toronto – Bookish Butch

I’m Back:-)

It’s a gray and rainy morning,

haven’t had much of that lately,

clear blue skies and lovely weather,

accompanied me through,

most of my Toronto visit.

I had the most amazing time,

not much in the way of an agenda,

and,

no work worries,

along with being with a friend,

who I have known and liked for,

the longest time,

meant for a massively enjoyable,

exploration of the city.

I’ve been to Toronto,

before,

a few times.

It’s a city I like,

very much.

I know people there,

good friends,

who put you up,

and,

make you feel like,

an honoured guest.

This time,

I had time.

No rush to get in,

as much as possible in two days.

It is a very freeing feeling,

having time ahead of you,

with no obligations,

or worries.

Mom was at home with,

the Dude,

they are both,

healthy and happy.

No bookstore to look after,

for mom,

and,

no worries for me.

Chris and I did tons of exploring,

we spent a lovely day,

in and around Chinatown,

Kensington Market,

( a hip and quirky neighbourhood, juxtaposition of old and ethnic and hip and millenial, sort of like St-Laurent used to be here, before they ruined it)

the University Of Toronto campus

(which is so architecturally impressive and lush),

we saw Queen’s Park,

and,

Roy Thompson hall.

We walked and walked,

and,

had some truly delicious cups of espresso,

I’m a Montrealer, I know espresso, it’s all I drink, and let me tell you Dark Horse espresso and Broadview espresso are right up there, with the top cups of coffee, I’ve had,- in my life!!

We had Chinese food,

in one of those ugly formica laden places,

that you know are good,

because everyone in there is,

Asian:-)

We did cultural things the,

AGO,

Glad Day Books,

all the stuff,

we botht love,

we watched people,

and,

we spent time,

nice ‘family time’,

with John and the pets,

I was spoiled,

good home cooking,

a guest room,

that had everything I needed,

and,

more.

I felt welcomed and cherished.

I spent an evening,

with two of my favourite people,

my friends the librarian and law proffesor,

I miss them since they moved to,

Toronto,

we caught up,

had a great meal of organic BBQ,

and,

cheerful, intelligent conversation,

and,

spent the night in another,

comfortable guest room.

I saw tons of things,

and,

basked in the beauty and vitality,

that is Toronto,

a really big city.

Meanwhile the Habs were,

eliminated by the hated Senators,

in five games,

and,

the Leafs are hanging on,

against,

Boston!!!!

tonight is the seventh game.

So, it seems that not only does Toronto, have all that largest most diverse and interesting city in Canada thing going on, but, their hockey team is better too, jeez when has that ever happened:-)

When someone is at a cross roads,

in their life,

as I am,

such a city as Toronto,

is tempting,

very tempting,

food for thought.

So that’s my trip and so much more,

I feel,

rested,

stimulated,

relaxed,

and,

for me,

zen.

Thanks Toronto,

I look forward to my next trip:-)

Here are a few snaps,

Me in Kensington Market,

Hungarian Thai???

Again Kensington Market, I like it, a lot,

Chris doing the tourist thing with his friend,

Record shopping, a blast from the past,

Chinatown,

An amazing portrait at the AGO

Chris took this one of me in front of the Toronto Public Library,

notice the gut and the Blundstones:-)

Be well.

I bought some books at Glad day,

I’ll tell you about them,

tomorrow.

Later Girls,

A butch and her boots

Well,

the fall,

the cold part,

has arrived.

The Habs,

have been,

on a losing streak,

but,

tonight,

they kicked,

the Flyers,

butts,

oh yeah,

5-1,

how sweet it is,

take that you,

broadstreet bullies:-)

You all know,

I went to,

Toronto,

recently,

saw some friends,

saw some sights,

I tell you girls,

I love Toronto,

it’s big,

it’s beautiful,

so much to see,

to do,

it may be,

a little bit,

big,

for someone like me,

to inhabit,

but,

I’m going to keep,

visiting.

One of the aims,

of my visit,

was to buy,

a new pair,

of,

Blundstones.

For years,

I lusted after,

these boots,

but,

I never,

seemed to get,

around to buying,

a pair,

two years,

ago,

I bought a pair,

500’s the originals,

in stout brown,

very dark,

almost,

black,

like my hair used to be, before the onset of Silver

I have worn them,

ever since,

every day,

through,

heat,

cold,

rain,

snow.

They are steady and sure,

you don’t wonder,

‘what shoes will I wear, today?’

you pull on your boots.

I love them,

but,

I started thinking,

I’d like a pair,

to be less,

straight,

snazzier,

just a tad,

flashier,

and,

I looked around,

when I found,

the crazy horse brown,

I sort of,

knew,

but,

I had to think about it,

‘did I need a second pair?’

well,

you always need,

a second pair:-)

One of my customers,

told me they,

would be cheaper,

in Toronto,

lower sales tax,

plus I would,

be sure to find,

the type and colour,

I wanted,

on Queen st,

in Toronto,

he was right,

they had all of them,

plus,

sheepskin insoles,

and,

the right,

protection,

for my Blunnies.

A thoroughly,

enjoyable,

experience,

within,

fifteen minutes,

I had tried,

bought,

and,

had my BBB’s,

treated.

I didn’t think,

it possible,

but,

I love them,

more,

than,

the,

originals,

more comfortable,

even,

and possessing,

a certain,

‘je ne sais quoi’

I’ve been wearing,

them,

for four days,

they are,

espousing,

my feet.

You think,

that makes me fickle?

two pairs,

I love them both.

Perhaps I am boot bigamist<wink>

It really is,

a case,

of a butch and her boots,

a love story.

Thank you,

Toronto,

Australian boot store,

and,

my friends,

for,

a beautiful,

weekend,

and,

I hope,

many years of boot,

love

Wink.

Later girls,

Informal boot survey

Another gorgeous day,

it’s the full moon,

I’m feeling weird,

but,

in a,

happy,

whimsical,

sort of,

way:-)

The weekend of,

October 21 st.

I will be visiting,

some good friends,

in Toronto.

As part of my trip,

I will be moseying down,

to,

The Australian Boot Company store,

and,

yes,

getting another,

pair of Blundstones!!

Of course,

we have Blundstones,

in Montreal!

I just want to get them,

in Toronto,

it’s a thing,

don’t ask.

So,

I’m hesitating,

in regards to,

style,

and,

colour,

So,

I’m asking you girls,

what do you think?

First choice,

Walnut brown leather lined 550’s,

slightly lighter colour,

than my current,

Stout brown 500 originals.

I don’t know,

not much,

pizazz:-)

Second choice,

and,

just so you know,

my current personal fave,

Chisel toe leather lined,

in crazy horse brown,

I’m thinking casual,

sort of elegant,

in a flannel butch,

sort of way.

In a pinch,

I could even wear them

to a job interview,

or,

a funeral,

the only two instances,

wear I would never,

wear,

blue jeans,

plus,

who can resist that,

name?

Third choice,

Same as second,

only in Suede.

They’re nice,

but,

harder to,

keep clean,

and,

not practical,

in our climate.

A totally wild choice,

rounds out the group,

Again chisel toe,

leather lined,

but,

in red.

I think if you plan,

on three pairs or more,

you get the,

red,

but,

as your second pair?

I don’t know,

think job interview,

really?

So, you see my problem,

help me out,

of my sartorial conundrum,

please:-)

So, this post is a combo,

elements of butch style,

and,

what do we think?

Both of which,

we haven’t had in a while.

I told you,

I was feeling,

whimsical,

and,

yeah,

a little cheeky,

BB is happy.

So, girls,

tell me what you think,

and thanks.

Later girls,

Toronto is nice and so are the people

I had a terrific time in Toronto.

Check me out at the Hockey Hall Of Fame.

I am standing in a replica of The Habs dressing room,

in front of my all time favorite player’s jersey.

Guy Lafleur, “the flower”

Toronto was great.

My friends were nice enough to take me all over the place.

On Saturday, we went downtown and to Kensington market.

I got a vintage silk scarf for my mom, at a funky little shop.

Downtown we went book shopping and I picked up a book my friend suggested,

Coffee Will Make You Black.

This was at Glad Day, the gay bookstore.

A very enjoyable afternoon.

In the evening we went to,

wait for it,

ROLLERDERBY.

It was fun,

I never did quite figure out the rules but,

so what,

and I met more nice people.

Sunday we had a lovely breakfast at a place called Edward Levesque’s .

followed by an exploration of the Beaches and a walk on the boardwalk.

The boardwalk runs along Lake Ontario.

Wow, no wonder they call them the Great Lakes.

Monday was The Hall and back home on the train.

Toronto made a fabulous impression,

it’s a big city with lots to see.

Nice neighborhood’s, nice people.

I’ll have to go back.

It took my mind off everything,

and was a genuine escape,

in the best possible way.

I hope my friends aren’t too exhausted.

Their hospitality was fabulous. Thank you girls.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t read on the train,

the motion made me a little nauseous when reading.

So, I’ll tell you about Wilde another time.

Later girls