Courtyard By Marriott Toronto Markham

Going Down Fighting…

Zipping along at 46 seemingly the world was mine to soak up and grab… But that was all about to change!!

It was one of those diagnoses that leaves you on the floor… Not one of those 6 months to live verdicts… Nothing that was going to snap me up that quick: nope just a prolonged agonized and yes painful wilt!!

I had never counted on what that would look like or feel like… How much ...

The day started with taking May and Grandma Wong for a spin on the Shadow. They loved it!

Then it was off to a good dimsum meal with all our grandparents.

And then began the mahjong marathon. Matt is getting to be a really good MJ player. And although I know the basics of the game, he is ...

... didn't take. So most of the writing was done after the cruise. On the first morning I managed to get the boys up by 3:00 am and we were out the door by 3:15. This is really good turnaround! The airport was busy but not as bad as I expected. The best surprise was when we got to our seats; we where bumped to first class! What a great start! We got the tickets pretty late so I'm guessing economy class wasn't available. The first class seats also carried on from Detroit right through to Tampa.

I took a flight to SAO PAULO (Congonhas), then i got a taxi to SAO PAULO (Guarulhos). After 5 hours waiting i finally was inside the Air Canada aircraft in direction to Toronto. Very beautiful city, the airport is just HUGE!!! A lot of green in Toronto, it's like a city in the middle of a forest, i want to go back there, to stay at least 2 days.

You wake up in the morning - it's bright and sunny; what a great day for flying, you think. Then you read that Al Qaeida is being blamed for an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Istanbul this morning, and Iran has ticked off the Americans by test firing mid range missiles in preparation for war. And you think to yourself: a) what better time than now to go to Turkey and Iran , and b) It's good to be Canadian? That was my morning! Welcome to my first "e-tale"/ travel blog of 2008 ...

This was a showcase of elements on a 270 degree open stage - three separate Phoenix performances representing water, earth and fire punctuated the large-scale corporate awards ceremony with an infusion of high-end show impact. Our drumming show elevated the crowd as top Senegalese drummer Mamebirane M'boup fired up his solos with full force. All our pieces were amplified by the very nice effect of 360 degree surround video projection. The entire Canadian ...

... union") 5 hours late at 12:30am and went outside to find a cab. It was so much warmer than Jasper, 3 degrees centigrade. We were approached by this grey haired old guy who offered to give us a ride downtown in his new taxi. He herded us in and then squashed in a young New Zealand girl for good measure. We set off and I commented that his meter was not running! Once he dropped off the young girl, Jules asked him why his meter was not running and he said he had a good ...

... was closer to Paradise than i have ever been. at least i was far from my family. i felt the love of the Aina there - the Spirits of the Land. despite the many dysfunctional wounded souls i met, i also connected with many peaceminded folks who were also seeking and achieving deep healing. Hawaii is called the Island of Healing for a reason. you cannot help but feel the power of restoration in that Return to Eden. i shall contemplate my next move. and it shall be very soon.

... from Les Misérables. Accompanied by thunderous hand-clapping, “This Land is Your Land”—with text appropriate for Canadian listeners—was a big encore hit.

Of special note was the guest conductor, Hana Gartner. Well-known in Canada and abroad as a CBC correspondent with "The Fifth Estate," an investigative news program, Ms. Gartner conducted the encore in the evening performance. Her flamboyant conducting style ...

... Bruce Springsteen songs played: 3 to 1 TUESDAY IN IOWA The number of Iowa classic rock stations that have "Two Fer" Tuesdays: 4 The number of Megadeth songs heard while in Iowa: 4 The number of Megadeth songs I've heard on the radio anywhere else in the world: 0 YOU CAN PINPOINT THE EXACT YEAR THESE BANDS STARTED SUCKING The number of different Led Zeppelin songs played: 17 The number of Led Zeppelin songs played that were released after the ...