Summer Sales and Family Fun

I slid down to Barrie over the weekend for Canada Day/Promenade Days with my family.  Promenade days in Barrie is like a giant sidewalk sale, where the whole downtown is blocked off (in a fun way, Toronto!) and shop owners and artisans are out on the street hawking their wares.  We were there for about an hour, and it wasn't much to write home about - or blog about for that matter!  Although my multi-talented brother David has an amazing camera and an amazing eye for shots, so the photos make the day look really interesting. :)  I did get a deal on some Nag Champa incense, and seeing my family is always a good time, so it was worth the trip to Barrie. :)

The best part of our day was lunchtime spent at Applebees (Mom's treat! Wahoo!).  That restaurant is a family favourite of ours and I ate something called the Southwestern burger, which was loaded with bacon, deep friend onion sticks, BBQ sauce, and probably 3900 calories (my estimate).  It tasted like bliss and I didn't eat again for nine hours! :)

The following are some of the photos my brother took of our adventure at Promenade Days!

Downtown Barrie!

It was Canada Day weekend,

so the Beavers were out in full force!

Do you think these two businesses

are in cahoots? 

There's another one!

More downtown fun!

There was even a midway!

It's Tripple T HOTTT!!!!

It's hot out there today!  The Weather Network says it is 31°C but it apparently feels like 41°C (if you rock Fahrenheit that is 88° and 106° respectively)!!  That is Hottt!!!

Despite feeling sluggish and groggy in the heat, I rode my bike to the corner store to get the mail.  There were about eight other people there too, all in line for - or already eating - ice cream cones.  Everyone was discussing the heat.  Adding to the discussion, the store owner looked at me and scolded:

"And you're riding a bike!"

"I'm only going this far" I laughed, holding my fingers apart to measure about an inch.

I would judge me too if I was going any further than that! It's too damn hot! :)

Happy Pride Everybody!!!

After all the craziness in Toronto last weekend, it is nice that this weekend is Pride and we can turn our attention to something happy, fun, and fabulous!!

For information on where and how to celebrate this weekend, check out Pride Toronto.

In celebration of Pride this year, I'm posting some awesome LGBT links you should check out!

Joe My God:  For up to the minute news on everything happening with the gay community in the United States.  I used to read this blog daily, but sometimes the news about how gays are treated in America is so depressing/infuriating I have to take a few days between visits.  It isn't all bad news, as Joe does post awesome quotes, funny videos, and good news (when available) so it is definitely worth a read!

That's Gay with Bryan Safi:  Hilarious video commentary on issues affecting the LGBT community.

Night Work - Scissor Sisters: Video for their new song Fire With Fire - the new album came out this week!

And for everyone going to the Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday - make sure you have water and sunscreen!

Happy Canada Day!!!

In honour of Canada Day I'm posting my favourite National Film Board video: The Log Drivers Waltz.  Enjoy!



How are you celebrating Canada Day?  If you are headed to a cottage or enjoying some BBQ this weekend, I hope you eat some awesome food!  In celebration of anyone enjoying BBQ, here is a photo of a Prime Rib Roast we cooked last year.  My Aunt got a side of beef and passed some around and we got this giant roast for free (I think they retail at $60!!).

Have an amazing long weekend everybody!!!

Schools Out By The Numbers

On a bike ride around the neighbourhood today, I noticed several signs that school is out and summer is upon us.

By The Numbers:

Number of teenagers seen mowing lawns: 2

Number of kids on bikes riding around in circles: 3

Number of tweens outside the corner store eating candy: 2

Number of 7 year-old boys carrying a large bag of snacks home from the store (probably sent on this mission by an adult - classic!): 1

Number of people on the trail at the same time as I was: 3