Welcome back WND

Back to school signals back to Wednesday Night Dinner so this week Ev kicked it off with an Italy- inspired menu. We started off with bruschetta and melon wrapped in prosciutto. Then came out the gnocci with chicken parmigiano and ended off with an all time Italian dessert favourite: tiramisu. As always, dinner was wonderful but the best part is getting together on a weekly basis. This week our group was bigger than normal. Mae managed to fight through traffic all the way from Markham just to join us, or to get her shrimp chips. Sally, our WND crasher decided to bring another crasher, Ron. But since Ev cooks for a whole army, they were more than welcome! Next week is Norm's turn and a request has been made to turn dinner into breakfast - filipino style. Looks like Norm is going to bring out the infamous Barrientos garlic fried rice with all the fixins'. I think I'll challenge him to a breakfast cookoff with my bacon and grits. Bring it on Hubby!

She's officially taken!

Congrats to Ev & Stuart on their engagement. He proposed while vacationing in Italy. How romantic is that? Wedding plans are already coming along (c'mon guys, it's Ev we're talking about here). Save the date for August 2008!

September Long Weekend Review

At 4:30AM on Saturday morning we got up and got ready for the ride up to the cottage. It was a smooth ride with no long weekend traffic. I guess that's the advantage in leaving early but by the time we got up there, we all needed a nap! Mae & Glenn made their grand appearance mid afternoon with both kids in tow. As always, the weekend was full of eating. Apparently we brought way too much food but I'm a firm believer in bringing more versus not enough. The weather was absolutely beautiful. We couldn't ask for a better weekend. Jared enjoyed playing in the water and going out on canoe rides with the boys. I took Jared's spot in the middle of the canoe while Di and Mae did all the rowing. I guess there is an advantage in being small. At the end of our canoe trip, Mae tried to make me fall into the water but in the end she made herself fall - but Gerwyn saved her. All weekend the boys went fishing. They even took the canoe out to the middle of the lake and they came back empty handed. The girls tried their luck on the dock and voila! - fish were coming to us like we were celebrities. Glenn eventually caught one, Norm had no luck and Gerwyn caught...a tree. (See facebook for the video clip) It was hilarious! Another highlight was the stars at night. It was fun gathering around the fire and watching the stars and the moon light the lake. All in all it was a wonderful, relaxing weekend and an awesome way to end summer. Until next year...

Roadtrip!

Sunday morning we woke up and said: Let's go to Buffalo! And so we did. We picked up Mom and off we went to the armpit of America. Again, Buffalo has never attracted us as much until they opened up the Cheesecake Factory and Banana Republic. Norm's patience was put to test as we came to a full stop at the Peace bridge where we waited 1 hour. He later treated himself to a ginormous, double decker, Tons of Fun burger that we agreed to share but I whimped out because I could not figure out how to wrap my tiny mouth around the massive burger (and I knew Francis had his camera ready). We were all in shock when Charissa's salad came out. We couldn't even see her behind the mountain of green salad in front of her. We could have easily shared one salad but watching everyone's reaction was part of the fun. After lunch our eyes were droopy with fullness. You can't escape the "itis" when you visit the Cheesecake Factory so Bigdog decided to take the car keys and sleep the food away. The rest of us walked it off and although I only had 45 minutes at Walden Galleria, I managed to purchase a pair of pants. And what's a trip to Buffalo without going to Target. As usual, we loaded up on snacks to keep Norm busy (and patient) as we waited another hour at the border. We watched as Paul's van went up to the booth and were quickly cleared to cross. We witnessed skid marks as they quickly drove away from the customs officer fearing they will see two beautiful coach bags that would quickly blow their cover.

It was another fun family event that apparently continued until the wee hours of the night at Kenny's. We would have loved to join them but they left us at the border and didn't look back.

Happy 89th Birthday Grandpa

Tonight was the long awaited steak dinner for Grandpa's 89th birthday. Grandma & I enjoyed pina coladas while Norm & Gramps enjoyed a glass of wine. It's been a long time since Grandpa has been out for a steak dinner so he thoroughly enjoyed his very large medium rare rib eye. Grandma enjoyed her steak as well but she commented many times on how much she liked the pina colada. Next time me & Grams are just gonna skip the food and go straight to the bar. We had a wonderful night with the grandparents.

Happy 89th Grandpa. I look forward to next year.

Shrimp Chips

Remember the shrimp chips at Marks & Spencer? Thank goodness Ev found an English lad because everytime she comes back from London, she has a whole suitcase of shrimp chips that we just go crazy for! Well, I am happy to announce that I have found a place that sells Skips! There is a UK booth in the international building at the CNE that also has a store at Eglinton Square. At last, we have them at our fingertips. But don't tell Ev, I still enjoy the treats she brings home for us!

Let's go to the EX!

Last night Norm and I took advantage of the dry weather and headed to the EX after work. Our first stop was the Food Building! (of course) Norm had his garlic and cheese beaver tail and I had the most delicious wings at St Louis. With food in our bellies we headed up the midway and watched as people whacked the whack-a-mole, put money on red, and played games that look way too easy, but you know there's always a trick. For example, how hard is it to throw a ball into a slanted basket? I'm convinced that the bottom of the basket has a spring that shoots the ball right back at you. Or how hard is it to throw a ring on to a bottle? Chances are the ring probably doesn't fit! I guess in the end it's all fun and games. For us, it's tradition to go to the CNE. As kids we worked in the Grandstands which is now replaced by the Toronto FC field. I remember Norm when he worked at Orange Julius. Gosh, that was 17 years ago. I guess you can say we go to the EX to feel young again!

Family Affair

Friday night we scrambled to find Grandma a wheelchair so that we can continue our weekend as planned...but now with Grandma in tow.

Saturday started off with a nice lunch at our place - portuguese chicken, rice and potatoes as well brie cheese and caprese bruschetta. After lunch we walked (and wheeled) over to Mabuhay Philippines held at the convention centre. As expected at a filipino convention, we ran into more family: mom, dad, grandpa, Francis, Trae, Seyla, Mike, Carlo with his "family friend" and some friends I haven't seen in ages. After making our rounds at the convention centre, we walked towards the Harbourfront for yet another filipino event. This was more my scene (and pace)...we chilled near the lake where we had "merienda" - coffee & ensamada. We watched the boats and as usual talks about owning one or maybe pitching in for one were quickly formed. In the end we realized it would be too expensive to maintain but maybe if we win the lotto. Off we went to the marketplace where Norm was busy pushing Grandma to the little booths selling jewelry. It's definitely her achilles heel. And of course, what's a trip to the Harbourfront without getting in line for the roasted corn. We all enjoyed the lemon, butter and spiced corn as we listened to the musical band practicing beside us. We made our way to the stage where we sat on the grass (and Grandma in her wheelchair) and enjoyed the last show of the evening. It was a nice, cultural day had by all - including Baby Ella. After the show we walked back to our place and had dinner. At 11 pm we realized we should call it a night because we would all see each other again the next morning...

Sunday we all met up again at Shoeless Joes for a engagement brunch for Tim & Louise. They reserved the restaurant to celebrate their engagement with family and friends. There we had mamosas and were treated to an assortment of breakfast foods as well as our family's special dishes: the infamous garlic fried rice, seafood casserole and cheese-jello. These things we just can't live without.

WND revamped

No, Wednesday Night Dinner has not returned. It will resume in September when everyone is back from their honeymoons. But last night Gerwyn and Norm had a date so Di and I decided to crash it. We had a nice dinner and later walked over to get our favourite gelato. Summer nights are slowly coming to an end so we have to take advantage of the beautiful weather. Walking around with no jacket and flip flops has been a privilege. Some people (ahem - Allan) have complained that Toronto is too hot. I guess you have to experience our long winter to really appreciate our few weeks of summer sun. So if you guys want to spend an evening out on a patio - you know we'll be there in a heartbeat.

Yet another wonderful weekend

As planned, Norm and I headed to Canadian Tire to buy my very first bike. That's right folks, it's my first bike ever! Norm insisted I buy a youth bike because it was smaller and it would suit me better. The nerve! Luckily the salesman convinced Norm that a women's bike would better suit me after he adjusted the seat to the lowest possible setting. And I couldn't leave the store without buying a helmet as per Francis. Safety first!

We decided against The Taste of the Danforth because of the big crowds and long line ups. Instead we hit the Spadina Street Festival and ended our night at the Hot & Spicy Festival held at the Harbourfront. There we enjoyed the musical talents of the steel drum band, enjoyed a tasting of churro (a spanish dessert) and waited in a long line up for a stick of corn which we later found was worth the wait.

Sunday morning we grabbed our bikes and made our way back to the Harbourfront where we enjoyed a nice Second Cup coffee. Just when I thought summer was almost over... it feels like it has only just begun.

This evening we celebrated Ella's 7 month birthday. Bigdog made a special appearance with his dancing queen and a bag of crispy pata. He was definitely the star attraction. He is also my biggest blog fan (and critic) so Bigdog...this blog's for you!

Woof.

Dinner with the Boss

Tonight the comp & benefits group were invited to the Boss' house for dinner. We had great food, wonderful company and probably a little too much wine. I don't normally like going to work functions but this one was a little different. First of all, how often does your boss cook for you? Second, how often do you see your boss in shorts and a t-shirt? It definitely changes the mood. Everyone was laughing, having a good time, and probably talking way too much (it will come back to haunt us I'm sure). I say, forget about these fancy parties at the Vaughan Estates. I prefer this more laid back, intimate affair. I'll cheers to that.

Family Reunion

Where do I begin?

We had a west coast invasion over the last few days. My sister, her husband, cousins Michael and Heather, nephew Marcus and my aunt and uncle all came to visit. They were all here to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday and to have a much needed family reunion. The kids enjoyed Centre Island and Canada's Wonderland. The big kids enjoyed clubbing until the wee hours of the morning. Allan enjoyed taking naps during the hot, muggy days that Toronto is known for. We even managed to escape to the cottage for the weekend - some to Sherkston and others to Muskoka. As usual, each day was ram packed with things to do and people to see. Allan had a chance to experience what Caribana was all about. Unfortunately he got a bout of heat stroke - not too sure if it was the sun or the almost naked women dancing reggae that caused it.

