The Rundown: Happiest Places on Earth

Last week's installment trumpeted the awesomeness that is Wonderland.

As I stated in 10 Things this past Sunday, it was everything I expected and more, easily topping the All-Time Wonderland Trips list.

Wonderland made me think of Disneyland / DisneyWorld, the latter of which I have been to. These places bill themselves as The Happiest Place on Earth if I'm not mistaken, but all I remember of my Grade 4 March Break Vacation to Disney World was that Space Mountain was overrated and The Tea Cups nearly made me barf. What's so happy about that?

There is nothing happy about feeling like you're going to yak, but there is happiness contained in the list below, at least for me there is...

Top Five Happiest Place on Earth
Note: I'm sparring everyone the sappy and sentimental "Anywhere as long as Sarah is there" and "Lying next to Sarah while she sleeps" mentions because #1 isn't always true and #2 doesn't happen anymore now that we have a dog. Luke sleeps between us...
5. O'Neill's Pub in Earl's Court, London, England
O'Neill's is like the Firkin Group of Pubs here in Ontario - a chain that doesn't really feel like a chain - and this one in Earl's Court became my watering hole on my first excursion to Jolly Old. Whether it was just relaxing with a pint and the paper after a long night out, watching Champions League Football with a room full of Liverpool supporters going insane or Monday Night Pub Trivia with Big Dave, this spot quickly found a place in my heart.

4. Along the fence on a Picnic Table at Any Ontario Harness Track
Chirping with friends as they jog by during warm-ups. Getting a close-up look at the longshot I like in the 8th during the post parade. The thundering of hooves as they charge out from behind the starting gate. The crack of the whip and whistles from drivers as the field charges for home. If I wrote a list like this when I was ten, this one would have been there.

3. Chapters
Not all the time - sometimes a trip to Chapters is just a run in, grab something and run out event. I'm talking about the days when you just lose yourself in the store. Hit the Starbucks for a Venti Komodo Dragon with room for dairy, find a big comfy chair somewhere and just lose track of time, either reading or working on something. Sarah and I used to do this fairly regularly in St. John's and we need to get back to doing it again... soon.

2. Middle Cove Beach in Newfoundland
This place has been on my mind a lot lately with the hot and humid summer that has hit Ontario. How I wish I could just take a twenty minute drive out to the ocean and climb along the rock faces to hear the crashing of the waves. I'd even welcome an unexpected splash from the water below. Luke would love it out there too; tons of sticks to crew on, chasing the tide in and out, all kinds of other people and dogs to antagonize...

1. Right Here
Not just sitting at this computer, but sitting here in my home, knowing that Sarah is somewhere in the house with our dog, fully supportive of what I am doing even though it means less time with her. It was the same when "right here" was in the spare room on Crosbie Road in St. John's, in our bedroom in Portugal Cove or in the living room on Wexford Street too and I'm certain it will be wherever we end up next too.

Pictured: That's about what I see my home office looking like in the future...

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I Wish I Was In Newfoundland

Being back in Ontario has many positives - better job prospects, more connections, more friends and family to see - but this week, it's revealed one glaring negative.

There is no ocean for me to go hang out at and it's got me missing Newfoundland some bad!

It's been sweltering here over the last week, each day mugger than the one before it with no real end in sight. The summer is going to be long and hot and humid and there is absolutely nothing in London that can help combat the forces of nature like there was in dear ol' Newfoundland.

Last summer, I was spoiled. I'll admit it.

Not only does Newfoundland have reasonable temperatures all summer long - unlike the blistering 31 degrees it was here earlier in the week - but there was also the ocean just outside my front door.

Ah the ocean. How I miss thee.

A three minute walk from my house (technically Andrea's house, but whatever...) and I could be standing on the shores of the Atlantic, a nice cool breeze always blowing in. Walking an extra ten minutes meant being at the cool little hideaway beside The Dobbin's house where we camped on Cinco de Mayo last year, easily one of my favourite places on Earth.

It's June 7th. The Weather Network says it's 27 outside and feels like it's 34. Thirty-four!

Oh how I wish I could standing at Middle Cove Beach, looking at the icebergs, basking in the 8 degree weather of St. John's, if only for today.

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10 Things I Learned This Week

Whirlwind Week is officially over. Here is what came from it ...

1. Where's Justine Bateman?

I've already found my new watering hole here in London and it's called The Alex P. Keaton. How awesome is that? A bar named after Michael J. Fox's classic Family Ties character that features big plates of Sweet Potato Fries, unique beverage choices and live music every night, including Old School Hip Hop Saturdays. Cold beer and vintage Eric B. and Rakim? Sign me up.

