Goings and comings and sore muscles.

Hello Family!

So I was on the way to Tirana and I think that i got lost.... I don't know where I ended up but these are some of the people that I met.

Northerners.... minus the head covering

"Don't I look pretty"

I didn't get the memo.

I went to Tirana this past weekend because there was a Campus for Christ 20th year anniversary. I know Aldo and his wife Blerina and they are working with High School Students in Tirana. I had a good time but I was so exhausted (sleeping late.... I'm the type that needs sleep) and trying to talk Albanian with an exhausted mind is like swimming through a big pool of chocolate pudding. 

I did have a nice time though walking around a park and enjoying being outside. I wanted to straighten my hair (mostly because I left their house early and didn't have time to do my hair so I wore a hat and then i figured that going to fancy evening with hat hair just doesn't do it in Albania where they dress up to the Nines! And also because I had about 3 hours to kill and didn't know what else to do and didn't feel like shopping....) Anyways, I did it, took the picture.

This week I'm going to be here on Sunday, I got confused with the week. Its on the 3rd that I'm not here as I'll be coming back from Montenegro.

There was a bus accident here just this past week and a bus with University Students went over the edge of a road and into a riven. 13 students have died and most others are still in various hospitals. There was a 'National Black Day'. All activities on the TV and festivals were canceled for that day. I heard from some friends who are working with the University where the students were from, that two of those who passed away were believers.

We painted our house on Monday and Tuesday. We just need to paint the two bedrooms and then we are finished. But we were too exhausted and maybe that'll be this next week's plans. The house was almost black from the wood stove smoke so we had to paint most of the living room/ kitchen area by hand. The walls also kept coming off every time we used the roller brushes. Ha ha. We'd be painting and then someone would say 'oh no' and then we'd have to scrape at the spot to get off the flaking wall. The paint is also really funny, its like powder. Is that normal?? Its wet but after it dries its powdery. Anyways we finished it and now its white!!!  We're excited.

I've been talking to Joy (grandpa's cousin Norm and Nana's daughter) and I'll be staying with them in Belfast for 5 days. My goal while I'm there is to find a scone the size of my head! (As told by grandpa on numerous occasions!) And to eat an Irish breakfast, which I'm told is a must!

I hope to talk to you guys on Sunday. Hey Wes, will you treat us by being on skype???

Love you guys!

Netty

Only in Quebec . . .

Yesterday, Montreal 'celebrated' its 100th day of student protests! (So much for my theory that the protests would end once summer began and the students started protesting on their own time.)  Anyways, yesterday the protestors (students and now concerned citizens of Montreal) invented a novel way of voicing their displeasure against the Jean Charest Government (the protest is no longer just about tuition, but the 'anti-protesting' law Bill 78, the blatant corruption and all other manners of annoyances - great and small).  At 8pm sharp, people in neighbourhoods around the city, leaned out their windows, stood on their balconies and made noise - they banged pots and pans, they shouted, they chanted and they clapped.  Today, at 8pm sharp it started again.  They've been at it for 1/2 an hour already, though it has gotten quieter (its tiring banging a pot - not that that I know from personal experience . . . ).  Today, one of the residents in the building seranade the mainly percussion beat with his/her sax - at one point they actually had a good thing going.   I tried to capture the sound in MP3 format, but I can't figure out how to attach it to the blog - anyone know who it can be done?

Banana Pancakes

Hi All,

I have been on a bit of a Banana Pancake kick and thought that I would post an awesome recipe for these breakfast delights.  The reason for the Banana kick is I recently realized that I am able to steal/borrow permanently massive quantities of overripe bananas, that are going to be thrown out, from work and put them to some delicious uses.

You might want to make and freeze a double batch of these hearty pancakes to reheat in the toaster for a satisfying and easy midweek breakfast. Serve with maple syrup.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (250 mL) large-flake rolled oats
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) baking soda
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
• 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) butter, melted
• 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil

Preparation

In large bowl, whisk together flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, bananas, butter and vanilla; pour over flour mixture and stir until almost smooth. Let stand for 10 minutes. 

Heat nonstick skillet or griddle to medium heat; brush lightly with some of the oil. Pour in about 1/3 cup (75 mL) batter for each pancake; cook for about 3 minutes or until underside is golden and bubbles break on top but do not fill in. 

Turn and cook until underside is golden brown, about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing skillet with more oil as necessary. (Make-ahead: Wrap individually in plastic wrap and freeze in airtight container for up to 1 month. Reheat in toaster.)

Source : Canadian Living Magazine: November 2007

Letting the batter sit for 10 minutes is important as it will really help the pancakes rise.

Enjoy!

Why must men be so . . . manish?

OK, So I try to dress modestly and appropriately. I try to keep in mind the struggles men deal with in regards to a woman's attire, but colour?!? really?!? I found this article on a popular science website (http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/02/the-red-dress-effect.html), which essentially links the colour red with lust. The study asked men if a model wearing a modest long sleeve tee-shirt appeared to be more interested in sex when she was wearing a white or a red shirt. According to 25 men (unsure ethnic/cultural background or age), the woman in red appeared "more open to sexual advances". REALLY?!?!? I love wearing the colour red. It makes me feel pretty, but if its giving guys the wrong idea . . . So, men in my life (i.e. Dad and Wes), is this true? Does this study have a hint of truth, or is it just a poorly designed study with undefined variables and a too-small sample size (ah statistics . . . )

Interesting food blog

Hi All

I came across this interesting food blog. Since some of us have slow cookers now, it has a number of recipes for slow cookers. They look good. I haven't tried anything yet but planning to do a pulled pork recipe.

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/

Long live Technology!!

For all you techno-nerds, and techno-challenged people - Google has determined the new and improved Smart phone technology - Google Tap.  Based on Morse code - you can now send texts/emails, using just the dot and dash.  No more Fat-finger slip-ups, No more space hogging keyboard.  Now, with Google Tap, you can text/email without looping at the screen and there is even a feature which allows you to tap out two messages at the same time - and new technology is in the pipeline which will allow you to tap out even more - multi-tasking at its best.  All you need is to memorize the easy-to-learn Morse code and its off to the races.  Good for the techno-savvy AND those who don't know how to answer their phones.  See the YOUTUBE video for more info!



For more info:  http://mail.google.com/mail/help/promos/tap/index.html

St. Patty's Parade

So I know that St. Patrick's Day was LAST weekend - but I was distracted - Ok I was reading (North and South - excellent book), but anyways back to St. Patrick's Day. . . Montreal is home to the largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Canada - partially because of the large Irish population, and partially because Montrealers like any reason to go out and party (be it a celebration or a protest . . . ). It was a beautiful day - the temperature was near +20, the sun was shining brightly and the crowd was ready to be pleased. I only stuck around for half of the parade (I personally don't find parades that exciting - I like the marching bands best - hmmm Bagpipes and snare drums), but I took some pics, some of which I will share a few.

The Parade started with the man of the hour - good ol' St. Pat himself.
This was the RCMP pipe band - they were really good - I wish they would have just stayed there and played for the rest of it.
The crowned princesses and queen of the parade. Fun Fact: the queen and her court used to be winners of a beauty pagent, but are now winners of a speech contest.
Ah, the Shriners (who are they anyway?!?)
And of course the required fire truck . . . with maybe a few very nice looking firemen riding on top . . . not that I noticed :)

Anyways, that's just a glimpse of this years Montreal parade. It was a nice day, and despite the crowdedness, was pleasant to stand and watch the passing people.