How accurate & real is Glennon Doyle's quote (shared on today's episode of Kelly Clarkson's show) from 'Untamed'? An excellent example that was shared over a quickie phone update between us besties (S & C) during craycray times this arvo. How refreshing it was to catchup & share such positive news for the future! Fingers-crossed towards the upcoming year!!! *winkwink*

Visited the drive by Polar display by Pearson on Saturday with the family! Saw both Santa Claus AND Scooge Santa! #PolarDriveTO

On Sunday, spent four hours playing virtual games on google meetup with Louie, Karen, Patrick and Flo (with a short drop in from Eugene)!

My travellor's spirit is peaked in checking out the town of Santa Claus, Indiana after watching Lara Spencer from GMA on HGTV's Suprising Santa Claus, where her team renovated and redecorated two houses in the town.

Also spent the day binge-watching First Man - 2018 with Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, Ad Astra - 2019 with Brad Pitt and A League of Their Own - 1992 with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna. I haven't seen this movie since it first came out during the Blue Jays world series. What a nice refreshing reminder of how good it is!!! With the likes of Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, Bill Pullman and other phenomenal actors! SUCH a FEEL-GOOD MOVIE!!!!

Merry Christmas 🎄

Happy Holidays and all the best for 2021, much virtual love!!!

Countdown towards Christmas...

My presents (thanks to Fayewood's delivery & my pickup from Winnie's...minor case in point, even though it was so nice to see them...very difficult to resist the innate social urge to hug...even just fist bumping is borderline considering...) are lined up and ready for Friday!!!

Had a quick chat with Ling in Oz this arvo (Wednesday morning for them) where she sent me several photos of the kids where one looked like they were all snapping their fingers...but apparently (when I brought it up) they were making they were making 'love hearts' similar to how they're done from Korean shows (that I DO NOT watch. Case in point...details...)

Decided (can also enter different synonym as my recordings are getting to the timeframe where it'll be deleted regardless of whether it's saved or not...I question this...hrm...) to watch The Tenors -- Fan Favorites with Victor, Clifton & Fraser where they sang classics and hits from the Great American Songbook such as 'Hallelujah', 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'My Way', 'Sweet Caroline', 'Always on My Mind' to name a few!

This weekend included binge watching:

- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom featuring Viola Davis & Chadwick Boseman

- PLAY ON (from Dec 15) that Celebrated the Power of Music to Make Change. Hosted by Kevin Bacon & Eve with performances from Bon Jovi - American Reckoning, Yola ft The HighWomen & Sheryl Crow - Hold On, Gary Clark Jr. - Feed the Babies, LL Cool J ft DJ Z-Trip - Illegal Search, Sheryl Crow - Beware of Darkness, Ziggy Marley & Andra Day - Justice/War/Get up, Stand up, Machine Gun Kelly - Forget Me Too/Bloody Valentine, Maren Morris - Better Than We Found It, Sara Bareilles, Jon Batiste, Emily King & Steve Jordan w/ Pedrito Martinez, Chris Bruce & Meshell Ndegeocello - People Get Ready

Appearances were also made by: Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, John Legend, Noreen Springstead (Executive Director - WhyHunger) & Sherrilyn Ifill (President & Director - Counsel NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund) and Micheal Bloomberg.

- Also finished watching season 2 recordings of Songland. The composer in me LOVES this show as people come in with songs that a variety of artists sit around, brainstorm and creatively change towards a larger goal!
For example, the episode with Bebe Rexha, who originally (pre-pandemic) was looking for a song towards the 2020 Tokyo olympics (that’s now been pushed to July 23, 2021). I was especially ecstatic in seeing how the song, Miracle was put together through a collaboration of two original & different songs that Bebe had the foresight to see and combine together. Definitely brought me back to To my musical theory days of harmony and counterpoint…
I also relished the season finale episode where Usher was the recording artist considering the song he would record. It's so fascinating to get a glimpse into the background of making songs!

