Lain's Log

Everything!

June 10/13.

Tonight at 9:15, I'll be undergoing another breast MRI. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).  The last one was a year ago.

This prep-shot was taken at my first MRI in 2011 on Sam's BlackBerry-cam, so it's pretty blurry - (likely a GOOD thing!) - Stylish! (not)

I have to buy a pair of earplugs to wear underneath the noise cancellation headphones, thereby quieting the ultra-loud clanging, beeping, buzzing and siren sound effects you have to endure. Also, due to a back injury 20 years ago, I can't lie on my stomach unless I have pillows or towels under my abdomen. Last time, the technician was very accomodating and found some padding for me to lie on so my back wouldn't hurt. (you have to stay perfectly still, boobs hanging through two holes in the examination table (lovely), and your face planted in a donut hole pillow for 30 to 45 minutes). Always tough. Each time I've had an MRI, I start to itch! And you can't move a muscle to scratch! Last time, I took a Tylenol 3 and a 5 mg. Valium before the test to help me lie still in a shaky state - and I'll do it again on Monday. (I'd recommend that to anyone having an MRI, as long as you have someone to drive you home afterwards!)

Nice floral hat!

Part of the test also involves the insertion of an IV needle so they can pump you full of contrast dye. Back then, I was told results would be available in 5 days, but I had to wait 12. Everything turned out well, and I'm hoping the same will be true this time.

Back to Princess Margaret Hospital for a checkup, and then to Mount Sinai for another test.

Still awaiting results of the painful uterine biopsy done 18 days ago! (Sometimes, the wait can be the hardest thing of all)!
"Backwards-working-now". On May 25th, stopped by cousin Kevio's place to say a final goodbye to my sweet littlest cousin, Sienna (who turns 2 this coming week). She and her beautiful Mum, (my cuz, Sacha) were heading off on the long trip to Malta to see Sienna's Dad, Mark. He's a water polo player there.

Sienna sure has grown since this family pic was taken when she was just three months old. This time, they'll all be there together for 10 months. As a result, Kev and Marilyn are empty-nesters and will miss them both so much. (I miss them already!)

Knowing how sad Kev/Mar would be when they had to drive them to the airport, I dropped off some flowers and a card, hoping to cheer them up a little bit. (I know what a wreck I'D be if MY kids were going away for almost a year!) They weren't home, so I left the flowers hanging on the doorknob till their return. I later found out they were awash with tears at the final goodbye, (which I was fully expecting to hear).

The next day, Tom, expert Shellac man at Urban Nails, gave me three new coats of shiny Rosebud pink at Urban Nails. Nice.

Later in the week, received an offer to write two more previews for the upcoming issue of Tribute, the movie magazine. Glad for the work and the chance to get published again. I was given one day to come up with reports -
about R.I.P.D (Rest in Peace Department, starring Jeff Bridges and our Canadian actor, Ryan Reynolds),

and World War Z, the zombie flick starring - (and co-produced by) Brad Pitt.

You have to write the previews based strictly on information and trailers, since the magazine deadline is way before the films appear in theatres. By the time I was finished all the research and writing, I'd been zombified! (have had a lifetime thing for zombies!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcwTxRuq-uk

Must say, the movie looks pretty damn scary!

Even Brad Pitt admits the zombies in his new flick are like nothing you've ever seen before!

We had some pretty iffy & weird weather in late May, but finally, May 31st was a perfect day! April showers really DID bring May flowers! (will admit, these are the flowers at our next-door-neighbour's place, as they are super gardeners!)

But have to say, our backyard is gorgeous, green and lush, and we have four new adorable little baby raccoons living somewhere back there!

That same evening, Max's band, Ghost Daze, came for one of their frequent rehearsals in our basement. I snapped a few pics. (Roadie/promo Mum).  This time, lead singer/guitarist Emmett Webb played drums, and Max played guitar. - (check out Max's Alan Alda poster on the left. Max and I are M*A*S*H/Hawkeye fanatics).

Bassist Charles Wilson took a crack at Max's acoustic guitar.

It's really fun to have a household filled with rock music! This rehearsal sounded particularly tight to me!

Later, Max dressed up to go to a downtown bar with his marimba-playing music partner, Celeste. He's not of age yet, but Max is very anti-booze, so he just went to hang out and have pop. - (these two were voted Cutest Best Friends at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts).

The next day, my old high school pal, Dean Rogers, invited me to the annual outdoor art show at Jimmie Simpson park. Naturally, it had to pour rain, (bad hair day for me!) - but we went anyway and saw tons of interesting work.

Music was provided by

Moo'dSwing.

And there was a food tent - (with unidentified items for sale).

I liked the Wizard of Oz paintings.

And the tree/landscapes. (though I got in trouble from the artist for shooting this pic). All I was doing was trying to promote him, but guess I'll leave his name out!

I wasn't too big on the dogs.

But always like anything bright and colourful!

This young artist was painting

the surroundings!
Thank you, Dean, for the invite, (and for bringing an umbrella!)

June 4th brought Frank, patio door installer from Canadian Tire, to our basement.

He gave us an estimate (our third one) on replacing the wrecked sliding doors and rotting wood, built in 1979, years before we moved in. He and his father are a team,

gave the best quote and really seem to know their craft. So, within the next month,

the broken handles and everything else will finally be replaced and we'll be able to open the doors! (at the moment, it takes two people to shove the sliding door aside! - We've been told, once it's all done, we will be able to open the doors with our baby finger! - Yay!) - Contracts are signed. Can't wait.

