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Published: November 12th 2010
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Welcome to the first entree or entry I should say of my travel blog. I've decided to document this trip and share it, as a way of staying in touch from my end, as I know I'll be hard to reach from your end. Plus, you're most likely living your boring lives, while I'm the one who's traveling, so why wouldn't you be stoked to hear about this kick ass shit? Just kidding. My mission is to create an interesting or at least somewhat interesting description of my experience throughout this journey, by writing blogs while hunched over my computer in the dark, late at night, like Doogie Howser- in a diary-esk format. .
Entry 1:
*Arrival, Monday 11/8 until today 11/11
It already feels like I've been here for at least a week. In a good way. I was eagerly picked up from the airport by Mike and Alia and Paco (their amazing 6 month old, rescued pup) after finding out that my luggage had safely arrived- in Chicago. Yes, it's a fact that we are living in the 'digital era', with every virus, glitch, and crash to come along with it. The excuse I
was given was that apparently when 'scanning' the barcode on my tag (as oppose to the old fashioned way that required literate employees) the device misread the code and mistook it for the Chicago code. Right. Makes perfect sense. Not to fret, because two polite women quickly explained to me that my bag would be delivered to where I am staying with my brother after two wonderful, clean underwear-less, toothbrush-less days. They then informed me that I had been the easiest customer they'd ever dealt with who'd just lost a bag. In truth I wasn't upset or worried to the slightest degree, and I actually felt blessed that I had been given a chance to be an advocate as to why we shouldn't care so much about material objects.
After seeing Mike and Alia's apartment fully furnished for the first time I was impressed. It's arranged very nicely, it's rustic, it's not underdone, not sparse, clean, and well placed. The entrance leads to two bedrooms, with a bath to the left, then down a hallway to the kitchen, and from there to a wood floored living room, which contains three huge, arching windows to let the light in. They
also provide a beautiful view of an historical stone church just across the street. The apartment itself rests above a hair salon, to the right of an ally, to the left of an open stairwell, and rests on both the second and top floor. That being said, it makes for the perfect place to sing my heart out during the daytime hours, as well as occasionally in the evenings, with mike's guitar and a glass of water or wine. It's provided a musical freedom that couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
Mike has been waking up early every day so far, at 6 or so. I'd like to say that the majority of the time I've joined him, but I don't think that's true. He/we will wake up and walk the pup in the chilly twilight, then he'll run off to his day job: flooring and construction with a small, privately contracted company. Alia meanwhile will indulge in sleep for another hour or maybe two, before waking up and beginning her studies. She gives herself allotted time slots to work with, such as "three hours then lunch then class," or "one hour then walking the dog, and
yoga," which occupy most of her daylight moments. It's impressive, as well as motivating to see a student studying first hand with professors while working towards a master's degree.
I have plans to go to Toronto, plans to go to Montreal, and am awaiting snow, as I've never experienced a real winter and therefor have yet to know what it's like to get my ass kicked by one. From what I can tell so far, it's not going to be as extreme as I had imagined it will be. The heavy winters up here tend to fall more towards the months of January and February. I most likely will be slipping out just before it all goes down. At this point I will be off to Florida to spend Christmas with my two brothers, Father and his girlfriend, as well as my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin. We will be staying on the property which he built his house on. It will be the first time I've seen it and it couldn't be happening during a better time, with my extended family as well as the holidays to enjoy. I'm sure that it will feel like the perfect 'time' to
be going when I leave Canada on Christmas eve, teeth chattering as I head to a place where I will be wearing a t-shirt, and possibly shorts.
The trip has just begun. Time only tells where it will lead, and what I will have to share, as well as what I might choose not to share. I give my love to my family and friends and will miss you all.
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Jan / Mom
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Awesome!!
What a great idea Nick!~ fantastic first blog entry too.......I really enjoyed it. Some funny stuff :-) Mike as a Ninja.....Paco as a hipster...... Looks like you and your bro are having some good times together. I'm so happy to see recent pics of Mike & Alia, and finally of the dog! He is soooo cute. I'm so glad M & A rescued him. He looks so happy in those photos :-) Nick - did you end up getting your bag?? Was it okay when it finally got to you?? Britt enjoyed the heck out of this entry to - thanks for doing this!! Looking forward to more entries to come! G'night, Mom