trying to be ...

Catching up

2011-11-27T13:34:00.000-05:00

What's new with you?
What's new with me?

Sunrise in November from my balcony

I am enjoying my blue collar job at Canada Post. I am enjoying a reasonably active Toronto social life. I sent out some Christmas cards. I will try to go into the more interesting details in another post soon. I want to get back to communicating.

I have never been much of a writer.

2011-10-02T22:25:00.000-05:00

I have never been much of a writer!
Plus I forget things a lot.
This could be why I stopped writing this personal blog.

My life does not change much day to day or week to week.
But it has been a long time since my last confession.
Forgive me reader for I have sinned. I have left this blog alone along with all the blogs I used to visit and comment upon. Maybe it was a move to fb and twitter and all that the time the Stroumboulopouli blog takes up. Maybe it's because I worked in Government offices I wanted my private life to be less public. Not that I have anything to hide... I don't.

Working currently as a casual mail clerk in a mail sorting plant. I am a bonnified unionized blue collar worker for as long as there is work. So please mail Christmas cards this year if you can. Thanks!

I am still single and I am more okay with that than my friends want me to be. They want me to go out there and date. That sounds like it will complicate my life a lot.
I know I have no more readers on this blog left but I wanted to get this down on the screen just in case anyone was wondering if I am still around.
I am for now!

Casettes

2010-08-08T12:38:00.001-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Remember when you would listen to the radio and hope that one of your favourite new songs would be played so you can tape it on your blank cassette tape. It was one long and tedious way of collecting new music. But it was summer and you had nothing better to do with your time. The DJ on CKGM would talk over the beginning of the song and ruin or add to the songs recording uniqueness. If you were lucky you would have a walkman so you could listen in private to your mix tape. Or you could put the tape in your brothers hi-fi stereo and hope the tape does not get 'eaten' by his tape player and you get caught trying to get your ruined tape out... He should have used a tape head cleaner on his machine. What's wrong with him?

I did buy music. 45s and Vinyl Albums but if there were songs no one in the family owned and they were on the radio and we went to all the trouble pressing record after waiting patiently then we earned that song. I am sure concert ticket purchases were soon to follow. The technology did get simpler to make recording whole albums and tapes easier but I was never one to be the first on my block to own the newest equipment. That's what boyfriends did. A mixed tape they made for you was a prized thing.

These days I don't download music without permission. I buy the tune online or at the record store or directly from the artist. Sometimes a tune is given by the artist and I appreciate that too. I did make myself mixed CD's I can listen to in the car but I paid for all those songs.

What brought this up? I was just listening to ELO and thinking that it's time I bought this tune I once recorded off the radio and pay the Artists for their work.

Long weekend in Montreal

2010-08-02T20:36:00.000-05:00

A cheesy stop along the 401 highway.

Centennial Lake DDO

Rue St. Paul

Talented bilingual juggler

Montreal wall art on St. Laurent

Plaza at Place des Arts

Christopher's car

Saw Nile Seguin here

A friend of mine had never been to Montreal so I told her I would be her guide on August long weekend. This weekend is a holiday weekend in Ontario but not in Quebec. The drive was easy going to Montreal and only a little congested coming back. Highlights for us were: apple pie, hot dogs, smoked meat, spotting rabbits, spotting warblers then a coyote in a graveyard. Going to comedywork, talking to Nile after the show, going to see Inception (in an uncrowded theatre), Buying alcohol at the corner "dep", being a participant in a juggling act and getting to ride in a pimped up mustang! Meeting Chris who owns that mustang. Going to St Josephs Oratory. and finally buying bagels and cookies to take home. Not all in that order.

PWYC Comedy in Toronto

2010-07-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

I went out Monday night to support and enjoy local comedy in Toronto. I try to get to the 'pay what you can' shows (5$) because that's not totally beyond my entertainment budget. Free shows are even better. I keep my eye out for those too.

I am looking for a Comedy Buddy in Toronto to go to these shows with once or twice a month.

Planning a trip back to Montreal

2010-07-26T12:05:00.000-05:00

This long weekend coming up I am hopping into my friend Cheryl's car and we are headed east down the 401.

Montreal is a city that Cheryl has never been to. I am from Montreal but had visited Toronto many times as I was growing up. As a child I thought everyone traveled back and forth on the 401. Since I have moved to Toronto to my surprise I encountered Ontarians that had never been to Quebec at all! I will have to fix that one visitor at a time.
I am really looking forward to showing her around my favourite island.
This trip will include Old Montreal, Mount Royal and Crescent Street.

I am also looking forward to see all my family there! There is no place like home!

It's been a long time

2010-07-23T17:36:00.001-05:00

I wanted to just let you know that I am still around. I am still living in Toronto. I still write on the Stroumboulopouli blog. I may get back to the habit of writing here again. I would not be surprised if no one replies.

Currently I am melting in the heat.
Dog sitting.
Looking for job.
Hoping for a windfall.
Planning to visit Montreal soon.

A friend emailed this to me.

2008-06-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS . . .

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice. "

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many. )

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

(also remember -- you can only do one phone call at a time

it doesn"matter how busy the que is ---"PapaBear")

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K. M. S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus. "

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

"If God is for us, who can be against us? "

(Romans 8: 31)

BE WELL. BE SAFE. BE LOVED.

Happy Birthday to the Stroumboulopouli!

2008-05-30T13:16:00.016-05:00

Happy birthday Stroumboulopouli!

You are two now? My goodness, how you have changed!

The first two pictures are from the set of the season finale of The Hour {season two}, mid June 2006. The other one is of George and Janna when he was visiting Calgary a year later.

-------------------------------------------

I want to share my personal perspective about this blog with you.

Why did I help start a blog about The Hour in the first place?

Life is a short journey. You may not have time to examine all the entertainment highlights, news events or politics that happen in the world as you speed through your week. It goes by in a snap or an HOUR

In December 2005, I was thirsty for the Canadian perspective and switched from watching CNN for ‘world’ news to watching Newsworld, which was back better than ever from that strike that turned us to CNN in the first place… So it was then that I first noticed The Hour.

The Hour is described as a factual entertainment show. To me it’s much more than that. When a Canadian program explores issues, music, arts, politics, great ideas with so much humour and charm it wakes you up to what is out there and what you are missing by not paying attention.

In January 2006 I started a blog just to explore what blogging was and to work through my personal grief about loosing my boyfriend to lung cancer… It had been a year and a half since his death and I needed to try to move ahead with my life. I was looking for a focus.

In my personal blog I wrote about a lot of things, and I would occasionally touch upon some topics The Hour had featured and, through The Hour own website’s ‘blogtracker’, I found other bloggers that blogged about The Hour on occasion as well.

We became a small but growing community of fans that were linked by The Hour. With blessings from The Hour a group of us started the Stroumboulopouli on May 30 th 2006.

The name Stroumboulopouli is the plural of Georges last name, and should you wish to know it's created source, the credit goes to "Jeremy at The Hour and Deana at Sunday".

Incidentally, did you know about this spelling rule for George's name: "U after O, except after L." It's like "I before E, except after C," but better....

The Hour was in season two and was experimental in style and form. It appealed to the bloggers that like to discover the indi groups before anyone else had. It appealed to all ages. It appealed to women and men, but only women seemed to want to join the blog (so far).

When I first started watching, George used to start the show with “Hi, I am your buddy George and this is The Hour.” That invite made the show sweetly personal. Not sure why he changed it to “Your Boyfriend George”. Should I ask him? Maybe that's why women are more comfortable expressing their regard...

In seasons one and two, the show was live, and writing an email to The Hour at the beginning of the show could get your email read on air before the show ended. It was like watching an amazing performance in a small club where you can shout out a song request when you know the artist should be playing stadiums. He is singing to you now but you want him to have that success that will sadly reduce that interactive personal element so more people can be reached. Well, less live and interactive coast to coast, with the exception of the now live studio audience.

Going to a taping can be a more personal experience. If you are Toronto when the show is taping or can be there when it's on the road by all means book a seat or two. Or like many people do, have a conversation with George when he is talking to you from the other side of that glass. (I do not!)

Another show we feature on this blog is a Strombo production and worthy of frequent mention. The Strombo Show is a radio show George and Bob Mackowycz Jr. host. The radio show tries to bring back that live interactive element that can no longer be offered on The Hour. It's where you can still shout out those requests. I think George needs that as much as the audience does...

The original members of The Stroumboulopouli were Barbar a B, Jas, Alana, Allison, Becky Evelyne and myself (Barbara W.) With schedules changing, school, work and life getting in the way plus disappointment from some that The Hour had become mainstream and was no longer available in that smaller venue where it was so much more personal… people moved on. New bloggers came along, Heather, Angie, Brooksie but for various reasons could not stay.

Many times I find friends and new blog contributors through commenter on the blog or on George’s MySpace page. Tracy, Mich, Steph A., Janna and Jen make up the Stroumboulopouli now and have been helping me celebrate a wonderful show and two years that have gone by in a snap, or an Hour. I have many people to thank for contributing to this blog, the readers, the bloggers, former bloggers, guest contributers, friends, and family for understanding and sometimes sharing this obsession.

I also want to thank George Stroumboulopoulos and the crew and former crew of The Hour and the Strombo Show for making it personal. They inspired the path that lead me from standing still in Montreal to getting back into life and moving (literally to Toronto) but metaphorically forward. I have discovered and rediscovered friendships, music, comedy, movies, creative writing, photography, geography, books, ideas… not conceived by The Hour but for me, the spark was reborn there.

I am being, not just trying anymore

2007-10-29T20:18:00.000-05:00

I want to write a post about how my life is going now but I feel reluctant...

Is it because of work?

That's part of it.

Work is going well and I have applied for a longer term contract.

Wish me luck.

Is it because I have just started dating again and I am not sure how that will go?

That's part of it.

It's going well but it's early stages...

I don't want to jinx it.

Is it because I have less time online because of facebook, myspace and the stroumboulopouli?

That's part of it... but I enjoy those things.

