Friday, October 20, 2006

all in a day's work


Okay, this is going to be a wee bit of a ranting session. First of all, it really, really ticks me off when people from the city call me or email me and say, "Aren't you bored up there?" "What do you do up there?" Ummmmmmmm....It irritates me when they think that because I don't work a 9 to 5 job and commute two hours to and from work like I used to in the city, that I have nothing to do and that I'm bored. Lemme tell ya, there's nuthin' boring about living "up here".

Take today, for instance. I got up at the crack of dawn, hubby and I had breakfast, I cleaned the kitchen, fed the animals, split firewood, loaded the wagon with 5 cords of firewood, picked 4 big bushels of apples, made 11 tubs of applesauce, made lunch for hubby, did some more firewood splitting (we have a lot of orders to ship out this weekend), organized the curriculum for the next ESL session...and all this while hubby was doing his errands, attending meetings and then off to do chores at the barn. Luckily, we had supper at my parents' tonight, so I didn't have to cook :) It's nice to have a little treat once in a while. I was just so beat and my arms felt like jello! No need for Turbo-Jam anymore :)

So, imagine days like this, only combining teaching students English from 9-12 and then again at 1 to 3 PM AND helping with our family business (our quaint little inn...that's very busy in the summer)!! I also do story time at the library on Saturdays, amongst other community things. So, how can I possibly have nothing to do "up here"?

Lastly, (and for once and for all) Manitoulin Island isn't that far north!!! Contrary to popular belief, the Island isn't really far north at all. Where we are on the Island is even more south than Ottawa and Montreal are (but more north than Toronto).

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok, but..when you lived in Toronto or Montreal, wouldn't you have thought the same thing???

Unknown said...

Yes! You are so right :) Forgot about that. To be honest, I didn't even know where Manitoulin Island was before...nor did I know it even existed! I wasn't upset that friends and family didn't know where Manitoulin was located, but insisted that I don't do anything up here. For some reason they can't seem to understand why I'm not bored up here. They practically INSIST that I SHOULD be bored! One even said, "I guarantee you won't even last 3 months" (and it's been almost 3 years). Sure, the Island isn't somewhere to live for those who need to be near huge malls and need all the luxuries of big cities like movie theaters, restaurants of all sorts, etc...and those are things that I do sometimes miss, but when I miss them, I just go on vacation and visit friends and fam in Toronto, Montreal and NY, and satisfy that urge :) I suppose if I didn't have my own small business and I didn't have a husband to help (saw mill, firewood orders, farm, community associations, charity functions, etc), then maybe I might long for the city more.

Anonymous said...

I been to the island and I like it there. A good place to relax and unwind from city life. Its not for everyone like if your not an active/outdoors person or need to be shopping all the time but its a great place to relax. There's something magical about the place. To be truthful, my husband would like to retire there one day! The fishing's good he says and says that I can always amuse myself going to teas and bazaars!

Anonymous said...

Chris, your wedding made me want to pack up and move to the Island. It won't happen for another few years yet. We still need our city jobs! Unless we buy a small business up there! We were looking at the Expositor and online for real estate. Property is so gosh darn cheap there! For the price of a car, you can buy a few acres of land! Perfect for a get-away from the city and possible residence when we're ready for retirement!

Anonymous said...

I'm a city slicker so I couldn't ever live in the country, but I do love going there for holidays! You're right though. It does take a certain type of person to be able to live there, as it takes a certain type of person to live in the city! I just love the traffic, smog, crime and high taxes here! Not! But I must say I love all the amenities!

Anonymous said...

I've been to Manitoulin Island. Gorgeous white sand beaches there. The sunsets are beautiful. Have you seen the Northern Lights while you've been living up there?

From Anonymous B

Unknown said...

Hi Anonymous B :) Yes, I have seen the Northern Lights up here. They're quite spectacular.

Northern Mom said...

One can never be bored on The Island, it's unheard of even on vacation on a cold and rainy day!

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City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
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