Heard some sad news today about one my favourite places in the world.
Niagara Falls tourism is down - way down. The main reason for this is that the U.S. and Canada have instituted a new initiative with regards to people needing passports to cross the border. This prevents the easy flow of tourists from one area to the other. I myself don't have a passport and therefore have been gearing all my vacations around staying here in Ontario.
Niagara Falls is gorgeous and you can go there and spend a little money, or spend a lot. It is true that many activities in Niagara Falls can be enjoyed without spending a penny. Walking along the Falls, checking out all the sights and sounds of people walking on Clifton Hill, Checking out all the lights on the falls at night in the summer months, or going to the festival of lights held for the end of November and December depicting a variety of Christmas Lights displays. There something so magical about going to the Falls.
The sad thing is, if you want to do anything in the Falls, namely along the main tourist spot Clifton Hill, you are going to pay for it. Restaurants are all just that much more money and each attraction carries a hefty price tag. All of the hotels close to the falls or the casino cost a pretty penny - even if they don't have a good view - or any view at all in some hotels. The last time we went there, we had an expensive hotel with the most desirable postal code - but our room's window looked out into a hallway and the air was hot and disgusting.
I'm hoping that perhaps this means they might actually do more to make it worth your while. Correct the prices a bit so that everyone will want to go there again. Once that happens, maybe we'll be more apt to go back there.
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Monday 20 July 2009
Shake your groove thing
Guys, let me let you in on a little secret.
A girl does not care that you know how to dance or that you look good doing it. We just want you to get out there and do it.
We all started out young at weddings or parties watching our parents out there on the dance floor. My father would grab onto my mother and would glide her around the dance floor. She was a princess floating around on a cloud as he led her with a smooth flow. The few times I've had the pleasure of dancing with my father have been some of the happiest times of my life. If my father can make it look good just by trying - you can too.
Now every guy is willing to try slow dancing. Generally it's just a step from one side to the other in a circle. Nothing wrong with that!
But what about the fast songs??? Will you dance to those???
Most men will answer no to that question. Some women would too. People are so afraid that people would look at them oddly if they stepped outside the box and made a funny move - but the truth is - everyone has to start somewhere. Wouldn't you rather be involved in the action?
Like many women, I had to kiss a few frogs before finding my prince. And many of the frogs didn't want to dance. Sure they'd dance in the privacy of their own rooms, but rarely fast. Put them at a party or a big event where music was taking place and they'd rather sit at the sidelines and grumble at those on the dance floor. Many of them were jealous of all the guys on the floor getting the attention from the ladies. Some even accused me of flirting as I was dancing in the same circle. What was it that made them feel threatened? Oh that's right - they weren't having fun. Nothing was holding them back, but their own insecurities, and it was those insecurities that were really inattractive.
When my prince came along, I wasn't sure if he'd be willing to dance. He's 6'2" and has lots of arms and legs that could flail around just might embarrass him. However, the first time we were together and I found myself on the dance floor with friends, within minutes he was up there with me. Dancing as crazy and silly as me. He keeps a flow going, which really is what dancing is all about. Sure he's about a half a beat behind me, but he's out there and he's trying and he doesn't care who's watching him. He has fun with it and isn't afraid to be stared at or made fun of. If anything, he smiles right along and keeps on going. Through that, no one makes fun and I guarantee there are guys on the sidelines envying his ability. They wish they could be him because he's having fun and they are on the sidelines.
With that - gentleman - get out on the dancefloor. Make your special lady proud!
A girl does not care that you know how to dance or that you look good doing it. We just want you to get out there and do it.
We all started out young at weddings or parties watching our parents out there on the dance floor. My father would grab onto my mother and would glide her around the dance floor. She was a princess floating around on a cloud as he led her with a smooth flow. The few times I've had the pleasure of dancing with my father have been some of the happiest times of my life. If my father can make it look good just by trying - you can too.
Now every guy is willing to try slow dancing. Generally it's just a step from one side to the other in a circle. Nothing wrong with that!
