Author: Ryan

This is one of many great photos that Jade took during our photo shoot for the band yesterday. Thanks Jade, you rule!

I don’t know if Jay and K.C. will want to get any of these printed in colour (it’s pretty expensive) which is a shame, since the black and white version doesn’t have quite the same punch.

Best Homestar Runner Halloween Episode Ever?

Possibly. The easter egg that comes up when you click on Pom-Pom at the end made me laugh out loud.

It’s been a while since I’ve partied with two particle physicists and a projectionist.

Colin and I went out to TNT Paintball today. I made a few good kills, and got killed a few times myself. I made it out alive, but my pants weren’t so lucky. I’ll spare you photos of my welts.

The gig last night was great. I dig the new stage at Logan’s, though they old PA system may be a little underpowered for the bigger room.

The word of the day is gestalt.

It’s been a musical few weeks. We played our first show with Annie Nolan on Sept 17, and it went quite well. (For those who were confused, I wasn’t playing with Jay that night, it was his last show with his old band.) Then I saw The New Pornographers at Sugar on the 22nd. They were mighty awesome. Then it was One Less Felon at Logan’s on the 29th, Jay Dunphy and David Chenery playing solo acoustic at the Spiral on the 30th, and K.C. Hingley opening up for Stone Creek at Steamers on October 1. And on Tuesday, it’s back to Sugar to check out Feist.

From an entry on Chris Clark’s blog, I’ve discovered I’m an INTP. The article about what it means to be an introvert is also linked to is required reading for anyone who can’t figure me out. (Jay and Annie, you are exempt. I know you “get me”.)

I’m on at least three other social networking sites, but MySpace is the one that’s been keeping my attention lately. Check out my profile here.

Closing thought: At the moment, Illinois by Sufjan Stevens is my pick for album of the year.

You may recall that back on July 10 I mentioned that I’m in a band again. Well, that’s a lie. In fact, I’m in two bands. The first one has me playing the bass for a lovely singer-songwriter by the name of Annie Nolan. Our first gig is on Sept. 17 at Steamers Pub, opening for Jay Dunphy and the Religion. It’s Jay’s CD release party, and also his last show with his current band. Doors at 9pm, cover $6, yadda yadda yadda. (Come see us!)

Which brings me to the second band that I’m in, which is… Jay Dunphy and the Religion. Except it’s not the same Religion, it’s a new Religion. Well, half of the old Religion—not the most recent Religion, mind you, but the original Religion… It’s like, Jay Dunphy and the New Old Religon Revival. Or something. Anyway, the point is that I once again have the honor and privilege of playing bass for my good buddy Jay. We may be playing a show in October some time—stay tuned.

I just made the Badger Badger Badger song the ringtone on my phone. I can’t wait for someone to call me. (About time I changed it, too—I’d probably get in trouble if my phone went off at work playing the Trogdor theme song again.)

It’s my last day in Ottawa. I’ve been a bit negligant in updating my travelogue here, so to both of you reading it, I apologize.

Angela and I arrived in Montreal on the evening of the afternoon on the 5th. From the bus station, the Berri-UQAM Metro station is just a flight of stairs away. Onto the Orange line and off at Rosemont, and then a bus ride to Ang’s friend’s apartment (thanks Megan!) We dropped off our stuff and returned downtown to wander the streets.

We dined at a pub with the sound of an outdoor concert drifting in from outside. It was the FrancoFolies festival, a showcase for French-language musicians. The streets are closed off for a four-block radius and stages are set up in vacant lots and intersections for the musicians to perform on. We went and listened to a couple bands and then returned home.

Saturday morning was devoted to exploring Old Montreal. Wandering through there really gives you a feel for the age of the city. You can still see the remains of the old city walls in some areas. Back on rue Ste-Catherine, we admired the garish neon facade of Super Sexe, which I’m told is the largest strip club in all of Canada. We did not go in.

On Sunday we headed to the Olympic Village. Our first stop was the Biodome. Pauly Shore was nowhere to be found, to my simultaneous disappointment and relief, but we did see all manner of animals, including various tropical birds, penguins, snakes, lizards, primates, and fish. After that we visited the Insectarium, and the botanical gardens. That night we watched a bunch of Sex and the City on DVD. No better way to bond with your sister than that.

Monday was shopping day, but neither of us bought much. That night my buddy Jay called me up. He and a couple friends were making a road trip from Calgary to Nova Scotia (or something) and had just arrived in Montreal. I left Angela to her Sex and the City (“You want to watch MORE??”) and met them in a tiny brew pub called Reservoir. They had already been to Schwartz’s, which is just around the corner. I had not yet been, and as Angela and I were leaving the next morning I had resigned myself to having to miss this particular Montreal destination. Fortunately it was still open, and Jay and I went over so that I could have my smoked meat sandwich. It was very tasty.

Our next stop was some hole-in-the-wall pub whose name I never found out. It had decor from the 1970s and cheap beer. It was perfect. After that, we went to this 24-hour poutine restaurant. I didn’t order any since I was still stuffed from my smoked meat sandwich, but I happily stole some from one of Jay’s friends. It was the most delicious poutine I have ever eaten. After that, we went and hung out on a hill overlooking the pond in a nearby park. By that point it was getting on to 2am and I had to be up at 6am to catch the bus back to Ottawa, so after walking with them to the apartment where they were staying I said my goodbyes and caught a cab back to the apartment.

Montreal was very cool. I would like to have stayed longer; as it is, I feel I only scratched the surface of what the city has to offer. I’m sure I will return someday.

My last few days here in Ottawa: a most entertaining CG party featuring bagpipe musical chairs, taking refuge under a bridge during a thunderstorm, a visit to the Museum of Civilization which had an excellent exhibit on Pompeii, and renting a bike and riding up and down the Rideau Canal. Oh, and buying a sweet t-shirt with the old CBC logo on it from the CBC store on Sparks Street.

Well, there you have it. My adventure is now coming to a close. I have to go to work tomorrow, which seems a lot weirder than it probably should be. Thank you, Ottawa, for your hospitality.

Despite having caught a bit of a cold, I’m enjoying my Ottawa Adventure. Since my last dispatch, I’ve visited the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, the Ottawa Locks, the Parliament Buildings (outside, and inside Centre Block, including the Peace Tower), the Canadian War Museum, and the National Gallery of Canada. I’ve also done a lot of plain old walking around.

With so many bilingual signs around, I find myself trying to compose sentences in French in my head. It takes a long time, and I don’t know the words for a lot of things, but some of my Grade 10 French seems to be returning to me. I’m not brave enough to try and strike up a conversation in French with anyone, though. Maybe I’ll give it a shot in Montréal, when I order my smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s Deli. Bonjour, garçon. Un sandwich à la viande fumée, svp.

Four a.m. Saturday morning saw me stumbling bleary-eyed into the shower. I proceeded to also stumble into: my shoes, Mike’s car (thanks Mike!), an airport, and an airplane. Somewhat energized with airplane coffee and Peak Freans cookies, I entertained myself with an episode of The Surreal Life on the back of the seat of the person in front of me. Of course, they only had the TVs on the short hop from Victoria to Calgary, and not on the three-hour flight from Calgary to Ottawa. That was followed by a 45-minute wait for my luggage.

My accomodations here at Carleton are modest, though functional. I’m in a suite with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen complete with fridge and microwave (though inexplicably, no stove.) So far I have the suite to myself. Saturday night Angela and I went downtown. We wandered around the Parliament Buildings, and I was introduced to the phenomenon known as “bubble tea”. It’s weird to look out across a river at what is basically an extension of the city, except it’s in another province.

Today we rode the O-train to the South Keys mall, quite possibly the longest strip mall I’ve ever seen.

Keep an eye on my Flickr photo page, I’ll probably upload a picture or two from my phone.