Jam For Breakfast

Every morning I walk Wendy to the music building at UofT. Once I'm in her office, I sit down at her grand piano and play Kids by MGMT, then she kicks me out (soft shoe). It's part of a very pleasant daily routine.

When Art Fetches A Good Price

This intelligent piece of art was on a wall in the music building at York University. It was large, about twenty feet across.

What a great way to use old balls that are kicking around in everyone's garages.

Re-use. Re-cycle. Re-ally clever.

William, Or Bill, It Was Really Something

There are a lot of clever people in Toronto, but the mastermind behind this 'art installation' is the big kahuna of them all. It combines simple art, a clever idea, wicked humour and a brilliant (likely nocturnal) execution in a very public place.

Every morning I walk Wendy to work. As we traverse the city we take the lesser known Breadalbane street between Yonge and Bay streets. Along this street is a contentious area where a developer wants to put up more condos. The people want a park. The area, a scant few acres in size, is surrounded by plywood boards in order to keep people and their dogs out.

The developer sees an opportunity for profit. The local residents see an opportunity for a much needed green space. The artist sees an opportunity to lighten the mood. Every morning I smile when I see this, and it's with much appreciation that I thank the artist. I'm half tempted to add 'my own Bill' to the wall, but I don't want to get arrested for public mischief. Sorry, Dad.

Ah...To Be A Twenty Year Old Dope Fiend

So some research institute is going to pay 19 and 20 year-old man/boys to smoke dope and play in a state-of-the-art driving simulator.

The kids of today are spoiled. We never had opportunities like this when I was a 19 year-old man/boy.

This city of Toronto really has something for everyone, from tranny hookers to pot smokers troubled by parallel parking!

Cryptic Clue: One Dope Fiend (3)

I saw this sculpture by artist Evan Penny at the Art Gallery of Ontario. I added the joint because it made the subject resemble someone who I know, except my friend doesn't have a rat tail.

This image will loosely be related to my next blog post. How exciting...a two part blog post that will mystify everyone but Julian (who represents 50% of my viewing audience).

Tranny Hookers: Now Available In Tall

The other night I went for a walk to meet Wendy. Not twenty seconds away from my condo I came across a creature that was, well, rather odd looking. He or she was as tall as me, heavier set, with a ravine of cleavage and an outfit that surely was stolen from Elvira herself.

Different strokes for different folks.

When I arrived at UofT to meet Wendy, I told her about my sighting. Wendy said 'tranny'. She explained that the cleavage was likely the result of some silicon augmentation.

This was my first 'tranny' sighting.

The other night I was walking back to the condo and while following a guy and girl on my street, I happened to overhear their conversation...

Guy: if you're looking for a tranny hooker, then this is a good street to find one on.

Girl: (giggle) Oh, I don't think I want one.

It was an enlightening moment for me: living in the gaybourhood, dodging tranny hookers. I remember the  old days of Toronto in the late 1980s when you could find good old fashioned hookers on Jarvis Street. I wonder what has happened to this city?? It's time to turn the clocks back to a gentler time.

Santa The Brave

Dressed in red and masquerading as festive Christmas revelers, the Scottish pipe band somehow manages to secure a place in Toronto's annual Santa Claus Parade. Though not what I'd call 'Christmassy', I'd take a gaggle of haggis squeezing bagpipers any day over Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas. Auch aye!

Graffiti And Me

I love graffiti. In fact, I can't understand why someone doesn't paint an entire office complex or condo tower in graffiti-like style. It would look amazing!

Most of the buildings I see are boring beyond belief. Whites and greys predominantly. They make me long for the  happy jellybean houses that dot the islands of Madeleine.

Kahlo Thoughts: Is It A Mono-brow or a Uni-brow?

Two days ago I went to the AGO, otherwise known as the Art Gallery of Ontario. It had been at least twenty years since my last visit. There have been big changes at the AGO and it's now very impressive indeed.

I was fortunate enough to visit the gallery during an exhibition of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera paintings. If you don't know much about this pair of artists, suffice to say that one of them has bushy eyebrows and a moustache, and the other is her husband.

Ouch.

There's a cruel irony in that this exhibit coincides with Movember. God? Are you listening? Why not strike me with lightning today. Right now. Let's just get it over with.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

In A Dusty Old Hall In Toronto They Play

Wayne Gretzky and a beaver walk into a Tim Horton's. Wayne tries to order a double-double and pay for it with Canadian Tire money. The cashier, who happens to be the ghost of Mila Mulroney's shoe collection, tells Wayne that he has to pay with loonies or dubloonies (toonies). Wayne apologizes profusely and then hands over an envelop full of of coins. He then orders a maple glazed donut to go with his coffee. This is a Canadian moment, but last night was no less Canadian...

Wendy and I heard Gordon Lightfoot perform at Massey Hall in Toronto on a crisp November evening. It doesn't get much more Canadian than that, eh?

If I Ever Go Back To School...

Evil Media Studies??

Of course I have no intention of ever going back to university, except perhaps to accept my honorary doctorate in Leisure Studies. But, if I had to, I'd go back to the University of Toronto's Pontifical Institute Of Mediaeval Studies. I haven't got the foggiest idea what they do there, and likely neither do the students nor the professors. I just like the idea of telling friends that I'm at the Pontifical Institute.

The New Face Of Fifty

Dame Edna...is that you?

Yesterday was Wendy's 50th birthday. One of the highlights was arriving to her office and finding it 'redecorated': streamers, balloons, horns, buttons, tinsel, signage, over-sized glasses...it was all there!

A riot, but not a quiet riot. It was the devious work of her trumpeteer/colleague/friend Gill. There were 30 or so balloons in Wendy's office, inflated by Gill's wind ensemble students. Who better??

This morning Wendy has settled into being 50. She seems much the same. No crying. No wailing. She has yet to fling herself to the floor. I think the fifties may agree with her. She'll have ten years to give them a try.

Toronto Time Lapse - Condo View

Ten hours of Toronto compressed into 22 seconds. Again, it's the view from our condo. I was hoping for more blue skies and fluffy, fast moving clouds but all I got was grey skies. I'll try again. It could be interesting on a snowy day too.

The View (Toronto edition)

The View

This is the view we have from the 20th floor of our Toronto condo. It's quite 'lovely'. It looks particularly nice in the twilight. Yesterday afternoon I was watching hawks soaring high above, not sure what type of hawks though.