Thursday, 3 July 2025

Book ~ "The Age of Hope" (2012) David Bergen

From Goodreads ~ Born in 1930 in a small town outside Winnipeg, beautiful Hope Koop appears destined to have a conventional life. Church, marriage to a steady young man, children - her fortunes are already laid out for her, as are the shiny modern appliances in her new home. All she has to do is stay with Roy, who loves her. 

But as the decades unfold, what seems to be a safe predictable existence overwhelms Hope. Where - among the demands of her children, the expectations of her husband and the challenges of her best friend, Emily, who has just read "The Feminine Mystique" - is there room for her? And just who is she anyway? A wife, a mother, a woman whose life is somehow unrealized? 

This beautifully crafted and perceptive work of fiction spans some fifty years of Hope Koop's life in the second half of the 20th century, from traditionalism to feminism and beyond. David Bergen has created an indelible portrait of a seemingly ordinary woman who struggles to accept herself as she is, and in so doing, becomes unique.

This story is about Hope, the only daughter of Scottish mother and a non-practicing Mennonite father, living through changing times in a small Mennonite town outside Winnipeg, Manitoba. Set from the 1950s through the early 2000s, it follows Hope, a conventional housewife, as she goes through marriage, motherhood, societal expectations and personal discontent.

On the surface, she has a pretty typical life and instead of following her dreams, does what was expected ... she marries Roy, a car salesman, and raises their four children. But deep down, she’s often unsure of her place in the world. As time goes on and society shifts (feminism, changing family roles, new cultural norms, etc.), Hope finds herself feeling restless, confused and sometimes lost. She doesn't always know what she wants but she senses there's more to life than what she's been told to expect.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it. It's written in third person perspective, with a focus on Hope. It explores things like identity, mental health, growing older (at the end of the story, Hope is in her 70s) and what it means to live a good life. As a head's up, there is some swearing.

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw Alastair Greene and George Thorogood and the Destroyers tonight at Massey Hall. What a show!


Alastair Greene opened for George Thorogood and the Destroyers tonight at Massey Hall. Until today I’d never heard of him but after listening to his latest album on Spotify this morning and seeing him tonight, I’m a fan!

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Toronto Blue Jays 12 ~ New York Yankees 5, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

A Canada Day tradition for Gord and I is to spend the afternoon at the Toronto Blues Jays game . And that’s what we did today! It was a fun game! 


Here we are!


Not hard to tell it was Canada Day!


Our seats were in the 200 level and we had a great view of the CN Tower.

Happy Canada Day!

Sunday, 29 June 2025

Ladybug Tavern, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at Ladybug Tavern (College Street, just east of Dovercourt Road). 


Gord had a couple chicken tacos (happy hour price was $4 each) and said he’d get them again. 

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Man of Kent, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at Man of Kent on Ossington Avenue (just south of Dundas Street W).


I had a Chip Shop Curry Chicken pie (creamy mash served with housemade mushy peas and gravy) which was good, though I couldn’t taste any curry in the pie. 

Book ~ "The Franchise: Toronto Blue Jays - A Curated History of the Jays" (2025) Keegan Matheson

From Goodreads ~ This thoughtful and engaging collection of essays captures the astute fans’ history of the franchise, going beyond well-worn narratives of yesteryear to uncover the less-discussed moments, decisions, people, and settings that fostered the Blue Jays' distinctive identity.

Through wheeling and dealing, mythmaking and community building, explore where the organization has been, how it came to prominence in the modern major league landscape, and how it will continue to evolve and stay in contention for generations to come.

Jays fans in the know will enjoy this personal, local, in-depth look at baseball history.

If you're a Blue Jays fan, you should check this book out. Instead of walking through every season, Matheson picks out the best, wildest and most emotional moments from nearly 50 years of Jays history. 
For example, such as the Jays' dramatic and super-secret attempt to sign Shohei Ohtani in 2023. They rolled out the red carpet with custom lockers, team gear and even a special dog jacket for his dog. But in the end, Ohtani signed with the Dodgers.

The chapters include:
  1. Origin Stories
  2. Only in Toronto
  3. Faces of the Blue Jays (such as Dave Stieb, Cito Gaston, Joe Carter, Carlos Delgado John Gibbons, etc.)
  4. Stories of the Seasons
  5. The Glory Years
  6. The Storytellers (such as Tom and Jerry, Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez)
The book isn’t just about blockbuster deals. Matheson also dives into quirky and heartfelt moments ... like players trying to stay warm at freezing Exhibition Stadium with soup and the emotional return to Rogers Centre after nearly two years away during the pandemic. 

