Survivor: Late Stage Edition

In the last few weeks, my workload wasn't just never-ending deadline but also interviews. A single job posting for my team yielded 800 applications. The ability to work remotely might have opened it up to all of North America but it was also indicative of the current work market. It was depressing interviewing people who were mostly in the same boat: laid off and looking for work since January. Superficially, they were all qualified and perhaps even more so than me and especially my co-workers. Also, I have only seen a fraction of the applications so I don't even know what automated gauntlet rejected the rest.

Speaking of trial by fire, a co-worker has been promoted to Team Lead. They did so on an informal basis for about a month last year but couldn't quite hack it. So we got a new manager hire who lasted all of 2 months. A few interviews for a replacement didn't go anywhere so now they had a second kick at the can. I don't know the amount of salary bump, but they were now in meetings until lunch before doing any "real work". It was sink or swim this time round since the company announcement has gone out.

So I wasn't surprised to find out on Friday that they had worked late into the previous evening hammering out a quick and dirty solution for a customer. I spent the morning helping them test before the client meeting. I also sympathized silently during our own meeting since the dysfunctional team dynamics hasn't changed since last year.

For dinner, I visited the 3rd best "pie slinger" in the city: Pizza Pide. I ordered the assorted ($16.49) and watched the passer-bys while waiting for my meal. I overheard the proprietor talking to a customer and got some history. Pide hadn't changed owner like I thought because the current one took over from their uncle about 10 years ago. The business was 30 years old so it was middle-aged when I first visited. I didn't love my selection this time round though a meat-lover might have enjoyed the variety: ground beef, chicken, lamb, and Turkish sausage. I liked the two ends best with spinach and especially the sharp feta cheese. The bland mozzarella that was used for the rest of the pide didn't compare. So I will stick to my usual veggie order.

A Few Doors Down

There seemed to be no end to work madness since March. I wanted to pull the plug on the whole thing because by any standard, my nest egg should be sufficient even with early retirement. On the other hand, the second half of my retention bonus arrived last week. But this lucre was pro-rated so it would be clawed back if I leave before next May.

For lunch, I wanted some adobo chicken from Teako. I was surprised that the servers weren't the owners but even more so to find out they only served tea now. They had stopped making food, at least until the summer (supposedly), because business was slow. This did not bode well for the store. So I made my way to the Greenwood intersection for Gerrard Sushi. Unlike ibet Sushi (or its spiritual ancestor Mazz Sushi), they did not play easy-listening jazz but pop. Specifically, smooth covers of songs both old (REM's Losing My Religion) and new (Olivia Dean's So Easy To Fall In Love). I was on the fence about their sushi lunch ($15.95). Good: the fish wasn't bland like Hana Sushi. Bad: the nigiri was on the small size but more egregiously, the nori for the salmon maki was tough to chew. I have never had subpar seaweed until now.

After work, I went to Coxwell because Food Basics did not cover all the basics. Little India looked a little run-down with numerous empty storefronts and development signs. This was a neighbourhood either in decline or about to undergo rapid gentrification. Some businesses had just moved to smaller digs: Udupi Palace was now at Regency Restaurant, The Famous Indian Cuisine moved across the street to replace Karma's Kitchen. But stalwarts like New Family Diner were permanently closed. The Dollarama and No Frills at Coxwell had larger selection, though the latter did not compare to the location at Dufferin Mall, and I was able to finish off my household checklist.

Circle The Square

I volunteered to attend a 6 am meeting on Wednesday since our clients was 12 hours away on the other side of the world. As an early riser, it was no actual hardship. But if management thought it was a great sacrifice, I won't complain much. It was the second of two meetings where the first one was handled by my colleagues in Europe.

But they were twiddling their thumbs and so did I when I joined. With the vagaries of modern technology, our customer was unable to download our latest product. Eventually an ad-hoc solution was found but by then, we were out of time. There was a tense debrief a few hours later with the bigwigs where blame was mostly deflected onto our clientele's IT department.

This wasn't the only critical update so I was busy until lunch. I snuck out for more Indian food, this time at Samosa and Chaat across from Lahore Grill. I received an enormous container of chicken byriani ($10) with enough rice for 2 meals. The chicken was good but not great since they had to reheat everything. I find that chicken, more than other meat, had an unpleasant odor and taste when microwaved. In this case, it was acceptable because of the tasty spices.

After work, I went to Food Basics at Gerrard Mall. Its selection wasn't as good as No Frills but the latter has been bulldozed for a new subway station currently under construction. There were maybe 2 business turnovers in the neighbourhood since I have been through here last year.

My kitchen at the back of the house looked out at a duplex on triplex that loomed over it from a hill. I finally tried to find its entryway. One street over from my place there was a small side lane that led to a some hidden semi-detached homes. Beyond them was a small foot path that finally led to the triplex. But it was boarded up and currently abandoned. I guess some developers had kicked out the residents but haven't gone ahead with any reno. Given its odd location, it was hard to see what they could build (at least for maximum profit).

Sheet Used To Be Mine

When I needed some space from the chattering mob, an old sublet came up. But the 6-week lease would also save me from the jacked up hotel prices in June due to the FIFA World Cup. I arrived at my new domicile in Toronto on a bright Tuesday afternoon. There was no chance for a breather though because of a customer deadline, I needed to juggle several balls on the bus trip from Ottawa. Then immediately after I unpacked, it was more work.

I finally got my dinner break and headed to Lahore Grill. The fresh naan ($3) and the daily vegetable ($14) were wonderful. But even for Lahore, the okra was soaked in oil. So good on the palate but so bad for the arteries. The upside was that there was plenty of leftover for lunch.

Later on in the evening, I wandered around the apartment to see what has changed in the 4 years since I rented the unit. The owner was a triple-threat musical theatre actor so there were plenty of mementos from shows and trips. I recalled most of them, so it was like stepping into the past. The ceramic ducks with rain boots on the living room table were new. They must have also picked up some additional hobbies as several new watercolour paintings dotted the apartment. A new microwave and toaster were found in the kitchen. But the collection of photos on the fridge was gone. Perhaps they disappeared after the end of a relationship (of which there were vague hints on social media about a year after my stay). From the welcome letter, which mentioned other tenants for mail pickup, it seemed that the basement renter was still around. But the long-time resident on the first floor, along with his British room-mate, have both left. A new couple (a singer-songwriter and a theatre artist) now occupied the ground unit.

In the bedroom, there were some surprising old items. The comforter, pillowcases, and bed linen belonged to me; I had left them behind, freshly cleaned and re-packed. I didn't expect that the owner would keep them since they were cheap polyester products from Walmart. How could I be sure? I had brought one flat sheet back with me to Ottawa. It was stowed away for 4 years until I took it out for my recent sublet in January.

For this return, I also included that flat sheet in my luggage and its pattern matched exactly. Interestingly, all items were in new condition. Mine was obviously because I haven't used it in years. I suspected that theirs was because they only brought it out for the occasional subletter when the good bedding was stowed away. Waste not, want not. But it was an odd feeling to lay down on a "familiar" bedspread, like an adult visiting his childhood home.