Congratulations to Sharon Janzen and Rhonda King (above) who became proud grandma's on May 24th with the joyful arrival of grandchild Xavier Alexander Kinnard.

Xavier made his debut at 4:39 pm  and weighed 7 lbs 15.5 oz. While Mommy Becky (left) rests comfortably ...the hottest looking grandma's in town are beaming with delight as they share the big news with family and friends.

Congratulations to all of you, what a special moment.

Proud Grandmas... ABOVE: Rhonda King with Xavier Alexander Kinnard, BELOW: Sharon Janzen and Xavier.

It's a Jungle Out There

Kayla Whiteley strikes a pose (or two) as she shows off her sporty ensemble which she wore for "Safari Day" at her school. Our adorable Nova Scotia pal had the perfect outfit which was topped off by body art on her arms courtesy of her mom Angela (of "Angela's Breathing Canvas") 

We love your awesome jungle look Kayla, and we're betting you were a big hit with your classmates too!

GLEE CAST: "Starships" featuring "Unique"

Buy this song on itunes. Search: "Glee Cast Starships"

Entire "Glee" Cast to Return Next Season

TV boss Ryan Murphy has decided not to axe regulars from the Glee cast as the stars have become "like a family".

The series' co-creator previously announced he would write out characters played by leading stars Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith after they graduate at the end of the current third season.

But Murphy admits he's invited everyone in the New Directions glee club to stay on the show - and they're all on board.

He tells Vulture, "We had a meeting, and you know we've become like a family, and I said to them, 'Anybody who wants to stay on the show will stay on the show.' Anyone who is a regular is coming back. Everyone said yes."

And Murphy admits the actors are excited about tackling new storylines outside of McKinley High, adding, "When I told them all what the (plan for) next season was, I think they all liked it because they all get to grow and be back to struggling. 'Where is my place in the world?' For the most part, I've had really good talks with all the actors, and what I want to do they have loved. Cory Monteith was like, 'I love that (my character) Finn gets to do that. That's awesome.'"

Idol-ized

An emotional Phillip Phillips was chosen as this year's American Idol on May 23rd. Phillips defeated all this season's amazing contestants including runner up Jessica Sanchez. After receiving his award and title 21 year old Phillip managed to sing about half of his new song "Home", before breaking down in tears and leaving the stage to hug his family.

The two hour star-studded Idol finale featured performances by Rihanna, John Fogerty, Reba McIntire, Jennifer Holiday, Neil Diamond as well as judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler (with his band Aerosmith.)

I hosted an intimate Idol party..intimate as in a party of two, myself and my pal Becky Lee. I had an Idol slideshow playing throughout the finale and fridge magnets of our personal favourites Phillip Phillips and Becky's Idol choice Joshua Ledet.

Scribbles American Idol Contest also announced a winner. Nancy Erskine of Dunnville ON walks away with a special Scribbles created copy of former Idol Adam Lambert's new album "Trespassing" and a Phillip Phillips fridge magnet. Congratulations Nancy...no runner up for you this time around (and I believe your second Scribbles contest win this year...woo whoo!)

Thank you to all our Scribbles American Idol Contest entries: Joan Storie, Diane Murray, Michael Colyn, Michael Poirier and Jane Storie.

Becky Lee joined me for our private Idol party

 Humour
Forgot My Glasses!

Yesterday my daughter asked why I didn't do something useful with my time. She suggested I go down to the senior centre and hang out with the guys.

I did this and when I got home last night I told her that I had joined a parachute club.

She said "Are you nuts? You're almost 67 years old and you're going to start jumping out of aeroplanes?"

I proudly showed her that I even got a membership card.

She said to me, "You idiot, where are your glasses! This is a membership to a Prostitute Club, not a Parachute Club!"

I'm in trouble again and don't know what to do! I signed up for five jumps a week!

photo courtesy Rich Hunt

"If theres anything I've learned in life..a helpful thought is to remember that this is temporary. All things start and stop. Even the bad.
Around the corner is something good.
Just gotta follow through with what you have in front of you first.

Concentrate on knowing that. It helps."

