They say you can never go home again and after meeting some people's families I can understand why they may never want to. But it is also true that you can never travel the same road twice and life has a strange way of sneaking up on you. While spending Thanksgiving with my Bro, Momma and Papa B, I was me and Hubby was himself. We didn't put on an act. We didn't have to be anyone else. There were a few times when our not-so-awesome-selves came out- par example- when seen fighting in the local chocolate store or overheard lecturing regarding health values while passing the highway Arby's, but a few hitches ain't so bad...I guess. Oh yeah, and there was the Dinner and a Movie event my Momma invited us to where Hubby of course hassled me about laughing too loud in the theatre, though who can resist the sound of laughter amplified by a beautifully resonant space? It would be wrong of me not to laugh out loud. No matter what, I love going home. But where does my heart truly lie?
They say home is where your heart is, and my home is in Toronto. The work I love is here, I met the man I love here, my life is here. I love the CN Tower and it's light show- currently on hold for avian migration. I love that there are kitchens in the city open for a late night eater. I love that there is sushi within 1 block of you, no matter where you are. I love the Red Rocket- even though I know I shouldn't. It feels like the start of an adventure every time I drop that shiny token into the clinking slot. I love complaining about our Dumb-sass mayor. I love how close I am to all these people I love. I love seeing a different style on everybody I meet. I love the passion for life and the hustle and bustle. How could I not love my home?
Then there's the darkness of a country road where my heart feels full. The darkness broken by the bright shining stars we hardly see in the city. I love the smells, even the poopy ones. I love the panoramic colours that span every horizon. I love the quiet. The feeling that the neighbours can hear what you're thinking. Having neighbours that have known me since I was this big* insert knee high to a grasshopper action. Here is a heartfelt welcome no matter how long it's been. I love knowing people and them knowing me. I love picking up a conversation I've been having with someone for the last 20 years right where we left off. How could I not love this home?
Hubby says creating a home is key to having a happy life. Home- a place to rest your head, your heart and your body. A place of comfort. A place to recharge your batteries. But what happens when 2 totally different places feel like home? A spilt like that can be tough to stitch together. There aren't many people who can afford two homes or even one home in this market. And after being threatened with the sale of my childhood home, I begged my parents not to sell their house; a place I consider my home. I know where all their dishes go, I planted the tree in the side yard from a sapling that was barely a stick, I know why the wall has that chip, I love this home. But Hubby, Momma & Papa B; here's the thing I want you to know, I've realized: A true home- the real place that your heart is, it's with the people and not with the buildings. Now, I have to stop, before all this lovey-dovey stuff makes me homesick-to my stomach:)
When I woke up and stretched and let out a yawn
I couldn't remember where the week had gone
I thought maybe this week would take me all year
But the time went by fast and now that it's here.
'The weekend, the weekend' I cried out with joy
Time to spend with my Hubby and boy,
I am glad the weather is supposed to be nice
Because working all week I missed out on the ice
Tinklin' in my glass, while floating in gin
Rooftop patio please, you will soon find me in
Atop of the city with a view of CN
I love it so much, don't know where to begin.
Fingers are crossed for fun and for rest
A drink and goodbye for a gal who's the best
My uke wants to sing songs in sweet harmony
Jilly and Lucy; I'll rub their tummy
I know that the weekend will be fast and then gone
A pedi and snuggle and blog set for dawn
Monday will start with a boom and a bang
Before the sunrises I will work again
So hear me out weekend, I've been a good friend
I've worked really hard and this short weekend
I want you to listen and love me real good
The way only a summer weekend ever could
So prepare thyself weekend for fun and for mirth
Cause you know you're too short, I want all that you're worth
Thank you for hearing my pledge and my vow.
I would love you weekend, if you'd only start now!
Yesterday was a good day. But today might be better:) Yesterday's yesterday I wrote a list. A long list. A long list that was detailed. A complimented list, with very specific direction on how things on this vacation are to go down. A vacation execution list if you will. Well, with a not to shabby a showing first day showing; I have started checking things off my list.
My sunshiny toes enforced my love of cartoon strong women. And cycling between the parked cars in my new purple helmut, which cost way too much money. But the part-time comedian at the bike shop made it worth it. My facial was a success. Moving the congestion from my chin and opening it up into summertime skin. My skin is peeled and massaged and moisturized almost back to where I like it. Soft.
