Become a Regular

I love being a Regular in a place. It feels nice to walk in and have everyone know your name. OK maybe knowing one's name is overrated, but a nice smile is good (and knowing your order before you can say it!!!) is even better!

In thinking back I guess I was already a Regular here at Trivia. It is great to converse with H and have some nice witty banter. B is always fun as well, and can always be counted on to get us giggling! It really adds to a great evening.

And I discovered last night ... or rather early this morning ... that I am a Regular at another establishment ... Jack's Pizza!!! If it is wrong to have the man know to have your Veggie Pizza with a tin foil covering on it ready to go by the time you get to the front of the line, well then, I don't want to be right!! So sweet last night to cap the night off with an awesome slice of Jack's, and the touching gesture that someone remembers your order!!

(Or maybe I just have had too many slices there!!)

Win again at Trivia

I really love Thursday nights.  So much fun to play some trivia with Team One is the Loneliest Number.

We have had some great times, and amassed more money in Capital gift cards than we can probably ever go through (but we will try!)  I don't think I have paid for a drink with my own money since Feb of last year!

With the exception of one (maybe two??) nights we have not placed in the money.  I shouldn't strike this item from the Bucket List too soon, as I do hope to continue the trend!

But since there was only one Trivia night that fell on Halloween, I can take "Dress Up and Play Trivia" off the Bucket List!

Visit Magnetic Hill

Since I stopped to see the Rocks on the way to Hali, I thought I had better see something interesting on the way back.

Passing through Moncton I have often seen the sign for Magnetic Hill.  We have one near my family in the Ottawa Valley, so I was curious to see what this one was like.  I seem to luck out with so many of the sites out here as they are often closed for the season - which means there are no crowds, and they are free.

Magnetic Hill was well worth the stop!!  I am sure the hill did not have the power to pull my car up the hill (optical illusion perhaps?!?) but it did make me giggle.  An actual out-loud giggle to myself.

Don't need to return to the water park when the season is back on (well unless someone wants to go with me - going alone to Magnetic Hill was one thing, but not sure I want a full day at the park by myself!) 

See Hopewell Rocks

En route to Halifax a couple weeks ago I decided to make a small detour (small ... well a couple hour detour) to see the Hopewell Rocks.  I have always wanted to see the large tidal change, and this seemed like the best time to do it!!

It was very cool.  I showed up just after the park officially closed, but a lady at the front said I could go in for free - but just be warned it was closed.  I ran like someone out of a scary movie through the woods only to reach the Flower Pot area to be surrounded by people.  It was so peaceful and you could certainly see the tidal change.  A very beautiful sight.

I had been texting with a friend and he laughed when I said I stopped my drive to watch the tide come in.  I should have laughed back ... it isn't often enough that we take the time to stop and watch nature.

 

Great minds think alike

Although "show up to a concert dressed as your friend" was not on the original list, I would hereby like to add it.

Awesome Joel Paskett show standing in the horse manure at the FrEx.

Even better ... having Joel Paskett purposely "photo bomb" you at the end!!!

Harvest Jazz and Blues 2013

I really love this festival. A great opportunity to see some awesome music. Last year I was lucky enough to have the whole family come visit for the music, and this year I was lucky to host Ann. 

I think the stand out show for me was Michael Franti (though I wanted to hate it with everyone hyping him up so much before)  Good dancing, and great times with my mom!

The Roller Derby

You know what ... I have the sneaking suspicion that the Roller Derby in Fredericton might just be my personal version of Poke-a-roo.  I cannot seen to actually go see a match.

So to my delight and surprise, I got to see some practice activities at this year's Harvest.  In the off chance/the most likely chance that I will not get to see them .... roll, I am counting this one off the list!  Close enough ...

Buy a broach at the Sunday Market

Before leaving Freddy last year I went to the Sunday Market with the Sweet One to finally get a broach.  There were quite a few vendors selling some pretty "interesting" things.

I finally settled on a small $2 gem.  I have worn it out in public.  In fact my cousin this summer commented on it.  (More so for the fact that it still has its masking tape price on it!)  But like a comment is a comment!

Time to take this item off the list!!

Go fishing on the Miramichi

I love to fish and I keep hearing about this great fishing area in the place to which all roads lead ... the Miramichi! I haven't fished fly since I was a wee little girl so I am not sure I could even tackle this challenge.

