Hello, goodbye!!

September 22/11.

Went into major clean-up mode after blogging yesterday about the house being in such an outta control state! Won't post pics re: "accomplishments" quite yet, as there is still SO much to be done, but it's coming along! I just needed to really kick butt. (my own). Will have to do more of the same for MANY days to come to reach my lofty autumn goals.

Thank goodness for Howard Stern, on SIRIUS, who kept me company all during this complete mundane drudgery!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (mundane-drudgery-is-us!)

Tried to snap an auto-pic before taking off to see Kevio at Bridgepoint, but as usual, my photography skills were severely lacking. (my next door neighbour tried HER hand at taking a shot or two, but they were even worse than THIS, if you can believe it!! - so, went with the above horrific pic!) Seems my digi-cam is damn tricky. I really need a crash course!

Just as I was about to leave the house, (Henkell piccolos in hand for Kev), my cell phone rang. It was my "long-lost" - (now FOUND), college pal, John Axelson, from Nelson, B.C.! I SO love getting these unexpected calls from him!

He reached me via "Skype phone" - just to say hi. (I STILL can't get over hearing his distinctive voice! Such a blast! Really, just phenomenal to me!) He says he's had a very good, productive few days, working on the next installment of his book,

explaining that writing it, is kinda like working out a jigsaw puzzle in advance in his brain, one carefully concocted, convoluted piece at a time. He KNOWS what the end result should be, - the look of the finished product, but putting the pieces in place for the reader, is the trick! Have never heard ANYONE describe the actual process of writing in quite that manner. Even just a minute or two on the phone with John, is always unique and informative!

When I told him I was on the way to visit Kev, John asked me to say a special hello, because Rough Trade apparently had a profound effect on him back in the day!

Carole Pope & Kevan Staples

John claims Carole Pope broke the mold in such a heavy duty way, when it came to sexuality, (in the early '80s), that it made a world of difference to him in his own self discovery back then. Having known John only such a short, (but blindingly brilliant time) - a semester or two at Seneca College in 1975, I never knew of his love for and appreciation of, Rough Trade! Will tell Kev soon.

When I got to Kev's room, to drop off some cold Henkell on ice to sparkle up his bland dinner, he wasn't there, (still off, working on his music), but his roommate, Leo, was having HIS evening meal. My husband, Sam, had kindly made a colour copy of the blog entry I wrote about Leo a week or so ago, and I gave it to him. He read it right away and allowed me to take a photo of him with the entry! LOL.

Leo (age 79), plans on mailing this blog copy to his wife in Windsor to impress her! LOL. He's been a good companion for Kevio in rehab for weeks! They've shared close quarters for quite some time now. This week, Kev has also been sharing Vitamin C tablets with Leo because they BOTH need more immune system protection, with all the coughing, hacking and sneezing going on all around them. Yikes. Kev continues to get into his studio as often as possible, via cab and wheelchair to work on his documentary music. In the same way I tried to take MY mind off daily radiation (minus the "table top fantasy getaways"), Kevio needs to retreat from rehab and find ways to escape his current crazy existence.

After leaving Bridgepoint, I found retreat of my own at No Frills, (in pouring rain),

buying $138 worth of groceries and dragging them home, then putting them away, heating up and serving frozen pizzas - (by request!), and finally, (my fave joy of joys), changing kitty litter, also by "request" - of our cat, Tru!!

Spoke to a couple of friends by phone tonight, laughing, AND crying, then said a fond (ya, teary-eyed), farewell to my sister, Carrie, via email, as she embarks on a complex canoe trip in the morning, which will be unlike any other. Details another time! This trip involves a total of 8 participants in search of a very special destination! Travel safely gang! I'll be thinking of you!! - Oh, the stories I am bound to hear when you return from this mission/labour of love!

The Big C - Change

August 26/11.

Two and a half months ago, during the fired-up frenzy of all my cancer treatments AND trying to clear out and sell Mum's house, (days when I was pretty much a complete mess), I unexpectedly had an encounter with an old high school friend from Northern Secondary days. Les Molnar. (only the most incredible musical theatre performer ever)! - He starred in The Boyfriend and every other school show, knocking everyone out with his stage presence, singing, dancing, acting and pizzazz. He was a couple of years ahead of me when I was a geeky, awkward 15-year-old with glasses and braces. He slayed me with his confidence and continually left me in awe of his true talent. He barely knew me, but apparently remembered me as one of the shaky chorus kids in the cast.

He yelled out my name one afternoon in front of Luke's, the local convenience store, where I stopped in a daze between hospital and hidey hole visits. It was such an out-of-context connection, I didn't even realize who it was, till I looked into his eyes, and was suddenly 15 again, thinking, "Oh my God, - LES MOLNAR!" Turns out, he's really a very nice man, engaging, personable, kind, and ya, still gorgeous. At any rate, he was sad to hear of my cancer situation as well as the death of my Mum and gave me some information and advice to try and help and encourage me, then, took off into the sunset on his motorcycle.

Flash forward to mid-August, a day before leaving for vacation to Fern Resort. Les called me on the phone to check up on things. We ended up talking for a long time. Again, he gave me help and advice. Turns out, he's lost many friends and relatives to cancer and has made a study of the human body to keep himself fit and healthy. He told me about The China Study and said I should read the book. From what I understand, the study (among many things), indicates that people who consume a whole plant food/vegan diet, avoiding animal proteins, can minimize or reverse the development of chronic diseases. Les told me, in his opinion, I should give up meat and alcohol. (and also said I shouldn't use a cell phone or earpiece).

He said everyone thinks of "The Big C" as cancer, when we SHOULD be looking at The Big C as CHANGE. He encouraged me to make changes in my life, - diet, exercise, and psychological ones too, perhaps in an attempt to counteract the outta control, raging Intensity Entity and try to get back on some kind of even keel, since everything in my life has felt out of whack for so many months.

During the Fern trip, (and since being home as well), I haven't had any red meat at all. Just lots of fish, veggies and fruit. Did have two desserts at Fern though - (on the night they served their specialty, peanut butter pie!) But tried to keep the sugar to a minimum too.

(Oh, and as for the wine, that's going to take a little more work).

Yesterday, I briefly stopped in at the old stompin' grounds at Princess Margaret Hospital to see my favourite atrium and go to Druxy's to pick up a bagel with schmeer (Kev's fave) and a coffee (to counteract the hospital sludge for him!)

Then into Indigo at Mount Sinai Hospital. (yep, another hospital!) to buy Kev some new reading material at the magazine rack.

As I was walking out, noticed The China Study! Decided to buy it for myself. Les asked me to call him when I got back from holiday to tell him how things went. I just may do that, and let him know I bought the book too. My Mum always said, "God speaks through people," so maybe somebody is trying to tell me something about the changes I need to make. Who knows?

Upon arriving at Kevan's hospital room, I got a big surprise! There were no other patients in the massive room for four - just Kev, having his dinner and some other special visitors - his beautiful family - daughter Sacha and his new granddaughter Sienna (just over two months old), plus his wife, Marilyn, who took this pic!

Sacha, Kev, granddaughter Sienna and me! - If Sacha and Sienna can't cheer him up, nothing ever will!

Sienna is such a litte doll!

Kevio's big room has lots of space and a nice view of the city below.

Not long after these pics were taken, several more patients were brought in, but for a while, he had the room all to himself!

Another surprise - Kev's cousin Susan dropped by to visit and bring him some new pants! Here's a great shot of the gang.
(left to right) - Sacha, baby Sienna, Kev's fabulous wife, Marilyn and cuz Susan, Kev in front. He is a lucky man!

I was thrilled to get the chance to walk outside the hospital with Kevan and to see him doing so well in the wheelchair.

He's escaped! (at least, temporarily).
Kevan is looking forward to getting out of the hospital soon and into a rehab place so he can get some therapy and learn to put this behind him and move forward. March forth! (as my family likes to say!)

