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Back from Vacation


 

I am back from vacation as promised. I didn’t really go anywhere nor did I do much by way of organizing or creating a system for order in my life as I thought I would. Basically, I just took a week off. Which is okay. A person needs to do that every now and then. It’s not like blogging is a real job though I must admit I enjoy it more than any real job I have ever had and put more time and thought into it than Idid my last months teaching. Truthfully, I did accomplish quite a bit. My daughter is registered for kindergarten, ballet and is fully supplied, outfitted and raring to go. I tackled the immigration paperwork and have just the medical exam, photo id’s and photographic evidence of the “genuine” nature of my marriage to complete/collect. And in case you were taken aback by the “photographic evidence” part, let me assure you that while it is tempting to take the Canadian immigration authorities literally, I am not. The pictures are a collection of shots, some of which are here on this site, that simply depict our wedding, trips we have taken, and those ordinary celebrations and events in our lives that we all have.

 

We decided on a vehicle. The Chevy Equinox. Rob’s daughters didn’t exactly laugh at our choice but they did insinuate that it was a lame, middle-aged one. That’s okay too. I am middle-aged. In my mind this puts me beyond the need to be cool. I am above it, as I would tell my students. Most of the choices I make anymore are weighed from a viewpoint that puts little stock in being trendy and doesn’t see measuring myself against others as productive or healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We celebrated Rob’s birthday. Katy and I threw him a little party complete with decorations and cake, and then later that evening Rob and I met the older girls for dinner in the city. We went to a new place. Tiny and, I guess, chic. The food was excellent and like most little hole in the wall places, the portions were not American-sized but rather took into account what a normal person can realistically fit into their tummies. While we were waiting for the girls to arrive, I noticed a couple just across from us who were obviously waiting for additional dining companions too. They were younger than Rob and I, maybe in their early thirties. Married because I noticed rings. And sitting next to each other with their backs to the wall as though they were two strangers waiting in a doctor’s office. Not touching, Not talking or even appearing to notice the other, but lost in some far away thoughts. I wondered how long they had been married and why she looked so angry and he seemed resigned. It was interesting to me. Rob’s hand was on my knee and our legs were touching from hip to knee, and even though we were both looking at the menu, I was fully aware of him and the look on his face indicated that his thoughts were about as far away as the menu on the table.

 

What else? We watched DVD’s. ElizabethTown and American Dreamz and kept the streak of movies with death as a theme or reality alive for another week. Rob made more progress on the back 

landing. We may actually have the new doors

 in soon. And, I got my hair done. Went to a

 salon/spa recommended by a new friend. The

 stylist was good but like most people here 

when they find out I am from the states, he 

had questions. His were political and I wonder 

what happens to Americans abroad when they 

are asked about our country’s politics and they 

haven’t any answer because the majority of my

 fellow Americans don’t think much beyond the 

sound bites they are fed. 

 

All in all it was a pretty good vacation, but it’s nice to get back to writing. Not that I didn’t write. I finished my first short story. It’s a tiny science fictionish piece that I started a couple of months ago. It still needs tweaking, but I have close to 3,000 words and I got a thumbs up from Jordan, so I am pretty proud of myself. I am like most writers in that I need to be read in order to be happy. I am not the Emily Dickinson type who writes only for herself. I am shameless in my need to be read.

 

So, back day early and hopefully still having an audience. 

 

Taking a Vacation


The summer is nearly over. Fall, ironically, is the time of new beginnings. At least for me. So, I have decided to take a week off from blogging. I apologize to those few of you who read regularly, but as the day approaches for my daughter to start back to school, I feel the need to formulate a new schedule. I have never been unemployed, even once, in my entire adult life. Actually, I haven’t been without  a job since I was 14, that’s nearly 30 years, and now that I have the opportunity to focus on things that are important like my husband, child, writing and just envisioning possibilities……well, it takes time to reflect on all of this. 

 

I’ll be back after Labour Day for those of you who are still around. Don’t forget to bookmark me though. I might be hard to find otherwise.

A New Vehicle


We spent some of the day yesterday searching for a second vehicle. Currently our second vehicle, which Rob will not let me drive, is  ’93 Astro EXT van with so many kilometers on it that the odometer has rolled over twice. Rob uses it strictly to get to work and back while I have been driving the Avalanche. Rob misses the Avalanche. It’s the one all we middle-aged people reward ourselves with after decades of putting up with sensible, often used, but never fully-equipped or tricked out vehicles.It’s a man’s truck. A man who likes heated seats, top of the line stereo system, dual climate condition, dual programmable seat and mirror positioning system, and a rear seat entertainment center.  I had  a 2000 Malibu with not quite 100,000 miles on it that I sold before moving here. Bringing cars across the border was an hassle neither of us wanted to deal with. Rob thought the van would do for a bit but that bit is over. The van’s battery needs to be jumped every morning now if Rob hasn’t  attached a battery charger the night before. It doesn’t have a working a/c which normally isn’t a big deal here, but this summer’s July heat wave (that even got to me and I am from the sub-tropic Midwest) proved to be the point before the tipping point of the battery drain. So, we began our search on-line. Narrowed to a few smaller SUV choices and yesterday took a look and a few test drives.

 

The Ford Escape was first. It’s very small on the inside and noisy to drive. The gas peddle is uber touchy, and the steering wheel is toy sized. I wasn’t impressed. The Chevy Equinox was roomier. The ride was quiet by comparison to the Escape but not as silent as the Avalanche. The rear seat adjusts which I really liked because it means I can position Katy closer now and move her back as she grows. It has an options package that can nicely equip it with those few things that aren’t standard like rear DVD (long drives into the city make this a must as do road trips). And yes, there are a plethora of cup holders and an OnStar option, but the biggest thing for me was the MP3 jack. I need my music like Katy needs to watch her latest DVD from the bookmobile.

 

Even though I was pretty much sold on the Equinox, we did check out an Exterra at the Nissan dealership. Fully-equipped it is pricier than we liked, it was small and boxy inside, similar to the the Escape, and it is downright unattractive to look at with that awful rack on the top.

 

So, it looks like the Equinox. Deep Ruby Metallic. Not that the color is a deal breaker or anything. It can be green or blue metallic or black amythest or whatever color it please God. Just as long as it has the MP3 jack and a place for a Starbucks chai latte. I am such a girl sometimes.