It took me a while to understand why some Torontonians refer to their beloved city as “T-dot”. Sometimes, I’m a little slow on the uptake. The abbreviation for Toronto is “T.O.” T-dot is short for “T-dot-O-dot.” Does that make sense? I probably got that all wrong. But I digress…
A few days ago, I revealed some breaking news: I’m heading to Toronto this summer. This will be my third summer in Toronto. Like the devout to Mecca, it has become an annual pilgrimage for me.
Summer in Toronto is amazing. It’s nothing short of magic. Perfect temperatures. A beautiful, progressive city. Lots of parks. And even more foreskin. Here’s a little known fact: Toronto is actually built on foreskin. Even the ridiculously high taxes can’t keep my spirits down. If there was room in my apartment, and if I enjoyed sharing my space with other people, then I’d surely invite you. 
Luckily, you’re invited to follow the experience on my blog. Hurray!
I’m heading to Toronto in mid-May. I’ll stop briefly in Rochester, NY to attend a wedding. Then, it’s full steam ahead. I’m staying through the end of September.
I’ll be living in a new area of downtown on the top floor of a high-rise. It’s not fancy, I promise you. My living space is 400 square feet. While “400″ is a large number in most instances, it’s not when it comes to square footage. It’s a tiny, sparsely-furnished studio-style apartment with a microscopic TV. I couldn’t be more excited. It all sounds very monastic.
I’ve embedded a thumbnail of the living space so that you can see for yourself.
Just a few weeks ago, I made peace with the idea that I wouldn’t be heading to Toronto. I was having trouble renting my condo in Rhode Island, and as the clock ticked away, the chances of finding a reliable renter diminished. But alas, the universe had other plans for me.
Oh, Canada.
February 25, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Hey Davey!
I was listening to the song Live your Life by TI & Rihanna and instantly thought of you… some of the lyrics really stuck in my mind:
“Be thankful for the life that you got.
Stop lookin’ at what you ain’t got
and start bein’ thankful for what you do got”.
When I was listening to the song I was actually having somewhat of a bad day, but then thought why am I sad? I have so much good in life and I should be thankful with what I have, not what I don’t have.
Anyways I just wanted to share that.. I see how you make the best of a given situation. I have promised myself to do the same, and try make everything positive. There is so much negativity in the world today and maybe by me just smiling a little more it’ll rub of on the next person I pass by at the mall or coffee shop..
About your summer in Toronto, that’s awesome news! I’m from Canada (Newfoundland actually) and Toronto is such an amazing place.
All the best!
Lynn
June 12, 2009 at 4:44 pm
You have such a grasp of the obeious.
February 25, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Davey, you make me day better each and every day. I make sure to check your blog several times through out the day. I’m having a problem right now with a few family members, but mostly telling my Dad I’m gay. I just want to tell him, but so scared. Anyway you help me a lot. You should come by New Brunswick (Canada). It’s really small compared to Ontario…our largest city has about 166 000 people. Can I ask you a question? How do you cope as a young gay man (I’m 18) living in a small populated area. I know you have lived in small towns, but I find it hard being gay and living is a small town….4000 people. There are no other gay people who are open and sometimes I feel lonely. Any advice would be great. You brighten up my day. XOXO
February 25, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Hey Alex, I know how lonely it can be in the closet and in a small town. Just know that at 18, very soon you will be off to university hopefully, and at university there are tons of opportunities. My university town was 150,000 people, which relative to my home town is tiny, and there were so many open and inviting people there that you can definitely meet some new people. Just hang in there, all will work itself out soon.
February 26, 2009 at 9:09 am
Oh, Alex, You’re not alone! There are millions of guys, and girls, in the same situation. I grew up in a town of 1000 in southeast Indiana, (USA), where even God was White/Baptist/Republican and STRAIGHT! IT AIN’T EASY. In coming OUT, u find out who your real friends are, but still, once out,you can’t un-tell those words. You might consider waiting till you have a job or at least another place to live just in case your dad can’t handle things. There may be a better time to tell him than now. At 18, you have plenty of time for coming out. Have you heard of Craigslist? Ck it out. You may find support closer than you thought. Best wishes Alex. As Noah wrote…things will work out.
May 9, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Ahaha. I live in a city of 4.5million and i don’t personally know or met any gay person before.
February 25, 2009 at 4:17 pm
When are you going to have a summer in Sydney?
Remember you can escape a cold winter in New England and Canada by being in Australia and experience a “true” summer.
Luv ya, Davey Wavey.
February 25, 2009 at 4:18 pm
can we have a meet and greet in toronto?
February 25, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Great News!
It’s always nice to see the city through your eyes. Your adventures remind me to appreciate parts of the city that I often take for granted
Bon voyage!
February 25, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Hey you.
For whatever little it’s worth, 400sqf is not really that tiny.
My apartment in paris is 17sqm, which is less than what you are talking about, and most of my friends here live in even smaller apartments.
February 25, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Toronto again? What happened to the wanderlust? Me thinks thoust in a rut!
February 25, 2009 at 7:49 pm
yeah Davey, you got the T. thing right on. Otherwise we say Trono. Random comment of the day 1.
I am excited for you Davey and you have chosen a great time to come too. I’m excited to get back home come the middle of august so maybe a meet and greet would be in order, if you would be so willing.
Also, I don’t know who here knows Toronto all that well, but if anyone has a week of freedom, the best vacation one can have, especially in the summer is going out to Algonquin park for a long weekend canoe trip. Not too far but absolutely beautiful. Random comment of the day number 2
February 25, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Davey three posts mentioning foreskin in a month? People are going to start thinking thoughts about you and hoodies
Enjoy T.O.
February 25, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Awesome news Davey. I’m looking for a place there, myself. Can’t do the 400 sq. ft. thing, though. Too small for me. My goal is to have a job there by April 1, or to at least have one lined up. Can’t wait!!
Godspeed.
February 26, 2009 at 1:34 am
I went from 1260 sqft. apt. from an area next to Belmont Shore.If you say Belmont Shore(s) you are ostracized just like the people who refer to San Francisco as “Frisco.” I moved from a dysfunctional landlord (city always on his ass for everything) an apt. that is larger than most of the houses in the area. I went to a secured well maintained building downtown Long Beach walking distance to everything I need including the Metro Rail that takes me to West Hollywood/Beverly Hills but alas my apt. is the size of many there 560 sqft. I refer to the nearby town of San Pedro by its Hispanic pronunciation “Pehdroh” I am constantly being erroneously corrected saying “Peedroh.” I had a joke with one of my co-workers named Pedro where he and I cringed at the mispronunciation. I started to call him “Peedro” like the white boy transplants that hark back to the days of Long Beach being referred to as “Iowa by the Sea.” Makes me want to start talking in a thick Swedish accent like some of my grandmother’s relatives “goot ta yar of yam oot if ta Booich Vildehcaht.” Get the jar of jam out of the Buick Wildcat.
February 26, 2009 at 9:08 am
My friends and I in T.O. have had a discussion about the T-dot, O-dot controversy. We all seem to think it is the short version for Toronto Ontario, hence T.O.
I agree with Noah on Algonquin park. Also, Killarney park (it’s mystical)…only the interior though, the main park is an outdoor-poser-histrionic nightmare during the summer.
February 26, 2009 at 9:39 am
And what if Queensland bekons? You’ll have to be heading there in May for interviews and, should you get the ‘job’, start working on July 1!
February 26, 2009 at 10:50 am
What ever became of Belize?? And Oz??
February 26, 2009 at 11:11 am
My special name for it is, “Totoville”. You can borrow it if you like.
As for foreskin, Montreal has them beat by kilometers more prepuce then they have in Totoville. After all, we’re French! Vive la différence!
Be well,
February 26, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Hey Davey,
Hey Davey glad to see that you got your wish have a great time in toranto and enjoy every minute of it take time to be with Scotty and take in all the wonderful sites and take care of yourself.
Anthony Gallo (Pennsylvinia)
February 26, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Awesome that the Maple Leaf is calling you home once again! Hope you have a killer summer!
Ciao!
February 27, 2009 at 9:14 am
Enjoy the foreskin Toronto has to offer!
February 27, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Davey! I live nearly 40 minutes from Rochester! We’ll be so close!
February 28, 2009 at 9:47 am
i’m so happy you’re coming to canada!!!
and yes, torontonians call it t-dot because it’s shorter than t-dot-o-dot, but we also just call it T-O.
have a nice trip!
March 1, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Hey Davey … glad to hear your coming back to Canada. Love your blogs … your videos postings, and just the way you think! I only wish you were staying here with us for good but we’ll gladly accept the summer lol
March 5, 2009 at 1:04 pm
“Oh, Canada.”
It reminds me of my mother’s story about her beloved grandfather, a French-Canadian who lived in Chatham, Ontario, a couple of hours south of Toronto. Every time he heard Canada’s national anthem being sung (in French), tears would stream down his face….
How beautiful.