Snow… yes there was snow!!!

`"Bidoouuuu!!! Unhook the water, the electricity and close the pull-outs of CCTop we are leaving!!! "… those are the exact words I said to Bidou this morning when I saw the snow coming down. I can't believe that we live in a great big home on wheels and we are still stuck in Abitibi. I guess I can't really complain because it is a bit my fault. I really must finish this DEP before leaving… or else I will never finish it. I am really working hard to finish this course in a record time.

Congrats -

Congratulations to my sister Michelle and my brother Ricky for completing a 320 km bike ride last weekend. They biked from Gatineau, QC to Montreal, QC then back...

What an accomplishment! Next year, I am considering joining my sibblings and it can become an yearly "Lemieux Event"... or maybe yet... NOT!

Letter to my dearest Camille

Dear Camille,

Can you believe that it's been 11 years since I adopted you?? I can still remember that Saturday when I entered the SPCA and saw you there in that cage... all by yourself. At first, I thought you were an adult dog... then I noticed a sign saying that you were only a 8 month old pup. You stared at me with those big brown eyes. I then took you out of that cage and you placed that little head of yours on my shoulder. I couldn't help than falling in love with you right there and then!!!

Since that time, my dearest Camille, you have become the joy of my life.. my "raison d'être".

Happy 11 year adoption anniversary, Camille!!!

Love you...
Mom

Another editon of the Gratitude Journal

Since in the last week, I've been completely neglecting my blog - I will try to recap by writing an edition of my Gratitude Journal

• I am grateful for the great afternoon and evening that Bidou, Camille and I spent at the "Auberge" last Saturday
  
• I am grateful that my "belle-maman" has been cooking all the meals and that supper is on the table when I get home from school
  
• I am grateful for the great hike (well it was more a walk but hike sounds more adventurous) we did on Saturday at the "Grand Héron"
  
• I am grateful that I have been very busy with school work
  
• I am grateful that we can use the "bo-parents" restroom since the toilet in CCTop is no longer where it is suppose to be.
  
• I am grateful that I passed an exam and that I only have 6 more to go
  
• And I am very grateful that Bidou start seeing a chiropractor and that he no longer has a sore back.

Fodder Martin !!!

When Bidou and I lived in New Jersey, I quit my great Manhattan job at the Canadian Consulate to work for Fodder Martin at Assumption Church in Morristown.... well it didn't really happen like that... put please don't burst my bubble.

We left New Jersey in July 2008 and since then I - let's include Bidou in the following statement since I am sure he does too - so WE greatly miss Father Martin and the whole gang from Assumption Church. Last Sunday, Fr. Martin retired after 51 years in the priesthood. The gang from Assumption held a mega picnic in his honor. Unfortunately, we were not able to make it!

We love you and miss you, Father....

Here are some pictures from last Sunday :

It is update time

This morning while I was laying in bed thinking about "Blogging Ideas" it occured to me that maybe just maybe some of you - meaning you my faithfull followers that reads my blog regularly would like some updates in regards to some previous posts...

So here are some updates :

• My "bo-père's" surgery went well. He was released from the Sherbrooke, QC hospital yesterday. And they will be home tomorrow... so tomorrow, I will no longer be home alone.
• The Jacket has never been found. However, I now stare down any female that I see in LaSarre wearing any sort of beige jacket... just it case it's The Jacket.
• Reading a book every 2 weeks - well I haven't touch a book in the last month. I think I am now obsessed in reading other people's blogs instead of books.
• Bidou installed without hesitation some great fake toenails a month ago for his cousin's wedding. They were a hit... well in my eyes they were (okay, no one noticed!!!)
• No change to my brother's kid-like-in-a-grown-up-body sense of life;
• And finally on a sad note, Theresa Pelletier, friend of the family passed away on September 11th.

And by the way... comments or suggestions for posts ideas are always welcome!!!!

Living the life of a Chazeloisienne

Definition of a Chazeloisienne : female resident of Chazel, QC

Today, I decided to do exactly what every girl living in Chazel, Qc does on a Saturday afternoon and that is to run errands in LaSarre, QC. However, I did the impossible, I stayed in town for a whole 5 hours.

To better understand why it is a hard task to complete, let me draw you a picture of LaSarre, QC -

Imagine you are driving into town... right before arriving on Main Street, there is a small strip mall where you can find the IGA (the grocery store), a Aubainerie Concept Mode (mode? ya right) and the Canadian Tire (Bidou's favorite hang-out). If you continue your way a bit further, you hit the major intersection. On each corner of this intersection you will find the Tim Horton's (at least there is a Tim's) the Jean-Coutu, the bowling alley and the Subway (and I am not talking about the public transportation). And there you have it... a picture of LaSarre, QC. Oh ya.. I must not forget the stores on the Main Street : the video store, the dry cleaners, Deschênes (where Bidou buys bubble gum for $8.00 - long story let's not go there), the Catholic Church, the hairdressers/beauticians, and the thrift store where The Jacket once lived!!!

So I hope you now get the picture why it is a hard task to have spended 5 hours in a town like LaSarre, QC !!!!!

The best secret in town!

Being home alone this week hasn't been so bad "food-wise that is" since I discovered on Wednesday afternoon the following: Cheap Delicious Food. Now I will never complain that there is NOTHING good to eat in Abitibi.

At the same school where I attend this DEP course – y'know the course that is keeping Kouisse & Cie from hitting the road in CCTop – there is also a cooking class. These students are all wannabe chefs and they spent their days practicing their "fine cuisine" recipes… and now for the best part – they sell the leftovers! So since Wednesday I've been eating like a queen. The girl at the counter "Chantal" that distributes the leftover food already knows me by my first name!!!

So I've been eating the following:

Wednesday evening - Pork stuffed with "not-to-sure-but-very-tasty" something, with vegetables and this to-die for gravy - $1.00

Thursday evening – Mexican corn and potato-something – and there was enough for a family of 4! - $2.00

Tonight I will be eating – Quesadillas, an anti-pasta salad and another salad with pasta and jumbo shrimp - $4.50 – it was a little expensive for the pasta and jumbo shrimp salad but you should see the size of those shrimps.

Tomorrow – I will be eating – filet of sole stuffed with mushrooms and spinach – $2.00

Now maybe I will never want to leave Abitibi!!!!

Memories

A friend of the family, Theresa Pelletier has been in the hospital since Monday - the doctor's are not too confident. Theresa has been fighting cancer on and off for the last 10 years. Her courage has been amazing!! I am really saddened by this news. Last night, it got me thinking about Theresa… and one of my earliest childhood memories has Theresa in it…

I remember going to Theresa's one afternoon and entering the apartment, I remember noticing a bunch of red fishes in the fish tank then her telling me to go hide in the back room– you see Stéphane, her only child and my wannabe boyfriend when I was 5 or 6 years old was babysat by Mom and I would often go over to her apartment after her picking up Stéphane when she came home from work – then coming out of the back room I saw the fishes again!!! I later learned that some of the fishes were floating on the top and she wanted to remove them (and probably flushed them) before I started to ask questions about the floating fishes. Strange how we can remember the dandiest things!!

My prayers are with Theresa and her family!

A letter to Bidou

Dear Bidou,

Being home alone in CCTop last night was great. After school, I was craving some sushi but in La Sarre you talk about sushi and they think you are from outer space so I stopped at the IGA (the 1 of 2 grocery stores in town) and picked up some olives, a slice of Brie and some very spicy Mexican salami. Trust me the combination was delicious.

When I got home, Camille was very excited to see me until she noticed that you were not around. She then spent the next hour searching in the garage, in the in-law's house, in CCTop, in the wood shed, in the car, then back in the house... poor thing, she really thought you were hiding from her.

I had a list of things to do last night but ended up doing well... not much!! Read the magazine you bought me (thanks by the way!), had a nap, watched some tv then went to bed for the night. Well that was pretty much my evening!

Love, Kouisse

P.S. You know that chocolate bar that your mother left in the pantry - well please tell her that it was delicious!

Home Alone and Gratitude Journal!

Starting at noon today I will be home alone in CCTop until next Sunday. My "bo-père" is having major surgery on Friday morning and Bidou, "belle-maman" and "bo-père" is traveling to the hospital in Sherbrooke, QC for this surgery. My prayers will definitely be with him.

Gratitude Journal

Why I am grateful:

• I am grateful for the television cable that Bidou and "bo-père" installed in CCTop. I can now watch Gino on "Salut Bonjour" in the morning.
• I am also grateful for the incredible strong plunger that Bidou bought at Canadian Tire for $19.99;
• I am grateful that we can now "flush" the grey and black water out of CCTop;
• I am grateful that it is now past Labor Day and the fashion lady says that I can start wearing my black and grey long stockings under my skirts.
• But I am especially grateful that my big toe on my right foot is no longer numb after wearing high hells at the wedding on Saturday.

The event of the "Decade"

Julie, Bidou's sister got married over Labor Day weekend and what a great wedding it was. Julie and her now new hubby Richard got married in their hometown of Chazel, QC and can you believe that the church in Chazel, QC hadn't seen a wedding since 1997?? So it was definetly the town event of the decade.

Julie, the bride

Bidou's siblings!

his brother Jérome, sister Caroline and his sister Julie, the bride

Bidou was a lector at the wedding

Look how handsome he is?

Recap of the week

TGIF – I only had 3 days of school this week but they were indeed long days. I am trying to give my best at school since finishing this DEP course determines when CCTop & cie. hit the road.

Since last Tuesday evening, CCTop has been parked at my in-laws in Chazel, QC and will be until the end of October. We actually have a great set-up. My "bo-père" installed a 30 amp plug-in to his garage so CCTop has enough power when I blow-dry my hair, brew the morning coffee and have the small heater by my side. We also have running water and my "bo-père" even installed a small step so I don't fall when coming out of CCTop. How nice is he? I think he really likes having ME around!!! Next week, Bidou will be fixing up CCTop to the sewer system so we can start flushing out... if you get my drift.

Have a safe Labour Day weekend!!!