More Murray Madness...

Both Karine & Peter's teams are KICKING BUTT! Check out the results from today (yesterday..er, tomorrow?) Whatever! They are doing great!!

Murray Madness

Last year at this time, Daryl and I were on our belated honeymoon Down Under, cheering on Jacquie, Karine & Peter as they paddled in the Murray River Marathon. We wish them good luck, and wish that we could be there again, as the crazy Canadians that cook hotdogs on the manifolds of the car!
It was so blazing hot last year, that the asphalt was melting off the roads in Swan Hill! You have no idea...

For race results...

Karine (WOODLEIGH WATER RATZ boat #422) is in the TK2/OSR Double Touring Kayak - Open School Relay (kicked butt at the Barwon Mini)
Their arch-nemesis is CAMBERWELL GRAMMAR (10 minutes off the pace after day 1) and we hope their boat sinks! (bad voodoo from Canada!)
Peter (POWWR TEAM boat # 331) is in the TK1/OR Single Touring Kayak - Open Relay
Jacqueline was home from 6 months in Africa only a few days before the start of the race...so perhaps she isn't racing. I will keep my eyes open for her! Otherwise, she is one of the support crew working the shores - Helene is there too I'm sure!

T'were the Days After Christmas

For those close by, you may notice that the boat is missing from our driveway. Daryl is nuts, and wanted to go wake-boarding today. I can't believe I'm back at work. Christmas and the days surrounding were wonderful, spent with family and friends in Kelowna and down on the coast. We had 6cm of fresh snow fall overnight, which will hopefully continue for the next few days until Nadia and family arrive! That's right! Colin was apparently so appalled with the COMPLETE lack of snow back east (dry land training and cancelled lessons) that they decided to have a spontaneous ski vacation with us in the Loops! We could not be happier, as they have yet to visit us in our new home, and were so happy when they decided to come to Sun Peaks and not head to the Big White-Out! I wish I had vacation days. I might talk to my supervisor and see what I can do about next week, as the gang arrives on Friday and stays for 6 days.
Everyone was too generous with the gifts this year, we thank you all for opening your doors and hearts to us, and we apologize for the quick visits everywhere. We spent less than 24 hours with my parents...it was freaky fast!
Oh, just to clarify, Daryl is not out on the river today, he is up at Harper Mountain with the neighbours...the boat is in the garage thawing (for tomorrow?)

Daryl's favourite joke...I don't think it's funny

So this baby seal walks into a club..

and gets hammered!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Daryl is home, safe and sound. He arrived last night at 7pm and you would have thought that he was away from home for years. I think just coming home was more exciting than the pending present pandemonium!
Then there is the chow. I can’t begin to explain the excitement and psychopathic enthusiasm that oozed from every hair on his furry body. Fletcher was just twitching and spinning when he saw Daryl. I wish I had a camera. He hasn’t left his side, slept by Daryl on the floor on his side of the bed, and today I can only imagine what those two are up to! Super-chow reigns supreme? Some things are better left behind closed doors.
The cats are also very happy to have someone who will actually pick them up and play with them (and not just with the laser pointer)
The next few days are going to be nuts, with visiting family and friends and spreading the holiday cheer and spirit. I am back to work on the 27th, so expect a full update on the activities at that time.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and all the best for this holiday season!

My Rant About Country

I like country music. While talking on the phone to a friend from back east, they mentioned that they could hear what sounded like country music in the background. I replied that, yes, indeed, it was country music. Silence. Then “what?” was his only question.

When I was growing up, I listened to classical music & knew all about DiscDrive with Jurgen Gothe before I could say my own name. When it was deemed appropriate, I could tune into the local “easy listening” station while being chauffeured by my parents, provided the volume was kept under control. When I became the rebel, and perhaps gained more bravery, I would automatically tune the car radio to CHOM, the quintessential rock station in Montreal of the time. With my father rolling his eyes, and protesting “not CHOM!” we would make our weekend trek to the cottage. I was satisfied.

Satisfied until I moved to Vancouver. Coming from a society where if you weren’t running you were going to slow, where driving without road-rage caused you stress, and eye-twitches were the norm to a place where people actually walked on their lunch breaks and stopped to smell the cherry blossoms in the spring. To those who have not experienced the marvelous pace of leisurely life in Vancouver, you have no idea what I’m talking about. (take that and multiply that ten fold to feel what its like in a small town! But that’s another story)

Life seems easier out west. People are more friendly, more approachable, and you just get the feeling that life is great, almost everyday. This feeling is reflected and manifested in the lyrics to most country music songs. One of my all time favourite lyrics in a song is It’s a Great Day to Be Alive by Travis Tritt. It isn’t the best song, but the lyrics can’t help but make you feel good and want to smile.

