News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. It began with the glorious victory by the Riders in the Grey Cup game! There were some down times during the season, to be sure, but the Riders were dominant during the playoffs and the championship game was an impressive win featuring a record-breaking rushing performance by Kory Sheets. The week also opened with our first snow, so we had Green and White simultaneously! Go Riders! Bus driving has faced a few extra challenges with the snow creating slippery conditions and resulting in several spectacular accidents that closed streets and impaired traffic flow. Some of our buses got stuck after sliding off rural roads. The markets have continued to be inconsistent with the American holiday causing a lot of distraction and low volume. Despite TSX being up only 0.27% for the month, my portfolio did well gaining above quota both this week and for the month. I am feeling very blessed—thank you, Lord! However, I would need a spectacular December to make my annual quota. Football is over, but the Olympic Curling trials start tomorrow, so I'll be fully occupied with that in the coming week. Wendy has kept busy at the Big Lots store; the shifts remain irregular—they often call for her to start earlier and usually ask her to stay longer than scheduled. Is this a system?

Eric/A and the boys have had a busy week. Erica's was consumed in meetings and music practice. They broke out the Christmas stuff and decorated the tree as you can see. The family enjoyed the new Hunger Games movie. Eric is really enjoying his work, now through two weeks! He is getting more and more clients. Liam has a break from hockey compared to last week when he had three practices—one at 5:44am! 

Erica is experimenting with gluten-free cinnamon buns with little success. When Eric asked what was needed to fix that batch, she replied, "Gluten!" Haaken had a good week. He's enjoying borrowing movies from the small group host—they have a good selection of The Simpsons and Monty Python.

Erin and Kristian seem to be doing well. Erin has a cute new hairstyle courtesy of a friend who needed a subject for her journeyman's (Watch for a new gender-neutral version of this term!) test in hairdressing! Last evening they joined us via FaceTime to sing Happy Birthday to Travis. 

Travis, Joanna and crew continue their busy lives. Here's the report on a recent hockey game. Hockey photography has occupied a lot of their time and efforts. We celebrated Trav's birthday Friday evening with a steak and pasta supper here. Wendy prepared a gluten-free cake; it looked great, but the taste did not match up! 

And that's about it for this week.

Paraprosdokians

Paraprosdokians (Winston Churchill loved them)

Thanks to my brother Jim for passing these along.

#5 is one of my favourites. 

They are figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous. Enjoy!

1. Where there's a will, —I want to be in it.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, —but it's still on my list.

3. Since light travels faster than sound, —some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, —we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, —we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right, —only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, —wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism, —to steal from many is research.
9. I didn't say it was your fault, —I said I was blaming you.

10. In filling out an application, where it says, 'In case of emergency, Notify: —I put 'DOCTOR'.

11. Women will never be equal to men —until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

12. You do not need a parachute to skydive, —you only need a parachute to skydive twice.

13. I used to be indecisive, —now I'm not so sure.

14. To be sure of hitting the target, —shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

15. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, — any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

16. You're never too old to learn —something stupid.

17. I'm supposed to respect my elders, —but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Go Riders Go!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. It began with a thrilling victory by the Riders in the West final, and thus we look forward to the Grey Cup game tomorrow afternoon! Go Riders Go! The markets continue to roil—the first three days were down, and I didn't quite recover on the final two. Still I remain above quota for the month and have one more week! The weather is colder, and they continue to threaten snow. Wendy has had regular shifts, and a few additional shifts as well. At least they're allowing her time off for our months in Regina, which Walmart would not.

Eric has started his new job. Erica and the boys continue with their work, school and other activities. They were also delighted with the Riders victory. 

Erin and Kristian have FaceTimed with us a few times. Erin got her hair cut quite a bit shorter, and had it re-styled; we like it, and I think she does as well. Kristian continues to progress in grade three. It's cold in Regina, but it is expected to warm to above zero tomorrow for the game tomorrow. The city, of course, has been green crazy all week!

Trav & Joanna are very busy with their various work assignments. Trav's hockey team is on a bit of a winning streak. He is not only coaching, he is also playing some hockey this season. The new bird seems to be settling in well. Gemma and Andrew are doing fine.

And that's about it for this week.

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has turned colder, and some days even remained below zero. We're being threatened with snow, but so far we've escaped that. Today, I roto-tilled the garden area, so that's ready for winter. I thought I was finished with trying to turn muskeg into soil when we left YK, but it's a big issue here as well. Wendy has been working all week at Big Lots; that's going fine, but she is continually frustrated by the level of disorganization there. Investors are struggling with record levels on the US indexes; some fear a "correction" while others fear missing out on the rally! Public comments by the incoming Fed chair got them back in a buying mood this week, and I had a great week raising me to above quota for the month already. Now, I need to make up for some months that fell far short! The Riders thrilled us with a win on Sunday over BC; they are set to play the west final tomorrow in Calgary—Go Riders! The Canadian Open of curling is the big event this week. Two of my favourites, Koe & Stoughton, are in the semi-finals tonight, but only Kevin Koe advanced to the final. 

Eric had his interview for the Parksville job on Tuesday, was offered the position, and accepted it. So, he's begun his work as Marriage & Family Therapist; he's in Vancouver this weekend for a conference. Erica is busy with a facilities review, enrolment forecasts, and financial forecasts at work. Liam is back into hockey as he recovered from lower body injuries. Erica and the boys had dental checkups; Erica has a clean record, but must brush less vigorously. Haaken has a couple of small cavities; Liam will be getting to know the dentist rather well in the next while! Eric will get his dental checkup next week. They're hoping for some R & R and a Riders win this weekend!

Erin & Kristian are coping in snowy Regina. Her work at Taylor Motors continues to be rewarding and fulfilling to her. Kristian continues to progress at school, and enjoys his friends. Things work out well for after school care, so that's good. Erin still hasn't put the snow tires on her car, so it must not be too wintry yet! 

Trav & Joanna have been busy with hockey team photography by Puckshots, along with their regular work. Trav's hockey team continues to thrive in league action, and played a tournament last weekend. Beaker continues to mature and brighten in colour. Gemma and Andrew are progressing well at school.

And that's about it for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has remained nice although the big game hunters are crying for some snow! I've done some more work in the garden getting the composting material refreshed—hmm, refreshed somehow doesn't seem like the right word for compost! Bus driving is going well. We settled our contract, so I got my back pay. They provided flu shots on Friday, so I was glad to avail myself of that. The markets have been riled once again. Good economic news concerned the investors as they worried the Fed might start tapering earlier, then we got even better news on the jobs front on Friday, and investors decided things were going so well, not even the Fed could mess it up! I had a good week and remain above quota so far this month. Next week will, I'm sure, be yet another story! Football playoffs start this weekend. The Riders host BC for the west semi-final tomorrow—Go Riders! Pre-Olympic Trials are on in curling, so I've been watching that this week. Wendy has kept busy at Big Lots Canada. Today, she must have found the shift dragging so she left an hour early! Actually, she had forgotten to update her wrist watch last weekend, so she skipped out—at least that's her story! 

Eric/A have been considering, debating, questioning, researching and praying over the big decision on Eric's job offer in Dease Lake. Finally, they have come to a decision and Eric has accepted the position as Child & Family Mental Health Clinician.  This process now complete, he has received an invitation to interview on a job in Parksville! Yikes! Haaken is setting up a visit with North Island College to spend a day experiencing college classes and see what that is like. Liam, having recovered from his "lower body injury" is back at hockey, however, his visit to the dentist this week has him looking at some further dental work. This weekend the crew is in Victoria to visit Eric's family and enjoy playoff football. 

Erin & Kristian chatted with us a couple of times this week. Everything seems to be progressing well for them in Regina. Kristian completed and presented his book report to the class—that seemed to go well. Their early snows have melted, but more is promised! Kristian had the day off school yesterday due to a PD day; he spent the day at the Y. 

Trav is keeping busy with work and coaching. His Elks won their game over Nipigon and remain just one point out of first place in the tightly contested league. The family rejoiced over the addition of a new member this week. Beaker, a Crimson-Bellied Conure is the newest arrival!

And that's about enough for this week.

News Update

Another fine week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been mild, with a few showers. Wendy has kept busy at Big Lots, working pretty much a regular shift this week. The markets have continued to be volatile as investors try to decipher whether good news is good, or whether it may indicate the impending end of stimulus. However, I was blessed with excellent gains and was able to complete the month above quota, and get a good start on November. I had my regularly scheduled check up with my oncologist. He was pleased with my PSA levels, and after many years of six-month checkups, has agreed that once a year will our new schedule. I enjoyed a sibling conference call this week in celebration of Viggo's sixty-fifth birthday—another one on the pension! The World Series came to a conclusion with my Boston Red Sox winning it all. The Riders played out the string against Edmonton this evening, and is set to host BC in the West division semi-final next Sunday. Go Riders! This week, I've been enjoying watching the Masters, the first big tournament of the curling season. My long time favourite, Kevin Martin, beat another of my teams, Kevin Koe, this afternoon. He is into the final against Glenn Howard tomorrow. 

Eric/A and the boys started the week at Tony & Lisa's. This visit was featured in their family update as the Salsa Files! Eric and Erica continue to ponder their future. Eric has won a position in Dease Lake, but opportunities  up there for the rest of them look less clear. They were blessed with a nice payout on the transfer of Erica's pension from Ontario which gives them some relief on the financial side. 

Kristian scored a big haul on Hallowe'en; now we'll see how long it lasts. If he's like his mother, he'll still have some next October! We enjoyed FaceTiming with them about their adventures this week. 

We get back and forth with Trav, Joanna and crew and that's nice. Trav keeps busy with work and hockey. They lost their most recent game, and fell to three wins, three losses on the season so far. 

Well, that's about enough for this week.