The blog with no name

I'll Try...

2010-11-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

I've actually gotten a few requests for me to start blogging again. Flattering.I wasn't sure that any except my closest family read it and they read it because they might be mentioned in it and were concerned about embarrassing stories I might pass on. Hah! Love those embarrassing stories! I've got a million of them! Stay tuned. There's always comments on the weather,the Riders, the Huskies...

Wedding

2010-07-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

One month to go til the wedding. Someone asked me if I was ready and if there was anything else I needed to do. Seriously???? I said I only had about a thousand or two details to take care of. It's nothing,really. I started a notebook with sections in it to get myself organized so I'll make lists. That was another thing to do: 1.Buy a notebook with sections. (tick) 2.Make lists of things to do.(Haven't ticked that one off yet.Still need to make lists.) At least I got a blog entry done.

2010-07-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

So Ray is now recovering from a broken rib in his back, which punctured his lung in an unfortunate altercation(scuffle) with a patio table. I think Ray won,as the table is a goner and Ray is still alive to tell his side of the story. He's in pain but the doc gave him some good painkillers so he'll at least sleep lots while he's waiting to heal.There goes golf season.

Celebrating

2010-06-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of planning to weddings and it's easy to just plan and work and to forget to actually celebrate and have fun with all the pre-prep. Last night my friend Maria threw a bridal shower for Annie. It was great and I felt like we were finally celebrating instead of just talking about it! I have made a decision on a dress and I just need shoes and a wrap. Everything's slowly coming together.

Big Plans

2010-06-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

One of our adult students at the school where I work was chatty the other day. He wanted to tell me all about his plans for the future. They're all about making plans and then making the plans happen at our school! I think this guy's plan needs a bit of refining,however,although maybe this is the first plan he's ever made and this is the best we can do at this point. Anyhoo, his plan goes like this: He'll get a job here in Saskatoon so he can make enough money to move to Vancouver and live in a homeless shelter. Shoot for the stars,I say.

Exam Time

2010-04-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

Annie is here studying,as her house is too noisy. This could be the last university exam year we will be confronted with,here anyway. She'll be moving away to Montreal for a while, then hopefully, to grad school somewhere in the world. Adam will be making pastries wherever they land. Change is the only constant, and I'll be excited to see where those two end up so I can visit. Travel. Love it.

Easter

2010-04-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

Did you all have a good Easter? It's nice to have actual spring weather for Easter.

This I know.

2010-03-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

It felt kinda funny, in a good way, when my son Johnny phoned me to ask what to do because his furnace was not working. I have my Fireman's Papers for work, as I am a head caretaker at a school and have to do maintenance as well as cleaning. It was a steep learning curve, as I have never been what you'd call 'handy' by any stretch. So as I asked him questions about the 'symptoms' of his furnace disorder, I realized that it had to be his fan belt.Good. Something easy.

All's Quiet

2010-03-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

It's really different not having kids at home anymore. Quieter. Easier. Not as exciting. You kind of have to make your own fun instead of having your fun thrust upon you. After the last one moved out, I kept thinking "Now what do I do?" It felt like my purpose was gone. I tend to be a person that lets life happen to them instead of taking the reins and making things happen. So, here I am thinking about what it is I could be doing with my free time. Renos to the basement, painting class, and my jobs, as well as decorating for the odd fundraiser here and there....Hmmm...

Matt

2010-03-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

My son Matt is taking a Primary Care Paramedic course here. It seems like a perfect fit for him. Over the years he's been in a number of emergency situations where he's had to 'rescue' people. Once his boss had a heart attack at work, another time he came across a man whose arm was pinned under his car when the jack slipped as he was working under it. There were other times too, and I wonder if 'somebody up there' was giving him a clue about what career path would be good for him to pursue. Not that God causes accidents, but that He sent Matt to help. Matt is calm and clear-thinking in an emergency. He can take charge and delegate the 'standing around stunned' people. He's empathetic, and caring, but a useful kind of caring. Some people are so emotionally empathetic that all they can do is stand there feeling bad. It's a delightful thing as a parent to see your kids figure out their career path in a way that fits so perfectly.

Short Little Blog

2010-01-30T15:34:00.001-08:00

I haven't been keeping up with my blog very well, have I? It's been a quiet 2010 so far.Quiet's okay,I suppose. I am taking a new art class up on campus.It's another painting class. My teacher is big into 'underpainting', a technique used by old masters throughout the centuries, but a new technique to me.It's quite fascinating, and I wished I would have studied it before I went to Italy becauseI would have had another thing to look for in the great paintings we saw there. My teacher's name is Iris Hauser, and I bet she has a website.

Failing

2010-01-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

Okay,if you're a compulsive New Years resolution-maker and end up hating yourself for not fulfilling your grandiose commitments to become perfect this year,here's a quote for you:
"Today if you fail,may you fail into grace,a grace that knew you'd need it more than once and isn't sad to see you." John Acuffe. Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas '09

2009-12-28T06:07:00.001-08:00

Christmas was, mercifully, easy this year. We had the big feast at Tom and Erin's house.That was the first time I hadn't hosted it in maybe almost 30 years.Ray and I were included in the gift exchange draw that our kids do and only had to buy one gift each this year for our immediate family. I drew(It was fixed) Adam's name. I have a tradition that when one of my kids is engaged I buy 12-Day gifts for their fiance for Christmas. The first gift is to be opened Christmas Day, then each day a gift is opened for 12 days. Each gift has something to do with that particular day of the song 'Twelve days of Christmas'. So, as Adam is a chef, I had fun finding things he would appreciate. He was actually pretty easy to buy for. Day 1 was a nice wine that had a drawing of a partridge on it, a bottle of pear champagne vinegar, and pear puree to use on brie or whatever. It's fun to think each day what he'll be opening that morning. Day 3 was 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' by Julia Child and 2 other ladies from France(3 French hens.Get it?') , a book he wanted after seeing Julie and Julia.
One thing I got that I'm excited about is a webcam so I can talk to Bobby with his webcam in Taiwan on Skype and he can see me.I plan to have his nieces over to talk to him on the computer so he can see them growing up, and so they won't forget what he looks like.

Simple

2009-12-21T04:09:00.000-08:00

The older I get, the simpler I want things to be. It seems to take me longer to get my brain around what I'm doing and longer to pull thoughts out of my head. My friend Janice and I talk about how hard it is to be a slow-moving person in a fast-paced world. I think that there should be a place in this world for people who move slowly, deliberately. There are some things I do quickly,though. I can pull a meal together in no time. All that practice over the years!

Checking up

2009-12-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

So, everybody,how's Advent gong? Are you going crazy with the prep for Christmas? Do you feel like you're on a moving train,trying to get off? I'm okay so far, except I'll feel better when the church is decorated. I ordered greens and flowers from my contact at Safeway and they'll be ready for me on Tuesday, and next Sunday the Vietnamese family from Restaurant 224 comes to the parish to set up our creche (Cave) for our nativity set. I only ordered 4 trees this year, but my volunteers will be making fresh garlands for outside over the portico and 2 more largish ones inside. It's always a big time of year for me at the church, but when it's done, it feels magical.
Other than that, we have streamlined everything else. It's way more peaceful, and we are having Christmas Dinner at Tom and Erin's house,God bless 'em! It's the first time I haven't hosted it in about 25 years I think. I enjoyed hosting for the most part, but this is better!Let me know how you're doing,okay?

