Still swamped with work/moving… But looking forward to a triumphant return to these here parts so that I can dish about wedding planning and our adventures in making over the new apartment (with pics and all!) In the meantime… Enjoy!

Before I head out, though, I have to show off my new business cards, because I think they look pretty darn snazzy. Big thanks to my friend, Jon Rennie, for the awesome design. As you can probably tell, he’s also the talented guy behind my web design. But what you may not have known is that he’ll also be starring as Best Man in our October 2010 wedding. (More on that soon. No, really. It’s coming!)

Anyhoo, back to The Hour. If you live in the GTA and want a great way to spend a few hours one afternoon, I highly recommend checking out a taping. Tickets are free, which makes for one very budget-friendly outing. George and Bradley Cooper in the same room, and I didn’t have to sell a kidney to be there? Life is good.

If you’re not familiar with Bradley Cooper, here is a sampling of his resume: Guest appearance on Sex and the City, “Will Tippin” on Alias (<3), The d-bag boyfriend in Wedding Crashers, The d-bag husband in He’s Just Not That Into You, and most recently, part of the hilarious cast of The Hangover (which opens June 5, and I can’t wait to see it.)

Highlights from the taping: Yours truly made it just in time, thanks to some stunning performances by the TTC. (Tangent: Why is it so hard to get a damn bus out here? I mean, really. Nothing comes for 20 minutes, and then? TWO buses going the exact same way show up simultaneously. I like a good surprise as much as the next girl, but not when it comes to public transit, thankyouverymuch.) So, being the last one in the studio, I got a chair right on the end of the aisle, meaning that in the intimate setting that is The Hour, Bradley Cooper (who my friend Sarah has dubbed “very lickable”) could have easily tripped over my purse on his way to the stage. Wouldn’t that have been lovely? “Random Girl Trips Will Tippin, Breaks His Handsome Leg.” Thankfully, that did not happen. Totally charming, very funny… Great interview. (And if you missed the awesome interview, you should absolutely check it out here.)

The other guest of the evening was Jeff Rubin, former top economist for CIBC, who explained his beliefs about how triple-digit oil prices are going to have a huge impact on our futures. Some really thought provoking stuff… And I especially liked his analogy about ping pong on a train.

I really can’t say enough good things about George Stroumboulopoulous (shocking: spell check does not like that one). He really seems to put his guests at ease in a very short amount of time. It’s really just a casual conversation that happens to take place in front of a bunch of people… and it’s pretty damn cool. Everything happens in one take; there are no do-overs. And I love that no question is off-limits (take that, Billy Bob Thornton), so you never really know what might happen. George even sticks around after the show to answer any and all questions that the audience throws his way. Check out some more of his great interviews from The Hour here.

And stay tuned this week while I play Catch Up On Life, with reports on Canada’s Wonderland, The Toronto Blue Jays, 101 in 1001, EA Sports Active… And, yes, wedding plans! (All in one week? That’s the plan!) But first? There is a bottle of wine that is calling my name…

Now… As for the winner, it was a tough choice! And while I totally loved all of the stories, there was one that really stood out because it just made me laugh and laugh. So congrats, Erin!!! A sweet prize pack is headed your way!

Here’s what Erin had to say:

Hmm, how we met, well I was working at summer camp and my coworker found him in her neighbour’s barn and brought him to live with us for the summer. Turns out he was kind of mean and bit people, but that summer I fell in love with him. After the summer, nobody wanted him, and he was going to be returned to the barn. I couldn’t let that happen so I decided he was coming to live with me. My parents were not impressed. That was almost two years ago. I could not love my little troublemaker more, and even my parents have come to like him. Now, I don’t know what I’ve do without him.
Clearly, I am single with a cat, so that’s the best I could do!

Seriously? How could you NOT read that and giggle? “He was kind of mean and bit people”?! That’s gold! And B-rad got a good laugh out of it, too. Congrats, Erin! And thanks again, everyone! Look for more random contests this summer…

Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

It’s been a busy week, friends. Between my web-tastic new gig and personal schedule, there is a lot going on. I’m still getting the hang of my new job, as some of the stuff I’m working on is very technical and totally new to me, but I’m also loving every minute and every new thing that I get to learn. Ahh learning… Where would this nerdy girl be without you?

