Monday, 13 August 2007
Canada's Rhino Party
I can remember a long time ago my parents fondly talking about the Rhino Political Party that believed in levitation. Well the Rhino Party is making a political comeback and it turns out that they don't believe in levitation per say, but that one of there political promises is that if voted into power they will repel gravity. I'm excited to see what they will say next, there are definitely going to be some fun by-elections coming up in Quebec.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
A Smaller Town
After growing up in Paris, which I call "Small Town Southern Ontario," it will be only a small adjustment when my parents soon move to an even smaller town. I just came back from a week spent at our cottage on Long Point. My parents tore down the old, ugly, and pretty much structurally unsound cottage that was there; and have built a beautiful little house to move into in the next couple of years.
The closest town to the Long Point community is Port Rowen, about 7 kilometres away. Just under 1,000 people live there, which is about a tenth of Paris's population. Besides its quaint small town, harbor side village, feel; the first thing that hinted to its uniqueness was that the hair salon on a small side road off the strip offered: hair cuts, hair products, make-up application, make-up, jewelry, small gift items, and fishing rods. We popped in to see what was for sale and I remembered that I needed to get my eyebrows waxed. I asked how much and she told me $7.50, I made an appointment for that same hour. Even in tiny Paris it is at least $12 to get it done and closer to $18 here in the city.
Not even big enough for a Tim Hortons, Port Rowan has a small coffee shop attached to a fast food burger place at the edge of town, mind you hardware stores abound. They even have a decent sized LCBO and Beer Store, though it seems only one or two bars. Along the main street, Port Rowan also has a large number of boutique gift shops, I bought a part of sliver dress shoes for work in one. No matter how small the town I can always find shoes! In one of the coffee shops you could even get a single bed size handmade quilt for $40, which is a ridiculous steal.
I got some magazines to read on the beach at the pharmacy and decided to pick up a local newspaper for $2. I discovered that "The Port Rowan Good News" is only published monthly, in comparison to "The Paris Star" which comes out every week. A full article, with photograph, in "The Port Rowan Good News" was of the lady who owns the Port of Dollars Discount Store, celebrating the store's 5th anniversary. Although it seemed odd when I read it, I remembered that it was just the sort of thing that "The Paris Star" would report on as well.
The paper also yielded a brochure for Bayfest, a country fair like event which lasts only a weekend. It has a mix of contests, church breakfasts, community BBQ's, fair rides, parades, concerts, other events, and of course fireworks. The contests range from the usual Baby and Pet ones, also seen at the week long Paris Fair, to location specific events like beach volleyball, sandcastle building, kite surfing, and skim boarding. No prizes were listed for any of the events, save one. A $300 first prize in the Ugliest Truck Competition. All Ugly Truck entries join the parade, but the best takes home the $300, an amount which was in bold type with an exclamation mark in the Bayfest pamphlet. What really set the tone for the whole event and the town in general, is that at Port Rowan's Bayfest, the clown is sponsored by the funeral home.
The closest town to the Long Point community is Port Rowen, about 7 kilometres away. Just under 1,000 people live there, which is about a tenth of Paris's population. Besides its quaint small town, harbor side village, feel; the first thing that hinted to its uniqueness was that the hair salon on a small side road off the strip offered: hair cuts, hair products, make-up application, make-up, jewelry, small gift items, and fishing rods. We popped in to see what was for sale and I remembered that I needed to get my eyebrows waxed. I asked how much and she told me $7.50, I made an appointment for that same hour. Even in tiny Paris it is at least $12 to get it done and closer to $18 here in the city.
Not even big enough for a Tim Hortons, Port Rowan has a small coffee shop attached to a fast food burger place at the edge of town, mind you hardware stores abound. They even have a decent sized LCBO and Beer Store, though it seems only one or two bars. Along the main street, Port Rowan also has a large number of boutique gift shops, I bought a part of sliver dress shoes for work in one. No matter how small the town I can always find shoes! In one of the coffee shops you could even get a single bed size handmade quilt for $40, which is a ridiculous steal.
I got some magazines to read on the beach at the pharmacy and decided to pick up a local newspaper for $2. I discovered that "The Port Rowan Good News" is only published monthly, in comparison to "The Paris Star" which comes out every week. A full article, with photograph, in "The Port Rowan Good News" was of the lady who owns the Port of Dollars Discount Store, celebrating the store's 5th anniversary. Although it seemed odd when I read it, I remembered that it was just the sort of thing that "The Paris Star" would report on as well.
