The Squares convened in Toronto for the Annual Squares with Curves Doing Cool Shit for the Summer tour. It's the first one of what I hope to be an annual thing but I will never EVER, NEVER say First Annual. You don't get it. That phrase drives me up the cotdamn wall! First Annual?! That's not possible! Woosa!! Deep breaths, deep breaths. Sorry I'm ok, I'm good. Anyway, the NYC Chapter of SWC flew to Toronto to meet up with the Australian Chapter head, Jess. It had been a while since I've seen her and we just had to make the quick jump over the border to meet up.
The flight from NYC to Toronto is 61 minutes long. That's it! I can leave work and still make it in time to meet a cutie for dinner! I'm just saying it's possible. Anyway, one of the first things I noticed about Toronto is that everyone is really nice. Like, REALLY nice. At the airport, fellow travelers welcomed me to Canada and graciously directed me to the train station....just because. They saw my friend and I a little out of sorts and instead of just letting us wander they walked with us and bid us good night. Just solid people. That happened a lot during our four days there. People were just eager to help.
Coming from NYC, you have the split second thought of: "What do you want? Why are you talking to me?" Then you realize they are being cordial. It made me think, "Jeez, we really do live in a concrete jungle." We are always waiting for the next attack, the next battle, the next hustle. Downtown Toronto is very similar to Midtown Manhattan. So much so that Toronto doubles as NYC in a lot of tv shows and films. Seeing it up close, I could see why. There would be moments that I'd forget I was away from home. However, I'd remember when a stranger would say good morning or a waiter would stop and chat. I KNEW it wasn't home. But it made we want to change my VIEWS (get it? I know, corny) a bit. I made a silent promise to myself to smile more. To be a bit more open when I got home. If I want to see that change, I have to be the change right?
We took a sightseeing double decker bus and the Squares went nuts. We learned, we giggled, all the touristy things. We even visited a castle a man built for his wife, just because she wanted a modest home for them. He went ahead and went with like 98 rooms, acres of gardens and an oven big enough to cook an oX. Three bowling alleys and elevators.
And I can't get a text back.
The highlight of this trip other than seeing Jess was Graffiti Alley. It's a series of alleys in Toronto where street artists were able to just go crazy. And Crazy they went! It was so good to see a place where creativity was allowed to thrive. Loira and I went bananas. I look at the photos and they still make my blood pressure go up. They were so colorful and invigorating. After an afternoon of filling our eyes to the brim with art, we needed to fill our tummies. We stumbled upon Cacao 70. Basically, you come here to eat your feelings and feel good about it. Loira and I shared a waffle and it was, well, the best waffle I've ever had. Think of it as Max Brenner's but BETTER. If you're EVER in Toronto, please go!
Life in a Crayola 64 box is so much fun! This is essentially every convo L and I have. Also, look at my size 22 FEET!
Toronto was good to me. I have to admit, I now feel like I understand Drake a little bit better. I can't believe Drake if he's going to rap about shooting up a liquor store or putting hits out on people or even being a drug runner. But now that I've been to Toronto, I CAN believe that he gets stressed out when girls be actin up! When they play with his heart. I get it.
