Monday, January 23, 2012

a most memorable getaway...

The bags were packed...and we left for the airport. I knew only that where I was headed it was warm in the daytime and cool at night...and to bring along some nice clothes. 'Like what you would wear for a wedding.'  Hmmm. 

We had to be going south...since I live in one of the mildest spots in Canada...and it was anything but warm! We left home before the blizzard closed the roads.  Just before we checked in at the airport...Marg and I finally found out where we were off to.


Two Canadian girls...celebrating a milestone birthday...were on their way to Las Vegas to hear the Canadian Celine Dion in concert. 


We had a little too much time to spend at YVR before boarding...and found these jackets which seemed just perfect for the trip.  And they were! We could always be spotted in the sea of black jackets.


Before the 'jacket shopping' spree...we enjoyed a cup of Tim Horton's coffee at YVR compliments of our friend Betty.  Thanks, Betty...from all of us!

So how exactly would we spend a few days in Vegas...if we don't gamble?  Here's how...

We spent an entire day touring the city...doing the open top bus tour...and learning about the history, the architecture and all else Vegas. Who would have known that they have more than 300 days of sunshine...or that the construction of the Hoover Dam was what really put this city on the map...or that most of the 10 biggest hotels in the world are situated in Vegas? We checked out many of them. We spent a day driving about the countryside...visiting the Red Rock Canyon.  We rode to the top of the Eiffel Tower (Paris Las Vegas)...enjoyed the views...and sampled some fabulous French desserts in their restaurant. We had lunch at a sidewalk bistro and basked in the sunshine while watching the crowds of people passing by. We enjoyed Italian, Chinese and French cuisine...and American of course.

And on our final evening, we took in the concert that we came for. It was a great way to end our stay...most special!  There is a good reason she is the best-selling Canadian artist of all time. Since my camera was under safekeeping in 'guest relations' at the Coliseum at Caesar's Palace throughout the concert...I don't really have proof that we were actually there. They didn't seem to think Marg's camera needed confiscating...so she may have a few pictures that she is willing to share. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the 'No cameras allowed inside' sign. I rationalized that there was no way they could take my camera...since most all of the concert goers had cell phones cameras on their being. They searched bags...and allowed most ticket holders through with a warning not to photograph the concert. I was not so lucky!

We packed so much into our time there...and stayed up far too late every night. The games that we had brought along to play in our downtime were never unpacked...the books remained closed...and we never checked out the gym or the pool deck at our hotel. Oh...and we never went shopping!  And who knew one could visit LasVegas without leaving one cent in the casino?  That part was easy!  We saw the highlights of Vegas...and turned a blind eye to those things that give the city it's reputation.


We had a most memorable sixtieth birthday.  Thanks guys!  I'll take you on the city tour one of these days.

We arrived home on Saturday evening...quite curious as to what we would find.  After a week of blizzards, blowing snow, and then freezing rain...the temperature was a balmy 7°C in the Fraser Valley and the snow was rapidly turning to slush.  Thankfully, Jeremy had cleared a path into our yard...or we would have been stranded on the road. 


As for the sidewalks...they were under huge drifts.


The front and back doors to the house were inaccessible...so we entered through the garage.  Sunday was a day of rest...and today we will shovel.

And that is a synopsis of my comings and goings last week.  Thank-you so much...all my blogging friends...for the kind wishes and messages you sent my way.  Oh...and being sixty is just fine.  So far!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

six decades of celebrations...

I arrived on January 19, 1952
at 12:12 am...
weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz. 

That would be sixty years ago today!


I have a few cards that were sent to mark the occasion of my arrival way back then...
including this one that says..
Love from Uncle, Aunt and Cousins at Ninga.
I must find out who that might have been.

I also have a wee baby book that Mom kept for me.
I know that my first visitors were my cousins...
Lorraine and Bobby Fast and Marilyn Baerg.
How fitting!



Other than a few snapshots...
I know little of those early years.

But birthdays were always meant to be celebrated...
and that was usually a family affair.
The cake was the same every year...
an old-fashioned golden layer cake...
with plum preserves between the layers...
and smothered in seven-minute frosting.
I can almost taste it!

Having a birthday in January definitely had it's disadvantages.
Birthday parties were cancelled due to a snowstorms.

 
Sweet sixteen arrived in no time.
It can't have been all that memorable...
since I have no recollection of that particular birthday.

One that I will never forget however...
was my 20th birthday.  
I was newly married...
and we moved into my parents house for the month of January while they went to Australia.
It seemed like a good idea at the outset.
We would look after the dairy farm...
and my four younger siblings in their absence.
My little brother was six at the time.
January 19th marked the beginning one of the most devastating ice-storms to hit our area...ever. 


How's that for a nice birthday picture?
I think I wore my dad's coveralls and lived in the barn for a week straight.
For many days we had no power (72 1/2 hours to be exact).
And when the electricity returned...
the house was without water as all the pipes had frozen underground.
Oh yes...that was a birthday I would sooner forget!


My 30th was celebrated in Hawaii.
Pierre...our Swiss exchange student...looked after the farm.
My sister and brother-in-law moved in with our children while we were away.


It was difficult to turn 40 without anyone noticing.
I'm not sure anyone ever admitted to placing that sign on our lawn...
but I think I can thank my sisters.


My 50th was celebrated with 50 friends...
a surprise orchestrated by my hubby.
We rode a motor coach together to our destination...
my first 'seniors bus tour'!

It's been fun celebrating birthdays with the grands this past decade.


I still remember how excited these two were the day they had me over for a surprise birthday dinner.
As for the handsome gentleman seated on the chair in front of us...
it was the card the girls gave me.
We were on our way to Hawaii...
and so they thought I needed a themed card.
I still have it...of course!

Last year my birthday came and went while we were in Kenya...

...at this lovely spot near Mombassa, actually.
And how am I celebrating my 60th birthday?
I have no idea...
really.
I have a good friend who is also having her 60th birthday...shortly.
 Our husbands have collaborated and are whisking us away for a few days...
and that's where we will be by the time this post is published.
(It seems we have left a blizzard behind at home!)

I'll be back...
when the party is over!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

we're in this together....

They have new rules in our country...
regarding dipping into the pension plan that we have been paying into.

I decided with a birthday coming up soon...
I should maybe look into the new rules.

A visit to the government offices seemed a good place to start.

In a city of 90,000 folks...
what are the chances of meeting someone you know while running errands uptown?

As I was trying to locate the government offices (which had moved recently)...
I ran into my good friend.

She was on her way to the hardware store...
but decided to join me on my mission.


She has a birthday coming up real soon as well.
Maybe she should be asking questions also!

The nice lady at government services had a good laugh at us.
It seems people don't come in pairs to ask CPP packages.
It seems most folks don't have so much fun...
with this milestone birthday.

We decided to document the occasion...
for the records.

The gal on the sidewalk who did the honours thought it was too  funny...
two old friends from high school checking out Canada's pension plan together.

From the basketball court...
to the 4-H circuit...
to sleepovers through our teen years...
to a fine neighbourhood in Rosedale...
to the carpool with our daughters...
to long walks and talks...
and good games of tennis...
and now...
on to the golden age!

Did I just say that?