I Bleed Blue, Too

Hey gang, sure miss you guys. I've been thinking about all of you so much lately and I think I'm at that stage now where I've been here long enough so the reality of everything has finally kicked in. I can feel myself getting homesick so I try to distract myself with good things like Landan's laugh, my brother's voice and the whistle of the mountains. Wow, that sounded poetic. Anyway I can already tell this is going to be tough to ride out but I know that deep down I'm really happy here and would like to continue down this path. It is such a life changing experience to go from having everything provided for me to providing everything for myself. I think it's a really good thing and that I needed the change to force me to grow up. I'm a very dependent person, something I'm trying desperately to change... and this was definitely the first step in that. I had to break out of my comfort zone 100% and try one of the most difficult challenges I'd ever face. For those who really know me - I don't adapt to change with ease. At the end of the day I just wanted everything to be dependable. But this choice so far has cracked that entirely, because I know now that I am capable of doing big things. On the milestones of life, I'd say that I accomplished my first dream.

This past weekend was pretty good. On Saturday night after work, I joined Mike and Jessica at the bar in Cactus Club Cafe for their friend Chris Miller's birthday. I had met him when I came to visit Kelowna back in September, so technically he was my first BC buddy. Now that I'm in my twenties I don't feel so out of place when I hang out with my brother's friends. Even though I am 7 or 8 years younger than most of them I still feel like I belonged there too. Miller is one of Mike's closest friends, and they've known each other pretty well since Mike first arrived in Kelowna. He has a long-time girlfriend Sarah who grew up and went to high school with Jessica... so it's a tight-knit group. They are all making me feel very welcome.

Yesterday I had worked from 10-6 (the mall opens at ten on Sundays!!!) but there wasn't too much traffic since all of the customers were sitting at home chugging beer and getting ready for the big game. It pretty much works out perfect where Hallmark's location is in the mall, since The Source is right across the hall from us and they have a 32" in the doorway that plays all sports. I was working with a girl named Vanessa who just happens to be married to a football player so she enthusiastically loves the Grey Cup. We both huddled at the doorway of our store and watched parts of the game in between rushes to check the score. I have to say that adding to my homesickness is definitely being one of the only Bomber supporters in the Okanagan. I really wanted to wear my jersey into work today but I had forgotten to put it on before I left. Each customer that came to the till, I'd ask them who they were rooting for just for kicks. I got a few dozen funny looks and even a "screw you".

The entire time the game was on, I was picturing my family at home gearing up for the match by preparing many outrageous foods in massive quantities. They would be having a GrayHawk Cup party. It's just a tradition. It was a lot of fun because I'd get to run to the back and check my phone real quick to see Laura's updates and photos... seeing everyone decked out from head to toe in Blue was pretty awesome. I really wished that I was there.

To the Blue Bombers: Thanks for taking us to the Grey Cup with you this year. I will fairly admit that I am not a huge football fan and I am not too knowledgeable on it either... but I do remember sitting up in those stands many times, watching the Bombers play and take harsh tackles & tumbles for the team... and at each and every one of those games we've seen, you've also given my family a day to all be together, bonded by the excitement of the game and huddle under big blankets as we share popcorn. All of those games never brought us to the Grey Cup but this year they did. As I am now in BC sharing turf with the enemy, I realize how much I took for granted and how much I miss my family. So today, even being miles away, I still got to experience a special moment with them. Because I'm from Swaggerville and proud of it.

Regardless that we lost, regardless I was at work and regardless I was miles away from Winnipeg, I still had a fantastic time watching the game on my tiny Source shop window. When I got home from work Landan was here, already set up with the toy cars and train track. I got down on my hands and knees and played for a good hour whistling and choo-chooing. I was honorably chosen as the bedtime reader again tonight (Aunty Bree: 3, Dad: 1 ) so we got to read Dr. Seuss' "... Red Fish Blue Fish" . That is one good story. He's just a mad scientist of writing good morals in between the lines. Poor guy, I wish he was still around to keep writing more of those things. Anyhow I tucked Landan into bed, kissed him goodnight and called it a day for myself as well.

Today I go to work from 1-9 so I'm gearing up by drinking raw eggs and RedBull. (just kidding, ew.) I forgot to mention I've applied for about 15 full-time jobs throughout the city. Hopefully I'll get a few phone calls in the next week or two... it would be great to get some extra work. I figure if I got another full time job, I could stay on at Hallmark and fulfill my promise to my manager for being there through Christmas, only as a part-timer perhaps) and then I could have some extra spending money for the holidays. I really want us all to pitch in and buy a Christmas tree for our living room so we can give the boys a real traditional experience. Even if it's just a small one, I'd be fine with that too. I think we're all in agreeance to do it.

I got a phone call an hour ago from Greyhound telling me that my parcel from Laura and Allan had arrived, so I'm going to get the van from Mike tomorrow and zip down to grab it. I really appreciate you two sending me my Toy Story figurines to me.

Well I suppose that pretty much wraps up this blog. I'm trying to think of a new concept that I could write blogs about... yknow, something cool like "Shit My Dad Says". I wanna keep this thing going forever, even after you're all bored of my life story!! Shout out some ideas to me!