Wiebe World

The difference between Canada and the U.S. (Part 1) April 29, 2008

It’s been over a year and a half since my return to the Great White North. Time enough to adjust to the Canadian way of living…for better or worse. I’m almost done starting sentences like “when I was in Los Angeles/California/the U.S” but even this far out of being re-patrioted, I and my family still are reminded (almost on a daily basis) the difference between the two countries. So this MAY be the start of an ongoing series. Or this will be it. Enjoy!

If you’ve been paying attention to Wiebeworld, you’ll have remembered our last story where I accidentally erased every bit of ID in my wallet by taking it into the MRI with me. This week was filled with getting those cards replaced. Just between you and me i have 2 American Express cards. One is a U.S. American Express card. The other a Canadian one. I’ll also have you know that I’ve been an American Express card member (we like to refer to ourselves as members - it’s very classy) since 1990.

I called the Canadian card folks up first and explained the problem. They were very understanding and promised that the card should arrive in 7-9 business days.  That’s TWO WEEKS!!! It’s a cashless society people! I don’t get money out of the ATM anymore and can’t remember the last time I wrote a check (or “cheque” as we write here). Two weeks without a credit card means two weeks of a whole lot of nuthin’. Being a Canadian I said “thanks - that’ll be great” and hung up.

THEN, I called my American card. this is the exact same company may I remind you. They were equally as sorry for me as their Canadian division. Then they told me that because I was a long-time customer (same amount of time as the Canadian division) that they were going to overnight me a brand new card at no additional cost. Time without a card, approximately 36 hours! Customer service!

Wait? Magnets do what now? April 22, 2008

This past Saturday, I was privileged enough to get an MRI. For those of you living in Canada, you can appreciate the amount of political sway one needs to have with the party leaders to gain access to that kind of medical equipment. If you need leaches or holes drilled in your head to let the evil spirits out it’s a mere 5-6 week wait but going to an actual hospital requires bribes, “favors” and numerous other shame-based offerings to get you to the front of the line.

This was my third MRI or Magnetic Resonance Image that I’ve had. The first two involved stripping down and getting into one of those all-cotton, super-comfy hospital gowns. But on Saturday, the nurse or “technician” asked me to place my jewelry, electronics and all other metal into a cabinet but that I could remain fully dressed. Perfect.

The procedure itself was loud and painless and over in about 20 minutes. I was in and out in under an hour. Take THAT private insurance-based health care systems!

My next stop was of course the liquor store (it’s standard procedure in Canada) where we went through credit card after credit card trying to get the machine to read the strip. The clerk finally gave up and typed the number in, asking if I kept magnets in my pocket. Duh, stupid question. What’s a 30-ish young man like myself putting magnets in my pocket. Now, taking my wallet full of magnet-sensitive credit cards and ID into a device capable of generating 6 times the magnetic field of that of the Earth’s? That I’ll do.

The MS Walk wrap-up April 13, 2008

It’s hard to describe being a part of something like the MS Walk or any walk for that matter without sounding self-important. Like somehow doing what you’re doing is a bigger deal than what anyone actually suffering from the disease does every time they get up in the morning and do what the rest of us take for granted.

I’m going to provide a brief recap of what happened today because a) very few people read this blog, b) I’m incredibly self-absorbed but c) most importantly a lot of people pledged a lot of money for today’s walk and I thought the very least I could do was describe the day in as concise a manner possible.

I prepared for the big walk by going to bed at midnight, knowing full well that the only way to get your body to do what you want is to let it know who’s boss. None of this early to bed, early to rise crap. Julie had just informed me that she would be joining me for the additional 10KM that I had promised all my pledgers I would do on top of the 10KM for the official walk.

We got up at 5:30 on Sunday and were pleasantly surprised to discover that the approximate 4 degree (C) weather was really not that bad. Until the snow started! At first we couldn’t believe that what we were seeing was snow. Certainly not two weeks into April. We were really hoping perhaps there was a house fire and these were merely the snowy white ashes falling so prettily. But it was snow.

An hour and a half later ( we were hoofing it), we arrived at the local Lions club were the actual walk was to take place – 10KM in the bank. We felt good. Legs felt good, it was getting warmer.

The rest of Team Julie K (my sister not my wife) showed up, 12 persons strong. What followed was a spirited albeit less-brisk 10KM, pausing every couple of kilometers at designated stops to pee, grab a couple of orange wedges and move on. The team members paired up for kilometer-long conversations before organically splitting up and re-pairing.

