Wonderful weekend

I've had a lovely past couple of days. For reasons like art, beer, sun, laughter, beautiful new faces, familiar voices and playing the flaneur. Tonight, for example, I met up with the soon-to-be famous journalist, ECS and caught up over guilt-free fried food and Coke (san liquor thank you). We spoke of our careers, our hair, girls/boys and the ex we wish never lost time over. Afterwards, we headed west on Queen and ECS bought awesome limited edition shoes. One of 48 pairs and I'm jealous.

Then I told her about this "secret swing" I read about on Accordian Guy's blog and she agreed we neeeded to find it. We walked through alleyways and saw some of the city's best art — the graffitied walls south of Queen. It was a beautiful sight with the slowly setting sun in our faces. We got lost, ignored strange young men and saw Toronto from an entirely different prespective. We zig zagged south, then north, west and then back east until we finally stumbled upon the secret swing. If we hadn't looked so long and so hard, I might say it was an ugly sight. In a small V-shaped space between two angled buildings, this lone swing hung from a metal rod. Garbage was pilied behind it. But hidden from the rest of the world, there was something charming about that little swing. Neither of us dare enter through the forced opening of an iron fence. We were wearing sandals and decided not to step over the broken glass only to swing into garbage. Next time, with real shoes, we said with smiles. We were happy just to find it and that was enough of an accomplishment for the day.

Sure, it was simple, but simple pleasures in life are necessary.

I came home and had a great conversation with KR, lover of life, DJ, Matt Good's seller of goods, and one of my favourite co-conspirator/travel buddies. The details of this conversation will (hopefully) be published in the Metro this week. I hung up the phone inspired to make more art and also reminded of how many amazing souls I have the pleasure of befriending. If that's not the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend, I don't know what is.