News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior. The weather has been beautiful, and the dandelions are flourishing in my lawns! I gave them a special watering one day, and they're displaying the characteristics signs of suffering that I was hoping for! The lawns are doing well in the surplus of rains we've been enjoying this spring. I'm still considering my gardening options as our summer plans are not set yet. I was able to get out to the golf course a few times, and that's going a bit better. My leg hasn't changed much, but I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor set for next week. I hope some new options are being considered. We have completed financial and legal arrangements for funding the vehicle purchase, so we plan to pick that up next week. Wendy has completed her painting, so I need to get the new fascia applied to the garage. The TSX suffered another red week although the US indices were all in the green. I made some gains, not as much as needed, however, I am still on target for the month. So much for the old saw, "Sell in May and go away." Maybe it's the new witticism, "Even the blind pig finds the odd turnip!" NHL playoffs have worked through another round and both of my picks have moved on to the Cup Finals. I'll be cheering for Pittsburgh, and have also picked them to win, but it won't be easy over the mobile defence and great goaltending in Nashville. Baseball continues, and the Blue Jays are playing a bit better. This weekend they've taken a series from the high-flying Texas Rangers! Yay Jays!

The Baileys had another interesting week. Liam went in to top up his blood supply on Tuesday. Then he complained of chest pains, so back to the doctor only to find out that the pain is a good sign, or at least a normal sign. He had a bit more blood work and goes back next week. Work has been busy for Erica this week. It seems that all her files are coming due at once—she is pushing through. Eric, Erica and Liam continue to look at houses and debate whether or not they want that responsibility again. Where they are is fine, but with the four of them and only one shower—they often wish for more. And they don't have the space to host friends or visitors easily. Then again, they have the freedom to come and go and not worry about repairs. They are looking at another place today.

Erin had a very intriguing day on Tuesday. She was called for Jury Duty, and put in a long day of preliminaries for a three-person murder trial before finally being excused. Kristian is taking new interest in cycling, so we're planning to take along some more options for him when we travel west in June.

Travis & Joanna are planning and working on yard developments this spring. They're planning to replace a flowerbed in the back with some new sod. They got a new 40W battery-powered lawn mower this week. We'll be interested to see how it performs.

And that's enough for this week. 

Happy May Long

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been fine, but rainy and not as warm as we'd like. The rhubarb is developing nicely, but not ready for picking yet. I may try to add another root to that part of the garden. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll be planting for garden as we plan to be away for a substantial part of the summer, again. Golf practice is not going well, the short game is okay, but the full swing has not been improved by my gimpy leg. I had an angiogram done on it this week, but it'll be a while before we get results from that. I hope they decide there's something that can be done to bring about some improvement. Our keto diet program is going well, the suggested menu is very tasty, and we're feeling pretty good about it. I finally screwed up my courage and cut the waterlines for the kitchenette. That worked out fine in the end, but I hadn't used the SharkBite connections before. After doing a bit of PEX on Erin's place last year, I wanted to try some plastic plumbing, and SharkBite doesn't require the big clamping tool. The markets had another difficult week as Trump Trauma continues. We really only had one really bad day, but it takes time to recover from those! All North American indices were red for the week, so I felt blessed to gain more than my quota and get back to quota for the month. NHL playoffs are continuing in closely fought semi-finals. Both series were tied 2-2 this evening when the Predators won and took a 3-2 lead over the Ducks. Jays continue to struggle in the opening months of the baseball season.

Liam's red blood count has dropped pretty low, so he's going for a couple of units of blood on Tuesday. Haaken has been working on animation videos which he posts on YouTube. He also continues to work at the food bank. He does bagging, portioning and cleaning. Liam is being a handymen around the house. A drawer fall out over a month ago and he has fixed it. Eric/A have been looking at a few fixer-uppers this week. Maybe they will become home owners again. Eric says, "Don't hold your breath, unless you are looking at some of these houses." This was literally true—one place they decided at the door wasn't the place for them—even if it was only $40K!

Erin is still waiting for an appointment with the specialist. Kristian is doing well; he got a haircut this week. I also got a haircut this week, but I'm sure he got about four times as many cut! Erin was called to jury duty on Tuesday, this intrigues her, but she doesn't want to get behind at work, or have to use up her vacation time. They are putting together plans for the summer for Kristian. We hope to figure prominently.

