bad things come in threes, right?!

Before I get into my life as of late, the above pictures are: (bottom to top) Tommy and his family and PawPaw after his sweet Nonnie's memorial service in Arizona, Maggie Bayer with BRACES, Queen Madison on the couch, Friends in SLC, and the view from my window...fog fog EVERYWHERE...oh and freezing pelting rain, too!

So, we've all heard the old adage that bad things come in threes. Well, I'm three for three, and it had better stop soon, or else I'll...I'll...stomp my feet and cry...yes, that's what I'll do! So there! Last Tuesday my wallet was stolen out of my office, along with my i-pod. Yesterday, I had a student situation from the bad place, a situation that won't be resolved for a while. And if you know me, you know how I need everyone to like me and be happy, etc etc. So the fact that the student situation isn't resolved like, right now, is driving me cuh-razy. And todayyyyyy I went to one of the only places I'll allow myself to go other than my office or the library--Sushi Town. I go to Sushi town once a week, and the waitresses know where I sit and what I'll eat (i.e. nothing with eyeballs or tentacles hanging out of it), so they'll even offer suggestions. I walk in; I have some hot tea, and basically just chill out for an hour or so. Also, I always bring Madison with me and just leave her in the car. I crack the windows--she's fine. At any rate, it's usually better than leaving her in the apartment to bark while I'm gone (I'm completely terrified of my neighbors who already shoot lasers at me with their eyes when I see them in the hallway). Anyway, I digress, so back to the Sushi town story: I finished eating my tasty raw fish combination from heaven, and I run in the rain to my car. My key won't fit in the lock. I also notice that Madison the Fearless Shetland Pony Dog is going nuts. Like slamming her body against the windshield whilst barking nuts. Odd. I'm still trying to get my key to unlock the door (in the freezing rain, mind you), when I bend down to have a look at the lock. It's mangled. Weird, I think. I run over to the passenger side door, unlock it, and then crawl over. On the drive home it hits me--someone has tried to break into my car with a crow bar. I get back to the apartment, and my theory holds true: the lock is completely torn up. It looks like someone tried to use the wrong screwdriver to unscrew something. This explains Madison going nuts, and as I tell Tommy this, I mention that I wondered what the criminal would have done if he had gotten into the car. Tommy says, "well, probably he would have hit Mads with the crowbar." I lost it. Stolen wallets, crazy students, and an almost bloody and mangled dog? That's a bit much for one girl to handle!

In other (more positive) news, I got to go to Salt Lake this past weekend! It was g-reat to see the Tomster and all our SLC friends. We BBQed, hung out, and I took a NAP! Who knew such glorious things existed anymore?! It was just what I needed to come back. I probably would be rocking back and forth and hugging myself tonight if I hadn't gotten the chance to go to SLC this weekend. So fun!

Things aren't quite as terrible as I'm making them seem. I still love school (the part where I'm in school, anyway), and I certainly love the people here. I have a couple of really good friends, and my advisor has been really supportive. I also get to see the fam in about a WEEK! I'm going to Tennessee for a conference, and I'll see them on my way in and out of Birmingham. I can't wait to see LAYNIE! She had better be ready to spend some quality time with her Aunt Sarah (and by quality time I mean she had better be ready to fit in my backpack as I kidnap her and take her with me).

All in all, sometimes bad stuff just happens--whether you live in Canada by yourself with your gigantor dog or not. At least I have Mads; she's probably the reason the mean car thief didn't finish the job. Actually, had he broken in, with my luck, she probably would have bitten his face off, and then I would have been sued...that's just how awesome my life usually is.

Anyway, I miss each and every one of you! And even though I've been stolen from, yelled at about a paper grade, and had my car almost stolen, I STILL want to get a PhD! That's good, right? That means I'm resilient...or stubborn as a mule...my guess is the latter, but I'll let you decide.

Love from the land of freezing rain,
S

Baker has graduated from Basic!

