An Eventful Ride In

This morning was full of action.

I was riding up King Street, when a silver Toyota 4Runner pulls up beside me and asks me where my helmet is... it was Bex's parents! I told them I don't have a helmet (I know, I'm stupid), but that not having a helmet isn't illegal. They just said to be careful. I bet you any money Bex's mom is going out to buy me a helmet today. Or not... but I wouldn't be surprised! She's the overly generous type of woman! Funny thing is, we were both heading to the same block (Church and Queen)... and I beat them here!

And then, in the business district, I noticed this guy on a too-small bike weaving on and off the sidewalk, passing me and cutting and me off. I caught up to him at the next stop light, and this is how the conversation went:

Me: "Hey... where'd you learn how to ride your bike?"
Him: "Wha?"
Me: "Where did you learn to ride your bike?"
Him: "Wha?" (I don't think English was his first language)
Me: "Man, you shouldn't ride on the sidewalks like that."
Him: "Yeah, but..."
Me: "Yeah, but, nothing. It's illegal. It's dangerous for everyone around you. And the more you break the rules, the less respect everyone else has for us cyclists. So just don't ride on the sidewalk!"

At this point, the light turns green. I say to him "Go!", but he just stands there. "Go, go!" I say. Finally, he gets off his bike, and pulls it up onto the sidewalk beside him, so I can go first. Now it was my turn to be confused. Wha?

Anyways- Neil says cyclists won't follow the rules until there are serious repercussions for breaking the biking laws. So, from now on, YOU BETTER FOLLOW THE RULES, OR I'LL MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A DUMB ASS. So there.

Labels: bex, bike, conversation, frustration, rant

posted by Unknown @ 10:06 a.m.

If We All Follow The Rules, Cycling Will Be Safer... well, duh.

Yesterday, on my way home, some courier wannabe passed me on the right, only to get stuck at a red light 30 feet in front of us. I pulled up casually beside him and said (loudly, since he had headphones on), "You should try to pass on the left." He said I was too far over to the left for him to pass (which is total BS), and so I told him he should have used his bell to let me know to squeeze right so he could pass. I looked down at his handle bars, and I don't even think he HAD a bell. WHAT?!? Insanity, riding in the city without a bell. Also, completely illegal!!!

I says to him I says, "I'm just telling you what I've read about proper cycling." He didn't respond. The light turned green and off he went. I yelled after him, "Have a nice day!" I think I heard him say thank you.

I should've said, "If we all follow the rules, cycling in the city will be much safer." Cause, really, that's the whole point of having rules!

Labels: bike, conversation, frustration, rant

posted by Unknown @ 12:23 p.m.

Back to Life, Back to unReality

I've returned to Toronto after spending the Easter weekend in Windsor, and I have to say, I'm glad to be back. I knew the trip home would be fairly unpleasant, and I was right.

First, the drive home on Thursday evening was completely insane. Traffic slowed down to around 40km/h around Burlington, for like 40 minutes. ARGH! Then, just south of London, I ran into a white-out... it was snowing so heavily, I could barely see 20' in front of the car. And the roads were covered in snow, so driving more than 60km/h would've been completely suicidal. And of course there was construction along the 401 in Essex County. It ended up taking me an hour longer than normal to get home.

Secondly, my sister-in-law's mother (or, my brother's mother-in-law) is very ill. Very. It's extremely sad. She reminds me a lot of my own mother, and treated me like a daughter after my mom passed away 8 years ago. She's a strong lady, but has been sick for a while. Unfortunately, I think she'll soon lose her battle with cancer, and we'll all lose an extremely passionate and dedicated woman... Alas...

I also visited with some other friends who lost a family member back in February. It's sad seeing people you love so sad. So. Sad.

I ran into a friend from high school (not even through Facebook), and she showed me a picture of her beautiful daughter. When I asked her if she was married, she told me she was, but that her husband died of a heart attack last year. He was 40. Frick, man.

So, yes, I knew this weekend would be a melancholy one. And it was. Except for the time I spent with Stacey, and my Dad and Shirl!

And I didn't get to bring my canoe back with, as was planned. I need to find someplace to store it that has access to the lake. Somewhere CHEAP.

Labels: "weekend update", brother, death, derek, family, frustration, rox, windsor

posted by Unknown @ 2:54 p.m.

LEARN TO READ OR GET OFF OF EBAY

I don't know why exactly, but today, I'm way less tolerant at my job than I normally am. I answer customer emails in the morning, and I understand that some people out there are as internet savvy as others, but today, it just seems like people out there (ebayers) are just plain moronic.

For example, someone asks:
"The camera is supposed to come with a cap to cover the lense opening. Do you have it?
How do you keep dust out if you don't?"

My response had to be:
As stated in the description, and as is visible in the photos on eBay, this camera does come with a body cap.

This happens ALL THE TIME. READ THE GODDAMN DESCRIPTION PEOPLE! That's why we take the time to WRITE the goddamn descriptions! YOU CAN READ, RIGHT?!?!

Here are some more...

Their Question: Hi is this a new strap?
My Answer: As stated in the description on eBay, this is a new strap.

Their Question: OK, one more quick question. Is this a Store demo camera, or one someone has owned for some time.
My Answer: This is a used camera, as is stated in the eBay auction title and description.

Their Question: Hi I just wanted to double check with you about a few things with regards to this item... 1. Is this item brand new? 2. What is your warranty policy on merchandise?
My Answer: As stated in the description on eBay, this is a new flash. Also, as stated in the description on eBay, the flash is covered by a one-year warranty from the manufacturer, which is Canon Canada.

Their Question: I hate bidding games. How much to buy this lens?
My Answer: Sorry- there's no Buy it Now option on this auction. (But in my head I'm thinking- this is EBAY! Which is an AUCTION site. Auctions are won by BIDDING on the item being AUCTIONED OFF).

Their Question: I'm really apologize! Could you please cancel my bid for this Item because I didn't relize that it is a used len.
My Answer: How could you not realize this was a used lens? It states so in the title, and again in the description. Please let me know how you failed to realize this was a used lens.

Yeah- so I lost it a bit on that last one. But I am genuinely curious as to how he could've missed the fact that this is a used lens. Meh.

Rant over. Day still has six and a half hours. FACK!

Labels: computers, frustration, office, rant, work

posted by Unknown @ 10:50 a.m.

PARKDALE PRIDE!!

I'm thinking of making a poster that says:


But I think the posters will just get ripped down and thrown into the wind.
It's getting out of hand though. I think I'm going to email these pictures to Gord Perks:

Labels: environment, frustration, local, parkdale, rant, tyndall avenue

posted by Unknown @ 3:49 p.m.

The Day That Nothing Worked (except the printer)

So, I just got home from walking all the way from Spadina. Stupid streetcar I was on kicked everyone off, so it could push the broken down streetcar in front of it off the road. Man. What the hell is wrong with the TTC today?

And at work, our inventory program SUCKED ASS. I only got three listings done, where normally, I should be getting about 14-15! But I did get a "lemon" printer up and running this afternoon, which I might be able to buy for cheap! Woot!

Labels: computers, frustration, rant, streetcar, TTC, work

posted by Unknown @ 7:03 p.m.