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This morning was our annual ‘Matt and Eric Gift Exchange’. Every year we enter with optimism that it will go better then previous years. It’s always ended up with a fight, yelling, things thrown into the garbage and our parting for 2 weeks and not wanting to hook up for Christmas.

This year? No different

From him:

- The Clapper (With “Sarah” written on it…he forgot to give it to his wife last year)
- Hula-hoop dancing bobble head that was given to him from a listener
- Dog calendar that I had given him yesterday
- T-Shirt from a Montreal strip club that he got free with a bucket of Bud
- An Olympic glass

From me:

A kids Nativity scene

The pic below should illustrate our unbridled festive excitement of receiving. Oh, and as for where the rest of my gifts my are. They ummmm, kinda didn’t fair too well in the ‘Garbage Toss’ (My favorite Christmas game by the way)

[audio:http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radio/ckis/audio-video/e60gifts191208259.mp3]

Tomorrow morning Eric and I are taking a road trip! In order to shine even more light on our ‘Toys for Teens’ campaign, we’ll be doing the show live from the ATB on Stephen Ave. You’ll find us there from 5:30 to 9:00. We’d love to meet you so please stop be if you have a chance. And of course, if you’re able, please bring a toy for a teen that otherwise won’t be getting one this Christmas.

As we’ve mentioned, the Salvation Army have identified an urgent need of toys/gift cards for disadvantaged teens in our community.

If you can’t drop by tomorrow (although I don’t know why you couldn’t….as this week…it’s just so easy getting around) any ATB is accepting donations right up to Christmas.

Matt

Hope everyone has a safe, warm, INSIDE, family filled weekend!

Wanted to share a pic my brother Kevin just send me from our visit home a couple of weeks ago. If for no other reason than what he titled it.

‘Is Beck not use to flashing lights yet’?

If you happen to be downtown next Monday (Dec 15th) over the noon hour, I’d love to see you!

JACK is helping the ‘Epilepsy Association of Calgary’ to raise funds and awareness through what we’re calling ‘Barenaked Noggins’.

From Noon to 1pm on Monday several local business people and celebs will be having their lids shaved. I’ll be serving as emcee and introducing Jebb Fink (Calgary’s funniest person) who’ll talk about his experience with a past of having seizures. Yes, Jebb can make this challenging condition very funny.

You’ll find us in the main retail atrium of Bankers Hall. For more info, check out epilepsycalgary.com

matt

Oh my, how much more we learn during Christmas as kids become the focal point. Heading into this one I wish sure I knew all there was to surrounding this time of year. I was wrong.

First, and I’m happy to say, I have rediscovered the true meaning of Christmas. While growing up the ‘true meaning’ was all-important to celebrate and acknowledge before Santa and presents. But I have to admit that seems to have slid over the past few years. Now, with Liam starting to ‘get it’, I’m happy to say I’m rediscovering the ‘true meaning’.

The true bribery and guilt. Such a wonderful discovery I’ve made. Over the past few weeks, whenever Liam acts up all I have to do is pick up the phone and say “Hi Santa….Liam?, oh he’s ok most of the time….but right now he’s being a little…”. No sooner is that sentence done than peace has prevailed in the house, the angel is restored in Liam’s face and I beam with bride with ‘Fatherly deception’ and the true meaning of Christmas.

The tree issue is the next one I’ve had to readjust my practices. The tree went up Friday and I started to immediately put presents under it (no no…not ones from Santa…I’m not that dumb). Then the voice of reason came in and suggested that would be too much a temptation and a hurtful exercise in entrapment. Indeed she was correct. Upon seeing the tree, Liam immediately pounced with glee..”My presents!!!!”.

I picked up the phone and what a surprise!…Santa was on the line! Liam dropped the presents and said “I’ll wait till Christmas”.

Matt

Your turn

There’s been some inquiries, so here ya go. Michalle Jean’s email address. info@gg.ca

I know she’d love to hear from you!

matt

I enter into this fray with trepidation as I’m not exactly…..well, very smart. But the deluge of callers the last couple of mornings voicing outrage provokes me to at least echo the common sentiment.

What the f*&k is going on?!?!?!?!!?

In the anger there’s a lot of words like “highjack” and “coup”. And although I’m usually a passive observer of politics I find it hard to disagree with those words.

Correct me if I’m wrong, and it’s possible, as I’ve been known to have ‘lost weekends’. But didn’t we JUST have an election in which the ‘Conservatives’ won?

Don’t we hold up democracy as the unshakable tenant of our country? Do we not wear poppies on remembrance day to celebrate that, and grief those who lost their lives in defense of that? Do we not shed a tear with a new headline of a 20 year old dieing this very week while promoting it far away?

Ashamed as I may be of my ignorance of our system of governance and not fully understanding what’s going on….

What the f*&k is going on?!??!?!?!

As the entire world battles an economic collapse, the ‘Three Ass-egos” play politics for the sheer purpose of playing politics and wanting power because they were undoubtedly beat up in high school. Although the Liberals haven’t been that good at governing, I will give them this…they’re damn good at politics…but is that what we need today?

In the recent G20 meeting gathered primarily to dissect the global economy and it’s foils, it found Canada to be best prepared and having the foresight to put mechanisms in place…banking and otherwise…to ebb the spiral.

Yet the ‘ Three Ass-egos’ cite Harper’s economic plan as the reason for their want to form a coalition and bring down the government. Although anybody who can read knows those who lost…i.e. the ‘loser’s’ are just pissed they aren’t getting ‘campaign handouts’.

We went to the polls and voted. The ‘Three Ass-egos’ don’t like what we said so suddenly decide they like each other…hook up at a strip club in Hall probably…and say “Let’s take the cowboy down”…to hell with what Canadians said.

As Canadians we love to bash Americans. Dumb, Naïve and too Patriotic. On this very day I’d like to put a mirror on the 49th parallel. While we go through this grisly charade, John McCain is being asked about his past election. Keep in mind, a heck of a lot more was invested in that one than ours. And what he always says, although he wish won, is that Barack Obama is MY President and I will serve and work for him. Do you think that respect and virtue for country and self, ever crossed the minds of Stephane, Jack or ‘What’s his name’?

It churns my stomach to think Dion may be the Prime Minister when this unfolds. Sorry, but there’s a romantic part of me that likes to think my leader can speak for me, can speak with me, can speak to me. Mr. Dion doesn’t have the ability…figurative or literally.

The most absurd and depressing part of this farce is the third prong of the devil’s fork. Nobody has ever been able to explain to me how the ‘Bloc Quebecois’ is allowed in elections let alone permitted in the ‘House of Commons’. With the ‘Three Ass-egos’ comes the fact they will be apart of the opposition.

49 seats held by people who represent people who don’t want to be apart of Canada have ultimate power of your and my country?

What the f*&k us going on?!?!?!?

The saddest part of this injustice is a personal one. I grew up in a Liberal/NDP household. And I’m not just talking about signs on the lawn. I’m talking about drag them out brawls (once I became learned and stuff) on Libs vs. PC’s. And to this day we’ve always hugged at the end of the night and agreed to disagree. But now that will change if those in my life continue to support parties who’ve fallen into bed with those who wish to divide us. I won’t address it out loud because family always comes first, then country. But I will now cast teary eye on those who continue to support, silently asking ” Are you a Canadian first or anti-Conservative first”?

Matt

Your turn