So long Canada and thanks for all the snow!

My time here in Ottawa is just about up and moving day is rapidly approaching. So I've moved into my new corner of the internet and should you wish to follow me you can go and read all about my Abu Dhabi life here.

For my last post here I thought I'd share with you the most awesome dins I had tonight with my folks. I'm pretty sure my parents are geniuses for deciding to cook this!

It a sausage wrapped in ground pork, a pork tenderloin, then wrapped in bacon!!! Then it's onto the BBQ!! It was freaking AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was also an amazing way to end this 12 day detox I've been on to cleanse my system. Although perhaps this pork explosion wasn't the healthiest choice to have after a detox it was sooo good.

Wrapped and ready to BBQ
Dad carrying his masterpiece
Almost ready!
Freshly cut pork explosion (that's what I've named it)
SOOOOO delicious

Am going through the piles of cd's I've collected over my life (I worked in radio I have TONS). Found this gem I used to love and actually found a video!! Wonder what happened to this band I really liked them.


The Mysteries Of Life - Going Through The Motions (Official Music Video)

I keep dreaming of people from my past - do you think that means something?

Why is he not my husband already?

I'm trying very hard to stay on top of my packing and sorting. I'd much rather run and hide somewhere instead of face the mountains of stuff I have somehow managed to collect over the last 10 years of my life. My parent's basement has been acting like my own personal storage container and I wish it could just stay that way. I have opened boxes and found things still wrapped with the price tags on them (including several text books!). I have filled about 12 garbage bags with clothes (that will go to a good charity) and tons of bags with just variations of stuff.

I like to collect art work and statues and things of that nature from all the places I've traveled to (I found a bottle of unopened vodka I bought in Iceland today - not sure if I want to drink it because I was there in 1997! but I just might). I went on a mission to get bubble wrap today so I can pack up all my statues to bring with me. Let me just say this - I'm not exactly sure how people figure out how things are priced but bubble wrap is bubble wrap and when I was in Korea I got a GIANT ROLL of bubble wrap for about 3 dollars. Today I got a tiny roll for 5 dollars. I don't get it - as my mom constantly reminds me - you're not in Korea anymore.

On another note - has anyone out there seen The Watchmen? or wanted to see it? Dave rented it on Sunday because he and I both wanted to see it - nowhere on the box did it say this is the longest movie in the history of ever with a plot as boring as paint drying!!! Don't waste your time!!! We watched Hellboy 2 the next night (which I like almost better than the first one). Last night I watched Adventureland (which again I liked). While watching movies with Jen and Dave I realized that I'm really going to miss them like A LOT! We're already discussing their trip to Abu Dhabi but I have to not think about leaving Jenny cause it makes my heart hurt - and frankly it takes a lot to do that. We've been apart before but this time it's different..not sure why. I am horrible at goodbyes - when I have to say goodbye to people I realize just how emotionally stunted I really am. I get awkward and I don't know how to act and I just want to run the other way. I have to force myself to not think about the fact that I'm not going to see the people I love for a long time otherwise I might just have a complete mental breakdown. I hate the torture but if I want to be a citizen of the world I have to go through it. When I leave this time my parents won't be with me. They are leaving for vacation a few days before I move. I encouraged this because it will make getting on the plane a little easier. I'll say my goodbyes at home - although we've been through this several times it's still tough.

Whew I just rambled - I guess I zip it so I can get back to wrapping up my stuff.

I'm outta here in 20 days..it just hit me that I have only 3 weekends left wow time flies! So if you know me and you want to see me before I go make some peace in the Middle East - let me know cause the calender is starting to fill.

OMG!

So I like to watch videos on YouTube when I'm bored cause really there is some WACK stuff out there! Anyway I stumbled across these little gems and I have to say this is now my new favourite web cooking show! I wish it was in Korean and not Japanese but the host is one sexy bitch and it makes me think that whoever came up with the concept is smoking some serious electric lettuce!

I like to call these mandu because I'm Korean at heart..

I got my work visa today!! It's feeling officially official! 3 weeks till go time!

I am officially excited for Abu Dhabi! Met another co-worker today, as I mentioned, and she was rad! Was great to Steph again today too! I'm thinking it's gonna be GOOD times in the UAE :)

I have turned into a networking machine as of late. There are TONS of people moving to Abu Dhabi this summer and it looks like I'll have loads of people to hang with when I get there. I've also met Stephanie, a fellow co-worker, who will live in my building and today she and I are going to meet up with Bianca, who is also going to be teaching at our school, for lunch. Bianca is only in town for the day and she and I are going to be on the same flight to Abu Dhabi so I'm glad I get to meet her before hand :) I'm feeling good about the move and good about the fact that I will have a social network when I get there. That's key when you move alone to a new place!

Good morning news

My new employer houses the teachers in 3 different buildings. They are spread out and there was only one building I really wanted to live in. For a few reasons:

1. The girls I've been in contact with (and one I've met) live in that building.

2. It's close to the water and in the best location.

3. It's the nicest and the units are beautiful.

4. My new partner teacher has a car and she will drive me to work everyday.

Anyway here are a few shots of what it will look like (although I'll be in a different unit the layout is apparently the same).



