By the time I get to Phoenix...

Here I am enjoying the inside of a hotel in Phoenix. I was outdoors for a total of 20 minutes today.

The Ritz hotel is very nice. It quite old-worldy. But I really wish I had time to stay here for a day and explore the area.

Mads received a video message

yikes....creepy....wow.....cool!

Dee Dee received a Christmas video from Santa.

Bethan is now scrambling a letter together in the hopes that she too may get a message.....hmmm...will she be on the Naughty or Nice list.

First winter storm warning of the season.

NewYork to Atlanta

Well here I go again. In late after a long night of work last night, up at 5:30 to catch the flight and its straight through work until 10pm tonight in Atlanta. I am already exhausted.

I stayed at the W Court hotel in Manhattan Sunday night. What a dump. It used to be some old tired hotel but the lobby and carpets were updated. But apart from the furniture the rooms were as rough as I have ever seen....well I suppose there is a crappy hotel in Paris and the first one in Milan I stayed in that were worse.

Nothing terribly notable to report about NYC, other than I see "the hunter look" is the latest fashion. Lots of green quilted or coarse tweed jackets. Many of the long boots are brown now.

Ciao for now.

34km Tour de Green Belt

We have just completed a bike tour sponsored by Mountain Equipment Coop. We passed many local wineries, lovely countryside and from one vantage point could see the CN Tower and Skydome across the lake!

Sunny San Diego

Well this is my view from my meeting. It is apparently sunny and warm outside - but I wouldn't know!!

Hope you are all well.

Its Rory from Hamish Macbeth!

He is with his son flying to Las Vegas from New Jersey.

Fallen Soldier Being Escorted Home

No picture for this posting.

When I arrived at the gate I noticed many passengers looking out the window. When I looked to see what was so interesting I fearing my flight was delayed - I noticed three lines of police in formation in front of the loading equipment down on the tarmac by the plane.

Eventually a van towing a coffin draped in the Canadian flag pulled up. The escort from the armed forces got out - one dressed in his desert camouflage - and saluted the coffin as it was loaded.

I have never witnessed this before - except for the 10 second glimpse you might see on the news. Its so slow and still. It was dead silent inside the terminal. It was very moving.

The escorts are here on this flight sitting a few rows ahead of me. I wonder what awaits in Edmonton. I wonder who is waiting on the other end. Someone terribly heartbroken I am sure.

i c u!

i see you on the podium!! good job a million times jack!!!!!!!!!!!!! once again, computer five!! oh yeah!!!

Here he is

night night

goodnight mommy!! goodnight daddy!! nighty-night jacko!!
see you tomorrow!!!!!

love ya!!<3 (:

mum!!!!!!!

hey i had fun today i blindfolded Deedee when we brought up her cake and she loved it. earlier deedee and i went outside and rode our scooters. we went over to tribute when we got there my wheel got caught and i fell right on my hands. i got a small cut it was bleeding a little bit but when i showered i think i got soap in it so it was really stinging. earlier me and Megan went over to Mack's
and bought slushies.

i miss you.
-betty<3

hey yo...miss you guys so much too!!!

Can not wait to see you tomorrow. Dee I am so glad you liked your flowers - I am sure they are as beautiful as you.

Remember to take the bus home on Monday.

If you are not reading this until Monday morning, we will see you later today babes

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

hey

Hey mommy kinzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz hey Daddy kinz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i miss you so much!!!!! its almost ready for BED but will you send me a messege back???? from Maddie

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYESSSSSSSSSSSS
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GIDDY GOSH!! I HEARD YOU CAME 3RD JACK!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COMPUTER-FIVE!!

Jacko Medals at Easterns

Jack came 3rd overall at Easterns.
Again he was the best out of his club.

wow!!!!!!!

deedee just got home with uncle gareth and she toke daisy for walk. we saw the cake of flowers and
its beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
here is Deedee:yo mommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I love the flowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



from MADDIE

Bouy o bouy

A few parents were asked to drive carloads of gymnasts into Halifax for the day today. Jack didnt get much sleep last night so he stayed behind sleeping.
This is an old bouy on display outside a museum near the waterfront in Halifax. It has a big sign painted on the side: "NO CLIMBING"
*sigh*

Aarrrrgh!

Happy Birthday Maddie!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Madelaine,
Happy Birthday to you!
(You look like a monkey,
And you smell like one too!)

We are thinking of you today 9 year old and we can't wait to see you tomorrow to give you 9 birthday bumps!

Xoxoxoxoxoxooxxoxoxoxxoxo
Mum and Dad

Good night chics!

Sleep well and sleep in.

We picked up a little treat for you both today and can't wait to see you on Monday.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub to Daisy too!

cool!!!!!!!!!

hey we just got back from the keg and we had a great time. tell jack i bought him an archie comic. i got three at chapters. one for me one deedee and one for jack. me and nana are about to go over to longos to buy a small cake for deedee for tomorow. do you think she'll like the one dad gets alot, the white choclate one? i think so and thats what we're getting.
anyways did you get my e-mail? if you did, don't you think its funny? Tee Hee!!!!!!!

Bye-bye


P.S- tell jack i say goodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluck
goodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluckgoodluck times a billion for tomorow.

Cape Split at the Head of Fundy

Here we are exploring the local area. Cape Split is the narrow point that joins the Bay of Fundy to the Minas Basin. Here the tide roars through this gap as it fills the Minas Basin. We drove the road to the end and then discovered the hiking trail to the end of the point is 8km each way so we thought we had better not attempt it considering it was 4pm and Mum was wearing mules.

