Post Portia

ugh. eerk

2007-02-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've sold out to the man or sommink. I signed on to the new blogger...with google account, etc. Waddup w/ that forced sign on stuff - talk to me blogosphere.

Meanwhile, had a gas contractor come by the house to read our C O 2 levels AT 9:30 THIS EVENING. OH HOW I HATE. And the headache and drowsiness that I'm experiencing now -is that PMS or some sort of vile carbon monoxide meter reading backlash??

Well, enough pollution from me...for now. I'll be too happy to bound to work in the morning I am sure.

toodles.for.now.

Quickly! Quickly!

2007-02-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, a zap post today - becoming a habit sadly.

The court thing - a full on waste of time, pity. But, a la out n' about yesterday, went to SUPERMARKET in Kensington last night w/ the boys. This was followed by 45 years of jamaican music, etc @ harbourfront, nice.

So! Supermarket. bless Cazack and Junior -honestly, they are full on dearhearts. I had an awesome time UNTIL I NEEDED TO USE THE LADIES ROOM. Dissssssgusting. Frigging abhorrent, nightmarish and disgusting.

A wet slippery floor, stalls flooded and well, full of the dirt of a thousand years and people puking at the sink. I am still shivering in horror a day later. Heavens

Hi Ho, Hi Ho. Its off to Court I go

2007-01-30T17:21:00.000-08:00

Sooooooooo, I used my free day off of the week to fulfill a subpeona request. Yessssssss, last April I was on a streetcar on Queen that got hit by a cab. And the case came up today. And...guess what? It has been rescheduled for July. Sommink about the cabbie's lawyer setting the date back cuz they only just had a chance to confer. Huh? Wha? I MUST have misunderstood.

Anywhoo, I don't think I'll be doing the July date. I am SURE my memories will be foggiest of fuggiest by then and it ocurred to me today that um, the streetcar driver has really dreamy eyes and is kinda cute. I suspect that this is clouding my judgement and cannot be the reason for proceeding further, whatcha think? Ah, the wheels of justice - they turn soooooooo slow...

Ok, off to watch entourage, eat some leftovers for dinner and do some reading before packing it in for the night - more. later.

mushing, MUSHING to keep up!

2007-01-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

And doggonit, I will, I WILL. Somehow, some. way. But, just not this evening. Frack.

Lots to update and keeping it all in my head, is VERY bad...so I'll be back soon, promise. Jaynerator, glad that u n' Jack are better, scary...

Oh noooooo!!

2007-01-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

Pafetik that I have so NOT blogged as yet for the year. How can this be when I have so much to rant about? Harumph...

1)dakota fanning. i'm choking, JUST choking...enough of that moron and her oscar hungry family already

2)chantal kreviazuk. wtf. must she be EVERYWHERE? I mean EVERYWHERE? Sheesh almighty

3) I watch too much CSI. Its my wind down after work but I think I've seen enough dead female bodies to last a lifetime - I get it already...still George Eads and Gary Dourdan are so hot...

4) Still krafting away, much more enjoyable than I thought it would be but working in the suburbs messed up my gaydar, faaack...

JAMES BROWN Rest In Peace

2006-12-25T09:12:00.000-08:00

Wowzers, at a bit of a loss for words on this one. I was actually considering braving the wild jungles of Casino Rama again just for this performer but alas, the hardest working man in show business will grace the stages no more.

That said, Merry X-Mas all.

scrooge ROCKS my world

2006-12-14T20:20:00.000-08:00

I lost my purse this evening. I am HOPING. PRAAAAAAAAYING I left in my dad's car en route to the subway but if not, I LEFT it on the bloody subway. Faaaaaaaaack! Granted that I had my wallet and keys on my person at the time and that if someone wants to poach my numbers the battery is now dead but riding the subway tonight looking for it - not so much fun. The idea of having to replace all those numbers - not so much fun. It just makes me want to eat chocolate truffles and nap furiously.

Ok, tragic the level of updates needed here. Am working for a certain major North American food services company doing pr/promotions and copywriting. I've never done the copywriting thing officially and I live for it.

Right -more later. Am very dehydrated at the moment, what with taking in ttc fumes all evening.

STILL trying to catch up!

2006-12-01T17:49:00.000-08:00

So behind with this. Nuff tings gwanin'...

ok, ok, OK. So November was not so good with the catch up as I had thought.
Hustling to find a replacement for the steady duckets which I landed, well - sorta. Um, then finding other things to supplement it with which is an ebb and flow situation.

But! Lots of updates are necessary. Just not sure where/how to begin. Despite continued downward spiral of the TTC, Moscoe and Miller are fully ensconced at city hall again, not impressed with that and cringe every time I have to board a bus w/ a cranky, generally disgruntled looking driver.

Lots of soapboxing on far too much so I'll try to take a stab one itching issue at a time.

First of which was dinner last week at La Vecchia @ Yonge & Egg last week. Disgusting. Not only was it unappetizingly packed in there but there were bugs at our table and we had to pay the bill in full -WAAAAAAAAAAHT???????

I'll tell that one first but later, don't want this to be too long, ahem...

Counting down...

2006-11-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

It's almost that time...

I've got one more working day until I start my hot new p/t gig @ the food place, please don't let me eat too many white chocolate covered oreo cookies, faaaaack!

Meanwhile, I am doing the Joe thing today in tempo land - VERY interesting indeed. Even hotter is the fact that I am writing to you from a MAC - OMG, I love the MAC, I am one with the MAC, sweet, sweet...I DEFINITELY want a notebook for home now. And with word on the street that MACs now have Windows?? Shut-UP!

Well - apart from the fact that the head JOE in charge has not acknowledged my presence, this has been a stimulating morning already. The whole acknowledgement thing is par for the course of temping but is interesting considering the contrast in behaviour across sectors, personas, etc. I think realtors make a lot more than fashionistas and I don't recall nothing but manners for days w/ the Bay Streeters from earlier this week. Which brings to mind the blue vibes I get when I think about people like Serena d.p and the Canadian apparel industry; lots of sniffles. The good thing about this gig is that 1) it took me 20mins to get here and 2) Cheryl lives around the corner. I have to make a pit stop @ her place for my pits later on, eek.

Ewww

2006-11-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

This sux, royally:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6157612.stm

In other news, chomping on the bits to see Casino Royale, woo-hoo! I have been fully brainwashed by the media blitz and am super curious. I fully enjoy the continued firestorm re: Bond, er Craig being so buff, HOT. Hot I tell you.

What else? Start date for new contract has been pushed back by a week so likely more temping, went to see Masia 1 perform for the Reel Asian Film Fest music showcase @ the Drake - turns out Moose lost the master key, eek. Having lunch w/ former CBC peeps over roti in the underground - not in my day I tell you and at Saint Cinnamon at that - crazyfied. Tonight is dinner @ The Rushton, tomorrow a UK garage sale and Sunday movies. Monday back to the real estate perch and will have to suss out new leads for Tuesday starting, oh - say now.

And in other movies news

2006-11-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

You know - Russell Crowe should be thanking Sasha Baron Cohen for releasing a box office monster the same week as A GOOD YEAR came out. C'mon! Russell Crowe as a romantic lead? Cack. The guy is only ever good looking, and barely at that thank you very much when he is covered with dirt, debris, blood and sweat. Yack - I definitely won't be going to see that one and the Crowster is lucky that there is enough Boratedness out there that people won't even have to forgive him cuz they'll have never heard of this bloody GOOD YEAR movie crap to begin with. Cackle...

And in other Russell news, Russell PETERS got a sweet write up in today's Globe, nice...overdue as f*ck and nice...

http://theglobe.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061115.wxpeters15/BNStory/Entertainment/home

NEW VERSION? Wha??

2006-11-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

No idea what the deal is w/ the new version of blogger - anyone care to share?? Help! Some of you have even bounced out of blogger all together, off to greener pastures and such.

Right. So - yesterday was the big municipal election love in. I am super suprised that Pitfield conceded at all AND as early as she did - wtf?! Shocking, runaway win for Miller, sniffle. Am also shocked that dear Alexandra Bravo didn't make it in, am going to do some digging re: the numbers on that one re: C. Palacio. I had high hopes for Alexandra, who is a super keen resident; hopefully she will continue to grow her public career!

Admission - am secretly brooding re: the Miller victory because as a TTC super user, I have my suspicions about the company morale and just the wackiness of the service. Case in point the door situation yesterday on the train home, the disappearing Friday evening buses, etc. Most interesting...

Ooh, still hoping to catch up

2006-11-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

Happenings for days. Here at home, around the world...

In the midst of the clanging, the din of the news of the world, mid terms, war, divorce, what have you, I see that former SA President Botha passed away. The interesting part of Mbeki's attendance at the funeral is that his eldest son, who disappeared while he was in prison, was likely killed by Botha's administrators. Sad that he has never had the opportunity for a proper burial, like so many to be sure.

Hoping to catch up

2006-11-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

At least somewhat...

Now that the gig by the water is done and I am plotting a path towards the next big thing, which I have heavy expectations for, I can spend a moment luxuriating in the blogosphere catching up on far too many truancies.

So, let me begin with my most favourite encapsulation of Banda-gate thus far, care of the fantastic Borat, followed by a great read from the Globe all about the chained heat, better known as Canada's penal system for women - BC style - way to make us look bad in front of the stylish French people, helloooo

Firstly, on Madge:

My only concern is that this singing transvestite will not be such a good father,” Borat said in a mock video link from Kazakhstan.

And the prison tidbit, oh dear...

France tunes in to mother's guilty plea in B.C.
Bizarre tale features jailed professor who wants to seek French presidency
ROD MICKLEBURGH
From Friday's Globe and Mail

VANCOUVER — Detours in the long and winding road to a PhD are not unknown.
But few can measure up to what befell Nathalie Gettliffe this spring, as she journeyed all the way from her native France to defend her doctoral thesis at the University of British Columbia.
Instead of appearing before an elite academic panel, she found herself arrested at the Vancouver airport and thrown in prison.

While her professors wondered why she hadn't shown up, Ms. Gettliffe was being charged with two long-standing counts of child abduction.
The charges were laid after she fled five years ago to France with two children from a broken marriage, in defiance of a B.C. court order. Since then, her case has become even more bizarre. Behind prison walls, where she remains to this day, Ms. Gettliffe has not only managed to complete her thesis defence, but also give birth to a baby boy.

In the meantime, she has become a cause célèbre in France, the subject of numerous media reports pillorying Canada for its treatment of a pregnant woman and turning B.C. into a land of "terrorist justice" in the eyes of her many fervid French supporters.
Adding fuel to the frenzy, Ms. Gettliffe has announced her intention to run for the presidency of France in 2007.

The remarkable saga of the 36-year-old learned linguistic professor, however, is at last nearing an end. In a brief court appearance yesterday, her lawyer, Richard Fowler, announced that Ms. Gettliffe will plead guilty today in B.C. Supreme Court, rather than face a scheduled jury trial on the charges against her on Nov. 20.
Mr. Fowler said sentencing arguments will be heard later this month.
But Ms. Gettliffe's guilty plea is unlikely to diminish the fierce emotions her case has generated in France.
There, she has been characterized with great sympathy in the media as a brave mother seeking to protect her children -- Joséphine, 12, and Maximilien, 11 -- from an alleged cult-like church attended by the children's father, Scott Grant.

The Vancouver Church of Christ has links to the U.S.-based International Church of Christ, banned from many U.S. university campuses for cult-like recruiting drives.
At the same time, prison conditions in B.C. have been characterized as "worse than Guantanamo" by Ms. Gettliffe's current husband, Francis Gruzelle, who appears regularly on French TV to plead his wife's case.
The couple say they are writing a book called The Hell of Canadian Prisons.
By the summer, the atmosphere in France had become so volatile that police feared a vigilante attack to prevent Mr. Grant from bringing Joséphine and Maximilien back to B.C., after gendarmes tracked them to a small village in the French Alps where they were being cared for by a relative of Ms. Gettliffe.
Their fears prompted a police escort for Mr. Grant and the children on the way to Paris and then to the airport.

Mr. Grant, whose marriage to Ms. Gettliffe ended in divorce in 2000, regained custody of the children after France's highest court upheld the original B.C. court ruling.
Alarmed by public hostility in France, Canada's ambassador to that country, Claude Laverdure, took the unusual step this week of writing to French journalists "to set the record straight" about her alleged prison mistreatment.

"It is completely understandable that those close to Ms. Gettliffe want her released," Mr. Laverdure wrote. "But it is unacceptable that the reality of this case should be so distorted, that the Canadian justice and correctional systems should be so unjustly criticized and that Ms. Gettliffe's situation in prison should be so wrongly portrayed."

Ms. Gettliffe gave birth in late September to her new son, Martin, at a public hospital near the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women in the Fraser Valley, where she is incarcerated.
Since the birth, she has been given a single room in a special wing of the medium-security prison to allow her to care for the baby.

Earlier, arrangements were also made to enable the imprisoned woman to give the required oral defence of her PhD thesis that had been so abruptly cancelled by her arrest.
Ms. Gettliffe's six-member academic committee agreed to conduct the hearing at the Alouette prison, a first for the university, according to Sherrill Grace, who chaired the unusual proceedings.
It was a marvellous experience, she said. "The guards did not stay in the room, and I must say that Nathalie was incisive, intelligent, articulate, poised and professional. There was not the slightest ripple. She was just an academic again. It was very touching."

Prof. Grace, a veteran of the UBC English department, said she became caught up again in the excitement she feels whenever there is engagement with a young academic.
"There's a euphoria about it. You completely forget where you are," she said. "What's the old saying? 'Iron bars do not a prison make.' "

DAVID BANDA

2006-10-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

FRAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thass all I wanted to say.

Literally not a peep more - despit the many parties, the meetings, interviews and everything else that is happening at the moment. I merely wanted to utter, to share, those two words "David" and "Banda".

And now I take my leave

Right, catching up then

2006-10-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ah, trying to be a better, more diligent blogger.

Listening to Mark de Clive Lowe on 1xtra on BBC - Benji B's Deviation. As part of Black History Month- a month with 31 days in the UK by the way, MDCL is paying homage to Herbie Hancock. Now I am so sorry that I missed MDCL when he was in town during my sole weekend off this summer. I got the CD though, nice NICE...

Meanwhile, winding down the job by the water in general and doing searches on new opportunities. A bit of adrenaline at the moment considering I was in all day today and have to be up and perky ALL DAY tomorrow.

More later...

Ick. Ick I say...

2006-10-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

So bad of moi. Not blogging in a lifetime.

And so MUCH to blog and rant and vent about, titch titch. I actually had a whole posting re: Marianne Pearl but it spittled and I couldn't be boffered trying to retreive for the hour of night of my attempt.

Ah, literary thing is almost there and the gig on the water is wrapping up so I will be more diligent, I pwomise. ;)

W.

Sunday Sunday

2006-09-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

An easy peasy Sunday afternoon in the tdot. I am actually a wee bit shocked that it is 5:46 already - gah! Where did the day go? I've taken to doing some laundry, power cleaning and plan to head to the Drake a bit later but overall, it is not as much of a chillax day as I intended.

I must share that Sunday Edition was splendid this morning. A bit of IFOA Nigerian hoy-poloy, some Hoagy Carmichael Jr., sweet. I SHOULD be playing Monopoly with older nephew at the moment but have fears of getting creamed in front of younger nephew - must save face!

Meanwhile, doing lots of BBC Radio listening this wknd. Sadly, some of what I usually listen to is being cancelled, moved; weekends with Spoony, Trevor Nelson, etc., ah, Spoony is playing the album version of John Legend's "Ordinary People", sniffle, I seem to recall an in studio acoustic version that Trevor Nelson played on his show.

Oh and a sweet wknd highlight was a drive-by date that I had yesterday. A nice, neat experience. Ladies, you must do it at least once...

HUMP Day

2006-09-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Having far too much fun for the week already - Monday was a colleague bbq thingie[I didn't get to score any butcher treats cuz I was on the go all wknd and had to suffice w/ loblaws], last night, well - our party ended up @ Jilly's; what can I say? And tonight is King Lear @ SoulPepper.

I've just submitted for vetting a great new article for my 80s blog so I'll keep you posted when it goes up. I was supposed to invu Howard Jones on Friday morning but that may not happen.

Thankfully nothing to rant about at length or ad nauseum today. ALTHOUGH! I really don't know why I bother to torture myself with the 512 when I am running late in the mornings. It is blood curdling to wait for it and a general waste of my precious energy getting upset, which I now always do, faaaaaaack!

More later.

More soap boxing

2006-09-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Feeling like I am going to be all angry a la politico situation for a bit. Of course I will just have to share every little gripe cuz I can't whinge in my head forever.

Maher Arar, deportation to Syria, torture - the whole thing. I tell you, when I hear that people can't carry lip gloss on airplanes and then think back to situations like this perilous experience, I get all heated and not in a good way or even a menopausal way - just HEATED. Ick.

The "lowlights" of O'Connor's report are particularly blood curdling. No good can come from this or from candy doling Canuck soldiers being blown to bits by suicide bicycle riders, double ick...

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/09/18/maher-arar.html

While I am ranting, waddup w/ the 19 year old breast baring teenager from the US who was bonding with Kimveer Gill on the net or the Italian nun in Africa who got blown away because of angst over Ratzinger's comments.

On the up side of things, good times in Tdot this wknd. Lots of wilin' out on Friday[came in @ 6am, hellooo], attended a sapphic packed 40th bday party on Saturday - no one asked me if I was there as a coming out - not that there's anything wrong with that[came in @ 2am, hiii!] and chilled in Thill on Sunday[missed a nephew visit, boo...]

WAIT a minute...

2006-09-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

What EXACTLY did the Pope say? Gah...

Can anyone clarify?

C'mon already!

2006-09-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

I just can't listen to that story about incident at the Delta Chelsea last night without absolutely bristling at the input from the person in the hotel room beside the fatalities. Why would one give any detail to the media about how they heard screams and a scuffle in the middle of the night but chose to go back to sleep. Nice. I'm not sure I'd be chatting about it to the local newspaper if it were me. I'm just sayin'...

Give A Little Bit...

2006-09-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

Ah, listening to Supertramp on Q107, what frigging year is it? Never mind, not a sweeter moment could be had right now.

Not much as am mushing at the moment but MUST get it off my chest that this whole kidnap dash to freedom gal needs to shut up, leave those sterile, vapid psychiatrists already and have a proper reunion w/ her family. Gaaaaads. So tired of hearing about the people in the white coats in Austria. Most reunion people rejoin their families and shut up about it already. Nice, glad she is safe, horrible yes but really - the Japanese gal who was gone forever, the American blah blah -they're too busy with their families, to be proded and poked by people in white coats with severe sounding names.

Ok - the Q is rocking out to Rush, gotta go...

September. Icky so far

2006-09-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

No longer summer and not quite winter. I am fighting a cold and its a grody in between state, much like I imagine purgatory to be[and hopefully this is as close as I get, hellooo]. The fever is HOVERING. The post nasal drip that is bothering my throat won't exactly manifest but is HIGHLY irritating. I fade horribly at around 9pm but wake up whisteling dixie. Enough!

Ok - off to eat some fresh fruit - too bad if its almost 11pm. Desperate times call for desperate measures, then off to bed like a school girl, it being Labour Day and all.

A rant follow up

2006-08-25T09:57:00.001-07:00

Ah-ha!

How can it be that CNN.com has NO news about John Karr's family denying his involvement in the crime?? Ok, ok, I SWEAR this will be the last time that I mention that name or that case on this blog. Honest.

Another Day, Another Rant

2006-08-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Oh, and yet ANOTHER good Ryerson sighting...

Ran into MP again on the rocket, sweet. For the love of gawd I hope we can get it together to get together sometime soon.

Right before I saw MP, the lovely pregnant lady whom I had given my seat up to was leaving the train and said "thanks" before she left. Like she needs to. But, since the men who take public transit in Toronto during rush hour are rude twats who obviously have their fingers up their keesters, well - I guess it is a gratitude worthy moment.

Sad. SAD! Jaynerator, I NOW understand your previous angst, grrr...

Anywho, a random thought. While getting ready for work this morning. I was thinking about Sally Field and her Norma Rae Oscar speech, which lead me to think of Forrest Gump, which lead me to think about "A Prayer For Owen Meany"[such an awesome book] and then that movie Simon Birch w/ Ashley Judd. How Simon Birch was the movie based on the book, but not really - strange.

Anywhoo, the person I ended up standing beside after I gave up my seat to preggo lady was reading a recent edition of "A Prayer For Owen Meany". Cool huh?

THIS is why I blog

2006-08-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Ah, the sweet surrender.

Look at me, blogging 3 times in one day. What could move me so you ask?

Well, I can finally come out once and for all and admit my um, "pre-occupation" with the downward spiral and the rapid descent of Whitney Houston. The following brings together so much for me re: things WH; like a trifecta - what are the chances?? As always, I blame Kevin Costner. Just brace yourself for the icky racist parts. OBL should hang, entrails out for those comments alone, if only someone took care of his mother's womb:

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm . and for posterity, here it is in full.

NYPost. August 21, 2006:

OSAMA bin Laden has more on his mind than just the destruction of the United States - the world's most wanted terrorist is obsessed with Whitney Houston, so much so that he's even mulled a hit on her hubby, Bobby Brown.

Kola Boof, 37, the Sudanese poet and novelist who claims to have once been bin Laden's sex slave, writes in her autobiography, "Diary of a Lost Girl," which is excerpted in the September Harper's: "He told me Whitney Houston was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen."

