The carefully planned and highly anticipated West Coast Birthday Weekend Adventure

Hallelujah! We we’re finally on our way to Tofino for Andrew's carefully planned and highly anticipated West Coast Birthday Weekend Adventure. As we turn off of the inland highway towards Pt. Alberni I ask him to head down to Coombs Old Country Market prior to the L-O-N-G portion of the journey ~ translation: not gonna be a lot of 'powder rooms ' from here on in!

So we hang a left onto the old road and all of a sudden the car has no power. Uh oh! What the heck is going on? Funny enough (haha yeah tongue in cheek funny ) when Judd and I were on our way home from Victoria last weekend, the same thing happened. Try Second gear, oops we are going a little too fast! Third gear, no power, Second gear... still too fast, Third gear still no power. Oh man! So we call Dan, our great friend at Canadian Tire…back in Courtenay. I mentioned we were in Coombs didn't I? That’s 45 mins from Courtenay for those of you unfamiliar with this area.

Drew tries to describe the cars “issue” to the best of his ability, neither of us are car experts, we hire people to do car stuff... Hello!

I, having a lucid moment, whip out the camera. We are going to need to document this adventure. It’s always what you make of it isn't it? So I’m snapping pics, Drew’s on the phone to C Tire, BCAA , National Rent a car, Budget rent a car, C Tire again. We are not going to cancel our carefully planned and highly anticipated West Coast Birthday Weekend Adventure because of a little car trouble!

By this point, I have taken myself into the hospital in the midst of this little sideline adventure...oh, I didn't mention that? Because the closest powder room to poor wee Durbs, aka: 'broke down 1992 Honda Accord with the personalized plates', was in the Coombs Veterinary Hospital!

So Drew decides he may as well powder his nose while we are waiting, we aren’t sure when Budget will arrive or when the only tow truck in town will get here. I decide to utilize my time most efficiently by starting the next installment of “THE” blog…oh scare the life out of me! Someone just rapped on my window !!!! Whew it is the Budget guy! We carefully deliberate, then decide that it is easier for Drew to go with Budget guy on his own to get the 2010 Golf that will take us the rest of the way on our carefully planned and highly anticipated West Coast Birthday Weekend Adventure.

Oh, hold on, here is a little segway into my story writing in current time; Tow truck Guy (not necessarily his real name) just called me on Drew’s cell, very apologetic, gonna be a little longer. He says, “Buddy flat tire guy can't seem to make up his mind what he wants to do here - change it, tow it, park it, move it, burn it, sell it- for crying out loud!” I was quite enjoying myself actually, so I say, “It’s really not a big deal, we are good, Drew is still with Budget guy getting the new car and quite frankly this is a great blog story so don't get yourself lathered up Tow Truck Guy.” He sounded like he was smiling at this point! J

I have Kari Jobe singing her heart out, I have a big bag of road trip food at my side, a cuppa Eastern Sunrise green tea in the cup holder, the rain is pelting the windscreen of poor wee Durbs, aka:'broke down 1992 Honda Accord with the personalized plates ', I am toasty and dry. The only challenge is that I hear the Powder room calling my name, if I can hold out ‘til Drew gets back with the new car, I will finally make it to Coombs Old Country Market. Every carefully planned and highly anticipated West Coast Birthday Weekend Adventure needs an extra unexpected powder room visit with a triple scoop ice cream chaser. It’s just to tide me over until we get to Tofino!

The adventure continues! Watch for the next installation!

NO Photos Please

Okay, not putting any photos here..... the topic is doggy-doo-bags.

What is it about a doggy-doo-bag that makes it so socially acceptable? I was driving down the road this morning when I saw my friend walking with her dog. As I rolled down my window to shout a greeting, I noticed movement near her right hand....the leash was in the left hand....you know what is coming right?

She gives me a big smile and a wave...with her RIGHT hand. The same hand that is holding the full doggy-doo-bag. I had to laugh, it is so wrong, but what else do you do in that situation? It happens all the time, I see it everywhere.

Poor dogs, not only do they have to do their business in front of the world, if they are on a leash or walking in a public area, but they get the added humiliation of having their "leavings" hung around their neck, or tied to their leash, I have seen a few carrying the bag in their teeth, the walkers often have the bag swinging freely in their hand as though it is a bag of fruit from the market. Oy!

While saying all this, I am very aware of the disastrous elements we would be dodging if nobody picked up after their dogs. I am most grateful for that. But seriously, can we come up with a better method of transport, display and disposal?

Maybe not..... Oh my goodness, what a thought swirl so early in the morning.

Did I mention that we only have fish for pets? There is a reason for that!

Happy Day!

Victory in Battle (with tongue in cheek!)

What a crumby day.

I have just come through one of the most heated battles of my existence. The enemy was easily recognized, the weapons were strewn on the field. Smoke has dissipated from the area where the attack took place. Evidence of an aggressive motion could be seen across the plain. Battle scars and debris were plentiful. You may recognize the war I am describing, it happens every day all across this country.

Though not often enough.

If we confronted this passive aggressor more frequently, the scars would be minimal. Although, the thrill of victory would be lessened. There is something about the adrenaline that courses through your veins, in knowing you have conquered one of the least noticed, yet most persistent enemies of our time. It is not known to me at this time how many support groups are active in regard to this scourge. I may start one myself after this last round of attacks. Not sure how many more times I will be able to withstand this alone. We all need to band together, rise up and face this evil villain. I say, "NO MORE"!

I have attached a few photos of the aftermath. If you are sensitive to this type of thing, you may want to cover your eyes. This needs to be addressed. Seriously! ;-)

Photos taken after clearing the field

note that the crumb catcher is free from debris!
Pre-battle weapon preparation display....
Please note: this machine was unplugged prior to the attack!

Cleaning the crumbs out of the toaster has to be one of the most brutal jobs I have ever undertaken!

Time to reflect

I have recently been reconnected with a very dear friend whom I have not seen nor spoke to in about 12 years. As we are in the process of catching up, it is obvious how much time has gone by as we look at photographs of each others children. Wow, there is no escaping time when it is documented by the development of children into young adults.



This first photograph is of my kids in October 1992...shortly after Chelsea arrived to even out the boy girl ratio in the house. Whew! I had no idea how much I wanted to have a sister arrive for Julia, until the sister actually arrived.

(from left to right are Chelsea, Julia, Kalvin & Judd)

The next photo is from Christmas day 2008...I had by then become and continue to be the shortest member of this family! sigh....it was bound to happen.

(from left to right , Judd, me, Kalvin, Julia and Chelsea)



It is incredible to take a moment and realize just how much has happened in the time between these two photos. The level of amazement is still very high for me, as I watch them even now, discover and test new things. Being a parent to these amazing individuals has been a privilege. There have uncountable blessings as well as innumerable challenges.

(If you have seen me lately, you might have thought the reason I have funky different coloured hair often is because it is fun and I am admittingly a little out there! Well yeah... and the funky different colours hide the different sections of my hair that are now naturally occurring in varying shades of gray to white! )

As my baby girl prepares to graduate high school in one more semester, my thoughts are continually revisiting the past 23 1/2 years of my life. That is when I first became a mom.

Of all the things that I have done, being a mom the way I have been a mom to them, is the one thing I am glad I was able to grow into. Looking back at the beginning, I can see so many mistakes. What did I know? Not much. A little bit about a little bit. Now? I know a little bit about a lot more, but not much all tolled.

I know that choosing the things to battle over with them is critical. Wish I could say I always got it right, but you know I would be fibbing!

Reflection can be a wonderful filtering tool, I don't have to closely examine all of the difficult, less than desirable parts of each of these relationships. Yet I can pull out the lovely, fun, warm and fuzzy bits, holding them close and looking forward to more of the same.

Selective? Yes!

Balanced? Who cares!

We have lived through a lot of reality, right now I just want to reflect on the yummy stuff.

(these are 2 of the more current photos of Julia and Chelsea)


(these are 2 of the more current photos of Kalvin and Judd)

After all of that....I think I am ready for gramma-hood! Uhhhh, not today! But before I celebrate the 29th anniversary of my 21st birthday. That would be just fine :)