Finishing Up.

Our time on Okinawa is coming to an end soon.  Soon, but not soon enough.  Not soon enough, but will a million things left to do.

Matt is on duty today, so I am left to my own devices.  I’ve been cleaning for approximately four hours (to be honest, I have taken a few breaks).  My to-do list for today is long and not much has been crossed off.  Many tasks have been started and left hanging.  I might have Adult ADD.

I’ve finally put my suitcase away and found the postcards we meant to send to our parents.  Oops.  I guess we didn’t have enough time on vacation, either.

I have been listening to three new albums – Illuminations by Josh Groban, Sigh No More from Mumford and Sons, and Come Around Sundown by Kings of Leon.  Joshie-poo has indeed let me down with Illuminations.  None of his songs should include the word “babe” unless it’s a Christmas album.  I have shocked myself and really enjoy Mumford & Sons.  It was Matt’s pick and I’m generally not down with his Alt/Indie picks.  KOL… well, I don’t know.  It took me a while to warm up to Only by the Night, but then I fell madly in love with the album.   I don’t know how I feel about Come Around Sundown.  Maybe a few more listens.  Okay, the music critic is done.

We went to True Grit last night.  Generally, I cannot keep myself awake during westerns. And I NEVER fall asleep during movies. I hate westerns.  Hate.  BUT: I really enjoyed True Grit.  Jeff Bridges is fantastic and Hailie Steinfeld was shockingly good for a newcomer.  Jeff, if you win the Oscar again, I will be: A.) happy for you and B.) really pissed off that you took it from my old boyfriend Colin Firth. 

Okay, okay, I admit I’m rambling.  I just don’t want to finish my chores.  Boo.

The Vacation Rundown.

We love Canada.  We love it.  I would live there.  That, essentially, sums up the awesome that was our vacation.  We spent almost as much time in transit as we did vacationing, but I supposed that’s okay.  We got to see a lot.

Our first stop was Montreal, where we did a significant amount of shopping.  THERE WAS A TRI-LEVEL GAP STORE.  THAT WAS SELLING BRAS FOR $8 EACH.  That alone was worth the whole vacation.  I was in heaven.  We went into three different Roots stores about five times over the course of the vacation just because I knew I needed some Roots-y goodness, I just couldn’t throw down $70 on a hoodie.  I relented when the price fell to $45.  Still a little guilty about it, though.  Anyway, this is us on Mont Royal:

After a few days in Montreal, we headed to Quebec City.  Quebec City was beautiful.  It was a big city that has small town charm.  There is a large section of QC “inside the wall,” a former military fort.  Everything in that area has a lovely old European feel to it.  The food was pretty good and Matt got his second taste of his new favorite desert, sugar pie.  On our walk around town, I took this picture especially for Annie:

Because you should not use Comic Sans if you expect anyone to take you seriously.

We had planned on two full days in QC before heading to Boston to see Evan, but the nor’easter had other plans.  So, we left Quebec City after a day around 1630 (when it was pitch black) and got to Evan’s place about 0100.  And then Evan passed out the Zimas we really started having fun.  Oh, Evan.

If you don’t remember Evan, he was practically Matt’s live-in boyfriend during the World Cup last summer.  He’s also pretty lucky because there are two, maybe three of Matt’s friends that I like enough that I would interrupt our vacation to spend a few days with.

Since most of Boston was snowed in that first day, we pretty much had the city to ourselves.  We tromped around in the snow, learning Boston facts and trying not to lose feeling in our extremities.  After a lovely progressive dinner of clam chowder (omg, the waiter said “chow-dah”) and oysters (and a shrimp burger for me), we tra-la-la’d off to TD Garden to watch the Celtics beat the Kings.  I think it was the Kings.  Is there a Kings in the NBA?

Our second day in Boston was awesome because Evan gave us a sweet tour of his alma mater, Harvard University.  He even kindly endured my questions, such as “So, did they sort you into houses (dorms) by random, or did they have a sorting hat?” and “Would Professor Snape put a spell on you if you didn’t finish your homework?”  But seriously, look at these pictures – Harvard is the closest thing the U.S. has to Hogwarts.

Finally, we returned to Montreal for some hardcore shopping and the Biodome.  All in all, a spectacular vacation.  Matt says his favorite thus far, although my vote still falls with Buenos Aires.

Quickly.

Canada is my new favorite place.

This is Matt's new favorite song.


And some GSP eye candy (ins a Habs jersey, no less) just because I didn't see him, only his hometown.  Oh well.

Montreal.

Tomorrow, we head out for Montreal.  I've got my Kindle, my iPod, my passport, my insulin and I think I am ready to go.


We will also spend some time in Boston with Matt's BF, Evan, taking in a Celtics game and doing very Boston-y things.

Did I mention we will be freezing our tushies off?

Pictures may or may not come in the future.  They will probably be posted once I quit my job and return to the leisurely life of  an unemployed woman.  Sometime before the Oscars (so I can get my party on).

Anyway, I'm rambling.

Matt + Andrea + Kindle = Flying to Canada tomorrow.