Still here!

Well, we arrived just over four months ago. And what a four months it's been. Just to recap - we spent 16 June-30 September living in a sub-let in the heart of downtown Fredericton. Of course, the "we" varies as my mother was with us from our arrival until we went to Boston on 30 July. Then, quite unexpectedly, on 20 August P left for Saint Paul to attend school. So, 7YO - a real trooper if I do say so - and I have been hanging in, just the two of us. Well, three with our pup! On 1 October we moved to what we thought would be a short stay in a fellow expat's place in historic Marysville. It was a great unit, but getting up off the frameless futon and out of the camp chair was really grueling on my legs. I was getting more and more furious over the delays with the build.

Peppered throughout this time are the various dates that we were told we'd be able to move into our house - 15 August, 1 September, 15 September, 1 October, 17 October... If you're sensing a trend there, you're right. I've tried to keep most of the build info on the other blog, but I thought - given that I actually have some time to breathe - I'd post an update here.

So, on the 10th of October I had a major meltdown on PR, the builder's "project manager," though he hadn't been managing our project. I had been told that the septic was going in that afternoon and that the kitchen cabinets would be delivered. When I stopped by on a beautiful, sunny Friday afternoon... not a soul in sight. Nothing. Zero. Nada. And they were still saying 17 October. Yeah, right.

Well, PR and D, the builder's brother and business partner, were furious. Not at me. They had no idea that there had been so many errors, nor that I had been given the timeline(s) that I had. They were furious that things had been going so badly and they didn't know. On Monday morning I was told that they had rented an "executive suite" in downtown Fredericton for as long as we need it. The upside is that we have a completely furnished unit, including kitchen, cable, and Internet. The downside is that it's not dog friendly. So, our pup is spending a couple of weeks - and I hope that's all - at Foster's, the great dog hotel in Durham Bridge. Since we've also no yard here and I haven't been able to walk more than 10-15 minutes, I know he's better off. I swear when he comes back after being there he's depressed! The other night I received an e-mail that he was spending the evening in the owners' house watching movies with them and their pets. So, mostly "upside," with one major "downside."

P came to visit last weekend and, with minor chaos - again, see the other blog - we got all of our stuff out of storage and into the basement of the house. She had to leave before the crack of dawn on Monday and will be back five weeks from yesterday. That time she'll be here for two weeks, going back only for ten days of finals.

What else?

I bought my first set of winter tires today. Nobody I knew in Minnesota bothered, but with the kind of snow/ice here - and that fact that we'll be in the "country" up a couple of hills - everyone said it was a must.

Turns out that one of 7YO's classmates just moved here from Hudson, Wisconsin, a town within reasonable commuting distance of Saint Paul. Her father grew up here, went to the same school that his daughter and 7YO are attending, but, after spending about a dozen years in the US, has returned because of the downturn in the economy. 7YO also has a new classmate from the Netherlands. One of the parents I often chat with is from West Yorkshire, England. All in all, a nice mix of folks and nobody - yet - bats an eye when I explain why we came to Canada.

I've been spending a lot of time shopping for furniture as we didn't bring much with us. While this isn't my idea of fun, it's been even less fun because we have an awkward living room space. We're hoping that the sofa we've chosen fits okay, but if not, we'll probably swap it for the love seat. We're getting the ottoman - in the same red - too, with the idea that we can put a nice tray on it and have it triple as a coffee table, foot rest, and extra seat. And, we decided to go - in my view - a bit suburban and get a cushy, double reclining sofa for the basement/tv space. But, hey, it's all about the comfort. We're doing it in a chocolate brown microfibre. I'm so glad to be done with that! Now I'm on the hunt for a harvest table. I'd like to get one made from reclaimed wood, but I don't know if I can do so without going to Maine... Anyway, we're buying furnishings with the understanding that we will eventually have a house!

Tomorrow I'm having an engine block heater put in the car. It was 10 years old in August and it did fine in the Minnesota winters, but it was in a garage. Last year you could tell it had to make the extra effort on those below freezing days. Since our garage won't be ready before the snow flies - oh, yeah, 'cause that was today - I decided to keep it "warm" - and not think about the extra burden on my carbon footprint.

I am really glad we're here. I confess that, since my income still comes from the US, I'm thrilled with the exchange rate. I wish I had time to do more with the stuff happening locally re sustainability, peace, etc., but I'm just not inclined to get a sitter so that I can go off without 7YO. He's loving his swimming at the Fredericton Indoor Pool. I love listening to the CBC as I drive. It's been a hard move, but most of that has to do with the house and P's departure. I realized the other day that none of this would be easier if I had moved out of Minnesota, but within the US. And, had I moved to a less hospitable community it would be much harder.

I am trying to get some work done, but mostly I am shopping, chauffering, dealing with the build, and trying to keep up with the more mundane requirements of life - e.g., laundry, groceries, etc. I am now off to read to 7YO before he goes to bed. I will be so glad when we are in our own home, school is just down the road, and I can focus on things besides "the move."

More as it happens!