Shakespeare to Undercoating

Did we make it to Shakespeare by the Sea? We sure did and in fine style. Stopped and picked up sandwiches from Subway and had a 'picnic in the park' on the sunny Saturday. My buddy's son, daughter-in-law and her beautiful granddaughter joined us as did a childhood friend who lives in the city. The two of us who have yet to be privileged with grandchildren 'borrowed' Ev for short periods as she is a very good baby. We received periodic canine visits as Point Pleasant Park is a dog friendly area. The funniest guest was a rotund dachshund who was adamant he was joining us and stationed himself in the middle of the blanket as he waited for a sandwich, his embarrassed owner said "dachshunds are pigs" and attempted to make his lab wait while he shooed the picnic crasher on his way. Reminded me of trying to chase two toddlers in opposite directions. The performance of Much Ado About Nothing was wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The setting in Battery Park is very suitable for Shakespeare and I can't believe it was the 20th anniversary before I attended. The cast is multi talented and I was impressed after the show, to see 'Beatrice' driving a mobility impaired guest up the road in the golf cart. We wandered our way up the hill, said goodbye to our Dartmouth friend and headed out of the city. A stop for tea and a treat and a catch up on all the news and we were home.

Kayaking weather for sure

Sunday morning (which was beautifully calm and sunny as you can see here on the right) I followed through on a promise to myself to apply for the Diploma in Tropical Nursing as they are taking applications for the December 2014 program which is the one which a counterpart and I are aiming for. When advised, a friend in Iqaluit commented "you two never give up do you?" I guess not. It has a two weeks prep phase, three weeks in Liverpool attending classes  and then three weeks post assessment at home. Think I can handle that and still have time to investigate the Beatles Museum. Check it out here:

http://www.lstmliverpool.ac.uk/learning--teaching/lstm-courses/professional-diplomas/dtn/

So I carefully scanned and printed all the required certificates (until the printer starting fading ink) and then read the instructions where it said email was the preferred method of submission. So I attached all the files to an email and hit send. Have heard from them it was received and now will await the decision. Only 60 students are accepted per class so.... My buddy was applying but I'm not sure if it was before or after she attended the Depache Mode concert in Toronto. I had to look up who they were as I must've been too busy with small kids to even know them.

The weather was sunny, warm and pleasant the past week and so when I had to attend physio in Lunenburg (Nova Functional Assessments - who fixed my back a couple of years ago) on Monday, my newly retired friend was free to come along. The clinic was really backed up and I didn't even get started on my treatment until almost an hour after I'd arrived so my travel partner checked out the town, had a cup of coffee, the usual tourist stuff until I was ready. It was almost lunch time by then so we stopped for some sustenance.

http://saltshakerdeli.com

I had a smoked salmon club sandwich - yum! and my friend had a great chicken, brie and cranberry pizza. It was delicious!!!! We ate outside on the deck and enjoyed the view of the horse drawn carriage tours, bus loads of tourists and general waterfront activity. Will remember all this socializing when I'm back to work (shhhhh but the countdown in into single digits now).

By Wednesday it was back into the social planning mode again as a girls night out at a local cottage

was in the works. Managed to round up supplies for BBQ burgers, some folks contributed salads, one of the guests of honour brought the makings for s'mores and we had a cake for my newly retired former co-worker. We managed to surprise her (which can be a challenge) and gave her some US funds for our planned 'southern belle' tour in December. The other guest being cheered along in her chemo treatments received a spa gift certificate for mani-pedi as well as lots of laughs and stories. It was for the most part, a large group of more mature attendees some of who had to leave early or arrive late (the bane of shiftworkers) and there were lots of war stories from 'back in the day'. Four of us slept over and enjoyed a full breakfast in the morning  before heading out. Ahhhhh, good times.

Friday saw me back on the road again like that old Wayne Rostad song. Up early to catch my physio appointment which was completed in a more timely manner, and for which I was pleased. I was also relieved to hear that Darlene felt my shoulder problem was not a rotator cuff tear but rather an impingement - meaning I'd trapped it somehow - and was settling nicely. If you can call being taped up and wearing a posture support brace in this heat nice. One more appointment before I head back to work. She's suggested that I lie face down with my left arm hanging over the edge of the bed with a soup can in my hand. Apparently the beds in my house are all close to the floor or I have exceptionally long arms as my knuckles graze the floor when I do this - good thing I can still oppose my thumb to all my fingers :) She tells me this is to stretch the muscles in my my left shoulder and chest out.

Underway to meet up with my former co-worker in Truro and then off to Amherst. Construction and really heavy Labour Day weekend traffic. Passing truckloads of furniture being moved to universities across the province reminded me of multiple Labour Days spent relocating offspring to institutions of higher learning. Connected with my friend and up to Amherst to visit with another former work colleague and his wife. They have a wonderful modern home on Penny Lane, just off Abbey Road which is filled with art, antiques and heirlooms. So cozy. We visited, shopped a bit in the downtown (which I hadn't been in for over 40 years) and I picked up some lovely lacy yarn which I couldn't resist, and then enjoyed G&Ts in the living room before supper. Discussed such topics as senior learning - Eldershostel is now called Road Scholar:

http://www.roadscholar.org

and the 'open university for seniors' concept of Tantramar Seniors College where both of our hosts lecture. It is a non profit organization which offers courses on diverse topics - check it out:

http://tantramarseniorscollege.ca

I offered my presentation on Nunavut, so may find my way back there. I will have it polished after presenting for Mid Week Break at the library in November. Supper of fish, fresh veggies and lemon tarte was delicious. Then we headed out to Tidnish Bridge for an evening of jazz which was a fundraiser for a new roof for the art gallery. The music was superb, the vocalist had a wonderful set of pipes (as did her daughter who sang twice) and the saxophone brought tears to your eyes it was so good. There was also a bass player who I couldn't fit in to the photo and a 'guest' who came to visit for the weekend and was added to the line up. He was a professional bass player who had played in New York with the sax player twenty years ago. We had no problem dropping the suggested $10 into the hat when it was passed around. What a wonderful evening of entertainment. Home for some more visiting and then off to bed where I'm sorry to say that I snored in the key of G so my roommate knew she wasn't alone.

