We're on our way home last night after seeing a great (read: funny) stand-up comedy show. In the subway station, we get in line to ride the streetcar to our hostel.
Four minutes to go.
I discover I'm not holding a token in my hand, and can't recall putting it in my pockets. I start digging around in them, just in case. I look over, horrified. I lost my token! How am I going to get on the streetcar without payment?
He starts looking too, but can't find his either.
After several long seconds of searching,
"Oh yeah! We used them to get into the Metro station!"
Pause.
Then, "I wish we were drunk, and not sober. Then we'd have an excuse."
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
How To: Buy Flip Flops in Chinatown
Walking home through Chinatown, Toronto.
We're discussing the differences between Chinatown in Toronto and Chinatown in L.A. The main one being, the latter is no place to be at night. Whereas in the former, you can still buy flip flops after the sun goes down in the summer. On the sidewalk. For $4 Canadian.
Yes, we stopped by an array of flipflip flops, all plastic, in blues, browns and black. Tried many pairs on, for several minutes, in the middle of the sidewalk, by putting the foot down on the shoe, socks included.
Classy.
We're discussing the differences between Chinatown in Toronto and Chinatown in L.A. The main one being, the latter is no place to be at night. Whereas in the former, you can still buy flip flops after the sun goes down in the summer. On the sidewalk. For $4 Canadian.
Yes, we stopped by an array of flip
Classy.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Toronto, Take 2: Finding a Place to Stay
So I'm back in Toronto - this time to work seriously and diligently on finding a place to live while I study here (note: so far, some very good-looking opportunities!)
No mishaps or adventures getting to the hostel, but once we got there... well, it was friendly, like Fodor's says, but Fodor's fails to mention the crookedness of all the walls and doors and moldings in the building - crookednesses that don't even have matching angles! Supposedly there are free pancake breakfasts, which is something to look forward to. Sleeping well will be a different matter unless the temperature falls sometime in the evening, as the room is stuffy, and the window very small.
Oh, hostels...
No mishaps or adventures getting to the hostel, but once we got there... well, it was friendly, like Fodor's says, but Fodor's fails to mention the crookedness of all the walls and doors and moldings in the building - crookednesses that don't even have matching angles! Supposedly there are free pancake breakfasts, which is something to look forward to. Sleeping well will be a different matter unless the temperature falls sometime in the evening, as the room is stuffy, and the window very small.
Oh, hostels...
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Before Summer Passes into Fall: Scrumptious Quinoa Salad Recipe
Quinoa Salad
Ingredients:
Quinoa
Lemon juice
Olive oil
Cucumber
Cherry (or other) tomatoes
Kalamata olives
Coriander (Cilantro)
Feta cheese
- Start with the above and add any others you like. For instance, I added red bell pepper this last time around.
1. Cook quinoa according to package directions (it's like couscous, only it takes a little longer)
Meanwhile:
2. Cut up cucumbers (I cut them into half moons; you can peel it if you like)
3. Cut cherry tomatoes in half (or larger tomatoes into roughly the same size as your cucumber moons)
4. Cut up any other veggies you're adding to the recipe.
5. Chop very roughly your coriander/cilantro. I usually try to cut the leaves in half and to leave off stems, because the stems are not fun to chew.
6. Pit and cut the olives (same size as your veggies). Do you know the trick of pushing down on the olive with your thumb till it splits? If not, try it. It's fun and easy.
Chill veggies, coriander and quinoa. You don't have to chill the veggies if you cut them when the quinoa is cold so you can just add them right away. Also, the salad might taste good hot, too, if you're impatient or hungry or short on time.
7. Sprinkle lemon juice and olive oil over the quinoa, and stir until you think it's mixed through.
8. Mix in the veggies and coriander.
9 Crumble the feta and mix that in, too.
Ingredients:
Quinoa
Lemon juice
Olive oil
Cucumber
Cherry (or other) tomatoes
Kalamata olives
Coriander (Cilantro)
Feta cheese
- Start with the above and add any others you like. For instance, I added red bell pepper this last time around.
1. Cook quinoa according to package directions (it's like couscous, only it takes a little longer)
Meanwhile:
2. Cut up cucumbers (I cut them into half moons; you can peel it if you like)
3. Cut cherry tomatoes in half (or larger tomatoes into roughly the same size as your cucumber moons)
4. Cut up any other veggies you're adding to the recipe.
5. Chop very roughly your coriander/cilantro. I usually try to cut the leaves in half and to leave off stems, because the stems are not fun to chew.
6. Pit and cut the olives (same size as your veggies). Do you know the trick of pushing down on the olive with your thumb till it splits? If not, try it. It's fun and easy.
Chill veggies, coriander and quinoa. You don't have to chill the veggies if you cut them when the quinoa is cold so you can just add them right away. Also, the salad might taste good hot, too, if you're impatient or hungry or short on time.
7. Sprinkle lemon juice and olive oil over the quinoa, and stir until you think it's mixed through.
8. Mix in the veggies and coriander.
9 Crumble the feta and mix that in, too.
To Remember: Autumn Visits Summer, June 2010
Yesterday was the first really hot day in the past week. Now the entire east coast is engaged in battle with a nearly record-breaking heat wave.
But four days ago (all timeframes and dates approximate), the mid-Atlantic region felt like Autumn had arrived early. Meaning I got even more restless, bored, irritable, and itchy to be outside. (Note: the downside to not having a day job is not necessarily having anything to do during the day. That, or I'm more lazy than adventurous.) Eventually, a few days later, I believe Thursday, I managed to get up early enough to drive to Great Falls Park and view the amazing falls from the three observation decks, and hike the River Trail. This trail is rocky, slightly hilly, and in places comes perilously close to the cliff edge. I witnessed a kayak practice, where kayakers crossed the river in the up- and downstream directions, caught a glimpse of climbers ascending the cliffside (shudder) and passed several groups of hikers, like me.
Great Falls passes ($5 for one private vehicle) last three days. Counting the day you pay for the pass, the first Park Ranger was careful to tell me. So two days later I went back, this time with the madre, and to hike a section of the Swamp Trail, which is more interesting, nature-wise, and quieter, people-wise, than the River Trail. Though more poorly marked. That day marked the return of summer heat and humidity.
This whole cool week, the breeze blew, mornings were chilly, the days full of sunshine, and nights downright cold. We left the windows open and my winter down comforter became a necessary comfort. The air even smelled like fall. I miss it already. I long for the apple cider, apple pie and pumpkins, the bright and deep color of the leaves, the scent of autumn, the crisp mornings and cool evenings, the light layers that make being outside comfortable. All the best holidays are in the fall, too. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and just into winter, Christmas. Hot chocolate, hot soups, baked squash and potatoes. Warm boots, that puff of cloud on the breath.
Fall has always meant new beginnings to me. I loved shopping for the First Day of School Outfit. The plastic smell of new school supplies. The excitement, that first day, of learning new things and getting back into the habit of organizing notes and binders and figuring out classes.
I don't want to miss what summer has to offer, but I can't help looking forward to September.
But four days ago (all timeframes and dates approximate), the mid-Atlantic region felt like Autumn had arrived early. Meaning I got even more restless, bored, irritable, and itchy to be outside. (Note: the downside to not having a day job is not necessarily having anything to do during the day. That, or I'm more lazy than adventurous.) Eventually, a few days later, I believe Thursday, I managed to get up early enough to drive to Great Falls Park and view the amazing falls from the three observation decks, and hike the River Trail. This trail is rocky, slightly hilly, and in places comes perilously close to the cliff edge. I witnessed a kayak practice, where kayakers crossed the river in the up- and downstream directions, caught a glimpse of climbers ascending the cliffside (shudder) and passed several groups of hikers, like me.
