Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

I was at a cat shelter building workshop today organized by Toronto Street Cats.  The workshops are held every two weeks throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society  Today was the fifth one of the season ... there's only two left.

I went to most of the workshops over the last two years ... it's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR). 

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

Today there were 36 volunteers and 90 new shelters were completed, 13 new shelters were 2/3 completed and 10 previously used shelters were completed.  Seriously good homemade mac 'n cheese (including a vegan option) was made fresh that morning by David Jang, husband of coordinator, Kali, for the volunteers for lunch.

Shelters made to date:  6,687

Shelters sold to date: 6,520

Kali, a coordinator, and Kevin, a team lead, checked the volunteers in and sold shelters.

Almost 400 new bins had arrived and Carol, another coordinator, did a tally.

Book ~ "The Flyer Vault: 150 Years of Toronto Concert History" (2019) Daniel Tate and Rob Bowman

From Goodreads ~ Duke Ellington. Johnny Cash. David Bowie. Nirvana. Bob Marley. Wu-Tang Clan. Daft Punk. These are just some of the legendary names that played Toronto over the last century. 

Drawing from Daniel Tate’s extensive flyer collection, first archived on his Flyer Vault Instagram account, Tate and Rob Bowman have assembled a time capsule that captures a mesmerizing history of Toronto concert and club life, ​running the gamut of genres from vaudeville to rock, jazz to hip-hop, blues to electronica, and punk to country. 

"The Flyer Vault: 150 Years of Toronto Concert History" traces seminal live music moments in the city, including James Brown’s debut performance in the middle of a city-wide blackout, a then-unknown Jimi Hendrix backing up Wilson Pickett in 1966 - the year a new band from London named Led Zeppelin performed in Toronto six times - and the one and only show by the Notorious B.I.G., which almost caused a riot in the winter of 1995. 

 Complementing the book’s flyers is the story of the music, highlighting such iconic venues as Massey Hall, the Concert Hall/Rock Pile/Club 888, and the BamBoo, alongside lesser-known but equally important clubs such as Industry Nightclub and the Edge. 

In 2015, Daniel Tate rediscovered a bunch of old Toronto hip hop concert and rave flyers he'd collected over the years.  He started posting them to Instagram and people started noticing.  He connected with Rob Bowman re flyers for specific shows 1969 and 1970.  They started chatting and decided to create a book with images of Daniel's image and Rob's musical background knowledge would be a great idea.  They narrowed Daniel's 8,000 images down to the about 170 images that are included in the book.  They also decided to use the year 2000 as the cut-off date.  They tended to focus on debut performances by artists and shows that for whatever reason were "exceptional".

The map shows over 200 club and concert venues that span a century.

Performances and what was going on at the time are discussed at a high level.  The first performance mentioned is Swedish soprano Jenny Lind who appeared at St. Lawrence Hall in October 1851.  The chapters cover a wide variety of topics, genres and venues (the focus is more on the early years) and include:

1. Minstrel Troupes and Vaudeville Stars
2. Jubilee, Spirituals and Gospel
3. Jazz
4. The Blues
5. Country
6. Folk
7. '50s Rock 'n Roll
8. Classic Rock
9. Music Festivals
10. Soul and R&B
11. Calypso, Reggae and Dancehall
12. Punk, Hardcore and Grunge
13. Hard Rock and Metal
14. The Queen Street Scene
15. Hip Hop
16. Contemporary R&B
17. Electronic and Dance Music

I moved to Toronto in February 1987 and went to a lot of bars and clubs to hear live music and concerts so was familiar with most of the venues discussed in that time period.  I hadn't been to any of the shows they discussed even though I was into that kind of music.  I found myself stopping and Googling the venues I'd never heard of wondering where they used to be.  Many are long torn down with shiny buildings in their places.  Or if it was a place I'd heard of and/or been to, I'd Google to see whatever happened to it.  Throughout the book are flyers promoting many acts that came to Toronto.  I found it amusing to see that many said "live" or "live in person".

Sleep apnea

About six years ago, I hadn't been sleeping well for a couple of years.  It would either take me a long time (a couple hours) to get to sleep or I'd wake up in the middle of the night wide awake (sometimes for hours).  Needless to say, I was tired all the time and my energy level was low.

