The little girl was obviously enthralled with the gentleman's task, and he graciously allowed her to participate in the painting. I heard squeals of delight that I thought were long forgotten memories. Loved this.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Some Itinerant Leftovers From New York
The little girl was obviously enthralled with the gentleman's task, and he graciously allowed her to participate in the painting. I heard squeals of delight that I thought were long forgotten memories. Loved this.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Random NYC Musings.
* It does seem as though there is a Canadian invasion. Aside from young David Alvarez in Billy Elliot, there are TD banks on every street corner from midtown north to the park, and we just read in the morning paper that a couple of dozen Dunkin' Donuts are being converted to Timmy Hos within the next few months. Finally, our American cousins will understand the true meaning of a "double double".
* The Husband has become a true afficionado of the premium M&Ms. The problem is that they are still only available in the States. No issues, right? We are in New York! The biggest M&Ms store in the world is right in the heart of Times Square. The bloody place is three levels of all things candy and it is jammed at all hours of the day and night. (Anybody looking for the answers to America's weight problem need look no further than this store!) We managed to squeeze our way to the top floor, where we spy a pristine display of the premium junk, for a buck more than at Target or Walmart! We left empty-handed.
* A young New York girl was slightly injured yesterday when she fell into an open manhole. The thing is that she was texting at the and not paying attention to where she was stepping. Of course, her parents are suing the city. It is a wonder to me how this is not a daily occurance. Everyone is on the phone or blackberry all the time. It is a true sign of the century we live in. Interestingly enough, we haven't had a single phone ring in the theatre. I think I need to recruit Broadway ushers for High Holidays.
A quick note or review, if you will, of Next to Normal, last evening's Broadway destination. This wonderful new musical looks odd at first glance. It is the story of a dysfunctional family attempting to cope with the ravages of bi-polar disorder. 2009 Tony winner Alice Ripley is a wonder and the supporting cast is stellar. The score is thumping and brilliant. It had to be to beat out Sir Elton and Billy Elliot. I was totally captivated from the first notes, as was the rest of the audience who refused to leave without a curtain call. Older Son-if you are reading this, this show is right up your alley. My only concern is how this material might be handled with lesser talent. The actors are everything to this show and they can't hide behind flashy sets or gaudy costumes! Without a doubt, a true gem! We are two for two!
Shabbat Shalom all!
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Ugly American-I Think Not!
Forget everything that you have heard or read about the rude New Yorker. It is simply untrue. The citizens of this magnificent city range from idiosyncratic, to solicitous to just plain nice. We are staying at this lovely little boutique hotel called the Casablanca at 43rd and Broadway, the heart of Times Square. Imagine Bogie and Bergman and you have a sense of this charming little gem. While the decor is beautiful, it is the service that is truly remarkable. Before we left TO, they sent us an email and followed up with a personal phone call asking if we required anything from tickets to restaurant reservations. This is 2009! Where does that kind of service exist anymore? NYC! Not only that, the manager provided us with a personal cell number in case of issues while in the city. Yesterday we played trivia with a Phillie-obsessed waitress who seemed to hold me personally responsible for Joe Carter's homerun in the '93 series. She was a delight. We mingle with the masses and question the locals for directions and we are met with nothing but niceness. Yes it is true that there is a no bullshit attitude to New Yorker's, but I find it refreshing. The only issue so far was the man sitting beside me in the theatre last evening who seemed to think that he was entitled to his seat and half of mine. Not only that, but he kept coughing and sneezing on me! There wasn't enough Purell in my purse to make me feel clean. I gently nudged him part way through the first act, but he didn't take the hint. Ah, such is life.
Americans have taken it on the chin lately for their supposed parochial world view and their elitist status. I am certain that those rude individuals exist, but we haven't yet encountered them in NYC. Miami? Now that is another story.
Since I am new to this mobile blogging, I haven't yet figured out how to respond to comments posted. A word to my plane maven. I can't discern one from another. I am just happy it has wings and engines. I did however spy the Japanese emperor's planes yesterday at Pearson. Very cool.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Some More Travel Thoughts
1. It is extraordinarily Canadian that an airport should have a terminal 1 and a terminal 3, but not a terminal 2. The odd thing is that none of us locals question the omission. When the airport was being redone, the overcrowded and miserable terminal 2 became a happy casualty of the wrecking ball. Instead of worrying about re-labelling all of the signs, the powers that be chose to pretend that 3 was the logical progression after 1. I assume that someday we will again have a terminal 2, although this being Canada anything is possible.
