Toronto Rock 7, Philadelphia Wings 8

Tonight was the Toronto Rock's 2013 home opener and Gord and I were there.  They were playing the Philadelphia Wings.  We started going to games last year and enjoyed them.

The Toronto Rock is a professional lacrosse franchise founded in 1998. They are members of the Eastern Division of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

Here's Scotty Newlands singing the national anthems.

The Fox, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had tickets for the Toronto Rock's home opener tonight.

Before the game, we had supper at The Fox at Bay/Queens Quay.

Since it's kitty corner to the ACC where the game was, it's not surprising that it started filling up the closer it got to game time.

Our beers were tasty!

Trius Wine Club - January 2013

I picked up our box from Trius at the post office today (we weren't home when they tried to deliver it a couple days ago).

Gord and I have been members of the Trius Wine Club (formerly the Hillebrand Wine Club) for over ten years.

Every month, 2 bottles of our best wine will be delivered to your door along with Winemaker Craig McDonald’s tasting notes and Chef Frank Dodd’s recipes.

The cost is about $40 a month and it's only available in Ontario.

Here's what we got this month ... looks good!

• Late Harvest Vidal 2011 ($22.75) ~ The recipe included that pairs with it is Spicy Apple Chutney
• Trius Cabernet Sauvignon 2011($14.75) - The recipe included that pairs with it is Chicken, Ginger and Tarragon Soup

Book ~ "Bombshell" (2012) Mike Faricy

From Goodreads ~ Dysfunctional, bumbling, crazy babe-magnet Dev Haskell, P.I., becomes the envy of every guy with a heartbeat when he's hired to watch over a team of gorgeous English roller derby stars. Though he'd rather be standing guard in the shower room, he suddenly finds himself under arrest and found guilty before he's charged. 

He's got an attorney who drinks too much, a beautiful friend with a bad attitude, a feisty team of females ready to kill him - and no answers. Bombshell is another fast-paced, engrossing suspense thriller from Minnesota's master of the bizarre, Mike Faricy.

This is the first book I've read by Mike Faricy and I enjoyed it a lot.  I like reading mysteries with PIs, which are part of a series. 

When the story begins, Dev Haskell has just taken his date to a bar, only to watch her leave with a suave French guy.  There he meets Justine (aka Spankie) who is a player in a roller derby league.

The next day, while trying to find some enthusiasm to do some background checks for a client, Justine calls Dev and offers him a job as security for Harlotte Davidson, the star of an English roller derby team which is touring the U.S.  Someone has been sending Harlotte human fingers (always the middle one!).  It sounds like a sweet gig for him ... until he is charged with attacking Harlotte.  And then things keep getting worse from there.

I liked the writing style a lot.  It was well-paced, sarcastic and funny.  Dev's recovery from a beating and his date with Heidi are hilarious!

Dev is a hoot ... I bet he'd be fun to hang out with.  He never says no to a beer and is always on the lookout for ladies.  When he has no place to stay, he has no problem turning on the charm (at least in his own mind) trying to find a place to crash.  His lawyer, Louie, is a mess (literally) and usually hammered but comes through for Dev when he needs him.

Home Suites Hotel, Regina, SK

I was in Regina Sunday evening 'til today.  I was helping one of my colleagues, Dorothy, conduct one-on-one meetings for one of her clients.

We stayed at the Home Suites Hotel, which isn't too far from the client's site.

Can you tell that it was really really cold?!  Windchills and everything.  Brrrr!

Here's my suite.  There is a kitchen to the left as soon as you walk in.

Book ~ "Paper Valentine" (2013) Brenna Yovanoff

From Goodreads ~ The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed,and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Hannah is a teenager who lives with her younger sister, Ariel, her mom and her stepdad.  She is creative and likes to make her own clothes.  Her best friend, Lillian, died six months ago of anorexia and she still still trying to deal with it.  That's hard because Lillian keeps coming back to hang out with her.  Hannah has a job in her cousin's print shop, which is where the police department drop off their rolls of film for developing. She has a fascination with Finny Boone, a fellow student with a bad reputation.

Girls are getting murdered in their city and parents are keeping their kids close by.  Because of her job, Hannah has access to the pictures of the murder scenes.  When the ghosts of the murdered girls start appearing to her, Hannah begins digging around to see if she can figure out who the murderer is.

This is the first book by this author that I've read and I liked it.  It is a YA book but I didn't find it read that way ... I didn't find it was too immature for me.  It is written in Hannah's voice.  The language gets mature towards the end.  I liked the characters and thought they interacted well with each other.  It's a murder mystery but also a coming of age story.

In my opinion, anyone 15+ would enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Creekside Pub & Brewery, Regina, SK

My pal, Shawna, moved back to Regina (from Toronto) in July ... this is where she is from and her family is here.

We got together tonight.  She gave me a tour of the downtown core and then we went to Creekside Pub & Brewery for supper.  It's a cute relaxing pub.

TopBox - January 2013

I got my January Topbox today.

For only $12 a month, you will receive a Topbox with 4 carefully selected, indulgent, beauty products. Then test the products in the comfort of your own home.

It comes in a round box ... it had a Clinique theme.  I got box #1.

Here's what was in it ...

FINALLY checking out his Christmas gift

Sister Sarah's cats, Sunny, Shadow and Charlie, gave Crumpet and Morgan a comfy pet bed for Christmas.

Crumpet, though, has taken a liking to it and is always sleeping in it.  Poor Morgan never gets a chance to check it out.

Just before I went to bed tonight, I noticed that Morgan had nabbed the spot!

Yay, Morgan!

Book ~ "Goodnight, Brian" (2013) Steven Manchester

 From Goodreads ~ Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino, who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, Goodnight, Brian is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.

Frank and Joan are the proud parents of Brian.  When Brian can't keep any food down, his doctor puts him on a soy-based food.  It turns out that the soy-based food is cutting corners and poisoning Brian and other babies.  As a result, his doctor determines that Brian will never walk, talk or develop mentally and emotionally.  But his grandmother, Mama, won't accept this.  Drawing her strength from her religion, she pulls her family together with the goal that one day Brian will indeed walk and talk.  This is the story of Brian's journey.

This is the second book by Steven Manchester that I've read and I enjoyed it.  The writing is well-paced and refreshingly clean (no violence or mature language).  It almost read like an autobiography to me ... Brian's story.

I liked the characters ... I could feel the bond between them all even as the situations became more serious.  Mama is a very strong character ... she means well and no one says "no" to Mama.  There's no doubt that she adores her kids and grandkids and would do anything for them.

The Fairgrieve building, Toronto, ON

When I moved to the 'hood in 2001, Fairgrieve building was being used as a garage and some artists had studios.  It was demolished to make way for more condos.

The Fairgrieve in Fairgrieve & Son was Archibald Fairgrieve. He emigrated to Toronto from Edinburgh by himself as a teenager in about 1880. The "Son" was Frederick who was born in 1885 (the start date for Fairgrieve & Son). Fred's three sons (Bruce, Donald and Douglas) all worked for the family company. Donald died in 1990 and Bruce and Douglas died in early 2010 at the ages of 92 and 87.

Fairgrieve & Son started as a metal stamping company but they made it big as manufacturers of wringer washing machines. The old Eaton's Viking wringer washers were made there. The family company was taken over in 1971 but the factory was in use until 1979.

December 2010
Alas, they didn't preserve the sign

December 2010

December 2010

Book ~ "The Big Exit" (2012) David Carnoy

From Goodreads ~ Carnoy follows his 2010 debut, Knife Music, with a thriller set in California’s Silicon Valley that has it all: a convoluted but convincing plot, a likable protagonist facing terrible odds, and a meaty supporting cast working for and against him.

While Richie Foreman served seven years in prison for vehicular manslaughter, the friend he claims was actually behind the wheel, Mark McGregor, not only achieved success as “a hotshot Internet entrepreneur” but also married Richie’s former fiancée, Beth Hill.

When Beth finds Mark’s bloody body on the floor of the garage of their pricey Menlo Park home, she and Richie become natural suspects in Mark’s murder. Evidence suggests that Richie was at least involved in the killing. While troubled lawyer Carolyn Dupuy represents Beth, and charismatic Marty Lowenstein (aka “the DNA Dude”) defends Richie, local legend Det. Sgt. Hank Madden seeks definitive proof of Richie’s guilt

This exceptionally satisfying murder puzzle should whet readers’ appetites for more..

This book opens with Richie applying for a job with the DNA Dude and his group ... they help people who are in prison long term prove that they are innocent.  Since he was recently in prison, Richie feels he can add a lot of value.  In addition, he is a Frank Sinatra impersonator at night in bars.  Then we discover that his ex-best friend, Mark, has been murdered ... this is the same ex-best friend who is the reason Richie went to prison in the first place.  And the same ex-best friend who married Richie's ex-fiancee, Beth.

Richie gets arrested on circumstantial evidence for the murder... but did he do it?  Or was Beth, who still loves Richie, behind it?  Beth's lawyer, Carolyn, was the prosecutor on the case that sent Richie to prison and is doing fertility shots in order to get pregnant.  Detective Madden, the cop who had the chance to retire but loves his job too much to quit, is determined to prove that Richie did it.  There are lots of twists and turns that I never got to figure it out whodunnit on my own.  The ending was a surprise and I was satisfied with it.

I enjoyed the writing style.  It was well-paced and kept me interested.  The language is mature but I was okay with that.  The time period jumps back and forth from the past to the present occasionally but the transition is fairly obvious.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Former site of Famous PEOPLE Players, Toronto, ON

The Famous PEOPLE Players building and the building behind it were in our 'hood (Dovercourt Road/Sudbury Street) until a few years ago.

Famous PEOPLE Players was founded in 1974 in the spirit of personal development and team achievement. It began with a theatrical black light show in Toronto that was stunning in its visual effect.

Liberace discovered Famous PEOPLE Players in 1975 and hired the troupe to open for him in Las Vegas. From 1975 to 1985, Famous PEOPLE Players toured with this entertainer, winning rave reviews that inspired the world. These achievements resulted in a CBS Emmy Award winning movie called "Special People".

Meanwhile, in Toronto, the show and the restaurant flourished, attracting groups from far and wide, international visitors, celebrity benefactors and continuing acclaim.

September 2009

September 2009
These industrial units housed businesses ran north right behind it

April 2010

April 2010

April 2010

May 2010

May 2010

May 2010

May 2010

August 2010

August 2010

January 2012

February 2012

February 2012

January 2013

January 2013

Book ~ "The Sons of Jude" (2012) Brandt Dodson

From Goodreads ~ The body of a young woman is found in a dumpster in Chicago and detectives Andy Polanski and Frank Campello are charged with finding the killer. The two are polar opposites. Polanski is the son of a disgraced Chicago police officer and is fastidious about his reputation. He has also recently been transferred from another district having blown the whistle on some corrupt cops. Campello, however, takes a live-and-let-live approach to his life and job.

It soon becomes clear, as another young woman--a potential witness--is murdered, that a sex-trafficking operation in Chicago is preying on illegal aliens. As the ill-matched pair dig deeper, an influential alderman and his son are implicated. Then Polanski is framed for a narcotics offense, devastating the cases against the corrupt officers and the alderman. Only when Campello is challenged by a local minister, whom he meets when visiting Polanski, does he find the motivation to seek justice.

St. Jude is the paton saint of lost souls and police officers ... hence the title.

When the story begins, Campello's partner has just been killed.  Polanski is being transferred to Campello's district and is assigned as his partner.  At his last district, Polanski had blown the whistle on two dirty cops.  Campello has problems with this ... he feels you should always support your "brothers" and doesn't hesitate to let Polanski know how he fees.  So you can imagine the tension between these two.

They investigate the death of a woman who was found beaten in a garbage bin.  As they start unravelling the mystery, it keeps leading them to the son of an alderman, who runs a strip club and a warehouse.  Every time they arrest him for something, he is released.

Christy Lee is a spunky reporter who doesn't want to write fluffy stories ... she wants to write meaty ones and will do whatever it takes.  She hooks up with an unwilling Campello and eventually they look for justice.

I liked the writing style.  It was well-paced.  I liked the characters.  In addition to be a devoted cop, we also get to know Campello the son ... he visits his dad who is in a home with dementia daily.  Polanski is a husband and father who just wants to do the right thing.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it! It's the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading more.

GlossyBox - December

My GlossyBox was waiting by the door when we got home yesterday.  Whoohoo!

• Stay up to date with current trends and discover new niche brands 
• Every month, GlossyBox delivers a mix of 5 exciting product samples packed in a beautiful box for you to test at home 
• Join for just $21 a month - cancel any time 
• Delivery is free!

Casino de Mont-Tremblant, Quebec

Gord and I had some time after lunch 'til we had to catch the shuttle to the airport.

There is a free gondola that takes you from the pedestrian village to the casino so we checked it out ... it takes about ten minutes each way.  You can also take a bus but we thought the gondola would be more fun ... and it was!

The view was amazing!

Here I am ... I was sooooo cold!

Here's Gord.