Book ~ "The Life Crimes and Hard Times of Ricky Atkinson, Leader of the Dirty Tricks Gang: A True Story" (2017) Richard Atkinson

From Goodreads ~ A sober memoir that provides a solid understanding of how crime is situated in structural, cultural, historical and situational contexts. 

This is the life story of Ricky Atkinson, leader of the Dirty Tricks Gang, who grew up fast and hard in one of Toronto’s toughest neighborhoods during the social ferment of the Sixties, during the fledgling Black Power Movement in Canada. His life was made all the more difficult coming from a black, white and aboriginal mixed family. Under his leadership, the gang eventually robbed more banks and pulled off so many jobs, that it is unrivaled in Canadian history. 

Follow him from the mean streets to backroom plotting, to jail and back again as he learns the hard lessons of leadership, courage and betrayal. Today, after reconciling his past and life, he works to educate youth and people from all backgrounds about the no-win choice of being a criminal. 

Ricky Atkinson is a criminal (former criminal?) here in Toronto.  His father's family was Black and aboriginal from Nova Scotia and his mother was white and from Sudbury, ON.  His homelife was turbulent and at a very young age he turned to crime (he grew up not to far from where I live).  Ironically his father was influential in cleaning up Alexander Park (Bathurst/Dundas) when it was full of guns and gangs (a housing project was named in his honor).

Ricky was the head of a gang called the Dirty Tricks Gang during the 1970s and 1980s.  They were involved in many bank and credit union robberies, jewellery heists and drug running.  The police understandably hated him and his gang and were always turning on the heat.  Ricky has spent more than half of his life (he was born in 1955) behind bars in various prisons and jails, mostly in Ontario.

While I found his story interesting, I didn't find him likeable.  It sounds like he was quite intelligent and was encouraged to do good along the way but chose not to, which I found frustrating.  He had friends who were killed, he fathered children that he didn't get to spend a lot of time with because he was incarcerated so much and he was always watching his back.

This book could have been edited better as there are typos.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

College Falafel, Toronto, ON

It was 35 years ago this week I moved from Nova Scotia to Toronto. To celebrate my move-aversary, I picked up a couple east coast donairs for lunch today at my usual spot, College Falafel (at Ossington Avenue and College Street).  

There are a wide variety of condiments but traditionally a donair has meat, tomatoes, onions and donair sauce.  The donair is served in a pita pocket.  The meat was good and tender and the sauce was tasty.  I got mine with tomatoes (I'm not a fan of onions) and Gord's had onions (he's not a fan of tomatoes).

Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

I spent this morning volunteering with Toronto Street Cats building cat shelters.  The workshops are held throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society.

It's my fourth year volunteering with them ... it's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR).

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

There are lots of strict protocols to follow ... we were all socially distanced and required to wear masks. We built some cat shelters and also refurbished some.

Me and my pal, Darlene

We taped the insulated walls together in the bins and then taped the tubing entrances ... I started with the first part (I like it better) then moved on to taping the tubing to the shelters.  Thom cut the tubing for the entrance ways, cut the Styrofoam for insulated walls and drilled holes into the bins after the insulated walls had been taped inside.  Judy put the straw in the bins and closed them up.

Before

After

Book ~ "Missing Molly" (2018) Natalie Barelli

From Goodreads ~ Everyone has secrets and Rachel Holloway is no exception. She’s worked hard to keep the past where it belongs: dead and buried. And so far, she’s been very successful.

But now the small newspaper where she works wants to produce a podcast on a cold case: the disappearance twelve years ago of little Molly Forster.

Some secrets should never see the light of day, and as far as Rachel is concerned, whatever happened to little Molly is one of them. Rachel has a life now, a boyfriend she loves and a three-year-old daughter she adores, and she will do anything to protect them.

But to do that, no one can ever know that she is Molly Forster.

When Molly was 12, her parents and older sister were brutally murdered and Molly saw it all ... and then disappeared.  A mentally challenged man was found full of blood holding her dead sister and was arrested.  Before he could go to trial, he was found hanging in his cell of an apparent suicide and the case was closed.  Everyone has wondered, though, what happened to Molly.

Rachel works for a small newspaper which will soon be shutting down.  They come up with the idea of creating a series of podcasts to draw an audience with the first focus being on where Molly is.  Rachel doesn't want this to happen because she is Molly.  She had run away because she knew she was in danger since she had witnessed what had really happened that night.  She never returned after that night and has been living under a different name all these years, and even has a long-term boyfriend and a young daughter.  When she sees the podcast isn't going away, she manages to get herself involved in the podcast so she can try and control it so no one will find out the truth.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I liked it.  The story is told in first person perspective from Rachel's point of view.  Since she spent so many years living on the street, I found some of the decisions she made unbelievable.  I like the writing style and found it flowed well.  The editing could have been better as there were a couple typos.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

Blaze Pizza, Toronto, ON (Dundas E)

I had lunch today at Blaze Pizza (at Yonge Street/Dundas Street E) ... it's been a while since I've been there.

