Baby Steps to Unknown Worlds

Through recent volunteer work, I've been exposed to a world of travel and intercultural, international friendship - a world unknown to me that I'd never really considered. Slowly and quietly, this new world and its possibilities have enticed me into action. Last week I printed out a passport application. The week before, I googled "fear of flying." Today, I got my passport pictures.

There are no trips on the horizon; I'm not ready for that. But at least I have pictures for my passport - yesterday I didn't. Baby steps for now ... baby steps.

A Lifetime of Learning

"I was fifty-four years old when I finally began taking piano lessons. All through my forties I had bought the excuse that I was too old to start something new. Then one day it occurred to me that I would age whether I knew piano or not and that I might respect myself more as the world's oldest novice than as someone who stayed blocked and yearning."

- Julia Cameron, Finding Water - The Art of Perseverance

I believe in lifelong learning. It alleviates the pressure and overwhelming (not to mention arrogant and unrealistic) feeling of having to know everything and take it all in while I'm young. If I'm lucky the Universe will continue planting tiny seeds of curiosity in my body, mind and soul - seeded wonders, a special someone once called them - allowing me to open myself to new worlds or experiences as I grow up, and learn to rejoice in the status of "beginner."

I look forward to it.

Impressions in Jazz Indeed

Last week I had the pleasure of enjoying an evening of live jazz, courtesy of D. and Ottawa's Impressions in Jazz Orchestra (IJO), founded and conducted by Adrian Cho.

Who: D. and I, a room full of jazz lovers and a 17-piece symphonic jazz orchestra
What: Overture, a cabaret style jazz concert previewing material from IJO's upcoming season
When: last Thursday night, March 15th
Where: the International Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ottawa
Why: because it's jazz, it's cool, and it's local

I caught one of IJO's concerts last year with Sis and loved, loved, loooved it. I've already earmarked a few concerts from their upcoming season, notably The 1920s and The 1940s , both held at Ottawa's Billings Estate, and The Duke & the Bard, a presentation of a Shakespeare-inspired Duke Ellington suite created and performed only once in Canada 50 years ago - until this year.

This isn't one of my freebie events, but I believe the value of the performance to be well worth the price. Not only is the quality of the music excellent, but Adrian Cho's passion for jazz and some of its more obscure pieces is contagious.

Impressions in Jazz Orchestra - if you like jazz, it's a must-see.

What's Your IQ?

A friend sent me this link to CBC's Test the Nation Web site and its online IQ test. The test consists of 60 questions in the categories of Language, Memory, Logic, Visual Memory, Math and Perception, each one to be answered within a specified time limit.

After warming up in the Mental Gym, with sweaty palms and a racing heart, I took the plunge. It was fun to get my brain working in ways it hadn't in a while.

Wanna know your IQ? Take the test.

Pondering Life's Questions

These are a few things I've been pondering during the past few weeks:

• travel and fear of flying
• the possibility of a fulfilling career outside or within the federal government
• the removal of self-imposed limitations and obstacles to realizing my potential
• peace and communication with the self, immediate community and greater society
• contribution and legacy to something bigger than myself
• money and lifestyle
• the role of support and mentorship in personal and professional development
• connection to a Higher Power
• marriage, relationships and sense of self
• children, posterity and leading by example
• environment and sustainability

Thoughts related to the above have been floating around in my head in various states of order and disarray.

Last week, I relished entertaining them in such a free-form manner. Today I'm a bit tired, and last week's laissez-faire attitude is giving way to a sense of being overwhelmed and a need for something lighter. That's ok, the good thing about life's big questions is that there's often no rush to find the answers.

Spiritual Cinema in the Capital

FYI, this weekend there will be a showing of a movie called Illusion, with Kirk Douglas, at the Saint Paul University auditorium.

Date: Saturday March 17th
Time: 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Location: Saint Paul University auditorium, 233 Main Street (across from Green Door restaurant)
Cost: $15

Here's the official poster for the Ottawa showing, which is part of the larger Spiritual Cinema Network. Please note that the Sunday showings have been cancelled.

Still Connecting in the City

I just got back from a leisurely breakfast date with myself at my local diner. Despite having my nose buried in a book much of the time, I felt connected to my surroundings and to the people around me. In less than two hours, I connected directly with four people from my immediate community:

• the server who sat down beside me and asked "So where've YOU been miss Trouble? We haven't seen you here in a while?"
• another server, a girl I met on a bike trail Monday afternoon who had a kind smile, and a pink wicker basket with plastic daisies on her bike - I didn't know she worked at the diner
• the guy from the local grocery store having breakfast with his wife, and
• two older ladies on a lunch date, one of them who lives in the area.

