Let's Bring You Up To Speed

Well, well well. Time has a funny way of getting away from you. It is now September and it has been too long since we found our way here. To be completely honest, not much has actually changed. We survived another Virginia summer, although in all honesty it wasn't very hot or humid. Of course now we'll have a super hot and wet fall, with the coming of tropical storm season. We stuck around home here in VA, with the exception of a few work-related trips Chris (and I) took to Pennsylvania. Chris is exceptionally busy with work and will frequently be going away on business trips. I am still at home, not yet working except to help out at Neel Co. when they need an extra hand in the office.
We are still waiting for our applications to be processed for permanent work status and until we have that, we won't be visiting NS due to possible complications for our applications. It is all very bureaucratic.

The fall brings with it long anticipated visits from family. Chris' parents may be coming down in October and my folks are expected to arrive in early November (perhaps with a few extra people - maybe Gram, Sandy and/or Norah-Bean - all of whom would be most welcome!!).
Also with autumn approaching, hockey season approaches. We are both still avid Caps fans and are counting down the days to the season opener. Considering how well the guys did last year, we have heard season tickets sales are way up so we expect it may be more difficult to get good seats. All of the games are televised so we'll watch regardless. Chris may take a day to scope out the training camp, which includes the team core and some up-and-comers vying for positions on the team. We have some changes to the roster: veteran goalie Olaf Kolzig is now playing with the Bolts in Tampa, and Huet went to Chicago (we play them in our home opener - can you say awkward??!). We now have Jose Theodore joining Brent Johnson (Johnny) in the net making a (hopefully) consistent force in the net. Only time will tell. 15 days 'til training camp...

Merry Christmas In Nova Scotia

It is great to be back in Nova Scotia again. After postponing our trip in May we waited for 'permission' to leave the US, hoping and praying we would be able to get home for the holidays. We received our "advanced parole", giving us permission to leave the country up to 30 days at one time, valid until September 2008. We also have an application in for permanent residential status (a perm. work Visa) which will be processed sometime in the next year (or two). That will clear up any issues going across the border and will allow me to work (if I would like to) as well.

Our actual flight back to NS was relatively uneventful. Air Canada/United co-share a direct flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to Halifax. The actual flight time is only a little more than 2 hours so it is a quick trip. We arrived in frosty NS around 3:30 pm on the 13th of December. We had been informed that it was cold here but of course we were still a little surprised at exactly how cold. We have gotten used to the warmer weather - a relative term I suppose as it does get cold in Virginia, just not to the degree that it does up here. We have only made two trips back here at Christmastime since we moved to the US and I don't recall either of them being very cold. However I do enjoy the cold weather far more than Chris and I miss the snow so I guess every one special ordered some just for me as we have had one big storm and lots of flurries on top of the snow that was already down.

We have been enjoying the company of friends and family since arriving. We are a little like gypsies, moving every couple of days, except we just go back and forth from Brian and Thelma's (Galletly) to Kenny and Patty's (McKenna). One of the things I most look forward to is seeing our beautiful nieces - we now have four; Norah (9), Emily (4), Rachel (2) and Sophie (8 mos.). To date we have only had opportunity to see Norah and Rachel (my sister Sandy's two darlings), with plans to visit Oxford this coming weekend to get reacquainted with Emily and meet Sophie for the first time. Of course we enjoy spending time with everyone else, but the children grow up and change so fast, each moment is special to be sure.

We will try to post pictures of the beauty of winter in NS as well as the wonderful people make it special for us.

Happy Holidays to all, and best wishes for the New Year!