SYTYCD! Top! Eight!

On August 29, 2012 By LynnIn TurtleHead

Well! The top ten certainly did not disappoint last week. May I say, I thought that was some of the best choreography I’ve seen on the show to date, and the dancers were incredible, too. I am not too sure about the elimination process this season but I have really come to love the all-star top-ten format – it’s so great to see some favourite dancers return, it allows for way more dance numbers per show, and I think the quality is much higher.

Now, to the ranking! I’m going to rank the girls and guys separately again, as it seems to make the most sense this season where there will be two winners. But if I were ranking them together, there would be four girls at the top, and four boys at the bottom. The boys are fine, but the girls are all outstanding and I love them. Can’t there be a four-way tie for first? No? Sigh.

Lindsay. Did I just say that? I did! I thought she was brilliant this week – of course, she had the good fortune to draw Jacob as her partner, who is not only fantastic, but has this magical quality of always making his partners look just as good as he is. Still, Lindsay stayed with him, the piece was sharp and memorable (Spencer Liff is my new favourite choreographer), and most importantly, her past appearances in the bottom allow her to show “growth,” which America loves. She should have no problem sailing into the top 4.

Eliana. She needed a big performance this week, and I’d say she got it. She actually outshined Alex onstage, I thought, and this number – set to a fabulous arrangement of one of my favourite songs, Bang Bang by Nancy Sinatra – was so, so memorable. My one quibble is that we already knew she could do this kind of dancing, and do it well, so it doesn’t show us anything new. However, it was still great, she has a billion watt smile, and I think she deserves to win. I’m positive the judges would save her over any of the remaining women so she should sail into the final two, at least.

Tiffany. She’s turning into quite a little firecracker – I have high hopes for her tonight. As usual, Doriana Sanchez rocked the disco and Tiffany’s number with Brandon was fab. Plus, totally awesome outfit. She’s growing all the time and I think deserves to stay.

Witney. It shames me to put Witney last, after her dreamy number with Nick last week, choreographed by Travis. She could have been sharper and snappier, I thought, but there’s no mistaking the fact that she was hypnotically beautiful to watch. I suspect she’ll be sent home tonight…ah, if only everyone could stay.

As for the boys…

Cyrus. I watched last week’s show with my mom and older sister, and I was all like, “I don’t have a favourite this season,” and they were all like, “DUH, CYRUS.” So apparently, Cyrus has captured the hearts and minds of the nation, which is actually okay with me, because he’s a sweetie and a cool dude. His dancing? Pretty much beside the point. I mean, he was okay and everything last week but he’s no George or Matthew, highly deserving dudes who are now gone. Plus, Jamie (LOVE HER) totally carried his ass. Still, if he wins the whole shebang, I won’t be sad.

Will. Oh, how I am trying to like Will. I am TRYING. However. He was totally outshone by Kathryn last week – he has the goofy, fun spirit for Bollywood but none of the required snap. My mom and sister think he’s adorably cute. I am apparently the only one on the planet who is not charmed by Will. But I am trying. GAH.

Chehon. First let me say, I ADORED the choreography of the Dave Scott number he did with Lauren last week. However, his dancing was just not loose and groovy enough. Lauren, who I usually do not like, totally rocked it, she was flowing and jamming all over the place. Chehon, however, struggled. I love what he can do but he needs to work on his versatility.

Cole. Wow, from first last week to the bottom of the pack this week. Between an injury that kept him out of the group number (but OMG, I died to see Tyce dancing, he was actually fantastic, I thought), to pulling Anya as his partner, it’s a tough week for him to win votes. I think Anya and Allison are the hardest all-stars to get, as they are both so incredibly magnetic that their partner just disappears, and sadly, Cole was no exception. Speaking of Anya, I thought she was showing a little weakness this time, not quite as snapping and snazzy as usual – but still so, so charismatic. I wonder, though, if her time is waning and we will see Witney or Lindsay appearing as ballroom all-stars next year.

And speaking of next year, here’s some all-stars I want to see back: Janeane, Sasha, Melanie, Sabra, and Phillip Chbeeb (known simply as CHBEEB in my house). Please, Nigel?

The One Percent

On August 27, 2012August 27, 2012 By LynnIn TurtleHead13 Comments

Ninety-nine percent of the time, I’m a perfectly cheerful, friendly human being.

One percent of the time, I’m bitchy.

I feel like I’m always being judged on that one percent. All the good things I do count for nothing compared to the bad. No amount of tender loving care erases the moments of weakness.

I’ll run errands with the kids all day, patiently keeping them entertained and in check, then in the last store I’ll break and snap at them – only to notice someone staring at me and wondering what kind of mother these poor children have.

