Random Wanderings and Wonderings
Although I haven’t been doing much walking there this winter, one of the pleasures of exploring Mount Pleasant Cemetery in any season is admiring some of the unique monuments and memorials scattered throughout the grounds. Many of the most touching bronze monuments are reflections of childhood fun, like this one of two children sharing a book.
If you’re wondering, the book is blank.
Got that, everyone? Snow is going to blanket southern Ontario, even the city of Toronto. That’s right, the super-futuristic protective weather dome that normally steers all precipitation away from us and maintains a comfortable 21° temperature year-round is malfunctioning, with the result that even the city of Toronto will be snowed upon. The low pressure system, tracking from Windsor to Ottawa will veer as many as no kilometers off its path, ensuring that even the city of Toronto will see at least the minimum amount of snow expected from the storm.
Yes Canada, it’s winter out there. Even in the city of Toronto.
(The Weather Network storm watch has been updated since the above screen cap was taken late this afternoon; Toronto is no longer singled out as if snow is as unexpected here as it is in Miami.)
We all know that just like many other drivers, some police officers regularly park in bike lanes and other no-stopping zones. But the picture and an almost throwaway aside in this story from the Star illustrate that some officers don’t just have a rather liberal interpretation of the proper use of bike lanes, but they also seem a little confused about who has the right of way on those little ribbons of steel that crisscross the city. Surely even the most hubristic officer should realize that parking in the train lane is a losing proposition.
Also, top marks to the Star for using the fine phrase “stuck in the wigwags.” Although the term “wigwag” (yes, I had to look it up) is not technically applicable to the drop-down barrier that the cruiser is stuck in, I’m still filing it away at the very top of my “gotta-say-it-myself-someday” notebook.
This has virtually nothing to do with Dodgeville’s usual beat, but I want one of these suits even more badly than I want one of those motorized coolers. Of course I wouldn’t look nearly as graceful as this guy and I doubt I could beat a motorcycle in a race down a mountain, but I’d sure have fun trying.
Says the blurb about these stylish insect-proof pants on MEC’s web site:
These breathable and lightweight bug pants are made of economical, airy, and bug-proof 100% polyester no-see-um mesh, and provide a very effective deterrent against bugs.
Now I’m no expert, but no-see-um mesh or not, I’m pretty sure that I can-see-um right through those airy pants. Fortunately, the official product picture on the manufacturer’s web site is a little more explicit about proper wardrobe etiquette when wearing mesh pants.
Picture (sans model) from MEC’s product page.
Hmm, where’d that derailleur go? I swear it was there this morning.
Oh, there it is. Fixing this may require just a little more than the normal amount of elbow grease.
The front of this LED flashlight is supposed to look like a menacing alien. The back, in what is perhaps a less deliberate design, looks an awful lot like someone being menaced by an alien.
This sandwich board in front of Up To You on Queen Street East has been one of my favourites for a couple of years now. One of these days, I’m going to have to get over my fear that I’m just not hip enough and actually go into the store. What would I do with a new air guitar anyway? I barely use the one I already have.
It’s not every day that you see a Land Rover decorated with reindeer antlers flanking the windshield and a big red nose leading the way. Or maybe you do see it every day if you happen to live near the owner of this sleigh.
Love ’em or loathe ’em, you’ve got to admit that small cars like the Beetle and the Smart lend themselves to some pretty nifty customizations. I saw this one in midtown three weeks ago and wasn’t the only one taking pictures. Although it has a Florida licence plate, one commenter on Torontoist says that this car lives not too far from Bayview & Eglinton. That puts it only a few blocks away from the Drywall Doctor‘s office. The neighbourhood would seem to have a very high density of unusual cars. I’m going to have to explore more extensively some day.
