My Two Worlds -- A Collision on Film (or at least an SD card)

I am a Texan. But live in Canada. My life...in pictures.
Originally uploaded by charmgirl13

Chris Kelly of CBCRadio3 snapped this photo in Austin this week during SXSW. If you are at all a follower of my wee little tiny slice of the blogosphere, you have probably read by now that I am a lover of photos, both taking and looking. I haven't seen a picture this cool in quite some time, though, and it is without a doubt my absolute new favourite.

The two loves of my life. Forever preserved on film. (swoon!)

They Call It Poutine

I tried poutine for the first time on Friday. Total and utter letdown. Granted, I had it at Swiss Chalet, the Canadian Boston Market equivalent, but still. This giant failure is analogous to someone ordering a taco at Taco Bell that doesn't taste remotely like an actual taco as Swiss Chalet is as much a Canadian institution as poutine. I'm usually into food porn, but the dish was so foul tasting that I couldn't even bring myself to take its photo. Also, because I was with my new boss.

What is poutine, you ask? Poutine is a French Canadian snack that, at its basic, is made with french fries (nom!), gravy and cheese curds. It's sort of like chili-cheese fries in the States, but not so much. The word means "mushy mess" in Acadian slang and was created in 1957 in Warwick, Québec. According to the people in the know, the french fries should be hand-cut and fried in pure lard, the gravy (also known as "BBQ chicken gravy") should be dark and thick like molasses, and the cheese curds (apparently the most important part of the dish) should be only fresh, white, cheddar cheese curds. A veritable heart attack waiting to happen, nón?

I've been to both Montréal and Québec City -- the epicenters of French Canadian cuisine -- but failed to try poutine in either city. I'm usually the über-tourist, trying every local thing I can get my hands (and mouth) on, but for whatever reason, I didn't try the gooey dish in either place. It just gives me a good reason to go back.

I have heard so much about poutine in my almost two years in Canada that I guess my expectations were too high. So far, though, I'm disappointed. Swiss Chalet poutine = Fail!

I love that people still use pay phones

Especially underground.

Old skool.

I'm Packing Up and Moving...Again

Moving can be cathartic. In my case, four moves in one month has added up to a Mt. Everest sized mountain of stress and zero catharsis. The only catharsis I have experienced lately has been six bags of clothes donated to Goodwill. In a span of 31 days, I will have moved house in Houston, moved house in Toronto, changed jobs and moved work locations, and for the cherry on top, moved my blog. Yep, that's right. I'm packing up and moving over to WordPress.com. I finally grew up, put on my big girl panties and moved to fancy schmancy new publisher. I even bought my own domain name (welcome to 2009!), although I'm not self-publishing at this point. I can't handle any more changes in the near future or I'll be in hospital, so stay tuned for that move at a (very) later date.

For now, though, meet me over at my new WordPress URL:

carmenmillet.wordpress.com

Update your RSS feeds, Goodle readers, pen and paper, stone tablets -- however you keep up with my antics -- and come see me at my new place!

Happy Demisemiseptcentennial, Toronto!

Photo courtesy of peo pea on Flickr, under Creative Commons license.

Why, Toronto, you don't look a day over 174...

On March 6, 2009, the fair city of Toronto marks its 175th birthday! I realize that in the grand scheme of things, that's not very old; some cities have been around for millenia. For North Amercia, though, 175 is pretty old!

When Toronto was incorporated as a city in 1834, there were fewer than 10,000 people living in the town of York-- mostly white and British -- and Queen Street was considered the city's northern boundary. Apparently, singing "Yankee Doodle Dandy" was a hangable offense in those days, too (my, how things haven't changed - grin). Today, there are 2.7 million citizens in Toronto proper and over six million people living in the Greater Toronto Area.

A quick reflection on this feat includes 175 years of growth and change: from the nickname "Muddy York", so named because of its unpaved, swampy streets; to "Toronto the Good" (my personal fave) named for the city's reputation as a stern Protestant outpost in a young country; to "Hogtown", "Hollywood North" (no, Vancouver, that isn't you), "T.O.", "T.dot" and after amalgamation, the "Megacity".

Toronto is now Canada's largest and most diverse city. Over 100 languages are spoken on the city streets. It is the economic engine of the country and one of the most environmentally conscious cities in the world. Of course, there's always room for improvement, i.e. a subway that actually goes somewhere, real automated banking machines, and more 24 hour restaurants, thank you very much. But overall, Toronto has a true grit and an undying spirit that makes it, I think, one of the best places on the planet.

And now, I give you 175 reasons to love Toronto, courtesy of the Toronto Star. I could likely come up with 175 more. Scratch that. I could likely come up with 1,075 more.

Happy Birthday, Toronto! I love you.

Also, please warm up.

For Once, A Proper *Rant* About Canada

As you all know, I have a major crush on Canada. I just couldn't love it any darn more. I am seriously considering chaining myself to the Canadian flag pole at the border on March 31, 2010. The RCMP's are going to have to push me across, I swear.

However. Because I am not a citizen or permanent resident of this fair country, I can't seem to get a credit card. I have been a homeowner for six years. I have had credit cards in my name since I was 16 years old (so, like, five years ago). Granted, in the States. The Canadian banks, however, consider me to have zero credit history and therefore, will not lend me any money. The banker I was dealing with actually told me that they don't lend to people who only have work permit status, because they "might just pick up and leave the country without paying their debts". Right. Because everyone can just pick up and LEAVE THEIR JOBS!

Look, I totally grok what they're saying, but at least check my US credit history. I have an income after all. Give me some kind of benefit of the doubt. Something.

Don't worry, Canada. We're just on a small break -- it's not permanent. And, I hope you know that despite this small setback, I still love you. It'll all get better...once you give me some damn credit!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Lucky for you guys, My Canadian Adventures will live on for another year. I officially leased out my condo in Houston today, so I (very happily) get to stay in T.O. - yahoo!

Canada, get ready for another 13 months of adventures with a Texas girl who has a giant crush on you (swoon)!