News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairie. We've enjoyed a break from the bustle of the last few weeks. Bern & Alicia have certainly been keeping us in high style—thanks folks! The weather has been hot and dry with just a couple of thunder storms to break the heat. They didn't deliver much in the way of rain, although a few nearby jurisdictions suffered some hail damage. On Monday, I drove down with Dave & Rich to attend the farewell service for a long-time family friend—Doris Husband. It was delightful to catch-up with even more acquaintances of over the years, and it was meaningful to contemplate a life quietly lived in the service of family and neighbours. On Tuesday, I enjoyed a golf game with Dale who graduated with us some years ago! It was hot, and I faded on the second nine, but even more so, I was plagued with a lot of pulled shots. The totals, 43-50—93 were not encouraging, but Wendy insisted it simply meant I needed to get out more—what a woman! So, I was out for a practice session one other day; I hope that's enough! Wendy left on Wednesday to attend Haaken's graduation out in Parksville. She flew back today, arriving just before midnight. Tonight was the season opener for the Riders. Not only did we get bombed by Winnipeg, but we also lost Durant for the season. Go Riders Go! The markets have continued to be troubled by Greece and China, and all indices except Nasdaq are in the red for the month. However, I enjoyed another great week making June my best month this year. I've also been working on a few tasks around the house, mostly electrical installations or improvements. 

I now have a full set of seven to cover the BBQ! 

It was Father's Day on Sunday, and the best part was that all my children were here. I was also delighted to be informed that they had completed my set of ManGrates. These have been one of the best additions to my grilling experience, and I recommend them highly. Thanks guys! 

Eric/A, Haaken and Liam drove west on Wednesday, took in Haaken's grad, and have begun the trip back. Erica and Liam are driving the CRV; Eric is riding the bike, and Haaken has taken up residence in Vancouver for his summer course at Capilano University. We hope his work there will enhance his chances of being accepted for full-time coursework beginning in the Fall. 

The Graduate

Kristian completed school on Thursday, so he came for a visit and a couple of sleepovers to end the week. We played quite a bit of catch with his new football, but retreated out of the heat fairly early each day. Erin has completed all the legal paperwork connected to her purchase of the condo, so she's now tasked with culling, packing and organizing for the move at the end of July. 

Travis was here over last weekend, but flew back to TBay Monday evening. It was good to have a few days with him, and he really was essential to our preparations for the celebration. It was graduation time in TBay as well, as Andrew completed Elementary School and is moving on to High School. Trav helped him with his tie, while Gemma supervised, and Joanna took the photo! 

The Grad Tie!

News Update

Ellis Clinton Krogsgaard
90 years young! 

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairie. It has been a busy week, with gusts up to frantic! The family has been busy preparing to celebrate a productive life. And today, we had that celebration. The video presenting photos relating to some aspects of his life has now been posted, and you can access it here. Wendy had her surgical appointment on Tuesday—very painful, but we hope it leads to better use of her arthritic fingers. The markets have continued to be troubled, but I am feeling well-blessed by another week of excellent gains. The Stanley Cup has been awarded, and Chicago Blackhawks are recognized as NHL Champions. Preseason football is complete and we're ready for the real games to begin. On Friday, we enjoyed a visit and lunch with Elvin & Grace, and were surprised to find Nathan and Jenn there as well. We enjoyed a meal of frikadeller and kartofler complete with parsley gravy. Thank you, Grace! Then we continued to Caronport to bring Liam from school. 

The Graduate

Haaken got his graduation suit (not to be confused with his birthday suit!), along with new shoes and (sigh) a tie! He's ready to graduate. Liam is packing his stuff for the end of the year. He is winding down grade 9, and making plans for grade 10. Erica has been practicing guitar all week; she has reverted to playing G-chord wrong again. They are all here in Regina at the end of the week for the big birthday party, and Liam's continuing training for the summer trip to Estonia. Eric/A took advantage to attend the Rider game blessed by tickets provided by Eric's coworker. Eric is wrapping up school cases as well as his counselling appointments with other clients on Thursday nights. 

