The Best Vacation Ever

Well, we're back from our first trip together! Boston was amazing, however it is a long drive (about 7 or 8 hours including stops) and I am quite happy to be back in the comfort of my own home.

The days were jam packed full of things to do, and I am completely exhausted now. Every day we woke up early and did a ton of walking, my legs are incredibly sore but it was all worth it. We went on a ghost tour, we saw the Blue Man Group which was amazing and way better than I expected, we went to the New England  Aquarium, we did some shopping, we ate a lot of delicious food, did a day trip to Cape Cod, swam in the ocean, saw wild seals, and just had the best time together. We laughed, we bonded, it really was perfection.

Downside to Boston? The driving! Oh my word, it is insane. It's almost like it's a free for all and people just drive where ever the heck they want. Fortunately for us, the B&B was close to the "T" or subway, and the couple who stayed there before us left their 7 day passes, which was rather nice of them. Free, and convenient!

It's so strange, going to America. The last time I was there I was 13 and I forgot just how different we are. Thank god for Roderick's car which is able to switch into miles, that helped us avoid speeding. Not only that, but they have cigarettes on display in the stores, lottery tickets by the thousands on the wall, the food, the prices, just the way of life. I guess I thought we'd be more alike than we are. But no.

Shipping up to Boston

Several weeks ago, Roderick brought up the idea of a road trip to Boston. I wasn't sure if we'd have enough time to cram it in before we left, but turns out we do. We will be leaving early Wednesday morning and heading home on Sunday, as I have a two day course to attend the following Monday and Tuesday for spouses going overseas.

I've booked us a room at a gorgeous bed & breakfast (click here to see photos). After looking into several hotels in Boston, this was the most affordable option. I also managed to reserve us a haunted walking tour on Thursday evening, after snagging the deal on Groupon for $18!

This will be our first vacation together, and even though I've gone on a few roadtrips to Florida with my aunt and uncle when I was younger, I've never gone on one with friends or a boyfriend. So I am pretty stoked on this.

See you all when we return!

One month to go!

Only one month until we touch down in Pakistan, I cannot believe how fast the time is going. Fortunately I've managed to stay pretty busy, being unemployed, with appointments here and there for all sorts of things. We've been running around like mad trying to get everything sorted before leaving. There have been countless doctors visits, vaccines, dentists, meetings with the people who do the move, paperwork for loans, visas, passports, credit cards, and calling all different places to make sure that we have everything cancelled and all the addresses changed. It's just nonstop. Today a man came over who works for the housing organization on the base, to do an inspection and make sure we didn't destroy the place. Then on Monday a guy is coming in to estimate how much stuff we are shipping with us, and how many boxes he will need, as the military pays someone to pack it all for us. That is a huge bonus and such a weight off my shoulders. The only thing I need to do is create an excel spreadsheet of everything we own, including value and serial numbers, if need be. And since our spare bedroom is now emtpy, I've started putting everything that we're shipping with us in there, to make it easier on the movers.

This whole process is just so exhausting and I just can't wait until it's all over and we're finally there!

I've just returned from a quick trip to Oshawa. It was nice to see everyone, as usual, and even managed to have a going away party at Rod's parents place. We weren't sure if we would have time for one the next time we come down, but it looks like we will, so we planned a little get together for some of our friends to come over for drinks. It was a great time and I hope we're able to do it once more.

Unfortunately, I had to leave my animals with my in-laws when we left. I looked into it, and it would cost $10,000 just to ship Mya, my 80lb German Shepherd. The two cats, Fawkes and Cougar, probably wouldn't be so much but Cougar's getting old and I don't know if he'd make it on a 20 hour flight, and I want to keep them together anyway. I am devastated, to say the least. It was so weird coming home, opening the front door and not being greeted with kisses and meows. Broke my heart.

As it stands right now, and unless something goes terribly wrong, we will be back in Oshawa the last weekend of June. So those of you who live out of town, if you're able to make it down to see me, that'd be awesome. Because who knows when you'll get another chance. After Pakistan, we're hoping to be posted to British Columbia so it could be quite some time before I see anyone again.

Anyway, you've all been warned so if I see ya, I see ya.

My deepest fear

The other night Roderick started to watch a documentary on Doomsday. Apparently on December 21, 2012, the earth, sun and a black hole in the milky way are all meant to be in alignment. This could cause a shift of the poles, which would cause devastation throughout the world. The Mayans were very accurate in everything that was in their calendar, and I can't help but be scared that this will happen. The film also said that this has happened before, some 25,000 years ago. Not to mention, in the Muslim faith the end of the world is on a Friday. December 21, 2012 just so happens to fall on a Friday. Coincidence?

I always thought that maybe something would happen on that date, but I was thinking more along the lines of a shift in society. That we would all have to learn how to get along and live in peace, so as not to kill each other off.

