Look what came in the mail

While in Ottawa I met the nicest people from New York. This husband and wife team work at Cornell University. He does something with a software system called Fedora and she is in nursing. We hit it off quickly. (I'm fairly lucky in this regard. I meet nice people everywhere I go. Maybe, because I strike up conversations with anybody and everybody I meet, sit next to on the bus/airport shuttle/airplane or stand in line at a tourist trap. I'm sure they are annoyed).

After we gave our presentations and the conference was over we all went out to dinner. While Dan stuck with a regular beer and I my usual red wine, Pat went for something a little more exotic. Or exotic for me. I'd never seen a small carafe of lime juice accompanying a very large beer before. I've seen lime wedges with beer before but never a carafe. It seemed like overkill. Then again, look at the size of that beer. I doubt if a tiny lime wedge would have done it justice.

I was intrigued enough to take a photo but than I am intrigued enough with a common daisy to take a photo. Pat is very much enjoying it. And, I very much enjoyed taking Pat's picture. Isn't she beautiful? Love the smile. I should paint her. 

After dinner Dan and Pat decided to walk me back to my hotel. It was a fairly long walk and I wasn't sure why they wanted to, it wasn't like it wasn't still daylight out and the streets of Ottawa were still peopled enough to be safe and it's not like I don't walk alone down a lot of crazy streets (Bourbon St. to name one) but I guess they just wanted the walk after our big meal but it was super nice of them and we got to know each other a little better. So much so that I want a reason to go up to Cornell. Not for work. For fun.

As we walked along we talked about some of the things, places, and people we had seen while in Ottawa. We started talking about what was the quintessential tourist geegaw that must be purchase when you travel to any given place, i.e.:

Washington DC = a Washington monument statue (extra value in this item since it is not only a memento of your trip but a phallic symbol. You know he was the father of our country)

New Orleans, LA = a voodoo doll or something anything with a fleur-de-lis.

Ottawa (and I imagine most places in Canada) = a beaver dress as a mounty.

Phoenix, AZ = anything with a saguaro cactus on it.

The list goes on but you get the picture.

They started telling me that in Ithaca, NY you have to get something with a moose. A plush animal, plate, spoon, etc. But, the thing that caught my attention was this:

A moose bottle opener. 

I had to have one. 

No!

Seriously!

I.Had.To.Have.One!

Pat was kind enough to stick one in the mail for me. It arrived yesterday. Isn't it great? JR was most pleased. 

Now, the question is what do I send back to her?

What screams TEXAS to you? 

A Texas star?

A cowboy?

I'm hoping to find a bottle opener fashioned like longhorn cattle where the horns are the bottle opener part. Wouldn't that be awesome?

To show our appreciation we will be heading to the "Made in Texas" store at the dreaded mall to find something equally nice. 

Is there something in your area that is quintessential? 

Has it been made into a bottle opener?

If so, will you send it to me? I think this would make a great Christmas gift for JR. I'll reimburse.

Let me know in the comments section and don't forget your email if I don't already have it. I'll even take things from Australia and Ireland (Mumme and Vince) as long as the shipping isn't outrageous. 

Love,

M

Ottawa

So the presentation went well. I think. People told me it did. I'm not sure I believe them. Okay, I'll take their word for it. I'm pretty happy it's over. One more presentation on Saturday then I don't have another one for quite sometime. So all my insecurities can be lulled into a sense of well-being only to be dashed against the shores in September.

Here are a few of the photos that I took while in Ottawa. Can I just say that I love my phone. I didn't take my camera. All these photos were taken with my phone. It did a pretty darn good job.

 This is the canal. In the winter it freezes over and then people skate on it. I don't understand why. Ice skating sounds cold. I'm not real fond of the cold. It has a very pretty park that runs along both sides. It was in this park (right side of this picture) that my eyes and sensibilities were assaulted by the sight of a very large old white man in a Speedo. I'm not sure I'll ever be the same.

 This street artist and I sent quite awhile talking about art. I bought one of his originals and one of his prints. I can't wait to hang them in the new place. Isn't he cute as a button?

 They (the compassionate Canadians) pick up stray cats. They get well taken care of in these nice little houses. These cat houses (teehee) sit right next to the parliament building. I think its ironic that they put a cat house (teehee) next to the country's capital building.

 Isn't this pretty? It's the Gadadafsifenf river. Sorry, I can't remember the name. It starts with a "G" and it empties into the St. Lawrence River. Have any of you seen the St. Lawrence? I drove across the St. Lawrence on my way to Montreal once. It is beautiful. It was in the Thousand Islands area. There wasn't any pickles or ketchup in sight.

 I found this gift shop on Sparks street. All the merchandise was made by local artists. I'm pretty proud of the fact that I did my part in supporting the local economy. I increased my earring collection. It (the earring collection) has become rather profane. 

 I thought this was a church at first. Turns out it is one of the parliament buildings. I didn't get a really good picture of the actual parliament building because they were erecting this big stage in front of the building. They were preparing for a party on June 30th and Will & Kate were coming to visit. Everyone was all atwitter.  

 This was the side of the agriculture building. I just had to take a picture. What do these look like to you? Sometimes, my 12 year old boy gets the better of me.

There was a quick trip through Ottawa. I'll share some photos of the goodies I brought back. Then it is off to New Orleans to party with a zillion librarians. 

Love,

M

Quirky travel or where I, once again, prove what a weirdo I am

I never thought I'd say this but I'm beginning to hate to travel. Probably, because living out of a suitcase sucks, flying is a cattle car nightmare, and I'm never at these places for fun and relaxation. It's always...work, work, work.

So I've developed a few quirks. Nothing too outrageous. Just a few things that get me to the end of the trip without a major meltdown. Trust me, it is really bad form to meltdown in the lobby of a 4 star hotel. It freaks the front desk people out, not to mention the other quests.

Let me give you a quick list of my travel quirks.

Expensive room without free WiFi but with a comfy bed. Still doesn't make up for the lack of internet.

 

Quirk #1: The Train

 Usually, I pack as light as possible and take public transportation to the hotel. For some reason I love trains so anytime I can get on one I do. This does mean that I'm that annoying person on the commuter train with all the luggage. (Sorry, citizens of whatever city I'm in but you'll just have to get over it. I need my train fix and an not willing to wait until my luggage is safely stored at the hotel.) Unfortunately, this little quirk of mine makes it so I'm thoroughly tired of lugging my baggage through terminals, stations, and across busy streets by the time I hit the hotel. I check into my hotel as soon as humanly possible. If my room is not ready I drop my bags with the Bell Captain just to get rid of them.

The Terminal Market. Yummy food belongs here

Quirk #2: The Visitor Center

Before I leave my house I have already mapped the quickest route from the hotel to the visitor's center. Awww...visitor centers. How I love them. Whether driving, flying, biking or walking I have a nose for visitor centers. JR and I love to take road trips and as we pass from one state into the next I make him stop at the first visitor's center along the route. If we are going through 5 different states then we stop at five different visitor centers, at the least. You know that most towns and cities have them also. We have to stop at those. It's imperative. My theory on this is where else are you going to find the crazy corn museum, biggest ball of yarn, car show, or the best place to dine. Usually, the helpful desk people know ALL the best places. JR's theory is that it is always best to distract me while we pass the exit.

Independence Hall. Where all the important stuff having to do with the United States becoming the United States happened.

 
Quirk #3: The Concierge

Never underestimate the power of these people. 

Want to rent a car? Concierge

Want to eat at an exclusive restaurant that has been booked out for a year? Concierge

Want to see a sold out show? Yep, Concierge

You will have to tip them pretty generously if you want something a little more difficult to get than a good restaurant within walking distance but it is well worth it.

The Liberty Bell. It means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Interesting history belongs to this object.

Quirk #4: The File Folder

I am an absolute nut about file folders. Every trip has a file folder with every piece of paper that I might ever want or need for the trip in it. After I have checked the weather, the traffic, the visitor's center, the airlines, the train/bus/shuttle schedule and the hotel's websites. I will print off all the pertinent information to put into the trip's designated file folder. Not only does this plethora of paper go into the vaulted file folder but it needs to go into the folder in the same order as the events of the trip will run. Airline confirmation; boarding pass; work related reading material for the plane; directions for where the ground transportation is located, costs, and times; hotel reservations, etc it all goes in order.  Can you say anal retentive? I have killed many a tree with this obsession.

Steeple of Christ Church. This is the church that the founding fathers usually hung out in. The pews in this church has seen and supported some of the most famous butts ever. George Washington sat his tushy on these pews.

Quirk #5: The Shoes

The Shoe bomber guy ruined many a pair of socks I can tell you. Plus, made going through security that much more painful. There is nothing worse than being THAT traveler. The one that is wearing a pair of lace up sneakers that are double knotted. Who stands there fighting with their shoes in order to fulfill the stupid TSA regulations. So I have a specific pair of shoes. They slip on easily with socks (a must have since airlines think that if they are squeezing us in like sardines then they have to keep the temperature in the cabin just above freezing), are weather proof but still light weight. And, not bad to look at.

The Thinker outside the Rodin museum. Rodin is one of my all time favorite sculptors.

Quirk #6 The tourist

Every time I take a trip I try to add a half day or so to the length of the trip to play tourist. If I have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport to make a flight at 6am that will get me into wherever I'm going before noon I'll do it. That extra half day usually gives me enough time to grab a tour bus or boat trip. I find that these prepackaged trips pack in a lot of the sites of the city in a short amount of time. If I have more time I will see more of the city sites on a more one on one basis but the prepackaged trips give me a great overall view. They also help me to make informed decisions about what I really might want to see. I've taken boat trips in Chicago, train trips in Durango, and a trolley trip in Philadelphia. All of them have been great fun.

The Old Woman by Rodin. Hey! He's never seen me naked.

These are some of my major quirks when it comes to traveling. I don't even want to start on my home quirks. They are legendary. 

Have you got any travel quirks? 

Or any that you'll admit to?

As always,

According to the artist the "O" is crooked because love is never perfect. I can dig that.

M