It's a mad mad world

This weekend marks the G20 conference here in Toronto. As highly anticipated as the Olympics in Vancouver with as much controversy. But guess what it's not ending in an all time Canadian Gold Medal/Olympic History win and people hugging police/each other in the streets. This is most definitely a fail.

And let's not blame Toronto- I'm pretty sure not ONE person that lives in this city wanted the G20 here. Who could blame them? These sort of "meetings" (let's face it- glad handing and back slapping of global fat cats) haven't ended well since the "Battle in Seattle".

I believe in social justice, I believe in our right to peaceful assembly and our freedom of speech. It's a basic human right after all. But I didn't get up and march today, instead I stayed home and seethed in anger, with bouts of worry about friends protesting, at the destruction that was laid forth.

There is a dissident group of douchey f*cks who come protest at large events like this to incite chaos. I'm not naming them on purpose because they don't deserve one iota of air time. Today, there was a 10 thousand strong protest in Toronto against SO many issues- and this is the time, the world leaders are here, they should be made to listen.

My friend and her daughter wore shirts that said "we will NOT shut the fuck up"- loosely this is a comment on Stephen Harper's refusal to give aid to developing countries that allow legal abortion. Last I checked, I'm a woman- Stephan Harper is a man- he can NEVER be raped and forced to carry the child of something so horrific as rape, what gives him the right? And to say that is how our whole country feels? (and anyone that wants to challenge this statement- we ALL know someone who has been the victim of rape- imagine if they had to have a child of it?)


I agree with these protests, the PEACEFUL protests, that did happen. But we all knew what was going to happen- the carnage and wreckage, the taunting of the police until they broke. The world leaders knew this, but they didn't really care. Frankly a more suitable protest would have been for all of us to chip in $5 and pay off their staff at the various hotels and conference centres to stop working/not show up. THAT would have thrown things into disarray far more than ten thousand people marching.

Since Seattle there has been precedent of destroying things to "damn the man". I was on the subway today and heard some terrible little youngins talking about - going to protest. What did they say- what was their spiel? They wanted to get "TO THE WALL, man" like this WHOLE thing is just some terrible Pink Floyd spin off. Here they are trying to damn the man in their Dickies cargoes and Doc Marten boots and who, I am very very sure, will be hitting up a McDonalds to satisfy their hunger on their way home.

I must be getting old because the hypocrisy of youth makes me want to punch them in the face.

And what bothers me is that these people don't have any idea, I don't even have any real idea about the G20, so I stayed away, because I can't protest something I don't totally understand.

But let's think on this- the people destroying American Apparel (and while it outfits hipsters and should be burned/the guy who owns it is a lech/pedophile) thinking it's "big business" don't have any idea that the owner of American Apparel fights in his own way against illegal immigrant laws in California that are meant to keep Hispanic people down.

People throwing bricks at a Starbucks, while I agree- their coffee is pretty bad (unless you are in Australia and then it's kind of a North American manna)-they were a SMALL business, who were able to thrive and rise to the top.

And did anyone think about all the people who are being called right now saying, "don't come into work", or "sorry you don't have a job anymore" because their work place is destroyed? While you think you are "hurting" the big wigs of these corporations- all you are doing is hurting the struggling masses and forcing them into the social system because you destroyed their workplace so now they can't make rent.

So again the acts of a few will screw over the many- so THANK YOU anarchists, you just diverted money from social programs to the police in a city that most of you don't live in or care about. Are you sure you aren't working for them? 

And THANK YOU G20, because you knew this would happen, and you let it happen- why is that? Because here we spend so much time talking about the protest to really understand what is happening behind closed doors. Your tactics are despicable.

I feel hurt; as a citizen of this city that I LOVE, that represents so much of what can be good in the world and it could be treated so disrespectfully by both the big and little guy.

Violence is NEVER the answer, if you have to resort to it- you are a small small person.

*UPDATE*

This is the Globe and Mail's link to the full statement released by the G20. READ IT, this is what we need to be protesting and holding them accountable for. http://tgam.ca/8BV

And thank you to the Globe and Mail and CBC for reporting on what is going on and keeping sensationalist journalism to a minimum.  

The Examined Life

It's an interesting thing being single and living alone. I've been at it for a few years now. Just tonight as I was compulsively tidying up the kitchen and marveling at the way I placed my pear for morning (just to the left of my Hokusai poster- I like asymmetry) I started to wonder if it is good for humans to live alone.

