la vie en francais.

it's just better. i'm not so sure i can even explain why. there is something so beautiful and enchanting about every language that isn't english. maybe because my mind is blown every time i think of the vast network of sounds and tones that people find meaning in, sounds and tones that are pure gibberish to my uneducated ears. i am passionate about language. words. i need to learn french. and i need to be immersed in it to learn it. so, i need to move to montreal. i took logic my first year of university. this is what i have deduced from the facts.

it was so great to see some faces that i hadn't seen in a while. and equally so to see some new ones. the universe lined up and we killed it for five days. montreal was on the ball. my brain hurts. i have hardly slept. i spent 5 hours in the toronto airport because the plane i was supposed to get on got it's front engine completely dented in from a flight of birds. but would i change a thing? ... nah. life would suck if it were perfect.

a rundown of highlights besides the obvious reacquaintances..

bowling.. then walking passed crazy bowler lady a few days later.. climbing the mountain.. poutine.. bagels.. croissants.. ally's peanut sauce.. food in general.. foufs.. art student's ragers.. random encounters with channing and halil.. nic's girlfriend.. outbreak's bus ride home and all the ridiculous conversations that ensued.. primetime (i would totally wear a pin)..

all-in-all my trip was a success. j'aime montreal.

quebecois.

moi - le petit chou - allez a montreal demain.. je suis malade aujourd'hui, mais tres content! among culture and history i will be reunited with several amazing friends for five days of uninhibited wonderment. yes. so, this bug will just have to kick it by morning. there is no alternative.

c'est la vie.. et la vie est bon!

exuma's.

yesterday we got out to saddleback cay on steven's "island world" adventure. getting on the boat and shooting off into the ocean we were leary of dark clouds daunting the distance.. the water quickly turned from the most beautiful vibrant blue to a dark mercury.. fortunately it was not too long afterwards we had passed under the clouds.. the sky opened, and we were cutting over sparkly water with an almost radioactive electric blue patch across the horizon.

on arrival, we followed wooden bridged pathways to several lookout points.. the bar.. eating areas.. and finally, the beach. the water was like glass. i was swimming along when i noticed a black shadow gliding towards me.. it was getting close and i was getting nervous, when i realised this shadow was a gigantic manta ray.. curious, i guess. it glided away as quickly as it had come.

we got to feed sharks. finally, i got to see the epic "fin out of water".. amazing watching them move. one had to be almost nine feet long.. we did some snorkelling.. (far from the feeding grounds..) we went to jurassic park.. or so it will be in twenty years time when our pollution will eventually turn the 400+ iguanas that live there into mutant dinosaurs.. we walked along a sand bar in the middle of the ocean that had tides lapping up at our ankles from both sides..

all in all, our full day on the water was magic. couldn't have completed our bahamian excursion any other way. in a few hours time, ang and i are heading to the airport. until next time..

3308.

"If civilization and complexity are synonymous, this qualification is, naturally hopelessly incorrect, but it does seem as though this group of islands of all sizes from mere lumps of rock to hundred-mile-long reefs, overgrown with vegetation, have always been looked upon my man as a means of escape to a simple way of life. The step from canoes to ships and from ships to planes has been a giant stride over the centuries, but the magic remains, from whichever level in space the islands are viewed. There is no greater thrill than that of flying over these waters, so clear that one can often see everything on the sea-floor, and so radiant with colour that the variety of shades is almost unbelievable. They range from deepest purple, through every blue imaginable to jade and aquamarine, ending up with the palest yellows, where the sand bars touch the surface in long ripples forming fantastic patterns like watered silk. Tiny dark dots are coral heads, growing through the long, slow years into yet more islands, and any land mass is a potential adventure, a challenge to the most satiated imagination."

"There are no ruins or historical sites to be visited, life is a leisurely affair, and time means nothing. But once the feel of the island has taken hold of visitors they become captivated sooner or later, and leave with the intention of returning to feast their eyes once more on the colours that remain in the memory long after the island has been forsaken for the business of ordinary life."

A few great quotes from Eleuthera, the island called freedom by Everild Young.

my last few days in the bahamas were marvelously relaxing. spent all day friday down on bette's dock with bette, maurice, julie, miranda, and geoffery.. stretching out in the salty waves and snorkelling along the cliffside. said goodbye to new friends, promising to return sooner than later.. and then saturday morning after the boat taxi to eleuthra, i flew to nassau where i awaited my flight to calgary. meeting up with two of my very best friends from back home, we drank wine and reminisced.. and before i knew it.. i had woken up when my flight was supposed to be landing in the regina airport - where my entire family was awaiting me.. my alarm, which had been entirely reliable the entire trip, did not go off. in a panic i said goodbye, hailed a cab, and got myself on the next flight.. four hours later i was in my mama's arms and everything was right in the world.

and here i am, in the 3308.

whether/weather.

so here we are, tuesday. in a few hours we are potentially going to head back to nassau and be met by donnie.. then out and enjoying beautiful weather with steven tomorrow on his boat to the exuma's.. OR, we will stay here at bette's for one more night, and then back to nassau tomorrow on the bohengy for ang and i to catch our flight back on thursday (sob).. the variable: weather.

yesterday a storm swept across russell island.. the ocean was upset and grey.. salt water mist blowing up onto bette's deck and patches of pouring rain.. it was a beauty. i love the rain. we sat in and i got a bridge lesson. if only retirement was a valid option for me! i've found my calling.

brenda was storm-stayed an extra day, much to everyone delight. we were invited over to ed and judy's for supper last night; a couple renting a house here from s. carolina. very sweet and accomodating. today there's a strong breeze and the sun is out. and i just got word that nassau is a go! one more day of fun in the sun.. then a night in the toronto airport.. then reality hits.

full moon.

last night: subtle breeze with 100% humidity.. music blasting on the outdoor speakers. wine.. kalik.. and a family who loves to dance.

ang and i went out with the neighbors. it was this guy's birthday. his name was reggie. he was flamboyant and fabulous. we danced, we laughed, we socialized.

we said goodbye to brenda and don today; don we will see again when we head back to nassau. we had such a good time together over the weekend.. i am so happy that i got to know brenda a bit, a very powerful and beautiful woman.

today the sun is out and it's a scorcher. sunday. a day to relax and enjoy.. cheers.

spanish wells.

we were up at 6am yesterday to pack, breakfast, pick up gram, and catch the bohengy down at the dock. got invited up front with the captain and crew to see the view from their area/show lounge.. it was pimped out with leather seats and everything.. a little windy so had to watch out for the ocean spray, but could not be bothered to go inside.. spectacular view the whole way.

saw bette's little "van" coming along the shore road alongside us when we pulled into port. when the bohengy passes her house she jumps into her vehicle and gets down there with time to spare. tiny little place where time just seems to stop. lots of little golf carts cruising around.. clear skies and calm water. funny how easy it is to really settle in to a place.. bette might have a hard time getting rid of us, i am feeling quite at home!

spent the morning and early afternoon snorkelling around bette's dock.. some neat sea urchins, starfish.. lunched on the patio then over to the beach for a stroll.. then back to the dock.. we're all on bahamian time now! [very strict, as you can imagine]. this morning, grits and fruit.. snorkelling at the dock.. lunch.. walk on the beach.. swimming at the dock.. shower.. now getting the outdoor bar prepped and awaiting dinner guests.

i miss saskatchewan..