Ups, downs, highs, lows and speeding tickets

March 11/12.

Days have been flying by. Same with the time. I hate losing that extra hour. (although, it's nice to have sunshine into the evening!)

Just before sunset today, I was outside at the back of the house by the garage and took pics of my son, Max and his girlfriend, Robyn.

We all love the mild temperatures! Goofin' around here. Max has never owned a bike. He's perched on our cousin, Sacha's childhood bike, while Robyn has her own. I TRIED to ride the little one, but couldn't do it! (Hey, I thought "It's just like riding a bicycle," was supposed to be a TRUE saying)!

Max opted for strapping on the inline skates,

 so he could scoot down the street with Robyn.

They make such a cute couple.

Max is a fantastic son. I love him so. We share a sensitive side, emotions right there on the surface. I was having a sad day today, missing people, not able to see those I want to see and wishing I could. I've taken so many photos over the last year, I guess I had pics on the brain, and I remembered two shots from years ago. I want to use them in this blog entry to illustrate a mother/son point.

24 years ago, my sister, Carrie & I were able to take a short trip to England together to meet our "Granddad" (father of our Dad, Rex Loring). We had only met him once when we were tiny kids and had no memory of him. So we flew to London, then took a train, then a bus and finally a cab to reach him in this obscure little seaside town. After many years of writing letters to him in Herne Bay, we couldn't believe the place actually existed, but here it was, at long last!

It was even MORE overwhelming to actually be in his little bungalow and to finally talk with him! Our Dad had warned us he was quite frail and might not be up for a long visit. (he knew we were coming and had the tea all ready!)

We ended up staying about three hours, talking about everything imaginable. It was killer emotional for all three of us. (Tough to catch up on a lifetime)! This little gnome was the only thing I remembered from my visit with him when I was almost four years old. Carrie looks so pretty here. And oh so happy.

When we had to leave, both of us were awash with tears. I knew I'd never see him again. Goodbyes are the one thing I can't stand in life. When we got to the train station, I asked Carrie to take a photo of me so I could remember my feelings on that emotional roller coaster day. She didn't want to do it, but finally agreed.

I like the shot because it captures exactly how I was feeling.

Then I remembered a photo of Max when he was a little boy. While I was still working at Global TV, our nanny took Max (age 4) to the petting zoo. She bought him some pet food from a machine, so he could feed it to the goat. Max was anticipating a minute or two with the animal, but the goat gulped down the food in one fell swoop, leaving him broken-hearted.

I think this picture also captures that sad moment perfectly and it reminds me a lot of me! Kind of a dumb story all around I guess, but I just find it interesting that Max and I are so much alike when it comes to wearing our emotions on our sleeve.

An added note. As it turned out, I DID end up seeing my Granddad again, a few years later, on another trip to England, but Carrie only saw him that once.

Speaking of mothers and sons, Carrie posted her latest Prickles the Porcupine/Stella the Squirrel video on Facebook today.

 

The squirrel (who has been nesting between the screen and the windowpane of her apartment unit), finally had her babies! There are FIVE!  Carrie used her own beautiful song, Mother Son in the background of the video she edited. She wrote the music & lyrics, sang the song along with her nephew, Lief Mosbaugh (in the role of the son), and the tracks were put together by my bro-in-law, Garth Mosbaugh (of The Nylons). Incredible little production. (well, a BIG production for the squirrel!)

Our street looked so pretty today as the sunset began. Working backwards now to a couple of days ago,

we all went to see Kate perform at the Paprika Festival, on Thursday night, held at the Tarragon Theatre.

Robyn & Max were there, Sam was video-taping the show,

My old high school pal, Dean Rogers surprised me by showing up - he's so loyal to Kate and Max when it comes to their performances!

Cousin Kevio was there - (love this pic!) He's long been a Kate Sloan supporter! (has even recorded a few songs in the studio with her),

And of course, Kate's boyfriend, Damian Sommer was there too. They're celebrating their one-year anniversary together tonight! Dinner out at Il Fornello on The Danforth. Congrats you two!



Here's Kate's uke performance of one of her originals - I'd Rather.




I loved her very pretty version of The Beach Boys song, Wouldn't it be Nice.



Here's another original. Hot Tamale.

Great show Kate!

The only drag of the evening? I got a speeding ticket driving along Gerrard Street - 56 kms. in a 40 zone on the way to the show. I was SO angry at myself. (and Max, Robyn & I were also late for the performance as a result). I don't want to lose the three points, so tomorrow, - another first in my life. Heading to Old City Hall to set up a court date to try and fight it. (the officer advised me if I feel strongly about the points, which of course, I DO, to fight it and I might win). Fingers crossed.

Backtracking

March 8/12.

I've fallen way behind in writing.

Time to catch up!

I thought CHICAGO was the windy city! But last weekend, on one of the windiest Toronto days in a long time,

an old friend of mine drove into town from quite a distance, parked on my branch-ridden street, to spend Saturday with me and stay overnight. (She always prefers to remain anonymous).

So here's a picture of her with me! (well, she WAS sitting next to me, but I had to cut her out).

This is us, having a toast to her surviving a horrendous accident and me surviving cancer. (worth the drive from Acton!)

