We had a super easy drive on Thursday, arriving in Toronto about 8pm (eastern). The truck drove super easy, it’s hard to believe how easy, really, considering it was 14′ and a rental. When I returned it the guy had a bit of shock when he saw it now has over 12,000 miles and is about 2 months old! Thursday night we got some things unloaded that we needed at the Mercuri house, had a bit to eat, and mostly got ready for bed (and maybe switched a few summer clothes in the closet for winter ones!).

The immigration process was super easy, hardly any questions and they definitely didn’t do much more than a passing glance at our list of goods. But now I’m a landed immigrant in Canada!

Friday was crazy. rIAm had an interview scheduled for 1pm, but they called Thursday and left a message that they wanted to move the interview later, to 3:15, which was annoying because we had a plan based on the earlier interview time. But it worked out because we went over with the truck to nonni and unloaded the whole thing into their basement. It fits really well in a room they only use in summer with fresh things from the garden, but it was just the two of us unloading everything. We wore ourselves out a bit, but had a refreshing lunch Nonna prepared.

The life of an immigrant sure is difficult when your grandmother-in-law makes you a big scrumptious lunch (and two whole T-bone steaks!).

I did manage to turn my ankle a bit, which hurt very briefly at the time, but later hurt and swelled pretty good, so I took lots of ibuprofen and iced it often. Looks much better now. Not sure how it happened, but somehow my foot stuck on something and the rest of me kept going.

One very nice thing, although it made our Friday very busy, was my mother-in-law suggesting we move the computer/desk out of rIAm’s room and into the study next door. She had already done some measurements and knew it would work. Then she even suggested they get a double bed for us. Well, rIAm had the good idea to take a double bed from nonni (originally from her old room anyway, and one of two extra beds at nonni). I suggested that moving that would be much, much easier while we had the truck. So sure enough, after emptying the truck we loaded in a box spring, mattress, frame and bedding. Then back at the Mercuri house we partially disassembled the computer desk, maneuvered it into the next room, got it back together, removed the futon from rIAm’s room, and then got the double bed into place. Whew!

If all that sounds like too much to get done before rIAm’s interview, it was. The organization called again to postpone the interview until the new year. Which we kind of figured would happen. Since they close until then anyway, we figure it’s just as well that the interview happens in the new year.

The result was great, though, as my mother-in-law couldn’t believe all we did in a day (she was thinking we wouldn’t be able to address all this until after Christmas), and couldn’t believe how big rIAm’s room looks now. My father-in-law’s eyes just about popped out of his head he was so surprised, but he was also so happy that now rIAm and I have a place where we don’t have to bother anybody else, etc, while we are here (we had been sleeping in rIAm’s sister’s room, which adjoins to the bathroom rIAm’s other sister uses). Anyhow, the biggest awkwardness about staying here was relieved in one day, and at the suggestion of my mother-in-law. It certainly went a long way toward making me feel even more at home here, as it gives rIAm and I a place of our own.

Saturday we returned the truck and dropped some things off (like the futon) at Goodwill and got all of our presents ready. We had big plans for Sunday, mostly along the lines of putting clothes away, doing some things in the kitchen and sorting some other odds and ends. But the hydro (translation: electricity) had other plans.

About 10am, the power went completely out. Around 2:30pm the emergency hydro crew knocked on the door and said they figured out the problem was between a box in the front yard and the corner, but the repair would have to be done by a regular crew, which now had to be called out. We wouldn’t have power for hours.

So as the day wore on and it became more and more difficult to see, all sorts of plans were tabled, other things were taken on, and then we played a lot of cards. But my mother-in-law had to give up plans to bake more than the two cookies she had finished, the laundry was stopped mid-cycle, the dishwasher couldn’t run, and we became quite adept at heating things up on the stove that we normally would have done in the oven. My father-in-law and rIAm went visiting relatives while we managed in the dark until 9pm, when power was finally restored.

Just goes to show that when you start a construction project (the electrical box in the front yard is all dug up and surrounded by a big hole) in November/December in Toronto, when it snows and rains you get a flood and blown fuses. And a street with no power and angry residents. But we got through it, even if I had to channel memories of India and its power outages.

We’ve also enjoyed visiting with our sisters(-in-law), Colin, the nonni and everybody else we’ve seen. It’s been nice to sit around the table for tasty meals with family, and enjoy the seasonal festivities and decorations around here. The tree is a bit smaller this year, but nicely decorated and looking good in the green room and with many presents underneath. We had to laugh when we saw our cousin’s gifts, though, because it was the EXACT same idea we almost did this year – homemade cookies in a nice jar! (We didn’t open them early, they are just visible the way they were wrapped). After picking up the containers we were going to use, we switched course and did something else, sort of similar, but we couldn’t believe how close we were to having the same present! And as if there weren’t enough things under the tree, a funny thing happened…

Uncle Paul called and rIAm was talking to him. He said he was going through the Tim Horton’s drive-thru and could be here in 20 minutes, and he had some boxes he wanted to store here for a bit. rIAm checked if keeping them in the garage would be ok, he said whatever, so we agreed. Then when he showed up, they were massive (I mean, massive), wrapped boxes. Five of them. Numbered 1-5. And when we checked if they were here so they were hidden from Nonna Anna, he said no, they were staying here. So now that we’ve blocked off seemingly a whole corner of the green room with these things, we have the giant mystery presents in the corner. It’s not even clear who they are all for, but they are big, and many of them are heavy. (UPDATE: Turns out three of them were big Mary Kay suitcases – with Mary Kay sleeping bag inside – one was a big mirror and the last was a water cooler.)

UPDATE: rIAm opens her present

I guess that’s the way things go around here; things are definitely in a festive spirit. Decorations are up, lots of presents under the tree, holiday cookies abound, and a wrapping station that was in full swing until this afternoon. Tonight rIAm and I take Nonna Immacolata to Christmas Eve mass, then we join everybody at Nonna Anna’s for the big seafood feast. Tomorrow we have the big Christmas lunch at the Mercuri house, and somewhere in there we’ll have time to open all the presents under the tree.

We miss Naperville and all of our friends and family in Chicagoland. It was so great to see so many of you while we were there, and we thank you all for making our stay so wonderful. We very much look forward to the next opportunity to see all of you, in Chicago or Toronto.

But it also feels real good to be where we are. Even Grandma, who is happy about my move only because it’s what I want, closed our last phone conversation before I left Naperville by saying, “have a safe drive home.”

It was touching, and it helped me realize, yes, Toronto is now home. I’m a Chicagoan at heart, but indeed, now I can say – with the full backing of the Canadian government – I am a Torontonian. And that feels pretty good too.

To each of you reading and to your family and friends, have a wonderful Christmas, winter break (if you have one!), and a happy, healthy, peaceful new year.

Last summer we hopped on Route 66 and made like the song: motored west. Yesterday we did a (much faster) variation and flew west to L.A. And with that flight, our 2007 Asian adventure began.

In the photo above you can see our wing, and below that, the Grand Canyon. It was as stunning from 36,000 feet as it was from the South Rim several months ago.

Once landed in L.A. we spent a great afternoon and evening with our good friend Armando and his family, which will continue through today, until we head to LAX for our 14 hour 32 minute flight to Taipei.

There are more photos here, at our Asia 2007 flickr photo set.

Lastly, but certainly not least, we would both like to extend a hearty thank you to everybody who wrote in response to our recent email announcing our 2007 adventure. Your kind words and incredible support are wonderful treasures in our inboxes. We have read every email; sorry we have not had time to reply, but please know we are thinking of all our family and friends often, and will keep you all in our hearts throughout our journey.

Someone actually had the do not disturb sign I quoted hanging from their doorknob at a bed and breakfast we stayed at in Long Beach, California (can’t help continually calling it Californication), but thankfully that was not us. We may have been on our honeymoon but we weren’t that corny about it.

Photos of the fab trip will be posted to Flickr soon. All you need to know right now is that we got on our kicks on Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles, explored some of America’s most awesome natural wonders along the way, then we winded our way up to San Francisco on Highway 1 and then eastward along interstates and other roads back home.

At some point during the trip I remarked to my HUSBAND (still not used to that terminology applied to him yet) how interesting it was that we were as far west as I have ever been (on the beach jumping waves in the Pacific) while one of my sisters was exploring Thailand in rainy season and my parents, other sister and family friend (to keep that other sister company) were enjoying the sun and sand of the Dominican Republic. My family, who raised me, may have been far flung across the earth and that was both impressive and a little sad for me, but I realized I was riding with my family on my whole road trip, and I couldn’t have been a happier new wife.

I’m on my third listen of the album and can say with pride that Neil Young is the best product-of-Canada artist my homeland has ever exported. And it makes me damn proud that a Canadian can sing so proudly about America yet has the balls to write lyrics that question what the Bush government is doing abroad and at home. Without listing all the atrocities, duplicity and shortcomings in detail, let’s just call it The Whole Bush Bang™.

That’s all I have to say right now. I am starting my descent back into that submerged place. People, keep on rocking on the free world and as Young sings on this album, let’s impeach the president…

This is why I hate dealing with U.S. customs. And I’m American!