Not Enough Sugar and Too Much Water

On the hour long ride from the Toronto airport to Hamilton, Canada, we met some talkative, relatively aggressive Canadians returning home who wanted to talk politics. Pleased as I was that 9 hours of sardine time was being topped off in a van with politcal discourse, I will admit that I was surprised at the aggressiveness of the Canadians’ dislike of Obama. (Well, mostly I was surprised at their aggressiveness. I didn’t think they got all that worked up about much more than hockey. And beer.But, it’s also true that my knowledge of Canada is largely shaped by _Strange Brew_. Aye.)

Either way, after the woman told a story about a poor doctor in Arizona whose practice shut down because of Obamacare (good to know Fox News makes it this far north) and the man worried Obama was soft on defense (from a Canadian? I am no war-monger, but I’m a bit tired of my tax dollars–and my neighbors sons and daughters–carrying the rest of the world’s water on defense), the conversation mercifully died and we rode in peace.

Naturally, and perhaps ironically, the only places open to eat when we arrived where loud. But they had cold beer. People might look different all over the world, but the Bar and Grill sure doesn’t. As I fell in bed, exhausted from doing nothing all day, I noted Starbucks coffee in the room. Smile.

Except I can never understand why hotels don’t leave you enough sugar. Why two sugars for two cups of coffee. Do they really think I want to use one sugar and one sweet in low in each cup? Are they trying to save me from myself and save me from too many sweets?

In much the same way, I don’t understand the guilt cards they leave on the towels (9 billion gallons of water are wasted every day washing towels for your 1st world, middle class travelers–you can save the world by hanging up your towel you earth killer). This is the towel you will use after you finish showering with the rain-forest shower head that uses 400 gallons and dumps so much water the bathtub can’t drain. I’ve been swimming in pools with less water. But if I hang my towel up, I’ll save the planet?

At least I’ll have a good cup of coffee. Almost.