They Had A Parade For Me!

This is me, and I sat at that window and did the "Queen wave" I felt like an idiot, since it was not a real float an no one knew who I was, but you know, they will one day.

  Okay, well it wasn't just for me.  I mean they called it the Easter Parade, but you all know it was all about me right? Oh and just to warn you, there are lots of pictures, I mean a bunch.  Which is cool because I think they are all in focus, which is a first for my blog!

 So here are the pictures of us running through the Path system at work, then on the subway platform, I know amazing right! Also this is the start of the parade, as it went down the road the whole sidewalks were filled, it is a big deal apparently.  We never do parades I don't like crowds, unless they are there to see me.

There were lots of people, free candy will do that.

  So I got a last minute email from the TTC ( Toronto Transit Commission) You may remember when I won the contest to name the new train here in Toronto? Well if not, you can check it out on the link.  And then come back and be amazed that you are reading something that a famous person wrote.  Even if I am only famous in my own mind.

You can barley see the street car coming down the tracks, there were two of them.

  So I got the email saying that there were going to be some really old street cars in the parade and we could go ride along.  I was thinking I didn't want to, too much traffic, too much time you know, just being my famous diva self. Then I figured when will Pork Chop have the opportunity to be in a parade again?  I have been in a few.  One as a cheer leader; don't laugh, I used to be hot.

This lady cracked me up she was all "get out of the way! There is a street car coming!"  And no one listened to her. 

I think if I get a new car, I need to put ears on it.

 Also I figure what a fun cheap day out.  So I said sure we would go and we figured out that we would take public transit, which I hate, and just have fun.  Now just to clarify I don't hate transit itself, I hate being packed in with lots of people I don't know. People that don't cover their mouths when they sneeze, or people who take out and clean their crack pipe while you try not to look or as was on the news earlier this year, people doing inappropriate things without pants on while really drunk.  (google it trust me it is not safe for work at all!)

This is the streetcar we rode, I took one side, Pork Chop and hubby the other.  

   I figured it was a holiday Sunday so we should be safe.  And we were, mostly.  On guy was eating and dropping food all over the floor, and Hubby and I nearly gagged.  Pork Chop on the other hand loved it.

Pork Chop was just happy to have some candy, that is all he wanted any way.

Hubby trying to look cool, he was all "Take another one!" He is so vane.

  We first took the subway, and on the other side the Toronto Rocket, the new train, was passing.  Pork Chop started to scream,

"Look Mommy! It's your train!!"

  I just said, "shhh"  I didn't want the public to be alerted to my being there, I was not in the mood to sign autographs.  (What? it could happen.)

And the parade had not even started and Pork Chop was doing his Diva "No pictures!" move.  I may have to hurt him.

  Then we got on the street car, and rode it all the way to the end of the parade route.  Once there we looked high and low for the streetcar.  But no one had any mention of it.  So we waited and called my contact who said it came later as it was still an in service car, so it needed the tracks.  I thought maybe it would be on wheels or something. What do I know, I am just the talent.

  As we waited we went for a snack, Pork Chop wanted candy, as the parade is about candy being tossed out and he would not get any. And Hubby and I found a bakery to get some treats, yum.  We also hit two chocolate stores and I bought treats for later.  So good!

This is in the front, not sure what it is for as the driver was on the other side of the car.  Maybe this street car goes in the water like the Hippo bus we have here.  Now that would be cool.

  So the two street cars arrived and we got on the older one.  It was made in 1921 I think, it was so nice, all wood and nice lights.  There were old advertisements and stuff, so cool. And at the back was a sort of bay window and we opened the windows to sit and be able to wave to the fans.  Notice I did not say my fans.  Just you wait.  I was shown up!

  So we start going and there is this guy, with this super cute dog, just wanting to ride the street car.  And his super cute dog had on bunny ears.  I was chop liver compared to that.  Oh well.  I took one side, Hubby and Pork Chop the other and we waved, and said hi and did all the things famous people do in a parade. Man my arm got tired!

This is the driving side, so fancy!

See all those people, that was nothing, it was so busy at some points.

And Pork Chop was working his "queen hand" wave, so funny!

