fachside

Church-hopping in Mexico

2008-04-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

Continued from "The Tale of Two Churches and a feeding station" (see April 4th post).

Easter Sunday, March 23 found us in Church #4 where our lifelong friends Reg (standing in the doorway) and Tish Loeppky attend whenever they are away from their temporary home in Peach Land, B.C. I found Iglesia Cristiana Congregational to be a good example of "ancient-future" worship. The service reminded me of the church I attended as a child as we were singing "Christ Arose," "Christ the Lord, Is Risen Today," and "Victory in Jesus" . . . all a bit slow for my taste, but so nostalgic it didn't matter. Then they added a favourite contemporary Easter song of mine: "You Are My King." The pastor had an excellent message and the traditional liturgy was almost identical to what we're used to at Trinity Church where the creeds have been resurrected and where the prayers and expressions of worship seem to be more consistent with the rest of Christendom. But, the big plus was their youth group.

The Spanish congregation gathers at 10:30 a.m. As well, these young people joined us for the English service at 8:30 a.m. They performed every Friday night in March (except Good Friday) to raise funds for their youth group. We went to hear them twice. The two guys in the front row are the sons of the music director.

This is Church #2 mentioned in the April 4th post. They were a friendly people and we went there a lot since they offered tourists free internet access . . . plus you didn't even need to darken the door in order to check the temperature! They also gave visiting pastors a copy of The Dumb Gringo, a book written by their pastor, Fred C. Collom, in which he tells how not to do missions. While serving the Mexican people for almost 30 years, he has helped to plant 18 churches.

The dark side of Mexico

2008-04-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

this photo by Glenn Doerksen

The sun is setting in Mazatlan but the night is still young. It's only 6:15 p.m.

Later in the evening we went to a fancy hotel to see the Fiesta Mexicana. It was over by 10. Our villa was less than a block away from this idyllic bit of paradise but we didn't go straight home. This was Semana Santa, the time to celebrate the end of Lent by staying up all night to dance and play. One writer calls it "Easter madness." Live groups were playing everywhere and we walked around to see a few of them. You might say the crescendo was very much the opposite of diminuendo. The last time this happened in March was in 1913 and since it won't happen again until 2228 - 220 years from now, we thought it was safe to book for next year.

Every night the crowds seemed to be moving closer and closer to our door. Before going to bed I stepped outside to see just how close and . . . there they were . . . sitting right on our step. And there were ten of them. But these were not the revelers; they were the police, getting ready to keep the noise down to a dull roar. One of them spoke English and when he translated my request to take their picture, they all seemed quite pleased.

Every night the noise continued until around 6 a.m. The noisiest morning of all was the result of one lone truck radio playing at full blast - right under our window! Darlene had better luck the next day and found about three live bands going at full throttle. It was 6:30 a.m.

I'm convinced that everyone plays a musical instrument in Mexico.

Cavorting on a catamaran

2008-04-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

Rather than risking our lives on a surf board, four of us opted to take this catamaran. The Tahitians call them war canoes. In Newfoundland they are used as heavy duty sleds. Go figure - we had snow in Calgary this morning). During our March vacation in Mexico, we chopped our way across the bay to Deer Island. Talk about a fun ride.

Most of the time we just basked in the sun. Shhhhh . . . . Darlene is planning her next trip.

She has found a nice place to do her homework, just outside the Hotel Playa Mazatlan, a block away from the villa where we stayed.

It gets a bit crowded further down the beach just behind Joey's Oyster Bar.

Welcome to our Mexican villa

2008-04-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

We've just returned from a warm, snowless month in Mazatlan. Here's a peek through our bedroom window at Villa Palermo.

Canapes for two beside the pool . . .

and the multi-purpose palapa complete with electrical outlet . . . and shade.

The ocean was only a block away.

The tale of two churches and a feeding station

2008-04-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

Truth be told, we visited four churches in Mazatlan. Church #1 actually visited us. Our first full day in "the land of the deer" was a Sunday so we had to visit the market. Darlene loves the market, plus we have to eat. Lo and behold - there was a church service going on right there in one of the main aisles. Wonderful! The Bread of life being offered right there next to the vegetables and meats - something you might have seen in Bible times.

Church #2 was same old, same old - inside a building and away from the market place. The songs were upbeat and the message was about "Life's Storms and God's Imperfect People." It would have encouraged anyone and it reminded me of the sermons I hear in my home church. But it was the announcements that really got my attention. We were informed about feeding the children and planting other churches and how we could help. Darlene and I decided to join the volunteers the following Saturday.

After making the sandwiches, we boarded this bus and traveled out to Dona Chinita, a run-down colonia (suburb) where squatters have been granted tiny parcels of land for building their homes. After their first visit to Mexico, the couple you see leading the singing decided to come back to work among these people and have moved right into their community.

We passed many homes just like this one. Some have livestock in their small yards. Actually, these homes look like palaces compared to the hovels where they once eked out an existence.

Because of opposition from various groups it is next to impossible to get a permit for a church building. So they call this a "feeding station." They also meet on Saturday instead of Sunday to avoid more conflict. What you see in the background is the first stage of a new "church" building. It consists of a 50' x 70' slab of concrete covered over by a metal roof. As the congregation grows, the walls will eventually go up and it will gradually take shape.

For me, this is a truer picture of the church in Dona Chonita. Darlene has her arm around an older girl. When she was standing between us, she wanted to practice her English. Looking up at us she asked, very slowly, "How . . . are . . . you?" The only way I was able to answer her was with a smile. I hope she knew how happy I was to make her a sandwich.

To read about Church #4, see "Church hopping in Mexico" (April 7th post)

Blue is beautiful

2008-02-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

From photographs taken from outer space like those in the previous post, our planet appears to be a spectacular blue. But, never has blue been more beautiful than the eyes of Anna, our newest grandbaby. We know this for a fact because we've just returned from spending a whole month with her and her family in Buxton, England. And, wouldn't you know, blue happens to be the colour of her grandma's eyes too. As you can see in the picture, sometimes she even uses her left hand to play with her toys. If she keeps that up, it might be something she got from me.

