Home for the Holidays

Every time I come back home it feels as if I haven't really left in the first place. The only thing that really changed was the season.

Arriving in on Thursday Dec 19 at 9:30pm to -36 C was a big chill. I was definitely not prepared for the cold which made it hard to motivate myself to do really anything the next day except for the fact that my dad and I were going to the nutcracker that evening (a christmas tradition for many years now) which I was excited for. This year the nutcracker had a new artistic director who changed the sets and lots of the costuming. It was very well done, less childish than the past few years and all the sets were so beautiful, and was set in more of an imperial russian time. The nutcracker is such a fun story and brings me right back to my childhood when I wanted to be a ballerina.

The next day Jenn, Ashley and I got out in the cold to go to Heritage park for the 12 days of christmas. This is something we had done the year before and had fun doing it and have now started a new holiday tradition. The 12 days of christmas is really for the little ones but it is fun bringing out the child in you every once in a while. We wrote letters to santa, even saw santa himself, enjoyed some cinnamon buns, and wondered the streets to look at the houses on display. I love how all the staff get so dressed up in the old fashioned clothing and really get into character. It was a fun afternoon.

Snow days!!

I know I said I would update you all on that crazy weekend but I need to rant first about the most recent snow days...

You would think I would be excited about a snow day in Portland, on any other regular week it would be nice to take a break from school but no not this snow day! A snow day (actually so far two) during finals week is not cool.

I now have 3 exams that have been postponed for the first week of classes next term. Now I am going to have to lug my notes with me back home and then feel bad when I don't look at them at all during the break and have to cram the first week back.

Frustrating!!!

Holiday Ale and Hockey

This past weekend was very eventful and a lot of fun! A great weekend before we have to really hammer hard for finals.

Friday we started off with the Holiday Ale festival in downtown Portland. Sonia, Dani and I were on a beer sampling mission as we were on a tight schedule. We had to head to the hockey game after, so we only had an hour and a bit to get through some long lines and lots of beer. We all bought a mug and 10 tickets, which means either 10 beer samples or 2 full mugs and 2 samples. We scoped one of the shorter lines and filled our mugs to the top.
Dani chose the Jim 2008, Sonia the Babushka's Secret and myself the Shot Put Stout. All dark beers but the Jim 2008 was more like bourbon/jager in beer (yuck). We drank these beers while waiting in the next line. Having trouble finishing off the heavy beers we let many people pass us in the line while giving then advice on not trying the Jim 2008!! This time we thought a lighter beer would go well, except again Dani was unlucky with her beer (can't remember the name) and Sonia and I were satisfied with the "Pour les Bons Voeux" lighter beer.

Dani not impressed with her beer :(

Not that we are skilled in beer tasting at all but a fun time was had, I just wish we could have taken more time to enjoy it.

Back on the Max we go (after taking some very Canadian themed photos with Beavers!!) we were off to the Portland Winterhawks versus the Calgary Hitmen hockey game at the Rose Garden. Here we met up with about 15 other WSCC students and had fun watching Calgary win 5-1. Go Calgary Go.

Me with Tomahawk the mascot.

I really should get back to my studying for finals which are coming up next week. I will continue on with the crazy eventful weekend soon (probably again as procrastination).

In Montreal for American Thanksgiving

This past weekend I went to Montreal during the american thanksgiving break! I know I should have stayed and experienced a true american thanksgiving but a trip out east in Canada was much needed! I had been saying I would go visit my friend Ashley for a few years now and my mom living closer to that end of the country I thought it would be a good opportunity! Also all the flights within the US were expensive but once you crossed the border they weren't bad at all. The trip to Montreal round trip was the same price as what it is costing me to go back to Calgary over the christmas holidays!

My journey to get to Montreal was a long one. First a 6 hour drive across the border from Portland to Vancouver, a fun little evening with Neeka and then early in the morning I was in a cab and off to the airport. A nice sun set over the mountains in Vancouver!
At the airport waiting for my flight I got a call from my mom just asking how the journey has been so far. I wasn't fully prepared for the weather I would experience in Montreal so I asked for mittens, socks, long underwear and just thought I would ask for home made cookies too. Once I got into Montreal Ashley met me at the airport and we were right in the middle of traffic so went straight to dinner and then met up with some of her friends at a bar. Nice to meet some of her friends and just hang out. After getting back and dropping my things off we went to grab dessert. Yummm the french have really mastered desserts!! I guess you can't go wrong with chocolate fondant and caramel though!

The next morning I met my mom at the train station and we went and found our little B & B! A cute place, great location and yummy Parisian breakfast! After my mom gave me my winterizing supplies and some homemade squares (yay!!), we went to old Montreal and did a little bit of the touristy thing. That evening we headed up to Laval, a small suburb of Montreal, to visit some family friends. It was really nice to see them all and we enjoyed a nice meal with good company!
In Old Montreal
The Welsch's

Saturday had breakfast at the B&B, a second breakfast with Ashley and then wondered the busy shopping streets of Montreal and then dinner with my mom, Ashley and my cousin Ana. From there headed back to the B&B for dessert and tea and then Ashley and I went to a Pascale Picard Concert at the Metropolis. She is from Quebec, it was a good show, although I was expecting at least some songs in french but no luck. It was fun to go to a show in montreal though, the music scene is so much better there then Calgary! Well at least for the music I like.

Sunday wondered a bit more of the streets and went to get some true Montreal bagels!! yum! Sesame seed bagels fresh out of the stove! My mom left that evening back to NB and then Ashley and I went for poutine and then met up with Ana for dessert. All in all a great time was had in MONTREAL!! and yes still my favorite city in Canada!

Now just two more weeks of school, 6 final exams and home for Christmas holidays!!!