Due to my lack of posting early in my vacation, I now present a brief, and probably not as detailed, "Vacation Round Up" post of what happened for the remainder of my vacation in Winnipeg.
Wed May 4/11
A visit to Whitehorse Gift Emporium and Tea Room. They boast 10,000 unique items in the store (ranging from items you could find in a dollar store, beautiful wooden furniture, Christmas items, food products, beauty products, gag gifts, jewelery and more) and 30 different kinds of loose leaf to choose from in the Tea Room. This was the day where my cold was kicking my ass and during my wander around the "10,000 unique items" I had a dizzy spell and almost fell into some China. That probably would have cost a lot more than the $4 I spent on craft items.
After a relaxing lunch at the Tea Room (and a longing gaze at the good looking gardeners) our next stop was The Forks.
For those that have visited St Lawrence Market in Toronto, The Forks is similar, but less food market, more upscale and more tourist trap. There are many shops catering to many wants and there is a large outdoor area, with entertainment pavilions and such. However, on this day we didn't see too much of the outside except when running from one building to the next trying to stay dry.
Thurs May 5/11
This was a big day for us. No daycare for the girls and instead we took them to the Assiniboine Park Zoo ($5 for adults...hello, awesome!), then a brief romp at Assiniboine Park and across the big bridge to get some ice cream cones at Sargent Sundaes. This was also the day I received my first sunburn of the season. (Mature responsible Sara didn't even think that a week that started with snow could turn into a week that fries skin.) And what a sun burn it was...Aloe-Vera-slathering-Ibuprofen-popping joy. Ouchies! However, after all that and a quick dinner at home, Angela and I still had the energy for $3 movies at the theatre. Yay, movie popcorn!
Fri May 6/11
With the girls back at daycare, Angela and I visited The Winnipeg Mint - a branch of the Royal Canadian Mint. We had booked spots on the tour, but arrived late ("How did I think the Tax Centre was The Mint...?"), which actually worked out well because we were able to do a self-guided tour and NOT pay the $5.
Incoming joke:
Woman: So, you work at The Mint?
Man: Yup.
Woman: What do you do there?
Man: I make money.
After a quick McLunch we treated ourselves to the oh-so-good, but oh-so-expensive Marble Slab Creamery ice cream. If you're wondering, yes, it's the same idea as Cold Stone Creamery. Marble Slab vs. Cold Stone.
After dinner that night, we enjoyed a fire in the backyard and I got to roast marshmallows for the girls...OK, and for me too. Once the kids were in bed, the grownups feasted on nachos and watched a movie before passing out themselves.
Sat May 7/11
Today I did not rise from slumber until 10am. Even though I was yet again awaken by the loving chirps of young balls of energy before 7am, I decided, with my cold and wicked sunburn, to sleep as much as I could -- 10am was the best I could do. No matter though because today was a relaxing day of PJ's and doing nothing, except packing, before heading back to Toronto.
Side note about my flight back: Our attempt to depart early was foiled by an over emotional woman at the front of the plane who, I thought was laughing at first, cried hysterically promising to calm down because she "need[ed] to get back home to [her] husband." Reason for hysterics? Unknown. I looked down to get a magazine, looked up and she was gone -- along with the security officer. Ah, the entertaining joys of travel.
Also, one travel tip: If you have a cold, particularly in the sinus region, don't fly. Descent and landing are a bitch.
Well, that was my vacation; first one in many years. Here's hoping there aren't that many years between now and my next vacation...or my next trip to Winnipeg!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
The Soup Kitchen
Today was another relaxing day and the last day before my friend, Angela, gets three days off work. Quality friend time!!
I made a large pot of homemade veggie soup in the morning and both Angela and her husband, Dennis, came home from work to enjoy lunch with me. There was enough soup left so that the girls had some for dinner with the sitter and I put some in the freezer for everyone to enjoy later.
The afternoon consisted of some web surfing and a delicious nap before prepping for a dinner out. We decided on sushi and had a pleasant meal at Tokyo Sushi located conveniently close to the house. For dessert, although so not needed, we headed to Bellbottoms, the restaurant at the Holiday Inn. Angela and Dennis recommended it from past visits. Brownie. Ice cream. Cookie. Whip cream. Many calories. So yum.
This required a walk. After getting home, sending the sitter on her way and putting the girls to bed, Angela joined me and Jake, aka the snoring dog, for a walk around the block and to the park.
