News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been great; we've been enjoying that. The markets have been horrible, especially up here, and I've not been enjoying that as several of my stocks have stopped out and I'm in the red for the month. Only the DOW is in the green for the month—I blame Obama! Bus driving is going fine, but my difficulties getting all my little kids organized for the trip home is still keeping me running late into the afternoon—there are about 30 kindergarten kids all together! Bathroom renos continue and we now have our new vanity and bathtub, but Wendy is now having second thoughts about the vanity. She is also pondering the flooring, a new toilet, and a medicine cabinet. Progress is slow! The Jays are playing out the string this weekend; they continue to play well, just not well enough to make the play offs. The Riders were shut out last night in Edmonton—we need to get our offence working behind our young quarterbacks. 

Erica has resigned from her position as Secretary-Treasurer of the School District in Parksville, effective December 31st, so the plan moves forward for the family to get back together, but in Prince Albert. Liam fell and broke his wrist, so that also ends his football season. It's his left wrist, so he'll have to learn to use his right. Eric flew out to Vancouver this weekend to meet Erica and get the CRV which he is now driving back to PA. They figured winter driving of a motorcycle would be more doable in Parksville! Haaken has started classes. He has a wide assortment of arts classes, and will be able to complete his graduation credits this semester. He also hopes to pick up some additional academic classes on line, but otherwise he should be done in early February. He is currently considering applying to Capilano or Emily Carr. 

Erin and Kristian have been working through their health issues. Erin is still doing a lot of hacking, but generally feels pretty well. Kristian has worked through his eye antibiotics, but without improvement to his condition, so they'll be consulting further on that. He has just completed another Lego project! 

Travis has completed the preseason assessments and chosen his players for this year's team. They are also finding it quite busy at work. Gemma and Andrew are busy with school work and their friends. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has warmed a bit, but it has been rainy. 

We continue to work on the upstairs bathroom. I've got some of the plumbing redone for the bath tub, but the new controls are on back order, so I'm stymied. Wendy and Joanna picked out the new tub today, and have semi-final determination on the toilet and vanity—progress! We're planning to replace the ceiling and repair the walls. The markets have been mixed with US indices making progress and TSX dropping sharply—I dropped along with the TSX! Bus driving is gradually improving and I can keep my schedule in the morning, but tend to get a bit behind in the afternoon. Wendy and I have both started our teeth cleaning program at the college. The Jays picked a bad time for a slump, dropping six in a row before winning this afternoon, so they're out of it. The Riders took a bad beating on Sunday in their first game with the back up quarterback; they'll try again tomorrow at home to Ottawa. C'mon Riders! 

Eric continues to enjoy his work. He has started doing yoga in the mornings as well, which provides him time for FaceTime with Erica and is providing relief for his shoulder. He has obtained tickets for Comic Con for this weekend as Liam is visiting. Liam is enjoying his new school. He has joined the football team and is playing corner on defence. They lost their game this week, but still had fun. Haaken is glad to hear that he is finally going back to school as the teacher strike has ended and classes will start on Wednesday. He's been working on an animation program—Maya. Erica and Haaken continue to live with the Robinsons, and it must be going okay because they haven't been kicked out yet. This is not the first time Erica has run away from home to live with the Robinsons! 

Kristian's ninth birthday was the joyous feature of this week! He and Erin celebrated by enjoying poor health! Erin continues to be sick right into the weekend. Kristian is feeling better, but he's been prescribed new antibiotics for his chronic eye infections, and he doesn't enjoying the stinging treatments three times each day! At least Sadie seems to be doing well. 

Trav and Joanna are busy with work and a lot of sticker contracts for the start up of hockey season. Trav has also been scouting all the prospective midget-age hockey players and preparing draft lists for the upcoming season. Joanna had another late night last evening working on wedding decorations; she took Gemma along with her. I think Andrew spent the late night practicing his multiplication tables–sorry, but joke there! 

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

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has turned cool and rainy, so we've been focused on indoor projects. We started on the upstairs bathroom this week. We have the tub pulled out and disposed of, and we've picked out the new shower controls, but not the new tub. The room was clad in knotty pine, and as we removed it, we started to understand why it was there! The walls and ceiling are a mess; there will be a lot of work refinishing. Bus driving is going okay, but I've had six stops added to my route, including many kindergarten children, so I'm struggling to stay on schedule. We've started into another series of teeth cleaning sessions with the college—it provides training for them and cheap cleaning for us! The markets continued to be troubled; the North American indices are in the red for the month, and I didn't make much money this week. The Riders won the return engagement in Winnipeg on Sunday, and are set to play tomorrow in Hamilton. QB Darian Durant was injured in the Winnipeg game, and is gone for the season. It will be a big challenge to see how well the Riders can do without him. The Jays have continued to play very successfully, but they have a big deficit to make up, and it's not looking likely yet! 

Erica is off to a Twilight event this weekend. Eric is enjoying getting down to his work in Prince Albert. Liam is settling into school at Caronport, and is playing football this Fall. Haaken continues to wait for school to start in Parksville. 

Erin and Kristian are thriving in Regina. The weather has been cool there as well, but they're doing fine. Preparations are underway for Kristian's 9th birthday next week. 

Travis has begun another hockey season as training camp is underway for the midget-level players. Work is going well for all concerned. Joanna and Gemma picked up some more wedding work this weekend. Gemma and Andrew are well-engaged in school work by now. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been beautiful and we've enjoyed some yard work. We got the pool emptied and Wendy is working on cleaning it up and preparing it to be put away for another year. I've been catching up on the lawns and weeds—some overlap there! I got the roto-tilling done today. Bus driving has started for another year, and I have the same route; there are some changes of course, but most of the students are the same, so they're used to my expectations. The markets have remained troubled by world affairs, but all the US indices are up for the month, and the TSX is only down a little. I had another good week, so I'm feeling well blessed. The Riders won the Labour Day classic and are now preparing for the return engagement set for Winnipeg tomorrow. The Jays have been playing well lately, but so have the folks in front of them, so they're having difficulty making up ground. They lost a bad one last night in Boston, and also lost this evening to punctuate their six-game winning streak! 

Eric/A spent some time together last weekend in Prince Albert and Regina. Erica and Haaken headed west on Monday, enjoying a visit with Bonnie Baxter in the Hat, and making it to Golden. They completed the trip 'home' to Parksville on Tuesday. Home is now a nicely appointed RV in the yard of their friends the Robinsons. Uncle Dave, Eric and Liam went over to Briercrest on Tuesday to register. Liam moved in and began classes on Wednesday. He seems to be doing well. He has joined the football team and played his first game as a corner on defence. They lost 26-22. Haaken has  not started school yet, because school has not started. He has been drawing and settling in to the new place. They are trying to work out some options so he can continue learning even in the interim. They have made contact with an animator from EA games who has offered some good advice and direction. It's been a full week. 

Kristian is back at school and enjoying it. Erin continues to investigate and consider the possibilities of home ownership in Regina. We are glad to be able to have video chats with them from time to time. 

Travis & Joanna keep busy with work, hockey and more work. Gemma and Andrew have started school and report that it's going okay. We continue to work through the issues of operating as one big happy family, and so far, so good! 

And that's about it for this week.