Now That Was A Parade

At the last moment, we decided to take our son to the local Santa Claus parade Saturday night. I am so glad we went.

Now that was a parade.

The last parade we went to was OK. I was disappointed about the lack of effort parade participants put into their floats.

I didn’t feel the same way about this parade.

Wow, what a great time.

All but two local businesses had great floats, lit up with hundreds of Christmas lights. The local Home Hardware had four floats, which each had a live band with great musicians. A local towing company also had four floats, each different from the other.

There were lots of local service clubs such as the Scouts, the Kinettes, who were collecting for the food bank, and the Optimist Club, and there were bands, both local and from Toronto.

Local businesses were open late and handed out hot chocolate and other treats and the food bank had a barbecue going by donation.

The street was closed off so my guy could run up and down it while waiting for the parade to come to us.

I want to commend the organizers of this Santa Claus parade for creating an event that celebrated what the season is suppose to be about.

Merry Christmas.

Hot Chocolate Anyone?

I consider myself a hot chocolate connoisseur.

I suppose I have to be, as I don’t drink much of any thing else – hot or cold.

However, unlike coffee drinkers, I seldom go out for hot chocolate because it annoys me to pay more than $3 for a small hot chocolate when it costs pennies to make.

In my richer days, I would treat myself to a hot chocolate now and then and here our my recommendations:

Both Second Cup and Timothy’s make a great cup of hot chocolate, sweet but not bitter. Timothy’s makes good varieties as well. Mint and raspberry are my favourites.

I dislike both Starbucks and Tim Hortons, which are similar in taste. Both are too bitter for my liking and the Tim Hortons' variety isn’t made with milk.

I don’t understand making hot chocolate without milk.

Without milk, you are having a beverage without any nutritional value. And with milk, the drink is richer and more delicious.

As far as hot chocolate mixes go, my mom made one with cocoa and milk powder that was pretty good.

I also enjoy Tim Hortons and Timothy’s but my favourite has to Carnation milk chocolate. It has the best taste and is not lumpy because while I enjoy hot chocolate, I don’t enjoy hot chocolate chunks.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (Scream of Joy)

The celebrities – movie, music and sports – have come out to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and so, too, have the fans.

I love movies. I often spend my hour-long commute spending the money I would make if I was a celebrity.

I don’t, however, want to be a celebrity.

Other than my inability to act, make music and play sports, the main reason why I couldn’t be a celebrity is I wouldn’t want to be followed by screaming, shouting, gasping fans, and the photographers who capture my every moment for those same people.

I heard one person tell a radio reporter yesterday the reason he stands on the red carpet or outside a hotel room is so he can catch a glimpse of an actor and make a connection.

Do people really believe this is a connection?

Does meeting one’s eye count for a connection? Say it went further and you had an actor stop and chat with you, hug you for a picture or sign an autograph, is this considered a connection? Will this person remember you among the hundreds he meets each day?

To be truthful, there are a few people I would like to meet.

However, I am not interested in a quick wave and a dashing smile. I would want to sit down with a hot chocolate, a homemade cookie – or six – and get to know you and your family.

I would want to ask questions and see you in action.

I would want a real connection.