Summer OH10. (:

These past 3 posts, all coming at you in a 3 day range, will hopefully be a reason to forgive me? Aha.

Well, this is the real thing. This is huge! My summer this year. And every summer has a story.

So, it started the 1st day of July. The year was incredibly long, it was crazy! In the past few years, school has started around September 8th, and it has ended around June 25th. Well for the school year of '09-'10 , it started September 5th, and ended June 30th... Lovely.

Well anyways! We were to leave for our cousins' place at Montreal like we do each summer, but a little later on in the summer vacation this year, haha. And by a little later, I mean we had 5 days to chill out with our friends, and hang out here, at home.
Well those 5 days definitely sped by! I went to the mall a few times, just hung out at home listening to music all day (; , hung out at my friends' houses, and went to the beach. Yeah, it wasn't a whole lot, and it wasn't a whole long of a time, but it was amazing, each and every minute. We had the times of our lives, went crazy and tried to make the most of my 5 days. We totally succeeded. :D

But then, came Montreal. Being the wonderful procrastinator I am, I was packing like crazy just the morning before we left. We left in the afternoon, so I had a matter of hours to pack everything and anything I could possibly need in that month and a half. I am a girl. And that is every girl's nightmare! :\

Of course, I did ask for it. Because procrastinating gets you nowhere, but I still did it. Oops, haha. So it was hectic! I didn't know what mood I was going to be in each day, and what I would want to wear, obviously, so I believe I packed my whole summer wardrobe... Minus a few shirts. My mom called me crazy, and I just laughed. A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. :P

And then of course, I had to pack stuff that would keep me busy. Like books, my computer, nail polish, hair accessories and all that other stuff. I did make it on time, though. Because I am, as I previously mentioned, a wonderful procrastinator. (;

Fast forward to Montreal, we finally got there! Well, the main events were basically the pool, the huge house, going to my aunt's karate and just chilling out, therefore doing my stuff like blasting music in the car while eating delicious ice cream all alone, haveennnnnnn. And well yes. Anyways, we also went to a mountain, resort, hotel thing? Aha, it's a mountain called Mont Tremblant, which most people know about, in Quebec. That was an awesome adventure, and I will get into that a little further later on. I got to go to a sailing camp... I know right? You must be like: Sailing?! Really? But I'll explain that too! And finally, it was pretty nice to know it was indeed summer. Oh wait no! I'm not done. Have I mentioned their house is practically a hotel? No? Okay, I shall go into that... It's crazyyy! They are constantly inviting some of their friends from France, where they previously lived, to visit them here in Canada, and yeah. But don't worry, they are friends, haha.

Although isn't it sad how all year, we say things like, oh my gosh! School's such a drag, the teachers are sooo dumb, and this is so boring. I do. Not. Want. To. Be. Here. Whens summer going to settle in already? But then, after a bit of summer, we. Well, basically die of boredom. So we say things like, oh my goodness! I miss my friends so much! I want to go home, and go back to school. At least then I have stuff to do, oh man. But then, aha. We get home, and it's all great! Until the last 2 days before school, where we're panicking and totally freaking out, and dreading the next few days... All over again. Second day of school. WIEADJFAOFJO WHENS LABOR DAY. So yeah, that's basically the cycle. Ironic, right? (:

Back to the summer vacation itself though.

So, the first few main points I mentioned were the pool, and the big house and the karate. Well there's not too much to expand on those topics. The pool and the big house, they yell it out themselves. Pure awesomeness. It's great to be like that the whole summer. Ahhah. And then, the karate. Well basically, just like basketball is to me. That's how karate is to my aunt. She goes to this Kyokushinkai (?) place to practice, and my cousin used to as well. But then he lost interest, so now it's only her. And well, there's this ice cream parlor in the same plaza, which has amazing ice cream. So what I do, on her karate days... Tuesday and Thursday. ;D I go with her, so it's only us two. Then, she heads off to practice, and I head off to indulge in my beautiful ice cream, aha. Afterwards, I might hang out a bit in the... training place? I have no idea what it's called... But anyways. And then just head out to the car, and listen to the radio, turn it up, and just lose myself in the music. It's really rather amazing, to be honest, alone like that, just calmly, and enjoying myself. After the insanity at the house most the time. :P

Now, after a few weeks I believe, we headed off to Mont Tremblant, and it was beautiful! We got to stay in a hotel, but not in a regular hotel room. We got one of those private suites, that's bigger, and more like an apartment? Aha, yeah... I forget how. (: We rented it, I think? And it made it all the greater, trust me!

