How I beat type 2 diabetes

I got some great medical news on Wednesday. For those who didn't get to flow the Myspace blog, I will give you a bit of backstory. On December 26 2011 (Boxing Day) I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I had gone to the ER because of a spot in my vision, and bloodwork showed I was "badly" diabetic, I still question can you by "goodly" diabetic? They wanted to admit me but I refused, I left the hospital with a couple of perscriptions and being told that I would get a phone call from some form of medical group, as I didn't have a family doctor that the time (A call never came) The diagnosis was really overwhelming at first, I cried my first trip to the grocery store not knowing what I could have or not have.

 I ended up finding a diabetes management clinic online, and timing worked out well, because even though they were closed a nurse Wendy who just happened to have to stopped in to pick something was there, and saw me right away. She set me up with a glucose metre to test my sugars, and showed me how to use it, Wendy fixed up me with an endocrine doctor  Dr Z. to oversee me. I got a basic idea of what to do food wise, and a follow up appointment with a nutritionist Nicole the following week. Wendy also supplemented my dose of metformin with glicazide (also known as diamicron).

For a person with well controlled diabetes your A1C sugar results should be between a 7-7.5%, mine was13.5%. A1C is a 3 month average of your blood sugars. To give you an idea when I was in the hospital my sugars were a 25, before eating you should be between a 4-7 and a 5-10 after eating. I was way off the charts. I hate taking pills, so right from the start I was determined to get off the meds. That was my goal, I very much had a can do attitude, I can and will reverse this. By mid March 2012  things were well enough for my to stop the glicazide, then in May, under supervision I reduced the dose of Metformin. By the end of May 2012 I had stopped the meds all together.
 

This was accomplished by radically changing the way I ate. I began to count carbohydrates, limited by number to 8 a day, and making sure to balance it out with protein, and making sure to eat my veggies as well.  The way it was explained to me, my dinner plate should be a 1/4 each of protein and a starch and 1/2 veggies. I made changes like eating half a banana instead of a full one because of the sugar content, switched to rye bread because there is no added sugar, switching to cheeses with less that 20% milk fat. Diet was huge, I needed to feel normal, so I went through the McDonald's drive thru ordering thing based on their nutritional info for people with Diabetes. Eating out for the first time was overwhelming, so I planned with Nicole, where I should go and what I should eat when I was heading to Toronto to see the show American Idiot. Here is a diabetic friendly version of fish and chips I made one night. I like to call it pink fish and chips, it is made with unbreaded salmon and sweet potato fries.
 

For a while it was a journey of discovery because I would find new sugar free or no sugar added items like Jelly Bellys, Twizzlers, ice cream or Reeses mini cups or even salt water taffy. Going through the holidays was a little tough like valentine's, I got through by making a diabetic friendly dark chocolate raspberry soufflee. (It was a definite change for me because I am the type of baker that likes making things like lemon meringue pie completely from scratch.) My mom was supportive though, she bought my no sugar added treats for Easter. For my first Hallowe'en I brought some no sugar added treats to work, because I knew there would be lots of candy. I got through it, here's a pic of some no sugar added treats and the soufflee.



 Alcohol was a whole other kettle of fish. I have never been a big drinker, but I am one of those girly drinkers who likes coolers and drinks where you can't taste the booze. Alcohol is basically liquid sugar and or carbs, so some modifications on what I could drink was in order. My metabolism changed as I result I can get buzzed off half a pint of cider, cheap but not always fun. It was interesting trying to sort out what wines I could have. I was so happy when I found out that Woody's makes a light cooler, that is low carb and made with sucralose! 

I also had to be more active, so it got to the point where I was using my Wii Fit 4 to 5 times a week for half an hour.  Within 6 months I lost 30 pounds (10 of which I have gained back sadly) all of this contributed to getting the diabetes under control. It is still a struggle trying to remain as physically active as I should be.

The fall showed that my A1C was in the pre-diabetic range, and when I saw my doctor in January 2013 she changed my diagnosis to pre-diabetic.I admittedly haven't been as strict as I should have been these past six months, far too much tasty but bad for me fast food, and the occasional sugary treat. On Wednesday, I was very anxious to see how the latest results would come back. I was really happy to have the doctor tell me I am not longer even pre-diabetic, and that my diabetes is in remission and that my A1C was 5.9%. 

This doesn't mean I can revert to my bad habits, or start having sugary sodas frequently again It is quite possible for it to come right back, especially if I gain weight. I am one of the lucky ones, because not everyone's body will allow them to even get off the medication, let alone reverse it. I worked hard to get to this point and I am going to keep it going.  As conceited as this might sound, I hope I can be an inspiration  to those living with this disease, you can control diabetes, it doesn't have to control you!

