Chappelle’s Show

Dave Chappelle suddenly decided he needed to do some stand-up at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival. I just as suddenly decided I needed to see him do stand-up at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival. I found this out about five minutes before tickets went on sale, and thought it would be a breeze to pick some up. Six hours and many cups of tea later, I finally managed to snag a pair of prime tickets to the last of ten scheduled shows.

My good friend D and I entered the theatre, hopeful but unsure of what to expect. After all, it had been a long time since Chappelle had been on stage, and mumblings of his shows earlier in the week gave mixed reviews.

Harold and Kumar go to Chappelle's Show

The show was amazing, from beginning to end - easily one of the best I’ve seen (last shows usually are). The openers were Neal Brennan and Hannibal Buress. Brennan had a few good zingers and Buress killed, leaving the audience in just the right mood before the master took stage. Suffice it to say that by then Chappelle had finessed his material to the point where there were many hits, no misses, and you felt you were having an intimate conversation with him. A hilarious conversation.

Heaven is a Place on Earth

It’s a little known fact that one of the easiest routes to heaven is to take exit 14E off the I89 over to 1251 Williston Road, South Burlington, Vermont where you’ll see a big sign that says, “Al’s French Frys”.

Heaven

Once there, order the corn dogs.

Ambrosia

Then sit back and enjoy pure bliss!

I'm Lovin' It

Up in the Air

The Prestige!

Third time’s the charm when it comes to yours truly and flying first class. Largely I credit this to the new style of seat that easily transforms into a veritable bed, a blessing for one suffering from bad knee pain.

I often have to travel for work and I tend to stick with the same airline (Air Canada, the best of the North American airlines). Hence, I occasionally get a few perks here and there.  This time my prestige status got me bumped into business class, including the business class security line (or lack thereof). With a bit of time to kill, I used a voucher to access the Maple Leaf Lounge for the first time, mostly out of curiosity. It was nice for what it was, the air conditioning was a relief on an unpleasantly hot Paris morning and I managed to gorge myself on all sorts of delicious snacks.

Foolish Passenger Obscures Photo of Steward's Stunning Thumb

Onboard I was treated like royalty - the response to every request given with respect and a smile. Even silly ones. The gourmet-style foods came out almost non-stop (the salmon and cod come to mind, as well as a great selection of French cheeses and breads). Otherwise, I slept most of the way.

All in all, not a bad way to travel.

SUMS Reunion 2013

The Montreal Gang

Many thanks to all who came out for a great night, and to the lovely staff at the relatively new Lola Rosa on Avenue du Parc for handling our rather large, boisterous group. Hope to see you all next year!

Captured by the Cataflics!

Spidey et les Cataflics!

"Chut il y a quelqu'un!": les policiers viennent de tomber nez à nez avec trois personnes en tenue de grande randonnée. "Nous étions en train d'explorer. On voulait juste voir de nouvelles salles", explique penaude Laurel, une Canadienne de 24 ans qui profite de la pause-déjeuner avec deux amis américain et canadien. Prix de la balade: une contravention jusqu'à 60 euros. Source

That makes it sound more dramatic than it was. They were really very nice. Or so I imagine. That fellow just happens to look like me. That is one hundred per cent the truth and I did not make that up right now. I swear.

Moral of the story: ignore Spider-sense at own peril!

Non-Random Musings

Skittles. Taste the Rainbow.

I was going to title this entry, "Norm-Random Musings", but then thought better of it. Good thing I didn't do that, eh?

My pattern of alternately giving great and horrible talks continues. Sorry Montreal. You're next.

A few days every now and then without internet or mobile phone, or any technology at all for that matter, is bliss.

The people whom I've met in Dortmund and elsewhere in Germany are really nice. Friendly folks. Beautiful women.

Köln knows how to do pride in style. Inclusive. Lucrative. Others should take note.

The hot chocolates at Café Angelina («chocolat chaud à l'ancienne») are really good, and really expensive.

Big Fernand has a new location, oddly closeby to the first. It seems to have more space, is open on Sundays, and was absolutely empty when I went in, so no waiting at all. Truly the gods are smiling upon me.

Damn do I hate Adobe Flash. Just die already.

Happy Canada Day!

A very happy Canada Day to all my family, friends, and fellow Canucks out there.
I've spent mine working (still going at it), but ... well, that's life.
Anyway.

In celebration, I present to you a random selection of some of my favourite Canadian memories:

1) The Littlest Hobo

2) Metric on CBC's ZED. It doesn't really get much better than this.

3) How do you like your coffee?

4) Two. This .... this is Canadian television, folks.

5) Joe the Canadian. Eh.

6) Mr. Dressup et al.

7) The Wolverine

He's also CANADIAN. So is Deadpool. Deal with it.

8) McPizza

9) Heritage Minutes. This is 100% factual. I swear.

10) The Wayne and Shuster Farewell

"Well I see by the clock on the wall. That it's time to bid you one and all.

Goodbye (Goodbye) So long (So long) Farewell (Farewell) Adieu (Adieu)

Be good (Stay Well) Bye Bye (Keep Warm) Relax (And Eat) Take Care (Stay Loose)

Adieu mon vieux. A la prochaine. Goodbye 'til when we meet again!"