Rapid Fire

Ummm, so I pretty much took the summer off of blogging and didn't tell you in advance. My bad. But after some not so subtle hints from my delightful sister I have returned. The task just seemed too monumental, there's so much that's happened in the past month and a half - so this post will be all the things you've missed, rapid fire, point blank.

- In July we went to Afrofest here in Toronto, 2 days of great African music in the park, delicious African food, late nights, tons of fun. We loved the vibe, we'll definately be back next year!

- We also went to Montreal for 5 days in July. Loved the city, spent lots of time wandering around the Old Town, hiked Mont Royale (we made it!), found some great places to eat, spent some time at an African music festival there (wasn't nearly as good as Afrofest!), and enjoyed our first family vacation. Took the train up from Toronto, barely escaped getting stuck due to a Via Rail strike. You can see pictures here.

- Daija has learned to crawl. She moves fearlessly around now, conquering the house...except for the newly installed baby gates, baby locks, baby booby-traps, etc...

- We bought a BBQ. Man, I love grilling, nothing beats it. Haven't done anything crazy on it yet (though I did grill my first corn, Dad) but just getting my legs back.

- Daija has learned to climb stairs. We looked over one day and she was 2 stairs up! Now she can conquer the whole flight and loves doing it just for fun. Unfortunately, the corresponding down skill has not developed yet... You can see pictures of her here.

- Nolana has finally gotten started on some of her scrapbooking that she has been wanting to do for, oh, since we got married.

- I have been spending 4-8 hours a day for the past month plus, reading and getting ready for classes. I get nervous sometimes, anxious others, excited on occasion; I feel humbled, proud, scared, interested, like I finally am studying something worthwhile! It's been a rollercoaster... I feel like I understand females better because of it!

- Daija loves giving wet slobbery kisses. Equal parts gross and endearing.

- At the beginning of the summer we got free passes to the Royal Ontario Museum and to Casa Loma... we still haven't used them

- School starts in 2 weeks.

- We had a week of ridiculous hot, humid weather. Highs of 40, lows of 32. No A/C. Regretting that decision.... Though now it's back to a much more reasonable temp. Almost fall-ish.


And that is the quick, nitty gritty news flash of how our summer went. We're adjusting to Toronto, our place is feeling a bit more like home (though I'm sure Nolana will argue not really!), meeting a few people. I'll be back to blogging more regularly. Keep checking up here, hope I didn't lose anyone over the summer!

What Matters More?

Love or being straight?

Warning: This post might be slightly offensive to certain people. Proceed with caution.

There are few Christian artists who I support these days (and by few I mean one) and that one artist is Derek Webb, formerly of the band Caedmon's call. His first album created a stir with the song "Wedding Dress" and the lyrics,

"i am a whore i do confess
but i put you on just like a wedding dress
and i run down the aisle
i’m a prodigal with no way home
but i put you on just like a ring of gold
and i run down the aisle to you

so could you love this bastard child

though i don’t trust you to provide
with one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side
i am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers less wild
that i would take a little cash
over your very flesh and blood"

The "naughty" words in the song got the album pulled from a number of sellers despite the message's clarity and honesty.

With future releases he kept at it with the messages but kept the albums toned down language wise. Until now.

Derek has just released the new album "Stockholm Syndrome" on his website. Well, the explicit version of the album. His record label refused to distribute it without some changes so a "clean" version will release in fall minus the song, "What Matters More". I promptly went and bought the version off of Derek's site.

Here's the lyrics to "What Matters More":

"You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
'Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak

'Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn't be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn't silently conceal when the liars speak
Denyin' all the dyin' of the remedy

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin' the wind while the pendulum swings

'Cause we can talk and debate until we're blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he's comin' to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin' today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you? "

And a link to hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5pBXY2AkeY

I find it telling that the album is named after a confusion syndrome, where people don't know where their true feelings should lie, aligning themselves with those that hurt them.

As for the song, I can see why the label thought it a little controversial and yet love it that there is someone like Derek bringing issues to the table, issues that no one else in Christian arts would dare to do. He uses his medium to add to the dialogue. I'm not going to discuss my stance on homosexuality because that's not what Derek's doing either. He's not advocating for homosexuality but for an increased love for everybody by Christians. That's a message that is dead on Christ-center.

As for the language, I'm pretty sure that you and I and every Christian artist out there has said worse so why judge? Love matters more.

Jazz in the Park

Last night we celebrated Canada Day by going to check out Jazz in the Park, a weekly free performance in a park not too far from us. This first week was a little Indo-Jazz as we learned about the tabla drums of Northern India. Pretty funky sounds.



It was a nice cool evening and Daija enjoyed the tunes. I think we'll be back to check it out on a weekly basis as they focus on different styles of Jazz. Because it was put on by a local business association it's not affected by the strike.



As we were about to leave I spotted a small commotion caused by the arrival of local MP Jack Layton. I was tempted to join the crowd and shake his hand, pull him aside for a quick word, etc... but what would I say? "I voted for you!" sounds kind of lame, "But I don't think you'd make a great Prime Minister" sounds perhaps a little too harsh... every time I've seen him though he comes across as very down-to-earth.

On the topic of parks, we went for an evening walk in the ravine right next to us and it's quite a nice walking/bike path down there (aside from the slight sewer smell) that can take you meandering through the city right into the heart.

We're slowly getting out and exploring our new city and all it has to offer.

