Busy Busy, and thats the way I like it!

Weekend, March 20-22, 09

This weekend, Friday was kind of non-descript. I woke up and got some good time at the gym. After that I just did trivial things, like laundry and shine my army boots. I actually didn’t mind doing my boots that much when I was by myself and could do them my own way without anyone standing over my shoulder. I also had to iron my army pants… I put the iron way too hot and melted a piece of he fabric. I cannot tell you how much satisfaction that gave me!! Cadets Friday night was… interesting. The first part was okay. We were in our classes, and we finished up our lesson on radio messaging. We then had a quiz, on which I got one answer right, but it was the hardest question! After that we had drill practice. Maybe I just need to let go and try and have more fun with this, because on Friday night I did not enjoy it. Drilling is when everyone stands in lines and the sergeant yells commands on how to turn, walk or how many times to stomp. I find this so intimidating, and not fun. It’s really hard when you don’t really understand, and you stick out like a sore thumb if you go in the wrong direction! (Looking back at it now, it actually must have been pretty funny to watch me) I think I really just need to not take myself so seriously. I know everybody in cadets, they’re all so nice and I know I will be forgiven if I screw up, so I think I just need to breathe and enjoy myself! I also had my first uniform inspection this week… I got 13/15. I don’t know what I lost the points for, but that’s pretty good, so I wont complain. To end off the evening, we had a parade, in which I was playing in the band. The parades are long and boring, and I don’t see the point in them. We march around playing music, while everyone else stands at attention. Then all the officers make announcements for a half hour while we stand there and don’t move. We could easily listen to those announcements while sitting, or even just send me an email! They also drew names out of a hat for prizes, and it was kind of exciting because Julie won $50.00! I do feel kind of bad about how much I am not enjoying cadets for Julie’s sake, and the families. It like if someone came and lived with me, and all they did was bash Roxy (where I work), and tell me how stupid it was, I would be pretty ticked off. I try to keep a positive attitude though, and every week is getting better and easier.
Saturday morning was band practice in preparation for our concert next week. It was also crazy hat day, so that was kind of fun. Honestly, our music is not sounding that great, but I enjoy it a lot, so I don’t even mind. The band sweatpants we ordered also arrived on Saturday, and they are so nice! I am so happy I bought them, and they will make such a nice souvenir. We finished band about an hour early, so everyone played soccer in the gym. I opted to be a cheerleader, because it was my long run after that, and knowing me, I probably would have fallen and twisted my ankle if I played. It was fun though, because most of the girls didn’t want to play either, so it wasn’t like I was just sitting there by myself. Saturday afternoon, I went for my ten-mile long run. I found the perfect road to run on. It was one long straight run that went through three perfect little towns. It was honestly like running through a postcard. I enjoyed the run so much, and I know I can do anything if I can run ten miles! That nigh I watched a movie with Julies Parents, and it was pretty good. I can understand almost everything now, which is so nice! I can’t even believe how much my French has improved, and I am so proud of my progress!
Sunday was a huge day. We woke up early to go out for breakfast, and then off to the Village Vacations (the HUGE toboggan place in Quebec) and it was crazy fun! It was the absolute perfect day, the sun was shining, and probably around 0 degrees. Since the park closes for the end of the season next week, there were barely any people there, so we didn’t ever have to wait in lines! There were kind of three things to do at the sport village. The first was “rafting”. It is actually in the same kind of boat you use for white water rafting, and you go in groups of eight down the side of the mountain. It goes so fast, and was probably my favorite ride of the day. When you are done, you pull your boat to the base of the hill, and ski lift type things pull it up, while you sit on an inner-tube ski lift to go up! Going up the mountain was almost as fun as coming down!
The second ride was the “tornado”; it’s the same idea as the raft, but in a circular boat that spins all the way down. We did this ride many times, because it was so fun. It makes you so dizzy, and the runs were icy when we were there, so it spun double! One of the times, it was my turn to pull the boat up to the base, and Rachel gave it a push from behind, and there was so much ice, it spun right up to my feet, and I fell right over into the boat. Everyone laughed so hard, and I'm sure it would have been quite a sight.
The other thing to do is everyone gets an individual tube, and you go down toboggan runs. All the tubes have handles, and you have to go in groups, by exchanging handles. Some of the runs were so fast, and Rachel and I went off the highest one, which was at a 110% incline. It was so fast and so steep, I actually thought I was going to die!
When we were finished for the day, we had those fresh made “syrup on a stick” things that are so famous in Quebec. I never imagined it was something I would like, but like all the other food I've tried in Quebec, it was delicious!!
That night was Julies Birthday supper, and when we came home from tobogganing, we all worked together to make bruchetta, mini pizzas, eggs and other appetizers! It was a neat meal, and we finished off with strawberry cheesecake, which I have acquired a taste for! I was so exhausted again Sunday night, and fell asleep super early!
It was such a good weekend, and it went by so fast! I cant believe I am already able to say “I have this weekend, and then I'm doing this and this, and then… Its over!!” Even though this weekend went by quickly, I was still fighting homesickness every step of the way. It is harder when I'm tired, so this weekend was difficult, but I am so close to the end now, that I just know everything will be okay!

Love you more than I now love cheesecake,
Carly