On Tuesday I had the opportunity to accompany my friend Heather to UofT for the Toronto leg of Chuck Palahniuk’s Pygmy book tour. It was my first time at a Chuck Palahniuk reading and let me tell you, he did not disappoint. The man is quite entertaining and I spent a good chunk of the evening laughing my butt off. Here are a few highlights from the night…

• Chuck’s explanation of where the idea for Pygmy came from. You can actually find the story in a recent interview that he did with Metro News. The moral of the story? When in Germany, always go with a translator. Always.

• Inflatable penguins.
Sorry, make that autographed inflatable penguins. While I didn’t manage to snag one, I definitely enjoyed watching people scramble to blow them up and sqeak their feet in order to win a copy of Choke on DVD. (Has anyone seen/read Choke? Would you recommend it?)

• Re-written bedtime stories.
Interpreted to match the kind of writing found in Pygmy, classic children’s stories like “Goldilocks and The Three Bears” got the full Chuck treatment and wound up hilariously twisted. (During a Q&A someone asked if he’d ever consider writing a children’s book. He explained that he had, and gave a run down of the story… Oddly enough, no one will publish it. Heh…)

• Costumes.
As Heather pointed out to me when she asked me to join her for this adventure, if we dressed up as Model UN delegates, we’d win a prize. In a note from Chuck, he said, “Don’t let your dignity stop you from having a good time, and I won’t feel like such a freak, myself.” Well, I went ahead and took those words to heart. Why else do you think I’d be roaming the streets of Toronto looking like an Irish superhero? Heather also dressed accordingly as “Heather, Queen of Scots” in tartan and a tiara. (Go ahead and click on “Costumes” above for proof!) I can’t wait to find out what my mystery prize is! Big thanks to Heather for such a fantastic evening.

In other news, this week I learned that I should not attempt to do anything without the assistance of my glasses. Post-shower, I’m getting ready to go out and reach for my sample-size Vera Wang Princess perfume. I give myself a little spritz on the neck and wrist and then realize… that’s not Princess. What did I just spray on myself? Why is it so strong? Glasses… where the eff are my glasses?!

Upon closer inspection, I realized that I’d spritzed myself with Vera Wang for Men. Lovely. You know, in a manly way. (Epic. Fail.)

As for today, I’m off to a choreography session with Melissa Williams from So You Think You Can Dance Canada. More on that tomorrow, after my limbs have had a chance to recover!

Happy Friday, all! I have many stories to share, but after soaking up the sun with the Terrible Two (aka my adventure-loving cats) this afternoon, I’m a bit wiped out. Before I head off for a night of Wii and wine, there are a few things I’ve stumbled upon in my travels around the Interweb this week that I simply have to share. Enjoy the link love!

• F**k You, Penguin
If you can get through the entries on this blog (that tells cute animals what’s what) without laughing, let me know, and I will send you a prize. Because seriously? Hilarious.

• Viva La Love Story
If you’re just tuning in… Hi, my name is Alicia, and I’m a bit of a music junkie. That said, is anyone really surprised that I am loving this instrumental mash-up of Taylor Swift’s Love Story and Coldplay’s Viva La Vida by John Schmidt? It’s fab. Trust.

• Wordle
Fun fact about me: I love words. Shocking, right? But perhaps a lesser known fact is that I’m also a big fan of art. Wordle is kinda like the best of both worlds, because you can take a URL or a bunch of text and turn it into a word cloud with different colours, designs and fonts (a la the image above). Super nerdy, right? But let’s be honest… It’s pretty cool.

• Target Women vs. Twilight
I totally have a girl crush on Sarah Haskins. Watch a few segments of Target Women and you’ll understand why. She is one funny lady.

• Britain’s Got Talent: Diversity
While I wait (im)patiently for So You Think You Can Dance to return, I am more than happy to keep watching this clip. Yes, we all know that Susan Boyle is the big BGT story right now… but these guys? Fantastic.

Also from the “pretty darn cool” files, earlier this week my post about One Million Moms got a shout out from Canadian Family! And did I mention that the letter writing campaign against Miley has vanished from their website? Note to self: Don’t eff with Disney.

Tune in next week for some long-overdue updates re: The Wedding(!!!), my 101 in 1001 list, and a new category called “Remember When?” As for me, I’m off to deal with some crazy bunnies.

Have a great weekend! (AND! If there are any awesome links that you think I should include on this list, please let me know! I’m all about supporting procrastination…)

This Magazine is celebrating its colourful new makeover with a sure-to-be-fabulous bash at Supermarket on March 10. Music, cheap mags and a cupcake bar with CMYK icing… What more could a girl ask for?