Up in the morning for a wonderful breakfast which our host cooked for us of roasted tomatoes, spinach frittata and toast. We told them that the B&B would get a five star rating on Trip Advisor from us. Off
to source fresh blueberries at the local packing plant (for about $3 per box cheaper than I pay at home) then to the market in Sackville. One of the streets is blocked off and there is a wonderful assortment of fresh vegetables, meats, baked goods, preserves, vintage dishes, teas, soaps, ethnic foods, wine, fruits and live music. A quick stop at the Salvation Army Thrift Shop and then off for a walk through the bird sanctuary. There were many varieties of birds, especially very tame ducks and lots of dragon flies in the sun. It was getting pretty warm once we made our way to the gift shop but the air conditioning felt good and there were some beautiful, reasonably priced crafts which the ladies checked out while our host surfed the news online. Back to retrieve our stuff, thank our wonderful hosts and on the highway. My friend headed off to visit her sister at the trailer by the sea to make good use of the holiday weekend and I filled up with gas and out on the road. What traffic - it took me over an hour longer to get home today than the drive up. Lots of slow moving vehicles, more students being taken to university and a beautiful sunny day until.....I got within twenty minutes of home that is. I was met with thick fog and a temperature which dropped from 27 c to 20c in a few kilometres. Thought of wearing an orange vest when I walked the dog.

Lots of social activity for the final week of my 'time off' and so I'm being taken to lunch on Tuesday by two retired ladies I 'used' to work with, I have another physio appointment on Wednesday and Thursday a friend and I are going (weather dependent - although the forecast looks good from here) to Tancook Island for the day and Friday will be the car servicing and undercoating. At some point in that whirlwind of a schedule I have to pack. For those of you who haven't seen this video which is circulating it's the caution against taking your full of clothes roof top luggage carrier in to a safari park. Pretty cute:

http://www.myamazingearth.com/2012/09/baboons-hijacks-a-car-at-safari-park

It turns out that I will have company on my journey as a younger nurse will be flying with me as she heads out for the first time to be a home care nurse in another Kitikmeot community. I can't believe that it's been a year since I began myself. Looking forward to seeing both my girlies in Edmonton. One is working and should join me for supper, the other is coming off nights and having car trouble but the plan is to rent wheels for the trip to see her mother. Well, late and lots of kms on this carcass today. Off to hit the hay. Don't you love the quote of the day below?

"The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion."- Paulo Coelho

It Snowed?

Looking at almost ten days since the last update so time to get myself in gear. So much social life, so little time. As a nursing colleague said "looks like you've been busy and enjoying your summer" and that would sum it up!

To recap we did get to visit Rey from South Philly but the day was a bit more complicated than planned. Up early and off to the city we arrived at the cruise port before nine a.m. as promised. There was a steady stream of passengers and crew exiting through the gate and we waited patiently. Always interesting to people watch. Spoke to one of the custom tour drivers "SUV, will take you anywhere you want to go - minimum of four people and $50 each - you can walk on the floor of the Bay of Fundy, go to Peggys Cove, Lunenburg you name it".  The driver mentioned that some of his passengers had mixed up the time and were arriving at 10 am for his tour as their ship time was different. We waited until 10:30 a.m and no Rey so I left a FB message and we headed off to get the shore captain's passport renewed. Noticed a piece of paper under the windshield wiper - oh no, a parking ticket as the area required a receipt in the window. Sigh. Stopped at the Commissionaires and had mister's passport photo taken - quick and painless - and up to the passport office. No sooner had a number been pulled and I check FB to see a message from Rey saying "I'm here now, had a meeting since 9 a.m". Convince the partner that Rey may not have much time and so head back to the cruise pier and are very careful NOT to park this time. An interesting ride as it is noon hour in Halifax with lots of construction and traffic and I am driving up hills in my standard car - my nerves. Whisk Rey off to the waterfront and play tourists as we suggest he pick the spot for lunch so visit Murphy's on the Waterfront - his choice not ours. This means a draft for the guys and a lobster roll for Rey, calamari for mister and I can't resist the sweet potato fries so a snack. The service is better than I've seen there in the past, the food is expensive but tasty and it's a beautiful sunny day on the Halifax waterfront while we visit with a buddy so all is good. Drop Rey off at the pier by 1:15 pm as he has to leave his luggage for security. Now since this is Thursday, Friday is Bar Harbour, Maine and he is flying home to the Philippines on Saturday from Boston it begged the question "do you wear the same clothes or no clothes for three days?". After ten months Rey is very excited to get home to his family and "sit under a tree and eat my rice, life is simpler there". We suggest we'll come visit him in his country and in fact it is a spot on the travel list. 

Back to the passport office and a very efficient renewal of the now ten year digital passport. Through the city and over to Mezza for a late lunch. Looking for a parking spot on a side street from Quinpool Road and waiting to pull into a space being vacated by a large crew cab half ton truck and.....it backs up into my new car. Very slowly and so not much of a thump. We all jump out to examine the front of the Dart and the young tradesman apologizes profusely"I didn't see you at all". We decide no harm done as apparently with those plastic front ends if you're going slowly enough they will stand the impact and bounce back. He is extremely relieved that it's two country mice in the city who don't want a pound of his flesh, apologizes again and they get back in the truck. Likely had to go change his underwear after that close call. We trot in to Mezza's and have a wonderful lunch of tabouleh salad, pitas and batatas (potatoes which the waitress tells us is the only word in Lebanese that even sounds close to the English version) and then take baklavah to go for home. Ahhhhhh. Straight home as the parking ticket and the low speed bump are enough excitement for the day. 

