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.

Birthday

Today is my birthday - 59 years old - OMG - I don't feel it, I feel 36, but my son is 40 and when I look in the mirror I see maybe 55 - but reality check! So close to 60.

It is pouring rain and I am going to the baseball game with Dave, Tom, Jose and Val the driving to Ottawa tonight.

Even in the pouring rain my view in my new Condo is so fabulous (Tom hates when I say fabulous - he says I say it way too often). Well life is fabulous, No?

Have been re-arraning my furniture in my new condo. Starting to come together. My son Jason came by yesterday and sorted out all the cords for the TV, DVD, CD, Internet and Phone - it looked like a mass of snakes. Got the DVD working and the CD player. He hung a painting for me and moved the dining table and chairs.

All in all it is starting to look like home.

Spirit World

Our Dear Friend Marge Lanigan passed into the Spirit World on Thursday June 3, 2010 at 6:00 am. It was such a sad day for those of us who had been part of Marge's journey. But she is in a peaceful place and I feel her presence. It is just like when my father passed away - I felt him flitting by, out of the corner of my eye I could see a flash of movement - and I feel the same the last few days so I feel that Marge is here. Not sure why me - maybe because of my sister who was Marge's BFF.

It has been difficult as my sister is in New Zealand so cannot come to the funeral on Monday. She was able to be here in April for 2 weeks and that was so good for both of them - to spend time with your friend before she walked with her ancestors.

It will be very hard tomorrow as my mother wants to go to the funeral and she will be very upset and she will cry which will make me cry. We will have to be strong.

IN

Well I am in and what a ride it was. The movers were late arriving at the pick up point and therefore we missed the window to use the elevator. I was so stressed out. Also the alarm company did not show up to remove my alarm system from the old place as they had pulled the technician to work at the company President's house. The bed company indicated they were stuck in traffic and would not arrive on time.

Yikes, if it could go wrong it did. And to top it off my video camera / microphone was not working and I couldn't talk with my sister in New Zealand.

Movers and Nine Clouds bed/mattress company all arrived at the same time - 4:45 (45 minutes after the elevator time had expired. Through skillful negotiations (and quivering lips) the Property Manager agreed to let me use the elevators during the peak hours of 5 and 7. So the bed was put up and the furniture / boxes (all 99 of them) arrived.

My friend Gini was amazing and without her I would never have been able to be calm during this process. My son Jason arrived to help around 5:30 so things started moving along.

Slept in my new bed that night so that was a really good thing. I really felt like I was home. The next day Gini and I started early unpacking boxes so by the time we left for Ottawa on Friday morning I only had about 15 or so boxes left out of 99.

My kitchen looks like a cyclone hit it but hey - that will work at some future date.

Today, Tuesday June 1 I just found out that a friend is dying - very sad as she is a fabulous woman who is kind and giving to everyone. She will be missed.

Moving Day

Today is Moving Day and we are sort of ready - took stuff over to the condo last night and smudged all rooms, clearing out all negative energies that may have been left behind by the other tenants and also asking the Great Spirit to help bring joy to this new home. The picture was taken the day that I purchased the unit, so not my stuff, next photos will be of my own things in my own condo.

It was very exciting to stand in my own home - no one will ever be able to say they are selling my place and I have to move - except me. Now I a will have a sense of contentment. I will be abel to paint and decorate without worrying about what the owner will think. That's me - The Owner - Wow! And I had mail sitting on the counter - that was definately a "this is really happening" moment - Audrey sent me a "New Home" card from Ireland.

Deirdre called from New Zealand last night to say how excited she was for me to be moving into my own place, I wish she was here to share it with me. I could also use some of her advice on paint colours, drapes, etc. Oh well! There will be many others who are more than happy to help.

Victoria Day - or better known as the 24 Weekend eh!

Well it seems rather silly that Canada still celebrates Queen Victoria's birthday - on May 24th. Definately not a party person - she only wore black and never stepped out. On the other hand Canada has embrassed the 24 weekend - with cases of you guessed it 24 beers - and partied the weekend away. Victoria would roll over in her grave.

Yesterday my friend Gini (from White Rock, BC) and I went north of Toronto to Tottenham to visit my cousins then raced back to the city for a BBQ in High Park and did some last minute packing in prep for my move on Wednesday.

Today, May 24, is a beautiful day and Gini has gone for a walk along the lake - while I play on the computer - have been up since 3:30 am - as usual, cannot sleep more than a few hours.

We will pack some more and then go to another BBQ at Dave and Tom's here in the Beach - then down to the lake to watch the fireworks.

I cannot believe that in 2 more days I will be in my new Condo! Yeah!!!!

What's With this 4 am Crap

Well here I am again in the middle of the f***ing night wide awake and on the computer. I packed moer stuff then decided to email my sister in New Zealand. Oh, I booked my ticket (and Mom's) to New Zealand for Christmas - I know that is far way and I have enough to deal with right now what with the move and all - but hey what's one more thing.

Just listened to the funniest blog "Sleeping Man Talk" - so funny - it's this guy talking in his sleep in the UK and his wife is taping him and posting it on line. They sell Tshirts with his sayings on them - too funny!

Going off with my son Jason today - buying a flat screen TV for my new Condo - have given away my old tv which someone gave to me - so only fitting that I would pass it forward.

6 More Sleeps

Have been up since 4:30 this morning - thinking of all of the things that I still need to do to get ready for my move on Wednesday. Almost all packd - a few things lying around now but not much. You know the things that kind of hang around and you are not sure what pile they really belong in.

I was just looking at some other blogs - everyone is so creative - I have all these great ideas in my head but they don't seem to want to come out of my finger tips.

Anyway my focus now is on tne move - all the legal documents have been signed - the deposit funds have been handed over to the lawyer - yikes I just got a mortgage amortized over 25 years - I'll be 84 - that's weird becasue I still think I am 35.

The move and my STUFF!

How many times in ones life does one move?
One - from your parents home to your first home?
Two - many times with your parents as your father changes jobs?
Three - to University (many moves) into you 20's - many moves across the city, the province, the country the world.

How many times do we start over - with nothing and ending up with so much stuff you are overwhelmed with it?

I moved out of my parents home for the first time when I was 20. That did not last too long - but it was a good experience. The second time I moved out of my parents home I moved to the Northwest Territories (Western Artic) and lived in Yellowknife. Now that was far and I probably would not have done it if I had not already lived on my own for a year.

After that I was a wanderer - I moved very often with just my clothes - I had not started my life long pursuit of acquiring stuff.

In my mid 20's I moved from Ottawa to Toronto and have been here eversince. From 1976 to 2010 I have moved 11 times - and I am now getting ready for my 12th move.

Each time I started with less than when I had arrived - how do we end up with so much stuff? What is it that compels us to buy, accept free stuff, pick up stuff and never get rid of it. We cannot bear to throw it away or give it away. What is the association that we have - are we afraid that we will give away the where, when, who raher than the item. Even if we give away the item we still have the memory.

I just gave away a box of penguins that had been packed away in 1989 and was looked at for the first time yesterday. It actually felt good to give it away. Now I am on a roll and getting rid of lots of stuff.

My contents sale was very successful last weekend and managed to get rid of more than 60 percent of my stuff.

Early Morning

Well I decided that I should get on the blogger band wagon, everyone seems to have a blog - although this will probably end up just being about me - isn't that what all blogs are - just about the blogger.

It is early in the morning the moon went down about an hour ago and the birds are starting to sing. I love this time of day. Just me and nature. No other sounds.

My alarm radio just came on at 6:24 am - Q107 is doing a Beatles anthology every morning so this morning it is the Beatles singing Bring Back My Bonnie to Me - wow that is old. I know this sounds weird as I said I liked the me and nature thing - which I do but after an hour - then the day starts and here we are. And now my all time fav band is playing on the radio (The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash). I heard yesterday that Exile on Main Street is being re-released - no wonder it was not available in stores. I have lost that CD so many times and bought new ones so often. I will definately be buying the new release.