Toronto and Peterborough, ON

I was in Toronto and Peterborough about a month ago, and instead of blogging about it, I figured I recap through posting a few pictures. Here goes:

I really wanted that T-shirt. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it in my size....




Chocolate!




Cool drinks with Sean and Moose.




Hot day: some offices had their windows opened, some not.




Detail of wooden staircase at the AGO.




Serena Ryder's mom, Barb, posing with Moose and me!




The infamous lift lock (the main reason I visited Peterborough - besides hanging out with Sean, and meeting Serena Ryder's mom).




I have my own street! ;)




Pretty lights (at a movie theater).

Photo recap of Îles de la Madeleine

Originally posted in September 4, 2010.



It's almost a month ago when Krista and I visited the tiny archipelago. Shortly. Here are some pictures I took:

Time flies

This was originally posted on August 17, 2010.





On Sunday I woke up with a bad case of vertigo, and after feeding Saffron I go back to bed. When I woke up again an hour and a half later, it seemed to have done the trick. I had a couple of vegetable springrolls I got at The Italian Market for brunch. They weren't as good as I hoped they'd be. My advice: add more carrots. The soy sauce that came along wasn't exactly to my taste either, so I made my own by mixing Frank's Hot Sauce with regular tomato ketchup. After that I went for a walk, and headed for The Hydrostone Market. (Half of the stores are closed, because it's Sunday.) Just walking up the street towards Robie got me wheezing and coughing. I lowered my pace slightly, and it took a before the reason sunk in: my asthma was acting up due to the muggy weather conditions. Yay! I went in Quantum Frontier, a comic book store, and found a volume of Terry Moore's Echo I hadn't read yet. I then trek down to the Halifax Shopping Mall. I had intended to pick up a couple of V-neck tees, but the ones Gap currently carries is expensive: Old Navy lets me have two for that price. And while the fabric used for the Gap tees are almost see through, the Old Navy ones are solid. Anyhoo, by the time I decided to walk back I was cooled down enough and I had read the comic while sipping a diet root beer. At the mall. At the first set of traffic lights I popped my neck, while waiting for the WALK sign to light up. The cars were allowed to go first. Suddenly, I saw a gray sedan drive by and a pink haired girl with her head stuck out the window let out a cross between a cat call and a howl. I looked around to see who that was aimed at... Only to realize that at that moment I was the only pedestrian. I was puzzled shortly, and then I was amused.

My friend Kelly picked me up for a late dinner at Maxwell's Plum. Kelly got the $2 deal on Mussels, and the Spud Covers, while I ordered the Maxwell Club House (no cheese, no bacon). We caught up and enjoyed our food. Oh, their double Rum Runner was delicious as well. It was good to see my friend healthy and happy. We went over to her apartment afterward, where I got to meet her guests (visiting from Ottawa, ON) and her two kitty sleepovers. (They're from her friend who was on a trip.) Oh, and I mustn't forget boyfriend Jon. We briefly talked photography.
It was late by the time Kelly dropped me off in Halifax. I initially thought Krista hadn't returned from Lunenburg and was partying her ass off somewhere, but when I got in the apartment I saw she got back long enough to drop off her stuff and check her E-mail. Saffron just looked at me from the bed - like I was supposed to bring Krista home. I was so tired I decided not to wait up, and went sweepy bye bye.
The next day was my last one in Halifax (for a while) and after I pretty much repacked my bag, we drove out to Old Navy and WalMart, and we finally get Foxglove out! One thing we didn't do was check the weather forecast, but it was beautiful and sunny, so we went. The baby Cape Islander was rocking as it was windy out on the Atlantic. We steered for McNab's. Before we knew it it was time to head to Krista's mom's house for dinner. Her friend Jim Swansburg, who is currently working on Haven (can you spell Stephen King?), joined us. Krista's mom cooked up some deliciously tender chicken legs. (Thank you!) After dinner we looked at some pictures of Krista when she was younger. Heh.

