T is for TIME

I noticed that Troy wrote about TIME for his introduction this week, so it gave me an idea to run with the same topic.  Thanks, Troy!

I agree with Troy when he questions "Where has the time gone?"  I think about this in terms of my life, the lives of my children and grandchildren, the fact that my parents are now gone and I'm the "next generation" to look forward to whatever comes next. 

I think about Lorne and me and how we loved each other so long ago and still totally love each other today.  Where did those years go when we were apart?  I'm am so grateful that we're together again at last...for eternity now! 

I think about my late husband and find it almost unbelievable that it has been 22 years since he died.  He never got to see the Internet or all the technological advances of today's society.  He would have loved it!

I think about the births of my daughters and it seems like it was only yesterday!  But now they are both married ladies, one of whom is also a mother.  I think about the births of these grandchildren and wonder how one is already in double digits and halfway through elementary school. I took this photo of them down at Centennial Beach when they stayed over for a few nights summer of 2012.

I think about the pets I've had because life to me is not total without a cat or dog (which I prefer) to which I can give total unconditional love and from which I receive the same.  Tegan is now our baby girl and I love her so much!

It's true that the older we get, the faster time seems to travel.  With that in mind, I try to make a point of living each moment to its fullest.  For example, today when I was tutoring my 10-year-old grandson, I lifted up his long curly hair to look in his ear and told him "Yes, you do have a brain in there!" and we both laughed!  And I will never ever forget when my 6-year-old granddaughter Eden told me I looked like a "Princess Bride" on my wedding day!

Speaking of our wedding day, I'd like to thank everyone for all the good wishes sent to us through this blog!  We may be well into the autumn of our lives now, but we are so thankful for all our friends who took the time to wish us well.  We are still looking forward to a honeymoon and hopefully it's not in the too distant future since Lorne will be having his surgery on June 11th.  Hopefully, he will bounce back and be well enough for us to have a "mini-moon" in September.

Thanks also to the trendy Mrs. Nesbitt, creator of ABC Wednesday and to the talented Roger, our administrator, without whom we might be terribly tardy with our contributions to ABCW.  Have a terrific week!

PS:  Did you notice that I used mauve for the highlighted words this week?  That was the accent colour for our wedding!  And did you notice that my shoes were mauve silk?

S is for SLOT MACHINE

The highlight of our wedding soiree for the grandchildren and godchildren was the SLOT machine!  Yes, my dear friend Wendy is the proud owner of an authentic slot machine that she "earned" when she sold someone's house.  The story goes that when she listed her client's home, she noticed the slot machine in one of the rooms and went schizo over it.  The owner told her that if she could sell the house in a month, the slot machine was hers.  She sold it in a week!  After signing all the paperwork, the owner helped her load it in her car and off she went. 

Needless to say, it's a highlight for her own grandchildren whenever they visit or spend the night.  And during our wedding soiree, my grandson Noah (age 10) and his sister Eden (age 6) along with Lorne's godson Hunter (age 9 wearing the snazzy fedora) spent the whole evening taking turns at the "Kitchen Casino" slot machine whooping and hollering when they hit it big!  Yes, real money comes out and the kids just kept shoveling it back in.  What a hoot! (Lorne's goddaughter, thirteen-year-old Violet, preferred to hang out with the adults.) 

Here's a link to a home video Wendy shot of one of her granddaughters on a Saturday morning as she played with the slot machine. Click here.  Be sure to turn up the sound to get the full impact!  Anna is so silly as she grooves to the music. It has to be pretty special to prefer the slot machine to Saturday morning cartoons!

Thanks to the sensational Denise Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the stellar Roger, our administrator.

Oh, on a side note, my ankle had a tiny chip come loose and the tendon is damaged and pretty sore, but nothing like the last time.  I can walk without the boot and go up and down the stairs one step at a time holding onto the railing for dear life.  Physiotherapy again!  So sad!

