Mar 302012
 

Phew, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind the past few days….

I would write more, but I’m exhausted. Instead, I will just post some pics:

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28-Mar-2012 19:18, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 125
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28-Mar-2012 20:06, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1000
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28-Mar-2012 20:06, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1000
 
William Labov plenary
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William Labov plenary29-Mar-2012 15:40, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.2, 56.7mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400
Pennsylvania Convention Center used to be the old Reading Railroad Station
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Pennsylvania Convention Center used to be the old Reading Railroad Station29-Mar-2012 16:16, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
Philly by night - City Hall
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Philly by night - City Hall30-Mar-2012 03:14, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.1, 15.7mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 400
 
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30-Mar-2012 03:24, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 400
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30-Mar-2012 03:36, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 400
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30-Mar-2012 04:08, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
 
Mar 292012
 

I feel like I have returned to my days of full-time studies the past day or so.

First, I arrived on Tuesday night and got settled in.

Then, yesterday I spent about 11 hours at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the Doctoral Student Forum. It was a good day overall, if not exhausting!

Tis all to report for now. Will try to have more of interest next time. 😀

Mar 282012
 

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

_1Q84_ by Haruki Murakami

I am not actually sure what prompted me to purchase this book on my iPhone Kindle, but when I was searching for something to read in the future, this title kept coming up. So, I figured I would give it a try.

Although Murakami is quite popular, I have only managed to read one of his novels – _A Wild Sheep Chase_. Generally, I don’t get into the postmodern style, but something drew me to this one.

It was worth the read, though it did take me some time to get through it. The story switches from the perspectives of different characters in the novel with two – Tengo and Aomame – being the central characters. For the first part of the book it is not clear how these characters are related, but slowly the connections are revealed and the idea of fate, destiny and soulmates comes into play. There’s quite a bit of spiritual discussion throughout the story as well as social issues that are particular to Japan.

I wondered if I didn’t have any background with Japan if I would have understood or enjoyed it as much. However, the art is in the storytelling and I believe that it was well-written overall.

😀

Mar 272012
 

In general, if I haven’t planned prior to traveling, I basically do whatever the mood strikes when I am actually on the trip. This makes things easier for me as I either plan or plan to be spontaneous. 😛

Since my main purpose for coming to Toronto was to visit with my friends, Shu & Q, whom I hadn’t seen since they left Abu Dhabi over a year ago, I didn’t really do any investigating of the area or decide on sightseeing activities. Basically, I figured they would show me around. 🙂

However, when I arrived, I heard some talking about Niagara Falls. When I started looking at the guide books and maps, I realized one thing people do when they visit Toronto is make a trip to Niagara Falls. Hm…, I thought…. How close is it, I asked. Just about 1.5 hours…not far…let’s do it!

As my previous posts show, Shu and Q were free on the weekend, but Monday meant I was free to figure out my own plan. Apparently there is a fairly cheap Chinese bus that goes to the Falls, but I thought it would be more interesting if I did a proper tour. So, I did a Google search and found this tour company as the best and cheapest option.

So, this morning, they picked me up and we met up with the group and off we went!

It was a good day. The Falls were spectacular! Although it was quite cold, the sun came out in the afternoon making everything more beautiful. I felt God’s presence and creation with a sense of awe and peace. Beautiful. Amazing. Wonderful.

Well, here are the pics from the day!

Finally caved and tried Tim Hortons since I am in Canada after all - not bad and cheap!
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Finally caved and tried Tim Hortons since I am in Canada after all - not bad and cheap!27-Mar-2012 06:01, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.2, 5.72mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
Niagara Falls tour:  Stop for a wine tasting - ice wine is the thing around here...
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Niagara Falls tour: Stop for a wine tasting - ice wine is the thing around here...27-Mar-2012 08:16, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour
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Niagara Falls tour27-Mar-2012 08:17, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.9, 25.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
 
Niagara Falls tour:  Apparently this place is sponsored/owned by Dan Akroyd - didn't know he is Canadian...
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Niagara Falls tour: Apparently this place is sponsored/owned by Dan Akroyd - didn't know he is Canadian...27-Mar-2012 08:43, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.1, 5.4mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 800
Niagara Falls tour:  The tour mobile
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Niagara Falls tour: The tour mobile27-Mar-2012 08:45, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour:  A stop to see Lake Ontario
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Niagara Falls tour: A stop to see Lake Ontario27-Mar-2012 09:04, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.9, 8.25mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
 
Niagara Falls tour:  Apparently that is New York and where part of the War of 1812 took place
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Niagara Falls tour: Apparently that is New York and where part of the War of 1812 took place27-Mar-2012 09:04, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.9, 8.25mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour:  Niagara-on-the-lake - main tourist stop especially in the summer when visiting Niagara Falls
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Niagara Falls tour: Niagara-on-the-lake - main tourist stop especially in the summer when visiting Niagara Falls27-Mar-2012 09:08, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.8, 7.73mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
Niagara Falls tour:  Smallest church...
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Niagara Falls tour: Smallest church...27-Mar-2012 09:16, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.7, 13.09mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 640
 
Niagara Falls tour:  Niagara Whirlpool - across is Canada; to the right is New York
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Niagara Falls tour: Niagara Whirlpool - across is Canada; to the right is New York27-Mar-2012 09:29, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.5, 6.45mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour:  Whirlpool on Niagara River
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Niagara Falls tour: Whirlpool on Niagara River27-Mar-2012 09:29, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour:  Niagara River
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Niagara Falls tour: Niagara River27-Mar-2012 09:30, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.2, 5.72mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
 
Niagara Falls tour:  A hydro-dam giving power to Canada and New York
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Niagara Falls tour: A hydro-dam giving power to Canada and New York27-Mar-2012 09:31, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.9, 25.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 160
Niagara Falls tour:  Cable car crossing Niagara River whirlpool
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Niagara Falls tour: Cable car crossing Niagara River whirlpool27-Mar-2012 09:32, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.6, 16.1mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour:  Horseshoe Falls
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Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls27-Mar-2012 09:54, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
 
Niagara Falls tour:  Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls view
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Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls view27-Mar-2012 09:54, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour:  Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls view
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Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls view27-Mar-2012 09:57, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour:  Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls - silhouette of me
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Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls - silhouette of me27-Mar-2012 09:57, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 80
 

After I got back, we headed out to a tasty warm dinner of ramen!

Tonkotsu Ramen for dinner! YUM!
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Tonkotsu Ramen for dinner! YUM!27-Mar-2012 02:29, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
 

Then, we took a walk –

Near Howland Avenue - just a funny name...
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Near Howland Avenue - just a funny name...27-Mar-2012 03:06, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
 

to Korea Town, where we got dessert. I ate so many of these when I was in Korea for a month. Love them!!!

Hoddok (Korean pancake with brown sugar and nuts) = happy happy!
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Hoddok (Korean pancake with brown sugar and nuts) = happy happy!27-Mar-2012 03:17, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
 

A very happy ending to a great day!

Tomorrow, I am off to Philly….

😀 -T

Mar 262012
 

Jet lag hasn’t been so bad considering the amount of flying I did, but it still exists…. Although I woke up at 5am with some dozing until about 10am, Shu and I still managed to walk from Howland through Little Italy to Queens Way to Chinatown to Kensington Market area and back home again.

It was a beautiful day, which was very much welcomed after yesterday! 🙂

After a short rest, we headed to Korea Town for some delicious Korean food! Now, I’m trying to stay awake long enough to ensure that I don’t wake up too early though I have a day trip to Niagara Falls planned for tomorrow.

Here are some pics from today:

Apparently a Toronto icon - Honest Ed's random store of everything (didn't actually go inside though)
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Apparently a Toronto icon - Honest Ed's random store of everything (didn't actually go inside though)25-Mar-2012 19:03, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
A Canadian delicacy - Poutine
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A Canadian delicacy - Poutine25-Mar-2012 20:30, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 320
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25-Mar-2012 20:31, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
 
Too cute!
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Too cute!25-Mar-2012 21:19, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
Toronto Chinatown gate - MON
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Toronto Chinatown gate - MON25-Mar-2012 23:54, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
Kensington Market area - loved this mural
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Kensington Market area - loved this mural26-Mar-2012 00:11, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
 
Bike rack in Kensington Market
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Bike rack in Kensington Market26-Mar-2012 00:13, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
A Canadian fire house for my dad...hard to see it though...
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A Canadian fire house for my dad...hard to see it though...26-Mar-2012 00:15, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 7.2, 9.4mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
Hard to do justice to the lovely residential areas
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Hard to do justice to the lovely residential areas26-Mar-2012 00:19, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 100
 
Pure maple syrup - 8.99 in a local organic store or 18.99 in a bottle at a 'gift shop' for tourists, you choose...
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Pure maple syrup - 8.99 in a local organic store or 18.99 in a bottle at a 'gift shop' for tourists, you choose...26-Mar-2012 01:12, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
Yummy Korean food with my favorite hosts!
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Yummy Korean food with my favorite hosts!26-Mar-2012 03:10, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 125
Mmmmmmm....
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Mmmmmmm....26-Mar-2012 03:10, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
 

-T 😀

Mar 252012
 

My first full day in Toronto has been pretty relaxed. We had a relaxed start, but still on the early side as I’m kind of used to getting started around noon, not when it is still morning…. 😉

Q & Shu's cute attic apartment
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Q & Shu's cute attic apartment24-Mar-2012 15:11, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400
Q & Shu's cute attic apartment
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Q & Shu's cute attic apartment24-Mar-2012 15:11, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 400
Q & Shu's cute attic apartment
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Q & Shu's cute attic apartment24-Mar-2012 15:12, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 400
 
Q & Shu's cute attic apartment
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Q & Shu's cute attic apartment24-Mar-2012 15:12, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 200
 

So, we headed down to St. Lawrence market, which is a farmer’s-like market in a renovated warehouse near/in the Financial District. There’s two kinds of markets – a yuppyish middle-class white version and a more diverse relaxed farmer’s market version. I tried bee pollen, which is considered very healthy, and it made me swell up on my lips and throat. Who knew?

Downtown Toronto:  Union Station and CN Tower in the background
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Downtown Toronto: Union Station and CN Tower in the background24-Mar-2012 17:42, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100
Downtown Toronto:  Financial District
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Downtown Toronto: Financial District24-Mar-2012 17:42, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Downtown Toronto:  Financial District - Hockey Hall of Fame
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Downtown Toronto: Financial District - Hockey Hall of Fame24-Mar-2012 17:42, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
 
Downtown Toronto:  Financial District
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Downtown Toronto: Financial District24-Mar-2012 17:42, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
St Lawrence Market:  Mmmm pork...meat...
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St Lawrence Market: Mmmm pork...meat...24-Mar-2012 17:51, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 200
St Lawrence Market
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St Lawrence Market24-Mar-2012 18:04, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 200
 
St Lawrence Market:  Pork!
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St Lawrence Market: Pork!24-Mar-2012 18:06, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400
St Lawrence Market:  Guess this is some Canadian bacon specialty
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St Lawrence Market: Guess this is some Canadian bacon specialty24-Mar-2012 18:11, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 200
St Lawrence Market:  Juice!
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St Lawrence Market: Juice!24-Mar-2012 18:16, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
 
St Lawrence Market:  Saturday Farmer's Market
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St Lawrence Market: Saturday Farmer's Market24-Mar-2012 18:29, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 200
Downtown Toronto
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Downtown Toronto24-Mar-2012 18:54, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
Downtown Toronto:  Near Church
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Downtown Toronto: Near Church24-Mar-2012 18:56, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
 

After that we stopped for a quick coffee break at a cool place called Origins on King St.

Downtown Toronto:  Q next the Q water tap
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Downtown Toronto: Q next the Q water tap24-Mar-2012 19:02, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 400
 

From there, we went over to an Asian food market called T&T. It was nice to see so many options, but I wished I had more in Abu Dhabi.

Downtown Toronto:  A visit to the T&T Asian Food market isn't complete without a Lover Hot Pot!
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Downtown Toronto: A visit to the T&T Asian Food market isn't complete without a Lover Hot Pot!24-Mar-2012 19:50, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
Downtown Toronto:  T&T offers live seafood - I know these are muscles, but somehow they look oh so wrong...
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Downtown Toronto: T&T offers live seafood - I know these are muscles, but somehow they look oh so wrong...24-Mar-2012 19:54, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
Downtown Toronto:  Shu found one that looks good
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Downtown Toronto: Shu found one that looks good24-Mar-2012 19:57, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 200
 
Downtown Toronto:  So many to choose from...
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Downtown Toronto: So many to choose from...24-Mar-2012 19:57, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 200
Downtown Toronto:  Lunch at T&T
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Downtown Toronto: Lunch at T&T24-Mar-2012 20:26, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 100
 

On the way back, we hit the Distillery District and stopped in this crazy stored where a guy does art with rubik’s cubes….

Downtown Toronto:  The Distillery Historic District
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Downtown Toronto: The Distillery Historic District24-Mar-2012 21:14, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 100
Downtown Toronto:  Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes
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Downtown Toronto: Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes24-Mar-2012 21:22, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 200
Downtown Toronto:  Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes
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Downtown Toronto: Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes24-Mar-2012 21:22, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 200
 
Downtown Toronto:  Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes (same store, but liked the idea of high heel wine holder)
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Downtown Toronto: Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes (same store, but liked the idea of high heel wine holder)24-Mar-2012 21:23, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 200
Downtown Toronto:  Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes
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Downtown Toronto: Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes24-Mar-2012 21:24, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 250
Downtown Toronto:  Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes (or dice)
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Downtown Toronto: Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes (or dice)24-Mar-2012 21:25, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
 
Downtown Toronto:  Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes (or dice)
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Downtown Toronto: Distillery Historic District - Art with Rubik's cubes (or dice)24-Mar-2012 21:25, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
 

then the wind picked up adding to the cold, so we headed back to have a rest and eat up our fresh crab. 😀

T&T crabs ready to eat!
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T&T crabs ready to eat!24-Mar-2012 23:38, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
 

I stopped taking pictures in the evening as the cold increased and though I’m awake, I’m not quite so with it…. Anyway, we went to a lovely and very cheap Vietnamese restaurant off of St. Claire and then had a long journey back as we walked through the elements for part of the way. It definitely felt nice to get to a warm and dry place!

More fun tomorrow!

😀 -T

Mar 242012
 

Surprisingly, I am awake at a ‘normal’ time (8:00am) after taking a 12.5 direct flight AUH – JFK and then after a 4-hour layover was on a 1.5hour flight JFK – YYZ.

The flight to New York from Abu Dhabi was fairly painless in the grand scheme of things. However, nearly 12 hours of two children crying/whining and the sounds here and there of others have made me really think there needs to be children’s ONLY section at the back of the plane (not the front!!!). It’s not possible to keep them from fussing or crying at different times, but why must the rest of us have to suffer?

My flight companion was a 72-year-old Indian woman. I know because she asked me to complete her US customs form. She was nice, but a little too big for the seats, a little too old for getting up and down during a long flight and very very burpy! hahaha. She was sweet, though, I guess.

Randomly, my counselor in AD was in the seat behind me going on holiday to the East Coast. I wondered if that was some sort of sign that I should go see her when I return in April…? 😉

Everything else is a bit of a blur as I was so exhausted once arriving at Q & Shu’s place in Toronto.

