Time off for good behaviour?

So I had booked a few days off this past week not really intending to have had the family event on the weekend prior.  Sadly these few days were very much needed as I found that I was quite tired from the previous weekend.  Even with that said I had a few days to try and relax.  Traci also took a couple of days off and we had planned to try and get away for the weekend to a location other than Cowtown.  Well as we looked we found it hard to spend the money.  It was just not in the cards.  Instead we had planned to go to the movies during the day, to maybe go out to Canmore and Lake Louise for the day.  How about a nice meal out.  Yes that was the plan.  Well as it would happen there was a problem with the girls car, so down to lethbride we go.  Had a hunch what the issue was and also had some idea what the solution might be but rather than guess we decided to run the diagnostic computer on the car and it confirmed what we suspected.  TPS (throttle position sensor).  Had this same issue on my old truck.  Anyway, nobody has this part in stock in lethbridge or calgary.  Nobody.  Keep in mind the car is a focus.  There are billions of these on the roads if you look around.  So we drive back to calgary and go to pick your part and get 3 of these just in case one is bad.  Drive back to the bridge and put it on the car it works like a new car again.

So there goes the relaxing weekend in the mountains and nice dinner, maybe some photo moments as the trees are turning wonderful colors.

If it was boring I would hate it.  Life is like that you never really know.  So unfortunately I am going to have to return to work without having had much fun or photography on my break.   Sucks.

Anyway we got to have lunch with the girl and catch up on the week.  That is always a nice event.  I am not planning any trips to the bridge in the near future.  I am fairly hopeful that we can wait for Sinclaire to drive home for thanksgiving in October.  Oh the fun we have.

Now to go and pack the bike bag and get the layers ready for the AM ride.

Letter for Rick

Rick,

It was wonderful to have met you and to have spent the time together.  Not a lot of time unfortunately but it was enough to know you as a person.  Many years, at least 40 in my memory that you and I have had a chance to cross paths.  Sadly our paths have parted.  In parting there has been left an empty space in many peoples lives.  I know you though and you would never want to see the tears or have people feel bad for you.  You always found a way to bring laughter and light to people.  I remember how you teased Grandma, you would bug her and bug her, but it was always light hearted and never mean.  But at a moment you would be there for her to take her to her appointment or shopping.  Selfishness was not in your manner.  You were a giving person that in your way you gave to those that would accept you and your lightness.  I told Donna our memories are full of laughter and smiles, I can only see those moments because that is who you were.  Yes you were that odd person with so many strange little thoughts and quirks.  I know none of us are going to feel complete, I know your children and Donna feel this most of all.  Nothing will fill that space and that is the sad part.  But as I said you would not want that and you in your funny way would find a way to bring humour and laughter and a smile to those that needed it.  Thank you for always being my uncle.  Thank you for calling when you could and for taking time no matter what you were doing.  I learned from you many wonderful things some of which I did not realize until you left.  You made me question right and wrong, you made me think and not just to sit and be idle.  You made me smile and you made me laugh.  You loved all of us, my kids and my wife.  We loved you for who you were and for that our lives are blessed.  In life we learn from our experiences or we fail to see.  In some cases we fail to see until we are moved or pushed.  When I sat in the memorial for you I saw how many people you moved and how many people loved you.  I saw tears and felt sorrow.  I wished you could be there one more time to see this and to feel our love.  But as you left and I realized I missed some things.  I needed to change myself.  Again you taught me something.  I saw what I needed to do, clarity.  So Rick thank you for being a wonderful person for loving and caring and sharing your light.  As your father said of you, you are a gentleman and wonderful person.  As your light has faded I look around and I see that it may have dimmed briefly but shines on in Graham and Hayley and I know that light will burn bright again, as the world they know was shown to them by a wonderful person.  That person was you.  Love and laughter Rick walk softly on.  We love you and we will miss you but we will remember you for who you were.

Cheers

Live life as it passes to quickly.  Learn to see through the crap to the beauty on the other side.  Not everything is about more.  Sometimes less is better.

Winnipeg bound

Sadly I am off to Winnipeg as we have to say goodbye to Rick. I am quite sure this will be a difficult weekend as he is a very much missed person.   Rick we miss having you in our lives walk softly on .   Love you.

Time flies.....or something like that

So yes it has been a bit since the last post.  Sorry to those that expect a bit more.  Simply put this one is a short update.  Time is moving along fast and we have survived the week after the girl went to University.  Things are going well lots of little challenges.  But we did get her car down to her so she is able to go out and do things for herself now.  We did also make a short run down with the car and dropped a few other items off.

In other news the house is moving slowly forward.  The design of the kitchen is going to have to wait as we are trying to get things settled down on the money front this is such an expensive time and well there is only so much money to go around.  I am personally ok with this but things do need to move ahead at some point.  That said we finished the baseboards and now have few other minor bits left and some touch up.  Then we can officially call that half done.

The other thing is 19 years today for Traci and I.  

Pages turned, is it the end of the chapter or the beginning of a new one?

So most of us find a start and a finish to things.  For some the start and finish can be a long way apart.   I must admit it is somewhat strange be at a point in time where I see both.  I see a finish to having our Daughter ever present in our daily life as she is now away from home at University.  But I see the start as well that is the start that exists for her and for us as parents.  It is a very odd place but I am proud to see my children grow up and move forward in life.

Those big steps taken this past week have been added to the list of may things that went on.  Sinclaire has a drivers license now and she has a car that will be joining her at school, just needed to get a few things finished on it for her.  It is now ready to go.  Lyndon on the other hand has been handed his grade 10 time table and that is what we expected full of wonderful challenges.  His second semester is going to be a true test with math, science and english all in one.  He is very good at math and science but he knows english is a challenge and he has to work at it.

So what about us the parents?  We had planned a little vacation towards the end of the month, that has since disappeared with some of the extra costs we have at school and with the house renos.  We finished the den, new desk and shelving and filing system.  Now we are just clearing the old paper work out.

I do hope that Traci and I get a break we both need a little time to relax but it seems that it is just way too much money right now.  We will see maybe a last minute flight or short drive to some place for a break.

I have managed some photos over the past week I have found a great Youtube channel, belongs to Phlearn.  They have some wonderful tips and tutorials that I have been drawn to.  I now take a photo and work on it at bed time, following some of the suggestions that I get from the Phlearn guys.

But it is back to work, a short week only 3 days and I am sure lots going on but I will worry about that tomorrow.

For now here is the next image that is going to print.  I will be going through my photos again tonight to find another image to work on.  But this is from a car show in bowness the past weekend.