An Afternoon in Ste Anne De Bellevue

After our lunch with Mr and Mrs G on Saturday, we decided to work off some of our maple surup hangover with a walk along the water in Ste Anne De Bellevue.

It was a beautiful brisk day, the winds were strong and the current was heavy.

The water is much lower than usual for this time of year, normally all the rocks in these pictures are covered, and there are no small peninsulas in the water.

It was glorious to be outside in the fresh air, wind in my hair, colour in my cheeks.

I haven’t felt that ‘alive’ in a long time.  It was very refreshing!

Tattoo Convention

Last night I went with a friend to the Montreal Tattoo convention.

Some of the ladies from “High Voltage Tattoo” (Kat Von D’s tattoo salon, and home of the TV show “LA Ink”) Hannah and Kim were there as well as the Suicide Girls (<==NSFW) who are based in Montreal.

We talked to a lot of the artists and enthusiasts. . . .

My friend Candi had one of her tattoos fixed up.

Hannah from LA Ink

Hannah from LA Ink

Tattoo of the Day for Friday

Before

The freehand marker drawing of the tattoo addition

FreshlyInked.

Traditional Polynesian tattoo (this looked and sounded like it HURT!!!)

  Finished traditional Polynesian tattoo.  (This guy was sweating, tearing and white as a ghost when it was done.  His legs were trembling as I took this picture – from start to finish this tattoo took about 4.5 hours)

Traffic Songs

Recently I’ve started listening to my husband’s radio station “CHOM 97.7“, its a classic rock station and is quite a soft and mellow change from my normal listenings to one of CHOM’s sister stations with its barrage of new music, repeative riffs and bass-filled banging tunes. My ears have stopped ringing and I am finally hearing the music.

I spend a lot of time stuck in traffic, so people watching has become an afternoon hobby.

I have discovered over my time of Montreal traffic people watching that there is a secret society, a club if you will, among fellow “stuck in traffic-ers”. This club – similar to the Free Masons – is known, but never spoken of. Perhaps a fight club with out the fighting. (Just don’t tell Edward Norton I’ve broken the first law of fight club, please).

CHOM has shown me the light, and let me enter this secret yet widely visable club.

I’ve often questioned what the heck people are singing to when in the car – and now I know. Its CHOM.

Over the past several weeks, I have been conducting rigerous experiments to confirm these findings.

At every stop light and stop sign. On the 40 past St Jean in the Gridlock, or on Des Anciens Combattants Boulevard in Ste Anne de Bellevue in stopped traffic jams I see them, the members of the secret society belting out tunes, jamming on air guitars, and keeping beat on steering wheel drums.

I thought this station that keeps all armchair (or driver’s seat) disc jockeys in unison was a fable, a story. . .
I see CHOM listeners everywhere. They are many. . . .

I’ve let my hair down, and tuned my air guitar. . . . .I’m in the Spirit to Rock!

And Revisionist history is pretty good, too.

(For those that want to listen to CHOM live on their computers, simply log onto their website, and choose listen now!)

Remebering Anastasia of Dawson College

12:45 September 13th 2006 Kimveer Gill opened fire on the students at Dawson College in downtown Montreal Quebec.

His bullets flew and hitting 19 people, killing Anastasia Rebecca de Sousa (above).

Its a blessing that the 18 other victims (8 who where in critical condition that day) all survived to live another day.  But we must remember Anastasia this day!

A tree will be planted at the school in her memory, just after the moment of silence.

Montreal is no stranger to school shootings – with the December 1989 rampage of Marc Lepine at the Ecole Polytechnique, where 28 people where shot (14 of them succumbing to injuries – all victims were woman)

I took a quick gander at Wikipedia under “school shootings” and frankly my eyes welled to see how EXTENSIVE the entry was, the dozens of instances of kids killing kids.  Or adults murdering children.

Here is the link if you are brave enough to read for yourself – School Shootings Wiki 

I’m reminded of so many of these events that have happened in my life time, and happened in the last 15 years!

The Amish school shooting occurred on the morning of Monday, October 2, 2006, when a gunman took hostages and eventually killed five girls (aged 7–13) and then killed himself at West Nickel Mines School

The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School. Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a shooting rampage, killing 12 students and a teacher, as well as wounding 24 others, before committing suicide.

The Dunblane massacre was a multiple murder-suicide which occurred at Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane on 13 March 1996. Sixteen children and one adult were killed, as well as the attacker who committed suicide. It remains the deadliest attack on children in United Kingdom history.

The Virginia Tech massacre was a school shooting comprising two separate attacks about two hours apart on April 16, 2007, on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. The perpetrator, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 people and wounded many more, before committing suicide, making it the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Graveyard Shift

Thankfully since strikes began in May, the 130 grounds workers of Notre Dame Cemetary in Montreal are back to work this week.  They will be working a 4 day work week, with continued striking on Fridays until a resolution can be hatched.

The grass and grounds have not been cut or maintained since the strike began in May.

More than 500 loved ones passed on are awaiting burial to their final resting place, currently being held in cold storage.

My thoughts go out to the families of the dead. . . .

Read the CTV Story here 

81-year-old Montreal nun found beaten to death

Once in a while a news story happens that truly makes you sit back in your chair, take a deep breathe, and wonder about what kind of sickos are out there – and on our streets.

Montreal had one such story yesterday.

A frail elderly nun, who devoted her life God’s work, was senslessly murdered.

Who in their right (or wrong) mind could harm a nun?

Story source

Nicolin Gublin

Recently a work colleague and I have been discussing getting original artwork done of our pets.

The pet portrait artist works in digital medium, doing fun vibrant colours over existing images.  Andy Warhol meets Max Headroom if you will. . . . .

Anyways, I was telling my work mate about a artist based here in Montreal that I like.  I own 5 prints by her.  I’d love to own more of her work, specifically one of her large pieces of art, or her furniture.  The artist’s name is Charlotte Nicolin of the NicolinGublin Gallery. 

The art is bold, loud, fun, whimsical and all together ‘feel good’.

The studio/gallery is located in the Old Port in Montreal, and its my “Tiffany’s”  of the Old Port, I’ve never left the gallery without a smile on my face.  Its how I imagine Holly Golightly feels walking out of Tiffany’s in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
Photo Credits : All pictures are from the NicolinGublin gallery website, and copyright to NicolinGublin, please support local art and add a piece of her work to your collection.

Being an Anglophone on St. Jean Baptiste Day

This weekend is the Fête nationale du Québec otherwise known as St Jean Baptist Day.

The Fête nationale du Québec (“Quebec National Holiday”) is an official holiday of Quebec, Canada. The festivities occur on June 23 and June 24 and are organized by the Comité organisateur de la fête nationale (“national holiday organizing committee”). Originally, June 24 was a holiday honouring one of the patron saints of Quebec, St. John the Baptist, and in ordinary conversation the day is still often called la Saint-Jean by Quebecers.

Although the holiday has official status only in Quebec, it is also celebrated by francophones in other Canadian provinces and in the United States as a festival of French Canadian culture. In these contexts, it is more often called Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

The origins of the traditional festivities are more than 2000 years old. Among several European peoples, the summer solstice was the object of pagan celebrations (Midsummer). Fires were lit during the night in this period of the year when the days are longest. With the arrival of Christianity, the celebration of the event remained; however, it took a new spiritual significance. The celebration of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste was a very popular event in the France of the Ancien régime, and it is celebrated as a religious feast day in several countries, like Denmark.

The tradition landed in North America with the first French colonists. According to the Jesuit Relations, the first celebrations of this Christian day in New France took place around 1638.

