Sunday, June 13, 2021

Tdot step 1 patio reopening weekend!

This evening we dined at East Side Marios just after missing a tiny raincloud!


Jumbo Shrimp Alfredo


An Ultimate Canadian Calzone &
a Mario's Spaghettini and Meatballs


A slice of an Ultimate Canadian Calzone

Afterwards, enjoyed a dessert of a phone catchup with bestie, S over the grey's season finale!

The only minor discomfort over our chat was the fact that I was dropped off at reception during our conversation so that I wouldn't lose reception in the underground parking lot. BECAUSE I was sitting outside, I
became the unfortunate real estate to the mozzies outside...sustaining two bites! :/ Luckily, they didn't hit the moneymaker (face ;))!

Tuesday, June 08, 2021

June 5-6 wknd-ish bingefest

Disclaimer: The world hears of this news (details that I learned from Ellen's post) AFTER the fact a little bit later, which is probably the best gift to the Duke and Duchess!

The Junos 50th Anniversary aired Sunday evening with the following lineup:

* Buffy St. Marie
* Justin Bieber - 'Somebody'
* Angeline Tettah-Wayoe - Host of the Block on CBC Music
* R&B Soul singers Liberty Silver (best R&B Soul Recording of the Year) and Jully Black (Solo black female vocalist in Juno's Single of the Year) presents Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year - SOLID, Savannah Re
* JP Saxe ft. Julia Michaels - 'Like That' 'If the World Was Ending'
* Shania Twain presents Artist of The Year - The Weeknd
* Alan Doyle
From Rebel Nightclub in Toronto * Michie Mee and Kardinal Offishall
* DJ starting from Scratch - DJ FreshWest ft Jully Black
* Nav - 'Turks'
* Haviah Mighty
Juno Fan Choice
Susan Aglukark presents MusiCounts Teacher of the year award presented by the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation to Dr. Mary Piercey-Lewis. This year, Mary will receive $15,000 from MusiCounts in support of music education at her school

* Honourable Steven Guilbeault - Minister of Canadian Heritage presents Kaytranada (2017) for Juno Breakthrough Artist of the Year to JP Saxe
* Win Butler - Arcade Fire
* Jim Cuddy and Ed Robertson present Anne Murray who inducts Jann Arden
- who has won 8 Juno Awards and is a recipient of the The Order of Canada - Michael Buble

* Paul Brandt presents Jann to sing 'Good Mother'
* Max Kerman and Andrew Phung presents Pop Album of the Year Award - Justin Bieber
* Ali Gatie & Tate McRae - 'What if I told you that I Loved You' 'Lie to Me'
* Robbie Robertson - 1989 Juno Winner
* Rap Recording of the Year - Elements Vol. 1, TOBi
* Dance Recording of the Year - Bubba, Kaytranada
* Vocal Jazz Album of the Year - With You, Sammy Jackson
* Jazz Album of the Year: SOLO - Elegant Traveler, Joceyln Gould
* Jazz Album of the Year: GROUP - The Remission, Andy Milne and Unison
* Instrumental Album of the Year - Movements III, Blitz//Berlin
* Album Francophone De L'Annee - Quand La Nuit Tombe, Louis-Jean Cormier
* Children's Album of the Year - Heart Parade, Splash'n Boots
* Reggae Recording of the Year - I pray, Tome X Sean Kingston
* Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year - North Star Calling, Leela Gilday
* Country Album of the Year - The Lemonade Stand, Tenille Townes
Michael Buble from Vancouver - Commodore Ballroom 1930 presents Album of the Year, After Hours to The Weeknd
Buffy St. Marie helps honor Juno's 50th year presenting William Prince ft Serena Ryder - 'The Spark'
Celine Dion honors Juno's 50th

* Adult Contemporary Album of the Year - Such Pretty Forks in the Road, Alanis Morissette
* Music Video of the Year - No One's In The Room, Emma Higgins & Jessie Reyez
* Electronic Album of the Year - Suddenly, Caribou
* Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year - Abyss, Unleash The Archers
* Jack Richardson Producer of The Year - Wondagurl
* Recording Engineer of The Year - Serban Ghenea
* Comedy Album of The Year - Horse Power, Jacob Samuel
* Contemporary R&B Recording of The Year - After Hours, The Weeknd
* Songwriter of The Year - The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), Belly (Ahmad Balshe), Jason 'Daheala' Queeneville
Sarah McLachlan presents Jessie Reyez - 'Do You Love Her' ' Before Love Came to Kill Us'
Will Arnett & Basement Gang presents Juno Fan Choice to Shawn Mendes
Alex Lifeson & Geddy Lee presents the Humanitarian Award to The Tragically Hip - Gord Sinclair, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois and Patrick Downie (with popups from Feist, Samanth Nutt - War child Canada Founder, Mark Mattson - Swim Drink Fish Co-Founder, Bryan Paterson - Mayor of Kingston, Perry Bellegarde - National Chief, Assembly of First Nations and Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada)

The next 100 years are going to be painful as we come to know Chanie Wenjack and thousands like him - but only when we do can we truly call ourselves 'Canada'. - Gord Downie www.215pledge.ca

Gordon Lightfoot presents 'The Tragically Hip' ft. Feist

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration - Nov 27, 2020

Hosted by Derek & Julianne Hough/Trevor Jackson #DisneyHolidayCelebration
* Ciara - ‘Here Comes Santa’ - Magic Kingdom Park 2017
* Tinkerbell lighting up Cinderella Castle @ Walt Disney World, Florida
* Dancing w/ the Stars: CarrieAnnInaba/TyraBanks/BrunoTonioli drop in
* BeckyG - ‘Santa Baby’ - Magic Kingdom Park 2018
* Ciara drop in ‘I Got You’
* Supermarket Sweep: Leslie Jones drop in
* Soul: Jamie Foxx drop in
* Jason Derulo - ‘Silent Night’ - Magic Kingdom Park 2017
* Lighting up Hong Kong Disneyland 2017
* Good Morning America: Michael Strahan/George Stephanopoulos/Robin Roberts drop in
* Brett Eldridge & Meghan Trainor ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ - Magic Kingdom Park 2018
* Shaggy ‘Drummer Boy’ - Magic Kingdom Park 2019
* ESPN: Stephan A. Smith/Hannah Storm drop in
* One Republic ‘What A Wonderful World’ - Disney Hollywood Studios 2016
* What We Do In The Shadows: Harvey Guillen/ FXX - It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Danny Devito
* Aloe Black ‘I Got Your Christmas’ - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park 2017
* Lighting up Disneyland Paris 2017
* Freeform Grown-ish: Francia Raisa & Mixed-ish: Mark-Paul Gosselaar drop in
* Boyz 2 Men & JoJo ‘Let It Snow’ - Magic Kingdom Park 2016
* Neil Patrick Harris drop in
* 2019 American Idol winner: Laine Hardy drop in
* Kelly Clarkson ‘Underneath the Tree’ - Epcot 2016
* Lighting up Shanghai Enchanted Storybook Castle Disneyland 2017
* Perform - The Bold Type: Melora Hardin & Motherland: Fort Salem - Demetria McKinney drop in
* Andrea Bocelli ‘White Christmas’ - Magic Kingdom Park 2018
* Disney + Godmothered: Jillian Bell + Isla Fisher drop in
* Pentatonix ‘Deck The Halls’ - Disney’s Hollywood Studios 2019
* Lighting up California Sleeping Beauty Castle Disneyland Resort 2017
* Kristen Bell & Idina Menzel ‘When We’re Together’ - Disneyland Resort 2017

Caught the Barack Obama on Fatherhood, Leadership and Legacy: AC360 Special that aired last night featuring a conversation between former President Barack Obama and Andersonn Cooper who were speaking with a lucky panel of listeners.

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Friends: The Reunion

The Friends reunion aired last Thursday on HBO. Even though I've seen episodes and know the basic characters and their plotlines, I never followed this show like how I follow shows like Grey's, One Tree Hill, The O.C., and Gilmore Girls (most likely due to the generation gap as I think I was too young at the time...).

Due to my busy life (whoever believed that this pandemic would have slowed my life down....ALL A BLATANT LIE!), I taped the show and it was on my binge-watch recordings list this weekend!



Reminisent shots of the 'Central Perk' sign, Stage 24 and a 'Friend' coffee sign!


A group shot of the Friends cast with James Corden looking over at the surprise guest drop-in actors who played Rachel's parents!


Lisa Kudrow, 'Pheobe' playing
Smelly Cats with Lady Gaga!

Saturday, May 29, 2021

HBD bestie!!!

Back from Thursday and due to the world STILL on lockdown-ish,
these are photo memories from over a year ago! 😱

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Long weekend treats!

The Kindness of Strangers, 2019

with Jay Baruchel and Zoe Kazan in this movie.


