La Nation Huronne-Wendat

To divert from my shingles topic, here's a late post about my travel to Quebec in 2014.

When I was doing a search for places to visit in Quebec, Wendake came out as one of the places to visit.

Taken from the Wendake Nation website:

The story of the Wendat people is woven into the fields, lakes and mountains of the continent of Georgian Bay at the mouth of the St. Lawrence.  People of farmers and hunters, warriors and seasoned diplomats purposes, Democrat and traders outstanding, the Wendat, called the Hurons by the French, have earned the respect of all peoples visited the east for centuries.  If the pandemic brought against their will by the French overthrew our ancient civilization, which had more than 40,000 people in the time of Champlain, the fire of the Wendat people was never extinguished ...

A painting of what was life like back then.

A mask hangs at the entrance.

Inside the Huron Wendat long house.

Clothes and all types of fur.

One of the performers taking a break.

Feathers.

A welcome dance performed by the kids at the site.

Inuksuks which are very useful when you're lost. They are used for directions.

She is Big Bear, and she was our guide.

This is where they showed us how they build their canoes.

Do I fit in?

My hair was just starting to grow back when this photo was taken. The triangular sign there shows a turtle and on top of it is a tree and a man. The Huron-Wendat nation believes the the Earth is the turtle, and when the Earth shakes, it means the turtle is moving.

This is the front of the long house.

A yellow snail.

I learned a lot while visiting this place, and I highly recommend it if you're visiting the area. There's also a museum there which we didn't get to visit because we were short of time. I would certainly love to visit the museum when I get the chance to visit again.

***

In the meantime, work is becoming frustratingly challenging. One colleague is leaving, and I'm a little upset because I work great with her. I am also hoping we'd hire some people soon because we're short of three people. I feel like we're crippled at times.

Oh well...life can be challenging but we have to keep moving forward. How was your Monday?

Fifth Week And Fighting

I don't mean to be negative, but I am so exhausted.  

Exhausted of being sick.  Shingles is now enjoying its fifth week. I bet his having the time of his life making my life miserable. I keep thinking he came with a planner and an agenda too.

 I feel like taking a nap right now. This is Dizzy in a good mood.

Last week, I had an appointment with my transplant doctor, and she said that it will take some time to recover. At times, I wish Shingles would take the form of a mean person so that I could punch it on the face and knock it to the ground real good.

Yup, I am getting really impatient.

In the mean(est) of times, I will:

• continue to push myself and show up at work
• drag myself to the last three weeks of grad school (almost there)
• graduate on May 15
• enjoy this year's blooming of tulips and cherry blossoms
• look forward to spending time with my cousin, Andrea, and one of my best friends, Weng
• keep on planning for our Ireland trip (finally, my doctor cleared me for travel)
• continue to be grateful for everything - that is no matter what the day brings

Here's a face that never fails to make me smile. Daisy when she's ready for a walk.

How about you? What makes you smile? What keeps you fighting? I do hope that today, you find that love, that comfort, that face that makes you smile.

Of Donuts, Burgers And Chocolates

After an agonizing three weeks of living with shingles, it was the first time I went out last night.  Kepi and I had dinner at Peri-Peri and spent sometime shopping afterwards.  Well, my left eye has not fully recovered yet, but I am hoping the next few weeks will be a lot easier.  Spring break is coming to an end, and I really need all my senses back together as I delve into the next five weeks of spring semester.

After shopping, we decided to hit Krispy Kreme.  Yup, lucky us the Krispy Kreme shop is open until 12 AM.

 Fresh from the fryer! You gotta have one of those. I had two.

On Saturday morning, I woke up to the sound of rain tapping the bedroom window.  I've never been happier to hear the rain.  I think this winter has overstayed its welcome because right now, I truly miss the warmth of the sun.

For lunch, Kepi and I tried the newly opened The Burger Joint.  I was impressed with The Burger and I love their sweet potato fries. I'll be surely going back to try their other burgers.

 I thought their burger was big, but it was also delicious.

Here's the husband's giant onion rings.

Since I'm a certified chocoholic, I picked me up one of these from the Lindt shop. Lindt was having a 50% off on all chocolates.