It wasn't always a picnic there were times when I did feel sorry for myself. I am very grateful I was diagnosed when I was, because had it gone undiagnosed my story would be quite a different one. I could have had kidney problems or lost a limb. I am also really thankful to my friends, family and boyfriend who encouraged and supported me through my journey, this sounds cliched but I couldn't have done it with out them!

What I did on my summer vacation.

I took the first week of July off because I wanted a chance to enjoy the nice weather especially because I work strictly evenings. It was mostly a stay-cation, but I spent more money than I wanted to even though I did as many free things as I could. (Because I totally needed that $22 Little Mermaid t-shirt with original poster art, really)

I tend to win stuff off the radio, movie passes, lunches etc. My boyfriend N. and I don't get days off together because of our work schedules, so that was a nice treat. We took advantage of it, and went up to Pentaguishine to check out "world famous Dock lunch". It was okay, (Webers north of Orillia is way better) The free gravy was pretty sweet though. We also checked out this beautiful Jesuit church, and snuck up into the choir loft to check out the pipe organ. I also manged to find a used copy of Book Five in the Mortal Instrument series.  (again spending $$) After Penetang we went to Midland and watched The Lone Ranger, just for a change of pace going to a different theatre. (I enjoyed it, the 2 and 1 /2 hours totally flew by) The we made our way to Orillia for Arby's and Target. I got a shirt for $1 from Northern Reflections because the one location was closing down. What can I say, I love bargains? Here's a pic of my famous lunch and the church.

  The next day, we took my neighbours Matt and Marilyn to a movie, because I won free movie passes with drinks and popcorn. We saw This is the End, it was funny, but not something I would see again. It was cool seeing Emma Watson, especially having seen in her in person at the Toronto International Film Festival last year (Siobhan won tickets to the premiere of Perks of Being a Wallflower, and we were front row for the cast q&a) Anyway prior to going to the movie we used a voucher for  a wing place and had a good appy sampler, so we didn't pay for dinner either. I had also got a free drink voucher from this bakery/cafe and N. had a pastry coupon for signing up for their loyalty programme so that was another free excursion.

I spent a fair bit of time at the beach too, soaking up the sun reading the Mortal Instrument books. I wore my first bikini in about 17 years or so. For those new to my blog, this is signficant because in the last 4 1/2 years I have lost 65-70 pounds. I also have a lot of body image issues because of the weight loss and struggle with disordered eating,

Of course there was some theatre involved. I went to the Toronto Fringe Festival and saw the show The Musical of the Musicals (The Musical) with my friend Siobahn. It was a really campy spoofy production. It had 5 different vignettes playing of the works of Roger's and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim etc. Each of the vignettes had the same basic plot a young ingenue can't pay her rent. I learned that the same team wrote Chicago, Cabaret and Kiss of the Spiderwoman. I really like Chicago, and do a mean cover of All that jazz, but I lost all cred last time I performed it by falling off the stage and twisting my ankle at a work Christmas party but I digress) You would have had to seen alot of the shows to get most of the jokes.

Before the show, I had gotten a little lost and found my way in the wrong end of the city, because the map said Clafouti -(this cafe I was looking for - was at Queen St east not west. Fortunately everthing worked out, and I made it to the cafe and to the show on time. I wanted to hit the cafe Clatoufi to try something called a "crookie". It basically a croissant with Oreo cookies baked inside, boy is it good!  I blame my friend Judy, because I never would have consumed the 500 calories, if she hadn't turned on the news when it was being featured. I would have never known about it. Something I had to try though, a once in a lifetime thing, just like the lobster poutine I had that day. Here's a pic of the crookie and poutine

Getting back to my bargoons I was quite excited to find the Kobo cover I have been lusting after ever since I got one for Christmas was on sale for $10! It is regularly priced $48, but I saw on the Indigo website that is was on sale, but the cover I wanted was sold out. I called my local store and double checked that it wasn't just an online thing, and it wasn't so they held one for me.I raced over in my beachwear to get it as it was near closing time. I am a huge Jane Austen fan , and have read all her work  (I still get emails from the Jane Austen Society of North America from when I was living in London, Ontario) I digress I really wanted the Pride and Prejudice kobo cover even though they are trying to pass it off as the first edition cover art. (It's not because any Jane-ite knows that P&P wasn't initially published under her name, but by "a lady". It wasn't until after her death that her identity was revealed. Anyway here's a pic:

                                                                                           
I ended my vacation at my Aunt Michelle's farm having a birthday barbeque for my grandmother Joan. One of the highlights was getting to hold a baby chick which I haven't done since I was a baby. Here's a pic of my Grandma Betty, Grandpa Dan and I with a chick when I was a baby and here's one of me from the farm.

All in all it was a relaxing vacay, mother nature co operated for the most part, because I was expecting a lot more rain.

Everything is Rent

So I have called this blog confessions of a theatre addict, and I have yet to really talk about theatre. I think it is about time I fix that. One of my favourite musicals of all time is Rent. My introduction to it was in 2005 when the film version came out. I was living up in Sudbury, I was so excited for this movie everytime I saw the trailers. I just knew I was going to love it. I bought the soundtrack before I had even seen the movie. I was at one of the first screenings, and that was it, I was hooked. I saw it at least 8 times in theatres. I wanted nothing more than to see the show on stage. I spent over $50 ordering the Rent Bible through Coles, and got the DVD the day it came out.

In 2007 I had tossed around the idea of going to NYC that summer for the first time. The day I heard that two of the original cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal (who were also in the movie)  were going to be reprising their roles of Mark and Roger for a limited engagement, I bought my ticket then and there. Funnily enough a fellow theatre geek Sara -who I met in a lottery line for the musical We Will Rock You- bought tickets for the same performance, just a few rows back from me. Rent was the last show I saw that trip, (having seen Spring Awakening and Wicked first). I was so excited, arriving at the show, I was third row on the left. It was everything I could have hoped. I was just so excited to see them. Anthony Rapp was one of my idols I guess, I loved his book Without You. During the curtain call I watched him send up three claps to Rent's deceased creator Johnathan Larson.

Afterwards the crowds at the stage door was insane. People that hadn't gone to the show, had lined up waiting to meet them. There was pushing and shoving. I was lucky and got my programme and Anthony's autobiography signed. Here's a pic of the stage door crowd:

The next time I saw Rent was on my 27th birthday, March 16 2008. It would be last time I saw it on broadway. as it closed a few months later. At time one of the original ensemble member's Rodney Hicks was playing Benny, I tried to talk to him, but he walked right past me, so I never did get my Rent bible signed by him. I had saved up to buy souvieners a little stuffed cow, a t-shirt, and a backpack that had a programme in it. The big thing about that performance is I got to see Karmine Alers perform Mimi, she was apparently Johnathon Larson's first choice to play her, but for whatever reason couldn't.Here's a pic of me and my Rent memorabilia

I saw Rent was a week later, when the touring company had come to Toronto. (I think Sara had tickets to that show too weirdly enough, as if they wasn't weird enough, the people I sat beside the week before were also going to the same show as they were Canadian too!) I had dragged my little sister who hates rent with a passion. The most exciting thing about that performance was meeting South Africian Idol winner Heinz Winkler. I totally made an ass of myself later, as I was going to my sister, I can't believe we met him, not knowing he was right behind us. Whoops! Here's me and Heinz

 That fall I drove to Newmarket to go see a screening of the final broadway performance at the movies, because it wasn't playing where I live. ( I can admit when I am totally geeking out, that was one of those moments) I ended up getting the DVD for my birthday in March 2009. One thing that is really cool is I had seen alot of the people in the recording perform on broadway. I was back in NYC for Christmas 2008, and I made a point of having a Rent theme and having my Christmas breakfast on Avenue B. (For those who don't know Rent starts of on Christmas Eve in NYC's east village) I had originally wanted to go to the Life Cafe, for huevos rancheros, but it was closed so I went back on boxing day (Huevos Rancheros are mentioned in the song La Vie Boheme which is set in The Life Cafe). I signed the Renthead register while I was there, I didn't even see it the first time I went to the Life Cafe with Sara and her friend Mindy after I saw Rent the first time  Here's a pic of me sitting at the Jonathan Larson bench with the heuvos:

The next time I saw Rent was in January 2009 in Buffalo, New York (Funnily enough Sara was there too, again we had bought tickets separately) Adam and Anthony were going to be touring with a lot of the  people that had been on broadway and on the DVD. Originally they were supposed to come to Toronto, but Buffalo was as close as they were coming, so I went. When I bought the ticket, I had originally got a ticket for the matinee, and it was a decent seat. For some inexplicable reason, I looked at evening show tickets, and found a second row seat. What does a sane person do? They go to both shows on the same day. So in the middle of winter, I did a day trip to Buffalo for Rent. I remember getting stuck behind the bus on the way back. Too be honest I don't even remember if I got Anthony to sign anything that trip, I took pics at the stage door. They didn't do any poised pics.

