Newfoundland, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver

I'm really posting a lot this evening. Guess what? I stayed in!

Most of you know that I am from Newfoundland. I would even go so far as to say that it largely defines me. I think most would agree. I was once told that in order to really know me... you would have to see me there. I'm sure that there is some truth to that...though, most of you have never seen me there and I think you know me. I think it was a very interesting and observant statement with a lot of care thrown in there.

I love my home and visit have had the very good fortune to visit very frequently. There is surely a part of me that has never left. I maintain many, many relationships there and have remained in very close contact for many years.

I'm very proud to hail from the youngest province in Canada...that incidentally calls the oldest city in North America its capital. We are a charming island off the east coast of Canada and I believe we are very rich. I have never lived so far from there and I don't like to even think about it. This Vancouver is FAR!

When I'm home, I like to eat things that are really bad for me! I like to go to George Street (a friend's brother once said his sister and I would be taking the seniors bus to the pubs). I love to play darts in Paddy's shed (thanks for the soup Maude). I love wing nights. Seasonally, I love to be on the water www.obriensboattours.com. On the open Atlantic, it is really hard not to constantly smile. It is really hard to have the minutest of negative thoughts. It is really easy to just stay there. My thanks to Joe, Loyola, Wayne, Michael, and the whole staff there. I have a lot of memories on those boats. It really is one of my favourite things to do at home. I think some of my fascination for marine biology stems from that. Of course, I spend time with family and friends (a list that's just WAY too long to go into). I love to play 120s, a card game that is the best yet played nowhere else. Hmmmm.

Quebec City. I lived there and it gave me the gift of my French. This gift is undoubtedly the gift for which I am most grateful. It was my first real exposure to other cultures and languages (yet another defining part of me). Today, I have a strong commitment to diversity and those days in Quebec City have become more important that I ever knew they would. A charming city of great food! My God, it's endless. I love the Quebecois culture and it have most definately become a big part of me and I love that. I remember discovering the music of Paul Piche (my favourite Quebecois artist....merci, Isa), the Quebecois love of sport and the outdoors, and the word 'passion' took on new meaning for me from that point. You know, those poeple are absolutely fantastic. I have always felt very at home in the culture quebecoise. I think I learned one of my most valuable lessons there. That is one of perspective, and how that related to mentality, expression, thought processes, and feelings. Big stuff! It was my first time being in the minority, and I think all people should experience something like that, for it really does make you a different person (and a better one...I say that with grace).

I have a mesage to Canada...poutine was never meant to be a snuggling of mozzerella amongst those fries and gravy. The cheese curds from Lac-St-Jean are the true stars of the show.

My beloved Montreal. When I left Montreal for Ottawa I rarely spoke of that wonderful city. I really couldn't believe I didn't live there. It still aches me to talk about it because I feel like I have betrayed a friend. I realize that may sound very melodramatic, but that city really 'bit' me and is a part of me and I will always long for it. Here's to the old port, Crescent Street and my wonderful friends who spend time at that special place www.hurleysirishpub.com. ANYBODY who knows me at all knows that my talking about Montreal HAS to start at Hurley's. It's even funny to call it 'Hurley's' because we only ever call it 'the pub'. I have to do a separate post for that (I bet some of you are sweating now)! (wink). The festivals. Oh, the festivals. Just for laughs, the Jazzfest, les Fetes Gourmandes (which I believe they've stopped....shame), Benson & Hedges International Fireworks competition (I believe that one has changed names now), and the francofolies (a festival showcasing francophone entertainment of various aspects). Sunsets and sunrises on Mont-Royal. Funky shops in the plateau. Professional squeegees. Gay village. Tam Tams. Oratoire St-Joseph. Skating in the old port on Sundays and going to the pub for the beef dip and to hear Jimmy (God rest his soul) and Gary. Restaurants, restaurants, restaurants. Skiing in St-Sauveur (WOW!). Mondo shoe store on Jean-Talon. The big, bright uniforms and the aura at the Canadiens' games! St. Patrick's Day (I'll save that one for the pub posting). Mark's fruity drink nights (wish I could have done more of those). Boating. Jello shots (Cin and I rule at those). I think the biggest thing in Montreal for me is that I really feel like I have a relationship with that city. There were so many times (and still today) that I would be downtown amongst many...yet feeling like the people were a part of my Montreal. I hope you can find some sense in that because I know I'm fumbling the words here.

Ottawa. Our nation's capital. I still feel like I live there as more of me is there (physically...all my things are there! I am also maintaining my aprtment there for another year) than anywhere else right now. True to form (and much to my mother's dismay), the first thing I did was find my local. www.irishvillage.ca. This is Larry, Michele, Julie, Peter, Tina, and the gang (I have to do a separate posting on that one too. I'll probably put that one with Hurley's). The happy hour crowd. The hockey pool gang. Politics is a subject I hate, however, I think it unwise to be completely ignorant on that one. I learned...and still do...thanks, Kenny. The tulip festival (great story of how and why we have that festival...separate posting). The Rideau Canal. Mellos! Molson XXX. Canada Day! GO SENS GO!! The Ottawa Citizen (and several of the monkies I call friends who work there). I have to say that the Ottawa Citizen is a subculture. I'm not joking when I say that anybody I know who is from Ottawa either works at The Citizen, has worked at The Citizen, or knows several people who work/have worked at The Citizen. I also have to say that I learned so much about Aboriginal peoples in Ottawa, and I am grateful for that and it has made a difference to my life. The time in Ottawa also marked the first time I have lived in the same city as my mother and brother in a very long time. That was great. As a whole, the city itself is not one of my favourites and it is hard leaving Montreal for Ottawa (everybody will tell you that), but my life/world in Ottawa couldn't be better and Ottawa has been very good to me and I had difficulty leaving it. While talking about Ottawa people rarely even think about Hull/Gatineau. That is an interesting situation there (yet another subjet that merits its own post, and I will do that one very soon). I love Hull/Gatineau!

Hey, my song of the day is playing! Cool. Copperhead Road! Great beat!

Vancouver. Well, this blog will largely be my discovering Vancouver. This is why this is one big blog called English Bay. That is where I am sitting as we speak. I look to my left and see snow-capped mountains, I look straight ahead and see the most beautiful cityscape I have ever seen. I really can't believe this is mine. I am very happy here. I step out the door and walk for about 20 seconds and I am on the beach. If you go to Google and type "English Bay", then click "images" before hitting "go"...you will love what you see. I am reluctant to put the link for my apartment building here in a window to the world (safety reasons), but if you really want to see it e-mail me. I live close to the Davie and Denman intersection and Stanley Park is really close too. Oh, did you know that Stanley Park is honours Lord Stanley (as in the Stanley Cup)? There y'go, a little trivia fer ya. I am discovering this neighbourhood little by little. I haven't ventured too far out of this area, though I will post more about other areas I have found. I need to tell you about some really neat places.

So, here I am on the Pacific Ocean while my mother is on the Atlantic. It really is far! I can't get over just how far this is! I'm not used to the time here. It's very weird to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs at 4:00 pm. It's wierd to be able to go to a mall after the game. It's funny to think that when it's just 6:00 pm here...folks in Newfoundland's clocks read 10:30 pm. Speaking of clocks...mine now reads 1:32 am. Ouash! Time to turn off Jack, post this entry, shut this laptop down, and kiss Vancouver goodnight.

Bonne nuit