My uke played my new navy nail polish off with great gusto. Baby Belle finally remembers my name. But she needs some new music, you know to impress me. Dressed as a superhero sailor in my new Monroe glasses helping to deflect the dust from my neighborhood. I got a giant douche bag drink, soy milk and all dat. Which is just as good as I remember it. My Kitty vibrates beside me and the Puppa snores and sleep kicks me as I write this. None of my books are getting any closer to being finished. But the sunset was beautiful turning the CN Tower that lovely shade of concrete pink. And the planes are quietly circling the flight path.
Today, I have something out of the ordinary. I am going to the recording studio with a 10 year old who wrote her first song and had it composed. A 4 part harmony built behind a drum kit and bass guitar. So, I get to mentor a brave baby. Ohh it's kinda cool. What a lucky and wonderful life! And I am free to do it! And then I get to hang out with my BFF. Vacation I LOVE you. Everyday is great. Those last few things aren't even on my long list, but I am excited to do them too. So as Hubby and BFF keep telling me; stop pressuring myself. I am going to release the pressure and dance a little more. And that's gonna rock! I am rocking, rolling and reeling. And with all this music floating around, who could stand still?
I don't know if you've heard, but we're having a heatwave. You can't go anywhere without people talking about it. Complaining- half heartedly. Only to correct each other with: "You'll miss this is November." At 6am while walking my Puppa stink I ran into my neighbour. We both smelled clean but looked wet. Crossing our collective fingers hoping today was a sweeter day. Knowing that soon we'd both be soggy again.
It's so hot that even my 12-step skincare regime isn't enough. I have to add 8 layers of sunscreen and another step of anti aging cream. The sun and heat are wearing my skin out. My hands are like crocodiles and my midsection is a haunting pasty white; bordered with irregular tan lines. My nails won't grow. My hair feels like a blanket laden with sweat. I've removed all my jewelry, I just don't want it touching me. All the city's women clad in sundresses and breezy fabrics; ponytails piled high on their heads.
On Saturday the sun came out after the spitting rain stopped. Not even close to the humidity cracking thunderstorm we we're promised. The storms we'd been begging for; the grass and trees needing it so badly. In heat like this everyone's looking for trouble. Men without shirts; hooting and hollering at the passing ladies. The Lakeshore blocked by high speed chasers and beer guzzlers. The sound of giant bumblebees without the sweetness of honey. People are restless and the animals are panting. It is hot. And were all trying to love it. Struggling through. Always uncomfortable, but it's Ontario weather, so what do we expect? When it gets like this our sports teams start loosing. The CFL, TFC and BJ's started their seasons well, now coming apart in the heat. My feet are swollen and I am bogged down and drippy. Trying to conserve energy, but ending up with none left anyway. Even Stephen. Six of one half dozen of the other. But man, it is hot!
All this aside, I needed an adventure. But this heat wears me out. It starts being comfortable outside close to 11pm, so you have to stay up that late just to go anywhere without sweating through your shirt. It's too dang hot. This past weekend I spent a lot of time on patios, in fan blown bars and the chilly A/C ofmy BBF. Hoping that I could find in some fun- and I did! My adventure started with a crosstown bike ride. The back roads were deserted; the streets we're open to a double wide lallygaging drift of a ride. All the stores I wanted to go to: Closed as though they forgot it was Saturday. So I settled for a bloody Marcy, a picker platter with smoked salmon and 'Baby it's cold outside' blaring from an ironic jukebox in 32 degree weather. The evening was catapulted by a flight of fancy; trying 9 new micro-brew beers. Suddenly, after way too much sun and beer came the invitation to my first ever penthouse- patio-party. A 2 floor condo with 2 bathrooms and 2 many people. Facing the CN tower and the lake. The city glimmering and calm. The temperature dipping and the breeze whispering through my hair. Finally a nice temperate adventure. Comfortable at last.
