Happy Birthday to me...yesterday

Well it was my birthday yesterday here in St. John's. After conferencing all day we had the "Taste of Newfoundland" conference banquet - great food, entertainment and local music...and a "screech in". I don't know how I didn't realize what this entailed, but I did the whole thing! I had to kiss a cod - on the lips - take the screech (Jamaican rum, really) yell a phrase - something like "Indeed I is, me old cock, long may your big jib draw"...and then I received a certificate. It was a lot of fun. We then headed down to George Street - a street of pubs and live music. All in all it was a really fun night.

I took a tour today of the city, the outer Barracks, Signal Hill and the most easterly point in all of North America - Cape Spear. The fog was so low and thick that we couldn't really see a thing, but it was still a great morning.

It's far too cold to take a boat tour, but I thought about it. Apparently there are no whales or icebergs right now so I would have seen some puffins...maybe.

Anyway, I really like this city - very friendly and colourful and interesting. But I am ready to head back to the warm coast of Canada. I have a renewed appreciation for how great our weather is out there, when there has been the threat of snow almost every day since I have been here!

A couple of days left of the conference and then I head home.

East Coast vs. West Coast

I am trying not to constantly compare the East coast to the West coast...but...it snowed here last night! And there is a chance of mixed precipitation here all day! On the other coast, it is a pleasant 13 C...