Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Ask WIGSF: the Answers

February 1, 2008

Thanks to everybody who wrote in. I very much enjoyed reading your questions and I very much enjoyed responding to them.

To really get into the questions, I’ve tried reading them in what I’d think the voice of each writer is like. Most of the writers, I’ve never heard their voices. A lot of it is guess work based on the writing style. I have included a description of each voice so you can play along too.

Maxie asked in a valley girl voice: If I was visiting Canada, where should I go and what should I do? Do you think people are nicer in Canada?

If you were to visit Canada, there are many places to go. It is a pretty big country. If you like to ski and all that goes with the ski resort mentality, Banff, Alberta. Really pricey, but apparently its pretty nice. If you need a heroin fix, Vancouver. If you like watching women take their clothes off for money while being surrounded by snooty French people, Montreal. If you want green, rolling hills and nothing else, the east coast. Otherwise, Toronto. Its the biggest city in Canada and therefore has all the big city stuff. The nightclub scene is a bit to urban for my liking but to each his/her own, right? And if you like really big phallic symbols, there is none bigger than the CN Tower.

As for whether or not Canadians are nicer. We’re not. The Ministry of Tourism has recently enacted a new policy where all tourists are spat at upon entering the country. If you’re driving in, when the customs official asks “Can I see your passport,” duck. That official has got a loogie with your name on it. You don’t want to know what we do to people arriving by the airplane (we’ve only got the one).

But I guess the one definitive good thing about my nation, better beer. Okay, not so much better taste-wise, its more like beer in Canada is an alcoholic beverage. Even the imports are stronger in Canada. A bottle of Heinekin in the States (~3%) is different from a botttle of Heinekin in Canada (~5%), although they’re both imported from the same place.

I can’t speak for restaurants outside Toronto, but the ones in Toronto are great. I don’t think enough is said about the dining experience in Toronto. Just stay out of the restaurants in Toronto’s Scarborough area. For some reason, all the restuarants there have crumby service.

In conclusion, if you get a chance, come up here. Give Toronto a try. Its a nice place to visit. Especially in the Spring or Autumn. That’s when the weather is really nice. The Summer might be too humid for spending any amount of time outdoors.


Dan asked like that good drinking buddy every guy has: What’s up with that $500 bet you made a while back? Any progress?

Good question Dan. As it turns out, the agreement was not as I described it originally. From later discussions with pals Bob and Columbia, it was determined that Columbia is going to pay $500 dollars to the first of me or Bob to do the dirty deed with a woman in a manner that is consistent with a set of rules that were agreed upon.

As for any progress, on my part, no progress has been achieved. I haven’t actually tried. There is a part of me that really wants Bob to take this challenge. He needs it more than me (the sex, not the money). Of course, there is also a part of me that is forgetting what boobs look like.

I also see the situation from a financial perspective. Sure, if I win, I’ll get $500. But how much will it cost me in dinners, drinks, flowers and shit like that. Frankly, the $500 won’t cover my expenses. It may be cheaper in the long run just to get a hooker. And with a hooker, there’s none of that relationship bullshit bogging me down afterwards.


Bob asked trying to be sly but failing miserably: I don’t know where to start, so many questions to ask, so little time: 1) Do you plan on working for your boss for the rest of your life? 2) Who is going to win the NBA championship this season? 3) Are you planning on moving anytime in the next 5 years? 4) Who is going to win the Superbowl? 5) Do you want to go to my bro’s on saturday night?

1) Only the rest of his life.

2) Kobe.

3) No. I love it in Maple.

4) The New England Patriots.

5) Not really.


Miss Ash asked in a firm, angry feminist voice, almost acusitory in tone: Yes I would also like to know the progress on the bet. As well as: 2)Who do you live with? 3)Why do you dislike women so much?

2) My wife.

3) See answer #2.

Okay, seriously, I didn’t always dislike women, I used to like them. Then I realized they all disliked me. I’m not willing to bend over backwards to appease them and their irrational hatred of all things me. I’m better than that. If they don’t like me, that’s their problem, not mine.


Wiwille asked in generic manly curious tone: 1) Do you have any desire to be involved in matrimony? 2) Why do you believe Miss Ash is the hotness? 3) Would you ever be an activist in Canadian politics? 4) Ginger or Mary Ann? 5) Does your obesssion with modern music mask the fact that your secret desire is to be a world champion square dancer?

1) Right now, I think my current level of matrimonial involvement is plenty. Honestly, I’m just not sold on the whole ’till death part. People can live for a long time these days. I don’t see somebody putting up with me for more than a week let alone a lifetime.

2) She ain’t half bad to look at, you know, when she’s not tomato red. And she likes Bowie.

3) Possibly. If it ever gets to the point where the socialist powers that rule this country ever make direct efforts to negatively alter my lifestyle (or that of my family), I may have to put aside the rhetoric and physically take a stand.

4) Mary Ann.

5) I have no desire to be a world champion square dancer. I’m not much for the dancing. The music I enjoy very much. As for modern music, if you’re thinking modern music is just new music, screw that shit. Its all junk. But if by modern you mean music of the 20th century and on, well, there’s just so much of it. Prior to that century, audio recording wasn’t in existance. Sure, classical music has some great pieces, but all we have of Mozart and Beethoven is the sheet music, we don’t have the performances themselves.


Helloblog asked in thick accent, not sure exactly which one, something British: 1. How do you like your tea? Strong or rather milky? And do you perfer it in a cup or a mug? (Yeah, that’s right, i’m combining questions). 2. Do you know my mum’s boss, Mario? He is also from Canada. 3. Who won the FA cup in 1988?

1. I like my tea strong but I often use a bit soy milk instead of any other whitener. I also change the amount of sugar I use from time to time. Right now, a spoon and a half of sugar. And I drink it in a mug. I’ve actually got a couple of those large mugs that fits nearly a litre of tea.

2. I’m an Italian Canadian. Do you have any idea how many people I’ve met named Mario?

3. Wimbledon.


Shae asked, how to describe that tone, high of pitch with a generous dosage of happiness and curiosity: 1) What makes your world go round? 2) What’s your ideal woman? 3) Ginger or Mary Ann? (I’m copying wiwille!)

JOY!

I’m going to answer #2 first. My ideal woman, I’ve covered this before but I’ll sum it up for ya. She’s funny, passionate, musical, and enjoys a good meal; therefore she doesn’t exist.

My world, well, my world is Earth and based on generally accepted scientic theories, it goes around because of the Sun’s gravitational pull. For more details, ask somebody who has studied astrophysics. I’ve got a diploma in computer programming, that’s it. I was never that interested in physics.

But if you were asking that question in a more metaphysical tone, well, its got nothing to do with the Sun. My world revolves around finding pleasure in the simple things. I don’t have oodles of money, I don’t sleep with supermodels and I keep my nose clean. Pleasure, happiness, its all around. An evening walk through a lightly snowed on park, fried chicken, turning on the radio and hearing a great song I’ve haven’t heard in a long time, stuff like that. That’s what makes my world go round.

And again, Mary Ann.


Jessica asked in a simple, bland manner: Do people in your real like know about this here blog? Was there ever a WIGSF 1.0?

Them is some good questions. A couple of people I know in life read this blog. Bob and Juice stop by from time to time.

When I started blogging, I used Blogger but after some screwy technical difficulties I was having with the site during the whole Blogger Beta fiasco, I switched over to WordPress. When I made that switch, I chose to change up the name, just a bit. This is my second significant attempt at blogging. I think the version 2.0 is both appropriate and nerdy. And Jessica, I’m a nerd, a big one.

I Love Tea

January 24, 2008

I love tea. There, I said it. Its a wonderful beverage.

teacup.jpg

This past October, I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake with some family from out of town. There, I found this wonderful little tea shop. Knowing that its a bit of drive to Niagara, I figured I’d stock up on tea.

There really aren’t a lot of nice tea shops around me. Metro found this one shop on Yonge Street in Toronto. But its in this part of Toronto that I never visit. There’s nothing else around there that I would want to do and see. At least in Niagara, there’s a bit more stuff to see and do, in terms of making a day of it. It feels like a bit of a waste for me to go to Davisville just for tea, but less of a waste for me to drive all the way to Niagara for tea. In Niagara I can see some wineries, take a nice walk down the main street in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Sometimes I like to do girlie things like that. (I think I’m still in that girlie mood I was in yesterday. This can’t be good.) Niagara is a nice Saturday afternoon daytrip.

I usually get my tea at William Sonoma. They’ve got some nice tea and the selection is always changing. The stuff there is better than at a grocery store or a coffee shop, but still not as good as that Niagara tea.

