Opposites really do attract....attention

Goodbye! <heh>

Guess what? I wore one black sock, and one white sock to school today. I also wore my shorts, even though it’s winter and all my friends are in big coats. Mom says we’re having bacon and eggs for dinner on Sunday, and I might have had a bit of ice cream for breakfast—if I wake up before. <shhhh>

Sound like “opposites?" That's because they ARE!

Sunday is officially Opposites Day but our teacher said we could embrace it today. Sure, it’s kind of silly, and it’s not a national holiday or anything, but sometimes it’s just fun to do something different. Something opposite. Get it?

Sometimes it's just a good idea to celebrate the fun stuff in life.

Fun with friends, with family. Doing the things—big or little—that make me smile. And you have to admit... it could be something as simple as wearing different coloured socks. Change is good! Go ahead, take a look around and find ways YOU can celebrate Opposites Day today—and especially Sunday!

Hello! <-- see what I did there <grin>

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Fun Facts to Celebrate Popcorn Day

Popcorn is one of my favourite snacks. Not only is it easy to make, but a simple internet search brings up hundreds of recipe ideas. My current favourite is a delicious (and spicy) treat—just add 8-10 drops of hot sauce to the canola oil before you pop the corn. Yummy!

But with International Popcorn Day right around the corner (tomorrow!), I started thinking about popcorn in a whole different way. Like, did you know that popcorn is perfect for crafting? No, seriously. For example, you can make a simple snack garland for the birds by stringing together day-old popcorn and dried fruit. Obviously you'll need to wait for Spring to do that but if you scroll through Google or Pinterest, you'll find all kinds of great craft ideas.

Or, what about making family movie night a little more creative? Decorate small paper bags with crayons, markers, stickers, or whatever fun stuff your mom has in her craft room. Fill each bag with your favourite popcorn flavor and settle in for the flick. This Sunday, we're going to watch Goosebumps 2—it's out on DVD now!

And, if you’re looking for a more fancy popcorn recipe, you should give this a try. 

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

P.S. – Here’s five really cool popcorn facts! How many did YOU know?

• When black popcorn is popped, it becomes white.
• Popcorn was the first food to be microwaved deliberately.
• If popcorn is salted before the kernels are popped, it becomes tough.
• If popcorn kernels dry out, they can be freshened by adding 1 or 2 Tbsp (15-30 mL) of water to the jar and shaking it.
• Archeologists found some popped corn in a bat cave in New Mexico that was 5,600 years old!

Feeding my imagination

We’re talking about the history of flight in school and of course Amelia Earhart came up. She’s one of the most famous pilots in the entire world.

In case you don’t know, Amelia Earhart’s plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in October 1937 (yeah, a long time ago) when she was trying to fly across the world. Most people think she ran out of fuel and crashed.

But, I did some research and not everyone has the same idea. There are some pretty crazy theories out there—if you let your imagination wander. Which of course, I did. <heh>

Here are my Top 5 Theories About Amelia Earhart:

 1. She was a spy.
 2. Her plane was shot down and she was captured.
 3. She assumed a fake identity.
 4. She was abducted by aliens.
 5. Her plane got sucked into the Bermuda Triangle.

I don’t really believe any of those are true, but they got me thinking: each of my theories would make for a great story.

I started Google searching, and I came up with a bunch of conspiracy theories, urban myths (things/ideas people thought were true but have no evidence to back them up) and fun statistics and facts. All of a sudden, I was writing down story ideas and character descriptions.

Like, maybe I’ll write a story about how the Bermuda Triangle is actually a UFO headquarters and everyone who has ever been lost in it (even Amelia Earhart) lives there. Think of all the characters that could be trying to get out!

Mrs. Kratky says we’re going to write a few short stories over the next couple of months. I’m feeding my 'idea factory" with some great research. Which one of these theories would YOU write about?

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Eat Healthy to Stay Warm! (For Real)

Compared to New Year's Eve (-27C where I live!), it’s been like a heat wave the past couple of days Above zero temperatures, hardly any wind—I even went for a few runs outside without worrying about frostbite. (Though, I was careful where I stepped because some sidewalks are icy.)

Yep, last week was cold, bitterly cold. And I agree with m grandpa—there is a lot more winter to go. This is Alberta, which means the temperature could drop overnight. (Which is good for the ice castles that just opened in Edmonton!) But right now, I’m enjoying the warmth. Even the little flakes of snow falling outside my window.

By Grandma says even though it might feel like Spring (ish), now isn’t the time to start thinking about lighter meals. Soups, stews, and casseroles may seem hearty (or heavy), but they do much more than use local ingredients and provide comfort.

They can keep you warm!

To keep my energy levels up when I’m running (or just playing outside), Grandma says it’s important to eat nutrient-dense, balanced meals of proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.

Like when I stay at my grandparent's farm this weekend, I know she’ll make me a ham, spinach and lower-fat cheese omelette, or delicious oatmeal sprinkled with raisins, pumpkin seeds, vanilla yogurt and a little brown sugar.

Mom never makes that stuff. She says it’s too “tempting” and her portions are always too big—her New Year’s resolution is to lose a few pounds (again) so I guess it's rabbit food for a while. No wonder she’s always cold! I think it's time for Grandma and I to stage an intervention.

Gotta jet! Enjoy the last weekend of your holidays—and keep warm!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

P.S. If you don't already have it, the Superman Duffy graphic novel, TASTING MY STORY, is loaded with great, kid-friendly recipes. You can order you copy from the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.