10 reasons I like Dawson Creek

Today was my first day of tocing, finally. It turns out that I actually wasn't on the list for some reason, or they screwed up somehow. Luckily, though I overheard some teachers saying how they couldn't get anyone to sub for them, and I was like "Excuse me--I will!". Unfortunately, though, I didn't find out until after 8am this morning, so it was a bit of a rush, but I was glad to get to work.

I've also started my new teaching assignment. I'm now employed .544 time, which is a little over 50%. So, I'm teaching mondays in french immersion kindergarten, wednesdays tech classes and fridays in grade one still.

This has been a busy week, and it's going to be especially busy this weekend as Mike and I have decided to try and make it to our friend's wedding in Saskatoon which is on Saturday at 4pm, but Mike is technically supposed to work night shift on friday, so we're hoping he gets off early enough that we can drive there in time. This means basically not sleeping, but we figure it will be an adventure. He's driving to Edmonton, (if he gets off early enough), and I'm driving to Saskatoon. According to mapquest, it will take us 12 hours and 3 minutes, plus the one hour time difference, so we need to leave by 3 am our time to make it. I'm praying it's the slowest night ever.

Life in Dawson Creek has gotten much busier now, so it feels like I actually live here. For some reason, it has felt very temporary this whole time. Here are some pics and some reasons why I like our new home.

1) The sky is HUGE--you can forcast your own day just by looking off in the distance.

2) Every driveway has about 3-4 large trucks and a fifth wheel, so our tercel is actually unique.

3)You can wear a scarf (and not just as a fashion statement) from September to May.

4)When I tell people we want four kids, they think "Is that it?" I've met several families of 11 or 12 kids, plus other "averaged" sized families of 5-6 kids.

5)We don't have to change our clocks ever. (no fall back or spring forward)

6)There's only one of everything so you don't have to choose(bookstore, health food store, kitchen store, movie store--oh , wait, there's two of that one :)

7)There are moose in your backyard.

8)No seagulls to poop on your car while you're at work.

9)The movie theatre is identical to the one in Port Alberni where I grew up.

10)I get to see the Northern Lights.

Well, blogger doesn't seem to want to let me post any pictures right now...darn. I finally got some of where I live! Well, I know a lot of you have been wanting to see some pics, so I will try again later and hopefully you can finally see what it's like up here!

Snow in summer?

Yesterday morning was a shock for me as I left the house at 5:30 am to drive Mike to work. Why? Because I had to clear the snow off the roof of my car!

Yes, that's right. I've moved to a city where it snows in summer. I know it doesn't feel like summer anymore, but technically, the first day of fall isn't until Saturday, and we've already skipped to winter!

I will admit though that it was a complete fluke snow which only happened because of one day of arctic air and by noon it had all melted off the "mountains". It was still crazy though. I think it's the first time I've seen snow before November. It also worried me as I still don't have that block heater, or the snow tires. Must get those soon. I've also decided it's time to retire the summer clothes and put on socks. I wore a tank top and shorts the day before it snowed, and now I'm wearing two long sleeved shirts and a vest to go for a walk.

In other news, two of my favourite authors recently passed away. Madeleine L'Engle wrote some of my favourite YA fantasy and she passed away on September 6th at 88 years old. Even more surprising is that on monday Robert Jordan, the author of the Wheel of Time fantasy series died. I've been reading his series since grade 9 and apparently he was writing the last of the series--book 12. Hopefully it will still be published. Can you imagine if Tolkien or C.S. Lewis had died before finishing their series'? It's strange when an author dies because you don't really know them, but you feel as if you did because you read their work.

If you haven't read Madeleine L'Engle or Robert Jordan, I highly recommed "A wrinkle in time" and "The Eye of the World", which are their two first books in the series.

The best picture and the best restaurant

This is why I still love having a film camera--every once in a while you discover an old roll of film you never developed and you have no idea what's on it. That happened to me today, and I was excited to discover these pictures I had taken when my dear friend Amanda left Victoria. It was her last day and we four girls did all our favourite things, including eating at our favorite breakfast place "The Blue Fox". I had the pictures put on a CD just so I could post them here. Mmmm eggs benny and pan fries....

Sore on Saturdays

My arms are so sore right now I can hardly type. Mike and I had our first volleyball game last night, and then I just spent the afternoon bowling. It was a lot of fun and we won our first game but my arms are so tired and aching. I couldn't even bowl the second game and just kept getting gutter balls because my hand couldn't even hold the ball anymore! Ouch!

Still, it was worth the fun of hanging out with new people. In other news, my second friday went much better than the first. Also, I start my bellydancing class on Monday, and I can't wait to start scrapbooking with the new stuff I got from the scrapbooking party.

Here is some more writing, although not poetry this time, but from one of the stories I'm working on sending out.

The first time she saw a tapestry, she was ten. In the castle, a ceiling so high her neck hurts to look up at it. In her arms, a basket of Magda’s medicines and salves, left on their doorstep. She begged her mother to let her take them. The walls of the castle are stone, the floor cold beneath her shoes. At the end of the hall, a large room with layered carpets and a fire waving in the corner. A servant takes the basket and thanks her for bringing it up so quickly. She is a young servant, with ruddy cheeks and quick hands as she unwraps the cloth to see what Magda has sent. She chatters on about the different things they’ve tried, but Shiloh hears nothing. Around her, the walls are covered in tapestries, so thick with thread she can hardly make out the images. She focuses on the center hanging: thread of gold woven with rich creams, reds and blues. Patches of violet and green linked in a complex pattern. A unicorn bowing to a woman, her robe of gold splayed around her on the forest floor. A story made of thread. The servant asks what she’s staring at. Oh, yes, the tapestries. Over a hundred years old, they are. Stories of magic woven together. Do you know that each one is like a page in a book? Beautiful, aren’t they.

Yikes it's friday again!

Well, tomorrow I get to take my second stab at teaching grade one. We'll see how it goes as I get to do PE with them this time. It will either be a really good thing or a really bad thing.

I'm finally feeling really busy and involved here though, I had meetings yesterday and today, a scrapbooking party tonight, my first volleyball game tomorrow, a lunch and bowling on Saturday, and then church on Sunday, and on monday I'm starting a bellydancing class, which I've always wanted to try.

It's also been so sunny and warm here that Mike and I have been going for lovely walks around town. DC is actually really pretty at the time of day where the sun makes all the trees so bright and green and the air smells like fall. I really like our neighbourhood.

I've also finally found a canadian literary journal that published speculative fiction, so now I can send out the fairy tale-ish story I have that I didn't know what to do with. Life is good this week.

Better go finish planning for tomorrow!

Farner's markets and Church picnics

So it's the end of a really great weekend. It started on Friday after teaching my first day in my own class as a real teacher. I will admit it still feels like I'm on practicum since I'm teaching under another teacher, but it was still cool to have a job again. The day didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped, but lets face it, 21 six year olds surviving the entire day without any injuries or disappearances is pretty good for my first day as an elementary teacher. I also am pleased to note that I didn't make anyone cry or pee their pants. We also got through all of my lessons and activities which was great, and I think they may even have liked some of them.

So, in all it wasn't too bad. There were a few mishaps, but mostly all of my problems were with discipline, and really, it was my first day with them all alone. I just need to figure out how to get them to walk quietly down the hallway with me without causing too much noise.

After school I hung out with Mike as he had the evening off. We watched a movie and then on Saturday, we went to the farmer's market, which I've been meaning to see since we arrived. It was really great--lots of fresh organic vegetables locally grown and also some funky jewelry (I got some glass blown earings for $5) and baked goods. So, we bought some carrot cake and took it over to our new friends Matt and Lindsay's place in the afternoon. We taught them the Bean game and Puerto Rico, which was really fun. They cooked us burgers for dinner and then Mike and I went home to watch the UFC fight.

Today Mike had to work so I went to church and then drove out of town by myself for the first time to Pouce Coupe, which is only about 8km away. We had a big bbq and picnic with the whole church in the park and so I met a lot of people. It was a beautiful day for September up north--23 degrees and so nice and sunny. So, it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday. It would have been better if Mike was there but that was him on the phone so I'm off to pick him up!

Back to School!

This is the very first year since I started kindergarten, that I will not be going back to school as a student after labour day. I'm still going back to school, but I'm teaching instead. I'm happy about this because I get to make some money finally and start paying back my student loan, which apparently has already incrued 503 $ worth of interest (?!) so that's always good. On the other hand, I desperately miss shopping for new text books, waiting to see my old friends back in our familiar clearihue building classes, and sitting around on the sunny green Uvic campus, wondering what my new classes will be like. Yes, I'm one of those people who liked being in school, and I'm missing it already.

But, one day, I'll go back and do a master's degree. I was looking into the low residency programs for MFA's but I don't know if I would like school at home--I mean, the whole point is to be at a University amongst other students. I don't think I would have the motivation.

Today was a nice sunday. I met another couple at my new church who took me out to lunch. It got really nice and sunny out later so I went for a run with my new ipod that my mom and Jessie got me for my birthday (thanks guys!). So, i have now officially joined the world of the ipod. It's bright green and really fun and makes me like running so much more.

It's nice to finally know some more people in DC and pretty soon there's a bible study for young couples starting, and then I'm going to take a yoga class and Mike and I are playing volleyball on friday nights we hope. I looked into some other classes as well, but I don't want to have every night booked just in case. I also am doing a once a month scrapbooking group with Lindsay from my church and that starts in two weeks too. So, September looks like a fun month so far. I already have my first day of school planned, which is the only day that I'm teaching so far. I also found out that I might be getting a second day of teaching in another class, so that would bring me up to a .40 position, which would be great.

Well, I better go get dinner ready. I'm a house wife for one more day. Not that I didn't enjoy it, even though sometimes I was bored, I got used to it. Mike is working late today because there was apparently a police pursuit. He called me about an hour ago all excited because he got to chase a guy through a park and tackle him. I think he was very proud of himself--it was his first foot chase. So, so far he's checked several firsts off his list and he's only been here a month:
--drawn his gun
--footchase
--assisted paramedics after a head on collision
--went on a drug-burning trip up north (not that you can get much farther!)
Plus, many other exciting adventures, including arresting someone in our own building...

Here's to all those who are going back to school, in whatever role you may be...

Bonne Fete a moi!

Today is my first birthday in Dawson Creek. And, for the second year in a row, it's actually sunny on my birthday, which doesn't happen very often! I'm cooking a roast, and Mike cleaned the whole house, and I just opened all the birthday cards that arrived today, so that was a lot of fun. Facebook is also fun on birthdays. I have gotten so many presents and flowers and messages. The internet is great for birthdays, so thanks everyone!

In two hours my first dinner guests are coming over for roast and to play a game. I'm making really yummy chocolate angel food cakes with mascarpone whipped cream and berries. Yum.

Also, yesterday Mike took me to Grand Prairie for my birthday present. We went to the mall, then saw Stardust, and finished off with a dinner at a fancy restaurant called the Cherry Lounge, where I had bison canneloni and mini waffle cones with home made ice cream for dessert. You can't beat birthdays for an excuse to eat a lot of good food!

Lovely Sunday

Today was a beautiful sunny blue sky day and it is sooo nice. Not very warm, but still pretty. The fields are beginning to turn yellowish and the air feels like fall. As I ran down the street this morning I was reminded of the way every september of my life has felt. I've always been starting school and a new field hockey season, and the smell of the sunny cold air made me think of it so much that I wished I was going to university all over again. Although, technically, I do get to go back to school, just in another fashion.

Yesterday was a really great sunday. Mike and I went to church together (check that one off my list) and it was awesome. I really love the church we found--it has great music and a lot of people. We've met many new faces already. After church, we were invited for lunch at the home of a young couple who have a two month old daughter. They treated us to elk steaks and it was delicious. They have a lot in common with us, including that they like to play boardgames, which led to a very close match of settlers. Lindsay is a dental hygienist and her husband is actually a teacher as well. We had many similar interests, and it actually was kind of strange because her husband is also a writer and just recently finished a manuscript for a fantasy novel, which is what I want to write. So, we had a lot to talk about and it was really nice to meet some new people. Hopefully they might be able to come over for a birthday dinner for me on friday.

Well, Mike is at work and off for the next four days, so we are heading to Grand Prairie for my birthday present, to go for dinner and a movie. And then it's back to school!

Aargghh

So, today the world decided it would be fun to frustrate me. It was one of those days where you wake up and decide to run a lot of errands, make a lot of phone calls, and stop procrastinating about things you've been meaning to do.

And then, nothing seems to go according to plan. First, I decided to order some photos on line from wal-mart. Then, I was told that I couldn't order them since I live in Canada. And, the canadian website wasn't working. So, I drive all the way out to Wal-mart in DC only to be told that they aren't printing any photos today, for "reasons beyond their control".

So, I decide to go to the library and get my library card, only to find out that I need a reference name and number of someone in Dawson Creek, and I'd forgotten to get one. Not to mention that I don't know anyone yet. So, no to that one.

I also need to find a doctor and was told there weren't any female docs in town. After searching the yellow pages, I discover that there are 2 in town. I call both, and to my intense surprise neither are taking patients. I try to find a chiropractor because I hurt my back and shoulder again, and am told I can't get in till the 5th of september because as a new patient, I need an hour long appointment. Does it matter that I can barely move? No.

So, I decide to go try the physiotherapy clinic, and thankfully I got an appointment there, although it turns out that for some reason Mike is listed as being single by the RCMP and I'm not on his medical coverage. Yipee. So, Mike asks me to bring some papers to the detachment so that he can fax them to MSP and get things straightened out. He says, make sure you come before 4:15, or the office door will be locked. I arrive at 4:05 and the door is locked. Mike doesn't come out, no one will let me in, and then it starts to rain. I, of course, had left my jacket at home and was in a tank and shorts. After standing in the rain for a while, I decide to leave, and just as I was pulling out, saw the secretary leaving, and managed to flag her down and give her the papers for mike.

Now I'm home, and decided to try the wal-mart photo site again, to discover that it is now working, only when I upload the photos from my CD, and go to order them, they look all glitchy and blurry on the order form, although on my camera and on my CD they look great. So, now I'm back to square one. No pictures, no way of sending out the photo of Mike and I at his grad to our friends and family. Although, to be honest, of the 500 photos I had people take of us, not one of them is the photo I wanted. Why is it so hard for people to take a full length photo? I don't know, but I just remember the whole day of his grad, I kept asking people to take a picture of us, and of course the only one I like is the one where he's not wearing his red serge. And to think Mike kept saying we had taken too many pictures and didn't need anymore. Why couldn't I just have gotten that one picture? Arggg...maybe I will go back to good old film cameras. Actually, the problem is that I don't have my own camera anymore, so I have to rely on other people to get me copies, or put them on a disk, and then I never end up getting them developed. Well, no more of that. I'm going to buy my own camera and that's it.

Okay, that's the end of my rant. For now. I'm sure I'll probably stub my toe on my way into the living room once I'm done writing this.

Pumpkin pie + cheese cake = a really yummy dessert

It's late at night, and I should be getting ready for bed so that i can go to church tomorrow morning. But, Mike is at work until 5am and on his night shifts I have taken to baking. I just love making dessert. Eating it is good too, but I really enjoy baking new desserts. And, the reason I can't go to bed yet is that I just finished making pumpkin cream cheese bars and they have to cool in the fridge for another hour, and I REALLY want to try one. And, they are made with all low fat ingredients, so it's okay to eat them. Plus, I went for a run yesterday, and I have decided on a running route. Now, I just have to motivate myself to stick to it.

On the positive side, I now have a list of journals and magazines I am going to submit to, and have done a lot of research into some different writing projects that I want to start. I have already submitted two poems to an online journal called Goblin Fruit that published in the fairy tale genre. So, let's keep our fingers crossed! Bon soir!

