Leap Year Day!

Another week has passed and we have returned to the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The warming trend has arrived here as well, and we're enjoying watching the beginning of the melt. Bernard and Alicia returned early Tuesday morning.

We enjoyed our weeks with Dad!

We had a lovely visit with Eloise, Don, Sandra, Linda and Chris on Sunday afternoon; Dave was also there for that gathering. On Tuesday, we grabbed coffee time with cousin Grace. Then, we stopped in to catch up with Aunt Ina, Donna, and Enid. Aunt Ina, who is in her 100th year, is currently in the Wascana Centre, but was looking forward to release to her home on Thursday. We packed up and headed east on Wednesday. After overnighting in Winnipeg, we completed the trip on Thursday. It is good to be home. It was interesting to notice Wendy cleaning the house, and to recall that she had also done so just before we left three weeks ago! We have arranged our medical, physiotherapy and dental appointments for the month of March, so we'll begin that process next week as I get a check up on the progress of my broken fingers. Today, she had a barbershop music workshop all day with the Sweet Adelines. The markets continued their slide this week, falling to "correction" levels, and enduring losses not seen in over ten years. Sadly, I also participated in some of those losses as I did not sell out as soon as I should have. Now, I'm down to just one small dividend stock, and will be looking for signals and opportunities to buy back in once the crisis of confidence is over. I was busy last week with the Scotties. My pick, Kerri Einarson, along with her third, Maryfield favourite, Val Sweeting, won the championship. They'll now don Team Canada colours for the World Championship on Prince George. We got back just in time as the Brier began last night with the Wild Card game. There are many high quality teams in the field. I will be cheering for my longtime favourite, Kevin Koe. However, although he's defending champion, he's only ranked #6 in this field. The Brads, McEwen, Epping and even his fellow Alberta team are ranked ahead of him. I'm picking all of those teams to make the championship round, and hopefully SK and MB as well. Then, I'm picking the Brads, Epping and Koe to make the medal round, and I'm picking Brad Jacobs to win it all. (Of course, I'll be delighted if Kevin surprises me!) NHL teams continue their push toward the playoffs; my teams remain in the hunt. As expected the Jayhawks were elevated to #1 ranking. They won their games this week, and now seem in line to capture their conference championship once again.

Erica writes: "I've left Eric—for the weekend. I’m at ladies' retreat with some friends from PA. Eric is celebrating his freedom by playing a bunch of card hockey games. My new medication seems to be working. I’m feeling more positive and Eric says I’m better to be around.

She's travelling incognito!

Liam had another iron infusion and is scheduled for a third for his Gramma’s Birthday. We hope this brings his iron and hemoglobin up. Haaken is submitting an entry to a screen play contest. We are praying that goes well, or that he, at least, gets some helpful feedback which is part of the process."

We enjoyed spending time with Erin and Kristian while we were in Regina. Kristian has grown so much in the last year that we're wondering whether his golf clubs will last him for a second season. He's now taller than Erin and taller than his grandma.

Joanna is currently helping with family in southern Ontario. Travis checked in today with Minnie. All seem to be doing well. Andrew has begun work as a pharmacist's assistant at one of the Walmart Pharmacies here. Trav informed me that their latest team photo bookings brings this season's total to a new record—121! He''s a bit concerned with the faltering play of his Penguins of late, although they are still holding on to a playoff position.

And that's enough for this week! 

News Update

Another week has passed and we remain on the shore of Lake Wascana, in the middle of the prairies. The weather has switched to very mild, with temperatures above freezing, and even pushing +7 today! We have had another good week here with dad in Regina. Wendy has joined me in the drywalling; she has repainted the ceiling in the entry and begun priming of the other drywall repairs. Unfortunately, last night she found a crack we had been overlooking, so I was back to the repairs this morning. I still have some small electrical jobs to clean up as well. On the long weekend, the Baileys were here, so I was able to pass along the three-legged sawhorses I had built for them. The markets have veered wildly to the downside toward the end of this week as the fears of the coronavirus and the realities of the economic downturn in the USA caused a sell-off! It was another losing week for me as I looked for ways to buy back in, but failed to find any. All my teams are currently in playoff position in the NHL, but all are also precarious. It's the trade deadline time, and all contenders and pretenders are looking to make deals. A big week for my Jayhawks as they won both games and today went into Waco and took down the #1 team! Rock Chalk boys! But the main attention of my week has been the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. All of my teams made the Championship Pool, and two advanced to the medal round. However, McCarville lost to Homan this afternoon, so, it's just my betting favourite Einarson left in the championship game tomorrow. 

