Another year? What the heck!?

On a snowy walk.



snowy sunset in the Dawson Creek park.

Snowy view from our building.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is that last day of the year. They say time seems to go by faster the older you get, which I think is true so far. It's hard to believe it's been a year since Mike went away to Depot, or that it's been a year since I started my practicum, or that I've already lived in D.C for 6 months!

Despite having no family here, our Christmas was really awesome. On Christmas Eve, I went to church, and Mike stopped by in uniform near the end. Then, I was invited to Matt's parents house where they were playing games and eating food. On Christmas morning, I made waffles just as Mike was getting home from work, and then we ate at 5:30 am and opened our gifts before going back to sleep. We were delighted to receive a CD from Mike's mom and Dave with video of them going around to mine and Mike's family members. We cried watching all our relatives say Merry Christmas and sing us songs. The best was when our nieces sang us "I want a hippopotomus for Christmas...". So cute. So that was a great surprise, and then we also got spoiled by everyone. Some of our gifts included, new comfy pj's from Mike, a new board game, a really cool digital camera (so I can finally post pics once I figure it out), a cookbook, a book on home reno's (which we are going to need!), some french books from my sister in Quebec...all in all I was very spoiled. Thanks everyone!

Christmas dinner brought us to Matt and Lindsey's house, where my carrot dish (thanks Granny), cheesecake and good pudding were a hit. We ate early so that Mike could be there, even though he was sooo tired and heading off to work for another night. Then, we played Cranium, where the girls kicked the boys butts, and some card games (I now know how to play poker). Mike surprised us by returning in his uniform to hang out and then drove me home later on in the cruiser, which is always fun. Either the people in the building think I get picked up by the police a lot, or they now know where the police live...oops.

Boxing day is always fun as no one I know was hospitalized like last year, and neither of us had to work! So, instead we had another turkey dinner with two other members, and played games until 2 am.


Mike and I at our boxing day dinner.

We're getting so excited to move into the house now, only 25 days. I better start packing. My wallet is definitely shrinking from all the things that have to be paid for though. We did get a 50% couch, loveseat and chair set thanks to the Brick's boxing day sale, so that was exciting. We can now almost furnish both living rooms in the house.

Mike is back to work for 4 days now, but I can't wait until he's off again, because it just snowed a lot, so we are going to go sledding on friday or saturday!


Happy New Year everyone!

Spoiled teacher, gingerbread, and Christmas music

Friday was my last day of school, so I'd planned a Christmas party for the kids. It went really well, although a little crazy as all the sugar and icing (we decorated cookies) made them extra hyper. But, what can you do? It's Christmas and I was happy to be able to make them so excited for it. I was also incredibly spoiled by my class--there were 19 of them in class on the last day, and 16 of them brought me gifts. I'll take a picture of them once I open the camera I know I'm getting for Christmas...teehee. But they included about 10 Christmas ornaments, candles, chocolates, and many decorated Christmas cards. Including the one that was labelled "M.Happy" for Madame Happy, from a little boy who calls me that as he has difficulty saying my last name! Haha..so cute. Although I would not have said the same thing if a high school boy was calling me that. Grade one is fine though.

But, I now have this enormous gingerbread woman that I decorated but I'm so sick of sweets that I can barely eat it. I know, I know, me sick of dessert. But yes, I just feel like eating tons of veggies and fruits, how strange is that?

The best part of today was receiving a CD from my friend here, Kim, who recorded a Christmas CD with a friend of hers. I'd listened to it at her house and told her I loved it, so she wrapped up a copy and gave it to me at Church this morning. It is so amazing, I wish I could play it for you, but I will be listening to it until Christmas that's for sure.

Although we have no family coming, and Mike is working over Christmas, I was invited to a gathering on Christmas eve, after the church service, so I'm excited for that. And then Mike and I are having an afternoon dinner on Christmas day with Matt and Lindsey and their family, and then on boxing day, we've planned a dinner with another RCMP member and his wife, who are also new and have no family coming. So, it should be a lot of fun.

I am disappointed, however, as Mike was supposed to have New Year's Eve off and most of the next day, so I was actually planning on going out for once this year, as usually we both opened the stores we worked at on the 1st. But, it turns out he now has to work night shift on New year's eve, which means that we can't do anything. I was really mad at first, because he's alreaday working Christmas, and it seemed to me that they should ask someone who has Christmas off to work New Years. He's not even the new guy on the watch anymore, he actually has seniority over about 4 other new members. But, I think I've gotten over it now, as really it's flattering to him that when they needed an extra member on one of the busiest night shifts of the year, he was the one they asked. Or maybe I'm just forcing myself to look at it that way. It's Christmas, right, so I shouldn't complain. Plus, most exciting of all is that we got our house! Everything went well with our other inspections, and we take possession on the 25th of January. I'm already decorating in my head all day!

Well, there is 1 day and about 8 hours until Christmas. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas and that you remember the reason we all celebrate on this day. No matter how materialzed it has become, and no matter how many people call Christmas the "holidays", it will always be Christmas to me.

God Bless.

9 days till Christmas!

I can't believe how quickly the Christmas season is coming and how quickly it will soon be over. It still makes me sad on boxing day morning every year. This week was one of the busiest since we moved up to D.C. Not only did I have my school Christmas concert, my bible study Christmas party, Mike's work party and my work party, but we also decided to buy a house!

It's not finalized yet, but we put in an offer on Monday that was accepted. We had the bank approve our financing, and then we had the house inspection done on Thursday. Unfortunately, it turns out that there are a few things that might need repairing soon, so we have extended our deadline until Thursday to try and sort out the cost of the repairs, and then we may change our offer depending on that.

I really hope it works out though, as I still love the house, but so far we haven't gotten a hold of any electricians who can give us an estimate on what it will cost to repair the electrical mast on the house. I was told a few thousand dollars, but then a woman at work said she had hers replaced for 500$. It's hard to know, but let's just pray that it is all sorted out in time on Thursday and that we still get the house. My biggest worry is whether we will be able to resell it when we leave Dawson Creek. I'm not worried about making money on it, I just don't want to lose any.

Buying a house is so risky, especially one that needs work when you live in a city with limited resources.

Now that all the Christmas parties are over, I'm not sure what I will do this week. I finished my presents, mailed off all the gifts and cards, wrapped the ones for Mike and now it's just a matter of waiting! I'm enjoying the constant play of Christmas shows on CBC--right now it's Rudolph, but later they're playing the Polar Express, which I loved.

Oh, and I forgot to mention it was also my 8 year anniversary (not of marriage, just of being together) on tuesday. So, we had our traditional Christmas date which wasn't the same without the Butchart gardens, but we went to the old fashioned Christmas at the pioneer village for free food, including chestnuts roasted over a real live open fire...haha. I've never tasted them before, but they actually are quite good. The best part, however, was taking a sleigh ride through the snowy dark fields pulled by horses with bells! Seriously, it was a lot of fun. There were so many kids from the school I teach at. On our way over to the sleigh, the horse-drawn wagon passed us and I heard a chorus of girls yell out "Bonjour, Mme L'Heureux"! It was so cute, I couldn't help but laugh, as it was dark and they had recognized me by the gray knit tuque with the pompom I always wear.

So, a lot of Christmas fun has been had this month, and I am looking forward to reading some books, playing board games with Mike, and a Christmas dinner at our friend Lindsay and Matt's house in the afternoon before Mike heads off to work. We are hoping to spend two weeks on the island for March break, but it all depends on whether he can get his schedule changed--he had booked it off already, but then they decided to shuffle the watches around, which means that he's on a completely different schedule as of January. Hopefully it doesn't ruin our plans. Fingers crossed, because I am already dreaming of breakfast at Rebar, Pagliacci's, and the Blue Fox.

Merry 9 days till Christmas everyone!

Buying a house

After looking for months, and checking out about 7 possibilities in person, Mike and I have decided to put an offer in on a house in our neighbourhood. It's listed on mls.ca if you want to have a look at it and tell me what you think! Or try this link.

If that didn't work it's number 6779. It's a sort of 50s retro style house, built in 1957 by a mayor of Dawson Creek. It's had some renovations, and we love the huge family/entertainment room they've added on through the french doors at the back of the house. It has a fireplace and is super cozy. We'll definitely be needing some new furniture for it though!

I'm nervous as to whether we'll get it or not, as we are meeting to put an offer in tomorrow. It's so hard to decide what to offer though, as I don't want to start too high or too low. Also, we will need to buy a washer and dryer and eventually a new stove and fridge. I also want to do new flooring as it is pretty mis-matched at the moment. The kitchen definitely needs new floors.

I'm so happy to think that this summer I could be barbequeing and lying out in the sun instead of stuck in an apartment. The one downfall though is the flat roof, which Mike may have to shovel every once in a while if there is too much snow. It's been super warm though today--only -1 compared to about -32 at the start of the week.

Well, I'd love to hear what other people think of the house. I need to go finish wrapping the last of my presents to mail off tomorrow. Feel free to offer thoughts on decorating ideas, colours etc...!

More poetry

I found out this morning that I won first prize in a Canadian poetry contest. The contest required a poem written within the theme of Canadian Landscape. Mine was chosen as first place winner, tied with another writer from Abbotsford. Please check out the website, where I am also currently a "featured writer".

Winter is definitely here although the calendar says it's not so for another 20 days. Every day is a new cold record for me. Yesterday it was about -20. I also attended my first Christmas party of the season with my church last night. Afterwards the girls and I watched "Love Actually" and broke my no junk diet by eating lots of chips and brownies. Well worth it though.

Today is a lazy day as I slept in until noon, but I think I should go do some Christmas shopping and finish making my Christmas cards. There's not much time before I have to mail them off!

Happy December!

This week in point form

A few good things to write about but must get to bed...pro-d day tomorrow morning:

The dinner party was awesome--16 people in our apartment! Plus, the girls kicked butt at Cranium.

Went to the Christmas tree light up the other night with Starbucks hot chocolate and 3 lovely ladies. Not super impressed by the lights but it was still fun and festive...K's comment was "I think we should decorate the tree ourselves next year". Let's just say it could have used a little tinsel. Mike was busy doing traffic control and will now spend the rest of the holiday season prying drunk people down when they try to climb it. (They replace the mile O post below in the center of the intersection with a big christmas tree)



The best part was when Santa rode in sitting in the bucket/crane thingy of a big truck. Wish I'd had a camera. I live in such a redneck town but I love it.

Just saw Enchanted at the theatre with Mike and another couple--we dragged our husbands along but I think they secretly liked it.

It's very cold out right now. Plugged the car in for the first time and I think I could feel the snot freezing in my nose. I'm a true Northerner now.

101 posts

Hey, I just realized that I finally got 100 posts on my blog!

Even better than that, though, is the fact that today I had my first good friday with my grade ones. I was so happy by the end of the day that we'd made it through and that I was able to drive home without wanting to cry or drive my car into the ditch...just kidding. But it was a really great day. The library was the best part. Usually, they are sooo bad in the library that some of them have been threatened with being banned from coming back. But, today, I read them a story and they all say quietly on the carpet and listened! It was amazing, especially considering that it was a Friday afternoon.

So, now I get to be stressed out and busy this evening, preparing for my first dinner party tomorrow, with the gang from our bible study. I'm making a pretty elaborate menu of different appetizers I've been wanting to try. I tried to make them all semi-Italian so that they go well together. Let's just say I bought a lot of cheese.

First, there is cranberry and raspberry punch. Then, there is dill and three onion dip with veggies, bread and a brie/havarti tray, cambozola and grape canapes, spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips, sicilian meatballs, mandarin apricot chicken wings, mushroom caps, mushroom and cheese pastry bundles, spicy yam fries, italian chick pea salad, and apple, celery, grape salad. Hopefully it will be good. For dessert I made cherry mini-cakes, truffle brownies with ganache icing, and lemon squares.

Okay, really, it's not all made yet. Which is why I should stop typing and start cooking!

Un jour de souvenir

Today, as I sat in Church during the Remembrance day ceremony, with Mike up front in full Red Serge, carrying the Canadian flag, I thought about my Nonno, and what he must remember and think about on Remembrance day. As an Italian ex-soldier, who was living in Ethiopia at the time WWII began, he is not celebrated as a war veteran in Canada, although I am sure he is glad for those in Canada who fought for this country, as it is their sacrifices that allowed him to be able to move and live freely in Canada. But, at the same time, he must remember his friends and comrades who died for Italy, and who are not remembered in the same way for having been on the "wrong side" of the war. Yet, they were young and far removed from Hitler, and did not have a choice of whether they were in the war. Luckily, my nonno was taken prisoner by the British early on, and spent the duration working on a farm until the war's end. The real difficulties came for my nonna, who was raising the daughter my nonno didn't know existed (she was born right after he left) and the only communication they had was through letters that were blacked-out and censored.

I can imagine her fleeing Ethiopia, trying to make her way back to Italy to be safe with my Auntie Connie. Living, as she claims, for five years, on nothing but oranges, which I imagine grew abundantly in Sicily. And that was the last time she saw Africa. It must be so strange to grow up in a country, spend a quarter of your life their, and then never go back. What would it be like if I left Canada today and never returned. I have no idea what it is like to live in Tunisia, or Ethiopia, or to have no one to speak your first language to most of your life.

And yet, if they had not perservered through this time, and come to Vancouver island, my mother would not have been born in Port Alberni, where she met my Dad, where I was born, and eventually met Mike.

So today I am grateful that they made it through a separation much longer than the one I endured while Mike was training. And grateful for Mike, who and all the RCMP officers who are willing to serve and commit to the cause.

I guess I spoke too soon

About the snow, I mean. On Monday I had a very entertaining day at work, which involved about 5 puddles of vomit on the kindergarten room floor. I love the little kids, and they're usually very cute, but when they all get sick at the same time and everyone is crying that they want to go home, it's not so much fun.

Then, as I was just getting to the end of the day, it started to snow quite heavily. Then, I remembered the after school meeting I had, and by the time I got to drive the 3 blocks home, the roads were snowy and slippery. I nearly crashed right into a detour sign as I attempted to turn the corner on my way home. Why do I always choose to live on a hill?

Thankfully the snow melted yesterday, then resnowed this morning, then remelted. So, we're back to no snow. I can't help but give the huge trucks dirty looks as I pass them in the snow. The way they take up two parking spaces, and splash muck all over poor little Tercel. I defy you trucks and your snow tires! Ha ha!

Seriously, though, Tercel does just fine in the snow. But, I don't think I'm going to take any jobs that require me to drive out to Chetwynd every day. Not that Mike would let me. He nearly got into an accident driving out there himself, and he's much better in the snow than I am.

So, I'm thinking of starting a book club, because I've been reading a lot lately and it would be fun to discuss books with like-minded individuals. Must find enough people though. I also don't really know how to organize one. How often do you meet?

I'm hoping the weather is okay for tomorrow, as I am subbing at a new school across town that I've never been to before. Hopefully the kids are good. I sure wish I would get some calls to the high school though, I miss the teenagers.

Here's a quote I enjoyed from the book I started reading last night.

"...storytelling--from wherever it comes--forms a layer in the foundation of the world; and glinting in it we see the trace elements of every tribe on earth." (Frank Delaney--IRELAND)

This is a book all about storytelling, and it is really good so far. The perfect book for sitting on the couch with a cup of my favourite tea. (Candy cane lane--It smells like Christmas, and I just found it again the other day, after having used all of mine up.)

The one nice thing about early snow is that I can start listening to Christmas music earlier.

Sense of Purpose

Well, we made it to November without snow--yeah! Apparently this is looking good, according to what happened last winter. I plan on purchasing my winter coat tomorrow, although I still can't decide which of two I like better. But, it's finally starting to feel really cold, and it's supposed to get to -9 on the weekend, so I better get ready for November.

Just got home from Mr. Mike's and drinks with my volleyball team. We're on a winning streak at the moment, so we went out afterwards. I ordered Spinach and Artichoke dip--an old Victoria favourite, but it was more like hot spinach dip with melted cheese and tomatoes(?) on top. Nachos? Not too sure, but it was still good. I had a yummy drink as well, which was as close to a Bellini as I think I'm going to find.

Lately I have been having recurring dreams about having a baby, and I wonder if it's me worrying about having kids, or thinking that I want to. Truthfully, I really don't want to have a baby right now, and there are so many other things I am looking forward to doing, but up here EVERYONE has kids, so it's hard to fit in and also hard to watch all the pregnant ladies and new cute babies without wanting one yourself. At the same time though, having come from Victoria where hardly anyone has kids, I still feel that pull to work on my career and TRAVEL and do so many other things I've been waiting to do. I guess I just feel so isolated up here, like there aren't that many options. Sigh. Who knows where we'll end up next, or what that place will be like.

I am already planting roots here though, and at the same time hesitating, when I think that in a few years I'll just have to say goodbye to a whole new group of friends and start over again. It's hard to be committed to a place, knowing that you won't be around to see the fruit of the seeds you planted.

I'm trying to remind myself that there is a purpose and a reason that we were sent here, I just don't know what it is yet. Patience...sigh.

All Hallow's Eve

Well, today is Halloween, and it's the first year in a few that I've gotten dressed up. I worked today, so I dressed up as the paper bag princess (you know from the Robert Munsch story) complete with safeway paper bag dress, black soot smudges and a a crown that was slightly burnt from that mean old dragon. It was a lot of fun, and the kids really liked it. The school was swarming with dressed up kids and teachers, candy, all sorts of halloween goodies, and tons of activities and games.

Mike and I also carved a pumpkin, which is currently on our balcony with two lanterns and orange candles. It's the first year we've had a balcony people could actually see, so I had to decorate. I can hear the trick or treaters running up and down the street and I'm sure they're happy that it's not snowing this year, as it was last year. Nope, unlike the island where it's always raining, we have a sunny day and now a starry night for halloween.

Mike and I are going to the movie theatre tonight as there are no parties that we know of going on. That's okay, though. Next year, when we own our own house, I'm definitely throwing a costume party.

A little bit of Halloween history: Originally, when the Celtic festival Samhain (where Hallowe'en originated from) was Christianized--(All Saint's day on November 1st) people would go door to door the night before this day, offering to pray for the souls of the dead, and in return the people would offer them cakes made with fruit and bread, which were called soul cakes. If the people in the house refused, they would play a prank, or "trick" on them. Hence the trick or treat. This was what they did in the middle ages, before wrapped candy bars at Wal-mart.

I find it so interesting how festivals and feast days were Christianized but sort of kept in the same spirit, and how evolved they are today. So many Christians are opposed to Hallowe'en and the way people celebrate it today--if only we could remember how it started, with people praying door to door.

Personally, I love any reason to display lights and put on a costume!

Of student loans, block heaters and tasers...

Yippee....I just signed my "consolidated loan agreement and repayment form" from the National Student loan service. How exciting. I'm officially working enough that I have to start paying back my 6 years worth of student loans. How fun. Except for the fact that the interest is already at 2000 dollars and I haven't even begun! I don't get why the interest rate has to be so high for student loans.

Sigh. Oh well, I'm still saving for that trip to Ireland.

Mike isn't working today, but he's gone to Fort St. John to take the RCMP taser course. It's two full days, which means that we don't really get to enjoy any time off together. Also, he experienced the magic of the taser himself yesterday, with the burn marks to prove it. He actually volunteered to be tasered for a full five seconds. Apparently there's a t-shirt.

Our car is now fully equipped with a block heater. For those of you islanders, that means that I now have to plug in my car when it gets too cold outside. So bizarre. I can just see myself completely forgetting and dragging the extension cord along behind me on my way to work after not unplugging the car in the morning.

I still need my winter coat and boots, but apparently the fact that there isn't snow yet is a good sign. Last year it started on October 28th and stayed until April. Everyone here seems so surprised when I tell them that I like it here so far. They usually say "come on, you can tell the truth" as if I lied so as not to hurt their feelings. The truth is that I'd rather be on the island, but I do like it here. The sky is always blue and we're making lots of new friends. What I don't get is why the people who hate it here don't move away. It seems as though the northern BC raised can't seem to get out of the north, even though they don't like it. It's not true for all of them, but most of the people I've met who were raised here have never been to the island. It's hard for me to believe, because to me the island is the best place in BC to live. But, I guess if you've never been to Victoria, then you don't really know what you're missing.

My hands are so cold they can't type anymore, so I better go turn the heat up....

Good pudding

Just went for my first run this week. I'd had a great schedule worked out, and then got lazy over the weekend. But, now I'm trying to get back into it, but the cold weather makes it less and less desirable. I find I can't run for more than 5 minutes, without my lungs and chest starting to hurt from the cold air. I've now upgraded my running outfit to three shirts, pants and gloves.

