Another Year...
I'm 31 now. I'm
into my 30s. Ah well.
I had a great time yesterday for my birthday. I went to work for the morning, and we had a great potluck lunch (we have potlucks for all of our birthdays). After lunch, I took off to check out the Busker Fest near St. Lawrence Market, then came home to relax in the back yard with Stef and a Heinekin. Last night, me and my friends all went to The Rhino for some patio action. It's a good place. Except that the cigarette smoke was really starting to bug me. Which I didn't understand, because we were
outside. Ah well. I did have a lot of fun though... and I got a new water bottle from Maria, and a webcam from Stef and James. Good times!
Labels: birthday, the rhino
Git Yer Own Fire Escape!
We have critters in our backyard. This is not news. They live up on the third level of the fire escape, behind the air conditioner. They defecate all over the stairs, creating an obstacle course for anyone brave enough to walk the metal slatted steps.
Last summer, we were sitting in the backyard barbecuing and we noticed
this little coon carefully making it's way down the fire escape steps. It had smelled our food, and was coming to join us, to ask for handouts. We refused to feed it. Feeding the critters is just asking for trouble.
And once,
Stef opened up the door to the fire escape from the second floor hallway and heard a loud THUD. She opened up the door carefully to see what she hit, and there was a big raccoon, standing her ground, hissing away. Normally animals run away when humans show up. Not this animal, though.
And then today, as I was leaving for work, I encountered five raccoons on the fire escape; a mother and her four babies (they were pretty big babies, still cute, but fairly hefty). I thought about going down the front and entering the backyard from the side gate, but I thought to myself, "Hey! This is my fire escape... I'm not backing down!" And so I took out my camera, snapped a few pics, and slowly, quietly walked down the steps. The animals stood there for a minute, the babies looking to their mom for direction, and mom staring at me, waiting for me to crumble. I didn't though, and after a couple minutes, the momma purred to her babies, telling them, "This bitch isn't going anywhere, we should split." And so they did. I win!
Labels: animals, backyard, fire escape, parkdale, raccoon
Rested. Relaxed.
That's what I am. After a fantastic weekend up at Becky's cottage, I'm feeling young again, and more peaceful. There's just something about swimming in that lake. Lake Muskoka. It's so good.
This morning however, I was jolted out of my cottage country reverie when some stupid-ass cyclist came whipping out of an alley and caused me to crank on my brakes. I was like, 1cm away from hitting him. Stupid asshole.
Peace was restored yet again, though, when I had a successful trip to the DMV. License renewed! And in less then 15 minutes. They're pretty efficient!
When I got home from work, I found two birthday cards in my mail box. Early, but nonetheless appreciated. One from the ever-diligent Aunt Lucinda and Uncle Bill. And the other from my dad and Shirl, with a note to check my bank account. Those kind of notes are always good!
Five Years Ago Today...
The eastern seaboard of the US and most of southwestern Ontario were plunged into darkness. I just realized that the Blackout of 2003 was a pivotal event in my life (as it surely was for many other people).
I was working at Exclusively Women's Fitness Centre at the time, which refused to shut down, even though the government had asked all non-essential services to close until the power grid could be repaired and rebooted. Morally-minded as I am, I refused to work that day and left. A couple days later, I was fired.
The firing was a good thing, though. I hated my job there (I was responsible for telling women they were fat and that they needed to join a gym- I really wasn't very good at it). I hated the city I was in (Windsor- the arm pit of Ontario). I hated my life (living at my parents). It was Beth that invited to visit her, indefinitely, in Toronto. I packed up my CRV (back then I drove a car, what was I thinking?!?) and headed for the Big Smoke.
This was five years ago. It seems like FOREVER ago... but man, does time fly. I've learned so much since then, experienced so much, and have made so many excellent friends. At the time, I was really upset about being fired. I didn't know what I was going to do. I still didn't know what I was going to do, even when I arrived in Toronto. My never-ending gratitude goes out to Beth, who gave me a place to stay, a shot at a job (which I still have now), and the WILL TO LIVE ON!
Labels: 2003, beth, blackout, toronto, windsor
