Vancouver 2010 Canada vs. United States

Tomorrow Canada and the US play each other in the gold medal hockey game in the Olympics . This game sums up my life right now. Not knowing much about hockey....I do realize the magnitude of this game. What a perfect way to end this Olympics?

My dilemma- who to cheer for? My patriotic side says USA- don't be a traitor to your country. My emotional side says Canada. They are the host country and I feel their WANT. Living here changes everything....my friends, neighbors, newscasters, newspapers, and radio announcers are all cheering for Canada. But I am an American living in Canada for the last 2 years. What to do?

I do have a very emotional connection to Canada. I associate it with so many great things in my life. Summers are defined by time at the shore in Nova Scotia. A breath of fresh air and fun with cousins and summer friends. How can you not love this?

Yes, I feel a loyalty to the US, I was born and raised there-but Canada is that grandparent that spoils you or that treasured friend who always brings good food and great times. There are no bad feelings or memories- it is all good- yes, even the broken arm and the health care system. I have learned a lot from Canada. I will be sad to leave and oh so thankful for the opportunity to return to the arms of that embracing grandparent, every summer.

Who will I cheer for tomorrow? The offense....and the defense.....I win either way.

P.S. I should always listen to Canadian music while writing about hockey! This blog brought to you by Spirit of the West.

Ode to February

February........month of snow. At least the last two years.

February.......the month of skiing.

February.....month of visitors and traveling.

February.....the month the Saints won the Super Bowl!

February.....Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday and Lent

View of Lake Louise through the window of an ice castle.

My new house?


Lake Louise in February

View of the harborfront from the top of the CN Tower
(notice the lack of snow in Toronto this year)

Colts vs. Saints

Just Embrace It

We sold our house. This means we are one step closer to moving back down south. One step closer to living in a sauna.

I remember the first winter we lived here and one of my friends from the shore said how much he hated winter. He has lived in Canada all of his life, so I can't really relate to having winter after winter of cold. This is my third winter and call me crazy, but I kind of like it. Anyway, my friend said to make it through winter you just have to embrace it and make the most of it while it lasts. Good advice. I took it to heart. I really have tried to embrace winter up here. I enjoy skiing. I enjoy that cold burst of air that hits my face when I go outside. I enjoy the walks outside in the cold, I even enjoy the snow and shoveling the driveway. I don't enjoy the gray days but the sunny, blue sky days make up for the gray ones. I think I have done a good job of embracing the cold.

As I think about moving back down south, I inevitably think about the long hot and humid summers. I never liked the heat and humidity. Kind of like my friend who never liked the long winters up here. So maybe I will just have to take that advice again in reverse. I will just have to embrace the heat and humidity. Like subfreezing temperatures and snow are inevitable up here, heat and humidity are inevitable in Houston. Already I find myself dreading having my clothes instantly stick to my body when I go outside and having sweat drip down my face and my back....and front, for months. Embracing this is going to be a challenge.

Looking on the bright side, I remember being able to run outside every month of the year. I liked running when I lived there before. I like bike riding, so now I can bike almost any time of the year again, this will be a change I can embrace. It might take a while and I think I'll have to work much harder but maybe if I keep telling myself those words they will sink in and I can embrace the heat.

Stay tuned....