Countdown

In less than three weeks we should be moving into our new house. It won't yet have siding or a garage, and the "yard" will be largely mud, but as long as we have a bathroom... That, of course, is up in the air because the government people who inspect septic systems, etc. are, apparently, taking their own sweet time.

P arrives on the 16th for a long weekend - just in time to help with the aforementioned move. We can't wait. Other than that, fall is upon us. I hope the leaves hold on for another two weeks so that P can see them in real time. Here's a sample taken from the highway out to the house.


Off to make dinner for a little boy...

Whoosh!

That would be the sound of time flying by. It's weird. On the one hand, time is really flying because I'm constantly busy with house stuff. On the other hand, it's dragging because we're counting the days until P arrives for a visit.

I do have a great "serendipity" story. We have been renting a small place in downtown F'ton since 16 June. The owner saw this as a great opportunity to spend the summer at his "camp" - as they say here - and not have his house sit empty. It's been great in many ways (e.g., proximity), not so much in others (e.g., cost). Enter one of our fellow expat bloggers. She and her partner have a townhouse here - they're moving north later this fall - that has been rented out. But, their tenant is moving out this weekend. So, in a real win-win, 7YO and I will spend our last 2-3 weeks there and their place won't sit empty. I guess the rain this weekend means I don't have an excuse not to start packing and cleaning...

What else is happening? Before leaving Saint Paul, P bought 7YO a Game Boy so that he would have something to play with on the long, 2,000 mile, drive east. He had only recently seen and played his first video game. A friend of his had received a Wii for Christmas. We said firmly, we will not be getting a Wii. Never say never. As I mentioned in my last post, we broke down and have purchased one as a Christmas gift. But, lately, 7YO has been wanting a DS because there are some newer games not available for the (so old school) Game Boy. Well, I came up with a plan/plot. First, I wanted to do something for 7YO because he has been such a trooper through all of this. Second, I wanted a carrot.

7YO, for whatever reason, has not wanted to remove his training wheels. He tried once, fell, and decided that was that. So, we had a chat about video games, exercise, etc. E.g., unlike some of his classmates who bring their portable game systems to use at recess, this mean old mother says no, recess is for running around. We struck a deal that, if he would work at riding his bike, he would get a surprise. So, on Thursday, we removed the training wheels and he manage to ride about 10 feet or so on his own. Doesn't sound like much, but it is. He then got his - are you ready - limited edition Pokemon Nintendo DS. Woo-hoo. Yesterday's riding went well, too. So, from no-gaming to three gaming devices in a matter of months. Hey, whatever it takes.

And while I'm on the subject of parenting, kids, and bribery... he desperately wanted a hamster. After a little research, and talk with several of the kids - and I mean kids - who work at the pet store, we decided that gerbils were a better choice. If anyone reading has an opinion on the selection and care of small rodents, do chime in.

Well, since it's a miserably rainy day - and I don't want to clean and pack just yet - I'm off to actually sit and read the paper. You remember, large, paper, primarily black and white, gets on your hands? I didn't manage to stay awake for the debate, so I'll have to see what those who write for the Globe and Mail have to say.

As I say, more as it happens. Be well.

Welcome and Update

Please extend a warm welcome to a new US2CA blogger over at Alice in Canada! And, another Maritimer - yea!

I've been remiss in posting, largely due to exhaustion. Last Friday, 7YO and I drove to Portland, Maine, where we met P who had picked up a priceline ticket to Boston and driven up for a quick visit. We spent the brief time we had shopping, eating, and attending a Green expo. I felt so, well, Canadian - picking up my birthday present, the new iPod touch, and a Christmas present for 7YO, a Wii. On the way back I filled up the tank at the border - gas in NB had gone up to about $1.39 a liter - and picked up a gallon of milk - $3.52/gallon instead of $3.58/two liters. Normally I wouldn't go out of my way to shop down south, but since we were there anyway... The savings paid for the gas for the trip and then some. Unfortunately P had to leave at 3:45 am on Sunday to head for the airport and was back in St. Paul before we were out of the country.

This week has been a whirlwind of decisions regarding the house - outlet placement, lights, change of tub, change of part of the flooring - and major stress about the whole thing. We should be moving in on 15 October - delayed because of the finishing of the pine flooring. P arrives on 16 October for a long weekend so it's almost - almost - good timing. I would much rather be in at the first of the month, but that's not going to happen. Once we're in, we still have major work to be done - e.g., the siding and the garage. But, at least we'll be in.