Two and a half hours later we were done and rewarded with free barbequed sausages and no-name brand cola. Together, the team had raised over $6,000 and rallied around my sister to remind her that we’re with her in her own daily walk with MS.

Thanks to every one of you who contributed. The MS society is still accepting donations at https://msofs.mssociety.ca/2008Walk/Sponsor.aspx?&PID=1015027&L=2

Warning - the site is being overloaded with donations so you may need to hit refresh a few times before you connect.

I’m not ready April 4, 2008

When I originally threw out the idea of walking 20km again this year, my wife had one question. Why? Actually, it might have been “Are you crazy?” And there might have been a couple of gerunds thrown in there as well.  It was more than just an empty question or her typical good morning. I’ll fill you in on a little secret. I’m not in the best shape I’ve ever been in. In fact, I’ve been experiencing some unexplained muscle fatigue recently - walking up a flight of stairs or lifting my kids up wears out my extremities quite quickly. Nothing to panic about now. We’re talking to doctors, getting tests done, etc. But back to Julie’s question. Was I nuts in attempting to do this without proper preparation? Well honestly there’s a lot of stuff that I do and say that I don’t think about or prepare for. This was just one more.

But now, with only 7 days left, I’m begging to wonder if in fact I am gerund crazy. The only thing I’ve been doing different since pledging to walk 20KM is cut out all carbs. And all that’s done is made me cranky (there’s perfectly good pizza in the fridge going uneaten).

So it’s going to be about 5 hours of running/walking/crawling and it’s going to leave me rubber-legged by the end of the day. But at the end of the day, this is all for a good cause and I’m thrilled to be walking with family and friends. Plus at the end of the walk? they give you hot dogs!  Who’s gerund crazy now?

April Fools! April 1, 2008

Were it not for a couple of local DJ’s dishing on their history of brazilliant pranks on the drive into work today, I would have totally skipped by the fact that today is April Fool’s Day. The irony is that working in kids’ television, almost every show we have does it’s own tribute to the day. I’m sure right now that YTV (and every other kids network in North America) has scheduled some kind of April Fools Day event (or stunt as we call them in the Biz).

To be honest, I don’t remember the last time I witnessed an actual April Fool’s day joke. Perhaps my coworkers aren’t zany enough to attempt one but more likely it’s the expectation of how a prank would be received (i.e. not very well). Not to mention that HR would likely be called in and we all know how fun that would be.

However, I do remember celebrating the Holiday as a kid and the one really vivid memory I have of playing a practical joke on my classmates was in kindergarten (back when they didn’t even have a junior kindergarten). I remember telling fellow students, my teachers, even the bus driver that my grandfather had died. They all reacted the way they should have -with great sympathy and concern over how I was doing. I would then burst into a big grin and say “April Fools.”

Pure comedic genius.

Bloggin Again? March 26, 2008

It’s probably been about 3 years since the last time anyone posted to Wiebeworld.  Since then the U.S. has gone through 4 presidential elections, we witnessed the birth and ascendancy of the personal computer and small pox has virtually been wiped from the face of at least the Western Hemisphere. You’re no doubt asking yourself what possibly could have pulled me out of this JD Salinger-esque sabbatical? Well the answer is much too funny and full of expletives to repeat in this child-approved space BUT I can tell you two contributing factors. 1) I felt you’d all gone way too long without hearing how I felt about junk. And 2) I’m walking in my second MS Walk-a-thon in honor of my sister and I’m not sure I couldn’t be less prepared.

So be prepared world! The raging opionosity is on its way. But for now, let me say this. Tonight, when I should have been physically preparing for the 20KM I’m planning on completing on April 13th, I consumed half a bowl of the those maddeningly delicious Cadbury’s MiniEggs.

I’ll start over again tomorrow.

The Wiebes are back in L.A. July 24, 2007

…but not for keeps or anything. And it’s been a blast. Julie and the kids landed here almost two weeks ago and spent some prime family time with her dad and step-mom in La Jolla - a gorgeous little beach town north of San Diego. Zack and Zoe attacked the waves with a passion and we’re thinking that next year it might be time for some surfing lessons for Zoe. Julie’s brother’s family was also in town so both families (sans me) had a blast.

While all that was going on, I was still in Oakville overseeing the framing of our basement thanks to the help of some very dear friends who are much more capable of doing this kind of thin than I am. And by overseeing, I mean cooking food and supplying beer to the real workers. I also contributed some heavy-lifting.