As an Anglophone living in Quebec, I tend to stick closer to home for this holiday. I might be bold to suggest this, but its definaltly a sentiment I feel living here during this time. St Jean Baptist is about English bashing. Granted, it is about being proud and patriotic of all things Quebequois, but at the expense of things English.

Even though this holiday is rooted in history, and weaved in religion, as with all modern day holidays the tradition has been stripped out for something far more commercial and political.

Canada Day (which is this coming week, on July 1st) is “Moving Day” here in Montreal, and isn’t as widely celebrated as St Jean Baptist. (Pretty much all rental agreements start and end on July 1st, pretty much all rental and moving vans are booked for this day)

I don’t know why I feel so uncomfortable with this holiday, I feel very self conscience speaking English this weekend, and more so speaking French.

There are a lot of ‘patriots’ in Quebec . . . lots of people who would love to see Quebec separate from Canada. . . .

*sigh*

I wish we wouldn’t celebrate the desire to separate!

I enjoy having the long weekend. . . . .and watching fireworks. . .  .I wish everyone celebrating St Jean Baptist a wonderful and safe day. . . . .

So We Were Down In Snowden . . . .

Colin and I went to dinner with Chow and Alex tonight to Kanda Sushi in Snowden.

On the walk back to the car after dinner we saw the oddest thing.

A Hasidic Jewish Bachelor Party, at 8:30pm on a Thursday.   Of course the backdrop to the shenanigans was a smoked meat joint called ‘Benny’s’

Gotta love Montreal.

Parking in Quebec

This picture was taken from my table at La Belle Province last weekend with Colin, Cheryl and Michael. . . . check out where the cars are to where the lines are.  Let me say this is ‘good’ parking next to some places.

Yet another thing I hate about driving here. . .  .

Ruby Friday

Cheryl and Michael are visiting tonight, they are headed to Quebec City for a wedding tomorrow.

It will be really nice to see them.  They will also be staying over on Sunday night before driving back to Ontario on Monday.

Cheryl and Michael are expecting their first baby in late July, the sex of the baby is unknown, and currently the baby is simply and humourously called ‘Ruby’.

Snow?

Tonight Montreal is expecting SNOW.  Yes, that is correct.  This evening, Wednesday 16th May 2007, we are expecting a small amount of snow (less than a cm)

WTF!

Check out www.theweathernetwork.com

GI Joe

Friday was a special day for Colin.  His ‘new’ GI Joe Command Center arrived.  As you can see by this photo below, its been a long time since Colin owned a GI Joe Command Center.  (Paul is on the left, Colin on the right).
Since today is Paul’s birthday, I thought it would be cute to use a baby picture of him in my birthday blog greeting, and low and behold I find this gem, what perfect timing!!!!

I really wanted Colin to pose with his new GI Joe Command Center, so you could see a ‘before’ and ‘after’ – but he would have none of it.

Recently Colin has taken to collecting all the old GI Joe action figures from his youth (circa 1983-1984).  He has got himself a pretty respectable collection in a short period of time.

The GI Joe Command Center is by far the largest purchase so far.

Hopefully we’re going to head up to the flea market in Hudson next weekend, apparently they have a great toy bazar with lots of GI Joes (or so we’ve been told).

I’m on the look out for some new chairs for the kitchen myself.

So, if you got some old GI Joes kicking about your place, and you’d like to secure them a new home – please let me know.

Don’t Walk into this Walk in Clinic

“You can’t just walk into this walk in clinic; you’ve never walked in here before” 

Yes – that is the reply I got from happy-sunshine “Bessie” at a local walk in clinic. 

Lau William Dr

Address: 4415, boulevard Notre-Dame,
Laval, QC
H7W 1T7
Telephone: 450-687-2221

 

I am writing the REAL names of the receptionist and the doctors office to ‘warn’ others that this WALK IN CLINIC does not accept new patients, only people who have walked into this walk in clinic before will be seen.  Truth! 

Those who read the blog will know I’m having some problems with one of my ears.  It’s plugged or something deep in the ear channel. I have little hearing out of that ear, and its causing me spatial awareness and depth perception problems, as well as a dull constant throbbing in my ear.  It’s happened to me before, (I’m prone to ear infections), and all I need is to have my ears flushed out.   I’m so grumpy and irritable.  It’s probably the ear; actually I know it’s the ear. 

I thought I could walk in to the local walk in clinic and get my ears cleaned out and be on my merry way in a 5 minute appointment (waiting in the waiting room would have taken longer) 

Bessie, the receptionist with the customer service abilities of an amoeba, and the language skills of a Cave Man (sorry Geico Cave Man), certainly helped the situation.  Bessie not only hung up on me twice, but was rude at the same time.  Of course I called her back and asked her why she felt the need to be rude to me, she said that I’m not a patient at the clinic, and didn’t have time to speak to me.  Click!   

Of course I shouldn’t be surprised,  its very very hard to find a doctor (any doctor, of any specialty) here in Quebec (and specifically the
Montreal area) – and then add in that I would prefer a English language doctor, (and preferably a woman), well in short – I’m fucked.  Plain and simple. 

Like anywhere there are a shortage of doctors & nurses, and an even shorter list of GOOD doctors & nurses.  Funny that the largest medical university in Canada (
McGill
University) is right here in
Montreal. 

I respect the medical professional, and can only imagine the stress of being spread so thinly.  But to be spoken to on the phone in the manner I was by this receptionist, it was appalling.  No one, no customer, no patient, deserved to be spoken to like that.  I am writing a letter to the doctors office to tell them how I was treated.  I expect that it will be ignored.  But it will make me feel better. 

And anything that makes me feel better right now is a good thing

 

If anyone does have a phone number/contact details for a doctors office or walk in clinic that will actually see patients, please email me.  Please!

Walking in Heels

I love the look of a hot pair of heels.  Be damned if I can walk in them, though.

I suppose the irony of the fact I can’t walk in heels is my years and years of dance lessons and competitive dance.

I danced in “Character Shoes” which were high-heels with straps.  I did kick lines, and Can-can, pirouettes et all and never a problem walking in them.

I also took 4 years of Pointe.  You’d think with the rigorious routines you subject your feet to in Pointe, walking in heels would be a breeze.  No dice for Joey.

Last weekend when my In Laws were here my Mother in Law bought me a hot little pair of sandles (see below)

I love them, but as with any pair of heels, I have to bring a back up pair of flats when the pain gets to much.

I blister easily.  What can I say.

I wore them to Gibby’s and all the walking around we did by the Old Port, but on Sunday when we went to Church – I couldn’t even keep them on for the service.  I slid them under the pew in front of me.  I hope they weren’t ‘pew’ themselves.

We went to Tim Horton’s for lunch and onto Ste Anne De Bellevue to walk along the boardwalk, needless to say, on came the flats.

The day after P&K’s wedding we all know about the high heel boot fiasco, I sprained my ankle really badly (infact i’m still in a bit of a pain from it) – after my tumble, on came the flats.

For P&K’s wedding, I bought a great pointy pair of heels, and a back up pair of flats that looked the same.  During the ceremony I had to walk up the little staircase, and I knew I didn’t want to chance fate – on came the flats.

Then walking back to the car between the service and reception, well, I couldn’t keep up with everyone in my heels.  On came the flats.

Then there was the dancing.  I couldn’t be expected to give my heart out to the Village People’s YMCA in heels, could I?  On came the flats.

Even at my own wedding, on came the flats.  I switched to a silvery pair of flip flops from my heels just after the ceremony and pictures. 

Colin can always tell when I’m uncomfortable in shoes, he says I go from having my shoulders back and standing tall and confident to a hunched over waddling penguin with piegon feet.

Perhaps I’m only destined to enjoy LOOKING at fabulous heels, and never wearing them.

Sigh. .  . . . .