Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Mexico

 

The BOSS That Wasn't

THE BOSS......

 

Hmmmmm let's see; over the years there have been bosses in my life I would have walked on hot coals for; bosses I would have gladly run over; bosses I tried my very best to ignore; bosses I learned from; bosses I gave lessons to. During my working years I was fortunate to have worked with some for whom I have great respect for...(still today).

Occasionally we all (I am sure) encounter a boss who is less than desirable in terms of 'boss material'.

How about a person in charge of the entire operation who leaves for vacation and doesn't inform anyone until the end of the day before he is to be gone. Very inconsiderate especially when he holds the purse strings, the signing authority and ALL the SAY.

How about a person who makes plans, changes and decisions regarding your position without telling you he has made these changes; you find out only by chance when you enquire about something unrelated.

How about someone who will not contribute to flowers for an employee who is in hospital (nor does he send flowers on his own).

How about a boss who will not give his receptionists (at Christmas time) even a box of chocolates when others (technicians) in the company get performance bonuses based on the performance of the company.

How about a boss who walks right past your office door on his way in and doesn't even acknowledge you with a good morning........leaves at night past the very same door without a good bye, good night, or see you tomorrow.

How about a boss who displays all the traits of a 'male chauvinist' as he looks towards a male co-worker even when replying to a question you (a female) have asked (just as if you don't exist).

How about it; how about it; how about it...........? I had a boss who was all of the above and more.........he was the BOSS that WASN'T as far as I'm concerned and will never have even one ounce of my respect. Now I got that off my chest he can go to hell and I can forget him and never be frustrated over his stupidity again ever, ever, ever.....!
My last day at Pentlands was December 10, 2013 !!
And he said to me when I gave my notice.................."Why?" 

Prep Month

November soon to turn into December, into Christmas, into our trip to Mexico.

The Chiropractor, after many months, didn't seem to be alleviating my neck problem........so on to another option (physiotherapy)........which would continue for all of November.

In preparation for the Mexican sun we started Tanning sessions on the 18th and they would continue for the rest of November. We were looking forward to our vacation and a relaxing two weeks in Cabo San Lucas.

With the exception of the end of Daylight Saving Time, Veteran's Day (US) and Remembrance Day, November was otherwise an ordinary month without any earth-shattering happenings.

Time For the Goblins

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE !!

            HALLOWEEN EVERYONE !!

                                  EVERYONE !!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE !!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE !!

Is That So?

Shall I say......, can I say......, will you listen.......?

I have no words adequate to express my frustration at this moment as I write today's entry.

At this time I find myself bombarded with advertisings about everything from the air we breathe to the makeup of our headstone. It has become difficult to sort out the chaff from the wheat (which is also becoming a bad word today) of advertising in my world.......and......I watch very little TV so I can just imagine what it must be like for someone who spends a lot of time in front of the tube (not expressing an opinion about whether watching TV is good, bad or indifferent and there is certainly a lot of advice about that as well). Not only TV but magazines, billboards, the grocery store and every corner you turn offers up some advertising about something. I have no idea what is true, false or in between; further I have no clue how to find out. It seems that my privacy is being threatened on a daily basis just because I am forced to look at all this advertising.

Also flooding me is all the advice about what is good for me, what is bad for me, what is going to surely kill me, what will cripple me, what has killed a child, what has miraculously cured someone of some horrible fate caused by eating or doing the wrong thing..........the list is endless. My frustration with it all seems endless as well.

XxXxXxXxXxXx
Everyone rants about something, offers up advice about something, passes along information about something.........that will save you, kill you or anything in between. Good grief people, do you have any idea what you are doing......, what you are saying........, if it may be true......., if it may be false (or anything in between).....????

I know, I know, I need only to look the other way........ignore what is constantly in front of me; it means essentially I pay attention to NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING at all.
Instead I will pay attention to my beautiful little Mocha who runs in abandon through her adventures, which is what I wish I were able to do through all the 'stuff' I don't care about and don't want to hear, that bombards me every single day.

Surrey International Writer's Conference

I am playing catch-up on my blog here; can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote but now that I have decided to catch up I can't remember many details about that which I wish to write........hmmmm.

Recalling the Writer's Conference, the highlight for me was being able to attend with Keltie. She spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night with us and we went 'conferencing' Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I guess it would be on the negative side to say I didn't get a great deal from the week-end but I found the presentations leaned towards the authors making splendid effort to reinforce their 'look-what-I-did' attitude as opposed to offering any real advice, as well the conference offered a great vehicle to sell their books. I was especially looking forward to seeing and hearing Diana Gabaldon but came away from her presentation somewhat disappointed as I did most of the others.

It was another learning experience for sure and wonderful to get to spend time with Keltie.

A doorprize came home with both Keltie and I (books) and Keltie bought me the book by Christopher Vogler 'The Writer's Journey' which was so thoughtful of her.

So......another adventure in my life and times.

She Has Arrived

September 30 @ 10:34 am, baby Arwen Alexandria arrived........

weighing 8 lb. 1 oz.......

to the delight of her mom and dad, Robin and Eric and of course her big sister, Tesla.

Another beautiful little grandbaby to get to know! Welcome sweet little girl!

Busy Summer

At last time to reflect.............

A good but busy summer it has been (indeed), without much time for thinking or being lazy or just being a vegetable.

So now its back to work for George, continue working for me and some time to just think about our summer, fertilize our roots and grow a new leaf or maybe a tomato or two. Whew!
We have a new grand baby on the horizon........coming on Sep 30; that is exciting. I'm sure her mom will be overjoyed when the miracle has 'happened' and they can work the new arrival into the routine of their busy life. In any event we are excited to meet the new granddaughter 'Arwen'........I'm sure she will be a delight.
Time now to think about what (or where) we should enjoy a winter vacation this year (maybe Christmas away again......). It's a hard decision when there are so many places we would like to go.
The War Horse play caught our attention so we will be enjoying that at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Sep 27 as well as the Bon Jovi concert on Oct 2 at Rogers Arena and I plan to attend the Annual Surrey Writers Conference Oct 25, 26 & 27.............Wow did I say our summer was busy?
 

One Hundred Days

 September 9th. was Hannah's 100 days birthday celebration.
We joined friends and family for a Chinese Celebration in her honor with lots of Chinese Food and visiting. Here she is at her celebration......awake for awhile and eventually she crashed, even amidst the noise and hullabaloo.

I am told there is no particular symbolism behind the 100 days; just a celebration which comes before (and without having to wait for) the first birthday.

 

Big sister Ava enjoyed the festivities as well; even wandered away by herself to watch the dancing at another celebration in an adjacent party room.

 

Exploring North Carolina

Air Canada flew us safely to North Carolina for a few days (Aug 21 and back home on aug 26).

While there we attended a Kryon Channeling by Lee Carroll.........enlightening! We also had a nice visit with Gary and Ginny who attended the Chanelling with us.

Arriving in Rawleigh-Durham Aug. 22 we spent the day at Gary and Ginny's. They took us for a nice lunch (Mexican) then we visited at their place. On the 23rd Gary drove us to Asheville, a very unique and historical city with much to see and explore (although we didn't have too much time for that). Everyone enjoyed lunch at the Green Sage then George and I were treated to a session in the Salt Cave which was awesome. (Thank you so much both of you.) The Cave is constructed of approximately 20 tons of Polish salt. The floor is covered in Dead Sea salt. Temperatures are maintained at 68 to 72 degrees with 50-60% humidity; relaxing within puts you in a calm stress-free state of mind. It was a unique experience. If ever you visit Asheville I recommend a session in the Salt Cave.

A bit of exploring then we headed for our hotel where the conference was being held for Saturday and Sunday.

This is the Kryon Prayer:

I give this day to

all that is Divine

Each step that I take,

let it be anointed and blessed

When the challenges come forth,

as they will in duality

Let me celebrate them

and move through them

With appropriateness and Love

After the conference on Sunday we drove back to Gary and Ginny's; it was about a 4.5 hr drive so it was very late when we got back. Our flight home was in the afternoon the following day; off we flew for home, arriving about 9:30 pm. Tobias picked us up from the airport, we drove home, unpacked and hit the sack for a good sleep.
 

Winnipeg Visitors

Danielle, Tyler, Levi and Austin came out to the coast for a visit; they stayed over with us on the 16th. and we spent Saturday (17th) with them. We had a visit to Bear Creek park where the kids played (the big kids toooo), had a ride on the train and a nice walk amidst the flowers and plants (a pleasant morning). Back home we ate lunch then everyone took a nap. After our nap we went to Langley to meet up with Eric, Robin & Tesla and Tobias, Karli, Ava & Hannah for dinner and a get-together. It was a most enjoyable day.

 

We were invited to celebrate the Hendren b/days on the 18th. at Claudette's (all three of the guys) where we had burgers, corn, fruit, birthday cake and of course the birthday boys got presents. Another enjoyable visit with the whole family together; good photo opportunity and we did get a few of those.

 

They left for home Aug 25th. Levi will be going to Kindergarten this fall.......how time flies. It seems like only yesterday he was just a baby. Now he has a brother, three cousins and another cousin on the way !!! 

Tradgedy Strikes

On July 29th (we learned the date later) Pemberton Soaring flight, with owner and one passenger, collided mid-air with a Cessna 150 (also with pilot and one passenger - husband and wife as well as their dog) killing all four people on board both planes.