So after two fishing seasons here in New Brunswick ... I am happy to say that I have gone "fishing".

So it wasn't in the Miramich (but close enough ... northern New Brunswick ... at least the same province and we had to drive through the Miramichi to get there!)

And I am not sure what I was doing even counts as fishing. But I got to hold the rod and Big J was Sweet enough to teach me how to cast again. I am happy to announce I did catch some things ... the one and only tree in the area, the shoreline, and thankfully not any of the Sweet ones.

I am quite comfortable taking this one off the list!!!

Try a new craft

Yesterday (my first free day in weeks) I was so was lucky to have learned the Mi`kmaq tradition of quill decoration.  I have treasured my quill baskets from Saskatchewan, and was so excited to learn a new craft.

It as a wonderful experience to have been taught by the artist Tara.  Such a cozy and relaxing afternoon spent at her studio.

The quill art was super addictive. It was such a neat process, and a great chance to be creative medium.

Only problem is that it is hard to call up Mary Maxim for the supplies!  I will now be hunting roadkill for my quills!!!

(Mine is the heart ... not the beautiful butterfly!!)

I`mmmmm baaaacccck

Entering round three of fun here in Freddy.  Another year means another set of additions to the Bucket List!!

Here are some new ones:

Digby Scallops in Digby
Treezone
Harvest Jazz
Pond Hockey
Visit Three New Places
Go to Reopened Restos
Win at Trivia
Go to a NB Museum

Sell all of your worldly possessions ...

OK this is a total exaggeration as I have a couple boxes left. But there was actually quite a thrill in the freedom of selling a ton of stuff that you used to possess. I am in the process of moving back to away (heart is breaking as I write this) and I didn't want to bring back all/any of my furniture (it was fine to bring when I had a moving allowance to come here ... but not to move back)

So I discovered (many years too late!!) the best site .... KIJIJI! As a lady from away we used to do a lot of transactions?!? over Craigslist. But this beast is awesome. I cannot upload things fast enough before people come to buy them. (And I always meet people at my front door especially for small items after poor Tim)

If people don't show up, I sell their items to the next person who does. I run a first come first served auction house. You said you would email me back, but you didn't - gone to the next person. Shoe rack - gone in 1 minute (were they waiting all day for a shoe rack to come up!?). One family came in and bought just about everything I was selling. And paid me for it too!!!! (Mind you most things are being sold for ca. $5 hence the feeding frenzy!)

I still need to sell my kitchen "grab all" (aka all my odds and ends - most never used!) I was given quite a few compliments for my "staging" photos - maybe I have a career here if teaching doesn't pan out.

So as I sit on the floor sans tables and think of the stuff I used to have ... there is something freeing about this crazy situation I am in. New beginnings have to happen as my old ones just left with the last customer!!

Be featured in the local newspaper

You know what you really want when you escape outside for a couple moments of sunshine .... to be captured for prosperity by the local paparazzi.

Even better:
- you look like a crazy cat lady who ties up her cat on a leash
- you are reading a Chuck Palahniuk book called "Snuff" about porn (hell, any Chuck book would qualify as "interesting" reading!)
- you are wearing all back so that you blend into the shadows and look deformed
- you pose like .... that!!! Why am I all hunched over?!?  I read enough celebrity magazines that I should know a thing or two!
- be given the title "Just Me and My Cat" so that the aforementioned first comment rings even more true!

But you know what ....

I will admit that I got quite the kick out of being included in the Gleaner!!  It was awesome - like having my name in a song.  I actually got recognized this morning which made me laugh!  And Kaiser is loving his new fame!

Spot a moose

I didn't want to officially add this to the Bucket List, as I am finding out that it can be rather difficult to actually see one in nature.  I have seen one whilst camping in Ontario, but with all these fences and warning signs in New Brunswick, I thought for sure I would have seen one by now.  (And I am totally OK if they stay on their side of the fence and I can drive on in safety)

So much to my surprise when I was driving on Sunday and I finally got to see a moose.

It is so strange that moose in this province look nothing like the imposing beast that is featured on all the warning signs!!

So unless I get to see one in the next couple weeks, I will have to rely on this strange moosedeer hybrid I found, or better yet ....

