Saturday, September 22, 2012

Cougar Defined - It is a Canadian thang

Most people know what a "cougar" is - and I am not talking about the four legged one.  It is a term that is widely rumoured to have originated in Canada and refers to women who have an affinity for younger men.  And not just an affinity for them, but literally go on the prowl for them.  

Personally I think the term cougar was coined at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna, BC on Friday evening.  But don't just take my word for it - you can be like the many others who have hopped on a plane to go and check out the now rather infamous cougar venue. (Here is a link for you for more information http://www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com/kelowna-lakeside-restaurant/bar/.) And because I can hear those  back home protesting, yes I too have enjoyed an evening or two at the El.  (Photo even entered as evidence - note the blonde theme.  However, an important foot note, just because someone happens to at the El, does not mean that they are a "cougar":) 



For the guys and gals now thinking of packing their bags for a weekend away in say Kelowna - the Hotel Eldorado is located right on the lake, in fact you can take a seat on the dock, sip your crantini (they are famous there) and watch the action unfold within the bar while also taking in the hot people getting on and off their boats. (double entendre intended there in case you missed it.)

Ah...and now that I have you all thoroughly distracted, lets move onto the technical requirements for a cougar classification. 

1. She must be over 30
2. She knows how to rock a pair of tight jeans
3. She is probably (but not always) blonde, with longish hair
4. She knows what Botox is
5. Her body can put most 20 years olds to shame
6. She thinks the younger the better when it comes to men
7. She must be a she :)

And now keeping with the Canuck theme - the Canadian band Hedley with their take on the whole cougar thang...




Ciao for now...



Monday, September 17, 2012

Timeless & Time less


Thanks for the few messages, seems the Canadian tunes are a hit :)

Unfortunately I am outta time today, but I will leave you with a Bryan Adams classic. Yep he is a Canadian too,  but I am pretty sure nearly everyone ever the age of 30 can sing along to this tune.  

And now a long evening of work lay ahead.

Bis morgen...

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Leaving on a Jet Plane


There are few things I suck at more than goodbyes.  I loathe them.  I do not like what they stand for – and I cannot handle the emotional charge that is behind them.  At my last job, on the last day of work I had to wear sunglasses and utter sentences that were no longer than three words long.  And I refused to say goodbye – and instead “see you soon.”

Those closest to me know to not sign off an email with a traditional “close” or signature.  It is final for me; I prefer instead to have a sense of a conversation that is ongoing. I believe the same sort of thing about a relationship.  Why say goodbye?  Instead let time see if it can evolve it into something that works better than what you’ve previously shared. 

Nothing is testing my dislike of goodbyes more than my current lifestyle.  When I left Austria I just sort of disappeared, there one day and gone the next.  My intention was, and is to return – so why say bye?  Now here is Switzerland I share a circle of friends that are all a little like me.  They could be here one day and then gone the next.  No one gets a chance to say goodbye.  Perhaps in some way this is good.  What do you say?  What can you say?  To live a transient sort of lifestyle you tend to try and stay positive. It is kind of an unspoken rule.  Goodbyes only reinforce the fragility of our day-to-day life.  So we don’t do them.

But in many ways I would like to wish these people who were once an important part of my life all the best on their new journey.  And let them know that they will be missed.

So in keeping with the Canadiana music theme, I thought I would include another tune from a Canuck. (just make sure to forward through the cheezy intro :)




Zum Wohl

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Famous Canadians for 50

It happens. I inevitably get challenged to produce a list of well-known Canadians, and more in particular those found on the music scene. Little do people know that many of the familiar tunes over the years are the result of a Canuck or two.

With the exception of maybe Nickelback, Mr. Bieber and Carly Rae Jepson, Canadian bands tend to launch onto the scene with slightly dark or somewhat odd or goofy lyrics. I think anyway. Let's take note of Barenaked Ladies "If I Had a Million Dollars" or or Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress me Much." Don't forget the classic moodiness of Neil Young, or Avril's angry teenage angst.

But has any musician shared their pain or anger as well as Alanis? None come to mind at the moment.

Eventually most successful Canadian bands kind of "pop" out - and who can blame them?

So I will leave you with a couple Canadian tunes - Alanis, and one of my all time favourites...

And hey - if you are ever in the mood to play famous Canadians for 50, let me know ;)




ps.  I just realized my son would kill me if I neglected to mention Deadmau5.

Cheers,

Dawn


Thursday, September 13, 2012

People & Places

For some reason writing this blog entry has been a struggle for me. Each time I began, I would stop and look at the words on the page and simply not like them.

Write. Delete. Write.

I think it is simply that I do not know where to begin or what to share. But I am determined to finish one today. I thought about writing about all the amazing people that I have recently entered my life. Maybe the British friend who made sure I met as many people as possible when I first arrived. The Swiss friend who will meet for a beer and listen to me butcher the German language for as long as I dare try, or the Italian friend who loves to cook for someone who loves to eat. When I was sick I had calls from an Austrian friend making sure I was okay and offering to deliver anything I may need. And then of course there is the Canadian friend who annoys me nearly daily and demands that I not take myself too seriously.

I could go on.

The other evening I was a party and talking to one of the very first people I had met when I arrived here in Zurich. In the short time we were talking many of my new friends passed by and visited with us too.

“You and your friends,” he said with a laugh.

I didn’t really notice it until that particular moment, but yeah, my Zurich friends are a diverse group of people. But they are some of the most caring people I have ever met. We all know that things can change in an instant. That one-day someone may be here, and the next gone to some place else. We lack stability. Family is something that none of us have close by. We are kind of alone here. But not really. Because we all know what it is like - okay, perhaps not my Canadian friend – but the rest of them, yes. So we all sort of support and check in on each other. Would we all be friends in another place and time? I’d like to think yes – but we all sorta know that’s probably not true. The mishmash of cultures, the diverse age mix and professions – not to mention interests make it rather unlikely. But here and now it works. And - it serves as a reminder that it matters not where you are from, what you do, your age or how much is in your bank account, but instead who you want to be.

So yeah, I guess this blog will be about people…