Warm Up

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

December 2024 - Toronto ON

St. Augustine FL

Saturday I took my black old winter coat and a pair of boots down to the clothing collection the building was hosting. I asked if they were taking sweaters, yes, so I brought seven down.

I puttered, made soup from frozen tomatoes and vegetables. Cleaned out some more kitchen cabinets. Made lemon cookies which finished off the almond flour and a lemon.

I also used up some apples and stale bread making apple cinnamon French toast for lunch.

Monday I set out on a mission to get a new winter coat. This was in Union Station.

Odd, a Fleurs de Villes display in TD Tower.

New coat and a super bargain, on sale at the Bay. I had looked in Cleo's and Winners as well.

Tuesday morning. I went to Rexall for seniors' day.

The new Shake Shack with a bar, opened in Union and the line was around the corner.

Wednesday on Yonge St.

Lunch at Cabano's, good as always.

We saw Titanique, a musical parody of the movie, Titanic, a Celine Dion jukebox musical. Fun, campy (very gay!). We had the understudy Kaylee Harwood playing Celine. I wish we had seen 

Véronique Claveau as she is Quebecois and is known for her Théâtre du Rideau Vert’s end- of-year satirical stage revue, Revue et Corrigée, which showcased her excellent comedic skills and superb singing. It was here she first won acclaim for her brilliant imitation of national icon Céline Dion. 

When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film Titanic, you get TITANÍQUE, off-Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit, which turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia.

Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog.

Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself”, and “To Love You More” – backed by the unparalleled energy of a full live band – TITANÍQUE is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart, and campy chaos.

Click here to see the YouTube preview if the video doesn't work.

They allowed photos at the end.

We decided to walk back to the bus stop and ended up with 9,000 steps.

And we walked passed the I Hate Rubber Boots guy!! Photo taken 2023.

Dundas Square was blocked off for a "free" (sponsored by Skip and Shake Shack) Bare Naked Ladies concert at 6 PM.

OCTO is one of the biggest claw machine themed gift shops right in downtown Toronto!

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On the bus home.

Thursday was extremely windy. The plants on the balcony had rattled against the windows during the night, keeping us awake.

I was going going downtown when John was going to the dentist. In fact I was bundled up and waiting in the bus lounge when I decided it was too windy to go out and came back up.

I did some chores (got rid of the spent batteries, cleaned out more of the fridge/pantry, tidied my bedside table/washed down bottom of freezer).

I also cancelled our Christmas Eve lunch at Canoe, it was a fixed three course menu at $115 per person.

When I had asked earlier about the menu she had said it wasn't set yet but would be 4-5 courses at $105. There wasn't much offered in gluten-free either.

I booked us at Joey King, newly opened.

John received his Manmade order.

We decided to rewatch Titanic after seeing the parody yesterday. Since it was three hours we opted to order Swiss Chalet chicken for dinner.

Friday John bottled his wine while I went to Longo's for weekend supplies. I also picked up sushi for lunch.

COOKING

Saturday BBQ chicken quarters, roast potatoes, 

Sunday homemade meat sauce and spaghetti

Monday pot roast

Tuesday pot roast leftovers fresh carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy

Wednesday more pot roast leftovers fresh mashed potatoes

Thursday fish chicken curry pizza. We ordered Swiss Chalet chicken.

Friday steak, stir fry bean sprouts, baby bok choy and onions

WATCHING

We tried to watch The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard but gave up, as it was stupid.

Black Doves 2024 British spy thriller mini-series (6 episodes). Helen, wife of the Secretary of State for Defence, learns that her secret identity as a Black Dove is in danger after her lover is killed by London's underworld. Her employers, a spies-for-hire organisation – retrieving industrial, political or diplomatic secrets for the highest bidder – send Sam, an old friend, to protect her. We really enjoyed this series and even stayed up until 1 AM on Monday.

The Madness is an American 2024 action conspiracy thriller limited series (8 episodes). Colman Domingo stars as a media pundit who must clear his name after he accidentally stumbles upon a murder in the woods. It is mainly filmed in Toronto. 

Caught up on our recorded series.

Carry-On is a 2024 American action thriller. 

A mysterious traveler blackmails a young TSA agent into letting a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.

READING

I really, really enjoyed None of This Is True. It was riveting, I read it in a day. But that ending???? It left me conflicted and needing more.

All We Knew But Couldn't Say I was not familiar with Joanne Vannicola’s film or TV work. 

Joanne Vannicola is an Emmy award winning actor, author, and advocate. They founded Youth Out Loud in 2004, is the chair of the LGBTQ+ actors committee. An interesting read that I found myself skimming in places.

I started The Viaduct Killings. It has a good twisty plot but I found it dragged.