My Toronto is...never boring

New York may be dubbed as the city that never sleeps, but I'd like to thing that Toronto is the city that always has (exciting) things happening.

Yesterday my day began with me typing up stuff for my uni. application... supplementary applications stating all my activities since high skool. I decided to take my 'brand new' printer and connect it to my pc, so I could print. ( Now I ask... I bought the printer about 2 or so yrs ago, and never had the need to put it into use till yesterday... so is it still brand new? ) Anyway I proceed to print ...but each time the paper jams so ... no printing done. I keep trying ...try just about every trick - and there are not so many that I kno. So finally I call my 'hubby' he is a comp genius, and we establish that there are no rollers on the one side, and he says take it back to the store . Am thinking I don kno where the receipts are... for all I know they made their way to Detriot...Toront's garbage heaven.

Look at the watch is after 11am...tish ! I have an appointment with the (h)airdresser! (Jamaicans hardly use the h, to them its silent.. so I always wonder if they pronounce hair as air, how to they pronounce heir?) After my shower , I see isikhathi sesidliwe ngu kitty. No time to dress up... so I jump into some white sweat pants, a white tee, white flip flops.... I look at myself and feel am too white , so I throw a brown lil sweater. Now my (h)air... I can't even put a comb thru it. I grab a brush and brush the few stray hairs that have escaped from my ponytail. Time check ... 11.45am , okay perfume...and I'm out. Fone rings tis frendado asking me if I am on my way...am trying to tell her I am on my way and a minute later we r done. Ok so now wat bag will I carry? I settle for my burgundish Guess purse- I might as well carry it ... coz my outfit is not really happening... who cares I'm only going to the (h)airdresser and back. Ohh and I must not forget The Book! (That's for another blog) Anyway am sure the time is inching closer to 1150.

Get downstairs, the new neighbours are on their porch...no time for pleasantries today, so I lock the door and dash out.Tunes in my ear I pick up my pace and head for the bus-stop. When I get there no street-car in sight....damn man. Ahh well it's Queen Street I can get a cab anytime. $ 7 later, I am at Genet's place... but the door is locked. ( Me cabangaz... did I just spend $7.00) to be welcomed by a locked door. My fone out .. I'm about to dial her number when she opens the door. She sez she keeps it locked coz she doesn't want to be disturbed. Hmm disturbed? I don think so... The reason why she keeps it closed is because we are in Reagent Park.. rough neighbourhood... lots of homeless pple, junkies ...and just suspicious characters.

I explain to her wat I want done.. she nods her head like a Grade One pupil. We get started.. asks why I have a lot of scars... tell her that is the nature of my skin, I have sensitive skin. Another client comes in. Genet applies the relaxer to my head...in no time i feel that tingly sensation...and Genet is not even half way.... the problem is like all Africans when she talks her hands and mouth do the talking. By the time she is done applying... she xpects me to be feeling the tingly sensation....but hell to the no... I'm burning. She combs through my hair quickly... and tells me 5 minutes.Woman did you not just hear me say my scalp is burning! She washes the other clients hair...no more (h) air ... akusathambanga ekhanda. I throw The Book aside! I get up and start dancing around., and no am not dancing to the tunes coz those are off and in my purse .

She looks at me , and sez 5 more mins. Ahh wena mama... are u kidding me. Now I am worried , I will have hair falling off my head. Maybe she knows wat I am thinking , becoz as soon as she sez that she says, ok lemme wash it off. After that I sit under the drier and I've renewed my vows with The book. She works on the other client's hair... she has natural hair... very nice hair. Genet jumps back to me ..we blow dry and I sit at the curling iron station. She asks me what the book is all about...maybe she has never seen a union so strong! I tell her the book is about Politics... well not really ... it's about Zimbabwe. The book was written by my friend Dave. It is titled, Mano a Mano -- Quote, Unquote . It is beautifully written, and I can't seem to put it down... I know this is one book that I would have loved to tackle when I studied Literature in English( or English Literature), instead of Great Expectations.

Damn my hair looks swell. And the length... Must say Genet did a good job. I head to the bank to deposit some money into my account. I have more money than I need and I think it would be wise to put it into my account b4 i spend it on a pair of shoes or purse. After this I will be on my way home...yeah right! My bank is across from the Eaton Centre. After my transcation, I see a huge crowd, so i go there. I see the the road is closed... there are stalls everywhere.Haa I love these things.. there's always good freebies. Last year at the Beaches Jazz Festival, I got myself a huge supply of Schick Quattro shaving sticks... I haven't had to buy any since. They are freaking expensive! At the 'Taste of Danforth' I got me a huge supply of gum...lasted me a while too.The year before I was loaded with a huge supply of hand sanitizer.

So much for going straight home. Seng'se toni. Oh I hope I don meet anyone looking the way I do.. then again and my purse are the only things going for me.Ahh then I think of home how going to town was always a big production. MBNA wants people to apply for credit cards... I look to see wat they are giving away....tees, water bottles and bags... nice bag, and its one of those green ones... i can put my book and sweater in it. I think i'll get me that bag. But do I need another credit card...no... I have one unused one at home. After my application , I get my bag and yim' lo am off. I see a lot vegeterian booths. Maybe i should visit them...after all i have though of giving up meat. Ahh no ... I can't live without meat.

Wat is this Citizen's Bank.Guy comes from the booth, gives the gals in front of me his business cards, and he mentions his email address is on them and he is single too. I smirk. Across the booth is the Winter Gardens Elgin Theatre.. there's a line- up( queue) and there are people dressed in costumes... oh kanje its Doors Open Toronto. Never been to it but wat it is, is 'Multicultural places of worship and Toronto’s National Historic Sites will be in the spotlight during this event, which gives visitors an opportunity to explore over 140 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural and/or social significance; admission is free. Many of the city’s finest churches, chapels, temples, synagogues and mosques are among the featured buildings this year, as well as structures never before open to the public. My Toronto always has something to do...and did they say tis mahumpty! I'm still walking and I haven't the slightest clue of what this is. Am close to Yonge Dundas Square now. Then tish , there's a camera crew, and a chicka holding a mic, the camera chick is counting down. Neva seen wateva station they are from... but I'm out. I can't be seen on TV looking like this...am sure my derriere my come out....well it will take someone who knows me real well to identify me from behind. At the Younge - Dundas square ...there's music and a huge crowd...ziyaduma then another TV crew... this time its CP24 and just about everyone watches them, this time I decide not to duck, the lady is having technical difficulties with her mic. It is only then that realize that this is the Green Toronto Festival!. Ahh that explains it. I was wondering why everything was green etc. Now I wonder why if we are to save the planet we should go green, yet green products are pricey..so how do we do it?

Elsewhere I hear there was a Brazilian festival, and there was Carassaga - another festival with 23 countries represented. For now I am hungry..... Let me find something to eat...