South of the 49th

You Eat Some, You Burn Some

2010-07-01T20:08:00.002-04:00

New York is a walking city. Or if it's not, it becomes one when you don't own a car. Sure, the subway is required and bus routes as well, but I spend a large portion of my day walking.

Today for example, first thing I did was get Paul ready and packed into the stroller in order to take Stanley out for his morning walk. 45 minutes of walking later, we came back to the apartment, dropped Stan off, turned right around and walked to music class. After music class, we walked to the park (via the necessary coffee stop). Finished at the park, walked the 8 blocks home again in time for lunch and nap.

After Paul and I both had a siesta, I thought that perhaps I should do some returns in the city. Paul back in the stroller, walked to the subway, up four flights of stairs carrying Paul, a backpack, and a stroller. When the subway arrived I knew that this was a bad plan. All the cars were jam packed. I had thought that we were going to beat rush hour, but I guess I was wrong. Crammed the stroller into the car, and stood shoulder to shoulder with all the other commuters.

Now, this is an aside from the walking story, but relevant all the same. While on the car, I was jammed up against one of the seats in which a sour looking old man sat reading a book. We bumped, we jostled, and at one point I was pressed into him a little bit. Got a nasty look. More bumping, more jostling, more nasty looks.

At this point in the day, I'm tired. I'm tired from all the walking and the schlepping, and the mommying, and I am just daring this sour old man to say something to me. I'm thinking to myself "If he opens his mouth at all, so help me..." But, I'm also sensitive and defensive. And I'm starting to wonder if I'm too sensitive for this city full of jaded New Yorkers. So, I cave. I can't take the nasty looks, or the crowded subway car that we have no business being on in rush hour.

Two stops later, we abandon plan and get off the subway. Down four flights of stairs, carrying a toddler in one arm, a backpack on my back, and a stroller in the other arm. Walk 10 blocks to the park...again. Walk home, pick up Stanley, turn around and go out for another walk. This time, Paul decides he wants to be carried for the whole walk (left the stroller at home just to change things up!). Paul in one arm, Stanley in the other.

So now it's 8pm. Finally lounging on the couch. Until 10pm, when Stan needs to go out again.

So, with all this lugging, schlepping, walking, you would think that I would be burning a million calories a day and getting skinnier by the minute. But, unfortunately this is New York. And this city wears you down, so here's where the eating comes in.

Yesterday, after we got off the subway, I was holding Paul and we were playing a little game and giggling before I put him back in the stroller. A pigeon shat on my head. Well, that smartened me up and wiped the smile off my face. I immediately walked to the nearest store, bought a Nestle Crunch (which I haven't eaten in about a decade) and ate the whole thing.

Today, after rude subway guy hurt my feelings with his nasty looks, I picked up a frappacino and gulped it down.

These days are so physically exhausting, that I barely ever want to cook or grocery shop, so we order take out.

At the end of the day I am literally sore to the point of aching, but scarfing down a pint of Ben & Jerry's isn't going to trim the waistline. This is what I mean when I say, You Eat Some, You Burn Some (or probably more accurately the other way around, but no matter).

A day in the life in Queens

2010-05-27T12:07:00.003-04:00

Chris has started his rotations at Flushing Hospital (first up is Pediatrics), so Paul and I are trying to get into a routine of our own. Here's how it goes:

Chris leaves the house around 6am (ugh!). Paul and I continue to sleep. Eventually, Paul starts to make mewling noises between 7am-8am. Often at this point I go fill up a bottle with milk, give it to him in his crib, and crawl back into bed. Either Paul falls back asleep for an hour, or 20 min. later I start to hear "Hi! Hi! Hi!" coming from the bedroom.

I'll go and get Paul, his pillow, his blankie, his monkey, and his bottle and bring them out into my bed (we're still sleeping in the family room - long story). I'll fill his bottle with water, and we'll cuddle in bed for a little while longer, before Paul starts asking for either "Ocean" (his baby einstein video) or "music". If I'm feeling like a responsible parent, I'll put on music, if I'm feeling lazy I'll put on the video and use it as a babysitter while I shower.

After breakfast, we'll hit the public park. Me with my coffee, Paul with his truck, ball, blowing bubbles, and snacks. We'll spend a couple of hours at the park, trying to make friends and meet new people. It's slow going, but I have had some decent conversations here and there. Today, I didn't really have much. All I could come up with was commenting on some other mom's baby carrier and how it was one I also had and really liked. Lame, I know. But it opened up the convo, and we found out we're both social workers (well, me kind of).

Time to come home and have a nap. Usually this is both of us, because if I don't nap, I look around my house and the many things that need doing and feel depressed. So, I ignore it and nap, play on the computer or read.

Usually, Paul naps for about 2 hrs. Yesterday, it was three hours, and by the end of the third hour, I went and woke him up because I was bored. Ha! Talk about crap parenting!

Time to shop! The other day we went into the City and met with a friend for window shopping. Yesterday, P & I walked over to Old Navy and some other discount stores and poked around.

Once Paul has had enough of that, I'll often go to Dunkin' Donuts and get one of the worst-for-you-drinks-ever - a coffee slushy. In my defense, I'll only get a small, no topping, and it's smokin' hot out here - so don't be a judger! Back to the park, but this time I'll go to Sunnyside Gardens park. Again, slow going meeting people at this one. There's a meet & greet coming up sometime soon, so hopefully that will open a few doors.

Back to the apartment for dinner and bed (which is like 9:30pm around here these days cause of Chris' early mornings. I don't like it at all!). It was super lovely the other day when Chris walked over to the park and brought us pizza for dinner. We ate at a picnic table, and Paul ran around in his diaper splashing in the sprinklers. Hopefully, we have more evenings like that one.

Night times these days is sweltering hot, with no a/c in our apartment yet (another long story). We all sleep sprawled out with no blankets, trying not to die of dehydration. We often leave our apartment door open a crack (with the chain on) to get a cross draft, but then our apartment fills up with flies which is just nasty.

And that's it! Repeat, repeat, repeat. Kind of uninspiring right now, but I suppose I'll have to get into more of a groove. What did I do in Grenada everyday when I was at home? Why am I bored? Maybe I'm having an existential crisis. But I was back at work these past four months, and although it was rewarding, I missed being at home! Always want what you can't have I suppose.

I live in NYC for heaven's sake! There must be a ton of things to do! I just need to work up the energy to get out there. We'll see how that goes. Signing off from Queens, NY!

Evening

2010-05-16T00:15:00.002-04:00

My husband has gone out for the evening, and so I have taken it upon myself to eat KD and Ben & Jerry's and watch cheesy movies.

I was setting up shelving units while watching Julie & Julia for the upteenth time, when I saw that the shelving I was setting up was the exact same as they had in their apartment in the movie! Must be a Queens thing (or, more likely, a Home Depot thing).

It's too hot to sleep with the windows closed since we don't have our a/c units installed yet, and so currently I am listening to someone doing their rendition of 'Memories' at the karaoke bar across the street. I'm glad Chris isn't here as the bitching would be endless. He hates being hot, and he hates karaoke...especially bad karaoke.

Went to the park with Paul again today. We've been to all the parks in the vicinity, with the exception of the private park. I have definitely found a favourite, where it seems like a good mix of people, but it's still hard engaging with other parents. I don't find them very chatty. Even Chris said so, and if Chris fails to strike up conversations you know it's a tough crowd.

I thought of joining the private park, although I have no idea the cost. They actually have grass at that park! And tennis courts too, which Chris is stoked about. But Chris doesn't agree with the idea of a private park, and thinks it's too segregated and elitist. On one hand I agree with these sentiments, but on the other I thought it might be easier to meet people in a smaller park. The public parks are huge, with a ton of kids and parents, and sometimes you just feel like one in a million - it's impossible to get noticed. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you posted!

NYC

2010-05-13T12:09:00.005-04:00

Well, it's time I suppose, to bring back the blog. I'll try harder this time I promise!

I'm sitting in my new apartment in Queens, listening to Paul natter away in the bedroom. The only bedroom. We're been here almost two weeks now and the wall that has been promised to go up and give Paul his own bedroom has yet to appear. So, Paul sleeps in the master and Chris & I sleep in the family room.

So far there have been a number of things I've noticed about big city living that is very different than what I expected, or maybe I just never thought about it before.

1. Cream. Cream in my coffee. I ask for cream, and whoever is serving me looks blank for a moment, and then suggests "half & half?" No, not half & half, and no, not cooking cream. I just mean cream...coffee cream.

2. Traffic. Pedestrians. Cyclists. Emergency vehicles. There are no rules of the road here. It's kind of like Grenada, but times 10. Pedestrians never wait for a walk light, and often they are in the crosswalk when cars have the right of way, flipping off motorists for not slowing down. The reverse is true as well. Vehicles never, ever wait for a cleared crosswalk before making a turn. I suppose if they did, they would never get around a corner as the foot traffic never lets up. But I must admit I'm pretty choked when in the crosswalk with my stroller and cars are going around me on both sides. Cyclists take their lives into their hands every time they ride on these roads.