The Day Sports Stood Still

reminising through documentation of the sports shutdown on March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.


American Idol, 2021

Congratulations to Chayce Beckham, the winner!
Luke Bryan was his coach, beating out Katy Perry and Blake Shelton's picks. ;)

Monday, May 17, 2021

Movie binge-watch weekend!!!


The Descendants, 2011

with George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Matthew Lillard as well as a variety of other recognizable stars in this movie.

The Woman Who
Loves Giraffes, 2018

A documentary about Dr. Anne Innis Dagg retracing her 1956 journey to South Africa to study giraffes in the wild.


La La Land, 2016

with the eye-catching
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.


It was a treat to realize John Legend was a big character in the movie as well, yaaaassss!

Wednesday, May 12, 2021


Signs of spring just outside

of work this morning!

Sunday, May 09, 2021

2021 Mother’s Day weekend

Celebrated Mother's Day the night before over at Ames' with takeout from
Hamaru Japanese Restaurant.

All salmon sushi & sashimi boat
and a medium rare beef teriyaki


Included a friendly feline
spectator companionship :)

Global Citizen Concert - VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World
Hosted by Selena Gomez feat. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, J.Lo - Sweet Caroline, Prince Harry - The Duke of Sussex Vax Live Campaign Chair, Amitabh Bachchan - India, H.E.R. Always Need A Little More Glory, Olivia Munn, Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Vedder - I Am a Patriot, Pope Francis, J Balvin - Otra noche sin ti, Gavin Newsom (Governor of California), Ben Affleck + Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Dr. Tamaryn Green, David Letterman, Foo Fighters and Brian Johnson AC/DC, Ursula von der Leyen - President of the European Commission, Pedro Sanchez - Prime Minister of Spain, Emmanuel Macron - President of France, Jacinda Ardern - Prime Minister of New Zealand, Justin Trudea - Prime Minister of Canada, Kamala Harris - Vice President of the United States of America, Gail King - NYC, Megan Markle - The Duchess of Sussex Vax Live Campaign Chair, Chrissy Teigan and Jennifer Lopez closer - Ain't your Mama #VAXLIVE #VAXBECAUSE
Spy 2015 - Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney, Jude Law

May 1, 2021 weekend:
* Willow Smith talks about polyamory on an episode of RTT (red table talk) - April 28, 2021 * The Oprah Conversation with Elliot Page and his disclosure of being transgender to the world: life struggles and msg for trans youth.
* I Am Legend 2007 - Will Smith
* Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper 2016 - (journalist examining the life and legacy of his fashion icon mother)
* John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls - 6 term senior Arizona senator providing unprecedented access to his daily life in Washington D.C. & Sedona, Arizona while reflecting on his years of service to the country and battling advancing health issues.
The Normal Heart 2014 - Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Julia Roberts, Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello

Pals riding in cars together!
This is a great story written about a man and his sheepadoodle,
who happens to be the son of one of my father's bridge pals.

Tuesday, May 04, 2021

Today as I'm strolling in the mall area to where I work, one of the personnel struck up a conversation with me...turns out she works for an office that specializes in root canals! Can you imagine? As we were finishing up our pleasantries, we exchanged names and here's what had me balled up in laughter...

Her name is 'Joy'!!!!!

I mean, don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful name but it was hilarious to me because of her profession...where people go when they're in a certain amount of pain...and the receptionist's name is 'joy'! The amount of pleasure I've gotten out of this oxymoron!

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

I took a leap of faith and decided to change up my normal black slacks by wearing my grey dress pants with blue stripes today.

Now I don't want to say it was the change of leg gear but I bumped into a co-worker (who works in a different area of our department on our really spaced out floor) while I was finishing my mid-day stroll around the mall. Due to the pandemic, safety is paramount even in such a striped down office setting. Masks are on at all times and social distancing is stringent so that being gregarious and communal at the office is an achievement.

Therefore, I must give myself an 'A' in how I managed to exchange contact information with said coworker and be able to maintain a friendship EVEN at a distance! *woot! woot!*

minor detail: Even though I LOVED the change in outfit wear,
normal black slacks is still the way to go...

Sunday, April 25, 2021

‘A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ - Christopher Reeve

In rememberance of Carmi: RIP

Pulled a 10 hr workshift most of this week but was surprised to receive a call from bestie, S at 4:30pm on Wednesday. Considering most of my team works from home or had called it a day already, I had no reservations in receiving the call. S was so grateful that I had picked up...she was actually mainly surprised that I had answered the call like I had a premonition (I hadn't but let's call it a bestie sense tingling...) due to reading the unfortunate news about her first love by chance...

