Rebels!

November 13/11.

Auntie Ray had a cool 92nd birthday!

Inimitable interior designer, Ray Staples surrounded by staff members at the Christie Gardens diningroom, celebrating with prezzies, cards and cake!

Screens around the seniors condo advertised her birthday, (which she shares with another resident, Elizabeth Herfenist). She's holding a packaged, shiny pashmina scarf we gave her. - Should look great at Christmas time!

Auntie Ray is SO very special to my sister, Carrie & me. Our "surrogate Mum" and link to all things past, (our own, hers, our late Mother's, our grandparents', you name it). She is SO intelligent with more insight and ideas into the world than anyone you will ever meet. A true original. We were on the verge of tears many times during the course of our three-and-a-half hour conversation with her. (as Carrie says, "You just CAN'T do an hour with Ray"!!! - Virtually impossible).

We took her outside, with her walker, so she could introduce us to her favourite plant, - (the one she swears, "claps its hands" when she walks by)! - As an artist, she tends to see things others don't!

Also went up to Auntie Ray's condo, but things were a tad discombobulated, (to say the least), due to a freakin' major overhaul happening on her floor. Unexpected water damage resulted in EVERYTHING having to be temporarily moved from its proper place to some other spot. DOH!!

Mega-stuff in ALL the wrong places!!

(this, after her dutiful son, Kevan, and devoted daughter-in-law, Marilyn - a TV set designer no less (!) spent MONTHS, putting every single teeny item exactly where it should be. (Looking at it NOW, to quote my TV fave, Ricky Ricardo, "WHA' HOPPENED")??? Ai yi yi!

Knick-knacks and chotskies galore!

(I PITY the poor fools who have to put these hundreds of items back in SOME kind of order)!!

Yikes-o-rama!

At one point, Auntie Ray called the front desk, to ask someone to please come up and move the heavy harp,

blocking her bedroom doorway, back to the livingroom,

since she couldn't get around it!! - DONE!!

Uncle Ev's beloved harp back in place!

Later, Auntie Ray insisted, since she missed MY birthday, (in October), she HAD to give me a Barbie doll, with a knitted dress, (made by one of the ladies at Christie Gardens)! She clearly recalls the obsessive love that Carrie & I had for "The Barbs" when we were kids!!

Those were the days!

While at her condo, we looked at the many fabulous Garth Haines original paintings on the walls.

Gorgeous, generous gifts

given to them, out of love, over many years of intense friendship.

My seestah, Carrie & I, outside Christie Gardens after our visit with Auntie Ray.

As I was leaving Auntie Ray's condo, couldn't stop myself from taking a pic in the pretty park just down the street! This is mid-November?? Wow!

Meanwhile, after finally getting home, went to put the garbage out, and as I was just about to toss a huge bag into the bin, spotted a raccoon in the VERY bottom, resting! Ai Carumba! - Scared the HELL out of me!!

Later, realized, this raccoon will NEVER escape without any garbage bags to climb up & over, so had to turn the bin on its side, open it up and hope for the best!! - (as of 10 p.m., "raccoonie" STILL IN THERE)!!

In the midst of all the raccoon nonsense, Sam managed to hang the magnificent mirror (which weighs a TON!), given to (our late) Mum by Auntie Ray, (and now, inherited by US), above the mantle. Not an easy chore.

My fantabulous son, Max, posed in front of the mirror, wearing his new
H & M black jacket,

and looking cooler than Marlon Brando in jet black leather in The Wild One - (1953),

or even James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause - (1955), in the sizzling red rebel leather windbreaker!

Speaking of which, is there a cooler, (or HOTTER?) shot,

than Dean, cooling his face, using a milk bottle? Unforgettable!

Cheers Jimmy!

Thanksgiving Holiday Monday - Surprises galore!!!!!!!!!

October 10/11.

The Kevio update!

Got a great surprise when I called cousin Kev yesterday to find out if he would be requiring my "special delivery Henkell services" on Saturday night at Bridgepoint. He told me he didn't need me because he's at HOME!

Yippie-yi-yo-ki-yay!!!!!!! Sadly, only temporarily, since he can't actually break out of the joint till next week, but he was able to make it home for Thanksgiving dinner! Sure was fantastic to see him dressed up in white, sitting out on the front porch of his own home - (moon-walking boots, crutches & all) and hanging out with his dog, Kalou!

I lucked out when I raced over to take the welcome home pic, since minutes later, Auntie Ray showed up by cab and I was able to witness their heartfelt, long-awaited mother & son reunion! Sure brought tears to my eyes. Gak. Auntie Ray was only able to visit Kev once at Bridgepoint and she missed him so much! (Seeing this embrace, really made me wish Uncle Ev could have been here too).

But it was great for me to see Kevan back with his beautiful wife, Marilyn (home from Malta where she'd been helping take care of their adorable new granddaughter, Sienna), - and with his Mum - (who is a tad overwhelmed)!! Love it! - Auntie Ray always knows how to steal the spotlight!!

I brought along a few beers for the celebration. (only using mine as a prop. I'm going home for a Henkell piccolo!) - I think, after this past month, Kevio will be craving Henkell!! LOL. - Cheers Kev! And welcome home!

Wanted to get a shot with Kevan and Auntie Ray, so Marilyn took one for me!

Ray and Kev - classy, classic and two of the best people on the planet!

Marilyn surprised me with a stunning silver bracelet handmade in Malta. She knows I adore silver AND lace, so this bracelet is absolute perfection! She and her daughter, Sacha, shopped at many jewellery stores to find something special. Not sure what it's called, but Marilyn explained the process of making these fabulous bracelets. Tiny strands of silver, all woven together to look exactly like lace! Ultra-feminine, sexy, and the prettiest one I've ever owned!

Marilyn also brought home this stunning TRIPLE necklace for Auntie Ray. It was bought in a Maltese shop, but made in Italy. Looks great on her!!

After leaving the family reunion, ran into my performing pals, Aubrey & Dana outside the LCBO. They played House of the Rising Sun for me. Fab. They are both outstanding guitarists and I love listening to them sing too!

Since I am President of their non-existent fanclub, AND since it was Thanksgiving, I asked the Bolton Brothers to pick ANY beer they like and I'd bring them. Dana responded, "Surprise us." I like that!

Went inside, got Henkell, (for Kev - for Tuesday and Wednesday, and for me). Chose 2 cans of Stella Artois for the boys.

The man who took this pic (no, not a construction worker from Princess Margaret Hospital), a guy named Aaron, actually hit on me in the store! (As Shatner would say, "Weird, or what???") He asked why I was buying champagne and 2 beers? Told him, - for my friends, outside! (motioning towards them). He took a look and said, "I'm looking for a girlfriend like you, and you're giving beer to THOSE guys?" I said, "Ya, they're my pals, - and they're talented!" He said, "You some kinda Christian??" I said, "Yes, I am a Christian, who just survived cancer, and I kinda like doing nice things for other people." Told him he could do ME a favour. He asked, "Carry your package to the car?" I said, "Nope....just take a Thanksgiving Day pic of me & the boys for my blog"! He did not look amused. But he took the shot anyway, then asked, "You got a man?" I laughed and said, "Yep, a husband, - and two kids." Then he ran off, but not before shaking my hand and shouting, "Nice meeting you!" LOL. Life is fun sometimes.

Aubrey & Dana with their Stellas. (cue Marlon Brando, - "STELLLLLLLLLLLA"!!!) Believe it or not, half an hour later, ran into Dana, shopping at No Frills. He wanted a can of cranberries for their Thanksgiving dinner. I directed him to the canned cranberry section. Hope they had a good meal.

And that's what Thanksgiving's all about Charlie Brown!!

Getting away

June 5/11

Mind travel.
Can't think about cancer ALL the time. Not fun.

I'm about a million other things bigger than cancer. Real things.
Things that enter the soul, wreak havoc on your brain, mess with your mind and shake it all up. Just a couple of days ago I was writing about the end of one person's life. The next day, celebrating new beginnings at a young girl's Bat Mitzvah, and anytime now, my cousin, Sacha, will give birth to her first baby and we'll welcome a new little one into our family. Big things.

I was thinking about one of my favourite movies - Woody Allen's Manhattan. The scene I love most is near the end, when Woody is lying on his couch, talking into a tape recorder about what makes life worth living - for HIM.

Woody says:

Why is life worth living? It’s a very good question. Um… Well, There are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. uh… Like what… okay… um… For me, uh… ooh… I would say… what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing…

(I ABSOLUTELY agree on Groucho!)
uh… um… and Willie Mays… and um… the 2nd movement of the Jupiter Symphony… and um… Louis Armstrong, recording of Potato Head Blues…

um… Swedish movies, naturally… Sentimental Education by Flaubert… uh… Marlon Brando,

Frank Sinatra…

um… those incredible Apples and Pears by Cezanne… uh… the crabs at Sam Wo’s… uh… Tracy’s face…

You can see the scene at the beginning of this clip.



Such a beautiful, romantic film. Adore Tracy's last line, "You have to have a little bit of faith in people."

I imagine EVERYONE has their favourite things, movies, places or people to think about to survive in this wild world. I know there are certain people I have to, want to - LOVE to, think about every day, just to hang on and make it through.

Cancer is daring, bold, out there and in your face, so you've gotta find ways to "one-up" it and stare it down. Anyone hit by it didn't expect to be grabbed up and dropped, landing in a scary spot you don't recognize. You want to get back to familiar territory, - to safety.

That's where the mind comes into play. Where can I put myself today that I DO recognize? Places that, (as Woody might say), make life worthwhile.

How about back at Fern Resort on Lake Couchiching? That's a safe haven.

Or on my favourite beach, having a Marguerita in Mexico, where the sun shines all the time, (and the "back-lighting" is always perfect!)

Cheers everyone! - Love you!
Or maybe, at Hugh's Room to see Marc Jordan! (That one I don't even HAVE to imagine, cuz it's happening! - Tonight!) Marc and his music will take me away to a different and safer place. Bring it on Marc!

"Will do Lain! - See you tonight. - Hang in there!"