We arrived in Pictou Landing about 48 hours ago to visit with Nellie’s mom and her fella. It’s been a relaxing visit so far; the weather has helped limit our activities to sitting, eating and drinking. We even did a bit of boxing day shopping, picking up some new DVDs.

A few notes from the last few days:

1. The people from this small town are about as racist as people from most other small towns. So far we’ve heard slurs against “pakis” and natives from the nearby reserve. Apparently there are also conceited jackasses here; I’ve seen at least one Hummer.

2. The pulp mill nearby covers the entire area with a stench not unlike rotting vegetables. It’s not faint either; about 50% of the times we’ve stepped outside it’s smelled like a recent fart.

3. The towns of Stellarton/New Glasgow/Trenton/whatever are about as pretty as Sydney…which is to say they’re not. At all.

4. The mall nearby (where we picked up the DVDs) has an arcade. No foolin’…a freaking video game arcade.

5. They drive everywhere here, even to the end of the driveway. I don’t get it.

We’re going out for dinner tonight and leaving for Halifax tomorrow morning. I’m looking forward to a hotel bed and dinner at Da Maurizio with my brothers et al.

Finally, and most importantly, happy 3rd anniversary to Nellie and I!!

[tags]new glasgow, pictou, stellarton, trenton[/tags]

We got lots of great donations to charities made in our names this year, and my mom even snuck a few real presents in there. I knew we couldn’t stop her completely…

It was fun to see the kids tear into their presents too. My nephew seems to love his roboreptile, my nieces played with their Barbie karoake machine & doctor kit this morning, and their parents now loathe us for giving them such loud gifts. Mission accomplished.

Now, stuffed with food, we’re about to head off to Nellie’s mom’s place for a few days. Next up on the Farewell To Meat tour: turkey dinner #2!

[tags]christmas, gifts, roboreptile, turkey dinner[/tags]

My brother and his wife have arrived, along with their three kids and all the madness that follows them. Right now my brother and nephew are practicing kung fu in the sun room while one of my nieces plays with one of her pixel chix.

[tags]neices, nephews, kung fu, pixel chix[/tags]

We’ve been back on the farm for a little over 24 hours now. Our trip yesterday was ridiculously easy: no problems at either airport, with the car rental, with the drive home…smoothest Christmas travel ever. Let’s hope all the problems at Heathrow get sorted and Tim’s travels are as smooth.

Today was a quick shopping trip to Moncton, including lunch at Montana’s. Seriously. I guess it’s only fitting that we’ve kick off the Farewell To Meat tour with a visit to a bad steakhouse. A few groceries on the way home and we arrived back at the farm. Not much of note since then; I fixed a few things on my parents’ computer as well as on their new 50″ plasma TV (!) and surround sound stereo while Nellie wrapped all the presents.

Tomorrow Andrew and his brood arrive. Tomorrow’s also the day that my father makes his delicious delicious ice cream and the peanut butter balls go up for grabs. Mmmmmmmmaaaarrggghfdiohognofsjjntr.

[tags]xmas travel, heathrow, moncton, montana’s, homemade ice cream[/tags]

Ze work, she is finished. Ze packing, she has just begun. Ze Frank: funny.

Technically I’m now on vacation, although the night before a trip isn’t exactly relaxing. I’ll feel like I’m on vacation once I place my arse in my airplane seat tomorrow afternoon and have no further responsibilities or time requirements for the next two weeks. At 3:00 tomorrow, god (and air traffic control) willing, I shall be in languor land.

“Languor is underrated. It is not possible to be immobile in modern urban society except by dint of constant effort. Holding on tightly to the riverbank and fighting the current is not languor. Nobody likes that. But bone-lazy idleness, hours and hours spent staring at the sky and remembering books and birthdays and great kisses: this is a pure pleasure that eludes the productive in all their confident superiority. Languor is sunny and hot. It is at home near the sea and is best appreciated in environments of beauty and limited promise. It contains within it the idea of boredom, but is also colored by idle fancy and the understanding that some things proceed best with limited attention. Fishing, for instance. If you’re always reeling in and checking your bait, you’ll only worsen your chances. Relax.” –Kevin Patterson, The Water In Between

That’s one of my favourite quotes, from one of my favourite books. And there’s really not much other way to describe the farm than languorous.

[tags]languor[/tags]