So, it was like a village there, basically. It had a bunch of great restaurants, it had a bunch of hotels, pools, spas, arcades, fields, beaches, it was like a vacation village? Haha. There was this one place, or event? It was sort of like mini go-karting, but down a huge hill. I mean, after all. The whole thing's a huge mountain! It's called "Luge", and it looked sort of lame at first, so I just skipped. But after a while, I got curious as to what it was all about. I mean, it was definitely a hit, and super popular! So I gave it a try, and practically fell in love! No jokes. We went there often, and everybody seemed to like it, it was so much fun! There was this certain thrill that came along with it and stuff. Yeah.

Anyways. That was most definitely only a tiny part of the whole two-week trip. There were a few ice cream parlours there as well, of course. And the ice cream there. Yes, it put ice cream on a whole new level! We had a cone a day, because the cones were huge, aha.

We walked around a lot, and enjoyed the scenery. I mean, even if it got invaded by tiny business, and bunches of restaurants, and places to hang out and play with, there was still so much nature to enjoy! Even if it was totally infested by human activity, it's still so beautiful, and they have done a phenomenal job at conversing lots of nature, and the environment. So there were many beautiful sights to see, and we hiked lots.

We even found a rock that was rather interesting, it was huge, and we visited it and hung out there each day. So basically, over the winter, this mountain is incredibly popular for skiing & snowboarding, so in 2004, some men that work to engrave stuff, well in tiny dots, they engraved all the ski trails on this ginormous mountain, on the rock. And it was pretty stunning because the rock of course wasn't flat, no, it was all tall and bumpy, so the dots were everywhere, but it was so clear at the same time!

Now, these may seem like little things, but they were amazing things. Now, no, we didn't do something spectacular and different each day, I mean we were there for 14 days... And it's one village. But the activities there, even if we re-did some, it didn't bug me in the slightest, because it was a blast! The food, the Luge, the hiking, the scenarios, the late-night plays and shows, and yeah. Oh and, a part that definitely made me extra happy? Well, there weren't lots of TV channels available, because it was a mountain, in Quebec... Not exactly what I'm used to, because most the shows are in french, therefore boring. I feel like ripping my hair out every time I have to stare at some french show. Well anyways. There was MuchMusic there, which is the channel I watch, and that probably made me the happiest person on the planet when I found it. :D And I get all the updates from Toronto, aka home, because MuchMusic in located right in the middle of Toronto. (;

So basically, we went back and forth through those activities I mentioned, and a few more. But I'm getting carried away, so I'll wrap this section up, haha. But lastly, it was pretty cool how there were always things to do whether it was dry, or raining, or freezing, or boiling. And another fun part? Of course we could walk to get to point a from point b. But we could also use the lifts, and that was definitely so much fun! (;

Onto the next one now! Once we got home, after a week of chilling, we went to this sailing camp. No, not our choice. The parents signed us up... Well, all four of us went, but only 3 were actually excited, therefore my 2 cousins, and my brother. Ughh, I did not want to go. Of course I ended up going because I was forced to against my will. But instead of going the full 5 days we were signed up, I only had a necessary 3 days to go. I went four. Now to set the record straight, the activities we did there were boring. -.-

I could've done without them, and sailing in general isn't my thing. Not interested in the slightest, wasn't before and still not now. But, the only, emphasis on the only, thing that made it okay were the other kids there. I made lots of friends, and most spoke English! Oh yeahhhhh! (;

Probably wasn't supposed to happen, but whatever. I got to not go the full 5 days, and I'm not going back. :D Aha, the one day I didn't go, my mom decided to call and ask why. Well, MOTHER. First of all, you woke me up, which I did not appreciate. I was waking up early the whole week, aghhhh! (: Second of all, you were the one who said I didn't have to go the full five days, so stop questioning my motives, I did not have to. And third of all, you said, which made me laugh, that I was enjoying myself, and that I said it was great. AHAH NO. I said the kids were great. Period. Now don't take this the wrong way please, I'm not mad. I'm just saying, aha. Still love you mom. (;

So yeah. Basically, over there, we just swam and stuff. They had a pool, so I guess that was okay, but the WATER WAS FREEZING. That's why I liked the lake better, even if the seaweed was disgusting. ;D Yeah, we sailed a lot, but I didn't like that part, I died of boredom. The fun part was the kayaking. That was a blastttt. Especially when my friends & I went super far, and starting rampaging and stealing kayaks. Ahh, that was amazing.

So yes, in conclusion of this sailing camp part. I didn't want to go at first, and I definitely could've done without it. So that's why instead of 5 days, I only went four. But I went four instead of 3, because the friends there were amazing, like really amazing. And the kayaking was the highlight, since we were bad kids. (; Haha.

Now, it was shortly after that that we went home, but I need to mention a few more things before that!