Too soon it was time for us to go back to Halifax, pick up my baggage and head for Stanfield Int'l. At least we're on time, and there's no fog this time either... I'll be back soon!

So many interesting people, so little time

Originally posted August 14, 2010.





We left Charlottetown around 8PM and arrived back in Halifax around 1AM. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to sleep in: we were expected at Tom Gallant’s schooner Avenger. It was a wonderful day with plenty of wind: at one point we had a speed of 9 knots. The next day we were late at arriving at the Lunenburg Yacht Club, but on time to see the start of the race. Krista and I ate the chicken wings we got for the race (can’t let them go to waste, eh?) before driving back to Mahone Bay, where I spent the afternoon being a total tourist. I walked up and down Main St and treated myself to two scoops of dairy free ice cream at Caféhaus. There were three flavors I can safely enjoy, and one of them is my favorite: lemon. The owner warned me it’s really “sour” because he made the ice cream with real lemons, and I assured him that that’s the way I like it. It was tangy, and it was lovely! I recognized his German accent and asked him about it. I ended up talking about emigrating to Canada, finding a job, 9/11, Germany, the Netherlands (he even spoke some Dutch)…
Krista and I headed to the yacht club after the race was over to drop off the food. We hung around for a little while before driving back to Halifax, where we did some grocery shopping for the next day (hamburgers!). I tried a donair; it wasn’t bad, but definitely not something I’d eat regularly. (I would add some garlic sauce/paste for more flavor.)




We arrived in time for the races on Tuesday. There were a few new faces in Tom's crew. All interesting people, and all nice. Some of them have traveled the world more extensively than I have, and have interesting and hilarious stories to tell. I noticed one of the female crew members being in a bit of awe of one of the guys in the crew, Lennie. I didn't get it. Anyway, we sucked at that day's races: lack of wind doesn't do a schooner much good. Lennie graciously indulged us and sung a few songs, hoping to win over the wind gods... Tom even reenacted his VHF play for me: Pink Pirate and his closeted red neck lover Raging Bull were brought back. It cracked up the entire crew. Krista provided everybody with delicious burgers, and sometime after 7PM Tom called it a day. We took the sails down and motored back to the yacht club.
The more people I meet who have relocated to Canada, the more stories I hear about them meeting their loves of their lives and marrying them. I don't know if that is for me.
Krista was pretty hammered, so I was that night's designated driver home. That was when she asked me if I had any idea who Lennie Gallant is. (Despite having the same last name Tom and Lennie are not related.) I confessed I had no clue, so my friend clued me in. I felt like a turd: I could have talked about music - or something, if I had known!

It was raining on Wednesday morning and Krista didn't feel like driving down to Lunenburg, so way stayed home. My allergies happened to pick that morning to start acting up badly, so I popped a Benadryl and napped. We had salads at A Mano at Bishop's Landing; mine was a tasty chicken salad, Krista had a tasty one with caramelized onions. I got a chocolate rum cake and a whiskey cake (I know my mom and brother would enjoy) at Rum Runners around the corner, and a bubble tea at Mu Lan Tea House across the street from A Mano. I was supposed to hear from my friend Nancy, but when I didn't I accepted my friend Amanda's dinner invite. To make a long story short: Amanda did not lock herself out, but something in the doorknob broke, so we couldn't get in. Good thing she didn't start the stove or anything - although her cat Sage didn't understand why we weren't coming in. Amanda's friend Sarah helped us out with delicious cinnamon rolls (we were getting hungry). We ended up having pasta salad and sushi on the lawn outside, while we waiting for the locksmith to show up. He arrived two hours later (after we played several rounds of 20 Questions in the hallway), and needed 45 minutes to drill through the doorknob. It was around 11PM when Amanda was able to finally go back into her apartment. Yay!

