#hence living in ottawa

[fiveht]

Love, love, love Adore and am drooling over Head Over Feet!!

You mentioned a couple asks ago that you haven’t specified it’s in the US, and that made me very curious as to where they do live??

The way you’ve phrased east and west coast and mentioned eastern time (NA) makes me wonder (aka hope) that maybe, if not the US, they’re in Canada?!?! As a Canadian girlie I love some representation for us - so I just had to ask!!

They indeed are Canadian. 😁 They don't live in Quebec, but they're close! They live in Ottawa. For those unaware, Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec are directly across the Ottawa River from one another, and Hull is a historic neighbourhood in Gatineau. (By the way, the university in the story is Carleton.)

I'm a Canadian girlie myself, and when I started Disarm I thought, if American writers make them American in AUs, why can't I make them Canadian? So I did. I'm not from Ottawa (I'm from Newfoundland, which is way too distinct a setting, because we fucking weird over here) but I did spend a lot of summers there as a kid.

[darlingseraa]

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

I remember a time when the end of a year was a magical time. It began with me being anxious for Halloween to finally come, so I could wear that beautiful princess dress my mother had sewn by hand for me. When the day came at the tail end of October, I would cry if my parents made me wear my winter coat over my dress– I wanted everyone to see how beautiful it was and how amazing my mom was for making it by hand. And yes, where I live, we got snow well before Halloween even came around– some years, we’d have snowfall in late September or early October, and other years, the snow came late. One thing was sure, however, and that was that we would have snow by Halloween.

Hence why my parents would make me wear my winter coat to go trick-or-treating, most Halloweens.

To me, Halloween meant pillowcases full of candy to eat throughout the coming year, until the next Halloween came around and I’d go trick-or-treating with my family once again, and haul two to three more pillowcases full of candy back home. It meant that the best neighbourhood to go trick-or-treating in was the one where the family on the corner street turned their yard into a giant haunted house, complete with people dressed as Hellraiser and Freddie Krueger to scare the kids and parents daring to venture in. It meant meeting up with friends who were just as dressed up for the occasion as I was. It meant teachers and students alike would come to school in costume on the day before the holiday –or during the day of Halloween itself if it was in the middle of a school week–, and it made that school day that much more fun.

And then, when Halloween came to an end, the spooky decorations would be taken down and stored away for another year. Things would be quiet for a week or two.

And then, Christmas would begin.

Yes, Christmas began two weeks after Halloween for me and my family.

I remember that, back then around mid-November, my house’s yard would be covered in snow 1 to 2 feet thick. Yes, you read that right. My dad would wake up early in the morning, take the snowblower out the shed, and he would clear out as much snow as he could from the driveway, so that he and my mom could go to work, and so my brother and I wouldn’t have to trudge through the snow to get to the school bus on time. I remember my dad building my brother and I a wooden ramp on which snow would land during snowstorms, and that we’d pack down and drench in water to create an icy slide we could play on during the winter months. I remember going skiing in powdery snow, the type of snow that acted as a cushion and made falls practically painless. I remember skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, I remember going to the Village Valcartier snowpark at least once every two or three years.

I remember the beginning of winter being a sign of good days to come, because I loved winter.

And to me, the entire season felt like Christmas.

Because, by mid-November, my house was alight with decorations for the coming holidays.

I remember being overjoyed whenever I saw my parents taking out these big plastic bins from the closet downstairs, in which all of our Christmas decorations were stored throughout the year. I remember the bright red duffel bag in which our artificial Christmas tree was stored, and how there were always fake pine needles everywhere as soon as we’d open it. I remember having to unfurl every single little branch on this monster of a tree, and then wrapping it in garlands of lights, adorning it with ribbons and all sorts of ornaments and knick-knacks.

There’s this one place in the entire province of Québec that we loved to visit– it was a Christmas shop located in Saint-Sauveur, in a region called the Laurentides. Every year, we’d go there and look around excitedly. I remember my parents bought my brother and I an ornament each, almost every time we’d go– once, I chose a little dressage rider on her chestnut horse, because I was convinced that I would one day have a horse of my own and I would become a top tier rider. Another year, they got me a huge trebble clef covered in gold holo glitter, because of my love for music. And another year, they bought me a fragile little ornament representing a ballerina frozen mid-arabesque, for my love of ballet.

And then, during the car ride home, I'd look out my window at the perfect winter scenery as we drove past.

At home, we’d decorate the tree, and then hang these little doorknob snowmen that my mother had handcrafted years ago. Then, we’d wrap a pine garland around the ramps on the stairs. And when that was done, we’d head outside and cover the house in Christmas lights.

And then it would be Christmas until late January the next year.

Everywhere we’d go, stores and houses alike were all adorned in their finest Christmas gear, and were a sight to behold. Some had inflatable santas and reindeer, others had Nativity scenes, others had a Northern Star light perched on their roof. And in the car, or in stores, the radio would blast Christmas music into your ears.

I remember listening to all these Christmas songs and thinking they were all so magical. That I could never get tired of them, because the singers all sang about how wonderful the holidays are, how their hearts were full of cheer, how cozy it was to sit next to chestnuts roasting on an open fire. They would sing about how we should just let it snow, about how Santa knew when you were sleeping or awake, about how they had a dream of a beautiful, white Christmas. My mother had a collection of Christmas CDs that she’d keep with her in her car, and whenever we’d go somewhere, we’d listen to them.

“White Christmas” was my favourite, because it made me think about how excited I was throughout the rest of the year for winter to come around, and for Christmas to bring joy and cheer to us once again. My mom would often tell me how it was my late grandpa's favourite Christmas song, too. I never learned its true meaning until recently– to me, it simply was about how the singer dreamt of having a Christmas just like he used to know, like when he was a kid.

A bit like the feeling I got this year, during the holidays.

Ten years ago, when I was sixteen, I started to see changes in the seasons, especially during winter. I noticed that it wouldn’t come as early as it used to. By Halloween, the best we could hope for was a day or night without rain. There was no snow in sight. Mid-November at the earliest would be when snowfall would begin.

And then, with the beginning of winter regressing well into the tail-end of November, so did the beginning of Christmas, in mine and my family’s eyes.

We wouldn’t decorate as much, or as early as we used to. We’d just leave the Christmas lights on the house for the next year, but not light them before the next time the holidays came around. One year, we tried getting a real Christmas tree, and though it was amazing to have the house smell like fresh pine until we had to take the tree out after the holidays, it just didn’t feel as magical.

It almost felt like the excitement I got from Christmas was directly related to how much snow we had that year.

So you can imagine how exciting Christmas was for me, these past few years where December was nearly as green as a golf course green in the middle of summer.

As I write this, there are literally barely two inches of snow covering the ground in my backyard.

Two. Inches.

That’s literally nothing.

I saw a post that one of my mutuals reblogged that mentioned this, about how Christmas songs nowadays are mostly reprises of the classics. And these classics reference a time that people these days can only remember. Children and future generations will never know the kind of winter we had back in the day. The ones where we’d play King of the Mountain with the other kids in the school yard because the administration had the snow cleared out, but the workers packed it in one spot in the entire yard instead of shoving it somewhere else. They’ll never know what it’s like to watch the news in the morning and see that their school is closed because of recent snowstorms causing trouble on the roads. They’ll never know the excitement of waking up one day in early November, and seeing a thick sheet of snow covering the ground outside.

They'll never know what a true snow day is like.

Nowadays, if I wanted to experience a winter like this again, I’d have to travel far up north.

I’d. Have. To. Travel.

When in previous years, I wouldn’t have had to, because these winters happened here, where I live.

And I wish I didn’t have to travel in order to have such an experience again.

Nowadays, winter is just another word for rainfall. Because that’s all we get– rainstorm after rainstorm. We barely get to see the snowflakes falling from the cloudy skies anymore. There’s no feeling of joy at witnessing the first of many snowfalls of the year, because I know that it’s only temporary. That there won’t be more snow piling up on top of it. I will likely never again wake up and feel joy at the sight of a fresh, untouched blanket of snow waiting for me outside, because there are no thick blankets of freshly fallen snow where I live anymore. The season’s become too warm for those to last.

I hate what winter has become.

I hate that it’s cold, but not cold enough to keep the snow around like it did before.

I hate that it’s wet, but not wet because the snow melted into my supposedly waterproof snowsuit– it's wet because of the rain.

I hate that the sky is almost always gray with rainclouds and not snowclouds.

I. Hate. It.

But what can one person do to change it?

Not much, I’m afraid.

The shift in seasons and climate change has killed what used to be the most amazing time of year for me.

It killed my love for winter. It killed my love for Christmas.

And it has tainted what little memories I retain from past Christmasses with a nostalgia and a sadness that I can only describe as painful, because I know I may never experience it again in my lifetime. And I'll only be 26 years old this year.

So these days, I don’t decorate anymore. I don’t listen to Christmas songs unless they’re blasted at work, on repeat, until I’m so fed up with them that I get angry when I come back the next day and hear them playing still. I don’t feel joy at seeing the slightest amount of snow on the ground, because I know that soon enough, rain will wash it away.

All I do is dream of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know.

–––

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry this post is so long. I just saw something on my timeline and had a lot of Big Feelings(tm) about it that I thought of sharing. The holidays this year have been a big disappointment on my end, for many reasons which I won't mention here. But the main reason is explained throughout this post.

If you've read through this entire thing, I am very grateful that you took the time to do so!

[cerys-capricorn]

The country I live in is on fire with millions of acres destroyed and thousands of people evacuated. This is potentially the 2nd time in 4 years that people will loose everything they have (as the 2019 Canadian wildfires were also horrendous). Millions are suffering displacement, homelessness, and health risks due to the wildfires across the country. I live in British Columbia and I remember 2019. This is so much worse. The ENTIRE country is pretty much on fire.

And what do the people of the U.S.A immediately say? “Blame Canada!” “We need to invade them bc clearly something is wrong up there” “Canada fucking sucks!” “Ugh, here is my Timelapse of how smokey the sky is, but apparently it will be gone in 2 days.”

Well Americans aren’t the ones who have to deal with the LITERAL GIANT FIRES SCORCHING THEIR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND FORESTS! They don’t have to pack up everything they own and hope, JUST HOPE, they come back and their homes aren’t burnt to the ground. They don’t have to hope their communities aren’t entirely destroyed. They don’t have to worry if their friends, families, and animals are okay. They are not the ones trapped due to roads being closed and heavy debris falling as the fires become uncontrollable. And they only seem to care when it is them on fire. But if another country is? They don’t fucking bat an eye, and yet the rest of the world helps them when they are in need.

So instead of complaining Americans, how about you fucking help for once? We are thankful you sent some of your firefighters to help us, but in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t enough. The U.S.A as a country is the 2nd biggest C02 producer in the world, which heavily contributes to the worsening of climate change, hence the wildfires. But Americans seem to forget this little fact. They forget that their politics and their environmental policies have literally fucked the rest of the world. So stop being so fucking selfish and actually help for once by contacting your local, state, and federal government(s). Stop voting for absolute idiots that want climate change to worsen so their pockets can be filled. Help by spreading information that will help those impacted, volunteer if you can, and maybe consider donating if you have the means. Or at least have some goddamn compassion and sympathy.

Here are some ways you can help:

• United Way for the Northwest Territories

All money donated goes to those affected by the wildfires in the NWT. Every donation is matched by the Federal Canadian and NWT governments.

• The Canadian Red Cross

All donations go towards those most impacted by wildfires across the Canadian Maritimes "with immediate and ongoing relief, recovery and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, as well as supporting community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events within Atlantic Canada”. The Federal Canadian and Nova Scotia provincial government have committed to matching each $1 donation to become $3.

• Donate A Mask

This organization ships free N95 respirator equivalent masks across Canada to those affected by the wildfires and for those who cannot afford high-quality and high-grade medical masks.

• Firefighters Without Borders

Firefighters Without Borders is a organization based in Ontario that provides equipment and training to local firefighters and communities across Canada. This helps in fighting current and future wildfires and promotes prevention. It also supports local firefighters to host and provide equipment to international firefighters when Canada needs assistance.

• Odawa Native Friendship Centre

The Odawa Native Friendship Centre is an organization serving the Ottawa-Carleton region in Ontario by helping Indigenous peoples that have had to evacuate their homes due to the wildfires. They accept money donations and usually accept clothing donations as well, but they are not taking clothing items at this time.

• The Central Okanagan Food Bank BC Wildfires Emergency Food Relief Fund

This organization donates much needed food to those impacted by the wildfires who are currently facing food insecurity. They have expanded to helping the entire province as the wildfires have spread.

For more information and to stay up to date:

[flock-of-cassowaries]

Fun fact, cats can be prescribed low-dose spironolactone for gender dysphoria restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Spironolactone - or, at least, the specific generic preparation of spiro my local human pharmacy carried - tastes like mint.

And I know this, because when I split the 50mg tablets into quarters for my 7 kg ball of furry genetic failure, the smell was strong. And delicious. To me.

My cat cat felt otherwise. We persevered, because he was an absolute sweetheart who accepted me sticking pills down his throat twice a day for years, but you could tell he did not enjoy the mint.

[ Potentially very helpful info for guardians of chronically-ill pets below the cut. ]

Many veterinary drugs are human drugs, and, it’s a lot cheaper - in Canada, at least - to pay out of pocket for them at your local human pharmacy than to purchase them from your vet. Like, orders of magnitude cheaper. Like, iirc, $15 vs. $175 -type cheaper.

And, in Canada at least, your loca human pharmacy will fill these prescriptions; like, this isn’t some sketchy online thing - a real pharmacist at Shopper’s Drug Mart / Rexall / Jean Coutu / Walmart will literally fill a prescription for a cat. Like, nbd, you just give it to them, say “Yeah, it’s for a cat,” and they’re like “Cool, that’ll be 30 minutes.”

And then you get a pill bottle with, like, Nacho Cheese Johnson printed on the label, which is hilarious. (This is a time when you really want to have given your cat an extremely silly name; like, if you’ve named your cat “Dave”, that’s cool, love the Kids In The Hall reference; but you have missed an opportunity here.)

The main issue is that human formulation tend to be much stronger than cat formulations - because humans are enormous - and some drugs come in formats - i.e. caplets - that cannot be safely divided.

Hence, I could get both insulin and spiro from the human pharmacy and divide it to an appropriate dosage for a 7kg cat, but not gabapentin (a caplet, whose minimum human dosage proved to be enough to cause even my objectively-very large cat to fall asleep in his food bowl).

My vet was awesome, and suggested this. The local Walmart pharmacy where I got my own antidepressants happily filled the prescriptions my vet wrote for my sick cat, and this made it financially possible for me to give him the medical care he needed to live with decent quality of life for four more years after his heart condition / diabetes / inflammatory bowel disease was diagnosed (all at once, when he got super-acutely ill; fun summer that was), rather than the six months the emergency vet predicted at the time.

There are some drugs that never get approved for human use, but are available for veterinary use; you will have to get those from your vet.

For example, my cat was on another heart medication - in addition to the spiro - that was not ever marketed for humans in Canada (but, curiously, was marketed for human use in Japan 🤷🏻‍♀️), so I had to get that one as the cat-preparation from the vet, and it was fucking pricey, unfortunately.

But still - it was super-helpful to be able to get the other drugs from a people pharmacy.

Also, for anyone in the Ottawa area with a sick cat / dog / etc. - free to DM for the name of my vet. He was great.

[renosgroup]

What You Should Avoid When Making Bathroom Design Decisions

Are you planning to get a bathroom renovation Ottawa? If so, you would want your bathroom to seem highly comfortable. The design should match the overall aesthetic and meet the renovation project goal. However, avoid a few things when making bathroom design decisions. Let’s discuss more. Large fixtures for smaller spaces Imagine having a larger-than-life bathtub and vanity. In a large bathroom, it would look perfect. But if you put it in a smaller one, there will be less space left for anything else. Hence, you will not feel comfortable in the bathroom. The fixtures you choose should also be cohesive with the space available. Therefore, the renovation experts should measure the space and plan everything accordingly. Poor lighting choices Lighting is crucial for making your bathroom look luxurious. If you install wrong lights, you can't focus on your tasks. Harsh lighting can make it difficult to stay in the bathroom for long. The bathroom lights should be balanced. You can add task lights near mirrors. Dim lights can help create that warm atmosphere. If there are any natural light sources, they can also make the bathroom look lively. Improper ventilation Ventilation is something you should not compromise on during bathroom renovation. If the bathroom does not have proper ventilation, it can increase mold growth. It will cause various issues in the bathroom. You should invest in an exhaust fan to reduce moisture in the bathroom. Some windows can also help improve ventilation. Ask the bathroom renovation contractors Ottawa to prioritize ventilation. Lesser storage options A bathroom can never have enough storage space. If the renovation experts do not add enough storage space, your bathroom will always seem cluttered. To make your bathroom look arranged, you should have enough space to store toiletries, towels, etc. You can use the vertical space if you have less space in the bathroom. Wall-mounted cabinets can help save your floor space. If you avoid these things while working on a bathroom renovation project, you will have a versatile bathroom. About RenosGroup: RenosGroup is one of the most trusted companies that offer renovation solutions. This Ottawa renovation company has a team of seasoned professionals who work with clients using their extensive experience and expertise. These experts can guide you with renovation projects, like bathroom, kitchen, or basement renovation. To get more details, visit https://renosgroup.ca/ Original Source: https://bit.ly/3BRxlJf

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"LIBRARY BOOKS STILL REPORTED AS MISSING," Brantford Expositor. April 20, 1934. Page 9. ---- Stolen From Member's Suitcase, Were Not Recovered ---- When John Koshuba, Ukrainian, comes out of Kingston three years hence, he will have one pair of gloves to count on. As Magistrate S. A. Jones imposed the three-year term on the accused, in the city magistrate's court to-day, there was, in the hands of Crown Attorney W. M. Charlton, a fine pair of gloves that no one could claim. "They will go back to the prisoner on whom they were found," said the court following out the letter of the law.

A blue suit of clothes taken from the suitcase of R. E. Ryerson, M.P., will not go back to the prisoner. It will be returned to the owner, as well as what is left of the contents of a club bag stolen from the C. N. R. depot on or about Good Friday last. Other wearing apparel, papers and three books, the latter the property of the Parliamentary Library at Ottawa, are still missing. It is feared they were destroyed. J. G. Pettit, Toronto, who claims his suitcase is missing, was not so fortunate he only getting some papers that were found on Koshuba. A fur coat, owned, in transit, by the C. N. R. and missing from the local depot, is still "at large".

The first inkling of the theft came from Chief Turnkey Chas. Slemin of the county jail. He registered Koshuba some time ago as his guest when the accused was up on a charge of vagrancy. It was on this latter occasion that the jail official noted the smart-looking suit he was wearing.

This clue led to another. Paul Black, a foreigner living at Mount Pleasant, had suitcase that was brought to their home by Koshuba, who said he sought a night's lodging. This, after investigation, was shown to be the Ryerson baggage. The suit which Koshuba "lost" while taking his first bath at the jail, also proved to be owned by the parliamentarian. Other things left in the bag were also identified. Mrs. Black stated that she saw Koshuba put some papers in the fire at her home but not any books that might resemble those owned at Ottawa. C. N. R. officials swore to seeing Koshuba around the premises on the day the goods were missed. He came into the express office at the depot mumbling something about his baggage.

Expressman Chas. Bissett stated he talked with the man. Realizing he was a little under the influence of liquor he asked him to leave the premises. He did not see the man depart, going on with his entries in the baggage receipt books. That was as far as Crown Attorney W. M. Charlton, K. C., was able to go but it was sufficient for Magistrate S. A. Jones, who said he would listen to the defendant's story.

The accused took the box without counsel. He told the court that he got the suitcase at a bootlegger's in Hamilton. He denied being in the depot, although having heard the depot officials swear as to his being there. He denied all and sundry stories he told to Turnkey Charles Slemin, C. N. R. Officer Mullen, Acting Detective G. Kerr and Provincial Officer Milligan.

The record produced by Chief Stanley proved the accused to have been familiar with police court procedure in many places. The list read by the court included convictions at Toronto with two terms at Burwash, Winnipeg, Kenora, Sudbury, Sturgeon Falls, North Bay twice, Ottawa, Port Colborne and again in Toronto. He has served terms ranging from one month to two years and this latter term in Kingston will make the total of five years in the Portsmouth institution.

Two other charges, regarding the Pettit suitcase and the fur coat, were not proceeded with by the Crown, the three years being considered sufficient. J. G. Pettit got his papers back, the prisoner has the gloves while the fur coat and other suitcase are still the object of a search by railway officials.

Koshuba seems to have decided not to aid anyone in the matter.

[Koshuba was 66, a widower, born in Bukovinia, in 1934 part of Roumania, and a professional tramp or hobo for most of his life, with a long list of jail and criminal convictions, as noted in the story - most notably three terms at Burwash Industrial Farm, a term in the Lakehead Industrial Farm, and a previous term as convict #1439. This time around at Kingston Penitentiary he was #3423, worked mostly as a mason and stoneworker, was reported three times and was released in June 1936.]

[grunge-mermaid]

"everything is negotiable, even rent increases when your lease is up for renewal"

uh huh sure yeah cause landlords are really gonna listen to "I don't want to pay $1162 instead of $1149, what are you gonna do for me?" when they know they can boot you out and charge the next tenant $1450. landlords of rent controlled buildings don't *want* long-term tenants because they can only raise the rent a minuscule amount per year (Ottawa is ~2%) on established leases, but if you move, they can charge the new person fair market value, hence the 25% increase on an apartment I had only been living in for only 2 years.

[best-hotels-in-ottawa-with-pools]

Exploring Ottawa’s Best Beaches Nearby

Ottawa is the stunning capital of Canada. While Ottawa might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of beaches, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover the city’s hidden gems. Whether you’re a local looking for a new spot to soak up in the sun or a visitor seeking a unique beach experience, we’ve got you covered. In this travel blog, we’ll explore the 11 best beaches in Ottawa for a perfect day trip. 

Table of Contents

Mooney’s Bay Beach  

Brittania Beach 

Petrie Island Beach 

Westboro Beach 

Meech Lake/O’Brien Beach (Best beache in Ottawa)

Leamy Lake Beach 

Lac Phillippe

Constance Bay Beach 

The Pond 

Morrison’s Quarry 

Fitzroy Provincial Park Beach  

Burnstown Beach 

Petawawa Point Beach 

Bon Echo Provincial Park Beaches 

Pine Point Beach

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Mooney’s Bay Beach

If you’ve got kids, you should definitely visit Mooney’s Bay Beach. It features an interesting Canada-themed playground that your little ones will surely enjoy.

It is one of the most popular summer destinations in Ottawa and hence often remains crowded with people. 

Mooney’ Beach hosts various Ottawa festivals and events like H.O.P.E. Volleyball SummerFest, Dragon Boat Race Festival, and many more fun activities for you to enjoy.  

Location: 2926, Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Brittania Beach

Situated in the west of Ottawa, Brittania Beach is more of a low-key destination with no restaurants and cafes around. 

Nonetheless, it is the perfect spot for swimming and relaxing on the sand while enjoying the beautiful beach views. 

While you’re here, don’t forget to visit the Beach Corners, to enjoy some delicious ice cream flavors after a sunny day at the beach.

Location: 2805 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Petrie Island Beach 

Petrie Island Beach is a true local favorite. The island has three different beaches – East Beach, West Beach & Centennial Beach, with each offering something special to the visitors. 

However, if you want to get into the busy crowd, East Beach is your best option. 

Here, you can also relax under the shady trees, swim, or even rent a paddle board, canoe rentals, and kayak to enjoy some fun water activities. 

Meanwhile, make sure to pack your lunch as you’ll surely need some extra dose of energy to enjoy your time to the fullest. 

Location: 272 Trim Road, Orleans, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Also Read

Westboro Beach 

Situated on the west shore of the Ottawa River, Westboro Beach is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful time with your family. 

It has got various beautiful on-site cafes offering meals & drinks along with live music to keep you entertained. 

Westboro Beach is accessible year-round and is among the best beaches in Ottawa. 

Location: 745, Ottawa River Parkway, Canada

Meech Lake/O’Brien Beach (Best beache in Ottawa)

Situated just a 15-minute drive away from downtown Ottawa, Meech Lake is known for its crystal-clear water and white sand.

It makes a great spot for hiking, picnicking, and kayaking with lifeguards always on duty to ensure utmost safety. 

O’Brien is the most famous beach in the area and gets all bustling with people during the hot summer days. 

Location: Chelsea, QC, Canada

Leamy Lake Beach 

If you want to enjoy a good time outdoors, but don’t want to travel far from the city, then Leamy Lake Beach is your place to be. 

The beach is situated amidst the hills, just a short drive away from the main city. 

Here you can engage in a whole lot of water activities like swimming, fishing, kayaking, and more.

And if you’re not a fan of getting covered in all sand, you can secure your place in the grassy areas with natural shade beyond the beach. 

Location: Fournier Blvd, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

Lac Phillippe

Situated in the heart of the Saint-Francois-de Sales National Park, Lac Phillippe is a beautiful lake featuring boat rentals, picnic spots, and a wonderful swimming beach.

The location also offers thrilling biking, hiking, and skiing trails to enjoy through. 

Location: Les Collines-de-L’Outaouais Regional County Municipality, QC J0X 3G0, Canada

Constance Bay Beach 

Constance Bay is the only horse-friendly beach in Ottawa. So if you want to enjoy a ride with a fantastic sea view, hop on. 

Besides, you can enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing and sailing. Meanwhile, be careful of the mussels in the seawater as they can hurt your toes and may even leave you injured. 

Although the beach doesn’t cover much of an area, it’s evident that you’d get to enjoy a good time here. And the best part? The parking is absolutely free!

Location: Lane St, Ottawa, ON K0A 3M0, Canada

The Pond 

The Pond may not have the most exciting name, but this hidden gem is perfect for anyone looking to avoid crowded beaches. 

Located in the industrial area near the airport, the Pond offers a serene swimming experience with clean and clear water.

Just make sure to be a little cautious as there are no lifeguards available on duty. 

Location: Pond St., Rockcliffe Park

Morrison’s Quarry 

Did you know there’s a blue oasis near Ottawa? Morrison’s Quarry, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Ottawa, is a beautiful beach for swimming and scuba diving.

The beautiful turquoise waters and sandy beach area are perfect for relaxation. 

The site also features picnic tables, BBQ pits, and even a waterslide, providing fun for all ages. 

Location: 1780 Quebec Rte 105, Chelsea

Fitzroy Provincial Park Beach  

Situated just an hour away from the capital, Fitzroy Provincial Park is the perfect spot for anyone looking for a peaceful escape into nature. 

The park features two beaches each carrying its own unique charm. 

The main beach features washrooms, picnic tables, barbecues, and canoe/kayak rentals, while the camper’s beach located in Two Rivers Campground is perfect for families with small kids. 

While you’re here, don’t forget to take a short hike through the century-old white pine forest and explore the meandering Carp River by paddle.

Location: 5201 Canon Smith Dr, Fitzroy Harbour, ON K0A 1X0, Canada

Burnstown Beach 

Situated along the Madawaska River, Burnstown Beach features a large sandy swimming area, a boat launch, and even a rowing area for those seeking adventure. 

On land, you’ll find a play structure, picnic tables, a seasonal snack bar, change rooms, washrooms, and a shaded grassy area. 

While at it, make sure not to miss out on Burnstown’s renowned artist galleries, shops, and eateries, all housed in heritage buildings, within walking distance from the beach. 

Location: 1537 Calabogie Rd, Renfrew, ON K7V 3Z4, Canada

Direction Burnstown Beach 

Petawawa Point Beach 

At the junction of the Petawawa and Ottawa rivers lies the town of Petawawa’s premiere waterfront park – Petawawa Point. 

Here, you’ll find amazing vistas, a sandy beach, a boat launch, a snack bar & canoe/kayak rentals. 

The beach might be unsupervised but rest assured, it’s well maintained and monitored regularly by the municipal staff. 

Beyond the beach, Petawawa Point stretches as a series of islands across the Ottawa River into Quebec that’s worth exploring. 

Location: Petawawa Point, Petawawa, ON K8H 3M4, Canada

Bon Echo Provincial Park Beaches 

Just a 2-hour drive from Ottawa lies the Bon Echo Provincial Park, where Mazinaw rock stands tall as a testament to indigenous heritage. 

This 1.5-km-long sheer rock face rises 100 meters from Mazinaw Lake and features over 260 indigenous pictographs – the largest visible collection in Canada. 

White at Bon Echo, take an interpretive boat tour to get up close to the cliffs or climb to the lookout atop the rock. 

Bon Echo’s main beach on Lower Mazinaw lake is a popular spot with a spacious sandy beach, a buoyed swimming area (note that there are no lifeguards), and shaded picnic spots. 

North and south beaches offer quieter alternatives for campers and day-trippers. 

Location: 16151 Hwy 41, Cloyne, ON K0H 1K0, Canada

Pine Point Beach

Nestled along the tranquil Ottawa River in the charming town of Deep River, Pine Point Beach is a true hidden treasure. 

With over 200 meters of golden, sandy shoreline, it’s a beachcomber’s paradise. The beach also offers amenities like washrooms and convenient parking. 

Surrounding the beach, you’ll find a magnificent mixed forest with winding walking trails, perfect for an afternoon stroll. 

Location: Pine Point Rd, Deep River, ON, Canada

Conclusion

Ottawa might not be the Carribean, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a day or more at the beach. Make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen, water, snacks, and lunch. If you’re planning on swimming, don’t forget your swimsuit, towel and goggles. And if you have little ones, bring them along with some sand toys for added fun. 

[sensiblehomecare]

Local Part-Time Residential Housekeeping Services Ottawa, Canada

The purpose of this introductory section is to provide a brief overview of the topic at hand.

The demand for trustworthy and competent Local House Cleaning Services Near You in Ottawa, Canada, has experienced a significant increase. Both families and individuals are actively seeking support in the upkeep of clean, well-organized, and inviting households. Local house cleaning services and part-time housekeeping providers have become crucial partners in this endeavor. This essay examines the advantages, services, and influence of these specialized specialists in improving the standard of living for people of Ottawa.

Local House Cleaning Services: An Aid in Ottawa's Domestic Maintenance

The utilization of local house cleaning services has become an essential aspect for several households in Ottawa. These services provide a variety of advantages that go beyond simply organizing living areas.

Proficient Competence: Local house cleaning services in Ottawa use skilled specialists who possess extensive knowledge in optimal cleaning methodologies, strategies, and product application. The individuals possess a high degree of specialized knowledge and skills, which guarantees a comprehensive and effective execution of residential cleaning tasks.

Time-Saving Convenience: Within the dynamic and fast-paced urban environment of Ottawa, the efficient utilization of time has a paramount significance. Engaging the services of local house cleaning providers enables individuals to allocate their time more efficiently, so enabling them to prioritize professional commitments, familial responsibilities, and recreational pursuits.

Tailored Cleaning Plans: These firms customize their solutions to align with the unique requirements and preferences of individual households. The service provider is capable of accommodating a varied variety of requirements, including but not limited to one-time thorough cleaning, regular maintenance, and customized requests.

The maintenance of good health necessitates the presence of a clean and sterilized home environment. In Ottawa, professional cleaning services employ industry-standard equipment and environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals to establish a secure and sanitary living environment for inhabitants.

The recorded literature extensively supports the notion that maintaining a clean home yields both physical and mental advantages in terms of stress reduction. The presence of a tidy and well-arranged environment has been shown to have a positive impact on individuals' mental and emotional states, resulting in decreased levels of stress and an enhanced general state of well-being. Consequently, this can contribute to the cultivation of a healthy lifestyle.

Part-time housekeeping services: Addressing Diverse Requirements

Part-time housekeeping services in Ottawa provide a range of services to a varied customer, offering a versatile approach to the administration of residential properties. These services provide convenience and flexibility to individuals in Ottawa, hence offering significant benefits to the local community.

The provision of flexible hours is a characteristic feature of part-time housekeeping services, as it allows for the accommodation of individual home requirements in terms of scheduling. Whether individuals allocate a few hours per week or engage in a more concentrated cleaning session, people modify their cleaning practices to suit their hectic schedules.

Diverse Support: In addition to performing cleaning duties, part-time housekeepers frequently provide assistance with a range of domestic responsibilities. Comprehensive home management systems encompass a range of tasks, such as laundry, meal preparation, organizing, and pet care.

Improved Quality of Life: Through the delegation of domestic tasks to external sources, individuals are able to regain valuable time and allocate it towards pursuits that hold genuine significance to them. This phenomenon results in an enhanced standard of living, as individuals are afforded increased prospects for leisure, rejuvenation, and engaging in meaningful interactions with their cherished companions.

Enhanced Productivity: The presence of a clean and well-organized home environment facilitates an atmosphere conducive to heightened productivity and concentration. The provision of Part Time Housekeeping Services Ottawa Canada has a role in fostering an environment that is conducive to the attainment of both personal and professional objectives.

In conclusion, the city of Ottawa stands to benefit from a cleaner and happier environment.

The presence of local house cleaning businesses and part-time housekeeping companies in Ottawa, Canada, has had a profound impact on the quality of life experienced by its citizens. The individuals' specialized knowledge, adaptability, and commitment to improving residential spaces have not only alleviated the responsibilities associated with domestic tasks but have also made a positive impact on the overall well-being and satisfaction of the community. In an urban setting that places significance on both its dynamic way of life and its dedication to personal welfare, these services have emerged as essential partners for households and individuals endeavoring to attain an elevated standard of living.

[avaliveradio]

T. Chandy x Sparkwood Hip Hop Collab '5hrs 2 Da 6ix'

T. Chandy x Sparkwoods- 5hrs 2 Da 6ix

Release date: Jan 06, 2023

Released by: Lionheart Productions

Genre:  Trap (Hip-hop)Rap

Similar artists: J. Cole, Big Sean, Joey Badass, Nas, Aaron May, Larussel, Jack Harlow

The first collaborative track from T. Chandy and Sparkwoods from Ottawa Ontario. This release has been an anticipated collaboration between rapper/producer T Chandy and producer Sparkwoods.

This song was written while on a trip back to Ottawa from Toronto, hence the title of the song. It details the tumultuous last year experienced, including family drama, mental health, and highs and lows of a burgeoning career.

In the coming months, this release will be accompanied by a entire collaborative project, named "Spark of Genius."

Sparkwoods is a producer/artist out of Ottawa, Ontario. Blending genres and influences from everywhere to modern hip hop, progressive rock, to experimental music. The idea with Sparkwoods is to just create music we'd like to listen to ourselves . Music is made with self intentions in mind, and hopefully these musical ideas resonate with others as well.

Artist Social:

SoundCloud - Spotify - YouTube - Instagram - Apple Music

Listen to AVA Live Radio Hip Hop Edition

[canarkcanada]

5 Tips to Increase Your Driveway’s Curb Appeal

Is the condition of your driveway beginning to deteriorate a little? Nothing adds more curb appeal to your home than a brand-new paved driveway. But how can you choose which is best for you when there are so many options? Here are 5 tips to help you get the most out of your next paving project by hiring Driveway paving services Ottawa.

Tips to Enhance Your Driveway Paving

1. Understand Your Budget:

Before you begin looking for a contractor, you must understand your budget and decide on the type of material that best fits. Paving materials can range from asphalt and concrete to stone or gravel, so make sure you research and find the material that suits your aesthetic and financial needs.

2. Find an Experienced Contractor:

If you want your driveway done right, hire an experienced contractor or Driveway paving services Ottawa who has previously done similar jobs. Before deciding, enquire for references and peruse online reviews. A good contractor can advise on what type of material would work best for your specific situation, as well as provide information on cost and installation timeline.

3. Prepare the Area:

Once you have chosen a contractor, they will likely need access to power and water to complete their job properly. Before they arrive, ensure all obstacles are cleared away from the area, such as trees and shrubs, so that they can get started quickly without any delays. Additionally, it’s important that any existing pavement is removed before new paving can be laid down – this will ensure that everything is level before installation begins.

4. Plan Ahead:

Depending on which material you choose, the time between installation and when it’s ready for use can vary significantly (from days for asphalt to weeks for concrete). Ensure that your contractor provides an estimated timeline. Hence, you know what disruption may occur during construction and if any special instructions are needed after installation (for example, avoiding driving on freshly poured asphalt).  

5. Maintenance Is Key:

Lastly, maintenance is key to keeping your Ottawa Driveway Paving in top condition! Regular cleaning with a pressure washer or garden hose can help remove dirt build-up over time – essential if you live in an area with lots of rain or snow! Additionally, sealing the pavement every few years helps protect against wear and tear caused by traffic or weather conditions – something that should be considered when considering the costs associated with maintaining your newly paved driveway!

Conclusion

A newly paved driveway isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it also increases safety around your home by improving visibility at night and providing better traction in wet or icy conditions! With these 5 tips in mind, finding Driveway paving services Ottawa who understands your budget and needs shouldn’t be too hard – so go ahead and permit yourself to start planning those projects today! Good luck!

[androsamo]

A New Immigrant to Canada: Top 10 Places to Call Home

Want to move to Canada permanently? Let's get you involved by introducing the top 10 Canadian cities for newcomers.

Since relocating to Canada has so many positive outcomes, the country is frequently ranked among the most desirable European destinations for international migrants.

Here are the top 10 places for new Canadians to call home: 1. Toronto

Toronto is vital to Canada since many Canadian financial institutions are headquartered there.

Moreover, Toronto is widely regarded as one of the friendliest places in all of Canada. Over 500 languages were reportedly spoken in the city, and most of the people who live there are not native speakers.  lmia job offer .

Toronto is a great option if you're trying to plant permanent roots in a place where you can finally feel at ease.

And if you're looking for a place to call home and start a new career, Toronto is a good option. The outcome is Canada's lowest unemployment rate, which may be found in Toronto.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is a great place to call home if you're looking for a city in Canada that welcomes immigrants and has a high quality of life.

In terms of conveniences, city life provides everything a person needs.

Also, Vancouver is one of the wealthiest cities in Canada, with over a thousand international corporations maintaining a presence there. The weather is mild, and the city is generally quiet.

Internet giants with local offices include Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc.

Calgara, Number Three

There are more foreign-born residents in Calgary than any other Canadian city, a study has shown.

The result has helped make the city a more welcoming place. There are some places you can travel to and not feel at home, but if you happen to find yourself in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, you can rest assured that you will be able to easily connect with a native speaker of your language.

As a result of its excellent resources and high employment rate, Calgary has become a popular destination for newcomers from all over the world.

Four, Halifax

Halifax is the cleanest city in Canada, according to the country's official cleaning organization, and it also places a high importance on a wide variety of cultural pursuits.

City officials are always happy to welcome newcomers, so long as they promise to play by the rules and do their best to improve life for everyone.

The City of Ottawa, Number Five

Ottawa is the capital of Canada, therefore it's impossible to visit the country without hearing about it.

Some say that all newcomers to the country should make a stop there because of the abundance of options it provides. Ottawa is a great option if you're an immigrant artist looking for a place to showcase your work and attract a large audience.

Sixth, Oakville

Oakville is a great place to live because it has one of the greatest immigrant populations in all of Canada.

Because of its calm peace and the many options it offers, Oakville has become a popular destination for newcomers.

7 - Québec

There is no city in Canada with as many supermarkets as Quebec, hence the province is often called "the jewel of Canada."

Quebec City is the place to go if you want to live a simpler, greener lifestyle.

Position Eight: Calgary

Calgary is the most populous city in Canada and home to the country's most significant oil industry.

Quebec City is where you want to call home if you want to make the most of your time in Canada.

Place No. 9: Burlington

Burlington, Canada, is the best place to start a new life without having to worry about missing out on anything.

This city offers a high standard of living and has attracted tens of thousands of newcomers due to its many attractions and opportunities for employment. And I'll add that the city is home to some of Canada's finest educational institutions.

Number Ten: Halifax

Because of its low tax rate, Halifax has become an attractive immigration destination. A high tax rate in most Canadian cities means you could end up paying a hefty sum in taxes, which isn't ideal for business owners.

[hockeyboysiguess]

Lines and Sunshine

a/n: this is based on a tiktok i saw and it immediately gave me matty vibes! also shoutout to @nolypats​ for getting me through this one when i had one scene and nothing else in mind to write. 

warnings: swearing

word count: 4K

You sighed as you let yourself fall down onto the couch. Your drink sloshed a little in your cup, splashing onto the back of your hand with a few drops landing on the arm of the curly-haired boy next to you. Matthew groaned and shook his arm with a disgusted look on his face.

“You’re the worst,” he lamented. “How dare you?”

“I dared. I did. I delivered,” you countered smoothly. “Nice to know your carefully curated appearance of four t-shirts, three pairs of gym shorts, and a cut-off sleeve Nike jacket will fall apart if two drops of beer fall on your bare arm that you can easily wipe off.”

“I carefully picked this particular shirt and shorts combination today and did not plan for wet spots on my arm and an overwhelming odor of beer to be part of the ensemble. You’re ruining me here, honey,” Matthew joked back, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he spoke to you.

You rolled your eyes at him and took a sip of your drink with a smile against the edge of the cup. Matthew gave you a soft nudge with his shoulder in response to your eye roll, which you shook off. The couch next to you shifted suddenly, causing you to break eye contact as the movement rocked you away from Matthew. You turned your head to find that Brady’s sudden weight as he plopped next to you on the couch was the culprit for tipping you almost sideways on the couch.

“Hey, Brads,” you said with a bright smile to him, giving his cup a tap with yours as a greeting.

“Hey, hey,” he replied. “Enjoying the party?”

Matthew and Brady were throwing this joint party together before they left St. Louis to return to Calgary and Ottawa respectively for training camp next week. You’d tried to argue they should call the party “Yoo-hoo, Big Summer Blowout” like from Frozen, yours and Brady’s favorite, and Matthew’s absolute least favorite, Disney princess movie. Matthew had axed the suggestion, something you’d tried incredibly hard to get him to budge on. You’d almost succeeded too when you brought out your best puppy dog eyes, but Matthew had found some extra resolve from somewhere inside and pushed you off, insisting the party remain nameless, which was cooler apparently. You thought it was bull and told him so. 

“You’re thinking that I should’ve let you name this after Frozen, aren't you?” Matthew called you out instead of letting you answer Brady’s question. “You’re fucking ridiculous.”

“And you love me for it,” you finished for him with a sharp nod of your head, your ponytail swinging with your sudden movement.

Matthew shook his head, but didn’t disagree, as he turned his attention toward the party. You sighed and let you head fall onto Matthew’s shoulder. He didn’t look at you, but he shifted and threw an arm over the back of the couch behind you to make himself into a more comfortable head rest for you. You sighed in appreciation.

“You haven’t had enough alcohol to get over the hump,” Matthew informed you. “You’re in your ‘I’ve had two drinks and now I’m a sleepy ho’ zone.”

“You don’t have to call me out like that,” you mumbled to him, making him chuckle and give you a small squeeze around your shoulders in reply.

“It’s my job as your friend to call you out on your bullshit,” he laughed as he spoke. “If I stopped, you’d need to demote me to friendly acquaintance and we all know it’s a slippery slope from there to casual acquaintance to that guy you know that plays hockey right into that guy you used to know that plays hockey. I don’t like that career path for myself, personally, so I’m going to keep doing what I was hired to do and call you out on your shit.”

You’d met Matthew and Brady a few years ago at house party of a mutual friend’s not entirely unlike this one, sending the boys off before their hockey season kicked into full gear back then. You’d met Brady first and hit it off instantly, finding kinship in being taller than your older siblings after the constant verbal and physical abuse you suffered at their hands growing up. He’d still introduced you to Matthew that night though, something he swore to this day was his biggest mistake because Matthew had immediately stolen you right from Brady and declared you were his friend first, before Brady’s. You’d tried to fight, but Matthew was persistent and you had the same sense of humor as him. 

Plus, the dimples, the curls, and the coy smile drew you in. You remembered thinking he was cute when you first met him, but also that nothing could ever come of it, so you had forced yourself past that initial feeling and had been his friend ever since with no regrets. Despite the distance, you two had remained close since that day. The two of you made a pretty formidable team when you were on the same wavelength about something. You were pretty sure it might be better for everyone in your potentially shared warpaths that you weren’t around each other as much as you would be if you lived in the same city. 

As the night dragged on, the party shrank in size, but the group of people relaxing in the couch area on the patio grew with Matthew and Brady’s closest friends. You’d been up and down a few times to fill your drink, but Matthew always saved you the seat right next to him. He never forgot about you, not even for a second, something you always appreciated. 

You felt your phone buzz in your back pocket. You sighed as you lifted your hips and grab it from your back pocket and sighed again when you saw who texted. Aaron. You read the text quickly. He was asking you if you wanted to come over after you were done with the party. Aaron was... fine. That was the best word you had for Aaron. He was nice, polite, decent in bed, and completely unextraordinary in every single way possible. You weren’t seeing anyone else and neither was he, but he wasn’t your boyfriend. Neither one of you really wanted that. Aaron was fine for now, hence why he’d stuck around for six months. He hadn’t done anything to earn you wanting to promote him from casual fling and hadn’t done anything to make you want to get rid of him either. He met your few needs, you met his, and that’s all that mattered to either of you.

“Oh, is that Aaron?”

Matthew’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts and back into the moment. You shrugged instead of actually answered. You didn’t really want to get into what he thought of Aaron right now. He’d told you that he thought Aaron was basically the human equivalent of beige wallpaper and he couldn’t understand why you talked to him the first and only time you’d let them interact. You’d kept them apart ever since.

“So it was Aaron.” Matthew answered his own question in a curious tone. “Thinking of ditching me and Brads here for him?”

“I’m not going anywhere unless you keep making comments like that,” you sang softly with a layer of caution for Matthew coating your voice as you brought your cup to your lips for another sip.

Matthew chuffed a little under your admonishment of him, but he pressed on.

“Okay, so how long have you been talking to this guy again?”

Matthew leaned forward as he asked you the question, his hands lacing together as he braced his weight onto his forearms pressed against his thighs. He raised an eyebrow at you as he waited for you to answer.

“Six months,” you replied, taking a sip of your drink to cover a sly smile that tried to rise as you continued by asking, “why?”

Matthew skipped over your question with a wave of a hand as he shifted back onto the couch, his large frame pressing into the cushions of the back of the couch. He nodded softly, one of his hands moving to his chin, scratching at the stubble there as he thought.

“And you’re not talking to anyone else?” he asked you, his pitch raising higher than normal at the end of his question.

“No,” you said firmly, pressing the red cup between your palms as you watched Matthew react to your answer.

“And he’s not talking to anyone else?” Matthew followed up after a moment of thought.

“Uh, no,” you laughed with a soft shake of your head, thinking that one-sided exclusivity didn’t do anyone any good. Kind of ruined the whole exclusivity concept if only half of the team was playing the same game.

Matthew nodded in fake understanding. You knew him well enough to know he was playing some long game you didn’t know anything about. He carded a hand through his curls, shaking them out a little with a sigh.

“So he’s your boyfriend then, right? He has to be by now and you just forgot to tell me,” Matthew continued.

You shook your head softly, “No, he’s not.”

Matthew groaned and let his head fall back, hovering over the back edge of the couch. He drummed his fingers on the exposed skin of this thigh just south of the edge of his shorts. He nodded softly and tightened his lips before lifting his head. You could’ve sworn you heard him whisper a soft, “Fuck it,” to himself, but you weren’t sure if you’d heard it or imagined it. Matthew sighed as he sat up, the words starting to flow out of his mouth as he turned towards you and locked his baby blue eyes with yours.

“So like, I’m confused here. Six months being exclusive with this dude and he’s not your boyfriend. Is he confused? Like, does he want you or not? Because he’s holding up the fucking line here!”

You opened your mouth to respond, but no words came as Matthew’s blue eyes looked deep into yours, deep into you, and as your friends circled around you started hollering and clapping. Brady next to you was particularly loud, but it was all relative. Everything else was muffled compared to how loud the silence between you and Matthew was in that moment. His eyes were tracking across your face, from the wideness of your eyes, to the wrinkles in your forehead from your surprised expression, to the tight, firm line of your lips you’d closed as you tried to figure out what to do, what to say. Matthew telling you he had been waiting the whole time you’d been seeing Aaron at the very least had beyond blindsided you.

Matthew closed his eyes softly and began to nod in understanding, curls bouncing with the movement. His tongue poked out between his teeth as a sad, forced smile pulled at his mouth. He sighed as his smile widened, but it wasn’t the smile you’d grown to know from him. It was something entirely new. He stood up without another word and headed into the house. You let out a deep breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding when the patio door shut behind him.

“He’s planned how he wanted to tell you like, six-hundred ways, but that was definitely not one of them,” Brady laughed next to you. You turned your head toward Brady, your surprised look somehow impossibly intensifying, making Brady laugh harder. “Oh yeah, he’s liked you for years now. You’ve just never lined up. You had that boyfriend, then he was sort of seeing that girl, now there’s Aaron, who is super boring by the way. He’s been trying, but the timing has never worked out for him. Got to give the guy some credit for finally growing a pair and telling you though, even if that wasn’t exactly pretty.”

“How long?” you asked, choking on the word.

You cleared your throat and repeated the question again. Brady shrugged in response.

“I don’t know, probably since that first party honestly. He made me introduce you to him when he saw us talking. Guess he thought you were cute.”

Brady said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, like he was simply ordering orange juice with brunch at a diner on Sunday morning. For you, it made your world tilt violently on its axis. Matthew was always never an option. He was so not an option you had all but deleted every memory of every thought of finding him attractive. Apparently, completely unknown to you, he’d been an option the entire time.

You stood up quickly from the couch, your fingers already pulling up Aaron’s contact information even though you didn’t have a plan on what to say to him. You knew you needed to see the sun in your life again and you knew Aaron wasn’t it. Aaron wasn’t the sun; he was a gray cloud. He was kind enough and unproblematic enough to never rain on your life. He protected you from some UV exposure, meaning bad one night stands and societally named walks of shame, but he was keeping you cool and complacent with you life. You never felt warmth on your skin from him. There was no heat, no love, no passion. A cloudy day was fine for a while. Aaron was fine for a while. You wanted the sun and you knew who it was. 

Your mom had said it the first time you’d invited Matthew over to watch a movie with you a couple of week after that party where you met. While he could be your resident pain in the ass, he charmed your mother instantly, a fact he rubbed in every now an again because your mom, like everyone, was fine, but not thrilled, with Aaron’s existence. 

“That boy is like sunshine, I swear,” she told you. “You light up when he walks in the room.”

Matthew was the sun. You wanted, needed, to feel the sun on your skin. You’d been standing near it for so long. You needed to know what it felt like to actually stand in the light. 

You walked into the house, turning the opposite direction of where you’d seen Matthew turn when he walked in. You shut the door of the front office behind you to try to give you some privacy for this. You were completely unprepared and there was a serious risk you might try and compare Aaron to a raincloud at this point if you talked to him, but there wasn’t ever going to be a better time for this. Aaron answered on the third ring, like clockwork, like he knew you too well in the worst, most superficial ways.

“Hey,” he spoke softly and steadily, as always. “Is something wrong? Need me to come pick you up?”

“Uh, no, I’m good,” you mumbled out before hastily adding a quick, “thanks.”

You cleared your throat before you tried to continue.

“Hey, Aaron.” You cleared your throat again, trying in vain to bring the pitch of your voice down. “This might be out of left field here, but what are we doing here?”

“What do you mean?” he replied after a slightly too long pause. “Are you not okay with this anymore?”

You sighed and tucked some errant strands of hair that had escaped your ponytail behind your ear as you tried to collect your thoughts.

“That’s the thing Aaron,” you breathed out. “I’m tired of things being okay. This has always just been okay and you know it. This has never been a heart-stopping, Earth-shattering, scream-how-you-feel-in-front-of-a-room-full-of-people kind of thing. And I want that, Aaron. I want passion and I want things this doesn’t have, has never had, and won’t have because that’s not us. This is just, it’s fine, Aaron. But I’m sick of fine.”

You heard Aaron breathe out harshly, not unlike how you had before you’d let all of those feelings come out. You hadn’t realized exactly where you’d been going when you opened your mouth, but you knew you’d arrived at the right thing by the end.