Erin had some really big news this week. She put in an offer on the latest condo she had viewed, and it was accepted! The closing date is July 27th. We look forward to helping her establish in the new digs! Kristian continues with the special days as school winds down. One day we went to watch him at Track & Field events in Douglas Park. 

Trav flew up here on Thursday, so we're enjoying sharing the weekend with him. He was also instrumental in producing the Ellis video. Joanna, Gemma and Andrew are holding down the fort in Thunder Bay. Gemma has completed her exams, but has now come down with the flu. Andrew has broken his right thumb, but it doesn't seem to interfere with his video game playing! He's showing a lot of heart playing injured like this! 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed and we have travelled from the shore of Lake Superior to the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairie. We left on Monday morning and drove through the day, arriving in Regina after 11pm, so it was a long day. We are glad to be here, enjoying the gracious hosting of Bernard & Alicia, and visiting with Dave, Dad, Erin & Kristian. The weather is hot and dry here; we've been promised rain on a couple of days, but nothing has materialized. I've been out to the golf course several times to practice and today got out for a round with Wendy, Erin and Kristian. It was a lot of fun! Wendy managed three pars and one birdie. She is really enjoying her new clubs. The markets have continued to be troubled by news from Greece and China. I am feeling well blessed by continued earnings from my few holdings; I hope to buy more if we can get an uptrend going. We are doing some work each day on preparations for the 90th Birthday Tea for Dad; it is set for next Saturday. Chicago and Tampa split their games in Chicago, so tonight was the opportunity for Tampa to take the lead at home. But Chicago turned the tables on them again—five games and the home team has lost three of them! Now it's do or die for the Lightning! The football season has begun, with the Riders losing to Edmonton in preseason action tonight! 

Eric/A and crew enjoyed a good week. Haaken is completing preparations for his graduation and summer course at Capilano University. Liam is completing his first year at Caronport. Eric is moving on up to his supervisory role, and setting up his office. Erica runs back and forth to Saskatoon for her university work, and often enjoys that trip via motorcycle. 

We've enjoyed catching up with Erin and Kristian this week. Erin continues to shop for a new house, and I enjoyed taking in a viewing with her. It's a nice townhouse complete with a finished basement, and she's considering putting on offer on it. Kristian has been over regularly, and stayed over Thursday night since he had a day off school on Friday. We got out to practice golf, and also played a full game today. He's doing well. Erin hasn't practised, but her game gradually improved throughout the afternoon. 

Trav & Joanna keep busy with work at home, and now that we're away, they're also taking care of the yard and plants. The weather has continued nice there, so they're making good use of the back yard and their new fire pit. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been lovely, and we've enjoyed getting a few things done in the yard, and continuing my perennial battle with dandelions! Wendy and I have managed to get out for golf practice a couple of times, and today we played a 9-hole game—a lot of fun! The markets had some good days as the week opened, but then Grecian fears and interest rate fears turned the markets sharply downward and all N.American indices ended the week in the red. However, I had another excellent week, and I am caught up to my quota for the year-to-date. The Stanley Cup finals have begun, and the first two games were split, so Chicago has taken the home-game advantage away from Tampa. 

Bailey's have sold their house in Kenora—yay! There were a few hiccoughs near the end, but Greg and his buddies came through, so, special thanks to them, and it is all settled. They are relieved to have that stress removed, and plan to rent for a while. They don't feel ready for the mental or financial burden of home ownership. Erica picked up Liam so they could have a family weekend before Haaken heads off to Capilano, and Liam to Estonia. They're enjoying having the whole family under one rented roof! Liam was able to complete his fund-raising target—woohoo! Thanks to all who donated to that. He sent out his thank you notes last week. He also got his official learners' licence, and an object lesson on internet dos and don'ts. Do express your excitement. Do not post a copy of your ID! Haaken continues preparations for his summer program. He's concluded his work at Walmart and put his earnings into savings. Soon they'll be headed west for his graduation ceremony. 

Erin and Kristian are playing a waiting game on the house purchase. They definitely have picked out one they like, but it's still too pricey! However, prices are dropping in Saskatchewan, so they live in hope. Kristian is nearing the end of the school year, and that always bring some special events. 

Trav & Joanna have moved into Baseball season photography; this is their first season to add that to their business. They even picked up an anniversary photography assignment for one of their hockey families. Good service provides expanded business. Joanna and Gemma are working a wedding this weekend. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

We've enjoyed another week on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. We've had a fair amount of rain this week, and cooler temperatures this weekend. I have been busy trying to apply a special watering to the dandelions and hoping that the rain doesn't wash it off! This weekend, we drove up to Winnipeg to join some friends there, and journey together with them out to Dauphin to commemorate the life of David Muller, another long time friend who has been battling cancer for the last 9 years. It was a wonderful occasion of celebration of a life well lived. We were able to reconnect with so many friends from so many differing circumstances of up to 50 years duration. The TSX has continued to struggle and ended the month down over 1%, but I was blessed with an excellent month of gains of more than my established quota. I am thankful. Through our visit we got to spend some good time with Dean & Kelly, and Bob & Linda. Thank you folks for hosting us so graciously. The semi-finals have been completed in hockey. The Rangers let me down, losing game 7 at home to Tampa Bay. Chicago outdid themselves, winning game 7 on the road. So, it's The Blackhawks against the Lightning for the Cup. I really was impressed with the Lightning during their series with the Rangers, so I'll be cheering for them to win the Stanley Cup. 

Liam is off camping with his dorm mates this weekend. And by camping they mean spending a day at West Edmonton Mall, doing some hiking in the mountains and lodging at a camp ground in Banff. Sounds like quite a road trip! The Baileys are looking forward to the finalization of the house sale of the Kenora house on Monday. Eric has been busy dealing with last minute items related to that. This week Eric had very good news in that he received a promotion at work! Congratulations, Eric; we are very proud of you. Beginning in July he will move into a supervisory role. It is good to see that his hard work is being recognized and rewarded. Haaken has recalculated the required daily work to complete his correspondence courses before graduation. It is fortunate that he already has completed his grad requirements! Eric and Erica travelled to Dauphin today to join in the celebration of David Muller's life, so we were glad to see them there. 

Erin and Kristian continue to be busy with the various elements of their life at home, school and work. There have been no further developments on their search of a new townhouse to buy, but they are encouraged that home prices in Regina are moving in their direction. 

Trav & Joanna suffered cancellation of their first baseball photo sessions due to the rain, but they've managed to complete several of them later in the week. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

We've enjoyed another fine week on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has turned decidedly summer-like, and we're enjoying that, along with the thunderstorms it brings. My foot continues to be a bother, so I have not been out golfing, only practicing. I got the lawns mowed, but could only manage one per day. I'm limiting the garden this year to only tomatoes and rhubarb. Those are set up with drip irrigation. We don't have our summer plans established, so I haven't decided whether I'll water the lawns at all. The markets were variable all week, and I only had four days due to the holiday, but I managed to fund a full week's quota all the same, so that was encouraging. Canada completed the World Hockey Championships with a convincing win over Russia. The Stanley Cup playoffs continue; the Rangers are even in their series after four games. Chicago won this evening to tie up their series as well. 

Haaken experienced his first day off work this week. He said it felt good! Amazing how much better a day off feels when you're a working stiff! Liam drove on the highway for the first time this week. He drove from Chamberlain to Moose Jaw—scary! Erica took the motorbike to work a few days this week. She enjoyed the ride, but discovered one morning that there isn't much open at 6am! Eric had to rescue her with a  gas can. Eric managed to get the motorbike properly licensed in Saskatchewan. SGI wanted a letter from the province where he first got his motorcycle licence. He responded, "That would be you!" It took a few days, but SGI figured that, indeed, Eric got his licence there back in 1989. Today, they toured Prince Albert National Park—very scenic, very enjoyable! 

Erin and Kristian have continued their search for a new townhouse. They have checked out several, and have even selected one they prefer, but it's too pricey! Today they spent time at a street festival—Cathedral Village Arts Festival. Lots of music and activity there. 

