July 18, 2005: Oh *(*&&) where are my keys? No...my only other spare car key is with Rob...who's in Halifax! I can't go without a car this week and I need to get my sister and her kids from the train station in a few hours. You want how much to tow it and have one of those fancy microchip keys made? Cripes, it's cheaper to rent a car for two days..."Hello, Avis?". You know, those keys never did show up...so much for the War Amps key tags.
July 25, 2005: Reading the paper today, "Ha ha, look at that, it says that good things will happen to me but not to leave town to get it! Isn't that a coincidence, I'm leaving for Halifax with the kids in a few days. Am I missing a sign here?
July 27, 2005: "I'm sorry, Mrs. Forgie, we're no longer able to take your dog on Friday's flight as we have overbooked." Later that day, "Hi, this is the kennel calling, just wanted to let you know that the crate you sent for Dallas won't be accepted by the airline as she's not able to turn around easily in it (what they really meant was go and buy another very expensive one that she can do cartwheels and back handsprings in). Oh, and look at that, the movers didn't bother to take the things from under the kitchen sink and they have put muddy footprints all over our good carpets.
July 28, 2005 (Departure Day): Come on kids, let's go to our new life in Halifax! We'll meet daddy in Quebec City so that mommy doesn't have to do the entire 15 hour drive on our own. Two hours later, somewhere just past Montreal, it's Rob on the phone "Hi, my flight has been cancelled and there are absolutely no flights out of here until tomorrow." Hmm, I won't panic, I guess we'll have to drive on our own kids. By the way, who's going to take hysterical Dallas and put her on a flight to Halifax? Thanks Steve!
July 29, 2005: "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Forgie, this is your lawyer calling, we have a problem with the house you're supposed to move into in 6 hours. Your driveway is on someone else's property so technically, youre landlocked. Do you still want to buy the house?" Later that day... "Okay kids, you have just spent two days in a car driving here, now let's get back in the car and go and find another house! It's okay if you want to kill each other and your parents, we're close to having nervous breakdowns anyhow!"
July 30, 2005: Whoo hoo! We get to stay in a bachelor suite hotel room with two kids, a dog and a cat! Why do we get to have all this fun? Aren't we lucky kids! Note the sarcasm, it's been building for a while.
Time passes and we manage to survive the hotel ordeal and act like tourists for a while enjoying some of the province's beautiful places. Don't worry kids, mommy didn't jump, not yet anyhow!
August 12, 2005: Congratulations, we have a 1 bedroom hotel room available for you and your family now. This must be your lucky day as there are virtually no hotel rooms available in this city during the summer without reserving months ahead. Happy Birthday Ashley!
August 30, 2005: Hmmm, where's my VISA card? I know I put it right here on the counter top. Gee, looks like housekeeping has been going through my things.
August 31, 2005: Congratulations, here is your beautiful new home. Call as many cleaning people as you can, you don't want to touch that place without rubber gloves. Let's stay here until very late trying to get this cleaned up.
That same day: What do you mean one of the movers left the basement door open when it poured rain and the basement carpet has been soaked? Is he dumb? Oh, okay I didn't know that.
September 6, 2005: Who am I speaking with, the teacher from Grant's new preschool? Oh, you can't take him anymore because your new building isn't ready on time? What on earth am I going to do with this him until December? Grant, do you now how to paint or sew curtains?
September 12, 2005: "I'm sorry Mr. Forgie, your flight to Atlanta has been cancelled. I guess you're not going to get to make it to Atlanta tonight in time for the NFL game. You can get on a flight tomorrow morning. In the meantime, here is a voucher you can use for future flights anywhere Delta flies. We apologize for any inconvenience."
September 13, 2005: Hmm, look at that, CNN is reporting that Delta is expected to file for bankruptcy later this week or early next week. Does this mean my voucher isn't worth the paper it's written on?
September 14, 2005: This is who from Canada Revenue Agency? You want how much more?!!
September 15, 2005: Dallas chased her ball under what and can't get out? The front porch? What did she do that for? I don't know how to pry up or saw floor boards and Rob is in Atlanta. Two hours later...Okay Dallas, never chase your ball under the porch again...you'll never get yourself out. Wait until daddy gets home and sees that I had to cut the porch open. He's going to have a heart attack.
September 16 (current day): I wonder where I'd look in the Yellow Pages for hex removal? Oh, look at that, they're saying there's a possibility Hurricane Ophelia can show up here as a severe tropical storm. We won't worry about that...yet.
So, there you have it, our experiences in Halifax so far. Would you believe us if we said we're actually enjoying it here and while yes, there has been a lot of emphasis on things that have gone wrong, we have had many things go well. Ashley is loving school and has met many new friends. Grant has met some little boys in the area and is having fun exploring the new area with them and playing pirates on the caves outside. Our home is gradually becoming what we wanted, we have met some wonderful neighbours, and Dallas has stayed away from the front porch. Take care all. September 16, 2005