So, what's he up to now?

2007-08-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

It seems like only yesterday when this dude touched down on planet earth. Then, before we knew it, he had his engineering degree and was off to Denmark on a student exchange. This week he took off for France and two more years of training.

He loves to play soccer and does so with finesse and blazing speed. However, this isn't his main goal in life. The following pics of NASA's recent "Endeavor" will give you an idea of what he's really up to.

If I were to tell you that the University in Toulouse has accepted him into their Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering program, you might guess he has aspirations of astronomical proportions. You also wouldn't need to be a space scientist to figure out that he wants to be (and is), well . . . a space scientist.

Yup. One of these days Logan Jones will be that astronaut climbing out of the space shuttle and giving us all a big wave . . . over North America no less.

All choked up

2007-08-31T06:09:00.000-07:00

There was a bountiful supply of chokecherries in Edmonton's river valley and we made good use of them. When we moved back to Calgary, we found another good source down by the Elbow River. But this year? For some reason, no berries. Since our supply of jelly and syrup has run out, we've been on the hunt.

Actually, we have a couple of black schubert cherry trees in our back yard. They're also called prunus virginiana, Canada Red Cherry or Rocky Mountain chokecherry, depending on where they grow. The birds have harvested most of ours so I've been looking over the fence a bit. The neighbours are generous. Our boulevards are also prolific with these trees but no one bothers to pick the berries. Not even Darlene. So, I guess it's up to me and the birds.

The snow is gone!

2007-08-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

All that snow you saw in my last post finally disappeared. This is what our summers are supposed to look like. But, we have lots of surprises. Less than two weeks after those pictures were taken, we were hit by one of the heaviest downpours on record. Out for the evening, on the drive home we witnessed a dazzling display of light and sound. It was a thunderstorm like none I had ever seen before. Though spectacular, it was also frightening. Cars were caught in the underpasses and many homes were flooded.

The sun always comes out again in Alberta. The flowers grow as do the trees. But not the vegetable garden. The soil isn't that great and the trees need the moisture. So, a decision was made; we'll grow rocks this year!

This is what we came up with. What is special about this little corner in the yard is that you can enjoy the warmth of the sun while you have your morning coffee. And it's quiet. Plus, in the evening, it's cool. No more weeds to worry about either.

So, do you take yours black, or would you like some cream and sugar?

Vacation time in May?

2007-05-24T08:52:00.001-07:00

After the long winter, thoughts are turning to warm vacation spots. Our family has been looking at some possibilities in the Okanagan. We really like the one that reminds us of a place we stayed at in Provence two years ago. It's booked for this year so we're thinking maybe next summer. For this year, we might find something closer to home.

Here's one that has a lot going for it. One of the features is a pathway that shovels itself; a must for these parts.

At the back there is a nice shady spot where you can put your feet up and read the paper with your morning coffee. They say it's a good idea to bring appropriate clothing. Long underwear and parkas would work.

This happy getaway has two fireplaces to warm you up on those chilly days. A valuted ceiling in the great room gives you that alpine feeling. Heartier souls can step through garden doors out to the deck and barbecue. For those needing some steamy relaxation, the hot tub is always close by.

However, it is recommended that you bring your own snow shovel. The garden tools tend to get lost under the drifts.

Here's looking at you, kid

2007-04-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

He landed on the mountain ash just outside our dining room window. Was he watching me? He pecked a bit at the tree; maybe looking for nesting material? Then he jumped down to the stone path and hopped over to the sidewalk. After doing a little dance, he bounced onto the lamp post ledge and had a drink. Flying back to another tree, he just sat there. He seemed to be on a mission of some kind. What was he up to? Then it hit me; he was waiting for someone.

About half an hour later he had left the tree and was back on the sidewalk. Sure enough, there she was. Now there were two. Spring has finally sprung and soon there will be two or three more.

How sweet she is!

2007-03-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

Her name is Anna Jean Fach Brower. She arrived on Friday, March 23 - two days ahead of schedule and only half an hour after her mommy and daddy arrived at the hospital. Good thing they were only 15 minutes away or she would have been born in a black cab in central London! You can see from Sandra's smile that her delivery went very well.

Home from hospital, our newest granddaughter is being held and loved by her daddy and little brother.

My favourite picture of all . . . Lev (Leon's Russian handle) looking past the cell phone and leaning in for a gentle touch. For more pictures, check out Derek's revived blogsite.

From a Mexican heat wave to our shivering timbers

2007-02-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

We are truly blessed living close to most of our family in Calgary. We love the house we live in. Yet, the winter cold is starting to get to us. This picture was taken on February 14th. As you can see, stepping out on the deck does not give you that warm, fuzzy feeling you get in the tropics. Don't get me wrong. We love the seasons here, but after experiencing some of that sunshine and warmth in Puerto Vallarta over Christmas, we just might turn into a couple of Canadian snow birds.

Daniel, Adam, and Jesus

2007-01-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

No, this is not a Bible story. Although . . . it might fit in the Book of Proverbs or maybe with that rule about not coveting your neighbour’s condo. The story takes place in the Promised Land of Mexico. I discovered you don’t need to venture into a casino to be tempted in Puerto Vallarta. On most main streets, handsome solicitors with that “help me help you” look on their faces are everywhere. They reach out for you unashamedly, pulling you in to show you a good time.

With his down home friendliness and charm, Daniel took the cake. Pulling out maps and descriptive folders, he wanted to answered questions and show us the way to happiness. He gave us some great hints. One must see was the Mexican Fiesta featuring Mariachi Music, Folkloric Show and Buffet, a dancing horse, plus a dad and his young son twirling lariats.