Great Falls passes ($5 for one private vehicle) last three days. Counting the day you pay for the pass, the first Park Ranger was careful to tell me. So two days later I went back, this time with the madre, and to hike a section of the Swamp Trail, which is more interesting, nature-wise, and quieter, people-wise, than the River Trail. Though more poorly marked. That day marked the return of summer heat and humidity.
This whole cool week, the breeze blew, mornings were chilly, the days full of sunshine, and nights downright cold. We left the windows open and my winter down comforter became a necessary comfort. The air even smelled like fall. I miss it already. I long for the apple cider, apple pie and pumpkins, the bright and deep color of the leaves, the scent of autumn, the crisp mornings and cool evenings, the light layers that make being outside comfortable. All the best holidays are in the fall, too. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and just into winter, Christmas. Hot chocolate, hot soups, baked squash and potatoes. Warm boots, that puff of cloud on the breath.
Fall has always meant new beginnings to me. I loved shopping for the First Day of School Outfit. The plastic smell of new school supplies. The excitement, that first day, of learning new things and getting back into the habit of organizing notes and binders and figuring out classes.
I don't want to miss what summer has to offer, but I can't help looking forward to September.
Blah, blah, I'm stressed, blah, blah blah.
Looks like I fell off the back of the wagon again. Or whatever the appropriate cliche is for forgetting to write (or just stopping, without the excuse of forgetting).
I've been collecting, printing, and filling out all sorts of paperwork to register for a Master's of Information Science. There have been deep ruts, large obstacles and plenty of hopeful rebounds. I don't want to delve into the details, but right now I'm feeling cautiously hopeful (again) that things will work out.
In one day and a few hours, I'll be on my way back to Toronto, this time with my brother, to visit, tour, remove some obstacles and fill in some ruts (or at least learn how), and search for a dwelling. I'm not sure which is more worrisome, as both of the last two activities are equally important to my future in that Canadian city. Meeting my brother on the plane will be fun. It's been seven years since I've traveled with anyone.
Today I learned that being anxious or feeling stressed about something decreases one's ability to concentrate - on anything but the cause of the anxiety and stress. Not that I needed to be told that. It's pretty self-evident about 9 months out of the year. But now I know there's research behind it that says that everybody else does it, too. Anyways, I'm trying to ACT, instead of THINK, about the stressers (stressors?) - Causes of stress - in my current situation. Hence the avoidance of details. I also read recently, and this has stuck with me so far, about the motto: "fix it." I.e. Just do it. (Side note: All of the above wisdom comes from Real Simple magazine, aside from the last sentence, which is quite obviously Nike's.)
I realize this is pretty much meaningless blather, but writing is cathartic, and I happened to have my computer on my lap instead of my journal, which I temporarily have no intention of locating.
I've been collecting, printing, and filling out all sorts of paperwork to register for a Master's of Information Science. There have been deep ruts, large obstacles and plenty of hopeful rebounds. I don't want to delve into the details, but right now I'm feeling cautiously hopeful (again) that things will work out.
In one day and a few hours, I'll be on my way back to Toronto, this time with my brother, to visit, tour, remove some obstacles and fill in some ruts (or at least learn how), and search for a dwelling. I'm not sure which is more worrisome, as both of the last two activities are equally important to my future in that Canadian city. Meeting my brother on the plane will be fun. It's been seven years since I've traveled with anyone.
Today I learned that being anxious or feeling stressed about something decreases one's ability to concentrate - on anything but the cause of the anxiety and stress. Not that I needed to be told that. It's pretty self-evident about 9 months out of the year. But now I know there's research behind it that says that everybody else does it, too. Anyways, I'm trying to ACT, instead of THINK, about the stressers (stressors?) - Causes of stress - in my current situation. Hence the avoidance of details. I also read recently, and this has stuck with me so far, about the motto: "fix it." I.e. Just do it. (Side note: All of the above wisdom comes from Real Simple magazine, aside from the last sentence, which is quite obviously Nike's.)
I realize this is pretty much meaningless blather, but writing is cathartic, and I happened to have my computer on my lap instead of my journal, which I temporarily have no intention of locating.
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