I know my kids will never remember all the times we painted, or went to the park, or played Sorry all day long, the way they’ll remember the time I screamed at them to shut up while struggling to park the van, the way I told them that was enough TV for one day, the one time, one time, I didn’t look when coming down off a stool in the closet and stepped on my daughter’s leg.

ONE. TIME.

I’ll be kind and gentle (but firm) with the children all day, taking full advantage of teachable moments, but when my husband comes home from work and I’m rushing to make dinner and handle homework and keep everyone from killing each other, he’ll hear me tell the kids to get out of the kitchen RIGHT NOW and he’ll say that’s a little harsh, isn’t it? and I’ll look at him with daggers in my eyes and I’ll know that out of all the great moments of the day, this the moment we will have to discuss later this evening.

I like to think that I am not so snap with the judgements, that I can make room for other people’s weak moments in my life. That I can put things into perspective and be generous with my thinking and believe in the basic good of people who sometimes do bad things.

But I’m sure I have done the same, been the same. Formed an entire opinion of someone based on a passing instant in a shop. Made huge assumptions about a family member’s mood or intentions based on one comment. Thought back to a holiday and had it tainted by one bad word by someone I met in passing.

I need to do better. I need to be better. Be the change you want to see in the world.

So You Think You Can Dance Dance Dance

On August 22, 2012August 21, 2012 By LynnIn TurtleHead4 Comments

Hard to believe, but summer is almost over, school is starting soon, and Dance! Show! is already up to the top 10. I blinked, and two months went by, how did that happen?

It’s a shortened season this year, which means that the top 10 haven’t had as many weeks to develop their personas and their skills as in previous years. That’s why it may seem to you (as it does to me) that this is one the weakest top tens in recent memory. Usually when we hit the top 10, there’s already some frontrunners and I feel somewhat confident in ranking them, top to bottom. This year, when I gave it some (SOME – hahaha!) thought, I found it really hard to believe that the people I have near the top are actually the best this season has to offer. There just haven’t been any real standouts for me this season, and as a result, people are voting on sheer popularity of backstory, which is never a good thing.

Not that I will be stopped from ranking them, no, not at all! Here we go!

Cole. Here’s a prime example of how clueless I am this season. Cole has had a few real standout performances, his style is unique, and he’s very charismatic. But he’s also a little intense at times, and not in a good way; also, I find that he is very internal when performing and thus does not always click with his partner. And yet, I feel like he’s both the best man left, and the most popular man left. Am I right? NO IDEA. Side note: his performance last week in Mia’s addiction number was amazing, he was the only one in the entire competition to really transcend the original. So good.

Audrey. I am still suffering from the delusion that Audrey and Tiffany are the same person. In their interviews they are so identical in look and personality that I can barely tell them apart. And yet – when they dance, they are both so, so good. I am putting Audrey above Tiffany only because I think her performances with Matthew, particularly the Travis/Titanic one, has made her stand out more in voters’ minds. But really, they are both great.

Tiffany. See above, re: Audrey. I personally feel that Tiffany is actually better. I think she can really blow this competition apart if she has a good couple of weeks – or, she could total wallflower and vanish from our memories with a whimper. Who can say?

Chehon. Chehon’s last day audition dance in Las Vegas will live forever in my memory, and apparently, in the memories of the American public as well. He’s been doing well in the competition but Mary hit the nail on the head last week when she said he needs to let go more, just be a little freer and not quite so perfectly placed. His dazzling strength and partnering skills are sure to keep him in the mix in the weeks to come. He reminds me a lot of SYTYCD Canada’s Season 3 winner, Denys, so he could go all the way here.

Cyrus. Oh boy, what to say about Cyrus. He’s the weakest dancer left. And yet…so magical when he does his own style, and there is a lot to be said about the way he continues to just throw himself into every dance with abandon and commitment. Of all the dancers, he had the most growing to do, and thus, continues to show the most improvement week to week. That goes a long way with voters, and add to that his great smile and his mind-blowing solos and his positive attitude, and you have one popular guy. In the past, popular guys like this have been voted off in the number five position, so here he is on my list. And yet, Russell won in Season 6 with a very similar backstory and so…anything could happen here. As an aside, the judges were a little down on his performance last week and of course, he’s no Twitch, but I thought he actually did a great job of capturing the character and deserved more praise.

George. I adore George. I’m so happy the judges saved him last week, I thought for sure they would go for Matthew (who seemed like such a genuinely nice guy, and also, would have given them lots of performance choices for the tour with Audrey). I think George is probably the best male dancer left, really, but I can’t put him anywhere near the top of the list because he’s been in the bottom 3 for a couple of weeks now (WHY, AMERICA, WHY?). He and Tiffany had my most favourite Mia number last week and George, in particular, did me proud, I thought he smashed it. I hope he gets a really great number this week (please not ballroom please not ballroom) so everyone can revel in his glory.

Witney. I like Witney fine but I feel like I’m still waiting for her breakout moment. Every week she’s really, really good, and yet unmemorable. I thought she was the best girl last week – I mean, it’s pretty hard to screw up the bench number (that choreography is fabulous), but she did a really good job with the characterization, too. I am guessing that she will be getting ballroom next week (helloooooo, Pasha) and possibly every week after that so the judges can defend having ballroom on this show at all. She seems fairly popular, and with some good performances she might turn out to be the top female. Gah, I have no idea.

Lindsay. I feel as though Lindsay has shown more growth than Witney so far this season. Maybe she’s just had more variety in her draws, and maybe it’s because she has to do twice as much work to make the chemistry happen with the chilly Cole. Also, although I adore her, I thought she was weaker than Witney initially – but now I am not so sure. I think she could really dazzle us with the right all-star partner – and I want to see her go far. Sadly, her past appearances in the bottom 3 have possibly marked her for early elimination. At least she made the top 10, which I felt was the right choice, much as I love love loved Amelia.

Eliana. Eliana is my favourite dancer this season and but I feel like she has not lived up to her potential, which is a fatal problem on reality shows. People like to see growth, change, overcoming adversity. I’m quite anxious to see how she will do with a partner other than Cyrus; I’d love to see her do some contemporary and let her shine in her own style. More than the other girls, though, I feel like her dance life is on the line – she needs a big number next week or she may be in danger.

Will. You could have knocked me over with a feather when Will was ushered into the top 10. I called him in week one to be the first person going home. WTF, America? I just don’t get it. I thought he had a nice spark with Amelia but in general, I find his dancing sloppy and weak; he has neither the power nor the personality of the other boys. He’s like a nice cuddly teddy bear, but what shines on this show is lithe, strong racehorses. There’s very few people in the top 10 that I am passionate about protecting, but Will is the only one who I think actually deserves to be bottom three next week. We’ll see, America, we’ll see.

I’m sure next week’s top 8 ranking will be completely different. I admit, I am absolutely making things up this year. Not that that will stop me at all. No, not at all. See you next week!

Summer of Awesome – Altitude Gym Clip and Climb

On August 21, 2012August 13, 2012 By LynnIn Summer of Awesome, TurtleHead6 Comments

The Altitude Gym is a rock climbing gym over in Hull for serious rock climbers. Athletes in training can get out the chalk and the fancy sock-shoes and climb a variety of walls that are intensely challenging.

Not too kid friendly.

But! They have a totally awesome, one-of-a-kind, kick-ass back room: the Clip and Climb.

A mecca for little climbers everywhere. WHOO WHEE!

It’s several funky, offbeat, fun climbing walls and structures meant for amateurs and kids. You climb just in comfy clothes and regular running shoes.

You climb, and you climb, and you climb.

There’s easier walls and more challenging walls. Walls with lights, walls with doorknobs, walls that are made of velcro that you climb with velcro gloves.

There’s glow-in-the-dark walls, lego-themed walls, and timed walls for racing purposes. There’s also a series of pillars you can climb and those ones near the top are HIGH, OMG. Also wobbly. O. M. G.

Altitude Gym Clip and Climb towers of terror

The Clip and Climb is meant for families and it’s especially great for a single parent with several kids in tow. That’s because the kids are able to clip themselves in, and once they are checked by a staff member, they’re free to climb. They don’t need anyone to hold the rope (“belay” is what the cool kids call it) at the bottom.

Why is that? Each wall in the Clip and Climb room has a giant retractable pulley thing at the top that holds the rope you are clipped to. As you climb, the rope coils up and stays taut, giving you a bit of support.

When you hit the top, you just let go, and the pulley thing provides counter weight, lowering you slowly to the ground. You tether the climbing rope to the ground, unclip your harness, and you’re free to run off to the next wall and climb away.

Now, some caveats: my kids were quite tentative at first, and even though they were allowed to climb on their own, they felt much more comfortable with a parent at hand. The Clip and Climb is not cheap, and Sir Monkeypants and I did not do a whole lot of climbing on our own, so if you are coming in with a lot of kids, it’s probably worth it not to climb yourself, and just act in a supervisory/supportive role. On the other hand, it did encourage our kids a lot to see us climbing ourselves, so that was worth it for inspiration purposes.

Another warning: the pulley system will definitely catch you when you let go…but, there’s a couple of feet of free fall before it kicks in. You really have to find the heart to trust the system and it can be a little scary the first time. The free fall thing actually did not seem to bother my kids at all, they were soon climbing then swinging away from the wall in a carefree manner. I personally, however, found it a bit alarming and every time I hit the top of a wall, I had to spend a minute or two talking myself into letting go. I am a HUGE WUSS. It was good for me, though.

Last tip: there are two structures in the Clip and Climb that cost extra. One is a giant slide – they pull you up on a hand hold to the top, then you let go and literally fall straight down before sliding out the curved end. It’s SUPER FUN – all three of our kids LOVED it – but a tad expensive at an extra $4 per slide. Then there’s the Leap of Faith – a tower with a crane where you can climb up to a platform, then leap out into space and try to catch the swing on the end of the crane. Again, it costs an extra $4 to try this stunt and it’s a real test of your mettle – we saw a few smaller kids back out.

Altitude Gym Clip and Climb Giant Slide — This is the giant slide – I was too gutless to try it, but the kids loved it.

Now, let’s talk details. First, you need to reserve a spot for the Clip and Climb; your reservation covers 15 minutes of safety instruction and then an hour of climbing. You can usually call one or two days in advance and have your choice of time slots; I should mention that the Clip and Climb is only open on weekday evenings from 5 to 9, and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Your one hour of climbing isn’t cheap; the cost is $13.95 per person (regardless of age), and don’t forget the giant slide and Leap of Faith are extra. All in all, we spent close to $100 for our family-of-five Clip and Climb experience, so it’s not the kind of thing we’ll do every week; still, it was a unique experience, we loved the fact that our kids got to do something new and something physical. Since it’s indoors, it’s a great place to take antsy kids on a rainy or snowy day to blow off some steam, and it’s great if you’ve got a wide range of ages, since older kids and teens can have the run of the place on their own while you’re helping any youngsters.

Children under 5 require a one-to-one parent supervisor; however, I’m not sure I’d go much younger than five for this activity. Precocious four-year-olds who really love to climb and have a lot of energy would have a good time; younger than that will likely find the walls too tough and maybe too scary.

Our own five-year-old is a tentative little girl, and she required quite a bit of coaxing just to go three or four feet up in the air on a handful of walls. She’s still quite anxious to go back, though. OF COURSE.

Overall, we all give the Clip and Climb a Summer of Awesome Must Do.

Summer of Awesome – Pinto Valley Ranch

On August 19, 2012August 21, 2012 By LynnIn Summer of Awesome, TurtleHead4 Comments

So my girls are still heavily into horses, and the Olympics did not help matters any. So to (hopefully) further dissuade them against the whole idea, I took them out to Pinto Valley Ranch.

The ranch is located in Fitzroy Harbour, which makes it a bit of a hike – it’s about 1/2 hour north of Kanata. What makes it worth it, though, is that it’s one of the few places around where amateurs can have a go at horseback riding.

They have several ponies on hand for younger kids. You can pick out a pony, then take a 10 minute or 20 minute ride around the paddock – your pony will be guided on the ground by an experienced rider, and your child will just be able to get the feel of a gentle walk and enjoy visiting with the horses.

Once you hit 11 years old, you’re old enough to qualify for their trail rides. The trail rides are for all levels of riders – their horses are seriously so gentle and easy that even total beginners will be safe and sound. The horses and riders travel as a group along a pretty trail for about an hour, so you and your child can get a good feel for what it means to be on horseback.

The ranch is a quiet, laid back kind of place. It’s not like other in-town attractions, where you’re running from one high-octane activity to the next. Besides the horse riding, there’s nothing “to do,” per se.

But just being out on the farm was a surprisingly fun experience for the kids. There are plenty of animals about – llamas and goats, funny loud roosters in a pen, pigs that are allowed to roam free (my kids LOVED them), kittens in the barn. If you’re lucky, you might bump into a free-running peacock or two. You’re free to walk up and down the stalls in the barn, too, visiting quietly with the horses, stroking then on the nose, imagining you own one and it sleeps in your bedroom and you ride it to school every day and Mommy, can I please please please have a horse???

Sigh.

Roosters in the barn at Pinto Valley Ranch

There’s a small tuck shop where you can sit inside and have a snack, and buy treats or drinks. There’s plenty of outdoor toys for little ones to explore. It’s quite pleasant to just sit and enjoy the barn smells and sounds. A slow-going afternoon in the country, if you will.

We were there for about 2 1/2 hours total – enough time for a pony ride, a snack, a visit with the other animals…and then another pony ride. I am a sucker.

If you are at all interested in the ranch, now is the time to go, and I mean like now, today. The ranch is facing some hard times right now – first of all, the drought this summer has caused a massive hay shortage in the area, and the ranch is looking at selling up to half its horses to make ends meet. Secondly, the owners’ kids are all in full day school now, so they’re starting to wonder when (or if) it’s time to hang up the saddles. It’s too bad, as it’s the perfect place to introduce a possible horse-loving child to these kind, gentle animals.

Also I should mention, they have day camps all summer long where your child can spend a week learning basic horse handling skills in the summer; and in the winter, you can head on out for a sleigh ride (advanced booking required).

So go, now, today, while you still have a chance to support this great local business.

Some important details: The day camps run in the mornings, so the rides are only open to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the afternoons. You can show up any time for a pony ride; trail rides run in the summer on this schedule. IMPORTANT NOTE: if the temperature is above 30 degrees, rides for that day are cancelled due to the weather being too dangerous for the animals. They’re open every day in the summer, then Thursdays through Sundays for September and October.

The pony rides are $10 for 10 minutes, $20 for 20 minutes; trail rides are $40 per rider (no double riders allowed). A wee bit expensive, but it’s the only expense you’ll have there, and it was SO worth it to my girls.

Shout out to Ponyboy and DotCom – best horses ever. You’ll live forever in my daughters’ dreams.

Summer of Awesome – Mini Golf Gardens

On August 17, 2012August 14, 2012 By LynnIn Summer of Awesome, TurtleHead

It took me years, years to admit that I have a secret love: mini golf. Oh, I try to play it cool, act like it’s no big thing, it’s “for the kids.” But I have to admit that it’s me who loves the putt putt. It’s not even about the competition or the personal challenge of achieving par or the thrill of the hole-in-one. It’s just about the mental challenge of calculating the angles. And also, the little coloured balls.

I’m a junkie.

So I took the kids to check out Mini Golf Gardens, which is an outdoor mini putt place at the corner of Merivale and Colonnade, that’s only open in the summer months (April through October). It’s straight up mini golf here; two courses, each 18 holes, and nothing else. Just you, the putter, and open expanses of fake green grass.

Heaven.

Both courses are really pretty, with waterfalls and streams and trees, and also well thought out. It’s not the kind of place with giant windmills and or loop-the-loops for the balls. Instead, the course relies more on wacky bumps, bridges, and barriers to make it interesting. I personally found the two courses to be the perfect combination of challenging and fun. The kids were well able to handle it – my nine-year-old and seven-year-old were able to get par a few times, and finished the courses in about 65 strokes, which is not too shabby.

The five-year-old did a lot of stick-handling moves with her putter. We were down with that, too. Meanwhile, I got three holes-in-one. I ROCKED it.

It’s a lovely little course, a nice place to spend a morning or afternoon outside, and a good challenge for both kids and adults. It will take you about an hour and a half to do both courses. Plus, I’d recommend stopping halfway through for a visit to the tuck shop, which features ultra-rare banana slushies, along with other drinks and treats. It’s a little exposed in spots, so be sure to wear sunscreen and bring hats.

Mini Golf Gardens is probably not the cheapest miniputt in town – $9 adults, $7.50 for kids under 12. But for a junkie like me, it was well worth it – definitely my favourite of all the courses we’ve done in Ottawa.

We’ll be back. I have like, five other ball colours to get through!

DANCE SHOW OMG.

On August 15, 2012August 15, 2012 By LynnIn TurtleHead3 Comments

Kay, I know I already blogged once today, and there’s some kind of official blogger rule about that (isn’t there?), but OMG, DANCE SHOW.

So You Think You Can Dance has been on hiatus for the past two weeks, but I hardly noticed as my eyeballs were glued to the Olympics 24-7. Yesterday I realized that it would be returning this week and I was pleased, but kind of whatever-ish about it. In fact, I even said to Sir Monkeypants that I couldn’t even remember who the heck was on the show this season.

But then! I read this article about how tonight, THIS VERY NIGHT, the seven remaining couples will each dance one of Mia Michael’s most famous pieces from past seasons. AND, she did a new group number for tonight, as well.

Then I swooned and everything went dark for a few moments. COLOUR ME EXCITED.

You can click on the link above, which leads to Entertainment Weekly magazine’s website, to see embedded videos of all seven of the original performances. I expect I will be doing nothing else all day.

Of the seven remaining couples, here’s who I want to see dance which number:

Time (originally by Lacey and Neill in Season 3) – This is the one with all the flowers on the floor, where the girl represents young Mia and the guy, her father in heaven. This is actually not one of my Mia favourites, so I’m really looking forward to seeing it danced by a different couple and see if I connect with it more this time. I would give this one to Darien and Janelle. She’s so tiny, I think it will evoke the father-daughter dynamic the piece is going for, and Darien is well up to the challenge of being ethereal.

Hometown Glory (originally by Katee and Joshua, Season 4) – SUPER excited they picked this one, as it is my all-time favourite Mia Miachaels couple dance, and it is almost always overlooked and forgotten. I have to say, I cannot imagine anyone dancing it as perfectly as Katee and Joshua – Katee especially is just MESMERIZING. I am giving this one to Lindsay and Cole because I sometimes find they are lacking in personal connection, and this piece is about competition between two friends – plus, it’s sharp, snappy lines should suit Cole’s style to a T.

Mercy (“The Door”, originally by Katee and Twitch, Season 4) – It’s way too bad that Amber and Brandon aren’t still on the show as they would have kicked the shit out of this one. Instead, I will have to give it to Will and Amelia. I think they are kind of controversial couple as some people hate Will, and some people hate Amelia. I personally am an Amelia-lover-Will-hater, but together, they have turned in three of my favourite performances so far this season. I think they have the fire and the spark to pull this one off.

Dreaming with a Broken Heart (“The Bed”, originally by Kherington and Twitch, Season 4) – Matthew and Audrey are becoming the favourite couple this season, but their extreme youngness sometimes bothers me. This piece would give them both the chance to show off some adult emotions.

Calling You (“The Bench”, originally by Heidi and Travis, Season 2) – This is, obviously, the marquee number – it’s Mia’s signature dance and her most famous. I want to see them give this one to Tiffany and George. I adore George, I think he has real star power, and of all the male dancers this season, he’s the one who comes closest to Travis’ style and heart and power. I think it will really give him a chance to shine and show off how awesome he is. It’s too obvious to give this one to Matthew and Audrey – I’ll be disappointed if that happens.

Gravity (“Addiction”, originally by Kayla and Kupono, Season 5) – This one is perfect for Cyrus and Eliana. I adore Eliana, I think she is getting buried in this competition because she is carrying a weak (if totally charming, and brave, and adorable) partner. This piece should not be too taxing on Cyrus – he is more than up for the theatrics of it, and dance-wise, he’s mostly partnering and lurking. On the flip side, Eliana will be expected to carry this piece and I think she can, and will win hearts and votes by doing so.

Koop Island Blues (“The Butt Piece”, originally by Randi and Evan, Season 5) – I think Chehon and Witney are the only couple with the sass, and (if this isn’t too insulting), the figure to pull off this piece. It’s a tough one to get as it’s very light, and even if they dance it well it’s unlikely to pull in a lot of votes. But I think it’s the best match from the couples that are left, and hopefully they’ll charm the hell out of it.

Aw, my first dance show post of the year! I’m excited. VERY EXCITED. Can you tell?

Summer of Awesome – Paul’s Boat Lines

On August 13, 2012August 13, 2012 By LynnIn Summer of Awesome, TurtleHead4 Comments

A few weeks ago, some friends of mine from high school had a reunion here in town. One of the events was a tour of the Ottawa River on Paul’s Boat Lines.

At first I wasn’t going to bring the kids, because I thought they’d be bored. But when they got wind of the fact that Mommy was going Boating, they were IN. I have no idea what they were picturing, but apparently the concept of a boat ride is romantic and exotic and SUPER FUN – and actually, it turned out to be pretty much just that.

The tour lasts for about an hour and a half, and leaves from the dock right at the tip of the Rideau Canal. Just getting there was half the fun – you have to take the stairs down from the bridge that’s beside the Chateau Laurier, then walk all along the locks to the very tip. If it’s a weekend, you’re likely to see the locks in action, with dozens of pleasure boats travelling through; if you’re not in a rush, you can also check out the Bytown Museum, which is along the path. We were lucky enough to be heading out on the Civic Holiday Weekend, which is the weekend of the Rideau Canal Festival, so the entire path to the boat was paved with musicians, artists, crafts, and activities – bonus!

Once you reach the dock, it’s time to board, and the tour begins right away. There’s an upper and lower level on the boat – the upper level is cooler (it’s shaded), and a better place to sit to see the sights and hear the (charming and funny) tour guide. The lower level has booths, so it’s a good place to relax with a drink (the boat is licensed) or strike up a card game with antsy children.

We sat up top and were dazzled by amazing views and fascinating trivia.

Parliament Buildings from the Ottawa River — The best view of the Parliament Buildings ever.

Up close and personal with the Rideau Falls – I am ashamed to admit I did not know these existed.

24 Sussex Drive — The Prime Minister’s house – SLIGHTLY larger than mine.

Paul's Boat Lines — My youngest having a King Of The World moment.

This is just a fraction of the cool places we saw. Did you know that the statue on Nepean Peak by the Art Gallery is of Samuel de Champlain, and that he is holding his astrolabe upside down? Did you know that the Ottawa River used to be called the Mighty Kitchississippi? Did you know that SO MANY foreign ambassadors live in PALACES (OMG). Did you know that Gatineau is the prettiest little town ever?

Our kids actually enjoyed seeing the sights – my middle daughter in particular can’t stop talking about the “big house with five chimneys” (that’s 24 Sussex). They also just loved being out front on the boat, feeling the breeze from the river and comparing all the bridges. It was just a really pleasant, quiet way to spend a hot summer afternoon.

There’s a small tuck shop on the lower level, so warning: there will be pressure to purchase chips. Chips on a boat taste better, don’t you know?

Paul’s isn’t the only boat tour company downtown (there’s a few fancier ones, and there’s also Lady Dive, the bus that turns into a boat), but Paul’s tour of the Ottawa River was the perfect size and duration for our kids. There were several of us on board who were actually from Ottawa, and we all learned stuff we never knew and saw stuff we’d never seen, which boggles my mind.

Paul’s Boat Lines also offers a slightly shorter tour of the Rideau Canal – that one is going on our next year’s Summer of Awesome list.

Tours run from June 28 through September 2; the daily schedule is here. Tickets are $23 adults, $14 for children aged 6-12 (five and under are free), and group rates are available. You can buy tickets at the kiosk downtown which is right across the street from the Chateau Laurier; unless it’s a holiday weekend, you can likely just head downtown on the day-of and get tickets for the next boat.

Ahoy, mateys!

Summer of Awesome – RCMP Stables

On August 12, 2012August 13, 2012 By LynnIn Summer of Awesome, TurtleHead6 Comments

Recently my two daughters have become obsessed with horses. They both claim that they want to learn to ride – no doubt they have images in their heads of their hair flowing in the wind as they race towards the sunset, bow and arrow in hand just like Merida in the film Brave.

I have to admit, I am pretty skeptical that their reaction to riding a real-life horse will be quite so dreamy.

So I thought I’d ease them into it by visiting the RCMP Stables. It’s where they train the horses for the Musical Ride, and I was hoping an up-close-and-personal encounter with an enormous, black horse would knock the request for riding lessons right out of ’em.

The stables are in Rockcliffe and are open every day in the summer from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is where they train and house the horses for the famous Musical Ride. During the summer, the 36 horses that are part of the Musical Ride are on tour, but there are still about 60 other horses in the stables – these are horses that have been retired from the ride, or young new horses who are just starting their training.

So the first thing you need to do when you get there is find the entrance, which (memo to the RCMP) is not very clearly marked. Here’s the building:

The entrance is the one on the far left hand end, behind the giant tree, that has a sign that says, “Lost and Found.” OF COURSE.

The door leads you straight into the gift shop (OF COURSE), and you have to go through the gift shop to get to the museum part. The museum is a few small rooms that talk about the history and function of the RCMP, and the details of the Musical Ride.

We learned about the RMCP’s bomb disposal unit:

The kind of horses that are picked for the ride (must be almost all-black, 16 hands high):

And we saw the carriage that is used for visiting heads of state, including Will and Kate last year on Canada Day:

There’s also a video playing with footage of the actual Musical Ride, if you’ve never had a chance to see it.

A tour leaves about once every half hour from the museum section and lasts about 20 minutes. You’ll get a chance to see the Musical Ride practice area:

(This area is also open to the general public, you can come and watch them practicing which takes place most weekday mornings in the winter – call them for the schedule.)

You’ll see the tack room and the ferrier’s workshop:

You’ll see horses (yay!):

You’ll learn about how they name the horses (did you know there’s a naming contest every year, in the spring?), how they choose the horses, and how the selected officers learn to ride.

After the tour, you’re welcome to walk behind the stables where they have a training area. When we were there, two riders were working with a new young horse and we were allowed to watch if we were VERY quiet.

Out front, two RCMP officers in full uniform allowed us to get up close and personal with the horses:

That was probably the best part. We were able to pet the horses, chat with the officers (SO NICE), and we learned a few extra details, like how they brush-in a maple leaf pattern on the the horses’ backsides before taking them out on rides. Cool.

I liked this visit because it felt like we were really learning something about Canada. We have, unfortunately, never actually seen the Musical Ride itself, so this was a great introduction. However, it was a pretty small place – we were able to cover the whole museum, the tour, and the visit with the officers in about an hour and a half. So it fits nicely in between naptimes, but if your kids are older, you can probably combine this visit with another event.

Also, word of warning: your secret plan to avoid riding lessons may backfire, and the budding love of horses may turn into full blown adoration. DAMMIT.

Summer of Awesome – National Gallery of Canada

On August 9, 2012August 13, 2012 By LynnIn Summer of Awesome, TurtleHead1 Comment

Last week I took the kids to the National Gallery to see the Van Gogh exhibit, which is in town only until September. The kids complained LOUDLY and FREQUENTLY about being made to visit the art gallery. I suspect that they saw it as more of a homework/school type outing than something really fun. It probably didn’t help that Gal Smiley did a unit on Van Gogh in art class this year so I kept saying how wonderful it was that she could see some of his work in person, how enriching and what a great opportunity.

