"A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group."
- Russell H. Ewing
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Best Thing About Being Middle-Aged
So my family, friends and collegues have heard me complaining about getting older and in particular, needing reading glasses for the first time a year ago.
This complaining was often followed by very little sympathy, particularly from those who have worn glasses most of their lives.
However, today I found something to be grateful and happy about being "middle-aged".
I had my annual physical today and my new doctor, probably to her relief as much as mine, told me I am too old for testicular cancer and too young for prostate and colon cancer, thereby eliminating the need for either invasive examination!
Hooray for middle age!
This complaining was often followed by very little sympathy, particularly from those who have worn glasses most of their lives.
However, today I found something to be grateful and happy about being "middle-aged".
I had my annual physical today and my new doctor, probably to her relief as much as mine, told me I am too old for testicular cancer and too young for prostate and colon cancer, thereby eliminating the need for either invasive examination!
Hooray for middle age!
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Google April Fool's Joke or Birth of Skynet?
Did anyone else notice what I hope was a Google April Fools Day joke?
Before it disappears, go to Google Images and see CADIE, the Cognitive Autoheuristic Distributed-Intelligence Entity.
CADIE, Sarah Connor is probably coming for you right now!
Before it disappears, go to Google Images and see CADIE, the Cognitive Autoheuristic Distributed-Intelligence Entity.
CADIE, Sarah Connor is probably coming for you right now!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
2008: The Year of Music
I know it is rather late to do a New Year's recap of the past year, but here goes any (its my blog and I'll recap if I want to, recap if I want to...).
2008 was a spectacular year for me and live music. I saw an incredible amount of live music for the first time in many years.
February Winterlude: Joel Plaskett & the Emergency
2008 was a spectacular year for me and live music. I saw an incredible amount of live music for the first time in many years.
February Winterlude: Joel Plaskett & the Emergency
March:Evita (not so great)
May (Tulip Festival): The Mighty Popo
June (Ottawa Jazz Festival): Salif Keita, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
July (Canada Day on Parliament Hill): Blue Rodeo
July Cisco Ottawa BluesFest: Matt Mays and El Torpedo, Secret Machines, Fiftymen, The Tragically Hip, Sean Kingston, Wintersleep, Orchestra Baobab, Feist, The Cooper Brothers, Matthew Good Band, James Taylor, Jully Black, Jason Collett, Most Serene Republic, Stars, Kathleen Edwards, 3 Days Grace, Mighty Popo, Crash Parallel, Plain White T's, Akon, Wyclif Jean, Anders Osborne, Sam Roberts Band, Donna Summer and many others.August (The Ottawa Folk Festival): Ana Miura, Sarah Harmer, Catherine MacLellan, Lynn Miles, Wil, Dala, James Hill, The Duhks, The D Rangers and others.
September, Cirque du Soleil Corteo (featured some amazing music!)
November: Stars at the Bronson Centre
December: Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe Christmas with Dala at the National Arts Centre.Saturday, March 21, 2009
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Favourite quotes, part ???
Ooh! Two posts in one day - how prolific of me!
Another amusing quote I came across this week.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is."
- Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut
Another amusing quote I came across this week.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is."
- Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut
Down, down, DOW
Heard on David Letterman's monologue this week:
"The Dow Jones hit 6000.
Do you know what that means?
No?
Neither do I."
"The Dow Jones hit 6000.
Do you know what that means?
No?
Neither do I."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Biggest Threat to Windows Security
I discovered this quite by accident yesterday. The biggest threat to your computer's security is Microsoft itself! This is probably not a surprise to any IT professionals.
My work PC was upgraded to Windows XP Professional last year. (Whoo Hoo!)Our IT department usually works under the premise of You can be secure or you can get work done. Actually, I'm just kidding. We do normally get work done and are reasonably secure, but as a user, I can't do much to personalize my desktop or computing environment.
After the new "deploy", I could no longer put my cheerful seasonal pictures on my desktop as a background. For example, one that I posted in my blog in November 2006 http://creative-wryting.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html. You can guess the symbolism!
While I was rummaging around Microsoft Office 2003 Tools and the Microsoft Office Picture Manager, I came across this and a number of other photos I had used before. If you right-click on an image in the Picture Manage, once of the options is to Set as Desktop Background.
Clicking on this, and, lo and behold, my favourite picture now appeared on my desktop!
Therefore despite the best efforts of our IT, Microsoft over-rode their restrictions!
My work PC was upgraded to Windows XP Professional last year. (Whoo Hoo!)Our IT department usually works under the premise of You can be secure or you can get work done. Actually, I'm just kidding. We do normally get work done and are reasonably secure, but as a user, I can't do much to personalize my desktop or computing environment.
After the new "deploy", I could no longer put my cheerful seasonal pictures on my desktop as a background. For example, one that I posted in my blog in November 2006 http://creative-wryting.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html. You can guess the symbolism!
While I was rummaging around Microsoft Office 2003 Tools and the Microsoft Office Picture Manager, I came across this and a number of other photos I had used before. If you right-click on an image in the Picture Manage, once of the options is to Set as Desktop Background.
Clicking on this, and, lo and behold, my favourite picture now appeared on my desktop!
Therefore despite the best efforts of our IT, Microsoft over-rode their restrictions!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Let's Not Meet By Accident! (My top complaints about Ottawa drivers)
So far this winter, it has been a challenging time for drivers in Ottawa, what with the increased volume on the road as a result of the transit strike and bone-chilling temperatures and black ice.
I list here my biggest complaints about Ottawa drivers.
Clean the snow off your car!
I don't just mean your front windshield! I mean your entire car; roof, hood, trunk, all windows, front bumper and especially all your lights. How many times have you seen a car with just the front window cleared off with the windshield wipers? You'd think it would be obvious that clearing it all off increases how well you can see around you. Cleaning off your roof ensures you don't create a mini blizzard for cars behind you. Also have you ever had a big slab of ice come off a car in front of you? I have. A couple of years ago on the 417, a slab of ice came off a delivery truck, right at my windshield. Fortunately, the only damage was a broken windshield wiper. Scared the crap out of me because I could do nothing to avoid it with the traffic on the road. It was one of those slo-motion moments...Ooooohhhh cccrrraaapppp!!!!!
I should also mention this is a all-season rule because spring and fall frosts and heavy dews can block your vision and can be just as difficult to clear off. Not only that, but unless your windows are warm, they seem to recondense on your windows so a block later you can't see again, sort of a wind chill kind of effect.
Stop on the friggin' stop line!
The stop line. You know, that white line painted on the road at an intersection? It is set back from the intersection to allow pedestrians to cross. With winter snow banks, I know it can be hard to see if you stop at the stop line, but try stopping there and then creeping forward. Also a good idea when intersections are icy as they have been recently to not go racing up to the stop line and expect that your all-season tires will stop you on a dime.
Frankly, I've been scared too many times by cars careening into the road from side streets when they ignore this rule. Last year I almost hit a car that slid into the road from a side street. The only saving grace was no traffic in the lane beside me. Same last night for a car in front of me.
Don't confuse the adequate space between me and the car ahead of me as an invitation to change into my lane!
My driver ed instructor Mr. Panter, taught me to respect the 3 second rule, and leave lots of space between me and the car in front of me, so don't confuse that with an opening for a lane change. When you do, neither of us is respecting the 3 second rule.
Not so close, I hardly know you.
I always thought this bumper sticker was cute. That and "If you can read this bumper sticker, you are too close". See the previous comment for more explanation.
Get off your cell phone and drive!
How many times have you seen cars turning at intersections, making lane changes or even more concentration-demanding driving maneuvres and the driver is on a cell phone?
Pilots have a saying about what takes precedence while flying: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. If you recently heard the cockpit communications from US Air pilot Chesley (Sully) Sullenburger, you would see this in action. He was busy flying a plane with no engines instead of giving blow-by-blow accounts to the tower or passengers.
So be a "Sully" and put away that cell phone for those moments when you aren't flying or navigating and can safely communicate.
I list here my biggest complaints about Ottawa drivers.
Clean the snow off your car!
I don't just mean your front windshield! I mean your entire car; roof, hood, trunk, all windows, front bumper and especially all your lights. How many times have you seen a car with just the front window cleared off with the windshield wipers? You'd think it would be obvious that clearing it all off increases how well you can see around you. Cleaning off your roof ensures you don't create a mini blizzard for cars behind you. Also have you ever had a big slab of ice come off a car in front of you? I have. A couple of years ago on the 417, a slab of ice came off a delivery truck, right at my windshield. Fortunately, the only damage was a broken windshield wiper. Scared the crap out of me because I could do nothing to avoid it with the traffic on the road. It was one of those slo-motion moments...Ooooohhhh cccrrraaapppp!!!!!
I should also mention this is a all-season rule because spring and fall frosts and heavy dews can block your vision and can be just as difficult to clear off. Not only that, but unless your windows are warm, they seem to recondense on your windows so a block later you can't see again, sort of a wind chill kind of effect.
Stop on the friggin' stop line!
The stop line. You know, that white line painted on the road at an intersection? It is set back from the intersection to allow pedestrians to cross. With winter snow banks, I know it can be hard to see if you stop at the stop line, but try stopping there and then creeping forward. Also a good idea when intersections are icy as they have been recently to not go racing up to the stop line and expect that your all-season tires will stop you on a dime.
Frankly, I've been scared too many times by cars careening into the road from side streets when they ignore this rule. Last year I almost hit a car that slid into the road from a side street. The only saving grace was no traffic in the lane beside me. Same last night for a car in front of me.
Don't confuse the adequate space between me and the car ahead of me as an invitation to change into my lane!
My driver ed instructor Mr. Panter, taught me to respect the 3 second rule, and leave lots of space between me and the car in front of me, so don't confuse that with an opening for a lane change. When you do, neither of us is respecting the 3 second rule.
Not so close, I hardly know you.
I always thought this bumper sticker was cute. That and "If you can read this bumper sticker, you are too close". See the previous comment for more explanation.
Get off your cell phone and drive!
How many times have you seen cars turning at intersections, making lane changes or even more concentration-demanding driving maneuvres and the driver is on a cell phone?
Pilots have a saying about what takes precedence while flying: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. If you recently heard the cockpit communications from US Air pilot Chesley (Sully) Sullenburger, you would see this in action. He was busy flying a plane with no engines instead of giving blow-by-blow accounts to the tower or passengers.
So be a "Sully" and put away that cell phone for those moments when you aren't flying or navigating and can safely communicate.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Quote of the Day
My quote of the day for yesterday, January 5th, was:
This, of course, does not apply to Auto-wa (Ottawa), still under the grips of a transit strike, where buses have not been seen on the roads since December 9th!
George Courtauld
This, of course, does not apply to Auto-wa (Ottawa), still under the grips of a transit strike, where buses have not been seen on the roads since December 9th!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Christmas Joke
A new Christmas joke with the assistance of my collegue Murray:
What is the favorite Christmas song of the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz?
I want a hypothalamus for Christmas,
Only a hypothalamus will do....
What is the favorite Christmas song of the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz?
I want a hypothalamus for Christmas,
Only a hypothalamus will do....
Monday, November 10, 2008
Stock "Quotes"
I came across a couple of amusing quotes about the stock market while we have all been reeling from the market turmoil:
"...be fearful when others are greedy and...be greedy when others are fearful."
- Warren Buffet
“Wal-Mart is where the poor will go shopping. That means everyone in about six months.”
- Douglas McIntyre, writing on the 24/7 Wall Street blog about the virtues of Wal-Mart Stores Inc in the current environment.
"...be fearful when others are greedy and...be greedy when others are fearful."
- Warren Buffet
“Wal-Mart is where the poor will go shopping. That means everyone in about six months.”
- Douglas McIntyre, writing on the 24/7 Wall Street blog about the virtues of Wal-Mart Stores Inc in the current environment.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Midnight thoughts
"When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago."
Friedrich Nietzsche
I like this quote because it so aptly describes the thoughts that go through your head, like a dog chasing it's tail, when you lie awake in the middle of the night.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I like this quote because it so aptly describes the thoughts that go through your head, like a dog chasing it's tail, when you lie awake in the middle of the night.
Monday, August 25, 2008
My Ottawa Folk Fest Highlights
We cut Friday night short and arrived to see Ottawa's Ana Miura. Her performance to a fairly small crowd was really great- beautiful voice, great guitar. The highlight was Ana playing a homemade ukelele (more on ukes later). We liked her so much we bought 2 disks at the CD Warehouse tent. Check Ana out at http://www.anamiura.com/.
We went with the entire family on Saturday.
