Some Parts Are The Same

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

This is my parents 

celebrating with their friends in Jamaica 

after announcing their engagement:

This is a photo from last night at The Cottage, 

having a toast with friends 

for Jason and my engagement:

These events are approximately 35 years and 2,800 km apart. My parents are dressed up in a restaurant, whereas the more recent picture features a less formal atmosphere and location. Also no one is using a ketchup bottle to cheers in their picture. I love how fun and casual this whole weekend has been. (Commonalities between the two are love, friends, food, booze, smiles, and beaches.)

Party Dad In A Party Hat

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

My dad collected a lot of things. I remember our back room in Paris (which was both a mud-room and laundry-room) had his hat collection around the top of the walls. A whole row of strange hats. I don't know where they all went but they got taken down some point when I was a teenager. My favorite was always this cool white safari-style one. The picture on the left is from a party in Liberty Village that I found out about through the BIA. (Working there didn't really mean a lot of perks, in fact because we were connected to The City we weren't allowed to accept any perks anyways. However, I did get to hear about all the cool events that were going on in the area.) Danielle took this picture; my parents, myself, and lots of my friends ended up going to the aforementioned party. It was at a local bar, which I think was celebrating hiring a new chef - appetizers were passed around. Corona was there and Dad got this hat after chatting up the 'Corona Girls'. Makers Mark was also there and I tried it for the first time - it is now my preferred bourbon.

Not Used To Toronto Prices

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

I am looking forward to spending this Wednesday at Hey Lucy's with Kristen and Tessa. We have been trying to get together on a Wednesday for a long time, and this date has been in my planner for a few weeks now. Hopefully Kiyomi can come too and we can celebrate her birthday. Danielle might come too and maybe even Noah and Jason. Could turn into a big gathering!

The reason we are looking to go on a Wednesday is that their normally $9 martinis are only $4.50.

I was telling my mom this and she told me that her and Dad went their once before or after going to the theater. (Hey Lucy's is in the Entertainment District near all the major Toronto theaters.) Well, I gather that my dad got very excited about the 1/2 price martinis (I don't know if they went on a Wednesday, but the deal is also available every day before 5pm.) Anyway, unfortunately, my dad saw the $4.50 price at the top of the menu and must not have read very closely after hearing that it was 50% off, so he assumed that it was half off that price, and therefore $2.25. Well, I guess he was pretty surprised when the bill came. I can't imagine a drink in Toronto ever being less than $3!

A Useful Machine

After a weekend with Jason's nephew's I have some thoughts on children/babies: For example, one should probably not have them until one is living in a place that has a dishwasher (and probably also easy access to daily laundry.) I am pretty sure that I am one of the last remaining people, of all my friends, still washing my dishes by hand. Thinking about their various houses and apartments the only people that might also be in a sink-only situation could be Nic and Drew, Erin AH, Anna, and Danielle - even them I am not totally sure, maybe they do have the very useful machine that is a Dish Washer.

Kristen Is Getting Married

Today is Kristen's wedding day! She will be marrying Noah on her Aunt's estate in the countryside near St. Catherine's. I can't wait to see her walk down the aisle. It is going to be so amazing to be at this wedding, I have watched this relationship grow from its early days with Kristen uncontrollable beaming smile that occurred with every text message from Noah, tried to provide comfort and insight during struggles over different thinking patterns and lifestyles, seen their excitement at moving in together and the general joy that they bring to each other every single day, received the phone call from a thrilled Kristen announcing their engagement, and over the last little while helped fold paper cranes for their wedding and prepared to be their MC. I am so happy for them and so excited to see how this magical day will unfold!

Kristen's Bachelorette

Kiyomi, Tessa, Taylor, Danielle, Me, with Kristen in the front

At her bachelorette a couple of weeks ago we made her wear a veil to help her 'prepare' for her big day, even though I don't think she is planning on wearing a veil today so really it was just to slightly embarrass her.

Short Workweek

Danielle works for The Provincial Government (Ontario) and posted the following quote to facebook:

"I'm worried about how I am going to fit the 15 minutes of work I actually do into this four-day workweek." - from someecards

I really miss working for the government! I remember times when the Government of Canada (Federal) felt like that. Now I feel much differently about shorter work weeks, especially since I start my holidays this Friday and will be away for over a week. Not enough time to get everything in place so that I feel comfortable leaving it - means getting in earlier and working later.

Reading

I am nearing the end of Dan Brown's Angels & Demons. Like all his books, each chapter (and there are 137 of them) ends with a cliffhanger - it is so addictive. Needless to say, I spent most of my free time today reading: both ways on my commute, during my lunch hour, before and after dinner while lying in bed. I love reading a book that I am into and for my birthday I got a lot of really cool books that I can't wait to start!

My Friends and I Reading at The Cottage

Photo by Carol Sweeton

Danielle Kubes - Freelance Journalist

Danielle recently finished her Masters at Ryerson (in Journalism, a much more practical choice than mine in Literature of Modernity.) She just published her thesis online; it can be accessed and read through her blog, which also acts as her online resume. The thesis about grade inflation in undergraduate arts programs is a really interesting read. You can find her other work on the blog as well. The articles range from lifestyle to business but it is really the thesis that shines at the moment on the site. Visit the blog here: Danielle Kubes - Freelance Journalist

First Time At The Pier

Went to Pier 21 with Kristen and The Princess. The Princess fixed me up first, taught me some valuable going out tricks. Always layer by wearing two shirts, though makes you sweat more you will somehow look better. There may have been a case of VPL (Visible Panty Line) that she just couldn't handle, but there is no way I'm switching to thongs. From 10pm to 4am, and the time just flew by. After the bar we gave Kristen her first Shwarma and then later on when told of my food options back at the house I believe I actually said "I want the ice cream and the cheese" Note to self: only eat food when sober. It was a great night, but I should really start giving out a fake number, I think it would just be easier in the long run. Why do I aim so high, but end up so low?

Mouse Crisis, Part Two

Last night I came home with Kristen and her roommates. I gave them a house tour since TallT, WifeT, and the Princess had never seen Le Manior before. We saw a mouse, well most of us just freaked out, screaming and running away. Ami went to go look for it, but it quickly escaped. Later on, after the girls had gone home, I was typing on my computer when I heard Binx outside my room rushing around. Little mouse screams quickly followed. I started shrieking, and Ami and Em came to my rescue. After the mouse ran behind my shelves, they told me to go downstairs for a while and everything would probably sort itself out. When I returned to my room, all was fine and I went to sleep. I was woken up by noise and more mouse screams. I made a quick exit out my second door and down the back staircase to Ami's room. She went up the front stairs and returned laughing a bit later "Oh something is definitely dying up there." I had to explain to her that Binx doesn't really successfully kill them. Ami headed up again and had to finish it off, then dispose of it outside. She is the bravest person I know, you would think someone like that would be harder but she is sweet, feminine, and sensitive, yet she is still my Knight In Cotton Pajama Pants.

Pizza Hut

I have been craving the Pizza Hut family sit in meal for a long time. You know the one, it comes with a salad, garlic bread, pasta, and pizzas. I got to go this evening, I may have pulled the "break up" card to get to go but it worked. TallT, Kristen, WifeT, and the Princess went with me. It was a four course, four hour dinner, great times, good laughs.