What a Morning

In a movie, cataclysmic events have some foreshadowing. In life, that isn’t always the case. In the situation I am going to relate, you will have to decide if it was foreshadowed or not. Please comment below (anonymously if you want)

On Saturday, I went to the library and took out 12 books to read over the next three weeks. This is a bit ambitious, but knowing that I could probably renew them makes the whole thing a bit more manageable. I also had a couple of books sitting near the front door from my personal collection that I was thinking about reading instead of the Lisa Jewell book I ended up reading. This morning, just before leaving, I frantically grabbed a few, considered them, considered taking two of them (just in case) rejected the idea and finally settled on one.

Once established on the bus, I reached into my bag to start reading the book. Instantly, I realized that I had already read it. The plot wasn’t particularly clear, but clear enough that I had no desire to read it again. Since this is not the main hassle of the morning, I might be convinced that this is foreshadowing. However, I could be wrong. Also, it made for a boring bus ride.

While this was a problem that forced me to play telephone games rather than read, it wasn’t the worst of my morning. The worst was yet to come in the form of a mechanical issue on the subway that saw me forced out of the subway and deposited on the street one stop before mine. In most parts of the city, walking one subway stop is hardly a problem, but in this case it was one of the longer distances between stops and would have me walking about 30 minutes or more. I could have taken a shuttle bus, but the line was long and the morning sunshine beckoned me outside.

I guess I shouldn’t complain. A morning walk was better than being cooped up in a subway car or crushed on a shuttle bus–and that’s taking Covid out of the equation. There must have been some other problems because there were lots of slow moving cars mingling with the shuttle buses. At some points, I was moving on foot as fast as the cars were. One short school bus decided to take themselves out of the traffic altogether. They decided to climb up onto the sidewalk in front of me and stop. I took offence, but the absurdity of it left me speechless. I just walked on.

My students didn’t fare any better. My class was empty and the students were grouchy. I really can’t blame them as some of their cities have world class transit systems. It also probably costs a lot less where they are from.

Luckily the problem was resolved before I had to go home. I still didn’t have a book to read, but I found my MP3 player and got a chance to listen to some music. I was home before I knew it.

A Better Use of Our Time

With dinner in our stomachs, the dishes mostly done, and the prospect of some lesson planning looming, my girlfriend and I decided not to while away all of our free moments on television and head outdoors for a short walk.

It was a little better than dusk, and the air spoke of rain–more possibility than threat, but the sweet damp feeling was very palpable. At the end of the driveway we turned left and walked down the street towards the park that opens up at the end of the court.

We walked past neighbours I know and the houses of neighbours I used to know. Despite the pandemic, the housing market is still hot and regardless of whether people have either moved up or moved away, they have all definitely cashed in. Their real estate agents, doubtlessly, agree.

We walked past the house being rebuilt after the devastating fire. It has taken more than a year, but looking at the outside, it appears to be nearing completion.

We wandered to the edge of the park, but with no walking path and rain having been featured for most of the afternoon and evening, we didn’t want to chance getting our shoes wet.

Knowing there was work to be done, we gulped down the lungfuls of fresh air and headed back towards home. It was a short adventure but upon reflection, it was absolutely necessary and definitely worth doing.

A House Shrouded in Mystery and Trees

The work week had been long and no life affirming bike rides had taken place. The next best solution was a feast of Chinese takeout food without worrying about the calories. The overly full feeling was something else, though.

Forgetting about the toll the work week had taken on both of us, ignoring the inner sloth that recommended collapsing onto the couch in a puddle of blah, and not taking into account that the sun was going to go down in the not too distant future, the suggestion of a walk around the neighbourhood was agreed to hastily.