Are there better things to do?

Yes live performances of comedy and music and whatnot..

maybe all that is part of why I don't blog here as much anymore.

Maybe the reason I started this blog is not as valid for me anymore...

that is part of it too.

Barbara W.

Still alive and I have recent pictures to prove it..

2007-10-19T21:31:00.001-05:00

Visit to the Island on a Saturday in June

2007-07-01T10:12:00.000-05:00

Who knew Toronto had such nice beaches so close by.

A happy discovery.

Since Ontario is mine to discovery I am going to spend some weekends exploring it a bit.

I know I know it's been a long time

2007-05-18T18:32:00.000-05:00

Not sure there is a reader left...

It's been a long time since I posted on my 'own' blog.

I have been busy working.

I have also been busy playing.

It's a balance of social life, hobby and financial obligations.

I have a job I like, and a second job I like, and sometimes a third job... seems to be no shortage of jobs in Toronto if you look hard enough.

The is no shortage of things to do in Toronto either.

In the past two weeks I have been to two Art shows, a comedy night, a taping of The Hour where Gene Simmons was one of the Guests... That was interesting. all of that was free...

I may not need my own blog so much anymore.

I have worked out a few things that the blog has helped me work out.

I may be ready for what's next...

what ever that is.

I did an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos. That will be available soon on the other blog, the Stroumboulopouli.

It will be half an hour long. I know that sounds long.

We may do more interviews like that... maybe that is what's next

Just being Barbara

Sick of the old purse?

2007-04-15T14:12:00.000-05:00

I never gave it a thought. Who'd a thunk?
Have you ever noticed gals who sit their purses on public restroom floors - that go directly to their dining tables? Happens a lot! It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress. Sometimes "what you don't know 'will' hurt you"!
Read on...
Mom got so upset when a guest came in the door and plopped their purses down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up the buffet. She always said that purses are really dirty, because of Where they have been. Smart Momma!!! It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our purses, do you have any idea what's on the outside?
Shauna Lake put purses to the test - for bacteria - with surprising results. You may think twice about where you put your purse. Women carry purses everywhere; from the office to public restrooms to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their purses, but did you ever stop to think about where your purse goes during the day?
"I drive a school bus, so my purse has been on the floor of the bus a lot," says one woman. "On the floor of my car, probably in restrooms." "I put my purse in grocery shopping carts, on the floor of bathroom stalls while changing a diaper," says another woman and of course in my home which should be clean."
We decided to find out if purses harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, then we set out to test the average woman's purse.
Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their purse. Most said they usually set their purses on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared. Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their purses were at least a little bit dirty.
It turns out purses are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked. Microbiologist Amy Karren of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the purses tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria.
Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the purses could make people very sick. In one sampling, four of five purses tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. "There is fecal contamination on the purses," says Amy.
Leather or vinyl purses tended to be cleaner than cloth purses, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier purses than those without, with one exception. The purse of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. "Some type of feces, or even possibly vomit or something like that," says Amy.
So the moral of this story - your purse won't kill you, but it does has the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your purse at home and in restrooms, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop. Experts say you should think of your purse the same way you would a pair of shoes. "If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your purse on the countertops" - your purse has gone where every individual before you has spat, coughed, urinated, emptied bowels, etc! Do you really want to bring that home with you?
The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a purse will help. Wash cloth purses and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather purses.

Thanks to Susan for this email warning..

Barbara

I did it now I'm too frozen to watch

2007-03-30T16:42:00.000-05:00

I mentioned on my other blog that I wanted to do my Best Story Ever for The Hour.

It was an exercise in exploring the medium, that aspect of participation, and it was an exercise in exploring my feelings in my grief. My story is about that grief and the hardest day of my life. When I decided to tell this story I was pretty calm about it. It's about Graham and I am very proud about who Graham is and what he means to me. For those who don't know me well. Graham was my boyfriend who passed away 3 years ago in June.

I taped the story 3 dozen times and took it over to The Hour twice, without feeling what I experiencing now. I just saw now that the story has been posted on The Hours website. I saw that, and I ran away... I am frozen. I can't watch.

Where the hell did that brave woman go?

I think I will just ... I don't know...
You can go see it and tell me what you think... go to www.cbc.ca/thehour/ click on Best Story Ever on the sidebar...

for Graham

All Moved

2007-03-18T13:21:00.000-05:00

If you have ever moved You may recall the stress, the planning, the lists of things forgotten, the things that will break and the 100 things you need to buy for the new place.

I am in the new place now and I still have a lot of that to do.

Which reminds me I better write down the list of things I need to buy as soon as I find where I packed my pens...

A broom for one, then I need to find the part of my vacuum that has motor on it... then a dish drainer thingy... these are all great excuses to not clean up but if I'm going to have a house warming party I should take care of this.

Toilet paper... oh yeah.. I better go shopping again... I wonder where my pen is..

In other news I did a radio interview yesterday.
I will tell you more about it on my other blog in a few days.
It was all about The Hour and George and the blog called The Stroumboulopouli.

be organized?
Barbara

Unsettled ready to settle

2007-03-05T22:08:00.000-05:00

I am on the verge of moving... most of it is packed. Plans are falling into place. Friends are getting their excuses ready... LOL

Don't worry It will only take a few good people.
I can't wait to blog from my new place.

I started a new Temp job last week and it is going well so far. I work for the govt. That's all I am gonna say about that. No I am not a spy. Is there such a thing as Temp spies? Nor do I want to be a spy. I am just a receptionist and not the Miss Moneypenny kind.

To change the subject;
The new name for Jian's new radio show is.... still undecided. Do you have any more suggestions? I think I ran out of suggestions ...

I should be posting more again soon

2007-02-27T19:23:00.000-05:00

In the mean time....
I am in the mood for Green eggs and ham.

2007-02-21T18:17:00.000-05:00

I have been neglecting this blog a bit in favour of projects I am

working on for the other blog.

Please see my latest post on the stroumboulopouli

Happy love day!

2007-02-14T07:21:00.001-05:00

I found this quote in The Globe and Mail the other day.

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food"

George Bernard Shaw.

Sorry slow to post

2007-02-11T13:51:00.000-05:00

I don't announce I won't be posting for awhile because I never know that in advance...

I am looking for a new job because I only have two weeks left at my current temp job...
I have some interviews this week coming up. I remain hopeful. I am settling down nicely in Toronto and I am ready for a permanent job. Being bilingual seems to help get my foot in the door around here.

What fun things have I done since my last post?
I went to see The Golden Dogs last Friday night at Lee's Palace. That have improved a lot as live performers since this clip was shot.

I watched the entire series of Twitch City this weekend ... all 13 episodes on DVD.

Twitch city was funded in part by CTF and is exactly why we need to remind our cable companies to support Canadian productions. We pay them our hard earned money and I want part of that to support Canadian writer, actors and production companies.
Jim Shaw Jr, of Shaw cable and Karl Péladeau of videotron are just trying to keep the money you all ready gave them, to support Canadian TV, for themselves. Jerks!

http://www.friends.ca/Cable-Commitments

Sunday one culture, Monday another

2007-02-01T18:54:00.000-05:00

I finally changed my Quebec Plate for some Ontario plates...
Je me souviens all the good times in Quebec.
Now I am discovering Ontario has all kinds of culture!

I have had a significant week...
It started with Sunday. My friend Wendy had invited me to see her class perform their final exam. The class was an improve class and the final exam is held in front of an audience at Second City or in this case just down the street. It was a full house and I invited my friend E to come along. Wendy, E, and a group of friends had just gone to The Hour together in January. So this invite sort of came about from that. The performances were very brave, plucky sometimes funny, sometimes not... that's improv for you. I got invited out to dinner with the improv class... Of course I went. Some of these people are going to be famous one day... It was a blast just chatting with them over nachos.
Thank you Wendy for that unique look into the comedy culture of Toronto.

Monday. My friend Lorraine and I went to see Not Just Another Benefit. It's a show put on by the folk music scene
to support Marie-Lynn Hammond after she had a serious riding accident.
Musicians don't get good medical coverage if you know what I'm sayin', hence the need for this support effort from her friends in the music business.
We knew Jian Ghomeshi and and fellow Moxy Fruvous member Mike Ford were performing. Also performing were Stuart McLean, Don Ross (amazing what he can do with a guitar), Rick Salutin (teacher at Ryerson), Sylvia Tyson, and Marie-Lynn Hammond herself performed along with many others... It was a very cool Canadian wide and local folk music culture scene.... It was one amazing night. Thank you Jian for being so nice and spending your time hanging out with us.
Jian had to leave and go catch up on some sleep but Lorraine and I stayed and enjoyed a great finish. The entire cast of performers got back on stage and sang a song called Not Another benefit.
Cheers!

A song that I can't help liking.

2007-01-24T19:23:00.000-05:00

Months back I found featured this song on Will and Ben's Record Room.
It appeals to me for cultural reasons that come from my mothers family. They have roots in the Liverpool area of the UK . This song comes from that area with a language about it that I just adore.
Cup Of Tea by Shack

A wonderful woman sent this to me. Thanks Sue!

2007-01-22T19:42:00.000-05:00

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother.
As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter."Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. They'll be more important as you get older.No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters.
Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. "Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too.
You'll need other women. Women always do.

"What a funny piece of advice!" The young woman thought.
Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world?
I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my worthwhile!"

But she listened to her Mother.
She kept contact with her sisters and made more women friends each year.
As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about.
As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.
After almost 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.
A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I.
When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.
Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day,we need each other still.
Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

Post # 300. Facing the future.

2007-01-19T20:05:00.000-05:00

As far as I know it's not all about me.

But I am faced with the fact that
I have to take better care of me.

There are a few realities that I have to face
and a few challenges.
all links are random examples...
One: Find an apartment I can afford.
Apartment hunt ?
Two: Get a permanent job I enjoy.
Jobs I want?
Three: Oh I don't know, find a boyfriend...
Singles group?
Four: Take courses that will help me do what I want to do.
Classes?
Five: Take a vacation because all that sounds tiring...
Travel?
Six: Take care of all that paperwork I have been putting off.
OHIP ?
Seven: Save some money in case I live long enough to retire.

