G20 and the Eaton Centre

So...Toronto is hosting the G20/G8. Going in, I thought the expense, inconvenience to the city would be bad. You always hear about other cities, riot police, demonstrators, bombs, etc, but did I actually believe that this would happen in our city? Not really.
Today our downtown core was in lockdown. I was at work, when Jane calls me that she heard that on the radio. I'm scheduled to work at the Eaton Centre tomorrow all day 10am-7pm. I called the store to find out what's going on. They were in lockdown. Apparently some police cars were on fire, just outside and some protesters were smashing windows and others throwing bleach on random passersby. Lovely. Protests and sit ins were happening all over. So the whole downtown core from Broadview to Bathurst, Bloor to Front was on Lock down. There is no TTC streetcar/bus/subway service. No Go Transit. Most hospitals locked down (one was still accepting only some emergency cases). The Eaton Centre was locked down. No one in or out. The store closed their door around 3pm and people weren't allowed to leave until after 6pm. (After the mall was technically closed)
I called the mall security tonight to find out any news about the mall for tomorrow. Apparently they are "Business as usual". We'll see how brilliant a plan that is. Meanwhile, I'm planning on leaving my car at Di's and taking the streetcar in. At least it's not supposed to rain tomorrow. I might be in for a long stroll.

Elijah's 100th day

In Korea, it's tradition to celebrate a baby's 100th day. Apparently the infant mortality rate, at one time, had been extremely high. So, once a baby had reached that milestone, the family would celebrate the baby's health and future. Our side of the family, and Nancy's side all convened at Uncle John and Aunt Sandy's house in Brampton. There were lots of babies, kids, and eating. I made my Mini Carrot Cakes and WS Brownies in the shape of daisies. Elijah, as you see, is huge! His hair kills me. He was such a good baby, letting anyone pick him up and hold him. I didn't hear him cry all day. Such a calm temperment. Whenever I looked at Elijah, his outfit reminded me of West Side Story...he's a Jet!

It was lovely to spend some time with my cousins and catch up with their lives. Being so busy with work and travel hasn't allowed me enough time to spend with them. It was a nice afternoon.

Elijah's family. Is is just me, or is Eunho looking more and more like his dad?


Mark's one descriptive word that had me cracking up as he was holding Elijah was "gelatinous"




The first photo is the catered food they ordered.

The second is the yummy sashimi my Uncle provided. Jealous?

Samara enjoying her lunch. She was so chatty! Her vocabulary is unbelievable.

What a smarty pants.

Elijah just chilling out with Grandma.

Big sister Charlotte, she recently got a Korean "bowl" cut. I think it actually looks cute on her.

With her cute pink dress, she looked like a 20's flapper.

The renovations to Aunt Sandy's kitchen turned out beautifully.

If you look closely, you can make out Gerwyn attempting chopsticks to eat the delicious sashimi.

Annie's dinner and my first week back.

Sunday we had a dinner/get together of my Williams-Sonoma family to celebrate Annie and let her know how much we'll miss working with her everyday. Maureen generously donated her place. In my jet lagged fog, I forgot to put my camera in my bag after I down loaded some of my Vegas pictures, so I'll have to wait until Maureen emails me some to post on the blog. It was very nice. The food was delicious. I made my Bread Pudding. (I squeezed in the baking in between work and UFC on the day before.) Annie was very emotional and teary. It was good to see her. It was like she never left. She still refers to WS stuff as "we" and "us". Georgie showed up as a surprise! A lovely time was had by all.
I'm still tired. But, I don't feel nearly as tired as I did last week. Jet lag did officially last until Monday afternoon. I had my first mammogram at 8:30am on Monday (I'm not sure what I was thinking when I booked that appointment on my first day off in a week) The mammogram...no big deal...but awkward and uncomfortable. To paraphrase my friend Bonnie..."I don't why they have to squish them like that...I wonder how they do that with women who don't have very much?" I went to do some errands then went to Perfect for Dim Sum. It had been too long. Then I came home at 11:45am and crashed. Annie called me around 4:30 pm but I was still too asleep and groggy to talk. I slept for another 2 hours... Since then, even though I haven't been getting too much sleep, I feel back to normal. Ability to focus is back.

I had many compliments for the Bread Pudding I made for Maureen's. Many requests for the recipe. Here it is.

Carolyn's Maple Bread Pudding.
One 1 1/2 pound Raisin Challah bread, egg bread or brioche (day old preferable) cut into 1 inch square cubes.
8 large eggs
1 litre whipping cream
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup maple syrup (preferably medium, but any kind is okay)
1 tablespoon vanilla paste (extract is okay)
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins (I use sultanas)

Topping
3 tbsp unsalted butter (more to grease the pan)
1/2 cup light brown sugar

Whisk eggs, cream sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl to blend. Add bread and raisins; stir to coat. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Each piece of bread should be thoroughly soggy :)
Preheat oven to 375F. Butter a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Transfer bread mixture to prepared dish. Using a fork, combine butter and brown sugar in a small bowl, until well combined. Top the bread with the butter/brown sugar mixture like a crisp topping. (A thin layer spotted all over)
Bake until puffed and golden and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. (If your oven is like mine, after 30 min, turn the baking dish to brown evenly)
Cool slightly, then serve and enjoy! Great the next day too. Just cover with foil and reheat slightly in the oven.

Tip: I also have used this recipe for gifts at Christmas. To get the perfectly cut pieces, I butter the 13x9x2 rectangular baking pan then I put in a piece of parchment large enough to cover the entire pan with at least 1 inch overhang. Then I butter the parchment paper and pour in the bread mixture. When baked and cooled completely, I pull out the bread pudding using the parchment. I then cut into quarters to package up as treats or hostess gifts. Or, I have also used the parchment technique with 4x1 pound loaf pans. (This is great if I don't want to slice them.)

