Another Day Another Climb

Fingers were feeling tired today for some reason, but still went climbing. Tomorrow is a pub night so probably won't go until late, if at all. I'm enjoying the climbing because it's giving me something to do. I'm really looking foreward to Rose and the kids coming up.

So plannin on flyin down Friday and then driving up. Make it back up here around Sunday evening. Friday just doesn't come around soon enough. Everytime I boot up the computer Rose's smiling face is on the background. No matter how I try it doesn't talk back..... hey wait a minute hmmm heehee.


Well the place is ready just need the occupants. Then we can put this place to some good use.

Goodnight

Moved

Finally got moved today. Am really liking typing this as the breeze blowing in my window. HAve a pretty good view from the 7th floor on the corner!
Took some pics... have shrunk them down to help viewing time, but still 9 pics.

Here ya go

Enter the apt.. have BIG closet with mirror on it


Then turn the corner can see master first left. kitchen second left.. living room straight.. and guest bed and bath to right. Didn't show the washer/dryer closet.


Guest bath and bedroom (which might even have more room than master cause no desk)




Then into the living room


And looking into breakfast nook from living room... can see sub and some speakers that go with tv. I've never had a sound system before.. what to do.


Kitchen and bkfst nook


finally master... didn't show bath figured you'd be tired of waiting for pics to upload.



So that's it. Residence Inn has kitchen and bedroom, but they charge an arm and a leg. Definitely liking the apt living... ahh cool 60 degree breeze and birds chirpin. Still going climbing this afternoon, although it is very tempting just to sit in the nice shady living room and have breeze... ahhh.

Maybe I oughta call in sick ......

Stayed here for the weekend

WELL... didn't quite move yet. My rentor was swamped today, so tomorrow morning will work out for both of us. So no new pics of my new pad.. I lied.

So waking up and going climbing early wasn't all that nessecary. Oh well... I'm all ready to go. Had plenty of time to prepare (and not that much stuff to move... most trips with be from fridge to fridge).

Watched Titanic and stitched my wizard crossstitch pattern. I think I got it from Walmart. Oh.. AFTER the movie.. the news came on.. (western NY channel). And the Rainbow Bridge inbetween NY and Canada was closed. They also mentioned that it was the busiest weekend for travelers. They also mentioned that today some roads in Buffalo were closed to accommodate a marathon. Kinda glad I didn't travel this weekend.
I also heard that my brother was able to attend his roommates graduation and maybe discuss the details of what he needs to bring to his apartment. Sounds like it worked out for him too.

Well. It's been a slow day, but it's good to slow down every once in a while.

Goodnight

But wait.. don't touch that dial!

Haven't done a lot of site seeing since Chris left. And I didn't end up going over to visit this weekend like I had originally planned. I was bummed at first not going over to see him, but will get over there another weekend.

It worked out well because it turns out that I can move over to my new apartment tomorrow. Originally I was going to get all my stuff ready and the apartment attendent was going to move it for me. So now I can move my own stuff.. and have a day and a half to get settled in!!

Been climbing a lot. (surprise surprise). We've been climbing almost everyday since we got here. we're starting to be able to see the 'schedule' of the other regulars... These folks come in Thurs.. them Wed and Fri, etc.

Another fairly new event...Dustin and I have been joined by Nathan and Paul (fellow coworkers). So now we have even more people...good for taking a break for sure.


Nathan belaying me up the chimney


Paul climbing the new blue route



So tomorrow I'll have some new pics of my new pad for ya'll.
adios

Last day with Bro for a little bit

So Monday was a lazy day. Got moving around noon. Drove up to surrounding things. First on the list was the last covered bridge in Canada. Up in Woolwich there is a bridge known as the 'Kissing Bridge'. It's said that the Mennonite couples would sneak a snuggle in when driving through the bridge.




Next went driving around to see Kilbride castle (more like a fancy house)... closed on Mondays though.


And finally to Doon Heritage Crossroads. This would be a place to come back to. Lots of people very knowledgable about life in 1914. The village was really neat. (Although due to all my question asking we didn't even make it half way).


Chris buying a train ticket to Chicago... costs around $10. The ride was 18 hours.


A childs room in the house that would have had the grandparents..parents and 8 kids.


cleaning the dishes after using the Cadillac of cast iron stoves (should have taken a picture) to cook some bread. They had a bday party and let the kids knead the dough as an activity. Something about 8 childrens grubby hands kneading the dough allowed it to be gieven to the pigs later.


Will definitely come back here. ( earlier esp.) So thinking about visiting my bro next weekend. Will see how it goes. sounds like a short enough drive. one more three day weekend and then have to be in class for 5 days a week.

adios

CN Tower experience

Chris and I went to see the CN Tower. Driving up to it it wasn't so big.


But after we parked and walked up underneath it... Chris was totally amazed!!!


Looking over the available options, we chose to eat in the rotating restaurant. You had to buy a main dish (~$30), but the price included your ticket up ($20). The restaurant was great... and the wait (~5 minutes) consisted of just waiting for an elevator. The view was great...

It takes ~72 minutes to go one full revolution

Being cheapskates.. we both got water and Spinach Ricotta Cannenoli. Man was it good.

The side with it was a blend of squash... spinach...broccoli...onions. It was also served with slices of parmesan and string beans. mmmmmm

There was this fish that happened to be swimming in the sky as we rotated around... ?


After the meal we walked down to the viewing area (not that we hadn't been looking around for the last 72 minutes), but now there were facts...labels.. and LOTS of other tourists. Had to take a picture looking down through the glass floor.


Heehee... also had to jump on it just for fun. As I did an older Irish lady who had just worked up the courage to put one foot onto the glass gasped "Oh and I've just got one foot on it.. *deep breath*". she proceeded to laugh at herself following and walked right on out no problem.

Note: Lunch was definitely worth the price. and why not when you have to pay $20 just to get up the thing.


And 'no' they don't let you take the stairs down.

Busy it was... but post I shall

WELL. Started the day by going to Toronto. Ate at the CN Tower. then we decided to walk up to the Castle.. .Casa Loma. BUT due to the long distance it was to walk.... we missed the castle tour by 10 minutes!

But all was not lost. Jumped on the subway (much faster than walking I might add) and visited the Royal Ontario Museum. it was good, but it seemed like both my brother and I had seen a lot of the museum already. Their newest exibit was one about feathered dinosaurs. I wasn't particularly interested at first, but looking at all the fossils and seeing impressions of resemblances of feathers was pretty interesting. All those paleontologists that were relating dinosaurs to birds seem to be pretty right on. Seeing dinosaurs with feathers was kinda weird after seeing books and pictures of them like lizards.

ANy way

Back home.. ate.. looked up show times of ... Revenge of the Sith.

God show.. won't give anything away... you can guess how it ends though. It got to a point and I could have told Lucas what was going to happen next. Lots of light saber dueling and something that surprised me... Lots of the original actors for Chewie.. R2D2 C3PO, etc were back!


Oh and watching the credits... there is a "Javva the Hut" known as Micheal Smith. Chris is guessing he was the guy bringing everyone in the crew coffee.

Felt like I needed a cloak leaving the theater... light saber in hand.


good night everyone.. pictures to come

Chris made it!

My brother Chris came up to visit and help me use all this space I have. Testing the other bedroom and bath out for me.

We thought it was going to be a 5 hour drive... he made it in 4. Come 2 o'clock I had figured I had some time to kill... so went downtown to a shop I wanted to check out. When I got back... there was a message on the phone. DOH "Hey I'm here in Kitchener forgot your address..." What time was it? I missed it by 20 minutes!!!
He called back after sampling some ubersalty fries at Micky Ds. Then took him to the hang out... the climbing wall. And yes... I do have pictures... and yes I will post them... but right now I could just sit on the couch and let my body relax. My fingers are feeling it even as I type this.

