Renata

Now that I survived the crazy summer (fortunately it only lasts a few weeks here), crazy winter is about to arrive. My favourite season is fall, and it’s for sure gone. Trees are naked, stadiums are covered and we’ve been seeing light snow since the end of November. I couldn’t care less about snow, I just hate when it’s freezing cold and raining. A beautiful, sunny, and cold day like today makes me super happy.

Environment Canada has predicted a very snowy winter, but I’m yet to see things they predict to really happen. If we get this huge amount of frozen things falling out from the sky, maybe I get excited about learning how to ski? It’s really ironic that I got an awesome friend this summer who happens to be a ski instructor, but now he’s up at the Alps, at Montgenèvre. So now I have to find my own ways to learn how to ski or skate or whatever with the snow.

Well, who’s up to go ice tubing with me?

There are plenty of good, even amazing coffee shops in Toronto. I’m not a coffee enthusiast – I am a tea lover – but caffeine is more of an addiction. So, for someone who doesn’t really like coffee, it’s even worse when coffee tastes REALLY BAD – and north americans, believe me, are experts in the art of making badcoffee. I don’t really know why people go for coffee at chain coffee stores – those who shall not be named – when there are so many indie coffee places to get your daily coffee fix.

For instance, around my office, I have a Seattle-based chain coffee shop*, and Jimmy’s Coffee. Everybody knows the Seattle cappuccinos are just meh, and Jimmy’s staff offer me very good coffee drinks! Makes me happy.

In my neighbourhood, I have a couple of options: the OUTSTANDING The Good Neighbour, seriously, a must visit even if you don’t go to the west end that often. There’s also Crema, which I think is seriously overrated (I hate their service, but coffee is ok) – I hate their service SO MUCH I tend to go to their neighbour from Seattle, seriously.

A problem I see with indie coffee joints is their “organic” “natural” “healthy” approach. This sometimes means they won’t offer you anything but agave nectar and raw sugar and almond milk or whatever THEY believe it’s best for you. Listen: I DON’T CARE. I want ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER, SUCRALOSE, because I LIKE IT, and SOYMILK because I LIKE IT. YOU ARE NOT MY MOMMY. You are a COFFEE SHOP, and I AM JUST YOUR CUSTOMER. So, please, offer me what I like. I don’t want to be taken care of. This is creepy. And, honestly, If you’re selling me scones and muffins, you’re not really concerned about my health. So, give me a break.

But, as I am lazy and don’t like brewing coffee when I wake up, I just bought an automatic pod machine – one of these – and, although it’s not awesome, it makes pretty decent coffee in 30s by just pressing a button.

*Forgot to say: the Seattle coffee company tastes MUCH BETTER in Brazil than in Canada (I wonder why…). ESPECIALLY the pastries – their espresso brownie in Brazil is something I really miss!

P.S.: Don’t miss Bulldog, great coffee and amazing Latte Art. Unfortunately, not so close to me.

Update: Found another coffee close to my office. La Mercería is an argentinian café, good food and good coffee. Go for the Café Caramelo – with Dulce de Leche.

I went shopping yesterday, spent some lots of money and had two opposite shopping experiences. I was looking for a simple black dress (you people know buying adult clothes is difficult if you are short) and an OMG iPad2. After walking most of the Eaton Centre without any luck, I was suggested to try Armani Exchange (for the dress, not the iPad).

The Good Experience

I was welcomed by a non-pushy salesperson who just asked me what I wanted, let me know where I could find it and was just friendly *enough*. By *enough* I mean, she didn’t ask to see “how the dress looks” or anything silly like that. She asked my name, adding a nice touch of friendliness (“are you italian or portuguese? oh, brazilian? “ola como vai?” – I thought it was cute) and told me she’d be outside if I wanted anything else. As I only wanted the dress, I went straight to the cashier, paid, nobody tried to sell me more stuff and people were still smiling at me. I was HAPPY and I would, surprisingly enough, totally come back to ARMANI EXCHANGE. I forgot to say they have amazing sales and their clothes fit really well. Dress was on sale!

The Bad Experience

Now, for something completely different: time to buy iPad2. I know exactly what I want. I ask some random guy with an apple on his chest “Hello! How are you! I came here to buy an iPad2!”. He tries to show me the amazing iPad2. “No, really, I know it, i just want to buy it”. Then he takes me to another appleguy. Appleguy2 asks me which one I want, I tell him. He gives me shinybox. I’m excited. Then I pay. Then he tells me some stuff about activation, I am like “whaaaaat?” “Yeah, we need to activate it… let me call Appleguy3… Dude, can you activate iPad2 for her?”. Appleguy3 comes and asks me about AppleID and password. I think it’s bizarre.

The iPad is to be Fabio’s new toy, so I call him and explain the situation, and how I think it’s bizarre. then I turn to Appleguy3 (who has already opened shinybox) and ask: “Dude, can we do this activation stuff from home, by ourselves? Because, you know, this sounds really unnecessary” and then comes the most awesome answer “You can, but I was going to do it for you and show you how to setup email and install apps”. OF COURSE, BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA ON HOW TO USE SILLY APPLE DEVICES. I am so thankful I have Apple staff to help me!

I have to add, they forgot to send me the electronic receipt. I have to come back today with my debit card and have it printed / resent / whatever. Because they are GENIUSES.

How do you people cope with getting old? As unexpected as it seems, I am HATING the ageing process. I used to eager my birthdays, and, as much as I like the day itself, I dislike the fact that I am getting older and I feel it. I know I obviously look younger than I am and often get carded – mostly because I am petite – but my body knows its age and hell, I feel it every single day.

For instance, the glasses. About eight years ago I started wearing glasses but I could choose NOT to wear them and be ok, it was just to be more comfortable at work. This year the glasses are something I NEED, otherwise I can barely read what’s in front of me. I don’t remember how long ago I found the first grey hair, but I was really shocked the last time I had a haircut, because I really have LOTS of them now.

My body can LOOK better, but I feel tired more easily and need much more sleep. 24 hour party people no more. Coffee in the morning is my fuel for the day, and tea or milk are my pass to sweet dreaming nights. I sound like a grumpy old lady and Fabio fears that I may plan on buying a Snuggie this winter ;)

In short, I don’t like getting older, which is a surprising experience for me – I thought I’d feel neutral about it, that’d be just logical. Does it make any sense?

Last year I had NO FUCKING IDEA what winter was going to be. I had been, in my late teens, one week in a winterish Florida – nothing, absolutely nothing like winter in Toronto. Now I am planning my winter season – snow boots, snow jacket and I am seriously considering an electric heater for my bathroom, so I don’t freeze and my towels don’t smell like death a few hours after I shower.

I was obviously considering a Canada Goose parka, but I couldn’t find the medium-sized Junior Kensington anywhere. Same thing for small boots. HOW DO CHILDREN SURVIVE WINTER IN THIS COUNTRY? I wonder if there are any kids in the Yukon????? Do you wrap your babies in goose down to protect them from the cold in Nunavut?

There’s a Patagonia store a few blocks away, and, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, now they’re my only hope. I know their sizing is ABSURD (I bought a thermal t-shirt a couple of weeks ago, and it was “kids small”), so I hope I can find the Girls’ Down Coat in small/medium size – and decent colour.

Those North Face would be another option, but I’ve never ever seen anything small. Looks more like a monster kong costume than a winter jacket. Comfortable, though, but doesn’t look very, hm, practical for walking the snowy streets. The kids’ designs are not similar and don’t cover your legs.

Any suggestions from expert Canadians? I want long-ish kids winter warm jackets. And nice boots!

I think we all got so smashed by Steve Jobs’s loss because we all techies don’t see ourselves as mortals. In fact, most young people – especially geeky, for some reason – think they are superheroes. So when they see a generation icon dying relatively young of such a terrible disease like cancer, it just hits you right in the face – IT CAN HAPPEN TO EVERYONE, DUDE. EVEN TO STEVE FUCKING JOBS.

The guy was no saint – hope you don’t believe in such thing as fairies, pink fluffy unicorns, and benevolent millionaires. But it was the mastermind behind some amazing tech awesomeness and yep, I would be as shocked as I am if it were Bill Gates. Yet, honestly, I would be heartbroken if it were Linus Torvalds, of course. I am biased.

Life’s short. Do cool stuff. And thanks for all the 4 macbooks I have at home, Steve. But one of them is running Linux ;)