“Honestly, so am I.”

You almost dropped the phone at his words. You had been expecting every reaction ranging from tears to screaming to silence. Agreement wasn’t a response you’d planned for. You’d thrown it out instantly, like you do with Jokers when you open a new deck of cards because they can’t possibly be in play. There aren’t any games that actually utilize them. There wasn’t a scenario you were prepared for where Aaron agreed with you.

“What?” you managed to get out. “You agree with me?”

Aaron laughed softly before saying, “Honestly, yeah. I hope you don’t think I’m being rude when I say this. You’re a great person, but this was just something casual for both of us and I think it’s just gone on longer than we planned since we both got into it thinking it would go bad before we were two months in. It never went bad, so we kept doing it. You and I are kind of alike in that way. Unless something makes us go off the rails, as long as the train has three out of five stars, we’ll stay on it forever basically.” 

“That’s not rude. It’s exactly how I feel,” you told him, making him laugh again. You scrunched your nose up before adding, “Sorry, that probably sounded a little too relieved, huh?” 

“No, no,” Aaron chuckled. “It’s real and fine and I feel it too.”

You sighed and leaned back against the nearby desk, trying to will your nervous heartbeat to slow down for a second. You nodded softly, trying to come up with words to say. 

“What are you still doing on the phone? Go get him. Go get your real guy.” 

You paused. You weren’t sure if you’d heard Aaron right. You racked your brain, trying to remember if you’d let anything slip out that could have pointed you ending things toward Matthew. Aaron might have not been your guy, but he was still a good guy and deserved better than thinking you’d dumped him for someone else. 

“Matthew,” Aaron added before you could speak. “He finally plucked up the courage and said something, huh? About fucking time, Chucky.” 

“You knew?” you asked breathlessly. “Did everyone know but me?”

“Uh, yeah, pretty much,” Aaron informed you, laughter edging at his voice again. “So, go get him. Hang up already! No hard feelings. I’ll see you around, okay?” 

Aaron hung up for you. You slowly slid your phone into your back pocket, trying to collect your thoughts. Was what you were doing sort of sudden and crazy? Probably. It didn’t feel that way though. It felt like this was exactly what you should be doing.

Your feet carried you toward the kitchen where you assumed Matthew still was, most likely freaking out about ruining your friendship. You found him with his head hung low, one of his hands supporting him by gripping the edge of the counter behind him and the other feverishly raking through his curls. He was mumbling to himself, trying to gather his thoughts like you just had been. 

“You want to finish having this conversation with yourself or can I interrupt?” 

Matthew’s head snapped up and over toward you. His eyes soften when they connected with yours, before that same sad smile from outside came back onto his face. You knew what it was now, the unidentifiable emotion on his face. Pain. Looking at you, looking at what he thought was your rejection hurt him. He was trying to deal with it as best he could, but he was barely holding himself together. 

“Well, you’ve already interrupted, so I feel like the least you could do is come into the kitchen,” Matthew replied, waving you in with his free hand. 

“Matthew-”

“No, let me,” he cut you off as you started stepping toward him. “I’m sorry. I totally threw that at you in front of everyone. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t cool. And you have Aaron, I guess, so you’re not even really single, so it was really stupid to say. I’m really sorry and I hope-”

“Matthew Tkachuk, shut up for once in your life,” you said exasperatedly as you reached him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but then your hands grabbed his and he couldn’t focus on anything other than how it felt. His eyes were locked on your hands as you let your fingers intertwine with his. 

“I ended it,” you told him.

“You what?” Matthew choked out as his eyes snapped up to yours. “With Aaron? Just now?” 

“Yeah,” you laughed a little. “He actually took it really well. Turns out he’d been feeling a little stuck too, I guess.”

“Mm, solid,” was all Matthew had to say in reply as his attention turned back to your hands wrapped around his larger one. He wouldn’t let himself get his hopes up about what they meant for him right now. Just because you were getting rid of Aaron, didn’t mean that was permanent or that you were picking him instead. 

He started to gently squeeze your hand with his, letting his large hand dwarf both of yours and he softly moved his thumb in smooth circle over the back of your hand. The small act, the smallest of possible movements, still was far more intimate than anything you’d felt in six months with Aaron. This was what it was supposed to feel like. 

“There’s no line, Matthew.” You spoke softly and steadily, willing your words to wrap around him and take away any temporary pain your hesitation caused him. “There’s only you. You’re the one I want.”

Matthew didn’t need to double check. He knew you were sure from your tone. In the blink of an eye, his hands were on your waist, hoisting you up onto the kitchen counter as his lips crashed to yours for the first time. One of your hands tangled itself into his curls and the other rested on his broad chest, anchoring you to him.

He felt like sunshine on the first warm spring day of the year. Your skin soaked up that first light willingly, relishing in what it had missed as his warmth thawed the permafrost from your bones.

“Jesus,” you breathed out when he finally pulled back. “You’ve know how to kiss like that the whole time and you didn’t just try and do that to get my attention? Damn, Tkachuk.” 

Matthew blushed softly, a new reaction to your words you immediately threw into your favorite column of reactions to pull out of him, noting you needed to make it happen more often. He smiled softly at first, but as he looked at you, his smile wouldn’t stop growing until it was spread wide across his face. 

“I’ll make a note of it.” He paused to slide his hands under your thighs and lift you off the counter in one smooth motion. He guided your legs around his waist as your hands braced the back of his neck for support. “You know, for the next time I try to confess my feelings for a girl in front of all of my friends .” 

“Mm, hope you don’t have any plans to try and use that advice anytime soon,” you teased him back as he carried you out of the kitchen and towards his room.

“Honestly, I already threw that note away. What did it say again?” he asked you jokingly, giving you a quick peck on the lips as he walked.

“It was just a little notice letting you know I’ve moved you to boyfriend status,” you replied with a shrug, but your smile betrayed you. 

“Before I even show you all the tricks up my sleeve? Damn, mind if I show you anyway? I’ve got some pretty good ones that just might blow your mind.” 

Matthew threw you a quick wink as he pushed his bedroom door open with his back just to make sure you knew exactly what he was referring to, leaving nothing open to misinterpretation. 

“Oh really now? Try me, sunshine. I’ve got all night.” 

[freuds-cokedealer]

“‘... I cannot believe that I was unsound in stating that the West Indian labourer does not even remotely resemble the English labourer ...’

Leonard Lyle, President, Tate and Lyle Ltd.

(From a letter to The Times, 10 May 1938).

Tate & Lyle, as everyone who buys sugar should know, make a fortune every year by selling to the British workers sugar grown by Jamaica workers. They must keep these two divided at all costs. Hence with that solemn shamelessness so characteristic of British capitalism, Mr. Lyle discovers that the West Indies labourer does not remotely resemble the English labourer. The real trouble is, of course, that he resembles the English labourer too much for Mr. Capitalist Lyle.

Jamaica is the largest of the British West Indian islands, and has a population of almost a million, the majority negroes. The negroes are descendants of slaves whom the British capitalists agreed to free a hundred years ago because slave-labour in the West Indies no longer paid. These negroes today have no language but English, they have lost touch with Africa, their outlook is Western, and in some islands over three-quarters of the population is literate. But white capital has always dominated the islands and continues to do so. The government is in the hands of the whites, local and British. These give the coloured middle class good jobs in the civil services to keep them quiet. The constitution of the government gives a grudging concession here and there but the Colonial Office sees to it that power remains in the hands of the Governor.

Sir Leonard Lyle will say it is because the West Indian labourer does not resemble the British. But there is more in it than that, much more.

In 1929 came the crisis and British capitalism was up to the nose. What was to be done? Not very much, but they could at least squeeze the colonies a little more. At Ottawa they decided to keep cheap Japanese goods out of the colonies and make these blacks, so different from the British worker, buy higher-priced goods with lower wages. The islanders had no say in the matter being, of course, under the benevolent protection of Britain. The result was widespread misery. Then came “recovery”, i.e. unemployment became 1.5 million instead of 2.5. But profits went up. The West Indian labourer can read and write. He could see the profits going up, but he still had to live on his one or two shillings a day. Further, on some of the sugar estates the workers still lived in the hovels of fifty years back. The workers know about the social services in Britain, unemployment pay, small as it is, etc. But they are not allowed to have Trade Unions. They demanded better pay and better standards. The employers, like Leonard Lyle, however, thought that these men were impertinent. The result has been a series of riots in which the Government has not hesitated to shoot, arrest leaders, imprison and deport agitators. But the situation is so bad and the workers so determined that the Government and the capitalists see that they have to make some concessions, and gestures such as a few new houses, etc. They have allowed trades unions in Trinidad but they want them controlled by the Government.