Books, Newspapers and Magazines

2007-01-18T19:41:00.000-05:00

What do you like to read?
I find myself reading more newspapers as of late. For the most part it's for research. It's a great resource!
Some magazines catch my short attention span like Readers Digest and Macleans...
Reading blogs seems to take up more of my time and now I am scrambling to find time for books. I have 3 or 4 books just waiting for me to sit down and finish them.
I wanted to remind people of this event coming up.
I was always encouraged to read all I can. My family is a family of readers.
Just a little note from my boss.

As you may know, ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is the national coordinator of ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day®, held annually on January 27. This special day promotes the importance of reading and learning as a family, and encourages the development of lifelong readers.

For more information on ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day®, please visit: www.abc-canada.org

Sincerely,

Bryan Cantley
VP Member Services
Canadian Newspaper Association

Le 2 janvier 2007

Madame,
Monsieur,

Comme vous le savez, la Fondation pour l’alphabétisation ABC CANADA est la coordonnatrice nationale de la Journée de l’alphabétisation familialeMD (JAF) qui se tient tous les 27 janvier. Cette journée spéciale vise à souligner l’importance de la lecture et de l’apprentissage en famille et à encourager la formation de lecteurs à vie.

Pour en savoir davantage sur la Journée de l’alphabétisation familialeMD, visitez www.abc-canada.org.

En vous remerciant encore une fois pour votre soutien continu à la cause de l’alphabétisation, nous vous prions d’agréer, Madame, Monsieur, nos salutations distinguées.

Bryan Cantley,
vice-président, Services aux membres

I posted this news on my other blog

2007-01-17T19:46:00.000-05:00

All I will say here is....
I think I will be listening to CBC Radio One much more!

The list you may heard before... from my emails

2007-01-13T22:56:00.000-05:00

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

I got this list from my email... I took off all the stuff that tells you to pass it along...
that part of emails bugs me... but I like what it's saying without that.

Diet issues?

2007-01-13T14:00:00.000-05:00

Not diet! Just life style changes. You just have to decide to do it.
I don't drink soft drink anymore. I drink more water. I don't have the meal deal when I do eat at a fast food joint I just have the burger, no fries, no drink.
I don't think in terms of what's for desert. Sweet things are only bought when I really want them...
I 'trick' myself into walking more. I listen to music as I walk to keep me distracted. I walk home 6k when the weather permits. I'll walk to the next subway station if I can rather than the one closest.
I don't need a gym, or classes or diet food, or an exercise tape... those are all nice but they don't work for me. Just making a few choices to eat better and walk more and not to worry about the results... that works for me. I have lost over 35lb over the past 2 years...and I feel so much better for it.
At 41 I am in better shape than I was at 31.

Me 4 years ago compared to this past July.

Or Now... I don't think I could have done this 10 years ago.

Jan 4th 2006 I started blogging

2007-01-03T22:33:00.000-05:00

This is post # 295

This is the link to my very first blog post.
http://barbwheeland.blogspot.com/2006/01/introduction.html#links

When I started blogging this time last year I had no idea where it would bring me.

It brought me to good friends like the stroumboulopouli and the strombo forum and many more on the links to your right.

I met interesting characters like Kyle of One Red Paperclip.

I met George Stroumboulopoulos and Jian Ghomeshi of The Hour along with the wonderful crew of The Hour. The one member of that crew that was key in nudging my life in a new direction is Jeremy, the original Web Producer of The Hour. He linked this blog to The Hour's website via the blogtracker when I wrote a post about George breaking the news about Jose being traded...Over the next few months Jeremy answered my emails and sparked my brain. was that just this past spring? Bloggers gathered, we created the stroumboulopouli and by doing that with Alana, Allison, Becky, Barbara B, Evelyne and Jas, it gave me more inspiration and more confidence to do different things. George is my inspiration as well. He tend to inspire all kinds of people, as I meet more and more of his fans I hear it all the time. You too eh?

I moved to Toronto over the summer because there is more opportunities in the media industry and more things for me to blog about.
I'm a Leo, I need to be in the action.
I love to be free to go to The Hour if I am going to write about it.
I need to grow and stretch and learn and experience new things and blog about it...this blog is a testament to that.
I do currently have a job in media and it's giving me great experience. I won't say where.
You got it, I don't blog about everything. I hope my blog is entertaining to you. To me it has been a therapy helping me in my period of mourning to become who I am today. I started it trying to be... able to step to the next level in my life.

I have taken many small steps and missteps (you learn more from those) in this last year.
I would like to thank all the people in my life, my family, my friends on-line, my friends in Montreal past and present, my co-workers, my new friends in Toronto, all the people who put up with me. So sweet of you.

My love is Graham MacNicoll who died on June 2nd 2004. The journey with you in it for those three years helps me get through the rest of lifes journey. I feel your energy around at this moment and in odd moments.
I wish you were here physically every day. How different would that journey be?

Don't worry about me Graham, I won't be sad and I won't be lonely. Those were not things I was trying to be, but things I was trying not to be.

Being myself now that I know who that is.
Barbara W.

Cheers!
Happy New Year!

Forget the nation of Quebec. Welcome to the youtube Nation

2006-12-28T12:28:00.000-05:00

As a Quebecer I never did figure out what a Quebec Nation is... or who it is... or what it means...
But this song is about something I can relate to.
The youtube Nation

My snow friend

2006-12-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

We did not get a white Christmas.
But tradition calls for extra chaos on the roads
and in the parking lots for the boxing day shopping frenzy
so it snowed a lot today.

I avoided all that and build a snow friend instead....

2006-12-21T19:11:00.000-05:00

Keeping the volume down

2006-12-19T07:24:00.000-05:00

I have not posted much about Christmas.
I do celebrate it.
It's just I am keeping the volume on that holiday way down.
I don't feel like dealing with it at level 10.
Level 2.5 will do.
I shop, I wrap, I party and make the plans, but I am not into decorating for it or the music or the over the top stuff.
Low anticipation, low expectations no disappointments...

Happy birthday Jesus!
Not sure when your birthday really is but thanks for your gift to us.
The spirit of love.

Mathematics

2006-12-17T09:31:00.000-05:00

ROMANCE MATHEMATICS
Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy
______________________________
OFFICE ARITHMETIC
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime
______________________________
SHOPPING MATH
A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn’t need.
______________________________
GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
______________________________
HAPPINESS
To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.
______________________________
LONGEVITY
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.
______________________________
PROPENSITY TO CHANGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, and she does.
______________________________
DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

Got this Gem in my email.
Thanks Susan.

Be the change...
Barbara W.

What's up?

2006-12-16T21:48:00.000-05:00

Since the C Lounge party, I was given a free ticket someone else had won from a radio station to the yet to be released Rocky Balboa movie. A lot of VIPs were there. I know I sat beside a couple of reserved seats. The guys that filled those seats were good looking, smelled nice and I have no idea who they were...
The movie itself... 2/3rds painful and 1/3rd good fight scene. Go Rocky!

This weekend I got most of my Christmas shopping finished. I will visit family tomorrow and do a little pre celebration in fact this entire week will be pre celebrations before I go back to Montreal for the real celebration.

Way behind in the blogging catch up game... sorry I haven't had time to visit everyone.

here is my random playlist for this week.
1. Longer - Dan Fogelberg
2. Roadhouse Blues (live) - The Doors
3.From Hank To Hendrix - Neil Young
4.Farmhand Freeda - Seabone
5.Intro - Muse
6.Take it Outside - BNL
7.People Think They Know Me - Sloan
8. Get More With Jukebox plus- ?? - Music Match??
9.A Certain Romance - Arctic Monkeys
10. Working Full Time - The Constantines
11. Gulf War Song - Moxy Fruvous
12.When I Grow To Old To Dream - Linda Ronstadt

Have a great festive season!

The MMA Christmas party.

2006-12-08T21:56:00.000-05:00

The highlight and freezing point of the Martini night
was the Ice Garden featured at the C Lounge.
It was sooo cccold my hands were shaking as I took the pictures.
The hot spiced rum cider helped a bit.

I met a lot of interesting people there.
I met an Actor with his entourage, a fireman, a salesman that sells events for the CN Tower, and an RCMP officer. You just never know who you are going to meet...
I did a little networking, then I left early, because the next day I worked
I think that is how it's supposed to go in Toronto...

Thank you!!

2006-12-04T23:05:00.000-05:00

Thank you for voting for The Stroumboulopouli blog.
The Stroumboulopouli won third place in best Canadian Group Blog at The Canadian Blog Awards. Go to http://cba.myblahg.com/ to see all the finale results. A lot of good blogs won.
Thank again!

Night at the circus part 2

2006-12-02T23:40:00.000-05:00

I am back from the Wonderful World Of Circus school and I will tell the story with pictures.

Now this is what I call an exercise class!!

I have not been to an exercise class since College (20 years ago)
The night started with a 4 lap run around the gym, then stretches, then we broke up into groups and started on different equipment. My group got to do the trapeze first. That was the most challenging and the most fun.
The trampoline was my next favourite I think.
Still have not got the hang of the stand-sit-up and turn thing but it's fun trying.
I won a ticket to the Christmas party on Thursday so I have plans for Wed. night (going to see The Hour) then plans for Thursday. Looks like a busy week.

2006-12-02T15:28:00.000-05:00

Tonight I am joining a circus school!

Well only for the night.

It's an event I won a ticket to from MMA.

the ad for it on the site has this to say:
Curiosities once only satisfied by a vivid imagination come to life at The Wonderful World of Circus. Imagine that you are flying through the air with the greatest of ease on their hanging trapeze and learn to balance your way across on a beam simulating a high wire, as well as several additional circus art forms. Safety is a priority while you experiment with the hanging trapeze, stationary trapeze, trampoline, tight wire, aerial hoop, aerial silks, acrobatics, juggling and bungee acrobatics to name but a few.