The next morning Krista drove me to Kannon Boardshop in Lawrencetown, NS. I met up with my instructor Alex, and we set out to surf. Just check out the post below. When we got back Krista packed for Lunenburg, I packed to crash at Amanda's for a night. (Still close enough to feed Saffron.) ... Aaand... Take 2! Amanda made some delicious vegetarian patties (oatmeal, onions, egg and cream of shroom), and we had those burgers with bagels. After dinner we rode the bus downtown to the Busker's Festival. We caught one entire performance and it was quite entertaining.
We slept in on Friday morning; I let Amanda take advantage of the fact she managed to get an extended weekend off to visit her family on PEI. After a late breakfast we stroll around downtown. I popped in at the HMV to see if I could find any of Lennie's albums. I did. (There was an entire section on local music and music from Eastern Canada.)



My friend Nancy picked me up in her truck the next morning to do brunch. (No weather to ride a motorcycle.) We drove to Moustache and got a table (with shade) on their patio. Nancy gets the Sunshine Salad, while I order the Chinese Chicken Salad. We catch up and enjoy the food. I forgot about her sense of humor. Heh. Unfortunately, she has other plans for the afternoon, so we don't get to play. She promises we'll get to play the next time. Nancy drops me off at the apartment, and hopes I'll get into a bit of trouble before I leave Halifax *snicker* The way things are going right now I won't be getting any Haligonian tail. I decide to get a haircut. I walk over to First Choice Haircutters at the Forum, and I emerge with a shorter 'do twenty minutes later. At home I wash out the hair products, and notice that the junior hairdresser didn't do a fantastic job. It's less than MEH. The upside of having short hair is that you won't notice it anymore in a week or two.

Lunch with my friend Kelly is postponed: we'll have dinner the next evening instead. I watch some TV and catch an episode of Degrassi. Unfortunately, this is not one where they handled the transgender storyline. Time flies this Summer: I'll be flying out in a couple of days - aaaargh!

Glad to be back, TO! (Eau de Frog, and What about that hair?!)

Originally posted on August 8, 2010.



My friend Sean was awaiting me at the airport in Toronto, just like he said he would. I almost missed him, but he was the only guy snapping pictures of me. It made me grin like an idiot. We grabbed a taxi to Bond Place Hotel, a hotel conveniently located steps away from Yonge-Dundas Square - and Eaton Centre. After checking in, Sean and I had a late lunch at Chipotle (my friend Stacey would dig this!) Sean and I scoped the area around the hotel. Then it was time for me to go back to the hotel, and freshen myself up for dinner with my friend Wendy and her husband Ed. Wendy and I met through Facebook, and she's one of those people I have had some interesting conversations with. She is just as sweet in real life. I enjoyed her and her husband's playful poking. If I ever settle down with someone that's what I want: I want someone with an amazing sense of humor. (I've always thought of it as important.) Wendy and Ed took me to their favorite Chinese restaurant, East Moon, in York - which was quite a drive from the hotel. Moose Lee was included, and he and I had a wonderful time. The food was good, the company was fantastic, and by the time I was back in my room I had trouble staying awake.




I intended to work out the next morning, but when I woke up a little after 5AM I opted for a few more hours of sleep. I woke up two hours later. I took my time waking up, breakfasting on left over hot and spicy chicken wings. Toronto Greeter Penny was waiting for me in the lobby when I came down all fresh and clean a little before 10AM. She reminded me very much of my friend Lucy, and when I learned she studied History (Canadian history) I knew that was what they had in common. Penny apologized and told me Cabbagetown was really her neighborhood of expertise, but she did research on the city's Gay Village and was more than ready to give me the tour. Well, I can tell you she sure did her homework: she came with all kinds of trivia I hadn't read in any of my city guides (yes, I have several). I had an excellent time walking around parts of Toronto (I hope she did, too) and learning about them. Like with Charles, my Big Apple City Greeter, I gave her a pack of Dutch stroopwafels. They're just to show my appreciation (they do it for free!) and having visited the Netherlands 3 times, Penny was looking forward to enjoying them. She told me she was going to have to hide them from her grandson. *LOL*



