Say hello to Autumn. Wave goodbye to Summer.

Tuesday my heart is brimming
I’m a child in the wild wind
Dead leaves and daylight dimming
No beginning and no end.

- David Gray

There is something magical about the changing of a season. When Summer first arrives, I always remember thinking, “I have to make the best of these next few months”. And I usually do. But along with that sentiment, I think how soon Summer will wave goodbye, giving way to the dreaded Fall.

On that note, I owe Fall an apology.

Dear Fall,

It’s not you that I detest, it’s your follower that lags behind by a few months (or in the case of Winnipeg, a few weeks), Winter. You, Fall, are actually quite beautiful. The way you change the colour of leaves to red and yellow and orange (I realize this is a kind of death, but beautiful none the less). The fresh, crisp smell of the morning air. The coziness that a cool, rainy day brings when I can curl up on my couch and watch you from the warmth of my home. There is something magical indeed about the friendship you have with Summer. You two seem to hold hands so beautifully until Summer has to move on. And then Winter bullies its way in. But I suppose if there were no Winter, the beauty of Spring would never be seen. So alas, I am sorry Fall, for always wanting your arrival to be delayed so Summer can play longer.

Jessica

I went out for a walk this evening. It was absolutely beautiful. The air was warm even though the sun has just nestled behind the horizon. The ground was littered in red and orange leaves that crunched under my feet. Fall really is the best season for your senses. The crisp smells, the beautiful colours, the crunching noises. And mmm, pumpkin treats.

As I was walking, I was thinking about how this time of year has always represented change for me. Perhaps it’s because school always started in September. In a lot of ways, for me September is almost like the beginning of the year. A time for resolution! A time for change! A time for new beginnings! I believe that those years of “September = change” has actually become ingrained in me. The years following graduation from university, once Labour Day passed I felt lost. Why wasn’t I going back to school? I would feel disoriented and somewhat saddened for weeks. In some ways, this time of year stirs something deep inside me. And if I’m not changing? If I’m not beginning something new? I’m not satisfied.

So this year, my new September thing was Winnipeg. To be honest, I think it’s so big that it’s actually not satisfying the change my brain was expecting. That might seem ridiculous but I am used to predictable change. And there in lies the difference. My brain expects change but expects a similar change to what it has seen before. I suppose that kind of defeats the purpose of change, doesn’t it? But because of that, I am left in my typical September disorientation, disoriented in a new town. For those who are numbers people, I have created a mathematical equation to illustrate my current state.

Degree of Orientation = (IR + ES) – (TSD + AD²)

• IR = Internal resilience
• ES = External support
• TSD = Typical September Disorientation
• AD = Acute disorientation (in my case, my move to Winnipeg)

The goal is to stay [in the] positive. Thanks to all my ES for keeping me there.

Only in Winnipeg…

I’ve decided to create a series of posts titled, “Only in Winnipeg…”. If you see a post with this title, you can expect a brief blurb, comment, or one-liner to highlight some of the unique things that Winnipeg has to offer. These are meant to be remarks without judgment. I will leave the judging up to the reader, if they so choose.

For example,

Only in Winnipeg would a server at Earl’s call my boyfriend a “douche bag” for absolutely no reason.

Ooo ooo, that was fun. One more just to make sure you have the hang of it.

Only in Winnipeg would your insurance broker drop the F-bomb when discussing your auto insurance options.

Got it figured out? Good.

Many, many more to come.

Where have all the mountains gone?

It’s truly amazing how things can become ingrained in our being. I had a moment today that took my breath away, partly from beauty but mostly from the how the mind can play tricks on us.

I was sitting on my couch reading a book and glanced out the window. There, off to the southeast, right where it belongs, Mt. Baker stood strong against the dusky sky. Wait a minute. How can this be? I’m on my couch, in Winnipeg, where I’m pretty sure Mt. Baker is far out of view, along with any other mountain.

Double take.

My Mt. Baker was actually a cloud sitting peacefully upon the horizon, doing it’s best to look like a snowy peak.

I can’t explain exactly the impact this had on me. I didn’t think I had been feeling homesick or sad, although of course I miss my family and friends. The move is still new, I’m in the honeymoon stage, if you will. But when I realized that “Mt. Baker” wasn’t actually sitting on my horizon, I longed for home. I longed for those familiar sights and sounds and smells. I wanted to be able to look out my window and see Mt. Baker and my home, where I belong. I belong there.

Belong. Funny word actually. To belong somewhere. Again, I can’t explain this feeling but I don’t think I have to. We all know what it feels like to belong somewhere or even to belong with someone.

Wherever you go, there you are.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

I still belong, even here.

And I will never look at Mt. Baker the same again.

Tow-dolly Awesome Roadtrip*

COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE = Minus 9 days.

It’s true. I have arrived in Winnipeg and after 9 days, am still here to talk about it! I haven’t been eaten by a mosquito or fallen into any snowdrifts never to be found again. In fact, the weather is beautiful and although I have not been completely eaten by a mosquito, one did welcome me with a kiss to the side of my forehead within 30 seconds of stepping out of the U-haul upon arrival. I wish I was kidding. But that’s a little premature. First up, the journey from Vancouver to Winnipeg.

