Ducks 2 Oilers 1

Sometimes I forget how much I love hockey. I guess living in Toronto for so long, where the Leafs rule, can do that to a person.

Going to the Oilers game last night in Edmonton helped me remember. Walking into the Coliseum (which will always be known as Northlands to me) was a thrill, and I acted like a giddy tourist, taking pictures of everything from the Stanley cup banners to the sparkly Oil derrick to the zambonis.

My favourite part was listening to the hockey chatter all around us. Two guys behind me kept up a constant commentary on the game, and a small boy kept asking his dad questions about the game. In front of us a slightly bigger boy quivered with excitement while constantly waving his big blue foam finger around.

It was all excellent. Of course it would have been better if the Oilers hadn't let that goal in with just over 3 minutes left in the third period.

Clicking my heels

This morning as I lay awake again (I haven't been able to sleep for more than 6 hours at a time in what seems like months, even though I am really tired), I was thinking about the meaning of home.

After I booked my ticket "home" in October or November, I became unbelievably excited about my trip back to Canada. My manager, who is also on assignment, but was born and raised in Poland, teased me several times about my use of the word home. He said that Krakow was my home now.

And he's partly right. If the old adage that home is where the heart is has any truth to it, my ticker must be shattered in several pieces and scattered across Canada, and now the world.

My first stop on this journey was Toronto, which has physically and emotionally been my home for the last 10 or 11 years. It's where my adult friends are, and where I really grew up - I got my first job in Toronto, bought my first house there - and where I thought I could happily spend the rest of my life.

Now I am in Alberta, where a large part of my heart still resides. My parents still live in the same house I grew up in, and when I fly into Alberta I almost always get choked up. Something about the patchwork fields always gets me, and I love the wide open spaces, even more so when they are covered in snow. It's funny, I never really noticed the landscape when I lived here, but now it is what I miss most.

But I am now starting to think of Krakow as home too. And in this Christmas season, I realize I am triply blessed to feel at home in so many places.

All the best to you and yours wherever you are at home this week.

Uberlaziness

5 minutes later. I am still lying on the couch, catching up on my friends' blogs, and my mom is doing my laundry.

I suspect you don't love the holidays so much if you are a mom. Particularly if you are a mom of a late 30-something couch potato daughter (even if she did come all the way from Poland to see you).

Laziness

I'm in Alberta now, at my parents home. And I'm doing what I always do here - not much.

No where else in the world do I feel as comfortable doing so little. It is nearly noon and I haven't showered and I'm lying on the couch eating, writing this.

Sometime later today, I'll get cleaned up and visit with the 55 (my gang of friends whom I have known forever). More eating, gossiping, and lounging.

I can't believe some people hate the holidays.

If you are reading this,

thank you. When I was in Toronto last week, I got to see several of you, and many of you mentioned how much you enjoyed reading the blog. I'm glad I can share my experiences with you virtually and that they are interesting enough to keep you coming back.

The highest compliment, albeit a bit backhanded, came from my friend E who told me that there weren't enough entries. And my dad, always my toughest critic, told me today that the recent entries haven't been very substantial.

I'll try to work on both. These next few entries are for you E. Dad, you'll have to let me know if the content is up to your exacting standards :)

Home Sweet Home

Canada is colder than I remember (and I haven't even gotten to Alberta yet). And snowier. I arrived just in time for the biggest storm of the year in Toronto.

And Toronto is bigger and busier and a bit dirtier than I recall.

But there's no place else in the world I'd rather be right now.

Posing

My cousin Mel, who is a professional photographer, visited me in Krakow this past week. I took the opportunity to unleash my inner model.

Home

If all goes well, I should be in Canada in 3 days.

I can hardly wait!

Jinxed

As soon as I posted the pictures of Krakow with snow, it started to rain. Krakow now looks muddy, and dirty. Kind of like Edmonton in late April or Toronto any time in the winter months.