So the week we had to chill in between coming home from Mont Tremblant, and going to the sailing camp, we went for a day to Valcartier. Which if you guys didn't know, is an amazing place in Quebec city, that during the winter, you can tube on the snow, and during the summer, it's a water park. It. Was. A. Rad. Day. I loved it! My uncle, mom, brother, Dris and I went. I was the only one who had been there during the winter to snow tube, since I went with my class to Quebec, and visited Valcartier. I've got to say, both seasons made for an equally incredible trip!

The water park was lovely, and there were bunches and bunches of fun rides to go on, not to mention that it was a great day. It started off a little cloudy, but very soon after the weather became spectacular, and we could totally have some fun in the sun! We went on lots of rides, tanned, and just hung out. It was lots of fun, even if the place was super crowded.

But on the way back, we stopped by Casey's in Quebec City, for some dinner. It was delicious. But the only reason I'm mentioning this, is because we found it funny that when my brother & I finished, and headed to the car to listen to the radio while the others finished up, we closed and locked the doors. And right, like not even joking, the second after our car got soaked by some water-working lunatics. So yeah. We were lucky... Except for the fact that when I turned on the radio, I decided to rub my eye, and from when I was making a food invention/experiment in the restaurant with a bunch of food, I still had hot sauce on my fingers. I obviously had no idea. So I rub my eye. And get hot sauce in there. I'm like, panicking. Oh my gosh! It burnss!! It really really did. So I try to rub it out with my other finger, which I have no idea how, but it had hot sauce on it too. So now I have double the hot sauce in my poor little eye, therefore double the pain. But, being the idiot I am, I panicked, didn't pay attention, and tried rubbing it out with the first hot-saucy finger again. Triple the pain. Ahah, bad idea obviously. I wanted to go out and wet my eye, but our car was getting soaked, and I didn't have another dry pair of clothes...

So yes, I was almost dying. (Don't worry, I'm exaggerating.) And my brother, in this chaos, was laughing so hard, he was rolling on the seat. -.- Meanie, haha.

And that was my eventful, but fun Valcartier day. :P

Although coming home wasn't that great. Aha, no I'm joking. It was great, even if it was totally crowded. Remember how I mentioned the house was practically a hotel? Well, I can now explain all that. (:

I believe a week or two after we got to Montreal, family friends of my cousins came over from France! That's where they live, yeah, and that's where my cousins used to live, so that's how they're friends. Well, it was basically a husband, wife, and 3 boys. They were all really young though. So, they came and went. Like, they'd stay here for 3 days or something, to check out Montreal, then they'd go for Tadoussac, and Quebec City, but come back a few days later. Then they'd stay some more, but leave for Toronto for a few days, where they'd be staying at my family's house, then come back once again. Aha, did that one make sense?

Basically, it was kind of an Ontario and Quebec tour. (; And, they were exploring, and sightseeing, but they'd be coming back here a lot, because this was like, you can say, I guess like the headquarters. This was where all their main stuff were, and of course the friends that invited them. They were fun kids, and yes. That was their trip.

But we weren't with them a whole lot, because the longest time they stayed at Montreal I believe, was when we were at Mont Tremblant. And that was the craziest time! That was when that one family was there for their final days, but also the second family to come and visit was arriving. Haha, insanity, I tell you. Full house!

But the day we arrived in the afternoon, the first family left in the morning. So there was only the second family there now. Only? What am I saying? In the second family, there was a wife, a husband, and their 2 kids, the husband's brother, and the husband's daughter from a previous marriage. And of course, us, haha.

They were also like that, on and off, here and there. They'd go to Quebec City and Tadoussac for a few days, then come back here for a few days, then leave for Montreal, then Toronto, then New York and so on. They weren't a huge part of the summer, but it affected what we did. (: Although don't get me wrong, it didn't bug me all too much. It was cool. ;D

So yeah. That was basically a wrap-up... We got back home, and I hung out with friends again. I mean, it's the end. This is the end of our summer. But nothing was stopping me, I was still making the best of each moment, even if I was being lazy at home. I needed that sometimes, you know. To just chill, and relax, and hang out with myself! (;

But it's at its final end today. Tomorrow, the school year's starting again, and the regular stuffs gonna settle in. I am all set, technically I guess. All my back-to-school shopping was already done a long time ago. I got my binders all ready, my pencil case, the stuff I'll be putting in my locker. Everything I could possibly need! Haha. But mentally, am I ready? Well, who is? I don't think anyone is. I miss my friends a lot, so I am extremely excited to see them again, hang out, and see the school, the new students, and all that stuff.

Grade 8, here I come. We're ruling the school, again. And this year will be amazing. Okay? Okay.
(; Byee Summer '2010. You were fun while you lasted. ♥

P.S. Lastly, I AM SO SORRY. This was like an essay! I don't expect you to read it all, but if you did, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! I know it took up your time, so I really am grateful. Love you all. And thank you to all of those whom helped make this summer happen. (: