Book ~ "Death Wins in the Arctic: The Lost Winter Patrol of 1910" (2013) Kerry Karram

From Goodreads ~ With prospectors, trappers and whalers pouring into northwestern Canada, the North West Mounted Police were dispatched to the newest frontier to maintain patrols, protect indigenous peoples, and enforce laws in the North. In carrying out their duties, these intrepid men endured rigorous and dangerous conditions. 

 On December 21, 1910, a four-man patrol left Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, heading for Dawson City, Yukon, a distance of 670 kilometres. They never arrived. The harrowing drama of their 52-day struggle to survive is an account of courageous failure, one that will resonate strongly in its depiction of human intelligence pitted against the implacable forces of nature. 

Based on Fitzgerald's daily journal records, "Death Wins in the Arctic" tells of their tremendous courage, their willingness to face unthinkable conditions, and their dedication to fulfill the oath they took. Throughout their ordeal, issues of conservation, law enforcement, Aboriginal peoples, and sovereignty emerge, all of which are global concerns today.

In late 1910, Inspector Frances Fitzgerald was selected for the contingent to be sent to George V’s coronation. To get him out of the north in time, it was decided that he would head the annual patrol that winter from Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, to Dawson, Yukon, a distance of  about 670km/416 miles. Given the competitive spirit within the police, Fitzgerald apparently saw this trip as an opportunity to break the time record set by an earlier patrol. He therefore decided to lighten the load on his sleds by reducing food and equipment, confident that the quantities normally taken would not be needed.  It was expected that this trip would take about 30 days.

On December 21, 1910, Fitzgerald left Fort McPherson with three other constables. From the beginning, the patrol was slowed down by heavy snow and temperatures as low as −62C/-80F.  They got lost and nine days were wasted searching for their route. With supplies dwindling, they started heading back towards Fort McPherson.

Gord had finished this book last week.  He said it was interesting and that I would enjoy it ... and he was right.  I like reading true stories and this one is that of survival in the most extreme conditions.

Despite the nature of this story, I enjoyed the writing style.  Given the subject matter, it could have been a dry fact-driven book but I think the author did a good job in expressing the excitement and then the despair on the trip.  It was an excellent book and one that I would recommend.

It is the true account of their journey on three dog sleds, based on Fitzgerald's daily diary.  Every day starts with the noting of the temperature and the weather conditions.  I don't mind winter and snow but I'm not a fan of the cold ... the extreme temperatures these four men endured is mind blowing.  Some days with the windchill it went down to about -90C/-130F.  The men ended up frostbitten, their skin turning black and falling off in places.

They failed because they didn't bring along enough supplies (they assumed they would be able to kill and eat wildlife along the way) and they didn't have a guide with them.

Admitting defeat, Fitzgerald wrote in his diary on January 17 ...

"Carter [one of the constables who was confident he knew the way] is completely lost and does not know one river from another.  We have now only 10 lb of Flour and 8 lb of Bacon and some dried fish.  My last hope is gone ... "

Toronto Rock 15, New England Black Wolves 12

Gord and I are season ticket holders for the Toronto Rock lacrosse team games ... the Rock is a professional lacrosse franchise in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).  This is our third year going to the games and our second year having seasons tickets.

Going into tonight's game, they were in first place (12 - 4) and were playing the New England Black Wolves. This was the Rock's last home game.

As usual, Scotty Newlands sang the national anthems.

beautybox five - April 2015

My April beautybox five arrived today.

Beauty Box 5 is a subscription-based, beauty sampling service that delivers 5 deluxe samples and full-sized products right to your door every month.

Subscriptions are $12US a month or $99US for a year.  Shipping is free.

Here's what was in the box ...

Topbox - April 2015

My April Topbox arrived 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.

Here's what was in it ...

• Vichy Capital Soleil SPF 50 - 3ml - $1.53 value
• Essie Mini Nail Lacquer (Blossom Dandy) - 5ml - $3.70 value
• NeoStrata Skin Renewal Peel Solution 20ml - $30 value
• Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Sunscreen Lotion - 59ml - $3.27 value
• LaSplash Diamond Lipgloss (Pink Revolution) - 6ml - $8.98 - I like the colour and the feel ... and there's a slight mint scent

Total value = $47.48

Trius wine club - April 2015

I picked up our April 2015 Trius wine club box today at the post office ... they tried to deliver it Tuesday but we weren't home.

Gord and I have been members of the Trius 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 $46 a month and it's only available in Ontario.

