The vet sucks .... the park rocks!

I worked from home today and took KC to the vet to have her anal glands checked (they were bothering her).

The technician cleaned them out (that's a job I wouldn't want!). KC's left gland is infected again so the vet prescribed her meds again.

The animal hospital is across the street from Trinity Bellwoods Park so I took KC for a stroll there.

She was a much happier girl there!

St. Michael's Cemetery, Toronto

St. Michael's Cemetery is another cemetery that is in the 'hood where I work.

St. Michael's Cemetery is a historic Roman Catholic cemetery. It is located just southwest of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue. The 10-acre cemetery is invisible from the street, being located in the middle of a city block and ringed by homes and stores. It is accessible only through a small alleyway between two stores on Yonge Street. The gates to the cemetery are also usually kept locked.

The city's oldest surviving Catholic cemetery, it opened in 1855. It replaced St. Paul's Cemetery at Queen and Parliament, which had been filled to capacity by the recent influx of Irish Catholic settlers. Some 29,000 people are buried at St. Michael's. It is the final resting place mostly for working class Irish Canadians but some notable figures are interred there including brewer Eugene O'Keefe and Victoria Cross recipient Denis Dempsey. St. Michael's remained the only Catholic cemetery in Toronto until 1900 when it was near capacity and the Mount Hope Cemetery was opened.

Another nice day for a walk so I went looking for the entrance at lunch time and here it is between the buildings.

And the gates are indeed locked.

Alas, I couldn't get in.

It's interesting having such an old cemetery surrounded by office buildings, stores, houses and condos.

I've seen people in there walking their dogs (not allowed!) so there must be another way in!

So I walked around the long long long block to see if I could find it.

I went to the back of an office building on St. Clair W ... the only open spot.

I could have jumped down and wandered around ... but then I would have had a hard time climbing back out again.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery

I work about ten minutes from Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the city of Toronto (then known as York) were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England. Deceased citizens who did not belong to either of these Christian denominations had no choice but to find burial arrangements outside of the city.

In 1873, a new cemetery available to all citizens was conceived. Originally a 200 acre farm, on the far outskirts of Toronto, Mount Pleasant Cemetery opened on November 4, 1876, resplendent with more than twelve miles (19 km) of carriage drives along rolling hills and blue lakes filled with ducks and swans.

With the growth in population, today the cemetery is located in the centre of the city. While the watercourses have since been filled in, the cemetery still has many miles of walking paths, interspersed with fountains, statues, botanical gardens, and rare and distinct trees.

As the final resting place of more than 168,000 persons, Mount Pleasant Cemetery contains remarkable architecture amongst its many monuments.

I walked there at lunchtime and wandered round for almost an hour (it's huge!).

The memorials range from simple to grandiose ...

It's a lovely place to spend some time if you get a chance.

Book ~ "A History of Marriage" (2010) Elizabeth Abbott

From Goodreads ~ What does the "tradition of marriage" really look like? 

In "A History of Marriage", Elizabeth Abbott paints an often surprising picture of this most public, yet most intimate, institution. Ritual of romance, or social obligation? Eternal bliss, or cult of domesticity? 

Abbott reveals a complex tradition that includes same-sex unions, arranged marriages, dowries, self-marriages, and child brides. Marriage - in all its loving, unloving, decadent, and impoverished manifestations - is revealed here through Abbott's infectious curiosity.

This is a big book (460 pages) about everything you ever wanted to know about marriage!

It was really interesting to learn about marriages before the 20th century. I would have been a lousy wife back then! I can see why some women were happy to be spinsters ... that would have been me.

Book ~ "Toronto Book of Everything" (2009) ~ Nate Hendley

From Amazon ~ From Hogtown to capital city and Leafs Nation, from cold wet winters to desperately humid summers, from Blackberry-addicted Bay Street financiers to profiles of Ed Mirvish, Glenn Gould, David Cronenberg and Rush, no book is more comprehensive than the Toronto Book of Everything. No book is more fun! Well-known Torontonians weigh in on what they love about their city. Linda Leatherdale reveals her top five places to power lunch; Chef Jamie Kennedy shares five ways Toronto inspires his menus; Paul Godfrey tells us who the top Toronto powerbrokers are; John Sewell points out five Toronto buildings not to miss; and Kevin O'Leary shares his uniquely Toronto innovations. From Bay Street slang and the Great Toronto Fire to immigrant city and Pride Toronto, it’s all here! Whether you are a native Torontonian or visiting for the first time, there is simply no more complete book about Toronto. If you love Toronto (even just a little bit), you'll love the Toronto Book of Everything.

Quick fun read for anyone who lives in Toronto or is planning a visit.

You know you're from Toronto when ...

• Finding a great parking spot can move you tears.
• When the temperature rises to 5C, you yell, "Woohoo! Patio weather!"
• You know that Russell Oliver pays cold hard cash for your used gold and diamonds.
• You know what the PATH is and can find your way around it.
• You know where you were during the 2003 Northeast Blackout.
  

Lysol ... not just for cleaning your toilet

I'm reading A History of Marriage.

There's a section about Lysol.

Lysol, you ask?

Years ago, when women were concerned about genital odor, they were encouraged to squirt Lysol into their vagina because it apparently eliminated bacteria which caused the smell. They also used for birth control to kill sperm.

Check out these ads from the 1920s - 60s, 1926, 1928, 1934 and 1948.

Huh?!

Scary stuff!

Funny commercials!

Definitely worth watching!


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Toronto Blue Jays 7, Chicago White Sox 8

The Blue Jays had their home opener this evening ... and we were there!

When we got there, there were thousands of people waiting to get in. It took us over a half hour to get in the door ... by then, it was the middle of the second inning.

We sat in the fifth level, above the batter.

It was packed!

How packed?

Sold out, with over 46,000 in attendance.

No wonder it took us so long to get in!

The 50/50 draw was almost $9,000! How sweet would that have been to win?!

And here we are ...

The team has changed a lot since last year. Vernon Wells is still with us ...

As is Lyle Overbay ...

Travis Snider needs a new picture ... he looks like a stoner!

It was a close game ... but alas, Chicago won in the 11th inning.

Book ~ "How Remarkable Women Lead" (2009) ~ Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston

From Amazon ~ The remarkable discoveries about what drives and sustains successful women leaders.

Based on five years of proprietary research, How Remarkable Women Lead speaks to you as no other book has, with its hopeful outlook and unique ideas about success. It's the new "right stuff" of leadership, raising provocative issues such as whether feminine leadership traits (for women and men) are better suited for our fast-changing, hyper-competitive, and increasingly complex world.

The authors, McKinsey & Company consultants Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston, establish the links between joy, happiness, and distinctive performance with the groundbreaking model of Centered Leadership.

The book's personal stories and related insights show you the magic that happens when you put the five elements of Centered Leadership–meaning, framing, connecting, engaging, and energizing–to work.

I like reading books like this ... about being the best that you can be.

The personal stories were good.

I used to be a lot more ambitious than I am now. I would work crazy hours in an effort to succeed. I found, though, when I got into my forties that it's important to have a job you look forward to doing each day but having a balanced work/play life means more to me.

Sunday

It was such a nice day today ... sunny and 15C!

Gord and I went for a 12km walk.

We headed south to Coronation Park ...

The National Yacht Club hasn't opened yet ...

We headed west along the Waterfront Trail ...

We watched the volleyballers at Sunnyside for a while ...

At Ellis Street, we headed north and walked along the south end of High Park (the last time I was there, KC and I walked on the frozen Grenadier Pond).

We headed east along the Queensway ...

There was a memorial service at the intersection of King Street W/Queen Street W/Roncesvalles (a Polish 'hood) ...

We stopped for a beer on the patio at the Rhino on Queen Street W...

We caught the end of the Jays game (they won ... yay!) at the newly opened Savoy Bistro on Queen Street W ...

We had a drink on the Sky Yard at the Drake Hotel ... here's my Red Geisha (peach schnapps, raspberry vodka, pear nectar and sparkling wine):

Yum!

We ran into Big Rude Jake (he plays from 1pm to 4pm) and were yakking with him for a while.

And here are Gord and I on the Sky Yard ...

What a nice day!

Embrujo Flamenco Tapas Restaurant, Toronto, ON

I had supper tonight with my pals, Yvette and Shawna, and Shawna's friend, Rebecca, at Embrujo Flamenco Tapas Restaurant on the Danforth.

Here we are ... Rebecca, Yvette, me and Shawna:

Shawna had suggested this restaurant. I've never had tapas so didn't know what to expect. Basically tapas are appetizers that you share. They aren't brought all together ... they come to the table one or two at a time.

We shared a litre of Sangria and ordered a bunch of tapas including some with shrimp and mushrooms ... I don't do shrimp or mushrooms :(

Here's what we ordered that I did have some of:

Puntillas en Salsa de Mostaza (grilled black angus sirloin on a bed of home cut fries topped with a light mustard sauce):

Chorizo Con Brandy (authentic homemade Spanish chorizo sausage sautéed in brandy):

Patatas Bravas (pan fried potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce):

Pechuga de Pollo Al Jerez (sautéed chicken breast in Spanish sherry):

The food was good and filling.

While we were eating, there was a Flamenco dancer on the stage next to us ...

Here's Rebecca, Yvette and Shawna as we were leaving.

Good time with good friends!