Winter is Back!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has continued mild, including a few showers this week, but this weekend, the rain turned to snow, and it looks like winter outside once again. Wendy has been in a workshop called Competent Caring on Thursday through today. She imagines it will enable her to provide good care for me in my dotage! The lovely weather has allowed us to get out for walks each day until today when it stayed below zero with icy conditions, so I didn't dare walk outside. We're back in practice sessions with Silver Sound Choir each week. We have a new set of about a dozen songs to prepare for the Spring concert in early May. 

Silver Sound Choir

I completed my course of medicine for my hiccups, but I have had several short episodes of hiccups the last couple of days—those startle me in ways they never used to! The steri-strips have fallen off my incision scar and it's healing nicely.

Turns out it was 8cm.

I am scheduled for a follow-up with my surgeon next Wednesday. I'm looking forward to his prognosis of the situation, and an estimation of when I can begin physiotherapy. The USA markets have had a good week based on their economic strength so they don't have to concern themselves about the rate cuts. TSX suffered all week until Friday when we got strong jobs numbers, and good corporate earnings reports, so we turned in a week's worth of gain to end the week. The NHL has returned to play after the all-star break. The Oilers failed to carry on their winning streak in Vegas (not too many winning streaks survive in Vegas), but they started another one last night in Anaheim, and ended it in Los Angeles tonight. The Pens have returned to their road-weary ways and dropped a pair of road games. Leafs have returned to play, but continued their up and down performances which drive their fans crazy! #4-Jayhawks were rewarded with a jump in the rankings. Two lacklustre games this week may not reflect well, but the worst of it was they lost to K-State—that is unforgivable. I've kept busy all week with provincial curling. My guy, Koe, dropped into the semi-final in Alberta. Likewise, the favourite in Manitoba, Jacobs, has fallen to the semi-final. We'll see if they can mount a rally tomorrow. 

Eric writes, "This week was looking the same as most in Prince Albert, where we live, but for the boys (Haaken and Liam) is was their birthday week. We called Liam on Sunday. He was in the van on his way home from a weekend excursion to Southern Alberta Bible Camp. While there, he taught and the team performed for the campers. He celebrated with his friends on his birthday. Haaken’s birthday was on Thursday. He had a birthday treat from grandma, celebrating with the other Baileys out in Victoria. Erica had work this week with only had one evening meeting (SK Lipedema). Eric worked his regular hours at CFS and taught his adolescent development class at the university. We had a quick trip to Caronport to visit Liam and meet his girlfriend, Mercedes." 

Liam & Mercedes

Erin and Kristian carried on with life in the mild Regina winter, but they got a taste of snow as well. I'm sure the snow was welcomed by the agricultural industry. Kristian signed up for a machining workshop at Sask Polytech, so he took that in today. Fun way to spend a Saturday! Erin feels her transfer over to VW is imminent—possibly this month. 

Travis and Joanna were busy with work all week, and when they finally had some free time for cards, Wendy was busy with the week-ending seminar on Competent Caring. Otherwise the dogs were thriving! Trav and I watched the Pens fail to re-start their season in Minnesota, and then, they followed that up with a loss in Winnipeg tonight—sigh! 

And that's about it for this week.