Tom

Comedy lost one of its best and brightest yesterday. Equally adept at playing the goofball or the straight man, Tom Poston was a class act all the way.

Just a couple of weeks ago when Kitty Carlisle Hart passed away I posted a clip from To Tell the Truth where one of the other panelists was the wonderful Tom Poston. News of his passing came along yesterday. This one makes me more sad than I would have expected what with the whole "long life, well lived" thing. Someone who made it to 85, had such talent and such a great career and a seemingly contented and fun personal life - well - it's hard not to just say "good for you", applaud those 85 years and smile. But this one makes me sad. Like most people of my generation I first saw Tom Poston on "Newhart" in the 80's, but the way I will remember him, and the way I most enjoyed him was on The Steve Allen Show.

'vincible.

Last week I wrote about how I was too busy to post because of a plague that spread through the office at CSIS. I wasn't sick, I was just working extra hard. I was healthy, and I was going to stay that way thanks to the industrial strength anti-bacterial spray I was wielding. It had an illustration of a 1950's nurse on it, little hat and all. It said it was effective against all germs and things like TB! I was cocky. I was taking vitamin c, wearing my hat and I had the spray. And that's when it happened. I got knocked on my ass and spent the first half of this week lying on the couch, moaning and watching The View. I couldn't muster up the strength to change the channel when Rachael Ray came on. I was ILL.

I'm pretty well recovered now and have spent the weekend getting caught up on work and trying to do some fun stuff to. This afternoon I was at the Art Gallery of Ontario to see Jean Renoir's 1939 masterpiece, "Règle du jeu, La" (The Rules of the Game). Tonight is all about the delicious beef stew that the Robeau made (by request!) and the return of TV's Jack Bauer! Whoo and hoo, people!

Last night we hung out at the "Clarmitages" where young Mr. Sam proved that 7 and half months really is the cutest, most entertaining age a human can be. I fully expect him to prove me wrong once he hits 8 months. Early that day found me at the Distillery District with Trish and Zee Noixy where we enjoyed the sights and the tastes that wonderful little area has to offer.

The photographic evidence: