Lain's Log

Fun tymz!

June 8/12.

Can't believe another week has gone by without an entry.

Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, or something like that. (Thank you John).


Yesterday, went to the Running Room on Yonge around Rosedale. After 23 painful days, my foot/heel, finally - healing! Not going to make the same mistake again by wearing Keds on the track! (In fact, had to laugh when I told the salesman here that I wrecked my foot by running in Keds and he asked, "What are Keds?")  Doh!

Ended up buying a pair of Saucony shoes, (kind of garish green laces, but whatever), - they are very light in weight, but comfy, and according to the sales fellow (who apparently only knows about GOOD shoes), are perfect for me. He asked me to run on the wood plank floor to try them out and then shouted out to me, "Oh! You're a FRONT runner!" (WTF?) He explained only about 12 percent of runners are front runners and that's likely why I hurt my heel. Alrighty then. He swears these shoes should work for me. (at $130, they better!)

Recently, several unusual Docs
(no, not The Nutty Professor!) have been giving me some strange and rather unique advice & methods of dealing with high stress levels. (some work, some don't). But running seems to help. Hope I can do it again soon....maybe today. See you in Riverdale Park! - (Meet you there, Jerry).


While on Yonge Street, stopped in at Paperboy Cards & Gifts.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a "bit" of a greeting card fanatic, always have been, and lately, have developed a yen for sending fun cards via snail mail. Found some good ones in here, including one for my newest cousin, Sienna, who will be turning one next week! (as well as some other funny messages to be mailed soon!)

Across the street from the card shop, spotted these young girls having their picture taken while standing in the middle of the road. Not sure what they were doing or why, but it caught my eye.

Later, had dinner with my good friend, Pam Pickard at The Friendly Greek. Always great to catch up with her!

We strolled along the Danforth under gorgeous evening sunshine and came across The Simpsons in the window for It's My Party, celebrating Pride Day bigtime. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and the gang have been my pals for over 20 years. Why? Because they never fail to make me laugh.

Friends like that?

Always welcome! Ha ha!

Went inside and bought some PRIDE merchandise for my daughter, Kate, (rainbow sunglasses & boa),

cuz she is really into PRIDE DAY! (Here she is, in all her glory, at last year's big event)

and also spotted some awesome KISS masks that my son, Max, would love! (Maybe for Halloween this year?)

Earlier in the week, was finally time for a haircut/style & lowlights. Drove along Bloor past the ROM,

right down to Honest Ed's, (across the road from my salon, INI).

Upon arrival, master stylist Paul Taylor was a tad worried about my hair trainwreck, (as usual).

He always has his work cut out for him (no pun intended), when it comes to me.


But in the end, (2 and a half hours later),

he always comes through for me! Thanks Paul! Love it. (the hard part is making it look the way YOU style it!) Can you just follow me around through life with your trusty blowdryer and round brush???

While at the salon, met a lovely young woman named Krista. It was her first time at INI and she had her hair done by the talented (and very funny),  Angela. Beautiful new cut. I think she'll be back! Krista was interested in my past career at Global TV, as she goes to U of T and studies journalism. Good luck!

On the way home, noticed a HUGE sign, blurting the news to the world that a new Louis Vuitton is coming to Toronto this summer. Doubt I'll be shopping in THERE anytime soon! (Not with Honest Ed's so nearby)!

And sales at the Carrot Common mall!

In between everything else, finally wrote my Rick Springfield profile for Forever Young (after they gave me the details - 800 words and a deadline of June 7th). All done!

Now just want to see it come out in print!

Meanwhile, the Trevor St. John article (ex-"Todd Manning", & ex-"Victor Lord Jr." on One Life to Live),

about his new movie, In the Family,

also done and up and running on tribute.ca

Read about Trevor St. John here!

On Saturday, my sister, Carrie, our cousin Kev and I had lunch with the great Auntie Ray at her condo dining room.
At 92, she is a marvel and we all adore her. We had a terrific time visiting.

Carrie entertained her with one of Ray's dog toys. (she always had dogs in her life, but can't own one in the condo, so she has lots of stuffed animal toys to play with).

She also played our late Uncle Ev's harp for Ray.....

oh, now come ON! Is there ANYTHING this girl can't do?

But I think Auntie Ray's son, Kevan, is her favourite person in the whole world, (and can't say I blame her!) He's right up there on MY list! Carrie's too! Has been our whole lives. He da bomb.


This past week also featured a visit to the park, where I watched some kind of track and field event,

wishing the coach would get me off the damn bench so I could go join the real world and play! SOON!

And it was a special occasion for our son, Max, who at 17, is almost finished with grade 11 and got the chance to glam things up at Rosedale Heights in his suit and

John Lennon hat.

for the school's big Music Night, which was absolutely amazing. He played 17 numbers, four on drums and the rest on marimba,

and was called up to play the grand finale encore song - dead centre and FABULOUS! Congrats to ALL the great musicians and to the teachers and conductors who pulled it off magnificently! Rosedale is such an incredible school!


I'm tired out now! Think I'll go lie down in the park! Talk to you soon!

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hey LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADY!!!!

April 13/12.

Lucky Friday the 13th.
Driving to Orillia today to see Jerry Lewis perform live on stage at Casino Rama!

He's been my comic hero since I was 11 and caught him in Cinderfella.

Then got addicted to his annual MD telethons,

& watched The Nutty Professor about eleventy billion times. - Professor Julius Kelp with Miss Purdy
(Stella Stevens).

What were the odds the new Three Stooges movie would open in theatres on the same day as Jerry's only show? - Spread out!!!!!