We enjoyed a hike out to the Cascades with Trav & Joanna, Andrew and Mini on Sunday afternoon. They keep picking up a few paying contracts. Joanna keeps working at her other jobs. Gemma is working after school and weekends, trying to build up her bank balance for a trip to Europe. Andrew has a summer job, but that hasn't started yet. They had us over for supper one evening, and cooked a keto-friendly meal for us. It was great, with the grated cauliflower rice substitute being the real hit. 

And that's enough for this week. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Another week has passed, and we have returned to the shore of Lake Superior and my hometown. The weather has been beautiful, so we've been getting out for walks and cycling and even some golf practice. We returned from BC on Tuesday; it took us all day and then some to get here, and we arrived tired. So, we took it easy for a few days. We have started a ketogenic diet. We plan to keep to that until it's time to head west in June, and see how that goes. So, far it's been pretty tasty. Wendy has returned to her painting, and today launched into the fascia boards for the garage. The markets have been running downward again, and both TSX and the DOW are in the red for the month. Fortunately, I had an on-quota week, but I am still below quota for the month. The Stanley Cup playoffs have completed the second round; I did not do well prognosticating the latest results as I only picked one of the four winners. For the semi-finals, I am picking the Penguins and the Predators to prevail and move on to the finals. The Blue Jays are playing better, having won their last three series, but they're still not up to .500, so we're not planning the parade route yet!

Wendy's Mother's Day bouquet and gift! 

Eric is in Toronto this weekend for the Association of Family and Marriage Therapists conference. I'm not sure how the conference is going, but he got to enjoy watching the Jays win from a prime seat on the 3rd base line! Liam has been experimenting with gluten-free baking. A recipe that worked great in BC is falling flat in PA so he is trying to figure that out! Haaken has started a part time volunteer job with the Food Bank. It is good experience and a learning opportunity. Erica is also experimenting with a shift toward a Ketogenic diet to help with her Lipedema inflammation. It's too soon to make any conclusive declarations, but so far she's been feeling better at least!

Erin has accepted the referral to the specialist; we look forward to that being accomplished, and hope for some solutions. Kristian scored a lot of books at the school book fair, and is enjoying those. He has grand plans to fête his mother for Mother's Day—well done, my boy! Shawn is off to Winnipeg to bury his mother's ashes. I'm sure that will be another emotional time for him.

Trav and Joanna continuing in a slow season for their business, but Trav has revamped the websites and some orders are coming in. Joanna keeps up with her other jobs, so she's busy. Gemma and Andrew are in the closing months of school for the year, and are looking toward their summer work and activities.

And that's about enough for this week! 

News Update

Our Lady Marion!

Another week has passed, and we find ourselves on the shore of Lake Okanagan is supernatural British Columbia. It is election season here in Insanity by the Sea, and we promise to vote early and vote often! We flew out here on Wednesday to attend to the Celebration of the Life our our sister-in-law, Marion. She was a grand lady, to be sure, and that was ably accentuated by the friends and family who gathered here to acknowledge that fact. We dearly miss her, of course, none so deeply as our brother John, her soul-mate of the last thirty-five years, along with her step-daughter, and her children, and their collective families. It was good to be gathered with them to commemorate her remarkable life. Otherwise the week has been mundane. The markets were just a touch to the red side here, but a bit green in the US, and I managed a gain for the week, but not up to quota. The sports calendar continues to unfold. Brad Jacobs beat my guy, Kevin Koe, in the final of the Champions Cup of curling. NHL Playoffs continue and are due to complete the second round in the coming week. All teams remain alive, but all series are down to do or die scenarios for someone. However, the main highlight of the week is certainly the time we've been able to spend and to share here with family and friends. All my siblings are here, but one, and it has been a sweet reunion. 

Erica continues her investigations and lobbying over the Lipedema disease. Even if it comes to little for her, she is determined to do her bit, so others may benefit in the future. Liam is home from school now with his two semesters completed. We look forward to reports of better health for him as he recovers at home. 

Erin got her results for the Holter Monitor. We did not find them encouraging as her heart rate is quite high, but she seem reassured. We hope she will be able to take advantage of the proffered referrals to other specialists who may be able to suggest a better way forward. 

Joanna has been away caring for her father in Toronto for part of the week, but is home again. Trav took us to the airport early Wednesday morning. Thank you, son. We look forward to getting home late Tuesday night. 

And that's enough for this week.