Saturday, December 31, 2011

Indiana

I owe so many posts. Internet has been spotty and my emotions have been all over the map but we are almost home! I promise I will fill in stories from our travels, but for now I am going to bed because I finally can.

Friday, December 23, 2011

The Chicken Snails - An Edmonton Flashback

The purpose of this trip is not only getting a chance to visit our families and see the country-side, it is also about B. playing shows! Which until now, I really haven't written much about. Truth is, there are so many things I've been wanting to include in my posts, but I also don't want to spend too much time behind this blasted computer screen. That would really only be taking away from the trip. Enough of that, though, here is my first music post!

When B. was a young buck of only 19 years old, he lived in Edmonton and went to college and played in a band called the Chicken Snails Roadshow. Story is, he walked into a bar and saw two fellows decked out in some pretty rad western-y garb and just walked right up to them and asked them if they were looking for a bass player. One of them didn't hesitate before replying "yeah man, we're looking for you." It was the stuff of legends and local folklore. These guys all lived together in a little house off Whyte ave. which had been coined 'the Establishment,' where they lived and played music together, as well as hosting jams, potlucks etc.

The show that B. played in Edmonton was actually a Chicken Snails reunion. The first of five ten year reunions to happen every ten years. B. opened up the show with his solo routine and had everybody in the palm of his hands. His own material was especially popular. The reunion itself was incredible. I was so happy to finally see this magical band that I had been hearing about for years. They had only one rehearsal before playing together that night, but literally played as if they had never taken a break at all. The energy between these old friends was contagious and everybody was dancing.

Here is a video of the band playing 'Saro Jane,' one of my personal favourites and one that B. also plays during his solo show. I love it!


I can't wait until his show tonight which is, unfortunately, the last show of the tour.

VANCOUVER!

We are finally on the west coast! The ocean is near! Tommorrow in the early morn, we will set sail for Vancouver Island and my folks will be waiting eagerly with open arms... hopefully.

but for today...

I am in a panic because I still need Christmas gifts for Blake! Wish me luck.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

our Belle - a flashback tidbit from Lloyd.



B. is a rockstar, a little bit punk rock and a rough and tumble city man, but he is also a country bumpkin. A lot of his family are involved in farm work, especially cattle ranching. When we got married about two and a half years ago, one of his cattle ranching uncles gave us a gift that apparently has become a bit of a tradition on this side of the family, but one that I would have never expected: A bred Heifer! A heifer is a female cow who has yet to have had her first child, so a bred heifer is a young cow who is pregnant with her first calf. Now, this is a bit of a lottery ticket, because some cows lose their first calf and never go on to have another, or have problems with losing their calves, while other cows will go on to have healthy calves year after year, which can be sold for a pretty good chunk of change or raised to possibly have calves of their own or for other things...
Because B. and I live in Montreal, a long ways away from the plains of western saskatchewan, our Heifer was chosen for us. We could have just sold it back to uncle doug for a bit of extra money but, conveniently, my father-in-law also ranches some cows of his own (on what I might add is a beautiful prairie property) and offered to take care of her for us. This past week when we were staying with B.'s folks, we finally got to meet our lil lady, who my father-in-law has named Belle! We basically love her, and are so so proud to be the only people in Montreal we know who own their own cow.

Here she is folks, in all her cow-ly glory.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Day I've lost count - Jasper

Thanks to my wonderful brother-in-law and soon to be sister-in-law, the same ones who gave us our very first baby garments, we are spending the night at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Canada's b-e-a-u-tiful Rock Mountains. We are almost in BC and I can feel the ocean pulling me already!


The last few days have been a COMPLETE whirlwind... and absolutely priceless. We really will remember this trip, our 'second honeymoon,' forever.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

reality check

I can feel our baby moving more and more everyday. My wonderful brother-in-law and soon to be sister in law gave us our very first baby things.

OH MY GOD, THIS IS REAL!

everything is wonderful.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Day 7 - Winnipeg... pictures!

I just realized today is actually day 7! I missed day 6, sorry folks, maybe i'll write a random post for Kenora another day when I have a little more time.

As I said, we are finally out of Ontario and it is amazing how quickly the terrain changes once you are in Manitoba.

Exhibit A:

This was what it was like when we left Ontario, pretty ugly out, to be quite frank, and snowy, with grey skies of nothingness. Also pretty damp. Within about 50km, we started to see a world that looked more like this:

PRAIRIES! Now I grew up on the west coast but I lived in Saskatchewan until I was about six and a half. I have a lot of memories that are sort of hidden within my subconscious, and when I saw those skies and that unmistakable prairie landscape I started to cry. I'm talking big, wet, sloppy tears. It was incredible. It felt so good. I was elated. and I immediately texted my mother.
This is what I looked like once I wiped my tears away.

