Monday, October 15, 2012

We're ready... And so are you!!!



We're ready to navigate the streets of Calgary, Okotoks, Cochrane, Airdire and Strathmore to pick-up all your gently used sporting equipment for kids in need this holiday season!

MINI Deeds, my All4 All-Wheel-Drive MINI Countryman from MINI Crowfoot, and I are driving around Calgary picking-up all the sporting equipment you can imagine!

On Friday, October 5th, we asked listeners to stop by Talisman Centre between 5pm and 7pm to drop off all their gently used sporting equipment... And I have to say that we had a pretty good response!

We started by just parking just outside of their main doors


In the span of 2 hours we had this!




7 pairs of skates, 2 pairs of snow boots, 1 goalie bag with all the gear, 3 sets of hockey gear, 1 pair of skis, 1 hockey stick, 1 bag with karate gear and 1 pair of hiking poles.

Impressive, eh? The KooL part about it is that we're not done yet!!! We're going to be back at Talisman Centre on October 19 again from 5pm until 7pm! So, please make sure you go to your garage or storage locker and grab any item that your children have grown out off, the raquet that you never had a chance to use, those skates that didn't fit just right and drop off for us to take them away to someone that will put them to good use.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

We're back at it!!!

Start dusting off all your gently used sporting equipment for your garage and from your storage closet!

It's time to reach in under your bed and grab that old tennis racquet or hockey stick that you said you were going to use but just never got a chance to do so and set it aside for MINI Deeds, my ALL4, All-wheel-drive MINI Countryman from MINI Crowfoot, send me an email to carlos@kool1015.ca and let us know when would it work better for your schedule for us to come by to pick them up and we'll be more than happy to do so!

There's no item to big, we've actually had a few bikes in the MINI already, or too small, a pair of hockey skates will bring the biggest smile to a kid, that we can't pick-up! And you have to keep in mind, that for every item that you donate, your name will be entered into a draw to win an Annual Adult Family Membership to Talisman Centre! This prize is worth over $1,200 dollars!!!

So, get on it! If you wanted to clear up some space in your garage but had no idea on what to do with some of the items taking up some space, this is the time to do so and to make sure those items go to a good cause.



And If you just don't feel ok about me dropping by your house to pick-up your donations you can also drop them off with me at Talisman Centre on October 19, November 2, November 16, November 30 and December 7 from 5pm until 7pm!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Disney's Mary Poppins!

This last Tuesday, July 31st, I was really excited to be a part of the first showing of Mary Poppins at the Jubilee Auditorium... When I got the invitation to the opening show I wasn't sure what to expect, I have to accept the fact that it's been over XX amount of years since I saw the movie (I'm not ready to reveal my age) I wasn't sure I was going to remember what the play was about. I played around with the idea of trying to find the movie on Netflix and watching prior to the Play. I have to be honest and say that I'm Glad I didn't!


Broadway Across Canada doesn't stop to amaze me. The quality of the actors and the quality of the shows that they bring to Calgary are nothing less than Amazing! During Mary Poppins I was trying really hard to remember the movie, but probably 20 minutes in to the first act I was so captured by the actors and the story that I stopped trying to remember the story line and decided, unconsciously, to take in the story as if it was the first time I saw it... but It wasn't until Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious came on... Then it was a whole other ride!

Tears might've been a part of the equation during the play, but there was some laughter and lots of cheering for sure. This is a show that is only in town for 1 week, until Agust 5, and you should take advantage of the fact that we do get these shows in town and enjoy them with your family.

In my rating, I give it 4 out of 5 stars just because of the fact that I'm 6'0" tall and there's not enough leg room and that chairs at the Jubilee are really not that comfortable... But, well worth to watch for sure!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Tis the season to give...



This Friday is the last day to donate your Gently Used Sporting Equipment to the Children in need this Holiday season.

Some of you have already made a donation, some of you are looking for items to donate around your house, and for those minutes invested in finding those items I, and MINI Deeds, Thank You!

Remember that for every item that you donate, your name gets entered into a Draw to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree at CrossIron Mills Mall! These items will help make the lives of young Calgarians in need that much brighter this holiday season!

This Friday, we'll be at SportChek in the Crowfoot Shopping Centre in the NW between 1 and 4 pm collecting your donations.



MINI Deeds, an All4 All-Wheel Drive MINI Countryman Perfect for the Calgary Winter Weather, can hold a lot of items and is our goal to Stuff it to the point that I have to put items on my co-pilot's seat!

