Canadian Thanksgiving Day

Keith wrote:

Stealthtercel wrote: Keith, if I look up "downtrodden" in a dictionary, I don't exactly see a guy booting around in an LS-powered Miata, for work.

Living in Canada is like living in the US, but with shades of grey in the political landscape and a national identity self-confidence problem. And funny spelling.

I think the national identity/self-confidence thing is waning. Olympic success? Contributions to Afghanistan? Good economic prospects? I don't know what the reasons are, but I find students these days (I teach in a high school) to be far more confident about Canada and its role in the world than students of 10 years ago.

Based on my visits home and my subscription to Macleans, it's not that different than it was when I left in 2001. "Self-confidence" isn't a good description, you're right - things are looking good north of the border. But there's still that insecurity, and you can't define a Canadian without an American to compare them to.

I'd happily move back, although I don't think my desert-raised wife would survive until the first Christmas.

The insecurity means we have to try to define ourselves. Many people cannot come up with a definition, other than "We're not American. We are much more polite."

I find yer average American to be friendly and helpful, and many Canadians to be rude. Of course, I have to deal with Canadians every day, and with Americans on holidays or when I'm buying race stuff.

An American was sitting at the table with me at a backpacking hostel in Australia. An Aussie asked us "What's the difference between Americans and Canadians?" I answered "The Canadian will say there's a difference, while the American will say there isn't". Right on cue, the American piped up with "But there isn't really any difference..."

Streetwiseguy wrote: I find yer average American to be friendly and helpful, and many Canadians to be rude. Of course, I have to deal with Canadians every day, and with Americans on holidays or when I'm buying race stuff.

Funny, I find most Americans to be idiots, and most Canadians to be shiny happy people. Could be something to do with the fact that most Canadians I know were opponents in hockey

I don't think you can really generalize, but Canadians can be perceived as cold and reserved, mostly due to our need for more personal space. Most Canadians I know don't think of themselves in terms of how they compare to Americans, sorry.
On a week-long press trip to South Korea last spring, our group consisted of an equal mix of Australians and Canadians. Usually, but not always, we're matched up with Americans. All of the Australians shook our hands and bid us a warm goodbye, remarking on how easy we were to get along with compared to the US journalists.

After I watched Micheal Moore's documentary: Bowling for Columbine ...it seems like Canada is a nice place. It seems like its more relaxed.

One town didn't even lock their doors at night !

But i guess there is no "perfect" place to live, each place has its issues.

Was that canoeing comment about me ?

haha...I don't own a canoe ! hahaha

Tom Heath wrote: Confirmed as NOT a canoe. Please give new users a break.

When he posted that (and you have to admit, that is a very unusual reply), he had 2 other posts. Read his first, and tell me you wouldn't make the call.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/good-racing-schools-in-tx/27358/page1/

Oh, and not only does my house not have locks on the windows, I actually leave my canoes outside, facing the road, and not locked up

I'm Canadian.

My wife and her family used to vacation in the USA all the time but I hadn't started going there regularly until I was in my 20's.

I used to tell her that going to America is like that first time you stay over at a relatives house when you're a kid.

Everything is the same but there are little differences that you just can't put your finger on and it kinda creeps you out for a little while.

I can't get used to buying beer at the gas station but I have grown to love collard greens and cornbread.

Shawn

For what it's worth, my Cdn brother-in-law is a professor at a small university in the US midwest. They don't lock their doors either... which is why his wife didn't have to stop giving him CPR the night his heart suddenly stopped, and the paramedics could rush in and grab him for transport.

Ok, Zomby Woof.... so being polite, introducing yourself, and telling everyone why your here is a reason to " make the call "?

I just wanted to hear about racing schools in my area. You don't have to be a jerk about it.

It amazes me how much people can run their mouths behind the keyboard.

Turbolag wrote: Ok, Zomby Woof.... so being polite, introducing yourself, and telling everyone why your here is a reason to " make the call "? I just wanted to hear about racing schools in my area. You don't have to be a jerk about it. It amazes me how much people can run their mouths behind the keyboard.

Easy there big fella.

I looked at the posts and yes, they did appear to be the typical spam encountered here.

If you say they're not, then I'll believe you but generally, if it walks like a duck..

Trans_Maro wrote:

Turbolag wrote: Ok, Zomby Woof.... so being polite, introducing yourself, and telling everyone why your here is a reason to " make the call "? I just wanted to hear about racing schools in my area. You don't have to be a jerk about it. It amazes me how much people can run their mouths behind the keyboard.

Easy there big fella. I looked at the posts and yes, they did appear to be the typical spam encountered here. If you say they're not, then I'll believe you but generally, if it walks like a duck..

And easy there yourself. He ain't a canoe, although he did look like one. Now that we know he's not, lets not scare him away with this. Lets scare him away with discussions of how to best mate a Yugo to a Miata.

Was there some kind of rage-inducing comet that blew through our solar system in the last week or two? You guys have been turning on each other (and me, too!) like a pen full of hound dogs that just got tossed a tiny scrap of meat. Let's all take a deep breath and remember, we're here because we like the people here. (It sure ain't for the food, 'cause I have yet to see this forum eject so much as a cupcake onto my plate.)

And yes, I seem to be having a Kentucky day, speech-wise. Dunno why that is--think I'll blame it on the comet, too.

Margie

Zomby woof wrote:

Tom Heath wrote: Confirmed as NOT a canoe. Please give new users a break.

When he posted that (and you have to admit, that is a very unusual reply), he had 2 other posts. Read his first, and tell me you wouldn't make the call. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/good-racing-schools-in-tx/27358/page1/ Oh, and not only does my house not have locks on the windows, I actually leave my canoes outside, facing the road, and not locked up

There aren't many posts that I don't read, nor posters that don't get a google-based background check. Spammers are usually killed after a single post, but some survive long enough to make two or three.

The rest of us can all be friends. Simma down, simma down.

I'm good. I was just testing his sense of humor

I wasn't kidding

Marjorie Suddard wrote: (It sure ain't for the food, 'cause I have yet to see this forum eject so much as a cupcake onto my plate.) And yes, I seem to be having a Kentucky day, speech-wise. Dunno why that is--think I'll blame it on the comet, too. Margie

Now I want a cupcake.

And a quick question: Where in Kentucky are you from?

Ashland. Right across the river from Huntington, W.Va., selected by Jamie Oliver as the city with the unhealthiest food in America.

Apparently I come by my love of cupcakes, pork, gravy, biscuits, etc. honestly.

Margie

The funny thing is - I didn't even catch the canoe reference as a spammer. Because Canada is a great place for a canoe, and that was a picture of a hollowed out silver dollar in the post. So, yeah, it was the truth

Side note: in Australia, a canoe is what we'd call a kayak. A canoe is called a "Canadian canoe". At least, that was the usage when I lived there. The internet might have ironed over that particular variant in the language by now.

Keith wrote: Side note: in Australia, a canoe is what we'd call a kayak. A canoe is called a "Canadian canoe". At least, that was the usage when I lived there. The internet might have ironed over that particular variant in the language by now.

Nothing, including the internet can fix the way they speak

Back on topic - our "Canadian" Thanksgiving weekend was almost perfect...thank you for asking... At least in Eastern Ontario, the sunshine was bright, and with the leaves changing colour ("color" stateside) the scenery added to the relaxation of sitting on the deck at the lake... I wish all of our American friends the same next month while we get our snow gear ready (if we haven't already - there was frost on the roof tops this morning here...) ... Gi'day eh!!

I drive all the back roads around Mosport to get to where my horse lives... roughly an hour of the most gorgeous, winding roads you've ever seen -- and the colour is glorious right now! Oranges, reds and bright yellows... one of the nicest autumns ever!

mtn wrote: Now I want a cupcake.

How's this for you?

On this forum i think that canoes should be motorized!

Wow, sounds like a nice day !....Wats the temperature like where you are ggarrard?