August started off with my birthday and I was lucky enough to have my mum and auntie come visit me in Toronto for the long weekend. We did a lot of tourist-y activities that I haven't had a chance to do yet since moving here so that was a lot of fun. For my birthday dinner, we went to Medieval Times, the super fun (and super cheesy) jousting show:
Unfortunately, I was quite sick on my birthday, but I still managed to enjoy myself at the show. The horses were gorgeous and the knights were entertaining. I was also really impressed with the staff (or as they call themselves, serving wenches). Even while I was vomiting copiously all over the floor (there were too many people in the way to make it to the bathroom in time), they never once broke character! They were all like, "Are you alright, my Lady?" and "Do you need another napkin, my fair Lady?" LOL! So yeah, it sucked that I was horribly sick in public, but I had to appreciate that at least. And I swear I really did have a good time for the majority of it!
I also got the chance to go see Niagara Falls for the first time!! And oh my goodness, it's definitely a sight to see! I was able to see the falls from all angles - from far away, from underneath, and from the base:
The whole affair is hugely tourist-y, naturally. There were a ton of people and money grabs, but that's what I would expect. I'm not sure I would ever feel the need to go back, but I am so glad I went and saw everything at least once!
And after that initial excitement over the long weekend, the rest of August was fairly low key. I have been getting everything ready for my move and that is the reason why I'm posting my monthly recap a bit early this month. This weekend is when it will all go down and, although I absolutely abhor the chore of moving, I can't wait to get out of this apartment! And hopefully this will be the end of my landlord issues... we shall see. I likely won't be around much for the first week of September while I get everything settled so expect a short blog hiatus in the meantime. Talk soon!
Blog Posts in August:
Waiting On Wednesday: Hachette Fall 2014 Catalog
Waiting On Wednesday: Penguin Fall 2014 Catalog
Top Ten Contemporaries That Sara Tells Me I MUST Read
Muggle Monday: The Complete Set of New Bloomsbury Harry Potter Cover Redesigns
Muggle Monday: New Tidbits Revealed About The Redesigned UK Harry Potter Editions
Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry - 5 Stars
Review: Veronica Mars - The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas - 4 Stars
Review: If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman - 4 Stars
My Life in July: Moving Plans, Anne Obsession, and a Birthday Giveaway
Best Book Read in August:
This month I FINALLY read
The Giver and I was able to see for myself why this special book is considered a classic. It was so much more thoughtful and profound than the dystopians of today. I'm not holding out much hope for the movie adaptation though. I will still watch it because I'm curious, but I think I'll wait until it's out on DVD.
Looks like so much fun. I remember reading Giver a while ago, but can't wait for the movie
ReplyDeleteIt was! And hopefully the movie will be too.
DeleteAwww Aylee, I am SO sorry you were sick in public on your birthday *HUGS* BUT I am happy you managed to enjoy yourself despite that! It's pretty cool that the wenches never broke character LOL but I don't know how amused I would have been atm if it had been me XD Niagara Falls sure looks breathtaking, I'd love to see that!!
ReplyDeleteAnd finally YAY YAY YAY for finally moving and leaving that terrible appt/landlord behind! As much as the actual task of moving can be trying, I can definitely relate to leaving less-than-ideal living conditions behind! Good riddance to that place and I wish you nothing but the best at your new place :D xxx
Oh I definitely didn't have it in me to feel amused in the moment because I was in a really bad way, but in retrospect, it was actually pretty funny :) But yeah, it was a mostly good birthday!
DeleteThanks, Micheline!! It will be good to finally move out and hopefully everything goes according to plan.
Love it. Those places are always such fun. Cheesy but fun.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you were unwell. That sucks.
Happy belated birthday my fellow Leo. : )
I heart Niagara. It's such a magical place.
Thanks, Juju! I had a great time all around even with being sick and all.
DeleteOh no Aylee!!! So sorry you were sick, and on your birthday no less! The bit about the wenches never breaking character though made me giggle. Well done them! I would have totally dropped the "my lady's" and been all ARE YOU OKAY?!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the move!
Ha! Me too, I would have been freaking out. But the wenches were really good about it. One of them told me that it happens on a fairly regular basis and not to feel too bad (I kept apologizing profusely between barfing because I felt so awful that I was making such a mess X)). Thanks, Jenny!
DeleteAw, it's too bad you were sick on your birthday, Aylee, but at least the serving wenches were nice about it. I can't believe they didn't break character!
ReplyDeleteAnd you got to check out Niagara Falls. I haven't gone there in a very long time but I feel like I don't need to either because I've already seen it. If we do make the drive that way, we typically go in the evening to play at the huge arcade there.
Heh yeah, they were true professionals!!
DeleteAh, I wasn't a huge fan of Clifton Hill (I think it's called?). As tourist-y as the falls themselves were, that was way over the top for me. It was like a permanent exhibition carnival. The dinosaurs were sort of cool though, if not very accurate.
