Dog & Bear Pub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had lunch at the Dog & Bear on Queen Street W (at Dovercourt). 

Gord ordered a D&B burger and salad.

I ordered chicken tenders with honey garlic sauce on the side.

Float Toronto, Toronto, ON

Gord and I went for hour floats today at Float Toronto (on Queen Street W at Gladstone). We find floats very relaxing.

Also known as Floatation Therapy, REST Therapy (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) or Sensory Deprivation, floating involves lying in a salt-water solution in a specially designed tank (often referred to as a float tank, sensory deprivation tank, or isolation tank). Your experience in a floatation tank is about everything you won’t be doing. You won’t be fighting gravity. The 850 pounds of Epsom salt in the water takes care of that while you lie on your back. The water is kept at a skin receptor neutral temperature which means that you lose track of where your body ends and the water begins. Your ears stay just below the water, and the tanks are insulated against sound – noise from the outside is unable to reach you. After you shut the door to the tank, you float in total darkness. 

During your float the outside world is gone and amazing things happen. It turns out that when you’re not fighting gravity or constantly taking in information your body has a lot of extra resources at its disposal. Your mind is free to navigate without distraction, your brain pumps out dopamine and endorphins, and your body gets to rest, de-stress and heal. It’s likely to be the most relaxing thing you’ve ever experienced.

The tank is high enough for me to stand up, wide enough for me to stretch my arms out and my fingers just touch the side and a lot longer then me.  Today I left the meditative music on and the light off so was in total blackness.

Jordan Hat

I just finished knitting a Jordan Hat (I adapted a baby's hat to an adult's). It’s the first time I made it and it was fun and easy. The colour is arctic. 

Cast on 96 stitches on a 5mm circular needle or a set of 5mm double pointed needles.

Band

Knit 10 rows garter stitch

Body

• Row 11: Knit to end 
• Row 12: Knit to end
• Row 13: *p4, k4* repeat
• Row 14: Knit to end 
• Row 15: *p4, k4* repeat 
• Row 16: Knit to end
• Row 17: *p4, k4* repeat
• Row 18: Knit to end
• Row 19: Knit to end
• Row 20: Knit to end
• Row 21: *k4, p4 repeat 
• Row 22: Knit to end 
• Row 23: *k4, p4 repeat 
• Row 24: Knit to end
• Row 25: *k4, p4 repeat 
• Row 26: Knit to end 
• Repeat these 16 rows

Shape Crown

Change to double pointed needles when work becomes tight. Divide the hat into 8 segments as follows. Next Round. K 11 (12, 13), place marker. Repeat to end of round. Decrease Round 1. Purl. Decrease Round 2. Knit until 2 stitches remain before marker, K2tog. Repeat to end of round (8 stitches decreased). Repeat these two rounds until 1 stitch remains in each segment (8 stitches). Purl 1 round. Break yarn, thread through remaining loops, pull tight, and secure ends.

Book ~ "Murphy's Logic: Insights from 45 Years in the News Business" (2023) Steve Murphy

From Goodreads ~ Former anchor of CTV News at Six Steve Murphy offers lessons learned and opinions garnered on the changing face of the news industry over his forty-five-year career in this candid memoir. 

After a lifetime of reporting news and showcasing the opinions of others, Steve Murphy is finally ready to express his own opinions about the things he's done and the people he's met along the way. "Murphy's Logic" delves without reservation into Murphy's informal education in broadcasting, beginning as a sixteen-year-old kid who "just wanted to be on the radio." Mixing memoir and commentary, Murphy writes about his adventures covering significant regional, national, and international events and offers unique insight into the more than five thousand interviews he has conducted over his forty-five-year career - with five prime ministers, thirty-five premiers and numerous historic figures and celebrities.

Both candid and brutally honest, "Murphy's Logic" examines, for the first time, two high-profile occasions during which Murphy unintentionally - and uncomfortably - became part of the stories he was covering. He offers pointed views on how the proliferation of social media has dramatically affected the news industry, and challenges readers to think critically about the media they consume.

Steve Murphy is a former anchor of CTV News out of Halifax, NS, and he retired at the end of 2021. The book starts with him telling us how it all began ... working at a radio station in Saint John, NB, when he was still in high school. He knew it was what he wanted to do and was able to advance throughout his career with no formal education by working hard and being in the right place at the right time.

I moved from Nova Scotia in the spring of 1987 so many things and people he talked about brought back memories (I graduated from high school with one of his former colleagues). As a newsman, he has many stories, not surprising that the majority are political ... I'm not political at all and am not really up on the politics of the Maritime Provinces so found these less interesting. It was interesting, though, to read about the behind-the-scenes of how radio and TV stations work.

Twisted Hat

I just finished knitting another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove. The colours are raspberry and leaf green.

I found the pattern here.

Directions are for size small; changes for size large are in parentheses.

Hat circumference at bottom edge: 16 (18)" [41 (46)cm]; Hat stretches to fit 20 (22)” [51 (56)cm]

I used 4.5mm [US 7] and 5.5mm [US 9] needles and 4 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles.

With smaller needles, cast on 90 (102) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Round: 

[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round until piece measures 1½" [4cm] from beginning.

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 90 (102) sts.
Repeat round 2 until piece measures 8 (8½)" [20 (22) cm] from beginning.

Shape Crown

• Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 75 (85) sts.
• Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 75 (85) sts.
• Decrease round 2: *K1, yo, [k2tog] twice; repeat from * around – 60 (68) sts
• Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] around – 60 (68) sts.
• Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 45 (51) sts.
• Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] around – 30 (34) sts.
• Decrease round 5: [K2tog] around – 15 (17) sts.
• Decrease round 6: [K2tog, k1] 5 times, k2tog 0 (1) time – 10 (11) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

p = purl

St st = Stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

yo = yarn over

Martin Goodman Trail, Toronto, ON

It's a sunny day with temperatures above normal (43F/6C but left like 37F/3C) so I drove to Budapest Park and parked and went for a walk along the Martin Goodman Trail.

The boardwalk at Sunnyside Beach is getting renovated so I walked along the water's edge in the sand to get around it.

Twisted Hat

I just finished knitting another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove.

I found the pattern here.

Directions are for size small; changes for size large are in parentheses.

Hat circumference at bottom edge: 16 (18)" [41 (46)cm]; Hat stretches to fit 20 (22)” [51 (56)cm]

I used 4.5mm [US 7] and 5.5mm [US 9] needles and 4 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles.

With smaller needles, cast on 90 (102) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Round: 

[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round until piece measures 1½" [4cm] from beginning.

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 90 (102) sts.
Repeat round 2 until piece measures 8 (8½)" [20 (22) cm] from beginning.

Shape Crown

• Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 75 (85) sts.
• Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 75 (85) sts.
• Decrease round 2: *K1, yo, [k2tog] twice; repeat from * around – 60 (68) sts
• Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] around – 60 (68) sts.
• Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 45 (51) sts.
• Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] around – 30 (34) sts.
• Decrease round 5: [K2tog] around – 15 (17) sts.
• Decrease round 6: [K2tog, k1] 5 times, k2tog 0 (1) time – 10 (11) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

p = purl

St st = Stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

yo = yarn over

Landfall Watch Cap

I just finished knitting a Landfall Watch Cap. I found the pattern in the Saltwater Classics - Caps, Vamps and Mittens from the Island of Newfoundland book. It’s the first time I made it and it was fun and easy. The colours were raspberry and leaf green. 

One 4mm circular needle and 1 set of 4mm double pointed needles. Ring markers. 

Size

Circumference: Small. 119 inches (48 cm). Medium. 21 inches (53 cm). Large. 22.5 inches (57 cm). For custom sizes, add or subtract stitches in groups of 8 and adjust yarn quantities accordingly. 

Instructions are for a two-colour hat, with size S given first. M and L follow. Work ribbed stripe colours as desired. 

