Sunday, December 20, 2009

Ice Out.

The entire city is iced over.

We've had a massive rise in temperature lately, and when I say massive I mean: it went from -13 to +3 in 18 hours. Add permafrost to that and you are looking at a town under ice. Behind our building is a legitimate threat to your safety it's so badly iced over. It's on a slight tilt so even the cars stopping or parking are sliding diagonally going through. You could skate to where ever you needed to go, in fact, if I had-me some skates, I'da done it!

Steph keeps bribing me with hundreds of dollars to open her gifts early but I keep my firm stance on not opening up anything, not even a card before Christmas Eve at the earliest. For the family and friends reading this, feel free to comment and instruct her to quit this diligent shenanigans. I could use the help.

The "Home-sickness" has lessened a bit as friends from home have started calling us for the holidays. It's funny how better you feel hearing a familiar voice or hearing about stories of home. At the same time, some of our new friends from here have started their trek towards home for the holiday which makes us both jealous and sad. Jealous because they'll find High-Speed Internet and Tim Horton's this Christmas, and we . . . will not. It makes us sad because, we are finally finding the free time we wish we had these past months and want to spend it with them. Either way . . . safe travels to them.

Oh, before we go . . . we'd just like to take a minute and laugh (mockingly) at our former home province of Ontario. May we just illustrate that you have been smiling arrogantly at us ever since we landed and bragging about how much better and warmer the weather is there. Perhaps you should compare the weather between us over the coming Holiday and this past week . . .

... thought so!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

'Tis the Season.

Staff Party . . . ouch!

Weather . . . ouch!

Work Hours . . . ouch!

Bank Account . . . ouch!


We've never been so busy and so tired in all our lives . . . maybe. The Holiday season is ripe with events, moves, parties, plans, meetings, greetings, snow and cold. By the time Saturday arrived, we were out of gas. On a night where energy and ambition would've been useful, we were almost at wits end by the time I finished work and got home. We weren't able to join any of our online (and now offline!) friends in the plethora of endeavours they were up to on Saturday. We opted for one of the quietest dinners of our lives and the earliest bedtime seen by anybody in their twenties on a weekend in recent history.

Trips to the post office are becoming adventures. Thank you so much to all the members of both our families who have taken the time to send us gifts. I hate to brag but, I think we have more gifts under our tree than the tree has branches! WE LOVE IT. Oh, and while we're on the topic of family gifts, Julia . . . why are the cats trying to eat the gift you got them?! Sending gifts have been just as exciting as getting them . . . we hope that everyone likes their gifts this year. It's been really important for us to share our experiences up here the best we can so, Christmas was a great platform to keep that tradition bright.

This Holiday is going to be really different for the both of us. Homesickness keeps bouncing back and forth between us. Days where we both work are easier but, then we just end up missing each other so, really, we're living a life of constantly missing people these days.

When talking about our families and what we miss over the holidays, we've discovered that we both have very different family traditions when it comes to Christmas. It made us wonder what everyones qwirky or random family traditions are. So, why not open it up for everyone to talk about.

What is your favourite Christmas tradition?

Friday, December 18, 2009

Townie Bastards New Base

Mr & Mrs Bastard,

We here at the old Northern Bloggin hub will miss you very much. Our adjustment both in Iqaluit and in this apartment would not have been possible without the both of you. You two are pillars in this community and have been nothing short of kind, compassionate and understanding towards us with every part of our stay here so far. Having you as neighbours will be something we both miss and well look forward to stealing all your DVD's and invading your dinner table from a greater distance now.

We are deeply sorry we missed the house warming but, we can assure you that we'll be by sooner than later to help break in the new turf. We hope the both of you as well as Boo have a great transition and find happiness in your new surroundings.

Your neighbours always,
Jordan and Steph.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

The Tara and Sarah Show

It's not that I'm against getting "blogged", my only observation was that it catches you off guard sometimes. It was one thing to set up a dinner with a few blog friends and meet them in person; it's been another to become really good friends with them. But, last week an encounter of a third kind presented itself and much to my amusement, it turned out to be a great one.

Pang-Bound Tara and Newbie-Sarah pop'd their heads round my place of work on Friday and after much apologising on my behalf (another story in itself), it seemed as though our offline meeting quickly became a good one. Tara and I sort of discovered who we were randomly while she enjoyed her (I will assume "much meeded") Keith's & Wings and Sarah quickly joined her after. The two of them as well as a few friends helped what looked to be a slow night for me behind the bar.

If there's one thing I've learned about The Northern Blogging world, it's that every single person you meet in person are just warm, fun, and great in person as they are on their blogs. Tara and Sarah are testaments to that. Tara, who didn't even know who I was at first, still came off as a really great stranger and costumer. 5 Keiths, 12 Wings and an introduction later, she was still the same person. Sarah and I got off on the wrong foot in a first few meetings but, it took no time at all for us to hit a stride of sorts. Just like the other bloggers we've met up here, these two are great fun and I was happy to be a small part in their great visit.

We're really sorry we didn't make it to the Legion and it looks like we missed a legendary night but, we'll eagerly wait for the detailed posts from both of you. Oh, and we were witness to the great "head pieces" worn proudly by our fellow bloggers during their nice dinner at the Frob! They wore them all night.

It was sincerely great to meet you Tara . . . and you again Sarah! (Sorry . . again)

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Dear Guelph Reader,


Every so often I see someone from Guelph, Ontario pass by our site. Everytime I see that, it reminds me of how much I miss home and some people who live in Guelph. So, I'm wondering if our Guelph reader could make an appearance at McCabe's (Downtown Guelph) and tell every single person working that "Jordan Wishes Them a Merry Christmas and misses them" . .. ask for Alicia!


I played there every Thursday . . . some of my favourite musical experiences. . .