Greetings from Winnipeg

We're having fun here in the rain and mosquitos (who are as thick as the rain). (I'm actually missing the blazing heat I left behind, just a little.)
We attended a wonderful wedding on Saturday. Everything was perfect and beautiful - the sun was out, a slight breeze kept us from overheating, and the bride was radiant in her dress accented with orange. I can't speak highly enough of the event. Our blessings once again to the newlyweds (who should be heading out on their honeymoon cruise right about now - lucky them).

Have been visiting with family and friends and enjoying our time here. But I've also been squeezing in work. All play and no work would be boring, right? (Humour me here!)
I miss Jenny and Gryphon, who are in good hands at Monica's home. I hope I get them back!! ;) They were quite happy when we left them - after fighting the journey across the townhouse village. Robin has the scars to prove it. I don't suppose they'll be very happy when we transort them to the new house either and they'll be much less happy to stay there at first. Merlin, my black cat here in Winnipeg, is "talking" as usual and reminding me of Gryphon. I look forward to being back home.

There's one more new piece of information to share, but I'd rather show you. So I'll wait until I get home and upload photos.

Speaking of home, we have taken possession of our new home. So we're living out of two right now. We'll be sending notification to everyone of our new address and phone number once we've settled. We can be reached at the townhouse until the end of July, and that's where our phone service is until we can get a tech to come in to the new place (they're on strike, so the wait is long). We'll be cleaning and painting before we continue moving, although we've already transfered a couple van-loads of boxes.

TTFN,
Mandy Moon

Sun isn't all it's cracked up to be!

I know some of you have expressed jealousy over the sun I was enjoying... but trust me, you do NOT want this weather! Inside my house it is over 30. It's over 30 outside too of course, with a humidex of something ridiculous like 39. It's brutal! Everything is hot and sticky in the worst possible way. The UV warning is at 9 - which is "very high" not moderate, not high, VERY HIGH! So I'm not going out for any tan, even though the air moves a little more outside than in. At least inside I have shade. Because of course our new townhouses have absolutely no shade, no grown trees, etc.
We took a couple days break from the heat to visit my grandparents in St. Catharines (they have AC) and cool off by Niagara Falls. We spent a night in the casino hotel on the 27th floor overlooking the Falls. It was an incredible sight! (Hotel was also AC'd of course, and had a pool). Oh how I wish I was back there.

Robin and I will be moving our futon to the new house on June 23 when we get possession, just so that we can sleep that night in our air conditioned home! It's seems forever away, but it's less than 2 weeks now! YAY! And of course as soon as we return from Winnipeg we will move everything to the new house immediately - at least everything we need to live. We can slowly bring the rest of our stuff later as we unpack.
The poor cats suffer the worst; they had to stay here during our Niagara trip and they'll be stuck in a townhouse (with friends here) while we are in Winnipeg. They're trying their hardest now to beat the heat. They don't even want to go outside. They think they do because from the doorway they can feel the air, but once you step outside you enter the sun! I know exactly how thy feel. The outside has tempted me a few times, I figure it MUST be cooler than in here... but alas, it is not. Not until late in the evening.

The pathetic thing is that this is all I have to write about! It's just too hot to do anything. Yesterday we were invited over to Monica's for dinner, and played cards outside in the cooler air as the sun set. (A June bug landed in my hair and got caught in the braid that was keeping my hair off my back! Eww)
Oh how I wish I had a job that required me to sit in air conditioning (like Robin). I even bike into school (into my little brick cell) just for some AC, but the ride itself is almost unbearable and my bike sounds like it will fall out from under me any moment.

So, enjoy whatever cool weather you have!

Upcoming Events

As you can imagine, we have been very busy since signing our house agreement. But everything is pretty much settled in that area for now. There is still much to keep busy with though! I have 2 research jobs this summer which require many hours of staring at a computer - and just when I thought I was done for the term! (The university doesn't pay me over the summer, so I needed additional income.) I also have an "Advanced Reading course on the Sociology of Religion" this summer, which is great, but inevitable requires a lot of reading. On the plus side, the books that I have to read are all drawn from my comprehensive exams reading list - so I'm really just getting a head start on my reading for next term. I'm hoping this means things will feel a little lighter in the fall. And of course I have to prepare my research and grant proposals and applications. Sigh... it never ends. no, really, never.
Speaking of light - wow, have we ever had a long string of beautiful days! I'm getting a half-decent tan reading outside. Unfortunately, Robin works during most of these sunny days. And we don't have AC in these oven;-like townhouses. (But our new house does!)
Travel Plans:
I just returned from a 3 day trip to London for the Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities. (That's London, Ontario)
There are a three trips upcoming. First, we're going to St. Catharines and Niagara Falls for a couple days to visit family. We'll also be staying in the fabulous casino hotel overlooking the falls for one night!
Second, we'll be flying home to Winnipeg the day after we move into the new house. 10 days of running around trying to see as many people as possible... :)
Third, I'll be flying to Bielefeld, Germany at the end of July for a 2 week workshop on research methods. Unfortunately Robin has to stay home so I can afford to go. :( We'll travel to Europe together one day...

Blessings, Mandy Moon