"All I want for Christmas..." - dreams, wishes and visions come true - November 28, 2012

So it's about time I wrote a regular blog, the last one was in May and I've been writing in the www.MLGsVIDESMission.blogspot.com since then, so you or I haven't dished on the regular going-ons of living. It's November 2012 and much has happened. Presently, Christmas carols and songs are playing on the radio, which I love and I know some of you might hate. One of my favourite modern Christmas songs is Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you." So this blog is on “wishes, dreams and all things coming true!”

'Be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it' are lyrics from the popular dance song, "When I grow up" by the Pussycat Dolls but it's true. Even in the Congo, I had to be careful what I wished for (a work week in the cafe serving customers in addition to managing and accounting) because I nearly got all I wished for (I worked 6 night shifts in French). The same in true of life in Toronto. On facebook, I posted my affirmation that I will be married to my boyfriend and have bought a condo downtown in 18 months. Some of you liked that post and commented, thank you. That dream is coming true with God's help.

I checked my last blog and in February 2012, I wrote about my mantra, "I finally found someone" as sung by Barbara Streisand and Bryan Adams. That song still makes me cry a little because it's so beautiful, but it is true because I have finally found someone. With your love and support, my trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo serving others and speaking French become a reality. Now an opportunity to purchase in Regent Park is available and I'm opening that door! This is a reference to 'when opportunity knocks, open the door'.

“Dreams cancome true, look at me baby”. I did an exercise in 2011 on visioning and making dreamboards with my good friend Jo (Josephine on twitter - @joeboxer26). I had been reading Iyanla Vanzant's Tapping the Power within. I repeat my affirmations to myself, to God, in my poetry, on blogs, facebook and to anyone who will listen. I extole the virtues of writing it down, saying it out loud and overall being clear and honest with oneself about wants, goals, dreams and desires. Dreams can come true, I'm proof of that. I am more than I thought I could be even from 2005. Wow, how my life has changed, how I have grown and how my potential has been realized.

 

How about you? Are you realizing your potential? As this Christmas and holiday season approaches, I encourage you all to write down a wish list for yourself, where you want to be next year at this time, what you want to be doing, who you want to be with. Keep this 'Christmas wish list' handy and refer to it often. That is my wish for you, that all your dreams come true.

When it rains, it pours and be careful what you wish for - May 15, 2012

Amen! When it rains, it pours. I have yet to be disappointed by life, by God, by forces in the universe conspiring to make my life better and good. Thank you, again and again, over and over.

The past few weeks, I have woken up praising and giving thanks. I can't imagine a better life than I have right now. Sure, things could be better - I could own a condo instead of renting in a co-op, I could have a bigger title for a job instead of managing a program that has provincial reach, I could be married instead of dating. Things could be better, but I must admit, they are pretty good right now and I am thankful for what I have right now. No matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, I think you have to be thankful for the little that you have or you won't appreciate the big things when they come.

What's new? Everything. And that is okay. I am okay with the new.

VIDES - My mission trip is a go. I have been telling you about this desire/calling I have to serve my community in some way for about a year, now I'm really going. I'm combining my love of travel and serving others and learning French in a mission trip with VIDES Canada - www.videscanada.ca I'm leaving in a few weeks and will be away for a few months. Follow my new blog on my experiences in Senegal volunteering with the Salesian community - www.MLGsVIDESmission.blogspot.com

Love - My love life is kicked into high gear. I've written a few poems and a couple songs now about how this experience is rocking my world right now. "I've been hit!" Cupid was somewhere I wasn't looking and now I'm hooked on a certain guy. I've rewritten Nat King Cole's popular hit "Orange Coloured Sky" to fit my circumstances. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-6QknAOsVo

Community - I've found community projects in my neighbourhood that I can get involved in before and upon my return from Senegal. CRC (http://www.tcrc.ca/) will have opportunities for me to work in Regent Park and build community and I'm on a board-ICA Canada (http://www.icacan.org/) for an organization dedicated to communty building, official at the AGM in May.

Finances - Ma encouraged me to save for the future, for my travel wants, for my future condo in the redeveloped Regent Park. It has been hard pinching pennies and such, but I've appreciated seeing savings grow and know that I am investing in myself. Budgeting is not my first love, but I'm coming around to appreciate it.

What's next? Everything. And I'm okay with it.

Now that my mission trip is official, consider this your official notice. It's on! And I need your help. I have planned for my trip and my expenses are mostly covered, but I would very much like to support the Salesian community that I am going to serve for three months. I need your help to provide the children and youth attending school in this Senegalese community with the supplies they need. Your support will help. Please see below for ways you can help.

How can you help?
Spread the word - follow this blog online - http://MLGsVIDESmission.blogspot.ca, tweet about it and add the hashtag #MLGsVIDESmission or #MLGsVIDES or #MVM
Donate - send cheques of any amount to VIDES Canada, amounts over $20 can be tax receipted, cheques are made to VIDES Canada and sent to Sr Jeannine Landry, 178 Steeles Ave East ON L3T 1A5
Donate online - http://www.indiegogo.com/MLGsVIDESmission from now until May 29, 2012
Support the fundraisers - Show up and bring friends to MLGs fundraisers - upcoming events are May 20, 2012 and June 10, 2012. Check out facebook for more info.Pray - your prayers for me on this journey are appreciated and for the community I will serve.

My advice? Keep dreaming, when you know what you want out of life, you can ask for it. And when you get it, don't forget to say thanks.

Thanks!

Food and music - heart and soul - March 24, 2012

Food and music are my heart and soul, they make me happy. I thought about the things that make me happy this week and asked myself, am I doing the things that make me happy? Ask yourself the same question. Will you be surprised by the answer?

I was. I was delightfully surprised that I can answer with a resounding "yes!" This week was an example of how I continue to do the things that bring joy into my life and spread this joy to others. On Monday night, I finally took Josephine (@joeboxer26) to Harlem Restaurant (@harlem1920) for the Carolyn T Monday night Open Jam (@carolynTband and facebook). It was great, some amazing singers and instrumentalists graced the stage. I really enjoy going there, getting up on stage and singing my heart out. It is something that encouages me to grow and learn. I learned a new song this week and performed it at another open mic, Singer's Den put on by Nigel (@intelswagger) and hosted by Al St. Louis (@alstlouispoet). I sang "Let's Stay Together" written by Al Green as sung by Tina Turner. I love Tina! It was good.

