We're bacccckkkkkkkkk

We had a wonderful road trip to Cape Breton but now it’s back to the real world of errands, housework and meals not prepared for us. We started out on Sunday, stopping at Frenchy’s in Liverpool - scored a nice summer top and then on to Halifax. Enjoyed supper with daughter # 3 and daughter #2s boyfriend, courtesy of Mr. Chang, yummy. Then a evening of being serenaded by dueling guitars, while we wore our winter jackets ‘ me thinks the boys must be paying for their own heat now and saving their money for beer’ and finally fell into a restless sleep on two lumpy couches. Up early due to city noises and a brisk walk to the Bluenose Restaurant for breakfast, back in time to narrowly avoid a parking ticket and on the road to CB.

Stopped in Antigonish to visit a consignment shop which I’d always wanted to check out - it was great but only took cash (so this limited the buying power to a pair of jeans and a evening top). Then the drive through to Sydney arriving in time for a power shop at Value Village before checking in at the Delta. Over to a friends for supper and a catch up visit with planning for the mall attack the next day. Tried to have an adult swim at 10 pm in the pool after all the shrieking March Break kids were banished but the lifeguard wasn’t buying that daughter # 3 was 19 or over. Had a rest up sleep - heaven . Awoken by a ‘wrong number’ call at 7:45 so up to read the paper and meet the friend for breakfast while the non 19 year old slept in. Off to the Mayflower Mall for a day of checking out the bargains and we had great luck! My friend managed to find two pairs of slacks for $20 and a beautiful jacket which was originally $139 for $20 so just couldn’t leave it at the store. Daughter # 3 got some prom shoes, some tops, and underwear. I managed to get fitted for decent bras, scoop up tops, pajamas, shorts, underwear, skirt and some drug store necessities. We were too pooped to think of a big meal so we ordered pizza and garlic fingers and vegged out in the hotel room until that settled and braved the squealing masses for a dip in the pool. Does it get any better than this? I don’t think so! Was difficult to say goodbye to the friend (hadn’t seen her in 2.5 yrs) as the visit was so short.

Off in the morning to catch a breakfast sandwich at Subway which the sandwich artist recommended (and paid for) then on the road via St Peters to check out a consignment store there recommended by my friend - great shop - and managed to find a top for work there. Down to Halifax to break up the drive by a Value Village shop (not as good as the one in Sydney) with a find of a top. A visit to the Bulk Barn for human treats and then Pets Unlimited for feline treats (and a peek at the poor critters in the cages - pugs for $1300!!) before the daughter drove home (nice break). So a good time was had by mother and daughter.

Today was one of running errands in town which was strangely deserted (must be because of March Break) so made the tasks quicker. Car registration, pick up filters at the machine shop, visit to nursing home, pharmacy for vaccines, Sobeys for groceries, Frenchy’s for a bathing suit cover-up, back to retrieve the truck from servicing and then home. Unload and put away groceries, make lasagna, garlic bread and cesar salad for supper and complete a list of phone calls. After supper a visit from my travel mate who brought a house warming gift of the most amazing corkscrew you have ever seen! We got to go over details about the trip, share the travel medicine info and a fashion show of the power shopping results (all on the QT while mister was rigging gear) following a house tour and a wine tasting of mister's winery. So a very full but great day - good thing I took vacation - how else would I have fit everything in?

I was thinking in all the driving while my car mate was watching movies on DVD beside me that... even by putting the Mustad baiter on hold and the boat in the boat shop for modifications that himself has still (as is customary) underestimated by half the time and energy required for this project. The boat was 'brought around' from plant to local wharf on Tuesday but is now waiting for the 'tides to come high enough' so the boat in the shop can be launched and this one put in - already a week behind schedule. Some things never change.