Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Superstore

Christmas Eve Almost Frozen Night Rider Around Town of Aurora

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 06:32:07 +0000

I couldn’t resists. What else can I do late at night when children are asleep. I took my cameras and went for a drive around Aurora around ten o’clock. It was a beautiful cold night. I didn’t realize this until later.

Iced Trees, Superstore Parking Lot, Aurora

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

The images you are seeing here were taken in Aurora ON on Christmas Eve night on December 24th, 2013. I drove to the nearby Superstore on St. John’s sideroad. The parking lot was empty and beautifully illuminated – for nothing. The iced trees dispersed light even more.

I pull over and took some surreal images of the iced trees and bushes. I couldn’t believe how beautiful these bushes looked just with a naked eye. On the other hand they kind of looked painful as well – frozen.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

On the side note getting out that late I had to pay small prize – I was freezing myself. My fingers especially where there is not much of human mass and the metal lenses and metal case on one of my cameras didn’t do much justice. Not to mention my nose was kind of turning into – no mystery – a frozen nose. But that wasn’t the it.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

I knew the ice will eventually go away. Last couple of days we have been experiencing meltdown – thus my urge to go out and take night photos that day. My backyard tree survived. Word of advice – plant flexible trees. The more flexible you are the better chance of survival you have – a life note here, as taken from the tree.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

I had a choice to turn around and go home. No I needed more. I drove on the Earl Stewart Drive along the newly installed sidewalk for which I asked and finally after 2 years the sidewalk is here. Then it hit me – oh no, I missed most of the Rebook warehouse demolition. All ruins now.

Wellington Street, Near GO Station

Yes I wanted to see the Aurora Borealis at the Town Park. When I arrived the place was beautiful and scary at the same time. All the iced trees were squeaking like they were about to fall down. But the sound was not the same compared to the creepy noises coming from the roof tops – ice expansion.

Aurora Borealis, Town Park, Aurora

I kind of dragged myself to the middle of the ice ring and I tell you that was – it. I started to freeze. I literally was there for a minute or two and my fingers were about to turn into icicles and not to mention the nose. I went back to the car for de-frost. Drove a bit along deserted Yonge Street and headed home.

Victorian Hall, Aurora

Yonge Street, Aurora

And this is how I will remember the 2013 ice storm in Aurora – beautiful, cold and painful. But it wasn’t that painful for me as it was especially for those who lost their power for many days. There are still some unfortunate families that just getting their power back on today.

Caruso and Company, Yonge Street, Aurora

Wishing you awesome year 2014. Stay warm another cold front is coming our way.

Christmas Tree, St. John’s sideroad, Aurora

Aurora Sun Rise, Sunglasses Needed

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:40:41 +0000

You can actually damage your eyes if you look directly at the sun. When there are no clouds we rarely look at the sun because it is so bright. When there is an overcast sometimes we can see the outline of the bright white sun. So what is more dangerous – looking at the sun when there are no clouds or when there are clouds?

Just in case you don’t know the answer. You can get more damage looking at the sun when there are clouds. Firstly, clouds do not provide any UV protection, secondly they reduce the brightness thus your eyelids are wide open letting the most UV in. That’s why it is sometimes very important to wear sunglasses even if the skies are overcast.

Sun Rise Over Aurora

Well, same applies to the camera, except there are not eyelids for both scenarios. By taking direct photos of the sun can destroy your camera sensor and eyes as well. The lens acts as a magnifier and multiplies the sun’s intensity right on your camera’s sensor. By taking photos of sunset and sunrises is actually okay, however, pointing lens right at the sun is not recommended, something I did that morning.

I really enjoy sun as much as I enjoy photographing the moon. Okay and the clouds as well, they usually form into interesting objects.

That morning I woke up and this big ball of fire was hanging on the horizon, of course it wasn’t that dark. Darkness is due to the settings I used.

As a result I think I captured some sunspots on the bottom and top of the sun. However, on the top there was something else and disappeared in the next photo. I cannot figure out what it was, but may be it was a bird flying by or an airplane.

Sun Rise Over Aurora

Unfortunately, with my camera I only captured a small dots, but because they remained in the same area in all images I can only assume that these were sunspots. I know the images here are too small for you too see. Dots are very small. And remember no looking at the sun directly.

Sunspots are areas of disturbance on the sun caused by the extreme magnetic activity. Often if strong enough this magnetic activity sends solar flares and can potentially affect power grids, satellite signals and GPS devices.

Enjoy and never look at the sun like I did via my lens!

Suddenly Awaken To Smell The Flowers Or May Be Not, Copland Park

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:46:32 +0000

Sure enough summer will be over. I wouldn’t be thinking about the summer end yet but the other day I was passing by the clothing area at the Superstore and they had a shelf full of winter gloves on display. Are they saying that we will have an early winter? Who needs Wiarton Willie then?

So yes I was suddenly awaken by the pile of gloves, glad not enlightened by them and Wiarton Willie seems useless when awaken right now. But really summer is ending – days are getting shorter and much cooler. Perhaps we should slow down a bit and still enjoy the rest of the summer and what’s left. Perhaps there is still a time to stop and smell the flowers.

Beetle on the flower, Copland Park, Aurora Heights Drive

If you look around there are plenty of blooming flowers in the open fields around Aurora. The reality is that you don’t want to smell the flowers. For the second time I was suddenly awaken when I looked at some of my macro shots of a beetle on the flower.

Back in June we went for a hike at the Copland Park trail system off Aurora Heights Drive. It was a very nice walk through the forest. Not sure if I want to call it a forest, may be a trail path between subdivisions and surrounded by trees is a proper explanation. We could actually hear people talking at their backyards.

Now back to the beetle on the photo. The beetle hovering on the flower is no more than 5 mm in length, body and the nose or whatever you want to call that think attached to his head. The insect beside him is approximately one fifth of the beetle. That means that this small insect is only 1 mm in length. So this is why you don’t want to smell any kind of flower. Just the things you will be inhaling in addition to pollen.

Oh sometimes those sudden awakenings are not in my favor. All my life I been smelling flowers and I now may have to hold myself back.

Thinking About Safety, An Accident On St. John’s Sideroad, Not First Probably Not Last

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:56:37 +0000

Many times it crossed my mind. The ‘it’ is that the St. John’s sideroad is a busy road not just for the motorized vehicles but as well for parents/caregivers walking with their children, walkers, dog walkers, runners and bikers.

St. John's sideroad, Boardwalk

Over 15 years living in the area St. John’s sideroad undergone major transformation – residential development along, schools, addition of major supermarket, water treatment facility, road widening, Community Arboretum and addition of the boardwalk.

Not to mention, all this happened between Yonge Street and Bayview. The transformation was definitely to accommodate increased population and preferably the drivers.

GO Train, St. John's sideroad

Going down the memory lane, I remember this small dead end street right across the St. Andrew’s golf course where we used to go and watch the Canada Day fireworks. Many used that area as dumping ground as well. It was the bare land then.

Atkinson Park, St. John's sideroad, Boardwalk

The nice thing about my neighborhood is that parks, playgrounds, schools and shopping can be accessed via non-motorized means. When weather permits I take Matthew for long walks to the nearby playgrounds, boardwalk, the Arboretum and shopping to the Superstore.

I also have noticed that I am not the only one, especially the increased number of caregivers in our neighborhood taking children to playgrounds or schools in the strollers or just walking with them (they can’t drive, probably not allowed). There is really no point to drive where everything is under your nose.

So I went off on a tangent. Yes, yes, the ‘it’ continuation. St. John’s sideroad has history of accidents. We don’t have to see the accident, but we can see the aftermath results – damaged curbs, damaged guardrails, damaged speed signs, damaged posts, damaged grass, or broken car body parts. Over the few years I have seen it all.

Walking along the busy St. John’s sideroad do I watch my back? Of course. How can you not, knowing that accidents happened there. This confirms my fear.

Knocked Guards, Boardwalk, St. John's sideroad

Last weekend there was accident on the St. John’s sideroad.

A Honda car drove towards the boardwalk knocking couple of guarding posts. Probably a combination of black ice, slopped road and speeding car. To be exact the accident happened near the entrance of the Nokiida Trail boardwalk, a second observation deck on the North side of the road.

Knocked Guards, Boardwalk, St. John's sideroad

So I said above to ‘accommodate increased population and preferably the drivers’. Well when Superstore rose from the ground the driving customers definitely were given the preferential treatment.

I wrote about my request to the town to install a sidewalk on the side of the Earl Stewart Drive so parents pushing strollers will not use the road to access or leave the property. Many months passed and I have not seen any activity from the town. I would have thought that if there is a safety concern then such item would have been flagged immediately – I guess not. I will check with them in the spring.

Perhaps I will talk my five cents on safety. Drivers need to be more responsible and obey the rules. We got to stop designing roads and considering safety last. Pedestrians and moving vehicles should be as far as possible from each other.

Cost effective band-aid solution such as more safety signs don’t work anymore. I prefer more law enforcement people. But then even with police traps drivers do speed along St. John’s sideroad. It all boils down to the driver’s responsibility behind the wheel – Be Responsible Be Aware Around You.

Our Rear Ends Collided On The Parking Lot, Then What?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:53:35 +0000

She came charging from her car, as I briefly looked at my left side mirror. I came out, walked towards her and of course I started to appologize. She was shocked, shaken and angry. ‘Oh my new car, I just got that car‘ – she kept lamenting.

My Rear End, The Car Of Course

I offered to pay for the damage. I hit her, I backed my car to her. I was definitely at fault and I felt guilty. First thing first I checked Matthew on the back. He was fine, mesmerized in his chocolate Kinder bar and enjoying it at fullest.

I stopped her from talking and asked her if she, not the car, if she was okay. ‘You look very shaken up‘, I stated. ‘I just got this car‘ – she replied. I kept being sorry and at some point I said something stupid, ‘I looked at my son, sorry‘.

As she continued to be shaken up, I stopped her and I looked at the damage. It was a chip there and there and a cat scratch, or two. ‘Oh that can be fixed, probably around 250 or 300 dollars‘ – I said. I asked her again, ‘are you okay, for sure?‘, she replied ‘Yes, just the noise‘, and then kept going again about the car and ‘Where did you come from?‘ – she asked. ‘What do you mean? From there‘ – I showed her the parking spot on the opposite side.

Everything would have been fine but then as she calmed down and more facts surfaced, things started to be different among us. Let me go back.

That day we were shopping at the Superstore. We came out the store, loaded groceries on the back and then pushed the cart to the cart booth. We came back to the car, Matthew tagging along. He crawled on the back, I strapped him and inspected his seat belt.

We always take the time to ensure he is well secured. I kissed him, gave him Kinder and came out. On the parking lot there was nearly no body. No cars parked beside me. On the opposite side I noted one older red car on the right side just beside the shopping cart booth. Further, there was a car but I did not pay attention. The car was far enough to clear the turn.

I backed out the parking spot turning my wheel clockwise. Kept backing until I was almost straight. As I was almost ready to switch the gears, suddenly it felt like I touched something. I really did not feel that much of an impact.

I looked back and I saw a roof of another car and the rest was on the left side. ‘Oh crap I hit something‘ – I said it to myself. In the process of backing out the parking spot, I did look at Matthew in the peripheral vision to ensure he was okay. I guess that is why I said ‘I looked at my son‘, and when you are in shock you do sometimes say stupid things, and later it fired back at me too.

The rest you already know what happened.

When finally she calmed down she asked what should we do. Should we call the police? Who’s fault this is? I said ‘no, no we cannot call police for that‘, because damage was under $750, and it was. They wouldn’t come. I am sure police has worse cases to deal with. I really didn’t know what to do, so I told her lets think about it. We exchanged the phone numbers and license plates only, and I was still under assumption that it was all my fault.

Then the turning point.

She asked, but who is at fault? ‘We both were backing out‘. This is when I finally woke up. I looked around me and yes I never drove into the opposite parking spaces as I assumed. I looked at her car, she was about 2-3 feet out the parking spot. She was backing out too.

I looked at her and said ‘I guess we are both at fault‘. Not a single time through out the conversation I said to her that it was her fault only. I may have said you collided to me, but never that it was her fault. I was definitely backing out and no doubt still moving. But I had no witness to proof that she was moving too, only that her damage had drag marks. I collided straight back so my damage would have been a dent in her bumper. I said lets think about it. She started to point fingers ‘I think it is your fault. I ‘think’ I was stopped and you hit me and you said you were looking at your son‘ – she stated.

I ignored her statements. I finally decided to look at my bumper. I had a dirt scratch right in the middle. I started to clean. ‘I don’t think I did this‘, she pointed. ‘Did what?‘ – I asked. ‘This dent‘. ‘Oh I am not cleaning this dent, it was there, it’s this here‘ – I said.

I said to her if we both were backing out then we are both at fault. I also told her, if I fix your car who will fix my car then. ‘It is your fault, you hit me, I ‘think’ that I was not moving‘ – she started to stick to her story.

‘Well let’s think about it, I have to go‘ – I wasn’t ready to take a blame for something I did not do, and plus I started to be annoyed of her accusations. I left home to dig out more information how should we proceed this. As I was driving home I thought we may call or go to police collision centre and ask for the opinion to resolve. Matthew on the back asked ‘Mommy you were talking to your friend?‘. ‘No Matthew, I hit her, how could she be my friend?‘ – I replied.

I got home, I made notes and sketch, and I called her and again I asked her if she was okay. I said that may be we should get professional opinion. ‘Like who?‘ – she asked. ‘I said ‘police’. ‘Okay lets go‘ – she replied defensively. I told her to calm down and lets resolve this professionally.

So I said ‘after all you were backing out and you hit me too‘. ‘I hit you‘ – she replied angry. ‘Well I was already out the parking lot and almost straight to drive away, and then you came out in my blind spot. How can you not possibly be moving if you were about two feet out the parking spot?‘. I told her I want to resolve this fairly. She said she will talk to her husband and call me back. I hung up the phone. This all happened approximately between 12:45 pm and 1:15 pm.

Dinner passed. No call from her. Evening snack. No call from her.

I called York Region Police collision center next morning. Listening to the nature of the collision lady on the phone told me to call my insurance company. So I called and they advised me that I complete the loss report. My damage was nearly invisible, so I told them that I will not be claiming damages. The loss report was for record only. They told me to collect the other individuals information and call them back. If I did not, they said they will call me back. She explained for my sake I should file the report. You never know what other person may do. She was right.

Morning breakfast passed. No call from her.

I finally called her around lunch and I asked her what she decided. She told me that she was waiting for her insurance adjuster to come and asses the damage. So much for communicating and calling my back I thought. I said that is fair. I will do the same just my insurance needed more of your personal information. She said ‘but you have to give me yours‘. Sure, I had no issue with that. But then she said she will call me back.

In couple of minutes she called back and further declined to give the information. I said during the accident by law you have to give me the information. Her reply was ‘then you should have collected at the time of the accident‘. Fair enough. She gave me information of her insurance expert though.

Things got little up tight. Out of no where she said ‘you hit me, and you said you were talking to your son, and now you changing your story‘. I never changed the story, she did, especially when she changed from ‘looked at’ to ‘talking to’ Matthew. I asked her, ‘did you even look inside to see how old was he?‘, I stated with anger.

For the record, during the accident she never even asked if I was okay or my son. All she could care was her ‘brand new car’ and was on the mission to put all blame on me.

I never changed my story, she did. I only changed my mind. I wasn’t going to take the 100% fault for this collision when I recognized her objective.

‘You go and talk to your expert and I will talk to mine‘ – I hung up the phone angry.

I never called her insurance expert. I called my insurance company to file the collision report. Next day they called back and closed the file. They said that they called the other person and she is fine. Because we both were backing out it was 50-50% fault.

I was right and I felt better. My insurance rate will probably increase. Hers too. She will get her bum-per fixed still paying 50% of her deductible.

Both sides happy. Lesson learned.

Hopefully there will be no next time, but next time I will be more smart about it. It isn’t that easy to deal with someone who only cares about their car. Only mature people know what to value and material things are not one of them.