Check out The Balcon!

So excited to announce that my dear friend Emily's website of beautiful wedding dresses is finally up and running! Yay! And she even named one of the dresses Rachel. Check it out!

thebalcon.com

Oh and did I mention that she made my wedding dress and fabulous faux fur cloak?!

Sometimes running from the problem seems like the best option...

I have been following American politics on and off from abroad for the last 2 years. And I have to say that this op-ed in the NYT describes an example of the most infuriating aspects of 'politics' in the states. (And I must add, the most embarassing part of being an American living abroad.) i.e. people blatantly lying and saying stupid things based on these lies. C'mon people, stop - you're embarassing yourself and you're embarassing me!

Day in Banff

To celebrate Dave finishing his first unit (first of 7), we went to Banff for a night and day. Now, I'm pretty sure that I'll always be an east coast girl, but living less than an hour from this is pretty nice. More photos on facebook.

Happy birthday, Momma!

Mom turns 55 years young today! And it's world teacher appreciation day! How appropriate! How did we never know about this before? Maybe it's a sign, mom. Maybe it'll make you more excited about your job!....? Well I guess that's it for this...don't know what else to say...but I think you look very nice in this photo...

I will write more tomorrow about other exciting happenings of the day (and take some photos of where we live, Maryanne), but today is about mom!

Inane studies

And no, I'm not talking about getting a degree and then not being able to find a job...although that can definitely feel applicable at times

Ever wonder why some studies are even conducted? "Eating fast food positively linked to obesity!" No kidding! The latest, reported by the NYT, "At-home Moms Rate Themselves Higher Than Working Moms, Survey Finds". The 'rating' they're talking about is rating themselves on how good of a mother they are. I don't have kids, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but isn't it obvious that you're going to feel that you're being a better mother if you see your kids for more than 2 hours a day? I realize a lot of people probably feel this peaks after you spend a certain number of hours with your kids - i.e. after that, the more time you spend with your kids, the worse of a mother you become (haha). But seeing as only 13% of mothers think that them working full time is what's best for their kids (a breakthrough!), it seems there's somewhat of a concensus on the issue.

Another breakthrough: stay-at-home mothers tend to be younger than mothers who work. No kidding! Maybe that's because they stay at home when their kids are young (and they are young) and go back to work when their kids are a bit older (and they are a bit older).

Anyway, despite the inanity of the study, it's nice to see an article which (in my opinion) sheds at least somewhat of a positive light on staying at home with your kids (if you ignore the stay-at-home-moms-are-less-educated-than-moms-who-work bit, which I'm sure a lot of feminists take as if-you're-educated-you-would-never-waste-your-life-staying-at-home, although I think the real reason is that the type of job you'd have if you, say, had a university degree is much more flexible and understanding that the kind of job you might have if you're, say, a high school drop-out - not that the two are mutually exclusive!).

What breakthrough study do you have for us next, NYT?

Happy Fall Equinox!

Well fall has really arrived. The leaves here are quickly changing color...and all falling off. And it seems to be happening very quickly. We've had beautiful weather so far this month - much warmer than usual. This week it's supposed to get up to almost 90 again (31). Yay! But even though I'm sure it'll be getting cold soon enough, I've decided fall is pretty great. The leaves changing are beautiful, as are the cool days (especially when you live in a desert-y area like Calgary, so it's nearly always sunny) - and then at the end of it is my birthday, Dave's birthday, and Christmas! (not in that order). Plus, I might be able to get 2 thanksgivings this year - the benefit of being an American living in Canada. Though I must say, American Thanksgiving is far superior to Canadian. Sorry, Canada, it's true. That's what you get for putting it on a Monday.

I also have new things to look forward to. I'm starting a 4-week women's squash club at Mount Royal College/University(?) on Wednesday, which is also when I'll start driving to work. I'm also starting an interior design continuing ed class at UofC starting in October. yay!

Anyone else have anything new and/or exciting planned for the fall?

Free thought, anyone?

This week's quote of the week is brought to you by Shanneen Barron of Colorado, on hearing that Obama would be delivering a back-to-school speech to students: "Thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that just really upsets me. I'm an American. They are Americans, and I don't feel that's OK. I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now"
This quote is a real roller coaster of emotions for me.

First, there is laughter. What does that part in the middle about being American even mean? Am I the only one who thinks that's hilarious? Then there's confusion - wait, what is she actually trying to say by that? Then there's disbelief - did she say that she's *scared* to be in the US with Obama as president? Then there's irritation.

And finally there's depression. Are people in our country so scared of ideas that are different from their own that they would keep them from their children? If this were a question of showing something obscene or of questionable morality to elementary-age children, I could understand the uproar. But this is a speech from our president. Cause guess what - even if you didn't vote for him, he's still your president (same as when W was OUR president for 8 years - like it or not - and trust me, living abroad for 5 of those 8 years was a 'not like').

Now a lot of people would say that it goes both ways - that crazy liberals would have the same reaction if, for example, a similar speech by W had been broadcast on the first day of school last year, but I don't think so. What do you think? (see, cause I - whom many conservatives I'm sure would call a liberal socialist [I'm 1/2 Canadian - it's in my blood ha] am open to ideas other than my own)

1 month since we left Scotland

It's hard to believe, but one month and one day ago, Dave and I (with help from Dave's parents and Shalea - thank you!) were furiously cleaning every last surface of our house with a toothbrush...and many other implements. I've never seen a rental property so clean. And the next day (between 3 and 5 in the morning) we left.

Here we are walking up Arthur's Seat for the last time. And yes, Dave is wearing a kilt.

I will have to post more about all the fun we had cleaning and moving back across the pond. But it's late. So for now, goodnight.

Finally joined the blogging club...

So after months of deliberating over a name for my blog, and not coming up with anything better than this, I decided to finally take the plunge and committ to this blog name. So, welcome! Much to come about my new life in the west, my husband in medical school, and my first time working in Canada. :)