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

Presenters included:
Stacey Abrams, Anthony Anderson, Swiss Beatz, Novi Brown, Misty Copeland, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Arsenio Hall, Samuel L. Jackson, LeBron James, Derrick Johnson, Alicia Keys, Regina King, Reverand James Lawson, Maxwell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tracy Morgan, Eddie Murphy, Michelle Obama, Leon W. Russell, KJ Smith, Jazmine Sullivan

Enjoyed an outdoor lunch at Hot House Cafe with the family.

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.

Hump day reminders of the past spring weekend blast!

Enjoyed the delightful pasta and wings dishes that Ames made at her place Saturday evening!
Of course, finished off with some more sweet DELIGHTS!!!

Continued afterwards with a games night/morning with some Abbeyites in two timezones featuring Bingo and Pictionary! ALWAYS GOOD TIMES!!!!!

Tentatively eased back into a dining experience in Markham at Scrumptious Sunday morning with some amazing store art featuring a fight against bacteria enemy!!!
Personally, the art really sold the experience!

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!

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

I saw this post on an
Instagram feed that I follow that presented
such a clean image of a person using
an ostomy bag.
Even though I'm so lucky
that this is now all in the past,
I'm glad someone is able to showcase how
this can be such a normal part of a person
regardless of their situation.

Also finally caught the 2020 Instagram Live
interview between Adam Brody and Keiko Agena,
who played the super lovable Dave Rygalski and
Rory's bestie
(Gossip Girl flashbacks of
S & B, S & C!!! *wink wink*), Lane!

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.

Taye Diggs hosted the 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monice, California
The most adorable winner, Alan Kim, was so emotionally overthrown after winning Best Young Actor, I loved it! I also loved hearing Chadwick Boseman's wife, Taylor Simone Ledward accepting his posthumous Critics' Choice Award

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'

Cafe Alice

Enjoyed my first dine-in
restaurant meal of 2021 up
in Markham at Cafe Alice yesterday.

Tried and thoroughly enjoyed a cold Purple Sweet Potato Cream Foam Latte

As well as completely finished off a plate of mini sausages, luncheon meat & two sunnyside eggs

Was COMPLETELY enamored with the wall art depicting the "Alice in Wonderland" tale!

In like a lion....out like a lamb!

Spring is on it's way...forecast March 20, 2021!!!

Awards circuit has begun again...even though I finally watched the Canadian Country Music Association Awards 2020 from back Sept 28, 2020 last night (free up pvr space, lol), I've hunkered down to watch the Golden Globes 2021 tonight as I'm trying to cut down on taking up non-existant taping space. I'm currently watching the E! Countdown to the Red Carpet for the fashion, something that's been taken to the another level this year. Although, it's all about 'out-of-the-box thinking' which is the ongoing trend for the time being.

Unfortunately, something I've been feeling that I've been having a hard-time juggling these days is the time factor. Granted, even though it's nothing I should really be complaining about these days but I've been so busy with work (where the hours fit so perfectly with my own timeframe) that I've recenly noted to my bestie that where I used to find time to email 'novels' to her with updates, I now have have not been able to maintain this. Due to the nature of my current job, I'm not able to literally waste time as I have to track every moment...
For me, this isn't an actual problem as I've always been OCD on planning what I do with my time but it's unnerving that it feels like 'big brother is watching'.

Therefore, my time management has been sharpened and my priorities have had to be constantly updated. Sleep has taken a hit as well. Luckily, my napping skills with earplugs and eye-mask strategies have really become handy.

Which leads to another downfall that even though I'm excited to see the outcome to this first ceremony in the awards circuit, I've had to make a list as to what to catch up and update watching on Netflix. I've only watched 7 episodes of season four (the season featuring Diana, Charles and Camilla) of The Crown (most nominated Golden Globe show). Yet, I've lined up to watch the new Ginny & Georgia (supposed Gilmore Girl-esque drama) as well as Firefly Lane, The Queen's Gambit, New Amsterdam, Grace and Frankie and Emily In Paris, to name a few.

This is all on top of my normal daily shows I also catch...something that I used to be able to multitask in my previous jobs.

Nope, STILL refuse to complain...:) This is where social media is helpful when used correctly!

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) on today's episode of 'The View'. #Inspiring #Goals

Family/Valentines/Galentines Day & Chinese New Year weekend 2021!!!

