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I Ought To Be In Pictures (Or At Least on TV)

A couple of months ago there was a flurry of activity looking for someone "like a Canadian Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" for casting a Food Network Canada show.  At the time a number of people ask me if I knew anyone. 

I offered my suggestions, all the while thinking "ME, I'd be perfect!!!!" but not saying it or typing it out loud.

Time passed, and the opportunity come back around.  Someone was casting for someone like Guy Fieri to host a new food show. They want someone male, 25-45, and funny.... but it seemed foolish to keep quiet for a second time, even though I'm not a perfect match for their main requirements

So here is my pitch:

I am a big personality, though I'm not a male, I've always been one of the guys (I've always thought "guy" was gender-neutral and attitude rich!)

What Comforts You?

What did your mommy or daddy used to make you when you were sick at home? 
And if you have them, what do you make for your kids?

As per my last post, I’m home sick, and a little thought on twitter inspired conversation about what we were given when we were home sick:

alexaclark: Why does it seem SO wrong to eat toast slathered w/ butter & covered in white sugar yet add a little cinnamon it is instantly comfort food?

ccath: @alexaclark Cinnamon toast! It never fails to comfort me as it was a childhood treat for me. When I was sick over Xmas last year and my mum was visiting she even offered to make it for me :)

alexaclark: .@ccath It's funny, I don't think I *have* comfort food when people ask - certainly not the way other people crave KD or chicken soup. But I totally forgot about cinnamon toast until I was snagging "sickie supplies" on the way home Friday. mmmm cinnamon toast!

alexaclark: .@ccath when I was sick mom made me flat ginger ale, #neocitran and moved me into her big bed #sickday

 

wellred: @alexaclark We got flat ginger ale too. Saltines. Not much else, as dad never helped mom clean up if we barfed. He provided hugs though.

 

finalfashion: Hot lemonade with fresh ginger and honey. RT @alexaclark When you were sick at home what did your mom and/or dad make you?

 

destiniya: @alexaclark an indian version of congee w/ basmati, green mung beans, clove, cinnamon, ginger. eaten w/ natural yogurt #comfortfood #sickday

Rickster_CDN: @alexaclark hot rum toddy for me.

 

 

So… When you were sick at home what did your mom and/or dad make you? Inspired by cinnamon toast and @ccath?

What? Who? Where?

Okay, Okay... I'm back. Sort of. Ish.

For those of you not up on the Whirlwind Adventures of Lex & The Travel Bunny here's how it goes.

About 2 weeks ago, immediately after meeting the OneDegree crew for drinks at Brassaii, I packed  things up and hit the road.

First stop: Kingston for a short visit with mom, some last minute conspiracies with her colleagues for her upcoming retirement party and the discovery of some amazing photos of my mother as a young woman.  (BTW, retirement gift contributions are already up to over 50% even though the bar chart doesn't reflect it. If you were thinking of throwing in a couple of bucks, now's the time. Mac4Mom.chipin.com)

Second stop: Ottawa to add Rosalie (and her car) to our travelling band. A day and a birthday party in Ottawa before hitting the road to our...

Third stop: The Island where the wind was up, so I left most of my gear on the shore. Where it stayed, though wind, weather, rain, fiddlehead burgers and another birthday.  In fact, my gear stayed safe & dry in Sandy & Mary Jo's mud room for a full week until we hit the road again, heading for our...

Fourth stop: Gatineau which is where I'm currently joining the conversation.

So, yes, I went to the island.

And, yes, I'm "back".

But, no, I'm not "back" in Toronto. 

Now before those of you in the National Capital Region get too excited, unfortunately I'm leaving tomorrow.  I'm already solidly booked, so I'm not even organising some lovely pub patio time this evening. I'm sorry because I really would love to see you, but this whirlwind trip really is quite whirl-windy.

Okay... so that should have you all caught up.  Now to get the photos up onto Flickr

It's Right To Be Wrong

This morning I woke up to find the following email and I just had to share:  (blogged with permission, of course!)

Am in Starbucks New York with probably the worst barista on earth and the most ineffective ordering system... so they got my order wrong...but the surprise drink I did end up with is surprisingly awesome........and then I read the following little passage and I'm thinkin' she's now the best barista in the country....:-) mind you it's New York so I figure anymore of this from her and likely about 10 people are gonna beat the crap outta her with their umbrellas :-)....enjoy the below, it's pretty awesome!!!

It's Right to be Wrong

START being wrong and suddenly anything is possible.
You're no longer trying to be infallible.
You're in the unknown. There's no way of knowing what can happen, but there's more chance of it being amazing than if you try to be right.
Of course, being wrong is a risk.
People worry about suggesting stupid ideas because of what others will think.
You will have been in meetings where new thinking has been called for, at your original suggestion.
Instead of saying, "That's the kind of suggestion that leads us to a novel solution", the room goes quiet, they l look up to the ceiling, roll their eyes and return to the discussion.
Risks are a measure of people. People who won't take them are trying to preserve what they have.
People who take them often end up by having more.
Some risks have a future, and some people call them wrong. But being right may be like walking backwards proving where you've been.
Being wrong isn't in the future, or in the past.
Being wrong isn't anywhere but being here.
Best place to be, eh?

[From Paul Arden's It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be.]

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A Little On The Side(s)

I have posed a little pre-Thanksgiving question over on F*book.  (They have this cool "My Questions" app that lets you ask your friends a question on the sidebar of your profile. I know, I know... but I'm a widget & social media junkie.)

I realized, as the responses started flooding in, that I have a lot of people reading my blog that I'd like to have answer the question too.  So take a second, answer the question below, include a recipe (or not) and I'll share the lot with you here mid-next week.

So here we go,

What is your favourite Thanksgiving side dish, appetizer or dessert?

 

Technorati Tags: thanksgiving, side dishes, dessert, appetizers, soups, recipes, what to cook, food and drink