2. I Miss My Store

Been to the new Blockbuster location twice and I gotta say, I'm not impressed. I won't go into detail and I knew this would be the case, but I really do wish everyone I rocked the Block with in St. John's had just relocated up here with me.

3. London Makes Me Read

No idea what it is, but me being in this city makes me read more. Or maybe it's that I have books on my nightstand that I want to read whenever I am here, but still. I knocked off three books when we were hear over Christmas killing deer and in the four days since I arrived, I've already just about finished How to Lose Friends and Alienate People with Black Like Me waiting in the wings. Sadly, I still can't find $40 Million Slaves anywhere in stores. Guess I'll have to order it.

4. Angelo's = Awesome

Having an Italian deli / butcher / grocer in my new backyard is tremendous. Shopping fresh daily is something that I am very much in favour of and being able to go next door, grab some fresh breads, meats, cheeses and snacks whenever I want is going to be a favourite activity all summer long.

5. Opportunity Will Knock

It hasn't yet, but they'll have the address shortly so that they can come calling. Checking out the possibility of doing some freelancing in the harness racing business, an industry that I grew up around and which provides a living for a number of close friends. Fingers crossed people, fingers crossed.

6. Already in Rhythm

Garry and I have found a nice rhythm to living together already. Playoff hockey, Blue Jays baseball and The Masters will do that for you. So too does the wicked new TV we're currently sitting in front of watching Montreal and Boston battle it out. But it's more than sports - meals, groceries, dishes, laughs, everything is falling into place and confirming even more that this was a good idea and will be a great summer.

7. Speaking of Montreal...

Of course I want my Red Wings to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup, but Montreal looks really, really good. All those people who called for Bob Gainey's head at the Trade Deadline need to offer up their apologies right about now. All Carey Price does is win. Last time I checked, that was a good thing.

8. Sarah is Settling in Too

Reports from the booming metropolis of Hopedale are great so far; no problems this first week, aside from a snow storm and she sounds more confident than I have ever heard her when it comes to her nursing skills, abilities and future. As an added bonus, she's adopted the Clinic's puppy and made it her mission to teach this dog some tricks.

9. Dude, Where's My Stuff?

Because it's not here yet. Talked to the fine folks from Ship It earlier in the week and was told one day this weekend. It's now Sunday night and no sign of them. Hopefully they come soon - the wardrobe is awful thin right about now.

10. Stop-Loss: Just Okay

As you know, I was really looking forward to seeing this film, Kim Peirce's second effort about soldiers being sent back to Iraq after their tours are completed. While I love the fact that it tackles a very difficult issue, contains the line "Fuck the President!" and has an Oscar-worthy performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it still fell a little flat for me. Probably Ryan Phillippe's fault, since I don't really like him and he isn't great carrying this movie. Channing Tatum could have been even better too.

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D'You Know What I Did Today?

I went for a walk.

Me, the smoky bastard who used to drive around the corner to go to the store instead of marching the twelve steps it would have taken.

Well, not any more.

After waking up and spending a little time surfing - making up for lost time in the Dark Ages of Faye's house - I realized that I don't live in the frozen wasteland of Newfoundland anymore and it's well above freezing already, so why not get off my ass and get out of the house?

Okay, that's a bit of a lie.

The main reason for leaving was two-fold: Starbucks and a cigarette. Threefold if you include the search for the latest issue of Passion, featuring my profile of Joy T-Shirts.

Regardless, my intentions being whatever they were, it's still involved getting up and outdoors and walking to Starbucks, a location I remembered from our Bambi Killing extended stay here over Christmas.

No luck finding the new issue, but I did find myself a nice Venti WCM, took a quick glance through the latest issue of Naked Eye - it's a Canadian Pop Culture Mag you sick bastards - and strolled home in the beautiful sunshine and cool breeze.

The plan for the rest of the day is all about hyper-domesticity: unpacking the bags and getting situated in my (our) new room, grabbing a couple groceries at the awesome Italian bakery / deli behind the house and making an awesome dinner of Italian Sausage and Peppers pasta with a nice fresh loaf of crusty bread.

So far, so good... not that I was worried.

* * * * * * * * * *

Scored sushi at Ye's in Kitchener last night.

Best ever, no question. $25 All-You-Can-Eat, the freshest you can imagine and damn delicious.

Now, if they could get the servers to not throw everything at you, the joint would be perfect.

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