I've started writing in earnest. I have an office at UNB so that I can work there. I'm doing some work for our realtor on the side. But, my day consist mostly of this: get up at 6, feed the dog, shower, get 7YO up, fix breakfast, make his lunch, dress, drive 7YO to school at 7:30 - about 9 miles, stop at the site, run errands (i.e., groceries, house-related stuff, walk dog), pick 7YO up at 1:30, stop at the site, come "home," snack, homework, email while 7YO watches "his" shows, make dinner - Kraft Dinner, hot dogs, spaghetti, ham, pizza - get 7YO in the shower - coerce him into using soap, argue over toothbrushing, read, get 7YO in bed, email/web stuff, let the dog out, and in, and out, and in, go to sleep, lather, rinse, repeat. Yes, I'm exhausted!

So, I'm off to bed! But, I swore I was going to get something posted today and the new blog was the perfect catalyst! Hope all is well with you and yours!

Chasing the Maple Leaf

Anybody in touch with the women of "Chasing the Maple Leaf" and know that they're okay? In my click through my US2CA blog list, I see that their blog is no more. ??

Postings on Palin

I just wanted to share these postings that appeared on an academic listserv I read -

". . . I was also appalled by Palin's speech. The line that struck me--and which hasn't received much coverage--was this:

"Al Qaida terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America, and he's [Obama's] worried that someone won't read them their rights."

I was astounded to hear the whole horrible Bush-Cheney defiance of laws of war and slighting of American ideals echoed in that line. And the enthusiastic response of the crowd was also horrifying. The authorization of enhanced interrogation measures and the loosening of
the laws of war have wrought havoc on our soldiers (as we saw at Abu Ghraib). Soldiers are being encouraged to transgress moral and legal boundaries. But it is these young soldiers who have to live with the memories of what they did and who are also legally liable for these
transgressions!

Wasn't it John McCain who took a stand against the Bush administration regarding interrogation measures? How sad to see McCain condone this kind of rhetoric."

Another wrote: "There are reports that she is a Christian Dominionist, apparently a Pentecostal offshoot group/collection which was involved in the appalling evangelizing and sectarian biased religiously intolerant activities at the Air Force Academy and Naval Academies in recent years. I have nothing polite to say about the Dominionists, who basically want the USA to be a theocracy and are also I think an end-of-days type group. There is lots of scary stuff around about them. One of the bloggers at dailykos has links up involving the churches that Gov Palin belongs to."

And, another: "Isn't America a wonderful place? Where even poor white trash can dream to become Vice-President? No wonder Palin likes guns--she needs them to facilitate shotgun weddings. . .I maybe have more guns than she does, and I, too, don't kill things for sport (I eat what I hunt and field dress myself and haul out myself on foot, not from a helicopter).

Did the list know that she slashed funding for Special Needs programs by 67%? Now that she has a Special Needs child, I have been trying to see if funding has been restored.

I wonder how the Republicans might have responded if one of Obama's girls had become pregnant? Considering how the Republicans treated Clinton, I think there's more than enough hypocrisy to go around. Why is one family's business private and another's, not?

God help us, if you believe in a Creator, if she were to become president."

Just thought that some of you might find their thoughts of interest.

Miscellany

Things with the house are coming along. Our metal roof - yippee! - is on the back of the house. Check out that blog for some recent photos.

7YO is enjoying school. This is partly because it's the shortest "day" he's ever had and partly because he likes having school in English. He also likes his teacher. It was interesting that my name - the second mom listed - somehow disappeared off his enrollment paperwork and P's remained, but the secretary was very good about making a correction. Everyone I've met has been just terrific.

I went through a big pain in the a*** with Home Depot/my bank/Visa this morning. I can't bear to reprise it here. What it came down to is that Home Depot won't let me use a US Visa bank card in Canada. I ran into the same thing with Air Canada. Allegedly it's a security/fraud prevention issue, but I wonder...

There was some other good - no, great - news today. P is on break for US Thanksgiving from 26-30 November. It occurred to me, with Thanksgiving being so late this year, that there couldn't be much time between break and the end of classes. Indeed, as it turns out, her last day of class is Tuesday, 2 December. Now, this is heresy, me being a professor and all, but - with her only in-class final being on 17 December and all others being self-scheduled - I suggested that she might want to skip the last class, stay longer, study here, etc. So, she arrives on the evening of 26 November and will return on 10 December. She'll take exams and then return to NB on 22 December. Woo-hoo! So, she'll arrive on 16 October, six weeks from today, for a long weekend. On 20 October she'll return to St. Paul for two and a half weeks, come back on 26 November for two weeks, be gone for less than two weeks, and then back for good.

Onward and upward!

New Brunswick Health Care

I thought that on this, the day in which I am officially covered by NB Medicare, I'd write a more comprehensive post about my experiences with health care thus far. I've mentioned this stuff in passing elsewhere, but here's where things stand at the moment.