Making friends

So, I have almost been in Dawson Creek for one month now, and I still am finding myself quite bored when Mike's working and haven't made any friends. It's kind of frustrating because I'm used to either working or going to school, and it's always been super easy meeting people and making friends in Victoria because there were so many other students my age. I realized the other day that outside of that University student venue, I have no experience meeting new people. I'm also super bored, so I decided I better start thinking of more things to do. I have several ideas:

1) Find a church that has lots of young couples (this worked well in Victoria) and although Mike and I tried one church out in DC, it was very small and old-fashioned and although the elderly couples that spoke with us were very kind, it isn't exactly the right match for us. So, I drove around and the largest Church I saw seems to be the pentecostal church, so I'm going to try it out this sunday. Hopefully this will give us a chance to meet new people, and hopefully they have a large youth group I can volunteer with.

2) I am planning on joining the next session of yoga, which starts late September on thursday nights.

3) I got a calendar for the continuing education classes offered at the Northern Lights College campus, and am planning on either a beginner's spanish class (if there are enough ppl that sign up) or perhaps a pottery class, although it's pretty expensive so I may have to wait until the January session.

4) Volunteer. Not sure where yet, but I am going to try out the library, because it seems like a good place for me. I was hoping to find a book club to join, but after asking at the book store, was told that most of the ones in town are just friends who get together for their own meetings. Maybe once I meet some people I can start my own book club.

5) I am also hoping to find a sports team to join, although they don't seem to have many in Dawson Creek that are for adults. There are plenty of youth teams, but what the heck do the adults do here? Although I have to admit I have seen MANY overweight adults in this town, so maybe that's my answer. I also haven't seen anyone playing sports on the many fields in town, or anyone ever in the walking trails and parks. What's up with that?

Well, that's the plan for now. Maybe by publishing it it will make me stick to it. Or, some of you could just move here, that would solve a lot of problems, and I wouldn't have to make any new friends. Okay, okay, I get it, no one wants to live up north.

Here's to meeting new people who my husband has not previously arrested!

Days off

Well, Mike is now on the third day of his four off. It's so nice to have him home for a nice stretch each week. Sort of like a little holiday each time. Unfortunately, this one started off with his being sick and a rain/thunder storm, which meant that we couldn't go to the rodeo like we had planned on Sunday. However, on monday we were finally able to get our computer desk, microwave hutch and bookshelf! Yeah! I'm so excited about the desk because it is real wood and it has a whole table top that I can write on and put my marking on--it's great! Also, I can finally start unpacking my books. Not all of them, mind you, because I would need a whole library room for that, but at least my favourites, and the ones I'm planning on reading soon. I've read so many books in the last year, it's crazy. Way more than I read throughout my whole University career. Most of them are YA fiction, but those are my favourites, plus it's what I want to write. In fact, I read all 7 Harry Potter books since Christmas. I had never read them before, just watched the movies, but finally decided I should, and then got addicted like the rest of the world. Actually, I've been dying to talk to someone about the last book, but my sister hadn't read it yet, and i don't want to give anything away for others. But, wasn't it soo good!? I even convinced Mike to read the series as I liked them so much. I wonder what she's going to write next?

Well, the sky outside my window is bright blue, so I'm hoping the summer weather is coming back for a little while. I'm planning on doing something outside, but I don't know what yet!

14th century castles and coffee cake

I've been pretty bored this weekend as Mike was working his night shifts, which means that he sleeps all day. So, I'm kind of stuck at home with not too much to do. Yesterday I was determined to find something fun to do so I started to look up cottages in Ireland for sale, because one day I hope to own my own cottage that I can rent out during the year and then use as a writing retreat whenever I want. Well, looking at cottages in Ireland turned into a lot of fun, so I started to look into Scotland, and then France, and before I knew it I was looking at castles for sale...I know I know, I don't even have my own house yet. But, did you know that you can buy a castle in France for like a million dollars? Not that I have a million dollars, but it sure put my desire to live in Victoria in persepective for me. I mean, for the price of a fancy home in the Uplands, you could buy SEVERAL castles in various European countries! So, my new plan is to retire to a French castle and vacation in my Scottish and Irish cottages. And, anyone is free to come and visit. In fact, I would encourage everyone to look into buying cottages in other countries. That way we can share!