Sentimental

2009-11-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

I can't begin to put the words together to tell you how pleased I am that my new granddaughter,Ellie Marie Hickey, is being baptized tomorrow. 'That would have been enough',as they say in the Jewish Passover Celebration, but as God always heaps blessings on top of each other,full, overflowing,beyond what we deserve, what we even have the audacity to hope for, she is getting baptized because her parents have a full and rich faith,and they want her to be part of the family of God. That,also, would have been enough, but on top of that, she is being baptized in the parish rich in the history of our family life. My kids were, for the most part, raised in this church.They were baptized, received first communion,were confirmed, and some were even married here. I have celebrated here, mourned here,received comfort and encouragement here,served here.I love my parish. The people are kind and accepting. They love me and have loved my kids.I feel like they belong to me and I am theirs.So, I have a sense of things continuing, of God bringing me to this place in my life. I am grateful.

Cold Song

2009-11-19T15:07:00.000-08:00

Every year I buy a new Christmas CD at Starbucks. I bought one already this year because their really good ones always sell out early. this one caught my eye because it is a collection of songs, mostly old or even ancient, about Christmas and winter. Sting put it together. I like it a lot, because the songs are interesting,some I was familiar with(Lo,How a Rose, The Angel Gabriel...) and lots that I haven't heard before. I've written before about how I collect John Dryden quotes, since I am a Dryden myself. Well, there's a poem of his that was put to music(Henry Purcell) on the CD, which is the most depressing winter poem ever. It's called Cold Song, and it's more or less how I feel in the morning at 6:45 in February as I head to work to snowblow when it's - 30 or so. Here it is:
What power art thou who from below
hast made me rise unwillingly and slow
from beds of everlasting snow?

See'st thou not how stiff,how stiff and wondrous old,
Far,far unfit to bear the bitter cold?
I can scarcely move or draw my breath;
Let me,let me, freeze again to death.

Apostrophe's?

2009-10-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

Annie and I went out for breakfast Saturday morning at a new place called Freddie's Fifties Diner.We hadn't been there before and wanted to see if it was any good. You have to understand that Annie is a journalist,my Dad is a journalist, my son is an English teacher, and so grammar is way more important than is necessary for human existence. Anyway, back to the diner. We opened our menu and I winced.The first thing I saw was the word 'breakfast's' spelled like that, with an apostrophe. And the word 'menu's'. And '50's', as in the decade, 1950s. Annie was not impressed.People seem to have forgotten how to use apostrophes properly. Now I know I make all kinds of grammar errors and spelling errors too,and I even had to look up how to spell apostrophe, but it jumps out at me when people use apostrophes every time there's an 's', just in case.What common mistake in grammar or spelling bugs you?

Gilligan's Elevator

2009-10-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the Cancer Clinic to visit Joanne as she had her chemo treatment.She's doing very well and we had a nice visit. Judy Catton also dropped in,as well as Janice Akerman. I left there at 1:05 in order to make it to work at 1:30. I work at a school that has employment programs for adults.Some of the adults have interesting reasons why they can't possibly come to school that day, which our long-suffering secretary has to listen to. Anyways, there I was at the Cancer Clinic, down the elevator to the parkade floor,waiting for the elevator door to open.......c'mon,OPEN!!!!!! It was stuck.I was in there alone. No problem,I'll just push the emergency button.Hmmm. It's not working.I know, isn't there supposed to be an emergency phone in elevators? I open the little door.Hmmm. Just two wires hanging down...My cell phone? No service....So I did what all of you would do- I banged on the door and yelled for help. Luckily there were people waiting to get on the elevator. One of them stayed outside the door with me to keep me calm, the others ran willy-nilly looking for help.I asked my new friend on the outside to phone in to my work and tell them I'd be late because I was stuck in an elevator. Half an hour later I was free. A little shaky, but none the worse for wear. I did get teased about my lame excuse for being late,but I expected that!

Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy

2009-10-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

'Do the Google',as we say in our family- type in: You Tube- Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy. It's hilarious and sadly true.

Thanksgiving

2009-10-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

It's a bit complicated trying to get together for holidays when you're working around sets of the kids in-laws,but we seem to manage okay.This year we think we'll cook the Big Bird and and all of it's accessories on Sunday with Adam and Annie,who are going to Adam's for Monday dinner. Then, on Monday when Tom and Erin and girls and John and Heather and Abbie get home from their out-of-town dinners we'll just have leftovers. Matt and my parents get to decide which one to attend. Now I need to go out and find a big turkey.Shouldn't be too hard.

September

2009-09-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a beautiful fall we're having!Lovely warm,and even hot weather every day.Today it's raining, but still pretty warm.My sister Joanne is feeling a little better after her first chemo treatment.She is posting a blog to keep friends and family updated. The address for it is: mrshudec.blogspot.com It saves lots of phone calls and e-mails to write a blog,and you can leave her a message on there,which all of us bloggers love to get. Also check out pics of my new granddaughter on my son's blog: thomashickey.blogspot.com Also in Hickey news is the engagement of Annie to her long-time beau,Adam Cenaiko.We love Adam and the two are a great match. He's also a pastry chef, so he can make his own wedding cake! Bonus! Our family is big enough now so we can no longer sit around our diningroom table, so it's buffet service from now on.Life keeps on changing and I'm working hard at keeping up.

Ellie Marie

2009-09-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Yay! A new granddaughter for me!!! Ellie Marie was born on Saturday to my son Tom and his wife Erin's delight. She is beautiful of course. 7 lbs.3 oz.,lots of dark hair. I got to babysit Maria,their firstborn who is two,for the whole weekend.Very fun. Ray and I feel very blessed.

Joanne

2009-09-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

My sister Joanne has been in hospital for 8 days now,and tonight she comes home to my parents' place. It's always a little nerve-wracking to leave the hospital because you feel mortal and vulnerable, but what she really needs right now is a good night's sleep. Hospitals are noisy at night.The weather is nice outside, and my Mom and Dad's house is quiet and backs on to a lovely park. It'll be a good place for her to do her walking. She got her hair cut today and it looks really nice.

School Supplies

2009-08-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Okay,I'm sorry to talk about school supplies,but it IS that time of year.One thing I don't miss about raising school-age kids is the annual school supplies buying marathon.The lists of things they 'needed' was ridiculous. I would spend LOTS of time and money cruising through store after store looking for the specific notebook(Hilroy # whatever, not coil bound, 80 pages,not 120 pages, 15 for each kid, and they come in sets of 8 or whatever, 10 pencils each,etc,etc, and they wanted their name written on each item. I have 5 kids. Please.) For a long time I haven't had to buy school supplies at all now that the kids are all grown, so a few years ago when I saw a school supply list on the Ten Thousand Villages website(Mennonite Central Committee) for children going to school in poverty-stricken areas of the world I was intrigued. The list is simple(It's on the website) and the supplies are basic and inexpensive,if you hit the sales, and now every year I buy 5 sets,in honour of my kids, and because I remember how hard it is to afford school supplies. You take the supplies in to the Ten Thousand Villages store and they put them in book bags and send them to schools in different parts of the world.

