More election quiz fun

The CBC has a vote by issue quiz. There are 12 issues you are asked to agree or disagree with the opinion of each of the national leaders (you can omit any of the leaders); you can also skip questions.

My results are not surprising (well, except for the fact that I agreed with Stephen Harper on two issues...how'd that happen?).

Agreed: Jack Layton 11/12; Gilles Duceppe 6; Paul Martin 5; Stephen Harper 2

Disagreed: Layton 0 (I didn't answer the one on farming); Duceppe 3 (separation being a BIG one); Martin 1; Harper 6

The rest I gave no opinion.

Election blogging (aka stealing from the work blog)

I'm not really all that interested in the election this time around. Maybe it has something to do with the holidays. Maybe it is voter fatigue. Maybe I just think it is stupid and the House is going to end up looking pretty much like it did in November, but millions of dollars would have been wasted. With that being said I encourage all to exercise their democratic right and vote!

Don't know who to vote for?

Not sure who you like? Take this vote selector quiz offered by Politics Watch.

I couldn't find a similar quiz to go with the 2006 election, but the leaders are the same, the issues are the same so it probably doesn't make a difference. I scored 100 with NDP leader Jack Layton (how shocking!) then came the most attractive leader (I've done a poll) Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc, then PM PM and way down with a score of only 14 Mr. Harper.

Cool Christmas

I know Christmas is technically over, but I thought these blacklight displays were kinda cool. You, however will not get to see them in person because they can be found at Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village in Whitby and it's closing Jan. 1.

Stupid election

He's a local candidate! Why does he need a bus? I'm pretty sure he's the only one ever on it. And anyone's head blown up that big? Not a good idea...

Getting personal

Biospy: the scariest word in the English language.*

(Even though the doctor tries to reassure you it's probably just a cyst).


*when you're a woman and b-cancer runs in your family...

Merry Christmas

Good eats

There has been no blogging because I've been busy being Betty Crocker.

First there was the peanut butter cups.
A yummy idea I found here.

Then it was on to my traditional sugar cookies. Six dozen and four hours in the kitchen sound about right for yummy Christmas homemade goodness...




It wasn't enough to dye French vanilla icing (sorry Santa, I didn't mean to make you pink), I had to have some with sugar sprinkles. Some with red. Some with green. Some with a mixture of both. Overachiever? What? Me? Never...


And what's a girl to do with left over pink and mint green icing? I could think of only one solution. (I was on one wicked sugar high that night).



The peanut butter cups were such a hit I had to make more. I thought I'd make some with white chocolate, only I thought it wouldn't show up against the white cupcake paper...so I dyed it pink.
It looks weird, but it's yummy. You wish you had one, trust me.



Happy holiday eating!

The Rumour is mediocre

For the first time in about a year, my movie reviewer friend brought me to a screening this week (just like old times) so I will attempt a movie review to fill some space. (Yah, like anyone gives a hoot about my opinion).


Rumour Has It
starring: Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Mark Ruffalo and Shirley MacLaine
opens: Christmas day
rating 2.85/5

The preview leads one to believe the movie is about a woman on a quest to discover her family was the inspiration for "The Graduate." That takes all of about 25 minutes and then we're left to watch Sarah Huttinger (Aniston) take a journey of self-discovery, which isn't all the interesting. The characters (or at least Aniston's) need more development for the motivation for the self discovery to be more believable. That her younger sister "bounces" and her family likes tennis and she doesn't is not enough of a reason for a grown woman to believe she doesn't fit into her family. Also, the best comedic bits are given away in the previews. The idea and movie had potential, but don't really live up to it. I recommend you go see something else this holiday season.

Catty sidenote: Jennifer Aniston is starting to look her age. On magazine covers her lines are airbrushed and they're not as evident on the small screen, but magnified on the BIG screen at Silvercity there is no hiding that big line in her forehead or the two deep laugh lines by her mouth (I also think her smoking is starting to affect her voice, some of her lines sounded a little phlegmy).

Random winter pic

Because I have a camera, but nothing to say...

Double dipping

Yah, so I already posted something on this in my other blog. But a gal can only think of so many new posts in a day and I'm busy getting my ass kicked in that contest I talked about (I think I'm in second).

Don't vote on an empty stomach

An interesting tidbit from the Did you know section? of the Elections Canada site

It is illegal to eat your ballot in a federal election or by-election. Six members of the Edible Ballot Society, a protest group, were charged after the 2000 election under paragraph 167(2)(a) of the Canada Elections Act for wilfully destroying a ballot; two were found not guilty for lack of evidence, and charges against the other four were stayed.

Lack of evidence...they should have waited for a movement in the case...What? Yah, I know lame, but I wanted to add something new to the post.

Winter Wonderland

It was prettier in person, but isn't the world of Grouse Mountain a Winter Wonderland? You have to take a tram, trolley, whatever you want to call it up the mountain ($30), but for that you get beautiful views and the closest thing to the North Pole I've ever seen (oh, and there's skiing).

You can even take public transit there from North Vancouver (or Vancouver if you take the seabus) and it's only about a 20 minute ride, which in itself is interesting. To see public transit buses make it part way up a mountain on narrow, mainly residential roads is a truly West Coast experience.



There are even reindeer. And that's not all.

There is a skating rink (they have rentals incase you forget your skates), Santa's workshop, a roaring fire and lots of snow. (When there is more snow cover than there was Dec. 1, they even offer sleigh rides...)





That's me (duh!). I took about a dozen photos of myself while standing in calf deep snow near the edge of a hill and they sucked. As does this one taken by a stranger, but it was improved with cropping. (I do have a cute one of me in a toque...)


Below: that's the view from the top on a cloudy day. I now like The Gimp and have been experimenting with its features (some people are getting Gimp-related Christmas gifts...)




Those are wolves. I thought they were real wild wolves...being all well behaved behind that oh so convenient fence next to a big-ass parking lot. Yah, I'm stupid when it comes to nature. The Grouse people keep them and some bears for the tourists.

Blog cheating

I have another blog. It's for work. I don't think it can really be called blogging (because I don't think it's really blogging if you're have to do it, there's a weekly quota, and someone is editing your posts...). BUT, because I am ridiculously competitive (probably why I never played sports because I ain't so athletic and therefore would not have won) and my editor-in-chief has put up a prize for the site that attracts the most hits I've become just a little...obsessed.

But, it's hard to think of things to write about for an ELECTION blog. That covers one riding (a boring riding). Of which half is not in the municipality our paper covers. Needless to say, I am trailing to the...umm...election enthusiasts in Oshawa by A LOT (but am not in last place. Yeah!). My wit and intelligence is no match for the blog covering the riding that had the tightest three-way race in the June 2004 campaign.

I'd link to it here to attract another hit or two, but I'm not really interested in having my editors find out that I'm not new to this whole blogging thing and, more importantly, letting them in my head.

I have to go visit my other blog now...

Washroom wonder

With my new found baby awareness because of C, I was hit with a thought about gender discrimination while out last night. I must admit I've never been in a men's washroom, but I'm pretty sure they don't have changing tables.

Where do fathers who have taken their little boy or girl out shopping sans the mother do the changing? What about gay couples?
Someone should really launch a discrimination suit against mall washrooms...

Wedding photos

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005

David and Shelly got married. In North Vancouver, British Columbia. (All of the GOOD photos of them in the traditional wedding attire were taken with black and white film...)

My mom and I were there (I don't know why my hair is so BIG. I think it has something to do with the water in Vancouver, it gives it more body...)



After the ceremony, pictures and dinner, there was The Cake. Before the eating of The Cake there was the traditional cutting of The Cake.

And the traditional smooshing feeding of the cake to your partner. (The bottom layer was chocolate...mmmm.)

My little brother then attempted to dance. He can't. I don't think the height difference helped. (Yep, she changed for the third and final time before the dancing started).

This was followed by musical performances by Shelly's cousin Emily and Dan, who wrote an original song for the event. I went to high school with Dan and this was the first time I'd seen him in three years (he's friends with David now...weird).

Then there was the bouquet toss (yah, I caught it). In between all of these activities there was vodka. The smile on my face was as a result of the vodka, not the catching of the bouquet...

After all the formalities were over (and in between all the drinking) there was dancing including this amusing number by the best man Chris (left), Dan (on his head? The garter. He caught it.) and Paul (I think that's his name...) They'd probably be angry if they knew I posted this photo on the internet - oh well, they won't know.

You'd think it was my wedding, what with all the photos of me. Well, it wasn't, but this is my blog so I can post whatever I want. Plus, I think I look kinda pretty in this photo (and am made more so by the fact Dan looks goofy - in a good way).



This is Dan's girlfriend Kim. The drinking helped us to become fast friends and dancing buddies. (Does that photo make my head look big?...or is it the hair?) I don't look drunk at all, do I?

Shopaholic's back

After many (many, many) months of only buying souvenirs and electronics, and wondering where my desire to buy clothes went I am happy to report IT'S BACK (well, happy until I get this month's credit card statement).

While shopping for a wedding gift for David and Shelly (photos to come tomorrow) I happened to walk through the women's clothing department at The Bay and I found The Cashmere. I'll admit I'd never really touched the cashmere before and I'd definitely never tried it on. This time around I ignored the $90 price tag for the sweater and thought 'what the heck?' (The condo fund has already been blown with my jet setting anway...). I liked it. A LOT. I bought one (it was 40 per cent off). Now I want the black turtle neck. And maybe a pink sweather. And a scarf. And some matching gloves...