the hemingway: beer. booze. babes. butts.

A couple years ago, 2007, I was in a job I began to hate so one day, I flat out quit. I started doing freelance PR. It was good glam for a while but then I was poor ass. So… I went to work at Hemingways, Toronto’s very own Little New Zealand in Yorkville. It was really fun. I hadn’t worked in a resto in a few years. It was a bit tough at first to adjust to the lifestyle but it really didn’t take long. I made friends with a heap of awesome people, mostly hot girls. I worked there for the best busiest time of year too; end of summer before Flm Fest – Christmas. I was proud of myself for not getting sad about not making enough money doing freelance work, instead I pulled up my socks, hiked up my miniskirt and started serving. No matter what job I was doing, I never lost sight of what I truly love…being social. Instead of complaining about  the waitress life I took more shifts and worked as much as I could. It was a good strategy and worked well to bond with other employees. I got a call in December from an old colleague, in recruiting who had an opportunity he thought I’d be great for. Turns out, I was great for it! I left Hems for that job and stayed there until recently leaving to work for the MuchMTV Group. It’s amazing to think of all the changes I’ve gone through. Been going through lots of photos lately, there’s only about 10,000 from the past five or so years. Wendy was one of my fav’s. She was a little crazy one just like me. We partied alot together. It was more than fun.  She moved away to Japan…

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detroit rock city

I’ve spent the last couple days at Caesars Casino. It’s quite a sight. The carpets in casino’s are a real piece of work. You may not have really thought about it or noticed before, but you should.  He who designs casino carpets must be out of this world or on some really good drugs. Windsor is a bit of a crummy looking place. It’s not nearly as shiny and bright as Toronto, however, they’ve got a nice bar of you like strippers. Babe alert, saw a few hotties. No photos, I wish. Sorry. Got hassled at the border as I’m using my new Zealand passport. Not fun. US Border Patrol now has my finger prints and nice smiley photo of me. I was shocked and kind of appalled of the huge fist in Detroit. What is the significance of it? PLEASE tell me. Oh thanks Internet…It’s a 24-foot bronze fist, which is poised as if to strike, honors legendary boxer (and Detroit native son) Joe Louis. [Dear God, please, please let me have a better statue that a big fist to remember me by if I ever have have one. Thank you.] The artist is really a comedian I think. I enjoy going  through tunnels. I always think about movies where people get trapped in them and it gets all dramatic and stuff. I said “oh, I’d hate to get trapped in here” and then the next day, coming back to Canada, we hit traffic in the tunnel. It wasn’t scary though. The nav system showed us as in the middle of the water, that was a little scary. haha. That’s all for now.

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took candy and makeup and said don’t panic

This morning in the shower I was remembering something that happened a few years ago and feeling quite lucky.  I’ll share with you now what I remember. Mum, if I mixed it up please tell me. I was about 12 years old and traveling home from New Zealand with Mum and Jenie. We had gone through all the checks  and boarded the plane. I don’t remember the exact chain of events but it went something like this. We boarded and someone’s luggage boarded the plane but not the passenger. Airline, big problem. We all had to exit the plane and they had us wait in the waiting area. The plane had come from Iraq to Australia and was picking us up in New Zealand. At the time, Irag & Oz were having bad relations.  Remember, I was only 12 when this happened so I know hardly anything about that part. The security guys were doing massive searches on ALL our luggage. They rummaged through everything taking out  consumable products like gum, candy, lotions, makeup and tossed them in the garbage bin. I asked the security guard for piece of his gum. He gave me one, it was cinnamon. They searched my hair, bottom of my shoes, even behind my belt! Every passenger went though the same hands on search. We found out shortly after that there WAS a BOMB ON OUR PLANE. Yep, the one  we just exited. The bomb squad was on board taking care of it as we waited and waited and waited.  It was eight long hours  in the airport before another plane arrived to take us back to North America. After 9/11 people really scared to fly, including me.  However, I boarded my next flight knowing I already had a bomb on a plane once in…

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it was really nice to see you yesterday

It’s been so nice out all weekend. I got just what I wanted which was lots of rest and home time.  Some friends did a drive by last night and fixed my break. THANKS GUYS!! I think it was the ropes for window cleaning that spooked me. Something to do with rock climbing and the impulsive desire to swing down them. This seagull remind me of a magpie at Grandad’s batch in New Zealand on the coast near Glenburn Station. I think it was a magpie? Mum said they named it and it used to sit on a post just like this little guy here at the Harboufront.

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on the edge: martin streek

Rode against the wind the whole time and my hair is frizzy like Andy Warhol. My teeth hurt from wearing my retainer. I don’t mind because they are  so straight when I wake up. I haven’t dealt with death that much, lucky me I guess. My family is all in New Zealand so if someone passes, I’m not there to be with them. That’s unlucky. My high school had a really high suicide rate. Yesterday Martin Streek, my fav man at the Edge called it quits.  I saw Shane‘s Facebook and was shocked when I read his blog and got the story. I used to run into Martin and his smiling face often. We made friends one summer. My most fond memories are the summer days when Jenie and I used to go down to The Edge and hangout out with him while he did the Thursday 30.  It was so much fun, as soon as he saw our faces he would say ‘OMG, it’s the Stewart Sisters, you guys are so hot’ .  We’d give hugs & hang.  He was always full of smiles and jokes.  I’ve gotta find the photos now, I think I know where they are. He will be missed by me, was always my favorite man on the radio. I remember the Jager tattoo, he was  really fit for his age.  Nice eyes too.  Rest in peace my friend. FYI: There’s Martin Streek nooner on the Edge today.  I’m listening live. ♥

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eagle preparing to fly

Before I fly I always get a little bit of anxiety. I’ve always been with someone when I’ve flown and this time I was meeting friends in Florida and flew by myself.  To make sure I was ready I put on my chain with a star and eagle feather. I added a Tiki that Dad brought me back from NZ to the chin before I left too. I’ve been working on a project called Flock of Eagles and the eagle feather makes me feel strong. I also put on bracelets from Mum that traveled all the way from New Zealand.  That way I had a little bit of family with me. I also made sure I got tanned up and toned up my muscles. The flight was smooth and I arrived to the hot sun in just over 3 hours. More posts coming soon about trip etc.

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palmerston is beautiful on both sides

I’ve find that biking is toning up my beach body.  This is really nice considering I hate the gym. It gives me anxiety. I’m lucky to have these super mutant-like muscles that when I do any exercise I get almost instant results.  Yesterday I was biking to Yorkville for #wiredwedTO and took back streets. Didn’t have helmet on, sorry Mum. Will pick it up this evening just for you. I rode down Palmerston Boulevard, one the most beautiful and truly one of my favorites. Most of the houses on Palmerston Boulevard were built between 1903 and 1910. It’s a nice one to bike on and there’s hardly any cars. I like it because of the trees and the houses and because a bunch of my family live in Palmerston North, New Zealand.  ‘Young heart, easy living’ they call it.Palmy (as the Kiwi’s call it) is a very beautiful city north of the capital, Wellington, in the eastern part of the Manawatu Plains, and close to the northern bank of the Manawatu River. I love it there. They have lots of windmills and rolling hills that is absolute bliss. You can see them from the back yard at Nana’s old house where Mum grew up. It’s really pretty.

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#awesomistic #tfc #birthdayweek

Yesterday at the TFC was amazing. I’ve never wanted to be a fan of a game as much as I did being in th. I had a blast. I’m very grateful that my friend took me. I yelled my guts out. Clapped, whistled, jumped up and down and made friends. It was a tie and the fans are the most intense I’ve ever seen in pro sports. The weather was a roller coaster of fun. Rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun. Luckily Av had these killer TFC rain parkas that he got during the first season.I sat in the rain and drank my beer and I was warm and dry. I love the skyline. This is a great city. I was also super satisfied with the food. I had a chip butty. Last time I had a chip butty I was 12 and at Shelly Beach in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. I was with my family and Mum caught a flounder with a stick. I also went swimming with with dolphins about an hour out in the ocean. It was absolutely amazing. This photo is amazing; BMO/Carlsberg, don’t be shy now, you know you love it. I made friends with some cool peeps after the game. I was drinking on the Carlsberg tab at Brazen and checked out that bestmate.ca contest you told me about. Entered it. Not sure where I can see my profile? I also met a lovely babe from MAC at Rasputin Vodka Bar. Cool place. Looking forward to being better friends with MAC and Carlsberg.

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fond, found, fortune, fashion, focus

I’m wearing a mum outfit today. Her old belt that still smells like New Zealand and a shortened Dashiki that matches my orange vintage boots. Tomorrow is going to warm but today its so windy and cold. I think I’m going to write on my way in more often. I lost my computer and ipod so now I use what I got, my device and thoughts and spend less time on the actual computer. I’m inspired in the morning, except for sporadic days when I am not. I usually wake up with a smile. Damn its cold. This morning I woke up to a message from a friend that said he’s in London England and the style there reminds him of me. I think that’s the nicest thing ever. I’ve never been to London but I know about style there. I can’t type as fast as thoughts fly, I can barely talk that fast and when I do its funny and I sound like a nut. I missed a call from a magazine editor last night. I wonder what he wants? H has the closing party for his art show tonight and I’m also planning to chat with Poster Boy. I’m going to make some. Cut and paste was one of my most favorite things to do at the kitchen table when I was younger. It still is along with writing. I wrote a poetry book in 1996 called Jeans. It’s not on Amazon because its out of print, its time for a new book. We started our publishing company without Internet and did it old the fashion way. We learned a lot. Its seems so easy now. I forgot my sunnies, the vintage ones from France. They would have matched perfect. As I take off my jacket I forget…

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The Brightest Light in My Life – Mum

On the weekend I spent a lovely day with Mum. She has just returned from New Zealand and brought back some treats. I feel quite lucky because she managed to find and bring back some of her old clothes for us. I got a great dress she made (yes, made) when she was about 15 as well as a gorgeous leather belt. She brought my sister back a pair of her old boots that are totally rad. Mum found some old photos of herself, she is so cool and has always been a stylish young lady!One of the things I really miss about NZ are the treats. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy! Mum packed up a goodie bag for us each! Yum yum!We stopped into Lahore Tikka House for lunch. The food was fantastic as usual. However, they are using Styrofoam plates and cups which I find to be wasteful and horrible for the environment. Maybe they will change this behavior? I did see the following things that I found to be amusing:Note the handwritten sign stating that you can have a “piece of history” by purchasing an Obama t-shirt. Nice. This needs no explanation except for “ha ha”. Have a great day!

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