The Adventures of Mrs.Movie Snob

Somewhere under all the white stuff there is another world. A world with sidewalks, streets, grass and no need for layers. The sun shines. The birds chirp. And I can go walking without going numb from the waist down. I assume all this, of course. It's been so long since I've seen this world that I'm starting to doubt it's existence. Around Dec. 27th or so, the nostalgia of a White Christmas wore off. Now, it's just another snowy week...er, month...dammit, months!! I knew this Winter wouldn't be fun - being our first in Canada and all. The last time I dealt with it at this level, I was in High School. At that age, a little cold weather doesn't stop you from doing much. You're fearless. All I needed was a windbreaker and we were out the door. I guess I was just tougher then. More likely though, I just didn't know any better. Today I feel like a 70-year old woman walking around the house in a sweater clutching my Kleenex. I'm hopeful that this mean ...

Invented in America by Ruth Wakefield. You're welcome, Canada . Image via Wikipedia When I go to the salon to get my hair done (cut, color, style), I know that I am committing to at least a 3-hour errand. Yes, 3 hours of reading trashy magazines, silence, sipping coffee, shifting in an uncomfortable chair and being hungry. It's okay though. I always leave feeling like a million bucks. The sore bottom and hunger pangs will pass. There is a rare occasion, however, when you get a stylist that is a real person - someone who knows how to talk to you. They all try to make conversation. Pleasantries. That can get old quickly. It's forced. It's awkward. And honestly, I'd rather just be quiet than converse with someone who is just filling the air with sound. I met one of these exceptional hairdressers this week. Her name was Carrie, she was also new in town and she was fabulous! Like two old girlfriends, we talked about everything - weather, money, kids, marriage, pets.....

I can't believe we've only been here for 2 months. It definitely feels longer. This is usually around the time that I start to get really homesick - you're in a new place, it's not really new anymore and you don't re ally know anyone. Most of you know I've done this moving thing more than The ever-intimidating maple leaf. Image by Antony Pranata via Flickr a few times. So much, in fact, that I know those feelings will eventually pass - You wake up one day and you are home . The big difference with this move has been our friends. We had a clique waiting for us. Sure, some of them were merely acquaintances when we arrived but falling in love with us doesn't take long. lol These people have never let us sit home. We've been going, going, going. And that has been a welcome distraction from thinking about the fact that we are so far away from our families. Canadian culture takes a little getting used to, of course. The subtle differences are enough t...

I used to think the perfect compliment to a cocktail was a cigarette. In fact, I remember saying "if I have a drink in one hand, I need a cigarette in the other or I'll tip over." Of course, after about 4 drinks I'd get a little wobbly anyway. But, that's beside the point. I was a smoker. (Although, I only bought my own pack every now and then. Yeah, I was that girl.) But then a wonderful thing happened. Austin passed a law that said "no more smoking inside." At the time , a lot of folks were quite upset. How were we supposed to enjoy our drinks? Our concerts? I was among these people and had the attitude that you should be able to do whatever you want to do. But then Winter set in. How quickly we adapt. I refused to be part of a community that stood huddled in single-digit temperatures all in the name of a nicotine fix. Plus, for the first time in years we weren't coming home from a night out smelling like an ashtray. It was nice. So, out of sight...

As if this place wasn't bizarre enough, it turns out that Canada has their own version of Bowling. Have you heard about this?! Yet another thing I have to adapt to. They've taken o ur game and (like everything else) tweaked it just a little. The game of 5-Pin is just that. There are only 5 Pins. 5 widely-spaced pins. Instead of two turns to knock down the pins, you get three - which I initially thought was ridiculous but quickly found out is imperative...especially for beginners. It's harder than it looks! The bowling balls are different too. You no longer have to peruse racks and racks of balls for the right weight and color. All the balls are the same. They are small enough to palm (no holes) and only weigh a few pounds. This makes it extremely difficult to throw straight - which seems to be the way to win. This is what I get after years of perfecting my curve and spin.... Let's just say the I was no stranger to the gutter . Don't even ask me how the scoring works...

Seriously Canada? That wasn't a snowflake was it? Oh God. Already?!! There were just a few but that was definitely snow. Oh God. For the majority of my adult life, I've lived in the southern United States. This weather we're having now means that the calendar should say it's December. But, it's not. It's October and it's f'n cold! We keep hearing over and over, "This is nothing!" And it's not. It will be easily 50 degrees colder once winter actually gets here. Brrr... All I can do is stay positive...because, it's coming whether I'm ready or not. Ok, I need happy thoughts... *deep breath* .... snuggling, sledding, White Christmas', ice skating, skiing, snow days, hot chocolate... We'll be okay.

Canada just became the place to be. We like to think so at least. We've probably done more partying in the last month here than we did in the last year in Atlanta. Is that good or bad? Whatever it is, we're having a good time. The transition has definitely been made easier by the fact that we had friends (more importantly, friends with cars) waiting for us. Thanks to them, we've had a very extended welcome party. So, is it really that different? Not really. Everything is just sort of, slightly, kind of different. :) Matt says we're living in an "alternate reality." It'll take a little getting used to for sure. The hardest thing for me so far is the money. After living my whole life with the boring, American Greenback, I feel like I'm using Monopoly money. And my confusion is only elevated when I'm told "We don't use one dollar bills." Instead, you are given a Loonie - a one dollar coin. There are also Toonies - a (you guessed it) tw...