My Cross Border Shopping Addiction
My Cross Border Shopping Addiction
The recent surge of my Canadian dollars has led me down the road to an addiction more powerful than a charging beaver, stronger than a Canadian beer. I must admit that I am now a cross border shopping addict.
Up until recently, I didn’t even enjoy shopping, and if I had to, I certainly wasn’t motivated to travel to another country to do it. Buffalo, New York has changed all of that!
For years I led a ‘shopping life;’ as dismal as faded green ink. Now it is as colorful as my currency-fun and friendly hues of blue, purple and red, with silver and gold shimmers.
This is the way I see the world when I am ‘shop tripping’ at tops or Wegmans, and I have the discount cards in my wallet and on my key chain to prove it.
Now only am I now shopping in another country, but I am actually buying things I don’t need, Canadians can’t resist a bargain, but we’re not so accustomed to finding them so frequently. A one-eye magnifying glass, like the ones used by jewelers and Col. Klink has been been a matter of life or death for me,. but when I saw them on clearance at a store in Buffalo, I didn’t hesitate in buying the bulk pack of 10.
It didn’t stop there, though, I chanced upon the most innovative battery-operated plastic pig, which is motion-activated to oink when someone walks past it. the price was to die for and I had to have it.
I have found it necessary to justify this expenditure to family and friends. I had to look no further than the packaging. The motion-sensitive swine was being marketed as a ‘point of sale tool, so I rationalized that every tenacious Avon lady should own one.
My later cross border shopping purchase has destroyed any illusions that I have been harboring about being in control of this shopping addiction. a recent Sunday afternoon was deemed as a family day, so we gave the boys and option and let them choose.
“OK, guys, it’s either mushroom picking in Fort Erie or cross border shopping in Buffalo.”
Upon arrive at the flea market, we gave the kids a few toonies and told them to go nuts. Just in case I never make it to Disney World, I have forever memorized their childlike joy, salivating as if in a candy store.
Fatigued by the frenzied pace, I momentarily leaned again a table to rest,. an alert vendor told me that anything in the bin that my elbow was leaning on could be had for a dime. The sight of a plastic bin brimming with naked and partially clad Ken dolls didn’t even phase me. All I heard was the word ‘dime’.
I tried to control myself by confidently offering 9 cents Canadian. the sales lady stood firm and my resolve quickly weakened when I found one wearing pink satin boxers with black trim. I reasoned that it would totally complement the black and white polka dot purse, trimmed with a fuschia boa, that I had purchased for a steal at the last booth.
As darkness falls and ‘last call’ is announced over the department store loud speakers, I head back over the Peace Bridge to the equally enjoyable comforts of home. I feel a certain patriotic bond with the Canadian Customs officials are are the first to greet me back. They ask me if I have purchased anything. I proudly state my bizarre cross border shopping buys, and they don’t flinch an eye. “welcome back to Canada,” they say, smiling.
Perhaps they just know what I am learning. “Being a loonie isn’t so bad after all, eh?”
Written by Linda Jones
Linda Jones is a mother/tour guide/actress/writer who is always looking for ways to express her creative side
Question by Scotty: can you buy canadian beer in the southern states?
can you buy canadian beer like molson or labatt in texas or arizona?
Also can you buy canadian beer in other countrys like the uk, germany, japan?
Best answer:
Answer by cs1987
Yes but it is more expensive
Add your own answer in the comments!
Categories: Canadian Beer Cans Tags: avon lady, canadian beer, col klink, gold shimmers, Illusions, plastic pig
Five Spectacular Canadian Bridges
Five Spectacular Canadian Bridges
I don’t know if it’s because I’m a man or not but I love anything that’s extremely big and huge. Big trucks, engines, houses and yes bridges. Since Canada has so many obstacles within its terrain it’s only natural that Canadian engineers would devise ways around or over them.
With that said here’s an article on only five of Canada’s most spectacular bridges. After all where would we all be without a bridge? Stranded!
1. New Brunswick, Worlds Longest Covered Bridge
This might be one of Canada’s most recognizable bridges. This is known as the “Covered Bridge” in Hartland New Brunswick. It was originally constructed by the Hartland Bridge Company which was formed by residents and construction workers on both sides of the St. Johns River. The bridge was to be an easy and direct means of transportation to both sides of St. Johns.
The bridge officially opened July 4, 1901 and was bought five years later by the Government of New Brunswick. About 10 years later some of the bridge supports had suffered severe damage in April 1920 when big chunks of ice smashed into them. It would be 2 years before the bridge would be operational again.
Finally in 1922, the government had to decide to cover the bridge after the repairs were complete and eventually added a sidewalk in 1945. The bridge went on to be declared a National Historic Site then in 1999 became a Provincial Historic Site.
To this day the bridge is still in use and you can still drive across it but weight restrictions are in place so be sure if you’re visiting the bridge to be driving a light vehicle.
Also residents say there is an old myth that goes before you enter the tunnel of the covered bridge, make a wish and cross your fingers and hold a breath until you reach the other side. Once on the other side your wish will come true!
2. Prince Edward Island, Confederation Bridge
The Confederation Bridge is now known as one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century. It was built mainly to connect Prince Edward Island to the mainland of New Brunswick.
It took 5,000 workers, 1 billion dollars and 4 years to complete it and was finally opened to the public and traffic in May 1997. The maximum speed limit on the bridge is 80 km’s and takes about 10-15 minutes to fully cross people say. There is also a toll charge of course.
This bridge is spectacular because it’s known to be the longest bridge over ice-covered water and can stand up against the harshest Canadian weather.
The bridge is beautiful in pictures but more of an extraordinary site in person. So if you’re ever visiting New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island then make sure to stop and see this site!
3. British Columbia, Lions Gate Bridge
Now I couldn’t write an article about bridges without mentioning British Columbia’s spectacular Lions Gate Bridge. Now the bridge has kind of an interesting history in the sense the land one side was original bought by the famous beer company/family “Guinness”. Afterwards talks went on about how easy it would be to ship products straight across on a bridge instead of going miles out of the way to cross to the North side of Vancouver or whatever side you happen to be on.
Construction started on March 31, 1937 after years of planning and debating and at the time with the depression the work was badly needed. Construction and road crews worked day and night to complete the task. Only about a year and a half later on November 14, 1938 the bridge was opened to traffic and a year after that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presided over the official opening. The Guinness family went on to eventually sell the bridge to the British Columbia government.
At the time of completion the bridge had cost nearly six million to build, was 5,890 feet long and is the longest suspension bridge in western Canada I believe.
4. Quebec City, Quebec’s Cantilever Bridge
Now I know to some readers this bridge might not seem as special as the others but trust me it is. The loss of life due to this one little bridge being made seems like a tragedy to me since owners and engineers of the bridge knew before hand it was only a matter of time before something happened.
Somewhere around 1904 the residents of Quebec decided they needed an easier way to cross the St. Lawrence River to get to other parts of Quebec City since the only way was by canoe or boat. With that they hired engineers and set out to construct the world’s longest cantilever bridge.
Construction started out fine and everything seem to be going well for almost four years but when nearing completion one of the engineers noticed that the main support beams had warped and slightly bent from the massive weight. He met with the owner of the bridge and head engineers and explained the steel support beams to hold main sections of the bridge where not strong enough to handle the weight and have bent and slightly twisted.
At first the head engineers played the problem off as minor but after constant complaining and letters from inspectors and so on they decided they better look into it. Finally on Aug 29, 1907 after a meeting with top engineers in N.Y. an immediate stop work order was placed and was suppose to be telegraphed off but it was too late.
Shortly after the telegraph was sent workers where lifting the middle steel section of the bridge into place when one of the support beams on the bridge basically failed causing the whole section to plunge into the river killing 75 out of 86 workers. The bridge was eventually completed but at a cost of a lot of innocent lives.
The bridge was declared a historic monument in 1987 by the Canadian and American Society of Civil Engineers and then in 1996 was declared a National Historic Site of Canada.
5. Saskatoon, Broadway Bridge
I figured I would finish off my article with a more eye appealing bridge. This bridge is located in Saskatchewan and was built in 1932 at the time of depression and was a project to help keep the many unemployed workers still working a bit.
In my opinion this bridge itself is a work of art and is a must see if ever in the area.
So that’s it my list of only 5 amazing and spectacular Canadian bridges. Please keep in mind that all names might not be 100 percent accurate since local residents usually have their own names or the names have been changed over the years. I tried to use the most common ones that others can use if they want to research more on each bridge.
Written by Chris78
Question by DoodleDuck: How can I order Canadian beer in the US?
My sister’s turning 25 and I want to buy her a couple cases of her favorite beer in celebration. Problem is, she only drinks Molson (Dry and EX) and it’s ridiculously hard to find where we live. Anyone know how I can order this for her? I’ve tried a lot of different websites but they don’t seem to have Molson. Someone please help!
Best answer:
Answer by Moxie
Talk to someone at a liquor store that carries beer and see if they have a distributor that can order it for you.
Canadian Beers tend to be more commonly sold in Northern States that border Canada, but that doesn’t mean that a distributor can’t get them.
Give your answer to this question below!
The best family-oriented Spring Break destinations.
The best family-oriented Spring Break destinations.
Spring break, also known as March Madness or the March Break, is a week off from school in the middle of the second semester of the year at all levels of education, from kindergarten to University. It is time put aside for students and families to get together and enjoy themselves. Well, actually, it was meant as a study break and turned into something else altogether. No matter what Spring Break is really for, most families or young friends get together and travel to some exotic locale to party to extremes, and to allow families the time to get away from the doldrums of Winter, or to enjoy the splendid ski season that is usually either just winding down at this time of year, or at their peak.