I'm not sure I could live with a flatmate anymore, I'm selfish about my privacy(which reminds me of my favourite Tom Waits song-Better Off Without A Wife) and in Toronto it costs probably about the same as what I'm paying, or more to live in a swish place with a flatmate. (And I use the term flatmate because it's more appropriate- we share a flat/apartment/rooms, not a room) I could conceivably and would be probably pretty happy to live with someone again. heh- but I might need to learn how not to be the one date wonder first.

But living alone, it's a delicious ode to solitude. Everything has a place and everything in its place. Now that I'm spending most of my waking life in the apartment, it's becoming highly organized. I scoffed at my brother when he told me he vacuums every night, but am I that far behind? Tonight after placing my pear- just so- I also took out a coffee mug and placed it riiiight where it needed to be for first thing in the morning.

I know in myself I have a tendency towards a bit of compulsiveness, is living alone an environment where this can thrive? Will I become more and more set in my ways and more and more neurotic the longer I co-habitate with just me?

When you live alone, a sense of order rings out over everything you do- to others it can look like total chaos, but it's a well orchestrated dance of one.

But if you live with others, or even a pet there are aspects of your universe that you cannot control. There is a modicum of spontaneity enforced upon you. And this of course lends itself to being flexible and adaptable in the face of change and circumstance.

It's not easy being alone, you have a lot of time on your hands. Time with which to think, and think over and think over again. It's a magnifying glass on your life. The petri dish that is your apartment is under the microscope.  And sometimes I feel that if I make my apartment perfect enough, then the rest of my life will be perfect too. Except there are outside circumstances outside of my apartment, things beyond my control which contribute to the non-perfectness of life.

Sometimes I wish little gnomes would come in and a)make shoes in the night (I mean come on, shoes! in the night? I need shoe gnomes-we allll do.) and b) move that pear to under the middle of the poster, just so I'll have to deal with a bit of a unexpected circumstance and keep me flexible.

Melbournia!

At the beginning of my third month in Australia, Pili, Deb, Tara and I went to Melbourne for the weekend.

I'd heard great things about this city from the crew, so I was really excited to check it out! Deb and I flew out at the same time on Friday, so we met (extremely early- to our mutal delight) at Central Station to catch the train to the airport.

Once through customs we celebrated with some tapas and a glass of wine- what a great way to beging the weekend. The flight itself is about and hour and half long- possibly shorter. And you cross into another state, New South Wales housing Sydney (and the beach where they shoot Neighbours!!), Melbourne being housed further south in Victoria. ( Does anyone else find it disturbingly odd that Syndey/Sidney and Victoria keep following me around?)

Once in Melbourne, we waited for Pili and Tara to arrive and then headed to our apartment/hotel on Bourke St. It's what they would call a serviced apartment, or for us not in the know- a hotel room with a kitchen. Pili found it online and the price was great, the location excellent and the service wonderful. It was a two bedroom, with a sitting area, kitchen and spacious bathroom- (with a GIANT tub!)- very nice stuff!

We got ready and headed out to a quick bite and then off to the main reason we were in town- to see the show that Deb had helped curate through her media curation business www.newmediacuration.com it was a really interesting installation, made all the more fun with the flowing champagne!

Melbourne is a really beautiful city, one of the features that I very much enjoyed are the little alleys packed chockablock full of nifty shops and restaurants. We occasioned onto one alleyway and had a delicious breakfast even though we were all a bit worse for wear from the night before!

We then headed to Chapel Street for some exciting shopping, this is Pili's favourite place to shop and I can see why, a lot of small shops and independent or small designers, you are always sure to find something unique. By the time we got there we were all hungry again and made our way to a cafee for a quick lunch- or so we thought.

Just as we were finishing our lunch- a storm broke out. Melbourne has a reputation for wild weather and this did not disappoint. At one point I thought I saw snow, but it was hail, and a lot of it. The the rain started in earnest, to the point of flooding the streets and into the restaurant. I've never really witnessed flash flooding before, it is a bit scary and I was happy we were inside, even if our seats ended up getting flooded on to.

Not to be deterred by ridiculous weather we sallyed forth and hit the shops. Those that were open, that is- due to the storm most shops were out of power and/or flooded. I did managed to pick up a pair of lacoste flats for the amazing price of $10. I have bargin mojo- I get it from my mum. AND they are such a bright happy yellow. I've worn them out once when I know it's not going to rain AT ALL.