This is my castle--14th century! And for the price of a home in Victoria. 370,000 Euros. Crazy, eh? Even Mike likes the idea of living in a castle. Although, I bet the heating bill is extraordinary...

Ahh, dreaming. Too much of that when there is nothing else to do. I did, however, do some baking. I got this great cookbook for making light desserts, and they are really great recipes. I made a raspberry granola coffee cake last night and it is delicious.

Well, Mike is still sleeping, but hopefully he'll wake up soon. He has the next three days off which is nice, so I'm looking forward to buying our desk so that I don't have to sit on the floor and type anymore, and also so that I can put all of my books away and start writing for real. I have so many ideas for stories swimming around in my head, but I'm not sure where to start. And, for that matter, which of them are novels and which are short stories? I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Okay, okay

Okay, so I've been putting off blogging for about a week now, because the task of catching up on my trip to Regina for Mike's grad, the moving excursion and my trip and settling in up here in Dawson Creek is pretty daunting. But, alas, I am finally sitting down to do it. So, here is the condensed version of the L'Heureux's exciting summer.

Going waaay back (at least it seems like a year ago), I left for Regina on July 7th. It was sooo awesome to be back with Mike again, and we enjoyed a weekend together, before he began his last week of training and before his family arrived for the celebration. On the saturday, we enjoyed a bbq at the home of one of his facilitators, where I was able to meet the rest of his troop, teachers, and their families. I, however, was the only crazy person who arrived 10 days before the graduation :) While at the bbq, Mike and his troopmates engaged in a East vs. West football game (the west won of course!). Above, you will see the two teams in a huddle. (My computer is only showing the pics as scrambled letters, so hopefully they are there somewhere).



Continuing on....On Sunday, Mike and I had a visit from our friends Kim and Todd from Saskatoon. They met us for brunch and for a tour of the RCMP museum, where we behaved like tourists posing with the bear and dressing up like mounties.





We also got to see Jenn, Matthew and Bronson later on in the day as they too were near Regina for a wedding. It was really neat to get to have the three couples hanging out together again, as this hasn't happened since Jenn and Matt's wedding! It was also nice to get to see Jenn for the third time this summer. Mike hadn't seen our godson since he was 3 weeks old, so it was really exciting for him as well, and I think Bronson liked him since he kept on grabbing his nose!




During the week I was a little bored, as Mike's family was not scheduled to arrive until Wednesday and I had to spend Sunday, monday and tuesday night alone, since Mike was in class still. I attempted to be brave to save money by scheduling 3 nights in the hostel, which was nice and clean, but after spending sunday night there with a strange woman in my room and not feeling safe leaving my humungous suitcase in the room while I went out, I decided to see if I could wrangle the Regina Inn where we were staying later to give me the RCMP rate for a few extra days, which they did thankfully. Unfortunately I still got charged the two nights at the hostel, but it was much more enjoyable to have my own room and the hotel was super nice. So, after my escape from the hostel (where i did meet some really nice french speaking tourists from France and Belgium) I spend monday shopping downtown, took a limo ride (same fare as a taxi), and then went to the Royal Saskatchewan museum on Tuesday, and then for a walk around the park there, where there is a pretty lake, fountain, and view of the parliament buildings. And, I am proud to say that I walked back, with my trusty free map of Regina in hand. I even saw some cute ducks.



Tuesday night was back to Depot to meet Mike for the sunset parade, which is a special drill performance that you can only see on Tuesday nights in July and August. They ahve special troops that train just for it, and it includes a marching band and cannon firing. It was nice to sit and watch with Mike on the lawn, especially nice for him as he was not allowed to touch the grass (or the sidewalk for that matter) for the length of his stay at depot. Mike tried to capture the cannon firing, but it didn't quite work. I did however, get a picture of myself with Safety Bear.






Depot is a really neat place. It has a small beautiful chapel with stained glass windows, that is the oldest building in Regina.



Thankfully, Mike's family had all arrived by Wednesday, so I was able to hang out with them until Friday. We also got to enjoy Mike's troop's passout ceremony on Thursday, which is a drill ceremony they do in the drill hall. On Friday, we picked Mike up from Depot to take him to the hotel, as he had officially completed his classes at Depot. We celebrated by going out to the Keg for a lovely dinner. On Saturday we toured around Regina, going to the Science center and to the Imax. The exhibit at the Science center included replicas of Egyptian art and tombs built entirely out of lego (any guys dream).






On Sunday and Monday, the true grad celebrations began. Sunday was the chapel ceremony, luncheon, family workshop,and another trip to the museum. Monday was a day full of ceremonies, including a morning swearing in ceremony, where the cadets swear three oaths, remove their cadet lapels, and get their diplomas, a final sergeant major's parade (where everyone melted in the heat,) then the official badge presentation ceremony where they put on their full Red Serge. There are many different combos of the mountie uniform, but this is when they wear what you think of when you see a mountie (Stetson, breeches, high browns...). Later in the evening, there is a dinner celebration with the heads of the RCMP and their wives, who all live at Depot, and in this case they wear the Red Serge jackets, but black italian style boots and straight leg pants, without the straps and everything on the jacket. I will post these pics if Mike lets me later on. The dinner was delicious, although quite ironic as it was catered by the chef at our hotel. Also incredible is the fact that the head table, which includes the high up ppl in the RCMP, have to do this dinner twice a week, every wednesday and monday night as a new troop grads each week. No wonder they left right away after we ate. I wonder if the wives get a new dress for each dinner?





This is the best I can do for now for pics of him and his troop, as you can't really make any of their faces out here, but this is Mike marching, and then the whole group is their final Seargeant Major's parade, where they are being inspected one last time, and where you get to hear the new cadets being yelled at for dressing/standing/breathing wrong. I thought I'd feel bad for them but it was really quite funny.

Well, that is the end of the grad story. It was really an amazing trip and so cool to meet his troopmates and see them all fulfilling their dreams. Now we are settling into Dawson Creek, and Mike is at work on his 3rd set of shifts. We can both say, though, that actually being here and working as a police officer, is so much different than what you think and feel when you are at Depot marching in polished boots and Red Serge. His boots are still pretty shiny and he still can't stand having his hair too long, but he's definitely getting to know the area and the "regulars" as I will call them. Tonight we are going to see the fireworks at the Rodeo and Fall Fair which started yesterday, and soon we hope to make a trip in to GRand Prairie, and hopefully in September to Edmonton to do our winter shopping.

The weather here is much warmer than I expected, though, and we have already explored two swimming holes; Swan Lake, and the Kiskatinaw River. The former is full of algae and kind of gross, but the river was fun, although a little too shallow, but I sill enjoyed it as it was a hot day.

I've already picked out my favourite neighbourhoods, and hopefully by next spring we will be able to buy our first house. Rent here is ridiculous (between Victoria and Vancouver prices) but houses for sale aren't too bad, so we don't want to rent for long. Also, can you believe that cereal is 10.77 a box? Anyone who would like to send me a box of Honey Bunches of Oats can feel free! But, for now we are eating puffed wheat. Haha.

More of our Dawson Creek adventures to come.

Finally!

Well, I'm off tomorrow to start my big adventure. Victoria then Regina, then Victoria, Port Alberni, Victoria, Vancouver, then to Dawson Creek! All between tomorrow morning and the 22nd of July!

Needless to say, I won't be blogging for a while, but look forward to lots of it once I'm settled in DC and bored while Mike is off saving the world. Haha.

Well, I can't believe how fast the time has gone now that it's time to see Mike again. I'm really excited and am still in packing/phone calling/cleaning mode to get myself and my car ready for the trip. I sure hope that I can fit everything that I have in my car!

In case anyone needs to get a hold of me, send me an email sabrinalheureux@gmail.com or call me while I am away, you'll have to call my cell number 208-4918.

Off to the prairies....

Going away in 4 days!

Well, I accomplished a lot of stuff today. Went to the bank, the post office, organized two going away parties for when Mike and I come to the island before we move. One is with our family in Port Alberni on the 18th, and the other is in Victoria on the 19th. So, if you happen to be in or around Victoria on the 19th of July (our anniversary) and want to come to a potluck picnic at Beacon Hill Park around 6pm just let me know!