Safe without a Safety Net: MINI Driver Training

There’s a lot to be grateful for if you’re driving a modern MINI. Thanks to the electronic assistance systems, driving really is safer and more relaxed nowadays. For example, when a big rock suddenly tumbles into your way, right in the middle of the curve, do you brake? Of course, instinctively. But what if the distance is much too short to fully stop in time? No need to worry — the antilock brake system maintains unflappable control and applies maximum braking in the MINI. In the process you only feel a slight vibration under the sole of your right foot. Evasive maneuver? You might be more likely to tear out the steering wheel from fear. After all, everything happens within the fraction of a second. Out of the corner of your eye you might still see the DSC lamp in the display briefly flicker, but by that time, the dangerous situation has already passed and the MINI has rolled on to safety. The short activity of the stability control system has prevented worse things from happening. After an experience like that, you can roll along unharmed to the next parking lot and tend to some important needs — like breathing deeply.

© MINI

Some say the old days were better. But after the initial moment of shock, this statement has to be rethought considering the life-saving technology of your car. How would the whole thing have been run through in a less modern vehicle? Differently. While in today's cars the electronic assistants quietly do their job, on classic cars without electronics it depends a lot more on the abilities of the guy or gal behind the wheel. Situations have to be assessed in the blink of an eye and the appropriate action taken. Otherwise, there lies threat of disaster. Does this mean that driving a Classic Mini is dangerous? Of course not. You should just carefully test your own abilities behind the wheel and then practice, practice, practice. Carefree driving fun comes with good experience.

© MINI

Where to practice carefree exploration of the limits of the driver and the vehicle without a net? Where in the world can you get an opportunity to make a controlled error without having to pay the consequences with your own MINI… or worse — your health?

© MINI

At MINI! Following the success of the first Classic Mini driver training courses last year, the MINI Clubs International Office has done it again by adding a course for advanced drivers. Here participants are playfully introduced to these kinds of situations at high speed with their own classic Mini. And that looks like this:



And since no one can expect to get it right the first time, the participants are not kept on a short leash during the spectacular exercises, but instead are provided with excellent advice by experienced instructors on how to stay on track even without modern assistance systems.

© MINI

Interested? Then why not send an email right away with the subject "Classic Mini Driver Training" to miniclubs-international-office@minispace.com. You'll automatically receive information right away on the MCIO driver training courses. However, there is one restriction. These training courses are currently only being offered in Germany.

*Source: MINI Source

How much load can a MINI Countryman Hold?

Take a look at this picture...



Here's what you should see:

1) 1 Table
2) 2 Station Pull-Ups
3) 1 Mountain Bike
4) 2 Skis
5) 2 Ski poles
6) 2 Ski Boots
7) 1 Chair (the second one was a loaner chair from the Calgary Farmers' Market)
8) 2 Station Flags (set-up outside of the Calgary Farmers' Market)
9) 2 Station Flag Stands
10) 2 45 lbs weights to hold down the Station Flags
11) 1 Boom Box to play the KooL Tunes
12) 1 Draw Box for Prince Concert Tickets
13) 4 pairs of Ice Skates

and it all fits without a problem in MINI Deeds... And I still had room for more!



We still need your help! Go to www.minicalgary.ca and MINI Deeds & I will come over to your house or work to pick up all your genlty used sporting equipment for kids in need!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

To all my friends & neighbors...

By now, you've probably heard on the radio or seen on my facebook page that we're trying to stuff MINI Deeds, an All4 All-Wheel Drive MINI Countryman, with as many gently used sporting goods as possible for young Calgarians in need of a brighter and more fun holiday season.

Some of you have already made a donation, some of you are looking for items to donate around your house, and for those minutes invested in finding those items I, and MINI Deeds, Thank You!

But, we're not done yet! Start sorting out thru all your things and get ready. MINI Deeds and I will be at the Calgary Farmers' Market this Friday from 8am to 1pm taking all the Gently Used Sporting Equipment that you wish to donate. And if you're amongst the first 50 people to stop by to drop off your donations, The Main Dish will supply a small meal of Chilli or Medium Salad!




Take a look around your house, in the garage, or that closet that everyone is afraid to open and look for any gently used sporting equipment that is lying around not being used. We'll be more than happy to pick those up from you at home, or at work!

All you have to do is fill this form and we'll be more than happy to pick those up from you! Or, if you want to stop by MINI Crowfoot and drop them off in person you can do that too! But I highly encourage you let the Winter Driving to us...



Don't forget about the best part! For each donation that you make, we'll have your name entered into a draw for a $1,000 shopping spree at CrossIron Mills Mall! How's that for a Holiday financial relief!?