One of the things I kept in mind was that if I ever decide to move to TO 519 Church is one of the places to go. The tour ended in Chinatown, and I still remember from 8 years ago how to get back to the area my hotel is located. (When I first visited Canada I picked TO and Niagara Falls, and stayed at a hotel next to the Maple Leaf Garden.) I walked my way to the Royal Alexandra Theatre, where Sean and I would attend a show, and from there it was a short walk to Union Station, where Sean and I were going to meet the next morning. I had a wonderful meal at Le Commensal, which was a short walk away from my hotel. I had forgotten how much I love their garlic pasta! I also found out they're open for breakfast... Before I went back to the hotel, I popped in at the HMV on Yonge St, where they were playing the new Arcade Fire album (released the next day). I picked up a few CDs, and the girl who helped me had some pretty awesome tattoos. And guess what? She's from Halifax, too!



I skipped a work out at the gym the next morning and went back to Le Commensal for breakfast: a very tasty avocado sandwich (with tomato and lettuce) and green tea. Then I walked to Union Station to meet with Sean. I was early, he was on time. We went up CN Tower (I didn't go up the first time I visited Toronto, because of an enormous line of people waiting) and spent some time gawking. Just driving into the downtown a couple of days ago I couldn't believe the amount of high rises along the lake front; I surely don't remember them being there eight years ago. After that we walked to the ferry terminal and got tickets to the Toronto Islands. The skyline looks different from what I remember. I should see if I can dig up a picture I took of the TO skyline and compare it with one I just took... We had to wait quite a while for the Ward's Island ferry. When we got off it we went straight to the Rectory Café, where Sean and I had a lunch. I had a tasty veggie omelet:



We walked the boardwalk from the Rectory Café towards Center Island, where we rented a 2-seater quad and cycled the rest of the islands. (It was hot, and we could use some shade, so cycling that quad was a good option!) Looking back I can't believe the distance I covered on foot (8 years before) wearing combat boots in 32C and regular pants instead of shorts.
Back in the city we passed the Hockey Hall of Fame. It was a muggy 26C (it felt more like 34C) and we cooled off a bit at the Sheraton. There, we called off walking to the Dakota Tavern (too much and too far away) and headed to Silver Snail Comics instead. (We passed a Fluevog store, where I bought a pair of cool shoes.)

I found the latest volume of Terry Moore's "Echo", and a very cute koala hat. I was foolish NOT to buy it. What was I thinking. Um. Wait. I wasn't thinking. The heat gave me a case of fried brains. That was it! Anyway, then we went back to the hotel and while I freshened up, Sean got a pint at the Imperial Pub across the street. Then we had dinner at Le Commensal (see a pattern there?) before heading to the theater to see Rock of Ages. We were early, which gave us the opportunity to check out Canada's Walk of Fame (Sean and I thought it was pretty short. Maybe we missed part of the walk?), and have a pre-theater drink at a pub called O'Malley's. (Arrr, matey!)
Rock of Ages rocked! It was funny at times, and pretty much a sing along show, too. I enjoyed it very much.
When I got back to the hotel I repacked, and the next morning I took the airport shuttle. It was great to be back in Toronto - even if it was just for a very short period of time. I'll be back!
It was raining when I arrived in Halifax, and Krista was waiting for me. We caught up while we were waiting for the baggage belt to start. When we got home we immediately prepared for our trip to the Magdalen Islands. We each packed a bag, and camping gear and stowed it in Krista's hatchback. We went to bed early, because we had to leave early to catch to 9AM ferry in Souris, PEI. Despite the fog during the first part of our trip (hello Confederation Bridge) and missing a turn in Charlottetown, we made it in time... Only to find out there was NO 9AM ferry. WTF?! When I made reservations it specifically said 9AM instead of the regular 2PM one. Because of that I asked Krista if she was alright with leaving so early (she was). Needless to say we weren't amused. Krista suggested getting breakfast at The Bluefin Restaurant in Souris. The food's simple but good, and it's a short drive away from the ferry terminal. There was a woman at the restaurant who's a dead ringer for Krista's mom (we should have taken a picture!); Krista was trying not to stare too much and I did a double take on my way to the washrooms.