Boof - who wrote for the soap opera "The Days of Our Lives" until she was axed last month - continues, "He said that he had a paramount desire for [Houston] and although he claimed music was evil, he spoke of someday spending vast amounts of money to go to America and try to arrange a meeting."
Boof says bin Laden couldn't stop talking about his favorite singer and had lofty plans for her. "He said he wanted to give [her] a mansion that he owned in a suburb of Khartoum. He explained to me that to possess Whitney, he would be willing to break his color rule and make her one of his wives."
But bin Laden's murderous side also emerged in his fantasies about the pop superstar. "[He would say] how beautiful she is," Boof claims, "what a nice smile she has, how truly Islamic she is but is just brainwashed by American culture and by her husband - Bobby Brown, whom Osama talked about having killed, as if it were normal to have womens' husbands killed.
"In his briefcase, I would come across photographs of the Star [magazine], as well as copies of Playboy. It would soon come to the point where I was sick of hearing Whitney Houston's name," Boof writes.
But as much as bin Laden adored Houston, he was also dismissive of black women. "African women are only good for a man's lower pleasures," bin Laden supposedly said. "What need do you have for a womb?"
And Boof writes that the 9/11 terror mastermind detested her hairstyle. "Why do you wear your hair braided?" he fumed, telling her that "only monkeys" did that.

More peee-yoooo!

2006-08-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Additional stank files.

Was on College St. twice this wknd and sorry to say, the stinky metre came out again. It didn't smell too hot at all - highly horrifying and disappointing.

On another note, the Honey Jam, my reason for visit #2 on College St. ROCKED. Lori Newick, wow, the pipes of a full grown diva...WOW. My first ever HJ chills. Nice, nice. and only 14 years old.

no pix, no updates

2006-08-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

just a wee rant...

ack! I so so so am never writing about this creaton again but really, his 1st class treatment has hopefully run its course. See the parag re: his meal on board, faaaack!!!!

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/08/21/karr-ramsey.html

Mywan Taiwan

2006-08-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, firstly. I think I saw a peodophile on the subway yesterday. It was an older guy in his mid to late 40s with a teenage boy who was high, glazy eyed and jumpy. The teen started every sentence with a touch of his wang and he also kept touching his companion, putting things in the guys pocket, etc. Everyone saw but ignored. What does one do in a situation like that apart from be totally repulsed and disgusted.

The both of them were making remarks about young women on the streetcar[509 to the ex], wanting to take them to hotel rooms, etc and about young people in whichever neighbourhood they lived. It seemed to be scarberia but they were fluent in french and english.

Ok - I need to know blog family. Talk to me! It reminds me of the situation on Rogers with the residents of #19. Full congregation of people talking & laughing at 3am but by the time I call the cops and they arrive @ 4am, there is only 1 drunk person left: sigh...

More later - had a blast this weekend with more positive happenings than the icky parts.

Not done yet

2006-08-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Apparently not, no...

The news is just way too wonky today, I hadda share.

Firstly - waddup w/ sploid.com going off air? Sommink about the Gawker guy buying it, reformating it and it sucking and inevitably dying...

Then the JonBenet thing. Sorry - I am forever the conspiracy theorist. This manic pedophile suspect told his senior aged dad that he was in jail for the murder -five years ago, and hadn't been in touch since. WTF??

And of course, there is this - from the flight gone wrong sitch yesterday. So claustrophobic my eye!!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/17/flight.diverted.scare.ap/index.html

Anywho, here city hall had some neat press this week re: the world of bike theft. The Quay to the City set up is going really well and these are the days of the absolutely perfect temperature, sweet, sweet...

Get outta TOWN...

2006-08-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Had a REALLY good sighting yesterday.

Jamaican ex-pat acting icon Sheryl Lee Ralph. Woah...She looked fantabulous and nearly knocked me out of my shoes. I was actually confused and discombobulated when I saw her.

What is so great is though is that Nick, who I was on my way to see had spotted her before me. Eating at Manchu Wok in the Metro Hall food court. Get OUTTA here. Apparently Rodders was upset that she was eating there, fwah fwah...

She is in town, along with so many other Hollywood types and non-hollywooders for the AIDS Conference. Speaking of which, I missed the Thomas Mapfumo & Black Unlimited concert this week - it was raining though so I have my fingers and toes for another opportunity to see him somehow.

Saturday- sweet, sweet Saturday

2006-08-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Ah, if only there were more.

Feels like the first Saturday in about 2 months. Suh-weet! Ran one subway required errand which I turned into 2. Went on a buck bucks excursion to close a deal which didn't quite pan out. Sat drinking a chai and reading the globe instead. Good skeptical analysis of the likwid terror sitch. So stinking with holes and inconsistencies that.

I hate to say but I feel that we are in a world where Downing Street is being managed via remote by the White House. I am not buying that women all around the world, from Paris to Edmonton will forever have to pitch their lipgloss into garbage bins at the airport because of some previously disgruntled teen from roundabouts Brick Lane, whose family, though alientated, stand by him. Fishy, stinky. Why should Lush at Pearson have to close down because of this -sheesh. SHEESH...

Ok - here is hoping that there is gas in the BBQ. I feel like having yummy lamb treats for dinner tonight, whoo-hoo

Crispy and Fresh

2006-08-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

That would be the air outside - finally; sweet...I enjoy, I enjoy and immensely so! It is actually a wee bit chilly out there - under 20 degrees and the air, oh it is not thick with the renk of garbage or anything else safe geraniums, woo-hoo!

The mayor was down here today, speechifying and the cycling art installtion is groovy. As the night wears on, I may grow tired of it being in the teens, wardrobe considered, but I'll take it for now.

Ok -off to pillage the world cafe for food, later!

The Stench continues

2006-08-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well - serves me right for whingeing about the eau de parfum on Yonge Street. Coming in to work this morning, I noticed that even the Lakeshore was stinkified. Is this some sort of post humidity backlash? At least its gone now, everything smells like daisies, hurrah.

Not much else to report and at this hour. Sketchy liquid bomb troubles, more uneven response from Israel and I went to a preview for a bad movie - pulse. Hoping to see The Descent and Snakes on a Plane soon, not to mention my usual way too cool doc and foreign fun.

Stinky -Poo

2006-08-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

Gah - most HORRIBLE that I haven't written in what seems like a lifetime. Sadly, as I scramble around @ 11:26pm, there is little time to blog, crikey.

One thing I must say though, I was out walking this evening - northbound along Yonge Street, from Dundas-ish to Bloor. It smelled the entire way of garbage, sulphur and general pee-yooo.

Tdot - why? why? why must you be so stinkified? sigh...

Take Me Home...Country Road

2006-07-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

In Orangeville for the wknd. Hadda check out of Tdot as I was in urban overload, ick...have about 24 hours left so soaking up as much rural vibes as possible - which means; get OFFA DA COMPUTER already.

Gah - there is a budgie swirling around my head and a sullen teenager on the coach so time for me to chow down yesterday's leftover grub, yum...chicken breasts w/ lemon, pasta with chive/cheese and zucchini/broccoli...

Later!

Latin Fever

2006-07-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Is Ritmo on the water but its pouring out at the moment -should make for an interesting rest of the day.

Stay tuned...

not too much

2006-07-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

just this article for now, whew...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/us/19poor.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Aah, what refreshment

2006-07-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

I just erased an entire entry about a random sighting I had this evening on the way to dinner with Tdot Brit chick pal of the randomly gorgeous construction worker man -whew! My nephew reads this blog sometimes and it just wouldn't be appropriate. My W.O.R.D. specimen of specimens, steroetype of stereotypes, he was disturbingly hot...suffice to say that when I spotted random construction guy's arms, no PIPES of steel all beady and flexed, I lost my train of thought for several blocks...golly...

Not much else to report, lots of fires burning around the globe today relative to a week ago. Mumbai's tragedy is off the news page and a tsunami this wknd was a blip on the news radar.

At the water meanwhile, "the concert" on Saturday was a smashing, rousing success and I am definitely proud to have been on the job for that one. Nice, nice...so much other great music and programming though, golly - genre wide, globally -we have so much of it...

Went on a most interesting of dates on the wknd too which was super cute.

At the moment the humidity is the grossest ever and making writing barely bareable so I am cutting this short.

Sweet..

2006-07-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Actually nofink of import to report.

Somewhat of an odd day today. 9-5 took a turn southbound just w/ techie glitches, deadlines, etc which resulted in the longest day I've put in thus far. I had a moy caliente[no literally, and I don't even know what that means] break midday which took away some of the pain.

Looking fwd. to the wknd, the fruits of my labour and all if you will.

Signed on to do some blogging for hire this week - I am specializing in 80s music so stay tuned for dat...

Trying to think of ttc nonsense to share so that I can end on a high note but drawing a blank, sorry!

I'll share this in the meantime, a news item that really made me stop short...

http://www.sploid.com/news/2006/07/post_20.php

and then there is this gem. Pims anyone? haaaa heee hooo, fwah fwah...

http://www.sploid.com/news/2006/07/uk_asleep_on_th.php

Another good Ryerson sighting...

2006-07-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday...

Ran RIGHT INTO Marlyn Persaud on the TTC yesterday, sweet. She looked like quite the blinged out hottie, too.

Ok - must mush. Lots on the run here at the water and I am starved. STARVED! And lots of rain out there, must break out the big gun umbrella to grab some grub @ Sobey's.

MONDAY MONDAY...2nd installment

2006-07-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Skoooooooor...

Um hmmm...so as the world, the universe, the entire planetary system knows by now, Italy won the World Cup. St. Clair W. was soy congested that cops requested that the public cease in attempting to attempts to find their way down there. So, those who didn't listen were bounced up to which part of town? Yah - that would be me and my block. Grr...I fell asleep to the sound of car horns and darned if many of the people I saw when I was able to get home[after Afrofest] were non-Italians joining in the celebrations. yay tdot...

And waddup w/ Zizou, my Algerian hunk ending it all on a low note w/ the head butt crap. Ick.

So, after Stratford on Saturday with the girls[fabulous! Harlem Duet was fabulous!], I went to a girlie thing on Sunday and then Afrofest. Once again the park was packed. Nice. I am officially calling it as the new caribana.

Didn't make it to waterworld though - if not Tumi and Volume which I missed anyways, I would have LIKED to have seen Bembe and Mark de Clive Lowe...

Hmm, hoping for a civilized week as the wknd will bonkers and I need a fortifying build up to it; I feel as if a part of me professional or otherwise has been waiting a long time for a concert like Jamaica 2 Toronto.

Meanwhile, Salif Keita - wow; I love me some A&M, but I can't get his voice out of my head - truly TRULY majestic, woah...

Lets see what the week holds, shall we?

Oh Dear

2006-07-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

Sadly today is the anniversary of the bombings in London, UK last year - pathetic, unloved, manipulable terrorist bastids.

Well - a moment of silence to be sure.

Next, I have to acknowledge last night's incredible Salif Keita performance on the water, whew! He KILLED it and once again, confirms Mali as the music mecca that it is. I fear the rest of the world already knows this and me, ignant PR chick is just getting hip to it.

Stratford and Beats Breaks and Culture this wknd...stay tuned!

On a Roll Now

2006-07-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

So much to report nowadays...

like EVERY SINGLE DAYAYAY! In my passion for Amadou & Mariam, not to mention the RASOSL, I forgot to mention the fantastic experience that was Seu Jorge's performance on Friday night - whew!

Also, funny stuff from Brazil re: that country's loss in footie. Ah Ronaldo, you can take the chips from your newly desecrated statue and fix your teeth hon, fwah fwah...

Next, a moment to acknowledge the lovely and aptly sardonic TTC ads re: littering. Ah, it is high time!

And lastly - what love I have for the story about the stroke victim from Newcastle, England who woke up speaking patois upon her recovery. omg...

Now - off to bed I go; wish me luck, footie fans from Portugallo and Italia have hijacked the hood and it is full on bedlam outside, gah - porto plays tomorrow. I cannot think about it...

Double Header!

2006-07-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yah, I saw this article online and COULD NOT resist posting and sharing with the world cuz it is just so "share worthy"...

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/07/03/brown-newedition-show.html .

And, for the record - I am calling it that Jamaican tourism, with respect, is dead. I just find that there is too much other Caribbean tourism going on in the world and that the distractions of greed have caused other less contributive and more destructive economic elements to grow at the peril of the sandier parts, titch titch...sorry but those random little tv ads with the arranged Bob Marley music just don't cut it in 2006.

And yes - I really do believe that Malian music is the best music today. I heard a sad panel on the radio today. Going on about some upcoming 20k music prize that is coming out for Canadian bands this week. Of course, all about rock musicians, solo and bands. Spoken about in a small, exclusive circle with the fondness of a dear friend. Lots of love for Harmer, Social and only marginal reference to one hip hop act. Complete blanking of all other genres.

DIMACHE A BAMAKO

2006-07-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

FANTASTIQUE!!!

Wowzers, Amadou & Mariam, Refugee All Stars of Sierre Leone. What more do I need to say? What more do I need?

RAS Killed it. I mean slew everyone. Their reggae vibes are dead to rights.

I was in the front row, LEANING right on the stage barrier thingie, ready to charge the stage if necessary. I just about lost my mind and when Mariam was love caressing her man and when Amadou brought out the big gun rasta guitar AND when the band members were goading us during the performance on and then flirting after the show, well - it was more than I could handle I tell you.

Ah, I can't wait for Salif Keita on Thursday, weeee!!! Mali - the new music mecca of the world. whew!

CANADA D-EH!!

2006-07-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Not a bad Canada Day...

If I say so mi'self. Took it easy and took in a visit w/ the parents. Dad buggered off to a baseball game, mom wound down the visit w/ an evening @ Aunt Elaine's. I watched some of the soccer insanity in between - Brazil out -whaaa?? Porto beat England huh??? Shocking. shocking.

Quite chillaxed and cooled out.

Sadly, that changed later and with a turn to the south in the wee hours of the morning. At somewhere around 3amish, I could hear inappropriately loud talking on the street. There were spats and outburst throughout the night which I credited to the soccer situation. However, at this certain hour, it was consistent and consistently inappropriate. My window was not open too wide but still, I could hear something dodgy. Next thing, the nephew comes storming down the stairs, looking for his dad. I was impressed that he had made it all the way down, in the dark, and in tact.

The outside convo was punctuated with a female voice saying repeatedly, "I don't care, I don't care" suddenly quite forcefully now. [come to think of it, I did hear a slam and a yell just before that too] I got up and looked out the window, in time to hear a male voice yell out "hey" and next thing, there is a wife beater wearing bad hair day skinny dude bolting southbound down my street, followed by a cop.

A few moments later, wifebeater guy comes running back northbound up the street, a male resident on Rogers is on the street in his gotch, the officer is back in pursuit[rather weakly I might add] and the street is soon lit up by the sounds and sights of sirens and poh-poh cars are everywhere. Gotch guy tells foot officer which direction wifebeater went and then the next 2 hours is a variation of police dog sniffing, flashlight search, police van, ambulance, rubber neckers, inquiring neighbours and lots of walkie talkie squawking.

Now that Diana has moved away next door - I am bent on seeing things be super cool around here. I am all about calling the fuzz for loud parties, spying on dodgy happenings from the apartment above the hair salon on rogers and regret NOT calling the fuzz when the random lady was shrieking outside the bank one night a few weeks back.

No use having any nefarious "element" thinking this is a good place kick up some dust. I won't have it! I spent too much time on the phone with everyone from garbage collection to 911 when dirty diana and her vile tenants were around, ick...

Listen - word on the barbershop circuit is that the roundup re: the boxing day shooting just down the street here was a long time in coming and that most folks knew the entire bunch were rotten to the core anyways. Titch titch...

Bamako is coming!

2006-06-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hurrah! Hurrah:

Over a year ago when I went to CMW w/ a client and on the coin of the non-profit that I was a board member for, one of the most defining moments of my attendance was thanks to the french consulate.

In total stick out like sore thumb mode, they had a full on booth with candies, CD and other chachkas. My mind was blown forever when I played the double CD of "french language music from around the world" and heard track #1: La Realite by Amadou & Mariam.

Now, June 28, 2006. I am working as a publicist at the venue hosting their Canadian debut and it is the cover story for Eye Weekly for the next seven days starting tomorrow. A cover that I facilitated and the employer's first cover for the summer - sweet. REALLY, really SWEET. I only hope I'll be ok for their performance on Sunday, haaa!!

Next source of artistic reverence - Regina Orozco, heavens be...

Me, Only Later & Better...

2006-06-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

Oh footie, oh footie...

Just finished watching the repeat of the Brazil/Ghana match - MOST unfortunate a match indeed.

Also caught portions of Canada's Next top model - truly vomit inducing, cringe worthy and embarrassing. Cancel it - toot sweet!

Speaking of vomit inducing television, also caught portions of Zimbabwe: Shadows and Lies on PBS, crikey. What a completely different country it appears to be than the place I visited over 6 years ago. And the fragile anarchy that is spilling into South Africa with the migrant/refugee/exile situation, whew. I truly respect the people for whom their efforts is the over extended string that holds those countries together, scary.

I would really like to visit the South Africa again when it takes place there in 4 years, it would TRULY be a dream but there is cruelty in that thar chaos.

Speaking of cruelty, I would really like to put my foot up Angelina Jolie's a**. On Saturday night, I went to Motion's performance as part of Al St. Louis'/Heron Jones[hot by the way, hot] "When Poets Speak" event [what is the diff between that event and say a Dwayne Morgan gig - oh never mind...] and a lady got up to whinge about how people of colour are ghettoized in the NGO industry, how it is such a battle, etc.

Well, when I see AJ, on Anderson "you can kiss my ass too" Cooper going on about how "we" didn't really take notice to the plight of refugees until the situation in the Balkans when "people who looked like us were affected", I understand what the woman from Saturday means. What "we" is big lips talking about. And her crap about well, because I didn't know about refugees, then obviously there wasn't enough info in the world, blah blah - I just wanna cack. When is Brad Pitt gonna get sick of her already? Bloody ignoramus

Overdue! Overdue!

2006-06-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, that would be me.

I am endeavouring to write more frequently. Shameful really but my excuse is that I was on my water job learning curve. Ah, best to pledge writing regularly now as things are about to get completely nuts.

"The Schedule" launches in full on Saturday with Canada Day - whew! No stopping til Labour Day, hurrah hurrah.

In the meantime, what to update on? Footie firstly of course. I had such high hopes for Ghana but they were made into sausage links by Brazil, sigh...watched the repeat of the Australia/Italy game. Most heartbreaking. I think I saw tears in Neill from the Socceroos eyes after that penalty kick, eek.

On the matter of eek, the Portugal/Netherlands game the other night[ahem Jayne!], what bloodsport, omg!

Well more noise in the hood - not sure how further "porto" will go but the horn honking continues. Btw, the aussie team, the ones w/ that unfortunate nickname - I hate to admit it, but they have so far, the highest hottie quotient aside from the Ghanian team. Blame it on Chef Ramsay but the whole brutish crusty uber male thing is hot for days.

Ok, ok - must mush. It is a PR ghost town here but I do have a meeting this evening as I do for most evenings this week - getting in the way of my eating and bbq'ing at home - wtf?

More later...check sarto's blog - fabulous milano fashion, sweet!

TWO THINGS

2006-06-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

US fodder - of course...

1) Miami Terror suspex arrested. Have you seen these guys? Sorry - not buying it, not for a minute. More bogusness, eesh...

2) Aaron Spelling died. Put your TVs on mute for a moment of silence, would you?

Had a good sighting on the TTC today - K. Hewak!

More. Later.

JUNE! COME BACK!

2006-06-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

Crikey...

So late in the month and subsequently the summer and the year and my 30s...faaaaack, WHERE is this month going so fast already?

Lots to tell but when to tell? Is time for me to put my chynee bumps in my hair[my new ritual, have decided to grow it for summer 2006 and postpone regular cutting for the fall] and get to sleep already.

I've given no soccer updates, none re: 9-5 life on the water[first successful event this wknd, hurrah!], Jayne's visit[pool partaay in Scarberia, nice!], etc...not to mention the continued gonzo goings on a la public transit[hows that plummeting ridership empathy workin' for ya?!], news of the world[Korea, waddup?] and other bonkers events.

But I will share with you before I leave this short post that I watched "The Dark Side" on PBS tonight. Can you say f*cking brilliant? OMG...

Oh - before I forget, went to swanky media preview of the new opera house - the four seasons centre, sweet...

Zyieday! Zyieday!

2006-06-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

My made up word...

It is 11pmish and I just had a visit from my new personal seamstress, a former Spanish fashion designer. Well, now she is a recently emigrated ex-pat Spanish artist and stylist; HOT.

Too tired for full details but what of the insanity of the world, Creba shooting arrests AND IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD, FAAAAAAAAACK, Jorge Bush crash landing in Iraq, Jaynerator in Boston, a certain pair of store owners who are in Germany spectating at some game w/ a black & white ball, speaking of which, damn you world cup, damn you and my peace & quiet, eek...

The Illusive Pastry

2006-06-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

C'Mon!!

As if it isn't bad enough that the Tim Horton's on Queen's Quay doesn't carry caramel turnovers[MUST talk to them about that crime...] but my continued efforts to score the divine strawberry tarts or even the blooming 1/2 dipped mini butterfly flaky cookies remains futile. Enough! As if I am not going to call Timmie's and complain about turnover-gate! Just you watch me! I may not be an investor but I've bought enough java there that I may as well be one, c'mon! I MUST have my pasty fix...ggrr...

And by the way, this here read is enough to take me over the edge, my current mood considered. Thank HEAVEN I am listening to "You can get it if you really want..." on Radio Jamaica, whew...

