Yes, the title says it all - this is the 300th post for this blog - wow!
We had a great trip back from PA on Sunday, even saw bison just before Red Deer. The colors were great and the scenery is really striking down through The Battlefords and Wainright. Made it back by 8:30 p.m. in time to collapse.
Monday was spent doing errands as we picked up some groceries - was unpleasantly surprised with the costs of some articles here - and some baking supplies. The shore captain repaired stair railings, had chipboard cut and made a frame for the mattress turning it into a bed and bought a blowtorch to singe the goose. So we were kept busy and out of trouble.
Today after an exciting day in dinosaur land, yes you read that correctly, we're hanging out with daughter # 1 in Red Deer. We got an early start and took a run down to Drumheller. It was a beautiful morning on the backroads with the combines out harvesting wheat where we saw a coyote hunting in the uncut fields and three prong horn deer a little later on as well. The badlands are amazing geology with the Hoo Doos as the highlight. We spent 2.5 hrs in the Royal Tyrrell Museum and we weren't lollygagging either, you could easily spend a day. Highly recommended if anyone gets within striking range of a visit:
http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/
We headed back across country and made good time in the beautiful sunshine. It's been in the mid to high 20s all week here and the hurricane/tropical storm seems so far away in NS. Glad to hear that the only son (or rather his main squeeze) is looking after things for us. Got back in time to put the finishing touches on the roast goose supper - felt like a rehearsal for Thanksgiving. So now daughter # 1 will have leftovers to eat for a week after we head back.
Actually tomorrow is the firstborn daughter's birthday and we are celebrating by heading out to Banff and then on to Calgary to see the Sheryl Crowe concert. Sounds like fun.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Birthday brunch
Had a nice BBQ with lots of family yesterday p.m. and chatted with the neighbours till late. Learned all sorts of history of Prince Albert. It was settled in the 1880s and was was perhaps 20,000 souls as it grew with the regular birth rate, then grew exponentially with the pulp & paper industry arriving about 50 yrs ago. Now the city is about 45,000 and the construction is really booming with all the infrastructure being built. So it's sure a busy place. Nice to learn about the roots. We discovered Prince Albert is famous for...its many prisons. Hmm.
This morning I've been celebrating my birthday big time and it's not even noon time yet. We were taken out to the local Golf Club for the Sunday brunch and it was fantastik!!! If I'd run begin the car on the way home I might have been able to zip up my jacket (yes the winter one I brought which was an excellent idea) without pain. There was every kind of fruit, cheese, bread, croissants, roast beef, omelets to order, perogies, cabbage rolls, meatballs, stew, garlic potatoes, baby carrots, eggs benedict, bacon, sausages, pancakes, hash browns, soup, cinnamon rolls, chocolate torte, strawberries with whipped cream, bread pudding, multiple squares, and much more which I can't even remember. What a wonderful spread. We had gotten there early which was great as it started to fill up by 11 or so. Beautiful views of the golf course with the trees in color, flowers etc. and ice surface for curling go in on the other side. What a great spot.
Off to waddle to the rental car for the return trip to Alberta. Have an alternate route courtesy of the PA neighbour who's lived here all his life and swears it'll take only 6 hrs instead of 8 and a different view. So lots of excitement. Later from the land of the prairie chickens.
This morning I've been celebrating my birthday big time and it's not even noon time yet. We were taken out to the local Golf Club for the Sunday brunch and it was fantastik!!! If I'd run begin the car on the way home I might have been able to zip up my jacket (yes the winter one I brought which was an excellent idea) without pain. There was every kind of fruit, cheese, bread, croissants, roast beef, omelets to order, perogies, cabbage rolls, meatballs, stew, garlic potatoes, baby carrots, eggs benedict, bacon, sausages, pancakes, hash browns, soup, cinnamon rolls, chocolate torte, strawberries with whipped cream, bread pudding, multiple squares, and much more which I can't even remember. What a wonderful spread. We had gotten there early which was great as it started to fill up by 11 or so. Beautiful views of the golf course with the trees in color, flowers etc. and ice surface for curling go in on the other side. What a great spot.
