Luckily, I had no issues in getting to New Brunswick for Christmas - at least no large ones.  The morning of December 23rd I arrived at the Ottawa airport, slightly later than I was hoping to (for reasons we won’t mention haha).  I thought I was going to miss my flight, because although I was there in plenty of time to check in, go through security and board, there were hundreds of passengers displaced form other flights.  Instead of directing them to one place, they were everywhere trying to get new flights, and thereby hindering those of us with on time flights from catching them.  I had a friend flying to Newfoundland the same morning and texted to ask if she got through.  She gave me some directions, and off I went to a little line at the end which everyone else seemed to be ignoring.  Unfortunately, it as well was not moving.  I was talking with a couple behind me who were displaced from a cancelled Toronto flight, and after worrying about missing mine, the male from the couple argued with the ticket agents to get me through.   I arrived at the gate just as they were finishing boarding!  Talk about cutting it close!  My connection in Toronto was much smoother since I already had access to the gates.  They didn’t even lose my luggage!

Christmas was fairly quiet, and so were the few days after.  Finally, I had to break out!  I borrowed a vehicle from my dad and went to town to see some friends from high school at a local pub.  After buying $8 drinks in Ottawa, it’s amazing to be able to buy a rum and coke for $1.50!  It was a fun night, with a different mix of people I don’t usually get to see.  At the end of the night when I stood up to go home, I saw I had missed a call from my parents.  When I called back it was my father, who gave me a lashing for driving in the freezing rain.  It was imperative that I get my ass home right away!  You know, even though the freezing rain had been falling for hours and the roads were at their worst point.  It makes as much sense to me as I’m sure it does to you why I had to drive 30 minutes in such conditions to get home, rather than stay at a friends house 5 minutes from the bar.  Oh well. 

Finally, it was time to take off to Moncton!  Normally when I hit Moncton, my schedule is so filled that I have no time to relax, and wind up returning to Ottawa utterly exhausted.  This time, I wasn’t having any of it!  I’ve made basically no plans, and have gone where I want when I want, seen who I want when I want, and am not really caring about everything in between.  I need to take care of myself on this trip, and so far it’s been thoroughly enjoyable.  I’ve even done a little shopping.  Unfortunately, I’ve also had a minor fender bender in a known to be tricky parking lot.  I’m not used to driving my dad’s van, which has been my transportation this week.  While making a turn, I cut it too short, and scraped the front bumper of a gentleman’s car with one of my rear rims.  Crap.  Thankfully, the man was excellent through the process.  I dealt with it as best as I could.  There was no damage to the van, and after receiving the quote from the body shop, I have agreed to pay for the accident out of pocket.  It’s a small amount of money, and just not worth putting it on my father’s insurance record.  An unfortunate situation none the less, but it could always be worse. 

There have been other interesting happenings, such as a few hours at a pub in Moncton.  A friend is a bartender there, and tends to several old, drunken, slightly horny men.  One man thought I was gorgeous and amazing.  Another knew right away that I was a Capricorn (I’m still not sure how he knew that!).  Another wanted me to know he was very good in bed, while another asked if I wanted to go home with him and the other bartender.  Finally, the youngest of the old men bought me a drink, and I headed out afterward. 

New Brunswick is definitely an interesting place, with a much different speed.  Soon it will be time for me to head back to Ottawa.  Although it’s been nice being home, it will be wonderful being back in my own space with my two furry babies.  Let’s hope for good flights again, and no disasters when I return to a new french class with an old enemy (long story for another day).  Wish me luck, and happy holidays!