Happy Monday morning everyone, and welcome to a new edition of my newsletter! I’m really thrilled with the feedback I’m receiving on this new format, so thanks to everyone who have sent comments and emails, I appreciate it very much. If you want to get this every Monday morning delivered right to your inbox, you can subscribe at the bottom of the page.
There isn’t a whole lot going on in Ottawa this week. I think the COVID monster has scared off some event organizers, and that’s probably a good thing. It wasn’t a great week here in Ottawa with the second wave wreaking havoc on not only the events industry, but everything. Numbers of cases are way up, and the number of people permitted at gatherings has been reduced. The threat of another full-on lockdown can very quickly become reality, and yet I still see groups of people not socially distancing, not wearing masks. If the message isn’t clear by now, I don’t think it’s going to be. It’s sad, really.
Anyway, as I mentioned, there’s not too much happening in the event world this week, however there are still many small events to keep us (safely) occupied; check out the events calendar for a full list of everything you’ll find in the Ottawa area.
Spooky Season Continues
A couple of weeks ago, I listed some of the great seasonal Halloween events in the Ottawa area. I mentioned Pumpkinferno and the Saunders Farm events, but I have found a few more to add to that list this week. Wesley Clover Park has once again demonstrated their creativity, designing a Drive-Through experience for Halloween. Running from October 15th to 31st, it consists of live actors portraying the story of Deadwood.
Capacity is only 100 cars per night, booked in staggered time frames to avoid crowding, so make sure you book early to choose the perfect timeslot for you. Tickets for this event go on sale today (Monday October 5th) and can be purchased by clicking here!
This year, the popular Halloween attraction, Skreamers, is shut down due to COVID, so you’ll have to wait until next year to head out to Proulx Farm for this incredible annual event. However, Stittsville is still running their Haunted Heritage Tours every Friday and Saturday nights until November 7th. You can get all the information on these events on my events calendar.
Miller’s Farm
A few years ago, I visited Miller’s Farm for the first time. It was such a fun experience, with a surprising amount of things to do, especially for kids. I drove by Miller’s Sunday, and the parking lot was full! This is such a popular spot! It’s located just south of Manotick on Rideau Valley Road. You can follow the signs from pretty much anywhere in that region.
They offer tractor wagon rides to take you out to the pumpkin fields, where you can select the perfect pumpkin for carving into a scary jack-o-lantern. You just pick your own, and take it to the cash on your way out. You don’t have to buy a pumpkin though; you can just go for the ride! In addition to wagon rides, they have a corn maze, and a produce and garden centre/market. It’s a fantastic activity to keep the kids busy for a few hours while you enjoy some much-needed outdoor time.
Bits and Bytes
This is my random story and features section. These topics don’t necessarily have anything to do with Ottawa. It could include stories about current news issues, sports, funny videos, and/or perhaps just random things that I’ve discovered over the previous week. I hope you enjoy!
Misophonia
Through most of my adult life, I’ve had a personal struggle that I’ve tried to keep to myself. It is something that originates deep within my psyche, but I have no explanation as to where it came from or how it can be cured. It’s something that has bothered me to the point of nearly making me physically ill at times in different settings, both personal and professional. I have voiced this issue to several people in my life, but it’s never been considered serious, and has often become a joke. I have recently learned that it has a name: Misophonia.
Misophonia, a disorder which means sufferers have a hatred of sounds such as eating, chewing, loud breathing or even repeated pen-clicking, was first named as a condition in 2001. – Time Magazine article 3 February 2017.
Yes, I’m talking about eating noises. I can’t stand eating noises, and I never knew that it was actually a “thing” that people could suffer from. Since this started bothering me, I’ve politely asked my daughter, parents, friends and colleagues to “eat a little quieter” or when not as appropriate or potentially insulting, I’ve simply turned on the TV or radio to create noise to drown out the munching and smacking sounds. It’s like listening to a cow chew its crud. There is no food that is exempt from this, it comes down to how people eat.
At work, many years ago, I was in a cubicle across the walkway from a contractor. He managed to drive me to near sickness while he hung over the wall of my cubicle and “slurped” his muffin each morning. Yes, that’s possible, and it was so disgusting! A few close coworkers knew that chewing sounds were an issue for me, and it became a joke to them. They would intentionally bring snacks for everyone to staff meetings. UGH!! I eventually had to be sure to arrive early to select the best seat in the house….away from any eating noises! SLLLUUURRRRRPPPP!!!!!
Now, with all that being said, I do acknowledge that it’s kinda funny and unusual. I’m happy to make fun of this in my case, and I try to keep it as light as possible when it’s happening. AND, just to show that it doesn’t bother me too much, there’s a fun little video that you should watch: some capybaras eating a giant pumpkin. Have a watch with your sound on. That is what I hear when someone is eating near me.
The Masked Singer
It has been a while since I’ve indulged you with my reality TV watching. Two weeks ago, The Masked Singer, season 4 had its premier. What an absolutely stupid, yet strangely entertaining show. As each season increases in popularity, the costumes become more and more elaborate, and this season, they’re outright crazy! Ref, Baby Alien:
Photo: Michael Becker/FOX
If you don’t know, the basic concept of this show is similar to the Voice (kinda): individuals sing/perform in front of a panel of judges and a live studio audience. The difference is that each of the performers is in an elaborate costume! And inside each costume, you will find a celebrity, as opposed to relatively unknown contestants on similar shows.
A top-secret singing competition in which celebrities face off against each other and appear in elaborate costumes with full facemasks to conceal their identities. – CTV Website
In previous seasons, the celebrities have been B-listers, meaning you really have to know your stuff to recognize who many of them are, with a few interesting surprises. Not all of them are singers, either. Last season, in addition to several famous singers, you would have seen Rob Gronkowski (From the New England Patriates), Sarah Palin (Governor of Alaska), and YouTube/Dance Moms star Jojo Siwa.
I think season 4 will be a little different though. As mentioned, the celebrities are often B-level, however this year with COVID restrictions, a lot of A-list celebrities could be looking for something to do. The talent has been amazing in the first two episodes and there is still one more group that hasn’t performed yet who will take the stage this week.
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