Moving on...

Hello my friend. Just a heads up "This Canadian Life" is no longer going to be updated here. I have moved my blog over to another site. I hope you come join me there as we see what adventures 2012 has in store.

Come check us out http://mynotsocanadianlife.wordpress.com/. Yes the name changed as well. Hope to see you there.

Shannon

It can be a Harsh-Mellow World

There is something about this time of year that brings a mixed bag of emotions and stresses. But it never fails no matter what seems to be going on in the world I turn into a 5 year old about December 23 and 24th. I get excited, I can't sleep, I don't want to eat anything but junk. Chocolate for breakfast, candy canes for dinner.

Believe it or not, it is not about presents either. There is a buzz in the air that is contagious and most people can't help but get caught up in it. Notice I say MOST.

A good example is the other day. I had a fantastic day of running everyday errands and I got a text from a friend that said she was going to be in town and if I had time could we meet. I was thrilled! We had such a great chat catching up over coffee. The best part of the holidays is the visiting friends and family for me. I got home after and I got to hang out with Paul before I headed to work for the night.  I got into my work clothes and wore my snowman socks and snowman earrings and thought I am going to have a great night at work. All was going well until my first client came along. I introduced myself and that was as far as it got. I get that not everyone feels the Christmas spirit and it means different things to different people. I respect that. However! When someone comes at you and sort of makes you feel bad about the fact you are enjoying the season that is when you cross the line. I kept telling myself not to take it personally that maybe things weren't going well for her and like I said I don't force anything on anyone. My wearing my snowman earrings to me is an expression of myself and my celebrating winter. So that was fine, and then the next hour was more of the same from a different person. At this point I felt terrible, I went from being in such a great place to being in a very bad place.

The holidays are not an easy time for anyone including myself. You miss loved ones, you are miles away from home and you are reflecting on Christmases past or the year that has passed and what lies ahead. My goal every year it to carry on my version of traditions while making up new ones and memories and celebrating life. That is what Christmas means to me; family, friends both near and far.

Notice I didn't say anything about gifts? Gifts are great, and I love picking out the right thing for some one that will make them smile. But I won't go into debt over it or expect something from everyone I see. Sometimes all you really want is time. Of course I do hound Paul every day about opening just one present, but really that is just our little tradition.

One of my favorite memories is my last one while my step dad was alive. It was Christmas 1998. Those of you who had been to our house at Christmas remember the streamers and decorations that covered every inch of our apartment and the coffee table and end tables being held down with baskets upon baskets of candy. It was a sight to see http://redheadedstepsister.blogspot.com/2010/11/spirits-of-christmas-past.html has a couple of photos to give you an idea of what is was like. Anyway every Christmas Eve Dad would make steak and lobsters for us and we would sit around listening to holiday music and watch my niece and nephew get more and more excited as it got closer to bedtime. This particular night they stayed over at our place and we waited for Santa. My stepsister and I could not sleep. Here we were in our 20's and 30's and wide awake to excited to sleep. So we stayed up and watched the original Christmas Carol on CBC. Finally it was like 7am and the kids were still asleep and so were Mom and Dad. It got to a point were we couldn't stand it any longer we went and woke the kids up so that THEY could go wake Mom and Dad up. We ate breakfast and opened our stockings which was the best part. Of course they knew we had set the kids up to make it look like their idea.

So here we are early morning on Christmas Eve 2011 and I have to work at 8am but at 4am I was wide awake. Too excited to sleep. At 5am I gave up the fight and got up. Now I am watching a Christmas Carol which by the way is still scary.

From This Canadian Life;  to you and your family. We wish you all a very Happy Holiday and all the best for 2012. 

Heavy Hearts...

It is with a very heavy heart we say good bye to a dear friend.

This past Wednesday during the holiday weekend here in the U.S. Blake left this earth for higher grounds. He fought long and hard against the cancerous beast. Our hearts go out to his family and his beloved wife Kate. He will be deeply missed by so many people.

I ask if you are reading this to send much love and healing to Kate, Blake's Family and all their friends as they try to find comfort and peace at this time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMED5boxySs&feature=youtu.be

We will miss you Blake. Be at peace.

Blake and Kate. Taken less than 4 weeks ago at Fred and Abby's wedding. 

For a ghoul time head to the mid-west.

Can you believe it is November?! Unreal! That ol' father time snuck up on us again.

