My thirteen your old Boychild returned home last evening after 22 days away from home visiting with my family on the east coast of Canada.

Other than the occasional sleepover at a friend’s he’s never really been away from home and he’d never traveled outside of Ontario so this was all big happenings. Armed with a suitcase of clothing and a digital camera and some spending money he boarded a plane by himself to fly to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

During his holiday he’s gone to a car rally in Quebec - a 7 hr drive each way with one of his uncles,

attended the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo which was his first experience seeing an event in box seats with food being delivered. He really likes the food being delivered part. He’s gone over one of the world’s longest bridges to visit Prince Edward Island.

He’s eaten a LOT of seafood, gone out on the ocean in a friend’s yacht, and found his grandfather Blacha’s signature from when he arrived in Halifax when he immigrated to Canada from Poland after the second World War. He’s spent an afternoon at Peggy’s Cove which is thought to be the most photographed fishing village in the world.

I think he’s probably good and ready to come back to “civilization” though. First thing he did when he got off the plane last night was ask for pizza from his favourite little family owned pizza place near our house. The second thing he did was cuddle his cat.

And then he talked. For hours. My boy who can often go an entire day and say no more than 3 words (he’s the strong silent type) and who’s usually got an xbox 360 controller or a computer mouse in his hand sat and talked. And talked. Told us all the stories of things he’d seen, places he’d gone, people he’d met, food he’d eaten (food is always a popular subject when you’re a teenage boy), and how different everything was. How he loved the rolling hills of Prince Edward Island and how after living in Ontario all his life he’d never seen so many houses painted in all sorts of cheery (and often garish) colours as he’d seen in Nova Scotia.

He’s already planning his next trip.
And he didn’t plug back into the internet or the xbox 360 until he’d been home for hours. A successful trip indeed!

Filed under: chatter by Merlene
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Just a quick post to let you know that one of my little projects, Frugalous.com - Where Frugal Meets Fabulous! is now live. C’mon over and take a look.

Filed under: chatter by Merlene
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If you’ve known me for long or read my Bucket List, you know that I don’t drive but I plan to learn this year.

Well the price of gas combined with the facts that I’m a new driver so my insurance rates will be astronomical and I’m a geeky quirky girl at heart have led me to the decision to buy a Vespa scooter instead of a car.

My good friend Johnny has had a vintage Vespa since shortly after we finished high school and I’ve always loved it so a few weeks ago I made the firm decision. Vespa for me. After looking at the various models online (and some other brands of motor scooters, including Tomos, Honda and Yamaha) I’ve decided to buy a 2008 Vespa LX150 in July. I’m already signed up to take a motorcycle training course which is designed for Vespa drivers in July and I’m quite excited about it.

Current gas prices here where I live near Toronto are running just under $1.30/litre which works out to about 100km (62 miles) for $10 in gas when driving the Vespa. I spoke with the owner of the Vespa dealership closest to me and he says that this spring sales on Vespa and Piaggio scooters have gone through the roof this year. By mid May he’d already sold all of the stock he purchased for the entire summer and has had to re-order. I guess a lot of folks are parking the SUVs and using motor scooters when and where they can.

Yesterday I learned that in the upcoming Get Smart movie Maxwell Smart (actor Steve Carell) will be driving a Vespa LX150 rather than the stereotypical lamborghini or Aston Martin you would expect a secret agent to drive.

I don’t know whether I feel more geeky quirky or like a sheep now that I’ve heard this. Either way… a red Vespa LX150 will be coming home with me in July and I cannot wait! I guess I’ll go with quirky… after all… when I think Vespa I think Quadrophenia… not Get Smart!

P.S. A little piece of trivia… apparently Vespa means wasp because the motor on these little beauties sounds just like a wasp buzzing around

Filed under: chatter by Merlene
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Digital ADD. I don’t know if this term has been coined by others (I imagine it has) but that’s what I’m suffering from today. Actually I’ve been suffering more and more from it over the past year or two.

Right this moment, I have Firefox open with 18 tabs: Gmail, Google Reader, Meebo, Google Docs, Twitter and several blogs posts and articles I plan to read.

Here’s what happens: I see an article I’d like to read in Google Reader. But I’m too anxious to see what the next article listed in my Reader is so I open this one in a tab. For example, since this is one of the tabs currently open, I have the post “The Power of Small Numbers” open. In a short time I’ll have a dozen (or at times several dozen) tabs open with articles I plan to read. Finally my Google Reader shows 0 unread. Now I move to the tabs. I start to read a post and before I’m more than a paragraph into it I click to see what’s in my Gmail. Then Twitter. Oh maybe I should open Facebook and see if anyone’s moved on one of the multiple Scrabulous games I have going. Ding! Instant message on Meebo. Chat there for a moment or two. Oh! Gmail! Oh darn, I asked a question on Twitter 20 minutes ago and haven’t checked back. Oh yeah here’s another blog post I’ve opened in a tab to read, “Web as Desktop“, a paragraph in and I’m thinking maybe I should check what my weather forecast is today as it’s looking a little dull out, another tab opens. Gmail! Twitter! Meebo! Ohhhhhhhhhh I haven’t open Google Reader in an hour maybe I should see if there are any new/exciting/interesting/must open in a tab posts in there (remember I have a dozen or more open already and haven’t actually read them yet).

Back to first blog article I’d opened to read and an ad catches my eye. Hmmm… there’s a new ebook available I haven’t read yet. Hmm. Should see what it’s about. Ohhhhhhhhhh! An affilate program! I need one of those. Gmail! Twitter! Facebook! Meebo! Reader! and so on…

I don’t suffer this anywhere else. I can sit down with a book and read for hours on end and not think about getting up and checking Gmail! Twitter! Meebo! I can sit out in the sunshine with a cup of coffee and a notebook and write for hours, or enjoy a visit with a neighbour, and so forth. In fact, in most things my focus and attention is 100% undivided.