Have Supper with two lovely ladies whose combined age is 183.

I was taken in as an Easter refugee by Egor and her family.  How nice!  We had a fantastic Easter supper with two very entertaining ladies - and most spry at the ages of 91 and 92.   I was promised fantastic and "interesting" conversation, and I did not leave disappointed!!

It was so nice to be included in such a lovely Easter dinner!!

Many thanks!

Go to three more new places - two down

It is always a pleasure to have access to a car. I love to drive, and since I don't have much opportunity to get in a car and go, I love it when I can.  I decided to keep the car on this week, so that I could explore a little more.  I was happy that E and I were able to make a fun day trip to St.Andrew's by the Sea.

Located almost as far south-west in the province as you can go (well ... I guess St. Stephen and the Ganong factory would be further!)  After getting misdirected and driving aimlessly around Mactaquac, Lincoln and Fredericton, we were on our way to St.Andrews.

A quaint and pretty little town by the sea. Another couple weeks and everything will be officially open - but for now it was a great visit. 

I would love to go back for some whale watching (though E said it was more like whale hunting trying to chase them down.  We had a nice meal of mussels (sorry though NB, PEI took you on this round!!  So much tastier on the Island) and met a very very very very chatty older man who asked the most random questions.   It was entertaining for sure!  We sat out on one of the docks and looked over at Maine which was pretty cool.

When the tide was out we drove out over the bottom of the sea to Minister's Island (Foto below), and watched the men picking clams and dulce.  Luckily we made it back in time before the tide came in and we were stranded!

A very fun day and a fun drive!!  Watch out whales ... one day I might be back to come see you!

Go to three more new places - one down

When I was a young girl, the Megan Follows' film of Anne of Green Gables was all the rage.  I remember quite a few of us, including yours truly, were madly in love with Gilbert.

Also at the time it was common for girls to have themed birthday parties, and I remember attending many Anne of Green Gables events, costumes and all.  As the only red-haired girl with freckles in the class,  I was sort of a ringer for the look-alike contest part of the party.  I was saddened when these parties stopped as I find it rather difficult to get dressed up in braids now in hopes that someone will confuse me with Anne Shirley.

I was very excited to have gone to PEI last week.  Always amazing to visit another province (am now just missing Newfoundland and Labrador, NWT and the Yukon) and explore more of this awesome country!!   Mom and I headed out for the Big Annie and Little Annie tour of Green Gables (not Grey Gardens!)

What a beautiful part of the country!  We made it there before the big tourist season started - which made for a more quiet experience, but super relaxing as well!

Have a lobster supper....

I keep reading about these awesome church lobster suppers and those are the the places to be.  So I added it to this list not knowing what I really wanted.

What I wanted was a lobster supper(s) with K family in Bathurst.

As a lovely Ontario girl we were only ever allowed to have one lobster (which I must say we raced acrossed the floor .... right kind of wrong?!?)  In B we were allowed a 2nd beast which was amazing!!!!!  (and thank goodness we were not offered the eel we caught ... that may have been a friendship breaker .........)

Well if I could not have the church supper (I hear another another month or so),  thenl I was so happy the "Water Prince Corner Shop" was open for the season.(GO THERE!!!!!!!)

Ann and I had the best experience there - on the first day of lobster season.

A 2 lb bowl of mussels each

A 1.25 lb lobster

lots of amazing sides ...

COULD NOT RECOMMENDED THIS PLACE MORE 

Have a photo taken at the lobster in Shediac

Good golly ....

I have been waiting for this, and in the words of Sloan I was "underwhelmed".  I have no idea what I did expect, but I thought my Hummer would be even more spectacular!  OK - it was pretty awesome!!!  A great memory with my lovely mom! 

BTW Trivia Fans - This is the largest faux lobster in the world.  Or so the sign says!

Try Freddy Ethiopian Cuisine

Wow ...


I take back my last statement about not returning to the North Side Market.

I would for sure go back for some more of this amazing food!

I love Ethiopian food, and I will admit that I have missed it. Now I miss not trying it earlier!! With a nice spread of lentils, potatoes, green beans and injera, I am totally happy! A great amount of spice without being overpowering. Beautiful flavours.

I highly recommend this!