I just learned that Princess Margaret passed away. Mere days after Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee (50 years as queen), her sister is now gone.

Yeah, we all go someday; this is just one more of my lifetime's royals we have to say goodbye to.

Man, I haven't posted in a week. Bad Andy - er, me!

Life changes are coming fast and furious right now: tomorrow I see an Adapted apartment, possibly where I'll be moving in the next few months.

I've been at the current place for almost 9 years now. I'll be a little sentimental on leaving it, but the new one'll have many, MANY plusses to it.

I just took another cool "Who are you?" quiz, this time "Which Super Mario character are you?" As a cild of the 80s, I could relate.

My vote results were tied between 2 characters:

I am a celebrity, a natural born leader, and a mascot. When old people think of video games, they oftentimes get a mental image of me. Countless times I've been called into battle to save Peach from various baddies, even back in the days of Atari, and I have never faltered. Others may be jealous, but who cares? I'm Mario!

What Super Mario Bros character are you?

and

I am a hip critter. I showed up fasionably late with Super Mario World and have started launching your own career since then. In maybe 10-15 years, my popularity will rival Mario's. Not that I'm competing with him. He's my bud. I'm good at getting and keeping friends, and they value me for that. After all, who else would carry them on their back through ice, fire, and rain? Sometimes I think I'm taken for granted, but I know that my friends have my back. Of course they do. Who would screw over Yoshi?

What Super Mario Bros character are you?

2 hours.

That's how long it was from the end of work today and the time I got home.

Transport may pick up the phone line faster, but in terms of getting folks around, it still stinks.

Adding to the deaths due to illnesses caused by smoking: Peter Gzowski, a broadcasting legend here in Canada, just died from emphesyma, at 67. He too was a smoker until 2 years ago.

This message may come off as a PSA - but I really don't care.

This weekend, Carol Burnett's daughter Carrie Hamilton died of lung cancer. She was 38 years old, and a smoker.

38. I turn 35 this coming May. She was a mere 3 years older.

Will smokers get the message now? Will you blind twits stop? 38 years old is too damn young to die. My aunt was too young when lung cancer claimed her last year at 53 - but the tragedy there was the fact she didn't even smoke. Here, it was the case - and she was too fucking young.

Maybe folks think "Oh, that won't happen to me!" WAKE THE HELL UP!! Every cigarette you take, every single puff... it's nothing better than playing a game of Russian Roulette with your health. Graveyards are full of the remains of folks who thought it wouldn't happen to them!

Montreal finally had winter snow catch up... a mini-blizzard Wednesday and Thursday finally hit.

At least we can keep Greece and Buffalo, NY company.

Today, Canada mourns the passing of another of our idols: Frank Shuster died from pneumonia at 85.

Along with his partner Johnny Wayne (who died in 1990 at the age of 72) Wayne and Shuster were a fantastic comedy team, loved by Ed Sullivan in the USA but still stayed to make their fame here in Canada.

Now the team only exists on archived footage. Goodbye, Frank.

Sometimes, I just can't win...

Winter in Montreal has so far been pretty mild, but I thought one of my winter mitts was missing. Then, I found it yesterday - and lost it again in a cab home from work. Blah.

I went downtown to have lunch at Wendy's. It just seemed right to honor Dave that way.

Another sad day, as we lost another well-known celebrity:

Not as great a significance as George Harrison - but then, any loss in the world is sad. Regardless of how you touch lives, it still matters, even if you only touched the lives of loved ones.

Dave Thomas, the owner and head creator for Wendy's restaurants, was someone who touched us all in some way. I've always enjoyed the food at his restaurant chain, but also felt reassured by his presence on TV.

He was only 69 years old, claimed by liver cancer. Cancer has claimed far too many people around me of late, both loved ones and stars.

Take the Which Beatle Are You? Quiz.

The test answers are a bit mean at times, and with George now gone too, it's a bit sad... but it was still interesting to read whom I rate as.

So far, either the counter is still reading visits to the old site, or people have begun to visit this new one... either way, Jazzlife is still getting a decent stream of visitors... and not just visits from me, either!

Happy New Year!

Third time posting today, when I expected not to. Maybe I have to say I won't more often!

I saw the movie Breakin' on TV a few minutes ago. Strangely, it fits the theme I want here, since it's referred to as street jazz...

Anyways, as a storyline it was really bad, and the fashion was very early 80s (when the film was made. Duh, Jeff!), but the dance routines were great. I actually think I've seen modern dance far more outrageous than what they showed here!

Net-radio is so addictive!

I just tried to show it to dad. He wasn't very impressed when I hooked up to stations in Paris and Moscow - half a globa away from us. I find it cool, though.

Right now I'm listening to a station in Britain, on Radio Free Virgin. It's called Sax in the City. Cool saxophone jazz.

Someday, I have to get a dedicated high speed net connection like this!

With 2001 over in a few hours, we aqll end up speculating on the year...

For me, it hasn't been a major year for progress, but I have achieved a few great things. We also all learned a new escalation in the horrors man can commit in the name of their beliefs...

I'll see you all on the other side of the year. Remember to party safe.

Man, I'm listening to a jazz radio station in Ottawa on my aunt's digital cable modem connection... I'll really need to get one of these someday.

Despite being underwhelmed by Diana Krall in the past, I'm listening to her right now... and I have to admit I'm enjoying the song I just heard.

I'm with family in the USA for New Year's right now... things worked out for me to be here now.

I'm glad; without this I had no plans, other than watching an event on a friend's digital TV (his offers channels that mine doesn't provide).

Well, it took me over a week, and I went into major withdrawl, but this 'blog is now hosted at a new home on Angelfire.

There are things bound to keep changing over the next few weeks too.