The tower

It's been my habit to spend the last couple hours at the top of the tower.

It's a place to relax.

The view of Lake Simcoe is nice (our lodge is down the road a bit to the right).

I curl up on the window seat with a book and read or nap.

It's very quiet and peaceful there.

Then I met up with everyone for lunch before heading for home.

The Briars, Jackson's Point, ON

The Season Sisters went on our annual weekend away at the Briars (about an hour north of Toronto) from Friday evening 'til Sunday morning. Monica was my roommate again (for the fifth year in a row).

Saturday night we went to the main building for supper. I had beef tenderloin which was good.

Lynn, Janice and Elaine

Monica and Yvette

Yvonne and Jen

Tiana, Maggie, Rosa and Jen

Kate, Sue and Angie

Me and Michelle

Angie and Maggie

On Saturday nights, a DJ takes over the dining room. He plays an interesting mix of tunes and is open to requests.

There weren't many others besides us in the dining room so we kinda took over the dancefloor.

Sue, Kate, Janice, me, Monica and Michelle

Sue, Kate, Janice, me, Monica and Michelle

Breakdancing!

Linedancing!

Lynn and Maggie

Kate, Michelle, Jen and Lynn

Tiana and Michell

Sisters Yvette and Michelle

Dancing queens Kate and Sue

Sue, Monica and I

Because the dining room was so quiet, they sent the DJ home early. But he played one last request for us ... Trooper's Raise a Little Hell and everyone left was up on the dancing floor!

Breakfast and the gym

The lodge we are staying in is about a ten minute walk to the main buildings.

To get there, you can follow the road. Or take the path that goes along the golf course (sometimes you see bunnies) ...

Then through the woods ...

And you're there!

I had some breakfast and ran into some of our crowd and then went to the gym. It's small but has the basics. I used the elliptical and treadmill.

Then I walked back to our lodge.

Too bad it's raining :(

Annual Girls' Weekend Away

It's time for my annual weekend away with the Girls Night Out Club. This is the seventh year Angie has organized it and the fifth year in a row I've gone.

There are sixteen of us and we have two lodges at the resort. My pal and former neighbour, Monica, is my roommate again.

Like Simcoe is right outside our door. Still a bit too cold to go swimming!

We had a couple drinks at the pub before supper while waiting for everyone.

Pat, Teena, Angie and Monica

They give us the same section of the dining room every year.

Michelle, Kate, Maggie and Yvette

Janice, Teena, Monica and Pat

Jen, Jen, Angie and Janice

Yvonne, Elaine, Rosa and Sue

The tubs are huge ... and that's where I headed when we got back to our lodge. Cucumber melon bubble bath and I finished my book.

Book ~ "Big City, Bad Blood" (2008) - Sean Chercover

From Amazon.com ~ Real-life Chicago PI Chercover, in his impressive hard-boiled debut, introduces Ray Dudgeon, a former Chicago reporter disillusioned with the newspaper business who has turned private detective. When Bob Loniski, a locations manager for Hollywood films, hires Dudgeon for protection after running afoul of a mid-level gangster, Dudgeon finds himself in the middle of an organized crime war. A number of forces hamper Dudgeon's efforts to keep his client alive, even as his probing reveals that Loniski may have witnessed a prominent local politician keeping unsavory company and that the violence may be connected to a broader conspiracy. Like many a classic PI, Dudgeon behaves according to his own subjective code. The author's considerable storytelling and characterization gifts compare favorably with those of Loren D. Estleman and other established masters of the crime genre.

I discovered this book in an newspaper article announcing the International Thriller Writers Association nominees. And the fact that Sean is originally from Toronto added to the appeal.

I really enjoyed this book. Sean has a fun sarcastic writing style which I like. And I liked the characters, Joe and the friends with whom he surrounds himself.

This book definitely deserves its Best First Novel nomination.

I look forward to seeing more adventures of Joe Dudgeon!

Good-bye Jasmine, Grant and Nova

Our neighbours, Jasmine, Grant and Nova, are moving to Halifax. Jasmine is originally from there and their intent was to eventually move back.

Grant got a job there and starts on Monday.

They are driving down and left early this morning. They'll be there sometime late tomorrow (with an overnight in New Brunswick).

Jasmine, Nova and Grant

The movers just left with their stuff (his mom supervised it).

They were fabulous neighbours and we'll miss them!

Internet Marketing Seminar

I spent the day at an Internet Marketing Seminar. It was free so, to be honest, I wasn't expecting much.

But I was pleasantly surprised. I learned a lot!

It was presented by Training Business Pros and led by Paul Tobey.

Some of the things we learned about included:

* Search engine optimization
* Key word density
* The importance of the title and headline
* Link popularity
* Writing emails

If you get an opportunity to attend one of these seminars, you should!

Déjà vu?

As soon as Byron saw me walking out of the bedroom this morning, he sauntered in.

I knew what he was up to!

He was claiming his spot for the day to ensure there will be no repeat of yesterday!

And KC is still snoozing.

And I didn't have a chance to make the bed.

Where's Byron?

When KC and I got home from our walk, Byron was in his spot.

I was finally able to make the bed before we headed out.

Walk at the beach

Since it is such a nice day, KC and I went to Sunnyside Beach (a 10 minute drive) for a walk this afternoon. I love being down by the water!

We parked near Sunnyside Pavillion and headed west. It was quite busy with joggers, bikers, bladers, walkers and dogs.

KC likes it because there's lots to sniff!

We walked just passed Humber Bridge and then headed back to the Pavillion.

It was 16C ... but chillier by the water. I imagine it was even chillier on the water!

Did he move all day?

I left this morning at 10:30 and Byron and Morgan were in bed.

I just got home (six hours later) and Byron is still in bed! In the same spot, though he has turned around again.

Changing places

KC finally got up and we went for a walk.

While we were gone, Byron turned around and Morgan took KC's place.

And the bed's still not made!

Lazy kids

I've been up for almost two hours.

KC and I start our day with a walk.

But she's still in bed!

The interesting thing to note is that KC is in Byron's spot ... that's where he spents most of the day (I haven't been able to make the bed yet).

But if I'm in his spot and he wants it (cuz he feels I've slept in long enough), he lets me know by pushing me with his head or nipping at my fingers.

Spring has arrived

I finally believe that spring is here.

We had fabulous weather all weekend ... sunny and double digits. Whoohoo!

After I got home from the movies last night, I shovelled the remaining snow from our terrace. I wanted it gone gone gone and it wasn't melting fast enough.

Then I swept the remainder of the leaves that had fallen late in the fall (there is a maple tree in front of our terrace).

And see how nice our terrace looks now!

Remember Gord had to dig a path to the BBQ two weeks ago?

BBQing wasn't possible a month ago!

Lazy boys

While KC and I were out on our walk, the boys were doing what kitties do best ... sleeping!

Sunday stroll

Another gorgeous day (sunny and 7C) so KC and I went for a two hour walk.

To give KC some different things to sniff (cuz she loves to sniff!), we went north on Dovercourt, east along Dundas W and then entered Trinity Bellwoods Park from the north end.

Is that our neighbours, Bailey and his mom, down the hill?

Yep! So we went hung out with them in the doggy area for a while.

There were lots of dogs playing and running around.

KC doesn't frolic with other dogs but Bailey does. Then he needed a big drink!

KC and I carried on through the Park before heading for home.