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!

Can't keep up!

July 5/11.

Another wild & wacky day as we "countdown to closing" on Thursday.

Ready to take off to meet Carrie and the movers at Mum's. (BREATHE!!) - Miraculously, ALMOST done.
Needed to make two trips to Mum's place, back and forth to hook up with the piano movers and shelf unit movers, and pack up with Carrie in between. It was actually kind of fun and made us both feel things were getting done, crossed off the list, accomplished and ready for the final day. Sigh.

Flashback to 3 in the morning (while still emptying the old shelves), - Kate and her boyfriend Damian hang out smack dab in the middle of the mess. (Kids after my own heart, as they seem right at home in a fiasco....hmmmm, what does that say about my housekeeping?) Oh come ONNNNNNNNNNNNN! - It's not ALWAYS like this!!!!!!!! You'll see!

Saying goodbye to the old (now empty) shelving units! (did you know that flash photography shows off the dust! - well, that's my excuse anyway).

Bamboo shelves on the way out of Mum's place....

...and, (as Jim Richards of NEWSTALK 1010 would say), "The final TA-DA!" - HELLO to the NEW units here! - (which Mum loved). When Auntie Ray saw them at her final farewell to Mum's house on Sunday, she advised me, "As your decorator, I can tell you, THESE shelves are MUCH better than your old ones and you should arrange to take these!" (we hadn't even THOUGHT of this, but Auntie Ray is ALWAYS right. - So we did)! Thanks Auntie Ray! (who bought them for Mum in the first place!)
What a shock when I arrived at Mum's! Almost all the furniture gone. Can't take it.

Piano still there! (but not for long!)

Jason & Paul, superheroes of C.W. Piano Movers are on the job, removing the piano for delivery to my place - (for Kate, who officially inherits it from her Gramma)

We presented them quite a challenge. Stairs at pick-up...

A long walkway...

Cameras clicking away from both sides...

Roads to cross at delivery!

A narrow garden entrance to squeeze through...

Insane metal stairs to the back deck...

More steps into the basement...

And finally - success!! (Paul was SOOOOOO happy!) - Wouldn't have believed it, if I hadn't seen it! Gave Jason and Paul a couple of cold Diet Gingerales and a cheque for $395! Worth every penny guys! Will recommend you to our friends! (in fact, the guys got THREE requests from passersby throughout this route, asking for business cards!) - They were on their way to another piano move in Peterborough after this one. VERY busy moving men!

And so, Mum's piano is now in her grandchildren's drum/music room to be enjoyed for years to come! Kate played me some tunes in the basement and I'm anticipating fantastic jamming in the near future.



In the meantime, check THIS out! While I was working at 3 in the morning, my kids surprised/entertained me by recording this version of the Jason Mraz song, "Lucky" - (you know, the song I can't get enough of lately!) They are so fantastic! - We just bought Max this fabulous new guitar at Steve's Music Store and he loves it!

Today in the hidey hole, we are running out of toys and props, but still a few left.

These are the old blocks we played with as kids. Once more with feeling, - let's build something, before donating them to Goodwill! (I still see five-year-olds in this pic) - BONK!!

Later, while sorting through the last of Mum's things, we dressed up. I'm wearing "The Anthony Coat" - given to me by a boyfriend (how did you know his name was Anthony??), when I was 16. He worked at Malabar - the costume shop, handed us this amazing Shakespearean style coat, and we've kept it ever since. SOOOOOO many people have borrowed it over the years to dress up as everything from Romeo to a pirate! Just couldn't part with it. Too much history. Carrie is wearing a shawl, (or is it a throw?), not sure.

Last but not least, we brought up the many works of art from the basement, painted by our Gramma (Mabel Burridge). She began painting as a young teen and never stopped. What a fabulous artist. The orange flowers on the left, were painted by Uncle Ev, but all the rest, by Gram.

As for how we will divide these up? Not sure!

I sure have had a talented family all these years. Unbelievable.

We'll be back in the hidey hole on Wednesday for more work and to meet with the lawyer for final paperwork. (is this really happening?)