12 Days of Christmas

I heard about these guys on the radio this morning. A Youtube sensation that just released a Christmas album with Atlantic records. I had to go check the video they were talking about and I loved it!
This is my type of holiday spirits.
Enjoy!

You can check out the rest of their stuff here: Straight No Chaser

The Matrix Runs on Windows

Need I say more?!?!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

On Hold

Well, my move back to cowtown is on hold. I'm not sure for how long. Things are not quite right and we've decided that it's better that I stay put until... not sure until when. I always say that my motto is "go with the flow", but these days, the flow just keeps changing directions. Maybe it's because I wasn't going with the right one to begin with.
In the meantime, I booked another trip to Costa Rica. I'm going back to the same place and will be leaving mid January. It's always so nice to have something to look forward to!

Another Conquest!

I started taking Spanish lessons 2 week ago, and tonight, I overcame my «fear» of the unknown and went to my first Spanish social gathering. It was a very small one. We were six students and one teacher at a restaurant, and had to chitchat in Spanish for 2-3 hours. I had soooooo much fun! No matter how many lessons I take, it is only this kind of exercise that will help me learn this language once and for all.
From now on, I'm going every Thursdays! To think I hesitated for 2 weeks and almost talked myself into not going tonight. Pfff. When will I learn not to listen to those insecurities!!

On the move!

Well it's official! I'm moving back to cow town. Only a couple of people knew about it so far but I made it official yesterday after letting my boss know that I'm not coming back after the holidays. I will also be going back there for a week late October just to revisit.
Can't wait!

The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See

Please please please, take 10 minutes and watch this video until the end. 

It is the most logical way to explain the facts to all the non believers. 

Art

I was just cleaning up my bag and found this business card I picked up last week. My friend and I often go (pretty much once a week) to the restaurant L'Enchanteur in Montreal. It's one of those places that lends its walls to local artists to show their work. Well, recently they changed artist and this new one is really good. It's all portraits. The thing that stikes me the most about his oil paintings showing in the restaurant, are the eyes and the overall softness he gives to his paint brush. So here is his Web site, it's worth checking out!

Tough Guys and Puppies

I just love this story from the New York Times about a group of bikers that devote their lives to animal rescue. It's totally worth checking out the NYT article and these pictures!

You As Per Flickr

I saw this little game on Shan's blog. It took me some time to do it but here is my version.

Here’s how you play:
Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search
using only the first page. Choose an image.
Copy and paste each of the URLs into the mosaic maker at FD’s image maker.
The questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favourite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favourite colour?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favourite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favourite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.

Manga for All

This is a cute little site that was sent to me by Shan. 

You can see what your Avatar would look like in a manga.
(For those of you whom I know have no idea what I'm talking about, manga is the Japanese word for comics. Therefore, you can see what you would look like in a Japanese comic.)
Just go to face your manga and follow the step!

This is mine.

Decision

Tonight I took a decision regarding the rest of my life. It's a big one that will change everything again for me. I only need to talk to one last person before I know if it's a go or not. Unfortunately, I can't get hold of that person tonight. The cell phone is doing this really weird sound, not even ringing. It sounds like the beep of a submarine! Anyway, as soon as I know for sure, I will write it. Some of you will be surprised, others not.

À suivre...

Mtl, Can

It's Friday evening and just got back home from a pretty late days work. It was one of those days that drains your brain but this was the perfect end to a not so perfect day.

After work me and my friend decide to stop by the farmer's market to get leeks before heading in our different directions. I don't know why but going to the farmer's market always makes me feel good. Then, I decide to take a different route that takes me walking by this huge park.

So it's Friday evening, I have these really good tunes playing in my ipod and I walk by the skater area of the park where there's a whole bunch of guys of different ages practicing their tricks. I almost want to stop, thinking what good pictures this would makes. After the skater area is the rugby/soccer part of the park where I can see a practice in session with a lot of people. I don't know if it's my mood but they all look pretty happy. I see a couple of hi-5's and laughters. Cool. Then, it's the basketball part of the park. Another practice is happening. Maybe it's because it's a basketball court but all the guys are really tall. However, in the middle of the action you can see this proud little guy, who looks like he's around 10 years old, keeping up with the action.
Man! I love my city in the summer! I love how it comes alive. People are everywhere doing something, looking happy. You walk around and the good mood is contagious.
Montreal you rock!!!!

Simon's Cat

Here is the latest chapter in Simon's cat life. This Simon Tofield genius guy did some real cat behavior observation!
I just love these cartoons!! (and cats)



To watch the other two installments, just youtube Simon's cat and enjoy.

Les souliers de ma mère

I'm sitting here with my mom who's after me to write something new. Unfortunately, I have nothing to say.
I share this with her and her answer is: write about your old mom who wears old shoes.


...


emm... ok mom.



So that story (it's really not a story) is about some weird old looking pair of shoes she has on today. My mom is in her early 60's and is quite young minded. But today she's wearing shoes that would suit a "real" grandma. I asked her about them and (to no surprise) she told me they belonged to her deceased mother who was almost 90 at the time...
Maman, tu as besoin de nouveaux souliers!!!

Cool Weekend!

Sometimes you go through a really slow and boring weekend (they are still nice, being weekends and all). But this weekend was the complete opposite. It started on Friday at noon when we left the city to go party. It was just for one day but we had a blast. We had a late lunch outside, a few bottles of deliciousness and went for supper at our friend's italian restaurant where we had a lot more deliciousness, both in the liquid and solid form. We came back to town on Saturday late afternoon where I made THE phone call for the next day. Sunday I met my friend late morning to go to the shop where we had our appointment. After all these years of thinking about it and sometimes talking about it, IT finally happened!! I went through with IT and am totally happy!
Here's a pic of my achievement.


Ta da!

Cutest Burglar

I cannot get enough of this video. Pay attention to the shiny eyes, especially after the dog does his heroic thing.

I just love it!

Empathy

This is a quality that I find very important. However, I am surprised to realize that there is an array of people in my surroundings, that seem to struggle with this or even not possess this quality at all. How do you get people to realize it without offending them. It is just not pleasant to be on the receiving end of this type disregard.

Life ...

All Better!

OK. Last week was a very hard return to reality. Very hard! I guess I don't really like my reality. The good thing is that I have come to that realization and I'm actually taking steps into changing it. My plan is not quite completed in my mind but I think that by taking those steps, it will eventually all come together. I think I just figured out that I'm just too old to play it "safe" and go into a direction because it sounds like something reasonable. I now feel like I want to LIVE and not just be there. I don't want to say too much because I'm not certain who exactly reads this blog, but as the plan takes form, I will certainly post every details. In the meantime, I'm planning another trip to Costa Rica in the next few months. I already told one of the ladies over there that I would come back before J finished her year contract. At first I thought it would be next winter but now, I'm thinking end of the summer or early fall. While I'm figuring things out and fulfilling my duties here, I though I would take a Spanish lesson in order to be more communicative on my next trip.

I'm also looking at condos in the Manuel Antonio area. This idea was brought on by one of my travel buddies. But, like it usually happens on trips, I think none of the people that thought it was the best idea actually want to go through with it. However, I'm not one to wait on others anymore. I'll look for the opportunity, contact them to see if they are interested and then go for it one way or the other. That would be so cool.

I finally feel like I'm getting some grasp on things.

Mis Vacaciones

So I have been back for 3 days and my head is still buzzing with memories. Here is a short list of the highlights of my week.

The first one is when the plane was descending to the Juan Santamaría airport. I was sitting by a window, taking in the view. It then started to rain a little bit but the sun was still shining strongly. For the first time in my life, I was looking down at three simultaneous rainbows. I've never even thought about being above a rainbow before. Today I see it was a good omen.

The next day, Saturday, is a little bit of a blur because I just had an overload of visual, intellectual and hearing stimulus. So much to take in. It was also the day I met the rest of my posse and we made our way to the village of El Sur.

Sunday is usually an off day in El Sur and to top it off, there was a Costa Rican futból final game on TV which made all the men pretty happy. We still managed to go for a couple hour hike in the forest, which was great.

Monday was work day. But it was a knarley day for The Dude and we laughed about it a LOT! His day first started with a scorpion in his t-shirt. I'm laughing right now, remembering the screech, the swears, the extra speedy removal of the said t-shirt, the red belly from him scratching it and the eyes as big as toonies (Canandian 2$). Hi-la-rious!!! Then as we were working, he poked a hole in his shin with the fence we were fixing. Not funny at the time. Under his supervision, I helped try and fix it. We must have done a good job because it looked pretty good by the end of the week. While we were working, Super Mario (guy taking care of us that can absolutely do everything) saw some fruits in a tree and decided we should have a taste. He then proceeded in throwing sticks and stones at the fruit. Well, a stick sort of rebounded of a branch and landed on the shoulder and back of the aforementioned Dude. Now, everyone was laughing. Even Mario and Henry! The chain of events was just too much. I'm not sure but I think it is the same night The Dude got a bug in his pants and had us roaring with laughter again with his reaction. In the afternoon, we were working on the road and I met my new love. He was this scared and super skinny dog that came on the road. I gave him my hand to sniff but he was too scared, keeping his nose to the ground, looking at me from below and just showing me the top of his head. The minute I touched him nicely with the tip of my fingers because he was full of ticks he was the happiest poochy (the dogs are usually kicked around over there). We later named him Manuel.

On Tuesday, we got up really early to do a half day hike in the forest and be back on time for lunch an Nena's. The hike was hard but fabulous. With the group we had, everything we did was fabulous. We didn't really see any big animals in the forest, just some insects and a couple of wild turkeys. It was really hot, my clothes were drenched with sweat and my legs got really scratched but I had no reason not to have a big smile in my heart. After lunch we were supposed to do some English/Spanish classes but it didn't really happened. After having a tasting of rice pudding, we hung out in the Salon for a while as it was raining pretty hard outside. We went back to our cabinas and to my super pleasant surprise, Manuel appeared out of nowhere. With my seesta's permission, I gave him some crackers and bread and he then came to lay down by us. At one point, he just left and went back home.

The next day was another fabulous one and it went by the fastest. We left our little village early in the morning with Julio our driver to go to Manuel Antonio (the inspiration for Manuel's name), a beach town (were I bought a couple of bags of dog food). We first had lunch at this little makeshift snack bar on the beach and then went for a walk in a type of provincial park were we saw lots of monkeys, bigger lizards, some forest crabs and loads of hermit crabs. After that walk, the moment we were all waiting for: the swim in the ocean. For those of you who know me well, your know I love being in the water. It's just the bathing suit part I have a hard time with. At the end of the day, we came back in traffic. I think it took us at least 1,5 hour more to get back home. Julio briefly showed us his town of Jacó before going for supper and then went back home to El Sur. During the ride back after supper I was feeling a little rough so Yayo decided to get my mind off things with the craziest flow of questions. I would be really curious to know how much of this Julio understood.
Message to the rest of my posse, I cannot be the only one, I think you all lied!! : )

Thursday was the cultural exchange day. We started by milking 2 cows. I now have a lot of compassion for these poor mammals. After the milking, we went back in the Salon, were Nena showed us how they make cheese from that milk and how to make tortillas to eat with the cheese. After lunch we went to trapiche (sugar making) with Carmen, the oldest man of the village I believe. It's pretty identical to maple syrup making with the exception that they crush the sugar cane to get the initial sugar water. In the afternoon, we all had different things happening to us. The boys were finishing the fence, J was running around and I was at the cabina giving an English lesson to 4 kids who thought I was a little weird for letting Manuel stick around. After supper at Ronald's (during which the electricity went out), we went beside the pulperia for smores. Almost everyone was there even if it was in the dark. It was the first time I tasted a smore. I don't want to offend smores fans, but I don't really dig them. But overall there was a lot of eating that day between the meals and the activities.

Friday was our last day in El Sur and I think we were all starting to feel the pain of the impending departure. However, in the morning we went for a horse back ride to el rio accompanied by Super Mario and 9 year-old daughter Alejandra. The road was so steep and muddy it freaked me out. All I was thinking about was the horse tripping and slipping and falling either on top of me or down a hill. I was also feeling guilty because the horse was breathing hard and I thought I might be too heavy for it. So Alejandra jumped on it and I finished the trek on foot with Mario and seesta J. The rio was amazing. The water was clear and there was little pools to swim in. Alejandra had brought some paint and proceeded in painting all of our faces. For lunch, we all went in different houses by ourselves (except the boys who ended up together). I went to Mario and Lourdes' house. It was a little awkward at first because they speak as much English as I speak Spanish. But after a while, the conversation was just going in both languages, with a lot of gestures and I had a pretty good time. I even managed to get a recipe from Lourdes. After lunch we hung out at the cabina for the afternoon with Manuel (what a cuty). In the evening, we went to the booming pulperia for a couple of Imperials and we bought a bottle of yummy stuff for our last night. We went for supper at the Salon with the 5 families we have grown fond of. Everybody had a few words to say; even the kids. I had seesta J translate my message but The Dude decided, to our big surprise, to break out his Spanish and do it solo. Way rad dude! ; ) We then had our own little party at the cabina with the bottle of yummy delight.

Next day was a bummer for me. We left early in the morning after saying a last goodbye to our new friends. We drove for a bit and almost got caught in the clayish mud before getting a flat tire. There is never a boring day in Costa Rica. The Dude was dropped off first at a rest stop, to be picked up by someone else later. I was next to be dropped off at another hotel but my reservation had been mysteriously cancelled over a month before. So me, seesta J and Yayo got to spend one last day together, missing our Dude the whole time. But a great day we had. We went for lunch at the market accompanied with a new friend Shannon from the hostel. Then ice-cream for desert where J had the staff sing me happy birthday, even if it was over a month ago. Then we went walking around and back to the hostel before going to a movie by bus and a drink in a hotel lounge were five other people from the hostel joined us. There was a couple of musicians at the lounge and again I was sung happy birthday. It was a great night.

The next morning was pretty hard. I got picked up at 9 a.m. and was holding back the tears not wanting to come back home. But here I am, back to a reality I'm not sure what to think of.

This was the absolute best thing that has happened to me. My heart goes out to my group and my Manuel. xx

Pura Vida!

I'm at the Santamaria airport waiting for my flight. I wish I could stay here for another 6 months. I had an absolutely fabulous time (or like some would say, a way knarly time). I saw great places, met some great friends and fell in love. His name is Manuel and he's super affectionate. He's the cutest little pooch I have ever seen. Thanks to everyone involved in making this week, one to remember.

Pura vida!

The Countdown is Over

I have arrived in one piece to the inn. I'm only staying here for one night.
My day started at 2 a.m. after a 2 hours sleep. I got to the airport 3 hours before my departure time and EVERYTHING was closed. The airline counters were closed until 4 a.m. and the US customs were closed until 4:30 a.m. It was still ok that I got there so early because by the time the counters openned, there was already a decent lineup. So after going through the various counters I had to go through, I fell asleep at the gate for one hour. I was still so tired that the minute my bum touched the airplane seat, I completely zonked out for the entire flight. That's a first for me!

In Miami, everything was uneventfull. I waited, I walked, I ate, I waited, I slept and I waited some more. Boooooring! That flight was also uneventfull. We flew over the water for a good chunk of the flight which surprised me a little bit. Then, we were over the country side. Very green but maybe not as lush as I had imagined. When the plane landed, I was still waiting to see a city. I was now under the impression that San Jose was not at all the big city I envisionned! It even looked a little desolate! But, the airport is not quite IN the city. I'm not sure if the driver that picked me up took a "shortcut" but I ended up seeing quite a bit of the city. Some place are really slummy looking and others are pretty decent. The place were I'm staying is an old spanish mansion. It is quite old and in need of some extra love and care but still quite pretty. There is two humongous trees on either side of the front door with leaves that look like there plastic but are not.

The weather is quite pleasant. It rains a bit than there a big sunshine and so on. The humidity is absolutely nothing compared to Montreal in July and August. The other difference is that there's a good wind. During Montreal's heatwaves, there is usually no wind.

Tomorrow we're getting picked up by Globe Aware at 12:30 p.m. and then off we go to the forest. I think I read that it's about a 5 hour drive. I really doubt I'll have access to a computer so my next post will be upon my return to "civilisation" on Saturday.

Right now it's 4:30 p.m. and I need to catch some more z's. I'll wait for my travel buddy who should be getting here aroung 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. before going for supper. I know it's usually my bedtime hense the imminant nap.

Countdown: 0.5 day!

Time has run out! I'm leaving in a bit more and 12 hours. This is very exciting and right on time. I've had about enough of my work...
Hurray!

Countdown: 4 days!

Time is really flying by! It's the last crazy pre-vacation stretch at work. Everything needs to be in order for my co-workers to take over if need be. It's funny how those last days only stress you twice as much before any off time.
Oh well, it's the same for everyone.
So now all I have to do is pack and calm down.
I'm excited, eager and... a bit terrified!
: )

countdown: 8 days!

OMG! I am now in the single digits before my departure. I'm getting sooo excited!
I did some shopping last weekend and think I'm all ready to leave. I'll check my list one more time but all I really have left to do is pack my bag, jump in a cab and be at the airport on time. Just thinking about it makes my heart do backflips.

I also started thinking about what will happen when I get back. I had put off thinking about the rest of my life for after my trip. I wont be able to stall for much longer so I'm slowly getting back in that frame of mind. I have some options but I would like to find one that feels completely right. So far I haven't found that option... I hope life will smack me in the face with a new option. Soon please.

Countdown: 17 days!

More news!
I got an email today letting us know that there was a third person joining us for the trip. I think it will be good.
So we are now 4 people including the coordinator!

Countdown: 18 days!

Wow. The big day is getting closer at an unbelievable speed. I still have quite a few things to do before I leave and only 2 weekend left to do them.

I started emailing with the other person that will be spending the week with me. I think we'll get along pretty well and I'm fairly sure we will have a great time.
... I'm not certain if I believe what I just wrote. There is a big difference between getting along with someone via the written word only and then face to face. Sometimes, when you meet and there is no time to edit your thoughts before you share them with someone else, you sound like a different person.

But hey, whatever, it's only one week. If we don't get along, we can count the days together! ; )
Also, I anticipate seeing, doing and experiencing really fun stuff, so in those circumstances there is no way I cannot have a great time. I guess I'm just trying to manage my expectation.

Countdown: 24 days!

Today I got some more news from the organizers for my Costa Rrrrica trip. There is two different programs in that country, one in the forest and one closer to the beach. For some reason, there was a group of college-age kids that decided to switch from the forest program to the other one, and it seems to have started a chain reaction. So, in the end, we will be two "tourists" for the week in the forest program plus the coordinator (I think that's all the English speaking people). The nice lady from Globe Aware asked me if I wanted to switch programs and I said no. I go with what life throws at me and learn what I need to learn. I am scared of a lot of things but a sheep, I have never ever been.

I also learned that my meet up point was now a different one, as of today (I think). That means canceling a reservation to the backpacking hostel and make a new reservation the some inn a little ways away. I got the info that my partner in crime will also be arriving a day early in San Jose and spending the night at that same inn. I'll try to hook up via email before hand. It would be fun (not to mention more reassuring) to go visit the city with company.

You know what? All these changes are making me a little nervous but, at the same time, it's kind of making the whole adventure worth while.

Countdown: 25 days!

Well, this weekend was my birthday and for the first time, I was truly constantly forgetting about it.
The funny thing is that a group of people from whom I wasn't expecting anything, totally were "there" for me and I really appreciate it.

I thank you all, it was a really fun evening!
xxx

Countdown: 31 days!

Has it been that long? Time flies when work becomes abusive!!

Well there's nothing new on the travel front except that I finally booked a place to sleep for the 2 nights where I will be left by myself in San José. Otherwise, I have been way too busy at work to even be excited about my impending departure or to go shopping for various miscellaneous items.

However, I want to share a weird string of little stresses that has happen to me.
It started last Thursday when I took the very bad decision (totally out of character for me) to book a San José hostel (not hotel) via email (not via Web). So, I first sent them ALL my credit card info via email on Thursday morning. Right after I press send, I start getting nervous. I'm not getting any feedback throughout the morning so I email them again in the afternoon saying that I'm getting nervous and why. I finally get and answer the next day (thank God) saying everything is booked and giving me all kinds of info. No need to say that I've been keeping a very close eye on my credit card account.

On Friday morning, between the time I take the bus and take the metro (Montreal subway), I loose my bus pass. What a bitch!!! I go the a bank machine to get money for tickets. My card is refused!!! It's Friday dude!!! I try 3 more times that day at different places. No luck. On Saturday, I get a message on my cell telling me that I need to go to my bank asap. Huh?

