Food and beaches

Friday I met a girl in my building and we went out for dinner. Had a great time. Talked, walked around, she showed me some important places around. I was going to go swing dancing since I haven't been since that first week here, but we were talking so much that it was too late to go. I can go some other time.

Friday I found a great basket of fresh local tomatoes, so on Saturday I made my salsa. That led me to crave fajitas for dinner. So, I went to the grocery store, spend $100, and forgot the tortillas. So, I had to go BACK to the grocery store. I had already taken chicken breasts out of the freezer before I got the craving. So, I made steak & chicken, home made salsa and guacamole, rice, and cheese. Yes, all for me. I called Elliot and invited him over, but he's a bit too far. So, looks like I will be eating fajitas for the next 4 days.

Saturday evening I met some people at The Beaches for Jazzfest. Mobs of people for a very popular street festival filled with bands that played everything except jazz. Although we all did a double-take because this one guy sounded just like Neil Young. Since I had never been to The Beaches (and because the crowds were insane), we walked along the beach on the way back. Hung out at Starbucks talking, got home around midnight.

Today I really should have stayed at home cleaning up the guestroom to prepare for the arrival of the guest bed/sofa. But, some people were going to the Toronto Islands for BrazilFest. So, I went. Good group of people (there were 7 of us). We were all disappointed since there was no Brazilian food - only hot dogs and hamburgers. We walked around the islands, hung out on the beach, watched the wake boarders - WakeFest was there too.

The coolest thing!! You can see my condo building from the islands!!! I had one of the girls take a picture.

I learned a very important lesson today. I almost missed the girls at the ferry since I got on the wrong streetcar. Now, according to the TTC map, there are 2 streetcars that run on King street, both East-West. The one I took turned North. (I got off, walked back, missed the right streetcar, waited, then walked to the next stop and was 20 minutes late to meet everyone.) On my walk, I ran into a TTC Supervisor (TTC is the Toronto Transit Commission - the people who runs the public transportation system here) and I asked him. Obviously, I said, I am reading the map incorrectly. Nope, the map is right, but the streetcar garage is on King Street, so any streetcar coming out of the garage takes King Street to it's route. Also, some of the northern routes are not circular, so they come down King Street to complete their circle. So, it could be one of about 14 different routes, even though the map only shows 2. The lesson is to ALWAYS check the sign on the front of the streetcar.

20 dates in 1 week - busy week

Yes, I've already had 20 dates this week. I went speed dating on Monday. It was fun. I had 20 five-minute dates. It was very interesting how sometimes the time flew by, and others you'd swear they forgot to start the timer and it was half an hour. Everyone keeps a list and you check yes or no. Then you turn your lists in and if you both say yes, they send you their contact info. I would only classify 1 as terrible. It takes a few days, so we'll see what happens.

Tuesday I played Euchre. Never played before and they were impressed how quickly I picked it us. It was fun and I met a bunch of new people. Although service at the restaurant was terrible.

I plan on going swing dancing tonight and I may go with a woman I met in my building. Busy weekend planned. I'll let ya'll know about it after it happens

Weekend Update

Wednesday lunch was great. I took a 2 1/2 hour lunch. Met some very nice people and a few of us went for "a coffee" after lunch. That's what they say here, "a coffee", not "coffee". And I did my Pilates class. Thursday I worked and packed for the camping trip.

I forgot how frustrating organizing these trips can be. At 10:30 Friday morning (I was leaving at 3), someone emailed me they wanted to come and needed a tent and a ride. At 11, someone else and at 12:20, 2 more people! 3 hours before leaving. Very frustrating. But, the more the merrier and it all worked out and we had a great time. It was a good group. And I'm glad everyone made it.

I forgot how bad traffic can be. It took me an hour and 15 minutes to go the first 20 miles. The rest of the trip went smoothly.

Saturday we went Geo-Cache-ing. Someone brought a GPS system and arranged it. It is a global scavenger hunt that uses GPS to find the hidden treasure. Well, the treasure is a tupperware container filled with tacky trinkets, but it's fun to look for and find.

Attacked by a wild animal:

So, I'm in the tent Saturday night, and I hear something scratch at the tent by my head. I jump up and grab the flashlight. Nothing. So, I lay back down and hear it again. The other person in the tent heard it too, so I know I'm, not going crazy. I trust in the tent and go to sleep. In the morning, we told the group and the third person in the tent said he felt something crawling underneath him in the night. Sure enough when we pick up the tent, there's a small tunnel the animal dug to get to his nest that was covered by the tent. We're thinking it was a rat or chipmunk or something.

Climbing in the Trees:

Sunday was the main event - climbing in the trees. My camera batteries died, so I don't have many pictures, but it was AWESOME!! I am DEFINITELY doing this again. Some of you would love it when you come up and visit. I went on no less than 15 zip lines, some tree to tree. Indiana Jones-type rope bridges were the easy part. Over barrels, walking on a single wire, climbing cargo nets, logs in all 3 directions, hopes to jump through (literally), all in the trees.

Keeping Busy

Today I'm doing lunch with a group of women. Tonight I have to choose between a singles Salsa dance, dinner at a posh restaurant with some more single women, or my pilates class. I know, I better decide quickly. This weekend I'm going camping and climbing in the treetops. It should be lots of fun, but will also be difficult from a Guy perspective. I know there's still Guy hair in the tent and I'm just not sure how I will react to that. It's going to be strange not to have someone go crazy when I pull out the tent and other camping gear.

Interesting week

I was sick most of the week, so there's not much to report. I did get to experience the panacea that is the Canadian Healthcare system and I can sum it up quickly - I had to go to the public washroom to give a urine sample. Yes, out the door, down the hall to the left. No wipes, no place to put my purse. Then I had to bring it back and they didn't even have a place to wash my hands. Despite all the problems with the US medical system (and there are LOTS), it's still the best out there.

I forced myself to to out Friday. Went out with the girls to a rooftop bar. Met some nice people. Went downstairs to the dance club. I didn't really dance, but the washroom is an experience I'll never forget. You walk in and there's a room in front of you. On your left is the entrance tot he ladies. Then the whole wall on the left is the sinks. At the back end of the room is the entrance to the men's room. So, they share the sinks. I thought that was the weird part. I get in lane and go into the stall. Holy shit! It's a one-way mirror. It looks like everyone at the sinks is staring at you. Freaked me out! I could barely go.

Yesterday I went to a potluck and had a very nice time. I'm planning a camping trip for this coming weekend, which should be fun.

So, they call it the Cruise of the 30,000 islands. So, I ask the Captain, "There aren't really 30,000 islands, are there?" "Nope," he answers. "There's somewhere between 60,000 and 90,000. They lost count." When I got out there, I understood. It's miles of the east and north shore of the Georgian Bay on Lake Huron (my 3rd Great Lake in a week) that's all these small islands make of rock. They're mostly privately owned with houses on them. There's 2 feet on ice in the harbour in the winter, so most are summer only. But I think it'd be cool to go on one of the snowmobile tours they do in the summer. Just think, going over the same area you went over just a few months ago in a boat.

That was Saturday. Sunday I slept until noon, read my book and ordered my furniture. One of my friends made an airline reservation, so I had to run out and buy a guest bed. The first spot has been booked. Who will be my second guest????

BBQ on July 4th - Canadian style

Yesterday was July 4th and while it's not as surreal as spending July 4th in Russia or England, it's still strange spending it somewhere else. I was surprised the ex-Pats groups I joined didn't even acknowledge the holiday. Although some people did wish me a happy 4th.

I had the day off of work, so I went to the bank, dropped of the pictures the movers broke to get re-framed, and went furniture shopping. Until yesterday, I had been very disappointed in the furniture I've seen. But yesterday was very fruitful.

After being couped up in the car all day, I decided to walk around. It's July 4th, I needed BBQ for dinner. SO, rather than BBQ a burger by myself, I went to Chinatown and got BBQ pork and BBQ duck.

Cedar Point

I went to Ohio this weekend. BTW - for anyone travelling by car to Canada, all that is required to get back into the US is a verbal declaration of US Citizenship. No, I am not kidding. Any ID would be helpful, but is not required. In January 2008, a birth certificate will be required and "sometime later in 2008" a passport will be required. If travelling by air, you need a passport or receipt of passport application. But by car, just to tell them you are a US Citizen. Boy, do I feel safe.

I found this out because I forgot to bring my passport with me on my way to Ohio on Friday. I had my driver's license and made it through no problem. I first went to a small town outside of Youngstown, where Terry's family lives. They founded the town, actually. He has a very warm, gregarious family. Even his father, the stereotypical retired marine, was charming. Maybe it was all an act, but they left a good impression.

Terry and I went to Cedar Point. We rode 11 of the 17 roller coasters. 1 was closed, 2 were for kids, 1 would have been the 3rd wooden roller coaster and our heads had been jostled enough, the last we're not sure if it was actually running or not, but we only had time to do 1 more and choose to ride Top Thrill Dragster again.

The best ones are described here: Millennium Force was a very smooth coaster with a 300, 170 and 180 foot drops, and went 90mph. No loops, but very smooth with lots of airtime. Maverick is the newest one. It shoots you off at a mere 72mph over the first drop of 120 feet, but it's at a 95 degree angle. Think about that. A 90 degree angle would be straight down. 95 is in a little bit. 4 loops, corkscrews, tunnels and twists. Wanted to ride that one again in the front car, but not enough time. The one I did ride twice is the Top Thrill Dragster. It was short, but intense. It shoots you from 0 to 120mph in 3.8 seconds. You go straight up 420 feet, the straight down 420 feet, do a 3/4 turn and end on a stretch. 90 degree 400-foot drop at 120 mph. Wow. Because of the 3/4 turn, every seat gets a great view of nothing beneath them. It is a rush.

The rest of the trip was tame in comparison. I went to Wal-Mart and bought cat litter and cat food, since it's less than half the price and I went to Staples to ship a package UPS. Exciting stuff. That's about it. Great weekend.

Today is Canada Day and everything is closed, which is not a big deal since I need to stay in and work.