Updates and outtakes

I haven't blogged in a while. So sorry. I have been busy, really. Anyway.

Today is July 4th. In the United States we are celebrating our freedom. We celebrate our independence. I find it HILARIOUS that I am working all day! It's okay, I get time and a half for holidays and it's rainy and cold outside anyway. So I sit here, rather uncomfortable due to fact that I can't place the laptop ON MY LAP, like I used to and the cut on my knee from ramming it into the door hinge of the kiosk when I hopped off my chair to help a customer. It could be worse. I could have taken longer to notice the fact that I knocked my coffee over and it spilled all over the desk where the phone and the computer are placed. I could be crying that the computer is totally fried. I am not.

The past few weeks have been pretty interesting. A number of things have not gone according to plan, but I am blessed, I suppose, with a keen ability to improvise. It makes life much easier when I can change plans at the drop of a hat. And I am so thankful for co-workers who possess the same skill. It helps me to stay calm when I know that I am working with capable people.

Still, after a long week filling in for the Nature Specialist who was on vacation and putting up with extremely sub-par help from one assistant who later admitted to the Camp Director that he "was trying to make [my] work harder", I was exhausted and not too happy. "At least Thursday is a day off", I kept repeating to myself on my drive home in a car that has inexplicably started to shake when I stop it.

I entered the house, put down my bag and went into the kitchen to get a drink and there it was on the kitchen table. I had been anxiously waiting for this package to arrive.

Confused? Ok, then. Steve, a friend of mine from my recent trip to Toronto, had sent me an email.

"Hey babe, just a heads up. Your package goes out today into the mail. Hope you like everything, (yes everything means that there's more then 3 items)"

He knows how much I adore Sharon, Lois and Bram. He also know that I don't have much of their stuff. I only have a few CDs and after a while, they get a bit boring. So I was quite excited to open the package and find:

an audio tape
2 CDs
a Frame for my signed LP. I can frame it now because he sent a replacement LP. He actually sent 9 LPs (EVERY one they did from 1978 - 1988).

The records he sent are in perfect condition, have the original inserts and booklets and one is even signed. Granted the inscription reads "To Hannah" but who cares? It's still an original album of "One Elephant, Deux Elephantes" that is their first album ever, just so you know. I was in heaven. I still can't believe that someone I know, but not altogether well, would spend time and money on me just so I could have a few pieces to add to my collection. He is so sweet. All he expected in return was thanks.

I can't wait to get a good stereo that plays records.

In other news, I have found and will shortly secure, a room for me and Laura in Toronto when we go on our road trip. I am SO excited. I think that everyone should go on a road trip with friends. It's a rite of passage. We are heading out early in the morning from Springfield, Mass and should arrive in Toronto by 4 pm. The place where we are staying is downtown and close to EVERYTHING! It could not be better.

Kensington Market; St. Lawrence Market; Chinatown; Little Italy and the University are all close by and most anything else is a subway ride away. One month, one week and 5 days to go. Mom is letting me use her car as mine doesn't get many miles to the gallon. I did the math. Her car got 28 miles to the gallon when it was new, so I assume that now it gets about 24 or 25 now. I should be able to get there and back on three fill-ups. That's about $200. Laura and I are splitting everything, so that isn't too bad. $100 for gasoline; $150 for a room, for a week, with parking plus some money for food (and I have scouted cheap places) and we are set.

Pretty cool, huh?