Thoughts of Home

It was a grey, dreary day when I headed into the city this morning.

It was a grey, dreary day when I walked to the local Tim Hortons this evening.

I don't really mind. Grey, dreary days remind me of home -- or at least, they remind me of what I tell people is home. They remind me of Vancouver.

Vancouver is not really my home. It's not where I was born and raised. It is where I attended university. It is where I lived a substantial part of my life. It is where my family lives. Vancouver is a nice enough city, but it isn't really home. Then again, no one place feels like home to me, except maybe for Canada itself.

I suppose that home is where my books are. Perhaps home is simply where I am at the moment. Today, home is Toronto. Ten years ago, home was Vancouver. Thirty years ago, home was Nebraska. Forty years ago, home was Saskatchewan. Who know what will be home in ten year's time and does it really matter?

But still, today the grey, dreary weather reminded me of Vancouver and I heard a siren calling out, beckoning me to return to my so-called home. I am like the geese that have started to fill the skies as they journey from southlands to northern nesting grounds. There is something drawing me west.

I Am Gob-Smacked

I just watched American Idol for the first time since the "humiliation round" ended. I now understand what people are talking about when they refer to Sanjaya. Or rather, I know what they are talking about -- I will probably never understand.

The Great Adventure: Episode 3

I am back from my trip to the travel clinic. As I feared, I received yet another injection -- this time for yellow fever. I also had a skin test for tuberculosis. I only have two more sets of shots to take prior to leaving, which is good because I am starting to feel like a human voodoo doll.

Great Sports Day in Toronto

I am not much of a sports fan but if I were today would be my kind of day.

First of all, the Raptors have secured a playoff berth for the first time in five seasons. Good work, guys. It has been a fun season to follow you -- sort of like watching a real life version of Hoosiers. (And a special shout out to Chris Bosh who is the NBA's co-player of the week

Secondly, the Blue Jays won their opening game against the Tigers. It took an extra inning, but the boys got the job done. I know there are a lot more games to go, but I can honestly say that my team is currently undefeated!

Last, and in my case definitely the least, the Maple Leafs are not out of playoff contention yet. I don't follow hockey, having never played the game, but there are enough citizens of Leaf Nation around here that I hope they make it all the way to the Stanley Cup. And if they do, I will make a running jump onto the bandwagon like the rest of the city. You heard it here first.

York Region: A Lying Bunch of Liars

So I'm walking up Yonge Street in Newmarket when I see this sign by the York Region Administrative Centre. Cool, I think, I'll go in and claim my timepiece.

Imagine my shock when the civil servant I spoke to claimed to know nothing about the free watch for foot traffic promotion that York Region was advertising. No matter what I said, she refused to give me my free watch. She even went so far as to suggest that I was misreading the sign.

People of York Region, don't be taken in by false promises of free timepieces. Live up to the legacy of William Lyon Mackenzie and demand your free watches (but only if you walk).