Strombo-thon

Like most Canadians, I have a love-hate relationship with Canadian broadcasting. I firmly believe Canada needs our own media and will defend the need for more funding and even for regulation... but (confession) I'd sooner watch Two and a Half Men (which, Dean will attest, I believe indicates the low American comedy has hit) than sit through any CTV-produced sitcom.

One thing we DO do well north of the border is current events, and no Canadian, regardless of their political leaning, will dispute that George Stroumboulopoulos sets the standard for great late night talk. We love him. He and Peter Mansbridge. They can do no wrong.

Yesterday Jess Janz and I scored ourselves front row seats at George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (formerly The Hour). While Toronto is in the throes of TIFF and some people are cruising King Street hoping to brush up against celebrity outside the LightBox, I prefer to get all my fame in one place.

The epic six-hour multi-episode taping featured interviews with all of the following:
Paul Giamatti
Rosamund Pike
Jason Priestly
Zach Braff
Edward Norton (!!!)
Errol Morris
Gene Simmons + Shannon Tweed
Jill Hennesy

Holy cannoli! It was quite the lineup. The crew of Gene Simmons' Family Jewels were even on set, so be sure to watch for our chuckling mugs in a future episode.


[image via Toronto Star]

Only in Saskatchewan

Hand Santizer Linked to Public Intoxication

We had a good laugh chez-Regier on Saturday morning when Deano spotted this CBC article about recent thefts of bulk alcohol-based hand santizer from public buildings in Regina. His sister and brother-in-law are social workers in various communities in southern Saskatchewan, and these are the kinds of challenges they are up against.

I am a West Coaster through and through, but since marrying a Saskatchewan boy I have developed a soft spot for the Canadian prairies... in all her glue-sniffing glory.

cross stitch

This inspired me to put my knitting aside and pick up a new hobby for the winter.

[by chezsucrechez, via designsponge]

in which we make a big announcement

Since hubby and I got married four years ago we've lived in 6 different homes in 4 different cities (lost track? Vancouver, Aberdeen, Oxford, Toronto). While we both love the adventure, we also have longed to put down roots at some point. I, for one, knew I'd never truly be able to do that anywhere but North America's west coast. We always assumed that would mean a return to Vancouver. Our move to Toronto this year was the first step westward, and we expected to enjoy this fabulous city for a few years until a position opened up for Dean in BC.

By now, however, we're used to rolling with the unexpected... so we're thrilled to share with you that Dean has been offered an Assistant Professor post at the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

In other words, we're moving to Seattle!

We'll spend the next two months wrapping up our respective jobs here in Ontario and plan to reach the Pacific by November 1st.

Looking forward to spending lots of time with most of you then.

Yes, visitors, there will be a bed for you.

xo

Zaac wins the Shore Song Search!

HUGE congrats to Zaac Pick! His song, My Century, just won the Shore 104.3's Sounds of Summer song search, judged by Vancouver music bigwigs Sam Feldman and Terry McBride and Bruce Allen. It's a well deserved victory and I can't wait to see where it takes him!

[image via Shore 104FM]

Book Covers - then & now

If I had any artistic talent at all, I would design book covers. Design is never more relevant to me than on the front of my favourite works. I love Flavorpill's overview of classic book designs reinvented.