2. The airline industry seems to love any passenger traveling without the albatross of checked bags. The Husband and I have made a concerted effort to try and travel only with carry on bags for short trips or Florida. The rewards are substantial. No irritating lines to check or retrieve luggage, an easier walk through customs and security, and a realization that we all have way too much stuff! Of course it also means recycling outfits, washing underwear, and (horror or horrors!) no shopping! One cannot shop if it is impossible to shlep home. I have often wondered how people manage this lifestyle for trips longer than a week or two. That odd smell coming from the seat in front of you is probably some shnook who forgot to change his drawers!
3. Hey Torontonians! Did you know that your airport had a monorail? Ask me about it!
So, this little post has managed to block my ADD for a few minutes. This is the first time that I have tried to post from a mobile device, so please forgive spelling and grammatical errors that are probably abundant. I will try to write next from the city so nice they named it twice. I have a special synergy with Broadway and I am truly psyched.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
As if F#*%ing Squirrels Weren't Enough!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
I Love Canada, but I Hate the Weather!

Happy 142nd to my beloved country. Last year, I wrote of the many things that we Canadians can look to with both amusement and pride. This year, I was hoping not to blog at all. I had planned to spend the day with good friends funning and sunning around the pool, and barbecuing and beering the evening away. Maybe we might even catch some fireworks to help celebrate our country's birthday. Instead, as is truly Canadian, we are being held hostage to the fickle Canuck climate. The sun is straining to emerge, but the temperatures are less than seasonal, and there is the promise of massive showers. So while our plans remain in limbo, there is little else to do except spend some time with the blogosphere. I was greeted this morning by an email from a friend also lamenting the crappy weather. With her permission, and with profound apologies to Calixa Lavallee and Robert Stanley Weir, (the composer and English lyricist of our national anthem) she and I offer you our take on Canadian weather on this our country's day of celebration. I just want it understood that SHE STARTED IT!!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Curse of 24 Hour News Coverage
- Governor Mark Sanford (R. South Carolina) and Senator John Ensign (R. Nevada). These two men found themselves in the middle of a growing quagmire of family values hypocrisy last week before the King of Pop and the Pinup Girl knocked them off of the front pages. The Sanford story and his jaunt to Argentina is just so juicy that I am a bit stunned that it hasn't been more front and centre. The irony of both of these men being caught with their pants around their ankles after being at the forefront of the chorus condemning Clinton, is just too good to pass up. I believe that while the media frenzy surrounding pop culture is apparent and all-consuming at the moment, these two assholes will still have to publicly and fully answer for their sins.
- Bernie Madoff. On the very day of the deaths, the King of Scheme was in court begging for mercy and it barely caused a ripple. The justice is that today Bernie the Bunko artist was sentenced to the maximum for his crimes and his double-dealing mug is being splashed all over every TV set and computer in the world. Bye-bye Bernie. Maybe you catch up on your reading.
- Jon and Kate Gosselin. Manufactured celebrities are not usually my style, but I will confess that in the early days of TLC I did watch these people. I was taken with the children and the organization it took to deal with 8 kids under the age of 3. The break-up of any marriage is incredibly sad, but all the more so when it is experience in public. These people have dominated press coverage for weeks and, what's worse they seemed to have lapped it up like hungry puppies. Last Thursday the world finally stopped caring what a sad couple in Pennsylvania thought about anything. The kids must be thrilled that the paparazzi have turned their lenses elsewhere.
I would have thought that the media would have learned their lessons about over-covering a pop culture story with its coverage of OJ, Princess Diana, Anna Nicole, and the like. I was obviously wrong and I am totally convinced that the worst is yet to come. This weekend on some CNN program, a hack from Access Hollywood was asked if it is the media's job to report on the story or to generate the story. Not surprisingly he responded that as long as people are interested, they have a responsibility to continue with their coverage. Funny! I always thought that they should simply relay the news and not become the news. How wrong I was!