October ended on a wonderful note I must say. Paul and I headed back to Indiana for one of his very good friend's wedding which happened to be Halloween weekend. We left here about 5am on Thursday morning after I had worked late the night before. It was pitch dark and raining as it always seems to whenever we have a long road trip this year. KIT our GPS was set to Mama Butler's House (literally a destination set in our GPS). The directions seemed familiar like I said it was really dark. All of the sudden we found ourselves on this extremely dark road that even with high beams on you couldn't tell if that was a hill our a gully in front of you. We kept nervously joking about some dude with a chainsaw being around one of the dark, sharp turns. It was obvious we were in the mountains but had no idea where and it wasn't on a interstate.

I asked Paul my awesome co-pilot to make sure that KIT was not set to something silly like avoid highways or something like that. Sure enough it was set to avoid highways, toll roads and the like. So it was taking us all the back roads. Paul quickly corrected that and it took us another half hour to find the way back to the interstate. So we lost an hour with our little detour in the rain. Which when you drive in the dark as it is, feels like you aren't getting anywhere.

It was a beautiful drive once the darkness lifted, the leaves on the trees were stunning. Nature in all her glory. I am not sure how long we had been on the road at this point at least about 6 hours so we were about half way there when we stopped for gas and found a pottery place. Of course I had to stop and check it out! As much as we wanted to get there I needed a break from the road to wake up. Driving through the mountains is awesome and scary all at the same time. Maybe not quite as bad as driving to Jasper Alberta where you look ever the side of the mountain and see serious drops, but trying to get our little car up a mountain while passing a semi in the rain not my idea of fun.

Once we turned the corner and saw Ball State University we both took a sigh of relief. Just a few more minutes and we were in Mama B's driveway. She came running out to the drive way to meet us. It felt good to be back to what was familiar. Even though I have never lived in Munice, it still feels like "home" since that is where my other family lives.

Our costumes 10/29/11

Friday we spent the day with Mama B. shopping, doing lunch and hitting up the Starbucks drive through which is a tradition Mama B. and I seem to have when ever I am in Muncie. Saturday was Fred and Abby's big day. They were getting married at this beautiful State park about 30 minutes from Muncie. We met them there to help set up and do whatever we could to make their day stress free. Such a perfect spot for a fall wedding. Afterwards Paul and I went to get dressed in our Halloween costumes before the ceremony. Paul was dressed as Jamie from Myth Busters and me. Well I was suppose to be dressed as my version of Mia from Pulp Fiction. She was the character that overdosed on the dance floor while dancing with John Travolta's character. I even had a syringe in my chest, but it kept falling out and I was just plain uncomfortable in my outfit so I ended up going to the car before the ceremony and stripped down and wore my big sunglasses so no one would notice the makeup I had on.

Near The Mound: Mound State Park Indiana

The ceremony took place at this Mound which I am sorry I am not totally familiar with the history of it but it is considered a very sacred place. Paul and his other very good friend Blake had done some excavating there I do believe while they went to Ball State. To get to the mound you had to hike along a path, and the sun was starting to set. It was absolutely magical. At one point in the ceremony as Fred and Abby were saying their vows, the sun moved so that it was directly on them and Abby's dress sparkled and twinkled like nothing I have ever seen before. With the colours of the leaves framing them in the back ground of the Mound. The energy and love that surrounded them was palpable. Afterwards we all walked back to Pavilion where the reception was. There were lots of laughs and stories going back and forth as friends gathered who hadn't seen each other in a while.

Paul, Fred and Blake have such a special connection and it was great to see the three of them together again, with the rest of their Muncie crew. For a few hours there was no worries, no cares. Just celebrating of love, friendships and two families being brought together.

Paul, Blake and Fred

Me, Paul, Kate, Blake, Fred and Abby

Maya, Maran and their Uncle Paul goofing around.

On Sunday we spent the morning visiting with Paul's grandparents and one of his aunts. From there Mama B. had a little family get together and we got the visit with the nieces and nephews for a bit. Then it was showtime. Blake formed a 80's heavy metal band for one night called Overcome By Fumes. Personally I love 80's metal and so does Paul;  so we made sure to be there as Blake made his debut performance. It was a great time and a perfect ending to an awesome weekend.

Monday morning came to fast. It was time to say our "Good Byes for now". I hate saying good byes, so I don't do them. I opt for the "We will see you soon!" which we will. Paul and I got up early with his Mom while she watched the early morning news drinking her coffee before work. Loaded up the car, and right on schedule the rain started. As we pulled away it was bittersweet, probably more so than usual. Living so far from friends and family can really suck, and this was one of those times. Paul and I spent the drive back east chatting and laughing about what a fantastic/whirlwind weekend it was. We are both so glad we were able to make it to the wedding and see everyone we got to see and catch up. It was the first time I think I have felt like I really had family here. Don't get me wrong Paul's family and friends have always welcomed me into their lives, but this was the first time I really FELT like I belonged.

Who knows what the future holds or what is waiting around the next corner for any of us. But one thing we do know we are not in this alone as long as we got each other; and our sense of humour.

This makes me smile.

The Muncie Crew. Taken after the Overcome by Fumes show.

In honour of Movember.

Having a laugh at Fred and Abby's reception.

The drive back east, Mother Nature played a trick on us. 10/31/11

So that Ladies and Germs wraps up our October. November here we come.

Just another day in This Canadian Life.

Sometimes I feel like I am living in my very own episode of Seinfeld. I was never really into that show but the one episode I did see was the one where Elaine was in the ladies room and there was no toilet paper so she asked the lady in the next stall if she could spare a square. It was hilarious.

Actually come to think of it there was a period on my life where my friends would call me Kramer. Hmmm..now I can see why.

One day last week I had a doctors appointment an hour away from town. Nothing serious; no worries just a usual check up but I switched to my friend's doctor who she highly recommended since I wasn't pleased with any of the doctors I have dealt with here in town.

So I left really early for my appointment which was not until 2:30pm but they asked that I arrive by 2pm so I could do all the fun forms that you get to do being a doctors new patient and stuff. I left at 10:30am and got there about 11:30am. Scouted out the building figured out where I had to park so I knew exactly where I was going. All was fine and good.

I decided since I had so much time I would just go grab lunch about 11 minutes away according to KIT the GPS and maybe do a bit of shopping at the TJ Maxx. So off I went, so far so good. Traffic wasn't to bad at all. I was trying to find my way to the TJ Maxx. I could see the sign but I couldn't figure out how to get across the street. Finally I got to the parking lot and managed to drive around the parking lot and still couldn't find the TJ Maxx until I looked up and I was right in front of it. Yeah.

It was about 1:10pm now and I thought I had better head back downtown to the doctors office and that way I have plenty of time and likely there will be wait to see him anyway. I made it back downtown in 10 minutes, but I couldn't find the self parking lot. All they had was valet parking. I thought my cheap ass is not paying whatever the rate was for valet. Some how I found myself in a one way parking garage that was for valet only and I was stuck. I asked the lady how to get to self parking and she directed me, but I was boxed in with empty cars. Don't ask me how I managed to do this. Finally I got over to the self pay parking lot. I kept following the signs up and up and up all eight levels of the parkade and not a SINGLE PARKING SPOT! As a matter of fact there was a line up of cars trying to get out like myself who couldn't find a spot. I asked the attendant where else I could go. She mumbles something about valet.   At this point I looked that the clock in the car and it was 1:50pm. I had spent the last 30 minutes driving around looking for parking.

I found a valet stand and the cars where lined down the hill waiting for their turn. I thought "great I am going to be late for an appointment I was originally 2.5 hours early for! The young guy gets my car and I run for it. Then I realize I have no idea where I am running too! See this doctors office is part of the Medical campus so there are tons of building in this core area all for different things. The wind was gusting, and all I had on was  jeans, Chucks, t-shirt and a light cardigan. The wind kept trying to pull me out of my shoes as I was running like a chicken with her head cut off trying to find someone to tell me where to go. I had a paper map in my hand of the campus but it wasn't holding up to well. No time to waste. I didn't dare look at the clock. At this point I have run up and down hills, in and out of tunnels and finally figured out that I was originally steps away from the building I needed but had just spent however many more minutes running around lost and talking to myself out loud waving my map close to my body so the wind wouldn't take my only chance of making it to the appointment at all.

