tap my glass

I’ve decided to refuse any and all plan invitations this weekend.  Nothing will be planned.  This means i have nothing to do, and nothing is expected of me.  There are some things i *may* do, but only if whimsicality guides me in that direction.  Hence things i’m going to do this weekend:

1. Refuse offers of things to do
2. Ensure i don’t plan on doing anything
3. Annoy people with my frivolity

So i’m not planning on going to go to art in the park, or finish my kitchen, or play wii, or laze around.  Its going to be super!!!

Just stumbling over to the ottawa real estate site this morning, it seems a major change has occurred.  They are now listing the LOCATION of every house being listed!!!  Not sure what’s up here, but it was the major reason i had an agent before…  they’d help me actually locate the listings i was interested in.

I don’t think ottawa agents will like this very much.  I actually don’t think sellers will like this very much as it’s far easier to spot fake gems, like this place - great looking house, shite location.

Tags: ottawahousing

So this morning, i was greeted with a missing car and a parking ticket.  Totally my bad.  55$ because one of our cars was parked on the street, and of course (i should know!), street sweeping was in full force.  The car was moved about a block away, with a 55$ ticket attached.  Not the end of the world, totally my bad.

After i brought the car back, i went for more running.  On my way back, this time at the dead end planters of clemow ave. just east of bank, i found another John’s Sweeping truck parked and running.  I think there may have been a reason it was idling - there was a worker wielding a hose attacked to the truck, and blasting snow and ice with water.  Hence, its possible the truck was idling to charge a compressor or something, in order to facilitate pressure/heat/etc..

I may be very wrong, but this is how this looks to me - burning gas on a truck, to pressurize water stored and trucked around in its tank, to blast ice that will easily thaw on its own, to then clean the streets with the truck that is burning gas.  Does this strike anyone else as ridiculously counter productive and so anti-green it makes me want to vomit?

I don’t want to see anyone loose their job’s, or get in trouble, or anything, but things have to change, and in my opinion, the city should start with stuff like this.  Just like i’d be more than happy to shovel my sidewalk in the winter to save a few bux, i would LOVE to save a buck or 2 (or not even!) and sweep my own road.  I’d even pay the bylaw charge for not sweeping my own road!!!!

Tags: ottawa

Isn’t there some bylaw in ottawa that prohibits engine idling for vehicles when the temperatures are not extreme?

I was on my way home from a run this morning, and midway through the glebe i could smell diesel fuel.  Once i finally got to the percy underpass i found the source - right outside the city’s vehicle lot (or whatever there way) there was a “John’s Sweeping” truck sitting in the middle of the road, idling.  No one in it, it was just sitting there running.

I probably should give the benefit of the doubt, by my hippocratic hypochondriac lungs despise anything other than tasteless or fresh smelling air, and i was pissed.

If there are such bylaws, they should be doubled for gas guslers such as these.  If these types of trucks/services “require” their engines to warm up/idle before service, the city should give incentives to companies that do not use these types of trucks.

Lazy idlers…

Tags: ottawa

Just as soon as i mentioned my adoration for #705, an era has come to an end.  Why is it all good restaurants must go by the wayside?  Hopefully if this is anything like stoneface, the new tenant will be just as good…

To the point, Cam Kong is no longer - it has been replaced by a similar Vietnamese restaurant called “Fuscian” i believe.  Apparently the owners retired.  We went there a couple nights ago, and were shocked and bewildered for a few minutes before we sat down in a blur and decided to stay. 

They do have a hot n sour vietnamese soup, and were very happy to do a veggie variety upon our request.  The staff was very helpful, and very accommodating.  And the food was pretty darn good.  The soup was not quite like a #705, slightly less tangy and oily, not as addiction satisfying, but good nonetheless.  They told us that we can ask for extra hot stuff for next time, and i definitely will.

When i was in the Dominican, perhaps even on the day they shut their doors, i had a dream.  I had a dream that Cam Kong was closing (i only knew at this point that renovations were occurring), and i actually tried to get a job there in order to learn their secrets.  This is how obsessed i was/am.  I was desperately in need of that soups power, and was frantically dreaming of the 2nd to worst case scenario.  The worst case being, they’d be closed when i go home, no chance to sneak in and steal a peak at their fantastic flavours…

Rest in peace Cam Kong, i’m sure i’ll think of you always.

In related news, for lunch i chopped a tomato, an avacado, and a green mango.  To them, i added lime juice, and salt and pepper.  I then scooped it into tortilla chips and had a splendid time.  Thats what i call a goooooooood lunch.

