Shirin Delsooz

My Life Adventures and Thoughts

Fighting the war to perserve the independant book industry. Catch the thieves!

Wanted: Thieves at Book City

I was at Book City the other day (my favourite bohemian book store franchise) to purchase the latest issue of Spacing magazine (my favourite bohemian independent magazine). It’s the small contribution I make to support this under appreciated industry that is constantly threatened by corporations and mainstream culture. At the counter, I realized another enemy is at hand… thieves.

The poster reveals two guys from surveillance footage, and reads, “We are Thieves! Do NOT let us in!”. To think its written as if they actually said it is absolutely hilarious, especially if you imagine it being played out. Like… who says that? I laughed for about 20 min, and I still laugh each time I think about it- even now as I write this. I suppose the clerks are as creative as the work they store!

I had to take a picture, and I’m glad I did so my readers can laugh and register the faces of the guys who are robbing us of our books and culture!

Guess who I met today!

I was walking up Yonge street and who do I see? None other than Toronto Mayor David Miller! To be sure, I instinctively I yelped out, “Is that David Miller?”

“Yes it is!” He said in that distinctive voice of his.

I admit I was a bit star struck, even though I had my share of celebrity and other public figure encounters back in the days. But something about Miller really struck me.

Before he could walk further away I added, “You did a great job!”

“Thanks!”

If it had been former Mayor Lastman, well I don’t think he would walk so freely in downtown as David.

David doesn’t need to worry because he has worked too long and too hard. I can’t remember another mayor in recent history who has pushed so hard for expanding public transit, preserving our environment and getting guns off the streets and pushing for a whole lot of essential programs for at-risk neighborhoods. He goes as far as picking up garbage off the streets for the annual clean up day! During his off time he hangs out at neighborhood pubs to mingle with fellow folks alike.

This Harvard grad has a genuine interest and commitment in bringing good to this world and for that reason I couldn’t help but be a tad bit smitten!

I’m sad to see him go but I can at least appreciate that he set the bar high for the upcoming mayor!

My Kinda Therapy

Life will always be full of misunderstandings and the drama that arise from it. A letter to Dan Savage might solve the problem, or make it worse. At school they told us to punch a pillow. I don’t personally know anyone who does that…

Or you could listen to this over-the-top chanson and then laugh at Jacques Brel. He must have had it hard.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1DpjXQUDsI]

Is it just the BPA?!

If you read my bio, you are probably familiar with my obsession of chocolates, but believe me, I try to make an effort here and there to be healthy.

I’ve tried that eight-glasses-of-water-a-day routine for starters, but it was hard back in the days when I could only carry it around my hectic lifestyle in a plastic water bottle. The water bottles were generally too large and worst of all, it instilled a totally yucky taste to the water I came to learn was the result of something hazardous known as BPA.

Well I’m glad our government eventually stepped in and put a ban on it. So now we are left with the stainless steel bottles which I happily bought. As you can see on the picture, mine is pink with pretty flowers printed on to really add some fun to each sip!

However, the fun stopped when I started to taste a hint of steel after leaving the water in for a day. It’s not as pungent as the evil BPA, but something didn’t seem right about this mysterious flavour. What could it be!? What do I do?

And whats with that cardboard taste you get from drinking milk from a carton? And that plastic when drinking milk out of a pitcher?

I’m no chemist, but from my experience the only safest way to perserve liquids and their flavours seems to be from glass. So where do I get a water bottle made out of glass?

The small things in life…

Errands are boring as it already is, tagging along your friend running errands isn’t anymore fun either, but today as I accompanied “L” to the Queen’s dry cleaners in Parkdale to fix her red wine glitch I couldn’t help but be so gleeful!

A Christmas tree completely made out of coat hangers with it’s glittery ornaments dangling sat in this little shop. I just had to take a picture and share it with the world! And I’m reminded that all it takes is a little imagination to brighten up the day!

*** update

The wine stain successfully came off the dress!