Days Twenty-Eight and Twenty-Nine

Well I want to start by saying a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who voted for my entry in the B101 So you think you can cohost contest. It was a close vote... but with a 37% share I won the staycation! I was honestly shocked... I figured that I had a chance but was really quite stunned that I was victorious. Just being on the air was a big thrill for me, and the staycation was the icing on the cake. Again, thanks to those who voted and I hope that I did you proud!

As you might imagine the contest was a pretty cool way to start Day Twenty-Eight. It ended cool as well. Although not in the best way.

After playing ultimate all summer I decided that it would be fun to rejoin for the fall. I had been busy helping with dive classes the last couple of Mondays, so it was my first go last night. And the rain was just POURING down. We were all soaked. I called it a night after about an hour as I tumbled slightly on my ankle and there was some pain (not too much, but enough to stop playing). That being said, it was an awesome night! All I could do was laugh the whole time and then be amazed when the high school team just started running circles around anyone over 25 years old.

So today, on day Twenty-Nine, I'm sitting down, playing Countdown as part of my daily practice. I'm in the middle of a late draw and I get a call saying "Hey, do you want to go for a splash?" (read: dive?) and I figure, sure, why not, I like the idea of getting in the water. So I finish that draw of letters - STASODRIE - and score a nine letter word! - before heading off. It was nice to be in the water, but BRRRRR it was cold. 55F below the surface! Fun times, though, as always.

I met up later in the day with a good friend of mine, and taught him how to juggle. He had wanted to learn for awhile but had never really got around to it. After wings he headed off... and I settled into more Countdown... where I won 85-84 against a solid champ! Sweet, this instills confidence.

Cheers,
Vick.

Days Twenty-Four, Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six and Twenty-Seven

To be honest the excitement lays in day Twenty-Five so I'll sum up day Twenty-Four by saying it involved a lot of running around, getting things prepared for Twenty-Five but I had a good night shooting the breeze with the boys and N on Thursday night!

I awoke on day Twenty-Five at 6.45 am, ready for the exciting times to come. I got to the radio station just before 8 am ready for my shift.

I had a great experience cohosting with Jamie and Tara. They were super nice, so friendly!!! I got to talk during three different segments. The first one was a "getting to know you", the second one we focused on "Wheel" and the last one I did my Mr. Bean and Kermit the Frog impressions. I have heard people have enjoyed it and I hope they did!

So if you haven't had a chance to vote... please do! Go to b101fm.com and look for the "So you think you can cohost?" link, then click on my name to vote for me! Voting finishes at 5 am Monday morning.

I was supposed to go for a dive but we scrubbed because the weather was crummy. Which was fine anyway... so it was more running around getting things done and ready to go to the Niagara Falls area for the weekend.

I got to NF/Fort Erie around 7 pm, had some dinner with my friend and then sat in the hot tub. My goodness me, it was so nice.

Day Twenty-Six was crazy! I was, along with my dive club, diving the wickedly cool currents (7 knots!!!) in Fort Erie, above the falls (but very much above the falls). I got to do four dives. The first one we had to kick like the dickens to get out in the middle of the river, and between two railway "walls". Seriously, they were hard to get to... but I am happy to report my buddy and I got pas the third one, which is very rarely done! I wanted to cut my feet off though! All in all, a great day. I also passed the equivalent of one week underwater. Which is crazy, if you think about it.

Day Twenty-Seven was a zen day. Slept in. Lazy morning. Good breakfast. And then some touristy things (but not too much!). I went to the bird aviary in Niagara Falls... and there were alot of birds there! Took some fun pictures... then visits to the Hershey store, various sightseeing outlooks - including one where I met English tourists, told them I'd be on Countdown and they took my picture! - and a stop at a peanut factory.

Got home around 7 pm, watched the season premiere of Amazing Race (series 15 already! wow) and then caught up my blogging!

VOTE VOTE VOTE

Cheers,

Vick :)

EXTRA! EXTRA!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog to plug The Vick's cohosting of the B101 radio show this morning from 8am-9am!

Please listen and enjoy! Click on b101fm.com then look for the "listen live" button!

Days Twenty-Two and Twenty-Three

I have to apologize in advance that not everyday will be "OMG I'M IN SOME PLACE DOING SOME SUPER AWESEOME THING OMG ROTFL!". And I have to apologize for using the letters o, m, and g in that order like a 14-year-old screaming girl (which I clearly am not).

So that sums up Day Twenty-Two. It was just a nice, peaceful day. I did jump in the neighbours' pool... did some laps, and then got the heck out, it was pretty cold. It is last September however, so that's not unexpected.

Day Twenty-Three I wake up, watch my usual episode of the 2am pre-taped broadcast of Millionaire from the night before. And then by 9 am the internet is GONE. The continuing construction on the street has caused the internet to go away again... but it was back by noon. It always happens when you don't want it to, right?

I did my normal drive north for my Wednesday dive night event, expecting it to rain. So I didn't bring my gear. Got up around 2.30 pm, helped my friend organize his garage, and then found out that we were going to dive... thank goodness I know people with extra gear! It turned into a nighttime dive... we start early evening but it gets dark quickly. But it was very relaxing, and it was dive#40 for the year (for those of you who are new followers, that's very low for me).

So tomorrow (Friday) is the big day! A reminder again that I'll be live on B101 FM from 8-9 am eastern. Listen live at www.b101fm.com (the listen live button is on the masthead of the front page). Plus if you could vote for me after 12 Noon Friday I'd love you forever!*

Cheers,
Vick

*or as long is actually contractually obligated.

Days Twenty and Twenty-One

Important news... scroll down!

I am happy to announce that the family washer is now back in business! This is appreciated by all, especially those who will be in my general vincinity over the next little while.

Day Twenty had some interesting things going on. I was present at a dive class in the evening - we are going drift diving later this week and it requires quite a bit of theory. It went well and those in presence enjoyed my homemade (re: prepackaged mix) oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Pretty simple but I think people enjoy the effort.

I actually spent the night in the area, at my friend's cottage. It was nice and relaxing - very much close to the city but out in the country.

Day Twenty-One brought a closure to a phone call I received on Day Twenty. I had entered a contest... and I can now confirm that I am a finalist! A local radio station is running a contest called So you think you can cohost? and I will be co-hosting on this Friday, September 25th from 8 am to 9 am Eastern. I would really appreciate you listening and encouranging me!

You can go directly to www.b101fm.com and click on the button at the top that says "Listen Live".

There is a second part... I would really appreciate your votes for the grand prize! Voting runs from 12 Noon on Friday (so a few hours after I'm off the air) and ends at 5 am on Monday. I will post the link on Friday. All you will have to do is email my name, your name and the date. One email per person please... otherwise your vote won't count!

I also received my packet for Countdown yesterday. I am super psyched about my appearance and have been practicing feverishly since hearing I had made the cut.

Last night I got to be a "rescue victim" during a dive. It is very weird... I was with a buddy but we basically have to wait to be found. It's very bizarre but somewhat calming. The "rescuers" did find me and did a good job all around.

Cheers,
Vick.

Day Nineteen

I had a fun Day Nineteen, to be sure.


I got up early enough to catch a GO transit bus to go to GO! live from CBC HQ in Toronto, live on CBC Radio One. The theme was "The Greatest Grandparent", and they had three awesome grandparents to say the least - a world class triathelete, a gentleman who biked across Canada and a grandmom who came from The Philippines and became a kindergarten teacher in 1975... who was genuinely surprised that some of her former students were in the audience!! If you heard the show, you knew I was there... my laugh is very distinctive I'm told.


Yesterday was visit #7 to see GO! live... dating back to April 2008 when I bought Nora Young's sombrero and Bob MacDonald's space junk (both of which now reside in my drama class) Brent and the entire crew put on a great show, week in, week out. If you can, get tickets at cbc.ca/go if you're in or visiting the GTA. If not, the show airs at 10.30am Saturday local time (11.00 am NL time I believe).


I told Brent about my upcoming adventures this year and was happy to pose for a picture for the blog.




On the way back to the bus station, SB and I posed for a picture at the Royal Canadian Air Farce's donut shop, which is now in the CBC Atrium.

I had a very enjoyable lunch yesterday at East Side Mario's with a good friend. The calzone was excellent. And then for no apparent reason, I decided to go for a nice swim in my neighbour's pool... followed by some quality shopping for groceries, complete with the self scan. I tell you, the cardio workout at the store is a quality workout!

To finish the night I watched Wipeout Quebec with my landlords. It's good, but something is off about the timing of the show. It's paced differently - they play the qualifier on Monday, the sweeper and the dizzy dummy on the Tuesday episode, and finally five players in the Wipeout Zone on the Wednesday episode. I do however enjoy the fact that there's been a huge resurgence in games on Quebec this year - Taxi Payant is Cash Cab on Thursdays, Le Mur is Hole in the Wall on Thursday-Friday, Distraction airs on Wednesday and is an hour long with six players, La Guerre des Clans sees feuding families M-F. Thank you V!

Cheers,

Vick.

Day Eighteen

And the hits just keep on coming.

I got an email from a UK contact giving me direct numbers to call to get tickets for the British version of Deal or No Deal. I gave them a ring... and bingo bango bongo, I've confirmed for Thursday October 29th for two glorious shows.

I was back at work again today, but for an awesome fun reason. Along with my coworker we organized an Amazing Race style event through the downtown. The students really liked it which made the effort that we put into worth it. Some of the clues were a bit tricky... but we had a couple of small prizes on the line and we made them work for it! It was also great seeing some students after the summer break... and some who were very surprised to see me.

To top it off, I spent this evening in the pool, followed by the hot tub at the neighbours. I could get used to this....

Another game show airing... the episode of Le Banquier I saw taped will air Sunday, October 4th.

And now dear readers, my appearance on last Friday's Letterman. Don't blink!

Off to see CBC Radio One's GO! tomorrow.

Cheers,

Vick.