Bush up North $$$$ . . .
Ay! Former President George W. Bush is now billing himself as a motivational speaker.
And Canada must love him.
• Consider: Dubya's first out-of-office speech was in Toronto -- and last week he headlined three events in the land of the Maple Leaf.
• Ambush 'em: The 43rd president addressed a Fort Worth convention Wednesday by stating: "From a personal perspective, I don't see how you can be president without relying upon an Almighty."
Listen Up! First lady Michelle Obama has added dating tips to an upcoming Glamour mag interview by Katie Couric.
• Quoth she-who-must-be- obeyed: "Cute's good. But cute only lasts so long, and then it's, 'Who are you as a person?' Don't look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul. Because one day you might wake up and see your husband throwing out a pitch in the mom jeans you thought you gave to Goodwill weeks ago."
Now that's a sense of humor.
Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., who was once a powerhouse in Illinois politics, just joined the Mercury Public Affairs firm, which specializes in public policy campaigns. Natch.
Pigskin patter: Now comes word former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is a major football fan, is not only teaching at Stanford University -- but she's also mentoring the school's football recruits. Rice is described as the Stanford athletic department's "secret weapon," by the San Jose Mercury News. (Stanford's football coach is former Chicago Bear quarterback Jim Harbaugh.)
Comedian Tom Dreesen had a $10,000 meal at Gibsons last week -- the result of a $10,000 charity bid to dine with him, which benefited Dreesen's alma mater, Thornton Township High School.
• Watch for Dreesen, who was once an opening act for Frank Sinatra, to be master of ceremonies at a welcome home event for returning Illinois National Guardsmen on Nov. 7 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel.
Good grief! Octomom Nadya Suleman, the single mom who gave birth to eight babies via in vitro fertilization, dressed up as a pregnant nun to celebrate Halloween. She dressed the babies as red devils. Be still my tongue.
Actor Sean Penn just visited Venezuela strongman Hugo Chavez for the third time and is reportedly planning to film a movie there.
Former Gov. Sarah Palin is finally lashing back at Levi Johnston, the cad/father of her grandchild who's exchanging cash for deep creep dish . . . and plans to appear nude in Playgirl mag.
• Quoth Palin in response to Johnston's recent claim he knows "huge" things about Palin: "Those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention."
Yipes! Is an attack by a bunny brigade brewing?
Congrats to attorney Bernie Rinella and wife, Gloria, who just learned that the Bernard B. Rinella Jr. Learning Center at Miami University -- which is named after their late son -- has been named the winner of the 2009 National College Learning Center Association Award. . . . Today's birthdays: Harry Hamlin, 58; Henry Winkler, 64; Grace Slick, 70; Gavin Rossdale, 44, and Dr. James Stankiewicz, priceless.