Variosky

Note: this is a pre-scheduled post. I do these occasionally when I am not going to be home to post or if I finish something ahead of time and am worried I’ll forget to actually send it, but it never occurred to me to mention it before. Since I already said I would be in Ottawa at an event on Monday night, I thought it would be confusing if it appeared I were somehow also home writing newsletter posts, so I thought I should preface it: this was supposed to be Sunday’s post but it got really late so I set it to send tomorrow! Enjoy! Send good vibes that I don’t fall in the canal!

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Variosky is a word I made up and used to say as a kid to describe a mishmash or too many things to describe. Like, if asked “what did you this afternoon?” and I just did a bunch of little tasks that would each be too tedious to describe, the answer would just be “Variosky.” I mean, you could just say, “Various,” and the effect would be the same—or not the same, because that’s a real word so, somewhat clearer. But whatever, I invented this word for a reason I do not recall. It’s more musical? Sounds exotic? I was not a young child—mid-teens, I think. I do not generally use it in conversation as an adult, but…perhaps I’ll bring it back.

This post is variosky.

1) After an extremely difficult feline year—new vet that turned out to be pretty negligent back in Feb, unable to go to my mom’s for catsitting due to her own cat being sick in summertime resulting in multiple kennel stays, Alice’s health emergency and near death (??) adventure, a different new vet that ghosted and was shruggily harsh about it when I complained, and ongoing little health weirdnesses for both cats (basically, it’s puke-city here)—we headed out Thursday night to the sweetest, kindest, most expensive vet in the area. I have never seen my cats react so badly to a vet appointment—they were not reacting to any individuals as they were extra mad even before they saw anyone. The vet and assistants were nice, and helpful, and let us wait for our appointment in a private room because there were dogs in the waiting area. But the cats still wouldn’t come out of their carriers even though Evan usually can be lured by getting to go in a vet’s giant sink (being in sinks is Evan’s fave). Evan tried to bite the vet briefly and the vet (cheerfully) called him an assh*le. Mark considers this a point in the vet’s favour, as it is an extremely accurate description of Ev. Alice, perhaps remembering her terrible time this summer, went limp and waited for the end, and was very startled that she did not have to sleep at the vet office. They were happy to come home but both held a GRUDGE, something they almost never do. Today at No Frills we bought them a box of 20 squeezy treats because we buy love here at the Sampsenblums. I felt it was a good experience and a relief after some of the above stuff, but we don’t know for sure that this vet is actually going to work out—we still have to get the results of the blood tests, see what treatments are recommended and then how they go—but it seemed a good start in that at least they honoured the appointment and were nice to us. Which is a really low bar.

2) My job keeps me up to date on what a lot of magazines are up to, and I have been really loving a lot of the reporting at The Walrus lately so we just restarted our subscription after a hiatus of a number of years. And then there are the Walrus Talks, which are also great. Or at least the one about menopause was—it’s the first one I saw, this past week, and was really interesting. You can see the recording for free here for all the friends I mentioned it/promised to send a link—ta da! I feel lucky to have entered my, “Is it perimenopause?” years just as this has become a big hot topic—planning to ride the wave!

3) I saw the theatrical production of My Name Is Lucy Barton at Canstage last week and it was outstanding. I have to admit, I didn’t love or even register the novel very much—I alternated between thinking I hadn’t liked it and forgetting I read it. The story came back to me as I watched the stage show—I did read it, just didn’t care for it. But the show is different, penetrating and affecting and riveting. It’s a one-woman show, which I hadn’t expected but makes sense. It’s an incredible feat by Maev Beaty to be Lucy Barton in all phases of her life and her mother, in conversation, in argument, moving in voice and posture back and forth between the two, plus some minor characters: her kids, her husband, her father. It’s also just a physical feat to be on stage, moving and speaking for two hours. Just a stunning performance. I was actually stunned. The theatre wasn’t that full, though! If you can go, please go—you won’t regret it! Bring a bottle of water though—I got thirsty on Beaty’s behalf.

4) Completely at the other end of the spectrum for entertainment, if you are looking for something completely silly and fun to brighten up your instagram feed, I recommend American High Shorts. It’s sketch comedy about high school life by actual teens and highly specific, chaotic and very popular on IG. I hope not all the followers are other teens—although a lot of the comments do ask who specific performers are dating so, maybe not a lot of 40somethings appreciating the gags and the window into youth like I am. I did a bunch of sketch comedy in high school and it was pretty bad but we LOVED doing it and found ourselves hilarious so it’s interesting to see it done at a semi-profesh level (line into professionalism has gotten a bit blurry with social media but it’s something…) I discovered accidentally that I can embed videos right into the newsletter so here’s one I like a lot. It’s very very silly and there’s basically one joke, but so fun to watch. Also watch a second time and look at the background actors…

So that’s some of what I’m into lately! I will report on Ottawa upon my return, also Hallowe’en.

<3

RR