I’m gonna have to go in search of coffee soonish, though, I think.

More to come…

😀

Mar 232012
 

Well, remember back when I wrote saying that I was waiting to hear back from someone I had found on Facebook about being my 2nd or first US foster mother?

It was her!!! She wrote back and I have replied.

It seems surreal. I actually have no memory whatsoever of this person, but from the picture I look genuinely happy as opposed to my usual canned smile or laughing smile that shows up in all my photos (even today!). I mean I am a happy person, generally speaking, but there is something about the picture, maybe it’s the comfortable position I seem to be in her arms – I don’t know.

All these pieces of the puzzle of my life are falling into my hands/lap a bit faster and randomly than I would have ever expected. I am glad that I am not on a search full-time or I would be going mad. With work and travels to keep me distracted I can face the realities of this part of my life when it is generally convenient for me.

So, hopefully I can talk to Diane on the phone when I’m in the States, if not we’ve got email and Fb. From there, I don’t know what will come, but I’m open to any and everything.

😀 -T

Mar 222012
 

I am wondering if this falls under ‘Adoption Journey’ or if I should be starting a new thread entitled ‘The Search’…?

Anyway, I guess it all runs together in the end as MY LIFE!

So, the latest –

Three days ago now, I received an email from the social worker in Korea. She said that they have located the two sisters of my birth mother who are also living in the States.

WTF?

Did the whole family  of women move there after me? I guess I won’t have to stress too much over communicating should that ever happen. Maybe that explains why I have a total block from learning the language.

So, anyway, the SWS is going to try to get in touch with them and see if some kind of contact can be made. We shall see how that goes, but considering that my biological grandmother denies that I could exist, I can only imagine what the sisters might think or believe. However, you never know what is known between sisters that is never told to the parents…. Keeping the fingers crossed.

In any case, I still go back and forth on whether or not I really want to talk to them or what I would say to them. I guess I’ll just cross that bridge when it comes.

Nothing else new on the domestic search, but next week when I’m back in the States, I’ll be making some calls, so watch this space for updates!

😀 -T

Mar 212012
 

Well, the juice diet continues….

We are starting to figure out the best process for juicing. It’s quite a bit of work to prepare juices for all your meals. There’s a lot of washing, peeling and then juicing, plus the clean-up afterwards that is required. It’s more work than cooking a meal each night!

Both of us are doing well overall and definitely feel healthier. R wants to keep going. I miss eating solids, to be completely honest, but I will see if I can stick it out one more day before the break begins. It’s good to be detoxed and cleaned out before I head back to the North American enlarged portions and processed food diet. 😛

After the break, I think we will do it again for a few days to detox again, but I will try to include solid food for dinners, such as salads and vegetable soups (half liquid/half solid :P). As long as we continue to eat mostly fruits, vegetables, legumes and other macronutrient food, we should definitely be healthier and happier!

Last night we had a couple of nuts and dried fruit that couldn’t be blended/juiced and it felt so fantastic to chew! I really like solid food, but can handle eating healthier. Though, I do miss me some grease and red meat – that’s just after four days without it. Pathetic!!! 😀

Mostly, I was concerned about my need for a higher protein level to avoid my body revolting and going into shut-down mode to save energy. So far, I haven’t had any problem with it as we drink whey protein and soy milk for breakfast before the morning breakfast juice. There are some points in the day when I do feel a bit hungry, but never weak or really tired like I used to. We are even still having a large cup of coffee each morning, which actually against the rules, but we both do cherish our cup of coffee so!

Anyway, I would recommend this diet as a way to refresh (or reboot!) the body’s system. I feel less tired (not less stressed, though), healthier and perhaps the best motivator, thinner!

Now, I will just have to test out my self-control on Friday morning when I’m at the airport and faced with fast food options!! 😀 Maybe I’ll have to break my diet on Thursday night so my stomach doesn’t revolt from airplane food…. 😛

-T

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