All of these musical experience were preceeded by going with friends (@adamdiamond_, @joeboxer26, Lenore and Chantelle (twitter handles not memorized)), to see a taping of Canada Sings (@CanadaSingsTV) that will air in May. Amazing fun! And I'm more inspired to get out there and do more music either on my own (i.e. solo) or with Sweet Rhapsody (twitter handle a to-d0).

I also gave a gift of service this week - by offering my time and my talents. I made a delicious soup for the Lenten Soup series at Newman Centre http://www.newmantoronto.com/ and shared it with 15 people who came for soup and stayed for adoration. I derive much pleasure out of cooking and baking, but more from sharing with others. It was for me like an #EatPrayShare moment. I learned something from the experience also, how to make soup for 15 people. That is the hard part. I may do it again sometime. It was like a prelude experience to cooking in a soup kitchen or community kitchen.

I also took a walk in my neighbourhood of Regent Park on a day off and was amazed at the changes of the revitalization or gentrification of Regent Park http://www.torontohousing.ca/regentpark. I was impressed to see the community centre that the Toronto Christian Resource Centre http://www.tcrc.ca/ has built and the beautiful space they have for the community. I am excited by the potential to contribute and volunteer in the community.

As part of my year-long adventure to serve my community and find my purpose in the everyday, I feel that of late, I have found good reasons to be and to do. Of course, I still have questions about all that I am to be and to do in my lifetime but for now I am content to continue exploring how I can serve others in my quest to define or redefine self. I look forward to continuing to nourish my soul with food and music.

What's next? There is always something - February 17, 2012

Last week, my knees hurt from jumping over speedbumps with my niece. A week ago Friday I lost my phone after an awsome party and lost the guy's number (no worries, he has mine). This week, it's not the knees, my ribs hurt from trying to excercise. As they say, if it's not one thing, it's another.

But rather than be pushed and "bowled over by the bowels of life" I'm gonna stand my ground, stand up and fight for the kind of life I want to live. So last week, my training session didn't involve any squats 'cause I could barely bend, no matter, I sweat as much anyway. Since Friday, I've been a little bit disconnected and not texting, tweeting, facebooking (is that a verb) or bbming as much as normal, but is that so bad? (That last incident has forced me to think a little and not depend on the external or the environment). Yesterday, I had to maintain a stiff posture as the soreness in my ribs doesn't allow slouching.

You can always find what some call the "silver-lining" in any bad situation, I call it the joy or the joie-de-vive. As 2012 continues to roll on by despite all my efforts to slow time, I am now reminded to do daily affirmations. I share this with you as I share most of my secrets and experiences, so you can learn something from this story. I do daily affirmations so I can be present in crafting the life I want to live right now and tomorrow. As St. Valentines Day was this week, I, like many single people, was faced with this reality, that I am currently single. But it's not a way I want to be so of course my affirmations are about affirming my need for companionship and having God's help to find the someone he has planned for me. (I've also been singing the Barbara Streisand/Bryan Adams 1996 hit - I've finally found someone - as a sort of mantra).

So onwards and upwards. I must have dreamed (or journalled at some point) of having an adventuresome, exciting, 30-something lifestyle. This week was probably the best example and the fun isn't stopping. On Monday night, I attended with friends a George Brown College event to support a colleague at the Devil's Martini, Wanderlust, plus @CarolynTBand's open mic at @Harlem1920. Tuesday, Jo @joeboxer26 and I went to a Fastlife event where I met lots of eligible bachelors, very nice; much prefer being out than staying in and moping on Valentines. Wednesday was gym and chilling at Jersey Giant with @adamdiamond_ and eating a healthy bun-less burger with salad. Thursday I made it to both skating lessons at Harbourfront and Singer's Den hosted by @AlStLouispoet and created by my cousin @Steph_Boucaud and @intelswagger. The week isn't over as there are Black History Month events to attend.

Wow! This is my life!

So what's next? That is entirely up to you. You can make it happen, let it happen, imagine it, dream it, figure it out. There is always going to be something. Either something good or something bad. The only control we have is of ourselves and how we act or react to the things, people, places and events that happen.

I choose to be concious in my life, be active and be an active participant. Life is, just is. But me, I am how I want to be. How about you?

Someday at Christmas dreams will come true - November 27, 2011

"Someday at Christmas all our dreams would come to be", Stevie Wonder.

Contemplating life and all you did this year, accomplishments, activities, challenges, and how you faced them, seems to be a common practice. It is at this time that I prepare to celebrate Christmas and the beginning of the new year and I also reminisce about the past few months and all my dreams, hopes and wishes. I muse on my life and evaluate whether it is what I hoped it would be or ponder the gaps and what I can do to fill them.

I also look at my list and wonder what can I do in 30 days to finish off 2011 in a way that would make me feel very good. It's a good time to check in and see where I have grown and where I can keep growing.

Christmas is my favourite season because of music, song, food, desserts and gift-giving. I look forward to Christmas parties, dinners, carolling and of course shopping. I am thankful as I was at Thanksgiving of who I am and who I am becoming, what I have and what I can give. Christmas is the time to put into action that feeling of thanksgiving in real and tangible ways.

I know that Christmas can be a contemplative and nostalgic time as well with feelings of wistfulness, longing and melancholy. I recognize that this time of year is filled with so much angst and anxiety at the same time it is filled with joy and celebration. I encourage everyone to reach out and accept the hands of friendship and the opportunities to grow and know someone. Even if you don't think so, there is someone somewhere who loves you and wants the best for you. With that hope, go forward and accept the love that this season reminds us of.

"I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come to show the way". I believe in Christmas. I believe in hope. I believe in you. I believe everyone has it in them to be the special gift at Christmas that everyone wants to open. Let Christmas be the time and the season for you and your special gift to be shared. Everyone has a talent and if you haven't shared it already, now is the time to open up and let your light shine.

I know I am wistful and metaphoric but I believe the season is beyond measurement. It will not matter how many gifts you give, how much money you spent or how many parties you hosted, it will matter how deeply you touched someone and made them feel special. It will matter how you gave of yourself, your time, your energy and your love.

Be the Christmas joy you wish to see in the world.

Thanks for the memories and the moments - Thanksgiving in Canada - October 10, 2011

It's Thanksgiving in Canada. Besides all the turkey and the trimmings, the dinners and the dishes, the cooking and the baking, the time together with friends and family is most precious. This time of year is another opportunity to reflect and consider the things we are thankful for. I am sure that most of us took time this weekend at one or other of our many meals to give thanks for our family, friends, life, lifestyle, graces and gifts.

