Montreal Weekend....

Great news! I've learned how to hyperlink, so now when I say "I went skating on the canal yesterday", you guys can get a little more informed about what I'm talking about.

So, moving right along to today's post...

Last weekend I went to Montreal for some Army training, but I also got to spend some much needed time with my sister Dana, and one of my best buddy's, my former roommate, Juan.

There were two particularly notable moments/experiences that I would like to write about:

1) Winter Survival Training:

My regiment got approval to take 50 guys up north to a place near Tremblant, Makwa Adventures, where we got taught winter survival skills by some natives (I'm terrible but I can't remember what tribe!) and/or people who live with them. We learned how to trap and skin wild rabbits, we went snowmobiling and dog sledding, and we went ice fishing and made a fire.

The trapping was interesting and useful, although I must be honest that the method of death for the animal when you use these traditional trapping techniques is pretty cruel. Its a slow way to go. Having said that, it is environmentally sustainable, and the first nations groups tend to use every single part of the animal for something, which is far better than we can say we do with our meat production.

The skinning and gutting was pretty rough, I felt bad for the rabbits. We each partnered up and did it, I was lucky, I skinned and my partner gutted. Thankfully all the carcasses were frozen and taken home for food, so, at least we were making full use of them.

The Snowmobiling was insane, we spent 1.5 hours racing through narrow trails in the woods and then racing on lakes. For most of my life, I have tended to think that snow mobilers were the obnoxious arseholes who made noise and expelled exhaust into the air disturbing and otherwise peaceful cross country ski, or winter hike.

Now, in some ways I STILL think that, however, I have to sheepishly admit, that it is ALOT of fun.

The dogsledding was very interesting. Most of the dogs were either Husky or Wolf-dog. The guide said that eahc dog has a distinct personality and that only certain personalities will work well together. There is only one lead dog and certain lead dogs only work with certain owners. For example, if you are a new owner and you give the verbal command "left" (there are five verbal commands for left, right, speed up, slow down and stop). The dogs may sometimes go "right" on purpose, just to test how you react. You need to assert yourself as the alpha, as you are the sled driver.


2) Mathieu Schneider sighting at the Biodome.

I was walking down the steps next to the cafe, inside the Biodome entrance, to retrieve my coat from the coat check area, when I saw, coming the other way up the stairs carrying several coats, Mathieu Schneider.

I quickly said to Juan, who was next to me, "Hey look, that's Mathieu Schneider". Juan didn't say anything but just looked. Mat looked at us and smiled first to us, then to himself looking genuinely pleased as he reached the top of the stairs, turned the corner and handed the coats to his blonde wife, and two or three kids.

I quickly came to several realizations from this moment.

First, this was Mat's first day with his family in Montreal. He was traded to us while we were on the road, so he joined the team and played a couple of road games before coming back to Montreal for the Saturday game. This was Sunday and the team had a day off. He used to play for the Canadiens back when he was 23 years old and didn't have a family.

Secondly, he seemed to genuinely appreciate being recognized. He was playing in Atlanta before he was traded to us so he probably hasn't been recognized in a while.