the end of a friendship

I have a friend, or did have, I should say. We have been friends since 1977 - 34 years - in some cultures a lifetime. We met at a party of mutual friends and until the other day we were the only two who still saw each other. We had an argument the first time we met, she was very definite in her views and strong in her commitments and we had an argument at the end and she was still very definite in her views and strong in commitments. We said "have a good life" - she wrote me off without a thought or a care.

How do you define a friendship. Buddies, pals, BFF, sisters, acquaintance, friend of a friend. Our relationships evolve from being acquaintances, for pals, to the ultimate - BFF - I will be there for you through thick or thing, your mistakes, my mistakes, love and death.

Creative Writing

I cannot believe that I have not written anything for months - in fact I have not even written in my journal which I used to do everyday. Is it because I am overwhelmed with my move, my new location, work, life. I think it might be a little bit of everything - although right now I feel as though I am unable to produce anything as I am frozen in time and space.

Which leads me to my title, Creative Writing, I have decided to take a creative writing course and U of T. The first class was last night. Funnily enough it is all women, 19 to be exact. I felt somewhat intimidated as some of the women actually write for a living, one woman is writing a novel and in all I felt that they read somewhat better than I do. Is that the inner critic talking or is it truth. Not sure. But at the end of the day those 2 hours went so quickly I could not believe that it was over.

Amanda, the teacher is great, I really liked her and look forward to next week.

Plumbing

So I have this glass sink in my bathroom with a stopper that you press on to close it so that the water stays in the sink. Well strong me - I broke the stopper - now a friend Beata and her partner Rob are trying to fix it. We cannot even get the sucker out of the sink - the guy I bought the condo from used silicon on everything. Yikes. This sucks.

Carlos Santana

My Son and I went to see Carlos Santana a few weeks ago. Carlos was at the Molson Ampitheatre at Ontario Place in Toronto. What a showman - his band is so tight - they are amazing. When I download a few pictures I will put them up. Steve Winwood was his opening band. The weather was amazing nice and sunny.

I had seen Santana years ago but never Steve Winwood - I was not disappointed. Even my son was pleased with the evening.

G8 and G20

The G8 and G20 have definately played havoc on Toronto - shut it down more likely.

The hype started a week ago with fences going up and high police presence - in full riot gear no less. It really was looking as though they were looking for a fight. You could see them getting all hyped up. There had to be at least 100 around the Royal Bank building at Front and Bay Streets. People started staying home from work or working from home - going on vacation, anything to get out of the city.

Yesterday I went to City Hall at Queen and Bay around 4 pm on a business errand. It was busy with shoppers and people at the Jazz Festival at Nathan Philips Square. Took the Bay bus down to King Street for the streetcar and all seemed quiet. However one block from home I had an email from the TTC saying the King streetcars were no longer running due to increase police activity. I thought wow - what's happening. It turns out that 2000 protestors were coming down University Avenue and there was a clash - I must have been looking south on University when we went by as I only live 10 minutes from University Ave.

The news was showing huge clashes between police and protestors - actually as I think of it there were at least a dozen mounted police officers waiting at Bay and Temperance (interesting place for them to meet as they were showing little temperance).

Sunny sunny days!

That is the title of a song that a band called the Staccatos sang in the late 60's - they were from either Toronto or Ottawa. And that is exactly what it is today.

Had a fabulous week - lots of peopel dropping by to see the new place. Diane, Joel, Beverley, Amanda, Jennifer, Wanda, Louise and Wendy and Michael are coming for breakfast tomorrow. Wow what a social life.

Where did the week go?

My goodness how the week has flown by - lots has happend.

Went to Ottawa on Sunday night to attend Marge's funeral - it was a First Nations funeral with drumming, singing a feast and homages to Marge. What an amazing day. Very emotinal to say the least. My mother came with me and I know it was a very long hard day for her. But what a trouper - at 91 she held her own for the whole day. It was so spiritual.

Drove back to Toronto late in the evening of Monday June 7th as I had to be at work on Tuesday. Got home and skyped my sister in New Zealand to share the day with her. She had already been contacted by Joanne, Sandra and Irene - so she was well filled in on the events of the day and that I had done a pretty good job at reading her words to those assembled (over 200).

A busy week lay ahead of me. Work was hectic but good to keep my mind off of things. Tuesday I crashed very early as I was exhausted.

Wednesday I had an evening meeting with my Women's group and Thursday had dinner in Yorkville at Ciao with Kelly. That was a great evening. Friday went to S\see The Foggy Hogtown Boys CD release at Hugh's Room. Jen and Tibor and I had dinner before the show at Hugh's room. Great CD - I had already seen them perform it in Ottawa on the 28th of May at the National Art Centre 4th Stage. Robin was there with his new girlfriend - a little awkward for me but not too much. Let's face it - it has been over 3 years since we lived togehter so - as they say - get over it. I do miss his conversations, wit, humour, intelect but it was not meant to be.

Today I talked with Gary in Fredericton to see how Becky was. It appears that she will need a bone marrow transplant and they are testing her siblings to see if they are a match. I am concerned that this road is not a good road. But I must keep positive and send positive vibes to Becky that she will be ok. I have come to love her as I do my own sister.

Audrey called me from Northern Ireland - today is her birthday - what a treat - we have been friends since 1978 although she has been back in Ireland for 30 years we are still great mates - she comes to Canada regularly so we see each other often. I filled her in on my move. Also spoke to Dorothy in North Bay - as I write all of this I relaize how scattered my friends are.

Went shopping today and bought a new microwave - the old one was over 10 years old and did not work that well - this one is stainless steel and matches all of the appliances in my new condo.

Also bought a new stainless garbage can that fits under the sink - the other one took up too much room. New towel rack that hangs on the front of the cupboard door under the sink. It is also chrom so fits in well with the look of the room. A new silver paper towel stand, and a towel rack for the back of the bathroom door.

Boy owning a new place costs so much money!

I also so drapes at Bed Bath and Beyond (what a great store have never been there before). Will have to tell my friend Dorothy so that the next time she comes down we can look and find a pair of sheers for my bedroom.

All in all a really good day. Even my conversation with Gary ended on a positive note.