You can order one of their signature pizzas or build your own ... I built my own.  There are lots of ingredients to choose from.

That's my pizza ... with regular sauce, extra mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, ham, bacon and tomatoes.  It was good!

A pizza takes just 180 seconds to cook!

The staff were really friendly!

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens. They are fun to make.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Book ~ "You Will Remember Me" (2021) Hannah Mary McKinnon

From Goodreads ~ He wakes up on a deserted beach in Maryland with a gash on his head and wearing only swim trunks. He can't remember who he is. Everything - his identity, his life, his loved ones - has been replaced by a dizzying fog of uncertainty. But returning to his Maine hometown in search of the truth uncovers more questions than answers.

Lily Reid thinks she knows her boyfriend, Jack. Until he goes missing one night, and her frantic search reveals that he's been lying to her since they met, desperate to escape a dark past he'd purposely left behind.

Maya Scott has been trying to find her estranged stepbrother, Asher, since he disappeared without a trace. Having him back, missing memory and all, feels like a miracle. But with a mutual history full of devastating secrets, how far will Maya go to ensure she alone takes them to the grave?

A man wakes up on a beach in Maryland wearing just a pair of shorts and no ID.  He has a head injury and can't remember who he is or where he is.  He's wearing a watch that indicates his name is Brad.  For some reason, he thinks he's from Maine so manages to sneak a ride there, hoping he can figure out who he is.  Once there, he discovers his name is actually Asher and his stepsister, Maya, is overjoyed to have him home and take care of him.

Lily and Jack have been dating for a couple years and she's frantic when he disappears.  The police suspect she may be involved so she does some sleuthing on her own and discovers that Jack is actually Asher and travels to Maine to find out why he had been living under a different name.  There she discovers he has lost his memory and is torn between wanting to help him and being angry and because he'd lied to her.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it ... I look forward to reading other books by this author.  I liked the writing style and it kept me interested right to the end as there were lots of twists and turns.  It is written in first person perspective from Lily, Ash and Maya's points of view (the chapters are labeled so you'll know whose voice it is).  As a head's up, there is swearing.

Downtown Winery, Toronto, ON

I stopped in for a glass of wine at Downtown Winery after my lunch.  Due to COVID restrictions, it's been a while since I've been able to stop in.

La Cubana, Toronto, ON

I had a late lunch this afternoon at La Cubana (on Ossington Avenue, just north of Queen Street W).

My cerveza was fun!

I ordered a Chicken Medianoche (achiote chicken thigh, avocado, tomato and chipotle mayo but without avocado) and swapped the fries or salad for rice and beans ... I've had it there before.  It was good!

Laya Spa & Yoga, Toronto, ON

I had a fabulous 90 minute massage at Laya Spa & Yoga (Queen W/Ossington) this afternoon ... it's my go-to place for massages.  The atmosphere is very relaxing and calming.

Happy Family Day!

Today is Family Day, a statutory holiday here in Ontario.

Enjoy and spend some time with your family!

Egg Sunrise Grill, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had brunch this morning at Egg Sunrise Grill (Dundas Street W/Gladstone Avenue).

We both felt like having "breakfast".  Gord ordered bacon and eggs and I ordered peameal bacon and eggs.  There was a lot of food and it was good!

Melissa was our server and she was very friendly and chatty and took good care of us.

Dog & Bear Pub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening at the Dog & Bear (Queen Street W/Dovercourt), which is in our 'hood. 

My beer was tasty!

I ordered a D&B Burger (with no cheese, onions or lettuce) with a side of gravy ... I've had it many times before and it was good!

Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

I spent this morning volunteering with Toronto Street Cats building cat shelters.  The workshops are held throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society.

It's my fourth year volunteering with them ... it's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR).

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

There are lots of strict protocols to follow ... we were all socially distanced and required to wear masks. We built some cat shelters and also refurbished some.

My pal, Darlene, and I

We taped the insulated walls together in the bins and then taped the tubing entrances ... I started with the first part (I like it better) then moved on to taping the tubing to the shelters.  Thom cut the tubing for the entrance ways, cut the Styrofoam for insulated walls and drilled holes into the bins after the insulated walls had been taped inside.  Judy put the straw in the bins and closed them up.

Before

After