• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Leanne Shirtliffe

Poetry | Humour | Children's Books | Writing Workshops

  • Writing in the World
  • Children’s Books
    • The Genius Hour Project
    • Sloth to the Rescue
    • I Love Sharks, Too!
    • Saving Thunder the Great
    • No More Beige Food
    • The Change Your Name Store
    • Guides/Activities
  • Humour Books
    • The Genius Hour Project
    • Don’t Lick The Minivan
    • Mommyfesto
  • Writing Workshops
    • Upcoming Workshops
    • About Chasing Wonder Workshops
    • Workshop FAQ
  • About
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Contact
    • General Inquiries

Dead Bugs, Brain Mush, and All-Star Blogging

We drove 950 kilometres across the Canadian praires today (which translates into 8,654 miles in Americadia).

Our car grill looks like this:

No insects were unharmed in the taking of this photo.

My brain is mush.

One hour into our journey, however, my neurons were firing slightly faster. I thumb-typed this dialogue into my phone. I wasn’t driving. At least, I don’t think I was.

Vivian was reading a book. I don’t know which one because we had 54 books in our hatchback. I’m not exaggerating.

Here’s the conversation I recorded:

Vivian: “Mom, were you alive in 1932?”

Me: “No. Grandma wasn’t even alive then.”

Vivian: “Dad, were you alive?

My husband: “No.”

Vivian: “Are you sure? Because Niagara Falls froze that year.”

Why wait for hell to freeze over when one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World can?

~

In more important news, it’s the second annual Blogging All-Star Challenge, which sounds more impressive than it is, kind of like the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL franchise, post 1967. Still, I’ve been drafted alongside some amazing bloggers. You can find me on the cartoon below, drawn by the talented Wes Molebash. I’m the blond of the left, tossing Thing 1 and Thing 2 away.

I’m on Team Rob. As in rhymes with bob, hobnob, inside job, and Punjab (according to rhymezone.com, at least).

Feel free to vote for Team Rob by clicking here. Or not.

~

Thanks for reading through bug and brain mush.
How’s the state of your neurons these days?

Filed Under: Hilarious Family Moments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Smplefy says

    July 30, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    It took me 5 1/2 hours to complete my first marathon yesterday. My neurons were scrambled for several hours. Not quite sure I can do higher math yet, let alone push the Com-ment batton.

    Glad you made it home safely

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:19 pm

      You completed a marathon, M! Hello, Bucket List! Woohoo!

      Reply
  2. Ricky Anderson says

    July 30, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    Not this time, Leanne. Not this time. Much to my chagrin.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:20 pm

      You didn’t draft me this time. So there.

      Reply
  3. earthriderjudyberman says

    July 31, 2012 at 7:36 am

    Love your take on Niagara Falls freezing over. Wish you luck on the All Star Challenge – will check it out later.

    Reply
  4. K.B. Owen says

    July 31, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Haha, Leanne, you’d still be driving if 950km=8654mi! (More like 560mi). Still, a lot! Hope you got the bugs rinsed off your car. Enjoy being home!

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:20 pm

      But it felt like 8ooo miles. I assure you.

      Reply
  5. Renée A. Schuls-Jacobson says

    July 31, 2012 at 9:25 am

    Glad you are home. Also that you were not born in 1932.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:20 pm

      Although I’d be looking mighty fine for an octogenarian.

      Reply
  6. David N. Walker says

    July 31, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    Leanne, I’d vote for you in a heartbeat, especially with Tamara Lunardo on your team – if Renee weren’t on the other team. Can’t vote against her, but I can’t vote against you and Tamara, either. Guess that means I’ll abstain. Sorry.

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:21 pm

      Abstinence sucks.

      Reply
  7. Jeff says

    July 31, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Voted! Team Rob looks good to me…

    Reply
  8. BigLittleWolf says

    August 1, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    Yikes! (That’s a lot of km / miles, and a lot of bug splattage.)

    And how did they know Niagra Falls froze in 1932???

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:21 pm

      Apparently it also froze in 1911. Mostly ice, I think, and a tiny trickle of water.

      Reply
  9. Jenny Hansen says

    August 1, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    VOTED! (For you) I shall send all my peeps here for serious voting…

    Reply
  10. Jenny Hansen says

    August 1, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    p.s. Welcome home. I’m glad you didn’t have to drive 8000+ miles (thanks for Kathy being better at math than we are).

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:22 pm

      It felt like 10,000!

      Reply
  11. Jenny Hansen says

    August 1, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    Reblogged this on Jenny Hansen's Blog and commented:
    Are you going to shower your children with blessings by voting for Team Rob?! Or, just forget the blessings part and support my pal, Leanne (aka Ironic Mom). What do you say?

    Reply
  12. Christine Ashworth says

    August 1, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    I am voting – Team Rob all the way!

    Reply
  13. Earth2Body Sisters says

    August 2, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    Sweet~! TOTALLY VOTING FOR YOUR TEAM NOW! Sorry for yelling.

    Reply
  14. Earth2Body Sisters says

    August 2, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    Oh, and one more thing. I’ll tell all 7 of my followers to vote for Team Rob also. Loves your posts!

    Reply
    • Leanne Shirtliffe says

      August 2, 2012 at 10:22 pm

      Your 7 followers rock. As do you. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

  • Instagram

© 2005–2026 · Leanne Shirtliffe ·