Bushwakker Brewpub, Regina, SK

My pal, Shawna, and I had supper this evening at Bushwakker Brewpub.

They brew their own beer ... my Northern Lights lager was good!

There was a chicken wings/pint special for $16.95 and that's what I got.  My wings were lemon pepper and were good.  I like that they were just deep-fried and had no batter.

Boccone Trattoria Veloce, Mississauga, ON

I flew to Regina this morning and had lunch at Boccone Trattoria Veloce, my go-to restaurant at the airport, before my flight.

I ordered what I usually order there ... a Calabrese pizza without the chilli flakes.  I love love love pizza and they make a good pizza.

Book ~ "The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding" (2018) Jennifer Robson

From Goodreads ~ London, 1947: Besieged by the harshest winter in living memory, burdened by onerous shortages and rationing, the people of postwar Britain are enduring lives of quiet desperation despite their nation’s recent victory. Among them are Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell. Together they forge an unlikely friendship but their nascent hopes for a brighter future are tested when they are chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime honor: taking part in the creation of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown.

Toronto, 2016: More than half a century later, Heather Mackenzie seeks to unravel the mystery of a set of embroidered flowers, a legacy from her late grandmother. How did her beloved Nan, a woman who never spoke of her old life in Britain, come to possess the priceless embroideries that so closely resemble the motifs on the stunning gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding almost seventy years before? And what was her Nan’s connection to the celebrated textile artist and holocaust survivor Miriam Dassin?

With "The Gown", Jennifer Robson takes us inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created. Balancing behind-the-scenes details with a sweeping portrait of a society left reeling by the calamitous costs of victory, she introduces readers to three unforgettable heroines, their points of view alternating and intersecting throughout its pages, whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love. 

In London in the winter of 1947, the war is over but residents are still rationing and goods are scarce.  Ann has been working as an embroiderer at the fashion house of Norman Hartnell.  She is sharing a council house with her sister-in-law, Milly.  Miriam is from France and lost her family in the holocaust.  Looking for a new start, she moves to London and gets a job as an embroiderer, working with Ann.  When Milly moves to Canada to be with family, Miriam becomes her roommate.

Norman Hartnell is the official dressmaker to the Royal Family and it's quite exciting when he is assigned the task of designing and creating Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress along with her bridesmaids.  As senior embroiderers, Ann and Miriam are part of the project.  Everyone wants to know the details of the dresses and the employees of Norman Hartnell are soon being hounded by reporters.

Seventy years later in Toronto, Heather's grandmother, Ann, passes away.  As they are going through her things, a box has Heather's name on it and inside is a sample for Princess Elizabeth's wedding gown.  That's when they realize that Ann must have worked on the dress, which is a surprise to them.  Heather travels to London to see what she can learn about her grandmother's past.

Though it is about the making of Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress, the real story in this book is Ann and Miriam and their lives.  The book is written in third person perspective with a focus on Ann, Miriam and Heather (their chapters are labeled with their names).  As a head's up, there is a violent scene towards the end.

There was an interesting mix of fictional characters (like Ann and Miriam) and real people (like Norman Hartnell and Christian Dior) interacting with each other.  And it was interesting to read about what life was like in the late 1940s after the war as London tried to recover.

I found it odd that Heather and her mother (Ann's only child) knew nothing about Ann's past before she moved to Canada.  And the mother mentions a couple times that she never thought to ask.  Really?!  I also thought it was strange that as close as Ann and Miriam were (not just colleagues but also friends and roommates) that they didn't keep in touch when Ann moved to Canada.  Milly was able to send Ann packages but Ann and Miriam couldn't send each other letters?

Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

I was at a cat shelter building workshop today organized by Toronto Street Cats.  The workshops were held every two weeks throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society ... today was the last one of the season.  I've been going since November ... it's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter. 

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR). 

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

Since the January 9th workshop, Toronto Street Cats was able to sell over 160 shelters (yay!) and were down to 50 in stock.

My friend, Darlene, is a team lead and had her comfy shoes on ...

Here were the bins which would soon be made into the cat shelters.

Monga Fried Chicken, Toronto, ON

I had a late lunch today  at Monga Fried Chicken (on Yonge Street, north of Isabella Street).

I got a fried chicken combo ($14.99) ... it was a chicken breast, fries and a pop.  There was no sauce ... just pepper and salt on the chicken.  I found it was a bit much and if I go back, I'd get it without the pepper and salt.  The chicken was juicy and tender and at first boneless ... but it was weird to run bones just after halfway.  I don't know why they batter chickenless bones ... I would rather just be served a boneless chicken breast.

The chicken was moist and juicy

SinglesSwag - February 2019

My February SinglesSwag box arrived today.

Every month, enjoy full-sized, hand-selected products exclusively for fun and fabulous single women. 

