That's it. Fed up with disobediant dog owners.

After many years of dealing with arrogant and selfish dog owners who purposely let their dogs run off leash and hurt wildlife (squirrels, chipmunks, baby geese, baby ducks, adult geese, etc...) in non off-leash parks and areas, I am going to keep a running log of those who decide upon themselves to ignore the very present by-law. I am hoping that the Toronto By-Law officers or City of Toronto will somehow fall across this and start fining these dog owners.

1. Monday Sept 13, 2010 - 3:25pm - James Gardens

• Tall slim causasian female with blonde hair. Dog was a small curly haired poodle/mutt mix. Her vehicle: White Honda SUV AFJV-409.

The City of Toronto Strike

After reading this, I hope that someone will be able to explain how this makes sense.

We were asked by my best friend's sister to take her engagement photos. As my husband and I are avid photographers, we could not decline!

So, we met up at James Gardens yesterday morning, to take photos.

As we started walking up to one of the flower beds, a tall young guy, with a security vest on, came by and asked if we're part of a wedding party (Ok, I have Adidas runners on)? I turned to him, and said that no, we're not part of a wedding party, just taking photos of our friends.

He told us that because of the City of Toronto strike, we can't take photos of the flowers.

WHAT??????!

Anyhow, we were all standing there in disbelief and asked him, what does the strike have to do with being able to take photos in a PUBLIC park? He told us he doesn't know, but just that he was hired by a separate firm to tell people that they can't take photographs.

I politely told him to just ignore us and pretend we're not there taking photos. I think he got my drift and said that he will be up & about in about 10-15 minutes patrolling the area. He said, "just don't let me see you taking photos". We said, fine, no problem.

We spent about an hour taking photos, and every so often he'd walk by and we stopped to all talk to each other.

We got our photos and near the end, when we were at the little pond where all the ducks swim, he came by and asked if we would be done soon. We told him yes, and that this entirely does not make any sense at all.

Seriously, can you explain how a strike and taking photos in a public park, near a pond, with flowers, etc...have something to do with each other?

Wow. This boggles my mind.

(I've added one engagment photo from this "adventure"!)

Annoyed with Loblaws

Tell me why? This is not the first time and surely won't be the last.
Alright, so here in Toronto, all stores now charge 5 cents per bag, unless you bring your own environment-friendly bag. Of course, I bring my own.
This morning, while checking out at Loblaws, the cashier proceeded to pile up all my items along the counter's edge, while my three large cloth bags sat in front of the items. I asked her, when paying, if she's going to bag my items? She said to me "oh, I didn't know you wanted them bagged". OH! I guess cloth bags in front of my grocery items on the conveyor belt and her setting them aside means they are just there for decoration.
I told her in quite a snippy tone that I did not realize that all of a sudden I now have to do something that is part of her job mandate. I was so annoyed, that I ended up bagging 50% of the items, as she finally started bagging (nice & slow) after our little "interlude".
I put my bags into the shopping cart and went over to the customer service desk to talk to the store manager I am on very good terms with...her name also happens to be Sylvia!
I asked her, out of curiosity, if I bring my own bags, does that mean I have to bag my own items. She said "no, of course not, the cashier's need to bag your items for you". I told her about what had just happened she apologized on the cashier's behalf and told me she would have a word with her. I have no intention of "getting people into trouble", but I just find it incredibly rude how cashier's more and more think that just because I have my own bag, I should bag the items myself as well.
I'm so annoyed!