Band

With main colour cast on 88 (96, 104) stitches on a 4mm circular needle or a set of 4mm double pointed needles. Join in a circle, being careful not to twist. Place marker. Work 20 rounds (K2, P2) ribbing, or desired length. Turning Ridge. Round 1. Knit. Round 2. Purl. Round 3. Remove marker. With yarn in back, slip 1 stitch purlwise. Replace marker. Knit to end of round. Round 4. Purl. Do not break main colour. Carry it loosely up the inside of the work. 

Body

Round 1. Join contrasting colour and knit to end of round. Round 2. Remove marker. Slip 1 stitch purlwise. Replace marker. Work (K2, P2) rib to end. Rounds 3-4. Work (K2, P2) rib to end. Break contrast colour if desired. Round 5. Ridge. With main colour, knit. Round 6. Ridge. Remove marker. Slip 1 stitch purlwise. Replace marker. Move yarn to front and purl to end of round. 

Repeat these 6 rounds 5 times more, changing the contrast colour for each ridge and/or ribbed stripe if desired. 

Shape Crown

Change to double pointed needles when work becomes tight. Divide the hat into 8 segments as follows. Next Round. K 11 (12, 13), place marker. Repeat to end of round. Decrease Round 1. Purl. Decrease Round 2. Knit until 2 stitches remain before marker, K2tog. Repeat to end of round (8 stitches decreased). Repeat these two rounds until 1 stitch remains in each segment (8 stitches). Purl 1 round. Break yarn, thread through remaining loops, pull tight, and secure ends. 

Finishing

Press lightly on wrong side, omitting ribbing.

Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Two friends and I spent the last week at the Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It's a large property (it's a couple resorts in one) that was overwhelming at first but I was fine by the second day once I figured it out. We were lucky in that we had great weather the entire week ... the only day it rained was when we were at the airport heading home.

We each had our own room. Our "key" was our wristband. There are renovated and unrenovated rooms in the villas and ours were unrenovated, which was fine with me because it meant I had a big tub (the tubs have been replaced with walk-in showers in the renovated rooms) ... and I love baths and had one every day! The mini fridge was stocked daily with water, pop and a couple cans of beer. The TV reception was poor (really fuzzy), there were only three English channels and my remote didn't work. I rarely turn my TV on when I'm on vacation so for me it wasn't a big deal.

Book ~ "The Heart of a Superfan" (2024) Nav Bhatia

From Goodreads ~ The Raptors' story is an underdog story - and the same is true for their greatest superfan. This memoir offers a courtside view into the extraordinary life of Nav Bhatia.

You know him as the Raptors Superfan but Nav Bhatia's story is bigger than basketball.

Nav immigrated to Canada from India after experiencing many hardships - only to face a host of new challenges. Life as an immigrant was gruelling and grey ... and then a new basketball team came to town. As Nav cheered on the Toronto Raptors at game after game, as they lost, as they won, on the good days and the bad, he discovered inspiration and community in the greatest game on earth, formed life-long bonds with many of the best players the sport has ever known and solidified his own place in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

In this memoir, Nav shares his incredible personal story of triumphing over adversity, as well as the lessons that propelled him to success in all facets of life: as an entrepreneur, movie producer, humanitarian, son, father and husband and the Raptors' most dedicated supporter. And woven throughout the book are intimate, colourful behind-the-scenes stories about the Raptors - from their very first game in 1995 to their 2019 Championship win, and beyond - that only the Superfan could know.

This is a book about loyalty, perseverance and the power of sports to unite us across differences - and, most of all, about how following your passions can lead you to the most extraordinary places.

This is Nav Bhatia's story of moving with his wife from India to Toronto in 1984 in the midst of anti-Sikh riots. He struggled to find work as a mechanical engineer and worked as a car salesman. He bought the dealership two years later and is now the owner of one of the top-selling Hyundai car dealerships in Canada. He became interested in the Toronto Raptors basketball team, a game which isn't well-known in India, when they formed and became famous as their Superfan. But for the restrictions during COVID, he has attended every Toronto Raptors home game. As he has become successful, he wanted to give back to his Indian heritage and also help children attend basketball games they wouldn't be able to financially.

