My current fantasy involves coming up with some well-written, polite, but stern reasons why the person pissing me off at the moment should cease and desist their transgressions immediately, transcribing these reasons onto index cards, and pulling them out whenever the opportunity presents itself. One for every topic, arranged alphabetically. This would save me the “I should have said…” regret while allowing me to express myself in the most concise, effective manner possible. Pre-delivery, a single index finger held aloft to indicate a moment’s pause while searching through the cards. After delivery, a nod, a wave, and a now move on — you’ve clearly been bested look.

If this doesn’t come to fruition, a long walk is a good place to clear the head or scheme. I did this on east Gerrard Street yesterday; ended up feeling both more optimistic about my ability to write sharp preemptive repartee on index cards, and surprised that for some reason I’d never been there before. Another Chinatown near my own neighbourhood, and this one comes with a cool movie set:

Not unlike the Chinatown on Spadina, but a little more calm. I still managed to get authentically jostled on the sidewalk though, and there was a good amount of that genuine, frenzied replenishment action by the markets’ stock boys.

Just to remind all those Chinamen who’s law applies in this country, the Don Jail sits just off the eastern edge of the neighbourhood:

I think this building is still in use, but there seems to be a more main entrance just around the bend. This is probably just the place where you come to have your cavities searched and buy souvenirs. Still, not a place that seems welcoming.

This is in contrast to the serene neighbourhood just down the street where only antique shops are allowed and everyone, I mean everyone, must own a lap dog in order to claim residency:

That sort of yin-yang dynamic in the neighbourhoods helped to balance my perspective significantly, to provide me with a window on a novel a new coping mechanism: utterly destroy the people who irritate me by my superior intellect. It was so obviously clear.

I’ll just have to work out where to acquire this intellect and, if the superior option is a bit pricey, to make a budget for it. After that, it’s just a hop skip ‘n a jump to Fulfilled Fantasyville, home of North America’s most tongue-twisteriest name and happiest mayor: me.

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