I for one am thankful for the memories and the moments I am sharing with the people in my life everyday. I am thankful for the moments that my Creator has granted me. I am thankful for the skills and talents I have that allow me to craft these moments or to grasp them as they come by. Opportunities like the ones I've come across sometimes happen on their own, sometimes they take making. Making something happen out of energy, will and happenstance, takes more than luck and chance. It takes commitment and strength to cling to a dream until it becomes reality.

Many people witnessed my latest celebration where by the Grace of God, moments and memories happened that I am thankful for. I am thankful for all the family and friends that came out to my birthday party celebration - MLGs Rocking Rhythms ROMP - and witnessed dreams becoming reality. It has been my dream to peform my spoken word in public (I have since 2008), sing or front a band (doing it now) and also host an amazing birthday party (which i did!). This for me is a testament to commitment, holding true to your dreams, putting words to them and taking action. I give thanks to He who is for givng me the grace to achieve my dreams.

I am thankful to have accomplished many milestones in my life, completed projects, tasks and achieved things I set my sights on, but I know I could not accomplish these things without the support of loving friends and family. I am thankful for you. You who are there for me, you who support me, you who listen, you who talk, you who through sheer will enable me to do the things I am called to do. Thank you!

As we enter another season of grace and thanksgiving, the bouyancy of which should carry us into the new year, we should contemplate our thankful moments and memories and the people in our lives that help us to experience the beautiful, the challenging and the teaching moments.

Let us be thankful that we are where we are meant to be exactly and the people in our lives are in it for a reason, a season or a time and for that be thankful also. It is far better to bless our lives and other's lives, bless each day and be thankful for it, than to curse and swear and only have regret. Be thankful for who you are, what you are, what you are doing and what you are meant to be doing. Count your blessings and your moments of gratitude, these are the moments and memories that count.

Inpired by others to live the dream - August 18, 2011

As I write this blog entry, my first since April, I am living one of my dreams. Sitting in a restaurant on Queen Street East, as an independent woman, admiring and being admired. At one point, I dreamed of being a single woman, living in the big city, dining at fancy restaurants and being my outgoing and natural self. In the beginning, I was doubtful but now I am here!

Is the dream the same? Dreams grow big, change shape and coalesce into something different, something new. Once I had achieved my dream, I went to a seminar either by Bob Proctor or Joe Morton and I heard "dream bigger!" I have seen other's realize their dreams and I know it can be done. Kinda like 'if you build it, they will come'. My sister and her husband have a dream of retiring in Florida. It so happens the American economy tanked and homes in this southern, ocean-bounded state were suddenly available and affordable. Taa Daa!

My summer has been another delightful experience one after the other. From Summerlicious to Caribana/Caribbean Carnival to Tastes of the Danforth and every other festival and event, I have explored Toronto and lived it. Lovely! Now I'm asking myself, what's next? What is the next dream?

When you have something in your heart that you want to have happen and it fills your spirit and gives you passion and energy, and you are hoping and wishing that this "thing" will become a reality one day, that is the dream. The challenge is not in making the dream come true, the challenge is in dreaming the dream. It may be fantastic and imaginative, seemingly out of reach, incredible or unbelieveable, that is your dream. Once you commit to it and put your hopes in your dreams, channel your thoughts, your spirits and your energies, then the dream will come to you and be your present, your now, your reality.

Inspired by a friend who challenged herself to go speed-dating or at least do something constructive to change her single situation, I did the same. Getting out in the real world and meeting other single, eligible and suitable persons is a definite step in the right direction towards couplehood rather than forever single. Thank you Barbara for inspiring me. I've met a few new people since I stepped out of my comfort zone and took charge of this dream.

Inspired by artists and writers that I saw at the last "First Fridays" hosted by Warren Salmon. I heard from a young woman who is a writer by trade, having (almost, nearly, has she even?) reached 30 and written 40 books. Kayla Perrin. Kayla is an inspiration to me so I've committed to finish writing the book I started two years ago. Thanks Kayla!

Inspired by my sister to have a lasting love-life and a family to cherish. I appreciate being a part of her family and sharing her family - the two girls are adorable and I spent my summer vacation with them and Grandma/Ma and the whole family are darlings. Thank you Mitz!

Everything else I have achieved thus far is because I dreamed it and I made the dream my reality with focussed energy and applying my passion. Now I am dreaming of my partner who will travel the world with me and make a home in downtown Toronto. I'm dreaming of the little girl and the little boy who will fill our lives. I am imagining, picturing and dreaming of a new reality. Now I'm dreaming of being on stage and singing R&B and soul. Performing my poems. Signing my book at Chapters. I will not wait until I retire or perspire to put some energy into the things I desire!

As my 35th birthday approaches, I'm checking my list of things to do in life. I've decided to make some of the dreams on that list happen sooner rather than later. One thing I remind my friends when setting goals - be specific! You have to know exactly what you want or how will you recognize it when you get it? What are you long-held dreams and wishes? What did you want to do when you grew up? Think about it. And then do it!

Living the dream...defining the dream and living it - April 11, 2011

"[Spring] is in the air, everytime I look around." (by John Paul Young)

Spring feels like it is finally here in Toronto, tdot, El Toro and I'm bound and determined to enjoy it. The winter blues or blahs should be melted away with the spring sunshine the way the sun has melted leftovers of winter-snow! As the gentle rains falls and washes away the dirt and trash left by mounds and heaps of what was once clean, white snow, so should the spirit of Spring and Easter wash away whatever dregs and leftovers need to be washed away from your spirit and soul.

Every morning I am greeted by the sweet sounds of Machel Montano's "Advantage" as that is the first song on the soca CD I bought myself at Maracas Bay a few weeks ago. Was it only a few weeks ago (a month and 1 day today I returned) that I was basking in the sunshine of a Trini Wednesday after an adventurous and whirlwind Carnival? Read more about my adventures during Carnival in my travel blog - Tastes, Travels and Thoughts by MLG The energy of that vacation adventure still motivates me to wake up in the morning, find joy in every moment and discover my passion.

Taking advantage of the stage or life as you know it is a mantra I have to share. It is time to take advantage of every G0d-given moment, talent and door that beckons. Time to take advantage of life. I hear Machel's music and though it is meant for dancing and wining and enjoying, I can't help but read into it. Just like Kes the Band's Million Dollars. I may not have won a million bucks or even $10, (I, like the rest of you, have to work hard for my money) but I feel like I'm worth a million. Beautiful! How can you resist being inspired?

