A cutting experience

The Ottawa library has laser cutters and 3-D printers. Before you can use them, you need to do a training class where they go over how to use the machines (and what not to do).

On Thursday, I did the training class. I was more interested in the 3D printers, but after doing the class, I think the laser cutter is far more interesting. I will consider giving them a try when I have time.

Crashed Ice

Yesterday, I went to Red Bull Crashed Ice. If you've never heard of it, it is essentially a race on skates over a roller-coaster-like course.

It seems like a terrible idea.

The course was set up between the Parliament buildings and the Chateau Laurier. The events started at 6; we got there around 5:45. We tried a couple of locations but ended up behind the Bytown Museum. There were tons of people there, but it was cold.

The first race didn't start until around 6:15, and then there was a long wait until the next one around 6:30. After that, they were close together, so we watched a few before I got cold enough that I wanted to leave. 

Big plans

Wanda was off last week. Coincidentally, there is a restaurant I wanted to try that is open for lunch, or Friday and Saturday evenings, so we decided she would pick me up at work on Friday and we'd go.

She picked me up as planned and we drove to the restaurant. It was closed. 

Google knew it was closed, although their website did not.

Since we were already east of downtown, we went to St Hubert for the first time in ages.

The dinosaurs liked the cole slaw.

Winterlude

Saturday was beautiful, so I decided to go to our local winter festival, Winterlude. Unfortunately, everyone else in the city seemed to be there as well. 

Wanda came with me and we drove downtown and took the packed SnoBus to Dows Lake so that I could see the ice dragonboats. 

They're a little slower than the dragonboats on water.

Once we'd seen them, we took the bus back downtown, decided it was too crowded, and left.

At least the weather was nice.

Skating

Last year, I went skating for the first time in a long time, and I lasted close to a minute. 

The next day I gave away my skates, since I never wanted to wear them again. And then I bought new skates, even though it was the end of the season.

Skating has been in my to do list all year, and on Friday I finally went to out local community rink and tried out the skates. I only lasted about five minutes - the rink is small, and I'd made Wanda come with me in case I fell and hurt myself - but I am absolutely willing to tackle the canal next.

Well, realistically, next year.

Still, I'm glad I went.

Dinner

If I'm going to a movie, I usually go in a weekend morning, since admission is cheaper. However, Hidden Figures isn't playing in the mornings anymore, so I went on Tuesday night, even though I had to work on Wednesday.

I recommend the movie, by the way.

And then on Friday, I went downtown after work. I went to the Rideau Centre - which is totally changed since I was last there - and took a look at the rooftop terrace.

While I was there, a woman asked me where to find The Bay. It was probably the only store I could have located, and it is technically not in the Rideau Centre.

And then Wanda met me downtown and we went to the market for supper followed by a beaver tail.

Skiing

Today I went cross-country skiing. The last few weeks have been alternating between melting and freezing, but we got a few centimetres of snow this weekend, so I gave it a try. It wasn't bad.

I was happy that my ski boots fit my foot - I've had some issues due to the hardware that's still in my ankle.

I saw one other non-dinosaur skier, but it was pretty quiet.

The dinosaurs had a good time, too.

Women's March

I was sick this week. I was off work for two days, and probably should have been off longer. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take the dinosaurs out at all.

But I was feeling better yesterday, so the dinosaurs and I went downtown to the Women's March. I checked the website on Friday night, and apparently 700 people were planning to attend.

I was late, and there were at least seven people on my bus who went to the march.

The final numbers ended up being between 6-8000.

Amazingly, that was not my sign.

It was definitely worth going.

Dinosaurs on the hill

After work today, I got on a bus going downtown and walked over to Parliament hill. The dinosaurs and I explored.

They made some friends.

Saw some impressive sights.

And, in general, had a blurry time.

(I know one of the dinosaurs is a dragon, but she's a little self-conscious about it, so I don't mention it often.)

Spice racks

My spice cabinet has been bugging me for a while. Back in November, I started trying different solutions.

I started with dollar store baskets and command hooks. They didn't really work, because the baskets were wider at the top than at the bottom, so they tipped. In a workaround, I added rolled up shelf cover, but it was hardly a success.

I built some shelves out of scrap wood and downing. They were a little better, but I had issues attaching them to the cupboard. I tried cup hooks, which resulted in a bunch of half cup hooks in the cupboard.

I bought permanent sticking tape and attached the shelves.

That's when I discovered they were half an inch too long.

I took them apart and made them narrower, then attached them with the tape.

It got more humid, and one of them expanded just enough that the cupboard didn't close. And then the permanent sticking tape failed to live up to its name, so the top ones started sagging.

Today I screwed eye hooks into the shelves, reapplied the tape, and then screwed them into the door.

It's finally done.

