This week-end I lived in a city that I know well but didn't recognize.
Th G20 summit was held in Toronto and has now drawn to a close. For most people like me who live in this peaceful city, this summit was not something we were looking forward to. City politicians and ordinary citizens begged the federal government to hold it in a non-urban setting.
A huge section of the downtown core was fenced in and for many an hour no one was allowed in or out. Major highways were closed and businesses were forced to shut down on Friday or alter their work behaviour. Oh and the public transit system also shut down.
The cost of the summit was over ONE BILLION DOLLARS. This price tag is proof that the country was prepared for anything, but what transpired over the week-end is something I never expected. What happened was new and shocking for Toronto, for residents and business owners, police and protesters.
As the week-end draws to a close, I'm left with many unanswered questions from all sides and angles. Why smash windows, throw rocks and bricks or set fires? Why did the police storm peaceful protesters when only a few were causing the problems? And what came first, the installation of the fence or those trying to take it down?
I came to this city reluctantly but out of necessity for work. However, over the 10+ years that I've lived here, I now have learned to call it my home as it's not the pedestrian and boring city of my youth but a vibrant cosmopolitan metropolis of culture, arts, sports and well-being.
So I was shocked at how many behaved this week-end. Surely, protesting involves making clear messages and statements, not using hammers and boards to shatter windows at Starbucks, banks and other businesses nor burning police cars. Is it a lack of creativity? A lack of understanding about how to affect change?
I'm equally shocked at the behaviour of the police today (20,000 strong!). They set up a huge detention centre and held people "like pigs in a sty". I guess I don't get the "break everything in sight" because it's an opportunity thought process". Is it just for fun? When will all those police, storm troopers and military go away? I am very disheartened and hope I never see an event or type of behaviour here in Toronto again.
In the last month I sadly hadn't made any more progress on my garden until today! Two week-ends I was out of town, the other week-ends I was entertaining friends. But! today at 6:30 I decided to get up and at it before the 30 degree humid heat arrived. Three hours later I have petunias, a rock border more wood chips. Yes, I have a little to do tomorrow .... but that will wait. Glad that my plants in the rock garden are getting a little bit bigger too. Now, I'm off to do some shopping for groceries now.
Last Wednesday, my new contract position brought me to the hot city of Atlanta Georgia. For two days I had continuous meet and greet meetings so when Friday rolled around I was pooped. Once I got back to the hotel, I slept for two hours. I awoke hungry and decided to go across the street to a big 200 store mall to find food and clothing.
I stayed on over the week-end as I had arranged to meet with blogger Anne Marie's in-laws, Herb and Gwen who live in the Atlanta area. I had met Herb and Gwen many times before on week-ends in Port Dover, Ontario.
We met up just east of Atlanta at Stone Mountain, a bare quartz monozonite dome. It's elevation is 1,686 ft (513 m) above the surrounding area and its circumference is more than five miles (8 km) in circumference at its base. We took a gondola up to the top where we were stranded for an hour due to safety as a violent thunderstorms in the humid 95 (35) heat rolled nearby.
One of the few trees atop Stone Mountain
On our way to the top!
After getting down and eating some southern fare at the base, we dropped my car rental at the airport and then continued south to Herb and Gwen's home for a reprieve from the heat and humidity, except for when I took their little white bundle of joy out for a walk!
Westy, looking at me and wondering why we had stopped walking!
Since we had southern fare for lunch and it was suggested to me that we have Mexican, that's what we did. The music was blasting inside and luckily as the sun was setting, the heat was going down too so we ate on the patio.
Herb and Gwen on the patio
The next day, Herb insisted that I drive their new golf cart along their 18 hole golf course. It was about 7:00 and not too hot. My biggest regret is not having my camera because the golf course trail took us to some marvelous sights along the greens and through the wonderful Georgian woods.
We then talked and chatted in their sun room, which looks onto some woods
Herb and Gwen just love their new retirement (55 years+) community. They took me to see the model homes and the well equipped amenity centre after having lunch and before I was off to the airport.
Golf Course view from Amenity Centre
Herb and Gwen's new home. (much larger than the camper they had for four years)
It was a lovely visit and I am thankful that my work took me to a place where I was able to visit Anne Marie's in laws. They are lovely people and truthfully feel like extended family to me. They certainly adore Anne Marie as well.
I had to look at this humanlike gargoyle when I grew up. It wasn't so bad in our first home as it wasn't in a highly trafficked location. However, in our second home, my parents nailed it to the wall at the top of the stairs so it protruded outward, staring out and below to you. I think it's ugly and really gave me the creeps. It also made me swear off gargoyles for the rest of my life!
I've finally covered the black tarp with wood chips. Some the plants I put there are dead and others are showing signs of bloom. Now is the time for patience as most of these plants are very little things. It's been a glorious weekend with warm temperatures, but we're in need for some rain to help the flora along.
This week-end I went to visit my folks in the beautiful Laurentian Mountains on Lake MacDonald. The weather was gorgeous, the nights clear and the stars at their brightest. The first evening I was there I went down to the water's edge to look at the stars reflected in the still lake. I also saw the refection coming from a house that hadn't been there the last fall, so the next day I went over to investigate.
It was a new house, built by one of my best childhood friends, who had just inherited the land from her father who had recently passed. Ellie and her husband Norman were good friends who I had lost touch with recently .... for that I regret!
Norman walked out of the house to greet me and was as skinny as can be. He had bandages on his neck but was in great spirits. He invited me in and began to tell me about his winter ... what a winter ....
In the Fall, he had become extremely ill. It was his heart, which wasn't pumping properly so it was causing all sorts of problems. ....
To make a long story short .... he ended up having a HEART TRANSPLANT !!!!!
My God, a friend of mine, who I've known for over 30 years (I attended their wedding almost 31 years ago), who is only in his mid-fifties has a new heart. I couldn't believe it! The operation was in mid-February and he was only out of the hospital for one week when I saw him. He had complications with the surgery and it was "touch and go" for awhile. Poor Ellie had to make some very tough decisions, which could have ended Norman's life - but luck was on his side.
The doctors now saw he is healthy and his new heart is doing "just fine".
It's made me realize that I shouldn't lose touch with those I really care about because, for example, when Ellie and Norman could have used my support - I wasn't there. (I drifted away during a time when I was in a bad relationship with a man).
It also made me sign an organ transplant option on my driver's licence, which means that if I die, I can hopefully provide an organ to someone in need, just as someone did for Norman.
I thank god that Norman is healthy, and thank god both he and Ellie come from close, huge families so there was lots of support around them.
I pray that Norman will remain healthy so that he and Ellie can have at least another 31 years together.
While the photos can't really show the true efforts of my work, yesterday I spent approximately 8 hours planting about 70 plants in what I hope to be a beautiful rock garden. One of the reasons why it's hard to see is because I have a black tarp over the ground to help minimize weeds from crowding in. Another reason why its hard to see is because I bought the really small plants that have yet to mature and spread; more economical this way. Today I still have more to do along the side of the driveway, where I've installed some patio stones. Maybe I'll post more pictures below. But, I can assure you that I am walking somewhat like my grandmother did during her latter years of life!
The bottom photo is of some stones that I installed next to my driveway. Great for me to step on to when I get out of the car ... and also great to deposit snow in the winter after shovelling the driveway!
.... things have been busy these last few months as I negotiated a new employment contract, finished up the curling season and dusted off my gardening tools. As you can see I have a lot of work to do - even tho I planted 5 rhododendrons, 12 hostas, one boxwood and some grass seed. I also have a bit of a trench at one side of my front square of dirt as I'll be putting in some tile there. Yikes, all the dirt I have there and I don't even have a big and active dog to blame it on!
I must admit that I've been addicted to the television for the past two weeks while the beautiful Canadian west coast city of Vancouver hosted the 2010 Olympics. Tonight I watched the closing ceremonies and admit that I had a tear in my eye more than once.
These games were spectacular for Canada as it showed a side of its people it's never seen before ... pure and golden patriotism... and I don't think I met anyone who wasn't blurry-eyed in Toronto because they stayed up late to witness all the events. Here are some other recollections:
There were the usual triumphs and defeats highlighted by the wonderful Dutch speedskater Sven Kramer who won the Netherlands all-time 100th Olympic medal by winning gold in one event and then being disqualified in another event that he would have won after skating in the wrong lane!
Clara Hughes - how can one really describe this amazing athlete? She's a Canadian speed skater who won her sixth piece of Olympic Hardware. She is the only athlete in the world to have won medals in both Summer and Winter Olympics over multiple games. I can't recall how many Olympians I heard speak of her as their hero. Well done Clara - a true representative of the spirit of courage and sport.
The youth taking over figure skating - Two 19 year olds winning gold and silver in the women's event. Yu Na Kim of Korea breaking a world record in point accumulation and Japan's Mao Asada landing three triple axels in the competition. As well, the Canadian gold medal ice dancers, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir who won gold at the tender ages of 20 and 22 - the first North American couple to win Olympic gold in the event and the only ones to win without prior Olympic experience.
Two vetrans winning medals in the snowboard parallel giant slalom. Canada's Jasey Jay Anderson and France's Matthieu Bozzetto had won everything in their sport except an Olympic medal. Both well into their 30s would never have another chance and ceased the day with Anderson winning gold and Bozzetto claiming the bronze.
Canada breaking a gold record - The curse is over. Canada was the only country to host an Olympic games without winning a gold medal. This changed in Vancouver as Canadians won a record 14 gold medals. No other nation in the winter Olympics have won so many gold. 13 gold medals was the previous record set by Norway in 2002 and the Soviet Union in 1976.
Now the best for last ...... Joannie Rochette of Canada and Petra Majdic of Slovenia. Both were winners of a special "Terry Fox award" created by the Vanoc committee. This award was to be given to an athlete who embodies the same values that Terry Fox did. (Terry Fox attempted to run across Canada with one leg after losing the other to Cancer. He didn't complete the run as the Cancer returned and he passed away. His mother said before he started his run that "He wanted to try the impossible - to show that it could be done". She believes that he proved to us all that the only limitations we have are those we impose on ourselves).
Despite four fractured ribs and a collapsed lung after a huge fall, Petra Majdic of Slovenia won a bronze medal, the first olympic cross country medal ever for her country.
Just days before her skate, Joannie Rochette's mother suddenly died of a massive heart attack at the age of 55. Joannie captivated the world and won a bronze medal in figure skating.
I stand in awe of these two women who are not only remarkable athletes but two very special young women.
The Olympics are an amazing thing. Thank you Pierre de Coubertin for resurrecting them in the modern era.
Lacrosse is a team sport in which players pass, catch and carry a rubber ball using sticks with a netted pouch at one end. The object of the game is to accomulate points by shooting the ball into the opposing team's goal. It's a sport that is played with many variations: on a field with ten players per side; in an arena with six players per side; with wooden sticks; with plastic sticks; time differences and other variations.
The origins of the sport lie with North America's native Indian nations. Many believe that lacrosse is the root of which Hockey came from.
Last night Jim and I took Crystal to see a professional lacrosse game at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Rock were playing the Edmonton Rush from the National Lacrosse League. This version of the game consists of four fifteen-minute quarters with six men per side. Last night's game was easily won by the Rock 16 to 7.
It's a good idea that if you go to these games, that you like Rock music. Throughout the game a variety of hard rocking, toe tapping music is played. AC/DC, INXS, The Clash, Steve Earle, Cheap Trick, Jon Bon Jovi, Aerosmith etc.... But I think AC/DC is the team's favourite. After most of their goals, the sound system plays "For those about to rock, we salute you".
We all had a fun time and weren't sad that the Olympic opening ceremonies were on because I had the PVR recording the event at home. Once we got home, we watched them.
Perfect segue .... did you know that Field Lacrosse was once an Olympic sport? In 1904 Canada won both a gold and bronze medal. However, its the mohawk nation's bronze medal win that makes me chuckle. Here are the names of these bronze medallists: Almighy Voice, Black Eagle, Black Hawk, Flat Iron, Half Moon, Lightfoot, Man Afraid Soap, Night Hawk, Rain in Face, Red Jacket, Snake Eater and Spotted Tail ...
There is no snow in Toronto which is a huge disappointment to Crystal, my Korean Border, who wants to experience a snow storm and enjoy the wonders of frolicking in it.
For her benefit, I would really like there to be a snow storm here in Toronto - as long as she helps me shovel the driveway!!! However, I'm not sure this will happen (even though I read that Washington DC received a record 78cms of the white stuff this week-end).
Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day so I decided to drive Crystal north of the city to where I heard that there was snow on the ground.
First we went to Port Perry, a little town on the shores of Lake Scugog, to see fishing ice huts. There were indeed ice huts - but only a dusting of snow meaning we'd have to drive further north! However, when looking at the ice huts I noted that many cars and very heavy trucks were on the ice so I decided to drive out there to get close to them. For Crystal, this was a new and scary experience as she never even had walked on ice before!
Here she is on Lake Scugog beside my car with the fishing ice huts in the background, in a moment that she'll never ever forget.
After getting off the lake I drove to Orillia Ontario, on the shores and at the intersection of Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe. Finally there was enough snow of the ground for Crystal to enjoy....
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Here I am lying on the icy surface of Lake Couchiching making a snow angel.
Here's the completed snow angel that Crystal made.
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Next Friday I'm taking her to an Ontario Hockey League game and in two weeks we hope to hit the hills for some snow tubing.
Below is a link to a short film that won a $100,000 prize in a competition put on by LG Electronics.
It's on this blog because this film, Nuit blanche (or white night) was produced by my cousin's daughter Stephanie and directed by her boyfriend Arev.
Hundreds of entries were submitted in four categories. The winners in each category then competed for the $100,000 grand prize - which Nuit Blanche won in the narrative category.
This is a huge victory for these two in a very competitive field. They plan to put the prize money towards their next film. The National Film Board of Canada has actually approached to collaborate with them. This is wonderful news for these two striving for success in an extremely competitive and tight industry.
Hope you enjoy this very artsy film with wonderful special effects.
It's a sad day when you wake up and hear that one of your country's greatest folk singers and musical mothers has died.
Kate McGarrigle, mother to Rufus and Martha Wainwright,passed away overnight from a rare form of cancer at the age of 63.
The McGarrigle sisters were born in Montreal and raised in one of my favourite Laurentian Mountain ski-towns, Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts. They recorded 10 albums in French and English, and their songs have been covered by artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Billy Bragg and Emmylou Harris.
I was lucky to see them live on several occasions in my earlier days within small pub-like environments, which is perfect for their style of music.
For a smile in rememberance you should view the Logdriver's Waltz. The National Film Board's video here at http://www.nfb.ca/film/log_drivers_waltz/ The song is an old traditional Canadian folksong.
Kate (left) with her sister Anna (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)
It's great to have an insulated basement bedroom/office. However, when the desk is next to the entrance/exit of the non-insulated part of the basement and near the leaky/drafty door to the outside it can get its share of cool drafts.
The challenge this past week-end was to find a door that could fit the unique size of the entrance/exit, be strong enough to hold a cat door and have windows. (If I need to close a door to a room, I like to have windows so I don't feel so isolated from the rest of the house).
Jim and I explored the usual home renovation/hardware stores but didn't find anything affordable that fit the bill so we took a jaunt down the road to Habitat for Humanity's Restore and found this beautiful vintage piece that Jim installed for me.
The wonderful thing about this door is that the bottom middle window pane is gone so that'll be used as the cat door! They'll have no problem going thru the door when it's closed :-)
Between the stairs down to the basement and my newly renovated room, I've made some adjustments to organize my stuff and separate the room from the unfinished part of the basement by hanging some curtains I had used in my old condo. I bought a great shelf unit at a post-christmas bargain price - - and behind one of the curtains, you'll see a great little item that I found that I'm using to store my off-season clothes.
Next steps are to:
a) add a door handle to the door; b) install a curtain over my main closet area (I'm using unused brass pipe that was left in the house when I bought it as curtain rods), c) continue to organize my office; d) hang some wall art/photos, and e) finish the wiring
Hoping that 2010 brings everyone lots of happiness and personal fulfillment.
For me it started at blogger friend Anne Marie's house. Six of us munched on appetizers, played a great word-game game called Apples to Apples and then Wii Sports Resort. After the New Year came in we jumped into the hot tub under a light falling rain before heading off for a good night's sleep. In the morning we munched on a Mexican style breakfast and played more rounds of Apples to Apples.
I'm home now and doing a bit more work on the basement. Tomorrow the painting will commence.
Passionate about music/singing and travel. I’ve travelled to 30+ countries on shoe-string budgets, lived in France, trained my voice and sing: jazz, rock and classical. Love each one for their differences and challenges.
Today much of my learning comes from travelling and appreciating cultures. I believe all should travel to see how others live elsewhere. While we have different faiths, foods etc., essentially we’re the same. Peace to us all!
One of the few trees atop Stone Mountain
On our way to the top!
Westy, looking at me and wondering why we had stopped walking!
Herb and Gwen on the patio
We then talked and chatted in their sun room, which looks onto some woods
Golf Course view from Amenity Centre
Herb and Gwen's new home.
I had to look at this humanlike gargoyle when I grew up. It wasn't so bad in our first home as it wasn't in a highly trafficked location. However, in our second home, my parents nailed it to the wall at the top of the stairs so it protruded outward, staring out and below to you. I think it's ugly and really gave me the creeps. It also made me swear off gargoyles for the rest of my life!
May 15, 2010
