I really started to panic at one point! It's not as bad as being locked in a building after hours.This whole story of getting locked in a building is Hilarious!
Man, they get mighty personal at the border, don't they.
Let's see...breaking and entering, lying to border guards, failure to declare goods brought into the country....and you're worried about a red light?
funny story about crossing the border:
In October 2001 Eric and I got married and being that he was on leave from Korea we didn't have time for a honeymoon. We decided to go visit family. We were staying with my Grama in Buffalo and decided to go to the falls.
I coached him on what to say when we were crossing the border. This was before the passport laws took effect so we would be able to cross with just our ID's. I told him that when they asked where we were coming from to say Buffalo since that was the easiest answer! I thought he was ready but it turns out.....he wasn't!
When we got to the border here is what it was like:
Border patrol: where are you coming from?
Me: Buffalo
Eric: Korea (BIG BIG BIG mistake as September 11th had just happened)
B.P.: What is your purpose in Canada?
me: The falls
Eric: uh, uh, uh, ummmmm, Canadians? (I know, he's a moron!)
B.P.: Are you bringing anything across the border, tobacco, firearms, etc.?
me: yes we have tobacco
B.P.: How much?
Me: 1 or 2 (thinking packs of cigarettes)
B.P.: Ma'am (Ok dude, im only 21....no need to call me Ma'am) Can you please open that pack right there?
me: Sure (opens a fullish pack)
B.P.: That sure does look like more than 1 or 2 to me! Please pull over, over there!
Me.....OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
We pull over and everything goes well. We have to present Erics orders from the military stating that he is on leave and not going AWOL to Canada! Now, he tells us that we can be on our way but not to deviate because we are going to be watched by the helocopter!
About a month later I went back and was shocked to be pulled aside for a "random" search and again and again.....I am ALWAYS the "random" search person!
Fast forward about 9 years. My Best Friend Nick calls me to let me know that there is something I should know. He was bored so he decided to run my name through the system (he is a cop)......Guess what he finds......Any idea? No? Ok well here it is..............
I AM ON THE CANADIAN WATCH LIST!!!!!! Yes, The date I was added to the list is October 27th 2001! That is why I am the "random" search person EVERYTIME! This list is different than the No-fly lists....It just means that whenever I cross into Canada I will be subjected to additional searches and questioning! Now, guess who's name isn't on the list....Yup, Eric, the one who CAUSED ME to be on the list!
So there ya go!!! Funny little story!~
Yuki, awesome Dismeet. Looks like you ladies made out like bandits. Lol @ Rosie's shower cap. She's so goofy, I love her.
A super awesome day with some super awesome Dissers!
Since Rosie and Jen have posted about the meet, I guess I should too!
Jen and I spent most of the day together, so I'll try to avoid repeating what she said. For her version of the meet, go to her TR!
The day started bright and early for me as the alarm went off at 7am and Andrew woke me up by saying, "Time for wake up for your Dismeet!" I was so tired, I didn't hear the alarm. But then again...the alarm is "ocean sounds" that just get louder and louder. Has splashing sounds and seagull sounds. I dunno, Andrew likes it I guess.
So, was up and got ready to leave by 7:20am to meet Jen at a subway station at 7:30. It was only one stop away and Andrew's apartment is right above it! So I thought I would get there in no time.
So, to get from the apartment to the subway station, there is an underground path that leads there, that goes through a Loblaws. I went down to the path and was walking through Loblaws when some employees asked me if I worked there.
Me: No...
Them: You're not allowed in here, it's not open.
Me: *thinking-But the doors to the store opened for me* Oh, I'm just going through
Them: Ok then.
So, I got to one of the exits of the Loblaws and had to pry the automatic doors because they hadn't turned on yet. I'm pretty sure I was allowed to do that. I get through and walk towards the doors that lead to the subway. Ok, looks like this door is locked. Let's try the other one. Oh, those are locked too.
What??? I had no idea the subway would be closed! When does it open on Sundays anyways? I've never had to take public transit this early before. Oh well, no biggie. I'll just walk upstairs to exit the building and walk the few blocks to the station where Jen and I arranged to meet up.
Ok...these automatic doors aren't open, but maybe those are? No dice. All the doors are LOCKED. Ok.....so the building isn't open.....and I'm locked.....Maybe I can try these other doors in the back entrance. Nopes...they're all locked.
Calls Jen. *refer to Jen's version of the phone call*
I explained to her the whole situation of how I can't figure out a way out of the building....but I'll try. After I hang up, I go back down to the Loblaws entrance and try to sneak back in. Luckily for me, the doors were still open from when I pried them open. One lady saw me going through the store, so I walked faster, hoping to avoid confrontation.
I go back through the underground parking, back to the apartment, go up to the lobby, exit from there, walk around the building, and Jen calls me to tell me where she has parked. We finally see each other and we get into her car.
Oh my gosh, it was COLD!!!
Luckily for us, the drive was completely traffic free! The sky was starting to clear up, and getting past the border was a breeze. Even though we had just met, we chatted like we've known each other forever. It didn't feel like meeting her for the first time at all.
To elaborate on what Jen has already said. When we told the guard we met on the internet he asked us, "Friends? Girlfriends?" To which we responded, "Oh, just friends."
Haha, the part about explaining to him how we met and the website we met on. That is the craziest thing. I've never been asked about where I met my traveling partner before! Did we look that suspicious???
We were able to find the Seneca Niagara casino in no time and parked in the free parking lot. We planned to meet Rosie at 10am, but we got there by 9:30am!
Before we left the car, Jen gave me this!
It was a burned copy of her Four Parks 1 World CD!!! I loved the inside.
Special Disney CD roms, and in my favourite colour too! Thanks so much Jen!
After we waited and waited for Rosie to show up, she came with this!
Oh Rosie, you know just what to wear to a Sunday breakfast! Here are my lovely dining companions.
I must be the worst Disser ever, I didn't take a photo of my plate! I really need to get a digicam. My phone camera just doesn't cut it. I LOVED meeting Rosie! Rosie, you are just a wonderful human being and I had a great time with you. You are so funny!
Rosie then led us to the Outlet Mall in her car. She was so cute and tiny in that car! All we saw from behind was her tuft of hair above the driver's seat. She made us run a red light! We're so glad no cops were around. The last thing we wanted was a ticket from another country!
I loved the mural that they had on the side of the building. Next time I go back, I'm taking more pictures. Parts of it looked SO REAL! It really looked like an extension of the actual building. Just gorgeous.
We walked around the mall and I saw this cute little candle holder.
And that folks, are all the photos I took yesterday.
We brought home a great haul! I was able to find a Bobble (bubba) bottle in the Old Navy.
I got the one in green. The coloured part is attached to the drink nozzle and it filters as you drink! I saw it on the Tips thread and was really interested in getting. You replace the filter (the green thing for mine) every 300 refills.
I hope to try it out in August on the Florida water. I hope it'll make it taste so much better!
Jen and I also went crazy in the COACH store. Oh my gosh, I LOVE that Coach factory store!!!! Everything at a discounted price, and things from last season at an even DEEPER discount! I was able to get a very cute crossbody bag that Jen took a picture of, and some Poppy Chan t-shirts that I didn't know they had! What a find! It took me quite some time to decided on what to get, there was so much to choose from and they all looked SO GOOD. 50% off, plus 20% off of that? YES PLEASE.
Jen and I also bought $10 jeans and I got some very comfy flee pants for $4 at Aero!!!!!
We were very happy with our purchases. After resting a bit in the food court which included my resisting of getting some Auntie Anne's because I was still full from breakfast, we decided to call it a successful Dismeet.
Rosie went home and Jen and I found our way back to the bridge. This time, the border guard was even scarier!
Amoungst the usual questions they asked, we were asked some I've never heard before.
Guard: Do you have $10 000 or more in cash in the vehicle?
Us: Hah, no. We wish!
Guard: Any fire arms?
Us: No...of course not.
Then she told us we had to be subject to a random search! What??? Two girls that went shopping? Why US?????
So we parked over to the area and stood outside the car while another guard checked the contents inside. While we were shivering in the cold, I was coming up with an explanation for all the things I hadn't decided to "claim".
1) Oh, there is a smaller bag in my bigger bag because I wanted to bring things for the car, but wanted a smaller bag to carry around while I shop. (Totally plausible)
2)What? Those aren't Coach clothes. I got them somewhere else on a huge sale!
3) Seriously, I only bought about $50 in stuff!
The guard seemed pretty nice and we seemed innocent enough, so we passed the inspection with no trouble (or extra taxing) and headed on our merry way back to Toronto.
It was a great day and I had a LOT of fun and I look forward to doing it again! Next time, we're going SHOE SHOPPING!!! Anyone want to join us?
As for joining us next time Dan had better come after his comment on my thread!!!
Let's see...breaking and entering, lying to border guards, failure to declare goods brought into the country....and you're worried about a red light?
I can't just imagine you getting trapped in the building.
Sorry about the red light !!!It was yellow for me
I think the Niagara guards are just extra mean. I have crossed the border in so many places and the only BAD encounter with a guard coming back into Canada was this past August in Niagara Falls.
What do these compare too? Macy's? Target? Nordstrom?
Zehr's? Loblaws? PCs? Its like you're speaking a foreign language!
They are grocery stores. PC = President's Choice which is the brand/company that owns a bunch of chains of grocery stores across the country.
Zehr's? Loblaws? PCs? Its like you're speaking a foreign language!
Google is an amazing thing.
