Tuesday, September 29, 2009

My lunchdate


I ventured home today to have a bite to eat for lunch, and make a few free calls on my VOIP line.. Man it's expensive calling stateside on a cell or regular land-line. Just as I sat down a bird of prey flew to my 16th floor window to dine upon a little free-range sparrow that she had just caught. My camera was in my bag so i snapped a few pics. I'm always in awe of any bird of prey. I like the forceful gaze and that amazing hooked beak- all the better to rip you apart (glad I'm not a small bird or rodent.) Amazing too on another level that as a city dweller I was able to experience something so spectacular, awe inspiring. Plus it was nice to have the lunch company.

After a quick google
search lots of data came up about my lunch buddy. She was a kestrel. She lives (most likely) on the Island within my line of vision. She is a fearless yet patient hunter. My google net cast a whole genre of airy-fairy-symbolic & Indian mythology. I'm not one to knock this sorta stuff, especially coming from living next to the airiest-fairest zipcode stateside: Santa Cruz.

So the following is a snippet of mythological brain candy for you to savor or laugh at- after all, it's your snack..
The mystical totem that the kestrel represents: Agility & quickness. A bird that can stimulate a quick, graceful and agile mind. A visit from this bird will teach you how to use your mental facilities more effectively and more patiently(this I could use) to capture what you most need and desire. It not only has excellent vision, but its hearing is amazing (I could polish this skill set)-- so it reminds us to truly Listen and See what is around us, within our lives, and our place/responsibility within situations. I like that.

Next time I think I'll opt for the salad. Watching another carnivore devour her lunch left me wanting to become a bit more herbivore.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Politics & Rock n Roll


Civilized and unrehearsed. These are two words typically not found in the same sentence when a political fundraiser is discussed. My entree into Canadian politics was such a refreshing change from what I know and loath of American spectator sport styled political fundraisers.

Aside from a few big and goofy sounding words (Attawapiskat) the evening fundraiser for the MP Charlie Angus was cordial and congenial for all attending. Aside from Bill Clinton, I don't know too many politicos who can pick up a musical instrument and play well. Evening music was a Canadian potpourri with JASON COLLETT, KATHLEEN EDWARDS, BOB WISEMAN, ANDY MAIZE, and ANDREW CASH (who announced that he is seeking the NDP nomination in Davenport, a Liberal-held enclave.)

The evening line up for the event was a glimpse into the crystal ball of up and comer rock stars and local glitterati.. Peach Berserk designer Kingi Carpenter designed a silk screened dress with Charlie's face. Charlie described the silk screened print photograph of his sweet mug as a mid sentence rant in the House of Commons heckling Bev Oda, then heritage minister. (She is now the Minister of International Co-operation.) Political wonkiness has never been so sexy!

Yet another political first... geez I am a lucky gurl....experiencing this eclectic mix-fashionistas of Toronto's Queen Street West and a mod squad mix of local luminary made for a delicious eve. All in the name of political support. I like this place more everyday.

The other high light of the evening involved an accordion. Yes, an accordion. Oh, did I mention the sock puppets?? Now if I could just find the snippet of last eves' soiree on youtube I could post it here. Magical moments are meant to be shared. Anyone...please forward the url..


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

An invention That Could Only Be Canadian




















Few things here in Canada evoke emotions and stir feelings of patriotic fervour like the king of all things Canadian: hockey.

Find yourself alone in a que, strike up a conversation about hockey and find that everyone around you has something to contribute. It's not a sport or even a mere past time. Think religion.

One short stop to the local Canadian Tire (Genre akin to target stores on testosterone vs mom&pop automotive.) Stroll thru household goods, end of season garden goods, and the hunting-fishing gear area you'll find yourself within a pond sized area of pucks.

Sticks of all sizes and cost, of course skates. No wimpy double runners here. Hockey skates come in tiny baby sized booties. These mini-skates look like something found upon the foot of most sweet smelling infants...then add a sharp blade. Now we can differentiate the true Canadians from the wanna bees.. and once those tiny toddler feet have met the ice most parents must figure why teach them to walk when you can teach them to skate first. After all, they have no teeth to knock out (that comes later on, like third grade team hockey.)

It was said that the fabled Pele was given a soccer ball before he could crawl. Bobby Orr perhaps teethed upon a rubbery puck.. This hockey religious experience; It's like nothing I have ever experienced. Is this a myopically singular fervor in most circles within the latitude of Ontario?
Ive been told it's a country wide phenomena that stretches for nine months out of the year.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Rant and Roll


Okay it's time for a rant. Simple things always seem to be the things that turn into colossal sized pain-in-the-ass issues. Purchasing milk. As mundane as that seems I wanna know what's up with the milk in the bag routine which by the way Canada- no one else does, anywhere. There is no economy of scale buying the gallon or Liter of Leache here in Canada. Trying to pour it into my morning coffee is also a disaster in the making, Pouring it into a pitcher, forget it... This thing called a jug, it works really well.

This needs to change. Can't Canadians embrace the gallon jug or carton?? I just can't wrap my head around this one. Also can't imagine I am the only one ranting about this.

