Happy Canada Day!

[mamaroux]

Happy Canada Day::Lifting a glass of Crown::
to our Threadheads
in the Great White North!

[saturn]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-1/86486/050629CanadaDayc.jpg

[Carolina Beadhead]

Happy Canada Day, Canajuns!!

[Rossvegas]

Hey, thanks eh!

[jerseygirl67]

Hey, thanks eh!

Happy Canada Day!

So what do you all do to celebrate??

[ibjamn]

Happy Canajun Day!!! Get out the ole milk pitcher & pour a big glass of milk! (I just found out about canadian milk bags today, can you tell? ;))

[saturn]

http://bp2.blogger.com/_kn3k37XD0Ck/Rq-r5aJsjNI/AAAAAAAAAK4/D6FjDPomdFQ/s400/canadian-milk-bags.jpg

For those who don't know about milk in bags:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~husky66/Milk/

[saturn]

Happy Canada Day!

So what do you all do to celebrate??

It's an official holiday, so people are off work. In lots of places there are parades, fireworks, etc.

Here in Windsor, we participate with Detroit in the Freedom Festival and we had the big fireworks show last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUof7TH1wco

As for Greg and me --- today we are going golfing.

[Delta]

http://bp2.blogger.com/_kn3k37XD0Ck/Rq-r5aJsjNI/AAAAAAAAAK4/D6FjDPomdFQ/s400/canadian-milk-bags.jpg

For those who don't know about milk in bags:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~husky66/Milk/

Can't be any worse than wine in boxes.

Or maybe it can.

[Frosty]

Canada Day makes me feel all Geddy inside.

[rosetree]

So I expect Saturn or Vdub to get a perfect 10 in less than 30 seconds in Trivia today!;)
Happy Canada Day to our Canajun Threadhead brethren!:D :D

[glinda]

Have a fun holiday, eh?

[sharon_loves_fats]

Happy Canada Day!!!

[VWGal]

So I expect Saturn or Vdub to get a perfect 10 in less than 30 seconds in Trivia today!;)
Happy Canada Day to our Canajun Threadhead brethren!:D :D

Well Mama, how did I know you'd start this thread. Lieutenant Day-an, the only thing I can do in less than 30 seconds is....well...certainly NOT get a perfect 10 in Trivia! I leave that to the illustrious Saturn, who is the top Canajun in all matters Trivial.

You asked what we do on Canada Day? On Canada Day, much like every other day, we Canadians start the day with a big breakfast of back bacon, washed down with a two-four of Molson's. Then, after we leash up our pet beavers and shovel the two feet of snow that fell overnight, we put on our toques and trudge across the tundra, waving at the red-coated Mounties on their trusty steeds as we pass. For those of us in more urban centres, we stop to pick up a double double at Tim Horton's before we arrive at our maple syrup trees for a long days work watching sap drip.

Ah, the life of a Canajun! Pretty good, eh? (Now you know why we all come to New Orleans for our fun!)

Seriously though, thanks for the good wishes eh! Gotta run, the sap pails are overflowing....;)

[Frosty]

Well Mama, how did I know you'd start this thread. Lieutenant Day-an, the only thing I can do in less than 30 seconds is....well...certainly NOT get a perfect 10 in Trivia! I leave that to the illustrious Saturn, who is the top Canajun in all matters Trivial.

You asked what we do on Canada Day? On Canada Day, much like every other day, we Canadians start the day with a big breakfast of back bacon, washed down with a two-four of Molson's. Then, after we leash up our pet beavers and shovel the two feet of snow that fell overnight, we put on our toques and trudge across the tundra, waving at the red-coated Mounties on their trusty steeds as we pass. For those of us in more urban centres, we stop to pick up a double double at Tim Horton's before we arrive at our maple syrup trees for a long days work watching sap drip.

Ah, the life of a Canajun! Pretty good, eh? (Now you know why we all come to New Orleans for our fun!)

