Monday was Family Day in Ontario - that strange provincial holiday that causes a lot of confusion. It was created to give families a day off together. Yet in Ottawa, what is open and closed can be a wee bit convoluted. Most of the federal government still works since they are only mandated to have the federal holidays off. But local and provincial businesses are closed. Unless of course you work over the border in Quebec. Then you work regardless (but you get St. Jean Baptist day off in June, which those of us in Ontario don't).
As it happens André and I have a day off together. Which we realized Sunday night. Now, you'd think with the piles of things that need doing between our house and his business we'd buckle down and really get some work done. But that would be the sane people thing to do.
Instead, we jumped in the truck and drove down to Kingston to watch an afternoon draw of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Work be damned, when is the next time that the Scotties is going to be this close to us?
It was great. The drive was peaceful and the traffic was almost non-existent. We scored parking right across the street from the arena and our seats gave us a fantastic view. We had lunch and dinner in two different pubs less than 2 blocks from the rink. And the games were phenomenal! Team Canada had a blow out win over Quebec, and Team Ontario (a young rink that curls out of OUR club!!) won their game in an extra end.
To top it all off, we met some of curling's most famous people. And we aren't talking about the players. As soon as the game ended, André and I made for the TSN commentator's booth. There we met and got autographs from Vic Rauter, Linda Moore, and Russ Howard!!! Vic and Linda have been calling curling games for as long as I've been watching, along with now retired Ray Turnbull. Russ joined the team a few seasons back, and has added a whole new level of entertainment with the depiction of shots with arrows on the screen. These people are minor gods in the curling world. No matter who takes the Team Canada jackets this year or next, they will always be there to call the shots.
All in all, sure it wasn't the most productive day we've ever had, but what an amazing break from life.
Now, however, it really is back to work.
Oh, and the Scotties are in Montreal next year. We're already scouting couches to surf. One draw was fun, but how cool would it be to make a weekend of it?
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