Also, in other good news, I found us a for sure place to live in Dawson Creek. It's a two bedroom apartment and it has in-suite laundry, so I'm really excited about that. We can move in as soon as we get there if we want, on the 22nd. But, I'm hoping to stop in Barkerville for the night on the way there, and stay in a bed and breakfast.

I can't believe how fast the past two months have gone, it's just crazy. I have such a long list of things to do now and only two more days to do them in, and then I go to Victoria, and then to Regina. Hopefully my plane will get there on time--I can't wait to meet Mike in the airport. It's so much more exciting this time, because last time I was by myself and just had to take a cab. But, we're not sure yet if he can pick me up in his serge or not. I dont' know whether I want him to or not, since if he's in his serge I can't hug him or anything. No PDA's while in uniform!

Well, let's hope I can manage to get some sleep in the next few days and not just be so excited I'm up all night!

"The great orange towers of the Golden Gate bridge jutted through the fogbank like carrots from the faces of sleeping conjoined twin snowmen"

(A quote from a very good book I am currently reading)

So, I didn't get the job I applied for, which is too bad, because after subbing elementary today, I was actually getting excited about it. However, they did offer me a very small contract, teaching every friday in a grade one french immersion class. I knew I kept getting called for grade one for a reason! So, I've applied for it and asked to be on the sub list for monday to thursday, so at least I'll be guaranteed one day a week, and who knows, it could turn into more work!

Mike and I also found out that we'll be getting reimbursed for all of our moving expenses, including the move to storage, which I was unsure of. So, yeah for that! Plus, they will pay for us to stay in a hotel until we find a place to live for August first. I love the RCMP! I secretly am considering applying myself.

I'm very tired right now though, but excited for my girls night tomorrow with Jenn, Melissa and Theresa at a hotel! Yeah! But, I'm tired from Friday night, when I did the walk for life relay in Port Alberni. It was a 12 hour walk for cancer. We raised over 119 thousand dollars, and our team "Walking for Udders" in honour of Mike's mom, won the team spirit contest. We all had matching cow costumes and pyjamas for the pj lap. It was a lot of fun, in fact it was the most fun I've had staying up all night, even though it poured rain for a lot of it, and I was absolutely exhausted!

Well, that's all the news for now. I'm heading to Regina in less than 2 weeks now, and then Mike and I will be leaving for Dawson Creek on July 21st! We will have two days to drive there, and I plan on staying in a nice hotel paid for by the RCMP :)

So, that's what's exciting right now...let's hope it gets warm by next week so I can at least have one swim in Sproat Lake before I leave...pleease

Oh, and by the way, I'm reading a book right now called a Dirty Job, which is absolutely hilarious. You must read it--Here's a quote:

"So I am death." Charlie said as he tried to construct a tuna-fish sandwich. "Daddy is Death sweetie." He checked the toast, not trusting the pop-up mechanism because the toaster people sometimes just liked to fuck with you.

You have to read it to understand just how funny and well-written it is. Thanks Dad for the book!

going crazy

I am going crazy with nervousness right now because I was supposed to get a phone call today from the Vice Principal at the Dawson Creek school I applied at and they were supposed to call an hour ago, but never did! I don't know if they forgot, or decided to hire someone else, or what, but I've been sooo nervous about it all day because I was supposed to do it in French and I was afraid I'd make a fool of myself, and then they never called! Argg...I secretly didn't want to talk, but I do want a job, so I knew I had to do it...

So, I'm busying myself with little games. Try typing in "your name" needs on google and then post the first five responses:

They are actually pretty crazy...

1.Sabrina needs her faith more than ever to help her make a decision (wow, weird as I am trying to decide about a job)
2. Sabrina needs someone to embrace her activity level (been going to the gym every day)
3. Sabrina needs 3kg of fresh red meat per day (haha)
4. Sabrina needs work (true)
5. Sabrina needs her beer to golf (not quite true as I hate beer)

Post your own if you get the time...