Category Archives: This Charming Man

19

Jul. ’10

Gidget Goes To Mumbai

Rogers at the Gerrard Street Festival

Yes, Rogers, I don`t hate you anymore.  I am still wary of your monopolizing ways, but you have me at  ON DEMAND.  In an effort to pinch some pennies, latte factor-style, I decided to give in to that bundle that Rogers offers where your phone, cable, and internet are at a supposed discount.  It turned out I would still be saving money if I gave in and got one of those boxes that I have been resisting for years because it’s just one more gizmo I have to break in.  Not knowing how to use something causes too much anxiety which is why I didn’t answer my i-Phone for a month when I first got it and why I took the TTC when I got a car with manual transmission.  It turns out I was afraid of nothing.  The box is as easy to use as my own, just press the buttons.  So for the past week I have been holed up in my darkened ashram watching tv.  I have seen Gidget twice because I can!  I can watch my beloved Dr. Oz whenever I want!  I’m able to order things, this is where the latte factor may not work out, except whenever I go to Blockbuster to rent something, I end up with candy and something from the previewed bin that I probably have seen before and will watch again when it aired on tv organically, which is why I have seen Bridget Jones Diary so many times that I should be embarrassed. None of it makes sense, latte-wise.  So anyway, yesterday, I decided it was time to turn off the tv (by the way, ROD has A Single Man this month, it’s fantastic, watched it three times!) and I headed up the street to the Gerrard Street Festival.  I love when they close the streets to traffic, it feels like you’re breaking the law walking in the middle of the road but you’re not because the cops are smiling at you:

Also I love eating while walking.  I had naan bread and tikka chicken from one of the vendors.  I’m going back for more today, and the Dosa eating contest in on today at 4pm!  The Calcutta-like heat wave is perfect for walking around the festival.  The foode is delish and the colours are spectacular!

Posted by . Categories: Eat & Drink, Hanging Around, This Charming Man. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a comment

12

Jul. ’10

Another Fine Opportunity to Serve Cold Lemonade

 

OOOOOOOH well…

I have to admit, I watched ZERO, nada, niets of this World Cup Finale.  I have to say, I just can’t crush on a soccer player.  They are too handsome, it’s unnerving.  It’s like they don’t need me, wearing their Dolce & Gabbana underwear with their perfectly groomed eyebrows, paying surrogates to have their spawn.  A hockey player might need me, with his missing teeth, to cut up his food in baby pieces.  A tennis player might need me to remind him to put on sunscreen and not to scowl or else his face might stay that way.  Even a golfer might need me to iron his Dockers (I’m digging deep here).  So yeah, the whole soccer thing is lost on me, and besides, not enough close ups so I could at least pick up some makeup tips.

As an aside but in a similar vein, my neighbours, The Chore Family, are on holiday so I thought I could sit on my front porch and guiltlessly read my book ( you know, without having to join in on weeding and whatnot)…but no, when Chore Family is away, even the mice are put to task.  I’m sure I saw one mowing the lawn.  And I am The Chosen One designated to water the container plants in the front yard (and maybe the back? uh oh).  Also they have hired people to put on a new roof:

Fixer on the Roof

Now watching roofers do their thing during a heat wave is a thing to behold.  Roofers are hot!  Pun and no pun intended.  But also impressive was that the crew from Fixer on the Roof were meticulous, polite, and made sure that the asphalt shingles they were replaced were promptly cleaned up.  Years ago, when my roof was done, I found random shingle shards like lost Easter eggs, underneath cushions, in the mint plant, even in the mailbox.  Furthermore, Trish, who runs the operation came by to see if her boys were hydrated (should have been my job) and impressed me with her credentials and knowledge of roofing, she even blogs about it!!!    And greenies, they also do solar panels which is definitely something to think about!  Click here for the website for more information and check out the blog.

Posted by . Categories: an inconvenient truth, Neighbourhood Watch, This Charming Man. Tags: . 2 Comments

03

Jul. ’10

Ladies and Gentleman, The THUNDERMONKS!

The Thundermonks at The Boardwalk at Kew Beach on Canada Day

Hope you are all having a great extended long weekend.  It’s always confusing when a holiday lands during the week, what day is it again?  Why are Regis and Kelly on tv on Saturday?  Mine has been uneventful which is the way I like it.  The Chore Family next door are painting their entire front porch with Mac makeup brushes, two coats is the plan.  Needless to say it will take the entire four days.  But they put the carpet out on the front lawn and we are pretending it’s the dock at The Cottage and the porch is the boat.  When a motorcycle brrrrrms by on Kingston Road, I say, “Those damn speed boats, can’t hear yourself think.”  4 Steam Whistles later, I got a farmer’s tan.  As it turns out, sunscreen is required at Pretend Cottage.  And underwear does not look like a bathing suit.  My daughter was at a real cottage in Grand Bend, lucky girl.  Consequently, Betty-Dog, has been out of sorts and acting like a crazed, barking squirrel.  On Canada Day, I took her for a long walk on the boardwalk to get her spook out.  I don’t think it help much but I did enjoy the day, the weather was just so:  Sunny, not hot, breezy but not so strong the wind didn’t whistle through your ears.  I’m sure this is how I lost entire chunks of memory.  And as usual, there were loads of people out with their exposed flesh and their prison yard tattoos and unleashed pitbulls. How I love a parade.  Musicians were out as well.  You had to be there to appreciate the Russian man strumming his guitar while reading the newspaper out loud.  One group that stood out were four young guys called the Thundermonks.  They were sooooo cute, I forgot how old I was and I digressed to my 12 year old self.  I made my friend ask them what school they went to…it turns out they had just graduated from Etobicoke School of the Arts.  I quickly did the math and when the result came up, I was ashamed.  Anyway, they were kind of jazzy, hip-hoppy and really up-beat.  Their album “Get Fed” is available on iTunes (buy it!!!!) and they are playing at The Drake Hotel on July 21.   When I got home from my walk, I asked on of the teenage neighbours if she knew them (teenagers know everyone, look at their Facebook accounts) and as it turns out she is dating the drummer!!!!  I’m hoping she can get them to play on our front lawn/fake cottage this summer before they become too famous.    Check out their video  here .

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