Bonjour! Au Revoir!

Good morning from Montreal, Quebec--where HeHeelys insists on calling the people The Quebecanese.

I started my day with the most divine breakfast (crepes with maple butter) at L'astral--a revolving restaurant with spectacular views of Quebec City. It made my mom feel a little ill but I loved it. Then again, I can eat standing on my head, so a slow spin? Pas de problem.

Before leaving Quebec, we took a walk around the Citadel walls for a few photo ops and drove around Old Quebec. I was actually trying to find my way out of the city but ended up with a lovely little tour. Sometimes, that's the best way to see things...by accident. . Quebec City is definitely on my list of favorites because it meets my criteria of history, good food and ammenities. I'd like to come back again to spend a little more time.

We drove on to Montreal. As per usual, the province of Quebec is under construction every few miles, so driving is a pain in the patoot and takes longer than expected.

Although, I have stayed at many Starwood hotel properties, this is my first time at an Aloft Hotel. I just have to tell you a little about it because I really like it. First, it's not expensive. The hotel has a contemporary feel and is very pet-friendly. There were dog bowls filled with fresh water at the front door. When I entered our room, there was a dog bed, bone-shaped placemat and bowls set up for Kramer. The room is a geek's dream. There's a console to hook up to the internet and one for hooking up one's iPod (or whatever contraption) to the TV. And my favorite thing about my hotel room--aside from the comfort and excellent service that I've come to expect from Starwod hotels--there are at least 10 power outlets for charging laptops, cameras, mobile phones, video games etc without having to hunt for them or move furniture to access them. A true hotel for the modern traveler!

Photo: The king of his castle

I drove to ends of the earth--halway to Toronto, I'm sure ;)--to have dinner at my sister's house, get a tour of her new digs and meet the new boyfriend. It was a very nice evening. My sister graciously modified my dinner when she learned of my new food sensitivity--because let's face it...how mental does it sound when you tell someone that eating scallops makes you want to tear your own nose off your face from the itchiness??--and she welcomed Kramer since it was too hot in the car for him. Connor got to spend time with his cousin (and new friend) playing video games, hearing her play the flute and walking the slobbery mutt together.

I'm awake early this morning after my mother woke me up screaming (Kramer licked her awake) and kept me awake with her snoring ;) Soon, I'll be setting out for Philadelphia where I know there is a Philly cheese steak sandwich waiting for me like a pot of gold at the end of my driving rainbow.

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Farewell to Nova Scotia

By 10pm on Thursday evening, the movers were done packing and loading. I spent Friday cleaning the house--with help, of course! Then I had the rest of the weekend to relax with JB and HeHeelys. On Saturday, we took in one last matinee (and feed of nachos) at The Lower Deck.

I left Nova Scotia yesterday and drove to New Brunswick to pick up my road trip passenger...my mom. I'm very excited that she is joining me on this trip. Day two of driving is done and--good-news--I haven't wanted to boot her out of the car yet. Although, I nearly drove off the road this morning at 120KM/hr when she earnestly asked me if my car was in 'drive' or 'neutral.'

We arrived in Quebec City this afternoon and our hotel is the most luxurious I've seen for pets. Kramer is being treated like royalty here. He'd like to skip the rest of the road trip and stay in Quebec for an extended vacation.

Tomorrow, our plan is to do something touristy before we head to Montreal...

Photo: The last thing to pack up

Photo: HeHeelys with Nanny Pam & Papa Moe at The Lower Deck

Photo: Kramer challenges Nanny Vette for a comfy spot

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Wordless Wednesday: Backyard Burglar

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Misty Morning of Another Kind

Rough night. I didn't sleep well and I woke up with a Texas-sized migraine. It's only 8:30am and I'm a weepy mess. For the life of me, I can't stop the tears from flowing and I don't even know why. Maybe, I'm lonely for my husband. Maybe, I hate the process of moving. Maybe, I'm just mental.

The day that I've been dreading is here...the packers are coming this morning. They should be here any minute. Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited to moving to Texas. Don't I hate the chaos of it, though. It's early in the day to be calling on Tim Horton's and Jesus.

I had a good video chat with JB this morning (he's in Singapore). I told him some of the things that really feel off to me with this move. Most of it is what revolves around having been an expat for so long. I miss my friends. I miss the support of my expat friends during this move. You know, the people who understand me and my circumstances better than anyone. JB says that's a sign that we're just not meant to be in Nova Scotia. That it's not the right dynamic for us. I've been here for eight months and I haven't made a single new friend. How'd that man get so wise? More mistiness.

So, my mom and her husband are coming to town today. If someone would have told me a year ago that my mother would become my closest friend during my time in Nova Scotia, I wouldn't have believed it. The person I felt understood me--or even knew me--the very least, has gotten to know me very well and has made more of an effort to be a part of my family than I'd ever imagined possible. My mom will be the toughest part of Nova Scotia to say goodbye to. I'm thankful for this season that we've had together and I'm pleased that we get to go forward with love and a better understanding of one another. What a gift. More mistiness. I just can't keep it together today.

Right. Well, I have an overwhelming list of tasks to get done while the packers begin in the basement and garage. After my weekend being a total write-off, I've managed to buy myself one more day, but it will be a doozy. I get misty just thinking about it.

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A Total Waste of My Time

Time. Unlike money, once it's spent, you cannot go out and earn more. When it's gone, it's gone forever.

The other thing about time is how some things are set in it. For example, the packers will begin my pack out on Monday. They will load the truck on Friday. Those two events have been fixed in time. It's up to me to fit everything I need to do between this time and that time, because both this time and that time ain't changing!

So, HeHeelys had a friend sleepover on Friday night. They tore apart the guest room and dragged the mattress into HeHeelys' room. HeHeelys' room, although it was supposed to be tidied that morning, upon closer inspection...was a pit. I had vacuumed the floors the day before but had no intention of dusting or mopping because, well hey, the packers were coming. Besides, I had a million other things that needed to be done on Saturday.

Our Realtor called at 11am to request a showing from 5 to 6pm the same day. I cringed. This stuff always happens at the worst possible time. When my house is on the market, though, I never say no to a showing and I always do whatever the Realtor tells me to do. So I agreed, even though it couldn't be at a worse possible time. Ugh! And I was so tired!

I was a bit snappy with HeHeelys, which I feel badly about, because he was goofing around with his friend instead of helping me do the things that needed to be done for a showing--and in 6 hours, not the requisite 24 hours. I finished up early and left with Kramer so he wouldn't drool or leave paw smudges on the hardwood floors. I had nothing to do. It was too warm to leave the dog in the car while I ran errands. So I ate dinner a la drive-thru. Got a car wash and drove around to look at comparable real estate in my area. A total waste of my time.

I did a drive by and decided to come home a few minutes early because poochie was whining for grass and grub. There was no business card left by the realtor. No lights left on. No smudges on the hardwood--and yes, the stupid floor smudges that easily. Nobody had been here. A total waste of my time.

I made myself some popcorn--effectively smelling up the kitchen--and settled in for the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice. At 7:10pm, Kramer ran to the back door, barking, and then the doorbell rang. I went to put the dog in the laundry room so I could answer the door but when I came around the corner, a realtor was standing in my back hallway. Awkward.

She apologized for showing up so late and told me she was under the impression that I was away and that she could come at any time. Uh huh. I didn't know what to say. My house is for sale and I do want to sell it so I offered to leave while she showed her client around. She told me I could stay because she was just looking at the house for herself. It was her husband and two kids that were getting out of the car. Oh. She's looking for a house? Ok, fine.

So I sit back down on the sofa and kid #1 comes in and jumps onto the sofa while kid #2 makes a beeline for my bedroom (sans parents). The sofa kid eyes HeHeelys' Berti Bots jelly beans and starts pawing at the bag. I'm sure my eyes were the size of saucers. I hear lots of oohs and ahhs as the parents are walking around the house. I felt so uncomfortable, I could hardly stand it. Then I heard them playing my son's arcade basketball game in the basement. Unbelievable.

They came upstairs and the realtor said, "I love this house! Unfortunately, it won't be on the market long enough for me to be in the position to buy it."

*insert the sound of crickets*

Huh?

*more crickets*

Whaa?

Then why the F$%& are you here looking at my house--two hours late--on a Saturday night? Why did you book a showing on such short notice? On a Saturday! And why the F$%& did I waste my day preparing my house for a potential buyer when I had a gazillion things to squeeze in before this time and the time the packers come on Monday?! As soon as she left, I spent a nanosecond debating if I should call my Realtor and unload. I was so mad.

I don't care if people want to waste their own time. But don't waste mine!

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