a peek inside the fishbowl

Unless someone makes a recommendation, John’s might be dropped from the newest version of CheapEats Ottawa…  which is mere seconds away from a big print run. Ack!

John’s is a landmark – an Ottawa institution –  and we can’t let it go!

So, if you’re able, please tell us:

1) why you like this place and
2) what you ordered

… and your comment might get published too!

[Update: Julie Pierce, who appeared in Sicko, has posted her thoughts in the comments of this post. Do check it out.]

Last night Mark and I watched Sicko, the latest film by Michael Moore. It’s a documentary about the health care system in the U.S. Has anyone seen it? Oh.My.God. It was so shocking. This should be required viewing for everyone. (btw, here’s what Roger Ebert had to say about it. There’s also a really good Wikipedia entry about it.)

My thoughts (in random bullety format):

– I am still in shock.

– re: that guy had to choose which finger he wanted sewn back on. (For those who haven’t seen the film… he accidentally sawed off the tips of the ring finger and the middle finger on one hand. He was told that it was going to cost $60,000 to reattach the middle finger, and $12,000 for the ring finger. He chose the cheaper option.)

– the each story was terrible in it’s own way, the lady who’s little girl died, the woman who’s husband died from kidney cancer …

– Moore kind of exaggerated the benefits of the Canadian health care system. I mean, let’s face it, it’s not perfect. There is a doctor shortage, the nurses are overworked, and there is a longer wait for certain treatments, BUT, I would rather hang out in a hospital waiting room for 10 hours than be denied care or have my care bankrupt me. I know that if I am wounded, have a baby, of have a heart attack that I will be taken care of, and that it will be okay.

– Oh my, those poor poor 9-11 workers. They risked their lives to pull people from the rubble and now their own government has turned their backs on them. The whole scene where they went to Cuba was heartbreaking, especially the part where the woman got her inhaler from the pharmacy. How is it that Cuba, a country that so few resources can provide that level of care for their people, but the U.S. cannot?

– It’s clear that the U.S.A. is being run by business interests, and not by the people. Americans should be furious. So why aren’t they?

– How can ANYONE argue against universal health care?

Anyone care to comment about these things? I’d love to hear from anyone in the U.S., whether you’ve seen this movie or not. And if any American readers have questions about socialized medicine, there are enough Canadian readers here to answer.

Anyone like to share a story? It doesn’t matter what side of the border you’re on…

1) As I walked home from the gym, swinging my umbrella, I realized something. Baton twirling has virtually disappeared. What happened? Why aren’t there more twirlers out there? Do you think it would be hard to teach myself how to do it? I always liked the thought of coaxing a steel tube to fly out of my hand, to soar in the sky, only to be pulled back again by gravity and will… the rubber stoppers covering the ends mere symbols of protection. I imagine it’s pretty easy to knock yourself in the head.

2) Every other house has a Christmas tree out by the curb, stripped and ready for recycling. How fun would it be if a bunch of them …  oh, say a baker’s dozen – suddenly appeared on our front lawn, stuck upright in the remaining snowdrifts?

3) I wouldn’t call this a New Year’s resolution, but I decided that I would try to be more mindful of my children.

I talked to Mark about, and he’s taken on a new stance too. (Although stance might the wrong word here, as it implies something related to war, shoot-outs and old fashioned duels. This is not that. :) ) 

I think the best parenting advice I’ve ever read on the Internet went something like this:

When your children walk into the room, smile like a 100 watt lightbulb … and show them, by the expression on your face as well as your body language, that they are important to you.

I don’t know where I read it (does this sound familiar to anyone? I’d love to reread the original thread) but it makes sense. And it works.

Conversations with kids are tricky things. On one hand you feel like you need to use a crowbar to pry information out of them.

How was school?
Fine.
Did you learn anything new today?
I don’t remember.
How was lunch?
Good.
What did you do at recess?
Played.
Etc etc.

So when they do decide they want to talk, I now do my best to be mindful of the moment and try to remember that if they’re here, talking, it’s about something that is important to them. So I stop what I’m doing, turn around, smile a big “I’m so happy to see you” smile, and listen. And I ask a question to show that I’m listening.

Perhaps this all sounds contrived (and I know at least one person is rolling her eyeballs, thinking this is a bunch of modern-day hooey) but although it seems a little fake around the edges, I am doing this to establish better habits.

If they feel like I’m listening now, they’ll continue to want to share and talk to me later…  when the topic of conversation goes beyond rain puddles and broken umbrellas and wet socks.

And I’m not sure how this relates, but suddenly everything has gotten easier. Frustrations have fallen away, and I feel like a stronger person, who has chosen a path that is leading somewhere good.