Trav and Joanna continue to be busy with the company work as well as Joanna's job. In the next week they're booked to photograph nine hockey teams for the summer league, and eleven baseball teams! Gemma and Andrew both had some sick time away from school this week, but they seem fully recovered today. Is it the weekend?!

And that's about it for this week. 

Happy May Long

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been very nice, with a  few showers, and the weeds have begun to respond! I got some roto-tilling done today around the rhubarb and tomato plants. Wendy and I have been out cycling as she enjoys her new bike. We've begun exploring the cycling trails of the city, and as Dave assured us, there seem to be many good connections. We also got to the golf course one evening for some practice. Wendy is enjoying her new clubs. The markets have continued to be difficult, but I've made my quota for May, and have begun backfilling some of the missing money for April. My doctor finally accepted the gout diagnosis, and expects that my dietary changes will help me prevent further outbreaks. My knee is feeling quite a bit better now, and the remaining discomfort is in my foot. Rangers came back to win their series and move on to the semi-final against Tampa Bay. They won the first game in that series today. Chicago is playing Anaheim in the other half that starts tomorrow. Canada beat the Czechs to advance to the final of the World Hockey Championship against Russia. That game is also tomorrow. 

Haaken got a job at Walmart! He started yesterday working in the warehouse 3pm to 11pm. Well done, Haaken! Liam passed his Learner's License test on his first try, besting both of his parents! Eric is getting very close to having all his hours for clinical status. After this weekend, he will need only one more hour of supervision! This weekend the Baileys made a quick trip to Regina for Liam's LST training. They returned to Prince Albert today for the long weekend. 

Erin and Kristian did another walk through of the townhouse they're looking at. Next they plan to check out some others, to at least get some renovation ideas. Sadie is sporting a Spring haircut.  They dismantled Kristian's old bed, and they're getting ready to get his new one installed. Today, they're catching up with Erica while she's in town, and playing with the animals in Petland. 

Trav, Joanna and family are working on the backyard. They have developed a fire pit and got the inspection completed successfully for that. Then, they bought a patio set that they assembled this afternoon. So, it's looking very comfortable out there now. They inaugurated it with a marshmallow roast this evening. Thanks guys! 

And that's about it for this week. 

Happy Mothers' Day

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been great, and I've got a bit of work done on the front flower beds. The lawns are looking good. The golf courses are also looking good, and I'm missing out! I have concluded that I have gout. The doctors have not issued a verdict, but I hope we can push closer to that at my next appointment on Monday. I've checked the risk factors for gout: male, over 50, meat eater, overweight, consumes high fructose corn syrup, drinks beer; I'm guessing that even my refusal on that last one may still leave me at risk! I have now decided to forego Powerade as it uses HFCS. I can definitely link my last two gout episodes to a period of heavy consumption of Powerade, sigh! As to symptoms, the foot still hurts, but the main pain currently is in my knee. The markets were volatile this week, but I was blessed with a great week, and have now achieved quota for this month, so I can start working on last month! NHL playoffs continue; Chicago has advanced to the next round, but the Rangers are trailing the Caps 3-2 and are certainly at risk. 

The Baileys have found a potential place for Haaken for his Capilano course this summer. It is only a five-minute walk, so while he'll have to cook for himself, it looks like a good option, so we hope it remains available until July. Liam continues to raise funds for the trip to Estonia. He is doing well in school and taking drivers' education. Erica completed yearend this year with only 16 hours of overtime; last year she was putting in that much each week—her system is in shock! She's also enjoying her new shoes, despite a blister on her heel. Haaken has been applying for jobs, trying to make some money before heading to school. Eric is finalizing his hours for clinical status. He has completed his clinical hours, and just requires about 8 hours with his supervisor. Today they celebrated Mother's Day with a trip to the spa at Watrous. Nice! 

Kristian is planning a Mother's Day date with his mom. He's taking her to It's a Blast! Sadie got her Spring haircut this week. Erin and Kristian also took in the new Avengers movie earlier in the week, but apparently that wasn't part of the celebration of Mother's Day! 

