January

Here I am back in St. John's- it's January, it's 2010, sometimes it's hard to believe that it all keeps going so fast.

I had a great trip out to Prince George with Brian. It was nice to see (all of!) his family and get lots of quality time in- as well as take advantage of the myriad of winter activities that Northern BC has to offer. We went ice fishing, cross country skiing, tobogganning, sleigh-riding, hiking, and downhill skiing- it was great. I've never gone ice fishing or downhill skiing so those two were firsts, and I very much enjoyed them both. Though having your first time on skiis ever be going up the T bar and then straight down the (albeit beginner level run but still big) side of a sizeable mountain is terrifying at times, but probably the best way to learn.

Now I'm back in St. John's and the freezing rain is pinging on my window... I just got up early to bring my car in for servicing as Rubee is due for servicing and is also making a funny noise when she starts- oh dear. Apparently one of the 'belts' might be loose- I'm hoping it's something minor, but at least it's still under warranty. Oh the joys of car ownership. I don't even use it that much, in comparison to most commuters I suppose, but it still is very nice to have wheels. Particularly for out-of-town excursions.

Saturday is Brian's 25th birthday so I am making an extravagant black forest cake... well it is turning extravagant because they don't have tinned cherries here that aren't maraschinos and I had to buy fresh ones.. in January... in Newfoundland. But it will be a good cake, and I am more than happy to make a good cake for him. :)

anticipation

December is here and with it all kinds of excitement.

I love the days before Christmas.

I am currently knitting, scrapbooking, soon to be baking, attending Christmas social events, and working in the ER in my spare time. It's a nice way to spend the days.

It's easy to get caught up in the flurry of overactivity, the materialism. Last night I was at the mall and it just made me feel 'slup' after a while- so many people rushing around, everyone looking for the perfect gift. Brian and I managed to escape unscathed and pick up a few things for the family in BC without too much trouble.

I think that there is a fine line between getting a little something for your family because you love and care about them and obsessing over what exactly would make them 'happy.' As my family always says, 'and then you'll be happy' in reference to obtaining more material posessions. There is a lot of sarcasm imbedded in that little phrase, though you can't really tell by reading it. :)

We had an advent service at church on Sunday night... and that is where the true meaning of Christmas lies, in that Saviour of all creation- rocks and trees, skies and seas- lying in the manger, under the stars and the angels. We passed along the flame through lit candles along all the people sitting, and this made my heart smile... here we are, in the dark and windy winter, but we have this Light, this wondrous light.

I'm excited to go to Prince George in 11 days, excited for holidays and relaxing and Christmas!!!! Joy.

At the top: pics from our hike last Saturday out at Witless Bay.. foggy, windy, wet Newfoundland, I am becoming more attached to your wildness.

Warm milk

(sunset from my back porch)

Content right now. Just sipping a mug of the aforementioned delight, with a bit o'sugar and a bitta vanilla flavoured-coffee cream. Just the thing to perk you right up before a night shift.. haha. Not really but the walk to work will wake me up. It's clear and crisp outside today.

Excited for a day off tomorrow after I sleep off my night shift... and also that Brian is coming home on Thursday and we get to hang out this weekend. And drink coffee and play Risk and walk along the harbour by the ships. 'Tis lovely.

I have a number of other people's blogs that I read and I must say, I really enjoy blogs. Although it may be an old passed-on-by fad by now, I think it's interesting. A little window into someone's life. Fleeting and sometimes downright inspiring. I think that it is human nature that we often find other peoples' lives interesting. Watching them in different stages of life- stages past for us or those we are moving towards-- or identifying with someone's same experience that they seem to put into words so much better than you yourself can.

In the words of a song that I was introduced to on my epic road trip to Northern BC with Ashley this past spring..

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

Sun moon and stars rejoice on high

Praise to the Lord of Light Divine

Sing Alleluia, Sing Alleluia

Praise the Father above, sing Alleluia

Sing Alleluia, sing Alleluia

For His infinite love

Sing Alleluia

November days

Today was unseasonally mild (I think) for Newfoundland-- about 9 degrees. I somehow ende dup at the 'Irish Loop Fall Fair' in Goulds- purchased for myself some chocolate covered apricots, a piece of chocolate cake (both homemade, and do we see a theme? sweet? chocolate?) .. also some little glass bead earrings for the shockingly low price of only $1/pair. From a little girl proud as punch to be selling them, I think she made them herself- and a good job she did at that.

Brian is gone to Cyprus for an engineering conference until late next week. It's not until he's gone that I realize how much time we actually do spend together. I am slightly envious that he gets to venture onto the (uncharted for both of us until now) continent of Europe.. but I shall get there someday as well.