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Tags: foodottawa

I had a great xmas this year. I enjoy getting together with family, exchanging presents, a little consumerism, a little recycling, giving, etc.. All the stuff related to family and friends is great, absolutely great.

The upcoming rant has little to do with xmas, its just bad timing for xmas. I participate in this little group formerly called “Free Cycle” or Full Circle Ottawa. In theory, its great. You post when you have something to offer, or when you’re looking for something particular. I’ve posted and successfully “freecycled” a lawnmower, file folders, and a few other things. But lately, i’m sick of it. Its not as easy as it sounds to give something away.

The rule of thumb seems to be, if you’re offering something, state where you live and methods for delivery - either pick up, or drop off, or both. I always state pick up only… i’m sure if i were trucking this stuff all over town i could get rid of it much easier. I guess i’m not that nice, and don’t want to spend 5 bux in gas to go to the east end… perhaps i should.

Another part of the problem is the email communication medium, which is used initially, but really should be taken out of the loop and replaced by the phone after the first exchange. Perhaps this is all i need to do in the future, but for the time being i’m pissed. Email is lazy, and not very time relevant. I post, an hour later someone responds saying they can pick it up. Then i see it, say when can you come, and 2 days later i get a response…

The reason why i’m mad now is because i’ve been trying to get rid of this old stereo system since boxing day. Here’s how it’s gone down:

• I post around 10am on boxing day saying the stereo is in semi-working condition, available for pickup in centertown.
• I get the first response at 10:20, saying the person can pick it up before 1pm today. The 2nd person to respond sent at 10:30am
• I respond to the first person at about 10:40, saying i’ll be home, heres my address, come and get it.
• I wait… eventually at 3:45 the guy responds and says he just got home, and can pick it up on saturday.
• I respond to the 2nd person saying it is still available, but she’s mostly asking about the stereo, and where i’m located (which was in my original email).
• At around 7pm, someone else responds, saying they’re interested.
• Still following up with the 2nd person now on the 27th, this is what they wrote at 11:44 am: hi a wiill try to get a ride right away thanks where do u live exactly does cd player also work thanks
• I respond, saying i’ll be around, with my address, but the person never shows up nor sends another message.
• I’m pissed, but wait until friday… i send another message to person #1 saying if they can pick it up saturday morn, its theirs.
• I don’t get a response as of saturday morn, so begin comms with person #3.
• Person #1 responds saying they can pick it up THIS morning (sunday) between 10 and 11 (getting less specific, should be a sign…), and i say fine.
• Person #3 responds, i respond and say i’ve already committed to giving it to person #1, and they respond saying how disappointed they are.
• Sunday morning rolls around, early, because i woulda slept a few more hours, and person #1 says something came up and to give it to someone else.

ARRRGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need a xmas ceasar and pack of smokes. I don’t have the heart to respond to person #3 after their “i’m so disappointed” email, the f*in stereo is hitting the curb on my way out to buy new shit likely made in china. I’m not in a freecycling mood right now.

This is NOT the first time this has happened. People troll these lists, respond to things they would like, with no way of getting them, and no real commitments to picking them up - they’re free after all!

I think this rant has been therapeutic. In the future, i’ll give people my phone number at the first exchange, and will not accept any pick up times more than 24 hours away, perhaps even none the next day… i welcome any other suggestions too. I also realize the silliness of posting this on my blog and not in their forum, but this was mostly for me to rant and now thats done and i’m selfish and frustrated right now… less so now though!

I was in the manx briefly for dinner last night. Every time i go pee there (which is likely every time i go), i wonder how many times a night someone ventures into the wrong washroom. I always have to think about it and do association in my own way. This process always degrades to remembering that men have to walk slightly farther than women to do their business.

Anyone want to comment on what associations they use? I can never remember what those symbols mean or who they stand for, maybe someone can enlighten me. If i had some memory pillar to attach those symbols to i’d be less fearful of walking in on the opposite sex doing their business.

Myself and several accompaniments had the incredible pleasure of seeing the newest best band ever Mother Mother at zaphods last night.

We’ve been listening to their album for the past 6 months or so since my buddy turned me on to them after hearing them on cbc radio 3. Hot damn, they are imo the most diverse and talented sound since arcade fire, for darn sure. Its sooo good, and now i realize there is ridiculous talent as well as amazing song writing. Its hard to tell sometimes, but last night proved all.

We gushed over them all night. They actually opened for 2 other far inferior bands. Dragonette, who features Martina Sorbera (apparently the daughter of our late finance minister) either greatly benefited from accompanying vocal tracks, or was flat out lip syncing. Catchy, but not a live performance. The other dudes, Most Serene Republic or something, had some cool sounds, but very little vocal talent/hooks to keep me interested. We left mid way through their performance. No idea why the gigs were ordered as such, Mother Mother stole the show shortly after 8pm when they started in on “Legs Away” and playing half their album and 2 other songs i’ve never heard. In that half hour there were no other sounds in the universe worth listening to.

As i was saying, we gushed hard. After their show they were mostly just swag selling and hanging out… i bought a t-shirt as we attempted to book them for future birthday parties; tour pending, it was something they seemed quite open to. Some autographs were signed.

They’re from Vancouver, and likely won’t be back till next spring. We all must go again!!! YES!!!

They rule!!!! Check out some tracks on their site. Note the following picture is the best pic i could get as i was mostly too busy listening in complete awe…

Ever since i’ve owned my house, i’ve known that i’ve needed to have some work done to its rear end. As you can see in the picture, which was taken shortly after i took possession, theres always been a door leading to nowhere. The original owner even nailed a few 2×10’s up there for me to “get started” on an awesome balcony. Thanks!!! Unfortunately after discussion and research, nailing to the side of a non waterproof surface is probably not a good idea for a structurally sound chill pad for apt. #2.

So this year, the main plan was to get er done. I started early on researching and discussing with an experienced friend of mine exactly “how” i was going to do it. I went through a few basic structures and ideas:

In the end, i settled on a no stair, but extended balcony that is NOT supported by the structure underneath. Basically if it was, it would of required engineer’s help to verify the integrity of that structure, and that structure was highly suspect. The previous owner did an “ok” job on everything done, and i just didn’t trust it.

So late last year i realized if i was going to build a balcony up there, i should probably ensure that the roof was good. Because it would really suck to have to tear down the balcony to fix a leaky roof. And the roof was already leaky. So i had the roof replaced. Which was not cheap, but at least i trust it now. Its properly flashed all around, and is in good shape. Earlier this year, i also decided to have eavestrophing installed on the roof above the door. That part of the roof is the lowest point so a lot of water attracted down that wall, and would be onto the roof, causing more water issues. I thought that was a good idea, and i’m happy with the result.

Then came the building permit. From conception and farting around on the city of ottawa’s web site to issuance, it was many months. But i got it in the end.

The problem with the building permit, is the plans. The application itself is nothing, but it must be accompanied by plans of what you’re going to do. Which makes sense. But is not trivial. I do believe you can get home depot and/or rona type stores to do plans for you for “free”, but i kinda wanted to do this all myself. As i said i have a friend who helped conceptualize what the thing would look like, and then i just needed a tool to put it together. In retrospect i would have been MUCH easier to have someone else do it, but i was stubborn and like doing things myself so i understand them.

Enter Google Sketchup. Is there anything google can’t do? I mean this tool is amazing. In a nutshell, its a layman’s CAD tool. You can design pretty much anything in it, and if you really want to, import it into google earth (which apparently has a flight sim built into it, but i haven’t tried it). So if you design a house or a building, you can plop it down in the googleverse and see what it looks like. I have not done this. But what i did do, was design the whole thing in sketchup, as well as site and floor plans where necessary.

The end result is pretty sweet. After quite a few hours i developed a model of the entire balcony including every piece of lumber to be used, proper angles, railing, etc.. I thought this was a much cleaner idea than drawing up some crappy sketches that would no doubt need to be updated during the permit talks. And i was right about that!

Getting the building permit was quite an ordeal. Once the drawings were done and i had filled out the application, here’s a summary of how it went down:

1) Show up at city hall on a friday morning.

2) No lineup, ask to submit an application for a building permit.

3) The lady looks it over, tells me it’ll be 80 odd dollars, and calls the dude from the back.

4) The dude spends a few minutes looking it over, and takes issue with a few points. My footings were not deep enough (originally i had 4 foot holes, they needed to be 6 feet), and i needed to properly quote building code sections for the blocking and railing, or have a proper diagrams that showed screws and specifics.

5) I asked where i can see the building code

6) He said it was for sale “over there”.

7) I said gee thanks.

I then thought about it, and decided to go to the library. They did not have the 2006 building code, but they had the 1997 + amendments.

9) I spent some serious time going through all the different schematics coming up with a now different railing plan. The lady at the library was very nice as i didn’t have my card, but let me borrow one of their photocopy cards, and i just payed what i spent when i left. How trusting!!!

