1 year ago
26 August 2008
The Mouths of Babes
A few moments ago, 7YO and I had the Democratic convention on the television. An obnoxious GOP commercial aired. He said, "That's Hillary Clinton" and asked something about it being "Obama against Clinton." He's never heard of McCain. I explained that the contest had been between them, but that now it was Obama v. McCain, a friend of Bush. He asked, "Why don't you like George Bush?" This, btw, is old news to him. When he was 3 he could chant, "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, George Bush has got to go." But, I responded by saying that I don't like Bush because he took the country to war by lying and people had died. Then - going out on a limb - I said that he also didn't believe that kids should be able to have two moms or two dads. He did his, "Grrrrr..." and said, "He has a peanut brain" and "his dad George Bush has half a peanut brain." Okay, so he got that backwards. Still, talk about on target! In the car he prefers news to music. As I write, he's falling asleep in the chair, half watching Maine public television coverage. But, don't ask him to read or write. Go figure.
More of the same...
Here are a couple of more examples of why I'm glad - even with all the challenges we've had - to be out...
Unmarried adoption ban cleared for ballot
Ark. proposal would keep gays from becoming foster or adoptive parents
The Associated Press
Aug. 25, 2008
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A proposal aimed at effectively banning gays and lesbians from becoming foster or adoptive parents was cleared Monday to appear on this fall's ballot in Arkansas.
The measure would prohibit unmarried couples living together from fostering or adopting children, and Arkansas doesn't allow gays to marry or recognize gay marriages conducted elsewhere.
Go here for the entire article.
and
Texas gov. OK with teachers packing heat
Texas school district allows teachers to carry guns for protection
The Associated Press
Aug. 25, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas - Along with normal first-day jitters and excitement, students in this tiny district started school Monday wondering which teachers might be toting firearms.
"It was kind of awkward knowing that some teachers were carrying guns," said Adam Lira, 17, a senior. "I don't feel like they should be, 'cause we already have locked doors and cameras. But I didn't feel threatened by it."
Several parents said they had no idea that employees of the K-12 school were allowed to carry concealed guns on campus until recent publicity about the school board's policy, approved quietly last fall. They said they were upset that the rural community near the Oklahoma border had not been able to give input.
While some parents said they felt their children were safer, others opposed the plan, which appears to be the first of its kind nationwide.
Go here for the entire article.
Unmarried adoption ban cleared for ballot
Ark. proposal would keep gays from becoming foster or adoptive parents
The Associated Press
Aug. 25, 2008
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A proposal aimed at effectively banning gays and lesbians from becoming foster or adoptive parents was cleared Monday to appear on this fall's ballot in Arkansas.
The measure would prohibit unmarried couples living together from fostering or adopting children, and Arkansas doesn't allow gays to marry or recognize gay marriages conducted elsewhere.
Go here for the entire article.
and
Texas gov. OK with teachers packing heat
Texas school district allows teachers to carry guns for protection
The Associated Press
Aug. 25, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas - Along with normal first-day jitters and excitement, students in this tiny district started school Monday wondering which teachers might be toting firearms.
"It was kind of awkward knowing that some teachers were carrying guns," said Adam Lira, 17, a senior. "I don't feel like they should be, 'cause we already have locked doors and cameras. But I didn't feel threatened by it."
Several parents said they had no idea that employees of the K-12 school were allowed to carry concealed guns on campus until recent publicity about the school board's policy, approved quietly last fall. They said they were upset that the rural community near the Oklahoma border had not been able to give input.
While some parents said they felt their children were safer, others opposed the plan, which appears to be the first of its kind nationwide.
Go here for the entire article.
18 August 2008
Where to Begin?
It's going to take me a while to catch up and I don't know that I have the presence of mind... I guess the biggest news is that because P's law school - a part of the university with which I am employed - is an evil, inhumane bureaucracy, P is leaving for St. Paul on Wednesday morning at 5:40 am. Longer story short(er).
She delayed filing her intent to take a leave, waiting to hear about the job here. She didn't get the job here. She contacted the law school to see about taking a fall leave. We figured it made more sense, absent the job, to stay here until we were actually settled, and go back in the spring if she wanted to finish this year. A man I'll call Rick - the "p" is silent and thanks to Kate Clinton for that one - serves as a dean of sorts. It was his call that if she took the fall leave she would lose her roughly $12,000 scholarship. So, we decided that there was no way she could stay here - if she ever planned to finish - and give up the scholarship. The good news is that we had originally talked about the possibility, so we weren't completely unprepared. We just didn't anticipate that it would be with 7YO and me still living in temporary quarters and me with one fully functional limb, and that one with wrist arthritis.
So, 7YO and I will be here in Fredericton. Next week he's in camp again all week so I will have some time to play catch-up with a lot of hanging details, like my expense report from the Boston trip. The week after that he starts school. My birthday is the end of that week. Happy frickin' birthday. There is the possibility that we will be able to move in to the house, sans siding, the third week of September. Not holding my breath. Speaking of the house, I'll try to post an update on that soon.
So, as you might imagine, we've got a lot going on. We did go away this weekend, a previously planned birthday celebration for P. We took our first trip to Grand Manan Island. After a Friday of prep, we drove down to Blacks Harbour first thing Saturday morning - in the heaviest fog I've seen in years. To do so, we had to take what is allegedly the NB highway most frequented by moose. Unfortunately we saw evidence of that claim. I was glad that 7YO was snoozing when we passed two different moose who had met their demise on the highway. Scary and sad.
We took the 9:30 ferry, but, due to the fog, we saw nothing past the railing for the entire 90 minute trip. We arrived at North Head, Grand Manan around 11 am. Everything was enveloped in fog. We had talked to a local on the ferry and he had, delightfully, clued us in to the local bakery. We stopped and picked up warm doughnuts and other treats. We made our way to Castalia Marsh Retreat thinking we wouldn't be able to check in because it was so early. But, our host said, "It's ready, make yourselves at home."
We stayed in the "Birch Yurt." This was a great "in between" because, right now, my knees and shoulder would just, I'm sure, completely quit if I said, "Let me get my ThermaRest!" So, a camping cabin was a great alternative. Here are a couple of photos.
The "Birch Yurt" at Castalia Marsh Retreat, Grand Manan Island.
The view out the window, toward the marsh.
The walk out to the Swallowtail lighthouse.
The "Hole in the Wall" formation.
She delayed filing her intent to take a leave, waiting to hear about the job here. She didn't get the job here. She contacted the law school to see about taking a fall leave. We figured it made more sense, absent the job, to stay here until we were actually settled, and go back in the spring if she wanted to finish this year. A man I'll call Rick - the "p" is silent and thanks to Kate Clinton for that one - serves as a dean of sorts. It was his call that if she took the fall leave she would lose her roughly $12,000 scholarship. So, we decided that there was no way she could stay here - if she ever planned to finish - and give up the scholarship. The good news is that we had originally talked about the possibility, so we weren't completely unprepared. We just didn't anticipate that it would be with 7YO and me still living in temporary quarters and me with one fully functional limb, and that one with wrist arthritis.
So, 7YO and I will be here in Fredericton. Next week he's in camp again all week so I will have some time to play catch-up with a lot of hanging details, like my expense report from the Boston trip. The week after that he starts school. My birthday is the end of that week. Happy frickin' birthday. There is the possibility that we will be able to move in to the house, sans siding, the third week of September. Not holding my breath. Speaking of the house, I'll try to post an update on that soon.
So, as you might imagine, we've got a lot going on. We did go away this weekend, a previously planned birthday celebration for P. We took our first trip to Grand Manan Island. After a Friday of prep, we drove down to Blacks Harbour first thing Saturday morning - in the heaviest fog I've seen in years. To do so, we had to take what is allegedly the NB highway most frequented by moose. Unfortunately we saw evidence of that claim. I was glad that 7YO was snoozing when we passed two different moose who had met their demise on the highway. Scary and sad.
We took the 9:30 ferry, but, due to the fog, we saw nothing past the railing for the entire 90 minute trip. We arrived at North Head, Grand Manan around 11 am. Everything was enveloped in fog. We had talked to a local on the ferry and he had, delightfully, clued us in to the local bakery. We stopped and picked up warm doughnuts and other treats. We made our way to Castalia Marsh Retreat thinking we wouldn't be able to check in because it was so early. But, our host said, "It's ready, make yourselves at home."
We stayed in the "Birch Yurt." This was a great "in between" because, right now, my knees and shoulder would just, I'm sure, completely quit if I said, "Let me get my ThermaRest!" So, a camping cabin was a great alternative. Here are a couple of photos.
The "Birch Yurt" at Castalia Marsh Retreat, Grand Manan Island.
The view out the window, toward the marsh.A few other snapshots...
The walk out to the Swallowtail lighthouse.
The "Hole in the Wall" formation.We had great seafood and saw some beautiful scenery. 7YO enjoyed his "beachcombing" and "rockhounding." The Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station museum was also a hit. This morning, Monday, we stopped at the bakery en route to the 9:30 ferry, picking up some more warm doughnuts and a couple of loaves of bread made with organic ingredients from a New Brunswick farm. Yea - 100 mile diet qualified!
This time we were on the smaller boat. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. It was sunny and warm. A striking difference from Saturday. And, on the way back, several times we spotted harbour porpoises surfacing as they swam. Very cool. They often spot whales, but we did not.
We stopped in Blacks Harbour to pick up some sardines and at The Birch Grove in St. George for lunch - one more scallop burger, one more lobster roll... Then, we stopped in St. Andrews for one last visit - for the summer - to Katy's Cove. P and 7YO went for a swim while the pup - yes, our 9+ year old lab x spaniel made the trip with us - and I hung out in the shade. As you see, we opted for a leisurely return to Fredericton. Good thing. I'll save the story of the "too short joists" for another post on another blog.
All in all, Grand Manan is a great getaway if you enjoy nature, the water, hiking, relaxing, and seafood. If you've ever been to places like St. Andrews, NB or Ogunquit, ME or just about any place on Cape Cod, think of Grand Manan as the anti-resort. You won't find any fast food, neon lights, or tacky shops. There appears to be one gas station, one grocery store, one great bakery, and a handful of restaurants that you might miss if you're not looking. There are all kinds of hiking trails and several campgrounds, cottages, etc. You can go whale watching or kayaking, but that's pretty much it for "touristy" things. All in all, we give it a thumbs up. You just have to know what you're looking for in a vacation. One storekeeper I spoke with relocated there from Toronto and loves it. But, when her sister came to visit she couldn't wait to leave.
Off to bed - more as I gather the energy!
This time we were on the smaller boat. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. It was sunny and warm. A striking difference from Saturday. And, on the way back, several times we spotted harbour porpoises surfacing as they swam. Very cool. They often spot whales, but we did not.
We stopped in Blacks Harbour to pick up some sardines and at The Birch Grove in St. George for lunch - one more scallop burger, one more lobster roll... Then, we stopped in St. Andrews for one last visit - for the summer - to Katy's Cove. P and 7YO went for a swim while the pup - yes, our 9+ year old lab x spaniel made the trip with us - and I hung out in the shade. As you see, we opted for a leisurely return to Fredericton. Good thing. I'll save the story of the "too short joists" for another post on another blog.
All in all, Grand Manan is a great getaway if you enjoy nature, the water, hiking, relaxing, and seafood. If you've ever been to places like St. Andrews, NB or Ogunquit, ME or just about any place on Cape Cod, think of Grand Manan as the anti-resort. You won't find any fast food, neon lights, or tacky shops. There appears to be one gas station, one grocery store, one great bakery, and a handful of restaurants that you might miss if you're not looking. There are all kinds of hiking trails and several campgrounds, cottages, etc. You can go whale watching or kayaking, but that's pretty much it for "touristy" things. All in all, we give it a thumbs up. You just have to know what you're looking for in a vacation. One storekeeper I spoke with relocated there from Toronto and loves it. But, when her sister came to visit she couldn't wait to leave.
Off to bed - more as I gather the energy!
09 August 2008
Just Busy
Hello, hello! I've not posted in a while - just busy, tired, traveling, etc. Stream of consciousness here... My knees and shoulder are just sucking any energy I might have right out of me. I was en route/in Boston from 31 July - 6 August. It was a good, but tiring, trip. P found out, while we were away, that she came in second for the job. That was a huge drag, but we're trying to operate on the "it's because there's something better yet to come" approach. The week we were gone there was record rainfall here. That translates to being another week behind on the build. And, it's rained almost every day since we returned. The good news is that we met with the builder for two hours yesterday and hammered out a lot of the details. We're pretty much on budget so that's great to know. Now if we could just get the damn thing built. Prompted by L-girl, I'm meeting with members of the Fredericton Peace Coalition on the 19th to see what they're up to; and in particular to encourage action re the resisters. 7YO has been a terror. Too much Scooby-Doo and Pokemon and not enough running around. Next week he's in camp 8:30-4:30. That should help. Before leaving for Boston we had coffee with two couples - one gay, one lesbian - and had a fabulous time. We've discovered two little organic shops right downtown. Very nice, indeed. That's about it for a quick update. I'm off to ice my knee. Hopefully this week I'll have the energy to post something a bit more coherent. Take care!
24 July 2008
More fun!
Aside from the fact that I may have a stroke over the build - go here for that info - things are going great! We've had another busy week with swimming lessons, tutoring, touring, etc. Yesterday my mother (77YO) and I went up to Houlton, Maine to visit a woman who was my father's nanny around 1938-1942. What a hoot!
Tonight P and I are going to dinner at the home of the folks who just moved here from Montreal, P and S. And, 77YO offered to stay home with 7YO so that we could have "grown-up" conversation. Tomorrow is the beginning of the Highland Games in Fredericton. We'll go to the Tattoo in the evening and the competitions, music, etc., over the weekend. On Sunday we're going for coffee with two gay/lesbian couples in the neighborhood.
I am not kidding when I say we've met more people here than in the last several years back in Saint Paul. Seems like most folks we associated with there were from work. I am loving this.
The other big news is the P had the big job interview on Tuesday. Though she won't know until next Friday whether or not she'll get an offer, the good news is that she felt it went well and there wasn't anything she could have done differently. Thus, if she doesn't get it, she can honestly say there wasn't anything more she could have done and chalk it up to other things. We're really hopeful, but trying not to hold our collective breath.
I guess that's it. My knees and shoulder are still just horrific. But, I'm hobbling through. We got the letter saying that we have NB Medicare as of 1 September and I'm waiting for the orthopedic referral. Unfortunately - but at least I knew it before getting here - we may never get a family doctor. That's a bit frightening when it comes to preventive care for 7YO, but folks obviously make do.
F'ton rocks!
Tonight P and I are going to dinner at the home of the folks who just moved here from Montreal, P and S. And, 77YO offered to stay home with 7YO so that we could have "grown-up" conversation. Tomorrow is the beginning of the Highland Games in Fredericton. We'll go to the Tattoo in the evening and the competitions, music, etc., over the weekend. On Sunday we're going for coffee with two gay/lesbian couples in the neighborhood.
I am not kidding when I say we've met more people here than in the last several years back in Saint Paul. Seems like most folks we associated with there were from work. I am loving this.
The other big news is the P had the big job interview on Tuesday. Though she won't know until next Friday whether or not she'll get an offer, the good news is that she felt it went well and there wasn't anything she could have done differently. Thus, if she doesn't get it, she can honestly say there wasn't anything more she could have done and chalk it up to other things. We're really hopeful, but trying not to hold our collective breath.
I guess that's it. My knees and shoulder are still just horrific. But, I'm hobbling through. We got the letter saying that we have NB Medicare as of 1 September and I'm waiting for the orthopedic referral. Unfortunately - but at least I knew it before getting here - we may never get a family doctor. That's a bit frightening when it comes to preventive care for 7YO, but folks obviously make do.
F'ton rocks!
20 July 2008
We Love Fredericton!
What a great weekend! Saturday morning began with clouds and drizzle, but the Fredericton Newcomers Club BBQ went on as planned. Within an hour the skies cleared and we had a gorgeous afternoon at Mactaquac. 7YO spent some time casting at the lake, played with other kids, and was introducted to a game of modified cricket. A majority, though not all, of the "newcomers" are from the UK. We chatted with a woman, A, whose son will be six in September and exchanged numbers. And, we met a woman whose 15YO is interested in babysitting. Score!
This morning A called and 7YO and I went to their place for lunch, followed by an afternoon at the Kingswood Family Entertainment Center. The boys played in the "climber," used up their tokens in the arcade, and played a line of candlepin. 7YO had an absolutely fabulous weekend which, after spending the past six weeks with his moms and grandma was just terrific! We also lined up the aforementioned babysitter so that the three grown-ups can go out to dinner before 77YO heads back to Arizona.
I also heard from one of the guys I met at the conference in May. He and his partner just arrived from Montreal, closed on their house, and are getting settled. And, he's finding himself surprised at how much he's liking Fredericton. We hope to get together with them later this week. So, this has been a great weekend for getting settled and meeting folks.
I've been meaning to post about our great kennel search. A few weeks back we spent the afternoon visiting kennels. The first one, unfortunately the closest to our house, was kind of scary. Very, very, very noisy and not all the cages - and they were cages - were connected to runs. Ugh. Then we stopped at a place that, in addition to being a vet's office, had a sign, "Pet Boarding." The [very nice] woman at the desk said, "Oh, they don't do that any more." On to the third stop. We really liked the owner and the fact that she can take only four dogs at a time, but she - not surprisingly - had no space for the weekend we needed.
We had heard about two women who were opening a kennel, but didn't have their names, etc. So, I contacted our realtor and she tracked down their information. Long story short. Although it's 9-10 km farther and $5/day more than the likable place, above, it's just terrific - especially for our sensitive guy.
Check out Foster's Home for Dogs here and here. This was the proprietor's dream. She and her partner bought the property so that they could do just this. They remodeled the garage into 8 separate "hotel rooms." Each room has a toddler bed and sleeping rug. Sounds a little over the top, I'm sure. But, it's great! There's a window in the front wall of each room where C can check on the "guest" without opening the door and unnecessarily exciting him/her. I wasn't so sure about the walled room v. the open wire, but I think it works. They get so much time playing outside that I don't think they end up feeling isolated.
