News Update

Another week has passed and we have completed our trip with a wonderful visit in Dallas with my brothers and their families. Then on the last three days, we drove home. We love traveling, but we also love getting home! On Sunday, we completed our visit with the Calders, and drove down to Dallas where we enjoyed the hosting of Viggo and Nancy—thanks a lot folks! Family gathered on Monday evening, so we got to catch up with many of them. However, it was a short stay, so we didn't even manage to catch up with all our family—another time! The Sorento needed new rear brakes and rotors, so we planned to get that done while in Dallas. Then, on the way down, a passing motorist decided we should also get a new windshield! So, thanks to Viggo's contacts we were able to get that accomplished on Monday, and at a very favourable price! I also manage golf games on Monday and Tuesday before the thunderstorms moved in. Both games were similar in that I played poorly on the 1st nine, and then markedly better on the 2nd. It was 49-41 on Monday, and 50-42 on Tuesday. On Wednesday we went out to lunch with Verner & Linda and then returned to their place for some karaoke. Sadly for my comfort, Wendy had passed along the cold by then, so, my singing was limited, and the drive home was also a bit of a burden. We enjoyed the hospitality of Aunt Helen on Thursday evening (thank you!), and then with thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes threatened we hurried north on Friday, stopping for the night in Minneapolis. We completed the drive on Saturday, arriving on the shore of Lake Superior at about 6pm. The markets have played dismally for me all week, so I'm down again. I'll need to have some special days next week if I'm to catch up! Hockey playoffs are proceeding and some first round series are already over. My two picks survived the first round. 

The big news for the Baileys was the release of Haaken's grade 12 provincial exam in English—he got 81%—well done, Haaken! This was the last outstanding requirement for graduation, so he has his gown and commencement tickets on order. Erica is working on year end at the University. She is feeling blessed to have only a few extra hours of work and not the very long days she's become accustomed to in the past. This weekend they are in Regina. Liam is taking LST Young Friends training. Eric and Haaken are going to a fan expo—Margot Kidder will be there! This evening they're enjoying birthday cake for Eric, and suffering through the Canucks season-ending loss to the Flames. 

Erin and Kristian are doing well. Erin had her annual accounting department supper at a fancy restaurant to celebrate the year end—appears she's one ahead of big sister on that front! She's also started work with a mortgage broker and viewed three townhouses so far. On Friday evening they had a big Spring party at school until 9pm. This evening they're celebrating and commiserating with Eric! They've been upgrading Kristian's hearing aides as well as moving up to a better situation for his audiologist. He still has another tube to replace next week. Kristian has been working his new bike, and that's going well. 

As we drove home, we met Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew at Two Harbors MN at noon. They were on their way for a day in Duluth, and we were on the final leg home. It was good to see them again! Hockey playoffs are proceeding and Travis proved to be a reluctant prophet as his Pens lost in five. Joanna's Jets also lost out, so they'll both have to look for new teams to cheer for. Now we're home taking care of the menagerie and we had good news on the lizard front, or should I say rear! Zed has been suffering with constipation, but there was a major movement on that file! 

And that's about it for this week! 

News Update

Another week has passed and we continue our sojourn in the middle of the prairie, far from Lake Superior and my hometown. We completed a wonderful visit with Shepherd, Ruhtt, Miguel, Melina and Manuel Mbumwae. We enjoyed our time with Matthew and Tamara and Marti, and of course we basked in the hosting and apple pie making of Aunt Helen! We were able to renew acquaintances with many others in Lawrence whom we met on previous trips. I even got to golf with Larry on Tuesday! He tried it tell me it was his first golf in three years, but I think he was sandbagging! On Wednesday, we drove down to Stillwater and enjoyed catching up with Jack and Joann. We shared many remembrances of Zambia and developed more solutions to problems there. We grieved that the solutions are unlikely to be tried, and that the problems may not even be addressed. On Friday, we moved on to Shattuck in western Oklahoma near the panhandles of both Texas and Oklahoma. While there we caught up briefly with Matthew and Tamara again, and enjoyed the hosting of Rod & Sue along with Josh and Emily. We have been threatened the last three evenings with tornado, lightning and hail, but so far we only been hit with rain. The markets have been very bad this week, and I have taken losses and fallen back from my quota. I will need to work harder—or at least smarter! The Hockey season has ended and all playoff series have begun. I await the upsets! The first upset has already been recorded as the Edmonton Oilers won the draft lottery! The Blue Jays have begun the baseball season, but with mixed results so far. We live in hope! Brad Jacobs and Eve Muirhead won their respective events in the season-ending Players Championship of Curling. 

Eric/A and crew are on the mend with only an occasional cough to be heard—must be holidays that make them sick! Liam got into Drivers Education—watch out world! Haaken made significant progress on his History class, and also a bit on his Mathematics. He continues to apply for jobs and wait to hear on his college application. Erica is back to work, and with yearend approaching there is a bit more to do. At least she gets to bank overtime! She was featured in the recent Financial Management Division newsletter—very nice! Due to programming changes and school reconfiguration, Eric's job will look a bit different next year, but at least with his full time status with seniority, his employment status is secure. They are enjoying a quiet weekend. 

Erin and Kristian had a nice outing to the Science Centre and the Mall. They are enjoying the fine Spring weather on those days that it makes an appearance. Kristian got a new bike, so they went bike riding this afternoon. Erin also tries to keep up with the Blue Jays. 

Gemma's birthday celebration was a main feature this week. The actual date was Wednesday, but the celebration continues! Otherwise Travis and Joanna keep up with work. Travis keeps a faint hope for some good results for his Pens, while Joanna cheers for her, ah, Jets! 

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

News Update

Another week has passed and we have journeyed south from the shore of Lake Superior. We are currently enjoying staying with Aunt Helen in Lawrence KS. If this is not the middle of the prairie, you must be able to see it from here! We have enjoyed a good week with family visiting until Thursday, whereupon we also headed out. Our first incident was having a passing vehicle throw a rock at us. It has ruined the windshield, so we'll try to get that replaced somewhere along the trip. We stopped the first night just south of Minneapolis in a blinding snowstorm. Fortunately, it had cleared by morning, so while we saw lots of evidence of vehicles in the median and the ditches, we had a good trip the rest of the way south. The markets have been good, and I have caught up to my first quarter quota, and am in pretty good shape toward the quota for this month. I plan to check with the bus people when I get back from the States and see what they have to offer me. The world championships of curling ended with Pat Simmons gaining a bronze medal, but, of course, that is never good enough for us! This weekend they're playing the Players Championship in curling, so I'll monitor that. It's Masters week in golf, and I'm enjoying watching Jordan Spieth; I hope he can finish it off tomorrow. Baseball has started, and Erin is keeping me updated on the Jays games—thanks! Hockey season has ended and five Canadian teams made the playoffs, which is quite an improvement over recent years. Boston and Philadelphia did not make it, so at this point, I don't even have anyone to cheer against! I'll be hoping our Canadian teams do well, while picking NYRangers and Chicago Black Hawks as the favourites to win their divisions. 

Eric/A and the boys started the week with us; we were very glad to have some time with them although they all suffered a bit with coughs. Haaken felt it was a no good, very bad week! However, they were glad to catch up with many friends both in Thunder Bay and Kenora. On Monday they arranged an Easter Egg treasure hunt for Haaken, Liam, Gemma and Andrew. They stopped by the board office in Kenora where Erica used to work, and enjoyed catching up on things there, including a tour of a school addition that had been completed after Erica left. By the time they got back to Regina, they were glad to greet Bern, Alicia and Logan returning from Mexico, and then retreat to Rich and Sue's house for a sick day! 

Erin and Kristian had a good weekend in Medicine Hat. Kristian is enjoying his spring break at the Y day care. Erin is enjoying the beginning of baseball season. I enjoy being able to chat with her about how her beloved Blue Jays are doing. Today they took advantage of the great weather to go on an outing to the park where Kristian did a lot of rollerblading. 

Travis and Joanna picked up some bonus work with Puck Shots, so that was a nice surprise. Joanna and Gemma also picked up another wedding set up. Andrew and Gemma did not have a spring break, so after Easter Monday, they were back to school. This weekend, Gemma is enjoying doing a spring cleaning of her room and closet! A lot of stuff got purged! 

And that's about it for this week. 

Happy Easter!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has continued to be nice, with Thursday being especially warm. The fairways are once again visible, but frozen and soggy; the greens are still covered with tarps. It has been a choppy week in the markets with two days to end last month, two days to start this month, and a holiday! I ended March short of quota, but had two good days to end the first week of April over quota, so that was encouraging. I've been busy with curling all week as Pat Simmons and crew had a good round-robin, but lost the first playoff game. They played Sweden in the semi-final tonight and lost that, so they'll try to beat Finland tomorrow in the bronze medal game. NHL season is drawing to a close with a few playoff spots still available; then, we finally get down to the serious half of the hockey season! Baseball is ending spring training, and the regular season is beginning, and all teams still have dreams of a championship! NCAA basketball concludes on Monday with Wisconsin and Duke fighting it out. I'll be happy with either one; I'm just glad the one-and-done Kentucky program did not succeed!  

Eric/A have had a short week of work. They drove down to Caronport on Thursday to pick up Liam, and then headed east. Next week is a school break for Eric and Liam, so they've decided to make a family road trip. This weekend they're in Kenora enjoying the hospitality of friends there, and catching up with Greg & Jaz. They plan to complete the trip to TBay on Sunday, and spend some time with us. Eric/A have both been fighting colds/flu off and on; maybe they're giving it to each other! Unfortunately, that puts a bit of damper on visiting. Haaken continues to update his portfolio for reconsideration of Capilano. He is also continuing to work on his history and math courses on line. 

Erin and Kristian are also taking advantage of the Easter weekend holidays to travel. They've driven west to Medicine Hat to visit family there. 

Travis and Joanna continue to be busy with work. Trav's hockey season ended on Monday as his team lost the deciding game in the semi-final series. Now he can focus on his playoff bracket in the NHL! Gemma and Andrew are enjoying the long weekend from school. 

And that's about it for this week.