It's Family Day...which for actual together families might mean doing family type stuff...singin Kumbya or whatever it is they like to do. I can't even spell it. :P Never said I was June Cleaver dudes.
My family is all over the place...I got to hang with my boys Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning...the rest of the weekend is their dad's turn. Joys of split families. The older two are off doing their thing...that's cool. I'm not really high maintenance. Unless I feel like it.
grin
So this Family Day, I'm just hanging out by myself... doin ma ting mon. I got up at 7:30 to send an email to the real estate agent, then went back to bed. Cuz I could.
I got bored though.
So I got up and made myself a bagel and tea...watched a little shitty TV. Does anyone actually watch The View? Yeah...it's not for me.
Went to little girl's room. Large mirror and bright lights did magnificent job of drawing attention to greys growing through the last colour job. So what the hell...I coloured my hair.
Picture me shaking out my locks for you..."it's me only better!"
Yeah okay shut up.
I was bored.
So what does a chick do when she's bored? She goes shopping. And lucky for me, the Eaton's Centre is a 10 minute walk away, if I walk quickly.
But first, one must get dressed. I am after all, trendy Torontonian urbanite now. I have an image to uphold.
Done rolling your eyes yet? The ladies know what I'm on about...you men can bite me.
I went casual urbanite today...skinny jeans, aqua blue oversize T, scarf draped just right, black boots pulled over the jeans. hhhhhottt without trying too hard.
Shaking my locks again.
The best part is that I can't even write this shit without laughing at how lame I am.
Whatevs.
So off I went, walking quickly just because, well, I'm used to walking quickly. Down Wellington, up Bay, across Richmond...and then it happened.
Family Day in Toronto. And all the fucking cousins must be visiting. Rock on! The day just got fun dudes!
Buddy sat cross legged in front of the 7 Eleven with his little empty Timmy cup, lookin' for change. I said "hey" and smiled. He winked and gave me a hey back.
I could hear my brother before I could see him. The voice of a preacher, praising Jesus, warning of the end of the world. The same voice I had heard on several occasions on the street below my condo in the middle of the night. It was about time I got to put a face to the voice. And I did just that. He was magnificent, standing on the steps leading up to City Hall. A big black man, he wore a white night gown, and a multi coloured blanket served as his cape. His arms stretched out over the crowds of people he addressed, and his deep voice rose above the normal city sounds of traffic and chatter. Hiding a smile, I walked past, carefully observing the reaction of the other passersby. Some appeared amused, others scared, and a surprising number completely oblivious. Interesting.
To the mall! And dayam it was packed! Kids, teens, old people, young people...fellow hot Toronto urbanites like myself (yack) but mostly tourists. Apparently this is what some families do on Family Day. So much for Kumbya theory.
I unbuttoned my coat and headed for the bookstore. sigh. I'm sorry..I just have to get the last fucking Twilight book. There I said it. It's out. Y'all know my dirty little secret. I also picked up an exercise DVD. 5 different 1/2 hour workouts. Will see if this one holds my attention for longer than five minutes. Or if it drives me back to wodka and cookies. meh.
I wanted another pair of kickass jeans from the Gap. The 1969 straight cut is like, my favourite jean ever dudes! I am slowly replacing all my old jeans, getting ready for trip to clothing donation bin. Same as the rest of the stuff I never wear. Spring is coming after all. Anyway, I did a bit a clothes shopping, mostly because the gay salesmen were all over me today, no matter which store I went into. It was like a sign for me, and I don't ignore the signs. See, if the salespeople ignore me, I usually don't bother...but a little encouragement, and my credit card comes right out. Magic. Readers in retail pay attention.
I avoided stores with sales...mostly because it was crap on sale and there were too many icky rude people in there and I am not good at being patient. Instant gratification, that's what it's all about boys and girls!
New clothing urges satisfied, I had one last store to hit. Shopper's Drug Mart. I needed eye make up remover. It's like a $10 purchase or something. And I had to line up behind 20 people to pay for it. 20 people and 2 cashiers. Brilliant. But I'm in no hurry today. So I line up and watch, amused as people see the line up and groan. Some put their items down and just leave. Other's get pissy. A few like me could care less. There was the sweetest little guy waiting in line with his mom just ahead of me. He looked about 3, and his mom was buying him one of those little bundles of lollipops. Can you imagine? And he just stayed with her, never said a word other than to point at the odd item in the aisles as we moved closer to the cashiers. I just smiled.
Finished shopping, my pace was decidedly slower as I pointed my boots towards the mall exit. I took the time to watch people in the mall. An old lady rooting through the garbage bin. Two very large men with muscles bulging from beneath their tight sports T's, touching hands briefly and smiling at one another. A group of teenage girls giggling. A father maneuvering an empty stroller through the crowd with one hand and holding a bundled up baby with the other, determined grimace plastered across his face. Wonder where mom was? heh heh heh...atta girl....
I buttoned up my coat as I stepped outside into the cool air. Casually, slowly, I walked past the Preacher, tempted to shout out an amen brother, just to see what he'd say. I wondered where he'd sleep tonight. I strolled past Buddy in front of the 7 Eleven. "Still here eh brother?" I smiled at him "Still here, still here" he said, smiling. I wondered if he had a family.
I stopped in to Tim Horton's for a double double and sauntered home smiling. I giggled when an impatient driver honked at someone taking too long to cross the street. I like honking too. It grows on you.
Just like this city.
Even on Family Day.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
A Notso Typical Sunday
I hate Sunday nights. It's that really mellow day of the week that I find myself missing having someone around...
SO....
I've taken to getting dressed up city slicker casual, and walking down to the Eaton's Centre to shop for the afternoon.
Then I'll go home, drop off my packages...back down the elevator and head across the street to go to Jack Astor's for that deadly Sesame Chicken stir fry for dinner. And a Jacked Up Wodka. Or two.
I find myself a little booth and hide while I eat...using the time to catch up on phone calls and texts..just saying hello to friends and family back home.
This Sunday had me a little more distracted than normal, as I was wrapped up in thoughts about a dear friend who was diagnosed with cancer. For him, it's the second time he's had it...and at the moment, he's unable to face treatment. I say 'at the moment' because I hope he changes his mind.
As I smile at the waiter bringing my drink, I'm thinking about this man and the fear he's wrestling...the children, the family... I'm thinking about how he wants to disappear down south and die instead of fighting through months of pain, hoping that the treatment cures what ails him.
I'm wondering what I would do if I were in his shoes. I understand being too tired to fight...we all do. And I understand 'why me'...
It's hard to gather why these things happen to good people. And it's my own selfishness that wants to grab a hold of my friend and beg him to stay and fight. But I don't want him to fight for me, or his family...or even his children. If he chooses this battle, it must be for himself and his desire to live..and find happiness.
The waiter brings my dinner and I smile and thank him...he pauses a moment to wink and flirt...which is strange, considering he's flaming gay and beautiful that way...I send him for another drink...
The second drink comes and I am grateful.. Gawd knows the wodka doesn't make the sadness go away..but she helps jest a leeettle...no?
I silently get through not quite half of what was set before me before I push my plate away.
A man wearing a big grin glances my way, pointedly looks at the empty seat across from me and asks if I'm alone.
I shrug and smile...yup.
"Can I join you?" says he.
Why not? Conversation would be nice....
"Sure, that would be nice" says me.
Plate cleared and drinks poured..the fine young gentleman introduces himself with an accent that is familiar but not registering at all.. He no doubt thought me daft...
"Where are you from?" I ask. It's Sunday night football and I lean over the table to hear his reply over the crowd hollering.
"Where do you think?" Says he. Oh...it's gonna be like that is it? Forcing cerebral activity as I sip my third Jacked Up wodka (ps...if it's Jacked Up..it's a double)...
sigh
"Well, from across the pond...England?" I'm sort of with it. See my Speak Canadian blog further down....
"Think bigger pond...further than the Atlantic" he says. This poor lad thought he was in for intelligent conversation but I'm about to disappoint him with my blank stare. Still mentally dragging myself out of the gloomy mood I was in I mumble apologies and shake my head.
