There is the ‘great divide’ amongst this city (and the city above the city). Those of us who live in the 905 vs those who live in the “GTA” or the 416. I have written before how I was mortified when I had to give up my 416 land line for my 905 one. I actually received this comment a couple of months ago, “why do you still have a land line?” To have or not to have a land line isn’t what this story is about….

Anyone who has attempted to drive anywhere in this city is aware of the fact that all the parking lots are gone. They have all been taken up by condos. A few weeks ago I attended an event at the Arcadian Court event venue space. Have you EVER tried to park around there? Well, if you did, you probably ended up at the city hall parking lot.

I am happy to say that I have found the best parking lot in the city. It just happens to be the TTC parking lot at Wilson Heights. I know!! Not even close to the downtown core, however three times in the last three weeks I have been downtown and parked there.

First time: Parking cost: $4
During a recent day off from work, I decided to spend the day downtown doing some good for others. Originally I was going to park at Downsview but that lot was full. I knew that Yorkdale would be full, and for a brief second thought I would drive. I didn’t want to drive, not just because the hassle of driving downtown, or the $20 it would have cost to park. It was more about spending the 25 minutes on the subway listening to music and taking a well needed time out. I asked on the intercom where I else there was to park. The unfriendly voice on the other end told me to go to Wilson Heights, there was a big parking lot. Not only that, but the entrance to the subway is right there, not a walk, like Downsview or Finch for that matter.

 A friend has a child at sick kids and I brought her lunch, and we spend a few hours talking, and catching up, as well as visiting her son. I have only ever been in the NICU one other time, and let me tell you, it is quite the place. It also allows us to be grateful that we live in a city with a hospital like Sick Kids, or Princess Margaret – life saving hospitals at our front door.

My second stop was visiting a family member at Mount Sinai, where again, I realized that the time you give to others is so important. What seems like a small gesture to one, is a HUGE gesture to another. I was glad that I was able to do both. While I was on the train on the way home, I felt very good about the day that I spent.

Second time: Parking cost: $2
Two weeks ago I was going with two of my friends to see Josh Groban at the ACC. During the discussion about how to get down there, it was a no brainer….”the better way”…and parking at my new favourite place to park. The two other ladies I was didn’t know about the lot, and because it was after work hours, we scored a spot right by the door, and within minutes we were on the train heading to the concert. Of course Union Station is short walk from the ACC….so we were good to go!

Today: Parking cost: FREE
Weekends are free to park….so really a no brainer. I was going to the International Woman’s show at the convention centre, where I think onsite parking is $20. I parked for free and my tokens (3) were $8, so I was ahead of the game, and have one left over for future use.

For those of you who know me well, you know that subways were not always my thing. In fact, for a very long time, I avoided them. But now, if it makes sense to use the subway as a mode of transportation, I would choose it. I am NOT saying that I want to become a commuter and work downtown….please do not misunderstand me, I admire those who do that every day, but that is not me. I know…never say never, but for now, the odd time (3 in 3 weeks) is just fine with me.

Thanks for reading, see y’all tomorrow!

November is National Blog Post Month. 30 posts in 30 days. I was first introduced to this by an extended family member – blogger who’s blog I had been reading on a regular basis three years ago. When I saw that she was going to challenge herself to write 30 posts in 30 days I thought I would throw down the gauntlet and try it as well.

The first year, I was able to make it through. It was tough, to find interesting things to talk about every day for a month. Last year, I wasn’t able to make it through. A friend of mine sent me a private message that it seemed like it wasn’t fun, and why do it if you aren’t enjoying it. I stopped around the 15th of the month last year.

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of another year. I went to walmart this morning to see if they had any discounted Halloween candy and you can see that the seasonal aisle is already taking shape with shades of red and green taking over from the black and orange of the last few weeks.

The leaves are almost all gone. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking pictures of my friend’s family.

It was such a beautiful day at the Mill Pond. The sun was a bit challenging, but the photos turned out amazing, and my friend was very happy with the final product. I drove past this one tree as I was heading to the photo shoot and made a mental note to come back and take picture on the way home. As you can see, I did. What you can’t see are all the amazing yellow and orange leaves on the ground underneath the tree. It was on private property (and the ground was wet) or I may have just made a pile and lay down on them. 

 This amazing tree below was actually on my condo property in our back parking lot.

Taken the same day, I had to stop before I went into the underground to admire the beauty of fall.

And now, the beauty has fallen away. We change our clocks tomorrow night and fall is falling away, and winter is arriving.

I hope you will come along with me for my November ride. Until tomorrow….

Last night was one of those rare Friday nights that I wasn’t having dinner either at my parents house or at my brother’s house. We had some cousin’s that were in from Montreal and they wanted to get together and have dinner out, which my parents and I decided to do.

We were ten of us for dinner – my mother, and her two cousins and their spouses, and then myself, my cousin, and her two children. There were three generations of cousins and it was really nice. We went to Paisano’s at Sheppard and Willowdale, which I am sure many of you are familiar with. If you are not, and really good Italian food, you should check it out!

My cousin and I were at the “kids” end of the table, with the ‘adults’ at the other end. Her sons are almost the exact same ages as my nieces, 8 and 6. When they arrived, of course the two boys were quite shy and stuck to mom, but the older one sat beside me, the younger one across from him and then my cousin and I across from each other.

It was very nice, because my cousin and I are the same age, both live in the “neighbourhood” but our paths have not crossed very much. We had a nice time talking and catching up. I had brought my photo books and that lead into travel discussion and about cruising. It was great, because they had been on the Allure and the Freedom of the Seas, which allowed me to ask the boys questions. That was all it took – the younger one was FULL of questions for me.

I loved some of the questions that he asked. It was fun and humourous and really seeing life through the eyes of a 6 year old.

As I said, we are sitting at the “kids” side of the table, which lead into the following interaction:
6 year old: “you are not a kid”.
Me: “Well, yes, I am. That lady is my mom, and that man is my dad, so I am their kid.”
6 year old: “no, kids are only up to teenager. You are not a kid.”
Not going to win this one.

Discussing how we are all cousins.
Upon meeting the cousin from Montreal
6 year old: “She is our cousin, how old is she?”
Mom: “She is the same age as Gramma.”
Me: “How old do you think Gramma is?”
6 year old: “86”
cough, cough (Gramma is in early 70’s and looks like mid 60’s)

I had brought some of my photo books to share with my cousins and the 6 year old really enjoyed looking at the books and asking questions. I loved it. He was really engaging and funny and sweet. It was such an enjoyable meal (maybe not for Mom) but for me, I had a great time.

Final set of questions before we ended the meal:
6 year old: “do you have kids”
Me: no
6 year old: “do you have a husband”
Me: no
6 year old: “so you live by yourself”.
Me: yes
6 year old: “so that is why you live in an apartment”.

So, back to Paisano’s….as we were walking towards the front door, he was walking with me holding my hand (trusting me to walk out ahead of his mom). I told him that Paisano in Italian means Friend. To which he replied, “We are eating at a place that is called Friend”. Yes.

I hope that I will get to see my cousin and her boys again soon. It had been way too long, and my mom told her that I love children (as if she couldn’t tell by then) and that I love to have kids over, bake, arts and crafts, etc. She looked at me and said “I have your numbers now”. I told her that she could use them, anytime.

If you are one of my friends with kids, you know this to be true.

Thanks for reading, happy Saturday everyone!~