R is for RIP-ROARING

As I'm sure my regular readers will remember, I got married last week. It was a magical day, from morning until we fell into bed exhausted.  I was tired for the next several days, but continued to keep going on the adrenalin rush.  I looked at all the photos, decided which ones to keep, had them printed and had a couple enlarged to put in frames.  My friend Wendy used to be a professional photographer, so that and coordinating the wedding plus hosting the "after party", was her gift to us.  What a priceless gift from a priceless friend!

The "after party" was a rip-roaring rousing success, too!  Most of the guests continued with us into the evening with a rib-tickling barbecue of chicken, beef and pork kebobs, Greek and Caesar salads, roasted potatoes, and Greek-style rice.  Dessert was whatever was left over from the "tea" plus more wedding cake.  Also, the wine was flowing, margharitas were frothing, and the beer was foaming!  The lights in the trees twinkled under the crescent-shaped moon and everyone from the bride's side and the groom's side mingled to become fast friends.





daughter Jaclyn did my makeup for me





daughter Jamie helped out at the "tea"









Lorne
loves
to
barbecue

At the party, we played what is called the "shoe game," which I'd never heard of before.  Wendy asked us a bunch of funny questions and we had to raise either our own shoe or our spouse's shoe to indicate the answer.  This was probably the question "Who spends the most money?"  lol  I'm a saver; Lorne is a spender! 

And so... back to reality.  The house needs cleaning and the dog needs walking.  Our honeymoon is on hold due to Lorne's need for one more surgery (serious hernias) and we don't want to travel anywhere out of the immediate area until that is dealt with. 

So on Saturday, I took Tegan for our morning walk at Ladner Harbour Park where we stroll the trails, take a break to play Frisbee, and stroll back to the car.  We were almost to the junction where we'd cut up to the car, when suddenly, a tree root reached out and grabbed my foot!  I did a belly flop right onto the side of the trail in the grass, and felt my right ankle go...yes, the one that had just healed from two breaks just eight months ago! 

At first, I thought I might not be able to breathe, but I managed to get up on my hands and knees and took some deep breaths.  Thankfully, Tegan stayed right with me.  Then an older lady came along with her dog and helped me get up onto my good leg, but I couldn't put any weight on the right foot.  Neither of us knew how I was going to get back to my car, but then I saw a couple I knew from church and they came over to help, too.  Long story short, I called Lorne to tell him the ambulance was coming, Candy would drive my car with Tegan home while her hubby Danny followed.  Then, Lorne should come to the ER. 

I am now back in the boot I rightfully called "Frank" (from Frankenstein) and awaiting a call from the orthopedic surgeon for an appointment.  The ER doctor said it appeared that the ankle did not heal properly and it was difficult to tell if it's broken, but he feels I should see the orthopedist for a second opinion.  So, it's going to be rest and relaxation (again!) for me for a while. 

Oh, and one of the questions in the "shoe game" was "Who is more likely to be injured?"  Well, duh!

Have a resounding week, everyone, and remember to give thanks to our resplendent Denise, the creator of ABCW and to our rabble-rousing Roger, our administrator! (j/k Roger!)

Q is for QUEEN

No, not Queen Elizabeth of the Commonwealth countries or Queen Margrethe of Denmark...but rather Queen for a day on May 1st, 2014.  Yes, I definitely felt like a queen on my wedding day.  Everything went off without a hitch and everyone had a wonderful time.  I'm glad it was a small wedding, albeit with all the traditions of a wedding.  I was able to visit with everyone and everyone mingled well with each other.  I must admit I was shaking a bit when walking down the aisle, but that was from excitement and not from second thoughts.  Lorne was beaming at me and later said that when he first saw me, he felt overwhelmed with emotion. 

We had two people taking photographs - my dearest friend Wendy, who not only took photos, but also coordinated the whole shindig while working at her regular job, and one of Lorne's best friend's son, whose children are Lorne's godchildren.  Also, my daughter Jaclyn (who did my makeup) took several photos when we came home for a brief rest before the evening's soiree began.  It seemed as though everyone had a camera or phone pointed our way, but that was fine.  It was all such fun. 

In a previous post, I mentioned that I thought Lorne would pick one of Van Morrison's songs for the first dance and I was wrong!  What he chose, and that he kept secret from absolutely everyone, was Etta James' version of "At Last."  I was so surprised and we had a lovely first dance on the shaded porch of the 100-year-old mansion.

So it's been a while since I did a Smilebox slideshow, but I think this occasion warrants one.  Enjoy!

Next week, I'll share all about the "rip-roaring" after party we had that night!

P is for PARTY

As Rod Stewart sang, "Yeah, clap your hands - We're having a party, dancing to the music" this week.  Yes, our big day is Thursday, May 1st, 2014, and the ceremony begins at noon.  So about a half hour later, I will be able to call myself "Leslie Evans."  If you've been following my recent blogs, you will recall that it's been a long time coming.  I never wanted to go back to my maiden name and I was never really accepted by my first husband's family once he was gone.  Both my daughters have married names now, so I'm thrilled to take my new husband's name. 

So we will party after the ceremony in a "respectable" manner at the high tea we have planned, complete with official cake cutting, speeches, toasts, and the first dance.  Then around 6pm, we will gather at our friends' place to continue partying into the night.  That will be a "get-down, boogie woogie, have a drink and dance on the patio under the tiny white garden lights" type of party.  The weather forecast is for a sunny and warm day, so the evening will be clear and the stars will shine down upon us.

I wrote the following poem back in December of 2011 with our marriage in mind. 

UNITY

Unity is a milky, pearly white.

It looks like starlight on a clear, bright night.

It sounds like a cob calling to his pen.

It smells like popcorn shared in the den.

It tastes like sweat as we share one life.

It feels like serenity throughout the strife.

Unity is two, a husband and wife.

And Lorne took this photo down by the river in our village. I love it so much that it is on our wedding website, which you are welcome to view if you like. It's here.

Stay tuned for photos!  I will post them as I get them.  And if you're so inclined, it would be nice if you would pray for health, happiness, and a long life together for us.  Thanks!  In the meantime, don't forget to silently (or in print) thank the playful Mrs. Nesbitt for her creative ABC Wednesday and Roger, our perspicacious administrator.

O is for ODYSSEY

Like Homer's Odysseus and his odyssey to find his wife Penelope again, it seems like Lorne's and my odyssey is almost over.  It began in 1969 when we met at Kerrisdale Arena in Vancouver, BC, when we spotted each other on the ice.  That began a 3 1/2 year adventure that ended when Lorne got cold feet about getting married (even though he's asked me).  Thirty-nine years later, we reconnected and have been planning to get married since the following year - 2009.  Major back surgery and a broken ankle for me plus two surgeries and two onerous rounds of chemo for Lorne made the wedding take a back seat.  Now, in about one week, the "wedding that should have been" will finally happen and we will become one in marriage.  Even at our age, we have butterflies and can hardly wait.

Everything is in place now with all the arrangements and organization done so all we have to do is pray that Lorne's hernias don't burst before the big day.  He'll be having one more surgery to fix that before we open up the travel page and decide on our honeymoon trip.  It might be this summer; it might have to wait a bit longer.  But at least we'll finally be married!  It has been quite the odyssey!

Stay tuned but in the meantime, be sure to think of our dear Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday and the obliging Roger, our administrator, who keeps things rolling along.

N is for NERVOUS

I hope you're not getting tired of my writing about our upcoming nuptials.  After all, it's not every day that a, shall we say, "mature" couple ties the knot. 

The other night when I went to bed, I lay there with a nervous stomach!  I was thinking about our big day and all the preparations we've done in the last few months and I thought, "Wow! It's finally happening!  Please Lord don't let anything happen to jinx this!"  I had the weirdest butterflies and actually started to shake a bit. 

It has been a long journey for us with ups and downs and twists and turns.  We could have been married back in the early 70's and now be celebrating over 40 years of marriage.  But apparently there was another plan for us.  No point in looking back.  We need to keep our eyes on the path ahead of us and make every day count. 

I heard something amusing, but sweet, the other day about my mother's best friend who is now 95 years young!  She has a 90-year-old beau.  Well, if that news didn't make me feel young, I don't know what possibly could have.  I guess the saying is true - "Just because there's snow on the roof doesn't mean there's no fire in the furnace."

So yes I'm nervous about the big day being a great day!  But I am not nervous about having made the right decision about getting married to Lorne.  This is going to be the wedding that should have been and we will make it wonderful.

Can you guess my colour scheme?  Also, don't forget to give thanks to the noteworthy Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to our noble administrator Roger.

M is for Magical Music

One of the many things I've been working on lately has been music for the wedding.  The song "Do You Believe in Magic" by the Lovin' Spoonfuls came to mind as I mused about all the choices we have for our wedding music.  I do believe that the right music will bring a magical quality to any event, especially to a wedding.  Have a listen.

Lorne is extremely knowledgeable about music, having a collection of probably close to 500 CDs and another 400-500 LPs.  Each piece is in absolutely mint condition, so we have lots to choose from.  We are not having a church wedding, so we're keeping the music more contemporary (rather than traditional or religious).  So I will be walking down the (mini) aisle to a Roy Todd original piano piece called "Radiant as a Bride," (listen here) we will sign the registry to Louis Armstrong's rendition of "It's a Wonderful World," and we will leave the ceremony to James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You." 

One of the CDs we're playing during the reception is called "Unforgettable Sax" with Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable" the first piece of music up - a very appropriate piece of music for us. Also, Lorne has promised to choose the first dance music and I have a feeling he'll choose Van Morrison's haunting "Someone Like You" from his Still on Top - The Greatest Hits CD.   I love the rhythm and the melody and the words are also very appropriate for us. And here are the lyrics and you can hear it here.

I'VE BEEN SEARCHING A LONG TIME

FOR SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN TRAVELING ALL AROUND THE WORLD

WAITING FOR YOU TO COME THROUGH

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU KEEP ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN TRAVELING A HARD ROAD

BABY LOOKING FOR SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN CARRYING MY HEAVY LOAD

WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO COME SHINING THROUGH

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN DOING SOME SOUL SEARCHING

TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU'RE AT

I'VE BEEN UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAY

IN ALL KINDS OF FOREIGN LANDS

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU KEEP ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

I'VE BEEN ALL AROUND THE WORLD

MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM

BUT JUST LATELY I HAVE REALIZED

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

SOMEONE LIKE YOU MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE

SOMEONE LIKE YOU KEEP ME SATISFIED

SOMEONE EXACTLY LIKE YOU

written by Van Morrison © Exile Publishing Ltd / EMI Music Publishing

  

At the after party, we'll take along some of Lorne's best CDs so we can cut a rug on our friends' patio while we whoop it up.  Whatever we end up choosing, I know the music will make the entire day a magical experience for us both.

L is for LISTS

My life is limited by lists, lately.  Some are written down and some are in my head.  When I got married in my 20's, my parents took over and did everything.  It didn't even occur to me to have a say in anything.  It's different now, so I can do everything just the way I want.  But that's not to say it's easy! 

There really is so much to do - arrange the venue, the caterer, the baker, the flowers, the clothes for both the bride and groom and all the attendants.  There are invitations to send out after narrowing down the list to what we're allowed at the venue.  There's a wedding website to write up (you can see it if you're at all interested here) and rsvp's to keep track of and buying gifts for the attendants on both the bride and groom's sides.  There are hair appointments to make and makeup appointments to make and music to write down and get onto a laptop or ipod....the lists just keep going on and on and on.  A friend is making my guest book as she has her own little "Lost Arts Café" where she does hand crafted books and journals.  We decided on the paper and colour scheme together so it's going to be lovely!

I think we're doing pretty well so far.  Monday I saw the florist and the caterer and I must stop in at the bakery.  I have my dress (to be fitted today), my shoes dyed to match, earrings and headpiece (no veil).  The dress is tea length and we decided to have a noon wedding with a type of high tea luncheon afterwards.  Then there will be an "after party" at our friends' place where we'll "get down" to the real partying.

One month from today (May 1st) is the big day and I'm getting very excited to finally marry the love of my life.

Lorne and Leslie

everlasting love

 



Don't forget to think of our legendary Denise who created this wonderful ABC Wednesday and of the laudable Roger, our administrator.  Without them, we'd all be lost!

K is for KAYAKS

Another repeat as I'm still so over my head with details from my recent move.  Hope you enjoy this post from March 2014.

A kayak is a small boat with a covered deck that is used for paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and oceans.  There are always kayaks around my neighbourhood and always lots that you can rent if you don't own one.  I'm a bit nervous about them because you have to know exactly what to do if you go over and find yourself hanging down into the water.  Also, I don't have great upper body strength for paddling, but I do have enough upper body strength to take photos people kayaking.  Here's one of a young boy paddling his kayak and later on, both he and his Dad went paddling past me together.

 

Then one day in September after I'd broken my ankle and was already tired of my four walls, a friend took me for a drive down to Harbour Park and settled me in a deck chair.  Trusty camera in hand, I spied a couple of yellow kayaks coming towards me.  Here's one shot I caught as they silently glided past me. 

It all looks so relaxing, doesn't it?  When my friend Jane from Wales visited me a few years ago, she rented a kayak and paddled all around the tributaries nearby.  She loved it!  Any of you kayak?  Anyone ever tried it?  I wish I could, but I think I'd be much safer on shore.

Hope you like the photos but most of all I hope you like the fact that Mrs. Nesbitt was very keen on creating ABC Wednesday many years ago and that it's still going strong!  And we must remember to be thankful for the kind-hearted Roger who took on administrative duties when ABCW became too large for one person to handle.  He and his team of kindred spirits keep things rolling along each week!  Have a killer week everyone and see you next week with the letter L.

J is for JOYOUS JUMBLE of JITTERS

First of all, I must remind everyone that if it were not for the jazzy Denise Nesbitt, we would not have ABC Wednesday to keep us on our toes each week.  Also, we must thank our very own jolly Roger for taking on the duties of administrator of a blog that has exceeded all expectations! 

That said, I should be going into a very joyful time of my life.  The wedding preparations are moving along nicely and we're now talking weeks instead of months before the big day.  However, mixed with the joy of the upcoming event is a jumble of emotions that include not only excitement, but also jitters and fear. 

We have waited so long for this - one of the most important days of our lives.  And as I am going through my own jumble of emotions, I'm finding that Lorne is exhausted and all stressed out, too.  He's worried about money because he has been jobless for about 18 months due to cancer and the savings have gradually been disappearing.  He's worried about having to have surgery to repair the damage done from his liver surgery.  He's worried the cancer will come back at any time, even though his latest PET scan showed him to be free of it.  And he seems to be looking for reasons to start a fight.

Maybe it's all just normal jitters, but I guess I feel that at our age we should be able to cope better than 20-somethings.  If we can get away to a nice warm sandy beach with palm trees, hopefully we will get all juiced up and be raring to get on with life. 

So let's forget about the big C, broken ankles, and root canals!  Let's just get on with joy of living without the jumble of jitters!  Watch this space...

I is for IMAGINE

There has been so much bad news lately!  Russia and the Ukraine fight over Crimea with the Ukrainians trying to establish a new government and the loss of 239 people who went down in the South China Sea during a Malaysian flight.  Also, Oscar Pistorius is currently on trial for allegedly murdering his girlfriend by shooting her through his bathroom door.  And Syria is still at war, with a Canadian photographer being shot to death the other day. Activists sent his sister a photograph of his corpse!  And not even close to comparison, locals are astonished that Roberto Luongo (goalie of the Vancouver Canucks) was traded to the Florida Panthers. 

All of this horrible news had me thinking about the song written by John Lennon called IMAGINE.  The first two lines of the song, however, indicate his atheism, but overall it does make one stop and think. For myself, I prefer to believe that God's gift to us was peace, but our sinful nature won't stop. Is this God's plan?  Do we have to figure it out for ourselves? Perhaps we will only have peace in the next world.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

JUST IMAGINE 

H is for HOCKEY

First of all, be sure to herald Mrs. Nesbitt for her heroic efforts at creating ABC Wednesday as well as the handsome Roger, our administrator.  Also, don't forget about the honorable and hard-working team that helps out by visiting a share of contributors.  Since we seem to be attracting quite a few new people, we are offering virtual hugs to anyone who'd like to join the team to help lighten the load.  If you would like to help out by visiting 8-10 posts per week, please contact Roger or leave me a comment here.

Well, the 2014 Winter Olympics is over and Canada is again the gold medal champions in HOCKEY - both the men's and women's teams.  It was an exciting series and we enjoyed seeing all the teams play because there were lots of players who play on our local Vancouver Canucks team who were playing for their home countries.  And it was even better than the regular season because (in my humble opinion) there was no fighting!  The games were played the way they were supposed to be played - with good sportsmanship and skill.  Here is our men's team.

And here is our women's team.

Canada did extremely well in all the sports events and we were humbled by the effort all members put into their individual events.  You can see photos of all of Canada's medal winners here.  These are great photos, by the way.  The country came third overall, with only Russia and Norway beating us. Congratulations to our friends and neighbours, the United States of America, who came fourth.

G is for Garden Delights

As I sit here on Saturday afternoon watching the wet snow fall from the leaden sky, all I can think of is that it's time for Spring!  Spring, with flowers blooming and Lorne getting excited about all the pots he's going to prepare for African daisies, echinaceas, fuschias, and tomatoes!  I think most people find that Spring improves one's mood as we get outside in the warm sunshine and our thoughts turn to baseball, leisurely walks along the seashore, and gardening.

With that in mind, I thought I'd give you a little prelude to Spring by bringing you some of my photos of the flowers in and around my garden.  Enjoy and don't forget to turn up the music that accompanies the photos. It's called "Spring Has Sprung."

But before you click on the slideshow, remember the gentle Denise (creator of ABC Wednesday) and the gregarious Roger (our administrator) without whom we would all be out in the cold without ABCW to keep us warm together throughout the cold winter months.

F is for FUN

Hi everyone!  I've been having a lot of fun lately watching the Olympics in Sochi and so grateful to the Canadian athletes who have put their all into their performances.  Canada is doing very well this year and are tied for 3rd place with Norway for total points out of all the countries involved.

I wrote about the Olympics last week, so had to try to think of something else that's fun for me at any time.  And I thought "Gee, I haven't posted about Tegan for ages!"  So I'm going to show you a few photos of the fun we have at the doggie parks or at the beach or even at home.  Hope you have fun watching!

Oh, and don't forget to thanks the fantastic Denise, the creator of ABCW, the fabulous Roger, our administrator, and the fun-loving team of assistants.  Without any of them, we wouldn't be so fortunate to have fun here on ABC Wednesday.

E is for EXCITING

 

The most exciting thing on television right now is the Winter Olympics at Sochi, Russia.  We consider ourselves an "Olympic family" because Lorne was intimately involved with both Vancouver 2010 and London 2012.  So naturally, we watched the Opening Ceremonies Saturday morning at 8:00 am and have been glued to the tube ever since.  

We are rooting for Canada, of course, and are thrilled that we already have one Gold and a Silver for sisters Justine and Choe Dufour-Lapointe in the Ladies Moguls,  a Silver for our Figure Skating Team Event, and a Bronze for Slopestyle Snowboarding going to Mark McMorris, who performed with a broken rib!  And we've only just begun.  Our hockey teams (both men's and women's) won Gold medals in the 2010 Winter Olympics here in Vancouver and are poised to repeat those wins.  Fingers crossed! 

 Chloe (left) won Silver, Justine (middle) won Gold, Hannah Kearney (USA) won Bronze

 Mark McMorris celebrating his Bronze medal win!

 Canada's Figure Skating Team

As I say, we are naturally rooting for Canada, but its so exciting to see each country rooting for its  team.  There are so many very talented athletes competing and we are excited to watch them all.  This morning we watched the Men's 30K Skiathlon event and ended up cheering for the Swiss, Swedish and Norwegians win their medals.  Switzerland's Dario Cologna overcame a broken ankle and worked extremely hard to simply be able to compete. He ended up in tears over his gold-medal win. 

We have also watched the Men's Ski Jump (Normal) and were excited that the Polish athlete won the Gold medal.  We lived with a lovely young Polish couple when we were in London and we keep in touch with them now that they have moved home to Poland.  So we thought of them and their excitement for Kamil Stoch's gold-medal winning jump!  Also, speaking of when we were in London, our congratulations go to Britain's Jenny Jones who won a Bronze medal in Ladies' Slopestyle Snowboarding. 

For the next two weeks, we will be riding high with excitement as we watch the Sochi Winter Games.  We will be thrilled for all the winners and wish them well in their efforts to represent their countries in a sportsmanlike manner.

With thanks to the elegant Denise Nesbitt, creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the easygoing Roger, our Administrator.  If you are interested in joining the team (who are assigned about 10 posts per week to visit), please email Roger.  We're pushing towards 100 participants per week, so we always welcome eager beavers to join in to help.  Have a great week, everyone!

 NOTE:  All photos courtesy of Mr. Google.

D is for DOUBLE DIGITS

This week, I'm celebrating my grandson's 10th birthday, which was actually on January 1st.  Unfortunately, his entire family came down with the flu and was unable to make a big to-do for him.  I remember phoning him to wish him "Happy Birthday" and assured him that I would bring his birthday present over as soon as everyone was well.  I also assured him that he would never ever forget his 10th birthday when he turned "double digits."

We finally managed to get together for breakfast at "the Spot," a well-known family restaurant in British Columbia 1928, on Sunday.  It's famous for its burgers and for its Pirate Packs for children.

When he opened his gift - a "grown-up" Timex Outlander watch, he was thrilled.  He had to put it on right away and then took it off so his Mom could set the date and time for him.  He was quite intrigued at how it read the date in numbers and that it had a seconds ticker, too.

Double digits are exciting to reach the first time, and maybe the second or third time.  However, once the fourth, fifth, or sixth time comes around, we tend to try to disregard it.  But then, if you're like me, you decide to make the best of it and celebrate anyway!  Oh, and by the way, if you look at the little video below, don't think we allow him to be all "bad boy" - he wanted a hoodie for Christmas, which I gave him, and he was so thrilled with it, that he pretended to be a "bad boy."  He even wore it when we went out for breakfast.  So, here's to Noah - HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY!

Now don't forget to give thanks to our darling Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the debonair Roger, our administrator.  Without them or the team of dedicated volunteers that help out by visiting at least 10 posters per week, we would be deeply despondent!  And don't forget to let Roger know if you'd like to be on the team list and visit 10 contributors.  We have lots of newbies (we made it to over 90 for the letter C) so the more people on the team, the less time involved for all.  Thanks!