Yet another busy weekend

We had another crazy weekend. On Saturday, we were hit with a surprise snowstorm (talk about a belated April Fools' joke!), but we had stuff to do -- no time to slow down for a snowstorm! Since Paul once again heads to the Netherlands this week, he needed to prepare for the trip, so that's what we did. We got him some new black pants and a couple of ties -- so he can look all schnazzy and important. And he got a haircut, which turned out to be more of a disaster than anything else (we then spent an hour at home trying to fix it).

We also went out and made a big homeowner purchase. We bought a lawnmower.

As for the freak snowstorm, it was over by Saturday night, and then it all melted again. Most of the flowers seem to have survived -- since more and more are popping up every day (I just saw something pink in the front yard this morning -- and we've got daffodils in the back). And the weather is definitely back to normal. It was in the upper 60s yesterday (say, about 19C or so), and it's supposed to be back to 75 today (that's 24C).

Thanks to Daylight Savings Time, it's light out until at least 8 now, so we can go for a nice long walk after work and still have dinner before the sun sets. Now we just need to get some patio furniture -- so we can have dinner on the deck.

Thanks! :)

Thanks for sending the videos yesterday! It was great to see everyone -- if only in pixels.

We had a pretty quiet Easter (though it was a welcome break from the usual insanity). We didn't do our Easter grocery shopping until Saturday night, which meant that there were a few things that were completely out of stock -- so we had to improvise a bit. After church, we put our 12-lb. (!!) ham in the oven (again...it was the smallest one left on Saturday night). Then we went for a walk to the park by the middle school down the street. When we got back, we finished dinner (green bean casserole, twice-baked potatoes -- complete with fresh-grown chives, rolls, and a cake). Once the ham was ready (three hours later...), we ate (and ate). Then we watched a long movie (the second Harry Potter) while munching on chocolate Easter bunnies, and that was about it. Lots of relaxing.

Saturday was a busier day. We spent quality time at Lowe's, shopping for yard stuff. Paul dug up the wood chips in the place where the trampoline used to be and planted some grass seed. It's only the first in a long line of yard projects coming up, but it was also the most important one. The grass should start growing in a couple of weeks, though Paul is convinced that they're special seeds that he planted, so it should be sprouting any day now... ;)

Getting a jump on spring...

Technically, Sunday is the first day of spring -- but we seem to have started early. I first saw the little sprouts in our yard when my parents were here three weeks ago -- and now look what we've got! I noticed that the lavender ones had opened yesterday, and I went outside to do some reading on the deck this afternoon, and I saw the purple ones. I, of course, have no clue what they are, but I'm excited. :)


And more flowers! 

Flowers! 

Is it Wednesday already??

It's been a crazy few days since we got home. After battling insane crowds in the Phoenix airport on Saturday (it was the beginning of Spring Break -- something we no longer know anything about -- and it meant we had to wait in line for over an hour, rush through security, and run to our gate, where they had to unlock the door to let us on the plane at the last minute), we arrived in Columbus on Saturday evening, only to be informed that our luggage would not be joining us. They said we'd get it by noon on Sunday -- unless we wanted to come back at 11 and pick it up. So we waited on Sunday...and we waited. And we finally got our stuff at 3:30. After the whole trip, I think we've decided that we won't be flying America West again anytime soon. I've never had so many things go wrong on one single trip.

Since we got back, we've been a little jet-lagged (we were getting up at 10 or so when we were in Vegas, which is 1 pm here -- and we never really ate until around 2, which is almost dinner time here). And we've been rushing to get caught up on all the stuff we missed. Paul is still trying to hire two new people at work (one of his employees had his last day last week, and another is gone after the end of the month). And I've been hit with my own crises this week. We've had some long work days already this week...

We had a great time on our trip, though. Sedona and the Grand Canyon were gorgeous (though that was a *really* long day -- we left at around 8:30, were in Sedona by around 10:30, made it to the Canyon around 3:30, and got to Vegas at 11 -- or 10 Vegas time). And Vegas was wonderful. We spent a ton of time wandering around, just *seeing* everything. I hadn't been there in about six years, and that's an eternity in Vegas time, so there was so much new stuff to see. And it was hot and sunny (85!), so we got to spend some time hanging out by the pool. Paul got to be one of the first people ever to go on a new ride at the Stratosphere. And I put a buck into the penny slot machines one night and ended up winning dinner. So it was a good trip all around. :)

So that's our latest... But for now, it's back to the grind...

