What's he on about now?

In case the articles, essays and opinions throughtout this site just weren't enough for you, here's my online diary (a.k.a. 'blog'). It's as close as you'll come to the inside of my head, so don't say I didn't warn you
(and remember, you can always e-mail me if you love or loathe anything you're about to read)...


   Sunday, February 02, 2003

DR. CRANE, I PRESUME?

If St. John's has an internet café, I've yet to find it. Fortunately, I've finally been granted a few moments to myself on my aunt's AOL line (and, yes, that 'you've got mail' voice is the most annoying thing ever). My aunt Sheila runs a fantastic little bed 'n' breakfast in Burnt Cove, Newfoundland called the Pond View B&B. I couldn't have asked for a more comfortable spot to stay and I've been especially grateful to her given how overwhelmed I've felt since I arrived on Thursday afternoon.

As I feared, I am out in the wilderness -- great for beautiful seaside living but lousy for us city mice who are, as my sister calculated yesterday, exactly 33 km from a Tim Hortons. It's been especially difficult for her, since her hometown has one on virtually every street corner.

As for me, I've been wrestling with just what a dreadful snob I am. I scoffed at the St. John's downtown mall, which boasts a Sears and a Winners as its anchoring stores; I struggled to keep from snickering when offered a glass of Maria Christina red wine from a screw-top bottle; and I completely failed to be gracious about our neighbouring town of Witless Bay. That's right: Witless Bay. "How can I not make fun of this place?" I laughed, as everyone just shrugged. While the jury's still out on whether I'm Niles or Frasier, you simply have to call me Dr. Crane.

Next up: some nice things to say about Newfoundland and just a small handful of the family dirt.