When we went for a pre-board visit, C spent some time getting to know our pup, Boz. She took him for a walk and spent some time getting a sense of his personality, etc. We dropped him off the next morning and he spent two days there. When we returned to pick him up they gave us a montage of photos from his stay. What a hoot!
So, that's it. Tomorrow is Monday. We'll see what happens with the build. They're calling for clouds and showers all week. Fingers crossed, as always.
This morning A called and 7YO and I went to their place for lunch, followed by an afternoon at the Kingswood Family Entertainment Center. The boys played in the "climber," used up their tokens in the arcade, and played a line of candlepin. 7YO had an absolutely fabulous weekend which, after spending the past six weeks with his moms and grandma was just terrific! We also lined up the aforementioned babysitter so that the three grown-ups can go out to dinner before 77YO heads back to Arizona.
I also heard from one of the guys I met at the conference in May. He and his partner just arrived from Montreal, closed on their house, and are getting settled. And, he's finding himself surprised at how much he's liking Fredericton. We hope to get together with them later this week. So, this has been a great weekend for getting settled and meeting folks.
I've been meaning to post about our great kennel search. A few weeks back we spent the afternoon visiting kennels. The first one, unfortunately the closest to our house, was kind of scary. Very, very, very noisy and not all the cages - and they were cages - were connected to runs. Ugh. Then we stopped at a place that, in addition to being a vet's office, had a sign, "Pet Boarding." The [very nice] woman at the desk said, "Oh, they don't do that any more." On to the third stop. We really liked the owner and the fact that she can take only four dogs at a time, but she - not surprisingly - had no space for the weekend we needed.
We had heard about two women who were opening a kennel, but didn't have their names, etc. So, I contacted our realtor and she tracked down their information. Long story short. Although it's 9-10 km farther and $5/day more than the likable place, above, it's just terrific - especially for our sensitive guy.
Check out Foster's Home for Dogs here and here. This was the proprietor's dream. She and her partner bought the property so that they could do just this. They remodeled the garage into 8 separate "hotel rooms." Each room has a toddler bed and sleeping rug. Sounds a little over the top, I'm sure. But, it's great! There's a window in the front wall of each room where C can check on the "guest" without opening the door and unnecessarily exciting him/her. I wasn't so sure about the walled room v. the open wire, but I think it works. They get so much time playing outside that I don't think they end up feeling isolated.
When we went for a pre-board visit, C spent some time getting to know our pup, Boz. She took him for a walk and spent some time getting a sense of his personality, etc. We dropped him off the next morning and he spent two days there. When we returned to pick him up they gave us a montage of photos from his stay. What a hoot!
So, that's it. Tomorrow is Monday. We'll see what happens with the build. They're calling for clouds and showers all week. Fingers crossed, as always.
18 July 2008
Reminder
I just thought I'd post a reminder that I'm putting photos of the house build here. Hopefully there will be some exciting additions by late next week!
In other news, today we went to Woodstock, New Brunswick's "first town," and Hartland, home of the world's longest covered bridge. Although it was overcast with an occasional drizzle, we went to the farm market in Woodstock and had a nice "home style" lunch at Kalijas Family Restaurant. For me this meant a hot pork sandwich on homemade bread with gravy, french fries, and coleslaw. No skimping on the calories this time! We then had a pleasant drive back on 105, via Mactaquac, Keswick Ridge, and through Douglas, where we checked out the work on the house.
In other news, today we went to Woodstock, New Brunswick's "first town," and Hartland, home of the world's longest covered bridge. Although it was overcast with an occasional drizzle, we went to the farm market in Woodstock and had a nice "home style" lunch at Kalijas Family Restaurant. For me this meant a hot pork sandwich on homemade bread with gravy, french fries, and coleslaw. No skimping on the calories this time! We then had a pleasant drive back on 105, via Mactaquac, Keswick Ridge, and through Douglas, where we checked out the work on the house.
16 July 2008
Catch-Up
I've been really negligent about posting. Living in temporary quarters, having my mother with us, having knees and a shoulder that have given up and gone home, and major frustration with the house are taking their toll. But, while sitting here waiting for the builder to call, I thought I'd try to post a little something.
We've taken care of all of the "getting settled as PR" things. E.g., NB Medicare application and the car. A word about each... The Medicare app wasn't bad, but after submitting it we received a letter asking for photocopy of our PR cards, front and back; photocopy of our driver's licences and car registration; proof that we're living here (e.g., rental receipts, utility bills, etc.); copies of our Customs form for bringing our goods into Canada; and something else I can't recall at the moment. We don't have anything like rental receipts so I sent a copy of the deed to our land! Hopefully that is evidence enough of our intent to stay!
As for the car - that would have gone really smoothly except that, when I found out that we wouldn't need our driving records to obtain licences here, I didn't request them before leaving. Then, I found out that, yes, while we wouldn't need them for licences, we would need them to obtain car insurance. And, you have to have Canadian car insurance before getting tags. The good news - miracles of miracles - is that I sent the requests via Purolator to Minnesota, with a note asking that if they could possibly fax them directly to the insurance agent... Lo' and behold she had them within the week. I was shocked! So, we now - after the modifications of the car seat tether and day time running lights, federal and provincial inspections, and a minor repair to one wheel - have New Brunswick plates.
We've taken a quick trip to Halifax to take my mother to the tattoo, visited Peggy's Cove, Hopewell Rocks, St. Andrews by the Sea, the Ganong Chocolate Museum, etc. 7YO has been swimming almost daily and started weekly swimming lessons. We've lined up a tutor for twice weekly sessions for what's left of the summer. We've selected appliances. We've not been letting the dust settle around us, that's for sure. Last night P and I got to go out for a "grown-ups only" dinner, but we were so tired we went early and were home before 7! Ah, we're such party animals!
In other news - a word about health care. As you might recall, back in May I spent one day at the ER here in Fredericton. Now, under my excellent health care coverage in Minnesota - and I mean that seriously as in 13 years I've been very happy with the care and coverage I've received - the ER bill would, based on experience, probably have been around $800. What one would actually pay would vary, depending upon coverage. I just received the bill for my May visit. $231. Yup. Just as I thought. A not wholly unreasonable charge for being seen in the ER.
A 20 minute appointment with a doctor at the MN clinic is $220. Again, what you actually pay varies. Under my former coverage it would be a $30 co-pay. Under my current high deductible HSA it is about $158. I say "current" because I've kept my insurance since I'm not yet covered here and my employer pays for it. Last week I went to the after hours clinic here in F'ton - what you do when you don't yet have a family doctor. I had to pay $50 because I'm not yet covered by NB Medicare. It cracked me up that in MN that would have been a $30 co-pay or $157. I was essentially paying for an orthopedic referral, but that's what I would have to do in MN, too. So, is NB subsidizing the costs, even for those who don't have coverage? Or, are costs in the US ridiculously jacked up? Get this - when I went in for a 20 minute appointment, during which the physician gave me a cortisone injection, the bill was $220 for the "20 minute appointment" and $204 for his giving me the injection (plus the cost of the medication itself). Call me crazy, but that's like a lawyer saying, "I charge $200 an hour to see you and $100 if I take notes while we go over your complaint." Lawyers may have their issues, but an hour is an hour. I couldn't believe that I paid for the visit and separately for what he did during the visit! I guess I shouldn't be surprised... But, geez!
So, speaking of health care. My knees, one in particular, are still trashed. Bad. Wrecked. I actually think that they may have been put over the edge when I laid vinyl flooring - getting the house ready to sell - without knee pads. I remember standing up and thinking, "Oy!" But, time will tell.
That's the latest. I've written all that and still not heard from the builder. Time to make a phone call. Hope all is well with you and yours! More as it happens!
We've taken care of all of the "getting settled as PR" things. E.g., NB Medicare application and the car. A word about each... The Medicare app wasn't bad, but after submitting it we received a letter asking for photocopy of our PR cards, front and back; photocopy of our driver's licences and car registration; proof that we're living here (e.g., rental receipts, utility bills, etc.); copies of our Customs form for bringing our goods into Canada; and something else I can't recall at the moment. We don't have anything like rental receipts so I sent a copy of the deed to our land! Hopefully that is evidence enough of our intent to stay!
As for the car - that would have gone really smoothly except that, when I found out that we wouldn't need our driving records to obtain licences here, I didn't request them before leaving. Then, I found out that, yes, while we wouldn't need them for licences, we would need them to obtain car insurance. And, you have to have Canadian car insurance before getting tags. The good news - miracles of miracles - is that I sent the requests via Purolator to Minnesota, with a note asking that if they could possibly fax them directly to the insurance agent... Lo' and behold she had them within the week. I was shocked! So, we now - after the modifications of the car seat tether and day time running lights, federal and provincial inspections, and a minor repair to one wheel - have New Brunswick plates.