Friday was a day to get provisions and then a friend hosted a BBQ. Our German chef friend and his wife were invited as well and he had not been to the BBQ address recently so as I stepped out of the shower the front door bell rang. Thinking it was the shore captain with his hands full I hustled out with only a bath towel wrapped around me. I gave directions and headed back to get dressed thinking that our buddy was really flustered as he would usually have some kind of a wisecrack such as "not now, my wife is with me". I phoned our hostess, advising I'd redirected them and suggesting that if they didn't show up in about five minutes that someone should go looking for them. She suggested that she'd send her husband to the end of the lane as "he's just standing here not doing anything, he might as well stand down there and be useful". We arrived to find all the guests accounted for so the plan must've worked. 

Saturday was a day to (belatedly) celebrate my baby sisters's birthday. Had my nieces and their children, my sister and brother-in-law and his sister as well as one of my sister's childhood friends and husband for burgers (with smoked gouda and bacon) sausages and hotdogs grilled by the life partner. I did potato and broccoli salad and we had an ice cream cake. One of the guests brought bruschetta dip which is wonderful! I had picked up some foam tipped rocket launchers for the little ones and they were a complete hit. A good time was had by all. 

Sunday morning early I was off on my road trip to visit a coworker from over three decades ago - before either of us had kids - when she was a military wife posted here and we worked on the same shift together. Stopped along the way to check out the storage site for my car which turns out to be a converted farm building - which is just fine with me. An uneventful but long drive and arrived by 4 pm.  Her children arrived for supper and we had a great visit of catching up. Hadn't seen them since they were little. 

Amish in Maine?

Monday we headed up to Florenceville to visit with a retired nurse friend who we'd met on vacation in Cuba. She served us a wonderful lunch on the deck and we had a great chat. Turns out that my coworker buddy and she know lots of 'in common' nurses. It was a great afternoon and before we realized the time it was 4:30 pm. As we readied to leave I stopped to take a photo of Finnigan their large, friendly mixed breed dog and he turned away several times when I pointed the camera at him. When I asked his owner she confirmed that he didn't like his picture taken. Cute, just like a little person. We retraced our route through the longest covered bridge at Hartland and then near Perth Andover we crossed the border at Houlton, Maine. My friend was looking for the 'Amish Store' and the female border inspector gave us directions but unfortunately it was closed by the time we arrived. Incidentally it is called Pioneer Place should you find yourself looking for a great chair. There was an entire Amish community - thought they were only in Pennsylvania - complete with horse and buggies, suspenders, straw hats, bowl type haircuts, beards and....bicycles. Well, they are non motorized aren't they? The shop keeper gave us (cross country vs Rte 2A) directions to Grammies Restaurant and said "I hope I'm not steering you wrong as it's been a while since I've been by there". He smiled and bid us good day.

Oysters and sweet potato fries

As we drove along it occurred to me that this trip likely wasn't a frequent one as it would be a lengthy trek on a bike or a buggy. We enjoyed a great meal at the little country restaurant as our Amish acquaintance had given excellent directions. It was certainly low key but the food was wonderful and as a lady at the next table told us "they put a potato field on your plate. I had home made sweet potato fries and oysters. Yum. What did you do today.....we drove to the States for supper! Home by 10 pm and my friend's spaniel was looking out the window for us by that time.

On Tuesday we were up in the morning and off to do it all over again. Down to St. George, then across on the Deer Island ferry (which is free for the return trip) and what a lovely little island it is. And yes we did see a very tame deer just munching its lunch. My friend's aunt had lived on Deer Island so she knew her way around the peaceful spot. There is a wonderful little park to watch the ferries go across to Campobello Island and Eastport, Maine as well as 'Old Sow' which is a tidal whirlpool. Back to St. Andrews and a nice lunch of caesar salad with smoked salmon on top at Gables, enjoyed in the sunshine on the deck. A ramble in town for some tourist goodies and then off Stateside again. Checked to see the shops in Calais would be open and so another border crossing. The groceries and gas were considerably cheaper and I picked up a couple of goodies. The Naturalizer shoes for $10 didn't fit but I still scored some good finds. I was reminded of this article I'd read on US shopping:

http://libbybroadbent.com/2013/08/05/i-fail-at-shawpping

Home for a 10 pm supper and to fall into bed. What a fun filled two days. Glad my friend had the rest of the day to get rested up before heading in to work again.

Up early to get on the road for a physio appointment I was quietly brushing my teeth in the bathroom by the night light when I noticed a dark blob in the sink which hadn't been there when I started. I peered closer and.....it jumped! A small sticky toad had gotten in somehow. I involuntarily yelped and jumped then grabbed a towel and shook him out the window. I heard my friend in the kitchen so went to apologize for making the noise and she said "good thing it wasn't me I would have screamed" and when we revisited the bathroom there was Mr. Toad on the towel. He apparently hung on with his sticky feet. The toad was leaping, the cocker spaniel was jumping around and my friend and I were hysterical with laughter. I recaptured the toad and this time made sure he was on the outside of the window. Now we were both wide awake as I readied to leave. Promises that less than seven years would pass before we get together again. A smooth return trip with a quick refuel on the NB side of the border, then a sandwich stop and on to my physio appointment. I have somehow (posture the physio says) put my left shoulder blade out of alignment which has affected my left arm and shoulder. Hot packs, electrical stimulation (which made my arm raise involuntarily as if it was a chicken wing) and then readjustment and sports taping with the instructions to wear my posture support. Sigh. Cheered myself up with a banana cream pie flurry from Dairy Queen. Home in time to walk the dog.

Thursday was my nursing class annual luncheon get together and it is inconceivable that we graduated 37 years ago - how did that happen? The ladies were in good form and there were stories and laughter. I had lobster mac n cheese and it would be worth fighting someone for it. Delicious!! Time to pick up a few groceries and head home to enjoy the sun which had peaked out.