If you’ve never been to Toronto, you might not know it for the green city that it is. There are lots of trees and lots of neighbourhoods with big backyards, small streams, trails, and lots of unique houses. There are also far too many condominiums, big box stores, and overpriced restaurants–but there is no point in putting the ugly picture next to the pretty one. North of Toronto in the GTA, where my girlfriend lives, much the same can also be said. There are a lot of old trees, old neighbourhoods with HUGE yards, and lots of hidden charm. These neighbourhoods probably had modest houses at one time. Sadly, monster houses with monster price tags have been built in most of these places.

We set out on our walk without a clear picture in mind. We headed west, then south, then west and then…well, we figured it out as we went along. We saw some beautiful monster houses (which I later viewed on Google satellite view and remarked at how big the yards and driveways were). We also saw some of the smaller houses that must have been the original ones in the neighbourhood. They were cute, but paled beside the new grand palaces.

That was my feeling for most of those small houses until we came across one little house with a classic A-frame shape. The property it sat on was located in a bend on the street. Its driveway was beside the house, almost as if it didn’t belong to the place. The house was shrouded by trees. It wasn’t blocked by a row of trees like the one across the street. Instead, it was camouflaged. You knew the house was there, but you could so easily pass by it and not see it unless you knew it was there. It was kind of magical. The building wasn’t new, but wear and age were hidden behind a mask. There was no gate (like many of the others had installed) but you still felt shut out as if you needed an invitation.

We wandered many streets, and saw many interesting styles of architecture, but that house was the only one to make that kind of impression. That was the only one to write about.

We eventually made our way back to Yonge street–sadly we came out near a dodgy motel (and the internet backs me up judgement) and finished our walk amid strip malls and uninspiring new townhomes. Our bodies were sore, the health apps installed on our phones were chirping happily, and our souls were at peace.

Good Pond and Good Food

The GTA (the Greater Toronto Area–not the video game) is blessed with lots of nature. The city and suburbs have managed to hold onto some nature in the rush to build condos for foreign investors. That is a good thing–the nature, not the embrace of foreign capital which might line the province with tax money because foreign buyers pay a ten percent to displace and outpace residents from ever owning a house–because it means that during the lockdown, there is still something to do.

My girlfriend and I headed to a place called Toogood Pond because it offered a nice trail that was close by enough that we could do other things with our day if we got tired, or bored, or it rained, or the trail was way too crowded. This was not a true hike, but it was a pleasant stroll. I am not sure if the pond was “too good”–a combination of words I would never allow my students to utter–but who gets stuck on names. It was a beautiful day and other than being on a bike, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend it.

The pond was beautiful and the path through the area was secluded enough that there were only a few times when the outside world seemed to intrude upon it. In fact, it was at those times that I wished changing houses were easier as I found a few beautiful places that I would have liked to live.

We were quite fortunate as we found a parking spot quickly. Later on in the afternoon we saw cars parked willy-nilly all over the neighbourhood. I didn’t see any tickets despite the no parking signs, so maybe the locals knew something I didn’t. Maybe they don’t write tickets on a Sunday in Unionville.

We did a couple of laps of the pond before branching out on side trails that crisscrossed the river. We came across some “invitation spots” that featured Japanese “forest bathing” or Shinrin Yoku. I thought this was rather nice and tried my hand. We also managed to skip some stones, take some great photos, and indulge in some soft ice-cream.

After that was done, we decided to visit a food truck for a delicious meal. Food trucks aren’t really a thing here yet. Currently the pandemic lockdown restrictions are making it difficult and the fact that they can only park in designated areas–making it more like a food court rather than a food truck–really means you have to want to eat at a food truck, rather than coming across one while out. Fortunately there are a bunch of food trucks cordoned off in a mall parking lot near my girlfriend’s place featuring a good variety of ethnic and comfort food.

As will be the case for a while, photos are featured in my Instagram account, which is also called todaysperfectmoment, and you should find a link to right of the screen if you are on the actual blog page.

