Last night the fog lay thick upon the air. The backdrop would have been perfect for a murder scene from Masterpiece Theatre or Mystery!

Growing up on the coast, I’ve survived my share of pea soup fog days. When you move west, you forget what it’s like to go outside and drip. When you haven’t been home in over 12 years, you forget what it’s like to peer desperately into the gloom in order to see 2 feet in front of our face. Driving is a nightmare for someone not used to the lack of visibility and waterlogged windows. I’d rather drive in Winnipeg in winter (I have lots of experience doing so) than Saint John in the fog.

Today, I look out my window and see more fog. Apparently the sun was out for 5 minutes this morning. Obviously not enough time to make an impression.

Technorati Tags: fog

There are a couple of airlines I really love to fly.

For domestic flights, there is nothing (in my not so humble opinion) better than Westjet in Canada. I’ve taken many flights from one end of the country to another and will fly longer and go to out of the way places just to fly with Westjet rather than the alternatives. In fact, I don’t think I’ve been on a domestic flight with any other airline in the past 7-8 years. From the customer service agents, ticketing agents, and flight stewards Westjet seems to staff their positions with the most helpful, generous and genuinely happy people.

For international flights, I love to fly Northwest. Sure, I know that other airlines are fancier, offer more food or cheaper alcohol, but I’ve really got a soft spot for Northwest. They always seem to take care of me. When I’ve had nasty colds, they’ve kept me in liquids and hard candies to sooth my throat. When I forgot to request a vegetarian (nut free) meal, they scrounged around and fed me fresh fruit. Even when I’ve done something stupid (like leaving my cell phone in the airport in Manila) they’ve gone out of their way to track it down, send it via purser from Manila to Tokyo to Minneapolis to Edmonton. Despite my bazillion calls to all of the different airport lost luggage offices, they didn’t lose their cool and did an amazing job finding and returning my cell phone. I was so impressed that I called a long distance customer care number (not an 800 number… I willingly paid for it) just to tell Northwest how much I appreciated the work that their employees had been doing on my behalf.

Airlines can be a pain point for many people but for me these two have gone above and beyond so often that it’s almost become expected.

Technorati Tags: westjet, northwest, airlines

I didn’t learn to drive when I lived in Saint John fogville. Well, not really…I did drive here a bit when I was 16, but most of my driving in Canada has been in Manitoba and Alberta. So, now I’m home and keeper of the car keys I’ve discovered that I don’t really have a clue how to get anywhere. I’m one of those people who has to drive a route at least once in order to arrive at the correct destination. Written directions are useless and if someone else is driving, I have no idea where I am. Sure, I can get around the neighbourhood, to the grocery store, pharmacy and bank. But once I cross from the east side into downtown I’ve no clue where I am. Since mom doesn’t drive either, it could be very interesting relying on her to act as navigator. The first real test will be later this week when I need to be directed back and forth to the hospital. We’ll have to wait and see how that turns out. News at 11 (atlantic, 10 eastern, 9 central, 8 mountain [hi honey], 7 pacific).

Technorati Tags: lost, driving, road work, construction

I love to travel. Anyone who knows me knows my passport is at the ready. Throw in some business related work and a new culture I’ve never been exposed to and I’m drooling at the bit to go. There are downsides of travel – usually things like homesickness (when the trip is too long) or food processing issues (have I mentioned I miss the food in India this week?) – but usually they’re quickly silenced by the little voice in the back of my head that reminds me how amazing it is to meet new people, explore a new country or learn bits and pieces of a new language. When someone you love back home is ill though, the distance seems to stretch and the time seems to pass ten times as slowly. Today, I want to be home.

Technorati Tags: travel

It’s sunny today.  I don’t know how long the sun will stay out from behind the clouds, but I plan on basking in it for as much time as I can before the rain returns.

Yesterday morning I saw my first cockroach.  I was outside with Pau at lunchtime and saw a huge bug climb rapidly up the wall.  Of couse I had to ask her what it was.  Without batting an eye, I was informed that it was a cockroach.  Apparently they’re not all that uncommon of a sight in the area we were in.

I know, I’m a bit of a freak.  Making it into my third decade never having see one outside of movies before.  Mom kept a thoroughly clean (and sparkly) house when I was growing up and despite my own noticably lacking housekeeping skills, we’ve never lived anywhere where there was even a whisper of the big ugly bug.  Now I’ve seen one, the thrill is over.  You can all go back to your regularly scheduled programming.