"And I feel like, I just won a million dollars!" What a feeling! If we could capture this feeling and bottle it, it would be worth just that. Every time I go away to a foreign country or back home to Trinidad, I enjoy myself so much and I am uplifted I feel like I am taken away to another plane of existence where anything is possible. Barbados, Las Vegas, Trinidad, England, France...every place I've been to has inspired me to be more, to do more. Seeing how other people live in another part of this city, my country or the world opens your eyes to the other, the possible and the potential.

"This year I moving fearless." Are you? Am I? There is so much in life I want to do, say, write and all before things change, buckets are kicked or I change my mind. Fearlessly. I am encouraged by these experiences to be fearless in my approach to the dream. Dreaming without fear and living the dream as best I can, bravely. What is the dream? Only God and I know and I endeavour to find out if His dream and mine are the same.

I encourage you to set about dreaming, to try and figure out what you are meant to be doing on this planet or at least to daydream about what you would like to do on this planet. It is an exercise but it is totally worth it. I dreamed of playing big people mas in Trinidad and have been saying I would go for years (literally, I've been fantasizing about this since 2005). And I did it! Finally! I felt good, looked good and I must say having a goal or dream helped me get healthy and fit. I will continue to eat healthy, do Socacize boot camps, go to the gym and train with my trainer because Rio's Carnival is calling my name!

Savouring food as life is savoured - February 12, 2011

An adventure in eating was my experience of the last little while. Not only have I been on my own cooking-healthy-food bend but I've also enjoyed my brand of healthy at really nice restaurants for @LiciousTO Winterlicious in Toronto. Each meal brings me closer to a friend or friends and reminds me of my reason for being. My reason for being is to share my joy of life (joie de vie) with everyone!

My adventure with gluten-freeness and dairy-freeness began in October 2010. I've been cooking sweet potatoe fries, rice pastas, brown rice everything and rice-flour pancakes for months and tweeting about it. I've rediscovered my culinary skills and am enjoying it immensely.

I really wanted to try Winterlicious this year but of course I was worried about whether or not I would find food I could eat. This nice article helped - http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/de-licious/2010/12/17/the-winterlicious-2011-menus-are-out-so-lets-compare-them-to-previous-years/ I found menus I really appreciated at Eight Wine Bar with Josephine and Ida, Trevor's Kitchen with Emily, Eddy Levesque's Kitchen with Adam and Southern Accent with Adam. My reviews follow. The best part of Winterlicious this year was being exposed to amazing restaurants in Toronto that I would never have found otherwise.

• Trevor's Kitchen is very nice, upscale and downtown-like on Wellington East. I would definitely do dinner there, Emily and I enjoyed a long lunch. The service was amazing and the food was delectable. I really enjoyed the cotton-candy that came with the bill. Lucious!
• Eight Wine Bar is stylish and located in the Metropolitan Hotel on Colborne Street. I loved the flourless chocolate cake for dessert--it was light and fluffy and the dark chocolate sauce was d'lish! I've got to try their Friday night $1 an ounce wines. I was jealous of Ida and Josephine's steak choice but red meat I've discovered is not my best-friend :(
• Southern Accent in the Annex was a cajun treat with Adam. Cajun-Creole-Soul was their slogan and so it felt. The ambience was amazing. Adam and I even booked their cute little private cubbies because it was so cute and I was feeling the effect of the southern bourbon because I don't yet have a date for my reservation. Jambalaya was gold!
• Edward (Eddy) Levesque's Kitchen for a late lunch with Adam. It wasn't exactly winterlicious but it was damned good. Potatoe latkes with smoked salmon, umm good. No dessert here as it was only lunch. Very nice decor, all fancy and what-not. I would probably go back for dinner sometime.

I missed Grappa Ristorante for dinner with Sebastian due to a cold but there's always Summerlicious! As I write this, Valentine's Day looms, but because I've had such good times with friends I am not bereft of love and loving. I've had enough love to last me for a while. I'll probably groan about being single in the spring but for now, I'm happy, content and loving this life.

Going out for Winterlicious taught me a couple of things - there's so much to discover in Toronto, you need only give yourself the time and the freedom, and there's so much conversation to have with friends that it's all a good reason for living.

Good food, great friends, excllent times!

It's a new day, it's a New Year and I'm ready - January 5, 2011

As it is a new year, and I'm getting used to writing 2011 instead of 2010, now is the right time for a blog about the newness of life. I've always taken the opportunity of any new season (New Year's, Spring, Fall, mornings, dawn) as a good time to evaluate my life, my self and my direction. Everyone else is talking about resolutions and its almost scary the amount of pressure there is to make or have a resolution and then even more pressure to keep it. I for one am tired of putting so much pressure on my New Year's that it becomes more of a pressure cooker with no release than a fire-cracker with a bang. I prefer starting off my New Year's with a BANG! and no pressure, just living, living right.


The way I started off the New Year 2011 was very, very good this year. My ego was stroked on the dancefloor at Empire Lounge as the ladies and I went out to celebrate the New Year's with a bunch of good-looking strangers much younger than us. I found the party on Toronto-Lime.com and the party flyer said 21+ but how was I to know they were being literal? The crowd was 21-25 years of age on average, which was fine. I was approached by a man and a boy in their early thirties (31 and 30 respectively and separately). I have to admit that being in my mid-thirties I was flattered by their attention. I take it as a compliment, that I looked good, that I moved well enough to attract their attention.


Were these the hotties I've been drooling over and daydreaming about? Not exactly, but I'm not going to spurn their attentions like most women simply because they are not my Mr. Right or Mr. Right-Now. One guy asked me for the kiss at midnight, even though it was half-past! Imagine my surprise! At these moments, I giggle and laugh. I gave him a kiss on the cheek as I was neither that drunk, nor that easy. These days I am more impressed by their daring than chagrined. A good night was my experience and it was fun.


Being single at Christmas and New Years (read this interesting blog on the topic) is a different type of experience than being in a relationship. I've done both now and I must admit that being single is way more fun. For Christmas I enjoyed my time with family and friends. As a single woman in downtown Toronto and an excellent host, I had one party and two dinner parties at my place--the highlight and joy of my Christmas season. I enjoyed time with my sister and her family and played with my nieces Kaelyn and Keyanna. For New Year's I went out with the ladies (Ingrid and Jeannelle).

