IT is probably a goddess...

[Just Some Girl]

Mornin' folks. Thought I'd take you down (my) memory lane. (That's memory, Dan, not mamm.... oh, never mind.) ( )

Here's Day One of the stuff y'all are gonna skim. (Jeff, feel free to move it to some lame obscure isle if you want. You know, if it's crowding up your visual field.)




Wednesday, July 1 (Canada Day)

Took transit to the airport to pick up Ryan, and if you’ve never had the pleasure of taking public transit to the airport, I can tell you that… well…it’s… something. His flight got in at 10:30am, and we got back downtown an hour or so later, both starving, so off to Boom, this all-day breakfast place near my place for grub and drinks.

Much as I’d have loved to have jumped right into the…um, alone time with Ryan, it was going to be a while yet, as my friend Josey was coming by for a bit to drop off our friend Isabel’s house keys. (I’d been keeper of the keys while Is was away and Josey stayed there for a couple nights.) Had some drinks, obviously, and it was nice to see her and all but, as I said, was anxious to start the napping and “napping” (which we did accomplish soon as she left ).

A few hours later, another friend, Sue, came over for pre-game, then we headed off (along w/ the roomie) to the (free!) Constantines gig @ Harbourfront, as part of the Canada Day festivities there. Sue left part-way through (she’s a doctor, and was on-call as of early the next morning), but Ryan, Jeff and I managed to keep the party going (even though Ryan was beat). We could see the fireworks from there, which started up when the show was over, and it’s kinda pretty when you’re down by the water and the fireworks are reflecting off the lake…  (It’s a GREAT lake, btw, for those of you not keeping track. Lake Ontario, to be precise. )

For reasons unknown, we decided to walk home from there (2.9km/1.8 miles approx – I looked it up!) and were practically almost sober again by the time we got in (gasp!!), so naturally had to indulge in some post-game beverages, too.

We went to bed far too late, given that Ryan had left Dallas at 6:30am and didn’t sleep on the plane, but, then again, neither of us ever claimed to be smart.


(blurry pic of Constantines, but you get an idea of amphitheatre venue, crowd size, etc.)

[Just Some Girl]

Thursday, July 2

Glorious sleeping in (and attendant morning “napping” – still soooooooo tired, apparently. Ha!) and didn’t make it over to the Cadillac Lounge for lunch until late, but so worth it. Walked around the Parkdale ‘hood a bit, but we were still genuinely beat/hungover so it wasn’t very eventful.

Ryan had ripped one of his contact lenses earlier, and had been walking around with only one in, and it was making him headachy and a little dizzy), so back home to call his doc to have his prescription faxed to my friends’ store and to put on the non-dizzifying specs. We walked to the LCBO liquor store en route to the friends’ shop, but the fax still hadn’t arrived by the time we got over there, and pals Zak and Tim both declined the beer on offer (apparently they don’t drink there now till 6pm when they have most of the day’s work done – go figure), so just came back home for a bit.

Ryan tried a real nap, then got word from Zak/Tim that the fax came in, so back again with some boozes for them/us, and some chat with ‘em, followed by a pint at Communist Daughter en route home (new bartender there who I didn’t know, else we might’ve stayed longer), then Reposado, a specialty tequila place nearby after that.

More napping ensued – of both varieties from what I recall.

We were in major low-key mode once we got back here, and the roomie was out for the evening (for once), so were going to rent a movie or something. But just ended up cooking up some veggie burgers and whipped up a tomato/bean/garlic pseudo-chili sort of side dish and had some drinks while watching telly. (I introduced Ryan to this locally-made gourmet Caribbean condiment – similar to a jerk sauce, I guess – with a long story behind it*, and we decided it was our mission over the next few days to find us some.) I like low-key, sometimes, especially with the man I love…

*Ok, so… Mados… The shortest version of this story (promise!) is that there’s this middle-aged Caribbean woman who made this incredible hot sauce, similar to jerk sauce, who ultimately decided to sell her business. She did officially sell it to some company (supposedly part of the deal was the recipe was then to remain secret and she was to discontinue making it), but then, um, not-so-legally continued to make it on the side, selling it by the bucket-load to people like my friend Tim (from the repair shop). Far as I know she sold the recipe again after the original contract wore out (and continued to sell “under the table”) but not sure where it ended up… But you’ll see, we did find out later…


Friday, July 3

Another late-ish start to the day. We wanted to start off healthy (instead of another greasy breakfast), so ended up eating at Bar Au Soupe, a non-“Soup Nazi” lunch place (and tasty, lots of veg options, etc. etc.) on the hip strip of Ossington that I’ve mentioned before…

Then we walked over to a place on Queen where we thought we might be able to get Ryan replacement contacts, but legally, they require an eye exam even if you have a script, so it was not to be, so …we just gave up (after one try!).

Off to Kensington Market, where I snapped the lovely photo of Ryan in front of a pile of garbage. Thanks for the photo op, striking city workers! Had a drink at Supermarket, a combo live venue/restaurant, in Kensington, then off to do some book shopping near U of T (I’ll let Ryan tell you this part, if he’s up to it), and back to Kensington for drinks at my fave place there, Ronnie’s Local. Ran into a guy I know/went out with a few times there, which has been happening a lot lately. Maybe I should stop going to Ronnie’s Local. Anyway…

On the way home, went a few extra blocks to hit the LCBO again* then the Communist Daughter again where, this time, I did know the owner/server, Trisha, so stayed for drink and chat for a spell. Had to get home soonish, though, as some friends from Ottawa were going to be around for deck drinks and such.

Think Geoff Brown (olllllllllllllllllld friend and a very talented novelist…and tteacher) and GF Laura (teacher) were already in the backyard by the time we got home, but really, who can remember this kind of thing? We had many drinks, eventually went to Pizzeria Libretto for food (but it’s also on hip strip Ossington and was gonna be a two-hour wait, so got take-out there and it took ten minutes !!! enough time for us to drink a bottle of wine between us…not that I recall that part either.

Yeah, so back here eatin’, drinkin’, listenin’ to tunes… All in all a grand way to spend a Friday night. Except at some point(?) after Geoff and Laura left, I went upstairs to oh-so-methodically roll probably the worst J in history, and Jeff (and Ryan?) decided to equally methodically place the leftover sardine/tomato pizza Laura ordered (ew) into the alley behind our house. Classy, and classic drunk move.

Drank some more, Ryan and I indulged, and I was instantly retarded (which is what happens if I’ve already been drinking a lot, then smoke it) and had to lie down/pass out for a bit. Good times. Ryan later came up to my room and basically dumped me under the covers (I’d passed out on top of the bed), at which point I woke up again and went downstairs to smoke (cigarette) while it was his turn to crash. Yep, good times.

(*I don’t have a car. So basically, I carry as many groceries home as I need for a couple days (and is manageable by carrying home – which ends up being fresher and oh-so-European anyway,..ha!) and ditto with the booze.)


You saw the garbageman pic, um, here's some deck drinks and a drunk Laura carrying "Jeff's" 4 pizzas.

[Just Some Girl]

Saturday, July 4

Our mission of the day (as I said): Find Mados hot sauce.

Jeff called Tim (of Tim/Zak guitar/amp repair store fame) and apparently the Old York Tavern had bought the recipe and was making/distributing the stuff, and since that was vaguely on my brunch-place list…off we went. Ryan managed to score the last bottle they had on hand – huzzah!

Next up, Liberty Village, an old warehouse/industrial wasteland now converted to hipster lofts and town homes and so on. Hit the LCBO there (I knew they had a better beer selection than the one in my ‘hood), then home again for more deck drinks. Ryan was tired of beer (don’t worry; it was only temporary), so headed to Squirly’s for a margarita chaser. (cough)

Another jaunt to the Daughter, for the last half-hour of that afternoon Michael J performance I’ve mentioned before (trumpet-playing, singing bartender, Michael J -- who serves you whilst his gypsy-jazz-sorta band dudes are playing instrumentally), then a new place, The Red Light, for double bourbons, then fairly basic pub far at Southside Louis.

Somehow not totally wrecked (guess ‘cause we’d eaten properly, for once), so back home for more deck drinks with the roomie. In hono(u)r of our American friend’s “special day,” Jeff brought out these (crappy) firecrackers he bought almost two years ago for Diwali Festival. They were “Tasmanian Devils,” but I saw them as “Tasmanian Duds,” because they were pretty lame. The first one we lit in this plastic planter that basically did not shoot up, just burned the plastic. Second one – learning our lesson – we tried in a metal container, which was also pretty uninspiring. So then Jeff had the brilliant idea of checking the alley for the pizza and “mounting” the firecrackers in a slice. Astoundingly, even though there are a ton of raccoons (though also a garbage strike for other food sources), there was still a slice of the sardine pizza (see? Totally a poor choice of ‘za!), so we stuck the firecracker in that, lit it and…dud. (See scintillating photos.)

Jeff gave up for the night after that, so Ryan and I just sat on the couch for a while watching basically the end of Talladega Nights. Ricky Booby.

Good times were had by all, ‘specially us later. (nudging and winking stuff)

[Just Some Girl]

Yup, duds.

[Just Some Girl]

Sunday, July 5

I hate the leaving day, I really do. I tend to anticipate it a day in advance, even, and start to get sad prematurely. Ugh. Anyway.

We went to this place I’d never been to, Czehokski (used to be an old deli, but beautifully converted – still beautiful old solid wood paneling, and old deli counter and such – now with booze and desserts in it and such) and wandered up to the rooftop/garden patio for brunch. ‘Twas nice, although slowest service ever.

Then a little wander through some more parts of my ‘hood, then “napping,” then… Jeff drove Ryan/me to the airport. Nice of Jeff to do, but you can’t really stop at Departures very long, so just a quick goodbye and off Ryan went…





Great, now I’m all maudlin again, and missing…

[Tripp]

sounds like a swell time..

[Doctor Rock]

JeffRoomie is downstairs watching a Superchunk DVD and I'm up here still trying to write out my Ryan visit report, like a sucker. Like a fool.

 

Wait... There's a Superchunk DVD? 

Specifically, Superchunk: Crowding Up Your Visual Field. I'm sure you're just having me on and you know all about it, but if not, it's a comp of their videos, with live performance and documentary stuff.


Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a monkey to make out with.

Not pulling your leg.  I had no idea there was a Superchunk DVD out.  So spank you very much!

[Doctor Rock]

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/07/08/qotd/index.html?source=video&aim=/politics/war_room


This is why I have always rallied against inter-species dating.

See what the muddying of the gene pool leads to:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GUzLa_khi5s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/GUzLa_khi5s</a>

I'll bet you that they're the same sex too!  Interspecies homosexuality!  Degenerates! 

[Just Some Girl]

sounds like a swell time..

'twas.

And you're welcome, Dan.

[captqitn]

yay for storytime!!

[Doctor Rock]

If IT is probably a goddess, then IT should be a SHE, no? 

[captqitn]

I read that as Information Technology.

non?

[Bizarro]

Nah man, Information Technology is a BITCH.

[Doctor Rock]

Nah man, Information Technology is a BITCH.

Not a GODDESS. 

[Doctor Rock]

Just finishing your phrase for you.