So instead we climbed down the bank to the shoreline. Mum sat down and had a little kip in the sun.


A view up the Cape.

Jack's Second Pass

jackyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

oo oo! oo oo! rah! rah! go! jack! go! whooooo! good luck jacko!!!!!!!!!!!

Jack Takes 3rd Place at Acadia!

Jack competed in his first round and came third. Jack did the best of all of Oakville B Tumblers. So he advances to the finals tomorrow.
We are having a good time in the fog and rain.




Here he is in his new gansta hat.

mommy!

hey mum whats up? this morning i threw deedees softball at her and she tried to hit it. i think she hit one or two but we didnt do that for very long.
you were right, i already feel better about what happend on friday.

i <3 you

Hey Chics....we landed

In foggy, rainy and gray Halifax!

Hope you both had a good day at school and enjoy a movie tonight OK. There is chips in the cupboard.

Love Mommy and Daddy

PS
We spoke to Jack and he is good too.

Bye, Bye Betty and Maddie-Kinz

Have a good weekend - we love you lots!!!!

A couple of things girls......

Betty
-take care of your knee, icing, exercises and use your brace
-get your homework done
-clean your room

Dee Dee
-get your homework done
-clean your room

Keep watching the blog babes!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxox

Say no more!

Yuck!

In my waste this morning, I reached into my shaving bag for my toothbrush and toothpaste, loaded up the brush, and just before I stuck it in my mouth....I glanced at the tube and saw it was Polysporin!

Go Betty! Go Betty!

Earn yourself the full day off school tomorrow chic!

Here I Go Again

You know, its kinda funny how I hop on a plane to go to work. Its just like getting into a taxi, or the subway. I think nothing of it.

So I am off to Fort Lauderdale. I think I am going to change my name to Morty for the duration of my stay there. I will become John again when I get home Friday. Ok Loretta?

Test

Free skiing

Today our we headed off on a two hour jaunt to ski. The conditions were questionable, melting and mild. We were hopeful but as we approached the base streams of skiers were heading back to their cars. We stopped a couple and asked about the conditions. They shrugged and cited the conditions as "OK!". We parked and with hesitation headed towards the lodge. At the last minute I stopped another family fishing for a faint hope considering the 5 hour (round trip) car ride our family of 5 had undertaken. Again they responded with the shrug however this was followed with an offer of their unused lift tickets at which point they whipped out a key chain exacto and quietly sliced off their tickets and handed them over. There was still 5 hours remaining on their 5 lift tickets. What to do??? After all we were with our impressionable 8,10 and 12 year olds. But the prospect of the drive and the $200 plus price tag for very questionable conditions hung heavily in the air. I did glance at my kids, "uh....this is probably wrong" but in a split second I did the shrug (for a different reason) and headed onto the slopes feeling ever so smug and slightly guilty. It turned out to be one of the best skiing days with few crowds and occasional peep of the sun. As I drove home the guilt returned however my brain rationalized my decision as I decided that ski resorts might want to consider offering a one run trial pass for questionable conditions or even for those ski newbies so that families like mine wouldn't be tempted by alluring offer that presented itself today.

IMG00067-20090204-1218.jpg

Nob Hill Cablecar

Big Sushi

Capt Eddie Rickenbacker's

Losts of old motorized bicycles in this bar. These were before modern motorcycles. They still had pedals!

Fries with Eyes

Look at what I am eating!

Smelts.
Baby fishes with the heads on.
I am gobbling them up whole.

And yes, the eyes are crunchy.
Mmmmmmmm!

Eating Fish?

What else would you decorate a fish restaurant with?

Streetcars on Powell St.

The streets of San Francisco!

San Francisco

Mr. Sneakers

I forgot to post this when I was in Chicago last week!

Check out this little dude!
He's got baby blue sneakers on!
And a sweater!

Mr. Stripes, eat your heart out!

January is...

National Hobby Month in America!
(Oh Sarah you are gonna love this one!)

Excerpt from an article:
"January is a time for fresh new starts. So why not take up a new pastime? Painting, collecting, gardening or reading. As Dale Carnegie said, 'Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.'"

Suggestion #1: Gliding through the rainforest in an open-air gondola.

Oh mummy, you would look so good and relaxed in the rainforest, hanging from a tree, crapping yourself!

tumbling

hey dad

guess what? im tumbling all week. I'm training monday to friday! This way im ready for the cometition. Will u be here to watch my competition?

BTW:will you tape my passes?

thx

Volleyball

Hey daddy! did you see the picture? I had so much fun last night at volleyball! Although we lost every game, on are last game we played the Chargers,who are the HARDEST team, we beat our score wich was 11 after we played the chargers and before it was 7! I did 2 hits that mr.g said were really good. I had funn!! c u!

OBAMA!!!

B in action

B's first volleyball tourney

Playing mostly against some pretty experience Grade 6 teams, Sunningdale Grade 5 girls improved with each and every game and finished their final game with 11 points which was their best achievement of the night. Nice to finish on a tourney high!

Obama and Martin Luther King Jr.

I have also seen tshirts with Obama and Dr Kings's faces here in Atlanta. I forgot that King is buried here.

Atlanta was at the centre of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Today is a very important day here.

Obamamania in Atlanta

When I arrived at the airport in Atlanta I saw two guys dressed all in the baggy hiphop clothes - the new baseball cap with a sequined Detroit logo on it, the Air Jordan high cut basketball shoes and the big over sized pants and jacket. Peeking out from under the jacket was a huge face of Barak Obama - who will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. The cool thing about it was that one guy was in his 20s and the other in his 50s. Both agree that Obama is a rockstar!