The Bailey's including Liam were here over the long weekend, so we enjoyed catching up with them. Now, Eric/A are back in PA, and Liam is in Moose Jaw. Eric enjoyed watching his Canucks take down the #1 Bruins this evening! We enjoyed it here in Regina as well. 

We're enjoying getting to spend a bit of time with Kristian this week as he's having Spring Break from school. Erin has also been over for a few meals, and Shaw and Liam joined us for our standard Uncle Dave Pizza night yesterday. Western Pizza is incomparable, and we really enjoyed that. Kristian has taken lessons and received the equipment for making chocolates. He enjoys making them, and eating them! Tonight, Kristian served as the quiz master and we enjoyed a game of trivia.

Travis and Joanna are keeping busy and managing things back in TBay. I have managed to chat him through a few hockey games as we're enjoying his connections to get the Leaf games that are blacked out here. The Leafs and Pens played twice this week, so that was a bit extra special. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed and we remain on the shore of Lake Wascana, in the middle of the prairies. We have seen wild swings in the weather, with temperatures dropping to -30, then rising to above freezing just yesterday! That cold snap has crossed the country and is now afflicting the residents of southern Ontario. We have enjoyed a good week here with dad in Regina. Wendy has been working her way through the china collection, reminiscing, checking and lining it up for the trip back to TBay. I have completed one project and am working on other ones. My fingers continue to heal; I remain concerned about the lack of progress on the movement of my index finger, especially the tip.

Surface healed

I am wondering whether it is even mending the fracture. The markets have continued their topsy-turvy ways. I have continued to sell stocks, and now sit at about 50% of my intended investment. However, I had a good week and managed to make quota. The Scotties began last night with the wildcard game, and moved into full-fledged action today. I have sentimental favourites of Sask (Silvernagle) and N.Ont (McCarville), but I'm picking MB (Einarson) to win it all. That will keep me busy for the next week! Both the Leafs and the Oilers are struggling with loss of players to injury or suspension. The playoff position for both teams is precarious, but they won today. The Pens are in solid playoff position and doing well. The Jayhawks maintained their #3 ranking with a solid road win midweek, and an impressive home win today.

Erica writes, "Happy Valentines Day. Eric and I celebrated by cooking some bison steak and julienned veggies.

Certainly looks good!

It was delicious! Eric recently achieved certification to mentor counsellors who are working toward supervisory status. So, to make this clear: a counsellor listens to someone who is trying to figure out what is going on in her head. A supervisor listens to the people who listen to the people trying to figure out what is going on in their heads. And Eric listens to the people who listen to the people who listen to the people trying to figure out what is going on in their heads!

Super-Duper-Mentor-Overseer-Visor!

He celebrated by picking up some fancy new threads. Liam is busy at Youth Quake this weekend representing RU. The are still looking for donations to support their Easter tour. Haaken is back to work at Costco and continues to look for an animation job."

We have enjoyed having Erin and Kristian over couple of times. Sadie and Lucy came along one evening as well. Erin seems to be gradually improving from her health struggles.

Wendy took Sadie for a haircut on Wednesday, just in time for the cold snap.

Minnie, AKA: the Mighty Hunter, was the star of the show at Trav and Joanna's. Her primal instincts took over, and she took down a mouse! Spontaneous celebrations erupted!

Mighty Minnie!

Travis made over 40 flower deliveries yesterday in service to Valentines!

And that's about it this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior, in my hometown, but we have transitioned first to the shore of Rivière Rouge and now on to the shore of Lake Wascana, in the middle of the prairies.

Index Finger needs work!

My fingers continue to heal. The joints on the middle finger flex normally. My index finger is still very stiff. On Monday morning, I had the follow-up appointment with my ophthalmologist. He was pleased with the progress on my right eye. He could still see the damage from pterygium, but at least now it is seeing well. In fact, it focuses better than my left eye for reading, and I can get by without my reading glasses, if necessary. Then we fuelled up and fought the northwest winds to Winnipeg where we moved in with Tom and Mariette. We enjoyed their hospitality for Monday and Tuesday—thanks folks! On Wednesday, we continued to Regina. We enjoyed supper out with Erin and Kristian on our arrival, and then moved in with dad. Bernard and Alicia were off early this morning to Mexico. Wendy is enjoying a ladies conference last night and today. I drove over to Moose Jaw this morning to pick up Marti and start her on her trip back to Kansas. The markets have continued their topsy-turvy ways, I made the whole week's quota on Thursday, but then lost about a third of that on Friday, sigh! The possible economic effects of the coronavirus continue to bother traders; on Friday it was the downward revisions of the US jobs data. In hockey, it is the Leafs who are now struggling to keep up the pace—c'mon guys! Oilers and Pens won their games today. The Jayhawks won their games this week, and have maintained their #3 rating. I even got to watch their game today.

Erica writes, "It’s been birthday week. This used to mean parties, making of cakes and general craziness. Now, it’s Facebook posts and text messages. Time flies! It’s actually been a pretty quiet week."

Off to an 80s Party!

When we got into town on Wednesday we met up with Erin and Kristian for supper. Then, we went over to their place and got reacquainted with Lucy and Sadie. Lucy seems all grown up, and Sadie needs a haircut. We have her booked for that next week. 

Travis and Joanna are holding down the fort at home. We hope they have no fresh snow. I know they are plenty busy with hockey pictures. 

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 been very mild with no snow, we (where "we" means Wendy) have enjoyed that. Wendy has been taking care of dressing my fingers until I went back to the physiotherapist on Thursday. It is now three weeks since the accident. He cut off a bunch of the dead skin so they are looking much better. He also gave me a batch of exercises to do over the next month while we are away to Regina.

Much healing has occurred!

He was very pleased with the progress and so am I. I have enjoyed getting out to the shop where I've been cleaning up some of the pallet lumber we salvaged last week. Fears surrounding the economic effects of the coronavirus have rocked the markets all week. All of my swing trades, except one, have stopped out. I am even starting to question my long-term buy and hold positions. So it was a terrible, no good, very bad week in the markets. I was at quota for the month, but ended up falling well short. The NHL has returned from the All-Star break. All of my teams are in good position heading towards playoffs. KU retained their #3 ranking and played two good games this week. Sadly, they have changed their broadcast arrangements and I didn't get to watch either one. Manitoba won both the Junior Men and the Junior Women's curling championships last weekend. This week, I've been watching the Saskatchewan championships for both men and women. 

Erica writes, "We had a short visit with Liam last weekend. He reports that he feels like he has more control over his bathroom breaks than he has had in years. That is such good news. We have been praying for some sort of solution for him and are so thankful that God has provided some relief and healing. He has a long way to go, as he still goes a lot. But, we are thankful for improvement. Haaken is also feeling much better and is returning to work. He doesn’t get sick very often, but when he does he gets really sick! We are getting into busy season, so that means longer days and some weekend work. Eric has also been doing some additional work in the evenings by supervising therapy students via the web.
We learned late this week that funding for Liam’s RU group to go on an Easter Tour has been cut. This is a trip they have been planning and practising for the past year. Churches and youth groups have already planned for them to come. They are urgently trying to raise the funds to pay for the trip. They need to raise approximately $6000. If you can help, please forward donations to:
Briercrest College and Seminary
510 College Drive
Caronport SK  S0H 0S0
and indicate that it is designated for Easter Tour 2020."

Erin and Kristian had a good week. Kristian has joined a hip-hop dance activity with the deaf and hard of hearing in the nearby high school. This is the school that he is slated to attend next year, and some of his friends are already there, so he is enjoying that. Erin is keeping very busy at work.

Travis and Joanna return from winter, on Sunday evening late. They came over on Monday to collect their bird and their dog—whew! So it is quieter around here now. They are right back at work including eight teams to photograph today.

And that's about enough for this week.