There is something so simple, and easygoing about the lyrics in country songs. You can relate to almost every story, be it a slow, broken hearted drawl about the loss of a great horse, or an energetic fireball of a song enlightening us on the intrinsic worth of owning a Dodge. Perhaps that is why we have a Dodge in the driveway.

So, to all who have dared to ask, I like country music. I would even go so far as to say that there are some songs that I love. At our wedding, our second dance was Forever and Ever, Amen. For those skeptics out there still set against country (you know who you are) take a minute and read these lyrics and tell me you still don’t believe in country love!

Daryl comes home today. I don't know how I am going to function for the next 8 hours, but at least he will be out of contact...I think it makes it easier. Fletcher and I will go to the airport for his arrival and both probably pee ourselves!

I don't know why, but I can't get Phoebe's song "Smelly Cat" out of my head!

Salute to a Brave & Modest Nation

A friend sent this to me the other day...it was a bit long on the blog, but worth the read. Really makes you stop and think about what and why Canada's military forces are still going to bat for our neighbours to the south.

http://www.canmilair.com/tribute.htm

I'm the WINNER!!

We had a fund-raiser at work today by selling tickets to win one of 6 booze baskets. Guess what? I WON! A 6 pack of Corona and a beach chair (complete with pink flip flops and hat)! Merry early Christmas to ME!

Baking, NOT Bacon!

This past weekend I was overwhelmingly possessed by the Christmas Baking Bug. Saturday I was out shopping, helping Santa of course, then proceeded home to make 180 ginger snaps. That wasn't enough...Sunday I invaded the neighbour's house and we dipped 8 dozen biscotti cookies made by Nona, 3 sheets of almond rocca, and began the process of making cranberry and white chocolate chip cookies. It was amazing how little I snacked, cause EVERYTHING SEEMS TO INVOLVE CHOCOLATE.
Liar! my mother is a LIAR! I guess that's why I can wear the same pair of pants I bought in September 1996 with Stacy when we went shopping at the Eaton Centre in Toronto. They are actually big on me now! Reverse metabolism? I won't complain!
I am eating a ginger snap right now (chocolate-free) and they are YUMMY! Want one?

OH! The Weather Outside is
FRIGHTFUL!

BC is getting walloped by yet another winter storm. We had about 5" of snow last night in the Loops, and already this morning over 1" has fallen. It is wet, fat snow, falling in huge clump-like flakes that makes your mascara run. Not that I wear mascara, but some lady walking down the street looked like she had just left the set of a horror movie! It was AWESOME!
This is a photo of the Coquihalla highway just past the snowshed, taken about 15 minutes ago. This is NOTHING compared to the hell that I drove through 3 weeks ago to come home! Anyhow, we are bunkering down for another great winter storm. I've got lots of fire wood, rum & egg nog so we should be just fine!

Holiday Visit

To all our friends in Kelowna, Darly and I will be in town for a brief but distinctive visit from the 23rd to the 25th. We will simply not have time to drive and visit everyone that we want to see, especially with the traffic situation in Kelowna! So Twyla has graciously opened her home on Saturday (23rd) afternoon for one and all to come on by. We are giving you plenty of warning, compared to other visits we've made, so there are no excuses, unless you're in Mexico (damn you Marci!)
We hope to see you there, please pass the word on to others who may not know what a blog is!

New Rule for Me

Cats love laser pointers, and if you spin them around enough, they will walk into walls and puke.
Opps!

Cats now have a new rule...

Do not try to drink from Fletcher's dish, you will be chased.
Run kitty! RUN!!

Chow has a new rule...

The cats are NOT squeeky toys to play with.
'Nuf said

Better in the Land Down-Under

It is a tragic day...when Daryl and I were in Australia last year...at this time, we purchased some consumer products that we can't find in the Northern hemisphere, like Australian Heinz ketchup, 25lb cray-fish, digeredoos, and YUMMY FLAVOURED NESTLE QUICK! I don't really enjoy chocolate, or chocolate milk...some of you know why. Anyhow, the powder in these little cans make milk taste SO GOOD! But I'm all out of the vanilla, and no matter where I look, I can't find it anywhere! Oh well, time for another trip to Oz!

STELLA's BACK!

So just when Fletcher thought it was safe to go outside...well, inside, actually. Roxy went back to animal control yesterday after a GREAT, fun-filled weekend with us. I miss her already, but do enjoy my time alone with the Chow! Just when things were back to normal, there was peace and quiet in the house, along came the cats!
Marci's last day with PCL was Friday, and to celebrate this joyous occasion she is off to Mexico for a month! MUST BE NICE!! So Fletcher and I are kitty sitting STELLA and her sister Delilah until early January. So far, so good...they won't come out of the laundry room! Crazy cats! I don't think they will cause as much heart-ache to Chow as Roxy.

