Ouch. . .

I'm just getting over the pain of a pulled wisdom tooth. It really wasn't as bad as I thought but still not something I would ever want to repeat. My dentist is pretty good but there is no way to hide the fact that tooth removal is more about brute force than anything else. I don't think I was able to hide the fact that I kind of get nervous when people want to exercise brute force anywhere near my mouth.

At least I had the Bidiniband's disc to listen to while I convalesced. Very good. Makes me kind of wistful for the Rheos but that's a good thing.

Anyways, my father came down last weekend bearing birthday gifts and cake. We went out to the islands on Saturday and spent three hours biking around in the glorious sunshine. I'm going to have to get out there again before the weather turns too cool.

As for the birthday day itself, I worked 15 hours. Even worse, I had to be back in to work again for 4 the next morning so there were no festivities to be had. Which is fine actually. I'm saving up for next year when my friend Ezio and I plan to take Manhatten again for the first time in a decade. Should be a nice way to mark my 35'th trip around the sun.

If anybody is looking for something good to read, check out Richard Russo's latest, That Old Cape Magic. A very good novel indeed.

Well, I think it I'm feeling well enough to start doing some cleaning. I'll leave you with some pics from last weekend:



Even the swans hang out at the Islands on a sunny day.






It's a dedicated grandfather that will sit down opposite a turtle statue to get a picture for his granddaughter.


Well into his sixth decade, my father still looks at all rope ladders and jungle gyms as challenges.

Wandering the Islands

My sisters Charity and Nikki came down to the city for the night last week. It was a great time. They used hotwire and got a great rate on a really nice hotel that just happened to be next to the ferry docks. On Friday, we took the ferry across to the islands, rented some bikes and explored. It was their first time over there. Truly one of the Toronto's (not so) hidden gems.

(My sisters have final approval on all shots I took of them so no pics of them until (and if) they approve)



It sure is a lot quieter in the first week after Labour Day. I kind of like it that way.


My trusty rented steed. It's been so long since I had a bike with coaster brakes. Has me seriously thinking of getting a new bike by spring.


My sister Charity took this one. You do get a great view of the city from the islands.




No idea who these people are but it made for a nice shot.


The view from my sisters' hotel room. If they faced the other way, it would be endless condos for as far as the eye can see. Well, maybe not that far but you get the picture.

If they cut out Potter, Twilight, BrAngelina, Dan Brown and American Idol. . .

. . . it would be so much shorter:

http://www.cartridgesave.co.uk/news/if-you-printed-the-internet/

In other news, for those of you looking for a good thriller to read on your commute, don't buy the latest Dan Brown tome. Pick up Andrew Pyper's The Killing Circle instead. You will be pleasantly surprised to learn that a thrilling page turner can actually be well written. It's also unabashedly Canadian, which is a very good thing.

So it wasn't a perfect book season, after all. . .

With all the great books coming out this fall - Russo, Munro, Atwood, Irving, etc. etc. etc. - it really sucks to see Indigo employees out in Union Station selling the latest Dan Brown book. I mean, isn't he going to sell enough books as it is?

I do like the idea of booksellers in the concourse. It's a neat idea. Get to the commuters before they head for the train. I just wish they'd pick a better book the sell.

Argh. . .

5 Bucks

I went to the CNE on Tuesday night. After 5 in the evening it is only 5 bucks to get in. Which worked perfectly for me because I really just wanted to photograph the midway in the evening.

I wasn't the only one with that idea. There was a photography club out with a bunch of really big expensive cameras and tripods. It was kind of interesting watching them set up for their perfect shots. Me, I just wandered and shot. No tripod (though I may bring one next year) but I was able to find enough fences and garbage cans to provide stability when I needed it.

Nothing says summer is ending like a midway on a clear evening: