Bella19

Yeah to that! :09:

Excellent news abou the Sir Robin bear! Well, not everyone gets the day off! Because our collective agreement gives us more stat holidays than most organizations (we get Remembrance Day in Nov.), I'm here. If staff wanted the day off, they had to use a float or vacation day. No little kids off school at my place, so I'm working. I hope there's a gala in October again! I already tenatively asked for time off around that same weekend, just in case. Since a week ago my current boss announced he's going to another dept. for six months, that was a good move on my part. Hey Scarlett, wanna come and visit us next? I can take time off at the end of April, for a certain craft show... I bet we could even arrange a Northern FCA gathering if you're here.

Eeeeeehhhhh!!! You mean you can really, really come to the Creativ Festival with us?? That would be AWEsome!! It's April 24-26th, just FYI for planning purposes....know what you mean about the travelling! It makes planning life interesting... EEEEEEEEEEe! Great minds think alike - I just looked up the dates for the spring Creativ festival too! Spring Creative Fesitval If you can both make it, you can watch me buy waaaay too many scrapbooking supplies that I may never use. Ahh, the fandom and where mine started.... I wasn't an internet newbie when Clay came along - I'd been on Trek boards for years, in particular Deep Space 9 - went to lots of conventions with my older daughter too. After watching the finale 6 years ago, I didn't even go to the AI tour in Toronto. My younger daughter and I were away at a rented cottage that week and I spent most of the summer and fall organizing two house moves, for my mum and the girls and I. It wasn't until November that the girls pointed out MOAM for me, which I promptly bought. At that time, the only online site I'd check was the old RCA site and board. Fast forward to the spring five years ago and I'd discoverd the Broads and the CH. When the NAT was announced, my older daughter gifted me with tickets to Syracuse for my bday and went with me - she's the enabler child. I was so excited to see women wearing purple at the venue - t's, boas and tiaras! DD thought it would be rude to talk to people I didn't know - hee! The dear girl pushed her way through to the merch table for me and said we didn't need much dinner, so I should buy whatever I wanted from the concert. That was the last time I saw Clay live until the JBT in Darien Lake.... By March 2005, one of the Cdn fans in Ontario organized a lunch at the Eaton Centre in Toronto. I was thrilled that there were real, live Clay fans in Ontario and, good grief, my city! We had reps there from the CB, the Broads, and the CH - lonely old me. That eventful lunch is also where I met my very dear friend, Claymatron, who I've shared so many wonderful memories and trips with now. Because of my lovely friend, I also met the London ladies - goldarngirl, luckiest1, cindilu2, canfly, alspaz and, of course FromClaygary. I don't think Scarlett remembers this, but I had a five minute conversation with you after the CH dinner in Canandaigua before the concert. Hopefully our next conversation is much longer!

You're not alone. I've never seen any of them, either. But then, I've never seen more than 2 minutes of an episode of Star Trek either. Were there Star Trek movies? Worst concert I ever saw: Rockstar Supernova. Why did I go to that anyway? I think I'll blame cagney. Aaargh! Yes, lots of Trek movies: Star Trek Movies - all of them (DS9 fan checking in!) Until Clay into my life, I hadn't been to concerts for years. Back in the day, I've seen Billy Joel, Bette Midler (love her and from second row centre she was amazing!), mega concert in the '70s with Jesse Winchester, The Band and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and so many more. I actually saw CSN&Y when they were here two years ago and it was like a trip back in time, but this time the kids were there with their grey-haired parents, all toking up together.

Hi Cathy Walker and girlcanuck! You both know me as BellaToronto in the Cdn thread at the CB. I think you'll both really like it here!

Anybody want a new t-shirt? Since you're all planning trips to warm places... Plant Delights Body Covers

Yup, he is and so am I!

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy New Year to everyone celebrating today! :fest09: I love my Chinese horoscope, especially since Clay and I are the same sign! Year of the Ox Horoscopes Thanks to whoever posted the adorable pictures with Merle the first time - I was offline all weekend (pesky tendonitis again), so I missed them until this morning.

Band member? You can take all the musical instruments you like - I wanna be his dresser!

I'd LOVE to have him back in Toronto! Were you there for the Ontario Place JBT, and maybe the party before it? We had a blast that night... If I had my choice for a TO venue, it would have to be Massey Hall. It would be wonderful to hear his voice in a theatre with perfect acoustics.

Oh, for some Florida warmth right about now! You're all going to have so much fun! Since wandacleo picked *my* birthday for the next tour start date, I'll pick June 20th. June would be a great time for my tour buddy and I to hit the road again - I can't wait!

Claymatron, goldarngirl and FromClaygary - Yup, I'm here at the office, with my phone set to message while I clean up emails and pack up the Christmas decorations. Ladies, you better get your woolies ready - you're going to had a rude shock with the weather back here. I'm going to have a very quiet New Year's evening. Older DD and her roomies are having a party and younger DD and friends are heading downtown. She's now regretting that decision, because in TO it will be -23 with the windchill by midnight! I'm just going to relax with the dog and watch a lot of DVDs tonight. I wish I was in NY with the rest of you this weekend! :fest09: I hope everyone has a great evening tonight and a wonderful 2009. :748: Here's to more road trips with wonderful friends!

aikim - Your post is one of the sweetest things I've read this season. I think you're probably right about your music boxes. :music-smiley-023: merrieee - I LOVE your decorated house! I have a lot of stuff out too, but I can't hold a candle to all that gorgeousness. FromClaygary - Have a wonderful time in Florida and a blast in NY, like I even need to say that! I'm going to wish you all a very Merry Christmas since I'll probably be offline completely for the next few days. My family is European and, for us, December 24th is the big event. When my kids were little it was always Christmas Eve with my parents and I, then Christmas Day pickup by dad at 11 am and home around dinner. Now they see dad and co. before Christmas and we have two full days together with my mum. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Great news about both annamomma and couchiemomma! Belated congrats to all the birthday girls and for everyone's family achievements, including smitten's upcoming move. You'll have great company in California. cindilu2 - What a gorgeous banner! Claymatron - That centrepiece is a cute as you said it was! Yes, I finally made it home - good old Toronto is getting just as blasted as the rest of the province today. Our municipal offices closed at two, but of course our commuter trains were late and they let as many people crowd on as possible, since so many offices where closing early. I finally got home before 3:30 and my dear daughter was almost finished the first round of shovelling at the front of our house. It's my turn next, but I'm waiting until the snow stops, even if the wind is blasting and it's freezing out there. On topic? Think I'll watch the Ka'zoo concert from last year, while DD's friends hang out with her tonight.

{{{{{Couchie and mum}}}}} - Sending good karma for a speedy recovery! I know we have fans of Cdn Idol here and I thought of all of you when I read this news today: CTV puts Canadian Idol on hold This is major, since CTV is one of the two largest private broadcasters in the country.

luckiest1 - Great recaps - thank you! Hope your weekend continues to be just as great. Since you're there, don't miss the windows on 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Centre. It's absolutely beautiful at night, especially when you look from Rockefeller back through the "laneway" to Saks 5th Avenue. I was channel surfing on Wed. night and that piece of crap on E! will not be broadcast in my area of Ontario until next week, on December 17th. I'm not surprised, since we get delayed air dates for a lot of programs. Our E! channel was formerly a Hamilton, Ontario station, so it might have different air dates around the country. I'm only glad there are lots Christmas specials that people will probably be watching instead!

Hey sweetie, great to see you here! I can't read/post at CV anymore, since the site shuts down my IE, so I've missed your posts. :thbighug-1: For those of you who don't know her, claylaughs/smitten, wrote one of my favourite Christmas stories last year, which I had the pleasure of hearing her read at the Ka'zoo concert. It had something to do with lacy undies... I think you're really going to like the company here!