On the way out of Mt. Sinai, I ran into Tamara. She is a homeless woman who sits next to the pay parking kiosk, hoping for spare change. Here I am seeing her again, with all the visits to Kevan.

During my 16 daily radiation treatments, I brought her something every day - sometimes drinks because she likes apple juice and cranberry juice. We always had a talk and every time, she told me I'm looking good and she's praying for me. Can you believe that? Of course, she always brought a tear to my eye. Yesterday, I asked her where she sleeps. She said, "On top of the roof of the garage down the street." I gave her a few dollars, wished her luck and said I'd see her again the next day. Tamara was excited that she would be featured in my blog, even though she can't see it. I will print this section out to show her later today.

On the way home, driving along Broadview Avenue, I stopped the car in front of Jack Layton's constituency office to look at the massive piles of flowers, gifts and messages and to take a few pictures.

The city obviously misses Jack very much, and appreciates all he did for Toronto.

People like Kevan, Les Molnar and Jack Layton are inspiring to me. I am trying to make changes. For now though, I'm stepping back and just thinking about this emotional day.

Kev! (and more)

August 24/11

When I showed up at my cousin, Kevan's hospital room at Mount Sinai to visit him today, I couldn't BELIEVE what I saw! Just fantastic! He rolled out of his room in a wheelchair! Not in bed anymore! Yay Kev!!

Despite two different types of crazy leg casts, and being unable to walk or do much of anything, - he was there, right in front of my eyes, whipping around in his wheelchair, smiling, drinking the Druxy's coffee I brought him, and filled with the crazy optimism which has always been his trademark. Do you think I cried? (will let you guess). Kevio. You are da bomb.

Kev said if I could show myself after breast cancer surgery, he could do THIS. The massive step from bed to wheelchair, blows my mind and makes me KNOW he's going to be better than OK. And the look on my face? What I see here? He's my cuz! Nothing else matters at this moment, but Kevan, and him getting better. (as for HIS face? I leave that open to interpretation!!)

Carrie called my cell while I was with Kev and said she had made muffins for him and wanted to see him. Carrie and I are OLD HANDS at hospital visits, so told her I'd meet her in the lobby. Kev had already eaten the "bagel with schmeer" I brought, and then, his chicken cacciatore hospital din arrived 15 minutes later. (The man needs his strength!) - so I took off to go find Carrie. Afterall, - "Hospitals-R-Us!!"

With Carrie in the Mount Sinai lobby. Sigh. More hospital visits? Well, OK, bring it on!! Carrie spent an hour with Kev, yakking about anything and everything and was equally as thrilled as I was to see his progress.

When I arrived at Mt. Sinai to pick up the bagel & cream cheese I promised to Kev, I checked out the lobby takeout place, - "On the way Cafe", but the bagels and cream cheese did NOT look good. (How can it BE that Mt. Sinai doesn't have good bagels & cream cheese??)

NOT gonna bring Kev a crappy sandwich. Headed back to my OWN old stompin' grounds, at Princess Margaret, to go to Druxy's, where bagels & cream cheese rule! Got him the GOOD stuff there!!

Go HERE if you want a good bagel with cream cheese!!

Said goodbye to Cayr, who took over the next "Kev-shift". Then, I went to do some errands, - groceries, Shoppers and (naturally), the LCBO, where I ran into my fave street music bros, east coasters, Aubrey (left), Dana, (right). Love these guys. (and apparently, they love me too)! First, they attracted an audience of one - diehard blues fan Geoff, who couldn't get enough of their sound,(and offered to take pics of the brothers with me).

Had a great chat with Aubrey & Dana. They played some wild, rockin' tunes, and asked me how my blog is going. (they can't see it, since they no longer have a working computer).

Last time I saw them, in late July, I promised them each a beer. The store was closing, and I missed the deadline, but not today! Made good on my IOU. Cheers boys! Rock on!

Aubrey & Dana share a toast.

(they yelled their usual, "Love ya Baby!", when I took off). I think Kevan would have approved of me sharing the wealth with a couple of up-and-coming musicians who don't have casts on their legs. Pay-it-forward!