Personally, I enjoyed having everyone over and spending time with family - Vancouver, South Carolina and even cousins I've lost touch with here - it was definitely an emotional roller coaster but I will definitely be the first in line for another ride.

A Perfect Day Off

Yesterday Norm and I took a day off to orientate my cousin Ann around the city so that she can roam around freely on days that we're working. We started off by going to Biff's for lunch which would normally be too expensive but we took advantage of the Summerlicious menu. What a way to welcome Ann to Canada by having an authentic French meal. After lunch, we walked around Queen West, grabbed bubble tea in Spadina and went fruit shopping while Norm was getting his very much deserved 1 hour foot massage. Knowing we would be eating at an all you can eat sushi joint, we decided to hit the gym beforehand. We definitely worked out a sweat and thoroughly enjoyed our well earned sushi...and more. After dinner...yes there's more...we went to T&T where Ann got dizzy looking at all the food. As a smart shopper, she saw a hoard of people around a table so she managed to squeeze her way in to see what everyone was buying. Turns out the prepared food goes half off at the end of the night. No wonder it was still a zoo in there. After shopping, we met Has where he turned over his only daughter to stay with us for the week. I hope Norm can cope with 3 girls in the house.

Roadtrip!

Roadtrip! Last night we had to make the trek to Buffalo airport to pick up my cousin Ann. As all of you know, Buffalo isn't really what I call a booming city. More like the armpit of America as some would say. Decrepit houses, boarded up buildings, outlet malls that seem to be falling by the wayside. There's nothing that would lure me to Buffalo other than picking up and dropping off someone at the airport....until last night! It seems that as of December of 2006 the best restaurant of all time has opened up at Walden Galleria. Drum roll please. Cheesecake Factory! That's right ya'll. Get your cars tuned up and let's take a ride to Buffalo! It only takes 1.5 hrs to get there which is about the same time it would take to get to Mae & Glenn's anyway. (ha) The food is definitely worth the drive. First of all, the portions are huge. The plates they use for a single order is what I would normally use to feed the entire Wednesday night crew. For example, when ordering the BLT salad, they use one whole lettuce head and they put enough bacon to last you for breakfast the next morning. Last night I had chicken baja tacos with all the fixins and Norm had the crispy, spicy beef. Delish! We have so many dishes to try given that their menu is the size of a novel.

So, does anyone need a ride to Buffalo?

(So Bigdog, does this meet your expectations?)

WANTED

Diana Lee is wanted on charges for not blogging since May 23, 2007. Officials have heard that she will be fleeing to Miami. If she indeed goes to Miami without blogging, this crime of treason will be punishable by removal of all the chocolate her in her condo. Then again, that would only punish Gerwyn. Diana Lee will be punished by hosting a month of Wednesday Night Dinners and all special occasions that Evelyn was previously responsible for.

Rule Maker

Congrats

Congrats to the newly engaged couple. Norm's brother, Virgil Paul will be getting married to Charissa in 2009!

Beautiful Bride

This is Sue Ellen, Norm's cousin on his dad's side. Her wedding was held at Casa Loma which was fitting because she looked like a princess. Congrats to Mr & Mrs!

Until next time...

My family left for a 15 hour drive home on Friday night. It was weird waking up in the morning and not bumping into an inflatable bed or going into the kitchen and finding tropical fruits piled high from Spadina, bags of pandesal like we're feeding an army and lots of left over food from Wah Sing and T&T. Even though our condo is a little small for a family of 9 - we made it work and boy was it fun! My Aunt and Uncle have been like parents to me since I was small. I would do anything for them such as give up sleep for a week. I miss them already. Norm is already talking about driving "home" at the end of the summer. I may take him up on that offer.

The people are coming, the people are coming!

Norm and I are working really hard on getting our place ready for all our visitors coming this summer. Everything that has ever been on Norm's "To-Do" list is quickly being completed. I guess sometimes it takes a little bit of pressure for him to get his act together. As I sit here typing, he's attempting to hang our TV on the wall with Timmy on the phone to guide him. I hear something about "illegal" and "live wires" behind the walls. I just pretend I don't hear because you know I get stressed out about these things. I, on the other hand, am trying to remember where I put my extra pillows and blankets. It has always been just Norm and I so we had no need for extra things, not to mention no room! The good thing about living downtown is, I can simply walk over to the Bay and buy what I need: towels, pillows. No need to cook breakfast for your guests. We can just all walk downstairs and enjoy a nice Canadian coffee. Thank heavens for Tim.

Congrats to my boy

Last week Jonathan graduated from Grade 8 and is anxiously awaiting the start of high school. Can you believe how fast that was? Norm and I have always wanted to take on an important part in his life. He means more to us that he can ever know. Congrats to our boy. We are so proud of him.