A bit dejected about the lack of shopping we were able to get in, we headed back to the hotel for a rest and then out on the town for another night of semi-debauchery.

We went to a club we weren't able to get into the night before, and Pili and I shook our booty until it could not shake anymore. Or until it cried out for McDonald's (fun fact: you just don't GET ketchup in Australia, all condiments have to be requested and paid for)

Next day we headed out to an aread of town I can't at all remember the name of. I really like it though! Tara seemed quite familiar with it- I think she may have a propensity towards Melbournian men (and hey- with anyone that comes from a city that has the word Bourne in it- could they be that horrible?)

I ended up in Melbourne for an extra day due to inclement weather- and that kind of sucked. But it was also very nice to spend time in a city by myself. I'm becoming more and more an "on my own" type person. Not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. I think, in my mind I hold out for -the ONE- that I will be eternally happy to spend every(somewhat) waking moment with and travel the world. But part of me worries, am I TOO independent? Can anyone give me as good a conversation as I give myself?

It's my hood

Last night I was feeling a bit bored. So I texted (I'm not a big "caller") one of my neighbours/friends that I hadn't seen since I got back and we arranged to meet for Pho up in the Junction. We had a great time getting caught up and with a bit of dawdling outside and promises to go out dancing (and I WILL hold you to that!) she scooted off and I began walking home.

On my way home through the slightly cool air I saw people out walking their dogs, strolling down the sidewalk, biking in the bikelanes, and a group of kids playing late night basketball in one of the schools.

I cannot think of one instance I have ever felt unsafe in Toronto, "The City of Neighbourhoods" even in my darkest moments of despair I can always think about where I live and it puts a smile on my face.

So let me tell you about where I live.

I live directly in between Bloor West Village and "The Junction" (the area between Runnymede and Keele on Dundas West). The street I live on in a semi-main artery cross town, but it's quiet enough that I can lay in bed at night and listen to the wind or the rain, or the stillness of the stars burning in the sky.

On my corner there is an organic butcher, a chinese restaurant, 2 corner stores, an organic pizza shop, a greasy spoon, a hardware store, a weird small church, a wine maker shop, a laundromat, an eyeglass shop, and a few other private businesses. For the amount of business this is a quiet corner. When you look down the street in the summer, you can't see for leafy trees covering the street.

I never understood why we needed so many convenience stores (when I moved here there were 3- 1 has since closed down) but I quickly realized, you only walk as far as your own corner. Terribly convenient.

Ten minutes in either direction (north or south) are the Village and Junction, with a greater variety of shops and services.

This is a neighbourhood where people walk by you on the street and say hello, they smile at you. If you are struggling with something, they will help you. It's safe, I've been known to leave my bike out- unlocked- with no repercussions.  People gather on their front porches and in their backyards.

I've never grown up with a sense of community or neighbourhood until I moved here. People know my name, they look out for me. They know what I like to have on my hamburger and how I take my coffee. In turn I try to frequent their businesses and tell others about what great services they provide. We look out for each other. It's how I imagine living in a small town would be, but better.

When I was younger and couldn't sleep my Dad and I used to go for neighbourhood walks at night- the thing with moving out to the country is that people are VERY interested in their privacy and deeply suspicious of those who appear too friendly. Living in a big city with limited private space (and don't get me wrong, I have way more than most people where I live) has taught me about what it means to be a good neighbour.

Being a good neighbour means minding your own business, but being aware enough of others to be of service. If I didn't hear the girl upstairs for a day, I would go up and knock and make sure she's ok. I know she would do the same for me as well. It's about anonimity and security all wrapped up together.

It's what I think heaven is like. The more I spent time in this neighbourhood, the more connections I make, the happier I am. I'm living in the greatest city in Canada and I can sit in the silence of my backyard gazing up at the trees and it feel the quiet around me.

It's lovely and I recommend it.

Spring Time

Let's take a break from talking about Sydney shall we? Because of my laziness/tiredness when I was there I didn't post anything so now I have to do catch up.

But I am here, in Toronto, now- where Spring is happening.

The weather since I have been back has been really quite wonderful. There have been a few days of rain, but not that many. On the whole it's been sunny blue skies and crispy temperatures.