"Australia" says he.
The light bulb flickered momentarily over my head.
Knowing the only way to distract him from my apparent temporary (I hope) mental retardation would be to keep him talking, I start firing questions at him.
"Are you here on business? What do you do? How long are you here for?"
The poor man must have been wondering if he should have stayed at the bar. He was witty enough to joke about my questioning and respond with a couple of his own. It wasn't long before the conversation turned to work. I mention that I'm in construction.
"Ah...they just finished a big project in my town" he continues and all I hear is "blahdebo dubai". Dubai...that's familiar...I just got an email about the monstrosity they built in the Middle East..but this dude's from Australia... Oh for the love of gawd did someone suck out my brain when I wasn't looking?? Too much time at the mall???
He cleared up that mystery...he's from Australia but living in Dubai. oooooohhhhh
Just to make me feel a bigger idiot, turns out he's a pilot. He was on stopover... dead tired and just aiming to keep awake for a couple of hours so as to get a good night's sleep before he took off again on another 13 hour flight.
Once again I refer to my blog about speaking Canadian. When he mentioned the airline he worked for, I drew a blank. I'm fricking brilliant on the fly at times.
"Is that a small airline?" says me.
He just about choked on his beer.
At some point he must have figured out that his new drink mate was a tad slow, and it might be best to use pictures and small words. He kindly got out his IPhone and showed me the LUXURY plane he flies for Emirates by the way...for crissake ..could I be any kewler dude?? I flipped through a dozen beautiful destinations I can only dream of seeing someday... This man has seen the world..
Pause to chew lip before continuing...
I'm not sure when it happened, but the conversation turned religious. He is an atheist and I am a Christian. I still, by the way, find his belief that when he dies, he will simply be gone..well...sad. I like believing in something better, in knowing in my heart that someday we will find peace.
And this belief is what carries me though my shittiest days...and certainly is what gives me hope for my dear friend. No matter what he chooses.
I think my drinking companion and I were both ready to throw in the towel at the same time, and knowing we were both tired and had put our best social foot forward for a couple of hours, we parted ways friends.
I trudge across the street in the light drizzle. Smiled and gave the security guards a cheerful good night.
Crawled into bed, tired and worried.
Hoping that my friend finds peace, no matter what he decides.
SO....
I've taken to getting dressed up city slicker casual, and walking down to the Eaton's Centre to shop for the afternoon.
Then I'll go home, drop off my packages...back down the elevator and head across the street to go to Jack Astor's for that deadly Sesame Chicken stir fry for dinner. And a Jacked Up Wodka. Or two.
I find myself a little booth and hide while I eat...using the time to catch up on phone calls and texts..just saying hello to friends and family back home.
This Sunday had me a little more distracted than normal, as I was wrapped up in thoughts about a dear friend who was diagnosed with cancer. For him, it's the second time he's had it...and at the moment, he's unable to face treatment. I say 'at the moment' because I hope he changes his mind.
As I smile at the waiter bringing my drink, I'm thinking about this man and the fear he's wrestling...the children, the family... I'm thinking about how he wants to disappear down south and die instead of fighting through months of pain, hoping that the treatment cures what ails him.
I'm wondering what I would do if I were in his shoes. I understand being too tired to fight...we all do. And I understand 'why me'...
It's hard to gather why these things happen to good people. And it's my own selfishness that wants to grab a hold of my friend and beg him to stay and fight. But I don't want him to fight for me, or his family...or even his children. If he chooses this battle, it must be for himself and his desire to live..and find happiness.
The waiter brings my dinner and I smile and thank him...he pauses a moment to wink and flirt...which is strange, considering he's flaming gay and beautiful that way...I send him for another drink...
The second drink comes and I am grateful.. Gawd knows the wodka doesn't make the sadness go away..but she helps jest a leeettle...no?
I silently get through not quite half of what was set before me before I push my plate away.
A man wearing a big grin glances my way, pointedly looks at the empty seat across from me and asks if I'm alone.
I shrug and smile...yup.
"Can I join you?" says he.
Why not? Conversation would be nice....
"Sure, that would be nice" says me.
Plate cleared and drinks poured..the fine young gentleman introduces himself with an accent that is familiar but not registering at all.. He no doubt thought me daft...
"Where are you from?" I ask. It's Sunday night football and I lean over the table to hear his reply over the crowd hollering.
"Where do you think?" Says he. Oh...it's gonna be like that is it? Forcing cerebral activity as I sip my third Jacked Up wodka (ps...if it's Jacked Up..it's a double)...
sigh
"Well, from across the pond...England?" I'm sort of with it. See my Speak Canadian blog further down....
"Think bigger pond...further than the Atlantic" he says. This poor lad thought he was in for intelligent conversation but I'm about to disappoint him with my blank stare. Still mentally dragging myself out of the gloomy mood I was in I mumble apologies and shake my head.
"Australia" says he.
The light bulb flickered momentarily over my head.
Knowing the only way to distract him from my apparent temporary (I hope) mental retardation would be to keep him talking, I start firing questions at him.
"Are you here on business? What do you do? How long are you here for?"
The poor man must have been wondering if he should have stayed at the bar. He was witty enough to joke about my questioning and respond with a couple of his own. It wasn't long before the conversation turned to work. I mention that I'm in construction.
"Ah...they just finished a big project in my town" he continues and all I hear is "blahdebo dubai". Dubai...that's familiar...I just got an email about the monstrosity they built in the Middle East..but this dude's from Australia... Oh for the love of gawd did someone suck out my brain when I wasn't looking?? Too much time at the mall???
He cleared up that mystery...he's from Australia but living in Dubai. oooooohhhhh
Just to make me feel a bigger idiot, turns out he's a pilot. He was on stopover... dead tired and just aiming to keep awake for a couple of hours so as to get a good night's sleep before he took off again on another 13 hour flight.
Once again I refer to my blog about speaking Canadian. When he mentioned the airline he worked for, I drew a blank. I'm fricking brilliant on the fly at times.
"Is that a small airline?" says me.
He just about choked on his beer.
At some point he must have figured out that his new drink mate was a tad slow, and it might be best to use pictures and small words. He kindly got out his IPhone and showed me the LUXURY plane he flies for Emirates by the way...for crissake ..could I be any kewler dude?? I flipped through a dozen beautiful destinations I can only dream of seeing someday... This man has seen the world..
Pause to chew lip before continuing...
I'm not sure when it happened, but the conversation turned religious. He is an atheist and I am a Christian. I still, by the way, find his belief that when he dies, he will simply be gone..well...sad. I like believing in something better, in knowing in my heart that someday we will find peace.
And this belief is what carries me though my shittiest days...and certainly is what gives me hope for my dear friend. No matter what he chooses.
I think my drinking companion and I were both ready to throw in the towel at the same time, and knowing we were both tired and had put our best social foot forward for a couple of hours, we parted ways friends.
I trudge across the street in the light drizzle. Smiled and gave the security guards a cheerful good night.
Crawled into bed, tired and worried.
Hoping that my friend finds peace, no matter what he decides.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Another weekend...
I'm gonna give y'all the lowdown on this cool chick's weekend (sputter, cough, gag)...
Friday, I was stood up...yet again...by cute boy mentioned a gazillion blogs ago... What makes me particularly pathetic folks...is that this bloke has either stood me up or cancelled on me approximately 8 out of 10 dates. So while I blissfully made it to date 2...I'm thinking that's all folks. Yeah...I'm slow... Sigh...just kept hoping he was telling the truth ... It's so hard to find a dude I'm actually attracted to dammit!!
Ah well...I finished the first Twilight book. Listened to some Guns N Roses...was feeling all melancholy and shit...Don't Cry gets me everytime! I'm such a sap :) Fell asleep on the couch wrapped in a blanket my mom made me for my birthday...