I was tired of being tired so my doctor referred me to a sleep doctor at St. Mike's.  He had me do an overnight sleep test there in March 2014 ... the results showed that I have sleep apnea.  It's normal to stop breathing about five times an hour.  I stopped breathing an average of 44 times an hour and it was worse when I was in a "dream" state.  No wonder I was so tired ... I wasn't getting a good restful sleep!  I got fitted with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine and I was able to sleep better right away.

No surprise that CPAP machines aren't made to last forever.  I found in the last while I've been tired again and I wanted to get a new CPAP machine ... but to do that you need a recent prescription.  I saw my sleep doctor in June 2019 and he suggested I do an overnight sleep test again.  The first available appointment was March 2020!  There are six sleep labs and until last year they were running every night.  But with provincial cutbacks, they only run four nights away week ... hence the longer wait.

I  called yesterday to confirm my March appointment and was told there was a cancellation and could I go in last night?  Yes!

I had to check in at St. Mike's at 7:45pm.  The six sleep labs were full.  Here was mine (each had its own washroom).

Maria was my tech and she was great ... she was friendly and answered all my many questions.  She got me wired up and ready to go ... six on the face, nine on the back of the head, one on the neck, two on each shin and straps on the chest and stomach (to monitor breathing).

Do I look tired or what?!

All the wires go into this, which I wore around my neck
until it was time to plug into the system 

"Curfew" is 11pm.  I let Maria know about 10:30pm by ringing the buzzer that I was ready to go sleep.  She came in and put an oxygen sensor on my finger, a mask on my nose, turned off the lights and turned all the monitoring on.  In addition, there is a camera in the room so she could watch me.  If I needed to go to the bathroom, I would have had to ring the buzzer to let Maria know so she could unhook me so I could get out of bed and then hook me back up again.  I kept my water intake minimal so I wouldn't have to go put Maria and myself through all that.

Despite being in a strange bed and having many wires attached, it didn't take me too long to get to sleep ... maybe 20 minutes.  I woke up briefly a couple times during the night and had some weird dreams!

Maria woke me up about 5:45am (you have to leave by 6am).  She said the pressure on my CPAP machine is too low and adjusted it.  It will be interesting to see if I can tell the difference tonight.  Before I left, I had to complete a questionnaire re how much sleep I think I got, did I dream, was it a restful sleep, etc.  I have an appointment to see the sleep doctor in the middle of February.

I'd driven to the hospital and was home in my own bed with Gord and the kitties by 6:30am.  It took me a bit to get to sleep and I stayed asleep until 8:30ish.

  *****************

Sleep apnea affects the way you breathe when you’re sleeping, jolting you out of your natural sleep rhythm. So you spend more time in light sleep and less time in the deep, restorative sleep you need to be energetic, mentally sharp and productive the next day.

This chronic sleep deprivation results in daytime sleepiness, slow reflexes, poor concentration and an increased risk of accidents. Sleep apnea can also lead to serious health problems over time including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and weight gain.

Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea:

• Pauses occur while you snore and choking or gasping follow the pauses
• Fighting sleepiness during the day, at work or while driving
• Rapidly falling asleep during the quiet moments of the day when you're not active
• Morning headaches
• Memory or learning problems and not being able to concentrate
• Feeling irritable, depressed or having mood swings or personality changes 
• Waking up frequently to urinate 
• Dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up

You have a higher risk for sleep apnea:

• Your airway may be blocked or narrowed during sleep because your throat muscles tend to relax more than normal
• Overweight 
• Male 
• Related to someone who has sleep apnea
• Over the age of 65
• A smoker 
• Certain physical attributes, such as having a thick neck, deviated septum, receding chin, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids
• Allergies or other medical conditions that cause nasal congestion and blockage

Knitted dishcloth

I finished knitting a dishcloth this evening using cotton yarn.

Cast on 34 stitches.

Rows 1 to 3 - Knit
Row 4 - Knit 1 stitch then repeat (k2tog, yo, 1) to the end
Rows 5 and 6 - Knit

Repeat rows 1 to 6 until nearly desired length.

Knit two rows.

Bind off all stitches in knit. Weave in loose ends.

Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail, Toronto, ON

I went for a walk late this afternoon to Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail and back ... I love this park and trail!

The Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail is 7.5 acres of public green space on a spectacular part of Toronto’s waterfront. Previously a parking lot, it’s now full of life, ready to be enjoyed by morning joggers, picnic-goers, strolling families and everyone in between.

The 1.3 kilometre trail is named in honour of Bill Davis, who was the Premier when Ontario Place first opened in 1971. It’s surrounded by thousands of native trees, plants, flowers and beautiful sedimentary rocks and boulders. Inspired by the Ontario landscape itself, the park was designed in consultation with people from across Ontario, including the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. It’s a breathtaking tribute to our province and a gift to the people who love it.

1. William G. Davis Trail 
2. The Ravine with Moccasin Identifier 
3. The Pavilion 
4. Romantic Garden 
5. Fire Pit 
6. Bluff
7. Summit

Book ~ "The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch: How the Canceled Sitcom Became the Beloved Pop Culture Icon We Are Still Talking About Today" (2019) Kimberly Potts

From Goodreads ~ There isn't a person in this country who hasn't heard of "The Brady Bunch". Whether it's the show they watched growing up or the one their parents did - whether adored, or great to poke fun at - "The Brady Bunch" is unarguably one of the most enduring and inspiring TV shows of our time. It's lived a dozen lives, from its original comedy debut and big-screen movies, to the Emmy-winning TV auteurs it has inspired - everyone from Vince Gilligan to Jill Soloway - and promises to live many more. 

In "The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch", TV and pop culture writer Kimberly Potts will draw upon her deep knowledge of and appreciation for The Brady Bunch and television and pop culture history, as well as her contacts, connections and experience, to provide an industry insider narrative of The Brady Bunch. 

With fresh interviews, "The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch" will examine the show's lasting effects on its audience and take readers behind-the-scenes and into the lives of our most beloved characters, all to document why "The Brady Bunch" was one of the most groundbreaking shows of its time - and why it remains to this day, unforgettable. 

Hard to believe but The Brady Bunch recently their 50th anniversary! 

I was seven to eleven years old when the original The Brady Bunch aired from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, and I can't remember watching it.  Maybe we didn't get it on our local stations (there was no cable back then) or maybe my parents didn't like it so we didn't know about it.  I do remember watching The Partridge Family when it was originally on, though (it originally aired from September 25, 1970, until March 23, 1974). 

But I have since watched The Brady Bunch and I can't say I'm a fan.  I didn't think the acting was all that great and the stories were dumb.  But I'm looking at it from an adult's perspective and that's not how Sherwood Schwartz, the creator and producer, envisioned it ... he wanted it to be from the children's perspective.

But I like reading and learning about the behind-the-scenes scoops of different shows that I've watched and their stars.  The book starts with letting us know who Sherwood Schwartz was.  We learn how the actors were chosen for their parts, how the theme song came about, being on the show, why Robert Reed was so cranky, The Brady Bunch vs The Partridge Family "rival", the sequels, the effect of The Brady Bunch on today's culture (TV, music, plays/musicals, etc.) and more.  There are colour pictures in the end.

It was an interesting book to read.  I kind of skimmed over the chapters that detailed some of the shows that have included bits and parodies because I've never seen some of those shows or plays/musicals.

Book ~ "From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way" (2019) Jesse Thistle

From Goodreads ~ If I can just make it to the next minute ... then I might have a chance to live; I might have a chance to be something more than just a struggling crackhead.

"From the Ashes" is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.

Abandoned by his parents as a toddler, Jesse Thistle briefly found himself in the foster-care system with his two brothers, cut off from all they had known. Eventually the children landed in the home of their paternal grandparents but their tough-love attitudes meant conflicts became commonplace. And the ghost of Jesse’s drug-addicted father haunted the halls of the house and the memories of every family member. Struggling, Jesse succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and petty crime, spending more than a decade on and off the streets, often homeless. One day, he finally realized he would die unless he turned his life around.

In this heartwarming and heartbreaking memoir, Jesse Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful experiences with abuse, uncovering the truth about his parents, and how he found his way back into the circle of his Indigenous culture and family through education.

An eloquent exploration of what it means to live in a world surrounded by prejudice and racism and to be cast adrift, "From the Ashes" is, in the end, about how love and support can help one find happiness despite the odds. 

