Larger than Life

While I was away one of our friends from NFLD had to come to our city for an appointment. He is a larger mass of a man. He called just before his flight to see if he could stay at our place. Of course he was welcome but my husband learned the hard way that next time we have over night guest he should inform our children first. Our oldest daughter, K, decided to have a sleep over. As they crawled into bed K told her friend to go into the other room to get a pillow. The friend walkes in and here was our friend P streatch out on the bed in his tighty whities watching TV. The friend is still in theropy HAHA

A great (not good but great) thing happened yesterday, my father came home and is doing wonderful YIPPEE

Rednecks

As you know, I was at my parents for the last few weeks. My brother and his wife were also there. My brother had a friend who was on vacation in Newfoundland. The friend left Newfoundland last week for the 5 day trip across the country to his home in Alberta. My brother W and this guy JC kept on contact with other the whole trip. This guy, JC, had been given moose meat, fish, etc while home so he went and bought a new freezer and put it in the back of his truck so that he could transport the frozen goods back to Alberta. Well part way across Newfoundland the plug on the freezer broke so he went into Canadian Tire and bought a new one. Sure enough, that one broke also so JC went into the next store and bought a generator and hooked the freezer up to the generator and had it running for the whole 5 day trip across the country.

Of course, while passing through Nova Scotia, JC's wife mentioned that they could get Zippo Lighters (don't know what they are) in Halifax, so this guy proceeds to tell my brother that when they got to Truro the made the turn to the PROVINCE OF HALIFAX, where they drove around for 1 hour and couldn't find the lights. 1st of all, Halifax is a city not a province (my brother never had the heart to tell JC this) and secondly, Halifax is 1 hour of the Trans Canada Highway, so this guy, who had a 5 day trip across the country, wasted 3 hours to come the the province of Halifax for lighters. Where did my brother meet this moron LOL

Speaking of Morons, I am driving my kids to a function the other night. I come to a stop sign and there are two guys sitting in their vehicles talking to each other just talking. I sit there, being patient, and wait for them to move. NO, they didn't entertain the though, so I gave my horn a light TOOT TOOT. Thought they might just not see my Burgandy Uplander (hard to miss it) but NO they don't move. So I did what any law abiding person would do - I lay my hand on the horn and wouldn't let up until they moved. I knew that fog horn noice they wouldn't be able to hear each other talk. It worked. My partner in crime was it me, of course. She couldn't believe I did it. Does she not know who I am.

For those of you who know my family, after I wrote the last blog we called an ambulance and had dad put back in hospital. After 9 hours in the emegency room, they found a bed for him and they found fluid on his lungs. He was hooked up to drains for 3 days, very painful, but is much better now and is getting released today. Thanks for your love, calls and prayers.

He's Home

Dad came home today. Cranky as usual - so he must be feeling better HAHA. I have to say, the nurses at the hospital were amazing. I have a new respect for nurses. Those ladies/men worked 12 hours and had a smile for each of us every time they came in dads room. He had a 5 valve bypass on Friday and right from the start Pam, the nurse, talked to us and to him. She would talk to dad even when he was unconsious and tell him what she was doing to him. She took care of dad 3 days in ICU and then we moved to another floor where Afton, the nurse, gave us just as much pleasure with her pleasant smile. The doctor, even with hairy ears, was amazing, explaining everything to us, including the whole open heart operation procedure. Of course, I had to go sit down so I wouldn't faint.I do have a weak stomach. We met lots of wonderful people in the waiting room going through the same thing as our family. Each family sitting waiting until we were allowed to enter the room 2 at a time, just for that 5 minute visit to say "we are here" or "good night". What a relief when I was out today, during our lunch break (visiting hours stoped from 1 - 3:30) I took mom to Sears Bargin Basement for a look around (got a dress for my friends wedding) and we got the call telling us dad had been discharged. We rushed home grabbed his close and went to the hospital. It only took 2 hours to get everything organized and discharged. I am happy not to have to put anti-germ hand cream on my hands.

