RELAXING LONG WEEKEND

We had a very quiet and relaxing long weekend due to the fact that Rob is fighting a horrible cold/flu. We only left the house once on Saturday, in the morning to get groceries. We didn't leave the house at all Sunday except to sit in the backyard for a while.

Monday we decided to go out and enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather even though he wasn't feeling the greatest. We started with brunch at the Sunset Grill in Bloor West Village. It was ok, Dr. Generosity wasn't opened yet or we would of went there. Next we went to High Park for a walk. Below are pictures of some of the things we saw during our 2 hour stroll.

Female Swan sitting on her nest.

Pair of Wood Ducks.

Tree Swallow perched high above us, next to his house.

A grey female squirrel grateful for a peanut.

I found this sign interesting and amusing down at the small zoo in High Park.

TEN ON TUESDAY

My top ten favorite cities, towns, or villages:
(That I've visited)

1. Toronto, ON
2. Salem, MA
3. Nashville, TN
4. Banff, AB
5. Cavendish, PEI
6. St. Jacob's, ON
7. Niagara on the Lake, ON
8. Tatamagouche, NS
9. Cleveland, OH
10.Orlando, FL

MANIC MONDAY

If you could completely redecorate any room in your house at no expense to you, what room would you choose?
The basement. It needs to be redone, the bathroom is in the basement and it's quite small, I'd love to enlarge it quite a bit, have a large tub with a corner shower stall, double sinks and lots of storage space.


Which hour of the day do you feel goes the slowest?
Probably after lunch, from 1-2PM, and then I leave at 3PM.

If your birthday could be in a different month of the year, when would you have it?
October, I love the fall season and Halloween.

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ANNE OF GREEN GABLES - THE MUSICAL

Last night I went to see Dancap's production of "Anne of Green Gables-The Musical" at the beautiful Elgin Theatre with my very good friend, or should I say "kindred spirit", Amanda.

I had seen the play performed at Stage West a few years back and really enjoyed it, but this was the first time seeing the musical version like the one that has been performed in PEI for the past 45 years and counting.

It was wonderful! Some parts of the play were a little lighter then the book or movie, but they kept the heart of the story in tacked. The dancing and musical numbers were very enjoyable.

We each enjoyed an ice cream during the intermission just like Anne and Diana at Anne's first picnic. We were happy to discover that the gift shop was selling Raspberry Cordial, that I know we will both enjoy over the long weekend.

This is a must see for Anne fans!

TEN ON TUESDAY

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My top ten places to shop:

1. The quaint little shops of St. Jacob's.
2. amazon.ca
3. Chapters
4. Apples of Gold (a lovely store in Jackson's Point Ontario)
5. Max's Market in Bloor West Village
6. LCBO
7. Reitmans
8. Marks Work Wearhouse
9. Farmer's Markets
10.Loblaw's

M & M CHARITY BBQ DAY

Jenn, Angie, Amanda and myself.


For more then 20 years, M & M Meat Shops all over Canada have held an annual charity BBQ, where 100% of the proceeds go to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada.

I have attended these BBQ's for many years, as my family is personally touched by this disease, and more recently a good friend was diagnosed with it as well.

This year, in memory of my grandmother, who suffered with Crohn's, I volunteered to work at one of the many BBQ's taking place in Ontario.

A good friend of mine, Jenn, was head organizer at a location in Mississauga, so that's where I was along with a couple other good girlfriends, Teena and Amanda.

The store owner was friendly and got us set up and organized at our various positions. The day ran smoothly and we had a steady stream of customers despite the on and off rain showers most of the day.

I had a good time, and I hope we raised quite a few dollars for this worth while cause. I think as M & M's have done, I will make volunteering at this event an annual thing too.

Teena on the grill.

The whole volunteer gang!

TEN ON TUESDAY

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This week...Ten Awesome Bands (In my opinion)

1. Def Leppard
2. AC/DC
3. Original Guns and Roses
4. Metallica
5. Airbourne
6. Motley Crue
7. Bon Jovi
8. Scorpions
9. April Wine
10.The Four Seasons (I've been on a huge Frankie Valli kick lately!)

MANIC MONDAY

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Which household chore do you dislike the most?
I don't like to mop the floors, I'm thankful that Rob does that chore. :)

What's the best museum you've ever visited?
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

It's Star Wars Day today. I've never seen any of the Star Wars movies. What "common" movies haven't you seen?
Slumdog Millionaire, I may see it eventually.

TEN ON TUESDAY

Ten words I think my friends would use to describe me:

1. Honest
2. Loyal
3. Out-going
4. Loud
5. Crazy
6. Friendly
7. Passionate
8. Lucky
9. Down to earth. (ok, that's 3 words, but it means one thing)
10.Joyful

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NEW SEASON, NEW BEDDING

I like to change the bedding seasonally. I usually have a set for spring/summer and a set for fall/winter, plus extra sheets. The set I had for spring/summer was looking a little worn, and it was kind of "girly" so I decided to replace it this year. Since I'm living with Rob now, I wanted to get a set we'd both like. We found a great high quality set a couple months ago at 50% off that came complete with shams, bed skirt, sheets, comforter and 2 decorative pillows. We finally got around to putting it on the bed this week. We both like the color combination of the brown and blue, and the leopard print sheets that came with it were something we both really liked too.

Meadow approved!!

TEN ON TUESDAY

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Ten movies I feel were underrated:

1. The Upside of Anger - I still think about this movie.
2. Little Black Book - I love "make you think" movies.
3. Chocolat - Charming, and I was craving chocolate when I left the theatre.
4. Now and Then - Great Cast, great story of friendship.
5. The First Wives Club - Same comments as above.
6. Almost Famous - There's a real story about love and friendship in there.
7. Rockstar - It's really about finding out what's really important.
8. The Birdcage - I LOVE this movie, so funny and heart warming.
9. Radio - See this movie, it's a "feel good" kinda movie.
10. Dr. Dolittle - If only....

MANIC MONDAY

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Describe to me your favorite lounging clothes.
Baggy pajama bottoms and a tank top.

If you promised to never lie again in your lifetime, in what area would it be hardest to uphold the promise?
Saying yes to seeing people I really could care less if I saw.


Give a one word answer to the question "why is life worth living".
Fun!

A DIFFERENT ROUTE

One of the things I love about where we live is how close we are to Bloor West Village, and it's many markets, unique shops and some great restaurants. This morning we were meeting friends for brunch at my favorite restaurant in the village, "Dr. Generosity".

As part of my "boot camp", I have exercise homework, and today I needed to do a 40 minute walk, so I decided to walk to the restaurant to make sure I got my walk in. I knew we were going to walk around the area after brunch, but I wanted to do a good steady power walk. It took me about 50 minutes to walk from the house to the restuarant.

I walk home quite often from the subway during the week, but today I decided to walk a different route, to check it out.

I discovered some cool new shops that I wanna go back and check out when they are open and I have more time. "Repeat Boutique" is a second hand designer woman's clothing store benefiting the charity "New Directions for Women" and "Windergarden" is a decorative garden store with indoor and outdoor accents. Looking through the window it reminded me of a store you'd find in the Muskoka region. I also finally got to peak in a window I've driven passed many times called "Angel & Mermaids", lots of sparkly jewelery in there! I'm really glad I decided to take a different route today!

We had a great brunch and then enjoyed picking up few things at the various markets in the village before heading home.

TEN ON TUESDAY

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Ten Signs I'm Getting Older:

1. Weight Gain
2. Grey Hair
3. Need more sleep
4. Cannot and don't want to drink like I did in my twenties.
5. Harder to lose weight.
6. Like more quiet time.
7. I enjoy different hobbies now (like birding!)
8. Spend money differently then I did when I was younger.
9. Eat differently then I did when I was younger.
10.I'm more patient.

Actually, looking at this list, I don't think "getting older" is a bad thing!

EASTER WEEKEND

We had a wonderful Easter weekend full of family, friends and nature.