Strike Out

This picture is but a small glimpse at what Toronto looks like these days. Garbage piles up on the streets. Parks, rinks, and baseball diamonds have been requisitioned as temporary garbage dumping sites and bags pile ten high as they fill the rink. As you pass certain alleys or dumpsters you smell the sweet, putrid aroma or decomposing food scraps. Welcome to the Centre of the Universe.

While the strike doesn't affect us as strongly as it does others in the city (being part of an apartment management company we have private contractors for our garbage), there are many other aspects of the strike. We found where the nearest swimming pool was to take Daija only to have it closed the next day due to the strike. Daija has been having some trouble eating so we called the public health line only to be told to call back - don't we know there is a strike happening? Today, I have time to write a blog because all Canada Day festivites have been cancelled. Daycares are closes, summer camps cancelled, parks neglected, etc...

Normally, I withhold my minor frustrations with unions because I know their historical importance in fighting for rights I now enjoy. While I argue that they have lost their way and have pervertyed their original goals, I can still see the spirit is there. Unfortunately, this strike seems to have turned all union supporters to the other side. I think it would be hard to find a soul in Toronto (outside of the union) who feels this is a reasonable strike.

Comments on CBC's message boards read something like this: "SHAME...SHAME...SHAME...
..Nothing but organized extortion", "disband the union, contract privately....it's that simple
DO NOT HOLD THE TAXPAYING MAJORITY HOSTAGE", "This is absurd, unions are becoming more and more like cartels holding the public hostage".... and on and on. And this is from a normally far-left audience.

The main quibbles in this dispute seem to be over the ability to bank sick days and cash them in, a perk the union "earned" last contract dispute. The city argues that in this economic climate they simply can't afford some of these bonuses any more.

To this I say: Fire the striking workers; pull a Ronald Reagan. In a time when the private sector is cutting jobs and costs how can the public sector be unaffected? Be happy you get to keep your job! You're striking and making the people suffer because you want to bank sick days? You've got to be kidding me. These guys start at $20 an hour, have great benefits without much training/education - and you want to bank sick days? This has to be the most ill-timed, poorly thought out strike to date. There is zero public support and for once the majority is telling the city to take a hard line with the strikers and I hope they do.

The union gambled, chose a strike date around the summer and Canada hoping to add extra pressure to the city, and has now struck out. It's time for them to gracefully bend and hope that, when their contract comes back up in however many years time, they play their cards better. It's either that or privatization. Job or no job.

Moving is Never Boring

We've survived the heat. Didn't think we were going to when we woke up the next morning and at 9:00 am the Humidex was reading 38 degrees already! But that afternoon all the humidity brought a thunder/rain storm that cleared the air and has brought temps back to a reasonable 25-30ish. Feels great.

Our little girl is making some serious progress on the moving front too. She has been able to get up on her hands and knees and rock back and forth - crawling is coming soon! She also has started moving like crazy even in her sleep, resulting in some odd contortions.






I've been able to meet some great "beer guys" here and have been treated to some amazing goodies that they've been able to stockpile. Last week the highlight was this beer, The Abyss from Deschutes in Oregon.

Rated currently #4 in the world on Beer Advocate. Difficult to find (re: limited release). Silky smooth with a viscous body. Lots of roasting malts and dark chocolate - just insanely good.

Not only that but I've been able to get some great bottles for my cellar so when the peeps come visit something special can come out. Now if that's not incentive to visit us in Toronto, I don't know what is!



Lastly, and perhaps least boring of all, was this afternoon. We were out working in the tragic mess that is our back yard and we found these little gems hiding in between the fence slats near the house.


The last owner's security system? Neighborhood boys stockpiling for gang wars? Last owner was an accomplished knife-thrower who misplaced a couple? Guess we'll never know...

Extreme Heat Alert

Toronto has issued it's first extreme heat alert of the summer and the CBC website tells me that, with the Humidex, it is now 34.7 degrees. I am now telling you that it is friggin' warm here. Luckily, our house is mostly shaded or we would be toast (literally) without A/C.

To top it off, the city is on strike and places such as swimming pools, splash pads, garbage pick-up, etc... aren't happening.

Welcome to summer in Toronto.

Baby in the Big City

First update from the recent Torontonian-ites (that's what they call themselves, I swear!). Nolana and Daija arrived last Friday night, late, and I rented a car to go pick them up (cheaper than a taxi). I carried them both across the threshold of our new abode with all their luggage in the other hand. The past week has been a crazy one unpacking, moving furniture around and finding places for everything - all compounded by the fact that we are now moving with a little one who demands attention.

But we're adjusting. The place is now livable for the most part, lots still to do though. We've walked around our area and have been scoping out the good places to shop, the Canadian Tire, and finding out that we can buy injera (Ethiopian flat-bread) at the corner store! Nothing's perfect but after a week here we're definitely a week ahead of where we were last week - which is pretty amazing.

Here's some random shots of our babbling, bouncy baby and facts about the big city we'll be calling home for the next while.


Extra boxes are great for playing in... though somehow Daija still manages to get all tangled up!


We had one day without water (some sort of maintenance - kind of felt like Ethiopia!) so Daija had her bath in a mixing bowl.

In Toronto they have recently just made it law that all retailers have to charge at least 5cents for all plastic bags - a great idea to promote cloth bags! But then, instead of recyclable jugs for milk you buy it in bags (which aren't recyclable)!

Reminds me of days gone by.

Today was Father's Day so we walked down Danforth through Greektown and down through a couple big parks; about 3 hours of walking in the 30 degree heat. We're a little nuts. But we got this shot of our new city - "The city within a park" as all the park signs say.