Saturday morning I coloured my hair. My sister sent me a box of hair colour for Christmas, and I have to say, that while I appreciated the practicality of the gift, and the intent that I spend some time pampering myself, it definitely rates as one of the oddest gifts ever received for Christmas. Not the oddest...that prize goes to Nona Stravato... Each year she gave practical gifts too... like a jumbo box of baby wipes...or saran wrap...once even, a jumbo box of black garbage bags... It's all good though and it made me smile, which is what I suspect my sister thought it would do. Within a couple of hours I was transformed into hot mahogany brown cherry highlighted momma...
And then the boys showed up with XX. I had purchased the three of them tickets to Monster Jam truck rally for Christmas..and tonight was the night. The plan was they would hang out with me throughout the day..go to the truck show (dirt and noise...yay) and then sleep over. XX in the roomate's bed and the boys, dismissing the normal beds I usually make up for them, insisted on sleeping with me. God bless their cotton socks.
Side note...I kicked ass in the kitchen that day!! I love cooking for other people and so I whipped up this fantastic brunch...biscuits, bacon, plain scrambled eggs for boys and a scrambled egg experiment that was fanfrickintastic! Try using red pepper garlic oil...saute ham and onion, add beaten eggs and stir 'till cooked, then add mozzarella cheese...voila! Heaven! For supper I made my famous Sheppard's Pie..and I'm not sharing the recipe. plththtth
Sigh...I miss having people to cook for :(
Throughout the day the boys played with the Wii. Words will never quite give justice to what I witness when these two little monkeys are boxing each other. Not really having a clue what they are supposed to be doing, they both frantically shake the handheld remotes and nunchucks while doing this funky chicken dance...but they are quite serious. And much to Saminator's very open dismay, Red usually beats the crap out him. That kid is vicious my friends! The best part is the celebration at the end...hands in the air, butt waggin...dancing in circles...
Nah..they aren't too competitive....
So Saturday night as I waited for the boys to get home, I read a little, played around on the computer...and watched Bridget Jones on TV. As if I need anymore depressing truths on dating....
Boys came home...put them in my bed, went back to movie.
Now, Imma need to skip the next half hour because I donna wanna vent here... suffice it to say my XX is a jackass. End of brief episode.
Into bed I crawl with 2 sleeping angels. Listened to grinding teeth (oh me nerves), fought suffocation throughout night as the older one likes to throw arms and legs and half his body over me as if I'm just a lump in the bed...the little one peed and wasn't wearing a pullup (oh that was so not cool dude)...I removed feet from my ass, took a few elbows to the boobs...it was a GREAT sleep! LOL... But when I look at those peaceful little faces I really could care less about that...I miss them :)
So this morning, they were up and away for Saminator's hockey game back in Brantford for 8...and I had a day to myself, at home.
I hopped in the shower anticipating the arrival of the cleaning lady, Lisa at around 8...wanting to be out of her way. I had pee to wash out of my bedding and wanted to bake a bit before doing a bit of shopping. All of this I did. PS cookies went for shit. Don't leave to cool for 3 hours whilst shopping...especially if they all kinda baked into each other. Ended up breaking many of them as I removed them from my Pampered Chef baking sheet. They are now saddest looking cookies on planet.
And I lost my train of thought again....
Oh yeah...
It was nice to finally chat with Lisa .. usually I'm not home when she gets there. I think I may have found a new friend here in this big ole city. She's a lovely lady about my age who came to Toronto from Grenada. She's beautiful, single, levelheaded and hardworking. She could care less about finding a man, says it's not stopping her from doin' her ting... My kinda chicklet. :) Will have to have that girl over for movies, pizza and ice cream soon!
So really...it was a strange weekend... Started out a little disappointing but ended nicely.
And here I am, Sunday evening. Most dreaded night of the week for Singleton, if I may steal from my friend Bridget.
Here's to smiling, hoping and keeping da faith :)
Friday, I was stood up...yet again...by cute boy mentioned a gazillion blogs ago... What makes me particularly pathetic folks...is that this bloke has either stood me up or cancelled on me approximately 8 out of 10 dates. So while I blissfully made it to date 2...I'm thinking that's all folks. Yeah...I'm slow... Sigh...just kept hoping he was telling the truth ... It's so hard to find a dude I'm actually attracted to dammit!!