Bobby's Home!

2009-08-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted. There has been a lot happening,some good,some not so good, some really bad. Let's start with the bad and work our way up. My sister Joanne has been diagnosed with cancer.She is going through tests and waiting to hear treatment plans.She has 4 teenage sons
and it's all too much horribleness for her family to deal with.She's in Saskatoon staying with my parents.Please pray for her.The not-so-good is the crappy weather we've had all summer. Lots of cool weather and rain.I'm planning an outdoor party this weekend, and just praying for weather that is conducive to being outside.We plan to show a movie in the backyard,have a wiener roast,corn on the cob and s'mores. The really good thing that is happening is that Bobby's in town,staying at our house for two weeks.It's so wonderful to have him here. He's getting to know his nieces,which has been great fun and we're playing lots of board games.I love my family!

Mendel

2009-07-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

The art gallery here in S'toon is called the Mendel Art Gallery. They have a wonderful show of gorgeous paintings by Dorothy Knowles,a Saskatoon artist who made it big. We have our own style of landscape painting here,lending itself to watercolour softness and big huge skies. Other places,people live on the ground,in the prairie the ground is just a 'stand' for the sky.W.O.Mitchel said we were like flies on a platter. Other places I have lived and visited, the people don't notice the sky. Here you notice the sky first.Seeing a storm coming, hail clouds, incredible sunsets most nights,sunrises worth getting up for, the blue,blueness of the winter sky, and in fall the colour sceme of blue,blue sky over ripe ochre- yellow wheat.Really, the light is fantastic for artists and photographers.Check out her exhibit, or check her out online. Just google her name.

Back in the saddle again

2009-07-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! I am now driving again! I still can't have caffeine because it makes me a little dizzy. It's been okay to give it up for awhile. I was surprised because,although I don't drink a lot of coffee, I really enjoy it.Actually a bit of a coffee snob.As a matter of fact, I wonder why anyone would bother drinking coffee that isn't good. My favorite coffee,aside from the lovely cappicinos we had in Italy, is the Sumatra from Caribou Coffee Company in the States(slogan: Life is short-stay awake for it) and the espresso roast from Starbucks,and Ten Thousand Villages bold roast. The coffee shop at the Mendel Art Gallery has European-style cappicinos and espressos.(also good paninis and salads)What is your favorite coffee place/blend?

The room is spinninggggg

2009-06-30T15:12:00.001-07:00

I am now officially a dizzy blond! I have an inner ear thing(temporary,thank goodness) which makes me dizzy and a bit car sick-feeling. The doctor told me i can't
-drive
-watch T.V.
-read
-go on ladders
-have salt or caffeine
I think there may have been other things,but by then I realized that life was not worth living for the next little while, and quit listening.The not driving is the worst.And does anybody know if there's caffeine in white chocolate? I mean,really...

chillin' out in Tuscany

2009-06-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

2009-06-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

Oops.This goes with the last post I did.Still trying to get the hang of the photo posting settings!

Statues

2009-06-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

I would have to say that seeing Michealangelo's David was a highlight for me,but there were other statues that took my breath away.This was one of them,made for the tomb of a little girl.We saw this in Sienna.

Tuscan wanderings

2009-06-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

We toured a lot of scenic towns when we stayed in Tuscany. The poppies were blooming.The weather was perfect,sunshine every day.This was the second week of our trip and the countryside was a nice break from hectic Rome.

Castelnuovo

2009-06-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the town near where we stayed in Tuscany. Just as beautiful as this everywhere. I took a lot of pictures and I'll randomly post one or two and comment on them as the spirit moves me.

Florence.

2009-05-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post this video I made in Florence Of flag thrower guys.This was taken in front of the Duomo and was great fun to watch.There were lots of young boys throwing flags too.I'll post a few pictures and videos from the Italy trip as the fancy strikes me.

Things I LIKE about where I live..

2009-05-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

Okay,enough whining about the weather. When we went to Italy I thought I might come back dissatisfied with Saskatoon, but really I gained a new appreciation for it.We're not mentioning weather here,just some other things. However, the extreme changes in seasons make us enjoy them more. Spring is grander because it's so different and welcome. Summer activities are pursued with gusto. The colours in fall are magnificent. Saskatoon in fall is my favourite. It's blue,blue skies and yellow leaves and shocks of red thrown in. It really IS harvest time.People are nuts about gardening.Most of us are within one or two generations off the farm.
So here's a list of some other things I love about Saskatoon.
1.My family is here.
2.The greenspace.The river.Lots of parks.The child-friendliness.
3.I love how friendly most people are. And how down-to-earth.Not really frivolous. We try to dress nicely,but it's life-or-death if you don't dress for the weather sometimes.
4. It's clean. It's not all squished together.There's room to breathe.
5.Nice restaurants.
6 Big enough for good concerts,but small enough that you could drive anywhere in the city in under half an hour.
7.The festival season. There are a few festivals in the winter, then in June,with the start of the Childrens Festival, they run pretty much back-to-back, and some overlap.You don't even have to go to them to enjoy them. One year I sat on the roof of my house to watch the fireworks on the riverbank. Annie and I sat on the rooftop deck at the Yard and Flagon to watch the snowbirds fly over for the air show.
Okay, your turn.What do you like about Saskatoon?

I'm baaaack

2009-05-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

Back to the good old Blog with no Name. Almost done with the jet-lag too. The Italy trip seems like a dream. Saskatoon welcomed us home with snow and cold. Thankfully it melted right away, but it's still cold. Basically the weather sucks.We've all quit being positive and looking on the bright side.There isn't one.And people have quit talking about spring because we don't really believe in our hearts that we're going to have spring,or summer. This coldness is just going to keep on going forever. Despair. Ripped off at the global warming scientists. I almost wore mitts this morning to walk to work.

We're off!!!

2009-04-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we head out to Italy! While there I will be blogging on the Italy trip blog:
http://www.italiansix2009.blogspot.com

Britain's got Talent

2009-04-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Check out: You Tube-Britain's Got talent-Susan Boyle.
A frumpy-looking middle aged woman who everyone laughed at, that has an incredible voice.Lovely!

Where is he?

2009-04-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Check out on Youtube : Where the hell is Matt?
It's wonderful!

Movie Pick

2009-04-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

The Stone of Destiny.What a great movie,and a wonderful story. Based loosely on the story of a group of four students in Scotland in 1950 who steal back The Stone of Scone. This stone was a large retangular stone weighing more than 300 pounds. For centuries, it was the symbol of power in Scotland, and Kings would be crowned as they sat on it. The British(Edward 1) in 1296, took the stone to England, where it was used in the coronation ceremonies of English monarchs to show their sovreignty over Scotland. It's a delightful, funny movie, and the scenery is fabulous. It is playing at the Broadway theatre. It's not being distributed in the major movie theatres, so you may have to pick up the DVD at a rental place.Check out the trailer online.You will recognise some of the actors.

Ode to Birdie

2009-03-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ray's Dad's longtime 'significant other', Birdie, died today. Birdie had a massive stroke 2 days ago and didn't really stand a chance at recovery. They took her off life support today and she died somewhere between noon and 1 p.m. Clarence and Birdie were together for many, many years. Although she was only 4 ft 7 inches tall, she was like a force of nature! Acadian-french accent and temperament, she was very definitely a Character, and a very kind person. She was fun to tease, especially for Ray,for everyone really. For someone so small she will leave a very big hole. Please say a prayer for Clarence and for all the family.

Italy Trip

2009-03-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

Ray and I are counting down to our trip to Italy.We're leaving April 23,travelling with our good friends Brian and JoAnne, and Mike and Laurie. For those not introduced properly to these friends, Brian and JoAnne are our neighbours.Brian lived in Italy for 2 years, and JoAnne has travelled there as well.They are organising our accommodations and some itinerary things. Laurie and Mike are good friends that we met through our church.Laurie and I owned a wedding and party decorating business for a number of years.Every Friday night the 6 of us get together for Happy Hour after work,at one or another of our homes.We bring food and drink wine(some drink scotch too!) and wander home after an early evening of good food and deep and sometimes silly conversation. We have supported each other through health issues,family disasters,weddings of our kids, births of grandchildren,and even home renos!I sometimes tell them we should have a Woody Guthrie song written about us.We have a travel blog up and running,with pictures and info about our trip already posted! Check it out!
http://www.italiansix2009.blogspot.com

The Dead of Winter

2009-02-16T14:56:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year that we here in Saskatchewan start yearning desperately for an end to winter.I think one of the biggest triggers is the arrival of the torturous seed catalogues. Pictures of happy,warm vegetables in homey baskets looking all pest-free and fabulous, they rely on our having forgotten last year's tomatoes with stem rot and mildewy pea plants. No,with a seed catalogue order you are buying a dream." This year I will can tomatoes" you say to yourself,forgetting that in August you don't WANT to can tomatoes, you just want to sit in the shade and read a book. Those seed catalogue people know what they're doing,sending those magazines in February,and it's not just because it's time to put in your order,either.

Home again

2009-02-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

The final day was spent at the National Palace Museum,full of treasures from the Forbidden City.Artifacts that represented the history of calligraphy,ceramics,painting,sculpture,bronze,etc.Amazing building-so grand!The grounds are stunningly beautiful as well, and though we were in a hurry we stopped for quite some time to feed the Koi fish and try to get a picture of a crane in flight. Then it was a rush to get back to Bob's(80 steps up to his apartment!No elevator) get my bags and say goodbye to my two wonderful traveling companions!"See you Bob and Matt!Try to have fun without me!",and the gittery pre-travel feeling(Yuck) and then I was off to the airport,through security, and sitting in a room-the only non-asian in a sea of people. To Hong Kong first,then to Vancouver,overnight at a hotel,then Calgary, then back to Saskatoon by 4 this afternoon. 15+hours in the air, and the endless waiting in airports.I walked off the plane and was greeted by a sign with my name on it being held by my grand daughter,Maria.The kids organised supper.Nice to be home.Goodnight!

Kenting,Ken Ting, Kending....

2009-01-30T01:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the same places are spelled differently,but it's pronounced 'ken ding'.Travelling there during Chinese New Year was crazy-the traffic was crawling.We stopped for lunch at a very nice restaurant with Nick's parents,then continued on our way to Kenting. We would still be travelling there had we not been driven by The Transporter(Nick). Weaving in and out,driving on the scooter lane,on the road allowance outside the scooter lane, really really fast, we eventually made it to the resort of Kenting.Hot weather, lots of restaurants and tons of market stalls, we ate at a Mexican restaurant that made a great margarita(maybe even better than yours,Maxine,but I wouldn't know because I've never tasted yours,have I?) We stayed at a bed and breakfast over a fruit smoothie stall. They brought up a plate of their fresh fruit each day,lovely, and it was charming- In the morning we got up and went to the beach.You rent chairs and a big beach umbrella and spend the day.The sun was warm, and a girl from 7-Eleven went around taking orders for beer.Coronas on the beach,ahhh. I stayed pretty much in the shade,but the boys were determined to get a show-off sunburn,tan. They stayed in the sun quite a bit too long, and now they are RED.They both went to bed after dinnerand I went out on the town, shopping,on my own. The sights and sounds sre undescribable-fish and stinky tofu(horrible)and fruit and every kind of seafood. People frying up unidentified foods, and selling all manner of kitsch. I saw a young guy at a t-shirt stand selling a marijuana tshirt to a grandmaother-Bob says neither of them would have known what it was since marijuana isn't here. I saw the only road mishap I've seen since I came here.2 people sooo mad at each other and a policeman standing by looking helpless.You don't see accidents often-the traffics a mess, but people look out. Today we got up early and cought an over-crowded old bus to Kaoshiung and then had lunch and ran for the high=speed train to Taipei(Actaully Banciou-I spell that wrong!)That's where Bob lives.Tonight we go out with his friends to a shrimp place,then we'll help Francis hang the paintings in his new deli-restaurant that's opening.Tomorrow night I come home!Can't wait to see you all, but not the snow.

kiaohshung

2009-01-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post,

Yesterday we went to Lotus lake. We went on a ferry, it was beautiful. We had fresh seafood for supper at a cramped, but good restaurant Bob used to go to a lot.We spent time with some of his friends at the restaurant and a pub. After supper we went for some soft Pretzels at a place called "Aunty Anne's" at Love River, and then for shaved ice with fruit and ice cream at the #1 fruit-ice place in Taiwan. That was so good... Today we are going to Kenting and hitting up the beach! Gotta run, our ride is waiting. Update soon.

Xian Nien Quia Le

2009-01-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!Year of the ox. We were invited over to Bobs friend Little Bob(Our Bob is big Bob)s house. His girlfriend is from here, and her mom made us all a New Year feast-absolutely the best chinese food Ive ever had.Lots of toasts to the New Year, played a drinking dice game(when in Rome...) The table must be absolutely full of food the whole time-we ate and ate.There was sweet and sour pork, hot and spicy soup with congealed pork blood,noodles, vegetables Ive never had,seafood-shrimp dishes,calamari, pork hocks,etc,etc. Some things you just eat and its best not to know what they are until after. It was all very tasty,so very tasty. We didnt play majong which was just as well after the dice drinking game because youd need to have your wits about you. We got home after 1am and then Bob and I went out on his balcony to see if we could see some fireworks, and had a really good heart-to-heart talk until 3am. He really is doing very well, Im quite proud of him. He has a job he loves, really wonderful friends, and is living in a city thats interesting and very safe.I actually feel safer here than in Saskatoon!Not a drinking (except on New Years)or high theft culture. I really like it here, but I miss you guys a lot.Give the babies a kiss for me,Erin and Heather. Sarah, you dont need to worry about Matt, hes in a good place and in good hands

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-01-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Since I am across the int'l date line, I figure I get two birthdays,like Ray. Let's start with last night, though, on my birthday eve.We went out for supper to a round table restaurant with 3 of Bob's friends-Francis,Devlin and little Bob(he's smaller than our Bob) Good food, good beer, and great visiting. Does Bob ever have nice friends! After dinner we went to Francis' restaurant(La Rouge) which was just closing for the night, and played a board game.I think it was called Cathedral and was fun, but I only came in 2nd.At 1 a.m. we taxied home and I had a good sleep. This morning we had eggs benedict at La Rouge(Thanks Francis) and went to tour Taipei 101, tallest tower in the world, until the one in Dubai opens! Also fastest elevator in the world(600plus mph) which leaves your stomach somewhere other than where it was when you started. The view was spectacular! Then we met Chris and Nevada and their sweet daughter Gemma for a wonderful birthday supper at Din Tai Fung, New York Times named it one of the top ten restaurants in the world. Absolutely amazing dumplings-noodle dough packets filled with pork, or shrimp,or whatever,and some broth in it as well. You pierce the dumpling and drink the broth and then dip the dumpling in a soy sauce-ginger-vinegar mixture. The staff came out and sang Happy Birthday for me and brought me a dumpling with red bean paste in it.Hmm. Not a big fan of the dessert with bean paste. But we smiled and gave them an A for effort. After supper we went to Chocoholic, a restaurant that specialises in different kinds of hot chocolates, ganaches, and truffles.I had hazelnut hot chocolate. Amazing! I took a picture of the display case for you,Adam. THEN, Nevada took me to a salon, where for $10. cdn they put you on a massaging table-chair thing and shampoo and massage your hair.Then they blow-dry it and style it.Bliss! Thanks,Nevada.Then we went to Chris and Nevadas and played Apples to Apples-a card game. And so another action-packed and fun day. I feel grateful and spoiled, and my hair looks really,really good! Tomorrow we go to Little Bob's for Chinese New Year's Eve and his girlfriend's Taiwanese family will be there, and cooking. But that's another blog for another day. Thanks for the comments- they keep me going on this blog. Pictures so far are just on facebook, but we'll get them up here somehow eventually. Kim and Brenda, I will try the ice with fruit thing-Bob was telling me about it.

Another day,another14adventures

2009-01-22T08:36:00.000-08:00

Traveling with two young men has its perks.They think of the zaniest things to do. We went to a winery today, and to the beach,and to the night market,and we played a board game outside at our hotel,all topped off by going back to the beach after dark and setting off lots of fireworks. Of course they asked the vendor for the loudest firework they had and the vendor went to the back of the stall and handed them one marked 'Extremely dangerous'. The boys were thrilled with this,and off we went. Great fun.The downside of traveling with them is that I have to work hard to keep up!Tomorrow we return our scooters to the rental place and get on a train headed back to Taipei,so goodbye Marshall Hotel!

Hualien

2009-01-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

Arrived here by scooter(I'm still a little scary) and booked into the Marshal Hotel last night.Then we took a cab(Yay!) to a Ko-Ri-Ya barbecue. You sit at a table with a small barbecue'pit' set into it and a hotpot set into another hole, then you choose the items you want to put in your hotpot, and you let it cook. Then you get a lot of plates of thinly sliced meats,poultry and seafood items, as well as kimchi(fermented cabbage with sauce,garlic and hot chili seeds) and you barbecue them on your little grill. Some unidentifiable items,and a truly nasty-tasting fish that looked like a smelt, but wasn't. Bob got a horrible expression on his face and had to spit it into his napkin, so I was proud of myself that I just said "I don't really like this fish" even though I REALLY wanted to spit it into my napkin too! The rest of the meal was sooo good, or else at least very interesting,and it's a very sociable way to have a meal out. I wondered if we would be stared at here,but a couple people have just said that I look very young to be Bob's Mom. It's really true!Today we head to the cean coast. We can see the ocean from our hotel window. By the way,I haven't had a bad cup of coffee since we arrived in Taiwan.

2009-01-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

We had quite the meal last night at our hotel. It was a nice(fancy) place and they had a buffet. I tried a bit of everything (my policy) even though we couldn't identify some items. It was good,but we decided that one should probably not bother trying steak here. Not known for their beef production, I don't think. The thing I didn't try was a clear jellied dessert with little black things in it that looked almost like poppy seeds,but not quite. I thought"Hmmm,if you sprayed whipped cream all over it it probably would have won the Hickey jello contest."I wanted to take pictures of the food for you,Adam.You would have liked the presentation, but our cameras were charging. Our hotel has a spa and pool and games room. The bowling alley was fun,even though I lost.Matt and Bob played an arcade game where you were a samurai(or something) and had to battle other samurais with a sword,the hilt of which you held in your hand and swung around in the air. They were wishing Johnny was there.They also had a scooter-racer area for kids,etc.

I'm feeling well and enjoying travelling.Matt LOVES it here and is a great traveller-he's learning as many phrases as he can. When we scooter,Bob goes in front and Matt goes behind me,so I feel well-watched over!

2009-01-20T00:13:00.000-08:00

I think the scooter rental people were panicking pretty good when they saw me attempt to drive off, but pretty soon I was able to settle down and really enjoy the experience. I even sang a couple of choruses of the Beachboys song 'Go Granny Go' at the top of my lungs while driving up the winding roads up the Toroko Gorge, marble mountains and exotic vegetation and through tunnels and stopping to take pictures of gorgeous shrines. We are in Hualien staying at a hotel that is frankly way too nice for the likes of us! I'll get Matt to put some pictures and video up here. Also the video from yesterday. Hope it works this time.

You better Chang Kai check yoself before you Chang Kai Wreck yoself!

2009-01-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

We made it here safely! Bob met us at the airport with beers, too. This morning we visited Longshan temple and Chang Kai Shek memorial hall, where there was an enormous gate, two massive buildings with theatres and a memorial for KMT founder, Chang Kai Shek. Very massive, very beautiful!

Okay,this is Judy talking. I love it here and I dont miss the snow or the snowblower at work. Tomorrow is my scooter day. We head out to the east coast by train. Stay tuned.....Love,Judy and Matt(and Bob)

(Having trouble loading our first video. We will try again tomorrow.)

Taiwan Travels

2009-01-10T05:14:00.000-08:00

WooHoo!!! Only a few sleeps til our trip to Taiwan. Matt and I are so excited that we can hardly stand it. I'll try to post regularly on this blog, and I'm going to get Tom to show me how to post photos. I have a request from Mark at work to post a picture of me riding a scooter. He was smirking just a little when he said it.Hmmmm.

Christmas

2008-12-31T03:57:00.000-08:00

It's New Year's Eve and I'm up early as usual. I like early mornings when everyone else is asleep. Over Christmas it was the calm time before the 'storm' of visitors and events and I would get up early and have a coffee and put the house in order and set up for the coming day.We had a lovely Christmas dinner at my school. I booked it there because our house is too small for dinner for 20.Next year we'll be at Tom and Erin's new house.Yay!
This year we had the big Jello showdown-a molded jello competition.I'll have to put pictures up on this blog because it ended up being quite the hilarious event.We also had a concert.My 4 nephews are taking voice lessons and they each prepared a song,then sang Silent Night in 4 parts. The my sister brought out her set of hand bells and we tried playing a couple of carols that she'd brought music for. Then, the usual board and card games, pingpong and foosball.

