Playing on the computer and sipping some Japanese plum wine. It was an impulse purchase while we were in Niagara, something I’d always wanted to try, and now I’ve gotten into the bad habit of treating myself with a half glass of the sweet and sour wine in the evening. Todd’s practicing his virtual swing on the new Tiger Woods golf game for the Wii and the animals are around, pleased to have us back after our brief vacation.
There was no time to write while we were away, which is a lie, but a soft one, a gentle one. We really were on the go together for most of the trip, and when we weren’t we took advantage of the two-person jacuzzi and generally enjoyed each other’s company. I should be working on that now, writing all my thoughts and impressions in my journal, but I’ve long neglected the computer so I’m catching up here instead. iTunes is scrolling through my songs (which I am happily rating with my new toy, I Love Stars 3.0) I’m updating Delicious Library 2, catching up on web comics and other odds and ends.
And I’ve even gotten further behind in my reading, after dropping a wad of cash at the Chapters on magazines and a book. Yes, I know. Book Purchase Embargo. The only reason I picked it up was because I thought I would be able to use my coupon. Not so with magazines. Darn it. But instead of reading Fire Study, the third book in Snyder’s series, I’m reading Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz, a rescue from the local used bookstore. Just starting, so nothing specific to say about it yet. Would it sound bad to say I hope I don’t like it? I have so many series on the go and it would be relief not to get hooked into another but I hear it’s a series not to be missed. Not sure which to hope for, actually.
… sip … sip … sip …
Highlights from the Niagara Trip:
- The Falls, especially the Maid in the Mist tour, were an absolute joy. I haven’t felt so possessed with childlike awe and glee in years and years. We drove into what felt like the heart of the falls, past where the gulls and cormorants felt safe to where the water went from mist to a wall that thrashed us, splashed us, making us all scream and whoop and cry. We left drenched but supremely happy.
- We went behind the Falls, too, and followed the river to the Class Six rapids (really harsh, what we were told) and even took the Aero Car, which is suspended over the giant whirlpool down river. Nearly ever major attraction involves wearing a large, plastic protector, either blue or yellow, even some of the ones inside. When donning our covers for an inside show, I asked, “Really, we’re going to get wet again?” and the attendant laughed and said, “This is Niagara. We’re all about getting you wet.”
- The kooky bed and breakfast we stayed at as the only guests, an historic home redecorated to modern(ish) tastes for the suites but whose common rooms were straight out of an old cozy mystery from the turn of the century. There were six chickens in a coup outside and overgrown flora cascading around every nook and crazy. We had an old fashioned key, one of those long-necked pieces that fit into a key hole you could look through. I loved it, as I normally do our B&B experiences, though having to walk up-street to another B&B for breakfast and no discernible company does make you feel like you’re trespassing, just a skoosh, and makes one think of ghostly innkeepers.
- Had a great pizza cooking in a wood oven at a place called Antica’s Pizzeria – went there on the recommendation of a friend and it was worth it. (No link, unfortunately, but here’s a review site.) The other memorable food event was a drive out to Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Old Angel Inn Pub, where we each had an amazing dinner, Todd with steak and kidney pie while I had a beautiful steak with peppercorn sauce and yorkshire pudding.
We would go back. Absolutely. We didn’t get to do any winery tours, didn’t see Fort Erie, and perhaps next time we could go down with up-to-date passports to check out the American side. Our Horseshoe Falls are the prettier falls — sorry, but we won out on that one.
Alright, eyeballs are starting to stick. Universal sign for me to shut up and shut down. Tomorrow, when I get back on schedule, a writing-related post.
… sip … sip … sip …
Ahhh.