Will soitenly see these 3 knuckleheads on the big screen ASAP!!! Hopefully with someone who appreciates them as much as me!! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

 

For now, it's Jerry all the way tonight. I'm told there's NO opening act. All Jerry. All the time. Can't wait.
This has always been my very favourite Jerry scene. It's from Cinderfella, (and ya, I know, I've posted it
more times than I can count).

Labels: , , , , , ,

All the GOOD news that's fit to print!!

February 24/12.

A GOOD NEWS day!

Back to Princess Margaret Hospital this morning to meet with the beautiful Dr. Koch, radiation oncologist. She had the results of my bilateral breast MRI test (done 12 days ago). I'd been having pain in the exact same spot where the lump was first discovered a year ago and the area felt the same as it did on Day One, so I was scared. The second mammogram and second ultrasound showed absolutely nothing, so the second MRI was ordered.

Yep, all decked out again in the oh-so-stylish (NOT!) medical gown. There's just NO way to make these blue rags look any better. (believe me, I've tried). Oh well, at least I was wearing my "empowerment rings" (courtesy of Auntie Ray), to add some pizzazz.

The update? According to the experts, the lump we were all seeing (and feeling) is known as "fat necrosis" at the site of the previous surgery. It's consistent with post-operative changes. The report says, "No suspicious enhancement to suggest recurrent malignancy and there are no suspicious lymph nodes on either side. Clinical follow-up is recommended."

So, what the hell? Since I was jumping for joy over the results, I dumped the drabby gown, showed a little peek of purple lace (no big deal), and wore a massive pink flower on my head. (Feeling better already)! NEXT appointment? With "The Nutty Professor", (medical oncologist), on March 20th.

(I call him that because he looks & sounds exactly like Jerry Lewis "Professor Julius Kelp" in his 1963 movie, one of my fave comedies of all time).

I always wanted to BE Stella Stevens! She got to run off with Jerry at the end of the movie,

and she was just SOOOOOOOOOO pretty!

On the way out of the breast clinic, I did a double take after catching sight of this huge poster of Dr. David McCready, (my hero). He heads the PMH breast cancer program and is the surgeon who saved my life. I remember the day of my diagnosis, I went into "reporter mode", researching info on "the best breast cancer surgeon in Toronto". I decided - He's the Man!, - and I was lucky enough to become his patient. Thanks for everything Dr. McCready!

(and yes, the "I'm a 10" headline suits him perfectly. He'll ALWAYS be a 10 in MY book! - and for countless other women as well).

On the way home in my car, spotted my son, Max, walking back from school. I pulled over on the sidewalk, and he asked if I got good news. Told him yes! All is well. He was VERY happy and then told me HE had good news too!

Turns out, his gorgeous girlfriend, Robyn, has officially been accepted into his high school (Rosedale Heights School of the Arts) in the fall. YaHOO!! (Finally, I have an "official & logical reason" to post this fab pic of Robyn's gown at the dance they attended two weeks ago. Perfect match to Max's tie!) They're both SO excited they'll be going to school together. Adios Malvern, Hello Rosedale! (with all her musical talents, Robyn will be a true asset to the school and I KNOW it's the right place for her!) - To Sharon and Tony - (Robyn's parents), GREAT decision! BELIEVE me.

Working backwards now to Thursday, ( I LOVE working backwards). I was trying to take my mind OFF the fear of MRI results, doing anything I could to concentrate on OTHER things.

Went to Fortino's at Lawrence Square,

to take my marvellous Mum-in-law, (Jean Bornstein), grocery shopping. While she squeezed the fruit, I traipsed thru the mall, checking out stores, trying on clothes, (won't tell you what), but didn't end up buying anything - except a few groceries at Fortino's. By the way, if you've never been to this Fortino's store, GO there!  HUGE aisles, TONS 'o space, you hardly EVER bump into other shoppers and the variety is phenomenal. Takes FOREVER to get through this place! My Mum-in-law was buying "Cuties" here, (the teeny tangerines), cuz my Dad-in-law loves them! (she takes very good care of him!)

After helping Mum B get the groceries up to their condo and visiting with Dad B, (who was watching a weird Christmas episode of some old sit-com on the big flatscreen in the den), stopped off to see my late Mum's old place - (hey, it's just three blocks away, and old habits die F-ing hard). I miss her so much.

Then drove downtown to my stompin' grounds - Gerrard Square, to buy a new blowdryer at Zellers. (I run through blowdryers like you wouldn't believe). To put it mildly, with my massive hair troubles, I blow them out. Bought a tiny travel one for 10 bucks. While there, the customer ahead of me began complaining to the cashier that Zellers will be closing. NOOOOOOOOOOO! She said it would be replaced by Walmart. (Later, I realized it'll be Target). - As McAdorey used to say, "I can't cope." Ai yi yi.

No more Zellers????

Blocks between Zellers & home, had to stop, cross the street and take a pic of the orange sunset. Beautiful.
Then, looked (back) across the street and saw Dana, one of the Bolton brothers, (my musical blog mascots). Hadn't run into him in WEEKS.

Seconds later, Aubrey was sauntering up the road with his guitar.

Bought the boys a couple of brews.

Aubrey (left), Dana (right). These guys are awesome players! LOVE the crazy guitar strings bouncing
in front of Aubrey's face! FYI, this pic was taken by a neighbourhood guy, Stephen Balen. He gave the Bolton Bros a donation and I asked if he would stop and take a shot of us. He kindly agreed. See you next time Stephen!

Oh, and hey, while I'm at it here, check out my sister, Carrie's latest Prickles the Porcupine & Stella the Squirrel video! (Sob).

 

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,