• Organic beauty fun
• Trending fashion accessories
• Delicious snacks and treats
• Best selling books
• Other surprises

You can get the SinglesSwag (receive 6-7 full-sized products every month for $224.99US for six months) or the SinglesSwag Petite (receive 3-4 full-sized products every month for $139.99US for six months) ... I ordered the SinglesSwag.  Shipping is free in the U.S. but there is a shipping cost for them to send it outside the U.S.  The link I went through gave me a discount and it ended up costing me $261.50CN for six months ($43.58CN per month)..

Here's what I received ...

Miller Tavern, North York, ON

I had an early lunch today at Miller Tavern (on Yonge Street, south of York Mills).

There is a picture as you come in the door commemorating its history.

Originally known as the York Mills Hotel, the Miller Tavern dates back to the 1860’s. Used as a resting spot for horses and carriages on their journey through Hogg’s Hollow, the York Mills Hotel played host to many weary travellers looking to relax over a pint or two. After changing hands throughout the years and renamed The Jolly Miller (after the ‘happy’ owner of the local Mill), this site has been known through the ages for its checkered past – from gambling raids to late night parties – everyone has a fond story about the “Jolly Miller”.

Fragile!

Book ~ "Thrive in Retirement: Simple Secrets for Being Happy for the Rest of Your Life" (2019) Eric Thurman

From Goodreads ~ Never before in human history have so many people lived for decades beyond their working years. 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day and their average life expectancy is another 20 years - and many will live longer. But will they just live or have a meaningful life? 

The truth is that many - if not most - people approaching the latter years do not have a plan, much less a strategy to thrive instead of just survive.

Packed with information based on research as well as common-sense wisdom, here are some examples of what readers will discover: 

• How retiring at the wrong time increases the likelihood of dying 89%
• What can delay Alzheimer's onset an average of 9 years
• How everything that makes you happy comes in just 3 forms
• Which partner is most likely to initiate divorce after decades of marriage and why

I work in the retirement industry so when I come across books about retirement and planning for retirement, I'm usually interested in reading them.

The author is in his early seventies and in the third and final season of his life (ie retirement) after working for international charities as CEO, so it's obvious he has a big heart.  The other two "primary seasons", by the way, are childhood and adulthood.  He doesn't claim to be a professional ... he's just offering advice as a friend.

This book doesn't cover anything financial ... retirement plans, government plans, investing, etc.  The goal is to show you how to be happy in retirement since for most of us, it is a big change in our lives.

The chapters include:

1. A surprising new stage of life
2. Life's five vital parts - mind, body, relationships, soul and finances
3. Three secrets of happiness - purpose, pleasure and peace
4. The best secret
5. Set your mind free
6. Strengthen your mind
7. More than looking good
8. The best ending possible
9. Never be lonely
10. The mystery and power of soul - the importance of religion
11. Make peace with money
12. Live happily ever after

There are appendices to help organize you to clarify your final personal wishes and leave good memories for the people you love.

For the most part, I liked this book.  There were lots of interesting stats, inspiring quotes, websites to check out and stories about real people who did amazing things when they were older.  What I wasn't into was the religious parts.  I'm sure many find comfort and have an interest in this information but I skipped over chapter 10 and most references to God, etc. that were throughout the book (it started about a quarter of the way into the book).  It's fine that the author is into religion but that part wasn't for me.

Pepper's Café, Toronto, ON

I had lunch today at Pepper's Café (Wallace Avenue/Lansdowne Avenue).

It's not a fancy place and the prices are very reasonable.  I ordered a burger with bacon (but no lettuce or onions) and fries.  It was a really good burger.  It seemed like it was "homemade" and was flavourful and hot.  I've had it there before and I'd get it again.  The fries were good too.

Tyler was my server and he was super friendly.

Book ~ "And Then You're Dead: What Really Happens If You Get Swallowed by a Whale, Are Shot from a Cannon, or Go Barreling Over Niagara" (2017) Cody Cassidy and Paul Doherty

From Goodreads ~ A gleefully gruesome look at the actual science behind the most outlandish, cartoonish and impossible deaths you can imagine. 

What would happen if you took a swim outside a deep-sea submarine wearing only a swimsuit? How long could you last if you stood on the surface of the sun? How far could you actually get in digging a hole to China? Paul Doherty, senior staff scientist at San Francisco's famed Exploratorium Museum, and writer Cody Cassidy explore the real science behind these and other fantastical scenarios, offering insights into physics, astronomy, anatomy, and more along the way.

Is slipping on a banana peel really as hazardous to your health as the cartoons imply? Answer: Yes. Banana peels ooze a gel that turns out to be extremely slippery. Your foot and body weight provide the pressure. The gel provides the humor (and resulting head trauma). 

Can you die by shaking someone s hand? Answer: Yes. That's because, due to atomic repulsion, you've never actually touched another person s hand. If you could, the results would be as disastrous as a medium-sized hydrogen bomb. 

If you were Cookie Monster, just how many cookies could you actually eat in one sitting? Answer: Most stomachs can hold up to sixty cookies or around four liters. If you eat or drink more than that, you re approaching the point at which the cookies would break through the lesser curvature of your stomach, and then you d better call an ambulance to Sesame Street." 

I came across this book and it sounded interesting and wacky ... and it was.  The range of subjects was all over the place.

I liked the writing style.  It was technical yet amusing.  The chapters are short and chunky.

What would happen if you were in a plane and the window popped out?  First of all, you don't want to be in the window seat because you are going to get sucked out (thus benefiting the others sitting next to you because you are going to plug up the hole because the window isn't big enough for your whole body to get out).  You're going to notice that it's very windy and cold out (your nose will become frostbitten in seconds).  Because of the change in the air pressure, you would keep breathing like everything was fine but you'd pass out after 15 seconds ... then be brain dead in four minutes.  I usually request a window seat when I fly ... hmmmm, maybe not anymore.

What would happen if you are about being attacked by a swarm of bees?  A fella named Michael Smith tested on himself to see what were the least painful spots to get stung (he discovered it's your skull, your middle toe and your upper arm) and the most painful spots to get stung (he discovered it's your face, penis and inside of your nose).  Ouch!

What if your elevator cable broke?  Contrary to popular belief, jumping up isn't going to save you (you'll still land and cause an organ pile-up).  You have a better chance of surviving if you lay flat out on your back.  Good to know!

Book ~ "The Simple Wild" (2018) K.A. Tucker

From Goodreads ~ Calla Fletcher wasn't even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when Calla learns that Wren’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.

She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional - dear God - outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this rugged environment, Jonah - the unkempt, obnoxious and proud Alaskan pilot who helps keep her father’s charter plane company operational - can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.

Jonah is probably right but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. Soon she finds herself forming an unexpected bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship - or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried - and failed at - years ago. It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.

Almost 30 years ago, Susan and Wren met in a bar in Vancouver ... she was from Toronto on vacation and he was a pilot in a remote area of Bangor, Alaska.  They fell in love, got pregnant and married and Susan moved to Bangor to be with Wren.  A couple years later, she headed home to Toronto with their daughter, Calla ... Susan had had enough of the remoteness and being left alone so much.  She hoped Wren would follow her and he hoped she would come back.  Neither happened.

Twenty-four years later, Calla is now 26 years-old and still living in Toronto.  Susan is married to Simon, a well-to-do psychiatrist.  Calla lives rent-free with Susan and Simon and her only chore is to take out the garbage once a week.  Yes, she is spoiled.  Calla was working for a bank and got laid off.  That night she gets a call from Agnes, her father's friend, who tells her Wren has cancer and is about to start treatment ... it would be nice if Calla could come visit him.  So Calla heads to Alaska for a week.

After a few connections, Jonah, one of Wren's pilots, picks her up for the final leg of the journey but the plane is too small for all her luggage so she is only able to take what she needs and the rest will follow on a larger plane shortly.  Unfortunately, her suitcases get lost and don't arrive as promised so she has to make do with what she had hastily jammed into a duffel bag.

When she arrives, she discovers Bangor is a lot different than Toronto.  There are only two grocery stores, things are a lot more expensive and scarce like soy milk for her coffees and Bangor is "dry" (no alcohol is sold).  Jonah continually gives her a hard time because she refuses to go out without make-up and seems to be a bit of a "Barbie".

At first, being with her father is tense because they haven't had a lot of contact over the years.  But things get better as Calla and Wren get to know each other and even things with Jonah become less hostile.

I've read lots of books by this author.  For the most part, I liked this story and the writing style.  It's written in third person perspective with Calla being the focus.  As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Calla is a typical 26-year-old living in the big city ... concerned about her appearance and into social media.  Yes, Jonah was a bit mean (though honest) at times with her but he was used to being in the wilds of Alaska where there were more important things to worry about.  I found Wren a bit dull.  Yes, he was battling cancer so had other things on his mind but I thought the reason he neglected Calla over the years was pretty lame and he didn't seem overly excited that she had come all that way to see him.  I found it a bit hard to believe that after all these years Susan and Wren still carried a torch for each other and Simon was a bit of a doormat for putting up with being #2 even though he was Susan's current husband.  Calla seemed to care more about him and his feelings than his wife did.  I didn't find Susan likable at all.

Toronto Rock 16, Saskatchewan Rush 13, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

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 sixth year going to the games and our fifth year having seasons tickets.

The theme was Country Night and KX Country was giving out prizes.  Gord is a big country fan ... he spun the wheel and won a pin.

The Rock were hosting the Saskatchewan Rush ... the Rush were last year's league champions.  The Rock are in first place in the eastern division.

The Silverthorn Collegiate Choir sang O Canada.

King Taps, Toronto, ON

Before the Toronto Rock game this evening, Gord and I had supper at King Taps on King Street W, just west of Bay Street, in First Canadian Place.

The place was jammed but Gord managed to get a table for us on the second floor.