Speed Trials

This picture was taken at the Dominion Tavern during CPIII. I’m the one on the green bike. Tee hee.

Oh yeah, I also found this one of Angelo… This is in NYC in 2005. Double tee hee.

This Sunday is October first. I know, it was quite the revelation to me, too. It may not be that significant a date, other than the announcement of the official leaf-colour-changing month, and the fact that we only have 30 days left to complete our Halloween costumes, but this year it also seems to be marked by many interesting events in the O-double-T:

There is a Nipple Knit going on at Chez Lucien for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From 4 to 7pm, there will be a gaggle of people knitting nipples (which paints a lovely mental picture, doesn’t it?). The nipples will be on display for the whole month of October at Chez Lucien.

Also, for one night only The Cycling Club is putting on Mantis, performed by Christie Watson and Katie Swinwood at Club SAW. Luckily it starts at 8pm, so after I’ve knitted my little heart out, I can pop over to SAW for the performance.

And lastly, there’s this little band playing at Babylon on October first, too. Maybe you’ve heard of them… Yo La Tengo, or something…

So last night I went to Zaphod’s, showed up too early, had a drink, went to the Dom, had another drink, decided it would be a good thing to smoke many cigarettes, went back to Zaphod’s, hung out some more, and bicycled home, thus causing major tightness in chest and shortness of breath. Brutal. The cigarettes have got to stop. Really and truly this time. So this morning, as I stepped out into the cold autumn rain, I decided the best thing to do would be to toss the pack of cigarettes, and walk away for good. But then the penny-pincher in me just couldn’t let me chuck the pack, and I decided I’d be a good samaritan and pass it along to someone who could really use it.

Now, I thought that Ottawoians were a trustworthy bunch, maybe even a tad naive. Surely a young woman brandishing a pack of high end cigarettes, explaining that all she wants is to quit, would be of no cause for suspicion… But apparently so. No one would accept my pack. They all looked at me like I was mad, like I had obviously sprayed the cigarettes with Windex, or Cianide, or Crack-Cocaine. I explained that I was just going to throw them out, but I thought maybe someone would like to have them instead. Still I couldn’t convince anyone. One woman told me to “just give it to some old guy on the street.” What Old Guy would that be?? The guy who actually sprays his own cigarettes with Windex before he smokes them?? What happened to our innocence, our ingenuousness towards each other? Why such a divide??

Anyway, I ended up leaving the pack by some kids who were sleeping under the old train station overpass, hoping that when they awake they’ll be glad to have something to stave off their hunger for a few hours. Or maybe they’ll scoff at my meager offering, and toss it in the trash themselves. Who knows. Sigh.

Total non-sequitor: It’s the oddest thing, there’s this weird cardboard cut-out of Borat in one of the windows of the World Exchange Plaza. I’m not quite sure why he’s chillin’ there, but it’s interesting the things you notice when you’re on foot. I had never noticed it before. Tee hee.

Oh yeah, things in Ottawa seem to be really cooking all over. Last weekend I went to the Black Sheep Inn with Angelo both on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon to catch Fred Eaglesmith, that lovelorn Ontario Farm Boy who writes about trains and tractors as effortlessly as he does about love lost (though to him one usually includes the other…) . I had a really good time, and was amazed by how moved I was by his music. I had never really felt so overwhelmed at a show before.

This Friday I’m going to see Corb Lund and The Hurtin’ Albertans. Can’t wait. Really. I met this guy in Montreal in first or second year uni. He was good friends with Paul, and we partied pretty hard afterwards. He of course will not remember any of this, but it’s the show I’m looking forward to the most.

Then on September 23rd I have tickets to see Billy Bragg, who is also gracing Ottawa with his presence. I saw Billy only once before in Montreal, and it was an amazing show.

I’m really revved for all of these concerts. Good times.

Well, it is about as official as it can be. I am leaving Council, and I am joining the ranks of those brave soldiers who dare to create, produce, and throw really cool parties.
The gang at the old place is drowning me in the requisite sighs and aws as they learn of my leaving, and the gang at the new place have done absolutely everything in their power to make me feel extremely welcomed. Life is quite good.

Artengine is having a barbecue on Sunday and everyone who’s anyone will be there. Here is the link to the invite: http://artengine.ca/html/arts-and-parts.html

So, new apartment, new job, new friends, new outlook. The fall is looking better and better, despite the rain and the cold.

Also, though the partying has slowed somewhat, I feel that I must step in and take action. My last attempt at a cleanse was disastruous (ending in my stuffing my face with pie after the zipline!) but I have found a less intense autumn cleanse that includes miso soup and other broths that might just be what I need now that the Summer of Mirth is behind us… Will let you know.