Saturday, December 31, 2022

What an end to 2022...names of most notable deaths:
Queen Elizabeth II; Kirstie Alley (Dec);James Caan (July);Coolio (Sep);Irene Cara (flashdance Nov);Emilio Delgado (sesame street Mar);Gilbert Gottfried (Apr); Taylor Hawkins (Foo fighters Mar); Anne Heche (Aug); Leslie Jordan (Oct); Naomi Judd (Apr); Angela Lansbury (Oct); Ray Liotta (May); Meat Loaf (Jan); Olivia Newton-John (Aug); Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek July); Bob McGrath (sesame street Dec); Pele (soccer Dec); Sidney Poitier (Jan); Ivan Reitman (ghostbusters Feb); Andre Leon Talley; Bob Saget (Full House Jan); Paul Sorvino (July Mira Sorvino GoodFellas); Stephen tWitch Boss (Ellen;So You Think You Can Dance Dec); Barbara Walters (the view Dec); Vivienne Westwood (fashion designers Dec); Pope Benedict XVI (abdicated in 2013 @Pontifex 'Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives' final tweet Feb 28, 2013);

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Farewell tWitch (& Boss Family Workouts)

The hardest part are the questions of 'what if' and if anything could have been done after the fact.
It's the EXACT same feeling after Robin Williams nearly eight years ago.
Thing is, Robin knew he had a debilitating disease and only had so much time left,
TWitch's thoughts to his actions will always be only with him...

I was heartbroken to learn about the passing of Stephen "tWitch" Boss,
who I got to know over the years through my Let's Move! initiative and visits to
The Ellen Show. Stephen was an incredible force - someone who radiated kindness
and positivity, and made sure that people around him could feel it, too.
We felt his spirit in every dance,
every DJ set, every piece of creativity that he brought to life. My heart goes out to his wife, Allison, and their three children, Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.

And if any of you out there are struggling and need someone to talk to, please know that you are never alone.
There is always someone ready to help.
You can call or text the suicide and crisis hotline by dialing 989. - Michelle Obama

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Hosted by LL Cool J at the White House with performances by Shania Twain, Andy Grammer, the Estafans, Joss Stone, Ariana DeBose & Yolanda Adams.

Sunday, November 27, 2022

From Thursday's Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade

The rest of this weekend was spent out of town.
After rents picked me up after work, we spent the weekend out of town in Niagara Falls. Went over to Buffalo to shop at the Walden Galleria mall since the pandemic began back in 2020. The trip went surprisingly well with no issues at the border (yay!).
I was pleased to now have a new sleeping eye mask and a pair of mittens (in the new style where the top of the mitten can be pulled back for the fingers).

Finished the weekend with watching The Wonderful World of Disney: A Magical Holiday Celebration hosted by Derek & Julianne Hough with performances that included:
* Maren Morris - Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
* Becky G - Frosty the Snow Man)
* Jordin Sparks - Joy to the World
* Elton John appearance
* Neyo -The Christmas Song
* Black Eyed Peas appearance & performance
* Jake Gyllenhaal & Gabrielle Union appearance from Disney's Strange World
* Appearance by Britt Robertson & Kevin Zegers from The Rookie Feds, Cierra Ramirez from Good Trouble and Israel Johnson from Bunk'd.
* Meghan Trainor - I Made You Look)
* Appearance by Darryl McDaniels & Joseph Simmons - Run DMC (The Hip Hop Nutcracker)
* Appearances by Maryn Morris, Madeleine McGraw from Secrets of Sulphur Springs, Elizabeth Allen-Dick & Tim Allen from The Santa Clauses & the Backstreet Boys from A Very Backstreet Holiday
* Chloe Flower Popsicle - Silver Bells piano solo
* Appearances of Rece Davis, Joey Galloway and David Pollack ESPN
* Appearances of Letitia Wright & Danai Gurira from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, * David Foster & Kat McPhee - Jingle Bell Rock
* Appearances from Yara Shahidi Grown-ish, Cast of The Rookie, Frankie Quinones from This Fool
* Chloe Flower, Becky G & Neyo - What Christmas Means to Me
* Appearances from Il Volo, Miranda May from Bunk'd, the cast of Station 19, Jimmy Chin & Alex Honnold from Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Bliss & Bailey Bass from Avatar: The Way of Water
* Il Volo - O Come All Ye Faithful
* Appearances from Trevor Tordjman from Bunk'd, the Cast of Willow, The Case of Raven's Home
* Black-Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling and Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis

#DisneyHolidayCelebration

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Romy & Michelle turn 40 90's Dance Part-ay!!!



Getting ready to party selfie shots with Fayewood and a shot of the buffet spread!!!

Some candid photos of the decor,
game time and group shots!


Showcasing the incredible cupcake designs of Romz's life that included many highschool outtakes!


Last (but not least!) some group shots with Roland (a friend of both Romz and Fayewood!)

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Hump day pick me up

Met up with Mich to try out Bloom, a desserts reso at 5317 Yonge St this past Sunday!
We each had our own ice cream and drink as well as splitting a strawberry cream puff
(sooooo delish!!!)

Taping tonight's 'Masked Singer' so I can watch the 56th Annual CMA Awards
hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning!

Tuesday, November 01, 2022

Let’s get this party started!!!

3 days early...but this is what I call 'being ON the ball'!
Much best wishes to a bestie!!!
#moxies #yorkdale

Monday, October 24, 2022

RIP Leslie Jordan

May 9, 2023 - Mayim's instagram post biding farewell to 'Call Me Kat'

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

RTT

In this week's Red Table Talk (normally hosted by Jada, Willow & Gammy but as Willow was away touring, Kelly Osbourne sat in her place) episode on fb where they spoke with Hayden Panettiere, I learned several things:

- Kelly Osbourne is sooooooo preggers!!! I'm both surprised and excited for her new edition!!
- another example of just because you're famous doesn't necessarily mean a jackpot/fairytale of some sorts as there's always so much more to anyone's stories (other than your own)
- Hayden explained that in her recovery meetings she learned another meaning of when saying

'I'm fine'...FINE = F***-ed Up Insecure Neurotic Emotional

I appreciate how the ladies are willing to show all of their sides/flaws....that they ARE human... #word

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Monday, September 19, 2022

Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union

From back in 2021
A three part documentary a)
b) looking back at his formative years navigating his biracial identity in his hometwon of Chicago, his upbringing w/ his single parent mother & his education & organizing work within his community
c) on the challenges, triumphs & defeats Obama experienced while in the White House for two terms. Includes appearances by the likes of former United States representative John Lewis, Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr, President, National Action Network Al Sharpton, Ta-Nehisi Coates Author & Journalist, Professor and Activist Cornel West, Author and Professor Michael Eric Dyson,
'To me, the most important thing is that Barack Obama won. And Barack Obama won twice. Now, he might argue differently, he's a policy guy & he might argue how he might care. He might argue saving the banking industry, saving the auto industry and ending the wars in the middle east. But to me the biggest accomplishment was that he won. Because it means something about this country and our country's capacity to pursue becoming a more perfect union.'
- Author and Journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates

Thursday, September 08, 2022

Rest In Peace Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2002)

The end of a 70 year era of the Elizabethan monarchy.
Queen Elizabeth II had reigned longer than any other British monarch, including her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
James Corden paid a three minute tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after the monarch’s death aged 96.

Good evening.
We, of course heard the news today that Queen Elizabeth had passed away aged 96.
I, like the rest of the world, so sad tonight.
But also, so thankful and grateful to the queen for the most incredible service
and leadership that she has shown during all of our lifetimes.
All day, you would have been hearing statistics about her reign as
the longest ruling monarch in British history.
She served on the throne for seventy years.
She is the only queen most of us have ever known.
She had seen fourteen U.S. presidents during her reign and on Tuesday,
just on Tuesday welcomed her fifteenth prime minister.
We viewed her as immortal, an essential part of the fabric of our world.
There is of course an outpouring of grief and love across the globe.

SHE WAS UNIVERSALLY ADORED.

She represented good in this world,
living a life of honour,
a life dedicated to service,
dedicated to bettering the lives of others.
And it’s always felt as if she was there for all of us.

For seventy years she never wavered.
She was never political.
She didn’t need us to hear our opinions.
She never gave an interview.
She never posted on social media.

It was never for her about her own PR,
and maybe that’s why she was as beloved and
as respected by a president as she was by the guy who lives down the street,
and she would treat both of them equally too.
It didn’t matter who you were, she was there for you.

And today, we live in a world of uncertainty.
There are wars and divisions.
Fights all over the globe.
People are dealing with changes in the climate.
Changes in governments, pandemics.
There is squabbling, unrest. Bitterness wherever you look.

There’s so much instability but
the Queen was always the Queen
and a guiding light.

She was always gracious,
always dignified,
always a shining example of leadership.

She represented stability in a world
where so often it feels like the floor is shaking.

Queen Elizabeth was unique.
A life’s work never to be repeated.

Every person at home in the United Kingdom
and many across the globe will remember today.
They’ll remember where they were when they heard the news.
News that will change our country forever.

We will always celebrate her life.
Remember what she stood for.
And we will always be thankful for her sacrifice.
We’ll be right back.

Monday, August 08, 2022

Best of Luck!

It was quite an emotional team huddle today where both our SME (subject matters expert) & manager were quite overwhelmed with the end of our colleague (& friend), Sharon's two year term with the 'Pay/No Pay' Team.
Even though she was a replacement filler for our girl, Samira (who came back and on the left), she became quite invaluable to our team whenever anyone had questions or concerns!
Even though Sushma (holding the cup) left for a position with another team, she came back to visit and see Sharon off.
The second photo is my gelato treat that Sharon had graciously provided for our team!
After leaving such a heartfelt and touching note to the team,
we can only with her the best for the future!
The photo collaboration was when the four of us (Sharon, Samira, Sushma and I) had gone to Auberge du Pommier for Summerlicious 2022 lunch!

Saturday, July 09, 2022

'Fighting for the future'

In the Defy Gravity July 2022 News at U of T Alumni and Friends email that was received this morning, I watched an approximate hour long video link exchange where President Zelenskyy spoke with Canadian university students at a U of T event with 11 other Canadian universities (University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Dalhousie University, University of Nova Scotia, University of Montreal, University of Prince Edward Island, Queens University, University of Saskatchewan, University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier and Western University) that took place back on June 22. 2022.

It was hosted and organized by U of T's President Meric Gertier and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy who were deeply honoured that Zelenskyy took the time to speak with the students at U of T and at universities across our country.

Universities across our country have responded to your call of action. Many of them, including the University of Toronto, are welcoming students and faculty from Ukraine - and because we are inclinded to build bridges rather than walls, we have also forged strong partnerships with leading universities in Ukraine.' - President Gertier

Peter Loewen, director of U of T's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy also spoke before Chrystia Freeland, Canada's deputy prime minister and finance minister introduced President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Today we are fighting for the future of our children and grandchildren
- for the possibility of building the new country.'
'We shall prevail against all the odds for the free and democratic future.
By standing up for our country and ensuring strong security aspects, we lay the foundation of the country that will become different after the full-fledged agression.'

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Time 100: The World’s Most Influential People


Hosted by Simu Liu
Ariana Debose LGBTQR+; Miranda Lambert - Actin' Up, Palomino
Zendaya - Actor TIME100 INNOVATOR
Karuna Nundy - International Lawyer TIME 100 LEADER
Taika Waititi - TIME 100 INNOVATOR
& Molly Ball - National Political Correspondent, TIME
Dwayne Wade introduced Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson - Musician & Director TIME 100 PIONEEER
Simu Liu - Actor TIME 100 ARTIST gave Bill Gates bbtea (networking at TIME100!)
Quinta Brunson shout-outs to Teachers
Edward Felsenthal - Editor-in-chief & CEO, TIME introduced President Volodymyr Zelensky via video clip
Mary J. Blige - Recording Artist TIME100 ICON - Good Morning Gorgeous, Good Morning Gorgeous & Family Affair, No More Drama