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N06389930.htm ;

And now this...ain't it rich, some dude named Joseph Vento, aka Guiseppe Ventonito a generation ago IF THAT discriminating against Mexican immigrants, give me f*cking strength...

http://www.sploid.com/news/2006/06/no_english_no_c.php

Bonkers...just BONKERS...

2006-06-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ah - where to begin?

The opening of Timmie's store, Timmie's target market sightings, Fashion Cares, swimming @ Guildwood w/ the dutch, the launch this evening, the 2 minute ad biz boyfriend from Newfoundland, roses from the hummingbird, I mean really...its just too much. Thank HEAVEN there are no events for me to attend tomorrow evening. I've even missed the finale for the apprentice, wtf??

W.

FISHY

2006-06-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

Not buying this whole panick in the streets terrorism sweep thing this morning. Sorry. Who in 2006 orders random, massive amounts of ammonium nitrite and doesn't consider the consequences, ridic...

We can only HOPE AND PRAY that this does not domino into even more profiling, stronger alliances to the culture of homeland & border security bedlam and of course, crapped out tourism activity.

This live conference was breaking news on CNN, under the caption "terrorism sweep" full with the blazing red graphics; my stomach feels a bit sore...my conspiracy bone is a-twitter with thoughts of how this better not be some hillbilly smokescreen to justify the Canuck presence in Afganistan, where our soldiers are being served up like sausages.

Weltschmerz...

2006-06-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

Not feeling too much of that right now myself and don't intend to as a most rockin' wknd is ahead and I've just downed an even groovier week. Hurrah and more hurrah. Listening to MIS(mexican institute of sound) at the moment, just finished Seu Jorge and am cutting out early which means I'll have to miss the folks from Muhtadi drumming...and, since am heading straight home due to a wardrobe malfunction with my shoes, I can't sneak peak fashion cares and will have to wait until tomorrow @ noon.

Jody Watley, Jennifer Holliday and more, whew!

More later - off to do some cleaning at home but at some point I'll have to tell share details the store opening last night. It was so successful that the night ended w/ a bottle of crystale and my missing an outting @ Barristers, shocking...

Weltschmerz - the word that slay the canuck gal during the big spelling bee. Is a type of depression that people experience when they feel world sorrow or sadness for the world in an manner that causes personal oppression. Smile damnit! Jaja pipi...

TTC WHAAA??? STILL 96 degrees in the shade

2006-05-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

The Day After...

That ttc union boss bastid can kiss my big toe. Gah, what a complete moron. On the upside of yesterday's rabid wildcat strike, I have a new crush on our Mayor - way to give it to 'em DM! Sweet...

Too hot for chit chat...had boffo wknd visit w/ cousin from NYC[as usual, hiii...] and looking fwd. to the big store opening on Thursday, not to mention all the 2 kewl for skool stuff on the water through until September but one week @ a time...

Oh! and the Jaynerator will be in town in a matter of days, sweet...

Oh! saw the latest x-men movie on the wknd -popcorn yes but Kelsey Grammer was suprisingly brilliant as "Beast". I have to admit, I had no idea who it was. Nice one...

Oh! Remind me to share my favourite new blog with you next time - very Patrick Bateman without the cannibalism and general serial killing...stay tuned

So much! So Much!

2006-05-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Argh...

Once again, so much to update but sadly too tired to write at length, pafetik! pafetik! TTC Union Boss strangeness, that radio host @ Cannes, Harbourfront Cash injection, great transit moments[I saw a giant today - no, not a really tall person, a GIANT, like 8 feet tall and hitting his head], tory press gallery drama, what the buddah in the national post this week re: Iran, elections in New Orleans and oh so much more...bonkers. bonkers i tell you. So bonkers my eyes are burning. ick...

more later -i promise this time.

Oh! As for my photo pic, is a travel mug from the "copco" collection designed by the one & only Karim Rashid. Since next Thursday is the grand opening on Queen street[Karim is an inspiration of one of the owners] and the sartorialist has a pic of KR, and with canadian photog George Whiteside on his blog, i thought it was somewhat appropriate...

WHERE OR WHERE

2006-05-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Did the week go?

Last week that is...lots going on, opening day for Timmie's is drawing frightfully closer, life @ the waterfront is FANtastic. I had a fix up go south and due to the weather, my hopes to check out Contact '06 and The Art of Jazz have gone south, so chilly, ick...

More later.

A-whole, F*ckwit of the day...

2006-05-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Popowhat???

Gunplay gone wrong children! THIS is so wrong...why someone, a growna**ed 62 year old man would be doing a Rambo on the fuzzy rodents in his 'hood is beyond me. Get a job or start volunteering already, ridic!

Bullet meant for squirrel hits boy's room
May 16, 2006. 01:00 AM
JERED STUFFCO
STAFF REPORTER
A Mississauga man who allegedly shot at a squirrel in his yard with a .22-calibre rifle and missed is facing charges after a stray bullet slammed into a neighbouring child's bedroom.
While no one was in the room at the time, Lisa Murphy said the incident could have killed or wounded her 11-year-old son Connor.
"It's a Saturday morning and kids tend to sleep late," she said yesterday, adding the bullet sailed over his bed, skipped off the ceiling and lodged itself in a wall. "Thank God nobody was hurt."
Murphy was at home on Arvida Circle, near Winston Churchill Blvd. and Derry Rd., at about 9:30 a.m., when she heard a loud noise from the next room.
When she and her husband checked out the room together, they noticed a small hole in the wall. "You could tell — it looked like a little explosion and there were pieces of drywall sticking out," Murphy said.
Michael Joseph Popowich, 62, faces charges of careless use of a firearm, weapons dangerous, unauthorized possession of a firearm and careless storage of a firearm. He is to appear in court June 15.

Modders Daayyeee...

2006-05-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Ah, what fun...

I had heart pangs for sweet monster Caleb but otherwise, I truly fun fam day. Settin' in the back-a-yard, good grub, wacky stories and such. It was total shoestring budget gourmet but deelish and heart smart, save for the overcooked brownies.

Saturday's Leonard Cohen outting ROCKED out. "Vincybaby" and I met up @ Bay Station and whew if the road wasn't blocked off. Bay south to Charles, East to Yonge-ish. Funny, I spotted a lavalifer while waiting for Vincybaby, someone who's profile I saw but who never responded. I didn't get to see the date he was waiting for but surely she could not have been as cute as me, fwah fwah...

So, we saw Terrance from Prego/Barristers supporting the Barenekkid Ladies, listened to the Legendary Mr. Cohen read one of his new poems[goosebumps! I got goosebumps!] and the sweet sounds of singer Anjulie. During Anjulie's set, we hit Timmy's for some caramel turnover delight[gah, so good...] and then there was a downpour, so we settled in for a while chatting.

Next up was whole foods for dinner -yessssssss, I know is the 2nd time in a week but that macaroni and cheese is too good and they're open until 9pm, shut up okay?

Today was day 1 of countdown to harbourfront day. Phase one of indoor spring cleaning blitz to be continued manana with some scary closet purging.

Meanwhile, bedlam in news & current affairs - predictable but sad pipeline fire in Nigeria, possible massive international embarrassment with our environment minister[I always worry that these are the first time these tories have been on a plane as they are getting called up for delegation duties] and Haiti is on the verge of another nervour breakdown.

I confess to being somewhat entertained by the good PR/bad PR re: the upcoming release of "that movie" this week...

Meanwhile, tunes are hotter than ever on BBC - check out Gilles Peterson's special re: Brazil and "afro reggae" on Radio 1 this week - nice...

Ah-ha!!!!!!!! Bilingual my EYE...

2006-05-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

I knew it! I just KNEW it...

Too many people running for the leadership of the federal Liberal party already. I actually respect Belinda Stronarch for NOT putting her highly fashionable, twice-divorced hat in the ring. Hopefully this will help to cut some fat. Dr. Bennett, you're my MP and I love you but WHAT are you thinking???

Ok, headed to Leonard Cohen tribute @ Indigo on Bay...details to follow!!!

Six Liberal contenders don't pass as bilingual
CAMPBELL CLARK
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Ottawa — By objective standards, more than half of the candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party are not bilingual. By the candidates' own admissions, the winner must be.
Language has become an issue in the Liberal leadership campaign, a race with 10 anglophones and one francophone vying to lead a party that badly needs to rebuild in Quebec and views itself as the national-unity party that claims bilingualism as its brand.
Will the party of Wilfrid Laurier and official bilingualism, an institution whose own self-image rests partly on being a bridge between francophones and anglophones, concede the language terrain?

Only five of the 11 candidates now running for the Liberal leadership were given passing grades when rated by University of Ottawa professor Hélène Knoerr. Bob Rae topped the list, followed closely by Michael Ignatieff, but Stéphane Dion (who was tested on his English fluency), Joe Volpe and Martha Hall Findlay also made the grade.
“The others were varying degrees of catastrophes,” Prof. Knoerr said.

The Liberal leadership campaign has been sensitive about bilingualism: Two MPs who support Joe Volpe called a reporter when their candidate was not included in a mention of three MPs who speak “top-notch French.” Scott Brison has complained that his French is better than people say. So has Carolyn Bennett, who says her French needs work, but that she is acceptably bilingual.
“I've got news for her,” Prof. Knoerr said. Ms. Bennett's second-language skills rated last of the 10 who felt able to complete the interview, because her errors in vocabulary, grammar and syntax were enough that a francophone listener would have a hard time following.
Still, all 10 agreed that bilingualism is important. Those who are less proficient argued that perfection is not necessary — just being able to get a point across — and most argued they will be good enough to beat Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe in a French-language debate when the time comes.
Ken Dryden, whose French was rated as weak, argued that speaking the language is important, but that understanding Quebec and its culture is more crucial: “The language is only an instrument,” he said.
Only Vancouver MP Hedy Fry, who did not complete the French interview, said it's not necessary for the next leader to be bilingual. Although she insisted on switching to English after struggling to answer two French questions, she insisted that she has a foundation in the language, and will be bilingual by the Dec. 2 leadership vote.

The five other candidates who completed the interview — Maurizio Bevilacqua, Gerard Kennedy, Mr. Brison, Mr. Dryden and Ms. Bennett — all rated below the level for bilingual certification.
Mr. Bevilacqua was not terrible, rated at 2–, but made mistakes in grammar, vocabulary and language structure. “You have to make an effort to follow him,” Prof. Knoerr said.
Mr. Kennedy, who garnered the same rating, made fewer grammatical and syntax errors, but had a “very limited” vocabulary, and spoke in a halting manner. The good news is that he has a base to build on, and vocabulary can be learned more quickly than language structure, so Prof. Knoerr judged him most likely to be able to improve.
Mr. Brison, meanwhile, has already improved — so much so that former MP Françoise Boivin said she counted him out of the race only a month or two ago and now thinks he might be able to improve enough. But Prof. Knoerr expressed doubt, rated him a 1+ because, even though he understands French well and displays confidence when he speaks, he made a lot of vocabulary and grammatical mistakes.
“He has an accent that really could be cut with a knife,” she said.
Mr. Dryden, meanwhile, rated only a 1, despite his nine famous years in Montreal as goaltender for the Canadiens hockey team. His hesitating style in English is amplified in French, making it hard to follow. “He eventually succeeds in getting his message across, but only because he uses such simple structure that a two-year-old child could do the same,” Prof. Knoerr said. “He's constantly searching for words.”
Ms. Bennett, meanwhile, rates the lowest — not counting Ms. Fry — because even though she understands the language, her vocabulary, structure and grammar are all very flawed.
“She requires the most effort to follow,” Prof. Knoerr said. “A francophone would last about 15 seconds listening to her.”