But what about the fast songs??? Will you dance to those???
Most men will answer no to that question. Some women would too. People are so afraid that people would look at them oddly if they stepped outside the box and made a funny move - but the truth is - everyone has to start somewhere. Wouldn't you rather be involved in the action?
Like many women, I had to kiss a few frogs before finding my prince. And many of the frogs didn't want to dance. Sure they'd dance in the privacy of their own rooms, but rarely fast. Put them at a party or a big event where music was taking place and they'd rather sit at the sidelines and grumble at those on the dance floor. Many of them were jealous of all the guys on the floor getting the attention from the ladies. Some even accused me of flirting as I was dancing in the same circle. What was it that made them feel threatened? Oh that's right - they weren't having fun. Nothing was holding them back, but their own insecurities, and it was those insecurities that were really inattractive.
When my prince came along, I wasn't sure if he'd be willing to dance. He's 6'2" and has lots of arms and legs that could flail around just might embarrass him. However, the first time we were together and I found myself on the dance floor with friends, within minutes he was up there with me. Dancing as crazy and silly as me. He keeps a flow going, which really is what dancing is all about. Sure he's about a half a beat behind me, but he's out there and he's trying and he doesn't care who's watching him. He has fun with it and isn't afraid to be stared at or made fun of. If anything, he smiles right along and keeps on going. Through that, no one makes fun and I guarantee there are guys on the sidelines envying his ability. They wish they could be him because he's having fun and they are on the sidelines.
With that - gentleman - get out on the dancefloor. Make your special lady proud!
Sunday 19 July 2009
Finding who I am
I've been doing a lot of thinking and soul searching lately. Something in my life just hasn't been clicking and it's really made me pretty depressed and out of it. After some screaming and crying and finally understanding, I came to understand that the majority of people in my life don't actually know the real me.
Something happened about 13 years ago when I was in my last year of
high school. I was dating an older guy, I had friends who were all going off to college and I thought "Hey why don't I look into that too?" I wasn't able to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, and so I implored family and friends who knew me well to help me figure out what I should apply for. Back then, my writing was something that people actually enjoyed, knew that I enjoyed and they all thought I could turn my writing into a career. They all thought I should sign up for Journalism as that was an option that allowed me to keep writing. What they didn't know, and that I didn't know, was that the writing in that field was completely different than what I really enjoyed doing. Within months they had broken down your writing skills. They did warn us - we have to break it down and build you back up so that you write like a journalist. By the end, I forgot how to write creatively.
My friends currently (other than one or two that were around at that time) didn't know that I worked as a journalist and that I've been published many times. They probably knew that I worked as a photographer but wouldn't have any idea of my beginnings. I wanted to write, not take pictures. My photography was getting better as time went on at the paper, but it could be that I was more creative and willing to try different things that I felt were more newsworthy or visually attractive. Through that, I wanted something more permanent and full time. So I took a job at a portrait studio.
The portrait studio was fun, I got to make people smile for a living and there were very strict rules for the photos. I began to understand how great a clean classic shot could be. Angles, planes, composition, all these things became something I thought about unconsciously every day. I did have fun, but it wasn't really where I wanted to go. I grew into being a strong trainer, but I think it was the following of the rules.
Then I found myself as a career counsellor. I was able to sit and look at all sorts of different careers and every day I thought about what I'd be when I grew up. I learned some good skills, but I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had great careers and who knew where I was going to go and what I was going to do.
Now I've found a job that I actually really enjoy in a company that I really like and I don't want to move on. But my friends now seem to keep wanting to push me back to photography. They think I'm not happy and think the photography is something I should be doing.
I know that I've done many shoots for my friends and they've reaped the rewards of my training and experience. I haven't really charged any of them as I've looked at it as being a favour. But it feels really good when they liked the photos so much that they've felt inclined to tip me. Even if it was just to pay for my gas, it made me feel so good as it means they actually liked my work. It was fun, but is it something I really want to do forever? And how will my friends feel if I actually started charging for my work - which is what I should've been doing from the beginning.
