that canadian girl

om nom nom nom, originally uploaded by thatcanadiangirl.

Taken outside the office this morning, we just couldn’t resist. Find more funny om nom nom nom pictures here

Whatever, Google. Big Table isn’t all that, I had that idea a year ago, launched it, got the tshirt and moved on.

Want proof? Here’s me and my Big Table hanging out together last summer.

Reason #3 spending Xmas back at home is worthwhile: Talking Julie into eating an uncooked Pogo (corn dog) covered in Nutella for the measly sum of $12 in small change.

Julie likes pogos with Nutella, originally uploaded by thatcanadiangirl.

Since I started blogging, iStockphoto has been my source of images to illustrate and accompany blog entries. The images were once cheap enough that a blogger who made no revenue like myself could afford to pepper the occasional post with an image to joosh it up a bit.

Now, however, I think I’m going to have to go a different route since prices are getting jacked up for the second or third year in a row. I know if I were to complain, the answer I get would be filled with words like “artist recognition” and “inflation” but it’s still getting out of my realm of comfort. I’ll be sad to go, especially seeing as it’s run by a bunch of (apparently) lovely Canucks, but it might be time to break up now.

So what are the alternatives? Flickr images which are licensed under Creative Commons, sites like stock.xchng and photos I’ve taken myself. Any other suggestions?

Felix catfood: Which one would you feed your kittens?, originally uploaded by thatcanadiangirl.

Out of the pack we bought recently, there was one pouch (on the right) which was completely empty (yet sealed), then the middle pouch was completely unbranded, which I find really bloody odd. And finally the left one is the “control”, the normal kitten food pouch.

I’ve written to Purina, and they got back to me, but I’ll be interested in seeing how they justify the unbranded pouches…

Does this look as tempting to you as it does to both Russell and I?

It’s like there’s an invisible force field pulling me towards those. Not sure if I would’ve managed to resist, had I been there!

Jack & Rose checking out Super Mario Galaxy, originally uploaded by thatcanadiangirl.

In their professional opinion, the game rates 11 out of 10. With the exception of intro scenes, which could do with some basic anti-aliasing.

Best bit? That little blue hand that moves around the screen, definitely!

I promised everyone photos as soon as the kittens get home. I expected to have to stick the camera in the cat box, where they’d be hiding all nervous about their new home.

Rubbish! They were chilled during the whole journey home, after about 5 minutes of meowing, then once home, they explored the entire house within a few seconds. They ate, had a wee and promptly fell asleep on their little activity centre. Now they’re pouncing up and down the stairs, playing together, taking the occasional break to purr against my leg like a little engine - so it’s time to share a few of the photos we’ve taken so far.

Couldn’t ask for sweeter kittens, they’re absolutely adorable. I’m sure I’ll find time to upload a video tomorrow, but for now, time to play!

After a number of interesting panels in the day, it was time for beers and Diggnation.

Think of being 10 years old and looking up to your biggest, most favourite music star. Now imagine the excitement if you were told you’d get to meet them. That’s how I felt yesterday.

I filmed a good part of the live Diggnation show (which I’ll put online tonight), but then the guys bravely took on the mobs of 16 year olds and joined the Carsonified party at the Excel pub. Once the crowds went home, only a few people were left. But surprise, while Kevin buggered off to the hotel, Alex and the Totally Rad Show guys stayed for some drinks! Having a chat with them, they’re just as lovely as I’d hoped.

If this kind of event and show format is the future of TV, I’m going to feel right at home.

I’m spending the weekend in London for mobileCamp, a sort of ad-hoc gathering of people who work with mobile, or just outright love them. I’ve already posted a few pics on Flickr, and will add more throughout the weekend.

The first panel was on the topic of S60 Web Widgets, which was a bit on the geeky side for me, but this second one is on Digital Kids and Disruption is looking interesting. More later once I find somewhere to plug my laptop in!

The photowalking Bojangles, originally uploaded by thatcanadiangirl.

I saw this crashed Ferrari this morning on the way to work, and we stopped to take a snap of it. It was a sad sight, nearly brought tears to my eyes… but then I realised it was light gold. Who on Earth gets a light gold Ferrari?!

I absolutely love the weather today - It’s a crisp 10 degrees Celcius, but the sun is shining bright, and there are few clouds. Nature is slightly confused that we haven’t really had anything resembling a winter, with the exception of the two days of light snow earlier this week, and the tree outside our house has bloomed, frozen and defrosted a number of times, yet the little pink flowers seem to have toughed it out.

Looking out the patio doors, for a moment, I got a glimpse of summer and the BBQs we’ll be having again as soon as the weather is suitable. Really can’t wait to sit outside again, especially as we didn’t take advantage of the garden enough last summer.

For those interested, this picture was taken with Andrew’s Sony Ericsson K800. Not bad quality for a phone camera!

Nothing quite like a good ol’ get together with some old friends to revive you a bit.

Unfortunately, being home alone at the moment, I’m fairly limited in terms of who to talk to. There’s that spider in the corner of the room, but it ain’t looking too chatty.

So I thought I’d make this post, which I’m sure Annabel will love! [Note: Jaded people, please turn away now. This will probably make you want to gouge your eyes out or turn your nose up. But a girl’s allowed to have a bit of fun.]

I went upstairs to pay a visit to the quiet friends with beady eyes who sit in the corner of the spare room, in particular Mishu, my first teddy. I’ve had him since the day I was born (apparently - can’t say I remember much of that day), and he was a present from my godparents Kazimier and Monique. Mishu apparently means “teddy bear”, or something along those lines, in Polish, however I must admit I’ve never checked the veracity of that statement from my godfather.

As you can see, Mishu’s wearing one awesome pink tshirt, with his own NAME on it (don’t you wish you were that cool)! There are a few reasons for that. First, it’s because he’s a cool dude. Second, it’s to do with hiding his battle scars, which are partially due to too much hugging and playing with over the years, but also due to two much-needed open-heart surgeries when Mishu was about 6 years old. He had to carefully be restuffed and resewn in the right pectoral area, and while it was a stressful time for all, he came out of it a stronger man, thanks to Maman’s love and care.

Probably around the same age, I was offered a substitute for Mishu, in the hope of avoiding any further open-heart surgery. But that didn’t work, he didn’t even get a name! He’s still called Toutou, which is as generic as “Teddy”. He was the evil twin, the unwanted one, the one who arrived too late. And he was inevitably the baddie in any games I played with them.

In recent years, they’ve been getting too little attention, but they’ve always travelled with me to the UK and back to Canada - even if I had to travel with only two suitcases!

So finally… Mishu and his entire posse!

From left to right: Jeff the Monkey (a great old uni pal), Zippy the talking puppet, Piggy (a gift from high school friends), Puppy (from an old work colleague for my birthday), Mishu, Toutou, Tigger and last but not least, the funky pink Menorcan sheep!

Nothing can beat the feeling of spending my 25th birthday with my sisters and family.

More pictures to come over the next few days…