ONE OF THE HORSEMEN...

2006-05-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

Of the apolocalypse is clearly fast approaching...

WHAT WHAT WHAT is going on?? I consider the item below a death knoll for babysitters across the US. Hold fast that this does not penetrate the Canadian border. We'll get our own TV minutemen to stem the flow if necessary. That channel of our for tots, the one w/ that lil' red headed kid Daniel whatshisname is one thing but this just goes too far...

Televisions for babies - for the love of kong! Kick a fracking soccer ball in the park already damnit! Grrr...

CBC Arts

The first TV channel designed for babies debuted in the United States on Thursday, immediately drawing criticism from pediatricians who say young children shouldn't be watching TV at all.

BabyFirstTV is available via satellite from DirecTV at a cost of $9.99 US a month. It will not be available in Canada.

The channel is safe, commercial-free and has appropriate content for children under age two, said Sharon Rechter, BabyFirstTV's executive vice president for business development and marketing.

"This is the first channel dedicated to babies and their parents – transforming TV from its original purpose into a way for them to interact," she told the Associated Press.

Claim 'defies reason': doctor

But the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than two should not watch television.

Dr. Michael Rich, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School who studies the impact of the media on children's health, says it "defies reason" to suggest that television could help parents and babies interact.

"Television primarily is a medium that demands attention to the TV, not to other people in the room," he said in an interview with CBC Television.

Babies' brains cannot decode the two-dimensional image on a television screen, Rich said. Their brains are developing and they need a different kind of stimulation to help them grow, he added.

"They need interaction with other human beings and to manipulate their environment. They need to pick up the block or try to get the Cheerios into the mouth," he said.

But Rich said it was inevitable that broadcasters would identify babies as a market niche to be exploited.

"The baby video market has been growing exponentially over the past few years. It was only a matter of time before someone decided they could broadcast directly to them," he said.

Offers programs from baby DVDs

BabyFirstTV's content includes some programs from baby DVD companies, including Brainy Baby and First Impressions. It also has an agreement with Sterling Publishing, a Barnes & Noble subsidiary, to use children's books in a Story Time program.

A 2003 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 68 per cent of children under two watch TV or videos daily and 26 per cent have a TV in their bedroom.

Rich said parents allow their very young children to watch television so they will be quiet and allow the adults to get things done.

"We are in love with TV in our culture and there is a sense that TV is benign," Rich said.

Rechter says the broadcaster cannot control how parents use the baby channel. However, if children under two are already watching, they ought to be viewing appropriate material, she said.

"If a baby is watching TV, let's put them in front of appropriate content," she said. "At the end of the day, parents make the decisions."

Spanish version in works

Rechter said BabyFirstTV will start with 250 hours of content, 80 per cent of it original. It plans to launch a Spanish-language channel by the end of the year.

The investors behind BabyFirstTV are:

Regency Enterprises, a film and TV production company that is a partner of Fox Entertainment.
Kardan N.V., an investment group based in the Netherlands and Israel.
Bellco Capital, a private Los Angeles-based investment fund.

I'M OFF THE MARKET

2006-05-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Woo-hoo!

For the next 3 months at least...I got the PR job @ Harbourfront Centre. Woo-hoo!

More later...

JA Firebrand

Enough Already!!

2006-05-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

Sheesh! Tuesday and its been a super duper full week already. How can this be? Yesterday morning, I found out that my 320 Bay tempo gig is finishing a week earlier than anticipated. As in this Friday is my last day. Drat.

Well, I wandered into panic mode, considering how neurotic I was about being a good egg on the chairperson's first day back, etc and proceeded to reach out to my other tempo contacts, etc. Meanwhile, I invu'd today @ an arts venue downtown. It is a summer only gig and the compensation is quite modest but it would be a power slap to my resume so we'll see. It went well - the one for the housing agency last week was good too but grueling.

Outside of the movie of my life, lots going on a la current affairs. Too much to list here, Cecilia Zhang verdict, Gerald Kennedy and the Tory beef, killer moths from Mississauga, shoot, even Britney Spears is pregger for her welfare inclined baby daddy. The world is mad and Whitney Houston is still a junky, sigh...

More later when I am less zonked...

THAT YELLOW EMERGENCY Strip in the Subway Car...

2006-05-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

Sigh...I knew something was up when that guy walked between subway cars.

After not submitting my time cards over a three week period, I decided to be all proactive and use my lunch hour/mushing time to drop them up at tempo HQ in person. And, suffice to say, although inspired by one of the other admins here, I have been quite lucky with my lunch hour, time constrained errands. The downed systems @ the Credit Union on Tuesday for example were a close call.

Well, there I was, in pressed mode, because of course, I was waiting for more than 3 minutes[SHOCKING! SHOCKING!] for a train. It comes, we coast - great. But somewhere early in the ride, I notice this guy, super cool in his head, carrying an upside down, shortened tulip that was deep pink in colour. He's walking slow and intentionally down the length of the car, staring at something in the next car. I'm seated right beside the door that separates each car and he walks past me and into the last one. Everyone stares but I choose to ignore him. I'm thinking "great, you selfish a-hole, they'll probadly stop the train because you wanted to see your girlfriend and we'll all be delayed", fraaack!!!

The train continues thankfully without incident. However at Dundas, these two chaps, mildly disabled, get on. One stays standing and chats away, the other sits adjacent to me. The doors close, we take off and boom - the one adjacent to me goes horizontal, drops and has a full blown epileptic seizure. He slowly grazes my knees as he collapses and in a moment, I'm holding his head to keep him from smashing it on the subway floor, his body is writhing and thrashing; I raise him up a little, and I see that his lips are blueish and his eyes are lights out.

His friend is relatively calm, strong - telling us that yes, his compadre is epileptic, that the seizures come in "spells" of at several at a time. He's searching to make sure he hit the yellow strip to get emergency status on the train, tells us his name[I've since forgotten], that his pal left his meds at home, and that he doesn't have a medic alert bracelet. He also tells me that the two of them won't be going to the movies this afternoon after all . I remember now that although he hit the strip, I didn't hear it -like my ears were frozen somehow.

Other folks eventually step in, there are medically inclined passengers converging as well as TTC personnel. He is still in bad, bad shape, lots of writhing, not coherent, completely disengaged pupils, gosh. I can only imagine how exhausting one must feel afterwards. With the exception of one lady who asked WHAT DO I DO and with very little shrill, everyone is cool headed.

Needless to say, the northbound trains had come to a complete halt. I gave the subway personnel my info, had one last glance at the scene, noticing that the guy w/ the tulip was now among the onlookers and took my leave. The tempo HQ trek was a dud and I had to beat it back to 320 Bay. Even when I've returned to King Station there were still announcements of the northbound trains being delayed due to illness.

From the moment I changed trains up until writing now, I've had the strongest urge to burst into tears. Nothing happened to me, but it was such a jarring incident to have experienced so intimately. I've seen my share of seizures and at a young age, but this fellow's suffering seemed a lot more intense than I recall having previously witnessed.

He seemed to be in good hands when I left, I hope he is ok.

CORPSE WATCH!!!

2006-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

And no, this is not anything related to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., heh. I may have seen my first ever covered corpse this morning a la crime scene.

On my usual walk from Rogers to St. Clair southbound on Oakwood, at the sorta crunchy highrise @ the north east corner, the front porch area was sealed off with the poh-poh yellow tape and all. There was a cruiser parked up on the sidewalk and some sort of "object" on the ground which was covered in an orange tarpaulin.

So, if it was in fact a newly deceased, it was either a homicide or a suicide and may have been the result of a fall from one of the balconies. NOTHING on the news so far that I can see though, hmmm...maybe just a really massive pidgeon? I'll simply have to find out more.

Meanwhile, yesterday was a day of double blog pride, not only did I get my comment posted on the sartorialist's blog but my pal Jaynerator in Amsterdam gave me another mention in her blog re: the Clay Aiken article I sent to her.

Blog Pride

2006-05-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

Listening to the entertainment news on BBC R1 right now. Eeek, I can't understand some of what they're saying!

In other news, woop woop! I have love from THE SARTORIALIST! Not only did he post a comment I made on his blog but I got TOP billing hurrah. No really - grate girl is ROCKING the f*ck out of a dress she bought @ H&M; one w/ those new skirt styles that is hot for '06 that she has matched with a vintage/tweed blazer, c'mon! TOTALLY cheap chic and totally NYC. I think I hate her.

A bit of tempo pride today too. Although I forgot to turn the lamps on this morning, faaack, I rocked the calling my contacts strategy in full. From a new lead garnered from a networking event last night and a rehash of my resume @ an arts org., I go into tomorrow's invu with two super promising voicemails to return, yay!

Thankfully, got the paperwork from my too late for words time cards so I'll have those processed tomorrow, phew! Not so cute how when I went to the CBC Credit Union to get a bandaid bite out of my old savings plan, the system was down. The heritage C.U. diva recognized me and scored me the cashola I needed. No idea how pressed I would have been if that didn't work out, ick.

Ok, had to turn off R1 ento news, TMI re: MI:3 - like we don't already have enough of that here - hey, cruz boy! go hang w/ your baby mama already damnit! Gilles Peterson Worldwide, sweet...

***fyi, my 2nd fave "things NYC" blogger out there thus far is www.newyorkhack.blogspot.com ; she's a NYC yellow cab driver[she's on vacay in LA @ the moment...]I was fully reading her blog before fashion guy stole my heart...

Reality Tempo

2006-05-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

With full "printemp" verve, Bay street's fashionistas are in full bloom this week. I've seen additional power footwear on the ladies and the tailored suit gentlemen are out in deep phalanx. My eyes have rested upon the very finest Tdot has to offer in South Asian male uber banker under 35, hunky Robert Redfordesque power lunchers and, Caribbean stunner turned stock whiz, to name but a few. Somebody get me some popcorn, the show is only just beginning!

And it is ever so nice out there, love love love it! After my meeting at Cramer Company in the Annex this afternoon, and a PR networking thing at Waterfall, I'll be running home to catch a smidgen of outdoor time, so that I can stare at my daffodil patch, sweet.

