Kristabella: Full of Snark Since 1977

Posted By Kristabella on August 9, 2011

I’m back from Toronto and #BBQHer. And I had an AMAZING TIME! In fact, so much so, I want to go back right this minute and am looking up flights RIGHT NOW! (Clearly, this is why I’m in debt.) (So I guess I have something to show for it.) (And I’m A-OK with that.)

I was sad to leave.

It was such a perfect weekend. Well, until I was dropped off at the airport on Sunday evening, but that was no fault of the Martells and all the fault of Mother Nature. She’s been out to get me since I wrote this post.

I arrived Thursday night, met a hot customs agent and then tried to pick him up. He was not impressed because when he asked if I had brought gifts, I showed him my bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee. And he was all “coffee, really? Some friend you are!” And I tried to tell him “no, you don’t understand! This coffee is so good and you can’t get it in Canada!” And then he stamped my passport and wished me on my merry way.

After arriving at the Martell Bed & Breakfast, we chatted, the kids went to bed and then we watched Jersey Shore. People, if the first episode in Italy was any indication, this will be the best season ever.

Yeah, buddy!

Friday morning, I went downtown to the St. Lawrence Market and walked around the market and downtown Toronto by myself until lunch time, when Ali was done working. I remember 2 things about my morning – 1) there was some sort of big news conference outside the market with some person that no one in Toronto, or Canada, knew. Well, according to my Twitter. 2) I had this corn muffin at the market that was probably the best muffin I have ever eaten. I want another one, or 12.

After lunch, we picked up some food and drinks for the ensuing inaugural BBQHer event, which was dinner and wine. And in my case, even more wine. The lovely Sam joined us and it was so much fun. We stayed up until 3 AM drinking and talking. And laughing. Lots of laughing.

Saturday morning, after I slept off that giant 1.5 L of wine, was more talking and drinking (coffee, this time) and laughing. Then we made our own grilled pizzas and had lunch together outside. (FYI, the food all weekend was amazing. I even wrote about Gabe over on Food Lush.)

After lunch, we headed out to the Toronto Beer Fest which, let’s be honest, is my idea of heaven. Except for the fact that they don’t give you unlimited number of beers and you have to buy tokens. I sampled many a Canadian brew and even donned moose antlers. Which I’m pretty sure makes me 1/2 Canadian already.

Sunday was spent sleeping in and relaxing. We had a lovely brunch, played some games (ALI WINS EVERYTHING!!) with the kids and watched a Toddler and Tiaras marathon. It is Isabella’s favorite show. And well, I had never seen it before and it is impossible to look away when it is on.

I left for the airport super early because Gabe mentioned that the customs line would be insane. And since he travelled back and forth between Atlanta and Toronto every 2 weeks for a whole year, he would know. He was so right. The wait was over an hour. There were a few families there with small children and all I kept thinking was “travelling with kids is hard enough, let alone waiting in an hour-long customs line!”

Little did I know at the time, that it didn’t matter. Because my plane would not take off for another three hours. We were delayed. Then we got on the plane, only to sit on the tarmac. To then race across the airport because our runway changed. To then head back to the gate because there was a ground stop in Chicago due to weather and we were running out of gas. To then waiting for the ground stop to be lifted. To then having the ground stop lifted and then having to wait 30 minutes for the fuel truck. To then finally leaving, after sitting on the tarmac for a little bit longer.

Overall, I landed at 10:30 PM, which isn’t too bad. Thank God for the hour time difference. But then our luggage decided to not show up. Not just mine, everyone on our flight. The flight number had disappeared from all the baggage claim screens and yet, NO BAGS. Finally, at a little after 11:30, I got my bag and headed outside to catch a cab home.

NOT SO FAST, KRISTABELLA!

The line for cabs was like 100 people deep. Not surprising, since everyone was delayed coming into Chicago. Thankfully there were tons of cabs and the line moved quickly. I think I made it home a little after midnight and was in bed about 20 seconds later. (Not really, because I’m always WIRED when I get home, no matter how badly I want to sleep.) Also, the cats were very excited to see me and have me turn on the AC again.

And as tired as I was, I CANNOT WAIT for the next time I get to do it all over again!

Categories: A Day in the Life of Me, All Things Blogging, Gotta Have Friends, Travel
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