The Nation Stopped

At 3.15pm today our time, the Nation stopped to watch the Ice Hockey - Canada vs USA.

Everyone yesterday was making plans where to watch the game.  We watched it on TV at home.

Of course the Canadians were winning right to the last 24 seconds when the USA team equalized at 2 all.  They went into overtime and after lots of yelling and screaming, coming from our couch, the Canadians scored the goal to win the Gold Medal.

It was the most exciting game I've ever seen.

We may not be true Canadians but we certainly were supporting them.  We are proud of the Canadian team.

Well done!

Auto Show

On family day (15 February) we went to the Auto Show.  Andy got free tickets from work so we thought that we'd check it out.  It was a huge show although others told us that it was not as big as in previous years.  It spanned across two buildings and we caught a shuttle bus from one to the other.

Thought I'd post the photos of Jesse trying every imaginable car and motorbike.  There were huge queues to even sit in the cars so he didn't get to try all the ones he wanted but he did enjoy himself.  I particularly liked the Lexus RX350 but my conscience would not let me drive a huge petrol powered SUV like that, even if it has everything anyone could ever want.  The next car will be a hybrid I think.

Anyway, enjoy the photos.

Jesse is pointing to the Mustang logo because his friends' Dad (Jack and Fraser) in NZ has a Mustang and he thought they would  be jealous that he got to see this one.  Baz, I've included a photo of the price details to make you even more jealous.

Loved the interior of this futuristic car, it had daisies printed on the white leather seats and was very open with a huge sunroof.

Near Miss on the Highway

Wow, what a day Sunday was.  We went out on one of our Sunday drives with the intention of visiting Unionville, a tiny little village within the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) about a half hours drive from Toronto.  

Anyway, we had to drive on about 4 different highways to get there and we were just coming onto the 404 from the on-ramp.  We came up over the rise only to find that the cars in front of us were stopped.

Thanks to Andy's quick thinking and superb driving skills we managed to miss the car in front by swerving  hard to the left and going around him.  Luckily there was the end of a merging lane beside us so there was somewhere for us to go.  The car that was travelling behind us hit the car that was in front of us so if we had not swerved out of the way, we would have been toast - back and front.  Thank goodness.  I think that the universe was smiling on us.  

Andy was convinced that we had been hit because we could still hear the crashing of cars behind us.  He got out to inspect but we came away unscathed.  We decided to quickly get off the highway for a much needed pit stop and a Starbucks.  We sat there for some time and then decided that a lottery ticket was in order.  Wish us luck for Friday!

After a rest Andy decided that he was happy to go on so we got back in the car and headed for Unionville.  Gosh I'm glad we did.  It's an amazing little place, very quaint with lots of fashion and jewelry shops.  One store had the most beautiful coats I've ever seen - a pink one with a fur collar was my favourite (of course).

They also have the most incredible confectionary store which of course was hell for Jenna and I but Andy and Jesse were in heaven.  Us girls decided to leave and explore the rest of the main street while the boys enjoyed their treats. 

 

Here is a link to the Unionville website so you can take a wee peek

There were some beautiful houses in Unionville too and there seemed to be lots for sale and lots of open homes.

The trip home was uneventful, except for the huge amount of traffic on these here Canadian highways.

By the time I took this photo the traffic wasn't quite so busy.  

This weekend the weather report is for snow and Jenna and I have a bridal shower to attend so there will be no Sunday drive.  

There is so much more of Toronto to explore.  Look forward to another installment sometime soon.

Jenna Has a Job

On Saturday, we went to St Lawrence Market which is a huge 2-storey inside market in downtown Toronto.  Jenna has been offered a job at the NZ shop in the market.  The shop is run by a nice NZ lady who has owned it for about 6 years.  Jenna had her training last week and will eventually work 5 days a week Tuesday to Saturday.  The market is huge and is filled with all sorts of food stalls, butchers, fishmongers, veges, etc.  

We managed to buy some NZ honey from another stall.  The Manuka honey was $25 a small jar but the Pohutakawa was only $10 so we brought that home with us.  It was funny, when we tasted it, Jenna, Andy and I all said it reminded us of Mums.  Jenna then went on to talk about how Grandad used to cut off the corner and give it to the bird.  

It was a really lovely afternoon.  Jesse managed to steal some balloons (they were just sitting on the street so he just brought them along with us) and they caused quite a stir at the market with a small child trying to buy them off Andy.  He said that he felt really mean when he couldn't sell him one.

There are so many cool little places in Toronto that have yet to be explored.  Roll on the spring and summer when we can walk the streets.

The Beach on a Winter's Day

We have been trying to get out and about a bit and enjoy this very mild winter we have been experiencing. Not much snow here and the sun has been shining a lot of the time.  Not so warm though, most days it's still under zero but on occasion it gets quite balmy - I think our high last week was 5 degrees.

Anyway, so we have been taking the proverbial Sunday drive.  