The two friends playing in the snow! Fletcher has been so patient!
Fletcher thought that if he behaves, he might get a cookie!
If Fletcher could have puppies...this is what they would look like!
Two cute bums!

Sleeping angel...
Little devil!!

Passed out on a soft rug!
SMILE!!
Decorated for Christmas!
Roxy attacking the EVIL tree...I had to move all the lower ornaments up!

WHY MAMA? WHY? Can the puppy go now?

Finally asleep!!

GRR! Get that lion!!
I can eat you whole!

Such a tough little girl!

Playing in the snow!
Roxy's face...up close!
Chow isn't too happy with this "new puppy" deal!

Roxy trying to share...Fletcher wanted nothing to do with this!

Finally sleeping!
HI! Look at me! I'm so cute!
Baby bum!
Playing with Fletcher's toys!

I smell puppy bum!
What are you looking at?
RUN AWAY!

Trying to get along!
RUN RUN RUN!

I can smell your butt!

PANCAKES!

I am officially a foster mom! I picked up the little girl at noon today and she is such a sweetie! I didn’t want to leave and go back to work, but it’s too early in the game for me to call in sick, or request time off! Besides, I really do love what I’m doing and actually like going to work! Is this what it was suppose to feel like all along? How come no one told me?
Life is too short to not be happy, either in at your job or in your personal life. Daryl and I were talking about this the other day, and despite the continent that currently separates us, we’ve got it pretty good. It seems that so many of our friends are in a rough spot these days…is it something in the water? It’s hard to hear about the trials and tribulations that other’s are going through when you, yourself, are just so gosh darn-it happy! Everyone goes through the ups and downs, that’s normal. But please don’t kid yourself into thinking that everything will be hunky-dory, or that big hurts can be fixed with a simple band-aid. If someone that you love is hurting you (and I don’t mean physically, cause if that were the case I’d sick the Chow on their A*#!) But if this person that you love is causing you emotional pain, and you’ve told them and asked them to stop and they don’t, then just ask yourself if it is worth years of heartache for the “dream” of a “perfect” life. On the flip side, I will quote from a great Canadian song-writer, who hits that nail right on the head…

“nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight”

At this festive time of year, when we are surrounded by family and friends, take a moment to reflect on where you are, how fortunate we all are, and the number of people that love you. It’s pretty amazing what we take for granted on a daily basis.

These are all just TOO cute!

Wizards of Winter!

This is what I am striving for...someday, oh yes, it will be mine!!

Turn UP the volume and ENJOY!!


Wizards Of Winter - video powered by Metacafe

Poor chow...laying in the snow waiting for some love!!!

Chow in the snow...very sad boy, waiting for Santa!
This is Pancake...maybe I WILL get a puppy for Christmas! Isn't she a sweetie! The visitor that was in our back yard this morning!

STILL ALIVE!!

So it has been WAY too long, and I am so sorry for those out there who sent me e-mails and texts asking what the heck I was going on! It took my sister from Oz wondering if I was still alive...so here we go!
Yes, D am still alive, Daryl is alive, Fletcher is alive, and Christmas has puked on our house! I accepted the position in the engineering and development department with the City of the Loops and started work on the 27th of November. I was in Toronto for 5 days visiting with Daryl before I had to start work, and arrived in Vancouver on the 26th to 20cm of snow. The drive home to Kamloops, which normally takes 3 to 3.5 hours took me over 7! Fletcher, in the back seat, was thinking that we were heading to Mexico. Oh no, my dear chow, not to Mexico...to snowy HELL! I met some truckers in Merrit, the arm-pit of BC, and we formed a convoy taking the old highway 5 to the Loops. I've never been on that road before, but have heard that it is quite beautiful. Too bad I couldn't see ANYTHING!! We were driving in white-out conditions the whole way, and I was doing anything I could to follow the lights in front of me. We did make it home, but I was exhausted and vowed never to do anything like that again. But I had a new job to start the next morning! My supervisor wasn't in due to the snow...Gotta love 4x4!
Work has been great, everything is new and exciting, and I'm learning to be political and diplomatic and not to commit to anything when dealing with the public. I've never had a government position before, so this is all new! I have to learn not to talk so much!
Fletcher is very mad these days, as he has had me at home with him for almost 3 months. Now, I leave for work everyday, and he is home alone...poor Chow! He doesn't look at me when I leave, won't come to say goodbye...but goes freaky ballistic when I come home. So, I think he forgets that I was gone all day! Good thing they have short memories!
I decorated the outside of the house for Christmas over the weekend, as it was snowing again, but very mild. I hung the lights, with the neighbours watching me to make sure that I hadn't fallen off the ladder! I would wave to them every once in a while, just to let them know that I was ok. The house looks amazing! Last night I decorated the tree, and hung some decorations around the house, and will start on the mantle tonight. I love Christmas, but it really sucks being alone this time of the year.
Daryl comes home on the 21st for almost 2 weeks, so we are very excited! We are heading to Kelowna for Christmas Eve and Day, and then might head to Vancouver, weather permitting. I won't drive in the snow! As I am now a working girl, I have to be back for the 27th. I can't take vacation days just yet!
I've been keeping the house occupied with four legged friends too. I was puppy sitting last week and over the weekend for Kristen & Stephane, Zara came to spend some time with her auntie and cousin Fletcher! We had so much fun, and I think even Fletcher misses her! This weekend I might be a foster mom for a 5 week old baby that was found by animal control in the Loops, and can't be put in the SPCA cause she is too little. So, a public request went over the system here asking for a home for the weekend. Silly question! Of course I'll do it! She doesn't have a name, but I will call her Pancake!
Then on Sunday, Marci heads off to Mexico for a month, so STELLA will be back in the house, along with her sister, Delilah. Fletcher might not remember STELLA, as she was only a wee kitten the last time she was over. That will be interesting! I've got quite the menagerie going on! It keeps life interesting, that's for sure!
Well, I guess that's it for the updates for now. I'll add photos later, but at least you know we're alive and well!
Happy Holidays to everyone!

NO MORE DOMESTIC ENGINEER TRAINING!

So what a crazy 10 days it's been. As most everyone knows, I've been perfecting my chores as "domestic engineer" for over 2 months now, and quite frankly, I was getting a little bored with the whole situation. I've applied for positions all over the world, quite literally, as there was an posting for an amazing opportunity back in Russia...and have had more interviews than I can count. I was contacted by head hunters and recruitment agencies and had some positive leads on jobs. As it turns out, this was a test of patience, fortitude and serenity. On Friday I was issued a formal offer of employment with the City of the Loops, a position that I had submitted an application for the day after Daryl and I found ourselves unemployed. This couldn't have come at a better time, or under better circumstances. The job description sounds fantastic, the benefits and salary are extraordinary, and this secures our steps at a long and delightful future in the Loops. We know that Daryl will be back out west soon, once some debts are paid off, and life can continue, back to normal, well, as normal as we have lived thus far!
I wanted to thank everyone who sent thoughts, well-wishes and prayers...someone out there was looking out for us. I will be heading back to Hog-town early this week to spend some time with Daryl before starting work with the City, probably on the 27th. Daryl will be home 3 weeks later, for 2 weeks, for the holidays, and we hope to make the rounds to see most of the family.
I'll attach photos from Hog-town...everyone, have a great weekend and enjoy the Grey Cup! Even though I'm living in BC, I still have to be an Alouettes fan! Maybe next year, if Daryl is still in Toronto, we'll go to the game!

Thank God!!
At least I know I am Canadian!

You are 100% Canuck!

You rock, you are an almighty Canadian through and through. You have proven your worthiness and have won the elite prize of living in a country as awesome as Canada. Yes I know other countries think they are better, but we let them have that cuz we know better than they do, eh?

How Canadian Are You?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

HOWDIE!

Thanks to Wanda & Stacy for totally freaking me out about how I talk! Maybe I read the questions too fast...maybe I've been talking to myself and the dog too much!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

Check it out...

Enter 50° 0'38.20"N 110° 6'48.32"W in Google Earth. Way cooler than Cydonia Mensae on Mars!!

As super-duper, happy birthday to my sister, Helene, across the great ocean in a land way down-under. I hope you have (or had, cause it's already tomorrow) a fantastic day!

Missing you lots and we can't wait to see you again soon!

People over 30 should be dead

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 40's, 50's, 60's, or even maybe the early 70's probably shouldn't have survived. Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets...and when we rode our bikes, we had no Helmets. (Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.) As children, we would ride in cars with no seatbelts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

Horrors!

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.
After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were backwhen the street lights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. NO CELL PHONES!!!!! Unthinkable!

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones,personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had friends! We went outside and found them.

We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt.
We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade.

Horrors!

Tests were not adjusted for any reason.

Our actions were our own.

Consequences were expected.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

People under 30 are WIMPS!

Hallowe'en At The Chapins! Daryl's favourite season is Hallowe'en, and since he is far from home, he felt the urge to decorate someone else's house. The victim...my sister and the family. There are bodies rising from the dead, bats that attack you at the front door, webs to entangle you...all for the sake of candy. What a great day!