TULIP IMAGES EVERYWHERE IN RICHMOND HILL ONTARIO CANADA

 One of the main reasons I love May are the tulips.

A quick capture of tulips at the Library on my walk today. Pretty in pink.

Well not tulips but a tree in a beautiful pink show of colour.

#tulipsinMay#pinktree#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

KNOWING HOW TO GET AN APOSTILLE DONE FOR FOREIGN ENDEAVORS

 Okay three trips to Service Ontario to get an Apostille done.

So what is an Apostille? Basically verifying that a notarized document in Canada with an English translation can be verified for use in another country.

In my case, Italy for the sale of the land there.

So if anyone has any questions about the process, I am your person.

#apostille#documentsforuseabroad#sellingabroad#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NOT TO OVERTHINK LIFE AND LEARN TO LIVE

 There are too many days lately that I want to be out of my head.

The concerns floating around in there  needing resolution. 

Lately, what do I do about the house. The complication with the road issue. I can not sell yet until that is resolved. 

Yes I know I need to downsize. The work is overbearing at times.

But there is an emotional layer. Adolph and I built this house together. He died here.

So to stop overthinking and just live can be a struggle.

How about you? Do you find yourself overthinking too many life events?

#overthinking#livinglifewithoutstruggles#ahousefullofloveandmemories#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HEATED RIVALRY OR OFF CAMPUS-WHAT ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE-WELL I CHOOSE BOTH

 Heated Rivalry came on Crave TV and the obsession began. The raves. The review. The cast.

Hockey players and their stories.

What made it so popular with women especially? Duh. Soft porn. Many women did not realize they could be aroused seeing two men having sex. 

Off Campus came to Prime May 13th. College and hockey and music and drama.

 Hockey players on a college team living in a frat house. Lots of sex and drinking and fun. Hockey and the presentation of how real hockey games occur. The friendships between them all.

What I liked about the story lines was how love evolved organically! Not through a dating site or speed dating but how people find each and begin a relationship.

Shane and Ilya started off as just casual male sex. Then it changed to care and eventual love.

The love story of Scott and Kip was just too endearing. 

Hannah and Garrett had a deal that helped them both get something they wanted that changed to a need to be together and then love.

All the characters- Dean, John, Jules, Justin and all the rest.

So why does a Senior lady like both shows so much. 

Well good clean entertainment. The cast in both shows clicked and as an audience member I felt the chemistry. Dealing with the dilemmas of old age they brought back memories of my youth. 

As a retired Social Worker, the social issues were presented tastefully and real.

The domestic violence Garrett knew. The rape for Hannah. The stories unveiled as they often are in real life. Logan's Mom with mental health issues. A layer at a time because the pain of all  is just too much. Like many traumas people do want to keep them buried in the past. But trauma has a way of creeping into the present.

Logan knowing why Hannah would not drink at parties with the subtle look at the open glass and giving a closed can drink to Garrett for Hannah.

Garrett as children often feel he had the trauma of helplessness and not being able to help his Mom. So real.

Dean the fun anybody's guy changing and wanting more.

Allie telling Hannah she was that girl and this girl and all the girls in between could have been said by a therapist. But it was girl power and friendship.

I found myself sad in Heated Rivalry when Shane's mom wanted forgiveness because he could not tell her he was gay. Like so many people coming out a bit at a time. Just wanting love and acceptance. Not knowing how to tell the people they love.

I must confess I have watched both shows several times with all  episodes and clips of my favourite scenes sometimes. It is something I do. I watch clips from several of my favourite romance stories as I navigate my life.

Filming both shows in Canada made it special. Heated Rivalry in the Hamilton, Ontario area and Off Campus in Vancouver, BC. Using local landmarks. I am sure UBC will never be the same again. And that cottage in Muskoka.

However, both BC and Ontario are the locations of many films and entertainment locations. Come back anytime.

Hockey. A Canadian symbol. Well I do have grandsons that play hockey so do spend lots of time at rinks.

What I really love is the cast from both shows have claimed some fame and notoriety in a wonderful way. Some Canadians, some Americans, an Aussie and well Ella Bright a British-American. I hope they all continue to grow in their professional life. Two actors with Italian last names caught my eye. Italian men can be sweet. A Toronto born actor too.

The music was so good by the characters. However I do hope the song in the finale by Ella makes it to the charts. It was so deep and meaningful

I do find it amusing that just Stephen Kalyn is a real hockey player and skates professionally. He would have so much to teach the others. I wonder how much teasing occurred regarding the skating skills of the other cast members.

I love the spotlight on Canada. It is a good and safe place to film. It seems all the crew contributed to the success.

All brilliant and talented. Their cast interviews from both shows are so much fun and delightful to watch.

Looking forward to Season Two of both shows.

#heatedrivalry#offcampus#hudsonwilliams#connorstorrie#ellabright#belmontcameli#filmingincanada#lotsofsexandlove#hockey#music#pubnight#socialissues#domesticviolence#sexualabuse#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MORNING WALK ON A HOLIDAY MONDAY

 I like walking because it lets me be out and still in my head.

I observe. Listen to the birds. Observe traffic flow.

I walk through Granpa's park and give a little hand kiss to the plaque on Adolph's bench. Actually I am just checking to make sure the plaque is still there.

30 minutes with my 2lb weights.

I like this walk as it is not far from home so I could get back quickly in a pinch.

The trees are in bloom. Tulips are up. The air is fresh.

Early morning is my favourite time. Less people and traffic. Although on  a work day there are lots of cars and people at the relevant bus stops where I walk.

So exercise. Meditative thinking. 

Makes me feel like I have accomplished something for my body.

#morningwalk#exercise#theparkplaqueforAdolph#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WORK IN THE GARDEN ON THE LONG WEEKEND

 So finally with some warmer weather, I was in the mood to do some pot planting.

My garden is overgrown so does not need any more flowers.

I have three pots in the front so cleaned them out and put in some flowers. I have one pot that has lavender that is a perennial so no need to do anything but clean out the pot.

I took my veggie plants to the back where I will plant some tomato plants, peppers, rosemary and seed some pole beans. 

Honestly I do not get a wonderful crop but it is fun to have a few fresh veggies.

My backyard is a real jungle. I am waiting for some bushes and plants to grow taller so I can use my hedge trimmer and cut them in one go.

Actually no one really goes in my backyard anymore. I do not barbecue so no one comes for an outdoor meal either.

I have my chairs and a little table for the times I want to read outside and get some sun.

So garden work goes on. 

#workinginthegarden#plantingsomepots#veggiestobeplanted#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SOLO EATING GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE CUSTOMER BEHAVIOURS

 I went for a late breakfast at Sunset Grill in Vaughan after my walk and planting some pots in the front.

It was one of the last places Adolph and I went for breakfast before we didn't anymore. Since yesterday was the anniversary of my wedding, it seemed fitting to go somewhere that reminded me of him.

May 16 1971 we are on a plane to Vancouver then another plane to Hawaii for our honeymoon.

I ordered my usual- French Connection- eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage and French toast.

So as I drank my coffee and later ate my food, I made some observations.

The two women in the table near me were former staff of Mackenzie Health where I had worked for 16 years before retirement. They have aged like I have. I did not say hi as I was not sure they would remember me.

A couple sitting together both playing on their cellphones and not talking. Eventually the man put his phone down but she was still on hers. I thought a married couple not relating. Not talking. Out for a breakfast together but not really together. As a widow, I wished I had my spouse to talk to me.

The table by the wall and front window had two older men, one with a Brtiish accent and the other was American. They were discussing weather as a Meteorologist would discuss weather. They were talking about prediction and forecasts. I think the one man might be Reid from the Anglo Celtic blog I follow. He had given a webinar on weather and family history a few months ago. He was also telling the man about how Pierre Polieve got his current seat in Parliament. If the man was Canadian he would have known the story.

Since I could see out the window, I observed some customers coming to the restaurant.

My waitress Anat was sweet and attentive. 

My venture out solo was good. I was hesitant to go but I am trying to get out of my comfort zone and do more activities alone.

Sunset Grill has been a place where I have gone with Adolph, Father's day with the family and just random occasions.

It felt comfortable and I will go again.

Now my next goal is Montanas for dinner sometime.

Yes I can enjoy my own company. 

#sunsetgrillinvaughan#eatingsolo#observingotherpatronsinarestaurant#myususalfrenchconnection#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro