Top Albums of My Life in Biographical Order

So this entry is a little combination of the beginnings of a sound track of my life, one of my favourite movies, High Fidelity, and a Facebook chain note that has been circling the web at the moment.

Top Albums of My Life In Biographical Order (so far... )

1	She's So Unusual, Cyndi Lauper
2	Private Dance Tour, Tina Turner
3	Colour by Numbers, Boy George
4	Like a Virgin, Madonna
5	Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey
6	Hangin' Tough, New Kids on the Block
7	Janet, Janet Jackson
8	Thriller , Michael Jackson
9	Dangerous , Michael Jackson
10	Get a Grip, Aerosmith
11	Very Necessary , Salt-n-Pepa
12	Frogstomp, Silver Chair
13	Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Smashing Pumpkins
14	What's the Story Morning Glory, Oasis
15	Thowing Copper , Live
16	Nevermind, Nirvana
17	Jagged Little Pill , Alanis Morisetter
18	Tigerlily, Natilie Merchant
19	Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt
20	Pieces of You, Jewel
21	Forever and Ever Amen, Ben Folds Five
22	Abbey Road , Beatles
23	Legends, Bob Marley
24	Live at Luther College, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds
25	Before these Crowded Streets, Dave Matthews Band
26	Kid A , Radiohead
27	Parachuttes, Coldplay
28	White Ladder , David Gray
29	Tourist , St. Germain
30	Best of, Janis Joplin
31	Electric Ladyland, Jimi Hendrix
32	Room for Squares , John Mayer
33	You Forgot it in People, Broken Social Scene
34	Let it Die , Fiest
35	Melanie, Melanie
36	Release the Stars , Rufus Wainwright
37	Naturally, Sharon Jones
38	The Budos Band II, Budos Band
39	Back to Black, Amy Winehouse
40	The Dreamer, Jose James
41	The Sweet Vandals, Sweet Vandals

Leroi

There are certain people in your life that you never think will die. I mean you know that everyone has to sometime, but somehow this minor detail seems to get lost in all the joy.

I remember that rainy night in Waterloo when my still developing at the time and now best friend and I were getting to know each other. We lay on beds on opposite sides of the room and he asked me to close my eyes while he played me his favourite band. It was Live at Luther and the percussive style guitar resonated with something very deep inside of me. I fell in love.

Later he showed me other albums and that is when I met Leroi. He made me fall in love with the saxophone. So much so, that I even rented one years later and tried to learn... The sweet melodies he would play filled my soul. I had the opportunity to see him live 18 times and every time was magical.

Ironically he passed away suddenly on my hubby's birthday. The man who made me fall in love with saxophone died on the anniversary of the day the man I fell in love with who plays saxophone was born. It may sound silly, but I do think that Leroi had a hand in connecting me and my hubby.

Now the summer tour dates have been announced, the new album is out in April and the quint is a quart. The right side of the stage will seem empty and the album will sound... well I don't know how it will sounds, I let you know in April.

Dear Leroi. You were deeply loved by so many and will be missed. Your fan, Me.

First Goal Met

Yesterday I accomplished the first challenge of my fitness goals.
I got the towel at Hart House to fit around me after a shower.
I knew that this would be a true measure (as opposed to weight
on a scale) that I am infact actually getting smaller.

It's happening! It's really happening! Hubby notices too that
I am getting much more firmer and shrinking. Yay!

I went salsa dancing with a friend last night and I am not meant
to salsa dance. I went for my friend and to try something newish.
There was a lesson before the night started and I really liked our
teacher. However, once the music started I could barely keep up for
one song. This is an activity that was not meant for this little girl.
It was fun to learn something new though.

It snowed last night and while I was walking home from the bus
stop it felt like I was in a snow globe. The snow glittered as
it fell and the sky was so pretty. The snow was soft and light
and I kicked it all the way home. I made fresh tracks of snow
and realized how rare it is to get to lay fresh tracks down in
the city.

Nota Bene

Last night hubby and I went to check out Rusalka. Our first Czech opera and it was interesting, but not what we expected. There were definite cool moments and the set design was quite amazing.

Before the show we tried a new restaurant for us called Nota Bene. I must confess that when I heard the executive chef there was David Lee, I slightly pushed for this to be the restaurant pick for the night.

It was exquisite!!! My first David Lee meal and boy oh boy did it live up to my every expectation (Unlike Rusalka...)

The atmosphere of the environment was perfect. Sweet Vandals and St. Germain on the stereo, business young professionals grabbing a cocktail on their way home and lovely lighting. Not too bright, not too dark. The restaurant was a buzz and full, yet I could whisper to hubby and have a private conversation. We sat in a recessed booth in the lounge that allowed us to have a lovely view of Queen St. while we ate, yet the privacy to have a few kisses too. Amazing!!!

The service was impeccable! No upselling, no pretentiousness, no snobbery, no judgement, no being in our faces either! Just good old fashion attention when we need it and knowledgeable recommendations when asked. Oh! and they didn't force bottled water down our throats either!

The food. THE FOOD! Oh my goodness... THE FOOOOODDD!!! It was devine. I imagine that is what it is like to eat in heaven everyday. For starters I had the tuna tartare with avocado and crispy shallots. It looked like art and tasted like an event that was happening on my tongue. Incredible. Hubby had butter nut squash soup with pecans. Delicious, not too big, not too small... Goldi-freaking-locks perfect. For mains I had the short ribs and hubby had the mushroom pasta. Both perfect in every way and so delicious. For dessert, caramel pudding with vanilla and citrus. It very truly was the perfect finish.

I left feeling so happy and content and thought, that was pleasantly uneventful, until one of the servers bumped into me and an entire tray of glasses smashed on to the floor. That made it an official me event, and hubby embarrassed, yet lovingly let me know it was okay. Apparently I left my grace somewhere and have yet to find it.