Week 4---> Climb the CN Tower

Climb The CN Tower Climb
A friend of mine mentioned I should try the CN Tower Climb for WWF and I decided- this was something I simply had to do!  I have always wanted to try climbing the CN tower and I have a passion for endangered animals.  I easily convinced a few girls, from work, to join me.  In order to register for the event we were forced you to fundraise.  I love giving money to a worthy cause but I HATE asking people for money.  I figured I would donate all the money myself, but luckily I had some fans to help me out (Thanks, Mom and Dad!).  I was really excited to climb and as the date approached I kept thinking to myself, “I probably should have trained or prepared for this climb,” but time ran out- so I headed out to the CN tower at 6 am on a Saturday morning and hoped for the best.

I arrived at the skydome at about 7:00 am. It was freezing and there was a huge line- running from gate 5 to gate 8.  It was going to be a long wait. I took a look at the groups around me.  There were some kids, some seniors, lots of adults and quite a number of athletes.  I group athletes separately only because they looked so intimidating.  They were in their running gear and were stretching while most other people were guzzling down their coffees or McDonalds breakfast meals.  Many of them had clearly done this event before.  I started to worry that maybe this was more intense than I had anticipated.  When my two friends arrived we started to get excited about the climb.  I let my nerves disappear and decided, “I can do this”.  After getting through all of the registration process and metal detectors- we were able to start.  Because of the recent tragedy in Boston, we were not allowed to bring cameras or cell phones in.  This, though necessary, is really disheartening.  I really wanted to get some pictures of the experience, and especially, at the top of the CN tower.  Alas, my only photos are from before and after the event.  I’ll have to let my descriptive language allow you to visualize the process.

When our heat was “released” everyone started to run from the skydome to the CN tower.  There were lots of people cheering and ringing bells. I may just be lazy- but I couldn’t help but wonder- why are we running?? We are going to be dead tired before we even get started.  Nevertheless, like a lemming, I started to run with the group.  I suppose it pumps you up before the climb starts.  After even more metal detectors etc. (inside the tower), we received our “time cards” and started up the stairs.  The stairs were not very glamorous. There was a metal gridded fence up one side, and a grey brick wall surrounding the other three.  Considering there were over 4,000 climbers the stairwell was shockingly narrow.  Each floor was labeled- which was inspiring at first, but started to get depressing.  We knew the climb was 142 floors and 1,776 steps- but when you are panting by floor 23, your optimism starts to diminish! 

When we started the race, I was shocked at how quickly I became short of breath.  For me, the first 20 floors seemed the hardest.  My calves started to pinch, I started to feel exhaustion and I had sweat starting to drip… everywhere!  Once we hit floor 40- things picked up.  I had gotten my rhythm; I felt motivated and had my breathing under control.  I only wish they could have played some music.  The sound of other peoples gasping breaths above and below is not the most encouraging sound.  Every couple of floors there would be a first aider.  And every couple of floors there would be a person (or a few) who needed to take a break.  This made for some very squishy corners.  Again, by the 40^th floor I started to think, “I could probably go quite a bit faster than what I am going”- but with the crowds, passing wasn’t always easy and I decided to remain at my steady, but slow pace.   The girls and I had a few sing alongs on the way up, and chatted briefly- but for the most part talking didn’t really make things easier.  When I do this again I think I will bring an ipod.

When we reached the top- we handed in our time cards and headed outside for some fresh air and a great view of the city.  It took us 22:42 to climb almost 2,000 steps.  I was a little bummed about our time- I think we could have gone a lot faster.   To be honest when we finished I wanted to keep going- I felt like heading out for a run or continuing to climb.  We took the elevator down- got our free tshirts, snapped a few photos and were done by just after 8:00. 

 

Week 3----> Try Ethiopian Food

Try Ethiopian Food

On Sunday, my friend and I set out to try Ethiopian Food. Having never tried it before, I wanted to taste the best of the best.  I read a few blogs saying Nazareth was the “best Ethiopian in Toronto” and a bunch of my friends recommended it as well, so we set out to Bloor Street West to try it out.  I was really excited to try Ethiopian, but all I really knew about it was you eat with your hands (That’s my kind of restaurant!!).