We've taken a quick trip to Halifax to take my mother to the tattoo, visited Peggy's Cove, Hopewell Rocks, St. Andrews by the Sea, the Ganong Chocolate Museum, etc. 7YO has been swimming almost daily and started weekly swimming lessons. We've lined up a tutor for twice weekly sessions for what's left of the summer. We've selected appliances. We've not been letting the dust settle around us, that's for sure. Last night P and I got to go out for a "grown-ups only" dinner, but we were so tired we went early and were home before 7! Ah, we're such party animals!
In other news - a word about health care. As you might recall, back in May I spent one day at the ER here in Fredericton. Now, under my excellent health care coverage in Minnesota - and I mean that seriously as in 13 years I've been very happy with the care and coverage I've received - the ER bill would, based on experience, probably have been around $800. What one would actually pay would vary, depending upon coverage. I just received the bill for my May visit. $231. Yup. Just as I thought. A not wholly unreasonable charge for being seen in the ER.
A 20 minute appointment with a doctor at the MN clinic is $220. Again, what you actually pay varies. Under my former coverage it would be a $30 co-pay. Under my current high deductible HSA it is about $158. I say "current" because I've kept my insurance since I'm not yet covered here and my employer pays for it. Last week I went to the after hours clinic here in F'ton - what you do when you don't yet have a family doctor. I had to pay $50 because I'm not yet covered by NB Medicare. It cracked me up that in MN that would have been a $30 co-pay or $157. I was essentially paying for an orthopedic referral, but that's what I would have to do in MN, too. So, is NB subsidizing the costs, even for those who don't have coverage? Or, are costs in the US ridiculously jacked up? Get this - when I went in for a 20 minute appointment, during which the physician gave me a cortisone injection, the bill was $220 for the "20 minute appointment" and $204 for his giving me the injection (plus the cost of the medication itself). Call me crazy, but that's like a lawyer saying, "I charge $200 an hour to see you and $100 if I take notes while we go over your complaint." Lawyers may have their issues, but an hour is an hour. I couldn't believe that I paid for the visit and separately for what he did during the visit! I guess I shouldn't be surprised... But, geez!
So, speaking of health care. My knees, one in particular, are still trashed. Bad. Wrecked. I actually think that they may have been put over the edge when I laid vinyl flooring - getting the house ready to sell - without knee pads. I remember standing up and thinking, "Oy!" But, time will tell.
That's the latest. I've written all that and still not heard from the builder. Time to make a phone call. Hope all is well with you and yours! More as it happens!
06 July 2008
Wing Nuts and Other Morons
You may have noticed the deleted comments on a couple of posts. I was going to delete and ignore them, but I'm pissed.
Someone - I believe the username was something like magnolia_2000 - posted, in "response" to my Canada Day post, "Corey Glass is a fraud." I think that's the post that also said something like, "Wait until wmtc sees this." Then, a separate comment said, "wmtc is a b**ch." Clearly this person has seen that wmtc and 2moms are linked, and, perhaps, my supportive comments to L-girl regarding her activism on this issue. But, unable to post obnoxious comments to wmtc, this person was, I'm guessing, looking for another avenue. I posted a response and then decided to just delete the comments and my response and ignore it. Ignore them and they go away, right?
Well, this morning, there's another comment: "i-girl said... I've been thinking and I don't want to link to your blog anymore. Please stop linking." Interestingly, when you click to view the profile it is - shocking, I know! - unavailable. And, at that point it reads, "l-girl." In addition, it was created in July - as in the past 5-6 days.
Clearly someone - no doubt the same person as behind magnolia - is trying to pass as our fellow traveler, "l-girl" of wmtc. I hate to sound like I'm in junior high, but, "What a dork!" As if I would think that l-girl was posting a comment telling me to stop linking to wmtc. Get a life. Choose your cliche, but leave me the f**k alone. This blog is a pedestrian little thing that serves as an account of our travels to Canada and, hopefully, some useful information - here and there - for others seeking to do the same.
No, this isn't eloquent. I'm annoyed. If you have so much frickin' time on your hands that you can spend your time creating usernames and intruding upon others' cyber-communities - without the cojones - or other euphemism of choice - to identify yourself, send me a note and I'll let you know about 1000 ways you can actually offer something positive to the world. There are plenty of opportunities out there.
Okay, back - perhaps - to our regularly scheduled programming. And, unfortunately, moderated comments.
Someone - I believe the username was something like magnolia_2000 - posted, in "response" to my Canada Day post, "Corey Glass is a fraud." I think that's the post that also said something like, "Wait until wmtc sees this." Then, a separate comment said, "wmtc is a b**ch." Clearly this person has seen that wmtc and 2moms are linked, and, perhaps, my supportive comments to L-girl regarding her activism on this issue. But, unable to post obnoxious comments to wmtc, this person was, I'm guessing, looking for another avenue. I posted a response and then decided to just delete the comments and my response and ignore it. Ignore them and they go away, right?
Well, this morning, there's another comment: "i-girl said... I've been thinking and I don't want to link to your blog anymore. Please stop linking." Interestingly, when you click to view the profile it is - shocking, I know! - unavailable. And, at that point it reads, "l-girl." In addition, it was created in July - as in the past 5-6 days.
Clearly someone - no doubt the same person as behind magnolia - is trying to pass as our fellow traveler, "l-girl" of wmtc. I hate to sound like I'm in junior high, but, "What a dork!" As if I would think that l-girl was posting a comment telling me to stop linking to wmtc. Get a life. Choose your cliche, but leave me the f**k alone. This blog is a pedestrian little thing that serves as an account of our travels to Canada and, hopefully, some useful information - here and there - for others seeking to do the same.
No, this isn't eloquent. I'm annoyed. If you have so much frickin' time on your hands that you can spend your time creating usernames and intruding upon others' cyber-communities - without the cojones - or other euphemism of choice - to identify yourself, send me a note and I'll let you know about 1000 ways you can actually offer something positive to the world. There are plenty of opportunities out there.
Okay, back - perhaps - to our regularly scheduled programming. And, unfortunately, moderated comments.
01 July 2008
Canada Day Redux
A few snapshots from Fredericton's Canada Day parade...
Pipes and drums - my favorite.
The Green Party, right behind the Fredericton Filipino Community.
Chinese community members and the dragon.
That's 7YO - yeah, the one leaning over - on the Round-Up.
Pipes and drums - my favorite.
The Green Party, right behind the Fredericton Filipino Community.
Chinese community members and the dragon.
That's 7YO - yeah, the one leaning over - on the Round-Up.We went over to the river around noon, hearing the 21-gun salute as we walked. 7YO went in one of those bouncy moon-walk things and then we ate - hot dogs, soda, samosa, garlic naan, and kettle corn. Then, 7YO discovered the Round-Up. Since we're living only about six blocks away, we came back for a break and went over to the pool to cool off. It's only about six blocks, if that, in the other direction. Just before 4:00 we went back to watch the parade. Then, another visit to the Round-Up. We wandered a bit and came home for dinner. Still don't know if we'll make it to the fireworks. Ah, the suspense!
Hope you had a great day!
Hope you had a great day!
Happy Canada Day!
About a year ago, I set the goal of celebrating Canada Day 2008 while living in Fredericton. And, here we are! Woo-hoo! I don't know that we'll make it until the fireworks - they aren't until around 10:40 tonight! - but we do plan on attending the parade. Fingers crossed that if it rains it's just a drizzle. It's a "green parade" in which the only gas powered vehicles that are permitted are hybrids. The theme for this year is "Fredericton - Green Matters - You Matter - Get Involved." What a perfect theme for our first year at Fredericton's Canada Day! The block party - claimed to be "Canada's largest block party" - includes games, rides, pony rides, parrots, laser tag, food, face painters, airbrush tattoos, etc. Hopefully 7YO will have fun and my knees will hold up! We have our Canada Day temporary tattoos and the flag on our car antenna. We're doing it up!
Happy Canada Day, everyone!
Happy Canada Day, everyone!
25 June 2008
California Wedding Bells
I don't know how long this link may be active, but I wanted to share this story of a colleague of mine, Kelly, and his partner, Tom, who were married in California recently. Nice story and some great snapshots. Go here!
24 June 2008
Hooray!
What a day! Eight years ago today we had our commitment ceremony in Minneapolis. Today we "celebrated" by going out to the lot in Douglas, NB and - finally - seeing this:
Yesterday it looked like this:
I can't tell you what a relief it was to see work begin!
We also met one of our immediate neighbors. He was very nice and, as always seems to be the case, didn't miss a beat when we introduced ourselves and our son. Cool. And, he and his wife have two girls, 2 and 6 years old. There are apparently a lot of kids on the street. Yea!
Then, after coming back downtown, we walked over to Service New Brunswick and got our drivers' licences. From there we strolled to the library and got our library cards. Then, we went and signed up for a cell phone family plan. Also, this morning I had called the guy who issues dog licences. He dropped by the house around 5 pm with his receipt book and jangle of tags. one more thing off the to-do list! Woo-hoo! I'd call this a successful day by any measure!
We also faxed the recall clearance letter and received a response in the same day. Now we can deal with the car inspection.
Onward and upward!
Yesterday it looked like this:
I can't tell you what a relief it was to see work begin!
