The Bower Blog

H1N1 FLU

Rightly or wrongly, as of last week I felt the H1N1 flu attention was hype and hysteria created by the media....until a 13 year old boy died in Etobicoke on Monday.  My fear catapulted; not for myself, but for my son who is a young adult, works on the frontline with the public and has asthma.  Just as I was texting him and encouraging him to get a flu shot this morning, our (very conscientious) Canadian government sent around a brochure "Know How to Prepare for the H1N1 Flu Virus".  Here is some of the information enclosed in that brochure.

Recognize the Symptoms:

Almost always: sudden onset of cough and fever

Common: fatigue. muscle aches. sore throat. headache. decreased appetite. runny nose

Sometimes: nausea. vomiting. diarrhea

SEVERITY INDICATORS

Shortness of breath, rapid or difficult breathing

Chest Pain

Bluish or grey skin colour

Bloody or coloured mucus/spit

Sudden dizziness or confusion

Severe or persistent vomiting

High fever lasting more than 3 days

Low blood pressure

Protect yourself by:

washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use alcohol based hand sanitizer.

avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand.

get a H1N1 flue shot.

keep common surface areas clean and disinfeced.

if you get sick, stay home!

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

Think PINK this weekend

Every October the CIBC sponsors a lovely event called the "RUN FOR THE CURE".  When I had breast cancer, it was a ritual for my friends and I to participate in this event.  The sea of participants, coupled with the pink t-shirts, hats and balloons, moved me to tears particular when the event started.  You could see pink for miles and you knew which people were in recovery or undergoing treatment.  We were the bandana brigade.  This year the Run for the Cure is taking place on Sunday October 4.  Even if you are not partcipating, it's worthwhile to stop down to Nathan Phillip Square.

Here are some breast cancer facts:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). In 2009: 

• An estimated 22,700 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,400 will die of it. 
• An estimated 180 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 50 will die of it. 
• On average, 437 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week. 
• On average, 104 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every week.

Probability of developing or dying from breast cancer
One in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime and one in 28 will die of it.

Trends in breast cancer
Breast cancer death rates have declined in every age group since at least the mid 1990s. In women aged 20-39, breast cancer incidence and death rates have declined since 1969.

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Our own family has no history of breast cancer, yet two of us have been treated for this disease.  My sister just finished her last round of radiation therapy this week.  She is my hero.  I would like to see a cure for breast cancer in my lifetime and walks like this help in the research of groundbreaking discoveries. 

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

                                                                                      

Sustainable Living

I have been yearning since returning from Europe, for a simpler way of life.  Take technology for example.  We as a society, appear to have a serious addiction to our Blackberrys and I-Phones.  I felt miserable in Florence when my son lost my phone and I could not communicate with Toronto to mitigate some last minute details on some home sales.  I felt even more miserable that I had to use his phone to text and spend his money; weird, I know.  Finally, when we all arrived in Calci, a small village outside of Pisa, I felt at peace because technology really does not play there.  It is a simple way of life-chickens in people's backyards and everyone with a massive garden in their small plot of land.  Unfortunately, there was no air conditioning and it was 44 degrees, however we made due with swimming and fans. 

This past May, clients of mine closed on a property in mid-town.  The home needed work, but the beautiful thing about it was there was roughly 1/2 an acre of land, L-shaped in their backyard.  From the moment I met MJ and Yanick, I was captivated by their story.  They had decided to take a year off a few years back, to bicycle around Europe.  Their trip was cut short by illness, but what a great thing to do....stop, smell some roses and experience our earth.  The fact that they beat out 3 other offers on the home they purchased was meant to be.  They had talked about gardening and creating an oasis for some time.  This was the right fit. 

On Saturday morning, MJ and Yanick dropped over to my home.  I was on my way out to appointments and was scurrying about getting ready.  They arrived with a big box of vegetables from their garden.  It is harvest time, afterall.  We chatted briefly and then after my appointments I grabbed a few of the vegetables and brought them up north to cottage country at Mr. Davidson's aunts'. 