Today the forecast was for rain but a beautiful sunny afternoon was the result. We'll take it. The cleaning lady arrived in the morning and so to get out of her way I dropped my firemans breakfast contribution off to a neighbour for Sunday. She had her daughter and son-in-law visiting and unfortunately the son-in-law had spent the night in the local hospital. NOT the recommended way to enjoy your vacation. A short chat and off to my meeting with someone wanting information on heading north for nursing work. A great conversation at the home of a coworker and some of her questions were answered. Home to catch some UV and then walk the dog before supper. Which brings me to plans for tomorrow.

A friend and I are heading to the city to see Shakespeare by the Sea perform Much Ado About Nothing in Point Pleasant Park. Have wanted to take this event in for some time and the weather forecast is good so we are planning a picnic as well for lunch. Ahhhhh. Gotta make the best of these last two weeks home as my coworker in Taloyoak says it snowed for about an hour yesterday "big flakes but it's all gone now". Where are my mittens?

So with final instructions for living here is a link:

http://www.bspcn.com/2012/02/03/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself

Vacations in the planning

My how times flies when.......you're on vacation. Spent the past two wet days attending to inside activities. Finished up a photobook of the spring in Taloyoak and sent it off to be completed. Repotted the houseplants which had expanded like loaves and fishes since last summer - doesn't sound like much but it was an all afternoon job. Watched some of the NFB Netsilik Series which was filmed in the Kitikmeot are in the 1960s but portrayed the ancient nomadic culture throughout the seasons of hunting, fishing, camping etc. Familiar faces and language sounds made me think that in less than a month I'll be seeing those again. Ah, but in the meantime lots of vacation remaining. 

And speaking of vacations the life partner (who I have convinced to plan ahead a bit) and myself have booked a trip for September 2014. This is pretty impressive as it's quite a struggle to convince him to plan for the day after tomorrow. We used our vacation share to trade for a week in Alfalgar Village, Algarve, Portugal  - here is a link to the town and below the reviews of the resort:

http://www.albufeira.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g189112-d1734194-r70311035-Alfagar_II_Aparthotel-Albufeira_Faro_District_Algarve.html

Still (as the RCI countdown told me this morning) 385 days away so lots of time to work out the details and snag a good sale but... hoping to fly end of August to Lisbon, spend the week in Portugal then make our way to a 14 day repositioning cruise from Europe to USA which will reduce the airfare and give us a taste of England, Norway, Shetland Islands, Iceland (3 ports), St. Johns, NL and New York. With an extra day in New York City this will put us home September 23rd and I've given work dates of availability for September 25th. Perhaps a bit close but...I enjoy a challenge. And if I'm returning to the same community - meaning I'm leaving lots of 'stuff' there and have everything packed before I leave - all is well. 

It seems that 2014 will be a busy year as I had previously made plans with a nursing colleague to attend the December Diploma in Tropical Nursing program in Liverpool, England. I am checking out the admission process and the 'need for a student visa' part. She mentioned that when she'd studied there before, because her mother was British that she had an "abode of entitlement", now that sounds pretty swish eh? Liverpool is cheaper than London but still....

Again on the subject of travels, the life partner received a text Saturday from the teacher daughter who was flying to Edmonton in the early a.m. It evolved the she and the son-in-law were on the same Halifax to Edmonton flight as her uncle (her father's brother) and they were all unimpressed with a fog delay. Her father had responded to her message with a long text message which truly surprised her (and me when he showed me later) making me exclaim "you really do know how to text"! They were on their way to visit a friend in Slave Lake then sister in Red Deer and one in North Battleford so will have toured a fair bit of Alberta and Saskatchewan in their travels. Talk of hilly hikes and camping made me tired. Her uncle was heading out for work in the western economy. He and I were chatting online before his first day as a heavy equipment operator in Whitecourt (was hired by the first place he visited) and he was telling me how pleased he was to see his niece's friendly face in the airport and on the plane. "Did she tell you about the cat that got loose on the plane" he said? "No, do tell" I encouraged. "Well, it escaped from somewhere and the flight attendant reached over my sleeping seat mate and picked it up from between his legs and he didn't even wake up!" I suggested that he must've been a frequent traveller to sleep that soundly. The eldest daughter confirmed that she had caught a cat once which absconded as they were deplaning - now that could've had tragic consequences if not for a cat lover. 

Well, off to run some errands in the city tomorrow - meeting up with a crew member from one of the Holland America ships, renewal of passport for the old guy, lunch at Mezza - a great Lebanese spot:

mezza.ca

as we have a Groupon so all in all a day of R&R. So off to catch some zzzzs.

Summer time and the living is..........wonderful

My the time slips away when you're on vacation, even (or especially) an extended one. I have been enjoying doing nothing, doing just what I want and then reminding myself that I had some items on a to do list somewhere and ticking one small thing off. The weather has been the only deciding factor in my schedule lately and this week has been lovely. I read a book given me from an acquaintance who had worked in Nunavut, it's called Nurse at the Top of the World and it's a 1960s account of setting up nursing stations in Tuktoyaktuk and Resolute Bay, Northwest Territories and all the resulting wild stories.  Some of the information was still applicable but some came from my early days of nursing and are now just the 'war stories' we regale the new grads with. 

Today would have been my Aunt Gustie's birthday. She was a favourite aunt, my father's older, unmarried sister from East Boston who came annually in the summer to visit with her two Canadian brothers and their families. She had worked all her life as a waitress at Durgin Park in Boston where the staff is known to be very matter of fact. When I visited the restaurant with a cousin a couple of years ago the waitress urged me to finish my chowder by saying "less chat, more chew". Gustie owned a three story house in East Boston and when we visited there we sometimes stayed in the top floor apartment if it was vacant. My mother was always impressed with Gustie's 'rich Jewish boyfriend who she wouldn't marry' as he would take us in his large Cadillac all out to eat at upscale places we usually didn't frequent. Ahhh, back in the day.