The day before I left for F'ton in May I had a cortisone injection in my left knee. My knees have been bad for a while, but the left - in particular - was really acting up. I think I did more damage when I laid vinyl in the basement last spring, but I'll never know. The day after I arrived in May is heard a loud "pop" when I turned in my seat. After seven hours at Chalmers' ER, I was told what I suspected, torn meniscus. If I'd had a brain I would have asked for an orthopedic referral then. But, since I was leaving a week later... While back in MN I chose not to follow up because I didn't think that anything they could/would do would have been done within the time I had left there. I was only going to be there for two weeks and then we were moving.

I arrived in F'ton on 16 June with my knees and one shoulder an absolute mess. By mid-July it was so bad that I went to the after hours clinic; the only option for those of us without a family physician. What an experience. When that window opened it was like fish to the food. For $50 - a bargain - I saw a very nice physician who said that I should continue to take ibuprofen, stay off of it as much as I could, and she would enter a referral to orthopedics. And, my shoulder, well, just give it some rest. Okay.

In early August I decided to call the doctor to whom she had written the referral, just to see how many weeks or months I would have to wait. When the woman on the other end of the phone said, "18-24 months," I just about fell over. I know that's what they say for knee replacements, but just to see the doctor? I was flabbergasted. She asked if I had a family physician and I said, "Of course not." She said something like, "Yeah." Then she advised that I go back to after hours and see if I could get a referral to physio. Now, I would have asked for that back in July, but I didn't think physio would do anything without diagnosis from the physician. I swear I contemplated having P take a baseball bat to my shin. I know I'd be seen then. Since I was just a few weeks away from not having to pay the $50 I decided to wait. I'd waited this long...

I was beyond furious with the doctor I had seen at after hours. Had she not known that she was telling me to take ibuprofen for two years and live with it? If she had told me right then what the situation was to even have it looked at by a specialist I might have flown to MN then, when my mother and P were still here. So, what to do? I called an orthopedist in Calais, Maine and one in Houlton, Maine. The latter, with whom I had to leave a message, never returned the call. I have an appointment on 15 December with the guy in Calais. Meanwhile, my one knee is swollen and "bulgy" at various points. I'm learning to live with the shoulder and my right knee is, well, not as bad as the left.

As for a family physician - we've met a nice couple who have a great relationship with their family physician. Having just taken a group of new patients from the waiting list, he said that if we hadn't found anyone by the next time they see us to let him know. So, I'm hopeful. It sucks that something like getting a family physician has to be accomplished by who one knows. But, I'll take it.

I think the "takeaway lesson" here is to not talk about "Canadian health care," but "[name your province] health care." Things in New Brunswick are absolutely terrible when it comes to more routine things. There simply aren't enough doctors to go around. I know someone dealing with a potential MS diagnosis who has had her MRI, her spinal, etc. and is really happy with her neurologist. For something of that seriousness, I think she's had great care. But, for the things like gnarly knees, that won't kill you - unless I really do fall down the stairs - forget it.

Let me add two things. One, I know I'm very privileged that going to Maine to get looked at is even an option. And, two, I'm still glad that I'm in a place where everyone has some level of access, even if it means I'm unable to deal with this situation in a timely fashion. I just wish some of the more routine things in daily life - use your imagination - weren't so painful while I wait.

Car Importation Question

A new permanent resident who has visited our blogs, but doesn't blog herself, has landed with her partner! Woo-hoo! They will be making the "real" move as soon as they sell their house in Massachusetts. Here's the question - they have a relatively new car that is financed. Thus, the bank holds the title. All the information regarding US/CA export/import, including conversation with the border folks, suggests that you must hold title to export/import the vehicle. Surely someone out there has come to Canada with a vehicle that you didn't yet own free and clear. Advice for these newcomers? Thanks!

Okay...

I have found another reason to keep McCain out of the White House. Not a reason to put Obama in it, mind you, but another reason to keep McCain out. Scary, just scary.

Coming Out

Yes, I'm coming out... as someone who, if she votes for Barack Obama will do so holding her nose. I have been having trouble with the idea for ages. Thus far, the Obama-lovefest isn't persuasive. It's very simple for me. And, no, it's not a matter of being a "one issue voter." It's not the "issue" of same-sex marriage; if there's an "issue," it's the "issue" of second class citizenship.

Like many of you, I've invested a lot of money and time in coming to Canada. And, while my motivation wasn't just family recognition, that was the catalyst and the primary motivator. Having left the country of my birth because I was a second class citizen, I am very uncomfortable with the idea of voting for someone who shares that view. And, I'm tired of voting for the lesser of the evils. Don't get me wrong. I loathe John McCain. Aside from his politics, the main insulted me to my face. But, you see, I'm just having trouble with the alternative...

"Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

This is bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. Columbia? Harvard Law? C'mon, surely he understands the difference between civil law and religious tradition.

I understand all of the arguments for why it's important that Obama end up in the White House. I really do. I'm just, personally - in terms of integrity, self-esteem, whatever - having trouble helping to put him there.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!