The Friendliness

When I would go back to Toronto after a vacation in Saskatchewan, I started noticing a strange phenomenon. People would stop me on the street to ask directions, or start chatting with me on the street car. It seemed like the Toronto "guard" got let down and people would initiate contact with a stranger.

Our new couch got delivered tonight, and I was expecting a bit of a gong show because my delivery was forgotten last week so I was ready to get the couch in the wrong colour or for it to be all scratched. I just had a bad feeling about the entire experience. Anyway, these two sketchy looking dudes showed up at my door 15 minutes before their allotted time slot was expired. Sketchy 1, although missing teeth, unshaven, and generally dishevelled looking came in and explained everything he was doing, took the front door off, removed a hook that he thought might scratch the couch, and then proceeded to work for 20 minutes to try to get the couch through the rental's awkward front doorway. He was so friendly and helpful and it was such a pleasant surprise to get such great service.

I really notice how people are friendlier, more polite, and willing to take a moment to chat (especially if it is about the weather...or the 'riders). In Toronto, people are just as friendly and polite, but they don't show it until you get to know them a bit better.

The Cornerstone of Saskatchewan

My mom's side of the family tries to get together at least once a year in Carlyle, and that event happens to be this weekend. The last three years, this gathering has been consumed by weddings, but this year it is just a family gathering.

Yesterday the ladies headed out for some shopping on main street. This involves my grandmother introducing us proudly to everyone she recognizes. We hit all the stores on the West side of the street, but "Mi Lady Fashions" was the highlight. Emily is an incredible shopper and can find gems in any rack of clothing...and trust me, it is difficult to find anything fabulous in that store for anyone under the age of 60.

Mom hosted last night's supper featuring food on a stick and fresh saskatoon berry & raspberry pies. We'd spent the morning picking berries from her backyard. There is no more Saskatchewan taste than a fresh saskatoon berry pie.

We ended the evening with another traditional event - a visit to the Drive-In Theatre to see Get Smart.

The Most Asked Question of the Summer

"When is Stephen moving to Saskatchewan?"

The answer: "TBD"

Or maybe I should make up an answer. It could be an attainable deadline that might be used to pressure him to work faster, but I'm not sure that the poor guy needs more pressure when he has such a massive to do list.

I could change the answer every time for my own entertainment and to confuse people.

The real answer: Stephen initially estimated late August/early September. He's now saying September. I think that if he is here before Thanksgiving I'll be ecstatic. If he's here by our wedding part 2 anniversary (October 28) I'll be pleased. If he's here by Remembrance Day I'll be satisfied. If he's not here by Christmas I'll be disappointed.

As much as I would like for him to be here, settling into our new life together, I want him to be happy that our project is completed to a degree that he (actually we, because it's not just the guy with the reno knowledge who has been doing all of the work and who has given up months of his life to accomplish this) can truly feel it is finished. Deadlines can force you to rush and not finish properly. We've already invested so much time & money into our beloved house it would be a shame not to be pleased with the results.

The Dark Knight

This afternoon I went to see The Dark Knight with Derek & Sofia. They have been pretty fantastic about making sure that I don't become a hermit.

What a flick - so many amazing actors and then Heath Ledger's performance. I remember when Lisa & I were walking through Yorkville during the film fest and had very poor luck at seeing any celebrities until as we were crossing Avenue Road towards the ROM, Heath got out of a cab right in front of us. I remember saying, "look, it's Heath Ledger" and then he quickly darted in the opposite direction. Oh brushes with fame, it's so sad that he died so young.

TGIF

I strolled into work at about 9:30 this morning. It was absolutely impossible to get out of bed, I think the jet lag has finally caught up with me or perhaps because it was such a challenging week of keeping people happy and not getting the answers I wanted. When I got into work it turned out that the internet was broken and our new photocopy machine wasn't working and everyone was completely frustrated. I suggested that we put down our work and head to Starbucks. Yes, a TSO tradition, but Starbucks truly solves all problems. At the very least you get back to work with a fresh start. It turned out nicely because the EA, Marketing Director, and I got to have a little bonding time. I'm really lucky to have the awesome staff that I do at the RSO.

I got back into work and had a chance to catch up a bit. Went through my files and checked a few items off of my to do list. And then I had a nice surprise - Josh called! It was so nice to catch up with my former co-worker. I miss my Toronto friends so much. He had great news of a Europe tour in August with Kate Rogers. I checked out her website and she's really good. I love it when my friends are doing exactly what they want to do, and Josh seems to be really finding that now...and all it took was quitting his job and going for it.

A couple of meetings in the afternoon. One of them was about facebook - I love meetings about social networking.

Tonight I am at home with a rented movie, Tesla, and a good supply of popcorn, but I really feel like going out for a glass of wine. I just don't have those connections with friends here yet that I feel like I could call at the last minute and I know that they would want to go out. And then...I pretty much end up hating it here. I wish I was back in my own house, going out with my awesome friends, or hanging out with my fabulous husband. I would even prefer to go to Home Depot with my awesome husband and spend an hour choosing the right piece of wire or a light fixture.

The loneliest I have ever been was when I was teaching English in Slovakia. I spent my days and nights teaching English never really able to have an easy conversation with anyone, often with no plans for the weekend, having to walk ten blocks to the nearest internet cafe so that I could send messages home to family and friends. It led to desperation - eating vast quantities of chocolate, talking to anyone at the train station with a Canadian flag on their backpack, watching Slovak television and not understanding anything for hours.

This is not nearly as bad as that was and I shouldn't complain because it's only for a limited time until Stephen gets here - and in that time I have this amazing job that I know is a huge opportunity and that I really want.

Skype

Skype is amazing. I know I'm a little late in the game and everyone probably knows this already, but skype is such a better way to keep in touch during a long-distance phase.

And now the commercial ends. :)

Hawaii Pics and the Return to Regina

Hawaii is a gorgeous place - i guess that's why everyone and their dog goes there. It was an expensive little vacation, but it was so great to see Steve after a month that it didn't matter. We have a tradition of traveling to places in the off-season and this was no exception...we went to see our former TO neighbours get married. The bride is from Australia and the groom from Canada and so they chose Hawaii because it was in the middle. A good idea, but I'm not sure why they chose July. :) It didn't matter though, because the weather was great, the ocean was calm and Steve and I did lots of driving around in our rented convertable, snorkeling, exploring and had a great time.

...and then it was back to reality...lots of work! It was hard to arrive home without Steve, but Tesla gave me a nice welcome. I went to get my lovely car some Sask plates and unfortunately since the Saskies don't trust Onterrible, I had to get a brand new safety done on my car. Turned out I needed to fix the power window that broke during the drive to Sask and add daytime running lights. I got a nice little invoice from that adventure, but my car finally has nice "Land of Living Skies" plates. People will stop giving me funny looks on the streets soon I hope.

My first week back after the grand vacation has been filled with meetings, one after another. I've never been so popular. It's impossible to get any paper off of my desk and I need to figure out some sort of system. I have a massive quantity of work to do before the season starts on Aug 24, so I think I'm going to spend my weekend reclusing in the basement office.

Sister

Kiran was in Regina over the last few days and last night we were able to get together. I took her to the Cathedral Village Freehouse for some drinks because she's 19 now.

It was a special night because it was the first time that we had hung out together alone since I babysat her when she was a kid. I'm so happy about the person that she's become - just finished her first year in university, studying things that she loves, independent, a connoisseur of great music, and she's really funny. She may not be a blood relative, but she definitely inherited my Dad's sense of humour and love of learning.

We shared some funny stories about my Dad/her Papa which I thought was neat, because we didn't grow up together or even in the same province, but we have such a unique shared experience.