The highlight of the afternoon was the Ukelele workshop where my kids got the chance to build a kit ukelele under the watchful, expert and patient eye of lutier Wolf Kater http://www.wolfkater.com/. Thanks Wolf! See http://www.ottawafolk.org/index.html#ukelele for more details from the Festival on the workshop.
The kids later went on to Ukelele 101 where they learned to play their creations. The instructors were a distinguished looking older man and a young bearded fellow who were introduced without much fanfare. Imagine our surprise to find the older man was Chalmers Doane, member of the Order of Canada for his work teaching children to play the ukelele and for developing a highly successful curriculum for schools. Chalmers is incidentally the father of the beautiful Canadian singer Melanie Doane!
The younger bearded man was James Hill who is considered one of the most talented ukelele musicians in the world, something that was confirmed watching a number of performances on Sunday! We were amazed by how humble and down-to-earth they both were.
One memorable quote from James: "Tuning, like aircraft maintenance, is always worthwhile". You can see more about James at http://www.ukulelejames.com/
Music highlights for me were D Rangers, Wil http://ibreakstrings.com/, (this guy is great - another CD purchase from CD Warehouse!), Ottawa's Roxanne Potvin (great voice and guitar), guitar great Colin Linden and of course Sarah Harmer http://www.sarahharmer.com/ who closed out the show with her great voice and band.
Sunday afternoon we attended a number of great workshops where a number of different artists were brought together to play their music and accompany each other.
More great shows here. Unfortunately we couldn't see all the workshops at once so missed Ana Miura and Sarah Harmer at the "Tuned Into Nature" workshop.
We did see Dala with Radoslav Lorkovic who played an amazing accordian and piano on his own songs. He also appeared with the D Rangers on Saturday. They were unfortunately drowned out by sound bleed from the Dance tent by Donna the Buffalo, another great band from upstate New York, featuring accordian and washboard.
We also saw James Hill, Anne Davison, Roxanne Potvin and Catherine MacLellan at the Blacksheep Live workshop. This was one of the first times we heard James play ukelele on his own, with partner Anne Davison playing cello and accompanying others. Anne by the way, lights up the stage when she smiles! Roxanne Potvin was great again doing acoustic versions of her songs. Catherine MacLellan from down east (Halifax, but her heart belongs to PEI evidently) has got a wonderful voice. She was the hardest working performer on Sunday, performing on 3 stages throughout the day.
Later we saw Colin Linden, Lynn Mile and Catherine again in a tribute to Rasputin's, the Ottawa folk music venue that was destroyed by fire earlier this summer.
The evening concerts began with The Duhks, followed by James Hill and Anne Davison again. Great performances by the Duhks. James demonstrated his master of the ukelele by showing how to use it as a percussion instrument and play it with chopsticks, as well as play some of his own compositions, Chalmer Doane's and traditional arrangements with Anne on cello.
The highlight of the evening for us for powerful music was American blues folk songstres Odetta who in her 70's has a powerful voice surpassed by only her wit. In introducing one song, she was discussing birth control and wryly commented that now, as ever, was still a good time to use a rubber (condom) if you are having sex!
The evening was closed off by Rufus Wainwright. We left during his performance as the battle between "chairs" and standing people escalated and unfortunately spoiled the warm fuzzy feeling that the small and intimate performances from the preceding days had created.
The top performers in my mind from the weekend were Colin Linden, who is just an amazing guitar player and was improvising to play along with Lynn Miles and Catherine MacLellan. Also James Hill in his performances with Catherine and Roxanne. Just incredible!
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend of great music. On big thank you to the Festival for making it a welcoming event for families! The children paid no admission and the Ukelele building and Ukelele 101 workshop, Instrument petting zoo and kid activities made it a real family event.
P.S. What is it about bringing chairs to outdoor music events and expecting people will not stand in front of the stage? Take a hint people - if you want to sit, go to the National Arts Centre - they don't have a mosh pit there!
We went with the entire family on Saturday.
The highlight of the afternoon was the Ukelele workshop where my kids got the chance to build a kit ukelele under the watchful, expert and patient eye of lutier Wolf Kater http://www.wolfkater.com/. Thanks Wolf! See http://www.ottawafolk.org/index.html#ukelele for more details from the Festival on the workshop.
