Has it been fourteen days already?
Did I miss anything in the past two weeks?
Wow, what a whirlwind!
It’s been seventeen days since we got married, and it’s all a blur.
Two weeks in the Bahamas, and I feel so out of touch with Toronto.
But it’s great to be back!
I hope you enjoyed the blog material in the two weeks while I was away.
I need a day to get my sea-legs back, but in the meantime, can you fill me in about the following events I’ve missed:
1) Water Fight!
Soooooo……what the hell happened?
I saw photos on the Internet like this one here, and wondered what was really going on:
Is that just a great photo-shop job? Or was this stuff really happening?
Toronto Life did a great article on the “Top Ten Photo-Shopped Images of Union Station.” Check it out HERE.
We met a few people down at the resort, and they knew we were from Toronto. But a few demonstrated their lack of geographical knowledge when they said, “I guess this sort of thing happens often, being so close to the ocean and all?” Yes, that’s right – Toronto is right on the ocean, and THAT is why we had the floods. “The tides were REALLY high – about 9,000 feet,” I responded…
2) Asiana
Our plane went to take off yesterday, and halfway down the runway, at about 200 MPH, the plane put on the breaks, and drove to the end of the runway and stopped.
I was kind of scared, to be honest…
The pilot said that they had to “abort” the take-off, but who really believes anything a pilot says? Man, that was scary! Everybody on the plane was looking around in shock.
I thought back to the Asiana flight from two weeks ago, and realized that being on the ground doesn’t mean you’re safe.
The Asiana incident was scary, and it’s amazing that there were only a handful of casualties. Seeing the photos and video of that plane would lead you to believe it was much worse.
But the worst part about this incident, to me, was the FOX NEWS coverage we received down south.
They had this “expert” on the show, talking about the two Chinese teenagers that died, saying, “The girls were wearing flip-flops! How can you wear flip-flops on a plane! They weren’t prepared for a disaster!” He pretty much blamed them for their own demise.
He then went on to explain that travelers should wear fire-retardant clothing, etc.
Right, so we should all live our lives in fear?
The FOX NEWS guy should just wrap himself in bubble-paper, put on his tin-foil hat, and then take a look at this video:
3) Zimmer……man, what the heck happened?
Soooo…..did anybody follow this case? No?
Look, I know that the three things you’re not supposed to discuss openly are money, politics, and religion, but I can’t resist.
After the conclusion of this trial, I think we came to two realizations:
1) Americans really, really, REALLY love guns.
2) Americans want a white person to be able to shoot a black person with little to no repercussions.
I think the gun is the issue here.
I mean, a black kid (and he’s a kid – 15 years old, so don’t forget this) goes to buy Skittles and iced tea, and on the way home, is followed by a gun-toting, wanna-be police officer, who exits his car, and chases the kid down. A struggle ensues, and even IF we assume that the kid threw the first punch, how is it SELF DEFENCE to shoot that kid through the heart with a gun?
I punch you, you punch me eight times, and then I shoot you with a gun……in self defence. But I started the altercation!
If the kid really did fight Zimmerman, then shouldn’t we be saying, “Good for him”? I mean, when somebody sneaks up on you in the dark and starts asking questions about who you are and what you’re doing, what are you supposed to do? Hand over your passport? Maybe throw it back to the apartheid days, and show him your card that specifies your race and the district where you are permitted to reside? Or maybe, just maybe, you should be weary of the gun-toting lunatic who just chased you down for no reason, outside your front door, and defend yourself?
Jesus! What is going on in that country?
The problem here is that it’s okay to carry a gun on the street! It’s insane! OF COURSE things like this are going to happen!
Remember when we were kids, and we were told to look out for strangers, weirdos, and the like? We were told to be weary of, you know, people that go out of their cars to follow us on the way home! But somehow this was normal to a jury, and half the damn country?
How come I can’t wear a sombrero made of cocaine and burnt Bible-pages, but it’s okay for people to own, possess, and carry a concealed weapon?
Ugh….I digress…
4) Molson Indygnification
Is anybody tired of the city streets shutting down for the Molson Indy?
NASCAR is huge in the United States, and Formula-One is huge in Europe, but who watches the Indy series?
Raise your hand if you can name five drivers on the Indy circuit. Right…
Did any of you watch the coverage? Anybody attend any events?
I dunno. I’m a huge sports fan, and I love Toronto events – Woofstock, Taste of the Danforth, Luminato, and everything in between. But has the Molson Indy become more trouble than it’s worth?
5) Toronto Blue Jays
So they kinda suck, huh?
I count myself among those who predicted a World Series victory back in March, and now I’m scratching my head.
What’s with these guys?
Is this a Toronto-thing? Are we just cursed? If these players were together in New York or Boston, would they be in first place?
Back in April, every sports fan was saying, “Forget the Leafs’ catastrophic loss to the Bruins – BASEBALL is around the corner! Go Jays!” Now as we approach August, the same sports fans are shouting, “Forget the Jays, man! The Leafs are going to run a training camp in seven weeks! Go Leafs!”
Ah, the plight of the Toronto sports fan…
6) Ring Finger
Guys – help me out here.
I can’t type with this goddam wedding band on.
I was able to golf with it okay, but now that I’m back on the keyboard, I can see what a sacrifice marriage has become…
Be honest guys, and speak from your experience: how long does this take to get used to?
Amral
at 7:17 am
I took mine off after 1 month,can’t get use to it,feels like it is itching my finger. Wife still frets that I do not wear it. Married now for 27 years.
Geoff
at 8:54 am
It takes about a year to get used to the weight. I assume you bought a comfort fit ring, it really does help. I think you either decide you’re going to wear it and just wear it all the time like it’s crazy glued on, or you go like Amral above and just say ‘yeah no’. You can’t wear it off and on and get used to it is my main advice.
Zimmerman trial was interesting. I think it just falls into the classic ‘reasonable doubt’ issue which there was/is. And Zimmerman is as Hispanic as he is white (not that that makes it ok, I agree this guy was looking for trouble – I mean the 911 guy said “look buddy, stop #@$#@ing following this kid”.
Spiltbongwater
at 9:22 am
Even better then Fox News was KTVU from Oakland falling for a 3rd grade prank and reading out on air the 4 pilots names. Captain Sum Ting Wong, Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk, and Bang Ding Ow.
FWIW, I do wear 100% cotton clothing when taking an airline flight. It greatly increases you chances of survival if the plane was to crash.
horrido
at 5:12 pm
I’m Chinese-Canadian, and I laugh every time I read these names (shame on me), but really, how can KTVU be so retarded?? What kind of people do they hire? Anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, with more than two brain cells to rub together can obviously see the hoax. Tell me I’m wrong…
AsianSensation
at 10:34 am
Welcome back to reality DF.
I shoulda gotten a 1/2 size smaller ring. Had it for a month now and it’s still feels weird.
Just a reminder, if you forget to wear it out and there’ll be hell to pay… regardless of if she’s ‘ok with it’ or not.
To sum up:
1. Our infrastructure is a joke. 1 day of rain is all it takes to knock out a city. This should be a wakeup call to our city planners.
2. What’s safer to fly in; flip-flops or crocs or chuck taylors?
3. Zimmerman would probably be safer in prison.
4. The indy should move out of the city. Mo-sport?
5. Blue Jay hype will soon turn into Leafs hype which will also lead to crushing disappointment.
6. See comments above.
Geoff
at 1:27 pm
You can get it resized or made to fit better even if it has a pattern. I lost about 25 lbs after I got married and got mine adjusted to fit much better.
AsianSensation
at 3:59 pm
I would love to, but i was told it can’t be adjusted because it’s cobalt.
Geoff
at 9:16 am
Google says otherwise https://www.josephjewelry.com/guide/metals-cobalt.php
I’d get at least a second opinion than wear a ring I’d lose washing my hands someplace.
Eric
at 12:02 pm
Not quite the same thing, but it took a few months of wearing my iron ring (pinky finger) to get used to it. Now I hardly notice it.
Amral
at 3:01 pm
I do wear mine when we go to formal functions,but take it off when I get home. I am not worried about the city,but I am damn fed up with the subway/LRT debate. I will be in a wheelchair by the time they put a shovel in the ground.I am 51 now lol.
BillyO
at 1:38 am
Indy is a big money maker with lots of off shoot money coming into the city. Traffic also was not that bad that weekend – I entertained guests driving on from the 905 on both Sat/Sun – living near the Gardner seems worse during your typical game night
BillyO
at 1:45 am
Also, some possible blog topics:
This story: http://read.thestar.com/#!/article/51d1fbf47b1eac4829f09db9-slaughterhouse-smell-repels-toronto-condo-dwellers
And this one: http://read.thestar.com/#!/article/51e7264e7b1eacba2f8a9c21-changes-to-condo-act-will-offer-greater-protection-for-residents-liberals-say
P Maitland
at 10:00 am
Re: #6 – Wedding Ring
Dave, consider buying an everyday wedding ring. I found it annoying when trying get used to a relatively heavy ring (compared to nothing on the other fingers, so I bought a cheap titanium ring online (try ebay- should be well under $50 shipped) which was a comfort-fit style and is a fraction of the weight.
Most of the time, I barely notice that it’s there, and if it gets damaged or lost through day-to-day use, I can easily replace it.
Bob
at 1:51 pm
Mine’s in the Humber river.
MY
at 2:04 am
I don’t live my life in fear but I don’t wear open toed shoes on planes and while I rarely take my shoes off in the air, I never take them off on take off or landing. Also, when I used to travel for business I would never wear pantyhose if I was in a dress while flying. Bare legs or pants. I am not a nervous flyer at all, but I see no reason to not be prepared. Same thing when I’m on the Marine Atlantic ferries between Newfoundland & Nova Scotia… I usually try to make sure I have warm clothing with me (depending on the season) just in case. Also, closed toe shoes.