Bus 82

Feeling pretty good about my new bus skills I got online before heading to work this morning and decided to catch a different bus going to my 11:00 job. (The student has two choices...they can come to our office or with an extra cost we can go directly to their office.) Go figure, in the winter we do a lot of the traveling.

Well, I learned three things today. First, it's very important to read all of the directions before trying to get fancy by using a new bus route. Two, when you are lost you might want to get off the bus as soon as you realize it because (three) the bus often gets to the final destination and you HAVE to get off.  UNLESS, you beg the bus driver(in Franglish...a little English a little French) to let you stay on because you are so lost that you will never find your way back.

Time of departure: 10:15        

Start of Class 11:00    

 Time that I would normally arrive if I wasn't trying to act like I knew what I was doing 10:45    

Time that I begged the bus driver to let me stay on the bus 11:45

Time he dropped me off at a random bus stop in the middle of who knows where 11:55
Time class ended 1:00

Time I finally got off the bus and went home 1:15

All I could do was laugh...

What would you have done? 

Took place yesterday....1/30/12

Excuse me Madame...can I help you with that coat?

Right now I'm stalking a beautiful camel color Michael Kors jacket at Simons Department Store. While I'm completely in love with it...the nagging idea of paying rent and eating has squashed my ideas of flaunting a new sassy winter jacket. Responsibilities are absolutely no fun.  Yesterday, I went in and tried to hide the last one they had.  Which ultimately means I've placed it in the perfect spot for a savvy shopper to find.

 Did I mention it has a fabulous faux lined collar?

Do you own a lot of winter jackets?  

Have you ever tried to hide something in a store in hopes of going back to get it?

Mush...

Dating back to 1894...Carnaval de Quebec has begun.

Crepes for breakfast.

Coffee for dessert.

Dogsled races for entertainment.

 To witness the eager dogs is compelling.
With each paw that makes contact with the snow I could feel the willingness to please and the desire to go.

This year, with the festivities only minutes from my front door, carnival is sure to be well documented.

Click here to read more about the Carnaval de Quebec

A.m.

Just a few photos to describe my morning.... Scratch that! I'll let you conjure up the images on your own.

6:40 a.m.
The sidewalks were a sheet of ice on my walk to the bus stop. Every step needing to be calculated for slip free shoe-sidewalk contact. I arrived 30 minutes early for my first student, so I walked across the street to a restaurant. All appeared normal until the waitress walked out in stripper attire. Note to self: a room of sweaty men and mirrored girly silhouettes on the wall equals... ladies of the night serving eggs over my hammy.  Just to prove I was o.k. with being the only fully clothed female I sat at the bar, yes...the bar at 7:30 a.m. and ordered an orange juice.

My hopes for the pretty young thing walking around in 5 inch heels that early in the morning...big tips.

One photo to describe my evening....

That's more like it.... ahhhh!

Good morning...

I hope you had a nice weekend.  With below zero temperatures all weekend we nestled in and stayed warm. Saturday evening we shared a wonderful dinner with good friends at our place. It was a relaxing night with home cooking, wine and engaging conversation. It's the kind of night when they walk out the door you're already looking forward to the next time.

I declare it comfy sweater day!

I was up with the roosters (the coq) again today.  

With both feet I jumped back into work teaching English as a Second Language. (ESL) I started teaching the first week we arrived in 2007, so I didn't need a lot of preparation just an alarm clock. Up around 6 on a bus by 7 is a new thing for me. Oddly enough getting up hasn't been difficult, but going out into the cold has.  The first few steps always leaves prominent prints in the snow as I stiffen to brace the cold.  Then about 5 minutes into the walk the top half of my body warms up.  I get a little sweaty (never a feminine thing to say) and after 10 minutes I'm peeling layers off. 

My city living adventure has changed the way I do things.  First things first, I set down the car keys and got myself a bus pass. The parking spots here are small and few. Parking was the only stressful thing about living in the Old City thus far, so I needed to come up with a solution, after consulting a rocket scientist, I've decided to walk  or take good old public transportation.  With temperatures anywhere from -4 to 3 degrees(f)...I'm usually bundled beyond recognition. The one day I tried to look cute, as in fashionable, leaving the house left me with numb fingers, borderline frosh bite, and a red nose. 

What are you doing to say warm?

How do you get to work? Have you ever changed your routine?

Photos from WeHeartIt.

Alice Swaim

Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go;

 it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.

Alice M. Swaim

Last night we had a snow storm. 

This morning it took hot coffee and warm mittens to get me out the door at 7:00 a.m.

As silent bundles of both men and women traipsed past me through the snow I envisioned fragile blossoms. 

Bonjour

 Idaho to Michigan to Quebec City....2,735 miles

We are back in Canada for our final 3 1/2 months. I found the cutest place right in the city.  

It's super small, but perfect for the short period of time that we will be here. 

It has internet, a parking spot and we are seconds from lots of amazing restaurants, stores and historical sites. This is going to be a great adventure. I can't wait to share it with you

(I'm back in action with a new computer and high speed internet.)