Jen Butson

I like to think of myself as an optimistic realist, so my apologies if this post seems too much like a fairytale, but there’s been something bugging me as of late. And it’s not the “Olympic fantasy” you might be thinking of…

Remember just a couple short months ago when the nation was united with pride for our Canadian hockey team? So do I, though it seems like a distant memory. It’s no secret that the Sens lost last night. They played with heart but just couldn’t pull it off. So that ends their Stanley Cup dreams for this year.

My roommate is a diehard Toronto fan. Diehard in the fact that she rarely watches hockey (except for the Olympics and the odd regular/playoff season game) but is vehemently against any team. Last week, when I was watching our Sens take on the Penguins, she was in the background and made a comment about how she was happy the Pens were winning because she absolutely hates the Sens. I always knew she hated the Sens…I’m not allowed to put any Sens memorabilia in the apartment…at all…ever. But what I don’t understand is that you can be so against a Canadian team because, and I quote, she “loves Crosby and will marry a Staal brother someday”…which are hardly reasons, but I digress.

Now here is the issue I have with this, because this is the same attitude I have been seeing from everyone connected to the Leafs…if the tables were turned – that is, IF the Leafs were in the playoffs and the Sens were not, I would be cheering for the Leafs. Just like I am cheering for all the Canadian teams (I will still be watching the Habs tomorrow and cheer for the Canucks).

Does this make me a bad Sens fan? The fact that I have compassion for all Canadian teams (even after all the smack talking I may do during the regular season) because I would rather see a Canadian team get the cup than an American one? Does this make me a horrible hockey fan?

If being a Leafs fan means being against every Canadian team, then there’s another good reason for never becoming one…

Don’t get me wrong…I understand the rivalries and that Toronto has beat Ottawa every time it’s actually made it to the playoffs, and the Sens “choke” yadda yadda yadda, but is it horrible that I’d rather see the cup on this side of the border, even if it means giving the Leafs fans more ammo to sling our way in coming seasons? Please, help me clear up this apparent syndrome of Canadian pride I am showing symptoms of…

So I’ve tweeted and blogged and Facebooked a bunch of stuff about this campaign, but I thought it’d be handy to have all the information, condensed, and in one spot. So…here it is…the lowdown. First, an interview…with myself.

What is #CarBeforeCanadaDay?

It is me, trying to get a car before Canada Day…just like it sounds. Canada Day is July 1st, just fyi.

Why can’t you just go and buy one?

Let’s see…I’m a full-time student…and a full-time entrepreneur…so money isn’t really flowing in. Thought I’d use my “entrepreneurial” skills to bootstrap myself a car.

Here’s how people can help:

1. Advertise on my car. You can choose to advertise whatever you want (10″w x 3″h) on either the back window ($20/month min. 1 year) or one of the side windows ($30/month min. 1 year). I’m planning to put up to 10 ads on the back, but the side windows will only have one. So…take your pick. I will also mention you in all materials related to this campaign. I will also write a blog post after the campaign is over about your company/whatever you’re advertising.

2. Small donation. So my birthday comes up in July, and there are also a lot of holidays in between I can make up if you like as rationale for this donation. I figured it would be easiest to tackle this car one piece at a time, so I dissected it, in a matter of speaking. No, I am not building my own car. But I made a list (On page 4) of a bunch of different parts of a car. So, you can donate whatever amount you choose, for whatever part of the car you wish. i.e. you could say “here’s $15 for your oil dipstick.”. I will mention your lovely contribution in any materials related to this campaign. You can send whatever amount by PayPal to jenbutson@live.com. I figured this was a much easier way to tackle such a seemingly large task.

3. Buy promotional products. Most of you probably know I run a company, Jennifer Lee Promotions. If you buy from me, that means I’ll have some income to put towards the car! Woohoo! And it’s something you need anyway.

4. Buy stuff. So I have a Shopify store, and I sort of need to update it, but essentially I’ll be selling a few items on there where all profit will go in the car fund. I’ll post the link when it’s all ready to go. Hint: If you like beer (who doesn’t?), you’ll like what I have

5. IDEAS! Give me some of your bright ideas of how to come up with some cash quick outside of selling a kidney or pimping myself out. Ideas always help too, and they’re free for you

Dear Ford,

I have loved you ever since my dad realized how much GM sucked. Since then, it has only been Fords in our family. From F-150s, to F-250s, to F-350s, to F-550s, and a Taurus Centennial, you have always been there. I learned to drive on the Taurus, and realized I can’t drive standard on the F-550 (Sorry Dad). You probably already know this, since at the age of 12 I convinced a middle-aged couple to buy one of your trucks.

How do I love thee, let me count the ways.

- That I have never found you on a road somewhere, dead (no matter what people say);

- That you got me to prom, then from prom to the afterparty;

- That you are the only big auto manufacturer who had their shit together and didn’t need a bailout;

- That you are the only auto manufacturer who is being innovative now that you’ve mastered the “car” part, to now Sync it up;

- That Alan Mulally is kind of a genius;

- That I have tweeted with many of your associates (they seem to “get” the social media part);

- That it’s hard for me to pick a favourite because the entire lineup is sexy (but I love Escape and Fusion);

- and that the dealership we have grown to love is always there if an issue arises.

If I had one of you now, I would take you for long drives into the sunset…clean you regularly…take you to meet my parents…heck, even introduce you to my clients.

You…would…complete me.

Yours forever,

Jen

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P.S. You can help, here.