Discovering T.O. #6

I just had a GREAT weekend!  Beyond having sorted out my computer situation (which only got better, by the way, when I figured out how to update my iPhone via a different computer than the one I originally installed it on), I also discovered a new spot in Toronto and revisited some old ones.  Would you like to hear about it?

Friday night I reunited with an old friend and a new friend at 416 Snack Bar (Queen & Bathurst).  I had heard some buzz about this place and was really keen to go.  I was blown away!  I love the vibe of the place -- it's small and cozy and BUSY!  We were lucky enough to get a table for the 3 of us and started off the evening with some glasses of prosecco, which was delicious and made me feel like a classy lady.  416 Snack Bar's thing is that it's cutlery-free -- all the food you can order is bite-sized, finger-friendly, and snack-like... but not popcorn-type snacks, classy snacks.  We had lobster rolls, wild mushroom toasts, and I think a sushi side salad and Korean fried chicken.  Everything we ate was delicious, the company was top-notch, and when the bill came I couldn't believe how reasonable!  All in all, the perfect "dining" experience and you can be sure I'll be back there soon.

On Saturday, as part of some Mother's Day treats, my sister and I went out for a bite and a movie with our Mom.  My Mom actually treated us to brunch/lunch to start with at Lola's Kitchen (Bloor & Church).  I'd been to Lola's before back when it was called Lola's Commisserie (maybe they changed the name because people I didn't know how to pronounce it).  It was as delicious the second time around - the first time I'd had the eggs rancheros, which appealed to me again, but I branched out and tried their 'shroom benny with some Lola's potatoes on the side.  I'll be honest -- as delicious as it is, it's not in my top 5 brunches in the city (I'll try to officially list them sometime, but #1 may very well be Hotel Gelato's brunch), but I still highly recommend it if you're in the area.

From Lola's we went to the Varsity to see "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", which I thought was really great!  It was nice to see a movie about seniors.  Seriously.  It's not often they're the stars of the show, and it was refreshing to see that, never mind the fact that it was a SOLID crew of actors - Dame Maggie, Dame Judi, Tom Wilkinson... STELLAR.  I liked it!

From there I headed north to Eglinton West and a great Vietnamese resto I've been to before -- Ha Long Bay.  My GF and I went together (she was my date the first time, too) and we both went with the prix fixe... although since she's a vegetarian, she created her own veggie prix fixe which turned out to be less than the ones they offered.  ANYWAY, I got the $25 prix fixe with mixed spring rolls to start, followed by a crab and asparagus soup, and then finished off with some delicious shrimp curry (if I get a prix fixe, I always get the seafood or steak options when they're there.  When else are you going to get them so cheap?).  It was a delicious meal, and then we walked across the street to Hotel Gelato to finish things off.  YUM!!!

After dinner and dessert we went home and watched the rest of series 2 + Christmas special of "Downton Abbey".  This is a hard show to write about in its own post... it's almost too special, if that makes any sense.  I don't want to analyze it and offer my own opinions because I just love it and don't want to go into it more than that.  Not my usual approach, but that's how I feel.  I will say this - I can't wait for series 3.

And that, my friends, was my weekend.

Australians & iOS 5.1

At 5:45 this morning I woke up to my first alarm and, in a dream-like state, checked for any Facebook notifications, texts, etc. on my phone (which acts as my alarm).  I ignored a Groupon, checked FB, and then received a notification that iOS 5.1 was ready for download.  Sweet!  As I approved the download (which could be done without hooking up to a computer... Sweet!), I noticed one of the new features.  Was this a dream, or is iOS 5.1 in fact optimized for Australian voices?  I remember laughing about this and then fell fast asleep right after.  The download was complete when I woke up, but did it ever really happen?

Getting things done week

This is a getting things done week. Now that I've entered the working world, every week is a getting things done week, really, but this is a work-related and personal getting things done week. For example, right now I'm updating my iPhone w/ new tunes via the Hype Machine and updating my blog, which I've been meaning to do for ages... with a substantial post.

