Book ~ "The Retirement Plan" (2025) Sue Hincenbergs

From Goodreads ~ Three wives wanting a new life, three husbands in their way ...

After thirty years of friendship, Pam dreams of her perfect retirement with Nancy, Shalisa, Marlene and their husbands - until their husbands pool their funds for an investment that goes terribly wrong and their dreams of beachfront condos and a sunny carefree retirement vanish. The golden years are looking as dreary as their marriages.

But when one husband dies in a freak accident, the other three women are shocked to see his widow rebound with a huge life insurance payout and a new life in Florida. In the aftermath, the women discover that their husbands have identical, seven-figure life insurance policies. A new dream forms and this time, it involves a hitman.

Meanwhile, their husbands have a secret retirement plan of their own. So when things begin to go awry, they fear their own scheme may have backfired ... with deadly consequences. The husbands scramble to stay alive but they may not be fast enough to outmaneuver their wives.

What follows is a high-stakes tale of cat and mouse, both laugh-out-loud funny and unbearably tense, while ultimately a bighearted look at marriage, friendship, and middle-age.

Couples Pam and Hank, Nancy and Larry, Andre and Shalisa and Marlene and Dave have been best friends forever. Things turned sour a couple years ago when Hank talked the guys into investing their retirement savings into a scheme that went bad. Now in their early 60s, instead of enjoying their relaxing retirement, they are all still working and the women feel bitter and unappreciated. 

When Dave suddenly dies in a freak accident and Marlene gets a huge insurance payout (and a fresh start in Florida), the other wives can’t help but wonder if the same thing can happen for them. Pam, Nancy and Shalisa start plotting their own "accidental" retirements and find a hit man to bump off Hank, Larry and Andre so they too can get a huge insurance payout and join Marlene. The husbands felt bad about ruining their retirement dreams and unbeknownst to the wives, have been illegally growing the assets back over the last four years as a surprise. Then things don't turn out as planned.

It is the debut novel by this author and I enjoyed it. The story itself was intriguing (and no, it didn't give me any ideas ... ha!). I liked the writing style ... it was humorous with lots of twists and turns. It's written in third person perspective with a focus on the various characters. I liked the characters ... the four couples were my age so I could relate to where they were in life. There were some other funny characters ... Padma, Hank's clueless boss at the casino whose mother in India keeps trying to marry her off via a matchmaker; Hector, the barber/hitman; Brenda, Hector's wife; and even Elmer, Pam's rescue dog. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Kingsway Fish and Chips, Toronto, ON

I had lunch today with Cheryl, my line dancing buddy at Kingsway Fish and Chips (Bloor W, west of Royal York)., which is in her 'hood. So nice to see Cheryl and catch up!

We both had Halibut & a Few (half the chips), which was good.

For dessert, Cheryl had chocolate ice cream and I had an apple pecan crisp. Yum!

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are grey and purple.

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

“Frat Haus: Evicted”, The Toronto Fringe Festival, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON

I spent the afternoon volunteering for The Toronto Fringe Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

I ushered Frat Haus: Evicted (so got to watch it).

"You have been formally uninvited from the party of the century! Our Evil Landlord is kicking us out!"

The iconic Frat Haus is on the chopping block, set to be demolished and reborn as—ugh—luxury condos. But the Boyz aren’t going down without a fight. From Gambling to interpretive dance protests, they’re throwing everything (and everyone) at the wall to stop the wrecking ball.

Will they save their beloved home—or will they finally have to grow up?

“David Lynch's Seinfeld”, The Toronto Fringe Festival, Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw the sold out performance of David Lynch’s Seinfeld, part of The Toronto Fringe Festival at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. 

An original episode of Seinfeld that descends into a Lynchian nightmare. Starring a cast of current & former members of the Second City, the Sketchersons, and the Bad Dog Theatre Company.

I didn’t get the Lynch references but the performers nailed the Seinfeld characters and were funny. 

The Harbord House, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at The Harbord House (on Harbord Street, just west of Spadina Avenue). 

KC's tree, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

I went to Trinity Bellwoods Park this evening and visited KC's tree. All the trees are so green and leafy! And it was nice to see so many people enjoying the park.

“No Laughing Matter”, The Toronto Fringe Festival, Sweet Action Theatre Company, Toronto, ON

I spent the evening volunteering at No Laughing Matter, part of The Toronto Fringe Festival. 

I got to sit in on it and it was funny, crazy and at times raunchy. I’ll never look at hot dog buns the same way again. They still have 6 shows left so check it out if you can. 

Sweet Action has assembled the best Clowns & Comedians to engage in the ultimate clash of comedy styles—ONE STAGE, ONE RULE: DON’T LAUGH! ‘CAUSE IF THEY LAUGH, THEY’RE OUT! BUT THE AUDIENCE WILL LAUGH, MAKING IT HARD! 

It’s all led to this ... witness the Ultimate Form of Comedy!

“100% Wizard”, The Toronto Fringe Festival, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I attended 100% Wizard with Keith Brown, part of The Toronto Fringe Festival, this evening at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre. 

Award-winning family-friendly magic & storytelling. Chosen Toronto’s BEST magician ... & he’s not even from Toronto! 

2x Critic’s Choice Best Magic Show Orlando 2024, 2023 

2x Orlando Sentinel Best of Fest 2024, 2023 

BEST MAGIC SHOW - Winnipeg 2023 

Patron’s Pick Edmonton Fringe 2024

We’ve seen Keith a few times and he never ceases to amaze us! Go see him if you get a chance. There are still 10 shows left. 

Hoops, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at Hoops on Yonge Street (just north of College Street). It’s a big restaurant and there were maybe five of us at supper time. 

Book ~ "The Age of Hope" (2012) David Bergen

From Goodreads ~ Born in 1930 in a small town outside Winnipeg, beautiful Hope Koop appears destined to have a conventional life. Church, marriage to a steady young man, children - her fortunes are already laid out for her, as are the shiny modern appliances in her new home. All she has to do is stay with Roy, who loves her. 

But as the decades unfold, what seems to be a safe predictable existence overwhelms Hope. Where - among the demands of her children, the expectations of her husband and the challenges of her best friend, Emily, who has just read "The Feminine Mystique" - is there room for her? And just who is she anyway? A wife, a mother, a woman whose life is somehow unrealized? 

This beautifully crafted and perceptive work of fiction spans some fifty years of Hope Koop's life in the second half of the 20th century, from traditionalism to feminism and beyond. David Bergen has created an indelible portrait of a seemingly ordinary woman who struggles to accept herself as she is, and in so doing, becomes unique.

This story is about Hope, the only daughter of Scottish mother and a non-practicing Mennonite father, living through changing times in a small Mennonite town outside Winnipeg, Manitoba. Set from the 1950s through the early 2000s, it follows Hope, a conventional housewife, as she goes through marriage, motherhood, societal expectations and personal discontent.

On the surface, she has a pretty typical life and instead of following her dreams, does what was expected ... she marries Roy, a car salesman, and raises their four children. But deep down, she’s often unsure of her place in the world. As time goes on and society shifts (feminism, changing family roles, new cultural norms, etc.), Hope finds herself feeling restless, confused and sometimes lost. She doesn't always know what she wants but she senses there's more to life than what she's been told to expect.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it. It's written in third person perspective, with a focus on Hope. It explores things like identity, mental health, growing older (at the end of the story, Hope is in her 70s) and what it means to live a good life. As a head's up, there is some swearing.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw Alastair Greene and George Thorogood and the Destroyers tonight at Massey Hall. What a show!

Alastair Greene opened for George Thorogood and the Destroyers tonight at Massey Hall. Until today I’d never heard of him but after listening to his latest album on Spotify this morning and seeing him tonight, I’m a fan!