Time to watch Fiddler on the Roof

gnight

Toronto tomorrow!!! more to come

Going up?

Boy are my arms getting sore. Forearms and tips of fingers.

Every evening Dustin and I have gone climbing at the rock gym Higher Ground. Located in Sportsworld just past the arcade and Moose Winooski's.

The other two sites don't do the climbing wall any justice. they have some high climbs. I've been told around 58' tall.

Here's one of a route.


and here's one of Dustin climbing the overhang.



We haven't done either of those routes, but they sure look tall don't they? We've done some that tall maybe will post more later. They even have a chimney sort of climb .... you climb up in a ..well .. a wide chimney.

My brother chris is getting in tomorrow.. and I get out early tomorrow. Will definitely bring him by our hang out. Maybe see Toronto.

More to come from the land of Canadidia!

Picture Page... day one

SO... flew from Chatanooga to Memphis to Detroit to Kitchener.

Detroit has a few things I like... The jumping fountain. Whose water jets are like the one in Epcot... this shot they were all on.


Next comes the 'Tunnel into the 24th century'. As you walk through... the lights behind the frosted glass change and space sounds come out of no where.. 'SPpssuuuuuuh .. bluhuhuh blup.. ssshh'



Now to the place I am staying. For $100 CAN (~$80 USD) a night I get to stay in a 2 bedroom apt w/ kitchen and DVD player w/ free high speed internet. THIS IS CHEAPER THAN A LOT OF HOTELS!!!

Bedroom


Closet for my 5 shirts


Kitchen


To the guest bedroom and bath


Eating area w/complimentary wine


Living room


I would say pleased would be an understatement.

Just stocked my fridge from Zehrs Market... good eats

good night.. more about my climbing adventure tomorrow

Travel

WELL... made it up to Kitchener Ontario in Canadia.

Drove to Memphis on Day 1 to see Kelly.
Day 2 took us past Chattanooga to Cleveland TN where we stayed with Rose's friend Angie.
Tennessee is a really pretty drive. Lots of woods and cliffs and mountainous. Kind of like the Ozarks, but feels bigger. (The Texas sized version)

Slept through my alarm this morning and was woken up when I moved around in bed. This action took the covers off of Jamie... who must have moved into our bed during the night. She started talking/whining and that woke me up.. Looked at the watch.. 5AM... time to get up.
Plane flights went smoothly.. slept through most of 'em. Took some pictures.. soon to be added to this after I get some rest. Like the place I am staying!! (need to go to the better grocery store than the convenience store. 'Grated Cheese Product' wasn't all that)... But I did get a Kinder egg!!


good night

Show Me State

I'm here in Springfield, MO again. Not one of my favorite cities. It's a HUGE grid... so it's easy to navigate, but aesthetically it's not very appealing. Granted I never have gone to the "downtown" area, but when the entire city is a boxed grid consisting of highways on the four corners and nothing but blocks and LOTS of traffic lights I find it hard to want to deal with all the lights.

It does have some good sushi though. Nakato is fun with it's sushi bar. It has the boats going around carrying sushi. We had to go as my travel partner had never eaten sushi. He was a real good sport and even tried eel, unagi(my favorite)!

Been missing my family. They are still in Mustang. Even though Springfield isn't so nice.. I think... this hotel I'm staying in this time would have been more fun for Rose and the kids. I'm on the sixth floor and get a HUGE window to loook out...... on the dilapitated hotel that most of the rooms are boarded up and ..yeah. But the window is cool and the looking down is cool. So it's not the greatest scenery. But inside they could watch the waterfalls near the glassed elevators. hmm dropping toys down would be a bad thing... esp if it landed on the piano.

Now I will be back Friday, but they I only have a week home. then off to Canada for 6,almost 7, weeks.

Hoping Rose got her class she wanted at CKU... Haven't heard from her since before eating.

and so I wait
adios