Hot Ottawa - Cool Museums

Ottawa's having a heat wave. I happen to be on vacation and I'm struggling to find things to do that don't involve fainting.

One day I went for a bike ride with Greg and friends and we got hot. Naturally we stopped for an ice cream along the way, and jumped in friend's backyard pool after. I got a bit too much sun too.

Another day I went to the Jazz Festival (Richard Bona was a highlight). While waiting for the sun to go down I kept a shawl on my shoulders.

Greg and I went to the Museum of Nature where it was cool, if crowded, inside. It's nicely redone and has a bright new atrium. You won't be surprised to hear I especially liked the live things (insects, frogs).

Yesterday we went to the National Gallery where we ogled the thought-provoking Pop Art display. Some artists I'd never heard of and were quite interesting. Why do I like Damien Hirst's gold-plated steel display case with cubic zirconium crystals? Am I all bling? I don't like his foal encased in glass with formaldehyde...

In between we're staying home, reading, doing chores, watching World Cup soccer. All in all, a good week off work.

Sonja on injury list 4 weeks running

Recently I've had a number of injuries playing indoor soccer with my pals in the Shin Kickers. Normally I enjoy soccer, both outdoor in the summer and indoor in the winter. Indoor is almost more fun because you're allowed to bounce the ball off the walls, so there are many possible ways to shoot it. My pals in the Shin Kickers have been playing well, though we tend to lose what with all the former university soccer players that seem to populate our opponent teams....

I've been trying really hard to help us win lately. I run really hard to get to the ball first; I stick my foot way out there to try to get control of it first; I turn around quickly when the ball bounces off the wall and ends up in a completely different part of the gym. Sadly all this girating and stretching has led to one new injury EVERY week these past four weeks.

First I fell flat on my butt (trying to reach the ball first I forgot the laws of gravity). That hurt my tailbone for a couple of weeks. Then I played nets the next week and had to protect my still sore back while gingerly bending over or to the side to grab the balls that were shot towards me. I didn't let in a single shot! I didn't injure myself that week but the movement made my backside sore all over again.

The next week I fell again, a little less hard, but still unfortunate. Last week a player kicked above my ankle and left a bruise that still hurts. Yesterday I sprained my wrist when someone shot the ball at my hand (unintentionally I'm sure) and the impact bent my hand back rather forcefully.

All that to say, I'm glad the season is almost over! But I'm sure once all these little sore spots heal I will miss it until summer soccer starts again.

Trying to keep warm, inside and out.

The holidays sped by. We're now in the depths of the cold season, the Ottawa version thereof. Spending time indoors, I began January with a series of modest meals made from this and that in my fridge and cupboard. The soup I made one day had vegetables, potatoes, sweet potato, chicken broth, lentils, and chick peas. It was delicious, and I ate it over several lunches.

My attention, like many people's, has been drawn for a couple of weeks now to the tragedy in Haiti. Everyone I know has donated what they could to help support rescue and relief efforts. First I was stunned by the news - by the stories of deaths and injuries and unknown numbers of people trapped in crumbled buildings. Then thinking, what can I do? Then hearing how aid was being organized. Then stories of frustrated aid organizers unable to deliver aid because of ports and airports and roads jammed, and blocked by damaged structures. Aargh.

Reporters used words like "helpless" and "waiting for help" to describe the people in Port-au-Prince. But the images on TV showed men working all day in the heat, moving rubble, to try to reach survivors; women watching the children; people carrying the injured looking for medical care; makeshift shelters going up. People singing to raise the children's spirits. I'm sure people felt shock and despair, but they also got to work right away doing what they could.

Meanwhile, I wrapped up the month of eating "things I've had a long time in my cupboards." Number 1 to go: nutritional yeast. I almost forgot what to do with it. Nutritional yeast is a flaky substance like mashed potato flakes that is supposed to be good for you, and makes a vegan "cheese" sauce if you mix it with water, garlic, and margarine. I learned that in the 80s. I'm no vegan, so I made a sauce with milk and butter. Tasty! I made three meals with it on pasta.

Number 2: felafel mix. I love felafel but I never make it anymore. It seems a bit fatty since it only tastes good if it's fried in enough oil. Well, I made some felafel in a patty shape, and put it on a bagel with lettuce and hot sauce. Mmmm.

Number 3: currants. I had purchased currants for a recipe years ago (it seems). I had some left in my fridge all this time. I used to sprinkle some in a curry type dish now and then. But I always forget about them when I make something that would be augmented by currants. Finally I used the last of the currants tonight in a rice and canned tuna pilaf. Mmmm.

Number 4: blanched almonds. These were not that old, bought them last summer. I toasted them in the oven and then tossed some on just about everything I ate for a few days including breakfast cereal.

Now, if I can only remember to use that package of dip mix next time I want to serve people veggies and dip.

Damascus trip report

Yours truly had the good fortune to visit Damascus recently. This Middle Eastern city of about 3 million people was surprisingly lovely. It has busy streets, but a relaxed atmosphere in the Old City and in the quiet neighbourhoods. The shopping was to die for. Gold and silver jewellery, carpets, shawls and other textiles, handicrafts are sold in this historic trading city. Cafés and restaurants were abundant in some areas of town. The warm sunny weather was also a welcome break for this Ottawan. The predominantly Muslim, Arabic- speaking population gave me a great cross-cultural experience. Here then, is my list of the 5 main similarities and differences between Ottawa and Damascus.

Similarity # 1: Traffic drives on the right

Difference # 1: Drivers rule in Damascus and pay little attention to pedestrians. Watch out before stepping on to the road! Now, back in Ottawa, I am a bit disoriented - do I walk out in the road just because the "walk" sign is on, or do I wait for that car to possibly drive right on through?

