Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

March 30, 2023. Another season of Blue Jays baseball started this afternoon. The marathon slugfest was decided only when Vladdy drove in the tenth run with a deep fly ball. Otherwise, my full day was spend working on the tech barriers project, which is nearly complete. https://flic.kr/p/2oqicuE

March 29, 2023. This is the Nation River near the 417, seen on a quick noon-hour bike ride (taking advantage of a few warm hours while we had them). Up early this morning, did a bunch of work on the tech barriers, then a meeting, then more work, and finally back to the city for meds and groceries. Busy busy. https://flic.kr/p/2oq98Aw

March 28, 2023. This is the Bridgehead at Rideau Centre - we stopped there on the way to the hospital, where it was my turn to see the doctor (I'm still dealing with this awful itch). The star of this photo is the little yellow duck on the coffee machine. Other than this, it was another day spent working on tech barriers. https://flic.kr/p/2oq55zx

March 27, 2023. This nice little cafe is just inside the front door of the Riverside Professional Centre; I have a gyro and pasta salad, and gave my coke to the guy in the picture (who in turn filled me in on conflicts in the Ottawa panhandling scene). I was waiting for Andrea, who had an appointment in the hospital adjoining the centre. Otherwise, my day was spent working on tech adoption barriers. Oh, and I got out for a short bike ride. https://flic.kr/p/2oq2Ckk

March 26, 2023. I was up bright and early this morning - early enough to catch the sunrise - and this is what it looked like as reflected on my computer screen from the east-facing window behind me. I spent more time on my tech barriers project today, and because of weather conditions (warmer, but windy, with snow conditions resembling slush) it wasn't a good day for a walk, so we went to George Richards and restocked my comfort wear (sweats and t-shirts) - at my size, there's no such thing as a simple or inexpensive shopping trip for clothing. https://flic.kr/p/2opy7Zt

March 25, 2023. I actually made a couple of TikToks on the subject. This is my front yard, still covered with snow, on March 25. No wonder we don't have flowers! I also show some video of a woodpecker in a snowstorm. On March 25! I spent a full day working on my tech barriers project today. https://flic.kr/p/2opwK6L

March 24, 2023. I went out several times to look for the northern lights, and maybe I saw them, very faintly, or maybe it was clouds. This was one last look out the window on a Friday night looking for them, and not seeing anything. A full day on the technology barriers report today. https://flic.kr/p/2oprYaH

March 23, 2023. It was above zero and rainy today, which produced a fog as the snow sublimated. In the distance I could hear a train coming. But because of the dim light and the motion and all, I wasn't able to get a good shot as it went by, so you have to imagine the train whistle in the distance as it approaches in the fog. One meeting today, and as is so often the case with NRC meetings, it left me stressed out for no good reason. But still I made some progress on the technology barriers report. I'm feeling really comfortable with the material now; it's just a matter of getting it done. https://flic.kr/p/2opr71Z

March 22, 2023. I tried on the bug jacket I picked up on Sunday to make sure it would fit. As you can see, it does. The bug jacket may be essential when I'm cycling in La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve this summer (I'm hoping that by waiting until August I can minimize the bug attacks, but I remember being absolutely swarmed the one time I ever visited the reserve. A couple of meetings today and some paperwork updates. https://flic.kr/p/2oozhT8

March 21, 2023. A mourning dove soaks in the late afternoon sun in our back yard. The birds are all returning, and are not pleased to find the ground still covered with snow. Thank goodness for our feeder! Today was a day of three meetings and I even got a little writing done, as well as work on a project website. https://flic.kr/p/2ooE1oN

March 20, 2023. I took my bike out for a longer ride for the first time today (where 'longer' means 8km - still building up slowly). Pretty happy with the ride, though I'll need a new saddle. It takes more effort to pedal than my previous gravel bike, but over time it's going to be easier, especially with a bikepacking load - it's a lot sturdier and stable. The bike still needs a name and a mascot. Another fairly productive day (for a Monday, at least). I even forgot to listen to my ball game - that's what happens when I get focused. https://flic.kr/p/2ooqiGU

March 19, 2023. This squirrel greeted us near the beginning of the Old Quarry Trail in west Ottawa. We did a roughly 6 km loop around the trail. Our timing was good; it was -6 so everything was frozen. Next week, this trail will be too soggy to walk (there were already 'rail closed' markers out. We also web to Cabela in the west end to pick up a bug jacket, some bear spray, an air horn, and other doo-dads for my summer bikepacking trip. https://flic.kr/p/2oocLDr

March 18, 2023. This is my luggage, finally returned after almost three weeks. It could have been worse, I suppose. The tags tell a story of a much-travelled piece of luggage (it certainly went places I didn't, like Heathrow). This was otherwise a productive day as I spent pretty much the full day working on revisions for a project. And to make things even better, the Blue Jays beat the Yankees. https://flic.kr/p/2oo6UWE

March 17, 2023. This is one of our regular woodpeckers hiding out in the crabapple tree in the back yard. Today was a day of meetings and productivity. The itch is trying to make a comeback but I'm fighting it off with medication. Oh, I can't wait for spring. Today is Andrea's and my 25th wedding anniversary. https://flic.kr/p/2onQBwi

March 16, 2023. This is Emma chasing a bug (probably one of the many Asian lady beetles that spend the winter in the house). I had a much more productive day today and got a bunch of things off the 'to-do' list. Still a lot stacked up. But it's nice to feel like myself again. https://flic.kr/p/2onRjzM

March 15, 2023. It was a lot nicer and warmer today and the birds were happy hanging out by the feeder. I am happier too. Not only am I feeling stronger and healthier, I got a phone call from Iberia saying they were sending me my luggage; it should arrive at the airport tomorrow evening. https://flic.kr/p/2onrefd

March 14, 2023. There was a long of something from the sky - now? sleet? slush? - along with a lot of wind and the birds were not happy. But they were still willing to flock to the feeder. I began today to actually feel like I'm recovering from everything. Not that I'm productive yet. But it's a start. Still no luggage. https://flic.kr/p/2onwtrq

March 13, 2023. Julia thinks she's fooling me, but I can see that she's watching my reflection in the basement window, just in case I make any sudden moves (like, say, to pet her). Still sick. Still no luggage. https://flic.kr/p/2onwsfn

March 12, 2023. I sniffled and sneezed my way through a hike on Pinhey train in west Ottawa today. There was a lot of debris from last year's storm, as elsewhere, which led to things like this lichen being easily accessible for cool photos. Forgot my camera, and also, was trying 'EideWithGPS' to track our walk, which I messed up, so there's no Strava recording (I want to be able to create maps ahead of time for wilderness rides, that's why the new software, and it's always good to test this ahead of time). https://flic.kr/p/2ontRX1

March 11, 2023. This is Charlemagne in the 'petting zone', which as you can see is the space at the cat is basically level with the human, making it easy to reach between the rails and offer a nice safe petting. The cardboard was there to prevent them as kittens from falling into the stairwell. Since getting back from Spain (still no luggage) I've been sick, with the itchiness abating after the doctor's visit but something new (probably an airplane cold) kicking in. https://flic.kr/p/2onr51X

March 9, 2023. This is the Nordstrom at Rideau Centre in Ottawa. I had never been to a Nordstrom, and with news that the chain is now closing in Canada, I thought I'd peer in before they disappear. So today I had a doctor's appointment in the morning (where I discovered that my kidney is fine after all, and got some hoped-for relief from my itching), and we had time to wait for the prescriptions, so we went to Rideau Centre. https://flic.kr/p/2omnGji

March 8, 2023. Back home again. Still no luggage. This is one of our local blue jays in the back yard. Called it a sick day today as the itching is quite bad, though I managed to get a minimal newsletter out. https://flic.kr/p/2omhsBx

March 7, 2023. This is some art inside Munich's international departure area. I had a fairly relaxed noon flight from Madrid with a short stop in Munich en route to Montreal. Except for the itching it was pretty relaxed, and I was even upgraded to business class (thanks Lufthansa!) on the long flight to Montreal. The only bad news: my laptop consumes too much power for in-flight electrical outlets. https://flic.kr/p/2omccE7

March 6, 2023. This is a statue of The monument of Saint Teresa de Jesus by Toledo sculptor Luis Pablo Gómez Vidales.It's in a little parklet next to a convent on the northern wall of Toledo. I spent the day in the city, still enjoying the hotel room, but also getting out for another 10 km or so of walking. I took the quick train ride back to Madrid in the evening, did some shopping downtown for Andrea, then went back to the hotel to prepare to return home. Still no luggage. https://flic.kr/p/2om2bZj

March 5, 2023. This is the Alcázar in Toledo, Spain, as seen from the spire of a nearby church (131 steps up inside the Iglesia de los Jesuitas (San Ildefonso)). Toledo is maybe a half-hour ride in the high-speed train from Madrid, which I took in the morning. I booked a room in the Hospedium Hotel Posada de la Sillería, which I mention by name only because it was so nice; I was still suffering quite a bit from illness and itching but the room was like a cool oasis. Through two walks in the afternoon and evening I covered a bit more than 10 km total. Toledo felt touristy (I can imagine it's a madhouse in season) but certainly worth the visit. https://flic.kr/p/2om4aea

March 4, 2023. The view from the conference stage. Not a good day. I woke up feeling ill and this combined with the itchiness and the lost luggage just made it miserable. I was at the conference most of the day. https://flic.kr/p/2okKQDg

March 3, 2023. The moon lights the sky beside one of the two leaning towers at Plaza de Castilla in Madrid. It was presentation day today and I spent most of the day at the conference; this was taken after the day on my way home. Presentation went OK with a few tech glitches. Had a sandwich on the way back that turned out to be questionable tuna. https://flic.kr/p/2okJydP

March 2, 2023. This is the small cafe at the heart of El Corte Inglés at the New Ministries in Madrid, Spain. I started my day by spending several hours there trying on clothes and gradually replacing what I needed as my luggage never arrived from Montreal. I personally don't think it ever left Montreal. I then spent the remainder of the day preparing for my talk tomorrow, and finished off with a nice dinner with conference organizers and guests that started at the unholy hour of 9 pm. https://flic.kr/p/2okKjAH

March 1, 2023. This the Hospital de Maudes u Hospital de Jornaleros de San Francisco de Paula, or the Labourers Hospital of Maudes, seen on my 10 km walk around the north-east part of Madrid. Most of my day was focused on self-care as I'm still trying to recover from all that itching; the flight did not help my cause at all, athough my understanding is that exercise may shorten the often weeks-long duration of itching as a side-effect. https://flic.kr/p/2ojDdX3

February 28, 2023. This is a huge painting hanging high on the wall in a far corner or Brussels airport. I landed late orning, was instantly transferred to a flight to Madrid, flew there, waited for my lost luggage, took a taxi to the hotel, and settled in to sleep. Day over. https://flic.kr/p/2ojJjmv

February 27, 2023. This is the moose at the airport in Montreal. I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but with a storm warning on the way, it seemed prudent to depart a day earlier. So I started an extra-early morning with a trip into Ottawa for medical tests, then some work getting last minutes tasks done, and then to the airport. The flight was two hours late departing, making for an even longer day. https://flic.kr/p/2ojEYEf