Island of Montreal Parking and first steps in Salt-water: GECA Part 3

Four days in on our journey to the East Coast, our overtired, sugar-hyped, bleary-eyed crew arrived in Montreal early afternoon and had to park outside ChouChou and Fizey's condo and haul ourselves in.  Picture this:  A big white fluffy bear tied to my waist, a tiny toddler COVERED in cheerios hanging off my hip, a day bag slung over my shoulder, a toy bag in the other hand followed by an overtired, gangly toddler jacked up on sugar and six hours worth of sitting still silliness (who's idea was it to give him a sucker to calm him down in the car 30 minutes before destination again???).  And here we go, parking our car several blocks from the condo, crossing a busy street at rush hour.....  (More on Montreal parking later).

Ok, here is "later:"  Montreal parking.  Ohhhh Mmmmm Gee.  Driving and parking on the island of Montreal is like playing Tetris.  You can't park on THIS side of the street T and Th 9am-5pm.  You can't park on THAT side of the street M, W or F 9am-5pm.  And you can't turn right on a red light.  And you can't read any of the signs because they are all in small print AND in French.  And let me be clear, I can read French just fine...  But zooming my eyes in on time to read a sign and translate absurdly legislated Montreal parking regulations in French after a six hour drive with littles yelling to play EYE SPY with their sugar-induced hysteria is enough to send any rational person over the edge.  But I'll get off my soapbox now.

So after a lovely night in the condo with ChouChou and Fizey (and it was sooo lovely), I snuck out early to drive around in circles for a half-hour to find a new spot to park because it was a "Thursday," We packed up our things and hiked down the street several blocks to our new parking spot.  Aiiiyiiiyii....  Remind me never to move there.  Lively city, terrible parking.  I suppose it's sort of a fun game to play with one person and a laptop bag.  "Where is my car?  Where do I park today." But maybe not so fun with little people and lots of bags and dogs and stuff. 

One of the other longest days in our journey was from Montreal to Rivière-du-Loup.  Fortunately we had ChouChou to join us on this leg of the journey.  Somehow we managed to squeeze her in between the soft-sided cooler and the three bags of travel treats, my purse, laptop and camera all piled in the front seat.  It's a good thing she is tiny!!  

Total kms to date:  1300 kms

Hours in car this leg: 6 hours

Montreal to Riviere du Loup

Highlights from the day:  A rest stop overlooking Quebec City area where we ran around chasing bubbles for an hour, visiting the ocean in Rivière-du-loup, and ordering room service for the littles to our hotel room overlooking the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway.   Don't they look so "posh?"

Life Instagramed

Jordan is in Squamish this weekend sorting out the house and packing up essentials to send to our new place in Virginia (for awhile).  Gabriel says "Don't forget my toys and books!"  Here are a few photos of our life lately.  (The photos from DC are courtesy of Jordan).

We are having a market-hopping, ice-cream eating, gallery visiting, dog-parading, dancing-in-kitchen-to-vinyl-tap-wearing-yellow-oven-mittens, pot-banging, new-friend-making, flower-gazing, local-fare-eating good old fun.  My visit hit an all time high with Fizey and Chouchou dancing around the dining room with their arms around each other and howling Righteous brothers "You lost that lovin feeling," box of dishwasher tablets in hand.  But we miss Jordan!

Just walking around

Under cloudy skies that darkened the Montreal condo, Gabriel took some serious big boy steps (maybe fueled by the new found energy from the chicken and turkey we introduced to his diet?)  While I held his clenched sweaty little fists, he pumped each leg up and down stomping into the floor.  We walked and walked all around the condo most of the early afternoon.  Abe watched attentively and participated with exuberant howls spurred on by my squeals of delight.  Our boy gets bigger and bigger and while it is happening so quickly, I couldn't be prouder.  I feel honoured to be a part of this little life and be a part of watching him become his own increasingly independent, intuitive and content person.  My heart is full.

Abe on the Montreal Scene: The Pup-arazzi

Walk up Mount Royal

On Sunday, we met up with family friend Alessandra and hiked up Montreal's most infamous "mountain."  Mountain is a matter of perspective.  When all things surrounding said mountain are flat, any mound of earth can be considered a mountain.  Regardless, it was a lovely walk as we meandered up the switchbacks through the dappled light of the trees along a wide-graveled path.

At the Chateau.

Along the way, Abe attached himself to dog-lover and treat-provider, Alessandra.   We passed and greeted several other dogs, babies, etc.  It is amazingly, isn't it, how dogs and babies seem to connect people? Everyone seems to love children and dogs.  They are the two mediums through which people seem to reach out to one another.  Without them, seemingly, you are just another person.  But with one or the other, conversation strikes up and the swapping of information and stories with perfect strangers begins.  And while moving down to Washington for a little while seems daunting--leaving behind our town, our home, our friends, but with a child and a dog--I know that it will be easier to connect with these two sweet beings as our "arm candy" than the two of us as a young working couple.

View from the top of the Mountain.

After a leisurely lunch at the little restaurant just short of the top, we continued on to the Chateau at the top of Mount Royal.  There we were greeted with the expansive view of the city.  We stopped and admired.  Not long after settling at the top of the mountain, we were approached by a large Chinese family that surrounded us asking questions about Abe.  Once they had the go ahead, the Pup-arazzi went nuts, the clicking of camera shutters and the flash of lights brought out the best in Abe, now an experienced celebrity. 

Abe in the spotlight of the Pup-arazzi

Abe seems to have garnered a fair amount of attention.  But while he shines in the spotlight in public, we try to keep a humble life around the house.  At home, it is easy to forget he is here.  He is quiet and sleepy.  In public, he comes alive under the affectionate hands of his admirers.  This latest run-in with the Pup-arazzi has prompted a public response.