You could look out and see the whole parade behind us from the window.

See this is why I could not wear my pink bunny ear's.  A red jacket, and a good hair day

How you doin?

   Anyway, it was really fun, I even bought bunny hats and ears.  Only the ears for Pork Chop were the same ones the dog was wearing so he did not want to wear them. And I wore a red jacket which clashed with my pink hat, and I was having a good hair day.  So only Hubby wore his hat, and I took a picture and put it on Facebook as fast as I could.  Then he got mad, but you know he loved being "the first hubby" for me.  He had that arm wave and smile down pat.  And he is all mine ladies!

This is the whole view, isn't it so nice, I can just imagine all the workers back then in their cute old outfits going home.  I bet none of them cleaned their crack pipes on the street car, that is what you call class.

 So we rode the street car, at the front of the whole parade and then got off to get on a new street car to go back home.  It was fun, I mean if I am going to be famous I better get used to this.  But next time I want a limo. And  a pony, because if I get really famous, I am so getting a pony, a cute one. And I will name it mini me or Cupcake.

I felt so cool, until the dog showed up.

And this was the other street car in the parade. I love seeing old stuff like this.

The time we met the Mayor and named the new Subway in Toronto

So this is totally not a baking post, but I am running a bit behind in my baking posts so I thought this is Cakeballs, Cookies and More right?  So this will be in the More category.  It also gives me an excuse to show off my hot bod.  I know that last part is totally made up, but if anyone does a google search for cakeballs and hot bod, I have them covered. 

The small picture's are off my cell phone so they are not the best.  Anyway, this is my train! And by mine, I mean I named it, but didn't pay for it, if I could I so would, how cool would  it be to own your own subway train.  I would stop at all the stops and open the window and yell, sorry this is my train, don't even think of trying to get on.  Then I would dance all over. Ya, I wouldn't have many friend probably.  But I would have a pony on my train, I mean if I had the money why not? Don't pretend like you wouldn't too. 

Anyway this all started way back in 2006, I think.  I was looking for a cheaper way to get to and from work. I work downtown and drive in every day.  In looking for another solution I checked out the website for our subway. We call it the TTC, Toronto Transit Commission.  When I looked I happened to see that they had some contest going, a name the new subway contest.  The winner would get a one year subway pass.  That was cool, but I never win anything so never really thought it would happen. The new train was going to be commissioned and they planned to put the first one into service in the next year or so.  Yeah, that was back in 2006 people.

Pork Chop in the drivers seat, I told him to try and look like he was driving.  If this is how he is going to drive, he is never touching my car. 

My paparazzi, they may have been there for the train, but I choose to believe I was the big draw. 

There were even police, I am that famous!

So I wracked my brain for oh, 10 seconds, to come up with the most amazing name ever.  I picked something that I thought the TTC would like, as I wanted to win.  Growing up the slogan for the subway was "Ride the Rocket."  I will at this time not make the obvious joke about that and move on.  I do, however, reserve the right to come back at any time and do so.

 Be warned.

But on a nice note, that slogan was something I remember from my childhood so I wanted to keep it going somehow.

I am a little mad my name is not on the front of the train, but you know,  I cannot have everything.

This is the podium, and while they were talking I was right there, feeding Pork Chop snacks, I am so the best mom ever.

So "Ride the Rocket"  that is what I worked with, and so I decided the new subway trains would need to be named something amazing, something cool, something, well, I don't know. Just something. So the first thing that popped into my head was "The Toronto Rocket"  I submitted it and forgot all about it.

Until,  I got a message at home saying I had won.  Now I never win anything, much less something that was a big contest like this.  At the time they announced that I won, I was all, yay!  Then I was all, oh no, people are going to see me, as there was supposed to be a big event when the train launched.  Remember I was at my heaviest around then.  Well, what could I do I won something.

Little did I know there was a bunch of people on line making fun of me for my lame choice in names.  I mean someone even said they were embarrassed they lived in the same city as me.  I found this out after the train went into service in 2010 and I was looking for pictures to print out for my son.  Ya, I could never be really famous, I was hurt.  No thick skin here at all. Although with lots of money I could have someone to be upset for me, that could work. Or just get them to hunt down the meanies and call them names. That will show them.

