Well, I've made it through January in Nova Scotia. It was probably only the mildest January I've ever seen. The coldest it got was around -10 C. I've been keeping busy since my last visitors. I expected work to slow down a little, since it had been quite hectic around Xmas; but didn't happen. We have bare bones staff in terms of pharmacists and my schedule all over the place... But otherwise, things are going pretty good! Volleyball has resumed and unfortunately (since I've become a little lazy), continues to be the only exercise I get. I've been to a couple local band "concerts", which have been interesting... way too heavy metal to country music. I'm not sure what the "Yarmouth sound" really is. I went bowling with some friends last night. I didn't do too bad, since I didn't score last! I had forgotten that all bowling alleys don't automatically keep score, since I'd only done back in the Watson bowling alley, and even then, I was too young to care!

We actually have some snow now - and have had it for a couple weeks. It would be super nice out, if it wasn't for the incessant wind that whistles through my apartment. But still, I can't complain, since SK really does have it much, much worse with -30-something plus windchill...(not really missing that).

Christmas 2006

I joined the Doucets (family of my friends, Erik and Sherri, in Moose Jaw)for "rappie pie" and mass on Christmas Eve. They live in Wedgeport, about 20 minutes south of Yarmouth.

The Doucet family: Jillian, Joel, Sharon, and Curtis (Erik Doucet's family)

Rappie Pie (Grated Potatoes and Chicken - but much more complicated...)

On Christmas Day, I stopped in to visit with my friends Tammy and Paul (I work with Tammy at the store). (They also had Dad, Regan, Justin, and I over for a huge supper one night. They made us cream lobster, haddock, bacon-wrapped scallops, homemade chocolate cake. Yummy!)

Dad, Regan, and Justin flew into Halifax at 8 pm, Christmas night. I drove in and picked them up, spending most of the day on the road (luckily the weather behaved). I worked the next two days, but the guys kept busy. On the night of the 26th, they went and hung out with the Doucet's and their extended family in Pubnico (20 minutes from Yarmouth). They met lots of new people and got to try lots of Acadian and seafood dishes. On the 27th, the boys and Dad went down to Barrington to get a tour of a saw mill owned by Angele's father. They came home with freshly caught, still crawling lobster. They ate a few of them in Barrington, where Rene Scott, gave them lessons on crackin open the lobster.

We decided to take a trip to PEI for a few days. We stopped along the way near Tatamagouche to meet my Aunt Lynn's good friends, Brenda and Myrna and their husbands George and Ron. They fed us well and played innkeepers for the night. We crossed over the Confederation Bridge on the way from New Brunswick to PEI, which spans 12.9 km. After touring around PEI for a couple days (we really took our time), we headed back to Yarmouth.

Regan, Myrna, Brenda, Dad, Justin


Confederation Bridge


Farmland ending in cliffs overlooking the ocean...




Farm on the ocean; don't see this in Saskatchewan!

I don't have any snow here in Yarmouth, so thought I'd better get a shot of it in PEI.

West Point Lighthouse - PEI

Bottle made of glass bottles

Playing poker (the poker chips are nuts)

We took a scenic drive back to Halifax on Jan. 3, stopping at all the touristy places along the way.
Liverpool, NS
Mahone Bay, NS



Peggy's Cove




The guys left for home early in the morning of Jan.4; the trip went by quickly. We had a great time!

Saturday Night

Hanging out with Jill Doucet and Jenn Jacquard. We went out the the Red Knight (one of the only bars in town) afterwards - for the last time! Too much of a small town bar... But it was something to do.

Getting a Christmas Tree the Old Fashioned Way

This Saturday, I drove down to Barrington to hang out with the Scott crew for the day. The goal of the day was to go out and find them a Christmas tree, chop it down, and haul it back to their place. We went out to the forest across the road from their home and drove down an old back road which led to Barrington Lake. There were a bunch of roads branching off this one, which we'd drive down, with the Jeep and trailer. We tromped through the bush and drove around for a couple hours before we finally found a tree that would pass.

View of the forest from atop of "Big Rock" lookout

The tree cutting crew (Ashley, Angele, Amy, ahhh forget..., Marcel)

Me and the tree. At this point we were all thinking how much easier it would have been to just buy a tree. Oh well! It was a fun time, and one more experience.

