Tricia's Musings

Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Stephen King on The Hour and surnames in China

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I was just watching The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos on CBC. George used to be a Much Music V-Jay, then last year he hosted a US game show or talk show (The One?) that I think failed miserably, but his show “The Hour” is actually pretty cool.

He babbles away about great topics and ends up interviewing some pretty interesting people. I’ve just watched him interview Mia Farrow and now in a minute or two he’s going to be talking with Stephen King.

Just before his Stephen King interview begins he started talking about how common certain names are in the US. Smith of course is the most common name and King is the 30th most common surname. Did you know that in China with it’s population of about a billion people that there are only 100 surnames? There’s something like 97 million Wangs, and 98 million Lee’s and so on!

Hmmm 97 million Wangs. Why doesn’t that line sound quite right? LOL

Can you imagine trying to find someone in a phone book there? George said the Chinese goverment is finally going to allow people to combine last names so their kids could end up with the surname of the mother or father or perhaps a hyphenated surname. Hopefully this will make a few new surnames come into play. They certainly need some!

Now I’m going to watch one of my favorite authors … excuse me for a moment while I hang on to his every word.





Free piano lessons newsletter

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If you’ve always admired others who have the ability to play a musical instrument or perhaps have always wanted to learn how to play the piano, now’s your chance.

Playpiano.com is a website where you can sign up for the Free piano lessons email newsletter for adults on “Piano Chords & Chord Progressions”. This email newsletter is sent to you for no charge every five days or so. All in all you’ll get a total of 101 issues.

When I visited over the website for more information it looks like you’ll be taught how to read chords first and foremost since they are the basis of all music. If you understand chords you should be able to play anything.

If you enjoy the free piano lessons that you’ll get through each newsletter installment you might decide that you want more in depth lessons. If so, you can purchase full piano courses for adults on DVD and CD.

If you do well with your lessons you’ll soon be entertaining your family and friends. Perhaps you can have your own musical entertainment nights?

Visit the site to get more information.

The Birthday Meme

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Mrs. Lifecruiser has tagged me with the birth date.

3 Events that occurred on September 6th:

1522 – The Victoria, one of the surviving ships of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, returns to Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain, becoming the first ship to circumnavigate the world.

1952 – Canada’s first television station, CBFT-TV, opens in Montreal. – and it’s been reruns ever since!

1997 – Princess Diana is laid to rest in front of a television audience of more than 2.5 billion. – That was depressing!

2 Births September 6th:

1947 – Jane Curtin, American actress

1958 – Jeff Foxworthy, American comedian

Why did I pick these people? I like comedians and these are two funny people.

1 death September 6th:

1990 – Tom Fogerty, American singer (b. 1941) of Creedence Clearwater Revival

Chosen because I enjoy Classic rock and CCR.

As you might have guessed by now, yes I’m a Virgo. Can’t you tell?

You are a Virgo if you were born between August 23rd and September 22nd, and your opposite sign is Pisces.

The sign of Virgo is associated with purity and service. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a diligent, analytical, self-sufficient, controlled, orderly, and modest character but one which is also prone to fussiness, and perfectionism. In terms of anatomy, Virgo is said to rule the abdominal region, large and small intestines, spleen, solar plexus, lower lobes of the liver, pancreas, portal veins, umbilicus, hands, nails, and carpal bones.

Great – my abdominal region rules me? Who would’a guessed that one? LOL

I’m not going to tag anyone for this meme, but if you decide to do it let me know and I’ll link to you. (first five only please).

Street people take Visa?

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Last night, after my brothers and sister, Chris and I finished dinner we were walking back towards my brothers hotel we found that the streets were crowded with partiers.

Everyone was lined up to get into the hot night clubs, or walking the street after seeing a movie, leaving restaurants as we were and so on.

As we made our way down one of the busy streets we passed a street person. He was sitting on the ground with a sign in his lap. We’d already been approached by street people even as we ate at the restaurants outdoor patio … and yes we did give some money to those who looked like they needed it, but not to all.

This particular street person was sitting on the ground near a light pole. He called out as we walked by “I accept credit card payments! I have a family to feed you know!”.

We couldn’t help but laugh, picturing a street persons Visa business address – 5th pole at Front and Adelaide, and pictured him with one of those Visa machines that make an impression of the card number.

Only in Toronto!

Now to be clear I’m not laughing at this guy. I thought it was a great way to catch our attention. Obviously it worked. LOL

Window shopping and get togethers

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I’m still in my home improvement mode.

Last night Chris and I went downtown to meet two of my brothers and my sister for dinner. One of my brothers was here on business. Toronto was just one stop in his ongoing three week world wide travel agenda. He was here trying to talk other businesses into investing in his business. He needs to get $240 million dollars! He’s well on his way too!

Anyway … I digress. We hadn’t planned which restaurant we were going to eat at so we met in my brothers hotel lobby and then started walking around downtown looking at restaurants while we tried to decide which one we’d stop in.

As we were walking I saw a home decor store. Of course I had to stop and do some window shopping! They had the nicest house marker that I think I’ve ever seen. It was pricey but I think I can talk Chris into getting it if I work on him a bit. It would go so well with our house!

I also saw a couch in another store window that I’d love to get. It’s kind of 50’s style couch. I’ll have to see if I can find a photo of it later to show you. It’s beautiful.

We finally decided to stop at the Hot House Cafe for dinner. My visiting brother and I both got the Jambalya. Mmmm I just love that. Of course it was a huge helping and I couldn’t even finish half of it so it’s in a doggy bag in the fridge. Hmmm now that I’m talking about it I’m hungry. Perhaps I should go and raid the fridge?

We had a nice time at dinner. Falling into our old habits of teasing one another. I think the five of us had the waitress confused because I don’t think she ever figured out that we were all siblings! Well Chris isn’t a sibling but my bothers and sister treat him like one.

My brother leaves town this evening to go back home to Vancouver. Then on Sunday he’s off to the US, then Paris and Zürich and I’m not sure where else.

I don’t think I’ll see my jet set brother again until the beginning of September.

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