Unpacking and Painting and Working Oh My!

So I promised a weekly post and here it is... even though really not too much happened since last week. I arrived in my new home Wednesday night which was pretty crazy. We unpacked half of the truck crashed for a few hours and then finished unpacking by 8 am, and dropped the trailer back at U-Haul before 9 am. I drove mum and dad to Edmonton where we shopped and shopped and then I got the flu so I slept a whole bunch (you will see this is a common occurrence for me this week).

I returned to my new place Friday night after picking up a few groceries and tackling the nightmare/heaven that is Ikea to start painting my room. And if I must say so myself it turned out beautifully thanks to the help of my roomie. I still have a few random boxes all over the place so once it is decent I'll post some pictures. My weekend was full of unpacking boxes, setting up my makeshift canopy bed and well the flu catching up to me one more time and knocking me off my game for Grey Cup Sunday... So I slept and watched Two Weeks Notice, The Wedding Crashers, Bruce Almighty about a million times over and ate Mr Noodles.

Now the real excitement started Monday! I started my new job and so far it is awesome! I get my own office with 3 windows!!! I know this doesn't sound like much but when you come from sharing a tiny office with 11 other people in a building with no windows this is HUGE! After work I headed to the base where I took an almost 2 hour bus ride to the Rexall Center for my first Oilers game. Although they lost 2-1 and I really know nothing about the players on this team so I had no idea who to really watch for on the ice it was a good time. I hope to go back when they play Pittsburgh and Boston this fall... 

Now for a Photo Montage!!!! (I promise I will get better at this)

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First of all and probably most importantly Crosby is back and all is right in the world as I can now fall asleep to the sounds of the 3rd period ending and the Pens winning!

This bird was everywhere in Wawa!!! 

Seriously a Stuffed Moose outside the store??

 Wawa is terrifying place

My very Very VERY Dirty baby after a 6 Province Trek

 Before Pictures of my room

(After pictures to come in the following weeks)

West Edmonton Lamborgini Draw (this is not a toy... well for kids anyway)

West Edmonton Water Park

Sea Lion Show

RCMP Moose who appears to have been stalking me since Manitoba

My First Oilers Game!!

Not too shabby for 35$

And even though they lost it was a good night of Beer and Hockey

I have some video I will edit and post once my internet speeds up some on December 1st. I am off to another great adventure next week I can't wait to share!!

Cheers

CN

Saying Goodbye Part Deux!

Moving has got to be the strangest thing on the world. You live in a dance of over the moon excited for your new adventure and a puddle of tears on the floor because you can't believe you are leaving everyone you have ever loved behind. You are in a constant state of "happy to go, sad to leave", which plays a terrible tole on your emotions and keeps you procrastinating and holding off on doing the things you need to do before you leave... Like pack the truck.

I had a few days off from saying goodbye because I woke Wednesday morning stricken with the flu... FUN TIMES. But by Friday, when it came time to hand in my keys I was ready for goodbye hugs and you guessed it more tears! I am just going to take this time to thank everyone I have worked with over the last 5 years. You have all influenced my work and played a part in who I have become as a professional and as a person. I will never forget the craziness we have gone through together, and how safe you have all made me feel over the years. I know I will never find another group of workers so different and yet all able to come together for one purpose. We did have our ups and downs, but I will remember the good times and grow to laugh at the bad. If I missed any of you on Friday I just want to say "Thank you for a crazy 5 years, and keep in touch".

Friday night I said my goodbyes to the two lovely young ladies I used to and still do on occasion call my baby girls. Girls, I am so sorry you had to see me cry, and that my leaving upset you so. I will love you always and know that I am here for you forever. Text often, call when you can, and know it is never too late, too expensive or too unimportant. I will always answer your calls.

