The Americans

Recently I drove through a part of the United States with my fiance. We drove through Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. For the most part, the Midwest looks a lot like Alberta, where I live. There are some rolling hills, some forests, some prairie and some civilization.

But there is something different. Something that - frankly - scares me. Whenever we would stop somewhere I would look at the people around us and marvel that there was nothing different from them than from us. Well, there were a few things. There are more Hispanic people in the US and more Asian people here in Canada. The washrooms were dirtier at the restaurants I stopped at... and speaking of those... I have never been talked to in the washrooms as much in the Canada as I was in the US.

But I was a little scared. These were AMERICANS. Their country has a large ARMY that would protect them. It has a Might Makes Right mentality and a Capitalistic drive. My country is soft and squishy where theirs is ripped and toned. (Well, maybe not so much, I did notice that people were a bit heavier down there... but then again the percentage is probably the same - it's just they have ten times more people)

And the whole time I kept thinking... what would they do if they found out I was *gasp* Canadian? Because then I'd have to get all defensive and explain that we're not ALL liberals and we don't ALL say 'eh' and they would answer the way MOST answer... with laughter in their voices.

Is Canada that... funny?

I have learned one thing though... Canada is much colder. Don't laugh, I know what you are thinking. But the middle of winter is cold whether you are in Indiana or Alberta. However, the summer is where you will notice the difference.

This past week, in the middle of August, we had a frost warning at night. FROST. In AUGUST. That is not funny.

This is where I sigh heavily...

I will be out of town Sept 15 - 18. I asked my mother long ago to watch my son while I was out of town... working and not cavorting, I might add... and she said yes. I know I asked her via email and of course I recently deleted my sent emails because this stupid email program get's overloaded if I keep too many things in it... But I KNOW I asked her and I KNOW she said yes.

Now apparently she will not be in town.

HEAVY SIGH.