Hello My Old Friend

When I got home, my other camera was waiting for me. It's not much, just a 12mp Kodak point & shoot, but I adore this camera. It will stitch panorama shots for me and do so many other things. I had broken the screen at the U2 concert in October and sent it away for repairs, expecting the worst, but it was only $77!! Anyway, I took my photos and I'm just so happy I have it back. Here's some from the week:

The first is Greta enjoying something on TV on Saturday morning.

The second is the outside of Ray's school. The primary centre is K-5. It's gorgeous inside.

My girlfriend was dropping her daughter off at school on Monday and when she rolled her window down, the frost stayed up!

These are my tap shoes, waiting to go dance on a Tuesday night.

And now my Font Choice thingy is gone... spooky posting tonight.... Anyway, this week's flex:

Sat: Ray's dance, groceries, meeting with someone about Dad's photos of the Forest Museum. More to follow if it actually works out! Then hanging with the hubby.

Sun: Church. Laundry. House cleaning. Prep for Monday.

Mon: Drop off girls. Work.

Tue: Bus! Work. Student/Parent/Teacher meeting at Ray's school. Tap Dance for Mum.

Wed: Drop off girls. Work. Nooma course at church.

Thu: Bus! Work.

Fri: Drop off girls. Work.

Next weekend will be very busy... Grandma's birthday celebration on Saturday night, and then Ray dances her exams on Sunday!

Home at Last!

Well I forgot to take a photo of the certificate. I have it though. The trip was uneventful. I was able to catch an earlier hop-flight at 11 am instead of 12pm, and would have been able to catch the 10am flight that the nice lady at the AC counter said I couldn't have. She didn't charge me for the change though. However, she did have to charge me for the overweight baggage! BOTH bags were over the limit, but I took my boots out of the soft bag and managed to squeak that through, then had to pay for the hard case. I'll try to get reimbursed, but probably won't be able to.

When I arrived in Victoria, as I was approaching the security doors, the girls saw me, and Greta made a dash for the doors! She ran right under the barrier and through the doors to my arms. Ray was right behind her. Sailor did nothing to stop them, and I thought the Commissionaire was going to lose his mind. I apologized a few times, and brought them out directly. There I was, Greta in one arm, a backpack on, my heavy tote, and Ray glommed onto my legs coming through the doors. Quite a sight!

Greta's chatting up a storm now! So much more than when I left. I'm still in shock how much she talks now. Ray has grown at least two inches!

The stack of mail took me over an hour to sort through. The laundry hamper is over-flowing. I couldn't stay awake after 7:48!

Friday, we dropped Greta off at daycare and picked up Ray's friend A to take them to school. I paid Greta's registration fee for JK next year and we took Sailor to the ship as their schedule got changed and he had to be on the ship by 1330. I left Base at 9:10 and made it to my hair appointment in time to get a nice latte. Then the cell rang: Sailor wasn't sailing! The trip was cancelled! He's home for two weeks now! Thing is, I was in the hair chair for 2 hours then had a lunch meeting at 1230. He'd have to wait.

So I got my hair done (looks fab. Didn't take a photo though), had a very successful meeting with my teaching partner and the community coordinator for the course we're teaching this summer (now all we need are students!), and then drove back down to get Sailor. We then turned right around and headed up to get Ray from school, but I had to stop into the credit union to deposit my first commission cheque from MK (I have two recruits - just one more for a 'red jacket' at career conference!), and then while I was there, I took out an RSP loan. That put us back 10 minutes.

We managed to get Ray without paying for After School Care ($8 a shot!) and picked up Greta. I'm just so glad to be home, with Sailor home for another couple weeks...

So here's the photos to play catch-up:
My piles of bags waiting to go. Chez-D picked me up and we hit H&M before her hubby drove me to my buddy's place. The gift bag was for her - had some travel mugs in there that I gave to her.












This is from over northern Manitoba. The frost and snow made such a beautiful landscape.














This is the sight that greeted me at home: The girls and Sailor had decorated the front hallway with streamers and balloons to welcome me home! It was so sweet and such a nice surprise.













These are some tulips that Ray chose for me and they were on the kitchen table when I got home.
















The crocuses are blossoming in the back yard now. Ray took this photo.














This week's flex:
Sat: Dance, groceries, library, laundry.
Sun: Church, laundry, ironing.
Mon: Work.
Tue: Work, tap class.
Wed: Work, Nooma course at Church.
Thu: Work.
Fri: Work. Pay bills.

Forgotten Photo

I forgot to post this photo from Last Tuesday! I went to a bookclub meeting and the house was spectacular! I especially liked the mosaic tiles she had on her wall, so I snapped a picture of one.

Tonight is the course party. There may or may not be photos from it. For sure, I'll take a photo of my certificate on Wednesday though. Last day of the course tomorrow! Wheeee!

Countdown is on

Well it's nearly that time to go back to the we(s)t coast. I was done last week, but the course wasn't. Meh. Anyway, here's some of the latest photos for the 365:

Thursday night Karoke. Beer and singing... two of my favourite things.













Friday: on the top floor in a corner, there's some plaques and awards. This one is from Germany, where I spent 5 weeks in the early 90's. Loved it. This will bring back really nice memories for me.




















I missed Saturday and Sunday due to a medical emergency at Chez-D.

Monday: two of the most important things on the course: a cuppa Tims (steeped tea with two milk and three Splenda) and the classroom where we do our syndicate work.

Strange thing about Tim's in Ontario: none of them have Interac. None. Just cash or credit card. No debit. For a province that started Canada... they're a little backwards with their debit and shopping habits (no stores open on Family Day?! WTH?!)


Nearly done. So so so very close... and yet so very very far.

No pictures today

I have taken them but I haven't downloaded them yet. I'll do it soon. Just too tired, too busy, and too desirous of going home. Perhaps I'll try for tomorrow when I'll be more in the mood.

This week's flex:
Mon: course (group work).
Tue: course (presentation), course party.
Wed: graduation. outta here by noon, I hope. hang with a friend in Toronto.
Thu: fly out at 0700 T.O. time. Arrive HOME at 1255 BC time. Hanging with the kids and hubby!
Fri: drop off girls at school, drop off Sailor on his ship as he leaves that day (crap), hair appointment, course that I want to teach appointment, pick up the kids, make dinner, bath time and sleep!
Sat: laundry, dance class, groceries, laundry, prep for Monday's work.
Sun: finish off laundry, clean the house a little, prep uniforms.

Nearly there. Nearly there. Pictures tomorrow.

I'm Really Getting To Know Toronto Now!

What an exciting weekend it's been.

First, let's catch up to Thursday.

Bleachers - the popular all-ranks club on the base. Thursday nights are karaoke nights, so I've taken to wandering over and singing. It's nice to practice new songs in relative anonymity.










Friday: Into Toronto I go and first stop: the ROM. VERY cool stuff all through there. Things I'd only seen in my text books, right in front of me. Absolutely amazing.












Saturday: Minus 17 weather left a visit through China town out of the question, so instead, we went up to Rahier, an incredible Belgian bakery, where I purchased some carbs for the baby shower. Then of course, I had to hit the Mary Kay warehouse before driving back the way I came for the shower. It was so great to see friends again, and to meet new ones. Lots of fun, lots of great food too. In between the Warehouse and the Shower, I tripped and hurt the top of my foot (no swollen ankle, thankfully) so I spent the evening in the house with an ice pack.




Sunday: First, another visit to Rahier. The pastries and cakes and sweets... good thing this store is so far away from where I live.











Then, off to the Raptor's game with Uncle, Auntie and new 3rd Cousin. So much fun and great conversation. We went to Uncle's condo afterward, overlooking Toronto Island. There were tons of people skating on the outdoor rink nearby.




















After that, I headed back to Chez-D for dinner and snuggles with children before heading back to the shacks.

It's been so wonderful hanging out, visiting people. This week's flex:

Mon: School (Administer Accounts). Hanging out here.
Tues: School (Pt, Written Test, Flow of Materiel). Book Club meeting at V's place to meet more of the girls.
Wed: School (Guest lectures all day). Hanging out here.
Thurs: School (Pt, Weapon's storage, Syndicate work). Karaoke.
Fri: School (Syndicate work). Rent a car. Maybe singing in Mississauga with a friend.
Sat: Maybe Toronto visiting new Cousin. Maybe not.

The girls are getting bigger and changing while I'm gone. I miss them.

First Wednesday of February

That doesn't mean anything, but I couldn't think of a decent title.

Here's some photos to catch up:

Costco was carrying "Cheating by Chocolate" and I loved them! Then they stopped, but I never stopped searching for them... or a decent substitute. Found 'em! They're yummy and in THREE flavours, not just two.














This was sunrise on the way through the back roads from Alliston to Mississauga this morning. It was amazing - red, orange, pink... with a shaft of light that went right into the clouds above.











Tomorrow we have PT then presentations all morning. Then in the afternoon we have a new bunch of stuff to learn. And tomorrow night... Karaoke!! Wheeee!

Groundhog Day

Well, it's February, finally. I have been taking photos, but I haven't had every day to upload them. I'll try harder to find the 30 minutes or so I need. It's a forced relaxation. Here's a few to catch up on:

A couple from the course I'm on and I went out to dinner one night. We don't have an ESM in the area of BC I live, so it's something of a novelty for me still.

















One of the guys on the course celebrated 28 years in the military. He doesn't like cake as much as he likes pie, so us girls bought him a taffy-apple pie and sparklers. He was so surprised and very happy about the gesture.












This is a full moon keeping me company on my way to dinner in Oakville one night. It was pretty cool.
















At my friend's place for a get together, one of the babies arrived sleeping in her car seat, all bundled up. I had to take a snap.











On Sunday, we visited the Art Gallery of Ontario and saw ancient Egyptian artefacts from the King Tut collection, among others. It was spectacular! Things I'd only seen in magazines and text books were right. there. Amazing artistry! No pictures allowed inside though.

This week's flex:
Tues: School, babysitting for friends.
Wed: School. Stuff.
Thurs: School. Stuff.
Fri: School. Toronto with a friend - the ROM at night!
Sat: Toronto with a friend (Science Centre?) then baby shower.
Sun: Raptor's game with my uncle and a visit to a cousin I've never met!

I'll try to update with yesterday's pictures later today.