Still no snow to speak of!

Well I'm very sad that there is no snow STILL! We apparantly had a few flurries in the morning on boxing day, but by the time I woke up I didn't see anything, so I don't quite believe the rumours... Nothing on Christmas which was very sad... And finally today we got a few flurries this afternoon that looked promising for skiing, but now it's stopped with very little evidence on the ground.

On Friday after work I am heading up to Hunstville to meet Damien's parents, so I'm SURE I'll find some there! I'm definately going to take my skis along and keep high hopes! I'm excited about finally seeing the area Damien grew up and meeting his folks and his dog, Gandalf! It's about time!

In the meantime, I'm working at the cafe in the mornings and the bookstore in the afternoons, and on Thursday evening Dennis, Elaine, David, Brendan and hopefully Hanul and his girlfriend Jessica, as well as Sheila, Clem, Jaylene and Kai and who knows who else will be coming for another Christmas dinner.

We were lucky enough to join Margaret and Michael and their family for their Christmas dinner on Christmas day, and Jaylene and Kai came for a few days so we all relaxed and watched movies and ate WAY too many cookies and truffles for our own good! It was a great holiday! Short and VERY sweet!!!!

Well right now I'm at work, and it's very slow, especially after the fairly steady Christmas atmosphere that we had all last week, but I probably wrap this up and find something more useful to do like dusting or something!

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

HI!
Pippin (my dog) and I went for a glorious fall walk the other day. (Although it probably should have been a winter walk...) This is a picture of the trail just as you're entering the woods from the fields. Luckily since then we had a tiny bit of snow, and the whole family got out once for a little ski, so that was nice, because now it kind of looks like it did in that picture again.

So I lied, by accident in my last blog... It seems that the town I will be going to in Mexico is NOT 6 hours south of Mexico city, rather north-west... I don't really know where I got that from. Anyway, for those of you who are planning a trip to visit me (hopefully many of you because I'm going to get lonely otherwise!!) please note that it is about 250 km south-east of Guadalajara. Just call before you come, and I'll sure to have dinner ready for you! The ticket was booked today, and it is non-refundable, so guess I'm going! I'm soooo scared... but kind of excited too. It's going to be such an adventure. (Hopefully a good one!)

In other news, I am now working at the cafe, as well as the bookstore, about 4 mornings a week. It's early, but I'm managing somehow! Damien and I have been talking quite a bit and have seen each other a few times, and things are very good between us. It's just hard because my shift ends when his begins, so it's very difficult to find a time to talk! And it will be really hard to be away from him, as well as all my family and friends for such a long time when I go to Mexico! But I guess whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? I'm just going to have to toughen up and figure things out.

I realized something yesterday though... I'm going to have to cook all my own food!!! AHhhh... I hadn't thought about that part yet! At least in Vancouver Damien and I shared the responsibilities, and it didn't feel so bad, but it's going to be so hard to work all day and then come home and have to make myself dinner! Also, lately I've been doing the vegetarian thing, so trying to find enough proteins and creating balanced meals will be another challenge on top of everything else! Also, cooking with slightly different foods will be interesting. I guess it's all going to be a learning experience. (For my students, but mostly for me!) I have yet to master even basic Spanish because at the end of an 11 hour day, I'm finding it hard to find much motivation to study! So I guess I'll learn what I can, and then I'll just have to go and be immersed! I think that's the best way to learn a language anyway, although I don't want to be totally ignorant either.

So Christmas is coming, but me, along with most other people around here, are finding it VERY hard to get into the Christmas spirit without snow on the ground! I really hope to have at least a little sprinkling on X-mas day, but they say it's supposed to be pretty mild for the next while, so who knows. I guess it shouldn't really matter, and as long as there are good friends and family (and most importantly, good food! haha..) it will be a good time.

I'm hoping to be able to coordinate some time off with the two jobs, but I'm sure it will be difficult. I think I'll at least get a day or two off around Christmas, and then I'll hopefully be able to get a couple of days off at the end of the month to go and meet Damien's family. I haven't met them yet (with the exception of his sister Anna who I met last weekend, and who seems really nice!) I'm excited to finally be able to meet them and see Damien's family's house in Huntsville which I've heard so much about! It should be snowy way up there, at least, so maybe there's hope for a white Christmas afterall!

Well I got a new digital camera for an early Christmas present, and asked Damien to take some pictures of our room in Vancouver before he left using it. Here they are so you can get an idea of my little world out there. Out the window if you could see is Grouse Mountain. These pictures show both halves of the room, taken from the middle.

Anyway, life is super these days, and I'll let you know about Christmas stuff when that all happens. I'll also post some pictures from mom's 50th birthday party which was a lot of fun! Naomi and Dad and I got her a hot air balloon ride! I think she liked it, so we'll be sure to make a video when she does go up, and post it on the internet!



That's all for now! Happy Holidays everyone! Let me know what you're up to!
Hanah.