Here's what we received this month ...

• Showcase Clean Slate Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2013 ($32.20) ~ The recipe included that pairs with it is Minestrone Soup with Chorizo and Spring Vegetables
• Trius Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($14.95) - The recipe included that pairs with it is Marinated Flank Steak with Mushroom and Herb Salad

Porzia, Toronto, ON

Gord and I were invited to the spring media launch of Porzia (at Queen W/Brock Street), which is in our 'hood.

Ipsy Glam Bag - April 2015

I received my April Ipsy Glam Bag today ... the theme was Beautifully Bohemian.

• 4 to 5 beauty products in a collectible makeup bag 
• Monthly videos showing you how to get the Look 
• Win free products in contests and giveaways

Subscriptions are $10US a month or $110US for a year.  Shipping is free in the U.S. and $4.95US per month to Canada.  It works out to $212.85CN for the year ($17.74CN a month).

Here's what was in it:

• Make-up bag
• Bonita CosmeticsBonita Salon Nail Polish (Cocktails in Aruba) - 0.5 oz - $3.99 value
• theBalm CosmeticsNUDE Dude Eyeshadow Single (Fit) - 0.035 oz - $3 value
• KloraneDry Shampoo with oat milk - natural tint - 1 oz - $5.93 value
• Hikari Cosmetics Blush (Tango) - 0.21 oz - $15 value
• Crown BrushOval Concealer Brush - 0.25 oz - $4.47 value

Total value: $32.39US (excluding the bag)

Toronto Blue Jay 2 - Tampa Bay Rays 3

Last night was the home opener for the Toronto Blue Jays.  Gord and I couldn't get tickets for it (they sold out very quickly) so we went tonight instead.

I got there early (about 6ish) because I went straight from a client's office.  I watched the Jays' batters warm up.

Here is the walk up music for the Jays' players.

Meghan Hoople sang the national anthems.

Daniel Norris was the Jays' starting pitcher ... and the game began.

Book ~ "Dirty Sweet: A Mystery" (2006) John McFetridge

From Goodreads ~ In the middle of the afternoon on a busy downtown Toronto street a man is shot in the head behind the wheel of his SUV. The killer drives away before the light changes. It could be road rage or it could be a random act of violence. 

It could be but it isn’t. What it is, is opportunity.  For everyone involved. 

The witness, Roxanne Keyes, a real estate agent trying desperately to lease out space in unwanted office space, recognizes the killer - a man who had once looked to rent with her. She figures with this kind of leverage he’ll be a lot more interested now. Except he’s Boris Suliemanov, a Russian mobster in the strip club business, who’s now busy taking out competitors and expanding into drugs and grand theft auto. 

Then there’s Vince Fournier, a cool guy with a mysterious past who might be able to help Roxanne deal with Boris if he gets what he wants. He rents space in her building for his internet porn company but he’s looking for a little more from her. And finally, the homicide squad cops can see their own opportunities in the brazen daytime murder.

Roxanne is having a coffee at Starbucks when she witnesses a murder right front of her.  Roxanne recognizes the driver of the getaway car but when the police question her, she doesn't tell them.  Instead she figures she will use it to her advantage ... Boris, the driver, had been interested in renting office space from her recently and maybe this will convince him to do it.

In the meantime, Roxanne starts dating one of her tenants, Vince, who owns an online porn company.  Together they approach Boris with a proposition which hopefully he can't refuse.

I loved that this book was set in Toronto and didn't try to hide it.  The murder took place at the Starbucks on King Street W.  Roxanne sat on the patio of the Wheat Sheaf drinking a Keith's beer (great patio and great wings).  Stolen cars were loaded onto tankers off Cherry Street, just past the former Docks entertainment centre.  Boris owned a strip club out by Pearson Airport.  Roxanne and Boris have drinks at the Drake, which is in my 'hood.  I've been to the Lion on the Beach pub (now the Stone Lion).

This is the first book I've read by this author, who lives in Toronto.  I really wanted to like it as I enjoy mysteries/suspense and I did for a while.  But I found that the writing could have been tighter and that it dragged with too many mindless conversations.  I didn't like any of the characters so didn't care what happened to them.  By the end of the book, I was bored and just wanted to finish it.  As a head's up, the language is for mature readers and there are adult situations.

I won't be rushing to read more by this author ... just not my style, I guess.

Toronto Food + Drink Market, Toronto, ON

Gord and I went to the Toronto Food + Drink Market this afternoon at the Direct Energy Centre.

We walked up and down the aisle checking out the booths.  There are lots of the booths giving out free samples of food and drinks.  If you liked what you tried, you could buy it.

Toronto Rock 14, Vancouver Stealth 7

Gord and I are season ticket holders for the Toronto Rock lacrosse team games ... the Rock is a professional lacrosse franchise in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).  This is our third year going to the games and our second year having seasons tickets.

Going into tonight's game, they were in first place (11 - 4) and were playing the Vancouver Stealth. This is the Rock's second last home game, they've lost their last two home games and Vancouver doesn't have a great record ... so we were hoping for a win.

The Rock players warmed up

As usual, Scotty Newlands sang the national anthem.

2015 Ontario Brewing Awards, Toronto, ON

Gord and I attended the 2015 Ontario Brewing Awards tonight. It was held at Corus Quay (Jarvis and Queen's Quay).

Seventy breweries had submitted their product for judging in the awards, which is up 27 from 2014.

Sample glasses

Gord and I both enjoy beer ... and there were so many brewers and beer that we'd never seen before there.  It was fun to check them out.

Book ~ "Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life" (2012) Steven D. Wolf and Lynette Padwa

From Goodreads ~ Forced into early retirement by a spinal condition, Steven Wolf reluctantly left his family and moved to Arizona for its warm winter climate.   A lifelong dog lover, the former hard-driving attorney is drawn to a local group that rescues retired racing greyhounds. 

When Comet, a once-abused cinnamon-striped racer, chooses to "adopt" Wolf, he has no idea that a life-altering relationship has begun - for both of them.  Racers, cruelly treated and exposed only to the track and cage, have no inkling of the most basic skills - walking on tile floors, climbing stairs, even playing with toys or children - so Wolf must show the mistrustful greyhound how to thrive in the real world. 

Gradually, a confident but mysterious spirit emerges from the stunning animal. And when Wolf's health starts to worsen, the tables turn and Comet must now help Wolf with the most basic skills. Wolf teaches her to be a service dog and soon enough she's hauling his wheelchair at top speed through airport terminals, towing his cart through the grocery store, helping him get out of bed and attracting friends to Wolf's isolated world. She plays a crucial role in restoring his health and even saving his marriage. Their unshakable faith in each other makes them winners once again. 

Wolfie was a lawyer in his mid-40s who was forced to retire because he had back problems.  He couldn't handle the cold winters of Nebraska so he spent them in Arizona.  He heard about a local group that had rescue greyhounds for adoption.  He is a dog lover and had two golden retrievers at home and ended up adopting a greyhound named Comet ... or was it Comet who adopted Wolfie?

As Wolfie's back problems got worse, he trained Comet to become his service dog ... helping Wolfie get out of bed and chairs, open doors, give him balance on walks, pull his shopping cart and more.   The Nebraska Humane Society honoured Comet in 2010 as "Service Dog of the Year".  At times because of his pain and medication, Wolfie was very isolated with only Comet as his companion.

I love reading stories about dogs and I enjoyed this one.  The bond between Wolfie and Comet was obvious and Comet was so smart and intuitive.  Not only is this the story of Wolfie ad Comet but I learned more about the plight of greyhounds. According to the author ...

Tens of thousands of greyhound puppies are born every year. A miniscule percentage of those dogs are bred for shows, like the Westminster Dog Show. The vast majority, estimated to be more than 20,000 puppies per year even with so many fewer dog tracks from the heydays of the 1980s through the 1990s, come into this world on breeding farms. There kennels are equipped with long-chained runs, which teach the dogs one thing - how to run fast. At about 15 to 18 months of age, these greyhounds are sent to tracks where they spend all their time in cages between races.

This is not to say that many of these dogs are not cared for, fed and given their shots on time. Indeed, many breeders will tell you unequivocally that they love their greyhounds. The conundrum, though, is that the numbers of these dogs that must be bred to satiate the racing industry’s demands necessitate greyhounds be raised and treated more like prize livestock than family pets.

Instead of being euthanized or sold for medical research as in former days, many discarded greyhounds - those who don’t make it as winners - are now finding their way to one of the three hundred groups that prepare them for adoption. Greyhounds are not raised in farm kennels in order to become cuddly, loving house companions but that’s exactly what they can be.

I liked the writing style.  I found Wolfie, Freddie (Wolfie's wife) and Comet likeable.  Comet sounded like an awesome dog (she has since passed away).