Not so when it comes to digital things. There are too many things to read, people to talk to, conversations to join or just follow, I’m enthralled.

Filed under: chatter, goals, productivity, social media by Merlene
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I first fell in love with Rob Dickinson’s voice when he sang with Catherine Wheel and I’ve been a fan ever since.

I recently got a chance to watch Rob Dickinson perform live in Toronto with Neverending White Lights. For most of his set it was just Rob with an acoustic guitar playing songs from his solo album Fresh Wine for the Horses and trust me… there was nothing else needed. Rob’s voice is as powerful as ever and his stage presence is mesmerizing. Considering that he was just seated on a stool, playing a guitar and singing… he really held the audiences attention from start to finish and I’m looking forward to seeing him play again in future. Rumour has it he’ll be back in Toronto this summer. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Rob Dickinson later performed a song with Neverending White Lights that again proved his powerful voice and stage presence. I swear, you barely need to mic this guy, his voice is that strong.

Here’s a taste of Rob’s solo album, Fresh Wine for the Horses - one of my favourite tracks on the album - “Oceans”

And while we’re at it I’ll throw in “Black Metallic” which was recorded when he was with Catherine Wheel which he also performed last month during his set in Toronto. Another favourite of mine.

Enjoy your Friday!

Filed under: chatter, morning music, music by Merlene
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The old cliche goes “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”

I’m beginning to drown in the lemonade but I’m hoping for a lemon shortage in the next couple of weeks.

I’ve been on the internet little the last few weeks and have neglected not only the blog but twitter, facebook, friendfeed, seesmic, etc.

I’ve been told several search parties have been sent out but all they could find were lemon peels and heel marks.

However, all of this time wasn’t wasted. I have a couple of announcements coming up this month that I think (actually I really hope) you’ll find interesting.

Meanwhile… I’ve neglected the morning music theme lately so I’m leaving you with a video that takes the lemon theme and runs with it… Lemon by U2

Filed under: goals, morning music, music, productivity, social media by Merlene
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Just a quick post today. Busy busy day!

Donna Summer - She Works Hard for the Money (the Remix version)

Have a great Sunday!

Filed under: morning music, music by Merlene
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Usually I do not like cover versions of songs. Especially songs I like. I really would prefer artists to create their own original songs over covers. Usually.

My daughter became obsessed with the movie Donnie Darko a few years ago. One of the featured songs in the soundtrack of this film was an updated version of Mad World as recorded by Gary Jules. It’s slower, moodier and altogether beautiful. I’m not going to say it’s better than the Tears for Fears version but it’s as good, yet different. Today I’ve included both the Gary Jules updated version of Mad World and the original Tears for Fears version from the 1980s. Let me know which you think is better.

Gary Jules version of Mad World

Tears for Fears version of Mad World

Oh and if you haven’t seen the movie Donnie Darko yet give it a look. It’s a difficult movie to describe. It leaves you with more questions than answers. It’s disturbing and surreal and despite my determination to dislike it.. I have to say I really did enjoy it. It’s got a very interesting cast and has become something of a cult hit. Enjoy your Saturday!

Filed under: chatter, morning music, music by Merlene
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My good Twitter pal Paisano created a great comic on ToonDoo.com which was today’s Editor’s Pick.

I think Pai’s toon deserves a Digg don’t you?

I’ve never heard of ToonDoo.com until today but I quickly signed up for a free membership so I can play with the great Toon creation tools they have. Here’s a quick (and not at all funny) toon I created.

This is something I’ll think I’ll be playing with a lot. I cannot draw. In fact I need a ruler just to draw a stick figure. You’ve unleashed a monster Pai! I’ll be adding stupid non-funny Toons to everything now.

Filed under: chatter, frugal living, productivity, social media by Merlene
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When I woke up this morning I really didn’t have anything specific in mind for today’s Morning Music. It’s raining and cold again after a week of sunshine and spring and I’d likely have gone with something moody to suit the rainy day.

As I was doing my usual morning caffeination and catch-up I noticed that Canadian music superstar David Usher had made a comment on Chris Brogan’s blog post this morning which inspired me to tell you a a little about David Usher and post a video for today’s morning music.

I’ve been a fan of David Usher since I first heard him as the singer for Moist in the early 1990s. Moist’s early cds Silver and Creature got a lot of play around my house in the 1990s. David Usher later went on to a successful solo career and he’s currently in studio working on a new cd.

I could tell you how David Usher has been successful not only in Canada but world-wide. I could tell you that he’s won 5 Juno Awards (the Canadian Grammy) and how he’s been involved in War Child International among other humanitarian organizations. All of these things you can learn about on his website. What I find really interesting at the moment about David Usher is not just his music (which I love) and not just his pretty face (he’s yummy) but the fact that he’s become interested and active in the social media world lately. Not only does he have a twitter account where he posts updates on his studio work but he now has, in addition to his official music site, a social media blog where he speaks about ebooks, digital music, and social media. He’s posting videos as he’s working on the new album, giving fans a taste of the cd to come and an glimpse into the recording world. I really admire how he’s using social media to interact with not only his current fanbase but beyond that into the social media community.

A fav of mine - from Morning Orbit - Black, Black Heart. Be sure to check out David Usher’s YouTube channel for more videos and an inside look at his recording. You can find where to buy David Usher’s cds on his official music website as well as on his YouTube channel. Enjoy! Happy Friday!

Filed under: morning music, music, social media, writing by Merlene
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