Nature Makes Me Happy

Just when you thought there was no reason to live... This is a leafy seadragon. And no, it's not a photoshop digimal. Isn't it the most beautiful thing ever???? Don't you wish you had taken scuba diving lessons instead of buying a Playstation?

Small Change, Big Pockets

Today, in line at the liquor store (after being warned by my classmates to provide white wine for this evening's extra-currricular meeting, or else) I ran into Tad, the polite homeless man, who lives somewhere in the market, and whom I see almost daily canvassing for change, and then regaling his supporters with a joke and a smile. He is a close talker, and very eccentric, but he can be quite funny, and he always remembers whom he has asked and never asks twice on the same day. We are on a "chatting basis" and I usually manage to find a few coins for him, which definitely puts me in his good books.

I looked over as he stood in the line beside me, and he was holding his purchases tightly to his chest. When he saw me, recognition briefly intermingled with embarrassment, and then he returned my smile, and said hello. I commented on how happy everyone seemed to be today (we are experiencing the first few sunny days of spring here in gray Toronto) and he remarked that all it takes is one smile to start a chain reaction sometimes. I agreed, we small-talked a bit more, and then turned back to our places in line.

As I was digesting his insights, he completed his purchase with the coins he had slowly been collecting all day, and then leaned over and dropped the rest of his change into the Cystic Fibrosis donation box on the counter. He left without looking back, and I think I was the only one in the line up who witnessed that tiny little act of huge generousity.

I miss you winter. I love you summer.

I think I got in maybe 3 good snowball fights this year. It was due more to a lack of snow than desire to throw the perfect snowball that finds it's way either a) in someone's ear, or b) down someone's shirt. I would also like to mention that the "snowballer" is possible the greatest weapon ever designed for use in snowball-to-snowball combat. Alex made like 50 snowballs a minute (sooo fast). I can't say that I'm not happy about the approaching summer, we found a box of National Geopgraphics (that were only slightly wet) and a nice love seat (that was slightly more wet) as Paul, Alex and I roamed the city on our multi-wheeled vehicle of choice. I would also like to point out that there seems to be a proportional relationship between warmth and friendliness...

Latenight with the Queen (nerd) of Kensington

There are things that I love about a city... peripheral things. Plebian, urban, treasure-moments hiding in plain view...


1. Hooliganism on the corner of Kensington and Baldwin
2. Spying in the Augusta Fruit Market window
3. E.B. Cox's forgotten sculptures at the CNE

Make Love, Not Loblaws!

Hazel McCallion-1 David Miller-0

85-year old mayor Hazel McCallion is about the only thing that would ever, EVER make someone want to live in Mississagua. Below are the finalists for a condo design competition beign held in the big M. Not that I think the world needs more condos, but Yansong Ma of MAD office's entry makes my heart pound. If all condos were so beautiful, perhaps we wouldn't be such slaves to urban sprawl...




click here to see more about the competition

Not Mayor Miller's proudest accomplishment, this is what is about to become of our beloved Maple Leaf Gardens. I'm not even a hockey fan and I shudder with sadness...



click here to see more about MLGLoblaws



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