Vacation - Day 3-5 (Toronto, City Hall, Eaton Center)

Hello everyone!

It's a been a few days since I've been able to post any updates. We've been busy siteseeing and visting with family, and really enjoying ourselves. Did I mention I've eaten way too much on this trip? We've had a great time!

We've been very lucky since we've been here as the weather has been very pleasant and cooperative. Not one day of rain.

On Wednesday, we went with my cousin, Julia, to downtown Toronto, and had a personal tour of City Hall. We learned that the interesting design of City Hall was the result of a contest initiated by the mayor of Toronto. The 40th anniversary of the construction of City Hall was celebrated last week. One tower is 20 stories high, and the other is 26 stories high.

With much surprise, we were allowed to enter the Mayor's office, and if he had been in, would have been able to meet him personally. Although he wasn't available, we were able to go into his private office, and check out his view. Pretty impressive! In the photos, you will see some art that is a wall of nails. This is located in the base of City Hall. This was also the result of a contest.

We also went to one of the largest malls in Canada, The Eaton Center. There are many stories of shopping, maybe eight (8), if I heard correctly. There's more stores than you could ever think of, and it's right in the heart of downtown.


Some of the other photos are of Casa Loma, an actual castle which you can tour. We didn't do it this trip, but it's on the list for next time. That's one thing about Toronto, there is so much to do, that you just can't do it in one trip.

It's been a lot of fun, and we really enjoyed visiting all of the family up in Canada. There are many photos online at my Ofoto.com site. You can link to my siteseeing pictures, by please clicking HERE

For family photos please click for ALBUM #2(HERE) and ALBUM #1(HERE)

Vacation - Day 2 (Toronto, CN Tower)

Hello again...

Yesterday we enjoyed a wonderful time at my aunt's house with lots of family, and obviously ate way too much (it happens everytime I come up here to visit). The old fashioned homemade Italian cooked meals are my weakness (at least one of them). Sunday's weather was picture perfect, we couldn't have asked for a better day as it was sunny and got cooler in the afternoon/evening. After visiting for a while, we took an evening drive through Toronto's downtown, and got to see the city shine in lights -- what a view! This weekend has a lot going on to include the U2 concert, and the Toronto Film Festival. Sorry I didn't post any photos of the city at night. I tried to take some pictures, but they didn't come out so well.

Today, we got up, after Anthony slept in late again (and me too for that matter), and made our way to one of the world's tallest structures, the CN Tower.The CN Tower is amazingly high, and if you aren't too keen about heights, well save your money, because looking down would probably give you an instant heart attack. Anthony, as you can imagine, was amazed. He loved it! There's a section in the main observation area where they have a glass floor. You can walk on it, if you can muster up the guts, and look down - Anthony was mesmorized. In addition, the lower part of the main observation area has on "outdoor" part. You can go outside and feel the gusts of wind, and look down. It's protected by all kinds of fence, nets, and safety stuff. But being up there, with the open air, it is an incredible feeling.

After enjoying ourselves on the CN Tower, we headed through the streets of Toronto and went to get one of my favorite things, a "panzerotti". I have never seen one south of Toronto, but I am sure they make them in New York. These things are soooo good. I guess they kind of look like a calzone, but they are not baked, they are deep fried. The inside is simple, it includes fresh mozzeralla, fresh tomato sauce, and maybe some select spices, that's it! However, the simple combination makes for one fantastic taste and also inspired me to take a long afternoon nap...ah, I love vacations.

To see photos of the CN Tower, from the top of the CN Tower (these are awesome!), Chinatown, and the streets of Toronto, please click HERE .

Tomorrow, my cousin Julia has scheduled a tour for us of Toronto's City Hall, a lot more glamourous than that place we have in downtown St. Pete. I believe we'll get a bunch of photos from downtown in and around city hall, so tomorrow's photo gallery should be nice and full, although we may be in store for some rain from what the weather folks are telling us up here.

Well, looks like Donna and Anthony have finally awaken from their afternoon siesta. We better get cleaned up and get going, it's time for another one of those homemade Italian cooked meals....

YUMMY! Ciao for now,

Frank, Donna and Anthony

Vacation - DAY 1 (Niagara Falls)

Hi Everyone! Greetings from Toronto, Canada!

We flew into Buffalo, New York last night and grabbed a rental car and drove across the border. I think I almost lost my mind. We got a little lost due to some construction detours, and well, another hour was added to our short journey from Buffalo to Niagara, where our hotel for the evening was located. The folks at U.S. Customs were very nice, and all we needed was our driver's licenses and a birth certificate for Anthony. We checked into the Radisson's Falls View, and looked out our window to see the aw-inspiring "Niagara Falls". The Radisson was very nice, but if you ever visit and want a really nice view of the Falls from your room, I strongly recommend the Marriot on Falls View Boulevard. The Falls are an amazing thing of beauty. It boggles the mind how many millions of gallons of water cascade daily, and keep on golng and going.

This morning we woke up and met up with my cousin Frank (there's a few Franks in the family) and his family, and headed out to breakfast. We then started our trek through the City of Niagara on foot (wow, am I out of shape - whew!).

There's all kinds of amusements, arcades, souvenier stores, restaurants and 'touristy' stuff to do. We bypassed most of that stuff, but Anthony enjoyed some of the rides(reminded him of Chuck E. Cheese).

After messing around in the arcade, we enjoyed walking around and viewing the American Falls and the Canadian Falls. It was a little overcast this morning, and about 75 degrees, but it started to get warm as we closed in on noon. It was a great time. For photos from the Falls, please click HERE . You'll need on Ofoto account to see the pics, which takes about 10 seconds.

After the Falls, we drove approximately an hour and half to Toronto and checked into our hotel. I had a few minutes while Anthony and Donna napped, so I figured I'd post and get some pictures uploaded (thanks to the free highspeed wireless internet in our room).

Well, we have a fun week planned of siteseeing and visiting a lot of my Dad's side of the family. Expect more photos of my birthplace and one of the greatest cities in the world, TORONTO, CANADA!

Sounds found, eh? (sorry it's my Canadian accent...)

Frank

...Back to Work

Hello. Hope all of you enjoyed your first day back to work after the long holiday weekend. Not sure about you, but things were a lot more quiet than they usually are after a three day gap in the work week.

As for current events, I am saddened to tell you that the actor who played Gilligan, Bob Denver, died. I spent many an afternoon as a kid watching the shipwrecked folks on Gilligan's Island and their crazy adventures.



For the football fans out there, one of the greatest players of all time, Jerry Rice. retired. He was definately one of the most exciting guys out on the field!








I understand that Carnival Cruise lines has agreed to help with the Katrina Hurricane victims, and has worked out an arrangement to assist the homeless by allowing them to live aboard some of their cruise ships.

A Laborious Labor Day Weekend

I hope all of you enjoyed a happy, safe and enjoyable weekend. I ended up spending a few hours each day at the office catching up on work, and I presume some of you worked a bit this long weekend too. According to the St. Pete Times, working over the Labor Day weekend is apparently pretty common.

As for the photo of the helicoptor above, I wanted to correct an email I sent over the weekend that I received from MSNBC, which claimed a Coast Guard helicoptor went down during recovery efforts in New Orleans. Thanks to Dr. Fred and Lee for the correct info, it was actually a private helicopter.



On a lighter note, is it just me, or did Jessica Simpson look like a freak in her MTV VMA outfit. I still can't figure out what this outfit was all about, and I heard she spent $20,000 on her hairdo? My guy charges $10.00, and I think that's a bit much.
At least I look better than this guy....












Well, at least we have a short work week. I've been battling a Summer cold, which has not been fun. Something seems to be going around. It's taken me a week to battle this one. I guess I should be happy, it's been a very long time since I've been sick.

Oh, and if you think gas prices are high where you live.... be glad you don't live in Stockton, Georgia. Here's the cost of their gas.



Lastly, thanks for the emails about the blog. It sounds like alot of you would like to post, but aren't sure how to do it. It's actually really simple, just click on the "comments" section at the bottom, and you can even post "anonymously". Hope to hear from you soon.

Gas - What should we expect?

As I drove past the first gas station this morning out of my neighborhood, I noticed a very strange thing, something I had never seen before in all my life, the price of gas over $3.00, in fact, it was actually $3.09 for Super Unleaded. Donna had worked the night shift before, so I didn't immediately call her in a panic, as she was sleeping, although I could hardly contain my disbelief. When I did speak to her, I suggested she 'top off' her vehicle, just in case. She apparently had already done so on her way home from work.

Throughout the day, as I drove from court, to the office, and back to court again, I noticed that the $3.00 plus cost of gas had made it's may throughout Pinellas County.

This evening, as I made my way back from a victorious Bucs preseason game with Jim, we noticed that the bags had once again returned over the gas pumps. At more than $3.00 a gallon, the multitude of gas stations that are scattered down the 4th Street North corridor were making it very clear that gas was becoming limited.

As I turned into my neighborhood, and glanced down at my gas guage, I realized that the full tank I had earlier (after topping off my tank this morning), was back to 3/4 of a tank. I hope our fuel supplies are replenished soon, or I may be back to my high school days, and riding a moped. Even worse, pedaling a bike with a suit. Car pool anyone?



As for New Orleans, it sounds even worse then before. People have apparently lost their minds, as they are shooting at those attempting to help them in helicopters. I can't imagine what kind of crazed person could be so despicable as to fire a weapon at people trying to make rescue efforts of those in peril. I am hopeful that the next few days along the Gulf Coast, with the help of the Navy, Red Cross, substantial law enforcement, and all of the other local, state and federal agencies can reinstate some level of law and order, and begin to provide relief to all those suffering. God speed.

Make donations to Red Cross at Here