Guess which city I live very close to?
Yes!  Toronto, Ontario

Guess what the G20 Summit is?
Yeah, I didn’t really know either . . .

Apparently, it is a gathering of a bunch of Leaders of various countries from all over the globe.  They get together every year to discuss issues amongst their members, particularly those relating to the global economy.  And it’s happening this weekend.

The list of G20 attendees look strikingly similar to the list of World Cup soccer teams and will include;

• Argentina represented by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President
• Australia represented by Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister
• Brazil represented by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President
• Canada represented by Stephen Harper, Prime Minister (Host)
• China represented by Hu Jintao, President
• France represented by Nicolas Sarkozy, President
• Germany represented by Angela Merkel, Chancellor
• India represented by Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister
• Indonesia represented by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President
• Italy represented by Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister
• Japan represented by Naoto Kan, Prime Minister
• Mexico represented by Felipe Calderón, President
• South Korea represented by Lee Myung-bak, President
• Russia represented by Dmitry Medvedev, President
• Saudi Arabia represented by Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, King
• South Africa represented by Jacob Zuma, President
• Turkey represented by Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, Prime Minister
• United Kingdom represented by David Cameron, Prime Minister
• United States represented by Barack Obama, President

(yes, I realize there’s only 19 countries on the list, but I just copied it from Wiki.  Clearly some country’s invitation was “lost in the mail” or maybe they just brought really bad gifts to the last Summit and the rest of the countries voted them out.  Not sure.  Always pick your “thank you” gifts wisely.)

It’s also a way for the host country to spend a CRAP load of money.  Last I heard, Canada’s bill will be over $1 billion for this event – that lasts 2 DAYS!

Why?  Because apparently securing the safety of World Leaders is big business.  These Summits are known to attract lots of protesters and activists.  Some have even been known to turn very violent.

Some of the precautions being taken?

• Removal of mailboxes, garbage bins, benches, bus shelters, newspaper stands and even some small trees (all potential weapons don’t you know)
• manholes sealed in the “protected zone” (about a 3 block  x 3 block area where most of the big-wig action is taking place)
• boarding up storefront windows
• 66 new CCTV security cameras
• miles of 6 foot high fencing around the entire “protected zone”
• A team of people that are solely responsible for ensuring the food is safe for the Leaders to consume (there will be no fatal poisonings on our watch!)
• Police presence like we’ve never seen.  And military. (mmmmm . . . uniforms . . .. )
• Sound canons (that emit an ear piercing high frequency that can cause pain) and water canons have been brought in (or maybe we already had them.  Not sure)
• cell phone reception will be blocked as each of the Leader’s motorcades arrive and leave the city (apparently bombs can be triggered by cell phones.  Who knew?)
• Residents and workers have been warned to basically “get the heck out of Dodge” if at all possible because the core of the city will virtually be on lock-down
• Airspace restrictions
• Many businesses have closed for the week
• Tourist attractions, theatre productions and sporting events have been canceled in an attempt to keep people away from the downtown core

Pure. Craziness.

Now, as it happens, I live about a 60 minute drive from the protected zone.  When I’m at work, I’m only about 30 minutes away.  I could easily get myself down there to the front lines.

My BFF Elle actually works right downtown.  Immediately beside the protest area.  In a large hospital.  Where they’ve been warned they could have a large influx of emergency room patients if things get ugly.

Which is EXACTLY why I have put her on the payroll as my eyes & ears in the downtown core.  She is to report on any and all action and sightings this week leading up to the Summit.

Then I got to thinking . . . why couldn’t I just drive down there myself, park as close as some nice Mounties will let me and walk the rest of the way in?  But that begged the question – what will I do once I’m down there?

So I’m going to leave it up to you my Bloggies.

Today we will have another addition of . . . WSCD! (What should Cher do)

All responses will be considered, but not necessarily acted on.  I can’t afford to have my ass land in jail for y’all. Although it could be some very needed downtime . . .  (if you follow me, @Surferwife or @thisisScoMan on Twitter, you know why that word is in bold.  The rest of you should all feel very left out).

Oh, and be sure to come back on Friday to find out what happened with last weeks poll.  You may remember the question posed was “Should Cher get the free botox or not?”

Submitted for your consideration . . .

You have a real life BFF.  She’s the Admin Assistant for a very prominent Doctor.  A Doctor of Plastic Surgery.  At a leading Canadian hospital.  Who, from time to time, holds training sessions on various techniques for other Doctors who are looking to learning said techniques.

These training sessions often require a “Patient”.  Someone who will allow said technique to be administered to them for such training purposes.

These “Patients” could be considered Saints with very giving hearts that like to help others.  Or just really lucky people.

Anybitches . . . just such a training session came up this week.  It was for Botox injections (which, here in Canada, can only be administered by a Doctor, in a Doctor’s office.  No “Botox Parties” for us).  As I had previously instructed my BFF to place me at the top of the potential training patient list, I received this call;

Elle:  Hey – you want some free Botox?

Me:  WHAT!?

Elle:  Answer the question.

Me:  As in – you’re going to steal some from work and inject me at your house? Ah, no thanks.

Elle:  NO!  He’s doing another training session and needs a Patient.

Me:  Seriously?  Is it free?  Will I have to wear one of those horrible backless hospital gowns in front of a bunch of people?

Elle:  NO!  I mean “no” to the backless gown, but yes – it would be free.

Me:  hmmmm . . .

So my Bloggies, here’s where you come in.

Submit your vote.  You have my destiny in your hands.

I’ll let you know what I decide in a few days . . . gulp.

Have you ever wanted to get Botox?  And if you’ve had it before, was it a good or bad experience?  Would you do it again?

• First was my sistah Monique from Surferwife!  Woo Hoo!  How much do I love that she won?!?!?!  Lots.  That’s how much.

• And second was my girl Foxy from The Fox Den!  Another awesome long time Only Girl favourite.

(I’m happy to show you the screen shots from www.random.org if you’re really that anal)

Both girls were uber excited and I expected to be thanked with pictures of them in their gear, raising a beer to the Canadian Men’s Hockey Team when they kick some serious Olympic ass.  Although if it comes down to a Canada vs USA final we might have problem of patriotic loyalty.  Ha ha!  Who am I kidding . . . USA won’t be in the finals! (kidding. just kidding. settle down you Americans)

Anyway girls, your gear is already on it’s way.  Be sure to let me know when it arrives so I can ensure the Post Office didn’t rip me off for those crazy shipping costs know that you got it.

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Okay Bloggers – time for a poll.  Why?  Because I’m nosy and want the answer to a burning question.

That question being . . . on average, how long does it take you to compose a blog post?

And I mean “on average”.  Oh sure, Wordless Wednesdays are a piece of cake.  You can slap one of those babies off in a matter of minutes.  But I’m talking here of your usual, every day, average kind of post.  Because I’m beginning to wonder about myself.  I think I spend far too long composing.  Which I don’t so much mind, because I do enjoy the “writing” part of the blogging.  And frankly – good thing!  Otherwise, what would be the point?  But I think I’m spending too much time on it.

Typically, I’ll hammer something out quickly in “draft” mode.  Then I’ll go back to it later that day and re-read it to edit, expand, fix grammar, embellish, etc.  Then once I’m satisfied, I’ll schedule it for posting.  I’m not going to tell you exactly how much time I spend until you all take the poll.  Because I’m quite sure I’ll embarrass myself.  But I have realized lately that I need to step it up a bit.  To challenge myself to get faster at the whole process.  Granted, you can’t rush perfection . . . but then again we’re not dealing with perfection here, are we?  Are we?  Hello?