a peek inside the fishbowl

There’s been a song in my head that has made a home in my brain right now. I even heard it while I was sleeping last night. It’s this one. And here’s a video about the story behind it.

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Edited to add: these recurring photo threesomes are my wee attempt to stop and look. Let’s just call it exercise for now.

I wanted to share a bit of fun news from longtime Fishbowl patron Alison Fowler. She’s been busy planning a really cool weekend art event that will feature some of her work as well as paintings by Ross Rheaume and Andrew King. Opening night is Friday May 24, and all the action will be outside in the alley beside her studio at 1395 and 1391 Wellington Street in Wellington West Village. There’ll be music, refreshments, and of course, amazing art.

If you can’t make it Friday night, make an outing out of it on Saturday or Sunday between 11 and 5:00 p.m. Strap the kids into the Chariot (or maybe they’re big enough to ride on their own) and combine it with a meal or a visit to some stops along that bit of the strip… like the Wellington Diner, Ottawa Bagelshop, or the Herb & Spice for something fresh for dinner.

Now does that sound like a worthwhile excursion or what?

This is what I’m reading right now…

… a loaner from my daughter called The Wildwood Chronicles. The illustrations are rich and lovely (check out the official website!) and the story is taking me somewhere unexpected, which I am am enjoying very much right now.

Related: do you believe that you are what you read? And that if you read more of one thing or another you can change your brain? Are books like food, in that a steady diet of candy and fluff will rot your grey matter and a parade of healthy stuff will help it grow?

… it goes without saying that you should host a snail race. There’s nothing to it, really, and it offers a bit of diversion when you’re trying to get some yard work done.

1. 1) Collect the participants. Use a bucket if you’re squeamish.
2. 2) Use chalk to draw your “track.” It need not be complicated. Or long.
3. 3) Place your bets.
4. 4) Sit back and watch.

It was a ruckus, a slimy free-for-all as they, er, rushed off in all directions as fast, er, as quickly as they could. It was quite a sight. There were brawls! (Or possibly romance, we couldn’t tell.)

And we witnessed illegal shell tampering!

It was sheer madness and mayhem, with no end of brutal violence! (Or possibly hugging, we couldn’t tell.)

Utterly, silent, CHAOS.

In hindsight I wish we had taken the time to design little numbers for each of the shells. We could have made race bibs out of post-it notes!

Now THAT would have been cool.

To be honest, I’m not even sure who was declared the winner. I didn’t wait around long enough to see the end of the race.