Sailing soon!

June 29/12.

I'm so excited.

After all the angst and emotion of late, (family illnesses, hospital visits, anxiety), my old friend, jazzman extraordinaire Jaymz Bee (91.1 FM) invited me to go sailing on Saturday afternoon (June 30th), with some Lake Ontario-loving pals of his. The above pic was taken last summer at the jazz club, Dominion on Queen,

 at a dynamic Don Francks concert! 

I've loved Don since I first saw him in Finian's Rainbow (1968), - here with the stunning Petula Clark. Strangely, the film happened to air on TV (TCM) last night and I tuned in just in time to catch Old Devil Moon,


my fave number in the film. Sigh. Somebody bring me a fan! These two were frickin' HOT!

Today I was back at Princess Margaret Hospital for a check up. The doc wants to know how I'm doing on Abilify. Some days it helps stress and anxiety. Other days, it adds to it. Hard to tell. Playing with the dosage to see what we can come up with.

Meanwhile, since I was on the 16th floor, stopped by the pretty Max Tanenbaum Garden way above the city.

A nice sunny spot for patients to visit to get a break from cancer treatment.

Then got off the elevator at the 7th floor to check out this setting. I think it's a dance floor. Not sure.

So many places to explore at this hospital.

You never know what you might see!

Also checked out the inspirational board, as always, which told me, There is no truth in fear. (good to know!)

I had lunch at the hospital Druxy's restaurant - ham and cheese on 12-grain bread and a lemonade. (Trying to put on a few pounds and get back up to 100 again)!

When I wasn't running on the track - (or falling and skinning my knees, as you see here), I wore a couple of new dresses from Urban Planet. A white floral one to match the flowers behind me,

and a turquoise one. Couldn't decide which I liked better, so bought both - great sale. My Mum-in-law did not approve. She isn't happy about what Woody Allen called in Annie Hall, VPL (visible panty line). Told her if she preferred, I could ditch the panties ALTOGETHER and pull a Madonna look, but she wasn't impressed with that idea either! Alrighty then.

At one point, gave up on dresses, grabbed some black pants and a t-shirt, 

rushed off to Gerrard Square for the Chinese food my family loves so much.

Caught up with my musical blog mascot Aubrey Bolton who serenaded me! (as always),

and brought home some Haagen Dazs peanut butter and jam ice cream. (not MY cup of tea, but everyone else seemed to love it!)

Tomorrow? Jaymz says we'll pick up snacks from Rabba Fine Foods and then take off from Queen's Quay to go sailing.

Jaymz never fails to have a great time! (hey, wonder WHY??) Should I be bringing a bathing suit?

Holiday hobbling!

May 21/12.

Hey! This is officially my 365th blog entry!

After talking about my old Betty & Veronica t-shirt the other day, decided to drag it out, since the weather has been so gorgeous! My sister, Carrie, gave me this shirt a few years ago, and I LOVE it. I've always been an Archie comic fanatic. As a teen, was even a member of the Archie fan club! (I think I still have my membership card stashed away someplace!)

Betty & Veronica were always my faves,

especially the Double Digest books! After countless garage sales, I've NEVER been able to part with any of them!

Yesterday, spent some "exciting time" over at the auto body shop,

waiting for Sam's car to finish a servicing. But it wasn't ready yet. The body shop is just around the corner
from our first house,

on good old De Grassi Street, so went over to pay it a visit. (took forever to get around, since my foot and ankle are still in tons 'o pain from the injury I suffered running last Wednesday). But I'm trying not to let it rule my life. Who wants to stay INSIDE on the long holiday weekend when it's so beautiful out?

Drove to the Danforth on Sunday. It was a pleasure on the roads, since everyone is away at cottages or out of town someplace,

so - zero traffic troubles!

Hit Shoppers. No lineups!

Did spot Justin Bieber, still hangin' out in the cosmetics department he likes so much.

This time, he was joined by his pal, Madonna!

Then, over to Urban Nails,

to see Kevin Nguyen, who runs the place with a lot of style and finesse!

This joint is always jumping, and as someone who never EVER had nails before (bit them all my life, till a few months ago), it always astounds me to watch this salon in action! The manicurists work so hard and do everything professionally, quickly and in good spirits. There's plenty of laughter and chatter and always an abundance of pretty people getting their nails polished. There's a reason this place is so busy. It's FUN!

And when you leave,

you always feel much better! This is Cindy, a real artist! The salon had run out of my favourite shellac colour (Rosebud), so she helped me create a whole new shade by mixing it up a bit, using bright pink Gotcha underneath and the lighter, pearly Strawberry Smoothie as a top coat! She took a long time with me and the results? - Perfect! I STILL find it hard to believe I have fingernails. 