-Rich Hunt

 "Teenagers....
...nothing that earplugs and a cold beer can't fix :)"

-Gail Sharratt Mallory

(seen here with her daughter Katie)

"I don't think Kim's here today"

-Jane Storie

(Sorry Sis, I could not resist using this silly quote that only our family will get)

"My Foot is So Wet!"

Kiera Blythin of Niagara Falls was having a splendid time playing in the yard, stylin'  in her pretty pink boots, until disaster struck. Somehow one of her beautiful boots got filled with water, making for a very uncomfortable soaker.

As we see above, daddy Neil was there to lend our little friend a hand and she certainly seems upset by the whole ordeal. But children being resilient, this little "Princess" was back to having fun in no time at all.

Sparkle Sparkle

Graham Storie-Clark has some fun at Roehampton Park with the sparklers his parents gave him. The family enjoyed lighting up the night skies on Victoria Day evening. Photo by Jane Storie.

Robin Gibb

Dec. 22, 1949 - May 20, 2012

LONDON - Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, who with brothers Barry and Maurice helped define the disco era with their falsetto harmonies and funky beats, has died. He was 62.

The singer had been battling colon and liver cancer and, despite brief improvements in his health in recent months, passed away on Sunday May 20.

“The family of Robin Gibb ... announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery,” a statement posted on his official website said.

“The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”

Hundreds of tributes poured on to the Twitter micro-blogging site, including from record labels and fellow musicians.

Gibb spent much of a career spanning six decades pursuing solo projects. But it was his part in one of pop’s most successful brother acts, the Bee Gees, that earned him fame and fortune.

Born in 1949 on the Isle of Man, located between England and Ireland, Robin and his family moved to Manchester where the brothers performed in local cinemas.

Here are a few facts about the Bee Gees:

* The three Gibb brothers made their earliest performances at local movie theatres in Manchester in 1955, singing between shows.

* After emigrating to Australia with their parents, the Gibb brothers returned to England in the mid-1960s to further their singing careers. Their early recordings, including dramatic hits such as “Massachusetts” (1967), drew comparisons with the Beatles.

* The trio reached the Top Ten with “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” and “I Started a Joke” (both 1968) but split briefly after the relative failure of their concept album “Odessa” (1969)

* They reunited in 1970 and had hits with “Lonely Days“ (1970) and “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” (1971), but there were several hitless years before they returned to the charts with “Main Course” in 1975 - in which they produced a new sound - the emphasis being on dance rhythms, high harmonies, and a funk beat.

*Spearheading the new sound was Barry Gibb, who, for the first time, sang falsetto and discovered that he could delight audiences in that register.

* “Jive Talkin’,” the first single off the album, became their second American number one single, and was followed up with “Nights on Broadway” and then the album “Children of the World”, which yielded the hits “You Should Be Dancing” and “Love So Right.”

* Recorded in Miami, it put the Bee Gees at the forefront of the disco movement, which their work on the sound track album of the film “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) would popularise and define.

* The trio’s contributions to the “Saturday Night Fever“ soundtrack album pushed sales past the 40 million mark. It also reigned as the top-selling album in history until Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” - an album that Jackson acknowledged was inspired by Saturday Night Fever - surpassed it in the 1980s.

* “Saturday Night Fever” and 1979’s “Spirits Having Flown“ combined to yield six number one hits, making the Bee Gees the only group in pop history to write, produce and record that many consecutive chart-topping singles.

* In 1997 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and this led to a resurgence of interest, which heralded the release of the live album “One Night Only” (1998), cut at their first American concert in almost a decade.

* Their success was not limited to recordings issued under their own name. Individually and together they’ve written and produced major hits for artists including Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, as well as Frankie Valli.

* The Bee Gees remained active until the death of Maurice in January 2003, from cardiac arrest during surgery. Following his death, Robin and Barry decided to cease performing as the Bee Gees.