The kids later went on to Ukelele 101 where they learned to play their creations. The instructors were a distinguished looking older man and a young bearded fellow who were introduced without much fanfare. Imagine our surprise to find the older man was Chalmers Doane, member of the Order of Canada for his work teaching children to play the ukelele and for developing a highly successful curriculum for schools. Chalmers is incidentally the father of the beautiful Canadian singer Melanie Doane!
The younger bearded man was James Hill who is considered one of the most talented ukelele musicians in the world, something that was confirmed watching a number of performances on Sunday! We were amazed by how humble and down-to-earth they both were.
One memorable quote from James: "Tuning, like aircraft maintenance, is always worthwhile". You can see more about James at http://www.ukulelejames.com/
Music highlights for me were D Rangers, Wil http://ibreakstrings.com/, (this guy is great - another CD purchase from CD Warehouse!), Ottawa's Roxanne Potvin (great voice and guitar), guitar great Colin Linden and of course Sarah Harmer http://www.sarahharmer.com/ who closed out the show with her great voice and band.
Sunday afternoon we attended a number of great workshops where a number of different artists were brought together to play their music and accompany each other.
More great shows here. Unfortunately we couldn't see all the workshops at once so missed Ana Miura and Sarah Harmer at the "Tuned Into Nature" workshop.
We did see Dala with Radoslav Lorkovic who played an amazing accordian and piano on his own songs. He also appeared with the D Rangers on Saturday. They were unfortunately drowned out by sound bleed from the Dance tent by Donna the Buffalo, another great band from upstate New York, featuring accordian and washboard.
We also saw James Hill, Anne Davison, Roxanne Potvin and Catherine MacLellan at the Blacksheep Live workshop. This was one of the first times we heard James play ukelele on his own, with partner Anne Davison playing cello and accompanying others. Anne by the way, lights up the stage when she smiles! Roxanne Potvin was great again doing acoustic versions of her songs. Catherine MacLellan from down east (Halifax, but her heart belongs to PEI evidently) has got a wonderful voice. She was the hardest working performer on Sunday, performing on 3 stages throughout the day.
Later we saw Colin Linden, Lynn Mile and Catherine again in a tribute to Rasputin's, the Ottawa folk music venue that was destroyed by fire earlier this summer.
The evening concerts began with The Duhks, followed by James Hill and Anne Davison again. Great performances by the Duhks. James demonstrated his master of the ukelele by showing how to use it as a percussion instrument and play it with chopsticks, as well as play some of his own compositions, Chalmer Doane's and traditional arrangements with Anne on cello.
The highlight of the evening for us for powerful music was American blues folk songstres Odetta who in her 70's has a powerful voice surpassed by only her wit. In introducing one song, she was discussing birth control and wryly commented that now, as ever, was still a good time to use a rubber (condom) if you are having sex!
The evening was closed off by Rufus Wainwright. We left during his performance as the battle between "chairs" and standing people escalated and unfortunately spoiled the warm fuzzy feeling that the small and intimate performances from the preceding days had created.
The top performers in my mind from the weekend were Colin Linden, who is just an amazing guitar player and was improvising to play along with Lynn Miles and Catherine MacLellan. Also James Hill in his performances with Catherine and Roxanne. Just incredible!
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend of great music. On big thank you to the Festival for making it a welcoming event for families! The children paid no admission and the Ukelele building and Ukelele 101 workshop, Instrument petting zoo and kid activities made it a real family event.
P.S. What is it about bringing chairs to outdoor music events and expecting people will not stand in front of the stage? Take a hint people - if you want to sit, go to the National Arts Centre - they don't have a mosh pit there!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Great Weekend at the Ottawa Folk Festival!
I've just spent two and a half wonderful days listening to some fantastic music at the Ottawa Folk Festival, held at Brittania Park.
I wouldn't classify myself as a "folkie" normally - I went mainly to see Saturday headliner Sarah Harmer. However I really had a great time and expanded my musical boundaries with the wide variety of folk music styles.
The weather was great except for a bit of a shower on Friday evening, there was some great food including fair from Ottawa's Green Door restaurant, great beer from Big Rock Brewery and of course great tunes and a couple of really cool events.
More to come!
I wouldn't classify myself as a "folkie" normally - I went mainly to see Saturday headliner Sarah Harmer. However I really had a great time and expanded my musical boundaries with the wide variety of folk music styles.
