It’s official, I’m a first time homeowner. Today I got the keys for my studio apartment in Toronto’s Harbourfront area. While it may be tiny, it’s all mine and has a big view from the balcony.

I was getting nervous over the last couple of weeks when my real estate agent was having difficulty getting the key for us to go in and do an inspection and get the measurements so I could start looking for some new furniture. But Marty is tenacious and managed to get me in last Saturday. I signed the papers during the week and my lawyer called me this afternoon to let me know everything was good and to come pick up the keys.

It’s going to be an adjustment moving into this small of a space. It’s 15 years since I last lived in a studio apartment and I refuse to give up my queen size bed! The good thing is there is plenty of park space and the boardwalk by Harbourfront Centre. It’s almost the perfect location to have a dog. I would love to have a French Bulldog, the only problem would be giving it the time it deserves.

I have been checking out Apartment Therapy to get some design ideas for small spaces. They even run an annual Small/Cool contest. It scares me just a little bit that some of the designs I like remind me of the posts that have made me laugh on the Unhappy Hipsters blog.

Tomorrow I am going to start calling around to get some quotes on painting. My cousin has offered to help but given that it’s the middle of summer I’m not sure I want to spend my time indoors painting – air conditioned condo or not!

Derek Jeter did something no other Yankee player has done in pinstripes, he got hit number three thousand. What has always impressed me about the Yankees captain is his leadership style. No matter the situation he remains calm and collected and he does everything he can to put his team in place for victory whether it’s the regular season or a game seven in the World Series. Even in the momentous occasion he seemed uncomfortable being in the spotlight and shifted some of the attention to the team. In his interview with Kimberly Jones he put achieving this impressive milestone in the context of the the team winning the game saying it would have been awkward if they had lost.

I watch a lot of Yankees games on MLB TV and one thing that is commented on frequently is Jeter’s mentorship of the younger players, including his apparent successor Eduardo Nuñez. When Jeter has the game off or is the designated hitter you can see him coaching the very promising young Nuñez in the dugout.

Jeter has also avoided the scandals of other professional athletes in his public life. There has never been a whiff of scandal around him in terms of steroids and his dating life never seems to be tabloid fodder. In his own quiet way he is setting the example for the team.

It was an amazing day for Jeter. Hit number 3000 was a homerun. They only other player to do this was Wade Boggs. He is the first to achieve the milestone in a game where became the first player to hit five for five. And he knocked in the winning run. Not bad for a day’s work.

Photo Credit: Lawrence Fung

I am absolutely sick about what happened in Vancouver following the Canucks game seven loss to the Bruins. I went to bed after the second period knowing the game was not going to end well for “Canada’s team”. Having lived in Vancouver for 21 years, including during the 1994 Stanley Cup riot, I knew there was going to be trouble on the street. I didn’t realize how bad it was going to be until I turned on the TV yesterday morning and saw the degree of damage done.

What really struck me while I was watching the news reports was the number of people that were standing around watching all of this unfold. There were people on the street who weren’t taking part in the rampage but were clearly encouraging those who were destroying property and committing acts of violence. Others instead of clearing the area took the time to pose for photos in front of the carnage. There were also “citizen journalists” taking pictures and uploading them to social media sites and sharing them with news organizations and the police.

Many people who consider themselves true Vancouverites have rightly decried the violence. They said that the actions of a few shouldn’t taint the city as a whole and that is true. I feel there needs to be some deeper soul searching done about why hooligans continue to ruin public celebrations. Sadly, the list of public events tainted by mob scenes is a long one: Seafest, 1994 Stanley Cup, First Night, the Guns N’ Roses concert, the riot the first Saturday of the Olympics, a gay bashing after the UFC event, and so on. Then there’s the annual fireworks competition that brings vandalism, violence and the use of the West End as a giant outdoor toilet for the bridge and tunnel crowd. What is it about public events in the city that brings out this element?

To their credit, the good citizens of Vancouver rallied on Facebook Thursday morning and came out in large numbers to help with the clean up. Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr have also become a rallying point to identify those responsible and to organize a positive event to help put some shine back on the jewel. But once again, sadly some of the people commenting have been using racist and homophobic slurs almost taking away from the good and turning it into a social media lynch mob.

