Author Archives: Rachel

Happy Easter. Watch Out For The Terrifying Rabbit.

Posted in Thoughts About Life by

scary_easter_1Easter. A wonderful time spent with family and a grand turkey dinner. The day off work is also nice. However, I’ve been thinking about the odd traditions that come along with Easter. Namely, who decided that a chocolate egg-laying bunny would be a fun way to celebrate the winter thaw?

Who created the Easter Bunny, and why must they hand out eggs? Is it not special enough for there to be a giant chicken handing out it’s discoloured eggs? Hey kids, these ones are duds. Want them? Yes, this would be terrifying. However, I’m sure there are many traumatized kids that would argue a giant rabbit walking on its hind legs is equally terrifying. Trust me, I’ve seen the tears. And somehow it’s necessary to take a commemorative photo with this creature. Aren’t photos with Santa enough?

I think the Holiday Committee is pushing this Easter Bunny idea a little hard. Sure, Easter egg hunts are nice, but taking a photo with the Easter Bunny? Do they really think that kids are going to start begging their parents to take them to the mall so they can meet  a terrifyingly large rabbit? Next they’re going to convince kids to leave carrots out for the Easter Bunny and sleep on the couch in the hopes of catching a glimpse of this mystical creature.

Also, I don’t think we really need an excuse to buy copious amounts of chocolate. It’s like we won’t feel as guilty if it’s seasonal chocolate shaped as eggs or rabbits. Wouldn’t a mini egg taste just as good if it was an ordinary circle? Mini Circles. They pretty much sell themselves.

A little food for thought. Happy Easter.

Friendship: Bridging the Gap Between Virtual and Reality

Posted in People Watching by

lego_bridgeIn the modern age of social media, we know far more about strangers than we (probably) should. We see countless photos of friends’ family members, causing us to feel like we know them…which we don’t…and due to loose privacy settings, we can often dig deeper and strengthen the bonds of friendship… the one that doesn’t really exist. Come on, people. Tighten your privacy settings. It’s your own fault.

You know their names, you know their family members, and possibly a few of their friends. You probably even know where they spent last summer…just kidding…I don’t know that much about strangers… Anyways, what do you do when you see these people in real life? Most of us choose to ignore these basically strangers and carry on with our day. I mean, they are strangers, right?

I encountered this very situation the other day. There I was, minding my own business, when I looked over to spot a friend of a friend. Instead of pretending I didn’t know her, I decided to go with option number two. I wanted to meet her. You might be wondering why. “But, Rachel, she could think you’re a crazy stalker. She might even run away and call the police!” Thankfully, it went much better than it played out in my mind. After confirming her identity on Facebook (of course), I walked up to her and said, “You don’t know me, but I know everything about you. I’ve actually met everyone in your family, except you.” Maybe I should’ve gone with a different opening line… Once the initial shock wore off, she realized that I’m a lovely person that wanted to bridge the gap between reality and cyber reality.

One man’s awkward situation is another man’s entertaining anecdote.

Why I Don’t Live on a Beach

Posted in Canadian Living by

IMG_2123I recently returned from a wonderful vacation in Miami filled with beautiful beaches, warm sun, and not a care in the world. Sadly, my brief somewhat tropical escape had to come to an end. I landed in Toronto, stepped out of the airport, and BAM!! The 50 degree (Celsius) drop in temperature hit me in the face like a sack of potatoes. I thought to myself, “Why do I live here?!”

Canada is a lovely place. I live in Toronto, and while we do have beaches, they’re not quite the ones found in sunny Florida. There are no shells, the sand’s not very white, and I don’t recommend swimming in the water. In Toronto, cloud-free days are few and far between. Even in the summer there’s no guarantee. You’re better off investing in a toque than a bathing suit.

So, why do I live in frostbite central? Yes, I was born here, and yes it would be a huge hassle to immigrate past the lines of my home and native land. Nevertheless, I live in Canada because it’s great. Just to prove it to you (and myself), here are three reasons off the top of my head.

1. A Sorry At Every Corner

Sure, some countries may gawk at our politeness. Personally, I like living in a place where people apologize when you bump into them. You read that right. Canadians (often) apologize for getting in your way. Some people think this is weird. I think it’s nice. It’s better than an enraged lunatic screaming your ear off for getting in their way. Yes, these are the options.

2. Unlimited Freezer Space

In Canada, there’s never a lack of freezer space. Let me paint a picture for you. You’re having a party. The standard freezer space in your fridge is filled to the brim with frozen treats. There’s nowhere to store the surplus of party beverages you purchased for your guests. In the southern most parts of the world, this would be a disaster. You’ll become an outcast forbidden to throw dinner parties for your social circle ever again. For Canadians, it’s barely a thought. Just stick it in your garage. Garage is full? Just stick it outside. Problem solved.

3. Night Driving

Driving in the snow at night can be dangerous. Even if you have a vehicle well-equipped with snow tires and four-wheel drive, there’s always a chance that some less than prepared idiot will turn your day, and possibly your car, upside down. However, if you find yourself driving down an empty country road during a snow storm, it’s actually pretty cool. All of a sudden your car is an X-Wing Fighter barrelling through space at warp speed. Engage hyperdrive!

Regardless, I say bloom where your planted, even if the ground is frozen.

Super Bowling in Canada

Posted in Canadian Living by

super bowl XLIXAnother football season has come and gone, and with that, another Super Bowl. I just love the Super Bowl. Aside from the fact that it’s my favourite professional sport, it’s such an exciting event, that is, if they put on a good show. Thankfully, this year did not disappoint!

Super Bowl XLIX started off with the national anthem sung by none other than Idina Menzel. I could basically stop right now, but I’ll keep going. Then the biggest football game of the season began! Tension was in the air, people were sweating (thankfully I was safe on my couch), and jobs were on the line. Then half way through the craziness, an original concert was put together just for me (okay, the whole Super Bowl-viewing audience). Cue the dancing sharks. Finally, the superior team prevailed over the other! The crowd went wild! Then the players went wild! There was confetti everywhere! Where did that all come from?! I didn’t see any confetti cannons…must be magic. There was even magic confetti in the air!! If this doesn’t convince you, you’re basically dead inside. I’m sorry for your loss.

One of the downsides to watching the Super Bowl in Canada, is the commercials. Americans don’t realize how good they have it. They have the pleasure of witnessing the fruits of millions of dollars spent on advertising. In Canada, we get to watch the same four commercials on repeat, and let me tell you, it’s way worse than it sounds. Even if you manage to catch the game on an American channel, Canada (I’m assuming it’s a country-wide effort) somehow intercepts the airspace during breaks. These companies must be spending a ton on these commercials to have them viewed a million times. This is not an exaggeration, I counted. Yes, I’m a very good counter. Ask my mom. Well, at least there’s YouTube. I guess I could have just looked them up beforehand, but who wants to ruin the surprise. And yet, some Americans couldn’t be bothered to watch the game. I guess the grass is always greener in America.

I’m always interested in how Canadians choose their favourite football team. Not having an NFL team of our own, we’re open to choose whoever we feel deserves our loyalty. Some people go with Buffalo because of the proximity, while others choose the Vikings because they’re crazy (Yes, they are). Also, why is it so horrible to pull your loyalty from one team so you can hand it to a better one? Why should I have to stick with a losing team? Tell me, where’s the honour in that? No? The cheese stands alone? Alright…

Well, only 210 days until next season.

2015: If There’s An Art Gallery Party, I’ll Be There.

Posted in Thoughts About Life by

Happy-New-Year-2015Just when you thought you were done with New Years Resolution posts, I swoop in and sneak mine in under the wire. Yes, this is under the wire. I was never really one to make resolutions. I thought it was kind of dumb to wait for January to change and improve your life. I also didn’t think I was capable of change. I’m actually quite rigid (see previous post). I’m one of those weird creatures of habit who’d rather do something boring and familiar than jump out on a limb and possibly experience something great. The fear of the unknown is real people!

So, I continued letting January (and the other 11 months) pass by without trying to figure out what I needed to fix in my life.  I figured, you can’t improve on perfection, right? If you think something should change, maybe it’s you! Down with New Years Resolutions…but I digress. Then last year happened. Last New Years, I decided to make some changes. I decided to stop wishing I had a better life and started living one.

Thing I did #1: No More Sugar (Sort of)

I cut out most of the food in my life that taste good. I know, doesn’t that sound fun? Yeah…it was super hard (case and point), but I powered through (with a little help from some very knowledgeable and supportive friends) and I lost 15lbs. Yeah, 15lbs!! I even ventured into the scary part of the gym, the one with the pumped up dudes checking themselves out in the mirror. It’s really not that hard to work out around them.

Thing I did #2: Books, Books, and More Books!

I’m reading more books. I used to fill my shelves with books I’d like to read. However, I rarely picked one up, let alone read it all the way to the end before getting distracted by another new book. Not anymore. I generally gravitate more towards the autobiographies/ collection of humorous, personal essays rather than the deep “War and Peace” types. Maybe one day I’ll get there. Baby steps.

Now What?

This year, I not only want to stick with these new changes, but I want to keep going. I’d like to fill my life with more cultural experiences. I want to watch more critically acclaimed movies (films?), read more books, and go to more cultural events. Art galleries have parties too, right? So, stay tuned for artsy Instagrams and blogs about my cultural adventures.

What are your New Years resolutions? Let me know in the comments below.