That night, we chopped fresh tomatoes, onion and yellow cucumber (never seen those before!).  We covered them in oil and vinegar and chopped fresh basil into it.  Without a doubt, this was the most mouth-watering experiencing I've had since Europe.  No preservatives, just simple vegetables.  The gang could not stop talking about the tomatoes!  I had cherry tomatoes this year in a container-they were delectable, but alas, were gone when I returned from holidays.  I think my little friend and neighbour Jennifer, who is 4 may have pilfered some, but I can't be sure!

Next year......bigger garden and more time in it.

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

This weekend in T.O.

So, I have to say that Fall is still my favourite time of year, inching out Spring by a nose.  The thing about Spring is gardening and the hint of lime green that bathes our city in April.  The Fall brings falls fairs, festivals and we've been lucky with extraordinary weather.  So, whatup?

On Saturday and Sunday, the Business Association of Parkdale and High Park have the Polish and Ukrainian festivals going on in and around Roncesvalles.  Now I was just there the other day (my mom's family are from Eastern Europe)and Roncesvalles is a mess of construction, the most annoying thing happening in our city this past summer.  Check the Toronto Star today or tomorrow to see if it's still happening on Roncesvalles or if they've re-routed it somewhere else.  The food is amazing!

Again on Saturday and Sunday is the Queen West Art Crawl.  My sister Michele and I were in this show for years displaying and selling our mosaic glass work.  We were a popular booth, selling out almost every year. People liked the idea we recycled everything, including the glass and tiles we used.  Info about the crawl is inserted below.  My friend and neighbour, Ming Wu will be there this year.  She makes the most fabulous jewlery, Swarovski crystal, fresh water pearl-I love all of it, and it's reasonable.  THINK:  Christmas.  (Don't laugh-they start hauling that stuff out mid-October now.  At Ikea yesterday, I heard them talking about the Christmas display and where it would be situated next week)

 

Queen West Art Crawl

• Queen West Art Crawl
• 416-392-1038

• Overview
• Location

No need to tramp through the backwoods of Parkdale in search of artists’ studios this year. A multitude of performance artists—equipped with music, video and interactive stories—take to the street, and even businesses such as pastry shops and laundromats get in on the act, with art placed in shop windows and storefronts. Meanwhile, Trinity Bellwoods Park (790 Queen St. W.) hosts an outdoor art show and sale, and the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. W.) boasts art installations, a show for young artists ages 16 to 21, and a Super 8 homage to the ’hood itself. — Brent Ledger

When:

Sep. 18-20, 2009

Event Phone Number:

416-392-1038

Event Web Site:

http://www.torontoartscape.o...

Free Event

Location

• Queen West Art Crawl
  Queen St. W. from Roncesvalles Ave. to Spadina Ave.
• 416-392-1038
• http://www.torontoartscape.on.ca/qwac

 

