UsedEverywhere.com

Heading Home

Although my upbringing is planted firmly on the West Coast, my roots are in the East. Deep in the East Coast. So as I sway in the limbo between school and work, I was convinced by my mother (expert negotiator) to make the trek across the country to see everyone. After all, she had just moved back “home” after spending 13 years in Calgary. Plus I hadn’t been back in three years. And you know, everyone is so proud of me (I think you’re beginning to see what I was up against in my negotiation).

So here I am: Hellooooo Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island!!

Bet you didn’t know I was seafood connoisseur with Acadian roots! I’ve even seen not one but two Anne of Green Gables musicals. Two, my friends. All right, no more bragging but I am very proud of where I come from. Imagine my surprise when I found out that UsedPEI.com is one of the most popular Used sites! This led to some scheming on my part, and since my mom has never used a delightful Used site and she’s still missing some furniture for her new pad, I thought I might try to acquaint her. If the rest of my family gets on board as well, then that’s just as well. I’ll let you know how it goes!

creative commons image courtesy of Rick McCharles

Frame it

Square dancing applique via UsedVictoria.com

Wouldn’t this be lovely framed? I can see this in a nursery or in any room, really. Just plain pretty.

Spotlight on Winnipeg: Fat Boy Burgers

Photo: Brodie Aikman | Dairi Wip Drive In in St. Boniface, Winnipeg

Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada. It’s home to the beloved Winnipeg Jets, the Golden boy and a thriving French community. It’s also home to the best burgers in the world. It’s true and I’m not just saying that because I lived there. I say this because I lived there AND I ate the best burgers in the world…a lot of them…back when my metabolism allowed for such things.

Like many prairie folks, I steadily made my way to the West Coast where I now enjoy some of the best cuisine in the world. West Coast fusion, world-class sushi, etc and so on. No doubt, there’s good food here… But, the burgers? Meh. Sure, there are some good burger joints here. But more often than not, the good burgers are fancy burgers. Like, $15 fancy. And sometimes they even come with salad by default. Pffft. Please.

In Winnipeg the name of the game is the “fat boy”– a hamburger with one or more (usually more) patties, topped with chili, tomatoes, lettuce and mayonnaise. They’re messy and wonderful and I want one right now. And as I can smell the ocean air from my window, clearly I can’t have one. So, what’s the next best thing to getting what you want? Writing a top-ten list about what you want!

And so, in the spirit of meat-craving induced civic patriotism, I present to you my list of the top-ten fat boys in everyone’s favourite, centrally-located prairie city!

1.  Red Top Drive-in Restaurant – Time stands still in this old school diner in St. Boniface.
2. Blondie’s Restaurant – Burgers of epic proportions (there’s a 9-lber) and an infamous curmudgeonly owner … It’s more than a meal, it’ an experience.
3. VJ’s Drive Inn –  This is where I had my first fat boy!  You always remember your first. Very, very, very, good. Very.
4. Juniors Restaurant – Once upon a time I only ordered the hot dogs here. And then I ordered a burger. Never looked back.
5. Salisbury House –  ”Sals” is a Winnipeg institution. The Cheese Nip, while not technically a fat boy, is just plain good and tastes like childhood. Plus, Burton Cummings is one of the owners. Come. On.
6. Super Boy’s Restaurant – Pure greasy perfection! Home-cut fries and massive burgers… Love.
7. Mrs. Mike’s –  Every burger at this St. Boniface diner is out of this world, BUT the King Burger will change your life. Don’t eat for many hours before you go. Like, a day.
8. George’s Burgers & Subs –  With several locations, this is classic diner food at it’s best. I recommend the original location in St. Vital. I also recommend that you try their greek salad. Do it.
9. The Dairi Wip –  Another legendary St. Boniface burger! Take-out only, the crazy-efficient counter staff pop your fat boy and chili fries (if you’re smart) into a to-go box and bob’s-yer-uncle – you’re in fat boy heaven.
10. The Burger Place –  Okay, so here we have a true example of saving the best for last. Located in St. James (my old stomping grounds) the burgers here make me weep with nostalgia. Best served with a vanilla milkshake and good friends.

Live Long and Prosper

You know, it’s not too early to start thinking about Halloween…

Passing notes

I found this on the sidewalk outside our home some time ago and I took it upon myself to scan it:

Oh man, can you imagine receiving that note? You’re innocently doodling in your notebook during Social Studies when out of the corner of your eye you see a note making its way up the aisle to you, one person at a time. And then you open it to find this. Gah.

It got me thinking.

I have a treasure-trove of my own notes – both sent and received – stashed away in the basement somewhere. I need to sort through them (and make sure my kids don’t find them first of course) and see what’s worth holding on to.

My collection is a small, somewhat distorted, pinhole-camara type view of my school years. It could practically be its own socio-anthropological study. What were the big issues back then? What kind of person was I in my teen years?

Related: wouldn’t you like to see what kind of notes your parents passed back and forth in class, or your grandparents?

I can’t help but wonder, do kids pass notes in school anymore or is it all about texting? And when the texts are deleted, will those kids have anything to keep in their basements when they grow up? *sigh* I feel like such an old lady sometimes.

Summer Nights are Over . . . almost.

Why get serious before the long weekend? For me, growing up in Ontario, it was that last chance for Summer Nights! Have a good long weekend and I hope you and your kids have great stories to share when everyone goes back to school.

Little Women

Vintage Fisher Price Little People on UsedVictoria.com

The only thing I love more than vintage Fisher Price toys are photos of vintage fisher price toys.

Back to… Something Else?

We’ve been talking a lot of back to school on the UsedBlog, and rightfully so. It’s kind of a big deal, after all! I chatted about high school and university preparations while Andrea gave some perspective on the countdown from the younger set side.

For the first time in a whopping 16 years, I will not be heading back to school next week. This is something that, to be honest, has rattled me a bit more than I anticipated that it would. Finishing school (for a while, anyway) presented its own set of challenges; including, but not limited to, being broke and moving back in with (gulp) my parents. Bother upon bothers, never mind being subject to my parents’ rules yet again, what to do with four years worth of stuff?!

Enter a ruthless closet clean out (donated!) and an assessment of what furniture I did, and more importantly, didn’t need. A negotiation with my roommates resulted in me selling them my dining room table and chairs. Just as I was about to post my desk on UsedVictoria.com, a friend posted a Facebook status asking if anyone had one they would be willing to sell. Well that was easier than expected!

On the other side of the ferry ride, I found myself with yet another desk that needed a new home (no more homework for me!). Again, mere moments away from posting on UsedVancouver.com… and my dad decided to take it. No money changed hands there, but since he bought it, I guess it’s fair enough.

Sometimes things just work out.

This isn't my desk, but it could have been!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Blah, Blah, Blahs

Diecast 1948 Chev Fleetmaster via UsedWinnipeg.com

As I was cruising the “Latest Ads” on UsedWinnipeg.com, I came across this photo. Now, I’m not exactly in the market for a model car, but the photo was so engaging I felt compelled to click. And once I clicked through I started thinking about who I might be able to buy this car for. After all, there’s only 114 days left until Christmas! Hook, line, sinker.