As a single woman on New Year's, you have your choice of partners to dance with and people who want to kiss you. But there is nothing like the independence of going home on your own, to your own place, to sleep in your own bed, on your own. I'm comfortable with that, for now. There will come a time when he and I are together (by the Grace and Will of God) and I'll have someone to come home to who can come home to me, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy living single.


A girlfriend asked me on New Year's Day (or the day after) if I had made any resolutions. No, I have not made any "New Year's Resolutions", but I have in the past few months resolved to do things differently and better in my life. In my last blog "Christmas is coming and I ain't ready yet", I talked about the potential my life offers. I look at the position I am in now as a gift. I have the gift of my time, talent and money to spend in unselfish and giving ways either with my family, friends or my community. I have resolved to do so in the next year. I am enjoying all this free-time immensely but I do see there is room and space in my life for service to my fellow-man, -woman and -child.


I have long resolved to get healthy and fit. For 2011, I suppose I could change my resolve to being healthy and fit since I'm already there and can only get better. I've spend the past three months abstaining from alcohol for weeks at a time (goodness gracious, only you know how hard that has been!), eating the right foods and avoiding sugar, salt-if its not sea salt, all-gluten containing food and dairy products, eating all manner of green leafy vegetable, including those veggies I cannot pronounce properly - kale, chard and leeks! Yes, eek! Leeks!


I'm seeing results and I'm loving living healthy and clean (if only for three weeks at a time) so I'm not going to stop what I'm doing and start a new revolution (note: resolution with a v is revolution, interesting, hmmm). Why? Shouldn't I more simply and easily for me, continue doing what I'm doing and augment it so I'm doing it better? A fitness expert I know personally, Kevin Majchrzak at Wynn Fitness suggested this in his last note to gym-rats, "Be consistent! Don't expect any shortcuts to fitness. Make sensible, long-term fitness changes so you can enjoy the benefits of fitness for a lifetime."


I resolve to walk more, talk more (or less as necessary), listen more, love more and learn more. I know I can even share more and be there more. And Iknow that little by little, small changes will make a big difference in my life and by the end of 2011, I'll be the hottie that my love-interests are drooling over! Not that that is my only aim in life but it sure is nice!

Christmas is coming and I ain't ready yet! - November 24, 2010

It's that time of year again, Christmas-time. And with it comes all the trappings and wrappings of the holiday season. It's an end of year festival with gift-giving and sharing as the main focus whether with time or money, it is about the gift.

This Christmas season catches me again unprepared. All the things I thought I would get done before another Christmas comes remain, undone. Yet, I'm excited and elated to be able to celebrate another one. My Christmas season started with the Toronto Santa Claus Parade which I shared with Mom, Dad and my beautiful niece, Kaelyn. Kaelyn made it so special! This was the third year we (Mom and I) took Kaelyn to the parade. The first year, she was one and a half and we missed it by 30 mins so saw the windows at The Bay instead. Last year, her Ma and Dad came and that was fun also with prego-Mel. This year, a 3 and a 1/2 year old Kaelyn took in the parade, made friends and had a good time. Never mind that Santa came late or there were big gaps and a lack of music, Kaelyn enjoyed every moment and every pause, she loved the bands and ran with all the other girls and boys between floats. Sooo much fun!

Later that night, we all hung out and got warm at Mel's place browsing through Christmas flyers as is tradition, browsing through flyers anyways. There was a piece of jewellry that caught my eye, a multi-coloured, multi-jewelled ring. Cosquell as they would say in French patois. My sister says it's a family or heritage ring, 'you should work on the family thing and then maybe get the ring'. True dat! Perhaps that is just the motivation I need to get off my duff and actively seek out a life-partner? I have thus far enjoyed a very social and active lifestyle without the commitment of a partner or companion. The promise of a steady companion, besides my cat, has not been enough to spur me on to movement in that area. Maybe now, I'll be a little bit more committed to the whole commitment thing. I jest but then I do not jest. I definitely want that ring!

I had an interesting experience with commitement of a different sort in the last two weeks. In the throes of ecstasy, it had to be the euphoria of shopping, at the National Women's Show a couple of weeks ago, I signed up for a 3-year contract with Rogers. Imagine that! I, who moved slowly from Bell to Solo Mobile to Koodo over five or six years, signed up for real! I was lured by a sleek Sony Ericsson Xperia phone in white with touch-screen functionality and the coolest games and downloads. I was in love with my new phone! I'm not that tech-savy so it was all new, fresh and over-whelming for me. It took me 7 days to realize what I had done.

After a long-period of non-commital cell-phone relationships, I ran into a long-term relationship without seriously considering the ramifications. The flexibility and variety that my lifestyle currently affords would have been drastically altered. I have dreams of living abroad in the near future, France, Europe, Barbados, the Caribbean, and being tied to this contract would have been the same strength of tie as if I had a mortgage on a house or condo, which I do not as yet. At times, I envy those home-owners and family-guys and gals with their 3-bedrooms and cars in garages, but at the same time I appreciate the freedom being single and unencumbered affords. I come and go as I please and I'm untied. Rolling stone and what not, as they say.

I must say I suffered from buyer's remorse and did what I had to get out of it. I must admit to feeling stifled and suffocated at the prospect that I would be tied up for 3 years and my dreams and plans to travel the world knotted. The nice people at Rogers (@RogersElise) helped me out and now I can breathe. The experience made me think about commitment in the modern age and why and how it fares among the options of not-committing that abound in our modern society. Why commit to a cell phone plan when Koodo, Fido, Virgin and the new ones, PublicMobile and Chatr, offer decent options without the long-term contract? What are the benefits to committing? I ask this question of myself and of you a different way: why commit to one person when you can date all kinds of nice people without the long-term contract? What are the benefits of commiting?

It's nice to know with Rogers, or Bell or Telus have your back in a contract if your phone fails or breaks or something bad happens. I know people like Mitz or Adam (@atorboy85) who have committed to a company like Rogers for what seem like eons, (Mitz has been with Rogers since the Motorolla flip handset as seen in this old commercial). They get first dibs on new phones, a reliable company and the confidence that they are building a relationship. I know because I've asked what happens if my Koodo phone falls or breaks, I've found out I am SOL. Shucks!

