The Ride To Conquer Cancer...

...almost conquered me. But it was SO. MUCH. FUN. Even the hills. Cause after the uphill climb, we got to yell weeeeeeeee all the way down. I will confess, I threw up on Saturday night. I've overindulged on many things in my life, but never EXERCISE.

Highlights included:

-defying all odds. The weather called for 100% chance of rain. The only drops we encountered were our own blood, sweat, and tears!
-crazy striped tan lines from my bike shorts
-trying to consume as many calories as possible
-passing Cervelos on the trusty beat-up mountain bike I bought in 1995 (On your left, b*tches!)
-the generosity of all who helped us raise just shy of $19,000 for Princess Margaret!!!! We couldn't have done it without you!

Salad Days

When I picture my parents in my mind's eye, it's always kinda old. Not OLD. But my age now. Mid thirties, car, mortgage, going to work hungover, you know--those years. I wasn't around when they first met. When they started dating. When they were in love like crazy teenaged kids. So I don't have much to say about that. I'll let these pictures speak for themselves...


VaVaVooom, Dennis. I owe you one, buddy!


Some formal to-do. Ruth feels a little washed out. Between the curtains and her date, she's upstaged by stripes.


Say Ruth, how do you feel about swimming pools? I don't like all this sand between my *%$#.

The Nun on a Tricycle and Other Stories

These amusing anecdotes are courtesy of my aunt Cheryl, along with some awesome photos. Not only does Cheryl dish about my mom, apparently she also gets stuck with the dishes:) Cheryl also reveals the shocking SCANDAL behind the Gondola Queen pageant. Thank you so much for these gems, Cheryl!!!

Ruth's imagination started at a very early age. We shared a bedroom with twin beds. Bedtime became playtime, doll crib matressess became ferries which crossed the river (floor between beds) to visit each of our houses(beds). Each sheet and blanket was a floor in our house. If you were cold you went to your 'sneaker' ie under all the covers tucked in at the foot of the bed. Sometimes aliens from outer space came to visit (sock puppets). Mornings we had wrestling matches. They were rigged in Ruth's favor but I didn't care most of the time. She contolled the stop 'ding' and I controlled the start 'ding'. Huh? She pinned me down every time. I can recall only getting mad once...I got heck for the retaliation from mom.

Mom protected Ruth throughout her childhood. Ruth hated doing dishes. After supper when it was her turn to do dishes, she would inevitably not feel too well. Mom would let her lay down while I took over for dishes. When they were done, she would feel better and need some fresh air. That meant taking the car to the Elmwood restaurant for coffee and cigarettes. Of course I had to go to keep her company. To this day I enjoy doing dishes!!

Oh, by the way, rumour has it, the envelopes at the gondola festival were given out in the wrong order, meaning Ruth was actually the winner not the 2nd runner up and Cheryl was supposed to be the 2nd runner up. The judges didn't correct the announcer, thought it best to leave things alone, however, one told Ruth of the mistake.

It was funny to read the article about Ruth's hobbies. Boating? We didn't have one. But you can bet your ass we went out with anyone who asked us. Recently my friend bought a boat and asked me to drive it. Just like riding a bike! Driftwood? I never saw any of this artwork, however, I do remember drawings of birds she did and to this day I can remember names of most common birds and the pictures she had of them. Actress? Well at the best school play WDSS ever had Ruth was a nun with a tricycle in the spoof of 'laugh in'. She was a crowd-pleaser.

Sisters' night out, circa 1988.


Who me? Smoke? Never.


Ruth is in position to put Cheryl in a half nelson. She's bracing for it, isn't she?

Pick Me! Pick Me!

My aunt Lisa recently sent me some great memories to share on the blog. This one makes me giggle. I can picture it perfectly in my mind. She could charm the pants off anyone...

Ruth used to occasionally go out to the bar with Terri and I. We'd all be standing at the bar, waiting to be asked to dance (as we were both single). Ruth would say Pick me! Pick me! And guess what? They did. Terri and I would get the old farts who stunk and had no teeth, while the young hunky ones always asked Ruth. She had all the right moves! Cheers to her dancing--not sure if she would be a contender on Dancing With The Stars, but she was hilarious to dance with...

Thanks, Lisa!


"Hunky" may be a bit of a stretch here, but it was the 80s...


Man Sandwich.


What is this man saying to my mother? Maybe I won't ask...

Wedding Day

Today, May 1st is the day my parents got married. May 1st, 1971 to be exact. 40 years ago. My parents' wedding pictures are typical of the time period. Big glasses--Hello, Uncle Elton John! Also, lots o' shag. My mom is sporting a bit of a mullet, is she not? She pretty much had the same hairstyle for decades, a straight bob with bangs. Don't know why she changed it up for the walk down the aisle. Likewise, my Dad's appearance is a bit off. What's missing...You tell me.

Now, obviously I wasn't in attendance at this wedding. So if you have any good stories about it, I beg you to share!



My grandparents are such cool cats.



And last but not least, the duel of the matching siblings. I think I'm giving this one to the girls. Because I don't want to cross my aunt Lisa. It looks like she's plotting revenge...

Say Awwww.

Of all my childhood photos, this one is probably my favourite. But it's the most haunting. I wish I could have made her well.

The Runner-Up

In 1968, my mother was a pageant contestant for "Gondola Queen" of Wallaceburg. Did someone enter her? Did she enter herself? Please, I need a little insight here. In the end, she was runner-up, but in that amazing sailor dress, surely the contest was fixed. She killed it out there. I love the write-up. I never had the pleasure of seeing her talent for driftwood handicraft or tapdancing come to full fruition. But I can totally see her belonging to a Coffee House. That woman was always caffeinated!




Runner-up isn't so bad--at least she got to ride in the motorcade.