Need some help from my Canadian friends...

[Ivyrielle]

This should be interesting!

I've been invited to a "Canuck thanksgiving" down here in Dallas. My boss and her hubby (VP of Marketing and VP of Sales, respectively) are from Toronto and have invited our small, tight-knit group to their home for a holiday celebration.

What should I expect? The menu is a bit of a surprise, but she wasn't able to get a free-range turkey this early, so she's defaulting to Italian (she's full blooded Italio-Candian).

I've been told that we should "dress Canadian"... what does that mean?

Charades are the national party game apparently? Any special twists on the game up there?

Thanks in advance, humor welcome. ;)

[Dape]

First ya gotta to learn to say eh! after every sentence eh!

Wear a hockey sweater and jeans. eh!

A touque is acceptable head wear.

[Hoser's R Us (http://www.execulink.com/~bobnet/hoser/)

[Morety]

Any NHL sweater/jersey would definitely do the trick. Failing that, or a plaid lumber shirt, wear some red and white. You could be funny-like and wear Eskimo clothes, like a parka and mucklucks (leather boots) like you're trekking through the Arctic.

Charades is charades... unless your boss pronounces it sha-rods in a pretentious manner. This is assuming you must play it nekkid in the US like we do up here.

No turkey for Thanksgiving? Well, not being Italian I have no idea what she's got planned. Italian meals usually consist of about 7 courses, with things like salad, pasta, anti-pasto, soup, meal, dessert....and....and.... Italian bread?

Take beer, not wine. If you can find Canadian or Blue (beer brands) all the better.

[Riddick]

If the food is really good, to show your appreciation, make sure to check whoever made it into a wall or china cabinet in typical hockey fashion, maybe then pull there shirt over there head and throw a few rights in if it was really good.

Also, they will love it if you break into the Canadian National Anthem during when you all are saying Grace, won't be a dry eye around the table.

[Morety]

Please ensure you sing the Anthem to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree".

[Kegg OBeer]

Just add a "u" to everything and you should be fine...

Also, wear a Dudley Dooright outfit or a set of moose antlers on your head (both if you're talented enough)...

[Komrade]

Ivy I didn't realize you were a dallasite.

also don't forget to wear a took.

[Ivyrielle]

Maybe I can find some antler's in the xmas section?

I'm totally in Dallas! I'll toss a line the next time folks are getting together. :)

[Kegg OBeer]

The christmas section has reindeer antlers. Close, but not quite the same as moose antlers...

[Ivyrielle]

Would singing The Moose Song be appropriate? it's kinda bawdy, but so are most canadians i know...

[Morety]

Make sure you ask them if they've ever heard of MacLean and MacLean.

[Ivyrielle]

I was sent a Canadian primer yesterday. I need to edit it a little because it has 24 pictures and each post can apparently only have 10. I'll post it in a bit!

[Eiru]

And make sure to ask about the electric cars that Canadians drive.

[Ivyrielle]

Part One: I'll try to edit and add the pictures back in. It does something weird here when i paste it!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello friends, <O:p
<O:p
We look forward to celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving with you this weekend, even though it was on Monday. If you want to feel more Canadian, study this and you’ll be able to fake your way through a walk down <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:Street><st1:address>Yonge Street</st1:address></st1:Street> in Toronto.

<O:p

http://www.mistletunes.com/art/hosers.jpgBob and Doug McKenzie. Canadian Legends.

[Ivyrielle]

<O:p
<O:p

http://mysite.coldwellbanker.ca/ronhunter/uploads/B7358BBE72BC4E7C94AD336F65D24F7B_bottomgraphic.jpg
Stompin Tom Connors. Sort of the Willie Nelson of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><ST1:pCanada</st1:country-region>. Stomps on plywood with his foot while playing guitar and singing songs like, ” It’s another Sudbury Saturday night” whose lyrics in part are…….The girls are playing bingo, the boys are getting stinko, it’s another Sudbury Saturday night.
<O:p
<O:p

http://www.canada.co.nz/media/images/32-Vancouver_MountiesTotems_2x800.jpg
Aboot as good as it gets. You haven’t lived until you’ve had your photo taken with a Mountie in dress uniform beside a totem pole. <O:p

[Ivyrielle]

http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/grc-rcmp/html/images/mr_imgs/mr14_1.jpgFormer Prime Minister _____________?

http://www.dizzypigbbq.com/images/RecipeImages/CanadianBacon/56Frying.jpgWe don’t call it “: Canadian style bacon” It’s called Back Bacon.

(pic broken here) This is an “OOKPIK” and don’t even ask.

http://cac.mcgill.ca/cac/bland/building/pictures/full/17-60.jpg

Parliament Hill, <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City>Ottawa</st1:City>, <st1:State>Ontario</st1:State></ST1:p, The Nation’s Capital. The House of Commons. Where elected officials make silly laws about back bacon and ookpik’s<O:p<O:p</O:p

[Ivyrielle]

http://www.csd.uwo.ca/staff/magi/personal/FG/friendlygiant.jpgThe Friendly Giant with his pals Jerome the Giraffe and Rusty the rooster. CBC TV children’s TV host and every bit as big as Capt Kangaroo for Canadian kids.

(Logo here... pic was huge, so i took it out!) Hockey Night in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><ST1:pCanada</ST1:p</st1:country-region>. CBC TV, Saturday at <st1:time Minute="30" Hour="19">7:30 pm</st1:time>. The nation stops to watch hockey. Do not call it “Ice Hockey” It’s just Hockey. Nothing else matters. <O:p</O:p

[Ivyrielle]

http://www.realontario.ca/META/images/listings/08037.jpgWe drink lots of coffee and eat donuts.

http://accordionguy.blogware.com/Photos/2004/12/poutine.jpg
French Canadians LOVE “Poutine”. Melted cheese curds and gravy on fries. Vinegar and ketchup are optional.


http--www.woebermustard.com-images-products-vinegars-bottle1wdv.gif Forget cleaning windows, we put this on our fries. MMMMMmmm and poutine. See above.

[Figtoria]

OMG! The Friendly Giant!!!!

I used to rock in my baby rocking chair and sing the theme song, "Early one morning..." and then the giant would move the little toy chairs around with his HUGE giant fingers and say, "One little chair for one of you, and a bigger chair for two to curl up in, and for someone who likes to rock, a rocking chair in the middle."

[Riddick]

Fries look gross :dead:

[Figtoria]

No, poutine is yummmmmmmmmmy. But so so soooooooooo bad for you.


Anyway- people who can eat gravy at BREAKFAST can't say anything.

:eh:

[Ivyrielle]

http://www.blm.gov/historic_bottles/Typing/beer/stubbybeer.jpg

For years, all Canadian Beer came in “Stubby” bottles.

http://www.personaltours.toronto.on.ca/map-toronto.gif

Gene is from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:City><ST1:pToronto</ST1:p</st1:City>
<st1:City><ST1:p</st1:City>
<st1:City><ST1:phttp://www.canclub.org/gallery/albums/rush/rush.jpg </st1:City><st1:City>So are Geddy Lee and Rush</st1:City><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><ST1:p</st1:City>

[Ivyrielle]

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><ST1:p</st1:City>
<st1:City></st1:City>
<st1:City>http://www.surf-forecast.com/locationmaps/Hamilton.jpg</ST1:place></st1:City>
<st1:City><ST1:p</st1:City>
<st1:City></st1:City>
<st1:City>Carla is from <st1:City>Hamilton </ST1:p</st1:City>which is just east of <st1:City><ST1:pToronto </st1:City></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1:City></st1:City></st1:City><st1:City><st1:City></st1:City></st1:City>
<st1:City><st1:City></st1:City></st1:City><st1:City>http://www.jonathanbearman.com/images/artbyann/Teton%20Moose.jpg</ST1:p</st1:City>
<st1:City><ST1:p</st1:City>
<st1:City>A Moose. Come on, they’re everywhere! </ST1:p</st1:City>

[Ivyrielle]

http://torontocityroots.homestead.com/files/parachute_club_edited.jpg
One of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><ST1:place>Canada</ST1:place></st1:country-region>’s top bands called “Parachute Club” featuring (right in the middle of the photo) Lorraine S-E-G-A-T-O


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-2/637503/sandyfox1.jpg
We wear these in the winter to keep warm and Gene will fashion his if you’d like.

http://www.adlertech.com/Site%20Graphics/Canadian%20dollars%20sm.jpg
Our money.

<O:p></O:p>

[Ivyrielle]

http://home.cogeco.ca/~husky66/Milk/steps/milk8.jpg
Canadian milk is delivered in plastic bags, Honest!

http://www.skipressworld.com/images/daily_news/2004/05/ski%20press%20-%20extremely%20canadian.jpg
We learn to walk, skate and ski. In that order.

[gretzki pic?]
GOD!!!!!!

http://www.bjcraftsupplies.com/holiday/images/Christmas/snowShoesWooden.jpg

Winter Boots.

[Ivyrielle]

Last installment in a bit. :)

[butress]

No, poutine is yummmmmmmmmmy.

this made me think dirty thoughts. and giggle. ;)

[Riddick]

Love me some Biscuits and Gravy. Its not gravy like you put on those fires tho!

[Figtoria]

Hamilton which is just east of Toronto


And Burlington is just west of Hamilton!!

[butress]

vinegar and gravy put out 9 of 10 fires. :)

[Figtoria]

Love me some Biscuits and Gravy. Its not gravy like you put on those fires tho!


Okay now Riddick - THAT was gross....

Is that...stuff....all over the food....gravy???

It's WHITE!

[Morety]

That's because it doesn't contain any of that "real beef juice" we have in our gravy.

They merge flour, water and some sausage chunks. Not even sure what's in the sausage tbh.