10) I choose a model i liked, made photo copies of all the appropriate sections, and went home.

11) I then updated my model with the footing adjustments and changes to the blocking and railing, printed it off again, and went back.

12) They accepted the application!!! Yay!!! I paid the 80 odd dollars.

13) About 6 business days later, i get an email from someone at the city that was assigned to my application. It contained a pdf of issues, which included, among a few other things, that the photocopies from the old building code needed to be from the 2006 building code. Arg!!!

14) I bought the damn 2006 building code. 150$. Now i’ll have it forever. Or at least until 2012 when a new one comes out and this one becomes useless reference material.

15) I made photocopies of the newly revised sections, which looked to be identical to me, and now proceeded to communicate with this nice lady via faxes and emails.

16) We sorted out the remainder of the issues over the next week and a half, mostly to do with floor plans, and “is it a fire exit”, etc..

17) Roughly a month after the initial application, i was back at city hall signing the real permit. I got my original plans and faxes stamped, and a sheet to put up on my window saying i’m a wicked permit holder.

All in all it wasn’t a horrible experience, and i understand why the back and forths occurred, and i understand why you need to quote from the new building code, but they really should make the building codes available for perusal at city hall. That part is ridiculous.

Once i had the permit i was assigned an inspector. I discussed with him what inspections i need. I needed an excavation, framing, and final inspection. I have had the excavation inspection, and it went very smoothly - he didn’t even measure the awesome 6 foot depth. I dug 2 perfectly deep 6 feet by 2″ diameter holes and he didn’t measure them!!! O well, at least i know they’re the real deal.

There will be more boring assed balcony discussion to come, you can bet your bottom beam on that.

When i was in Vancouver a few weeks ago i got to partake in the glorious transcendence that is all you can eat sushi. It was good, great, amazing… but now, upon my return, i have heard of not one, but 2 all you can eat sushi restaurants in Ottawa!!! Yes, its true!!!!!

Having heard that, and having spent the vast majority of my weekend 5 feet underground under extreme physical duress (more on this later), i knew the only thing that would appease me was a mountain of raw fish. It was risky, considering the place we were going hadn’t been open long, but i was game.

The place we went was on carling between maitland and the 417. It is called 1000 Sushi Islands. O man, we were not disappointed.

There’s just nothing like the tenderness and flavour of fresh raw salmon sashimi (i don’t know how they get it here so fast, but man i’m glad they can!!!). The texture is like a really thick al dente noodle, but a little more forgiving. The smell, o so good. No need to bathe in soy/wasabi, these babies are islands unto themselves. The quality told me right away that this place was legit. Their seaweed salad was probably the best i ever had. Tempura, of which we tried the shrimp and squid (i know, squid tempura, wow!!!), and it was all delightful. They did rainbow rolls which were killer, and their spice salmon rolls were a little different as far as ingredients, but man were they good. Unagi. Awesome. The pieces were a little small, but it was ALL YOU CAN EAT!!!! SO WHO CARES!!!! The only thing that didn’t blow me away was their hand roll thingys, but i’m not a big fan of those anyways.

The service was good, but it seemed one or 2 of the things weren’t what we ordered, or stuff we ordered went to the wrong tables. They come around and fill your water and tea quite regularly, as well as take additional order sheets whenever you have new ones ready (i think we went through 4 sheets). No liquor license yet, but pops are included with the buffet, as is everything - nothing on the menu had a price, except the whole buffet which was 20.99 for fri-sun, and 19.99 (lunch was cheaper, and there are kids and seniors discounts). The menu does say you’ll be charged for what you don’t eat, but i assume this is only if there are piles of things untouched (if anyone has experience with this i’d love to hear about it).

So ya, 1000 Islands Sushi is an ALL YOU CAN EAT sushi place. Its in ottawa. I think the food was better than sushi 88. Which might mean i never go back there, as even being the cheapest sushi restaurant in town i’ve never left there with a bill under 50 bux, and never full, and our bill was 43 and change… o man. I’m totally stoked.

The best thing about it: sushi full. Normally when i’m full, and i mean stuffed, with other types of food, i kinda want my body to digest. I go for indian buffet, i stuff myself on 2 plates or so, and i feel like i’m going to die. I recognize it is not healthy to eat so much in a sitting, but when i do so with sushi, i feel like i’m in heaven. No bloating, no barfing, no tooting, no burping, no nothing. Just pure peace. Pure sushi full. And this is something you only get with all you can eat, cause i never eat “enough” at a regular place to reach this level of gastronirvana. O baby, ottawa has never seen so bright.