The vibe at Nazareth was really cool.  There were fake vines hanging everywhere, and very dim lighting- overall it felt very serene… but there were hardly any seats.  I was surprised to see how tiny this place was, especially since it seems to be so well known.  I suppose this help makes the place feel cozy and down to earth, but there was a line waiting out the door the entire time we were there.  We were lucky to walk in while there was an empty table.  The menu was also small; I believe only 8 or 10 choices.  They food options appeared to be similar- but with different meat options.

My friend and I really didn’t know what to try.  We decided to order the vegetarian dish (which they are most well-known for) and a beef dish, kitfo. (Sounds safe enough right?).  Since we were starving we eagerly awaited to try this new meal.  We waited… And waited… And waited.  I was loving the vibe of this place- but the wait time was unreal.  People who sat down way after us… and ordered the same dish as us, received food before us….

When our plate finally arrived it looked like thisJ .  I am still not entirely sure what we consumed, but it was delicious.  We each got a pita- like- substance (called injera) which we dipped into the heaping piles of veggies and beef.  The injera is GLUTEN FREE!!  It sort of reminded me of a pancake- it had lots of little holes and spongy texture.  It tasted nothing like a pita- and unlike a pita- you rip off pieces and pinch the veggies or meat between your fingers. It was fun to eat with my hands, but super messy.  My first few bites were incredible!  I loved the kitfo, and I liked most parts of the veggie platter.  We both got full really quickly-this place has HUGE portion sizes.  We probably should have only ordered one option.  Eating Ethiopian is super  cheap.  The entire meal cost $12.00.  What a deal!! So- the final question- WOULD I EAT IT AGAIN? 

Prior to going, I read all sorts of reviews about the amazing price and the amazing food.  I will agree with both.  I also read that the service was bad and the place was a little dirty.  Again, I will have to agree. No one wiped our table before we were seated.  We were never checked on by the waiter.  Food and drinks were both served with dripping wet hands, which dripped onto my arm and lap.  I’m not a neat freak- by any means- and I generally don’t judge a place on its cleanliness but- since it had already been pointed out, I noticed.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed my food and the atmosphere.  It was a lovely evening- and I would potentially go back, or try another Ethiopian restaurant in the future.

 

Week 2---> Go See A Movie, In Theatres, Alone

Go To A Movie Alone
Ok so again, this doesn’t seem like a huge deal- but going to a movie alone is something I always wanted to do, but somehow never got the “guts” to try it. I decided that if I was going to do this, it had to be all out- not a Sunday Matinee or a movie that had been out for 8 weeks.  No, I wanted to a Friday night- top blockbuster.  So I got myself ready and headed out to see “42” on a Friday night.

 I also decided treat myself to dinner while at the movie.  I ordered my classic… the chicken finger meal and got ready to enjoy.  Movies have always been expensive but- I am a little upset how far my 15 dollars went for dinner.  15 bucks for four strips of chicken and a baby sized fries.  Seriously- the skydome is cheaper than that and at least you get a good sized portion. My drink, however, was massive.

 
I was feeling pretty good about my night out alone. The only slight embarrassment was when I asked the ticket taker to snap a photo of me going in alone (for the sake of the blog).  I told her it was for a blog- and then I had a few guys standing nearby ask me about it.  They are potentially new followers now! Hey guys!

