Thank U Canada [aka the Great White UP*]

Okay, this is a little out date [ahem] - seven weeks after Canada Day and 10 months since my post [shhhh, I don't think anybody's noticed], but it's my blog and I'll thank Canada if I want to, eh?




PS Just for the record, this also proves that I'm still alive.

* In honour of our amazing (and greatly-missed) friend, Neptunus Lex.

Canada's Rocket Man

I am currently reading (actually listening to - thank you Audible) "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me about Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything" by Chris Hadfield. 

It's a really good read listen - generally, I'm not much of a fan of non-fiction but this is one of the few exceptions. I was first taken with Chris (Yes, that's right, we are on a first-name basis. Thanks for asking.) when I saw him briefly on a television news show with Stephen Harper, answering questions from school children. Yeah, Harper, let's just say Chris didn't have that much competition. But still, there was something intriguing about him.

Then I saw this video ** and the rest, as they say, was history.  I was hooked.

 


Now, I must admit that I have never had any particular interest in space travel. Flying fighters, sure, but space travel, not so much.

But I have been wanting to read An Astronaut's Guide to Life for some time now and I am very happy that I have finally gotten around to it. It's an autobiography of sorts but more than just listening to Chris tell his life story (one of the many advantages to audio books - very rarely, the narrator is the actual author and, even more rarely, they make a good narrator), it really does impart a lot of life lessons.

In fact, a little over halfway through the book, I realized that Chris reminded me of someone else I deeply admire. Those who know, know that is high praise indeed. Different countries, for sure, but they had a fair bit in common, even if Lex never made it to space.

And because I aspire to be a giver, here is a nice in-depth (or as in-depth as you can get in 15 minutes) look at Chris and what he does.



Canada's Rocket Man, indeed.

And last, but certainly not least, there is an interesting story here about the Space Oddity video.

The Post With No Name

When the Blue Jay was younger, I developed a mantra. For survival.
Daily life was tough back then, no doubt it.

The mantra, which I shared with many other parents whose children had intractable epilpsy, was simple.

This too shall pass.

Or.

This. Too. Shall. Pass.

Depending on the day.

But don't fret, this is not going to be a downer post.

Nope. This. Will. Make. You. Smile. Honest.



How in the world do some people find these things?

H/T to Kris at Reflections by Kris

PS ~ By the way, they're not actually a, you know, marching band.

'She's All Washed Up'

It being the 6th day of March.
And this song playing on the radio this morning.

It is now our theme song for the day.

**Now renamed 'Canadian Dream'.
What? You gotta problem with that?**



Well that and this one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIT KAT!!

Canadian, Please

This should solve all your problems.



Seriously, eh?

Yeah I know that you wanna be Canadian, please
Even if in winter things tend to freeze
We've got the world monopoly on trees
And our country's bordered by three different seas

Yeah I know that you wanna be Canadian, please
We invented the zipper, we've got expertise
We made insulin to combat disease
Yeah I know that you wanna be Canadian, please

CHORUS
Brits have got the monarchy
The US has the money
But I know that you wanna be Canadian

The French have got the wine and cheese
Koalas chill with the Aussies
But I know that you wanna be Canadian

Et si ce n'était pas assez
On a deux langues officielles:
L'anglais et le français
Ooh la la

Yeah I know that you wanna be Canadian, please
Where else do you find mounted police
Or go to the hospital and not pay fees
Yeah I know that you wanna be Canadian, please

And when freshwater is in high demand
We've got the world's largest supply on hand
So you know that we could make a pretty good friend
But it's even better if you can be...

CHORUS

So you're thinking to yourself,
"How do I live in this beautiful country?"
Well we've got some steps for you to follow...

STEP 1: Lose the gun
STEP 2: Buy a canoe
STEP 3: Live multiculturally
STEP 4: You're ready, there is no more!

We got beavers, caribou and moose
We got buffalos, bears, and Canadian goose
And we're sorry about Celine Dion
But she did do that good song for James Cameron...

CHORUS
Brits have got the monarchy
The US has the money
But I know that you wanna be Canadian

The French have got the wine and cheese
Koalas chill with the Aussies
But I know that you wanna be Canadian

The Greek chilled out with Socrates
Can't build a wall like the Chinese
But I know that you wanna be Canadian

In Kenya they have safaris
We've missed lots of other countries
But I know that you wanna be Canadian

Seems Apt Somehow ...

Although you would think we should be able to do something more for these people than just adding a Michael Jackson song to a montage of protest photos.

No matter how well the vid turns out.

H/T to Punky at Take Five

Move Over Diamonds

So yeah, I do have some serious stuff I want to blog about.

But when I worked in the city all day today and I am going to a conference all day tomorrow and it's been a long week ... well, some days we all need a chuckle, right?

Now everyone knows that diamonds are a girl's best friend. And I'm sure there's some truth to that.

But after dropping a comment this morning over at Take Five about whether health care was actually a "luxury", when I saw this video tonight I thought it was perfect.


Boyfriend With Health Benefits - Watch more Funny Videos

Anybody remember that old song "Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be"?

USA. Canada. Wherever.
After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, you might as well laugh at somebody else...

H/T to Pipecleaner Dreams for the video link

Kandahar

I've never been a big fan of Matt Minglewood. But after hearing this song, for the first time today, I could just change my mind.

Matt wrote this after spending six days with the Canadian troops in Kandahar.

Interesting Take

I've always liked this song, despite it's seemingly political take.

But I found this at Pipecleaner Dreams this morning and it made me stop and think. Even though it's hard to interpret the 'war' reference any other way, it never hurts to realize that perspective is everything.

Enjoy!

Annoying

This song.

I must admit that I have only heard it a couple of times on the radio. But, quite frankly, that was a couple of times too many.

I find it annoying.

In a sad, pathetic, grate on my nerves kind of way. If you really have something to say to your President, perhaps you should consider picking up a pen or sitting down at your word processor and actually composing a letter. Or joining a political action group. Whatever. Just, please, don't make me listen to it.

The funny thing is, it's very rare for a song to strike me this way. For example, despite the fairly obvious political bent in the lyrics to 'Waiting on the World to Change', I still basically like the song. Maybe it just has a better tune.

But this one? Please. Be quiet. Go away.

Grace

Or perhaps a better title to this post might be Never Say Never Part II

H/T to LawEddie

Namesake

For me?
Why, you shouldn't have.

Free Fallin by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
by Erika Brooks Adickman
iloveyourblog.blogspot.com
a crayon video

But thanks. That was really sweet.

H/T to the Blue Jay

Talent is ...

You know what they say. ..
Never Judge A Book By Its Cover.

I know I won't have any trouble remembing that any more.
What about you?

H/T to Lucky Eddie

Happy New Year to U Too

Shall we pick up the pace a little?



H/T to Peter at Neptunus Lex

Happy Christmas

For some reason I seem to be stuck on this song lately.
I hope you enjoy it, too.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

Update: Well, that's not a very good example of Christmas spirit. Apparently someone stole their video (embedding) back. So I switched to this version, complete with an intro.

Now maestro, shall we try that again?

You've Never Heard It Sung This Way Before

And with that I say, A Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night ...

H/T to Tam