What the West Indian workers need is a radical change in the whole system of Government. In 1897 a commission went to the West Indies and recommended that the big estates be broken up and peasant proprietors established. The secretary was a young man who in 1930 went back again on another commission, this time as chairman. Lord Olivier. He recommended again that the uneconomic estates should be broken up. But nothing has been done. The Government is in the hands of the capitalists and planters and they are concerned with themselves and their profits. Trade Unions? Manhood suffrage? A government elected by the people? Impossible! For, says Sir Leonard Lyle, the West Indian labourer is fundamentally different from the British worker.”

-CLR James, British Barbarism in Jamaica – Support the Negro Workers’ Struggle (June 1938)

[ziva-sims]

List 5 facts about your favorite sim, and send this to 10 people whose sims you adore! ❤ 

Thank you @white-enamel-ts3​ for tagging me !

(Yeah I think I’ve already picked her before but I’m currently in the process of re-writing her story for the umpteenth time so here I go).

1. If you don’t know it already because I probably said it a thousand times, Ziva is the first Sim I ever created (hence my blog’s name !) and this is how she looked like in 2011. Yep. I’ve come a long way. 

2. I can’t give her an exact age but she’s in her early thirties. 

3. She was born and raised in France but currently lives in Canada, in some fictitious city which would probably be something between Toronto and Ottawa. 

4. She’s a tea addict

5. She barely wears any jewelry because it always bothers her. Necklaces getting stuck in her hair, rings and bracelets clinking against tables... 

[leanstooneside]

Acting in an unethical manner

1. IT IS IT

2. WOMEN THE HAUGHTIEST NATIONS LAWS THE LANDSCAPE PEOPLE ANIMALS THE PROFOUND EARTH AND ITS ATTRIBUTES AND THE UNQUIET OCEAN SO TELL I MY MORNING'S ROMANZA ALL ENJOYMENTS

3. STUDY COULD NOT TEACHWHAT THE PREACHING COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH IS ACCOMPLISH'D

4. WHOEVER HE LOOKS AT IN THE TRAVELER'S COFFEE HOUSE CLAIMS HIM THE ITALIAN OR FRENCHMAN IS SURE THE GERMAN

5. SOMETHING WHICH OBEYS NONE OF THE REST IT IS OFFENSIVE NEVER DEFENSIVEYET HOW MAGNETIC IT

6. JOY OF MY SPIRITIT IS UNCAGEDIT

7. HIM ALL WAIT FOR HIM ALL YIELD UP TO HIS WORD IS DECISIVE AND FINAL HIM

8. I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU I DO NOT OFFER THE OLD SMOOTH PRIZES BUT OFFER ROUGH NEW PRIZES THESE ARE THE DAYS THAT MUST HAPPEN TO YOU YOU SHALL NOT HEAP UP WHAT IS CALL'D

9. HE IS THE ANSWERER

10. HE WALKS WITH PERFECT EASE IN THE CAPITOL HE WALKS AMONG THE CONGRESS AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS TO ANOTHER HERE IS OUR

11. BAYS LAGOONS CREEKS OR ALONG THE COAST TO CONTINUE AND BE EMPLOY'D THERE ALL MY LIFE THE BRINY AND DAMP SMELL THE SHORE THE SALT WEEDS EXPOSED AT LOW WATER THE WORK OF FISHERMEN THE WORK OF THE EEL FISHER AND CLAM FISHER I COME WITH MY CLAM RAKE AND SPADE I COME WITH MY EEL SPEAR IS THE TIDE

12. THE WALLING AND MOANING AT INTERVALS THE THOUGHT OF THE SEA THE THOUGHT OF SHIPS STRUCK IN THE STORM AND PUT ON THEIR BEAM ENDS AND THE CUTTING AWAY OF MASTS THE SENTIMENT OF THE HUGE TIMBERS OF OLD FASHION'D HOUSES AND BARNS THE REMEMBER'D PRINT OR NARRATIVE THE VOYAGE AT A VENTURE OF MEN FAMILIES GOODS THE DISEMBARKATION THE FOUNDING OF A NEW CITY THE VOYAGE OF THOSE WHO SOUGHT A NEW ENGLAND AND FOUND IT THE OUTSET ANYWHERE THE SETTLEMENTS OF THE ARKANSAS COLORADO OTTAWA WILLAMETTE THE SLOW PROGRESS THE SCANT FARE THE AXE RIFLE SADDLE BAGS THE BEAUTY OF ALL ADVENTUROUS AND DARING PERSONS THE BEAUTY OF WOOD BOYS AND WOOD MEN WITH THEIR CLEAR UNTRIMM'D FACES THE BEAUTY OF INDEPENDENCE DEPARTURE ACTIONS THAT RELY ON THEMSELVES THE AMERICAN CONTEMPT FOR STATUTES AND CEREMONIES THE BOUNDLESS IMPATIENCE OF RESTRAINT THE LOOSE DRIFT OF CHARACTER THE INKLING THROUGH RANDOM TYPES THE SOLIDIFICATION THE BUTCHER IN THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE THE HANDS ABOARD SCHOONERS AND SLOOPS THE RAFTSMAN THE PIONEER LUMBERMEN IN THEIR WINTER CAMP DAYBREAK IN THE WOODS STRIPES OF SNOW ON THE LIMBS OF TREES THE OCCASIONAL SNAPPING THE GLAD CLEAR SOUND OF ONE'S OWN VOICE

13. IT WAS BEGINNINGLESS TO UNDERGO MUCH TRAMPS OF DAYS RESTS OF NIGHTS TO MERGE ALL IN THE TRAVEL THEY TEND TO AND THE DAYS AND NIGHTS THEY TEND TO AGAIN TO MERGE THEM IN THE START OF SUPERIOR JOURNEYS TO SEE NOTHING ANYWHERE BUT WHAT YOU MAY REACH IT AND PASS IT TO CONCEIVE NO TIME HOWEVER DISTANT BUT WHAT YOU MAY REACH IT AND PASS IT TO LOOK UP OR DOWN NO ROAD BUT IT STRETCHES AND WAITS FOR YOU HOWEVER LONG BUT IT STRETCHES AND WAITS FOR YOU TO SEE NO BEING NOT GOD'S OR ANY BUT YOU

14. REFUSALS HATES POSTPONEMENTS MEANNESS LAZINESS NONE OF THESE WANTING WAS ONE WITH THE REST THE DAYS AND HAPS OF THE REST WAS CALL'D BY MY NIGHEST NAME BY CLEAR LOUD VOICES OF YOUNG MEN AS THEY SAW ME APPROACHING OR PASSING FELT THEIR ARMS ON MY NECK AS I STOOD OR THE NEGLIGENT LEANING OF THEIR FLESH AGAINST ME AS I SAT SAW MANY I LOVED IN THE STREET OR FERRY BOAT OR PUBLIC ASSEMBLY YET NEVER TOLD THEM A WORD LIVED THE SAME LIFE WITH THE REST THE SAME OLD LAUGHING GNAWING SLEEPING PLAY'D THE PART THAT STILL LOOKS BACK ON THE ACTOR OR ACTRESS THE SAME OLD ROLE THE ROLE THAT IS WHAT WE

15. PROPERTIES AND MONEY AND WHATEVER MONEY WILL BUY THE BEST FARMS OTHERS TOILING AND PLANTING AND HE UNAVOIDABLY REAPS THE NOBLEST AND COSTLIEST CITIES OTHERS GRADING AND BUILDING AND HE DOMICILES THERE NOTHING FOR ANY ONE BUT WHAT IS FOR HIM

16. MEWHAT YOU ARE WHATEVER IT IS I

17. IT AVAILS NOT TIME NOR PLACEDISTANCE AVAILS NOT I AM WITH YOU YOU MEN AND WOMEN OF A GENERATION OR EVER SO MANY GENERATIONS HENCE JUST AS YOU FEEL WHEN YOU LOOK ON THE RIVER AND SKY SO I FELT JUST AS ANY OF YOU IS ONE OF A LIVING CROWD

18. IT IS VAIN TO SKULKDO

19. I SPRING UP THE RIGGING TO LOOK WITH THE RESTWE DESCEND WILD WITH EXCITEMENT I LEAP IN THE LOWER'D BOAT WE ROW TOWARD OUR PREY WHERE HE LIES WE APPROACH STEALTHY AND SILENT I SEE THE MOUNTAINOUS MASS LETHARGIC BASKING I SEE THE HARPOONEER STANDING UP I SEE THE WEAPON DART FROM HIS VIGOROUS ARM O SWIFT AGAIN FAR OUT IN THE OCEAN THE WOUNDED WHALE SETTLING RUNNING TO WINDWARD TOWS ME AGAIN I SEE HIM RISE TO BREATHE WE ROW CLOSE AGAIN I SEE A LANCE DRIVEN THROUGH HIS SIDE PRESS'D DEEP TURN'D IN THE WOUND AGAIN WE BACK OFF I SEE HIM SETTLE AGAIN THE LIFE IS LEAVING HIM

20. HORSEMAN'S AND HORSEWOMAN'S