The benefits of probiotic yogurt.

This morning Canada a.m. reported on the benefits of yogurt with probiotics. It is great for your digestion and even helps fight depression.

I am not sure why the nice people at Canada A.M. are treating this as a breakthrough. I have always believed I could eat my way out of the bluest of moods.

(Hum this to the tune of Phil Collins "Groovy Kind of Love")

When I'm feeling blue
All I have to do
Is take a bite of stew
Then I'm not so blue.
When I have a burger
I can feel my heart race
I can feel a smile grow
on my face
Wouldn't you agree?
Baby, you and me, we got a gravy kind of love


We got a gravy kind of love
We got a gravy kind of love
Ooh, ooh
We got a gravy kind of love

Easter Sunday

Twas the week before Easter,
and all through the day
my thoughts were on eating,
hey, what can I say.

The ham had been purchased,
the perogies were bought,
but an invitation
was all that I sought.

I'd travel for miles
and I'd bring a cake
yes, I'd be all smiles
here's what it would take.

Just call and invite me
for Easter dinner or brunch,
Hey I'd even settle for
a packed brown bag lunch.

Just don't make me cook it,
no mashing or chopping.
Just call me up and
I'll come hopping.

So please don't forget me,
I'll be quite polite.
I'll help with the dishes
and bid you goodnight.

ST. Patty's Day

I am wearing green. It is an atrocious lime green made popular about 5 years ago. It is a vinyl lime green jacket. It is hideous. But I am setting aside my pride to honor the Irish and to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. But what about other nationalities?

I am proud to be of Ukrainian Heritage. So in return for wearing the hideous green I expect everyone to, in turn, celebrate one of the many Ukrainian Saints.

I am selecting Helladius of Kiev. He was a monk and saint. His feast day at the Kiev Caves monastery is on the Saturday after September 14. That is all I know about him. But I love his name.

So if everyone gets to be Irish for a day in March, then I invite all of you to be Ukrainian for a day in September. We will drink vodka, eat kielbasa, smear crushed garlic on our sandwiches, and celebrate by wearing something tacky. Maybe a yellow and purple shirt.

Dai Bohje!

I Am A Lucky Girl

In spite of my curmudgeony ways and even though I am not worthy, people are nice to me anyway. So how lucky am I?

I had over 30 birthday greetings on facebook. I didn't count the one from the creators of facebook cause their message was quite impersonal and they didn't send flowers. I had a wonderful cake from my dad even though he had other things to worry about and god knows at that age I'm sure I won't remember that I have kids, never mind when their birthday's are. I get to chop my veggies with the best knife I've ever had because my dear sister knows what's important to me. I have lovely gifts and some spectacular bath products from the best AVON lady ever.

I am amazed that someone would drive out in the cold winter night to leave a blessing on my doorstep and not even come in for tea.

I had lots of phone calls from very special people. So warm and fuzzy emails. i've had it all.

So today, even though I had to work really hard, I am grateful to all the people who thought of me today.

And to those lousy buggers who forgot - you are now off my Christmas list.

My Anti Anti-Virus

I have a dilemma with my anti virus. This is not to be confused with my aunty vicki who sometimes causes me stress. No this is all about McAfee Anti Virus. In my opinion when the anti-virus won't work that would make it the anti anti-virus. My current a.v. program had expired. So I tried downloading a free version from AVG but wondered about the quality of it - you know the saying you get what you pay for. So I went online and decided to go with McAfee cause I'd used it before and it seemed fine. So I trusted my credit card to this company and the second I hit the "pay" button the screen froze. So I restarted my computer - 11 times. I have refreshed the page 23 times. I have used the "f" word 39 times.

So to cool off I decided to write a blog. This is dedicated to my one and only fan. I am thrilled that even though I am not faithful, my fan is. So thanks.

But back to my dilemna. I think a strongly worded email will be in order. I would give them a piece of my mind but I'm afraid that would leave me short. So instead I will use words like "disgruntled" "suspicious" "dissatisfied". Wait, there's some action on my computer.

It worked!!! It finally downloaded. Now I will email them and say "thrilled" "pleased" "grateful"

I hit the appropriate "run" button. It downloaded. It said do you want to run the program. I hit the "I'd be delighted to" button. And then it said. "Unable to run program. No internet connection found."

Which is odd cause I get access facebook, Ken's blog, the weather network, found a great soup recipe on the food network. But could I get the program to run. So I'm off to write my email and the words are now too nasty to include in this tale. So say a little prayer for the McAfee people. Cause when I get through with them there will go to their cubicles and think about what they've done.

Oddly enough, though McAfee can't find my internet connection, my email works.

My Dream Career

I spent the weekend with the commoner in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He is working there so I thought I'd take the opportunity to shop. And eat. And while we were there I was telling him my dream job would be to take over the show "Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives". It's a food review show showcasing different family owned restaurants in America. Most of the food is straight from the 50's. Greasy grilled burgers, deep fried onion rings, french fries, milkshakes. Ambrosia.

The I read Ken's blog where he named his favorite meals of the last year. I wanted to go with the theme. But I'm not sure I can limit my list.

I adore the drive inn foods. The messier the burger the happier I am. So burgers definately make my list. Last night we ate at the Hickory Smokehouse & Grill and I had the hickory smoked barbeque ribs. And they were amazing. Then this morning we had eggs benedict at the Heritage Inn Hotel. I loved every bite. Then when I thought I was going to have to settle for toast for dinner tonight, I was surprised to come home to a feast of Jason's chinese food, complete with homemade wontons. I was in heaven. Last weekend I didn't eat quite so well. Saturday night's evening meal was french onion dip and salt and vinegar chips. It was devine.

I love the homey appeal of bean and bacon soup simmering in the slow cooker for hours. I'm happy to sup on Portabella Ripieno con Frutti di Mare e Mascarpone
(Portabella Mushroom Cap topped with Seafood and Mascarpone served with Roasted Pepper Sauce) at Amici's in Winnipeg. Sometimes only a bologna sandwich will do.

I've concluded in my favorite meals are the ones I enjoyed with family or friends. Or by myself. Who am I kidding? My favorite meal is one that didn't crawl away from me.

The Golden Globes

I am a big movie fan. Well, maybe not that big since I only go to a theatre about once a year. And I only rent movies twice a year. But once they are on T.V. for all the peasants to view I am there. I settle on the couch complete with popcorn and pop. Pretty much perfect especially since it doesn't cost me $25.00 for the ticket and snacks. But, I digress. I really do love movies, television series, sitcoms etc. I admire the actors. OK not all of them but Ed Harris and the likes of him are big on my list.

What I'm not a fan of are the Award Shows. This is probably because when they air I have not seen any of the movies. So it pretty hard to drum up the excitement to listen to the boring acceptance speeches and watch the fake nodding, smiling, and applauding done by the people who were nominated but lost again.

What I do enjoy though is the fashion. Not that I can really relate but it's fun to see the stars playing dress up. I came across a show last night where a panel of fashionistas did a run down of the best and worst dressed people on the red carpet.

Not actually having followed this season's haute coutere, I am grateful for the nice blonde lady in the ugly blue dress and black hose for pointing out everyone's faux pas. The nice gay man with the spiky frosted hair also is apparently an expert. Two other men (one emmulating Boy George and the other non-descript expert) rounded off the panel.

So for an hour, the four authorities dissected the stars (who paid a stylist a king's ransome). And I say, thank the heaven's for their knowledge. Cause 84% of the time I couldn't see why that black dress was perfect and the next one wasn't. To the untrained eye the only difference would be the bleached blonde in the dress. But the professionals could see the smallest detail in hair, makeup, jewellery, and dresses and though the actors are looked good to me the panel was clear on who was hot and who was not.

I was humbled by their knowledge and grateful that no one follows my fashion blunders. But you know the saying, "Those who can do and those who can't sit on a panel and bitch about it."

A Cure for Depression

Sometimes winter can get you down. The Christmas weight gain, the ennormous credit card debt, the mountains of snow and the sub zero temperatures are enough to bring the most cheerful optimist to their knees. But today, I've found something to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Actually, it's not just one thing. It's a chain of events. First, I discovered the Kenny's blogging again. Check him out at www.kenskandidkomments.blogspot.com. This inspired me to reopen my own blog. I will try to blog once a week. There is nothing like setting a goal to make you feel a little brighter. The third and probably the most effective treatment is a good dose of Ray Charles.

Last night I loaded a bunch of new music into my MP3. I've been dancing around the house all morning. I enjoyed Louise Armstrongs, Dream a Little Dream. I boogied to Nickelback and then it happened. Ray Charles came on. I heard the intro and started to smile. Then I recognized the song. "Tell Me What I'd Say". Well, I don't know what he'd say but I know what I did. I danced. Yep, looked real stupid too. Earphones in my ear, I surely cut a rug, so to speak. Did such a good job, I played the song again. Again, I danced and by the end of the 4th time I was in a really good mood. Might have even lost 2 ounces due to the smooth moves I possess.

It might not be Ray Charles. But find your music and get up off a that thang. Listening to music you love and shaking it makes you feel great. Go ahead, do it front of mirror to get a good chuckle. But I guarantee that after a while you will fee better. And then you'll know that "Ladies and Gentelmen, you've been entertained by the genius of Ray Charles."