All you need to make a bud vase like this is:
Links:
Because Sally kindly loaned me her car this afternoon, I was able to load up my plastic bins and reusable bags and go grocery shopping somewhere outside the neighbourhood. I decided to try a Food Basics. I've never been there before but I gathered that they claim to have low prices. I like low prices.
I pulled into the parking lot and walked up to the store with my load of bins and reusable bags. Walking past a cart return area, I noticed that the carts had those little chain things that some stores used to use where you deposit a quarter so that you'll return the cart to the cart area instead of stealing it or leaving it somewhere in the parking lot. Then I saw someone actually return a cart and slip the chain from the cart in front of hers to get her quarter back.
I checked my pocket and discovered I had no change at all. The cart return area at the front had only one cart. I'll grab that, I thought. But before I could get to the free cart, a guy ripped out of the store and conjoined his cart with it.
I swore to myself and walked back to the car. Then I thought, come on, they must have a way to give you a cart when you don't have a quarter. Some sort of key thing. And just because they don't trust you to be civilized with their carts doesn't mean you should drive to another store.
So I walked back to the store. Just behind the cart area I spotted four young fellows in green Food Basics golf shirts. "Is there any way I can get a cart without a quarter?" I asked.
"Best bet would be ask one of the ladies at the courtesy desk," said one of them in a tone of voice that rubbed me the wrong way.
"I'll just shop somewhere else." I turned around, walked back to Sally's car, put the bins and bags in the trunk and drove to a store a good ways further down Carling where the prices were probably higher but the carts were free for the taking.
My decision to drive away from Food Basics was about being pissed off and showing it, but I stand by my decision.
First, I'd rather not shop where the first message upon arrival is that I am not to be trusted with a shopping cart. I've been carefully returning grocery carts to the proper area for more than 30 years. You don't have to hold 25 cents of mine to get me to do that. Even when I'm grumpy or in a hurry.
Second, perhaps I'd have walked in to the courtesy desk and they'd have had a cart right there for me. But perhaps I'd have had to wait in line for ten minutes behind other people with problems and then had to endure more waiting or humiliation because I didn't happen to carry a quarter with me.
Third, the lack of helpfulness of the four young men outside the store and the tone of the fellow who answered suggests to me that other interactions with the staff there might have been similarly useless or annoying.
[By the way, I'd have sent them an email about this, but they only let you contact them with one of those contact forms and their form just adds to my grumpiness.]
Sally Robinson's cd launch was an amazing show. More proof that if I tell you to go to something, you should go.
In addition to all the families in the audience, there were some nice family moments on stage. In the first half, Ann Downey and her son, Jonathan Werk, gave a beautiful bass viol and oboe accompaniment to House, a song about the old family house. In the second half, when Sally had to do a costume change, her sister came up and played Tammy on the piano while Sally changed behind it. Besides being a lovely moment, it demonstrated that knowing how to play just one song on the piano can come in handy.
Sally is excellent at passing on performing tips from the stage, for example:
I have to breathe in through my nostrils or I'll start bawling.
I've got a bunch of photos of the show up on Flickr.
This is another must-see recommendation.
Honestly. I am not telling you should see this because your presence will be supporting people who are doing good work.
I am telling you that you should go to the Propeller Dance show because it will do you good.
{Lift}
a celebration and evening of performance works by Propeller Dance artists
Performances Live Music Silent Auction
Regular $26
Special Supporter $56
Box office 613-236-5196
Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre Mainstage
Friday June 19, 2009 at 7:00 pm
P.S. There are some very cool things in the Silent Auction
Let me put it this way:
Do not miss Sally's CD launch
Sally has composed an album full of wonderful new songs (the S Files) and you get to hear them.
I've known Sally a long time and she's always been known to come up with fun songs, but something happened a couple of years ago. Like she started channelling Cole Porter and began pumping out remarkable combinations of music and lyrics.
I'm sure this won't be the only opportunity to hear her sing these songs, but it will be the only time they are "launched". All of the backup musicians will be there. They're an outstanding bunch. And the venue, the Fourth Stage, is the perfect intimate setting for this music.
Details:
National Arts Centre Fourth Stage
Wed. June 17, 7:30pm
the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage (map)
$15 adults, $10 students
Musicians include: Vince Halfhide, Kenny Kanwisher, Derek Loewen, Michael Ball, Ann Downey & Jody Benjamin.
If you're reading this before 8pm on Sunday Night (May 31) you should get yourself over to Rideau Street to see Square Zero 3.
It's a really cool set of performance pieces put on by Collective Gulp and sponsored with City of Ottawa funding.
In the first piece, an old-school overhead projector is part of the performance. Excellent fun and makes for cool James Bond opening bits.
In the second piece, Alexis and Elizabeth have fun with randomness.
In the third piece, Megan Jerome tells beautiful stories and sings beautiful songs with her beautiful voice. One of them is an ode to the Ottawa man who wears aluminum foil and plastic. It might make your eyes get all wet.
square zero 3: intimate exchanges
May 29, 30, 31, 20098:00pm
Movement Arts Ottawa
111a Rideau Street 3rd Floor
$12/$10
Links:
As I was taking a closer look at this item with a telescoping arm, one of the women selling at this location said, "it's for picking up golf balls."
Another woman instantly added, "if you don't know what it is, you don't need it."
"Good point." I put the stick down. Even though I love telescoping rods.
I've got other photos from yesterday's sale up on Flickr including some stitched panoramas.
Also up on Flickr:
Note to Stalkers: These are all events that I would like to attend, but I often have less entertaining reasons for being somewhere else.
