Preparing to leave

I spent most of today organising the things I will need for Edmonton. My DVD player, rice cooker, kettle, coffee maker...can't find my toaster oven...I'm sure it is just in a safe place...somewhere in Liv's garage...I have the books I'll need and the other electronic stuff ...clothes will be difficult...I don't want to take too many however, it is currently -20 ish C and by May it could be +20 C so I must think about layering!

I took time out this afternoon to take Pullo and Stella (Liv's dogs) for a walk over at the Office Covered Bridge in Westfir. After the power outage earlier this morning after it started to snow....Tyler says that the power goes out whenever it snows heavily...though not much stuck to the ground...the dogs love running in the open area by the bridge...it is an area of about 35 acres where the old saw mill used to stand...but it burned down about 30 years ago and was never rebuilt...just some concrete and asphalt...remains. It is overrun in areas by blackberry brambles...last summer Pullo and I spent many hours picking berries...Pullo has a delicate touch...picking berries with his mouth...and he loved them! We picked enough to last Liv most of the winter ...a fruity addition to her porridge....

I plan on preparing power point lessons for a couple of lower level Political Science courses...a theory class and Canadian Politics...and perhaps a comparative politics....and also an ESL course plan...I think if I go through the process of producing course material, it will help me prepare for teaching...I intend on applying for teaching positions once I finish next December...

I leave Saturday morning with my destination White Rock to spend the night with my uncle, Terry Dyson and Katharine his wife. On Sunday I'll head to Kelowna and spend a few days with my sister Hel and our dad. Then Friday to Vernon for a girls night at Sal's and then on Saturday 8 January I will drive through to Edmonton...I am more than a little anxious...

Boxing Day

The focus of this blog is twofold. First on politics and second on travel. I am interested in both and will be travelling to Edmonton Alberta to the University of Alberta to complete my Master's in Political Science. I'll give my impressions on both topics on a daily basis once I begin my studies 10 January.

In the meantime I will write random stuff...such as I love the Kindle my kids gave me for Christmas...it will be a source of much entertainment while I am gone...

All for today...

Day One - 25 December 2010

In one week I will leave my kids Tyler and Olivia; the six cats and two dogs here in Oakridge Oregon and head north to the U of A to begin my Master's of Political Science. 
I'll stop for a few days in Kelowna to spend time with my dad and sister and her family, stop in Vernon to see Sal and then arrive in Edmonton on 8 January. Classes begin the week of the 10 January...
I am both dreading it and looking forward to the new experience. It's not unlike when I went to Spain in the summer of 2009 to finish my language requirement for my undergrad degree...mind you at 54 it was a bit of a feat...not the travel...the español ...almost killed me! The travel was amazing...trains to A Caruna and Pontevedra ...the bus to Lugo and the Roman wall...and hiking all over the place...exploring the ciudad vieja de Santiago de Compostela...I did learn some Spanish!....
When I am going insane working on my thesis...I will write about Galicia Spain and post photos...
I digress...I was very fortunate to find lodging through my 2nd cousin Nora who advised me to contact her friend Candas...and in 48 hours I went from homeless in -40 celcius (hypothetically) to the red room...(my student housing choice fell through at the last moment though I did have the option of a studio for over 700$ per month....it was well over my student loan budget of 400$...I could have stayed in student housing for 2.5 months and then would have had to move into a tent...not a happy thought!
It is christmas and though we are not religious....we do enjoy a good turkey dinner and I prepared a nice brined breast, 4 thighs and 3 drumsticks...spuds, stuffing, carrots, Brussels sprouts, gravy, and yams...oh and some home made buns... and fresh cranberry sauce...not exactly as nice as Hannah's, however it was tolerable. 
I told Tyler we would eat around 2 however Liv and I took Pullo and Stella over to the Westfir covered bridge for a walk and we got a bit behind...so Tyler feel asleep and dinner was eaten by Liv and me....around 4 Tyler just finished his second helping now....and has gone back to sleep I think...that turkey worked quickly!
I have been living a bit differently since 2001....I will give my impressions of this preamble to my current adventure...it's complicated but it all comes together in the end...though I am not there yet....