Choosing to Walk

Going grocery shopping today, I had the choice of taking the car or going on foot. The choice was less about distance and more about temperature. However, weighing all things, exercise was chosen over comfort. Also, it was good to get outside and breathe in the air. It might seem a rather pedestrian moment, but it was still Today’s Perfect Moment.

I’ve been working hard at my fitness, but most of that has been indoors. I haven’t taken as many opportunities as I should have to get outside. The weather hasn’t been nearly as cold as it could be, but I have not taken advantage of it.

On a positive note, we arrived at the store and were not greeted by a line of any kind. However, when we left, we noticed a rather healthy line waiting to enter. It hadn’t been too crowded in the store and perhaps that is because there was a good amount of caution when deciding how many people to let in.

I also got the chance to see the work they have mostly completed on the Viva Blue bus line. Under normal conditions, I would be taking the bus to work, but thanks to Covid 19 I am working from home and not doing the commute. I can’t say I miss it, but it is nice to see the upgrades along the route.

I made it back in time to watch the hockey game, which was quite good. I also had pizza for dinner–this is starting to sound like I am bragging. I had better end this post right now.

The Laundry List

Having not written for a few days, I have a bunch of things to declare as Perfect Moments, even if I cannot specify on which days they occurred.

I showed my girlfriend a few episodes of Hell’s Kitchen. I haven’t watched the show for years, but somehow found myself watching a couple of episodes so far this season. She had never seen it and I thought it would be fun to get her reaction. Predictably, she wondered why anyone would take that abuse and appear on the show. While I couldn’t disagree, I suspect that money and prestige are somehow linked to it–though I am not really sure how.

I went out for a walk Sunday. I have been Zwifting a lot and had overlooked the joy of other kinds of exercise. I didn’t walk very far, but as it used other muscles, I definitely could feel the effort at times. Of course, my fitness app, which seems to bother me at times of inactivity, didn’t record all of my effort. So much for digital glory.

Sunday night gave me a chance to catch up with friends via Whatsapp. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, I am very lucky to have the friends I do. Talking to them is the easiest thing and regardless of the time between meeting or talking, it’s like no time has passed at all.

Our conversation ran from Superbowl predictions, to the Mandalorian (which I haven’t seen), to books, to life and all its weird peculiarities. I really hope we can get rid of this pandemic and get out and do things together. The world still owes us our 50th Birthday trip.

I found some great clips on YouTube for building core strength for cycling. I am going to add some of these to my routine this week. I am also going to start a more serious stretching routine. This is an area which I know could benefit me.

I had some delicious meals this weekend. My girlfriend is an excellent cook and her accommodating my desire to eat healthier is fantastic. I can’t do this alone, so support is definitely welcome.

I saw several people driving without their headlights on. I guess they just accidently hit the switch that turned them off. I wish there was some universal signal to tell them. In both cases it was not completely and they were probably easy enough to see–but not necessarily. Something to think about for the next update to the driver’s manual.

I caught Sunday night’s episode of The Ongoing History of New Music program hosted by Alan Cross. I love the program but don’t really consider myself a podcast listener. Either way, I learn so much every time I tune in. Sunday’s topic was plagiarism, theft, and trials in the music world revolving around copyright and ownership. Fascinating to say the least.

A Bit of Fresh Air

Last weekend, it looked like winter was a foregone conclusion. This past weekend, it looked like summer was mounting a comeback. The truth is that evidence of autumn is all around us. The colours are beautiful and they need to be seen, and the best way was definitely on foot.

Sarah and I headed out for a walk on a nearby trail. One great thing about living where I do is that there are abundant places to walk and see nature. There are trees everywhere from the urban to the suburban to the countryside. In the summer we’ve got a lot of green and in the fall, we’ve got more colours than my camera can record.

We were out for about an hour and a half. It was by no means an epic hike, but we got to see a Covid safe farmer’s market, a park, a trail, and some scenes of a gurgling river. I probably should have put it on Strava, but I wasn’t concerned with that.

As I said, the colours were incredible…..and this is only the beginning. There were still lots of trees that hadn’t changed yet. Also, we came across a pine tree whose needles had changed to yellow. I don’t remember seeing that before.

At one part of the trip, I found a five dollar bill that had blown up against a fence. Naturally, it became mine. Sarah, good-hearted that she is, felt sorry that some poor child had lost their money and I should be looking to give it back. I countered that the poor kid was probably going to spend it on cigarettes or more likely stuff for vaping–I don’t know what they call it???? liquid nicotine? I do know that they think it’s cooler than cigarettes and that holding the vape without even smoking somehow is worth sharing on social media.

So, beautiful colours, a healthy walk with someone important, and I probably saved some youth from starting an addiction. It is pretty obvious where Today’s Perfect Moment can be found.

Seeing Through Someone-else’s Eyes

Going for a walk, despite its physical distancing obstacles, can still be great.  For me, it isn’t as great as going for a bike ride, but that isn’t a fair comparison.  When the bike is really humming, you might appreciate the landscape in its broad beauty, but there are details that you would miss.

Out for a walk on Saturday, my girlfriend stopped to admire several things that I have passed numerous times, but failed to take notice of.  These were nature things like odd groupings of wild flowers and rivers that I had only seen one side of.  She even found beautiful flowers outside a convenience store I have never set foot in. She stopped to take pictures–all of which were quite good.

It was so great to see my little corner of the world through someone-else’s eyes.  Her mood was infectious and I was glad to see that what had been familiar really wasn’t that familiar.  That’s a pretty easy call for Today’s Perfect Moment.

Love in the time of Coronavirus

Despite the lockdown, and despite the doom and gloom that hangs over my employment, I did find something worthy of the title of Perfect Moment.

This time last year, my girlfriend and I spent the day walking in High Park viewing the cherry blossoms.  We spent a day wandering the city, trying good food, and living what used to be a normal life.  Oh how things are different.

This year we were meant to see a performance of Cirque Du Soleil.  It was a hybrid performance with both ice skating and circus performances.  We were so looking forward to it.  At the beginning of this terrible time, I held out hope that things would get solved and we would be able to see it.  How wrong I was.

If you’re not seeing the “Perfect” in this, I can understand.  The “Perfect” is more on a personal level. My girlfriend and I celebrated an anniversary of sorts–we’re a nontraditional couple, so we celebrate at nontraditional times.  The pictures might include food and a bit of nature from our walk, but it is the person who I spent those times with that makes them more Perfect.

This weekend was, for me, a chance to reflect on how much better my life is than it used to be–coronavirus notwithstanding.  I distinctly remember asking the universe for a whole list of things.  While they haven’t all been delivered yet, at least one of them was.  Not to be too mushy, but I got more than a Perfect Moment from this relationship.

On the Sidewalk

Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous day.  The temperature reached above 20 and the sun was shining.  What a fantastic day to head out for a walk.  Not surprising, many others had the same idea.  Had I been on my bike, it probably would have looked like a club ride without the club.

We went out for a walk of a little over an hour.  We got to see some lovely houses, some simple houses, and some houses which will be bulldozed to make room for huge condominium towers.  We encountered “closed” parks and greenway trails that people were still using.  We even found some wildlife.

I could wax lyrical about how great it was to get outside, but since most of us are in the same boat, you probably understand it in your bones and my words would fail to be any more precise.  I should note that the weather hasn’t been this great this year.  While winter was not a terrible beast, it did seem to hang around longer than anyone wanted and the weather has been cool.

After today, I completely forgot about that.  Sadly, the weather forecast doesn’t expect it to happen two days in a row.  Since I will be stuck inside working until well into the afternoon, I am going to pretend that I didn’t read that.

While the weather was great, the perfect moment was running across our fine feathered friend above.  It barely moved when we went by–which was a far cry from the sharp veering that everyone, including us, did when encountering someone.  We are all getting good at physically distancing ourselves.