Finally I get to the the area I need to be in and I look up and it was 2:15pm. I just made it. I filled out my paper work and was juggling the clipboard and my purse and the GPS case. I am breathless and my face flushed and I was really hoping they didn't want to take my blood pressure right then cause it would have been through the roof! I sat down and made sure everything was in order trying to at least appear like I had myself together. The whole waiting room was quiet not a word was spoken. Then all of the sudden I hear  a "BWAHHAHHA! YOU Have  TEXT MESSAGE!" my purse was cackling at me. "Of course I do!" I found myself saying out loud once again. I rarely have my ringer on and of course this time I would with some obnoxious tone too. It was Paul making sure I got there okay. Now I had to pee. I assessed where the washroom was and what time it was and figured I had time just in case they called my name. As I was washing my hands I reached for a paper towel from the dispenser so I could turn the tap off ( I am a germa-phoebe when it comes to public washrooms). All of the sudden the steel door swings open on the dispenser and all these neatly folded brown paper towels fell out on me by the bunches! At this point all I could do was laugh.

 I met the doctor and all I could think about was how he could literally be a member of my family. He looked like one of my relatives. Of course he would! What else would I expect! It should have been awkward but strangely as he sat with me and chatted it comforted me. It was a seemingly perfect scenario for a sitcom. But this is just another day in This Canadian Life.

As I tried to put on my jeans this morning I think I am still feeling the effects of our fantastic Canadian Thanksgiving and the left overs that we weren't able to pass along to our guests. They feel a wee bit tighter than they did the week before. That's alright no more big dinners for me until Christmas; at least that is my plan.

Our Canuck-giving turned out bigger than we originally thought and I think there were a few people who felt a bit left out.  Which I hate for anyone to think they were left out for any other reason except we didn't have the space. As it was there were a total of 15 people including ourselves in our modest little house. The weather was gorgeous that day. I had to work that morning so I cleaned and prepped as much as I could so when I got home all that had to be done was throw the two turkey breasts in the oven and Paul was on the veggies and stuffing. The upstairs neighbor went away for the weekend but offered us the use of her fire place in the backyard. As you may or may not know from previous blog entries she often makes us feel  un-welcomed in the shared backyard so this came as a lovely surprise. It was warm out but not too bad, as the sun was setting it cooled down and once everyone got here some moved to the backyard to sit at the patio table or on steps. Some stood around the kitchen and ate and chatted. At one point I stood back by the sink taking it all in. I watched as people who have never met before chatted like old friends, as another guest came through the back door for his third helping of the veggie turkey roast. I smiled as I watched my friend's little boy toddle his way around all the people aiming for the open back door to see what waited out there for him; while I could hear his older brother in the living room giving a show and tell about his sea creatures he got at the aquarium with all the details of what each creature could do. Who could eat you or ink you. In that moment I just thought "Yup, Mum would be pretty pleased if she could see this. This is what Thanksgiving is about. This is how I wanted to celebrate her life and memory." Most people in attendance didn't really know how Paul and I came up with this tradition and I think it made it that much better. The point was we got our new friends together for a harvest feast and give thanks for being there for us and a reminder of how far we have come if our tiny house was filled to the brim with friends.

On Thanksgiving Monday which technically is the real big day, my cousin called to chat. We rarely get to chat on the phone so this was a real treat. It was great talking to her and she shared all the good news and happenings in her world. I went back to work Tuesday with a strange peace in my soul. A feeling I hadn't recalled feeling in years. There was a sense of renewed hope, even if fleeting it was still there.

Just when you thought your week couldn't get much better; there was a text message from my brother saying my nephew Quintin wanted to talk to me could I call? The message was sent two hours earlier so I wasn't even sure if Quintin would still be up so I texted back that I was on my way home and would call when I got in. I barely got my shoes off and I was calling. Quintin never talks on the phone. He will yell in the background or have his Dad talk to me but he NEVER gets on the phone nor does he ask to talk to me. I was a bit surprised. Scott answered and told Quintin his Auntie Shannon was on the phone. He came right to the phone without persuasion. Then he just started talking! Like a little grown up! I couldn't believe my ears, he was speaking so clearly and was asking questions and we chatted for a while until finally it was way past his bed time. He told me that he was looking at photos of me earlier because he wanted to see me and it had been a long time. My heart broke a little bit. I said "yeah it has been a long time since I came to visit you hasn't it?" I get this little "yeah' back. I told him I will come to visit soon. "How long is soon?!" I said "well it is a lot of days to count but I will be there just after your birthday." Then I hear him say "Daddy when is my birthday?" to which my brother tells him 6 months.  Which is still a long time but I will make it an extra special trip. I think this trip will require me to stay longer than  usual so I can get lots of Quintin time in. We talked about school and he wanted to see photos of my house and could hear the cats so he asked me to send pictures of them. Next thing you know we are blowing up the phone lines sending pictures from our phones. Finally we had to say good night and he asks me "Can I call you tomorrow night?!" I was smiling from ear to ear. " I said you can call me anytime you want. Or you can have Daddy text me and I will call you if I am home!"  He liked that idea too. With that he was ready to go to bed. "Night! Love you!' He yells into the phone.

It just blows my mind to think that kids grow up so fast, one minute he was a baby crawling around in these orange and yellow fleece footie pj's I got him and the next he is having full telephone conversations with me asking questions.

Maybe it's my pending birthday or something, but I am feeling really old. But grateful. On that note I am off to get my grey hair covered.

October-fest!!!!

October is turning out to be a very busy and exciting month for us, and this is only the 3rd day!

Last weekend I came home from work and told Paul that one day not anytime soon, that I wanted to get a dog. What came next I wasn't expecting in the slightest. I expected him to give my the usual pat on the head and say sure, some day. Much to my surprise he replied with "well I don't think a dog is a good idea as long as we have Lola. However I have been thinking I am ready for a second cat." I nearly fell off my stool!

The next day we were picking up this sweet little 9 week old kitten who is orange stripped and the whole drive home Paul was trying to pick just the right name for this new addition. We came up with a short list which consisted of Brody or Clark and then I for some reason really like the name RickyBobby. Paul's method for choosing the right name was to swear at this kitten. Finally I suggested we flip a coin and whatever the name was that it landed on and how Paul felt about it that would determine that kitten's name. I really just needed a name for him so that the next day when I took him to the vet to get him checked it wouldn't be "no name".

CLARK W. The W. stands for Waldo apparently. Taken the day we brought him home.

We kept Clark away from Lola until we had him checked by the vet to make sure he didn't have something that might harm our girl, but she knew something was hiding out in the office since the door was shut. Also Clark started to cry that night for his litter mates until we got him settled down.

By day 4 they had met and were hanging around each other with some hissing here and there, but over all I think Lola was warming up to him. Then yesterday marked our one week anniversary with Clark and Paul and I found the two of them playing together. Chasing one another and tossing toys around. He can be a little crazy since he is a kitten but Lola just puts him in his place when she had enough or will remove herself to our room and sleep where he can't get her. His personality is so different from Lola when she was his age it is funny, and exhausting. He wants your attention all the time, and loves to cuddle. Paul is having a blast with him since this is the first time he has ever had a kitten. Oh, and Clark likes to watch t.v.

Paul and Clark watching a movie on the laptop.

Today I had go to Richmond to meet with the Board of Nurses a meeting that they had arranged for me months ago but it takes this long to get you in. I wasn't nervous until they told me to sign in and I saw a bunch of empty chairs and had to sit in front of the panel like I was in an actual hearing. There was a microphone on my table I had to face two members of the nursing board, and another CMT who is a board member and another administrative person from the board who was from what I could tell taking minutes. They said the idea of this informal conference was that of fact checking. I had sent in everything I could imagine that would be useful. Prior to going all my friends kept saying "It's not a big deal." "It's just a technicality" blah, blah, blah. But when you are sitting sequestered in a separate board room, Paul was out in the waiting area reading. He took the day off to give me moral support. You are looking out a window, a director comes in and gives you an idea of what you will do once you are in front of the board. She tells me I will make and opening statement, the board will ask questions and then they will have me leave and do a closed deliberation. Now I was starting to sweat. She left me there and said she would be back for me when it was time to start the meeting. All I kept thinking was "You went through immigration. This will be easier!" Yeah that didn't reassure me much. I gave a statement off the top of my head. Greeted each member with a smile and a good morning. I answered their questions as clearly as I could and then was sent out of the room while they deliberated. They asked me what classes I have taken since being out of school. I hadn't taken any since 2005, I told them I moved and was working various jobs while my husband was in grad school. Once we moved here it was time for me to jump start my massage career again. The member who was a CMT, asked how I managed to pass the national exam the first time if I hadn't been in school since 2004. I looked her in the eye and said "I studied for months. Because failing was not an option for me." After the deliberation I was called back in and they went over the facts I had given them and told me their final decision. They approved my application! Finally! I can call myself a Certified Massage Therapist in the U.S. This is a major victory for me. It feels good I must say. I will go back to work tomorrow with a new outlook, and see what the future holds in store for me from here.