Four Things

Erin AH filled this out on her Facebook and I thought I would transplant it over the the blog, also I am heading to Ottawa tomorrow to visit her so that is exciting and fitting:

Four places I've lived: 
1. Cambridge, ON (1984-1985)
2. Paris, ON (1985-2003)
3. Ottawa, ON (2003-2010)
4. Toronto, ON (2010-now)

Four things I love to watch on TV or Netflix: 
1. The Daily Show
2. Orange Is The New Black
3. Archer
4. Property Brothers

Four names I go by:
1. Chris
2. Christine
3. Aunt Chris
4. Tita Chris

Four places I have visited: 
1. San Diego, CA
2. Yekaterinburg, Russia
3. Tangier, Morocco
4. Corner Brook, NL

Four things I love to eat: 
1. Bread
2. Watermelon
3. Pasta
4. Spaghetti Squash

Four favorite drinks:
1. Chocolate Milk
2. Pink Lemonade
3. Coke Zero
4. Gin and Tonic

Four people I would like to see respond:
1. Mom, maybe even on her blog
2. Steph
3. The T's (Taylor and Teri)
4. People who don't usually leave comments

Copy and paste this into the comments for this post and fill in your responses. Have some fun!

By Recommendation

Literally everyone that I asked for suggestions from, of what to do in Chicago, mentioned the Architecture Boat Tour On The River. So yesterday, Jason and I decided that would be our main activity for the day. We are trying to keep costs down and the $42 a person price tag was a bit of a deteriorate for us, the Canadian Dollar is so low in comparison to the American that everything is pricier than we would like it to be. However, this was seriously mentioned by everyone as almost a mandatory experience.

We waited fairly late to head into downtown because it was the Chicago Marathon and was going to be packed. When we were trying to find a place to stay in Chicago for this weekend we couldn't figure out why everything was booked and so insanely expensive, it is one of the reasons that our AirBnB ended up being so far away from downtown was that we couldn't find or afford anything closer. It wasn't until Meg mentioned it recently that we figured out that Canadian Thanksgiving is the same weekend as the marathon and that was why. Tomorrow is also Columbus day, but that doesn't seem to be that major of a holiday, we didn't even notice it happening in NYC last year.

When we did get downtown in the early afternoon it was still really busy, lots of people in running gear with medals on. We went fairly quickly to the river to get tickets and found out they were sold out until 5:00pm, we got those and prepared to wander downtown, which we hadn't really done yet. We went to Millennium Park and saw The Bean. Ate our packed lunch and walked along the lake and river front.

Turns out 5:00 is the perfect time to do the boat tour! The docent/guide kept mentioning how beautiful the low light was on the buildings since he normally does midday tours he was quite excited. The tour lived up to the hype. I could have stayed on that boat listening to the guide talk about architecture for hours more. The 90 minutes flew by and having the different styles pointed out and explained was an incredible experience. I would FOR SURE recommend this as an important thing to do when visiting the city.

Trying True Deep Dish Pizza For The First Time

Jason at Giordano's - Hyde Park

Oct 11, 2015 - Photo by ME with my phone

After the cruise, we went looking for deep dish pizza for dinner, lots of Google Maps searches. Teri had mentioned the chain Giordano's as a good place to go, I had also noticed the Lou Malnati's as a popular place with lots of locations as well. We took The Loop, the elevated subway system, to go to one Lou Malnati's place that was close by, the line up was insane. Then I remember that Giordano's had a location near our apartment, turned out it was walking distance away and we just headed south to that one. There was a much smaller line.

I loved deep dish (or stuffed) pizza! Definitely my preferred in the whole Chicago and NYC pizza debate. Jason leans much further on the side of New York but still enjoyed the Chicago style.

First NYC Activity

JFK to Airtrain to MTA (NYC Subway) to Penn Station to Schwartz Travel Services (place that stores luggage) to Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood to THE DAILY SHOW!! We are a bit more awake now.

