Christmas CarUMba!!

December 25/11.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! HOW did I manage to leave everything till the last minute on the 24th?? TRIED to get it ALL crossed off the mega-list, but it didn't happen.

This is pretty much the first year I left EVERY FRIGGIN' THING till the bitter end! Just couldn't seem to get fully-motivated. But once I did, was like a rock, (or is it a snowball?) - rolling downhill at fast speed. Here's how it all played out. (for the record, I didn't buy Santa for $47.99, and he didn't buy me, either). In fact, he ignored me, BIGTIME.

Numero uno stoppo - BMO, for mucho Christmas cash-ola!!


Then, onward, to fill up on gasoline.

Have been using up an absolute abundance of precious petrol, driving around, this way & that, east, west, north & south, - exploring new territory - HIGHWAYS - (gak!) - and testing out "Bossy GPS Broad" & her diehard demands & no dilly-dallying directions. (She keeps advising me to fill up regularly! So I do). The curious gas bar attendant wanted to know WHY I was taking pics.

Being in a mood to shock, (as usual), told him I'm an investigative reporter and wanted to reveal all kinds of scandalous secrets about his place of business. He looked afraid...(very afraid), but I smiled, he took my money and we waved goodbye. A cab driver at the gas bar witnessed the whole ridiculous (and fake) journalistic transaction, winked, and gave me the thumbs-up sign as I drove off. (This blogging thing sometimes makes me laugh).

Next stop?

Loblaws Bulk Barn at Eastern & Leslie.

FAB candy department!


(I'm not much of a candy consumer, but sure love to LOOK at the colourful Christmas products and buy for others)! I mean, WOW! SO many coolio confections!

Then, drove off across the street to Price Chopper. I spent more cash there than I EVER have before, - (but, hey! - They're Price Chopper! - so, worth every penny, right?)

FORGOT some items at Loblaws, so had to go back again! (Ya, I know, SHOULDA made a LIST, and checked it TWICE)!!

Next on the exciting shopping agenda, a stop at Mark's Work Wearhouse. Heard they had hot undergarments, but, lemme tell ya, - nope! - not so much. (Hey! - La Vie En Rose? - will be back to see you soon. You NEVER let me down on the sizzle scale)!

Then?

Canuck Tire, where I finally (nervously), tried out the infamous cart-mover thing-a-ma-jig! Yikes!

Was kinda scared, loading up the cart and sending it down the ramp on its lonesome, - then doing a meet & greet at the bottom. I can't keep up!

Had to make yet another trip to Shoppers,

(just couldn't BELIEVE Justin Bieber was still hangin' around the skin care aisle)!

Got everything home and into the kitchen. Despite my family Doc telling me, "Take it easy, let others do the heavy lifting and stop carting major merchandise into the house", I thought,

"Come ONNNNNNNNNNN!


I HAVE to live my life and do things my OWN way"!

Luckily, Kate & her boyfriend, Damian, were available to help me drag things in, just in time for Christmas! Took 90 minutes of putting stuff away in wildly obscure places - (since there wasn't enough room for everything),

Oh, and PLEASE, - NONE of this 1950's/Suzy Homemaker, apron-clad crap! NOT for me! Not my style.

I MUCH prefer cookin' with gas, - spicy & hot, - (clothing-wise at least!). I'm not much when it comes to cookin' in the kitchen, but bring on the tight black leggings, high top black boots and sexy, black lace! THEN I can at least get motivated to grind up a big batch of cranberry orange relish

in the Cuisinart! (the concoction has to remain in the fridge ALL NIGHT so the flashy flavours intermingle and make for a special, taste-bud-tingling, tangy treat the next day)!

Then, yep, you guessed it. Accidentally left a few MORE things off my non-existant shopping list.

Off to the Danforth Bargain World to pick up tinfoil pie plates for Christmas leftovers and a few other wacky items,

then, back over to Shoppers, (forgot I wanted sexy Skintimate Raspberry Rain shaving gel). I just REFUSE to get thru the holiday without this fragrant fave product so I can be scented, soft & satiny under anything & everything I wear during the holidays! - (What can I tell ya? I'm into sweet & silky. Just LOVE it)! Yep, I pretty much keep Skintimate in biz these days!

On the drive home, listened to Bryn Christopher (who ELSE?) Have been ADDICTED to his songs EVERY day since my cancer diagnosis day back on March 9th. The man touches my soul. Don't quite know why.

All his over-the-top songs capture what I feel these days.

Home again, still Christmas Eve, it was back to cooking - spinach and mushrooms for quiches, (part of my "famous" annual Christmas brunch),

but I draw the line at homemade pie crusts. It's Tenderflake all the way!





(Prepared six quiches in all, so lots of leftovers for everyone to take home)!

Next up? My late Mum's recipe for traditional turkey stuffing, starting with onion, celery and butter - (I buy only ONE onion per year - HATE them, but for some reason,

about a third of an onion tastes good in this Wonderbread stuffing!)

