I am sooooo not showing off!

Well, ok, maybe a bit.... In reponse to Môôôssieu Carlôôô's remark, it isn't my fault his posting abilities are the crapzors when he's at work. I say get a big baseball bat, perfrom a bit of smash and bash, and ta-da! You'll have to get whatever is faulty repaired and then you'll be in blog heaven.

Need ot get to work now, I have some prep for tomorrow's first day.

La belle capitale

Oh how we walked and climbed and traversed the wonderful city of Québec, guided by its honorary citizen/fan, Ali, who exuded so much gidyness and energy, it made my own bubbly nature pale in comaprison. I once, too, could walk for hours and hours, but the hills and stairs of hell did quite the number on my calves and ankles (curse you, new shoes!), so its was pretty clear that I am still out of shape.


When we weren't walking, we were either drinking, eating, taking it easy or any combination of the three. And every so often, Môôôssieu Carlôôôô would begin teasing his beloved Ali, turning our moment of relaxation into some kind of mini-wrestling match between the two lovebirds.



We stayed at A la petite Marguerite B&B, recommended by another B&B we went to last year. The owners were very friendly and practically offered their shirt off theirs backs if we needed it. Saturday night, instead of going back into town for dinner, we stayed at the B&B and had some chicken and salads with some wine, and sat by the fire in their backyard. That's chillin', despite the obvious play on words...




It was a perfect weekend, apart from the rain this morning, or as Ali put it "The sky is sad that we are leaving..."

Work, work, work...

It's Sunday and I've got a lot to do: just came back from Québec (pics soon) and reality kinda shoved me back into the ol' regular routine...

Thursday and Friday at school weren't as chaotic as I thought, although for a few teachers thigns could be much better. Both Meryl and Kirsti's rooms aren't set up yet and one of the new profs on the block, Ian, has to find desks for an expected 40 kids. Insanity, I tell you, insanity.
At least we had a great breakfast on Thursday morning...we needed the energy for our 3 hour meeting! Meryl and I had plenty of time to exchange notes about this year's graduation, social committe and staff council, the last two items being on her never-ending to-do list (todo of doom!)

The inevitable beginning...

I woke up this morning feeling like I should sleep for another 4 hours... another school year is about to start with not so much of a bang, but more like sparks and tremors. It'll be a good year, honestly, if we can get these contratct negotiations and strike threats out of the way.

Monday morning musings...

Yes I know, after 12pm is not quite morning, but I slept in...sue me! My husband is back from his weekend with da boys and my vacation time is ticking down like some time bomb, so sue me if I want to sleep in one last time.

It unnerves me to read and hear about potential strike days at the beginning of the school year... like back-to-school isn't hectic enough (Yes, let's cram in a year's worth of prep, 6 hours worth of meetings and setting up my classroom into 3 days...I love the insanity) And of course, the potential loss of income is making many teachers nervous, like my friend Miss Maggie who says she'll send her grocery bill for peanut butter and bread to the union. Peanut butter? You know, if they're going to pay for my food, it better be lobster because this strike better be worth it!

Guilty little pleasure

I think I have said it before that I am not a big fan of reality tv... too contrived, too dramatic, too bitchy, too blargy. Never got into Survivor, not even Amercian/Canadian Idol or The Amazing Race (although many of my colleagues at work swear it's the best reality tv show out there). However, I would be outright lying if I said I never ever watched such a show.

I actually have watched 2 of them.

*gasp*

The first was broadcast on Space (Sci-Fi I think in the States) and it was called Mad Mad House. The premise was freakishly weird enough to hook me: a bunch of tight-ass conversative prudes get to live with a bunch of alternative-lifestyle freaks (a witch, a voodoo sorceress, a naturopath, a wannabe-vampire & a piercing adept). That show was a hoot and a half because the ones who were the actual freaks were the conservative sissies. Quite funny...

The second is one that's playing right now on CTV/Fox and it's So you think you can dance. No singing, no bitching, no backstabbing, just dancing. Ok so there was a bit of drama during the prelims but that was maybe 5 minutes of it. The host looks like her jaw has been wired by Gepetto, but it doesn't get in the way of the contestants' performances. I love dancing and if I can get off my fat tush, I'd dance more. So as cheesy as it may sound, watching the dancers move makes me want to move too.

So, it's my guilty little pleasure for the summer.

A weekend of weddings

It would seem that last weekend was filled with weddings... Môôôsieu Carlôôô had his brother's wedding (Poor Danny!) and my sister (the gal pointing at the cake) attended her best firend's wedding (Cindy, seen here quasi-licking her own wedding cake). Usually, I am the only one privy to my sister's wild and wacky behavior (and yes, she can be wackier than me). But when she is around Cindy, it's as if Cindy has been part of the Alarie sorority since it's inception and Erika's nutiness comes right out, unabashed, making me look like the odd chick out. Cindy and Erika could probably marry themselves if it weren't for a) my mom's strong greek background b) the fact my sis is already married c) the incessant giggling and laughing that would occur everytime they'd start cuddling or necking...yeeeeessshh.

*sigh* My sis is leaving, unfortunately, and I need more of that silliness before she leaves. She leaves tomorrow, and I am sad. *sigh* But no mushy-mushy business from me. I can call her in Greece and make fun of her getting old and now needing glasses. Ha!

Bottom of the list

Just in case any of you read these lists, my school, Beurling Academy, is NOT on them. This list reflects the year 2002-03, the last year of Riverside Park Academy's existence. Next year, we will be able to see how Beurling Academy faired for 2003-2004.

I can smell it...

...no, I am not talking about my niece's dirty diapers, I'm talking about back to school. You'd have to be quite blind and deaf to not notice the massive advertising campaign. So, yeah, it's a bit depressing when I get this slap in the face "Hey, yer going back to work!". Bleh...

On a cheery note, I'm babysitting my niece today. Took longer to put her to sleep for her afternoon nap. Just when I was about to put her to bed, she notices the Neon Genesis Evagelion poster I have in the basement and suddenly she is wide awake! I'm tellin' ya, she likes Buffy and anime? She's making her aunt and uncle very very proud indeed!

So Môôôssieu Carlôô, I have busy entertaining my niece, that's why I haven't updated lately.

And she's a year old, for those wondering.

Le Maxime

As I am waiting for food, I decided to mention a great little restaurant we visited a couple of weeks ago, Le Maxime, located in Hudson (Quebec).

Thanks to my hubby, I have become a wee bit more critical about the places that have the nerve to claim they serve french cuisine only to have italian dishes on the menu. Not that I can point out their culinary flaws or faux-pas, but I can generally notice the establishments that my better half (and his buddies) call shpec: flashy/snobby decor, no substance.

Le Maxime is NOT shpec.

Le Maxime is a great place to enjoy really, really well prepared dishes. My father in law had a flank steak that welted in your mouth, my mom in law had a heaping plateful of huge scallops perfectly cooked (btw, both dishes totally impressed my cheri, who had a great piece of swordfish) and I had duck confit. They were all great dishes and, what can I say, I felt it had to be mentioned since it takes a lot to impress Meestair Noohton when it comes to restaurants.