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Poutine

1/30/2014

Poutine

Oh my international family make me laugh! Poutine is the definitive Quebeçois comfort food, it is simply french fries, cheese curds (has to be curds) and gravy. Doesn't look pretty but yummy!

I didn't realize that you have to sign in on the What Would You Do? page, I'll get my tecchy husband to work on that, maybe there is a better way. I'm still trying to figure Weebly out!

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Curling For Carol

1/29/2014

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So excited, the photos for the Live Love Laugh for Carol event are in and they are on a slideshow on the Gallery page! Thanks again Katie for running around and taking everyone's picture all night long!

We are having another open house this Sunday 2-4, spread the word if you can, Travis & I went to take measurements at our new digs and needless to say, the thought of moving and creating a new home for ourselves is daunting!

When I received my diagnosis I was given quite a bit of information and advice. One of the things I was told was that after a few months, don't be surprised if others move on with their lives, while you are still left with the reality of your illness. Well I have to say that I haven't felt that at all, in fact, the love that Travis & I are receiving from all of you is as strong as ever if not more! The outpouring of support is outweighing my return of thank yous so I apologize if I can't keep up but please know how grateful I am! My friends Danny & Katie, & Brittany & Sean who continue to make sure I am not alone when Travis is working late, Heather and Andy who traipse the globe with us, our family all over the world who continue to check in on us, CMHA and Brookstreet who have offered to help us move and now Robin's idea of having yet another event for us called "Curling for Carol" on March 16th!

I have created a new page called "What Would You Do?" to inspire and be inspired by others. What would you do if you were given 2 years to live? There are all kinds of ups & downs when being diagnosed with ALS, many of us are aware of the downs, but the upside in being given a timeline, is to make sure you get to do all things you can before leaving this earth. So I have created this page to give a voice to all of you, to think about what is important, passionate, and meaningful for you to do as well as sharing ideas with each other. I welcome all thoughts from the grandest to the silliest.

Speaking of advice check out the link for a blast from the past...

Sunscreen

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New Orleans part trois

1/22/2014

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We absolutely loved New Orleans! On Saturday we had an incredible 4 hour lunch at Galatoire's with the most adorable waiter named Imre from Hungary. The food was divine, I ordered whatever Imre told me to including shrimp remoulade, grilled redfish with lump crab meat and finished it off with pecan pie, yum. That night we went on a scary haunted walk with an interesting history of the city, along the walk Heather & Travis went back to Verti Marte (the convenience store with the best Po'Boys) and picked up more sandwiches for us, when you know it is that good, you have to go back! Sunday was Andy's actual birthday and we spent the day playing Hearts in the sunshine on the pool deck, went on a walking tour with Heather as our tour guide of mansions in the Garden District, as well as peeking at Lafayette cemetery. We finished off our trip with a wine & food pairing tasting dinner at Commander's Palace (top restaurant in New Orleans!) which was decadently delicious! Check out our photos on the Gallery page.

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New Orleans Continued

1/18/2014

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Yesterday was another beautiful day in N'Awlins! Again we walked around the French Quarter in sunshine, and had lunch at Napolean House built in 1791. We took a streetcar through the Garden District viewing beautiful oak trees and stunning mansions. We also visited the Tulane chapter of Zeta Psi Andy's Fraternity, bringing me back to our University days. They live in a beautifully restored house and now Travis understands the attraction of the Greek system. The guys were super friendly and Heather & I were left wondering if we looked that young when we were at Uni! We stopped for a drink at a beautiful hotel called the Columns and for dinner (thanks to a local tip) found a convenience store with the most incredible "Po'Boys". I had a deeelish mushroom melt & everyone else had "All That Jazz". We stood at the back of the store and devoured them! We finished the evening with amazing music at Fritzels. All awesome things!

Jackson Square

The Mississippi

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New Orleans

1/18/2014

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Having an incredible time in New Orleans, what a city! Andy's birthday surprise was pulled off impeccably at Newark airport. We are staying at the gorgeous Roosevelt Hotel and already we've had beignets at Cafe du Monde, had a cooking class that gave us a rich history of the area & food, we ate a crab & corn bisque (my favourite), shrimp creole, pralines & bananas foster. Our instructor was a southern sassy lady and too much fun! We then went to Pat O'briens and sat in the courtyard and some sunshine to sample some Hurricanes as that was where they were invented. The French quarter was getting livelier as the day progressed. So much to see wandering around Bourbon street, we had to stop for an afternoon snack of the biggest oysters I have ever seen! For dinner we ate at Paul Prudhommes and then continued to Preservation Hall for some quintessential New Orleans music with the Kinfolk Brass Band. Incredible, mad mad trombone skills. Walking back to our hotel there were people everywhere I was wondering what the special occasion was, did a sports team win? Is New Years still being celebrated? Nope it's just the vibe if people taking to the streets & having a great time, so fun, that was just day one!

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To Do List...

1/9/2014

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The more I check off, the more I have to do! I am finally feeling stronger recovering from the flu, and with that comes errands! Travis & I both went to see our family doctor, luckily his heart is still doing well but he does have high blood pressure, he blames it on having anxiety of going to the doctor! We have started to go through cupboards in our condo (thus the cute graduation picture of Travis from Le Cordon Bleu), we really have to downsize as we are losing an office, a laundry room and storage space, but gaining a half bath so at least no one has to wait for the bathroom anymore! We will be having an open house on Sunday January 19th from 2-4 so if you know anyone interested in buying a beautiful condo please pass the word along! It is really a tough time of year to sell, we haven't been getting any visits so far. The move seems to be creeping up closer and faster, I can't believe it is already less than two months away. We are going to visit our new place to get measurements. I have an ALS clinic visit this Monday where I am going to see pulmonary, physiotherapy, dietician and social work. Travis & I are having a photo shoot on Sunday, our condo photographer has offered us a free session, why not? We still have to see our lawyer and are looking forward to seeing friends & family on our next few lunch & dinner dates & trips. Dory seems to be doing better, thanks for those who were checking on her! Stay tuned for upcoming gallery pictures from the Live Laugh Love for Carol event.

For a laugh...

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Happy New Year!

1/4/2014

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The start of 2014 began much the same as 2013, with the flu! It has been a rough week, I caught the flu and was unable to go to the Ottawa/Boston hockey game that I was so looking forward to. At least this year our fridge didn't break down! After 4 days in bed I started to feel better and did errands around the house, of course I overdid it and had to spend the next day in bed. I am still negotiating the terms of ALS. I want to live my life to the fullest while I can but there are some days my body won't let me. It is very frustrating. Then my kitty Dory got sick and had to be hospitalized. I felt down on New Year's Eve fearing what the New Year may bring for me, self pity comes easy when you have the flu!

Stress in life is a given - it is our perspective of what we choose to focus on that matters, and if all else fails, there is always poutine!

Awesome things to focus on: we had a great Christmas with mom & dad, plenty of food & eggnog, Travis came home earlier than expected on New Year's Eve, so we were able to ring in the New Year together, Dory is now home and recovering, we saw the Hobbit (Imax 3D) of which I am a huge fan of the scenery and story, I have many friends to see and plenty of dinners/lunches/and coffee dates, we have not one but 2 trips coming up, and we are so blessed & excited to have family moving to Ottawa in 2014!

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Poutine

Curling For Carol

New Orleans part trois

New Orleans Continued

New Orleans

To Do List...

Happy New Year!

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