Tuesday, December 27, 2005

You Drive a WHAT?!

This is going to be a long post. If you don't have time to read it, you might want to come back later. Or scroll down and check out my Dragonerriers post--it's much funnier, anyway.
Our new house is out in the country. In Edmonton, suburbs are either a part of the city (as in Mill Woods or Callingwood) or else they're their own community, with stores and schools and malls (as in St Albert or Spruce Grove). In Nova Scotia, you leave Halifax, drive through the forest for a while, the suddenly, you're in a residential neighbourhood (as in Williamswood). The really cool thing about that is that you get to live in this beautiful, quiet area, surrounded by forest and lakes, but you still have neighbours. The unfortunate bit is you have to drive in to Hali to go grocery shopping or to rent a movie or to sit in a coffee shop and work. Which is not bad if you have a car, since Spryfield is only a few minutes away (and despite Jody's dire warnings, I haven't been mugged or shot there yet). However, if you don't have a car, you're a little hooped, since the buses don't run to the outlying communities, despite the fact that they're a part of the HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality). Needless to say, this makes Morag-less me feel a little claustrophobic. I COULD ride into Bedford every morning with Trent, take a bus into Halifax, then ride back with him in the evening, but I don't like being that dependent. Besides, if I decide to stay home one day, then discover that we need milk or lightbulbs or something, I'm stuck waiting until 6p.m., when he gets home. So we talk about it and decide that I really do need a car.
Gas prices are ridiculously expensive out here. In fact, the only thing more expensive than gas in Halifax is milk. (Ponder it.) So we decide that I need a nice, fuel-efficient small car. Except that one day it snowed, and all down the Old Sambro Road (the road that leads us to Williamswood) small cars are sliding into the ditch. Also, virtually the whole way into Hali is via highway, and though Grillface (i.e Trent's Toyota RAV4) is great on gas in the city, the engine is too small to be efficient on the highway. Okay. So we decide we need something heavier with a slightly bigger engine--maybe another Taurus or a small SUV. And we decide, yeah, a small SUV is a good idea. That way, when we start to do house repairs, we can fill up the back with lumber and drywall, and we can use it to haul wood for our 2 fireplaces. So Trent gets quiet for a minute, and he says, "I know you aren't going to like this, but a small truck might actually be more practical for that kind of thing. And if we get a 4x4, you'll be safer driving in the winter."
Truck? No way. I don't want someone yelling "Sorry about your penis!" at me. Forget it. I did NOT escape redneck, duelly-driving Alberta to drive a truck.
Except that it starts to make sense. And then on Christmas day, we go to visit Trent's aunt, uncle and cousins in Moncton. They own a Ford dealership there. Next thing I know, I'm signing lease papers on a Ford Ranger XLT extended cab. Sorry about MY penis, indeed.
This is not the end of it though. I am buying a gun rack for that baby, and I'm going to mount the giant Super-Soaker watergun that Trent's dad bought be on the back of it. Sorry about YOUR penis, you soggy jerk.

Monday, December 26, 2005

My Present to You...

Okay, I'll admit it. I thought my Dragonerriers post was pretty clever. Yes, I made myself laugh. But I have to concede the title of Funniest Blog to these guys:
http://www.overheardatwestern.blogspot.com/
Consider it my gift to you, and Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Dragonerriers

So when you buy a new house, you all of a sudden have to go out and get a bunch of weird stuff that you normally don't think about, like fire extinguishers. Our new house has a main floor, a basement, and a half-upper floor, plus the garage, so we needed 4 fire extinguishers. We go through the checkout at Canadian Tire, and the cashier is giving us a bit of a look. You know--why do you guys need this many fire extinguishers. You pyros or something? And because I'm a smartass weirdo, I shrug and say, "My husband is a fire-blower in the circus." And the girl looks at Trent and says, "Wow, really? That's so cool!" Honestly. And at that point, I can't tell her I was kidding, because then we both look like knobs. Trent and I manage not to start laughing until we get out into the parking lot, and he says we should have told her we're dragon breeders. I say no, we should have told her we're trying to breed our dragon with our terrier.
I told a friend at school this story, and he pointed out that a Dragonerrier would be able to light its own farts on fire.

