Today I was listening to a podcast with Rick Steves and a pilot named Mark Vanhönacker who wrote a book titled Skyfaring. They had both travelled so much that they had lots of good stories. I can imagine the flight into South Africa's Cape Town, with sweeping views of Table mountain.
The most interesting thing I learned, was the term coined by Mark: placelag. Unlike jet lag, which is usually used negatively, placelag is the feeling of wonder that we have travelled by some miraculous means (like an airplane) a distance to a place we shouldn't be able to see so easily and quickly.
The jet lag flying red eye to Europe is exhausting and discombobulating, but the place lag of being on the beach in Barcelona after leaving a cool fall day in Montreal is an incredible gift, and the ability to travel in mere hours to another culture, language and time zone extraordinary!
Monday, October 17, 2016
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
TONIGHT I AM GRATEFUL FOR A COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBOURS
Yesterday I made a very big mistake. I had the plumber in to replace a pipe, and accidentally let our playful, athletic, contrarian two year old cat run out the front door. I followed her cautiously, because she likes to run away, and hoped for a squirrel to attract her attention, but she just kept crossing lawns. I thought she would circle back, and indeed she did only to move further than I had ever seen her go, and I thought I'd best let her circle back again. Unfortunately, by the time the plumber left, I saw no sign of her. I was still hoping right up until I had to pick up my daughter from the bus. She was no where to be found, and I had to break the news that her precious kitty was on the loose, and she went through all the emotions you would expect a kid going through loss would exhibit. We talked about hope and how she was likely hiding from us. We called around the neighbourhood before supper and ran doorbells looking for anyone who had seen her, but no one had. So we went to bed with heavy hearts.
This morning, she was feeling understandable sad when she went to school. My other cat seemed unbothered by her absence, but I was careful to keep a close eye that she too didn't escape!
In the interim, I called public security, because that's how a neighbour had found her dog, but they don't worry about cats in this neck of the woods. I found out that a local SPCA posts lost animals on Facebook and messaged them. I also found a site that is called petluck.ca and had a helpful email exchange there after being able to search the neighbourhood for any found cats (none were calico). In the meantime, a very useful article on how to get your cat back buoyed my enthusiasm. The gist of it is that food water and litter should be put out, and that after dark, you call your cat at the neighbourhood's quietest moment every night until they come home.
So while my daughter was at school, I made posters, and put food and water out. When school was over, we taped posters all over the neighbourhood, asking anyone we saw whether or not they had seen a Calico cat. We were home printing out more when our neighbour rang our doorbell breathless, saying they had our cat! Elation was the first word that comes to mind!
Our neighbour heard a meow from a big evergreen tree on a visit to other neighbour's, and, sure enough, this silly kitten had climbed up above the rooftops, and was making her way precariously to the smallest part of the branch. Two neighbours were already at the foot of the tree, tracking her progress. Another brought a ladder, while the neighbour who found her returned with a harness and gear to rope around the tree, and a backpack to catch her in. We had brought treats, and we camped out below with a blanket and plans for a fireman's catch if she ever fell. It took quite a while to convince her not to climb further out or up, and even more time to climb into the backpack full of treats, but she did it. She was lowered down, zippered in and writhing. By the time we caught her in the air (the backpack was being lowered by a rope ), she was sending off all sorts of musky warning signals and she sounded angry! I thought a shot with the hero was due, but it became clear that going home, and letting the cat out of the bag was the best course of action!
My daughter and I were so energized we went around to collect the posters, and were surprised to find that already many people had taken the number, presumably to call in case they saw her! As we rounded the corner home, we were met by friends who were out walking in search of her too!
At home, she was calm and smelled amazing, like a pine tree! She has a little sap in her fur and dirt in her paws, but she already found a soft place to curl up to catch up on some much needed sleep.
Home sweet home! Sweet dreams Calico! Sweet dreams angel girl!
This morning, she was feeling understandable sad when she went to school. My other cat seemed unbothered by her absence, but I was careful to keep a close eye that she too didn't escape!
In the interim, I called public security, because that's how a neighbour had found her dog, but they don't worry about cats in this neck of the woods. I found out that a local SPCA posts lost animals on Facebook and messaged them. I also found a site that is called petluck.ca and had a helpful email exchange there after being able to search the neighbourhood for any found cats (none were calico). In the meantime, a very useful article on how to get your cat back buoyed my enthusiasm. The gist of it is that food water and litter should be put out, and that after dark, you call your cat at the neighbourhood's quietest moment every night until they come home.
So while my daughter was at school, I made posters, and put food and water out. When school was over, we taped posters all over the neighbourhood, asking anyone we saw whether or not they had seen a Calico cat. We were home printing out more when our neighbour rang our doorbell breathless, saying they had our cat! Elation was the first word that comes to mind!
Our neighbour heard a meow from a big evergreen tree on a visit to other neighbour's, and, sure enough, this silly kitten had climbed up above the rooftops, and was making her way precariously to the smallest part of the branch. Two neighbours were already at the foot of the tree, tracking her progress. Another brought a ladder, while the neighbour who found her returned with a harness and gear to rope around the tree, and a backpack to catch her in. We had brought treats, and we camped out below with a blanket and plans for a fireman's catch if she ever fell. It took quite a while to convince her not to climb further out or up, and even more time to climb into the backpack full of treats, but she did it. She was lowered down, zippered in and writhing. By the time we caught her in the air (the backpack was being lowered by a rope ), she was sending off all sorts of musky warning signals and she sounded angry! I thought a shot with the hero was due, but it became clear that going home, and letting the cat out of the bag was the best course of action!
My daughter and I were so energized we went around to collect the posters, and were surprised to find that already many people had taken the number, presumably to call in case they saw her! As we rounded the corner home, we were met by friends who were out walking in search of her too!
At home, she was calm and smelled amazing, like a pine tree! She has a little sap in her fur and dirt in her paws, but she already found a soft place to curl up to catch up on some much needed sleep.
Home sweet home! Sweet dreams Calico! Sweet dreams angel girl!
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| In jeopardy |
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| Neighbourhood hero |
Thursday, September 22, 2016
MULTI-PEAK LIVING
I have been listening to a lot of inspirational podcasts lately, and impatiently waiting for my next hike. Most of the stories that stick are ones that I actually don't ever plan to achieve in my lifetime, but inspire me immensely.
Take for example any one who has run in the UTMB. This is a 100 mile race in France that ultra runners drool over. I, as a wannabe runner, find this an insane idea from the distance alone. But these runs start in a small town and you start by running up a mountain!
What is so insane about these trail runs is the reason why I feel more relaxed about my future. The idea of running up and down is a mental barrier in these races, but it makes my future a little brighter.
I have reached the age where some things, physical or otherwise, feel like I have peaked, and it's all downhill from here. My dear friend, on our way back from a seasonal visit to Atwater market, pointed out to me that there is not just one downhill in life. There are multiple peaks, and when life feels like it's going downhill, another peak is coming up on the path.
So embrace the downhill, and enjoy it while it lasts. It might be the easy part, because another peak is in the future. It might be a rough climb, but I think I might enjoy the view!
Take for example any one who has run in the UTMB. This is a 100 mile race in France that ultra runners drool over. I, as a wannabe runner, find this an insane idea from the distance alone. But these runs start in a small town and you start by running up a mountain!
What is so insane about these trail runs is the reason why I feel more relaxed about my future. The idea of running up and down is a mental barrier in these races, but it makes my future a little brighter.
I have reached the age where some things, physical or otherwise, feel like I have peaked, and it's all downhill from here. My dear friend, on our way back from a seasonal visit to Atwater market, pointed out to me that there is not just one downhill in life. There are multiple peaks, and when life feels like it's going downhill, another peak is coming up on the path.
So embrace the downhill, and enjoy it while it lasts. It might be the easy part, because another peak is in the future. It might be a rough climb, but I think I might enjoy the view!
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Friday, August 19, 2016
WALKING THE EUROPEAN STREETS OF MONTREAL
STOP NUMBER ONE: Windsor Station. Built by CPR, houses a WWI statue for all of those lost who worked for the railroad
STOP NUMBER TWO: ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH - DE LA GAUCHETIERE AND PEEL - BUILT IN 1870, ITST MONTREAL’S SECOND ANGLICAN CHURCH - ENGLISH GOTHIC REVIVAL - CEILING BEAMS ARE SECOND ONLY TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY I SPAN - TAPESTRY ORIGINATES FROM LONDON, USED DURING CORONATION OF QEII - WAR MEMORIAL WINDOW (1949 ANGELS REPRESENTS NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE)
STOP NUMBER 3: PLACE DU CANADA - MARRIOT CHATEAU CHAMPLAIN HOTEL LADIES BATHROOM ON FLOOR 23
STOP NUMBER 4: DORCHESTER (DOMINION SQUARE) - FIRST UNDERGROUND GARAGE 1878 - USED TO BE A CEMETERY -
BELFORT STATUES
STOP NUMBER 5: SUN LIFE BUILDING - METCALFE AND RENE LEVESQUE - LARGEST SQ FOOTAGE BUILDING IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1931 - BUILD IN 3 STAGES - 33rd President HARRY TRUMAN WROTE IT WAS HIS FAVOURITE BUILDING - DURING WWII OPERATION FISH WHERE BRITAIN’S GOLD RESERVES WERE STORED (UNTIL SHIPPED TO OTTAWA)
STOP NUMBER 6: MARY QUEEN OF THE WORLD - 1/8 SCALE TO ST PETER’S IN VATICAN - THIRD LARGEST CHURCH (1. ST JOSEPH’S AND 2.ST ANNE DE BEAUPRE) - 1894 “ST JAMES” - LARGEST CHURCH IN QUEBEC AT THE TIME - INSTEAD OF 12 APOSTLES (LIKE ST PETER’S), THESE ARE THE 13 PATRON SAINTS OF MONTREAL PARISHES THAT DONATED
BALDACCHINO IS A REPRODUCTION OF BERNINI’S - STATUE OF MARY IS MADE BY SYVIA DAOUST - HISTORICAL PAINTINGS OF MARGUERITE D’YOUVILLE (HOSPITAL), MARGUERITE BOURGEOUYS (TEACHER), MARTYRS BREBEUF (IROQUOIS) - COFOUNDERS COMEDY, MAISONNEUVE AND JEANNE MASSE AT THEIR JESUIT MASS, SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN
STOP NUMBER 7: OLYMPIC HOUSE PHILLIPS/RENE-LEVESQUE
STOP NUMBER 8: ST PATRICK’S BASILICA - IRISH IMMIGRANTS 1847 FIRST MASS, GOTHIC REVIVAL- FLEUR DE LYS AND SHAMROCKS AND MARBLE COLUMNS - PEW 240 WAS USED BY THOMAS DARCY MCGEE (FATHER OF CONDERATION ASSASSINATED IN OTTAWA), EMILE NELLIGAN (POET) WAS BAPTIZED 1879 (PLAQUE AT THE BACK)
STOP NUMBER 9: WORLD TRADE CENTRE “HORIZONTAL SKYSCRAPER”- ST ALEXANDRE AND SAINT ANTOINE - BERLIN WALL GIVEN IN 1992 AND FRENCH GUIBAL 18TH CENTURY FOUNTAINS
STOP NUMBER 10: SQUARE VICTORIA -1813 (NAMED FOR VIST OF KING EDWARD VII 1860)- HER STATUE - METRO SIGN - FRENCH FOUNTAIN ART NOUVEAU (HECTOR GUIMARD)
STOP NUMBER 11: PLACE ROYALE - 1605 SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN SET UP A FURTRADING POST
STOP NUMBER 12: VILLE MARIE 1642 SETTLED WITH MAISONNEUVE (FROM CHAMPAGNE) AS FIRST GOVERNOR
STOP NUMBER 13: NELSON’S COLUMN - 1809 OLDEST MONUMENT
STOP NUMBER 14: BONSECOUR MARKET - CHARLES DICKENS VISITED WHEN IT WAS A BRITISH-AMERICAN HOTEL. Kitty corner is L'usine de spaghetti 273 rue St Paul E: In May 1842, in the back room of this Italian restaurant, Mr. Charles Dickens wrote the notes for "A Tales of Two Cities"(based on London and Paris)
STOP NUMBER TWO: ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH - DE LA GAUCHETIERE AND PEEL - BUILT IN 1870, ITST MONTREAL’S SECOND ANGLICAN CHURCH - ENGLISH GOTHIC REVIVAL - CEILING BEAMS ARE SECOND ONLY TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY I SPAN - TAPESTRY ORIGINATES FROM LONDON, USED DURING CORONATION OF QEII - WAR MEMORIAL WINDOW (1949 ANGELS REPRESENTS NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE)
STOP NUMBER 3: PLACE DU CANADA - MARRIOT CHATEAU CHAMPLAIN HOTEL LADIES BATHROOM ON FLOOR 23
STOP NUMBER 4: DORCHESTER (DOMINION SQUARE) - FIRST UNDERGROUND GARAGE 1878 - USED TO BE A CEMETERY -
BELFORT STATUES
STOP NUMBER 5: SUN LIFE BUILDING - METCALFE AND RENE LEVESQUE - LARGEST SQ FOOTAGE BUILDING IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1931 - BUILD IN 3 STAGES - 33rd President HARRY TRUMAN WROTE IT WAS HIS FAVOURITE BUILDING - DURING WWII OPERATION FISH WHERE BRITAIN’S GOLD RESERVES WERE STORED (UNTIL SHIPPED TO OTTAWA)
STOP NUMBER 6: MARY QUEEN OF THE WORLD - 1/8 SCALE TO ST PETER’S IN VATICAN - THIRD LARGEST CHURCH (1. ST JOSEPH’S AND 2.ST ANNE DE BEAUPRE) - 1894 “ST JAMES” - LARGEST CHURCH IN QUEBEC AT THE TIME - INSTEAD OF 12 APOSTLES (LIKE ST PETER’S), THESE ARE THE 13 PATRON SAINTS OF MONTREAL PARISHES THAT DONATED
BALDACCHINO IS A REPRODUCTION OF BERNINI’S - STATUE OF MARY IS MADE BY SYVIA DAOUST - HISTORICAL PAINTINGS OF MARGUERITE D’YOUVILLE (HOSPITAL), MARGUERITE BOURGEOUYS (TEACHER), MARTYRS BREBEUF (IROQUOIS) - COFOUNDERS COMEDY, MAISONNEUVE AND JEANNE MASSE AT THEIR JESUIT MASS, SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN
STOP NUMBER 7: OLYMPIC HOUSE PHILLIPS/RENE-LEVESQUE
STOP NUMBER 8: ST PATRICK’S BASILICA - IRISH IMMIGRANTS 1847 FIRST MASS, GOTHIC REVIVAL- FLEUR DE LYS AND SHAMROCKS AND MARBLE COLUMNS - PEW 240 WAS USED BY THOMAS DARCY MCGEE (FATHER OF CONDERATION ASSASSINATED IN OTTAWA), EMILE NELLIGAN (POET) WAS BAPTIZED 1879 (PLAQUE AT THE BACK)
STOP NUMBER 9: WORLD TRADE CENTRE “HORIZONTAL SKYSCRAPER”- ST ALEXANDRE AND SAINT ANTOINE - BERLIN WALL GIVEN IN 1992 AND FRENCH GUIBAL 18TH CENTURY FOUNTAINS
STOP NUMBER 10: SQUARE VICTORIA -1813 (NAMED FOR VIST OF KING EDWARD VII 1860)- HER STATUE - METRO SIGN - FRENCH FOUNTAIN ART NOUVEAU (HECTOR GUIMARD)
STOP NUMBER 11: PLACE ROYALE - 1605 SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN SET UP A FURTRADING POST
STOP NUMBER 12: VILLE MARIE 1642 SETTLED WITH MAISONNEUVE (FROM CHAMPAGNE) AS FIRST GOVERNOR
STOP NUMBER 13: NELSON’S COLUMN - 1809 OLDEST MONUMENT
STOP NUMBER 14: BONSECOUR MARKET - CHARLES DICKENS VISITED WHEN IT WAS A BRITISH-AMERICAN HOTEL. Kitty corner is L'usine de spaghetti 273 rue St Paul E: In May 1842, in the back room of this Italian restaurant, Mr. Charles Dickens wrote the notes for "A Tales of Two Cities"(based on London and Paris)
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
OLYMPIC WAY SWIMMING
I really want my daughter to become life guard trained. I don't need her to be a lifeguard, unless she wants to be. I do want her to the training to a safe swimmer, and be responsible in emergencies. I wish, honestly, that she had the red cross training that I started ages ago, but she has certainly become a great swimmer with the Olympic Way, and I am proud of her promotion to blue this summer.
