A couple weeks ago my longtime friend Jeff “no relation” Robichaud took me up in a Cessna west of Calgary. Jeff and I have known each other since 1983. All those years, he’s demonstrated that he likes to master things. I think getting his pilot’s license a few years back is a vestige of having … [Read more…]
We spent a sunny spring break in Squamish with my sister Salomé and her beautiful family. I was anticipating some low-key visit where I could finish my theory of computation course (which I did) and read peacefully (which I did), but we did so much more. Sea-to-Sky Gondola – Howe Sound – Sky Pilot Mountain … [Read more…]
My nephews at 21 months. I had not visited them since their first couple weeks. I am fascinated by their differences and their energy and their freshness. Aari is chubbier, relaxed, thoughtful. Beau is slight, dizzying, curious. Beau falls. Aari gives him his soother.
I was so moved by the film adaptation, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon when I first saw it nearly eight years ago. Jean-Dominique Bauby authored this book by dictating with blinks from his left eye at a hospital an afternoon drive from Paris at Berck-sur-Mer, France. He is paralyzed by a stroke with something called locked-in syndrome. Formerly … [Read more…]
Though I make a special trip to Vermont just for beer, I am quite content drinking almost exclusively Québec brewed ales and lagers during my three weeks in Montreal. Though tax is higher here, beer is much cheaper and it’s sold in the grocery and corner stores. In fact it’s pointless looking for beer in … [Read more…]
It was bright and hot at Osheaga on Friday. We were seated for the first half and the last quarter of the day. Picnic tables at the back of the field were really comfortable and we had great views of the stage and screens, though the music wasn’t really loud back there so we could … [Read more…]
Visiting with April and Gabriel Family Cycling down the entire Lachine Canal Montreal Alouettes game at Percival Molson Stadium River’s Edge Church Just for Laughs Festival Bagels daily String Railways, Jaipur, and Queens Necklace games The Sign of the Theotokos Orthodox Church Repercussion Theatre’s Twelfth Night in Westmount Park Microbrasserie Dieu du Ciel with Amber … [Read more…]
One of Montréal’s great failures is the construction of the Lachine Canal. It was built in the early 1800s in order to bypass the rapids on the St Lawrence and enable shipping to other big production centres to the west. The railways and some new American waterway made the canal irrelevant as it was slower … [Read more…]
We loved the international installations at the Botanical Gardens two years ago. They were in competition and the exhibits were stunning. As a result, we didn’t spend much time in the permanent features of the Jardin Botanique. This time there are no temporary exhibits so we experience the glory of this living green space for what … [Read more…]
Blaise and I visited the Biodôme together two years ago and were thoroughly impressed so we insist Amber and Acadia join us this time. We try to go the day before but the crowds convince us to return the following day – earlier. It is a great strategy as we tour virtually alone for the … [Read more…]