It was an interesting story told in a conversational manner. He sounds like a nice fella. There was only one picture in the book and it would have been nice had there been more.

Happy Family Day!

Today is Family Day, a statutory holiday in Ontario.

Enjoy and spend some time with your family!

Book ~ "The Revenge List" (2023) Hannah Mary McKinnon

From Goodreads ~ The people in Frankie Morgan’s life say she’s angry. Emotionally stunted. Combative. But really, who can blame her? It’s hard being nice when your clients are insufferable, your next-door neighbor is a miserable woman and the cowardly driver who killed your mother is still out living it up somewhere.

Somehow, though, she finds herself at her very first anger-management group session - drinking terrible coffee and learning all about how “forgiveness is a process.”

One that starts with a list.

Frankie is skeptical. A list of everyone who’s wronged her in some way over the years? More paper, please. Still, she makes the pointless list - with her own name in a prominent spot - and promptly forgets about it ... until it goes missing. And one by one, the people she’s named start getting hurt in freak accidents, each deadlier than the last.

Could it be coincidence giving her the revenge she never dared to seek ... or something more sinister?

If Frankie doesn’t find out who’s behind it all, she might be next.

Frankie works for her father in his construction business. She has a bad temper and her father finally has enough and tells her she has to get anger management training or else. She goes to the first meeting and the assignment is to make a list of everyone who has wronged you. No problem ... her list includes people from her past and present. She throws the list out when she gets home but then goes looking for it when accidents start happening to people on the list. She wonders whether it's a coincidence and if it's not, who is doing it. In the meantime, she starts to receive sunflowers (her favourites) left anonymously at her door and her brother's young daughter needs immediate medical attention.

I've read and liked a few books by this author but I thought this one was dumb and I didn't like it. Frankie is an adult and has a wicked temper ... she knows she has a wicked temper ... yet she keeps freaking out and doing stupid things and gets arrested. Her father has had enough yet she still lashes out at him. I found Frankie unrealistic and unlikable. She quickly thinks she figures out who is behind it and confronts them many times. The whodunnit came out of nowhere and I wasn't buying it.

It's written in first person perspective in Frankie's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Never Coming Home" (2022) Hannah Mary McKinnon

From Goodreads ~ First comes love. Then comes murder.

Lucas Forester didn't hate his wife. Michelle was brilliant, sophisticated and beautiful. Sure, she had extravagant spending habits and that petty attitude, a total disregard for anyone below her status. But she also had a lot to offer. Most notably, wealth that only the one percent could comprehend.

For years, Lucas had been honing a flawless plan to inherit Michelle’s fortune. Unfortunately, it involved taking a hit out on her.

Every track was covered, no trace left behind and now Lucas plays the grieving husband so well he deserves an award. But when a shocking photo and cryptic note show up on his doorstep, Lucas goes from hunter to prey.

Someone is onto him. And they’re closing in.

Three years ago, after a whirlwind romance, Lucas and Michelle got married. Michelle comes from a wealthy family and as soon as Lucas met Michelle, he has been plotting on how to get her money. But he's been patient and because of a prenup agreement, the only way he'll get her money is if Michelle passes away. He does what he has to do and hires someone to kidnap and kill her. While the police are looking for her and her family is waiting for her to come home, Lucas plays the hopeful husband, knowing that will never happen. But then things start happening and Lucas suspects the hit man is messing with him and he's determined to find and stop him. Lucas had a rough upbringing and he's worked too hard not to get the money he feels he deserves.

I liked this story and was curious to see how it ended (the "whodunnit"). It's written in first person perspective in Lucas' voice. Although I knew he was a bad guy, I still found him a bit likeable (Michelle isn't portrayed as likeable at all). Lucas thought he was so smart and would get foiled every time he turned around. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Island Foods, Toronto, ON (Gladstone Avenue)

Gord and I had a late lunch today at Island Foods at Gladstone Avenue/Queen Street W.

