Catching up

I suppose I only have Facebook to blame. That silly site has allowed me to feel much more connected with many of my friends and family than I did when I began this blog. Not to mention that the lure of regularly posting short updates, in clean paragraph-form and followed by near-instant "likes" and "comments," was just too strong to resist. But almost a year and a half later I've begun to lament my lonely little blog, so at last I present to you an update! (Although perhaps Ryan on "The Office" was truly right when he said "blogs are out.") Well, I'll be sure to post a link to this on Facebook.

I imagine no one really wants me to write a wordy novella here, explaining every moment of the past 17 months that you can then spend a week or two trying to read. So the simplest thing I can think of to cover so much ground is by listing some of the highlights of what we've been up to! I realize this is more of a "starting off the new year" kind of thing to do, but begging your indulgence at my early start for a change, here goes nothin!





2010
August
- Derek and Hazel came up to visit us in Montreal for a week!
- David attended the ICMPC conference in Seattle, WA






September
- I started classes as a MA student in Anthropology at Concordia University! (Still working part time for the photo studio as well)
- We went to a ridiculous McGill vs. Concordia football game
- Joan and Jesse came to visit us for the weekend!








October
- I visited Arkansas for Elissa and Kevin's wedding!
- David attended a conference in Boston, MA
- Little Red Riding Hood and the Brawny Man (plus friends!) went to McGill's grad student Halloween party




November
- I was sick on my birthday, but still had a yummy take-out dinner at home followed by a couple of drinks with friends (:
- Found out that Callie would need surgery on her leg
- Attended a Bollywood dance recital, featuring my friend Jen!







December
- We went to a McGill music lab Christmas party at Meg & Ryan's place
- Had a Christmas party at our place!
- Spent Dec. 15-29 in Arkansas for the holidays
Highlights included:
   -A trip to Eureka Springs (and the best pancakes we have ever eaten, courtesy of The Crescent)
   -Seeing Tron in the theater
   -Christmas!
   -Attending a Razorback basketball game
   -Visiting grandparents and family in central AR
   -Dinner and drinks with friends
   -Shopping for items with US prices
   -I got a tattoo, along with my sister (who got two)! 




2011
January
- Celebrated the New Year with Meg and Ryan
- Cried when Arkansas lost to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl
- Spent Jan. 13-21 in Rome, Italy - realizing a long-time dream for us both!
  (Also, David participated in a pretty exciting conference throughout this time... it was kind of our excuse for going!)

February
- Had a fancy French dinner at L'Express Restaurant with my hubby <3
- Attended Giselle (ballet) with David and Jen
- Went to Nuit Blanche in the Old Port with David, another David, and his wife Christy





March
- Our first niece, Elizabeth Hazel Sears was born (daughter to Chris and Laura)!
- I presented a paper at a local grad student conference (my first conference presentation ever)
- Hosted a well-attended concert, "Rockin' So Callie Be Walkin'," to help raise funds for Callie's surgery!





April
- Callie underwent a very successful leg surgery! And spent the next two months healing remarkably quickly. (:

May
- David passed his French language exam! (A big, exciting milestone.)
- We found a new apartment, right in the heart of downtown Montreal!



June - July
- We moved in to the new apartment!
- David went to a conference in Houston from June 13-17, then traveled to Fayetteville
- Callie and I joined David in Fayetteville on June 22nd, for a month-long trip in the US!
Highlights included:
   -Derek and Hazel's first yard sale
   -Our 5th wedding anniversary
   -Billy and Jenna's wedding
   -Bachelorette party for my baby sister Darby
   -Darby and Stephen's wedding!!
   -A cross-country move from Arkansas to California with Derek, Hazel, and 6 animals
   -Almost a week-long visit with Chris, Laura, and Elizabeth in California!

August
- David attended a conference in Rochester, NY, and visited Joan and Jesse
- I attended a Pride Parade that took place literally outside my door!

September
- We went to Boston, MA for a conference/visit, along with Hauke and Isabelle
- We attended ComicCon 2011 in Montreal, where we saw (and I met!!) James Marsters (aka "Spike" from Buffy)
- We attended another silly football game with pals, this time McGill vs. Bishop (oh McGill, can't you even try to win?)
- Our McGill B-League softball team came in 2nd place in the championships! Way to go, Ratbatsters!



October
-  We went to Oka, QC with Meg and Ryan for apple picking and engagement portraits!
-  David, me, Meg, Ryan, Mikaela, and Darryl went to play paintball for the first time ever! It was fun, although a little crazy to still have circular bruises on my legs two and a half weeks later!
- David and I went to see Evanescence in concert, at a venue right across the street! It was a great show.


Well I think that brings us up to date! (Wow, we seem to have been rather busy..!) Here's a quick summary of how things are going now, and where we're headed in the near future:

I am 75% of the way through my master's degree in Anthropology. I've finished all my coursework, and I'm literally days away from completing the fieldwork portion of my research. Next up I'll be reading every reference I can get my hands on, organizing the data I've gathered, and by January I should be writing my thesis! If all goes according to plan, I will finish it (and graduate) in April 2012! I am also working as a teaching assistant, and still part-time for the photo studio. David, meanwhile, is in the very early stages of the six months of his program that make up his "comps," or comprehensive exams. A friend just went through this process (successfully!), and let's just say it will be intense! Starting with research, musical analyses, and paper-writing and ending in observed teaching, full-day tests, and a committee review, the comps are not going to be a lot of fun and will be celebrated mightily upon completion! Suffice to say, David and I will have our shoulders to the wheel for the next few months, while we keep reminding each other that there IS a light for each of us at the end of this academic tunnel.

In other news, David and I will be staying in Montreal for the holidays this year. It will be the first time ever that we won't come home for Christmas, and needless to say it will be a big change for us! We will miss everyone so much, but we're doing our utmost to make the best of it. I think the two giant containers of Christmas decorations sitting in the laundry room will make it easier for me, at least... After three years of having an apartment too small to decorate, I am ecstatic to be able to break out all the lights, garland, and goodies that my heart desires! Not to mention the live tree (7' tall) that we'll be getting this year! (Just imagine my joy at being able to use all my Christmas ornaments, and not just the 8 smallest ones that will fit on a 2' tall fake tree...) I've promised David that I'll wait til after Thanksgiving to start busting it all out, but it's definitely something I'm looking forward to!

Until then, it's my birthday next weekend, US Thanksgiving, the first snow of this winter (it hasn't happened yet, but I know it can't be far off!), and before we know it it'll be Christmas-time! Cheers to getting in the spirit early!