Dog & Bear Pub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening on the street patio at the Dog & Bear (Queen Street W/Dovercourt), which is in our 'hood.

I had a D&B Burger (two patties, tomato and DB sauce) and I swapped my fries for mashed potatoes.

Book ~ "All the Lonely People" (2020) Mike Gayle

From Goodreads ~ Hubert Bird is not alone in being alone. He just needs to realise it.

In weekly phone calls to his daughter in Australia, widower Hubert Bird paints a picture of the perfect retirement, packed with fun, friendship and fulfilment.

But Hubert Bird is lying. The truth is day after day drags by without him seeing a single soul.

Until, that is, he receives some good news - good news that in one way turns out to be the worst news ever, news that will force him out again, into a world he has long since turned his back on.

Now Hubert faces a seemingly impossible task: to make his real life resemble his fake life before the truth comes out. Along the way Hubert stumbles across a second chance at love, renews a cherished friendship and finds himself roped into an audacious community scheme that seeks to end loneliness once and for all.

Life is certainly beginning to happen to Hubert Bird. But with the origin of his earlier isolation always lurking in the shadows will he ever get to live the life he's pretended to have for so long?

Hubert is an 82-year-old widower who lives alone in England and doesn't go out much. In his weekly calls with his daughter, Rose, who lives in Australia, he has made up a wonderful active life so she doesn't worry. That works well until Rose tells him that she will be coming for a visit in six weeks ... now he has to hustle to create the life Rose thinks he has.

Hubert tries joining a seniors activity club but doesn't feel comfortable there. When Ashleigh, a friendly young single mother from Wales, moves in next door, he begrudgingly becomes her friend. Ashleigh feels there are too many lonely people in their community so convinces Hubert to help her start an initiative to get everyone together so no one is lonely.

This story is written in third person perspective usually with a focus on Hubert. The story bounces back and forth from present day to the past (the chapters are labeled), starting in 1957 when Hubert moved from Jamaica to England, hoping for a better life but encountering a lot of prejudice. Not long after he arrived, he met and fell in love with Joyce, a white co-worker. Despite her family disowning her when they discover Hubert is Black, Hubert and Joyce marry and started a family.

It's been a while since I've read a Mike Gayle book and I liked this one. There was a weird twist towards the end, though. I can see why it was there but I found it a bit farfetched and unbelievable.

Mr. Souvlaki, Etobicoke, ON

I was in Etobicoke this morning and had lunch today at Mr. Souvlaki on North Queen Street.

I ordered two chicken skewers, tzatziki, potatoes and rice (I passed on the salad so got extra rice). It's been a while since I've had Greek food and it was really good. And I have leftovers for supper!

Knitted dog sweater

I just finished knitting a dog sweater I'll be donating to ElderDog Canada, which will be sold in their online shop, used directly as needed in ElderDog activities or included in special ElderDog fundraising. It’s considered a large-sized sweater (the chest is 18 inches). 

I found the pattern at Yarnspirations.

Book ~ "Nala" (2016) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home. 

Charles first spots this beautiful collie, a frightened stray, on his way to school. It's not easy to win her trust - she's very skittish - but once she is with the Petersons she begins to learn how to love and be loved.

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, Charles, are in elementary school. Their family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles and his buddies are walking to school one morning when they see a stray collie puppy. They try to catch her and end up being late for school ... so have to go see the principal. When Charles sees her outside the school the next day, without thinking, he darts out of class to get her ... and again has to go see the principal. Charles and his dad catch the puppy, who Charles names Nala, that afternoon and take her home. She's very shy and scared but is comfortable with Charles, who is going to have a hard time giving her up to a good home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Nala's point of view. It is the forty-first in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "I Will Find You" (2023) Harlan Coben

From Goodreads ~ David and Cheryl Burroughs were living the dream life when tragedy struck. Now, five years after that terrible night, Cheryl is remarried. And David is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison for the brutal murder of their son.

Then Cheryl’s sister, Rachel, arrives unexpectedly during visiting hours and drops a bombshell. She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park with a boy in the background who has a familiar, distinctive birthmark … and even though David and Rachel realize it can’t be, they both just know. It's David’s son, Matthew, and he's still alive.

David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible - save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.

While his wife, Cheryl, who is a doctor had been at work, David had a few too many drinks and passed out. He woke up to discover their three-year-old son, Matthew, bludgeoned to death in his bed. When a witness testifies she saw David burying a bat, which turns out to be the murder weapon and has his fingerprints, David is arrested and convicted and sent to prison for life.

Five years later, after refusing to see any visitors, Cheryl's sister, Rachel, visits him in prison. She brings along a recent picture of a boy she thinks may be Matthew. Convinced she is right, David breaks out of prison and they go on a quest to find out if Matthew is indeed alive and if he is, where he is and get him back.

I've read a few books by this author and thought this one was really convoluted and farfetched ... I've enjoyed others more. It's written in first person perspective in David's voice and third person perspective depending on where the action was. The FBI agents who investigate after David has broken out of prison are ridiculous and unprofessional ... I don't know if it was supposed to be humorous but I found them annoying and don't think they would be permitted to act that way. The ending comes together quickly and wasn't hard to see it coming about halfway through the book. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Bubbles and Boo" (2017) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home.

Bubbles is a lonely Poodle puppy. Boo is an adorable bunny rabbit. When both of these pets end up at Lizzie's house for fostering, nobody expects them to become best friends. But they do and now they're inseparable! Can Lizzie find the perfect forever home so they can stay together?

Lizzie and her younger brother, Charles, are in elementary school. Their family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie has a dog walking business with three friends. One of her clients has been cancelling her dog, Bubbles' walks so Lizzie stops in to see if Bubbles is okay. Before the birth of their baby, Bubbles was the centre of the Mooneys' attention but now they are too busy. Bubbles is being neglected and has become depressed. The Mooneys ask Lizzie to foster Bubbles and find her a new home. When Lizzie takes her home, Bubbles is still depressed and nothing Lizzie does can cheer her up.  Meanwhile, Charles' class has a pet bunny named Boo who Charles brings home for the weekend. As soon as Bubbles and Boo see each other, they become best buddies and Bubbles becomes her old self again. But will whoever adopts Bubbles want to adopt Boo too?

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Bubbles' point of view. It is the forty-fourth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Bonita" (2016) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home.

Lizzie is shocked to see that Aunt Amanda has returned home from her vacation to Puerto Rico with an injured puppy. Bonita is a street dog with a hurt leg. Lizzie and her friends decide to raise the money for the puppy's operation. Will Lizzie be able to help this sweet dog?

Lizzie is in elementary school. Her family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie's Aunt Amanda has been on vacation in Puerto Rico and when she returns home, she is bringing a puppy named Bonita. Bonita is a Sato dog (one of many homeless dogs in Puerto Rico). Because her leg is so injured, Aunt Amanda couldn't leave her behind and she is fostered by the Petersons. It's going to cost a lot to have Bonita's leg fixed so Lizzie and her friends organize a fundraiser to raise the funds for the operation.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Bonita's point of view, though Bonita's thoughts are in Spanish. It is the forty-second in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Coconut Candle Company - Spring 2023

My spring Coconut Candle Company subscription box (full size) arrived this week.

Our subscription box is the best way to experience our hand poured coconut wax candles. Each themed box has a surprise selection of unique candles that we've never released before.

We have two different boxes available, the full size subscription box with over $100 worth of candles and the mini subscription box with over $80 worth of candles. The full size box also contains a gift from another local business.

Shipping is included in the price of the boxes.

Free samples at SampleSource.com - April 2023

A couple weeks ago, I had answered an emailed survey from SampleSource and a box of free goodies, coupons for free goodies and coupons arrived this week. This is the eleventh box of samples I've gotten from them over the years.

The Caledonian, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at the Caledonian (on College Street, just west of Ossington Avenue).

He had a Scotch Egg (wrapped in pork, rosemary, thyme and fennel with grainy mustard) and Aberdeenshire Finnan Haddie Cakes (panko fried North Sea haddock with potato, red onion, caper and dill with tartar sauce).

I had Classic Butter Chicken (basmati, mango chutney and poppadum). 

All were good! 

Donna, the owner, took very good care of us.

KC's tree, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

Gord and I visited KC's tree this afternoon at Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Her tree is starting to bud and it won't be long until it's full of leaves.

Cherry Blossoms, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

It's cherry blossom time in Toronto and there are various parks you can go to see them.  Cherry blossom time doesn't last long so everyone flocks to see them while they last.

The closest park to us is Trinity Bellwoods Park and Gord and I walked there this afternoon to check them out. Lots of others had the same idea as it was fairly busy there. 

Caribe Deluxe Princess, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

I spent the last week at Caribe Deluxe Princess, a resort on the beach in Punta Cana. There are two resorts on the property, the other being the Tropical Deluxe Princess. 

Book ~ "Sugar, Gummi and Lollipop" (2016) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home. 

Lizzie can't wait to get to her best friend Maria's cabin for some rest and relaxation. When they arrive, the girls discover a box of three puggle puppies waiting for them. 

Lizzie loves taking care of the sweet dogs but it is a lot of hard work. Will Lizzie be able to find these cute cuddly pups a place to live?

Lizzie is in elementary school. Her family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie is going away with her friend, Maria, and Maria's parents to their isolated cabin in the woods. When they get there, they find a box of three puggle puppies, a bag of food and note from whoever left them that they hope Maria's parents can find them homes. Lizzie and Maria have fun with the puppies but taken care of the three of them, each with their own personalities, is a lot of work. 

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Sugar, Gummi and Lollipop's points of view. It is the fortieth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away" (2022) Annie Duke

From Goodreads ~ Business leaders, with millions of dollars down the drain, struggle to abandon a new app or product that just isn't working. Governments, caught in a hopeless conflict, believe that the next tactic will finally be the one that wins the war. And in our own lives, we persist in relationships or careers that no longer serve us. 

Why? According to Annie Duke, in the face of tough decisions, we're terrible quitters. And that is significantly holding us back.

In "Quit", Duke teaches you how to get good at quitting. Drawing on stories from elite athletes like Mount Everest climbers, founders of leading companies like Stewart Butterfield, the CEO of Slack, and top entertainers like Dave Chappelle, Duke explains why quitting is integral to success, as well as strategies for determining when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em, that will save you time, energy, and money. You'll learn:

• How the paradox of quitting influences decision making: If you quit on time, you will feel you quit early 
• What forces work against good quitting behavior, such as escalation commitment, desire for certainty, and status quo bias
• How to think in expected value in order to make better decisions, as well as other best practices, such as increasing flexibility in goal-setting, establishing "quitting contracts," anticipating optionality, and conducting premortems and backcasts 
• Whether you're facing a make-or-break business decision or life-altering personal choice, mastering the skill of quitting will help you make the best next move.

This sounded like an interesting book and topic and it was. We probably all keep doing things we don't want to do or we've lost our passion for but we are too far into it quit or we worry about what people will think. This book lets you know that it's okay to quit.

The topics/chapters include:

1. Why quitting is our best tool for making decisions under uncertainty
2. Why, when you quit on time, it usually feels like you quit too early
3. The science of quitting - grit vs quit
4. Escalation of commitment - we respond to bad news by increasing our commitment to a losing course of action
5. Why "sunk costs" make it hard to walk away
6. Strategies to improve decisions about when to quit
7. How ownership of things and ideas make it difficult to change course
8. How our identity becomes an impediment to quitting and cause us to escalate commitment to disastrous choice
9. Strategy for mitigating biases that make walking away so hard including getting a quitting coach
10. Lessons we learn when we're forced to quit
11. The downside of goals

I liked the writing style and it's obvious the author has done a lot of research (you can see for yourself at the back of the book). There are lots of  examples including Sears, Mohammad Ali, mountaineer Rob Hall who passed away on Mount Everest, and more ... how they should have quit but didn't and the repercussions. It was an interesting book and I'm going to try to some of the principles like having a kill criteria, being aware of sunk costs, and more.