Not too puffy!
Now we're in Winnipeg and I'm so so happy but exhausted, both emotionally and physically. We toured around the city and did a little Christmas shopping about which I'm planning to post soon- stay tuned. In the meantime here are a few more random photos.



As you can see, Winnipeg is a beautiful city. These last two were taken in the Exchange District, which is the really pretty old area of town. Just beware, it looks sunny and wonderful but it's freeeeezing!

Day 6 - Winnipeg

Oh my gosh, I am so ecstatic to be free from the shackles on Ontario. B. and I have never been happier. I will post some pictures from the last two days soon, I promise!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

baby bumps

I swear this to be 100% charming and true. Baby was pretty dormant all day, but once B. got onstage with his bass to do soundcheck, s/he started dancing around like crazy. As soon as he finished his sound check, baby settled right back own again. S/he already loves his/her papa... such a lovely feeling.

Thunder Bay - Day 5


Today we are in Thunder Bay. We got into town early and good thing, because our old van 'judy' was in need of repair... oops! Fortunately, we found a mechanic right away and she'll be back on the road tommorrow morning. Tonight is also our second show of the tour. We're at the venue now, a great little place called the Apollo, where they feed you and take care of you like nobody else. It really is a wonderful place. We also had the pleasure of eating at a little restaurant downtown that is very 1950's diner looking complete with a functioning jukebox. The most remarkable thing about the whole place is that it's run by just one woman! Denise cooks, cleans, serves and everything else and prepares everything from scratch and with a lot of love. She is also just about the nicest woman you'll ever meet and chit-chatted with us for a good fifteen minutes about our trip and lots of baby names (she think we're having a boy, i agree.) So far I'll even say that I like Thunder Bay, just based on the lovely people I've met here so far today, even if it's not the prettiest town (Sioux St. Marie is prettier.) I have got to say that one of the best parts about this trip is meeting all sorts of strange and wonderful people. The other best part is spending really good time with my hubby and creating memories together, obv.

Monday, December 12, 2011

White River - Day 4


B. and I are in a new motel room watching the tube and resting our bodies and minds, but here is a little picture of me posing with yet another inukshuk, and of course, the baby bump, in Wawa Ontario.

Sudbury - Day 3


We left for Sudbury this morning after an incredible breakfast with sian just a block away from her place. I have been through this part of Ontario only once before and it was a long time ago and against my wishes. This part of the country is sooo beautiful and a lot of it is reservation land with high native populations. The highway through is incredible not only for the natural beauty but also for little symbols of the native culture that are all over the rock formations on the sides of the highway: inukshuks. There is one every hundred metres or so on average. They are beautiful and awe inspiring. Unfortunately it was really difficult to get a decent picture of them but here is my best shot. Blake and I are heading to the hotel now and so excited for a low key night watching cable, a frivolity we don’t have at home. Goodnight, everyone!
I wrote tis last night but forgot to post it.. oops!

Toronto - day 2


We had planned to do some Christmas shopping in Toronto and make a good day of it, but alas, we got there and it was sooo cold! Both of us were still pretty tired from staying up too late chatting in Peterborough, so I think both of us were feeling a need to stay inside and cozy. We went to see Ronnie Haywood, a legendary Canadian rockabilly bassist, play at a place called the Dominion. There were some pretty cool prints of some of toronto’s resident rockabillies on the wall. The music was great but I was exhausted. I guess I’m not much of a rock and roller anymore, because I laid my head down and had a nap right there at the table in the bar. I was a little embarrassed to do so and I didn’t want to seem disrespectful to the band but with a bun in the oven I just need that extra rest. I woke up after about fifteen minutes of solid sleep feeling entirely refreshed. Overall, I think a little nap was the better of two options, the other option being me scowling at b. and demanding to leave. Not good.

Eventually after much driving around and one DELICIOUS big fat burrito, B and I met up with our dear friend sian, one of the coolest women I know. She used to work as an outreach doula for women in need and so we talked a lot about my pregnancy and the importance of having a doula. It was so awesome to see her and I just love her little apartment, just filled to the brim with awesome books, records and unique vintage finds.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

montreal to peterborough - day 1

Peterborough was basically a smashing success. B. was playing at a pretty little bar called the Garnet and things really good off to a good start when they served me a big heaping bowl of the most delicious veggie chili. I was so hungry by the time we got there that B. and I were on the verge of a fight, mostly due to me acting completely irrationally due to low blood sugar. The venue was really pretty and comfortable-perfect for the type of shows we’ve been planning for this tour, but the bar was empty. When b. started his set there were only four other people in the place. As soon as he started his performance people started filtering in. the magical thing about peterborough is that it is such a community, everybody knows everybody else. The crowd was great and everybody really loved B.’s music and bass playing, so much so that they requested that he play a second set, which of course he did. A really nice punk guy named Tyler set us up to stay at his place so after some good conversation and a few beers/glasses of water, B. and I cuddled up on a futon along with one of his dogs and two cats and slept soundly until morning.



