KeriBlog

Cars, Security and a Peek into my Life

11:30 pm and Just Got Home

My flight landed at 7:30, but my car’s battery was dead, so a couple hours hanging around Terminal 1, then CAA saved me.

A fast Happy Meal in the driver’s seat, cause can’t shut the car off in case it doesn’t start again, and now finally I’m back in my house, which I still get nervous leaving alone, even though people come to check on it (ty).

I like airports, always have.

I don’t like travelling to the other side of the country, because by the 3rd day when you adjust to the time difference, it’s time to leave.

And days spent in transit are like ghost days: poof, there goes the last Thursday in November that I will remember practically none of. Feels wasteful.

LAX is UGH

Hoovered up 94 MBs while gone.

kk 2 newspaper deadlines tomorrow, so for today that’s me complete TTYT

 

 

In TO at the TSO with CAA

Never been a music fan; I listen to silence 85% of the time.

When I do though, it’s top 40, house or classical.

The only song on my iPhone is strings; I’ve blogged this place before; and I set all 80 episodes of ‘The Canadian Explorer’ to classical music. Here’s an episode that relies solely on the soundtrack:

Exploring a Fair  # 5/80   aired September 2007

I think hearing classical played live is good for you, in a ‘vibrations & frequencies‘ way.

This was intermission, see? No black tie.

Not sure why the symphony has that reputation. From what I saw, no jeans or jogging pants, and otherwise you’re fine.

TSO, I have an idea: designate a section ‘screen friendly’.  All sound is prohibited obviously, but the etiquette could be, “it’s okay to use your laptop/phone to work quietly in this area”.

Because maybe there’s more people like me, who would love to sit and write/blog/work, while listening to the orchestra.

And to be sitting quietly and daydreaming

with 2,600 other people, I love it.

I went by myself.  I bought the cheapest ticket ($29) at the last minute, which meant no one was behind me, or 3 seats on either side, NICE.

Pro-tip #1 – use your CAA card to receive 20% off

The math is: $29 -20% = $23

Doesn’t matter to be in the nosebleeds, the acoustics are great, and you’re not missing much without a closeup view. Here’s the TSO concert schedule, and here’s CAA’s LifeSide Assistance discount details.  Click here for a full list of CAA partners; their reach might surprise you, it did me.

(Follow CAA on Twitter, friend them on Facebook, and if you’re driving without roadside assistance, that’s foolish, join now)

Don’t feel bad about leaving at intermission, I didn’t.

Pro-tip #2 – take the subway

The parking around the concert hall is finite and expensive, the price of the ticket, at least.

Out-of-towners, it’s easy:

Take the VIA or GO train > Union Station > off train, walk underneath the street, onto subway > 1 stop > off at St. Andrews > follow the signs on the wall to Roy Thompson Hall

(this post has been brought to you by CAA)

PS – Points for an aesthetically pleasing title.

 

Bi-Annual Buying with Help from CAA

As I’ve blogged before; I don’t go shopping, I go buying.

My trick is to hit the outlet malls, where a $50 t-shirt is the more proper price of $11.

I never buy trendy. So while I am never really en-vogue, I’m never really out of it, either; instead, I go for “classic”.

That and black, because then everything matches.

Here’s my new trick: use your CAA card, and receive

an additional 10% off your total purchase price, before tax

And that includes things that are already on sale. Everything.

A $150 jacket was reduced to $60, NICE.

Click here for a full list of CAA partners; their reach might surprise you, like it did me.

Here, I’m at the Gap Factory Store, and the Banana Republic Factory Store.

That’s where I met Shantel, who even got me into some not-black, not an easy task; natural salesgirl, that one ;)

CAA Lifeside Assistance

Follow CAA on Twitter and friend them on Facebook, and if you’re driving without roadside assistance, that’s foolish, join now.

(this post has been brought to you by CAA)

 

19 Minutes from Call to Boost

I drive a lunch box that often breaks down. Like a Monday, while I was swapping cars.

That has to be one of their record times, and I’ve had many opportunities to track times.

During this escapade my editor Joe helped me out, so instead of doing our review at the office, I took him dinner at the Hard Rock.

(the Hard Rock Cafe is one of CAA’s many partners, find the list of all their partners here).

Delicious.

In the auto journalism world, there’s a type of review where you pair up with another writer and go back and forth, discussion format.

That’s what’s happening here.

Specifically, we’re reviewing the all-new Dodge Dart – the smallest car Chrysler has ever built!

We crushed it, our review printed last week, then came the best part…

Flash your CAA card and tada, 10% off dinner.

You should have CAA for your car, even owners with brand new vehicles are not immune. These LifeSide Assistance deals and savings that come with the membership are gravy.

Get LifeSide Assistance too:

Facebook

CAAsco.com

 

CAA is More Than Road Side Assistance

Although best known for their roadside assistance, CAA is more than that, like this educational display.

At this year’s Canadian International Auto Show, CAA brought in the most popular hybrids and EVs (electric vehicles), then posted the vehicle’s fuel efficiency stats for easy comparison.

I’d always wanted to see the brands laid out like this, because as I suspected, things are not what they seem.

Note the differences between these two:

The Ford (4.3 L/100km in the city) is twice as efficient as the seemingly more eco-friendly Volt (6.7 L/100km in the city) (sorry about the hazy photos).

Click here to use visit CAA’s Electric Vehicle site to learn more about what driving an eco car really means.

I’ve long been a CAA fan, and have a ton of CAA posts, and dedicated one of my weekly columns to proving why you should be a member (new car owners included).

So because I’m familiar with one of Canada’s oldest’s non-profit organizations, it made sense they approached me to be a guest blogger during the next few weeks, and I’m really excited about this.

Because I had no clue about CAA’s other division:  Life-Side Assistance (clever name, eh).

For example, use your membership to recieve discounts to… Stars on Ice?!

I was surprised that CAA’s reach extended so far.  Probably you’ll be surprised too, check out the full list of Savings Partners.

I’m thinking I’ll use my membership to save on tickets at the Toronto Symphony, new eyeglasses at LensCrafters, a Cineplex movie and dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Look for the first post next week as I start to explore how they can assist with everyday life.

Until then, follow CAA on Twitter and friend them on Facebook, and if you’re driving without roadside assistance, that’s foolish, join now.

 

 

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