News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. I am now found alone here as Wendy left today to travel with Erica to Germany for the next surgery in her long series. We pray they will experience good travel, and successful surgical outcomes. I know Wendy will be a big help, just as she was for me in my recent trip to Toronto. My eye continues to improve; I have a followup appointment on Monday to see just how well things are going. One of the things I've noticed is that the vision is returning differently from before. Now, I need reading glasses for my left eye only—the renovated right eye manages without! However, vision is still cloudy there, so we wait to see! Wendy hosted a gathering here on Wednesday afternoon, so all decorations are fully up,

All decorations in place!

and all tools are fully hidden—mostly in the spare bedroom! She also had a Sweet Adelines Christmas sing-out—a full week!

Wendy is in the middle of things!

The Keto Gingerbread turned out well, so I made another batch this week.

Wendy laughed at my thickness guides! 

Looks good! Tastes good!

This week on the markets started off very badly as Trump mused about not completing a trade deal with China until after the next election! Then, he started threatening a trade war with Europe. By Thursday, his admin was walking those back and announcing progress in the negotiations with China, so we had a big relief rally on Thursday and Friday, and I managed to complete the week in the green. Oilers had a good week, and have returned to first place in their division. Pens are coming off back-to-back shutouts! Now, if we can just get the Leafs flying—good game tonight, boys! As expected, the Jayhawks were rewarded for their tournament victory in Maui. They've been elevated to #2 in the country. Now, to live up to that status! They won tonight, but it wasn't good enough for me—21 turnovers! Bake Shop Jayhawks!

Erica reports a busy week—wrapping up projects at work and gifts at home before her departure to Germany today. She was advised that for the low, low price of $2300, she could upgrade to business class—she remained in coach! She suffered through a number of flight delays out of Saskatoon, and her plane was finally declared mechanical. So she had to rebook, while Wendy sat and waited in Toronto. Eventually, Wendy convinced AC to change her flights so she could accompany Erica across to Europe—always an adventure with those two! Liam made an epic wrapping job of a package of batteries for his RU Christmas party. It looked like a dinosaur. Impressive!

The reality!

The Fantasmologisaurus! 

Eric discovered that he gave his students until the 20th to turn in their major paper. Good news, he won’t have to mark papers for a few weeks. Bad news... well, lesson learned! Haaken continues with work and animation projects in Victoria. He will be heading home next weekend.

Erin and Kristian had a busy week in Regina, but at least Kristian had Friday off due to a school PD Day. He managed the cleanup of the family room, and then assisted in the assembly of Erin's new chair.

Lucy and Sadie's new chair!

Apparently the cat and dog approve of the new install! Today, at Winston Knoll High School, they had the Christmas Party put on by Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services—lots of fun, games and pizza! Erin is trying to manage it all, and catch up at work where they've been short-staffed lately. Good work, mom!

Travis and Joanna continue to be very busy, and are now in the particular crush of getting orders completed and delivered in time for Christmas. They put in some extra hours this week for sure, but it will all pay off next month when they are sitting on the beach at Punta Cana!

And that's about it for this week!