Neato

Since we have warmed up to just single negative digits, took another neighbourhood stroll.

Never realized some of these structures are heritage buildings.

And never realized they put little Heritage plaques on them.

And never realized people look at you funny when you are on their front porch.

Okay, I kinda knew that.....

Some of these didn't even look very heritagy.

But der they are. Heritagy.

These are just off Yonge St., a few blocks north of Bloor.

A Message From God?

Or from the Ministry of Transportation?

Either way, with drivers like these, I shouldn't be standing in the middle of the road taking pictures.

Hasn't Got His Mojo Back

After that last snow dump, this guy hasn't really recovered yet. And maybe adding "yet" is a bit optimistic.

See "Wham!" as a reminder of what happened.

Quite a bit of the time, I know just how he feels...... Ouff!

Life Imitating Art?

If this photo looks vaguely familiar.....

...that's because it's supposed to!

Unless Norman Rockwell stole the slinking-down-while-the-family-goes-to-church idea from my buddy.

Very clever and faithful recreation, regardless, right down to the dog and scattered newspapers.

Toot, Toot!

Made the right call when I decided to take the train to Merrickville for the recent music weekend and Menudo reunion.

Once I got out of Union Station, that is.

Here is the sight that greets cross-legged travellers from around the world as they arrive in Toronto.

"Cosmopolitan", "World Class", "I'll wait 'til we get back on the train.....".

Mile after mile of desolate, blowing winter conditions.

And looks like there are a lot of smart people in south-eastern Ontario - no one else out on the roads.....


And just to remove any head scratching confusion over the earlier Menudo reference....
Oh yeah, like you haven't changed since you were sixteen.

Come on, grow up.

Might Neighbourly

One bar holding a fund raiser for another bar, their competitor down the street, that burnt down.

Probably wouldn't see that in downtown TO.

And where was this?

The Baldachin Inn in Merrickville, Ontario.

Where I happened to find myself with some other lads watching Tom Wilson, playing with the excellent band Harlan Pepper.

Tom Wilson's son was Harlan Pepper's bass player - big kid in red.

Tom's comment introducing his son was that bass players had caused him so much grief over the years and were so unreliable that he had to make his own.

Another equally eclectic - although lesser known - band going through their paces earlier in the day.

We didn't get their name, but I think this is The Jonas Brothers. or The Justin Beibers or Menudo.

Or not.

One brother didn't get the black-shirt/blue-jeans memo and instead went with the Sven The 70's Ski Instructor look.

But a very warm and inviting venue for the concert. Here some locals getting their photos taken with Tom Wilson.

Amazingly, photo opportunities for The Menudo Brothers are still available.

When You Need That One, Really Great Haircut

So This Is Where All My Guys Are...

Okay, okay, if you think I am being insenstive, then please see "What's Wrong With This Picture?".

Now after seeing this.......you still may be right.

Great - I Thought I'd Missed That

....by a couple thousand years.....

WHAM!

That snow don't fool around.

La la la. Minding my own business, when all of a sudden......

Whole Pay Cheque

[...thanks, Donna.]

This is as close as I'm allowed to get.

Senior Jubilado Es Jubilated

I thought I enjoyed being retired in the summer time.

But I'm loving it just as much right now!

Typed from a WTB on a Wednesday morning.


[WTB = Warm, Toasty Bed]

Got up too late to get a good shot of the real rush hour mush. Sorry.

True Blue......And White

As Don Cherry might say, "Good Canadian Bar...."

If I ever somehow found I didn't know when the next Leafs game is, or how long it is 'til they play, my worries are now over.

I'll even know the time down to the second. To the tenth of a second!

And if you find yourself having to kill a few seconds as the time winds down, The Art Of Pub has a fantastic selection of wings.

Buzzard's Breath packs a punch but the Mexican Banditos are my favourite.

Gee, forgot to snap a pint of the brew used to wash them down. Sorry, Rob.

Oops...Pushed "Publish" Too Fast

Hey, The Toronto Star Reads My Blog, Too! Oh, Oh...

