Just NB

I think that when I'm tired or stressed or homesick or whatever, I am become a recluse. But sometimes, it's because I don't have enough hours in the day to just....hang out alone. Last night I didn't go to a get together because I wanted to do things that I wanted to do. Work on the on-line scrapbook albums I'm making for the girls. Watching Season 10 of "Degrassi" (I'm serious). Normally I would feel guilty for missing out an event....and while I'm dissapointed I didn't get to participate in the fun, I really really really needed a night where I just did "me" things. Louis still went (I wanted him to) and came up with an excuse. I hate to be one of those flightly people that never shows up...but I really needed the night off. While all news has been mostly good about my grandpa, I don't think I realized just how stressed I was. I know that he's okay. I also know that my grandma/aunts/uncle/cousin are in for a long road besi...

While I've been living in my own little world of worry (which has lessened since I've heard my grandpa is doing okay), there's been an insane hurricane effecting MILLIONS of people. And while yes, there's always  another cause to donate to, I'm posting a link of What You Can Do to Help In New York City , and also the link of the American Red Cross . Every dollar counts and helps.

I'm beginning to write one of those posts that I'm never sure will end up getting published. I love writing down the craziness in my head, but sometimes I don't love sharing it. But sometimes, I love sharing it because then I get to let everyone that knows me back home what's going on and then I also get to look back and see how things were last month, last year, two years ago, etc. So I'm copying what a lot of the popular bloggers do and doing a re-cap of the month. Unlike the popular bloggers, I'm not doing a link-back-festival. Here goes: January Plans I had a lot of debate on where I should go. Costa Rica for a yoga retreat (which I hope to do one day), Montreal, or Montreal/Edmonton...I couldn't make up my mind. My "plans" are to spend a lot more time in Canada in 2013 so I kind of figured that the January trip would be my last non-Canada trip. Happy that I didn't make any plans because now Louis and I (and hopefully the girls - we...

I see pictures of this:  and this: and this: and I feel like I'm seriously suffering. Pretty pathetic. If anyone is so magically inclined to put together a bag full of mini-chocolate bars (of different brands!), those small candies that look like the picture below, and some tootsie pops, let me know and I'll send you my address. Life is rough here.

I was really unsure how I was going to pack for China. Thankfully, an expat brought me in a winter coat and a few other goodies...and I've ordered some cheap stuff that my mom can bring me her... but it's all winter stuff. And based on the China Weather for 2011 and predicted 2012  I wasn't sure if I need to pack clothes for the warmer weather. Some places on our trip are expected to be as warm as 26*C. Ummmm...Not going to be an issue. I'm in my office now, holding a cup of coffee to keep warm, wearing a rain jacket (it's the only thing I have in my office) wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt, FREEZING. Well, not freezing, but uncomfortable enough that I'll most likely go home and lunch to bring back a sweater. The craziest part? It's 23*C outside. At 23*C outside three or four years ago it would be tank top, shorts, and sandals. Now it's considered a "cool fall day" (or spring I guess in our case?). [Grandpa update: He'...

So I said that I'd feel better once my grandpa is out of ICU. He's out of ICU! I do feel better. Now the real work starts. He'll have to recover from a major surgery. But he's tough. I'm less tough when I'm away from my family. I'd really like to be there. Luckily, I've been able to receive all the text messages that my cousin has sent me so I'm getting all the latest updates! Yay! (for some reason I don't always receive them. The "some reason" is Madagascar). Looking forward to my July Quebec trip.

I know what I want to write but I don't know how to write it properly, so forgive me because I'm just going to do a brain dump. Sometimes Louis sucks. And sometimes I suck too.We work weird/long hours, we get tired, we are different yet the same, and sometimes, Louis sucks and he annoys me and we argue and I don't always see all of the wonderful things that he does and the wonderful person he is and I/we don't always appreciate the day-to-day stuff.  Source  Yesterday, Louis made my heart burst (geez....I feel like I'm writing a cheezy romance novel now) because he truly, truly cares and he is truly an amazing person. Even if he sometimes sucks. I gave my grandparents a call the weekend before my grandpa's surgery. We chatted like normal, and I planned to call them before the surgery. My plans didn't work out (and as much as I complain about feeling lonely, I am horrible for not picking up the phone more often) and I didn't call. Louis had b...