A friend and I walked the dog last evening along the shore and she (Keely not the friend) became very interested in something stuck in the cobble beach. As we walked we found pieces of what turned out to be a skeletal jigsaw puzzle. The archeological/marine biologist aka the shore captain told us he thought the bones were from a porpoise but we're open to any suggestions, especially from someone actually knowledgeable on the subject. We also found huge blogs of jelly fish - tis the season - and lots of footprints below the high tide level on the beach which looked like racoon paw prints, which would have meant they were out in the afternoon after the tide receded. Odd as they're usually active during the day much. 

Went to town to renew my drivers license and no this photo isn't any more attractive than my last but at least it's current and I had the office all to myself which is usually standing room only. This allowed me to head to the tourist bureau to source some books for my coworker who will be entertaining her German friend. The employee at the tourist bureau who speaks German is a brother to a nurse I know well - small world moment. Time to read the the newspaper in the sun, shop at the Bean Dock for crafts and then have a nice lunch/ visit at Bistro 138 with the earlier mentioned northern employee and a retiring next year RN from my most recent ex-workplace. Think we have her convinced to try it on just for laughs. 

Tonight I made brown bread, blueberry buckle and travel arrangements to visit a coworker from decades ago who lives in NB. There were instructions to take my passport as we might head to Calais for shopping or if the weather cooperates over to Deer Island on the ferry. Yes please! Might squeeze in some visits to other nurses along the way too if they're available. Talk of a Labour Day rendezvous with a former coworker from Cape Breton and my local buddy and I are going to take in Sheakspeare by the Sea in the city with a performance of Much Ado About Nothing after she retires. I have planned a BBQ for my sister's birthday just before I head to NB, so her daughters and some friends will join us for the evening. Lots of social events, so little time. 

But now I must crawl into my bed at a very (for me) early hour as I am taking a former coworker for her chemo Rx tomorrow in the city and will need to be out of the house by 4:45 a.m. That's the shore captain's hours! Will get to visit with the teacher daughter for lunch before she heads out west so it will be a long but full day. 

Her Highness Magnolia of the Night

Today was summer, or so I told the shore captain when he made his way home at suppertime. It was sunny, warm (22c) and breezy so comfortable and no bugs. Tomorrow is forecast to be the same. So if these are our two days of summer....I'll take them.

The pig roast on Saturday went off well. We are getting a bit more adept and putting it together. The shore captain still has some 'moments' but he's not a chef so I told him not to act like one. As I was checking on the congris (rice and beans) yucca, boiled plantains and tostones (fried plantains) while waiting for the portions of pork to be brought down from the grill a German chef watching from the dining room commented to a friend "she's keeping it pretty cool there" so I walked over and said "no one is bleeding or not breathing and I'm on vacation, what is there to get excited about?" which caused him to giggle. He was shortly pressed into action to carve the roast pork which I think made him feel useful in his retirement. We served about 30 souls with babies, toddlers, older kids and guests of all ages. I tasked a friend with keeping the salsa music going and he rigged up speakers inside and outside the house which was the next best thing to a live band. By the time more guests dropped by after work it was a long but fun day. Lots of leftovers which we'll be eating for a while out of the fridge and freezer. 

Sunday was an early start as the teacher daughter was running in the local race - a half marathon which is part of the Run NS schedule. I made it to the first intersection for some photo ops, then drive by cheering and another stop, leapfrogging the son-in-law as she made her way through the course. When you're approaching 10km and able to chat it up with your new found buddies from Boston you're pretty fit. There was a large field this year as this race is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon where there is a large show of support since the terrorism of last year. It's fairly flat (although the runners disagree) usually cool with the fog and sea breezes and lots of community energy as locals turn out on their doorsteps, in the church parking lots and on bikes to urge runners on. Her father arrived part way through the race and we continued our cheering - the running buddies were impressed with her cheering section. Waiting for her at the finish line with a time of 1:58 for her first half marathon was pretty impressive. Lots of folks I hadn't seen for a while to visit with and then we took in the social event following. Although she didn't place this year (huge class of her age group) she was pleased with her mug for first half marathon and we had a nice lunch. I delivered her to the in-laws cottage and she and the son-in-law headed back to the city. 

Monday was predicted to be rainy all day but instead by mid morning the sun was shining and the clothes were on the line. My summer neighbour phoned to invite me to go kayaking but I was still cleaning up from the weekend's festivities and so declined. A bit of a black cloud was following me around as I broke a favourite mug, spilled catfood everywhere, couldn't get the lighters in my propane range top to work although they do work when lit remotely. A dog walk later in the afternoon cleared the air with a buddy who we convinced to stay for leftovers and even take some with her to work for her lunch reduced the perishable edibles here. 

Tuesday was rotten weather wise so I headed out for a family visit. My niece and her children were down to visit my sister and so we caught up on the news. It was my great nephew's third birthday so I arrived with helium balloon, noisemakers, water pistol for him and skipping ropes for his sister and friend. A rousing thunder and lightening storm with buckets of rain added to the festivities. We were comparing nursing notes as they related to the Saskatchewan nurse daughter, who is incidentally making 'top of the payscale NS wages' in that province as a new graduate. My niece was impressed with some of the SUN provisions too about shift change without notice etc. When I mused that the new grad was being taken care of by old nurses in the west the way I had advised someone else's daughters over the years in NS. we both smiled. My niece mentioned the new graduates who work on neurosurgery with her are totally overwhelmed and cry every day at work. Since my niece was charge nurse last week she was explaining "I finally had to say, you can't cry at work, you just have to cry on the way home like the rest of us". We agreed that the most challenging units are where you learn the most and the quickest but the problem is that as staff are paid the same rate regardless of where they work so don't want to work harder for the same pay. There are usually two reasons for rapid turnover of staff on a unit - poor management or increased workload. You should run from the first and learn from the second. Home to curl up on the couch to read my book and a nap ensued. Must've needed it. 

Today dawned clear and sunny with a flat calm harbour. Ahhh. I readied myself and headed out to the municipal pool for senior swim. I'm not even sure what the senior age requirement is as the life guard (who's mother was a coworker and my age) is too smart to ask, she just takes our $3 for the hour of wonderful relaxation. The water was 82F today and I visited with a buddy. Only seven of us there in total. I met up with a lady who had posted her breadmaker on the buy & sell so scored a nice Sunbeam for $30. Home to make oatmeal bread - which unfortunately didn't rise well - been so long since I made bread the yeast was dead, will try again. I had a call just after I'd come home from my summer neighbour saying she'd been fastening a bungee cord around something and it had slipped, sprung back and whacked her in the forehead, could I come look at her head? So I made a house call with my limited supplies, but it was a surface wound and so steri strips and a mepore bandage were all that was called for. She was applying ice thus the swelling was under control. I advised no leaning forward for the afternoon - rest and read a book. Returned home and washed all the furniture covers, loads and loads of laundry hung out and finished my own book The Sisters Brothers which was a great read. My the gold rush was a vicious period in North American history! I'm starting Ami MacKay's The Virgin Cure - gotta love that title anyway. 

Some texts and phone calls with the electrician daughter who found herself in the midst of some work related upheaval, none of it her doing. Sometimes it's just best to cut your losses and walk away, there are always options. Back to visit with her kitties for a bit - unconditional love is always the answer to any of life's little annoyances. A FaceTime chat with the nurse daughter who was just recovering from night shifts which sounded rather hectic. Certainly sounds to me as if she's managing herself well but it's a tough gig to be a new RN or a female third year electrical apprentice. Good thing the kids are all smart with a great work ethic, will serve them well. Reminded me of the quote of the day....One's best success comes after their greatest disappointments. -Henry Ward Beecher

Oh and the teacher daughter is of course off for the summer and her husband had found some plans for a shed for the backyard - which were vetted by the father-in-law however....before he got started he took a notion to remove the 'ugly pink' tiles in the rec room in the basement and install laminate flooring. This has turned into more of a project than he anticipated (as those of us who have done renos can testify to) but apparently last night while he was removing the flooring he decided (wrongly it turned out) that he should just cut the phone line because "we don't use it down here". This unfortunately shorted out the phone throughout the entire house. He has a planning degree not technical credentials. 

I noticed an article in the daily newspaper on northern food costs:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1145193-ag-looks-at-northern-food-costs

which reminded me of my northern home. There are pieces on food security (availability of affordable, nutritious food) in the media lately as a survey has found that Nunavut is #1 in food insecurity but unfortunately Nova Scotia is in second place. 

Sand at 250 magnification

I was playing with one of those name generator gizmos on FaceBook that someone had posted because of the polls about the name for the royal baby. I discovered that my Royal Name is Her Highness Magnolia of the Night - which if you know me at all, you realize is very accurate for this night owl. I was glad to hear that my nurse daughter has inherited her mother's knack for daytime sleeping and is herself a Magnolia of the Night. Here - enjoy it yourself: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/07/12/royal-name-generator/2512673/

As well, someone had posted this photo of sand magnified 250 times. Amazing! Wouldn't my father have LOVED the internet and all the information it shares?

Pig in a Parade

This has been a busy but fun week as we prepare for the Moncada Day pig roast we are having tomorrow. As well, I've fit in a little (lot) of socializing. 

Wednesday was our day to 'do lunch' and we three old childhood onwards friends had a wonderful meal and catch up. Bistro 138 was great, although it was a busy spot. We made sure to have lunch + desserts and our soon to be retired friend treated us. Ahhh life is good.  That evening the shore captain headed to Yarmouth for a meeting with scientists and fishermen on George's Bank fish stocks. He was home at 11:30 pm (well past his usual bedtime) after the meeting ran late. Apparently the fuel light came on as he left Yarmouth (90 km away) and so he stopped at gas stations on the way which were closed and then drove very conservatively home on what must've been fumes by the time he arrived. Good thing he made it as he'd let his cell phone go dead. I can't believe he was really a Boy Scout or was it just Girl Guides who had the motto 'be prepared'? I asked his plan for the morning (as we're at least 25 km from a gast station) and he mentioned calling one of his employees to come rescue him, so taking pity I said "you can take my car if you have it back by 9 am as I'm going to get a haircut". When I got up in the morning (thinking I'd have to remind him to return the car) it was in the yard. I walked out through the mud room and the poor dog was lying there with her nose all wrinkled up due to very strong gas fumes. I looked out the window and the trunk of the new car was in the air. I marched out to the vehicle and the gas fumes knocked me over. I was very unimpressed, and when I called mister to complain he insisted that he'd had the gas can in a cardboard box and only spilled gas on himself pouring it in to the truck and hadn't gotten back in to the car. Yeah right. Then he whines that with the weather forecast giving wind the boat which was going fishing isn't, he'd tried to cancel the ice order but his brother-in-law hadn't answered the phone and now 15 tonnes of ice needed to be stored inside. When they were moving it, the hydraulic hose on the forklift broke and hydraulic fluid sprayed everywhere so they were cleaning that up. Okay you win for bad day story. 

I get my haircut and then call the summer neighbour to come with me to the wild blueberry u-pick which has opened. It's not the best of picking days being early in the season and drizzly but we manage to pick about six and a half cups each in about an hour and a half. As we head to get them weighed, it occurs to me that I've not brought my wallet. Yeah, yeah good excuse eh? But, no I've written a cheque for the haircut and didn't bring my purse. Thankfully my summer neighbour generously paid for my berries. Wouldn't want to be accused of a blueberry heist. My goal was to get fresh berries for a recipe that I'd found online for blueberry lemon cream cheese pound cake. It was delicious when I baked it that afternoon:

Blueberry Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Yield: 1 Loaf Cake

ingredients:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

4 oz PHILADELPHIA cream cheese, room temperature

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

PHILADELPHIA cream cheese frosting:

4 oz cream cheese, room temperature

4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups icing sugar (AKA powdered sugar and confectionery sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and butter the parchment paper as well (or simply grease the pan!) Set aside.

In bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

With hand mixer beat together cream cheese, butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing each time. Add vanilla extract and lemon zest, mixing until combined.

Pour flour mixture over the batter mixture. Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold in the flour until it’s completely mixed in and there are no pockets of dry flour. Lastly, gently fold in the blueberries.

Transfer batter to prepared baking loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let sit until cool, at least 30 minutes and then remove from pan.

Cream Cheese Icing:

In a stand mixer or large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Beat in vanilla extract.

Carefully frost on top of the cooled pound cake and store in fridge until ready to serve.

Thursday evening I picked up the dog walker and we attended a local evening of Cuban music by Lost Tourists. This is a Cuban guitarist/singer and a drummer (who is actually Hungarian) with computer generated backup. Transported me directly to the land of sun, fun and rum. Ahhh After the intermission there was a documentary shown called Cuba: Island of Music by a film maker who lives locally:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PTcLHAGpBU

A wonderful evening and after a chat with the Cuban musician, the brainstorming of how to have them play live music for our next Moncada Day pig roast. Next year. 

So tonight I headed to Yarmouth to pick up the pig for the roast tomorrow. I stop at Canadian Tire to buy charcoal briquets and lighter (and of course whatever tool was on sale in the flyer for the shore captain) and when I pull up to the stop sign......the traffic is stopped for the SeaFest classic car parade. I could not believe it! So, I phone the shore captain and explain the delay - he laughs out loud as he would've enjoyed the view. Finally I get out in to traffic, so head in the opposite direction and take the back streets to Emins Meats in the south end of Yarmouth. They are the old time butcher shop with all kinds of BBQ cuts of meat plus honey garlic jerky and more. The young fellow carries out the carcass to the wharf box of ice on the back of the half ton and says "it feels like a human body". Not sure how many human bodies he's been carrying around but it looks like a pig to me. I tell him at times like this I'm sorry to be a carnivore and he shrugs. I fill him in on my parade watching and instruct him on securing the plastic top and have to tie down the back with rope "no idea" he says when I ask him to tie a knot. I settle my account and as I am heading out to climb in the truck he says "here comes your parade" so I look up the street and sure enough, here come the classic cars. I pull out into a space in the line up and receive strange looks from the parade viewers as we exit right and head along the waterfront street. Recent model GMC with wharf box on back - hmmmm, wonder what that's in the parade for? I chuckle to myself 'the pig is in the parade'. 

Time to go to bed and get rested up for the big day tomorrow. The teacher daughter and I have just had a little bedtime snack of camembert and strawberries. Not sure how that fits into her half marathon training regime, but it was delicious. We'll see how good an idea it was on Sunday when she runs the local half marathon. 

A grown up job but....no thanks

A foggy, drizzly Tuesday morning which is required if I'm to accomplish (or not) anything indoors. Today was one of those days where I changed from pjs at 2 pm when I heard the man of the house on the doorsteps. The weather has been lovely since last posting and I have been enjoying it thoroughly. As my friend noted "you're home and able to participate in the BBQ and potluck circuit" and that I am. As well as soaking in the ocean view, visiting with friends and neighbours, reading the newspaper, making (and savouring) strawberry shortcake and strawberry/rhubarb pie, staying up late and sleeping in. Generally living the life of a teenager. As I work around the schedules of those gainfully employed this summer I caution you to remember that when you have days off on beautiful September days I will likely be looking at snow flurries through blurry eyes which have been awake half the night and still have to work the day.

Easy to remember 

Friday the cleaning lady came and worked her magic while I was up and off for an early massage appointment and errands in town. I stopped at the dealership and one of the salesmen managed to successfully tame the bluetooth pairing issue between my car and cell phone - so now I am able to use it as hands free while driving. This is a tad more important with a standard (as is not trying to eat an ice cream cone while having to shift) than with an automatic. We figured out setting the radio stations while the mechanic installed my newly arrived license plate and another fellow cleaned the temporary license sticker off the rear window - I felt like I was at the spa. As you can notice to the left, the license plate is an acronym for a colourful metaphor used in texts and online parlance so easy to remember. As I am unable to drive by Frenchy's without stopping....I succumbed to a short (visit with neighbours and coworkers) shop and scored some good finds. A few quick groceries, including a purchased salad package for the social engagement of the evening. 

Late in the afternoon I picked up a neighbour and we headed to Chebogue, which is a lovely small community outside of Yarmouth for a Red Cross volunteer BBQ. The sun cleared, the burgers and sausages were great, there was a mountain of wonderful food and good company. I was thrilled to receive my three year service certificate and pin. I mostly say I'm co-lead of the Disaster Team and my co-lead neighbour does the work as I tend to be away when action is needed, although I do take my turn on call. As I was socializing, my cell phone rang - since I'm now with only the cell phone (no landline) untroubled by telemarketers, a phone call is not a common event - and I answered it with an unfamiliar voice asking for me. "Who's calling please?" I screened the call and was advised that it was HR from GNWT. Oh, that got my attention! One moment and I'll just get somewhere quieter. The short version is that I was offered the 8 week Community Health Nurse job share position in a small Inuit community in NWT which I had interviewed for on June 24th. They had stated all applicants would be notified within two weeks, one way or the other and so when July 8th came without a call.....I packed my 'northern stuff' and left it in Taloyoak for my next contract in September. I asked for details so as to be able to compare apples to apples and agreed to the 48 hours to consider my decision as it seemed rude to decline on the spot. The main issue was that during the interview I had specifically asked about the schedule and was told "you decide that with your job share partner" but when the call came it included the statement "the start date is November 8th". This is the opposite of what I'm doing now as a casual, what works for my work-life balance and is not what was disclosed. When I compared the casual vs job share positions I found that the job share was at least $6000 less per year (not that I won't do something I enjoy for less but....that's a lot less) they don't pay salary for travel days (although you do earn vacation) the rent is $1000/month not $500 and if your job share partner doesn't show you have to work an extra month at least until the employer finds someone, but the biggest concern was that this