June 5th, enjoyed the flowers at the No Frills Garden Centre.

Didn't buy anything, but liked the way this hanging bouquet matched my shirt! ha ha!


The next morning, ready to take on the track at Riverdale Park -

and ended up accomplishing my longest run yet - 13 laps - just over 3 miles. Never thought I could EVER run three miles,

but did it with some heavy duty mental inspiration and great iPod music!


This is the sign I pass on the walk home every other day, after my run.

Following a hot shower and change of clothes, drove Max - (lookin' spiffy), to his school's Music Night.

He and Celeste played marimba together

for three tunes,

and Max had a drum solo on the song Dracula's Mountain. Proud Mum here.

Another day, spent a fortune at Shoppers, made over 18,000 extra points, and was able to buy 30 bucks worth of free stuff. Love that!

Sunday night, watched The Tonys, 


(host Neil Patrick Harris did a fabulous opening number), 

and then saw Strombo's first CNN show featuring Martin Short. Now it's time to get my head together for tonight's MRI.

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Behind in my blogging! - (no further comment here!)

September 13/11.

Got distracted by some other projects over the weekend, so actually MISSED a day of blogging. Gak! WTF? How'd THAT happen? Getting caught up now. OK?

Back to Sunday. Went to check on Kevio at Bridgepoint.

Flaunting my new American Apparel mini. (also using it as my Facebook status pic too! - Why not?? I LOVE it) - Think it's pretty funny that I stuck with PANTS for years, but suddenly, at this point in my life, pants are passe, thrown on the floor, in Value Village bags or the laundry, and all I want to do is flash skin, bare legs, skirts way-up-to-there, have frivolous fun and let the chips fall where they may. (In fact, can't find the chips anywhere. - My bro-in-law, Garth, would tell, me, "Chips are over-rated")! I'm not getting any younger, that's for sure, so let 'er rip! - OK with you? - If NOT, too bad. This above "auto-pic" was shot with my camera stuck on top of a post in the Bridgepoint parking lot on the way in to see Kev. (FYI - Always use a PROFESSIONAL photog post when you can find one). If not, then you must resort to asking a real human being to take a shot for you, and they are sometimes tough to find!

Added a mauve hoodie to this version of the outfit. Mauve is one of my favourite colours EVER!!


When I got there, discovered Kev out in the courtyard on a beautiful afternoon, hanging with his friends, Sharon Fischer Mitchell and her hubby, Paul Mitchell. I always love to find pals visiting Kev. He needs them. His fam is still away in Malta, and though Skyping is fun, it's not quite the same as the real deal. THESE people ARE!!! Kev had a blast, showing off the series of gorgeous colour shots, (on his iPAD), of his wife, Marilyn, daughter, Sacha, granddaughter, Sienna and her Dad, Mark, to Sharon & Paul. I SO wish I could put a pic or two up from the Malta trip, but I don't have official permission yet, so can't.

Reflecting back on my OWN hospital experience, it wasn't bad at all, (well, apart from excruciating pain!!) - since I got to go home the SAME day as the surgery. (April 27th - going on five months ago now), but with Kev, he CAN'T go home. And it's SUCH A DRAG, as his house is just three blocks away, (so close - and yet, so far). And he's stuck in this place, whippin' around in a wheelchair. - But always SO upbeat and easy-going.

I feel SO badly for him though, legs still in casts and having to rely on others to get him to & fro, back & forth to work, so he can work on his music.


I know Kev. I LOVE Kev. (Duh!) And am getting to know him even better, which is just fantastic.


I got Paul to take a shot of me with Kevan, bringing him a couple of mini-Heineken cans. (I mean, what is a hot, sunny Sunday summer day good for, if not, a beer or two??) I have one, Kev is "smuggling" the other, as you see. He was very happy to receive the beer!

I was SO mad I missed Auntie Ray's visit to Kevan at Bridgepoint. A friend of hers drove her to see Kev. I REALLY wanted to capture the mother-&-son-reunion thing, but it was not to be. So, on the way home, stopped by my fave spot on Broadview to see if I could TRY again to get a decent pic in front of the fab cityscape view over Riverdale Park.

One of my MOST favourite settings!

Part of our neighbourhood!

On Monday, Kev needed me to get money over to his Mum, so she could pay her cleaning woman. He got his friend, Martin, to drive him over to MY place, and give me the cash to take to Ray.


Then, my daughter, Kate came with me to deliver the money to the condo, -and Auntie Ray, was then able to pay Cleo! (spelling? - not sure - sorry, not a good editor at this moment here!)

Later, after the whole shower/hair/makeup-with-a-garden-trowel routine, went out by cab to the Toronto Marriott Bloor hotel to see my old friend, Patrick Stoner, - a "junketeer", in town for the Toronto Film Festival. Haven't seen him in years, so, it was quite a blast, catching up on SO MANY THINGS! (the hotel had decorated a table with film cans and other film festival thingys behind us!) An actual person offered to take this shot of us! LOL.

The junket circuit seems so very foreign to me now, and yet, familiar too. I also caught up with a lot of other junket gang members I hadn't seen in SOOOOOOOOO long, (MARIA BABE!!!!), (sorry, still looking for a pic!)

- And Sandie? - Beautiful as ever! (will post a "Maria pic" as soon as I FIND one)!

- and it was all great, just to shake hands with them and share a few laughs. Big-time laughter looms large in my legend right now. (line from A Hard Day's Night). Thanks Beatles!
Thanks Patrick!

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