This is where my dreams of flying will become realised... I hope.

I don't think I will be making a career out of it but it's fun to try these things once.

Google game! credit to Missus B. of myspace

2006-11-29T20:34:00.000-05:00

This is what you can get if you google " name looks like"

QandO: Liveblogging the Convention
Barbara looks like the one you COULD take home to momma, and she might snow momma into thinking she's just a nice girl. But Barbara II is a hottie and she's ...qando.net/archives/003961.htm - 18k - Cached - Similar pages

SignOnSanDiego.com Photo Galleries :: Golden Globes 2006 :: naveen
Barbara looks like a frozen alien, she has had so much work done it's scary looking. From:, i love you, (Wed 22 Mar 2006 02:37:48 AM PST). i love you ...photos.signonsandiego.com/ gallery1.5/goldenglobes2006/naveen - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

Data Breaker Music Data Breaker The Stranger, Seattle's Only ...
MISSTRESS BARBARA Misstress Barbara looks like one of those glamorous women you see dancing in ads for lavish trance/house clubs, but she's actually a ...www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=31136 - 24k - Cached - Similar pages

The MOST important election in our lifetimes: Jenna vs. Barbara ...
I also just realized, looking at that first pic, how much Jenna looks like Dad & Barbara looks like Mom. Kinda scary. :o :p ...bressler.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-8671.html - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

Cairo Chronicle #2 - September 6, 1999
sunglasses, two traditional Egyptian robes called galabiyyas (Barbara's looks like Joseph's amazing Technicolor dreamcoat with decorative embroidery), ...www.thomasvillecentral.com/CC2.htm - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

Ants Marching
From a distance, Santa Barbara looks like this anthill. We might appear comfortably inert, insulated from the economic injustices which have plagued nearby ...www.commondreams.org/views02/0423-07.htm - 16k - Cached - Similar pages

WNBA Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics, August 3rd 2006
66.jpg Barbara looks like she's dodging bullets in the Matrix. Click to see 67.jpg. 67.jpg Sue is trying to knock the ball loose with her butt since she ...home.pacifier.com/~scowl/Storm/Mystics/index.html - 20k - Cached - Similar pages

British Army Rumour Service > > Forums > > The NAAFI Bar
... the more I think of Kate Beckinsale. Barbara looks like the Prince Harry of the Bush family - there's got to be another man involved. ...www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/ viewtopic/t=51900/start=15.html - 56k - Cached - Similar pages

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - Bush's daughters - laugh at not with ...
Well, Jenna could do with losing a pound or ten and Barbara looks like she might have the same plastic surgeon as Wacko Jacko. I guess after buying their ...forums.appleinsider.com/archive/index.php/t-45862.html - 31k - Cached - Similar pages

Star Jones v. Barbara Walters keithboykin.com
... rosie looks like eve harrington, and barbara looks like boo boo the fool. the fallout could possibly damage the show, and i'm sure barbara ain't happy ...www.keithboykin.com/arch/2006/06/28/star_jones_v_ba_1 - 45k - Cached - Similar pages

My apologies to the other Barbara for playing her name.

Malajube

2006-11-27T07:36:00.000-05:00

Malajube playing at Lee Palace in Toronto

I have been listening to this French Canadian
rock band since I heard about them on CBC radio some time in July.
I think it was on Sounds Like Canada in the summer with Jian Ghomeshi. No now that I think about it it could have been back when The National Playlist was on CBC radio one.
In any case Me and and Green Tea went to go see the band live this weekend.
There were two opening band one was Bocce http://www.kwbocceclub.com/. I did not catch the name of the other band. Of the two bocce stood out a bit more.
Then the band we were all waiting for came on at Midnight. They asked the audience how did they hear about Malajube. We yelled out, 'CBC!!'
They explained the delay was due to one of the members having a reaction to eating a street hot dog, and was on and off the stage depending on how he was feeling. The poor guy played while sitting down on the stage leaning up against the drum set.
The band is pro and still played the wildest, catchiest, head bopping music in any language. No translation needed. Good is Good!
During the encore the keyboardist dived into the mosh pit and people moved out of his way. You could almost hear the thud. ouch!
I overheard one audience member say 'hey this is Toronto we don't catch people here.' Don't worry the keyboardist was picked up and carried up through the mosh pit and delivered back on to the stage and he was (hopefully)no worse for wear.
I had a great time for a 10$ ticket as did Green Tea. She even bought a CD from Bocce at the door.

Tarot card reading anyone

2006-11-22T21:53:00.000-05:00

A friend recommended this site to me and so I checked it out. Free Tarot Reading
(for entertainment purposes only folks!)
I got a little reading that tells me things are looking up.... I won't tell you what the reading was but I will review it in 6 weeks because some of it is supposed to happen within a month...
Ha. We'll see. I do card readings as an icebreaker for others but it's hard to do a reading for myself without loosing my objectivity... I can't read me very well.
Ironic this is I am going a psychic evening with the Meet Market Adventures at the end of this month.
I get 3 readings with 3 different psychics in Toronto while mingling with singles...
If they say the same thing that the free online reading says... I'll let you know. ;-)

Casino Experience

2006-11-20T21:43:00.000-05:00

I won a little trip to Casino Rama somewhere north of Barrie Ontario. This little trip is with an organized group (The Meet Market Adventures group). Some members I know from other events, some members I am getting to know. It's all about getting out and about and meeting people in Toronto. We had to go to a casino way outside Toronto to do it... But what the hey.
The Casino was as expected, tons of ways to lose your money and a buffet lunch... It was fine. Like paying a voluntary entertainment tax and chatting with new friends while you do it.
The highlight was it was snowing and dark as we left the casino and boarded the bus back home to Toronto. Very pretty! Very cozy sitting in the darkened bus watching the snowy fields passing by. You know that you lost the money you were planning to lose and not more (if you plan it right). You get to hear all the gossip and news about the singles group that you go on these adventures with. I even heard the dish on the guy I had been dating... aaaaah. Very interesting. It's funny that Toronto can be a small town in that you run into the same people or people that know those people...
There was no snow when I got back to Toronto. But the magic of the snow in the country side has put me in the mood to start my Christmas shopping. The Avon man came by at just the right time... I hope you like Avon if you are expecting a gift from me.

2006-11-18T23:14:00.000-05:00

I went to see a film this afternoon.
I saw it by myself because It's the kind of film that is not for everybody.
It may even offend some people.
I saw Conversations With God.
I'm such a rebel.
One man left the film before the end.
When the film ended I heard someone say that was the best film of the year to date.
When I came out of the theater I felt good.
Simple message of the film is ask yourself "what would love do?"

Friday night came and went

2006-11-18T08:10:00.000-05:00

This is the 'Kodak' generated sketch of all the adults in my family.
When I am ready I will draw them for real.

Here are the top 10 random party mix.

I guess I didn't clean out my itunes like I keep telling myself I should.
I am going to listen to the random list my itunes went to all the trouble of setting up for me.
Oh well maybe traveling down this musical path will remind me why I put them on there in the first place.

Such A Woman - Neil Young - Harvest Moon

Jungle Jim - Jennifer Jones - Bones
Part Of The Plan - Dan Fogelberg - Greatest Hits
Be My Yoko Ono - BNL - Gordon
The Tower - Chris De Burgh - Spanish Train And Other Stories
Your Beautiful - James Blunt - Back To Bedlam
Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves - Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight
Call Me Calmly - BNL - Born On A Pirate Ship
It's Growing - Ellen McIlwaine - Up From The Skies
Looking For A Ride - Seabone - so indie they don't have an album

Speaking of votes.

2006-11-16T19:25:00.000-05:00

I know you probably voted for the stroumboulopouli already every morning, afternoon or evening but if you haven't and I am not saying you have to... it's OK I won't be sad.
Thanks for showing us the love!
The link is also on my sidebar if your looking for this post but I moved on to other subjects...
Other great blogs you may, or may not want to show love to, that are in the running in other categories are InsideTheCBC, Rick Mercer, CBC Radio Three and Matthew Goods Blog. Good luck to all of us.

Official

2006-11-13T19:05:00.000-05:00

I got home tonight very tired after a long day.
I checked the mail and left the house.
Tonight I had to go register and vote in the municipal election.
It's official!

I am now a registered voter in Toronto.
Not just a Torontonian now, but a participatory Torontonian.
Good luck to all the candidates.
May the best Mayor win.

2006-11-12T13:24:00.000-05:00

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."

George Bernard Shaw.

Random top 10 ....

2006-11-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

I have not played random top 10 yet.
I know it's supposed to be played on a Friday but what the heck.
This list reminds me I need to clear some songs off my itunes.

1. I Don't Want To Play. Ellen McIlwaine
2. Conquistador. Procol Harum
3. In This Life. Chantal Kreviazuk
4. Una Rosa A Dicembre. Gino Vannelli
5. Deep Forest - Sweet Lullaby. Author unknown
6. Brother Down. Sam Roberts
7. The Novelty of Me. Seabone
8. Vanishing. Barenaked Ladies
9. Mode of Infusion. Seabone
10. Bull In A China Shop. Barenaked Ladies

Seabone got on there twice. So did BNL.
If you have never heard of Seabone it's an indi band in Vancouver and my late boyfriend was friends with Linda who happens to be a singer with that band. Graham lived in Vancouver for 8 years and left many friends there. Before Graham left this earth Linda had sent him a CD of their music. Maybe two of their songs getting on there at random was a message to remember to write her... see how's she is doing.

This is a picture Linda took of Graham and friends.

Two random BNL songs is because I have all my BNL CDs on there and it was just a good chance there would be...
or maybe it's a message to get Barenaked....

Speaking of Random I was eating burgers with my sister at Burger Shack today and I saw Dave Broadfoot walking by..... It was cool and random.

For my Poppies

2006-11-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I wanted to start off the remembrance day post with that poem.
I also want to thank all the Canadian Veterans who fought for our Country.
Both my grandfather's in WWI
My Uncles and Aunts in WWII.
All the men and women who have faced the horrors of war.
I pray for peace in your souls
I pray for peace in all of society
Peace to all people and an end to all wars.
Amen

2006-11-08T14:47:00.000-05:00

Two people sent me this link. I wonder what they are really trying to tell me...

Blogger Arrested

Plans for this week

2006-11-05T17:04:00.000-05:00

In the theme that life is short I now try to do a couple of cool things each week.
This weeks plan includes; Going to a taping of The Hour on Monday afternoon and going to Yuk Yuks on Thursday night with the MMA. I think we can throw in a Birthday celebration for my sister C. And my nephew L. on the weekend.
At Whirly Ball last night Meet Market Adventures videotaped the games to put up on the new website. Not sure when that is going up you can follow the link and keep an eye open if you want to see the game in action.

Feeling the peace.

2006-11-04T12:12:00.000-05:00

A little prayer.

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God....

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Taking lessons

2006-11-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

Well it was only one half hour lesson then some practice sessions.
I learned to play pool yesterday.
I have played pool before but with little skill or luck for that matter.
My sister and I went out to a night of pool lessons. I have to say I had a lot of fun and my game has improved quite a bit.

Saturday night I am going to play whirly ball again, with my sister and her friend. I think I have the hang of the whirly ball bumper car control, I just need more practice hitting the target with the ball. You remember whirly ball? A cross between bumper cars and lacrosse.
Ok neither activity is an Olympic sport but it is a great way to meet new people and make friends in a city like Toronto.

You gotta be brave, go out there and just meet people.

2006-10-31T21:52:00.000-05:00

I am not much of a game show fan but there has been a lot of buzz about Deal or No Deal these days.I hear it's going to film five shows in Canada this year.
I was reading in La Presse today that TVA in Quebec is even looking into making a French Canadian Version called à prendre ou à laisser.... translate that back and it's Take it or leave it. Now that is a better name than Deal or no deal.
Another game show news item tonight is, Bob Barker is going to retire in June.... the Man is turning 83 this December...retire already!

Ok this is here only so you can laugh at me.

Next halloween instead of dressing up like an older Lady like Lovey...
I am going to dress in the sexiest thing I can find.
This is not a good look for me. It does get people giggling though.

Sports again?

2006-10-29T12:37:00.000-05:00

Alouettes clinch CFL East!
Ha!
Now this is the team I am cheering for!

I might live in Toronto now but

Some things don't change.
I wish I could have been at that game.

But I went shopping instead...
I know that is a bad choice for some.
I really am a fan of the Alouettes.
I knew they would win against the Argos.
I hear it was close. A real nail biter.
Sorry I missed it.
But not sorry I went shopping.

Sports?

2006-10-27T23:35:00.000-05:00

Cardinals win World Series

Was anyone watching?

I forgot baseball was still going on.

I guess it's over now.

Good on you Cardinals!

Today I am just passing the message along

2006-10-23T22:31:00.000-05:00

Call for a Budget to Make Poverty History

Dear Make Poverty History supporter:

The Oct. 15 STAND UP event and the Oct. 17 White Band Day of Action were a great success.
In Canada, more than 49,000 people participated in over 200 STAND UP actions. And globally 23,542,614 stood up in over 80 countries to set a Guinness World Record!Thank you for your support in sending a clear message that people around the world want government leaders to take action to eradicate poverty. Now we have to make sure our leaders hear the message and STAND UP and deliver policies that will make poverty history.The government has started public consultations on its next Federal Budget which will likely be announced sometime in February 2007.

You can send a message to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty that he should STAND UP and deliver a Budget to Make Poverty History.
Specifically we are calling for:
Increasing Canadian aid by 18% annually and committing to a plan to meet the internationally agreed target for aid spending of 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2015.
Raising the annual Canada Child Tax Benefit (or equivalent benefit) to $4,900 per child and ensuring all low-income children receive full benefit of this program.
Involving groups where poverty is predominant, such as Aboriginal People, women, minorities and youth in the design and implementation of a domestic poverty reduction strategy.

To send a message now to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and your Member of Parliament calling for a Budget to Make Poverty History, go to http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/e/home.php#click and click into action.
Dennis HowlettCoordinatorCanadian Make Poverty History campaign

P.S. Be sure to forward this message to your friends and colleagues.

Silent Auction part two.

2006-10-22T00:20:00.000-05:00

The results of tonight events were; My Sister won a basket of wines tonight.
No one at our table won The Who tickets with limo, and no one I know won the pearls.
Both my sisters were there bidding up a storm. I think they have their vacation spots covered and Christmas gifts too.

I did win two of my bids.
I got a 100$ certificate for art lessons for 50$ at a very good art school, and I got 4 tickets for Massey Hall's comedy extravaganza for New Years Eve for 90$, value 240$.
The fundraiser raised more money than they need and my nephew and his hockey team are going to Europe! Yeah!
We ate, we laughed, we danced,
we spent lots of money and we all had a great time!

My friend Sonja's painting sold for a bid of 600$.
I have to hand it to them those North Toronto hockey parents they sure know how to throw a swanky fundraiser.
Je suis tres content. Merci pour la soiree J!

Tagged from off task blog

2006-10-21T08:26:00.000-05:00

The following is courtesy off Task: Pick up the book closest to you (no cheating), turn to page 123 and scan the 1st five sentences then post the next three sentences on your blog . Finally, elaborate on what you wrote. You may consider yourself tagged.

Learn to interpret written and verbal medical terminology. Gain an understanding of the language related to the shape, structure and function of the human body and it's parts.
Prerequisite:engl 9016 (skills for college English ) or grade 12 English.

I am all for learning new things. That is why I have a copy of George Brown College Continuing Education close by. Those sentences describe a course called Medical Terminology 1.

Not the course I was interested in but I am sure it's useful for some. Anyone who wants to talk medically about the function of human body parts...

I was only thinking of taking a life drawing course to keep my artistic skills sharp. The art course may involve the shape of the human body and it's parts but we don't have to name them.

Unrelated to this topic but I wanted to add it now is a link for anagrams . Try your name out....

Silent auction tonight.

2006-10-21T06:31:00.000-05:00

I have been doing a ton of new a different things since I moved to Toronto.
This week I went to the Thompson Landry Gallery in the distillery district with my friend Sonja (her link is on the sidebar if you want to check out her art).
Tonight we are going to a fund raising event. Sonja has a painting going to be auctioned off as part of the silent auction. The other items range from sports packages, either tickets to games or equipment or lessons... Spa or beauty treatment packages, Cottage packages or 5 star inn weekends, tickets to Peter Paul and Mary, or tickets to the New Years Eve Comedy Extravaganza... Maybe I will have plans for New Years after all.
There are door prizes too. Tickets to The Who front row with limo service... 2nd prize assorted wines, 3rd prize is a string of pearls.

What are we raising funds for? I'm glad you asked. The North Toronto minor bantam hockey select team will be going to Finland/Sweden for a hockey tournament. My nephew is on that team. My sister J is helping with the organization of this key fundraiser. Tickets to go to this fancy shindig are a bargain at 75$ each. It's being held at the Granite Club Ballroom. That includes dinner, entertainment, dancing and there are over 200 very interesting items up for bid. I am bringing cash and even though I know it's a huge mistake I am bringing my credit card too.
I'll take pictures and report back to you on any bids I may have won.
This is going to be fun!

What do you like?

2006-10-18T21:56:00.000-05:00

So I said I liked puddles and the next day there are puddles on the floor in my room because it's raining a great deal.
Lesson> be careful what you tell the universe you like because you may just get it... delivered to your door, or floor as the case may be.

What is in the newspapers?

2006-10-16T21:09:00.000-05:00

Part of my job right now is to go through 4 daily newspapers looking for cool ads.
You know what else I see in the daily papers? The obits.
It is there to remind me that everybody dies.... We all end up there.
Well if anyone bothers to remember to place an ad for us...
On the brighter side there are piles of leaves to kick around right now. I can't resist shuffling through a pile of leaves....
And puddles , I can't resist wading through a good puddle on a summer day.
So while I am still alive I will enjoy piles of leaves and puddles....
And all the other good things in life.
Is all I'm sayin'

First person reporting in the media and in blogs

2006-10-14T17:43:00.000-05:00

I attended a lecture or two today so now it's time to ramble about it.

First Person journalism is not about you.

Let's look at this for a bit shall we?
Do you believe to incite or giving insight, if personal, adds to the story? ;-)
Does it help to have the reader connect with the writer?
Does it make the reader feel like a participant with personal perspective and personality there in the paragraphs moving the story along?
If the story is like a conversation between the reader and the writer does that make it a more interesting story?
Lets say for example it's a newspaper story on city politics... Do you want your friend the journalist complaining to you about the mayor and his quirky excuses for not answering her questions or do you just want to read the facts about the mayors new budget?
The media have to be so careful about first person reporting. Some of my favourite reporters are people that do allow themselves to shine through. I think if you are in the public eye that takes a lot of courage. Critics tend to target the first person reporters more. Jian Ghomeshi of The Hour comes to mind. I do like his first person reports on subjects ranging from, world cup soccer to meeting Jane Goodall on a plane. He takes heat for this type of report though, because it's not in the critics taste. It's not how they learned journalism. I say let him be! He is a word smith and brings a charming friendly angle to those stories. There is room in reporting for that.
Reporting style is not a static thing. There are limits and rules to how reporters report and it's a good thing to have standards but, let the artist have room to work. The audience is not a static thing either our tastes change with the times.
Speaking of times changing...
One alternative to getting your information through the media is this. Blogs.
Thank God for blogs and bloggers freedom! Not that some of us don't try to live up to standards...
Blogs are different. Bloggers are not obliged to be informative, factual or even entertaining.
Anyone can put up a blog and say anything they want. You never know if the source is credible or not, but you will soon see if they are entertaining and engage your interests. There is no consequence to them, or you, if you read the posts or not. They won't get fired or cancelled... Most don't make money doing this and some chose not to even try to make a penny.
I was thinking about the blogs I love to frequent. I love first person blogs. I may click on that blog at first because of the subject they posted about but It's the personality of the blogger that keeps me coming back to that blog. I want to hear what they have to say in thier own voice. Freedom of choice, freedom of voice. Keep the net free!
Finding out about music, political stories, entertainment events or sports for that matter can be a combinations of blogs and media and personal research and whatever your friends have to say about it. Life is a buffet. Dig in
!