Hello from Arizona!

Hey fam!

It's 10:30 Arizona time, and we're both just about ready to crash. We've had a couple of exhausting -- but fun -- days so far. Yesterday, we went into Phoenix and wandered around an Indian Art Fair and Market at the Hearst Museum. And today we went to Scottsdale -- the rich suburbs of Phoenix -- to buy cheap souvenirs and enjoy the quaintness of it all. Then we headed back toward the city to check out the Desert Botanical Gardens (lots and lots of cacti!) and climb some rocks. Now we're doing a little bit of laundry before collapsing again.

We were supposed to have dinner with my mom's cousin Jayne and her family -- and Mom's Uncle Gord -- but Jayne's had the flu all week. She's been running a fever of 104! I talked to her today, and she's starting to feel better, so we're hoping to see her when we're back in Phoenix on Friday night.

But tomorrow, we're heading out early. We've got a long day ahead of us. We want to check out Sedona -- one of my brother Kurt's favorite places -- before moving on to the Grand Canyon. Then we'll be checking in to our hotel in Vegas at night. Should be another tiring -- but exciting -- day.

So that's our trip so far. Hope you're all doing well back in the cold and snow (actually, it hasn't been *that hot* here, though we have been wearing short sleeves, which is really nice...)

Until the next installment (if we have access again once we get to Vegas...)

j

Home alone

Famous last words... As Paul was doing his finally packing yesterday afternoon, I looked at his ragged suitcase -- the one that's been everywhere in the last four years...the one that can't really zip all that well anymore -- and I said, "We should have gotten new luggage..."

I dropped Paul off at the airport shortly after 4. The weather was horrible on the drive back -- accidents everywhere...and for a moment there, I regretted not holding out for 4WD.

The flight was supposed to arrive in Phoenix at 7:30 (9:30 our time). Paul called at 11 -- and he was just getting to the shuttle stop at the airport. It had been quite a day for Paul. First, the flight didn't leave on time because the plane needed de-icing, and there was a long line-up. When they arrived in Phoenix, they asked those who were staying in Phoenix to let everyone else off first, so they could catch their connecting flights. Then, when Paul made it to the baggage claim, he ended up with a baggage carousel full of his clothes. Apparently, they had inspected his bag, and they didn't really zip it back up -- which eventually led to the total dumping-out of all of his possessions. Fortunately, we watch Airline from time to time, so Paul knew to go to the customer service desk -- and they ended up giving him a new suitcase. Then he shuffled his way out to the shuttle to his hotel, where he called me. Poor guy. But at least he made it.

We had quite the storm last night. And in the middle of it (on the way home from the airport), I went to Old Navy to try on some shorts and capris. It felt pretty strange to hang up my heavy winter coat in the fitting room while trying on shorts... But my plane leaves on Friday afternoon, and it's 75 in Phoenix...

Acupuncture!

I started my acupuncture course today - and I love it! The class is taught in a very contemporary manner - i.e. minimal emphisis on traditional chinese medicine, with the focus instead on the anatomy, neurology, and endocrine system - the various goals are to decrease pain, increase blood flow to an area, and influence the level of secretions (e.g. hormones and blood-borne chemical regulators)...but enough about the technical details. We even had a chance today start using the needles - both with a partner, and also on ourselves. Here's my warning - I'm going to be looking for guinea pigs to practice on, and I figure that anyone who is slow moving will be fair game.

There's about 50 people taking the course - quite a few chiros, a few medical doctors (from New Jersey!), massage therapists, physiotherapists...I saw a couple of people that I knew from school, so we'll be car-pooling to Hamilton together (@McMaster University)

The course will run for 5 weekends between now and June, at which point I will be fully certified to start using it on patients. Talking about patients - I started working in Courtice last week, and it is definitely much busier than the clinic in Whitby (I saw 11 patients on Thursday). Dr. Hadden has been supportive, but has also given me space to do my own thing.


J9