Canada is my hero

I'm sure everyone who reads this is still recovering from too many beers, overwhelming firework displays, and several portions of poutine and/or potato salad.  Good luck with that. 

If you STILL don't know what poutine is, Google it.  Shame on you.

I love my country.  Here are my top three favourite things about it.  

1) Nature.  

Canadians love nature.  We go to cottages at every opportunity and tie our beers to a string and hang them in the lake to keep them cold.  We ski and snowboard and carry beers in our pockets for those long rides up the chair lift.  We have mountains, and prairies, and oceans, and polar ice caps - and we have beer that comes from all those places.  Nature is a defining feature of this country.  All this space and so few people filling it up.  Gorgeous.

This kinda looks like nature, but really it's my neighbour's backyard.  Just pretend.

2)   Socialism.

I know that's a bad word.  How about Communism?  Better?  No?  Ok, well, sorry, but whatever you think about those words is probably inaccurate.  Canada is not defined as either, but I wish it were.  We have social programs that are meant to HELP people.  They're not perfect.  Lineups in emergency rooms are damn long.  And those friggin baby boomers are stealing all my pension money.  But it's a start.  It's something.  And I just can't be mad about 13% (or 15%) sales tax.

Second cutest couple on Parliament Hill on Friday. (Thanks LB!)

No way to get close enough for a good picture. 
They were so adorable though! You'll have to take my word for it.

3) Culture.  And People. 


We're very diverse.  And despite our current Conservative Government (curses!), we're tolerant of people.  Generally.  We like immigrants. And we have a lot of them.  Gay marriage is allowed.  We have TWO official languages, et j'étudie français!  We have Newfies, and Quebecers, and West Coasters, and Northerners, and Cowboys.  We have a rich Aboriginal background, with so much to learn from our First Peoples.  And yet we all have one precious thing in common - the love of our country and wanting the best for it. 

That guy is my Uncle.  No, not really.  I've never seen him before in my life. 

Canadian streets aren't normally blocked off for observers.
The craziness downtown was something of a shit-show for sure.
But totally worth it.  

_

Shitionary. Topped with cheese. UPDATED

Updated below...

I've had a goddam cold since Tuesday.  It started with a sore throat and then sniffles and then sneezing and then fever and now a nastyass cough with all sorts of yellowy green shit discharging from my lungs.  (Special thanks to my *wonderful* Quasi-Step-Dad who had this cold last weekend and must've given it to me.  How kind of him.)

Despite my illness, Canada Day was good.  I'll tell you about it later. 

More importantly, as part of the celebratory holiday weekend (on both sides of this glorious border!), we have officially launched our Cheesy Blogger Movement!

Thanks to the help of my friends SarcasmInAction at Musings of a Sarcastic Mind and Angela at Begging The Answer, the three of us have launched a new blogger community to share and link and laugh. 

Click on this.

It's the hottest thing, y'all.  Be there or be square. 

There are games, and jokes, and lots of opportunities to guest post.  It's all about spreading cheese.  And if you follow our site, not only will you be part of the coolest club in town, but we'll pimp you out to other bloggers.  Seriously.  What are you waiting for?  Go check it out.  Like, now. 

And when you get back, play Shitionary!  Because it's fun.

You guys were awfully quiet this time, but against all odds, someone did actually win.  In fact, she was DEAD-ON. 

Now.  Here's my problem.  I don't want you all thinking I cheated after the whole Shitionary Gate scandal, or just because the winner happens to be a fellow Cheesy Blogger founder, because I TOTALLY DIDN'T CHEAT. 

Congratulations Miss Sarcasm!  You finally won!  (I knew you'd eventually make a real guess if you actually had a clue.)  For you, my dear:

_