BT Calgary Blogs

Thanks to everyone who sent in comments. Here are the winners for the Mother’s Day Gadget Giveaway!

Sony Ericsson Bluetooth Headest

Winner – Debbie Woodward
Debbie, now you have a fashionable bluetooth headset to go with that necklace!

Vinturi Wine Aerator

Winner – Michele Narfason
Michele, Enjoy a glass of wine run through the Vinturi Wine Aerator with your husband…then bring up the First Mother’s Day story. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that!

Ravi – Instant Wine Chiller

Winner – Jade Steptoe
Jade, rented carpet cleaners do not make good gifts! You’ll make up for it this year by giving her the Ravi Instant Wine Chiller!

All winners can pick up their prizes at the front desk here at Citytv between 8 and 5pm. Bring photo ID. Remember, pick them by Friday or it will be too late for Mother’s Day! Keep watching, more gadget giveaways to come!

This is completely premature and entirely superficial, but I’m picking a few guys who I think might end up being front runners for Jill.  Jillian Harris that is.  I’m basing my decision on a) their picture and b) their one line bio so I might end up changing my mind come May 18.  Just sayin’… in case Andy Schultz decides to refer to my blog history when we start placing bets.

And the top three are… (from left to right)

1.  Wes, the musician from TX.  Girls (like me) are suckers for singers and this one is a Q-T with a capital Q!

2.  Jacob is a 31 year old commercial pilot.  Also from TX.  I hope his personality is as solid his bod.

3. I like the casual hands-in-the-back-pockets-pose of my third pick.  Mike is a 28 year old baseball camp owner from NY.  Let the games begin!

pics ctsy ABC

The Bachelorette premieres Monday, May 18 on Citytv! More Info here!

I can’t wait for the premiere of The Bachelorette on May18th! TWO glorious hours every Monday night on Citytv starting at 9pm.  Yes!!

Just got the inside scoop on Jillian’s upcoming suitors – for the first time ever there will be 30 bachelors, not 25!  Think our Alberta girl can handle it?  Who will pass the hot dog test and find a place in Jillian’s heart?

Here’s a list of the fine young gentlemen hoping to be Jill’s mustard man.

• Adam, a 27-year-old Olympic cyclist from Long Beach, CA
• Brad, a 27-year-old financial advisor from Chicago, IL
• Brian, a 32-year-old IT consultant from Atlanta, GA
• Bryan, a 28-year-old high school coach from Lawton, OK
• Bryce, a 31-year-old furniture dealer from Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Caleb, a 27-year-old photographer from Nashville, TN
• David, a 27-year-old trucking contractor from Dayton, OH
• Ed, a 29-year-old technology consultant from Chicago, IL
• Greg, a 31-year-old entrepreneur from Scottdale, AZ
• Jake, a 31-year-old commercial pilot from Dallas, TX
• Jesse, a 27-year-old wine maker from Carmel Valley, CA
• John H., a 27-year-old branding consultant from Boise, ID
• John P., a 29-year-old marketing specialist from South Norwalk, CT
• Josh, a 25-year-old lifeguard from Newport Beach, CA
• Juan, a 35-year-old general contractor from Santa Monica, CA
• Julien, a 34-year-old restauranteur from San Diego, CA
• Kiptyn, a 31-year-old business developer from Encinitas, CA
• Kyle, a 26-year-old graphic designer from Brooklyn, NY
• Mark, a 26-year-old pizza entrepreneur from Denver, CO
• Mathue, a 26-year-old personal trainer from Wichita, KS
• Michael, a 25-year-old break dance instructor from Astoria, NY
• Mike, a 28-year-old baseball camp owner from New York, NY
• Reid, a 30-year-old realtor from Philadelphia, PA
• Robby, a 25-year-old bartender from Spring, TX
• Sasha, a 27-year-old oil and gas consultant from Tiki Island, TX
• Simon, a 26-year-old soccer coach from Bradford, England
• Stephen, a 30-year-old lawyer from New York, NY
• Tanner F., a 28-year-old sales representative from Derby, KS
• Tanner P., a 30-year-old financial analyst from Dallas, TX
• Wes, a 32-year-old musician from Austin, TX

So Bachelorette fans, look forward to watching episodes filmmed in Whistler, Hawaii, California and Spain.  And be sure to check out www.citytv.com because we have some wicked contests lined up including a shot at winning a diamond ring.  I KNOW!  It’s going to be the most dramatic season to date.

