Little Bits of Canada

When I was a sprout, there was a flurry of commercials in Canada about Red Rose Tea. Being a kid of sophisticated taste, my favorite ad involved chimps. To this day, when someone asks me what kind of tea I prefer, I purse my ape-like lips, lift my googly eyes to stare at the ceiling and say “Red-Red-Red-Red-Red-Rose”, just like my chimpanzee buddies of old. You should see the looks of admiration I receive! And then there's those cool Red Rose music playing chimps...

For years the tagline of the tea was “Only in Canada you say? Pity!” But now the tea has made a splash in the States and a blend of this tea of chimps may be found on grocery shelves in Cookeville, TN.

My friend Terry (great card, thank you) treated us to some special Confederation beer in Calgary. Pip Pip Terry, jolly good show Inspector Clouseau, you certainly can’t find Confederation beer in the States. You will, however, find Moosehead and Molson in the stores.


And then there are the donuts. You have to tip your toque to Tim Horton’s eh? According to Wikipedia, Tim is the number one fast food joint in Canada, commanding 76% of the Canadian market for baked goods and 62% for coffee (Starbucks is #2 at 7%). It has expanded into the US (just saw a story about Tim taking over a former Dunkin Donuts in New York City) and there is a Tim’s as far away as a military base outside Kandahar, Afghanistan. While there is a Tim in Afghanistan, we are still bereft Tims south of the Mason Dixon Line. It is only a matter of time.

(Speaking of Kandahar, howdy to my friend Pickle. How ARE the donuts over there? What does an Afghan donut taste like? Any different than the ones back home?)

There is a certain comfort, and strangely enough, a pride when you live so far away and you find a little bit of home in a local store. This is especially true in places like Kandahar but it is true here too. While Canada has made an impact throughout the world with the big, significant stuff, when you are living “away”, it is often the little things, like tea and beer and donuts that make your day.

Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk Honk, etc.

Yesterday I unloaded the trailer that we had packed in Calgary. Now I can take the lifting and the toting. I can even take the heaps of humidity and the 83-degree temperature (higher in the trailer). But what I had trouble taking was Bruce the goose with his insistent honking and honking that nearly drove me bananas. I literally could have wrung his neck. He wanted food, he wanted company, and he has taken to following me around whenever I am outside now that the Canadian geese have flown off and left him to his own devices.

Sheesh Bruce, get a life eh? Stop with the honking and honking. Go fly off with your Canadian buddies. Anybody want a free goose? Thanksgiving is just around the corner and he’s a big, strapping lad with hefty drumsticks!

In spite of the infernal honking, the unloading is all done. A guy needs his stuff and opening the boxes is like finding lost treasure. Thanks to my buddy Neil for storing my treasures for what seems like forever.

And oh yeah, honk honk from dumb ole Bruce.

Highlights From July 2009

Big Sky Country

I returned from a 10-day trip to my home and native land on July 31. I was in desperate need of an injection of family and friends. It was invigorating to breathe the dry, clean Alberta air, feel the
vastness of the prairies, wonder at the beauty of an unobstructed sunset on the horizon and to step foot among the mighty Rockies again. To those of you whose faces I had the pure pleasure of seeing – thank you. I love all y’all.

So when are you coming down, eh?

Very Important Indeed

I accepted a promotion while I was on my Canadian excursion. I am now the Director of Something Very Important Indeed at our little PBS station. It means I’ll have a dollar or two more in my pocket. It also means that I have to put on my big boy pants and manage staff. Some of them are a little cranky. It should be good for a laugh or a scream or two along the way.