Cameras, kitties, and more trips.

Sorry, I am really crap at keeping up with this blog! (I doubt anyone reads it anyway, aside from a few family members I know)

ANYWAY.

There was a bit of a rough patch there, but things are starting to pick back up again. Thank goodness. I nearly bought a plane ticket home, and would have done, if it didn't jump $700 while I was humming and hawing over it and waiting for my boss to give me the go ahead. She never did. And I probably should have just booked it anyway (she would have said yes), but it's too late now.

Although, that being said, they do say everything comes in threes, and I was blindsided by two life altering things in the past month. So I am just waiting for the third bombshell to drop.

There was an earthquake today. I was wondering why my chair was shaking, while I was in my Counter Terrorism training class. Charlotte grabs the handles of her chair, informs me that it's an earthquake, and tells the whole class to get outside. Years of living in Japan has made her uber paranoid about quakes.

Um. Work is still good. I like having a life outside of the Canadians.

I splurged and ordered myself my first DSLR (that's a camera, for you non photography folk) and spent way too much money on it, but it's lovely and I can't wait to figure out how to work the thing properly. I think it was a good investment, seen as we travel all the time.

We've got a trip to Venice and a Mediterranean cruise booked for next month, a trip to the Northern parts of Pakistan is tentatively planned for June or July, and then in October we're off to Egypt and Jordan. We'll go away again in December for Christmas (not Canada - don't get any funny ideas!), then again in March or April of 2014, and then sometime in May or June we'll go on our house hunting trip back in Canada, and then in July we'll be home!

Speaking of house hunting. From time to time I'll look at houses for sale in the areas that we're hoping to be posted to, and I fell in love with one today. I'm sure we won't be posted there, but it's nice to dream.

What else? Oh, I'm having 5 out of 9 tattoos removed. It's probably the most painful thing I've ever put myself through, but no pain, no gain. I'm contemplating having two more removed as well. What stupid ideas I had when I was younger.

K. I think I've rambled on long enough! Here, have a couple photos of the stray kitten I feed (taken with the new camera). She's been around since November and it seems like she hasn't grown at all.

It's not goodbye, it's see you later.

This is my last night in Canada, for the next two years at least. I'm pretty upset that I'm going to miss out on the Olympics, to be honest. I'll be spending the next few days in an airplane, and then who knows when I'll have television (who knows if it's even in English?) or internet.

Our passports came in today and they booked our flight for tomorrow evening. We'll be having a stopover in Washington, DC and then in Doha, Qatar. I am incredibly upset that the second flight is the only flight Rod and I aren't sitting together on, and it's the longest. We're in front of one another, but in the middle seat, which is always the worst, especially if you aren't sitting beside someone you know. Which means I won't be able to rest my head on his shoulder and sleep, and it's a 12 hour flight! I am praying to God that a few people don't show up and we'll be able to switch seats or something, because according to the site, it's completely booked up. Boo! I could cry over this, which is so pathetic but I really am upset. I don't want to sit by stinky strangers. (I'm such a child!)

On a brighter note, my brother DJ came to visit us last week for a couple of days which was a lot of fun. We had a great time out at the bar, maybe one of the best bar nights yet in Ottawa. So at least I got to see my brother AND sister one last time before I left. Thanks for coming to visit guys!

Well, the next time I post will be from Pakistan. Please send prayers and good vibes that we have a good, safe flight and arrive alive.

Adios, Canada!

So Long, Oshawa

Roderick and I have just returned from our week long trip to our hometown of Oshawa. It's really weird to think that I won't be there again for another two years, possibly longer (or shorter, in case something goes terribly wrong - but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that doesn't happen).

Aside from a few hiccups, it was a pretty good trip home. I think that I managed to see everyone I wanted to see, however a few weren't able to make it out due to not being in the country, which sucks, but that's life.

My Aunt Jane had a going away party for Rod and I on Saturday, and there was quite the turnout of people, and I had a really nice time. And it was the perfect opportunity for us to announce our engagement! That's right, we got engaged in Boston and it took everything I had to keep it to myself for a week because I was waiting for this party. Unfortunately, I am not a public speaker and after thanking everyone for coming and telling them how much I'm going to miss them, I ended up in tears so Rod had to announce it for us. I'll dedicate another post to our engagement and the proposal.

So anyway, it felt good to finally tell everyone and my parents, friends and family are all very happy for us!

Yesterday we left Oshawa, and it was a sad day. I tried not to cry when I was saying goodbye to everyone, so I saved the tears for after they left. *sigh* Rod thinks I'm crazy for being upset and crying about all of this, but I can't help it. Sure, this new adventure is exciting and it'll be a great experience for us, but it's still sad leaving your family and friends, regardless.

And I'd just like to take the time to thank Alex for having us over on Friday night for a going away party and to those who came, and to my Aunt Jane for hosting another party at her place and to everyone who came to that as well.

I'll miss you all! xo

Mother's Day

Well I did make it back to Oshawa with my in-laws, and spent a week and a half there. It was good to see family and friends again, and I was even able to spend Mother's Day with my mum. However, it didn't go as planned due to some family drama. There's always something, right?

As much as I love seeing everyone, I hate Oshawa. I can honestly say that I would never go back to that city if it weren't for my loved ones. It just bores me to tears. And while I don't lead an exceptionally exciting life here in Ottawa, there's always something to do, somewhere to go, something new to see.

Cougar is meowing at my bedroom door, wanting to come in. But he's such a cuddle bug and is so distracting when I have something to do.

Roderick is currently in the States for training and I miss him terribly. He won't be back until the 26th of May and it will have been a whole 3 weeks apart. He wants to plan a trip to Boston before we move, and I hope it happens! I've always wanted to visit before and he was really young the one time that he went. It would be a fun little roadtrip so I am going to keep my fingers crossed.

Still not sure when our last trip to Oshawa will be, but I will keep you all posted.