Springtime?

Well it's been forever since I posted here. As I look back at the last few posts I am happy to have a record of our lives, even if it's likely boring for some!

2015 was a tough year. My Mum passed away suddenly on October 24th, 2015. I know that we should feel lucky that she was never ill, that she never had to move to a retirement home or facility. She had all her faculties and went peacefully in the night. Still the shock was heart wrenching. My siblings and I put together a "Celebration of Life" where we saw so many old faces and I was touched at how many remembered Trudy with such love. She was a strong, independent pioneer of women's rights. She brought up nine kids alone. We all had such admiration and love for her, it was a beautiful event that ended with a New Orleans funeral parade on Cecil Street. I'll try to find some photos to share with you. After the parade there was an amazing rainbow, we cried and laughed and hugged and loved. I hope some small part of my Mum rubbed off on me.

Six weeks later on December 7th, 2015 my brother Dave succumbed to liver cancer. He had been battling for over 3 years and I feel like after Mum died he knew it was ok to go as well. I am still totally devastated about losing my little brother. We were very close. Somehow the whole time he was ill I never faced the fact that one day we would lose him. As spring approaches I find myself remembering how he would come and help me in the garden, then we'd sit on the deck and chat. I am still so raw it's tough to talk about Dave without ending up in tears.

On December 17th, 2015 I worked my last day at TTC. I think all the recent loss made me realize that life is too short and we need to live it day to day. I had a great send off where the CEO age a speech and I felt very honoured to have him and all my friends come out and celebrate with me.

John also retired last year, his last official day at work was December 31, 2015. His party was held on January 9th, 2016 and we had a great turn out of old friends, family and co-workers.

Four days later I left for two months in Costa Rica, staying with my niece and her family. The time there flew by but it was a time for mourning and relaxing and thinking and healing. I spent many a day crying, walking the beach, going to yoga and in the evenings hanging with family. This year was different as we had a few visitors while I was there, including my BFF and her family, as well as my sister and her husband. My son Matt also arrived in February, and has since decided to make a life there. I anticipate many more visits in the future.

I returned to Canada on March 16, 2016 in time for John's 60th birthday. We are having a Hawaiian themed party in two days, pictures to follow!

I hadn't been home a week when I decided to apply for a temporary position with Census Canada. I am just not sure to do with all my free time. I go for walks, do yoga, go to Spanish conversation groups...but I need more. What I've learned so far about retirement is that we have enough money to live on but not enough to travel the way I had hoped. So I plan to find odd jobs to supplement my need for travel!

Spring has been slow in arriving this year. I am looking forward to getting the camper out and doing some road trips. John's Mum lives in Port Elgin on the Lake Huron coast. We will definitely be up there a lot this summer, and I promise more pics.

My camera hasn't been used enough lately but now that I am retired I will do better!

Stay tuned!

2015, where has the time gone?

Has it really been more than 2 years since I blogged? That would be right around the time I got my current job, hmm adds up, doesn't it? I am working harder than ever, in fact too hard at times. I bring the laptop home on weekends, I check my BB night and day, I dream about work. I reached the 29 year mark at work which means I am eligible to retire. It also means living on about half my income. So what can a person live without? Cable TV? Dinners out? Cleaners who come every two weeks? All of the above? Yes, of course. But what about yoga classes? Spanish lessons? Hair appointments, waxing, manicures? These are the luxuries that keep me working. Oh and travelling, can't forget that. I love to visit Costa Rica in the winters, go camping in the summers, how will I sustain my current lifestyle? Sell the city house and move somewhere cheaper? Rent the basement out? Work part time somewhere? Or keep working, try not to work so much, try to learn to let it go after 8 hours. This is where my head is at these days!

What a year!

Well the year is nearly done and we're heading towards Christmas. Where does the time go? This year brought a lot of changes. In early winter my brother Dave got some bad news, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He came to stay with us for a while, which was nice, we re-connected and he got a little time to rest and absorb it all. He found an apartment just a block away and we see each other much more now. He has been through some radiation and is managing. It's a nasty thing cancer, I hope some day there will be a cure and that the treatment isn't worse than the disease.

In February I took off for 10 days in my favourite vacation spot, Nosara. I am lucky to have relatives living in Paradise. It means the sunshine is always a flight away. I love getting closer to my niece and nephew who live there, as well as learning the culture and ways of Costa Rica. I would love to retire there for at least a few months a year but John's not a fan of the heat. Maybe we'll compromise and meet half way, say Memphis or New Orleans perhaps!

Summertime brought renovations, we're having a new garage built at the back of the property. Yes City of Toronto, it's a garage. There's going to be lots of storage for bikes, snowblower, lawnmower etc and it happens to be soundproof, so even if there is music played in there it's still a garage OK? *wink*

In the fall I applied for a promotion, and was given a six month secondment. This means I am in charge of the Transit Control Centre for TTC and hopefully in April it will translate to a permanent position. I am no longer in uniform which is both different and fun. I have been in uniform for 27 years, it's a whole new world and a very good excuse for shopping!