The weather was great except for a bit of a shower on Friday evening, there was some great food including fair from Ottawa's Green Door restaurant, great beer from Big Rock Brewery and of course great tunes and a couple of really cool events.
More to come!
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Shameless Solicitation
Please click on the following link and help me get extra ballots to win $5000 to spend at airmilesshops.ca in BMO Mosaik MasterCard's contest.
http://www.surfandwin.ca/default.aspx?sID=37426
Thanks!
http://www.surfandwin.ca/default.aspx?sID=37426
Thanks!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
"I feel like a Rock Star!"
Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien arrived at the Ontario Provincial Police station in Kanata on Monday to be booked and fingerprinted on criminal charges, stemming from last year's municipal election.
"I feel like a rock star," O'Brien said to the crowd of reporters waiting for him upon his arrival.
Yeah Larry, you're a rock star....Think Britney Spears, not Bono.
"I feel like a rock star," O'Brien said to the crowd of reporters waiting for him upon his arrival.
Yeah Larry, you're a rock star....Think Britney Spears, not Bono.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Why hospitals are like airlines
After a recent experience waiting for my mother to have surgery at a hospital, I offer the following comparisons with air travel:
Wait times:
Now if I could only get Aeroplan miles at the hospital......
Wait times:
- Hospitals make you come in advance of your scheduled surgery time and make you wait in uncomfortable chairs for hours.
- Airlines make you come in advance of your scheduled flight time and make you wait in uncomfortable chairs for hours.
- Hospitals make you put on skimpy gowns that expose your nether regions to cold drafts and everyone's sight.
- Airport security checks make you feel like your nether regions have been exposed.
- Surgery is always delayed and takes longer than scheduled.
- Airline flights are frequently delayed and take longer than scheduled too.
- Hospital food is mass prepared in a cafeteria miles away, put on trays where they try to keep it hot before it is served to you, at a time when you probably don't want to eat.
- Same with airline food (who wants to eat a full meal at 11PM?)
Now if I could only get Aeroplan miles at the hospital......
Mother Nature is bigger than all of us
Most of Ontario, Southern Quebec and the Maritimes experienced Mother Nature at her worst as a major snow storm blew through Sunday and Monday.
Ottawa got 34 cm of snow on Sunday which was the most snow on record for a day in December since 1938 (the year they started keeping weather records in Ottawa).
The only thing to do was to stay inside on Sunday and stay off the roads as they were too dangerous, covered with snow and slippery, with periods of low visibility from heavy and drifting snow.
Most Ottawa neighbourhoods look like they are in the middle of February and not just the middle of December, with snow banks ranging from 4 to 8 feet high. It took me over an hour using a snow blower to clear my driveway and the snowbank left by the snow plow Monday morning.
Ottawa got 34 cm of snow on Sunday which was the most snow on record for a day in December since 1938 (the year they started keeping weather records in Ottawa).
The only thing to do was to stay inside on Sunday and stay off the roads as they were too dangerous, covered with snow and slippery, with periods of low visibility from heavy and drifting snow.
Most Ottawa neighbourhoods look like they are in the middle of February and not just the middle of December, with snow banks ranging from 4 to 8 feet high. It took me over an hour using a snow blower to clear my driveway and the snowbank left by the snow plow Monday morning.
A day like Sunday makes you realize how inconsequential mankind is. We can't master or overcome weather. All we can do is take shelter where we are, hoping for it to pass.
A male purple finch took refuge from the storm under some branches from the Christmas tree that I had left on the front steps. Unfortunately, he was smothered by the weight of the snow that blew onto the steps and covered the branches. I found him this morning as I was shovelling the steps, a bundle of bright, red feathers, perfectly preserved.Woes for Ottawa taxpayers
Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien commented last week that “It’s been a shitty week” after being charged by police with attempting to bribe and influence peddling. However, he did decide to stay in office pending the outcome of the charges in court.
Ottawa city council also tabled a 4.9% tax increase for next year's budget.
It would be safe to say that it was a pretty shitty week for Ottawa taxpayers too!
Ottawa city council also tabled a 4.9% tax increase for next year's budget.
It would be safe to say that it was a pretty shitty week for Ottawa taxpayers too!
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