We've since caught up a bit more today as she was on her way home. Unfortunately, details are still sparse but at least I'm glad that I've been able to give some advice that hadn't occurred to her. This is all still a relatively new processing to an event that's already happened since the beginning of this year so we've agreed that at this point, it's all after the fact condolences.

Still, when she does reach out at least she'll have some potential reaction scenarios planned so that there will be few surprises...regardless to the saddest news already...

Sunday, April 18, 2021

56th Academy of Country Music Awards #ACMawards

Hosted by Ketih Urban and Mickey Guyton honoring country music achievements in Nashville!

Lineup:
Miranda Lambert and Elle King - Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)
Chris Young and Kane Brown - Famous Friends
Blanco Brown presenting Group of the Year to Old Dominion
Thomas Rhett - Country Again & What's Your Country Song
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton - Maggie's Song
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd - Chasing After You
Lady A - Like A Lady
Gabby Barrett - The Good Ones from the Blue Bird Cafe in Orangeville
Darius Rucker presenting Song of The Year to The Bones - Maren Moris at the Grand Ol Opry
Dierks Bentley - Pride (In the Name of Love)in Nashville
Carrie Underwood - Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and duet with Cece Winans - Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Eric Church - at the rhinemann auditorium
Dan + Shay - I'm Glad You Exist from the Blue Bird Cafe
Entertainer of the Year nominee Luke Combs - They Say Nothing Lasts Foreverfrom the Grand Ol Opry
Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall - In His Arms
Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley - Freedom Was A Highway from the Bluebird Cafe
Martina McBride presents Single of The Year to I Hope You're Happy by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice from the Grand Ol Opry
Kenny Chesney - Freedom Was A Highway - In Memorium: Mac Davis - Songwriter/Artist; JT Corenflos - Session Musician/Guitarist; Jerry Jeff Walker - Songwriter/Artist; Billy Joe Shaver - Songwriter/Artist; KT Oslin - Songwriter/Artist; Ed Bruce - Songwriter; Jim Weatherly - Songwriter; Hal Ketchum - Artist; Jamie O'Hara - Artist/Songwriter; Tony Rice - Bluegrass Musician; Doug Supernaw - Artist; Larry Willoughby - Record Label Executive; Bob Mckay - Hall of Fame DJ; Troy Jones - Songwriter; Ray Pennington - Songwriter; Bill Mceuen - Producer; W.S. 'Fluke' Holland - Drummer; Jason 'Rowdy' Cope - Guitarist; JT Gray - Owner - Station Inn; Bill Owens - Songwriter; Walter Miller - TV Producer/Director; Connie Bradley - ASCAP Executive; Charley Pride - Artist/Country Music Hall of Fame Member
Ashley McBryde - Martha Divine
Alan Johnson - In My Life and Always Be My Baby Rhyman Auditorium
Blake Shelton - Austin and Minimum Wage
Dolly Parton presents Leslie Jordan for Duo of the Year to Dan + Shay
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice - I Hope You're Happy Now
Mickey Guyton - Hold On
Ingrid Andress presents Male Artist of the Year to Thomas Rhett
Keith Urban - Tumbleweed
Brothers Osborne - Rumfrom the Rhimann Auditorium
Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney - Half of My Hometown at the Grand Ol Opry
Kelsea Ballerini introduces Clay Walker to present Album of the Year to Chris Stapleton - Starting Over
Amy Grant presents Female Artist of the Year award to Maren Morris
Little Big Town - Wine, Beer, Whiskey from Nashville
Entertainer of the Year - Luke Bryan
Brothers Osborne from the Rhimann - Dead Man's Curve

‘Pain is inevitable. It’s what you do with it that matters’

- Eva Woolf 'The Broken Hearts Gallery'

Came across this movie starring Geraldine Viswanathan, Dacre Montgomery and featuring Utkarsh Ambudkar, Molly Gordon, Phillipa Soo, Bernadette Peters, Suki Waterhouse accidentally and have totally fallen for this movie!

The aussie playing 'Nick' is so yummy looking!!! ALSO, LOVE the cameo! ;)

Sunday, April 11, 2021

I Am Paul Walker
Maps to the Stars, 2014 with Julianne Moore, John Cusack and Robert Pattison
I Am Patrick Swayze
The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte - A look at the historic week in 1968, where entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte took over 'The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Introducing the changing country to legendary guests like Arethat Franklin and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well as the unfortunate assassination of both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy.
Aisha Brown: The First Black Woman Ever (fun note: she's a Canadian comedian from Toronto)
Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger - performance at South Africa's Carnival City Casion, the Apollo Theatre in New York and the Carling Apollo Ammersmith in London

Had a wonderful surprise phone chat of nearly an hour with bestie, Shelley, earlier this evening after some back and forth messenging earlier in the day. I use the verb, surprise because we'd last messaged a week ago and due to this world crisis, actually met up in person over a year ago (back in 2019, we think...). I'd actually been reminiscing a bit of the past (as we'd met each other back in our undergrad usmc years in bioanthro) while multi-tasking my television binge (see list from above). It was a really nice mind-foreshadowing bit...
Considering we're both up to our ears in our busy lives, I love that we can still pick up where we've left off like the next page in our story (something I noted with regret that I haven't had the time to write her any of my insane email novels that I used to send when I was able to find time to waste...luckily or unluckily(?) my current employment enables me to utilize all my free time) and it's with great hopefulness that we can meet in person sometime this year. *Fingers-crossed*

Saturday, April 10, 2021

RIP Prince Phillip April 9, 2021

'To have fallen in love completely and unreservedly,
makes all one's personal and even the world's troubles seem small and petty'
- Queen Elizabeth II

'Prince Philip's connection Toronto was a deep and heart-felt one. He visited our city 20 times, beginning in 1951 when he accompanied then Princess Elizabeth on a tour she made in place of ailing father, King George.' - Mayor John Tory

'Prince Philip owned the affection of generations, here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth and around the world. We are a kingdom united both in grief and gratitude; grief at Prince Philip's passing, and gratitude for his decades of selfless service to the country.'
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

'Today, we mourn the loss of an extraordinary man, who devoted his life to public service and helping others.' - London Mayor Sadiq Khan


The Queen and Prince Philip

Monday, April 05, 2021

Weekend Bingefest

Nov 8, 2020 'The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 202 Inductions'
Inductees included Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., T-Rex and Whitney Houston.
Watching it was very bittersweet because of all the past flashbacks to the inductee's performances.

Selena 1997 about the Mexican-American singer's international career that's been cut short with J.Lo.

Jackie 2016 film with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Crudup, the assassination of JFK through the eyes of Jackie Kennedy.

I am Jackie O

2020 MTV EMA - Nov 11 hosted by Little Mix #MTVEMA
Sam Smith, Maluma, Doja Cat, Zara Larsson, YUNGBLUD etc
Performances by:
- Doja Cat
- Jack Harlow
- Sam Smith
- David Guetta and Raye - Let's Love
- DJ Khaled presents Maluma's performance
- Dababy
- Little Mix
- Alicia Keys: Love Looks Better
- Taylor
- Yungblud
- Zara Lawson

Best Song Award: Dynamite - BTS
Best Group Award: BTS
Best Rock: Coldplay
Best Push: Yungblud
Winnie Harlow presents Best Latin Award: Karol G
Rita Ora presents Best Electronic: David Guetta
Bebe Rexa presents Best Artist: Lady Gaga - Rain On Me
Big Sean presents Best hip-Hop: Cardi B
Best Alternative: Hayley Williams (paramore)
Best Collaboration: Karol G ft Nicki Minaj - Tusa
Best Virtual Live: BTS
Lewis Hamilton presents Video for Good - H.E.R. - I Can't Breathe
Best Pop: Little Mix
Best Video: DJ Khaled ft. Drake - Popstar starring Justin Bieber

Appearance by Barbara Palvin & David Guetta

MTV EMA REMEMBERS:
Adam Schlesinger: 1967-2020
Andre Harrell: 1960-2020
Bushwick Bill: 1966-2019
Chadwick Boseman: 1976-2020
Chynna Rogers: 1994-2020
Eddie Money: 1949-2019
Florian Schneider, Kraftwerk: 1948-2020
Huey: 1987-2020
Juice Wrld: 1998-2019
Naya Rivera: 1987-2020
Neil Pert, Rush: 1952-2020
Pop Smoke: 1999-2020
Ric Ocasek, The Cars: 1944-2019
Eddie Van Halen

