http://www.chfi.com

General here…

A friend of mine showed me this website.
She couldn’t get it out of her mind - and now I can’t get it out of mine - so I’m hoping you’ll not be able to forget it either.

www.whatstherush.ca

It’s all about making drivers aware of the consequences of speeding in residential areas.

The numbers are both frightening and encouraging.

According to Safe Kids Canada:
If a child is hit by a vehicle doing 50km/hr, there is an 80% chance that child will die.

BUT…

If a child is hit by a vehicle doing 30km/hr, there is a 95% chance that child will LIVE.

We are a week away from Summer Vacation. 
All those kids will be outside, having the time of their lives - riding bikes and skateboards - playing basketball in their driveways - and just out there being wonderous little people.

We have to be prepared for children to act like children, so let’s protect our neighbourhoods and slow down for them.

Gord here…

I type this blog on the eve of the yearly CHFI Oldies Dance at the Sheraton Centre. I am pounding back the tall, cold glasses of water and trying to catch my breath. I have just finished a unique workout and I’d thought I’d share it with you.

Every month at the Old Mill, the Wiseguys put on a little show called the Saturday Night Oldies show. During the show I do a quick Elvis act, I come out to the fanfare, shake around like a leaf on a fuzzy tree, then leave the stage in a whirlwind of fist pumps and sideburns.

The other Wiseguys will tell you that it leaves me a little winded…well a lot winded. I am in not-so-good-shape. Earlier this month I purchased an Elvis-like jumpsuit from the fine folks at Graceland (Elvis’ beloved mansion). I go and try it on and let’s say it’s a little snug around the belly area. It was then when I started my new workout program and that is The Elvis Stage Act.

To make sure I have my moves correct for the 2 Oldies dances in consecutive nights, I have been doing shoulder shaking, arm windmills and lip curls to Elvis’ 1970’s concert albums. I have dropped a few pounds and more importantly increased my stamina. It will make it easier for when I do take the stage tomorrow night and Saturday night, Mike Cooper isn’t by the phone with 9-1 already dialled just in case.

General here…

Do you ever watch a movie and see a late actor, and say to yourself  “I miss him.”
We were watching “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” on the weekend and I realized I still really, really miss John Candy - especially since my kids get such a kick out of  him too.
We’ve watched Uncle Buck probably a dozen times - and so this movie was an easy sell for them.
Aside from the bad 80s synthesized soundtrack, it holds up well.
I start giggling when he and Steve Martin are driving the burnt out car down the highway. When the cop pulls them over and asks them if they think this vehicle is fit for the road - John Candy’s deadpan response of  “Yes - yes I do” just makes me bust - I don’t know what it is.
But I do - I miss him. I can’t believe it’s been 14 years since he died of a heart attack in his sleep.

General here…
You know how the newer vehicles have climate control - where driver and passanger can have different temperature settings?
Aside from the timer on the microwave, and air conditioning itself - I believe this to be the most important invention ever to mankind.

The lovely Anita likes to be warm, warm, warm. I get that. But I like to be cool, cool, cool.
We are about 10 degrees apart.
She’s more comfortable in 30 degree weather. I like it closer to 20.

Actually - as far as I know - the greatest most splendiferous invention is yet to come.
The climate controlled bed.
Gone will be the days when I have to sleep - boiling - with one foot out of the covers, window open, fan on high - only to look over at the sleeping Anita - freezing - curled up in the fetal position, covers pulled up to her nose - her eyebrows frowning like she’s in pain.
 

General here…

Yes - Ted Danson was in-studio this morning with Erin & Mike, and all I can say is - what a nice guy!

It’s always interesting when famous people come into the building - interesting to see how the office reacts - and interesting to see how the guest reacts.  
I met him and his people (2 PR-types and a photographer) in our lobby and before I could even get him into our studio…
A woman got on the elevator, looked at him, and very matter of factly said “Hi Becker”.  Just like that.
We got off the elevator and a guy on our floor shouted “Sam Malone!!”
Tish Iceton greeted him in the hallway and said “I watched you get shot last night”.
Three different people - three completely different show-references.
It’s funny - everyone seemed like they knew him and were in awe of him at the same time.
Thanks Ted - now we know how people must feel when they meet…
The Wiseguys!!

General here…

D’you ever get those joke emails about the differences between Men and Women?
Like, How To Shower Like A Man / How To Shower Like A Women, etc… 
Well - I have my own personal take on this gender issue, so without further adieu - I give you…

How 4 Women Party on a Saturday Night.
(As my wife, the Lovely Anita, did with three friends a couple of weeks ago)

Invite friends over at 8pm.
Put out stone-ground, lightly salted, extra-thin tortilla crisps on fancy platter with Artichoke dip.
Put 3 types of crackers on second platter with a selection of cheeses, including the really stinky kind.
Cube Watermelon, Honeydew, Cantaloupe and Pineapple and place on another frickin’ platter with yogurt dip.
Open bottles of Chardonnay and Merlot.
Break out Z-stemmed martini glasses and rim with pink-coloured sugar stuff.
Pour in Apple Liqueur, Triple Sec and Vodka.
Consume until you decide which character from Sex And The City represents you best - although - even under the influence, no one fesses up to being most like that tramp, Samantha. Then, there’s talk about renting a limo, going out for dinner, and then to the Movie Premier at the end of May.
The evening ends at 2:30am when one person is still talking, but the other three have fallen asleep.

