aridhol's Journal: Updates - NaNoWriMo, Weather, Family, and Moving

Well, between school and military obligations, I got nowhere near my 50000-word NaNoWriMo count. Next year, when I don't have school, I'll try it again.

I phoned home the other day to laugh at their weather. Never do that. The next day, it snowed here, and we had a warning to stay off the roads yesterday. Making fun of someone else's weather is bad.

I did get some interesting news when I called, though. I'm going to be an uncle :) My brother, who is in the Persian Gulf aboard HMCS Ottawa, and his girlfriend, who was on the same ship, had a little pre-deployment celebration, and we'll be seeing the results in May. She was sent home as soon as they found out (can't have a pregnant woman in the combat zone), and he'll be back in March.

School's done on Thursday, I go home next Saturday for Christmas leave. Then I come back here, and go back there for my house-hunting trip. Then back here one final time to graduate, then I get 15 days to drive from St. John's NL to Victoria BC, an "official" distance of 7200 km. Should be an interesting roadtrip. Anyone have suggestions on what I should bring (emergency equipment, food, etc)?

heh

[stoolpigeon]

that's pretty interesting. when i was in the navy, the u.s. still didn't allow women on combat vessels - so i was never in a mixed crew. it seems to me that it brings up some interesting challenges, like crew members getting pregnant and having to be taken off the ship. (they really ought not be there, combat zone or not, it's just not a very good environment for growing a healthy baby) it always seemed to me that you'd be better off with all male or all female crews but that just isn't workable due to

Congrats!

[Shadow Wrought]

I became an Uncle a couple of months ago;-)

As for the NaNoWriMo, I didn't finish my first attempt either- too much "life" going on. Good luck with it next year;-)

Road Trip Advice

[DG]

Speaking as someone who has made the trip from Victoria->Montreal a couple of times (not to mention Calgary->Charlottetown, Borden->Charlottetown, Chilliwack->Montreal, Calgary-Quesnel in the dead of winter, and Windsor->the whole damn world dragging a race car)

Go through the States.

Gas will be cheaper, and if you follow the Interstates instead of the two-laners, you'll get much higher average speeds, better services, and better road conditions.

The Trans-Canada is a good road, but it's two-la

Re:

[aridhol]

Thanks for the tips. I'll have to check with my IRP rep on going through the states, the docs say it's not covered. I also have a few stops to make in the prairies, so I'll have to see how that route takes me.

As for the issue gear, I'm navy so no issued sleeping bag for me, but I'll see about grabbing some IMPs. I have my navy gore-tex parka, so that should be good for some warmth if needed. I still have some of my cold-weather gear from BMQ as well, although I had to return most of it.

I'll hit Cana

Re:

[DG]

NO! These bits of advice posted to a public website are NOT to be shared with ANYONE! :D

I've done road moves through the States before, on the Queen's dime too. I'm not up on all the latest administrivia; that's why we have clerks. But if you show that it is, in fact, the quickest, safest, and most direct route (show the Mve O the Mapquest printout) you might be able to get it authorized.

The aim here is to have enough emergency kit on you so that you have the capability to conduct minor repairs on the side