Oh, Hai.

Today was a gorgeous day.  It was 10*C and sunny. 
I got off work early, and went to the Y.  I rowed 2K, and felt good enough to do the elliptical machine for 10 minutes and SWEAT.  I found out Farewell Cool Reason is a stellar band to row to.  I rocked out and rowed.  Ha.  
There was a woman on an elliptical machine across the room from me doing the same thing.  I think smiling while you work out is a good thing! 

Then I saw my friend Allan on the subway and was sad I was only going one stop.  It was nice seeing him.  He was on his way home from teaching his weekly drop in improv class. Then he was going to wake Mullet up to do a show tonight.  I didn't get a chance to ask what the show was...hold on, I'll go troll around Facebook and see if it's a public event!

... ... ...

Oh look!  it's Lizzy Violets Cabaret Noir.  Looks like fun and is PWYC. 

I'm pooped though.  I only slept 5 hours last night.  Looks like I'm starting to suffer from both insomnia and migraines. 
arg. 

I've been meaning to start meditation again.  That helps with calming my brain down. 

Last night I was going though a mind interview for becoming a shift supervisor.  There isn't an official date, but SM#2  says it's happening. 
Yes, SM#2.  I'm being shared between two stores right now.  I'm mostly at store #2 right now.  I really like the manager.  We're both Leos.  It's a good thing. 
I'll be getting split between both stores as they both only need someone part time.

SM#2 is grooming me to eventually become an ASM and then a SM

The only thing getting in my way is a baby!  ha.  Not that I care *that* much.  It would be nice to have a salaried job, but if I get pregnant and I decided not to go back to work.  Meh.  I'm not loosing *that* much.  Just don't tell the DM that or she won't even promote me to SS!




*SM=Store Manager, ASM=Assistant Store Manager, DM=District Manager.

what does it mean?

Start Local's indigogo campaign only has a day left!!  go poke around the sites and see what's new.  there are a handful of videos that are really quite inspiring.  It was one of the sponsor videos that got me inspired to hope on board!!


So.
What does it mean to live local?

I've been musing over this for a few days. 

Regarding produce, I buy Ontario over Canada, Canada over US, and US over South America.
I'm not sure I would be able to eat much produce in the winter just buying local.

Regarding everything else?

I try to go to small independent stores first.  I live 'on the Danforth'.  For me that means going to The Big Carrot, Strictly Bulk, or one of the small produce stores first before I go to Lablaws.

And that's about it for now.  That's as far as I think.  Food. 

I buy my underwear on sale at the mall, or at big box stores. 
I buy my toothpaste at Shoppers because Tom's of Maine is less expensive there.
I buy my toilet paper at Lablaws 'cause, well, it's less expensive than the corner store, and I get the PC 'green' TP.

In a Big City, what does local even mean?

There is a health food store that Sister works at that I go to because she works there.  It is independently owned.  And as long as they treat her right, I'll go there when she doesn't work there when I am in the neighbourhood, over going to Shoppers across the street from it.

In the summer I go to the farmers market in a park near me.
And when I have Saturday mornings off I go to St. Lawrence Market.


I think my focus is going to be keeping out of Big Chain stores.  Lablaws, Shoppers, Ardene (heh...I have an Ardene addiction!), Home Depot, Starbucks (well, you know...unless I'm at work), Mac Donalds (yes, I eat Mac Donalds on occasion), Dollerama etc..  I've go a lot of navigating to do.  Like where to buy my underwear, toothpaste and toilet paper.


On the entertainment front I feel like I'm ok.  When we go to the movies, we go to a local theatre, rather than a chain.  We go see live shows our friends (or I am) in. 

I wish Toronto had more than one bowling ally!

a choice!

Today I made a choice to use a local business.

I needed to print a couple pages, and out printer isn't functioning.  So I went to Copy Cat.  I really only spent 75 cents there.  Not a huge thing.  The lady was nice (and patient.  She had 4 bratty kids in the store whose father couldn't/wouldn't control them.  They went and typed on someone elses document while he was at the desk asking a question, and pushed buttons on the printer and activated something.  She was great.  Firm, and great)  I'll go back!

I was printing some signage for Brazapalooza.  Click the link and you'll go to the event page.  Click THIS and you'll go to Braz's band page, with the album.  And a letter, from Braz, about what is going on.

J is donating an hour massage.  I'm donating 2 8X10 photos, and a 3 item package: a Li'l Scrapper, an 8X10 photo, and some photo gift cards.  My work also donated a gift bag!

I'm feeling pretty jazzed about this, with all this local talk going on.  Braz's community:  Friends from Lunacy Cabaret, his other bands; The Starfires and The Fabulous Quitters, a local coffee shop; Merchants of Green Coffee, friends and family are all coming together to help him.

THAT is why we need to live locally.  Big box stores wouldn't do this for you.  As charitable as Starbucks is (hey, my store donated to the cause!) they would never hold an event like this.

Tonight is going to be a fun night.  A celebration of life, community and art.


Only 5 days left to contribute to the Start Local movie.  Help a fellow out eh?
http://www.indiegogo.com/startlocalmovie