Daily Show Taping Selfie!

Jason and I - Waiting In Line

Bartending Major

From the May 9, 2013 The Daily Show episode:
Interview between Aasif Mandvi and Career Adviser Marty Nemko

Nemko: For many more people than in decades past, collage is the wrong choice. Those who were average students in high school who went into collage ended up doing jobs that they could have done right out of high school. like selling extended warranties or they are bartenders.
Mandvi: Oh, I always assumed they had a Bartending Major?
Nemko: That's called English Literature.

Day One

Yesterday, Saturday February 16, 2013

The Plan: Wake up early at my apartment  pack clothes and snowboard  Go quickly to Jason's apartment  pack his clothes and our cross country skis. Head up to Collingwood at a reasonable time. Grab lunch. Spend the afternoon cross country skiing and meet up with friends at the hotel just before dinner.

Reality: I slept until 1:30pm and watched this week's episodes of The Daily Show until 3:00pm.

USA 2012 - Roadtrip Update #2

Pre-Scheduled Post:

As per our trip itinerary (bar any issues/changes/complications etc.)
Teri and I should be ....

Driving to New York City today and we have tickets to see a taping of The Daily Show this afternoon.

Fun Fact

The number of leisure hours the average North American has per week: 35
The number of hours the average North American spends watching television per week: 28
-Unsure of the source. This was a friend's Facebook status, however it was a friend who would be reporting on this because it was in a study or something. I watch between 5 - 8 hours a week, it depends on how many days I catch Jeopardy or The Daily Show.

When The Dog Bites - Electronic

Favourite TV Shows
How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, House MD, Glee, America's Next Top Model, Cougartown, 30 Rock, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report

Favourite Movies
A League of Their Own, Fifth Element, Aladdin, Labyrinth, Wag the Dog, 10 Things I Hate About You

Favourite PC Games
The Sims, World of Warcraft, NeoPet's Games

Favourite Music
Hotel California - The Eagles, Come Together - The Beatles, Starlight Express - Musical, The Phantom of the Opera - Musical, Les Mis - Musical

Quotes

My Birthday Present From Anna
On A T-Shirt: I'm only in it for the money (Department of English)

Classic Erin
Me: Uhh, he just needs to grow some balls!
Ottawa Erin: Ladies first

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart: Just another politician with a conservative mind and a liberal penis.

Packed Thursdays

It is a good thing that I don't have cable. It seems like all of the shows that I watch are now going to be aired on Thursdays. I watch everything online away, so it really doesn't matter when it airs. However, I was catching Private Practice with the girls on Wednesdays after ANTM. Well, ANTM is over and the next one isn't starting until March and the Canadian one is starting until the summer, also Private Practice moved days. Now on Wednesday we watch Jeopardy and I'm guessing will end up playing alot of Boogle and Rummy.

Check out my TV line up this semester:
House - Mondays
The Office - Thursdays
Grey's Anatomy - Thursdays
Private Practice - Thursdays
Saturday Night Live - Saturdays
The Daily Show - Monday to Thursday
The Colbert Report - Monday to Thursday

Exam Schedule

I have the worst exam schedule ever!! Because I had planned my trip to New York City and The Daily Show around the two day break between classes and exams, in the hopes that I would not have an early exam, fate called my gamble. The trip would have been a go as long as I did not get an exam in the very first timeslot on the very first exam day. The bus home from NYC overnight would not get me back in time to make it. I admit that I would have been stupid to take the trip if I had any exams on the first two days but I probably would have done it anyway. Turns out that not only did I get an exam in the very first time slot, 9am the day after the taping, but also the following day I have two exams back to back, 9am and 2pm. So none in my favored 7pm timeslot, no time to study for my three exams, and no Jon Stewart!

