Monday, June 18, 2001
Finishing Articles in the Morning. Not a Good Idea...
I write for The Computer Paper, and I end up doing most of my articles on weekends, which is when I have long stretches of time to research and write (time I have thanks in no small part to my wife, who generally whisks my daughter away to a local park when I write). Anyways, I was doing my monthly "10 Web sites on a given topic" article, when I decided I'd had enough for the night and left the article with 7 out of 10 Web sites for this month's topic (Canadian Festivals), covered. I figured I could easily hammer out the rest in the morning. I got up around 5am, stumbled downstairs, turned on the kettle, then sat myself down in front of the computer. What I figured would take me a few minutes ended up taking most of the hour, as my brain refused to get into gear. I did get the article done, though my mind was more mushy at the end of it. It was fun looking at various Canadian festival Web sites, and someday I'd like to venture to Lunenburg to see their Folk Festival (the latter being an excuse to see Nova Scotia). Would also love to return to the Jazz Festival in Montreal someday as well. I wanted to include Toronto's Caribana in my list, but simply could not find an official Web site for them (is this it?). Odd, considering that it is such a huge event in the city.
Erika got up this morning after a rough night and with a sore throat. She requested "comfort food", so I made waffles for everybody. We didn't have much time for breakfast, as we had a 9:30 appointment at the Ontario Science Centre. As members, it turns out we get "sneak previews" of new shows before they are launched to the general public. The theme for this exhibition is on the circus, ostensibly teaching the physics of such things as tightrope walking, how our noses can distinguish the myriad of smells at a circus, how the human cannonball works, etc. There were also plenty of just-plain fun things, such as a dress-up area, prove you are a strong man by trying to bend an iron bar (I was satisfied with my "Superhero" rating). The highlight though was a show done by a U. of T. student who did a juggling/balancing/fire eating act (which is apparently paying his way through a Sciences and Astronomy program). Vanessa was impressed by the fire eating and the juggling -- especially the closing act where he juggled knives. After the show we pushed on to the rest of the Centre. Erika was beginning to feel tired around this point, so I escorted Vanessa through much of the exhibits. It was a glorious (and hot), day outside, so there were relatively few people visiting the Centre, so we had our pick of what to see and do. We had a good time, but everyone was tired (and the ladies a bit on the cranky side), by the time finished our lunch there and headed home. We headed out for dinner in the evening. Not wanting to go to the usual spots, we hopped aboard a streetcar and headed towards Neville Park on Queen Street. We tried getting an outdoor table at Peppino's (which we've never been to), but all they had left that wasn't reserved was indoors -- which was hot from the kitchen. So we left, but vowed to return, since everything looked and smelled wonderful. So, we headed up the street and went to what was once a favourite old haunt when we lived in that end of The Beach: Quigley's. We had to wait for a little bit to get a seat ojn the patio, but it was well worth it. There was a good jazz band playing inside, and I think George the owner remembered us, and he got us a decent seat. I had the roast boar with cassis, which was not at all gamey and tasted much more like steak than I would have expected (no, I don't think they pulled a fast one on me -- they often have rather exotic ingredients in their dishes -- they used to have a ham- and duck-topped pizza I like to call the "quack and oink pizza"). Unfortunately, in order to comply with the new anti-smoking by-laws, Quigley's has declared itself to be a tavern, which unlike restaurants are exempt from this rule -- which means that this'll be the last time we can bring Vanessa here with us). Me, I just wish they'd kick the smokers out, but it's not my business to run... Afterward a very pleasant dinner, we headed down the street and got an ice-cream apiece at The Real Scoop, which makes "home-made" ice-cream. Yum! Soon after, Erika felt tired and I suggested she hop on a streetcar to get home. She did, and Vanessa freaked out. It took me a little while to calm her down, all the while crying while riding on top of my shoulders. We stopped at the local bookstore in order to find a book I've been looking for (no luck), and I ended up reading a kid's story to Vanessa. Then we headed home and I put Vanessa to bed. Somedays the nicest, most pleasurable days are days like this one. Father's Day indeed!
