The Last One on the List

So we ended up scoring a last minute COVID vaccine for Margot yesterday. We had planned to get it a week from now but our plans had to change and so, on a whim, I checked to see if there were any spots available and there were! So off we went and by 6 pm it was all done.

The entire experience felt so different in comparison to when I got vaccinated back in the spring. Back then, everyone was scrambling for vaccines and scouring the Internet for pharmacies that had extra shots to give away. I remember waiting by my computer so I could book my timeslot as soon as I was eligible.

This time, the announcement was made with a lot less fanfare and, like I said, it wasn't hard to make a same day booking. I guess getting shots is just another part of life now.

Margot was a real trooper though. She showed no fear (even if was scared on the inside a bit) and responded clearly to the nurse's questions. She was also really patient as we waited for the 15 minutes post-shot period to elapse to ensure she didn't have any side affects. Luckily, Monsieur Cell Phone was on hand to keep us amused!

"That's the Needle?!"

Margot is the last person (along with my nieces and nephew of course!) in my immediate circle to be vaccinated. Once she's fully up to speed the pandemic is going to feel a lot more abstract.  I guess that's a good problem!

OK she's not that keen - I made her pose!

The Price of Everything

What are the words/expression of 2021? "Supply chain"....hmmmm maybe. Lately, at least around here, it's been "inflation".

Everywhere I go I'm reminded how much prices have jumped lately. Definitely when I go to the gas station:

And, of course, the grocery store, where $30+ steak and $7 strawberries seems the norm now. But I'm also reminded about how expensive everything is just from walking down Wellington Street and seeing how much little treats are these days, whether it's a box of donuts from Susie Q ($36 for a dozen donuts) to buying pizza at Tennessey Willems:

$20+ for a meal is almost as cheap as it gets these days

Another thing I've noticed is how businesses are trying to get a bit sneaky by shrinking portions to avoid too drastic price hikes. It's especially noticeable with beer in pubs. Just a couple of years ago buying a 20 oz pint was standard practice. Usually a pint would cost somewhere in the range of $8 to $10.

These days, many pubs are shrinking the size of draught beer. It started by reducing the size of a pint to an "American" pint - 16 oz. But I've recently started seeing places go even smaller than that. Interestingly many pubs are now advertising their pints using the metric system (probably because 330 ml sounds impressive compared to say, 14 oz). I can't fault pubs too much for all these changes though because I am sure many of them are struggling just to survive. But it is another sign of the times. The era of cheap everything is over...at least for awhile.

We're All in this Together

OK this blog isn't supposed to be just about Margot but she is a huge part of my life so it's hard to avoid her - especially when she does all these brave things.

And when I say brave, I mean brave! Margot has been onstage more times in her short little life than I have in my 40 plus years!

What's Margot done?

Well, she's been in horse show competitions, choir shows, cross-country races, and dance shows (at private camps and at school). She's even tried out for the Nutcraker! When I was eleven I remember it being a nerve wracking experience to make a phone order for a pizza. And here she is trying out for a national ballet!

The funny thing is that we don't push her to do all this stuff. Since she was a little girl our only goal has been to expose her to a couple of activities at a time, and if she's not enjoying herself, to move on. Many of these activities have year end shows and Margot always seems to have a great time preparing for them. 

The latest one? Musical Theatre! 

 In addition to horseback riding, her only other activity right now is musical theatre with SOPAC, which offers musical training and education for all skill levels. This past weekend Margot performed We're All in this Together as part of a global event celebrating local theatre. Most of the performers were actually adults so it was really brave of Margot to get onstage and perform with her little troupe.

 

I wonder if part of the reason Margot is so brave is because she's an only child? She just always seems to be open to meeting new people and interacting with them. Regardless of the reason, I feel like a pleasantly bemused witness to her inner spirit. What will she do next?

 

The Moonroom: a hidden world

Sometimes I wonder whether it would be nicer to live in the country. It certainty would be more relaxing, and provide for a more peaceful life. There would be nature, quietude, and wide open spaces to explore.

But there wouldn't be the Moonroom. 

The Moonroom is one of those places that people are hoping to discover when they move into a "hip" neighbourhood like Hintonburg. From the front it looks fairly nondescript, although you can tell from the framed QR-codes hanging on the nearby trees (and which access the Moonroom's menus) that something interesting is afoot

Technically the Moonroom is in Little Italy, and not Hintonburg, but because it's within walking distance to my house, I like to think of it as being local to my neighbourhood.

It's a bar/lounge - and a tiny one at that. However, what makes it really special is that the have turned their backyard into the most magical patio that I have seen in Ottawa. It's a multi-layer maze of light, wooden stools and benches, and eclectic signs. One can't help but feel cool by osmosis by hanging out here.

One sad note about the place though is that although indoor eating has been open for most restaurants for months, the Moonroom decided to be outdoor only - even now, when temperatures are getting close to freezing. 

Glosette Girl kept warm and toasty with Gin and Hot Cider

I chatted with the owner, and they decided to do this for the safety of their staff and patrons (given that the inside is so small). Unfortunately however that means that next weekend will be their last open weekend until April. To keep customers coming as long as possible there are heaters here and there plus they give out free (and fresh) clean blankets. 

Dining Al Fresco In Canada

I had a great night with Glosette Girl at the Moonroom and I hope they can survive the long dark Canadian winter.  They bring an unorthodox charm to a sometimes staid and homogeneous Ottawa scene. We need more places like this!

The Sweet Suq

It's so lovely when something other than a Marijuana store opens up in this area (did I mention already that there are way too many of those around here?). A relatively recent addition to the 'hood is Le Suq, which seems to be a kindof a cross between a World Retail store, coffee shop, and Lebanese bakery. 

We stopped by recently and it had a friendly vibe. I saw my faves: Zaatar and Tabbouleh but on this mission we targeted Baklava, a pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey (Glosette Girl and Margot are big fans).

Unfortunately Glosette Girl wasn't 100% impressed with Baklava (she found it a bit dry) but Margot did...so next time I'm going to have to try it to see what the final verdict is! 

B is for Bakery!

Baklava aside, anyone who is trying to bring character and personality to this neighbourhood has my vote and next time I'll try the Zaatar. A couple of years ago someone tried to open a Witches-themed cafe, but they didn't last a year. Le Suq has a better location (Gladstone and Parkdale) but even then I wonder if Le Suq will survive? We'll see...