Ever since I was 16 and my boyfriend at the time showed me the video tape of Howie Mandel’s Watusi Tour, I’ve considered myself a big fan of Mr Mandel’s.  I thought that particular stand-up routine to be hilarious and, although I’ve not seen the complete show again, I’ve watched lots of clips on YouTube.  It brings back memories for me and I can still laugh at it now.

Years later, I saw Howie Mandel hosting Deal or No Deal (which, I believe, he still does) and I remember thinking that he was still charming and funny (and kind of cute with the shaved head), but I could easily take him or leave him.

And now, tonight, for the very first time, I’ve watched the car crash known as Howie Do It.  It’s a half-hour TV show on NBC, hosted by Howie, where he gets dressed up and plays practical jokes on unsuspecting people through hidden cameras.  Not only is this a theme that has been revisited way too many times, but the jokes aren’t even funny.  They are uncomfortable to watch (one guy thinks he’s auditioning for a job on TV and then finds out that it was joke and that he ultimately still does not have a paycheck coming in) and they are completely unoriginal.

The Global TV website calls it a “ground-breaking new prank show”.  I agree with the prank part, but ground-breaking?

I realize that I’ve only seen one episode and maybe I’ll keep my eye out for another one to get a fuller picture, but my initial reaction is definitely one of disappointment.

As I look back at the clips of the Watusi Tour, I’m struck by how exhausting hanging out with Howie Mandel must be.  But still, the Howie of 1986 rocks:

And once again further to my post about grocery shopping in the US, I purchased Campbell’s Supper Bakes: Traditional Roast Chicken with Stuffing.  We had that for supper tonite and, oh my, was that yummy.  Then again, I love just about anything alongside stuffing!

The box includes the stuffing, seasoning, a tin of gravy/sauce and a pack of seasoned breadcrumbs.  I just needed to supply my own boneless chicken breasts.

All you need to do to make this fabulous meal is to:

- Mix the stuffing with the seasoning a bit of hot water
- Spread the mixture around the chicken in your baking dish
- Pour some sauce over the chicken and then sprinkle on the breadcrumbs
- And finally, bake until the chicken is cooked

Very, very yummy.  I will be getting it again when I next visit the US.  And I see from the Campbell’s site (link above) that there are several flavours to choose from.  Herb Chicken with Rice sounds nice!

Further to my post about shopping for groceries in the USA, I need to mention that I went across the border to shop because I knew that they have a much bigger variety of brands there than we do here in Canada. 

I was able to buy Apple Jacks cereal!  That’s pretty exciting to me.  Not because I love Apple Jacks cereal.  No.  In fact, I’ve never even tried Apple Jacks before!  Us Canadians are so deprived.

Guess what I’m having for breakfast in the morning.

I decided to do our groceries in Massena, New York, USA today.  To do that, I needed to do the hop, skip and jump over two bridges.  But more importantly, I needed to get past the US border guys. 

From past experience, you don’t speak unless spoken to and whatever you do, don’t crack a joke!  Anyway, I’m not an idiot:  I know to answer their questions and, hopefully, quickly, be on my way.

Today’s border crossing was interesting though.  I got asked more questions than ever before and even had the guy ask to look in my trunk.  It went a little like this:

I pull up, take off my sunglasses and hand my passport into his outstretched hand.
Border guy (for lack of a better title):  What is the purpose of your visit into the United States?
Me:  I’ll be shopping.
BG:  And how long will you be staying?
Me:  An hour or two.
BG:  Where are you going?
Me:  Massena.
BG:  Where specifically?
Me:  I don’t know the name of the store where I’ll shop.  This is my first time coming across for groceries.
BG:  So, (looking at his screen, having swiped my passport) is this your first time in Massena?
Me:  No, I’ve been here before, but not for groceries.
BG:  Where were you born?
Me:  England.
BG:  How long have you been a Canadian citizen?
Me:  Since I was about 7.
BG:  Have you ever been arrested?
Me:  No.
BG:  Fingerprinted?
Me:  No.
BG:  Had a criminal record?
Me:  No.
BG:  Been refused entry into the United States?
Me:  No.
BG:  Are you carrying in excess of $100,000 in cash?
Me:  No!
BG:  How much cash do you have on you today?
Me:  Ummm, I don’t know… a bit of change.  My purchase will be made on credit card.
BG:  A bit of change?  In excess of $10,000?
Me:  $10,000??  No, a bit of change, like a dollar or two.
BG:  Well, some people see $10,000 as a bit of change.
Me:  …
BG:  What do you do?
Me:  I work at _______.
BG:  What do you do there?
Me:  I’m a ________.
BG:  Who’s vehicle is this?
Me:  Mine.  And my husband’s.
BG:  And everything in the vehicle belongs to you?
Me:  Yes.
BG:  I’d like you to pull forward a few feet and pop the trunk.
Me:  Ok.  (I pull forward and pop the trunk.)
BG:  (He looks around and returns to my car window.  He hands me my passport.)  Have a nice day.
Me:  Yeah, thanks, you too.