I liked the writing style. It was as detailed as I needed it to be. Because Matheson covers the team for MLB.com, he brings a unique insider vibe so can share personal stories, player memories and little moments that most fans never hear about. What would have made the book even better is if there had been photographs. As a heads up, there is a swearing (some baseball people surprisingly have potty mouths ... ha!).

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

The Cherie Bistro, Toronto, ON

I had lunch today with the Toronto Social Seniors and Retirees gang at The Cherie Bistro (Church/Wellesley). 


The menu has lots of choices. I had Chicken Parmigiana (breaded chicken cutlet, mozzarella, tomato sauce served with spaghetti) and it was very good. 


We were a big group and Shane and the others took good care of us. 

Monday, 23 June 2025

Toronto Fringe Festival, Toronto, ON

I’m volunteering for the upcoming Toronto Fringe Festival (it’s my third year). We had our training this evening.

Bethany Joy and Julia are the volunteer coordinators

The West Cork Irish Pub, Toronto, ON

I had supper this evening at The West Cork Irish Pub (at Queen E/Broadview). 

Sunday, 22 June 2025

Book ~ "Little Cruelties" (2020) Liz Nugent

From Goodreads ~ All three of the Drumm brothers were at the funeral.

But one of them was in the coffin.

William, Brian and Luke: three boys, born a year apart, trained from birth by their wily mother to compete for her attention. They play games, as brothers do ... yet even after the Drumms escape into the world beyond their windows, those games - those little cruelties - grow more sinister, more merciless and more dangerous. And with their lives entwined like the strands of a noose, only two of the brothers will survive.


This is a story about three brothers, Will, Brian and Luke, born a year apart. They grow up in the same dysfunctional family in Dublin but end up destroying each other in different ways. Will is a successful but arrogant film producer, Brian is a bitter school teacher (and later Luke's agent) and Luke is a sensitive pop star struggling with fame, addiction and his mental health. Their childhood was filled with favoritism and emotional manipulation, especially from their self-absorbed mother who was a performer, which sets the stage for a lifetime of jealousy, betrayal and resentment. 

Right away we know one of the brothers is dead but we don't know who and how it happened until the very end. The story is told from the points of view of the brothers ... Will first, then Brian and finally Luke. It jumps back and forth in timelines, slowly revealing just how toxic their relationships have become over the years. I usually don't mind when stories jump back and forth in time but I found this a tad annoying because the jumps were so extreme. For example, with Will, it started with 1994, then 1985, then 1992, then 1978 and so on. I found I had to keep going back to the previous chapter to see what year it had been. It was interesting to read the same experiences but from the different points of view.

None of the characters are likable. I didn't have any issue with the brother who had died but was a bit disappointed with how and why it happened and the ending in general. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are black and periwinkle.


I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist
  1. With A, cast on 42 sts
  2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
  3. Purl
  4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern
  1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
  2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
  3. Purl 2 rows with A
  4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
  5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
  6. Purl 2 rows with A
  7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
  8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
  9. Purl 2 rows with A
  10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
  11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
  12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb
  1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten
  1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
  2. Knit 1 row
  3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
  4. Knit 2 rows
  5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
  6. Knit 2 rows
  7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
  8. Knit 2 rows
  9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
  10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
  11. Weave end inside

Thumb
  1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
  2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
  3. Knit to fit length of thumb
  4. Knit 2 together all around
  5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
  6. Weave end inside

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

"An Oak Tree", Luminato Festival, Toronto, ON


I volunteered this evening at the world premiere of An Oak Tree (United Kingdom) at the Jane Mallett Theatre (Front Street E), part of Luminato Festival ... my third and last shift.


When I say sleep, you’re free again … In celebration of the work’s 20th anniversary, Luminato presents Tim Crouch’s groundbreaking ‘An Oak Tree’, one of the most influential and hypnotic theatrical experiences of our time.

A father loses his daughter in a car accident. The driver of the car that killed her is a stage hypnotist. The two men meet for the first time when the father volunteers for the hypnotist’s act. What follows is an entrancing live performance where reality and suggestion blur – a bold and absurdly comic story of loss, transformation, and the power of the mind to reshape our world.

Each performance creates its own mesmerizing reality as Tim Crouch is joined on stage by a different guest artist, who will have neither seen nor read a word of the play they’re in – until they’re in it. Like being under hypnosis, no two shows are ever quite the same, even with identical lines, creating a uniquely rejuvenating experience each night.