Keeping up

June 15/12.

Days racing by faster than a speeding bullet again lately. Bought a Lotto Max ticket for tonight's draw at Luke's, my favourite neighbourhood convenience store on Logan Avenue. (Winning a fortune sure would be fun). I'm wearing a new top I bought a few weeks ago at H & M.

Didn't realize it at the time, but now I'm convinced I fell for the shirt because it reminded me

of this Marilyn Monroe polka dot dress! (only wish I knew how to model the way SHE did!)

When I got home,

discovered my son, Max was practicing a scene from The Odd Couple with his girlfriend, Robyn in the kitchen! (part of a culminating project for school during this last week of grade 11). Max was playing the role of slobby Oscar Madison and Robyn was helping him out by taking on the part of the fastidious Felix Unger.

Since Jack Lemmon has always been my fave actor, I've seen the 1968 movie SOOOOOOOOOOO many times. I knew every word Max and and Robyn were reciting and I even got a chance to take a shot at the scene with Max. - "Let it be on YOUR head!" (the next day, Max's teacher said their performance was "Very strong!" Yay)!

This week, I've bounced back and forth from running the track or walking the trails at Riverdale Park every day,

sometimes doing exercises in the shade of all the trees,

to shopping in the hot summer sun at Gerrard Square for groceries, Father's Day gifts

and a new Jabra bluetooth earpiece for my iPhone, bought for me by Sam. I've run through 5 of these babies (all different makes) over the last 5 or 6 years and every single one of them has given me trouble. They always seem to cut out altogether at the most inconvenient times. Thought this one would operate well, but seems it's actually an iPhone problem, so they have to exchange my phone to allow this thingamajig to work! Getting the new phone tomorrow.

Every week, I also spend some fabulous quality time, compacting garbage or recycling in the massive bins. There's never enough room, so I have to jump on it. Neighbours must think I'm outta my mind, (and they'd be partially right I think).

After all that jumping, was ready to head back to the park to run again.

Still haven't been able to get back up to five laps since my ankle injury. Can only do two (800 metres), but I'll get there one of these days.

Then, it was off to Azure Production on the Danforth,

to pick up my long awaited voice-over demo discs and pics. It's been almost four months since I recorded the demo at the TA2 Studio. Took weeks before I received a finished product and now, they're ready to be sent out. Used a couple of shots taken at the sound board and in the recording booth.

 Who knows? Maybe I can actually get some voice work!

Later, dropped in on my sister, Carrie, to give her a present. A new Prickles the Porcupine puppet!

Of course she's going to keep the original, (but the poor little guy has been through the mill during the Stella the Squirrel escapades). Carrie says the "new guy" can be Prickle's bro! Alrighty then!

 
In case anyone missed out on the Prickles and Stella events, here's one of the many episodes Carrie shot and edited featuring the creatures. In this one, Prickles becomes a babysitter!

 

And if you never saw the "Stella gives birth" episode, here it is. You can hear Carrie's gorgeous singing voice in the background during her original song "Mother Son". The song also features Carrie's nephew, Lief Mosbaugh. GREAT, heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melodies. I am so proud of my sis for everything she does. (Hey PNo! - you sure know what I mean, right)??

Cayr was just back from a long trip to New York State with her son Lee (soon to turn 17). They were off to a weekend baseball tournament. It was a ton 'o driving for her, but she got there safely and Lee's team wrapped up the two days with three WINS and one loss.

They celebrated by taking over a restaurant for dinner. That's Lee, second kid on the left side, in grey. Congrats gang on the well-played games!

And congratulations also to the parents and family members who got the kids there and cheered them on. GREAT job. Carrie is on the right, holding up her celebratory glass of wine! Cheers!

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!