Meanwhile, cutting it super short in the bank account dept. I FORGOT to process my tempo land timesheets in due time and have a whopping single digit balance, in overdraft - fortunately, I only have to wait until Thurs/Friday and it will be in triplicate. Good thing too, I have the small matter of 3 slightly overdue bills to pay, not to mention brunch plans @ Maggie's on Sunday.

Thankful, supergrateful to be extended here but the reality bite dictates that it is now is time to resume permanent searches full scale. Now that the busy season is over w/ my temp placement tasks, there is a dire threat of thumb twiddling.

Definitely eyes wide open though. Templand culture is an interesting source for lessons in survival; very Wall Street, very American Psycho. The fervour with which temp players cold call to score new business and tread not so softly on the competiton, is near admirable and reminds me of human prevail over survival; clubs, caves, fire and all. For my part, I think I've learned how to make that process work for me to score consecutive gigs over a short span of time - thankfully, I've had some good teachers!

GORGEOUS!

2006-04-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

That would be the day today, my mood and my 'hood!

Ok, so I am not the most reliable source of hip hop recommendations but the track "Psycho" by Busta and his new protege Papose is hoooooooot, Benji B has it as his opening track on his session on 1xtra this week - sweet...Ah Busta, if only your bodyguard hadn't been murdered on the set of the video for your lead off single.

Week in review. Thursday evening had meeting[over dinner @ San's btw, yummy Korean grub which has me longing for Bloor & Christie] w/ Paul, Angela, Ceara and George re: the upcoming opening of Timmie's on Queen West. Stay tuned for updates and links to Timmie's blog which is in the works.

On same ole Thursday, I made an executive decision, I only hope it wasn't a tacticle error. It is hands down, the busiest of days on the calendar @ my temp assignment. Thursday just happened to be the day that my meeting w/ a recruiter for the PR biz was scheduled for after being postponed twice previously. Things were impossibly busy @ poncy station and I called and rescheduled. Highly big of me all things considered.

Well, yesterday was equally busy AND worse still, I had made an error the night before w/ some courier items. I remedied it with uber calm trooper veneer, to the very finish. Then out of the blue, midday, plate-gate happened. The VP, the one who always has some neurotic, flaw of mine to point out to the office manager, the one who basically slammed a cupboard door in my face, sent the snooty missive. In a note to the entire TO list, there was this rant about leaky porridge plates in the dishwasher. What a petty twat!

I tell you, I was on the phone calling other temp agencies and it was all I could do not to walk the frack out of that place. Curses to me for not submitting my time cards so that I could, NO REALLY- curses to me.

Well, THANKFULLY when I got home, there was a call from the TCHC about a job I applied for about 5 weeks ago. I also got a call about a job I didn't get but already knew that I didn't get over a month ago. But really, regardless of how much I may enjoy an assignment, plate gate was the reality check I needed to never again neglect my leads or my finding of new ones, like Julia Roberts not kissing on the lips in Pretty Woman, never get attached!

Ok, must run to the library, my only obligation of the day. I have to return two DVDs that I loaned for younger nephew last week. When I return or possibly tomorrow, I'll have to report back on the lovely walk I had today, all about Timmie's store, CityIdol last night, how Fedex guy was sporting some lovely cologne, and whatever other follies transpire.

TEMPO TEMPER...

2006-04-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yaack!

So PISSED right now. I am ready to so ditch this temp assignment and move on. The infatuation with things poncey is wearing off fast.

The VP sent out the snootiest note to the entire Toronto team re: a soiled breakfast plate that I used and the pettiness is admirable. For an exec, this person always seems to find time in their calendar for unpleasantries. Considering the time sensitive pressure at the moment, I am suprised at myself that plate-gate would be the thing to take me over the edge.

Misuse of the "N" word

2006-04-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

First Kevin Costner's red light massage, now this...Hollywood darling, my feeble countenance cannot abide this I.N.S.AN.I.T.Y. To suffer as I did, you must read till the very diabolical end of the article...Tom Cruise is looking REALLY normal right now, okay? Frack!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0421061sheen1.html

MONDAY MONDAY...

2006-04-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

Too much going on I tell you... Four noteworthy things happened today. The streetcar I was on en route home got hit by a cab, and at the spot on the streetcar that was closest to where I was seated. Next, I ran into Maureen Kennedy, while detouring post crash, and we took the bus home together. While on the bus, I had another one of my nephew sightings[shout out to his pal Azizah!]and he mentioned that his school was teargassed and that there was a bomb threat[now children, if anyone so much as touches a hair on his head, wow...LIGHTS OUT] effective tomorrow[is it exam time or sommink], but prior to all of this chaos, one of the admins @ my temp assignment got the boot today.

She just bought a house, has a toddler but its no income time for her sadly. Which leads to my last tidbit - I got extended until May 19th. The day took this strange turn in the afternoon. I am all about being on my Ps and Qs in poncy-land on 320 Bay and mid afternoon, all of a sudden, this strange, hobbit like man barges into the office. He was incoherent and just bizarre.

He asked to see one of our consultants, even though he was unscheduled, which by the way, many appointments seem to be these days[have to stop that, too chaotic]. Anywho, I called the admin of his intended who sent someone else out to pacify him. At that exact moment, when he was barking and just being bizarre in the reception area, the most difficult call that I have had all assignment long came in and wouldn't you know, it was for that SVP whom I have sooooooooo much trouble with. The caller was harping on about a deadline that had to met today with someone who was out on vacation and escalating her request to that person's boss[aka difficult SVP], yadda yadda; enough already!!

Going back there in my head right now, I was completely flustered and could not focus worth a lick with hobbit man in the background. Wouldn't you know, within minutes of my call being disengaged, although he was sputtering on about something else, he left as quickly as he blew in. Faaaaaaaack!!! Like he was just there to frack up my phone finesse; I'll get you Bilbo Baggins beelzebub!

Ok - on the phone w/ poh-poh now re: cab incident.

Later...

Paying Respects...

2006-04-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

Interesting universe, these blogs of ours. Not sure how, but I got "hooked up" with Care Pages, an online health/medical update site with a page for a former colleague and the mom of a former colleague, Brooke Forbes.

Her son turned the carepage sitch into a blog and there I watched and read as his mom eventually succumbed to cancer. Such a surreal experience finding out that way. As my nephew, with a pinched face said "that's weird"...indeed. I was listening to Steve Wright, Sunday Love Songs on BBC 2, a song by the Chi-lites was playing and I just burst into tears as I read the news in a final post. If I had been listening to "The Sunday Edition" as I usually do and had not headed to North York for dad's Sickle Cell info session, perhaps I would have found out that way? Alas, I was out the door before the show started.

Hmmm, well a definite "stay in" wknd wasn't it? Rainy, chilly, grey, ick. I rented 2 flix. "Shop girl" and Domino. The first was suprisingly good and Domino was unwatchably bad. May she rest in peace but the movie tag should of have been "my name is Domino and I need you to pay attention to me". Shaaaaddup!

I have to admit, I picked it up cuz the Ramirez guy looked like suitable eye candy and Macy Gray, Mo'nique and Delroy Lindo were in it. Also, since "Sin City", so loving Mickey Rourke all over again. Too bad the "star of the movie" has such a big head and chain smoked or chewed gum to "look cool", the cinematographic and plot based rip offs of Pulp Fiction were too much to bear. I enjoyed the blond guy from 90210 in it though, UNDERUSED!

Dad's brunch was a hit and was so good to finally do some power laundry last night. Meanwhile time to power down as I have to take a big bite out of the next week re: temp and perm. leads, invus., etc...

Floet- On!

2006-04-20T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, such a good show.

Got to the Phoenix minutes before the headliners hit the stage. I missed Goapele and Masia-One. Sadly, I heard from one of my compadres that the crowd had little love for Masia[typical Toronto, so typical; when will you change? gah!] and that Goapele rocked out. Also something to the effect that the latter may have been a bit high maintenance. Care to confirm anyone?

Anywho, Floetry were incredible and amazing. Good Lord! The show REALLY could have gone on all night and there were intense vibrations throughout their performance. The way that they have captured, mastered and articulated the combination of spoken word and vocal brilliance is most stunning and with all due respect to their studio/production team, the live show far outshines the typical CD -truly a 3 dimensional offering; maybe they could give us a live album.

I so enjoyed that "Floacist"[Natalie Stewart], the spoken word half of the group was clearly sporting the leader/musical director hat for the show. Not sure if this is always the case but as an avid spoken word devotee, so nice to see that element far in front.

For some reason, I was remiss in how sensual their lyrics are - "Floacist's" reference to not being responsible for child support payments was quite a propos!

Kudos to REMG & the folks at that radio station for bringing a most excellent midweek gig to the Phoenix.

Sightings:
Dwayne Morgan back from Euro tour
DJ Sean Sax, and Simon - Satellite Radio pioneers yay!
Whitmore my former CBC Colleague
Jesse Ohtake from The Cyberkrib
Lisa Julien from The Chakra Spa
The bouncer from The Laurentian Room
and many more...

PORTIA oh no!

2006-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20060418T000000-0500_102840_OBS_RELIGIOUS_DEBATE_HEATS_UP.asp .

Sigh, what can I say...a name change may be eminent as the keeper of my hopes and dreams for JA has clearly bumped her head. More to come - off to the Phoenix to see Goapele and Floetry.

Bon Nuit

MID TEMPO...

2006-04-19T09:40:00.000-07:00

Not exactly down tempo, just middle range for the sake of balance and all.

Definitely needing to reel it in regarding my search and not be too caught up in temp land and suffer from sidetrackeditis. It is lovely here SUPER duper lovely but I have a larger task at hand with respect to my career hunt so time to sprout back the talons I had before.

I was late today for 320 Bay and I so hated the Ossington Bus the entire way in but really, best to overshoot my time so I don't get trapped in Eglington West/Ossington/Oakwood gridlock. By 7:40, transit to take people anywhere workrelated legitimately slows down at that end anyways and no use having an irritated stomach about it!

I've got a meeting tomorrow another one on Monday both of which I am pretty excited about and I got another hot lead from one of my agency contacts. Ah, the joys of putting coals in the fire.

Meanwhile, I am going for another walk down to Harbourfront today at lunch. A good mushing to kickstart the cardio game. When will I join a gym - when??!!

So much news today. White House personnel drama, more of the Duke saga but as I race to post before blogger's scheduled outage in 14 mins, my fave is the dual deliveries in Hollyweird land that came across the wires last night. Baby Cruise was born last night as was Brooke Shield's daughter. Ah, I am holding out hope that the latter squishes the former in a battle of the babies grudge match!

meanwhile, some troubling news from the Alberta set: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=7d8b86f2-e48d-4941-8a0a-a48e6981d2ec&k=81507

Up Tempo!

2006-04-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

Could not be anymore infatuated w/ the world of temping on Bay Street at the moment. A client came to see one of the consultants here this morning and was raving about the office. The building itself is a historic site and this particular office has been so exquisitly preserved.

As a temp chicka, I have had occassion to work in a few places but most are all about modernity when it comes to ambience, decor. Not so for 320 Bay Street. And is it me or does everyone seem that much more friendly because of the retro vibrations throughout? Could be my imagination.

Well, upon waiting to go to Barristers yesterday, I had a past dating subject sighting - faaack! The big red firetruck was a bit much. In hindsight and in daylight, it seemed just a touch too loud. Apart from that, I am realizing that I have gotten far too comfy w/ the ritual of going for clinky drinkies after work. Barristers I realize has the same type of decor as the office here on Bay Street - lots of brass, the wood and that luxe green; gah, someone give me some britches, a cigar and a serving of port damnit!

Speaking of port, massive MASSIVE kudos to the daywear fashionistas in the district, I had to say hats off to a seasoned diva who was sporting some fabulous purple stilettos @ BCE place last week - the young gurls who spend @ Aldo just aren't ready!

Meanwhile this is just so wrong: http://www.komotv.com/stories/42986.htm
More later of course...

GOOD Friday

2006-04-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Gah - sooo much to update on, not a clue where to begin, so in true procrastination fashion, I am going to "save it for another time". Plus, my throat is completely soar again which makes me super duper cranky, grrr...

Good thing I am still loving and luxuriating in tempo land; good times 9-5 baby!

Massive "coincidental" sightings and "bump ins" this week. To the point where there really is no such thing as a coincidence.

Ok, ok, must finish my devlishly good pastry from Nova Era and sip this fine Kona coffee. Meanwhile, enjoy this lovely article I scooped from one of the UK papers during the week...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=382734&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source=

Also, I see that the roach brooches from ANTM have made some online catalogue and the NY Post.

Meanwhile, had to post a pic of another hot Nigerian actor. So in Hollywoodland, thanks to Spike Lee, Chiwetel plays opposite Denzel in INSIDE MAN, however, the UK has him in a Wesley Snipes/Dave Chappelle moment in a lead as a drag queen in Kinky Boots.

Yay, LOTS of good times...

2006-04-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

From Bump n' Hustle to The Chakra Spa...

Ah but some folks met a terrible demise this weekend. Not to grovel in bad news or participate in the rabid spreading of it but this does seem pretty shocking, even for the motocycle set...

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/04/09/bodies-field060409.html .

Meanwhile, had to share the pic of Robert the Monster Rabbit who is raising cane in the UK. Is it mean or does he have 5 fingers, like big manly, trucker type fingers...

***N.B. bunny pic is a bust, blogger keeps konking out on me when I try to post it, for the 4th time already!!!!!

Heavy Tunde

2006-04-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

Wow...

Just came from a preview for the new "Mo'Nique" film, PHAT GIRLZ. Yes, it was as a movie viewer the lowest of low quality - ouch...but, so interesting that the male leads were all Haitian and African. Well, Jimmy Jean-Louis born Haitian, raised in Paris, Godfrey, born in Nigeria, raised in Chi-town and then Dayo Ade from DEGRASSI, hellooooo as the third fellah. Ah, so much better than squirming through what I could of How Stella Got Her Groove Back with that ridic Taye Diggs playing Winston - that accent! my ears! my ears!

I actually found that Tunde cat highly hot and now have a huge headache because of it - thanks Mo'Nique, thanks A LOT, grrrr...

A gorgeous day in the tdot today, mother nature spoiled us. Another good day on the tempo front as well though the homeless brother @ Adelaide & Bay, the one with the blue underwear on his head was really grinding on my nerves today...ok, and am also concerned at the news that Trump towers is going up across the road from my current placement. I so love the old school of it all and the view/sunshine is infectious. Soon to be completely blotted out by the king of NYC Real Estate's skyscraper, sigh...

Well, on the good foot, guess what? Tomorrow's Friday - yeeeeehaaaaaaah...

My eyes!!!!!! My eyes!!!!!!!!

2006-04-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE KARDI 2 U??

Must start out on a good note, weeeeeeee!!! When I retired for the evening yesterday, my thoughts were, pish posh, after 2 consecutive days of the 8am calls to converge on tempo land, I was going to take today to stay in and sort out this whole search sitch. I had a great meeting in the st. lawrence area last night but there are some issues that I have to consider re: compensation should I decide to pursue this opportunity. Hmmm, how to eat w/ the massive reduction in loonies per annum?

Well, the phone rang this morning and I let it v/mail but then I picked up and got my bootay to the gig. By midday, I had an assignment through until the 28th of this month. I am so grateful. I'll be using this as a chance to continue looking and further balance my time, etc. BTW, a great company - the cushiest thus far, I feel like a plushed out secretary with the lay of the land, hee...

Now the ranting and raving. The film "Honey" is on city tv this evening. I had to turn it off, frack! Bare with me, there is a tie in that sweeps across Kardi's comments about the Junos and the irony of a "spotlight" on MMM re: the Black Eyed Peas[frack! frack!].

My boss lady pal from Reach Records has crowned Kardi her new hero and I have to concur wholeheartedly re: his remarks about the dis factor for black music[call a spade a spade, am listening to DJ Edu on 1xtra right now, hiiiiiiii] @ the Junos http://chartattack.com/damn/2006/04/0307.cfm , sadly, Chart Attack needs to check their photo gallery, that photo of Kardi looks a lot like Ro Dollah, c'mon!!!!! I can even see Solitaire in the background.
**Sidebar, did I ever talk about the time I had to go through the trouble of becoming a loggable user just to tell the folks @ IMDB that the photo of Djimon Hounsou was actually Michael Clarke Duncan? Fraaaack! I think it took 2 days to get fixed...

Ok, so I'm watching Honey which is a fictionalization/dramatization of the life of the choreographer gal from the West end who blew up thanks to her kewl moves. Why is Jessica Alba playing that role? Anthony Sherwood and Lonette McGee are her parents. Why is the "Lil X, Mr. X" character played by sigh, an actor by the name of David Moscow. He does not look like any video director who I've seen featured on "access granted" thank you. Ooph, a sign of hope from the IMDB, apparently Aaliyah was supposed to play the Honey role[at least Alba wasn't the first choice], may she rest in peace.

As if my eyes weren't burning enough from city tv, their cousin M3 had a profile of the BEP - curses to them for being the big urban build up @ the Junos this year - hopefully Esthero wasn't in the house. But really, how many albums has the group put out and just what addition to the group precipitated their current pop chart/smash hit success? I have one thing to say, wild orchid boys, wild orchid...sigh, sniffle.

I DO Like Mondays...

2006-04-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

The first Monday in April 2006 got off on the good foot, super rainy this morning and was supposed to be all day but massive sun interval midday - sweet...

Was in tempo land again today, a certain electrical company that has a heavyweight real estate division. All cool, nice peeps and as usual, lots of cuties, good to flex the flirtie muscles, including the fedex brotherman - WHY was he not the CEO though, WHYEEEE ???? :)

Ummm, what else - oh, yesterday's pasta dish from Everyday Italian was a bit of a disappointment, definitely overrated and a bit plain. I even added roasted garlic but still low sparks. Wait till I drop some yummy lamb on all for Easter, woo-hoo...

I hear tonight is the final game of March Madness/Final Four/NCAA B-Ball action, should be interesting...

Read some great articles on http:www.iht.com, re: work overseas, etc. As soon as I figure out how to "edit html", I will get those up as well as regular recipe developments...

btw, the nekked grampa gnome; I was reading an article on de speigel about racism in European football, and how a Nigerian chap who plays for a German team was attacked and this gnome article which was on the left kept distracting me.

Hmmm, suddenly very slow as I am typing - is it prime blog time? Later

Tim Horton's Whaaaa???

2006-04-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

Humph, today's incident was a blight on an otherwise completely beautiful day in the tdot; titch titch...of course, a major source of angst for me, the curse of completely useless Sunday news, is all about us, so no idea what really happened. Yes, it is still early but the sketchy factor is so annoying, sigh.

Here's hoping the early electrical fire story was the reason for the casualty, ick...I mean the place is on my path to the reference library for heaven's sake!

Am off to check blogland for some insight into the matter, stay tuned!

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturdaaaay

2006-04-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Weeeee-kend!

Yesterday was a fantastic day. One simple thing happened - I had a random sighting of one of my nephews on the subway when I was out running errands! Ah, I so love that. Such a great kid.

Well, got some leads to follow up with and of course, must prep for my meeting on Tuesday but otherwise, this wknd is all about the family b-day bashment in Thornhill tomorrow. I am going to try out a pasta dish that I saw the toothy chick making on Every Day Italian. I'll let you know how it goes.

Meanwhile, from gossip town, Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons have announced that they are splitting up. Baby Phat and Phat Farm are a house divided, sigh. Does that mean that RS will stop wearing baseball caps to formal events now? We can only hope...

***N.B. MASSIVE muchos gracias to my fellow blogger peeps who have dropped by and posted comments woo-hoo!

Early, Fruitful Start to da weekend baby!

2006-03-31T06:05:00.000-08:00

Good times were DEFINITELY had last night. Started off w/ the BBPA Network exchange. Really good to see some familiar faces and mix it up to meet some fantastic new people as well. I ran into my 3 year plan future donor guy and met a gal from one of the big PR shops. There were some issues with the venue but the next stop on the night was so good it made up for it 10 fold.

Two biggie thumbs up to Yul @ Barristers in the Hilton, the man is THE hotel bartender in Toronto. Last week when we went by, Yul was on a cruise[the Queen Mary, the nerve!], so Anil, formerly of Fez, was our drink slingah; a most enjoyable sloppy seconds if I say so mi'self.

Had some good chats w/ some musician types-my fave subcast of homosapien, part of the Barristers crowd last night. The piano man of the evening, who we may catch @ Prego in Yorkville on Saturday, and his pal who is a drummer and has performed for the likes of Ron Sexsmith and Bryan Adams. Originally from Vancouver, he is in town to be part of the performer list for the upcoming CBC TV hockey series that Analisa is working on. Note to self, I must check in with her...

All in all a good night, but sad to see a chap who was either too tired or too inebriated get chucked out of Barristers though, he kept putting his feet, sans shoes on the bar - wtf??

Ok - time to check in w/ the local news, according to yesterday's budget, it looks like there is going to be a rate hike on the ttc, sigh...

Day One, hellooooo

2006-03-30T13:48:00.000-08:00

Yay!!!!!!!

Today is my first ever and so long overdue blog entry thingie, hurrah. In 15 minutes, Portia Simpson Miller is about to sworn in as JA's new PM. The country's first ever female leader. You Go Girl!

So at the moment, I am listening to a repeat of Steve Wright Sunday Love Songs on BBC 2 and am about to primp for a bbpa networking thingie, preceded by a pop in at the bank.

Today, I missed a chance to hang out w/ my pal Jaynerator who is in town from Amsterdam, Jack is sick, poor thing!

Did lots of job search stuff which is good but looking fwd. to clinky drinkies this evening...

stay tuned for the post-mortem.

ta,

W.