Check, Mate, and Rides by the Dozen

It’s been another busy few weeks! First, some health updates as a number of you have been asking:

My dad is doing fantastically well; in fact, this past week he received the green light from his cardiologist to go golfing. Although he’s still not to operate a car, I expect he’s just as happy driving golf balls.

As for me, last month’s PMH checkup was postponed to this week. Stay tuned for that update, but suffice it to say I’m feeling fine and full of beans, as is evident by all I’ve been up to of late.

Check

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto (BBBST) has done their usual stellar best to keep Alfredo and me active and entertained. Mid-June was the annual Celebration of Friendship picnic. This year’s theme was superheroes. There were opportunities to show off one’s super agility and strength in dodgeball and tugs of war, but Alfredo and I preferred testing our super-brains with a few hands of cards and a super-sized chess match. He checkmated me soundly. I knew I should have brought my kryptonite.


Mate

The weekend after the picnic was Jeanette’s and my fifth wedding anniversary. Thanks to a generous Christmas gift from my parents, she and I returned to the scene of the crime: we spent the weekend at the Millcroft Inn where we were married. The place was as beautiful as we’d remembered, the food as amazing, and the massages as relaxing. Not having a wedding to be in allowed us to spend more time lazing around by the pool and on our patio, and when it poured rain Saturday night we escaped to the movies in town. It was another altogether amazing weekend at the Millcroft and it bodes well for our next five years of marriage.

A week later we were on the go again with a trip back up to Harriston for long-weekend visit with the Williamsons. We enjoyed having the extra day to spend with the family during which we enjoyed patio lounging while her dad barbecued, a birthday party for Jeanette’s Uncle Ken, and extra hugs from MacKenzie.

Rides by the Dozen

This past week was also a big milestone for my man Alfredo: he turned 13. As luck would have it, this week BBBST – courtesy of the Toronto Police Association – once again offered us free passes to Canada’s Wonderland. You may recall we enjoyed a similar visit to Wonderland last year, when Alfredo’s enthusiasm for the rides was unfortunately tempered by my sense of nausea. This year, I was worried that my post-chemo system might be even more inclined to motion sickness. Some wise soul casually suggested taking Gravol. And so I popped the pills all day long and they worked brilliantly! They kept the nausea at bay and inevitable sleepiness that results was utterly offset by the adrenaline rush of no less than 12 rides! Nine of which were roller coasters, including the new and aptly name Behemoth – the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada. Alfredo and I agree: Best. Ride. Ever.

Honorable Mention

And finally, a shout out to “But I’m an Aries” super-fan Monica, whom I had the pleasure of dining with recently along with some other work colleagues at Toronto’s Peter Pan Bistro. It was truly a highlight of that week and Monica insisted that I mention it and her on the blog.