2017 Resolution

Late in 2016, I started thinking that I should maybe leave the house more. In 2008, I was pretty good at getting out and doing things around town, and, since this is the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation, there are going to be a lot of things going on this year.

And then I saw a post on the internet of someone who went on vacation and took pictures with toy dinosaurs in them, and thought "why not combine the two?"

So this year, I am going to do something outside of my regular routine every week. (I realize it may not be achievable every week, but that's the goal.) And then I'm going to take a dinosaur picture of it.

The rules:
- it doesn't have to be something totally new, just something I don't do on a regular basis. So building a rocking chair wouldn't count, because I regularly build things, but sitting in a giant rocking chair somewhere would count.
- it can be solitary/with people I see all the time OR it can be in the house/yard, but not both.

I had considered going out and building a snowman today, but it's cold and dry, so the snow's not really suitable. Instead, I took a walk over to the local playground, since I've never done that in winter.

It was a really small thing, but the sun is shining and I found my mood improving as I walked.

Tablet cases

Last weekend, I decided to make some tablet cases. I'm sure you can appreciate that it was a total coincidence that it was a week before Christmas. I started with this site and adapted as necessary. I used hard-backed canvas with fun foam glued to it for the inside of the case.

I cut a hole for the camera, and made sure the buttons were accessible.

(Those shears are from Lee Valley and they're awesome.)

They turned out well.

Yoga?

On Fridays, I do a yoga workout. Well, stretching, really. I was off today, but I thought I should do the workout anyway. I got up, went into the bathroom, and put my hair up in a ponytail. The next thing I knew, I was in the shower. Ok, no problem, it's just stretching, I can do it after my shower. I got out of the shower, dried my hair, and went to get dressed. The first thing I put on was socks - which are completely unnecessary for yoga.

Halloween

I'm organizing my community association's haunted house again this year. We are doing a haunted graveyard theme, and I've been busy making props.

I started with eyeball flowers, I glued some floral wire to the back of some dollar store eyeballs.

Next, I cut some green fun foam for the eyelids. 

I added some leaves and they were done.

I also made a crypt. I made a box out of plywood and added some foam to the top. Next, I covered Wanda in garbage bags and packing tape, then cut her out of them to get a Wanda-shaped body form, which I stuffed with newspaper.

I taped that arm back on and covered her body with some fabric, then added a layer of paint mixed with plaster of Paris.

Finally, I made some burning coals. I started by gluing some LED lights to a board and covering some of them with bottles and lids.

I added a layer of spray foam.

And then I spray painted the top black.

And that's what I've been up to.

Buying groceries while sitting on the couch

One of the local grocery stores has started offering the option of ordering groceries online. I've thought about trying it for a while, but didn't give it a try until just before Mom's visit.

Here's how it works.

You go online and create an account. If you have a points card, you can link it to your account. This means you get the points for the groceries and makes it easy to find things you buy often. In fact, the site will tell you what you sometimes buy, as well as what you usually buy.

Pick a store, and start adding groceries to your cart. For things like apples, you choose how many you want, and the site gives you an approximate price.

When you've added everything, pick a pickup window. Windows are two hours long, and each one is assigned a cost (usually $3-$5). I picked the window that corresponded to the end of physio. You will be asked whether you'll accept substitutions if they're out of something, whether you're bringing your own bags, and any other notes for the person picking out your groceries. 

During the two hour window, you drive to the store and park in one of the four marked spots, then call them to let the,minor you're there. They'll come out and get your bags, then pack up the groceries, wheel the out on a cart, and load them into the car. It usually takes about 10 minutes.

The only charge is the $3-$5 - and frankly, I impulsively buy more than that if I go in.

Since that first time, it has become the way I shop. I don't have to wander the aisles looking for something I buy once a year, I can check to see what we have, and I can add items to my cart as I think of them.

The only downside is that you can't make changes online the day of pickup, even if you placed the order that day. But till live with that.

The visit, 2016

Mom, my sister, and my niece came to visit in July. Somehow, my niece is taller than me, even though I'm pretty sure I told her that wasn't allowed.

We went to the museum of history - the entire third floor is closed, so I'd wait until next year to go.

We did a cruise on the St. Lawrence.

And we went downtown.

And, of course, my niece took over my social media accounts and changed my profile picture on Instagram.

Since she also did a fantastic job of cleaning my car, I guess I'll let her get away with it.

A busy weekend

On the Canada Day weekend, I started feeling more mobile.

I did my own laundry. You have no idea how exciting that was, for both me and Wanda. 

I worked on a messenger bag.

And finally, I started a coffee table. I had a coffee table, but despite living with it for 16 years, I decided it was too big. Time for a change.

I got it mostly built, but not entirely - I had to attach the top, sand, stain, and varnish. I worked on it in the evenings last week and finally finished it last night.

I moved it into the house today. Tomorrow the old coffee table gets donated.