By Mike Collett-White, Reuters

The Bee Gees - To Love Somebody

"The Best Thing About Me is You" - Ricky Martin

Brush With Fame

Our Douglas, ON friend Cathy Dick had much more than a ticket stub to remember the recent Johnny Reid "Fire it Up" Concert in Ottawa by. My cool cousin was one of a select few who actually got to meet and be photographed with the popular singer. Cathy was joined at the concert by her husband Ernie, daughter Erin and adorable grandson (and Scribbles star) Dylan (seen above holding a Johnny Reid concert book.)

Cathy tells Scribbles; "I am a member of the Tartan Army (Johnny Reid's fan club) and I entered my name through that way. I almost lost my mind when I saw my name listed as one of the 46 people that were picked to meet Johnny. There was a photographer there and he took 2 pictures, I will probably look like a deer in the headlights cuz, I was so friggin' excited. He is super nice. Makes you feel very important."

Wow, Cathy that is truly amazing. Like I said when I first saw the photo, it brought a big smile to my face -something I haven't been doing a lot of in recent weeks. I know many of our Scribbles pals will be green with envy, not the least of which being my partner Rob, who is a big fan too.

And as for your statement about the experience of meeting Reid making you feel very important...well celebrity siting or not, that's something I've always thought of you as!

Ready for the show to begin: Our little pal Dylan is seen here with his mom Erin and Grandpa Ernie (Hmmmm....I see a refreshing beer tucked beneath your chair Ernie...presumably it was overpriced - as is the case at these venues - so I don't blame you for stashing it away like this...LOL)

 READERS COMMENTS

"Thanks for featuring us in Scribbles. I forgot to tell you that when Erin first told Dylan that I was going to meet Johnny Reid, he was very excited and his response was, " Does she get to play in his band ????" LOL

I was practicing my tamborine skills, but didn't get the call to join the band. (ha, ha)"

-Cathy Dick

"This is great! Dylan had a lot of fun :)"

-Erin Dick

KEN REPLIES:  I love going to concerts. I've had some pretty good seats at some shows [like the time my pal Becky and I saw Aerosmith and we muscled our way to the front row with only a small gate and a big security guard between us and Steven Tyler...oooh laaa laaa] but I have yet to actually meet and be photographed with any of the stars, so you're one up on me Cathy. Plus you had the added treat of little man Dylan enjoying what I assume would have been his first big concert...and that looks like it was as entertaining as meeting Johnny Reid himself....OK, maybe a close second...LOL

When I was in my teens in the late 70's, there were very few legitimate support groups that you could use to help you "come out" or find others who could identify with the feelings you had . There was no internet and it was easy to feel like you were the only gay person on the planet -and what they showed on TV was so damn negative, you didn't want to identify yourself with being "that". One of my greatest comforts came in form of music....and in particular disco. The infectious beat, groove and lyrics became close companions to run to when the world outside made you feel like a freak.

Leading the pack with the disco movement was the one and only Donna Summer. I loved her...as did many in the gay community at the time. Her songs spoke to us as she seemed to take us under her wing. I had all her albums (and still do, pops, scratches, skips and all.)  I transformed my bedroom at my family's home into "Wimps' Disco Room" (Wimp being my nickname at the time.) On weekends my sisters and I would dance to the sounds of Donna Summer and other disco faves, on my masking taped dance floor, as disco lights transformed us to a make-believe dance club.  That room would have been nothing if it weren't for the music of Donna Summer.

Ms. Summer turned her back on disco and her followers in the early 80's when she proclaimed she was "born again". It would be a few years later when Summer would find the perfect balance between her disco queen persona and her faith.

Sadly, Summer passed away on Thurs. May 17 at the age of 63. She may be gone but her music remains. And the last dance will forever be saved for Donna Summer..the original and only Disco Queen.

DONNA SUMMER -Last Dance (Live)

 

 

Nature Boy Larry

Larry Sage of Barrie, ON sure has a great eye for photography -and by the looks of these amazing photos, a darn good camera as well. Featured in his facebook album "A Day in Orillia", we think Larry's pix are simply sensational!  Thanks for letting us feature them in Scribbles Larry.

THIS JUST IN...
Great News for Jen

As written by Jen's wife Jackie:

"ASTONISHING and AMAZING...These are only two of the words we've been thinking since Jen's visit to Dr. Tran today after her CT scan on Monday! ...The spots on her liver are either smaller or gone, AND, the tumour on her pancreas is smaller...

The Kick Ass Chemo is Kicking Cancer's Ass ...and Jen is my hero !!!!!!!

Much love and thanks to all of you for your thoughts, emails, calls, jokes, prayers,cards, pictures, visits, donations etc Etc ETC...we can never thank y'all enough!"

[KEN REPLIES: Well thanks for reminding me that y'all's in Atlanta right now little dawwlin' and that y'all's just jokin' when you say "y'all"...But I reckin' just like a steamin' bowl of hot grits, that term will stick with you when y'all return to Canada, ya hear? LOL]

Joan Storie, Jane Storie and Kim Papple pose on Mother's Day, May 13th. Joined by most of their family, the three moms enjoyed a BBQ, snacks and a festive cake before taking a leisurely walk along Lake Ontario afterwards, to burn off some of those celebratory calories.

LOL...
Sorry Jane and Kim but I just could not resist...were you both wearing the same top on Mother's Day?? Was this planned??  LOL

AT LAST!  Next iPhone to Have Bigger Screen

Apple Inc plans to use a larger screen on the next-generation iPhone and has begun to place orders for the new displays from suppliers in South Korea and Japan, people familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

The new iPhone screens will measure 4 inches from corner to corner, one source said. That would represent a roughly 30 percent increase in viewing area, assuming Apple kept other dimensions proportional. Apple has used a 3.5-inch screen since introducing the iPhone in 2007.

Early production of the new screens has begun at three suppliers: Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd, Sharp Corp and Japan Display Inc, a Japanese government-brokered merger combining the screen production of three companies.

It is likely all three of the screen suppliers will get production orders from Apple, which could begin as soon as June. That would allow the new iPhone to go into production as soon as August, if the company follows its own precedent in moving from orders for prototypes for key components to launch.
Apple’s decision to equip the next iPhone with a larger screen represents part of a competitive response to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

Above, Bobby Rock and Shane Christopher Neal ham it up for the camera, something the dynamic duo seem to do with the greatest of ease. B.R. and Shane are renown for their weekly episodes of  "BS Live with Bobby and Shane" -video segments highlighting local bands and listing where you can find them performing each week.

And if that weren't enough, both boys are in bands of their own, with a devote following of demented fans.

WOW, no wonder they look so crazy in the photo above, clearly they're suffering from sleep deprivation.
(Kidding...you know I love ya both...in a "manly" kind of way of course....LOL)

Adam Lambert - Better Than I Know Myself

Featured on his new album "Trespassing" - available now in store and on itunes and featuring the new single "Never Close Our Eyes"

Nancy's Place is all a Buzz

Nancy Erskine of Dunnville ON recently posted over 40 photos on facebook, bursting with colourful flowers and plants outside the home she shares with her spouse. And as we see above even the bees can't help but be attracted to our friend's spectacular plants.

 READERS COMMENTS...

"That's awesome Ken!!! Thanks! LOVE IT! You're so sweet! XO"

-Nancy Erskine

A Wagging Tail Says "I'm Feeling Better"

My little buddy Timmi was under the weather on Sunday, giving his daddy quite a scare and preventing him from enjoying Mother's Day with his family.

The next day, Timmi and I went to Malcolmson Park where he had not one but two big poopies and once again had that cute little skip as he walked in the woods. It's amazing how great a healthy bowel movement can make you feel....even for our four-legged friends.

Now if only Timmi's daddy could be as lucky...with all the "shit" he's had to contend with lately, his bowels are pretty much like the rest of his mind and body....a complete and total mess!

 ENCORE VIDEO CLIP

Another "Sexy" Parody:  "I'm Pregnant and I Know It"

It's appropriate that our friend Tammie Holditch would be the one to forward this clip to Scribbles.

Seen here with her partner Lee Ruberg, Tammie is very much "with child" and I'm sure she feels this parody clip is both amusing and easy to relate to.

Thanks for sending this to Scribbles Tammie..."I'm happy and I know it"  LMFAO!