Sorry! I thought the aforementioned toppings had already turned into charcoal, like stuff has done at my house before. If you scrape most of it off, the baking soda is still a safe bet to get rid of the rest of the stuff. I hope it works well for you. aikim - Unlike most kids, when my girls were little (they're now 24 and 19) the Wizard of Oz never freaked them out. If it was on, they'd want to watch it, flying monkeys or not. I don't have enough to do a whole tree, but my Beauty and the Beast ornaments are on my family room tree. I've got a decent collection of other B&B stuff too. I've pretty much stopped going to most of the other sites I used to frequent, so I have *no* idea if there's drama going on anywhere else right now. The one person I know who had an exchange of words with Jaymes on the OFC told me she's not a fan anymore and has stopped reading and posting on the boards. I have to respect the fact that once her feelings changed, she moved on.

I have a super easy, simple solution for you - baking soda. You make a paste with water (not too dry) and completely cover the charcoal coating. Let it sit overnight and you should be able to slide the remains off with the spatula. No damage to your oven either! I haven't been around much lately. Between dental appt. No. 6 a week ago (hugs for jazzgirl) and trying to get my Christmas shopping done (I'm claustrophobic in malls), I don't get online at home at night or much on weekends. aikim - Love your Oz tree - it's adorable! For those of you with work woes, I'm relieved it's not just me! The boss I've had for nearly four years has gotten just miserable lately. I asked one of managers, who's a friend of his, what the problem is and he thinks our boss is letting the stress get to him. He better get over it bloody fast, or I may be submitting a request for a transfer in January when a new section is getting staffed in my division. I really hate the attitude that one day your work is great and the next you're treated like an idiot, especially when I've been working for senior management for 16 years. End rant now... I have to add that I'm "owned" too, like all the lovely company here. :thbighug-1:

Some good news about tomorrow night from toni7babe: EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee! I have to add my congrats to cindilu2 - you have the imagination, the creativity and the vision to do brilliantly in your new program!

Awww - sounds like the eHP had a great time last night! I'm so happy for all of you! ldyj - I love Disneyworld too, especially Epcot. I'd say have a great time, but you're already doing that. I'm off later this morning to pick up Claymatron at the train station and then we're off to lunch with a group of Southern Ontario fans. Usually these lunches are close to 40 people, but this one is around 20, so it'll be easier to catch up with everyone. I'll miss you London ladies though! Claymatron and I will check in later tonight - can't miss any of the "fun" the eHP gets up to in NY....

Strange - I tried it right now too, with no luck. Here's their home page: Broadway Cares

Here ya go: Broadway Cares

Good morning FCA! I'm so thrilled for all of you today, especially those of you who worked so hard to see the results of your election yesterday! A poll of Cdns was done yesterday and 85% said they would have voted for Obama if they had the opportunity. We haven't had this kind of election excitement in Canada since Trudeaumania in the late '60s. I managed to stay up until 11 pm and then woke up before 5:30 - I knew it was because I wanted to see the final tally. The Democrats Abroad had quite the party in downtown TO yesterday. It would have been fun to be there, but I turn into a pumpkin on weeknights. Our family follows politics very closely, on both sides of the border. My 19 yr old kept coming into the family room every half hour to check the results. My kids *always* vote - they've been told that if they don't, they have no right to complain and they take it very seriously. Of course, since mum works in municipal government and has been an election official three times, they can't get away from politics! I'll have to wait until I get home to watch the B'way.com answers - congrats ldyj on getting picked!

KAndre - I'm with you...I don't like vinegar in my BBQ sauce either... Well, our United Way bake sale was a HUGE hit! They were actually lined up at the boardroom door before 10 am, waiting to get to the goodies. We only invited our staff on two floors (+/- 90 people) and probably half attended. After 45 minutes, we made $135 - I couldn't believe it! They really did look like a horde of locusts. All the "leftovers" were sold from in my office this afternoon and our end-of-day total is $164. Everyone enjoyed it so much that we're doing it again next year and I already have new volunteers to do more baking. Now I can't wait to get out of here, rush home to take Schnitz out and then set up my decorations at the front of the house. Dinner will be pizza because we get lots of little people dropping by - I just LOVE Hallowe'en, can't ya tell?