Danielle Peck

For those of you who like country, especially angry chick country, here is an awesome new and upcoming artist. And she has her new single available for free download on her website. Check her out here.

American Thanksgiving

Since we have a "bi-cultural" family we celebrate Canadian & American Thanksgiving. Personally, I kind of like it, I get to eat those great big meals twice, three times if you count Christmas and four times if we're with my family for New Year's Eve. We usually do a New Year's eve meal that is traditional Quebec food. My favorite foods for this time of year are: Tortiere (it's a meat pie which my mom has perfected into a vegetarian dish), Turnip (what Americans call Rutabaga), and Pumpkin Pie. And Magic Cookie Bars, if you've never had one email me, I'll send you the recipe. They are the BEST things in the whole world. I forgot to mention another favorite. For Christmas dinner if we are at my parents we go the The Tuckers. I don't remember how many years we have been doing this, I guess since my parents started staying in Michigan for Christmas & not traveling back to Quebec. Mrs. Tucker makes GREAT Christmas dinners, one of my favorites is her Twice Baked Potatoes and her Cranberry Bread. Want to know what got me on this topic...It's snowing. I'm so excited. It's windy and blustery and blowing and accumulating and I'm nice and toasty warm inside with my computer, a book & tea, of course. If the weather man's right there should be enough to cross country ski by this weekend. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

WC Grant

Cross your fingers for me. I am applying for a grant to put on a women's triathlon clinic in March. The USAT Women's Commision has a fund for people that are looking to expand local female participation and knowledge in triathlons. I saw the ad in the Triathlon Times last month, asked around to local female racers and wannabes what they would be interested in attending and now am trying to put it all together. Yes, I have procrastinated (deadline tomorrow at 6pm Central Time) but it is a very short and simple application. The most complicated part right now is wording it all correctly so that it sounds good enough to get consideration. I still plan on doing it even if I don't get the grant but it will have much cooler stuff if I do. They announce their choices on December 15th so I don't have to wait too long.

1 Soapbox of Many

Last night on my way home from work I was listening to the radio, as usual. The DJ was announcing that the station was sponsoring a concert this week and outside the concert doors they would be collecting donations to send to the troops. I got really angry. Why do they need donations? They're getting a PAYCHECK!!! If they are stationed at an actual base, even overseas, the base has a grocery store with AMERICAN food, they have AMERICAN restaurants and AMERICAN movie theaters & bowling alleys. Why do we need to sent them donations?!?! Those that are in areas without a local PX have internet access and can order online whatever they want and have it shipped to where ever they are stationed. Oh and I forgot, they have AMERICAN cable TV too!!! I have clients that don't know how they are going to get groceries next week, let alone Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas presents. There are people down south and in the northeast that have lost everything they own due to hurricanes and flooding, and then there are the thousands of people that have been devestated by earthquakes and tsunami's just this year. They have lost homes, jobs, pets, family & friends. They have lost EVERYTHING that define who they are. I think if we're going to give donations lets send them to people who really have nothing and didn't have a say in their fate.