The nice thing about living in the suburbs (now my Toronto friends will say that St Clair is not the suburbs, but it feels like it many days) on a quiet, deadend street is that there are birds.

This week alone I've seen a big fat robin hopping along the ground - is it our robins or the British ones that hop? - anyway it was on the grass, not at all disturbed by the war zone of children's toys left by my neighbours' children - and a very large blue jay. Maybe they stood out being so colourful in what is still a very dark and grey "spring", but anyway it was a treat for me in this city to see them.

There is also another bird of some sort that I hear every morning that sounds something like a car alarm going off. I've not been able to identify this bird, but I have determined that it is in fact a bird and not a car alarm - but it's that loud and consistent in its song. Wakes me up for sure...

So many things to rant about...

It seems like a ranty kind of day...

I could rant on Canada Post delivering a piece of mail to me OPENED that had gone to my old address - which I still have a change of address on by the way - with Not at this Address written on it so I guess they delivered it there first. God knows at what point in time it was opened.

I could rant about the TTC who had a line of SIX streetcars and about a million passengers tonight at St Clair W because, and I quote, "they couldn't find an operator" so the first streetcar was blocking all the others. How did it get there in the first place without a driver?

Oh and this wasn't information that they were sharing with the million passengers waiting (in very orderly lines). No, it was only when some guy in a relatively official looking EMS uniform asked that they said what was going on.

Maybe it was the constant concrete drilling outside my office all day that has lead me to feeling slightly cranky. But I don't know - TTC and Canada Post, the bar isn't set very high...

My lovely friend and blogger:

http://misstraceynolan.blogspot.com/

awarded moi a Stylish Blogger award! You can see the link if you go to her page.

Guess that means I have to post more...(I've been very lazy). I think that really my Stylish-ness applies to my posts from DC. Lately, I just post about soup. Not so stylish. I used to be somebody. Sigh.

This past Sunday in DC was the annual Spring Gala (Gail-a). When I saw friends posting about it on Facebook I thought "it's too early to be the Gala!". But nope. It's the prime cherry blossom viewing week. It's 20C in DC. It's just when I was there, it had been 20C for so long already that you forget that the somewhat northern climes do not get such spring weather. Yeah that's right. What did it do here on Sunday? Snow. Something about these turn of events seem unfair...

A bird pooped on me yesterday which I figure considering it was a Landmark Birthday, must be a sign of extra good luck. I am considering my Lotto Max options...

So far, being on the other side of a shockingly large number is just fine.

Yesterday was a full yet stress free day. Technically I had the day off, but had to go to the hospital for our monthly performance series. Not only did we have a few of the older folk dancing in the Atrium (and how can your day not be brightened by that sight in the middle of a hospital), a friend had flowers delivered to me while I was standing there. Kudos to that flower shop for finding me in the middle of a hospital when I'm not even an employee there! And when does that happen when you aren't on a reality TV show??

A good friend hosted a party where other good friends came and we had wine and ate cupcakes and various delicious dips. Such a lovely night.

And today I started by eating a cupcake -so that's only a good thing.

So far this new decade is indeed fabulous :-)

Joining Fever

I've decided to do the things that make Toronto a cool place to live. In January I become a member of TIFF (the Toronto International Film Festival). They opened their new building in the fall and the membership gives you discounts on films (largely documentaries and strange foreign films - some of my favourites) and free entry to special exhibits etc.

It's funny, as a theatre person, I've not had a subscription to a theatre in years (I was a Tarragon subscriber for a couple of years when I lived on Dupont), but would happily subscribe to a couple of the film festivals here. In part I felt it was important to support TIFF in their first year with a building and I just like their programming too.

Today I was a bit extravagant. As a Landmark Birthday is approaching, I decided to splurge and give myself a membership to the Toronto Temperance Society. I was lucky enough to visit it a few weeks ago with a friend who is a member and I just loved the vibe of the place. It is a private members club/bar which is basically set in Prohibition Era Toronto. The look of the place from what the bartenders wear to the music and the wallpaper all fits. The cocktails are all era appropriate and delicious. The rules of membership are also so civilized. No cellphones. No one under the age of 25. It just felt like somewhere I wanted to support. Plus the first time I was there was after seeing a concert at the Drake - the concert was amazing despite the crowd, who were not. The TS just seemed like an oasis of sanity afterwards.

I also figure I spend money on much more ridiculous things that I won't enjoy as much so why not? (I'm worth it :) )

More soup!

Apparently that's what I post about these days....
I had this delicious soup when visiting Oakville this past weekend and I have been thinking about trying to recreate it all week. Tonight is my first attempt.
It smells right so that's a good start....

It's basically a bunch of vegetables to which I will be adding cheese tortellini. Essentially it is just a vehicle to eat cheese tortellini and not feel guilty about it. However I have realized that I don't have the yummy Belgian bread that was consumed on Sunday. Boo. I think it won't be nearly as good without it...

Seriously, the next place I live is going to have its own laundry!!