You Asked, I Answered

Thanks to everyone that submitted a question in my 'Ask Me Anything' series! Do you want to know something about the girl behind T.O. & fro? There's still time - check out the form below!
Here are today's answers...
Jennifer Anne from Jennifer Anne asked, 
Being married to a professional hockey player sounds like it must have been an exciting and glamorous chapter in your life (one that not many people can relate to)! But I'm sure it must have had its tough times. What were some of the hardest parts or unexpected trials that came with a "hockey life"? 
I won't lie, the hockey chapter was definitely a lot of fun - we got to meet many amazing people, see incredible places and most importantly, my husband got paid to do what he loved. However, there were definitely some tough times through it all. For starters, the first 5 years of our relationship were long distance. In university and grad school, I spent many weekends in the car or on an airplane, traveling to and fro. We often went months without seeing each other. 
I still enjoy telling the story about the time I was traveling down to visit him in Florida. I was just about to head to the airport when I heard the news that he got called up to a team in New York. I couldn't have been happier, that's what every professional hockey player strives for! The down fall was that at the same time I was flying south down to Florida, he would be flying north to New York. Luckily things worked out in the end. While we didn't get to see each other that week, his sister was down in Florida visiting also, so I got to spend some time with her. He ended up staying with the team in New York for the remainder of the season, so I made the 8 hour road trip a few weeks later to visit.  
The "hockey life" definitely taught me a lot of things, including patience and understanding.  I also believe that despite the long distance, it brought us closer and made our relationship stronger. Sure we were tested, but in the end, everything happens for a reason. 

Jenn from Lost in the Right Direction asked, 

If you were given the choice to move back to Alaska right now, would you do it, or stay where you are?

This is a really tough question, with a long-winded answer. I think we would both agree that if given the opportunity, we would still be living in Alaska. However, the fact that we're both Canadian and Steve was wrapping up his hockey career at the time we moved back, made staying a bit more complicated. I'd like to think that we would move back in a heart back, and I definitely have my days where I want nothing more to escape the concrete jungle of Toronto for the mountain air, but at the same time, Alaska is very far from home. Now that we are starting a family of our own, I don't think it would be fair to our families to move away, or at least that far, right now. The good news is, we can always go back to visit, and even have a trip planned this summer. Since Alaska has such a big influence on our lives, it is a place we definitely want our kids to experience. 

What made you want to go into Marine Biology? Was there a specific event or is it just something you've always wanted to do?

I grew up on Lake Huron, and from a young age was drawn to the outdoors, especially the water. The thought of exploring below the surface always peaked my curiosity. I was that kid, where from a young age said I was going to be a Marine Biologist. I always pictured myself down south, in the warm water of the tropics. However, during my time in university, I realized that I was also not cut out for field or lab work, which is what Marine Biologists do. I more enjoyed the flip side of things, educating and inspiring others to care for our natural world. And so that's what I ran with, and where I am today. And as a side note, never in a million years did I think the tables would turn and I'd fall in love with the Arctic. 

Thanks for your questions ladies! 

What would you like to know? Fill out the form below!

Ask Me Anything

One of the biggest things I took away from my recent reader survey was that T.O. & fro's readers would like more posts about every day life. Done!

A few years back, I tried my first "Ask Me Anything" feature. To my surprise, it was a great success. I had some fantastic questions about Alaska, Toronto and living the hockey life, among others. It was such a hit, that I thought I'd give it another shot. T.O. & for's community has grown substantially in the past year, so I find this is a great way for  new readers to get to know me. Do you have a burning question to ask? Fill out the form below. Questions can be completely anonymous, but I like to give credit where credit it due, so feel free to leave you name. Depending on the number received, questions will be answered over a series of posts.  Stay tuned!


Thank you to all of those that took the time to ask a question! Stay tuned for the answers in the coming weeks.
*Please note, if I receive a question that I feel is rude, offensive, etc., I reserve the right to not answer. Submissions will close February 10. 

You Asked, I Answered: Part 3

Danielle at The Lifestyle Project says,

I'd love to hear about your experience as a Canadian immigrating to the States and any obstacles you had to go through to gain permanent residency/work permits etc. 
So that I could legally work while we lived in the US, I was on a temporary status called a TN status. This status is obtained through NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement and is available to citizens of Canada and Mexico. Long story short, individuals practicing one of the professions identified by NAFTA are able to obtain TN status. The gist of it is that you must first obtain the employment, it has to be temporary, and you have to obtain a letter from your new employer detailing the position, salary, length of employment, etc. There are many great resources online to help you with the process of obtaining a TN status, and if you would like more information, feel free to email me. My husband was on a special status for professional athletes, also temporary. If your spouse is on a working visa, you are able to be added to theirs, however, generally you are unable to work legally. Before moving back to Canada, Steve played in the US for 10 years, so technically he could have applied for his green card. However, without help from an employer or sponsor, it tends to be a lot more difficult and pricey.

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Stephanie at The Mechanics Wife asks,

Is living in Alaska as hard as the TV shows make it out to be?
There are so many Alaskan reality TV shows! Some of them I absolutely love to watch, some, not so much. My favourite part of watching these reality shows is seeing the familiar places and faces. One of my favourites is Alaska State Troopers.  Some of the stuff that those men and women deal with and experience is incredible! I'll admit, some of the shows do embellish a little bit, but some are also very truthful. Alaska is a totally different way of life. We lived in the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage. They had all the conveniences that you would have in the lower 48 and Canada - shopping malls, big box stores and your choice of bank and grocery store. However, in some parts of Alaska, there are no roads, there are no grocery stores, and life is very different. Groceries need to be ordered in advanced, some times for a month's time, and flown in, ATVs are a reliable form of transportation, and subsistence hunting and fishing helps fill the freezer and feed the family for the year. 

Lisa from Ice Road Truckers

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Heather at Heather's Hurrah asks,

Are you guys NHL fans at all, and what team do you cheer for?
We are a hockey family through and through. Living in Toronto, there's really only one team to cheer for, the Leafs. Love em or hate em, being a Leafs fan is pretty much a requirement for any Torontonian. But when we cheer them on, we're usually doing it from the comfort of our couch because tickets to games are hard to get and extremely expensive.

Do you recommend an Alaskan cruise as a vacation one day?
Absolutely! Even though we lived there, I would still do an Alaska cruise. I think it would allow me to see the state in a whole different way. There are many cruise operators with Alaskan itineraries and there are many options for excursions off the ship. I've heard good things about cruising both the Inside and Outside Passages, for both one week, 10 days or 2 weeks. You really can't go wrong with any of them.


Ask Me Anything, Part I
Ask Me Anything, Part II

Thanks so much to everyone who sent it questions. They were so fun to answer and I can't wait to do it again!

You Asked, I Answered: Part 2

Erika from All Things E asks,

How did you meet your hockey-playing husband?

Steve and I met over 10 years ago in high school, while he was playing junior hockey in my home town. We were good friends in high school, but didn't end up dating until a few years later when I was in university. After junior hockey, Steve pursued a career playing professional hockey in Florida, NY, Pennsylvania and North Carolina (with a few other pitstops in between) and I always looked forward to visiting for a long weekend. After I finished school, the plan was to move in together while he was playing in South Carolina, but an unexpected move took us from the sunny south over 4500 miles from home to Alaska. Long story short, after eight years of dating, countless miles travelled and hockey games played, we got engaged and married this past summer.

Is there a community of "hockey wives" that you've found while moving around?

The hockey world is very small. No matter what city, or country for that matter, that you live in, chances are you know someone on the team from a previous season, or they know someone you know, etc. As a hockey player, my husband spends many hours of his life surrounded by his teammates, both at the rink, on the road and even at home. The guys have a special relationship, but so do all of the women standing beside those guys. Like the guys, we build a very strong bond during the season, and often very quickly. And while the number of women varies per season, for those 8 months we are each other's support networks - we celebrate, we cry, we console. The girls easily spend as many hours together as the guys do, especially when the guys are on the road - you have wine nights, dog and baby play dates, go to the gym, watch the games, carpool to games and even babysit for one another. I have been very fortunate to meet many amazing women throughout Steve's career - some sadly I don't keep in touch with at all, some I occasionally talk to, but also some that I consider lifelong friends. 

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Sarah Grace asks,

What would you recommend someone do/see/visit if they were to spend a long weekend in Toronto? Any recommendations on a central place to stay or favourite spots to eat?

Whether you visit Toronto in winter, spring, summer or fall, the city is always alive with activity. Some of the must sees: CN Tower, Toronto Zoo, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Royal Ontario Museum and Art Gallery of Ontario, just to name a few. If you're lucky to visit in the summer, checking out a Blue Jays game in always a good time. Getting from point A to B in the city is easy and taxis and public transit options can be found on every block. Hotels are abundant downtown Toronto, which one you chose really just depends on your budget. Restaurants are also extremely abundant, some of my favourite can be found in the Entertainment District on King St. West. One of my favourite websites to keep up to date with city happenings, including restaurant reviews, festivals and free events, is BlogTO.

How do you keep your passion alive for hockey knowing that at times, the people involved in the sports world are prone to "real people behaviour" that you don't often hear about on TSN/CBC?

I grew up in a hockey-loving family and my brother, sister and I all played growing up. While I don't play today, my passion remains strong for the game because of my husband. My husband started playing hockey at a very young age and today is lucky enough to have made a career out of it. Because of his love for the game, and how happy it makes him to play, I enjoy watching him play. Not only that, it has created lifelong relationships, given us incredible experiences, and pays the bills. It is a HUGE part of our daily lives. At the end of the day, hockey players, and really any other professional athlete, are real people too. It just happens to be that their lives are just a little more public than others.


Ask Me Anything, Part I

Thanks to everyone who sent in questions! Stay tuned for my answers to the final questions next week!

You Asked, I Answered: Part 1

Jenn at A Country Girl's World asks,

These three Alaskan cities are on a cruise itinerary we are looking at: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Have you ever been to them and if so where is a good place to eat or something neat to see?

First of all, I am so excited that you're going to be visiting Alaska! Even with living in Alaska, taking a cruise is still on my bucket list. It would allow me to see the great state in an entirely different way. Unfortunately, during our time there, we did not get down to the southeast to visit those cities. However, I have only heard some great things. Make sure you check out the Mendenhall glacier in Juneau and try some of the amazing craft beer and fresh seafood, such as salmon and halibut, that Alaska has to offer.

What do you miss most about Alaska?

I miss... everything. But in all seriousness, the thing I miss most is our friends. While we were there we met some incredible people - we saw them every single day, we celebrated and shared milestones with them and they provided support when we needed it. They became our family and not seeing them every day has been a very difficult adjustment. I do also miss the beauty and the convenience of getting outside. It was so easy to hop in the car, go for a short drive and be in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nothing but nature. The scenery in Toronto been a difficult adjustment - in the matter of a few months, we went from looking out our window and seeing the tall mountains and moose walking down our street like they owned it, to tall buildings, concrete and cars.

If you could move anywhere in the world for a period of time where would that be?

This is a really difficult question because I'm always up for an adventure. For a short period of time I would love to live in Europe, the west coast like Vancouver, Seattle or Portland, some place warm and on the ocean like southern Florida or a Caribean island, and I'd move back to Alaska in a heartbeat. But, that being said, at the end of the day I am very much a homebody and need to be around family. 

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Claire at somewhere... beyond the sea asks,

Are you happy home in Toronto, or itching for another adventure abroad? What things do you do now to scratch the itch (if you have it of course)?

While I love being at home, and being able to see my family more than I have the past three years, I am always itching for a new adventure. City life has been a difficult adjustment, and I must admit, I'm not sure it's entirely "me". I definitely want to live closer to family, but not in an urban area like we do now. As for combatting the itch, the hockey schedule doesn't really allow for trips during the season, so I'm always looking forward to summer and planning excursions. This summer we will be going back to Alaska for 10 days, with a quick stop in Seattle on the way home. Not only has planning for this trip helped with the itch, it has helped with the winter blues as well. That being said, making the best of the situation always helps as well. Toronto is a huge city, and while it may not have the amount of green space I crave, one thing I love about the city is that there is no shortage of festivals, concerts, markets, concerts, etc. to take advantage of. 

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Carolyn E asks,

What animal do you miss the most from the Zoo? Do you work with any animals in your new job in Toronto and if you do, what kind if your favourite?

I miss all of the animals at the Zoo, from the ones that I worked with every single day, to the ones I just said hello to in passing. Spending time with the great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, northern goshawk, red fox, porcupine, dall sheep and muskox girls was part of my daily routine.  I had a strong relationship with them, they were excited to see me and they even showed affection. My new job is quite different, and not as hands-on as the Zoo. We have many different types of fish, from fish you would find in the Great Lakes to sharks and rays, and even two sea turtles. The animals I worked with at the Zoo were a bit quirkier, and similarly, the animals that are my favourite at the Aquarium, aren't your typical fan favourites either. I do adore the sharks, the stingrays and even the turtles, but I also enjoy the smaller fish that most people pass over. Some of the smaller fish have amazing, and unique, behaviours and survival techniques that are very interesting to learn about.

Thanks to everyone who sent in a question! Stay tuned for more answers next week.