Then? My amazing egg casserole! (I'm laughing hysterically here, since my usual "speciality of the house" is the ever-popular Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup), but this decadent dish is my ONE & ONLY "gourmet achievement". Have made it annually for decades. AND SO good for you too! Butter, 22 eggs, a package of bacon, about a pound of delectable cubed black forest ham, a can of evaporated milk, - (or as my husband, Sam, refers to it, "Heart attack on a plate." (but, Hey Now! - it's only once a year). -

And for anyone who worries I don't eat, believe me, I DO!!!! I actually create ONE great brunch meal per year - only on Christmas.
My sister, Carrie, & her son, Lee, love it so much, that I make them an individual container of egg casserole to take home for Boxing Day.

By the time 11 p.m. Christmas Eve rolled around, I was nowhere NEAR finished cooking or wrapping presents. I was exhausted, cold, in pain, but WTF?

- The "late show version" of It's a Wonderful Life was about to air at 11 p.m., and I was ready to go for a mega-change-of-clothes,

to try to finish off the NEVER-ENDING Christmas Eve marathon! Ripped off the black lace and grabbed my HOUSE sweatshirt/hoodie, generously given to me by a friend. Hugh Laurie ("Dr. House") always inspires me and helps to get it goin' on!!

Hours of Jimmy Stewart later, Santa had made his visit, helped me stuff stockings for Kate & Max, (always generous)! -

and by the time I went to sleep at 6 a.m. Christmas morning,

they were just about ready to wake up & open their stockings! Timing is everything! (NOT!)

Kate's stocking - (Hey! - LAST season of Will & Grace!)

Max's stocking - Mall Cop and Rolling Stone, among other things!

Thank goodness for one wild & crazy family,


who delight in BRUNCH,

and devour dinner,


unwind & suspend belief long enough, (24 hours a year), to actually consume my cooking!!!! EGAD!!

Miraculously, a good time was had by all, and my Auntie Ray gave me the gift of this hat to go with my white fake fur coat. Cool!
More Christmas madness soon! And on Boxing Day? (er, today, - onwards to
Hannukah)! I can't keep up!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night. (er, good MORNING!)

Event overload!

December 21/11.

Can't seem to keep up with all the holiday hysteria around here.

I could clone myself and still not get to all the places I'm expected to be. Not that I'm complaining. Has been crazy, and at times, fun, but just busy and a bit exhausting, trying to maintain a household at the same time as preparing for Christmas and Hannukah.

Starting on Saturday, my son, Max & I made about 47 trips to the basement closets to drag box after box of decorations up to the livingroom.

The plan was to create "Christmas splendour" by the end of the day, but the boxes were still cluttering the floor by Tuesday! My only excuse for this catastrophe, is Mucho Interruptus!

No matter HOW hard I tried to get to it, door bells and phones were ringing, my services seemed to be required elsewhere, and more & more problems, disasters and roadblocks kept getting tossed my way. (Including unexpected breast pain, which feels exactly like the pain that hit me when my cancer was first detected back in February. I have calls in to Princess Margaret Hospital to try to move up appointments to check this out). Meanwhile, everyone in the household and all visitors, just had to steer their way around the mess, until I could finally get around to unpacking!

With only a third of a day to go before my daughter, Kate's friends would descend upon the house for her annual carolling party, I had to get mega-motivated! Did the whole shower/hair/makeup routine while listening to Howard Stern to keep me going. Once THAT magical miracle was pulled off, it was time to get cracking, BIGTIME. (I was hoping the red sweater, short skirt and kick-ass black boots, would launch me into "Santa Baby" mode and move things along quickly and more merrily).

My personal "decorating technique" is a tad unconventional I guess, (and not unlike me, a bit of a mess), - but, hey, any port in a storm! Whatever works.

I always unwrap the contents of the endless number of boxes and dump it ALL into a massive heap on the floor! Yep.

That way, I see EXACTLY what I have to work with, and can start putting things in place, one tiny item at a time. I had four wacky, whirlwind, bat-out-of-hell hours to whip through this mess and set things up before the onslaught of arrivals.

My Auntie Ray, (a lifelong expert in the art of decoration), has always advised me, "Start where you stand." I did.

Began by putting together the traditional creche on top of the piano. (ya, I know the pic is blurry. So am I). Some of these little creatures in the barn, (like the cows, sheep, camel & broken-legged dog) are from the nativity set we've had since we were children.

As a Christmas decoration fanatic, I remember where and how I acquired each and every item. The angel came from my old Global friend, Ola Sturik, many years ago. She replaced me in my job during both my maternity leaves and gave me this special gift to watch over my children! The little bendable Santa toy was part of our childhood.

It reminds me of my cousin, Kevan, who always used to play with it and make us laugh with funny voices. (Here are some fave old Christmas pics of our beloved cousin Kev, with Carrie & me at our late grandparents' home/antique shop, Century House, where we spent SO many happy Christmases together). We adored, idolized, looked up to and loved Kevan from the time we were kids, and still do! He da best!

The acrylic sleigh and reindeer on the table, I bought for myself at the Christmas store in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the floral arrangement was made for me by Shirley Jane, (who was the lovely lady in my Dad's life until she passed away of cancer a few years ago). I still miss her.

Diningroom table decorations, (including talking Linus).

