Friday, December 1

This Ottawa weather is whacked. Yesterday it absolutely POURED all day long. A group of us went out at lunch and got thoroughly drenched; it was still +15°C though. Crazy. I dried out during the afternoon, then walked back to the hotel when I was done at the office - about 2 km. The rain had settled to a drizzle, but soon came down full force again. A couple of us went out for supper and some shopping at "the Glebe" (and I was out until 10 p.m.!) Lots of really great little stores, in particular Glebe Trotters, a Blundstone vendor. A pair of the black chisel toe came home with me. I wore them all day today in my travels.

Anyway, back to my rant about Ottawa's craptastic weather. I had purposely delayed my return flight a day so I could spend today touring some museums, etc. as I'd never been to Ottawa before; while I was here ... good plan, no? Well, the weather forecast was the shits for today, but I was happier when I got up this morning and by the time I was ready to go, the freezing rain had turned to big, fat white fluffy snowflakes - just like home! So I set out, walked the 3+ km to the Civilization Museum, via the Parliament buildings, the National Archives and the Supreme Court of Canada building.

A view of the Parliament buildings from across the river (you can see the Rideau Locks in the corner).

As I was crossing the Alexandra Bridge to Gatineau (Hull), the weather turned crappier. It slid back into freezing rain. I had raccoon eyes when I got to the museum. (And didn't notice until I'd been there a while and went to the washroom. Whatever happened to common courtesy - girls, if you see someone with makeup trouble, would it kill you to say "oh, the washroom is over there; you might want to check your mascara". Is it too much to ask???? Hmph, unless they thought I was some sort of goth failure.)

I spent a good couple of hours in the museum; it was all quite interesting. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do once I left there, so I had a quick bite to eat in their cafeteria, then started to walk back. Man, the freezing rain was quite persistent as I crossed the bridge again. By the time I got across the bridge and down the block to a Chapters I was soaked through and miserable. I browsed the store a good 45 minutes before braving the rest of the walk to the hotel. I decided to walk down the Sparks Street Mall. The wind was howling down the street, the rain was pelting through my clothes and dripping down the back of my neck. I had my new hat on, so my head was warm, but the rest of me .... brrrr. I stopped in two little tourist shops to try and buy an Ottawa snowglobe, but the clerks in both stores were amazingly rude, so I left. [I was surprised about that. I had reflected yesterday how this week being over in Gatineau, I was impressed that as soon as someone spoke French to me and I said I didn't understand, they'd switch to English right away.] As I got closer to my hotel, there were sheets of freezing rain/ice flying off the sides of the office towers and it was kind of scary, so I was quite happy to hurry back here and got here before 3 p.m. I'm sitting here in my jammie pants (my jeans were drenched) and the cashmere sweater I put on this morning. At least now I'm warm and dry.

This hat is a easy peasy quick knit. I used Katia Mexico (50% wool 50% acrylic) worsted weight; colour 5853. I made the hat too long before I started the crown decreases, (again!) but if I turn up the 3 x 3 ribbing, it's a perfect fit. I've made a note on my PDA to start the crown shaping about an inch sooner.

I've started another similar hat, but this one is with MMMMalabrigo. I can't wait to finish this one and wear it.

Anyway, I was disappointed that I didn't get to more museums; the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography which I really, really wanted to visit, is of course closed for construction for an undetermined time. They did have some exhibits at the National Gallery, but nothing I was interested in. Poot. I also missed out on the Canadian Aviation Museum but I didn't feel like changing my wet clothes and rushing out to find a taxi to take me out there. Next trip.

I'm going to fill my coffee cup, pick up my knitting and contemplate packing up my bags for my flight tomorrow.