Posts Tagged ‘Elmo’
November 16, 2016
![]()
Saturday, Nov 26, 2016 – 2pm-4pm
@ The Local – Live music by Kate Cash
396 Roncesvalles Av.
When he died five years ago, Tony left us memories and smiles … celebrate his life and friendships … join us in recognising a Roncesvalles institution and a unique social media pioneer.
With his trusty Elmo doll at his side, Tony never had more fun than when connecting with children … so, if you can, bring a donation in the form of an Elmo doll or other toy … or contribute some loonies to our Holiday Fund, all for the patients at the Hospital for Sick Children.
Here’s the event listing on Facebook facebook.com/events/153890465081706. If you want to know more, connect with me at homelessmanspeaks@gmail.com.
Philip
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in a drink, children, homelessness | 8 Comments »
Tags: celebration, Elmo, kids, The Local Pub
December 12, 2011
PHILIP
How come your Elmo doll is so important to you? I think he’s almost the only thing you own except your clothes, no offense.
TONY
“Well seeing kids smile makes me smile and Elmo makes the kids smile. So it all works out.”
PHILIP
“So do you actually identify with Elmo in any way?”
TONY
“Phil, I think only someone who had a dad and granddad who were shrinks could ask me that question.”
(The photo is from our post of Nov. 1 2010.)
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in homelessness | 2 Comments »
Tags: affect, clothes, Elmo, father, grandfather, identification, least, possession, psychiatrist, shrink, smile
November 17, 2011
Hello all,
I’ve got so many notes from the many conversations we had over the years. Especially as the blog has attracted a much larger following in the last four weeks, I will write them down properly and post them. Here’s one:
TONY
“You know where I want to go to end my old age?”
PHILIP
“Where? Why are you thinking that?”
TONY
“Don’t tell me that you don’t think about it yourself. Anyway, I’m keeling over when I’m near the ocean if I can and I’ve never seen the ocean in my whole life. So that’s my way to go if you want my opinion.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in homelessness | 2 Comments »
Tags: age, Charles Aznavour, conversation, Disney, Elmo, going, memory, muppet fever, muppets, never, opinion, remembering, The Old Fashioned Way, time
October 21, 2011
[If you can’t make it Monday evening but wish to contribute to the purchase anad install of a commemorative park bench: Today, Sunday October 23 between 2pm – 4pm , the inimitable and well-bearded Ed Lamb will be accepting donations at Alternative Grounds, 333 Roncesvalles Ave. (Sorry for the short notice.) There will be other options to donate if you can’t make it today or tomorrow — Ed is also making arrangements with the RBC to accept donations; I’ll post the details once they’re finalised.]
Here’s the poster for our celebration: Tony Poster – Oct 24 2011. Feel free to print it and post it around your neighbourhood. We’ll also be collecting donations for a permanent memorial: A park bench and commemorative plaque, to be installed near Tony’s regular spot.
See you there.
Philip
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in homelessness | 15 Comments »
Tags: Elmo, memory
October 20, 2011
Hello all,
Wow. The billowing response to Tony’s death is quite beyond what he might have imagined or hoped. He would have been delighted.
Ten days ago, in anticipation of the fifth anniversary of HomelessManSpeaks (October 23rd), I asked Tony what big difference the blog had made for him. His answer: “I found out I could get to the kids and tell them … don’t do what I did … they’ve gotta stick it out in school and just stay away from drugs and alcohol and especially the hard stuff.” (A terrible fact: Tony was first coaxed into using opiates at the age of thirteen.)
As to memorial services and such, watch this space — people are working on it. Tentatively, we’re planning a reception at Alternative Grounds sometime this weekend.
See the many, many extraordinary comments to the previous post.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in homelessness | 6 Comments »
Tags: death, Elmo, life
April 28, 2009
PHILIP
“I see you’ve changed your sign.”
TONY
“I didn’t want the kids to feel they owed me something for just pressing old Elmo’s button.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in homelessness | 4 Comments »
Tags: change, Elmo, kids, pricing, signs
July 31, 2008
PHILIP
“What’s this new critter here?”
TONY
“It’s my new musical mouse, since I decided to replace Elmo. The kids were getting bored because they were getting too used to Elmo and it was time for a change anyway if you ask me.
PHILIP
“But Elmo’s still here; he’s just facing the other way now.
TONY
“Elmo’s my back-up plan, in case some kid doesn’t like my mouse.”
PHILIP
“Right.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in homelessness | 4 Comments »
Tags: back-up plan, change, change management, children, Elmo, mouse
November 6, 2007
TONY
“You remember that woman Edith I told you about who’s always bringing me food and things? You know, she’s the one who invited me to visit her Sunday School but I never went? Well, she tells me that she was talking to her Sunday School kids about me, and she showed them some print-outs from the blog. Edith says that the kids just couldn’t believe that a homeless guy would believe in Jesus. So Edith’s going to bring her Sunday School class around so I can tell them myself.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in beggar, belief, believe, blog, brand new, Dei, doubt, Edith, God, homeless, homelessness, Jesus, nonbelief, panhandler, preconceived notions, St Thomas, Sting, sunday school, surprise | 2 Comments »
Tags: Elmo
May 10, 2007
TONY
“You know, Elmo is a big attraction. There’s this older lady, mind you she’s got lots of energy in her; she walks all the way up to me from the next block and comes up and presses Elmo’s button to play his guitar. So I said to her: ‘You didn’t need to walk the whole way, I could have met you half way.’ So she says don’t worry about it, she says it’s a fun thing for her to do all by herself. If you ask me, that’s the good attitude to life.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in attitude, attraction, button pushing, creation, Elmo, intelligent design, lady, life, the whole way | 1 Comment »
Tags: Elmo
Homeless Man Speaks 