True North Strong and Lame

The two things my Japanese students would always say about Canada was that there was "much nature" and "free health care". Only I learned yesterday how free the health care I've been taking granted for my entire life really is. My health card from NS expired last September and I immediately applied for an OHIP card as soon as I arrived in the city. I have a document that gives me the exact date this card comes into effect, however I couldn't help but getting sick this week, and I was sick enough yesterday to need to go to the hospital. Well, it turns out that no one would look at me unless I paid $450 to be checked out. I'm a lifelong Canadian citizen and can vote to change the course of political history while living across the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland, but apparently none of that matters unless I have a piece of plastic with a date on it. Thanks a lot Canada. Yet again, you've proven to me that you're just as smug and arrogant as you were when I left the first time. Toronto is incredibly multi cultural and every time I'm in an office and see immigrants, I think about how frustrating it must be for them to get set up in this country and deal with fat civil servants who sit behind a desk, under a flag that supposedly stands for freedom and acceptance, while these government employees lose their patience with language difficulties and pass the individual who came to this country for a better life off to the next person. We Canadians sure know how to be jerks. Needless to say I stumbled home and didn't pay the $450. This photo is of me standing over the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Sure, it costs a lot to get medication in the US of A, however those people know how to take care of their patients. Probably because medicine is run like a business, but at least when I needed to visit a doctor I was well received and knew that my doctor was actually listening to me rather than sighing heavily because he was overworked and looking for a freaking plastic square. I'm not saying that the US is better than Canada or that any other country in the world is far superior. What I'm saying is that as a Canadian, I expected more of my country and to not have been treated like a pariah by the nurses who claimed it was my fault, nay, my "responsibility" as a Canadian to keep my health card up to date. Wow. I probably would have had an up to date card if Canada had employment for someone of my highly educated skill set and it hadn't been necessary for me to flee this vast land of beavers and maple syrup in search of money for food. Yeah, cause it's my fault. I'm sure I sound bitter, but when my head was spinning, I could barely stand and I had the shakes for no apparent reason, I was a little unnerved to say the least.

Hijacker

Elliott occupies most of my time and I never thought I'd have the patience for taking care of a pet that requires so much exercise and attention, but I'm actually enjoying the early morning walks and watching him have fun at the park with the other pooches. What I'm not enjoying however is the ass who has been putting ridiculous comments on this blog for the last few months. I've been forced to screen the comments before posting and on top of this am being called a comment Nazi. You're a hijacker and an ass. It's bad enough that you think you're so funny, leaving notes about weed and my attitude, it's even worse that you're too much of a pussy to sign your name. Yeah, you've forced me to change my settings, but I don't put this blog out there for you, so you can continue writing...I don't care. You're just a sad individual who obviously has too much free time. Get over yourself.

Big Day

My life is pretty full at the moment, but I'm definitely enjoying the trip I'm taking. I'm still not working full-time but that allows me to develop a kind of schedule with Elliott. Since he refuses to sleep in past 8am, we have our morning walks at 8:30 every day. We go to a massive park near our place and along with running, we've started interacting with the other dogs and their owners. It's like this entire other community within a community where all you need is a dog and you're in. Elliott likes to bark like crazy at the other dogs, which is quite annoying and a bit unnerving to other dog owners (which is understandable), however he's just excited to see them and once he gets to sniff the other pooches, he's set. It's nice to have a refreshing walk every morning. We have our regular route and although I've only had him for three weeks, we've developed our roles. Once we get home I give him his doggy biscotti from Starbucks (yes, I know...), refresh his water and then he plays with his rubber chicken that my cousin Christie gave him. He's obsessed with it. I think he likes the way the rubber feels, but he could run around for hours with that thing. All I have to say is "Get that chicken!" and he's wound up.

Today was a big morning for both of us though as it was the first time I ever let go of his leash at the dog park and let him run free with the other dogs. I was so nervous! When I picked him up at the Toronto Humane Society, I was told that he was a stray and he had a mark on his nose where he'd obviously tried to dig his way out of something. Plus he's not neutered and from what I've been told, that also encourages him to run. However, with helpful advice from another dog owner, I let go of the leash and held my breath as he ran around with a gorgeous Cockapoo puppy and had the best time. It was so nice to see him enjoying himself, but I imagine my anxiety was tantamount to a parent letting go of their child's bike once the training wheels are off for the first time as they pray their kid doesn't fall over. Elliott had a lot of fun and whined when little Lilly went home but it was a good first start for us. I felt like a good parent and I know he was happy.

There's this entire life that the park takes on first thing in the morning. You've got your dog owners taking their pets for some exercise, but there are also the kids rushing on their bikes or scooters to school, however the people I always look out for are the elderly Chinese women that gather in the same place every morning and do their exercises together while gossipping. To me, that scene is the epitimy of city living. There's just something about watching them catch up and bend in different directions, trying to exercise their muscles while I can't see any possible benefit to their calestenics, that makes me smile about being in this city and having Elliott and witnessing the life a small part of this city takes on every day. OK, enough babbling for today.

SKUBB-Do You Know What This Is?

I keep surprising myself, but this weekend I rocked IKEA. My place was in serious need of some basics like tables and a bureau and my cousin Chris was kind enough to help shuttle me there and back with all my goodies. My credit card is practically worn out, however my place is finally coming together. IKEA was in Halifax years ago and of course closed down long before I could appreciate it so this was definitely an eye opening experience. I had no idea you had to put together everything you bought, however I did have my own tools, courtesy of living in previous apartments that barely passed for anything other than slum housing, and with a little back pain and sweat, I managed to put everything together on my own - including my six drawer bureau, or as they call it at IKEA, a Malm. The funniest though was writing down the four things I was going to buy and making our way down the various isles in the warehouse and having no idea what they were since the names didn't even remotely sound like anything home decor-related. Ah IKEA...I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot more time together.

Que Sera, Sera...

I am now OFFICIALLY DIVORCED. Phew.

Much Time Has Passed Between Us...

I love ducks. I love feeding ducks. This photo was from a picnic at a park in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England last summer. I used to love the person who took this photo. Things change.