The Auld Spot Pub, Toronto, ON

After we left the Cornerstone Pub, we headed for home again ... and came across the Auld Spot.

It's only been opened 2.5 months (there's another one on the Danforth) so we stopped in.

It is a former shoe store (I can remember old lady shoes) and they've remade it into something cool.

We sat at the bar. The bartenders were really friendly.


We looked at the menu and they had interesting things we'd like to check out some time.

We liked it there (good vibe) and we'll definitely be back.

Here's me when we left, bundled up for the cold.

Cornerstone Pub, Toronto, ON

After Gord and I left Sneaky Dee's, we started walking towards home.

We came across the Cornerstone Pub. It opened in 2008 but we've never noticed it. So we checked it out.

It's a cute spot and apparently there are bands on Saturday.

I'd stop in again if I was in the 'hood.

Here's Gord as we were leaving ...

Sneaky Dee's, Toronto, ON

Today is Johnny Cash's birthday.

And what better place to celebrate than at a place that has a Johnny Cash booth ... Sneaky Dee's!

Gord and I met some friends there to raise a glass to Johnny.

Here's me, Jen, Roz, Darlene, Karen and Gord ...

Jack Astor's Bar & Grill, Toronto, ON (John/Richmond)

My good pal, Leanne, is in town. We worked together here in Toronto until she moved in 1997. She lives in Burnaby and I haven't seen her since July 2005. ... way too long! She recently got a new job and was in town for a week of training.

Gord and I met her for supper at Jack Astor's at John/Richmond W.

Leanne had Pad Thai with Shrimp (Thailand's most famous rice noodles with bean sprouts,
fried egg, green onions and a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. Topped with green onions, red peppers and crushed peanuts).


Gord had Chicken Stir Fry (stir-fried slices of fresh chicken breast, peppers, onions, zucchini and carrots. Served with jasmine rice and topped with bean sprouts, green onions, red peppers and crushed peanuts).


I had Thai Chicken Coconut Curry (an authentic recipe – slices of fresh chicken breast, sautéed with pineapple and tomatoes in a spicy Thai red curry and peanut sauce. Served with jasmine rice). Yum!


Here's Gord and Leanne ...


Here's Gord, Leanne and I ...


Here's Gord and I ...


Here's me and Leanne ...


Here's me and Leanne as we were leaving ... it's been snowing all day.


It was great to see Leanne and I hope to head out her way in the next couple months.

Book ~ "How the World Makes Love ... And What It Taught a Jilted Groom" (2010) Franz Wisner

From Amazon ~ After he was ditched at the altar, the author decided to take his honeymoon anyway (hey, it was already paid for). He enlisted his brother, Kurt, to accompany him and then he wrote a book (Honeymoon with My Brother) about the experience. Now he’s written a follow-up in which he and his brother visit various foreign countries - including Brazil, Egypt, India, and Botswana - and talk to people about love, romance, sex and other related subjects. The book is all at once a travelogue, an exploration of the notion of love, and a story about a man who has somehow managed to turn a humiliating personal experience into a new kind of life. Wisner is a very funny writer when the situation calls for it, but he can also be tender, thoughtful, and wise. A must-read for fans of Honeymoon with My Brother but the book works just fine as a stand-alone, too.

A couple years ago, our street had a book club and one of the books we read was Honeymoon with My Brother. The author joined us during our book club via a conference call which was cool (he enjoys doing book clubs).

In his latest book, he explores what love is around the world while he himself is falling in love with Tracy (who eventually becomes his wife).

It was interesting to read about what people in other countries look for in relationships, the process in getting together, who cheats, etc.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We'd been getting reports since last week that we'd be getting a storm today.

Hard to believe considering how warm and sunny it was yesterday.

But the snow started about 2pm. We were on our way to breaking records of since we've had very little snow this winter. I was okay with no snow.

Here's at about 4pm ...

Then looking out the window a little while later ...

We are supposed to get about five inches ... it should be interesting to see how much we do get.

High Park Zoo, Toronto, ON

There is a small (free!) zoo in High Park so KC and I checked it out.

The practice of keeping animals in the Park originated in 1893, with the keeping of deer.

High Park, Toronto, ON

I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the stationery bike ("Kilimanjaro" mode).

I wasn't in the mood to be there because it was so nice out ... sunny and warm (3C).

KC didn't feel like being cooped up either and was up for an adventure!

Gord had a fencing tournament and had the car so KC and I took the Queen streetcar ...

... to High Park (about a 10 minute ride).

It was a gorgeous day to be there! There were lots of people walking around with their dogs.

Grenadier Pond was frozen ...

Despite the warning signs ...

... and sloppy wet edges ...

... lots of people were skating, playing hockey or walking on the Pond.
So KC and I checked it out too.

This guy was getting ready to do some ice fishing.

Sitting in the sun, overlooking the Pond ... what a nice spot for a snooze!

We followed one of the main trails north ...

There were some birds waiting to be fed ...

The trails going into the woods were wet and mucky at times.


Hard to believe that at the top of this hill is one of Toronto's busiest streets (Bloor W)!

KC and I were in the Park for about 2.5 hours and had a great walk!