a peek inside the fishbowl

When I got in the car I started out with a very specific lunchtime destination: the newly renovated Corner Express convenience store in Hintonburg. It’s been relaunched as the Spadina Dina and had a grand opening on October 24. I’ve been determined to visit ever since I read about the proposed menu, which includes authentic Halifax-style donairs. (I was practically drooling as I pulled into a parking spot.) It was exactly noon when I arrived, dreams of donairs dancing in my brain, but I quickly discovered the door was locked and that they were closed. Huh. So much for that plan! Not to be deterred from a good lunch, I remembered something online about a sandwich that sounded promising so I pointed my car towards Holland’s Cake and Shake.

Here’s the tweet that caught my eye:

Computer died so I’m kicking it old school, with a marker. Brown bag lunch, Tuesday and Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/yABjyv7iD8

— Cake and Shake (@HollandsCake) October 31, 2017

(The lesson here folks is that TWITTER WORKS. Call me if you’d like a social media consultation. I’m booking!)

The sandwich special at Holland’s Cake and Shake changes all of the time and it was the thought of that PARTICULAR ham sandwich that my brain couldn’t shake. Here it is:

It’s tough to get a good photo of something that is mostly brown. Sorry about that, but I think you get the picture.

Confession: I’ve never had potato chips IN my sandwich before. Have you? It was amazing. The sandwich hit all of the right tastes and textures for me: Fresh bun, salty ham, crunchy chips. Even the broccoli salad in there was delicious. And you wouldn’t generally think to put something like that between two slices of bread. Somehow, it all worked. It was SANDWICH MAGIC.

For the record, I opted for the package deal which came with a coffee and one of their mini-cakes, which were all Halloween-themed. I chose the one titled Gingerbread Man Massacre because (a) I love gingerbread and (b) you can’t beat fake blood on a cake and (c) WOULD YOU LOOK AT THOSE X’s on the faces?!

I.Die.

My other Holland’s Cake and Shake recommendation, if you decide to go, is to try one of their cake shakes. They take one of their mini-cakes and blend it into a milkshake. (!) It’s fabulously decadent.

p.s. If you are the kind of person who likes to get a heads up about great finds, you will definitely want to subscribe to the Extra Helping, a free email spotlight on one great product, service, nook, or edible treat from the wilds of Westboro Village and its environs. Read more about it right here.

As you may know, our eldest daughter is in her first year of university. (You can read about that right here. Grab a tissue.) Our youngest is still at home. She jokes that she doesn’t have anyone to roll her eyes at when we are Being Total Parents, but I have a sneaking suspicion this isn’t really a joke. I don’t know how much she enjoys being the only child but she’s so busy with school and sports and activities and work and an active social life that I feel like we’re ships in the night sometimes.

A few of you have asked how life is going with one less kid in the house. Well, I’ll tell ya. The weird mash of joy and sadness I was feeling the week we were getting ready to send her off and in the days afterward has abated a little. I try not to think about it too much because it’s easier to pretend the feeling is not there, and that it’s no big deal, like a blister or a paper cut. Mind over matter, right?

Sometimes the afternoon sun falls just so and I am reminded that the kids will be home from school soon. Hot on the heels of THAT thought I suddenly remember that one of them isn’t coming home today. The other day a neighbour stopped me and exclaimed, hey, I saw your daughter just now. To which I replied, which one? I actually forgot we didn’t have two kids at home. What else? I was making dinner the other day and caught myself planning four portions. I have pulled four plates out of the cupboard.

I don’t buy juice anymore because there is no one to drink it. The milk lasts a lot longer, too.

The blessing in all of this is technology. When I was away at school, long distance calls were expensive and they were few and far between. Today, of course, there is the INTERNET and everything that comes with it. We pay nothing for a long distance call. I can see the photos she posts, easily pass along an article that made me think of her, or send her a quick text or a snapshot. There’s also Facetime. Video chat is so easy and so ordinary now but when I was in high school it was like something out of the Jetsons. Video chat is like phone calls, but miles better. If there was a problem it would be written all over her face. Having this degree of communication is wonderful, for everyone.

My biggest concerns were assuaged back in September. She made good friends and is eating well and enjoying (most of) her classes. Her residence room is great and her can mate (that’s the term for the person she shares a bathroom with) is a very nice young woman. The eldest has been pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone – in a good way – and tackling adult things like grocery shopping, banking, the admin side of university studies, and doing it successfully on her own. Plus, she’s having fun. This is all I really wanted. (Sidebar: What would we have done if she hated university? I don’t want to jinx things but this is something I’ve been asking myself. What if she hated school? Hated her floor-mates or her classes? What would we have done? Gah.)

The things that are consoling me right now are as follows (in no particular order):

• She’s coming home for Christmas.
• She isn’t actually that far, geographically speaking. In fact, we snuck over to Kingston the weekend before last to take her out to dinner.
• She is happy.
• Care packages. (Sent from us to her in Kingston, just so we’re clear.)

The last package I pulled together included a box of caramels, fun socks from Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, and a party game. (Oh, and her high school philosophy notes.) I have another one on the go which I’ll be sending soon. There’s something about compiling the items, writing a note, wrapping it all up, and standing in line at the post office that I find peaceful and healing. The process is like a bandaid for my heart, in a way. Someday it will get easier, I’m sure.

A couple times a year, Masters ‘n Dogs in Westboro Village hosts a pet portrait session for charity. I spotted the ad in the latest Kitchissippi Times so I jumped at the chance to have a professional photo taken of our four-legged daughter.

It took place on Saturday. As soon as we reached the door of the shop I realized I’d made a terrible mistake. You see, this is the place where Piper is groomed. She hates going to the groomer, and as a result, instantly turned into a quivering mess and didn’t want me to let her go for even a second.

I (barely!) filled out the consent form and took my place in line while Piper shivered and cowered in my arms. I pointed out all of the other dogs who seemed perfectly calm and rational, but she’d have none of it. Soon it was our turn. A nice surprise: It was a professional setup with lights and a fall background. The photographer, Leslie Yeow, was patient to a saintly degree. Piper, who is normally very food-motivated, would not be bribed. She didn’t want to sit, or stay, or do anything other than make a quick exit. I sat her down, again and again, only to have her bounce up, again and again. I had my coat on and was perspiring profusely by this time. I had already paid, but I knew the money was going to charity and was perfectly content to abandon my plan.

Leslie convinced me to persevere. I was frazzled but he was so kind and patient. After ten minutes or so I was able to talk her down from her manic panic and he was able to get a handful of really sweet photos (which I will be adding to her Instagram account ASAP).

Thank you Masters n’ Dogs, and thank you Leslie Yeow for the great photos.

Check out some of the other pups (and one pig) who had their portraits taken during the HOWLoween event on Leslie’s website. They are soooo cute.

p.s. December 2nd is the annual HOWLiday photo event, so save the date!