Keanu Reeves and me

Remember how just recently I was in LA for the SCBWI annual summer meeting? And I met Editor Wendy for the very first time and we went out for a delicious sushi dinner in a teeny tiny restaurant?

Well, apparently, I sat within SPITTING DISTANCE and actually FACING Keanu Reeves for the ENTIRE dinner which lasted at least a couple of hours AND I DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE HIM! Sigh. How could this be? I even saw the Matrix twice. Plus, when you dine out in Hollywood, you're supposed to be on the lookout for celebs. How did I miss him?

After a couple of days of hanging my unobservant, inattentive head in shame, I decided to take action.

I contacted my very good friend Maureen McGowan. Maureen knows anything and everything about movies and directors and producers and actors, etc. She writes a mean film review. She even attends the Toronto International Film Festival every year without fail. If anyone knows how I can sharpen my star-spotting skills (obviously I need no help with alliteration), it's Maureen.

Guess what Maureen admitted? One year, at the film festival, she walked right past Keanu. He was close enough that she could've reached out and pinched him. But she just didn't see him.

Ahhh. The mystery is solved. It's not me. It's Keanu. There's something elusive and slippery about the guy. Probably we could be the only two people sharing an elevator, and I would still look through him.

Actually, it's too bad he didn't spot me at the sushi restaurant. According to an eye-witness, Keanu was very quiet during his meal and did not even talk to the woman he was with.

He could've taken a step and a half and joined our table. Editor Wendy is tres entertaining and no slouch when it comes to lively conversation.

Plus, Keanu and I have quite a bit in common. We both grew up in Toronto. He was a goalie for his high school hockey team. I took skating lessons. He was a manager at a pasta restaurant. I've eaten my fair share of pasta. Obviously, we both like sushi. Come to think of it, there are many moments when our paths could've crossed.

And whose to say they didn't...

My Town Monday: Little India, Toronto

I've never met a curry or a lentil or a samosa I didn't like. Plus, I love to meander and window shop and people watch.

So, while in Toronto, I was thrilled to squeeze in an evening with the sisters, wandering around Little India. Little India is found along Gerrard Street East, where it stretches for about nine city blocks. Strolling along, it's hard to believe you're still in a big North American city. There's a variety of shops, mostly catering to Indian culture. For example, you can buy all sorts of Indian wares from pots and pans to incense to books to groceries to clothing to music to very fresh spices. And there's a plethora of Indian restaurants.

I'm sorry to report I didn't get any decent street shots (it was bucketing and dark), but here's a pic of a vendor selling various snacks for noshing as you walk, including roasted corn, a very popular item.


Here's a clothing store.


Hmmmm...maybe after the next book...??? (Kidding, dh!)


And this is where we ended up, my two sisters and I. We had a delicious and, as you can see, inexpensive Indian buffet. Actually, this is a pretty typical price. We were a little disappointed that goat meat wasn't available. Still, we had a delightful time, chatting and solving the world's problems and eating far far too much.

And a little extra trivia: Toronto is a Mohawk word meaning "meeting place." T.O. (for short) is home to more than 80 ethnic groups. That diversity is one of the things I miss about living down here in Southern California.

I also miss my ketchup potato chips. And I can't believe how very polite you've all been and not mentioned how I forgot to have Child #4 choose a winner for that particular contest. Oh, or maybe it's that nobody really wants ketchup potato chips! Seriously, you don't know what you're missing! At any rate, we'll take care of this oversight tomorrow.

I will be out of town for next week's My Town Monday's post. I think I'll do my post from that mystery location. You'll have to check back to find out where I am. Ooooooh.

(From: http://www.buffalonews.com/lifearts/travel/story/427461.html,http://www.toronto.com/guide/visitors/article/375233)

My Town Monday is hosted by Travis Erwin. Check out his very interesting post this week on Amarillo, TX and helium. Also, he'll have a list of the other participants.

Toronto + friends

Yesterday, I met up with Maureen McGowan for coffee and a treat.

(Yes, yes, I know the picture is better of Maureen than me, but there are only so many times you can interrupt a stranger who's peacefully perusing the paper (a day for alliteration!) at the table next to you!) And, Maureen, I forgot to tell you how much I love your highlights!

Anyway, Maureen and I originally met online, and now we've met three times (oh, or maybe four?) face to face. She's fun and interesting and insightful and a terrific writer. If you ever get the opportunity to chat with her in real life, don't pass it up.

Something that's really struck me this trip is how easily I've fallen back into friendships. It's as if I saw these people a few weekends ago. When, in reality, I haven't been home in eight years (I will never go this long again, but that's another story). I think this level of comfort and ease despite a long separation must be a true test of friendship. I'm lucky to have these people in my life.

Thank you DM, best friend from high school, for arranging the dinner for our hen night. It was great to see JW and ST too. Thank you ML, roommate from my University of Toronto days, for driving down from Barrie.

And a huge huge thank you to KJ for the magnificent dinner party complete with hors d'oeuvres and salads and Swiss Chalet chicken (because you read on the blog I was dying for Swiss Chalet). And for inviting the crazy Bs from Newmarket. And thank you for chauffeuring me and my ARCs and my bookmarks around to various indie bookstores. I needed your cheerleading.

It's going to be tough to leave.