Back from Toronto

I think I’ve finally recovered from my trip to Toronto. It was good to have the few days for crashing and recovering. The MLD basic course was really interesting, and I learned a lot about the lymphatic system and the incredible amount of work it does processing the body’s fluid balance and so on. And we all learned very quickly how effective it is at processing fluids in the body. Every time we worked on each other to learn the new routines and techniques, whoever was on the receiving end bolted for the bathroom as soon as we were done. Then, when we did the abdomen, we learned that it helps the body process more than fluids, and more bolting for the bathroom. Interesting. And draining to be on the receiving end for hours at a time, five days in a row. Holy fuck. Exhausting. 

I also walked all over the city of Toronto and pissed my hips and legs and feet off mightily for the first couple of days, and then they calmed down and it was all good. Got to check out some stores that I haven’t been inside of for over 10 years, and that I was happy to see were still in business, and got to check out some stores I hadn’t been in. Bought something for my youngest daughter’s b’day from a street vendor who was super nice. Went to Doc’s Leathers and tried on chaps, ended up buying patches for my biker friends and myself. If I’m going to spend that much money on biker gear, I’d rather spend it locally. Norm and the rest couldn’t find boots at a decent price at the rally, so he brought my money back to me and I’m going to go to the local guy and order a pair from him, and probably get my helmet as well.

While in Toronto, I got to see R’s daughter and her youngest, who is only a year old. So cute! We had a good gabfest over dinner. Got to see a niece from my ex’s side, whom I haven’t seen in 20 years, easily. Her daughter is only 2 months younger than my older granddaughter. I’d love to get the two of them together. Took them to a pricy restaurant for supper and had a grand time. We had two waiters — a trainee, I suspect, with an experienced one, although who was who was hard to tell — and they were a bundle of fun. Kept checking on us, but not in an unpleasant way, called my grandniece by name, and were generally very nice. The food was excellent, service was excellent, and although the price tag was VERY hefty for two adults and a child, totally worth it. Also had my sister take me out to supper at the Greek restaurant we went to back in November on my flying trip to T.O., and I took my friend that I was staying with (Ainekate, here in OD) to see the new Pirates movie. It wasn’t bad. Johnny Depp in 3D. What more do you need? 

Went to my old neighbourhood, and bought some shoes and a purse from a store in Little India for my younger daughter. Went to the Lego Store!!!!! OMG!! Bad store for me to go into. I could spend a fortune there! Ainekate bought the bus from Harry Potter. I would have, but I didn’t have room in my luggage for it. I DID pick up something for my grandson’s b’day in July, though, so that was cool. And Ainekate and I bought keychains for each other–I got her Hagrid, and she got me Anubis. It was just fun to be in such a big city again. Wouldn’t want to live there again–the background noise is ceaseless, and it was good to get home again–but it was really fun and a nice change of pace. Life is good. I think I want to go again next summer, if I can make that happen.

Yesterday, went over to Norm and Paulette’s. PG is trying the relationship thing with Y again, who just got her motorcycle license. She was cool with me this time, which was good. Still giving out "mineminemine" vibes, but if that’s what she needs to do, go for it. And if he’s happy with her (which, you know, is hard to say), I’m not getting in the middle. She has a new bike, which is the exact one that Norm recommended I get, and she invited me to sit on it and try it out for size and such, and Norm and PG had me stand up and move it side to side between my thighs to see that it was a good fit, which it is. I asked Norm about a bike a friend of mine is selling, and his opinion is that it’s probably too top-heavy for a first bike. This is why I need his brain.

They were working on cleaning out the workshop, and I got dragged into it. Paulette was back and forth, went to pick up her daughter and so on, but didn’t stay out in the shed with the rest of us. I know she doesn’t like Y, and this could be interesting to watch. See, Norm and Paulette’s was PG’s safe place when Y was stressing him out. Now that she has her own bike, she can turn up there any time, or ask him if she can tag along and I’m curious to see how that works out for him. I ended up making labels, and sweeping the floor, and throwing out garbage while the guys sorted tools and moved bigger stuff around, and Y sorted out nails and screws and organized the shelves in the corner. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a group working together. The workshop now has room to get a bike into, including big ones like the V-Star 1100’s that Norm and PG both ride, so they can be worked on when it’s raining out. The tool kit is organized and the drawers labelled, including one that says "RANDOM CRAP". It looks really good, and I can see them working like mad in there.

I did have to laugh to myself, though, when Y made a little corner of a top shelf for her "art supplies"–mostly old paper and I don’t know what else, with her name on it. "Y’s art stuff" or something like that. I found it presumptuous–this is Norm’s workshop, and she’s PG’s g/f (on again/off again), and if I were Norm, that familiarity would irritate me. I know he’s not fond of her, and puts up with her for PG’s sake, so I wonder what he thinks of that little staking of her own territory. He told me he doesn’t think that PG will be getting rid of her any time soon, and I told him I didn’t care as long as PG is happy, and he and I can be friends. I just want to keep these folks in my life for whatever purpose we have stumbled together for. I’m sure there’s something we’re all meant to be doing for and with each other, but I don’t know what yet. And it may be a forever friendship, or it may be a limited one–but I’ll enjoy it while it lasts. These are good people. Maybe I’ll even help Y calm the fuck down.

Also got to hear the story of the ride to New Hampshire. Going through New Brunswick, there were 5 of them or so, with Norm riding lead, Paulette behind him, and PG riding sweep. Norm checked his right side mirror to see that the others were behind him in the staggered line, and when he glanced back, a car with a young girl driving was about an inch away from his left foot, and drifting to her right. He was in her blind spot and she was too stupid to check. He put his left foot on her right side rear door and let her push him right toward the guard rail, then dropped back behind her. THEN she saw him in her rearview mirror, freaked out, pulled back into the left lane and hit the gas.

Norm shifted up and went after her, and PG came roaring up the outside of the bikers and took position on her left. Norm was on her right, yelling at her to pull over. She kept her eyes straight ahead, and apparently a passenger in the back seat had eyes and mouth in a huge O of terror. Keep in mind, she’s almost run a biker off the road, and now two very intimidating bikers all in black leather, with skulls on their helmets and so on and so forth, are pacing her. Doubtless, she thought she was going to get killed by irate bikers. Norm pulled in front of her and started slowing down, forcing her to either run him over, or slow down. They were doing about 30km an hour on the highway, which has a limit of 100km. Traffic was piling up behind them with flashers going, probably wondering what the hell was going on. Paulette yelled at Norm, because she was afraid he was going to be run over. He said he could see the driver with tears pouring down her face, in complete terror at what was going on. PG was still on her left, Norm in front and the other three bikers behind. There were no tags on her car, no license plate or permit paper, so if the RCMP had arrived, she’d have been in a different world of trouble. Finally, Norm and PG backed off and let her go, but they (and I) suspect that she will be hyper-aware of bikers on the highway from now on. If she ever drives again. So…lots of fun on their first day out. Fortunately, that was the last incident they had on their trip there and back, and it ended well for them, so that’s good.

Hoping that next year, I’ll be able to go with them. I keep checking Kijiji.ca for bikes for sale, and Norm is keeping his eye out for me. He’s good at finding deals, so we’ll see what comes up. My motorcycle course is the weekend of July 15th, and I’m really looking forward to it. Maybe next year, or the year after, I’ll learn to fly!