Cabbagetown Festival

Information on 2009 is in the process of being updated - some listings may still have 2008 dates. Welcome to cabbagetownfestival.org: This web site is your road map to the busy schedule of events for the Cabbagetown Festival weekend. The links listed below will guide you into the activities that you want to know about. This website is hosted by Cabbagetown Art & Crafts as a public service. Any activity involved in the Cabbagetown Festival may request that its website and activities be listed here. Please contact web@cabbagetownfestival.org to submit your request. Locations in Cabbagetown: Riverdale Park: Arts & Crafts in the Park and the Riverdale Farm Fall Harvest Festival Parliament Street: Grand Parade, Pub Crawl, Wine Route and weekend street events Winchester Street Dance Theatre: Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival Homes in the Don Vale, Cabbagetown area: Garage sales and walking tours of historic houses Sumach Street at Carlton and at Winchester: arts and crafts vendor displays. Programme Details & Contact Information  |  Vendor opportunities Cabbagetown Art & Crafts Sale: a juried art and crafts show held in Riverdale Park. Open from Friday, September 11, to Sunday, September 13, 2009. For visitor information check the sales’s web site: www.cabbagetownartandcrafts.org. Cabbagetown Festival: General information and photos of the Parliament Street activities including stage entertainment, the Grand Parade, pubs and patio entertainers, and street vendors. September 11 to September 13, 2009. http://cabbagetownfestival.blogspot.com/. Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival: 2009 submission applications (deadline July 31), the 2009 line-up (online August 15), and a catalogue of past films and videos. Friday, September 11, 2009. www.cabbagetownshortfilmandvideofestival.com. Blair’s Run: A 3km mini-marathon to support the Cabbagetown Youth Centre held on Saturday, September 12, 2009. The Pub Crawl: One of Toronto’s oldest pub events, the Crawl visits a dozen unique Cabbagetown watering holes. Good food, entertainment, and brews. Art, Crafts, and Other Things Sale at Winchester & Sumach streets: an area for arts and crafts booths located on Sumach Street north of Winchester, operated by the Don Vale Cabbagetown Residents Association, Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2009. For more information visit the DVCRA web site or contact info@donvalecra.ca. The Wine Route: Fabulous pairings of the best Ontario wines and great food from the leading fine dining restaurants in Cabbagetown. The Riverdale Farm Fall Harvest Festival: From a day-long corn roast to a big city barn dance, enjoy the delights of the Riverdale Farm on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2009. www.toronto.ca/parks/riverdalefarm.htm. Walking Tours of Historic Cabbagetown: 45-minute walking tours conducted by knowledgeable local residents. Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2009. Cabbagetown Theatre Company: Live theatre for families of all ages staged in the beautiful chapel at the Necropolis, on Winchester Street across from Riverdale Park. www.geocities.com/cabbagetowntheatre. Vendor opportunities: Cabbagetown Art and Crafts Sale: a juried art and crafts show held in Riverdale Park. Open from Friday, September 11, to Sunday, September 13, 2009. For information and application procedures, check the sale's web site: www.cabbagetownartandcrafts.org. Sprucecourt School: arts and crafts booths located in a more informal space at the corner of Carlton and Sumach Streets. Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13. Information and applications from elizharr@rogers.com. Winchester & Sumach streets - Art, Crafts, and Other Things Sale: This is an area for arts and crafts booths located on Sumach and Winchester Streets, operated by the Don Vale Cabbagetown Residents Association. Right in the middle of the action and cost effective. Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2009. Contact Doug Rowlands at rowlandsdb@rogers.com or visit the the DVCRA web site for an application form. Parliament Street: vendor booths for merchants and artisans who have handcrafted or unique goodies to sell. September 11, 12, & 13, 2009. http://cabbagetownfestival.blogspot.com/ and doug@oldcabbagetown.com.

Harbourfront-What a Beautiful Place we live in!

This past weekend, we decided on a whim to toddle down to Harbourfront (www.HarbourfrontCentre.com) and have a bite to eat.  You see, there is a place called "World Food" and it's like an open air food court.  Latin America, Carribbean, Eastern European, South-East Asia, to name a few.  There are so many choices, you could eat in a different land about 10 times!  And then of course, there is ONE LOVE CORN...a place where you can buy a cob fresh off the grill or for the more elite, corn soup.  Lovely...corn's not quite there yet, of course, but they were lined up for it.

There is nothing more beautiful than this area in the summer; a marketplace of vendors selling their wares.  I bought knitted finger puppets as a homewarming for my small person friend, Scotty.  I picture him "talking to the hand" for hours on end.  Love Scotty.  The day was perfect; we decided to take a boat cruise around the Toronto Islands.  Touristy yes; breathtaking...also yes, even for this native Torontonian.  And you learn stuff about our city.  Did you know the Redpath Sugar Factory is green?  They pride themselves on being totally non-polluting and they are right on the water.  There are 14 grams of pure gold in each window of the Royal Bank of Canada.  That's probably why it's the smallest tower downtown; they ran out of gold.

