That almost sounds like a band name. For a totally awesome band.

I digress… tonight I am supposed to meet JVL at the Snail at 5pm sharp for some sort of surprise date. I don’t know what sort of sneakiness he’s been up to, but it involves a haircut for a covert media opportunity. Hmm. Normally I’d think he was plotting a way for me to meet MacGyver, but since we’ve been there and done that, I’m utterly stumped. Puzzled. Intrigued.

What is my mystery date?!?!?

This weekend crept up on me, and through a series of well-spaced-out Evites and verbal invitations, I have become quadruple booked. Not that I’ve RSVPed to anything, you understand, but all my commitments for this weekend fall into the “it’s a given” category. Observe:

Saturday – Two birthday parties for close friends, neither of whom I see frequently enough, neither of which I should miss. In two different area codes. At the same time. And of course, John and Tina are moving to Hamilton and need help that day.

Sunday – Dan is moving and needs me to drive the van, roughly between 11am and 2pm. And the 100th Anniversary Toronto Santa Claus Parade is starting at 12:30pm, so I should be in position with Christie, Amy, Alyssa and Co. at Bloor and Spadina from, oh, 11am until 2pm. Anyone got a cloning device?

Here’s some news on the parade, in case you want to go:

More than half a million people line the streets of Toronto each year to watch the Santa Claus Parade. Around 1,500 volunteers are expected to march in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade this year. Parade participants range in age from 8 to 80 years old.
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is the world’s longest running children’s parade. This year (2004) marks the parade’s 100th anniversary. The Parade takes place in downtown Toronto. It is an annual event that marks Santa’s first appearance of the year, and unofficially launches the holiday season. More than half a million people line the streets of Toronto downtown to watch the parade on a Sunday afternoon in November. Today the Santa Claus Parade is almost six kilometers long with more than 25 floats on themes ranging from Harry Potter to Hockey Night in Canada. There are more than 20 musical bands and around 1,500 costumed volunteer participants ranging in age from eight to 80. To celebrate 100 years, this year’s Parade will include a giant Mother Goose float modeled after a float design from 1959, as well as a series of hand-pulled floats that harken back to the early 20th century. There will be more bands, elaborate costumes and a more impressive Santa Claus float than ever before. The Toronto Santa Claus Parade starts at Bloor & Christie Streets and runs East along Bloor street to Avenue Road. It then proceeds South along Avenue Road, around Queen’s Park Crescent and further South along University Avenue to Queen Street. At Queen street, the Parade heads East to Yonge street, South along Yonge street and East along Front street. The Parade ends at the corner of Front and Church streets.