NY, NY

Last week a friend at work walked into my office and said, 'There are tickets for The Daily Show available, I just got some for December 1st, you should get some too.' He is moving to New York at the end of August to start his two year masters degree at The New School, a university there. Basically he said I could come and stay for free at his apartment. I went to the site immediately and signed up to get tickets, I love Jon Stewart. Jerrica claims he is her 'silver fox'. It was pretty rash, but I'm such a sucker for travel and have never been to New York City. I also have a weakness for going place where I will have free accommodation, it makes me think the trip will be cheap. What I really need is Steph to go with me, as she brings budget travel to a whole new level. I got 4 tickets for Wed. Dec. 3rd, 2008 as they are free and that is the max you can get. The last day of classes at Carleton is Dec. 1st, which is a Monday and on Mondays I have a full day of class, none of which I will be able to miss. The Amtrak train from Montreal is way cheaper than the bus. but the bus runs more frequently. My plan, as it stands, is to spend Tues. Dec. 2nd on the train down, tour a bit the morning of the taping, and then possibly have to take the night bus home that evening. Carleton exams start on Thurs. Dec. 4th, and while I have never had an exam on the first day, it would be just my luck that it happens the year I have plans. Dependent on my exam schedual I do hope it stay for a few days to see all the sites. I won't know until the end of October when my exams are, which is when I will probably finalize my plans. Because I have 4 tickets, and it is New York, it seems everyone I mention this to wants to come. Obviously there is no limit to the number of people who can go. Beyond one though and I will stay in a hostel, as it would be unfair to my friend and his roommates. Also there are only 3 spaces to go see the show. I thought because of its rash nature, added expense, timing, and the fact that it is more travelling, my parents would be upset at learning these plans. It seems though though that they are behind me on this trip as long as I stay sensible with my spending. I'm really excited. Mind you I just looked at some of Heather's photos on Facebook from her recent trip there and read the description on her blog, which is raising some doubts. Teri tried pretty hard to convince me otherwise last night, as she has been twice and loved it. I'm sure I will have a great time. I will get a great guidebook and plan to do it on the cheap. I find tall buildings inspiring and that aspect alone is vastly different from Ottawa which has height restrictions and no skyscrapers. The city itself is just so iconic. If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.

Best Cross-Over Ever

I think last night was host to the greatest TV show cross-over this century has ever seen. Normally I'm not a fan. I was annoyed with CSI on Without A Trace as well as Ally McBeal on The Practice. I prefer when they are subtle, like Mad About You's brief appearance on Friends, when they are more cameo in nature. But, over the past few weeks, a debate started through late night comedy talk shows, on who 'Made Mike Hukabee.' Both Conan O'Brien and Stephen Colbert insisted that they gave this US Presidential hopeful the success he needed by having him on their respective shows. Conan insisted then, that by showing a clip of Colbert, he in fact made Colbert the success he is. Jon Stewart got involved by showing an ancient clip of Conan being interviewed, thus Stewart claims he made Conan. The chain was Stewart made Conan, who made Colbert, who made Hukabee. The insanity continued on Friday when Conan stated, and showed a picture, that he delivered Stewart and Colbert when they were babies, and if either of them brought it up again he would kick their ass. Well last night, the three comedians met up, on each of their respective shows, ending in a hilarious brawl on the Conan O'Brien show. It can all be see on YouTube if you search "conan o'brien stewart colbert". Well worth a watch!!

Sexy Colbert

Watching The Colbert Report tonight (along with The Daily Show, since they are both now back on air) I was reminded of the music video he did. It is a parody of the soft rock 80's, very Bowie. As I love Colbert, and Bowie, the video thrills me every time I watch it.

7-Eleven

I took a late evening walk with Em and Ami to the 7-Eleven to get some snacks for my essay writing. I grabbed a slushie and some chips and dip, I figured it was a good treat to eat while watching The Daily Show and Stephen Colbert. It was a nice break from typing up my King Lear essay for British Literature. I had barely had any when my stomach started to hurt. Now I'm wide awake from all the pop that was in the jumbo slushie, sick from the chips and dip, but still working on the damn essay.