But what if the poles do shift, and there are earthquakes and all sorts of natural disasters?

I am not afraid to die. However, I am afraid of dying without fully living. I want to experience what it's like to get married, to have children, grandchildren even, I want to travel the world more and meet new people, see some amazing things. I am not ready to die, not now. But if it happens, then so be it. I'm more terrified of the fact that if something did happen, in the off chance that I was still alive after it all, I'd be thousands of miles away from my family (if they were still alive!) and the place that I'm most comfortable in. In the event of some soft of apocalypse, I'd be able to survive in Canada, I don't think I'd be able to survive in Pakistan. I don't speak the language, I don't know the area, I wouldn't be able to make my way home for years and years and years, if ever, because I'm sure all the planes, boats, and everything needed to build them would be gone, and I'd have no way of contacting my family. This is my biggest fear. And I've not told anyone, until now...

I'll be missing you

Well Roderick is home from his two week training course in Virginia/North Carolina with a sweet as tan! (And no, that is not a spelling error.) He had a good time, but what man wouldn't when he spent his days shooting guns and playing paint ball? Lucky duck.

I had my first minor meltdown the other night when he informed me that we'd most likely have to say goodbye to the animals in two weeks time. Two weeks? That's far too soon. I was hoping we'd say goodbye the night before we left, even though I know that's not realistic. But two weeks? It just broke my heart to think that I may only have two weeks left with them, and what if I never see them again? I know I shouldn't think like that, but it's true. What if something happens to me? Or them? Cougar is getting up there, he's 10 years old now. If we stay in Pakistan for four years, he'd be 14. And while Fawkes and Mya are both still young, anything could happen. Honestly, I don't know how I am going to do this. They are my babies and this is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done.

In saying that, I hope nobody takes that the wrong way. Of course it's going to be difficult to say goodbye to all of you, especially my parents and my siblings, but I've done this before. I moved to Holland. I moved to Ottawa. And while Ottawa really isn't that far away, I only go home every 3-6 months for a couple of days, spending only a few hours with everyone. Nobody ever calls me, and while I try to call people every once in awhile, sometimes life gets in the way and I just never get around to it. Whereas when I lived in Holland, I made sure to call every week or two. So it's almost a guarantee that I'll talk to my family more when I live in Pakistan, than I do now. Sad to say, but it's true.

Anyway, back to the point... I already know what it's like to leave my family behind. But I have no idea what it's like to leave my babies, my animals. They are always here for me, no matter what. I take Mya for 1-2 walks everyday, she keeps me busy and I love spending time with her at the dog park or just wandering around base. And Fawkes and Cougar are such cuddle bugs, if I'm having a bad day I know they'll be there to snuggle up with and watch a movie.

Yep, it's safe to say I'll be a freakin' mess when that day comes!

"Every step I take, every move I make

Every single day, every time I pray

I'll be missing you"

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.

Just another update

I cannot believe that it's May, where did the time go? Now I just need these next two months to go by in a hurry so that I can just get to Pakistan already!

And now that I am unemployed, I'm afraid the days might just drag by. But hopefully I can keep myself busy. My in-laws are coming to visit this weekend, and I am hoping to head back to Oshawa with them on Sunday, provided my father-in-law can fix my car. There's something going on with the brakes we think, and right now it won't move. So if he can fix it on Saturday, then I can follow them back on Sunday, and hang out in Oshawa for a week or so. But then I'd be left having to drive the 4 hours back to Ottawa all by myself, which I've never done before. And I've only driven on a highway twice. This could get interesting.

I should probably get back to cleaning, but I'm feeling a wee bit lazy at the moment and I'm just waiting for Dr. Phil to come on.

Roderick's new birth certificate came in the mail the other day, so we were finally able to hand in our visa and passport applications. Hopefully there aren't anymore issues with that because it's been stressing me out. And what's up with the shitty new birth certificates? The darn thing was paper thin. At least before they were a bit thicker.

Oh, and we were finally told how much weight we're allowed to ship to Pakistan. At first we were told 500 lbs, then 850 lbs, and now, for sure, 7,850 lbs. Thank the Gods! I'm not really sure how much that is but hopefully we don't go over it. At least now we'll be able to bring everything we want and need - such as golf clubs, bicycles, linens, pots and pans, guitars, drum set, computers, clothes, books, etc. The house over there is furnished, which is helpful, and we are putting most of our belongings in storage here in Canada. I'd like to bring some artwork and other little things to make it feel like home, like my keepsake boxes and scrapbooks, but I'd hate for something to happen and lose them forever. So it's best that they stay here. I'll pack some photos, at least those are replaceable as most of them are online, and bring some candles and other little knick knacks that aren't as sentimental to me.

Now I just have the task of creating that darn excel spreadsheet of literally everything we own, including serial numbers for the big items! Bloody hell.