Suffice it to say, I am not ready for Christmas. Yes, I'm planning all kinds of social events and parties and getting in the mood for it. I at least know how I'd like to decorate or what kind of decorations I'd like to put up. But I have no list for others or myself, I still need to paint to bring in the season with a fresh, clean palette. I have not really worked on the family thing, as yet. They say the holidays tend to be depressing, especially for single people, I can only imagine. I may chose to be a single woman but I don't spend my days or nights alone. Instead of being depressed that I haven't a partner (yet) or little ones to put presents under the tree (yet), I use this gift of freedom to see my friends, host parties for them, make myself available to family as needed, and be the best Nenny Mur I can be to my nieces. Let's just say that this time, I'm getting ready. Having had a touch of the commitment thing and all the ramifications it brings, I'm at the least, looking at it more seriously. I encourage you to get your house (the proverbial house, or in Christendom, the temple that is your body) ready for Christmas and the end-of-year celebrations.

Giving thanks each day for every little thing - October 16, 2010

I'm giving thanks each and every day for each and every little thing in my life. Took a cab to a radio interview at ProudFM last Wednesday. It was a great interview with a great host, Mike Chalut, and I quite enjoyed that experience and I give thanks for that aspect of my job. I was struck more so by the cab driver who I met on my way there. He was nicely dressed in a sharp, black leather jacket and dress pants. I can only imagine his shoes were jet black and shiny. His cab was clean and very tidy. He said to me when I asked how he was doing, "I'm alive and I'm thankful."

I just meant to engage in small talk the way I always do but this time I was blessed with a sermon on giving thanks for waking up in the morning, being able to breathe, having legs to walk with and having something to occupy my time. We didn't talk about jobs, we talked about vacations as if your j-o-b is a vacation you are enjoying. And it made sense too! Why do a j-o-b if you are not enjoying it as you would your vacation. Think abou t it, we work hard year-round to spend copious amounts of dollars on another home in another country to get away from our regular home in our country of residence. Yet, we gripe and complain about the cost of living in our home and in this country. Wow, what a revelation! I'm encouraged to think about life the way this man described it to me, to go to my job each day with the same enthusiasm I appreciated New York City or Barbados.

I had all of Thanksgiving Weekend to appreciate my family and friends and the life I'm living and I did. I sent a mass text to all I care about. (I still send mass texts because you all are not following me on twitter!) And I said the words to my family and did those actions to show I'm thankful to have them in my life -- I shared with them my time, my presence and my personality. I feel like I did thanksgiving for the big picture things in my life, overall and general: good health, great work/vacation, good family and friends. But I didn't, until this man reminded me, give thanks for all those little things in life like waking up to see the sun rise, breathing in life each morning, planting my feet on the ground to enjoy another day. There was a time when I really focussed on 'stopping to smell the roses'. Somehow I have forgotten in the last few weeks or even months to appreciate all those little things. When I sing the song "I Believe" I am reminded of all the little things. Sing it for yourself and you'll agree it is a beautiful song.

I am thankful that Ma and I still get to spend time together. Even though I was recovering from a very bad cold, I still made it out in the cool night air to see Scotiabank's Nuit Blanche at the Distillery District. I wish I could have done more but physical limitations and such. Thankful that I got to see some of it with Ma. Even though I was sad my friend Barb had to return to the United States, I'm very thankful I got to know her over the last two years. I'm thankful for all the friends I have made and continue to keep close. Life may get busy, but now I'm counting on the little things like this blog, the pokes on facebook and short emails or texts to keep building my family- and friend-ships.

What are you thankful for? The past Thanksgiving weekend gives us all time to pause and contemplate this question and hopefully verbalize for ourselves those things in life (or all of it) that we are thankful for and can appreciate. I read a blog by Trey Anthony with reflections close to this topic. It was about being happy and content with a simple life or with the simple things in life.

The last thing the man in the cab left me with was something I try to do each day when I step out of my house. I think of it in these terms, "living each day as if it was your last", but he explained it thusly, "Take your clothes for instance, you should wear them and enjoy wearing them, no matter how much or how little they cost. What are you saving them for? Wear them now as they were meant for you or else what will you do when you die, pass them on?" Just like our clothes, which we should wear everyday because saving stuff like that for a rainy day that never comes is silly, so should we wear our smiles on our faces, our hearts on our sleeves and our thanks for a good life every minute of every day. I say wear your Sunday best on Saturdays because you just never know.

I had never thought - but I did, didn't I? - September 13, 2010

I had never thought I'd be parading down Eastern Parkway in a skimpy, white, bathsuit, with a sequined skirt and a giant exotic headpiece called a Carnival costume. But there I was just four days after my birthday, dancing to soca music on the street and allowing my half-naked self to be photographed by strangers and tourists. Well, I wasn't really half-naked, I felt really very comfortable in my own skin. I realized I really am beautiful and also my workouts at the gym and healthy eating are paying off! I look fabulous. I looked so fabulous that day that I took a picture on my cellphone so I could send it to a few friends and make some boyfriends jealous. I'm loving ME right now!

My present moment is exhilarating and everyday I am touched by how precious my life is. Even though I was surprised that a spontaneous moment had me playin' mas', it was on my list of things to do. So I was not really surprised that I was marching down the street to new soca music, it was just like I imagined. One day, I hope to play mas' in every Carnival in every corner of the world. It began again (after a 22 and 17 year hiatus) with Brooklyn's Carnival. I say a line in one of my poems, "Hold on to your dreams, make them come true. Live it, love it, believe it!" I think its true. I've held this dream in my heart for some time, hoping and praying (and doing something about it too!) that one day I'd be fit enough to wear that skimpy outfit and parade. And I did it!

So I say to you, hold on to your dreams and work at it. Make it come true through force of habit. There are no guarantees in life but you can make things happen if you try a little.

I don't know why, but sometimes it takes a momentous occasion or a catastrophic event for us to realize the worth of this life. I implore you to not take this life for granted. Recently, two of my friends have been touched by some calamity. My dear friend, @atorboy85, had a recent heart issue forcing him and I to consider this life. My cousin, ladydigga, faced the death of a friend, another event that causes us to consider who we are, what we are doing and what legacy we will leave behind us. I have always asked myself, well lately now that I am concious, "If I died tomorrow, would I be satisfied with my life?" My answer, most days, is yes, hellz yea! I'm happy with who I am, who I could be, and the life I will eventually leave behind.

Such that, I am happy to report that I had an excellent summer and enjoyed quality time with many friends and family. Before Brooklyn's Carnival, I enjoyed a great night with Adam and Chris at Havana Cultura and at Leslieville. (See August 27 blog) Ma and I took my baby niece Kaelyn to Buskerfest. It was joyous watching her enjoy the clowns and the acrobats, it was amazing watching life through a child's eye. My summer has been very good, and I thank God that I have lived to experience it.

