Saturday, May 31

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior, although I have spent most of it far away to the north and west of Thunder Bay. The weather had turned nice and we're certainly enjoying that. Since I've been travelling and in line with the weather we have been experiencing, I haven't managed any golf for almost three weeks. However, I did get out for a few hours of practice this afternoon, and look forward to getting back onto the links tomorrow. I have been fighting a cold all week, but seem to be getting over it now.

Wes and I flew up to Red Lake on Monday morning, and worked there Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday morning we chartered a flight over to Pickle Lake and spent Wednesday and Thursday working at that school. We caught a regular flight back to Thunder Bay on Thursday evening. The work in both schools went well, and significant progress was made. We also enjoyed using the charter flight across between the communities as on earlier tours we had had to return to Thunder Bay and then fly all the way back.

Friday was consumed with office work, but I managed to get some yard work done today before heading out to the golf practice area this afternoon.

Wendy has been taking care of things at home. She does it well. Erin has carried on with work, and today she bought a slide for Kristian, so I see further construction work on my to do list! Kristian is doing well this week.

I have no update on Travis & Sylvia this week; I seem to recall that Sylvia had last week off, but is back at work this week.

And that's the kind of week it's been.

Saturday, May 24

News Update

As the week begins, the Victoria Day long weekend is in place with Eric/A and the boys here on the shore of Lake Superior. We enjoy a family barbecue—my first try at barbecuing a roast on the rotisserie. The weather is cool and rainy early in the week, and by the time it turns nice and sunny for this weekend, I'm suffering from a cold.

Wes and I are on the road beginning Tuesday morning. We spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Nakina. Things are going well there. I get the OnSIS report completed and signed off; I make a presentation on data analysis. I get their Assets Management program going. Then we move on to Longlac on Wednesday evening in preparation for two days in Caramat. This is one of our smallest schools. We temper our presentations and try to provide whatever help we can. On Friday afternoon, we drive back to Thunder Bay.

By the time I get home, I'm suffering from a cold, so I go straight to bed and remain there for Saturday as well. It's a shame as the weather is now beautiful and I should be out golfing! And there's plenty of yard work waiting in the back yard as well.

Wendy has continued the improvement process while I've been gone. She has had the pavement repaired in the driveway, and has purchased stain to redo the decks in the back. I have two more weeks of travel, so I hope she gets that done before I'm off the road! The new lawn is coming up nicely, and I am looking forward to how it turns out. With it being a newly landscaped area, I'm sure there will be plenty of dandelions and other weeds competing with my new grass.

Erin and Kristian are doing well. Sylvia and Travis took a few days to enjoy a resort along the shore of Lake Superior, just across the border a short distance.

And that's the kind of week it's been.

Saturday, May 17

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior. It has been a full week of work on the road for me.

I picked up our rental Jeep on Monday afternoon, and we headed out Tuesday morning. I worked all day in Upsala, while Wes accompanied the grade eights to Ignace to check out their high school options. Then, we headed north to Savant Lake in the evening. We hit piles of light-coloured rain (Some people call it snow, but I know that snow does not fall in May!) on the road as we drove further north, so the progress was slowed. We spent Wednesday and Thursday working at the school in Savant Lake, while staying in a cabin on Sturgeon Lake. The cabin was poorly constructed, and we were cooking for ourselves, but we managed okay while only devouring the protein quota of a small African village! We head back south on Thursday evening, and have a hotel stay in Ignace that night. Then, on Friday we work some more in Upsala and complete the tour back home.

More work remains in the backyard here at home. Wendy has plans for me there! The grass is starting to germinate. I cut the front lawn for the first time. I practice golf for a while, but it's too windy for me to enjoy playing so I don't attempt that.

Eric/A and the boys are here for the long weekend, so that's great. We plan a nice barbecue for tomorrow afternoon.

Erin and Kristian are doing fine. The children and spouses got together to get a Red iPod shuffle for Wendy on Mothers Day, so I get that set up for her. She's enjoying listening to ZOE.

Trav tries to help out with Wendy's iMac, but no luck on that front yet. We can see the picture on the screen if we use a flashlight, but it's not really usable. I log on to it remotely to get a couple files for Wendy.

And that's about it for this week.

Saturday, May 10

News Update

It's been a busy week here on the shore of Lake Superior. This was the week of our annual conference, so that has kept me busy at work. And with the weather improving, there was also the undeniable call to the golf course! Then, you may remember Wendy's purchase of eighteen cedars for the back yard! Next week, I'm scheduled to be back on the road Tuesday through Friday.

On Monday afternoon, I got out for my first round of golf for the year. Chapples (my home course) is still soggy wet, so I drove out to the Municipal, whose sandy soils allow it to be playable earlier in the year, and almost immediately after any rain we have during the summer. It is not a long course (only 5666 yards), and only has two par 3's and two par 5's in a full round. However, it was still rewarding to cart an 81 for my opening round. And my ankle was only slightly swollen afterwards. I got out again on Friday afternoon, and managed a 77, so that was even better. My tender ankle is keeping me from swinging so hard, or hitting as far. My top drive was about 260, with most being around 240. Now, I'm not really playing that well, but the course is wide-open so my errant shots weren't punished. The shorter holes accommodated my lack of length, and my short game was in good form. I am wryly confident that as my ankle rounds into shape, I'll be able to hit it harder, and my scores will get back up where they usually are! (Maybe there is something to this self-control thing! Nah, it'll never catch on!)

I have managed to get nine of the cedars dug into the back yard, and have set up the irrigation system for the full set. I hope to get the rest done on Monday—I guess you would say that I've only managed the back nine!

Wendy has kept busy with her babysitting and volunteering. She is also beginning cleaning up the flower beds and other work in the yard.

Erin continues to do well, and has investigated how much she could qualify for in a mortgage for her own house. Kristian has had a cold for most of the week, but is better for the weekend.

Travis & Sylvia are hosting us for Mothers' Day brunch tomorrow.

And that's about it for this week.

Saturday, May 3

News Update

Another week has passed here on the shore of Lake Superior. I've spent most of the week away, but life goes on. The weather is gradually returning to spring-like conditions, but it was cool again today, so I only got out for a little practise time in the afternoon. Maybe tomorrow!

I was travelling most of the week. We drove out to Atikokan and worked in both Atikokan and Mine Centre schools. We stayed in a cottage by a lake just outside of Atikokan, so that was nice. We each brought food to prepare one supper meal, and also our breakfasts. Otherwise, we ate out. Work in the schools went well. My new venture on data analysis is being well-received. Also, I set up the Capital Assets program for another Board, and that went well.

Back home, Wendy has found and purchased eighteen cedars for transplanting into our back yard. Travis helped her get them home from the store, but when I got home Friday night, I was dismayed to find that some of them were still not planted. So, I guess we'll have to get at the eighteen that remain to be dug into the ground!

Kristian is doing well. He finally had his next visit with the speech therapist—they're still not satisfied with his development of speech. Erin continues with her work.

And that's about it for this week.