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September 30, 2006
Settling in
Time for a normal, sit down update now that I am semi-lucid, rested and settled. My stomach on the other had has decided that since we are here it can go back to ravaging me, and I haven’t been able to hold anything down – ugh.
Yesterday was semi-productive, we went down and got our SIN numbers, it took whole 15 minutes and the ladies there were polite and efficient, and the government office was surprisingly clean. Then we went down to the mall where the OHIP office is (yes the mall!) and found out we didn’t have the right verification showing our residency in Ontario (I forgot to bring the gas/hydro bill) but the lady was nice enough to inform me that the clock will start from the day we landed…Thursday, so there will be no lag time in getting OHIP (yeah!)
Then we went to the bank to get Mason added to the account and it actually took longer there then it did at the government office. We opted to just go and do it next week; the nice thing is that the wire transfer went through, so we have money to live on. The rest of the day has been nothing but unpacking and sorting away along with visits from some of our friends. I think we have figured out the rooms and where everything goes – hopefully as the house and furniture settle so will my stomach.
As far as the landing process, it was rather anti-climactic. Mason and I got up butt-ass early on Thursday and made our way to Port Huron/Sarnia. We ended up taking the last exit to gas up and got into Marysville (we thought that was appropriate for two big ole Queens.) Then we made it to the bridge and I had to export the car. Mason stayed with the dogs while I went in to the Office of Homeland Security. The asshole behind the desk barked at me when I stepped over the white line without permission and when I finally approached him he asked me if we had faxed everything:
Me: Yes.
A-Hole: Did you get a confirmation sheet?
Me: Um, no…the paperwork didn’t say I needed that.
A-Hole: Well, if it’s not here I’m not exporting that U.S. Vehicle today.
Me: Well I did, and my car has all of my belongings and two dogs in it.
A-Hole: *looks over title* …and why are you exporting it?
Me: I’m moving
A-Hole: To Canada? Immigrating?
Me: Yes.
A-Hole: Wait in those chairs, Sir.
I waited for what seemed like forever freaking out and wondering if I was going to have to call Port Huron home with the Canadian shoreline taunting me in the distance. Eventually, he came back with the title, stamped it and gave it to me and we were on our way.
As we approached the Canadian border I told the tollbooth border guy we were “landing.” He asked me some questions about the car and the truck Mason was driving, asked to see my documents and then directed me to the building on the other side of the booth. I drove over and parked the car, cracking the windows for the puppies and Mason and I made our way into the building. When we got in I saw a room that said Immigration and one that said Customs. We went into the Immigration Room and were the only people there. The gentleman called us up, took our paperwork and proceeded to type stuff into a computer. After about 10 minutes he had us sign our forms and explained to us that our PR Cards would arrive by mail in about 4-6 weeks. I offered him my proof of funds, but he said he did not need to see it. He directed us over to the customs desk to do our declarations, and wished us a good day. That’s it, we were Canadian.
We went over to customs and again were the only ones in line. The woman customs agent started filling out paperwork and was soon assisted by a younger (and cuter) male agent. She asked for our Goods in Possession List and attached it to the B4 form she filled out. There was a separate form for the importation of the car and logging it with RIV. When I asked her if she needed the clearance letter from the dealer she said she didn’t need it. When I asked the other customs guy about the dogs’ rabies and vet paperwork he said “I’m not concerned about it.” After paying the vehicle importation fee (CAD$220) and getting copies of all of our forms we were done. I asked the customs lady if there was anything else and she said no. So we left the building and presented our completed paperwork to the last set of border guards. They smiled and said everything was in order and with that we were in Canada. Total time at the border: 25 minutes.
It’s still a little surreal to know that we are here. I’m not quite sure how to deal with that. I’m sure once my stomach settles down (hopefully soon) I’ll be more excited about the whole thing. In either case thank you for all the comments and well wishes, I’ll try to respond to them soon :-)
Back to unpacking.
A New Chapter in my Life - Part I
--MASON ENTRY--
It’s Saturday of the first weekend in my life here in Canada. The skies are overcast and there’s the feeling of fall in the air. The kids (Cian and Athena) are spastically running around the back yard of our new home – still taking in every smell, sound and experience they can. From the lure of a falling maple leaf to the teasing of a black squirrel, this is all very new to them. Interestingly enough, they’re not alone.
It’s also a perfect time for me to sit here under the gazebo listening to the sounds of the city and update my journal after six days of the most incredible experience I’ve ever had in my 41 years in this lifetime.
There’s one thing missing, though. A hot cup of coffee. BRB! ☺
Ahhhh – much better. And to think I could have stepped out my front door, turned left, walked a half-a-block and had a choice of two or three local coffee shops to get a fresh cup. I went with my single-cup coffee maker this time. I have plenty of time to take in the neighborhood.
So where was I?
MONDAY SEPT. 25
My first day of unemployment, but it’s not like I had time to really let it sink in. Everything started at nine in the morning as Nick and I had to go pick up the U-Haul that would be lugging our entire life’s material goods east. A very kind and older gentleman was handling the paperwork. It’s been very interesting this whole time when it finally sinks in with others where we’re going? “Toronto!” Wow – that’s a long way!”
As I’m sitting in the Burger King beginning a week of crappy meals, I look out the window and see that 24’ (7.3m) long truck parked lengthwise in the lot and it starts slowly sinking in. I make my way back to the house while Nick is off running those last minute errands that need to be done. The movers arrive at 1:00pm. I spend the next few hours running around myself – this time around the house packing up all the last few items that haven’t found a home in a box or bag.
As if the gods knew way more than we could even think to know, as I was placing the last stray item in a box the movers arrive right at 2:30pm – an hour and a half late, but right on time. One-by-one 86 boxes made their way from the living room to the truck – each diligently marked with a sticker with “Origin” / “Contents” / “Destination” and it’s number firmly and clearly attached. Then each piece of furniture makes it’s way to the truck. The china cabinet, the dining room table and chairs. These three young guys did a great job – all with arms and legs no bigger than my finger, but they handled everything without a complaint or grumbling. (Well maybe a few, but I was right there with them!)
Halfway through this process, I walked out to look and the truck and panic began setting in – I CERTAINLY couldn’t let Nick see it in my eyes. “Oh shit, everything isn’t going to fit!” I played our scenarios in my head – we’d need a trailer on the back fo the truck or our Explorer (which I named “Bette” after the Diva the great Miss M) – we’ll have to jam things in the cab of the truck – the dogs will have to deal with stuff in the back of the Explorer. But then, as if those gods thought today is a good day to play with The Mason, everything began to fit in perfectly. Years and years of the game Tetris have made us all very talented when it comes to making things fit. Down the the very last item – the folded wooden support for our clothes hamper, everything fit. It was time to lock everything up all nestled together ready for a long trip across the country.