I don't know what's been going on for the past few months but my brain has felt completely drained and every time someone mentions taking pictures it actually makes me a little angry. I don't know why, as they are just acting on what they think I want to do or what I'm good at. However I feel that they are pushing me in a direction that I don't want. I want to be in control of my own destiny - I don't want to have to be pushed into it.
After all - I never set out to be a photographer.
Finally broke down yesterday and I feel so awful for what some things I said to my darling husband. But through breaking down and finally being able to open up and have him listen and have him open up and me listen, we were able to really start to understand each other's point of view. I finally see where things have gone wrong.
My current friends don't know about my writing. They don't know what I can do and what I have done. They have no idea that I'm acutally good at something. I need to get back to that me that I was before. I need to look inside myself and pull the writer out. Sure I'll bring the camera out when I feel like it, but I'm not going to be forced into it. I'm going to be who I am.
I am a voracious reader.
I like all different genres of stories.
I prefer to write from personal experience.
I have a hard time writing without some kind of personal touch.
I cannot fantasize about fantastical worlds and therefore cannot write about them.
I enjoy poetry - both writing and reading.
I really want to be involved in my craft.
I will find me again.
Something happened about 13 years ago when I was in my last year of
high school. I was dating an older guy, I had friends who were all going off to college and I thought "Hey why don't I look into that too?" I wasn't able to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, and so I implored family and friends who knew me well to help me figure out what I should apply for. Back then, my writing was something that people actually enjoyed, knew that I enjoyed and they all thought I could turn my writing into a career. They all thought I should sign up for Journalism as that was an option that allowed me to keep writing. What they didn't know, and that I didn't know, was that the writing in that field was completely different than what I really enjoyed doing. Within months they had broken down your writing skills. They did warn us - we have to break it down and build you back up so that you write like a journalist. By the end, I forgot how to write creatively.My friends currently (other than one or two that were around at that time) didn't know that I worked as a journalist and that I've been published many times. They probably knew that I worked as a photographer but wouldn't have any idea of my beginnings. I wanted to write, not take pictures. My photography was getting better as time went on at the paper, but it could be that I was more creative and willing to try different things that I felt were more newsworthy or visually attractive. Through that, I wanted something more permanent and full time. So I took a job at a portrait studio.
The portrait studio was fun, I got to make people smile for a living and there were very strict rules for the photos. I began to understand how great a clean classic shot could be. Angles, planes, composition, all these things became something I thought about unconsciously every day. I did have fun, but it wasn't really where I wanted to go. I grew into being a strong trainer, but I think it was the following of the rules.
Then I found myself as a career counsellor. I was able to sit and look at all sorts of different careers and every day I thought about what I'd be when I grew up. I learned some good skills, but I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had great careers and who knew where I was going to go and what I was going to do.
Now I've found a job that I actually really enjoy in a company that I really like and I don't want to move on. But my friends now seem to keep wanting to push me back to photography. They think I'm not happy and think the photography is something I should be doing.
I know that I've done many shoots for my friends and they've reaped the rewards of my training and experience. I haven't really charged any of them as I've looked at it as being a favour. But it feels really good when they liked the photos so much that they've felt inclined to tip me. Even if it was just to pay for my gas, it made me feel so good as it means they actually liked my work. It was fun, but is it something I really want to do forever? And how will my friends feel if I actually started charging for my work - which is what I should've been doing from the beginning.
I don't know what's been going on for the past few months but my brain has felt completely drained and every time someone mentions taking pictures it actually makes me a little angry. I don't know why, as they are just acting on what they think I want to do or what I'm good at. However I feel that they are pushing me in a direction that I don't want. I want to be in control of my own destiny - I don't want to have to be pushed into it.
After all - I never set out to be a photographer.
Finally broke down yesterday and I feel so awful for what some things I said to my darling husband. But through breaking down and finally being able to open up and have him listen and have him open up and me listen, we were able to really start to understand each other's point of view. I finally see where things have gone wrong.
