POUTINE

I never thought in my lifetime I'd eat anything with poo in it.

But when in Canada....

Maybe I should explain a little bit more. There isn't actually poo in this dish.

It is called poutine (pronounced poo-teen). 

I think it comes from the Frenchy side of Canada, oui...eh?

It consists of fries, cheese curds, and gravy.

And it kinda made me feel like my heart might stop for a bit.

FORT McMUDDY

By the looks of it, you'd think the driver of this car had a fun day off-roading in the mud. It's not the case. I'd say 83% of the cars in Fort McMurray look like this right now just from simply driving around town.

I've heard the town referred to as Ft McMuddy, and our driveway is sure evidence of the name.

Many places have signs asking you to remove your shoes when you enter the door. I assume it's because they don't want to have to hire someone to mop every 10 minutes.

It's interesting. Let's just say I've never had to take my shoes off at the dentist office until now and black socks are a new staple in my wardrobe here.

LEGGINGS DEBATE

Please tell me why I hear people saying leggings are not considered pants.
I know tights are opaque pantyhose, and usually much too thin to be worn without something covering them.
I've seen skinny jeans that are just as tight as leggings.
So what's the big fuss over leggings being worn as pants?! 
If wearing a tshirt under a sleeveless top makes it "modest", why can't you wear leggings under a shirt or sweater that isn't quite long enough to be a dress? I just don't get it.

UNDERCOVER SANTA

No matter how old I get, I still wonder if every jolly guy I see with a round belly and white hair/beard might be Santa undercover.

He's making a list and checking it twice!

PROFILING

I have heard many people complain to me about others "racial profiling" them though the years. And all I can think in my head when they are talking is 'Oprah is a minority, and look at her rockin it!' People are people and life is tough for all of us. Get over yourself. Life can be SO awesome, but you have to want it and make it that way.

I think Ben Folds had it right when he sang:

Ya'll don't know what's it like
being male, middle-class, and white.

Yeah...feel my white girl pain. Sham on.

PARK ELSEWHERE

Am I a bad person if I want to have a handful of copies of this sign with me at all times to hand out (especially during early morning school drop-offs)? Seriously, people, a small walk might actually do you some good.

QUARTER COLLECTION

A very nice kid at the library helped me with my photo copies the other day. Once he found out I'm from the states, he asked if I would mind trading one of my quarters for a Canadian quarter. It's not the best trade (currency rate wise), but he told me he only needs a few more to complete his collection of all 50 states and I'm a sucker for people with funny accents. I pulled out my change, but he already had the coins I had in my possession. So I told him it was my goal to get him those quarters.

I mean, he was nice, and his hair and stylish outfits reminded me of the old House Party movies starring Kid n Play.

This is where I'm asking for help. It's a little bit hard for me to search through quarters when I'm handling foreign monies. So I'm wondering if any of you out there want to help me with this small act of kindness by pulling out your change jars.

I am looking for 5 quarters from Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Idaho, and Illinois. 

I'd be more than happy to pay you back when I return to the states and cover shipping costs.

WINTER PLAY

**Don't mind the messy hair and creepy hood...it's cold out here**

When water freezes in Canada, what's a town to do besides put together a festival and call it Winter Play. Really, we were walking on the frozen Snye.

Our day of fun was full of ice sculptures

a snow maze

a few ice slides

And our favorite spot of the day...

the warm up tent.

There were also rumors of other events like curling, concerts, hockey, and sled dog rides throughout the festival. Canada rocks.

NEVERMORE

Edgar Allan Poe got it right when he described the raven as a "grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore."
I've yet to hear one say "nevermore," but they sure do make the creepiest sounds as they roam the streets and rummage through garbage.

I'm not sure if these photos do them justice, but believe me, they are freaking HUGE. 
In fact, I think I'd be 

more afraid of one of these guys than a dingo eating your baby!

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting —
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! – quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming.