Back to video blogging today with the return of the 120.
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Archive for April, 2008TOTAL DONATED: $1 090 This weekend I’ll be continuing my crusade to learn more about Diabetes and the people fighting it.
I’ll be cruising the concourse gathering information, talking to people and going all Robert Scoble with impromptu interviews of those on the show floor and many blog post ideas for the coming weeks. The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
Our singers aren’t as good. Our judges aren’t as good. Our set isn’t as good. Our host isn’t as good. CI runs in the summer, after 5 months of AI, and, frankly, I am spent on the karaoke kids by that time and need a break. A yodelling lobster fisher’s daughter, or beat boxing hay bailer just doesnt have any impact on me, I can’t watch a second of the show. That said… The gang over at Canadian Idol are doing something they deserve a pat on the back for. In 2008, why do we need to stand in line and trudge to major centers to audition? There’s the internets, and streaming audio and video - why can’t we use that?? Well, Teresa Sokyrka wannabes, you can.
Oooooh .. did they say cyberspace?? I take all that back, they’re still a bunch of losers. The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
We went to Jericho for a walk and picnic yesterday. Sure, they may have shattered records in Pitt Meadows by soaring to 24, but down at the beach it was damn cold! Didnt matter, we had our sandwiches and iced tea, and Zacharie had a little potatoes and vegetable stew, so we picnicked our chilled little butts off. The whole while Jen was feeding Z, I couldnt stop staring. She was sooo sexy. The ice cold breeze blowing in her face, gave her a certain Cosmo cover girl look. Someone get this girl on MILF Island, she’d take the title in a heartbeat!!
The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
Jericho Beach, yesterday:
This photo is just another one of the reasons why dog owners are down at the bottom, with smokers, on my evolutionary scale. Here’s the other reason. The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
I’ve mentioned before that I like to buy relevant souvenirs when I go on vacation. Not just trinkety tshirts and hats and stuff, but real things to remember the trip by. Here’s what I picked up in France: Matching soccer jerseys for me and Z.
We visited the salt marshes in Guerande and picked up some fleur de sel and a salt grinder.
We brought home 2 bottles of wine from Marc Bredif, and 2 bottles of Chambord.
Another Do Not Disturb sign.
Jen and I have started to collect these. It started with our visit to Cuba last year, where the sign said “No Molestar”.. we laughed, No Molesting!.
When we visited Portland in the fall, they had a cool DND sign at the Four Points Sheraton, so we scooped it and a trend started. At Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles in Paris, they had a funky Do Not Enter logo on their signs, and it quickly found it’s way into the pages of a book to bring home.
Zacharie just discovered he has a tongue. He won’t keep it in his mouth.
Apr
11
2008
Travel Advice for Going Overseas with InfantsPosted by: buzz in baby, france, insight, travelSo we’ve been back for a week now, and have had to time to sit back and look at how our overseas adventures with a 10 month old went. Some thought we were crazy packing 2 suitcases, 2 knapsacks, a stroller, a carseat and a baby on a plane, through subways and around western France. Yes, it was a challenge at times, but, you know what? It really wasn’t that bad. Here’s what we did right, and what we did wrong: Bring only enough food to cover your plane trip, you can pick up the rest at markets in Paris. Yes, its a little more expensive, but the selection and quality are light years ahead of home. Get out of the city. Accomodations are cheaper in the smaller towns. Life is more relaxed, and it’s more like staying at a home than in a hotel. We could do laundry, dishes, cook meals and share common areas giving Z much more space to roam than if we were in a 150sq ft bunker somewhere in the 1st Arr.
Dont be afraid to ask to have food heated. EVERYONE has a microwave and is more than willing to help. Brasseries in the middle of Paris will gladly pour you a $5 coffee and run to the back to heat up some turkey stew for your baby - but be warned, they have some pretty powerful machines over there. Less than 30s is PLENTY to heat up your baby’s snack. If you’re spending any time in Paris, get ready to do some heavy lifting when you take the metro. There are a few escalators, a lot of stairs and no elevators. To get from the street down to the station, you’ll need to carry your stroller up many flights of stairs and through a few tricky gates. The station attendants are happy to open up big doors to get you into the station, but you’re on your own dealing with the stairs. Bring a collapsable stroller and a Baby Bjorn type of carrier. Keep the baby in the Bjorn through the stations, and use the stroller when you’re up on the streets.
That said, the self catering became necessary and we saved HUNDREDS by not eating at restos every night. For less than 20 Euros, we could get 2 salads, baguette, cheese, some sliced chorizo, a BOTTLE of wine, some dessert and water. Eat in a bistro and you’re looking at that much for one plat, dessert, entree combo. Take a cab home to the airport. We took the train into town when we landed. Yes, it was 50 Euros ($80) to get from the 5th to CDG, but it took 1/3 the time and had 5% of the stress. It was the absolute best 50 we spent all trip.
There’s a fun meme floating around the internets of late. One where people point you to one of the “best videos ever” only to have it end up being Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up.
There’s an official website with a list of most of the Rick Roll videos.. Mark Cuban did it to his blog readers last week promising a special behind the scenes video that ended up being a Rick Roll. It really took off last week as a prank for April Fools, and me being overseas, I’m kinda late to the party .. but .. This, however, is one of the most genius Rick Roll ever. The blog entry heading is Best Muppet Video Ever… it ends up being .. well .. the best Muppet Video Clip Ever. The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
Apr
06
2008
16 Reasons Why Trevor Linden is the Greatest Vancouver CanuckPosted by: buzz in sports, vancouverWhy wait? Retire #16 now and rename Expo Blvd, Linden Avenue. He’s the greatest. Ever.
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I hate Canadian Idol. 
Once you’re in the campagne, use the rest stops - the cleaning stations at the rest areas are fabulous. The gas stations are usually paired with easy restos to feed you, and the bathrooms are totally tricked out for babies. They have stuffed animals to play with, they have huge sinks, padded change tables, and, as Jen says, were obviously designed by a mother.
If you can double date - do it. I wish we would have gone with another couple, and for our next big vacation, we will. It would have been nice to have been able to experience some french nightlife, but with his feeding, bath and bedtime starting at 530 … we ended up grabbing plats a emporter, or salads and baguette from the marche and spent all our evenings inside, early.
Off season travelling is sooooo much easier. March and April are PERFECT months for wandering France, or, I’m guessing, any part of Europe. The rates are cheaper and the service is better. Yes, it was a little chilly at night, and it rained a few days, but have a look at this lunch in Blois. We had the entire.plaza.to.ourselves. Try that in August. Same in Chambord. Not one single person spoiling our pictures of the Chateau - try doing that when the parking lot is full of tour busses in July.
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