My long weekend fun started right after work on Thursday when I met a friend, Jenn, for a coffee. After coffee, I walked over to have a visit with another friend, Amanda and her little boy, Finn. Next I was off to Hernando's Hideaway to meet yet another girlfriend, Darlene, for some Mexican food before seeing a movie together. We went to see "I Love You Man". It was ok, had some laughs.

Friday morning and afternoon were pretty lazy, just relaxing at home. Rob wasn't feeling the greatest. Later in the afternoon we went over to his best friends place, Chris's for fish and chips and lots of other goodies. This is the fourth year in a row we've gone there on Good Friday, it's a tradition now. Their like family to us, and we always have a great time with Chris and his extended family.

Saturday morning we were at Loblaws at 8AM to get groceries over with for the week. I went in my pajama bottoms and flip flops thinking it would be quiet at that time of the morning, wrong! It was very busy, guess a lot of other people had the same idea. Later that afternoon we went over to Rob's parents for an early Easter dinner with some of his family. His Mom made a roast turkey with all the fixins, it was really good.

Sunday morning after checking out the Easter goodies the Easter Bunny left we went to Cora's for brunch and then to Riverwood Park to check it out for the first time and see if the birding was any good. It was! We both had a chick-a-dee land in our hand for some seed, and we saw lots of different birds. We will be going back there in the near future hoping to see some of the migratory birds that don't make stops in the city.

After returning home we tried to have a quick nap, but Meadow (our cat) didn't like that idea and kept jumping on us, we got up and went out in the yard. I had a ham in the slow cooker, and made scalloped potatoes and steamed some peas to go with it.

After dinner Amanda and Lisa stopped by to pick up some books and we had a quick visit. After they left I had a bath and got ready for bed. Rob and I watched some TV together before heading to bed. It was such a nice long weekend I was sorry o see it come to an end.

ANGIE'S WEIGH

I haven't posted much this week because I've been cheating. I started another blog. It's called Angie's Weigh, and it's to help support me in my quest to lose the extra weight that's been weighing me down and stealing my energy. I hope you check it out and follow me there, the support is greatly appreciated.

I still plan on posting here too, I'll aim to do a balance of both.

TEN ON TUESDAY

MY TEN LEAST LIKED FOODS:

This may be a hard one for me, I love food and trying new things!

1. Eggplant
2. Black licorice
3. Canned peas and most canned veggies (canned corn and beets are ok)
4. I don't enjoy "hot spicy" foods.
5. Lychee nuts
6. As much as I try, I cannot get myself to like oatmeal.
7. Raw oysters (but I love them smoked!)
8. lentils
9. Bread Pudding (Bread shouldn't even be in the name of a dessert!)
10.Canned cream corn. YUCK!

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8th ANNUAL GIRLS GETAWAY WEEKEND

Another year has come and gone, but the memories of another fabulous weekend away at the Briars resort with my girlfriends will last forever.

The main inn.


Jenn and I waiting for our spa treatments.


The Dancing Queens!


The dancing and fun continue back at our cottage in our PJ's!


Group shot.


We had such a good time, we decided not to wait until next April, but are going up for one night in June to celebrate my 40th Birthday! Wanna come?

THE BRIARS RESORT

This morning I'm up bright and early again, but I'm not getting ready for work, I'm getting ready to attend "The 8th Annual Girls Getaway Weekend" at the Briars Resort.

I have been organizing this event for 8 years. I started doing it when I publicly ran a woman's social club here in Toronto, but for the past 3 years, it's just been for my girlfriends and their friends, and it's much more fun. We've had anywhere from 10 - 24 women attend. We call ourselves the "Girls' Night Out Club", and I still organize monthly events, but this weekend is the highlight of the year.

It's a weekend of fine wine, gourmet food, pampering in the spa, relaxation and the company of girlfriends. I can't tell you how much I look forward too and enjoy this weekend every year, and the staff up at the Briars look forward to our group coming.

If you don't do something like this with your girlfriends on a annual basis, I highly suggest you start, it's good for the spirit.