 I sat in the front of the main section- So I could put my feet up on the metal bar- and I was as happy as a clam. I gorged down my food and loved every second of it.  As I watched, what is currently my favourite movie of the year, I realized I would love to go to more movies by myself.  I laughed hysterically at the funny moments, gasped when things shocked me and smiled when the leads kissed.  Come on girls.  You do it too.  You see the happy couple kiss and you realize your face is hurting because you are smiling so hard.  You turn and look at the people beside you and they are a little freaked out that you are still smiling. I dig that feeling.  (This is how my face looked)

I know many of my friends who have yet to try the movie alone thing.  Again, I have no idea why- somehow, we are made to think going to a movie is a group thing.  It was no where near as bad as I expected, and was quite an enjoyable night. So- Would I do it again?  My response is YES- but no!  Here’s what I mean…I would go every day if I could. I enjoyed the “me time” and getting out of the house but between my 12 dollar ticket and my 16 dollar treat- I feel a little ripped off.  Especially since the rest of my weekend- is booked up with dinner and drinks with friends where I will keep having to dish out my cash.  When it comes to “me time” I still think I will spend most nights at home with Netflix and a pot of KD.  It’s just cheaper- and then I can spend my money when I’m doing social outings- or when I want new clothes… But if there is a movie that I’m dying to see that no one will see with me… I’ll definitely be there with my chicken fingers and all.

Week 1--> Join a fantasy sports league

JOINING A FANTASY LEAGUE

So this will definitely not be my most exciting blog- but it’s something that I have always wanted to do- and an easy one to start with.

As an “avid” sports fan- I was ecstatic to hear that some friends of mine, at work, started a fantasy baseball league- and they invited me to join.  I have always been a HUGE Raptors fan, and I actively follow the Jays. I love going to games, and watching them at bars and at the gym.  Does this make me ready to participate in a league of betting?  I think so.  After all, I know all the stats of the Jays starting players….that’s enough to call me a “pro”…. RIGHT? 

What I didn’t realize is- in a fantasy league you need to know a whole lot more than the stats of your favourite team.  It takes more than a little research to understand what’s going on.

Signing up was easy- we used Yahoo and it was free.  Picking a team name was slightly harder.  I struggled to think of a witty, yet fierce, team name.  Sadly, I left my computer open and one of my coworkers named my team, “StjohnsSassySailors”. How embarrassing.

 Once I was registered I waited eagerly to see who would be drafted to my “team”.  Yahoo listed the players in, what is apparently, the overall ranking of each player. I browsed the list to find my favourite guys… and in the top 40 I only knew two players.  Bautista- who was ranked 14 and Reyes who was ranked close to 20.  As I quickly tried to research some of the top names on the list I realized… I know very little about baseball.  I really am just a sappy fan who researches the Jays from time to time.  So I didn’t alter anything and waited to see my fate.

The next morning- my team was created.  I didn’t know a single player on my team.  I didn’t get a single Blue Jay- and I couldn’t tell what was good, who I should be trading- if I needed to substitute players…. and things only went downhill from there. There are all sorts of ratings, abbreviations, stats and recommendations.  The guys at work had conversations way above my head: “he went 2-for-3 with a solo homer”,  “He’s slugging 1.083 in 12 Abs”,“he gave up 4  runs over 5 1/3 frames but escaped with no decision”.  Though I do know what each abbreviation means- it was as though the boys at work started to speak a new language.  They ran through stats so fast- I just could not keep up.  They looked at each other’s teams and laughed about line-ups and weak players. I couldn’t even pronounce half the players names on my team.  I cannot wrap my head around how they know everyone’s name, especially since half the guys in baseball have the same last name as other guys.

This is my team.  I’m sure they are all great baseball players but I can’t even tell you who is who at this point.  I know my second baseman “Cano” is ranked 4^th overall.  But from looking at these guys the only thing I can conclude with certainty- Baseball men are sexy.



Determined to keep up with in the league, I spent my breaks at work researching my team. I’m telling you, to fully understand and know the teams and players in MLB, you would need to study more than I did for my entire University career.  I have guys on the disabled list, guys getting benched because the pitcher is left handed, and guys who are just not living up to their stats.  I can’t keep up with all the changes.   Each day I watch the match-ups, projected stats, weather reports, opponents, trade possibilities and try to put forth my best line up.  So far, I am in last place but I am hopeful to see a turn around.  It is a long season.