Got my snow tires on!

2006-10-10T06:18:00.000-05:00

I got my snow tires put on while I was in Montreal this past weekend. It cost me a bundle. They found that my front bearings needed to be changed. I was not going to chance driving back to Toronto with my car in less than top condition, so I gave them the go ahead. The problem was I could not pick up my car 'til much later that day. When I got to the lot to pick it up, long after the Goodyear had closed down for the holiday I found that my steering wheel was not centered.
What? Yes it looks like I am making a left turn when I am going straight! It is not a problem driving it. It runs fine. It's just really really annoying. I am hoping the Goodyear here will fix it and bill the other Goodyear for the cost... Wish me luck with that.
Oh and since I have snow tires on now... Let it snow! I heard something about snow in the forecast just now.
Ha!
:-)

Thanksgiving

2006-10-08T18:51:00.000-05:00

God bless this food

and bless the company

We have to share it with.

The fear of not having

enough prevents many

from seeing they already

are enough.

Thank you God for providing us

all we need to be what

we choose to be, and

the challenges to remind us to be

grateful for every blessing.

Amen.

2006-10-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

You are not going to see me in a suit very often so I thought I would take a picture for my Mum and Dad to see.
See I can wear a suit when it suits me.
Happy thanksgiving.
This blogger is off to Montreal for the weekend.
I have a 50th wedding anniversary party with the Graham's family to go to Saturday and a thanksgiving feast with my family on Sunday.
Then home to Toronto... it sounds weird when I say that.

Dad, tell Peter that I met his boss today....

I got this series of Q's from Hawa. It's something to think about.

2006-10-03T20:56:00.000-05:00

What's your ideal career?
.... I don't know, something creative that helps people...
41 and I still don' t know what I want to do when I grow up.

What difficult thing are you dealing with right now?
Dealing with a lot of new stuff in my life right now.

What are you excited about right now?
Driving to Montreal Thanksgiving weekend, parties, family, friends, The Hour on Monday, calling B on Tuesday seeing B. On Wed.... who's B? I'll tell you another time...

What charitable causes do you feel most passionate about?
World Vision, The Red Cross, Centraide/UnitedWay

What makes you most happy?
Umm, chocolate and music and communications of all kinds

What breaks your heart?
no chocolate ever again

Something you've always wanted to do?
Get my pilot's license

What would your ideal day include?
Tea with B, doing something nice for a stranger, buying those perfect boots, making someone I care about smile, making you laugh out loud.

What do you feel is the meaning of life?
Life is about learning and serving and teaching and growing as a soul.

Happiest memory?
I have been blessed with so many happy memories I can't say. All I can say is I am grateful for them all.

Saddest memory?
The day Graham 's cancer stole him mobility and he was not given any more options to fight it.

Quality about yourself you most love?
My heart. It's a pretty good heart.

Quality about yourself you most hate?
My ego. Well maybe not my entire ego, but the part of it that needs all that attention...

Biggest challenge in life?
Is to keep swimming forward.

Favourite quote?
"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."

The Stroumboulopouli has a new look

2006-10-02T22:56:00.000-05:00

Great new blog template and cool look thanks to Todd, Allison and Alana.
Kudos!
In other news... Kudos to George on making it to the final five!
It's down to Five now.
You know what to do.
Vote for whomever you want to vote for,
but it better be George...
is all I'm sayin'.

Thank you for your time. {From my email}

2006-09-30T16:55:00.000-05:00

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it, " Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.
Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossingover into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture.... Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was the thing I value most," Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. 'Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days,' the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. 'Mr.Harold Belser' it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. 'Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life.' A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was...my time"Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said."Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
---------------------------------------------
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away, think about this.
You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
You mean the world to someone.
If not for you, someone may not be living.
You are special and unique.
When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
Always remember the compliments you received.
Forget about the rude remarks.
Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

"Thanks for your time"

Bumper cars and lacrosse = Whirlyball

2006-09-29T06:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday afternoon J calls me up to ask me if I wanted to go to play whirlyball in her place that night. She had been offered the ticket free because she is a good member in standing.
I say what is whirlyball, and where is this going to be?
I then said yes, and took the directions down.
I had time to walk home, stopping for a Burger Shack burger along the route. One hour of walking = the fat in a burger shack burger... So it's all good.
I got home, phoned my Mum for her Birthday. Happy Birthday Mum! Then I drove off to play.
I got to the Rink and got cold feet, called J up and she tried to talk me into it... I was stuck in chicken mode, meeting all these new people, playing something I have never played.... I was chicken for about 5 minutes. I reminder myself how brave I have been so far and I walked into the Whirlyball entrance to Rinx. There were a bunch of friendly people there watching the game of whirlyball in progress. I talked to them, I watched, then I called J to tell her I was staying and not to wait up.
I was next to enter the court. With the tips on how to drive the bumper car one handed while trying to scoop up the ball with a scoop shaped racket, I joined the team of red. We battled the team of yellow. You ride around trying to get the ball in your scoop without using your other hand.
You shoot at a square board on one end of the court the same colour as your bumper car. You make 3 points for a bulleye and one point for hitting the board at all. It was a lesson in controlling the car first game, then improving the scooping and ball handling techniques for the subsequent games. Then you go for a drink after the game...

Red Hot night with the Chili Peppers

2006-09-27T19:07:00.000-05:00

On Sunday night I got a phone message left by my oldest friend inviting me to the red Hot Chili Peppers concert Tuesday night at the Air Canada centre in TO.
It took me three minutes to think about . I had time to ask advice... But no time to wait for answers. Of course I was going! I met my friend , her husbands friend and his teenager at Gate 1 in the Air Canada centre. Thanks to my friends husband being away on business I got his ticket, poor guy...

I showed 'S' how to take a pic with her cell phone, she took a pic of the stage and emailed it to her hubby across the sea.
I took a few pictures too.
There was an enthusiastic Peppers fan next to me who had been drinkin a lot.... He was very funny and I think I will save that story for another time.
Oh yeah, The Red Hot Chili peppers were great! That band knows how to play! Understatement.
I enjoyed it so much I was dancing half the show. They did a smashing encore on top of a stadium rockin' show.

As you can see we were far from the stage.
Mars Volta, the opening band, on the other hand, was a pile of loud noise on top of loud noise... I could not tell if the singer was male or female, French or English. The guitarist played in both bands. How odd that he plays in a band like Mars Volta that drowns out every sound they make with every other sound they make. Yet he shines with The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
But what do I know about music...
I just know I had a great time!

Baby I'm so good to me.

2006-09-24T18:24:00.000-05:00

I have not only just bought a cell phone and a watch *shakes her head* I have also just bought two new CD's. Sloan Never Hear The End Of It and Barenaked Ladies Are Me. I am happy with both CD's, I love them equally.
I try to whisper budget in my ear but I think I have gone deaf to my practical side. Well I have resisted buying more shoes this week but not from lack of trying them on. What Barbara needs is a boyfriend who looks like a rock star, only without tattoos, who will remind me to put my wallet away because he'll pay this one... LOL
No, that won't help my spending habit at all. *sigh*
What I really need is that guy, but he's a bit of a nag and won't let me buy things unless I have it in my 5 year budget plan.
No, that would make me really grumpy...
What I really need is to spend time on myself without spending money. Go for walks. Learn a new sport. Meet new people just for the fun of meeting people. Borrow a library book or three.
I just have to avoid large malls, record stores, and guys who look like rock stars but nag like accountants.

My watch stopped

2006-09-22T18:54:00.000-05:00

Well my watch stopped so I knew I needed to buy a new one. The thing is, people tell the time by their cell phone these days. I also needed a mp3 player. The thing is, people can download music and listen to it on their cell phones. I did not want a cell phone but I don't have my own private telephone line so.... I bought a Rogers phone yesterday. I have figured out how to download music into it and I have taken a few pictures with it, but I have yet to use it as a phone...
I loaded the CBC Radio3 podcast all about the Polaris nominees (yeah I had to catch up with that, the only time I had was commute time). So there I was listening to my podcast and checking the time and taking a pic of a camera crew from Global on Bloor St. I work right next to MTV on Yonge and they had camera crew out on the street today too.
I guess you see that a lot in Toronto.

Mid week job change

2006-09-20T20:23:00.000-05:00

Hmm mid week I started a new job. I like the job, I like the location. I won't say more right now in case it something happens... *knocks on wood*

In other news... I don't have other news. I have yet to make solid weekends plans. Maybe I will go visit my great grandparents cemetery, that would be in Scotland.... Scotland Ontario!

Weekend weeds.

2006-09-17T07:01:00.000-05:00

I am trying not to let this cold I have slow me down. Yesterday I did some weeding. I weeded half the garden 'til the bees told me that I better not be pulling out more of their favorite flowers... They didn't quite put it in those words but I got the message.

My next task was to mow the lawn. I found the mower, then I was looking for the extention cord... Could not find one. In fact the mower had no cord. Duh! I have never used a power mower before. I did not even know how to start it. I asked the kids and they did not know how to start it either. I was not going to let a silly mower that I knew had to work somehow, stop me. A red button on the side was my first clue. Too bad I had not found it before I pulled the rip cord 100 times... Push the red button 3 times then pull the cord. Got it! One more task down.

Next little thing was to drive M to his soccer finals. I was not sure that there would be parking so I dropped him off with no promise to watch the game, but I found parking and witnessed the final match. Good job M! It's not easy being goal keeper. His mother , my sister soon joined me in watching the match. She had been off on a wine tasting tour of Niagara all day. I am happy she had the chance to do that.

Today on my agenda... Take M bowling then go visit my grandparents grave in Newmarket... Sounds like fun eh?

