That Just Happened!

Becky and Georgie

A week ago Saturday, MPW and I were fortunate enough to be invited to Georgie’s Surprise 60th Birthday!  I was going to post this sooner, but I was trying to raise money for the RONA MS Bike Tour.  Georgie is the mom of my friend Becky (my personal dog whisperer).  It was held at a lovely restaurant named Pepperwood Bistro.  The food was delish, the company was swell and the guest favours…yummy!  

Of course, some of the guests *ahem* MPW and Max, couldn’t wait to dig in, which was fortunate for Brian who was visiting from Ohio.  Apparently, there is no such thing as NIBS south of the border, which was quite shocking to the rest of us.  So of course we had to make him try them.  Here is Brian’s first taste of NIBS and according to him it was like, “Twizzlers…only…more!“.   

Brian picked a great weekend to come up and visit Krysta and Jay (You may remember Jay as the Gentle Giant).  Brian actually met Krys while they both taught in Japan and it had been 6 years since they had seen each other!  Of course Krys and Jay were excited to have him up for the weekend and excited to play host as well.  Becky was intent on getting Georgie there, so she needed someone to hold down the fort and direct guests at the restaurant.  Krys is like a second daughter to Georgie, so she was happy to step in and help, and it was a job well done!  

And of course the lovely lady who was responsible for the surprise was Georgie’s lovely daughter Becky.  She had printed special menues, had a gorgeous cake made (couretsy of a former coworker and baker extraordinaire Monika Bakes) and got the birthday girl there, despite the fact Georgie has walking pneumonia,  so again another job well done.   

Thanks again for the lovely invite!  

Yeah, That Just Happened!  

For MPW’s birthday we went to the theater.  Of all the activities we have done together, this has never been one of them.  As someone who has seen 70+ theater productions in her lifetime (and still has the playbills) this is somewhat shocking.  MPW has been bugging me for some time to see this production that was done by a guy he used to go to high school with.  Finally, as a birthday surprise, I got MPW and myself 2 tickets to see…

CANCER CAN’T DANCE LIKE THIS!

Done by a very  talented Daniel Stolfi; it is funny, horrifying, inappropriate and awesome, and set to music with attitude.  It takes a true comedic genius to take two years of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation to fight Acute Non-Hodgkin’s T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (a mass the size of a grapefruit over their heart) and turn it into something funny.  There are definitely moments when you just want to leap on the stage and give him a hug, but mostly you get the fact that this is something horrible and he beat it.  He’s not looking for sympathy, he never was, he’s looking for understanding and awareness.  And, let’s face it, a chance to shake what his mama gave him in front of hot chicks.  His energetic performance is even more impressive when you learn that this two year battle wtih cancer ended only a few short months ago.  The determination of Stolfi to get back up on the stage and perform is admirable.  So is raising money for cancer research, which this show does. 

Stolfi and his team joined up with the Sunneybrook foundation to raise money for the 6th largest cancer treatment center in North America (when looking at sheer numbers).  In the early-1980′s this center was created to treat 5000 patients a year.  It now treats 23,000 patients a year.  Yet, everyone is getting a good standard of care and no one has given up. 

If you are in the Toronto/GTA, you must check out this show when it comes out next!  You can join the FB page here for more news and updates on the show. 

And now we are home for the evening and MPW sleeps on the couch while the soundtrack to a praying mantis-inflicted murder plays in the background.  Thank you Discovery Channel.

Yeah, That Just Happened!

I would like to take this moment to wish my partner Will (aka MPW) a very Happy Birthday!  It’s been the 9th birthday we have celebrated together and I am pretty sure I still  surprise you with cool gifts.  ‘Cause I’m awesome like that.  In honour of your 29th birthday (our 9th together)  here is 29 things you do to annoy me  9 reasons I think you’re neat-o.

1. You take care of car things.
2. You cook (thank goodness).
3. You get me DQ blizzards.
4. You’re very handy around the apartment (when you get around to it).
5. You humour me by reading my blog when I whine that you haven’t read it yet today.
6. You give great  hugs!
7. You put up with my “attack of the sillies”.
8. You support me in the things I do (or try to do).
9. You don’t care that I am not always up-to-date on the household chores.

Happy Birthday.  In honour of your special day I am posting a pic of your 2nd birthday.  Because it’s cute.  And hopefully, a bit embarrassing.

 Yeah, That Just Happened!