I've actually heard a lot of good things about the movie from some very judgemental people, so hopefully you'll end up liking it! And hahaha oh my gosh the "are you okay, my lady" got me cracking up XD I would have felt like royalty! And thank goodness you're better now; at least you now have a birthday memory to remember forever, right? And I'm glad you enjoyed Niagara Falls! My parents drag me along every year, but somehow it never gets too boring :)
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear! I've also heard a positive review from someone whom I wasn't expecting to hear a positive review from, so I still have some hope after all!
DeleteHa, yeah in the moment it was so funny, but afterwards it was like, they still treated me like royalty through the entire thing! And DEFINITELY that is something I will never forget about my 26th birthday. Makes for a great story!
Medieval Times! So awesome! It sucks that you're sick on your birthday, Aylee. I hope you're feeling better now. Niagara Falls looks awesome, too. I don't think I'd ever go there though. I hate heights and water. Heh.
ReplyDeleteAll the best with the move! I hope you can go back to blogging ASAP! :D
Oh yes, I'm feeling much better now, thank you! Heh, I guess Niagara Falls wouldn't be for you then!
Delete*hugs* Being sick on your birthday sucks! But at least the people were nice and you had fun. and now I wanna go to Medieval Times
ReplyDeleteNiagara Falls looks lovely and good luck with your move :D
Aw, thank Alex! I still had a good birthday at least. I highly recommend Medieval Times and Niagara Falls -they're both super fun!
DeleteOh, Happy Birthday! Medieval Times sounds like it would've been quite a bit of fun, but I'm so sorry you were sick there! That's really not fun! It's pretty great that the people working there stayed in character the whole time, though. I actually think that's splendid!
ReplyDeleteHappy moving and I will look forward to seeing more posts soon! xxx
I thought it was pretty great of them too! Maybe not so much at the time, but in retrospect it was pretty cool of them :D Thank you!
DeleteIt sounds like you had an amazing month. <3 Thank you for sharing about it sweetie :D And ohh. The Giver. I have yet to read it.. but makes me very happy that you loved it :) Makes me more excited for it, lol. One day :)
ReplyDeleteOne day you should definitely get to it!
DeleteAw, the Medieval Times looks and sounds so interesting. And so what if you were sick and vomiting? It was you birthday. It was your day. And you made the most of it. I admire that! I've been to the Niagara Falls when I was a kid and what an incredible experience it was! I still have gossebumps on my arms when I remember the cold there! You seemed to have had a great time this month and I hope that September is just as great. You deserved a nice break anyway. Much love, girl!
ReplyDeleteSarika @ The Readdicts
Yeah!! It's my birthday and I can cry (or vomit) if I want to! LOL. But yeah, I tried to make the most of it and I did enjoy it overall so yay! Haha, it's soo funny to me that you think it's so cold here when it's not really. Too funny ^^ Thanks, Sarika!! <3
DeleteI've heard of Medieval Times, but I've never been to one. It seems fun. Sorry you were so sick, but that's great they didn't break character and you still enjoyed it overall. I would LOVE to visit Niagra Falls at least once. I really just want to go to Canada at some point in general since it's where my grandmother is from (though she doesn't live there now). Glad you liked The Giver so much too. I haven't read it since I was young, but I believe I have to read it this semester for a Children's Lit course I'm taking.
ReplyDelete-lauren
Thanks, Lauren! She should definitely plan a visit to Canada sometime! I would love to meet you :)
DeleteMedieval times is so much fun! I really do love how the actors there never break character. I am so try that you got sick, especially on your birthday. At least you will have a memory that both of you can look back on and laugh at. Hope that your new apartment works out! I know how stressful having a bad apartment experience can be.
ReplyDeleteYeah, exactly! Definitely memorable and funny in retrospect.
DeleteI love Medieval Times! I'm sorry for laughing at you getting sick but I just can't get over the fact that they stayed in character! That's great. Though I am sorry you were sick on your birthday :(
ReplyDeleteNo offence taken! It WAS pretty funny in retrospect!
DeleteMedieval Times sounds amazing, although it is terrible that you were ill. Hope you are feeling better now!!
ReplyDeleteYup, much better, thank you!
DeleteI hope your move went well, Eilidh, and that everything is getting all settled for you!! :D And it's too bad that you were sick on your birthday, but it does sound like it was quite eventful! I love that the people working at Medieval Times didn't break character either...that'd be enough to cheer you up a little at least. And don't worry...we all have times where we get sick or embarrass ourselves in public. :) And I love your pictures from Niagra Falls! It definitely seems like a touristy place, but it's one that it seems like you just have to see for yourself! :D
ReplyDeleteYay for The Giver!!! :D I'm still hoping the movie will be good, but who knows with adaptations these days! haha I'm also looking forward to If I Stay (which I'm seeing with Cassie tomorrow!), and The Maze Runner...fingers crossed that all three are adaptations I like! ;D hahah
I hope your September is off to a great start, Eilidh!!! :D
It went semi-well. There were some issues... but whatever, they worked out okay in the end so I can't complain!
