Toronto for a convention, Quebec City for an anniversary trip, and Victoria once because it was the other end of a whale watch that went out of Bellingham, WA.
Most recently in Quebec City at the beginning of the year for a trip/stay in the ice hotel. Even if you don’t stay there, definitely go check it out! Besides a building with 28 rooms the other building has a bar, a restaurant, a chapel, a bandstand, a second-story ice sliding board, & more, all in a structure that only lasts for 2-2½ months.
It was in the middle of a wicked cold clipper. Glad we stayed out there the night we did rather than the next night, because when we got into the car it showed -8°F 
My parents were both immigrants with English as either a second or third language, so none of those catchy phrases were used in our house.
My family’s been in the US for generations, and I can’t remember either of my parents (or grandparents) ever using any of those expressions.
My grandfather used to say “You bet your boots!”
My dad would often say “I’ll give you three guesses, and the first two don’t count" but I don’t think he knew what it meant because the answer to the question was never obvious: “I just saw the strangest thing…I’ll give you three guesses, and the first two don’t count"
Dad used to say “I’ll give you something to cry about”, but he also said “turn off the waterworks”.
I recall the time my younger sister was crying about something while brushing her teeth. Dad told her to turn off the waterworks. She reached up and turned off the faucet, still sobbing.
mmm
My grandma would say:
“__, ____, strong and able
Get those elbows off the table
This is not a horse’s stable
__, ____, strong and able”.
Close the door do you LIVE in a barn
The Thanksgiving poll should allow two answers; one from the top of the list & “Who sends cards for Thanksgiving?”
I chose that one but wanted a ‘real’ answer, too.
Based on the ones we’ve received, those who are religious and want to share blessings. Not sure if they understand that Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Switzerland. Or they do, and want to remind us of what they think we’re missing.
Mine as well. And he would.
No sayings from my parents. My wife’s motjer would say “Rotten, rotten, made of cotton,” but acknowledged that she had no idea what it meant.
It’s my cousin who used to say “Let’s not and say we did”, to my annoyance, when I suggested something fun to do.
it’s my wife who leaves the TV on as background noise. I would never do that.
I lived in Montreal for years as a teenager, and coincidentally my wife has family in Calgary, so I have been to many Canadian cities. Although I’ve been living in California now for over 40 years.
I hate having a TV on without people actively watching it. And that means not spending 90% of their viewing time on their phone or ipad.
Another saying, this time from Mom when I said I had nothing to do:
“Nothing to do? Spit in your shoe, stir it up and give it to you”.
Curious if anyone else has ever heard this one, or if Mom invented it.
mmm
“Nothing to do?
Nothing to do?
Put some mustard in your shoe”
Is the beginning of a GREAT Shel Silverstein poem
My go-to Karaoke song is Blueberry Hill, but it’s been several years since I’ve actually done it.
Never sang any of the songs on the poll list, but I chose three that I would maybe possibly consider singing: All Star, Brown-Eyed Girl, and Born to Run.
Though Born to Run is probably too long. I prefer to get in and get out.
If I was going to do Karaoke I’d most likely pick something by Johnny Cash, probably “Folsom Prison Blues” or maybe “Ring of Fire”. Or maybe Arlo Guthrie’s “City of New Orleans”.
If I had to do one from that list, I guess “My Way” (even though it’s not really my favorite Sinatra song), “Born to Run” and “American Pie”, although none of those would really by my first choice.
Objectively, I think the Phillies have the best chance of winning the World Series.
Subjectively, I’d prefer either the Dodgers to win (I’m an Ohtani fan) or the Brewers or Mariners (since I like seeing teams that haven’t won before, win a title for the first time.)
Yeah, the only baseball jersey I’ve ever bought is an Ohtani one.