When we got off the boat, we went over to the open air area where they had a DJ mixing tunes.  www.MakeItFunky.ca was rocking the afternoon away.  People were just lounging about in the fake grass, kids were breakdancing, young and older.  It reminded me of the beach in Italy; every Sunday, families would go to the beach and make it a day with food and family.  This had the same feeling and it was right here, right now in our great city.  Check it out!

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

Happy People...What makes them Tick?

 

I've been looking around me lately and realize there are truly not too many really happy people.  I guess to understand Happy Folks, you have to understand Unhappy Ones.  Years ago, I remember hearing a woman describe a study of happy people.  The study determined that the happiest people in the world are those with a cause outside of themselves.  What does that mean, a cause outside of themselves?

Well, simply put, it means that you are dedicated to something, anything outside of your own self thinking.  To fully understand this, take a look at some unhappy people you know.  What is their focus?  In my estimation, their focus is almost always themselves, their health, their love life, their weight, their hair or lack thereof....etc.  Unhappy people are self absorbed with anything to do about....you guessed it....themselves.  We all know these people; sometimes, we are even these people.  Whining, complaining, blaming, being persecuted by, you name it, they have it.

Happy people on the other hand are usually too busy to consider whining or complaining because they are dedicated to something or someone else.  Say for example, working with various charities, or feeding kids breakfast, or reading to the blind or even emersing yourself in a great book.  For a moment, for a lifetime, you are happy because the focus of your existance is not selfish...it is self-less, a very noble and HAPPY way to be.

I've been looking around me lately and realize there are truly not too many really happy people.  I guess to understand Happy Folks, you have to understand Unhappy Ones.  Years ago, I remember hearing a woman describe a study of happy people.  The study determined that the happiest people in the world are those with a cause outside of themselves.  What does that mean, a cause outside of themselves?

Well, simply put, it means that you are dedicated to something, anything outside of your own self thinking.  To fully understand this, take a look at some unhappy people you know.  What is their focus?  In my estimation, their focus is almost always themselves, their health, their love life, their weight, their hair or lack thereof....etc.  Unhappy people are self absorbed with anything to do about....you guessed it....themselves.  We all know these people; sometimes, we are even these people.  Whining, complaining, blaming, being persecuted by, you name it, they have it.

Happy people on the other hand are usually too busy to consider whining or complaining because they are dedicated to something or someone else.  Say for example, working with various charities, or feeding kids breakfast, or reading to the blind or even emersing yourself in a great book.  For a moment, for a lifetime, you are happy because the focus of your existance is not selfish...it is self-less, a very noble and HAPPY way to be.

Toronto: A Wonderful Mosaic of People

I like to use the word "mosaic" in my conversations.  Reason?

1.  My sister Michele and I are mosaic artists; we have sold hundred of our pieces at various art shows like the Distillery District and Queen West Art Crawl, to name a few.  We have taught (been paid and or for free, because we love it) at various schools in and around Toronto.  Glass and tile mosaic projects are so simple, we've had children as young as 4 and hosted  older adult gatherings, over lychee martinis, in a backyard.

2.  Mosaics are why I'm travelling with my son and nephew to Italy this summer; they don't know it yet, but I'm making side trips to ancient sites to view the mosaics.  Tee hee....they'll love it...not!

3.  We live in a town with a plethora, or mosaic of people.  This week a number of people that were sworn in as citizens stated why they loved Toronto (www.thestar.com).

Several hundred people take their citizenship oaths today at nine spots around the GTA. We asked eight to tell us their favourite things about Toronto.