Saturday was the big one, the family farewell that coincided with my beautiful niece's 9th birthday. The entire family gathered as we always do to celebrate each other. That is what I have always been so proud of when it comes to my family. We may have our differences between each other, but no matter what we are always there for the good times and the bad. What I always say when people ask what my family is like is that we are so close. I am always heard saying I have 1 little sister and 2 cousins playing the roles of big brothers and 2 best friends in their wives, I describes my cousins' children not as my second cousins but as my 3 nieces and nephew.  I am so lucky to have them in my life and that they allow me to be such a big part of theirs.  I know that no matter the distance between us we will remain close, and of this I am so proud and thankful. I will miss that I will no longer wake up to Little O watching Hanna Montana on the couch, E's fabulous fashion sense and sense of self/ non conformity (I admire her for that the most I wish I could only be so strong), A's wicked ability to always out smart me (she will be a brilliant doctor or teacher or something someday), and P's infectious laugh and amazing hugs. As for the adults in the room, we must Skype often, and Facebook is only a click away... You'll find my updates somewhere between Mum's Café World and Farmville requests (lol). Thank you my wonderful Tantes for the early Christmas gifts and wrapping each one individually/ taping heavily... you know me too well and yes I probably would have peeked (what year haven't I). I will miss your sage advice about the iPhone, and New Years Day Frogs/ potato pancakes. Thank you for giving me such a relaxed evening of sharing even though there was a little TMI at times (this is your queue H to stop crying and laugh), laughing and the usual shenanigans I have come to expect when we gather. I raise my glass to all of you and I love you all with all my heart.

Miss you all!
CN

Saying Goodbye

It's that dreaded time when you are moving far away when one by one you have to say "So Long, Fair well, Alvederzane, Goodbye" and the farther you go then longer and more drawn out this process can be. It can also be beyond awkward, because there are some people you would rather have received a nice little "Good Luck nice knowing you" text who give you tearful drawn out goodbyes and then there are the ones you wish you could pack in your suitcase and take with you,  because of timing only end up getting a virtual hug.

So to all those who should have a had a hug and missed out I am sending you hugs from across the country:

http://vi.sualize.us/view/c5721234375b1d2b323ae83c428b2c96/

I hope you can feel it, I am a good hugger you should all know this!

Some are so much easier than others, Thursday's goodbye festival was a pretty sweet deal. I had  drinks with my work colleagues and even though I spend more time with these people some weeks than my own family, it was more fun than sad. Which is good because I know Saturday's goodbyes will rip my heart out. 

Monday's goodbye was the most difficult, and I knew it would be regardless of the circumstances. After a cold cup of tea, and freshly brewed coffee pickup at Second Cup, a random drive around town, 2 Sobeys parking lot discussions and a split of Spicy Tuna and California Rolls it was that time. It was the first of what I will predict of many tear filled goodbyes. Of course I provided the water works because that is my area of expertise and he provided the support I can always count on. The best advice was to give it 6 months, that I can do anything for 6 months. I was told to text always about the big things and whenever I needed help picking out a TV or a Car (that was never my thing), to call when I am homesick and know that he will alway be there no matter what.  What can I say a best friend is a best friend not matter what you have been through together. They always know how to make you feel like the the leap you are about to take is never as scary as it may seem. I will never forget that night.


Oh goodness I see many tearful evenings ahead. 

CN

Note: I have decided this will be a weekly blog with every once in a while a random post here and there is something so exciting I need to share it with the universe pops up. I will post every Wednesday evening, and the post will include my goings on here and hopefully a photo display of all the beautiful things and people I am experiencing life with. 

Westward Bound

In 11 days I will begin my long cross country journey from my lovely Atlantic Canadian home in Moncton NB to my new home in small town Alberta. I decided to start this blog by showing off the places and things I love at home and will miss dearly.

Cape Breton's Cabot Trail

 Joggins!

Fundy National Park Trails

Rocky Fundy Beaches

 Fried Clams by the bucket full!

Water Front Sunsets in Cape Pelé

Concerts on the Hill 

 Quahogs (raw if you know what your doing)

 Family time at the Cottage

 Lobster by the Crate!

Cheers!

CN