She brought prezzies for my kids, Kate & Max.

A shimmering, sparkling, sequiny dress for Kate,

and a gear-fab Beatles t-shirt for Max!

Oh, great. Now I feel compelled to go grab my copy of

 A Hard Day's Night!

-and watch that sassy, satirical scene with George Harrison,

when he wanders into executive ad agency man Simon Marshall's office, (played by Kenneth Haigh), only to be quizzed about his opinion of some "cool" new shirts they're putting on the market.

George snaps, "I wouldn't be seen dead in them. They're dead grotty."

Simon: "Grotty?"

George: "Yeah, grotesque!"

Simon: "Of course they're grotty, you wretched nit! That's why they were designed, but that's what you'll want"!

George: "But I won't."

Simon: "You can be replaced you know, chicky baby!"

George: "I don't care."

Simon: "Get him out of here."
Love that scene! (well, love EVERY scene in A Hard Day's Night!)

At any rate, Max doesn't think his new t-shirt is dead grotty. He LIKES it! My friend also brought Max a new John Lennon black cap,

because she knows how much he likes John's famous signature hat. (don't we ALL?)

Kate's new dress fits perfectly and looks great on her!

As for me, my friend brought me a gorgeous sterling silver ring that looks like lace. Two things I adore, silver & lace! Beautiful! Thank you SO much anonymous pal!

I bought her some gifts too, but can't show them here!

My friend and I hung out in the den, watching TV with Max, Damian & Kate (you can't see the mystery guest, but she was there!)

This is her, wearing the pjs I got for her, sitting in the den. 

Kate & Max entertained us with some songs, including The Beatles' I Shoulda Known Better.

And we stayed up to watch Lindsay Lohan hosting Saturday Night Live,

and with the help of all the other talented SNL cast members (above, Kenan Thompson),

we got a lot of laughs. (Lindsay here with Andy Samberg)

After actually cooking up pancakes, bacon & eggs for brunch on Sunday (!!), - my good friend had to take off again. But we had a blast, laughing, crying, telling stories, reminiscing and on & on. Hope to see you again soon! Thanks for EVERYTHING!

The "winter" weather has been so unbelievable - very mild. But I was sad to see my friend leave after all the camaraderie, I'm horrible with goodbyes, as always. So - off to Zellers (soon to become Target?), to pick out something bright.

This top is all one piece, colourful and cute for spring.

Wore it this week to take two suitcases up to my sister, Carrie's place so her son, Lee, could pick one out for the baseball trip he's taking soon. The 8-day haul involves two days to get to Florida, two days to get back and four days to PLAY BALL!

Met up with Carrie & the tall and lean Lee at the street corner down the block from their apartment.

They decided to borrow BOTH suitcases. One for Lee and the other for a short trip Carrie is soon planning.

Carrie snapped a pic with my nephew, since I won't be seeing him for a while. Win big Lee! He's in demand since he's a fabulous player and also a left-handed pitcher!


Then went over to Carrie's place for tea.

We ended up going through some old files about our late grandparents, Mabel & Arthur Burridge.

Grampa had such an interesting career as a physical education teacher at McMaster University, among other places. He was responsible for bringing the forward pass into Canada! He was also an incredible pianist, played in many churches,  sometimes accompanied silent movies with his great tickling of the ivories, spent a year studying and getting his Masters Degree at Syracuse University, and later, ran the popular antique shop,

 Century House, in Pleasant Point, (9 miles north of Lindsay, Ontario),  for years, with Gramma.

These pages in red writing are a script Carrie wrote way back when she used to help out at the shop. It's a short play about our grandparents, and reading it together, had us in stitches. BOTH Mabel & Arthur were very funny and their humour has trickled down through the family, Auntie Ray, our late Mum, Jill, our cousin, Kevan, to us and now, to our own kids.

Later, Carrie took me into the bedroom, to show me the nest that Stella the Squirrel has built between her window and screen. Has certainly grown in size! (both the nest AND the squirrel!) As Robin Williams would say, "LOOK OUT! She's gonna BLOW!"

We think sweet little Stella is on the verge of giving birth.

And of course, Prickles the porcupine's quills are quivering & quaking at the very THOUGHT of new babies!

If you want proof of my grandparents' humour (not to mention, their love of nature, animals - & ESPECIALLY of squirrels), being passed down through the family, you HAVE to see Carrie's newest video installment. Hilarious. Once again, I say, Carrie is brilliant. - (and has MORE patience than I could EVER fathom having in a lifetime!!) - When you see the Leafs game material, you'll know what I mean!



Fabulous ideas Cayr!

Meanwhile, I've been thinking about writing a personal experience article about surviving one year after breast cancer surgery, what it's been like and what it all means. Wildest year of my life, that's for DAMN sure.

The one-year anniversary of the surgery is April 27th, so I have to get cracking. As for who to pitch it to, not sure. Toronto Life? Toronto Star? National Post? (Some publication where readers might remember me from the "good old golden Global glamour days"). My life is FAR removed from that now, but still filled with wild adventures which have taken me places I never thought I'd go. Sometimes, I don't even believe it myself!