Instead of documenting our entire trip (let’s be honest, writing about driving across the prairies for 2 days is less than enthralling), here are some of the highlights.

After a solid team effort, the U-haul was packed from floor to ceiling and locked up for the night. It came down to one last sleep on a deflating air mattress in our otherwise empty living room. The next morning brought sunshine to our West 10th home, a beautiful day to say goodbye to all the good times we had shared there. Then it was driving our car up and onto the tow dolly. Easier said than done. Apparently I’m not that good with directing vehicles onto 12″ wide ramps with a margin of error about the size of a twig. But alas, safety chains on, emergency brake off (personally I wanted to leave it on for safety reasons but I guess this doesn’t make sense when the vehicle is being towed) and away we went.

And then there was Timmy’s. Oh sweet, sweet Timmy’s.

The sun didn’t last long and the sky was pretty much clouded over once we reached “The Great Outside”.

I’m sorry, I had to include that. Seriously? The great outside? Come on Chilliwack.

Moving on…

Day 1 was fairly uneventful. We cruised through the Rockies, not exceeding the tow dolly speed limit, collecting trains of cars behind us waiting for a passing lane. We did see a double rainbow just passed Golden, but we were more focused on staying on the construction-ridden highway at that point. Not a pleasant road, I have to say.

A comment for B.C. wildlife. Where the heck are you? I see “Moose crossing” signs and signs with deer frolicking around having a gay old-time, yet no moose and no deer. They must have their little parties deep in the trees, probably even hiding and laughing at people like me sitting patiently in the passenger seat with their cameras halfway out the window waiting for any sign of life. B.C. wildlife – you let me down. It wasn’t until we pulled into Banff that I saw a deer. Just one, but I still had a little freak out and tried to get my camera ready. Too late. Mrs. Deer went back to her party deep in trees to laugh about me with all her friends. Oh, and I saw a coyote. Boring. And in Manitoba, I saw a flock (?) of pelicans. I thought they were Canada Geese.

Back to the road trip. We stopped in Banff where we bought dinner (chips and salsa), filled up with gas, unfilled our bladders and continued on. It was nightfall at this point which really crushed my dream of seeing a bear. We ended Day 1 at a sketchy, dirty, don’t-take-off-your-shoes-kinda motel in the east end of Calgary. I’ll spare the name of the hotel for liability reasons but if you are ever staying in a Calgary airport motel, call me first. Luckily, we were exhausted from the drive so we fell asleep before we could assess the cleanliness of the sheets. As we were leaving the next morning, we checked out the free continental breakfast – brown bananas, 2-bite brownies from Costco and a room full of dirty old men. Mmmm. Breakfast of champions. Off to find a Timmy’s.

Day 2 can be summarized in one picture.

I should be fair. We also saw Canada’s largest teepee and a very, very large moose statue that was an anatomically correct, non-castrated male. That was in Moose Jaw for anyone wanting to take pictures. I’d post mine but I’m trying to keep this blog rated “G”. The evening of Day 2 was spent in a very cute, side-of-the-highway town called Whitewood, Saskatchewan, population 869. We stayed in a quaint, clean motel, complete with a lounge and a Chicken Chef. A quick note on restaurants. When a restaurants prides itself on a particular type of food, let’s say chicken, so much so that after reading the menu you’d feel like an idiot if you didn’t order the chicken, do not, and I repeat, do not order the chicken. Stick to the perogies. Or maybe even just a soda. In no way is this note referring to Chicken Chef. In no way at all.

Day 3, our last day on the open road. Refer to above picture of the prairies. And we saw pelicans. And then we arrived in Winnipeg, my new home.

*Credit for cheesy joke given to C.W.

The Keys to Surviving in Winnipeg

When I began announcing my move to Winnipeg, I very quickly came to realize that everyone had some sort of connection to the ‘Peg. They either grew up there; had family back there; or knew someone who knew someone who had a friend whose dad lived there. The list goes on. The other thing I quickly came to realize is that all these people had some advice to give on how to survive in Winnipeg. Apparently, as described by these folks, Winnipeg can be a challenging place to live. And, as a West Coast girl, I listened carefully, took notes and came up with…

The Top 10 Tips for Survival in Winnipeg

1. Always keep a shovel in your car. You never know when you’ll have to dig yourself out of a snow bank in the winter. And in the summer, you can use it to bonk gophers on the head so they don’t tear up your lawn.
2. When the sun is shining and the sky is blue in the winter, don’t go outside. It means it is really, really cold. Wait for a cloudy day, then you can play outdoors.
3. Winter attire is not about fashion. It’s about staying warm no matter how ridiculous you look.
4. Fuzzy cotton gloves are a thing for West Coasters. Stuff freezes to them.
5. Don’t go outside with any skin exposed…ever. In the summer, you will be a feast for mosquitoes. And in the winter, wind burn and frost bite will get ya.
6. If you look down and see blood trickling down you leg, don’t fret, you’ve merely been bitten by a black fly.
7. A car starter isn’t just a good idea. It’s the only idea.
8. Get involved in outdoor winter activities. If you don’t, you’ll find that 6 months can go by and you haven’t left your house.
9. “Fresh” produce is relative.
10. Get used to the idea of paying to attend a social function. Don’t worry, you’re supporting someones cause.

So there you have it. And now you all have a connection to Winnipeg. You’re friends with that girl who looks ridiculous in the winter but man, is she warm.

COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE: 4 days

The Jets live on

My dear brother sent me this article with a note…”Maybe a new friend?”. I do love the passion for hockey in Winnipeg!

Winnipeg Free Press – ONLINE EDITION

Lundar resident faces charges over 911 calls

By: Mike McIntyre

21/07/2010 7:13 PM

www.mikeoncrime.com

WINNIPEG — At least one local hockey fan thinks it’s criminal the Winnipeg Jets haven’t returned home.

A 33-year-old resident of Lundar, Manitoba is facing numerous charges after allegedly making a series of 911 calls which included demanding RCMP officers somehow bring the National Hockey League back to the province.

“He began the conversation by saying he wanted the Jets back. He was quite upset about it,” a justice source told the Free Press on Wednesday. The incident occurred last year but was never reported publicly by police. The Free Press uncovered details this week through court documents.

The potential return of the NHL has been a hot topic in recent years, with many believing it’s a matter of when, not if, Winnipeg gets a team back. And while the subject usually triggers passionate debate, this is believed to be the first time it has ever prompted police action.

The emergency dispatcher politely told the angry caller there was nothing she could do to help him and reminded him that he was tying up a valuable resource before hanging up. But the man continued to phone back, claiming he had a lot on his mind.

…

The final straw came when the man began insulting the 911 operator, eventually calling her a crude name. She warned him that his number had been traced and police were being sent out to arrest him.

“If you’re coming to get me, can you bring me some smokes,” was his reply.

Winnipeg…in a nutshell

In preparation for my move to Winnipeg, I feel I should get to know the town I will soon be calling home. And for those who are reading this blog and don’t know too much about the ‘Peg, here’s Winnipeg in a nutshell.

• Population: Close to 700,000…and dropping
• Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba
• Even more impressive, it is the Slurpee capital of the world (the citizens consume an estimated 400,000 Slurpees/month)
• Wedding Socials are held by engaged couples to raise money for their wedding. (NOTE: apparently you can host a social for any reason to raise money. I’m thinking of hosting weekly Jessica Socials to raise money for Slurpees and rent).
• Winnipeg Lake is the 11th largest lake in the world
• Grand Beach (at Winnipeg Lake) was once voted one of the top ten beaches in the world by Playboy magazine
  
• The James Bond character is based on a native Winnipegger – Sir William Stephenson
• “Winnipegger” is not in my spell check
• Terry Fox was born there
• The strongest tornado ever recorded in Canada was 40km west of Winnipeg
• The Royal Canadian Mint is located in the WPG and produces all the coins circulating in Canada as well as producing currency for 60 other countries
• The Air Command branch of the Canadian Military is based in Winnipeg
• The Canadian Military has an Air Command branch
• The Golden Boy, gilded in 24 carat gold, sits 225 feet atop the Manitoba Legislative Building and was built in France. He is fully nude.
• 1000 cars are stolen every month in Winnipeg
• Recovery rate of stolen vehicles = 90% (apparently they are mostly used for joy rides and getting around in the cold. Phewf)
• Neil Young lived there
• Winnie the Pooh was named after the city
• “Winnipeg” comes from the Cree word for “muddy waters”
• Coldest temperature recorded: -47.8 degrees celsius; warmest temperature recorded: 42.2 degrees
• Ranked 2nd sunniest city in Canada
• More than 100 languages are spoken
• The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is currently being built, scheduled to be completed in late 2012, and will be the largest human rights museum in the world
• Home of Canada’s oldest ballet company – the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
• 4th highest overall crime rate among Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas

So there you have it – all you ever needed to know about Winnipeg. I encourage everyone to come visit, drink a Slurpee and have your car stolen. As for my first Jessica Social? This fall – $20 cover (for a good cause of course).

COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE: 41 days

Welcome to my blog

This is it! Welcome to my world for the next few years. I invite you to follow along with my journey as I make the transition from Vancouver, BC (my home for the past 29 years) to the “heart of the continent”, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

This blog truly is inspired by my brother, Sean (aka. Tubby), who did a similar thing when he moved to Australia, funnily, also for love (Check it out here). NOTE: he is a much better writer than I am so no comparisons please or I’ll be forced to pull out high school biology test scores to make myself feel better.

This blog will be filled with the good times, the hard times, the funny times, and the “I can’t believe this is happening to me” times. Relocating is a new experience for me, and I’m thinking Vancouver –> Winnipeg will epitomize the culture shock that can accompany such an experience. So stay tuned, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

And any tips along the way will be greatly appreciated.

COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE: 71 days