Last weekend we went for a long drive along the shore of the Lake Ontario through the city.  It was really nice to see the houses and the scenery.  It is very villagey down that way even though it's in the heart of Toronto.  We went for a quick walk along the beach but even though it was a stunning sunny day it was really cold so Jenna and I returned to the car while Andy and Jesse explored a picnic table that was stuck in the ice.  It was really funny to see snow over the sand.  Not something we'd experienced before. 

We're looking pretty cold because it was absolutely freezing.  Note the stylish snow boots that Jenna and I are sporting.  We both liked the same ones so I got grey and she got black.  Jesse had left his snow boots at school but he is wearing his nice new trendy coat.

After some time in the car Jesse and Andy decided they needed to get out again so found a park with a slide.  I'm sure the people who lived around here thought they were crazy.  Everyone else was tucked up in their nice warm houses with their central heating.

Anyway, it is always nice to get out and about and see new sights.

Guns n Roses

On Thursday was the long awaited Guns n Roses concert.  It was an interesting evening, most of which was spent people watching.  I'm still decided whether or not the 3 1/2 hour wait for Axel Rose was worth it.  Let me explain.

We arrived about 7pm and parked across from the Air Canada Centre, we waited in the car till 7.30 as it was minus 12 outside and the line wasn't moving.  Eventually we ventured out into the cold to wait in the line.  It took about 20 minutes to get inside so we were freezing by the time we got in.  We quickly warmed up and by the time the show started at 8pm I had taken off my big coat.

The first act was really good.  A local Toronto band but we never caught their name so have no idea who they were.  They played about 5 songs and really warmed up the crowd.

After that there was a break for about half an hour while they set up for Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row fame) who was quite good too (although I liked the first act better).  I was amazed at his head banging capability.  He has long hair and he just spent the whole time flinging it about.  I would get a headache.  We were amused because he had a microphone with a long cable and the roadies spent much time running around stage after him winding it up.  It became apparent why pretty quickly when he stood on the front of the stage swinging the microphone by it's cord.  That was truly impressive.  The first time he did it though he broke the microphone and they couldn't find him another one.  He was not impressed and started swearing at them until they finally got him a new one.  Sebastian finished his act at 9.30.

So now comes the people watching part of the night.  We waited and waited and waited for Guns n Roses.  They finally hit the stage at 11.30pm.  Yes that's right - 2 hours after Sebastian Bach finished.  By this time the crowd was pretty upset and were booing loudly.

Axel apologised but didn't really give a reason and from reading what others have said online they were as unimpressed as we were.

Now to the concert.  It was quite good although for me there were not enough of the good old songs that I knew.  He lost the audience several times because I think a fair number of them were there, like me, to hear the old stuff and the audience got bored.  There were 4 long guitar solos, 2 long piano solos and Axel kept disappearing off the stage.

Reading all this you'd think that I didn't really enjoy myself.  Not true.  I did have a good time, not a great time.  Time and hard living has not been so good to Axel, he's certainly not the fine thing he was when he was young.

We danced lots and cheered and sang enough that my voice was almost gone when I got home at 3am.  Poor Andy had to go to work on Friday so I felt sorry for him.  I also felt really sorry for the people who had to leave before actually seeing the main event.  Apparently Axel has a reputation for being late.  My friend Sandra said he didn't start on Sunday night until 10.30 so I expected that, but 11.30 was just too late.

The actual show (pyrotechnics, etc) was impressive and the booms that came with the explosions hit me in the heart.  I wondered if the drummer had to dodge the sparks because it looked like it was very close to him.

On that note, I will leave this blog with the other pictures we took.

I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie

Ok, it's been a while since I've blogged but to be honest there hasn't been much going on.

Jesse is now in week 2 of the new school term.  Their winter term sport is ice skating so he had his first lesson last week.  It turned out to be a rather costly experience for us as he needed skates ($70), helmet ($30) and splash pants ($10) which to Kiwis are waterproof leggings.  I got this message home that Jesse needed splash pants and had no idea what they were.  He enjoyed it very much and came home with only one sticking plaster for his trouble.  He has skating lessons every Friday for 8 weeks.

Andy started work and is enjoying being back in the game.  It brought on a rather large bout of homesickness for him as he got back into the routine of work and realised that the holiday was now over.

Jenna is still job hunting.  She angling to get herself a job at Fashion Crimes where she has been doing an internship, it's looking good.  Will keep you posted on that one.

OK, so you're asking yourself why on earth I named this blog "I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie".  Today I saw something in Walmart which just made Jenna and I cringe, laugh, squirm and wonder in amazement.  You've heard of the Wonder Bra right - well these were "Wonder Butts".  Yep, you guessed it womens underwear to enhance ones buttocks. I had to take a photo to share with you.

So, for just $9.34 (plus tax) you too can have that most amazing butt that you've always wanted.