Back home...

It's friday and I've been home for 2 and 1/2 days.
Johnny picked me up at the airport on Wednesday morning at 7am. (I flew the redeye) It was a shock to the system. 11C from 109F After so little sleep the night before and that night, I crashed at home. It was good to sleep in my own bed. I woke up at 3:45pm in a panic because I had to be at work by 5pm. I asked to work closes all week because I knew I would be horribly jetlagged. I'm just doing what I can to get by. I have the UFC fight after work tomorrow, bake something when I get home, go to work on Sunday...go to Maureen's for a party for Anne on Sunday night. I can't even sleep in on Monday. My mammogram is scheduled for 8:30am...UGH! I'll sleep on Monday afternoon. Going away for vacation is so nice...until you come back home.:(

Patrik Antonius and an update

For those of you who don't know who this is...he is a high stakes poker player. He's also the most gorgeous man I've ever seen up close in real life...I had never previously been a fan, but when I went to the Bellagio tonight, I saw him. I was waiting for a seat. It was crazy busy. He was leaving Bobby's Room (a high rollers suite where they play $4000-$8000 blinds) He walked straight towards me, we made eye contact, he walked past me close enough I could have touched him. I was shocked and awestruck. He looked like a rugged, gorgeous male model. 6' 3" Buff... I completely accepted the cream/off white pants and white/gold patterned t-shirt. Normally I'm not a fan of white jeans on anyone (I've been known to make fun of mercilessly)...but WOW...very European Chic. (He's from Finland)

Back to real life...
Today was the day of the year end party for the Hebrew Academy's Baby Bears. My cupcakes and Mini Carrot cakes were a hit. In the afternoon, I drove Jacci to the airport then headed to Stacey's house. (She is Diamond's teacher) Stacey invited me and Jhanine and Lisa and all kids to her place for a BBQ. The kids had a great time. The women just gabbed. I mentioned to them that I am coming back next month and Stacey suggested it would be a great time to have another BBQ. Everyone was quite lovely.
Lisa and her children Sarah and Max are coming over Sunday afternoon to learn how to make the lemon dessert squares. I had made them for the Memorial day BBQ and the kids had loved them. I had sent some home with them in foil. They were licking the foil after they had finished them and begged their mom to learn how to make them.
Tomorrow is also Yale's 43rd birthday. We are having a low key gathering Lisa and the kids, maybe Phyllis and me for Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs and Coconut cake. Should be fun.

Oh, Phil Laak not only broke the Guiness World Record for Longest Poker Session of 80 hours but smashed it and is currently in overtime. When I left the Bellagio tonight he was at hour 86. The man is a machine. (Eventually, he finished at hour 115! Unbelievable!)

Vegas update..

Tom Dwan is in the foreground with the headphones. Erick Lindgren is a little further back with the light blue baseball cap. Who thinks Tom looks like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory?

So, it's hot. Like crazy hot. Today's high was 105F. That's like 40-41C. It's oppressive heat. Imagine baking a batch of vanilla cupcakes and mini carrot cakes in that heat, for a year end party for Diamond's school. It actually wasn't that bad.
And I've been fighting an itchy throat. That after my lovely case of food poisoning, the next day after Cheesecake factory, makes for a memorable trip. Today, finally...I made it to the Rio to check out the World Series of Poker. It was not as crazy as I thought it might be, but it's only the first week. I did see 3 players of note, Tom Dwan and Erick Lindgren, both of who I took a picture of with flash before the elderly security guard warned me about no flash photography. Oh, and Bertrand Grospelier. Unfortunately I wanted to see Daniel Negreanu play but I didn't get a chance. It would have been interesting since I went with Jacci to the Rio and she knows Daniel. I would have been able to get an introduction. Oh well. Not meant to be. Jacci leaves tomorrow night. We were hungry so we had dinner at Noodles at the Bellagio. I was craving chinese food. They are very good, I've eaten there before. Afterward, we checked out the poker room and I snapped a photo of Phil Laak attempting to break the world record for continuous poker playing session of 80 hours. He had just reached hour 60. He's filming himself and streaming it live online. I was itching to play. That will have to wait until tomorrow night.

First few days in Vegas

All the kids waiting in anticipation for the roasted marshmallow needed for Smores

Diamond after she had her first Smore

Diamond with Miss Stacey. Notice the face...post Smore.

It's officially day 4.
I've spent some very busy days with Jhanine and Diamond, and Jacci and Phillip (her sister and brother in law) visiting from Los Angeles. They arrived about 45 min before my flight touched down. My flight was 30 min early. We spent Saturday grocery shopping for the Memorial day BBQ on Sunday. Then after a quick dinner of turkey hotdogs, I went to the Red Rock hotel and casino to watch the UFC fight at the Rocks Lounge. Afterwards I sat at the PaiGow table to play a little and came away with a small win. Yeah! It's always nice to start off the vacation a little up$$. Sunday we prepped for the BBQ. I got to finally meet some of Jhanine's new friends and catch up with some I haven't seen since last year. Everything went really well. Yesterday we took it easy. We watched TV and napped. Later, Jacci, Phillip and I went to watch the movie Date Night at the Suncoast after dinner at the Cheesecake factory. Dinner was not great. (Usually the Cheesecake factory is pretty good) The movie was funny. A little too unbelievable, but funny to see all the recognizable faces in the various small parts. Hopefully tonight I'll get to the Rio or Bellagio.