Seriously though, thanks for the good wishes eh! Gotta run, the sap pails are overflowing....;)


Canada question: Is soccer popular there? Like World Cup and this Euro 2008 thing.


And here is one for everyone else (non-Canadian, of course): What is the national sport of Canada?

[Rossvegas]

Well, soccer is really popular here in Toronto because we have such a huge immigrant population and just about every country is well represented. It isn't unusual to see cars flying around town with various flags attached, and when their country wins...watch out. I am lucky enough to live in a pretty multi-cultural area, and a few years ago I danced my ass off with the Brazilians and then the Italians a few years later. (I'm glad the French didn't win - their street party sucked!)

As for me, I'm personally not much of a soccer fan. I just can't understand how these people can't hit a goal the size of a city bus. And the acting? Sheesh.

We have a major league soccer team here, and the games are always sold out. Again, I don't get it, but...

[bluesgirl]

Canada question: Is soccer popular there? Like World Cup and this Euro 2008 thing.


And here is one for everyone else (non-Canadian, of course): What is the national sport of Canada?


Is it curling? I love that men use brooms while playing a sport. :D

[Frosty]

Well, soccer is really popular here in Toronto because we have such a huge immigrant population and just about every country is well represented. It isn't unusual to see cars flying around town with various flags attached, and when their country wins...watch out. I am lucky enough to live in a pretty multi-cultural area, and a few years ago I danced my ass off with the Brazilians and then the Italians a few years later. (I'm glad the French didn't win - their street party sucked!)

As for me, I'm personally not much of a soccer fan. I just can't understand how these people can't hit a goal the size of a city bus. And the acting? Sheesh.

We have a major league soccer team here, and the games are always sold out. Again, I don't get it, but...

It is popular here too with the immigrant population but they are rooting for their own nations. Not many citizens born here really care and even less follow the US team. Those are the folks in Canada I was asking about. Does Team Canada have a big following like Brazil or Germany, etc.

[VWGal]

It is popular here too with the immigrant population but they are rooting for their own nations. Not many citizens born here really care and even less follow the US team. Those are the folks in Canada I was asking about. Does Team Canada have a big following like Brazil or Germany, etc.

I'll take that one Alex for 500 hundred dollars....

We (as in my employer) are national sponsors of the Canadian Soccer Association -- while soccer is the fastest growing grassroots sport in Canada at the local level for kids and youth, unfortunately very few follow the Canadian national soccer team. Most soccer mania is all about the country you or your family came from. We do see a lot of coverage in Calgary as we have a local son Owen Hargreaves who is playing for Manchester United and doing well right now -- very unusual for a Canadian.

Soccer is growing leaps and bounds because the kids can get great exercise, play and practise almost everywhere and it's significantly less expensive for the parents than getting your kids involved in our other national sports. ;) Hint for those thinking about what Canada's national sport is....

[Frosty]

I'll take that one Alex for 500 hundred dollars....

We (as in my employer) are national sponsors of the Canadian Soccer Association -- while soccer is the fastest growing grassroots sport in Canada at the local level for kids and youth, unfortunately very few follow the Canadian national soccer team. Most soccer mania is all about the country you or your family came from. We do see a lot of coverage in Calgary as we have a local son Owen Hargreaves who is playing for Manchester United and doing well right now -- very unusual for a Canadian.

Soccer is growing leaps and bounds because the kids can get great exercise, play and practise almost everywhere and it's significantly less expensive for the parents than getting your kids involved in our other national sports. ;) Hint for those thinking about what Canada's national sport is....

So, pretty much like the US. Lots of kids play it because it is easier for 4 and 5 year olds to play but most lose interest as they pick up other sports. The US gets lots of criticism from the soccernazis for our not being interested. And those from other countries don't get it. Sounds like Canada is the same.

[festbabe]

Canada Day makes me feel all Geddy inside.

hee hee hee

[tabasco]

Canada Day makes me feel all Geddy inside.

thanks for the he he he, festbabe "read right over that one"

Have a great day! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k4cFMVfnCE

[Rossvegas]

I'll take that one Alex for 500 hundred dollars....

