Do any of you have a distinct song you remember from your childhood? A song so etched in your being that every time you hear it, no matter what the setting, it takes you back to a precise time in your early years, where you can chalk out exactly what you were doing at that moment?
See, I have one of those songs. It's from one of my favourite movies as a child, called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke. It's a really old movie, and I know a lot of you reading this are wondering what it's all about (I've also been talking about it to some of you lately).
It's a movie about this widowed inventor, his two children and a car (with the title name). He takes his children on a picnic to the seaside in the car, and they ask him to tell them a story. He goes on to concoct this elaborate tale of fantasy, with pirates and barons and and child-catchers (scary, believe me), and this car.
It all seemed so believable back then.
But in all honesty, this movie acted as my babysitter during numerous market trips for my mother. As the neighbours kept a watchful eye on me, I'd be perched on the edge of the couch and find myself lost in the songs and fantasy that came from the little box across the room.
One of the songs was performed by the lead actress Sally Ann Howes. She was acting as a doll on a music box, performing for the baron on his birthday. She sang a song that went something like this:
What do you see? You people gazing at me?
You see a doll on a music box that's wound by a key.
Now can you tell I'm...
Under a spell, I'm...
Waiting for loves...
First kiss!
You cannot see...
How much I long to be free...
Turning around on this music box that's wound by a key.
Yearning... yearning....
While...
I'm...
Turning around and around.
***
Her name was Truly Scrumptious!
But this song has become almost haunting to me lately. I mean, not in a bad way. It's just that as a child it was a happy song. I sang it all the time. And when I found the DVD at HMV for $6 on Friday night, I thought I'd have a chance to revisit that feeling and those memories. But as I sat there and listened to the lyrics, I truly thought "Wow... it's so sad!"
If you're interested, I found the clip on YouTube. Check it out if you have a moment:
xo
SC
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Sunday, 7 June 2009
They were dancing in the square!
Talk about a public display of shimmies and shakes!I spent the better part of Saturday night Salsa dancing in Dundas Square! You can read all about it in my article on Spotlight Toronto.
Friday, 5 June 2009
Tweet if You ♥ Toronto
I just might be called YouTwitFace one day. Thank You, Conan O'Brien.
As of the past few days, you might consider me 'active tweeter'.
It's been an interesting experience so far. I've been on Twitter for a few months now, but only as of late have I been an active participant. It's sort of a challenge, actually. You get 140 characters each time to say what you need to say (cue John Mayer - a fellow tweeter).
But if you take away all the hashtags and threads, spambots and pornbots that lurk and follow you around as you tweet, you might actually be surprised to find somewhat of an extended community.
Unlike a lot of people who use Twitter, I have less than 100 people that I'm 'following'... and less than that number follow me. But I like it that way because it feels selective -- as though those people have chosen me for a reason, and likewise.
Sorry Miley Cyrus, I really don't want to know about your latte conundrums.
But perhaps my favourite part of joining Twitter is what I've noticed over the past couple of weeks. Everyday when I sign on I see a selective dialogue of things that are strictly Torontonian. Everything from Mayor Miller tweeting about council meetings, to Adam Giambrone talking about the new metro passes.
But between the superstars and notables, there's something understated that's quite worth mentioning: the tweeters who live and breathe all the things that make Toronto the city it is. These people are always on top of what's happening in our city - from live restaurant reviews and exhibits, to festivals, and sometimes random musings... they've brought the pulse of the city to this online community.
What I've learned from Toronto Tweets so far:
Some tweeters worth mentioning are:
As you can imagine, with tweeters such as these, there's a constant dialogue going on, focusing on everything from current affairs and news bites, to advice on the best hot dog vendors in town. All in real time.
And now, to make life easier for Toronto Tweeters, there's a fairly new website that's been developed called WeHeartToronto.Com. Although it's still making the rounds on Twitter, it's working to build a database of frequent Toronto based tweeters, and putting them into various categories such as technology, living, news, sports, traffic, people, etc.
If you go to their website, you can click on any of the categories and get real time tweets. The site feeds itself, as it updates every time someone who's listed in a category tweets. You can see the tweet on their homepage, followed by the category that they live in.
I can honestly say that since joining and paying attention, I've learned more about this city and the people who live in it than I ever thought possible. It's regular people who love Toronto, sharing in the beauty and pulse that makes this city as amazing as it is.
xo
SC
As of the past few days, you might consider me 'active tweeter'.
It's been an interesting experience so far. I've been on Twitter for a few months now, but only as of late have I been an active participant. It's sort of a challenge, actually. You get 140 characters each time to say what you need to say (cue John Mayer - a fellow tweeter).
But if you take away all the hashtags and threads, spambots and pornbots that lurk and follow you around as you tweet, you might actually be surprised to find somewhat of an extended community.
Unlike a lot of people who use Twitter, I have less than 100 people that I'm 'following'... and less than that number follow me. But I like it that way because it feels selective -- as though those people have chosen me for a reason, and likewise.
Sorry Miley Cyrus, I really don't want to know about your latte conundrums.
But perhaps my favourite part of joining Twitter is what I've noticed over the past couple of weeks. Everyday when I sign on I see a selective dialogue of things that are strictly Torontonian. Everything from Mayor Miller tweeting about council meetings, to Adam Giambrone talking about the new metro passes.
But between the superstars and notables, there's something understated that's quite worth mentioning: the tweeters who live and breathe all the things that make Toronto the city it is. These people are always on top of what's happening in our city - from live restaurant reviews and exhibits, to festivals, and sometimes random musings... they've brought the pulse of the city to this online community.
What I've learned from Toronto Tweets so far:
- Torontonians LOVE their food. Seriously... I can't count the number of local chef references, vendors, lunch menus and bakery shop advice I've seen.
- People get excited about the sunshine because it means they can go out and discover a new gem in the city.
- Torontonians are passionate about local news. You may think no one cares, but people are paying attention to all the details in the city.
- We're a fairly happy bunch. Seriously - there's always someone looking forward to something.
Some tweeters worth mentioning are:
SpotlightCity - stories, photos and articles (and a foodie haven) from the folks at SpotlightToronto.com - for the people, by the people.
NewsFixTo - these reporters love what they do. Most recently they provided up to the minute coverage of the Bush/Clinton visit, that rivaled any of the major news networks in the city. Plus, they have Pins on Maps!
BlogTO - Always up to date and current - everything from events and openings to food blogs.
As you can imagine, with tweeters such as these, there's a constant dialogue going on, focusing on everything from current affairs and news bites, to advice on the best hot dog vendors in town. All in real time.
And now, to make life easier for Toronto Tweeters, there's a fairly new website that's been developed called WeHeartToronto.Com. Although it's still making the rounds on Twitter, it's working to build a database of frequent Toronto based tweeters, and putting them into various categories such as technology, living, news, sports, traffic, people, etc.
If you go to their website, you can click on any of the categories and get real time tweets. The site feeds itself, as it updates every time someone who's listed in a category tweets. You can see the tweet on their homepage, followed by the category that they live in.
I can honestly say that since joining and paying attention, I've learned more about this city and the people who live in it than I ever thought possible. It's regular people who love Toronto, sharing in the beauty and pulse that makes this city as amazing as it is.
xo
SC
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Count the Ways
By Wednesday morning I can say this has shaped out to be a long week, and we're not even quite over the hump yet.
But I take faith.
The other day someone was asked how his day was going. He responded with, "Good. At least I'm not at the bottom of the Atlantic."
Yes. As morbid and awful as that sounds, it's true, isn't it?
There were 32 countries represented on that fateful Air France flight #447 from Rio to Paris. For a list of nationalities click here.
Think about that.
32 countries.
228 people, ranging from infants to retirees.
One blogger I came across a couple of days ago called it a "whole world in a plane, now sharing a watery grave."
But I take faith.
The other day someone was asked how his day was going. He responded with, "Good. At least I'm not at the bottom of the Atlantic."
Yes. As morbid and awful as that sounds, it's true, isn't it?
There were 32 countries represented on that fateful Air France flight #447 from Rio to Paris. For a list of nationalities click here.
Think about that.
32 countries.
228 people, ranging from infants to retirees.
One blogger I came across a couple of days ago called it a "whole world in a plane, now sharing a watery grave."
-- -- -- --
I know a lot of you I've spoken to over the past few days are going through some stormy times. But please take a few moments out of your day to count your many blessings.
You don't need to be reminded that life is short - you see indications of it everyday. You don't need to be reminded that you've got one shot at this game - you don't need to come out as a winner, but you do need to be an active participant.
Try not to revel in the sadness that might consume you from trivial issues, but find beauty in the fact that you're a living, breathing, essential part of this world; and that you've woken up to a whole new day where you've been blessed with another shot at happiness.
Count the Ways.
xo
SC
Try not to revel in the sadness that might consume you from trivial issues, but find beauty in the fact that you're a living, breathing, essential part of this world; and that you've woken up to a whole new day where you've been blessed with another shot at happiness.
Count the Ways.
xo
SC
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