Just an update from me. I'm quite happy that I can finally get out, but I am not fully recovered yet.  This is one of the longest time I've dealt with a disease.  I think this is expected because my body is still recovering from my transplant.  Honestly, I desperately want to get better.  Please send some prayers my way.

I hope everyone's doing well.

Snow In March

I am not yet fully recovered from shingles.

Recently, I've noticed that my eyes are so sensitive to light, and my left eye is still bloodshot.  Not to mention the nerve pain still lingers.  I am miserable at times, but I keep looking for the light at the end of this tunnel.  There are moments shingles is kicking my butt, but I have to keep moving forward. I have to get better, and I keep hoping soon.

 No matter how cold, the sky remains blue.  We got a foot of snow from the recent storm.

 Kepi and Daisy during our afternoon walk.

 An afternoon of shadows, light and snow.

 Our neighborhood after the snowstorm.

Daisy and I out for an afternoon walk.

 A real snow dog, Daisy never fails to show me how to be a kid at heart.

Finally, I got to taste the new M&M Crispy.  It's not that bad but I still prefer the ones with peanuts.

Well, I'm on spring break, and I really need this week to recover. I have about five weeks left of this semester, and I can't wait to graduate in May. Being sick is tough because I missed three classes, but I am hoping I can catch up.

For now, I have to get better.

Do I Need New Friends?

After two agonizing weeks with shingles, today is a bit better.

I still feel like crap though and my skin looks like it was burnt.  My face is hideous; at least the part affected by shingles is.  My left eye is blurry and I have that itchy, sensitive feeling on my scalp.  The Ophthalmologist checked my eye on Friday, and he said everything looks great.  I have to see him again in a week.  I didn't know shingles can be so dangerous especially when it affects the eye.  Thank God for early diagnosis and timely intervention of the anti-viral drugs, it could have been worse.  I'm pissed because having shingles will postpone my May vaccinations.

Winter, icy conditions and sickness can really reel in the blues.  I've been feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Lately, I've been contemplating about the lack thereof or having too few friends in the area.  I know I have many childhood and high school friends (you know who you are), but almost all of them live abroad.

Is it really harder to make friends when you're older? Or have I simply stopped making the effort to make friends?

I've Got Shingles

and it is so painful.

I'll be on sick leave for almost two weeks. I've got the nasty lesions on my forehead and left eye.  My left eye is so swollen and blurry.

Singles freakin' sucks and I feel angry.

Well, we got unexpected snow this weekend.  As I write this post, it's about a foot now.

 Kepi shoveling the driveway. We were thinking it might be time to move to a warmer state.

Watching snow from our bedroom window.

After shoveling the snow, Kepi is now making chicken and rice soup.

Thank you Kepi. You ALWAYS make me feel so much better even when I'm at my lowest points.

One-Way Ticket To Mars

If you were chosen, would you go to Mars knowing that it's a one-way ticket?

When I'm not snoring sleeping on the Metro on my way to work, I usually scan the pages of express, a free publication offered to Metro riders.  This article (photo below) got my attention.

This Mars thing is from a company called Mars One. There were 200,000 applicants interested to go to Mars. Currently, there are 660 people chosen. Tomorrow, it will be reduced to 100.  The three people featured below are still in contention. As you can see, one is from Virginia and two are from D.C.

They have several reasons why they want to go, but one thing I can deduce is the chance to make a mark. Don't we all want that? Or, do we? Maybe not, but I don't know.

In the article, the questions, (1) What would you miss on Earth? and (2) What would you bring to Mars?, were posted to Daniel, Derrick and Dr. Zucker.  Daniel of Virginia said he'll miss the birth of his grandchild. Derrick of D.C. said he'll miss his family, but he also mentioned that going to Mars would bring pride to his family as well. Dr. Zucker of D.C. didn't mention anything she'd miss and she sounded most apt and prepared with her decision to go. I quote her statement below:

People ask, "Why would you want to go?" But I see the reverse. Why wouldn't I want to go? People ask, "Well what if you die?" Well, I could die getting hit by a car tomorrow. I could die of old age. Or, I could die trying to be the first human to set foot on Mars. Why wouldn't I want that? (express, 02.12.2015 issue)

When asked what they would bring to Mars? Daniel said he'll bring his mandolin.  Derrick his iPod.  And, Dr. Zucker said he'll bring her husband, but if she can't bring him then she'll bring her "Looney Pyramids," a deck of playing cards.