I first moved to Toronto in January, it was very cold and snowy. Delightful, really. And Spring came in March that year. My next year, Spring came much later- May, and I realized that the advent of the New Year, in the rest of Canada, does not mean that Spring is around the corner. Spring generally sets in on Vancouver Island, towards the end of January, so New Year is sort of like the end of Winter. But for the rest of Canada New Year signals the beginning of the deep freeze, the dark days of Winter that loom ahead. It's a lot to get your mind around.

And Spring, well that can come slowly, as it is doing this year, or it can come quickly, like last year. Spring started around the 2nd week of May- and by the end of May it was full on Summer. You could be out walking one day and notice that there wasn't a trace of Spring anywhere, no leaves budding on trees, no pussy willows whistling in the breeze- just barren winter landscape. And then- and I kid you not- three days later the trees were almost fully leafy and tulips were up it is unbelievable.  And then the heat kicked in.

Spring this year is hanging out on the regular, at a medium pace. So when you go for walks- as I have been doing these past few days, you can see the beginnings of the leaves on the trees- there are these beautiful yellow bush thingys that I really should learn the name of because I like them quite a bit. But they had so much colour to the streets. I don't think I'm above suggesting them to my landlord for the front, or perhaps out the back where I can see them from my living room window.

On my walk today, the birds were out- I saw some large Hawks or Eagles, a very yellow bird, a very red bird and some birds that COULD be bluejays- I'm not sure since I've never seen one. Clearly I need a book on birds. 

And the sky! I have very rarely seen a bluer sky than I do here, it's such a beautiful contrast to the red brick houses.

Ahh Spring! A time of hope, new beginning, the promise of the heat and headiness of Summer.

Michelle in a Stranger Land- Part 2

There are some pretty nifty things about Sydney- it's very beachy. I am at heart a beach bum and some of my happiest and most peaceful moments in Australia were at the beach.

Living in Toronto that is one thing I do hunger for- the ocean. I'm not sure how to corrollate living near the ocean and having all the wonders of a big city on hand.  Part of me hoped that Sydney would provide that for me, but it wasn't meant to be.

There are somethings about Canada/Toronto, North America/New York City that I am unwilling to part with. Really efficient mass transit is one of them, I don't think it's a secret that the transit in Sydney is pretty bad. And having to travel through the city every day was enough to set my teeth on edge-Literally. I spent most of my time on the bus gritting my teeth and wishing everything would explode, because then, at least, I would be off the bus.

Efficiency in general seems to have a lower priority in Australia- which is fine- I guess. But that just makes me feel uptight and I have realized I quite like being the relaxed one in my city relationships. I think it has to do with its proximity with Asia- where there is a buddhist- it will happen... eventually... attitude and you have to go with the flow.

As someone who has struggled with the notion of patience all her life, this was a bitter pill to swallow. I am sure there was/is a great lesson to learn from all of this- but HA HA I am not only impatient, but stubborn and I refuse your lesson universe- this time.

But what about the goods? The positives? The yeah let's do THAT again. Alright eager readers- here are THE GOODS.

The beach- oooh the beaches are sexy and delicious and the water is warm and the surfer boys are hawt. Even on mass transit you are only an hour max away from a great beach at any one time. I hit the biggies, Manly, Bondi, Coogee- Coogee being my fave I think. Although having a drink at the Bondi Beach Bar was pretty wonderful.  I spent a couple of fun times at Coogee- one night out with Deb and her friends drinking vodka in the sand and late night swimming and then some even later night dancing.

Australia Day- which I feel happy to have been around for, was spent at Collins Beach a little bay in Manly and that was just awesome. Great people, delicious picnic food and plenty of swimming. I might have burned a little, but it was worth it. 

A side note- Aussies are much more like American's than they are Canadians- which isn't a bad thing, they are out going and a proud people and really think they are the shit. I did NOT wear my Kiwi pride t-shirt in Australia. (even though I wanted to- go All Blacks!!)

The People: the people and friends that I had and made here are great. I really do miss hanging out with Pili Pie and Deebs and meeting the group of friends they have made there. Interestingly I made friends of my own and they were all from Melbourne- I think they are just a friendlier breed. I will say that Karen and Xanthe- who are amazing and wonderful- are from Sydney, they may be the execptions that proves the rule, but I'm a better person to have known them.

Deebs- Deb is human prozac. I mean she's not insanely happy all the time, but pretty close and you can't help but being really happy when you are around her. She is absolutely the most positive up beat person I have ever met in my whole life. And she likes art! A pocket friend of the highest order. Plus we have the same shoe size so FINALLY someone I could share shoes with!

