Cheers to another great year of discussions!

But a bit of quick research showed some surprising results…accommodation at the falls is actually affordable. I was surprised. So now all I need to do is save up for those airfares!

Check it out here: holidays

Cheers, Mel

Glad to see that I am not the only “ditz” in the bunch!!! You know, I did much better, many eons ago, when we were traveling to the Falls and I had to pack for my husband, myself, Karen and her 2 brothers! Now that time is marching on, I find that things (including my undies) tend to fall through a very large black abyss, a space that once my mind did reside!!!! Ah-h-h, youth……it is true, I do miss my mind the most!!!!

Karen’s Mom

And everyone…for the record…I think we can all agree that we don’t want to share any “commando” stories.

And on that note….Happy New Year!

For as often as I’ve been there over the last few months, things keep changing. Some stores that were on the side streets are making the move to Queen. “Match-ups” was having a “space-reduction” sale. I guess they’re moving into one-half of their weird around-the-corner space. As an American, I loved seeing the “Boxing Day” (some said week!) sale signs. Took advantage of some too.

Even the Casino stores are changing quickly. Teopia and a Juice store opened in the Galleria. Does EVERY beverage need a store? I’m going to see if they will give me a space devoted chocolate milk!!! There are still a lot of empty spaces on the one side - and with the *closing of “Canada’s Finest” - I don’t find much reason to head down that way. I forsee that “Wyland Galleries” doesn’t have much more time left. The store that sells T-shirts that change colours according to temperature has better position than they do.

Another tragic loss…Reed’s is gone too. I didn’t buy anything there, but I always enjoyed the window shopping. I guess that was part of the problem. Considering I bought things in “Danier Leather” and “Cotton Ginny” I guess I’m being an “enabler”. The sales were just to good on things I couldn’t pass up! You should see the wrap I got!
One of the high points of the trip was actually when we got home and stopped at our grocery store. My husband pulled out his money to pay and presented me with a sneaky Canadian $20 that we forgot to cash in. I held it up and asked the clerk “I don’t suppose you take Canadian?”. She laughed and said “no”, then started to ask “Do YINZ* have a…” I could tell she was about to ask about a “frequent shopper” card, but then she stopped herself and said, “nevermind - you’re not from around here”. My husband and I caught each other with a look that said “Should we work “eh” into the conversation?”, but then completed the transaction and laughed all the way to the car once we got outside. We then realized I had on a “Canadian Marshlands” sweatshirt - what can we say? The girl was perceptive! If there was a lineup and you had to choose who was Canadian - who would you pick!?!?!

*footnote - pittsburghese translation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinz

I know Karen won’t be there…..she is there NOW! She and her husband left for the Falls yesterday and will return home today. We talked 3 times….one time she was on her way to Niagara on the Lake. She wanted to let me know that the BAY was closing. On our trip to the Falls this fall, I forgot my “undies” and we had to stop at the BAY to purchase some. It was the running gag of the trip!!!

I won’t be there New Years either. “sniff”

…..so where ever we all are….let’s have a good one! Happy New Year, Everyone!

Karen’s Mom