We were also told about Rhythms of the Night. Only an hour by sea, you sail to a secluded jungle hideaway in the cove of Las Caletas. Because there is no electricity, you are welcomed by 1200 flickering torches and soft music. Following the entertainment, you dine beside the moon-lit ocean with tropical palms swaying overhead. There is no way we were going to miss that.

Eventually Daniel got around to the gold card which entitled you to discounts of up to 40% for various events including those just described. All we needed to do to obtain one was sit through a 75-minute presentation. Daniel even offered to escort us to Villa del Palmar Flamingos - the resort he was pushing. The deal also included breakfast. On our way, he pulled out his cell to report his catch. They informed him we did not qualify because we were not staying in one of the places named on the preferred accommodations list.

Daniel was explaining he had spent a lot of time with us, and would they make an exception. They could but we would need to give the name of a hotel close to where we were staying. To thank us for going along with their scheme, we were offered an additional discount on the two special events we wanted to take in. As we pulled in, Daniel was penciling “Room 125, Rosita Hotel” on our “application.” It reminded us of a year ago, traveling in Russia, carrying documents that were obtained only after parroting false information dictated to us by the Russian officials themselves. It seems the whole world has forgotten all about the 9^th commandment.

The sales rep assigned to us turned out to be Adam, who wasted no time leading us down the garden path. I mean, the place was beautiful, just like a garden. The outdoor restaurant and pools were splendid. The rooms were spectacular, each with its own ocean view. Back to the real world, the murmur of voices in the selling arena was cacophonous, reminiscent of a room full of seekers all praying at once. This room contained a bunch of sales reps whose brief cases were bulging with fine print. When we finally went for a deal that seemed to be within our price range (the tiniest room that, in hindsight, probably no one in a timeshare would want to trade for), Adam brought back a bottle of champagne to help us celebrate. When he popped the cork, everyone in the room cheered.

Next we went in to see the Verification Officer. After Olimpia clarified some of the promises that were made earlier, we were convinced we had been slightly deceived. Nevertheless, we signed everything and took our free cab ride home. One of the perks in signing that day had been a free cruise. Adam said he wasn’t allowed to give us both a cruise, but if we would come back a couple of days later, he would personally present us with a second one as well as throwing in another breakfast. The “cruise” turned out to be a coupon for 300 points, whatever that meant.

That night Darlene was having a severe case of buyer’s remorse. She was afraid we had made a huge mistake. I was sure I had read somewhere in the paper work that we had five days to change our minds but she didn’t think this was the case. I rolled over and went back to sleep. She got up and spent hours going over all the fine print.

When we showed up two days later, Adam was nowhere to be seen. Of course, neither was the second “cruise.” Something had come up. This actually worked in our favour, though, as we got to speak with the big boss. Louis had started out as a kid selling Chiclets, he informed us. He had worked on the street just like Daniel was doing. He had held his present position for 23 years.

Louis even drove us in his private car back to their headquarters where we had opportunity to talk with the Verification Officer one more time. Initially she had been very honest with us. Moving carefully, Darlene just asked what the procedure would be if “someone” decided to cancel the deal. Olimpia answered that it would need to be in writing. Unknown to her, we had already prepared our letter. When she realized that we were about to do this, she seemed to panic and may have resorted to a little dishonesty of her own. Her face had begun to perspire. When we asked about the five days of grace item, she explained that this was only for her company, and not for the buyer. A likely story. Darlene said since we had a lawyer in the family we wanted to be quite clear about the details. Olimpia immediately excused herself. We guessed she had gone to talk to her boss. When she returned, she said that Louis had okayed a full refund, stating again that our decision would need to be in writing. As a last resort, Olimpia declared that no one had ever backed out before. This too was hard to believe.

After reading over our letter of refusal, Olimpia looked up and said that our letter needed to state the reason for our decision. We gave her several good ones. When she heard them, she suddenly became a real person again, showing understanding and even some empathy.

On the way home, the cab driver was delighted to learn of our decision. It’s really not Mexico over there in "new" Vallarta, he was saying in his broken English. He continued talking and asking questions, finally explaining that he was trying to improve his English. Arriving back at the “Rosita,” we climbed out feeling much lighter than we had earlier in the day. Wanting to call our driver by name, I took a quick look at his name tag before handing him the fare. His name was “Jesus!”

Was this just a dream?

2007-01-29T11:45:00.000-08:00

Was this what she was dreaming about? While I am watching hockey or football or reading the sports page, Darlene is into the classifieds, reading the "Out of Country Vacations" section. During the cold weather she actually does this every day, imagining what it would be like enjoying a tropical climate. Maybe not as fancy as the above, but at least warmer than Calgary. One day she found a reasonably priced condo available in Mexico. We liked the owners and location so we sealed the deal and went looking for this place somewhere in Puerto Vallarta.

The travel guides tell you there are actually three ways to get from the airport to your destination. You can take a cab right at the terminal. Or, to avoid the airport tax, you simply cross the street and catch a cab for half the price. The third way is to ride the city bus like the locals do.

Here we are in the blue bus we were told would take us to our destination. The buses in Mexico are a real treat if you like scary rides for a bargain. Best transportation you will find anywhere.

We didn't really know where we were going but we had a good landmark: The Rosita Hotel, which the bus driver had never heard of. We eventually saw it as we flew by, got off the bus, and began our search.

Here's what we found just around the corner from the Rosita.

Inside we found No. 2 - where we would call home for the next two weeks. It was everything we had hoped it would be and more.

Looking to
the left you
see the rear
entrance. This
leads to a
private patio
decked with
furniture, a
barbecue, and
two pools.

This is the same entrance looking from the outside. The windows of our condo are on the left.

Turning around you catch a panoramic view of the ocean and sand. You can see "new" Vallarta in the distance.

Here's another view, looking to the left.

It was indeed a wonderful spot.

Oh yes. In the first picture of this post; that lady you see catching some sun beside the pool? You're right. It's Darlene - living out her dream for Christmas 2006.

What's in a name?

2006-12-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

My son Terry urged me to pick up a copy of this morning's National Post. He said there was an interesting editorial he was sure I would want to read. To make sure no one missed it, he decided to alert all his siblings and nephews with the comment: "It's good to have a name that appears in a national newspaper editorial once in a while...makes you proud to be a Fach." If you're as curious as I was, you might want to take a look.

The Battle of Alberta

2006-10-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard about "The Battle of Alberta," this is what it looks like . . . on ice.

This was the first game of the 2006-7 NHL season for both the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. What they didn't accomplish during regular time, they were attempting to finish in this little skirmish at the end of the game. This is Steve Staios going after Tony Amonte for getting too physical with Dwayne Roloson, the guy wearing all the armour. The swords you see them fighting with are more like wooden clubs which they use to "stick" it to their opponents.

This particular seige took place last night in what used to be called Northlands Coliseum. As you can see in the picture below, it is now looking more like a huge not so mobile M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) with that Rexall Place logo displayed by its new owner. They're the ones who sell all the medical supplies to patch up those wounded in battle. Kind of like a win win.

Hats are back with a flair

2006-09-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Darlene's birthday is coming up fairly soon so I need to start thinking about an appropriate gift. One of her weaknesses happens to be hats and since they seem to be coming back, thought I'd start looking. Thanks to the internet, a man no longer needs to be seen in those "ladies only" stores to get something for his special lady.

I was never a good shopper and always have a problem making up my mind, so thought I could get your opinion on a couple of numbers on my wish list.

Let's call this one the birds nest. If you vote for this one, remember I have to walk beside her and that thing could really tickle.

Have to admit, I'm leaning a bit more toward this one. Makes you think you're watching the fireworks or maybe seeing some new creation at the art gallery. It might tickle too, but it's way more colourful. Let me know what you think.

Trick photography?

2006-09-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Having our newest grandchild and his parents with us for two months this summer while they've been waiting to get into their flat, this little man has had many photo ops. Before heading back to the UK on Sept. 3, Kelly and Jody Schwartz came by with a coveted birthday gift for him - a Calgary Flames hockey jersey. Kindred spirits since youth camp days, Jody and Sandra also served together on the district youth council and later toiled side by side with the same Edmonton marketing firm. So, you would think it would have been an Edmonton Oilers jersey in the gift bag. But no, Kelly and the kids had another team in mind.

But look! You can see our budding hockey player has discretely put a crosscheck on the Flames insignia - no doubt with grandma's coaching. You will notice she has also slipped a little subliminal advertising into the shot by placing grandpa's Oilers cap at Leon's feet. Is this trick photography or what?

All that travelin' makes a fella hungry

2006-09-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

So! This is a zoo.

I thought we were supposed to see
some animals. All I can find are
plants and bugs.

Well, might as well make the
most of it. Who knows? Could
be interesting.

No such luck. Looks like more bugs down there.

What's this I wonder? Finally something bigger than a bug. Looks like a large chicken. But, where are the animals?

All I can say about going to the zoo is - all that travelin' makes a fella hungry. I know - we'll send Grandma over there to that food place and see what she can find.

Oh yeah. Nothing like a hot dog
to take away those hunger pains.

This is more like it.

Back home again and it's
already time for our
afternoon snack.

Maybe have a few of those
berries we picked this morning.
That should hold us for a while.

Already time for some supper. Is it my imagination or are we always eating?

Gotta finish my dessert and get out there. Need to get the corn ready for tomorrow.

A day in the life of Leon and Grandma

2006-09-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

There they are, planning their day. I wonder what they've got up their sleeve. It will be interesting, you can count on that.

For sure there will be a walk down to the lake to see the geese and throw a few stones. All in a day's work.

Surely not! I thought she quit teaching. But here he is, going over his scales. So much for his childhood.

But, all work and no play makes Leon a dull boy, right? So guess what Grandma has in mind for later in the day?

Will it be a trip to the zoo? More on that later.

Will it be visiting the animals at the Stampede breakfast? Wait and see.

Will it be hot dogs at the other lake? Nope. Today it's going to be a family picnic at Riley Park.

But, what about all those chores back at Grandma's place?

Definitely need to water those plants.

Water, water, water! There's no end to it.

Maybe do some mopping up. Oh man, where did all that dirt come from? What would grandma do without water and soap?

Guess we'll all need a touch up before supper. I don't know why they don't let me bath in here. Everything seems so handy.

Do you know where your kids are tonight?

2006-08-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

Where does this guy think he's going? Well, let me tell you. School is out so he and his buddies decided to do some sight-seeing. A little water skiing maybe? Try globetrotting. Before the ink was dry on his Engineering Degree, Logan Jones landed a work exchange at the University of Aalborg in Denmark. Since the end of May, he's been skipping through Europe, stopping over in places like Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona (where he caught a few Oilers games), Paris, London, and only he knows where else. Oh yes, he also visited Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland before reaching his final destination a few days ago.

It all seems so daunting for one of your kids to be traveling so far away from home, and sometimes all alone. Yet, it's all relative. He's probably worried about his kid sister getting bucked off her horse somewhere back in Alberta. So, Kendra and Logan, both of you be safe.

The other side of romantic

2006-08-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

A plane in Spain silhouetted in front of the silvery moon. How romantic is that? But, this was Tuesday. Today (Thursday), all British Airways flights were cancelled and London airports closed to most European carriers when authorities uncovered a terrorist plot to blow up 10 commercial aircraft on their way to the U.S. At the best of times, Heathrow may well be the busiest, if not the largest, airport in the world. When security measures reach the "critical" level as they did today, it is difficult to describe the chaos that ensues.

I know how these people feel. Last year we were in London when the Underground and some buses were bombed on July 7. Rescue operations and investigations were ongoing. The Underground station we arrived at was still closed when we left four weeks later, which made getting to Heathrow a bit dicey. The congestion was much like what you see in this photo taken at Gatwick today. Because of the line-ups a year ago, many missed their flights. Conditions were even worse Thursday. The other side of romantic.

What is going on here?

2006-08-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

They look a bit like porcupine quills, don't you think? Unlike nature's quill of self defense, however, what you see are actually missiles of mass destruction. They have been fired from Lebanon's port city of Tyre by the terrorist group called Hezbollah ("Party of God"). The result? 15 more deaths in Israel and 13 in Lebanon on this very day.

Missiles from Lebanon? A far cry from the carpenters and stone masons who came from that country to help David build his palace and later to assist Solomon with the temple.

Savor this!

2006-07-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

This was the view from the deck of our "lakeside" cabin on Savary Island. Actually, you are looking at a bit of the Pacific Ocean. The boats you see are anchored in the northern Strait of Georgia and that's Vancouver Island in the distance. Savary is composed mainly of white sand and totally lives up to having the best sand beaches in the entire Province. "B.C.'s tropical Isle," as some call it, is approximately 90 miles plus two ferry crossings north of Vancouver.

Darren and Wanda have friends whose parents own property on Savary and have been visiting there for a number of years now. Always anxious to share their good times with us, we have been invited to join them on numerous occasions, and at last we took them up on it.

Here's Jessika with her Mom, digging in the sand and looking for who knows what. Darlene is down the beach a ways, looking for oysters. She harvested over twenty every morning.

Of course, Jake really gets into throwing the aerobie (I think that's what you call it) or kicking the soccer ball at his Dad.

You can see the white sandy beach in both of these shots.

Grandpa is nowhere to be seen - usually hiding behind a book, or in this case, behind the camera.

And here's grandma, hiding in the shade with the two beach bums. Nothing like a cold drink on a hot day to wash down the noodles and chips . Oh yes, and the sesame seed bars.

If that doesn't work, there's always the water to consider. So refreshing to get in there and splash around a bit, if not to swim. Or, if you're up to it, jump off the dock a few times, which everyone did . . . except for the two cautious ones.

Then comes a delicious meal at the end of the day. Here's another view from the deck - just to the right of the big tree you saw in the first one. Natural beauty everywhere. Hope these pics will give you some idea of what it was like, and that you'll be able to savor it a little bit too.

Eddie has left the building

2006-06-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

You have to admit, Eddie was right up there with Snoopy and Lassie. Before he became a TV star, Moose (his real name) was chasing horses and killing the neighbour's cat, and his owners had given up on him. Then, a trainer rescued him from the dog pound, and the rest is history. His incredible charisma and free spirit eventually won out, landing him a part on Frasier. He received more fan mail than any of his human counterparts during the height of the show's popularity.

Marty Crane, who played Kelsey Grammer's sitcom father, announced that his pet's full name was Eddie Spaghetti. "Because he has worms," he said. It was sad news to read that this little terrier (aka "terror") had died today. Eddie has left the building.

Training the flippin' baboon

2006-06-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

Our pastor son is great for recommending helpful books or articles he's read. Today he sent us one in which the author shares her secrets on how to remedy "spousal deafness" and other "incompatible behaviours." Or, as she puts it, "nudge him a little closer to perfection." She says it's kind of like teaching a baboon how to flip on a skateboard.

I know, that sounds really difficult, but wait until you read the article. It's as simple as the old LRS technique. That's short for "least reinforcing syndrome." The idea is, when you see a behaviour you don't approve of, you don't do anything about it, and it goes away. Maybe. I like the part about getting your mate out of the kitchen. Also the one about helping him (or her) find the missing keys.

Whatever will she do now?

2006-06-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

My significant other has just retired . . . again. After highschool, she took a business course and worked for the Bay as a comptometer operator. Comptometers were the state of the art high-speed calculating machines in those days. Before long she went for more training and became a Registered Nurse. When that conflicted with caring for me and four kids, she upgraded her piano and became a teacher. That chapter in her life came to a close last week amidst tears and hugs from parents and pupils who weren't sure what they would do without her.

What will she do now? Well . . . let's see. Being a great cook and having the gift of hospitality, the idea has often crossed her mind to open a bed and breakfast. Not known for doddling, she gave it a try a couple of days ago with our good friends Dave and Chris Neale, who were leaving Calgary for Gibbonsville, Idaho, to be closer to her dad for a while, and do some fishing and writing and, well . . . living.

Then, there's always gardening to consider. Up until a few months ago, I thought this was her first love. Apparently not. We've been attending a group for married couples and learning about communicating and knowing your partner; that sort of thing. Turns out her main interest is actually traveling. Hmmmm. We'll see how that goes.

When she's not on a tropical island somewhere, you'll probably find here in the garden doing some deadheading. Another one of her interests would be fishing. Like all true fisherpersons, she enjoys telling about how big her catches have been, and how they've outnumbered those made by the men. I think she would also like to become a big game hunter like our son Ken.

It seems the main topic of conversation at Darlene's "retirement" luncheon last week was all about trapping wild animals, particularly the ones that have been wintering underneath our hot tub. She was telling her friends how the intruders were eating all the bait and getting away without murder. After listening to their suggestions, she came up with an idea of her own; fastening the bait with chewing gum. BINGO! Zooming in on the security camera's evidence like they do on CSI, we see that isn't a dead flower she's holding in her hand.

It's all about the comments

2006-06-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

You can leave comments even though you are not a blogger. Just click on "anonymous" and away you go. If you'd rather send a comment directly, without posting it, feel free to click here. However, by including your comment on the blog it gives others an opportunity to reflect on it and/or maybe even respond. Either way, I'd like to hear from you.

Give the game another name?

2006-06-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

How
about
calling
this
game
Hugger?

(as in
rugger)

Ballroom Ball maybe?

Cut-throat or

Touch Football?

I know - Dodge Ball!

Whatever you want to call this game, these guys have some incredible moves. Like splitting the defence with this pretzel play. Amazing. If only they wouldn't fall down so much.

Things I don't understand about the World Cup

2006-06-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Not having played a lot of soccer, or footie as some call it, I'm at quite a disadvantage when it comes to watching the World Cup. There are a few things I just don't get.

1. Do you need to take dancing lessons before the game can be played well?

2. And, what

about drama?

Looks like you

would need

some experience

with acting.

3. And, what's with those rules? Do they allow hugging? Or should this Ivory Coast guy have been called for a head lock, or maybe choking?

4. Since players don't have the benefit of line changes or commercial breaks, when they're touched by an opponent, they can just lie down and take a breather.

5. If they're

really tired . . .

they can always

take a ride on

one of those

stretchers

they use for

injured players.

6. One more thing. Is it really true that the scoreless games are supposed to be the most exciting? Or, am I missing something?

What if?

2006-06-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

What if Dwayne Roloson, the man who took Edmonton to the Stanley Cup final, had not been injured in game one when they had that three goal lead? That could have made game six their fourth win and the celebration would have been in front of a different home crowd. You will remember how they dominated and actually shut Carolina out in that one.

What if the guy who replaced him had not misjudged his work behind the net, giving the game away? Maybe the same story. As it turned out, number three goalie came in and played like number one goalie.

And, here's a thought. What if they had won that first game and gone on to win in four or five? Jussi Markkanen (number three goalie above) would undoubtedly have been in the running for that Conn Smythe trophy instead of Carolina Cam. And, if not Jussi, it could easily have been Pronger or Smyth (That's Smythe without the "e").

Or maybe another Alberta boy? Yup, I'm thinkin' Fernando Pisani would have been most deserving. Scoring a respectable 16 goals in the regular season, the boy who grew up in Edmonton led his team in goals scored in the playoffs with 14.

Even if they didn't win the last game, any one of them could have been named the MVP of the series. Especially the ones who played in every game.

Who is that masked man?

2006-06-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

I had some really nice pictures of my favourite hockey players to go with this post, but they will have to wait until next time. This is the only one I can use right now. This one in particular was supposed to be all about Ryan Smith, the guy in blue who has just scored a goal. But something happened.

What happened? Cam Ward happened, that's what happened. Can you believe it? This 22-year-old kid (#30 wearing the wrong colour) from Sherwood Park, recently with the Red Deer Rebels, gets called up to the NHL to play backup goal tender for Carolina. He sits on the bench for most of the playoffs and when he goes in to relieve the main player, he not only helps his team win the Stanley Cup, he's voted the MVP in the biggest game of 2006 so far. (Yes, I know about the NBA and the major leagues of baseball, football, soccer, and such. But, hockey players are different. Even Jim Rome said so, and he ought to know).

They're still going

2006-06-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

Two days after scoring his empty net goal in Detroit, Edmonton Oiler Jarret Stoll is seen celebrating another one, and maybe the biggest one of his career. It came in the third game of a best of seven series against the National Hockey League's top team in 2006, or so we thought. That goal may have been the turning point in the most amazing playoff run ever. Almost two months later, Stoll and company are in the finals.

It wasn't looking good Wednesday night, however. Up 3 games to 1, Carolina only needed one more victory to win the cup. The Oilers' luck appeared to have run out - especially when the game ended in a tie and they had one man in the penalty box three minutes into overtime. Enter Fernando, the kid who grew up in Edmonton, doing what no man had ever done before, scoring the first ever overtime shorthanded goal in Stanley Cup history. His team? They're still going.

It's not over yet, but just in case

2006-06-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

If the only Canadian team left in the Stanely Cup finals fails to win three more games, my Oilers cap will need to be laid to rest for another year. And since it's way too early to take the wraps off that Stampeder (Canadian Football League) touque, my next diversion is going to be the World Cup.

Who to cheer for will be the next question. There are so many entries and who knows at this point which countries will end up as the main contenders?

Here's an idea: A haircut that shows you are interested but still gives you some time to look over the teams before picking your favourites. Might need a Sharpie to fill in that bald spot though.

They might need some of these in Edmonton

2006-06-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

According to sports writer Cam Cole, the crowd noise at Rexall Place last Saturday during the Oilers game was "like an air force flyover. . . .Like the sound of an earthquake echoing inside Candlestick Park in 1989." Edmonton hockey fans could probably use some of these hearing protectors seen at a recent World Cup game.

If the Oilers lose, I'll likely need some too - to drown out those sour grape broadcasters in Calgary who can't bring themselves to admit there is another team in Alberta that did much better than their fizzled Flames.

What were we doing in Russia?

2006-06-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

Both Darlene and I have roots in this great country. Her father was born in the Ukraine and my mother in Russia. However, the main reason for our trip to St. Petersburg was to visit our daughter Sandra and her husband Derek. Actually, there was another main attraction. Our newest grandchild was just born a year ago and was about to celebrate his first birthday. You can see how pleased he was to see us arrive for the party!

The little charmer is seen here with his grandma from Canada. In the background is one of his favourite lookouts. He enjoys the view down in the courtyard below, where he and his friends and their mothers congregate on a daily basis. When things get a little boring, there are always a few plants or books for him to tip over. Great fun. Before long, he lets you know it's time to go for a stroll.

There's always someone who will oblige. So, off we go.

As the day progresses, there are canals and boats everywhere, so why not hop aboard and go for a spin? Snacks are always available, and there's no better place than Mum's lap. Today it's cheerios......again.

And, for a better view, there's always Dad's shoulders. What a life. All the comforts of home.

Until it's time to crash!

Oh yes. Let me introduce you. This is Leon, the friendliest lion cub you would ever want to meet.

Morning has broken in St. Petersburg

2006-05-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

There was a big difference coming out of our iron gate in the morning. It was, well . . . like night and day. Just one block to the left you could see the Admiralty, a monument to the Russian navy. It also serves as one of the key landmarks in a city some have called the Vienna of the North.

A few blocks in the opposite direction took us to the Moyka canal. From this bridge it's only a few steps to where Sandra, Derek, and Leon, our newest grandson, have been living.

This is one entrance to the dvor or courtyard in the centre of their apartment buildings.

Up closer you will see who's standing at their entrance, waiting for some action. Warm spring weather greeted us every day for two solid weeks.

For these two, sight-seeing always includes stopping for tea or nibbling on the run.

We arrived at a very important time in the life of the Russian people. Under former Soviet rule, everyone was obliged to show loyalty to the State on May 1, the Day of Labour. It's still a holiday, however, there are now only a few meetings organized by Communists. The huge demonstrations are saved for the 2-day Victory Day celebrations on May 8 & 9. That was the day in 1945 when Nazi Germany threw in the towel after a four-year war with the USSR. In anticipation of the big event, there were soldiers everywhere. We saw them on the sidewalks (many of which resemble an obstacle course), streets and squares.

When the day finally arrived, we took the metro to Victory Square where thousands gathered to honour those who had fought and died for their city during World War II.

Shown to the left is The Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad. From September 1941 to January 1944, over one million people, soldiers and civilians alike, died in what some say was the most horrific seige in history.

Of course, all of the speeches were in Russian. Even though I do not know the language, I was able to feel the passion. Derek, my son-in-law, did translate some of it, which was helpful. The statement that sticks in my mind is, "the most important soldiers are the ones who didn't come home."

One door and only one, and yet....

2006-05-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

This is the door that led to our luxurious flat during our stay in St. Petersburg. It was tricky getting in. First is the five-digit code. Then, inside is a private door. You enter this one with a key that goes in just so and turns - not once, not twice, but four times. But, that comes later. First you need to get through the gate off the main street.

Now this is what I call a gate. It also leads to a fancy eating establishment, so the gate usually remains open until quite late at night. However, on Victory Day (our fifth day), after all the marching and singing and squeezing through crowds to watch the fireworks, the gate was locked. On a hunch, we circled the block and went in the back way. Presto, we found our beloved door.

The next time it happened, we discovered we could open the locked gate by tripping the lever with a pen. You couldn't reach it otherwise. Ah, we were getting to feel right at home.

The door on the right is the restaurant. To get to our place, you took the road less traveled on the left.

When I say fancy, I mean fancy. We were treated to dinner here on our anniversary. I know our kids drained their bank account to do this for us. Thanks Sandra and Derek. This was a real treat.

And, yes, thanks for finding that cozy place for us. It was worth every rouble.

Was that a friendly knock at our door?

2006-05-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

This may be my last post ever. Tomorrow we set off for Frankfurt enroute to St. Petersburg on our longest journey ever. Between Air Canada and Lufthansa, I'm thinking we'll be carried to our destination safely. But, then what? The next steps sound a bit dodgy. If we get through all that paperwork, the bribes, and whatnot, we will enjoy a two week stay in a rented flat surrounded by complete strangers. Officially we will be going as tourists, but with some luck, we hope to run into someone we know. In the evenings we'll just hide under the covers and hope we don't hear a knock. In this country, they say if a policeman comes to your door, not to answer. Not to worry. I'll send Darlene. She'll handle it.

Midnight Madness

2006-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

Nothing today about politics....just a bit of celebrating after the Oiler win last night against the Red Wings, said to be the best team in the National Hockey League this year. Maybe so, but the Oilers might have something to say about that. Here you see Jarret Stoll celebrating an open-netter in Detroit when they evened the series on Sunday. Last night, he scored the double overtime goal to put them ahead 2-1. Yes, I stayed up until after midnight to see it happen. And, no, the boxer shorts had nothing to do with it.

It was the router!

2006-04-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

Nothing tests my patience more than the one-eyed monster on my desk. Just when you think everything is running smooth as can be, suddenly everything slows down to a crawl. The guy at SHAW suggested it might be the router - this little black box to the left. The one on my desk is blinking at me. Or is it winking?

I had my doubts, but decided to give them a call. Lo and behold, in six or seven minutes, a human voice spoke to me, then kindly and gently walked me (on my back - under the desk - with a flashlight) through an upgrade. It's always a challenge talking with support people who don't understand what gizmos or thingys are. But we both survived, and now my BEFSR41vet.2 (the name of the little box, not a cuss word) is back in business.

Delighted, I went straight to this very spot to tell my story, only to be informed that the Blog server was now down for repairs and my original post was lost in cyberspace forever. Ah the joy of getting back up to speed - then crashing - only to rise again. With all the wires in the right places - perhaps.

Reflections of a future bungee jumper

2006-04-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hmmm . . . . seems like a long way down there. Sure would like to give it a try, though. I bet my dad would be proud of me . . . . but, what's mum going to say? Yeah, she'll freak right out. If I could just get out of this cage . . . . Definitely have to land on my feet. Don't wanna wake anyone up.

Joy ride in another world

2006-04-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Anyone taking a ride on a ferris wheel knows it's a lot scarier up there than it looks. I always imagined the bolts coming loose. That wouldn't be a concern on this one, though. Probably just nails to worry about. But, these Pakistani children in a slum area of Karachi don't seem too worried. Good for the Dad or Mom who built it. Quite a stretch from our XBox world in the West, but I'll bet these kids are having just as much fun.

Welcome to the world of electronic conversation?

2006-03-29T16:14:00.000-08:00

Sandra Buckler, Stephen Harper's Director of Communications, is seen standing with his executive assistant and senior communications advisor. The Prime Minister is talking with the media following a secret meeting. We can only guess what his aides are doing. Could they be checking their e-mail perhaps? Or is that a game they're playing? I mean, other than politics. One thing seems certain. They don't seem to be communicating much with each other. Am I the only one who sees the irony in this kind of electronic conversation?

Angels upstage hockey in Calgary

2006-03-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Now, here's a nice change for the sports page. Canadian skater Marie-France Dubreuil is seen flying like an angel at the Saddledome (it's an arena). She and partner Patrice Lauzon placed second in the compulsory dance event at the world figure skating championship here yesterday. I'm glad the Flames lost their game. Otherwise, she would have been replaced on the front page by Iginla or Kiprusoff. (Photo credit to the Calgary Herald's Janelle Schneider or The Globe and Mail, whoever took it first.)

The real me

2006-03-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, I give up trying to hide behind those fancy shades. As you can see, I'm not really a dog; just getting a bit long in the tooth.

You can see I'm wearing my Edmonton Oilers cap, a gift from my brother and sister-in-law who know me well. During the playoff run two years ago, this hat was either on my head or proudly displayed in the back window of the car......until the tires were slashed.

Looks like the team is needing my support again this year, so it's time to show my true colours. Might need to play it safe and just wear the boxer shorts they gave me. My reason for secrecy? Just put new rubber on the Olds. They're not kidding when they talk about the battle of Alberta.

Wacko Waikiki

2006-03-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

I'll bet you thought I was kidding when I said I was on my way to the beach. I wasn't. I actually took this with a little camera with more bells and whistles than my home computer. Talk about learning new tricks.

This is supposed to be the beach. It attracts as many as 110,000 people a day! I know. Who in their right mind would want that? But hey, it was my first time in Honolulu and I really wanted to see it for myself.

Contrary to what you might think, I learned that this is not a friendly place for people who like to go for a swim. A scientist named Chuck Blay did research on death by drowning in Hawaii. He explained it this way: "A guy comes here. He looks out there. And it's so beautiful and blue and inviting that he goes in. The water's warm and pleasant, and it seems benign. But what he doesn't think about is that we're in the middle of the ocean here, two thousand miles from the nearest land. There's nothing to stop the waves or slow their momentum." Of the many drowning victims he'd studied, 75 percent were visitors and 90 percent were white males in their forties and fifties. In that case, I decided I'd be pretty safe, since I'm just an old dog.

In the foreground you will see Ralph, the guy with the white hat. He was a member of our group and one of the nicest people I know. I will tell him that my first ever digital photo posted in this weblog is of him - along with all the other people sitting on the beach next to the ocean where people are advised not to swim.

Feelin' the breeze

2006-03-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

I can't believe those guys. Thought I could get away from them for a few weeks, but they're everywhere. Thanks to The Globe and Mail (how dare they take this without my permission?), here I am with my chauffeur, heading for the beach. And, believe me, the sidecar was a lot cozier than the city buses in Honolulu.

The day after we left Hawaii, the waves were reported to be 25 feet high. Good thing I left my surf board at home.

Avoiding the paparazzi

2006-02-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

Please excuse me. Trying to post a photo of the real me in my profile and having a few difficulties. Just give me a little time. I'm getting good advice from Russia but it takes a while to translate. In the mean time, I'm traveling incognito to avoid all those flashbulbs.

Snoopy is the real deal

2006-02-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

Up til now, I've been a picture pirate. Taking stuff off the web seems so easy, but alas, I've run into a snag. The profile picture you used to see (or is it still there?) has disappeared. Not sure why. Maybe I was supposed to pay for it.

I could use Ken from Connecticut (see Feb. 13) for my stand in, but Snoopy might not like that. According to CanWest News Service, he is the real deal. And, he's certainly old enough, having done stints as a First World War flying ace.

Today's top dog

2006-02-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

We're not sure what the Chinese had in mind when they announced last week that 2006 would be the Year of the Dog. It seemed to fit right in with the "old dog trying to learn new tricks" caption on this blog launched just the day before.

In honour of Chinese New Year, someone came up with a countdown of the 100 greatest dogs in pop culture history. Snoopy was chosen number one with Scooby Doo coming in second. Today's top dog is Ken (I'm not making this up). Thanks to the Globe and Mail, we see him peering over a snow bank after a major storm in Windsor, Conn.

It's all downhill from here

2006-02-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

This is not a picture of Wayne Gretzky going downhill. It's Canadian skier Manuel Osborne-Paradis doing a bit of training for the men's downhill in Turin's 2006 Winter Olympics.

The Great One will not be far behind him, in more ways than one. Am I the only one confused about the rules of gambling? It's okay to make bets but not okay to take them? Or, it's okay to bet $20 at the office or maybe bet on a horse once in a while (did his "Bettor Half" say that?) but not okay to put down $5,000 on a coin toss? Who is making up these rules?

Choosing Sides

2006-02-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

Many blogs become political soapboxes, which was never the purpose of this one. However, I can't resist commenting on the announcement of the new ball team. When we played scrub, it was usually obvious who was going to be picked first, and who would be the last ones standing. But on this day, there seemed to be lots of surprises.

One lady I truly admire in all of this is Diane Ablonczy. Did my eyes fail me or did the Calgary Herald really say she was from Calgary-Hose Hill. She got hosed, alright. And for all the right reasons, I guess. Can't have too many from Calgary, not to mention North Calgary. Whatever. The thing I like about this individual, though, is her dedication to the greater cause. Though disappointed, "I certainly understand," she said, "and I'll just work hard where Stephen has assigned me. . . .This is about governing a country, its not about regionalism." Now, there's someone you would like to have on your team.

What's in a name?

2006-02-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

Musings. That's a good word for this new trick I'm about to try. The original meaning of the word muse meant "to stay with muzzle in the air" If you can imagine an old dog learning how to "stay" for his master, striking a reflective pose - trying to remember something important - that would be me.

Why would I do this? I've enjoyed so much reading other friend's blogs and engaging with comments of my own, that I would like to do some of the same.

And, as the name of my blog implies, I hope some of the offerings will make you smile.