Update: I not only found Newmarket (after almost taking a few wrong turns) I found my grandparents headstone right where my father said it would be. I had a nice conversation with them, then I took the long way back and enjoyed the scenic route along Bayview.

Just some pictures.

2006-09-15T18:35:00.000-05:00

This Park to be turned into walk of fame park?

Sharon Stone at the film fest.

Protesters at the film fest who lost money in the stock market.
Don't they know that is a form of gambling?
You never know when you will need a pic of the CN Tower...

I'm fine don't worry about me Mum.

2006-09-14T08:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterdays news about the shooting at Dawson was shocking and sad. I first saw the sketchy details of this event on Barbara B's blog. Then I went to the CBC site to confirm and turned on the radio to confirm that because it's so unbelievable. I used to live on that same street just two blocks east of there and work just one block west of Dawson on Green Ave.
I have seen all the emergency services people do mock exercises in that very place to prepare for emergencies. Well it may be to early to say but I think the police and urgence sante did a very good job in those conditions yesterday. I have to say but the lessons learned from The Ecole Polytec. tragedy may have saved lives in this case.

I can't believe I complained about my week.
So many in Montreal and elsewhere are having a much harder time.
I have work this afternoon and tomorrow so things are looking even better for me.
I hear the weekend will be good weather so I hope that your plans and my plans include enjoying that.
Have a good one.

being positive
Barbara

Not a good week so far

2006-09-12T22:26:00.000-05:00

It sucks to be me this week.

I have no work so far this week. That's the downside of being a temp.
Lots of job searching but no word yet from prospective employers.
My tire was very low on air (again)this morning and I had to get that fixed ASAP.
I forgot my wallet when I was over at the tire place. Lucky for me he fixed it and let me drive home to get my wallet.
Ok, I can't feel very sorry for myself I have too many blessings.
A roof over my head and food in the fridge plus some gas in the car and some money in the bank.
The biggest blessing is my family. Another wonderful blessing are my friends. I miss the ones in Montreal and I am thankful for the ones on the net and I am looking forward to meeting the ones I have yet to make in Toronto.

So don't feel sorry for me, that's a waste of time.
:-)

Blog dating

2006-09-11T09:01:00.000-05:00

As a blogger to fellow bloggers, do you think this really works?
From the Toronto star an article about blog dating.
If you have heard about any successful matches started this way let me know and maybe I'll try it.

How was your Friday?

2006-09-09T09:38:00.000-05:00

How was your Friday?
I wanted to drive downtown and find fun and or trouble. Well the plan got changed by a freakish rainstorm that made me change my mind about driving in the torrential hailing mess just as I was leaving work. I took an alternate route and left my car at home. Subway to downtown is a better solution. It was only raining in the northern part of Toronto for some reason so any plans in the downtown area were unaffected.

I was looking for signs (from God I guess) as to where to go. I was thinking I'll get off at the Queens St. station but I got of at Bloor instead.

There were some crews setting up for film fest events going on near the Bloor station but it did not interest me. I started walking... I walked south, then I walked west, then south, then west, until I got to Queen St. I was looking for something to do on Queen. The street has a ton of restaurants and shops. Well I reached a point where the street was blocked off to cars. I went to see what was happening. Hmmm STAR, City TV, and MUCH have set up an event with a red carpet and a stage in front of their building.
I saw flyerman there giving out flyers on the street promoting his own thing. He had a leather jacket that lights up as you can see in the first picture. Interesting character that seems to be 'known' in Toronto.
In the center of the action there were lights, cameras, crews and Terry David Mulligan...(you know the guy that did Good Rockin' Tonight on the CBC before there was MUCH.)

It was a star schmooze special!
Well, I had nothing better to do so I stayed to watch the action.

I observed how many people it takes to get a little red carpet special on the air. Quite a number. Hundreds, if you include all the security, Police, Press who showed up and got in front of me.... buggers. I got there before they did but they got all the choice spots to set up their cameras. They kept getting in my frame. My camera had low battery status so I could not take time to prep a shot. I had to turn the camera on then take the shot before the power was too low. It worked for over a dozen lousy shots. So much for getting Samuel L Jackson in the frame... In this picture here there is Terry David Mulligan talking to Eugene Levy way in the background then just in front of my there is a press guy and his camera man interviewing who knows who. If anyone can tell me who the subject is and who the TV press guy with an eye patch is then I thank you for filling me in...
Yeah I know. My photos suck. It's the experience of being there in amongst the action that made the night memorable. I did see Sook-Yin Lee of CBC Radio One looking very beautiful is a Versace gown. She was promoting that movie everyone is blogging about ... Shortbus.
See what I mean about the press getting in my way?

I am not a celebrity expert so I will end the is blog post by saying I did not stick around all night to see the bigger stars because they are just people... very late people. I hate it when people are late.

What are the weekend plans?

2006-09-07T19:09:00.000-05:00

I have Friday night off and I am just going to head downtown after work (all by myself) and just find trouble or fun whatever comes first...

Well Sat. night I'm going with my sister to see this funny guy.
Dave Merheje Comedy
September, 9 2006 - 8:30P at
Fiddlers Green

Sunday my parents will be at my other sister's in Burlington and we will meet them there. Yeah! I think that will be the highlight of my weekend!

I was not tagged and I won't tag you but you can copy and paste if you want to try it.

2006-09-03T19:41:00.000-05:00

I borrowed this from Mellowlees blog

1... Things that scare me
People that jump out of nowhere and go BOO! What's wrong with those people?
2...People who make me laugh
My family. Rick Mercer. Jian Ghomeshi and gang. All my blogger buddies. Colin Mochrie
and I guess Jon Stewart too.
3...Things I hate the most
Criminals and anyone who makes or sells weapons.
4...Things I don't understand
War
5...Things I'm doing right now
Listening to the radio, blogging, drinking water and thinking.
6...Things I want to do before I die
Travel, love, laugh a great deal and make a positive difference in someone's life.
7... Things I can do
I can adapt. I can find the good in things. I can smile. I can wrangle audiences if given a chance.
8... Ways to describe my personality
Self absorbed but kind. Patient. Calm. Serious yet funny (funny odd and funny haha)
9... Things I can't do
Play music, I can barely read music.
10...Things I think you should listen to
The laughter of children.
11...Things you should never(have to) listen to
High piercing screams of pain and terror.
12...Things I'd like to learn
Maybe to read and play music better.
13...Favorite foods
Sushi, spicy foods of all kinds, and my dads Irish stew...
14...Beverages I drink regularly
Coffee, water and tea.
15...Shows I watched as a kid
As a young kid? Mr. Dressup and Friendly Giant, as an older kid Star Trek, Gilligans Island and Fantasy Island. Any show with a cute hero in it....

A post to your health!

2006-09-03T17:17:00.000-05:00

Hello world!

I am sure you can't wait to hear about my mall experiences. I have been visiting a lot of malls this weekend with my sister and her kids. It's back to school clothes shopping we go. Oh yeah.
I even visited sports check with nephew. He had to get new hockey skates and new hockey gloves. His mother was not there so he chose pretty expensive skates. I am a rookie at this so I can't be blamed. When his Mom arrived to pay the bill I got out of there fast and took off to the food court to have what is not available in Quebec... Arbeys! Roast beef with cheddar and curly fries. We used to have that in a few Montreal malls but they went under one by one. I sat in front of a fountain at the Yorkdale mall and enjoyed that saucy sandwich while watching little boys try to play in the fountain. There dads would not let them... My sister found me there after paying for the $$ skates. :-) No blame was laid.

Did I tell you I went to see Lord Or The Rings on Saturday? It was fantastic! I loved it! The kids loved it! The stage production was amazing. I hear it's the last weekend for the play. I am so glad we did not miss it! I would pay just to ride on the revolving stage. It's like an amusment park ride. All stage parts move around, up and down, in pieces, or together. It was so cool!

I hold my bottle of water and propose a toast. Here is to Toronto, a world class city! May she find a place to put her garbage, and may she keep her older buildings restored to new use and may she solve her poverty, lack of affordable housing, and crime problems and may I see you visit her and me in the near future.

I propose another toast to your health as well! Cheers!

Vote for George Stroumboulopoulos!

2006-09-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

Vote Here
The Gemini nominations are coming up. You can vote to decide who will be nominated in the Viewers choice awards for lifestyle host. There are some good choices... But I am only giving you the single link. Use the link as much as you need, with as many email addresses and postal codes as you need and tell as many friends as you can think of to tell.
Cheers!

Reposting this post now because there is very little time left to get in your votes!
The Winner of the Viewers' Choice Award will be announced during the 21st Annual Gemini Awards broadcast on Global - November 4th, 2006.

Forget about trying to be. Who am I now?

2006-08-31T19:49:00.000-05:00

I was dropping my nephew off at the local arena for hockey camp on my way to work and then it struck me. "who's life did I just borrow?" I don't mind in the least about dropping him off but it made me feel like a hockey mom for a second. There are so many things I am doing now as I live my new life in Toronto that I have never done before. Not radical things. Just things I did not think I was ever going to do. Like commute to work via the 401 or work for a banking institution... Not bad things. I ain't complaining, but it still does not feel like my life yet.
I am sure there are many more new things I will discover about my new life that will give me pause. I will ask myself again and again, is this me? Is this who I am now? Am I in the right place? Should I make a right turn? By and by I am sure I will get to know who I am in this new scene. I'll dig a new rut and get comfy or chose to keep it ever changing.

Plans for the weekend include going to see Lord Of The Rings, the huge production play. I will be accompanied by my niece and nephew.
It's a holiday weekend, I still have more plans to make...

Sunday cruise

2006-08-28T17:40:00.002-05:00

There is my party boat!
Oh and that's me looking it over before we board.
We pulled out of the docks on a warm and foggy afternoon.
The CN tower was partially hidden in the dense cloud.

The weather was just beginning to clear as we set sail.

My sister 'J' catching some rays.

'T' and I having drinks down below.
We did mingle.We did drink, but not too much.
We had buffet lunch, but not too much.
We did dance, but not enough.
Laughed and joked and chatted with groups of guys.
I have to quote one funny guy we'll call 'G'
He was sure he had the best pick up line. It went like this
"for you Babe I am going to dial it up Large."
We had a good laugh over that one,
but we could not convince him that was not going to work on any women.
Yeah. We had a lot of laughs like that one.
Those Toronto men...
Some are very nice.
See you at the next singles party maybe...

*sigh*
being good
Barbara W

Headline: Webcam watcher in U.S. foils robbery in U.K.

2006-08-26T15:22:00.000-05:00

I found this item on cbc.ca.

Webcam watcher in U.S. foils robbery in U.K.
Last Updated: Friday, August 25, 2006 5:52 PM ET
CBC News
A man in Dallas watching a live webcam set up in the United Kingdom stopped a burglary after spotting thieves trying to break into a store.
The Beatles fan was watching a webcam on Tuesday of Liverpool's Mathew Street, location of the Cavern Club, the club made famous by the band.
On his computer screen, he saw a group of men climbing a ladder and removing property from a store, reports BBC News Online.
He called police in Merseyside County and told them what he saw. Officers went to the scene and arrested three men on suspicion of burglary.
The men were released on bail as the investigation continues.

I got this picture from the CBC Montreal cam

See it pays to watch webcams. I have a few Favorite cams. I look in on Vancouver or Mount St.Helens and sometimes but not lately I look in on wildlife and eagles .
There are zoo cams and city cams and family cams and security cams and traffic cams. You name it and they cam it. What cams do you like?
Don't bother telling me about xrated favorites.

Friday night.

2006-08-25T21:10:00.000-05:00

Tonight I finished work at 8 pm. I knew that my sister was going to be out. My plan was to go home, check my email, then go out and find sushi and bring it back home. I walked along Eglington until I found an open, friendly little sushi restaurant. I believe the name of the place is Tokyo Sushi. The decor was warm and inviting so instead of ordering take out I decided to stay. I was really enjoying the food. I was thinking how much Graham would have enjoyed it too. Then a song starting playing that I associate with him because we played the CD The Carpenters, Singles 1969-1981, many times when he was hospitalized.
It was the Carpenters "Only Yesterday" playing
'Only yesterday when I was sad, and I was lonely.
You showed me the way to leave the past,
and all it's tears behind me.
Tomorrow may be even brighter than today.
Since I threw my sadness away,
Only yesterday.'

I think I have left the tears behind me.

Weekends coming up, quick make plans!

2006-08-24T20:55:00.000-05:00

I feel there is a pace in Toronto that I somehow have to try to keep up with.
I have been here about two weeks now and I have gone out to dinner at least three times. I have had two jobs. I have been to one singles event. I went to one movie. Went out bowling and went to a BBQ party. Celebrated my birthday three times and this weekend I am going on a 4 hour cruise with 600 single friends... That's my excuse for not unpacking my stuff yet. Hmmm I did not make plans for Friday after work yet...
So far me and Toronto are getting along just fine.

Aug 22 2006

2006-08-22T20:59:00.000-05:00

Graham would have turned 45 today.
Happy Birthday Graham!
Today I flew the kite you gave me for my birthday.
I will love you forever and sustain my strength from your legacy.

I had a good Birthday

2006-08-20T08:08:00.000-05:00

I was left alone in my new TO home on my birthday so I made plans.
I went first to a friends house is Mississauga. I had not seen her in a very long time. I had not yet seen her new house she moved into 6 years ago. So I guess it has been awhile. You know when you have a friend you have not seen in a long time but the conversation continues like you chatted yesterday? It's like that. I knew her since she was 5. Her link is on my sidebar.
Getting into the maze of crescents and finding her house challenge was met, so was finding my way out and continuing on to Burlington to see my other sister. I got to my other sisters house and took a nap while soccer matches were played and awards handed out. They are soccer parents you understand... My sister then took me bowling. I have not been bowling on my birthday since I was a little kid. LOL! It was fun. Then we stopped off at the soccer party and got directions to a Lebanese Restaurant. I have a quest to find Shish Taouk in the Toronto area. This was as close as I got so far. In this restaurant they call it shish taook. It's close to the food I am used to. It was also very tasty. La Luna was the name of the restaurant and if you are in Hamilton or Burlington you may want to try it. You will like it.
Then we went back to the soccer party. It was an all day, all night party. Lots of martinis, lots of beer for the adults only of course. Me, I stuck with water. The soccer kids swam in the pool and played in the house while their parents had a good time.
I got to meet lots of interesting soccer parents.
I got to drive my sisters car. It was all good.
I stayed there overnight and found my way back home this morning to my cosy little dungeon with no problem. Now what am I going to do today?

I am my own hero!

2006-08-18T19:08:00.000-05:00

Ok that does sound arrogant.
I am all by myself today. My sister took the kids and left for the weekend. My last day of work got cancelled because it was not going to be busy there today. So I was at loose ends.
But I did something today I am very proud of. I went to places in Toronto I was not sure how to get to. First place was my employer Staffworks to pick up my first Ontario paycheque. (or do they call them paychecks here?)
Never having driven there on my own I somehow found it. Since I was there I went and found the same hairdresser I had discovered in the spring when I was here. He is a French Canadian and I get to practice my French with him. I have this fear of loosing my French in one week of only speaking in English. With a new hairstyle and now feeling brave I decided to find the Ikea in Toronto. I only had to ask directions twice. I found it! I shopped there! I bought two things that require assembly! I ate the swedish meatballs while I was there.

I battled rush hour traffic on the 401 and I found my way back home!
Then to top it all off I assembled those two Items all by myself!

Now I am feeling a bit sick from those meatballs I suspect... So no hero sandwiches for me.

being brave.
Barbara W.

Toronto at sunrise...

2006-08-16T17:49:00.000-05:00

I took a different route into town today because I needed to pick up a co-worker.
Now I know what it is like to drive on streetcar tracks.. Not fun. But, worth the detour because I came up on Front street from the west and saw the city center in a beautiful sunrise glow. I did not take a picture of it because I was driving. My passenger took a pic with her cell phone. I will pick her up again tomorrow and hand her my camera and hope for another sunrise like that one.
I love working at the convention center. I wish this conference would go on for a lot longer. We knew nothing about anything when we started training on Friday and now we're getting the hang of it. By the time the conference ends this Friday we will have it down pat.

I miss my parents, family, friends and old co-workers, and I even miss my old job.
I get so busy though I forget to contact them. My email still needs fixing so I can do that. My new email address (for those who have my old email address) just replace @videotron.ca with @roger.com and you have my new email address. Then send me an email so I can add you to my new address book. Thanks. That will save me some data entry.
:-)

Barbara being busy

Day 6

2006-08-14T16:57:00.000-05:00

On day six I already got a raise on the job I will start next Monday...

I also wrote a little post about The AIDS conference on The Stroumboulopouli .

C'est tout pour la moment.

Barbara

2006-08-13T15:30:00.000-05:00

I will give you a break on 'Toronto day five' and post an engrish.com photo instead.
I did have a very busy and very interesting day at the convention but I think you need a laugh more...

Barbara being tired...
Update after a nap on day five.

My baker friend Yellow, would be so proud of me. I am making banana bread with chocolate chips while watching all the AIDS coverage tonight on CBC Newsworld. My sister thinks that the banana bread is for dinner. Me, I had salad for dinner.

being good.
Barbara

Day 4

2006-08-12T21:12:00.000-05:00

I got up at 4:30am, drove in the dark for my first time to the Convention center across from the CBC building on Front Street. Found parking. Started day two of volunteer support. Logistics were still being worked out. You can imagine this is the biggest single event the convention center has handled. Over 20000 delegates 3000 press thousands of volunteers and staff. By the end of my shift I was tired. I tried to take a nap, but too many things were running through my head, then I went out to a singles event with my sister tonight. I stayed for a drink. Then went home. Are you kidding I have to get up at 4:30am on Sunday, thru Friday. I am posting this and going to bed. There is no way I am going to the kickoff concert. I like my sleep too much. Day 4 and the pace of TO has tuckered me out.

Toronto day three

2006-08-11T20:04:00.000-05:00

Well so far so good.
It was a little chilly this morning. Who says there is no snow in Toronto?

I had a fascinating time at the training day for volunteers of the XVI International AIDS Conference. I can't wait to see what happens the rest of this week. I feel like I am in the centre of the universe right now... LOL
You can check out the Conference via the website or tune to CBC for coverage.
I hear Jian Ghomeshi is going to be there to cover it for Radio One.

Oh by the way, thank you for your good wishes on my job interview because, on the same day I started this one week job, I was also offered that job with the bank through the temp. Agency. How's that for beginners luck? I finish my work at the AIDS conference on the 18th and I can start that job on the 21st... That gives me my birthday off.

Have you ever heard of a traffic calming zone?
In other words... Speed bumps ahead.
In the pace of Toronto I will go slow as I can but it ain't easy.
Look what has happened in just three short days.

First post

2006-08-09T14:56:00.000-05:00

I arrived! Safe and sound and tired and excited and feeling good. I enjoyed the drive much more than I thought I would. I had the birds with me in the front, and 1/3 of my worldly goods in the back.

That's a pic of Gordon and Georgie.

Gordon is blue, Georgie is green.

We stopped as much as we could along the way.

I was smiling and thinking to myself as I drove along that I have never had a ticket, how lucky am I? Then I spotted them. The anonymous van at the side of the road. Radar trap! I slowed down a bit (not that I was speeding or anything). I saw a cop car coming up along the side of me. I was going 110km at the time. Well he pulled in front and stayed there. He set the pace because no one wanted to pass him. So I am still ticket free. Whew! That was the only event along the way of note. Unless you want me name the various road kill I spotted along the way. Umm I can't. They looked like lumps of fur to me.

I have a job interview Thursday. I start another job Friday and I have to go unpack my stuff a bit now. To sum it up, I got to Toronto and I hit the ground running.