We (as in my employer) are national sponsors of the Canadian Soccer Association -- while soccer is the fastest growing grassroots sport in Canada at the local level for kids and youth, unfortunately very few follow the Canadian national soccer team. Most soccer mania is all about the country you or your family came from. We do see a lot of coverage in Calgary as we have a local son Owen Hargreaves who is playing for Manchester United and doing well right now -- very unusual for a Canadian.

Soccer is growing leaps and bounds because the kids can get great exercise, play and practise almost everywhere and it's significantly less expensive for the parents than getting your kids involved in our other national sports. ;) Hint for those thinking about what Canada's national sport is....

Ooh Donna, sounds like you might not even know our "national sport"! I can tell you that it doesn't involve a puck.... :>)

As for the soccer thing, one of the curses of having such a multi-cultural city is that virtually nobody supports the home team. I remember years ago when Team Canada played Greece, and 95% of the people who were there cheering for Greece. They ended up moving the national soccer and volleyball teams to Edmonton, because that kind of treatment just sucks.

It actually gets under my skin a little bit because you see these people driving around with Portugese flags but they never appear to have a Canadian flag in sight. Hell, if Portugal is such a great place, why aren't they still living there? (Don't mind me - I'm just a cranky old fart, and I'm feeling a little patriotic today!)

[Delta]

National volleyball team?

[swag]

Ooh Donna, sounds like you might not even know our "national sport"! I can tell you that it doesn't involve a puck.... :>)



I had to look this up (you got me curious), but apparently Canadia has two National Sports.

According to Wikipedia, "on May 12, 1994, in Bill C-212, ice hockey joined ____ as official sports of Canada."

[festbabe]

I had to look this up (you got me curious), but apparently Canadia has two National Sports.

According to Wikipedia, "on May 12, 1994, in Bill C-212, ice hockey joined ____ as official sports of Canada."

Caber tossing?

[VWGal]

I had to look this up (you got me curious), but apparently Canadia has two National Sports.

According to Wikipedia, "on May 12, 1994, in Bill C-212, ice hockey joined ____ as official sports of Canada."

Hurray! I thought maybe Swag would come up with the answer, Trivia King that he is. There are two national sports....

I had to look it up too as I first thought it was only one sport, hockey or maybe ____________, but not both! Didn't know it was actually an official bill either.

The national sport Canajuns all play well is whining about the weather.....;)

[breambob]

Happy Day, Canadians !
Not a big hockey fan, but I did catch the Grand Prix a few weeks ago, great race. Amazing that every major country in the western hemispere can do a F1 GP except the US. Too many right turns, I guess. Or too many NASCAR rednecks...

So go on, Canada, we admire you for many reasons. Even though y'all tawk funny;)

[bluesgirl]

Lacrosse?

[bluesgirl]

Dodge ball?

[Frosty]

Ooh Donna, sounds like you might not even know our "national sport"! I can tell you that it doesn't involve a puck.... :>)

As for the soccer thing, one of the curses of having such a multi-cultural city is that virtually nobody supports the home team. I remember years ago when Team Canada played Greece, and 95% of the people who were there cheering for Greece. They ended up moving the national soccer and volleyball teams to Edmonton, because that kind of treatment just sucks.

It actually gets under my skin a little bit because you see these people driving around with Portugese flags but they never appear to have a Canadian flag in sight. Hell, if Portugal is such a great place, why aren't they still living there? (Don't mind me - I'm just a cranky old fart, and I'm feeling a little patriotic today!)

You sounds like a good American!

[Frosty]

Lacrosse?


Bingo.

Looks like they added hockey in the 90's just like Bill Clinton added the 6th Great Lake.

[swag]

Bingo.

Looks like they added hockey in the 90's just like Bill Clinton added the 6th Great Lake.

Bill Clinton did what now?

[VWGal]

Lacrosse?

Wooohoooooooooooooooooooooo! We have a winner! :D

[mamaroux]

Well Mama, how did I know you'd start this thread. Lieutenant Day-an, the only thing I can do in less than 30 seconds is....well...certainly NOT get a perfect 10 in Trivia! I leave that to the illustrious Saturn, who is the top Canajun in all matters Trivial.

You asked what we do on Canada Day? On Canada Day, much like every other day, we Canadians start the day with a big breakfast of back bacon, washed down with a two-four of Molson's. Then, after we leash up our pet beavers and shovel the two feet of snow that fell overnight, we put on our toques and trudge across the tundra, waving at the red-coated Mounties on their trusty steeds as we pass. For those of us in more urban centres, we stop to pick up a double double at Tim Horton's before we arrive at our maple syrup trees for a long days work watching sap drip.

Ah, the life of a Canajun! Pretty good, eh? (Now you know why we all come to New Orleans for our fun!)

Seriously though, thanks for the good wishes eh! Gotta run, the sap pails are overflowing....;)

Of course, eh? Me, the closet Canadian, would start this... I made everyone at the library wear red and white Happy Canada Day (with a red Maple leaf, naturally) stickers on their shirts, and I wore white capri's and a red top, and red hair band, and my Blue Jay's earrings! LOL Totally decked out for Canada Day, babe! I also sang O Canada when I went in this morning... LOL One kid asked why would we celebrate anything to do with another country? Why don't you have up 4th of July decorations? I told him today was Canada Day, July 1st, eh... and without Canada we wouldn't have any ice hockey teams... there are 17 Canadians on the Flyers, eh!

I didn't mention Maudite or Crown, cause, after all, it was a kid...

So I did ask her what she did on May 5th. She looked and said, you mean Cinco de Mayo? I smiled and said yes... oh that's a Mexican holiday, so why do you celebrate it? Such a bitch, I am, eh? Let's all celebrate the continent and party hardy! :)

Why didn't you go to Seattle to celebrate and see the Blue Jays win? LOL

Let's go Blue Jays, let's play ball! Which reminds me... I had a hell of a time at the bar the other night, when the guys found out that I'm a Matt Stairs fan... they are clueless, I tell ya!

[mamaroux]

Is it curling? I love that men use brooms while playing a sport. :D

Yeah, that's what I would say, too... even though I know it originated in Scotland, still, it's Canadian... they are the skips! I think Ice Hockey is their National past time, eh? It's probably something we're not even thinking about... not bowling... not darts... certainly not soccer... or real football... downhill skiing... crosscountry skiing... no... ice fishing??

Oh... Now I've got to watch Strange Brew tonight!

[mamaroux]

thanks for the he he he, festbabe "read right over that one"

Have a great day! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k4cFMVfnCE

YEAH!!! he's better than Slash!

[mamaroux]

Ooh Donna, sounds like you might not even know our "national sport"! I can tell you that it doesn't involve a puck.... :>)

As for the soccer thing, one of the curses of having such a multi-cultural city is that virtually nobody supports the home team. I remember years ago when Team Canada played Greece, and 95% of the people who were there cheering for Greece. They ended up moving the national soccer and volleyball teams to Edmonton, because that kind of treatment just sucks.

It actually gets under my skin a little bit because you see these people driving around with Portugese flags but they never appear to have a Canadian flag in sight. Hell, if Portugal is such a great place, why aren't they still living there? (Don't mind me - I'm just a cranky old fart, and I'm feeling a little patriotic today!)

Good for you, Ross, as you should! I had the flag up in the library :) several of them... small, but that beautiful flag was there... and I think we should be proud to share a border with y'all!

loonies and twonies, babe!

[mamaroux]

Hurray! I thought maybe Swag would come up with the answer, Trivia King that he is. There are two national sports....

I had to look it up too as I first thought it was only one sport, hockey or maybe ____________, but not both! Didn't know it was actually an official bill either.

