30 Comments

More of a gentle tolerance in Canada... maybe. I wonder if Americans are simply more vocal with their prejudices. As we've sadly learned with the Trucker Convoy fools, et al, there are plenty of narrow-minded (I'm being a polite Canadian) people up here. Toronto's a nice city—my daughter lives there. But there's no place like NYC!

Expand full comment

I had a strong sense of deja vu as I read thus piece. I am a Canadian who spent many years abroad, including about 14 years in NYC. I had a green card, and kept being told when I went through US Immigration "You know, you are eligible to take out US citizenship." My response always was, "Yeah. I'm still in the dating phase. Not sure i'm ready to fully commit yet." Most of them were nonplussed by that feeble attempt at humour, and i guess they are used to dealing with people dying to get back onto the country. But when Trump got elected, it really got too crazy, even for me, who genuinely loved the US.

And I came back to Toronto (which has become a decidedly more interesting city, albeit without the charming weirdness of NYC). There's definitely more of a gentle tolerance up here. Our cable companies are shit, and we've had two full-on crashes FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY over the last 15 months, but at least you can get abortion on demand.

Expand full comment

Also, I was not expecting to be fascinated by a conversation about waste water treatment plants AND a story about moving to Canada. Well done, Anne!

Expand full comment

I never knew exiting the subway could be so complicated. Personally, when I'm in NYC, I use the nearest door and hope to hell that the people outside have the decency to let me out before they try to enter. As for the multiverse, I'm convinced that in every 'verse' people fail to observe the common decency of letting the people inside the car exit before trying to enter. Seriously, why do people do this? Can you get answers to that question, Anne?

Expand full comment

Were the water plants smelly?

Expand full comment
Jul 11, 2022Liked by Anne Kadet

New life motto: “Weirdness takes time to

develop.”

Expand full comment
Jul 11, 2022Liked by Anne Kadet

"But not a lot of people lived in Toronto 30 years ago" is a curious statement; I'm sure I'm missing some context. I lived in Toronto 30 years ago and I can at least anecdotally confirm that lots of other people did as well. But we don't need my anecdata! There are facts!

In 1951** much more than 30 years ago**, the City of Toronto’s population was 675,754. The geographic area that is now occupied by the City of Toronto was 1,117,470.

In 2001**almost but not quote 30 years ago**, the population of the amalgamated City of Toronto was 2,481,494.

In 2011, the population of the amalgamated City of Toronto was 2,615,060.

In 2016, the population of the amalgamated City of Toronto was 2,731,571.

via https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/using-the-archives/research-by-topic/toronto-history-faqs/

Expand full comment

Monday and part of the routine is the Cafe. You are always tweaking the format and I like that. Wastewater Treatment, moving to Canada & trash. Wow. I had a political spoils summer job working in a treatment plant as a high schooler. Still remember some of that. Not that different from not wanting to know how your food is made. Reading fun stuff like your Newsletter reminds me of how much reading and listening to all sorts of different stuff is a cool creative way of thinking about NEW STUFF. Thanks. Your post led me to look up WWTP near me. That might be another story for me thanks to you.

Expand full comment
Jul 11, 2022Liked by Anne Kadet

The Newtown plant is on one of my usual running routes that I love because it's so perfectly desolate and industrial! It's also around where we took a lot of our "covid walks" in the early days of the lockdown since it was much simpler to go to places where we'd be alone and breathe fresh unfiltered air rather than deal with the awkwardness of passing freaked out masked strangers. But I had no idea they do tours! What awesomeness! Will have to sign up! Thanks Anne as always :) Meanwhile I am putting together a list of questions that I've been pondering in my 33 years as a New Yorker.

Expand full comment
Jul 11, 2022Liked by Anne Kadet

I have flown over the "digester eggs" (using the polite term!) for years coming in and out of LaGuardia. Now I know what they are. Kudos from Louisville.

Expand full comment