a peek inside the fishbowl

I’ve decided we need to make a better effort at Actually Doing Things instead of letting time slip though our fingers. So I’ve made a list of OTTAWA THINGS I want to do this summer. The good news is that simply having this list means we are doing more fun things. Yay us!

We’ve already made a small dent and I will save those for other posts… but for now I wanted to share our experience at the NCC pop-up bistro at Remic Rapids.

We went for dinner. The weather gods smiled upon us. We had assumed it would be super busy because of Bluesfest, but it was not busy at all.

What you need to know about the Remic Rapids bistro is:

• You should really go
• There is surprisingly good little menu
• There’s car parking but I recommend biking as it’s right on the path and makes a great destination
• It’s DOG FRIENDLY (!)
• There’s a pretty view of the Ottawa River
• It’s an excellent spot for people watching
• There’s a porta-potty on site but that’s not part of this review (read: I did not venture that far) but I think it’s important to mention there is a place to go if you have to go.

We made ourselves comfortable on the couch:

I had a sudden craving for hot dogs so that’s what we ordered, along with some chips and salsa. The salsa was, like, fancy homemade-style salsa, NOT the jarred stuff. I’m not sure what I expected but it was very good.

Behold the hot dogs. They deserve a close up.

The hot dog paired perfectly with my plastic cup of Pinot Grigio… which was hilariously filled *right up to the brim*. (But the pic here is after a sip.)

It’s a very nice place to chill out. I could have stared at the water for a long time. That row of willows there… so pretty. They were waving in the wind. Honestly, it’s such a tranquil little spot.

After the hot dogs and drinks Mark bought us ice cream sandwiches. We drove home along the river with the windows down. It doesn’t get much better than this, I think.

I was talking to someone recently about creative work and the challenge of cranking out quality material when you feel absolutely brain dead. As someone who writes for a living this can be tough, for sure. When I’m approaching that feeling I try to switch tasks. So instead of writing, I’ll transcribe an interview, for example. It’s a quick fix which I jokingly refer to as procrastinating from work by doing other work, but for the most part, it works. I also have a good idea at what time of day my creative output is stronger, so I try to schedule interviews and writing around those times.

Our conversation turned to “writer’s block.” I find that image to be creatively harmful, if that makes any sense. Blocks seem like an obstacle, and obstacles may loom large and seem insurmountable. Instead I prefer to think of myself as a cup or a vessel that needs to be refilled when I’m running low. (I have written about this before.)

Mark went out last night so I had the evening to myself. I ate dinner in front of the TV, put in a load of laundry, walked Piper… now what? I had lots of options. I could watch more TV. I could read. I could clean something. I could fritter away time scrolling my social media channels. Those things were the easy things to do but I knew that what I really needed was to fill my vessel.

So I picked myself up, changed my clothes, unlocked my bike, and took off. The wind in my face felt glorious.

I didn’t go far. I biked to the beach and hung out for a bit.

On the way home I detoured to Maplelawn gardens in Westboro, where I observed the last of the poppies. I had somehow missed them in their prime.

While I was there I spied a baby bunny spying on me. A wee mouse. A red-winged blackbird sitting on her nest. These sightings were my reward, I am certain. My cup feels a little fuller this morning.

The 2022 edition of the Run for Women is taking place THIS SUNDAY.

Last year it was a virtual event, meaning everyone ran on their own, wherever they were at. This year, participants had the option to run on their own OR with other people, old-school, in an actual race, just like in the Before Times. (!) So this is what I’ll be doing this year.

The funds from this event support women’s mental health programming at The Royal. As some of you may know, I work at The Royal. I have seen firsthand the amazing work that happens there. These dedicated people inspire me every day! Money raised from this event truly makes a difference to people in our our community.

So think of me on Sunday morning, running to support women’s mental health along with 3000+ generous runners, walkers, and strollers.

If you’d like to make a donation to my fundraising page you can do that right here. Thank you, friends!