My view of Toronto: Tree of life

Spotted in the concrete alley – a tree of life.

photo: Dundas Street West neighbourhood, July 2009 by WH

memories of the ’80s – Sixteen Candles

The directorial debut of John Hughes, Sixteen Candles set the stage for his beloved series of teen movies of the mid-1980s, dealing with the humour, angst, ridiculousness and the complexity that is teenage life.

Hughes had been a writer at National Lampoon Magazine and had penned the very successful National Lampoon Vacation which cemented his love within the Hollywood fold. He parlayed his memories of his teen years to create Sixteen Candles. Growing up and graduating in Illinois, the Chicago-area became the setting for the trials and tribulations of Sam, Ted the Geek and Jake Ryan.

Molly Ringwald portrayed Sam, who is excited about turning 16, although her entire family forgets, consumed with the impending marriage of her big sister Ginny the next day. Sam suffers through the injustice of her family’s ignorance and the day in the life of being a teenager in highschool as well as the attentions of Anthony Michael Hall, aka Ted the Geek.

Filled with funny dialogue, hilarious situations and painful scenes, Sixteen Candles was a moderate success for Hughes, with lots of positive film critic reviews and good box office returns. But as the first of his series, this Hughes teen movie set the stage for his use of Ringwald and Hall in other films and for his favoured use of John Cusack and his sister Joan Cusack. One of the favoured bits of trivia – both Ringwall and Hall were 16 when the film was released in 1984.

For any teenager, this movie was a slice of their life on the big screen. The misunderstandings created by parents seemingly ignorance of the reality of life, the absolute obsession that a teen girl can have for a boy who she thinks barely knows of her existence, the house party and my favourite, the highschool dance and all its players.

The soundtrack fed off the top 40 radio faves such with songs by Oingo Boingo, The Specials, Kajagoogoo, Spandau Ballet and Nick Heyward as well as Ted the Geek’s rendition of Happy Birthday a la The Beatles.

I remember going to see this film at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Kamloops – and laughing at the life of Sam, and her dealings with the Geek as well as her obsession for Jake Ryan. I understood Sam although I couldn’t imagine having my entire family forget my birthday, but then neither could Sam. I still wistfully think of the lace worn to school dances, the braces that I sported until was in senior high school and that elusive boy that was my obsession at that age.

When John Hughes passed away a few months ago, I watched Sixteen Candles on television and realized again why I loved the film – for its depiction of strength and weakness and the delicate balance of trying to handle both as you go from teen to adult. 

Meeting of the oceans

With the volcanic black sand, this beach on St. Kitts is the spot where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea.

photo: St. Kitts December 2008 by WH

memories of the ’70s – Adidas gym bag

Girls have many options for carrying their stuff – from purses to messenger bags, from hobo bags to backpacks. For guys of the 1970s, it was the Adidas gym bag. This simple bag carried everything for school.

Most guys I knew had this bag – in combinations of red/blue, blue/dark blue, yellow/blue, brown/white and green/blue.

Simple in its design , the bag sported one zipper and no pockets of any form. It had a small area to put your name and the Adidas logo on the side. It was the carry-all that all guys seem to want – easy to use, stuff it in and you’re on the go – whether its to carry to school or throw in the back of your buddy’s car. It may have been a trend that came from the athletes of the school, but it wasn’t just their option – every guy seemed to have a version of this bag, ready for lunch, snacks, clothes, binders and books.

I never wanted this bag. I didn’t think it was stylish or feminine. It wasn’t in colours I liked or in an acceptable size for my use. But somehow its simplicity was a favourite amongst guys, who don’t really discuss the bag in any way the way a girl would talk about her purse.

Adidas, a venerable German sportswear company, has been creating sportswear since the late 1940s and has been favourite amongst athletes for its stylish and practical shoes, clothing and accessories. But in the 1970s, this simple athletic bag became the go to option for teen boys, a fashionable trend spoken about by women, but created by men.

Preferred Beauty – LaLicious Sugar Kiss Body Oil

With the sweet scent of vanilla, citrus and rose , LaLicious body oil can transport you out of the winter doldrums.

Free of sulphates and parabens, the Sugar Kiss oil is a mxiture of natural coconut oil and macadamia nut oil, which moisturizes and absorb easily, and a touch of almond and vitamin E oil to help smooth skin against the effects of winter.

This versatile body oil can be used in the bath, as a conditioner for hair, a moisturizer for cuticles, used a shaving cream and as a eye makeup remover.

www.lalicious.com

A view from the Peak, Hong Kong

The amazing density and skyscrapers that make up Hong Kong island as seen from The Peak.

memories of the ’80s – Come on Eileen

Each year is filled with songs that are endlessly played on radio – and then eventually known as the one hit wonder for the band. In 1983, Dexys Midnight Runners did this with Come on Eileen.

Formed in the late 1970s, Dexys Midnight Runners was named after a popular drug Dexedrine, which fueled many to dance all night long in the clubs. Kevin Rowland and Kevin Archer collected several musicians together to record their first single ‘Dance Stance’. Soon followed by ‘Geno’, and inspired by singer Geno Washington, the band had their first hit number one single in England in 1980.