This picture was posted on the wall in the bathroom of the Garnet. Obviously it jumped out at me because of the pregnant lady and her racy pose. I like it because it shows that women can still be sexy in their pregnancies, when most imagery of pregnancy put emphasis on women as vessels of purity and chastity. I think it’s important to remember women can still be sexy even if they are carrying a child! Represent!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I finished all my work for the semester yesterday evening. On my bus ride home from campus, I felt such a burden being lifted off my shoulders, so proud of myself for enduring what has been my hardest semester to date.

and then I thought:

If I feel this accomplished just from writing a couple of papers, how wonderful will I feel about myself once I GIVE BIRTH TO MY OWN LITTLE HUMAN CHILD?

It's moments like these that come a couple times a day or once every few days and completely blindside you, they just take your breath away. It's knowing you are on the edge of something that is much bigger than yourself. It teaches me a lot about spirituality, quite honestly.

Now, however, focus has moved to preparing for our road trip and loving the heck out of my kitties before we go.

Monday, December 5, 2011

i'll be home for christmas

I can't do a long post right now, even though I'd love to, because I am on the verge of a major deadline. Wednesday evening, however, I'll be free and beginning Friday it's me and my hubs against the open road.

We are driving across Canada for Christmas. (Well, we're leaving from Montreal, so almost across Canada) We should be gone for about a month and it's going to be a massive adventure, the likes of which we have never encountered together before. B. has toured the country a few times, so actually it's old hat for him, but I have a feeling things will be different with pregnant wifey in tow. I can't wait to document all of our adventures, so please stay tuned!

But for now, I leave you with this. This will be my first Christmas at home after five years of lovely but somewhat lonely Christmases here in Montreal, and I am positively thrilled. I usually listen to this song on repeat and crying onto my sleeve while B. looks helplessly on, but this year I listen to it soo soo excited! One of my very favourite Christmas songs, sung by the impeccable Judy Garland. Listen on, friends!

Friday, December 2, 2011

heart crushing

I woke up today in a funk. I am so far behind in assignments for school and I have many, many things to by wednesday, and seemingly not enough time to do them in. I'm also pregnant, which means that if I don't get something to eat, and now, I completely lose my marbles. Which is exactly what happened today. Combined with the stress I'm enduring with school, this quickly escalated to the point of me nearing a nervous breakdown.

B. picked up his guitar and sang to me, over and over again, an old Randy Travis tune that we both know so well from our respective childhoods in the Canadian prairies. Soon, we were both in the living room watching the amazing and heart wrenching music video and I started blubbering. I'm talking big wet tears plopping on the keyboard. Even if you don't like country music, if you care at all for family and love, watch this. It's so good and reminds me so much of our little small town wedding we had on Vancouver Island two and a half years ago.
enjoy!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

an introduction.


just a lil bit about me.


I'm 25 years old and a native of British Columbia who moved across the country to Montreal, QC for the man I loved (maybe one day I'll tell you that story.) Fortunately for both of us, things worked out and we have now been happily married for almost two years. Two anglos in Quebec, just trying to make names for themselves.

My hubby is a handsome musician who plays the stand up bass, one of the sexiest instruments around. He plays mostly roots, rock and roll, rockabilly and old time country music and is one of the best players in his field in Canada. really! I'm not a musician or rock and roller myself, but after six years with him I feel like old hat in the scene.

Mostly I stick to serving tables in a hip little vegetarian cafe (for now) and studying Communication Studies, specifically intermedia, at Concordia University.

Thing is, our lives have never been simple. We just try and do the best with what we've got and keep our lives on track, all the while living the way we love. And now... we're pregnant! So things are changing, and big time.

Our little surprise was exactly that, a surprise, but we couldn't be happier. or more terrified. or happier.

This is my way of keeping it all in check... stay tuned, folks!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

if the dress fits...


It's a good thing I'm not so big yet, because I refuse to wear maternity clothes. spandex and leggings i can do, but no jeans with elastic panels of weird billowy shirts.

NOT FOR ME!

I'll be wearing my leopard print until the end.

famous last words.

Friday, November 25, 2011

an episode alright

Today, feeling like I can't deal with life, I have resorted to watching Christmas episodes of Friends.

...and then I think to myself, maybe my penchant for watching bad 90's sitcoms is what makes me incapable of dealing with life in the first place.