Sailing soon!

June 29/12.

I'm so excited.

After all the angst and emotion of late, (family illnesses, hospital visits, anxiety), my old friend, jazzman extraordinaire Jaymz Bee (91.1 FM) invited me to go sailing on Saturday afternoon (June 30th), with some Lake Ontario-loving pals of his. The above pic was taken last summer at the jazz club, Dominion on Queen,

 at a dynamic Don Francks concert! 

I've loved Don since I first saw him in Finian's Rainbow (1968), - here with the stunning Petula Clark. Strangely, the film happened to air on TV (TCM) last night and I tuned in just in time to catch Old Devil Moon,


my fave number in the film. Sigh. Somebody bring me a fan! These two were frickin' HOT!

Today I was back at Princess Margaret Hospital for a check up. The doc wants to know how I'm doing on Abilify. Some days it helps stress and anxiety. Other days, it adds to it. Hard to tell. Playing with the dosage to see what we can come up with.

Meanwhile, since I was on the 16th floor, stopped by the pretty Max Tanenbaum Garden way above the city.

A nice sunny spot for patients to visit to get a break from cancer treatment.

Then got off the elevator at the 7th floor to check out this setting. I think it's a dance floor. Not sure.

So many places to explore at this hospital.

You never know what you might see!

Also checked out the inspirational board, as always, which told me, There is no truth in fear. (good to know!)

I had lunch at the hospital Druxy's restaurant - ham and cheese on 12-grain bread and a lemonade. (Trying to put on a few pounds and get back up to 100 again)!

When I wasn't running on the track - (or falling and skinning my knees, as you see here), I wore a couple of new dresses from Urban Planet. A white floral one to match the flowers behind me,

and a turquoise one. Couldn't decide which I liked better, so bought both - great sale. My Mum-in-law did not approve. She isn't happy about what Woody Allen called in Annie Hall, VPL (visible panty line). Told her if she preferred, I could ditch the panties ALTOGETHER and pull a Madonna look, but she wasn't impressed with that idea either! Alrighty then.

At one point, gave up on dresses, grabbed some black pants and a t-shirt, 

rushed off to Gerrard Square for the Chinese food my family loves so much.

Caught up with my musical blog mascot Aubrey Bolton who serenaded me! (as always),

and brought home some Haagen Dazs peanut butter and jam ice cream. (not MY cup of tea, but everyone else seemed to love it!)

Tomorrow? Jaymz says we'll pick up snacks from Rabba Fine Foods and then take off from Queen's Quay to go sailing.

Jaymz never fails to have a great time! (hey, wonder WHY??) Should I be bringing a bathing suit?

The Pursuit of Happiness

June 22/12.

If I've learned anything from my amazing Auntie Ray (now 92), it's that we should all pursue what makes us happy, whether it brings us any bucks or not!

Ray with me and my sister, Carrie, taken on Mother's Day.

This past week has disappeared with any number of pursuits, some important, some lofty and some simply for fun, pleasure and my own sanity. Auntie Ray is in hospital dealing with some ailments which are playing havoc with the feelings of the whole family. I visited with her on Wednesday and am hoping she can come home very soon.

All her life, her attitude has always been to do the things you love, before it's too late! And don't ever let anybody stand in your way! I'm TRYING Auntie Ray! But people, roadblocks 

and anvils DO tend to get in the way sometimes. Look out below!!!

Just keep trying to move forward!

My Mum-in-law has faced a few health issues lately too and I've learned plenty from her over the years as well when it comes to speaking up for (and looking after) yourself. In this pic, taken last December at a family party, she made me cry when she gave us each a hamsa, (amulet), to ward off the evil eye. (we can ALL use a handy hamsa these days, don'tcha think?)

The phenomenal George Carlin had his own theories on getting older and living life to the fullest. Here's some of what he had to say before his death, (which was exactly four years ago today -June 22/08).


Learn more about the computer, crafts gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

Enjoy the simple things. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

The tears happen. Endure, grieve and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. 

Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 

Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 

Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

I've been working on telling those I love how I feel. And in the past few days, have tried to get some balance in my life, looking after myself, (as suggested by my Mum-in-law), getting checked out yet again at Princess Margaret and seeing a couple of docs who said I'm doing OK, but still need to gain weight!

I've tried counteracting stress with running, (finally got up to over three laps again today - more than 1200 metres), 

a little bird watching, 

grocery shopping (what else?),

and finally got the front yard gardening taken care of....long overgrown grass and weeds (above),

now trimmed back and gone!

The only drag is, without them,

we have NO LAWN! Gak! NEXT stop - buying some fast-growing grass seed, since the front yard now looks like a desert!

Also this week, my parents-in-law, Jean & Ben, celebrated their 64-year wedding anniversary! (and they said it wouldn't last! Hoo haw!) CONGRATS!

My sister-in-law, Debbie, gave her Dad a funny gift.

Use it, and then you can say you officially did some exercise!

The other day, my son, Max's band mates, Charles Wilson and Emmett Webb dropped in to do a photo shoot for a picture to be printed in NOW Magazine!

Charles, Emmett & Max

I volunteered to be among the three family & friend photogs to snap a few shots.They wanted a casual look in the den playing video games, reading comic books, eating Shreddies and cookies. Looks very familiar!

Meanwhile, as for me, tried to get in a little rest and relaxation this week in between rushing around like a maniac and

running rampant. Let's see. Where should I go? Take off for Timbuktu? Shuffle off to Buffalo? Hightail it to Kalamazoo? Lose myself in Las Vegas? Who knows?

Keeping up

June 15/12.

Days racing by faster than a speeding bullet again lately. Bought a Lotto Max ticket for tonight's draw at Luke's, my favourite neighbourhood convenience store on Logan Avenue. (Winning a fortune sure would be fun). I'm wearing a new top I bought a few weeks ago at H & M.

Didn't realize it at the time, but now I'm convinced I fell for the shirt because it reminded me

of this Marilyn Monroe polka dot dress! (only wish I knew how to model the way SHE did!)

When I got home,

discovered my son, Max was practicing a scene from The Odd Couple with his girlfriend, Robyn in the kitchen! (part of a culminating project for school during this last week of grade 11). Max was playing the role of slobby Oscar Madison and Robyn was helping him out by taking on the part of the fastidious Felix Unger.

Since Jack Lemmon has always been my fave actor, I've seen the 1968 movie SOOOOOOOOOOO many times. I knew every word Max and and Robyn were reciting and I even got a chance to take a shot at the scene with Max. - "Let it be on YOUR head!" (the next day, Max's teacher said their performance was "Very strong!" Yay)!

This week, I've bounced back and forth from running the track or walking the trails at Riverdale Park every day,

sometimes doing exercises in the shade of all the trees,

to shopping in the hot summer sun at Gerrard Square for groceries, Father's Day gifts

and a new Jabra bluetooth earpiece for my iPhone, bought for me by Sam. I've run through 5 of these babies (all different makes) over the last 5 or 6 years and every single one of them has given me trouble. They always seem to cut out altogether at the most inconvenient times. Thought this one would operate well, but seems it's actually an iPhone problem, so they have to exchange my phone to allow this thingamajig to work! Getting the new phone tomorrow.

Every week, I also spend some fabulous quality time, compacting garbage or recycling in the massive bins. There's never enough room, so I have to jump on it. Neighbours must think I'm outta my mind, (and they'd be partially right I think).

After all that jumping, was ready to head back to the park to run again.

Still haven't been able to get back up to five laps since my ankle injury. Can only do two (800 metres), but I'll get there one of these days.

Then, it was off to Azure Production on the Danforth,

to pick up my long awaited voice-over demo discs and pics. It's been almost four months since I recorded the demo at the TA2 Studio. Took weeks before I received a finished product and now, they're ready to be sent out. Used a couple of shots taken at the sound board and in the recording booth.

 Who knows? Maybe I can actually get some voice work!

Later, dropped in on my sister, Carrie, to give her a present. A new Prickles the Porcupine puppet!

Of course she's going to keep the original, (but the poor little guy has been through the mill during the Stella the Squirrel escapades). Carrie says the "new guy" can be Prickle's bro! Alrighty then!

 
In case anyone missed out on the Prickles and Stella events, here's one of the many episodes Carrie shot and edited featuring the creatures. In this one, Prickles becomes a babysitter!

 

And if you never saw the "Stella gives birth" episode, here it is. You can hear Carrie's gorgeous singing voice in the background during her original song "Mother Son". The song also features Carrie's nephew, Lief Mosbaugh. GREAT, heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melodies. I am so proud of my sis for everything she does. (Hey PNo! - you sure know what I mean, right)??

Cayr was just back from a long trip to New York State with her son Lee (soon to turn 17). They were off to a weekend baseball tournament. It was a ton 'o driving for her, but she got there safely and Lee's team wrapped up the two days with three WINS and one loss.

They celebrated by taking over a restaurant for dinner. That's Lee, second kid on the left side, in grey. Congrats gang on the well-played games!

And congratulations also to the parents and family members who got the kids there and cheered them on. GREAT job. Carrie is on the right, holding up her celebratory glass of wine! Cheers!