I stand on guard for thee!

Tell them it should be no one’s vocation to put gravy on french fries.

Or vinegar on potato chips. My Canadian grandmother used to proudly point out to me, at Safeway, all the foods that we couldn’t get in America. She should have won a medal for proud Canadian of the century.

Don’t pass up Tim Horton’s donut shops.

Oh, and if you see my Uncle George from Halifax, say hello. (Had to add that because as a Canadian in the U.S. I’ve been asked if I know so-and-so in Ontario, etc.)

People used to ask me if I was Canadian. I would always have to explain the difference between Canadian and Northeastern Wisconsinites/Uppers. Its pretty simple. Canadians end the sentence with Eh and Uppers start the sentence with Eh.

Canadian: Wanna grab a beer, Eh?

NEW/Upper: Eh, wanna grab a beer?

When I lived in Texas, I once was asked if I was from Canada. I was taking in a presentation by Lawrence Lessig at an intellectual property conference at the UT School of Law, where I worked. (Look! Tie-in to another of today’s posts.) After we had chatted a bit, the law professor sitting next to me asked the offending question. I mean, really, my accent’s not that bad, ya know. My Texan husband, who likes to make fun of my Wisconsin accent, thought it was hilarious.

Oh yes, please stop at Tim Hortons! The nearest one is 6 hours away for me. The best fast food (that’s really not fast food) in the country!

My dad’s side of the family is Canadian and it is pretty easy to end up adding “eh” to the end of your sentences after even a short visit.

Enjoy a cold Labatt’s Blue, too!

It was great to meet you at the convention. I’m sorry I didn’t go out for blues night!

I was glad to meet you too, Alex (a blogger I’ve long read: See Beggar at the Table. Sorry to have missed your wife Kelly (another blogger I’m a fan of–also an artist and cartoonist: See here. I didn’t even know you guys were Canadian!