O Canada

What could be more Canadian than KD? 

I worked on cooking up a slightly healthier version of the orange-coloured treat for what's become our annual tradition: Riverdale's Canada Day celebrations.

Jackie took this as a chance to finally get her hands on the iron (never used at our place!) to do some ironing. 



































Kevin and Celina dragged their feet - no longer interested in taking part of the bicycle parade.  But we did eventually catch up with the procession. 




















"I've been to seven Canada Day events today and this is my favourite..."

Though a cynical part of me thought Brian Mason might have said that at the other six events as well...

After his speech, we camped out under a tree near the playground.  Celina and Kevin didn't seem that interested in the games or playing on the equipment... which again made me think of the quote “No man ever steps in the same river twice..." (Heracles). 




Instead, we sat and talked (brushing away bugs). 

Celina insisted she'll never become a "See Lai"*: "I'll just stay cool."  And never get a perm because, "Once you perm your hair there's no going back." 

Eventhough she considered me a hipster (of her definition -- more hippie and unconventional than cool), I could see my gardening obsessions were definitely putting me closer into the "See Lai" camp. 

That upset me a bit. 

She wanted to know about how Paul and I met and how our relationship developed.  I think this was her way trying figure out her own situation - whatever it might be.  But soon after, she was off on what I called her "secret assignation". 


* "See Lai" in Cantonese is somewhat similar to the western suburban soccer mom -- with the stereotype of being unfashionable, unsophistocated, and uncool (perm optional, but likely). 


Jackie, on the other hand, was enjoying sitting there.  She said, she "just liked to see people patriotic and appreciating what they have." 

And then I coaxed her out into the spray park (left).












































(Left: My Canada Day dinner. / Below: Family, mostly)

Despite looking pretty much the same, people seemed to know: Theresa's KD was all gone, mine still pretty full.  Oh, well. 

We ate and decided to go to the Chinatown Night Market. 

The street was blocked off to for a performance area (little kids danced away), and tables of merchants.

Theresa headed into the Multicultural Centre (I suspect for more vendors). 




We were treated to a fire juggling and dance performance. 

My family headed home.  But for the full Canada Day experience, we thought Jackie should see the fireworks. 

Paul led us on a walk (good to work off that dinner) to the bridge which had pretty good sight lines.  In theory.  I couldn't really tell because I was busy slapping away at mosquitoes.  More than once, I vanquished three with one hit.** 

Annoyed as I was at being eaten, I did feel the world was a good place: A stranger on the bridge offered us bug spray. 
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** Update on mosquito bites - the unfairness of it: Paul's welts from the night before have completely disappeared. I am ridiculously itchy.  Ugh.