JoeyMoggie

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Wednesday saw the Canadian Loonie briefly reach the 99-cent US mark in the overseas trading markets - inching closer to parity with the US dollar.
The Loonie drifted down 0.14 cent to close at 98.5 cents US on Wednesday making the 99-cent rise short-lived. But SWEET none the less! The release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Canada Wednesday morning slowed the dollar’s ascent, forcing the minor drop before close of market.

This is the first time in almost 30 years that the Canadian dollar has been on-par with the US dollar. That means the first time in MY LIFETIME that the Canadian dollar has been so strong.

This rise may be not be totally attributed to a strong Canadian economy, The U.S. currency also plummeted to a new low Thursday against the 13-nation Euro, which traded above $1.40 for the first time since it was introduced in 1999.This is a great time for Canadians to spend their money in the US, with internet shopping sites like Ebay very affordable on the very best deals around. There has also been a sharp increase in Canadian holidaymakers booking trips because of how much you can get with the Canadian dollar.

After reading several American based websites, there are a lot of Americans (espeically those so close to the border) who are disappointed their money will not get them the deals they are more accustomed to receiving driving north. This decline in the US greenback, will also affect the number of American holidaymakers. With their currency not providing them with the big-bang-for-the-buck, as well as concerns for value will drive people to stay home.

The biggest economic concern is in the manufacturing sector, which may see loss in jobs when companies will have to outsource to keep costs low and keep competitive in markets.

Canada (specifically Montreal) was again seeing a rise of Hollywood movies looking to shoot in the historic Quebec city, with the rise of the Canadian dollar many of these movies may look elsewhere to shoot to conserve their movie budgets.

Even with the scary economic concerns, I’m proud of the Loonie - the little dollar that could. . .

Sources:

Fox News

CityNews

SeattlePi.com

CTV.ca

X-Rates.com

Once in a while a news story happens that truly makes you sit back in your chair, take a deep breathe, and wonder about what kind of sickos are out there - and on our streets.

Montreal had one such story yesterday.

A frail elderly nun, who devoted her life God’s work, was senslessly murdered.

Who in their right (or wrong) mind could harm a nun?

Story source

Ed “Honest Ed” Mirvish passed away today, just shy of his 93rd birthday.

RIP : YEHUDA (EDWIN) “Honest Ed” MIRVISH JULY 24, 1914 to JULY 11, 2007

Honest Ed was the founder and name sake of “Honest Ed’s Bargain Emporium” in Toronto Ontario. Ed not only was a great Canadian business man, philanthropist, restaurateur (Ed’s Warehouse), and believer in the city of Toronto:  It is my opinion he single-handed brought a dying and desolate Theater district and back to glory, truly making Toronto the Broadway of the North.

Ed brought “Mama Mia” “The Lion King” “The Producers” and “Hairspray” among others to theater lovers in TO. Ed spent tireless amounts of time and money restoring the old theaters to historic acuracy - not forgeting to upgrade them with the finest sound systems, rigs, and amenities. The Royal Alexandra Theater, The Princess of Wales Theatre and the Pantages Theater all received Ed’s royal treatment.

Today is a sad day. . . . You’ll be missed Honest Ed.

Picture Source Sign Picture Source Ed at the Princess of Wales Theater Picture Source

According to a report by Reuters,  Canadians smoke more weed than other industrialized countries, touting an impressive statistic that 16.8 percent of all Canadians between the ages of 15 and 65 have toked reef in the past year.   This is apparently more than 4 times the global rate.

With powerful and moving statistics like these, its no wonder the pot-heads are out in full force campaigning for the legalization of their favorite non-medicinal plant.

I for one am impressed something got the lazy pot-heads off their asses. . . .

  Read the rest of this entry »

Colin and I went to dinner with Chow and Alex tonight to Kanda Sushi in Snowden.

On the walk back to the car after dinner we saw the oddest thing.

A Hasidic Jewish Bachelor Party, at 8:30pm on a Thursday.   Of course the backdrop to the shenanigans was a smoked meat joint called ‘Benny’s’

Gotta love Montreal.

With 4 wins in 5 games, the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup.

Poor Senators.

Read the rest of this entry »

I guess I feel since I secretly devoted more time to American Idol than I should have or even admitted, I feel an obligation to start to watch Canadian Idol.

So far I’ve actually seen two people who I know on the auditions show.

Adam from “The PAC”  and Shannon from my home town, both I knew from dancing.   Shannon got a gold ticket, Adam - well - it was a golden effort!

Congrats  Shannon. . . .if you get onto the show, I’ll vote for you every week!  Way to go girl!

Official Website for Canadian Idol

You Really Know Your State Capitols

You Got 20 State Capitols CorrectYou’re either a geography buff… or you have an excellent memory.

Do You Know Your State Capitols?

I’ve gotten to know my American capitals during my current job talking on the phone all day to Americans. I got ALL the questions right, many of them I already knew beforehand though, but still, I wonder how many Americans would get the Provincial Capitals of Canada Correct????

Here is a list of the Canadian Provinces and Territories, and the Capitals. . . . I’ve also included Canada, which has its own National capital. Can anyone match them up correctly??

Provinces & Territories

1. Alberta
2. British Columbia
3. Manitoba
4. New Brunswick
5. Newfoundland (and Labrador)
6. Nova Scotia
7. Ontario
8. Prince Edward Island
9. Quebec
10. Saskatchewan
11. Northwest Territories
12. Nunavut
13. Yukon Territory
14. Canada

Capitals

• a) Iqaluit
• b) Fredericton
• c) Victoria
• d) Winnipeg
• e) Whitehorse
• f) Charlottetown
• g) St. John’s
• h) Ottawa
• i) Yellowknife
• j) Toronto
• k) Edmonton
• l) Quebec City
• m) Halifax
• n) Regina

Tonight Montreal is expecting SNOW.? Yes, that is correct.? This evening, Wednesday 16th May 2007, we are expecting a small amount of snow (less than a cm)

WTF!

Check out www.theweathernetwork.com

I love the look of a hot pair of heels.  Be damned if I can walk in them, though.

I suppose the irony of the fact I can’t walk in heels is my years and years of dance lessons and competitive dance.

I danced in “Character Shoes” which were high-heels with straps.  I did kick lines, and Can-can, pirouettes et all and never a problem walking in them.

I also took 4 years of Pointe.  You’d think with the rigorious routines you subject your feet to in Pointe, walking in heels would be a breeze.  No dice for Joey.

Last weekend when my In Laws were here my Mother in Law bought me a hot little pair of sandles (see below)

I love them, but as with any pair of heels, I have to bring a back up pair of flats when the pain gets to much.

I blister easily.  What can I say.

I wore them to Gibby’s and all the walking around we did by the Old Port, but on Sunday when we went to Church - I couldn’t even keep them on for the service.  I slid them under the pew in front of me.  I hope they weren’t ‘pew’ themselves.

We went to Tim Horton’s for lunch and onto Ste Anne De Bellevue to walk along the boardwalk, needless to say, on came the flats.

The day after P&K’s wedding we all know about the high heel boot fiasco, I sprained my ankle really badly (infact i’m still in a bit of a pain from it) - after my tumble, on came the flats.

For P&K’s wedding, I bought a great pointy pair of heels, and a back up pair of flats that looked the same.  During the ceremony I had to walk up the little staircase, and I knew I didn’t want to chance fate - on came the flats.

Then walking back to the car between the service and reception, well, I couldn’t keep up with everyone in my heels.  On came the flats.

Then there was the dancing.  I couldn’t be expected to give my heart out to the Village People’s YMCA in heels, could I?  On came the flats.

Even at my own wedding, on came the flats.  I switched to a silvery pair of flip flops from my heels just after the ceremony and pictures. 

Colin can always tell when I’m uncomfortable in shoes, he says I go from having my shoulders back and standing tall and confident to a hunched over waddling penguin with piegon feet.

Perhaps I’m only destined to enjoy LOOKING at fabulous heels, and never wearing them.

Sigh. .  . . . .