Working tomorrow and Tuesday.. oh the joys of being casual= yet another weekend off, weekday day shifts, and 3 weeks off over the Christmas holidays. If I hadn't switched over I would be absolutely guaranteed spending either Christmas, New Years, or both in the ER, with 5 days off maximum over the holidays. That alone is worth forfeiting benefits, pension, and overall job security for flexibility and freedom to work when I like. I am still putting in full time hours, actually a bit more than full time for the first couple weeks of November.

Not much else to report. Really excited for the Christmas holidays. Enjoying fall here as well though. Its quite beautiful. The weather has also been much sunnier overall lately which is great. I missed those golden rays.

Onward I go...

While the stormy winds blow

Right now it's raining outside... as usual. I'm sorry for my general mood of negativity toward the weather of this city- I'm trying to be positive, really, I am. It's just that it seems when it is sunny (a rarity) I am cooped up within the confines of the health science centre emergency department, and when I am off work with time to spare (such as today) the storm winds are a-blowin' and the rain is pelting. Which is all well and good for one day, it's cozy and such, but beyond that... let's just say I am prone to cabin fever.

But I should. not. whine.

This weekend, during the last couple hours of one of my day shifts, I think I can honestly say that it was the most intense experience at work I have had- ever. We got a call on the radio from EMS that there was a code 9 (cardiac arrest) coming... then as that person came in there was another call for a traumatic accident- needed to be put in one of the major rooms-- aka Rm 2, my assigned post for the day. I experienced sudden and intense tachycardia at this point- got my room ready, primed IV tubings, gathered blood tubes and syringes, sedation drugs.. then there they come in... nonresponsive, combative patient... needed to be intubated.. fighting the whole time, couldn't get him sedated... and here I am, primary nurse for this room. Flurry of doctors, residents, etc. It's just like on TV, almost. Since it was in my room I needed to write everything down and make sure everything got done and is in order... then after the dust settles I have primary responsibility for this patient... scary. But I had good help. In the meantime, there was some other serious stuff going on too. It's so weird... right in the thick of all this I wanted to a) cry and b) run away, but at the same time, there I was, had to do what I needed to do, and really, that's all you can do. The intensity of the situation is ridiculous. It's terribly interesting too though, and I can see how people become 'adrenaline junkies', so to speak. I am still too scared of it all to be at that point- but I'm learning a LOT.

We had a fire at the beach last night with a few friends and it was awesome. Not to mention freezing, but still great. The moon was almost full, the sky was clear, and although the wind was blowing right in off the Atlantic we got a roaring fire going as the waves crashed beside us. It was almost surreal. Really glad we made the effort to get out there to Middle Cove beach... and it's only about a 15 min drive from the city! Gotta love that... there's no urban sprawl here.

It's November. Oh my. 6 weeks today I'll be on a plane to Prince George for Christmas!

things to remember

Well, today being October 28th, 2009- marks 2 things.

First of all, exactly 3 months since I arrived in this city of St John's. After 3200 km of driving, the last 900 or so of that being across this huge island known as 'the Rock', Brian and I arrived as the sun was setting on that evening in late July. It felt weird. Kind of surreal, especially after our epic road trip through Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the ferry ride across the gulf of St Lawrence to the northwestern tip of Newfoundland. And now, here I am. I can say that it feels like home here. For that I am thankful. I've learned that its possible for many places to be home, and to have multiple 'homes' at once. Its an adventure.

Secondly, exactly 18 months since a Tim Hortons coffee in Victoria, BC where Brian and I started our (official) journey together. Now here we are, on the other side of the country. So thankful for where we have come, what we have learned and how we have grown- looking forward to more adventures together.

It's a long and rugged road and we don't now where it's headed

But we know it's going to get us where we're going

And when we find what we're looking for we'll drop these bags and search no more

Cause it's going to feel like heaven when we're home

It's going to feel like heaven when we're home

- the Wailin'Jennys, "Heaven When We're Home"

Just breathe

Not feeling particularly inspired to write anything right now but I don't like leaving on a grumpy note as per previous post... so I will attempt to get out a little thought or two.

There is a ray of semi-sunshine shining through my window- wait, it just turned into real sunshine- which makes me happy. It's been very soggy here lately. Lots of rain and wind. They say that it rains horizontally in Newfoundland because of the wind and I would say that is true.

It's October 20 today. I have been in St. John's for almost 3 months. hard to believe. I definitely feel more settled here than I did even a month ago. It all takes time, though. Still sometimes feel as though I'm wandering in a fog... literally and figuratively.

I've been reading the Chronicles of Narnia- in order- I have a book with all 7 of the books in it that I never have actually read until now (I'd only read some of the 7). It's such a good story.

Prince Caspian... From Aslan.

Then, after an awful pause, the deep voice said, "Susan." Susan made no answer but the others thought she was crying. "You have listened to fears, child," said Aslan. "Come, let me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?"

~~~~