Abe and his publicist and mother.

As his publicist, here are a few FAQS to frequently asked questions on Abe:

1) What kind of dog is Abe?
He is a Samoyed.  He's polar bear crossed with a cotton ball.

2) How old is your dog?  Boy or girl?
Abe is a boy.  Don't be deceived by his pretty white fluff.  Abe is 4 years old.  But he acts like he is a puppy in public and like an old man around the house.  Either way, he is a prince and sometimes a bit of a diva.

3) Where did you get him?
We bought him from a breeder in Victoria.

4) You must have to brush him a lot, he is so white.
Yes, we should.  But we don't.  He brushes himself. Literally, dirt just seems to fall off of him.  He does get groomed three times a year whenever his stylist tells us that it is time.  Depends on the weather.

5) Do you shave him in the summer?
 No, we do not.  The length of his hair dissipates the heat.  Shaving is cruel, especially because he takes his looks very seriously.

6) Does he shed a lot?
Yes.  We call it "Abe Love" and bought a high-end vacuum in his honor.

7) Does he get along with your son?
Yes, he loves Gabriel, especially when Gabriel serves him treats, but he doesn't like him messing with his 'do.

8) How does he travel?
He travels in the luxury of his own climate-controlled area with private seating.  He is able to travel with other friends to talk to if he wishes.  He even sports his own boarding pass, courtesy of WestJet.  On the rare occasion, if he misses a flight, he is put up in the VIP lounge where he is served mineral water and kibble before heading to the finest puppy resort close the airport for an overnight stay so that he can get an early flight.  However, his tight cross-continental itinerary is too stressful and Abe will be cancelling future public events that require flight travel.  Abe sends his regrets.   He will make the occasional public appearance via Skype through his publicist.

9) Can I take him home with me?
Abe is not for sale.  Honestly.  He is our dog-baby and he lives with us.

Further questions/comments can be directed to the comment section of this blog.  Thank-you!

 

Montreal: La Patience

Patience.

Has it ever occurred to you how much waiting we do as a society?  We wait in line, we wait on hold.  We wait at red lights, behind slow drivers.  We wait to be seated.  We wait between meals, wait for dessert.  We wait to grow up.  Wait for our favorite show.  Wait for nice weather.

We do an awful lot of waiting.  In fact, I can hardly think of a single thing we don't really have to wait for a one point or another.  Well, sometimes we don't have to wait that long, but I've been learning that anything worth having, is worth waiting for. 

I recently read about a study on a group of children.  Each child was brought into a room where there was a marshmellow.  The child was told that they were not to touch the marshmellow.  If they ate it, then it would be the only one they would get.  But if they left it alone, they would get more. The tester left the room.  Some children ate it right away and others waited.  Those who waited did something quite fascinating.  They employed a tool of distraction against themselves.  They hummed a song, played with their clothing, made up a game, etc.  They found a way to amuse themselves in order to delay gratification.  Earth shattering, I know!

Once Gabriel turned about four months I learned something about patience from him.  One day, Gabriel was frustrated.  I think he was playing with a toy that escaped.  He started to give a whimpering cry that I thought might turn into a meltdown.  But I paid no attention.  Suddenly he employed a strategy to distract himself.  He razzed his lips and then pulled a toe up to his mouth to gnaw on.  And it wasn't a coincidence.  It has since been repeated.  What I learned from my son is the beautiful technique of self-distraction.  Or maybe it's not even that.  Maybe it is about enjoying the simple pleasures of salty toes, the creative effort required contort his body, the crinkle of paper, the wag of a tail, the wet mushiness of food.

After a beautiful weekend with Jordan in Montreal walking around with the dog, sipping lattes at the market and visiting the Jardin Botanique Montreal, I sit here sullenly on a rainy day in Montreal, with Gabriel and Abe asleep and Jordan having just flown off to Washington. And I wait.  Anxious to get to WDC.  Excited to be living together after three, maybe even four years now, apart.  And yet unable to apartment hunt, book tickets or anything else useful.  While I wait, I cannot razz my lips or stick my toe in my mouth like Gabriel, so I try to be patient.  Fortunately I have good family to visit with, a beautiful city to explore and a child and dog to take care of.  And a camera.  To capture the simple pleasures.

**As an additional note, Abe awaits vaccination and then we will take a short flight to DC a week or so later, provided he makes it through the necessary vaccination process.  So far his eye condition has stabilized with medication, as reported to us today.  But we are unwilling to risk vaccination and two long flights to Squamish and then to DC.

Montreal: J'adore la Belle Province

After driving thirteen hours, we arrived in Montreal at 1am just in time to capture the latest turn of power in the provincial elections, followed by an unusual shooting during the speech of the newly elected premier of Quebec, Pauline Marois. (!)  There was certainly increased police presence in the two or so days afterwards, but seemingly Montreal has returned to normal. 

We've hit the Marché Atwater for sweet tartes de raisin from Premiere Moisson and warm lattes from Lili & Oli (best lattes in Montreal, but bring cash only), strolled along the picturesque Canal de Lachine and shopped in local boutiques on Rue St-Denis, and Boulevard St-Laurent with ChouChou.  We have slow-paced evenings watching Gabriel learn to crawl and bang on the piano while on Fizey's lap, sipping wine and eating corn in season.

Jordan is back in Calgary and, as usual, we await the specifics for the next job.  Meantime, I wait in Montreal with "my boys" (return ticket not purchased).    I am loving the energy, the language, the food in Montreal!