Fire in the Village

This past weekend - around 11 pm on Saturday night an apartment complex on Maitland Street set on fire. It seems one person died and most of the other residents suffered from smoke inhalation. I have a friend who lives there now and is out of his home for 3 weeks possibly as to allow for building repairs. Awful things like this still happen. This reminds me to check my alarms battery!

Earth Hour 2009

Shot facing north to Bloor Street.

I believe this global 'event' is not working out so well. Standing and peering out from my balcony the participation was sparse at best. Corporate buildings along Bloor Street seemed to standing tall with their lights out – although this was eclipsed by adjacent condo’s and apartment’s with all their lights on. I wonder just a thought – if condominiums participate more in Earth Hour than their renter counterparts. Statistically real estate owners are more educated, more upwardly mobile and more into watching the news, more into staying current, more into watching the Hour with George Strombopolous. Renters are more apt to watch dancing with the Stars or Paris Hiltons New BFF. This is a sweeping generalization – but if geography and planning taught me anything it’s the ability to segment the population into neat and sexy stereotypes based on socioeconomic factors. And the theory that people who live closer together have more in common than those who live farther apart. Oh Earth Hour will you ever become as important as Christmas or Easter? Will people keep on partaking in this meaningless act of nothingness? Climate change? Global warming?

PS –Have you looked outside today Toronto under snow? Keep your lights on maybe it will warm up! LOL.

Queer West Survey

Queer West Survey by Brock University

This research study will consider the social, political and economic implications of the formation of a self-stylized ‘queer’ district that positions itself as an alternative community location for those looking beyond Toronto’s so-called traditional LGBT village at Church and Wellesley Streets.

Cut (Carbon) Copy

Bands... Australian bands...great live act.

Cut Copy rode into town again – after having a concert at Sound Academy in September of last year (in which I missed) I finally jumped on the band wagon after a long winter of listening to these guys. And boy did I ever 'see' them. All thanks to one person, you know who you are. Thanks. Below they perform "So Haunted":

Gentrification

West Queen West, West... is becoming gentrified further. Although no Starbucks has gravitated to the old Polish/Ukrainian clustering as of yet, it seems evident it is on the way.

Upon inspection on a day of high pressure in the sky it seemed yuppies, guppies and scensters, artisans, other artistic elite (and creative class wannabes) are moving into the area near Sorauren ave - as observed taking their overly primed dogs for strolls. Walking closer to where King and Queen meet (yes they do meet) - I remembered spending summers in the Roncesvalles area and my Torontonian cousin telling it was the best place to get crack at any time of the day – more east near Landsdowne. He was joking of course. But it has changed significantly since then. The area now houses vintage stores, overpriced antique and contemporary furniture stores strewn between mom and pop shops and coin laundry outlets. Is this the last spot west to become condoland? Will homeless people start to revolt? Wait and see.

How To Be Interesting

So most of us out there were probably alone on V-Day, or hung with friends. I for one was not. For the first time in god only knows I was in the arms of someone interesting, enduring, sensitive, respectful, humourous and above all able to see something in me that I thought I had lost. The catch is it was a bar pick-up... Now before I get all emotional I would like to say it was fulfilling to say the least but at the same time I felt this huge ball of anxiety in my stomach. I felt hopeless and weary regarding everything I was undertaking. And I still do not know why. It was as if my body was telling me get out of there - or you are so not ready for this. I denied it for Saturday night, into Sunday morning till Sunday night - as I spent the whole day with him. I felt safe with him. Something my last love interest never gave me. The intrinsic beauty of it all was that I did not feel I had to parade myself as this intellectual semi-hipster - as he saw right through me. I value that - the ability of any man to see right through you and all the while still wanting to buy china or the least take you to a movie. Although, the moment I felt I had let him see the real me, I rebuilt the house of cards I was currently sitting under, as to not let him blow it over with his genius and lavish extremities – which were mint by the way. And from all this I realized I need to get better mentally because I would love to spend more time with him and actually be emotionally ready for anything that might come my way. So post-catholic of me – no shame – just me.

This is all leads up to the reason for the slight depression, the questioning and inability to love. Friday night was spent drinking and hanging with the boys and heading to a club. Once there I realized my ex was present and I didn’t want any of that. It’s been 5 months so its pathetic the power someone can still have on you. After the bar we went for a bite to eat – the ex followed. After arguing with my ex and his new ‘friend’ at the table over the inabilities and unknowingness of Obama’s path and his policy changes, we got the bill and I went home abruptly. I left the table once I signed by John Hancock. This was a cause of concern for my friends. I walked home crying not knowing why I was such a fucking mess – but I realized I am. And this is nothing to be ashamed of.

Saturday and Sunday were good to me. The simple things in life became clear. The shit disappeared. The time was therapeutic. And whatever is bothering – i will let it go – all out of my control. And whatever happens with the new boy – no one will know. But at least he helped me – to see my present so vividly. And for that I thank him And for that he made it all interesting again. Thanks.