Now, I'm not one to say I told you so (Okay, maybe a little), but not long after I highlighted some of the remaining historical architecture all along Yonge St. [See "A Walk Down Yonge St." for refresher] but who now comes along and does the same thing?

This map even shows their little walk down Yonge St.

Now there are several heritage buildings on Yonge. Lately one less, unfortunately, which likely prompted their sudden interest. [See "You Were Waiting For It."

So I can understand their Johnny-Come-Lately spread in yesterday's paper.
But come on, do your own research.

Their first three buildings are all identified someone's recent post.

Their #1 was my last one (big finish). Their #2 was my lead. And their #3 was my second last (building to the big finish).

I wondered who that was with a camera beside me....

All seriousness aside, it is great that preservation of historical buildings is getting some much needed attention.

It's just sad that it took the torching of the former Empress Hotel to get it into the public's collective conscious.

Hmmmm...now what do I want The Star to tackle next.....

I Can See Clearly.....

Great view coming in to North Bay.

Yikes, that's still a long way down.

Hey, I know that guy!

Gee, I hope Rob can find me at the airport.

Paging Dr. Cowboy.....

No Mistake

You know when you go to a new bar and something just seems a little different and you wonder, is this a gay bar?

Well, when you eventually go to the washroom at Zelda's, all doubt is removed.

It did smell very nice, though.

And the hand towels were to die for.

Regardless, I paid up and left.

Waiting

Hoping


Dreaming
Scenes from the recent weekend, where everything is now captured in suspended animation.

But the air hangs heavy over the muffled landscape, saying, not yet....

And so the backyard waits and waits.

Until it is time to open up one eager eye as spring time approaches.

But for now.....


And here, a scene from a really weird dream.
Are you dreaming about me?

Are you dreaming about me?

Hope not, for your sake.....

[With apologies, of course, to Travis Bickle.]

The Secrets To Being A Dog Person

You know, I think there are really only three secrets to being a dog person.


1) Always speak gently to them.
2) Spend time with them.
3) Hide doggy treats in your crotch.

It's really not that complicated.

You Knew I Couldn't Resist

A huge fire destroyed a downtown Toronto heritage building over the weekend. Originally built in 1847, it was the last of its type on Yonge St. in this area.

It had been vacant (abandoned?) and the owners had been wanting to tear it down, but the city obviously was resisting.

Then this summer, one wall collapsed. (See cheater photo, below.) Hmmm.....

Word was they would now be able to tear it down. No dice, said the city.

So Monday - with purportedly all the utilities shut off (gas, electric, etc.) - the building magically burst into flames at three in the morning. (See another cheater photo, above.)

Hmmmm.....

So now Yonge St. and all surrounding streets are all closed and still smokin'.

And after a preliminary investigation, the police are now calling this a criminal matter.

Excellent.

The city is still trying to see what they can do to save it. But there ain't much left.

Popular Destination?

Went on a New Year's trip with a bunch of buddies and it was a lot of fun.

Ha ha. They're actually in the front of the plane.



Okay, in the bathroom at the front of the plane.

Okay, went by myself on a New Year's trip. But it was still a rockin' good time.

Went to our own Olympic hockey game while there - Canada versus the US.

The Nippissing Lakers (Go Canada Go) against the Lake Superior State Lakers (Booo!)

We all had a great time at the game.

And I guess the best that can be said is that The Lakers won. But, a hint; there wasn't a lot of cheering.

On New Year's day we all got together burned last year's unwanted lumber and last century's unwanted albums (Sorry Olivia Neutron Bomb).

Uhhh..I guess everybody else was in the house. Ha, those Northern guys can't handle a little rain like the UC can!

And I guess the rain must have warped the house door frame, cause it was kind of stuck when I tried to get in. Weird.....

Actually, it was a great weekend.

And the sun finally appeared on the last day. A beautiful view from the upstairs deck.

Thanks Rob & Marsha & Chris for the hospitality!