in spite of not having much in the way of christmas preparations this year, i've been very busy running around of late for work with meetings, getting to different clients to wrap up projects, and working out, and it has been hard to find the time to take in the sights and sounds of christmas in toronto.

one of the “must-see”s that i managed to take in is the swarovski crystal-decorated tree in the middle of downtown eaton centre. the tree is about 60 feet high and set on a turntable of a sort that revolves the tree continuously (as with most of the pics on my site, click on it to see a larger version of the picture). i didn't bother with the statistics of the tree, but it is totally adorned in luminous, sparkling crystals, clear and bright as diamonds! it's truly a magnificent sight to behold and it filled me with awe to gaze upon it. i guess that even i am part magpie after all (attracted by shiny sparkly things)!

in glaring contrast to the shimmery sparklies inside, the sky has been overcast and rainy for the past several days casting a dour gloom over the week. there's no snow here, no ice, no skating, no skiing, and no pristine white covering to blanket the city in purity and peace. i find myself missing that more and more, being someone who loves the winter and the snow, and hoping that january will bring the return of the snow.

- g