Does this mean that I am spending too much money?

Okay, so we all get offers for new credit cards in the mail which purport to offer higher limits, lower interest, more airmiles, better benefits, longer life, better meals out, etc. etc. etc. Usually this come from companies other than those we already deal with....

So, imagine my surprise when my current credit card company sent me an invitation to sign up for an Aerogold business credit card! Yes, BUSINESS. A massive limit, nine additional cards, and extra points for this that and the other thing. Mmmmmm. Extra points.

It was all very tempting. However, when I started to read the acceptance certificate, I discovered that I actually did have to have a registered business and had to fill in things like my Revenue Canada registration number, the what percentage of the business I owned, what the businesses gross annual sales/revenue were, how many employees I had, and on and on and on. So why did I get this? Whatever could have made them think that I was a business, It was then that it dawned on me. Could it be that I spend too much money? As much as, oh, say, a small entreprise?

Now I Have Seen it All

Humour me; I'm just back from a country that encourages the use of neither baby strollers nor take out coffee. While I was aware that both trendy baby culture and trendy coffee culture soared to all time highs while I was away (can they get any higher?), I thought that I had seen it all. But no, in a marriage of both, I recently stumbled across (in the Glebe¹, no less) the new must-have accessory for one's baby stroller - a clip-on coffee cup holder! A quick internet searched showed that the holder is being sold for approximately $25. You'd think that after paying somewhere in the vicinity of a grand for the übertrendy bugaboo, they'd just throw in the holder....

In any case, apologies to any bugaboo or bugaboo coffee cup holder owners, as I said, I've been away....

¹ Trendy Ottawa neighbourhood

Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbour's Furnace Man

First of all, it's currently 2.8°C / 37°F in our pantry. That's another 1.1°C less than two weeks ago. Three more degrees to go before we can officially make ice cubes.

Second of all, given the first point, is it so bad to covet one's neighbour's furnace man? I can't imagine so.

We finally broke down this morning - after waking up to a whopping 12.8°C / 55°F house - and called a furnace man (from this point on, known as Our Furnace Man). The Furnace People said that they were currently booking appointments for next Monday (today being Thursday). When it was mentioned that it was less than 13°C in the house, they said that they would have someone there before 1pm. Hurray for insistence!

A short while later, I noticed a repair-looking van parked outside our house. Oh joy! Oh glee! Our Furnace Man was early. I headed downstairs to open the door only to see Not Our Furnace Man enter the house across the street, tool belt and supplies neatly in tow. How could this be? How could they tease us so? Maybe we were next on the list? I could only hope.

Fortunately after staring out the window trying to will our neighbour's Furnace Man to come our way, a second Furnace Man Van drove up and indeed, this time, he was ours. Hurray! In the end, Our Furnace Man ended up staying close to an hour, tweaked a few knobs and left as soon as heat started flooding through the house. Something about low gas pressure. Two hundred bucks well spent, in my mind.

Death by Meat ... In Toronto!!

After three years of eating meat, more meat and other more meat in Brazil, I figured that my iron levels would be just fine, thank you very much. Not so. Months of overconsumption apparently had no to negative effects on my iron levels. Four months since hitting Canadian soil, it was time to try again ...

DEATH BY MEAT AO CANADENSE

Driving down the Danforth on the way back from Christmas Eve lunch at my uncle's place we noticed a restaurant called the Red Violin. Being a odd-sounding name (makes me think of the Canadian movie more than anything else), we took a closer look only to discover that it was in fact a Brazilian Churrascaria - a.k.a Death by Meat - right there smack in the middle of Greek Toronto (gotta love it!). Plans would have to be made. Fortunately, one of my cousin's had had the same idea and after comparing schedules, we managed to arrange for our night out. So, without further ado, here is caipirissima's official out-of-five-stars rating of the Red Violin, a little piece of Brazil in the Canadian cold.

Caipirinhas -  ½
I have to admit, the Red Violin's caipis were this hotspot's weakest point. Not enough lime or cachaça. Plus they use Pitu, which is okay if you are on the beach in Recife, but not so much if you are paying $9 a pop in TO.

Salad Bar -  ½
The Salad Bar, on the other hand, was terrific. The selection was more than adequate (20+ options or something similar) and included quail eggs (I've never seen these outside of Brazil), sushi (a must is authenticity is at stake), mango salad, shrimp, mussels, smoked salmon (also a must), buffalo mozzarella, ten different kinds of salads and even farofa (toasted maniac flour - a northeastern staple). All extremely Brazilian. All very yummy.

The Meat - 
The meat, I have to say, was pretty decent. There weren't as many cuts as in Brazil, but I guess this is to be expected. The cuts they did have - picanha included - were mouth watering and tasty. Thumbs up on the meat.

Dessert -  ½
Bonus points for innovation and taste! A twist on the theme, dessert was slices of sugared and spit grilled pineapple. A novel idea! Apparently pineapple helps you digest as well. Considering how much meat we ate, this news was welcome.

Service & Ambiance -  ½
The service and ambiance were good and were definitely modelled after the more upscale Sao Paulo churrascarias and not the family fun farm ones near my place in Recife. The waiters did a good job slicing the meat off the swords despite the fact that they were not actually Brazilian (oh, and the owner is Argentinean ... ?!?). On the strange side, was the No Meat Until You Have Completely Finished Your Salad rule. We think that that one could have been blurred a bit. And, in true Brazilian fashion, it didn't really matter whether your meat card was switched to "Yes Please" or "No Thank You", the juicy stuff just kept on coming (we like that though!). There is live music and dancing Thursdays through Saturday, but as we were there on a Sunday, we can't report back on it).

Price -  ½
A tad pricey at $50 for the buffet (drinks extra) - although considering the amount of specialty ingredients we consumed, maybe not actually that outrageous.

Overall Rating - 
A solid four stars. Would I go back? A definite yes.

Thanks H & J for being up to the task! It was just like you had managed to visit us in Brazil!

Até a próxima!