American Idol:
Cassandra Coleman and Ryan Tedder - It's Too Late to 'Apologize'
Alyssa Wray - Something In The Water; Carrie Underwoodvand Katherine McPhee - 'I'm Your Baby Tonight' - Whitney Houston
Deshawn Goncalves - 'Forever Young' - Bob Dylan; with Ryan Tedder - 'I Lived' - One Republic
Graham Defranco - 'Love Like This' - Ben Rector
Willie Spence and Katherine McPhee - 'The Prayer' - Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli

27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Mark Ruffalo - I know This Much Is True
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Anya Taylor-Joy - The Queen's Gambit
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jason Sudeikis - Ted Lasso
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Catherine O'Hara - Schitt's Creek
Outstanding Performance by a Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Schitt's Creek
Gabrielle Carteris - SAG-AFTRA President
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Daniel Kaluuya - Judas and the Black Messiah
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Yuh-Jung Youn - Minari

In Memoriam:
Cloris Leachman, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Carl Reiner, Dawn Wells, Ja'net Dubois, Shirley Knight, Max Von Sydow, Joyce Gordon, Ian Holm, Conchata Ferrell, Irrfan Khan, Naya Rivera, Hal Holbrook, Yaphet Kotto, John Karlen, Henry Darrow, Warren Berlinger, Fred Willard, Jerry Stiller, Natalie Desselle Reid, Kelly Preston, Lyle Waggoner, Zoe Caldwell, Kellye Nakahara, Ann Reinking, Richard Herd, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Jr., John Saxon, Diana Rigg, Ben Cross, Olivia De Havilland, Brian Dennehy, Sean Connery, George Segal, Robert Conrad, Honor Blackman, Gregory Sierra, Tanya Roberts, David L. Lander, Christopher Plummer, Mark Blum, Deezer D, Mac Davis, Bruce Kirby, Lynn Cohen, Orson Bean, Kevin Dobson, Dustin Diamond, Jessica Walter, Nick Cordero, Peter Mark Richman, Wilford Brimley, Cicely Tyson, Kirk Douglas and Chadwick Boseman

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Gillian Anderson - The Crown
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Jason Bateman - Ozark
Outstanding Performance by a Ensemble in a Drama Series: Olivia Coleman accepted on behalf - The Crown
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Viola Davis - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Simone Ledward Boseman on behalf of Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7

Sunday, March 28, 2021

52nd Annual NAACP Image Awards took place last night
#NAACPImageAwards

Hosted by 7 time NAACP winner, Anthony Anderson
Misty Copeland presented Outstanding Actor Drama Series to Rege-Jean Page - Bridgerton (1st nomination & 1st win)
Entertainer of the Year nominees - D-Nice/Regina King/Trevor Noah/Tyler Perry/Viola Davis
Andra Day and Cynthia Erivo presented Outstand Actress Drama Series to Viola Davis (19th nomination & 5th win) - How To Get Away With Murder
Outstanding Motion Picture nominees - Bad Boys for Life/Da 5 Bloods/Jingle Jangle A Christmas Journey/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom/One Night in Miami
KJ Smith and Novi Brown presented a performance by Jazmine Sullivan
President and CEO Derrick Johnson presented the President's Award to LeBron James
Tracy Morgan presented Outstanding Actress Comedy Series to Issa Rae - Insecure (12th nomination & first win)
Outstanding Motion Picture nominees Da 5 Bloods/Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Lin-Manuel Miranda presented Outstanding Actress Motion Picture to Viola Davis - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Michelle Obama presented Social Justice Impact Award to Stacey Abrams Regina King presented Outstanding Actor Motion Picture to Chadwick Boseman (Simone Ledward Boseman)- Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Anthony Anderson announced Founders Award to Tony Bodz (co-founder of Image Awards) and Jackie Robinson Sports Award to NBA star Steph Curry and WNBA Players Association
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Leon W. Russell presented NAACP Chairman's award to Reverend James Lawson