Christmas CDs

2008-12-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

I am a sucker for buying the latest Christmas CDs that come out every year. This year I bought Yo-Yo Ma's Songs of Joy and Peace CD. It has a number of other artists on it, such as Dave Brubeck,Alison Kraus, Diana Krall and Natalie McMaster. I like that the Dona Nobis Pacem melody runs through the CD. I now have it permanently stuck in my head, which is better than having the Brady Bunch theme song stuck in my head......Oh,no!

My Babies and their babies

2008-10-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

So I want to say, for the record, that my married sons both had the foresight to marry women who are THE BEST MOTHERS!!!! Okay,my granddaughters are going to be perfect to me no matter what, but it's so reassuring to know that they're in good hands. Well cared for, happy, affectionate little girls-they are the product of loving,caring moms. I'm impressed and grateful Erin and Heather. Way to go!

Soooo Excited!!!!!!!

2008-10-12T08:55:00.001-07:00

Guess who's going to Taiwan in January with her youngest son Matt to visit Bob? ME!!! We're going to ride scooters there and tour the coast and take in festivals and fireworks for Chinese New Year. And, best of all, visit Bob in his own environment. He's been teaching English there for a few years, and studying Chinese. I can only stay for a couple weeks, because I don't have enough holidays since I'm going to ITALY IN APRIL!!!!!! Me, who never goes anywhere! We may go to New Brunswick this summer for Ray's Dad's birthday too. It's been such a hard year for us that it's nice to have this to look forward to. Hopefully there will not be any more health issues in our family for a while.

Starview

2008-09-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the pics of Camp Starview, a (frankly) scuzzy old camp, but dear to our hearts. Lots of good memories.

Ray's Mom

2008-09-27T07:31:00.001-07:00

Ray's Mom died last night. She was hanging on,refusing to die, for a long time past what her frail body could manage. Ray's at home, having arrived yesterday morning. He's worn out. I'm sure it'll take a while for him to get caught up on sleep and caught up with his exercise program and healthy diet. He was at the hospital most days and ate a lot of hospital food. Yuck.

Update

2008-09-19T05:34:00.001-07:00

Ray phoned to say that his Mom was really glad to see him and that she is frail and getting weaker. His sisters are there, and he's staying with his Dad. His grandmother is in the hospital too(his Dad's Mom). She's 98, and she fell and broke some bones,poor thing.

Homeward bound

2008-09-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

Ray is heading off to Campbellton,New Brunswick tomorrow to spend some time with his Mom. His Dad phoned us on Tuesday, and told us she had been admitted to hospital, and it looked like she may only have a week or two to live. Most of his family will be there,I think. Thank goodness he is fit to travel. I'll be here at home holding down the fort.

Memory Lane

2008-09-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ray and I drove up to Jackfish Lake on Saturday. I wanted to check out where Starview Camp used to be. It was a camp where my St. Martins friends and I spent every September long weekend as teens, and I camp counselled there one whole summer. Jackfish Lake is being seriously developed right now,as is most of our province. It's almost unrecognizable. So with trepidation, we saw the Satarview Camp sign, took the left turn off the highway, drove up the big hill, came around the corner, and -gasp- there it was, looking exactly the same, just as I left it 35 years ago. Wow,that was weird! A good weird. I took pictures. It's up for sale, and there are cabins being built all around it,so it's good I went when I did.

My friend Brenda

2008-08-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

A childhood best friend phoned me maybe a month ago.We hadn't seen each other or spoken for at least 25 years. She's attending Aden Bowman High School's 50th Anniversary Celebration this weekend and wanted to get together. I'm really excited, and all this has triggered a lot of memories for me. Brenda was one of those magical people who was beautiful, popular, kind, fun, good at most everything she tried, and a loyal, lovely friend. She lived around the corner from me. When I think of us being together it's a whirl of fun memories: pretending we were mice when we were very young, working on school projects together, having a bazaar in my basement to raise money for the Cancer Society after my Mom died, sitting on the back steps at her house eating her mom's vinertarta(yummy icelandic cake), afternoons playing yahtzee on the lawn at George Ward Swimming pool, dancing in her basement, sleepovers where we watched scary movies and afterwards being afraid to be alone but being afraid of each other too!I'm sure we had arguments but I don't remember any of them. She was always there- until her family moved away to Winnipeg when we were in High School. I'm going out with her for breakfast this morning to get caught up. 25 years...could take awhile.

Sorrow

2008-08-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

We were devastated to find out this past week-end that Ray's Mom is very ill. We thought things were going well after her surgery for lung cancer in June, but now the cancer has spread to her brain. They told her she has only 2-4 months to live. Ray is desperate to get out there(New Brunswick), but has to check with his doctors. Maybe in September.It's all a bit too much.....

August

2008-08-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Ray is doing much better now. He's enrolled in the cardio patient fitness program at the Field House. I am going with him-walking the track 3x per week.Problem-I can't walk as fast as him.I never could.He's got these powerful legs and just motors along like a steam engine. I get so I feel it would be easier to run to keep up. I can walk as far, and I'm not puffing,I don't feel my heart racing, I just can't move that fast. My legs are quite a bit longer than his too. It's kind of embarassing not being able to keep up with the bypass man. He is the fastest man on the track, but that's not always saying much.Some of the cardio people are 90 and using walkers.This walking will be good to get us ready for the big Italy trip in April. Can't wait.

Choosing Civility

2008-06-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

That's the name of a book by P.M.Forni that I'm reading right now. It's excellent. It's one of those books you wish everyone would read. It came out of the John Hopkins Civility Project. He bases his book on the principle that"a crucial measure of our success in life is the way we treat one another every day of our lives...When we lessen the burden of living for those around us we are doing well; when we add to the misery of the world we are not." It's a readable, practical little book. I'm finding it life-changing.

Best.Group.Ever.

2008-06-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

Wow! Pink Martini. What a great concert. If you ever get a chance to see them, they are FABULOUS! The flamenco night was fun too. I love Jazz Festival time!

On the Mend

2008-06-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Ray is healing nicely. Matt's got a small infection in his wound,so he's on antibiotics. The weather is nice. Things are looking up.This weekend, POP members from South Bend Indiana, Dorothy and Kevin Ranahan, are coming to Saskatoon. We also have tickets to Pink Martini(great group!) and Annie and I have press passes for a Flamenco dinner and show that she's covering for the Sheaf.She's the Arts editor for the University of Saskatchewan newspaper, so she goes to lots of music, literature and art events. Sometimes she gets to bring a friend(or a Mom). She'll be taking in a lot of the Jazz Festival too. Maybe we'll even see her at Pink Martini. That concert is held in the garden behind the Bessborough Hotel. I may practise my rumba. I hope Ray is well enough to go.

