1. Free potatoes, rice and peas to go with our falafels.
2. Text messages from all over sending happy wishes.
3. Little Lukas at the kitchen table, offering me his candy cane ice cream, over and over. ‘Julia [insert developing language here] try miiine?’ End that with a huge grin! I cross to the other side of the table to be fed a Thomas-the-Tank spoonful. I return to my side. Repeat. Each time with a grin bigger than the last.
An honourable mention from yesterday:
A. Isabelle helped me take several bags to Goodwill
B. after our delicious meal of Italian veal sandwiches
C. followed by fruit (raisins, that is, in a butter tart).
1. Petras is in town from Tokyo. He and I got together for dinner to satisfy his massive craving for Swiss Chalet.
2. Then he picked up the tab. He swears Swiss Chalet would be a roaring success overseas - anyone in head office listening?
3. A good friend was online, up late at night. We had a proper chat to catch up on affairs of the mind and matters of the heart.
It seems everyone returns to Swiss Chalet for that special sauce. I return for the coleslaw.
This was a special three-part day.
1. Matthew: My nephew and I explored Kensington Market's art galleries, butcher shops and free cheese samples.
2. Keesh: Cabs to the 'burbs and back for dinner in a place known as Ajax (and what a fabulous dinner it was).
3. Julija: Post-Eastern European pub, dining at the 24hr McDonald's (for a McSober combo, thank you very much).
1. Memory! Got a photo print from last week's party.
2. Hawaiian meatballs! Served warm, delicious food.
3. Blog! Lingered at my desk all night... blogging.
We were pounded by a snowstorm. That was fine. But my fridge was empty and nothing in the known universe was open. Except Blockbuster.
1. Tostitos bite-size Rounds (surprisingly natural)
2. Tostitos salsa, medium (quite healthy, actually)
3. Dole orange juice (the only juice they carried)
Foodgroups in themselves, really.
1. A day wandering Kensington Market:
Market. Touch-ing exhibit. Helvetica film documentary DVD.
2. An evening at a houseparty:
Wine. Chopping vegetables. Turquoise ski pant advice.
3. A late night journey home:
Snow. Hailing taxi. Complimentary corporate cab chit.
3. In a freezing cold office over a kitchen counter, leaning up against a running dishwasher for hot, steamy comfort. It almost felt as good as taking a shower.
2. In an idle morning over cream of wheat, chatting with Vivian.
1. In an unexpected moment over a pile of papers and laundry, receiving some very good news from a woman named Brandy.
1. Trekking through freshly fallen snow with the boys early on Sunday morning in a city hugged by the white blanket of winter.
2. Journeying through carol-filled hotel foyers and salons packed with young children wired on chocolate milk and sugary sweets.
3. Laughing through lunch as Lukas repeatedly offers me a green-coloured shortbread cookie wreath, dipped in bright yellow mustard.
1. Gift: Box of luxury Ukrainian chocolates.
2. T-shirt: ‘50 Ways to Leave Your Blubber’
3. Fruit: Large, ripe, green, sweet, juicy pear.
1. Surf diddly surf: window of webmail access at the office.
2. Motion and commotion: breezy biking through the mild city, with memories of last night's squeaky-clean chlorine streetscape.
3. Pickled pearl onions: surprise complimentary salad.
1. a tub of margarine
2. a jar of Dijon mustard
3. a bottle of Stella Artois
An absent bachelorette lives here.
1. Falafels (second for half-price) from Laila's.
2. Eggplant slice, grilled on request, while waiting.
3. Leftover Halloween candies, hunted down...
Mouth watering, 1:00 am EST, going to hunt down eggplant.
Here is my idea of a meal that has it all:
1. Club Grilled Flatbread Panini,
2. Righteous Red Smoothie, and
3. Carrot-Apple-Ginger Juice.
I have this strategy. I always ask for extra ginger in my (small) juice. I drink the whole thing while I'm waiting for my panini to be grilled. Then I take the panini and the smoothie away. This makes me feel groovy and fantastic! It's why I hang around smoothie bars. It sometimes outshines everything else in my day.
1. Brains: My instructor stayed behind in class to answer our questions. I'm not a University of Toronto alumna (though I attended in utero), but it's got my respect for Brains. What a world-class, top-notch school.
2. Stomach: My strategy for eating pizza is to ask for the freshest slice. I don't care what variety, so long as it is fresh from the oven. When it's pepperoni, like it was this time, I am extra happy.
3. Fingers: Chili oil dripped off my pizza slice, conditioning my cuticles and moisturizing my hands, which remained exceptionally soft and smooth for the next 24 hours.
1. Free replacement brake pads (already worn down). I'm going to keep biking through the winter: wear them down again!
2. Runway-hair-meets-bike-courier. Getting the up and down - in a good way - on the elevator. I love arriving at work in my bike-greased khakis.
3. Complimentary pickled ginger from the local Japanese restaurant. When all else fails, I cut it up and improvise tea. I refuse to get sick.
Now I'm pickled tink! This is my 365th post.
1. Urination: I have a beautiful new bathroom!
2. Consideration: I was asked whether I had any ‘philosophical objections’ to meeting for a coffee at Starbucks.
3. Salvation: I found a can of chili in my empty kitchen.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia
Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. Since this is at heart a blog of thanksgiving, I want to pay respect to this underrated holiday.
This morning, I am thankful for Canadian Maple Syrup.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia
1. Fresh Haddock brunch, Warm Gingerbread dessert. Jane's on the Common: You absolutely must eat here if you're in Halifax (right next to Tony's).
2. At the YMCA, courtesy in the swimming lanes. Note to guys: you don’t have to accommodate the ladies. It's obvious we are out-swimming you.
3. Emanuel tells the story of learning Korean by watching infomercials about anti-fat potions. He wasn't watching them for his bowels; he was watching them for his vowels.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia
1. Historic? A traveller offers me $100US for $95Cdn.
2. Cuba? Outside the airport, the sweet smell of cigars.
3. Donairs? Tony's across the Common serves it oven-fresh.