That night, my dear friends from work, my sister Char and her husband, my neice and her husband and Nick and I would spend our last night in town together – watching the Colorado Avalanche hockey team beat those sucky Detroit Red Wings in a shootout. In one of my last official acts as the Marketing Director was to allocate our company’s season tickets for that night to The Mason. Nearly eight years later and for the first time since being there, I actually took advantage of that perk for myself. The excitement of hockey, the laughter (and sometimes tears) with friends and a night out in my native city to me was the perfect end to this chapter in my life. Granted I would have loved to just curl into bed, but there were carpets to clean and a few last minute things to tend to at the house, but it was all done with the peaceful glow of the evening surrounding me.
TUESDAY SEPT. 26
Nick and I stayed at the nearby one-star hotel the Red Lion Inn. This landmark hotel – (and I mean landmark only in that its been a popular hotel due to it’s small, round shape and it’s location right next to the football stadium here) it’s that great – it past its prime about 20 years ago – the same time the bedspread and décor in our room was installed. The one nice thing was our view east from the 10th floor – it gave us a wonderful picture opportunity of downtown Denver as the sun was rising the next morning.
As we were pulling out of the parking ot, it was also time for me to say goodbye to my work building just a block away. The red and white Comcast sign glowing from the same place I spent nearly eight years of my working life. I thought of my life there – the dangling storage containers on the roof, the banners ready to blow own into a satellite dish any moment and the tailgate parties. I thought of the wonderful people that were/are a part of my life that still work there and I started to get a little teary. I had to remind myself that change is good and that while I may be leaving, they all will be just an email or phone call away.
Walking through the house one last time, I noticed a stray wire hanger or two dangling in the closets, the wisp of dog hair blowing across the hardwood floors and spare light bulbs scattered around the kitchen. My mind flashed to that annual Christmas tradition: “The Grinch That Stole Christmas” cartoon and I felt like a Who down in Whoville for a moment. With a moment alone, I place my palm flat against one of the brick walls in this stately old Victorian that was the first home I have ever owned for myself and has been our shelter for over seven years. I thanked her protecting us and being strong and wished her well.
As Athena, Cian, Nick and I make our way to the truck and Explorer about 30 45 minutes past our scheduled leave time, my sister Char pulls up – those gods once again reminding who’s really running things around here. It’s time to load up some last items for her to take and final goodbyes. I’m going to miss my friend very much, but I’d rather miss some one terribly then have a life with no one to miss at all.
The dogs are all nestled in Bette…
…the roar of the engine of the U-Haul is vibrating the cab of the truck
…the two-way radios between Nick and I are crackling
…the sun is starting to warm the mile high air
…the tears have dried on my cheek
It was finally time to leave.
(To be continued.....)
Posted by Mason at 10:41 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBackSeptember 28, 2006
Life Without Borders
The cable is hooked up, the wireless internet is pumping, the phone is ringing, the dogs are sleeping and we're are alive and well in Canada.
The words at this moment escape me - to describe this day is truly impossible. Every emotion, every feeling you think you'd have are accompined by several others you don't expect. Most importnatly, at this moment right now, we are in Canada. We are home and truly in more ways then one. More tomorrow, when we are settled and rested. Thank you for all the comments and well-wishes, thye truly were welcome. Also, a deep thank you to our friends in Toronto: Alberto, Scott & Andrew, and Geoff and Bob - thank you for making our first night so memorable and fun. For truly welcoming us to Canada.
Off to sleep in our own bed :-)
Posted by Nikolas at 08:59 PM | Comments (15) | TrackBackSeptember 27, 2006
Dispatch: Ann Arbor, MI
Exhausted.
That’s how I feel right now. Over 560 miles driven today through four different states and two time zones not to mention the horrific clusterfuck that is Chicago traffic – and I never even entered the city, just the outskirts. I finally made it to the hotel this afternoon at about 5pm, Mason is still on the road, about an hour behind me.
The dogs have still been doing really well in the car, but I can tell they are confused about the fact that we seem to be in a new “home” every night and the car during the day. We had two stops today on our trip – once in Illinois and again in Michigan and both times they were fascinated with the smells around them. I think they are going to enjoy the new neighbourhood when we get there eventually. I hope they do.
Michigan is beautiful, by-the-way, having only driven along the border 12 years ago I never really got to experience it fully. Whereas Nebraska and Iowa seemed to be a never ending sea of corn and wheat with small narrow-minded towns dotting the way (that’s a whole other story…), Michigan’s countryside is really pretty. This time I’ve gotten to experience the whole state on the drive and it reminds me a lot of New England growing up. Having lived in arid Colorado for so long I’ve forgotten how much bigger the trees are here and how they can line a highway so completely.
Driving into Michigan had an air of finality about it too – this is the last U.S. State we will be in for a while and where we will be exporting the car from. Shannon called me and left me a message in the middle of all the driving today to wish me well and check in on me. She ended her message with “just think, this will be your last night in the United States…” that does place an extra bit of emphasis on the whole situation. It feels surreal to be driving today with that in my mind.
L-Girl made a comment in one of my text messages today as well, saying “Eastward-Ho Pioneers!” and in a way I had already been thinking that in my head. It’s bizarre to be taking this route to Toronto as it’s the same one I took (except for the turn North to Michigan) to Denver coming out from the east coast over 12 years ago. In a way Mason and I are a couple of 21st century pioneers, making our way to Canada for a new home and a new life. Sigh. I just hope it goes well.
All day today I’ve felt uneasy and scared – normal I know, but still unnerving. Uneasy at the neighbours and surroundings we will find, and scared about the unknowingness of the city and how we will get around. I feel like we are going to be alone in a very large sea, much like I was when I first moved to Denver. While I knew Rebecca when I moved to Denver, she was very adamant about me getting on my own two feet and learning to support myself…something that was hard for a 18-year old boy who had lived in Massachusetts his whole life to get use to.
Anyway, Mason just got here, time to get some dinner and collapse into the bed for the trip tomorrow.
When we become Canadian. :-)
September 26, 2006
Dispatch: Des Moines, IA
Surprisingly, I've made it to Des Moines with only 4 hours of sleep :-)
Thank you to all for the kind words and well-wishes, they were very much appreciated. After logging off yesterday morning Mason and I set to work on getting ready for the move. I ran around with my last minute errands while Mason got the house ready for the movers. The movers showed up a little late, but they were a nice bunch of guys that joked around with us and wanted to know why we were moving to Canada when there were so many "Fine Ass Bitches" in our neighbourhood. I think they finally figured out why when they ended up moving our bedroom furniture.