1.
"The signs that say 'squeeze over' when the lanes are narrowing – I think that's so cute. We have strawberries in California but I like the Ontario ones grown here better."
– Suzan Gibbs, over 60, Sacramento, Calif.

2.
"I love to go to the Rogers Centre to watch baseball when I have the chance and the money."
– Gregory Wickramasinghe, 44, Kegalle, Sri Lanka

3.
"I live 500 metres to the beach from Woodbine Ave. and it is beautiful. On my days off, I can play soccer with my friends."
– Ivaylo Miladenov, 37, Sofia, Bulgaria

4.
"The multiculturalism. I have a Japanese friend married to a Bangladeshi guy. When I want to talk to Filipinos, I can have my own language and food to ease up the loneliness."
– Alma Balcena, 36, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

5.
"The festivals, I love all of the different festivals: the Greek festival coming up, the Beaches jazz festival."
– Taimour Ashfaq Malik, 38, Pakistan

6.
"I'm originally from the south of Russia, by the Caspian Sea, and I used to live close to the sea, so we try to go to Harbourfront and be there frequently."
– Alexander Shteiman, 38, Russia

 

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

Toronto-neat things to do, support or just plain kick back

I love summer in Toronto; always look forward to long weekends because a lot of people clear out leaving me to my city, kind of by myself.  Well, not really, but......

Here are some things I think are neat and worthy of participation.

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (www.torontooutdoorart.org) is being held this year on July 10, 11 and 12.  I love to just take a day and wander around; sometime, I take the next day too if I am particularly fond of something and it is still available for purchase.  You will find some of the best talent our city and actually, other provinces has to offer.  Check it out!

Ontario Place is absolutely beautiful, peacful and you can just wander for hours by the water.  We purchased a 2009 Play All Summer Pass (for 4/$49.00 each)  This lets you in (also to the exhibition when it's in town) and for your fee you get 3 X 5$ parking passes.  The restaurants are fun, lively and good and there is nothing like being by the water. Often we wonder over to the boats and pretend we own a yacht.  Good for about 6 seconds of laughs.  Ditto goes for Centre Island, although more of an ordeal with those crushing crowds going on the ferry.  Info:  www.ontarioplace.com

The Furniture Bank (www.furniturebank.org)  Not something to do, but if you're clearing out stuff from your home, go on-line here.  Here's their mission statement.  "the fact is, furniture is more important than you may think.  And it's even more so to disadvantaged families, women, children and refugees that are leaving a shelter or setting up home for the first time."  This is a great place to unload stuff.  If they pick up from you, it costs for delivery but not much.  Love this idea.

Finally and the recipient of the Toronto Community Foundation's 2009 Vital People winners, Rhonda Teitel-Payne has been growing organic food at Earlscourt Park for marginalized and underserviced neighbourhoods.  What a great gal!  Fresh veggies, fruit all cultivated in a community garden.  Google "Community Gardens, Toronto" to volunteer or money support these worthy causes.

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty ltd.

Living a Life of Integrity and Hard Work

I had a meeting with a realtor colleague today.  We are both veterans in our industry.  We've won battles and we've been beaten up by them (the analogy is fitting sometimes when we are negotiating deals) but the one thing we both have in common is resilence and an ability to persevere.  I can speak for myself that sometime it has been difficult.  It's been a brutal week for me, something I did not share fully with my pal.  And  I've realized more fully the older I become; anticipating disaster, which I am predicting in a situation I am entering into tomorrow, is quite often worst than the actuality. 

The thing for me is always, in everything I do......am I telling the truth?  Am I disclosing everything I know fully which may affect a sale?  Am I working hard for a seller or buyer?  Am I in integrity every step of the way?  Am I indifferent or indignant when people do not have ethics?  Do I buy into nonsense or do I hold true to what I believe in?  Do I go to bat for people if they need help in some way?  Am I loyal and true? 

If I follow my rules (above), then I sleep at night.  Life is way to short to live it any other way.

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.