The Hospital

2008-06-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

Ray is doing well. He can do most things for himself now, and is able to walk all the way around the block. The weather has been cool and rainy. I blame the weather network-they've been predicting a hot,dry summer. Kiss of death for hotness and dryness! Two days ago Mat hurt himself at work. He was using a skill saw and a piece of a 2x4 fell from a story above and hit the saw, which in turn hit his leg. Mangled skin,lots of ugly stitches, but thank goodness he didn't hit a major artery or cut his leg deeper. So it is a bit like a little hospital here for a few days. Except the food's better.

Another week

2008-06-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

We're almost at the end of my week off work.I'll be going back on Monday. Ray should be just fine on his own-especially since I work a split shift and am not gone for long. It only takes me 7 minutes to drive to work. It's close and my employers are compassionate and flexible. I'm not worried. Ray is able to do a little more on his own, and he rests a lot. Now he's reading more and needing to sleep less. He was outside in the shade in his lounge chair on the front deck yesterday,reading one of the Bourne books. It's nice that this all happened in the spring so he can be outside. It would have been tougher in the winter.

Slowly

2008-06-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

Ray's getting better. It's going to take a long time, but he doesn't seem as fragile as he did. I walked with him to the end of our street today twice and he's doing a little more on his own. He tires easily and has to make sure he doesn't do very much(He even has to take a rest after eating a light meal.) I'm encouraged that next week when I'm at work he'll do just fine.

Home

2008-06-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

I picked Ray up and brought him home today. He is,of course, tired and sore. He's grateful for heart-smart food,as he's afraid of bad-for-you food. One day at the hospital he was watching T.V. and a Kentucky fried Chicken add came on. "Don't do it! Don't eat that!" he was shouting at the people on T.V., semi in jest. So don't lecture him about how he should eat. He's being very,very good. Encourage him that he looks thinner,fitter, better. I find the lecture-advice the worse thing for me too. I want to scream when people say"You know,he's going to have to change his lifestyle!" "DUHHHH" Sorry. I've had enough.

Always jam tomorrow and never jam today

2008-05-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

I waited and Ray waited for the doctor to discharge him today,but they're keeping him one more day. Tomorrow. I'm a little relieved because they have better equipment and knowledge there should things run amok,but on the whole,he's doing really well.

I think it's Thursday

2008-05-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's funny how you lose track of time. Anyway, John and I went to see Ray this morning and he was much better. He was looking awake and had eaten some toast. He doesn't remember any of our visits. He showed us his incision and it looks tidy and dry.They have to finish weaning him off the drug to raise his blood pressure and then make sure he's stable and move him back upstairs.Don't know when he'll be coming home.It's too soon to tell.

okay

2008-05-28T15:32:00.001-07:00

They got his blood pressure up to a more normal place.He's feeling better now and isn't so clammy,nauseous and dizzy.He's in CCU.

okay

2008-05-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

They got his blood pressure up to a more normal place.He's feeling better now and isn't so clammy,nauseous and dizzy.He's in CCU.

More news

2008-05-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

The hospital phoned this morning to say that Ray's blood pressure was too low and they are moving him back to CCU or ICU as they are better able to give hiom the meds he needs.He is dizzy and nauseous.Poor guy.

The Day After

2008-05-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

I went up to see Ray this morning and then this afternoon. He is doing well, and had a bit to eat. They had him sit up a couple of times. Matt and I were working on the garden this morning so it doesn't look so much like a bomb site. We're prepared for a garage to be built as soon as the building permit comes through. Thankfully we have a company coming to just built the thing.It's going to be big-I was teasing Ray that you'll be able to see it from outer space. Anyway,Matt and I thought we'd try to make it look nice enough that he'll actually want to sit out there to watch them build later. He may be home as early as this weekend.

Day is Done

2008-05-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ray had his surgery as planned today. He is still pretty doped up and full of tubes and wires. He had a quadruple bypass. I saw him after the surgery with my son Tom and I'll go again in the morning. We were blessed to have Paulette Stein(my daughter-in-law's mother) there as she is an O.R. nurse in cardiology and spent time with us as Ray was brought in and phoned us regularly to assure us things were going as planned and what to expect after. Our friends Briaan and JoAnne and Laurie and Mike had a supper ready for any of the Hickeys who needed one-of course everyone showed up for that. The Hickeys are a noisy bunch- even when you don't count the babies. We got shushed at the hospital a couple of times.Thank you all for your prayers and please keep it up as the next 24 hours are critical.

Today

2008-05-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

Glenn Hilton is often talking about living in the moment. I've come to a point with Ray's health care that I say to myself each morning"Okay.What do I have to do today?" I can't think much farther ahead than that. We had a good day yesterday. We took Ray to mass at the hospital in his wheelchair and then back on the ward we had a priest friend come and have annointing of the sick for us-the kids and what friends that were visiting at the time. It was very moving and emotional. After that the kids came over for comfort food-spaghetti and meatballs. My neighbour Ari made the meatballs and Laurie sent over the salad and dessert. We are spoiled,happily, with the wonderful support we have.Good friends, People of Praise,close family,even friends of friends,and of course our parish.
This afternoon Ray goes for his surgery. It takes 4 hours. We'll be at the hospital this morning to wait with him,then wait......Then when it's over I'll go up and see him,hopefully. Then the phone calls to everyone. That's what I have to do today.

Well-wishes

2008-05-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

If you Google the Saskatoon Health Region their website will come up and on the left-hand side of their homepage you will see a box marked Well-Wishes. If you click on that you will be able to send Ray a message that they will deliver to his bed. He is in Royal University Hospital, room 6012.

All the News...All the time...

2008-05-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone . Ray heard today that he is having his surgery Monday afternoon. The cardiologist said he is the second one booked for that day, but that if an emergency comes up he will postpone Ray. Pray that all goes according to schedule! He is to have a quadruple bypass and maybe 5(what's the word for five,I forget?)Quintuple? As he is a non-smoker, and is only 55 and isn't diabetic, it makes the side -effect list a lot shorter, but there is a SMALL chance of a stroke, so please pray that all would go well. He should be home by next weekend to begin the looong recovery.

Yikes!

2008-05-23T05:01:00.000-07:00

The resullts from the angiogram were that Ray needs open-heart bypass surgery. I'm in a bit of a daze and today we hear from the cardio team as to what the plan is. Please pray for him!

Still Waiting

2008-05-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

Another day has passed and Ray is still waiting. Sometimes it's a big lineup for angiograms and sometimes not,apparently. He's comfortable,in the meantime, and being monitored and eating heart-smart hospital food. He's read 2 Agatha Christie novels and has started a Bourne novel.

Broken Heart

2008-05-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

It's been too long since my last blog. Lately I have been doing a lot of communicating by phone with everyone since Ray's health issues became news. He has angina. He has been having symptoms for about a month and a half now. He can't even walk to the coffee room at work without shortness of breath and his chest burning,etc. He's had a stress test and is now at City hospital waiting for an angiogram,which should happen today.If he needs an angioplasty or a stent they will do that right away. I'll keep you posted.

What (the heck) is going on?

2008-03-01T06:19:00.000-08:00

The babies are growing. It's all going so fast.Man,I love being a Grandmother. Everyone tells you that it's wonderful. They're right! Erma Bombeck said "A Grandmother is someone who believes you can read even when you're holding the book upside down." It's God's good design for us to have someone in our lives that thinks we're so amazing/cute/lovely/beautiful/talented/smart. The world is a hard place sometimes. Grandmothers are a safe haven. I hope I'll be that for my grandchildren.

Life Drawing

2008-01-06T05:54:00.000-08:00

I really,really enjoyed my Life Drawing class at the UofS this past term. It's part of an extension-style certificate program. My teacher was Degen Lindner,a wonderful artist, but even better for me- a wonderful teacher. I could tell she was a good teacher because of the vast improvements I was making week-to-week. I was always a bit frustrated before when drawing people, but now it's just pure enjoyment. That's the best part. I plan to take Life Drawing 2 next. It's wonderful to find something so engrossing and satisfying.

Over-indulging

2007-12-17T15:27:00.000-08:00

Things I Don't Do Anymore -a poem by me

I don't bake Christmas treats
I don't decorate much
We don't want bigger seats
Or a lot of stuff and such.

Indulging in Poetry

2007-12-10T07:58:00.000-08:00

Before the Paling of the Stars by Christina Georgina Rosetti

Before the paling of the stars,
Before the winter morn'
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born:

Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
in the world his hands had made
Born a stranger.

Priest and King lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem;
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem;
Saint and angel,ox and ass,
Kept a watch together
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.

Jesus on his mother's breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless lamb of God was he,
Shepherd of the fold;
Let us kneel with Mary maid,
With Joseph bent and hoary,
With saint and angel,ox and ass
To hail the King of Glory.

Advent-urous

2007-12-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

So,I took this week off work to get most of the Christmas stuff done. I don't bake for Christmas anymore. We're not so much dessert people. I did do lots of my shopping, and I decorated the house (I know it's not the 'pink'week) If I don't get that done early it doesn't get done. Then on Thursday I invited the Hickey women over-Anne,Erin, Heather, Maria and Abigail. We made appetisers to put in our freezers for whatever events we were facing. I also met with my Art and Environment committee and planned Advent and Christmas decorating for the church. A productive week, and man, does it ever take the stress away. I could do it this year because I had extra holidays left over. I wish I could do this every year. I'll definitely do the Hickey women day, that was fun. Did you realise that there are now more Hickey women that men in our immediate family? That'll shake things up!

Fun and Games

2007-11-10T08:17:00.001-08:00

I'm very lucky to have a husband who likes to cook. He has been taking the odd cooking class, and this week he took an East Indian cooking class.MMMMMMsamosas... So tonight he is doing an East Indian meal. The exciting part for me is that since I'm not cooking I have more time to set an Indian themed table and to hang carnations and tiny mirror tiles from our diningroom light fixture. I go overboard always,but that's okay.People expect it from me.Got to go get the red and gold charger plates out of storage and raid the party decorator shed. I'm having so much fun.

Listening Ad Nauseum

2007-10-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

My new favorite CD is African Guitar Summit. LOVE it!Ray and I went and heard them perform at the Broadway Theatre when they were here for the Junos. I'm one of those people who gets a new CD and plays it to death. The last one was a collection of the band Chicago, before that it was the Mamas and the Papas. Love California Dreaming. What are you listening to these days?

My Hero

2007-10-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

Usually I stumble in to work at 7 A.M.,bleary-eyed and a little stunned. Then, the usual routines: disarm alarm, bring in paper, check heating systems, etc. There are days,however, when you have a bit of a surprise,usually not a good surprise, that takes over your day. For instance, the day that I arrived to find plywood covering the front window, glass all over the floor and a shopping cart inside. Apparently someone had thrown a shopping cart through the front window.
Today when I got there, there was a note for me to call the police because we had been graffittied. The story on the news was that the caretaker on duty last night at College Park school heard kids outside, called the police and caught one of them in the act of painting graffitti on the wall. He caught the little twerp(Did I say'Twerp' ?I meant to say 'Perp') and held him until the police came. They checked other schools in the area and found the same tags on our school and Greystone. The fact that they caught this guy(He's 14, I'm sure he'll rat on his friends too) brings immense satisfaction to me. It's pretty much the same kids every time. You can tell by their writing. The painter that goes around and paints over the tags in the Cathoilic school system was pleased to hear they'd been caught. He gets very very frustrated with these kids."If I ever caught them, there'd be nothing left" he's said.
Anyway, here's to a fellow caretaker, the one who caught that guy. You're my hero!

Can't stump Duke

2007-09-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

Try this one:
The country Somalia contains the name of a different country, Mali. Think of a European country whose seven-letter name contains another country's four-letter name.

Thanks,Duke

2007-09-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Duke we have the answer to our puzzle. My nephew Daniel got the one where you take the word 'sailor',add a letter and mix it up to make a word that has been a navigational help throughout history.The answer:polaris.
Here's the next problem:
A certain U.S. state of three syllables, when wedged between two other letters, results in a two-syllable word meaning"previous,bypast",and "inevitable,as a conclusion."

Help!

2007-09-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Okay,I found this contest in a magazine and the prize is a trip. The questions are hard. Can anyone get this one?
Each of the words below has a certain feature of note to an international traveller-every word,that is except one. Which is the odd one out in this set?
HESPERUS
ECHINACHEA
VAGABOND
INCUBATION
JELLYFISH
FORMALITY
I just don't get it.

August

2007-07-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

The end of July is here already and we're hurtling headlong into August. It's been such a hot month and our air conditioning isn't working so we're hoping to get that fixed ASAP. August holds a lot of excitement for us. The birth of our first grandchild, Bobby is coming home for a visit, and I get the whole month off as I continue to recover from surgery. I'll be off til at least Sept.12. YAHOO!!! I'm not feeling all that bad either. I just can't lift or vacuum or anything that sounds like caretaking.
As for our only child at home,Matt, he's been having a blast. Roaring around with friends,swimming, playing Tilo(sp?), golfing....... He even got to be a zombie in an independent film production. Imagine walking down Broadway Ave. at 4 A.M. in zombie make-up being filmed for a movie? Every boy's dream.

Coloring

2007-07-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd let everyone know that the new trend in bedroom colours is: BLUE. That's the hot tip of the week. This I know because Erin and Tom painted their baby room a gorgeous bright blue. (No, that's not a hint as to the sex of the baby.Blue's just IN,like I said) Also, Ray and I (Ray,actually) have chosen a beautiful cornflowery blue color for our bedroom and the spare bedroom upstairs. Bob will be staying there when he comes. Which brings me to another unimportant point. That is, when it comes to painting, a looming deadline is vital. Otherwise,it would never happen.If Bob wasn't coming to visit, we would put this project off until someone else was coming to visit. If Tom and Erin weren't having a baby soon, they may have waited to paint.Who knows what great castles in history wouldn't have been finished if there wasn't some queen coming to visit. I bet Versaille still wouldn't have the baseboards done.