Because fate has a wicked sense of humour, Adam and Anthony eventually came on tour with Rent to Toronto the following January. Yes I went. This time I went to the stage door before the show. It worked out well, because I was able to get posed pics with both of them, as well as original broadway cast member Gwen Stewart. (All of them signed my Rent bible too!)  There is a really funny Gwen story that goes along with this. There was a small group of us waiting around for Gwen, and when she comes out, someone says to her "we're waiting for Gwen Stewart", then Gwen says "I am Gwen", the supposed fan replies... "you look different than you do in the movie" to which Gwen replies that she wasn't in the movie. Total face palm moment! Here's some pics of me and Gwen and one of me and Adam:

When Anthony was in town this trip, he did a signing at Indigo in the Eaton Centre, so I went to that as well. I got certain stuff personalized, like his cd, and autobiography. He also signed a calendar that he didn't know he was being quoted in. It turns out the quote about fearlessly being yourself wasn't even his. It was someone he was quoting.Here's me and Anthony and the calendar:

The last time I saw Rent on stage was a local production in 2011. It was a little scarring, I have never looked at the line trim her tree the same away since. The actress playing Mimi really sucked. It was an all white cast, so that was an interesting spin. I ended up working on another show with the actress who played Maureen.

I have some other occasions where I met some of the original cast members in different circumstances. Those who are a fan of Wicked <3 <3 and Glee will no doubt be familiar with the name Idina Menzel. (For those who don't know she was the original wicked witch of the west Elphaba in Wicked, original Maureen in Rent, and plays Shelby on Glee). She had her first concert in Toronto back in 2008 at the Danforth Music Hall. She did a lot of her solo music, with nods to Rent and Wicked. The stage door was crazy there must have been about 70 of us that waited around for the stage door. There was confusion though, and those who had been waiting right outside the doors got the shaft as she was ushered to her tour bus across the street and lost their prime spots. Despite holding my Rent bible high in the air, it remained unsigned. I came away with nothing, but disappointment, but I enjoyed her concert. I had barely got there on time because traffic was horrific it took me over 40 minutes to get from the highway 400 near the 401 to Yorkdale Mall where I catch the subway. I think the AC/DC concert that night might of had something to do with it.

Idina ended up returning to Toronto three years later this time performing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra which was conducted by none other than legendary composer Marvin Hamlisch. I can remember commenting to my boyfriend N, just think one day we'll be able to say we saw him conduct, I didn't know that moment would be six months later! I digress this was a little different, because the show was being filmed for a PBS special and for a CD recording, so technically you can say I was Idina's back up because the audience sang along during a couple of numbers like No Day but today from Rent, and Pokerface (Which she had covered on Glee). There were more broadway standards less original music which is a shame, because I think N. would have enjoyed himself more. He was pretty stocked when he met Idina's husband though movie star Taye Diggs. Taye and Idina had met while they were in the original cast of Rent, he played her nemesis Benny. (They both reprised their roles in the film version) Taye came out and did a surprise song and dance number with her, that was really cute, and Marvin had referred to him as his twin. (I remember thinking postively on the drive there  that he would be there and I would get to meet him. The stage door was alot better this time, it was indoor at the Royal Conservatory of Music. I actually got posed pics with both Idina and Taye, and they both signed my Rent bible. They were both really sweet too. That night at the stage door, I randomly ran into this girl Siobahn who I'd met in two months earlier at a book signing at Word on the Street festival, and we've been good friends ever since. Here's are the pics of me and Taye and Idina

This past December Anthony Rapp was back in Toronto, this time for his one man show Without You, which is based on his autobiography. I have mentioned this book a few time now, I better tell you what it is about, it is basically about his experience with Rent taking off, losing it's creator and losing his mother to cancer. (Total tearjerker ) I happened to be in the city going to see the ballet Giselle, and Anthony was going to be giving a free concert at Indigo, so I made a point of going. Siobahn had held a spot for me, I also knew that Sara was going to be there. As I was arriving I literally ran into her! Turns out she and Siobhan and met before, and Siob and told Sara about the concert, and Sara told me even though I already knew about it. What a small world! The concert was great, and I got a poised pic of Anthony and a signed copy of his show's soundtrack.

The next week I actually went to see his show, and when I was getting a copy of his book signed as a Christmas present for my cousin, he apologized for not remembering my name, but said he recognized my face. I was totally geeking out over that.

That is basically my story thus far of Rent. I hope to have all the original cast sign my bible one day, so far I am at 5 of 15. I will leave you with a pic:

Gatsby, playing spiderman, Swift disapoints and subway time warping

First off Happy Canada Day! Things have been pretty quiet lately no thanks to the fact my boyfriend N. sprained his ankle and hasn't been up to much. There is a bit of a back story. The day before this happened, I was an idiot and locked my keys in the house, so I had to try and spiderman my way to my back door twice. I successful got to the door, but couldn't jimmy it with a credit card so I, had to go get the N's key from him at work.

The next night, N. and I planned to go see a late screening of the Great Gatsby, which I had been really looking forward to. I was greeted with Honey, we need to go to emerg. N. had locked his keys, and rather than waiting the 30 mins until I got back, he decides to try and spiderman his way in and fell and hurt himself. The ER wasn't too bad I think we were in and out in just a couple of hours. It's been tough because we can't do everything we like to do like go for walks, it sucks especially with the weather being so nice now.

We did go see Gatbsy the following week. I thought it was great (cheesy pun totally intended). Visually it was beautiful, the music sucked though. I didn't really like the modern music, I rolled my eyes and wasn't surprised that Jay Z the music producer put his wife's music on the album. I have to say it was pretty faithful to the book, which I have since read. (I was never forced to read it in high school)

Despite things being quiet I have managed to get to Toronto a couple of times this month. I went to Taylor Swift's concert at the Roger's Centre on June15th .  As much as I like her music, I am left feeling kind of meh. I think the venue had a lot to do with it, I had never been a concert at the Roger's Centre before, and I knew I was getting nosebleed seats, but my experience with nosebleed seats at the Air Canada Centre is that you can still get a decent view and photos. I think I might spring for the better seats next time or just not go.  My view was partially obstructed, as I got the cheapest ticket I could because I am saving up for a trip so I am watching my pennies. The three opening acts were okay, they didn't really hold my attention, they were young guys meant to appeal to the teeny boppers Austin Mahone I think was one of them.

I was surprised how unfamiliar I was with alot of the songs, even though I had listened to Taylor's new ablum (Which I had won off the radio) in its entireity. The songs I know she did were Stay, stay, stay; 22; I knew you were trouble; You belong with me; We are never ever ever getting back together; Mean and Love Story (I may have rioted if she didn't sing that one ;O) ) Plus there were songs I have heard over the years over the radio, I was really surprised when she didn't do her song Fifteen or Mine or even Back to December.  I was even more surprised that she didn't do an encore. It's rare that I got to a concert of an artist I really like and leave liking them less. She didn't seem genuine at all, very fake "I'm standing here with 45,000 of my closest friends" and "if you've been to my concert before welcome back I've missed you" (can you just see my eyes rolling?) I didn't leave with one of those happy post concerts rush, OMG that was amazing.

The performance was fine, no complaints other than the aforementioned missing songs. She is talented, she played three different intstruments during the show. I liked the fact she had a separate mini stage near the back of the floor that she went and sang on for a for a few numbers. To get there she sort of crowd surfed with her dancers as she sang 22. She made her way back to the main stage walking through the crowd -heavily guarded- as she sang different song, and she touched peoples hands along the way though. I did like that part, I also liked that parts of the stage raised and the fireworks. There was a lot of theatricality that I did enjoy, she put on a show. The costumes were cool, she must have had at least 20. During I knew you were trouble, she was wearing this oversized white dress then, she had her dancers around her and then all of a sudden it was gone and she was wearing a mini black one when her dancers left her. I do like the fact that her outfits were appropriate I think, some were cutesy, others were a little more sexy, but nothing really raunchy. I have a lot of respect for artists that don't go overly sexy especially when they are idolized by young girls. Here are a few pics of the concert

 I think the last really big concerts I went to was Katy Perry and Judas Priest back in 2011, I've been to other concert's since then (Alanis Morissette (my hero), Idina Menzel, Jann Arden, Kristin Chenowith, Joan Jett, Amanda Marshall, Testament, ZZTop, Bangles & B52's), but they were smaller scale, in both venure and production. (I don't even think they removed the astroturf off the baseball diamond, I could see the baselines!  When I saw Katy Perry it was at the Air Canada Centre, and had lost of costume changes and theatrics, (Judas Priest was also at the ACC, as it was a metal concert, they didn't have costume changes or fancy choreography.)

Speaking of choreography, I participated in a subway dance party on the TTC  on Saturday with my friends Siobahn and Alex. It was SOOO much fun. We just randomly started to dance one by one to our mp3 players. It was awesome. We danced all the way from museum to eglinton and back again. The first train was one of the newer ones that didn't have separate cars and was airconditioned, whereas the second one was older and wasn't air conditioned. It felt like a sauna, but it was a good work out. I totally did the timewarp, jumping to the left and stepping to the right, and all the hand motions to the Spice Girls song Stop (Laura W you would have loved it). Siobahn had told me about it, and I dragged Alex along. I will leave you with a pic of the action.