 

This is significant for us because I had purchased a soaring aerobatic flight for George's birthday in March from Pemberton Soaring. He phoned to set up and make arrangements for his flight only to find out that the company (following the tragic accident) had ceased operations.

 

There but for the grace of god go George.............WOW; I can't imagine and really don't even want to think about it.

 

So..........leery of another soaring flight???...........(I certainly was) but no, not George; he went on line looking for another company he could replace his flight with and immediately found 'Vancouver Soaring' flying out of Hope Airport...........so off to Hope we went on Saturday Aug 10th. for a glider flight. He thoroughly enjoyed his flight (aerobatics and all) and I'm happy to report that he came back safe and in one piece with a huge smile on his face. He thinks he would like to do it again. I'm sure that he will!!
He is here in the picture with instructor, Ejub Duric.

Grandbabies Come Again

..........and I'm so glad they did!

 

Aaron and Diane came to visit (for just a few short days, Aug 1st to 4th) but we were happy to see them.

 

The first evening after they arrived we went for All-You-Can-Eat Sushi and we did eat...........I was so stuffed! It was very good.

 

First day found them across the border to do a bit of shopping. That was a successful day with some purchases to take home.

 

Second day I went with them to Granville island. (George stayed home to rest up his sore knee - with Mocha - ). On the way we stopped of course at Tim's for a coffee, then at SFU so Aaron could get a calendar. While I was waiting in the car at SFU Katie came walking across the parking lot.......what a surprise and what are the odds..........I couldn't believe it! That was surely a surprise! On to Granville Island............we wandered around, did some shopping, some looking, had a nice lunch together then drove home and had pizza.

 

Third day we all went to Whistler for the day. It was a very hot day, a beautiful drive and scenery was gorgeous. We took lunch with us, had a beer in the Irish Pub, walked around, did some shopping, some looking (again) and then drove home and had all-you-can-eat fish and chips.........ate ourselves stuffed again.

 

Too soon Monday came and they had to leave. Sad to see them leave but it was a very enjoyable visit!  

The Skies Over Vancouver

Another ultralite flight!

George got me another flight for my birthday which I took on July 25. This time instead of over the mountains, we flew over Vancouver. It was great (not as scenic as over the mountains of course). I got to fly the plane again which was pretty neat.

(....................Thinking of taking lessons..........???.....maybe)..:)

All Trees Have Roots

.......pretty simple (as roots go)............I have roots; I must be a tree.

 

Driving trip to Alberta..........
 

Starting out Tuesday after work (Jul. 9th) we ate on the go (pizza which George had picked up for the trip), drove to Kelowna and spent the night there. It was off in the morning for Grande Prairie where we spent the next night.

 

On the way to Watino on the 11th, we stopped in Spirit River, drove past the hospital where I was born (it has changed considerably from what I remember), took a fews photos then made our way onward. Stopping in at Eaglesham we found the school pretty much as it always has been (no changes there except for enrollment which I am told is way down); again took a few pictures. I tried to locate the convent where I used to take piano lessons but it seems to have been taken down; the catholic church still stood but no convent..........more pictures and on to explore the little village. We found a few landmarks; the butcher shop (which of course is no longer a butcher shop); the general store (still a business of some kind); an old family house - Blomert's (still standing but seemed empty and abandoned); the community hall (pretty much the same); the sports grounds and ball diamond (seemed much smaller than I remember it). After exploring for a short while and seeing no one walking down the street with whom we could converse, we headed on to Watino. The little store on Eaglesham corner was still there though changed somewhat.

 

Passing our old farm along the highway (on Tangent corner) I found that all buildings were gone; even the trees I remember on the property had been removed. It was strictly a field of grain.

 

Coming down the hill and into the little valley where Watino sits was familiar and brought back some memories. We visited the mainstreet where it seems the sidewalk that used to be there had disappeared; mainstreet was just a dirt road running past the houses; there were several holiday trailers parked along the river bank and we were later told that many people parked and lived there for the summer months. The property where I had lived after we moved to town was grown up to trees and bush; the house had been burned down some years previous. There was a new bridge across the river which we got a good view of when we walked a while by the river; let Mocha our for a run.

 

Stopping in at the cemetary we became aware of some deaths I hadn't heard about. We paid respects to my brother who is buried there and quickly left because the mosquitos were big enough to carry us away.........they almost did get away with Mocha...:):)

 

Luckily the Bolsters still lived in the same place which we found eventually as we drove out into the country away from the town. We had a great visit with Don and Donna, Ernie and Cres and Jim who filled in a lot of missing pieces about people and the area. We had lunch with them, saw Cres's beautiful flowers then headed out for Edmonton.

 

Apparently Watino is soon to celebrate their 100th birthday. Hopefully they will have a celebration which we can take part in and perhaps get to see a few more people. That would be good.