Last night was a late night - after moving and then going to the Hockey game to say goodbye to some folks we went back to the house to clean the carpets. We didn't get out and into the skankhole that is the Red Lion Inn until well after midnight, only to get up four hours later to pick up the dogs, pack up the car and hit the road. We actually left Denver at 7:30am (I had planned for 6:30, but for those of you that know Mason....I had to budget some buffer time...) and soon found out that either because of the age of the U-Haul truck we have or the sheer amount of weight on the back of it (the truck is packed to the last inch!) Mason could only reach a top speed of 68-71 MPH. We stayed close to each other till we reached the Colorado border and then Mason suggested I pull out ahead, since I had the dogs, and try to get to Des Moines as soon as I could. That way, I could also scout out the traffic ahead. So when we reached the Nebraska border I slowly started pulling away from Mason - he is about an hour behind me at this point.
Driving alone was certainly interesting, it was also the first time either one of us ever travelled with the dogs for this long. Usually, it's a romp up to the mountains for the day or for the weekend to camp. This time it's 11 hour drives with hotels in-between. I have to say that I have been pleasently surprised with Athena & Cian - we set up the back of the Explorer like a Crate and they took to it like water. Just hanging out and relaxing during the drive and every three to four hours or so letting me knowit was time to pull over for a pee break or sniff and streach.
The drive itself was less then interesting. No offense to any locals, but Nebraska really is a great waste of space. I'm just thankful to be out of the car and in my jammies. It's going to be an early night tonight so I can catch up on some of the sleep I lost last night.
Again, thanks everyone. I'll try to post pictures in a bit after a shower and some dinner.
September 25, 2006
23 hours to go...
Holy Shit it's really happening. It's really, really happening. Oh my gods - we are moving to Canada! I can't believe this is really happening.
The final total was 86 boxes. Mason and I finished up last night and put all the boxes in the living room so it's easier for the movers. We were a little worried the floor might give way from all the weight, but we were so tired we didn't care. It's all done, all that's left is to pick up the truck this morning and wait for the movers to arrive. So as soon as I'm done with my entry I'm packing up the cable modem and cable boxes and starting on my errand running for today.
We had a busy day yesterday with packing and then we went to The Wrangler for the Beer Bust. It just didn't feel the same though, it was odd to be there to say goodbye and not to just let loose. I couldn't get comfortable all night (I couldn't even drink!) and my stomach was absolutely killing me. In the end Mason and I left way early to head home and finish packing. We went there for what we really wanted to - to say goodbye to our friends. Mikey and Bradyn, Falki and Whit, and a whole slew of others that came out just for us, just to say goodbye. This whole time I have been able to say goodbye and have a strong look on my face, but not this time. I started crying in the middle of the bear bar and I had to leave. By the time I got to the parking lot I was in full on wailing mode. It was as if the weeks and weeks of goodbyes and pent up emotions finally gave way in a dam.
I'm tired and exhausted and ready to go. Tonight we have one last night out with friends, Mason was able to score tickets from work for the Avalanche vs. Red Wings Hockey Game. Then it's prolly a night at the Red Lion Inn down the street and then it's off to Des Moines at 6:30 tomorrow morning. I'll hopefully be blogging by tomorrow night to let you know how the trip goes, if not I'll see you on the other side of the border ;-)
Wish us luck,
Niko
September 24, 2006
2 Days & Counting
Ugh. First off, it's too early and secondly I'm really, really tired.
We were able to finish off most of the house yesterday, all that's left is half of the office, and that will be coming down today. It's getting to the point where I just want to start throwing shit into boxes not caring where it will end up. I also never want to see another box for the rest of my life. Ugh. We get the moving van tomorrow morning and then the movers arrive at 1pm tomorrow to load it all up. Mason and I have toyed with the idea of staying at a local hotel tomorrow night since we won't have a bed to sleep in. We are leaving first thing Tuesday morning (6:30am) to head to Des Moines, IA. I'll need to turn in the cable boxes and the cable modem in to Comcast tomorrow so my last post will probably be tomorrow morning until we hit Des Moines...thank the gods for Wi-Fi.
Last night Mason and I went to Jackson All-American Sports Grill in Suburbia for our last going away party. It was held by Mason's sister Char and it was a beautiful event where we surrounded by friends and loved ones. It was really nice to see everyone one last time, yet at the same time Mason and I are starting to grow weary of saying goodbye. My fear and trepedation is slowly being replaced with excitement and hope. I'm almost ready to do this.
Ok, so a half-a room to go and then Mason and I go to the Beer Bust at The Wrangler this afternoon for one last good romp with the Denver bears and cubs. Then it's back home to organize the boxes and furniture and have our final night in our bed in Denver.
Wow. This is really happening.
September 23, 2006
The Road Ahead
I look for solace in the places I can today. Taking a break from packing I wandered over to We Move To Canada to read L-Girl's experiences of the last days before her trip. I hope you realize Laura that even a year later you're still helping :-) Hopefully, one day soon, Two Moms, Emilio & Tom, and the Vancouver Boys I & II will be doing the same thing...looking at this blog for nuggets of wisdom and peace of mind. Here's my one piece of advice...
Buy lots of Tums.
Seriously, my stomach has never been this bad. It's like Prom Night, my Wedding Day, my first day of college and my LCSW licensing exam test all rolled into one. Ugh.
Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was something I found while clearing out the office. I had an obscure quote tacked up on our bulletin board that eventually got covered by pictures and calendar items. As I took down each piece it came more and more into view:
"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual.)" ~Ayn Rand
I took down the quote and thought about it for a moment. While I realize that things can change, and that things are always fluid...for right now, in Canada, I will no longer have to worry about my rights being taken away. Hell, I'll have rights! Nationwide! The right to marry, the right to collect social insurance from my partner, the right not to be discriminated against in jobs, housing, healthcare. The right to make medical decisions for my partner, sorry, my husband! As I crumpled up the paper and threw it away I realized what all this has been for - all the waiting, the nervousness, the excitedness, the joy.
At the very core of our move to Canada, the very reason we first chose to go down the very long road towards immigration has been for the very moment five days from now when we cross the border and are welcomed as human beings to a country that accepts us for who we are.
Suddenly, my stomach doesn't feel so bad.
Posted by Nikolas at 05:54 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack3 Days & Counting
My stomach has started a revolt against my brain for deciding to move to Canada and will not stop being painful. The herd of elephants I have mentioned before have now decided to have a small rave in my stomach and small intestine, complete with disco balls and whippets. Ugh....make it stop please.
Mason got home yesterday (yeah!) - it was his last day of work. He seems upbeat and excited, which is a good thing, but if I've learned anything from this process it's that our emotions can switch just as the wind blows. With his help yesterday we finished the bedroom, all that is left now is the Office/Spare Bedroom and my Altar Room downstairs. So there is a good chance we can be done with everything by today.
I ran some errands yesterday, the biggest being depositing Mason's last paycheck. We were both surprised as it was a little bigger then we expected, but were not complaining - it will definitely help with making the move easier. For the trip and eventual settling in we've decided to take out a resonbable amount in US and Canadian currency to help pay for hotel rooms, dinners, etc during the trip and then enough Canadian until we can get settled into a routine with the bank and our lives in our new home. So I went down to Wells Fargo's Main Branch yesterday to exchange some cash (it's the only one that does foreign currency) and I got to see my first Canadian $100 and $50 - they are very pretty. When I got home and showed Mason we both looked at each other for a moment and then looked down at the rainbow of bills before us and we both said "Holy Shit, in a week this is going to be our money."
I think that there is nothing more quintessentially American then the Greenback - since being a child you were taught what the money looked like, the value of a hard-earned dollar, and quizzed on who was on each bill. As I got older I found out that most of the world (at least back then) used American Dollars as currency, or in transactions. Indeed, in the recent war with Lebanon and Israel Hezbollah was handing out $15,000 in cash to every displaced person...and it wasn't Euros or Pounds, but Dollars. So I'm giving up that identity for an array of brightly coloured bills and the Loonie. :-)
Ugh, anyway...time to get up and get started. We have a long day ahead of us, and then Mason's sister Char is throwing us a final going away party tonight at 7pm. If anyone local would like to attend just shoot me an e-mail.
September 22, 2006
Unemployed
==MASON ENTRY--
Wow - it's really happening. I packed up my personal items, turned in my keys and my Blackberry and got my final paycheck today. I guess this Canada-thing isn't just a dream.
I got home today after four days in the Colorado mountains for a manager's retreat/meetings. Last night was our final dinner that turned into a tribute to The Mason. I think I cried more last night than I have during the last two decades. It was incredible emotional as one-by-one my colleagues toasted me and shared stories. I was given some incredible pictures/prints that I will post pictures of soon. I deep fried my first turkey for the dinner and it ended up snowing at least 17cm overnight up there. What a great way to end my last day in the Colorado mountains. It was beautiful and surreal.
Nick and I packed up most of the bedroom tonight and spent a little time vegging and catching up tonight. Right now it's off to bed to rest up for more packing tomorrow.
Posted by Mason at 10:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack4 days & counting
Last night was a rough night, Mason and I both seemed to be on the low ebb of the emotional rollercoaster and we both needed to be propped up but neither one of us had the empathetic fortitude to do so. After a long day of packing and errand running I sat down and decided to type out the letter to my parents that I have been putting off for the better part of two years. Writing and reading Greek has always been hard for me, I'm more like a fourth grader when it comes to that, but can speak it fluently. I could have easily written the letter in English and let my parents translate it, but 1) that loses something in translation and 2) it's also more disrespectful. It was hard to write for the simple fact of the memories and issues it brings up. I've been through enough therapy to deal with it, but it still hurts.
Add into that watching two very emotional shows on TV last night (Grey's Anatomy and ER) and I was an emotional wreck. Then just as I was going to go to bed and decompress from it all and slumber into dreamland Mason called me from his Manager's Meetings in the mountains crying. For those of you that know Mason, you know that I can count on one hand the times the man has cried in front of me. Apprently his collegues had just toasted him and said some very touching and final words and it hit Mason like a ton of bricks. He called me for some empathy, but I had none, I barely had any for myself earlier in the night.
This process of moving, changing, immigrating is purging and cleansing in a way emotionally, but it still feels like hell. The phrase "suffer to learn" comes to mind. Anyway, thank you all for the kind words in the last post, and for learning to translate Greek :-)
So It's back to packing today, the bedroom is done with the exception of going through all the clothes and breaking down the bed. So I'm going to start on the last room today - the office.
September 21, 2006
Το γραμα που δεν θελω να γραπσω
Μαμα και Μπαμπα,
Εφχωμε να εσαστε καλά και ότι αυτή η επιστολή σας βρίσκει σε καλή υγεία. Ξέρω ότι δεν έχουμε μιλήσει για δύο χρονια τωρα , και ελπίζω ότι καταλαβαίνετε γιατί.
H λόγη που ειπατε στα γενέθλιά μου πάνω από δύο χρονια πριν σεμερα βλάπτουν ακόμα, και τα 13 χρονια που έχουν περάσει και δεν μπορείτε ακόμα να με αποδεχθείτε για ποιους είμαι, ποιναι ακομα.
Έχω προχωρήσει με τη ζωή μου και έχω γεναιε ένα ανδρας. Αγαπώ ακόμα τους γονείς μου, αλλά δεν σας θελω στη ζωή μου αν δεν θα βουρητε να με αγαπας για ποις ειμαι.
Η ζωη μου εχι αλαξι στα περασμενα δυο χρονια. Ο Μασον και εγω εχομε αποφασίσαμε να κίνησημε προς το Καναδα. Αφτω ειναι το τελεφτεω εβδομαδα που θα μενο στο Δενβερ, το 26 του Σεπτεμβριο φεβγουμε για το Τοροντο για μια κενουρδια ζωη.
Δεν πηρεμενο να καταλαβαίνετε γιατι το κανεμω αφτω το πραγμα, αλλα ειναι τη θελομε να κανουμε με τη ζωη μας. Εφχομε μια μερα να βουρετε να ερθετε στο Τοροντο και να ειμαστε μαζι, αλλα μονο αμα βουριστε να με αγαπας για πιος ειμαι και για τη ζωη που εχω
Με αγαπι και φιλια,
Νικος
Posted by Nikolas at 09:22 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack5 Days & Counting
I got some things accomplished yesterday, but not nearly as much as I wanted. The bathroom is done, and I've put a dent in the bedroom, but I was hoping to be done with that today. It's odd to be packing up your clothes and not really planning on having access to them until we arrive (except for our overnight bags.) It's also odd to have to document everything in a list for the border agents - Canada requires that you provide a list of all the items you're bringing into the country along with value in CAN$ and serial/model numbers for all your electronic equipment. They have a form to fill out, but there is no way on the God's green earth our stuff is going to fit in those five little boxes. I'm hoping they will accept my fabulous Excel Spreadsheet I'm working on.
I also started working on my resume yesterday and gave the thing its first real overhaul in quite a few years. I had a lot of shit in there, and having the history I do it's a mix of my career vs. my earlier jobs. It was kind of a hybrid between the two lives I've had in Colorado. Now, it's down to a page (from two) and I think it looks really good. That also took up most of the day yesterday.
Then, as I was going through drawers yesterday I found Mason's gun - it's no secret and I've know about it since we moved in together over 10 years ago. At one point in Mason's life he was a hunting, born-again, heterosexually married, conservative redneck (I know, I know, it's hard to imagine in those helium heels) and he always kept a gun for "protection." When we moved in with each other I found it and it was one of the remnants left over from his earlier life. I balked at the idea since I hate guns, but it was something I came to accept and knew in the back of my head it was in THAT drawer. So now we need to get rid of it - you can't import firearms into Canada, and even if you wanted to the paperwork to do so would make the immigration saga look like a trip to the DMV. I think Mason's sister Char will take it from us, but it just reaffirms that Canada is a different country - no Second Amendment there folks.
That reminds me of a story from Toronto when I was looking for a place to live. I had secured the house in Greektown and was in the leasing office with the realtor, John, and Bobby (Geoff's husband) filling out the lease and talking about America vs. Canada. I think we were talking about crime and the current neighbourhood I live in. Somehow we got on the topic of gun laws and I let them know how Colorado had passed a law quite a few years back called the "Make My Day" Law. It basically says that if someone comes onto your property without permission and you feel threatened you can kill him or her and not be charged with murder. In fact the week before I left for Toronto, a man in the northern metro area of Denver had used the law to kill an intruder. Bobby and John looked shocked, asked me to confirm my story and that such a law existed. John then looked at Bobby, chuckled and said "Oh those silly Americans and their guns..." Indeed :-)
Anyway, I didn’t sleep well last night - after my post about Mo, I spent a good deal of the night crying, not only about her but about the other aspects in my life that are changing and evolving...so I'm a bit bitchy this morning. Oye, is this fun or what :-)
All right, I need to shower, get Starbucks and start packing :-)
September 20, 2006
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return"
I said goodbye to Maurine tonight, she's going to Indiana to visit family for a few days and will be gone when Mason and I shove off for the wild blue yonder. She came over to have dinner, share some laughs and cry. Out of all my friends and confidants in Colorado I'm going to miss her the most when I leave. I joke about her being my fag hag, cub bunny, fruit fly.... my wife - but the truth of the matter is she is so much more.
Maurine and I met by odd happenstance when we were both at the Metropolitan State College of Denver when we were both pursuing our degrees in social work. We both took weekend and night classes because we both had to work to pay our bills and support our families. We were cordial enough to each other in class, but as our semesters went on we got closer and closer. She got married and I went to her wedding, we had our commitment ceremony and she came to that. She ended up working at my agency so we would have breaks and lunches together, eventually we decided to be masochistic together and go to the University of Denver for our Master's Degrees in Social Work. We helped each other stay sane, did our research project together and consumed many a beer at Spanky's when we really should have been in class.
As I got to know Mo we found that our lives intertwined in such a way that we had a kindred connection to one another. Each of us being raised by a parent that only gave us conditional love and made us feel less then worthy. We soon became the best of friends. There were afternoon trips to the mall for shopping, trips to New Mexico and Las Vegas and even a few drunken debaucherous nights that will long live etched in my memory. We've shared birthdays, holidays, weekends, special occasions - she truly is (and still is) one of the few people who know me best, and tonight I had to say goodbye to her.
We know that we can still visit by plane, or talk on the phone, but it won't be the same as calling me to come pick her up and spend a day at the Spa or she driving by work to take me to lunch. I know I'm not losing my friend; it just sucks that she will be so far away. As if this week hasn't been stressful enough now I have to deal with the emotions behind this trip and it sucks.
Both Mo and I are wounded souls, coming from families that just didn't seem to want us enough, or love us enough, or care for us enough, and we both ended up trying to save the world in our professions and personal lives. What strikes me as odd though is that she taught me one of the fundamental aspects of unconditional love and I will truly, and utterly always be thankful to her with that. I love you Maurine...always.
6 Days & Counting
I took care of some of the mundane things about the trip/move yesterday. I went and got our prescriptions filled for the three months we won't be covered by OHIP, stopped by AAA and got maps for the cross-country trek. I highlighted the route on the maps and got directions for our stopovers. I bought the medical insurance that will cover us till the end of the year (OHIP should kick in on January 1st.) I updated our "To Do" list and made copies of all of the various paperwork we will have to show at the border.
Mason closed on the house while I was in Ohio and we got the check on Monday. So far two credit cards and the car loan has been paid off. All that's left is to pay our last big credit card and we will officially be debt free. Then I need to wire transfer the rest of the money form the sale of the house into our account at Scotiabank. After all is said and done we will have a nice chunk of change to live off of (at least I think so) but the Virgo (somewhere deep inside me) wishes it was more. Anyone out there who is planning to do this, double whatever it was you were hoping to bring with you...then you should feel a little more comfortable.
So today is all about the packing - the bathroom is more or less done (I'm tossing a lot of crap...who needs four half-bilsterpacks of DayQuil?) and I'm planning on tackling the bedroom today. If I haven't worn it in over a year it's going in the donation bag...I'm tired of holiding onto clothes because I think I'm going to lose enough weight to fit back into them. Bah!
Oye, this is really happening.
September 19, 2006
7 Days & Counting
I'm back! I'm kind of dumbfounded with the concept that in less then a week Mason and I will be pulling away from the house and our lives in Colorado forever. It's been enormously difficult to not only integrate the real world into my life after my trip to Between The Worlds, but to also plunge myself head first into the final throws of packing and tying up loose ends. It's going to be interesting to say the least.
I was able to finish the kitchen yesterday and moved upstairs to the second floor today. My plan is to attack the bathroom and bedroom today and tomorrow, leaving the office/spare bedroom for last. I still have to pack up my altar room in the basement as I wanted to wait until I returned from BTW - I'm hoping to tackle that today as well. The other thing to is I don't know how much longer we will have access to the internet. Mason's last day at work is Friday and they are suppose to shut down cable, internet and phone that day - so we'll see. In any case I'm hoping to blog from the road once we make our stops in Des Moines and Ann Arbor.
One week can seem incredibly long or increasingly short depending on your persepctive and the task at hand. I have the feeling that I will be vacilating between the two this week. So far I've been able to get a majority of stuff done on our "To Do" list. My biggest thing for today is to get medical insurance coverage for the three months that OHIP won't cover us.
September 12, 2006
Away
Hey everyone, I'll be away for the rest of this week on a vacation I had planned way before ever deciding on the move to Canada. Please keep Mason out of trouble while I'm gone :-)
Posted by Nikolas at 11:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackThey Try So Hard
--MASON ENTRY-- (Yeah, I know - two in one day!)
Well, it's no longer a secret. The email just came out about my going away lunch. They can be so cleaver sometimes!
O Mason Lewis!
Our friend and native Son!
True patriot love in all thy boys command.
With glowing hearts we see them rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Mason, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our Man glorious and free!
O Mason, we stand on guard for thee.
O Mason, we stand on guard for thee.
Come help us “Stand on Guard” for “the” Mason this Friday, September 15th at 12 noon in the back lot. There will be tons of food (nothing maple syrup related) and Mason’s favorite dessert…COOKIES!!! Come one…come all, and bid your good-bye’s and good luck’s to our beloved Canadian Mountie.
Sincerely,
The Queen of Canada (do they have a queen???)
The "Lasts" Continue
--MASON ENTRY--
It's been a pretty rough day at the office
Every Tuesday (formerly Thursday) it's the weekly sales meeting here in the office. It's always been a key part of the week - important information is disseminated, birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated and general business is conducted. The Marketing Team has always been a part of it - from decorating for holidays, making it special or just general Mason zaniness.
We all realized yesterday that today is my last official sales meeting here. Next week I will be out of the office pretty much all week for manager's meetings up in the mountains. Talk about a shot to the stomach. I've been feeling like I want to throw up since yesterday - and it got worse today. One by one staff members went around sharing stories about me. For those that know me, you know that while I love to be the life of the party and be fun and outgoing and crazy, I really, really don't like anything to be about me. It makes me uncomfortable and I don't take attention on me very well. I kept tearing up as I looked around and realized this is the last time I would be seeing many of them. The stories were fun - heartfelt and at times embarrassing, but that's The Mason!
But then it happened. One of the "characters" I created here is "The Judge." For major events or announcements, I would typically write a "Proclamation." In the past it's been to announce promotions or special events, etc. I have a large powdered wig and a black robe. I would march into a meeting, read the proclamation and then leave and return as The Mason. It was pretty fun. Well today, my two staff members Jabs and Tim came walking in dressed like The Judge and they read a proclamation in my honor. It was full of jokes and fun, but then the end triggered yet another wave that had me holding back tears yet again - especially when they both got choked up reading it themselves:
WHEREAS all of this may be fun and games to us, but in reality it was Mason's undying commitment and dedication to this office that will forever be remembered. To know Mason is to know that none of these acts, stunts, events were self serving, but rather his way of doing what he loves to do: taking care of everyone else first. He was always the last one to eat, the last to leave the tailgate, the last one to turn off the lights and lock the door, but always the first one to get run over by the bus.
Mason - on this your last sales meeting we want you to know that the sales meeting will miss you, the office and staff will miss you, our clients will miss you, but most importantly our hearts will miss you.
I feel very proud right now, but damn it hurts. I am really, really going to miss this place
And it's not over. Apparently there is a 'surprise' BBQ in my honor now scheduled for Friday and next Tuesday night at the manager's retreat something is being planned apparently. What's probably the weirdest about all this is that I've always been the one planning the parties and events and I have no clue what's going on.
I need to go throw up now.
Posted by Mason at 05:58 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBackSeptember 11, 2006
In Memoriam: Lt. Kevin Christopher Dowdell
I never knew Kevin, but Mason had met him a few times at family functions. The only things I have ever heard about him have been extremely positive and heroic – he was a good man, husband and father.
I need to thank Charleen & Tim Dowdell, Mason’s sister and brother-in-law, Kevin’s brother and sister-in-law for helping me with Kevin’s memorial here at Life Without Borders. In addition, to their stories they lent me a book that Kevin’s family put together after 9-11 and was published by The American Tribute Center. It details his life and times and has excerpts written by his family & friends. Most of what I will be posting is from this book: “Respect Gets You Respect.”
Kevin was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY the fourth of seven children, he would always point out to his siblings that he was the “middle child.” As a child Kevin was always inquisitive, independent and wanted to explore the world around him. There are many stories of Kevin’s childhood where he struck out on his own to make his mark – from building his own secret fort in the backyard, to his summer adventures at the Longshore Beach Club in Breezy Point, Long Island.
Kevin went to St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School, and eventually St. Albert’s Seminary in upstate New York for the priesthood, but after a year he returned to Nazereth High School in Brooklyn when he realized that was not the path he wanted to take in life. Eventually the family grew up and apart – his parents moved to Colorado with Kevin and some of his other siblings, but soon after getting there Kevin realized he wasn’t at home here. So for his 18th Birthday he got a one-way ticket back home to New York and his older sister Gloria.
Kevin got a job as a sandhog and found an apartment with his brother Brian (who sadly died a year later.) He eventually met and fell in love with his wife, RoseEllen, at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn. I had the pleasure of meeting RoseEllen at our nieces wedding last month and she really is a beautiful and delightful woman. They got engaged on October 2, 1979, an excerpt from the book:
“I had said, ‘Let’s get engaged for Christmas or Valentine’s Day,” says RoseEllen, “but he said, ‘I don’t want to do that. I want it to be a regular day, like a Tuesday. It shouldn’t be a holiday.’ And sure enough, it was a Tuesday.”
Kevin and RoseEllen had two boys – Patrick & James. Having never met them I only hear of the stories from my nieces and nephew about their cousins – it sounds like they are strong and independent young men, like their father. Patrick currently works for the New York Fire Department (NYFD) and James plans to join after college. Patrick recounts his father’s favorite quote in the book: “Respect gets you respect”
“My father always said, ‘Just do the right thing. Do what you know is right and everything will always work out,” he says. Patrick says he now values that. He also learned a work ethic from his father. “He worked like a madman all the time,“ says Patrick. “So I guess I learned that not everything comes easy, and you have to work hard no matter what you do. He didn’t mind working every day.”
Kevin joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 1980, and in 1981 was appointed to the FDNY. His brother-in-law Terry (Gloria’s husband) was a firefighter and Kevin had always looked up to him. He was first assigned to Engine 290 in Brooklyn where he stayed until 1984 and then transferred to Squad 1. In 1988 he joined rescue 2, was promoted to Lieutenant in 1995 covering different firehouses in lower Manhattan. In 1997 he was transferred to Special Operations Command (SOC) and in September 2000 he finally received his dream assignment of being in Rescue 4 – in Queens, near the Midtown Tunnel.
Kevin loved going to work and had numerous stories to share – good and bad. While in Rescue 2, Kevin was with FEMA and was called to assist with the recovery after the Oklahoma City Bombing. Kevin received medals for his heroic efforts in New York City.
On September 11, 2001 it began as an ordinary day – Kevin was working a 24-hour shift, Monday night to Tuesday night. RoseEllen was teaching third grade at PS312 in Brooklyn and was told by a paraprofessional that a plane had hit the World Trade Center (WTC). She couldn’t get away from the classroom until well-after the planes had hit the Pentagon, the second tower and the crash in Pennsylvania. She didn’t honestly think Kevin would be in danger since the towers were in Manhattan and his station was in Queens.
Patrick was away at college, and James was in school, only blocks away from the WTC – his school was on lock down and only a parent could sign him out. Being isolated with the bridges to Manhattan closed RoseEllen tried to see if Kevin could go and called the firehouse. She asked the person who answered the phone if Kevin was there and he said “No.” She then asked him if he was at the WTC and he said “Yes.” She told him that if he heard from Kevin, to have him call her. By now the towers had both collapsed – from the book:
“I wasn’t hearing from Kevin, and he called me all the time,” she says. “He called me every time he was at anything big. He would tell me, ‘Before you see it on the news, I’m okay.”
This time it wasn’t okay.
At 12:30am SOC called to let the family know that Kevin was missing. By the next morning it was evident that Kevin was not coming home. Days and weeks flew by. Eventually recovery turned to mourning and planning a memorial service. Most of the other members of Kevin’s company were found in late October and early November. Kevin and the probie who was with him were never found. A memorial service was finally held for Kevin on April 19, 2002 – a chance to remember and celebrate the life of a man who helped so many and loved to do his job and do it well.
To date Lt. Kevin Christopher Dowdell has never been found, but his spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of his friends, family, wife and children. He was the epitome of heroism on that fateful day. Please take a moment to pay respect to him and honor him, as hopefully I have done in this blog
Blessed Be, Kevin.
September 08, 2006
Wake Me Up When September Ends
In about eight hours I will walk out of a job that I have had since September of 1995 - the first real "adult" job I have ever held. While I have transferred and been promoted to various positions within the agency, it has all been in the same place. I sat and wondered the other day about the fact that whenever I did transfer or get promoted it was always in September. In addition, I moved to
I'm not looking forward to going in today. I woke up crying, thinking of all the people I have to say goodbye to, all the kids I will no longer be working with, all the memories held by that drab, industrial, grey block building that houses me for over 40 hours each week. I'm going to be unemployed for the first time in over a decade and that scares the shit out of me. Mason and I were driving to dinner last night and we were talking about our various emotions that we are both feeling this week. I thought about our good and stable jobs, our wonderful house, our great friends and for a moment I faltered and looked at him with fear and loneliness and said: "What are we doing? Maybe we should stay..."
The minute the words left my mouth I wanted to snatch them right back, and Mason understood that. He looked at me and smiled and simply said "You know we can't do that. We'll be fine..." Will we be fine? I've got two more degrees then I ever had in 1994, a wealth of knowledge, a wonderful and supportive partner, better finances and a wonderful support network, so then why do I feel like I'm about to turn inside out? I never knew filling out that application for permanent residency would open me to this flood of emotions. There needs to be a small disclaimer at the bottom of that first form you fill out, the one that gathers all you personal information, (IMM-00008 I think) that says "May cause emotional distress."
Don't misunderstand me; I'm not regretting this decision. I still want to move to
Just this past week, one of the ladies I see in the cafeteria every morning for my coffee asked me how people were taking the news of me leaving. She is a great person and she always makes me smile. I shared with her the post I made about the comments I experienced in the past few weeks. She shook her head, looked at me and said:
"You know Nicholas, some of us are afraid of change and what it represents. Most of the people here can't think beyond their own worlds, and for someone to come in and shake it up like you are scares them. Never forget that you are the bigger person for taking the chance, living life and being happy - you only get one shot at it."
Truer words have never been spoken.
(Props to Green Day for my title and inspiration)
September 07, 2006
Counting Down The Days
- MASON ENTRY -
If today is an indication of what the next two weeks are going to be like, I need to quit my job today - lock myself in the house - pack everything up - and count down the minutes until we leave.
I've been emotionally up
I've been emotionally down
I've been close to tears all day
I've about bitten the heads off about a dozen people around here
Other than a wonderful morning call from our dear friend Bobby in Toronto, tt's not been fun. I was driving back to the office after lunch by myself and it dawned on me that I feel like someone that has been told they have only two weeks to live. I'm super-sensitive to everything. The emotions are running high with thoughts like "this is the last time I'll drive this road (or see this building or eat at this restaurant or whatever.) It's incredibly overpowering me and in some ways I'm very scared right now.
Don't get me wrong, I'm so incredibly happy about moving to Toronto and starting a new and exciting chapter in my life, but leaving what I've known for over 40 years is starting to effect me.
I've always been the big, strong man that can handle anything and everything thrown at me. Today, I feel like a naked, vulnerable child lost at midnight in the mountains. I've been trying to stay up and positive and energetic for Nick because I think he's going through the same emotions. I just pray that we can time things out so we aren't both on the same emotional roller coaster at the same time. If we are, you all might be getting some calls to go grab a beer to shake me out of it.
Posted by Mason at 05:07 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBackWhile Nick's Away....
- MASON ENTRY -
So this past Labour Day (yeah, I'm already spelling like a Canadian!) I went to Austin, Texas with a bunch of my friends to visit my best friend Dan. He moved there a few months ago and made us all promise that we'd visit him especially during the annual "Splash" event which happens over Memorial Day and Labour Day. Thousands of gays and lesbians converge on the clothing optional Hippy Hallow at Lake Travis. Dan has bought a great boat so we all piled in and went to the lake three days. It was such a great time.
I won't bore you all with the details (oh, and believe me there are plenty!) but some interesting things came to mind on this trip.
Texas Longhorns stuff is everywhere - it's really the only sport Austin has so you see the Longhorn logo and orange everywhere. As I was thinking about buying Nick a present from Austin EVERYTHING had Texas on it. I was digging through tons of stuff - all with TEXAS on it. I finally stopped - looked up at one of my buddies and said: "Why the hell am I buying something with Texas on it? It's one of the reasons we're moving to Canada!" Nick got a "You Can Smell our Pits Miles Away" t-shirt from the barbeque place we went to instead! ;-)
Then after we got picked up at the airport by Mo (the friend who hosted our first going away party) she was telling me how Nick has been telling her that she needs to keep an eye on me when he's out of town next week and make sure I follow through on my list, get the packing done, etc. She then blurted out:
"Oh my god - I just figured out I'm going to be your NAG HAG!"
I thought I was going to pee my pants we were laughing so hard. For those that know the "other" version of that phrase, you'll understand why it's so funny.
I'm sitting here in my office re-reading some of our entries here and looking out my office and every minute this rolling tide of emotion starts overwhelming me and I'm getting teary - we're actually moving to Canada in less than a month.
Wow.
Posted by Mason at 12:39 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBackSeptember 06, 2006
Have A Good Life
The past few weeks at work have been a flurry of activity. I was gone for a week in Toronto to find a place to live and returned to a pile of paperwork. I spent the better part of the week last week preparing my cases for transfer to other workers, while at the same time making sure to tie up any loose ends with clients. Yesterday I had a couple hours long meeting with the Queen B informing her of the status of my cases and then running around in the afternoon trying to get letters of recommendation.
Now I sit at my desk blankly staring at my computer screen and realize that for the first time in 12 years I’m about to be unemployed.
To say I have butterflies in my stomach is a stretch; it feels more like a herd of elephants making their way up my small intestine. I’m nauseous and nervous – Mason told me this morning to think of it like a vacation…that would be lovely except for the fact it’s an unpaid vacation. I seriously need to find some Ativan.
An e-mail went out by administration last week announcing my imminent departure and a small party planned for Friday afternoon. Since then I’ve been stopped in hallways, parking garages, cafeterias and even the men’s room to be questioned about my move:
Do you have family there? What will you do for work? Are you Canadian? You’re crazy! What a wonderful adventure for you! I hope you like the cold! Do you speak French? Why would you give up your citizenship like that? Do you really know what you’re doing? Toronto’s a cool city, very multicultural I hear.
More often then not though the one phrase I hear after all of the questions, comments and well-wishes is this – Have A Good Life. There is such a tone of finality with that phrase, and you know that we all only reserve it for when we feel we will not see people ever again. I can count on one hand the amount of times I have used that phrase with people, but now it seems I am on the receiving end of this very small but powerful phrase. I’m not sure why, but hearing that phrase has ramped up my emotions during this whole thing and I reel like I just plugged my 120v brain into a 220v outlet.
Have A Good Life. I’ll try, really I will. Up to this point I think that I have done a pretty good job of it, but I will try not to disappoint.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:12 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBackSeptember 04, 2006
Signs of Autumn
Autumn has to be my most favourite season. Ever since I was a child I've enjoyed the changing of Summer into Autumn, the change in the air, the crispness of October, the leaves changing and crinkling beneath your feet, the smell of wood burning, the first snowfall, the harvest, the return of comfort foods, the overall signal that the Earth is about to prepare for her slumber in the coming Winter. Also, add that two of my favourite religious holidays are in Autumn, Mabon (Autumnal Equinox) and Samhain (Hallow'een/New Year's) and I'm a happy camper.
I woke up this morning dreading the look of my living room, but determined to finish up my task for this weekend of packing. I noticed that the air conditioner wasn't running, so I went to the window and opened it only to be tickled by a wisp of chilled air. I took a deep breath in and could smell Autumn's arrival, I don't know how else to describe it other then it smelled like fall. It wasn't there yesterday...
I made my way outside to go and pick up some more bubble-wrap from U-Haul and I noticed that even though the sun was out and my skin could feel the heat, the chill was there, subtle and unwavering as if proclaiming victory over Summer. I picked up the bubble-wrap keeping my window down for the whole drive so I could take in the smell of Fall. I stopped by Starbucks and decided to pick up some coffee rather then fumble with it at home. I walked in and was immediately accosted by the smells of nutmeg, allspice and pumpkin - their Pumpkin Spice Latte was back. I was instantly transported to a place that makes me happy. I ordered one and made my way back home.
Happy Fall :-)
September 03, 2006
2996
I found something quite cool through Melusina's Blog a few weeks ago, but with all the stuff with Canada and moving to Toronto it was lost in the shuffle - and I regret that. 2996 is a website developed by D.C. Roe who wanted to do a simple act to honour the victims of 9-11 in cyberspace - find 2,996 blogs who would be willing to post a memorium about one victim on the 5th anniversary of September 11th. It's a neat idea and I wanted to be part of it, the least I could do with Life Without Borders having a small presence on the web.
I searched the site and was going to sign up, when I thought about my dear sister-in-law, Char. I love Char to pieces, she is an amazing woman, a dear friend and treats me like her own brother. Her husband, my brother-in-law, Tim is a great man and a noble guy who always makes me feel welcome in his home. Originally from New York, I have a certain kinship with Tim being that were both from the east coast. His brother, Lieutenant Kevin Christopher Dowdell, was a fire-fighter still living in New York City. Kevin died on September 11th doing what he did best - rescuing people.
I thought of this and wanted to do this for Char and Tim - a way I guess to repay them for their kindness and love towards me. I looked for Kevin and he had already been pre-selected by another blog. I contacted D.C. and Heath and asked them if we could switch - both were truly helpful and accomodating - here we were three complete strangers, strewn around the country but connected by the web and a purpose.
So on September 11th, I will be dedicating this page to the 2996 victims, and making one very personal dedication to Kevin. Char and Tim have helped me out with some information, and I really hope you all help me celebrate Kevin's life.
September 01, 2006
Department of What?
So I'm taking a break from packing and doing some research about Canada, trying to cover all of my bases and see if there is anything I can add to my to do list. One thing I came across that kind of surprised me and was not even a thought in my mind.
Registering with the U.S. Department of State as an American Abroad at the United States Consulate General in Toronto.
Has anyone done this? I'm not quite sure what to think about this or how to react. I've feeling nauseous, excited, confused and troubled all at the same time.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:18 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBackUmmm...Is It To Late To Change My Mind?
While I am extremely excited about moving to Toronto, and starting our new adventure in Canada I have discovered one downside to the whole process.
I have to pack.
I hate to pack.
I'm discovering that after living in the same place for 7 years one tends to accumulate a lot of crap...and that's after tossing a lot of it out.
Ugh. 11 boxes down, I don't know how many more to go,
Posted by Nikolas at 07:33 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