DeleteYeah, the wenches all reassured me that it happened pretty often that people get sick ad they have to clean up after them. They made me feel better about it for sure!
Movie adaptations are tricky beasts, but I'm glad to hear at least (on FB) that you loved If I Stay! I might not get to see it in theatres, but I'll be sure to watch it when it's out on dvd. And hopefully the other two will be great as well!
Thanks, Ambur!
Well, that's good at least! And after your last place, I'm sure it can only get better! :D
DeleteThe wenches. heheh I seriously can't stop giggling at that. :P Wenches. haha Okay, I think I've stopped laughing now. :P But, that is reassuring, and I'm not surprised. Some people even have sensitive stomachs, so even watching the show might bug them...plus, I think a lot of restaurants actually deal with that, especially if they serve any form of alcohol. :P
They really are! I did! I did!!! It was sooooo goood, and I cried sooooo much! Seriously, I think I was in tears through at least half of that movie. :P It'll be just as good on DVD, too, so I think waiting is alright. Fingers crossed! I've already heard mixed things about The Giver, so I'm hoping that one's okay. Cassie and I might go see it, too, but we haven't planned when yet...neither of us actually knew it was already out. :P
You're welcome, Eilidh! ;D
^_^; The wenches were pretty cute. At my table I had a male server and he told us to call him "man wench"!! heehee!
DeleteOh wow, you know it's a good movie if it can affect you that much!! Although having you say that makes me think that I should def wait until it comes out on dvd and have a cry on my own o.o
Oh, and if you do go to see The Giver with Cass, I would be curious to know what you guys think! I do hope you find merit in it even if it's not the perfect adaptation. Not every adaptation can be Outlander :p
DeleteThey sound cute! :D haha "man wench"---that's too good!!! Now I'm gonna be giggling for a while again. :P
DeleteYes, exactly! It definitely gave me major feels...and I was thinking the same. Cry in the comfort of your own home. ;)
I will definitely let you know! That's what I'm hoping for. I'm going to try to go into it with an open mind, and not focus on the little details they changed. I can already understand a lot of the changes, so I think I'll be okay with it. I wonder how they ended it though!!! That's what I'm most anxious to see. And you're right...Outlander is perfect, and has set my expectations very, very high! ;D hehe
Oh yeah, I hadn't thought about how they will treat the ending of The Giver, but that's a good point! I can't imagine they would leave it as open-ended as in the book and I'm thinking they'll flesh out the story a lot more, maybe incorporate elements from some of the sequels.
DeleteAnd it just honestly thrills me to hear that the Outlander adaptation is perfect! And I haven't even read the book yet. But how often can you say that an adaptation is PERFECT. Like, never! So it's a huge deal that everyone has been loving the TV show and it has me moving the book up my tbr for sure!
Exactly! The book is so open-ended, and I just can't see them leaving the movie like that, so I'm guessing that they'll give it some kind of conclusion that's a bit less uncertain. I still have to read the sequels. I read the second one, Gathering Blue, but I can't even remember what happened anymore, so it would be neat if they did that...even if I can't remember/don't know why it fits! haha
DeleteI know, right?! It never happens! And I swear, it's not just me. So many fans are absolutely loving it, and I feel like each episode, it's just been getting better and better! :D Yayyyy! I think you'll absolutely love it, and I bet you'll enjoy the Gaelic names! You'll probably actually know how to pronounce them. ;D
Haha, I don't know that much Gaelic! :p Just my name "Eilidh", which is Scottish Gaelic for "Helen" and my boyfriend's name "Ian", which is Scottish Gaelic for "John". Oh, and I don't know if you've ever attended a Highland Games before, but at the end of the night, they throw a massive celebration with music and dancing and drinking and it's called a "ceilidh" :)
DeleteThe Giver is one of my all time favorites!! (=
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you got to go to Niagara Falls. I've always wanted to go there. I've heard the Canada side is much better. I'm sure happy that I got to spend some time in Alberta. And it is so cool that I ended up driving around your neighbourhood. What a coincidence!
ReplyDeleteI still can't get over that! Such a crazy coincidence.
DeleteI can't believe you were sick on your birthday! That's pretty awful!! I love the idea of Medieval Times! I don't think I've ever heard of it before. I haven't been to Niagara Falls before, and I will go once on my life- I think it's a Canadian's right of passage. But going more then once... probably not. Sorry for the late comments. I remember reading this, and I swear I commented, but...
ReplyDelete