Catherine
banner
cathbear.bsky.social
Catherine
@cathbear.bsky.social
Current mood: baked pasta
Reposted by Catherine
The Nobel Prize committee should announce the World Cup winner tomorrow
December 6, 2025 at 4:29 AM
I had a convo today about the importance of checking yourself for this.
December 4, 2025 at 1:48 AM
BTW, if you decide to head into Manotick for treats, stop in at Six Nine Two for coffee and pick up a jar or two of Mom's Homemade salsa.

momshomemade.ca?fbclid=IwY2x...
Mom's Homemade – Yummy, freshly prepared homemade salsa
momshomemade.ca
December 3, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Didn't grab a pic of my haul from Gingerbread Man in Manotick today since I had to stash it out of sight asap.

There's fudge, shortbread, and gingerbread cookies (of course). A nice selection of fully complete gingerbread houses still available.

The owners are such lovely people.
December 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Catherine
There's enough inaccurate or concerning information in the way in which @en.ottawa.ca is communicating about the 2026 Budget that I felt it should be addressed. And it's the concept of $252M in "savings" that I want to talk about, because this information is being used falsely. 1/
#OttBudget 2026 invests in the services we rely on every day. Through service reviews and continuous improvement, we have realized more than $252 million in savings during this Term of Council.
One example of a service improvement is the redesigned Open Ottawa platform.
1/5
December 3, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Interesting convo about Black Friday on Ontario Today, esp the part about The Bay's imminent failure. I remember how, several years ago, when I tried to source items online, it was a mess. They either didn't know how to pivot or their pvt equity overlords didn't care bc it wasn't in the plan.
November 28, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Reposted by Catherine
It would have been nice if someone asked Doug Ford to explain how he plans to order these charity audits given charities are overseen federally by Canada Revenue Agency
Ford says he will audit ‘left-wing radical groups’ opposed to government legislation | Globalnews.ca
Ford's warning came after members of the tenant advocacy group ACORN interrupted the legislature to protest a controversial omnibus bill that shortens some eviction timelines.
globalnews.ca
November 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I'm so tired of the idiots in charge.

I'd also like to see the paper trail that led to this newest stupidity.

Were municipalities even consulted or did the money just flow to Ford's sign-making buddies without asking obvious questions, first?
November 26, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I'm lining up my 12 days of Christmas treats, one local market at a time. Here's a useful guide:

reboundpress.com/events

Plus: Ukranian Christmas market November 29
www.todocanada.ca/city/ottawa/...

Trip to Gingerbread Man in Manotick planned this week:
www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4d8oF...
ReBound Press
Canadian Indie publisher of high-quality Canadian mysteries!
reboundpress.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Made it to the Barrhaven Legion for the book fair. It feels like ages since I’ve chatted with Peggy in person

The baskets are, indeed, gorgeous

Also, books were purchased 😁
November 23, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I was modifying some settings in Google Calendar and found this.

These "smart" features were enabled; I turned them off
November 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I'm looking for advent ideas.

Small, fun and affordable treats for family units.

Beer treat recommendations welcome

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DTw...
Twelve Days of Christmas performed by Bob and Doug McKenzie
YouTube video by VinnyG113
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:45 AM
If I had a (few) million dollars and friends in the medical community, I'd set up centres along the CDN border to provide reproductive care to healthcare refugees on both sides of the divide.

All centres would be named after a most excellent Canadian reproductive rights advocate.
The North Dakota Supreme Court reinstated a near-total abortion ban on Friday, reversing a judge’s earlier decision and making abortion once again illegal in the state.
Abortion Is Once Again Illegal in North Dakota
On Friday, a state Supreme Court ruling reinstated a near-total abortion ban, reversing a judge’s earlier decision.
nyti.ms
November 22, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Hey, #Ottawa, check it out
The Bone Finder is on my list. And Peggy's excellent cookies.

:-)
Some of the balloons for tomorrow's Crime for Christmas event at the Barrhaven Legion, tomorrow, Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00! Meet some of Ottawa's finest mystery authors, grab a drink at the cash bar, and pick up some books as Christmas gifts! Free parking, free admission, and we have treats for you too!
November 22, 2025 at 11:17 PM
The Bone Finder is on my list. And Peggy's excellent cookies.

:-)
Some of the balloons for tomorrow's Crime for Christmas event at the Barrhaven Legion, tomorrow, Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00! Meet some of Ottawa's finest mystery authors, grab a drink at the cash bar, and pick up some books as Christmas gifts! Free parking, free admission, and we have treats for you too!
November 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Brilliant
This is a production.

10/10 😭😭😭

THE LEAVES 🍂 🤣🤣🤣🤣
November 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Yes it has, and it's unpleasant. A bit paternalistic, imo.
Hivemind: has the official city account changed tone over this term?

My memory is in the few years, it advertised how to comment on the budget process more than arguing it is a good budget. #OttPoli
#OttBudget 2026 invests in the services we rely on every day. Through service reviews and continuous improvement, we have realized more than $252 million in savings during this Term of Council.
One example is #OttCity’s new digital permit management system.
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Caring Mom Voice: Have you booked your annual Flu booster yet?

*If you can, book the Covid booster for the same appointment. Synchronized arm soreness is a great get-out-of housekeeping-chores card.

Just do it
November 19, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Reposted by Catherine
authors you have the chance to do the funniest thing right now
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
These baskets are gorgeous!
November 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I woke up at 4 am. Only the cats are pleased with this.

They still have to wait until I have coffee ready.
November 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This is making me wonder how things will go for Ottawa tourism when higher hotel taxes kick in to pay for Lansdowne 2.0.

🤔
A friend is coming from Europe to Toronto in a few weeks (not peak anything) & trying to book a hotel. Found a middle-market hotel downtown for $395. That is bonkers. More expensive than London or Paris in the summer. Toronto needs a whole bunch of new hotels. Maybe dead condo mkt can pivot.
November 11, 2025 at 11:37 PM
This thread has a zillion great suggestions and if you have some Canadian-sourced ideas, please share
everything is bonkers right now and we need a timeline cleanse. let’s play a game. if I handed you a blank check but you could ONLY spend it on an Advent calendar, what absurdly pricy collection of little treats are you buying yourself?
November 11, 2025 at 12:41 PM
What is the real cost of maintaining a fourplex (2 bedrooms each unit)?

I have no plans (or money) to do this. I am just curious.

Also: Does Ottawa even have fourplexes, or is that just a Montreal thing?
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM