RAINWATER RAMBLING

We headed downtown today for some shopping at the World's Biggest Bookstore and Mountain Equipment Co-op. We drove to Yorkdale and hopped on the subway. There is no day pass available during the weekdays, so we had to pay full fare ($11.22 with tokens/tickets, otherwise it would be $15.20 cash).

We haven't been down to Dundas and Yonge since they opened up the square. What a difference!

We spotted this guy hanging out of one of the signs.

Here he is hanging out with Bon Jovi.

It was the penultimate day for the Sam the Record Man store. We went in for a final look around and came out with a Little Rascals VHS movie for $1.99.

Looking south along Yonge St.

Everything that was left in the store was 50% off. Now when the girls walk past the signs they can say "I remember when that was a store that was closing down".

From there it was on to the World's Biggest Bookstore and thenOnigiri

The Canon Theatre.

Old City Hall.

We were headed for Nathan Phillips Square to have our onigiri lunch. The Toronto Jazz Festival is on this weekend. We didn't see Uncle Danny eating lunch anywhere, maybe next time.

Susan and the girls.

Me and the girls.

We went up to the walkway that goes around the square. I remember it being closed off more than open in the past.

City Hall

Looking back down on the square.

Winston Churchill with a bird on his head.

After lunch we walked along Queen Street, headed for the MEC.

Claudia spotted a pair of shoes.

At Queen and Peter St.

Smile! One of the Toronto Police street cameras at Peter and Richmond Sts.

After we finished at the MEC, we hopped on a King streetcar to the subway. We were in the front car, here we are pulling into St. Patrick station.

Pulling into Eglinton West.

Claudia fell asleep on the subway.

The girls received their report cards yesterday and they did an excellent job. Claudia had A's and B's, she improved so much from the beginning of the year. Angela and Gillian both received 3rd term academic awards for their hard work. The Recognition Assembly was today, so we took a few hours off work to attend.

A few words of wisdom from the principal.

A flash video (2 MB) of Angela receiving her award.

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Not sure what was so funny.

Angela and a couple of her classmates.

It was a hot day outside, so the gym was hot during the JK-3 assembly, but it was even hotter during the 4-8 assembly.

At one point Mr. Carnevale made all the kids get up and stretch.

A flash video (2 MB) of Gillian receiving her award.

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Gillian and her award.

Gillian and Rachel (right) were the only two in her class to receive it all three terms.

Mr. Carnevale joked that next year he'll have to make the requirements tougher and raise the average from 80% to 90%, because so many students received academic awards.

Only four more days of school left for the girls. Gillian is counting the hours. We got the head's up that Gillian was receiving the academic award again, no word on Angela or Claudia. Today was their final swimming lesson, proud to say that all three passed their levels. Claudia moves to Swimmer 4 and Angela and Gillian are in Rookie Patrol. We had to take Hailey home today, we all enjoyed having her for the weekend.

She knows how to open the screen door to get in and out, too bad she doesn't know how to close it behind her. Click on the picture (Twice in IE) to watch the flash video (0.8 MB).

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She joined Angela and Claudia up in the tower after figuring out the stairs.

This weekend we are looking after Hailey.

Hailey is the girls caregiver's dog. They are north this weekend for a wedding, so we had offered to take her for the weekend. The girls have been around since she was a puppy, so she is very familiar with them. It also gives the girls a little introduction to owning a dog. Hailey giving a little hack, maybe from eating the grass.

Time for a plastic bag. Gillian actually the first to volunteer.

Gillian, not quite dog owner material by the looks of this.

Passing it on to Angela.

Sitting still for a picture.

She sure won't lack attention this weekend.

We are having a house guest this weekend. The girls are looking forward to the visit. You'll have to check back on Saturday to find out more.

Happy Father's Day to all us Dad's!

Headlocks!

With the 30°C weather we had on the weekend, we headed out to Lori's for a swim. We stopped in Dundas on the way out for a visit with Mom and Dad Swan. There was an accident on Highway 5 near Brant St.

Big traffic jams down King St.

Looking down King St.

Ivy covered building.

Antique shop across from Grandma's and Poppa's.

Angela in the pool.

Claudia having a good time.

Say cheese!

Emi

Alex in happier times, see below.

Melissa gave Alex a haircut after dinner. Not looking to pleased.

Starting to look even less pleased.

Not sure if it was the haircut, the plastic bag he was wearing, or the fact everyone was watching him that gave him such a pained look on his face.

The last of the 2006-07 school projects, Claudia handed in her structure project today. She made a doghouse.

I'm thinking we should post all of the projects from this year on e-bay or kijiji.

Gillian had gone swimming at a friends house and Susan had the Parent Council year end BBQ so Angela, Claudia, and I headed over to the splash pad at the community centre.

Afterwards we walked to the lake. Lots of ducks, and tons of catfish feeding near the surface.

Looking north.

The girls on the way back to the car.

Today was Angela's class trip to the CN Tower. We got off to a late start waiting for the school bus to pick us up. They got a free bus for this trip because when they had swimming in the winter the bus was late a couple of weeks. I guess there was no incentive for the bus company to get a free bus to the school on time.

Looking up to the glass floors.

Angela sitting on the floor.

Looking down to the entrance area.

In the Oudoor Observation Deck level.

On the Lookout Level looking north.

Looking down on Roy Thompson Hall, to the right is the TD Tower we were up a couple of weeks ago.

The CBC Building and the Tower's shadow.

Zooming in on a parking lot.

The view looking west.

The GO Train yard.

No acrophobia for Angela.

Going down.

The Rogers Centre. There was a homeless person sleeping just to the left of the picture by the fountain. I'm amazed at the fascination these suburban kids have with a homeless person or "hobo" as they refer to them as.

Another look up.

Angela had a good time.

The Roundhouse that has been in the news lately, something about a Leon's Store going in beside the Steam Whistle Brewery.

One last look at the CN Tower (Punch buggy yellow).

Including today, I have now been up the CN Tower once, it only took me 31 years to get to the top. The girls went up last year with Carolyn, but we had never been up. Now it is only Susan who hasn't been up, one day we'll go and go up to the Sky Pod.

The girls all have projects due this week. Angela and Claudia have projects on structures and Gillian's is on a Renaissance dude. She picked Michelangelo, the painter and sculptor, not the Ninja Turtle.

Angela decided she wanted to make a treehouse. Here she is with the finished project. We'll see if it holds up to the force and load test that it'll undergo in the classroom.

Looking up at the treehouse from the ground.

We're hoping Angela gets her project back before Claudia's is due, then we can just switch the name. No, Claudia has already started her project, I'll post pictures later in the week.

More flowers from our garden.

Angela enjoying a beautiful day.

Angela and Claudia hanging out.

As part of Angela's unit on Structures, her class is going to the CN Tower on Tuesday. I was one of the lucky ones to get picked as a volunteer for this trip. The forecast is sunny and 22 degrees down by the lake. Looking forward to the trip.

Where were you when the storm went through on Friday. It was about 4:30 and the girls and I were in Wal-Mart checking out and the cash we were at was right in front of the doors. I mentioned to Gillian how dark it was getting. With all the construction going on around the store, the wind was really kicking up the dust. The manager came in from outside and got on the PA system, telling customers not to leave the store. Colgate had a few of the canopies set-up out front when we walked in, and as we stood there waiting to pay, we watched one of them go flying by the front doors. Eventually we made it to our car and home.

Claudia received a birthday present in the mail today. It was from the Reynold's in Seattle. Here is Claudia opening the package.

Claudia and her Webkinz. Webkinz are plush pets that each come with a unique Secret Code that lets you enter Webkinz World and play with a virtual version of your pet.

We headed out to Mountsberg Conservation Area this morning to pick up Gillian from Guide camp. This fungi was growing on one of the tree stumps.

The 257th Girl Guides.

The third year girls.

Angela playing with some catepillars.

Closing ceremony.

"Window"

We drove past the "Temporary North Pole"

Sign close-up.

It was a hot day for a birthday barbeque for Claudia. We had a good time celebrating Claudia's 7th birthday.
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Opening her presents.

Concentrating hard to open a present.

Curious on-lookers.

Colin (or Patrick) and Eric.

Singing happy birthday. I'm trying a new video format and player, let me know if you cannot view the video (3 MB). Click on the picture (twice) to start.

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Claudia catching bubbles.

Angela making bubbles.

This weekend is the end of the Guiding season for us. Gillian is off to her final Guide Camp at Mountsberg Conservation Area. WE had to walk in to where they were camping.

We had to cross the tracks.

The third years starting to put up their tent.

Saying good-bye to Gillian.

Some of the baby goslings in the park.

The protective mother moving them along.