We have a new home!

Colin bribed. I whined. We waited. And waited. And whined some more. We gave reference. We had background checks. We waited some more...

And finally, we have a place to live. It's got two bedrooms, two decks (yay! barbeques!), a claw foot bath tub, and is only a few miles/kilometers from work. I love the pictures and can't wait to see it for real.

Colin says it looks like a huge treehouse. Yay!

We're going to London....

...Ontario!!!

God. I feel like we're moving to Paris, Ohio.

So London (ONT) may not be as exciting as London (UK) but it's a heck of a lot more affordable!

Our big news (that I'm pretty sure I can officially share now) is that I was hired this week by the University of Western Ontario. Yay! No more job search! No more crappy interviews! No more missed connections because the flight attendant forgot her passport and they TURNED THE PLANE AROUND to go get it!

I'm not kidding. That actually happened.

I'm thrilled! Colin's ecstatic! The cats are... meh.

But, we don't have to move all of our stuff in a U-Haul across the continent and that makes everyone happy.

I hear rumo(u)rs that Southwestern Ontario (which is apparently where London is located) has something called "The Lake Effect" and is known to experience occasional snow.

Of course, I won't believe a word of it. Our new home is going to be totally wicked awesome year round... mostly cause we're there and that brings the coolness factor up by like 250%.

And if I wasn't supposed to make the job offer public yet... then crap. We might be moving somewhere else after all.

A great little ditty from http://www.wherethehellismatt.com

All Good Things Must Come To An End.

Bullshit, I say, but it does seem to happen more often then not. And so the last day at my job has finally arrived, and unlike a great many jobs I've had over the years, I'm actually going to miss this one. It was a nice change from the usual. I've taken some pictures of the place in my time there, and dont really have much more to say, so here's some snapshots from the Arts of the Book.

Crated and Cranky

Yes. Colin and I are preparing to go home. Our two year stint in the USA is almost over and I have to say... it's been a blast! And we're really going to miss our American friends.

Unfortunately, nothing is more stressful than moving. Our apartment is in yet another state of upheaval. I've just about torn out all of my hair waiting on potential employers. And Colin... well, let's just say Colin wishes he'd married someone who's capable of spending more than two years in the same city. We've been married now almost five years and Colin has moved us four times. Bless him.

But, I don't think Colin's anxiety levels can possibly compete with the cats. They know by now what the boxes and suitcases mean... They know those awful plastic carrying cases are for them... I suspect they even know that their recent trip to the vet for rabies inoculations means a cross-border move...

Sure enough, sometime before the end of the month, they'll be crated up and shipped off. Sorry Lou-lou-belle. Sorry Imelda. You guys are going to hate us for weeks and weeks for this one.

So, in hono(u)r of our brave feline companions and their upcoming trans-continental voyage, I offer this tribute...


Fly safe girls. Fly safe.

Having been guests for almost two years in the United States, I've been amazed at the kindness and real friendships we've found here.

I did have a little inward chuckle earlier this week when I told some of my co-workers that the 1st of July was a national holiday in Canada. They were quick to wish me a happy "Canadian Day," which (unfortunately) made me think instantly of a Blue Light special at K-Mart with half price back-bacon and Molson. But, they said it with such genuine spirit that I didn't have the heart to correct them.

So, with equal sincerity, I wish our neighbo(u)rs to the south "Happy American Day!" Luckily, as with so many of our customs, the holiday involves the exact same traditions of drinking and barbecuing.... Really, it's amazing how much we have in common.