Our first and only Montreal winter

We totally cheated. When we came here last May, everyone laughed when they found out we were from LA. "Have you been through winter yet? Just wait." Montreal winter is legendary. It's epic. This year though, it's been really mild. Mild enough that even Husband, a notorious cold weather hater, hasn't been able to complain. We may not have been here a whole year, but at least we got to experience all four seasons.

Frost-covered branches look like pipe-cleaners.

Here's what you missed...

Things have been chaotic lately. In the past few weeks I’ve done the following:

• Flown to LA and back to Montreal (with the cat)
• Taken 2 pets to 3 vets in 2 countries
• Marveled at the fact that 2 out of 3 pets have managed to tear their cruciate ligament, especially since one has already had it surgically repaired
• Packed up the temporary apartment
• Moved into the house, unpacked lots of boxes, and had a joyous reunion with our stuff from storage
• Cooked good food
• Celebrated our 7^th anniversary
• Hung out in our yard and on our deck
• And tried to convince New Dog that the back yard isn’t a terrifying place to be avoided

Whew. That’s a lot.

Things I learned while driving between Los Angeles and Montreal.

1. Allow extra time to pack the car the day you plan to leave. Also, don’t be surprised if the contractor shows up earlier than you’ve expected, sends your dogs into a howling fit, and pushes you out the door of what is still, technically, your house.

2. You don’t need to stop at the vet on your way out of town…that just happens to boy dogs sometimes.

3. It takes approximately 96 minutes for the dogs’ tranquilizers to kick in. Fortunately, yours are faster.

4. Sometimes a meteor crater is just a big hole in the ground.

5. Just because you fit it all in the car once, doesn't guarantee it'll all fit again. And do you really need those camp chairs?

6. The Painted Desert is spectacular.

7. Cadillac Ranch is worth seeing. It can also serve as a pit stop for your dog.

8. That “New Car” air freshener you got as a going away gift will come in handy around Day 5.

9. On a related note, you should wash the dogs before undertaking a week long car trip. 

10. Not all regional foods are created equal. And I’d like to apologize to Husband for making him try so many (especially the Coney). Here are some places that made the cut:

11. The bathrooms at the Blue Whale in Catoosa, OK are the cleanest public bathrooms along Route 66. We were so impressed that we left an extra dollar in the donation jar.

12. New Dog is afraid of wind but has no trouble walking into the mouth of a big, blue whale.

13. Luggage carts are your friend.

14. Just because the hotel offers free breakfast doesn't mean you should eat it.

15. After a week, your car will be a dog crate on wheels. This is as gross as it sounds and you'll want to find a Canadian car wash quickly.