So fast forward like what, 4 years?  And I get a few emails saying there are going to be events, but they were all last minute and I could not get out of work on short notice you know.  So finally they gave me a bit of notice about the first run of the train, I did not want to miss that.  My goodness, my son could tell his grand kids he rode the maiden voyage of the subway.  And yes I doubt he will be telling the story, but you know, I am dramatic.  So I managed to get the day off and went.

The plan was to drive to work then subway it to the station to meet up and be there and I had no idea what else.  So of coarse there was a traffic accident and we were late, but we made it at least 10 minuted earlier than the mayor, so hey, I was on time.

This is one of the professional picture, I give credit at the end  for the good pictures to the nice person who took them.  As you can see I am telling Pork Chop something,  what I don't know. And that is a model of my train.

Another professional picture, I am behind them all on the train saying. "smile Pork Chop!"  He didn't smile. And that guy on the left, he cracks me up.  He is so saying "How you doin'!"  You know he totally is!

And here is Pork Chop skipping behind the media and the Mayor with his ribbon, he was mad they would not let him go first I think. 

We got to take pictures of Pork Chop sitting in the driver seat and I got one of both of us.  Keep in mind these are the last pictures of him smiling, the rest he looks so miserable, but he was just shy.  He also loves to wear a baseball hat, so he had to pick another one or no hat.  I think he was cute, and all the people kept telling him they liked his hat.

This was the last professional picture, taken just as they were getting ready to let all the people on.  My head looks like it's floating or something.

Another professional picture, the mayor was nice enough to stop to take with us.   I hate having pictures taken.

So during the press conference he was board but I was prepared!  I brought snacks so my kid ate while the people were talking.  Then they said my name, I sort of looked like a deer in head lights and waved.  Then it was onto the train.  They wanted a photo op cutting the ribbon, but would not let Pork Chop hold the scissors as they were sharp, just look at his face, he was so not liking it.  They took the picture, gave Pork Chop a piece of the ribbon then started doing a tour of the subway.  Pork Chop skipped down the train waving his ribbon and what not.  One of the nice ladies got it signed for us by the mayor and a few other high up people.  I have it in a shadow box for Pork Chop with the button they gave out.

So after that they were going to start the train, they wanted to let Pork Chop in the front but they were not allowed due to something or other.  So we stood at the front and all these people loaded in.  Man there are some die hard train fans, so cute, and at every station they would yell for the people to get on, as it was not the usual train.  So funny. Pork Chop kept looking at me like this was the craziest thing ever, usually only drunk people are screaming on the subway. Not that he has been on the train with drunks, not yet at least.

It was crowded and people were screaming like crazy.  There was this adorable kid who loved trains and he had on a  t shirt that had the map of the subway, and he knew all sorts of train things.  So cute!

So we rode it back to work, had one of the TV stations talk to us and then we grabbed lunch and went home.  But not after visiting all my "friends" at work.  Pork Chop always wants to see my friends, but then acts all shy and doesn't say anything other than "hi" and "hmm."  He is a real conversationalist in public. Oh and I bought him some lego because he had been so good. That was probably the highlight of the day for him

That night Pork Chop watched TV all night to see himself.  He was not on  TV at all, poor guy.  The big news was the heat, it was super hot and that was the top story.    There was a clip of us walking along the train, but that was it.  He was so upset, so I spent the next day googling for clips, there were a few, mostly of us walking inside the train.
Now anytime the mayor is on  the news Pork Chop asks why there is a new train, if he only knew right?

I took this picture because it was going to be in my scrapbook of "The Amazing Life of Me"  I have yet to start that book, so you know, now it's on the web,it's practically the same thing.

So there were a few professional pictures and a few I took on my phone.  It was darn hot and my feet hurt, and the dress I was wearing makes it look like I have no boobs and I felt fat, and my hair was hot and you know it was not great. ( and I totally know I am whining like a baby, but you know, I have to start my Diva attitude somewhere right?) But, I named a train, and will go down in history as the girl who gave "The Toronto Rocket" it's name.

And was one of the first to ride it.

 (that's what she said!)

All professional pictures by , Derek Stryland