- Garth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event last night who's song request list included 'What I'm Thankful for', 'Little Drummer Boy', 'Silent Night', 'Santa Baby', 'Belleau Wood', 'Mary Had A Little Lamb', 'Ugly Christmas Sweater', 'Oh Holy Night', 'Frosty The Snowman', 'Wish You A Merry Christmas', 'Hard Candy Christmas', 'Feliz Navidad', 'Shallow' (from A Star is Born), 'Baby Jesus Is Born' and 'Same Auld Lang Syne'

- Also last evening's The 22nd Annual A Home for the Holidays hosted by Gayle King with performances from Josh Groban (Celebrate Me Home & Angels), Miranda Lambert (Bluebird), Andrea Bocelli (I believe), Leslie Odom Jr. (Heaven and Earth & Snow) and Meghan Trainor (It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas). It's a great way to motivate people in the push towards adoption!

- Tonight's Sketchy Times With Lilly Singh (I miss her 'A Little Late With Lilly Singh' show)

This week's Boss Family Workout schedule!!!

Soooooo extremely helpful to help curb my sweets intake...(a leftover Afternoon Tea treat from Ames) :)

The Prom & Nutcracker flashbacks

Really enjoyed watching 2020 film, The Prom which is filled with the most extraordinary famous actors (Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells - come on, I enjoy all of them in general!). To me, it was like opening an early christmas present!

Personally, I totally enjoyed this fun, feel-good movie that achieved it's goal of distracting me life in general. Even though I'm disappointed that people aren't able to put judgement aside to find offense in it, I choose to disregard and to take in the joy of my own prom flashbacks (that weren't as dramatic)!

Also watched Debbie Allen's (from Grey's Anatomy as Catherine Fox - she's the mouse in the image...😉) documentary 'Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker' that in a sense, rescue's Christmas 2020 with it's original and inspirational dance take on the traditional Nutcracker.

Guess what’s back? 😉

Something to look forward to!!! 🤗

The Original Santa Claus Parade #SANTACLAUSPARADETO

Normally, the parade occurs along University and Front St where I enjoy it viewing from the window while brunching at The Hot House Cafe. However, this year the parade took place at Canada's Wonderland virtually this evening.

The parade lineup included: Mother Goose, Polar Bear on ice, Phillipine Heritage Band, The Tooth Fairy, CTV holiday sleigh-in with DJ Tyrone and his daughter, Toronto All Stars Steel Orchestra, Molly Maid, BMO Bear, Power of Sport (MLSE), Snow Day (Canada Protection Plan), E.L. Crossley Secondary School Marching Band, The Dalton Owl (The Dalton School), TD Music (TD Bank Group), Winter Forest (McDonald's Canada), Hitmen Drumline, Mr. Peanut (Planters Peanuts), Imagination Starts Here (Indigo and Chapters), Holiday Treats (Metro Grocery), Penguin Pizza Party (Pizza Pizza), #FILLUPWITHLOVE (Dairy Farmers of Ontario), Go Bear (Go Transit), Automotive Partner: Volkswagen, All Christmas Music (98.1 CHFI)

Appearances from: Tyra Banks, Shay Mitchell, Paris Jackson, Lily Aldridge, Sting, Sam Smith, Bebe Rexha, Hannah Gadsby, Ruth B, Mayim Bialik, Iain Armitage, Giacomo Gianniotti, Matt Bomer, Shaggy, Joyeuses Fetes, Kelly Ripa & Ryan Seacrest, Jason Priestly & Cindy Sampson, Pentatonix, Johnny Orlando, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Brett Kissel, The Reklaws, James Barker, Scott Helman, Jullian Shea Spaeder, Kalen Allen, Tyler Shaw, Saweetie, Mrs. Claus, Jose Feliciano and last but not least...Mr. Claus himself!

