12-24 to 12-25-08 Christmas!

12-24-08

We were receiving people this evening for a few hours of off-key singing. Lots of fun! We spent the day running around shopping, cooking and getting the place ready. It was a lot, but it was fun!

The evening was a lot of fun. We sat around singing Christmas songs and eating too much. Of course we had made way too much food, but it was very enjoyable.

It’s that kind of simple uncomplicated festivities that I miss when I’m far away from home!

I will add pictures if we ever get them out of the camera!!

12-25-08

Today was “visit day”. I got up late and then we visited family. We went to my great uncle (whom I usually call my Almost Grandpa) and brought him sweets and a seafood “pie”. It was good to see him, he seems very well. He’s past 90 years old!

On the way home we stopped by my aunt’s place. Her house is right behind my Dad’s, it’s where they grew up. We came In at the wrong time though, they were distributing gifts, and we kind of killed the party. We didn’t linger, just long enough to wish everybody merry Christmas and to promise to stop by before I leave.

Finally we were invited for dinner at another aunt’s house. My cousin was there with her 3 kids, and her brother had 1. The kids were kids, rowdy, running around, but not annoying. I have a real problem with whiny kids. It just makes me want to bite. Those 4 kids weren’t whiny, they were just fun cool kids who like to play, but know when to back up.

Love them!

12-21-08 to 12-23-08 Taking it easy

12-21-08

Snow storm! We didn’t do much, I was tired and it was pretty bad weather. I spent some time with my family, taking it easy and decorating the Christmas tree.

12-22-08

We went shopping for exchange gifts, and for stuff we needed Mom and I. It was fun, but again it’s kind of freaky to have people I know everywhere I go. I don’t remember the names, but I do remember the faces. I just keep thinking “I know this guy, from where though? Did we work together? Are we close? Or is it just somebody I “know” from being from the island. It’s weird!!

I went to get my hair cut!! Finally!! I was supposed to go on Friday morning, but because of the missed plane I missed it. Carole was good enough to find me a spot tonight. I went a little early, my brother dropped me since it was a snow storm (again) and my cousin was there getting her hair cut. We talked and laughed with Carole about all sorts of things.

Carole colored and cut my hair. It’s all cute and very different. I needed a change, so that’s cool! I went home looking all cute!

We went to my uncle’s again and they played cards again. I kept the scores. Tonight was my Mom and my aunt against my Dad and my uncle. 17 games played, the guys won… 4. We laughed all night, it was hysterical!

12-23-08

We went shopping again. I was looking for thick knitted panty hose. The wool kind that looks almost hand knitted. We couldn’t find any anywhere on the main island. Isn’t that crazy? Can’t find wool panty hose in Canada? How dumb is that?

My best friend from my teenager years gave me a call. Her girlfriend was going out with buddies of hers, so she was on her own for the evening. We went to the “Central” and just sat and talked.

It was really awesome to just talk. We always meet 2 minutes because we’re both running everywhere when we visit the Island. I wish I could do that more often. Being so far away, it’s hard to keep in touch with those people who mean so much to me but aren’t “family”.

12-20-08 Escaped ultimate boredom!

I got up very early and took a taxi to the airport. I figured that I might be able to sneak in an earlier flight or something. I get there and realize that I'm booked for a flight from Montreal to Gaspe, and then I have a waiting time of 9 hours in Gaspe, and THEN I take a flight at 9pm to the Island. The flight I was taking from Montreal to Gaspe was going to the Island, but it was full, they couldn't take me on that one, so I had to wait for the next flight.

At the airport, I was in very early, but they were calling people to the check in counter by flight time. I had gained ABSOLUTELY nothing by going in early. I hadn't eaten breakfast yet, I was hungry, angry and worried that I would end up missing my flight again. The woman who was calling out people was just not answering questions no matter what. the confusion and frustration in that airport was incredible. Finally I got through, and managed to check my luggage in and get through security (which was a breeze, everyone was smiling!).

I pleaded with everyone I could meet, to give me a seat on that plane. To the people working at the counter in Montreal, the people at the gate, the stewardess in the plane. I did NOT want to sit by myself at the Gaspe airport, they have 1 vending machine, 2 tables and 6 chairs... that's it!

All the way from Montreal to Gaspe I was worrying about that thinking it would be horrible to sit alone for 9 hours. After being delayed for 2 days. It''s too far away from the town to just take a taxi and go. Even the staff at the airport were like: "you can't stay here for 9 hours, there's nothing to do here". Gee thanks!

Finally the lady that works the Air Canada counter in Gaspe let me go, just to shut me up I'm sure. There's nothing I didn't tell her. From bitching about having to spend 2 days in Montreal, to whining that my Mom cooked dinner and I couldn't just not show up... I went on and on until they let me back in my original Montreal-Gaspe flight. Instead of getting home at 11pm, I got there at 2:30 pm (the flight was delayed because they were waiting for me to go through)!!

I was so happy you wouldn't believe! I got to the airport in Havre-aux Maisons and called home. My dad answered and came to pick me up in his super pickup truck! Mom didn't know I was coming in early so I surprised her (she wasn't home when I called). That was fun.

At night we went to my uncle's house and they played cards while I was keeping the scores. It was great to finally be with my family. I'm not one to be homesick all that much, but to be so close and yet not there yet had me bummed to no end.

I don't think this delay was a bad thing since I got to see my nephew, but I'm glad to have finally made it without being stuck in Gaspe!!!

12-19-08 Good comes out of the bad sometimes!

Today I played with the baby a bunch, and then decided to go shopping. Big mistake! It’s COLD in Montreal. I was freezing to death for most of the day, until I gave up and decided to come home. I sat around a talked with my sister in law for a bit, and then set out again. I needed to get a book at Archambault for my Dad. Dressing up more didn’t help because it was colder!

