SHUT UP (a movie review)

Do you like enchanting, soulful, folky music? Do you like falling in love? Irish accents? Popcorn? Then shut up. Just shut your damn mouth and put on your jacket, or pashmina, or dickie with a sweater vest, or cape with nipple clamps, or what HAVE you, and RUN to your local indie theatre to see
this movie
It is sweet and wonderful, and if you are not a robot, you will be totally charmed, and get chills and teary eyed at least twice.

Hmm? What did you say? The term "romantic musical" makes you want to peel off the top layer of your skin, and throw it at the Silver Screen? Hey- it's daunting, I know, but trust me, it's not like that. It's funny and original, with perhaps a hint of "The Commitments" thrown in... and now I've said too much.

What's that? Another question from the back? Yes- you in the green sequined assless chaps? Why YES, the soundtrack IS available on iTunes- we downloaded it this morning. I'm swooning over it even as I write this post. Every song is good. Look for Glen Hansard, Sir, you won't regret it. Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry. Ma'am.

Plus- if you harbour the little singing musician fantasy that I do, you will eat this film up and ask for seconds. Just shut your damn piehole this minute, and go and see it. I give it four and a half out of five avocados.

borrowed sunshine

When I look at these sweet faces, listen to this enchanting song, and watch Tracey's crazy fun filming, I know the heart of life is good.

Our cousins in Toronto:

Grateful List

You know when you get into a small rut, where you feel like you aren't doing enough? You're not smart or diligent enough and are not bettering the world, or making a difference, or even recycling properly? And instead, you are spending your energy worrying about stupid things like what strangers think of you and what things you want to buy, and you start spiralling into a pathetic pit of regret and self loathing? Maybe it's just me...

Well, that's a good time to remember what I'm thankful for.

1. I'm so glad that I am a woman. Don't get me wrong, I love men, and they have their own brand of greatness, but I love what womens' bodies can do, our female friendships, being a mother, and wearing ridiculous shoes. Love it.

2. My husband loves me even when I am an ass, which is about every other day. He is the biggest gift of my life, with the patience of Job.

3. Yesterday, I was making a pot roast, and Piper came up to me and said, " Mommy, what you make? A meat cake?" That is about eleven degrees of awesome. In our home, pot roast will hereafter be referred to as meat cake.

4. I'm so grateful for my family, including my immediate family, and my in-laws. Seriously, if a genie popped up and granted me a gift of the greatest inlaws I could imagine - that would still not be as good as my actual inlaws - Robb's family is the most amazing group of people I know- I adore every single one of them. I don't know a soul who has it better than me in that department.

5. Avocados. Delicious, nutritious, and oh, so pretty. They are the best possible colour of green when they are perfectly ripe.
God bless the avocado.


Ah... that's a bit better. Please share yours!

Just for Now

I'm sending this song out to Kate & Liam.



Imogen Heap is singing this live, RECORDING IT AS SHE GOES. Her voice (and a synthesizer to record it,) is the only instrument here. Amazing. Chilling. Enjoy.

Sweet Salty Angel

Kate said goodbye to her beautiful son,
Liam
this morning.

My heart is completely broken for her, and so very full for her at the same time.

During his all too brief weeks on this earth, Liam must have shared some very important secrets with his mama, to help her make some sense of this, and find some peace. I can't understand her strength... but I don't need to. It's a special secret between her and her son.

I can't presume to say that I understand what you are going through, Kate, but I do relate. Your Liam is my Lily, but their roads took different turns.. inexplicably, unfairly. I feel sick with guilt, anger and fear. It's all backwards... with your words bringing comfort to all of your readers, and we are unable to give as much back to you, as much as we all want to.

Fly high Liam, sweet froggie boy. I know you'll take all of that love with you on your journey. And I know you'll keep a close eye on your mama, dada, and brothers, whispering in their ears, and warming their hearts.
I'm so glad that I was able to "meet" you, and that your family was able to hold you, smell you, know you and fall in love with you.

Thank you for sharing this, Kate. As always, I am in awe of your wisdom, beauty, honesty and clarity.

My love to you and your family.

...and on my way to the computer, I broke my hip

My mom has been visiting for the past 10 days, and we've had a wonderful, fun filled visit. Tomorrow, she leaves, and I'm already having a little panic attack. I'm not good at saying goodbye to her, and that is a big understatement. I've learned that I can't take her to the airport, because I just fall apart, and I don't want to start bawling hysterically, and veer the car off onto the tarmac, and crash into a luggage cart. I'd rather act like a ridiculous baby in the privacy of my own home, so, my dad is taking her. I may even scream and hold my breath until she promises not to leave. She understands, because she's my mommy.

I celebrated my 36th birthday last week... well, maybe "celebrated" is the wrong word, but I definitely turned 36.
Generally, I'm not upset about getting older, because my life has been getting better and fuller every year for the past 8 years or so. But I AM starting to FEEL older now- not necessarily wiser, but wrinklier and more tired.

And I'm going to blame my age for my blogging laziness, because what good is getting older if you can't use it as an excuse? Everytime I sit down to write, my cataracts start acting up, and my arthritis flares up somethin' terrible. And it's so darn drafty in here since I turned 36. I wrote a big, long brilliant birthday post last week, but as I was clutching my shawl around my hunched, weathered shoulders, my dentures fell out and hit the keyboard and erased the entire thing.

So, it's not that I am lazy or undisciplined, oh suspicious readers, it's just that I am so damn old. You can't fault me for that, you lil' whippersnapper hooligans. Don't make me swat at you with my handbag, run over you with my grocery trolley, and kick you with my orthopedic shoes while you are down. Because then, my giant 40 pound cat, Mr. McCuddles, will piss on you. He's also very old, blind and incontinent.

Here are some pics of my great grandchildren:

Piper swinging


Pip & Daddy examining bugs under the microscope


Grandmama with Ruby & Lily


Buckling in her baby sisters


Drinking contest