When we finally were on the ferry we had a few hours to kill relax and catch up on a bit of sleep. Krista also introduced me to a card game called Set. It's the kind of game that gets me hooked quickly, and I know would do the same to my brother (can you spell nerds?).
After arriving at Îles de la Madeleine, we immediately drove to the nearest camping (Barachois) where we got a spot for the night. We set up the tent, and I was knocked back by a really really foul smell. I asked Krista about it, and she thought she may have rolled it up after accidentally placing it on dog poo. People, trust me, dog poo is bad, but this was just plain nasty. We decided to let the tent air out before putting up the cover. Long story short: to avoid waking up with a massive headache I spent a night in the car, while Krista shared the tent with... Wait for it... A mummified frog. (E-mail me if you want to see photographic evidence.) I'm not sure what it was doing in the tent - or why it hopped in in the first place - but that's one frog that won't get kissed EVER.
The next day we drove Route 199, which is 88 km long, and runs the whole length of the archipelago. I enjoyed the scenery, the kite surfers, the weather (which improved from a dreary morning to a sunny afternoon), the company, the drive... I enjoyed the fact I got to practice my French (even though I keep struggling with Quebecois French, I think it's better than nothing, eh?) and even though I kept meeting people who easily switched to English upon finding out je suis pas Français, Krista seemed to meet people who didn't speak English at all.
The last meal on the islands was at a café/resto called "Le pas perdue". I had a chicken burger (with real chicken, instead of processed "chicken") that was served with fries... And some long blond hair (tangling up part of my fries). Bon appetit! Talking about a hairy situation, eh? The waitress apologized profusely and got me a 25% discount. Merci, Mademoiselle. The frog and hare hair are enough to ensure the islands won't be easily forgotten.



We got the 8PM ferry back to PEI, and arrived at 1AM in Souris. We drove to Red Point Provincial Park, and after some haggling at the office (I broke the ice by pointing out one of the ladies' flies was open) we got a spot to camp. Unfortunately, it was very windy and Krista and I were knackered, so we both settled with sleeping in the hatchback. That meant we had to "rearrange" some of the stuff to make room for the both of us. (We managed.) When we woke up the next morning we had a wonderful view of the ocean. It was still early, so we sped to the bathrooms and got showered and properly freshened up. Then we drove to Charlottetown, PEI, and had breakfast at Cora's (I had a Theo's - no cheese - an omelet stuffed with vegetables). After that I did the tourist thing and walked around a bit, checking out Queen St (yup, I found their comic store there) and venturing some side streets, while Krista napped in the car. (Migraines suck. I felt bad for her.) I caught part of an reenactment on a little square off Victoria's Row. I think it was about the Confederation thingy Charlottetown is known for. We had a late lunch (or early dinner) at a place called Ta Ke Sushi. I picked the vegetarian platter and shared it with Krista. It was yummie! And it was plenty; we ended up taking the leftovers to Krista's friend Jude and her parents. Wonderful people. And their cat Spida is something: this is the first cat I have ever met who enjoys walks along the beach.



Krista pointed out that between Toronto and the Magdalen Islands I was in five provinces in a week: Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec :D

... and it's back to work.

Originally posted in July 6th, 2009.

I dragged my letlagged ass to work this morning, and the longer the morning wore on the worse I felt. I was tired, had trouble staying focused and something triggered a headache (good thing the vertigo wasn't bad).
People asked me about my vacation and the more I talked about it, the more I felt like taking the first plane back to Canada - just like I thought I would *sigh*
Anyhoo, I still have the last part of my trip to recount.

Canada Day starts early (with Krista waking up even before I do): we wanted to be early for the free pancake breakfast at the Grand Parade. Our friend Kelly was supposed to come along as well, but since her boyfriend left in the wee hours of the morning she let us know she'll sleep in and meet us later.
Halifax mayor Peter Kelly was at the Grand Parade handing out sweets, all dressed up for the day, and doing a short (but good) speech after a choir sang the national anthem. And the pancake breakfast? I prefer my friend Amanda's who makes killer pancake breakfasts!

It was drizzling throughout the breakfast, and after that Krista and I headed to the boat club... And ended up catching up on some sleep. Then it was time to go back and head for the Citadel for the 21 gun salute. Despite the fog, or maybe because of it, the shots rang out loudly through the harbor as well. How could I have missed those all this time? (They traditionally shoot the canons at noon.) After that we have a bite at Mexicali Rosa's, where Kelly joins us. Then it's on to Pier 21, where one of the guides I meet turns out to be Dutch. He and I talk a bit about heritage and the Netherlands... Kelly suggested we try Bannock, a kind of indigenous bread. People were invited to take a little piece of dough, roll it out and add a little filling to it (I picked coconut and butterscotch) before putting it on a big skillet. Bannock is simple, tastes good, and is very filling. I have to say that between the multicultural festival (where the concert at Alderney Landing took place) and this I had sampled some interesting new foods.
We headed back to the boat after that and went for another boat ride; woo-hoo!
By the time the fog started to drift inland again, we had docked Foxglove and were driving home. We ended up missing the fireworks (better next time, eh?), and watching Empire Records instead.
The next day was to be my last in Halifax. Krista and I had planned on meeting one of her friends for lunch (she dressed up for it 'specially - in what she calls her trailer trash outfit. I'm fashion impaired, but it didn't look too tacky to me...) but he texted her he couldn't make it. We had a bite at a pub called Durty Nelly's. The food was good (my dish was a generous portion, and Krista ended up finishing my salad *LOL*), the ladies room even better. Even though I generally try to avoid public toilets this one was a treat with screens mounted into the walls next to the sinks, enabling the ladies to check out music videos instead of their mirror images (the super vain aside). When I went in I definitely felt like dancing, despite the Scissor Sisters singing about the opposite.
And besides Krista picking up volume 13 of Terry Moore's ECHO and picking up the last of my developed film at the photo lab, the rest is pretty much a blur. The day seemed to pass way to fast, and before I knew it Krista drove me to the airport. It was pretty foggy when we left the apartment, and it was foggy when we reached the airport. I did not want to leave, and Krista joked she could turn the car around. (I was wishing the fog would be too dense no planes would be able to fly out.) Although extremely tempting, I decided to be good and get on that frickin plane.
In Amsterdam I'm surprised to find my brother waiting at the gate - with my mom. I knew my mom was coming to pick my up from Schiphol airport, but I hadn't expected my brother, too. Yay!
On Sunday my brother Arnold and I drive to Stellendam for a navigation course. It was an introduction really, but really interesting!

That's what I did on the very last day of my vacation.

Festivals, fog, and being First Mate

This was originally posted on June 27, 2009.


I flew to the Maritimes on Jean-Baptiste Day, a national Holiday in the French province. When I arrived at Halifax's airport it was just as hot and sunny as it had been in Montréal. Krista looked smashing in her business outfit - and I couldn't help but grin to myself as I noticed how some of the guys' heads turn. We start catching up almost instantly, and making plans on our way back into the city. It feels great to be back in Halifax!