The national sport Canajuns all play well is whining about the weather.....;)

LOL, when I was ordering my Canada Day shirts, I came across several:

Screw Global Warming/We're cold now! Canadians for Global Warming
Screw Global Warming/We're freezing our asses up here
Screw the future/We're cold now! Canadians for Global Warming
Hurry Up with that Global Warming, eh?

[Corona]

Happy Canajun Day!!! Get out the ole milk pitcher & pour a big glass of milk! (I just found out about canadian milk bags today, can you tell? ;))
lol! Thanks you guys...it was a great day yesterday....back to work now :(

[Corona]

Of course, eh? Me, the closet Canadian, would start this... I made everyone at the library wear red and white Happy Canada Day (with a red Maple leaf, naturally) stickers on their shirts, and I wore white capri's and a red top, and red hair band, and my Blue Jay's earrings! LOL Totally decked out for Canada Day, babe! I also sang O Canada when I went in this morning... LOL One kid asked why would we celebrate anything to do with another country? Why don't you have up 4th of July decorations? I told him today was Canada Day, July 1st, eh... and without Canada we wouldn't have any ice hockey teams... there are 17 Canadians on the Flyers, eh!

I didn't mention Maudite or Crown, cause, after all, it was a kid...

So I did ask her what she did on May 5th. She looked and said, you mean Cinco de Mayo? I smiled and said yes... oh that's a Mexican holiday, so why do you celebrate it? Such a bitch, I am, eh? Let's all celebrate the continent and party hardy! :)

Why didn't you go to Seattle to celebrate and see the Blue Jays win? LOL

Let's go Blue Jays, let's play ball! Which reminds me... I had a hell of a time at the bar the other night, when the guys found out that I'm a Matt Stairs fan... they are clueless, I tell ya!
I absolutely love you Jax xoxoxoxoxox
roflmao....you crazy nut!!! :D :D

[Corona]

Well Mama, how did I know you'd start this thread. Lieutenant Day-an, the only thing I can do in less than 30 seconds is....well...certainly NOT get a perfect 10 in Trivia! I leave that to the illustrious Saturn, who is the top Canajun in all matters Trivial.

You asked what we do on Canada Day? On Canada Day, much like every other day, we Canadians start the day with a big breakfast of back bacon, washed down with a two-four of Molson's. Then, after we leash up our pet beavers and shovel the two feet of snow that fell overnight, we put on our toques and trudge across the tundra, waving at the red-coated Mounties on their trusty steeds as we pass. For those of us in more urban centres, we stop to pick up a double double at Tim Horton's before we arrive at our maple syrup trees for a long days work watching sap drip.

Ah, the life of a Canajun! Pretty good, eh? (Now you know why we all come to New Orleans for our fun!)

Seriously though, thanks for the good wishes eh! Gotta run, the sap pails are overflowing....;)
bwahahahaha......love it VDub :)

[Frosty]

Bill Clinton did what now?

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DEED91630F934A35750C0A96E9582 60

The New York Times
Champlain Becomes The Sixth Great Lake
March 7, 1998

Without fanfare or even a routine announcement, President Clinton signed a bill today giving Lake Champlain official designation as one of the Great Lakes, at least as far as Federal research money goes.

The measure allows Lake Champlain to be considered one of the Great Lakes for the purposes of competing for research money under the National Sea Grant Program. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, had a line inserted into the legislation to expand the eligibility to Lake Champlain.

The move had angered some lawmakers from the Great Lakes states. ''If Lake Champlain ends up as a Great Lake, I propose we rename it 'Lake Plain Sham,' '' Representative Steven C. LaTourette, an Ohio Republican who is co-chairman of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, said recently.

Champlain is puny compared with the real greats. It covers 490 square miles. The smallest Great Lake, Lake Ontario, is 7,430 square miles.

