Anyone Know of a Good Taxidermist?

A few Fridays ago, Little Dragon and I met up with David at the University of Ottawa campus. He wanted to show us around the place he spends the majority of his waking hours. 

That day was particularly gorgeous outside as it was 20 degrees Celsius and we even saw three people kayaking in the river, not too shabby for October 26^th. We strolled down the beautiful multi-trails bordering the Rideau Canal. In the Fall, they empty out quite a bit of the water and it doesn't look as pretty as it once did. However, with the water levels being so low it apparently freezes, allowing people skate on it in the winter. My sister-in-law, Alauna, who used to live in Ottawa told me that some people will even use it to skate to work. Only in Ottawa.

Notice the steps that lead a potential skater to the potential ice surface.

Dragon was greeted by a few members of David's study group who basically live in the library. You can find a few of them there on any given day, basically at any given hour. It's funny how fast you can tell when an individual is a rookie at holding a baby as a couple of the girls held Little Dragon in the nursing position and he immediately started to lick around their shirts, looking for something good snack on. I am quite amused by this. My amusement level is pretty low. I am amused when I get out of the house by the little things. For example, the other day I was jogging to the Maxi (grocery store approximately 10 minutes away from our apartment) and I saw a guy in a wheelchair, cruising along. Then out of the blue this younger fellow belts it past us, running at full speed and grabs the handle on the guy's wheelchair. They have a brief conversation in French and the crippled guy pulls out a cologne gift pack from under his jacket. The young fellow holds tight to the wheelchair and escorts him back to the store. Moral of the story: Even lame people who live in a socialist province have to pay to smell good.

David started a study group. I blame this on two things: David watching a horrible, horrible 1970's law movie called The Paper Chase and the cult classic NBC sitcom, Community. He even has the right number of minorities represented in the study group. I keep pressuring Dave to find a Pierce Hawthrone (Chevy Chase's character in Community) but he refuses. David even knows that there is a guy in his 50's or 60's that is a first year law student. Apparently, he too was/is a big time business guy who, when his friends or family ask him why he is in law school, he replies with, why not? He is probably racist as well. Most older people are, right? I am only racist to men that come from Libya, but that's a whole other story.

One of the girls from Dave's study group showed me around the law library. Little Dragon did not enter through the doors of this quiet place. I would never subject him to such a fate. I mean, the kids in there would give you a look of death if you even breathed a little louder than normal. Not a place for a baby who randomly makes squawks to test the waters. 

We walked around the Law buildings and got to see the Moot Court room, which is quite impressive as it consists of three seperate classrooms. the middle one has the "stand" in it and the two adjeacent rooms have thick, wall-like curtains that open up to make a giant room. Dave gets to do a mock trial in the Spring. I am sure he will do well as he likes to entertain and confront people, but rarely gets to do both at the same time.

In the back corner of the library is a place called the Brian Dickson Reading Room. It's a special area where you have to be extra quiet. The room is completely covered with fancy memorabilia. Brian Dickson attended the University of Ottawa and was privileged/lucky enough to become a Chief Justice. They have pictures of his parents, of his siblings, when he was a boy, when he was teenager, his wife, his kids, and his collection of Native art?! Yay! Soapstone carvings! Ha ha. It's all fine and dandy with the pictures of his life showcased on all of the walls but when you get to the final corner of the room there is a replica of his home office. It is decorated to the T, with a Happy Father's Day mug and everything. So weird. They might as well have him stuffed and sitting on his chair to inspire the eager minds of tomorrow's legal system!  

It took a while to post this experience because I did not take pictures of the Brian Dickson Reading Room and thought it would be best to share the photos because I feel like a description of it alone would not do it justice. Thanks for sending the me these picture Dave.

I know you donated a lot of money but isn't this kind of a waste of space, really??