BIG NEWS

I'm not pregnant, or engaged, but I consider this big news...

Life at home is the same old... I don't like waking up for work every morning, I don't like the snowy weather here, and I put X's through each day that passes on my calendar, hoping I will be back in Europe soon.  Not fun.  I miss the hockey life, BIG TIME.  Jordan, can I come back now PLEASE?!?!

Jordan's life in Lillehammer seems just as dull as mine at the moment.  All he does is eat, sleep, and play hockey.  He misses me (of course), because eating and sleeping are way more fun with me than by himself!  I am still debating as to whether or not I will rejoin him this season.  I am going to Disney with the family in March and may head to Norway after if his team is still doing well.

Aside from working and making some money I have been spending lots of time with the family and got together with some great friends this weekend, Jenna and Christyne.  I wish I had a picture to post but once I'm home I rarely take pictures.  Jenna has a few on her amazing new camera so I will need to get one off of her :)

So onto the BIG NEWS!

Jordan and are proud renters of a condo in the city for the summer.  We always talk about being right downtown for a summer and it is FINALLY happening (so yes I do consider this a big deal).  Last week I went downtown with his mom to check out a few places and felt as though I was on an episode of "House Hunters Toronto"... 

Option One
- A one bedroom, 700 square foot, furnished apartment in Liberty Village.  "Bliss" condo amenities included a small gym and an indoor pool.  The condo was furnished and included cable and Internet.  Sorry for the really low quality pictures, I took them on my phone. 

Pros:
Size (big bedroom and big open room)
Social (we have friends in the same building)
Washer/dryer

Cons:
Old furniture and poorly decorated (messy during viewing as well)
Five minute street car ride from the downtown core (not that its really far)
Smelly
Small balcony (standing room only)

I was really disappointed the place wasn't well put together!  I probably wouldn't have been so critical if it was neat and tidy.  Unfortunately, we are only living there for four months and need a place that doesn't need any changes.  Otherwise, I would love to get my hands on this place and give it a makeover.

Option Two
- A 400 square foot, bachelor apartment in, Maple Leaf Square.  It is also furnished and includes cable and internet.  Building amenities include an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, steam rooms, a large gym, a grocery store in the building, connection to Union Station (the train station) and the rest of PATH.  Basically if you never wanted to leave the building, you wouldn't have to.

Pros:
Brand new furniture
Big balcony + a view
Amenities... so many amenities
In the heart of the city
Washer/dryer

Cons:
Small... soooooo small
Would be difficult to entertain
No bedroom, murphy bed

I loved this building!  It is such a happening place and I could easily picture myself enjoying life there.  Big downfall is it is only one big room.  Jordan and I would not be able to get away from each other unless one of us left the the house. 

Decisions decisions...  BOTH were the same price!

AND THE WINNER IS...

The Little Things

I have been home now for five days and have quickly adjusted to real life.  Back to the 9-5 office job.  Oh how I miss my sleep In's!  I LOVE to sleep.  Now that I am waking up at 7:30am I need to be in bed by 10pm...I'm so old.  I will blame it on the jet lag.  Up until this past week I would roll out of bed around 10am everyday, make myself breakfast, and catch up on all of my favourite shows.  Now I wake up a half hour before I need to leave for work, throw on an outfit I picked out the night before, make a coffee and bagel, and hit the road.  My job involves sitting at my desk working with numbers all day.  Fun fun.

Anyways, other then the obvious big changes to my day to day life there are so many other little changes from life in Europe!

Light switches

With the exception of light switches, just about everything in Europe is tinier compared to North America.

Toilets

The flusher's are different, the toilets are often located in a separate closet type room within the home, and bidets are usually close by. 

Cars

I really enjoyed driving standard after I figured it out and I miss it now.  When I got home to my Jeep (which is automatic) I pulled out of my driveway accidentally driving with two feet (one on the break and one on the gas)...I was tired, give me a break haha.  European cars are standard, smaller, take diesel, and for the most part, are hatchbacks.  I'm not a fan of anything that resembles a van, and a hatchback is too close for my liking. I <3 my jeep.

So many hatchbacks!


These are just a few of the little differences.  There are the obvious BIG differences (language, food, shopping), but it's funny to come home and notice the little things.

There are many things I'm missing about Austria.  The mountain views! The people... everyone I knew there was so friendly.  The coffee (so good).  The McDonald's menu (it's healthier and the dollar menu has cappuccino's on it).

Love homing and being with my family.  Missing my relaxed European life.  How many days 'till Lilly?!?!  

Mel=Toronto, Jordan=Lillehammer

Lillehamer...a winter wonderland

It has been a crazy couple weeks and I have had no time to write.  I booked my flight for home about 10 days ago, and two days after Jordan found out he was going to finish out his season in Lillehammer, Norway.  It was not great timing.  The whole reason I was going home is I did not want to overstay my 90 days in Europe.  Due to the fact that Jordan and I are not married, I was not able to get a Visa to stay in Austria.  Without a Visa, I could not stay in Europe for more than 90 days and I am not allowed to return until I have been home for 90 days.  I’m not 100% sure of the consequences, but I did not want to find out.  I have always been one to stick to the rules and figured I better just come.

I had my mind wrapped around coming back to “real life” and had arranged to get back to work.  My flight was booked, a “red ticket” with not option to change, and I started to pack.  Then, as mentioned above, Jordan settled on a deal with a team in Norway to finish out his season.  This happened quickly and we had NO IDEA he would be going there.  Norway is not part of the European Union and I could have gone.  The 90 day rule would not have applied and I could have spent the rest of the season with Jordan.  Not only that he was scheduled to leave two days after he accepted the offer… which was four days before I was to go home.  Worst timing!  I really jumped the gun on this one.  If I had not committed to work, I would not have come home.  I am going back to help at the family business and don’t want to bail when they do so much to accommodate me.

Last coffee at the airport

Goodbye :(

Jordan left for Norway on Tuesday and we enjoyed our last couple days in Klagenfurt together.  It was hard to say goodbye as always.  We went for a couple nice dinners before he left, packed up our lives, and I dropped him at the airport where we enjoyed one last coffee together.  I had the responsibility of dropping off our car at the dealership and then they dropped me off  at Joey and Michelle’s (they were nice enough to take me in for the few days I had left there).  Once Jordan was gone I just wanted to get home.  I was mad about our bad timing and the fact that I would not be joining him in Norway… I’m still mad about it, but not much I can do now!

My last few days in Klagenfurt were great.  I took in my last KAC game, and attended a baby shower for two of the wives.  It was great to get together with all the girls one last time and say goodbye to all of them.  Everyone on this team was great and it was so nice to have 18+ girls around!  Goodbyes are always hard but hopefully I will see them again in the future.  Most of the imports live within an hour of my hometown anyways!

The amazing cake Melissa made for the baby shower
If you need a cake made she's the best!
Click here to check 'em out! 

I lived out of my carryon bag for the last few days and left the rest of my bags in the trunk of a car.  No need to carry them up and down stairs.  Annie did me a huge favour and drove me to the airport on Friday morning for my 6AM flight.  THANK YOU ANNIE, I appreciate you getting up at 4AM to drive me!  I was on my way and arrived back in Toronto yesterday afternoon.  It was so great to see my family after four months of being away!  We ordered in Chinese food and had a quiet night in.

Fortunately jet lag isn’t hitting me.  I was able to stay up till 11 last night and feel like I’m adjusting well to the time.  Today I got a Starbucks, got my hair done (sooooo overdue), and I am attending a party tonight.  Right back into the swing of things!  I start work on Monday and I’m looking forward to making some moola.

Jordan is starting to settle in Lillehammer.  It’s been a whirlwind of a year from Cali, to Klagenfurt, to Lilly.  Warm weather to the North Pole!  I have decided that I am going to work until the beginning of March, go to Florida with my family for vacation, head to Lillehammer mid-month, stay until the end of the season, travel around Europe for a bit when it’s over, use our original return flights back to Cali from Klagenfurt, spend a bit of time in Cali, and then come home for the summer.  Hopefully this all goes according to plan and Jordan’s team continues to play well.  Playoffs end the beginning of April so here’s hoping they go far!

I need to go get ready for tonight’s party but I will write about Jordan’s first couple days in Norway and how I’m adjusting to NA life soon!  I will add some more pictures as well.  Short on time right now... party time :)  Just wanted to let everyone know what’s going on in our crazy lives!

Happy New Year! Frohes Neues! My Resolution is...



NYE Wheeling 08/09

This year, like most years, Jordan and I stayed in for NYE.  One of the less glamours aspects of hockey is there are always games around "party" hollidays (i.e. Halloween, NYE).  The team had a game January first so it was the usual low key NYE.  Not a problem with either of us, going out on new years is too expensive and overrated, right?!?!  We just keep telling ourselves that.  I feel like the last NYE we went out we were 19 and at the Vibe in Peterborough!  Joking, he did go to college and I think I remember going out for NYE in Wheeling, WV... must have been a good one if a barely remember it!

