570News Blog: Lisa Drew

We are now into the final days of September, with just over two weeks to go until we head to the polls.

Oktoberfest kicks off…a week friday.
The dirndl will fit this year!!
Can’t wait to see a new-look Onkel Hans thanks to Extreme Makeover Oktoberfest .  The 570 News gang looks forward to seeing you Uptown Waterloo at our annual Free Oktoberfest Breakfast on Saturday October 11th.

My neighbour around the corner has the pumpkins and cornstalks out on the porch, reminding me to get my Martha Stewart act together.

The leaves are starting to change.. and ragweed season continues.

Our youngest has already talked me into buying his halloween costume. ( The costumes have been in stores for two months now!)  He HAD to have it.   He has already changed his mind twice now, and doesn’t want to wear it.  Just guess who will win October 31st.

Hockey started over the weekend for our oldest.
The sparkle in his eye makes me forget the bill for those new, had to have ‘em formed-to-your-foot skates.

The kids picked up the Sears Wishbook from great-grandma’s over the weekend. They have started the list… and have checked it more than twice.

And speaking of holiday gift-giving, how about this for that boss that has everything:
a Scottish.. 40-year-old single malt whisky from Highland Park
goes on sale this week at the LCBO
It retails for $2,000.

Start saving now.

lisa

That guy in red and white stripes, with the knitted cap and round glasses.. turns 21 this year.
Where is he?
Everywhere. 

Waldo could wind up getting more press than our federal candidates.
Maybe Stephen Harper should trade in the fuzzy V-neck
for a knitted striped set. Waldo’s very Canadian-like toque would look cozy on Stephane Dion.
Jack Layton could pull off the dark rounded rims.

The stylin’ and hip Waldo has already been spotted at New York’s Fashion Week,
He’s got his own Find Waldo website… and..has his own Facebook page.

46-million copies of the Find Waldo books are out there in the world.  Get ready for more Waldo.. The Complete Collection hits bookshelves next month - just in time for the election.

lisa

She once had the Queen as her mother-in-law, but Sarah Ferguson remains a royal act.
The Duchess of York was the keynote speaker at the second annual Inspiring Women “The Experience”.
Bingemans in Kitchener was overflowing with amazing and fun women.
The Duchess really did make us laugh and cry. The famous redhead candidly talked about “slaying her dragons” over the years.  Ferguson showed pictures of her girls, and talked of her great relationship with her ex, Prince Andrew.
She playfully pointed out that she married the “best-looking son” ! 

(How many of us remember waking up so very early on July 23, 1986, to catch the royal wedding?)  

She also got to the ugly- her mother leaving, her struggles with being a royal, having weight issues, the marriage break-up and dealing with the British press.
Her message to the crowd:  Never give up, be the “foghorn” and make a difference - clean your side of the street.  She says it’s about who you are inside.  The Duchess truly believes it is possible to change anything, and urges us to be like trees in a crowded jungle.. and “go for the light”.

And she is doing it.
She’s busy jetting around the world, supporting her children’s charities.  It includes work in Afghanistan.
I had a chance to chat with the Duchess at a reception a night earlier, and she is in Toronto next, then off to New York, then on toTurkey.

The woman known as “Fergie” was approachable, walked into the lunch with no entourage, and was quick to hug and shake hands.  A true royal act, the Duchess thanked organizers, the servers at the lunch, and a list of others before getting into her talk.   She’s funny too. (Love the word “naughty” when it comes served with a british accent!) 

Yesterday’s event was Inspiring.  Congrats to Kathy Weiss and the gang for pulling off an even bigger event the second time around.
Wow.
And with over 600 women together for the day, how great was it, to take over the men’s washrooms?  The three men in the crowd had to hike it waaaay down the hall.
Also getting much talk: The edible dessert centrepieces, and as one speaker put it ” dessert..like.. every fifteen minutes”!
Thanks to my radio sister, Tara, for her support on stage.

See you next year, Thursday September 10, 2009.

lisa
  
 

Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, lands in Kitchener tomorrow.

She is the featured speaker at the second annual Inspiring Women “The Experience” event.
A Business woman, mom, and former princess.  Somehow she manages it all.

Check out her life at www.SarahFerguson.com

570 News is proud to be involved in this amazing women’s event for another year.

Hope to see you at Bingemans..(I’ll be in heels for the third time this year- wish me luck on stage!)

lisa

We are now into week two of the federal election campaign.  Last week we were treated to television ads of Prime Minister Harper in his light blue v-neck sweater.
A poll out today shows many think Liberal leader Stephane Dion needs a stylist..or maybe his own fuzzy pullover.
Some 52 per cent of respondents to the Harris-Decima poll say they had a positive feeling about Tory Stephen Harper, compared to 34 per cent for Dion.
Fifty-five per cent reported negative feelings about Dion, compared to 40 per cent for Harper. 

Stateside, the focus lately has been on the vice-presidential wanna-be’s.  Sarah Palin now hitting the big time, with Tina Fey returning to SNL to spoof the hockey mom in lipstick.
And now Joe Biden makes “news”… about his possible hair plugs.
Rumours and new stories are popping up ..with the angle that Biden is a member of the hair club for men.
Like a true politician, he’s not confirming or denying.  But his thicker hair was a hot topic last weekend at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons conference in Montreal. 
 
lisa

Parents and teachers spend so much time trying to teach our children what to do “right” and how to be courteous and respectful of others.  It’s not easy, and we so, sooo try to lead by example.  Some days go better than others.
But, just try and explain our latest federal election campaign.   Why does a puffin poop on a rival? Why can’t the boys let the new girl play with them? 

Stateside, check out the new Sarah Palin “action figure”.
I saw this on CNN yesterday.  She’s got the glasses, the  crafted up-do, and legs!  She’s sporting a gun strapped to her  thigh.
Whatever happened to Malibu Barbie and Superstar Ken?
(Yeah, I had both.)
CNN also reports her eyeware is so hot..that her style of frames is flying off store shelves country wide.

Today Barack Obama is accusing John McCain’s campaign of `lies and phoney outrage and Swift-boat politics’ in claiming he had made a sexist comment against U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Obama told supports on Tuesday: `You can put lipstick on a pig … it’s still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It’s still going to stink after eight years.’

Kids, don’t listen.  Go out and play nice in the schoolyard.

lisa

A tiny plastic gas card.. is becoming a real hot ticket on the employment front.
More and more companies are working it.. trying to hang onto and attract skilled workers..and they are dangling some real prized perks.
A study out today by the Canadian Payroll Association
finds workers dig things like group term life insurance
and disability benefits, also tuition fees and paid professional membership dues.
The second most popular benefit is now
car allowances, and its due to the rising gas prices and insurance premiums.
The survey finds more and more employers are expected to get loose with gas cards..and transit passes.
Also high on the survey:  counselling for stressed-out employees.
But at the very bottom of the list: child care expenses.

lisa

Sarah Palin has made things a lot more interesting stateside. 
She is now officially on the Republican ticket as V-P, and has bravely paraded out her family for all to see.

The latest family get-together to hit the stage in Minnesota included her now publicly pregnant 17-year-old daughter and the nervous looking father- to-be.
Palin wants to silence the critics and says all families have their ups and downs.

Palin calls herself a hockey mom..a hockey mom who just
happens to belong to the NRA.

I wonder if her kids have been promised a puppy
if they get to the White House?
 
lisa

Please note today’s date. 
Today is Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

Today officially marks the very first time, in almost twelve years, that I will be napping during the day.
May my youngest embrace Grade One with gusto!

Sing with me now:  “It’s the most wonderful time of the year..”!

lisa