[mamaroux]

I absolutely love you Jax xoxoxoxoxox
roflmao....you crazy nut!!! :D :D

Right back at ya, babydoll! xoxoxoxoxox :)

got my new Canada shirts... you'd love 'em! I'm not sure which is my most fav... the Property of the Canadian Drinking Team or Life's to short not to be Canadian with 3 red squares between the lines... one with a burger and drink (fast food symbol I'd guess) one with a person in bed (hotel symbol) and the third has a can of beer in it! LOL No Hockey stick, but what the heck? They should have at least put a maple leaf on the beer can! When we went to Longhorn for dinner on Monday, I told the beertender that Tuesday was Canada day, and she perked up and said she'd better put more Molson in the cooler. Seems they just started to carry that and can't keep enough in the chest.

[mamaroux]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DEED91630F934A35750C0A96E9582 60

The New York Times
Champlain Becomes The Sixth Great Lake
March 7, 1998

Without fanfare or even a routine announcement, President Clinton signed a bill today giving Lake Champlain official designation as one of the Great Lakes, at least as far as Federal research money goes.

The measure allows Lake Champlain to be considered one of the Great Lakes for the purposes of competing for research money under the National Sea Grant Program. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, had a line inserted into the legislation to expand the eligibility to Lake Champlain.

The move had angered some lawmakers from the Great Lakes states. ''If Lake Champlain ends up as a Great Lake, I propose we rename it 'Lake Plain Sham,' '' Representative Steven C. LaTourette, an Ohio Republican who is co-chairman of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, said recently.

Champlain is puny compared with the real greats. It covers 490 square miles. The smallest Great Lake, Lake Ontario, is 7,430 square miles.

Ohhhh that just doesn't seem right! it's WAY to small to be considered... No way... why didn't they just amend the National Sea Grant Program if they wanted to include Champlain? Champ, their own Loch Nessie should take care of things!

[swag]

Yeah. I like Lake Champlain. It's a good lake, for sure. Just not a great one.

[mamaroux]

Hey Donna.... check this out - it's a Blue Jay's blog by Jordan Bastian:

Canadian crowds and bank robbers
TORONTO -- Happy Canada Day everyone. The Mariners were kind enough to have a nice little pregame ceremony to honor this holiday, complete with a flyover by four NORAD jets, including a pair from the U.S. and a pair from Canada.

Also on the field were military from both nations. On the Canadian side, one of the RCMP officers was a woman named Martha Cormier, who happens to be Matt Stairs' sister. She's stationed at the RCMP's Kelowna detachment.

Hey, if you're not going to be in Toronto for Canada, this is the place to be. People flood down from Vancouver to see the Jays and actually make this place pretty pro Blue Jays. Honestly, this crowd of Jays fanatics seems louder than the fans who frequent Rogers Centre.

"Happy Canada Day," Jays skip Cito Gaston said. "It certainly helps that we have some fans here. Hopefully, they'll be cheering us on like they did last night. If you can't spend it at home, this is a great place to spend it."

Did I paraphrase Cito's quote or what? But, it's true. On Monday night, there were chants for Cito, a fine rendition of the Mar-co Scu-ta-ro chants, and at one point, there were loud cries of Hall-a-day! Hall-a-day! And believe me, the raucous Toronto fans didn't go unnoticed.

"It's kind of a weird thing, especially on the road," Halladay said. "Obviously, being close to Canada here [will bring out the fans], but it's a different feeling to go into a road city and be able to hear fans from your own town."

As for my day today, I enjoyed a nice five-mile run along Puget Sound this morning and as I was heading back into downtown with my earphones in and Arcade Fire blasting from my ipod, I noticed that there were a handful of helicopters overhead, which seemed odd. As I got closer to the street my hotel was on, there were cop cars and ambulances blocking my path.

Turns out that some bozo tried to rob a bank in West Seattle and the chase with the cops ended near my hotel. Last year, I had that huge gas pipe explosion near my hotel in New York. This year I get close to a big shootout in Seattle. While standing by and watching the happenings, I spotted a man wearing a Michigan State hat.