Trav and Joanna are hosting McNana this week; Diane flew in on Wednesday. Gemma and Andrew are glad to have her around. We're enjoying it also. Trav is packing up the Elks uniforms as he's moving on to a new team next season—let's go Rangers! Joanna and Gemma are working a wedding this weekend. 

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 nice, and I've been admiring the condition of the golf courses. It seems the greens have enjoyed the mild winter; I look forward to playing, however, I've fallen down with a strange malady. On Tuesday, I awoke to a kink in my right foot. I figured it would release as the day went on, but it hasn't. I noticed some lack of sensation on the side of my foot, and it didn't get better. On Thursday, I went to the doctor who is likewise perplexed. He's advised basic ibuprofen and tylenol, and had X-rays taken of the foot and ankle. We wait to see if they reveal any answers. At least we both seem to be getting over our coughs. The markets completed a terrible month for me in which I barely made any gains, and certainly fell far short of my quota. Now we're at "sell in May and go away" and I wonder what to try next! The NHL playoffs are into the second round. New York and Chicago remain my picks to move along. 

On Tuesday, Haaken and Eric joined Erica in Saskatoon to celebrate Eric's birthday. After eating out at Earl's, they took in the musical: 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee. Haaken was chosen as one of the audience participants and enjoyed being in the play until the intermission—a funny play. Haaken continues to work on his Math and History on-line courses. Liam has started Drivers' Education—yikes! Watch out world! He continues with his preparation for a summer mission trip to Estonia; he is doing course work and raising money for the trip. Eric has been invited to apply for a Senior Counsellor position at his current work. Whether he gets it or not, it is an honour to be asked. Erica's weekly highlight was climbing a two-story oil tank to take a dipstick measurement for year end inventory. That was an exciting change from the typical accounting day, and a bit scary as well at that height! She also climbed through shipping containers to take inventory on spools of high voltage wire, as well as inventory tests on various parts and equipment. Her prize for these additional adventures was a new pair of safety shoes. Liam forgot his hat last weekend, so now Eric is stylin' with the hat and leather jacket! 

Erin is busily engaged in real estate and the related high finance! She has preliminary financial approval, and continues to look over townhouses that may provide a better housing situation for them. Kristian is enjoying spring activities and is now signed up for summer golf camp with grandpa. I'm looking forward to that. 

Travis and Joanna remain busy with work. Gemma has been sick all week with a sore throat and lung congestion. She is now on medication, so we hope for better days. Andrew built a medieval catapult, so no people or animals are safe around here! 

And that's about it for this week. 

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. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been cooler, but warmed up a bit today. We've enjoyed a quiet week. I thought about doing a bit of bus driving, but they've given away my old route, and I'm not eager for the frustrations of subbing on several runs for the short time we have before heading south. The markets have continued to be very volatile and posted wide variations this week before settling for losses. I had a good day Friday and managed to turn in an overall gain for the week, but it has left me far short of my quota for the month and with only two market days left! On Friday, we learned of the passing of one of our long time Thunder Bay friends, so, that was a sad note. In curling, Mike McEwen won the Elite 10, and the Swiss beat Jennifer Jones to win the women's world championship. Today, the men's world championship began with Pat Simmons beating US in their opening draw—Go Canada, Go! Kansas lost out in NCAA basketball, so that eases that part of my schedule. I'll cheer for Gonzaga for so long as they last. Baseball is almost ready to start their season, while hockey is ending the regular season. It's a busy time of the year to be a sports fanatic! And, I have to give a nod to my friend Philip as his team faces the Aussies in the World Cup final in cricket! 

Eric/A and Haaken had a quiet week after returning Liam to school on Sunday. This weekend they're all together in Regina again. Liam is training for Young Friends/LST trip to Estonia; Eric is enjoying Spring Renewal; Erica and Haaken are along for the ride! They enjoyed a nice visit with Erin and Kristian today. There was good news and not-so-good news on Haaken's post-secondary applications. He has received acceptance into the Summer program at Capilano University, but he did not get early acceptance into the Fall 2D program. However, he can apply again during the next round in April. We pray he will find success there. 

Erin and Kristian are working to overcome his latest illness and make better progress on his school work. They had parent-teacher conferencing this week and are considering options for getting Kristian an improved placement for the rest of the year and next year. This weekend, they're enjoying Spring Renewal and the many family and friends who have gathered in Regina. 

Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew have returned from holidays and are back to their regular activities. Trav's hockey team lost the first two games of the semi-final series and are now on the comeback trail. Andrew had a wrestling tournament on Thursday where he won two matches. 

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 continued to be lovely, and the lawns are showing up once again. We did not have nearly as much snow here this winter, so I did not have to shovel off the trampoline, and it's now ready for action. The deck has cleared, and we celebrated the arrival of Spring with our first barbecue last evening. The markets have continued to be in turmoil. Our poor economic picture left the TSX down 2% for the month, while US indices are celebrating all time highs. It was a better week, and markets surged after the US Fed announcement on rates, so I had another good week, and am almost at quota. I'm having an overload of sports: World Curling is coming to an end with Canada (Jones) playing for gold tomorrow; March Madness is underway with Kansas getting a #2 seed, and winning their first game, while one of the #1 seeds has been knocked out; Elite 10 is running on the curling tour with Koe losing in the semi-final this evening up in Fort McMurray—McEwen plays Edin in the final. We've also been working on renovations. I've installed the electrical and water lines for the fridge downstairs and reinstalled the ceiling tiles. 

Haaken has begun work on another animation project. He is also preparing a production schedule for completing his school work and also looking for a job. Eric and Erica celebrated her birthday on Wednesday with a dinner at a local fancy restaurant. Then, they enjoyed a birthday cake back home with Haaken. Eric made a presentation to a class on arguing. He enjoyed it and thinks it went well. Liam made a surprise visit home on Friday. It is great to have the whole family under one roof! 

Kristian has suffered some more health issues as he took ill at school on Thursday and had to be taken home. He seems to be doing better this weekend and even recorded a song for us today. 

Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew have been away all week in the Toronto area. We expect them home tomorrow evening. 

And that's about it for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed, and we have returned to the shore of Lake Superior where the women are strong, the men are handsome, and all the children are above average! After enjoying the generous hosting at Dad's, we set out on Thursday and drove across the prairies and into northern Ontario. The roads and weather were favourable, and we rolled into our own driveway about 1am Friday morning to a warm welcome from the family and menagerie here! There's a new bird since we left, a yellow budgie that chirps in a friendly manner—a marked contrast to the screeching of the scarlet conure when she wants our attention! The markets have continued to be volatile, and all North American indices are down 2% or worse this month. I was blessed with a great week, recovering from the mess of the first week of March, but I'm still below quota for the month. The Brier ended on Sunday, and I delighted in the win by Pat Simmons. Today, the women's world championships began with a win over Finland. I'll be following that this week. US college basketball teams were making their final pleas in conference tournaments. Sadly, my Jayhawks did not finish on a high note, losing the championship game to Iowa State. Now, I'll be watching to see how the brackets fill out. I'm expecting the Jayhawks to be a #3 seed. 

Eric/A, Haaken and Liam were with us on Sunday, but then headed out to deliver Liam to Caronport, and return home to Prince Albert. They're back at work and school now. Haaken continues to work on two on-line courses. 

We enjoyed spending time with Erin and Kristian while we were in Regina. This week, Kristian was back at school, but we still were able to enjoy evening visits. 