New Digs

Hey Everyone! (Okay, I'll be honest. Hey Toni and Mom.)
We're in our new house, and our address is:
90 Acres Road
Williamswood NS B3V 1E3
I've kept my Pink Dungeon phone number:
(902) 405-6439
Trent's email address is tasolo@hotmail.com and mine is Rebecca.Babcock@dal.ca -- but please don't sign me up for any lists or contests. I'm trying to keep it spam-free.
I know I keep saying this, but I'll post some pics of our house soon. We just have to make some of these boxes disappear first. We asked about the elves that were supposed to do it, but apparently December is a really bad time for magic elves.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

So Much to Say...

Okay, it's been a while. You probably already know that Trent and Marlowe are in Hali now (yay!) and that we are on our last few days in the Pink Dungeon. Yup--take possession of the new house tomorrow, but we probably won't be 100% moved in until the middle or the end of the week. Already planning a party for January. You can still make it... buy your plane tickets now!
The MA students' program doesn't end until September 7th or something, but of course all their leases are up on August 31st so Trent and I offered up 8 days worth of carpet space. Maybe don't plan on visiting the first week or so of September.
Trent got to meet most of my school friends on Friday. The English department had its potluck Christmas dinner, which was fun. Ran around running errands all day Saturday, because Nova Scotia doesn't allow shopping on Sundays. Malls, supermarkets, furniture shops, clothing stores... all closed on Sunday. Talk about a pain. So basically, whatever errands you don't get done on Saturday, forget about it until next weekend. Not enjoying that so much.
Have been enjoying weird Halifax weather, though. When Trent first got here just over a week ago, it was +17C. Friday night, it started snowing, and yesterday, it was gorgeous--everything covered in mounds of fresh white snow. Finally, I believe it's December. Then today, it got really warm and rained. All day. Of course, the power was out basically all weekend. Out Friday night, back on Saturday morning, out just after midnight Saturday night, and not back on again until 7:30 this evening. Thank god, drug stores are allowed to stay open on Sundays, so we went and got some candles.
Funny thing: Marlowe is afraid of the dark!

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Halifax... Fun for Old People, Too!

So there's a guy in my program, Mark, who obviously thinks that I'm a grandmother or something, because any time he says something even vaguely related to age, he blushes and apologizes to me. Who the hell lets 23-year-olds into a graduate program anyway?! In fact, there are quite a few (read: almost all of them) under-25s in my circle of colleagues-who-are-becoming-friends. (Fortunately for me, Mark is the only one who seems to think that I'm over the hill.) This means that I am now hanging around with people younger than my little brother on a regular basis. And yes folks, I am keeping up with them. Danced until 4 a.m. last night. Drank beer like a true Haligonian. It's actually kind of a surreal, regressive experience, considering the rate at which you Edmontonians are "settling down," having babies, getting married, living in houses with billiards rooms.

Man, you guys are old!

Friday, November 11, 2005

About "Haligonian..."

It's been a really busy last few weeks. Had a really great visit with Heidi--she and I conquered the cell phone salesman conference at the Lower Deck. Then, after she left, I went to Toronto for the GSAC meeting. Did a little bit of toristy stuff up and down Yonge street, at the harbour, and bought Trent a souvenir at the hockey hall of fame. Then, when I got back, I got to spend a week with Trent. It was great--we went out for dinner, he met the other Englishes, we bought a house. The realtor explained that residents of Halifax, NS are the only ones that call themselves "Haligonians." Apparently, residents of every other Halifax call themselves "Halifaxians." So, although he couldn't tell me why they went with "Haligonian" as opposed to "Halifaxian" or "Halifaxite," I do now know that we are alone in using the term...
Yup, that's right. We bought a house! YAY!!! It's really cool. It's really really cool. And we take possession on Decmeber 11th.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

I'm Not Cool

Okay, so Heidi and I have done some serious nightlifing in Hali (not "The Fax," Phil, but good try!). On Friday, we went to the Lower Deck, where Heidi attracted a conference of Motorola salesmen. The wingmen bought me beer. I'm down with being the wingmen's target when it means free beer. And last night, we went to my friend Kim's house party. You know what? I'm freaking exhausted, and looking forward--yup, actually looking forward--to getting some work done for my classes. Also, the shower in the pink dungeon has started leaking and my floor goes squish-squish-squish when I walk on it. I don't think that bodes well.
Oh--noon. Time for my nap and my prune juice! Anyone know what time Matlock's on, or where I left my eyeglasses?

