News Update

Another blustery week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana. We've had a bit more snow, and some blowing snow and cold temperatures. I have been assigned a new bus route and it appears I will have it for the rest of our time in Regina, so that's a relief. I've been able to learn the route and am now getting to know the students. They need a fair bit of work since the regular driver did not require proper behaviour. The US markets have continued to rally all week, and while the TSX has not kept up, I have been able to make a nice gain and am at my quota for the month with one week left to go! (I hope I can at least hang on!) NHL hockey has begun and we've watched quite a number of games on TV. Dad has continued with therapy, but may be nearing the end of scheduled work—we're supposed to find out on Monday. Wendy is helping him track down a stair-stepper to use at home in the case that out-patient therapy is over. She was back to the doctor for more finger pain—that worked out as expected! The one finger he's been working is swollen, stiff and sore. David is feeling better and has begun work on organizing his slides. He is hoping to get them digitized at some point. This week is the National curling event; both Kevins lost in the semifinals, but I'm enjoying it, anyway. It is also the Sask women's championships and I've been following that as well. 

Eric is scheduled to be home in one week. Several people are looking forward to that! Erica, Haaken and Liam are in Vancouver today while Erica attends a conference and the boys veg-out in the hotel! Planning mode for the birthdays has begun—Haaken is turning 16, Liam is turning 13. The pressure of life with two teenagers is already being felt! Erica has become involved in planning a local hockey tournament—she's not sure what she's gotten herself into! 

Erin and Kristian had a fairly normal week until Friday. Then,  it turned out classes were cancelled for a PD day. So, Kristian got to come over and play with grandma, grandpa, papa and Uncle David. Mark & Erin decided this should be viewed as an opportunity, so they scheduled a date-night, while Kristian prolonged his visit with us. Everyone seems to think that worked out just fine. 

Trav returned from his hockey tournament in Minnesota to -30 and a truck that would not start! The next day the temperature recovered and so did the truck. Trav & Joanna keep busy with work, and Trav is back into the league schedule in hockey. Gemma and Andrew keep active with school and their other interests. 

And that's about it for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana. The weather has been variable with snow storms, wind and cold weather along with some days above freezing! I managed two games of curling; my knees are complaining less each time! The markets have been troubled by headlines all week, but the decision by the GOP to give in on the debt ceiling allowed us to end on an up note, and gave me a good gain for the week. Our North American markets are pushing five-year highs as we continue to recover from the 2007 financial crisis and recession. Stocks have risen 85% during Obama's first term, but historically stocks do poorly in a second term averaging only around 10%. NHL hockey returned today, and fans are returning to the league—some reluctantly! I have completed my first stint as replacement driver, and will begin learning a new route on Monday. The streets in the residential areas are very bad; we seem to get two or three buses stuck everyday. I've come close, but so far am still running! Wendy keeps busy around the house. Her finger is healing, so we're starting to see whether it has gained any mobility. I have had some interesting incidences of 'customer service' this week—Shaw and Sears both demonstrated what it is not! Despite cancelling our Internet, TV and Phone service while we were away from TBay, Shaw has kept charging us, and collecting from our VISA account! "We were unable to stop the payment from being taken," they tell me, "you now have a credit of $267.00." Delightful! Sears gave me the run around from Service to Customer Service (Who knew there were two such entities in one company and that they were not related?) as I tried to get one wheel on Dad's new snowblower repaired—it doesn't hold air! On my second visit, Service finally decided they would let me buy a replacement wheel—only $165 plus taxes and available by mid-Feb! Buy? Why should I BUY a replacement part for a snowblower just purchased in the Boxing Week sale?!  Oh, if I have concerns of that nature, I should see Customer Service! After listening to my sad story, Customer Service assured me that I should go to Service, since they had no way to repair the wheel! No thanks, I'd already been there! Earlier, I had seen a display model of the snowblower on the floor, but Wendy wouldn't let me pop the wheel off and exchange it for my defective one! However, I suggested to the Customer Service people that I should do just that! They reflected for only a few moments before deciding, "Yeah, that'll work." Yikes! But at least we got the replacement wheel, and we can always imagine they'll fix the wheel rather than dump it on the next unfortunate schmuck to come along. 

Eric is back enjoying the salubrious climes of The Pas (-26 is not a high of any kind!); he is hoping for some entertaining hockey games to help pass the time. Erica and the boys are carrying on with life, work, school, music and hockey in Parksville. Erica is suffering some migranes, and would rather not! She is continuing to recover from her recent fall. Liam got a couple of assists in a recent hockey game. Haaken is anticipating exams at the end of the month, and turning the magical 16 and getting his learner's licence in early February. 

Erin, Kristian and Mark have all endured illness as the flu makes its rounds. After some down time that affected work and school, all appear on the mend now. Kiara and Kori are here this weekend; we're enjoying a little time with them. 