We got to chatting and it turns out that he knows some people in the Tigers organization and he works in the ticket office at MSU. We talked some baseball and he even invited to buy me a coffee so we could talk ball some more, but I was itching to get out of my workout clothes. So it was nice to me you, Richard. I'll take a raincheck on the coffee.

Also, asked David Eckstein today about a recent report that said he'd been fielding grounders at second base. He said no one told him to work out at second and he never fielded grounders, just turned some double plays. With he and John McDonald and Marco Scutaro splitting time at short, he just rotated over there on his own one day to help out during practice.

"It was funny," Eckstein said with a laugh. "My wife even called me and said, 'I read that you were fielding grounders at second base?' I wasn't. I did turn a couple double plays, but no one asked me to go over there. I did play second base until I got to the big leagues."

[VWGal]

Hey Donna.... check this out - it's a Blue Jay's blog by Jordan Bastian:

Canadian crowds and bank robbers
TORONTO -- Happy Canada Day everyone. The Mariners were kind enough to have a nice little pregame ceremony to honor this holiday, complete with a flyover by four NORAD jets, including a pair from the U.S. and a pair from Canada.

Also on the field were military from both nations. On the Canadian side, one of the RCMP officers was a woman named Martha Cormier, who happens to be Matt Stairs' sister. She's stationed at the RCMP's Kelowna detachment.

Hey, if you're not going to be in Toronto for Canada, this is the place to be. People flood down from Vancouver to see the Jays and actually make this place pretty pro Blue Jays. Honestly, this crowd of Jays fanatics seems louder than the fans who frequent Rogers Centre.

"Happy Canada Day," Jays skip Cito Gaston said. "It certainly helps that we have some fans here. Hopefully, they'll be cheering us on like they did last night. If you can't spend it at home, this is a great place to spend it."

Did I paraphrase Cito's quote or what? But, it's true. On Monday night, there were chants for Cito, a fine rendition of the Mar-co Scu-ta-ro chants, and at one point, there were loud cries of Hall-a-day! Hall-a-day! And believe me, the raucous Toronto fans didn't go unnoticed.

"It's kind of a weird thing, especially on the road," Halladay said. "Obviously, being close to Canada here [will bring out the fans], but it's a different feeling to go into a road city and be able to hear fans from your own town."

As for my day today, I enjoyed a nice five-mile run along Puget Sound this morning and as I was heading back into downtown with my earphones in and Arcade Fire blasting from my ipod, I noticed that there were a handful of helicopters overhead, which seemed odd. As I got closer to the street my hotel was on, there were cop cars and ambulances blocking my path.

Turns out that some bozo tried to rob a bank in West Seattle and the chase with the cops ended near my hotel. Last year, I had that huge gas pipe explosion near my hotel in New York. This year I get close to a big shootout in Seattle. While standing by and watching the happenings, I spotted a man wearing a Michigan State hat.

We got to chatting and it turns out that he knows some people in the Tigers organization and he works in the ticket office at MSU. We talked some baseball and he even invited to buy me a coffee so we could talk ball some more, but I was itching to get out of my workout clothes. So it was nice to me you, Richard. I'll take a raincheck on the coffee.

Also, asked David Eckstein today about a recent report that said he'd been fielding grounders at second base. He said no one told him to work out at second and he never fielded grounders, just turned some double plays. With he and John McDonald and Marco Scutaro splitting time at short, he just rotated over there on his own one day to help out during practice.

"It was funny," Eckstein said with a laugh. "My wife even called me and said, 'I read that you were fielding grounders at second base?' I wasn't. I did turn a couple double plays, but no one asked me to go over there. I did play second base until I got to the big leagues."

Well, I will have to ask Heather (married to Tim Stairs) about Martha next time I visit her for a cut. I think that's next week. So that makes three kids, Matt, Tim and Martha....wonder if there's another T in the family.....

[Corona]

Nice!!!

[ozzie]

Oh, did I miss it? Happy Day y'all, eh!