Winter Wonderland

I'm home and got spoiled again this year. I got to Timmins on Friday at about 8pm which was awesome because we did some good time with the driving. It took about 9hours in total but that was going to Quebec to pick up my unknown passenger (more on that in a second) and then stopping half way through for food.

So I was asked by a friend if I had room to bring in a passenger, a friend of hers from work. This guy apparently went to the same high school I did but he's 4 yrs older. He was very chatty and sure told me a lot about what's going on in his life (long complicated story but in short he's divorced with 2 kids). We talked about a lot of things and did the whole "do you know so-and-so" and tried to find out if somehow we knew the same people. I could tell from his size that he works out. He told me he used to be overweight and he likes to work out. Fair deal. Then, we stop at Wendy's in North Bay and decide to sit to eat. Well good god this man had the biggest effin arms I've ever seen in my life!! I kid you not ladies....it was so much muscle that it was on the verge of being too much. Crazy. I felt so safe in this little Wendy's restaurant eating my Jr. Bacon Burger it was nutso. No one would be crazy enough to mess with either one of us because he'd just have to stand up and that was enough for someone to crap themselfs. Okay....enough about that.

So I get home at 8pm on friday and called two of the gals, Angele and Genevieve. We decide it's time to go out. I was home no less than an hour and a half and I was sitting my ass in the bar having a rye & coke. Oh yum how I missed that taste. I saw a TONNE of people I hadn't seen in years. The one guy, Phil, couldn't believe how "grown up" we were and just kept saying "Oh my god you girls are women now.....this is insane". haha Too funny! At one point, my friend Rene - who just recently because a cop, was scanning the bar for someone they were looking for. All of a sudden the women were starring and I heard one girl say "woa....look at him, I wouldn't kick him out of bed". I turned around and saw Rene. So I got up and tapped his shoulder. He turned around and gave me a huge hug. It was kinda funny because the girl knew I heard her. Then he came to the table and all of a sudden there's 6 cops at our table. The one asked if I was causing trouble, and because the rye was kicking in I put my wrists together and said "what are you gonna cuff me?!". Well, he decided to be a smartass and take out the cuffs. EVERYONE was starring. I was so embarrassed! They left right after and the night went on. It was so much fun and the night just flew by. Gen and I ended up going for some Chinese food with Raina's brother Mikey. He's such a great guy and we laughed so much our cheeks hurt. The funny part about it all is that Mikey and I used to hate each other. I don't know why, what happened or how it started. But we didn't like each other and tolorated one another just because all of our friends hung out together. The one day I got pissed off at him and ripped a handful of hair out of his head. We still joke about it to this day. All that matters is now we get along.

Saturday rolls around and I get up at 8am after only 4 hours of sleep. I'm ready to go again. This is a normal routine while I'm home in Timmins. I shower and meet up with my Mom and her friend Shelly for coffee. It's become a tradion when I'm in town that we do this. They go to the gym, I sleep in the extra hour and drag my ass out of bed to meet up with them. Then usually Mom and I go shopping. We didn't this time but we made up for it on boxing day! We go to my grandparents for supper and then my family went to church. I didn't go this year because my back is messed up and there's no way I could sit on a wooden bench for over an hour. Instead, I take a nap for about 20min because I know what's to come...another long night. Christmas Eve it's a tradition with the french. Party all night and at midnight, after everyone goes around saying Merry Christmas a full meal comes out. And when I say a full meal I'm talking everything. Turkey, ham, cabbage rolls, salads, mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies, desserts, etc. This is only taken out after midnight. Oh yes people, it's an eating marathon. I had lost a few pounds before coming home and I guarantee they'll be right back with me when I return to Ottawa. It's the only time I usually see my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins & my cousins kids. The usual head count is over 60 and I'm sure there was close to that this year. This year was a little different because it's the first year it was at my aunts. My grandmother, sick or not, did this every year. They could never afford much but this was her one gift to everyone every year. This was the first Christmas that my Paternal Grandparents were not there. My grandfather passed away 3 1/2 yrs ago and my Grandmother passed away November 5th of this year. It was different but we all showed up because it's what they loved to see. The entire family getting together, having some food and drinks and doing some catching up.

The following night, Christmas Day, supper is always at our place: more food. I spent the afternoon at my Aunts to try and figure out my MP3 Player and get some songs downloaded. It's been figured out and I now have songs on it! WOOHOO. This means I get to have some new music to listen to in the car. My mom bought a wireless adapter which picks up a radio signal and plays my MP3's in my car. Gotta love that! After supper I help clean up and I head to a friend of the family for another party. This time I'm drinking "girly drinks" and they are soo yummy. It's similiar to the famous slush I rant about but minus the slush. Yep, I was starting to feel it. I had so much fun at this party. They are the most musically talented family I have ever seen. The owners of the house made up some books of Christmas music both in french & english. Rick, who is unbelievable on the piano played the entire night. We just had to yell out a Number from the book and he'd play the entire song, nothing in front of him. He has it all stored in his "filing cabinet". There was 67 songs in that book and he knows every single one of them on the piano. When we weren't singing we were having fun. Of course, more food and drinks. I'm telling you it's like a marathon!

So, that's my Christmas so far. I haven't stopped really and today is the first day I have some down time. I started reading my book "A Million Little Pieces - James Frey". This book is unbelievable. Here's what reads on the back:

"At the age of 23, james Frey woke up on a plane to find his found front teeth knocked out, his nose broken, and a hole through his cheek. He had no idea where the plane was headed nor any recollection of the past two weeks. An alcoholic for ten years and a crack addict for three, he checked into a treatment facility shortly after landing. There he was told he could either stop using or die before he reached age 24. This is Frey's acclaimed account of his six weeks in rehab."

It's not like most books where things are smoothed over. He tells exactly how he felt and what he was going through. Some of it makes me sick to my stomach, some of it makes me want to cy and some of it makes me want to meet this guy. This is probably one of the bravest people to overcome the lowest of the low. He's brave to the point that when they tell him he needs to get his teeth fixed he does so. The catch is he can not be giving any drugs or painkillers what-so-ever because he is in a treatment facility. He has two root canals, a cavity filled and new teeth put in without any meds. All he had was two tennis balls to squeeze and was strapped down. If that were me I would have said I'd be fine without. He does it, and survives. Does this really happen?! Oh yeah, and he had to have his nose re-broken and placed under the same conditions. Talk about paying for being an addict. Suffering, hurting and hating.....all things he made his loved ones feel. It's a great book and page 79 made me cry. I'm only at page 99 but I want to read more. This is one of those book you can't put down. I want to know what happens next and what his next craving brings on. I'll be done this book in no time thats for sure. And I'll probably read it again, it's that good.

So, that's that. I'm contemplating reading more or taking a shower. I think I'll take the shower and then do something with myself today. I'm only here until Friday so I have to get as much done as I can in little time. I think I may call Raina and go visit her. Big decisions I tell ya. Wait till I have to decide what I'm going to do on New Years Eve! No plans yet but I do know I'll be back in Ottawa. I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and you got all the presents you wanted!!