Some words from a Silver

The trip to Ontario ended over a week ago, but I haven't given you an update yet. I shall now provide you with said update, alongside a few photos I took while in Toronto and New Liskeard.

To begin with, here is a link to all of the photos on my Flickr page.

The flight went quite well. We were up at 40,000 feet for much of the trip to Toronto, and while Adam had a lot of trouble with his ears, Lyra was perfectly happy. She spent much of the trip crawling between Adam's & my laps, and looking around all the weird new stuff. She napped in my lap for part of it as well, and the take-off and landing didn't bother her at all. Adam's ears didn't pop for a week.

Adam's mother & Aunt met us at the airport in Toronto, and there was much fussing over Lyra. We went to Adam's grandmother's home and there was more fussing over Lyra. She loved how much space there was in the living room there, and crawled around for hours. Bedtime was late (Toronto time) but about right in Vancouver terms.



Our first full day in Toronto was mother's day, so after Lyra's morning nap (which she took on the floor) we headed to Adam's Aunt's house to have a huge brunch with a bunch of his family members. There was much fussing over Lyra. At one point, she got put into a broken umbrella stroller which threatened to collapse at any moment so that Adam's grandmother could take her for a walk down the street. We deemed the stroller unfit, named it the crushing stroller, and rescued Lyra from its clutches, only to have another stroller acquired for the purpose of taking her for a walk down the street. It was all incredibly amusing somehow. We rounded out the evening with a Mother's Day dinner at Spring Rolls on Eglinton at Yonge. It was tasty.

The next day was Monday, and we headed in to Toronto proper to visit High Park. We had warned friends in advance that our Toronto visitation times were limited, and they would have to meet us there if they wanted to see us. Fortunately, a bunch of people were able to join us at the High Park zoo & playground. It was a nice afternoon outside.




(photo by Brian Tao, who borrowed my camera to take a few shots)

The next morning we took the long drive to New Liskeard. We took our time, stopping whenever Lyra needed a break from the confines of her car seat, and it ended up only taking us a half hour or so longer than usual to do the drive (about six hours or so, I guess.) It was a lovely, sunny day, and Lyra was once again a superstar considering she was confined to a harness for most of the time.

Our visit to New Liskeard has become a mess of randomness in my brain. I have no clue what we did on what days, but I know that we stopped in to see Paul & Jenn at Chat Noir Books (where they make a fine cup of coffee,) and we spent a lot of time with Adam's mom & dad, handing one of them Lyra at every opportunity. Also, we got poutine at least twice. There's nothing like poutine close to the Quebec border.

We did go to North Bay for a day, as a nice excursion. We spent an hour or so hanging out in a park by the lake, and Lyra crawled around in the grass with her Grandmother (Bubby-T.)



She also went to check out the beach with her Daddy.



Beaches make baby Lyras ROAR:



Grass and sunlight make baby Lyras turn into anime characters:



We also went to at least two Barbeque parties - it was the May 2-4 weekend, after all - and Lyra got to meet a couple of other babies and have social engagements with them:



Nearing the end of our time up in New Liskeard, we took a drive down to Temagami. Adam and his dad decided to take the boat (newly put back in the water after the winter) from the Marina down to where it gets parked at Loon Lodge on Lake Temagami. They needed someone to pick them up at Loon Lodge, so Lyra and I took the Murano from the town of Temagami down the access road to the lake. When we arrived, we were informed that Adam & David had had to turn back due to excessive winds - if they had pressed on, it would have taken them another two hours to reach me. Lyra and I walked back up the trail to the Murano (sweet car to drive down Temagami access road!) and drove the half hour trip back to the Town so we could pick up the boys.

It was actually more fun than perhaps it seems it would be. Adam was pleased to get out on the lake in a boat, I was pleased to spend at least a bit of time at Loon Lodge (although no loon burgers were acquired... and no, they're not made of loons...) and the drive was really quite nice. I didn't see any m00se, however.

We also took a trip out to the Elk Lake Eco Centre for lunch on one of our last days there. It snowed that day. The lodge was quite nice, however, even with the snow.



I'd have to say that the trip was a success. Lyra was a Rock Star the whole time - she traveled well on the plane, she traveled well in the car, and she was so good the whole time. We have an awesomely mellow and happy baby, and we are lucky to have her.

The only really negative things I have to say about the trip are that Adam caught a nasty cold which he promptly gave to me, and we were both miserable for a good part of the trip due to a sore throat/cough type thing; and that next time I really want to spend more time in Toronto, seeing Toronto sites that we haven't visited in a while, like the ROM and the AGO and most especially Canada's Wonderland.

Good times!

Adam, Lyra & I will be visiting Ontario for a bit in a couple of weeks. We discovered a seat sale that basically saved us 1000$ over going in August as previously planned, so we jumped on it. We fly into Toronto on the 9th in the evening, and will stay in North York for a couple of days at least. If anyone wants to see us in that time, please get in touch. We will be making plans with Adam's Toronto family (I'm leaving that up to him to do) but will try to work around that schedule to see our friends before we head up to New Liskeard.

If, on the other hand, you are in New Liskeard, I imagine we will see you around. It's not that big a place. If there is something specific you want to do with us there, let us know and we'll figure it out.

So I took some pictures while we were in Toronto and New Liskeard. I have placed them in a Flickr Set for your enjoyment.

( Here are a few of them )

Back in Toronto for one last day before we fly out on the New Year's Eve afternoon.

A proper update may occur tomorrow, or maybe not until I'm back in Vancouver. I miss my home, I miss the mountains, and I miss the kitties. It is time to go home.

Yesterday was fun, we left the house somewhat early and met Rory, then Vachel, and wandered around town for a bit trying to get our train ticket (office was closed) and having our Salad King lunch. It was awesome good, just like we remembered.

The evening was filled with old friends and conversation and beer (and a very poor performance by myself, but I don't think anyone was listening anyway. Having not played or practiced in about six months, I couldn't remember a thing.)

Anyhow, there were a few people who didn't make it out that were missed, and a couple of surprise dropins that were nice to see. We were out exceptionally late, and arrived back at Ian's place where we were crashing at about 3am. We stayed up until about 3:30, then tried to sleep until about 8am. Neither of us slept particularly well, though, and when we got up we were zombies. After making our way back to Adam's grandmother's house, Adam took a quick nap while I helped prepare the giant hanukkah meal for fifteen that was to occur at lunchtime. People arrived, lunch was had and there was much socializing until perhaps 3:45 or so, when everyone left. Adam's watching tv and dozing now, and I'm sitting on the computer. Tomorrow morning we have to be up at 6 to make our way down to the train station for 8. Early morning sucks.

I should be thinking about napping myself, but I'm almost afraid to - at this point, if I nap I may not sleep the night through. I could sleep on the train tomorrow, but I don't really want to - I like looking out the window for that sort of thing.

We were going to go out to a movie tonight, but now we're both just too tired. We're not going anywhere further than out to the coffee shop, and that only if anyone calls and wants to try and see us tonight, so not very likely.

So here we are in Toronto. It is warm and there is no snow. We flew out of Vancouver on cusp of the biggest windstorm they've had yet. Four trees fell down in my mother's yard, landing on the carport (which stopped it from hitting the car,) on the power lines that run from the street to the house, and all over the front yard. Fortunately it missed her house and stopped before hitting the car. Apparently she was up watching the wind when the tree fell on the carport. They've spent the day clearing out the yard.

Our flight out was turbulent for the first half hour or so - sliding sideways and bouncing us around madly. It was a bit unnerving but exciting at the same time. I guess I get a weird kick of out scary situations or something.

We arrived on time in Toronto, and it upon deplaning we noticed immediately that it was a lot warmer in Toronto than it was in Vancouver when we had left four hours earlier. Emma picked us up, and we slept at her place last night. We got up early in the morning today (before 7am EST I think) which was 4am our time, and got a lift with Mike to Adam's grandmother's house. Breakfast was acquired, then we lurked around the condo, full of the realization that we were up at 4am and our bodies were not impressed. We attempted sleep and failed, then had some lunch and walked across the street to get groceries. Came back to the condo, decided we were in no shape to go out tonight and decided to stay in.

The jet lag is hitting pretty hard today, we've both been total wrecks with no energy. It was good to stay in. Now we're watching Harvey Birdman on Teletoon, since we don't have cable at home and this is very exciting. And I'm leeching wireless. Shhh don't tell.

Tomorrow we're going to see the other grandmother, then meeting Rory and Vachel downtown and having adventures. Later there will be the gathering of sorts at the Renaissance Cafe. I apologize for my inability to be coherent, but my body says go to bed already. I will listen and obey. And also watch Space Ghost Coast to Coast because it is joyful.

Hey there Toronto folks. Adam and I will be in Toronto from the 14th until the 18th. Our evenings are pretty much booked that whole time with family or other get togethers, but the open gathering will be on the 16th.

Where: Renaissance Cafe, 1938 Danforth Ave. at Woodbine. I worked there for a while. It was nice. Also they have good stuff on tap.
When: Saturday, December 16th, sometime after 7:30 or so?
Why: Because you haven't seen Adam & Jenny in ages and it would be fun to see them
Who: whoever. Please come out. the more the merrier. Unless you already have a party you're going to, then go to that and if you'd like to see us at another time our days are free and we'd love to meet you for lunch or coffee.

Email Adam or myself for contact numbers. jennifer.silver@gmail dot com or paleblueshift@gmail dot com.

I've been nauseous since yesterday afternoon. I think what did it was taking the giant dosage of advil to try and make the nasty headache from hell go away. It made the headache back off, which was good, but it made me nauseous, and that hasn't gone away since.

I have no appetite, all I've eaten is bread and soup since last night. And one sandwich today. Meh. I feel cruddy.

In other news, I'm doing laundry and can't go to bed until it is done.

Trying to make arrangements to see people while we're in Toronto... but it's hard since I don't have lots of peoples' contact info, and don't even know where to meet people or anything anymore. I hope people can work with me on this one and get back to me.

Dear Jane Creba and family;

I would like to apologize on behalf of our federal politicians for the circus your unfortunate and untimely death will now become. While I am certain that both condolences and outcries from the political corners will be sincere, I find it ill-fated that the circumstances surrounding your situation are undoubtedly going to be used as a pillar for political platforms in the weeks to come.

Sincerely,

Me

Hoorah for early afternoon. It's nice outside, I think. I haven't been out yet, I'm still in my housecoat. The cats went out though. It appears summer has finally started to kick in. I'd be happy but I don't really care that much. Summer was cool when it involved getting months off from school. Now it's just another time of year when there's lots of smog warnings and it's too damn hot to want to do anything.

I sound old and bitter. Ick.

We should maybe start finding boxes to pack our stuff up into. It hasn't sunk in yet that we're really moving out of this postage stamp. I've been living here since November of 1998, and Jay moved in September of 1999, I think it's rather time to move on.

Just checked out an interesting website by someone from the #qt-kat channel on IRC warped.net - Artyste - he's got some really nice artwork on there.

Jay's still sleeping. I'll let him sleep til he wakes up, unless it goes too late. We have to go to the computer store today and get a USB port and maybe a new Hard Drive. Monitor to follow when we next have some money. Sera's being very chatty this morning. Silly kitty. :)

Niagara falls was really nice. I've been there a few times (it's an Ontario resident thing, I think, to only go to Niagara Falls when you're showing someone from far away.) The day was bright and sunny, I forgot my sunscreen and got burnt.

The friends I was meeting were late (I figured they would be, so I wasn't worried about it.) I had to wait outside the door of Casino Niagara... by the time I had been there 2 hours, the doormen recognized me and were asking "Aren't they here yet?" It was amusing. We never went in the casino, and we didn't do Clifton Hill (it's a street packed with wax museums, haunted houses, and all things tourist-cheezy) but we checked out the falls, and were too late to go on Maid of the Mist (the boat up to the falls.) In all the times I've been to Niagara Falls, I've never once gone on that boat. I keep wanting to, but it never happens. Someday, I hope... My friend from Australia agreed that the Canadian side of the falls is much nicer than the american side, and my friend from Ohio couldn't argue that. The states does have a lot of other cool stuff though... that grand canyon thing, mount rushmore, all sorts of stuff that I've never seen. And Australia has a huge rock in the middle of the desert (ayres rock or something... however you spell it.) The girl from Australia had never been there, it's too far to go just to see a rock. And she doesn't have Kangaroos in her backyard in Sydney.

It was a fun weekend, it was great to meet people I don't get to see often (it may be years before I see the Australian girl again...) and I'm sad that there wasn't enough time to bring them all to Toronto. I've never had company in Toronto that I could show around... plus, I've never been to half of the things that I'd want to show someone - like the Art Gallery of Ontario, or the Ontario Science Centre, and the Royal Ontario Museum... all these things I have yet to do. I will get to them at some point, it's just more fun when you're showing someone else around.

My other work computer won't connect to the net at all... the article is done, but trapped on a computer that won't connect to anything. bleah. dumb thing.

I'll just keep working on this one, and drinking my Earl Grey tea, until the network guy shows up to figure out what's wrong. It's monday. Definitely monday.

Hmm. I'm not really convinced that anyone reads this. Oh well, I'm indulging myself.

Headache finally went away. I'm going to Niagara Falls (Canada side) tomorrow to meet up with a couple of net friends and spend the day. It's going to be a blast, now that it's all come together. Yay! I'm bringing the cameras with me!

The article is still in pieces... I think it's pretty much all there, it's just not together... there's no flow to it. I just can't concentrate today at all.

My mom's coming to visit next week!!! Or at least, she's supposed to. She lives in Vancouver, so I don't see her anywhere near often enough (I really really really Like my mom, and miss her a whole lot.) I love Toronto, I think it's a great city, but sometimes it's just hard to be so far away from anyone I'm related to... I'd like to be able to go out and have tea with mom, or do some weekend dinner thing, or go shopping together, or whatever. No one visits me in Toronto, which is okay, for the most part, except that I feel isolated sometimes. Having Jay around is great, but that doesn't make me not miss my mom.

I should go put my stuff together for tomorrow, just to make sure I don't forget anything. Bus goes out at 10:30 am, I won't be back until Sunday evening or so. It'll be great fun!

Okay okay, I'm a procrastinating fool. It's friday though, so I think I'm allowed... or something. Blah. I think I'm just going to finish the article & send it in tonight, rather than keeping trying to get it done now. My mind just isn't on it, I think it's this headache.

But I got paid today (yay!) so I can buy myself some lunch... it's really nice out, summer weather, so I guess we're skipping spring this year. There's already that city-haze going on (alright, I'll call it what it is... smog.) I still want to live here though... just in a different apartment. Not up to that topic yet though, it requires more effort than I have today.