family Board Game AND recod. For those of you who don't know what a record is, get bent junior! :)

Q: Without looking, can you accurately recall your license plate number?

A: Yes...it's kinda silly and easy to remember.

Q: Do you have a 'green thumb'?

A: Nope. I have ONE houseplant that is thriving. Only one...

Q: Twitter or Facebook?

A: Facebook all the way! Though I appreciate the beauty of getting a tweet from Snoop and Martha Stewart at the same time. Classic. Wake and Bake & and update on a glamourous dinner with Valentino.

Q: Have you ever won a jackpot at the casino?

A: Yes, but embarrassed to say it was on the nickle machine at Treasure Island in Vegas. $120 big ones after I'd lost way more than that on video poker. Not a sexy story, but the truth.

Q: Can you play a musical instrument?

A: Yes. I play the cello, organ and was the lead triangle (yes, lead) in my kindergarten band. We were HUGE on the senior centre circuit. Our rider included cookies and juice. No red M & M's. Hardcore...

Q: Thinking back to childhood, what was your most prized possession?

A: Two -- My orange 3 speed bike with the glitter banana seat AND my Barbie Townhouse with the working elevator. It was pretty sweet.

Q: Ice cream cone or ice cream sundae?

A: I hated ice cream for a long time cause I slung scoops at Baskin Robbins. I like cones - sugar free Rolo ice cream on a plain cone. It's tasty.

Q: Are you able to sing O Canada in both official languages?

A: Yes. Proudly.

Q: Can you complete a Sudoku puzzle?

A: What now? Nope -- not a puzzle person.

Q: If you had an interest in holding public office, what position would you like to occupy?

A: Local City Council so I could fight for some common sense.

Q: School bus, subway train, zamboni or transport truck...which would be the most fun to drive? Which would be the scariest?

A: I would LOVE to drive a Zamboni! I think the subway would be scariest. Hurtling down a tunnel... no thanks! Lives would be lost.

Q: What one piece of music would you choose as your theme song?

A: All in Good Time -- Ron Sexsmith. I truly believe there's a need for rocky & good times and that the good times will ultimately win out. My favourite stanza -

"Hold your horses”, a willow tree cried
While the sun called to me, “Where’s the fire?”
“Run your course my feverish child,”
Came a voice from even higher
Inspiring me.

Q: Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?

A: Jeopardy. Particularly Rock 'N Roll Jeopardy. I would KICK ASS!

Q: I know you love to cook. Who would you be more nervous to cook for...Gordon Ramsay or Martha Stewart?

A: Gordon Ramsay. I would be frought with nerves. I'd be alternately terrified and attracted to him, would not produce my best risotto and he would throw it at me.

Q: What item do you wish you had invented?

A: Spanx

Q: Scrapbooking...yay or nay?

A: Nay - though I am working on a pretty cool project with set lists from shows...is that crafty?

Q: Finish this sentence: The end justifies the means when...

A: ...the means are justified in the end.

Q: Monkeys...friend or foe?

A: Monkeys are generally a foe. Have you seen that Youtube video of monkeys tearing about that car and luggage? Also, they throw their own shit. I'm not okay with that.

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Hour Books: Rick Mercer Report, The Book

One of the best parts of the Mercer Report are the rants. So I was tickled when Mercer released a book filled with some of his best rants. I've read it a few times since its release, so much so it's become one of those books that I pick up and reread when I can't get into anything new. Everyone rants, we all come across people or events that just set us off, so hearing Mercer rant is kind of an extension of what everyone is thinking but may not want to openly admit.

This book of rants is an interesting glimpse into the affairs that captivated Canada (or held Canada hostage) over the past few years. From election after election after election, to Conrad Black's antics, to the latest Parliamentary hijinks (or hijacks, depending on how you look at it) to just plain weird Canadian behaviour (like Torontonians and winter weather), Mercer has somehow captured the essence of what Canada is. Speaking of Conrad Black, one of my all time favourite rants comes from the time is when Conrad Black wanted his citizenship back.

The first edition of the book came out in 2007 but was updated for the 2008 paperback release.

Mercer's been on The Hour a few times over the years: Book Interview, Interview - Part One, Interview - Part Two, Mercer at the Book Stand. Make sure you check them out.

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July...that's a wrap!

Well the summer is certainly speeding along...hard to believe that we are already at the last week of July! Of course there is still much fun in the sun to be had. Whatever your summertime pursuit, hopefully you are having a blast.

As Barbara commented here last week, this Sunday will be a pre-taped edition of The Strombo Show. Listen online here starting at 5pm EST.

Coming up on The Hour's 'best of shows' this week:

Monday, July 27


Canadian musician Diana Krall.



Comedian and author Lewis Black.



Quebec native and actor Bruce Greenwood.
Looking for a dvd for a rainy summer afternoon? Check out Greenwood in the thriller "Double Jeopardy".

Tuesday, July 28



British funny man Ricky Gervais.



Actor and activist Tim Robbins.

Wednesday, July 29



Film director, producer, writer and actor Spike Lee.



Alternative rock band Kings of Leon.



Canadian comic superstar Russell Peters.

Thursday, July 30



SCTV alumni Eugene Levy.



Tattoo artist and television personality Kat Von D.

Canada's 16th Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Joe Clark.

Friday, July 31



Improv master Colin Mochrie.



Las Vegas natives The Killers.

Economic and social theorist, author Richard Florida.

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This week's 2/20 will feature Tracy. Check out her answers Wednesday.

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Two, Twenty. Asking Jen!

Here are my Questions for Jen aka Jenuine. Ya I threw in one multiple choice...


1)How do you find the time to blog with such a busy family life? do you..

A) change the clocks and pretend you have time and go without sleep
B) Use your laptop in the bath
C) Play hide and seek with the kids and you find the perfect hiding place
D) blog at work
E) fill in the blank with a better answer... blog when I can't sleep or get inspired by an 'issue'.

2)What is your favourite sport to play?
Team sport: Beach volleyball. Indiv. sport: Caber toss.

3)Are you a fan of socks?
In the winter....yup! Toe socks, fuzzy socks, knee socks, striped socks...

4) You want to show off what Vancouver has to offer your guests. What would you show them first?
Granville Island; for the artists, musicians, artisans & markets.

5)Is Wreck Beach a beach you would take visitors to?
Unfortunately, I've used up all my guest passes.

6)What card or board games are you an ace at?
Uno & Othello.

7) Can you win against your kids on their video games?
I can hold my own.

8)What was the last concert you went to?
Last Friday at an outdoor evening concert featuring: P.I.G.S.- The Canadian Pink Floyd Tribute Band.

9)What was the last thing you bought just for yourself?
Practical: contact solution. Impulsive: sun hat.

10) What is your favourite charity?
Our local food banks.

11) Cats or Dogs?
Amazingly enough...dogs. (We have six cats.)

12) Do you have a philosophy about bras?
They hide the truth.

13)Is our PM doing a good job?
Do any of them, while in office?

14) Do you 'get' CFL Football?
Not really, but awesome to watch live.

15)What are you doing at 6pm on weeknights?
Trying to wrap up at work, to get home.

16) Exotic pet or exotic plant?
Plant.

17)What room in your place would you renovate given the funds?
My all-in-one 6x6 Laundry room/food & storage pantry/hot water tank & recycle closet/cat food room/back yard entrance & mud room.

18)What tech equipment could you not live without?
None of them, however, I would miss my PC the most.

19)Do you swim like a fish or more like a dog?
Fish.

20)Say you won one free round trip anywhere in Canada... where would it be?
Halifax, to visit my Nanna, then on my way back, a stop-over in TO to visit my 'girls' & 'boyfriend', of course, and through to Alberta to meet my neice & bff's.

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Hour Books: When All You Have is Hope

I’m an avid reader. Give me something to read and there’s a good chance I’ll read at least the first chapter, paragraph or sentence. There are few books that I’ve started and couldn’t finish. When All You Have Is Hope is Frank O’Dea’s saga of stumbling down a dark, dangerous path as a young adult and then picking himself and making a success of himself. The jacket art for this book includes a quote:

‘That was me, the guy begging money for a bottle of wine and a fifty-cent bed in a flophouse. I was thirty years away from being named an Officer of the Order of Canada, twenty years away from marriage and fatherhood, ten years away from earning my first million dollars, and a week away from deciding that I must change or die.”

Having watched the interview on The Hour, I knew that O’Dea’s story was intense, but I wasn’t totally prepared for just how dark parts of his story really was. The cliche term “rags to riches” is not so cliche in this story; O’Dea really went from wearing rags and living on the street to the life of the elite.

But there’s more to this story than just his redemption and survival. He also demonstrates that if you have a good idea and drive, you can make almost anything a success. He’s not just the co-founder of coffee giant Second Cup; he’s also the founder of Proshred, he helped structure the current code of conduct for Canada’s Olympic Athletes and Coaches, he co-founded Street Kinds International, a foundation aimed at bettering the lives of kids on the street around the world, he founded the international fundraiser “The Night of the Thousand Dinners” to help raise money to clear landmines... and the accolades and achievements go on and on.

I know I recommend every book I write about in this weekly post, but I put this book at the top of my “books everyone needs to read” list. It's an amazing read.

Make sure you check out Frank O’Dea’s October 2007 interview with George on The Hour.

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Davao Museum

Thanks God it's weekend again! Time to spend again with my family and of course its also time to have a "date" with hubby, hehe. Since I was frustrated with our visit to Museo Dabawenyo because we were not allowed to take photos, I told hubby that we would visit Davao Museum which is located inside Insular Village Phase 1 in Lanang, Davao City. I have never been to this museum and I asked hubby if he had been there also since it's just a stone's throw away from where he grew up and he just laugh saying he'd been there when he was about 9 or 10 riding bycycle but the museum was closed at that time so he really did not get to see what's inside.

While me and hubby were walking towards the museum, I was having lots of questions in my mind. Will they allow us to take pictures of their collections or it will just be another frustration?Do they have many items inside just like the plenty artifacts inside Museo Dabawenyo, the museum we have visited before? How are their items displayed? How is the ventilation inside the museum?

Upon arriving at the museum, we were greeted with warm smiles by two very friendly ladies at the information desk and at the counter, I see a box with money in it so I queried if there is a fee. One lady answered that they charged Php100.00 admission fee for adults and Php20.00 for students. Oh! I don't have money! Hubby joked that we were students and the lady answered they would look for our IDs.(Our faces revealed that we were no longer students,LOL).Then hubby smiled at me, got his wallet and handed a Php200.00 pesos bill to the lady at the information desk. Then they ushered us to their display of pictures at the ground floor and told us that there are lot more items at the second floor!

All my questions were answered when we got inside the museum. We took a lot of pictures and the artifacts are nicely displayed inside a glass cabinets. Although we paid Php200.00, it was worthy because the museum is air-conditioned. We had a great time and had fun!

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