Well, I think I mentioned that I got sick while we were up in FSJ last weekend... really sick... more sick than I recall being for a long time... I started feeling better, a little anyway. Now Allan has it, the poor monkey. Yesterday he had fevers all day and night, they finally broke at 4 this morning. Today he has a nasty cold still, but not the fevers, thank goodness. We are just hoping that Maria doesn't get it.
The goodbye was to Michael. He had to go start his new job up in FSJ today so he left two days ago (it takes that long to get there!) I miss him, it is going to be a long two months...
Monday, March 3, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Whirlwind
Well... it is probably easier to say what didn't happen since I last posted! We didn't win the lottery... I didn't grow...
However... a few (read a lot) things have been going on. Hubby and I had the first real trip away from the kids since we had kids - where did we go?? Oh right, I already said we were going to FSJ (apparently that is the common usage)
So after riding a ferry to take the kids to the in-laws then taking the ferry back home, catching an airplane before dawn the next day to then get to Vancouver and wait for an hour or three until the flight to FSJ. Arriving in FSJ driving around to get bearings, meeting the realtor, touring four houses (all of which were large but one was officially gigantic), debating and waffling and deciding and waffling some more to decide on which house, driving past the new place of employment, driving up to see brother-in-law and family, driving up to see friends, getting sick as a dog, finally deciding on a house, placing an offer, getting the counter (these people are not making it easy to buy this house) making another offer which is finally accepted about an hour before we leave to catch a plane from FSJ to Vancouver and then finally to Nanaimo... I would have to say that it was not the best get-a-way I have ever had... although probably one of the most memorable!
The people who currently own the house that we are buying SUCK. There really is no way around it - they suck and we are suckers and I don't wan't to talk about THAT anymore. However, the house itself is lovely and looks like it will be a nice place to call home - it is also three houses from a huge park. I think it will be great.
Our New House We also checked out Maria's school and got her registered while we were up there (I forgot to mention in my above ramble) The school is awesome. I am so impressed. I think I had my bias brain showing, I was expecting it to be kind of half-assed since it is up North - but I was very wrong. The place is amazingly bright and artistic and friendly and well-equipped (the teachers are not only immersion teachers but also with fine arts background, and the computer lab was excellent) All the doors are painted with different murals, there are paintings and art all over the place... It is a big school, there are about 400 students, and I must say that the secretary seemed to know all the students names! We met Maria's future teacher and she seems great - very bohemian... dreadlocks, overalls, scarves, and very French Canadian. The amount of french that she was speaking to the students seemed a lot more than what Maria is currently getting here - so hopefully it won't be too overwhelming for her.
Part of the Playground at Maria's New School
Anyway, a lot more has been going on too, but that is probably more than enough for now... The big news for today is that Michael has left... He is driving up today and tomorrow and starts work on Monday morning. We are hoping that they will double up his shift during training so that he can double up his time off too (8 on and 12 off) which would make him able to come home during his days off but Monday will tell...
Busy times.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Ta-Dah!
Well today we are in Fort Saint John so just a quick post in the form of a question...
Is it Ft St John or Fort St John or FSJ or do I have to say Fort Saint John every time???
(man is it flat here, and colder... did I mention colder?)
Friday, February 22, 2008
A Difficult Day
Tomorrow morning hubby and I are flying up to Fort St John in the morning - and by morning I mean the plane is supposed to leave at 6am. Damn early. I was quite excited about this as it will be the first get-a-way we have had together for a very long time... Not to mention the fact that I am anxious to find a house so that we can get on with things and move already! Our house here sold before it went on the market (whew) but so far we have put in some offers on a house up north but we haven't gotten anywhere!
However, today as my friends were saying goodbye and wishing us good-luck up north - it really hit home and felt like we were REALLY saying good-bye... so all day I have been kind of sad, looking around at everything like it is the last time I will see it.
I am going to miss the ladies that I have become friends with, here in Ladysmith. They are so very fun and interesting and easy to be with - they have promised to take me dancing before we move, I hope we get the chance.
Taking my kids on the ferry to my in-laws house was also hard... as much as the ferry can suck (big time) it can also be a beautiful trip, which it was today... It was a gorgeous day, beautiful blue skies, and about 12 degrees... the water was smooth as glass... it is too beautiful for words... although no dolphin sightings today!
And then there is the Lagoon... I love the Lagoon. Ever since we first moved here and my daughter insisted that it was the Magoon, even to the point where she would spell it out, with an "M". Most days driving over the Lagoon we see a seal and a wide variety of birds, or else it is low tide and the Lagoon beach/mud pit stretches way out. We even put our little boat in at the Lagoon a few times and had to go under the bridge to go for the boat ride... sigh.
Well this post isn't making much sense or flowing very well, but that is too bad because I don't feel up to it today. But tomorrow is a new day and hopefully we will find a house that we like and will enjoy our weekend away... I think it is time to get on with things and move on, because the longer we stay here the harder it is getting...
However, today as my friends were saying goodbye and wishing us good-luck up north - it really hit home and felt like we were REALLY saying good-bye... so all day I have been kind of sad, looking around at everything like it is the last time I will see it.
I am going to miss the ladies that I have become friends with, here in Ladysmith. They are so very fun and interesting and easy to be with - they have promised to take me dancing before we move, I hope we get the chance.
Taking my kids on the ferry to my in-laws house was also hard... as much as the ferry can suck (big time) it can also be a beautiful trip, which it was today... It was a gorgeous day, beautiful blue skies, and about 12 degrees... the water was smooth as glass... it is too beautiful for words... although no dolphin sightings today!
And then there is the Lagoon... I love the Lagoon. Ever since we first moved here and my daughter insisted that it was the Magoon, even to the point where she would spell it out, with an "M". Most days driving over the Lagoon we see a seal and a wide variety of birds, or else it is low tide and the Lagoon beach/mud pit stretches way out. We even put our little boat in at the Lagoon a few times and had to go under the bridge to go for the boat ride... sigh.
Well this post isn't making much sense or flowing very well, but that is too bad because I don't feel up to it today. But tomorrow is a new day and hopefully we will find a house that we like and will enjoy our weekend away... I think it is time to get on with things and move on, because the longer we stay here the harder it is getting...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pros & Cons
Our house in Ladysmith There are so many reasons why I don't want to go, but honestly they are all basically the same reason - I am going to miss what I have... but there are also a lot of very compelling reasons why I DO want to go.
Cons:
- I am going to miss my sisters so very much
- My friends and family are here not there
- The beach
- LaFF (Ladysmith Family and Friends)
- My house
- My six year old in a class with 16 kids
- Everything is a short drive away here and up there it seems everything is at least an hour away... although perhaps I won't need to make that drive as Ft St John seems to have everything we would need
Pros:
- It is an exciting new adventure
- Skating outside
- Snow, actual snow! As opposed to slush...
- They have a toboggan hill in the middle of town
- A LOT less rain and a lot more sun
- There are a lot of kids up there. Here we live on a road that never had any kids except ours until recently...
- Michael's brother and family live there
- The security of a job that is not in the forest industry and the money that it pays:)
- It sounds like there will be a lot more opportunities for me and my career when I go back to work
- Michael will get a six day weekend every week (4 on 6 off)
- The travelling that we plan to do
There are a lot more reasons that I can think of for each category but basically it boils down to the fact that as much as I love and am going to miss my life in Ladysmith, Fort Saint John is an exciting and potentially wonderful next chapter in our life... and that is what I am going to focus on for the next few months.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Coast to North
All my life I have lived on the West Coast of Canada. Not just the west coast, but the southern west coast. Squamish, Vancouver, and in recent years on Vancouver Island in Duncan, Crofton and Ladysmith... ahh Ladysmith, how I love you!
Well, circumstances change, the forest industry dissolves in front of my eyes and here we are three years after I swore I would never move again, moving. Moving from this town that I have grown to love more than anywhere else I have lived. Moving from the place where my children have grown into the little people that they are. Moving from the place where my one sister moved to be near me and the other sister moved nearby on Saltspring Island.
To say that I didn't want to move would be an understatement. Neither hubby or I wanted to move... we tried to think of all sorts of different options that may potentially keep us here... but they were all temporary and financially - less. And through all those brainstorming sessions there was this whisper from the cold and distant north "come to us, we will have you", "come up north and find a job that will last as long as you want it too", "come up north and make money, lots of money". I must honestly say that the last one was the most tempting for me, but the job security was that one that did it for hubby.
Poor hubby has been having the doom of not just his workplace but also the entire industry, hanging over his head, weighing on him for a few years now, but everytime he asked about moving I would say "NO!" The guy listened to me, as long as he could, but eventually even I couldn't say "no" anymore...
So the decision was made and the job (the very good job) was found and this coastal girl is soon going to be northern girl. A good friend of mine suggested starting a blog about the move and the life up north as a way of letting all the lovely people of Ladysmith and all the other folks too, keep track of me and my family...
So people, the adventure is beginning and as nervous and uncertain as I was about it before, I am actually kind of excited about it now. There are part of it that still make me nervous; but there are more parts that make me excited and I hope that I will be able to experience and love the North as much as people assure me that I will!
Well, circumstances change, the forest industry dissolves in front of my eyes and here we are three years after I swore I would never move again, moving. Moving from this town that I have grown to love more than anywhere else I have lived. Moving from the place where my children have grown into the little people that they are. Moving from the place where my one sister moved to be near me and the other sister moved nearby on Saltspring Island.
To say that I didn't want to move would be an understatement. Neither hubby or I wanted to move... we tried to think of all sorts of different options that may potentially keep us here... but they were all temporary and financially - less. And through all those brainstorming sessions there was this whisper from the cold and distant north "come to us, we will have you", "come up north and find a job that will last as long as you want it too", "come up north and make money, lots of money". I must honestly say that the last one was the most tempting for me, but the job security was that one that did it for hubby.
Poor hubby has been having the doom of not just his workplace but also the entire industry, hanging over his head, weighing on him for a few years now, but everytime he asked about moving I would say "NO!" The guy listened to me, as long as he could, but eventually even I couldn't say "no" anymore...
So the decision was made and the job (the very good job) was found and this coastal girl is soon going to be northern girl. A good friend of mine suggested starting a blog about the move and the life up north as a way of letting all the lovely people of Ladysmith and all the other folks too, keep track of me and my family...
So people, the adventure is beginning and as nervous and uncertain as I was about it before, I am actually kind of excited about it now. There are part of it that still make me nervous; but there are more parts that make me excited and I hope that I will be able to experience and love the North as much as people assure me that I will!
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