Last Place :(



Though I have not made this experience seem overly appealing- I am really enjoying it! I was extremely excited to watch the stats change on my app each day.  I also am much more interested in games other than the Blue Jays games.  Though my knowledge is still minimal- this league has helped me get into the game.  I now look forward to when “my guys” come to the skydome. Did you see that fight with the Dodgers pitcher, Zack Greinke, ya he’s my guy! (Now out with a broken collarbone).  Slowly but surely- I'm learning to keep up!

I’m excited to see how this all turns out.  Though our stakes aren’t very high-I hate to lose.



THE LIST!

Hello There!
Welcome to my blog. As the title states, this blog is about my 52 firsts. I plan, for the next year, to try 52 things I have never done before. Each week I will do on one item on the list and blog about the experience I have. Some tasks will be a challenge and some will be easy, but I hope to learn something from them and have some fun along the way!  So for starters this is the list of "firsts" I hope to complete over the next year.   

1) Start a Blog - COMPLETED APRIL 7^th 2013
2) Bake a pie- COMPLETED MAY 11th 2013
3) Go watch my brother's band play live
4) Get a Brazilian Wax
5) Go on a road trip and stay in a new city for the weekend, with a friend.
6) Climb the CN Tower- COMPLETED APRIL 27th 2013
7) Bungee Jump at Canada’s Wonderland- COMPLETED MAY 19th 2013
8) Do an Organized Run in Toronto (Hopefully- the Colour me Rad Race on June 29^th)
9) Take a pole dancing, belly dancing or some sort of new dancing class
10) Bring a hot meal to a homeless person
11) Learn to knit - COMPLETED MAY 4th 2013
12) Make Homemade Pasta
13) Ask someone I have just met to get a drink/dinner etc. ( make a new friend)
14) Go to London, England to visit two of my greatest friends.
15) Don’t use my cell phone/facebook for a week.
16) Splurge on an expensive accessory (I know this sounds like something every girl does- but I never pay much for shoes/sunglasses/watches/jewelry/purses etc.) Part 2: take care of my expensive accessory.
17) Go to a bar and have dinner alone
18) Try Snowboarding
19) Go Golfing (or run a best ball tournament)
20) Go to a movie alone- COMPLETED APRIL 19th 2013
21) Try Ethiopian food- COMPLETED APRIL 22nd 2013
22) Go Horseback riding
23) Explore a new part of Toronto
24) Volunteer for a day
25) Keep my apartment/car/desk clean and organized
26) Go sailing
27) Learn how to play a new instrument
28) Do a DIY project from pinterest.

29) Go for a run/swim every day BEFORE work
30) Plan a girls night where we do something none of us have ever tried before.
31) Do a climbing wall or high ropes course.
32) Do all grocery shopping at a market.
33) Go to an Argos or Toronto Rock Game.

34) Host or go to a murder mystery party/costume party
35) Try seafood - COMPLETED MAY 29th 2013
36) Try a place off my best friends blog, “MeatySweats”, and try a kind of meat I have never tasted before.
37) Try Vegan for a week (learn Vegan recipes).
38) Wear High Heels to every social outing/work for a week.
39) Try Surfing
40) Watch the sunrise and sunset of the same day
41) Do Norae Bong (Korean Karaoke) and drink soju.
42) Host a euchre (or poker) night
43) Move to a new Area of Toronto and/or start a new job
44) Join a fantasy sports league- COMPLETED APRIL 7th 2013
45) Get Dirty! (I have a few ideas for this (warrior dash etc) but I figure I’ll leave it open ended for now and see what kind of “mess” I can get myself into)
46) Milk a Cow
47) Go to Medieval Times- COMPLETED JUNE 3rd 2013
48) Attend a festival event in Toronto
49) Take an art class, improve workshop or singing lesson
50) Learn to make a fire.
51) Take a ride in a convertible with the top down or in a rickshaw or on top of a double decker bus.
52) Do a week long “cleanse”

I am sure a few will change over the year and they will not be completed in the order listed.

So here starts my adventure.  If you have any advice, ideas or recommendations please let me know.  Friends- I am seeking company for many of these so feel free to join my endeavors. I may also need some help for some of them!

Wish Me Luck!!

Here's to a year of firsts.