My Aunt Melanie

Something I often talked about in my old blog with my Aunt Melanie. For those who have followed my old blog before, you would be pretty familiar with her. For those who don't know, let me tell you about her. She was my mom's younger sister, the middle child. She was more like a big sister to me than an aunt. We were only 11 years apart, in fact we were closer in age than my sister and I (who is 13 years younger than me). Today -June 19- marks 9 years since she lost her battle with breast cancer.

Mel was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer when she was 30 years old in the spring of 2000. The previous fall, she was misdiagnosed when she first discovered the lump. The doctor said it could have been from drinking too much coffee or the fact that she had a son in April 1998. This misdiagnosis may have been what cost Mel her life. By the time spring 2004 came around the cancer had spread, and she lost mobility in her legs, because of the tumors and was confined to a wheelchair. I had moved away to grad school in London in May and she died the next month. The last time I ever saw her was the day I graduated from university, I stopped in to see her and showed her my degree.

I say she was like a sister to me, because she lived with me and my parents when I was a kid. She and I used to drive up to St. Charles in her red Chrysler Daytona on the weekends to visit my grandparents, so we spent alot of time in that car together. One of my cherished pics is of the two of us with her car. My mom told me she was so mad when she left a can of 7UP in her new car and in exploded, I remember seeing the spots from it all over her dashboard. I can remember listening to MC Hammer can't touch this on cassette in her car!  When I was older I lived with her and her family the summer after my first year of university.

I still think about her all the time and miss her alot. I don't know if I ever really be over her death. It just seems so unfair that she was so young, 34, that is only 2 years older than I am. Scary. It's hearbreaking that she left her then six year old son behind. I try to think of the happy memories and stories: going to my first bingo with her, or going garage saleing with her, Something that still makes me smile is I wanted Alanis Morissette's album for my 15th birthday, and Mel bought it for me and sent it in the mail. There was a parental advisory on it for explicit lyrics and she highlighted it to bring it to my parents attention. Or my mom telling me when they worked together after watching part of Little Mermaid with me in the morning, Mel was singing Under the sea all day at work even though she didn't really know the lyrics. Or how she was so archnophobic she couldn't watch the scene with Aragog in the second Harry Potter movie.

In a random bit of weirdness. James Gandolfini  who played Tony Soprano died today of a heart attack. The Sopranos was one of Mel's favourite shows. While James' passing is sad and my heart goes out to his loved one, I can't help being slightly amused by the timing. I digress and will leave you with a one of my favourite pics of me and Mel and one of us with the Daytona.

The last myspace post about galas, write offs and the Book of Mormon

I usually type out my posts in wordpad, before I post them, in case my laptop crashes, so I do have my last myspace post, which I will repost here:

Settle in for a novel. Things have been crazy and this a long post. Yay! Spring has finally arrived! The flurries didn't stop me from wearing a supershort/sexy dress to a community theatre awards gala a few weeks ago. If you had asked me a year and a half ago, if I could see myself wearing that sort of dress I would have said hell no Just goes to show how things have changed for me. The dress itself is by black sheep, and was a fab find at Marshalls for only $20. There was something familiar about the dress, it bugged me for a couple of days until it hit me; the dress is similar to one Jamie Lee Curtis wore in My Girl (one of my all time favourite movies). I decided to accessorize with coral for spring, I tend to be all matchy matchy with my nails etc. I bought a some two packs of earrings and frankensteined my own necklace charm, by taking apart a couple of the pairs. My philosophy is that if I dress for spring, it will come.
　
For the gala I even had my makeup professionally done by this local guy who offers free make up application you just get your picture taken for his portfolio. It was very intimate having someone work that closely on you. I definitely didn't like washing off all that warpaint that night. I am not going to be rushing to have it done anytime soon, although the artist expressed interest in working on me again. Here's a couple pics of me all dressed up and one is a still of the My Girl dress.

I wanted to be free to come and go as I pleased so I drove to Vaughn on my own. It was easy enough to get there with my phone's GPS. Our theatre group had several tables, it was awesome to see people from various shows I worked on, even some from the one I am currently working on. It was very fancy, with a fake red carpet where you could get your picture taken. The way the Gala works is you have to pay $50 for a ticket, you find out the nominations that night as the awards are presented. It was expensive but worth it. The meal alone was awesome and worth it, there was of course passed hors derves, bottles of wine on the table along with bread, a salad course, a pasta course, then the main course. I had never had potatoes duchesse before and I am eager to try it again! I was a bad pre-diabetic that night let me tell you, the desserts were beyond. There was this ice cream puck stuffed with caramel. After 10 there was a pastry table, that was crazy. I had a lobster tail, tiramisu, and an eclair. I was quite pleased that my two hour reading was within range after all that. Plus ther was the whole awards aspect, our group did every well. We were nominated for 7 awards and won 3. Not too shabby. Here's a pic of the decor, main entree and the dessert table:

The way the judging works is that there are three different categories, comedy, drama and musical. There is one adjudicator who goes around and sees all the entries in those categories. There are the standard awards, lighting, sound, costume, best actor/actress, supporting etc. The adjudicators get to do something really cool, each get to come up with four awards like best props or ensemble etc. It was fun cheering wildly when we got nominated or won. I can't wait for next year, if something I work on is entered again.

