I think I'm turning Canadian

I really think so. Last night, I went to the neighborhood bar in order to watch the World Jr. Hockey championship game. I sighed when the Swedish team scored. I cheered when Canada won (for the fifth time!) I drank my beer. I don't watch sports. I certainly don't go to bars to watch sports. And now I'm watching a Jr. world championship? Who even knew there was such a thing?

I got sucked into the competition over the weekend when we went to the same bar to hear a band. During one of their breaks, everyone watched the semi-final game between Canada and Russia. It was an amazing game, with Canada scoring a tie-making point in the last five seconds of regular play. Then a no-scoring overtime and a shoot-out. Canada scored two points to Russia's zero.

After that, I had to watch the final. The gold-medal game was much less interesting. Canada dominated throughout with a final score of 5 to 1. Canada was pretty agressive and their players spent a lot of time in the penalty box. Which led to many Swedish power plays. Will and I were thinking this sounds like some sort of sexual manoeuver. It definitely sounds more exciting than a Canadian power play.

So, I guess I watch hockey now. And not just any hockey, Junior hockey. Winter is long up here in the cold, cold north.

life as montage

I used to think that I wanted to live my life as a narrative, removed of all extraneous material, all elements tidily connected thematically, all of it with meaning (profound, tear-jerking, life-altering of course). Now I've realized that what I really want is to life my life as a montage. Not all of it of course; we can slow down for the really meaningful bits, but there are some things where I just don't need to experience anything but the highlights. For instance:

*the looming Canadian winter. Every local I have met has warned me (without prompting) about the terrible winter. One woman told me about how last year her driveway became a tunnel of snow where she had to squeeze in between the car and a wall of ice to get into the car and one slip would land her underneath the car. I also saw a commercial the other day which featured a "Canadian police chase": criminal and police both spinning their wheels in two foot drifts. I know that winter has its highish points, so let's montage those: ice skating on the Rideau canal, a ski trip or two, cozying up with hot cocoa, a blanket, and a book. Music: something from Hem or Richard Hawley.

*my efforts to rid myself of the wedding/ moving weight. It's no big deal really, but annoying, so it screams for montage. Me eating only healthy food (of course), me doing sit-ups (whatever), me running through a flock of geese--all with "Eye of the Tiger" playing in the background.

*my Phd. Look, it's just a hoop people. Let's montage it. Me sitting at my desk, surrounded by stacks of paper and books (I've got the scene all set for that one), me crying late at night because I just can't go on, me triumphant standing before the committee spouting off about things no one really cares about, me with bigger paycheck (ha, ha). Music: The Jackson Five's ABC?


What do you want to montage?