Performances with Meghan Trainor - "Holidays", Ruth B - "Silent Night", Shaggy & Carys - "Catch Myself Some Rays", The Toronto Symphony Orchestra - Excerpt from "Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker", Ridley College Cadet Corps - "Marching Band #162", Kelly Clarkson & Brett Aldridge - "Under The Mistletoe", Malvern C.I., Malvern Band Toronto, Burlington Teen Tour Band and Dolly Parton - "Holly Jolly Christmas"

“Hockey puck, rattlesnake, monkey, monkey, underpants!" & "Oy, with the poodles already!"

When Lorelai shares this snapshot of the “scary gibberish” that populates her brain when she tries to write and a phrase can be used to shut up a person that is talking non-stop about a certain subject. - Gilmore Girls

It's unbelievable and really blows my mind that this past October marked the 20th anniversary of the premiere of 'Gilmore Girls!!!

While this show was a nice television break during my undergrad studies with S, it's really standing it's test of time for me. This is one of those shows that acted as a reminder that people (myself pointedly) love this kind of show about family and community. I especially approved of the actors (Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop, Edward Hermann - RIP, Melissa McCarthy, Milo Ventimiglia, Liza Weil, Jared Padalecki, Matt Czuchny, Yanic Truesdale, David Sutcliffe...and countless others) chosen to act in all the character roles.

Stars Hollow is undoubtedly one of my happy places and is ever more so now in this chaotic time in the world...it's like a bit of a reassurance and reminder of the love that could be showcased in the past before the pandemic. THIS (as well as the show's unashamed passion for coffee) is why I will still make the time to watch a rerun whenever I come across it!

Who's kidding who? I actually spent this weekend watching Gilmore Girls a year in the life miniseries on Netflix again! (In between different WhatsApp chats with Fayewood and Witkos-in Oz, as well as the 2020 Soul Train Awards on BET) :)

The equalization of J-Town cakes and Boss family workouts...

Stopped by J-town after PT this afternoon as Markham isn't on lock down. We got two cakes out of the little adventure.

Unfortunately, the experience just isn't the same as in the past when I last went with Purple to dine for dinner and DESSERTS!!!!!! before heading to crafteria workshopping...

Due to the Ontario lockdown restrictions and the winter weather (snow and ice...black ice...) hazards, my places to walk safely have been sorely limited.
However, I've been able to rectify the situation by walking rounds in my apartment's 3-storey underground parking lot! The sweet spot is that I complete my exercise as early as 5 in the morning sooooo....I am able to complete several laps without any issues! SCORE!!!

ALSO, I'm DELIGHTED that Twitch and Allison have resumed their Friday Boss Family workouts on Instagram!!!

It IS what it is....

said two besties to one another AND 2020 CATCHPHRASE

EVEN THOUGH this line wasn't part of the top 10 wacky quotes said on the popculture classic Saved by the Bell (of which I tried not to miss during it's four season run! ;p), I'm still planning on catching the reboot that starts this evening on the W network with some of the old gang (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley Lauren.)

As today is American Thanksgiving (nothing better to do than catching the 94th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the CBS Thanksgiving Day Celebration), it's no day like TODAY to be thankful for this reminder...ESPECIALLY when S and I had a wonderful (and impromptu - those are the best!!!) hour long update...it's been much overdue!!!

S and I've concluded this as the year's worldly catchphrase... and can ONLY hope this will be overcome...TBD...

What better way than by supporting the nurse heroes fund through

Nurse Heroes Live! The Allstar Benefit Concert: NURSEHEROES.ORG
A concert benefiting the Nurse Heroes
Featuring performances by: Black Eyed Peas, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Emily Estefan, David Foster, Katharine McPhee-Foster, Josh Groban, Carole King, Maluma, Leslie Odom Jr., Allen Stone, Adrienne Warren, The Wailers, Stevie Wonder & Pitbull.
Special appearances by: Oprah Winfrey, Billy Crystal, Marc Anthony, Canelo Alvarez, Chico ‘The Gipsy’ Castillo
Hosted by: Whoopi Goldberg
Honouring the legacy of Florence Nightingale

Caught a really nice uni flashback via Instagram (between L.A. and Toronto) on Sunday when I watched Jadea (Jadea Kelly) have an informative chat with Caroline Brooks (from Good Lovelies!) and her hubby, Colin Love on Eco Entrepreneurship & Activism.

This will be the ONLY reference to American politics in this wonderful lego of the outgoing president of the United States as I eagerly welcome the incoming Joe Biden and Kamala Harris into the roles.

I've recently been able to catch more than just television shows these days including:

Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor' - A deep dive into
the evidence in the Breonna Taylor case, from 9-1-1 calls
and interrogation tapes to jail house calls, surveillance photos
and hundreds of pages of police records on 20/20 hosted
by David Muir and Amy Robach on Nov 20, 2020
SAYHERNAME #BreonnaTaylor
It astounds me on how the system works that a citizen can be so unsafe in their OWN house?!?!? I JUST DON'T GET IT...

Watched James Corden's portrayal of an out of work
musician employed by two men in playwright Richard Bean's
'One Man, Two Guvnors.' #BroadwayOnPBS

Tots enjoy the works that Corden takes part in always!!!

Also caught Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays on HBO and several movies;
the 1998 movie Meet Joe Black with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins;
Rebel Wilson's Isn't It Romantic and
The Hummingbird Project starring Jesse Eisenberg, Alexander Skarsgård, Salma Hayek.

I'm going to try following the new American series, Big Sky, this evening. I saw last week's pilot and have yet to conclude whether it's worth following or not. hm...

There's so many souls that we have lost right now, the thought of having angels around us is very comforting, certainly to me.

- Patrick Dempsey on Ellen Nov 18, 2020 regarding making an appearance on Grey's Anatomy ALSO,

"I really love the message of what the dynamic is in this story. With everything that we're dealing with right now...I think that's what attracted me to this storyline, I think hit can be really helpful and healing to so many people."
- Patrick Dempsey on ET Nov 13, the day after the season premiere of season 17 Grey's Anatomy

I was mulling over my favourite television show drama's that I followed during uni days (gilmore girls, grey's anatomy, gossip girl, one tree hill, the o.c.) during my daily morning walk around the neighbourhood...and have concluded that they've all (except for grey's) concluded or wrapped up the series.
Now, I mostly watch talk shows (day time and late night) and THAT is very pessimistic. So, I get excited when grey's storyline (as well as Station 19) started again last week!

Also, a nice pick me up story in the news this morning was the rescue of a northern saw-whet owl stowaway (named Rockefeller aka Rocke for short after the Christmas tree it was picked up from was the Rockefeller Center tree) that happened to get by the checker the first time...which links so well with Derek's message to Meredith as well as adding some optimism to the day's stories!

We Remember...

Caught up on a zoom call with my Ry U girlfriends earlier this evening

BEFORE watching The 54th Annual CMA Awards #CMAawards hosted by Reba McEntire & Darius Rucker

Highlights included:
Bobby Bones presented Single of the Year to Maren Morris - The Bones Taylore Hill presented Song of the Year to Maren Morris - The Bones Lauren Akin presented New Artist of the Year to Morgan Wallen DiCrks Bentley presented Vocal Duo of the Year to Dan+Shay (@DanAndShay) Cece Winans presenting Reba McEntire & Darius Rucker where
Reba McEntire presented the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award to Charlie Pride
Lauren Alaina & Patrick Schwartzeneggar presented Vocal Group of the Year to Old Dominion
Jake Owens presented Album of the Year to Luke Combs
Charles Esten presented Female Vocalist of the Year to Maren Morris
Sara Evans presented Male Vocalist of the Year to Luke Combs
Entertainer of the Year is Eric Church

Musical performances included:
- Dierks Bently, Brothers Osborne, @AshleyMcBryde; @JasonAldean
- Morgan Wallen
- Gabby Barrett & Charlie Puth
- Eric Church @EricChurchMusic
- Darius Rucker
- Ashley McBride
- Dan+Shay with Justin Bieber
- Luke Combs
- John Pardy
- Carly Pierce with Charles Kelley
- JimmyAllen
- Morgan & Chris Stapleton
- Ingrid Andress - More Hearts Than Mine
- Chris Tomlin/Reba McEntire/Thomas Rhett/ - In a World Full of Hate Be a Light @ThomasRhettAkins
- Brothers Osborne @BrothersOsborne
- Old Dominion
- Maren Morris @MarenMorris
- Kelsea Ballerini - Hold My Bottle @KelseaBallerini

Kane Brown - Purple Bag Project
Ambassador (Crown Royal)

2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize

Hosted virtually by Eric McCormack last night with Diana Krall as the musical act.

The finalists included:
Emily St. John Mandel - The Glass Hotel
Shani Mootoo - Polar Vortex
David Bergen - Here the Dark
Minna Koistinen - Glass Artist, Playing with Fire Souvankhan Thammavongsa - How to Pronounce Knife
Gil Adamson - Ridgerunner

Ian Williams - Winner of the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize presented

2020 Giller Prize Award:
Souvankhan Thammavongsa - How to Pronounce Knife

He set the bar for excellence. He set the bar for courage. R.I.P. Alex Trebek.

-Eugene Levy

RIP ALEX TREBEK

A Canadian treasure (known game show host) who taped his last Jeopardy! show (most noted for 36 years of the show's revival) ten days (Oct 29) before succumbing to his two year pancreatic cancer battle yesterday.

EDIT January 10, 2021

Wasn't a follower of Jeopardy but grew up knowing of Alex Trebek as the host of this intense game! I'd watched last week's final episodes as a kind of a homage that marked the end of an era to him.

Life is hard but it's also really funny so you might as well focus on the funny

Finally watched the May 12, 2020 The Happy Days of Garry Marshall tribute and my takeaways include:
-The Odd Couple
-Happy Days
-The Fonz/Fonzie - Ron Howard
-Laverne & Shirley
-Robin Williams/Pam Dawer - Mork & Mindy
-Pretty Woman/Runaway Bride -Julia Roberts & Richard Gere
-The Princess Diaries - Julie Andrews/Anne Hathaway/Hector Elizondo

Cameos:
John Stamos;Rob Lowe; Chris Pine; Hector Elizondo; Pam Dawer; Ashton Kutcher; Cary Elwes; Jennifer Garner; Anne Hathaway; Kate Hudson

Wishing one of my besties a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
May the day be celebrated in the most fabulous way possible, mon amie!!!!

Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy

Even though the show aired on October 29, 2020, I figure it's fitting to post now as the election is occuring tomorrow (although I'm not placing bets on when the winner will be revealed...). Due to the results from the last election, no one can be absolutely sure of who the next president is but MY vote would be for Mr. Joe Biden.

I am most relieved that I AM CANADIAN!!!

Included performances by:
Shawn Mendes: Wonder
Offset: Lick
Dan + Shay: When I pray for you
Black Eyed Peas & Maluma: Feel the beat
Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile: Beautiful noice

Appearances by:
Coldplay
@Norah_Yarah_Rosa
Leonardo DiCaprio
Kelly Clarkson
Amy Schumer
Chris Rock
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Chris Martin
Lizzo
Cobie Smulders-moved from Canada 2004
Tan France - moved from the UK 2008
Natalie Portman

The Latinx Vote
- Jose Antonio Hernandez
- Maria Hino (author, hostNPR 'LatinoUSA')
- Hector Sanchez Flores 'Executicve Director, National Compadres Network'
- Jennifer Lopez
- Eva Longoria
- Ana Flores 'founder, We All Grow Latina'
- Wilmer Valderrama
- Salma Hayek Pinault