First thing first... does anyone have suggestions on how to get the sawdusty smell of ikea out of ones apartment?!
My drive from NS to ON was relatively uneventful. My parents came along in their car although Dad made Mom drive with me so that he could listen to his music at an above average/healthy level which prohibited me from playing my really vulgar gang rap. Maybe next time... The strangest thing I saw enroute was (you guessed it...) in Quebec. There was a huge motel on the side of the Trans-Canada shaped like a castle with huge dinosaurs placed around the perimeter. Just when I was thinking to myself "Wow- who would actually stop and stay there?!" I figured it out. There was a HUGE neon sign flashing "WE.... SPEAK.... ENGLISH!" If it hadn't have been 10am, you're damn right I would have pulled over and stayed there!
For all of those people who have ever doubted I can do something handy, I will have you know that in the past 9 days, I have purchased my very first power tool and have assembled:
1 desk (L-shaped with CD rack and storage! those are way harder than your average desk)
1 coffee table
2 dining room chairs
1 dining room table
1 ikea chair (the ones that don't exactly rock when you lean back but kind of bounce a little) and
1 bed
I have also installed 1 cork board above my desk AND curtains!
I've been spending my days in my "home office" and weekends and evenings exploring my new home of the Danforth/East York area of Toronto. Luckily, I had a visitor come knocking on my door introducing himself as the Liberal candidate for the Toronto-Danforth riding- Andrew Lang himself. He asked me if I had given any thought to the upcoming election and I let him know that I hadn't given thought to anything other than assembling furniture since I was knew to the city. Upon telling Mr. Lang that I was from Nova Scotia, he perked up and informed me that he has "lots of family" from Nova Scotia. I asked him what part they were from and, after a moment of hesitation, his response was "All over really but mostly downtown. Some in the suburbs." "Downtown?" I replied. "Downtown Nova Scotia?" "Yes!" he responded with confidence, "I just love it there." Now I was left with two choices. 1) Call him an idiot and go on my merry way or 2) Make him my puppet. "Oh absolutely" was my response, "Living downtown Nova Scotia is great. There's a lot of waterfront property there. You don't get that as much in the Nova Scotia suburbs." We made idle chitchat for another 4 minutes or so about the differences between downtown Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia suburbs until I think one of Lang's helpers started to clue in and they made their into my building to make small talk with other residents. He did however let me know that he and his wife lived near by and he would be happy to answer any questions I have about the area over email... then neglected to provide me with his email address.
One important survival tip I've discovered is, when calling Bell's help hotline (which I've done about 25 times since I've been here as has everyone else I know), you can completely bi-pass the tell-me-what-your-problem-is automated message girl by yelling "LET ME TALK TO A REAL PERSON" into the phone. Her response is "Ok. I'll connect you to our next available service representative." Too bad the automated chick is probably more knowledgeable and helpful than the actual person you get on the line. Rats. You win this round, Bell.
I intend to start taking pics and videos of funny things around here soon. A few shout outs before I go:
The AARAO crew: I'm going to miss traveling with everyone sooooo much this year. Please please please drunk dial me all the time and be careful who you give the finger to on the highway. Drive safe and party hard.
Wolfvillians: I absolutely crave Lib Pub, Paddy's beer and Merchant coffee. I miss you all so much and I hope that the wings are still amazing on Wednesdays at the Axe and that the DJ at the Vil still says "It's laaaaaaaadies niiiiiiiight" on Thursdays altho' there is no advantage to being female that night or any night at the Vil unless you want to pick up
Those of/in the Nish: Thank you for such a wonderful summer. It was so great to be in such a positive and supportive environment. I suppose we might have had some fun too :) Shirlyn & Sean, you are awesome roommates and I miss you and our TV nights. Please tell Jon, Kate and the kids I miss them.
Keep in touch and talk to you soon,
Darbs
