Fingers and toes...

I indulged and had a mani/pedi this afternoon at the local nail salon..it's a little like Angelah Johnson's "Nail Salon" comedy routine...except the sweet ladies there don't comment on my personal life and choices...:)

The mani is in Essie's "Gorgeous Glow" - I think that's the name a lovely opalescent sheer and pedi is in Essie's "Whisper. I like being a girl..

Speaking of which, I have just finished reading Norah Vincent's "Self Made Man" which provides great insight into the whole concept of gender issues. Norah "becomes" a man and infiltrates such male centred places as a monastery, a strip club, a bowling team and an "Iron Man" therapy group. It's a great read with a lot of revelations for herself and women in general, especially when she takes on the dating scene and its' expectations and assumptions. I have also read her latest book where she admits herself to a series of mental hospitals, "Voluntary Madness" - a poignant look into how the mentally ill are treated and or/mistreated.

Monday is usually big band night at the Rex - tonight it's Bobby Rice's Latin Jazz Big Band with many of our scene's finest including Max Sennitt on drums.

Tomorrow is Jazz Jam night hosted by another Humber alum, Justin Gray...I hope to take in both...I'll let you know if funds permit, after I have glammed myself up...

I Worship Wayne Dyer

There, I have said it and I am not the least bit ashamed. Although, he likely wouldn't condone worshipping him...:) The reason for this is watching the film "Ambition to Meaning" - Finding your Life's Purpose" which was screened at yet another amazing, Positive Fabulous Women event - now you will get another notice, Katia...:) A drama, starring Dr. Dyer and Portia de Rossi among others provides yet more inspiration to me to go back and read all my Wayne Dyer books and get out of my ego, go with the flow and "let go and let God"...The characters all experience their own "shifts" - from a driven movie director obsessed with success, a mother of two who has put aside her artistic inclinations and a status obsessed, disintegrating couple. I really enjoyed the musician character, played by Ethan Lipton who had found through being dismissed from his job an opportunity to pursue what he really loved. The tunes at the wedding were delightful. They were jazzy - so there's my jazz content! Louise Hay even makes a brief appearance officiating at the wedding... What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Posting number 2 on Jazz FM website

Wowee...I am so psyched...plus it's a beautiful day and I got some earrings...at Louisa LaBarbera's sale plus some great java, snacks and girl talk...

Check out http://www.choosingraw.com/ - a great little blog about going raw with yummy recipes, help and links, presided over by fabulous New Yorker Gena.

Marathon of Music

Yes, 3 plus hours of jazz last night at "Jazz Lives"...which hopefully you can read about on the Jazz FM website... I am going to Louisa LaBarbera's jewellry sale shortly and off to celebrate my friend Lorraine's birthday - we are winging it. Perhaps we will wander over to the Rex or even as far as Gate 403 where talented drummer Max Sennitt is presiding at 9 with his "Amigos".

Keita and Carob

This handsome gentleman is Keita Hopkinson who runs TorontoJazzBuzz.com - he is a mild mannered library employee by day, jazz promoter by night.

Last night he produced a great crowd at Chalkers for Neal Caine/Jason Marsalis. I hope to see many more exciting events from this hardworking and charming guy.

Unfortunately I didn't get a great shot of the band...oh well...

And now onto food....

These raw carob walnut raisin cookies are from Ani Phyo's latest " Ani's Raw Food Desserts". I am a big fan of hers since "Ani's Raw Food Kitchen" - her Mediterannean Dolmas have become a staple. She is so vibrant and alive she is a great representative for the raw food lifestyle.

These are really yummy!

Tonight is "Jazz Lives" which I will blog about on the Jazz FM website, speaking of which....my very first blog is up today, about Michael Kaeshammer...I am very excited!

Revisiting the 70's

Maybe it's spring fever but I've been watching a lot of 70's era videos on YouTube like Player's "Baby Come Back", Ace's "How Long" and Little River Band's "Reminiscing"...I think it was listening to Alan Maitland on CBC on Sunday morning saying he hadn't paid any attention to music during that decade. His guest, a fan of 70's music, was saying the era was significant, not fluff like many have said, particularly about disco. The clubs were places for the disenfranchised - women, African-Americans and gays and was a place for those disenchanted with all the progressive rock - which also alienated the punk rockers. I listened to both punk and disco... I was singing along to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and dancing around to KC and the Sunshine Band's "Get Down Tonight"

Photo by Yozza - from flickr/creative commons. Went to see the Humber Community Music School recitals at the Rex on Sunday..good stuff - hope to flesh out my visit more on the Jazz FM blog...I am anxiously awaiting it's debut! I am thinking of venturing out of the 'hood up to Chalkers for the Neal Caine/Jason Marsalis event tomorrow...funds permitting. It should be a great gig - they're being interview at 3 on Larry Green's show. Have a successful show either way Keita!! Thursday is "Jazz Lives" which I will also blog about for the station...I am anticipating a marathon of music. Friday - there will be shopping at Louisa LaBarbera's place - jewellry maker to jazz fans and "divas" alike - plus snacks....food and shopping, plus it's jazz related (her dad is saxophone great Pat LaBarbera).

Coffee and Origami

A fun and creative afternoon at Mercants of Green coffee - and great coffee too.

It was a "Positive, Fabulous Women" meetup organized by the energetic Katia...at left is my tulip - my best creation of the afternoon - who knows could be a new hobby...

We also made place holders, note cards, and lips which I used black paper for, not realizing what we were making...oh well..Marilyn Manson origami...

How cool is it that a $9500 horse - Mine that Bird won the Kentucky Derby?!!

I just watched the race - the jockey was in seventh heaven and the trainer drove up with a broken leg to the race...

Hollywood couldn't have scripted it better...