Julie packed the kids in the car and drove up to meet me in Los Angeles where we spent 3 days with our dear California friends, the community that nurtured us and became our L.A. family. Zoe got to reconnect with her bestest friends in the whole world - Ella, Annika and London. Zack had his little friends too and it wasn’t too long before he was calling out for “Macey” and “Mia” as if we’ve never left.

It’s been five years since Julie and I have taken a vacation between the two of us. So we dumped the kids off with the grandparents and joined our friends Matt & Kasey for a trip to Temecula Wine country. It was only about 38 hours altogether but it was just so relaxing and calming. We came back renewed and ready to be parents again. But we’ve also committed our selves to doing this more often - maybe even once a year (finances pending).

Now I find myself back in L.A. doing actual work while Julie is back in La Jolla with the kids and grandparents. Tomorrow I head down to San Diego to attend the annual geek-fest that is ComiCon which every year continues to get bigger and hotter and smellier  (showers don’t seem to be a top priority for a majority of the attendees). Every year there are a ton(ne) of parties, lots of panels and hopefully one or two properties that turn into potential properties for me and my team to develop.

And next year…we just might do this all over again. As usual, pictures to come.

This technology can’t get here fast enough. May 31, 2007

Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate people…talking in movie theaters. Whether it’s to their friend, on their cellphone, to the screen - I can’t stand it!!! It’s gotten to the point that when I walk into a theater I’m already looking and listening for the trouble-makers. Sure the only thing that’s on the screen at that point are some ads and the Coca-Cola Word Scramble “This former bosom buddy made it BIG and now knows that life truly is like a box of chocolates - Hom Tanks”.

But people who can’t keep their mouths shut at this point are likely risks for gabbing through the previews - and don’t think it’s acceptable to talk then either. When the lights start to dim, that’s when you shut your pie hole. Those previews are important. They tell you what’s coming up over the next few months and help everyone decide whether something’s going to be worth the $12/person you’re plunking down or best saved for Blockbuster.

I’ll be upfront with you…I’m a shusher. If I hear even a murmer behind me I shush. Often I’ll give a warning shot pre-shush that I consider a polite hint at the barage of shushing coming their way if they keep it up. I’ve often fantasized about the theaters of the future which will have sensors that detect excessive audience noise and instantly vaporize the offender - it is a fantasy.

It looks like the wait is almost over - Regal Cinemas have introduced a new ratting system that allows patrons to page the proper polyester-uniformed authorities to deal with these (assumed) open-mouthed breathers who will hopefully set an example for everyone else in the theater who thinks that we’ll all enjoy their sharp commentary.

Sign me up!

Along comes another reason for me to freak out over spiders May 9, 2007

Me and spiders don’t get along so good. As any entomologist worth his salt (whatever that means) will tell you, the primary goal of any spider is to find a warm, moist human cheek sack to lay it’s eggs in. And the evidence from the Internet is clear that humans eat anywhere between 3-4 spiders per year while they sleep. Thankfully I have learned to sleep face down into my pillow which subsequently causes multiple incidents of sleep apnea but no swallowed spiders. I assumed I was safe.

And then this came along - Spider Boy! (Not to be affiliated with the Sony’s current box-office record breaker that allegedly sucks big time).

So now my arachnid-arch-enemies have decided to birth their wretched offspring in our ear canals huh? This boy was lucky. The two spiders allegedly tap-danced on his eardrums but were prevented from going further. But what if they broke through? That eardrum is slightly more impenetrable than a damp Kleenex tissue. Next stop? The brain!

I may never sleep again.

And now for something completey…serious April 4, 2007

Some less than cheerful news greeted the Wiebe family this past January.

My younger sister Julie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Nobody really has anything definitive to say about her prognosis. Seems to be something that she coudl live quite comfortably with for the next 3 decades or…well, we’d prefer to not think about the alternative.

She is married to an incredible guy named Dieter (I’m not kidding) and has a delightful 2-year-old girl named Abby who is a clone of Julie herself.

We would definitely appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

To support her and others suffering from MS I’ve decided to participate in this year’s local MS Walkathon to raise money to find a cure/treat the symptoms etc.

My goal is to raise $5000 for the 10Km walk. Right now that seems like a lot and perhaps reaching too far. However to make thing interesting I thought I’d raise the stakes a bit. If you help me reach $5000, instead of walking 10km, I’ll walk 15KM. If you help me reach $10,000 I’ll do the route twice and walk 20km. If I reach $20,000 I will commit to walk the route three times for a full 30km (perhaps I should start now).

If you’re interested in pledging me (no amount is too small) please click on PLEDGE DAVID.

And get this! They accept U.S. currency!! How crazy is that??