Home!

[corilannam]

I am home at last from the International Wedding Roadtrip o' Doom! It was fantastic and exactly the right length so that I was still having fun right to the end, but am also happy to be home.

Chicago - The wedding (of two very long and dear friends) was fantastic. Wept copious tears of sentimental joy. Got to see a bunch of fan friends and even meet one for the first time who I've known for almost as long as I've been online in fandom. Sadly, I did not get to get together with other friends in the area as I'd hoped, but next time!

Wisconsin - Made a very brief jaunt up to Wisconsin solely for the purpose of visiting the Mars Cheese Castle, which I never, ever wanted to leave, ever.

Michigan - Then we headed to Michigan to visit sithdragn who is near the top of the list of the awesomest people I know, anywhere. I finally got to meet the infamous Sith Kitties (and tried to pack one to take home with me, but she escaped, darn it!) We toured The Henry Ford, which was crazy fun for a history geek -- and unexpectedly, for a slasher as well. Yes, fandom, prepare yourself for the new OTP of Henry Ford/Thomas Edison (Fordison? T-Fed?) There will be a pimping post, oh yes.

Then we hopped over to visit tracy7307, who showed us the Motown Museum and then introduced us into Detroit fannish society. I was lucky enough to meet the lovely planejane just in the nick of time before she heads back to Blimey, as well as the awesome themostepotente, and my darling venivincere who gives the greatest hugs ever.

Toronto - We headed over the border into CANADA! I had never been to Canada and was entertained by a number of realizations: 1) Canada has just as many asshole drivers in gigantic pickup trucks as we do; 2) You can buy Bounty bars and Malteasers ANYWHERE there; and 3) Tim Horton must be one hell of a rich bastard.

chelseafrew was ecstatic to be in Toronto, a city of long fannish association for her. We ate in Chinatown (mmm, lychee bubble tea), went up the CN Tower, toured Casa Loma (spot the X-Men scenes!), and had a lot of fun in the Royal Ontario Museum.

Niagra Falls - From Toronto, we scooted around the lake to the Niagra area to visit the lovely and generous slb44, who knows absolutely everything about Niagra Falls and the surrounding area and let us drag her all around in the midst of a truly unpleasant heat wave. We did the Maid of the Mist, of course (which sadly sounds like it won't be around for much longer, so I'm really happy to have had the experience), the Whirlpool aero car, the gorgeous butterfly conservatory, and the funky-kitschy-cool Flying Saucer Restaurant.

And then we drove 12 hours to get home so I could go back to work. Bleh. I would much rather be seeing the sights with awesome fangirls.

On the bright side, I can have the Olympics live feed on all day now! Who knew that sailing could be so relaxing to watch with the sound muted?

Comments

[jae]

It sounds sooooo fun. What a very different and yet totally wonderful set of events to pack into one trip!

I'm so glad you got to do this!

-J

[rufflefeather.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I missed you in Michigan, would have loved to meet you!

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

I would have loved to meet you, too! I was sad when Tracy said you couldn't come, but hopefully next time!

[alby-mangroves.livejournal.com]

Welcome home! God, I'm tired just reading about everything you did!

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

I think trying to write it out was more exhausting than actually doing it! *g*

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

♥

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

<3<3 So great meeting you!

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

The whirlpool aero car sounded super amazingly wonderful, so I googled. And now I'm disappointed.

Glad you had such a nice trip, though!

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Heh, sorry to disappoint you! It was actually really cool - pictures can't do justice to the view.

[bunglegirl.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I never got around to commenting on your "coming to Chicago" post! Sorry about that, and I hope you had a fun time in my city! I'm thinking about having a Merlinathon (season 4 rewatch) before the season 5 premiere if you find yourself up here again soon.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Oh, no worries, I always have fun in Chicago! We didn't really have time for anything but wedding stuff in the end, so we were well occupied.

Oooh, a Merlinathon sounds so awesome!

[a-terri-beth.livejournal.com]

Yay! Sounds like so much fun. Welcome back. :)

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It really was fun. I just wish I could go do it again (though my bank account does not agree!)

[tracy7307.livejournal.com]

It was fantastic to meet you! Motown Museum was a blast - so much history in that tiny, unassuming house. I'm glad you made it through to Canada and back home okay. I love hopping over to Toronto every once in a while. Such a clean, fun city.

It was awesome to meet you both! So glad that our paths got to cross. Thanks again for the beer and the cheese! Both were delicious ♥

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

It was so awesome to meet you, too! And thanks for throwing us a party and everything. LOL.

Toronto was a ton of fun. I'd love to go back and explore all the cool restaurants and museums someday.

[merryrose11.livejournal.com]

You CAN'T buy Bounty bars where you are? Horrible. They are my favourite. I used to get Payday Peanut bars occasionally here...but I havn't seen one for ages. I'm told they still exist in the US.

I love Niagara Falls and the Queenston Heights area. I'm Canadian and have been twice (I live far away from it) and hope to go again this fall.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

We have no Bounty bars at all! Except in British import stores. I had no idea you had them in Canada, too! Paydays are yummy. I do still see them here sometimes, but they're a lot less common than they used to be.

Niagra Falls was beautiful! I've always had a great love of waterfalls and rivers, so the entire experience was just awesome.

[gwylliondream.livejournal.com]

Yay! It sounds like you had an action-packed vacation!

What a blast!

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

It was great fun! Though way too much time outdoors, for the non-Druidic types like me. *g*

[venivincere]

*massive hugs* *blush* Thank you! What a total blast meeting you finally, after knowing you forever electronically! (That sounds like of kinky). I'm sorry I had to work and couldn't go to the museum with you but glad I could get away after work. Mi casa es su casa - if you ever go rambling again, let me know! :-D

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

It was so awesome! I'm really happy you could get away, too. I'm sure I'll be up that way again at some point--and if you ever ramble down to the DC area, let me know. My couch is very comfy! *g*

[green-key.livejournal.com]

Aww, you are too sweet. I'm so glad you enjoyed THF even if we didn't get to see a lot of it. Sounds like you had an amazing trip. Toronto is a great city. I've been to Chinatown a couple of times. Such a cool place.

Fordison? T-Fed?

Hahaha! The love that lived on nearly 100 years later.

Maid of the Mist going away? Say it ain't so! What happened?

Wesley is still mourning your absence.

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

Wesley is still mourning your absence.

Oh, I bet he is! "Where are my chumps? I had such a good belly-rub racket going here!"

Maid of the Mist going away? Say it ain't so! What happened?

slb44 could explain it better than I could, but as I understand it, after a lot of political (and monetary) manipulation, they lost the rights to the docks on the Canadian side where they stored the boats, which effectively kills their entire operation. Another company, which operates the ferries to Alcatraz Island, is going to try to take over, but it's going to take them a couple years to get set up with new boats. It all sounds very stupid and unfortunate.

Hahaha! The love that lived on nearly 100 years later.

I cannot believe that we didn't get to see the bottle with Edison's last breath that Ford captured and saved when he died. You want creepy romantic? Edward Cullen, eat your heart out!

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Next time you are in Toronto, try the shoe museum. It was fun and the building is wonderful. Casa loma was fun.

Sounds like a great trip.

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

Hey Cori! Do you think you'll make it to Dragon Con this year?

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

No, sadly, I won't be there this year. My travel time and money went into the wedding roadtrip. :-(

I'll miss getting to see you again!