Happy Canada Day!

July 1st is Canada Day and it's a stat holiday. I'll be at home, in all likelyhood, cooking, eating, reading, writing and watching movies.

Unfortunately, Canada Day is a day that my cocker spaniel, Symon, always suffers a mini-breakdown - he's terrified of the fireworks that usually start at dusk - the city puts on a beautiful fireworks display on the water, but my townhouse backs onto a park, so the occasional pop of cherry bombs can be can be heard sporadically until the wee hours, sending poor Syms into a tizzy.

Much like the 4th of July for Americans, July 1st is a day of smells & sounds: BBQ smoke curling through the neighborhood with the promise of burgers, steaks or hotdogs; lawnmowers humming, teenagers laughing, tots squealing, the splashing of pool water, and the low hum of suped-up cars cruising down the street.

Of course, Symon is oblivious to all these goings on, except for one - the pop, pop, pop of firecrackers.

Thank God it's just one day every summer (until Labour Day!).