All this probably only took about 3 or 4 minutes. 

As I waited in line of cars for about 20 minutes to cross the border, I did not see him check anyone else’s trunk or spend nearly as much time with them. 

Does he have a quota of cars to check or people to give a hard time to?  Or did I set off his inner alarm bells?  Did I seem dishonest?

But as usual, Canada is much easier to get into.  My return crossing with the Canadian border guy was almost like talking to a friend.  He asked if I was bringing any goods into Canada.  I told him yes, groceries.  How much did they cost, he asked.  $88 American dollars, I said.  Have a good day, he said.

I wonder if the Americans would hire that guy.  I like him best.

UPDATE:  Since writing this post, I’ve written further about border crossing requirements here.

My two-year old daughter loves Barbie DVDs.  She has others to choose from (Dora, Max & Ruby, Little Einsteins, etc) but ultimately opts for Barbie every time.  A real girly-girl, my daughter.

We started our Barbie DVD collection with The Magic of Pegasus and The Island Princess, and then added Mermaidia and Fairytopia.  Our fifth and most recent addition is The Diamond Castle.  This DVD, my friend, is by far the worst of the lot.  It features two friends, Liana and Alexa, and they love, love, love to sing the most annoying songs in the world.  High-pitched and screeching, they trawl through song after song, repeating a select few over and over again.  Just to frustrate me, I’m sure.

Sweetheart, I say soothingly to my little girl, wouldn’t you like to watch a different DVD now?  You’ve seen that one at least 6 or 7 times today alone!

No, she says. 

This one is the newest one and must be watched until the DVD wears itself thin.  Just my luck, that doesn’t happen with DVDs, does it.

For all you parents out there with little Barbie-loving daughters, steer clear of The Diamond Castle… or get yourself some quality ear plugs.

I did a post here a little while back about free stuff for Canadians.  We are usually such a forgotten bunch, living right alongside the USA.  Contests and free stuff is always geered towards those guys and we Cannucks (especially those poor Quebecers) end up feeling left out.

But not anymore!  Canada, get your free stuff from the links below!  And I know that all this stuff will actually arrived because I’ve received it all myself:

I received 2 free nappies/diapers from Costco. When you click on the link, it asks for your Costco member number. I left that blank and still received the package:

https://secure.startsampling.com/sm/100512/captureAddress.iphtml?item=100512&source

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OB are sending out free sample packs and I received mine today. It includes 3 tampons and a cute little carrying case. Limit of 1 per person and 3 per household. So I applied for myself (first name), for Jane (my middle name, so cheeky) and for my stepdaughter (I’ll let her keep hers).I never considered using OB and have found them to be pretty good, so ‘well done’ to OB for offering the free trial.

Go here: http://obtampons.ca/en/ and click free sample on the left.

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Motrin. Get your free trial pack here: http://www.motrin.ca/eng/home.html

I received mine a few days ago.

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I also received a free sample of Underjams. That’s like a sleep diaper for kids who tend to wet the bed.

http://www.underjams.com/bedwetting-children/free_sample.php

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http://www.save.ca/ has free coupons for a variety of household items. The list changes frequently and new items are added so check back often. I order new coupons from them quite often - mostly for hair dye ($2-$3 off) and fruit juice. They print them and send them off the next business day.

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 The most impressive free thing I’ve received recently was from Proctor & Gamble. I received a box with a razor, shampoo and conditionner samples, facial creams, body wash for men, floss and more. The link is here:

http://www.pgbrandsampler.ca/

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I received my sample of Nestle Carnation’s Breakfast Anytime powdered drink. Yummm… Link here:

https://www.nestle.ca/en/products/brands/NBA/promo.htm?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7b79442EDD-D1FD-480F-8F7A-5CB1DAE8D0D5%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2fen%2fproducts%2fbrands%2fNBA%2fpromo.htm&NRCACHEHINT=Guest

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And I received my free potty training DVD from Huggies pull-ups:

http://www.pull-ups.com/na/potty_training_DVD.aspx

If you have received any free stuff, please leave your ideas here so that I can get more free stuff! :)