Why no wi-fi? The elusive signal is leaving me longing for stateside bandwidth. Oh little town of MountainView how do I miss you (never thought I would ever find myself saying that.) Google has given the gift of bandwidth to the minions of Mt.View..lucky bastards. Toronto Mayor David Miller- are you listening? Mostly no...But then again that's why Mayor Miller has a current popularity vote of just 29% tolerating him. Tolerating in Canadian terms is about as close as you're gonna get to hate.

My last rant involves the Toronto Film Festival, which begins today. Why the kid gloves surrounding the potential treatment, care and feeding of the stars as they flock to our fair city for the next ten daze of films, fun, and fashionable celeb spotting. The media has had such a ohh-woes-me, I hope the weather stays lovely for the stars. My guess is that anyone from the west coast is just happy to breath air they don't have to see, or worry about the Prius catching fire as the 49% containment of the fires burning could change as soon as the Santa Ana winds kick in again and potential torch L.A.

Honey moon over I suppose. It was sweet while it lasted. Now I can go back to being my mouthy, opinionated self. Sigh of relief....

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Major News Story


I can't remember the last time I experienced a local event that received as much media attention as the first day of school opening in Toronto. Yesterday morning the local radio shows all made chit chat of first day of school jitters that ranged from traffic to packed lunches to the weather. For a city the size of T.O. to be solely focusedc upon this seemingly mundane (for most) issue struck me as a nostalgic throw back from the stone age. Im not slamming the media mind you, it's more of a deer -in-the-headlights moment to digest the information that here in Canada things like school are taken quite seriously.

What a concept! The glaring difference of course is that stateside, so many schools start at so many different times. Parocial, private, prep, and of course public..then the off the grid home schoolers who thumb thier noses at the establishment and sharper pencils to the beat of thier own drum. It really would'nt even be possible to give news coverage. But culturally, Americans at least in larger markets like the Bay Area of San Francisco have such bigger issues that the idea of kids returning to school gets lost in the flow of day to day minutia. Not a judgement call mind you more of a wow- that's interesting in a 1950's wholesome way.

The more I learn about how things work here in Canada the more I respect and admire the knack that Canadians seem to have for celebrating the mundane, the simple pleasures of everyday life. American culture would benefit from such a calming introspective moment, but of course Americans would need to put down the cell phone, grande latte and car keys long enough to enjoy the moment. That would be a tall order.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

The Blue Angels, Library Cards and Brunch Oh MY!


Yes, I know how to roll. Being the big swingin'dick in the world of reading, I'm finding it a bit pricy purchasing books weekly. Ive found a new found crush of sorts with the Stanza iphone app, but sometimes (really most times, except on the subway) nothing beats the experience of holding a book. Purist tendencies run deep.
Suppose it comes from an amalgam of senses: the heady mix of content, font, and binding of the book that makes it tough for me to abandon the source of story in its true form. Smell too. I love that crisp paper and ink waft that ensconces page after page. The other sought after attribute, being the book knob that I am... the autographed book. It's tough to have a first edition with a signature when it lives within my itunes folder Stanza account.

The new Sony reader looks and feels like a thin video game. Highly configurable and convenient to tuck into ones' bag, this e-reader by Sony is a nifty gadget, but it's just that...a gadget. The anti technology route? The library. Yes, the library isn't just for blue haired ladies and pedophiles lurking in the teen fiction isles. This is where those of us who burn through best sellers, new fiction work and biographies from the New York Book Review hang out awaiting the next shipment of delicious literature to chew up and spit out. Small city apartments are no match. Welcome the library card.

Except when you are not feeling very welcomed to the neighborhood branch in your new 'hood.
Glad to be as thick skinned as I am. It may have been easier to obtain a Platnium Amex card.

After triple-dog daring the woman behind the library reception desk to a game of "who knows more authors" (I was sadly rebuffed. Bitch.) Where's the love? I was handed a library card as if it was some sacred artifact for humanity's salvation. The saving grace? Today represents the last hurrah of summer with the Blue Angels blasting overhead.. It's time for brunch and a big ole bloody mary.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Good 2 B Home


Just as I was finding my groove here in Toronto, I was called back to California on a family emergency. Maybe it's the mental helmet we all wear that sets our thoughts on a certain track or perhaps the environment in which we happen to find ourselves molds and shapes us to become a chameleon of our surroundings.

Why the weird lizard metaphor you might wonder?

It's shocking for me to say, but my short (so far) stint here in Canada has rubbed off on me. I like to think of Toronto as a big gummie eraser that has softened some of the sharp edges on my nerve-end-blunt personality. This softening was brought into a sharp focus the moment I stepped off the airplane in San Diego. Nothing signifies the American lifestyle quite like the cellphone-airline- wait in line patience(or lack there of ) experience of the airport stateside .

Putting my toes in the Pacific ocean made me momentarily miss all things American, until I returned to board my return flight to Toronto. The airport and it's throng of short fused passengers seems to highlight every cliche about the overweight, tennis shoe wearing, Starbucks coffee swilling American traveler. My jet lagged brain is happy to be dining on the Quay, back in my harbourfront neighborhood (which happens to be my home.) Toronto offers the best of both worlds-a civilized big city with a large body of water. Sure it's not the Pacific, but where else can I enjoy such an amazingly global vibe where the only Americans I spy are tourists. You know the ones: sporting tennis shoes, flabby tummies and grande sized paper cups of Starbucks... Nice to be home.