TEN ON TUESDAY

Ten Things on My "To Do" list:

1. Update photo album
2. Dust the inside of the china cabinet.
3. Learn how to use my digital camera.
4. Get another shelf for the dvd's.
5. Switch the bedding to spring/summer coverings.
6. Start a new blog about weight loss.
7. Take some clothes to Goodwill.
8. Pack for the Briars.
9. Pick up Wine for the Briars.
10. Get into a regular exercise routine.

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MANIC MONDAY

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Do you enjoy brain teasers or do you find them frustrating?
Very frustrating!

Do you have any unusual collections?
I'm not much of a collector, I have things I love...books that I love, music I love, photo albums full of pictures of the people I love.

What do people notice about you within the first hour of meeting you (other than appearance)?
Probably that I'm quite outspoken and little crazy (in a good way)

EARTH HOUR

This past Saturday, March 28th, for the second year in a row, Rob and I acknowledged Earth Hour by turning out the lights for an hour and not watching TV or using any electricity other then the appliances like the fridge that stay plugged in all the time.

We know doing this isn't going to save the planet, but we do it symbolically, like wearing a poppy on Remembrance Day.

We care about the Earth and all of her living creatures. Us humans haven't done a very good job in taking care of her, but we're hoping if we all work together we can make some positive changes.

Click here for more about Earth Hour.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY FINN!!

On Saturday, March 28th, our good friends Brian and Amanda invited us over to celebrate their son's, Finn, very first birthday which was the day before.


Opening the card we brought...it had a teddy bear on the front.


Rob and I in our party hats!


See the green thing he's holding while he waits for cake? It's a learning spoon we got him, he seemed to like it!!


The cake was delicious!! Finn didn't seem to think so though, he kept spitting his out, no sweet tooth for this little guy!

SUNDAY SUPPER - CRANBERRY CHICKEN BAKE

In my on going quest to eat healthier more often I decided to finally make a recipe out of a cook book I bought myself back in January when my nutritionist recommended it. The cook book is called, Simply Great Food.

Tonight I made Cranberry Chicken Bake. It was tasty, and quick and easy to make. I will make it again. Definitely a good way to use up roast turkey or chicken leftovers. Today I had picked up a deli roasted chicken, and used some of that.

*Preheat oven to 350°F
*8-inch (2L) square baking pan, lightly greased.

1 package (4oz/125g) stuffing mix
Vegetable cooking spray
1 onion chopped
3 eggs
1 ½ cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
Salt and pepper to taste.
1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce

1. Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions and spread on bottom on prepared pan.

2. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Spray with vegetable cooking spray. Saute onion until softened, about 5 minutes.

3. In a large bowl, combine sauteed onion, eggs, chicken, ricotta, and salt and pepper. Spread over stuffing.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes or until egg mixture is firm and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

5. While still hot, stir cranberry sauce and spread over top. Serve hot of cold. Makes 6 servings.

JERSEY BOYS

This past Tuesday night Amanda and I went to see Jersey Boys. It has been playing at the Toronto Centre for the Arts for a few months, and we wanted to see it, but hadn't bothered yet, but after getting the opportunity to get tickets for $30 each, we jumped at the chance.

Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. I love that era of music, but was surprised at how many of the songs were theirs.

It was a great show! It was hard to sit still and not sing along. The story was very interesting as well, of how they came to be, the story of some of the songs, and why they parted ways.

Toronto based actor, Jeff Madden plays Frankie, and is amazing. The whole cast was great, be he did stand out.

I had such a good time and enjoyed it so much, I plan on going again before its run is done at the end of May. Rob's going to join me this time, and I won't even mind paying full price for a ticket,
it's worth it.

MISSING MY LITTLE BUDDY

If your lucky, at least once in your life a pet touches your heart in ways that are hard to find words for. That happened to me with Buster. I adopted her from the Toronto Humane Society on July 13th, 1991 and my life was forever changed.

She was the first pet that I was solely responsible for and I took that responsibility very seriously. She wasn't very friendly to others, but she loved me, and I her.

On March 25th, 2005 I had to let her go due to stomach cancer. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I held her to my chest when she took her final breath and felt her last heart beat. My mother asked me how could I do that? How could I not? I had been her whole life for 14 years and I wasn't going to let her last minutes be with strangers. She'd been there for me through hard times and heart break, I was going to be there for her during this.

My heart still aches for her loss, but I'm also very grateful for the 14 wonderful years she gave me and appreciate our special bond.

I cherish the memories I made with my little buddy, Buster.

MANIC MONDAY

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Do you screen your phone calls?
No, I keep saying I'm going to get call waiting, but haven't yet. I got an unlisted number and haven't had a telemarketer call me since I moved.

When was the last time you lost your temper?
Really lost it? I don't know, I don't remember, I lose my patience quite often but it passes quickly, not sure about my temper.


When you're lost, do you ask for directions?
Sure, if I need too.

CELEBRATION DINNER

Last night a few of my wonderful girlfriends and I went to "The Big Ragu" for dinner to celebrate my 20th anniversary of moving to Toronto.

The food, as always, was delicious, and the company even better. It's strange for me to think that I wouldn't know any of those girls sitting at the table with me if I hadn't of moved here. I tell people all the time what I wonderful circle of girlfriends I have and having them is one of the best things about living here.

Cheers to my girls!

Here's a link to my friend Teena's post about last night as well.

TRURO & TORONTO

In keeping with yesterdays theme of my 20th anniversary of living in Toronto, I compiled a couple lists; what I'm grateful to Toronto for, and what I miss about living in Nova Scotia.

FIVE THINGS I'M GRATEFUL TO TORONTO FOR:

1. Rob
2. My wonderful circle of girlfriends.
3. Having a job that suits me and my lifestyle. (been there 15 years this year!)
4. The opportunity to see all the bands I loved as a teenager and still listen too.
5. The night life and restaurants. There is always some great play or show to attend!

FIVE THINGS I REALLY MISS ABOUT NOVA SCOTIA:

1. My parents and family. ( I have no family in Toronto, and that can be hard sometimes)
2. The fresh seafood! (I eat seafood everyday when I'm down home)
3. The laid-back nature and friendliness of it's people.
4. Lighthouses, the ocean and salt air (yeah, I know that's 3, but they kinda go together)
5. Lupins, one of my favorite flowers that grow wild there. (pictured)

I'm not one of those Maritimers who bad mouths the city and can't wait to return to my maritime province. I love where I grew up, and I enjoy going home every year for a visit, but I am always happy to return to my life in Toronto. I have no plans to live in Nova Scotia again, so I guess I will always be a Maritimer living in Ontario. I guess I get the best of both worlds.

FAREWELL TO NOVA SCOTIA

I can hardly believe it was 20 years ago today I was boarding a train in small town Truro, Nova Scotia to come to the big city of Toronto. I was 19 years old, and had never been out of the Maritimes before.

Toronto was pretty overwhelming at first, but with the support of my older brother Jeff, who lived here at the time, better job opportunities and a much bigger metal music scene, I decided to stay.

Found this video on you tube last night, and it has so many pictures of places I've seen down home, I wanted to share it. Take a look at the beautiful province I'll always call home.

MY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Do you ever find that some of your best times are times that just happen? Yesterday was one of those times for me.

I had no plans for St. Patrick's Day, it being a Tuesday and all, and more because I'm not quite over this terrible cold I've had for a week now, but it's almost gone.

The weather was warm and sunny here yesterday, so Amanda decided to take Finn out for a good walk, and also decided to drop by my work to bring me a book.

That little pop in visit turned into a lovely couple hours at The Foxes Den Bar. We had green beer (and I don't even drink beer!), fish and chips, and coffee with Baileys with our desserts. Finn was a happy little guy, enjoying the green balloons (the waitress even tied one to his stroller) that were everywhere and the Celtic music.

I needed a little pick me up after being stuck in the house so much this past week with a cold, and yesterday put a little bounce back in my step.......or maybe that was the beer?

TEN ON TUESDAY

10 Songs I Hate.....Hate is a pretty strong word, so here's 10 songs I don't enjoy and would change the radio station if they came on.