Emergency vehicles. If I were driving an emergency vehicle I would probably have a coronary from road rage. Most motorists do not seem to care to get out of the way of emergency vehicles, or they may change lanes, but they most certainly do not pull over and stop. I suppose half the time, they have no where to go, and just let the emerg. vehicle get around them somehow. This is probably why emergency vehicles use their horns constantly blarring their way through the streets of NY. Somewhat obnoxious, but I guess necessary.

3. That's another thing...horns. The honking is constant. There are even signs that go ignored all over the place warning against honking. In Grenada, the honking was a friendly beep, beep all the time, to say hi, to give warning, or to offer right of way. In Calgary no one dares use their horn because we're all so damned polite. In NY it's constant, obnoxious, "get the eff outta my way," or "you're a moron," honking. Kinda annoying and negative.

4. No 7-11's. Mom & Pop convenient stores on every corner, or in Manhattan - news stands. Kinda cool, actually.

5. Street meat is not just hotdogs. Often it's Halal food or sometimes, Mexican. One drunken night at 4am, Chris bartered a street vendor selling pastries down to 2 bucks from three crewlers.

6. Haven't seen many big malls. And the malls seem to be just stores or food restaurants, no kiddie play areas and such.

7. Haven't yet seen a Coffee & Scream. I think I need to open one.

8. No Safeway's. Mostly corner groceries. At least in Queens. Again, kinda cool to keep the big box stores out, but a bit harder to find everything I'd like in one shop. The only Whole Foods I've seen is in Manhattan, and it will be unrealistic to make the trek very often. I have noticed though that lots of the little stores carry a variety of items, and it is possible to find rarer items there too, depending. I think I'll have to subscribe to delivery service for some of the specialty items I can't find in my neighbourhood.

PS...All the grocery stores deliver!

So, these are just a few of the things I've noticed right off the bat. Obviously the first things, are the ones that are different and unexpected. I'm not down on things by any means, and I'm actually pretty stoked to be here. It's an amazing city, with a million things to do to keep one busy. Paul & I are really gonna rip it up out here :)

Biding My Time

2010-02-09T00:47:00.002-05:00

So how long does it take for one to get their act together? I'm just wondering this as a general question so that I know the appropriate time allotment I'm allowed for certain endeavors. One such endeavor is creating an album of the two years we lived in Grenada. I think I have no end of wonderful pictures (if I include all those I fully intend on stealing from my friend's flicker pages and blogs), and materials to make a most fabulous album. I have many friends who have written creative and descriptive blogs which would make great books/journals of their time in Grenada, but my blog activity has been spotty at best so I think a picture album would be more up my alley (unless I steal all of Julie's blogs and pretend her adventures are my own).

This is one thing that I need to do in the near future. I may or may not be taking courses this Spring, and so I think a good deadline would be end of summer for this project. I don't want to leave it too long, and end up with no memoir at all (which is what happened to my lovely honeymoon album which is still in a "to do" box).

Although I love all the advancements of technology, having all my memories on a flash drive is not quite cutting it for me these days. Why does it seem like such a pain to actually print out pictures into hard copy? And then once you have them, what does one do with them anymore? I am not much of a scrapbooker, but I think albums can still be quite nice and less of a time commitment than the artistic undertaking of a scrapbook.

I am very ashamed to admit that I don't even have pictures of my son to carry around in my wallet! OK, maybe I have one of him on Santa's lap last Christmas (and I'm talking last last Christmas), but it's not really representational anymore, and when I pull out a picture of a 5 month old and then tell my audience that my son is really 18 months old, I think I get funny looks, and I'm sure they're for being a crap mother.

Maybe we need a family pic at the Sears portrait studio with all of us in matching outfits, or with Paul in a sailor uniform or something. Then if I carried this around in my pocket, I would at least have something to show. I think I'm also carrying around pictures of my friend's kids (instead of my own), and my nephew at 2 yrs (he's now 6). It's just pathetic.

But in my defense I am still new at mastering how one actually goes about developing digital pictures in to hard copies. I think I somehow have to take them out of my iPhoto, but them back on the memory stick, and take the memory stick to London Drugs, plug it into the machine and do some printing via computer station. It's all very confusing. The last time I did this, I tried to make my mom a brag book of all her grandchildren, and I ordered all the pictures in the wrong size so that none of them actually fit into the brag album that I bought her. I had to give her the little photo album with a bunch of giant pictures sticking out at all angles and be like "Hey, why don't you take this awkward package to Long Island with you to show all your cousins!" I think she ended up only taking out two pics on their own, and left the whole brag book and the extra pictures behind. It was a very sad attempt at a nice gesture.

So anyway, I would like to make an album, and suppose I should start it soon. Before I have new albums of New York and perhaps Denmark to create (and procrastinate). And hey, you never know. Maybe one day I'll surprise myself (and my husband) and finally finish that honeymoon album too!

Our First Month Home

2010-02-01T23:00:00.002-05:00

Well, we have endured January in Canada, and I must say, it was nearly as cold as I was afraid it would be. Of the four weeks I have been home, probably three of those weeks have been fairly temperate (not going below -20C). I still have to work up the courage to walk Paul and Stan at the same time on snowy streets, but I think my reservations are more due to laziness than fear of the cold for Paul.

Our flight home was adventurous as always. Having Stan rejected on the flight at the last minute, missing our connection in a FREEZING Toronto and having to be shuttled in the dead of night to some hotel, just to be shuttled back 5 hrs. later. Although, I should definitely not complain, since they bumped some poor schmuck on the next days flight so that P & I could get out of dodge. Thank God for the infant advantage, is all I have to say!

The day after Paul and I arrived we moved into our house. We have lived here a month, and I can still count the pieces of furniture we have on one hand (and two of those are in Paul's room). However, it is a wide open, child friendly place for Paul to explore, and I have little need for much else.

Stan even has his own bedroom! The furnishings consist of one blanket on the floor. He's thrilled!

I had one week to get set up and organized before starting my practicum at Children & Family Services (basically Child Welfare). We are now beginning our fourth week, and thus far I have been really enjoying the experience. I am often intimidated, but I am captivated by all the new experiences, and all the ranges of cases that we are getting. It can be really emotionally taxing at times, something I don't notice until I have a day off and start reflecting about what has gone on at work. Then I sit and dwell on a particular situation until I am ready to move through it. Chris has been really excellent at listening to me when I need to debrief (social worker lingo), even though he's very far away and trying to focus on studying for the most important exam of his life. I try to limit talking about the heavy stuff, as it doesn't make 'feel good' dinner convo.

Paul is changing and growing into a little boy more and more each day. He's talking lots, so active that I can barely keep up, and being generally a wonderful human being, and joy of my life :) He has yet to tell me "no" ever, although he does make it abundantly clear when he's not interested in doing what you want of him. He even will take 'time outs' and will sit against the wall crying his head off until I tell him he can move.

Other than that, we're just sitting around waiting for Chris to come home. Three weeks and counting! I can't wait until the USMLE is over and we can enjoy some time together until clinicals start on May 5.

Happy February everyone! Enjoy the Olympics :)

NYC

2009-11-15T21:18:00.003-05:00

OK, so never mind the last post which was essentially all about Jersey and how we were going to go there. We changed our minds at the last minute and decided to put in for all NYC hospitals. The reasons are many, and I don't want to go into it all again after having hashed it out over and over for the past two weeks. Lets just say Chris & I are happy and confident in our decision, and are REALLY hopeful for our number one pick, but are fully aware it's unlikely we'll get.

Went to the beach at the Aquarium today. Cruise ship season is ramping up again, so there were a number of cruisers at the beach. This boat was very obviously a European crowd as the men were all in speedos and the women were either in teensy bikinis or topless. Not a common site when the American boats are in. When researching Grenada before we came here I read that it was not acceptable to go topless on the beaches here as it's a conservative culture compared to the other islands. The Euros apparently didn't get the memo or don't care, and what the hell! They're on vacay!!!! Besides, for a 'conservative culture' I routinely see women nursing their babies out in the open without even the discrete little wraps we North American-ers now use, so I guess it's hypocritical. Showing your 't's' while nursing is ok, but frolicking on the beach is a no-go. Who can keep up with all these double-standards?!

Julie, our ever-adventurous neighbour in all things Grenadian, has now made TWO authentic drinks lately out of local fare. The first being a 'nut-water' concoction with green coconut water, rum, and condensed milk. This drink was pretty good other than the fact that we used the 75% rum which tastes like gasoline, and which you're not even allowed to take on planes due to the high flammability. So needless to say, it burned going down. But the burn was good, and we had a really intense discussion, although I can't remember what it was about anymore.

The second drink debuted at The Flats happy hour last night, and was made from sea moss, rum, bitters and milk (i think). It was really good - for the first half. Then the last half had all the sea moss gelled bits at the bottom (gray gelatinous stuff that Julie soaked, boiled and blended into the drinks). Think of fish-eye tapioca. Well, I don't drink tapioca. So I think next time I'll have to strain my drink first, cause the flavour in general was still delish.

Off to bed now. Night!

Yes, it's been forever :$

2009-11-14T08:55:00.002-05:00

Once again I know I've been neglecting my blog. I think this is only the second or third this semester. So if no one finds it, that's ok. I'm mostly just blogging to organize my head space.

The list of hospitals that we can move to came out about three weeks ago. It was somewhat poorly planned as the list came out on the Friday before midterms, and all the med students could do on the weekend was think about possible clinical placements instead of study boring pharmacology.

At first we thought this list would be fun. As soon as it came out, Chris, Paul and I went and picked up dinner, ate take out from the new restaurant Charcoals, and sat down with the list in front of us, craigslist and google maps. We ended up having probably over 20 hospitals on our list. About 7 in NYC, 6 in NJ, a couple in California, a couple in Florida and one in Michigan. California and Florida are out right away for various reasons. Michigan only has a few spots available, and although living there might be very cheap and I could work across the border, I can't help but feel as though Detroit would be depressing. Not to mention the fact that the so few spots means our chances would be slim.

This leaves NYC & NJ. We only get three picks. For the last two years I have been super keen to move to NYC. I mean, who wouldn't?! It would be an absolutely aweseome experience...maybe. Here are the drawbacks:
-There are no hospital placements in Manhattan, so you wouldn't be living in The City (but really, it's too expensive there anyway).
-You cannot have a car as there is no parking anywhere, and who would want to drive around there?!
-It's kind of expensive, even in the boroughs
-there are not very many families that have gone before us living in NY (I can only think of two)
-taking the subway everywhere sounds convenient, but I really doubt it when you get right down to it, and it can be expensive
-this little fantasy I have of being cute and chic in NYC, is unrealistic and instead we'll probably be poor and frazzled in NJ

Logistically, not having a car with a one year old may be a nightmare. Sure, many people may do it, but it kind of sounds depressing. Shlepping all my s%$t around with a toddler in tow and maybe one day another on the way, in long, cold, icy, snowy, sleety weather would not be fun. I may end up being housebound a lot of the time, as even living near fun, trendy places or big parks raises the cost of rent. Up and down subway stairs, turn-styles, train transfers, etc. We wouldn't be able to drive around, explore the area, even go on the odd (and I mean very odd) family weekend getaways.

So, what's so great about Jersey?! Well, for one in some parts you are closer to Manhattan than the boroughs. There are lovely river walks and boardwalks where you can walk forever and see the Manhattan skyline. We could possibly have a car. We might be closer to other families. Let's be honest, some parts of Jersey are no cheaper than NYC, so I don't know if that's a real benefit. Having a car seems HUGE though. One thing I have learned from living away, is that if you don't have friends and neighbours that you enjoy, your quality of life really goes downhill (at least it does for Chris & I).

Well, regardless we'll see. Our choices have to be in TODAY, and Chris & I are still flip-flopping. Let me know what you think! But before you vote NYC, YOU try living with kids and no car and see how easy your life is. Oh, and by the way...this choice is only for the next 1 year and Chris & I could always move somewhere else for fourth year. That will be a whole new discussion!!!

-K

2009-08-17T12:13:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to make this post more interesting by uploading images, but it takes so bloody long for each picture to upload that I may give up the whole endeavor. Currently I'm posting my pictures on facebook and my videos on youtube (search for "karenanneford1"), and that may have to be good enough. The blog may just have to be filled with my literary work :) so enjoy!

My baby's asleep and I'm putting off housework, so I figured it was as good a time as any. Plus, Julie informed me that she was going to write a blog today and I didn't want to be outdone.

Last weekend was Carnival, an event I missed again this year and so will never see as this is our last semester in Grenada. I am pretty ok with missing the whole event, but I suppose it would have been nifty to see the costumes. Julie informed me that Carnival is supposed to be the hedonistic display before Lent begins, which would make it weird to have a Carnival in August. The explanation is that Trinidad was getting all the attention for their Carnival and Grenada's was being passed over, so they aribitrarily moved the date. Hmmmmm....so where's the party before Lent? I suppose one should head over to Trinidad.

OMG, I might grow old and die before any pictures are being uploaded! Well, here's what I wanted to show pics of:

Paul in his new Dora the Explorer chair
Paul feeding Stan - his new favourite activity
Paul & Isla playing in the "fort" - aka beach tent
Chris & Breck at their Journal Club booth at orientation.

So, use your imaginations.

I'm really proud of Chris & Breck for starting a new club this semester. And how fortuitous that they start it in their last semester and then get to hand it over to the next generation as this is their last term. Way to pad your resumes boys! I made one of the signs for the Journal Club, and I announced that this sign would be my legacy in Grenada as perhaps it will be used for years to come at Journal Club orientations :)

Paul has started back at daycare this week for three afternoons, and it is really nice to have the extra time again. Come September he'll be starting three full days, and I'm sure I'll be missing him a ton. Unfortunately, I also need the time to be able to get my school work done. And honestly, I think the "missing" is all on my part as Paul seems to have the time of his life while he's over there.

Well, this is all I got for now. xoxo K

Grenada Again

2009-08-06T21:13:00.002-04:00

Well, much to my surprise, my husband chastised me for not keeping up my blog. Apparently he actually reads it. So, after a three month hiatus, I'm back. Here's to all you voyeurs out there that I don't know about, but that apparently read my blog :)

Canada was a whirlwind as usual. I had a wonderful time, and owe thanks to many people for their generosity and contributions while I was home. I spent the month of June living with my mother, and it was really nice to have the time with her and watch her relationship with Paul develop.

The three of us went to Victoria for 10 days, where I spent most days in a classroom, and mom & Paul were kickin' back on vacay. The University of Victoria campus is a really cool place. We had the third floor dormitory mainly to ourselves. I stayed in one dorm room while Mom & Paul stayed in another (far away from me so I wouldn't be woken up by Paul at night). Our little rooms were really cute, and it made me reticent (am I using this word correctly?) that I never had the dormitory experience while in University myself.

Paul had a lot of fun crawling the halls, and hiding under the lounge cupboards. We had cafeteria food every day, and surprisingly it was very good and cheap. The University was also very close to the ocean, so we would walk down to the beach quite often. One house in our vicinity was listed by Sotheby's for a mere $13 million. Who knew houses went for so much in Victoria?!

Shortly after my return to Calgary Chris came home! That was great, as being apart for 6 weeks is no fun at all. Chris had the opportunity to shadow an orthopedic surgeon this summer for a week and spent his days doing rounds, consulting with patients, and getting blood splattered on his shoes in the OR. These were very early days (had to be at the hospital at 6:30am every day), so he needs to take that into consideration when applying for ortho residencies - haha. We all know that Chris IS NOT a morning person. But he did managed to be up that early daily without complaint, and even managed to have breakfast (which is an improvement over his Grenada lifestyle). This experience made him really look forward to getting out of a classroom and into a hospital. I can't wait for it either as I know it will be really exciting for him.

The month of July was spent as Chris' parents house, which was also a great chance to catch up with family and let Paul be fawned over by the Fords. The only complaint was our smokin' hot bedroom. Thinking back it's the only bedroom I've slept in over the past few months that hasn't had a/c. My how spoiled I've become (although as I speak the a/c in our BR in Grenada has stopped working and we have to blast the a/c in the kitchen in hopes that the cool air circumnavigates itself into the BR).

In July Paul & I also did a 10 day side trip to California to vacation with my sister's family. We spent a few days at Bass Lake near Yosemite National Park - absolutely beautiful and a must return spot - and a few days in Anaheim at Disneyland. We all had such fun! Paul loved spending time with his cousins, and was really sad to leave them again. Adam was really close to his goal of teaching baby Paul how to walk (he's started walking constantly just this week, and is working on being able to get up to standing without aid).

Back in Calgary we had just a few days to plan Paul's first birthday party, which was an awesome success. We had a Disney theme since we had just returned, and Paul wore his Mickey ears as his party had (pics on facebook). Then, three days, later on Paul's actual first birthday we left for Grenada again. I said goodbye to the Sheraton in TO, as I probably will not be staying there again anytime soon. I said goodbye to the airport in Barbados, as I will not be traveling through there on my final trip home. And I said GOODBYE to Liat, which I will never be flying again (or at least not in the near future). Yes the airline has gotten me from point A to point B on many occasions, but this last plane seemed so completely neglected that I was surprised when we didn't plummet into the ocean.

And now we're back! And I will do my best to enjoy these final 5 months on the island. This experience has been so wonderful thus far. I'm so grateful that my husband is fulfilling his dream, and that I get to be a part of it. That Paul has had such an amazing first year of life, and is a seasoned traveler at 1yr and 7 days. I will keep you all updated on the last chapter of Grenadian living as it unfolds. Stay tuned...

Catching Up

2009-05-27T23:38:00.008-04:00

OK, so it is now 9:45pm and I am giving myself 15min to write this blog before I force myself to go to bed.

Lets begin on leaving Grenada...

Took a Liat flight from Grenada to Barbados. Uneventful flight. But since I had Paul with me, I was pretty much the last person off the plane because of all the crap I had, and then I had to wait outside the plane for 20min for them to unload my stroller. Of course since I had the luxury of "pre-boarding", my stroller was the first on, therefore the last item of luggage off the plane.

*Just a side note - Inevitably when I fly Liat there is some tourist who stands at my seat looking confused, checking their ticket, and then eventually saying "you're in my seat." To which I get to point out that contrary to their ticket seat assignment, Liat subscribes to a "rush-seating" policy. Which I think is hilarious. And I send the bewildered looking tourist on their way to find a seat elsewhere.*

Also, since I had my babe, I couldn't fill out my customs forms on the flight, so P & I were the last people to finally go through customs. Out we come to the baggage claim, and lo and behold...no bag! What I do see is some other giant black duffle going around and around in lonely circles. This black duffle is clearly not mine, since I am smart enough to use a giant flourescent pink happy face name tag so that it easily stands out. Obviously the giant pink name tag is not a red flag to whomever chose to take my bag instead of their own.

I'm not terribly panicked, because being a mom, I have a tremendous diaper bag on my person that could easily keep Paul and me fed, clothed and entertained for a month. I'm like "whatev, eventually my bag will get back to me, even if we have to leave Barbados without it." And quite frankly it weighs 65 lbs and is a huge pain in the ass, so I don't terribly miss it. Maybe I won't have to pay any weight overage charges if Liat has to pay to get my bag to me.

45 minutes later, still in the baggage claim talking to the Lost Bag dept., some white guy with a porter comes wheeling my bag back to me :) He tried checking it on to the Toronto flight and realized (when it was so heavy and going to have to pay) that it was not his bag. I thought "hey, my bag was going to make it on the flight anyway!"

Check in to my TO flight and ask if I could possibly have an extra seat for the babe & his car seat. Nope, they tell me, the flight is all full :( Paul luckily napped in Barbados for two hours, so by the time we boarded we were rarin' to go! I am sitting next to a beautiful young doctor who loves babies and her husband. And I'm thinking "this isn't so bad, even without the extra seat!"

However, a flight attendent comes by and asks if I would like to switch with the woman ahead of me because there is an empty middle seat in that aisle for P. How wonderful! Although, I am a little miffed because I wish I had known, I would have been able to bring P's car seat with me and then he definately would be able to sleep. Oh well, we'll just make do, and hopefully he'll sleep on some blankets on the empty seat.

One look at the guy by the window, and I'm thinking "SHIT!" This guy is CLEARLY a baby-hater. He's an older gent, maybe fifty, and when P & I sat down he cringed. CRINGED! But I ignore it, and think it will all be ok. So I lay down Paul's nice blankets and make him a little baby nest so it will be all comfy. We get underway, and P and I are hangin out, watching tv, have a snack, and I think "OK, maybe I'll lie him down now." So I put P down with a soother (binky for you weirdo American's who will read this), and his puppy blanket, and he's all red-eyed and sleepy looking. Pretty relaxed. And when P is going to sleep he puts his puppy over his face and plays with it. Well, P's little fists are up caressing his blankie... and his hand accidently bumps the baby-hater...and the baby-hater jerks away like he's been burned! So then P looks at him and tried to reach toward him, and the baby-hater stares straight ahead and shrinks toward the window. I realize now that I have to keep P from touching this guy at all costs, so I'm trying to stop him from reaching for the baby-hater, but P won't stop and the baby-hater looks so angry that I pick P up and he spends the rest of the flight wide awake on my lap.

Oh, did I mention the part where I was trying to fill P's bottle with formula and water and I had to put P down in the empty seat...we hit turbulence and P falls over and hits his head and starts crying, and the baby-hater turns to me and says "Look! I know it's hard, but could you TRY!" Jackass! That was the only time P cried all flight! I said "Fine!" But I thought of a million things I should have said instead.

Next up...we land in TO, exhausted and ready for bed. Luckily my mom booked us into the Sheraton which is attached to the airport. I hire a porter for $20 to bring my bags cause there's no way in hell I can carry it anywhere. Get to the check-in desk, "We don't have your reservation." What? WHAT? After my & P's extremely long & exhausting day, you don't have my Rez?! I didn't print my confirmation because I figured it was just going to be a redundancy, and a waste of paper, and when have I ever needed a printed confirmation?! So the bellhop lets me use his computer, and I'm looking at the confirmation and it all seems right. I'm at the right hotel...but it's not June 20, it's May 20! Crap.

"Well, that's no problem Mrs. Ford we'll just call Expedia and see if they'll honour this rate and change the date, we'll just need your credit card."
"Right, well that's a long story...I don't have a credit card."
Everyone looks appalled. As if this is the worst thing ever! This is why my mom had to book my hotel, because somebody somewhere copied my credit card number, VISA cancelled my credit card, and unfortunately they do not seem capable to send replacement cards to Grenada. They sent them to Grenada, California. And then said that since UPS apparently couldn't get the job done, that they were going to use regular mail. So we'll probably see the cards sometime next year. Needless to say, they did not arrive prior to my departure.

"I have cash," I say, and am thinking, "you know, cash used to be just as good as a credit card!" So they sort it all out for me, and since the room was prepaid, all is well. But no I may not make phone calls, use the internet, or order room service. "But I have CASH!"
OK, they say, they will call ahead to room service and let them know I will be paying cash. Like I'm some shady non-credit card owner, who's going to roll them for a $35 burger and fries (which were cold! and which I had to eat sitting on the toilet in the bathroom for fear of waking up my exhausted baby).

Next day, flight home :) Beautiful weather. Got a row to ourselves. P had his car seat and slept most of the flight and I got to watch Hotel for Dogs :)

And now I am home. I have more stories to tell, but I have gone well over my alotted 15min window and am exhausted.

Night all! -Karen

Here I am!

2009-05-06T10:51:00.003-04:00

OK, so yet again it's been forever since I posted. I should make a routine out of posting. Like every Monday at one o'clock I should sit down and write a post. Unfortunately, I would never follow the schedule. Well, here I am again, voila! For those of you who care or even read my post, here we go...

What's new in my life?? I started school this past Monday. Taking two social work courses. They look like they are going to be a lot of work, but hey, what in life worth having isn't? (sorry for the cliche). On Sunday, before school started I had a marathon of watching The Tudors season two. I had to finish it before my time became more constrained. And even though I knew Anne Boleyn was going to die, I still cried like a baby. Poor woman.

Chris & I are still immersed in watching the rest of Twin Peaks (sorry Chris for "outing" you). Only four more episodes left! I want to draw it out for as long as possible, but I'm also voraciously wanting more.

The good thing about not having cable is that Chris & I will sit and watch an episode or a movie and that will be the extent of it. TV watching with a purpose. There is no tv on all day just for the sake of it, which is a habit I always tend to fall into. So I rather enjoy our little bubble. Wonder when we'll re-enter the cable world? For sure not until we re-enter North American society. It's too expensive here and none of the good HGTV shows are on (no Holmes on Homes or Relocation Relocation).

Am heading back to Calgary in a couple weeks here. Very bittersweet. But it will probably be better for Chris to be able to focus more fully during exam time on his studies. Besides I am dying for a milkshake.

The Flats (our apt building) are very fertile these days. With a new baby just arrived on the scene (baby Liam), and a pregnancy just announced. Please please let it not be something in the water :) I am loving the one baby I have very much, but don't think I could face another right now.

Well, that's all I've got for right now. Talk to you all again sooner than the last time :)

Hi again

2009-03-18T08:58:00.003-04:00

OK, so it's been a long time. Sometimes I feel really inspired to write often and I have lots to say, and other times it can take me weeks to come up with anything interesting to put down. I'm not sure that I have anything interesting to say right now, but I feel obligated to post something, otherwise what's the point of having a blog if I only post once a month.

Last week my friend & neighbour Faith left for the mainland for three weeks and since then I've been kinda floundering. Paul & I are having a lot more "alone" time together. Not that it's bad. Maybe it's time we reconnected without the distraction of his girlfriend, Isla, around. So yesterday we went to Playgroup. Mom's & kids hangin out at the rickety play structure at the Grand Anse campus. But hey, the kids don't really know what they're missing (at least mine has never been to a giant North American play structure), and the mom's get to chat.

After a little bit in the swing we went over to Paul's daycare for sing-a-longs. Miss Beth comes on Tues & Thurs and plays the guitar and we sing kiddie songs. Good for me to learn too cause I don't know very many and just usually end up making songs up to sing to Paul (or usually I'll have the melody right but make up words).

I tried to picture a role reversal yesterday as if I was the one in med school and Chris was the stay at home parent (and there are men here who are). Up at 6am, Playgroup, sing-a-long, washing diapers, making home-made baby food...I couldn't picture it. I don't think Chris could either, so it's just as well things are the way they are.

The good thing about Chris knowing that he couldn't/wouldn't handle the stay-at-home parent thing well, is that he encourages me to get all the help I need to make my life easier. I can go out at night once P's in bed to movies or trivia & he'll stay at home studying or he's fine with me having a cleaning lady & P in daycare a few afternoons a week.

SHIT! I've done it again! I got distracted while making baby food and burnt it to the bottom of the pot. That's the second batch I've ruined this week, and if you think dates are cheap here, THEY'RE NOT! I had to throw out the last pot, I wonder if this one is salvagable? Booooooooo!

Crazy Day

2009-03-02T15:12:00.007-05:00

Today I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. I had to pick up my cleaning lady at 8am (I know, poor me), I dropped Chris off at school, had coffee with my mom, drove her to yoga, got gas, came home for Paul to have a 40 min. nap, dropped my cleaning lady off, came back and picked up Paul, went and picked up my mom from yoga, stopped at Mount Cinnamon so she could check lost and found, dropped her off at her hotel, went grocery shopping at IGA, dropped Paul off at daycare, went back to the mall to pay bills but the line-up was too long so I got a mocha chiller instead :), came home and washed Stan, took Stan to the vet, picked up Paul, and now we are HOME! I am contemplating going for a walk with Faith, but I'm somewhat pooped. We'll see what happens.

Two of the above events are worth special mention:

1. The cleaning lady came to my house and worked for about 1.2 hrs for 70EC. I am somewhat uncomfortable about that. Our cleaning lady back home would work for about 5 hrs. Now I know that my cleaning lady said to me "when I clean, I go fast and work hard." but I'm sorry, I feel a little bit gyped. Maybe "the obvious" isn't so obvious to everyone. I'm too nice. Next time I need a list. Something like "sweep porch, wash out fridge, scrub giant tile shower." Do you think that I should have like a minimum amount of time that she has to be here? The last time I did that with a cleaning lady, I came home and she was watching tv. Maybe cause I live in this house I can see no end of things that need to be cleaned. "Wash gunk of stove top, wipe off green splatters from kitchen cabinets that is left from the last renters, wash all the dead mosquitoes off the walls (that's a really good one!)." I'll have to practice being assertive in the mirror before she comes back.

2. There is a very difficult woman who mans the front dest at the vet clinic. My dog has no end of ailments at any given time, one of which is that he has a very sensitive stomach. In order to be allowed to purchase the high quality vet food (which is better for my dog and less expensive than the crap food at IGA), you have to have a perscription. Every time I go into the clinic to pick up more food for Stan, the woman behind the desk has to make sure that the vet said I could have it (even though it's already in the computer). She's doling out the precious dog food with an iron fist. Even though I saw the vet three weeks ago, last week when I went to pick up more food, the front desk lady wouldn't let me because Stan's check-up wasn't recent enough or some horse-shit. I had to make ANOTHER appt. for today, and while I was sitting in the waiting room my vet came by and said "what's Stan doing here?" and I said "I guess we have to see you to get more dog food." She rolled her eyes and allowed me to bypass the whole appt. and just gave us more food. My friend Faith, almost had to have an argument with the woman to be allowed to have a 20lb bag instead of a 10lb bag which would barely last a week. This is the ridiculousness about being able to buy dog food on this island. I hope Stan & Lena appreciate the effort we go through to ensure them a well-rounded, nutricious diet :)

Complaining

2009-02-18T09:48:00.003-05:00

OK, I know I'm not supposed to do this because I am living the good life on a Caribbean island and all that, but I have to get a few things off my chest this week.

For starters, the septic field for our apartment building was dug up three weeks ago and we still have a giant hole in our backyard. Every week more trucks come and dump a load of rubble on the grass, and I'm guessing that this rubble is eventually meant to fill in the hole. When the event of actually putting the rubble in the hole might take place is anyone's guess. In the meantime, Stan is constantly rooting through the rubble for garbage (plastic, drywall, what-have-you) to eat and/or play with.

The hole is also filled with rain water and has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We are being tormented both outside and in our apartment by the little buggers. The laundry room is right next to the abyss, so the mosquitoes have taken up residence in our washing machines. Every morning the person who is unfortunate enough to have to use the machines first is pelted by a barrage of mosquitoes flying up into their face. Yesterday, my neighbour Faith, waged war in the laundry room and unloaded a full can of Lysol into the washing machines and in the various other crevices where the mosquitoes were hiding.

My own personal technique is to throw some clothes at the washing machine and run out of the room to allow the mosquitoes to dissipate and then return over and over until all the clothes are in the machine and all the mosquitoes are out of it. However, sometimes I open the washer after a cycle has run and some mosquitoes STILL fly out of it.

I would also like to complain about the water pressure. Sometimes the pressure is so low that I turn on the tap and no water at all comes out. I have to wait several minutes before a tiny trickle begins. I know it's a given to have low pressure in the dry season, but in defence of my impatience it has been raining quite a bit lately.

OK, I'll admit I don't have much else to bitch about. I was feeling a little down about the drudgery of housework yesterday. But today I am prepared to drop Paul off at daycare and come back and face my housewifely duties. Or maybe I'll just go to the beach...

Monday night

2009-02-09T20:43:00.007-05:00

Well, another week has just begun. This is what I have been up to over the last week...

I watched season 1 of the Tudors, and have become seriously obsessed with Henry VIII and his court.

I have watched the first three episodes of Twin Peaks with Chris. We are currently trying to catch up so we can watch season two with our friends Jeff & Faith.

I have watched three episodes of The Extras, which is one of the funniest series' known to man, and I highly recommend.

Chris & I went to see Taken in the movie theatre, and it was awesome. I think everyone secretly either wants to be a government operative (men) or wants their dad to be a government operatvie (women) after seeing this kickass movie. Between us we ordered two popcorns, one large coke, one skittles and two hotdogs and I think it cost about $8USD. In your face stupid North American movie domes where the same order would cost like $50 bucks, never mind the actual cost to see the movie!

I am very excited that Twilight has finally made it to our little theatre and we are hoping to go view it sometime this week.

Needless to say we have been spending a lot of time in front of the tv or the big screen, and we don't even have cable. Who needs cable anymore anyway?! You can just download entire series' or movies in one go and be done with it.

Chris has also been downloading entire discographies of late. And I was not very impressed when we had to listen to an hour of Metallica the other night as I was trying to get to sleep cause Chris was so stoked at having their two hundred plus song repetoire. "Just listen to this kickass guitar solo!" are not the words I want to hear while trying to get some shuteye.

But all my days are not spent in front of the tv. I have also been tending to my domestic duties (please refer to my facebook status about making delicious rotis tonight). Baby Paul continues to eat all the wonderful foods that I make for him (poor boy has a fever tonight :( ). Faith & I find time to drink coffee on the porch while watching the laundry dry. And while I've been meaning to go to the gym on the days I put Paul in daycare, so far I've mostly been going to the beach or having lunch with friends, or both :) I must persevere in my goal to get fit and stop this lollygagging around. I'll start first thing on Wed. afternoon, after coffee and lunch and generally an all around lazy morning.

I'm off to bed to finish my book, play on facebook, and hang with hubby. Goodnight all :)

For Trevor

2009-01-30T08:05:00.003-05:00

Well, my sister informed me that my brother-in-law felt that I was long overdue to post. So here it is...

It is the dry season here in Grenada. Usually January is blessed with wonderful trade winds (or the Christmas winds as local call them) and sunny weather. Unfortunately today is a downpour, and it does not look like it's going to clear up for me to go to the beach this afternoon. I'm pretty disappointed because Chris is writing a midterm today and was going to be free to join us at the beach after he finished. Oh well! On to plan B, which involves dropping the baby off at daycare and going to the gym for a workout.

I was all set to join the fancy gym right across from the daycare, so that I could drop Paul off and have my workout all within a hop-skip-and-a-jump, but the school gym has a bunch of new fancy equipment this semester so Chris is like "just use the school gym for free," and so I am. Anything to save a buck, right?!

We also have opted to try going cable free for a while, as we don't watch much tv anyway, and that's yet another bill we don't have to worry about. Wow, we're getting frugal in our old age! One indulgence that I'm not willing to cut out is my cleaning lady. I'll go down to just twice a month if I have to, but I am not one for moping floors and scrubbing the giant tile shower. I try to do my best at domesticity down here (and I'm sure Chris would agree I'm doing a pretty good jop), but there are just somethings that I will never get to. Hence a cleaning lady!

This last week has been dedicated to making Paul's baby food. I have a handy-dandy Baby Blender Foods cookbook, and have been steaming and blending and straining away! All without a dishwasher mind you, so it is quite a pain in the ass. One creates a huge amount of dishes when making baby food. Especially when I have screw ups like the grean beans that I had to steam, then blend, then put into trays, then realize they were too stringy still, so then I had to strain, and then put back into trays. Or the sweet potatoes (which I'm not really sure are sweet potatoes cause they look nothing like our version back home, and smell different, and taste different, so really they're a mystery vegetable), which I burnt to the bottom of the pan while cooking them. Anyway, he loves the apples and bananas that he has been introduced to this week, so hopefully all my hard work pays off. It would really suck if I had one of those babies who decided he didn't like food after all this work.

I read some website that said some people are bypassing grain cereals and purees altogether and going straight for soft cooked tiny bits of food on baby's plate. This is called Baby Led Weaning, and it allows the baby to make his own choices about what to put in his mouth and when to stop. So I started thinking "hey, maybe I don't want to be force feeding my kid (although his mouth is WIDE OPEN), and maybe I'll let him take the lead." This is so I can allow my boy to make his OWN choices and exert some control and blah blah blah. So I mashed up some banana and put it on his tray and said "OK Paul, you are in control. Why don't you try some banana?" And Paul prompty smashed his hand into the banana causing it to spray everywhere, and ran his hands all through his hair, and I think he even stuck some in his eye. He is not aware that this is FOOD and is meant to go in his MOUTH. I'm pretty sure he has no idea what's going on whatsoever. So I decided to ignore this hippy nonsense and go back to making my purees and forcing them into his mouth (although, again, his mouth is WIDE OPEN).

Well, that's all I got for this rainy morning. Off to make some coffee (French Press with french vanilla creamer. YUM!). Later yo!

Distraction

2009-01-09T21:54:00.002-05:00

I'm just sitting here in my bedroom listening to my baby cry across the hall, so I'm writing a post as a distraction. I've nursed him, changed him, rocked him, sang to him, and when he's this tired there's sometimes nothing I can do but leave him be. Some people may disagree with this strategy, but to each their own. Believe me it's not easy letting a baby cry. I'm giving him 10 more minutes before I go in and try again. Sometimes I feel like motherhood is a minefield, and we each have to gingerly navigate it as best as we can.

So, what's new in my life? I'm back in Grenada. Chris, Paul & I arrived late Wednesday night. We've been busily setting up our new apartment: shopping, unpacking, hanging with the neighbours.

Stanley was happy to see us, but as usual he's developed bad habits in our absence. That's to be expected. He can manipulate the most well intentioned of dog sitters. We gave him a bath yesterday after finding over a dozen ticks on him. Welcome to the dry season! Man, the ticks get bad here at this time of year. The good thing about this new apt. is that we can close the front gate and let the dogs run wild on the property. They have a heck of a time! Gotta be careful it doesn't make me lazy and let me off the hook for taking Stan for walks.

Well, we gave up on the "crying it out." Chris just went in to try to comfort Paul. Sometimes I feel so helpless.

Had my social work course start on Monday. Have barely had a chance to look over the material yet. I think I'm supposed to post something about what the symbol of justice means to me. Don't really know where to begin on that one. To be honest I don't even know what are balancing on the scales. I'll have to wikipedia that one.

It is now 11:11pm, and I think I would like to go to sleep (provided my baby lets me do so). Talk to you all another day. Bye!

We're home!

2008-12-15T23:38:00.000-05:00

The last few days have been a bit of an ordeal, but we made it and we're happy to be back!

The beginning of the adventure occurred when we got to the airport in Grenada two hours early, and were STILL in the check in line 20 min. before our flight left. Not the quickest at the Liat counter on our little island, but they held the plane for us and shortly we were off.

Immediately, I became somewhat concerned when Paul started crying on take-off and was wide awake the whole flight to Barbados. Thinking "this does not bode well." And I was right. Paul barely napped at all during our 7 hour layover in Barbados, and was wide awake during our 6 hour flight to Toronto. It was a very long flight! He didn't scream the whole way, but was pretty fussy the entire time. Nothing like walking the aisles with a cranky baby, and mostly sympathetic looks from other passengers (although I'm sure some of them we're thinking not so sympathetic thoughts). We checked into our hotel in TO shortly after 11pm and left again before 7am. Not nearly long enough to enjoy one of the most comfortable beds in the world (thank-you Hilton!). Paul was again mostly awake and somewhat fussy on the four hour flight to Calgary, but we made it and all is well!

It was -36C today in our beautiful city! Somewhat shocking to us island dwellers. Poor P's little hands and feet are always like icicles. He's sleeping in a giant teddy bear outfit made of fleece compete with hood and feet. That will keep him warm!

Outside it is white and frosty everywhere. It just looks bloody cold. It's the type of cold where your skin starts to sting as soon as it hits the air and every breath is a shock to your system. But I must admit it is so pretty! I will always love the snow, cold, and a white Christmas. We've had fires, we've had hot chocolate, I'm wearing a cashmere sweater around for god's sake! Long undies, jeans!, fuzzy slippers, down duvets, hugs from my husband when we find eachother cozy and not disgusting with dripping sweat and BO!

I think the funniest thing that's happened so far was my homage to Grenadian driving: My Mom was trying to leave the Calgary airport which was jammed with traffic coming and going. Eight lanes all trying to merge into one, and everyone being selfish and cranky and not letting in anyone else. Finally I had had enough! I rolled down my window, stuck my whole arm out the window in the "stop" gesture to the car in the next lane, and he did! My mom was then able to merge over. Why is it that everyone can ignore a signal light, but when I actually take physical action they pay attention?! Anyway, I brought my head and my arm back in the window and said "and that's how we do it in Grenada!" Ha!

This morning we went to the mall to get P's pic taken with Santa. Turned out quite well! I must say my son sure is adorable! I also am hoping not to have to return to the mall anytime soon. What a madhouse! I love being home and all, but I forget how crazy busy it is everywhere! I laugh thinking that I was impatient the other day in Grenada waiting for 10 min. in traffic, where here it's taking us sometimes over an hour to inch our way along (esp. on these icy/snowy roads!).

Well it is way past my bedtime. Still fighting off jetlag I"m sure. Talk to you all again soon! Merry Merry!

One year down...

2008-12-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

So, we are finished year numero uno. Technically, Chris has one more test on Fri, but as far as I'm aware it doesn't count or go on transcripts, so I'm considering him already finished. What a year! Move to Caribbean, have a baby, start medical school, start social wk. degree, the list goes on. Many firsts! We've had ups and downs (boooo to 7 wks apart), but we have survived it and now here we are again....at Christmas.

Last year at this time I had just found out I was pregnant and was bursting to tell everyone. Now our baby is 4.5 months old. Time flies. I can barely remember my first two months at home with Paul. It was such a whirlwind of recovery, visits, late nights watching the Olympics, trips to the mall (I think I went to the mall almost everyday as it was a nice walk for me and P, and I could get out of the house for a chai. It was my version of physio). I'm sure the percocet and sleep deprivation had a lot to do with my hazy memory. All I know for sure is that I couldn't have gotten through it without mia madre. Kudos to you Mama!

These last few weeks on the island have also been a whirlwind of social events. I cannot believe how unbelievably lucky I am to come here and have an instant wealth of friendly spouses willing to help fill up my days. We've had Christmas parties, pool parties, sunset bbq's, the list goes on.

Today I went to town with friends, and then as soon as I got home Chris & P & I headed to the beach. The beach at dusk is so wonderful. We watched a cruise ship all lit up pull away from port. It looked like something out of Peter Pan (I'm not sure what that means, but I have an image in my head).

Chris continued his celebrations by going for sushi and then to the movies, but P needed to go to bed so he & I came home. Really I should be packing, but I am so totally over it. If worse comes to worse we can just throw odds and ends into the car and be done with it. Why must I always be so organized?!

Slowly getting rid of all the food in the house sucks. Tonight for dinner I ate the rest of a jar of bread and butter pickles, some fried potatoes and some taco chips. Healthy I know! Thought of eating the rest of the fishsticks too, but I felt too lazy to turn on the oven. On the upside, I think there is one lone beer left that I couldn't possibly leave behind. Mmmmmm, beer! Should have gotten a picture of me on the beach today nursing a baby AND a beer. Such class!

I've heard that Sunday in Calgary is going to begin the onset of a cold snap. Holy crap! I mean I could still be excited when I heard it was going to be -20 because I saw the pics of all the snow and frost and it looked so beautiful. But now I'm hearing crazy talk about highs of -31C, and I'm thinking that sounds a bit ridiculous. I don't think our bodies can tolerate such temperatures. Mom was going to bring P a bunting bag to the airport, I'd like one too please...

December

2008-12-08T15:03:00.001-05:00

Wow! It sure doesn't feel like Christmas when you're used to the snow and freezing weather, and instead it's a balmy 30C outside with tropical breezes blowing in over the ocean. Well, soon enough we will be back home. Less than a week!

I began packing today for THE MOVE, but am feeling somewhat uninspired, perhaps "overwhelmed" is more the right word. I'll start in one area, and then think "oh, but I want to get this done," so then I'll move on to another area. Right now I just have many piles all over the house as I have been pulling things outta drawers and cupboards. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that I am trying to separate what we'll be needing to pack to go home for Christmas at the same time. So far Paul's going home outfit consists of jammies, a hoody, and socks with crabs on them (perhaps a bit summery for Christmas in Calgary, but it's all he has to keep his feet warm upon arrival).

It's kinda hard because there are so many events to go to this last week of school, but because we have to get packed up, I don't really have time to go to most of them. A real bummer because some of my friends are leaving for good. Well, with each new semester more leave and more come. It's a constant turnover. Is a little sad to be saying goodbye every 6 months, but I'm sure I'll get to see many of these people again.

Tonight Paul & I are going to a sunset potluck bbq at our friends' house which is just down the road from us. They're renting a super cute little cottage right on the ocean with a big balcony overlooking Prickly Bay. Should be some nice views this evening. I'm dying to see the inside of this place.

I found out this afternoon that Paul has been accepted into the daycare program! Yay! I'm allowed to drop him off in the afternoons on Mon, Wed & Fri if I so desire. I'm very excited as I had heard that they were all booked up for next semester as they can only have so many infants at one time, but I guess someone else turned down the hours, so I was next on the list. The daycare facility is on the Grand Anse campus, which means that I am going to join the gym that is right across the street. It only costs 14EC for an afternoon (equivalent of $6). I'm very excited to be able to have a little bit of freedom here and there.

Currently I am ignoring a crying baby who needs to sleep so that we can go out this evening. Well, I best be off as I have to make an artichoke dip. Bye all!

Chris

2008-12-03T09:49:00.000-05:00

Ha! I found something to talk about. Well, I have to be doing something while Gloria cleans my house (saying that tongue in cheek, but kinda true).

Chris, my hubby, is off studying hard today. Dropped him at school at 9am, won't see him again til around 8pm. Well, this is how life is leading up to finals. Although he usually does find time at the end of the day to eat with me, and sometimes watch a movie (remind me to download Lord of the Rings 1 for tonight).

I think people should know how proud I am of him, and that you all should be proud of him too. Moving here, leaving everyone behind, pursuing this dream after years and years of rejection and set backs. And I think he is proving to himself, and everyone else, that this indeed is his calling.

Chris is kicking ass and taking names down here, and in a way it is vindication that yes, he can indeed succeed. He is dedicating his life to helping others, something that he has always wanted to do. Working with the disabled, volunteering at a hospice, and now going through medical school.

Of course Chris is self-depriciating (as always), and doesn't make a big deal out of any of the things he has done. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in the things that they haven't done, that they fail to see or appreciate those things that they have.

Well, I just wanted you all to know, that this has not been an easy road for us. Going into huge debt at 30 with a baby and me unemployed was not exactly in our financial plan. Moving away from all that we know and those that we love has been an adventure, but a very bittersweet one. Having no idea when of if we'll ever be able to go home again. These are the things that we had to come to terms with to come here. This is the sacrifice we are making so that Chris can follow his heart and his dreams.

We miss all of you dearly. Not a day goes by that Chris doesn't talk about someone from home. Thinking of you all....

Sitting in my little house

2008-12-03T09:09:00.000-05:00

It's another cloudy day here on the island. So far today I've just been lazing around thinking about things. Reflecting on our time here in this little house and the task ahead... which is to pack up and move out. Procrastinating on that front. Well, I still have a week and a half, right? Man, time goes quickly. One year down, one more to go...

We've heard through the unofficial grapevine that Ontario has opened up a few spots for clinical rotations through McMaster University. Could be spending our next two years in T-dot. Booooo! Well, I shouldn't be so harsh. Obviously, if we could get a clinical spot there it might be good for continuing on in Canada for a residency (but not necessarily). Also, I could work during that time, or at least finish up my Social Work practicums.

Feel somewhat mixed about that possibility. In terms of cities to live in I would WAY rather live in NY. Who wouldn't? But we have to think of what's best for us in the long run. Anyway, none of that matters right now. We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out (patience not always being my strong suit).

Am somewhat miffed about what I hear is going on in the Canadian gov't right now. Don't like it at all. Even if I were Liberal, NDP or BlOC, I wouldn't like it. Too many conflicting interests. But though this is MY blog, I don't want to use this as a political soapbox. So, I'll just breathe deeply and hope that the citizens of our great country will get off their hineys and do something. Beautiful time of year to stage protests, don't you think? Could be Paul's first experience of activism.

Times like these I hate to say that I feel the US has it right...one party running the government so that they can actually make some decisions and get things done, and if you didn't like it, vote them out next time round.

OK, enough political talk, on to more interesting things.

Ummmm......

Nevermind then. I think I'll just go for now. Not much to say today, must be the rain or something.

Poor Paul

2008-11-25T15:40:00.000-05:00

So I'm at the food court drinking a mocha chiller (damned devil's nectar) with Abeni, and Paul decides that this would be a prudent time to fill his diaper (and of course I had him in a cloth one instead of a disposable!). And since he only goes once every 10 days or so, it's always a huge mess. Why does this always happen when we're out somewhere?! I think he does that on purpose.

I know that there is not a change table in the bathroom and only enough counter space for the sink (what's with that!), so I decide to change him in the back of the car. Paul is completely lathered in yellow goo, which is rapidly spreading from his diaper to his clothes to the change pad to his feet as he squirms around. I run out of wipes, and am frantically searching my diaper bag for all extra cloths. Use up the burp cloth, the face cloth, and eventually resort to stripping him and using his onsie that says "super cute" on it. Not so cute after it's been used to wipe poop from a baby's bum.

So, I 've cleaned up Paul as best as possible in the back of the car, and head back to the food court. I need to use the washroom to wipe the remaining yellow from Paul's legs and feet, and wash my hands. I have to use toilet paper as it's all that is available, and typical of public toilets, it's cheap one ply that is crumbling little yellow bits everywhere as I'm trying to hold Paul and wipe him off. A security guard lady follows me into the bathroom to make sure I don't put my "dirty baby" on the counter top. Obviously not a mother! Or if so, very unsympathetic to my squirmy upset baby, whose bum probably hurts cause it just exploded two weeks worth of poop out. I felt like telling her to "f@$k off!" But I instead inform her that perhaps this bathroom could use a change table, but I'm sure she doesn't care.

What's with the no change tables anywhere?! What do local people do when they have to change their babies? I've had to change mine on the filthy floor many times, and I am not very happy about it (but I guess I already have a "dirty baby" so what's the diff, right?).

Yay, It's Friday Again!

2008-11-21T22:14:00.000-05:00

Although, who am I kidding, why does it really matter to me it it's the weekend or not?! I don't work, few of my friends work. We mostly just hang out or do mundane tasks no matter what day of the week it is. So, I guess the only really good thing about a weekend is that Chris doesn't have school. However, he does have a final on Monday, so I probably won't get much of his attention this weekend anyway. Paul, Stan & I can have a good ol' time by ourselves!

One of my good friends left the island this week to go home for Christmas, so I no longer have her to drink mocha chillers with everyday (probably good for my diet to cut that damned drink out. It's like devil's nectar!). And my other good friend, Abeni, has a job. Lame! It's also a bit of a downer that all this rain has put a damper on Pool Days & Beach Days. So the highlight of my days lately have been bill paying and grocery shopping.

Ah, grocery shopping! Where to begin?! Don't know really what the problem is these days, but Thursday is supposed to be the shipment day, and there still wasn't anything stocked. No lettuce, no tomatoes, no milk, no eggs, no sour cream, no tortilla chips (of which there is only ever one brand when they have it). I had to buy the boxed milk, which is tolerable for cereal, but not for drinking plain. Perhaps the bad weather slows the shipments? During hurricane season we went over a month with no cheese in the grocery store! So weird. But I do have to admit that I really only frequent the IGA, and that if I sometimes made the effort to travel to the other grocery stores/markets I might be able to find some missing items. But who wants to travel to 4 different stores to get one week's worth of groceries?!

Also, there's virtually no water on the island right now, which is also bizarre because it's been raining non-stop for weeks now (well might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much). I guess the reasoning is that all the rain damaged the water mains. So we're back to a slow trickle in the shower, out of the taps etc. Used unfiltered water today in the coffee maker and ran the risk of clogging up the silly thing with sediment. Chris gave me a stern talking to, lol.