New Year's takeout dinner over at Ames & Trudeau's

Finally watched the two day 10th anniversary of iHeartRadio Music Festival (Sept 27-28, 2020).
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest
The lineup on Night 1 9.27.20
Alicia Keys - Love Looks Better; BTS - Dynamite; Thomas Rhett; Coldplay - Viva La Vida; Jon Bon Jovi - It's My Life; Bobby Bones; Thomas Rhett - T-Shirt; Charli & Dixie D'Amelio; BTS - Make It Right; Paris Hilton; Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart; Keith Urban; Thomas Rhett - Be A Light; Leah Lewis & Kennedy McMann from Nancy Drew; Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime; Enrique Santos; Swae Lee - Unforgettable/Sunflower; Elvis Duran; Alicia Keys - So Done; Coldplay - Fix You; Thomas Rhett - Beer Can't Fix; Migos (TakeOff/Offset/Quavo) - Walk It Talk It/Pure Water; Swae Lee; BTS - Boy With Luv

The lineup on Night 2 9.28.20
Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky; Keith Urban - Somewhere In My Car/ Blue Ain't Your Color; Donald Faison & Zachary Braff; Usher - OMG; Jon Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles - Do What You Can; Bobby Bones; Kane Brown - What Ifs; Miley Cyrus - Heart Of Glass; Keith Urban - Superman; Brec Bassinger/Amy Smart - Stargirl; Usher - U Got It Bad/ Burn; Becky G; Kane Brown with Swae Lee & Khalid - Be Like That; Kal Penn; Migos (TakeOff/Offset/Quavo) - Need It; Usher - You Make Me Wanna; Jon Bon Jovi - Limitless; Miley Cyrus - Who Owns My Heart; Kane Brown - Cool Again; Elvis Duran; Jon Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer; Usher - Yeah
#iHeartOnCW
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Oprah's 'Be The Love You Need' with James Corden on Saturday February 13, 2021 on WW's Your Life in Focus virtual event where the 'Late Late Show' host spoke about his decision to make an active attempt to lose weight.

Had a nice WhatsApp texting chat with Winnie yesterday where we both shared some exciting news! Change is in the air...We're both waiting on the warm weather to arrive so we can catch up in the outdoor park area again!!!

Also caught up on a call with a past George Brown College pal, Vic today. It was nice to touchbase since he lives up in Barrie and neither of us drive! It's interesting that this is the second pal who's contacted me recently to share some of their writings with me. I don't mind reading material but I find the topics out of my normal topical interests. Ah well, why not go out of my normal topical areas.

Puppy Bowl XVII Feb 7, 2021

Preceded the Super Bowl LV - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Weeknd pulled off a safe and in-built stage type of halftime show!

#YOLO

Another after the fact post...I finally finished watching last year's The Masked Singer last night!

DISCLAIMER revealing names coming up...

Considering I knew who the winner was, the unmasking of the sun (Leann Rimes) was not a surprise. HOWEVER, I was pleasantly surprised to find out who the crocodile (Nick Carter, BSB) and mushroom (Aloe Blacc) were at the unmasking! Wow, fantastic!!!

Archewell Audio - Spotify

The photo was taken after a Boss Family Workout with Twitch and Allison (that included my New Year's wishes!

This post comes from back at the end of last year:
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, presented a special collection of inspiration, reflection, and perspective from guests around the world, including: Stacey Abrams, Christina Adane, José Andrés, Brené Brown, Rachel Cargle, Deepak Chopra, James Corden, Matt Haig, Sir Elton John, Hussain Manawer, Naomi Osaka, Tyler Perry, and George the Poet (plus a surprise or two). Curated throughout the month of December, join them as they reflect on the year, speak openly about the power of compassion, and toast to a hopeful 2021.

Inauguration of America’s 46th President

Given by the National Youth Poet at yesterday's ceremony!

'When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light,
if only we're brave enough to see it.
If only we're brave enough to be it.'

On the left was where she spoke at the inauguration and on the right, she was as a guest on James Corden's Late Late Show later that evening!

Thanks Karen for the Xmas Indigo gift card to me!!!

This had resulted in finally receiving my order of Craig Ferguson's newest
book, Riding the Elephant (I love LUV this public figure!!! I was first
introduced to the Scottish-American television host
through the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson).

AS WELL AS HOT CHOCO MIX!!!! YAAAAASSSSSS!!!!!

In Remembrance (RIP Alex Trebek)

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.

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!!!!