Eddie Izzard: Stripped

I went tonight to see Eddie Izzard's current show at the National Arts Centre, Stripped: 2010 Canadian National Tour. Basically he tells the history of mankind in his own stream-of-consciousness style, with the running theme of the absurdity of religion. With segues into giraffe language and the moon landing. With certain recurring characters - the wifeless squirrel, the journalling squid, the jazz chicken, and Steve - the guy who invented hunting with weapons.

He said he was in girl-mode today, which meant tight jeans, lots of make-up, and very high heels.

I laughed a lot but I really lost control when he started talking about the Latin language. "Quod the fuck?" Here's an earlier version of the skit.

And though I can't remember exactly how it went, his ending was something like this: "The squid writes words of wisdom: think outside the box. The transvestite on stage tells you, the people of Ottawa, to think outside the box. When you're a transvestite on stage, you have to think outside the box."

Good news for a change...

This article on cleaning up contaminated water looks like good news, in view of the recent oil spill disaster.

Is it feasible? I hope so.

Philosophers and chickens...

Okay, I've seen versions of this one before, but this one tickled me.

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

Plato: For the greater good.

Karl Marx: It was a ( historical inevitability. )

And I will add:

Eddie Izzard: To play his jazz trumpet.

But no one who hasn't seen Stripped will get it.

Being in a real honest-to-goodness race...

I did something I'd never done before: I went into a race. It's Race Weekend in Ottawa. I participated in the Ottawa Family 2k Race - along with about 3,000 other people.

Cool.

I signed up for the race because last year, when meri_oddities ran the Marathon, maaseru signed up for the 2k this year, anticipating an ability to walk because she'd have two new knees. So I did too, in solidarity.

When race time came around, maaseru elected to stay back sitting at Starbuck's while meri_oddities and I walked the course. She's running in the marathon tomorrow; I get to be a spectator. I don't run. I don't even walk very well since breaking my ankle two years ago. But I'm walking better all the time.

It was great. Many little kids, incredibly cute little kids, were walking with families and friends. It wasn't too hot. We walked the 2k course in about 20 minutes. Final time counts aren't posted yet. I'm not sure they even do post them for the 2k race. We crossed the finish line at the 22.12 point, and our personal running times would be a little less than that, since we weren't at the front of the crowd at the starting point.

When we got to the finish, we were given our medals. They were made in Cameroon out of shells and nuts, with the words "Ottawa 2k" on the pendant. It was a project given to a village with no money and high unemployment. I picture the people in the village saying to each other, "They must be crazy over there in Ottawa, but they'll pay us to make these things, so we might as take advantage of them."

Then we met up with laitosto, who was about to run in the 5k race, who told us that maaseru had changed her mind and went in the same race we'd just finished. So we went back to the finish line to cheer her on. She was footsore, but her knees were in terrific shape.

Then after laitosto ran his race, we all went to the Colonnade for pizza.

And I let meri_oddities talk me into signing up for the 5k next year.

My ankle is sore (I'm about to ice it) and my back is aching a little (but only a little) and I'm feeling ambitious. Today the 2k, tomorrow the world.