Are you wondering how I know Bono?

Ok, so maybe he's not the real Bono. He just portrays one occasionally on the streets that have no name in Huntsville. That was a U2 joke, mom. Sometimes, he tries to convince us that he is a local celebrity there with his fancy friends. He's made cottage floors for these dudes that play for the Maple Leafs, maybe one guy that has his own tv show in syndication, and a few others that know Shania Twain. By the way, he's really my live-in-the-flesh-brother.

His best story by far was the day that a gaggle of teenagers approached him in front of the LCBO. Why are teenagers hanging around out in front of the liquor store? They wanted his autograph. While he ham-chammed it up with whomever he was ham-chamming it up with, these kids giggled and insisted on an autograph. The bantering went on for several minutes while my brother chatted them up and finally caved. He said to them something like "I really can't let this go on any further, just who do you think I am?" They said "Well, you're Bono of course!" Right! Forgo the Irish accent. Forgo the bodyguard. And would that be my brother's Mike Holmes' truck? Yep. Teenagers these days sure don't know their rock stars very well. Guess I can't impress them with my story of Katrina and the Waves! Chuck, if you click on that Katrina link there will be no boobies and you'll be admitting to the fact that you are too young to remember Katrina or her #1 hit song.

signed, the willow

The Wild Rumpus

I hereby admit that I was inspired today by the letter W and by Chuck's post on his blog about Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are". I have to tell you the story behind the story. Maybe feelings get bottled up inside of us for so long and once we share our stories, we can move on. Like Chuck, I too was moved by the same story that was read at the same funeral for the same friend. This friend was young, only 20, when he chose to leave us. He was also my very dear little cousin. Time has passed and we've all moved on with our lives. We've become too busy for all sorts of things. But, I have never been too busy to read this story with my daughter and cry each time I read it. Maurice Sendak's words were read over and over to me as a child. His illustrations are imprinted in my memory to the point that I feel as though I lived in Max's room and saw the forest grow and grow. When my cousin passed away we all were stripped of life. He didn't realize how much of an impact, or maybe he did, he had on all of us. His stronghold was fierce and tugged at you until you couldn't stand it any longer. Don't get me wrong I understood my cousin more than anyone ever really understood. I too, had and have that same fierceness. The aggression to want more and to be more. It's not a call for attention, it is a need to be understood. He simply wanted someone to understand him. If he only knew, we did understand him! A lot of times I felt the same ways that he felt. And with that, let the wild rumpus begin....

When the rumpus was over my cousin, like most of us, wanted to be where someone loved him best of all. He had that and he knew he had that. But he sailed his boat off into a different direction.

It was my mother who chose that story for my cousin's funeral. She read it with us, my cousins and I, countless times and it was Sendak's words that wrought her of sleep on the eve of writing my cousin's eulogy. While my cousin gave up being king of where the wild things are, he gave us all up. Disappointment is a hard thing to recover from and I don't know that any of us ever will fully recover. His supper still waits for him and it is still hot. (Thank you to Maurice Sendak and to my little cousin's older brother who bought me my very own copy of this book, because he understands)

signed, the willow

Red River, Red River, I feel like I have a shiver

The Red River bordered my home in Winnipeg (this photo is not even close to the Red River - it is a calm meandering stream close to my new home in Burlington). We were positioned near a bend in the Red River and every Spring we felt doomed that our basement would fill with icy cold water. It never did happen while we lived in that house from 1998 to 2003. But I am afraid that the little house on the Prairie may see its day coming soon. With all these levees cracking in North Dakota and the usual sandbagging in Lockport and St. Paul, Winnipeg may have the flood of the century. I certainly hope not, it was 20 degrees below zero (Celsius) there yesterday with the windchill. I know this because my mother flew back that direction yesterday from our balmy airport. While I'm glad to be away from the mosquitoes and the -40 degree winters, I do miss Winnipeg and I mostly miss the people of Winnipeg. They are like no others you'll meet anywhere in Canada.

signed, the willow

Should Canada's Military Really Worry about a 3 a.m. FOX Broadcast?

So while the rest of the world was asleep, some American moron who calls himself a tv host of the Fox News show "Red Eye" insulted the Canadian military on the eve of the death of 4 of our Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Alongside him were 4 panelists who also insulted the Canadian police force (who are not all mounted on horseback by the way! Nor are they all members of the RCMP!), Canadian weather, Canadian intelligence and well all things Canadian. Have you seen this guy who calls himself Greg Gutfeld? It is so obvious that these morons are "comedians" and want to call attention to themselves. This is all they could come up with. What these particular Americans were either not aware of, or forgot to mention was Canada is cleaning up their bloody mess that they abandoned in Afghanistan. Canada has lost more soldiers in Afghanistan than any other allied country. And this whole war was once again brought to us by the Americans. Remember George W Bush? While Obama's shiny image is currently blinding the rest of the American public, some are still fighting for George's fear and greed of the black gold, Iraqi tea.

They have outraged the Canadian general public. We are ready to take a hakapik (and I use that term very cautiously during a time where Canada allows a seal hunt to proceed in record numbers - no, we aren't perfect in Canada) to all of these Yanks who have decided that they are the "most powerful nation in the Universe". Really? Have they been to the ends of the Universe? No and if they did, they'd probably perish the life of a few Canadians in one of their space shuttles to do the dastardly deed for them. Hmm, America, remember when you run out of oil resources - we have some north of you. And, America, remember how we still have trees? Oh yeah, USA, we also have an economy that is only slightly tanking and explicitly not as corrupt as the country who brought us Bernie Madoff. In perspective, FOX is, in fact, the network who provided us with a blue flashing tail attached to a hockey puck to teach their nation how to WATCH hockey. While the Canadians were actually playing the sport.

signed, the Canadian Willow

p.s. In a more promising moment for the Canadians & Americans living in harmony, Brad Pitt will appear on Mike Holmes' show "Holmes in New Orleans". Now, why can't we all live in peace? Perhaps we need the Hollywood looks of Brad Pitt and the contractor skills of Mike Holmes to get along.

When all you can say is "Dubba Dubba"

I am so sick and I want *Steve* to go get me a double double and he continually returns with slurpies for *Mila*.

signed, the willow

When Naked Barbies Provide the Entertainment

"Hi, my Name is Denise and this is Orange Vicky on my lap. Don't worry, I will not toss her into a frying pan full of hot grease."

"Oh Ken, please put your head back on before the date starts."

"A little more to the left Kissing Barbie."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"This is not my noggin!"

"Yes, of course I realize that my rubber limbs are dirtier than the rest of me."

signed, the willow

Spring has arrived

Whether you like it or not, get your rubber boots out because Spring has arrived. We saw our first official butterfly today (this one in the photo is from a Conservatory and from Colombia or somewhere) and that makes it official, we have entered Spring and I don't miss Winnipeg. Even if I do watch 'Less than Kind' each week in case they drive by my old house, my old University, my old work, the place where Eaton's once stood, or Polo Park. Okay, maybe sometimes I do miss Winnipeg.

signed, the willow

My Gold Medalist

The past two weeks my mom was here with us and yesterday we sadly released her on loan to my brother. I know, not fair! Today we've been sighing and *Mila* was found covered in party hats on the floor rolling around moaning "Birthday Party" with a belly full of broccoli.

There was a highlight on the weekend. This was in addition to Colin and Justin. I'm speaking of my nephew, *Barrett*. You may as well know, we all go by our middle names on this blog. All but *Steve*, he has no middle name and simply prefers to be called "Steve". Okay, where was I? Right, my nephew. He competed in a National Nordic ski race held in Duntroon, Ontario (close to Collingwood). This was his first national race and his first 10 K race! At one point he skied past us with what appeared to be a plastic bag on his boot. I think it was a flag. He did really well and we're all so proud of him. He'll be our gold medalist always....so will his little sister who I hear can give her age category a run for their money.

Were we nuts thinking that *Mila* would climb that hill? Good thing for Uncle *Rodney*!

There are endorsements on his outfit. Does he know that? Is that cool or what?

When I was a kid X-country ski poles had to fit under your armpits. Guess times have changed. Now they skate ski and the poles reach over their heads.

Beyond this hill 90 cars were stuck in the mud. We were one of those cars. Thanks to the kind fellow Ontarians who helped to push us out!

Gramma, come back!

signed, the willow

Wonder if they wore their Design Panties?

God Bless Colin & Justin (for taping 52 episodes of Home Heist in the Hamilton area)!

signed, the willow

One of these things is not like the others

Why did the Ken dolls always lose their heads?

signed, the willow

The Big C

I have been very absent from my blog lately. There have been many plans in the making to

put on a 5th Birthday Party, invite the Big C, make cupcakes with Gramma and find a way to hide presents.

Forever burned into my memory, *Mila* with a giant wad of Double Bubble in her mouth sitting beside Big C on the couch. Oh and I strongly recommend hiring a princess for your party, especially if you are under 6.

signed, the willow