Anyone will find this story inspiring. Not those just with osteoporosis. It’s about a woman taking control of her life and her health and making both so much better.

Here’s the story.

Rasa Rowan doesn’t look like she’s 47. And she sure doesn’t look like she has osteoporosis.
But she was diagnosed last year.

“It was a crushing blow.”

Because normally, says Rowan’s doctor, Michele Moss, we think of osteoporosis when grandma breaks a hip. But that’s too late.

She says, “our goal is really to prevent a fracture.”

So Doctor Moss says she wants to see women who are menopausal.

“Our bone we build to age 20 then coast along from age 20 to 30 then it slowly, slowly, slowly starts to get thinner. But at menopause for women it gets thinner very quickly.”

That’s because in menopause women’s estrogen levels drop.

“Estrogen is the taxicab that takes your calcium and vitamin D to your bones.”

Without those, your bones become thinner and more prone to breaking. And Rowan went through early menopause at 40.

And Doctor Moss says, “all of a sudden you don’t have a fleet of cabs to take your passengers to where they need to get.”

Which left Rowan at high risk for fracture. But
Doctor Moss says Rowan is the ideal patient. She took her doctor’s advice very seriously and made the lifestyle changes necessary to dramatically reduce her risk for fracture.

“Rasa is a star,” says Dr. Moss. “Rasa looked at things, we looked at everything together, she decided she was going to take her calcium everyday, and her vitamin D everyday and she was going to exercise.”

Rowan does a “Ripped” class at least 3 times a week, and does some form of exercise everyday.
Her trainer, Jari Love, can’t believe her progress in just one year.

“I new the strength training would help her, but I didn’t know it would be that significant.”

Doctor Moss says, “she said to me I will come back in a year and show you how much better I am. And she is.”

Rowan says, “I’m now training to be a Ripped instructor and I have a new career path, and a lot of optimism about being healthy and happy.”

NOTE: Doctor Moss says osteoporosis is not just a woman’s disease. In fact, she says men should also be screened for menopause by the age of 65

Yup, time to give away yet another gadget! Actual, the title should read Gadget Giveaways! Three items up for grabs!

Vinturi Wine Aerator

This little gadget completely changes the flavour of your wine! Simply pour it through the aerator and drink! It works folks! Just like using a decantor! When done, rinse and put away! Moms who love wine will love this! (Available at Crowfoot Liquor Stores)

Ravi Instant Wine Chiller

Unexpected company? Not enough room in your fridge to keep wine? Chill even the warmest bottle of wine instantly with the Ravi instant Wine Chiller. Stick it in the freezer for 6 hours and this little gadget will chill each glass of wine as you pour! Works for red and white wines. Mom will love this! (available at Crowfoot Liquor Stores)

Sony Ericsson Bluetooth Headset

Not an ordinary bluetooth headset! This one allows you to swap out the coloured strip so you can match it to your outfit. three different patterns to choose from.

So How do you win? Leave a comment telling us the best or worst Mother’s day gift you have ever received! The winners will be posted right here on my blog! Contest closes at noon Thursday May 7th. All prizes must be picked up on person here at Citytv! Good luck! (more…)

The AMPIAs (Alberta Motion Picture Industry Awards) were handed out on Saturday in Edmonton.  A BIG CONGRATS to all the nominees and winners this year!  It was a wonderful celebration of film and television production in our province.  We really do have world class talent right here in our backyard and it was a privilege for me to host the AMPIAs this year.

Check out some behind the scenes pics – here’s the Hon. Lindsay Blackett and his beautiful wife Jennifer!

I co-hosted the show with the wonderfully sarcastic sportscaster Mark Connolly.  Our BT producer Marina Labby was nominated for best series!

look who picked up a Rosie !!

SUCH an honour and a surprise!!  I share the Rosie with an incredible cast and crew I feel so lucky to be a part of such a talented team!