is an unknown community and coworkers to me which could turn out to be great or.......purgatory for eight weeks at a time. At this point my life I really don't want anyone telling me the dates I have to work - I want to be the one doing the choosing - while having fun, earning lots of money, having daily adventures and not considering stopping any time soon. Yup, just what's happening now. Why mess with a good thing? As I said to a colleague "I've waited most of my career for this job and now I'm offered it...I've gotten past it". As per Maxine on the right. So, after discussion with the life partner over the weekend, sharing with my daughters and friends the news, and admitting to feeling a real ego boost at being the successful candidate.......I called the HR contact at GNWT and respectfully declined the job share while not burning any bridges as I accentuated the work-life balance issues only as per scheduling. As a colleague said "at this point you can choose, so choose". So I did. It felt right. 

Sunday was another lovely day and I began by making scallop eggs benedict for brunch - not as good as lobster but pretty tasty just the same. By noon time I was on the road to my writing group get together and potluck. A great afternoon of writing exercises, sharing, great food and socializing. Write Away always lifts me up and gives me the boost to write more regularly. Made me determined to register for the online creative writing course this fall when I'm north. Love that I drove two trips of about 400 km total and the gas gauge hasn't reached the 1/2 mark. When I filled it up at the garage on Friday the young fellow at the pump said "nice Dodge Dart you have there ma'am, I like that colour, is it a standard?" When I affirmed this and said "now that I can find reverse, I like it" he says "is it a six speed? that's the way all of those are" to which I replied "where were you when I was on the end of Cranes Point Rd last week?" and he grinned. I smiled when a friend emailed to say that a Dodge Dart had been her dream car when she graduated and began working.....in the 1970s. I had that mental image of the 70s too when I heard what the cute little car was called. 

So, Monday was spent enjoying the sunshine, making arrangements to book myself in to Taloyoak

for the next year - eight weeks at a time which works for me but actually difficult to fit working in around the various vacations - and generally not over exerting myself, except for making plans to 'do lunch' with childhood friends and checking the weather forecast for u-pick blueberry picking. Had a visit from a neighbour with daughter (who used to babysit for us) and grandson - a 17 mo. old cutie who is very behaved for his age, who are visiting from out west. He was happy as long as he had keys to play with - a real farm boy. Stayed up until 2 a.m. to live-stream a documentary from CBC about lobstering in Lockeport. Why not?

http://www.cbc.ca/absolutelymaritimes/

As I listened to the local accents and familiar faces I was reminded of this link:

http://theplanetd.com/the-great-canadian-word-unique-phrases-and-words-of-canada

Us Maritimers always think we don't have an accent, folks 'from away' do, but when I work 'up north' a  flight paramedic from central Canada will ask "what part of the east coast are you from?" as soon as I open my mouth. It's a good guess as about 3/4 of the staff north of 60 would be east of Montreal.

And speaking of getting away....I had been discussing with a friend about travel to the southern USA the first week of December. Why? Because I've read lots of southern novels? Want to eat fresh shrimp or BBQ? Because I've been intrigued with that area of the world for some time. The flights are fairly direct and reasonably priced and the meal/accommodation cost is comparatively low. When an online site that watches for low airfares out of Halifax:

http://www.yhzdeals.com

posted a deal for return (taxes and fees in) airfare Halifax to Atlanta for $318....I took it as a sign. After a brief (very brief) discussion with my soon to be retired friend we were of the mind that we could see a plantation - always wanted to do that since we'd seen Gone With the Wind at the local musty Goudey Theatre as pre-teens, take in the Georgia Aquarium;

http://www.georgiaaquarium.org

which is the world's largest, and in fact the websites are for 169 things to do in Atlanta etc. so I'm sure we'll have to parse the list, not look for activities to fill our days:

http://www.citypass.com/atlanta/things-to-do-atlanta

So, as she headed to bed to get ready for a second 12 hr. day shift, I booked our flight from Halifax to Atlanta (via Chicago) December 1 - 8th. Merry Christmas to the both of us, nice way to decompress before the holidays. And my travel buddy will have to bring along the new iPod that she won this week (with a $25 iTunes card) at the local garden centre. I'm not being unkind when I describe her as a decided technophobe but she does need a spot to store those photos of her cute granddaughter to show others when travelling and some relaxing music for the flights.

"Your attitude is the deciding factor in whether you're happy or not" I advised the shore captain as he whined about the weather forecast for Saturday when we've planned the Moncada Day Pig Roast. Why a fisherman would think he could control the weather is beyond me, not to mention that in Nova Scotia, the weather = forecast ratio is pretty poor. At any rate we shall have fun that day, no matter the weather - if necessary he will roast the pig in the barn then we will eat in the house while we enjoy the company of family, friends and neighbours and that is all there is to it. So, if you're within travelling distance - you are most welcome.

www.marcandangel.com/2013/07/04/7-effective-ways-happy-people-think

As I've had online chats with my co-worker aka adopted daughter vacationing in California, she shared that her (very tall handsome)  German 'friend' (who emails daily, sends cards and packages regularly) had phoned her and they had chatted for 20 minutes. She has been studying German and is in fact researching language schools in Germany near to where he lives. Yeah, sure it's all about the studies - I was that age once too. The good thing is that she will have to continue to work north in order to fund any cross the pond excursions.

Meanwhile my other daughters are 1) moving to a new job as quality control on an electrical project while still an apprentice 2) running in the NS 1/2 marathon this weekend here in the area and looking forward to teaching P/1 at her favourite school in the fall 3) working her way through orientation as a new RN and all the changes moving provinces mean to your practice. The only son is raking irish moss, readying lobster gear and keeping a low profile while the girlfriend raises him - this is a good thing. The little birds are out of the nest and flying on their own.