Jamaica - A Second Honeymoon

In May 2014, I turn the big four oh and Jay and I celebrate 15 years of wedded bliss. For Jay's 40th in 2010, we  hit Vegas. It was great fun and the plan since then has been Jamaica when mine came around.

We planned to do an all inclusive for the first time ever. It really was a second honeymoon. Given that we went to Disney World for our first, I think it was appropriate that we hit an adult only resort that had food we so wouldn't have eaten back then. We ate at McDonald's on our first honeymoon.  More than once. Our tastes?  They have matured. I am not sure we have so much but hey, a least something has matured.

 

We ended up in Ocho Rios at the Sandals Grande Riviera.  Naturally they have photographers wandering the resort always ready to pose you in laughable style.  You will see what I am talking about later. The one above is one of my favourites.  Of course we got suckered in and bought them all. We got a free bottle of rum out of the deal so at least there is that.

After dinner, on our first full day, we found the gym and did some weights. We like working out, so while on a vacation with no obligations, responsibilities or well, you know, kids, we thought we would try to fit it in.  The next day, we noticed there was a circuit class at 2pm and thought we would check it out.

 

 

Enter Adrian, a Jamaican ex-military man turned personal trainer. That circuit class? It started with 20 burpees and finished with us drenched in sweat and gasping for air.  In other words, awesome.  All 30 min (because we may have perished if we had gone any longer).

 

We tried the power walk the next morning and Adrian showed up again. Holy hills batman.  Power was an understatement.  We then hit every morning class we could for the rest of the week and Adrian did not disappoint. We felt far less guilty about the pina coladas and Bob Marley's we consumed in copious amounts the rest of each day. We were gone 7 days and worked out 6 of them.  I call that a win.

 

 

 

As you can see, the scenery was horrid.  It was so hard to lay on the comfy beach chairs (with cushions!) and stare at this in the gorgeous thirty degree heat, I tell you.  It's a tough life.

 

After our days on the beach or by the pool, we would head back to our room and get dressed up for dinner. I wore every summery dress I own. Some of them, for the first time because well if you are familiar with SK, you know that summer is a state of mind rather than a season most years.  

 

 

It was fun and the food, as I mentioned was quite elegant. The restaurants were all themed, Italian, Caribbean, Chinese, Japanese teppanyaki (cooked by a Jamaican chef, now that was quite the experience), French and seafood galore.  It was all delicious. 

 

I was very worried about coming home sporting ten extra pounds. But this resort, and I don't know about other all inclusives, didn't have food everywhere. There was one breakfast buffet that was comprehensive and delicious.  There were only a few places for lunch, one being a really good buffet that was new each day and only a couple of places to get snacks. The snacks were very limited.   Nachos. We did that twice, then enough. 

 

 

At lunch we would cart some fruit, buns and cold cuts (the salami, oh damn that was good stuff - remember Klinger from Mash, I was channeling him) back to our room fridge for a snack while we got ready for dinner.  And we also packed a lunch for the plane by doing that - the two and half hour delay on the tarmac?  We were one of the few with enough food.  Never mind that the cold cuts had been out of the fridge for the better part of 6 hours by that point. We hadn't gotten sick yet, we had to live on the edge a bit.

 

 

The resort included tons of water sports and shuffle board. We played a game of shuffle board daily and discovered we are not very good at it. We did get mildly better as the week progressed but we think that may have been because we were playing at night most of the time. We likely just couldn't see properly and assumed we were getting better.

 

We did stand up paddle boarding once and kayaked once too. But it was pretty rough out on the ocean most days so it wasn't always available. Besides, it was hard to lift our butts off of the previously mentioned beach chairs. And it was really hard to hold a drink on the paddle board. I should know, I tried.  Kidding, but I did consider it.

 

 

We did two off resort tours. The first was a "Challenge" and by that they mean uphill on bike.  Um.  We live on the Prairies. He asked us if we wanted the easy or hard bike ride. When I got off my bike to push the damn thing because it was faster than riding it, I asked if this was the easy one.  He said yes.  It was a challenge all right.  It was fine, we liked it but it was hard. The concierge who booked it didn't warn us. Maybe we look super fit?  I feel for the next couple that unknowingly sign up for this!  May they rest in peace on that Jamaican hillside.

 

After the bike ride, we climbed a water fall. This consisted of the guide telling us where to stand to get as wet as possible while he took pictures with my camera.