Love this spanish flavour - blogging in Tdot - August 27, 2010

As I write this blog, I'm sitting in a new tea shop in my neighbourhood, Steeped and Infused. Seems like part of the gentrification process. It's a nice place, not the usual here but very welcome. I walked to work this morning and thought of that, not being the usual but welcome.

I think I have a usual life, nice place to live, good job, friends and such. It may seem humdrum but I better this bland existence with spicy and savoury things and adventures. My 9-5 may be scripted and somewhat controlled, if it is, my after-work life is just the opposite. Spicy and caliente! I long for my after-life to be my everyday but until that time, I enjoy them both the same. Sometimes, I wonder if I don't prefer my life a little bland with some seasonings to taste.

I ask you how you like yours. If you don't like how it tastes, then you should shake things up a bit with a little spice or flavour or better yet and still, try a new recipe.

Last weekend, I got up to some spicy things. I went with my best friend to Leslieville, Queen East, and tried the flavour of "The Comrade" before moving on to "Rasputin". "Comrade was a very nice lounge with comfy couches and a flavour of the Asian communist aesthetic, but cool. Rasputin was as it sounds, Russian with a punchy flavour. Certainly, the dry martinis straight up did nothing to dispel that particular taste. But we liked it and continued enjoying that flavour.

The next night we enjoyed the spicy latin flavours of Havana Cultura on Queen West, west Queen West. The taste of that neighbourhood was decidely different and though it was about Havana and I expected more latin flavour in the men there, it was not as my imaginary recipe envision. But good, nonetheless. I did get a flavour for the culture of Cuba, especially at Julie's Cuban where the mariachi man and the wonderful singer serenaded us and allowed us to join in in song while we munched on avocado mango salad and fried plantains. "Mucho a beso". Even if I didn' t understand the whole song, I got that bit. I highly recommend anyone visiting the Tdot dine at Julie's. It is a quaint and remarkable restaurant on Ossington. We finished up Havana Cultura club hopping. I must admit my age showed by the end as my two young male companions watched me sleep in the middle of the club, at least I was in a comfy chair so had some excuse.

This weekend, I'm celebrating my birthday early with friends, checking out Buskerfest at St. Lawrence Market, the LiveGreen Festival at Dundas Yonge Square and anything else that comes my way. I'll let you know how the recipe for this weekend turns out.

We are family - 2 family reunions in as many weeks - August 18, 2010

But you know, I haven't had enough of family. Last Saturday, Mom (aka Ma!) hosted a family gathering at her place. It was so well attended I didn't put enough of the seasoned chicken on the bbq and we ran out. It was so well enjoyed that no one noticed when the rum punch ran out. It was so loving that squeezing on the couch for the portraits of all the first cousins (ladies only) and the second cousins (boys and girls and teens) was considered a fun activity for a few minutes at a time.

I love that Mom has a home to host all her family. Everyone came and we overflowed from her beautiful backyard with the pond and the fishes, to the newly painted front porch with manicured lawn, to the living room with the comfy chairs and the hot kitchen filled with food. I only mention the manicured lawn as it was my hands that cured it. Beyond the catching up with cousins I haven't seen in months or years, eating food prepared by many hands and watching the newest additions to the family run around the yard, I was most enamoured of the preparation. That I could and did help my Mom with some of the preparation was more than I can be thankful for. I don't have a big house with a yard, I have and enjoy my small one-bedroom apartment, so it was my pleasure to cut the grass and then get down on hands and knees to trim the rough edges with a giant pair of lawn scissors. I appreciated working in the warm sunshine mostly because it is not my every day grind but also because I did it in anticipation of the quality family time I would enjoy later.

I took a moment while trimming the grass in my quiet solitude to ponder my reality and that of my family. I am thankful that Ma has a home to share with loved friends and family. I am thankful for my Ma and that I have her. I am thankful that whereever I go, whatever I do and whomever I'll eventually be, she and my family will always be there for me. I am thankful that I in turn will be there for them.

Before then, on the Sunday before last Saturday, Chantelle and I attended my Dad's family reunion in New Jersey overlooking the bay and Lady Liberty. Again, I was re-introduced to many cousins that I hardly remember ever meeting, met new-to-me second cousins and reconnected with cousins I knew. We gathered in the park because Grandma was there visiting from Trinidad. Before Chan and I left, there was a massive group picture. I tried real hard to be seen but I'm so damn short, I'm not sure my head is in the family portrait!! Oh well, at least I know and Chan knows I was there for real. It was a great family picnic and I'm often pleasantly surprised at how much family I have that I don't really know. There's probably a story here about how I should get to know my peeps! Sounds like a segment on Stephen Colbert's show that would probably be aptly named, "Better know a second cousin!" (Fashioned after this election themed segment, Better know a district!)

The family gathering on the Sunday before the Saturday family gathering was also an opportunity to say goodbye to my Dad (aka Pops!) as he's moving back to T&T. At least, he'll be closer to my brother who lives there. I just need to acknowledge that Pops is following his dreams to retire in the sun because the concept will be raised in a later blog.

The rest of the weekend that followed since the whirlwind of family gatherings is a similar blur but I do remember going to party with the ladies and a couple of gents at Home niteclub in the downtown Toronto club district. I recently heard on the radio that the club district has dwindled in the last few years. Used to be 300 clubs in the district, now its under 30. I shrug my shoulders. At least there are still some places for me to party. Sunday morning was hard but I woke up and walked to Harbourfront Centre for the Hot and Spicy festival. Note to self: I don't do spicy; but it was nice to join Joanne (more family) for the walkabout and sampling of spicy foods. It sure was hot cause there were some cute guys there too! (aka Hotties!). Even the flash rainstorm did nothing to cool the heat of that food fest. My tongue still feels like it is partially burned from sampling some of the finest pepper jellies, sauces and spices this side of the Serengeti.

I feel as if I continue living amazing experiences, or said differently, experiencing amazing living and I am blessed. The song that played in the club that Saturday night sums up my feelings for the past two weeks and that's why I feel the need to share.

"I am blessed, I am blessed, everyday of my life I am blessed.
When I wake up in the morning and I lay my head to rest,
Everyday of my life I am blessed." - Mr. Vegas, 2009

So I say to you, you are blessed. Be thankful, be grateful, be everpresent in your life. One day may come when you can really appreciate all that you are and all that you have but if you're not there just yet, simply be gracious for life and the chance to live. Today, be grateful for the friends and family you have around you. I am. Amen.

I finally have a crew! Loving the life lived with friends - Caribana - Aug 7, 2010

Yes, indeed, I finally have a "crew". Let it be said that 'you reap what you sow' or 'you plant a seed of knowldge and watch it blossom into a tree' or 'watch what you say or wish for because you might get it'. Two years ago, I wished for a crew and I said to the crew I hang out with for Brooklyn's Carnival, that I would have a crew and that their crew could hang out with my crew one day.

Then it happened. I got all my girlfriends together to celebrate Toronto's Caribana at "Glow" and before I noticed, there were eight of us women going out together to have a good time. Eight! A real crew! Wow, it was awesome. We had so much fun at the pre-party, the club, there was no need for an after-party! It's not that I don't have friends to hang out with but at a certain age you end up hanging out with one friend at a time, thereby giving each friend 'quality' time. Some of your friends serve different purposes in your life: confidante, helper, foodie, movie-goer, counsellor, listener, talker, etc.

Dis crew was for the party and strictly for enjoying life. We, well, I for sure did, put away the everyday, regular things in life and let loose to have fun. We were not those bankers, communicators, writers, teachers, professionals by day because it was night and we were women, girls, ladies out to have a great time with each other. Fabulous! We had fun at the club, it was great, they played non-stop soca music and we saw Machel Montano (http://www.machelmontanohd.com/) perform live!! We did more, we hung out at the Caribana Parade, I hung out with family, we partied some more. We rested. It was good.

Back in 1997, my crew was three of us, a small, tight crew of a sister and a friend. Back then, we saw Machel as Xstatic! at the Westin Harbourfront Hotel and it was still awesome! A verifiably magnificant experience. Now, the sister has a husband and babies, my friend and I are out of touch, yet things haven't changed for me. They have and they haven't. (Dat's another story!)

One thing I've noticed, even among my new crew, is that life experiences may try to change us, morph us and derail us but at our core we are who we are. If you are a fun-loving, attention-seeking, adventure-thriving kind of person like myslf, no job situation, relationship breakup, loss or grief is going to drown you. You will probably tumble a bit amid the waves of change but you will eventually find your feet and stand firmly in your own understanding of self. So whoever you are contemporary, renaissance man or woman, thrill-seeker, lover of life, a person of calmness and serenity or a person of calamity and chaos, you are who you are. I won't try to change you and I don't think anyone else should. You are who you are and you will be the best you can be when you learn to accept and understand that.

I've realized I am now more me than I have ever been. I could probably be more myself in a future life, but for now, right now, I am exactly myself with all my perfections and imperfections, motivations and aspirations, abmitions and conditions. I'm not even trying, I am just being. I've learned that I am not my situation, as my Dad would say, "it is what it is". Exactly right, "it is what it is", but I am who I am.

On savouring life - one morsel, one sip at a time - July 23, 2010

Honestly, how much time do I think I can cram into a 24-hour day? I've been living life full-speed with the throttle at max for several years now. I'm also a doer, so I've been getting a hell of a lot done with those hours between sleep and wake. But when it is all said and done, how do I measure my life in hours?

I am now thinking about how I'm living when I talk about my life goals and dreams with friends. Just last night, I was talking with my friend Barb over a few glasses of red wine about my insatiable appetite to do 'things'. Things which may be described as career aspirations, travel, lifestyle, tasks, challenges and much, much more. We discussed those insipid lists and those 'to-dos' that make us feel like 'to-don'ts' sometimes.

I've come to realize that life, my life, is not measured by how much I do, but by how I do it, the quality of my things, rather than the quantity. As an example, while Barb took bites of a small cupcake for dessert--those fluffy, white-cake cupcakes with sprinkles and the sweetest, lightest icing ever--I, as a demonstration of my skill, popped the whole thing into my mouth. I could, so I did, but I had to stop myself from swallowing it whole to taste it!

Last weekend, a similar concept but markedly different subject. We move from cupcakes to car-races. With free tickets courtesy of my brother-in-law, Ma and friends and I spent time at the Honda Indy and watched some races; took in Salsa on St. Clair and then drinks at a patio overlooking Dundas Square at night. Wow! All that in one day. That was Saturday. On Sunday, Ma, Adam (@atorboy85 on twitter), I and friends, returned to the Honda Indy, took in Brazilfest at Harbourfront and finished with an Indian meal at the India Festival on Gerrard Street East. Whew!

There were moments when I stopped to think about what I was doing. In between cars racing around the track, I stopped to notice that I was spending time with the people I most loved in the world. Precious. And in between events, and on the streetcar, I took a moment to appreciate the company I was in. When the view caught me breath, I appreciated the beautiful city I live in and how I take in all it has to offer. I was able to say to myself if no one else, "Ah, this is my life and I'm living it." I feel I appreciate life when I enjoy exactly where I am, what I'm doing and who I'm with.

Despite the lists I still make to ensure my time is occupied, I find moments within moments to take a mental and emotional assessment of my life, just to make sure I'm not doing for the sake of doing but I'm enjoying what I'm doing and taking pleasure in the big and the small things.

Live on! and fit as many or as few quality things as you'd like to into your hours.

On why its called an Occassional blog - July 9, 2010

I've been meaning to post this blog, this particular blog for 2 weeks now. It's not that I'm procrastinating, I'm actually getting a lot done. It's that this is the nature of my life right now and the nature of this blog.

I like blogging and mass emailing you, my people, and sending mass texts and tweeting. I like filling you in on what's going on in my life, but most of the time, I'm busy living this life and sometimes I don't find time to write/blog/post/text/tweet about it! Let that be a lesson to you. Go out and start living!

I'm sure you miss my blogs but that alone is not reason enough for me to stop living. I pause for a moment and tweet cause its easy. I'll eventually figure out blogging on mobile. So until then, I'm learning to write short and sweet and keep it free and easy. Who knows when next you'll hear from me, so I blog as it comes naturally. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. You can expect I'll blog occassionally.

What's next? My quartet, Sweet Rhapsody (www.myspace.com/sweetrhapsody) is performing the US and Canadian national anthems at the Roger's Centre before the Blue Jays vs Red Sox game at 1pm, July 10, 2010. I'm so excited I had to tell you about it in a short blog. Next time I'll fill you in on all the exciting happenings in my life.

This week was recording studio and laying down some tracks.
Week before was Canada Day, Toronto Jazz Festival and Pride Toronto.
Week before that was Barbados trip and recovering from an amazing vacation.
There's more but I'll post about it.