Wednesday 30 December 2009

New Year Walks: Dec. 30 & Jan. 2

Ring out the old with our last walk of 2009 tonight at Shoppers. If there's a will for it, we could try starting early; say just after sunset at 5 pm. Otherwise, the time is as usual at 7. Sign in here.

Ring in the new with our first 2010 walk at Tim's on Saturday at 8 am. It happens to be our Donna B's birthday -- a happy one to you (and belated yet nonetheless heartfelt birthday good wishes to Brette; I'll bet you get that a lot, eh, kiddo?)

Let us know if you're coming and when by signing in here. Sorry for the late posting. I got a cold for Christmas, and it robbed me of brains for a few days.

P.S. Sharp-eyed Shore Thing Jeannette recently sent me a link to the Live Earth Run/Walk for Water in April. It's a 6K event on Toronto Island. Might be worth putting on our radar. Earlybird deadline for registration is tomorrow (December 31st). Save some bucks as you save the Earth!

Monday 28 December 2009

Walk: Mon. Dec. 28 @ Loblaws

Very successful Resolution 5K yesterday at the CNE – not the least of which was the fabulous brunch spread put on by Barbara and Ian afterwards. Thanks to you both for your generosity (and, please, can we have your kitchen?).

Looks like we already have a couple of people ready and willing for a walk tonight at 7pm chez Loblaws. Please sign in if you're coming, so that Susan and Leverne will know to wait. Cheers, folks.

Saturday 19 December 2009

Walks: Week of Dec. 21 to 27

Closing out our blog for 2009 with a proud moment for the east end of Toronto, when four of us "rose to the occasion" getting up early to watch the Olympic Torch pass by on Friday. We were luckily right at an exchange point just south of the Leaside Bridge (thanks, Dawn). My heart swelled a little to watch these two young people touch torches then give each other a high-five, surrounded by smiling faces with origins from all around the world. That's my Canada!

With a busy week ahead, you're on your own for walks. If you think you'd like company, though (especially on Saturday, Dec. 26th), do sign in as a comment to see if there are other like-minded soles (pun intended).

Our next gathering will be the Resolution 5K on Dec. 27th. I'm offering to pick up race kits. The event is at Exhibition Place, and Barbara and Ian have invited us for coffee and sustenance afterwards. Bob & I will be driving if you need a ride. So, here's what you have to tell me, by replying to this email:
  • a) Yes, please pick up my kit for the Resolution. Here's my confirmation form.
  • b) Yes, I need a ride. What time should I be at your place? (TBD, by the way.)
  • c) How lovely! I will be at Barbara and Ian's with my (self, significant other, pet rabbit... or?).
Thanks again, everyone, for my delightful surprise today. I look forward to choosing my spa treat, and even more to experiencing it. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday, however you celebrate it.

An official Happy Birthday to Eva! It was great to see you today at Edward Levesque. (We're all grateful to Olwyn and Eileen for organizing that, too.) And, in case things get too hectic and you don't hear from me soon enough, early Birthday wishes to Brette. Enjoy your day, both of you.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Walk & Brunch: Sat. Dec. 19 @ Tim's

Shore Things t-shirts are here and, dollink, they look fabulous! If you haven't paid Charlotte yet for yours, please bring your cheque on Saturday – so you can put a t-shirt under the tree for yourself. The picture above is the front view; the back is below. Still hoping to have those darned vest samples to try, too. Cross your fingers.

Saturday, we'll meet to leave promptly at 8 am (please and thanks) so we can fit in a brisk, northbound 6K and arrive at Edward Levesque on Queen Street, east of Leslie at 9-9:15.

If you can't pick up your shirt or other goodies on Saturday, please contact me so we can arrange an alternative. It would be great to get all these charges cleared off my Visa card now (calendars, books, t-shirts, ouch!)... as Santa is thinking of adding a few expenses in the very near future.


Monday 14 December 2009

Walk: Wed. Dec. 16 @ Shoppers


Susan Lewis of the KW Walking Classic has given the Shore Things first notice that registration is now open for the first all-walkers half marathon on September 26, 2010. Follow the link to be an earlybird for the half, 10K or, yes, even the 5K events. Bob and I have the honour of being the very first registrants for the half, and I hope that the Shore Things will join us in numbers. Only 400 places are available for the half marathon.

