Back home again in Indiana

We spent the last couple of days in Toronto doing some low-key stuff. I was pretty tired after doing so much walking around every day all day. We did do some shopping in the Church-Wellsley area (the gayborhood) and we took the subway to Canadian Tire and such.

Stephanie loves the subway, but I really enjoyed the electric streetcar system – AKA the “Red Rocket.” (The Subway is known as “The Rocket.”) Put in place in 1920 – the streetcar system has been operating throughout Toronto’s downtown continuously since then.

Unlike many major cities including Indianapolis, Toronto didn’t abandon their electric streetcar system. They note that many of the cities that took them out at one time have put them back in recently to enhance their public transportation systems. (Good idea!)

Our honeymoon day 8

Our honeymoon day 8

The Time is 12:40 p.m.

Our honeymoon day 8

Our honeymoon day 8

Moose meets Dog

So we made it home and spent yesterday hanging out with our pets, who were very happy to have us back. Yay!

Continue ReadingBack home again in Indiana

Shoe Museum and Honest Eds

Saturday, Stephanie and I hopped on the Subway and went West on Bloor to see the Shoe Museum. Yes, a whole museum just dedicated to the history of footwear.

Shoe Museum

It was fun, but I wish there were some exhibits on modern styles of shoes, instead of how each culture’s footwear evolved. There were totally no Manolo’s or Jimmy Choo’s. We couldn’t go through and say “These shoes rock!” and “these shoes suck!” at all.

The museum was also hosting a exhibition on Portuguese dancing – nice because they gave us free ethnic food we otherwise would never have tried; bad because it was super crowded and hard to visit the galleries.

After that, we went a few stops further west and visited Honest Ed’s – a local bargain shopping institution in Toronto. Ed Mervish opened the 160,000 square foot bargain store in 1948 and put his experience as a theater producer to work on the branding and advertising on the store – big, gaudy filled-with-puns signs are displayed both outside and in.

Honest Ed's

Honest Ed's

The merchandise is pretty much like a gigantic Big Lots or Dollar Store – remaindered and highly-discounted cheap stuff. Fun for about 1/2 an hour while you photograph, but then it gets old.

Honest Ed's

We ate at an Italian restaurant nearby called Rocco’s Plum Tomatoes and then headed back to the city center to try to see Sex and the City, but the shows were all sold out. So we bought tickets for yesterday morning instead, and spent the morning seeing the movie and the afternoon walking around the Church-Wellesley area shopping and eating.

We’ve had a low-key last couple of days because I’m pretty tired after doing a lot more walking than I’m used to. Today we’re headed home in early afternoon, so I don’t know if we’ll get any more site-seeing in. I love Toronto, but we’re missing our pets.

Photo Set: Our Honeymoon Day 6 – Toronto, 2008

Photo Collection: Wedding and Honeymoon Photos

Continue ReadingShoe Museum and Honest Eds

Niagara Falls, China Town & Kensington Market

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Thursday we drove to Niagara Falls to site-see, which was fun. I really had a much different picture in my head of what the falls were like, most from the show “Wonderfalls” which I want to see again now that I’ve been there. It was overcast on the drive there, but cleared up when we arrived so we have some nice sunny pictures of the falls.

Yesterday we hopped on a streetcar and rode down a couple of stops to shop in Chinatown and Kensington Market. Kensington has tons of vintage clothing shops and sidewalk cafes. It was a sunny day and 90 degrees. Crazy hot. We bought a few things here and there, and some gifts for friends. We should definitely get on of those Chinatowns for Indianapolis. Heh.

In the evening, we hopped on the subway north several stops and visited our friend Carolyn, who made dinner for us. And we had birthday cake. It was terrific.

Photo Set: Our Honeymoon, Day 4.

Photo Collection: Wedding and Honeymoon Photos

Continue ReadingNiagara Falls, China Town & Kensington Market

Just Married

Stephanie and I got married on Saturday. I would have blogged about it at the time, but for some reason, I had big bundle of gladiolas in my arms and no access to a keyboard. (How’d that happen?) I picked gladiolas for my bouquet because they’re what my Grandma Mineart carried in her wedding, and I always adored the wedding photo of her carrying them that hung on the stairs at her home.

And when considering ways to make your stag do stand out, the right activity can set the tone for an unforgettable day. Bring together your mates for an experience filled with laughter, challenges, and camaraderie. Whether you’re a fan of group games or something entirely unique, this amazing option is sure to create memories to cherish for years to come.

Our Wedding

We got married in Great Oak Commons Park, which is a beautiful little neighborhood park a block away from our house in Old Northside neighborhood. The weather was beautiful. All of our family and friends were there. Dan was my best man, and Kathy was my bridesmaid. Stephanie’s friend Michelle was her maid of honor and her friend Veronica was her brides maid. Stephanie’s niece Raven was a junior Bridesmaid, and she looked after our ringbearer, Spike, who was in the wedding party with us. Our friends Joe and Douglas were ushers, and Jonathan twittered our vows as we said them. And we had tons of other help from our family and friends; we are very blessed.

Our Wedding

I couldn’t have been happier about how the day went. Stephanie was absolutely gorgeous, but I knew that already.

Our Wedding
Stephanie with her mom

I can’t begin to tell you how exciting it all was to be holding Stephanie’s hands and saying to her all kinds of crazy things about how wonderful she is, and how lucky I am to share her life.

These were our vows:
I, Steph, take you, Stephanie,
to be no other than yourself,
loving what I know of you,
trusting what I don’t yet know,
with respect for your integrity
and faith in your abiding love for me,
through all our years
and in all that life shall bring us.
I will honor your goals and dreams
and help you to fulfill them.
From my heart I will seek to be open and honest with you.
I say these things to you with the whole of my being.

If you follow us on Twitter, you probably saw those come across, with the help of our dear friend Jonathan.

Our Wedding
Steph and Stephanie with Steph's Brothers, Sisters-in-law and nieces

[ My Flickr Photoset of our Wedding ]

[ My Brother Scott’s photo album of the wedding. ]

Tonight we’re in Toronto, Canada, for our honeymoon. We’ll get married again in City Hall on June 4th to get our marriage license. Watch my Flickr Photo Stream for pictures of some of the fun we’re having. Well, not ALL of the fun. But some. 🙂
Photo Collection: Wedding and Honeymoon Photos

Continue ReadingJust Married