I write for The Computer Paper, and I end up doing most of my articles on weekends, which is when I have long stretches of time to research and write (time I have thanks in no small part to my wife, who generally whisks my daughter away to a local park when I write). Anyways, I was doing my monthly "10 Web sites on a given topic" article, when I decided I'd had enough for the night and left the article with 7 out of 10 Web sites for this month's topic (Canadian Festivals), covered. I figured I could easily hammer out the rest in the morning. I got up around 5am, stumbled downstairs, turned on the kettle, then sat myself down in front of the computer. What I figured would take me a few minutes ended up taking most of the hour, as my brain refused to get into gear. I did get the article done, though my mind was more mushy at the end of it. It was fun looking at various Canadian festival Web sites, and someday I'd like to venture to Lunenburg to see their Folk Festival (the latter being an excuse to see Nova Scotia). Would also love to return to the Jazz Festival in Montreal someday as well. I wanted to include Toronto's Caribana in my list, but simply could not find an official Web site for them (is this it?). Odd, considering that it is such a huge event in the city.
Sunday, June 18 2001
Father's DayErika got up this morning after a rough night and with a sore throat. She requested "comfort food", so I made waffles for everybody. We didn't have much time for breakfast, as we had a 9:30 appointment at the Ontario Science Centre. As members, it turns out we get "sneak previews" of new shows before they are launched to the general public. The theme for this exhibition is on the circus, ostensibly teaching the physics of such things as tightrope walking, how our noses can distinguish the myriad of smells at a circus, how the human cannonball works, etc. There were also plenty of just-plain fun things, such as a dress-up area, prove you are a strong man by trying to bend an iron bar (I was satisfied with my "Superhero" rating). The highlight though was a show done by a U. of T. student who did a juggling/balancing/fire eating act (which is apparently paying his way through a Sciences and Astronomy program). Vanessa was impressed by the fire eating and the juggling -- especially the closing act where he juggled knives. After the show we pushed on to the rest of the Centre. Erika was beginning to feel tired around this point, so I escorted Vanessa through much of the exhibits. It was a glorious (and hot), day outside, so there were relatively few people visiting the Centre, so we had our pick of what to see and do. We had a good time, but everyone was tired (and the ladies a bit on the cranky side), by the time finished our lunch there and headed home. We headed out for dinner in the evening. Not wanting to go to the usual spots, we hopped aboard a streetcar and headed towards Neville Park on Queen Street. We tried getting an outdoor table at Peppino's (which we've never been to), but all they had left that wasn't reserved was indoors -- which was hot from the kitchen. So we left, but vowed to return, since everything looked and smelled wonderful. So, we headed up the street and went to what was once a favourite old haunt when we lived in that end of The Beach: Quigley's. We had to wait for a little bit to get a seat ojn the patio, but it was well worth it. There was a good jazz band playing inside, and I think George the owner remembered us, and he got us a decent seat. I had the roast boar with cassis, which was not at all gamey and tasted much more like steak than I would have expected (no, I don't think they pulled a fast one on me -- they often have rather exotic ingredients in their dishes -- they used to have a ham- and duck-topped pizza I like to call the "quack and oink pizza"). Unfortunately, in order to comply with the new anti-smoking by-laws, Quigley's has declared itself to be a tavern, which unlike restaurants are exempt from this rule -- which means that this'll be the last time we can bring Vanessa here with us). Me, I just wish they'd kick the smokers out, but it's not my business to run... Afterward a very pleasant dinner, we headed down the street and got an ice-cream apiece at The Real Scoop, which makes "home-made" ice-cream. Yum! Soon after, Erika felt tired and I suggested she hop on a streetcar to get home. She did, and Vanessa freaked out. It took me a little while to calm her down, all the while crying while riding on top of my shoulders. We stopped at the local bookstore in order to find a book I've been looking for (no luck), and I ended up reading a kid's story to Vanessa. Then we headed home and I put Vanessa to bed. Somedays the nicest, most pleasurable days are days like this one. Father's Day indeed!
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
