Toronto

Thought I wouldn't be able to blog here, but my son has a fantastic setup and he's at work, so here I am tapping away. 

Back in the country's most famous city.  Not sure if it is the largest any longer, maybe Vancouver has claimed that spot, but it is the city everyone who doesn't live there loves to hate.  That's the one thing I have noticed living in Calgary:  people hate Toronto.  No need any longer because Calgary is way more successful than Toronto -- more people moving there, more people making big money, you name it, Calgary is booming.  And Ontario is a mess.  Huge deficits and bad management all 'round.  Thank you Dalton McGinty -- a guy without an economic bone in his body.    What has really destroyed Ontario's manufacturing sector is the protectionism of industry and the unions.  I mean, what is a guy with no education doing earning $50 or $75 an hour on an assembly line??!!

Nearly bit it on the 401 from the airport last night.  It was 10 o'clock at night and the lanes were jammed with lunatics (mostly young males) speeding and racing along as if it were 10 in the morning.  I even hit gridlock and didn't move an inch for half an hour.  At 10 o'clock at night!

But, ah, heat at last!  It is perfect here and I am loving it!  Off to the mall to watch a few people shows.  More later.

The most interesting part of my shopping excursion was the condom section of the drugstore.  Man, haven't looked there in a thousand years and has it changed.  I remember when you had to whisper to the druggist if you wanted to buy a condom.  They kept them hidden behind the counter in good, old Orange Ontario.  Not anymore.  They're displayed in all their colourful glory.  Two young guys were discussing the pros and cons, merits and drawbacks of various brands.  Absolutely no embarrassment whatsoever.  Now they have about a hundred varieties from "Fabulous Flavours" to "Ultra Thins" to "Extra Large" to "Fully Lubricated".  One of the guys bought the double/double, the "Extra large/Fully lubricated".  Too funny. 

Other than that, the big difference from Calgary or Cochrane is how rude Torontonians are.  They behave in the drugstore aisles as they do on the 401.  They just barge along, no "excuse me", no "pardon me", no "after you", no "please", no "thank you".  It's just "me first" as they push past -- expecially if you are of "a certain age".  Then it's really open season.

Mall shopping is no longer a spectator sport.  It's game on.