My current friends don't know about my writing. They don't know what I can do and what I have done. They have no idea that I'm acutally good at something. I need to get back to that me that I was before. I need to look inside myself and pull the writer out. Sure I'll bring the camera out when I feel like it, but I'm not going to be forced into it. I'm going to be who I am.
I am a voracious reader.
I like all different genres of stories.
I prefer to write from personal experience.
I have a hard time writing without some kind of personal touch.
I cannot fantasize about fantastical worlds and therefore cannot write about them.
I enjoy poetry - both writing and reading.
I really want to be involved in my craft.
I will find me again.
Monday 13 July 2009
Oh Chucky!
So in about 6 months my lovely husband is turning the big 3-0! That's an awesome thing all together, but he's got a grand plan and really wants to see it through.
He'd like an adult party at Chucky Cheese
"They serve beer there," he says with smile as if that's all the explanation he needs.
His love of a great ball room is clouding his judgement I think. But as this is a huge event in a person's life, I really want to make sure that his birthday party is as close to his wishes as possible.
The pizza should be easy enough - I can order in a bunch to be delivered, people can come and drink beers. We can have loud fun music - perhaps even great pop tunes from our childhood including Reece's Pieces and anything else that people can come up with. I can put out colouring books and crayons, pop on video games on the tv in the basement and we can have a blast.
The tricky part will be the ball room. Our house is really open concept so finding a way to have a ball room will be a little bit difficult. Also, how important will it be if the balls are all one size? What if I called upon all my friends and family and got as many balls as possible to fill say a blow up swimming pool. We can then throw James in and he can play to his hearts content! Or perhaps we could try and blow up thousands of balloons and do something with that as a pseudo ball room.
Only problem with a house party Chucky Cheese style would be the animatronics. I really don't think I can arrange something like that. But I might be able to convince someone to dress up like a giant mouse.
I can see the awesomeness now!
I know that his dream is actually going to Chucky Cheese so I will look into this option as well. Chucky Cheese is located within somewhat stumbling distance from our house. I say somewhat - as in Februrary it might not be a good option - but say in July/August on a warm night for sure.
So - the hours are good - Sunday through Thursday until 10pm and Friday and Saturday until 11. We could, by rights, go after the little munchkins are in bed.
The party packages actually look like they include a bunch of things - but they keep mentioning children. James really wants an adults only party so I'm not sure that they would be the same prices. They have two packages - Star and Super Star. $16.99 to $22.99 per child - but that only covers two slices per child. I don't think I'd be able to cover the complete cost of this for ALL our friends. Hmmm.....
I think this allows some questions. Maybe we could coordinate people to come and then pizza to be delivered after all the games? Lots to think about - but either way, I'm going to try and make his birthday one to remember!
He'd like an adult party at Chucky Cheese
"They serve beer there," he says with smile as if that's all the explanation he needs.
His love of a great ball room is clouding his judgement I think. But as this is a huge event in a person's life, I really want to make sure that his birthday party is as close to his wishes as possible.
The pizza should be easy enough - I can order in a bunch to be delivered, people can come and drink beers. We can have loud fun music - perhaps even great pop tunes from our childhood including Reece's Pieces and anything else that people can come up with. I can put out colouring books and crayons, pop on video games on the tv in the basement and we can have a blast.
The tricky part will be the ball room. Our house is really open concept so finding a way to have a ball room will be a little bit difficult. Also, how important will it be if the balls are all one size? What if I called upon all my friends and family and got as many balls as possible to fill say a blow up swimming pool. We can then throw James in and he can play to his hearts content! Or perhaps we could try and blow up thousands of balloons and do something with that as a pseudo ball room.
Only problem with a house party Chucky Cheese style would be the animatronics. I really don't think I can arrange something like that. But I might be able to convince someone to dress up like a giant mouse.
I can see the awesomeness now!
