Lump of Coal

I. am. not. happy.

A two day bathroom reno project has turned into a fucking nightmare because the contractor we hired clearly can't read.

We bought this tub: http://www.lyonsindustries.com/bath-collection/seawave-wall/

We sent the contractor the installation instructions before he provided us the quote. He quoted us and said it would take him 2 days maximum to put it in AND he could get it done before Christmas.

Now it's Christmas Eve and my bathroom has been torn to pieces with no end in sight because the contractor didn't "realize" what was "required" to "install" our tub. SERIOUSLY?!?! I SENT YOU THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!!

And I really don't get how he works only two hours at a time and then calls it a day. The amount of money we are paying him for this job is the equivalent of TWO WEEKS pay for me. He has so far put in exactly 4 hours. I have to put in 75 hours to make that kind of money.

Merry effing Christmas to us. I hope our families don't mind running up and down the stairs to use the bathroom in the basement since the one on the main floor has been DESTROYED.

Seasons of Love

Tomorrow will mark one year since I left the Tdot to settle into life in the Niagara Peninsula. Three hundred and sixty-five days ago. Or as Jonathan Larson wrote, "Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes".

I have to say it doesn't feel like a year. Is that a good thing? You know, time flies when you're having fun and all that.

I will admit there have been several moments where I've wanted to pack up my stuff and move back to the city. But not because I don't love my new life, I just miss parts of my old one.

I mostly miss the vibe of Toronto. St. Catharines has no vibe. Really none. I've looked!

And I really miss just being able to hop on the subway after work and head off to do whatever my heart desires - meet with friends for dinner or see the latest musical to hit a Mirvish stage or to catch a cool new band on a Tuesday night.

But I wouldn't trade the last 365 days for any of that. I love my husband. I love my home. I love how close I am to my family and my 3 BFFs.

I just have to figure out a way to move the cultural centre of Canada closer to St. Catharines. Looks like it's already starting.

867-5309

I eat lunch here a lot: http://karines.wordpress.com/

The owner Maggie takes orders while her daughter Karine cooks.

I always order the same thing. I'm like that with every restaurant I visit. I find something on the menu I really like and that's the only thing I order from then until the end of time.

So this is the exchange that happens between me and Maggie every time I go there. (And let me just say again that I go there a  lot.)

Maggie: Hello baby! What can I get for you?

Me: Grilled cheese and fries.

Maggie: Regular fries or garlic fries?

Me: Regular fries.

Maggie: For here or to go?

Me: To go.

Maggie: Okay baby. And your name...Jenny right?

Me: Paprika.

Maggie: Oh yes, Paprika!  Oh one day baby I will get it right!

I find it really fascinating that she wants to call me Jenny because as a child, I had always wanted my name to be either Jenny or Jennifer.

My best friend as a child was Jenny Birmingham. She had long blonde hair, blue eyes and a cute little nose that turned up at the end. To me, she was the prettiest girl in the world.  I wanted to be just like her. Being a dark, ethnic kid, I was astounded that she picked me as her BFF.

In my 6 year old brain, if my name had been Jenny, I would have ended up with blonde hair, blue eyes and the perfect nose.

I often wonder what happened to Jenny and her perfect nose.