So, humidity and hops mix refreshingly well together. Turns out that by raising the adventure temperature, I managed to be hot and comfortable. Thanks Torontonians for keeping you're cool. But if there's a way we can swing it; I would like some of that rain I complained about earlier this summer:)
Remember that feeling? The sunshine, the fresh cut grass, your mother yelling at you to stop daydreaming and get your head in the game? For me it was soccer (or scoccer as I used to spell it) but for one special season; it was baseball. Baseball is a national pass-time. It's America's national passtime, but there are many little Canadian leagues. Baseball is 9 innings of 9 players trying to score, though not with their balls. Well, I guess with enough balls you can score, but it's not the gentlemanly thing to do. Baseball is about working together, sacrificing a bunt to move a player closer to home. It's about trying to get more than you had by stealing... It's about pennants and famous first pitches and national anthem screw-ups. It's about the love of the game.
Do you remember Toronto's back to back World Series wins in 1993-94-1995? The way all of Canada suddenly erupted in cheers, people filling the streets- without riot*insert raised eyebrow toward Vancouver. Celebrating together, as a city, as a province and as a country. The feeling you get as a little kid watching the adults around you bite their nails in anticipation of the much sought title and trophy with the golden pennants. Watching baseball into October, the leaves falling before we won the World Series. That was amazing, that's what baseball is all about. It's the Love of the game, the Tin Cup, the Natural, Bull Durham, it is A League of their Own.
This season Toronto fans have been treated to a winning worthy baseball team, and lucky us! With amazing outs and a high flying fun, it's coming together... Now, we've been down this slippery slope before, our early season enthusiasm overshadowing the fact that the spring training suntan is fading and the damp Toronto air steals the Jay's verve (which we're already starting to see*sigh). As far as I am concerned, win, lose or tie; I can't remember having a bad day at the Sky Dome. I just love the smell of the field from the 500 seats, starring up through the Dome at the CN Tower, the crunching peanut shells on the floor with a giant lemonade in one hand and a Ballpark frank in the other. As for you my early season Blue Jays, it's important to remember there is no I in team; but there is an I in win.
Do you know how often I think about how lucky I am to live in Toronto? I Effing love this city. I mean it's getting out of control how much I love this city. I love the waterfront and Queen street and the CN tower and I love the film community. I love it. That being said... There are a few things I would change given the option.
1. This construction, I mean did we have to plan every digging, drilling, laying & maintenance project at once? We must have hired in all of the Ontario labour board employees, it is truly remarkable that those skilled labour ads for apprenticeships are working.
2. The cuts to our essential services. Like street sweeping and garbage pick up. And sweeping up garbage from the streets. Our neighbourhood is littered (literally) with mix matched minutia of city life including but not limited to coffee cups, free flyers, dog pooh and a lonely shoe, seeking his missing mate.
3. TTC. Oh Red Rocket, you shiny and often disillusioning commuter car. Filled with the odds and bobs of this city, people who are trying to convince themselves that taking TTC is good for the environment, or faster than driving, or any number of bogus reasons to keep riding this slow, unreliable and often sticky and smelly lumbering giant. But the truth of the matter is, it's way cheaper than a car + you can read while driving (or in my case write)
4. Parking is another issue. With one-way streets, side roads and parallel spots keeping unskilled drivers circling, it is a nightmare, especially with snow removal hours, side-switching for road cleaning and bad drivers becoming bad parkers- taking up two or more spots. Also fire hydrants every 10 feet because of the occupancy regulations, which is great to prevent fires but not so helpful for people wanting to park closer to the venue.
5. Smile:) Turn that frown upside down! Everyone can do it, with the exception of a few with facial muscle disorders- sorry. But a smile can really change your day. Smiling actually helps you feel better about yourself, and feeling better about yourself is a good start to feeling better about the rest us:)
6. People puking on the side of the road, in front of the bank, at the corner of my building, the front steps of the bar and all over themselves. And not just the action of seeing someone puke, but the remnants of pukes past. Please go to the loo if you think you might loose your lunch, it's really the least you could do. Well, the least you could do would actually be if you didn't eat a whole bunch of crazy coloured food before drinking yourself stupid and losing it all over the sidewalk.
I love this city and I know it loves me too. I am 10 years into this love affair and it doesn't seem to be going away, it's only getting stronger. The little villages that make up this metropolis. The way people feel when they get here. This city is world class, she just happens to be more interested in socializing than grades.
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