The Once and Future Musketeer

The secret accessible washroom at the RTH

athos — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:19:03 +0000

At the Roy Thompson Hall, hidden between two floors, accessible only by two heavy manual doors and two flights of steps going up, or two flights of steps going down, there is a … drum roll … accessible washroom!!!

What is unclear is who it was designed for.

Here is my theory.

The designer of the Roy Thompson Hall was a visionary and a Trekkie! In the near future, patrons with mobility impairments will be able to buzz Scotty and be beamed directly to the accessible washroom buried deep in the tunneling staircase bowels of the RTH. It’s a brilliant idea, really.

One question remains … What to do until then?

The Newspaper Wars

athos — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 22:48:51 +0000

It all started with a pile of free Metro newspapers in every subway station. People were free to take or not take, but there they were, available, free, recyclable.

Then one day I came out of the subway and there was a gal handing out the competitor newspaper, 24, (the orange glossy one). This went on for a few weeks, until one morning Metro, not to be outdone, installed their own person outside the station, side by side with the 24 person. There they were, battling over the attention of every person going in and coming out of the subway.

Weeks passed, and it became clear that the Metro dude was way more efficient than the 24 rep, so a new 24 rep appeared, a bigger, taller guy, who seemed to balance the scale … for a while. The two seemed to get along well, and struck a sort of tag team – Metro served the left side of the station and 24 had the right. And all was well with the world. Until the 24 guy left.

A new 24 rep was brought in, but it was really not the same. The new guy seemed to take it a bit personally if someone didn’t take the newspaper he offered, and the Metro guy was as efficient as ever.

I thought that was that – what more could they do? However, this morning coming out of the subway, there were not one, but two 24 reps, one on each side of the Metro guy! They flanked him, like guards, each shouting “Good Morning!”, “Good Morning!” to each passerby, newspaper extended. (frightening, really)

So this raises a whole bunch of questions: Do I take a newspaper? If yes, then from who? Do I refuse a newspaper out of principle – I don’t want to get involved in the war? Do I take a newspaper out of principle to support one or the other from very subjective reasons? Do I take both?

!!?!!?

While I wrestle with all these questions I wait and watch. It’s come this far, I can only wonder where it will go from here.

Metro, the ball is in your court. I just hope no one gets hurt.

what a week!

athos — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:13:56 +0000

I got out of bed this morning, bleary-eyed and disoriented. I was thinking just how wonderful it is that the coffee maker is always in the same spot. Such a reassuring thing. I don’t need to be fully alert, well, not even minimally alert to go through the set of motions that will result in coffee and waffles. There’s something to be thankful for at the end of a long week of crummy sleep and chronic heartburn.

The highlight of my morning: splashing shower gel directly into my eyeball and then holding both lids wide open under the shower to rinse – to the soundtrack of mental murmuring, you know which kind – and then going through the motions that result in coffee and waffles with a red and stinging eyeball.

Harry Potter Exibit and Restoration Hardware

athos — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:56:08 +0000

I finally went to the Science Centre and saw the Harry Potter exhibit. Did I like it? Yes, yes I did! I would have liked to be sorted, but there were too many kids in our tour group … Ah well. I thought it was quite well done. Some interesting tidbits (well, interesting mainly to myself, but you may read along too if you wish)

Severus Snape’s robes in the movies are dark blue with tints of purple – not black. Why? I dunno. Maybe dark purple suited Alan Rickman’s complexion better.

Everyone’s Wands are there on display – well everyone who’s anyone! – including Harry, Ron, Hermione, Snape, Dumbledore, McGonnagal, Fred and George, and even Hagrid’s umbrella. I too wanted to bring my wand along to the Science Centre, but HM thought that perhaps I shouldn’t …

The life-size replica of Hagrid’s Hut was fascinating to walk in, complete with hatching dragon’s egg and over sized items and gigantic armchair, table, etc …

And this is where Restoration Hardware comes in. (If you don’t know what it is, it’s a furniture store. There, now you’re up to date) What kind of furniture, you ask? Well, wait a moment and we’ll make the connection. I was ambulating around Bayview Village on a rainy evening, noticed the store and went in to get a look.

It’s furniture for Hagrid’s Hut! Or at least this is what I surmised looking at the gigantic sofas, tables, and armchairs that could have at least fit three of the usual sized people I know. I sat down on a couch and by the time by back touched the backrest, my feet were propped up on the cushion all the way to my ankles! And I thought to myself, “Wow! Hagrid would just love this couch!”

So, if you see Hagrid before I do, please let him know about this store. I’m sure both would benefit, Hagrid for knowing where to purchase furniture that fits him, and the store, from finding the ideal customer they have been catering to.