Kevin's Ramblings…

I flew back to Alberta yesterday afternoon. I got into Toronto shortly after 1pm and took the subway and then a bus to the airport from downtown. It is a sweet deal at only $3. I had to change my flight, I was originally booked to return on Sunday. It was just over $200 to change the flight.  Well, the flights would naturally be more expensive, costs have gone up. Oil is through the roof and I’m sure jet fuel is way more expensive. Oh, wait…

Anyway, it was $200 to change the flight. The extra time that the dogs would have been in boarding would have been $300 or so, then, when you add money I would have spent in Ontario, I save a few hundred leaving early. All in all, I’m glad to be home.

Got in late last night. Nothing to eat in the house so I got a sub at Subway. It would have been 10pm before I could have gotten the dogs so they stayed over. It didn’t cost any more for them to stay. I picked them up at 730 this morning. I think they are happy to be back. I’m happy to have them back as well.

It isn’t raining so although they look tired out, I think we’ll go for a walk. The park will be too wet so we’ll just walk around the neighbourhood. I do need to hit the bank, so that’ll work.

I’m off until Monday. No real plan for the week. It will depend what the weather does. We do have a baseball practice on Thursday and a game on both Saturday and Sunday. I think we are still waiting for our first win, hopefully the weekend brings one.

I sold my Blue Jays tickets in about 8 hours after I posted them the other night.  It was a good experience all in all.  Pretty easy to add the account, very easy to post the tickets and no further work on my part.  I posted the tickets for $30 each, less a 10% fee so I expected $54.

I was paid for the tickets today, the funds were transferred into my PayPal account but it was $54 USD which converts to just under $70.  I was rather happy about it.

Now I will need to find something online that I want to buy so I can spend my PayPal balance.  That shouldn’t be too tough.  I could transfer the funds to my bank account as well.  The only issue is that will take 3-5 business days to transfer which is a little insane.  One would think that a transfer could be instantaneous.  Oh well, perhaps some day, it will be.

At any rate, the entire process was pretty straight forward.  Thanks StubHub.  🙂

I slept well last night. Pulling an all nighter caught up with me, big time. I got up around 630 this morning, not bad at all. Blondie and Hera are being well cared for so I didn’t have to attend to any dogs.

I had an easy going morning and went to the Mandarin for lunch. Food was good for sure. I don’t go to buffets any longer so I wasn’t able to forge like I used to. I then visited the new outlet mall in Niagara on the Lake. It was ok, a bit expensive though. I’m not too enthused to purchase anything in Ontario though, the extra tax is a killer.

We did some setup in the back yard for my sisters memorial in the evening. We are hoping the weather will cooperate. One forecast shows all day rain, one has a slightly better outlook. I think it’s anyone’s best guess.

My Babe Ruth Fall Ball team lost our opener last evening in Calgary. I’m told it was a good game though, a 9-7 loss. We will get ’em next time. I’m looking forward to rejoining the team soon.

Tomorrow is my sisters birthday. I won’t say what the number is, it is a BIG number 😉 Happy birthday JB 😉

My flight arrived early yesterday, we landed about 30 minutes ahead of schedule – nice, and sort of unexpected.  It was a fairly uneventful flight.  The crying baby behind me soon fell asleep and the other children on the plane didn’t make a sound.  I really didn’t expect them to – we left at 12:30 in the morning, they fell asleep pretty quickly, I am sure.

I wasn’t so lucky, no sleep at all.  Oh well.

After landing, I didn’t have to wait for luggage or anything since I didn’t check any, I was right outside and waiting for the express bus to Kipling subway station.  It was hot and humid yesterday morning, something that I am really not used to any longer.  The bus ride to the subway station was quick and traffic at 6:15am was light.

I was surprised that the subway was not busy, at all.  I was able to get a seat on both trains (I had to switch to a different line).  I had a short walk to the office and was almost immediately let in.  I saw a co-worker who showed me where the coffee was – much needed after not sleeping all night.

It was good visiting with co-workers that I had not seen in almost two years.  I met a couple that I had only previously spoken to on the phone or emailed as well.  My bus for St. Catharines was leaving Toronto at 10:30, so I left around 9:30.

I walked over to Union Station, not knowing that MegaBus and other inter-city buses don’t leave from there.  I suppose that I should have looked at my ticket…  I had a 2km walk to the bus station and only 20 some odd minutes to make the walk – I didn’t think I was going to get there in time, but I did, with a bit to spare.  The ride back to St. Catharines was quick and the highway traffic was light.

I went out to lunch with a friend to one of the best, if not the best, Mexican restaurants ever.  I have not found anything in Calgary to compare.  In the afternoon, I had a much needed nap.  We had dinner out, nothing special and then I went for coffee with a friend.  I slept like the dead, not surprised at that.  I am not sure when the last time I pulled an all nighter, but is has been ages.

Today, it is the Mandarin (Chinese buffet) at lunch.  I am looking forward to that for sure.  I might also check out the new outlet mall on the border of Niagara on the Lake and St. Catharines.  There are a few new developments around since I was last here.

I am getting hungry for lunch already.  Enjoy your day.

It is currently 210am. I’m not sure if I am still in Mountain Time, or if we’ve slipped over to Central Time. The planes no longer have screens in the back of the seat in front of you to indicate where you are, speed, altitude and what not.

They have a new service called WestJet Connect. You switch your device to Airplane Mode then turn wireless on and you can connect. I’ve connected but haven’t launched the all as yet.

We were given our small plastic cup of your beverage of choice and a package of chocolate cookie sticks. I am so old now that I do remember when you used to get a meal on the plane, included. Not any more… You can get food, if you are willing to pay sort of unreasonable prices.

We should land in about 2 hours or slightly less. Based on that, I’d presume we are in Central Time by now. The flight has been uneventful. There was some brief turbulence but nothing out of the ordinary.

I’ve noted something I don’t like about the aisle seat, people going up and down continually bump into you. In general, I don’t care for the populous, I like people, or most people anyway, once I get to know them.  Others, generally, suck.

The baby behind me has fallen asleep, I presume. It is quiet anyway. I also have ear buds in, so, if it is making any noises, I don’t hear it.

Sleep eludes me, as I figured it would. It is very hard getting comfortable sitting up. The dude beside me can’t seem to keep still, that’s awesome.  Now he’s asked me to get by, perhaps that’ll keep him still, one can hope.

All in all, it isn’t as bad as I’m making it sound here. I don’t really care for flying. I’m not afraid to fly, I just don’t like being cooped up for hours. I suppose it is better than (403) 990-5412, for this distance anyway.

Well, less than two hours to go. Not sure when this will be posted. Shortly after I land, I guess, after I’ve reconnected.

The dogs have been dropped off at boarding. A good sign is that they were pulling me to get into the house. Had it been the other way around and I was pulling them, I would have been worried. I’m sure they’ll have a great time. I’m looking forward to email updates and pictures.

I checked in for my flight earlier today. I got the isle seat, which I wanted and am in the middle of the plane. I figures, why get the window seat when all you can really see is stuff during take off and landing. I’m also flying at night, not a heck of a lot to see, regardless. The sun night be starting to come up by the time I land, 615am EDT, but I have seen Toronto from the air before.

So, passed through security without any real issues. They took my tube of toothpaste though. It was 165ml, the limit is 100ml. Yes, I can see how that is a security risk. My other option was to check my luggage, for $25 and I could keep my $3 tube of toothpaste. Ummm, easy choice. I will be purchasing new toothpaste.  The odd thing is that I was allowed to take two bottles, one shampoo and one body wash and they were quite large. Who knows…

Everything else was smooth sailing. I’m now sitting in a comfy east chair waiting for boarding. Another half hour. An hour or so from now, we’ll take off and I hope to catch a bit of sleep. I’m not sure if I will or not. If I don’t, I do have a bottle of 5 hour energy to give a boost in the morning.

I land, as I said around 615. I’m taking TTC from the airport to Kipling Station and then the subway downtown. I’m stopping off at the National office for work, just to visit and see coworkers that I haven’t seen in 2 years. I’m then taking a bus to St. Catharines.

It’ll be a quick trip, back to Calgary sometime on Sunday. Should be a good one though.

What a cold and fairly miserable weekend that was. We had rain every day between Friday and Monday. It was also cold, yesterday was the warmest of the days and I think it hit about 12C, maybe. The forecast for the weekend has temperatures back in the mid 20’s, so that’ll be good.

In southern Ontario, where I will be in about 24 hours, I might melt. Well, the high humidity is supposed to be gone. I’m not sure if I can stand it any more. I’ve been in Calgary for 3.5 years now and it is rarely humid here, ever. I never liked it when I lived in Ontario but I guess I got used to it. I guess I will have to get used to it again.

I am getting a ride to the airport tonight. Flight takes off at 1230 and arrives in Toronto at 615. I discovered that Toronto Transit has an express bus to the airport and it goes directly to one of the subway stations. Im heading downtown, going to make a stop at our National office and then will take a bus to St. Catharines. I arrive just before 1pm then go for lunch with a friend.

Red Lobster is having shrimp fest so I think we are going on Friday evening. Gotta love all u can eat shrimp. I’m also hitting up the Mandarin which is a Chinese food buffet. Duff’s Pizzeria is also on my want list, some of the best pizza and wings I’ve ever had. One thing I’ve really missed is really good pizza here. There are, of course, hundreds of pizza places, the pizza just isn’t as good as Ontario.  There are some good wings in town, but it is sort of hit and miss and they are pricy.

So, it would seem that my trip is a food exploration. Sorta… Hey, we all have to eat and those are some of my favourite places.

Friday is my sisters birthday, somewhere in her early 50’s I think. Hopefully we are going to Red Lobster Friday, but as the birthday girl, it is her choice. Saturday is my sisters memorial. I think we’re expecting 50 or so people. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. A tent was secured so between that and the various gazebos and what not my sister has in her backyard, we should be good. 

I leave on Sunday, not sure what time as yet, I still have to book the return flight. Likely leave Toronto in the morning. It’ll be a whirlwind trip for sure.

Happy Labour Day.  This sort of unofficial end of summer.  Well, in Calgary, summer ended some time ago, but that’s OK.

It has been a cold and pretty miserable long weekend, all in all.  The temps have been hovering around 8C and it has been rainy and if not rainy, very cloudy.  Not typical weather for Calgary for this time of year.  Well, the cold may be, but not the rain.  Typically, it is very dry.

Today the visiting Edmonton Eskimos come to town to take on the Stampeders in the annual Labour Day Classic.  I don’t mind if it is cold for the game but I am hoping it will be dry.  I can watch football in freezing cold weather and in a snowstorm, but rain makes it awful.  It isn’t supposed to rain any more today, I am hoping, for once, that the forecast is correct.

Tomorrow, I leave for Ontario.  I am going to be making a change to my trip though.  As opposed to staying for 12 days, I am leaving a week earlier to cut down on some costs.  It will cost be around $150 to make the changes to my flight but I will also only be paying for 6 days for the dogs in boarding.  I can afford that, I couldn’t see how I could afford the extra week.  I will still be able to see everyone and now my sister and brother in law won’t get tired of me.  It will be more of a whirlwind trip.  I also can pack what I need into a carry on bag, will save me time at the airport not having to wait for my luggage and will also save me the $25 rip off that the airlines now charge to check one bag.  Flight costs are also up, even though oil is at prices not seen in years – yes, airlines, you must be suffering.  Oh well.

It will be good to see everyone that I can while I am back. It will just be a quicker trip is all. When I get back, I will still have a week off as well which is awesome.

Anyway, see you soon Ontario and Go Stamps, kick some Eskimo butt…

We will officially have two weeks left in summer.  It is currently 2C outside with a combination of rain and sleet and I think it wants to turn into snow.  Must be Calgary I guess.  That said however, I prefer cold weather in early September over the hot and humid crap that I used to put up with in Southern Ontario.  Speaking of Southern Ontario, I am returning Wednesday morning and I am hopeful that the humidity that is currently blanketing the area will be gone.  We will see.

Baseball was rained out yesterday which sucks. I will now not see any of the games until I return in a few weeks so I will miss 6 games, more if the missed games are rescheduled before I return. I guess, in hindsight, I should have suggested returning to Ontario in August.  Of course, I didn’t know I would be coaching Fall Ball.  At least I have a couple of good guys to take over the team in my absence.  I really don’t like making a commitment and then not being able to fulfill it.  I am getting together with the coaches this afternoon to discuss the upcoming games and where we plan on playing our players.

The weather is supposed to somewhat clear this afternoon, I am hoping I can take the dogs for a long walk without us getting soaked.  The dog park is out since it will be one large mud pit. It might be dry enough by tomorrow, Tuesday for sure.

For today, I guess some sports on TV will be the event of the day.  Enjoy yours.