A lifeguard in this program learns to develop four important qualities for life and in times of urgency:
1. knowledge
2. judgement
3. physical aptitude
4. ability
I have been impressed over the years of going to our local pool how mature, responsible, but still fun the lifeguards are. I would love for her to have that same mix of fun and responsibility. I am even prouder, because she finished the summer passing into bronze!
Way to go kid!
A lifeguard in this program learns to develop four important qualities for life and in times of urgency:
1. knowledge
2. judgement
3. physical aptitude
4. ability
I have been impressed over the years of going to our local pool how mature, responsible, but still fun the lifeguards are. I would love for her to have that same mix of fun and responsibility. I am even prouder, because she finished the summer passing into bronze!
Way to go kid!
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Saturday, August 13, 2016
OSASCOMP
"QUASI-OFFICIAL" ORDER OF ADJECTIVES
OPINION (ugly)
SIZE (little)
AGE (young)
SHAPE (round)
COLOUR (green)
ORIGIN (Canadian)
MATERIAL (styrofoam)
PURPOSE (sewing)
Three is about the limit, and sometimes the order sounds reasonable out of order. This is a guideline, not a rule.
OPINION (ugly)
SIZE (little)
AGE (young)
SHAPE (round)
COLOUR (green)
ORIGIN (Canadian)
MATERIAL (styrofoam)
PURPOSE (sewing)
Three is about the limit, and sometimes the order sounds reasonable out of order. This is a guideline, not a rule.
LOGICAL FALLACIES
When it comes to podcasts, I often have to skip Grammar Girl, but, as I remain subscribed, I still occasionally have the time to listen. This last one was interesting for its simplicity in recognizing logical errors, and I wanted to share the examples.
1. Overgeneralization or hasty generalizations - based on bias or stereotype, these are the trickiest to notice in yourself - don't base your argument on an overgeneralization - make sure your assumptions are true.
2. Straw Man Argument - by oversimplifying a view to attack it - don't let this misrepresentation
fool you - it should not suffice to argue a point
3. Ad hominem - attacking the opponent's character instead of making a logical argument
Tu quoque - oh yeah, what about you? (attacks the behaviour of the opposition, capitalizing on any imperfect record)
4. Post Hoc (ergo propter hoc) - Just because a series of events happens, does not mean that they are true. E. g. My brother got sick after swimming in the ocean, so now he doesn't swim in the ocean because he is afraid of getting sick
5. Red Herring - bringing in a distracting fact that is unrelated to the argument, to make your point
1. Overgeneralization or hasty generalizations - based on bias or stereotype, these are the trickiest to notice in yourself - don't base your argument on an overgeneralization - make sure your assumptions are true.
2. Straw Man Argument - by oversimplifying a view to attack it - don't let this misrepresentation
fool you - it should not suffice to argue a point
3. Ad hominem - attacking the opponent's character instead of making a logical argument
Tu quoque - oh yeah, what about you? (attacks the behaviour of the opposition, capitalizing on any imperfect record)
4. Post Hoc (ergo propter hoc) - Just because a series of events happens, does not mean that they are true. E. g. My brother got sick after swimming in the ocean, so now he doesn't swim in the ocean because he is afraid of getting sick
5. Red Herring - bringing in a distracting fact that is unrelated to the argument, to make your point
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
SYNANTHROPES
I have on my podcast listening list a fascinating show called 99% Invisible. It is a show about buildings, and I like the variety of stories, and the announcer's radio voice.
This show was a story about a father who was an urban dweller like me, noticing the life around that manages to live in a city with humans. I learned a word for the admirable survival adaptive living forms that manage to survive despite being overtaken by humans. Synanthropes can be plant or animal, like a pigeon, or a racoon, or a carpenter ant.
The author of Unseen City, Nathanael Johnson compares the status of pigeons with doves. There were some interesting facts raised. Pigeons, although birds, produce a "milk" from the throats of both male and female, to give to their young. Pigeons have messed up feet, often tourniquets from dragging their feet and winding up strings. Gross and sad facts, but I have a love of pigeons because of their ability to co-exist. Bert on Sesame Street and Mo Willems prove pigeons are loveable. If you need more proof, listen to this podcast and look for the book!
This show was a story about a father who was an urban dweller like me, noticing the life around that manages to live in a city with humans. I learned a word for the admirable survival adaptive living forms that manage to survive despite being overtaken by humans. Synanthropes can be plant or animal, like a pigeon, or a racoon, or a carpenter ant.
The author of Unseen City, Nathanael Johnson compares the status of pigeons with doves. There were some interesting facts raised. Pigeons, although birds, produce a "milk" from the throats of both male and female, to give to their young. Pigeons have messed up feet, often tourniquets from dragging their feet and winding up strings. Gross and sad facts, but I have a love of pigeons because of their ability to co-exist. Bert on Sesame Street and Mo Willems prove pigeons are loveable. If you need more proof, listen to this podcast and look for the book!
Sunday, August 7, 2016
CANADIAN SUFFRAGETTES
I think my first awareness of women lobbying for the vote came from reading Anne of Green Gables. I am grateful to them for the freedom I had in choosing my career. I remember hearing an excerpt of an embarrassed Princess Theresa talking about her earning a biology degree from the University of Munch. I am so grateful that today I am proud to earn a degree, and that shame is hardly imaginable for me or my daughter. My favourite suffragette is Emily Stowe, Canada's first physician. She created a literary circle for women in Toronto in 1867 that not only read books, but became the first Canadian group of suffragettes. This is not to take away, however, from the incredible admiration I have for the Famous Five. Although central Canada likes to believe they invented our history, these five women were from out West. These five women were integral in bringing electoral equality to our country. Notably, Manitoba was first in implimentation, followed that same year by Saskatchewan, then Alberta, all in 1916. It took Newfoundland until 1925, which you would think would be the outlier. Alas, Quebec took until 1940, and incredibly NW territories took to 1961. Nunavut, being created in 1999, started with the law in place. |
| Map of when women got the vote. Notice Quebec is the last place, in 1940. The reasons for the delay are still felt today! |
GROCERY SUSHI DINNER
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| It was a long work week. Spring rolls and spicy salmon sushi was easy and delicious! |
SWATCH BOOK - INTERIORS
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| VAN GOGH IN ROBIN'S EGG BLUE |
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| PARSIFAL RESTAURANT, FÜSSEN |
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| PARSIFAL CHAIR |
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| PARSIFAL MIRROR |
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| PARSIFAL VIEW OF FÜSSEN |
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| PARSIFAL WARDROBE |
SWATCH BOOK - DOORS AND WINDOWS
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| Rothenburg |
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| Arrow window, Rothenburg |
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| Rothenburg Starbuck in front of Rothenburg church |
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| Neuschwannstein bathroom |
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| Viennese museum door |
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| Viennese museum door |
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| Viennese museum door |
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| Montreal art deco |
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| Montreal art deco |
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| Neuschwannstein balcony |
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| McGill Osler Library |
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| McGill Osler Library |
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| Melk Gardens |
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| Manoir Richelieu |
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| Chateau Frontenac Lobby |
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