ALIVE

This is a sad but great blog. My father took a heart attach this week.My partner in crime B and myself hoped on a plane and headed out to assess the situation. My brother and his wife did the same. My father needed a 5 valve replacement bypass. The doctors are in awe that this man is still alive. We are very greatful to God that this man is alive. It was the hardest thing to walk into ICU yesterday and see him lying in a bed so hopeless. This man that has been the rock of our family for 70 years was now lying in bed with so many tubes and iv's hanging out of him. Well, let me tell you, we just got back from our Good Night visit and he is 1000% improved from yesterday. It is a wonderful day today. Yesterday was the scarest day of our lives and today is one of the best. We made the family decision that our 2 other sisters will come out during the next few weeks and to spend time with mom and dad when dad gets back. I know that is hard for them not to be here but because we all live so far away from our parents we have to come in shifts. It does not matter that we have to sit all day just so we can go in and see dad for a 5 minutes. He is back to himself today as he is bord. Just gave him a new book and his flashlight. He needed the light so he can see the clock during the night.

Sunshine and Lunch

Just got back from lunch with my partner in crime B. She was out my way on business and dropped in and we went for salad. I miss lunch with B. We worked in the same office tower for years and went to lunch every day with each other. Now it is only once every "blue moon" that we get to eat lunch together.

The sun is shining out there today. The humitity has been so bad the last few days. 24 deg but if feels like 31. My husband had to take 3 showers yesterday. Hard enought to get him to take 1 a day let along 3. He is of for 2 more weeks of vacation. He has a long list of things to do around the house but put all those aside so he could finish my craft room. That man can be funny. Not sure why he is putting of the things that need to be done but he is. He enjoys manual labour so much. At least someone in our house does LOL.

The vacation is over but we have funny memories

Our vacation may be over but we have some funny stories to share with our friends. Like the guy who was hitchhiking one way but walking the other way. He didn't look like the "sharpest tool in the shed".

We had finally left my husbands family and were heading back to my friends house for a few days. We were a little tired and found the 3 hour drive very long. We decided to stop to stretch our legs and have a washroom break. I told my husband there was a large gas station/restaurant just ahead. We come to an over pass and he says "up this way" I say no but of course he didn't listen and turned of. I am looking at him with my usual "where are we going now" look. He sees me and says that I am the one who should have told him. Lets back track here, my mother has a habit of pointing to where she wants dad to turn even if he has been to that place 1 thousand times. Well I do the same thing. I always point. I am trying to stop it because it annoys my husband when he is driving. Well I didn't do it the other day and look where it got us - on the wrong highway. So we backtrack (which takes a while because there was no easy exit back to our highway) We get on the highway and pull into the gas station. We all get out and walk around. Times are sure good - we all get slushies. We feel refreshed until my husband realizes that he has left his sunglasses on the slushie machine. I run in and grab them and run out just to discover that some lady has opened her car door and we can't get of the parking lot. We stear, glear and finally she realizes we are there and closes the door. Seems to be a habit in the parking lot because as we were pulling in some lady was doing the same thing, only to discover she was changing a diaper (ha). Anyway, we start to leave the parking lot and there are 2 travel trailers pulling car's in front of us. So my husband decides to out run the trailers, spins around and takes of across the parking lot to another exit. He is so proud of himself, he sees me laughing uncontrolable, figuring that I am laughing at his smart move. Then he realizes why I am laughing -- WE ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY, back towards where we just came from. He wasn't impressed, we had to go up around an overpass and back down the way we were lost the first time. As we go under the overpass, the 2 travel trailers are going overhead. I say "you outrun them all right if you were going back the highway we just came from" He growled.

