It is now mid January, 2009, and Ottawa is in the midst of a deep cold snap. Today and yesterday, the temperatures have hovered around -25, with wind chills in the -30's. Really, after it gets below -15, I just don't care anymore - it is just too damn cold!
I went back to the London for one final week in early December. I only had planned two nights out, but it turned into every, single night out. Yes, it took that long to say goodbye to people, and after all of it, there were still people I missed saying farewell too.
I'll miss - in no order:
Catherine
Jean
Anouska
Carol
Julia
Cath S.
Stephanie
Barbora
Neil
Andi
Richard
Paul
Ken
Lisa
Jan
Mike
Ruth
Carlos
...
I'm sure I've missed a few names off this list.
So when I came back home to Ottawa, I had a few days work to complete for a mini project, then went on vacation until the end of the year. We drove down to Troy, Michigan, to visit my family, just after XMas. It was the first time I had seen them in 4 - 5 years! How did I let that happen? My niece & nephew are so grown up now (being 8 & 5, after all!), and my mom getting along rather well after her hip surgery. I met the famous Miss Kitty, the little cat my mom rescued from Florida a few years back, and got reacquainted with Maisie, the border collie. I visited the mana of mana's for me - DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse for those who don't know). I ate. And ate some more, and am now regretting it, as I feel like a balloon!
My new project in Ottawa keeps having a delayed start, as the powers that be finalise the contract, but will start up in a couple of weeks for sure. So I continue to stay warm, at home, and dream about my future and about the times I had in London.