When I get to work on Saturday (yup! work on the weekend these days!), I get an email from Paypal saying that someone tried to access my account from abroad and that I need to press the link to validate, or not, if it was me, or my account would be frozen. I'm an idiot so I clicked the link. But, I'm also on MAC so my computer refused to do anything (MAC rocks!). I then forwarded the said email to Paypal and they emailed me back that it was a con. !&#?#%

On Monday, at lunch, I finally get to my bank for my stupid card. I wait in line. A long time. The teller welcomes me with a big smile until I show my drivers license from another province. Then I become a suspect. Well, for once, I planned ahead and brought my passport. Her facial expression completely changed and we are now friends again. She brings me to another lineup. Great. More waiting. I'm finally called and go through the longest verbal exchange with an unknown human being. I now know how many time this unknown person has been on vacation, that her son finally started going to the bathroom by himself etc...Geez. I have to go back to my insanely busy job lady! Between all these tid bits of info about her personal life, I learn that my bank card has been cloned but, thank god, it wasn't successfully used by the #?#&$*$#? crooks...

Is life trying to tell me something?!
Be careful? What?
Anyway, all is back in order now with the exception that I'm constantly looking for suspicious activity on my cards or in my accounts. Hurray for the 21st century and technology with witch I've now evolved from an adoration to a love-hate relationship.

Countdown: 51 days!

Today at lunch I had my shots. Only three, just to be updated, and (bonus) I will be too far south for the malaria scare. So no pills for me!
Another good thing is happening around me. People are starting to want to experience the same adventure. I totally understand. In my book, there is no hard decision to be made between going to a resort surrounded my a bunch of obnoxious drunk yahoos, that scream until the wee hours of the morning, and going in the middle of nowhere and actually experiencing a diffenrent culture. And to top it off, the money I'm spending is actually helping a community! What more do you want? Booze? You can get that anywhere you live? Sun? Same thing.
Anyway, that's just my opinion. This is more than a holiday, it's an adventure!

Countdown: 52 days!

Last week I paid the rest of my vacation in Costa Rica and today I booked my flight. The latter ended up being the most difficult one to do given that I have to be at a meet-up point at a specific time and that I will be back in civilisation at a specific time also. So, I ended up purchasing the tickets through a travel agent. It's ok for this time but next time, I will do it on my own.

The only other major thing I have left to do is booking my 2 nights sleep in the capital. The rest of the week, we will reside in the forest. We will stay in "cabinas" with enough electricity to recharge digital batteries and cold water plumbing. They say there is also a kitchenette but all of our major meals will be taken with locals at homes or at the community "town hall". I better try and learn some basic Spanish quickly. OMG I'm soooo excited!!! Here's some pics of the "cabinas".

After booking those 2 nights, my other big task will be shopping! I left all of my summer clothes in Calgary when I came here in December and since I don't know where I will end up in the end, I opted for leaving them there. So, I will have to buy new stuff. Darn it! ; )



© www.globeaware.com

Hourglass of Our Time

Ok. I received this video from my boss and my first reaction was huh? Porn? For moi?

Keep watching. This is one of the most visually striking adds I've seen in a long time. Without a spoken word, it hits you right in the gut with the message.



For those of you who don't speak French, at the end is says every ten seconds, one person dies of Aids in the world.

Hurray for Me!

I am sooo excited! Today I booked a week long trip to Costa Rica through one of the organizations I wrote about yesterday. I absolutely cannot wait. It's at the end of May. I'll be spending one night in an unknown airport but will be on time to be picked up in San Jose, Costa Rica. I don't speak a lick of spanish but that makes the whole adventure even more exciting. OMG, I'm beside myself!!!

Inspiration

In my search for a new town to call home, I've discovered an inspiring way to travel. And I've decided that while I'm trying to figure things out, I should book a vacation.

My discovery consist of a whole bunch of organizations that offer international volunteer vacations. I am thrilled about the prospect. I've narrowed down my choice between either working on an eco-tourism project in a Jamaïcan village or on a sustainable community-based village in the Costa Rican Rainforest. Both are from Globe Aware and both are for a week and the fees are tax deductible! (except the airfare of course). I've decided I will make my choice this week! Hurray!

Need Hope?

If you ever worry about the state or our world and how clueless most humans are, this video will give you a glimmer of hope.

How Appropriate

Geez
I'm getting old. Had to get my friend (of course SHE'S my friend [somehow she's doubting it]) to help me get this working. It has nothing to do with the wine we're drinking. OK. This is serious business. Isn't it???
Where should I go next? That is my ultimate question. I thought about Ottawa, then Dubai, then back to Calgary, then...
I DON'T KNOW!!!!!
Just got back from Calgary. That's where I moved, 3 years ago, from Montreal.
The world is so big yet seems so difficult to access.

I'll keep you posted on my journey.