Lain's Log

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?

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fun tymz!

June 8/12.

Can't believe another week has gone by without an entry.

Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, or something like that. (Thank you John).


Yesterday, went to the Running Room on Yonge around Rosedale. After 23 painful days, my foot/heel, finally - healing! Not going to make the same mistake again by wearing Keds on the track! (In fact, had to laugh when I told the salesman here that I wrecked my foot by running in Keds and he asked, "What are Keds?")  Doh!

Ended up buying a pair of Saucony shoes, (kind of garish green laces, but whatever), - they are very light in weight, but comfy, and according to the sales fellow (who apparently only knows about GOOD shoes), are perfect for me. He asked me to run on the wood plank floor to try them out and then shouted out to me, "Oh! You're a FRONT runner!" (WTF?) He explained only about 12 percent of runners are front runners and that's likely why I hurt my heel. Alrighty then. He swears these shoes should work for me. (at $130, they better!)

Recently, several unusual Docs
(no, not The Nutty Professor!) have been giving me some strange and rather unique advice & methods of dealing with high stress levels. (some work, some don't). But running seems to help. Hope I can do it again soon....maybe today. See you in Riverdale Park! - (Meet you there, Jerry).


While on Yonge Street, stopped in at Paperboy Cards & Gifts.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a "bit" of a greeting card fanatic, always have been, and lately, have developed a yen for sending fun cards via snail mail. Found some good ones in here, including one for my newest cousin, Sienna, who will be turning one next week! (as well as some other funny messages to be mailed soon!)

Across the street from the card shop, spotted these young girls having their picture taken while standing in the middle of the road. Not sure what they were doing or why, but it caught my eye.

Later, had dinner with my good friend, Pam Pickard at The Friendly Greek. Always great to catch up with her!

We strolled along the Danforth under gorgeous evening sunshine and came across The Simpsons in the window for It's My Party, celebrating Pride Day bigtime. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and the gang have been my pals for over 20 years. Why? Because they never fail to make me laugh.

Friends like that?

Always welcome! Ha ha!

Went inside and bought some PRIDE merchandise for my daughter, Kate, (rainbow sunglasses & boa),

cuz she is really into PRIDE DAY! (Here she is, in all her glory, at last year's big event)

and also spotted some awesome KISS masks that my son, Max, would love! (Maybe for Halloween this year?)

Earlier in the week, was finally time for a haircut/style & lowlights. Drove along Bloor past the ROM,

right down to Honest Ed's, (across the road from my salon, INI).

Upon arrival, master stylist Paul Taylor was a tad worried about my hair trainwreck, (as usual).

He always has his work cut out for him (no pun intended), when it comes to me.


But in the end, (2 and a half hours later),

he always comes through for me! Thanks Paul! Love it. (the hard part is making it look the way YOU style it!) Can you just follow me around through life with your trusty blowdryer and round brush???

While at the salon, met a lovely young woman named Krista. It was her first time at INI and she had her hair done by the talented (and very funny),  Angela. Beautiful new cut. I think she'll be back! Krista was interested in my past career at Global TV, as she goes to U of T and studies journalism. Good luck!

On the way home, noticed a HUGE sign, blurting the news to the world that a new Louis Vuitton is coming to Toronto this summer. Doubt I'll be shopping in THERE anytime soon! (Not with Honest Ed's so nearby)!

And sales at the Carrot Common mall!

In between everything else, finally wrote my Rick Springfield profile for Forever Young (after they gave me the details - 800 words and a deadline of June 7th). All done!

Now just want to see it come out in print!

Meanwhile, the Trevor St. John article (ex-"Todd Manning", & ex-"Victor Lord Jr." on One Life to Live),

about his new movie, In the Family,

also done and up and running on tribute.ca

Read about Trevor St. John here!

On Saturday, my sister, Carrie, our cousin Kev and I had lunch with the great Auntie Ray at her condo dining room.
At 92, she is a marvel and we all adore her. We had a terrific time visiting.

Carrie entertained her with one of Ray's dog toys. (she always had dogs in her life, but can't own one in the condo, so she has lots of stuffed animal toys to play with).

She also played our late Uncle Ev's harp for Ray.....

oh, now come ON! Is there ANYTHING this girl can't do?

But I think Auntie Ray's son, Kevan, is her favourite person in the whole world, (and can't say I blame her!) He's right up there on MY list! Carrie's too! Has been our whole lives. He da bomb.


This past week also featured a visit to the park, where I watched some kind of track and field event,

wishing the coach would get me off the damn bench so I could go join the real world and play! SOON!

And it was a special occasion for our son, Max, who at 17, is almost finished with grade 11 and got the chance to glam things up at Rosedale Heights in his suit and

John Lennon hat.

for the school's big Music Night, which was absolutely amazing. He played 17 numbers, four on drums and the rest on marimba,

and was called up to play the grand finale encore song - dead centre and FABULOUS! Congrats to ALL the great musicians and to the teachers and conductors who pulled it off magnificently! Rosedale is such an incredible school!


I'm tired out now! Think I'll go lie down in the park! Talk to you soon!

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,