I know that his dream is actually going to Chucky Cheese so I will look into this option as well. Chucky Cheese is located within somewhat stumbling distance from our house. I say somewhat - as in Februrary it might not be a good option - but say in July/August on a warm night for sure.So - the hours are good - Sunday through Thursday until 10pm and Friday and Saturday until 11. We could, by rights, go after the little munchkins are in bed.
The party packages actually look like they include a bunch of things - but they keep mentioning children. James really wants an adults only party so I'm not sure that they would be the same prices. They have two packages - Star and Super Star. $16.99 to $22.99 per child - but that only covers two slices per child. I don't think I'd be able to cover the complete cost of this for ALL our friends. Hmmm.....
I think this allows some questions. Maybe we could coordinate people to come and then pizza to be delivered after all the games? Lots to think about - but either way, I'm going to try and make his birthday one to remember!
Sunday 12 July 2009
That's Deelish!
A while ago my husband created a food website that was focused on different things that he's made. Feel free to visit it at www.deelish.ca.
I personally think my husband makes some of the best meals I've ever had. Sure we don't always agree in that I like creamy sauces, and he'd prefer more of a spicy barbecue type, but the foods he makes are amazing. I remember the first time I realized his prowess as a cook in the kitchen. He decided to make meatloaf. I was so skeptical. My mother (whom I LOVE dearly) tends to make a drier meatloaf with not a lot of flavour. It's pretty much just meat in a loaf form mixed with onions. Anyone that knows me knows that onions are NOT on my things to eat list. However my sister says it's her favourite thing my mother makes.
So when James said he wanted to make me meatloaf I really was worried about the results. He assured me that I'd like it. I went to the kitchener nad watched as he started to throw down. I didn't dare interrupt or say anything as I wanted to see how things came out. He put it all together and threw it in the crock pot. "The crock pot? that's not a loaf pan!" I thought to myself but I let him go at it. As it slowly cooked the scents and aromas really did peak my curiosity. Every time I walked past the pot I was drawn in by how it actually looked really good. I found myself salivating before it even hit my plate.
Once it had cooked for the desired time he took it out, cut it and put some on my plate and his. "Here goes nothing" I said as I cut into my first piece. When it hit my mouth I was shocked by how moist it was. So flavourful. I couldn't believe that this delicious meal was meatloaf!
Maybe I'm biased as for the most part we have the same like and dislikes when it comes to food, but he really is a great cook. Sure it takes some trial and error, and maybe he does cook only to his taste, but I love having a chef in the family!
I personally think my husband makes some of the best meals I've ever had. Sure we don't always agree in that I like creamy sauces, and he'd prefer more of a spicy barbecue type, but the foods he makes are amazing. I remember the first time I realized his prowess as a cook in the kitchen. He decided to make meatloaf. I was so skeptical. My mother (whom I LOVE dearly) tends to make a drier meatloaf with not a lot of flavour. It's pretty much just meat in a loaf form mixed with onions. Anyone that knows me knows that onions are NOT on my things to eat list. However my sister says it's her favourite thing my mother makes.
So when James said he wanted to make me meatloaf I really was worried about the results. He assured me that I'd like it. I went to the kitchener nad watched as he started to throw down. I didn't dare interrupt or say anything as I wanted to see how things came out. He put it all together and threw it in the crock pot. "The crock pot? that's not a loaf pan!" I thought to myself but I let him go at it. As it slowly cooked the scents and aromas really did peak my curiosity. Every time I walked past the pot I was drawn in by how it actually looked really good. I found myself salivating before it even hit my plate.
Once it had cooked for the desired time he took it out, cut it and put some on my plate and his. "Here goes nothing" I said as I cut into my first piece. When it hit my mouth I was shocked by how moist it was. So flavourful. I couldn't believe that this delicious meal was meatloaf!
Maybe I'm biased as for the most part we have the same like and dislikes when it comes to food, but he really is a great cook. Sure it takes some trial and error, and maybe he does cook only to his taste, but I love having a chef in the family!
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