Home Safe n Sound

Well, I made it home safe and sound and surprisingly enough it is sunny and not snowing. The roads are basically clean to the pavement. What a pleasant surprise. Maybe it will be the March weather that will cover us in white again. Now that I am home, it is hard to get myself motivated to do anything of real worth. I have emptied my suitcase, and do have a load of wash going on now. That's pretty good I think. I have gone through all my emails, opened all the mail and cleaned it out. Now, I guess I have to reconnect with friends I have not really spoken to for 4+ weeks. Holidaying has so many good things about it but it is hard to 'get back to real life' once you return. Guess for now I will take it easy and 'ease into life'. Will continue watching the Olympics this weekend and start on life later!

One More Sleep

Well, it's been awhile since I have been home. Actually, I was away to Vancouver from Jan 24 to 31 and returned home for one day before we took off to Hawaii for three weeks. However, I just HAD to see our newest granddaughter so....we organized a continued stopover with a later flite home. It has been great being here during Olympics as so much is going on. There definitely is a 'fever' in this City. I am impressed! We spent the day walking around BC Place, down Robson Street, etc and the streets were filled with people. So many had red sweaters, red hats, scarves, Canada flags, fleece jackets, you name it! It was great. The weather was wonderful too although the last two days have now had rain. That has caused some fog and some delays I guess. Anyway, I am packing tonite as I leave at 9 am tomorrow. Kids will be in school and I will be headed back to my real life. Can't get into the whole thing yet as I am savouring my time here. So close and yet so far. Guess you need to enjoy whatever you are doing - when you are doing it! So, that's exactly what I am doing!

On Canadian Soil

Well, we made it back to Vancouver. Thankfully, it did not take quite as long. Almost an hour shorter in time We had the wind behind us! Met a lady on the plane who sat beside me. She had travelled from New Brunswick to Victoria to take her 21 year old daughter to Hawaii for her birthday! What a gift that is, right?! I'm sure that does not happen all the time. She had some good stories to share so I never did get back into my book. On arrival, we thought it would be a quick trip to the car rental place and I took off looking for it through the crowds. And I do mean 'crowds'. Olympic fever was there. Then I realized we only wanted a taxi not a car rental so we had to begin again in the que to lineup for the taxi. It took us 40 minutes. Thankfully, the weather was ok as I had shorts on with light shirt. Once in the taxi it was only 20 minutes to home. Got in about 1:15 a.m.  Visited with our daughter and granddaughter (3 weeks old) and then went to bed for a few hours. We had a taxi reserved to pick John up at 5:30 a.m. He was up long before that. Via email he told me he slept on the plane but is tired today. That makes two of us. I was up at 7 or so to talk to the grandkids and then we had a bite for breakfast and ready for church. We had to take the bus so that was exciting. We were late for church but it all worked out. Tonite we are watching Canada vs USA in hockey. So far we are tied (again). Anyway, we are back on Canadian soil and I will be here in Vancouver for a few more days to visit the kids and then home to the routine. It's always hard to end the vacation.

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Well, today is the day. We are on our way! I am just checking out my internet and in the meantime we find out that checkout time is not 12 noon but 10 am.  Yikes, it is 9:15 a.m.  Thankfully, we are all packed and ready to go except for JD taking a shower! He was all ready to go for a short hike. Not this time! So...here is my final report of Hawaii. It has been great. Today the weather is absolutely beautiful (of course). I hate to put on my long pants but the plane is always chilly to me. Back on go the running shoes and the jacket comes along as well. Oh, Paradise, why for art thou not in my back yard?? Anyway, we had a great time and we are still looking forward to the adventure of seeing and holding our newest grandchild. How great is that! Talk to you soon...back in the humdrum of life. To be continued...

Not Gone Yet

Wait a minute. I re-read my blog and see that I was talking leaving already! Yikes, I really should not even mention the word until I am on my way. so... let's start over. We have a few more days in paradise and we want to take every opportunity to enjoy them! There was a beautiful sunrise today and we even had a rainbow in the sky over the ocean. How great is that? We had some cool weather yesterday (no rain) but lots of wind and cloud. Something about the trade winds?! who knows but it did affect our sunshine. We were on the beach (but bundled in our towels). What kind of paradise is that? Anyway, the sun did come out eventually and we are back on track again. My cries of woe really arose because of the sunshine not being there like it has been for the past 2 weeks! reminds me of that song about the boy who goes to camp and it is raining and he wants to come home but then says ... 'wait a minute.....it's stopped raining....guys are swimming....guys are sailing....playing baseball....gee that's better.....mother, father, kindly disregard this letter!! So....get the idea. I am out in the sun for another few hours! It's not over till it's over!

Counting the Days

Well, I guess it is time for countdown. We leave for home on Sat and that means we will need to get as much Vit. D as we can get!! Hopefully the weather will coooerate. What else does it do in paradise!! I am making a stop on the way home to visit our new granddaughter. Will stay a few days as my hubby heads home to clean driveways and check out the mail, etc. There is always lots to do when you get home after being away for a few weeks. Me on the other hand would rather see what's happening with my 3 week old granddaughter! I know she is growing and they do grow so fast in the first year. She is not a "baby' anymore as she is already three weeks old. She has put on weight and little fat and now looks like a baby. If you know what I mean. Anyway, the time is coming for us to return to our old life. Funny thing. We do have an old life. You don't feel that way when you are on vacation though, do you! Will check in again for another update when we leave. Good-bye paradise.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Having another great day in the sunshine. I wonder if the people who live here (Hawaii) ever get tired of the sunshine? We certainly haven't (yet). I guess you can always get too much of a good thing - just ask the ones with the red and white lines on their body! Someone should have told them to wear sun screen or GET OUT OF THE SUN! However, we always think we have had 'just enough' and that is usually already 'too much'.  I too have had a bit too much. I am thinking once I hit the cooler weather I will be peeling 'fast'. Oh dear. All that time in the sun and it will soon be 'going down the drain'. Memories, memories. Thank goodness we will still have them.

Went to Costco today. They have everything there a person could need and lots we don't need too. Did a little walk around and then were happy to head back to our 'condo heaven' and just watch the sunset over the ocean. Beautiful. It doesn't get much better than this. Hope everyone at home is enjoying the snow. I am trying to figure out a way to get to the coast to see our new granddaughter without losing my job at home?! Maybe I will have to 'retired' again!