After that I came home again and got a good little play session with the baby!! Yay!.

It was a good day, even if it was extremely cold. I’m not used to this anymore.

Tomorrow I’m leaving for home. If I don’t get on that plane, I’m going back to California!

12-18-08 Misadventure Galore!

Following a complicated situation followed by a snowstorm that blew off our Internet connection and finally Christmas. I'm catching up on my post. Here's the first one:

Ok, now THAT’S a start.

We get up at 3am, for a flight out of SFO at 7. Shower, breakfast, deposits, mailing my paperwork. All is going fine until I remember that the car is low on gas. All the gas stations are closed in Sonoma County apparently at 4am!

We finally found one open in Novato (Shell station on Delong, they are pricey, but they are OPEN!) get gas back on the highway, we are running late. GREAT!

Getting to the airport, kiss kiss, bye bye, hug the cats for me. I run in, get in line at the Air Canada counter. When it’s finally my turn I’m told I’m at the wrong counter. My first flight to Denver is with United Airlines. Crap! I hate United, like I’m not stressed enough already!

So I walk over to the United counter, wait in line; get to someone, wrong counter again. It’s the other United counter. I try to look pitiful so she’ll help me anyway, nope. With an air of “you just had to get here earlier, she sends me off to the next counter.

I walk off, bitching a little (in French just to be safe) and get to the next United counter. I was straight to a clerk (whatever you call them) and she tells me to get in line. “I want to make sure it’s the right line first. She looks at my ticket; of course it’s the right line. So I wait again, in the right line this time. It’s taking forever, the lady in front of me doesn’t speak English (I’ve been there!), finally it’s my turn, the attendant (a different one) looks at my ticket and ask “Are you sure you’re in the right line?” ARG!

Finally she gets me through (and make sure everybody in her line is at the right place). Security is a breeze, they are so happy in San Francisco. I sit at my gate and they start announcing that my flight was oversold so some people might be moved to a later flight.

I can’t do that, I have 2 connections to make, one in Denver, and one in Montreal. I am NOT staying behind. So I get in the plane, I have the middle seat between a girl who seems to have worms because she’s moving so much, and a guy who’s spreading all over the 2 seats. Both of them are coughing their brains out. Thanks!

On a happy note, there was a baby behind me, not only she was cute as can be, but we barely heard her all through the flight! I’m now in Denver, and my flight has been delayed, looks more and more like I’ll be sleeping in Montreal. Not good, but maybe I’ll get to see my nephew!!

Fast forward, I’m in Denver and the plane is delayed. Instead of starting at 11:25am, we left pas 12. I already had an insanely short time in Montreal (less than 1 hour to go through immigration, customs and everything) and now it’s reduced to next to nothing.

Frankly I’ve always been a big fan of Air Canada, but this time I’m very unimpressed. I’m sitting at the Gate, and when asked when the plane will show up, they don’t know. What do you mean you don’t know? Isn’t the pilot in contact with anybody? Finally here we go. I’m tired, I’m stressed, and I don’t know if I’ll make it to Montreal on time. The pilot announces proudly that with have a good wind pushing us, we’ll make up the lost time. Hum, ok… I’m starting to feel a little better.

On the 3 hours (more or less) flight from Denver to Montreal, I’m sitting next to a man who obviously has never smiled in his life. Stinky business suit, occupying his seat and half of mine, he’s reading a newspaper like he owns the whole freaking plane. I’m sitting with my knees to my chest, leaning toward the window, and still he keeps hitting me with his elbow. Finally, I had to speak up. “Hum, excuse me but I did pay for the use of my whole seat, not just half of it.” He moved off a little bit, not much, never so much as looked at me.

We finally made it to Montreal only 10 minutes later than we were supposed to. So I literally run out of the plane, through the terminal which seemingly goes on forever and wait for my luggage. It is NOT coming. 45 minutes I waited. At that point I don’t know what time it is, I run to the immigration desk, wait some more, the lady before me as a baby, 10 million papers, a different one in each bag. I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath several times to keep from screaming at her.

Done! I run to the “connecting flight counter” it’s 6:05, my flight was at 6. Now what do I do? The lady at the counter can’t help me; I have to go to the ticket purchase counter. I wait in line there for 35 minutes, until I finally am told that not only there isn’t any more flight tonight, but the two flights tomorrow are full, oversold even. Next opening is Saturday and it’s a sucky flight with a 3-4 hours stop in Gaspe. It’s not like I have a choice…

I’m now at my brother’s apartment, and thought I’m really happy to have met my nephew finally, I think this is a sucky way to start the holidays.

Oh, did I mention that my husband had to go home from work today because he’s sick… and that I’m not feeling too hot myself?

Merry Fucking Christmas everybody! Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

Going Home for the Holidays 08

Tomorrow morning I'm taking off, all by myself, to visit my family in Magdalen Islands (Iles de la Madeleine in french). My plane takes off at 7am from SFO, which means I'm leaving home around 4:30am.

Obviously, I have to get everything ready today, so that I don't have to scramble at 4am to find whatever I been to bring. I've been packing, washing clothes, finding something to read, doing all those things we do before we go on a trip.

It will be a long flight, I going to Denver first, then Montreal, then the cow run to home. I get home at 11pm their time, which is 7pm my time. Exactly 12 hours AHH!!

So this is where I will share my adventures! Hope you have fun reading it.

Incidentally, as I'm packing, Leo (my kitten) decided to help, or maybe he wants to come along! Look at him!!!

I was sitting on the floor my back against the couch, something seemed not quite right... here's what I turned around to:


Upon investigation:

Gotta love to have a kitten in the house. No, I'm not bringing Leo along! I'll post again when I have a chance from my parent's home.

;o)