After two weeks of glorious sunshine, today has been rather cold and grey, and the forecast for the rest of the week isn't looking great. Well, it's looking like typical Vancouver weather--rainy and the kind of cold that gets in your bones and settles there. Can't wait. Me and My friend Meagan were contemplating this shift in weather today as we walked to a cafe on campus for a quick bite to eat between the obligations from which we run to and fro like chickens with our heads cut off. She said to me, "So, what's the weather in the South like?" I replied, "Well, it's a bit like living in a sweaty armpit in the summer, and it never really gets all that cold in the winter." Appalled by this no-winter-time quasi-fantasy land (I've found that it really is difficult for Canadians to conceptualize the American South; much like it's difficult for Americans to really understand what it means to be Canadian), Meagan continued to ask me questions about what living in the South is really like. And so, over cornbread and veggie chilli (neither of which were remotely comparable to my mom's chilli or my nanny's cornbread), I told her, as best I could, what it's like to grow up in and live in the South. Filtered through my recent experiences of living in the American West and Canada, here's what I told her:

• The South has a sense of community unlike any place on earth. Growing up in the South means that you are always under the watchful eye of somebody--whether this "somebody" is a church member, a neighbor, or an aunt, uncle, or grandparent. This, of course, means that as a Southerner, you have an extensive net of people who are there for you at any time of the day or night.
• This sense of community extends to the Southern phrase "she would give you the shirt of her back if you needed it." This is true of most Southerners, and as I explained to Meagan, it's especially true of my family. I've seen so many instances of selfless giving in my life, that moving out West was a complete shock to my delicate Southern sensibilities (to use Scarlett O'hara-esque terminology). Take talking to people in the grocery store for example. Southerners do this. No one else does. Take waving to people while driving or acknowledging them when you pass by in the street. This does not happen here. These things may not be "giving you the shirt off my back," but they certainly go a long way in terms of brightening the world up a bit.
• The last thing I told her was about the food. About how butter, half and half, and cheese go in about everything; that is, unless it's fried. About how food brings a sense of togetherness to the family gathering after church on Sunday. About how food gives you something to laugh over and enjoy slowly. Meagan nodded slowly as she chewed her non-Southern cornbread, and I could tell that maybe the only way to really understand all of the things I had said would be to experience them, because, for all the bad things said about the South (racism, rednecks, etc), there are a whole host of things that belong to us: hospitality (in every sense of the word), food, and a community who loves and supports and makes life enjoyable, secure, and pleasant.

Talking to her about my "Alabama life," as she coined it, I realized how much of this sense of "Southerness" I carry with me: I'm stubborn; I'm fiercely loyal, and I was taught to acknowledge, love, and appreciate those around me, and of course I'm a huge fan of butter and anything fried! And, in keeping with the loving aspect of Southern life and community, I want to tell you that if I haven't told you recently that I love you, I certainly do. If you're reading this blog, you can count on that.

This blog is dedicated to Baker, who took his Southerness to Basic Training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I bet he understands every single thing I've just written.

Love to you all,
S

raincoats, birthdays, and the first day(s) of school

First things first: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE TRIPLETS!  Molly, Ally, and Natalie were born on this day when I was sixteen years old, which means they are now ELEVEN! I think they look so grown up in this picture.  Maggie's birthday is in about a week, so in case I don't get a chance to blog then, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAGGIE!  I can't believe you will be ten years old!

Now, on to the dog in the rain slicker...since thursdays are the only day of the week I have off (weekends are for reading, and thursdays should be too, but I need at least one day to go to the grocery store, etc!), I took Madison to Buntzen lake.  We hiked a good bit, and there's a neat dog area where the dogs can play in the water, so Madison got her feet and underbelly wet and then proceeded to roll around in the sand.  Awesome.  Anyway, we played outside for a bit (it was sooooo nice to be outside--I feel like I've been cooped up in the apartment or my office for the past two weeks!), and then we went to buy people and dog groceries.  While in the pet store, the lady said, "oh, we just got the cutest rain slickers in, and I think we have one that would fit your dog!"   Uh...yes please!  So I bought a pink one.  It obviously doesn't cover all of her, but hopefully it will cut down on the amount of water she's bringing into the apartment after every time I walk her in the rain...which is a lot.

On to the next topic: school is great.  I mean, I don't have time to eat, and I sleep from the hours of about 1 am to 6 am, but I really really like it.  Why do I like this fresh hell, you ask?  Well.  Let me just tell you that it's everything I hoped it would be: the reading, the teachers, the collaborative students--it sounds cheesy, but there really is learning in the air here.  I've made several great friends, and people are genuinely helpful and kind in the department.  People talk about English studies in a hopeful, anticipatory way, like they've been waiting to be in this atmosphere, too.  I really can't say enough about how happy I am in school.  As my friend Meredith would say, I'm busier than a one-legged man in a rear-end kicking contest (edited for language content), but I absolutely love it.

And it gets better!  Tommy will be here next Tuesday through the weekend.  I'm really looking forward to seeing him and to having him walk Madison for me.  Single parenthood is hard work!  He's still looking for jobs up this way, so continue to keep your fingers crossed for him.  As I was sitting overlooking Buntzen lake this morning, in the kind of stillness that can be heard, I really felt a sense of peace about all of it.  I know I'm in a good, supportive place, and I know he will be soon, and I can't wait for us to be there together!

Rain, Fog, Crustaceans, and Tear-inducing Shoes

This is what I saw when I walked in tonight.

I love crustaceans!

Not sure I've ever seen T so happy as above

at Maeghan and Nic's Wedding in Seattle

I kinda wanted to wait until class started to post another blog (mostly just to have something to actually write about), but I find myself wanting to write about today. Sometimes I think that blogging feels less legitimate than writing in my journal (which I do fairly often and have since I was at Auburn), but I like idea of being able to share things like this with you, especially since most of you are my family, and since I don't get to see you as much as I want to, it makes me feel better to tell you about things, even if it is via the ofttimes impersonal media of the internet.

I dropped Tommy off at the Seattle airport at about 5:30 this morning and then drove to Vancouver. I got pulled over in Arlington (small town in Washington near the US/Canada border) for going 64 in a 60 mph zone. If that wasn't bad enough, I had to explain why my drivers license is from Alabama, my car is registered in Utah, and my passport says I'm quasi-Canadian. Needless to say, the guy was a jerk, but he let me off the "hook" (I use scare quotes because who usually cares about going FOUR MILES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT?!) after I less than adeptly tried to explain my situation to him. I also looked like puffed up roadkill after not showering, crying all the way from Seattle, AND the giant feast we ate the night before (more on that in a minute). I think he could probably sense a meltdown coming and wanted to back slowly away from my car. Can't say I blame him. Most of you have seen me have a meltdown; it ain't pretty.

The good news is that I had a wonderful time in Seattle with Tommy. We went to a friend's wedding in Arlington, and then we left a little early to eat at the Crab Pot. The Crab Pot is this wonderful place in Seattle that Tommy saw on Man Vs. Food (we watch too much TLC) where they pretty much dump a bucket full of crustaceans, red potatoes, and corn on your plate, give you a mallet and a bib, and let you go at it. It was crustacean-crackin' heaven, if I do say so myself. All in all, it was good to see a beautiful wedding ceremony (I like to go to weddings with T because they always remind me of our own and the commitment we made to each other) and then stuff our faces full of sea creatures (the shrimp still had their heads on, and their beady little eyes were staring at me, which was rather disconcerting, but I ate them anyway...suckahhhhs!).

Now I'm back in Vancouver, and Madison keeps looking at me like, "Hey, where's that guy who buys us food?" I explained to her that he'd be back soon, but she just proceeded to get on the couch and turn around and lie down--even though she knows this is against the rules.

I took her out a little while ago in our first official Vancouver weather dog walk. We walked to the huge koi pond on campus, and the fog was so thick and intense, and the rain just drizzled away, as if to mirror my feelings exactly. When I got home, my pink cons were sitting next to Tommy's big 'ol dress shoes, and they were so comfortable together that I just had to take a picture. And I know that that's what we are, too--comfortable together.

A Long Time Comin'...

Tommy and the mountains (view from Burnaby Mountain Park)

Me and Madison in my office

Alright everyone, quit yer whinin'; I'm bloggin' now! We haven't had internet at the apartment yet, but a couple of days ago I found that if I perch on just the right spot on the balcony, I can access Simon Fraser's system, which is good because I have a password and user name.  So, here I am, sitting in the exact right spot, blogging away...

I guess I should begin with the move.  We had a rather fun time packing, actually.  Meg and Scott (our downstairs neighbors in Emigration Canyon), Ali, Liana, and Josh (along with Meg's parents, who were in town visiting) helped us pack the van, and then we all (yes, myself included) ate the holy grail of BBQ: Scott's famous smoked Briskett.  I couldn't resist.  I mean, I've been eating meat off and on all summer, but I always have good intentions of not eating furry creatures again. I've been pretty good about it since we've been in Vancouver, but I digress, so I shall go back to the moving story.  So packing and loading weren't bad, but saying goodbye to our friends was.  Scott and Meg have been the best downstairs neighbors and friends we could have asked for--an unexpected surprise while living in the Canyon.  Ali, Liana, and Josh were staples in our lives in SLC, and we can't wait until everyone comes to visit (just not all at the same time).

We drove and drove and drove--on through Idaho (the most boring state in existence besides Wyoming) and into Washington (one of the prettiest states in existence).  Tommy sent me a text from the moving van while we were in Washington, and suffice it to say that he's in love with the Cascades (the mountain range that includes Mt. Ranier).  Ahhh, mountains, you surely are Tommy's best friend.  Around Seattle we started encountering some traffic, and Mads started doing the I-really-have-to-pee-or-poop-and-I'm-about-to-do-it-in-the-car dance (just imagine Madison dancing around in the backseat of the Corolla while I navigate Seattle traffic following Tommy, who's driving the U-haul.  Uncool.).  Turns out that Seattle does road work at night, and it took us TWO HOURS TO GO TWO MILES.  It was ridiculous.  We had been in the car for over 16 hours at this point, and finally Madison just collapsed in the backseat; I guess she just resigned herself to never using the lawn again.

Needless to say, we finally arrived at our friend Maeghan's house around midnight.  We awoke the next morning, after about five hours of sleep, and headed to the border.  I was incredibly nervous.  What if they didn't let me in?  What if they didn't let Mads in?  What if Tommy didn't get in?  I was trying to decide who it would be harder to live without, Mads or Tommy, when the border guard told us to pull over and go inside.  Fabulous.  I instantly imagined all of us being detained separately and questioned mercilessly (I imagined Madison nonchalantly laying on the ground and refusing to answer any questions in true Madsion fashion).  Turns out I just needed to pay (yet another) fee for my study permit.  We were then released.  Not too many questions.  No cavity searches.  Thanking the Canadian border patrol people, we then headed toward the apartment.

Luckily, T had the brilliant idea to hire people from Craig's List to help us unpack.  Me and Madison told everyone where to put things, and she barked at all our new neighbors.  It was/is probably safe to say that everyone hates us.  The next few days were spent unpacking, which proved a daunting task after all the boxes filled up ALL 574 sq ft of this place.  T's first mission was to fill up our storage locker, which ameliorated a little bit of our space problem (the storage locker is literally bulging right now).  We then set about unpacking, while also running lots and lots of errands.  Bank accounts were set up; my office was visited; I got a Social Insurance number, etc. etc.  Then (dun dun dun), T's phone died a sudden and rather untimely death.  This was the proverbial straw on the back of the moving to Canada camel.  We both immediately felt the pressures (both emotionally and financially) of moving up here, and it sucked.  I was a bit afraid that Tommy was going to bail and give me the proverbial finger, but thankfully he loves me enough to go through moving to another country (don't say that it's just Canada).

It's been two weeks now, and things have definitely settled down.  We've really enjoyed having my friend Rosie (friend from my Montevallo days) here.  Tommy has been working, and Rosie and I have been exploring.  It's been good to have someone to learn the ins and outs of public transportation with.  I start school on September 8th, so that's another challenge that begins soon.  I still can't believe that we made it here.  Sitting on the balcony, with Tommy beside me learning random facts about random things from a random book he's reading, I feel like everything's gonna be ok.  And it will be.  

Love from Canada,

Sarah

NINE DAYS!

We move in nine days.  That's two days more than a week.  That's 216 hours.  The good news about this is that we've already been packing.  Shocking given my inclination to procrastination, I know.  Tommy has been great about taking the initiative to do things, and our internet hasn't been working properly, so these two things have combined to turn us into super packers.  We also sold our bedroom furniture, and we're working on selling the TV and entertainment center, and you should have SEEN the massive pile of crap we donated to the thrift store!  We are all about trying to squish us, our stuff, and our giant dog into 574 sq ft.  Wish us luck.

Most things are a go for Operation Move to Canada.  As aforementioned, packing is progressing, and as far as I can tell, I have all my student visa stuff in order, and now we just need to make sure that I have Madison's vet stuff done and that Tommy gets across with me.  I also need to apply for health insurance before we leave ($120 Canadian for three months!).  Other than that, we just need to get our junk in a U-haul and haul it across the border.

Tommy's plan, as of right now, is to be in Vancouver with me from August 17th (arrival date) until September 6th (this is the day after our friend Maeghan's wedding in Seattle).  If he can find a job in that time (in either Vancouver or Seattle), he will fly back to SLC for his car and then come back for the job.  This would be the best option, but Backcountry is also a great job, and we are lucky and blessed that he has it to fall back on.  