Pili Pie- Pili is awesome- how else can you describe her? Fashionable, tasteful, good singer (as I found out), generous to a fault. Without a doubt the best times I had at the publishing company were when Pili and I shared an office (and would sneak off with LeMar to the lake for "lunch") and it was so nice to spend every day time with her. She and Clif (who through the 2 degrees of separation that is Van. Isle-we went to school together) let me live in their place in Glebe for cheap cheap. I've had instances of living with couples that makes me want to run in the other direction, but this was not so. They are awesome- awesome flatmates.

Jenn with two n's- The most fun and wonderful Aussie I have met. I just really super duper love her. She taught me the saying "prawns" and introduced me to her super fun flatmates as well. Really I just want to package her up and bring her over to Canada so she can hang with the cool kids here! (pictured with Matti)

The sour cream- it may seem a bit weird, but this sour cream is just unreal. It's like crack- cow crack. I would do ANYTHING to get this stuff over here. That's right- ANYTHING.

Pineapple Lumps- technically a Kiwi delight, but everyone knows that Aussies appropriate all things Kiwi (until they screw up)- hello Russell Crowe. Imagine pineapple mallows covered in a thing layer of chocolate. Just waiting to make love to your mouth. If coffee is unavailable for marriage, I think that Pineapple Lumps are my "Settling Soulmate"

And we'll leave it there for now- next up... MELBOURNIA

Michelle in a Stranger Land-Part 1

What indeed can I say? What stranger land can you possibly think of than Australia?

Where the sun is hot, the animals are bouncy or poisonous- or a combination of bouncy and poisonous. The beer is watery, the wine is good- the ocean is warm and the vegemite is free flowing.

I'm just back from a three month stint in Sydney, as I am sure most of you know my grand 2010 plan was to move to Australia, and then it wasn't and just as quickly- it was. I was on a three month, let's try this out and see type of situation.

I had many posts written, and abandoned during my time there. Three months perhaps isn't enough time to suffer through the culture shock and get to just enjoying things. I've heard a year is about necessary, but I'm impatient and I wasn't waiting around for a year. Toronto beckoned!

So with a bit of distance between me and the land down under, I think I can post about it finally.

I arrived, sans my luggage (I have bargain shopping mojo at the expense of my travel mojo) in the dead heat of summer. And I mean HEAT. You have not experienced this kind of heat before, the oppressive mugginess of a billion degree heat.

Coming from -25 with wind chill and the dry dry blast of Ontario cold to +30 with at least 85% humidity is shocking to the system. SHOCKING.


On the whole I was ill prepared for the culture shock. I thought, oh well- I've lived in Britain, Australia is always touted as this quasi North American type of place. Well. Not so much. I can only give my eternal thanks to my friends Pili and Deb for trying to deal with me, not throwing me into the ocean and commanding that I leave immediately.

Pili's enfianced told me he was enraged for about a year, because let me tell you- Australia is much different to the world we live in. There are things that are just "different" and it definitely made me realize what a spoiled little first world cookie I am.

Now there is no way I would have made it through the three months without Pili and Deb. I have known these two crazy cats for years. I met Deb during Uni- we both worked at the SUB and we both were doing an undergrad in History in Art. My first real job after graduation I met Pili and we suffered the endless slings and arrows of the self publishing world.

Deb moved to Australia about 7 years ago and Pili followed 2 years later. Since they didn't know each other at the time, I took it upon myself to create more awesome in the world by introducing them to each other.

They have created a little wonderful bundle of ex-patness in Sydney with other Canucks, Americans, Armenians, Brits and who ever else you can find. The one thing about people in Sydney is they aren't very friendly. I'd had this perception of Aussies as being these ridiculously friendly lovable folk- but it's all area dependent I suppose. It is hard to crack into the Sydney crowd (much like it is hard to meet friends in Victoria). But what did I care? I had friends already!

A lot of the trip has been/was a blur. I definitely didn't do as much as I could have done- I will admit to spending a lot of my off time sleeping. It had to be done. I'm too old at this point to work ridiculous hours and have a social life.

That could be the one thing that Sydney taught me- maybe it is time to settle down. Maybe this gallavanting around the world has to stop and I need to focus and pony up a little bit. I'm still unsure of that part- but it was on my mind.