Changes...

Yes, you are hearing the sound of crickets. This blog has been very neglected for the past several months for the obvious reason...we have moved out of Canada. Work has sent us back to the USA and after what seemed like a very long time, we have settled into a new house back in the Chicago area just days before Christmas. Moving back to the USA has come with a sense of reverse transition like we went through four years ago upon moving to Quebec. So much has changed, yet so much has stayed the same.

We've returned with great memories from our time in Canada. A few not-so-great memories, but most of those include petty details and the usual government obstacles we would face just about anywhere. We learned a lot in Quebec, Danielle earned a kick-ass high school education and Louis is a Special Olympics ski champion. Paul experienced working in a new culture (and got to ski a lot) and I left with many dear girlfriends I know I'll have throughout my lifetime. I also left with a new appreciation of speed limits in the USA as they really are more reasonable than Quebec.

Adding to the irony of so many things is moving into the new house right before Christmas and thankfully with decent Chicago weather. As the movers were unloading the truck and bringing in boxes I would have to check off the box number and take note of the box contents to tell them where to place the box -- or what I said most often -- "in the basement." After dozens of boxes were labeled "ornaments"I was confused because it seemed like I must have more ornaments than the White House. It was then that I realized "ornaments" to the French-speaking packers must mean "knick knacks" or what I have come to call "crap."

For the record, we found THE ornaments a couple of days before Christmas and the stockings the day after Christmas.

We are happy to be settled in our new home and Duke is trying to figure out "his" place in the new surroundings.  For those who have moved in the past, you know the packers pack anything, including garbage. While looking through yet another "ornament" box to find THE ornaments, I was unwrapping and unwrapping thinking I would find something really fragile, like an ornament, only to unwrap this...

Two of Duke's tennis balls. We are finding balls in every other box. Duke is enjoying the unpacking process even though we put these balls in some random drawer or cabinet which will likely be packed up in a future move. Or they might stay for a while, since we're hoping to stay for a while.

As for this blog. I'm not certain. While the transition has been interesting and our family is by no means boring, I'm going to evaluate after the first of the year and it may take on a new look or a new theme.

Until then, or as my Quebec friends know I love to say....à la prochaine.

Duke 6.9

Duke is a little upset because he came in from a short walk and some stranger said he looked like Queen Victoria. No doubt we are in Canada.

Duke 6.8

Imagine the looks we get while driving down the road.

Duke 6.5

Duke is taking advantage of his recovery. I wonder if I can get him qualified for "burnout" leave, which is offered in Quebec if a person is stressed out on the job (this is true...employees are eligible for three weeks PAID burnout leave if a doctor says so). All that time chasing squirrels in the back yard and he's burned out.

Duke 6.4

Another day, another bandage. And another bone. And another day of gas -- oh sweet Lord -- the gas.

This dog....

This dog has been through a lot in the last several days. Long story short...some rapidly growing  lumps on his front paw have been aspirated for testing and a subsequent surgery was initiated this past Thursday to remove as many of the tumors as possible -- there are five in such a small space.

This dog is not a good patient. His discharge papers on Friday said "no running, jumping, chasing balls or stairs for FOUR WEEKS." He broke each of those rules within being home for 24 hours.

This dog is enjoying some dog narcotics at the moment, however they have only slowed him down slightly.

This dog has rocked our household a bit with decisions, anxiety and worry.

This dog enjoyed a trip to McDonalds and a yummy ice cream the day before his surgery -- technically it was his last meal.

You can see the growth on his paw in this photo

This dog has incredible gas thanks to all the spoiling, ice cream and treats he's had  -- and bag of bones our dear friend Cathy LaPorta brought him when he arrived home from the dog hospital. We don't mind the smell one bit.

This dog is receiving excellent vet care in Canada. While some may complain about the human health care system in Quebec, we are pleased with the genuine care he (and we) are receiving by his vet surgeon and clinic. Our bank account, not so much -- we also pay sales tax on all vet care. Ouch!

This dog dog returns to the doctor on Tuesday when the doctors believe it will be confirmed that he has cancer. Fortunately, not the type of cancer that is inclined to invade his system. Unfortunately,  it's likely a cancer that will affect his leg...which is part of his character....a big part of this dog.

This dog, this loyal, floor cleaning, happy, entertaining, sometimes annoying, active, loving, determined animal is part of the family.

This dog is forcing us to make decisions we are not prepared for.

This dog reminds us to enjoy the simple things in life.

American Thanksgiving with Canadians, the NFL and CFL

We celebrated American Thanksgiving a few days late by inviting our Canadian friends the Murphy's over to watch the Bears play the Eagles in American football followed by dinner and then the Grey Cup, which is the Canadian football version of the Superbowl. It was a great day with the Bears winning, Packers and Vikings losing and the Montreal Alouettes winning the Grey Cup. 

We had an entertaining time with our friends who always make us laugh. It was a great way to wrap up American Thanksgiving weekend. Now to get ready for Christmas. Not.

We have to remind our friend Dean that this is not Quebec Chainsaw Massacre

Duke assumes his usual position in the kitchen

Table setting by Kish and Louis, photo by Danielle

We introduced our Canadian friends to the Pisani way of choosing American wine....we select by the label. This wine also reminds us of our sister-in-law Margie who always served it for holidays...

Two boys hungry for turkey after playing hockey in the basement

Watching the Grey Cup after dinner...one of those gatherings where it was okay to unbutton pants and get comfortable

A special family visit

Paul with Adam, Art, Cindi and Placido Swanson

We were thrilled when the Swanson family from Naperville made a stop in Montreal on their road trip around most of the Great Lakes and through Canada. It was very unfortunate that I (Kish) had to make a last-minute trip out of town and didn't get the chance to break bread with this amazing family. Thankfully, Danielle is quite good in the kitchen and Paul's favorite Italian market was open on Labour Day (most big stores were closed) and they put together a nice lunch. They even cleaned the house which I kept saying was not necessary. That's because, well, the guys don't care and my friend Cindi...is blind. She wouldn't know or care if there was enough dog hair in the corners to stuff a pillow. Plus, her assistance dog Placido was coming too and we could always blame yellow dog hair on him. Just so long as the bathrooms were clean. And they were, I'm told. 

I met Cindi at our church in Naperville. She was, and is, the special needs coordinator at our previous parish. She was doing this job long before one jerk (hint--Beck) started mouthing off suggesting we run from our churches if we hear the words Social Justice. She's also a social worker, mom or three -- her middle son with Down Syndrome -- and as mentioned earlier, she is blind. She does not let her disability stand in her way and she represents all that is good about Social Justice and the whole concept of WWJD? She and Art paved the way in Naperville and Illinois for the Pisani family...and hundreds of others but advocating in church, school and the community.

Cindi met with me many times to find the right words to use in IEP meetings to help get Louis the services he was entitled to -- because everyone is entitled to a fair and appropriate education...including those with disabilities. She's also the most passionate advocate I know. I remember driving her home from one meeting (remember, she can't drive) and we were talking about how the Catholic church in general needs to get even more involved in helping those with special needs, and in particular those with intellectual disabilities. She used the words Social Justice before we heard it from that guy, believing that providing services for those with disabilities is the epitome of Social Justice in any community. Out of her mouth came these words..."if a Parish can help support {BEEP} goats in Guatemala, they can help support people with needs in their own community." Disclaimer...she was not referring to our Parish...but 'The Church' in general.

The Swanson's are HUGE hockey fans too. We had fun exchanging news throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. Art knows more about the Canadiens than the Canadians. Seriously. This family has also been a big part of a special program in Chicago called the Tomahawks. They helped start a garden/nursery that employs people with disabilities called We Grow Dreams. They even moved to downtown Naperville to ensure that their son Adam can walk to work and to make sure that people in the community know Adam and look out for him. Remember, Cindi can't drive, so making sure everything is walk-able is a necessity, not a luxury. There are some days when I want to have a solitary pitty party and I think about what if I too had a disability. I never admitted this to Cindi because frankly, she refuses to let anyone feel sorry for her.

Cindi and Art made sure kids like Louis could attend religious ed classes with their peers, participate in sports, be in the same class with their peers, get jobs in the community and more. We've learned a lot about our future from this family. More than anything though, we've learned about the present. 

the Daily Duke 8.12

Here's a new twist to our blog -- the Daily Duke. In an attempt to take photos each and every day,  and since Duke is always at my feet or within 5 feet of me, so he's an easy subject. He has decided to take his morning nap (his third) right here...the walkway between the family room, kitchen and the rest of the house. A place I navigate through dozens and dozens of times before noon each day.  He doesn't even move when I walk over him, unless of course I go more than 5 feet away. While he's there, why can't he take care of the dust bunnies under the table to the right, and organize the games and books on the shelf to the left. Why not?

One big snow cone

We're having a bit of a warming trend in Montreal this winter and so far we can't complain about the weather. Unlike last year, we can actually see the driveway instead of a sheet of ice. Typically the snow starts falling in November and we don't see the driveway or grass until the end of March. We're certain this breath of warm(er) air won't last though.


In the meantime, Duke has decided our yard is one big snow cone. He's also decided that the snow will be his source of water when he can't find a toilet lid up. This despite the fact he has a nice, fresh bowl of water in the house. We can't say that we blame him though. In a pinch, we've used carefully selected snow to cool down a drink when the two ice trays we've survived with for 15 months aren't producing fast enough. What's a little snow going to do? After all, as Kish's brother's will confirm...the dogs from their childhood lead very long, happy, healthy and hydrated lives surviving on swimming pool water.