Off to waddle to the rental car for the return trip to Alberta. Have an alternate route courtesy of the PA neighbour who's lived here all his life and swears it'll take only 6 hrs instead of 8 and a different view. So lots of excitement. Later from the land of the prairie chickens.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Travel update
Well an update from the west...We were up at 3 a.m. and made a quick trip to the city - did not have to take the cruise control off until the Tantallon exit as we (each driving a car to leave one with daughter # 2) were the only vehicles on the road at that time of day. A quick detour into the apartment and a short sleepy visit with daughter # 2 and Hank the cat as we picked up the future son-in-law to drive the car back from the airport.
Having printed boarding passes before we left we simply had to walk up to the scales and check the bags. Grabbed a quick bite at Tim Hortons (that was a good move as we weren't fed on the five and a half hour flight except for bits and bites and juice) and read the paper. The flight was uneventful and we even managed to doze a bit. We were met by a very excited daughter # 1 who had snagged a brand new rental car with only 22 km on it and were off. A stop at the best Chinese food restaurant in Calgary for lunch and then we spent the afternoon at the Calgary Zoo. What a wonderful spot to spend a warm sunny afternoon. Experienced just a bit of the Deerfoot Trail and enjoyed the scenery to Red Deer. A quick tour of the city while we waited to pick up the ordered pizza then a few minutes to settle into daughter # 1s digs and we were unconscious. Can't imagine why - after less than 5 hr. sleep and it being 1:30 a.m. in NS time.
Up early on Friday a.m. for the run to PA - that's what all the cool people call Prince Albert, Saskatchewan you know. The scenery on the 8 hr. trip across was just gorgeous as it changed minute by minute from farmland, oil pumps, trees, flocks of ducks and geese settling in the ponds, livestock - even llamas, but the only wildlife we spied was a coyote making his way across a wheat field. Our previous travels in Sask. (mind you 32 yrs ago) were mainly in the southern prairies so we were more used to the flatlands, so this was the a nice surprise.
We managed to find our way through PA and locate our relocated from NS friends place without much trouble at all.
Settled in for a visit, enjoyed a great supper with our friends while catching them up on the local news. We were ready to crash again at about the same time and spend a comfortable night in their Rec Room.
Started out this a.m. with the ladies heading off to hit the yard sales which apparently PA is known for while the great white hunters headed out for duck/goose hunting. We managed to score all kinds of goodies at various yard sales, had a tour of PA, took in the library booksale which would've required 2 days to really do it justice, and ran all our errands and still made it back in time for lunch and before the hunters arrived. The guys had gotten 3 ducks and 2 geese and posed with them and grins on their faces and bruises on their arms to prove it. So now we know what we'll have for supper on Monday night.
This afternoon we're having a BBQ to celebrate three birthdays - our PA host who had his big day on Thursday, mine tomorrow and daughter # 1 who will have hers on Wed. So that required a good sized cake to get all those names on it for sure. The plan is to take in the Sunday a.m. breakfast at the PA Golf & Country Club tomorrow and then head out as we'll have the same length of drive on the return to Red Deer. Good times, good times.
Having printed boarding passes before we left we simply had to walk up to the scales and check the bags. Grabbed a quick bite at Tim Hortons (that was a good move as we weren't fed on the five and a half hour flight except for bits and bites and juice) and read the paper. The flight was uneventful and we even managed to doze a bit. We were met by a very excited daughter # 1 who had snagged a brand new rental car with only 22 km on it and were off. A stop at the best Chinese food restaurant in Calgary for lunch and then we spent the afternoon at the Calgary Zoo. What a wonderful spot to spend a warm sunny afternoon. Experienced just a bit of the Deerfoot Trail and enjoyed the scenery to Red Deer. A quick tour of the city while we waited to pick up the ordered pizza then a few minutes to settle into daughter # 1s digs and we were unconscious. Can't imagine why - after less than 5 hr. sleep and it being 1:30 a.m. in NS time.
