Things

This was supposed to have been posted on Friday, but...life (“work”) happens.

This is another Montreal weekend. One of the great things about central Canada is that there are numerous large cities within reasonable driving distance (as an aside, one of the strange things about Central Canada is that there is no ocean). Anyway, 2 hours on a Greyhound and we shall be speaking French and eating bagels.
First on the Montreal agenda is a hair cut from the Funky Toque. This may necessitate wearing a funky toque to cover up a funky haircut, but I’m ok with that. I love toques – I packed at least four for the road trip. Speaking of packing, emptying a bag for the weekend has inspired some reflection on the “stuff” I carry around.
Here is the abridged version of what travelled with me to work today:

Purple batik zipper pouch (ie. my “wallet”) and its contents:

- Credit card – the student variety, ie. complete with a “fun” image and a matching “fun” (ie. low) limit.
- Driver’s license – the only reason I know my height in centimeters.
- Receipt for 1 vegan chocolate-bananarama cookie from the bakery down the street – my coffee habit is supported by my enthusiasm for vegan/wheat-free/sugar-free baked goods.
- $5.58 in small change – heavy, but enough for 5 afore-mentioned vegan cookies.
- Burt’s Bees lip balm – old habit from my saxophone-playing years.
- Ticket stubs from Bytowne Cinema (Ottawa’s home of the foreign/indie film) – a reminder that while joining the Italian Mafia may be artistically dramatic, it is not to be recommended (the same applies to travelling across the Gobi Desert alone).

Notebook:

- Schedule for winter semester – thesis, thesis, thesis.
- Notes from the Senate Committee Against Sexual Exploitation of Children – one of the most interesting Wednesday mornings I’ve had.
- Name tag with House of Commons Security Clearance – sometimes I feel important.
- The alphabet written backwards (?)

Miscellaneous:

- Aloe vera (for my Parliamentary sunburn received while standing on the Hill yesterday for the National Day of Reconciliation – awkward business-casual tan lines).
- Almonds – I am my mother’s daughter.

The good news is that I could probably survive stuck in an elevator for a few days (thank you, almonds), and if found unconscious by the side of the road, a) have little of value that could be stollen, and b) could be easily identified and traced home via bakery receipts and coffee cards. The bad news is that I felt compelled to create a list of the contents of my wallet during my spare time, so outside I go.