Beep beep !!!

By the way, this weekend was Canada Day, on July 1st. The Library Bitch wrote a wonderful blog entry about this obscure holiday which I don't really celebrate, as it is, in Quebec, the official moving day. Nevertheless, I am Canadian and want to wish a belated happy Canada day to all my compatriots.

Monday was also the 4th of July, so Happy independance day to any American visitors. My buddy Saur wrote good wishes which I will extend to you through this blog.

NOW, DOWN TO BUSINESS !

I have never been much of a soccer / fussball fan. But being in Montreal (of all places) where there are italian, portugese, french, brazilian, greek and german diasporas is making this otherwise uninteresting event very real to me, as CQFD's appartment is right at the heart of the italian/portugese neighboorhood, otherwise known as Little Italy.

So my quietness is periodically invaded by waves of honking and more important by face-painted, flag-bearing supporters who feel it necessary to scream their victory at the top of their lungs. And don't forget the whistles !

But is it really their victory? Is it something worth embarassing yourself publicly ? Supporters don't really ACHEIVE anything, do they? The team they cheer so avidly for is unaware of their existence. The World cup hasn't even been won, for heaven's sake !

This being said, if you are for Italy, congratulations. If you're not, my sympathies. Personnally, I couldn't care less. Just, please, be happy, or sad, without producing decibels under my window.

BUT ENOUGH RANTING !

So what have I been up to since I've been back on my feet ? Not much really. I still sleep 12 hours a night as a rule. I nevertheless have started going out and seeing friends, and have recently enjoyed a lot of sushi at Kaede's (2073, St-Denis), (hmmm sushi). Kaede is a new Japanese restaurant in downtown Montreal. The business is japanese owned, japanese-managed, cooked and served. This is possibly the best (and cheapest) sushi I have EVER eaten.

There is this particular sushi called Osaka, which involves smoked salmon, shrimp, avogado and in which the nori algae is replaced by soybean foil. When I eat it, I feel what I can only describe as a mouth orgasm. Even burping feels good after you eat this sushi. Hours after you leave the restaurant, your mouth suddenly remembers its taste, and you get a second sushi-gasm. Even the word Sushi itself carries the delicate nuances of the dish.

I think by the way that Sushi is now my favorite food. I could probably eat it every day and not tire of it. Maybe I should move to Japan or something.

Anyway, I also went to a few movies (including X3 and Superman returns) - which I have nothing interesting to say about - and more importantly, I've been reading a heck of a lot.

I read, for example, Life of Hunger (La biographie de la faim) and Acide Sulfurique by Amelie Nothomb. Did you know that she almost got the Goncourt? I'm also in the process of reading a brick written by a french canadian lady, La femme de la Fontaine. It's quite taking and will be worth a review when I've gone through its 450 pages. Unfortunately, nobody has yet had the courage to translate it....

I also spend ridiculous amounts of time at the Great Library and periodically clean up the appartment, a task CQFD would do only twice a year in my absence.

I see friends and attend the wonderful Montreal Jazz Festival.

I'm also learning Indonesian for my next mission which is now in less than 4 weeks. I'm happy to be home and to have an extended stay, but I already feel my heart, yearning for the adventure !

The Beaver

Thank you Der Hadji in Afdirtistan for posting on my guestmap ! My guest map is wonderful ! And you'd all be wonderful to post, all of you lurk mode readers!

Thanks and may the winds of Fate blow your way !