[Ivyrielle]

Flour and milk, hence the "cream gravy" moniker.

Figgy, if i ever go home to Canada with my boss, we'll so have lunch!

[Ivyrielle]

http://www.mazeministry.com/frontpage/break/murray/ann1.jpeg
Gotta love her


http://archiguide.free.fr/PH/CAN/OttawaAmbUSASOM.jpg
US embassy in Ottawa, The Nation’s capital


http://users.adelphia.net/~tvogelsang/SWEDHAUS.gif
Curling. Oh God, don’t ask please!

http://www.hayriver.com/assets/map-canada.jpg
See you Sunday, eh!

[Ivyrielle]

So that was the Guide to Canada we were furnished with. Did he leave anything out?

[spyder913]

watch strange brew for everything else

[Morety]

Each and every item shown is near and dear to my heart, except for the Parachute Club. :p

He's missing Neil Young.

http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ny.jpg

Beavers!!!!!!

http://www.fws.gov/jclarksalyer/Beaver.gif
http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/Samples/024.13/s7s.JPG

Cariboo
http://animals.timduru.org/dirlist/caribou/Cariboo-Caribou_Scratching_antlers.jpg
http://www.collectible-treasures.com/catalog/images/sm-item1449.jpg

Real maple syrup, made from real sap from a real maple tree. Nothing else.

http://www.sugarmillfarm.com/images/category_pics/syrup-1.jpg
and some French Toast to put it on

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/images/wc_frenchtoast.jpg

[Ivyrielle]

The parachute club is in there for a particular reason. Lorraine Segato is my boss's sister. ;)

[Dape]

Curling a great sport.
You can drink and curl.

[Noleader]

Depending on how much Italian she is...

Basicly in a normal Italian meal there is about 5 courses... Each would be like the main course in an American dinner. You are EXPECTED to finish everything they put on your plate... if you don't it is an insult to your host.

That being said you can expect pasta and lots of it. Salad is always served at the end of the meal.

[Morety]

Kind of included in HNiC, but he deserves his own mention. Don Cherry, who'd be elected Prime Minister easily should he decide to run.

http://www.horschamp.qc.ca/IMG/jpg/doc-418.jpg
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/nhl/2004/1101/photo/g_cherry_i.jpg

[Ivyrielle]

Depending on how much Italian she is...

Basicly in a normal Italian meal there is about 5 courses... Each would be like the main course in an American dinner. You are EXPECTED to finish everything they put on your plate... if you don't it is an insult to your host.

That being said you can expect pasta and lots of it. Salad is always served at the end of the meal.

She's FBI (full-blooded Italian), I'm part. I've had her cooking last Christmas, and it was fabulous.

I designed her menu for the event though, so I got a sneak peek. I'm hungry already!

So after all the "dress canadian" stuff, she said we'll be pool-side for part of the afternoon, so dress casual. omg! what will I do with these Antlers?

[Morety]

You can use them at home afterwards, as a signal to your hubby when you're horny.

[butress]

You can use them at home afterwards, as a signal to your hubby when you're horny.

please, mO, no more. i stopped just short of opening my veins on that one. :p

[Tammarion]

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/images/030701.jpg

[Bohdan]

Minor detail. Hamilton is WEST of Toronto.

Boh

[Ivyrielle]

Hey Mo?

The real maple syrup you posted is from Vermont. (I have that same kind in my fridge at home... family from VT). ;)

[Morety]

Vermont is an honorary province. We send our skiiers there.

[Bohdan]

You are also missing the Guess Who
http://www.guesswhofans.com/to2000/to20008.jpg

Boh

[Morety]

The Guess Who actually play gigs in the States without Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings. They'd never get away with that up here.

[Noleader]

She's FBI (full-blooded Italian), I'm part. I've had her cooking last Christmas, and it was fabulous.


What Providence of Italy are you/your family from?

[Noleader]

Vermont is an honorary province. We send our skiiers there.

You guys should have taken it... One of the damn states I always mix up on the map :)

[Ivyrielle]

What Providence of Italy are you/your family from?

I'll get the spelling from my mom, because I know, with my state today, I'd butcher it.

Family names are Toscano, Sarbo, and Bartolomeoni, off the top of my head, if that helps.

[Bohdan]

The Guess Who actually play gigs in the States without Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings. They'd never get away with that up here.

That band is known to the cognoscenti as "Kale's Klones", and is much reviled by true Guess Who fans. Alas, Jim Kale owns the band name and can legally do what he wants with it.

Boh

[Ivyrielle]

What Providence of Italy are you/your family from?

Grumento Nova, about half way between Naples and Bari, in Potenza.

[Jobius]

Okay now Riddick - THAT was gross....

Is that...stuff....all over the food....gravy???

It's WHITE!

Yes Figgy it is white, it is normally sausage gravy that you put on top of biscuts in the morning. Good stuff!!! :)

[Noleader]

Grumento Nova, about half way between Naples and Bari, in Potenza.

Ahh you are a bit north of where my family comes from.