We went for a nice dinner at am AMAZING steak house the night before with a few other couples.  It was one of the best steaks I have ever had.  The restaurant was nothing fancy but the meal was to die for.  The steak cooked on the hot stone underneath it so you could eat it as rare or well cooked as you like.

Our actual NYE was spent at home doing a puzzle of the Toronto Skyline that we found at the grocery store.  We popped a bottle of champagne, watched multiple concerts on TV, and puzzled away until midnight.  It sounded like we were in a war zone come countdown time.  Everyone around us did their own fireworks show and everywhere you looked there was lights and smoke.  We sat out on our balcony taking it all in until it was too cold.  I wish I had a picutre of the fireworks but my camera is horrible and doesn't do them justice.

New Year’s Resolution

I never stick to my new years resolutions.  It is always something ridiculous like workout everyday, not buy Tim Hortons for a year, put major restraints on my shopping budget... (I know these are all possible but my will power is weak)

So this year I chose something simple but important:

It's weird but I go days without having a single glass.  I HATE pop, always have, and when I am dyeing of thirst I have a glass of juice.  So not healthy!  I only like water if it is freezing cold and I am boiling hot.  Time to make a change.  Look at all the great things water consumption will do!

I am starting by drinking a full glass in the morning, noon, and night.  Hopefully I can start consuming more as time goes on.  I even have a great reminder to put on the fridge.

Hope everyone is sticking to their resolutions, afterall it's only day three haha!  Goodluck and all the best to everyone in 2012.  Twelve Jordan's and my fav. # so it's bound to be a good one!

 

10 Days of Christmas

Jordan collecting teddy's
at the last game before xmas

I have been so busy the last 10days I have not had time to blog.  Never thought I could be “busy” here, but this is the first time I have sat down to write about our fabulous Christmas.

After our trip to Venice, we spent the next day in Veldon.  It is a touristy resort town about 10 minutes from us.  We were bored on Sunday and I figured this town might have a few things open.  To Jordan’s surprise (he doubted me and thought everything would be closed), the town was busy with Christmas festivities.  We walked around, went into a few stores when it got too cold outside, enjoyed coffee outdoors under heat lamps, and all while overlooking the lake and alp’s.   Not a bad Sunday!

ReMax in Veldon

Like father, like son

Harley in Veldon

Outdoor Coffee

The team had a Christmas party at a restaurant just outside of town and the meal was delicious.  It was the first time I tried beef tartar, which looks like a raw hamburger that you spread over top of bread.  It was… interesting.  Perhaps something you need to acquire a taste for.  We sat around eating and drinking for at least five hours.  No need to rush dinner around here, it’s the European way.  I’m a big fan of going out for dinner, so the longer it can be dragged out the better.

This is only half the group

All of the girls got together for a dinner and a gift exchange a couple days later.  We went to a great restaurant in town and enjoyed great food, drinks, and of course company.  All of our gifts were to be under €20 and we played the gift stealing game.  It got pretty intense and poor Sarah had her gift stolen at least five times.  It was a good laugh.  I love this game and I am so glad I got a chance to play it with a large group this holiday season.  It was also a big night for one of the girls, Annie, as her husband had made a trip to Vienna that day to pick up her new puppy, Tuuk!  He brought him into the restaurant and all of the girls “ooooo'd and ahhhh’d” over how cute he is.  He is a teacup Morkie, the cutest.  So jealous!

Tuuk enjoying resort life

On the 23^rd a group of us went up to a resort in the mountains.  It was an hour’s drive up hill and was the perfect way to spend the two days off.  We got an early start to the day so we could enjoy everything the resort had to offer.  As soon as we checked into our rooms and had breakfast, we put on our robes, had a few drinks, and hit the outdoor hot tubs.  The boys noticed a Ping-Pong table on our tour of the resort, were engaged with it for the first hour, and the girls relaxed without them until they determined a winner… not that there wouldn’t be a rematch before dinner.

The View

Couples Shots

Outdoor Hot tub

Hochshober (the name of the resort) was amazing!  There were several pools, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation rooms that we visited.  We all went to the Turkish bath’s where I was doused with water twice after two losing rounds of "Categories"… I am HORRIBLE at this game.  We had so much fun, sometimes too much fun, but at the end of the day we were on our best behaviour, and did our best to talk in our indoor voices haha.

