While you were sleeping...

James took me to lunch yesterday and we received a message from Tracey just as were were leaving the restaurant - seems Lexi found my birthday to be a bit of a yawn!

Lexi is two and a half months old and is two feet tall - we know that because we measured her on Jalen's wall. Jalen is now four feet tall and is a very proud big brother.

I know my actual birthday has now passed but I am celebrating again today with Clare, Gene and Laura if she is back from Florida. I suggest an all year celebration for your 65th - you have earned it!

Love

CA

Thank You!

Today is the day - this is not my "real" birthday cake - but it is one of many! I have been celebrating all year, and this month in particular. There are some birthdays that you should remember and you should celebrate. With my health-past this is a big one in more ways than one.

I am humbled by the e-cards, the snail-mail cards, the e-mails with good wishes and so much more. Thanks to all of you for remembering and for taking the time to be in touch. You have made my day.

My son is coming to town to take me to lunch and we will celebrate one more time. I won't stop here - this is my birthday year after all. Spending this day with James is another gift.

Love

Carol Ann

The morning after Earth Hour

So, we in Toronto did not do a great job in terms of turning our lights out last evening to observe Earth Hour. If we can't turn 'em off for one hour I wonder how concerned we are? Apparently Toronto saw only a 5 per cent power drop during the one hour we were to be most aware. Last year we (Toronto) saw a 15 per cent drop in power usage, and even that was not great compared to other locations around the world. We have some work to do. And, so do my Leafs. That's all I'll say.... Carol Ann

Celebration time!

At 45 years of age I battled cancer for the first time and a few years ago I battled it one more time - so 20 years later - to turn 65 this weekend is a celebration indeed! I am celebrating in style with friends on the 22nd floor of a beautiful Niagara Falls hotel with this view of the Falls. It is absolutely breathtaking and changes from one second to the next. I could look out the window 24/7.

Hope your weekend is as happy as mine!

Love

CA

Elizabeth Taylor and Cleopatra

Do you remember the first movie you saw with one of your children? Do you remember the first movie you went to with a baby in your arms so that you wouldn't feel alone because you had never attended a movie on your own?

Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra came out in 1963 - I was in grade 11 at Middleton Regional High School. Fast forward a number of years. I didn't see the movie until 1970 when, for a reason I do not remember, it came to the small theatre in North Bay, Ontario.

My son was a year old, I needed to get out of the house and I was eager to see if I could pinpoint scenes in Cleopatra where the passion between Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was real and not an act. James was not all that interested in the movie - he slept the entire time, as if knowing I needed this time to be both mine and ours.

Dame Taylor's passing yesterday reminded me of this special time with my son. I believe it was that very day that I began contemplating our journey together - just the two of us.

Have a gentle Thursday.

Love
Carol Ann

THREE - ZIP!

Reimer slogans are beginning to appear. "Optimus Reim" is Latin for "Reim (er) is very good." With the 3 - 0 win last night there will be more slogans to come for our young James Reimer. He is now 7-0-1 in his last seven road games, a good omen for a team just beginning a three-game road trip.

If (when) we keep winning and a couple of other teams slip up we will be alive post-season. I can feel it.....

CA

My Son...........

If you are a parent. If you have a love of skiing. If you knew my son James when he was Jamie. If you worked with me while my son was growing up and you saw him in my office over the years. If you know how proud I am to be his mother - you will love this photo!

Love

Carol Ann