Well, that tea I bought in October turned out to be some really great tea. Especially the Canadian maple syrup tea. That is some really wonderful tea. Realizing that my quantities began to dwindle, I’ve stopped drinking it as frequently as before. Instead, I’ve been drinking the assortments of tea I got this past Christmas. As soon as the weather gets a bit better, I’m off to Niagara. Maybe I’ll make a quick stop at that record store in Burlington. Its on the way. It would be a shame not to take a quick peek and get some LPs.

Vacation Plans Have Almost Started

November 14, 2007

Well, I’ve started putting some more consideration towards my vacation. I told my boss that I am taking a vacation in either January or February. I’ve got a couple of bucks squirrelled away. All I need now is the destination.

Currently, the Canadian dollar is at an advantage over the American dollar. This doesn’t happen very often so it may be good to go somewhere in the US to take advantage of the mighty Loonie. And the Canadian dollar has dipped a bit next to the Euro so maybe Europe will have to wait.

So, here are the possible destinations I’ve thought of so far.

  • New York City. Obviously a wonderful city. Lots of art and museums. Lots of night-time hotspots. Lots of music. But it is New York City in the winter. There is more annual snowfall in NYC than there is right in the GTA.
  • Texas. Probably some of the more southern parts of the state. I’m a bit of a fickle history nut. San Antonio obviously has the Alamo. But that’s really all I know about Texas history. The Alamo. There’s millions upon millions of people in Texas. Its pretty friggin’ huge and there’s oil there. Some interesting stuff must have happened there in the past two hundred years. Beats me what that might be though. To better my inform my decision about whether or not to go to Texas, I’ve sent away for some tourism pamphlets and books and such about Texas. If there’s something in those that can help sway my decision, then off to Texas I shall go.
  • Las Vegas. I’m not much of a gambler and it seems like one of those places it would be better to go with some friends. I will be traveling solo. Vegas may be a no-go for me. Besides, I need somebody to hold me back if I get shitfaced and try to marry some wrinkled and old cocktail waitress looking for a third husband to marry and divorce. (Yes, everything I know about Las Vegas I learned from watching television.)
  • Washington D.C. I would love to go back to the Smithsonian and actually see the whole thing. Otherwise, I’ve done all the other touristy things there. In case your curious, President Lincoln didn’t really say anything to me when I asked him for advice. And President Jefferson didn’t seem upset at all that I went to Lincoln first.
  • Cleveland - I might have to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame once in my life. But it feels like more of a summer long weekend trip to me. That way the weather’s nice and I can see an Indians game.
  • New Orleans. I could go to Mardi Gras, but I’d like to think that I’m too old to just get drunk off my ass for an entire week. Besides, I’d be that guy all the college kids point at and say “Who brought the old dude?” Its not like I’m that old. I’m still on the pretty side of thirty but I’ve reached that point where I can no longer physically handle shotgunning cans of beer. I’m at that casually-drinking-Jack-Daniels-until-I-realize-half-the-bottle-is-gone-then-feeling-like-a-zombie-the-next-day age.

If anybody reading this has been to any of these places and knows something I don’t, speak up. If anybody has some good ideas for some other places, speak up louder.

Recommended Listening: No Particular Place To Go by Chuck Berry.

Time Travel

October 26, 2007

I’ve often wondered what I would do if I could travel back in time. Would I go back two thousand years and meet Jesus? Would I find out what actually killed the dinosaurs? Who killed John F. Kennedy? Find out what was up with Mona Lisa?

I wouldn’t do any of those things. I would go back to the 1970s and watch some concerts by some of my favourite musical artists. Maybe buy some records that are pretty hard to find today, that’s about it.

If I was to travel back in time, I don’t think I’d have a Doc Brown to help me out. I would have to do everything myself. Therefore I have prepared a time travel kit and I keep it with me at all times if I accidently get sent back to the 1970s. I can’t take any money because today’s money won’t work there. What I do have is some clothes that can pass off as somewhat normal clothing. Blue jeans and t-shirts, neither have changed much in the past thirty years. I have also packed some jewelery and a sports almanac.

First thing I do is hawk the jewels. That way I get some cash. Using that cash I can make some bets on sporting events. With the almanac, I can guarentee some victories and keep a steady stream on income from the betting. The key, don’t get greedy and purposely lose a couple of bets to keep the bookies from thinking I’m always right. I don’t want them to get suspicious and then starting breaking my legs.

With some money, I can stay at a decent hotel, eat out every night and buy concert tickets and maybe some records. Basically, it would be like a vacation to a funky 1970s themed Las Vegas casino.

If you could travel back in time, what time would you travel to and what would you do?

Recommended Listening: Back in Time by Huey Lewis and the News.

WIGSF Visits Niagara, Takes Photos

October 23, 2007

I wrote the last post in a bit of haste. So, no photos went up with the post. Now, I’m not much for photo taking but I saw something that needed to be shown to the masses. There’s some bar in Niagara Falls that thinks its mascot should be a giant penis.

You read that right, giant penis.

giant penis man 1

Next time you’re in Niagara Falls, you can join him to watch some sports.

giant penis man 2

During commercials breaks, you can try to beat him at darts. But watch out, he’s got aim. Unfortunetely, the patrons don’t, the floor in the men’s room was an awful mess.

Recommended Listening: Cocks ‘N’ Asses by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

WIGSF Visits Niagara Falls

October 23, 2007

Yesterday, I headed down to Niagara Falls. Tonio and K are still in town so we (the Juices and I) took them to see the falls.

Our first stop was up in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We walked up and down the strip there, peeked in a couple of little shops and such; ate some fudge, stuff like that. Didn’t do any winery tours though. I mean really folks. Family from Italy are in town, let’s show them how to make wine.

Niagara-on-the-Lake seems like it is better for older generations, not vibrate young folks like myself. Who am I kidding? I was all “no more walking, my back is sore and my legs are sore.”

Next stop was Niagara Falls itself. I’ve been to the falls before but for some reason, I’ve never been to Clifton Hills. That’s the part of town that’s nothing but arcades, funhouses and souvenir shops. If I was still twelve years old, I’d be in heaven there.

We did one haunted house and one arcade. Basically, just get out of my way and find me a skeeball game.

Then, down to the falls itself and right into the water. We took a trip on the Maid of the Mist boat tour. The boat takes you by the first set of falls and right upto the horseshoe falls. After everybody was nicely soaked from the mist (if you’ve never been there, its a heck of a lot of mist), a crewmember on the boat stepped out of his room and asked how we all were doing. Hmmm, he was bone dry and we all looked like we just got out of the shower. Never have I been more tempted to shove a person overboard.

A trip to a touristy place is never complete without going to the casino. Results summary: I played four pulls at the slots and broke even; Tonio and K played 10 bucks and lost it all; Juicette played 25 and lost it all; Juice played 20 at the machine I played and cashed out at 25; Juice gave both Juicette and Tonio 20 bucks to play at my machine and they each won 75 and 100 respectively. That one machine was hot last night.

Niagara Falls is a two or three hour drive (depending on traffic) from where I live and yet I only go there when I’ve people from out of town.

WIGSF Visits Toronto

October 19, 2007

Right now, one of my cousins (Tonio) from Italy is over here with his wife (K) on vacation. Two days ago, I took much of the work day off to show them around. There was just one little snag, they don’t know English and I don’t know Italian. Amazingly, we were able to communicate pretty well most of the day. Making jokes about my father is pretty much the same in every language.

I picked them up at my aunt’s place in Oak Ridges around 11:00AM and asked them where the want to go. Their answer “La chita!” The city. So down we went to the city.

Driving in from the west end, through the fog, my cousin spotted the CN Tower. We stopped there and went up to the observation deck. On a foggy day, you can’t see a damn thing. We could barely see the ground through the glass floor.

We had lunch in the tower then we walked upto Queen Street West to do some shopping. They both seemed rather interested in two things: 1) arts and trinkets with a first nations motif; and 2) tattoos.

While in the tattoo parlour, my cell phone rang. It was my father. He wanted to know what I was doing with my guests and whether or not they were having a good time. I said “Oh, we’re at a tattoo parlour.”

“What! Who’s getting a tattoo?” Said the man who got his tattoo only a year ago.

“Nobody Dad, they’re booked solid for the rest of the day.”

“Pheww.”

I don’t know what the big deal is. Between the two of them, they’ve got five tattoos already.

Well, that was my day in the city with my relatives. Here’s a couple of photos taken at the base of the CN Tower.

antonio buffalo nose

Tonio picking the nose of a buffalo. Apparently they don’t have buffalo snot in Italy.

katia bear mountie

K hanging out with a bear mountie. (How large a horse do those bear mounties have to ride?)