Happy Holidays

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas (or whatever your holiday of choice is) and a Happy New Year. All the best for the coming year.

I'm here in Calgary celebrating with family and having a nice, low-key Christmas. We went to a candle-light service at the United Church last night which was lovely. Brooke and I both commented that we actually miss the Maymont church where we were forced to attend services when visiting family in Saskatchewan. It's a tiny little wooden church that maybe holds 100 people but it has that feeling that churches should have. I guess life in a small town is beneficial in some ways.

Movin' on up

I can't believe that Christmas is on Sunday! How did the month pass so quickly and why aren't I finished shopping yet? I think this is unprecedented - I usually have all gifts bought and ready to go by the end of November but then again, my year has been slightly different than years past. One thing I am really looking forward to is getting home to Calgary and seeing all of my friends and family. A. is also coming out for a week to visit so that will be fun as well.

I just got back after spending a lovely four days in Kingston with A. I was afraid I was going to get stuck in Toronto on Thursday night because a huge snow storm moved in and they were cancelling most regional flights. Thankfully, after an hour delay we were off the runway and landed in Kingston with no problems. We didn't do a whole lot on the weekend but I had a great time. We even played Trivial Pursuit with his parents where I kicked some ass. I feel a rematch coming on in Calgary...

My month unemployed in Vancouver has been pretty uneventful. Mostly I've stuck close to home and done a lot of relaxing (aka. being lazy.) I did however, go to an interview for a higher position in my department at the library and was offered it the next day so when I go back in January I will now be a supervisor. That's a little scary but I'm sure after an adjustment period I'll be okay. I also like that now my title is actually Library Technician and not just Library Assistant. Woohoo, moving up in the world.

I do have a question for the few people that read this blog - what kind of gift can you get for a younger sister who will shortly be moving into her own apartment? I need something cool but small enough to lug onto the plane (and doesn't necessarily have to be home related.) Usually I don't have any problems buying Brooke a gift but this year I am completely stuck.

Book Aid

Librarian.net posted about the Camel Mobile Library Service the other day, and through that posting I discovered a very cool organization called Book Aid International which provides books and journals to various institutions in countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Palestine. They aren't accepting used books at the moment but there are several other ways to show your support. If you are looking for a Christmas gift for a book lover who seems to have everything, I think this is a fabulous idea.

Motivation?! What's that?

After six months I have finally returned home - though if it's permanent I'm not so sure. The trip home was actually pretty good and I got to spend two fantastic days in Dubai and Amsterdam. I would have liked more time to do some shopping but unfortunately, with delayed flights and long taxi rides, the days were cut short.

It's taken me a while to write this post because I've found that since returning home I have very little to say and even less motivation to actually sit down and write it. Even though I was very eager to return home, and I am glad to be back in Vancouver, sometimes I find myself getting very antsy and wishing I was overseas again.

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The situation in Afghanistan seems to be degenerating and another Canadian soldier was injured in a suicide attack.