We get to our friends house, finally, after stopping to watch some boats go down a river rapid, and watched some men salmon fishing. I have to say Newfoundland & Labrador must be the most beautiful province. So much natural beauty. We decide to take the kids back to their swimming hole they have found. Our husbands decide to go in. Not a good idea. The kids didn't mind the cold water but the men almost died. I thought we would have to call for a medic at one point when my husband was getting in. I sat and took some pics. It was to funny. My husband actually went down some rapids and got stuck. He was holding a rock for dear life hoping not to be swept into the sea. We thought he was joking at first but no, he was stuck. One of the girls walked out to him and helped him get safely to calm waters. Why is it that men have to be courious and explore dangerous waters.

We left our friends house at 4am to drive to the ferry. We see one moose on the way, everyone is very excited about that. We get to the ferry terminal just to find out it is delayed by 5 1/2 hours. Then the terminal made the misteak of offering free meal vouchers to each person. My husband never moved so fast in his life. His little legs ran across the parking lot. He came back with one for each of us. We had just had coffee and muffins so we decide to wait a little longer before going in to eat. At around 9:30 we went in and the girls were planning to have small breakfast each but my husband wouldn't hear of this. Everyone had to order a big breakfast cause it is free. We all order and then one of the girls asked if she could get a muffing. The lady at the counter made another big misteak, she said we could have what ever we wanted because it was free. Well by the time we left the cash registrar the lady had to give my husband a plastic bag to put all his cookies, muffins and yogarts in. Never tell my husband it is a free. That man loves to eat. Of course while we are waiting for our breakfast my husband made tea and threw the milk and sugar containers in the garbage along with OUR FOOD ORDER NUMBER. I told him not to worry about it as they would remember us and our order when time came to pick it up and I had also noted that when they sung out a order number they didn't take the slip of paper with the number from the customer. Well this wasn't good enough for him, he went to the garbage and had a look inside. The girls and myself told him to stay away from the garbage as we would be embarrassed if he dug into it. But no, he kept walking over and looking inside. At one point he saw the number and reached in to get it, pulled it out and it was the wrong slip. Leave it to him. Our number finally got called and he got our meals and all was good. We finally borded the ferry and got home safe and sound without any more incidents.

Home made bread and a fire

We are coming to a close to our summer vacation. As of right now the visit to this island may be extended by hours or days - not sure. Our ferry caught fire a few nights ago so the ferry service has been delayed. They have put extra boats on and have scheduled extra crossings to get the backlog cleared up. I have been calling for updates as to our schedule. So far nothing so in 10 minutes time I shall wake the troups (at 3am) and head out for a 2 1/2 hour drive to the boat. It really does not matter because I am more than willing to stay here and eat home made bread. This island is crazy. Everyone sells home made bread. We have been eating so much of it that I think I have gained 10 pounds. My husband sure has. The girls have been eating it for breakfast, lunch, snacks (many of them). IT IS SO GOOD and some times you luck in to walking into the the store and it is fresh out of the oven. Sure who could resist a full loaf of bread at 4 in the afternoon. Talk about ruining your supper. Oh who cares, we will eat our supper at 9 pm instead.YES WE DID. No wonder we are rolling home. Sure who needs a boat when we have both grown personal floation devices on the front of our bodies.

Yesterday all the kids (6 of them) and our husbands took the girls fishing of a wharf for cod fish. D and myself decided to stay home and just do some laundry and drink tea. As soon as the van pulled out of the driveway we rushed to the washrooms and hauled out the hairspray and makeup. Of to town we went. Ok so the town only consist of 20,000 people but you take what you can get. Actually they have all major stores (Walmart). We hop into the car and the radio is really loud. Instead of turning it down we put down the windows down and let SUMMERTIME by Kid Rock scream out our windows. We bob our heads like 2 teenagers. Everyone is looking at us like we are cool (sure). Why do we grow up. We were once cool people who listened to loud music in our cars, screamed when we drove by cute guys and even better if a car of cute boys went by us we would scream. When did that start to grow up. Summertime sure is good