1. We have Internet access. My lifeline. On Wednesday, I stopped at a friend's house to pick up blinds that I had had sent to her place, not knowing when I'd be able to receive mail at home. She said, "So you don't have utilities?" And I said, "Oh, we have water, electric..." She cut me off and said, "But no Internet. It's 2008. I consider that a basic utility." I was really pleased to hear somebody who "got" that!
2. We went to a hotel on Tuesday night because the house/construction zone was just too crazy. We came back on Wednesday. Phone and Internet went in Thursday. Almost all of the builder's stuff is out of the house. With a few minor things, what will remain inside is what may end up being know as "the list of 1,000 deficiencies." Oh, well.
3. This morning 7YO and I were outside while the guys framed up the concrete forms for the garage. He wanted to play and I thought, “Great!” I told him he could go just to the edge of the trees as long as he could see me. Then it dawned on me that I had been told that one of the concrete guys was going to be late because he was going to “get in a morning hunt.” So, I asked, “What are the rules about hunting around here?” Two of the guys debated whether it was 250 metres or 400 metres from housing. Then D said, “If he’s going in the trees he ought to have an orange vest on.” Holy @#$% Batman! So, I told 7YO to stay in the “yard.” That would be the open area that is the septic field. Fortunately, deer season ends this weekend. Life in the "country."
4. I hate shopping at Wal-Mart. In the US, I hadn't set foot in a Wal-Mart for years. But, here my choices for run of the mill household stuff are basically Zellers or Wal-Mart. And, Zellers just doesn't seem to offer much in the way of selection. Some things I can get at Canadian Tire. Others, I cannot. I hate shopping at Wal-Mart.
5. It's Friday night. Tomorrow we get to go pick up our pup from the kennel. Well, he's 9 and a half, but he's our pup. He's been there for five weeks. I would never have dreamed it would be that long... 7YO has a new job - taking pup outside. He's never not had a fenced in yard. I wish it weren't already so damn cold. And dark. I hope I don't end up dealing with his encounter with an animal while I'm here alone. Do skunks hibernate?
6. It's Friday night. P arrives Wednesday night. Since her flight should get in before this time, that's technically fewer than five days. I think I might stay in bed for two weeks. She can't wait to get in the new kitchen, clean, organize, etc. I'm toast. Dried up, left in the toaster too long, crispy, toast.
I guess that's it for now. Tomorrow it's an early run to the Farmers' Market and then off to pick up the pup. Back to the house to get him familiarized with the new space, etc. Off to 7YO's swimming lessons. Back to the house to do more cleaning. My legs/knees are screaming at me for the little bit of box moving I did earlier today. But, so it goes. And, again, I'm toast. Crunch.
10 months ago
4 comments:
Life is moving on! I'm glad to hear it.
Poor pup being kennelled for so long! He must be sooo happy to be in his new home.
Our pups *have* a fenced-in yard for the first time in our lives, but we still had an encounter with a skunk over the summer!
And booo having to shop at Wal-Mart! I've never had to do that. I'm curious, what do they have that Zellers + Cdn Tire don't? I go to Cdn Tire for almost everything.
Continued good luck...!
Well, it sounds like things are falling into place and I'm quite happy for all of you. Nothing like being in your own home (or apt) in a new country and knowing that it's yours and you aren't going anywhere. Yes it's a lot of work but it does not have to all get done in a week, or even a month.
Since we arrived here Oct 9, 2007 we have had trips to Wal-Mart. One was before we even got to the house - we needed something to sleep on for a couple of nights so I kept the 'kids' company while my hubby dashed into Wal-mart for pillows and blankets, for sleeping on the floor. I have ventured inside Wal-mart since then, but only for price comparison and no purchases were made. We find what we need at Canadian tire and Real Canadian Superstore, and their price, when on sale, pretty much match that other store. Zellers we found to have a selection similar to Target, but it is too far into Victoria to justify regular trips - the other stores are much closer.
Thanks for the updates and I look forward to many more adventures from your new home and country!
Superstore is our #1! I love Canadian Tire (or Crappy Tire as it is affectionately called here) I always see something in the flyers and then I'm on the hook like a trout. Not too much on the Wal-Mart. Costco is great, as well. Where else can you go and spend $300 and then have to stop at the grocery store on the way home.
Regarding shopping...
"Zellers we found to have a selection similar to Target" - blasphemy! Maybe it's the Zellers here, but they aren't anywhere in the same galaxy as our beloved Target. Sigh.
Seriously, there are two Zellers here. One is worse than the worst K-Mart I ever recall being in. Since it's closest to the house I went there with a list and walked out with one thing, Q-tips. I don't recall what else was on the list, but it was a complete bust.
One of the things that I don't believe any of you have that I do is... 7YO. What does Wal-Mart have that Canadian Tire and Zellers do not? Two words: toy selection. We do have a Toys Be We, but when looking for specific Pokemon characters...
When I first traveled to BC and discovered the Real Canadian Superstore, woo-hoo. Loved it. Unfortunately, what we have here is the Atlantic Superstore. Both locations here are smaller than the RCS I recall in BC. One is a grocery store; the other is a grocery store with a small clothing section and a small section with DVDs, etc. That's it.
The new Canadian Tire on our Northside seems to have a better selection than the one on the Southside, so I'll be checking it out more closely.
The good news is that once we get settled, get past the upcoming holiday and birthday, we don't want to buy much of anything! It will also be easier to hit multiple stores for what we do need when one of us can go without a whiny 7YO in tow.
Oh, and other good news is that there is a pretty good Co-op here. We were able to buy almost all of our appliances there. The two sofas we've bought came from a local independent furniture dealer. And, the dining table we've commissioned from a local woodworker. So, in the balance of things, I'm not going to lose any sleep over the W-M thing. I've got enough other things to cause me to lose sleep!! LOL
Oh, and the closest Costco is two hours away in Moncton. They are apparently working a deal to build one here, but it's not been finalized. I've never had a membership to one, but I do recall a program that gave them pretty great ratings on labour issues, etc. So, if they end up here perhaps we'll check them out.
The saga continues...
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