Focusing on the family, Spring Break is a time for bonding in a different location than home, or to just relax around the house and do a few things that they would not have had the time to do otherwise. The best locations for a family friendly Spring break are, ideally, the ones that the entire family enjoys or agrees to. Where one family might enjoy hitting a mountain ski resort for the week to enjoy unbridled fun on the ski slopes, another may prefer to hit a beach town or resort, to go camping in the warmer Southern climates, or for visiting family that has drifted far from home.
The best destinations for a family friendly Spring break include, but in no way are limited to;
* Florida. The crowded beaches and party tents set up by corporations that cater mainly to younger, college-aged people beckon a vast majority of the Spring break party-to-excess groups, as well as the families looking to escape the cold and doldrums of the long stretch of cold, dreary Winter that has just passed. Beer companies have tents set up with their products for sale, and have tournaments and contests that cater to the wilder side of life. For younger families, the excitement and never-ending fun of Disney World beckons, and does not fail. For kids in middle school or early high school, Disney World is the destination of choice.
* Arizona. The Grand Canyon and the desert, the attractions of Phoenix and the waters of Lake Havasu are all major destinations for families The Grand Canyon may not be open for camping, but the hotels are open, and the sights will enthral and put you in an ethereal mood, with some of the most beautiful scenery this side of Paradise.
* Ski resorts. The family that skis together goes to the ski resorts that are open and boasting deep levels of new snow. The deeper the snow or powder snow, the better the excitement for the skiing family. Whether downhill skiing or snowboarding, ski resorts like Whistler/Blackcomb or Big White in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Lake Louise, Big Sky, Vermont, Telluride in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada, or even the mountains of Switzerland offer the family unmatched excitement and bonding in a winter wonderland setting. What better way is there to say goodbye to Winter than to hit the ski slopes for a week with your family?
* The cottage. If your cottage is in an area that has rid itself of snow and frozen pipes, or is in a Southern State or Southern Canada, Spring Break is a wonderful time for the family to open the family cottage and enjoy the unencumbered life of relaxation in the wilderness. Many families have cottages near mountains so that they can enjoy the best that all Seasons have to offer. It is a great time to make repairs or work on extensions, or to just relax and do whatever the family agrees upon. Spring is, after all, meant to be a family oriented week.
* Staycation. With the economy in the tank, many families can no longer afford to throw off a week of work and spend the money that would otherwise be used to pay bills and mortgage payments. Most cities and towns have lots of family-oriented activities planned and organized week in advance of Spring Break that will not break the bank. Pools, libraries, museums and parks are all open and teeming with young families enjoying themselves. A break from work, and to be able to enjoy the warmth and love of a close-knit family does not have to cost thousands of dollars. Can also be used for catching up on school reports, papers and studying.
* Tropical resorts. Whether an all-inclusive resort or an inexpensive, beach-side hotel, the warmth of the tropical Sun and warm waters for swimming and beaches for sunning on beckon many a family during Spring Break. One of the more expensive Spring Break getaways, along with ski resorts and family-oriented parks like Disney World or Six Flags, visiting tropical resorts with the family for Spring Break is cheaper than ever with the discounts offered during this belt-tightening economy.
* Grandma’s house. For the younger families, Spring Break is a great time to visit family, and for family reunions. Young children love to visit their grandparents due to the special bonds that they enjoy, and it is a great time to allow grandparents, who do not live within the same city, State or Province, to spend time with their extended families.
* Your favourite place. Everybody has their own special favourite place that they either long to visit or go to annually, and if the week can be taken off from work, Spring Break is a great way for the family to bond and to enjoy themselves and each other’s company.
No matter the destination, the idea of Spring Break has started to wane from the over-indulgence of college party destinations to family-oriented destinations. Many of the places that were once well known Spring Break destinations for the college-aged party crowds that leave their inhibitions at home have changed to young families, as the damages that were common with Spring Break rowdiness cost them dearly. Families, on the other hand, tend to be more relaxed and interested in the water-oriented sports and activities that these resorts offer.
Spring Break can also be used for students to catch up on their mandated volunteering hours, as many schools now include in their itineraries. The free attractions and festivals that are prevalent during the mid-March Spring melt can be attended on the two weekends of Spring Break. Movie theatres and other businesses have Spring Break discounts for families, and offer a great way for the family to enjoy themselves together. For kids into sports, there are many sports-related camps, and there is always the Boys and Girls clubs to keep your young ones busy and happy.
Enjoy your Spring Break, no matter where you go or what you do. If you can no longer afford to do what you have normally done during Spring Break due to job losses and other financial setbacks, simply explain to the family that you have to choose between going somewhere in the Summer, like long family camping trips, sending the kids to Summer camps, or having a 4 to 5 day trip where the weather may not be guaranteed.
Written by Marc Phillippe Babineau
Question by SAH: What is the best Canadian beer to take to a Canada Day party?
I’ve been invited to a Canada Day party, and you’re supposed to bring a Canadian beer. I drink Bud Light! Please help!
Best answer:
Answer by sonnyboy
Labatt’s Blue Light.
Made right here in good old London,On.
What do you think? Answer below!
Categories: Best Canadian Beers Tags: Best, Break, canadian beer, Destinations, familyoriented, Spring