Speaking of events: the dilemma of finding a marathon to do with my husband (or, at least, in the general vicinity of my husband... at the start line) has pointed me towards Reykjavik, Iceland on August 21, 2010. People at the single-booth "expo" at Saturday's Santa-suit race noted that Iceland's current economic dip has produced some good travel deals. Will be investigating this further over the holidays. Registration opens in January, and training would begin in March. Any interest?

This message isn't intended to solicit those thinking of the Chicago marathon... and a reminder to those folks that hotel reservations will be important to secure.

This week is the year's last Doc Soup night, which keeps most of our Wednesday regulars off the streets. Please sign in if you're planning to walk.

Don't forget our brunch on Saturday, too. As the restaurant doesn't take reservations, we'll have an extra-short walk to be first in line when it opens. Details to follow.

Sunday 13 December 2009

Walk: Mon. Dec. 14 @ Loblaws

Yes, it was us and 2,399 of our closest Santas at the all-Santa-Suit race on Saturday. The sun was astonishingly bright, and the weather just right for a 5K stroll. Pictures are turning our Flickr badge a bright red even now. (Lynne, let me know if you need help posting yours.)

A few wrinkles with the organization delayed the race start by about 20 minutes. But I'm sure Kelly will have those ironed out for next time... when eight of us, at least, will have our suits a-ready. And once we finally got to it, the brunch was surprisingly generous.

See you at 7 for 6K, and we'll tell you all about it.

Thursday 10 December 2009

Walk: Sat. Dec. 12 @ Tim's

Books and calendars are here, and t-shirts should be here soon.

However, a little bird tells me that she hasn't received payment from anyone yet. The little bird (our banker Charlotte) is a lot tougher than me, and says, "No loot, no goodies." So keep those cards and letters coming in.

Under those terms, if you'd like to pick up your calendar and/or book this Saturday, please tell me quickly, so I can get them to Tim's. (I'll be in Burlington, wearing a Santa suit, along with Alexis, Barbara, Bob, Jan, Leverne and Lynne.)

Otherwise, I'll have them at our brunch next Saturday, Dec. 19th – if you haven't done so, please let Eileen or Olwyn know you'll be attending.

Enjoy your 8K – or any distance that you please – and we'll see you next week.

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Walk: Wed. Dec. 9 @ Shoppers (or not)


This is the scene we hope we won't be met with over the next few days... the weatherman has been over-cautious about recent weather warnings, so it will remain to be seen what the streets are like on Wednesday evening. Needless to say, if it's unsafe or too blowy, we'll save our 6K for another time. Check the comments for updates.

Dust off your YakTrax, just in case.

The books and calendars have arrived, and they look fabulous! I've also just heard that our t-shirts are being screened now, so we'll have them soon, too. Charlotte has emailed those with orders, giving prices, and will be collecting payments.

Late orders for the softcover books or the calendars can be accepted if placed before Dec. 18th -- however, you won't qualify for the 10% bulk discount on the calendar, and the delivery cost will be a bit higher (so $30 cost rather than $25). Books will still be $60. Please email me asap.

If there are no further orders for the vests, I'll place that order soon, too. We'll also be getting embroidered reflective Shore Things patches, one about 2X4" and one bout 4X8", for just over $20 per set. If you want one, please let me know by the weekend.

Saturday 5 December 2009

Walk: Mon. Dec. 7 @ Loblaws

There are all sorts of ways to get into that red-and-white spirit. Hope that the Santa Shufflers had a fun day, too.

These Olympic mitts from The Bay are kind of cute... though I had my eye on the moose sweater that seems to be sold out everywhere. Not to worry, as we now have the final details on the Shore Things vests!

We will be going with the lighter-weight microfleece in black, as it's Canadian-made, and the polar fleece is not. Cost will be $37 plus tax. It will have our embroidered logo in two colours on the stand-up collar and across the shoulderblades.

A sizing chart is below; clicking it should give you a larger view. For women's vests, the hip measurement matches the bust measurement, and the waist will nip in slightly. Please confirm your size asap – and there's still time to order if you act quickly. I'd like to confirm our vest order by Wednesday, Dec. 9th.



See you on Monday at 7 pm for another pre-holiday 6K burn-off.

Friday 4 December 2009

Walk: Sat. Dec. 5 @ Tim's


Goodness mercy, it's 5:01 on Friday evening, and no post on the blog! What's this world coming to?!

C'mon out, boys and girls, for a brisk (in all senses) 8K walk. See you at 8 am at Tim's. Dress for the weather.

It's Karin's birthday on Sunday. Karin, have a happy one, and do come back and join us so we'll remember that lovely smile of yours.