I continue to wish that I could go home one more time before school starts, but this just isn't an option financially (moving to Canuckistan ain't cheap!).  Papa Jones's funeral was last Thursday, and if I could have gone home, it would have been for that.  Shelby read me letters from Baker over the phone a couple of days ago, and he seems to be doing well.  Laynie also rolled over.  I made Shelby promise to tape this for me and post it to her blog (wethreerowes@blogspot).  

I guess that's about it for now.  We have a new address:

612-9009 Cornerstone Mews

Burnaby, British Columbia

V5A 0C1

CANADA

(and we also have a parking spot--#139, and a storage locker--#107.  You don't need to know that, but I thought it was cool.)

Happenings as of Late

Most of you already know (or at least assume) that finding housing in another country when you have a seventy-three pound horse/dog has not been easy for us.  It seems like hardly anyone is willing to rent to people with a dog (understandable), and the other problem is that no one wants to rent to people they haven’t met (also understandable).  I mean, we could be crazy American crack addicts with a horse dog who barks ALL the time (and half of that would be true--and not the crack part).  My point here is that renting to two Americans in their twenties with a Gigantor dog doesn’t seem to appeal to too many Canadians.  Never mind the fact that Tommy is amazing at his good job or that I’m going into PhD school.  People hear the words “Americans,” “twenties,” and “dog,” and they run for the hills.

Fortunately for us, there is a neuroscientist who is studying at Duke (and who got her Master’s at SFU) who is willing to rent to us.  The apartment (yes, apartment) is in a community called UniverCity (cheesy, yes), which is situated atop Burnaby Mt.  The only other thing on top of Burnaby Mt. just happens to be Simon Fraser University.  This means that the high rise (http://www.libertyhomes.ca/thehub/) is about four minutes away from SFU.  And that’s walking!  The bad news is that it’s one bedroom.  In a highrise.  With Madison the shetland pony.  The good news, aside from it being super close to the school, is that the high rise is a Green Community, which means that everything--from the grocery store, to the bank, to the eye dr, to restaurants--is set up to be walkable.  The skybus, which is Vancouver’s transportation masterpiece, is also literally outside the building, which makes Vancouver very accessible from the mountain.

Of course, this plan in subject to both parties signing the papers (we told her we’d make a decision by the early weekend) and is probably also contingent on her not asking how big Mads is.  I really REALLY hope it works out.  Please pray that it works out and that Madison miraculously loses her ability to bark.  I mean, I hate to take that away from her, but you gotta do what you gotta do....

In other news, my younger brother, Baker, left for basic training on Tuesday.  I can’t even explain how proud of him we are.  Tommy and I talked to him on Monday night after his going away party, which, from what everyone says, was amazing, and he seemed very happy with his decision.  I am so happy for him.  He seems content and excited, and I know the army will give him a lot of needed direction in his life.  He’s such an awesome kid.

Today I bought Laynie and Shelby a prize to send in the mail.  I also got to talk to Nanny, who continually amazes me with her sweetness and her love for her dad, Papa Jones, who is getting nearer to being with Granny Jones every day.  So all of this is happening:  Baker is making major life decisions/changes, Dad’s birthday was Tuesday (Happy Birthday, Pop!), Laynie is growing like a weed, Papa Jones isn’t doing well, and Tommy’s cousins are pretty much all having babies at the same time...all while we are thirty hours away.  But, even on the days where I feel like I am missing everything, I still feel really good about SFU.  I know that these choices are presented to me and Tommy for a reason, and above all, I know that no matter where I go, we will have the love and support of both sets of parents, all our grandparents, siblings, niece, and extended family.  When you really think about it, we’re really lucky kids.

Love from SLC (soon to be Vancouver!),

Sarah

Fourth of July

The original plan for the fourth of July was to hike the Cirque the towers, which is part of the Wind River Range.  We were planning on taking Madison the Brave, but as the time came closer, and the rain started in on SLC, I decided that backpacking and then sleeping with a wet dog in my tent who's prone to barking at every little thing wasn't in our (read: Madison's) best interest.  So, me and Mads stayed here, and Tommy and Josh (our friend who lives in Evanston, WY) decided to brave the Cirque regardless of the weather forecast.