This brings us to now: sitting on the couch, watching "Sixteen Candles" on Netflix, and dealing with my runny nose. Yup; hoping for allergies and not a cold, but the sore throat is leaning me towards a cold. We'll see.
Plans for tomorrow: lunch at Whitehorse Tea Room (30 different loose leaf teas) which also happens to have the largest gift emporium on the planet. Well, maybe not the planet, but 10,000 items...
I made a large pot of homemade veggie soup in the morning and both Angela and her husband, Dennis, came home from work to enjoy lunch with me. There was enough soup left so that the girls had some for dinner with the sitter and I put some in the freezer for everyone to enjoy later.
The afternoon consisted of some web surfing and a delicious nap before prepping for a dinner out. We decided on sushi and had a pleasant meal at Tokyo Sushi located conveniently close to the house. For dessert, although so not needed, we headed to Bellbottoms, the restaurant at the Holiday Inn. Angela and Dennis recommended it from past visits. Brownie. Ice cream. Cookie. Whip cream. Many calories. So yum.
This required a walk. After getting home, sending the sitter on her way and putting the girls to bed, Angela joined me and Jake, aka the snoring dog, for a walk around the block and to the park.
This brings us to now: sitting on the couch, watching "Sixteen Candles" on Netflix, and dealing with my runny nose. Yup; hoping for allergies and not a cold, but the sore throat is leaning me towards a cold. We'll see.
Plans for tomorrow: lunch at Whitehorse Tea Room (30 different loose leaf teas) which also happens to have the largest gift emporium on the planet. Well, maybe not the planet, but 10,000 items...
Monday, May 02, 2011
Epic energy in the form of two little girls
Here I sit, at the dining room table, basking in the glow of warm morning sunlight. It's just before 10am. It's silent.
Why would I mention silence? Due to the fact it's a change, a BIG change, from yesterday. Lily (4) and Ruby (3), my friend's two little girls, who are the cutest and sweetest little girls, are also the most epic balls of energy EVER!
Although I went to bed well after 1am on the night of my arrival (April 30/11), I was up before 8am. Why? Two very active little girls. My first duty as guest in the house was an 8am colouring session that lasted at least two hours for all of us and pretty much the entire morning for the girls. I have a stack of about 20 colouring book pages, gifted to me by the two little cuties, to prove it.
They never stop. The running. The jumping. The talking. The colouring. The playing. It's fantastical. I am in awe of their unstoppable energy level. If we could harness the energy of these two we could totally power a small country. I was awake this morning (Mon May 2/11) at 6:30am, but forced myself to sleep a little more. My alarm clock NEVER works this well...
This morning the girls are back in daycare and the house is silent, except for the ticking clock and the snoring dog. My friend Angela has to work today and tomorrow so I need to find stuff to keep me busy. I am glad the warm sun is melting away the snow that fell, but am pretty sure today will be an relaxing inside kinda day.
Yesterday I picked up some brushes, acrylic paint and little canvases at the local Dollarama and have already sketched out two images which I shall start painting after breakfast.
Why would I mention silence? Due to the fact it's a change, a BIG change, from yesterday. Lily (4) and Ruby (3), my friend's two little girls, who are the cutest and sweetest little girls, are also the most epic balls of energy EVER!
Although I went to bed well after 1am on the night of my arrival (April 30/11), I was up before 8am. Why? Two very active little girls. My first duty as guest in the house was an 8am colouring session that lasted at least two hours for all of us and pretty much the entire morning for the girls. I have a stack of about 20 colouring book pages, gifted to me by the two little cuties, to prove it.
They never stop. The running. The jumping. The talking. The colouring. The playing. It's fantastical. I am in awe of their unstoppable energy level. If we could harness the energy of these two we could totally power a small country. I was awake this morning (Mon May 2/11) at 6:30am, but forced myself to sleep a little more. My alarm clock NEVER works this well...
This morning the girls are back in daycare and the house is silent, except for the ticking clock and the snoring dog. My friend Angela has to work today and tomorrow so I need to find stuff to keep me busy. I am glad the warm sun is melting away the snow that fell, but am pretty sure today will be an relaxing inside kinda day.
Yesterday I picked up some brushes, acrylic paint and little canvases at the local Dollarama and have already sketched out two images which I shall start painting after breakfast.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
YYZ to YWG (April30/11)
I’ve done it. I got on a plane and flew away from the city and the province. I am in Winnipeg.