In Memoriam
Cicely Tyson - Actress; David N. Dinkins - 106th Mayor of New York City; Andre Harrell - Music Executive; Prince Markie Dee - Founding Member or the Fat Boys; Bill Withers - Singer-Songwriter; Charley Pride - Singer; Ellis Marsalis Jr. - Jazz Pianist; Jimmy Heath - Jazz Saxophonist; Bishop Rance Allen - Gospel Singer; Herman Cain - Presidential Candidate; Katherine Johnson - Mathematician; Jas Waters - Television Writer; Barbara Neely - Author; Roscoe Nance - Journalist; Mary Wilson - The Founding Member of the Supremes; Reggie Brown - Filmmaker; Yaphet Kotto - Actor Hank Aaron - Hall of Fame Baseball Player; Pop Smoke - Rapper; McCoy Tyner - Jazz Pianist; Wallace Roney - Jazz Trumpeter; Johnny Nash - Singer-Songwriter; B. Smith - Restauranteur and Businesswoman; Earl G. Graves, Sr. - Black Enterprise Founder; Rev. C.T. Vivian - Civil Rights Leader; Barbara C. Harris - First Woman Ordained an Episcopal Bishop; Naya Rivera - Actress; Thomas Jefferson Byrd - Actor; Natalie Desselle Reid - Actress; Tommy 'Tiny' Lister - Actor; Fred 'Curly' Neal - Harlem Globetrotters; Irv Cross - Pioneering Black Sports Analyst; John Thompson - Hall of Fame Basketball Coach; Wes Unseld - NBA Hall of Fame Player; Elgin Baylor - NBA Hall of Fame Player; John Chaney - College Basketball Coach; Lou Brock - Hall of Fame Baseball Player; Marvelous Marvin Hagler - World Champion Boxer; Gale Sayers - Football Player; Kamala 'The Ugandan Giant' - Professional Wrestler; Rocky Johnson - Professional Wrestler; Shad Gaspard - Professional Wrestler; Bonnie Pointer - Singer; Bunny Wailer - Singer-Songwriter; Little Richard - Music Pioneer; Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert - Singer; Pamela Hutchinson - Singer; Betty Wright - Singer; Joe Clark - Educator; Vernon Jordan - Executive and Civil Rights Activist; Rev. Joseph Lowery - Civil Rights Pioneer; Gwen Moore - California State Assemblywoman NAACP Board Member; Drew Days III - First Black Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division; Bruce Boynton - Civil Rights Activist; John Lewis - U.S. Representative and Civil Rights Icon; Breonna Taylor - Black Lives Matter; George Floyd - Black Lives Matter; Ahmaud Arbery - Black Lives Matter; Chadwick Boseman - Actor

Arsenio Hall presents Hall of Fame Award to Eddie Murphy Maxwell performs Samuel L. Jackson presents Outstanding Motion Picture to Bad Boys for Life - Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Swiss Beatz and Alicia Keys present Entertainer of the Year to D-Nice


Very happy to have finally caught the 2014 'Hector and the Search for Happiness' with Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer today. As I had no idea what the premise of the movie was, it was such a pleasant surprise that the movie brought a different way of thinking about how happiness can be viewed depending on different frames of references.

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Sweet delights!!!

An achievement for my first video post on Instagram that I made of
the artistic dessert I had recently!

**disclaimer: The treat was from Wednesday so no, I didn't have this for brekkie...lol!

Monday, March 15, 2021

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards

Hosted at the Staples Center in Los Angeles by Trevor Noah

Lineup:
Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar High
Billie Eilish & Finneas - Everything I Wanted
Haim -
Lizzo presented Best New Artist to Megan Thee Stallion
Black Pumas - Record of the Year Nominee - Colors
Dababy ft Roddy Ricch - Rockstar
Bad Bunny with Jhay Cortez - Dakiti
Dua Lipa - Record of the Year Nominee - Don't Start Now and Levitating ft DaBaby
Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak as Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open
JT Gray - Station Inn Owner presented Best Country Album to Wild Card - Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift - Folklore - Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner - Cardigan, Summer Love and Willow
Rachelle Erratchu - Troubadour Night Manager presented Best Pop Solo Performance to Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles

In Memoriam:
Bill Withers - singer-songwriter, musician; Betty Wright - r&b singer, songwriter, producer; K.T. Oslin - country singer; Tony Rice - bluegrass guitarist; Little Richard - rock & roll legend; (Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak - Little Richard "Good Golly Miss Molly" and "Long Tall Sally."); Eddie Van Halen - guitarist, songwriter, musician; Mary Wilson - the supremes; Bonnie Pointer - pointer sisters, solo artist; Mac Davis - country/pop singer-songwriter; Helen Reddy - pop singer, songwriter; McCoy Tyner - jazz pianist; Charlie Daniels - country/rock artist, musician; Kenny Rogers - country/pop super star (Lionel Richie - "Lady"); Chick Corea - jazz legend; Bucky Pizzarelli - jazz guitarist; Ellis Marsalis - jazz educator; Jan Howard - country star; Johnny Nash - reggae, pop singer; Johnny Pacheco - salsa legend; Sophie - avant-garde producer, musician; Charley Pride - groundbreaking country singer; John 'Ecstasy' Fletcher - rapper, whodini; Bruce Swedien - recording engineer; Jim Weatherly - singer, songwriter; Johnny Mandel - composer, arranger, conductor; Adam Schlesinger - singer-songwriter, film/tv composer; Ennio Marricone - composer, orchestrator, conductor; Armando Manzanero - legendary mexican balladeer; Jimmie Rodgers - rock/pop singer; Trini Lopez - folk/pop singer; 'Toots' Hibbert - reggare lege; Prince Markie Dee - rapper, the fat boys; Florian Schneider - kraftwerk; Sylvain Sylvain - the new york dolls; Paul Barrere - member of the feat; MF Doom -rapper, record producer; Peter Green - guitarist, fleetwood mac; Leslie West - rock guitarist, mountain; Emitt Rhodes - singer-songwriter, producer; Pop Smoke - rapper, singer, songwriter; Steve Priest - bassist, the sweet; Ronald Bell - founding member, kool & the gang; Ari Gold - recording artist, LGBTQ activist; Julian Bream - classical guitarist; John Prine - cultural singer-songwriter (Brandi Carlile - I Remember Everything); Jeffrey Greenberg - producer, entertainment attorney; Spencer Davis - leader, spencer davis group; Rupert Neve - audio recording icon; Bunny Wailer - original member, the wailers; Hal Willner - record producer; Gerry Marsden - singer-songwriter, Jerry and the pacemakers; Quinn 'Spicoli' Coleman - A&R executive; Jerry Jeff Walker - Texas singer-songwriter; Harold Reid - the statler brothers; Rita Houston - radio executive, personality; Joseph Shabalala - ladysmith black mambazo; Billy Joe Shaver - country outlaw singer-songwriter; Joe Diffie - country singer; Keith Olsen - producer, sound engineer; Andre Harrell - producer, record executive (Brittany Howard with Chris Martin - You never walk alone; walk home Walter C. Miller - Director of Grammy Awards Telecasts 1980-2009 (1926-2020)

Mickey Guyton - Black Like Me
Miranda Lambert - Bluebird
John Mayer and Maren Morris - Good Bones
Best Melodic Rap Performance - Lockdown Anderson Paak
Best Latin Pop or Urban Album - YHLQMDLG Bad Bunny
Song of the Year - I can't Breathe HER
Megan Thee Stallion - Savage
Cardi B - Up
Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B - WAP appearance by Post Malone
Billy 'Mr. Apollo' Mitchell Apollo Theater Tour Director presented Best Rap Song to Savage - Megan Thee Stallion with Beyonce
Post Malone - Record of the Year Nominee - Circles
Post Malone - Hollywood's Bleeding
Jhene Aiko and Jacob Collier presented Best Pop Vocal Album to Future Nostalgia Dua Lipa
Baby Face and Jimmy Jam presents Best R&B Performance to Beyonce who breaks the record of the most Grammy Awards!!!!!
Record of the Year Nominee Doja Cat - Say So
Candice Fox - Hotel Cafe Bartender presented Album of the Year Award to Taylor Swift, Folklore
Record of the Year Nominee Billie Eilish Everything I Wanted
BTS - Dynamite

Special Merit Honorees:
Music Educator Award to Dr. Jeffrey Murdock
Producer of the Year to Andrew Watts

Record of The Year Nominee - Beyonce Black Parade
Ronnie Rich -

Lifetime Achievement Honorees:
- Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five; Lionel Hampton; Marilyn Horne; Salt-N-Pepa; Selena; Talking Heads; Trustees Award - Ed Cherney; Benny Golson; Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds;
Technical Grammy Award Recipient - Daniel Weiss

Ringo Starr presents the Record of The Year Award to:
Billie Eilish

Monday, March 08, 2021

Binge-watched The Comey Rule where Jeff Daniels pulled off an admirable job depicting former FBI director, James Comey. I was really pulled into the storyline...I was actually first introduced to Jeff's acting chops back when he played the anchor and managing editor, Will McAvoy in 'The Newsroom' with Josh Charles as Dan Rydell and a whole slew of other amazing cast members.
Another show that I didn't want to miss was the Oprah With Meghan and Harry:
A CBS Primetime Special interview. As I didn't have the time last night, I caught it this morning (taped of course). Insightful and definitely giving another side to Royal life, what stood out to me was Archie's Chick Inn!!!

A couple of other favorites that I forced myself to tape (I'm the worst in F.O.M.O) American Idol and Ellen's Game of Games - 'All I Do Is Twin'