Up early on Friday a.m. for the run to PA - that's what all the cool people call Prince Albert, Saskatchewan you know. The scenery on the 8 hr. trip across was just gorgeous as it changed minute by minute from farmland, oil pumps, trees, flocks of ducks and geese settling in the ponds, livestock - even llamas, but the only wildlife we spied was a coyote making his way across a wheat field. Our previous travels in Sask. (mind you 32 yrs ago) were mainly in the southern prairies so we were more used to the flatlands, so this was the a nice surprise.
We managed to find our way through PA and locate our relocated from NS friends place without much trouble at all.
Settled in for a visit, enjoyed a great supper with our friends while catching them up on the local news. We were ready to crash again at about the same time and spend a comfortable night in their Rec Room.
Started out this a.m. with the ladies heading off to hit the yard sales which apparently PA is known for while the great white hunters headed out for duck/goose hunting. We managed to score all kinds of goodies at various yard sales, had a tour of PA, took in the library booksale which would've required 2 days to really do it justice, and ran all our errands and still made it back in time for lunch and before the hunters arrived. The guys had gotten 3 ducks and 2 geese and posed with them and grins on their faces and bruises on their arms to prove it. So now we know what we'll have for supper on Monday night.
This afternoon we're having a BBQ to celebrate three birthdays - our PA host who had his big day on Thursday, mine tomorrow and daughter # 1 who will have hers on Wed. So that required a good sized cake to get all those names on it for sure. The plan is to take in the Sunday a.m. breakfast at the PA Golf & Country Club tomorrow and then head out as we'll have the same length of drive on the return to Red Deer. Good times, good times.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Off to cowboy land
Today was a wild ride. We had the Accreditation Canada survey team with us at our workplace. I was up early to get in to take the DO NOT DRINK THE WATER signs down and was advised by the Maintenance employee with the surveyors on the walkthrough that I’d only missed four which they’d found as they made their way. I had a rather (for lack of a better description) intense interview with said surveyors and couldn’t read which way the outcome went. I’d forgotten my lunch so the three stale chocolate cookies I scarfed from the kitchenette drawer to have with my tea while on an Atlantic Node MRSA teleconference call (yes as scintillating as it sounds) served as sustenance.
I remembered to print the boarding passes at about 3 p.m. and was delighted to find that the shore captain and I are sitting in 16A and F respectively – this being more than the 1 meter distance required for droplet precautions so he can sneeze on his seatmates and I won’t even be able to hear him groaning from that far away. Things are looking up. The final details of getting out of the workplace with calls / emails to those covering for me and out of office voice mail and email messages, October calendar distributed and finally locking the door with relief were the usual frenetic closure.
As I turned the key in the car I realized my cell phone was vibrating as I’d turned the ringer off during the high level visit and…. there was a voice mail message my entertainment agency. They were offering a FREE cruise, all gratuities and fees paid out of Portland tomorrow on the Celebrity something or other (I immediately put it out of my mind to ease the pain) to the Maritimes and back to New York. When I called the agent back she said that apparently Celebrity had booked a presenter themselves who didn’t show up so they were trying to help them out by putting someone on the cruise which was already underway. I told her of our cowboy land visit so unavailability but have decided that next fall I’m going to hang out for the last minute as the perks are great and I have the presentations all ready to go. The best thing by a long shot which (almost) happened to me today.
My list of errands for the day was long and included a stop for a parcel at the post office (lobster trap tags) and a package of pepperoni for pizza for Prince Albert on the weekend as they don’t have it out west (apparently garlic fingers or Morse tea either I’m told) and I decided to pick up some garlic fingers (since we won’t be having any for the next 10 days) for supper. I manage to get home, throw some clothes in the suitcase, cook the garlic fingers and head out for my haircut. The prodigal son and his girlfriend arrive and I head to the hairdressers telling them to send him along when he appears. When I’m neatly shorn I call mister on his cell and he says “I’m still trying to get there” so I direct him straight to the haircut, meet him in the driveway, switch vehicles and send the son’s girlfriend to the garage for gas in the car.
Entering the kitchen I see 3 or 4 garlic fingers in the pan and absently muse as to whether the kids or the critters ate them – oh well. When I get back from walking the dog I find mister home with his ears lowered saying that the son and girlfriend have called from the gas station to recheck the PIN for the debit card as “it isn’t working and they’ve entered it a few times” When it suddenly dawns on me that just as I’m leaving for 10 days away, I’ve likely lost access to my debit card as the PIN has been reset I almost sat down to cry. He reassures me that his works – just what I wanted, to have to clear every nickel I wish to spend through him, especially galling as my pay is being deposited at midnight. When the girlfriend arrives with the card and says, “I didn’t want to try it again because that would be three times but (and she names the life partners’ sister yes, my very sister-in-law who works at the gas station) who suggests that she try it again – I came very close to screaming!
After the neighbour stops by for the last minute instructions as she has generously offered to walk the dog during my absence – feeding her is one thing but walking is not usually an offspring duty. I provide a cheque for the girlfriend to drop at the garage and remind myself that it was very thoughtful of her to offer to do this I must be more grateful. The daughter who will provide the transport to the airport is contacted about departure time all is set. We throw a few last minute things into the bags, mister groans, sighs and wanders aimlessly while I finish up the long list of household chores. He has been sent to bed as 3 a.m. will arrive early, especially for someone with a possibly fatal cold and I must head shortly in that direction. I don’t care if this will be a short night, I’m just glad this day has ended!
Our return date is Sunday, October 5th so I will post then but… since daughter # 1 has won that laptop and can access wireless, I may be in technological bliss and be in touch when we return from the Prince Albert visit (where incidentally temps of –1c are forecast for the weekend) and the daughter is off to work on Monday.
I'm posting an article from today's Chronicle Herald which quotes a GPI Atlantic study which found that NS women have less time than ever to themselves - who would've guessed? ME!!!!
If you’ve got a moment, count yourself lucky
A new study says Nova Scotians are working more hours than ever as their free time shrinks.
The report, by Nova Scotia-based research group GPI Atlantic, says on average workers are putting in a month’s more of extra paid work time than they did 10 years ago.
The data is drawn from Statistics Canada’s General Social Survey time use diaries gathered in 1992, 1998 and 2005.
The GPI report found single working mothers are most affected by loss of free time, which has shrunk by 2.7 hours a day or nearly 19 hours a week.
Lead author, professor Andrew Harvey of Saint Mary’s University, says working single mothers have to work longer hours to make ends meet, because of cuts to social service payments following deep cuts to federal social transfers to the provinces in the 1990s.
The report also looked at how free time is spent and found that 40 per cent is used to watch television, 26 per cent is spent socializing and 20 per cent is spent on sports and other active leisure pursuits.
The study recommends that Nova Scotia look to the Netherlands where work hours have been reduced and free time increased by improving conditions of part-time work such as pay rates and benefits
I remembered to print the boarding passes at about 3 p.m. and was delighted to find that the shore captain and I are sitting in 16A and F respectively – this being more than the 1 meter distance required for droplet precautions so he can sneeze on his seatmates and I won’t even be able to hear him groaning from that far away. Things are looking up. The final details of getting out of the workplace with calls / emails to those covering for me and out of office voice mail and email messages, October calendar distributed and finally locking the door with relief were the usual frenetic closure.