We also met one of our immediate neighbors. He was very nice and, as always seems to be the case, didn't miss a beat when we introduced ourselves and our son. Cool. And, he and his wife have two girls, 2 and 6 years old. There are apparently a lot of kids on the street. Yea!
Then, after coming back downtown, we walked over to Service New Brunswick and got our drivers' licences. From there we strolled to the library and got our library cards. Then, we went and signed up for a cell phone family plan. Also, this morning I had called the guy who issues dog licences. He dropped by the house around 5 pm with his receipt book and jangle of tags. one more thing off the to-do list! Woo-hoo! I'd call this a successful day by any measure!
We also faxed the recall clearance letter and received a response in the same day. Now we can deal with the car inspection.
Onward and upward!
23 June 2008
Getting Settled
Well, we arrived a week ago this afternoon. I thought I'd try to take a few minutes to post an update. We are slowly getting settled in our temporary quarters, no small feat. It's a very small "cottage" that you can actually see here. It just struck me that I'm sitting here, posting with a wireless connection, in a home built over 100 years before I was born. Wow.
After getting the truck unloaded and returned to Maine, we tried to take care of a few things like applying for Medicare, visiting the bank, etc. We've joined the Co-Op, made a few visits to Canadian Tire, etc. We're going to let 7YO collect the Canadian Tire money and return bottles for the deposits. We received an email from RIV saying that they cannot locate recall information or some such so I think we're going to have to fax them the recall clearance letter. Tomorrow we should get our drivers' licences as we're supposed to do so within 10 days. I definitely think that the car is going to prove the biggest hassle of all.
As for the build, they were supposed to start clearing the lot today. Alas, it's now going to be tomorrow. The good news is that we can stay in these quarters as long as needed. It's costing us a pretty penny, but at least we won't be out on the street. I will feel a lot better when I see some actual movements up on the hill.
P and 7YO went to a local lake beach for a swim this afternoon. Me? As I write this I, again, have ice on my knee. There is a pool just a couple of blocks away, but it won't open until later this month.
A little more about our location - we are two blocks from the Farmers' Market, I think that's my favorite thing in Fredericton! We were there Saturday morning and bought eggs, lettuce, cheese, Montreal bagels, kettle corn... Once we're really settled in we will buy most of our meat and fish there, too. We're about two blocks, in another direction, from the river and walking/biking trail. P has been taking our lab-spaniel mix for a nice walk over the St. John each morning. Here is someone's site with a few great photos. 77YO was able to walk to church on Sunday and the library on Monday. We are really in an absolutely perfect location for our first summer and with a visitor who will not be driving when she's here.
Well, dinner is almost ready so I'll sign off. I'm really glad we're here, but I'll feel a bit more settled, I think, when my knee is better and the house is really started!
After getting the truck unloaded and returned to Maine, we tried to take care of a few things like applying for Medicare, visiting the bank, etc. We've joined the Co-Op, made a few visits to Canadian Tire, etc. We're going to let 7YO collect the Canadian Tire money and return bottles for the deposits. We received an email from RIV saying that they cannot locate recall information or some such so I think we're going to have to fax them the recall clearance letter. Tomorrow we should get our drivers' licences as we're supposed to do so within 10 days. I definitely think that the car is going to prove the biggest hassle of all.
As for the build, they were supposed to start clearing the lot today. Alas, it's now going to be tomorrow. The good news is that we can stay in these quarters as long as needed. It's costing us a pretty penny, but at least we won't be out on the street. I will feel a lot better when I see some actual movements up on the hill.
P and 7YO went to a local lake beach for a swim this afternoon. Me? As I write this I, again, have ice on my knee. There is a pool just a couple of blocks away, but it won't open until later this month.
A little more about our location - we are two blocks from the Farmers' Market, I think that's my favorite thing in Fredericton! We were there Saturday morning and bought eggs, lettuce, cheese, Montreal bagels, kettle corn... Once we're really settled in we will buy most of our meat and fish there, too. We're about two blocks, in another direction, from the river and walking/biking trail. P has been taking our lab-spaniel mix for a nice walk over the St. John each morning. Here is someone's site with a few great photos. 77YO was able to walk to church on Sunday and the library on Monday. We are really in an absolutely perfect location for our first summer and with a visitor who will not be driving when she's here.
Well, dinner is almost ready so I'll sign off. I'm really glad we're here, but I'll feel a bit more settled, I think, when my knee is better and the house is really started!
17 June 2008
MN to NB
I've been wanting to post an update, but have been absolutely swamped - literally and figuratively!
We started loading the truck on Wednesday evening, 6/11. Six friends helped and, except for their inclination to play "let's see how fast we can throw everything on the truck," it went fine. We couldn't have done it without them. But, we still spent twelve hours on Thursday, 6/12, packing the truck and cleaning the house. We ended up pulling out of Saint Paul at 5:30 pm.
We should have made it to Madison, WI, where we had a reservation, in about 4 hours. But, near Baraboo, WI we were in a single lane of traffic, literally stopped on I-90. It took us an hour to go four miles. Turned out that the right hand lane, farther up, was under water. It was bizarre to drive by with water on the middle lines in the interstate! So, we got to Exit 135 around 10:30 or so, in the rain, and stopped at the hotel. When we got up the next morning, I-90 was closed from Exit 135 north. So, if we had stopped a bit to the north, as we had once planned, we wouldn't have been able to continue south on the interstate. And, if we had left on Friday, same thing. But, we were headed south, so all was well. Well, so to speak. Rain, rain, and more rain. Here's a story about the closures.
On Friday morning, 6/13, we headed toward Chicago, but stopped in Elgin, IL to meet an old friend for breakfast. I was driving with 22' rental truck with my mother (77YO) while P drove our '98 Honda Civic with 7YO and our lab-spaniel mix. She was behind us a ways, but when she didn't show up I got concerned. Thank goodness for cell phones. She had missed the exit and was on her way to Schaumburg. They turned around and made it back to the restaurant where we had breakfast before continuing on our way. We arrived in Cleveland, OH around 9 pm where we were meeting another old friend and her fairly new husband for dinner. This would all have been uneventful... and faster - were it not for the torrential rains. Ugh! And I don't know who designed the highway in Cleveland, but... weird. There was a 90 degree turn with instructions for, I think, 35 mph in the middle of the interstate. But, we made it, had dinner, and traveled another 45 minutes to our hotel in Conneaut, OH, on the OH/PA border.
On Saturday, 6/14, we traveled through the Southern Tier of NY, visiting Wellsville. P has distant relatives there that she had never heard of, let alone met, so we planned a lunch visit. That was good because there were kids there and 7YO got to run around for a couple of hours. We then made a stop in Hornell, NY as I wanted to photograph the headstones of my great, great grandparents and great-grandparents. Alas, I couldn't locate them, there was no caretaker available, and I did my knees a grave injustice. The pun was not intended - I just noticed it on review. But, hey, I'm leaving it! On to Albany where we spent the night in the very worst Super 8 I've ever visited. Yuck! Oh, and in case you wondering, yes, it was still raining on and off.
On Sunday, 6/15, we took off for the greater Boston area, Newton to be specific. We were going to lunch with another old friend, her partner, and their 8 year old twins. Fortunately as I exited Route 9, with the intention of turning left on Chestnut Street I noticed the sign: 11' 8". Yikes! The truck requires 12'1" of clearance. Whew! After a minor detour we made it. 7YO was able to play with the boys and their Wii, their nerf dart gun, and otherwise have a blast. And, yes, our friend realized that 7YO had just played with his first, to our knowledge, "gun." Oh, well. From there we drove to Freeport, ME. After a short dinner and a quick visit to LL Bean - where 77YO bought more long sleeved shirts for the weather of an Atlantic Canada summer - we turned in, ready for the last day's drive. And, yes, there was still rain.
On Monday, 6/16, we slept in and took our time preparing for our departure. We stopped in Houlton, ME to fill up and then headed toward Customs. First, US Customs for the export of our vehicle. No problem. They had the materials we had sent via FedEx and the fact that P's last name on the title is not her current name wasn't an issue. Then, over the Canadian Customs. Again, no problem. The whole thing took about an hour, but some of that was the fact that there were four of us, a dog, and two vehicles. We were in!
We made a brief stop at the New Brunswick Visitor/Information Center, picked up some tourism literature for 77YO, got 7YO a Sprite, and headed toward Fredericton. And, yes, it was still raining. I thought we might make it the whole way, but having downed an entire Sprite, we had to make one more stop for 7YO.
We arrived in Fredericton around 5 pm. The fabulous fellow from whom we are renting for the summer had prepared a supper of ham, scalloped potatoes, and fiddleheads. After supper - it was overcast, but not raining! - we took my mother by our lot and showed her 7YO's school. Then, it was time for bed.
This morning we unloaded the truck into our storage space. Rather, our realtor, her husband, the fellow from whom we are renting, and his son unloaded the truck. We helped, but they were miracle workers. Compensated, but miracle workers nonetheless. We were drenched. Once we got everything into the space or in the car to bring back to the house, we picked up 7YO and 77YO and went to get lunch and run errands. And, yes, it was still raining.