Christmas Tree

Last Tuesday, I managed to fit a 6 foot tree in my car, once I folded down my back seat and pushed my passenger seat up as far as it would go - I was impressed! I was quite proud of myself for managing to set up the tree and decorate it all by myself. (I've never done this before). Check out this link for some interesting info on the Christmas tree industry in Nova Scotia: http://www.ctcns.com/christmas-tree-industry.html

No Sign of Winter

It snowed for the first time early last week, but melted a couple days later. I've had Decembers with no snow before, but not this crazy warm weather. The temperature is averaging at +5 these days. I'll be going out to buy my Christmas tree any day now (still trying to figure out how to fit it in/on my car). It really doesn't seem like Christmas at all.... I've been listening to the same Xmas songs at the store since the beginning of November, and don't really "hear" them anymore.


After work in Barrington, last Friday, I went to Angele's for supper and a movie with her family. (Angele just started working as a pharmacy tech in both Yarmouth and Barrington). Then for lack of things to do, we all went driving around on back roads with their Jeep and trailer. It was just like putting around on the snowmobile back home! We had an awesome time getting all muddy....!

I'm planning to go Christmas tree hunting with the crew in the forest next weekend.... Should be an adventure.

Angele and I getting bundled up in any piece of winter wear we can find. It was about -8 this night, but felt way colder with the humidity and the wind.

The Jeep getting unstuck.

Just a bunch of kids...


Angele and her two sisters, Amy and Ashley, her brother, Marcel, and his girlfriend.

New Couch

I finally got my couch! Sadly, this is the most exciting thing that has happened in the last week. I ordered it back in July, so it was about time. The futon has moved into the now overcrowded office. Now I have to figure out how to "decorate" the living room. Let me know if I can hang this burgundy valence curtain up over my patio door, or if it would clash something awful. I can't tell...! (To post a comment, just click on the comments link at the bottom. After writing a message and signing your name, click on the anonymous identity option. This way you don't need to login, and I'll still know who you are.) Thanks!

I just woke up here....So don't look too close!

The cushions don't really have any burgundy in them, unless you use your imagination. But I may be able to get away with the curtains.

New Furniture!

I finally got a table and chair set and dresser. The table top folds down on each side to fit in my tiny kitchen better. I need to get a mirror to hang on the wall behind the dresser. The apartment is coming together slowly... I'm still waiting for my couch, which I ordered back in July. I need to get a bookcase and TV /entertainment stand yet, then I should be done for now. It's tough to find the right stuff to fit in here, that isn't hideous and not too overpriced should I leave it behind when/if I move somewhere else in 2 years.....

Halifax - Shoppers Conference

Kathleen and I left for Halifax on Friday (Nov. 3). After about 3 hours of driving, we got there, went shopping, and met Kathleen's friends for supper. Then Kathleen and I went out for a night on the town and stopped in at a few pubs. It wasn't too late of night; sessions started early the next AM.




I drove my car - which is a bit of a nightmare in Halifax, with driving circles, and roads that started out as crooked cart trails. But with Kathleen navigating, we managed to survive without any bruises.

The conference went pretty well. We went to a couple interesting sessions. Drug companies set up booths at an information fair and gave out lots of freebies. I got about 4 CEs (continuing education credits - we require 15/year.)

We stayed at a downtown hotel and got to the conference a couple blocks away via an underground pedway that tunnels around and connects parts of downtown Halifax.

Saturday night, we had a nice dinner, drinks and entertainment at the conference. Kathleen and I went out again to one of the favorite night-spots in the city - The Lower Deck. There was a band playing and some Keith's going around.... A typical Halifax night and lots of fun! We had sessions starting at 7:30 the next morning, and were a bit sleepy.




Chewing on Popeye cigarettes at the dinner.

The Lower Deck

I ended up having today off. I was supposed to go to Barrington to work, but John, the pharmacy tech, was sick. And since they have the "old" computer system, I can't man it on my own yet. No problem; I've been spending the day packing for my trip to Halifax for the weekend-long Shoppers conference. This way we can leave earlier and get some shopping in. The weather has been beautiful lately, up to +20 C a couple days ago, but only about +5 C today.