And Sometimes I Take Pictures. #Toronto

Note: I’m not a photograhper

Not even close. In fact, I’m not really all that great at taking pictures and I rarely like having my own picture taken.

But sometimes, when something happens and the world is shouting at you that it needs to be remembered or shared, you just have to reach for your camera… or iPhone.

Admission: If it weren’t for instagram I probably wouldn’t take nearly as many photos as I do right now.

I found this yesterday. Cropped it and uploaded it to Facebook today. I love it. It’s a chalk drawing at Queen West and Portland.

This one here is one of my favs recently because I had never even noticed this Fisherman on King Street West (Shaw-ish) until that morning on the streetcar. And against my usual habit of just looking at something and then walking/riding away, I pulled out my phone, opened the window on the streetcar and started taking photos.

Does anyone know who painted this dude? When I posted it on instagram someone asked if it was Banksy… but I’m pretty sure it’s not. And what’s with the red dot? Is it like MS Paint, they started with the wrong colour but forgot to erase the mark when they started over again?

I’m so confused and intrigued and impressed.

The pictures with the beer and coffee in the image at the top of this post were taken from the balcony at the office. It’s awesome. The breeze is frequent. The sun is shiny on sunny days. And we even have some sweet furniture to lounge/meet on.

This is what it looks like when you look east and west.

Molson Stock Ale – Don’t Call It A Comeback!

Don’t call it a comeback,

It’s been here for years,

Rockin its peers and puttin’ suckas in fear!

I know I changed it a little but thank you to LL Cool J for the greatness that is Mama Said Knock You Out.

For generations Molson Stock Ale has been enjoyed by beer drinkers all over this great land. Even though it may not have ever been the most popular, it sat there (cold and refreshing) in the background. When I was younger my friends and I started drinking Molson Stock Ale at parties. We loved that label and grew to love the taste. There was no irony. There was no cool factor. There was just beer.

Fast forward approximately 10 years and Molson Stock Ale is seemingly making an entrance into the hipster world of “not cool so it’s cool” beers. PBR and Labatt 50 are already selling a ton of bottles, cans and pints in bars and beer stores and you know what… I’m not mad.

I’m happy!

I love that Molson wants to cash in because I want to be able to drink Stock Ale, that isn’t from Mill Street, when I go to the bar. I want to be proud of the anchor and rope on the label. I want my beer.

I think that it will soon be time to find my Team Stock Ale t-shirt and go sit on the patio with a cheap pitcher.

If you want to join me, let’s make a plan.

If you know somewhere that’s serving Stock Ale, let me know.

If you aren’t familiar with this beauty, give it a try.

You won’t be sorry you did (especially not at $12 a pitcher!)

Enjoy!

You Guys, It’s So Nice Out – Let’s Do Stuff!

The weather seems to have turned (for now) in Toronto and it’s making me want to do things outside.

I haven’t wanted to do things outside for months!

So now that it looks like double digit temps may be sticking around (maybe) here are some of the things I wanna do.

Let me know if you want to do them with me or if you have other ideas to add to the list.

* Have a picnic

* Go to the zoo

* Walk Queen West on a Saturday Afternoon

* Walk Roncy on a Sunday

* Read outside in the sun

* Go for a run (this is new)

* Drink coffee on the porch

* BBQ

* Drink beer on a patio

* Walk around in flip flops

* Play with a parachute in the park

* Go camping

* Go fishing

* Be at the ball park

* Listen to live music outdoors

I think that’s a pretty sweet list of things to do in awesome weather. Let me know if you’re around and wanna hang out. Or make me jealous with your own plans that I’m not invited to.

Have fun!

All I Want For Christmas… 2011 Wish List

Dear friends and family, the Christmas season is upon us and while we may not have snow on the ground in Toronto yet it is time to start putting together wish lists.

I’ll admit that I haven’t opened the Sears Wish Book this year (or the last few years), but I still think that I have a few good ideas of what I would like to unwrap this year.

There have been a lot of years that I haven’t known what to ask for. And when people ask me what I want I usually can’t answer off the top of my head. But I figure if I write it down and send it to the internet then maybe all of these issues will be taken care of.

Side Note: Mom, I know you’re reading this

Some of these may make you giggle – but I assure you that there is nothing on this list that I wouldn’t be happy to receive.

• Fruitcake
• Blue Jays Swag (new logo)
• Batman Comic Books
• Coffee Table
• Beer
• Wine
• Coffee
• Coffee Maker
• Old Wooden Picture Frames
• Baseball and Hockey Cards
• Socks
• A Jump Rope (got it!)
• Halls Cough Drops
• Cookware
• Small Slow Cooker
• Baking Supplies
• Toronto Based Art

There may be things that come up between now and the 25th of December, but I think that’s a pretty good list of things to start with…

Plus, you’re all going to want to save a little something for my 30th birthday since it’s coming up soon too.

This is me wishing you and yours early best wishes for the entire Holiday Season and a Merry Christmas!

ps. Feel free to add your wish list in the comments. You never know who might see and pick up that something special you’re wishing for this year.