No wonder they think Sir Monkeypants is the fun one.

Anyway, we went. And we did have a pretty good time overall.

Here are some things you will NOT be doing at the National Gallery, if you attend with your young children:

sitting and gazing quietly before a favourite work of art, as you contemplate its deeper meaning
wandering joyfully through back galleries as you discover new artists to love
sharing teachable moments with your children as you open their eyes to the wonderful process that is man’s artistic growth

No, you will not.

However! Fun can still be had, if you keep a few things in mind.

Arrive Late. The museum opens at 10 a.m., but there’s no point in getting there before 11. That’s when the Artissimo program opens. Artissimo is the gallery’s program for kids and it is excellent and fun and awesome, and SO much better than just wandering through the galleries aimlessly with children who would rather be jumping on stuff. It runs only on the weekends during the year but in the summer, the program is open every day.

What makes Artissimo so great? It’s a wide variety of activities meant to engage the younger crowd. First of all, kids aged 3 and up can make their own work of art, using real art paper and a stellar selection of tools. Gal Smiley created this lion picture using watercolour pencils – pencil crayons that create a paint effect when water is added.

Gal Smiley artwork, National Gallery of Canada

To help kids explore the gallery, there’s also two self-guided tours you can take – one about animals in art, one about cool architecture. There’s an audio tour, where you are led to certain artworks and then you play a sound, and try to connect the two. There are costumes where you can dress up and pretend to be people from various pictures.

And best of all, there’s the dolls.

William the Doll, Artissimo Program, National Gallery of Canada

This is William. He’s one of five different gorgeous, painstakingly detailed dolls that are part of the Artissimo program. You can sign out a doll, then search the gallery (with some hints and clues) to find the painting featuring the character. My girls loved this activity, we did every single doll and learned a lot about art in the process. It was the clear highlight.

Visit the Van Gogh exhibit, but have low expectations. The Van Gogh exibit is really, really good. It does not feature his most famous works – no Starry Nights or Sunflowers or self-portraits with missing ears. However, it does include dozens of his other paintings and the way they are laid out clearly traces the paths of his various influences.

I learned a lot about his style, his use of colour, and his favourite themes, and all that despite racing through the exhibit at top speed. My kids complained a LOT during the exhibit – shuffling through rooms of art, surrounded by crowds, was SO BORING they could just DIIIIIIIIE. So we hurried through, but even then they couldn’t avoid picking out a favourite painting or two, and learning a little bit along the way.

Plus, there’s an interactive room near the end where you can create your own work of art on an iPad; do a large magnetic wall puzzle; listen to Van Gogh-era music; and write a letter to Van Gogh and receive an email reply in his own words. The lady running this room (Maddie, I think) was super welcoming to the kids and they really had fun here.

As an added bonus, kids under 12 are free – so it only cost me my own entry fee, $25, which also covered my museum admission.

Follow the rules, Oh my heavens, the National Gallery is a rules-y kind of place. They are BIG on the rules. And you will be warned, repeatedly, to FOLLOW THE RULES.

Sheesh.

No backpacks are allowed, no kinds of large bags or anything you would carry on your back or waist. Ladies can bring a handbag if it isn’t too big, and I believe you can get an exception for diaper bags. My kids are big enough now that I don’t need to carry diapers around, but I do like to bring our own snacks due to the food allergy thing, so I often use a backpack – at the gallery, you have to check it. Speaking of snacks, the cafeteria there is a little high class – soups and fancy salads type fare – so if your kids are more of a chicken nuggets and french fries crowd, you may wish to bring your own food (in a checked backpack, of course) or perhaps plan your trip between mealtimes.

No photos of any kind allowed anywhere, except in the open glassed-in tower where the Artissimo program runs. (I may have taken that photo of William the doll, above, in the bathroom. I admit nothing.) If they even see you thinking about taking out your camera, they’re on you.

No getting too close to the art. No touching the art! No breathing on the art. That’s too close. Maybe you shouldn’t even LOOK AT THE ART.

SHEESH.

I swear every single security guard in the place came over to us and warned us, in every single room, about stepping back from the art. My kids aren’t even that young – 9, 7, and 5. I can’t imagine the headache involved in trying to explain to your two year old why that line of bricks on the floor is art, and we musn’t touch it, or step on it, or come within three feet of it. GAH.

So be sure to travel light, leave your camera in your handbag, and stay back. FARTHER BACK.

Once we were done with the Van Gogh exhibit and settled into the Artissimo stuff, my kids relaxed and enjoyed themselves. Despite their best efforts, they even learned something, as demonstrated by the quiz I gave them on the ride home.

Told you I’m not the fun one.