My trip to Canada was enjoyable...I'll hit the highlights of the transit, then I'll fill you in on the family, and all that that I got to hang out with. On the way there, I almost got strip-searched. Anyone who knows me well, will say that I'm disorderly and messy. They would put my value of order and organization very low on any sort of scale. I actually value it slightly more but the organized parts of my life are not those which are most noticeable. Suffice it to say, my packing job was less than neat. I basically threw a bunch of clothes into a bag for my departure from NC State, and left them there when I went to Canada. When clearing customs, an elderly (though not too elderly) gentlemen had me put my suitcase up on a little platform where he proceded to go through it. This is, I was told, non-standard procedure. I think they were doing that to a lot of people that day, though, just because it was right before the new years stuff, and everyone this year was paranoid about bombs, etc. After going through my stuff...he asked me to empty my pockets. I live in my coat, so it was lots of fun emptying god only knows what onto his little table. He read a letter from my father, that was mostly just how happy he was to have me coming, and all that, that had been given me along with my flight info, etc. This seemed to convince him I wasn't sneaking anything in, I guess 'cause he then explained that not many people travel with "Dirty Clothes" and urged me to enjoy my stay. Jean (my father's fiancee) used to have his exact job, essentially...now she sits in an office screening porn. Ask me sometime, and I'll give you more details on that. Anyways, she tells me that when they have you empty your pockets, that means they're pretty sure that you have something you shouldn't. That was excitement part 1. Coming back, customs was easy (I did that before leaving Ottawa, thank god). They had to de-ice the plane, which put us behind by a whole lot. Almost too much. It didn't help that the shuttle to take us from the dinky little plain to the terminal was late. So, by the time I made it into the detroit airport...it was approximately 5:17 I don't remember the exact time but it was after 5:12 for sure, and I'm thinking past 5:15 almost for sure. The point of the matter is, they put us on one exact end of the airport (G terminal) And I wanted to be on the other end (C14). My flight was set to leave at 5:30. That didn't give me much time. I hit the ground running...half the time I ran on those little conveyors designed for lazy peoples. The C-terminal angles left at about gate 12...and as I came around that little bend and along the ramps and such, a guy looked out and called my name. I waved, then continued up. Breathing hard, I handed him my boarding pass and wandered onto the plane, gradually approaching a normal breathing rate, and forever grateful that the plane had A/C or something like it. I checked my watch as I boarded the plane: 5:27...I still had 3 minutes ; ) Another family on my flight needed to get to C-something at 5:25...they had a little girl. The only way they made it is if someone held the plane...They were going to Orlando. I'm betting they had to catch a later flight, but I don't guess I'll ever know.

Mostly I met family, and tried regional cuisine. Jean is an excellent cook. I haven't told my mother this 'cause she'd likely take offense, funny how they still want to keep tabs after they've both gone their separate ways. I'd probably be the same way though. Anyways, so Jean's a great lady and an excellent cook. Tonto, her humongous dog, is getting on in years and mostly just hung around...but he could've killed me if he felt so inclined. He came up to my waist, but he's a real sweet, gentle, BIG dog. Jean has 3 girls. I met all of them, and really only met one of them. Lisa (her oldest) lives in an apartment, so she just came through, said "hi" and mostly ignored me for the remainder of the time she was there. Faye, next in line, is probably a lot like me...meaning we didn't talk. Neither of us was inclined to be nosey, or to offer any information. So we had nothing to discuss, and didn't discuss it. There are other things to lead me to believe we have similar personalities...like her desire to have situations all planned out...insecurity probably (that's why I do it). Essentially, had we been inclined to talk to each other, we probably would've gotten along well. Last, but not least, was Grace. She started asking me questions from the moment I walked in. Had I seen snow before? made a snowman? a snow angel? I don't remember all the questions she asked, or I answered. At some point I mentioned Kate *gasp*. So, a lot of her questions were about Kate and I. How we met, who asked who, etc. Did I have pictures...again, I don't know what all the questions were. I, not being that nosey, or having any basis for beginning to ask questions, didn't ask any, but I still got a good feel for her personality. She was whiney and hyper and a bit on the commanding/bossy side. I enjoyed her company, she was nice and friendly. I do however feel sorry for her boyfriend Will. She's not out of control by any means, but she is very: "do things my way." She strikes me as a bit on the immature side...someone I enjoy hanging around, but wouldn't want to live with I guess is what I'm saying. That is, in a nutshell, the family.

On my way back, I picked up a copy of "The Green Mile" which had been suggested to me by Erin long before the movie came out...She's a big King fan, so I was kind of thinking about her on my trip back...when I wasn't running. So, when I got home, I was presently surprised to find her online...we're almost never online at the same time these days. She just recently got a scanner, and sent me a picture of herself...that was pretty cool. It's nice to be able to put a face to a person. She and I have shared a lot at times...just because we could count on the other person not telling anyone. She's in Ohio, and I'm...well...not. From that standpoint, we could be totally honest. We've discussed everything from literature, to teachers, relationships, I don't even know what all we discussed. She's an artist, so I'll probably start pressuring her to show me her work, now that she has a scanner. It's interesting how you meet people by chance, against probability, and they turn out to be very important in your life. The probability of me meeting most of my really good friends was bad at best, especially when you consider my generally introverted nature. I can remember meeting most of my good friends, probably all, but I like to give myself legal headroom...and many times it was just a chance happening. Sitting at the same table, or something like that. I'd hate to think where I'd be without you guys though. ; )

I felt, when I sat down, that I had something important to say...although I don't think anything I've written is of particular relevance. Mostly it's just a documenting of my life, which I prefer to think of as kind of irrelevant on a cosmic scale. I did go out today, and found Kate a present. It almost resembles the one I picked out originally that got sold before I returned. This one's brighter, and more cheery, and active and whatever. But I kind of liked the calm, collectedness of the green. But life's rarely perfect, and this'll have to do. Although, perfectionist that I am, this one's likely to bug me for a while, for a while ; )