If you’re going to get sick, Calgary is the place to do it. Well, we do attract the top researchers and doctors in the world. And yes, wait times still exist, but if you have an acute problem -  let’s say you’re rushed to the hospital with chest pain – you’re going to get some of the best care in the world.

Here’s an example why.

Little Kayla was just four weeks old when her daddy, Blair Cashin, woke up with intense chest pain.

“It was kinda scary, 29, relatively good health, no family history – it kind of freaked me out a little bit.”

After an MRI, Cashin was diagnosed with “myocarditis” – inflammation of the heart. But not all hospitals used this method of diagnosis – until now.
Doctor Matthias Friedrich, who came up with the method, is pleased.

“We’re quite proud the protocol as we have been using it here for years is now adopted to be the recommended protocol for this disease.”

The protocol means less invasive testing for the patient, as well as a  safer and faster diagnosis -which will come in handy – because myocarditis is quite common.

One in 10 people will likely develop myocarditis in their lifetime and that could make access to an MRI more difficult.

“Access is a problem,” admits Friedrich, “we have a waiting list which does not allow us to have any patient coming within 2 to 3 weeks, however we keep spots open for acute disease.”

And there may be a lot more acute disease in the coming months with the outbreak of swine flu. That’s because myocarditis is usually caused by a viral infection.

“We will see more people coming in with swine flu, we will see in early summer more with viral disease and any viral disease will cause inflammation of the heart, ” says Friedrich.

But typically myocarditis heals within a few weeks. And for those whose symptoms don’t go away, the MRI will provide a detailed diagnosis that will help.

“It’s important only to have a confirmation of diagnosis within very acute cases or in cases where symptoms don’t go away and you need, after a few weeks, you need information on whether there is an ongoing inflammation which may cause other problems like heart failure.”

Cashin still has a bit of inflammation, but it hasn’t impaired the function of his heart. So, life is back to normal, as normal as life can be with a six month old.

For more information on this story – you can go to U of C’s website -

http://medicine.ucalgary.ca

Greetings….It’s Rant Time….so, brace yourselves.

Here’s the scoop on my newest “Pet Peeve”….and yes, I may be going overboard with the whole thing – but I believe I have a point….read on….and let me know if you agree….

I have a bit of an “obsession” with giving exact change when I buy something at a store — or, if not — my “thing” is that I like to get a “round number” – or a “solid” bit of change back….Case in point, if I owe $17.00, I will give the cashier $22.00, and get a $5-bill back in return…

Here’s my “beef”…

I (somewhat) understand it when a cashier says “Do you want your penny back?” when it comes to change….I get it….and….I also do my part regularly with the “give a penny, take a penny” jar….BUT….twice in the past week, I have had a cashier NOT give me back my exact change, leaving me either 2 or 3 cents short of what I am owed….WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME….

Now, here’s my problem with that, and it’s 2-fold……

1. They didn’t even ask – and I just think that’s rude……

2. (and this goes back to my exact change thing) If they would have given me back my “3 cents” or my “2 cents” – I would have the pennies in my pocket for my next purchase – so, I would be able to “attain” my goal as a consumer of providing exact change !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   For example — if it comes to $1.77 — I give them a Toonie, and they give me back .20 cents, I am out .03 cents — and that’s not the point — the point is — if I were to buy a coffee the next day, I would have had the “2 pennies” in my pocket (to provide exact change that day — or at the very least, make it $2.02 – and get a quarter back!).

OK – I’m sorry – I have a real “issue” with this that I have to deal with – I just thought I’d share it with you.

NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY “ABC” WINNER !!!!

IT’S “ROSE M.”…

Rose has won a 4 CD PRIZE PACK, AND A COLLECTOR’S EDITION “BT TOQUE”….

Congrats Rose !!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you wanna be entered to win — just click on the “CONNECT WITH BT” Tab on the top of this website, and drop us a line (email) — put “ABC” in the subject line, and your contact info (name, address, phone #).

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

Oh, before I go – if anyone out there is a fan of the hip/hop rap music – do I have a pick for you….his name is “Asher Roth” – and he’s a cross between Eminem and Buck65 – if you like those two….you’ll love the Asher….check it out, and thank me later.

Have a great weekend !!!!!!!!!!!

-A