The world is your oyster...

I actually tried these for the first time this week, interesting...

Where have ou been for the last 6 and a half months? I have been waiting for you to miss me and it just didn't happen so I decided to come back anyways. It's July 31 and it's one of the most beautiful days of 2011 so far, and we have had our fair share of them. 

It's been a long time since I shared my useless thoughts with the world, at least in writing format. I generally share useless thoughts with people on a daily basis, but this is a different medium. I said boldly that this was going to be an epic year and 7 months into this 2011, I don't think I will be wrong.  don't want to count the chickens before they hatch, but it's been a stupendous year to this point. 

Here is an update in 1000 words or less...new job is rolling at full steam, better money, been reunited with friends as colleagues, VEGAS dirty 30 baby, good friends, great family and an even better relationship...had my twin sibling tumor removed, beer, sun, great books, great sports and many other things that make even me smile. I'd say that's a damn good start anyways. I still have 5 months left and I have some pretty sweet tricks up my sleeve that have yet to be unveiled. Stay tuned. 

...

I recently visited the home base of NB and I learned a lot of things. That is after all the essence of life, to be continually learning (Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.  ~Henry Ford). So what could I possibly learn there you say...well I learned that I am from NB but I am now a person who hails from Toronto (say what you want, but you can't judge if you haven't lived here). I am also a person who learn much of what I know in NB, and that made me a better person. I am much like Blade (the odd vampire trilogy) as I am a Hybrid a day-walker. Being in NB taught me that NB is great but it's not for me, and that I also would not do as well as I am doing in Toronto if I hadn't learned what I did in NB. 

We can't just say we are this or we are that, because we are what we are and what we are is a concoction of everything we have seen and learned. If you choose to shut out a complete part of your life then you aren't what you should be and that's sad. 

Hybrids forever...

The JLS aka the feel good story of the summer

Welcome to the HOF Roberto Alomar and Deion Sanders

One of my childhood favorites and an amazing flare for second base.

A two sport star truly deserving of the Hall

"look good play good , play good pay good , pay good live good , live good eat good, eat good die good" Deion Sanders

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense...

Welcome back, good times had by all recently I hope. I have been wondering what would be a gripping and relevant topic for me to share with you...well it seems that this topic should have been covered a long time ago. What is it you ask? Well here it is, "What's the Difference between living in Toronto and living in New Brunswick?"

NB Flag (I hope you know)

Toronto Flag (if you're curious)

VS

Although it may seem odd to compare a city to an entire province, let's all keep in mind that the population of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is at least 500k more than the province of NB. Here is a little background on what made me think to choose this topic, here are some examples.

1. "How can you live in Toronto? It's so busy there and so dangerous."
2. "Why did you move from NB to Toronto? I heard it's really beautiful there."
3. "Toronto is so big, I would be so worried about living there, I don't think I could get used to that."
4. "When are you moving back to NB? Wouldn't you rather be here?"

Those are some basic examples of things I have been hearing for the last 4 years, since I picked up and moved to another province for the second time. For the record, when I hear things like this, it's all I can do to not shake the person speaking. I mean really, people need to spread their wings and experience things, so they don't need to ask these questions. But my friends, that is a topic for another time.

the Differences: (this is by no means a comprehensive list, so share anything I may have missed!!!)

• The Runners: What are the runners you may ask if you are reading this in NB? This is a phenomenon that I will never get used to no matter how long I spend here and it is something that Toronotians have lived with for years and have likely participated in...the act of running/sprinting/bounding/given'er/scampering to get on the subway, go train, bus, streetcar or additional for of public transit. THERE IS NO NEED TO RUN TO RAM THIS DOOR, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION COMING!! Please spot doing this as you look like a complete moron and someday, someone inside the train you jump onto, is going to punch you in the face. 
• Point NB on this one: People from NB are not in such a damn hurry and we realize that there will be another train, I hope someday that can we find a way to pass this knowledge onto people here. Stop being in such a damn hurry!!!
• Open Minds: Now this one could be touchy subject, but that's not really a concern of mine. People in NB ask the questions above because they have grown up and in most cases lived their whole lives in NB. There is nothing wrong with this per say, but it certainly doesn't lead to a well rounded view of society, Canada or the world in general. People here are much more open to different activities, different people and most importantly different sensations. I can't fully blame this one people in NB, as it really is a different mentality, and people there need to get out an explore a bit more. 
• Point Toronto: This may sound way to serious to be coming from me, but people need to be more open and show a curiosity/vigor for life and people and the World. I'm not saying that I am world traveler by any means, but living here and Vancouver and Anchorage along with NB, has helped me see that there is a lot of cool beans out there. 
• Stuff: Ok now this may be the deal breaker on the whole argument...I know this may come as a surprise, but there are hundreds of things to do in Toronto on any given day!! This may sound very odd when you consider that there may only be hundreds of things to do in NB in a given year...:) During my 24+ years in NB I never heard anyone say a sentence like this..."Hey you wanna come to the Raps game with me tonight, see the Foo Fighters tomorrow and then head to the lake-front for the fireworks festival?"...the main reason for that being that none of those things have ever happened in NB. There are all kinds of population arguments that can be made as to why none of these come to NB, but we don't have enough time for that....My point being, if you like doing things and being entertained and having options, then Toronto is for you. (Also consider that Toronto is within an 8 hour drive of many large US markets like Philly, Chicago, Pitts, Cleveland, Indy...ect)
• Point Toronto: The great thing about Toronto and other great cities throughout the world, is that there is a plethora of activities to partake in and if you choose to never be bored...you never will be. Now I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound too darn bad to me. As I have lived both scenarios in multiple cities and areas of NB, I can say...Change is the essence of life, so be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become. 

Sidenotes: Although Toronto does have 4.5 professional sports team (the Argos being the half), they are all terrible and very hard to root for. I will say that Leafs fans in general are pretty delusional and they are the most entertaining things to watch while attending a Leafs game. Toronto has been deprived of a winner since the back2back World series years of Joe Carter and the boys 17 years ago. it also appears that the Jays are the Hardest working team we have right now. Too bad...

The Final Score: Well I don't have  a final score, so too bad if you wanted one. Basically from the perspective of a young professional, Toronto (or insert your CITY of choice here) is my preferred place to be. That being said, NB is a great place to grow up and I still talk to a lot of great people from there. Many of which still live there. The people in general are more laid back in NB and they just make me laugh here. People here are not dangerous and please stop asking me how I can ever get used to 'all of the people'...we are humans, and humans adapt. 

They are both great, but for now, and for me, Toronto wins. deal with it...but as the saying goes, 'To each their own", we should all live by that. 

JLS...we own this city...