My personal documents folder is exploding with mindless dribble about the spewing of personal nonsense that has consumed my brain for the past while. None of it has been posted, but today reminded me of why I wrote any of it in the beginning. So I figured, take it to the mattresses. No, I have not watched the Godfather where that line stems from, but I have watched You’ve Got Mail where Tom Hanks explains fighting to Meg Ryan. It’s easy to wallow in self pity (see 3pm and still in jammies) but what isn’t easy is fighting for you. That’s right, y-o-u, the only person who you have to answer to in this lifetime. I received some “you’ve got to be kidding me” news today laced with uplifting news that made me realize fighting short battles to achieve your goals is an ongoing war. We all need our major meltdowns (whether they be 5 minutes of 5 months) but when the dust has settled, taking a look at the debris for any signs of a battle well fought is empowering. Keep fighting the good fight, I know I am.

In the spirit of Mother’s Day, here are 5 gifts I received from my Mom over the years.

1. My grasp on the English language.  My Mom has always been a stickler for grammar which has in turn made me into the grammar police I am today.  “She did so good!” – or well, either/or.  Irregardless of that fact – hmm… not a word.  The there’s and the yours, the it’s and its and everything in between.  My Mother is the reason why I publicly correct people, and attack Blackberry messages with a fictitious red pen.  Blame her, not me.

2. My love for cooking but not cleaning. We both love cooking and wearing chic aprons. She learned from her Dad and in turn taught me how to work the stove, however, it is also due to my mom that I have never cleaned a bathtub. Spoiled, I know, but my Mom has passed down the most important value of all to me – hire a cleaning service. Thanks Mommy!

3. My overstocked book shelf. Reading is a huge passion of my Mom’s. I never see her without a book and she can read at the speed of light. In turn, I started reading from a young age which translated into my adoration of everything paperback. Bookstores are like a gateway to heaven and I can thank my Mom for one of my favourite hobbies.

4. The fact that I am a homebody. I go out often, we all know that. However, my favourite thing to do is curl up on the couch and watch a great movie or TV show. My favourite nights have been sitting with my Mom on opposing sides of the living room having a laugh over how into a reality show we both get. Home is truly where the heart is.

5. My ability to blow bubbles off my tongue. Yes it is saliva, and yes if it lands on you it is slightly gross. But what a great trick! One person in every generation of my family can do it and I happened to be the lucky girl in mine. It landed me my spot on the Argos Cheerleading team my first year (I guess I can thank my Mom for my looks that probably assisted with that), as well as the admiration of many onlookers who are perplexed as to where the bubble machine is.

So thank you Mom.

The streets will be alive tomorrow in Toronto with sounds of signs being unveiled.  Ed Mirvish, Theatre impresario and Honestly one of Toronto’s most well-known philanthropists, will be honoured on Duncan Street at noon.  My fondest childhood memories come from sitting amidst fellow theatre buffs being amazed by the spectacle produced by Mirvish Productions.  It is locations such as the Pantages (now known as the Canon Theatre), Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandra Theatre that spawned my devotion to smaller theatres such as Buddies, Berkley Theatre and Factory Theatre.  While I never frequented Honest Ed’s, or dined at one of his many restaurants, I will forever be grateful to him for introducing me to an extraordinary passion in my life – the theatre.

The production that made the Pantages an iconic fixture in Toronto and to me is in a league of its own.

Thank you Ed Mirvish.

Baby, I’m back.

It has been a long winter, and Mother Nature still has yet to make up her mind about the season she would like Torontonians to exist in.  That moment in time where it is still chilly yet things are quietly blooming — also known as Blackberry Winter (oddly enough I have survived Winter due to my Blackberry but that is besides the point).

I came to the harsh realization last night/early morning that I have been in a complete and utter writing slump for quite some time.  I haven’t even been reading.  While many may not correlate the two, I believe that reading and writing go hand-in-hand and usually, putting my own finger tips to the keyboard quenches my word-filled-thirst after reading others prose.  I was left to wonder why.  My only reasoning for not writing is a lack of passion and that, my blogging friends, is about to change.

It is never that I am not passionate to write.  Writers write because it is always flowing within them.  However, that “writing block” that I would usually get for a few days quickly became a few months.   Which has left me to sit, ponder through the window pane watching seasons transform and realize that here lies a perfect opportunity to do the same as a writer. Shake off the old and embrace the new.  New topics, new points of view, hell why not a new title for my blog.  Blackberry Winter – where cool, snaps.

Most women have done this at some point or another, I just tend to do it a little more often.  Think about one of your favourite chick flicks or go girl television shows.  How many times have you seen the lead character walk through a busy street with a theme song playing that puts an extra pep in her step?  She is often in love and smiling at everything in her path, or just out of love and power-walking to show just how over him she really is. 

That’s me walking down Bloor, disconnected from the world through white headphones that are connected to my iPod.  Locate the shuffle feature, flip through a few songs and find the one that has a beat and a message worth strutting to.  This morning for some odd reason is was, “I Love You, Always Forever” – Donna Lewis.  While it has some serious walking beats at the beginning, I am left to wonder why on earth I chose to listen to a love song this morning?!  I also read a book with a full out love scene amidst the sand in my PG-13, until 7:30am this morning, book.  Is life truly trying to bite me in the ass?  Can’t a girl strut without being bombarded by the love bug from every angle.

Let’s even further trace back my steps this morning.  I thought I had walked in on a porno this morning at the Kiss & Ride.  I get it, Kiss and then Ride, but the PDA was off the charts.  The glance back and coy smile was enough to tell me this was new love.  Then my book, then my song, and then the onslaught of good looking men in suits - give me a break!  I started to really wonder on my walk if I was living in my very own unedited version of Sex and the City, I was just missing my heels.  It seems as though when you least expect it, life will say, “would you like sugar and irony with your coffee this morning?” 

Nevertheless, I felt as though I was in my own movie intro, and since my life currently resembles that of a sit-com, I hope it turns into a romantic comedy sometime soon.  The one where the impossible becomes the possible – or if anything less, I get my own strutting sequence.