Ah well...I finished the first Twilight book. Listened to some Guns N Roses...was feeling all melancholy and shit...Don't Cry gets me everytime! I'm such a sap :) Fell asleep on the couch wrapped in a blanket my mom made me for my birthday...
Saturday morning I coloured my hair. My sister sent me a box of hair colour for Christmas, and I have to say, that while I appreciated the practicality of the gift, and the intent that I spend some time pampering myself, it definitely rates as one of the oddest gifts ever received for Christmas. Not the oddest...that prize goes to Nona Stravato... Each year she gave practical gifts too... like a jumbo box of baby wipes...or saran wrap...once even, a jumbo box of black garbage bags... It's all good though and it made me smile, which is what I suspect my sister thought it would do. Within a couple of hours I was transformed into hot mahogany brown cherry highlighted momma...
And then the boys showed up with XX. I had purchased the three of them tickets to Monster Jam truck rally for Christmas..and tonight was the night. The plan was they would hang out with me throughout the day..go to the truck show (dirt and noise...yay) and then sleep over. XX in the roomate's bed and the boys, dismissing the normal beds I usually make up for them, insisted on sleeping with me. God bless their cotton socks.
Side note...I kicked ass in the kitchen that day!! I love cooking for other people and so I whipped up this fantastic brunch...biscuits, bacon, plain scrambled eggs for boys and a scrambled egg experiment that was fanfrickintastic! Try using red pepper garlic oil...saute ham and onion, add beaten eggs and stir 'till cooked, then add mozzarella cheese...voila! Heaven! For supper I made my famous Sheppard's Pie..and I'm not sharing the recipe. plththtth
Sigh...I miss having people to cook for :(
Throughout the day the boys played with the Wii. Words will never quite give justice to what I witness when these two little monkeys are boxing each other. Not really having a clue what they are supposed to be doing, they both frantically shake the handheld remotes and nunchucks while doing this funky chicken dance...but they are quite serious. And much to Saminator's very open dismay, Red usually beats the crap out him. That kid is vicious my friends! The best part is the celebration at the end...hands in the air, butt waggin...dancing in circles...
Nah..they aren't too competitive....
So Saturday night as I waited for the boys to get home, I read a little, played around on the computer...and watched Bridget Jones on TV. As if I need anymore depressing truths on dating....
Boys came home...put them in my bed, went back to movie.
Now, Imma need to skip the next half hour because I donna wanna vent here... suffice it to say my XX is a jackass. End of brief episode.
Into bed I crawl with 2 sleeping angels. Listened to grinding teeth (oh me nerves), fought suffocation throughout night as the older one likes to throw arms and legs and half his body over me as if I'm just a lump in the bed...the little one peed and wasn't wearing a pullup (oh that was so not cool dude)...I removed feet from my ass, took a few elbows to the boobs...it was a GREAT sleep! LOL... But when I look at those peaceful little faces I really could care less about that...I miss them :)
So this morning, they were up and away for Saminator's hockey game back in Brantford for 8...and I had a day to myself, at home.
I hopped in the shower anticipating the arrival of the cleaning lady, Lisa at around 8...wanting to be out of her way. I had pee to wash out of my bedding and wanted to bake a bit before doing a bit of shopping. All of this I did. PS cookies went for shit. Don't leave to cool for 3 hours whilst shopping...especially if they all kinda baked into each other. Ended up breaking many of them as I removed them from my Pampered Chef baking sheet. They are now saddest looking cookies on planet.
And I lost my train of thought again....
Oh yeah...
It was nice to finally chat with Lisa .. usually I'm not home when she gets there. I think I may have found a new friend here in this big ole city. She's a lovely lady about my age who came to Toronto from Grenada. She's beautiful, single, levelheaded and hardworking. She could care less about finding a man, says it's not stopping her from doin' her ting... My kinda chicklet. :) Will have to have that girl over for movies, pizza and ice cream soon!
So really...it was a strange weekend... Started out a little disappointing but ended nicely.
And here I am, Sunday evening. Most dreaded night of the week for Singleton, if I may steal from my friend Bridget.
Here's to smiling, hoping and keeping da faith :)
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