I love the whole idea of becoming a pioneer and the idea of living in another planet is so exciting. But it also worries me that we've been living on Earth yet we're failing to protect and take care of it.  How could we even think of populating yet another planet? I don't know...just my thought.

But if given the chance, would I go? No, thank you.

You can say that I don't have the spirit of a space pioneer, but I don't like the idea of a one-way ticket to Mars. It's scary. Perhaps this fear stems from those science fiction movies I've seen featuring human devouring aliens and even if there are no hostile, bloodthirsty aliens out there, look at that movie, Gravity, even the character that George Clooney plays dies in space.  Call me a coward, I don't care. I don't like a one-way ticket to uncertainty. Not to mention I still haven't explored much of Earth. Besides, I'd miss my family and friends too much.

I guess the second question does not apply to me.

How about you? Would you go? Why? What would you bring to Mars?

Monday, Monday!

At home today, feeling sick.  I wasn't able to sleep last night at all.  Since they've started tapering all my medications, my body has been going through a lot of aches and pains.  My doctor said it's typical to feel this way as my body is adjusting again. I hope to feel normal...soon. Whatever "normal" means for me these days.

Daisy's been under the weather as well. Kepi took her to the vet today and she had a complete check-up. All seems to be normal except that she's been unable to keep her food. I do hope that with the coming of the warmer weather, she'll bounce back. I do miss playing with her at the backyard.

Here's Daisy in one of her pensive moments. She tends to be camera shy just like Dizzy.

Kepi and I having breakfast at a Starbucks after church yesterday. Happy Valentine's Day!

For some great news, my doctor said travel is a "go" as long as I get my vaccinations first.  I am scheduled to get my first round of shots in mid-May.  Kepi and I are excited about planning our trip/s this year. How I've missed traveling the exhilaration and freedom that comes with it. I can't wait!

Well...tonight we're expecting snow and sleet.  I am still hoping for a snow day!

White Birthday!

Yesterday, I turned a year older.

Due to work and my evening class, we didn't do anything special. We were supposed to host a Saturday party to celebrate both my first re-birthday and birthday, but we decided to just celebrate at a restaurant instead. I am looking forward to hanging out with an old friend.

The best thing about my birthdays? I get to celebrate "me," and realize how lucky I am to be here.

We've been getting a lot of snow, and we're expecting more this Thursday and Friday.  Here are a few photos from my phone.

I love how the snow rests on the tree branches. This is the Cherry Blossom at our front yard.

 Daisy is officially a snowdog. Daisy loves the white stuff so much.

 Due to the snow and cold temperatures, some neighbors still have their Christmas decorations up.

 Taken in the morning before driving to work.

It is cold, but I can't complain. 

There is so much beauty in winter. To tell you the truth, I am not yet ready for spring because it was in the winter of my life that I learned to appreciate my existence.

Parc De La Chute-Montmorency And Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre

This is a late post, but I really enjoyed Quebec City! I might have a post or two left for this charming place.

After my friend's wedding, Kepi and I wanted to explore beyond Montreal. We drove to Quebec City and we truly enjoyed what this city has to offer.

Here's Montmorency Falls.

It was a refreshing site to see, and we enjoyed the walk from the Welcome Center to the waterfall itself.

I would have loved climbing up there, but my body wasn't strong enough. It just dawned on me that I've lost so much muscle that it may take me a while to regain my stamina and strength.

I heard that in winter, the rock faces of the cliffs on each side can get frozen and open for adventurous ice climbers.  This is one reason I told Kepi I'd like to see Quebec City in the winter.

The towering waterfall is 83 m (272') tall, a full 30 m (99') higher than Niagara Falls.

After Montmorency Falls, Kepi and I drove to visit Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre.  From Montmorency, it was a good 15 to 50 minutes drive to reach the shrine.

The Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre.

It was so windy when we visited.

But inside the church, I felt peace and calm.

Churches and cathedrals have the power to make one feel small, but that's because it's true. In this vast world we live in, we are but just specks of dust.

This room we found by accident at the lower level of the church. The ceiling looked like a blue sky with stars. It felt warm and cozy.

There is so much to love and see in Quebec City.