Jesse's parents, Sonny and Blanche, married very young and had three sons in Saskatchewan.  They split up when Jesse was about three because Blanche had enough of Sonny's drinking and abuse.  He convinced Blanche to let him have the boys for a couple months and he took them home to Ontario.  But Sonny was a drug addict and didn't provide for the boys.  There was rarely any food and Sonny taught the boys how to beg and steal.  Eventually Family Services stepped in and the boys spent some time in foster care.  They ended up being placed with Sonny's parents in Brampton, who had little money.  Their grandfather, wanting to make sure the boys didn't end up like their father, was a strict disciplinarian.  Sonny is considered missing and was last seen in 1981 by members of his family.

Jesse was the youngest of the three boys and ended up getting into drugs, drinking and partying.  When it seemed like things were going well, he would self-destruct.  His grandparents kicked him out of their house when he was about 20 and he spent many years as an addict being homeless, in jail, in shelters and in rehab.  In his early thirties, he realized he wanted to turn his life around and got clean.  He started dating Lucie (who is now married to) and went to university.  He is currently an Assistant Professor in Métis Studies at York University in Toronto.  He won a Governor General’s Academic Medal in 2016, and is a Pierre Elliot Trudeau Scholar and a Vanier Scholar.

I like reading bios/autobios and this one caught my eye because the author is Canadian and lives in Toronto.  It must mess with your mind being abandoned by your parents and raised by a strict grandfather, who only had the best intentions (though as a child, you wouldn't realize that) and who raised him the only way he knew (he was also raised by a strict grandfather).  Jesse had to be tough because he was often bullied by the other kids for being "Indian" (he eventually started to claim to be Italian).  Even once he was in a stable environment in his grandparents' home, his survival instincts like stealing and thinking he wouldn't have enough to eat continued to kick in, though they didn't need to.

I liked the writing style and found it to be honest.  The author has had quite a life and I'm glad he was able to overcome everything and become healthier (emotionally, mentally and physically) and embrace and honour his heritage.  As a head's up, there is swearing, abuse and drug use.

Book ~ "The Big Kahuna" (2019) Janet Evanovich and Peter Evanovich

From Goodreads ~ Straight arrow FBI Agent Kate O'Hare always plays by the rules. Charming con man Nicholas Fox makes them up as he goes along. She thinks he's nothing but a scoundrel. He thinks she just needs to lighten up. They're working together to tackle the out-of-bounds cases ordinary FBI agents can't touch. And, their relationship? Well, there hasn't been so much explosive chemistry since Nitro was introduced to Glycerin. 

Next on the docket: The mysterious disappearance of the Silicon Valley billionaire, known as the Big Kahuna. Kate's been assigned to find him but no one seems particularly keen on helping. His twenty-six year old adult actress wife-turned Instagram model wife and his shady Czech business partner are more interested in gaining control of his company. For that they need a dead body not a living Kahuna. 

The only lead they have is the Kahuna's drop-out son, who's living the dream in Hawaii - if your dream is starting your day with the perfect wave and ending it with a big bowl of weed. To get close to the Kahuna's son, Kate and Nick go undercover as an engaged couple in the big wave, bohemian, surfer community of Paia, Maui. Living a laid back, hippy-dippy lifestyle isn't exactly in Kate's wheelhouse but the only thing more horrifying is setting up house with Nick Fox, even if he does look pretty gnarly on a longboard. If they don't catch a break soon, waves aren't the only thing she's going to be shredding (or bedding). 

Everyone thinks Nick is a con man and thief and Kate, an FBI agent, is trying to catch him.  But in reality, Nick had been caught and is now secretly working with Kate and the FBI.  Only a handful of people are aware of this.

A billionaire businessman nicknamed the Big Kahuna has disappeared while flying solo over the ocean.  His young wife wants him declared dead so she can access his money.  His business partner wants him declared dead so she can take control of his business.  Kate and Nick don't think he's dead so head out to Hawaii, where his adult son lives, to see if he's hiding there.

This is the sixth in the Fox and O'Hare series ... I've them read all and liked them.  I liked the writing style and thought the story was okay.  It's far-fetched at times so I had to leave my sense of belief at the door and go with it.  I liked Kate and Nick and liked their interactions and banters.  I liked the other supporting characters like Kate's dad, Jake, and her colleague, Cosmo ... they were fun and quirky.  One thing annoyed me, though, was the use of "on account of" ... it is an awkward phrase so it stood out to me and is used five times.  Lulu in Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum series uses it a lot too.

Junction Craft Brewing, Toronto, ON

Junction Craft Brewery was started in 2011 and moved in 2018 to its current home in a former City of Toronto 1930s art-deco incinerator known as "The Destructor" in Toronto’s west end Stockyards neighbourhood.

Rainhard Brewing, Toronto, ON

Rainhard Brewing opened to the public in May 2015.  It is located in Toronto’s west end Stockyards neighbourhood in a former refinery.  It's a cozy spot.

Shacklands Brewing Co., Toronto, ON

Shacklands Brewing Co. is a small batch brewery that was established in 2017 in Toronto’s west end Stockyards neighbourhood.

The place has quite a collection of eclectic things and Dave, our bartender/co-owner, had fun showing them off.

Delta Bingo & Gaming, Toronto, ON

Gord and I went to the 1pm session this afternoon at Delta Bingo (St. Clair Avenue W/Old Westin Road).  I went to bingo for many years, sometimes as often as weekly.  Gord and I used to go fairly often ... now it seems like we only go once a year around this time of year, though we keep saying we want to go more often.

Chris was our caller

I bought a $55 Gold Package, which in addition to paper cards, I got digital cards.  Gord got a three-strip plus whatever games weren't included in it (as did I).

Knitted dishcloth

I knitted a dishcloth this evening using cotton yarn.

Cast on 40 stitches.

Row 1:  Knit
Row 2:  Purl 3, knit 5, purl 3, knit 5, purl 3, knit 5, purl 3, knit 5, purl 3, knit 5.
Row 3:  Knit
Row 4:  Purl
Row 5 : Knit
Row 6:  Knit 5, purl 3, knit 5, purl 3, knit 5, purl 3, knit 5, purl 3, knit 5, purl 3.
Row 7:  Knit
Row 8:  Purl

Repeat rows 1 and 8 until piece measures the size you want.. Bind off all stitches in knit. Weave in loose ends.

I would knit a border around it next time to keep it from rolling.

2019 Midnite Run / Party New Year's Eve, Liberty Village, Toronto, ON

Gord and I started the year and decade off by walking the 5km in the 2019 RRR Midnite Run / Party New Year's Eve presented by Longo's around Liberty Village.  It wasn't too chilly ... 0C with a windchill of -2C.

On December 31st at Midnite, you and so many new friends from around the corner, across the City, around the Country and beyond will run/walk/crawl and party afterwards regardless of the weather. Dress appropriately (for the run outside) and wear extra, layered clothing that is breathable. Not sure what that means? TOQUES and GLOVES are a MUST usually and we sell these for your convenience!

It's also just a 5km! You Can Do It. That’s 5000 metres. 16,404 feet and 2.39 inches to be precise.

FREE, WARM, SAFE bag check is available before and after the Run inside

It's our 9th year and we’re always adding new wrinkles to make the event better. Try something different this New Year’s Eve. Ring in the New Year with a 5K run on the stroke of midnight and then celebrate 2020 with a post race party! PLUS all participants (runners and also just partiers) receive a great swag bag, a sponsored beer, and champagne at the Finish Line and the $25 technical long sleeve shirt. Your 2020 running and fitness resolution just became more clear. People who purchase the “run only” option will have their post run hot food in takeaway containers.

Run or walk in the cool King Liberty Village neighbourhood with super views of the Toronto Skyline. Accurate timing, NEW Runner’s Gift this year (long sleeve tech shirt) with every registration, POST RACE FOOD which is a Hot Stew or Soup, of course, fireworks (weather permitting), $25 swag bag, stylish and unique finishers’ medal. The course usually features a small loop and a bigger loop, so friends, family, spectators will see all the runners passing by after the first or second kilometre.

The event started at Stay Gold Gym on Jefferson Avenue.  That's where we checked in and picked up our shirt and goodie bag.  There were also a couple challenges ... like who could do the most push-ups and chin-ups.

Here I am before we started ...

Happy New Year!

I wish you health ... so you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the love of friends and family ... and peace within your heart.

I wish you the beauty of nature ... that you may enjoy the work of Mother Nature.

I wish you wisdom to choose priorities ... for those things that really matter in life.

I wish you generosity so you may share ... all good things that come to you.

I wish you happiness and joy ... and blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the best of everything ... that you so well deserve.