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Heidi to Explore the Pink Dungeon

I get to play Host to Halifax for the first time--Heidi is coming! She arrives at the Pink Dungeon (that's the name I've given my pink-painted basement apartment. Clever, no?) Friday morning. Yay! So I get to take her to all of the cool places in Halifax... that I've never been to. Don't tell Heidi. She may still think I'm cool...

Saturday, October 08, 2005

One Big Dingle


Let me tell you folks, Halifax is home to one big Dingle. Seriously--I thought I could get up it and I was really sore the next day!
(Yes, this is a picture of the Dingle.)

For info, go to: http://www.destination-ns.com/common/property.asp?DirectoryID=2088 or http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Sig_Date/Auld_Nova/Sanford_Fleming.html

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Oh My God, Who Said I Could?

There must be a mistake. Someone, somewhere, indicated that I'm some sort of adult authority figure or something, and now students are coming to me, asking for help on their essays. Two of them so far. And they TRUST me. They think the answers I give them are RIGHT...

Saturday, September 24, 2005

I Am Making Friends!

You guys would be so proud of me. Honestly, I have no idea how I ended up with any friends at all. Meeting people seems like such a big, scary chore. My impulse is to turtle--I figure, hey, I've got a cat and some books--that should keep me busy. Yesterday, a girl named Kim invited me to a party, and I didn't want to go on account of I'm afraid of strangers. But I went. And it was really fun. And I got to know some people in my program, and I really like them. Then today, I went to a meet-and-greet in my department, and talked to some people that I like, and I might go for a drink with Kim, Hayley and Nikki tomorrow, and I might watch Secretary with Megan, and I might watch Emma with some other students in my Jane Austen class.
Aren't you guys proud of me?
I miss you all.

My Blog is Lonely.

I was just checking out Toni's and Roz's marathon sites, and holy comments, batman! My blog is lonely. Sometimes Mom and Toni add comments, but I'm starting to feel like that kid in school who has to list her mom as one of her friends on a class assignment so that the booger-eating kid in the back of the room isn't her only firend. Not that Toni is a booger-eater. Well, she might be--I don't know. In fact, they says that booger eating boosts your immune system, so that kid in the back of the classroom will probably outlive us all. Not the point. Anyhow, I know I'm not training for a trans-continental marathon to combat a life-threatening illness, but is ANYBODY reading my Blog, other than Brad and Toni?
Okay. I'm indulging in a little minor self-pity here. I'll stop now. I miss you guys. Email me or something.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Stink Follows Me

Yep, it's true. From what I can see, Halifax is a fairly normally-scented town... except wherever I must spend much of my time. First, the apartment which, when I moved in, smelled like Grandma's basement (but thanks to the good folks at Glade and whoever invented the screened window, it now smells like flowers. Seriously. The phone hook-up guy had to comment on how nice my apartment smells). After that, I encountered your ordinary gambit of ordinary scents... until today, when I was assigned my office. Just a little background: my office is an a converted Victorian mansion on LeMarchant Street, which unfortunately has an army-bunker-like section of offices appended to it. Guess where my office is. Yup--the bunker section. And it smells like stale playdough and--ta-da! Grandama's basement! Bring on the Glade, baby. The good news is: it could be worse. Some poor saps have offices in the basement. Of a Victorian house. Blech.
Do you know what it is that they call the house where my office is? Bleak House. Kind of figures, doesn't it?

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Canada Post Has Decided My Future

Yeah.
Last month, I mailed my application to the University of Queensland. The guy at the post office (U of A SUB, if you're wondering) seemed a bit hung-over, but he weighed and mesured the envelope, charged me to mail it, then took it from me, so I figured all was good. Then Trent came home to Edmonton this week to find the envelope, "Returned to Sender" in the mailbox. Insufficient postage. (A $2 stamp, though I paid nearly 6 bucks.) So Trent made a bunch of frantic phone calls, I emailed the English department... and I heard back today, that, while they will consider me for entry into the PhD program, they will not consider me for scholarships until 2007.
So, in an effort to cheer myself up, here is a list of things that I love about Halifax:
  • Victorian houses, often painted vibrant, lovely colours
  • Trees and green spaces--lots of them. Big trees, too--not just scrubby-looking poplars
  • Point Pleasant Park
  • The Public Gardens
  • Pretty cemetaries (zombie-free from what I can tell). I know it sounds weird, but they're nice to pass by
  • Everything is close together--I can get pretty much anywhere by bus in under half an hour
  • Dalhousie University--very pretty campus, and they actually put humanities departments in nice, new buildings!
  • The Historic Properties on the waterfront
  • The waterfront
  • Close enought to make weekend trips to cool places like Montreal, New York, Maine or Boston
  • Lots of yummy seafood!
  • Close enough for friends and family to come and visit every now and then...
  • The "Halifax Squiggle." This is a term that Trent and I made up for roads that don't quite match up as they go through intersections...

I'm kind of sad right now. Not that I necessarily wanted to go to Australia over staying here... it was just nice to feel that I had the option...

Monday, September 12, 2005

It's no Edmonton...

My mom emailed yesterday to tell me that they got over a foot and a half of snow on the weekend, and Phil says that Sunday was the nicest day they've had in Edmonton for two weeks: 8 degrees C. I just thought all you Albertans should know that it's sunny and hot here in Halifax. I am wearing a tank top.
Something frustrating happened. My Austalia application came back in the mail. It seems that the U of A campus post office put the wrong postage on it. (Charged me for the right postage, then stuck the wrong stamp on.) So now I'm pretty stressed that UQ won't accept it. Lucky for me, my Trent is all over the problem. It's just so frustrating, being split like this--I want to be at home so that I can take the letter back to the post office and make them send it express with a written apology for messing up. Alternately, I want Trent and my house and my mail to be here so that I can deal with these things when they happen, and not hear about them second-hand.
Don't have time to say much more... I want to go for a walk before I go to class.
(My first class as a PhD student--YAY! Have I mentioned lately how happy I am that I'm not a secretary any more?)

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Sad Day

I sent my Trent home on the airplane today, and my apartment suddenly feels very, very quiet. I wish my classes had already started so that I could be busy reading.
Trent got to do a news interview at the airport about flying on the anniversary of September 11th. I'm ashamed to admit that we were both so absorbed in our own stuff, we didn't even realize it was the anniversary. So look for him on Global tonight. I can't. I still don't have cable.
Enkidu misses Ozzy. I tell her not to be sad--we'll see him soon. I don't think she's listening to me. Maybe it would make her feel better if someone were to call or email us...

Thursday, September 08, 2005

I am settled in

I am! Please everyone come and visit me! (except the October 7th weekend. I'm going home so that Trent and I don't have to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary in separate cities...)
I am feeling very much in awe of Toni and Roz who are training for a marathon in Rome. Good jeorb, guys! (As always, for a comprehensive definition if jeorb please see http://www.homestarrunner.com/cantsayjob.html).

I TAed Today!

I had my first clas as a TA today! Thank god, I'm not the primary instructor for a class--TAs at Dal are "tutor-markers" (I've got to say, CUPE is better at enforcing the maximum-number-of-TA-hours-per-week than the UofA GSA) so I attend classes, hold office hours and mark papers. I'm seriously considering Dan Preece's suggestion that I just write letter grades on stairs and throw them down...
The students seem... young. Very young. One discussed at length the way her high school teacher liked to have his essay assignments handed in.
I've also started to try and get caught up on the GSAC stuff. Can anybody please remind me why in the hell I ran for this position? I've got to say, I feel completely out of my depth. Seriously, help. I need some rah-rahs here.
Carrie Dawson is my academic advisor, and, coincidentally, my TAship supervisor. I have a class with her next term, and I think I'd like her to be my supervisor. Yay me, I'm a PhD student! Finally.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Becca Arrives Safely in Halifax!

I am in Halifax, I am not homeless, and the English department at Dalhousie knows who I am! So far, all major crises averted. I am in a basement apartment, which is clean and a nice size, though I've had to fill the place with air fresheners (think: "sloth" scene in _Seven_) to keep the place from smelling like an old lady's basement... whatever. My landlady seems cool--she's a Bio Sci undergrad at Dal, and she and her boyfriend live upsairs. Rent's cheap, and I'm only 20 minutes (by bus) away from school. Apparently, people lied to me when they said that people in Halifax don't take the bus. There is a stop right around the corner, and the bus to Dal seems to be well-travelled.
Haliax is gorgeous. (And Spryfield is not that bad, Jodes--we had to go and look. But it is far away, so I'm gad I'm not there.) Trent says I'm not allowed to fall in love with the city until I know we're staying. I told him that he should try and not be to in love with me this fall so that he'ss miss me less.
I miss you all. The weather is gorgeous, and I understand that fall in the Maritimes is supposed to be amazing, so please come and visit me! I have a comfy futon in my living room (my place is a one-bedroom).
Hugs,
Becca