Departure Day: New York!

Initial status: Winnipeg, Stupid Early

Yay! We're off to New York today! The bunnies are in charge back at the house (as per usual) so Stunt Bunny is joining me. It's cold here but not in our destination, so I'm leaving the winter coat and making a mad dash to the cab and hoping for the best!

Status update: Toronto, 1:00 pm local time.
The first flight was fine - but the second leg of the journey is delayed by over an hour.  It's not a problem really but I'm disappointed that I'm losing an hour of New York for an hour of airport. Also, this terminal is under construction so there's nothing to do and only very sad food options. Stunt Bunny is restlessly chewing on cables around the airport.

Status update: Toronto, feels like hours later...
It's snowing rather substantially outside.  There are many delayed flights and lots of increasingly grumpy people. I don't know what it is about airports that creates a specific kind of boredom.  Perhaps it's the combination of anticipation and the cramped uncomfortable seating specifically designed to prevent anyone from enjoying their book. Stunt Bunny is having an overpriced drink to pass the time.

Status update: Toronto, four of the five flights to New York have been cancelled - but not ours (finger's crossed).
My lovely coworkers are emailing suggestions of things to do in Toronto should we too get bumped to one of tomorrow's flights.  I've realized I forgot to tell everyone else I was going anywhere. Stunt Bunny is critiquing my communication skills. 

Status update: Boarding the plane!
Yay - our flight is going through after all - we totally lucked out!  Also, the nice folks at The Musket Room were very understanding when I called and managed to squeeze us in for a later reservation, so today's adventures won't even been hampered much! Stunt Bunny is very excited! 

Not for Puppers

Sorry to our doggie friends, but you won't get to play fetch when you come to visit. Bub has claimed all the apple wood sticks for himself.
He doesn't care for playing fetch, but his burrowing instincts are pretty strong. He's pulled them from the playpen so he can sit on them in his favourite spot while watching documentaries.

Ubuntu (The Cape Town Project)

Stunt Bunny and Вікторія
waiting for the play to start.

South Africa is an incredibly amazing and interesting place.  I had a wonderful three months there, if you ever get the change to visit it's well worth the trip.  So, when I saw that Prairie Theatre Exchange had a play written by a team of folks including South Africans I really wanted to see it!

Here’s the official description: “In South Africa, “ubuntu” refers to the spirit of community and the belief that humanity is tied together. In this collective creation, a young Canadian woman begins to unravel the legacy of her mother, when she meets a young South African man searching for his father. Drawn together by chance and circumstance, they relentlessly pursue the truth, only to realize it will turn their lives upside down. Through spirited storytelling, music and dance, this international collaboration of Canadian and South African artists traces the ties that bind us all.”

From a technical perspective this play was really well done!  The set/props are simple but very effective and clever.  The physicality of how the performers interact with – and create – the environment was quite impressive.  It's playing until November 26 - and I highly recommend you go if you can!  

The story is very engaging, but it has some dark themes, so it’s not really suited for younger children.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Of course, this is a hay manger.
What else would you put in here?

Hoppy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian Humanz!  I hope you're all getting to spend some extra time with your nice familyz too.  I'm super thankful for Jenn’s Furry Friends Rescue who helped me find my forever home! <3

Aftermath

Well, it took a couple of days, but there was a big sale at Artists Emporium so Dawn and I stopped at the Tim's on the way and Dave and I finally got our double doubles.

The Great Belgium Waffle Quest continues...

Sure the capital has 24-hour waffle shops. They'll roll their eyes and take your tourist Euros, handing you crazed breakfast heathens a waffle at nine in the morning. But out in the towns and villages of authentic Belgium, waffles aren't served until 11:30.

This is how the zombie apocalypse begins.

Okay, first off let's be serious for a moment:

The Chernobyl explosion was a horrific disaster that could have rendered the entirety of Europe uninhabitable. Thousands of people died (some of them slower than others) and millions were affected. There's a lot of really important things to unpack in the history of what happened, why it occurred, what people did about it, and how it impacts the world today.

However, putting that aside for a moment:

Check out this cool lady bug that hitched a ride out of the exclusion zone in my backpack!

It can't be too radioactive, we passed through two rounds of military controlled checkpoints on our way out. People, and vehicles (including interiors) are scanned for radiation before they're allowed to exit.

Still, if there's an outbreak of mutant insects across Europe you know who to blame.