ottawa

(written on Monday afternoon)

I'm typing this in the Tea Store in Byward Market, Ottawa. The opposite wall is covered with shelves of loose teas of every flavour imaginable. Behind me is a wall of teapots and teacups of various descriptions, from overly-cutesy cat-shaped pots to one-cup pots decorated with wild designs to plain coloured porcelain teapots with warming stands. I spent about ten minutes browsing the tea collection before deciding on maple, a flavour I've never tried before. Yummmm...

This morning, I took a tour of the Parliament Buildings, took in the view from the top of the Peace Tower, listened in on part of a House of Commons session. Major security. For access to the Parliament Buildings, I had to remove my various layers of outerwear, empty my pockets, turn on my computer, turn on my cellphone, my Palm. The security guard checked every item in my knapsack, including unscrewing the end of the miniature screwdriver on my keychain.

To get into the observation area of the House of Commons session, I had to check my coat, my knapsack and my camera (no photos allowed). Two things that I noticed about the session right away: (1) Most of the seats were empty, (2) Nobody seemed to be listening to the House representative speaking. The second was the most bizarre. The fellow kept addressing his remarks to the "Mr. Speaker", but not even the Speaker seemed to be paying attention. Everyone seemed to be in his or her own little world, reading through their own notes, writing, or having conversations with a neighbour. The person speaking didn't seem to care, though, but just kept reading aloud from his notes. I assume this was just to get whatever he was saying on record, but surely there has to be some more efficient method.





After visiting the House of Parliament, I had lunch at the Earl Of Sussux. I was crossing the park on Parliament Hill at noon, and as I headed towards the National Gallery (which, I am sad to report, is closed on Mondays and Tuesday), a nearby church tower started ringing its bells. This was not just some ordinary ringing, either. It started as a few repeated dongs on the same bell, but then other bells started chiming in, higher and lower, in what seemed like a carefully choreographed performance (if it was random, then they did a marvellous job at choosing what bells to ring when). I was astounded, delighted, mesmerized, and stopped in the middle of the park, unable to do anything else except listen.

I worked on my laptop during lunch (chicken primavera), then went on a tour of the Canadian National Mint. No pictures allowed, but they let me keep my camera. We saw a rather cheesy 10-minute film at the beginning of the tour. Minimum information, maximum "we're so WONDERFUL we're the BEST you want to buy our COLLECTOR COINS". The half-hour tour around the facility was interesting, though. I hadn't realized that the Canadian Mint produced some foreign currency, for example, for those countries without the facilities to make their own. The Winnipeg plant handles daily use currency, while the Ottawa plant produces collector coins.

Very cool to see huge sheets of gold and silver being flattened, then cut into "blanks" before being rimmed (adding rims to coins apparently extends their life considerably), stamped, cleaned and packaged up. The tour began and ended at the Mint gift shop which, not surprisingly, heavily pushed collector coins of all types.

Going back to my maple tea and my writing now, but I have to say that I'm enjoying wandering about Ottawa more than I expected. Don't think I'll get to the National Library this time; I'm much more of a linger and savour type of tourist than "see a zillion things in as short a time as possible" type. Guess I'll have to come back to Ottawa sometime!





Links/News:

Four years ago, I had lunch with Reid, Luisa and Jeff.

Five years ago, the teacher's strike was imminent.

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Today's Blatherpics:

Were taken in the Parliament Buildings yesterday. More Ottawa visit photos in upcoming Blatherings.

hike

Yesterday afternoon, Parki, Angela, Jeff and I went for one last hike. No moose this time, but we were shadowed for a while by a very friendly gray jay who was obviously hoping for a handout. Sadly, we had nothing to offer him.

Parki and Angela went back to Toronto, and Jeff and I drove to Ottawa and checked into the Sheraton. When we went up to our room, however, we found that another guest was already there! Both he and we were somewhat surprised; fortunately it looked as though he had just checked in (i.e. hadn't yet changed into his jammies or whatever else he had planned for the evening). Jeff and I went back down, got another room key.

While Jeff is at his client's all day today, I'm going to take my laptop and check out some of the local sites as well as do some work. The hotel's only a short walk away from Parliament Hill, National Library of Canada, and the National Gallery. I've only been to Ottawa briefly once before over ten years ago, and didn't see very much...my main memory of the city is that it was cold. :-)





Links/News:

One year ago, Jeff Bohnhoff did a Guest Blathering.

Five years ago, I was reading Winter Rose.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	We take a break during our hike yesterday. Jeff brought a thermos full of hot coffee and Swiss Mocha mix, yum.
	Parki makes his grilled red pepper sandwiches (other ingredients include goat cheese, alfalfa sprouts, fresh basil).

poll: worst movies?

Another relaxing day yesterday at the cottage with Parki and Angela. Lots more lazing about, though Angela and I did do some work on our laptops.

The topic of our favourite and worst movies came up during conversation during the evening, which brings us to today's poll topic:

Poll: What is the worst movie you have ever seen?

For me, it definitely has to be Showgirls, which Jeff and I recently saw on television. This movie was so absymally bad, particularly in dialogue and acting, that we felt compelled to watch an hour of it before finally switching channels. I challenge you to name a worse movie.

Answer in Blatherchat





Links/News:

Three years ago, Luisa talked about figs.

Four years ago, I tried to figure out how to tie an obi on my kimono.

Five years ago, I rented "First Wives' Club".

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Today's Blatherpics:

	My brother-in-law Rick, during the Turkey Bowl game on the weekend.
	Jeff and his parents.

parki and angela

Parki and Angela arrived yesterday. By the time they arrived, all the snow that had fallen in the morning had already melted. Still cold, though...Jeff and I kept the fire stoked all day.

We went for a walk near Joe Lake dam in the late afternoon and saw a female moose cross the dirt road ahead of us. She wandered into the forest and then eyed us warily until we kept walking.

Today's activities: reading, napping, snoozing, saunas, probably a hike later in the day.





Links/News:

One year ago, I watched jellyfish with Andrew at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. There was an anthrax square at the building while we were there but, like so many others during that time, it was only a false alarm.

Three days ago was Jeff's first day working for Inkspot.

Five years ago, I received a naked mole rat postcard from Lyanne.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	A tree with personality, encountered on our walk yesterday.
	Parki and Angela.

snowy sunrise

I took the above photo a few minutes ago (about 8:25 a.m.). I may update the picture again later today.

This morning when I got up, just before sunrise, it was snowing. The sky was a brilliant scarlet near the horizon, which looked amazing through the falling snow. Sadly, I never got a photo.





Another cloudy cold day at the cottage yesterday.

Also another stay-inside work day, except both Jeff and I started getting antsy late afternoon. Jeff went off and did something that involved hammering. I restocked the firewood and chopped more kindling.

Fingers getting a bit numb, must put some more logs on the fire and get some heat going.

Parki and Angela arrive in a few hours!





Links/News:

One year ago, I visited San Francisco with my friend Andrew.

Three years ago, Sara had a classmate with 80 Barbies.

Four years ago, Jeff and I had dinner at Fune.

Five years ago, I was yearning to learn contra dancing (I still am!).

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Snowing this morning.
	Our game of Carcassonne last night after dinner, with wine and cheese and crackers for dessert. Okay, and a piece of brownie (I snuck that onto the cheese plate; you can see it just below the bowl of grapes, a bit to the right).
	Just after sunrise this morning, when it was snowing very lightly.