Merry Christmas To All

I look out my window expecting, wanting, to see snow - it is Christmas time. This year our view includes three poinsettias, because Mark went crazy at home depot and couldn't decide which colour to buy so got them all. The Christmas Cactus is in full bloom, no surprise there considering its name. What is a pleasant surprise is the orchids decided to bloom all at once! So even though I don't have a white Christmas the view is great.
What ever the view is from your front window I hope you enjoy it and have a very Merry Christmas!

Culture Shock

I recently returned from a trip to New England and Ontario and I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my love of the palm trees in California has diminished considerably. The darn things don't even change colour (spelt color in other parts of North America). Plus there's the whole kilometer/mile debacle. I just got used to the rental car kilometer speedometer and driving slower than molasses in February, and now I can't keep up with the traffic. Oh, and I realize that molasses in February line doesn't apply when there is no winter. And did you know that there are no dollar bills in Canada? I miss the Looney and the Tooney - although they can weigh you down. I could go on but I'd sound like a raving lunitic - sufice it to say that we live in a crazy, mixed up world which keeps life interesting. I'm attaching a photo of real trees so if you live where the trees don't change colour you can be amazed.

The Cat Better Not Come Back

I haven't blogged for a long time - darn facebook. I will try to amuse my very few readers with this tale.

Once upon a time, this Monday to be exact, I was working at the store minding my own business when I walked into the office to find a very dirty, mangy cat sitting right in the middle of the room. It scared the daylights out of me but, not generally one to be afraid of cats, I said "Hi there cat, how the heck did you get in here?" Something in the way it looked at me made me nervous so I called Mark, as I've known him to pick up flee infested felines in our garage and tell them they are cute. When it's response to Mark's offering of food was a low growl and much hissing he decided kindness was not going to create a successful outcome. The next step was to shoo it out with a broom - huge mistake. Now the cat is backed into a corner acting like a demon from hell. Only one thing left to do, call animal control. Alas it's Labour Day and they are closed! Now what? I make the decision to lock the beast in the office and deal with him in the morning. For all you animal lovers, yes I left it a bowl of water. When I get there in the morning armed with cat treats to lure "fluffy" from the store he is sitting right by the office door so I figure maybe this will be easy. My first attempt failed when it had followed the trial the the door and I clapped my hands, not in glee but as an attempt to frighten it so it would run outside. Silly me. Instead it ran back to the office! Okay let's try animal control again and set up a new path of treats just in case it works a second time. May I just say that "animal control" is totally useless. They will not come and get an animal unless you have it trapped in a cage. I tried with my utmost logical, calm voice to convince the person on the other end that this cat was inside a place of business and a threat to public safety. She just kept repeating "You have to capture the animal and then we'll come and get it." Lady it I could capture the animal I wouldn't need you! As I'm arguing with this insane person the cat follows my carefully placed treats right out the back door. Just call me the "cat whisperer".

Canada Day, Eh?

We couldn't let July 1 go by without letting everyone know we are proud Canadians! Plus we had to wear our special shirts shipped to us all the way from Chatham Ontario.
I think it would be wise to go buy an American flag, seeing as just a few days ago we were flying a Cuban flag. Why you ask? Because we served Cuban food in honor of Lauren's visit to California. We wouldn't want our Republican neighbors to think we're socialist sympathizers. I avoid talking politics but it's taken me almost five years to learn to keep my mouth shut. Okay, no comments on that please.

Digital Scrapbooking

Was playing at the store today with my computer and I created this page of Scott and Tiff. I just love this photo that Mark took with them framed in an archway in front of a vineyard.
We drove up to Temecula and tasted some wine while enjoying the scenery.

Pure Joy

Have you ever seen happier kids? I love that I was able to capture just a tiny bit of their boundless energy. It took me ten shots to get that look of "pure joy" on Cole's face. Both boys loved the beach and never wanted to leave. The last day of their vacation Mark decided to teach Reid how to fish from the shore. He was impressed that Mark caught a fish and the adults were excited to spot a whale very close to shore. Of course we didn't believe it was a whale, and kept telling Joe it was a seal, but the fish and wild life lady assured us it was indeed a gray whale. The funny thing was Reid informed us he was going fishing for a whale but, although Mark tried, he was pretty sure it would break his line!

Having Fun and Saying Goodbye

We've lived in California for more than four years ( I still can't believe it!) and some our best times have been spent in the company of two young couples who seem like family. Joe and Leanne moved back to Alberta two years ago. They came to visit with their boys so we could say goodbye to Seth and Lauren, who are moving back east.
Sometimes my life seems like an endless series of goodbyes, but not in a bad way. My sister will say I'm a sap, but in order to have close friends you have to be willing to be sad when they leave, or you leave them, to go on one of life's adventures.
My next blog will be about the adventures of two little boys and include bubbles, the beach, and a whale!

A Green Card and Three Places to Call Home

Mark and I are now officially permanent residents of the United States of America and I have mixed feelings. The good news is we don't have to keep applying for a visa every two years. The bad news is Mark can be drafted! Well he's too old, but if he was between 18 and 26 he'd have to register with the "draft board". We can vote in California elections but not in National elections. Good thing the guy I like was elected president. It should be easier to cross the border, but I wonder if Canadians will consider us traitors? The truth is, being Canadian, (I''m of course not speaking for all Canadians) I was often critical of America. Now I have American friends, some who read this blog, who I care for and respect. Really guys I do! And there are many things I've learned to appreciate about this country - not the least of which is the weather. Making the decision to call Huntington Beach home has caused me some anxiety. I was confused enough when I would fly "HOME" and forget if I was going to Windsor, Ontario or Sherwood Park, Alberta. If home is where the heart is, I feel lucky to have three beautiful places, where friends and family live, to call home.

Hail

Yes, my friends we got hail in California today. I was at the gym (okay, stop laughing this instant) and I look the window and it's hailing. Not golf ball size, but enough to cause tiny white puddles to form. Now I know this "Global Warming" thing is all just a hoax. It's cold, windy and raining out and it better clear up before my sister gets here Saturday or she'll have a fit. You might think that she is traveling across the country from Ontario to see her loving sister but I know different. She is trying to escape the winter weather that has plagued most of Canada for the last four months. I'm afraid to talk to anyone for fear they will relate some horrific weather story and end their tale with how much they hate me for living in California. Just so you know it hailed today.

That's More Like It!

That dot on the rocks is Mark fishing. It's been beautiful the last two days. Here is my advice for anyone who comes to Maui. ONE WEEK IS NOT LONG ENOUGH! In spite of all the tourists, of which there are plenty even during this recession, it is a truly beautiful place. It takes at least two days to get into "island mode" and then you blink your eyes and it's your last day. Times a wasting, off to the pool.

A Rainy Day on Maui

is better than a rainy day anywhere else! But two rainy days is pushing it. The first two days were beautiful and we had to make many difficult decisions. Do I walk east or west on the beach? Does Mark fish or snorkel? Do we sit at the pool or on the beach? Wine or beer? Tuna or shrimp? You get the idea.
Yesterday we opted for the Sugar Museum, Walmart and a Scrapbooking Store because they were inside! We got some clearing late in the afternoon so a long walk for me an some fishing for Mark made up for the lost morning. Today it looked like it might clear so before the "showers" rolled in I took off for my walk. By the time I got home I looked like I was in a wet t-shirt contest - not a pretty sight. . So I dried off and we went out for lunch, took in a show along with all the other tourists (Slumdog Millionaire - not for everyone but a good story) and played cards. And I'm blogging while Mark, the eternal optimist, is out buying bait - then we are going out for sushi. Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow.

First Blog of 2009

Can any one tell me what happened in the last half of the 1900s? It's all just a blur to me and here it is almost a decade into the 2000s. I hope everyone had a fabulous New Year's Eve - we had a great time celebrating with "the kids". Our son Scott and his wife Tiffany, and our California friends Lauren and Seth, joined us around the fondue pot. Sticking bit size pieces of food into boiling concoctions at Christmas time has been a tradition in our family for 20 years - and it never ceases to amaze me how full you can get after eating steadily for several hours.