Wendy's Birthday

When planning one's birthday festivities it is best to stretch the celebrations over as many days as possible to maximize feelings of "specialness". This year I decided that in order to maximize my feelings of "specialness", I would not hide the day of my birth from others but would instead prepare everyone for the big day. It was definitely the right choice as this was one of the best birthdays in a while.

Below is a picture of three amazing teachers that I work with. Next to me is Roslynn, Sumin and Jodi. Sumin is the other half of George-Bacon which perhaps deserves its own explanation in another post. We went out to dinner (minus Roslynn who had junior literacy night) and then to my place. Roslynn brought me a cake which was such a surprise - unfortunately we didn't get the camera out until after the surprise.














The cake was perfect for a teacher - complete with ice cream cones around the side and crayon candles.



















On Sunday April 15 my Mom and Dad hosted my third birthday. (Dinner number two was a private affair for Ken and Wendy only on the Danforth - yummy Greek food at Mezes.) Unfortunately Andrew had to work and couldn't be there, however he remembered me on my actual birthday and called to wish me a happy day. Mom made an excellent dinner - all the favourites, roast potatoes, roast beef, green beans & mushrooms, and last but not least carrots and turnip. Sonia and Ben were able to come help celebrate which is always fun.















As is the tradition in the Bacon household my Dad got an ice cream cake - peanut butter and chocolate flavour. I was delighted when presented with the cake and it read "Wendy Lea". It makes me happy when my Dad calls me Wendy Lea!















I can't wait until next year's birthday when Ken will finally catch up to me at the ripe old age of 29!

Birthdays!

This morning Ken and I had my parents over for a birthday brunch. It's my Mom's birthday today. Ken made stuffed French Toast - so yummy! We had a quiet but lovely meal. So different than last year when we had the surprise party for Mom. But even the party we had last year could not compare with the party we went to last night!

My Dad's Uncle Stanley Solomon turned 90 on April 3rd. His daughter, my Dad's cousin, Maribeth had a huge party for him at the Heliconian Club last night. He was so happy last night. Maribeth had contacted friends from far and wide and they put on a concert. Stanley was the principal viola in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1949-1983. His daughter Maribeth and his son Lenny are also highly accomplished musicians. Maribeth is a composer and writes music for television and movies. Lenny plays jazz violin and his current project is Bowfire. Maribeth's daughter Leah Erbe is also an accomplished musician and his releasing her first album sometime this year. You can perhaps begin to imagine what kind of a concert it was.

The first performance was given by Maribeth and three members of Wendy Solomon's (wife of Lenny) cello quartet (Lush). They sang a song for Stanley. It was the music from "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" with words changed to celebrate the life of Stanley. It was so cute! The second performance was the cello quartet lush. They played two beautiful pieces. Third was Daphne Spottiswoode. She is a pianst originally from England. She met Stanley when she was about 10 years old. During WWII Stanley was a member of the RCAF Blackouts. They performed for Canadian Troops in Canada and Europe. Daphne's father liked playing in string quartets and so does Stanley so while Stanley was stationed in England he frequented the Spottiswoode home to play quartet music. She gave a magical performance of a pieces by Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Albanez.

Next was Lenny on violin accompanied by Bill Bridges on guitar. Then Leah sang a song that she wrote especially for her grandfather. Next was a fellow member of the TSO, a violinist. His first name was Peter, but I can't remember his last name. He played two really fun songs that displayed his incredible virtuosity. Then Stanley's long time friend Johnny Cowell got up to say a few words.

The last act of the evening included Stanley. I'm not sure exactly when, but several years ago members of the TSO began traveling to elementary schools to perform for them. Stanley traveled with the "extraordinary" quartet made up of a bass, cello, viola and violin. The original bassist and violinist were there and Stanley of course, but the cellist couldn't come so Wendy filled in.

The concert was so amazing and heartfelt. The level of playing - the range of musical content. I was in a dream last night. Being related to such talent blows me away. I felt like I should have paid for a ticket. And then, just when I thought it couldn't get any better, in walks Sir Andrew Davis! He had just finished conducting the Mahler Resurrection at Roy Thompson Hall and stopped in to wish Stanley well. I was so star struck last night it was ridiculous.

Last year I sat down with my (great) Uncle Stanley to record some of his personal history and we bonded. I'm so glad that I've gotten to know my Uncle Stanley. He is such a sweet man!















Maribeth Solomon (daughter of Stanley), Alix, Leah Erbe (daughter of Maribeth).















First cousins, Lenny Solomon (son of Stanley), and April Solomon (daughter of Al).
















April Solomon, Peggy and Katie Gertner (April's daughters).
















Sir Andrew Davis and my Uncle Stanley Solomon!

An Easter Egg Tradition Continues

The fun begins. Isaac and Joey were so cute. They were allowed to put the eggs in the dye but I told them it was my job to take the eggs out. They were both very patient. We had fun watching their eggs turn beautiful bright colours.














If you look closely you can see Thomas saying cheese. Thomas wanted to help decorate eggs so we decided to give him one egg. It didn't last very long. Thomas dropped it on the floor twice. That's when Isaac decided he and Thomas needed to eat the egg. Joey on the other hand thought eating the egg was gross.














And here we have it, the finished product. Isaac did a great job applying the eyes and mouths and hats.



























I wonder where we'll be decorating eggs next year?

March 2006

Year number three and Joey joins in on the fun.

March 2005

Year number two in Forest Hills, New York.

March 2004

The first year of egg decorating in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The Storm in which I got stuck

Ken is waiting to use the computer - so a quick post. As is my tradition I went to visit my sister and her family over March Break. On the Friday before I was to come home Ken phoned to say that my flight had been canceled and I needed to phone the airline. Then began my phone battles with the airline - over the course of two days and approximately four hours I tried to figure out how to come home. I finally secured a flight home on Monday afternoon - so much for work on Monday! And of course this was after being scheduled to fly on Friday, then Sunday, and then Tuesday. I thought it would be amusing to see the storm pictures. These pictures were taken in front of my sister's house in New York the day after the storm. Judge for yourself... was it really a storm? I suppose if all the facts were in evidence you would also know that there was no snow on the ground before Friday and it came down in the form of slushy ice, okay mostly ice.

Two Birthdays and an Odometer

So, which should I explain first, the birthdays, or my obsession with my odometer? March 10th is my Dad's birthday and March 11th is the birthday of Ken's Dad. My parents were visiting my sister so I phoned to say happy happy.

On the 10th we went and visited Ken's parents in Codrington. We had a lovely time visiting and enjoyed a meal at the Red Bull Pub in Cobourg which is the site of the old Cobourg jail; as a funny coincidence a bunch of guards from a local prison were in the restaurant having a charity card game.

Last year as the drive to work along the 401 got increasingly difficult to bear I began to notice anything to distract me from the drive - just ask me about license plates! One of the fun distractions - does that make me a distracted driver? - was waiting for the next palindrome on the odometer. Unfortunately I've missed the last few palindromes and pathetically I was disappointed.

After enjoying dinner we got into the car, I turned the key and what did I behold? A PALINDROME! Did I take pictures of our dinner together, no. I really meant to and when I saw the camera bag in the back seat after Ken's parents drove away I was irritated with myself. And then I thought, how better to capture the fun of the day...