1. You Were Always on My Mind - Willie Nelson
2. Rocky Mountain High - John Denver
3. Don't Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
4. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
5. God Save The Queen - The Clash
6. Hit Me Baby, One More Time - Britney Spears
7. She Bangs - Ricky Martin
8. I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
9. Barbie Girl - Aqua
10. Rock Me Amadeus - Falco

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MANIC MONDAY

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Are you a saver or spender?
I spend more then I save.

Do you prefer to walk around barefoot in your home? Socks? Shoes?
Flip flops! I wear them all year round, barefoot of course.

Do you talk to yourself?
All the time. I find myself very amusing.

IN SEARCH OF SPRING

Being a birder in southern Ontario, the acknowledgment of Spring isn't marked by a date on the calendar. I know spring has truly arrived when I see a red-winged blackbird.

We've heard there have been some sightings regarding their migration through Windsor and Toronto, so today, if my cold allows me too, we're going in search of spring.

What marks the return of spring for you?

TEN ON TUESDAY

I normally enjoy winter, and I have, but I've had enough, I'm ready for Spring!

Ten Things I Won't Miss About Winter:

1. Wearing my big bulky winter coat.
2. Frizzy hair.
3. Craving carbs.
4. Walking to work in the slush.
5. Dealing with dry skin.
6. Making sure I don't leave my gloves on the subway.
7. Wearing socks.
8. The dry air at work and home.
9. My winter boats.
10. Being too cold to spend much time outside.

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MANIC MONDAY

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What would you do with an extra hour each day?
Cooking or baking. I don't feel I have enough time in the kitchen, it's always a rush.


Do you wear a watch? If so, tell us about it. If not, how do you keep track of time?
Always, except in bed, I feel funny if I don't have it on.


If it was possible, would you want to know how many days you had left to live?
I think I would, there are some things I definitely want to do before I die, and knowing how long I had would help me get them done.

TTC...THE BETTER WAY???

Before I moved in with Rob I had a ten minute walk to work every morning. It was very convenient, no rushing in the mornings, I came home for lunch, no afternoon "rush hour" to deal with. I lived this life of luxury for over ten years, and became very use to it.

It took me about two weeks after moving in to get my morning routine straightened out. I take a 20-30 minute bus ride to the subway, and then it's about another 20-30 minutes to work. I can do it in less then an hour, and on a good day, I've done it in 35 minutes! I don't mind the commute to work. I've adjusted my work hours so I don't have to deal with "rush hours", and I enjoy the extra time to read. When the weather is good I even walk home from the subway for the added exercise.

This past Thursday was a little different. I experienced my first TTC subway shut down. I was running late and was on it during morning rush hour when we all got asked to leave the train due to switch problems. There was no service between Keele and St. George. They were going to put on extra buses.

Well, it was crazy busy on the street, the buses hadn't started yet, the crowd was pushy and people were fighting for taxi's. Not fun. I didn't know what to do, I still had a long way to go, but was to far from home to go back there. I even asked a couple people for rides downtown!

I started walking. It was like a parade, hundreds of people trekking across Bloor Street. With the slow traffic it was easy to notice that most of the cars going along, only had one person in them, the driver. I couldn't help but think, if this had of been happening in the Maritimes, I wouldn't of had to ask for a ride, it would of been offered, but that is for another posting another time.

After I'd been walking about a half hour, I started to notice packed taxi's and crammed full "special ttc buses" going by me. No thanks, I had my runners on, and the weather was good, so I kept walking.

I probably walked 3-4 miles to work that day, and it took me an hour and a half. I wouldn't want to do that on a regular basis, but at least I know I can.

TEN ON TUESDAY

Did you play?

This week....10 Ways I Can Make My Life Better

1. Eat healthier
2. Exercise regularly
3. Leave work at work
4. Limit stress
5. Call friends more instead of e-mail
6. More "date" nights with Rob
7. Stop being a couch potato after work
8. Try new things
9. Cook at home more, less eating out
10. Start baking weekly again

Thanks for the idea Teena!