The Bells

[trishkit]

Well, my dear, sweet Pookie has solved the mystery of the bells that have been ringing at midnight every night.

First of all, the bells are at City Hall, which is also behind my building. I suppose that makes more sense than the church, since the bells play a tune, City Hall has seven bells and I am not even sure that the curch has bells. Logic is a beautiful thing, I've heard.

I just received a call from the City Hall Info Desk. Pookie had apparently gone over there and asked them about the bells.

Here is the answer: It is a computer error. The bells are supposed to be ringing every day this month in celebration of Ottawa's 150th anniversary. Somehow, they are ringing at both noon and midnight (the girl who called me thought that they were supposed to be scheduled for 4pm). They are "aware of the problem" and are trying to get it corrected.

The City Hall person was very apologetic, but I assured her that we only wanted to know out of curiosity, not raging fury.

I am *so* happy to have the mystery solved at last!!!!

Pookie is the best.

Comments

[cleverocity.livejournal.com]

Computer error! Heee. I love it.

It's Ottawa's 150th anniversary? I didn't even know that.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Computer error! Heee. I love it.

Well, since that is *exactly* what Pookie said it would be I am not as thrilled. Just in principle, you understand. He will be quite smug when he gets home.

Yup. 150 years. They've had several articles in the papers and have things planned all year long. Here's the City Hall (http://ottawa.ca/residents/ottawa_150/index_en.shtml) page.

[cleverocity.livejournal.com]

I really ought to read the parts of the paper that I'm not forced to read at work. Or, like, watch the news instead of the Simpsons.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Nah, the news is just full of stupid people.

The Simpsons are vastly superior in every way.

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha!

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

I love my city.

[fromward.livejournal.com]

Yay for Pookie! And what an interesting way to celebrate an anniversary. Pretty cool.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Isn't it just? When I was rummaging around on the internet I also read that they rang the every bell in the city on New Year's Day! I can't believe that I didn't notice.

I will miss my nightly serenade when it is gone. They play an actual tune, that gradually builds to a crescendo. It is absolutely lovely.

The bells have also been ringing at noon, but you don't get the full effect during the day. Too much noise pollution. At night you get the full effect.

I am disappointed that I can't see the bells moving. I have a perfect view of the bell tower from my window, but Pookie says that the clapper inside the bell is the only thing that moves. I guess this is some new-fangled invention, but I would have loved to see the bells swinging.

[fromward.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's so neat!

I also love to see them swing. When I lived in Melbourne, I lived a block away from a church. It was so beautiful to hear the bells on the quiet weekend mornings, especially when I'd woken up on the roof or inside my room with the windows open.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

That sounds wonderful. Our town didn't go in for church bells. The town next door, where my mother grew up, had a shipyard. They would time their day by the sound of the shipyard's whistle.

It was one of the few shipyards in the world that still did side launches (most places launch their ships bow first). It would take several years to build a freighter and the launch was always a big event. I was lucky enough to be attending high school in that town for the last launch (the yard closed down in 1985). As was custom, all of the schools took a break for an hour or so and walked to the yards en masse to witness the event. After a lot waiting around and speeches that we could barely hear, the ship suddenly slid down the ramp with a roar. It hit the water broadsides and created a huge wave. It was over in a matter of seconds.

But it was still very cool.

[fromward.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. That sounds so cool. *fetishes* God, I feel like I can picture it and hear the splash. I'm so glad I met you on LJ. Your stories enrich my life.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Right back atcha, darling!

You have a real gift for creating a scene and expressing your thoughts in a beautiful way. It is always a pleasure to read your work (even though I am waaaaaay behind on your Clark Kent MD story...I am saving it for when I have the time to relax and enjoy it properly).

[fromward.livejournal.com]

*hides* Thank you. I want to grow as a writer. I'm trying to learn new things as I go along. And why 'with love and squalor'? Is it Salinger or something else?

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

It is Salinger. I love all of his stuff except for "The Catcher In The Rye" - never could warm up to that one.

I always loved the title (and story) "For Esme, with love and sqalor". It just sounds cool.

I also named my cat Esme. That came about after I had her for a few days and my original name ideas just weren't working. I was gazing around my aparment looking for inspiration when I spotted "Nine Stories". We all say it "Ez-mee", not "Ess-may", which is why she dropped the accent.

My cat and Depeche Mode have something in common, who'da thunk it?

[fromward.livejournal.com]

I need to read other Salinger works. I only know "The Catcher in the Rye". *is embarassed*

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

I quite like him (except for that dratted Holden Caulfield). I am especially fond of "To Esme with love and sqalor", of course. Have you ever seen "The Royal Tenebaums"? Very Salinger-esque.

There are zillions of well-known and well-respected authors out there whom I have never read. Don't be embarassed at all!

[fromward.livejournal.com]

*writes Salinger down* I have so many books that I want to read! Gyaaah!

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

I have so many books that I want to read!

It is overwhelming sometimes, isn't it? I have actually read very little for the past couple of weeks. It is probably the first time in my life I've gone this long without books. It is simply because I have been so insanely busy and stressed out. My brain feels numb.

Oh well, I'll be up to my old habits soon, I'm sure!

[fromward.livejournal.com]

Arrr. That's frustrating. *hugs you* Hope you will!

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't you worry about that! No amount of rehabilitative therapy could ever cure me of my addiction to the written word.

And it must be hard for you to find the time to read for pleasure when you are in school!

[fromward.livejournal.com]

Yes. None. Although I forced myself to make time to reread Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet". It filled me with so much joy and sadness. I think the people at this particular student-run coffee shop on campus must think that I'm some kind of weirdo depressive, which I am and hell, that's ok by me as long as I get to read Rilke.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

I've only read bits of Rilke in anthologies. I should really check him out.

I'm sure that the people at a student-run coffee shop see all types of Rilke-readers!

[fromward.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure they do! We're all so artsy-fartsy around here. Heh. Oh if you have the time, please do. He's fantastic.