30. I've looked at clouds from both sides now

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Joni Mitchell musing on clouds. It’s cloud’s illusions I recall. I like that.

Joni Mitchell turned 75 on November 7th.

Ms. Mitchell is Canadian! Eh? Yes, you heard that right. Born in Alberta.

In other news, it is Remembrance Day in Canada today. I have mixed feelings. I do remember, and it is painful to think about. But I am becoming increasingly doubtful about the future value of present day remembering. Globally, human beings are demonstrating such an astoundingly shameless self-interest and indifference to lessons of history that remembering might be just pain with no gain.

2 days later: A Canadian woman died during a Remembrance Day event. I might be onto something about the risks of Remembrance Day ceremonies. I heard about the unfortunate death on CBC Radio. Of course I did. Read Blog #31 where I explain CBC Radio One is Canada’s harbinger of doom.

29. Patriotism

I went to the Ottawa Writers (I struggle with apostrophes. Apostrophe’s? Apostorphes’?) Festival two nights ago to hear former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien speak to a cult-like-glazy-eyed enraptured crowd of fans who gave him the longest standing ovation. Before he even said a word.

He hesitated at the start, and I worried that he would become yet another of my inspirational idols who was losing their mind. He was toying with us. He was sharp, quick witted, and had us laughing and guffawing and snorting non-stop for over an hour.

It was a bittersweet moment as it has been a very long time since Canada has had a charismatic leader. We would benefit from pirouettes, leaders who can speak straight from the heart, and admonishments that make it clear that our Prime Minister is nobody’s baby.

Mr (the Right Honourable?) Chretien spoke of patriotism. And nationalism. And then patriotism.

I agree with him. Whether we are from the Nation’s Capital (YAY OTTAWA), or Quebec, or the Maritimes or a french speaking family in New Brunswick, (I have left out the West Coast on purpose), under this great Canadian sky, we are all Canadians. And that matters.

I keep hearing Trump-governed Americans saying “This is not who we are”. Guess what? It is.

If you haven’t revolted, stormed the White House or found a way to take him down, that’s who you are. The pity party is over and it’s time for them to wear it - the reality of who they are. Many of them are old enough to remember Hitler. Isn’t that enough of a cautionary tale? People are literally dying due to Trumpian-fuelled hate. Including an early blow in Canada with a shooting in one of our mosques, merely two months after Trump’s election.

I hope that means it is not who we are. What would I do if we had a Trump travesty in Canada? I certainly wouldn’t have time to blog. I would be mobilized and mobilizing. That would be a hill to die on.

Or maybe I wouldn’t. I hope I never have to find out. I find the moral high horse very comfortable.

Many skies blew across my window this aft

In this picture, 7 different variants at the same time!

28. Nod to Autumn

Or should I say Fall? The season when all the leaves fall.

It is snowing, our first snow. And I have been remiss and reluctant about posting Ottawa under an autumn sky. Because it is my least favoured vista. “The colours! The reds! The yellows!” excited citizens and tourists exclaim.

Frankly, all those jumbly colours make my head ache.

My favourite vista? Winter! The neutral palate can be very soothing. Zen. Classy. Stay tuned, winter pictures will surely follow. I am very curious to see what the sky does in winter; now that I am paying attention.

Later. Jan 5 2019. Now I know what the winter sky does. Mostly nothing. If it does anything exciting I will post right away. You will see it here first!

I can handle this. A parade of monochrome red. No jumble here.

27. X Marks the Spot

I was so excited to get home to post this. There is an X in the sky!!!!! Who put that there?? There were municipal elections in Ontario this week. The sky was imitating the ballot box. Put your X here.

Changing topics. I am SUCH a feminist. I went through all the phases. Oblivious and entitled, scornful and dismissive, neglectful, and then finally, Oh my God. I am a staunch feminist. (Ages 15-50).

I am watching Perry Mason on TV and there is a scene in a radio studio. On air, one announcer says about a woman “You should put a bag over her head”. I am certain the other announcer will erupt in outrage. Instead of so doing, they said, “One bag? I think she needs two”.

This happened in my lifetime. #MeToo is not much ado about nothing.

I just rebranded my company logo. It uses a colour I call “Fuck you pink”. Yes I am a girl. Yes I like pink. And yes, I am fantastic at what I do. All these things are true.

When I saw the X in the sky I was giddy with excitement. Giddy.

26. Liquid Nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state at an extremely low temperature. It is a colourless clear liquid with a density of 0.807 g/ml at its boiling point (−195.79 °C (77 K; −320 °F)) and a dielectric constant of 1.43.

That is pretty cold.

I was at the Atelier (Chef Marc Lepine) book launch this evening, where he demonstrated how to roll a ballon around in liquid nitrogen to make a beautiful sphere of heavenly deliciousness. We didn’t get to taste it, but it must have been heavenly. After all, we are talking about the Chef of Atelier. One of the best restaurants in the world, right here in Ottawa.

Later. Jan 5, 2019. After a December dinner at Atelier, I am saddened to report that it was not heavenly. And the bill was over $650 CAD for 2 people. I am still feeling ripped off and taking it quite personally. When one has a save-up-all-year-and-live-in-high-voltage-excited-anticipation-for-an-opulent-treat kind of restaurant, there should be some excitement in the 12 courses. If they had a money-back guarantee I would be lining up for my refund right now. The expensive disappointment is making me simultaneously angry and sick. Ah well. It’s done. Breathing in slowly…

The cloud formation on the right is reminiscent of a balloon covered in liquid nitrogen. I should know, I just saw one.