I requested to be placed in that building and was told it wasn't going to be a problem but today I found out my unit number so it is official I will be living there woohoo!! It is a huge change from my Korean apartment. I'll have 2 full bathrooms and 1 1/2 bath, 2 bedrooms, a nanny room (which I hear is too small for a beds so it will be used for storage), a closed kitchen, dining room, living room, laundry room...I'm not sure I'll ever want to leave :) Oh and of course it's paid for!

I also got a call from Samaa this morning which was a lovely way to start my day and I'll be meeting a fellow new teacher tomorrow who will be in Ottawa to get her degrees stamped and stuff (we're also both on the same flight to Abu Dhabi so that will be nice too).

Today I'm hanging with Andree which will be nice. I'm more than half way through my detox which ends on Friday (followed by me eating my weight in peanut butter cups!) haha. Have a great Sunday!

BBQ

So my mom thought today would be a good day to have a bbq with all of my dad's family members (we haven't been in the same room together since I was like in high school or something). Yeah good thinking moms considering she and I are both in this detox together and I can't really eat anything or have any cocktails. Perhaps she has some masochist in her like I do..starting to seem like anyway.

Oh the things I buy haha

I had this HUGE container of clothes under my bed that I had to sort through today - I totally forgot about this shirt I got in Bangkok..wonder if I can get away with wearing this in the Middle East :)

Never again

So I'm into day 5 of 12 of my detox and I feel like drowning myself in a vat of melted chocolate. I feel like CRAP. I don't know how some people can do a detox twice a year - seriously not fun. I will stick it out but I will NEVER EVER do this to myself again.

OLD school

While I've been sorting through everything I own I came across some old pics (some older than others). So here are 2 I thought I'd share - the one when my hair is RED is from grade 10 with my best friend (at the time) Kevin, who moved away out west that very day. We've since found each other again thanks to the magic of Facebook. The other is of myself and pretty much the best darn bf I have ever had, Sean. This pic was taken at Disney in California back in 2003. That is 4 years after we broke up. We still talk - he's rad. It just hit me that I'm moving in like 3 weeks!!!

I have to miss this awesomeness!!

I stole this pic from Cam's website -



Seriously there was nothing worse then taking out a couple of hundred bucks in Seoul and getting it all in 10s (or 10,000 won). Now that I've left they've introduced the 50! (even a 20 would have been great) I'm honestly looking forward to my winter trip to Seoul so I can spend some! :)

Almost time to move outta this blog..

Today I met up with a gal named Stephanie, who will be working with me in Abu Dhabi, for some coffee. She was great and answered all of my questions about the school and the city. We hit it off and I think she'll be one I'll hang with when I move for sure. She's home in Ottawa for the summer and I was glad we were able to meet and chat - she asked me if I wanted to hang again before we both went to Abu Dhabi - which is great cause I have more questions I forgot to ask her :) Speaking of moving and Abu Dhabi - it's almost time for me to say goodbye to this blog. I didn't have loads of pics or exciting things like my Seoul blog had on this one - but it was a great place for me to vent while I made my way through school. I am starting to get really busy so I'm not sure how much time I'll have to blog here - but I will try and put a few updates before I go. I'll probably make the switch over to my new space around the 10th of August or so.

So here it is what do you think? Does it have a desert feel? :)

Harry Potter

I think I've read this series in it's entirety like 10 times (I can't bring all my beloved books to the UAE but I will bring Harry!). I LOVE the Harry Potter books. I've seen all the movies and tonight Jen and Dave and I went to see The Half Blood Prince. I'd be curious to know if the writer of the screen play actually read the book?? The best parts of the book were left out, there were added scenes that were pointless and not part of the book, it was choppy and key things were left out...grrr

I think J.K. should be writing the screen plays and not be letting other writers butcher her stories!

I also made it through day 1 of my detox. I had fruit salad, a hard boiled egg, rice cakes with almond butter, and a tomato - plus all the pills and liquid stuff I had to take. Tomorrow I'm going to cook up some chickpea curry and make some soup..I think I have a longggg 12 days ahead.

Night Night.

Any veggies out there?

My moms and I are doing a 12 day detox together that starts tomorrow - I have a few reasons for doing this but overall health being the first reason. So I am in the process of collecting recipes - they can't use dairy, sugar, flour, vinegar, alcohol, meat (well we can have meat but we've chosen not to eat it) or any tropical fruits or fruits high in acid. Anyone have any good ones?? Thank goodness Indian food has lots of great veggie options - but I would love some variety. If you have any great recipes you could share that would rock!

Going to see the latest Harry Potter with Jenny B and Dave woohoo!!! I just re-read the entire series and am ready for the flick. Yes - I'm 33 and totally obsessed with Harry Potter..probably my most favourite series!

This week has been too much drama - I hate drama. I'm also tired of making efforts for people who don't reciprocate. I've learned that even though I may feel a certain way about someone or a situation - does not mean they look at things in the same light. So I have decided to focus all of my energies on my move - I have an overwhelming amount of things to do but I'm confident I will get it all sorted out.

Have a fun eve planned tonight and am looking forward to seeing some faces I haven't seen in a while. I hope you all have a splendid Saturday.