The theme of connecting was present in my life around this time last year too (here & here). Maybe it's the spring air that brings it out. Whatever it may be, after a year in the city, I'm happy to see that it's still there.

Odds & Ends V

Another tidbits-natured post for you ...

Different Street, Different View
On Sunday, Bridgehead coffee in hand, D. and I took a stroll around my downtown neighbourhood. The next day, it dawned on me that one of the reasons I prefer the urban landscape so much to suburbia is its variety. Houses are different; yards are different. Streets are interspersed with parks, artwork and landmarks. This visual variety feeds me and prompts me to explore. When I'm on a different street, I get a different view. I like that.

Back to Work Soon
I've been on sabbatical for nearly 10 months already. During the past few weeks, I've been thinking about my return to work and reflecting on the months gone by. They've been good. In a paradoxical way, when asked what I've done during my time off it feels natural to respond "nothing and everything." Hm. I suspect a subsequent post or two will be forthcoming on this one.

Hiking Season
Last summer I rediscovered a love for hiking and the outdoors, now I can't wait to get back on the trails! With this week's mild weather, I'm already dreaming of sunny mornings spent listening to the birds and lazy afternoons by the water. Two things I'd like to try this year: canoeing and reviving my old mountain bike.

Simplicity and Sustainability
An evening listening to David Suzuki talk about his If YOU were Prime Minister tour and an evening of enlightened conversation with the Mad Chatters has me thinking about going green, sustainability and simple living again. I'm not sure to what extent yet, but the cogs are turning. We'll see where the thoughts lead me.


Voilà! A few odds & ends with a common thread of being potential seeds for future action, thought and growth. I suspect many of them will become the subject of dedicated posts in the weeks to come. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed the tidbits. :)

Opening Up to Happiness

I feel open tonight. Open to change, open to work, open to knowledge. Open to experience, open to love, open to happiness.

I don't know why I feel this way; I don't care. I think I'll just enjoy the feeling.

Skating in the Nick of Time

I finally went skating on the Rideau Canal last night. Given next week's forecast for +8 degrees Celsius, it might have been my last chance to do so. I'm thankful I did.

It took me a while to find my skating legs, but once I did, I relished in the groove. At one point, as my friends sprinted ahead, I was left alone on a little stretch between Bank and Bronson. There was no traffic on the parkways and I suddenly became aware of the darkness and the silence, broken only by the crisp rhythmic sound of my blades on the ice. For those few seconds, I felt buoyed. I mentally thanked my friends and my Higher Power for getting me out there - in the nick of time.

A YouTube Kinda Morning

Last week, Sis put out a call for dance tunes more recent than 1998. It spurred me on to a quest that ended up with a full morning spent surfing YouTube, checking out music videos by the likes of Shakira, Sean Paul and My Chemical Romance. I don't remember the last time I did that - I don't think I've ever done that at all!

Here are a few favourites that had me bopping in my chair:

DJ Champion's No Heaven
Shakira's Hips Don't Lie
Sean Paul's Temperature
My Chemical Romance's Welcome To The Black Parade

And this one, well it didn't get me bopping, but it was just too dreamy to leave out.

What makes YOU groove?

Favourite Things: Oh Winter Tree

My Winter Tree has been one of my favourite things since December. It stands in the corner of my dining room, is decorated with snowflakes, butterflies and peacocks, and at night, lights up into a warm glow of red lights.

Despite the winter weather happening as I type, I think it's almost time to take it down. I thought I'd share a picture before I do so.

Oh Winter Tree, Oh Winter Tree ...

Spring, Snow and Vegetable Stew

I needed a pick-me-upper today so I treated myself to a stroll downtown, taking in the spring-like weather before tomorrow's expected blast of winter. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed visiting my local bakery, flower & coffee shops. I treated myself to a new magazine, three stems of fuchsia-coloured anemones (which, funnily enough can be used medicinally for emotional distress), and coffee & cheesecake at Bridgehead. On the way back, I picked up a necessary eggplant for my veggie-bean stew, comfort food for tomorrow's 20cm of snow.

This afternoon's urban jaunt was not only a pick-me-upper, but a good reminder of why I chose to live here. It's almost as if I'd already forgotten. I won't let that happen again.