The paper also yielded a brochure for Bayfest, a country fair like event which lasts only a weekend. It has a mix of contests, church breakfasts, community BBQ's, fair rides, parades, concerts, other events, and of course fireworks. The contests range from the usual Baby and Pet ones, also seen at the week long Paris Fair, to location specific events like beach volleyball, sandcastle building, kite surfing, and skim boarding. No prizes were listed for any of the events, save one. A $300 first prize in the Ugliest Truck Competition. All Ugly Truck entries join the parade, but the best takes home the $300, an amount which was in bold type with an exclamation mark in the Bayfest pamphlet. What really set the tone for the whole event and the town in general, is that at Port Rowan's Bayfest, the clown is sponsored by the funeral home.
Missing Long Point
View from the front deck of the cottage.
(Picture by Stephanie Beach, taken early morning.)
I miss it so much. What a wonderful week!
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Hiatus
I will be at the cottage reading trashy magazines and books, sunning all day, running with my parents, walking on the beach, eating corn on the cob, watching The Girls Next Door, and generally having a wonderful and relaxing time. I will be back in the O-Town around August 13th.
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Favorite Tree
I know that this is a pretty random post, but The Weeping Willow has always been my favorite tree. I used to see a lot of them in London, Ontario when I visited my Grandma. There are a number on my walk to and from work, which makes me happy.
I'm SO Lucky
I almost wish this would stop happening to me so I can learn to be a bit better with money the hard way. But it seems that whenever I have been even the tiniest bit careless with my spending something happens, and I get some unexpected money. It is like a real game of Monopoly and I keep landing on Free Parking.
I have stretched myself a little bit financially with my brothers visit, followed shortly be the trip to Ami's cottage, followed shortly by my upcoming vacation at my own cottage. Last night I opened up a letter that had arrived to find my GST rebate. Normally this is about $60 four times a year but this year it is over $400 and there will be 3 more coming this year each at $90 a piece. So relieving to have, as that pays the rent!
I have stretched myself a little bit financially with my brothers visit, followed shortly be the trip to Ami's cottage, followed shortly by my upcoming vacation at my own cottage. Last night I opened up a letter that had arrived to find my GST rebate. Normally this is about $60 four times a year but this year it is over $400 and there will be 3 more coming this year each at $90 a piece. So relieving to have, as that pays the rent!
The Man-Boy
I'm happy to continue to be single for a while, since it is quite a rare occurrence for me, but I still like to look at and dream about guys. I can't seem to find a decent guy to crush on. I rarely get to meet new people anymore, and the office offers nothing really in terms of young guys, especially not available young guys. (I can't seem to crush on a guy who is taken, it feels wrong to me.)
When I do crush it seems I'm going way younger. It is like I'm 14 all over again, dreaming about JTT and Devon Sawa. I need to get over this attraction I have to boys. Any teenager or guy in their early 20's will have nothing in common with me. I just have more life experience, been away from home for 4 years now, and tons has happened.
The next option is those guys in their mid 20's, making their age and life experience right at par with me. They seem to be either in a long-term serious relationship or dating all over the place and very unstable. I also find them annoying, they tend to remind me of fraternity guys, which I despise. That leaves me with the late 20 year olds and those in their early 30's. I can't get over that these guys are now men and no longer boys. It seems odd to consider yourself ready to date a man, as I connect the idea of "men" to my father.
I guess I'm not ready to grow-up, I'm scared that I will end up either dooming myself to have bad relationships from bad guy choices or stay crushing on young boys and become a cougar at 23.
When I do crush it seems I'm going way younger. It is like I'm 14 all over again, dreaming about JTT and Devon Sawa. I need to get over this attraction I have to boys. Any teenager or guy in their early 20's will have nothing in common with me. I just have more life experience, been away from home for 4 years now, and tons has happened.
The next option is those guys in their mid 20's, making their age and life experience right at par with me. They seem to be either in a long-term serious relationship or dating all over the place and very unstable. I also find them annoying, they tend to remind me of fraternity guys, which I despise. That leaves me with the late 20 year olds and those in their early 30's. I can't get over that these guys are now men and no longer boys. It seems odd to consider yourself ready to date a man, as I connect the idea of "men" to my father.
I guess I'm not ready to grow-up, I'm scared that I will end up either dooming myself to have bad relationships from bad guy choices or stay crushing on young boys and become a cougar at 23.
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Working On Her Birthday
Erin, one of the FSWEPers, turns 22 today, and she is working. I know the feeling, until this year I have worked on my birthday the past 6 years. So, Happy Birthday Erin, look at that cheeky half grin.
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