Great day!!

July 27/11.

I know it may be hard to believe that radiation days can be great, but often they are! Today, was terrific! I'm into double digits and that's good news!

Today's hospital photog? My security-guard-in-shining-armour, (the one who said I looked like a Barbie doll!), appeared out of nowhere today, just as I was vacating the basement radiation department. I caught sight of him and asked if he could take a shot of me and he agreed! #11 - (using two fingers), plus - added my favourite beret today!

Radiation Muzak? Something-or-other by Diana Krall again. Couldn't recognize the song, but it was very pretty and helped my brain to float off to the Harbour Castle Hotel, where I was having strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast! (sounds like a plan).

Today's "Where's the stylist" shot? I was SICK of posing in the blue medical gown, so brought my OWN "gown" and belt to pose in. (no, didn't wear it on the radiation table!) - it's exclusive only to the change room!

This must be my week for parking lots! After today's treatment, ran smack dab into my old friend, Sandy Pimenoff. He's a Global TV cameraman and we worked together on countless stories over many years. A fantastic guy and we shared many laughs. In the Global days, he was known to my soap viewers as "Sandy the soap fan cameraman!" It was such a blast to cover soap events with him, because he always knew as much as I did about the daytime dramas!

Later on, in the evening, I was able to catch up further with Sandy, as I was invited to a Global TV Guys & Gals potluck reunion dinner party at the home of reporter Terese Sears. (our desks used to be right next to each other years ago). She has a beautiful home and I was really taken aback to be so warmly greeted and hugged by so many old friends! I was especially happy to see the two remaining "nice guys", former anchormen John Dawe and Mike Anscombe! Later, Mike gave me a lift home, cuz that's the kind of gentleman he is! (thanks Mike!)

John Dawe, me & Mike Anscombe - I always had a blast working with these two at the anchor desk. (you may see, Mike hates having his picture taken, but I insisted!!!!!!)

Hostess with the mostess, Terese Sears (second from left) with a few of her Global party guests!

With another of my former Global TV cameramen, Joe Da Ponte. Great to see him! He told me he's now engaged to be married in August of next year in Portugal! - Congrats Joe!

Joe, Mike Anscombe and cameraman extraordinaire Yhoram "Every frame a Rembrandt" Pirotsky!

With Global editor sweetheart Doug McLelland - I wonder how many stories we edited together over 18 years!??

With Yhoram and Joe.

All in all, a blast of a bash! Thanks to Terese for the invitation. I really needed this evening!!

Daytime drama

July 15/11.

Back in the Global TV years, I used to report on the soaps every day. (truth be told, it was one of my favourite parts of the job!) Often, soap fans would tell me that nothing in REAL life could ever compare to the action in the daytime dramas. But I am proving them wrong!

No scriptwriter could have topped the intrigue and excitement of what happened to me today. My late Mum gave me a very special gift.

Following the nine months since her death, Carrie & I have worked diligently to take care of every single, tiny detail in her home, making sure each item gets the attention it deserves and ends up in the proper and rightful place, whether it be an antique shop, a furniture bank for those in need, Goodwill, Value Village, relative's houses or our own homes. In return for all the love, time and trouble, Mum has left us an overwhelming sense of security, independence and freedom. It was a red letter day for Carrie and me. I can't really speak for Carrie, (as we each have our own feelings about this phenomenal day), but for myself, my husband Sam and our two kids, Kate & Max, I'm saying how thankful we are for what she's left us. We will use her gift to make our lives better, easier and more comfortable in the years to come.

The first part of the day was spent sorting things out at the bank. All done now. Thought it would be pretty easy, but didn't expect to find myself in tears, realizing this long journey has reached some kind of conclusion or closure, (although, that will never fully happen). Carrie and I stood on the very spot the above photo was taken, to chat for quite a while. There is no more hidey hole to hide out in, no more safety blanket. We're out there on our own now. After we said goodbye and went our separate ways for the day, I drove past Mum's house and saw the garage door wide open, the new owner, Dang, working inside on renovations. Could barely breathe as I passed by, realizing someone ELSE is in charge of the hidey hole now, and that person has NO idea of the history of the house. Sigh.

After the emotional banking experience, drove directly to Princess Margaret Hospital for my 3:40 p.m. radiation appointment - #3! (Not taking any chances this time! Nothing too revealing in the dressing room. Cowered in the corner and made sure to keep the medical gown tightly CLOSED)!! LOL.

The radiation room "Muzak entertainment" today? - Diana Krall singing The Look of Love. As I lay there, listening, being pushed, prodded and pulled this way and that, my mind was crowded with crazy thoughts. Everything from my ticket to Weird Al Yankovic's concert at Massey Hall this Saturday afternoon and what he will sing, to the side effects of Tamoxifen, (hot flash anyone?), to, well, can't even say. One of my sweet technicians, Christine, asked what kind of day I'd been having. I laughed and told her what had just happened at the bank. She sighed, put her hand on my arm, as I looked up, pretty much vulnerable on the radiation table, and she commented, "Your Mum is watching out for you." At that point, tears rolled down my face and I had to hold completely still, not wiping them away, thinking about clowns, (as one friend suggested I do during treatments, and it worked!), Weird Al, Amish Paradise, Diana Krall, Carrie, Lee and Mum. I've quickly learned that radiation (even though the time on the table is short), forces you to completely stop, concentrate, breathe deeply and hear the music.

Session #3 is history! This pic was snapped by a fabulous hospital security guard named Carm who kindly offered to take it. We ended up in conversation about faith, God, prayer, a positive attitude and much more. He's witnessed a lot during his time at PMH and told me to pray anywhere - at home, outside or even on the radiation table. He wished me luck and told me HIS job is to make people feel good about themselves! (He succeeded).

After a day of mixed emotions and high drama, took the kids to BMO to open accounts of their own, courtesy of their loving and generous Gramma. (Note: amounts blurred, courtesy of Kate).

I PVR'd my favourite show, General Hospital, earlier today and watched it back. It couldn't hold a candle to the action-packed, true life adventures of this day! Thanks Mum.

What up with that??

May 24/11

Couldn't seem to resist breaking out this funny shirt for today. My sister, Carrie, gave it to me years ago (when I was still with Global Television). At the time, I never could bring myself to put it on. Seemed kinda weird. But the further removed I am from TV, the more kick I get out of wearing it! (guess I don't mind "weird" so much anymore!) Once in a while, some old "News at Noon" or "First News" fan will say, "Hey, I remember you!" Mostly they recall my work covering the soaps. (must be tough as a soap reporter these days, since daytime dramas are dropping like flies!) But back then, I was the "Soap Diva"! Since General Hospital has always been my fave, thought I'd wear the shirt - to - (where else?) - the hospital today! Or maybe not. We'll see. Geez, gotta do SOMETHING to lighten the tone of a meeting with a Medical Oncologist!

Just hanging out, trying to be "inconspicuous"! (ya, right)
We DID see fireworks at Withrow Park last night! The rain let up and though the display was a tad more subdued than in past years, lots of friends and neighbours turned out to witness the colour, action and excitement. Among them, my son, Max, and and his adorable girlfriend, Robyn.

Max & Robyn watching (or creating?) fireworks at the park!
Back on May 9th, I wrote a blog entry called, "Raccoons, squirrels and birds, oh my!" I explained how the love of these "critters" was handed down from my grandparents, to my Mum and then to Carrie and me.

Recently, Carrie told me about a mother squirrel who had built a nest on the side of her apartment building wall. Baby squirrels inhabit the nest and she and her son, Lee, were so concerned about how the little ones would eventually be able to make their way down the high wall to the ground below. At the time, I didn't say anything to her, but secretly thought they would figure out a way to adapt - (in the same way I'M trying to adapt to my own current cirumstances).

Yesterday, Carrie sent me an email, telling me the latest in the "squirrely saga!" - in HER words:

"We have squirrels nesting in an apartment window on a lower floor. Lee and I watch them every day, and it has been fascinating. These babies have already figured out how to climb the brick wall -- which was the obstacle Lee and I were the most worried about.

The gang's all here!

"Who YOU lookin' at??"
This morning all 4 baby squirrels and their Mum arrived on MY window sill! They woke me up around 6 a.m. I had to photograph them as they were so cute. They must have "Spiderman-walked" across the vertical brick wall to get to my sill. They sat on the top of my air conditioner.

So just keep being a little squirrel, learning how to climb a giant vertical brick wall -- wondrously figuring it all out!!"

"Yippee ki-yay! I DID it! This is the coolest"!
OK then Carrie! Will do! (You don't suppose these little squirrels are Mum's way of telling us to keep going and fight our way through EVERYTHING, no matter what the friggin' circumstances?) Just wondering.

Next update (later today) - what the oncologist has to say!