I spent Friday wishing I had gone with them.  The rain had cleared up, and Madison was staring at me like she hated my guts for making her miss prancing around the Winds to the tune of "Born Free."  On Saturday (happy fourth!) I decided I would make another attempt, with my friend Ali, on the Living Room.  What's the Living Room, you say?  Well.  It's an elusive trail summit that I have been looking for for quite a while.  There are numerous trails behind the University of Utah (really close to our house), but no matter which one we took, me and Mads just couldn't find the Living Room.  But!  On Saturday, me, Madison, and Ali took a different trailhead on the advice of a friend who had found it already.  Armed with lots of water and sheer determination, we marched ourselves straight on up...and found it!    It turns out that the LR is aptly named; people took large slabs of rock and literally made chairs, a three seater couch, and a coffee table.  We couldn't quite figure out what the thing is I'm standing on in the first picture, but it made for a good shot, I think.

Meanwhile, I got home that afternoon, and the phone rang.  Tommy and Josh were back in Evanston as a result of a killer horde of mosquitos that were actively terrorizing the the Cirque.  Tommy said he was going to camp in the Uintas instead; Josh was giving up and going to a Fourth of July BBQ.  I went to see the fireworks in Sugarhouse park, and when I got home, T's car was in the driveway.  Josh had borrowed his lighter and forgotten to give it back.  Unable to cook anything, T wasn't interested in hanging out in his tent and munching on trailmix, so he came home.  I was glad.  It's always more fun to spend a holiday with your honey.

So, some of you know that we've had a special friend living in our ceiling recently.  About a month ago, the ceiling tenant became pretty loud, so we called our landlord to let him know about the rodent problem.  Unbeknownst to us, he came and set out poison in the attic and shut the vents.  Wellll....this angered the ceiling tenant.  We didn't know Travis (landlord man) had shut the vents, so we thought the animal was mating or just really mad about something (perhaps forgot where she stashed some food?).  Turns out she was dying because she ate the poison and couldn't get out of the attic, which of course means she died up there.  Sad, but true.  So last Thursday I came home from class, and as I was opening the door, I noticed a few drops of blood on the brick next to the door.  Eww, I thought.  My eyes travelled up from the blood, and I saw a little foot peeking out from the porch ceiling.  Officially grossed out, I ran inside and screamed for Tommy and e-mailed Travis post haste.  

We just knew that Travis would get the rodent (Tommy thought it was a squirrel; I knew it had to be larger than that--so my guess was raccoon) out of the attic before we got back into town on Sunday afternoon (keep in mind that it's been about 90 degrees here, and the animal has been dead for four days), but NOOOOOO the raccoon was still in the ceiling when we got back from Evanston on Sunday night.  I immediately e-mailed Travis and promised him our first born or half lottery winnings--whichever comes first--if he would get out here and extract Mrs. Racoon.  He came last night and found the above image.  A 15-20 pound (Tommy's guess, and please note that the raccoon is probably a little bloated) MAMA RACCOON.

Let's all hope the babies escape through the hole in the ceiling.  

First Blog!

So, I've decided that it might be fun to blog, especially since we're moving to British Columbia, and I'm already worried about keeping up with everyone and everything (especially that cute, little niece of mine).  And, it seems like every forum for public interaction has its own purpose (i.e. facebook for networking and harmless chatter; livejournal for revealing your deepest secrets in cryptic format; ignoring myspace now that facebook is more fun, and please don't get me started on twitter.  I don't have one, and I can't imagine wanting people to know what you're doing every 2.5 seconds).  That being said, I think the purpose of this blog will be to keep up with family and friends who don't facebook, myspace, livejournal, or God forbid, twitter.  Of course, if you're my fb, ms, or lj friend, it's totally fine to follow me here.  I won't discriminate.

We are moving August 16th.  We have yet to determine where we'll be or how much of the time Tommy will be in BC.  As of right now, we're going to Vancouver to find a place to live toward the end of July.  The plan is also to leave a car so we'll be free to drive a U-haul and the other car.  Can't say I'm looking forward to another long move, but I am looking forward to being in school again.  Just the thought of new books and supplies gives me little happiness shivers.  I am such a nerd.  

For now I am teaching two classes at Salt Lake Community College and hoping to have as much fun as possible with my Salt Lake friends.  Hiking, kayaking, hanging out with Mads, book club-ing, and playing Mario Kart with Scott and Meg are all in order.  Yay for Summer!