As I turned the key in the car I realized my cell phone was vibrating as I’d turned the ringer off during the high level visit and…. there was a voice mail message my entertainment agency. They were offering a FREE cruise, all gratuities and fees paid out of Portland tomorrow on the Celebrity something or other (I immediately put it out of my mind to ease the pain) to the Maritimes and back to New York. When I called the agent back she said that apparently Celebrity had booked a presenter themselves who didn’t show up so they were trying to help them out by putting someone on the cruise which was already underway. I told her of our cowboy land visit so unavailability but have decided that next fall I’m going to hang out for the last minute as the perks are great and I have the presentations all ready to go. The best thing by a long shot which (almost) happened to me today.
My list of errands for the day was long and included a stop for a parcel at the post office (lobster trap tags) and a package of pepperoni for pizza for Prince Albert on the weekend as they don’t have it out west (apparently garlic fingers or Morse tea either I’m told) and I decided to pick up some garlic fingers (since we won’t be having any for the next 10 days) for supper. I manage to get home, throw some clothes in the suitcase, cook the garlic fingers and head out for my haircut. The prodigal son and his girlfriend arrive and I head to the hairdressers telling them to send him along when he appears. When I’m neatly shorn I call mister on his cell and he says “I’m still trying to get there” so I direct him straight to the haircut, meet him in the driveway, switch vehicles and send the son’s girlfriend to the garage for gas in the car.
Entering the kitchen I see 3 or 4 garlic fingers in the pan and absently muse as to whether the kids or the critters ate them – oh well. When I get back from walking the dog I find mister home with his ears lowered saying that the son and girlfriend have called from the gas station to recheck the PIN for the debit card as “it isn’t working and they’ve entered it a few times” When it suddenly dawns on me that just as I’m leaving for 10 days away, I’ve likely lost access to my debit card as the PIN has been reset I almost sat down to cry. He reassures me that his works – just what I wanted, to have to clear every nickel I wish to spend through him, especially galling as my pay is being deposited at midnight. When the girlfriend arrives with the card and says, “I didn’t want to try it again because that would be three times but (and she names the life partners’ sister yes, my very sister-in-law who works at the gas station) who suggests that she try it again – I came very close to screaming!
After the neighbour stops by for the last minute instructions as she has generously offered to walk the dog during my absence – feeding her is one thing but walking is not usually an offspring duty. I provide a cheque for the girlfriend to drop at the garage and remind myself that it was very thoughtful of her to offer to do this I must be more grateful. The daughter who will provide the transport to the airport is contacted about departure time all is set. We throw a few last minute things into the bags, mister groans, sighs and wanders aimlessly while I finish up the long list of household chores. He has been sent to bed as 3 a.m. will arrive early, especially for someone with a possibly fatal cold and I must head shortly in that direction. I don’t care if this will be a short night, I’m just glad this day has ended!
Our return date is Sunday, October 5th so I will post then but… since daughter # 1 has won that laptop and can access wireless, I may be in technological bliss and be in touch when we return from the Prince Albert visit (where incidentally temps of –1c are forecast for the weekend) and the daughter is off to work on Monday.
I'm posting an article from today's Chronicle Herald which quotes a GPI Atlantic study which found that NS women have less time than ever to themselves - who would've guessed? ME!!!!
If you’ve got a moment, count yourself lucky
A new study says Nova Scotians are working more hours than ever as their free time shrinks.
The report, by Nova Scotia-based research group GPI Atlantic, says on average workers are putting in a month’s more of extra paid work time than they did 10 years ago.
The data is drawn from Statistics Canada’s General Social Survey time use diaries gathered in 1992, 1998 and 2005.
The GPI report found single working mothers are most affected by loss of free time, which has shrunk by 2.7 hours a day or nearly 19 hours a week.
Lead author, professor Andrew Harvey of Saint Mary’s University, says working single mothers have to work longer hours to make ends meet, because of cuts to social service payments following deep cuts to federal social transfers to the provinces in the 1990s.