I took off again to Costa Rica in September this year, right after the earthquake. This time I got to do some travelling, starting with Granada Nicaragua staying in this beautiful hotel and later we travelled to San Jose and the Arenal Volcano region as well as a night at Carolina Lodge.

John's Dad has had some medical troubles this year too. In October John's Uncle and Aunt came for a visit from Scotland. Now I'm sure the image this brings to you is an older couple, right? No actually they're younger than us and what a fun time we had with them. We're now planning a trip to the UK next fall with John's BFF Jim who is from Ireland. Can't wait!

Over the last year John has been having a lot of knee pain. Things got worse, and eventually he saw a surgeon who told him there was no cartilage left, and it was time for new knees. Surgery was in mid October and they did both knees at once! He is still recovering, it's slow and it's painful but it's progressing well. He goes to Physio three times a week and in the meantime does his own exercises twice a day. He no longer uses a cane in the house and soon we are hoping he can get into the front seat of the van!!

Matt is finished at University of Ottawa in December and will be coming home to Toronto for a while. We're looking forward to having him around and hoping he will make Toronto his home, I've missed him!

Yohanna and Mike have bought their first house in Barrie and are moving in the week of Christmas. Hopefully that means we'll have our two grandsons down for a visit to help out. We're very excited for them!

Victoria is studying Human Resources and working hard, she and Kyle are happy and well in Hamilton.

Adam and Kendra have headed back to Whistler for the season. They're thinking of Australia next, ah to be young and free!

Well I hope I haven't bored you too much. I will try to get some photos up soon but in the meantime you're up to speed on the "Days of Our Lives"!

2012 Happy New Year

It's been forever since I posted, and seems like forever since I got my camera out. I'll try to get back at it, seems like life is always getting in the way of leisure! I did update my links so at least they are now accurate, please check them out! This photo was taken last year in Nosara Costa Rica where my niece and nephew live. I am thinking of Nosara this morning because I have a flight booked in February and it can't come soon enough!

Costa Rica

Frenchman Street New Orleans

Gibson Guitar Factory

Holiday 2010 Photos

There was this weird vine covering the trees in Tennessee. I asked someone about it and they told me it was from Japan???

2010

Wow I haven't posted since January! Time flies as we get older! This year John and I did a three week road trip starting here in Toronto, stopping in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas and ending up in New Orleans Louisiana. We have a little pop up tent trailer, pulling it with our 1996 GMC van, had a great time!

Huatulco

Wow it's been way too long since I posted on our blog, sorry, but here I am! I have just returned from a week away in Huatulco Mexico with my best friend Linda. We have known each other since we were 9 years old and stayed connected through all sorts of life changes. Linda moved away to New York City for about 18 years and still we visited, wrote letters, and called each other regularly. Email and the internet only made it easier! Linda now lives in Canada again, and this year we decided to go on a trip together. It was our first time in Mexico, our first time at an all inclusive and our first time away without our spouses and kids! We've decided we'll be doing it annually. There's nothing like travelling with your best friend! I'll post a few more shots as well, but this will get me started!!

Jackson, the newest addition!

John's niece Amy who lives in the basement has a new puppy. He's a Boston Terrier and what a doll!

Liam

I haven't been taking a lot of photos lately. My 70-300 lens isn't working properly and I have a ton of other excuses like shift work and so on. Anyhow John's grandsons were here for the weekend and here are a couple of shots of Liam that I like. John caught Liam asleep on the kitchen floor with his hand inside my shoe!

CN Tower

This shot was taken while in traffic on the Gardner one grey morning. I like the angle but it's always difficult to get a decent shot through the windshield!

Papa and Oma get visitors!

Today we spent the day being Papa and Oma, John's son in law Mike brought Liam and Owen down for a visit. We took the train up to Sheppard to see Papa driving his subway, we all had a great day!

Spring is Here!

Home Depot only gets a fixed amount of these picnic tables each year and they go like hot cakes. We managed to get 16 of them in the van! See craiglist for our ad!

Games Night

If you know my brother Sion you'll know he is a really fun guy. He and his partner Kelly started a family tradition about a month ago, he calls it "Games Night". We gather at someone's house and play a game. This night was at Trina's, and Sion and Kelly brought a game called Quelf. It is really a hoot, try it sometime!

Costa Rica Memories

Here are Matt, Vene, Zoe and Joellen at the Black Sheep Pub

John's grandson Liam

We drove up to Barrie tonight to take John's daughter Yohanna out for her birthday, here's a shot of her youngest son showing off his belly. The second shot was taken by the waitress!

John and Zoe Working on Straw Techniques

These shots were taken at the Gilded Iguana poolside bar in Nosara, Costa Rica. John claims he taught Zoe to drink with a straw!

Sunset at Playa Guiones

We spent the last ten days with my niece Joellen and her family in Nosara Costa Rica. What a little piece of heaven they are in. Joellen and Matt run the Gilded Iguana, a nice little oasis in the heat. This beach is about a 4 minute walk behind their home through the trees. More photos to follow.