 

Arriving in the Edmonton area (and again getting lost following directions to the farm) we got to Tammy and Bob's in time to go to bed which we did; tired and ready for a rest. Friday (12th) we went into the city; got in a visit with Carl and Shirley and then a wee visit also with Joan. Following behind Aaron and Diane we arrived back at the farm in time for dinner (yummy burgers) with Tam, Bob, Benji(e), Shelby, and Brodie, a short visit then off to bed again. Saturday (13th) we took care of burying Carla's ashes, visited, played a few games, had yummy seafood lasagne for dinner, more games, then off to bed once more. Sunday (14th) while Tam, Bob and Benji(e) went to a birthday party the rest of us drove in to Edmonton and had a fun game of mini golf with Aaron coming out on top this time (way to go Aaron). Following our game we went to Boston Pizza for dinner which was very good. After dinner we said goodbye to Aaron and Diane and Shelby and Brodie then headed back to the farm for the night to pack and get ready to leave in the morning.
 

It was a bit of a whirl wind trip..........ate ourselves to the stuffed and overflowing point..........but had a nice time with everyone.

 

Our trip home was more-or-less uneventful. We saw a bear near Jasper (have always wanted to see a bear through the park) but it was so far away. We got some pics but couldn't pull him in close enough to get a real good shot. There were also some goats on the side of the mountain, a few deer by the road; other than that we saw beautiful scenery as always and the highway speeding under us. We arrived home, unpacked, hit the sack and slept. Mocha was very happy to be back home.

This tree was happy to have been able to inspect its roots again.

To London (Not to see the Queen)

Westjet wisked us off to London June 26 at 10:00 am;

Westjet landed us safely in London (without incident) around 7:30 pm to a beautiful sunny warm evening and my sister and niece to welcome us at the airport.

For the next 10 days we were treated royally and thoroughly enjoyed our visit with everyone. George was happy to meet more family and so appreciated being made to feel so welcome.

May's birthday gave us reason to celebrate on June 27th with dinner out (her choice was Swiss Chalet). This was the start of an EATING holiday with more food being consumed by the two of us than would be required by any six people in twice the length of stay. Do you get the message 'we ate a little too much and often?....

Lunch with Brenda and Marcel was scheduled for Friday. After lunch at the Greek restaurant it was back to their place for (you guessed it) dessert, a very yummy ice cream pie, complete with recipe to bring home.

Saturday June 29th was the day chosen to celebrate May and Age's birthday with all the family........where you say?........The Mandarin (a huge Chinese buffet). It was great to get together with all the family...........not so great that again we ATE so much! The food was tasty but really, did we need to consume that amount? I can always ask myself that question after, but at the time I don't seem the have the willpower to STOP.

Richard and Dianne invited us out to their place for dinner on Sunday (30th). It was great to see them again (and for George to meet them); we had a very nice visit and of course more wonderful FOOD. By this time I was beginning to feel like a blimp.........I would, when it came time to return home, actually LOOK like a blimp.

Niagara Falls was graced with our presence on Tuesday July 02nd (May, Dianne, George and I) with a stop in 'Niagara on the Lake' on the way down. Niagara on the Lake is a nice little place with lots of touristy quaint little shops. George spotted 'Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory'............couldn't resist a shopping spree.........of course we refused to help him eat his purchases.....:):). We spotted a little ice cream shop.........(you know we would never partake) then on the see the rest of the town.

Niagara Falls was awsome as I remembered it. George was glad to get to see it close up in the 'Maid of the Mist' boat which takes people right up close and into the mist from the falls.......it was great, blue raincoats 'n all. After the boat ride we stopped at the casino for dinner (yessss it was indeed a buffet) and we certainly did it justice.

So far everything we did on our visit involved FOOOOOD....!!!

On Thursday July 04th my niece Diane brought us over a 'Meals on Wheels' dinner..........vegetarian chile complete with napkins and homemade bread. it was all delicious. Friday we went to Janet's for a game of cards and visit (but guess what...........we had no food, only water; WOW).

Time to leave (Saturday) came soon. We did our laundry and got packed up then played a few games of cards before it was time to catch the plane around 7:30. It was a sad goodbye but hopefully we will be able to visit again before too long.

Arriving home around 11:30 we got a cab from the airport to Karli's (where we had left our vehicle), drove home, (not sure but probably ate something) unpacked, (probably ate some more) and hit the sack.

We were tired; it was good to get home; but we had a good visit and without a doubt we ATE TOO MUCH...!!!!

Happy Birthday little Ava

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE AVA

We celebrated Ava's birthday on June 15th with family and friends at her house.

(She turned 2 on the 14th)

She was a bit overwhelmed with all the people but soon got into the swing of the party when Tesla joined her at the water table for a splashing good time and then for play time at the park. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine and smiles.