The report also looked at how free time is spent and found that 40 per cent is used to watch television, 26 per cent is spent socializing and 20 per cent is spent on sports and other active leisure pursuits.
The study recommends that Nova Scotia look to the Netherlands where work hours have been reduced and free time increased by improving conditions of part-time work such as pay rates and benefits
Monday, September 22, 2008
Cruise or nursing home?
- Today the newspaper reported on the Queen Elizabeth’s last trip into Halifax and the Captain was quoted as saying that the service is so good they have an American lady who has lived with them for 10 yrs on the ship and she’ll now be moving to the Queen Victoria. Apparently, she and her husband cruised and when he passed away she continued to sail with Cunard because of the service and the crew had become her family. When the shore captain commented that the ‘old guy must’ve left some money’ I did the math for him versus long-term care (more expensive) and he made no further comment.
I’ve decided to compile my travels - as in my research I found a page where a traveler documented his days at sea – which is how cruises are usually measured. As you can see, lots of room to add entries:
Cruises Taken:
Explorer of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) 7 days
Miami, Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Cozumel, Mexico; Georgetown Grand Cayman; Miami
Grand Princess (Princess Cruise Line) 12 days
Southampton, England; Stavanger, Geiranger, Tronheim, Honnisvag, Tromso, Flaam, Bergen, Norway; Southampton, England
Cruises Booked:
Sea Princess (Princess Cruise Line) 10 days
Quebec City, Quebec; Charlottetown, PEI; Sydney, CB; Halifax, NS; Saint John, NB; Portland, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; New York City, New York
Summary - - - - -- - - - - - -- - - -- -No. Cruises - - -- -Days @ Sea
Princess Cruise Line - --- - - - - - - -- - - - 2- - - - - - - - 22 days
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line- - - - - - - - 1- - - - -- --- - 7 days
Number Cruises / Days @ Sea-- -- -3- - - - --- - -29 days
So by the time I’ve returned from the upcoming cruise I’ll have a month of sea days in my memory bank.
The above-mentioned traveler had some good cruise info links so I offer them here:
http://www.cruisefools.org/
http://www.cruisereviews.com/
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/
Thinking about cruising is much more fun than my gainful employment today. When the Director of the nursing home next door happened to spy me going through charts she asked, “when are you coming back to us?” And I said “don’t toy with me, I’m in a fragile state here with the way things are going” So that is a depressing enough overview of my situation.
Anyway, off to do final battle with the fruit flies - they will not win - as I purchased RAID today (not a big fan of chemicals but even less fan of the flies) and a gross of flypaper. This is war!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Invasion of the fruit flies
Well, it’s been a glorious last weekend of summer. The temperatures were up over many we had in July or August and it was with a sort of melancholy I said goodbye to the sun. I was doing my historical research for the presentations from the lounge chair so that was a good combination. I have the Powerpoints pretty much put together and am just fine tuning them now. Am hoping that the break for the western trip will make picking out the gaps to be filled easier.
I also spent the weekend battling fruit flies. Felt like the house was one large science experiment. Did some online (and my own) research and found that a piece of bread in a glass attracts the little devils big time and then you slap a lid over the glass and microwave them for 30 –45 seconds and they’re history. I have flypaper hanging everywhere, have cleaned the drains, emptied all the trashcans and still there are a few flying around. I’m hoping to have them down to a manageable level to leave the house empty for 10 days as they seemed to have taken up residence the last time we were traveling.
The last week at work has been really over the top - the usual pressure has been increased exponentially with the impending surveyors visit for Accreditation and it is a really crazy place to spend your day. So it is quite nice to be thinking that I'll only be working two weeks out of next month's five week total with that being one week in between the western visit and the cruise and the last week of the month. I can handle that - almost as good as being semi-retired.
The highlight of my week was having our reservation for a pre-theatre dinner confirmed at The Russian Tea Room on our night in New York. My travel partner was checking the place online at work and one of the Docs suggested "oh we should check the wine list" which apparently was quite extensive and on the back pages the prices per bottle went up in $100 increments - my friend had to be educated that the $12 - $14 for the wine meant by the GLASS when she commented that was a reasonable cost. Babes in the woods, country girls in New York - won't we will have fun!
By the time I get through the next three days of an Accreditation survey at work with one visit on site and a trip to the district facility, survive the Boil Water Advisory, which was called (of course) late on Friday afternoon and caused me some last minute scrambling and a late start on my weekend, and get myself together for the trip to the land of cowboys it will be a full week even if it’s only three days.
It was good to learn this week that daughter # 1 was offered a new job and it sounds like a good deal and a move up / that daughter # 2 is loving being a teacher assistant at the Montessori school she's working at part time and is really looking foward to her BEd classes starting in January/ that daughter # 3 is really getting into the second year of her Bachelor of Nursing program and getting it all together with all kinds of plans for her projects etc.
We were invited to supper at our summer neighbours place next door and had a wonderful meal with a good visit. It was fun to learn that one of the guest’s brother and sister-in-law are teaching digital photography and quilting respectively on around the world cruises. The summer folks are returning in order to Rawleigh, South Carolina, Vermont, Iowa City within the next week or so. Glad I’m not facing those kinds of road trips though.
And just so your brain is exercised – this info:
The longest word is English language ispneumonoultramiscroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - an inflammatory lung disease caused by the inhalation of fine silica dust.
My brain is over exercised - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
I also spent the weekend battling fruit flies. Felt like the house was one large science experiment. Did some online (and my own) research and found that a piece of bread in a glass attracts the little devils big time and then you slap a lid over the glass and microwave them for 30 –45 seconds and they’re history. I have flypaper hanging everywhere, have cleaned the drains, emptied all the trashcans and still there are a few flying around. I’m hoping to have them down to a manageable level to leave the house empty for 10 days as they seemed to have taken up residence the last time we were traveling.
The last week at work has been really over the top - the usual pressure has been increased exponentially with the impending surveyors visit for Accreditation and it is a really crazy place to spend your day. So it is quite nice to be thinking that I'll only be working two weeks out of next month's five week total with that being one week in between the western visit and the cruise and the last week of the month. I can handle that - almost as good as being semi-retired.
The highlight of my week was having our reservation for a pre-theatre dinner confirmed at The Russian Tea Room on our night in New York. My travel partner was checking the place online at work and one of the Docs suggested "oh we should check the wine list" which apparently was quite extensive and on the back pages the prices per bottle went up in $100 increments - my friend had to be educated that the $12 - $14 for the wine meant by the GLASS when she commented that was a reasonable cost. Babes in the woods, country girls in New York - won't we will have fun!
By the time I get through the next three days of an Accreditation survey at work with one visit on site and a trip to the district facility, survive the Boil Water Advisory, which was called (of course) late on Friday afternoon and caused me some last minute scrambling and a late start on my weekend, and get myself together for the trip to the land of cowboys it will be a full week even if it’s only three days.
It was good to learn this week that daughter # 1 was offered a new job and it sounds like a good deal and a move up / that daughter # 2 is loving being a teacher assistant at the Montessori school she's working at part time and is really looking foward to her BEd classes starting in January/ that daughter # 3 is really getting into the second year of her Bachelor of Nursing program and getting it all together with all kinds of plans for her projects etc.
We were invited to supper at our summer neighbours place next door and had a wonderful meal with a good visit. It was fun to learn that one of the guest’s brother and sister-in-law are teaching digital photography and quilting respectively on around the world cruises. The summer folks are returning in order to Rawleigh, South Carolina, Vermont, Iowa City within the next week or so. Glad I’m not facing those kinds of road trips though.
And just so your brain is exercised – this info:
The longest word is English language ispneumonoultramiscroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - an inflammatory lung disease caused by the inhalation of fine silica dust.
My brain is over exercised - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Scrapping but not
Nothing set things up right as quickly as having some friends over and although last evening was billed as a scrapbooking event in truth (and even the shore captain noticed when he ventured in at dark) that not much scrapping was done. Lots of looking at Norway photos, planning for future projects, knitting and generally catching up but scrapping was not the focus. This is not to say that the evening was unsuccessful, the chocolate cake turned out good, the company was great and I actually completed a page – which consisted of sticking two photos (of the Norwegian cruise participants) to a page. This is akin to going to an auction and having to come home with an object (no matter how small or cheap) to feel as if one has been successful in the hunting and gathering activity. But I digress….
Had a bit of a scare yesterday when the hourly news was carrying a story about students passing out, the remainder of the class being quarantined next door and the hazardous materials team being called in to…. the baby daughter’s university. When her father and I conferred via cell phone “have you heard anything?” “No” “do you think she’s alright?” “How would you know?” meaning she’s not big on calling unless there’s a fee due. When I finally reached her at about 4:30 p.m. she was very pleased and said “it’s good to know someone cares” Now I’m not sure who she thinks has been worrying about her the past almost 20 years and what significance she awards to the $8895 cheque I wrote to her institution of higher learning but at least she was alright and it appears her fellow students had fainted in the heat and humidity. Not to mention it was a Monday after a weekend early in the university year (meaning the social life is active) and no one is encouraging a student to eat breakfast so not that unexpected really.
Today was an absolutely glorious autumn day, one much too nice to be stuck indoors and for the retired or shift worker with a day off it must have been triumphant. For myself, it was torture. The highlight of my workday was when I managed to purchase a small food processor (an Oskar) from a colleague and she threw in a colander. She said and I quote “stuff takes up too much room in your house” Now that is a statement that is hard to argue with. I did manage to score a nice set of luggage from her last spring so always respond to her queries of “do you want to buy a …?”
I have had a rather pleasant after work/ return home session though as the shore ca
ptain is chasing boats so I have walked the dog, enjoyed the sun in the veranda with a glass of chardonnay, supper is in the oven. From where I sit all is well in the universe. Especially so as I forgot my cell phone at work, perhaps I should have a holder such as the one in the photo. I fear that those in many facets of my life would not even notice.
Had a bit of a scare yesterday when the hourly news was carrying a story about students passing out, the remainder of the class being quarantined next door and the hazardous materials team being called in to…. the baby daughter’s university. When her father and I conferred via cell phone “have you heard anything?” “No” “do you think she’s alright?” “How would you know?” meaning she’s not big on calling unless there’s a fee due. When I finally reached her at about 4:30 p.m. she was very pleased and said “it’s good to know someone cares” Now I’m not sure who she thinks has been worrying about her the past almost 20 years and what significance she awards to the $8895 cheque I wrote to her institution of higher learning but at least she was alright and it appears her fellow students had fainted in the heat and humidity. Not to mention it was a Monday after a weekend early in the university year (meaning the social life is active) and no one is encouraging a student to eat breakfast so not that unexpected really.
Today was an absolutely glorious autumn day, one much too nice to be stuck indoors and for the retired or shift worker with a day off it must have been triumphant. For myself, it was torture. The highlight of my workday was when I managed to purchase a small food processor (an Oskar) from a colleague and she threw in a colander. She said and I quote “stuff takes up too much room in your house” Now that is a statement that is hard to argue with. I did manage to score a nice set of luggage from her last spring so always respond to her queries of “do you want to buy a …?”
I have had a rather pleasant after work/ return home session though as the shore ca
ptain is chasing boats so I have walked the dog, enjoyed the sun in the veranda with a glass of chardonnay, supper is in the oven. From where I sit all is well in the universe. Especially so as I forgot my cell phone at work, perhaps I should have a holder such as the one in the photo. I fear that those in many facets of my life would not even notice.
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