To most of the known universe, Canada is seen as a country with snow year round. So when I heard on the news that other nations around the world were upset with the Canadian Olympic venue because Whistler’s ski runs had to be closed due to near white out conditions, my first reaction was to laugh.

It’s Canada.

It’s winter.

Sorry ’bout the snow.

What is it with the misconceptions about Canada’s weather?

I grew up in South Western Ontario in a tiny town on the St. Clair river between Sarnia and Windsor. Now when I say a tiny town, I mean tiny. 3 blocks long and 5 blocks wide. We had a general store – that literally sold everything from food to clothes to tools, one restaurant, and the local OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) detachment. We used to have a gas station, but it didn’t do enough business so it closed down. The library shared a building with the post office, and there was a small corner store next to the ferry dock selling maps, candy, and small touristy items to the visitors.

On the other side of the river was the United States. We had a ferry running across every half an hour, which brought many a visitor and tourist across to visit our great nation.

One summer when I was eight or nine, I was in the corner store which was right next to the ferry dock. It was the height of summer and one of those wonderfully hot days where ice cream is the only cure.

My friends and I were just leaving the store when a station wagon pulled up outside. On the roof, neatly set out in rows, were four pairs of downhill skis. The cargo space in the back of the wagon was piled with luggage and heavy jackets.

A man got out of the driver’s seat and called out to us from across the roof of the vehicle. I swear to you these were his exact words:

“Hey kids, how far is the snow?”

Unfortunately we had to break it to him that he, his wife, and the three kids sweating their asses off had a long, long, LONG drive ahead of them if they were planning on going skiing.

In South Western Ontario.

In July.

True story.

So if the perception is that Canada has snow all year round, why is it people are surprised when it actually snows? We aren’t called the Great White North for nothing, folks. And yes while we are also considered the land of beer and hockey, we do occasionally get some snowfall. Especially on those big pointy things called mountains. Heck, even that poor family from the US knew we had snow. They just forgot to calculate out the whole concept of ’seasons’.

Nika

SECOND CHANCES is up for “Best Book of 2009″ from Long and Short Reviews! I’m really excited and hope everyone can take a moment to go by and give me a vote!

I also submitted an article for the Seattle Writing Careers Examiner, and it’s now online. It was difficult to think of a topic to cover that hadn’t been done, so hopefully I managed to come up with something half-understandable, at least!

And I also submitted a proposal for a ‘Social Networking’ online course with one of the RWA online chapters. There are so many people in the industry who don’t know, use or understand social networking that I thought I’d put a quick outline together and see if I can help alleviate that! I don’t know if it will be accepted, but I’ll keep you posted!

- Nika

By the expression of horror and embarrassment on her face, I knew exactly what she was thinking upon hearing the term “iPad” …. feminine pads! Talk about giving truth to the rumours and jokes!

That’s some really bad marketing, Apple.

One of the major rules of naming conventions is to “create and fulfill expectation” with the product. My expectation when I hear the name “iPad”?

Feminine hygiene.

iPad … feel your freshest…
iPad … for that time of the month…

not the actual:
iPad … a magical and revolutionary device

Err… okay I that could actually apply to both.

Am I offended by the name? Absolutely not. The company can call it whatever they like. It’s their product. Am I confused that the marketing department didn’t pick up on the alternate interpretation of the name?

Oh hell yeah.

- Nika

The writer in me is constantly striving to find better ways to say something. Keeping up with new terminology, catch phrases, and slang is a must. And while I am still striving to find my own voice, I like to think I am more than capable of forming complete phrases and sentences that will convey my thoughts to the reader.

As a teacher I am appalled and astounded at the horrible state of the writing skills that come across my desk…and this is at a college level!

Hand written essays are sloppy and incomplete. Phrases are sometimes so badly broken I have to read them several times in order to figure out what the student is trying to say. Even students who opted to submit their reports digitally ignore the built in spelling and grammar checker.

But the saddest element is the answers that are intermixed with text speak. And yes, I am talking about graded essays that count towards their final marks.

Examples:

“…he went 2 get…”
“…b4 you decide…”
“…know wot u r doing…”
“…prolly for the best…”

The consultant in me shudders to think of this as the future of business correspondence.

Now having said that, I would like to reiterate that I am neither old, nor a technophobe. I am addicted to Twitter and social networking. I type two thousand or more text messages a month, and am more than happy to be working on my dual-monitor pc while simultaneously accessing other files on my laptop.

I love technology, and I embrace it whole heartedly. But like everything else in this world, it has it’s place. No matter how ingrained text speak has become in everyday speech, it does not belong in the boardroom, and it does not belong in the classroom.

All in all it’s quite a simple rule of thumb: you won’t be hired if your cover letter is filled with short forms, and you won’t be graded if your essay is submitted in text speak.

kthxbai
- Nika

Along with a new look, I also posted a new free read, something that will hopefully take your mind off the cold weather. It’s hot and saucy, and most definitely rated M or R. It’s called Leather is Why (R). I’ve left comments open so feel free to let me know what you think. Feedback is always welcome!

Hugs!
- Nika

For all my fellow romance addicts… be sure to check out the 12th Night Anthology — a new FREE romance read for 12 days! Featured authors include members of my Toronto Romance Writers group, so be sure to check them out! The wonderful Christine D’Abo will be linking the list as each day goes, so be sure to check it out, and don’t miss her featured story on the 30th!

Here’s a link to the first story, Christmas Spice, by Anna Leigh Keaton.

Have a great holiday, and see you in the new year!

HUGS!
- Nika

I don’t know about you, but I’d be hard pressed to choose! Join the Duke who’s searching for a woman who can afford him, visit a Lord’s castle for a night of treachery and intrigue, or tour the catacombs with a Vampire seeking his soul mate! Decisions decisions!

I’ve already passed the info onto one of my best girlfriends. Now all we need to do is see how much of this can be a tax deduction for research purposes!

- Nika

Now for the rest of you out there who also think Mr. O’Loughlin is definitely worthy of a second, third, forth, millionth look, check out this teaser for his new movie coming out -- The Backup Plan. The world definitely needs more of this man shirtless.

No one does banter like Shep and McKay…

My first love, Stargate Atlantis, also went the way of the studio-exec’s-pencil-slashing. Clouded by the promise of “a DVD movie”, it disappeared from our TV’s to make way for Stargate Universe (which I still haven’t watched yet). It’s said that the SG1, SGA, and SGU plans are all different, that the production of one does not affect the production of the other. But I’ve worked in television. It all comes down to the bottom line… money. So as of yet, fans still have yet to hear any positive news about SGA the movie. I refuse to give up though. The sets are still standing (which gives me hope). And hell if the XFiles can come back after all that time with a movie…. ’nuff said. In the mean time, I’ll keep up with the fanfic in the hopes of seeing my favorite characters back on screen. Sexy alpha-males, explosions and gunfights, sexual tension and great sci-fi. Sigh. I miss SGA.

Of course to add to my zany schedule, I also recently completed an interview with the wonderful folks over at Coffee Time Romance! Big hugs to Lainey for such a wonderful chat! I had a lot of fun!

Nika’s Interview at Coffee Time Romance and More

- Nika