So what have I been getting done? Well... work has been incredibly busy, which is overwhelming, but also great! What I love about my job is that there's so much variety - I never expected as a fundraiser to double as a production assistant with a film crew!! That'll be fun. Work is so busy that I brought work home with me today. It's not a necessary part of my job, and it's not unusual to be replying to/sending emails after the work day is over, but today was different - I brought home a stack of work to get through and just finished getting through it. What was great was that it wasn't overwhelming, but really satisfying! I was able to organize myself outside of the work day, so that when I start my day in the office tomorrow, I won't have to waste time figuring out what I need to do, but I'll be able to do it! I also won't have to start the day sending emails - but instead will hopefully have the replies by the time I start working. Definite efficiency... I can see why my Dad has done it for all these years. Anyway - I enjoyed the experience of taking my work home. (Speaking of being efficient with emails [or not!] - check out this post on my other blog Life After WLU).

What else have I been up to?

Well here's a big advancement: remember the driving challenge? Well I took 5 lessons with my instructor, and have gone out to practice with my Dad about 3-4 times, and I'm feeling pretty confident with my driving. I need a little more practice, but I think I'm ready.

Remember my goals?

1. Get my G1 by December 31, 2010.
2. a) Register for driving lessons by February 28, 2011.
   b) Book my road test by May 31, 2011.
   c) Get my G2 by August 31, 2011.
3. Get a car by December 31, 2011.

Notice that a 3rd goal has been (added and then) struck out - 2b) book my road test! Yes that's right! I have booked the road test to get my G2. It is set for June 1, 2011. Just over a month away and I could will be a driver. I was a little hesitant to announce this, especially the exact date, but I find that "being accountable to others" makes a goal more likely to be achieved. So hold me to it, dear readers, and I won't fail!!! As always, I'll keep you posted.

Sidenote: my computer just randomly turned off. I'm hoping it doesn't do that again, but if it does - God bless Blogger for auto-saving my post. Saved me ultimate heartache.

Moving on...

I'm also continuing on in the reading challenge. Unfortunately it's slow and steady (emphasis on slow), but it's still in progress. I'm reading HP7 and totally loving it!!! Can't wait to finish it before the 2nd installment of the movie. Next on my reading list is finishing my friend Matthew Trafford's book The Divinity Gene. It's amazing, and the perfect book to take pause with as it's a collection of short stories. I'm about half-way through, so after HP7 I'm all over it!

Anyway, I think that's it for now. I'm paranoid that my comp will shut down again, so I bid you adieu!

Newz

I haven't blogged in a bit, so here's a morning quickie before I hop in the shower.

The iPhone has changed my life... I'm more organized, more connected, and all around loving my new gadget. I haven't been reading as much, it's true, but I figure the novelty will wear off soon enough, and until then, I'm forcing myself to read at least twice a day, even if it's for short periods of time. Unfortunately I still won't finish the last 3 Harry Potters before Friday (the opening day of the first part of the 7th movie), but that's no matter... I'll finish them eventually. I'm about 50 pages from being done the 5th book, so I'll just push through and hopefully finish the other 2 this year.

Some of the many perks of the iPhone are the news apps - I have Thomson Reuters, New York Times (thanks to the GF), Globe & Mail, and Huffington Post all at my fingertips. I read the top articles every morning with my coffee. It's not the same as holding the papers in your hand at your breakfast table, but it's a fantastic alternative. Plus, I get MORE news, and if I like an article or want to share it, it couldn't be simpler to link to Facebook, Twitter, etc. I love it. I feel more informed, which is always a good thing! Ok - shower time!

iPhone vs. Books

My life is (nearly) complete: I bought the iPhone 4.
In the 4 or so days since I got it, my life has changed. I feel more organized, more connected, and, needless to say, cooler.

However - I can't lose sight of other goals (even though I was able to cross off buying an iPhone from my goal list), namely the Reading Challenge 2.0. I've still got a ways to go with HP5, and then I still need to read 4 more before December 31st. I can for sure do it, but I've got to maintain my nightly routine of reading and not let playing games or checking Facebook on my iPhone get in the way of that.

Favourite app so far: Sleep Cycle. Just so cool.

In-ter-est-ing

I was going to say disconcerting, but I risk being called a hypocrite, so instead I'll say that I find it interesting how many pictures on Cobra Snake are just of people texting/on their BBs/iPs.