Adopt Momcat!

Lisa Cuddy, Abbey Cat 3651, originally uploaded by monado.

The mother of the adorable kittens has retired from kitten-rearing. She is quiet, well-behaved, and good-tempered–and you can adopt her from Abbey Cats cat rescue society in Toronto.

The kittens have all been adopted to good homes.

Pages bookstore is closing

I hadn’t heard about this: after 20 years, Pages on Queen Street is closing.

Finch Avenue sinks again

Why doesn’t the city just admit that there’s a stream running under the street and put in a culvert? Or a bigger culvert? Or an actual bridge? There is a culvert, but flooding can overload it. It’s a remnant of the time when Toronto’s treatment of creeks within the city was to bury them.

“Son of the hole that ate Finch Avenue“

This is the second time in four years that the soil under the road has washed away. Some people called it the Finch Flood.

Live from the Pride Parade

In spite of the intermittent showers and predicted thunderstorms, Lizbot is watching the Pride Parade in downtown Toronto. She sent us a few pictures by phone.

The bike for AIDS riders:

Parents of gays:

Jack Layton, our Member of Parliament:

That’s equivalent to a Congressman in the U.S.

It’s Pride Week

Thanks to Benjamin Geiger for the image!

This is Toronto’s Pride Week (or Pride Fortnight, June 6 – 30?) Ah, it’s officially June 19 -28. The festivities will be “hotting up” as we approach the weekend blow-out, when part of Church Street is  closed to become a pedestrian mall and celebration space. There’s a Dyke Parade (Dyke Hike?) and a main parade, in which the Mayor and various Members of Parliament or Members of Provincial Parliament ride.

We’re also having a strike by city workers. The pools are closed and garbage collection is cancelled. But Pride Week is going on, aside from cancelling a flag raising — no one to operate the flagpole, I suppose. The organizers will pay up to $20,000 to have private firms collect their litter.

Events include a 5km run or walk, the Pride & Remembrance Run, which raises money for worthy, gay-friendly causes, such as the hospice Casey House. Of course, some people will be running in costume. The run is on Saturday the 27th at 10 a.m., with refreshments afterwards.

Last Saturday there was an inclusive shabbat service held by Shir Libenyu congregation. Remember when “inclusive” was LGBT? That stands for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transsexual.” Well, now it’s LBGTTIQQ for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual,Transgender,* Intersex, Queer, & Questioning.” Free childcare is available during services.

*Some people say, “Two-spirited.”

I expect that some of the many out-of-town visitors will use their trip as a chance to get legally married.

I’m Henery the Eighth, I am!