Our Near Death Experience

D and I finally got to head back to the US mid July for a few weeks.  We had lots of things planned including two weddings (in Indiana and Dallas), a Reds game, doctor appointments, riding the jet ski, going to Hurricane Harbor, seeing 3 new movies, and lastly traveling to Denver for a training where I got to visit some of my best friends from high school and college.

We had a lot to look forward to...a lot of fun plans, a lot of good American food to eat, and "cheaper than Canada" beer to drink...

However, we almost did not make it to America (I am probably being ver over dramatic here).

I picked D up from work around midnight.  Our flight left St. John's around 7, but St. John's is about 3-4 hours away (really takes me back to my Nebraska days).  We were about halfway through our trip when I gasped and saw my life flash before my eyes.  D slammed on the breaks...then swerved to the right to avoid the creature.

Moose.

Those things are huge.  All I remember seeing was legs when I looked out the windshield.  Thank goodness Dan interpreted my gasp as meaning moose because he could not see a thing since there was an oncoming car.

There are around 700 moose related accidents in Newfoundland every year.  The government is actually spending around 5 million dollars to build "moose proof" fences, and giving out almost 13,000 more moose hunting licenses.

I also learned that moose are not native to Newfoundland.  They were actually brought here from New Brunswick about a century ago.  Now there are almost 120,000 moose in Newfoundland.  They do not jump out of nowhere like deer.  They are somewhat slow (unless aggravated), and where there is one...there is usually not another.

Moose like to move at night.  Mix complete darkness with fog, and mammals that can weigh up to 1,500 pounds...it usually ends up no good.  A car will just take the knees out from the animal, and in return the animal just falls over on top of your car.

I am glad we are ok, and that D has learned his lesson to drive a bit slower.

--E


Facts and images taken from:
Victims of Moose Crashes sue N.L. government
Moose Collisions:  Newfoundland Government to Spend $5M In Prevention
Newfies to sue Newfoundland because of moose problems
Loose Moose Wreaking Havoc On Newfoundland Roads

Home Sweet Home

Welcome to Burin!  Population 2470ish.  Once an old fishing community, but now, I am not really sure what the people do...  However, it is now home.

My mom said that every couple needs to live in a trailer at some point in their relationship.  Our time is now, and thank goodness it is only for 5-6 more weeks.

Home Sweet Home

Actually, it really isn't that bad.  There are 2 additions, one which holds a living room, and the other what my family would call a "mud room" (which has very low ceilings, so as a result, D does not enter).   The furnishings are pretty comfortable, and the view is amazing.

View from our porch.  Newfoundland is known for a lot of fog.

 We are about a 8 minute jog away from a 2.5 km trail, which I go to everyday...sometimes twice a day (wedding/honeymoon body here I come!)  There really is no "downtown."  All the homes and business just follow the coast...for miles...and miles...actually kilometers and kilometers.

Typical evening stroll

Views from the little park I go to...

To get groceries, we have to go to Marystown.  There are two options:  Sobey's and No Frills.  There is also a Wal-Mart.  Also, about a 35 minute walk away is the Burin Cinema.  They have one movie a week...showing at 8 pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday.

Living here is very relaxing, and it is definitely a great experience.  In about a week and a half we will be visiting the other side of "The Rock," which I am really excited about....

Till the next time...

--E

NYC Day Trip

Whenever I think of New York City, I think of Nelly's song "Ride Wit Me."  He says:

"...Tellin' me about a party up in NYC.  Can I make it? Damn right.  I be on the next flight.  Payin' cash, first class, sittin' next to Vanna White."

Now of course, Nelly, most likely, would be flying out of St. Louis, not St. John's, Newfoundland, but the rest of these lyrics kind of sum up what we did.  D asked if I would like to join him to New York City on Sunday, I said sure, let's take the first flight in the morning (which was also the next).  However, I did not get to sit first class, but he did...he lovingly brought me a fruit cup...what a guy.  I am pretty sure Vanna White was not on the flight either, but maybe someone famous Canadian was...not sure.

Anyway, D had to go there for work, so I tagged along.  We flew into Newark around 9:30, and took a bus to the city.  It dropped us off at Times Square by 11.

Me...first time in NYC!

Here is a little tidbit about D and I.  We love good restaurants.  We have kind of made our own little bucket list to visit all the places Adam Richman does, and to go to all the places listed on Chow Down Countdown, and possibly Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives... You get the point.  So, even though we would have loved to go see the NYC hot spots, we decided to check out Katz's, a famous New York City Deli.  Adam Richman visits this spot and orders the pastrami sandwich.

This place was packed.  And delicious.  And a bit pricey for a sandwich of somewhat normal size.  D got the pastrami.  I ordered the rueben with corned beef.  The pastrami meat was delicious, and I wish I would have paid the extra 50 cents to get it on my rueben.  Lesson learned.

After lunch, we pretty much just wandered around.  We took the Subway back to the Times Square area.  D needed to print some documents so we went to the New York City Public Library in Manhattan in Bryant Park.  After the documents were printed, we headed toward Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall.

During our wandering, we came across a movie set.  There was a huge crowd just watching...so of course, I had to stop for a while.  The movie is called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  It is actually a remake of a 1947 film starring Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig.  I am not sure if we saw any of the actual stars, but we got the see the extras do their thing.  Pretty amazing all the work that goes into maybe a 5 minute part of the film.

After the star struck syndrome wore off, we walked back to Times Square for some more photo ops, and to get some ice cream.  

After the ice cream we headed back to the Newark Airport, and took our flight back to St. John's at 7 PM.  Needless to say, the guards at the Canadian customs were a little confused why I came into Canada on the 16th, left the 17th, and returned again the 17th, with just a purse...  Ha!

--E