A SLICE

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I was doing errands today and was so pleased to see many sales associates, bank tellers, etc dressed up in Halloween costumes. Customers were thoroughly enjoying this show of festivity and it brought smiles to many faces.

...I have to admit there were some people I wasn't certain if they were indeed wearing costumes or not..................

CATHY'S COMPLIMENTS

Okay. I have the Complaining with Cathy feature but just to show you that yes, I can do the yin and yang thing, I have also decided to have Cathy's Compliments. Sort of like Martha Stewart's It's a Good Thing but less sanctimonious and requires much less effort and sort of like Oprah's Good Things but far less expensive and therefore easily attainable.

My first selection is Smirnoff Vodka Mojito . My brother brought it for Thanksgiving and I can tell you that yes, I was very thankful for this beverage! It is refreshing, not particularly sweet, and very delicious. True mojitos are made with rum but this offers a nice change.

My second selection is the beverage my brother brought for the family hockey pool draft: Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita(with Grand Marnier). Also very refreshing, not too sweet, and yes, very delicious.

What I have learnt: inviting my brother over is most definitely a good thing.

OLD LADY .........

.......look at my life, I'm a lot like you were...............


Last week Toban, Kyle, and I went to a Neil Young concert at GM Place. Yes, very cool.



He is 62 yrs. young and has an amazing amount of energy. He gave a great performance and played long and hard. I have to say though I was a little disappointed that he did not play Harvest Moon. I love that song. It's my favorite Neil Young song and one of my all-time favorite songs in general. And hey, it is October ....... could there be a better time to play Harvest Moon than October????
I have provided the link for your listening pleasure. (video included)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZw_Hr4X3dE


Things I Learnt at the Neil Young Concert:


1. My new low rider jeans aren't that comfortable after 3 hours of sitting. If the guy behind had spilled his beer, the inside of my jeans would have been wet.


2. Lots of males like Neil Young. Not used to going to concerts where there is that much testosterone. I am more likely to be found at Feist, Jann Arden, or Sarah McLaughlin. Never had to worry about beer getting spilt on me before.


3. Tickets scalpers often work in pairs. One guy buying tickets off another amateur scalper and his partner selling them at a higher price.


4. How come the beer drinkers can sit for 3 hours plus without having to get up to go pee?


5. One of the opening acts was a band called Death Cab for Cutie. Really. Any 'coolness' I was feeling about going to the concert quickly dissipated by learning that yes that is the band's real name. (I have no idea what it means either).


6. I am sooo not cool however much I may have thought by going to a Neil Young concert in my new low rider jeans with the new top from Fairweathers with my two sons. There I was standing outside GM Place waiting for the traffic cop to wave us on feeling all 'with it' and 'happening baby' when the traffic cop struck up a conversation with me. A bit of banter and then he asked me if I could name any other musicians named Neil. The keeners behind me (who have probably never even heard of low-rider jeans let alone own a pair) shouted out 'Neil Sedaka' and 'Neil Diamond.' I eagerly and smugly shouted out Neil Gallagher, lead guitarist from Oasis....much more current and cool then Neil Diamond or Neil Sedaka could ever have hoped to have been. When the guy looked at me blankly and the crowd went strangely quiet I just assumed that really, I was so cool, in fact too cool, and this crowd was so lost in the 70's and beyond that they didn't even know who Oasis was. Until of course I realized Toban was repeatedly saying 'NOEL' Mom, it's NOEL not Neil.'
SIGH. The crowd was too polite to even tsk tsk but the traffic cop took several steps away from me after indicating I could cross even though a semi-trailer was hurtling towards us.

Family Night Out

A Berdusco Family Night Out

Where do the Berdusco's head for a shared family night out? Bowling? Movie? Shoot pool? Concert? Nope, not this group. Last week Bruno, Toban, and Corey, and myself headed to an All Candidates Meeting in our community.

I always like attending all-candidates meetings at all three levels of government. I find them informative, interesting, and often entertaining. I was delighted when Toban eagerly volunteered to join me and even more so when Corey included himself. I think it is vital that they youth become engaged in the political process. They are going to live with the decisions and ramifications of governments actions for a long time and they have the power to be part of that entire process.

It was an interesting evening. The meeting was well organized and equal time was given to all candidates who were all polite, professional, and informative.

I am so grateful and appreciative that I live in a country where I can freely vote and know that my vote is counted. Living in a democracy is something that I really am very thankful for.

And the last item regarding the debate.......

Just had to share this with you; I think carries a lot of truth.

Graham Harrop's Viewpoint:

The Pub Debates
--From The Vancouver Sun Friday, October 3, 2008, Page A 14.

The 'Other' Debate

I watched part of it when it was recast later that same evening.

I seriously think that Sarah Palin is now doing a parody of herself. Tina Fey is NOT exaggerating at all.

...'nuff said.

THE DEBATE (Maple Leaf Style)

Did you watch it? What did you think?

Here are some of my impressions and observations:

I liked the format. I liked them sitting around a round table. Much more conducive to discussion and addressing one another than standing at podiums. I thought the moderator did a good job of keeping the discussion moving. I was impressed by all candidates. Regardless of their ideologies, platforms, policies, etc, this is a group of very intelligent articulate people.

Stephen Harper: Demonstrated he can keep his cool even when four loud aggressive adults are attacking him. This will come in handy when his children reach those teen years. He might not even need to wear the Fred Rogers approved sweaters.

Elizabeth May: Learnt she was a lawyer before entering politics. Can hold her own. Might not be so much fun to be around if you're a teenager. Or if you discard your juice box in the general trash can.

Stéphane Dion: Addressed all the Canadians who were shown asking questions in a clip by their name. Impressive. Bet he can name all seven dwarfs in record time.

Gilles Duceppe: Retourner au Québec et partir le reste de Canada seul.

Jack Layton: Can see him playing the bad cop in a good cop/bad cop routine. Especially with the moustache.

The Moderator: Steve Paikin. Did anyone else get the feeling he was dying to make fun of everyone? Like he would be great on This Hour Has 22 Minutes?

Five Additional Things I Observed From the Debate:

1. All four male candidates wore boring and uninspiring ties.

2. Elizabeth didn't wear a boring tie but I'd like to see her hair jazzed up a bit. With environmental friendly dyes of course. And a new hair cut ..... in a green salon with fare trade products, world music, and recycling bins for all that hair.

3. Stephane Dion mentioned 'FUN!!!' several times. I think there just may be a completely different side to him. He is French after all.

4. Stephen Harper never mentioned 'FUN!!!' at all.

5. Gilles Duceppe had the best line of the night; when each candidate had to respond to the question of what is the first thing they would do if they became prime minster he responded: 'Well I know I won't be prime minister and three of you won't be prime minister neither, some of you know but you don't say it....................