Trying to stay quiet in one of the
relaxation rooms

Not the most flattering picture...
But how cool is it that you can swim in a heated
section of the lake?!?! (behind us)

The food there was also great.  They even served bacon at the breakfast buffet, the highlight of Jordan’s Christmas.  We went to lunch in our robes, snacked on food all day around the spa, and enjoyed a late dinner followed by drinks in the lounge.   The next morning we woke up and did it all again until it was time to come home for a Christmas Eve skate at the rink.  Plus, “Santa” (the guy who was dressing up as Santa for the skate) was relaxing with us at the resort and we needed to get him back in time to see the kids.  The rest of us were also looking forward to his performance.

Lunch in our Robes

Dinner Prost (Cheers!)

We arrived back at the rink late in the afternoon and wished everyone a Merry Christmas / Frohe Weihnachten.  Santa did an AMAZING job and it was great to see all the little ones reactions.  There were about ten kids under the age of five and it was adorable.  We went home and went to bed… we were so tired from relaxing for the past two days.  Is that even possible?!

Andy as Santa

Jordan practiced on Christmas day but not until 1pm.  They celebrate Christmas on the 24^th here so it was a little weird to have him go to work on Christmas day.  We opened gifts early and I made crepes for breakfast.  Jordan headed to practice and I skyped with my family opening presents back home.  It ALMOST felt like I was there.  We also had a great Christmas dinner, only we substituted turkey with chicken.

Finally thank you to Jordan’s family for spoiling us as always, and thanks Mom for the matching scarves (this wasn’t intended, she accidently sent two).  It was a great Austrian Christmas and I couldn’t have asked for more, other than spending it with family of course. 

Matchy matchy...
Never to be seen in public together

Getting Lost in Venice



Yesterday Jordan had the day off and we FINALLY made it to Venice.  We have planned to go many times before, but have never made it due to late starts on the day.  Not only were they late starts, we have never been in any shape to go due to severe hangovers as a result of partying the night before.  Usually when the team has a day off we all end up downtown, and people don't even go to the bars here until 12:30am-1... I don't know when the bars close because I have never stayed that late, but i'm pretty sure the sun is rising before they are closing their doors.  We finally wised up and said NO to partying and YES to Venice.

Our Water Route

We woke up early and were out the door by 8am.  We were thinking of taking the bus there but ultimately decided to drive.  Our plan consisted of parking at the Venice airport and then taking the boat from there, through the Grand Canal, and then getting off to walk around.  It was a good compromise as I wanted to experience Venice on a boat, a Gondola specifically, but the rides are pricey.  This way we saved tons of money on parking (it’s a small fortune to park in Venice), and I got my boat ride.  Plus, how cool is it that the Airport has water taxis into the city?!?

Our Airport Ride

Arriving to Venice by boat

Instead of being like every other tourist with their massive maps, travel books, and colossal cameras, we decided the best way to approach the city was to just go unprepared and get lost.  Jordan and I are both really good at getting lost, Jordan especially, so going in with this plan made for a much more relaxing trip.  We jumped ship at the Rialto Port and were on our way.  For the next four hours we saw the grand sights, the hot spots, and alleyways that were only big enough for one person at a time.  We never passed the same place twice.  We were VERY lost and there is no better city to do it in.  So many bridges, tiny waterways… it is by far the most unique place I have ever been.  A city on water with so much charm and romance it was at times too much to bear (after the first few couples we saw hard-core making-out it went from cute to vulgar).

It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day so we decided to pick up lunch at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, along with some mini bottles of wine.  We found a place to sit in the sun and enjoyed the views until there were too many pigeons who felt we were impeding on their territory.

By 4pm we found ourselves back where we started and felt as though we had seen it all.  The sun would be setting soon and we decided to catch the boat back to the airport where we parked.  We also wanted to make a stop at the outlets outside of Venice before they were closed (I had my eye on a Prada bag last time I was there, and if it were still in stock, then we were destine to be together).  Unfortunately (but fortunately for my bank account), the bag had found a different owner and there were not any others that caught my eye.  We walked around the outlets for a bit, got a great chocolate pastry to hold us over till dinner, and then got back on the road.

We ended the day with dinner-to-go from Burger King.  What a non-classy way to end a classy day!  But really, who doesn’t love a good American meal every once in a while?!?  McDonald’s and Burger King are the only two American food Co.’s in Klagenfurt and we needed a fix.

Finally, thank you Jordan for taking me to Venice.  I know you love to spend your days off relaxing, and I want you to know that I am grateful for our road trips. xo