Canadian National Exhibition

To go or not to go? That is the question. Every year I go to the Ex and spend way too much money playing games, riding rides, shopping and of course eating. Once the day is over I feel so disappointed with the experience, maybe I'm being too picky but I never enjoy it fully as I once did. I remember the Skyride, The Flyer the free loot from the food building and long for my childhood. Some may say that I just need to let go and enjoy but even my niece and nephew who are at the age I remember enjoying the Ex the most don't have that same sparkle in their eyes when they go. I think the taking them is more for us rather than them. I remember not being able to sleep the night before because I couldn't contain my excitement in going. My brothers and I would sit up for most of the night planning our day out. With all this said every year my nostalgia gets the best of me and I return to the grounds of the Ex to the inevitable disappointment but yet every year I am drawn back by memories and curiosity. If anyone is going, try and have a great time and I'll see you there!!!

What's The Deal

A few days ago we started the process of looking for a new place to live. We love the apartment we are in, but the landlord....well he's not the best landlord ever. In looking for a new place I've noticed how few places will take cats and or dogs now. When did this happen? There are so many people with pets. Every time I walk out my front door I see people walking dogs or in the case of one neighbour his cat. In my building alone (3 apartments) there are two dogs, two cats and a few fish. So if there are all these pets and seemingly all these people who love them, why is there so many places that say NO PETS? I just don't get it, the last time I looked for a place less than three years ago this was not a problem at all. Where was I when this pet hatred started? Did I miss the memo? I guess I must have, well back to apartment hunting.

Robert James Crouse

Ok, so it's been awhile. This post isn't good news but I'm putting out there because I know this guy, well I did know him. We went to school together many years ago and he probably won't remember me, but I remember him and I hope that Robbie as we used to call him will find his way home safe real soon. Robbie if by any chance you are reading this, there are people here who love you and are looking for you. Just drop someone a line and let them know that you are ok, even if you don't want to go back just let someone know.

Robert James Crouse was last seen leaving his home on Saturday July 18th at 2am in the Coxwell and Dundas area of Toronto. Robert is white, about 5'8" and roughly a 165 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes, he was last seen wearing green pajama like pants, a black sweater with a FedEx logo on it and roller blades. Robert normally wears glasses but did not have them on at the time he left his home. If you have any information as to his whereabouts please contact the Toronto Police 55 Division 416-808-5500 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS(8477), online at http://www.222tips.com/ or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). To all you Toronto bloggers out there please pass this along you can find all the information and picture at the Toronto Police Services website.

I have this theory...

It is no secret to those I know that I love Toronto. I was born and raised here and although if I needed to I could live somewhere else, this city will always be my home.

I think that Toronto gets a bad rap, people think that we are all rude, inconsiderate and have a severe lack of manners. A few years back I had a discussion with a woman I work with who agreed with this view of Toronto. It was during the course of this discussion that I formed my theory about the rude people of Toronto. Let me preface this by saying I know that there are people who were born here that are rude and I also know that not everybody from outside the city is rude.

The theory is that the rude people of Toronto aren't "Torontonians" they are people who have moved here for whatever reason and think that since they are in the "Big City" they should have a big city attitude. I was born here and I'm not rude. I hold doors for people, I give up my seat on the bus/streetcar/subway for people that need it more than me, I don't push unless someone from behind pushes me into you, if someone asks me for directions I gladly help them and sometimes even walk them there.

The woman at work thought that I was crazy and I guess that I don't blame her for this, Toronto has definitely garnered a bad reputation over the years. So together we decided to start asking customers who were really nice, and those that were extremely rude where they were from.

She kept track of this tally in a little notebook she always has on her, because she has more face to face interaction with customers. And guess what? Drum Roll please over three years...of the rude people she asked (232) over 85% of them were NOT from Toronto, they were from smaller cities in Ontario and out west mostly and on a side note there was only 2 from the east coast. Of the really nice people asked (213) 79% of them were from Toronto and she asked if they were from the city or part of the greater spectrum of the GTA and they all said the city.

Now granted this isn't a perfect study but I like to think of it as a little bit of validation that my city, my home isn't full of rude, inconsiderate people. Well it may be full of them but according to my co-workers survey they weren't born here.