By the time the clock struck 6 p.m., - Voila! I was proud of myself for accomplishing the decorating goal, (even including vaccuming up all the sparkles from the carpet)! - with JUST enough time to rush out to the convenience store for milk and Nestle's Quik to make buckets of hot chocolate on the stove, for the carollers who were coming at 6:30.

Kate's gang is all here and ready to sing! Are they not a gorgeous sight?

They laughed,

told stories and had a blast together. I opted for a rum & eggnog, the first of the season, to calm my nerves after this running-around-like-a-mad-fiend schtick. (To top the day off, I had also received devastating news about a serious accident suffered by an extremely close friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous. I could barely concentrate on anything else after hearing this and all of my prayers and positive thoughts are being sent out). I KNOW you will recover and we will see each other very soon. I love you so much.

Back to the party, then, my sister, Carrie (professional singer extraordinaire), joined us.

and we hit the streets,

to sing up a storm,

and collect canned goods & cash,

for the local Loblaws food drive.

Then, it was home, out of the cold, and ready for hot chocolate! A successful evening all around. Thanks to everyone who attended, brought delicious baked goods, lent their talents,

and made it such a blast of a bash!
Next up? Preparing special dishes for the Staples Christmas party tonight! I'll be making the fab fam yam/apricot/pecan casserole, a fresh tossed green salad and a fruit salad. And I hear there will be turkey, mashed potatos and a broccoli/cheese dish too. Look out!

Prior to the carolling day festivities, have also had several other fun-filled days.

I got the chance to see the marvellous musical Memphis,

at The Toronto Centre for the Arts.

My old high school pal, Dean Rogers, took me to the show as a Christmas gift.

We had dinner first, at Milestones. This was the view from our window seat at the restaurant. Had a cold Martini, straight up, (shaken, not stirred), with olives, and a salmon salad. Just fab. Dean had seafood pasta.

I got as glammed up as I could get, so I could descend that incredible theatrical staircase in style!

Loved the show, especially the charismatic Bryan Fenkart who starred as D.J. Huey Calhoun. Great performance. The whole production was terrific with colourful costumes, terrific choreography, blow-you-away songs and some truly magnificent performances.

We hit the merchandise store. I wanted to buy this t-shirt, (because I love the philosophy of Listen to Your Soul), but for $35? - not so much!
Thanks Dean, for a wonderful evening! Happy holidays to you and your family!

On the way home, passed by my favourite blue lights on the Danforth. So pretty for the holidays.

The next day, spent time at the local mall - Gerrard Square.

The mall is filled with little kiosks,

All set up for Christmas,

Books for kids,

instruments & artifacts,

my favourite Charlie Brown characters,

(some of them playing instruments),

And naturally, I couldn't get past La Senza, (my fave store),

without at LEAST taking a peek,

...and, well, maybe buying something sizzling, sexy (and on sale!) I'll never tell! (Only Santa knows for sure)!

But the best kiosk by far was PerfectSense! This sweet lady, Eva, makes all the products herself, buying special ingredients from Costa Rica and Mexico to create unbelievably beautifully scented candles of every shape and size.

When I told Eva I can't get enough of the scent of vanilla, she surprised me by asking if I knew the reason for this. I told her no. She proceeded to explain that the craving for the scent of vanilla is often brought on by sadness or depression, which immediately brought tears to my eyes. I asked, "Are you a mindreader too?" She responded, "No. I just know my products." Strange that my overwhelming desire for vanilla began right after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Naturally, I bought a bunch of Eva's French Vanilla candles and burned them at the carolling party.

Still one more big event came my way over the weekend.

My old radio friend, Randy Maxwell invited me to attend a food drive/fundraising event at the Hot House Cafe at Front & Church.

His buddy, Vladimir Bondarenko,

a unique and classy man of many skills, - (acting coach/documentary filmmaker/grief counsellor), organizes "Vlad's Christmas Food Drive Party" every year to collect canned goods for St. James and St. Barts churches.

I met some great people, mostly ACTRA members and musicians. Our seatmates at the restaurant were Mary Ann McIntyre and her partner of 30 years, actor Tim Braddock.

Also had the good fortune of meeting and hanging out with talented musicians Donna Greenberg and Ray Rivers. (both singer/songwriters). Thanks for the CDs!!! Can't wait to listen to them in the car! (when bossy GPS broad isn't giving me orders).

Larry Miller, ex of the CBC, introduced himself to me. He worked on all kinds of shows including Mr. Dressup and The Friendly Giant!

(I asked Larry to give me the scoop on Rusty & Jerome, - but he insisted he didn't have any good gossip).

On the way out the door, ran into this handsome man. Just HAD to stop to tell him I love his hair. (He said he loved mine too)! Ken Worth is his name and he composes music.

(Vladimir later told me Ken has often been mistaken for Robert Redford). Can see that, yep.

Now I get why I liked his hair! (Anyone who reads this blog, knows of my lifelong addiction to Redford)!

Hey Randy! Thanks for the invite. It was a lovely evening. And Vladimir? Congrats on making it so successful. Will catch up with you in the new year. Happy holidays!