I ordered what I always order at Island Foods ... a boneless chicken roti. Yum!

Tickle Cove Beanie

I just finished knitting a Tickle Cove beanie. I found the pattern in the Saltwater Classics - Caps, Vamps and Mittens from the Island of Newfoundland book. It’s the first time I made it and it was easy. The colour is ginger.

Using medium worsted weight wool/yarn and 3.75mm double pointed needles cast on 93 stitches. Mark beginning of round.

Band

Round 1. (K1, P1). Repeat to last stitch. K1. Round 2. (P1, K1). Repeat to last stitch. P1. Repeat these 2 rounds 4 times more. Next Round. As Round 1, increasing 9 stitches evenly spaced (102 stitches). 

Beanie

Change to 4mm double pointed needles. Work chart from right to left, bottom to top. Next Round. (Work Round 1 of Arch Chart on stitches 1-17. Place marker.) Repeat to end of round. Continue working successive rounds of Tickle Cove Arch until 28 rounds are complete. 

Next Round. Knit, removing sectional markers as you come to them. Knit 5 rounds more. 

Shape Top

Round 1. (K2tog, K13, SSK). Place marker. Repeat to end of round. Round 2. Knit, slipping markers. Round 3. (K2tog, K11, SSK, slip marker). Repeat to end of round. Round 4. Knit. Continue decreasing in this manner on alternate rounds until 18 stitches remain, ending with a knit round and removing sectional markers on the last round. Next Round. (K2tog, SSK), repeat to last 2 stitches of round, K2tog. Break yarn leaving a 12-inch (30 cm) tail. Thread through remaining stitches and fasten off. 

Finishing

Darn ends. Turn inside out and lightly press over the end of an ironing board, omitting the ribbing.

Noggin Cove Cap

I just finished knitting a Noggin Cove cap. I found the pattern in the Saltwater Classics - Caps, Vamps and Mittens from the Island of Newfoundland book. It’s the first time I made it and it was easy. There is supposed to be a dot of a different colour in each of the diamonds but I like it without them. The colour is mint green.

Using main shade, medium worsted weight wool/yarn and 3.50mm double pointed needles cast on 92 stitches. Mark beginning of round. 

Double Band (for more warmth)

Round 1. (K1, P1). Repeat to end of round. Repeat this round 10 times more. Round 12. Purl. Work 10 rounds in (K1, P1) ribbing. Next Round. Work in ribbing increasing 4 stitches evenly spaced (96 stitches). 

Single Band

Work 10 rounds (K1, P1) ribbing. Next Round. Work in ribbing increasing 4 stitches evenly spaced (96 stitches). 

Cap

Change to 4mm double pointed needles. Round 1. Join contrast colour and begin Noggin Cove Chart, repeating the pattern 12 times to end of round. 

Carry the contrast colour behind the main shade in Rounds 1 and 5. On rounds where contrast colour is not in use, carry it loosely up the side of the work. When carrying the colour not in use horizontally for more than three stitches, weave it through the back of the work to maintain elasticity. Continue working successive rounds of Noggin Cove Chart until 32 rounds are complete. Next Round. Work Round 1. Break contrast colour. 

Shape Top

Round 1. (K6, K2tog). Repeat to end of round. Round 2. Knit. Round 3. (K5, K2tog). Repeat to end of round. Round 4. Knit. Continue decreasing in this manner, having 1 stitch less between the decreases on alternate rounds until 12 stitches remain on the needle, ending with a knit round. Break yarn leaving a tail 8 inches (20 cm) long, thread through the remaining stitches. Draw up and fasten securely. 

Finishing 

For the Double Band Cap, turn cap inside out. Using main colour yarn sew cast on edge to last round of ribbing, being careful not to pull tightly. Darn remaining ends. Single Band Cap. Darn ends.