Similarity #2: Coffee is popular in both cities.

Difference # 2: There are very few chain coffee shops in Damascus. Most are either traditional coffee houses (typically attracting an older male crowd) or restaurants catering to a younger co-ed set. I found two European chain outlets near the biggest hotel. Bars and restaurnts serving alcohol, on the other hand, are much less common in Damascus, though they do exist.

Similarity #3: Middle eastern fast-food (think shawarma, felafel, hummous) is widely available.

Difference #3: The food is really tasty in Damascus and costs much less (25 Syrian pounds or 50 cents Canadian for a chicken shawarma). They sometimes use different spices than we typically find in fast-food outlets in Ottawa. Fresh citrus juice stands are also common there. Bakeries make amazing savoury and sweet pastries.

Similarity #4: Both cities have many shopping opportunities.

Difference #4: Ottawa is dominated by big-box malls and indoor malls, whereas Damascus (warm weather and all) favours the small shop, preferably in clusters on shopping streets and in the famous markets in and around the Old City. Rather than drive to the big-box, Damascenes frequent small shops in their neighbourhoods. There is a store selling dry goods beside a bakery next to a butcher, next to the real estate office, a pharmacy, and then a hair salon followed by a shawarma shop and finally a hardware store. On the next block is a toy store and a women's clothing store. Down the street is the re-upholstery workshop.

Similarity #5: Both cities have street signs to help you know where you are.

Difference #5: The signs in Damascus are in Arabic, which I can't read... so I frequently was rather lost. People were always friendly and willing to help. Just like the time I visited New York and constantly became turned around. Anyway, I always said a polite "shukran" (thank you) to each helpful person and enjoyed the adventure.

Nick Cave in Ottawa

My dream literary event took place last Thursday. Nick Cave (the Europe-based musician with the cult following), gave a reading of his new novel at the St. Brigid's Cultural Centre in lowertown. Originally from Australia, he has a musical style that's quite his own, and a literary approach with the lyrics that sometimes tell morbid stories of bent characters, a Euro-Tom Waits sort of.

I first fell for Cave's raucous and pessimistic punk music in the early 1980s when he fronted the Birthday Party. As I grew up and needed more warmth in my music, he grew too, into a genius storytelling balladeer and love song singer through the 90s and early 00s as leader of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Our paths diverged over time as I became too busy with life to follow his new musical work. If you aren't familiar Cave's music, take a look at one of several good video clips.

So it was with great excitement that I heard, the day before the event, that Nick Cave was coming to town. My great brother sent me an alert from Toronto. Cave's novel, The Death of Bunny Munro, is his second (he also wrote a successful screenplay). Suitably morbid, I thought. Probably not something I would read, but I must see him! I must be in the same room, for old time's sake!

I bought a ticket ahead of time to make sure I got in, and arrived at the former church in plenty of time to find a seat. Soon I saw an old friend S. sitting a few rows ahead of me, so I had a pal on hand too. Here's an excerpt, as Cave reads the first selection (caution: sexual content, not suitable for my mother or young readers). The book, it turns out, is about an unfaithful travelling salesman who has a sex addiction and is really an unpleasant chap, and his relationship with his 10-year old son.

Local poet David O'Meara did a fabulous job as host and interviewer of the evening, demonstrating his familiarity with Cave's work and helping the normally awkward and uncomfortable interviewee to relax and let loose some pretty humorous banter eventually. This became a particularly important skill to get through some of the agonizingly sincere fan questions and statements of adoration that came during the audience QandA session.

My favourite Nick Cave line of the evening, in response to a man who said he was trying to raise is son on serious literature: "I like the teletubbies, what's wrong with them?" Here, here!

Oh yes, I did buy the novel, in part so that I would have a suitable autograph opportunity and one-on-one moment with the gangly artist. And yes, he did sign it "love Nick Cave." Awesome!

And yes, I will give the novel a try. It has been reviewed rather well, though I expect it to be darker than I would like, possibly traumatizingly so. Cave spoke so well about his chosen theme that I am tempted to believe him when he says it has an uplifting side. Not too uplifting though - no redemption, but perhaps acknowledegment of the humanity in each of us despite our (or others') sometimes deep-seated faults.

How to Enjoy the Ottawa Bluesfest

1) The first step to enjoying the Ottawa Bluesfest is to research the lineup ahead of time -- read the schedule on-line. Learn about all those performers you've never heard of.

2) Draw up up your personal Bluesfest plan. Make sure to include some musicians you know and love, and some you don't know but could be right up your alley.

3) Let all your friends know where you will be and encourage them to join you, or go on your own (some of your friends are not into Metric and you are, for example.)

4) Finally, if you are a mid-life person who doesn't know how yet, it is time to learn how to send text messages. That way you can text your friends to tell them where you are when it's too loud to talk: "am at sam roberts - near sound booth."

5) Take a few photos to document the atmosphere, and enjoy the music!

Photos, from top: Kind Sunny Adé, Steve Earle, and Okkerville River.

Canada Day at Parliament Hill

My Canada started with a visit to Parliament Hill with Dad, Remy, and Christopher. We saw a lot of people, and from far far away we saw a video screen that showed what was happening on the Hill: the Governor General inspecting the guards; Prime Minister Harper giving a short speech; we could hear the singing of Oh Canada, and the beginning of the musical entertainment (traditional French Canadian fiddles and spoons and some First Nations drumming and singing).

Dad was understandably worried about the possibility of Christopher getting lost in the crowd, so we decided to take turns carrying him on our shoulders. I mused about the marketability of GPS ankle bracelets to keep track of children. Unfortunately, Greg says the microwaves would be too dangerous.