So, I am officially in my 30’s. I have lived 3 decades on this planet, and am now the age that my Mother was when she had me.
My husband had planned a surprise for me for the evening. My only knowledge was the email he sent me last Friday telling me that I needed to have “something fancy” and be quick getting ready after work. After asking questions to determine the level of fancy I settled on this dress that I wore 2 summers ago to my best friend’s wedding, but different shoes though. It’s rare that I find a dress that I really like, so I’m glad I held on to this one.
I managed to leave work an hour early to come home and get ready. (Thanks Jenn!!) Not much to do really except shave my legs, but well, I’m a woman and I wanted to fiddle with my hair as well. I really suck at doing my own hair, so it just stayed down and got a good brushing and that was that. Half way through dressing Mike called to say he was running late and could I pick up Jack from daycare…so I hurried to throw on the first thing I could find as I was only half-dressed and brought Jack home. When I got home my beautiful daughter brought me a rose from the garden.
Anyways, Mike was just a few minutes behind me and obliged in zipping me up before heading out. So we hopped on the QEW and headed to Niagara Falls. Part way there Mike needed me to look up which street we needed to access the parking lot, so I learned then that he had made a reservation in the Revolving restaurant in the Skylon tower. *INSERT GLEEFUL SQUEELING HERE*
I had totally forgotten that years ago when we started dating I told Mike I’d love to go there sometime. It took 11 years, but he remembered this whole time, and scored some major Husband points for this surprise.
So we got to the Skylon, and took good ol’ elevator number 3 up to the restaurant. We didn’t have to wait long before we were seated right next to the window. We did ask the Maitre D to take a picture of us together though first, since we never get all dressed up just for fun, and even then we really never get a picture or us together. Between the 2 of us we took a lot of pictures tonight. The weather was amazing and view perfectly clear so we did manage some really nice shots.
Ok, now food. The nights special was Surf and Turf. An 8oz angus steak along with a 5 lb Lobster tail. Mike is more of a crab guy, and I’ve never been a fan of seafood, but I’ll admit I did hem and haw at giving it another go. The menu did a really good job of selling it after all.
Drinks:
Mike – Diet coke (no ice!)
Me – Peach Bellini (Jamaican rum blended with fresh peaches and topped with champagne)
Appetizers:
Mike – A Scallop dish
Me – Tomato and Cucumber Salad (w/boccechini cheese and olives) in a herbed oil dressing
Main Course:
Mike – Grilled Salmon served on Rice with steamed Veggies, and a side of Mushrooms
Me – Angus steak (Medium rare) with potato and veggies (Yes, I’m a carnivore! Deal with it! lol)
Totally delicious!! I can’t remember the last time I stuffed myself like that.
As we ate we enjoyed the amazing view. We spend a lot of time down there, but its a whole new thing seeing it from up above like that. Here are a bunch of those pictures.
In the bar area (near the elevator bay) they have a pianist playing for the dinner guests. You only hear him for 1/4 of the time you are there because once you go past a certain point in the rotation you are cut off from him. He played some interesting medleys and interpretations of well known songs. Among them I recognized “All I ask of you” from The Phantom of the Opera, The song from Charlie Browns Christmas movie, and of course…Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”. There were also rather normal versions of classics like “Embrace me”, and “A Kiss is still a Kiss”.
We decided to skip dessert since I was just to full to even consider it, and planned to go walking the tourist area a bit and then stop at my favourite Williams Coffee Pub for a slice of cheesecake on the way home. Don’t even get me started on the elevator operator with the crazy long hair, and mustache telling jokes and making odd comments the whole way down.
On the way back to the car we caught part of this summers “Spectacle”. Since the whole thing with Nick Walenda walking a tightrope over the falls this summer, they started having this other guy do a nightly walk from the top of the Skylon across to the top of the Hilton hotel. Yes he is wearing a tether.
It was quite the attraction. There were people randomly standing in groups watching, and even a family sitting on lawnchairs in the middle of a parking lot next to their RV.
So after watching that for a couple of minutes, we drove to Clifton Hill, and parked behind the shop where Mike used to work. We ran in to say a quick hello to his old boss (Hi Mandi!) and then headed out on the Hill. Just walked in and out of a few shops and then up and down the hill once enjoying the perfect weather.
Just as we got back to the car, I got a birthday call from my big brother, and after a quick chat we headed across town to Williams. Just as we got there I got a call from my Nana, but eventually we made it in and ordered. Mike got a special cookie and a Coke Zero, while I chose a slice of White Chocolate Mousse cake to go.
Next stop on the way home was quite random. Mike had to stop at the card/collectibles shop he go to for tournaments to have a quick chat with the owner about something. When we got there we ran into our amazing friend Karl (Love ya Karl!). While Mike chatted to the owner, I rummaged through a bin labelled “Retro Collectibles” and to my delight found an unopened Geordi LaForge figurine!
Now, I’m a pretty big Trekkie so this to me was awesome, especially since on Sunday Mike and I are headed to “Fan Expo” in Toronto where Mr. Levar Burton is scheduled to appear.
So anyways, I picked it up and turned around to have this conversation with Karl:
Me: This is awesome! And he’s going to be at Fan Expo this weekend!
Karl: Want me to buy it for you for your birthday?
Me: Really? That would be awesome! You sure?
Karl: Yup.
So that’s how I ended up with a 1988 unopened Geordi LaForge figurine. It is my first piece of real memorabilia, and if I’m lucky I just might get it signed on Sunday. Maybe not, but I’m going to try!
I also seem to have impressed the store owner with my Trekkie leanings, so I think I’m in the circle of trust now.
Next stop…
So we randomly stopped at Wal-Mart for a fridge calendar, and then again at…
…that’s right, Sobey’s, to get the soap that we didn’t think to buy at Wal-Mart.
And after all that, I came home to regale my Mom with the tales of this evenings adventures and to thank her for watching the kids while Mike took me out.
Thank you Mikey for my very special birthday surprise! It was amazing!