News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been cool and rainy, and the leaves are changing colours and beginning to fall around town. Renovations are on hold as we have company this week, but the bathroom is at quite a usable stage at least. The only thing we can't do right now is shower there, so we continue to wander downstairs for that. Anyway, it's looking like it will turn out well (much better than I was expecting), but Wendy had bigger dreams than I did, and, somehow, has pushed me to accomplish them! The markets continued their 'correction' in the early part of the week as the TSX lost 12% in the last six weeks, and even the US indices lost about 10% in the fears over Ukraine, Europe, Hong Kong, Iraq, ISIL, and Ebola! They say that fear and greed run the markets, and the American media seems to run almost solely on the fear side of that equation! Finally, the solid data out of the US economy with the fewest jobless claims in 14 years, and the fastest deficit reduction since WWII could no longer be ignored and greed pushed the markets forward Thursday and Friday and gave me a green week. However, I'm reduced to only 14% in the market, so I'll be looking for opportunities to buy back in. Baseball has completed the preliminaries and we're now ready for the World Serious! My two picks managed to come through, and I'll be cheering for KC in the Series. The Riders lost their game badly in Montreal on Monday, and play Edmonton tomorrow. Both teams are in playoff position, but are fighting for home field advantage. Go Riders, Go! Bus driving continues to go well; most mornings, lately, I'm meeting one of these wind turbine blades heading east. 

They're big! 

Haaken and Erica returned to Parksville to enjoy Thanksgiving-II with the Robinsons. They enjoyed a Butterball stuffed, cook-from-frozen turkey—it actually cooked right through! Amazing! Eric and Liam joined Grandpa, Erin and Kristian for the Rider game against Montreal. Unfortunately, the Riders did not join the game, so Eric and Liam left early to take Liam back to school. It's been a quiet week for the Bailey family.

Erin and Kristian have not been enjoying such quiet times. Kristian continues to fight his eye issues and has not been able to accommodate the Erthyromycin pills easily. He does seem to be improving, but this is expected to be a long term battle. Friday was a day off school for Kristian and he enjoyed spending the time with Ashley including a trip to the Science Centre. 

Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew are hosting Grandma Pamela this week, and we're enjoying the visit as well. Gemma had a set of reports describing her excellent progress so far this term. She is also displaying interest in high school football and has attended several games already. The Elks82s completed their preseason undefeated, but have opened the regular season with a loss! 

And that's about it for this week. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. We are enjoying the Thanksgiving weekend with our family here in TBay. The turkey is planned for Sunday evening! The weather has been cool and rainy most of the week, but it turned nice for the weekend—must be some mistake! The markets have continued to be awful! TSX has dropped 8% since the summer, and the DOW is now in the red for the year. I've been stopping out of positions, but the remaining holdings continue to lose money, and another one hit the stop this week—sigh! September is historically the worst month for the markets, but October has continued the theme, and I'm not enjoying it. Work continues on the upstairs bathroom and we're getting close. I've been busy mowing lawns the last two days, so I haven't pulled out the old vanity and installed the new one although we're at that stage finally. Baseball has moved into the playoffs and I'm following it a bit more closely, cheering for KC and SF to make it to the final and for KC to win it all. Football continues toward the playoffs. Riders are in good position in the standings but in bad position without their franchise QB. They play in Montreal on Thanksgiving Day. Go Riders, Go! 

Haaken got the part of the coach in Grease. Liam's football team won their game on Wednesday despite his continued absence. He worked on game film from the sidelines. Erica, Haaken and Jenny flew out to Regina on Thursday to meet up with Eric and Liam and spend Thanksgiving weekend together. They plan on Tunnel Tours in Moose Jaw along with impromptu tours of Briercrest and Dog River (Roleau)! They plan turkey supper for Sunday. Erica lost her purse on the trip to Regina, probably on the plane. West Jet indicates they would have found it and returned it by now, however, she flew Air Canada, so she's cancelling her cards and replacing her ID. She had a job interview in Saskatoon on Friday; she expects to hear the results of that in the next couple of weeks. 

Erin continues to recover from her cold, and to battle the landlord over bed bugs! Kristian is not doing well. Even while working through another prescription for his eye problems, Erin finally decided it was too much and took him to emergency. As a result, his diagnosis has been upgraded and so have the medical interventions. They are trying to change the chemistry of his eyes as his own systems seem to be working against him. We pray this will result in improvement and eventual healing. They are celebrating Thanksgiving weekend with the Baileys, enjoying the tours and planning turkey supper at Grandpa's in Regina. 

Trav and Joanna continue to be very busy with their various jobs. Joanna and Gemma are working a large wedding this weekend. Hockey season has begun, so team photos and stickers are hot items. Of course the NHL early season is also attracting Trav's attention and he's enjoying the early season success of the Penguins. 

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 turned cooler, and while there are still lots of golfers on the courses, I haven't been tempted this week! The markets continued to struggle in the early part of the week, as fears over Ukraine, Hong Kong, Iraq Syria and Ebola caused a sell-off, but finally the strong economic news coming out of the US turned things upward and I managed a green week, although not up to quota. Work continued on bathroom renos and we continued to have surprises that slow the progress. Still, we have managed to pick out all the new equipment, flooring and paint, so another week should see that project finished. Afternoon delivery on the bus continues to be a struggle with the one elementary school. Baseball has moved into the playoffs now, and I'm paying a bit of attention. The Riders showed more promise last night against the first place Stamps, but finally succumbed on a last minute touchdown. 

Liam got his first cast this week. They'll recheck after two weeks and determine how to proceed. Otherwise, he continues to enjoy school. Haaken tried out for musical theatre—Grease! He sang Grease Lightning for his tryout. He should hear next week whether he has secured a part. Eric is enjoying his work. This weekend, he is taking the motorcycles to Saskatoon to store them for the winter. Then he's carrying on to Caronport to visit with Liam, and sign the cast. Erica continues to work at the School District in Parksville. This week was spent sorting out the Transportation system. With the closure of about 30% of school capacity and the subsequent reconfiguration of the remaining schools there were more than a few tweaks needed on busing! So, she was able to learn that management is mostly about listening to complaints from customers, and encouraging the people who are actually doing the work!  That's quite a good bit of education for any given week! 

Erin and Kristian call from time to time. Erin got a new iPhone6, and Kristian has inherited the old iPhone4, although it's not enabled for phone, but just a glorified iPod. Erin is recovering from her cold, but Kristian continues to suffer with his eye infection. He got another round of medication this week, and some kind of promise to upgrade him to a specialist after this round. We sure would like the problem to be cleared up. He had his audiology check up this week; it showed no changes, so that's good. 

Trav and Joanna are busy with hockey start up, booking and taking team photos. Trav's team had their first exhibition game today, winning 5-2 and showing encouraging signs. Gemma had some down time this week and missed a day at school. Andrew continues to enjoy learning his multiplication facts! 

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 great; we've been enjoying that. The markets have been horrible, especially up here, and I've not been enjoying that as several of my stocks have stopped out and I'm in the red for the month. Only the DOW is in the green for the month—I blame Obama! Bus driving is going fine, but my difficulties getting all my little kids organized for the trip home is still keeping me running late into the afternoon—there are about 30 kindergarten kids all together! Bathroom renos continue and we now have our new vanity and bathtub, but Wendy is now having second thoughts about the vanity. She is also pondering the flooring, a new toilet, and a medicine cabinet. Progress is slow! The Jays are playing out the string this weekend; they continue to play well, just not well enough to make the play offs. The Riders were shut out last night in Edmonton—we need to get our offence working behind our young quarterbacks. 