I've been writing this with my legs up, both knees wrapped in ice. My shoulder is trashed. But, we're almost done. Tomorrow we have to return the truck to Maine. 7YO and 77YO are going to hang out here so that will be nice. P and I might even be able to have a quiet lunch in Bangor before heading back. After that it will be a matter of dealing with the car, the builder, etc. and hoping for a sunny day! I really can't believe we're finally here.
Oh, and P has an interview in July. She's one of two people they're bringing in to interview for a position that is basically her dream job. She's going to be beyond bummed if she doesn't get it, but we just keep saying that if that's the case it's meant to be.
Sorry for not being able to post from the road - they would have been more interesting - but the rain really slowed us down and days became much longer than they should have been. But, we're here!
We started loading the truck on Wednesday evening, 6/11. Six friends helped and, except for their inclination to play "let's see how fast we can throw everything on the truck," it went fine. We couldn't have done it without them. But, we still spent twelve hours on Thursday, 6/12, packing the truck and cleaning the house. We ended up pulling out of Saint Paul at 5:30 pm.
We should have made it to Madison, WI, where we had a reservation, in about 4 hours. But, near Baraboo, WI we were in a single lane of traffic, literally stopped on I-90. It took us an hour to go four miles. Turned out that the right hand lane, farther up, was under water. It was bizarre to drive by with water on the middle lines in the interstate! So, we got to Exit 135 around 10:30 or so, in the rain, and stopped at the hotel. When we got up the next morning, I-90 was closed from Exit 135 north. So, if we had stopped a bit to the north, as we had once planned, we wouldn't have been able to continue south on the interstate. And, if we had left on Friday, same thing. But, we were headed south, so all was well. Well, so to speak. Rain, rain, and more rain. Here's a story about the closures.
On Friday morning, 6/13, we headed toward Chicago, but stopped in Elgin, IL to meet an old friend for breakfast. I was driving with 22' rental truck with my mother (77YO) while P drove our '98 Honda Civic with 7YO and our lab-spaniel mix. She was behind us a ways, but when she didn't show up I got concerned. Thank goodness for cell phones. She had missed the exit and was on her way to Schaumburg. They turned around and made it back to the restaurant where we had breakfast before continuing on our way. We arrived in Cleveland, OH around 9 pm where we were meeting another old friend and her fairly new husband for dinner. This would all have been uneventful... and faster - were it not for the torrential rains. Ugh! And I don't know who designed the highway in Cleveland, but... weird. There was a 90 degree turn with instructions for, I think, 35 mph in the middle of the interstate. But, we made it, had dinner, and traveled another 45 minutes to our hotel in Conneaut, OH, on the OH/PA border.
On Saturday, 6/14, we traveled through the Southern Tier of NY, visiting Wellsville. P has distant relatives there that she had never heard of, let alone met, so we planned a lunch visit. That was good because there were kids there and 7YO got to run around for a couple of hours. We then made a stop in Hornell, NY as I wanted to photograph the headstones of my great, great grandparents and great-grandparents. Alas, I couldn't locate them, there was no caretaker available, and I did my knees a grave injustice. The pun was not intended - I just noticed it on review. But, hey, I'm leaving it! On to Albany where we spent the night in the very worst Super 8 I've ever visited. Yuck! Oh, and in case you wondering, yes, it was still raining on and off.
On Sunday, 6/15, we took off for the greater Boston area, Newton to be specific. We were going to lunch with another old friend, her partner, and their 8 year old twins. Fortunately as I exited Route 9, with the intention of turning left on Chestnut Street I noticed the sign: 11' 8". Yikes! The truck requires 12'1" of clearance. Whew! After a minor detour we made it. 7YO was able to play with the boys and their Wii, their nerf dart gun, and otherwise have a blast. And, yes, our friend realized that 7YO had just played with his first, to our knowledge, "gun." Oh, well. From there we drove to Freeport, ME. After a short dinner and a quick visit to LL Bean - where 77YO bought more long sleeved shirts for the weather of an Atlantic Canada summer - we turned in, ready for the last day's drive. And, yes, there was still rain.
On Monday, 6/16, we slept in and took our time preparing for our departure. We stopped in Houlton, ME to fill up and then headed toward Customs. First, US Customs for the export of our vehicle. No problem. They had the materials we had sent via FedEx and the fact that P's last name on the title is not her current name wasn't an issue. Then, over the Canadian Customs. Again, no problem. The whole thing took about an hour, but some of that was the fact that there were four of us, a dog, and two vehicles. We were in!
We made a brief stop at the New Brunswick Visitor/Information Center, picked up some tourism literature for 77YO, got 7YO a Sprite, and headed toward Fredericton. And, yes, it was still raining. I thought we might make it the whole way, but having downed an entire Sprite, we had to make one more stop for 7YO.
We arrived in Fredericton around 5 pm. The fabulous fellow from whom we are renting for the summer had prepared a supper of ham, scalloped potatoes, and fiddleheads. After supper - it was overcast, but not raining! - we took my mother by our lot and showed her 7YO's school. Then, it was time for bed.
This morning we unloaded the truck into our storage space. Rather, our realtor, her husband, the fellow from whom we are renting, and his son unloaded the truck. We helped, but they were miracle workers. Compensated, but miracle workers nonetheless. We were drenched. Once we got everything into the space or in the car to bring back to the house, we picked up 7YO and 77YO and went to get lunch and run errands. And, yes, it was still raining.
I've been writing this with my legs up, both knees wrapped in ice. My shoulder is trashed. But, we're almost done. Tomorrow we have to return the truck to Maine. 7YO and 77YO are going to hang out here so that will be nice. P and I might even be able to have a quiet lunch in Bangor before heading back. After that it will be a matter of dealing with the car, the builder, etc. and hoping for a sunny day! I really can't believe we're finally here.
Oh, and P has an interview in July. She's one of two people they're bringing in to interview for a position that is basically her dream job. She's going to be beyond bummed if she doesn't get it, but we just keep saying that if that's the case it's meant to be.
Sorry for not being able to post from the road - they would have been more interesting - but the rain really slowed us down and days became much longer than they should have been. But, we're here!
14 June 2008
All is well...
Just a quick note to say that we're fine. Hope to post details soon. In brief - rain, rain, and more rain. But, we're doing okay. On to New York... thanks for the good thoughts that I know are with us on this (grueling) trek!
10 June 2008
ETD 36 hours+
I can't believe I haven't had time to post. Chalk it up to packing, head/chest cold, packing, bum knees, packing, house guest, packing, house guest's Great Dane, packing, house guest's small dog, packing, mom's arrival, packing, bum shoulder, packing... You get the idea. I've tried to glance at others' blogs, but no time to actually think so that I can write.
We're scheduled to pick up the truck tomorrow afternoon and load some tomorrow evening, some Thursday morning, and drive just four hours Thursday afternoon/evening to get on the road. Looking around I don't know how it will happen. I know that it will, but I'm not sure how. I can barely walk up or down stairs. That has really slowed things down.
Oh, well. I'm hoping to post from the road. I should have more time then than I've had here!
We're scheduled to pick up the truck tomorrow afternoon and load some tomorrow evening, some Thursday morning, and drive just four hours Thursday afternoon/evening to get on the road. Looking around I don't know how it will happen. I know that it will, but I'm not sure how. I can barely walk up or down stairs. That has really slowed things down.
Oh, well. I'm hoping to post from the road. I should have more time then than I've had here!
25 May 2008
Sunday in Fredericton
Well, it's been quite a week. I haven't had the time or energy to post, but, on a quiet Sunday morning, I thought I'd take a moment to say a little something about my adventure here...
I arrived on Tuesday evening and, having met up with another sociologist at the airport baggage claim, had a nice dinner before settling in at the UNB residence hall. I got up Wednesday morning and, sitting at the desk, turned to the left only to hear a loud "pop" in my left knee. I couldn't walk at all. I hopped to the car, hopped into the res life office, hopped out of the car at Shoppers Drug Mart. A guy helped me hop up the steps. A woman brought me a wheelchair - it's located in a clinic building - and I wheeled myself to the home care counter. I bought myself a pair of crutches and then, having consulted with P, drove myself to the hospital. Good thing I had rented an automatic. Thus began my first adventure with Canadian health care. I had planned to write a more detailed entry about it, but, as above, have been tired and busy.
In brief, I spent seven hours in the ER. But, unlike most of you, I will get to pay for it because I don't live here yet and NB has a three month waiting period. As much as I hate to say it, the experience was quite dreadful. After being checked in, I was offered no ice and finally asked for some water. Fortunately my angel-winged realtor showed up and went to get lunch from the hospital canteen. I was moved from the waiting room to one of the little curtained beds at 2:30 and waited in there until 4:30. I was ready to leave - I was in quite a state - and the nurse convinced me that I would be seen soon. The problem was that with triage, my injury not being life threatening or "dire," everyone kept getting prioritized ahead of me. I watched people come and go all day. Finally, around 5 pm - I had arrived at 10:30 - I saw the doctor. He was wonderful. Torn meniscus. Basically he confirmed what I suspected and confirmed what I would have done as treatment. I had gone because I was concerned that if I were wrong, ignoring it for a week could complicate the healing.