Cashed my poetry prize yesterday to discover that Canada post totally rips you off on postal money orders. The 300$ American turned into only 279$ Canadian. I know our dollar is now worth 2 cents more, but the post office is only giving a .93 cent exchange rate. How cheap is that. Oh well, I'm still excited. And, Goblin Fruit has asked me to send them a reading of my poem to put in the spring issue with my poem, which I'm nervous but excited to do.

Ran past my favourite house today and saw that although it has now sold, there is another one two doors down for sale. I really love that street, so hopefully there will still be one for sale by the time we can by.

I've been working at least 4 days a week lately, which is awesome as it means I can finally pay off my line of credit. My favourite is when I get called in for just a morning or an afternoon, because I get to work for just a few hours, and then go home and enjoy the rest of the afternoon, or take a nap. So lovely.

Well, it's Bible study tonight so I am off to make them some good pudding. Yum. Way to reward myself for going for a run...

If you've never had my good pudding, here is the recipe:

Make two packages of instant vanilla pudding
Add one tub of cool whip
Add one box of crushed fudgeo cookies
Stir in one can of mandarin oranges
Garnish with grated chocolate if you wish

It's delicious!

Here's the link

I just realized that the link to the page didn't work, so here it is again:

http://www.utmostchristianwriters.com/poetry-contest/recent-winners.php

second place...not bad!

The winners were posted on line this morning at Utmost Christian Writers, and I opened the page to discover that I'd received second place, and a prize of 300$!

This means that I now have 300$ towards my summer travel fund, so I'm very excited. Also, because I was one of the top 5 winners, my poem and bio is published on their webpage. Go to to read mine as well as the other winners.

It's a neat foundation, because it pays out quite a large number of cash prizes to new poets, which is always nice!

Well, it's a beautiful Saturday here, and I'm waiting for my ipod to charge so that I can go for a run. I wanted to go this morning, but I was lazy and can't stand running anymore without music. Then, it got cloudy, but now it's back to blue sky so I'm glad I waited. It's so nice to have a 3 day weekend with no plans and Mike is asleep as he worked last night. So, I'm just relaxing in my house, which has already been cleaned by Mike yesterday,with plans for reading and maybe thinking about some more writing and/or scrapbooking later on!

Yeah for thanksgiving long weekends...oh yeah, and I get a turkey dinner on Monday at the other new RCMP's house. Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Below are the pictures I tried uploading a few posts ago, of Dawson Creek, and my apartment. Note the bookshelf, which I was so happy to be able to get, and the best room of all, the laundry room...also, the outdoor pics are from summer, when the hills around were nice and green.

Success!

This week has been an exciting one so far, and has literally flown by what with the crazy 48 hour trip to Saskatoon that Mike and I made. We really enjoyed Kim and Todd's wedding though. Plus, we got to catch up with some old friends, who now live a lot closer since we're in DC, which means there will be more visiting in the near future. I still haven't quite caught up on my sleep, as I only got about 2 hours on friday night....but, I did sleep a lot yesterday.

Spent way too much time on the phone trying to sort out new billing accounts with our various internet/phone/cable companies since we've moved, which is extremely unexciting. However, to counter that, I am really excited to say that on monday, I found out that I won a poetry contest I'd entered. It's a novice poetry contest for unpublished writers and apparently I won one of the cash prizes. I won't know if it's 1st/2nd/3rd place until Saturday, but either way I was so happy to know that I'd succeeded with all the research and editing I've been doing to get my work sent out. Then, to make things even better, I got an email yesterday from an online poetry 'zine that I sent a couple of poems to, and found out that they want to publish a poem I wrote in their Spring 2008 issue. They also want a recording of myself reading it, which is cool since Mike, being an RCMP officer, has a digital recorder that we can use.

It's really exciting to have been successful so quickly, as I've only submitted to three places so far, and two of them have accepted my work. They're both smaller journals, but it's nice to get started. Check out the on-line journal at http://www.goblinfruit.net/summer07/ if you get a chance. It's a really neat site, and they publish fantastical poetry, which is great for me. I love the art work and design of the site.

Well, I'm off to my wednesday night Bible study!

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.