If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I highly recommend Gary Mason’s Globe and Mail column Busting myths of Vancouver’s destructive Stanley Cup riot.

Photo credit: Mark Donovan

My dream of buying a condo is coming closer to reality. I had a conditional offer on a condo accepted earlier this week. It’s close to Lake Ontario and a slightly shorter commute to work. I’ll have to find out if there is a public tennis club I can join in the area. The deal is scheduled to close in mid-July.

This is actually the second time I have put an offer in on a condo in this building. The first go-round had the potential to become a bidding war. My agent warned me that there were multiple offers. But my gut (and common sense) told me that the market in Toronto isn’t so hot that I needed to do something crazy. The person who bought that unit did. They went in with no conditions, which in my mind is crazy. They also outbid me by a significant amount. Given what other condos are selling for in the area, they overpaid.

The condo I am buying is smaller than the other one, but as a bonus has a partial water view. I am going to meet with a space planner to see how I can furnish it and maximize the space and ensure the best use of storage. My new favourite website is apartmenttherapy.com. They run a Smallest Coolest Home Contest each year and I have already gotten lots of decorating ideas.

One of the cool things for me about the building is Douglas Coupland’s monument to the War of 1812 in front. MANY years ago, (coincidentally when Coupland and I lived in the same building in Vancouver’s Gastown) I had an encounter with an American tourist that upset my polite Canadian nature. She came into the bank I was working at as a teller and said, “I don’t know why I need to change my money, we’re all American.” Being a polite and good host I tried to explain to her that she was in Canada now and it would be a good idea to have some of our currency during her visit. But she persisted with her we’re all American argument.

Having grown up near Ottawa I am a very patriotic Canadian and eventually reached my breaking point. I suggested that when she got back to where ever she was from see look up the War of 1812. She looked at me dumbfounded and said, “the war of what?” I told her if she did her research she would find out that in June of 1812 the US invaded Canada (then a British Colony) we fought back and even burned Washington, including the White House. I little flummoxed she took her Canadian currency and continued her vacation.

I think it’s going to be great living in Fort York.

Photo Credit: wyliepoon

Update: On July 15 this became 25 pounds lost. I have seven more pounds to lose to be the same weight at 45 that I was at 25.

Well, I’ve done it. As of this morning I have dropped the first 20 pounds on my way to reaching my goal weight of 180 pounds. Only another 12.5 pounds to go. I can’t say it’s been easy, but in a way I have made some very important changes in my life that are now habits.

I have started waking up before my alarm goes off at 5:30 in the morning. Without even thinking about it I have my snack, get into my gym clothes and am out the door in less than 30 minutes. My workouts are starting to feel routine but I am lifting heavier weights. Arms and back two days, chest and shoulders two days, legs and abs two days. I haven’t done that much cardio other than playing tennis so I know that once that kicks in I will see even more improvements.

In terms of food I have made some major changes too. I am eating way more whole foods, more vegetarian foods and am cooking most of my meals. The great thing is I am not counting calories! I am eating every three hours, eating until I feel full and even having ice cream because it’s summer here in Toronto! My new favourite recipe website is 101cookbooks.com.

Now that the weather is starting to cooperate I know I am going to be getting out and playing tennis, riding my bike and way more walking and hiking in. I know I’ll reach my goal well by my birthday.

Photo Credit: Allan Foster aka foshydog

I was supposed to have a tennis lesson today, but it’s raining so I’m going to do a quick update on my work outs. As I planned I have been getting up most mornings (at 5:30 am) and arriving at the gym by 6. I know this sounds crazy to some but once it’s a routine you don’t even think about it. I went back to my old routine. Monday and Thursday arms and back, Tuesday and Friday chest and shoulders, Wednesday and Saturday legs and abs.

I also got into the tennis club by my apartment. I have been taking some lessons, played some singles and doubles and am looking forward to the ladder starting soon.

So, the good news after about six weeks the results are starting to show. I’m down 14 pounds, feeling healthier and will soon need to go shopping for some new clothes!

Photo credit: Positively Fit

Well, I had it all planned. Meals had been prepared, shirts ironed, suits back from the dry cleaners, gym bag packed and left by the front door. This was the week I was getting back on my fitness plan. A sneaky virus had another idea for me.

I knew as soon as I got up on Monday morning I was in trouble. A cough, tickle in the throat, sinus headache. Ok I thought, no gym, get an extra 90 minutes of sleep and head into the office. It was March break for the public schools last week so the subway wasn’t overcrowded like usual. Good I thought, maybe I can make it to work without someone touching my bum again.

Figuring I would need lots of caffeine to get through the day I got off the subway at St. Patrick and headed right into the Avenue Cafe. They have the best coffee on hospital row as far as I am concerned. Not to mention their chocolate almond croissant. Dare I? I was supposed to go to the gym this morning, what’s a little carbicide gonna hurt.

Safely to work with my pastry and extra-large, triple, vanilla latte (please don’t judge me), I thought ok I can get through this. Not there even 30 minute the first co-workers says, wow – you look awful. I guess it’s worse than I think. I suffered through the day and went to the clinic after work. Nothing bacterial so it was just a virus I was going to have to fight off.

The subway is crowded again on the way home. I scan the faces looking for a familiar one that I could lay blame on for spreading an illness but to no avail. I have full ownership of this one. Note to self, remember to wash your hands more frequently.

A week later and I am almost better. I’m still feeling some of the effects of the virus. Once again I sit here on a Sunday setting the intention to work out and get into shape for the summer. I better, my tennis season with the Davisville Tennis Club starts on April 16.

Photo Credit: Danielle Scott

There have been a lot of delays on the subway lately. Whether it is smoke at track level, mechanical problems, the mysterious injury at track level or last week’s unauthorized person at track level the Toronto Transit Commission has had it’s share of problems. I have mostly taken it in stride. It’s difficult for us as humans to give up control but if like me you have given up having a car it’s exactly what you have to do.

To their credit, the TTC has their @ttcnotices Twitter account and they update it frequently. I have a column set up in Tweetdeck at home, at work and on my iPhone so I can check it before heading out. In that column I don’t only get their tweets, but also all the mentions. I know it’s really easy to hate public transit but I am often surprised at the anger and hate spewed in their direction. This raises an interesting question, how do you respond if you respond at all?

Clearly there are times when you need to react. While it was originally designed for blogs I have always thought the US Air Force Rules of Engagement for social media have been a helpful guide. Before a hasty, defensive @reply go through the steps in the diagram below and you could avoid inflaming the situation.

If you are going to respond to a “misguided” or “unhappy customer” on Twitter, get the conversation out of the public domain. Follow the person making the comment and send them an @reply asking them to DM you with a way for them to contact them. Get to the root of their issue and most of all follow through.

Photo credit: Jason McELweenie

It was bound to happen. I have been a total slacker in my fitness since I moved to Toronto. The results of inactivity are clear in the tightness of my jeans and the high cholesterol numbers that the doctor delivered disapprovingly at my physical last month. It’s time to get off the couch!

So, I am back to the gym. I joined the Goodlife that is just one block away from home and have set the intention of going every morning before work. While I haven’t achieved that goal, I am getting there at least two or three times per week.

Some people look at me in horror when I tell them I set my alarm to get up at 5:45 in the morning to get my workout in. Once you have done it for a few weeks it becomes a habit making it even easier. There is even a school of thought that says exercising when you first wake up boosts your metabolism for the day.

To make sure I get there in the morning I try to prepare everything the night before. My workout clothes are close to the bed bed, my pre-workout snack is almost ready to go and my backpack and running shoes are right next to the door. If I don’t have time to think about it I won’t come up with an excuse not to go.

I’m also hoping I get into the Davisville Tennis Club this year. I haven’t really played in a couple of years and I’m itching to get back at it. I’m on the waiting list and should know in the next few days if I am in or not. Playing tennis is such a great workout! And it’s a fun activity to do! I have really missed it.

Photo credit: Dave Austria