I didn't want to miss all the sunshine, (even though I can't run right now), so took a spin over to the Riverdale running track, - at least to SEE it! -

parked on Broadview, hobbled down to a park bench and sat down to do a bit of writing in a journal, and a letter to a friend (yep, snail mail!)

I SOOOOOOOOOO longed to run, (and would have had the whole track to myself!), but there was just no way. Soon I hope.

When I got home, discovered my daughter, Kate, and her friend, Cadence, were trying out some kind of new clay face mask stuff,

to detox and glorify the complexion!

Hmmmmmm. Maybe I should try it out too! In my current state, I feel like I need all the help I can get! (Maybe this mask stuff can help my foot)!

Later in the day, Kate and her boyfriend, Damian, came home from a walk. They'd discovered a box of books tossed out on the street by a neighbour. Look what they brought me! Just in time for the big House finale tonight! Can't wait to see how the very last show plays out! Sigh.

In love!

July 16/11.

What is it with me and funny men? Oh, forget it, don't even bother responding. I've always known the answer. Jerry Lewis! Fell in love with him when I was 11. The Nutty Professor and Cinderfella kick-started, (then clinched) the comedy deal for life.

Jerry as "Professor Julius Kelp" in his comic masterpiece, The Nutty Professor - (1963).

Jerry at his cutest! (I KNOW he's pointing to ME!!)


Without THIS scene, - Jerry, performing "Cute" in Cinderfella, (1960), my comedy obsession never would have been launched! Pure perfection here. I've watched this bit hundreds of times throughout my life. Nobody could EVER do it better!

Jerry's COMEDY led to my SERIOUS addiction! Pretty soon I was doing the hard stuff - The Marx Brothers...(ESPECIALLY Groucho)...

The Stooges...

and in no time, I was over the edge for physical schtick and anyone who could make me laugh. Robin Williams, Dudley Moore, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Bill Murray, David Spade, Dana Carvey, Craig Ferguson, and the list goes on forever.

Somewhere along the line, Weird Al Yankovic made my list and I had the chance to meet and interview him for Global TV numerous times, get to know him a little and to appreciate all that he has to offer, (including those cute and crazy cascading curls!)

Sam drove me to Massey Hall and took this shot, (while parked for 30 seconds on Victoria Street). I was so excited about this show, and rightfully so, as it turned out!

The scope of the parody king's talent is beyond phenomenal. He can sing in ANY style, dances up a storm, (gyrating wildly in a high-energy manner even Jerry would appreciate!), has both a beautiful singing voice AND a deep resonating, crystal clear speaking voice, plays accordian, (polka anyone??)

- keyboard, tambourine, harmonica and sends up everyone imaginable while he's at it. It's no wonder Al is so popular. He's just SO MUCH FUN to watch. He is nothing short of spectacular every second he's onstage. The members of his four-piece backup band are not only great musicians, but incredibly funny as well, and they're called upon to use their comic talents throughout the entire show.

Loved it when Al screamed to the crowd, "ARE YOU READY TO ROCCCCCCCCCCCK??" Crowd responds, "YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!" Al answers quietly, "I was afraid of that. The next song is a ballad."

In between the countless costume changes, we were treated to a string of hysterically funny videos featuring "Al TV." He does fabulous interviews with the likes of Eminem (my favourite of them all), Jessica Simpson (or is it Sampson? - you hadda be there!) and Robert Plant. (thought I was going to lose it when Al asks "Bobby", "Is there anything else I can do for you?" Plant responds seriously, "Hold hands!" Al's reaction is a riot, and then, he grabs Plant's hands, prompting a lascivious look from the infamous rocker.

For a Weird Al fan, this concert (which was being taped for a television broadcast), was the ultimate! No opening act. No intermission. Two and a quarter hours of all-Al, all-the-time! He did EVERYTHING, including Fat (i.e., Michael Jackson's Bad) - wearing the fat suit,

Eat It! (i.e. Beat It - "Get yourself an egg and beat it"), My Bologna (his first big hit - i.e., My Sharona), Lasagna (La Bamba), Spiderman (Piano Man), and YES, he DID do my favourite, Amish Paradise, a send up of the hip hop song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V. ("FOOL!") - Still one of the funniest videos ever!!

Fans were also treated to bits "featuring" Madonna, Celine Dion, Keith Richards, Lady Gaga and Donny Osmond, among many others!

Thanks for a great show Al! (you sure took my mind off everything else!!) Can't wait to see it all again on TV!

"Anytime!!!"