Swing your heartache.

I’m not sure how many days I’ve been here, but they’ve been good ones.

Last night was Jazz Night at Clancy’s. Aka, music nerdz unite. Some of us went early to get food before the kitchen closed. Greasy bar french fries, is there anything better?

The band was really good. The guitarist had his groove on.

And of course, first grown-up music nerdz sighting of the night: Holly’s dad. Which is always just funny to me, because the idea of my parents going to anything like that is unimaginable. But Holly’s dad walks in and the singer stops and asks “is that Leon?”

Second grown-up music nerdz sighting: HOWIE. When we were about to leave I went over to where he was standing (directly in front of the stage of course) to have a chat. He is still the same Howie.

I asked him about the band(s) this year, and he said he took his 100+ band and cut it back to 30. “I was tired of making threats” he said simply. And it’s true that half the people were in the band only because a) their parents made them and b) the trip to Hali.

I asked about jazz band and he said they’ve already been practicing for months, which is awesome. Anyone who cared about being in Howie’s bands always cared about jazz band more.

And of course I had to find out about my trumpets. There was a girl who got bumped into concert band and jazz band when I was in grade twelve who is only in grade eleven this year. She was a fantastic player so having just one outstanding trumpeter makes all the difference.

Okay. Band rant OVER.

Today we veg, tomorrow we party and New Year’s Day I am going back across the island sur le autobus avec Robert.

Oi vei.


To Leah, this song will forever unite us and the rest of Stan's combo.

Gout vif et net.

Oh my.

Sarah Smith, you are awesome.

Yesterday was a good start to my trip. Holly and I slept in until noon-ish and then fancied ourselves for a visit with my Nanny and Poppy.

Later on we went shopping for some funsie party items. Made Jell-o shooters (NEVER again). Ate yum food. Drove to Little Port Harmon. You know cool things.

Then we joined at lovely Leah’s (well, the old man’s home). And of course what do we do when we come together?

We Guitar Hero.

I want everything.

I knew I had reached Stephenville when Holly looked at me while driving into town and said “I’m pretty sure Nine Inch Nails is in the CD player right now.”

As our song blasted through the speakers, with Holly and I belting it out right along, I felt an utter contentment. Something I was definitely not feeling last night when the people at the airlines told me my flight was overbooked. Assholes.

Everyone was “counting” on me to bring the friendsies together here in S’ville. And after five minutes on the phone, I had rallied up four cars of peeps. CASTAWAYS, HELLO.

I saw Ashley. We made love in the booth at the restaurant. It was joyous.

And of course we chatted and loved along like it hadn’t been over a year since we last saw each other. Twelve years of friendship can do that for a person.

But this is just a quick update to let you know I made it across the island via bus (barely). That neighbours are bus friends in disguise. And that Stephenville is a fantastic place with the right people in it.

Though they desperately need a twenty-four hour Wal-Mart.

Forgotten celebration.

See amid the winter's snow.

my Christmas was good
filled with presents and great cheer
I hope yours was too

remembered the time
I got a sewing machine
and laughed pretty hard

but now I am old
gifts are just half the reason
I wake up smiling

Happy Christmas, loves
we're another year older
and none the wiser