Observations

BRILL sunrise this morning! Jen burst in at 6:30, making sure I was up and witnessing the wonderment. Moments like this fade in seconds so, after stashing the camera in my robe's pocket and donning slippers, I ran across the street to the seawall.

Magnificent!
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One thing I noticed while in Montreal, no one was wearing ball caps. Yeah, this is mostly a good thing but still. No one? Not one ball cap? They’re homely but useful things especially now that my eyes are ridiculously light sensitive. Yup, I often wear sunglasses and cap.

What’s another, not ostentatious, sort of lid that I can sport to shield my eyes?

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In other high fashion news, it's time to switch from wearing my beloved Vans to, what Jen refers to as our, orthopedic sneaks. With the entire world, or so it seems, paved over, a decent arch and heel cushion is most def needed. Vans, though the platonic ideal of kicks, are missing that. After walking a zillion miles a day while in Montreal, my knees and feets are beat city.

How dreary. I miss my Vans.
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A LOT of smokers in Montreal or so it seemed. There was always some lit ciggy wielding walker right in front of Jen and I as we attempted to swim through the crowds on Rue Sainte-Catherine. Part of the reason the sidewalks were so clogged was because, in front of every single office building there was a party of cold, smiling, convivial folk, puffing away on their cancer sticks..

I unleashed my Google Fu to find out where Canada ranks in terms of tobacco addicts.

The World Economic Forum and The Tobacco Atlas both have the top five as:

1. China
2. Russia
3. USA
4. Indonesia
5. Japan

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists Canada at number four though. The Washington Post has an interesting article plus cool graphics. It seems that the rankings depend on how a group researchers name an area. That is, falling under the appellation "Russia," in some cases, is all of Eastern Europe.

According to WaPo's lovely colored map, Canada’s cigarette use is just slightly under the U.S. which sits at number 34 not three. We're about tied with the Israelis, the Australians and the Irish.

All this is my long winded way of saying WOW, I would’ve put Canadians up near the top. And, ya know, I'm basing that on my oh-so-scientific and lengthy observations. //snort//
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More sunrise! You're welcome.