Deer Mice,

Mice are becoming a problem here in 333. I understand they are cold, hungry and displaced due to the perma-construction going on, but if I were squatting in someone's home, I'd at least clean up after myself. I can't believe how much poop we gather on a daily basis from the refugee mice living in our walls. It's disgusting.
And so, for sanitary purposes, we set traps in our food cupboards. Robyn gets the most suprises. Three pretty strangled mice in three consecutive days. And that's a record, because in all the other locations they seem to be smarter.
It's a bit humiliating, being outwitted by a mouse. But the word is that these are not ordinary mice. All indications point to the potential that they are deer mice. And so now, we are not only concerned by their intelligence, but by their unique abilities to carry strange diseases that are fatal to humans.
But we won't be beat. Poison was our next resort, which we strategically layed beyond the traps. What's interesting is that the mice, in their eagerness to poison themselves would actually step on the trap, thus sparing themselves from the slow and aggrevating process of blood thinning for a more quick and easy eye bulging experience. And so, we think we are winning the battle.
And yet, we aren't quite so sure. The poison continues to disappear (good thing) but the mouse poop continues to appear (bad thing). I'm hoping they are storing our offering for some special occasion, wherin word will spread to the surrounding mice communities within our home that there is a feast prepared of blue pebbles- a gift from the humans. At this point, they will sit and eat and die.

Really?!

I used to seriously wonder if I would be the drifter in my family. You know, that crazy single aunt that is never really around because she bought a camel in Namibia or hunts kangaroo for a living.
But these thoughts would always be tagged with the nagging question of "but who the heck will do this with me?"

You never know, really. You hope, but that's about all you can do as your dreams pile up and you frantically snatch at the opportunities that bump you on your way to school, then skip ahead so you can chase them. And then BAM- midstride- you meet him.
The mysterious guy that you have thought about off and on as you've grown up, speculated about with your friends, and formed in your mind as the "perfect guy" at all the birthday parties, and you have to check your stride and ask, "really?"

And you ask yourself that, not because you're disappointed, but because you've been caught up in the excitement of other things- getting that degree than booting off to New Zealand to "start your life"- that you've sort of forgotten the possibility that your life might just have better plans... like it wants to 'start' a bit earlier.

And that's what happened when I met James. He came out of nowhere. I wasn't expecting him, or sure of him (there had been certain warnings :)but I was caught midstride and asking myself "really?"
And that's the beatiful mystery of it. Somehow, we fit. I don't think I've met a man more opposite to my personality ( I do NOT see us hunting kangaroo) but so similar in convictions. It is an interesting dynamic that not only has me excited but committed.

The honest truth is, after almost 2 years of dating, I can't see myself with anyone else. And the best part is, I haven't altered a single dream--I've just found an answer to that one nagging question...

I guess love will do that to you!
James' already mentioned that we're getting married. He proposed, much to my surprise January 9 and the wedding date is set for August 21. Seven months to plan a wedding and buy a camel!

Piece of cake :)

2009

There's a lot of pressure in writing the first blog of the new year. I'm not sure why, exactly, but there are all these 'shoulds and musts' that float silently around it, forming these odd, unwritten rules to go by. What's really odd about it is that I'm the one making them.
Hmm...
Anyways, forget all that. It's info time.

This Christmas holiday has been fantastic. On the 17th, James and I hopped on a plane, and two movies later (I watched Wall-E and Sound of Music, for those interested) we were in Vancouver. James' parents picked us up, then dropped us off at Stewart's rehearsal dinner, where we met the bride to be, and ate a lot of Chinese food. James was pretty busy with wedding stuff for the first few days, which was to be expected (he's a bit of a planner) but this was all right. I had three good books in my back pack, with nothing but time to read them. Glorious.
That being said, post- wedding time made for a much more relaxed, proper beginning to the holidays. Surrey got dumped on with snow, which made for excellent snow shoeing conditions in the mountains, and sledding behind Mark's truck in the subdivision.
James knows I naturally like to be outside, but when in B.C, this casual 'like' turns to love and it's been a blossoming relationship :) I love it there.

On the first morning, James' and I were both up before the sun came up so we could go for a walk in the snowy streets, and knock on Dan's window to say Hi. That first early morning started a trend in my sleeping habits, and I was usually wide awake by5:30 am . Not ideal.

But honestly, the 10 days spent in B.C. are a blur. I recall everything being very enjoyable, but flying past. Now I'm home, and the pace has slowed. Considerably. Work on the nursery in negative degree weather can do that to you. Time passing tends to correlate well with sluggish, freezing body movement. We have had weird weather over here with a few major wind storms resulting in fallen hoop houses and ripped up poly. Repairs were in our hands, because my brothers and I actually need to make some money, so we'll have to see how things stand when the next storm rolls around.

But home is good. It usually is. It's the place to be before heading off into a new year, so that you can get rested up and pumped up for the next leg of the journey at school, and then who knows where.
I hope everyone is having enjoyable holidays! That's all from me. Happy New Year!