Signing with EMI, the band went into the studio to work on their first album, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels. Although their first single There There My Dear, was a hit, the second single chosen by Rowland was a failure. Most of the members quit, angry with Rowland’s desire to not want to be part of the pop establishment and still spout his politics.

Continued strife within the band and with their record label prompted Rowland to change the image of the group, now wearing hooded sweatshirts and boxing boots, looking more like athletes than musicians. Rowland encouraged the new band members to take up boxing and start a fitness regime to keep the fighting spirit alive.

In 1982, Rowland brought in fiddle players, known as The Emerald Express, and recorded Too-Rye-Ay with strong influences of Celtic folk sounds. The band’s image was changed again, with members wearing loose denim overalls, scarves, and leather vests to give a scruffy, off the farm image, polar opposite of the New Romantic style.

The second single Come on Eileen went to the top of the charts in the UK in 1982 and soon followed success in Australia, the US and Canada in 1983. The video, directed by Julian Temple (check it out) shows the scruffy band running around the deserted streets of a working class neighbourhood. It became a favourite on video shows around the world and was played endlessly on radio and in the clubs. The band won Best British Single at the Brit Awards in 1983.

I was happily on this bandwagon, and bought the single of Come on Eileen. I couldn’t afford to buy the album and probably was glad I never did save up the money, with my attention grabbed by the next hot single that came along. Dexys Midnight Runners continued to produce music and tour in the UK, and in 1985 returned with an album that died quickly on the charts. Rowland refused to release a single which hastened its demise and the band broke up.

Years later, during a business trip to Montreal, my colleague Lina let me know she wasn’t a fan of the song. As our group ended up in a dance club, we decided to pull a prank on her, as she had been proclaiming how she was happy with her life and was looking forward to her 40^th birthday. A discreet visit to the dj and the club filled with the sounds of Come on Eileen, dedicated to Lina on her 40^th birthday. We all laughed at her reaction as she danced to the song and for a moment I was transported back to 1983, when I would play the single on my stereo over and over.

The art of Washington DC

One of many sculptures seen walking from the Lincoln Memorial towards the other war memorials – this one is dedicated to the participation of women in the wars.

memories of the ’70s – The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries

An avid reader of the stories of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, I was happy when the sleuths came to television in 1977. Each week, Frank & Joe Hardy or Nancy Drew would be drawn into a mystery they would handily solve by the end of the hour.

At the library, I had been encouraged to read the Nancy Drew series and was challenged by the numerous yellow-spine books that lined the shelf. I soon noticed the blue spine line up of stories involving the Hardy brothers and wanted to conquer that long list too.

As the tv show came on each week, viewers loved the ability to see teen idol Shaun Cassidy, who had a hit single on radio. Fans soon began to adore Parker Stevenson as his older brother and Pamela Sue Martin as the feisty Nancy. Each show started with the characters running through a maze, and when they reached the end, the announcer would let you know which mystery was airing that week and starring which young sleuth(s).

Produced by Glen A. Larson, the formula of alternating characters each week worked well in the first season, keeping viewers intrigued with who would be solving the mysteries such as The Mystery of Pirate’s Cove or The Mystery of the Ghostwriters Cruise. First airing in January 1977 on ABC, the series continued for three seasons.

Nancy’s father Carson, her best friend George and her friend Ned would always get drawn into the drama of her pursuit of truth. Frank and Joe’s Dad Fenton as well as their Aunt Gertrude and friend Callie provided the support as they emulated their private investigator father’s skills.

Singer Rick Springfield appeared as Nancy’s boyfriend Ned in one episode and other known names that made guest appearances during the series include Jamie Lee Curtis, Jaclyn Smith, Robert Wagner, Mark Harmon, Kim Cattrall and Melanie Griffith.

I loved the intrigue and confusion, the pursuit and resolution. I would pretend to conjure up situations at school that would emulate what had happened during the mystery the night before, inserting my schoolmates as possible doers of right and wrong.

By the end of the second season, Pamela Sue Martin had been replaced by Janet Louise Johnson and by the third season, the show was renamed The Hardy Boys Mysteries. My loyalty to Nancy was strong, but I still watched the brothers battle as agents for the Justice Department, but missed Nancy and her curiosity for what was going on.

Preferred Beauty – Vaseline Sheer Infusion

As the weather turns cooler and wind and rain seem to become the norm for autumn days, your skin probably wonders what’s going on. Then it says – aha! It’s autumn – I need more moisture. And indeed it does. So after a shower or a soak in the tub, treat your body to Vaseline Sheer Infusion.

This new moisturizer hydrates all three layers of the skin, with its unique Stratys-3 moisturizing complex, including GQ (glycerol quat), glycerin and HEU (hydroxy ethyl urea). Used daily, this body lotion will hydrate skin and encourage it to attract and hold moisture, making skin feel silky and smooth.

Available in three formulations – Botanical contains cypress, eucalyptus extract and a scent of apple and mandarin; Mineral has the scent of pear and bergamot while Vitamin features B5, E and the scents of citrus and red currant.

www.vaseline.com