Now, as dreadful as my seven hours in the ER really was, in a way it was all worthwhile. Here's why. When I was getting checked I was asked, "Are you married?" I was able to say, simply, "Yes." It was really quite something. For three years I have answered that question with, "Yes, but it's not recognized here" - meaning the US. But, I was simply able to say, "Yes." She then asked for the name and contact info of my next of kin and when I gave P's info she asked for "relationship" and I said, "Uh, spouse, I guess." It was surreal. And, of course, even in little Fredericton, there was not a flicker of confusion, etc. It was really something...
So, I got to show up at the Wednesday evening opening reception on crutches. Nice.
I spent all day Thursday at the conference, had a nice dinner out with a couple of guys I'd met - one from Denver and one from Montreal who is moving here. Then, on Friday... crash!
Long story short - the appraisal on the plans for the house didn't come in high enough due to the extra cost of green building. I'm not going to go into the details except to say that we're now dealing with another lender and working on the "Plan B" (C?) for if that fails. One appraiser I know said, in essence, if you were doing this in five years, no problem. It's the penalty for being an early adopter. NB Power, the provinces, the feds, are offering all kinds of incentives for green retro-fits, green building, etc., but the banks haven't caught up. In the US, and apparently in some parts of Canada, "green mortgages" allow for the additional up front cost of green building, but not CIBC. So, I spent all day Friday with the builder, the (former) lender, the realtor, a new bank, etc. Stay tuned. But, heavens, if I encounter another road block...
In the good news category, my presentation on immigration went well; I located a storage unit for our stuff; and I got a PO box so we now have our first Canadian address. Yippee!
That's it for now. Just thought I'd check in. Oh, and my knee is improving dramatically. On Wednesday I couldn't put the slightest weight on that leg and today I can, carefully, actually walk crutch-free. And, it's sunny and dry! Things are looking up!
I arrived on Tuesday evening and, having met up with another sociologist at the airport baggage claim, had a nice dinner before settling in at the UNB residence hall. I got up Wednesday morning and, sitting at the desk, turned to the left only to hear a loud "pop" in my left knee. I couldn't walk at all. I hopped to the car, hopped into the res life office, hopped out of the car at Shoppers Drug Mart. A guy helped me hop up the steps. A woman brought me a wheelchair - it's located in a clinic building - and I wheeled myself to the home care counter. I bought myself a pair of crutches and then, having consulted with P, drove myself to the hospital. Good thing I had rented an automatic. Thus began my first adventure with Canadian health care. I had planned to write a more detailed entry about it, but, as above, have been tired and busy.
In brief, I spent seven hours in the ER. But, unlike most of you, I will get to pay for it because I don't live here yet and NB has a three month waiting period. As much as I hate to say it, the experience was quite dreadful. After being checked in, I was offered no ice and finally asked for some water. Fortunately my angel-winged realtor showed up and went to get lunch from the hospital canteen. I was moved from the waiting room to one of the little curtained beds at 2:30 and waited in there until 4:30. I was ready to leave - I was in quite a state - and the nurse convinced me that I would be seen soon. The problem was that with triage, my injury not being life threatening or "dire," everyone kept getting prioritized ahead of me. I watched people come and go all day. Finally, around 5 pm - I had arrived at 10:30 - I saw the doctor. He was wonderful. Torn meniscus. Basically he confirmed what I suspected and confirmed what I would have done as treatment. I had gone because I was concerned that if I were wrong, ignoring it for a week could complicate the healing.
Now, as dreadful as my seven hours in the ER really was, in a way it was all worthwhile. Here's why. When I was getting checked I was asked, "Are you married?" I was able to say, simply, "Yes." It was really quite something. For three years I have answered that question with, "Yes, but it's not recognized here" - meaning the US. But, I was simply able to say, "Yes." She then asked for the name and contact info of my next of kin and when I gave P's info she asked for "relationship" and I said, "Uh, spouse, I guess." It was surreal. And, of course, even in little Fredericton, there was not a flicker of confusion, etc. It was really something...
So, I got to show up at the Wednesday evening opening reception on crutches. Nice.
I spent all day Thursday at the conference, had a nice dinner out with a couple of guys I'd met - one from Denver and one from Montreal who is moving here. Then, on Friday... crash!
Long story short - the appraisal on the plans for the house didn't come in high enough due to the extra cost of green building. I'm not going to go into the details except to say that we're now dealing with another lender and working on the "Plan B" (C?) for if that fails. One appraiser I know said, in essence, if you were doing this in five years, no problem. It's the penalty for being an early adopter. NB Power, the provinces, the feds, are offering all kinds of incentives for green retro-fits, green building, etc., but the banks haven't caught up. In the US, and apparently in some parts of Canada, "green mortgages" allow for the additional up front cost of green building, but not CIBC. So, I spent all day Friday with the builder, the (former) lender, the realtor, a new bank, etc. Stay tuned. But, heavens, if I encounter another road block...
In the good news category, my presentation on immigration went well; I located a storage unit for our stuff; and I got a PO box so we now have our first Canadian address. Yippee!
That's it for now. Just thought I'd check in. Oh, and my knee is improving dramatically. On Wednesday I couldn't put the slightest weight on that leg and today I can, carefully, actually walk crutch-free. And, it's sunny and dry! Things are looking up!
15 May 2008
Hope, after all?
California ban on same-sex marriage struck down
www.cnn.com
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a much-anticipated ruling issued Thursday, the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.
Several gay and lesbian couples, along with the city of San Francisco and gay rights groups, sued to overturn state laws allowing only marriages between a man and a woman.
"There can be no doubt that extending the designation of marriage to same-sex couples, rather than denying it to all couples, is the equal protection remedy that is most consistent with our state's general legislative policy and preference," said the 120-page ruling.
It said that the state law's language "limiting the designation of marriage to a 'union between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples."
With the ruling, California becomes the second state to allow same-sex couples to legally wed. Massachusetts adopted the practice in 2004, and couples don't need to be state residents to wed there.
Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Connecticut permit civil unions, while California has a domestic-partner registration law. More than a dozen other states give gay couples some legal rights.
Seven other jurisdictions around the world have legalized same-sex marriage: Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
San Francisco officials in 2004 allowed same-sex couples in the city to wed, prompting a flood of applicants crowding the city hall clerk's office. The first couple to wed then was 80-year-old Phyllis Lyon and 83-year-old Dorothy Martin, lovers for 50 years.
"We have a right just like anyone else to get married to the person we want to get married to," Lyon said at the time.
One issue before the justices was whether San Francisco's laws carried legal weight when the rest of the state banned same-sex marriages. Gay rights advocates argued the state was violating their civil rights by limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. The state law in question is the Defense of Marriage Act, Proposition 22.
Oral arguments in the case in March lasted more than three hours, a sign of the political and legal issues at stake. Six cases were consolidated.
Groups saying they were promoting a pro-family agenda had vowed to fight a statewide law allowing same-sex marriage.
"The government should promote and encourage strong families," said Glen Lavy of the Alliance Defense Fund. "The voters realize that defining marriage as one man and one woman is important because the government should not, by design, deny a child both a mother and father."
An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is likely. The federal high court has never addressed the question of same-sex marriage.
14 May 2008
Insanity
The New York Times
May 14, 2008
Italian’s Detention Illustrates Dangers Foreign Visitors Face
By Nina Bernstein
He was a carefree Italian with a recent law degree from a Roman university. She was “a totally Virginia girl,” as she puts it, raised across the road from George Washington’s home. Their romance, sparked by a 2006 meeting in a supermarket in Rome, soon brought the Italian, Domenico Salerno, on frequent visits to Alexandria, Va., where he was welcomed like a favorite son by the parents and neighbors of his girlfriend, Caitlin Cooper.
But on April 29, when Mr. Salerno, 35, presented his passport at Washington Dulles International Airport, a Customs and Border Protection agent refused to let him into the United States. And after hours of questioning, agents would not let him travel back to Rome, either; over his protests in fractured English, he said, they insisted that he had expressed a fear of returning to Italy and had asked for asylum.
Ms. Cooper, 23, who had promised to show her boyfriend another side of her country on this visit — meaning Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon — eventually learned that he had been sent in shackles to a rural Virginia jail. And there he remained for more than 10 days, locked up without charges or legal recourse while Ms. Cooper, her parents and their well-connected neighbors tried everything to get him out.
Mr. Salerno’s case may be extreme, but it underscores the real but little-known dangers that many travelers from Europe and other first-world nations face when they arrive in the United States — problems that can startle Americans as much as their foreign visitors.
“We have a lot of government people here and lobbyists and lawyers and very educated, very savvy Washingtonians,” said Jim Cooper, Ms. Cooper’s father, a businessman, describing the reaction in his neighborhood, the Wessynton subdivision of Alexandria. “They were pretty shocked that the government could do this sort of thing, because it doesn’t happen that often, except to people you never hear about, like Haitians and Guatemalans.”
Each year, thousands of would-be visitors from 27 so-called visa waiver countries are turned away when they present their passports, said Angelica De Cima, a spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection, who said she could not discuss any individual case. In the last seven months, 3,300 people have been rejected and more than 8 million admitted, she said.
Though citizens of those nations do not need visas to enter the United States for as long as 90 days, their admission is up to the discretion of border agents. There are more than 60 grounds for finding someone inadmissible, including a hunch that the person plans to work or immigrate, or evidence of an overstay, however brief, on an earlier visit.
While those turned away are generally sent home on the next flight, “there are occasional circumstances which require further detention to review their cases,” Ms. De Cima said. And because such “arriving aliens” are not considered to be in the United States at all, even if they are in custody, they have none of the legal rights that even illegal immigrants can claim.
Government officials have acknowledged that intensified security since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has sometimes led to the heavy-handed treatment of foreigners caught in a bureaucratic tangle or paperwork errors. But despite encouraging officers to resolve such cases quickly, excesses continue to come to light.
One recent case involved an Icelandic woman who was refused entry at Kennedy Airport because, a dozen years earlier, she had overstayed her visa by three weeks. The woman, Erla Osk Arnardottir Lillendahl, was deported Dec. 10 after what she described as 24 hours of interrogation and humiliating treatment — locked in a cell and barred from making phone calls. The Department of Homeland Security later issued a letter of regret.
In questioning Mr. Salerno, customs agents seemed to suspect that he intended to work here. Ms. Cooper, a copy editor for an educational publication, said she was in the airport lobby when an agent called to ask about Mr. Salerno’s income and why he visited so often.
The youngest son of a prosperous contractor in Calabria, Mr. Salerno helps out in his brother’s law firm in Rome and is able to visit the United States several times a year. Neighbors said he joined volunteers in refurbishing the Wessynton recreation center in 2006, then became one of its summer attractions, kicking a soccer ball with the kids and playing tennis with the adults.
“He just is a very open, fun and helpful guy,” said Christopher M. Porter, a resident of Wessynton.
Ms. Cooper said that at the airport, when she begged to know what was happening to Mr. Salerno, an agent told her, “You know, he should try spending a little more time in his own country.”
Another agent eventually told her to go home because Mr. Salerno was being detained as an asylum-seeker.
“The border patrol officer said to my face that Domenico said he would be killed if he went back to Italy,” she recalled, voicing incredulity that, in his halting English, he could express such a thought. “Also, who on earth would ever seek asylum from Italy?”
Twelve hours later, when Mr. Salerno was granted a five-minute phone call, he called Ms. Cooper and denied saying anything of the kind. Instead, he said, the asylum story seemed to be retaliation for his insisting on speaking to his embassy.
After being turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he was taken to the Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover, Va., where he ended up in a barracks with 75 other men, including asylum-seekers who told him they had been waiting a year.
Ten days after he landed in Washington, Mr. Salerno was still incarcerated, despite efforts by Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, and two former immigration prosecutors hired by the Coopers.
“He’s just really scared,” Ms. Cooper said in an interview last Thursday. “He asked me if Virginia has the death penalty.”
Luis Paoli, a lawyer hired by the Coopers, said there was no limit on detention while waiting for an asylum interview. But even after officials agreed the asylum issue had been a mistake, Mr. Salerno was not released.
“Now an innocent European, who has never broken any laws, committed any crimes, or overstayed his visa, is being held in a county jail,” Ms. Cooper wrote in an e-mail message to The New York Times last Wednesday, prompting a reporter’s inquiries.
Less than 24 hours later, immigration officials intervened and arranged to deliver Mr. Salerno to Dulles, where last Friday he flew to Rome. Ms. Cooper, who said she was now considering moving to Italy, was by his side.
Mr. Salerno was still shaken. “In America,” he said, “there are so many good people and beautiful people that don’t deserve to be showing these terrible things to the world.”
May 14, 2008
Italian’s Detention Illustrates Dangers Foreign Visitors Face
By Nina Bernstein
He was a carefree Italian with a recent law degree from a Roman university. She was “a totally Virginia girl,” as she puts it, raised across the road from George Washington’s home. Their romance, sparked by a 2006 meeting in a supermarket in Rome, soon brought the Italian, Domenico Salerno, on frequent visits to Alexandria, Va., where he was welcomed like a favorite son by the parents and neighbors of his girlfriend, Caitlin Cooper.
But on April 29, when Mr. Salerno, 35, presented his passport at Washington Dulles International Airport, a Customs and Border Protection agent refused to let him into the United States. And after hours of questioning, agents would not let him travel back to Rome, either; over his protests in fractured English, he said, they insisted that he had expressed a fear of returning to Italy and had asked for asylum.
Ms. Cooper, 23, who had promised to show her boyfriend another side of her country on this visit — meaning Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon — eventually learned that he had been sent in shackles to a rural Virginia jail. And there he remained for more than 10 days, locked up without charges or legal recourse while Ms. Cooper, her parents and their well-connected neighbors tried everything to get him out.
Mr. Salerno’s case may be extreme, but it underscores the real but little-known dangers that many travelers from Europe and other first-world nations face when they arrive in the United States — problems that can startle Americans as much as their foreign visitors.
“We have a lot of government people here and lobbyists and lawyers and very educated, very savvy Washingtonians,” said Jim Cooper, Ms. Cooper’s father, a businessman, describing the reaction in his neighborhood, the Wessynton subdivision of Alexandria. “They were pretty shocked that the government could do this sort of thing, because it doesn’t happen that often, except to people you never hear about, like Haitians and Guatemalans.”
Each year, thousands of would-be visitors from 27 so-called visa waiver countries are turned away when they present their passports, said Angelica De Cima, a spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection, who said she could not discuss any individual case. In the last seven months, 3,300 people have been rejected and more than 8 million admitted, she said.
Though citizens of those nations do not need visas to enter the United States for as long as 90 days, their admission is up to the discretion of border agents. There are more than 60 grounds for finding someone inadmissible, including a hunch that the person plans to work or immigrate, or evidence of an overstay, however brief, on an earlier visit.
While those turned away are generally sent home on the next flight, “there are occasional circumstances which require further detention to review their cases,” Ms. De Cima said. And because such “arriving aliens” are not considered to be in the United States at all, even if they are in custody, they have none of the legal rights that even illegal immigrants can claim.
Government officials have acknowledged that intensified security since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has sometimes led to the heavy-handed treatment of foreigners caught in a bureaucratic tangle or paperwork errors. But despite encouraging officers to resolve such cases quickly, excesses continue to come to light.
One recent case involved an Icelandic woman who was refused entry at Kennedy Airport because, a dozen years earlier, she had overstayed her visa by three weeks. The woman, Erla Osk Arnardottir Lillendahl, was deported Dec. 10 after what she described as 24 hours of interrogation and humiliating treatment — locked in a cell and barred from making phone calls. The Department of Homeland Security later issued a letter of regret.
In questioning Mr. Salerno, customs agents seemed to suspect that he intended to work here. Ms. Cooper, a copy editor for an educational publication, said she was in the airport lobby when an agent called to ask about Mr. Salerno’s income and why he visited so often.
The youngest son of a prosperous contractor in Calabria, Mr. Salerno helps out in his brother’s law firm in Rome and is able to visit the United States several times a year. Neighbors said he joined volunteers in refurbishing the Wessynton recreation center in 2006, then became one of its summer attractions, kicking a soccer ball with the kids and playing tennis with the adults.
“He just is a very open, fun and helpful guy,” said Christopher M. Porter, a resident of Wessynton.
Ms. Cooper said that at the airport, when she begged to know what was happening to Mr. Salerno, an agent told her, “You know, he should try spending a little more time in his own country.”
Another agent eventually told her to go home because Mr. Salerno was being detained as an asylum-seeker.
“The border patrol officer said to my face that Domenico said he would be killed if he went back to Italy,” she recalled, voicing incredulity that, in his halting English, he could express such a thought. “Also, who on earth would ever seek asylum from Italy?”
Twelve hours later, when Mr. Salerno was granted a five-minute phone call, he called Ms. Cooper and denied saying anything of the kind. Instead, he said, the asylum story seemed to be retaliation for his insisting on speaking to his embassy.
After being turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he was taken to the Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover, Va., where he ended up in a barracks with 75 other men, including asylum-seekers who told him they had been waiting a year.
Ten days after he landed in Washington, Mr. Salerno was still incarcerated, despite efforts by Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, and two former immigration prosecutors hired by the Coopers.
“He’s just really scared,” Ms. Cooper said in an interview last Thursday. “He asked me if Virginia has the death penalty.”
Luis Paoli, a lawyer hired by the Coopers, said there was no limit on detention while waiting for an asylum interview. But even after officials agreed the asylum issue had been a mistake, Mr. Salerno was not released.
“Now an innocent European, who has never broken any laws, committed any crimes, or overstayed his visa, is being held in a county jail,” Ms. Cooper wrote in an e-mail message to The New York Times last Wednesday, prompting a reporter’s inquiries.
Less than 24 hours later, immigration officials intervened and arranged to deliver Mr. Salerno to Dulles, where last Friday he flew to Rome. Ms. Cooper, who said she was now considering moving to Italy, was by his side.
Mr. Salerno was still shaken. “In America,” he said, “there are so many good people and beautiful people that don’t deserve to be showing these terrible things to the world.”
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