Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Brrr. Aussie Summer...not
Still waiting for the warmth... Cricket on the telly. Cocktail hour at 5pm. All the good food in the world. Yep, we are in Australia. I'm doing a lot of reading (thanks Paul - I'm loving Biff) and lying around. Oh, and a bit of a walk this morning - down the hill to town, over the footbridge to the beautiful 90 mile beach, along the main street and then back up the hill. It's sunny now, but the wind is southwesterly, which in the southern hemisphere, does not involve any heat. Tomorrow we are off to visit my good friend and once-bridesmaid, Ailsa. Oh, yeah, and there is a Cherry Ripe at hand whenever the urge strikes.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Christmas in Australia
After a fairly uneventful trip, we arrived in Sydney late and had our connecting flight changed. Naturally, our bags went on their own adventure and remain there even now. A quick trip to Target had us outfitted in all new clothes while our travelling clothes were washed. Here in Melbourne, it is the coldest Christmas day since 1935. Rain alternates with sun. This is good news here, where drought conditions prevail. My brother tells me that it was 42 degrees a couple of days ago. The predicted high today is 16.
My nephews are slightly taller, but largely unchanged. They are currently happily playing with many toys, including a bowling set that Uncle Larry, clever guy, put together. The newest member of the household is Coco the dog. Weird coincidence.
My sister-in-law, a terrific cook, is preparing a great Australian Christmas lunch. It's in the oven and on the barbeque and the house is redolent with engaging odors. I'm on my first glass of champagne and orange juice and all is well with the world. It's great to be in the company of family. Peace on earth. At least until the boys start scrapping over the playstation or something.
I'm in Australia, and I'm loving it.
My nephews are slightly taller, but largely unchanged. They are currently happily playing with many toys, including a bowling set that Uncle Larry, clever guy, put together. The newest member of the household is Coco the dog. Weird coincidence.
My sister-in-law, a terrific cook, is preparing a great Australian Christmas lunch. It's in the oven and on the barbeque and the house is redolent with engaging odors. I'm on my first glass of champagne and orange juice and all is well with the world. It's great to be in the company of family. Peace on earth. At least until the boys start scrapping over the playstation or something.
I'm in Australia, and I'm loving it.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Thanksgiving in California
The only problem with California is that there are too many Californians. What a great trip though. Chocolate factory, turkey, Valentine the dog, wine tasting, shopping, eating, drinking, laughing, laughing, and laughing with our very good friends. Yeah, it's a great trip to take every other year.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
On hold with Air Canada
I have now been on hold for more than 20 minutes. It's my own fault really - they warned me that the wait would be long. But I now know a lot of things about new reward plans from Air Canada that I didn't know when this started. The hypnotic music track has put me under a bit of a spell and I know that if I could only speak to an Air Canada service representative, that I could find out even more about accumulating points through Bell Canada. But only if I move to Quebec or Ontario. And my accumulated points expire seven years after collected if not redeemed. Seems like I might have been on hold for almost that long.
Coco has sat with me throughout this ordeal. She is a faithful cat.
Days later...
After all that, the representative told me that I couldn't change my ticket. Thanks for that, said I. It was good to learn so much about the new programs though, I added.
Coco has sat with me throughout this ordeal. She is a faithful cat.
Days later...
After all that, the representative told me that I couldn't change my ticket. Thanks for that, said I. It was good to learn so much about the new programs though, I added.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Thanks...Giving
Back from a five day trip to Phoenix where we moved Ellen into an assisted living complex - "Merrill Gardens." Although, typically, there are no "gardens" per se. There is a courtyard with some desert landscaping. I guess that will suffice.
When we arrived, Ellen was glad to see us and not at all befuddled by our number (4). She happily related the "hat" story to us for the first time. It seems that a few years ago, Ellen performed a rather dramatic rescue of 14 people who were stranded on a mountain top. She received a rather jaunty "Nature Conservancy" hat as her reward. As it happens, we knew that the hat was sent to her in gratitude for a monetary donation to the Nature Conservancy cause. It was clear that someone (i.e. me) had to break the news. So I sat by her, held her hand and told her exactly why we were there. She seemed just fine with the notion of moving the next day.
The next day, however... she was upset. Of course. "I don't know why I have to leave," she wailed. Then she looked straight at Christine and said "I don't know why YOU'RE telling me what to do - you NEVER talk to me." I was relieved that she had assigned the blame squarely on the shoulders of someone else.
The young men we had hired to move Ellen's stuff seemed perplexed by the randomness of the move. "Take that, no, take this, no - oh, maybe this?" Until Erin advised them that "this is how Canadians move."
An hour later, we were escorting Ellen into her new home. We arranged furniture, hung pictures, and filled cupboards. The real victim of the move seemed to be Cotton, the cat. She hid under the bed as soon as it was put together.
On the first day when we left,after strict instructions to the contrary, Ellen let the cat out, prompting a search by staff. Cotton was found several hours later - under the bed.
By the last day we were there, Ellen had received a "gift" of some new clothes. We don't know where they came from, but suspect that Ellen may have visited someone else's room and availed herself of new duds. It's a whole new world of adventure in Merrill Gardens, that's for sure.
When we arrived, Ellen was glad to see us and not at all befuddled by our number (4). She happily related the "hat" story to us for the first time. It seems that a few years ago, Ellen performed a rather dramatic rescue of 14 people who were stranded on a mountain top. She received a rather jaunty "Nature Conservancy" hat as her reward. As it happens, we knew that the hat was sent to her in gratitude for a monetary donation to the Nature Conservancy cause. It was clear that someone (i.e. me) had to break the news. So I sat by her, held her hand and told her exactly why we were there. She seemed just fine with the notion of moving the next day.
The next day, however... she was upset. Of course. "I don't know why I have to leave," she wailed. Then she looked straight at Christine and said "I don't know why YOU'RE telling me what to do - you NEVER talk to me." I was relieved that she had assigned the blame squarely on the shoulders of someone else.
The young men we had hired to move Ellen's stuff seemed perplexed by the randomness of the move. "Take that, no, take this, no - oh, maybe this?" Until Erin advised them that "this is how Canadians move."
An hour later, we were escorting Ellen into her new home. We arranged furniture, hung pictures, and filled cupboards. The real victim of the move seemed to be Cotton, the cat. She hid under the bed as soon as it was put together.
On the first day when we left,after strict instructions to the contrary, Ellen let the cat out, prompting a search by staff. Cotton was found several hours later - under the bed.
By the last day we were there, Ellen had received a "gift" of some new clothes. We don't know where they came from, but suspect that Ellen may have visited someone else's room and availed herself of new duds. It's a whole new world of adventure in Merrill Gardens, that's for sure.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Autumn Arrives
It's fall in my garden. And it's beautiful. Sorry to all four of my faithful blog buddies for the lack of blogging, but honestly, I really have a dull life. Although I did just spend a couple of days in Vancouver - with my friend Kathy. That was fun. And on Wednesday, we (a posse of us) are off to Phoenix to move Ellen into the care facility. Richard can't get her to move, so we are heading down en mass to make it so. I know she's going to be unhappy and overwhelmed by it all, and that just doesn't feel great, but it has to happen. So, next stop Phoenix, where it is still around 100 degrees farenheit during the day and autumn is a foreign concept.
Friday, September 01, 2006
More National Geographic in the Yard
Imagine my delight to look out at another rainy morning in Prince Rupert and find a big buck resting in my yard. Shortly thereafter, along came yet another buck. They sized each other up and then engaged in some mild nose-to-nose antler locking and pushing. Occasionally they would be distracted by something and take a break. It was amazing to watch them push each other around by the nose.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
August in the backyard...
Someone has taken to stringing rope from the antlers of local deer.
Ok, the deer pics aren't that good, but it was blazing sunshine (really) and I didn't want to chase Bambi out of the yard.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Still thinking Summer
This is Kamloops, hiking in the hoodoos. Ok, just walking, but it's hot and a lot of uphill. Stunning beauty just above Gina's home. I had a great time with my good friends Pat and Gina. We lay around the pool (really good friends who live in hot climates always have air conditioning and a pool) - reading, talking, drinking wine, eating awesome dinners. Life looked pretty good in Kamloops. The best thing is that the weather, while hot, does not boil you to the point where you can't go outside as it does in Phoenix.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Pedicure Princesses
Barb and I on our pedicure thrones... another great day of pleasing ourselves in Phoenix. We have decided that this is to be one of the traditions of my visits to the valley.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Two days at the Phoenican!
Dinner in one of the restaurants at the Phoenician to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss. They provided a complimentary dessert.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Moving On
It's my last night in Phoenix... Up at the crack of dawn tomorrow and on to the northern end of the Sonoran Desert - Kamloops, British Columbia. Today we took my mother-in-law to visit the care facility we are considering for her. We would like her to willingly make the choice...you know, "look kids, I'm 105 years old and I need to have someone looking out for me 24/7, for god's sake don't make me stay in this big old house by myself." Astonishingly, she has not made that pronouncement - not like sang froid's dad who elected to move and apparently has his wits about him.
She liked the facility and loved the lunch they gave us. She wondered aloud about all the "old" people floating around and imagined that if she ever got that old she might need to live in a place like that. Nope, she is not going to willingly volunteer to be moved.
We are not, my husband and I, very assertive with mom. So we are plotting how to convince her that "they" have made a ruling that she can't be on her own anymore. She tends to conform to the rules of "them" whoever they are. (E.G. "They" won't let her drive her car anymore. "They" have made a rule that you have to have tall trees in your yard. - she means the palm trees that have been growing in her neighborhood for 35 years, but every morning she goes out and marvels at the number of trees that have been planted over night by order of "them.")
Anyway, if "they" can convince her that legislation has been passed requiring her to live in a very nice assisted living complex, then all will be fine.
She liked the facility and loved the lunch they gave us. She wondered aloud about all the "old" people floating around and imagined that if she ever got that old she might need to live in a place like that. Nope, she is not going to willingly volunteer to be moved.
We are not, my husband and I, very assertive with mom. So we are plotting how to convince her that "they" have made a ruling that she can't be on her own anymore. She tends to conform to the rules of "them" whoever they are. (E.G. "They" won't let her drive her car anymore. "They" have made a rule that you have to have tall trees in your yard. - she means the palm trees that have been growing in her neighborhood for 35 years, but every morning she goes out and marvels at the number of trees that have been planted over night by order of "them.")
Anyway, if "they" can convince her that legislation has been passed requiring her to live in a very nice assisted living complex, then all will be fine.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Hot, hot, hot in Phoenix
Record temperatures in the valley of the sun kept us hopping while we stayed at the Phoenician. Getting from the lounge chair to the pool required quick footwork over burning concrete. Even a poolside margarita and pitcher of ice water in the shade could only keep us outside in the 118 degree farenheit heat for about an hour.
Now, back in Tempe, I'm reading books (Ultramarathon Man - inspirational - particularly when he writes of running through Death Valley - I could relate...although my ten feet from the chaise to the pool is hardly 100 miles of running in what he describes as a "toaster"). Now I'm reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Awesome book that strikes despair into my heart as someone who works in the human services field with many cultures.
Other than the highly indulgent lying around with a good book, we've been doing the chores that magically (and routinely) await our arrival. The car needed work at the shop for a constantly flattened battery. Bugs in the house (scorpions!!!! according to the home care woman - I've seen none, and I've been vigilant) required pest control. A trip to the vet for Cotton. A two hour visit to the HMO for mom, where her Dr. is a scary eastern european chick who barks orders to our 88 year old mom - "stand up straight" and "eat properly!" Good thing Mom is profoundly deaf and has zero short term memory. Good thing I didn't acquiesce to the urge to hit Dr. Romania.
Of course Dr. Romania doesn't know that our mom is also much older than her birth certificate states. On any given day, mom might be "almost 100," or "exactly 100," or as was the case yesterday, "nearly 104." Fair enough, I say. At 88, she's earned the right to be as old or young as she wants. I hope she's not expecting a letter of congratulations from the governor or George W though.
A perfect level of dementia has left Mom profoundly happy. Every sentence in a conversation ends up with her laughing and laughing. Perhaps because no one has a clue what she's talking about. Least of all her. I'm glad for her, but worried for her. Although she has daily home support and Richard comes in once or twice a week when he's in town, it really is a short journey from here to the full residential care.
Now, back in Tempe, I'm reading books (Ultramarathon Man - inspirational - particularly when he writes of running through Death Valley - I could relate...although my ten feet from the chaise to the pool is hardly 100 miles of running in what he describes as a "toaster"). Now I'm reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Awesome book that strikes despair into my heart as someone who works in the human services field with many cultures.
Other than the highly indulgent lying around with a good book, we've been doing the chores that magically (and routinely) await our arrival. The car needed work at the shop for a constantly flattened battery. Bugs in the house (scorpions!!!! according to the home care woman - I've seen none, and I've been vigilant) required pest control. A trip to the vet for Cotton. A two hour visit to the HMO for mom, where her Dr. is a scary eastern european chick who barks orders to our 88 year old mom - "stand up straight" and "eat properly!" Good thing Mom is profoundly deaf and has zero short term memory. Good thing I didn't acquiesce to the urge to hit Dr. Romania.
Of course Dr. Romania doesn't know that our mom is also much older than her birth certificate states. On any given day, mom might be "almost 100," or "exactly 100," or as was the case yesterday, "nearly 104." Fair enough, I say. At 88, she's earned the right to be as old or young as she wants. I hope she's not expecting a letter of congratulations from the governor or George W though.
A perfect level of dementia has left Mom profoundly happy. Every sentence in a conversation ends up with her laughing and laughing. Perhaps because no one has a clue what she's talking about. Least of all her. I'm glad for her, but worried for her. Although she has daily home support and Richard comes in once or twice a week when he's in town, it really is a short journey from here to the full residential care.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Friends at home
Paul... Smoking on the deck...
I'm leaving to go to Phoenix tomorrow. There will be no deck time there. Too damn hot.
Monday, July 10, 2006
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