Krista made a very yummie veggie chilli, and we invited our friend Kelly (who's a vegetarian) over for lunch. We caught up on Kelly's life, who swapped the west coast for the east coast. After we dropped Kelly off at her 2pm appointment, Krista and I headed for the local comic shop (to stock up on additional "Echo"). Then we shopped for a hoodie for me. The one I got two years ago is starting to get holes... I think I drove Krista a little crazy by being fussy (her words, not mine): I knew exactly what I wanted (a red one with a certain font) and I didn't feel like settling for second best. I ended up getting a fire truck red hoodie that has HALIFAX across the chest - instead of CANADA. Hey, works for me!
Our friend Anie invited Krista and me for a BBQ at her new crib that night. A great new home, I must add. Her pets (a kittie and a doggie) are just an adorable bunch. We briefly talked about my relocation, and that's when Anie said she thinks Krista should marry me... Long story short: I freaked out.
The next day I met up with one of Krista's coworkers who relocated from Denmark for lunch. Being an ICT person herself, she had no trouble getting a job. She's certainly given me some food for thought.

On Friday Krista and I finally took Foxglove for an actual test "drive". Thanks to a very weak reverse (there is something wrong with the motor) she has trouble docking the new boat. Trusting me with her life she wanted me the first person to accompany her on the first real outing.
I got a general run down on Foxglove and what she expected me to do when it came down to docking; jump off the boat onto the dock with the lines of both bow and stern, and basically pull the boat in.
Krista is now a member of the Armdale Yacht Club (she suggested it as a place for our wedding ceremony) and so we left from there to McNabs. Once we got to the island we tried docking - and it went fairly well. By the time we were completely done, we suddenly noticed that a pretty heavy fog had rolled in. Me being the laid back person I am talked Krista into going back via the Halifax harbour coast.
And by the time we had turned the boat fog was starting to cover the other side of McNabs. It suddenly seemed like a very bad idea to go back (especially without GPS). Needless to say we had to dock again. The second time went extremely well, and I was instantly promoted to First Mate. The downside: we were probably going to spend the night on the island. I really wouldn't have mind if I hadn't a prior engagement to meet two friends for a concert at Alderney Landing.
Long story short: Krista called friend Mike Tilley aka Captain Redbeard for help. He dropped me off at Alderney Landing, and dropped Krista off at the yacht club (where the car is).
The concert was good: Sarah Slean was a great new find (musically), Divine Brown reminded me of a Motown singer (she totally had the attitude according to my friend Kelly) and Paula Cole was awesome. She delivered, in my opinion, and I am glad I was there to witness that.
I crashed at a friend's place, one who's been promising me a pancake breakfast for the longest time. So, while I was enjoying a pancake brekkie with friends Krista hauled ass: Foxglove had to clear off the dock at McNabs (government regulation). She called me and asked me to meet her ASAP, as she was on her way to meet Mike to get the boat.
In the end Kelly and I took a cab to Bishop's Landing (that's on the Halifax side). We took Kelly for a little cruise along the harbor and back to the Armdale Yacht Club. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day.
The docking went perfect. Krista wants me to stay the entire Summer. I wish!

We went out on a little road trip: I wanted to see the tides at Bay of Fundy, so Krista drives us to Annapolis Valley aka The Valley. Also a great region for fresh strawberries, crisp apple cider and Nova Scotian wine etc. I buy some presents for the family and a friend. At one point, Krista turned on the radio after getting back into the car, and I was instantly happy: Serena Ryder's "All for love" was on! She dubs Serena Melissa junior *lol* because she thinks Serena sounds like Melissa Etheridge.

I happened to cook us dinner a couple of nights in a row, and on the second night Krista was sitting in (what she calls) her "man chair", watching TV while I slave away in the kitchen, when she says all that's missing is a beer and *belch* that she feels like the husband *snickers* An interesting analogy, eh? Anyhoo, I teach Krista how to boil rice - NOT the instant kind - the Asian way. (She thinks it's funny I don't know how to boil potatoes... Eh, dude, I'm Asian!) After a few good attemps I think she now has the hang of it.
One rainy morning I decided to install Saffron's cat door. Having to use pre-millennium tools it took me much longer than anticipated. We had dinner at her mom's place (I really liked her chicken) and went out for boating after that. While Krista noticed I take to it very quickly, I have to admit I was enjoying boating very much.

I suggest you now get a refill of whatever beverage you were having. There's one more post to go...