Erica has resigned from her position as Secretary-Treasurer of the School District in Parksville, effective December 31st, so the plan moves forward for the family to get back together, but in Prince Albert. Liam fell and broke his wrist, so that also ends his football season. It's his left wrist, so he'll have to learn to use his right. Eric flew out to Vancouver this weekend to meet Erica and get the CRV which he is now driving back to PA. They figured winter driving of a motorcycle would be more doable in Parksville! Haaken has started classes. He has a wide assortment of arts classes, and will be able to complete his graduation credits this semester. He also hopes to pick up some additional academic classes on line, but otherwise he should be done in early February. He is currently considering applying to Capilano or Emily Carr. 

Erin and Kristian have been working through their health issues. Erin is still doing a lot of hacking, but generally feels pretty well. Kristian has worked through his eye antibiotics, but without improvement to his condition, so they'll be consulting further on that. He has just completed another Lego project! 

Travis has completed the preseason assessments and chosen his players for this year's team. They are also finding it quite busy at work. Gemma and Andrew are busy with school work and their friends. 

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 warmed a bit, but it has been rainy. 

We continue to work on the upstairs bathroom. I've got some of the plumbing redone for the bath tub, but the new controls are on back order, so I'm stymied. Wendy and Joanna picked out the new tub today, and have semi-final determination on the toilet and vanity—progress! We're planning to replace the ceiling and repair the walls. The markets have been mixed with US indices making progress and TSX dropping sharply—I dropped along with the TSX! Bus driving is gradually improving and I can keep my schedule in the morning, but tend to get a bit behind in the afternoon. Wendy and I have both started our teeth cleaning program at the college. The Jays picked a bad time for a slump, dropping six in a row before winning this afternoon, so they're out of it. The Riders took a bad beating on Sunday in their first game with the back up quarterback; they'll try again tomorrow at home to Ottawa. C'mon Riders! 

Eric continues to enjoy his work. He has started doing yoga in the mornings as well, which provides him time for FaceTime with Erica and is providing relief for his shoulder. He has obtained tickets for Comic Con for this weekend as Liam is visiting. Liam is enjoying his new school. He has joined the football team and is playing corner on defence. They lost their game this week, but still had fun. Haaken is glad to hear that he is finally going back to school as the teacher strike has ended and classes will start on Wednesday. He's been working on an animation program—Maya. Erica and Haaken continue to live with the Robinsons, and it must be going okay because they haven't been kicked out yet. This is not the first time Erica has run away from home to live with the Robinsons! 

Kristian's ninth birthday was the joyous feature of this week! He and Erin celebrated by enjoying poor health! Erin continues to be sick right into the weekend. Kristian is feeling better, but he's been prescribed new antibiotics for his chronic eye infections, and he doesn't enjoying the stinging treatments three times each day! At least Sadie seems to be doing well. 

Trav and Joanna are busy with work and a lot of sticker contracts for the start up of hockey season. Trav has also been scouting all the prospective midget-age hockey players and preparing draft lists for the upcoming season. Joanna had another late night last evening working on wedding decorations; she took Gemma along with her. I think Andrew spent the late night practicing his multiplication tables–sorry, but joke there! 

And that's the kind of week it's been. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has turned cool and rainy, so we've been focused on indoor projects. We started on the upstairs bathroom this week. We have the tub pulled out and disposed of, and we've picked out the new shower controls, but not the new tub. The room was clad in knotty pine, and as we removed it, we started to understand why it was there! The walls and ceiling are a mess; there will be a lot of work refinishing. Bus driving is going okay, but I've had six stops added to my route, including many kindergarten children, so I'm struggling to stay on schedule. We've started into another series of teeth cleaning sessions with the college—it provides training for them and cheap cleaning for us! The markets continued to be troubled; the North American indices are in the red for the month, and I didn't make much money this week. The Riders won the return engagement in Winnipeg on Sunday, and are set to play tomorrow in Hamilton. QB Darian Durant was injured in the Winnipeg game, and is gone for the season. It will be a big challenge to see how well the Riders can do without him. The Jays have continued to play very successfully, but they have a big deficit to make up, and it's not looking likely yet! 

Erica is off to a Twilight event this weekend. Eric is enjoying getting down to his work in Prince Albert. Liam is settling into school at Caronport, and is playing football this Fall. Haaken continues to wait for school to start in Parksville. 

Erin and Kristian are thriving in Regina. The weather has been cool there as well, but they're doing fine. Preparations are underway for Kristian's 9th birthday next week. 

Travis has begun another hockey season as training camp is underway for the midget-level players. Work is going well for all concerned. Joanna and Gemma picked up some more wedding work this weekend. Gemma and Andrew are well-engaged in school work by now. 

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 beautiful and we've enjoyed some yard work. We got the pool emptied and Wendy is working on cleaning it up and preparing it to be put away for another year. I've been catching up on the lawns and weeds—some overlap there! I got the roto-tilling done today. Bus driving has started for another year, and I have the same route; there are some changes of course, but most of the students are the same, so they're used to my expectations. The markets have remained troubled by world affairs, but all the US indices are up for the month, and the TSX is only down a little. I had another good week, so I'm feeling well blessed. The Riders won the Labour Day classic and are now preparing for the return engagement set for Winnipeg tomorrow. The Jays have been playing well lately, but so have the folks in front of them, so they're having difficulty making up ground. They lost a bad one last night in Boston, and also lost this evening to punctuate their six-game winning streak! 

Eric/A spent some time together last weekend in Prince Albert and Regina. Erica and Haaken headed west on Monday, enjoying a visit with Bonnie Baxter in the Hat, and making it to Golden. They completed the trip 'home' to Parksville on Tuesday. Home is now a nicely appointed RV in the yard of their friends the Robinsons. Uncle Dave, Eric and Liam went over to Briercrest on Tuesday to register. Liam moved in and began classes on Wednesday. He seems to be doing well. He has joined the football team and played his first game as a corner on defence. They lost 26-22. Haaken has  not started school yet, because school has not started. He has been drawing and settling in to the new place. They are trying to work out some options so he can continue learning even in the interim. They have made contact with an animator from EA games who has offered some good advice and direction. It's been a full week. 

Kristian is back at school and enjoying it. Erin continues to investigate and consider the possibilities of home ownership in Regina. We are glad to be able to have video chats with them from time to time. 

Travis & Joanna keep busy with work, hockey and more work. Gemma and Andrew have started school and report that it's going okay. We continue to work through the issues of operating as one big happy family, and so far, so good! 

And that's about it for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed as we have journeyed across the middle of the prairie and down to our home on the shore of Lake Superior where the women are strong, the men are handsome and all of the children are above average! Our summer-long trip across western Canada has been completed; we have enjoyed gracious treatment throughout our journey. Recently we spent a night at Gary & Barb's Hilltop Ranch, and enjoyed catching up with them, thanks. We continued to Regina and spent a few more days at Dad's, thanks. Then we drove to Winnipeg and spent a couple of nights with Mike & Peggy, thanks. A special feature this week was a golf game at the beautiful Falcon Lake course. Tom, Mike and I enjoyed fine weather and the beautiful setting, so while the golf was not stellar it was a great day all the same! On Wednesday, we completed the trip, and enjoyed the comfort of home and family with Trav, Joanna, Gemma, Andrew and a small zoo that has also taken up residence in our house! I was able to do some of the preparations for bus driving, but other things will have to be completed over the weekend. I have also picked up some lawn mowing work for one of my friends here, so it's been a busy few days since we got back. The markets continue to be troubled by news from Ukraine, but I was blessed with a great week to complete a very good month. The Riders have been preparing for the traditional Labour Day classic set for tomorrow in Regina, and received a welcome addition as Weston Dressler has returned to Rider Nation. Blue Jays continue to struggle and thus are not improving their chances of getting back into the playoff race. 

Liam and Erica completed the move out of the townhouse this week. While they planned to move into a smaller place, it was determined that such a move was unsuitable, so they are thankful to have received lodgings with one of their friends out there. Life is full of surprises! On Thursday they set off on a road trip to Saskatchewan. They left Parksville at 3:30, stopped overnight in Kamloops and completed the trip to Prince Albert on Friday, arriving at 2AM Saturday morning—quite the trip! Eric and Haaken had a great weekend in Fort Qu'Appelle at the family reunion, but got drenched on the return trip. This week has been spent working, unpacking boxes, and setting up the new place. Over the weekend the family will split up again. Eric will be getting Liam settled at Briercrest while Erica and Haaken head back to Parksville to start grade 12 whenever the teachers and the BC government settle their differences. 

Kristian has been at the YMCA summer camp all week. He has demonstrated cheerful cooperation in getting back to an early morning schedule after a relaxing summer with Grandma & Grandpa! There was also a dental appointment for another filling for Kristian. Erin had a great week of work, finding out about a raise in salary. She has initiated discussions on the viability of purchasing her own place. We wish her well.

Trav, Joanna and crew have been enjoying a fine summer in Thunder Bay. Regular work keeps them busy and school preparations for Gemma and Andrew added to the agenda this week. They seem to have settled well into the suite even though some renovations remain to be completed.

And that's about it for this week! 

News Update

Another week has passed; it has seen us pass from the shore of the Pacific to the shore of the Wascana in the middle of the prairie! We have returned to Dad's place and are enjoying his hospitality and company once again. We plan to head home next week—it's a promise! We enjoyed Sunday in Victoria where we caught up with Rich & Sue and enjoyed their presentation on Zambia. We also enjoyed catching up with many friends in Victoria, and the special hospitality of Steve & Joan—thanks a lot! On Monday, we headed east across the ocean via ferry and up to Lake Okanagan where we enjoyed a couple of days courtesy of John & Marion—thanks so much for a great time! It seems we are receiving a lot of gracious treatment and we truly appreciate it. The markets have had their ups and downs with the turmoil in Ukraine causing some nervousness. However, I have enjoyed a good week of above quota gains—more graciousness! The Riders have been preparing all week for their game tomorrow at BC. Go Riders, Go! The Jays have floundered their way out of the playoffs, and will need a big turnaround to get back into the race—c'mon guys! 

Erica supervised the departure of stuff, this week was the departure of people as we headed east on Monday. Liam and Erica are camping in the living room now that the carpets have been cleaned. They've made the best of it with wrestling, pillow fights, ghost stories, movies... Erica suggested they go for pedicures, but Liam demurred. Now, Liam is gone for the weekend with the Robinsons to Vancouver for the PNE. Erica got some good news that the new apartment will be ready on Monday, so they can move in and be established before they have to move out of their current place. She had visions of driving back after the long weekend to an empty apartment and sleeping on the floor—already tried that! Eric started his new job and is really enjoying it. He and Haaken are making do with the motorcycle for now, but riding season isn't quite as long in PA as it is in Parksville! The two of them rode down to Fort Qu'Appelle for a Bailey reunion this weekend.

With our return to Regina, Kristian enjoyed his reunion with his mom and his dog!

It has been wonderful to have him travel with us since he travels so well, and provides good companionship. However, now we need to go home, and he needs to get ready for school. Erin celebrated her birthday on Monday with the discovery of a bed bug—not the kind of surprise one wants any day! 

Trav and Joanna keep us updated on things in TBay. It is a great relief for us to have them taking care of things while we gallivant. We look forward to seeing them all again in the coming week. 

And that's about it for this week.

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of the Pacific Ocean far from the middle of the prairie. The weather has been favourable, and we've been enjoying our time here. I've been able to get out for golf practice and play—very enjoyable indeed! This seems like a good place to live! The markets have been troubled and the TSX remains down for the month, but I was blessed with a very good gain this week. Wendy has been busy with repairing and painting walls in the condo. She and Erica have also been engaged in a full-scale cleaning of the place. However, we plan to start our return trip tomorrow, so we'll have to say good-bye to the Pacific. The Riders hosted Montreal this evening and we enjoyed the win, although the performance was not that impressive. The Jays have continued to flounder, but are getting some players back from the injury list, so we remain hopeful that they can turn things around. Wendy and I drove down to Victoria on Friday where we met Dave and enjoyed a lunch with aunt Connie and cousin Bill. 

On Monday a crew assembled at Eric/A's to pack the 26' UHaul. The day started slowly as the UHaul agent failed to show up, and they had to get it from a different depot. By noon, the day had warmed up to an uncomfortable level and the mammoth truck was in place. It took until 8pm to get it loaded, and then we all headed to Boston Pizza for a well-deserved meal and celebration! Uncle Andrew and Uncle Dave were the main sources of outside assistance; they were supported by Eric/A, Haaken, Liam, Aiden, Kristian, Wendy and me. Eric and Haaken headed east Tuesday morning. We were able to track their progress via Find you Friends app, a bit stalkerish and creepy, but Erica dismissed all such complaints and labelled it endearing! They arrived in Prince Albert on Friday and got everything moved into their new place. Back in Parksville we passed the week with excerpts from The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden, various excursions for shopping and garbage disposal, and a trip to Cathedral Grove to see the monstrous Douglas Firs, approximately 800 years old and 75m (250') high! Kristian was terrified that we were going to be devoured by some forest monster at any moment! Liam, Kristian and Erica went to the movies on Friday: Guardians of the Galaxy; the review by Kristian, "It was awesome!" Liam has received notice of acceptance to Briercrest High School in Caronport, so that's a good thing checked off. On the down side, they're still having issues with their septic field at the Kenora house—a large concern! 

We have been able to keep in contact with Erin via text and FaceTime. She is holding down the roost in Regina, and planning to spend the weekend over at Grandpa's. We plan to get back that far in the next week. 

Trav and Joanna also keep in contact regularly. They're struggling with pool chemicals to keep algae at bay, but generally enjoying life and work in TBay. We look forward to getting back there in another week or so! 

And that's about it for this week.

News Update

Another week has passed and we are situated on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, far from the prairies in so many ways! The weather is beautiful here, and we're enjoying our time on the Island. One day we explored the International Sandcastle competition being held here. As you can see they produce amazing works! 

10 tons of sand a lot of work! 

I enjoyed a golf game with Erin and Kristian on Monday, then we packed up and headed west on Tuesday. The trip went well; we reached Golden on Tuesday night, and Parksville on Wednesday night. We are being hosted by Eric/A, Haaken and Liam—thanks! The markets were troubled over the shortened week, but things settled for Friday and I was able to salvage a green week. The Riders beat Winnipeg on Thursday; that was a big win for us over the first place Bombers. Jays continue their uninspiring play, and have fallen out of a play-off spot. Tonight, we closed off the week with a fireworks display over the beach—it was very good! 

It has been a week of packing, sorting, tossing and donating for the Baileys of Parksville. This is in preparation for Eric's departure/return to the Far Saskatchewan. They took a trip to Tofino one day for a break and to do some exploring. We arrived on Wednesday, and are trying to help with the packing. There have been interruptions for showing the house, and getting it cleaned, but we're remaining on schedule. Those Temporary Foreign Workers from Ontario can get a lot done—they know nothing about hours of work, or minimum wage! Several potential living spots for Erica and Haaken have been considered, and while some fell through, they have now claimed one, so we hope that sticks! 

Kristian is travelling with us, so Erin and Sadie are holding things down in Regina. The weather has been hot with several storms causing damage, dumping rain and hail, and even threatening tornados! 

Travis, Joanna, Gemma, Andrew and a menagerie of creatures have taken over the house in TBay. All seems to be going well, and they're enjoying nice weather sans storms! They have begun hockey photo shoots already (Did they ever quit?), and Trav is itching for hockey to start up for real. Joanna, Gemma and Andrew have picked up jobs setting up and dismantling for a wedding celebration today, so it'll be a short night for them. 

And that's about it for this week! 

News Update

We've enjoyed another hot week on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairie. We've been experiencing sunny days of 30 degrees, and that's a bit hot for me. I did get out golfing with Kristian on Wednesday, so that was pretty special. The markets have been very volatile and troubled. All US indices ended red for the month, and the DOW is red for the year, but we still have analysts saying we're in a bubble and due for a "correction". Sigh! It was a red month for me, so I need a correction, but not in the direction they're talking about! Today was Kresten and Starlet's wedding in Weyburn; we enjoyed a drive down there and all the activities of the day. It was particularly nice to catch up with so many people. The Jays have been doing quite well, although they lost the last two, but they're in the playoffs as things stand now. The Riders blasted Ottawa this afternoon, but have a short week coming up before the Winnipeg game. 

Eric continues to wrap things up for his job in BC, and prepare for the move to Prince Albert. We plan to head out there next week to see if we can assist and possibly take his mind off it with a golf game! Haaken is completing his summer course at Emily Carr University. 

We've been staying at Erin's place in Regina—thanks for the excellent hosting! Wendy has continued to sort Lego from Kristian's massive collection. She is nearing completion! Kristian and I have enjoyed golf and baseball activities. Sadie is enjoying all the attention. 

Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew are working through summer in TBay. All seems to be progressing well. At the end of the week my driver's licence arrived, and they received that and sent it on to us. Thanks guys! We've been catching up with them from time to time via text and FaceTime. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairie. The weather has been favourable, albeit a bit hot for me most of the week. It has moderated this weekend and I'm enjoying that. Wendy has been helping reorganize Kristian's Lego, and many other aspects of Erin's apartment. There remains more to do. We've also run some errands for Dad, and enjoyed having supper over there a couple of times as well courtesy Bern & Alicia—thank you! I've been busy with computer issues and hope I have that cleared up for now. The markets have remained troubled, but a good day Friday eased the pain a fair bit. The Riders were back into the fray with a game this evening against Toronto. It was a much better effort and we certainly enjoyed getting back into the win column. The Jays have continued to struggle, but they're still in the play off chase, and won their game in New York today. 

The big news from the coast was from Liam as he announced that he has a girlfriend, Jenny. However, she is off for three weeks of sea cadets as of today, so they set up a double date to see Malificent last evening. Haaken is learning modelling with computer animation at Emily Carr. He is enjoying his course—just one week left! Uncle Dave stopped in for a visit, but he's off for Karaoke now. Eric has been weeding their stuff and packing for the move. He has one more week of work before he's done in Parksville. 

Erin and Kristian have been hosting us during our time in Regina. Thanks guys! Kristian had golf camp on Tuesday. That was six hours of golf practice, and he was still hard at it by the end of the time. Impressive! He had a milk carton full of balls and managed to hit out most of them! 

Trav & Joanna are taking care of things in TBay. Now that Gemma and Andrew have returned from TO, things are busier around the house. 

And that's about it for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed as we have moved from the shore of Lake Superior to the shore of Lake Wascana. But, oh, what a week it was in between!  We celebrated our family reunion on the shore of the Red River! It was designed to focus on Tom's 70th birthday, but Tom & Mariette organized and executed such a plan that we felt we were the honourees ourselves! Thanks, guys! We drove up on Monday and enjoyed the week in Winnipeg. The big event was the birthday party at Fort Gibraltar on Wednesday evening, but there were special events every day, including two golf games for me, and long-running karaoke sessions two evenings. It was great! My golf was not great as I was very ragged off the tee. I mostly got away with it on Tuesday, shooting 87, but Thursday's course was not so forgiving and I shot 96. On Friday, we drove over to Regina where we enjoyed reuniting with Dad and Dave. Erin, Kristian and I got out for some more golf today! The markets have been very troubled with the downing of the Malaysian jet causing further turmoil, and I experienced a down week. Baseball was off for the All-star break, but now they're back at and we're hoping the Jays can build some favourable results. The Riders have the week off.

At the Reunion!

Haaken completed another week at Emily Carr University. A misunderstanding caused a scare on Thursday; the University called to report that Haaken had not shown up for class. However, Haaken soon texted to report that he was on a field trip with his class. He is doing a good job navigating the transportation system in Vancouver, and even made his way home to Nanaimo on his own yesterday. Liam returned from his Student Leadership Conference trip to California. On Monday, he and his team presented a report on their trip, described what they had done and what they had learned. He has had to get some repairs to a big toe nail. Eric is working two days per week for his current employer while preparing for his move to Prince Albert. He has arranged accommodations there, placing a deposit on a townhouse. His plan is to be there by August 15th and is looking for people who can help him unload when he arrives with this stuff. Erica is considering housing options in Parksville, wondering whether she should stay put, or save money by moving to a smaller place during the transition. Work considers to be stressful. Picketing has ended for now, but the past month of job action has people stressed and work expectations behind schedule. Even though personnel levels are down by 50%, there is still about as much work to be done and the results are ROE's get delayed, payroll questions are not answered so promptly and expense claims drop in priority. Unfortunately, folks are not as understanding about all this as they should be! The whole crew is in Victoria this weekend for Aura's 50th birthday celebration. 

Erin and Kristian drove over to Winnipeg on Monday to spend the week at the family reunion. They also had a great time with attendance at many special outings. They drove back on Friday, and took Grandpa for a golf practice today! They are hosting us at their apartment. Thanks guys! 

Travis and Joanna completed the move into the downstairs apartment, along with the dog, bird and lizard! Gemma and Andrew arrived home from TO today, and are making themselves at home in their new digs. 

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 good, so I've managed to keep up with my lawn care business, and still get out for some golf practice on occasion (still no game, sigh!). The renovations have moved forward nicely, and the downstairs bedrooms are pretty much trimmed out. Wendy has been very busy with painting, and is painting baseboard material again this evening, so, I'll be back at my end of the job soon! The markets have been troubled and the TSX is in the red for the month, and so is my portfolio. The Jays have continued to flounder on an extended road trip, and have fallen several games back in the standings. The Riders are trying to regroup after getting pounded by the Argos. Tonight they lost at home against the BC Lions. It was a hard-fought game, but once again the offense struggled to gain yards or put points on the board. C'mon Riders!

Eric and Liam are busy preparing for their move to Saskatchewan. Erica is just busy as the Teachers' Strike continues, so there's a lot of extra aspects to cover from a management perspective. Haaken has completed his first week at Emily Carr University in Vancouver.

Erin and Kristian are continuing to work through the complications of a summer schedule. We've enjoyed a couple of FaceTime chats with them through the week. 

Trav and Joanna have been occupied with getting stuff moved all week. Things are taking shape as they get the rooms set up. I believe they will officially move in tonight, and we'll be glad to have them! Gemma and Andrew are enjoying their time in TO. Andrew's room is pretty much ready as well. Gemma's still needs baseboards. 

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 hot all week, but has turned showery as a weekend special! We have made significant progress on the renovations. Wendy got the carpets cleaned downstairs on Friday. There are still some doors to hang and baseboard to apply, but the place is pretty much ready to go. We set the pool up, and it's warmed nicely. I got in some golf practice, and still hope to get in a round this weekend if the weather turns sunny again. The markets were thin all week with holidays both sides of the border. I was only able to get half my quota. The Riders were blown out by the Argos this afternoon, and the Jays have fallen out of first place. Milos and Genie both lost out at Wimbledon, although both achieved very good success all the same. Grandpa K had a bad week as the heavy rainfall last weekend backed up the sewer system into his basement again, causing considerable damage downstairs that will require extensive renovations, sigh!

Eric has accepted a counsellor position in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He starts August 18th. Liam is applying to go to Briercrest High School. At this point Erica and Haaken are staying in Parksville—I think this family is confused! Eric spent the week working on details of moving to Prince Albert and monitoring work on the septic field in Kenora. The most recent cost estimates are lower than the initial which is promising, but they are only estimates. Liam filled out his application for school. He also spent time with friends. Haaken is doing a room reorganization. He's cleared out several boxes from his closet. Unfortunately, Eric has filled those boxes with books. This weekend Haaken heads over to Vancouver for a one-month course at Emily Carr. Erica took the family over to a colleague's house for Canada day. They overlook the ocean, affording a great view of the fireworks. The eating was good for both people and bugs.

Erin and Kristian had an interesting week. Kristian has been spending his days over at Papa's, and has been introduced the fine art of "garage sale-ing". He cleared some cash through selling of some of this stuff, but is still looking for more to buy the Lego set he has in his sights! Erin celebrated the return of sunshine by getting a sunburn.

Trav & Joanna are busily preparing for the move. They've been culling stuff, and have even started moving a bit. Gemma and Andrew flew to Toronto today to spend some weeks with the grandparents down there. They should be all moved into their new rooms upon their return.

And that's about enough this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been comfortable, but with too many showers! I managed to get the front lawn cut, and it seems to be drying this weekend, so I'll try to get the back lawn done. I finally managed to play some golf today, and that went better than expected. It sometimes seems that I play my best in the early going before I start swinging too hard! Renovations are proceeding well. The drywall is finally done, and Wendy is increasing the pace on painting. This week she got a final coat on the family room and priming of the castle room. Everything is looking good. Markets went badly this week, so while I started the week with quota for the month, I will now need a good day on Monday to close at that level. School ended this week, so I'm off bus driving for the summer. We'll see how things set up in the Fall. The Jays continue to flounder, although they did take a series from the Yankees and remain in first place. Football season has begun this weekend, but the Riders don't play until tomorrow. Go Riders, Go!

Liam celebrated the end of grade 8, and moving on to the big time, high school.

For the occasion he wore a suit and looked quite striking! They had a dinner and dance. On Wednesday he joined Eric on a trip to Saskatchewan to checkout a job offer out in PA as well as tour Briercrest. They both return this evening. Haaken worked on movie stuff on his computer and went for a lot of walks around town. He also enjoyed his mother's lack of desire to cook at the end of each busy day, so they ate out a lot this week. Erica ended the week batching and entering invoices. With the teachers' strike still on, support staff have also been absent, but the bills have to be paid. The whole group is heading to Victoria this weekend to celebrate Sheena Bailey's 80th Birthday.

Erin provides an update on her week in Regina: It rained. Again. Every day! Kristian graduated grade 3. He's staying in the 3/4 split classroom for grade 4. His best friend, Owen, will be in grade 3 in the same classroom so they're both pretty excited. Erin went out for lunch to an outdoor cafe and ended up being stuck there for an extra half hour as the film crew for the Corner Gas movie needed "continuity" for the scene they were shooting right across the street! So that was a neat surprise. She won't be in the movie though. They pulled up a vehicle to hide the patio. They spent today with Liam and Eric at Grandpa's, the Rider store, Burger Baron, Transformers movie, and Walmart. Kristian picked out a special gift for finishing grade 3. They're closing the week at home putting together their new fan and Kristian's kree-o transformers set. It was a good week.

Trav, Joanna and crew had a busy week with school closing and Gemma's grade 8 grad. She won several awards and was also Valedictorian. She plans to enter the International Baccalaureate program at Churchill High School in the Fall. For some reason, I'm very short of grand-daughters, but I'm proud to be connected with this one!

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 nice all week, but it has turned showery this weekend. I've managed to get out to practice golf a couple of times and was planning to use some of my Father's Day money to actually play a round this weekend, but, maybe later! The school year is winding down, and the students are into special class outings in the elementary schools and exams in the high schools. The markets ran nicely all week, and TSX hit a new record high. Wendy has the family room primed, and it is looking really good. Now she's painting the ceiling in an upstairs bedroom. Drywall work continues for me, but that aspect is getting close to being finished. The Jays are struggling; they were swept by the Yankees this week, but remain in first place. Preseason is over in football, and I'm looking forward to the regular season.

Erica has had a long week. With the strike it has been a strange combination of busy and quiet. She even took a turn at covering the front desk with all the union staff gone. Eric has heard back from some of the jobs he has been applying on and now they have some deciding to do. Liam and Haaken have enjoyed their early summer. Liam has been visiting back and forth with friends—fun times! Haaken worked on some animation drawings, hand drawing body parts on separate cells in order to animate them. The Mazda 626 has been donated to Teen Challenge, at least that will save on insurance! They have begun work on the septic field at the house in Kenora along with paperwork related to ensuring the apartment is legal. We pray that both will progress well. They have had enough bumps this year and are looking forward to some smoother waters! The icing on the cake would be a buyer for that house.

The school year is also winding down for Kristian. Otherwise, he and Erin continue with their normal activities. Tonight they had a date for a meal out, and to see How to Train Your Dragon II. We are looking forward to spending some time with them during the summer break. 

It was Joanna's birthday this week, so we celebrated with them on Wednesday evening. They are preparing to move into our suite as soon as we can get it ready. We are looking forward to that. 

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 is nice, so I'm enjoying golf practice and yard work. One of the curses/blessings of Canadian golf is we have an off season. This gives us the opportunity to watch Golf Channel, read golf magazines in the doctor's office, and come up with the final solution which will put our game in good order when Spring comes! So, this time of year, I am once again trying to install my new golf swing! Yikes! However, renovations continue to call my name, and we're making some progress there. Wendy has begun painting in the new area. The bedroom and the upstairs still require some more work before they're ready for paint. It was another good week for me in the markets, and I made quota again. There have not been enough weeks of that lately! The hockey season has ended. As I predicted the LA Kings won it in five, so I take some consolation in the accurate prediction even though I was cheering for the Rangers. All games but one were decided by a single goal, and three of the games went to overtime, so it was very entertaining hockey. The Blue Jays continue in first place, but they've been having a tougher time of it lately, so it's getting tight! Wendy is keeping very busy with the renos, and with other clean-up work around the house and yard. The Riders opened their football preseason this evening with a win over Ottawa—lots of new faces! Go Riders! 

Eric had some promising responses on job applications this week. He had some interviews and pre-interview questionnaires. Hopefully he will begin to receive offers, even just one good offer! Haaken and Liam had what is probably their last day of school on Friday. The teachers are on "rotating strike" on Monday with a more permanent strike starting Tuesday. 

Tin Grin

Liam had exams this week so he is pretty much done. Haaken only has one class this semester with an exam so we wait to hear if or when he will write it. Liam got braces this week; he's absolutely delighted with the new look! 

Life continues to move forward for Erin and Kristian. Kristian wrote me a delightful Grandpa's Day card using his new favourite cursive writing. Erin says he has really taken to it and insists on using it all the time. I don't recall it being such a hit with the grade three kids who were introduced to it in years gone by! 

Trav, Joanna and crew continue to be busy. Joanna and Gemma have taken on a few extra weddings which keeps them very busy on weekends. Puckshots had a recent photo shoot where every player ordered a package—nice! Gemma and Andrew are feeling the pressure of year end, and the move to a new school in the fall. They are looking forward to their new rooms and have been engaged in planning the decor. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

We've experienced another beautiful week on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. Reactine is keeping my hay fever at bay, so I'm doing pretty well. I've been able to get out to the golf course a few times, and I feel like my swing is showing signs getting back into the groove. Unfortunately, even at its best, my game is not so great, but I enjoy it all the same. Wendy has been away all week in Parksville, and I've been trying to get some upstairs renovations moving forward while she's away. I have it rewired, drywalled and everything has at least the first coat of mud, so I'm satisfied. Wendy is expected back just after midnight, then we'll see whether she is satisfied with it! The markets have turned positive this week and I managed more than quota, so I feel well blessed there. The final series has begun in hockey. The Blackhawks failed to advance so I'm cheering for the Rangers in the final, all the while predicting the Kings to win! Sigh! Blue Jays continue to play well, holding first place at this point in the season. 

Eric/A took a bike trip down the west coast to California to see the mighty redwoods! They had a great time by all accounts with favourable weather and beautiful scenery. Liam spent most of the week on a school camping trip. Haaken and Grandma were charged with taking care of things at home, and that seemed to work out very well. 

Kristian was able to get a different anti-histamine which relieves his hay fever while still allowing him to remain awake! That is helpful for his school work! Otherwise things seem to be about the same for Erin & Kristian in Regina. 

Trav & Joanna continue to have photo shoots with hockey teams in the summer leagues, and have also had a call from a lacrosse team. Puckshots has turned into a lucrative business for them. We've managed to share several suppers this week, which is a bonus for me. Thanks guys! Gemma and Andrew are into their last month of 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 lovely, but the life cycle of birch trees has also advanced and it's hay fever season for me! Reactine keeps most of the symptoms at bay, but I feel generally fatigued with tired eyes during this time, and, I usually develop a cough to deal with all the post nasal drip, sigh! The TSX had another difficult week. While the DOW and S&P500 hit record highs, the TSX actually declined during the month of May. I was a able to make quota the final two weeks of the month, but the first two weeks were red, and I didn't catch up. I have been out practicing golf, but not playing yet. Renovations continue both downstairs and up, but my helper has taken a vacation, so the painting side in on hiatus! Hockey playoffs continue; Rangers have defeated Montreal and moved on to the final. They await the winner of the other series which has gone to game seven tomorrow in Chicago. Go Hawks!

Liam has successfully raised his funds for his leadership trip. Thanks to all who supported him! This week he is finishing his plans for a school camping trip scheduled for next week. He is very excited—in his cool, understated way! A Home-Stay family has been selected for Haaken. It is in close proximity via bus to Emily Carr, so it seems like a good fit. He has been making his own arrangements for dental appointments and getting himself there. Several of the jobs Eric has applied for closed this week and some more close next week. He has two interviews for positions in the area and continues with an interview process for another position further east. They continue to pray and ask for prayer that Eric will get a job that makes use of his gifts and provides for the family. Eric and Erica are on a week long motorcycle trip down the west coast. They have no set agenda other than a return date. Erica hopes to get as far as northern California to see the giant Redwoods and cross that off her bucket list. Wendy has flown out for the week to watch over the boys; the whole crew feel very blessed to have her there.

Kristian had a bout of eye trouble this week. A teacher and a classmate had suffered recently with conjunctivitis, so when Kristian showed up with puffy, sore eyes, the school diagnosed pink eye, and called Erin to take him home. With my recent experience, it was easy to suggest hay fever, and a second-opinion from a real doctor supported this diagnosis. The allergy medication she bought takes care of the symptoms, but make him drowsy, so Erin is searching for a different medicine.

Travis, Joanna and crew keep busy and maintain regular contact here. Joanna was over early in the week to get a coat of paint on one bedroom. Thanks for the help! We also shared a few meals back and forth.

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

After the holiday Monday, the week has gone very quickly on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has turned beautiful; we are enjoying that! I continue to practice golf, and hope to work in a game shortly. Meanwhile, I keep busy with drywalling. I'm at the mud stage, and now have first coat completed. Wendy has been working on the painting, and has nearly completed a second room. She got help from Joanna and Andrew today as they picked out colours and began work on the final application in that room. Wendy also came to a decision on a new phone, and is working to learn its nuances. The markets have bounced back a bit with US markets establishing new record highs this week, and I was able to score an above quota gain even though it was only four days, so I feel blessed. Hockey playoffs continue—the Rangers hold a lead over Montreal, while the Kings have opened a lead over Chicago. Baseball is attracting extra attention as the Jays hold down first place; this is the latest in the season they've held first place for fourteen years! 

Eric/A got more distress over their Kenora house. Apparently the sewage field needs some attention, so that could be costly. They also got some expression of interest in buying it, so maybe something will work out that way. 

Erin & Kristian are enjoying and taking advantage of the fine weather in Regina to get into some outdoor activities. 

Trav & Joanna keep busy with business and work. They had a big photo-shoot with a group of  five hockey teams today, so Gemma and Andrew spent the day with us. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown, and we have arrived at Victoria Day weekend. It's seems to have arrived very early this year, and to be sure, it's almost as early as it can be! We're enjoying nice weather, so I've been practicing golf, and looking longingly at the three courses I drive by each day! The markets have continued to be troubled and all the North American markets (along with my portfolio) are red for the month. Renovations continue downstairs; I hope to finished hanging the drywall in the new area this weekend. Wendy should finish painting in the existing bedroom as well. Then, we'll turn to the finishing work in new part, and I'll get to the upstairs renovations. Meanwhile, golf will have to continue to wait! Hockey playoffs have entered the semi-final stage. I have Rangers over Montreal in the east, and Chicago over Los Angeles in the west. Truthfully, I'm happy with the style of play of all four remaining teams, so I'm hoping all teams will be looking to add more speed and skill to their rosters!

Upstairs Fireplace

Liam has two projects on the go. He is building a replica of a castle out of old pizza boxes for school. He also has an up coming camping trip for school. He and his group have planned their menu. Next they have to go grocery shopping to get their goods. In preparation for the physical aspects of the trip he is SUPPOSED TO BE walking. Confirmation of a home stay opportunity for Haaken for his monthlong course at Emily Carr has arrived, so they are just waiting to hear who the host family will be! He continues with school and youth group. Eric has been recalled for 2 days per week of work with his former employer. He is trying to build a behaviour consulting practice through his former employer. If he gets enough clients he may be able to increase his hours and get back on benefits. He also continues to apply for jobs. This week Erica convinced Eric to try yoga with her. He is signed up for 3 TRIAL sessions, then we'll see if he continues! After catching them, Erica had to learn how to cook her salmon. It seems to have gone well as Haaken ate a whole half of a fish all on his own and Liam actually ate his portion. He said it tasted like chicken! There is plenty more in the freezer!

Erin and Kristian have texted and chatted, but don't report much new in the way of activities. Work and school continue pretty much as usual. Erin reports things are busy at work at they're having special sales promotions for their vehicles. Kristian has been able to get out roller-blading a couple of times. 

Trav & Joanna remain busy with the various aspects of Ulrich Design. This week they had a nice T-shirt order and some remaining photography orders. Today, the whole crew joined us for barbecue supper and the evening. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

Happy Mother's Day

Featuring: the mother of my children, and our mothers!

We're enjoying beautiful weather on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The salties are out in the bay as another shipping season begins. The golf courses are open, and the greens certainly look inviting! The rhubarb is up, and I'm watching anxiously over my newly seeded section of lawn. I've begun work on the garden boxes, but haven't planted anything yet. Renovations continue apace; today, Travis helped me haul another load of drywall downstairs. This gyproc is labelled "Ultra-lite"—as if! The markets have continued to be troubled and troublesome, and my portfolio is feeling the pain as well. Hockey playoffs continue, but the tide seems to have turned against the Canadiens as they fallen behind 3 games to 2! Pens and Hawks are doing okay. I haven't picked a favourite between the Kings and the Ducks.

Erica spent the week in Regina visiting with the family there and catching up on her reading. She enjoyed playing guitar and singing with Grandpa and a hearty game of Angry Birds with Kristian. She flew home Friday evening. Liam is taking his mom salmon fishing for Mother's Day. Eric and Haaken are glad to not be invited. Emily Carr sent information about the possibility of a home stay arrangement for Haaken's summer program. We hope that will work out. Liam and Haaken enjoyed Eric's first day off work by also having a day off school. Eric applied for EI, for a few more jobs and for passport renewals. He reports that he is tired of applications! He also had a three-hour interview on Monday. Wowsers!

Kristian has been fitted with his new ears! He declares them  to be yellow & blue! He says they only look green because that's what  you get when yellow and blue mix (yep, I've seen that phenomenon)! Otherwise, they are glad to be experiencing nicer weather in Regina.

Trav & Joanna are keeping busy. This weekend they're developing a connection to a new batch of hockey teams! Joanna and Gemma are also working support services for a wedding today, and it'll be a late night for them. Last night the ladies went shopping for Gemma's grad dress, while the guys tried vainly to secure a victory for the Penguins!

And that's about it for this week. 

May the Fourth be with You!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has turned nice, and the golf courses are showing promise, although the greens and tee boxes still have the tarps on. The markets finally overcame some of their issues and I made some good gains toward the end of the week, however, April ended down. After starting the year with two excellent months, I have turned in two losing months, sigh! Renovations continue downstairs with drywalling and plumbing being featured this week. Wendy is painting one room and reorganizing another. The two bathrooms continue to wait for their turn on the reno list. Otherwise bus driving is going well, and the weather sees me out practicing a bit of golf. The second stage of hockey playoffs has begun; I have three favourites to cheer for in this round: Pittsburgh, Montreal, Chicago. 

Erica has travelled to Regina for a week long visit with Grandpa, Uncle Dave, Erin and Kristian and many other acquaintances. Liam had some meetings to prepare for his youth leadership trip in July. He has also had multiple visits to the dentist and is sporting four blanks along his jaw. Eric's job was extended until yesterday. He finished up and enjoyed some farewell pie—lemon meringue, his favourite. He has an interview on Monday, a lead on another job, and the possibility of part time work with his current employer. Haaken performed the play he has been working on in his drama class; it went well. 

Erin has continued to have health struggles. Sometimes she feels she is well again, but then suffers a relapse. It's been going on for weeks. Kristian is doing well. He is being fitted for new ear moulds; we wait to see what the colours will be this time!

Trav has been busy with a few more end-of-hockey-season banquets. He got an estimate of nearly $1000 for the repairs to his car after getting keyed at last week's banquet. Sigh! Joanna is busy with both her retail work, and the Ulrich Design company business. Gemma and Andrew are into the final two months of this school year. 

And that's about enough for this week.

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. We've had some Spring again, and even one day of Summer before it degraded into white, fluffy rain on Thursday night. Now that's melted and we're back into Spring again. Renovations have continued apace downstairs. I've  installed the new partitions and finished the electrical wiring. Now we're into drywalling and a bit of carpet repairs. The gas insert for the fireplace is now operational. The gas range has been hooked up as well, so, we're enjoying that. The markets have remained difficult. All US indices are in the red this month, and most are in the red for the year to date. The TSX is doing a bit better, but not this week as I experienced four out of five red days. I lost value on the portfolio as two holdings stopped out. The week started with a sports highlight as Kevin Martin ended his career with an 18th major championship. Hockey playoffs continue. I was disappointed to see Detroit lose their series. 

Eric found out that the new contractor has filled the position with an internal candidate, so that is off the table. He continues to explore other opportunities including work with some clients he is currently supporting on a fee-for-service basis. Haaken and Liam are getting home from school 15 minutes earlier due to the teacher job action. Erica rode her new bike over to Chilliwack to visit cousins Lisa and Kara and their respective families. It was a bit tense riding through Vancouver during rush hour, but the trip is going well. 

Spider Man at rest! 

Erin and Kristian enjoyed a good week. Kristian was on school holidays, and enjoyed some special activities as a result. Here he is with his Spidey face paint! 

Trav, Joanna and crew had a pretty usual week until today. Trav & Joanna were at the Elks hockey windup and while there his car was keyed up badly. We hope that's not too expensive or time-consuming to get fixed. It's a shame anyway. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

He is risen!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown! Spring has continued to be elusive as we've had some April showers of white, fluffy rain! School bus driving continues to go well, and I'm on a bit of break as the schools were closed yesterday and again on Monday. The markets have recovered a bit, and I managed to make my quota for a change. Wendy and I have remained busy on the renovations. We have the gas lines in now, and expect to get the range installed, and both fireplaces upgraded in the next week. I've begun framing and drywalling in the basement. It seems a bit overwhelming, but we want to get an in-law suite ready by the summer. The sports week began with the Masters, the first big event of the new golf season. I was happy to see Bubba Watson win, although I was cheering for Jordan Spieth to break through. This week has marked the final major and the end of the curling season. It has been bitter-sweet for me as my longtime favourite, Kevin Martin, has announced his retirement after the event, but he's still curling well, and has advanced to the final tomorrow against Olympic gold medalist Brad Jacobs. So, I'll be cheering for him to go out with his 18th major! Hockey has moved into the first round of the playoffs, and I've been following several teams. 

Haaken is in a group project, working on a play for his drama class. He plays the role of George, a computer worker. Liam had a boring week including a dental appointment. With Eric's employment and benefit plan coming to an end, they're trying to get as much of the dental work and braces completed and billed before April 30th. Eric had two interviews this week. One is just the first stage in a lengthy process, but it's for an interesting job with a focus on counselling. It's also in Saskatchewan! The other was for a position requiring travel to Port Alberni and Campbell River. Erica is into yoga these days. She has been reminded that, as a child, she used to do yoga with her mother. The Mazda 626 seems to be completely out of commission. At 12 years and 300,000 clicks, it has served well, but it seems to be failing electrically, and it doesn't appear to be worth investing in further repairs. In the meantime, they're enjoying the new motorcycles as an alternative transportation, and their location makes it a favoured choice! The family is heading down to Victoria to spend the Easter weekend with the Bailey relatives there. 

Erin has been engaging her domestic side this week and enjoying the cooking aspects. Kristian is looking forward to the Easter bunny's arrival! He also has next week off school. 

Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew joined us for Good Friday supper, and we've engaged them for Easter Monday supper as well! It's nice to have them close by. We're trying to get the basement ready for them so they can be even closer! 

And that's about enough for one week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been spring-like and the snow has been disappearing. Lawns have reappeared around the neighbourhood, and I've been out swinging my golf clubs! We continue to work on downstairs renovations; old structures have been cleared away, and the building materials have been purchased and hauled downstairs. Investors seem to have fallen in line with the idea of a "correction". The markets have been down this week, and all US indexes are in the red year-to-date. Sigh! My portfolio has not been immune, so, I've endured significant losses this week and am well short of my quota once again. Two of my holdings have stopped out, and another is close. Kevin Koe lost the bronze medal game to Switzerland, so we didn't even get a medal in world curling. UConn rewarded my selection with a victory in NCAA men's basketball; that was good to see. Baseball season has begun, and the Blue Jays are providing their usual range of heartache and enjoyment. The hockey season is ending, so, Stanley Cup playoffs are set to begin in the coming week. Unfortunately, only one Canadian team has qualified, but there are several teams in there that play a style of hockey I admire, so I'll be cheering for them to do well. 

It's been a quiet week for the Baileys in Parksville. Liam and Haaken have begun a cartooning class, and enjoyed the first session. Eric has applied for a number of jobs, including his own! He has been receiving recommendations from some of his contacts which speaks to the quality of work he has been doing. Hopefully something will develop soon from this in the form of an as-good-as or even better job than the one he's been holding. Erica has developed a liking for Smoothies, so she's garage sale-ing for a Magic Bullet to replace her failing blender! 

Erin and Kristian are doing fine in Regina. Erin has signed up Kristian for professional coaching in golf this summer, so I'm hoping he will be able to help me! Otherwise, school and work are progressing pretty much as usual. 

Travis & Joanna are hosting Joanna's dad this weekend. Their work and the regular routines of school for Gemma and Andrew continue to occupy their days. Trav is preparing for his major annually recurring task—the Stanley Cup playoffs! 

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 in a holding mode, so we haven't made much progress on snow removal until today at 10°. We're expecting double digits with sunshine all next week; that should clear a lot of it away! The markets have been mixed with good advances early in the week before a sell-off on Friday! I was blessed with a great gain, and am very thankful for that as I'm almost back to quota. There are a lot of naysayers out there calling for a crash or at least a correction. I don't know why they feel things are so overheated when I note that DOW is flat three months into the year; even S&P500 is only up 2.2% YTD. Wendy and I continue with renovations downstairs. I've torn out some structures and am rebuilding others. We have a plan for the new bedroom. The fireplace inserts are ordered; we'll have him install a line for the gas range at the same time. I hope we haven't taken on more work than we can accomplish before summer! World Men's curling has been running all week, and I've been busy watching that! Koe ended the round robin in second place, but lost a tough one, 3-2, to Norway in the page playoff, and then lost to Sweden in the semi-final. So, he'll be playing for the bronze tomorrow against Switzerland—go Canada, go! NCAA college basketball is in the final weekend of March Madness. My team is long gone, but I'm cheering for UConn to win it all. The NHL season is grinding to a close, so it will soon be time to start paying attention to results there! 

The boys are back at school. Haaken is glad to be back, especially for his drama class. Liam, not so much, but is happily reconnecting with friends. Liam experienced paint ball for a first time this week at a friend's birthday party—now to get the paint out of his jacket! 

Erica tried yoga this week, but found it surprisingly painful! She was delighted with the gift of a new guitar from Eric for her birthday! 

Eric received disappointing news as his employer lost the bid for the contract that included his job. Now, there'll be a process of developing the service program for these high needs children, employing the new workers, and getting the program running again—is this a system?! We hope Eric may be the one employed by the new service provider. 

Erin and Kristian seem to have worked through their health woes and are fully engaged in school and work once again. This was report card/parent-teacher interviews week for Kristian, and it seems to have been a useful exercise. Kristian struggles with his hearing impairment, but is making good progress. Erin is delighted with the arrival of baseball season, and is keeping track of her beloved Blue Jays. 

Trav & Joanna continue to be busy with work. I see Gemma and Andrew nearly every day as they leave school to catch their school bus. Trav's hockey team lost out in the league final series. Good season, Coach Travis and the Elks82s! Joanna's mom was visiting last weekend from southern Ontario; we enjoyed a supper with the entire crew. 

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 is gradually improving, and we're getting some helpful melting. I have dug out the trampoline in the back yard, and it is ready for the season. We've had a lot of snow this winter, so it'll take many days of warm weather to clear it away. The markets have remained troubled and are down for the month; they are draining value from my portfolio as well. Sigh! We've begun another foray into the renovations game here. We had our favourite gas-fitter by this week, and he's given us a price to install natural gas inserts in our two fireplaces, and hook up our gas range. We've also begun some other renovations to the layout downstairs. Wendy has prepared the documentation concerning our taxes and has fired that off to our chartered accountant daughter! Thanks Erica! Wendy and I completed our dental cleaning this week. The team at the college recommended I go to the dentist to have a couple of problem teeth attended to—rats! Wendy had her usual clear check up. The World Championships have begun in men's curling, and Kevin Koe won his opening game this morning. March Madness continues in NCAA college basketball—plenty of drama there! 

Haaken and Liam have been enjoying another week of school break, and reverting to their default setting of late-to-bed, late-to-rise! That will need to change soon! This weekend they're all in Vancouver since Eric had a conference there, and the rest are enjoying access to the special attractions. Last night Erica and the boys enjoyed the FlyOver Canada at Canada Place, and Eric enjoyed skipping a ride! Today they had hop on, hop off passes and enjoyed the many experiences this access provided. They were looking for discounted tickets for Blue Man Group as well. Haaken has been preparing for his Learner's License; we hope that will be accomplished soon. Liam is preparing for train tracks, tin grin and metal head! He has some dental work to complete before the braces are applied.

Just when we thought Kristian was doing well, he came down ill and missed some school. We're glad to report he's on the mend. Erin took her once-per-decade visit to the dentist, and received a clean bill of health in that regard. Must be nice! 

Trav, Joanna and crew continue to be busy with their usual activities. This evening they hosted us for supper—thanks, guys! Trav's team won their semi-final series in straight games and are in the finals now for midget hockey. Let's go Elks!

And that's about enough for this week.

Bus Driver Bill

Having twenty-four hours to prepare myself, I was ready to address my high school students on Tuesday afternoon. I hit the Noise Suppression switch (which turns off all fans in the bus), removed my seat belt, rose from my seat and turned to address the group. 

"Students, we have an issue. It may be a human rights issue, so I'm asking you to pay serious attention. Yesterday afternoon, on this run, there was an incident, and I need to direct your attention to it. Apparently, although I can't say for sure, there was one or more students involved in this, ah, situation. Now, I can't say for sure, but it seemed to me that there was some kind of religious activity or ritual going on in the back part of the bus. As you know, this cannot be allowed! Apparently, this was some form of voodoo, or other cultic religion. I can't really say for sure, but what I found were some chicken bones laying on the floor." 

At this point, I could hold my face no longer. I broke, and they broke out in hearty laughter. 

"Please clean up after yourselves and help keep the bus clean," I concluded. 

This kind of response doesn't always work, but it's good to note there have been no more chicken remains, or any other garbage left on the floor.