Greetings from CANADA!

[WindFem3]

Hello everyone,

James and I are in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. For him - it's work. For me - VACATION"!

So I walked into the most charming used bookstore this morning, complete with an extremely fat cat and thousands of books in a lovely disarray. The very first book that caught my eye was on a display bracket and entitled, "Poets Against the War" (no way I'd see that on special display facing the door at Barnes & Noble in Springfield!) It's a compilation of essays and poetry by writers who object to the Iraqi war. The poet who spear-headed the project was invited to the White House a few years back by Laura Bush for something or another, and he describes his "revulsion and disgust" over being invited by people he obviously abhors. My thought upon seeing his book prominently displayed in the store? "I sooooo live in the wrong place!"

Anyway, Fredericton is a gorgeous little town of about 45,000 people. It's clean and leafy green and bordered by a big river. In fact, they're having their annual river festival this week and James and I are going to go eat some salmon and "fiddleheads." The people here seem to be uniformly attractive and well-dressed, and I've yet to see a junker car.

This morning, hubby took me to his beloved (he's been here previously) Tim Horton's - which is apparently the Dunkin' Donuts of Canada - or at least this part of Canada. Good donuts, awesome hot chocolate. For lunch, I'm going to wander downtown and get a bowl of mushroom soup ("7 local varieties!") Last night, we ate at a swanktacular restaurant here in the hotel. I had a wonderful shrimp/melon/proscuitto dish. Yummy! Somewhere along the way this week, I'm also going to eat a nice fresh Canadian lobster. Maybe the whole damned thing . . . including the SHELL. As you can see - but not taste - the food here is delicious.

This afternoon, I'm taking a walk along the river and over the pedestrian bridge to points unknown. Fredericton - ney, New Brunswick - is covered with hiking/walking trails and you can rent bicycles all along the way, if you should so choose. I'm hoofing it since I have new shoes to break in anyway. Later on I may fulfill my role as an ugly American tourist and purchase souvenirs and postcards.

James and I fully intended to come to the last meeting, and were getting ready to leave when the most dreaded sound in my house happened: James's cell phone. If it rings on a weekend, 99% of the time it'll be work-related and NOT good news for anything we've got planned. Ooh, I was pissed. So he spent all that Saturday trying to get a machine in Monett up and running, of course. The meeting had sounded so interesting and we really wanted to be there. Seems like we've haven't been down to a meeting in forever.

Just thought we'd check in from the Maritimes in Canada and say hi, ya'll. Hope everyone is well - and that married life is going great for Tamara and Darrel!

See you soon,
Sherry

[Dardedar]

DAR
Wow, sounds like you are having a great time! I have a picture of me as a little kid picking fiddleheads in Ontario. I think my mom used to pickle them (I think fiddleheads are basically a baby fern). I'll see if I can find that picture and post it.

D.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

Yes, fiddleheads are baby ferns (the only stage it's safe to eat them). Darrel, would the report of Canada have been so glowing if they'd visited in January instead of June? Over the last several years I've frequently thought of immigrating to Canada - but I have grandsons here...

[Dardedar]

would the report of Canada have been so glowing if they'd visited in January...

DAR
Probably not. However, I imagine, like Vancouver, the temperature there is moderated by the ocean some. So it probably doesn't get real bitter.
Most of Canada's population is within 100 miles of the (very long) border with the US. And remember, that area is often warmer than many places in the US. In BC, where I spent most of my time, the Penticton area is a major fruit belt and Kamloops is pretty much a desert. These places have lots of sun and hot summers. Because of the ocean the Vancouver/Victoria area rarely has snow.
People-wise, if it wasn't for the sanity/oasis of the fairly liberal Fayetteville it would be much more difficult to live down here.

D.

[WindFem3]

Darrel, would the report of Canada have been so glowing if they'd visited in January instead of June?

Of course you didn't ask me, Barbara - but I dare say that yes, the reports would have been as "glowing" had we been here in January instead of June. Winter has it's own unique charms, especially considering the climate of southwest Misery. Since I grew up on the west coast of Michigan, snow doesn't faze me all that much. I cross-country skied, ice-skated, and snowmobiled all winter long. I even snow-shoed a few times. What makes this region so wonderful to me is not so much the weather, but the people. They've all been warm, open, and genuine across the board - you know, a lot like our favorite local Canadians Darrel and Tamara. Plus, they seem to be much more informed about politics (namely ours) and current affairs than the average American. Not really flattering to our own country, but hey - it is what it is.

Today I had lunch in the Vietnamese restaurant across the street from the hotel. The spring rolls were great, but the chicken/beef satay soup had a flavor that put me off. I think it was lemongrass. I don't like lemongrass. Tonight we're going to the Luna Pizzaria for a slice. Might try the "donair", which seems to be all over the place here. One lady told me it's spiced beef with a garlic-type spread on top. So apparently donair can be used in lots of different dishes. I'm making headway on that lobster, too. I stopped in today at a retail lobster shop just down the street from James's worksite and chatted with the gentleman there for at least 1/2 hour. He was just putting 3 huge lobsters in the pot. Said they have it down to a science: he knows to the MINUTE how long each lobster must cook. One would go for 20 minutes, one for 22, and the last for 23 exactly. He drives to the coast once a week and chooses the lobsters straight off the boat at the Bay of Fundy. Anyway, he said for me to give him a little notice one night and he'd boil the lobsters, crack them for us, and have them waiting hot out of the pot to be picked up. He'll even throw in the clarified butter and meat picks for us! I told him he was henceforth my favorite human being (besides James, of course) on this PLANET - hell, make that the entire GALAXY.

I've done my mandatory souvenir shopping for everyone I can think of. Now I just have to get James to buy me that gorgeous carnelian ring in jewelry shop down Queen Street . . . hmm . . .

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

Sorry Sherry, I should have realized you'd hit the blog again soon. I'm still Luddite enough to assume distance makes a difference, if I'm not actually thinking about it.

I lived 3 years in Madison, WI where they joke they have two seasons - winter and July (and in July they have dive-bomber sized mosquitos that can drill through Levis 501s). The food there was wonderful, but the PC-ness (a total difference animal from either liberal or progressive) finally got to me. (Because I'm from the south, it was automatically assumed I was a racist, and not a very intelligent racist at that. You may know how irritating that gets.) I didn't have nearly the problem with the climate that I did with the people, even though I grew up in Texas. I've never been to Canada, although I've wanted to at least visit for years. Almost everything I've ever heard or read about the people in Canada has been good. Wish I could say the same for my own country. Never had the time or the money, much less the time and the money, to make that visit. Maybe someday. Probably better not while W is in charge or they might not let me back in. (Now if I could get as good a job in Canada as I have here, a house, and my family moved up there...)

[WindFem3]

Almost everything I've ever heard or read about the people in Canada has been good.

Everything you've heard is true, Barbara. Not to say that there aren't bad people here or that nasty things don't happen - but they don't seem to be a fraction as common as they are in our neck of the woods. There's something missing here (and in this case it's very good): overweaning irony, bitter cynicism, and distrust and suspicion of strangers.

Speaking of . . . today my husband and I got invited to a BBQ tomorrow at the home of a lovely German family. They own "Chocolaterie & Patisserie Fackelmann" here in Fredericton. I'd seen some ads and went to find their business, which is actually located in their home. In fact, the display case with all the gorgeous hand-made chocolates sits in their kitchen. The husband, Uva, and I had an hour conversation and then his mother-in-law walked past us to the table with a huge pot in her hands and Uva said, "You'll have lunch with us. Vegetable soup with spaetzle." (And wonderful rolls, too.) It wasn't a question, it was a statement. How could I refuse such lovely people? So I sat down with Uva, his wife, her sister, and their parents for a couple of hours. Then Mrs. Fackelmann invited James and me to their family Saturday BBQ around the pool tomorrow. We'll probably go out there after the farmer's market.

My friend at the Lobster Barn is going to cook two 2 1/2 lbs. lobsters for us on Monday. I'm trying not to be a pig here; I could have asked for the 3 1/2 - 4 pounders, you know! So, here's your shellfish trivia for the day: did you know that a 3 1/2 lb. lobster is approximately 30 years old? I would feel bad about eating such a venerable animal . . . but not that bad. Can't help it - I LOVE seafood! Wouldn't surprise me if my cholesterol level spiked 100 points Monday night.

Well, James and I are going to take a late-afternoon nap. He's pooped, poor guy. He's working and I'm having the time of my life! After we awaken, we're going to watch the sunset from the pedestrian bridge over the river.

[Dardedar]

Doug sent me this:

The Official Canadian Temperature Conversion Chart

50° Fahrenheit (10° C): Californians shiver uncontrollably -
Canadians plant gardens.

35° Fahrenheit (1.6° C): Italian Cars won't start - Canadians drive
with the windows down

32° Fahrenheit (0 ° C): American water freezes - Canadian water gets
thicker.

0° Fahrenheit (-17.9° C): New York City landlords finally turn on the
heat - Canadians have the last cookout of the season.

-60° Fahrenheit (-51° C): Mt.St. Helens freezes - Canadian Girl
Guides sell cookies door-to-door.

-100° Fahrenheit (-73° C): Santa Claus abandons the North Pole -
Canadians pull down their ear flaps.

-173° Fahrenheit (-114° C): Ethyl alcohol Freezes - Canadians get
frustrated when they can't thaw the keg.

-460° Fahrenheit (-273° C): Absolute zero; all atomic motion stops -
Canadians start saying "cold, eh?"

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

I'm not crazy about the -32 although with the proper clothing it's ok, but you definitely lost me at -60.

[WindFem3]

Doug sent me this:

The Official Canadian Temperature Conversion Chart!!!

hahaha hahaHaHaHa HAhAhAHaHaHA!!!