Trav is off to Apple Valley, Minnesota this weekend for a hockey tournament with his first place Elks, having tied their first game back from the break. The team also got tickets to attend the Wild home opener of their NHL season. Joanna, Gemma and Andrew are holding fort in TBay while continuing with work and school. Andrew is back to wrestling again—no more broken arms, please! 

And that's about it for this week. 

News Update

As I sit to write and take note of -29 on Lake Wascana and +1 on Lake Superior, I have to question my choice of lake! I spent yesterday morning coaxing my car out of the crescent in a vain attempt to get to work. By the time I got to the ring road, I checked in with work to let them know how late I was, and was informed that buses had been cancelled! The bus driving has been going well, and I've learned the route satisfactorily, however, that ends next Thursday and I'll be looking at a new assignment. It's been a troubled week in the markets, so it's a good thing I made good gains last week; I was unable to achieve any gains this week. Wendy keeps busy taking care of us. She had further medical consultation on her arthritic fingers. The doctor froze one finger and broke the joint loose—she may have movement in that finger if the pain and swelling diminish sufficiently to check it out! The Continental Cup of curling is this week, so I'm enjoying following that. I've started curling again, myself, as I played a game on Monday. I was supposed to play again today, but the blizzard came first! It appears the NHL lockout is over, so we're anticipating a return to action soon. Wendy got me an iPhone on Wednesday, so I'm enjoying that. Dad has continued with therapy both at home and at Wascana. He continues to progress; this week, he worked out on a treadmill! 

Eric has returned to The Pas—twenty-one days and counting until his return! Erica has adjusted back to work and the boys to school; managing coffee cups and arena stairs has proved more troublesome! Haaken has enjoyed getting back into music lessons and youth group. He has decided to start a band, and practise at home—uh oh! Liam has learned how to stop on his skates without using the boards or his team mates! He even scored a goal in practice! The boys were caught walking home in a torrential downpour on Tuesday. By the time Erica picked them up, they were drenched. Haaken declared that if it was going to rain like that, he wasn't going to school! 

Erin and Kristian both suffered illness this week. There's a bad strain of influenza going around that also caught uncle David. Erin was off work (Kristian off school) for a couple of days, but both are back at it again. Sadie got an overdue haircut and appears to be a new dog! Kristian continues to work on his top front teeth; they are very loose, but still there! 

Trav and Joanna are holding things together back in TBay. It's been a rainy week there, so the snow has dissipated once again. Trav's Elks haven't played recently, so he's even resorted to attending minor hockey tournaments to get his hockey fix! They both keep busy with work; Joanna is even considering further education. Gemma and Andrew are back at school after the Christmas break. 

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

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana. The weather has moderated and been very pleasant. I have been in training for my new bus run that starts next Tuesday; I feel pretty comfortable with it now. We enjoyed a quiet welcome to the New Year here. The others seemed satisfied to welcome it from the Atlantic or Eastern time zones, and I had to wake Wendy for a New Year kiss at midnight Central Standard Time. Our junior hockey team disappointed us with a fourth-place finish at the World Championships. Congrats to the Americans this time around! The NHL continues to lock out the players, and although there are signs it may be starting up soon, many are finding they don't really care very much about it. It's been another strange week on the markets as the fiscal foolishness in the US moved past their own self-imposed deadline. Then, part of it was settled retro-actively and the rest was postponed! What a way to run a government! In any case, it was a shortened week due to the holiday, and we had three great days and one bad day. It turned out very well as I was able to gain double my weekly quota, but it's hard on the nerves to put up with the bounces. I have increased my portfolio buy-in to 45%. I fell well short of my annual quota last year  as I only managed 8.5%; however, most of the shortcoming was due to indiscipline, greed and fear! It is true the markets did not do well as the TSX only gained 4% for the year, but my completely disciplined paper-trading achieved more than my quota, so I need to follow my strategy and keep my emotions out of it! Dad is doing well; he works out daily on his walking with either canes or crutches, and continues with regular visits to his physiotherapist as well. It's an encouragement just to observe his efforts!

Eric/A and the boys had a quiet week in Parksville. They've been busy with relaxation and rest, interrupted by times of slothfulness and with time outs for the occasional nap! They checked out Mount Washington (where I learned to ski) and found where Vancouver Island stores its snow! They may try skiing it as well. They hosted a skating/shinny part for Liam's hockey team—that went well. Eric is on his way back to The Pas this weekend—not a happy prospect. 

Kristian has spent most of the week with us. That has been great! He's recovered from his pink eye, and keeps working on his two loose top front teeth. Erin has been busy with an audit at work, but we get to see lots of her as well. Mark is by from time to time, and keeps hammering away at me in Scrabble, so we had a good week with this section of the family. 

We've managed to FaceTime a couple of times with Trav & Joanna. The connection has been a bit troublesome, but it seems all is progressing well back in TBay. Gemma and Andrew are completing their school break and will be back in the classroom in the coming week. Trav's hockey time is on an extended break after their most recent victory.

And that's about it for this week.