I took TTC (Toronto public transit) to get to the airport, but it wasn’t until I saw a banking plane that had just taken off that it really hit me. I mean sure, I had a suitcase with me and every other person on the 192 Airport Rocket Express also had suitcases or bags. However, it wasn’t until seeing that plane in the air that the realization of what I was about to do hit me. I was excited!
For all the research and reading I did to pack for my trip it was sure over quick. I breezed through self-check in, baggage check in and security all in less than 10 minutes. So me and my carefully prepared Ziplock bag were now safely on the other side…with two and a half hours before boarding. Yup, early…real early. Yet, this gave me time to chill and let it all just soak in.
My first stop was to wander by the expansive windows in the waiting area around my departure gate. For someone who doesn’t travel by plane that much this was glorious. I really need to travel more.
After speaking with my parents, grabbing some dinner and just people watching I still had over an hour. What to do…hello free Wi-Fi. Yet, checking email and Facebook seemed a little less awesome while sitting in an airport. I did some research in the “what to do” section of one of the City of Winnipeg tourist websites to get some ideas for my stay. Finally, after wandering, sitting and more wandering, we were called to board.
OMG, I’m on a plane! This thought crossed my mind many times during my flight. The first time was when I was walking the gang plank to the entrance of the plane. I was able to take a brief gander into the cockpit while waiting for others to take their seats. So cool! I am a geek; deal. Our flight was full, as were many of the flights taking off that night. There was enough space to make us all buddy-buddy for our just over two hour flight. The personal TVs at each seat helped too. Thank you to City TV for playing Twilight, you made the flight seem very quick.
The last time I flew to Winnipeg was the last time I flew period. That was in 2003. At that time I flew with the now cancelled airline, JetsGo. At that time I required the belt extender to be able to fasten the belt safely. I am very proud to say that this time around, eight years later, I conquered the airplane seat belt like a champ, sans extender. I amaze even myself sometimes. Go Team Me!
Take-off and landing were such a rush; just the amazing fact that this large piece of metal with all these people is able to get up into the sky and stay there while moving at hundreds of miles an hour…awesome. Our pilot must have sped a little too as we landed a good 10 minutes early.
I took TTC (Toronto public transit) to get to the airport, but it wasn’t until I saw a banking plane that had just taken off that it really hit me. I mean sure, I had a suitcase with me and every other person on the 192 Airport Rocket Express also had suitcases or bags. However, it wasn’t until seeing that plane in the air that the realization of what I was about to do hit me. I was excited!
For all the research and reading I did to pack for my trip it was sure over quick. I breezed through self-check in, baggage check in and security all in less than 10 minutes. So me and my carefully prepared Ziplock bag were now safely on the other side…with two and a half hours before boarding. Yup, early…real early. Yet, this gave me time to chill and let it all just soak in.
My first stop was to wander by the expansive windows in the waiting area around my departure gate. For someone who doesn’t travel by plane that much this was glorious. I really need to travel more.
After speaking with my parents, grabbing some dinner and just people watching I still had over an hour. What to do…hello free Wi-Fi. Yet, checking email and Facebook seemed a little less awesome while sitting in an airport. I did some research in the “what to do” section of one of the City of Winnipeg tourist websites to get some ideas for my stay. Finally, after wandering, sitting and more wandering, we were called to board.
OMG, I’m on a plane! This thought crossed my mind many times during my flight. The first time was when I was walking the gang plank to the entrance of the plane. I was able to take a brief gander into the cockpit while waiting for others to take their seats. So cool! I am a geek; deal. Our flight was full, as were many of the flights taking off that night. There was enough space to make us all buddy-buddy for our just over two hour flight. The personal TVs at each seat helped too. Thank you to City TV for playing Twilight, you made the flight seem very quick.
The last time I flew to Winnipeg was the last time I flew period. That was in 2003. At that time I flew with the now cancelled airline, JetsGo. At that time I required the belt extender to be able to fasten the belt safely. I am very proud to say that this time around, eight years later, I conquered the airplane seat belt like a champ, sans extender. I amaze even myself sometimes. Go Team Me!
Take-off and landing were such a rush; just the amazing fact that this large piece of metal with all these people is able to get up into the sky and stay there while moving at hundreds of miles an hour…awesome. Our pilot must have sped a little too as we landed a good 10 minutes early.
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