Our coffee maker has a life of it's own in that it only works if Chris sets the timer. So we have to set the timer for a minute in the future everytime we want coffee or it won't turn on. If you just press "start" nothing happens. One of the many weird things that happens when trying to combine 220v outlets with 110v appliances.

But for all the complaining, it is an adventure and it's good for us. I do actually love it here. All the idiosyncracies I write about are more for a story narrative, than an actual bitch session (although I must admit the day when nobody took VISA, and I had to keep running to the bank REALLY sucked!). Some people here (some students/SO's) bitch for real, constantly. And I find it ridiculous. People should be GRATEFUL that there is a school on this island that was willing to take them and offer them an excellent education. They sure weren't going to get to be doctors by staying on the mainland. And I am the first to admit, that this place is very different from home, but that's the point. It's not a mini-America/Canada. Grenada is a country that doesn't have to live up to OUR standards, we should be trying to conform and accept theirs.

Besides how cool will it be to one day say that I lived in the Caribbean for 2 years. I've never even been to the Caribbean before. Not even Mexico (and that one time in Tiajuana doesn't count!). And nothing, I MEAN NOTHING, beats swimming in the crystal clear ocean on a hot sunny day.

Another Rainy Day

2008-11-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

Well the rain hasn't let up here pretty much all week. Put a bit of a damper on this week's events, but hey, I don't mind going for lunches and watching movies in lieu of the pool and beach sometimes.

Last night it was raining wicked hard! We have a vaulted ceiling with a metal roof, and it makes the rain sound like it is thundering down. Almost impossible to sleep with all the racket. I eventually got up to look out the windows, and realized that the roof was leaking and there were puddles in multiple areas on our floor. I went and slept in Paul's room so that I could hear him if he woke up from all the noise.

I also couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about how our house is on concrete pillars, and what if the construction is as dodgy as everything else in the house, and what if all the rain eroded the dirt around the footings and our house crashed to the ground! I know I was being a bit of a crazy, but it's hard to think straight with all that noise! Anyway, I woke up this morning with the house still in tact, so as usual all my stress was for naught.

The apartment we're moving into for January is on the ground floor, and so the rain won't be pelting directly on our ceiling. We actually asked the tenants on the second floor if the rain was bothersome, and they said yes, so that's a big reason why we chose the ground floor.

Right, for those of you who don't know, Chris and I are moving! We have had a pretty good year in our little house on the ocean, but it is quite expensive to be living here. And for all the things about this house that drive me batty, I will be somewhat sad to leave it. The view, for one, is beautiful. Walking distance to the Uni has been nice too. And we have a full size fridge, all new appliances, our own washer/dryer unit (virtually unheard of here). So, there will be a lot of major sacrifices.

However, there is a lot to recommend the apt. The apt. itself it cute & cozy. There are a lot of other families living in the building, including a couple really good friends. And at half of what we're paying now, we'd be silly not to try to reduce our spending in this economic crises. Also, there's A/C in the main room! Usually these places only have A/C in the bedrooms. So who cares that the apt. building is down a dodgy alley that I wouldn't be caught dead walking down at night. Or that there used to be dogs that ran loose and attacked dogs/people in the alley (the dogs were taken away last term after they attacked a student)! Besides I have a big vicious dog of my own, right?! And I'll be sure to post him outside often to let people know that THIS big vicious dog protects THIS apt. and anyone up to no good should just carry on!

The one thing that we're not completely comfortable with is the lack of bars on the BR windows. And ours is the apt closest to the road, so that anyone walking by can see in the windows. We have asked that this be rectified, and the landlady assures me that the task is underway. However, the job was measured LAST term, and still no bars have been installed. It's pretty much unheard of here not to have bars on the windows, so that's a bit sketchy to me. I guess we'll just keep them closed and locked all the time, with the blinds drawn. Who needs daylight in bedrooms anyway?! Bedrooms are for sleeping. LOL

Some students keep machetes in their apts, but I am so uncool with that. I find them terrifying. Lots of local people carry them around all the time and use them for everything. My weapon of choice is this siren contraption that if you pull the pin a siren goes off that is so loud it's disorienting. I think I'll keep that by my bed instead of a machete. Mom & I used it once in a shady little hotel in Amsterdam. We rigged it to the door so that we would know if someone tried to break in. We pulled the pin ourselves, just to see how loud it was and I almost couldn't concentrate well enough to get the pin back in. So the siren and Stan should keep us safe. Maybe the bars will go in before we leave next year, but maybe not.

Weekend's Over

2008-11-16T21:57:00.000-05:00

Well, I FINALLY finished my application to the School of Social Work at UVic. Been driving me nuts. I've never had an application be so involved before. I guess now I can empathize with what Chris had to go through applying to numerous med schools numerous times. I've requested to take more Social Work classes in Jan. even though I haven't been admitted to the program yet, but of course they won't let me know if I'm allowed until half way through Dec. Guess I'll be scrambling at the last minute to get all my materials to bring back down with me. Makes life more exciting I guess.

Chris is on the last stretch toward finals. Been doing pretty well on the studying front, but as usual it seems that all the students get pretty burnt out in the last month. It's all they can do to maintain focus, with the thought of Christmas and going home around the corner.

Tomorrow I'll be driving to town to FedEx my application to Victoria. Maybe I'll listen to the radio on the way, but all they play these days are Christmas carols, or Reggae Christmas carols, or the new song "Obama!Obama!Obama!" Quite catchy and all, but loses it's appeal after a few hundred times.

Well time for bed again. Happy reading everyone! xoxo K

PS...I just found it somewhat interesting to note that here in Grenada today there was a windchill factor. That's right, a WINDCHILL! HAHAHAHAHA. It was 29 degrees, but with windchill felt more like 27. Put your coats on people!

Bugs

2008-11-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

I am not a fan of the cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants or millipedes, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fireflies. So pretty. When I'm out for a walk at dusk I can see them flickering in the bushes and they are really bright! Chris says he's seen them in Ontario, but that they weren't as bright even though they lasted longer. The ones in Grenada are like little on/off switches. And when I see them going I feel like it's the Grenadian version of Christmas lights.

First Entry

2008-11-14T22:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, why create a blog? It never occurred to me to do it before we left Canada almost a year ago now. I've never really read anyone else's blog, so I don't know how I can expect anyone to read mine. But since we've started this adventure, I've come to realize that I need a more substantial way to communicate with my friends and family other than my status updates on facebook everyday. So here it goes...

Today: what did I do? Pretty much nothing. Not a very interesting way to start a blog, I know, but what the hell, it's how most of my days go down here anyway. Paul woke up at 6:30am, so we hung out until it was time to drive Chris to school for 8am. Came home, and P & I slept on and off until noon. I think we kind of alternated who was sleeping and who was awake, but he seemed to be content to hang out in his crib, so I was happy to leave him there. I made up for my neglect with several rousing rounds of Purple People Eater after lunch, and I think Paul forgave me my morning neglect. This afternoon we watched Father of the Bride II, but Paul wasn't very interested in it for some reason, I thought it was pretty entertaining (mostly I was amused by the clothes of the early 90's, which were still much too heavily influenced by the styles of the 80's).

Then it was time for Chris to come home, yay! The highlight of my day! Especially on a day like today when it was all I could do to get out of my PJs. Don't ask me why I was so unable to be productive today. Who knows what's up with me these days! So I was extra happy that Chris was home because it is Friday, which means that he's usually willing to blow off studying for a night of tv/movie watching and junk food. We watched Tropic Thunder. OK movie, but not as funny as I would have hoped.

Oh, I did try to do one productive thing today and that was take Stan for a walk (I was a very bad doggy mommy and didn't take him yesterday). However, we went outside and were met with storm clouds in every direction. I tried to make a go of it anyway with the attitude of "hey, a little rain never hurt anyone!" But about 7 minutes in, I could hear the downpour moving toward us from across the bay. And sure enough we were caught out in a deluge. The runners that run along our street (Lighthouse Drive is the most popular running route for students) were cowering under trees. Stan tried desperately to pull me into the bushes for shelter, but I just decided to make a break for home. I could barely see anything as we stumbled along the rain was so heavy and driving into my eyes. We were soaked to the bone, and had to wade ankle deep in water the last 100 yds. Chris was standing in the open doorway with towels at the ready knowing that we would be turning around. So Stan got a 10 min. walk. But he just seemed happy to be out or the rain, and hey, I tried.

Well, that was my day. And I think that's all I have in me for a first entry. There are so many things that I COULD say, but I suppose this is a good enough start. And I'm sure it will be of no interest to you voyeurs, but to those of you back home I hope this means something to you. Just know that I'm missing all of you, and think of you often (more so than usual lately). Later!