Sweet Deal

One of the things Dad and I like about plane rides is just getting to and from the Seattle airport. The Seattle light rail now takes you all the way to Sea Tac airport, so for the last few months I've hopped on the train there for almost all my flights. I either get a ride to the Mercer Island Park and Ride from a friend or take my car there, park it, and have someone pick it up later and drive it home. Then I take a ten minute bus ride to downtown Seattle and hop on the train. Half an hour later I'm at the airport. And it costs a grand total of $2.50.

Every ride is an adventure. One time I met a little white haired lady at the bus stop. She didn't have a bus pass or enough change (has to be exact) to get on the bus. But she did have 5 quarters. And I had 5 quarters. I gave them to her and she was so happy that she gave me a $2 coupon to Baskin and Robbins that she found at the bottom of her purse. Wonder what'll happen tomorrow on my way to catch my flight to Edmonton...

Working with Les Sykes

So this past week I have worked with the living legend Les Sykes. He has been remodeling the Belgravia home and I have been able to lend him a hand. I have learned how to put siding on a house, install door knobs, and do other kind of house stuff. Les has been helping remodel or fix things around our home for probably 15 years since he did stuff at the Brander Gardens house. Les knows how to fix and make anything. He has built his own home, he can fix computers, and he can fix cars. Les could basically could get himself out of any mechanical job, just like McGyver.

My first Edmonton Capitals game

So Jordan, Spencer, Oliver, and myself went to a baseball game. The Edmonton Capitals are the local baseball team here, they are not in the minor league system they are in fact part of the Golden Baseball League (yes that is the real name of the league). It was a good game, but the Capitals could not hold onto their lead and ended up losing to the Calgary Vipers 10-8. Oh well, guess they will have better luck later. Telus field is where the Capitals play and the stadium is pretty small so any seat is a good seat and tickets are only $10.

Man down...I repeat...we have a man down...

When we got home this afternoon, Oliver had ice cream all over his face and hands. And as soon as I got him wiped off I turned a movie on and we snuggled together on the couch. The reason for my pampering involves a broken guitar string, an electrical socket and an irrepressible curiosity to know what happens if I stick this in here....

As I approached the front desk of the Medi Centre, Oliver was waving his electrical burns in the air and complaining of both the pain he felt and the fact that he wanted to sit up on the desk. I had my arms full of Benjamin and was still feeling like a terrible mother for not having all the electrical outlets in the house covered up. I was upset to say the least.

Enter beautiful angel.

This older woman jumped up, gently grabbed Oliver and sat him up on the desk. She smiled a refreshing smile and told Oliver how he was going to be just fine. She continued to stay with us until we were directed to the doctor's room which she carried Oliver to. I was so overcome with gratitude for this woman who just jumped into my life, and who sensitively responded to a situation which was greatly improved because she acted. It may not seem like that was a big deal, but it was to me. I always find kindness and random acts of generosity, like spotting a deer in the forest, breathtaking.

We had a great time at "cousin camp" with Nana and Grandpa! Thanks again for hosting. Thought I'd post a few photos from the past couple weeks with my record-keeping assignment formerly known as 

Project 365- click on the image for more details

Pig Roast

So partially as an effort to up my posts but mostly to get some ideas from family members. I was thinking we could throw some ideas about what to do for the Family Reunion. My vote is we do a pig roast. This way Momma has an easy way of looking at ideas for what we could do. Let's just say roasting an entire pig has been a dream of mine and roasted pig is incredibly delicious. I'm just saying ......

Baldness: Disease, Curse, Blessing or what?

So I was sitting with Ian and Melissa and the gang for breakfast yesterday and somehow the conversation turned to baldness and how the boys were going to encounter the genetic equivalent of "the perfect storm" given their bald familial predecessors. I thought about how sad it will be when Action Jackson loses his lushous locks and Chrissie's curls face the onslaught of cruel merciless genetic science as it goes to work on his scalp. I also thought about how Julian and Caleb will have to confront this challenge and hoped that it would be later rather than sooner. At which time Ian and Melissa both nonchalantly observed that my hair was thinning a bit since the last time I saw them. At first I didn't really believe it and just thought they were maybe joking or something but then I realized oh no they weren't! I tried to keep my regular calm cool demeanor but inside I was deeply troubled there was no denying it.

The rest of the day was spent thinking about the slow, steady erosion of my hair follicles by the crown of my head and thinking why? I swear I could feel the thinning spot on my head tingle as my precious hair was rapidly fleeing from my head to seek out new, youthful more exciting and rich heads of hair. Every once in awhile I would put my hand to my hair to try to feel if indeed my hair was thinning and sadly indeed it was. I didn't understand. I was supposed to be safe. Guido was supposed to ensure a progeny of men with long lushous locks until middle age and beyond. Grandpa is no slouch either having held on to a respectable amount of hair into his 80s. I guess I got an extra helping of Schneider genes which is both a blessing and a curse. And why before I was married I mean come on?

The sad reality is it is a fact I will one day probably be bald (It's still early who knows maybe my hair will stick around) but there are no guarantees. I guess what I am saying is it was an unpleasant surprise and I thought I was safe. Baldness strikes many different men at different stages and at varying degrees some people know that it is likely coming ie) sorry to all the male children of Melissa, Goo and Wooz but other times it comes like a thief in the night. I guess I'll have to do some research and see how far away science is from finding a cure. If worse comes to worse I can also see if there's a bald Bill Gates out there anywhere.