I am starting to have anxiety about the show I am working on now. Lots to do and not alot of time to do it. The main person behind costumes and I haven't had the best of luck meeting up. For the show there is a hospital scene, I was sorely tempted to take a hospital gown when I was in for an ultrasound the other day. I was not a happy camper, because my appointment was at 11, I figured that would give me a nice cushion of time to still get to work on time, except they were 75 minutes behind. Fortunately I wasn't late for work, but it cost me a small fortune in parking. I wouldn't have felt guilty putting the hospital gown in my bag after that especially because we have such a small budget. I bought a special foot for my machine. It does a rolled hem, you feed the fabric through and it makes a very fine hem. Very useful here's a pic.
　

I have built some princess dresses for the show. My inspriation is that Disney princess mix and match. Each dress has a couple of elements of a Snow White, Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty (Aurora). It has been an interesting experience, working on them. One of the actress is bigger, and it has given me a new appreciation for why some clothing labels do charge more for plus size clothes. There is the cost, because bottom line more fabric is needed and it costs more to produce. I am not saying it is right or wrong, but facts are facts. Knowing that the dress is for a bigger girl it influenced how I designed for her. I wouldn't for example put the Cinderella hip poofs on her, because it would widen her. My reaction to this kind of surprises me, especially having been a large woman, and having made clothes for myself at that size. I think because I didn't have the direct comparison of having made a dress half the size for a very tiny lady. Working on costumes has giving me a different perspective on my body and I think helped my body image, because the numbers don't lie. when comparing my self to other women. I think it helps give me a dose of reality because I do tend to see the fat girl still when I look in the mirror. I have literally had all my measurements taken, it's helped alot with the way I see myself. How you see yourself is so important.

Overall I am happy with how the show turned out, there were a few mishaps opening night, but it is to be expected. I was really excited to bring my mom as my date, she hasn't seen any of the shows I have worked on before, so that really meant alot to have her there. This was also the first time I had a pic and bio in the programme. I am a total geek and grabbed a stack as a souveiner. Here are some pics of the princess dresses.
　

I have debated talking about this, because it is taboo, but upon reflection I don't know why. I don't think there should be a stigma about gyno exams, or anything to do with lady bits, we talk about periods and tampons in hushed tones. Why should I feel ashamed or embarassed to talk about this stuff? I went for my first pap smear last month. If you don't like my talking about my female bits you can stop reading. I have to admit I was really anxious about it, having never had one before. Especially with my body issues, I was worried about feeling self consciencious. Because it is women's health it is taboo, as I told my mom, it's not like there is a Berenstein bears go to the gyno. Because of a medical condition I have, I had to have an ultrasound as well, which I mentioned earlier. That's my rant. That wasm't so bad was it? I do have another safer rant about my doctor's office and the fact that they didn't call me to advise me about my ultrasound being booked for the following Monday, I only found out about it the Friday before when the hospital called to confirm. Lovely.

Moving on, N's cousin is in a new band, so we went and saw one of their first public performances. It was awesome, they really had the crowd going. I loved the chemistry and the music selection. I am a geek and took the setlist. I hope they do well. They have a 90's No Doubt vibe about them, that I love. The music is way more my style than his old band.
　
Other news, my brand new car was written off. On April 20, it was a really windy day when I was driving up the highway to a bridal shower for a high school friend, when debris, whether it was a board off the back of a truck or a sign something blew across the highway from the on coming lane and hit my car going across the front diagonally across the roof. My drivers headlight was smashed, and my wing mirror and antanae was knocked off. Needless to say I didn't make the bridal shower, I turned around and started the first of many hours on the phone with my insurance company. I had learned I made the stupid mistake of going for cheaper payments and a $1000 deductible. (That has since been fixed) Even though I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time I was going to have to pay out all this money, which was really unfair. The irony being I got a new car, so I wouldn't have to worry about expensive repair bills. It was still better than what the guy thought was originally around a $4000 repair bill, plus my insurance paid for a rental for me as well. Here is a pic of the damage

　

　

Imagine my suprise when I get a phone call at work that my car was a write off. It was going to cost over $10,000 to fix it. Getting written off turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. I made one of the smartest decisons ever when I was getting insurance, I opted for the $60 per year replacement value option. This basically means that if my car is written off within the first two years, I get full replacement value back. I ended up getting a cheque for 21,000 from the insurance company and I owed Ford less than that. I don't know if it was because of the estimate Ford sent them, but it turned out I didn't end up having to pay the deductible. Also I retain the resale value because I have a brand new car again that hasn't been in an accident.

I ended up getting the exact same car cheaper, but without the 0% financing. It works out to the same payments though. I feel like the salesperson just saw me as a dollar sign, because when I told her the other dealer would offer me cheaper, she didn't do anything about it even though she said she would. She must of had a good salesday the day before. I also feel bamboozled, because I found out through the total loss department of Ford Credit, they could have just switched the VIN's rather than making me go through another credit check and going for a bank loan etc. Not happy, I was ready to return the car when I found that out. We could have kept the same original deal, guaranteed it is tracked differently when they do a whole new deal etc. Bastards. It is just incompetitance, as if the business manager didn't know. I don't think I will stay with them when I get a new car in the future. On the plus side having a car paid off in 6 weeks looks really good on my credit rating. That's never happen again, unless I get win the lottery. It was stressful dealing with the insurance company, I had to drive to my brokers in Aurora to get the cheque. I was so paranoid about something happening to the rental and having to pay out on that. They were really nice and understanding about it.

The timing couldn't have been worse though for all this too happen, it was crunch time for the show I was working on and I had all this running around to do to the cops, OPP etc I had to go clean out my old car, which was very sad. It didn't help that I had a sore neck and shoulder. My left shoulder still bugs me a bit, as does my neck. I ended up going to the ER and having a follow up appointment with my family doctor. I am mostly okay, but when I was folding laundry it was really acting up after a while. It was also pretty bad having to do alot of hand sewing for the show with a sore neck, it definately burned. We will sadly have to unalter our borrowed stuff after the show closes. One of the things we borrowed was a vintage nurse's dress from the 70's which I got to try on. It worked out well that we were able to get that. One really neat thing one of the actress has the same medical condition as me which is kinda neat, you don't meet many of us with Turner's Syndrome.
　
Lastly I went to go see the Book of Mormon. I wasn't planning on it or excited when I saw it was coming a year ago, but when I heard the opening number "hello" I thought it would be a hoot. I can't afford the $130 regular price, so I decided to try my luck at a $25 lottery ticket. I lined up really early because I remember with the Wicked lottery the lines got cut off, and I wanted to be sure to get my name in. I was dressed in my newly homemade dress with a book in hand and was first in line. I just stayed positive and it worked, I won! They couldn't read my name though... I don't know why, but whatever. I had even teamed with up with a married man, who was second in line, his wife was busy and N. was working, so we decided to each put down for two tickets instead of one. The seats weren't too bad, they were in the balcony along the side.
　

Book of Mormon is definitely not for everyone. It is written by the guys who write South Park along with one of the guys who wrote Ave Q and it won best musical at the 2011 Tony Awards. I was surprised that they had female circumcision as a plotline. One thing I thought was really cool that the Mormon's actually took ads out in the programme rather than being all uppity about it. I couldn't help thinking that this could be the last show I see at the Princess of Wales theatre before they tear it down. I don't know if I will go see the other shows there. Only time will tell. That is enough of a novel for now. I will leave you with a pic of me and the lottery tag:



Welcome to my new blog!

This new blog is established with a lot of heartache. Previously I have been blogging with myspace for the past six years. That blog covered a lot of my adventures in the theatre either as a stage door whore, or as someone working behind the scenes in costumes. It covered my contact with various celebs like Daniel Radcliffe, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp,  going to the movies with Margaret Atwood on my birthday, fetching Andrea Martin's coffee, being snubbed by Stephen Sondheim. It was filled with various details about day to day life, concerts and events I have been to, my trips to Ottawa, New York City, camping, things you might forget about but make you smile to remember.

There were things that aren't always pleasant to remember like my car breaking down on my last birthday, my backpack getting stolen or my someone backing into my old car and smashing the front end and driving off.  There was alot of personal stuff like poetry dealing with heartache, the loss of my grandfather, and my beloved cat Hermione and rat Frida, my ups and downs of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and my weight loss, my triumphs as I am reversing it step by step.

It may not mean much to someone else, but it was the story of my life and it is gone now, as myspace has removed the blogs with out prior notification. To say I am heartbroken at the loss of all that would be an understatement, but this blog will just be a new a beginning, hopefully the next six years will be as blog worthy as the last six were!