Need more details? You can get ‘em here.

5.  A very pregnant MIA
When you can rock a see-through top and dance around stage the day that you’re due to give birth… You get some serious respect. At the same time, though, her baby may be scarred for life after sharing a stage with a fugitive, an American Gangster, a closet bowling fanatic… and Kanye West. (I kid, I kid.)

4. Jennifer Hudson
What a year Jennifer Hudson has had. She snagged the first award of the night, her performance was simply beautiful. Understandably emotional, but she is one very strong woman. If you missed her tonight, you can check out the video here.

3. Kanye’s Mullet
I’m from Oshawa, so you’d think that a mullet would not surprise me very much, but you’d be wrong. I can handle the single glove, the high tops and even the crazy sunglasses, Kanye. It’s cool.  But the mullet is one trend I am begging you not to resurrect. Please. Think of the children.

2. Lil Wayne’s acceptance speech for Best Rap Album
I’ve been all about Lil Wayne all week, thanks to his fantastic interview with Katie Couric. At first I was thinking, “who are all these people?” but then I realized that Lil Wayne is just incredibly efficient. Rather than list of a bunch of random names, he could simply say “I’d like to thank these people right here.” My love of Lil Wayne now knows no bounds. And his performance? Excellent.

1. John Mayer’s live updates on Twitter
Okay, yes, I am biased. I think we all know the level of my appreciation for John Mayer. But I just think it’s so damn cool that in 2009, as I’m hanging out in flannel PJs, watching the Grammy Awards on TV, I’m also reading live Twitter updates from one of my favourite artists who happens to be at the very event I’m watching. (Props to BlackBerry, too. Sorry I was such a hater back in 2006.)

I also HAVE to mention how happy I am that Adele took home a few awards this year. Her album, 19, is phenomenal. If you haven’t heard it, head on over to her MySpace page and check it out. Brilliant!

Now, hit me… What were your favourite moments of the 2009 Grammy Awards?

Kicking my Lancaster habit is unlikely to happen any time soon, as all three of her novels are on my Summer Reading list. It’s just toting them around in public that seems to get me into trouble… and by “trouble” I mean “hopelessly awkward situations with random men I’ve never met before.”

I give you Exhibit A:

I’m riding home on the bus (like the TTC Goddess that I am) and indulging in one of my favourite bus riding activities: catching up on books I promised myself I would finally read. This time, it’s Bright Lights, Big Ass (which you need to buy immediately, if you haven’t already done so.) I’m enjoying it so much that I don’t have time to stash it in my gigantic Mom Purse before I exit at my regular stop.

Imagine my surprise when a complete stranger says to me, “Hello beautiful lady, are you enjoying that book you’ve got there?” (I kid you not. That is actually what he said. But wait. It gets better.)

Me: “Yes, I am!” (I smile, but keep walking.)

He: “Well hold on a minute, let me see it.”

See now, this is the part where any normal person would likely say “I’m sorry, I’m in a bit of a rush,” or “I really can’t chat, I’ve just gone into labour.” Something. ANYTHING. Anything except “Sure.”

Me: “Sure.” (Another smile. Why must I smile so much?!)

He: (Reading the title) Bright. Lights. Big. Ass. (Pause) Do you think that you have a big ass? (See? I told you it gets better.)

Me: “Well, I’d like to think that I don’t…”

He: “Well, I think that you have a perfectly reasonable, medium-sized ass.” (This may actually be the strangest and yet most lovely compliment that I’ve received in my entire life. A medium-sized ass… what more can a girl ask for?)

Me: “Oh… um… thank you!”

He: “My name is Rupert. Who are you, beautiful lady?”

…And this right here, is the part where any normal person would make something up on the fly. Fudge the truth a bit. Tell a little fib. Lie their face off… Alice, Agnes, Alexis, Frank. Something. ANYTHING. Anything except…

Me: “Alicia.” (D’oh!)

(We shake hands)

He: “Well, Alicia. It’s very nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy your book. You remember me, now… and give a holler the next time you see me.”

Me: “Oh, I will! Thank you! Have a great day, Rupert!”

–

And that is how Rupert from Weston became my new BFF. Thanks, Jen Lancaster.

Note to self: Start wearing iPod and sunglasses at all times. And maybe give up smiling. Or at least learn to lie.

And now, because I love a good story… I’m turning it over to you guys. What’s the craziest thing a stranger has ever said to you? There’s bound to be some hilarious tales out there… so let’s hear ‘em!