Trav, Joanna and the crew flew out Friday morning to spend time over the March break with family in the Toronto area. Trav's team won their opening round of the playoffs in straight games, so they have a bit of break now before the semi-final round. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

We started the week on the shore of Lake Okanagan with John & Marion—thanks again! We enjoyed reunion with several friends at church in Vernon, and then headed east. After stopping over night in Canmore, we completed the trip to Regina on Monday! The weather continually degraded as we journeyed east, and the highway was slippery in drifting snow between Swift Current and Regina. Several semis and other vehicles were in the ditches. We have endured sufficient winter weather already, and are glad to see it break and are enjoying above zero temperatures this weekend. We are also enjoying the warm hospitality of Uncle Dave and Dad—thanks a lot! Today marked Dad's 90th birthday, and there was a large family gathering to celebrate the occasion. We also noted Wendy's 65th birthday (Monday), and Erica's birthday (March 18th).  Strong economic data out of the US has convinced investors that the stimulus tap will be turned off, so the markets have been terrible this week. All indices are down, and so am I. Brier Curling has been running all week, and I've been enjoying that. My favourite, Kevin Koe, did not make the playoffs, but my sentimental favourite, Saskatchewan's Steve Laycock, did. He will play in the bronze medal game tomorrow morning, while another Saskatchewan native, Pat Simmons, playing as Team Canada, will tangle with Brad Jacobs in the final. I'll be cheering for Pat, but I expect Brad to win it all once again. 

We brought Haaken back with us from BC. Eric/A and Liam joined us here this weekend to take part in the birthday celebrations, so the family is together again. Tomorrow they will drop off Liam at Caronport and return with Haaken to Prince Albert. It has been good to spend these two months with Haaken. 

Kristian spent most of the week with us as he recovered from Chicken Pox. He has been vaccinated against it, but it seems a new strain is out there, so the Health people asked for him to come in and donate some blood so the could study this new variant. Erin got back to work after spending Monday at home with Kristian, and spent most of her off-work hours over here, so we've enjoyed catching up. 

Travis, Joanna and crew are definitely looking forward to the end of winter. The weather has broken there as well, and we hope it will continue to be mild and the snow will be melting away. This evening they joined in the birthday celebrations via FaceTime; it was good to talk with them. Trav's team ended the season tied for first place, and now begins the playoff run. We hope it goes well! Andrew is in wrestling now, and looks forward to his first tournament. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed, and we have left the shore of the Pacific and are headed home. Tonight finds us on the shore of Lake Okanagan enjoying the gracious hospitality of John & Marion—thanks guys! We've enjoyed another fabulous week on the Island, and are definitely sorry to see it in our rearview mirror. I've been out golfing a few more times, but now look to be on hiatus for a few months! All told, I played 14 rounds at Qualicum ranging from 78 to 88. It was an easy course, par 70, slope 111, so my goal is +9, but I managed to make that only twice. The markets were difficult this week, and I lost value, but the month overall was great, and I'm on quota for the month and the year to date. I started the week watching the Scotties final, where my pick, Val Sweeting, once of Maryfield, lost to Manitoba's Jennifer Jones. The week ends with the opening of the Brier, so I'll be busy again next week! We are bringing Haaken back to Saskatchewan to reunite him with his parents. 

Eric/A started the week with a quick trip to Saskatoon for church and Costco. They enjoyed connecting with old friends. This weekend, Erica is pretending to be a lady and joining a ladies' retreat in Moose Jaw. So Eric is picking up Liam and heading to Regina for a men's retreat with Uncle Dave and Grandpa. Eric is exploring work opportunities in Saskatoon; meanwhile, new and interesting opportunities are proposed as part of his current employment. Liam is doing well at Caronport. They are glad to hear from him regularly. Haaken has completed his graduation requirements. His new computer arrived, and he is heading home while he waits to hear on his post-secondary applications. We pray he will soon get a response from Capilano University inviting him for an entrance interview. 

Erin and Kristian continue an overly exciting time in Regina. This morning she called with the latest story and video of Kristian's back covered with red spots—chicken pox?! Maybe. We're looking forward to catching up with them next week. 

Trav, Joanna and the crew are continuing to suffer through a bitter winter in TBay. Trav's hockey team won their final game and remain in first place, but other teams still have games to play so it's not assured yet. Otherwise they are all keeping warm and busy, and looking forward to our return so they can take off for a break! 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed in Qualicum Beach on the shore of the Pacific! The weather continues to be beautiful and I have managed to get out golfing most days this week. The markets have continued to be volatile with Grecian Flu, but that seems to have been settled on Friday, so I ended the week with a good payday, and remain on quota for the month and the year. This week marked the opening of Grease. Eric arrived on Wednesday evening; we went to see Haaken perform on the second night of Grease—it was a treat! Haaken did a great job in his role as the coach. Then Eric flew back out on Friday. We have Haaken's laptop back, and after reinstalling his programs it seems to be working great once again. Haaken has supplemented his English homework with Art classes and his web portfolio is taking shape nicely. I've been watching curling all week with the Scotties playing out. This morning my favourite team from SK beat out my pick to win it all (Team Canada), but then lost to AB this afternoon. I'll be cheering for AB (Sweeting) to win it all tomorrow. The NHL is starting to define its playoff teams, so things are getting interesting there. 

Eric/A, Haaken and Liam were all together in Regina at the start of the week visiting Erin, Kristian and Grandpa. Erica did some pickin' and grinnin' with Uncle Rich, and finalized some songs to play at Ladies' Retreat at the end of the month. Haaken flew back to Qualicum Beach on Monday. Eric/A visited with Neil and Darcy while checking out the Jetta they had for sale. On Tuesday, they got the official notification that the Corolla was a write-off, so they took the rental back and are now the proud owners of a 2008 VW Jetta. Eric took Liam back to Regina where he waited and then enjoyed his orthodontist appointment on Friday. Eric flew out to BC to see Haaken in Grease, and returned on Saturday. Erica wishes she could have traveled out to see Grease as well. Another complicated week in the Bailey family! 

Erin and Kristian also worked through an unusual week, as it was February break in the Saskatchewan schools. Kristian enjoyed Y Day-Camp activities all week, and is ready to head back to school. They were glad to be able to spend some time with Eric/A and the cousins. 

Trav and Joanna have suffered through another cold and snowy week in TBay, but they're doing fine anyway. Trav's hockey team has continued their good play of late and have pulled into a first place tie in the league with playoffs just around the corner. 

And that's about it for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed in Qualicum Beach on the shore of the Pacific. The weather has been nice, and I've been out golfing again. I now have eight rounds in out here, and have a range of scores from 78 to 88. My leg continues to have some pain and swelling, but Ibuprofen and Rub A-535 keep me going. The markets had another volatile week with the Grecian politics and economics causing turmoil world-wide. At least I had another good week, and remain on quota for the month and the year to date. Wendy continues to operate the taxi service as although Haaken has been doing his school work from home, he still has drama practice, art classes and counselling appointments. This weekend he has flown out to Saskatchewan to spend time with his family and celebrate birthdays for both boys. Meanwhile, we got his computer back yesterday, and it seems to be running fine; fortunately, Apple took care of the related costs! How and Di have come over to visit us here, so we're enjoying spending time with them, visiting the places they are familiar with from their years in Nanaimo and Alberni. Curling starts again this weekend as the Scotties begins in Moose Jaw; I'll be following that closely! 

Eric/A are reassembling their family for Family Day! Haaken flew out on Friday which raised their ratio to 0.75 of the family together. That rounds up to 1.0, so maybe that was a full family already. Today they drove through a Snowado to Regina on their way to pick up Liam. He's attending Youth Quake, but then has most of next week off, so when they pick him up tomorrow their empty nest will be full again. On the car front, they have heard, unofficially, that it is a write-off! It will remain unofficial until they can make contact with the adjuster. They have a rental for now, so at least they have transportation. If the write-off happens it will mark an exceptionally short career for that car! At least the rental has Bluetooth, so they're enjoying that! 

Erin and Kristian are pushing through another snowy week in Regina. It's Valentine's week, so Kristian has prepared sixty cards for his classmates and teachers—that's a lot of "Dear..." "From Kristian"! Today they've enjoyed spending the day at Papa's house visiting with Eric, Erica and Haaken. 

Travis, Joanna and crew are also fighting snow in TBay. His hockey team is pushing toward first place in the league as they have put together a good streak of games including the tournament win. 

And that's about enough for this week.