How 4 Men Party on a Saturday Night
(As Mike, Gord, Rob and I did this past weekend)

At 1pm - even though you are indoors and have access to a working fridge - fill a cooler with 24 beers and 2 bags of ice.
Put jug-like bottle of Crown Royal on counter beside the Coke and Ginger Ale.
Put several bags of chips and 4 dips on table.
6 Hours later…four drunken Leaf fans cheer on the Montreal Canadiens in their quest for The Cup - their paper plates overflowing with Steak & Shrimp, Potato, Corn on the Cob, and Caesar Salad.
After the game - and the series - is lost - do what Leaf fans do best…shtand in the rain with a shigar and a shot of cognac and shay g’bye to another hockey season.
10pm - Fall into bed fully clothed - arms and legs stretching out over three sides.

Gord here…

This past weekend I was up in cottage country helping Mike Cooper put his newly acquired 40 sandbags into storage as his flood scare came to an end.

Since the water had receded, the wall of the 80 pound each sandbags need to be moved. We broke the task up into half. 20 bags 1 day and the rest the next. They are heavy for one and awkward to grip, but the second half had a fresh dumping of water from the night’s spectacular thunderstorm that passed by.

Mike’s dog Koda is a black Lab, very loving and likes to be with me when I am there, which I love. I can pet Koda for hours and she seems to dig it as well. Koda does not like thunderstorms and as the storm progressed she started to move up the bed closer to me until she was laying right beside my face and as I gave her a big bear hug I realized that she was shaking because of the storm.

As I turned on the lights, so that Koda wouldn’t see the Lighting flash as much, I laughed to myself as I thought what a sight it must be to see a grown man in bed with a shaky dog. What can I say, I am a sucker for a pretty face. Just ask my girlfriend Dawn and sometimes The General, but only when he wears his hair up.

General here…
Today is one of my favourite days of the year.
I don’t know if many people can pinpoint the exact day their life changed forever, but I can.
On this day 15 years ago - April 22, 1993 - I went on a first date with a girl named Anita Reynolds. Over a couple of Molson Canadians and some wings, we got to know each other - and by the end of the evening, as I told my room-mate about this incredible girl, I knew my life was about to get a whole lot better.
And for the record - the wings and beer dinner selection was her choice.
I defy any man not to have fallen for her.
And so here we are - 15 years later - 3 healthy kids, a goobery-yet-loveable dog, a house in the ‘burbs and a vehicle to cart us all around.
It is - in all honesty - all I’ve ever wanted.
I am living my dream, and it all started on this day in ‘93, when this boy from PEI had dinner with a gorgeous brunette from Montreal - in a pub in Toronto.
As Kim Mitchell would say…Ain’t Life Amazing?

General here…
Well - the CHFI Oldies Dance is coming up on May 30 - and by the number of emails I’m getting, it seems there is some confusion with our dances at the Old Mill - and, understandably, you have some questions:
What do we wear?
Is there food?
When does it start and end?

So, here you go - the CHFI Oldies Dance at The Sheraton - in a nutshell.

WHAT TO WEAR
Anything goes - most people dress casually - jeans -  there are a lot of people that “dress up” 50s, 60s, 70s style - hippies/disco/greasers, etc….
But, wear comfortable shoes - we dance, dance, dance all night long.
We do have a best costume contest, but it isn’t necessary to wear something of the era.

FOOD
There is food - but it’s simply fast food - pizza slices, hamburgers, hotdogs, ice cream - you do have to pay, but it’s relatively cheap – like a buck or two. And all the money goes to The Children’s Wish Foundation.

DRINKS
There is a cash bar - but only beer and wine - no spirits - and usually the beer is of one sponsor.

MUSIC
There is a deejay - that would be me - as well as a live band.
The music is mostly of the 60s and 70s - with some 50s and 80s thrown in for good measure.

Doors open at 6pm and we get started shortly after that. The dance goes till midnight.
All the CHFI personalities are there - there are special Saturday Night Oldies T-shirts for sale - again, all proceeds go to The Children’s Wish Foundation - and there are also photo areas with special backdrops -just so you can document all the fun.

General here…

Don’tcha love when you rediscover a song - a song you haven’t heard in literally 10 or 20 years?
A couple of nights ago - on American Idol - one of the contestants sang a song I remembered LOVING in the mid-eighties.

Do you remember “You’re The Voice” by John Farnham?

I don’t recall if it was a super-big hit, but I loved it then, and actually love it more now.
When I was 20 I just sort of liked the feel of the song.
Now, the lyrics - the message - just means so much more.

So - please excuse that guy you see on the 401 singing his heart out.
His stereo is at top volume and he’s lost in a killer tune from ‘86.

Here’s the video from You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99P7TTvpO1g