October 27, 2014 Municipal Election Day.

Today was just one of those days.  Every task seemed to take longer than it should.  There were too many things to take care of and not enough time.

Today is election day here in Toronto.  Finally our chance to get rid of Rob Ford and Doug Ford. FINALLY.

I will say however, that I did not vote strategically. I struggled with it for a good 4 weeks. Had plenty of discussions with family, read the candidates platforms, watched far too many debates, and spent a crazy amount of time on Twitter with my new community of anti-Ford, pro-Toronto Twitter friends. So many people are voting Tory to get rid of Ford. Believe me, I want to get rid of every member of the Ford family from Toronto politics and news, but I could not vote for a conservative. If there was no Ford in the race, I would NEVER vote for John Tory.  His Smart-track plan, in my opinion, is to move people from the suburbs into the city core and back home again.  He neglected the whole Northwest corner of the city where I spend 3 hours a day on a bus and where there is more than one priority neighbourhood. It is not a plan at all to help Torontonians move around the city.

My candidate is Olivia Chow.  I voted for who I want the Mayor of Toronto to be. Where I am in the world and life, she is my best representative. The polls close at 8pm so by 9pm.....I'm sick just thinking about it.

Today is one of those days where a 20 minute cuddle and fuss of Crockett would make my day perfect. I miss him every day. I miss him today.

A Day in Pictures - Lots of Chalk

Today, I met my Mom for lunch & then we took a walk up to

Toronto City Hall Nathan Phillips Square to

see all the chalk messages for Jack Layton.

I tried another finger upon CN Tower shot and again, failed!



Mmmmmm dessert.

Me - Creme Brulee

Mom - Butter Tart



It's amazing the things you find when you walk inbetween buildings in Toronto.



These are some of the chalk messages written at

Toronto City Hall Nathan Phillips Square

to Jack Layton & his family.

It was very moving.



There are messages written in many languages.



Toronto City Hall. Where Adam & I got married :)



This message above was not too clear but it reads:

" Thank you Toronto!

Your support got us through

this difficult time.

With love, the Layton Family"



There were so many seagulls flying over head.

It was a beautiful sunny and windy day.

I got pooped on!

Supposed to be good luck.

At least it was my pants & not my head!



There was a constant stream of people.

Most with cameras and quite a few with tears in their eyes.

It's one of those events that just happened organically

and it's very special.

Politics - Sorry.

Today was the Toronto Mayoral Inauguration of Rob Ford

and the beginning of, what is sure to be, many more sad,

embarrassing days ahead over the next 4 years for the

City of Toronto.

I will be 100% open and honest.

I do not support Rob Ford.

I did not vote for Rob Ford.

I was disappointed when he won.

Remember? It's all here.

I live in mid-uptown Toronto.

A few years back, Toronto and a few

surrounding cities/suburbs amalgamated and became

one big city - the GTA - Greater Toronto Area.

The vote breakdown shows that the pre-amalgamation

suburbs voted for Ford where the

pre-amalgamation city of Toronto voted for Smitherman.

2010 Toronto Mayoral Election Breakdown.
Source.

Today, Rob Ford invited Don Cherry to introduce him as Mayor to council.

Yes, that Don Cherry.

The Don Cherry that is, more often than not, socially inappropriate.

Sometimes amusing for short spurts during a hockey game, sometimes.

When I saw the clip on the news of Don Cherry

saying, "And put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks."

I was angry. I wanted the whole story. Not just a sound bite.

Here is Don Cherry's speech transcribed.

Very divisive. Bullying almost.

Pinkos?

Left-Wing Kooks?

Ugh.

Toronto Mayoral Election Disappointment

This post is about politics......for that, I apologize in advance.

I have never been overly political.

I care about right and wrong, good and bad, fairness.

I vote based on my beliefs and how they are met by the candidates platforms.

This time alot of Torontonians were talking about voting against someone.

I agree we needed to vote against Rob Ford but we also needed to vote for
something or someone.

That is my personal opinion based on my watching the debates,

reading up on their platforms, taking their experience,

past performance and leadership ability into account.
This is about alot more than just balancing a budget.

Everyone has the right to vote.
Sadly not everyone excercised that right today.
 I also have the right to disagree and
be disappointed with the result.

I fear for the Toronto of the next 4 years.

We've taken a huge step backwards.

I just may become a bit more political and involved as a result of this election.