Blogs from Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, North America

Where does the typical Albertan go to escape the cold frigid winter weather in February? Most of those that I know typically go south, Arizona, Mexico, Belize...you know the warm sun to warm the cold bones and make winter feel not so long. UNLESS....one has decided to proclaim 2015 "EMBRACE WINTER" So that is where this story begins, Rene and I have declared 2015 to be the winter we stay close to home and do winter things. We've ventured to the mountains a couple of times and really, there are not many things more beautiful than snow covered mountains, gazing at the snow falling gently to the ground, hiking frozen streams that lay beneath massive frozen water falls...hmmm I digress.....anyway they were wonderful weekends but it was time for a different kind of winter adventure, so ... read more

So I'm off in 4 sleeps! Ridiculous! It totally snuck up on me, but I'll deal I'm sure. I will be in Punta Gorda, Belize to teach elementary school as part of my Professional Semester III, the last teaching practicum of my degree from the University of Lethbridge. For me an important part of going traveling is knowing the history of where you are going! I mean, you'll learn more as you go, but I think it shows respect to the location and the people who live there to at least have some sort of basic background as to the history, geopolitics and cultural background of the people. Therefore I present to you: Belize 101 Population: approx 333,000 Location: Just south of the Gulf of Mexico, East of Guatemala and North of Honduras. Languages: Official language ... read more

The trip we so longed for and planned out these past six monthgs is over. If that statement drips with meloncholy overtones, good! That is my intention. We are home, we face mountains of laundry, the grind of house chores, bills, cooking meals, the general slap in the face of reality once more. Kenneth and I dare not speak the dreaded words that creep into our minds every now and then but we know each other is thinking them... we go back to work in five days. UGH! The rush of the past 12 days has caught up to us. We are road weary and tired. The head cold Glagow dealt me doesn't help matters... everything is fuzzy. It is nice to be home in our our bed. I giggled my arse off last night when ... read more

Ever notice when you are readying for a trip, you suddenly run out of time? I caution you all to pay attention to this FACT as your next trip nears. I don't mean to come off as a negative nelly, but I NEED MORE TIME! Its T-7 days, 5 hours, 55 mins and 27 secs til we are AIS on the plane. Factor in work hours (8-10), sleep (mandatory 9), bathroom and meal breaks, I've got a lot to do. Luckily, I have great help... love you honey! This weekend will be a smorgasbord of mowing the lawn, weeding said lawn-I've got a wicked dandelion outbreak the likes which you have never seen-, cleaning four floors of house, folding 285 origami paper cranes, organizing for the move and meeting with our cat sitter. **Note-after seeing this ... read more

Well folks, our countdown is on! 14 days til Kenneth and I head "over da pond" to Scotland. To be a little more precise, 14 days, 5 hours, 4 minutes and 16 seconds and our day of departure starts. I've decided to start a blog on our travels for friends and family to keep track of us as we go. Gotta git wit da times, as they say. I'm quite interested to see how this blog will work as we post photos, videos and the like. Should be fun! If it works well, I plan to use it on all my travels :). Makes it easier than sending out mass emails. Even though we've been looking forward to this trip since Christmas, I feel somewhat nervous. I've never been over seas before.... I'm hoping all goes ... read more