 

 

 

That drink is the Bob Marley. Like his hat, you know?  I actually saw several locals wearing those hats.  I was wondering if it was for real or for the tourists. Much like the typical Jamaican expressions you hear, No problem, mon, Hey mon and my lady.  They actually did use them.  On the resort anyway which could be a complete fabrication, who knows.

 



 

Like most Caribbean countries, the poverty off the resort is quite astounding.  There were corrugated tin communities scattered here and there along the highway from the airport to the resort.  You hear about it but until you see it with your own eyes, it's not as close to home.  We really pondered if our coming and spending money at the resort was helping or making it worse. I know the resort employs many but do they get paid adequately? And the resort is not locally owned, you can bet your bottom dollar on that. 

 

I will also never complain about a pot hole again.  We have no idea what pot holes are.  Seriously.  We get one and we are all, can't the city fix that, I have to slow down once on my 15 min drive to work.  In Jamaica, you have to slow down once every 200 meters and swerve into the oncoming lane lest you leave half your car behind in one of the many ruts, holes are ridges that riddle the road generously.  I repeat, we have no idea.

 

 

This country is gorgeous. I really wish I could have gotten more photos off the resort but we were either in a bus swerving around holes that could fit a smart car or on a bike, zip line or river tube.  Trust me, it's beautiful, lush and amazing.

 

The people are also so warm and full of humour.  Again, I am not sure if that is a resort only situation since we didn't venture out unless on a resort sanctioned tour.  Regardless, they were lovely people and we felt a bit weird being served hand and foot. Sandals does not allow tipping which makes it even more amazing. I could not do that, I promise you.  Lazy North Americans eating and drinking and expecting me to serve them hand and foot?  Hell no.

 

 

The second tour we did involved riding a tube down a pretty tame river. It was refreshingly cool and shady and incredibly beautiful. I really needed a water proof camera.  Maybe for next time.

 

 

Then we did our first zip line ever.  It was a short, not very high, route because well, we have never done it before. It was perfect.

 

 

We both agree that there will be more zip lining in our future.

 

 

We splurged for a massage up in that hut on the hill with an ocean view and better yet, the ocean breeze.  It was worth every penny.

 

We also had a photo session booked for us when we arrived and we decided what the heck. We haven't done many photos just the two of us.  It was fun and we bought them all.  Naturally the shoot is free (cough cough included in the generous resort fees) but the photos are not.  We caved and bought them all, in electronic form.

 

Some are cute. Lots are of us kissing.  Why?  I don't look good kissing.  Does anyone look good kissing?

 

 

That one is okay. I guess it shows that we still like each other, even after twenty years together

 

 

This one could be titled, "White man (and woman) can jump" but I assure you it is more aptly titled, "Jamaican photographer works photographic magic to make ridiculously uncoordinated white people look good".  I promise you, I cannot jump that high in runners let alone wedges that I nearly roll my ankle on regularly while I walk on flat ground.

 

Which reminds of the time I fell in a bush.  Yes, in a bush.  No, I was not drunk. I wish I had been.  We were just leaving our room to head over to the chocolate buffet (unrelated: why was this buffet not a nightly occurrence?) and I was wearing wedges, not the ones pictured above, but another pair. Jay and I were chatting about something, I don't remember what now, and all of a sudden I am saying, "I am falling.  Into the bush." I rolled my ankle off the stupid wedge and into the stupid bush or hedge or lethal weapon to no one but Kami, freshly trimmed I might add.  I am still pouring peroxide on the cut that ensued because the bush (weapon) was clearly poisonous and now my cut is infected.

 

Oh and did I mention that at the exact moment I fell into the bush, a couple that had been on the tour with us all afternoon walked by?

 

Because Murphy is a total asshole.

Oh yeah, and at one point I had to explain to the photographer that I was too white to do what he was demonstrating without looking like, well, a total white person with all her rhythm housed in a hair on her left ankle.  He laughed. I meant it as a compliment. Damn those Jamaicans have rhythm, sass or whatever you want to call it.  Related: I would settle for being able to walk on wedges without falling into a bush.

 

And I will sum up the trip with this picture:
 

 

 It's better than the one I saw in the photo shop of a guy laying on the beach looking like he is eating his girlfriend whole. I wish I were kidding.

No problem, mon.

Insert Curse Word Here

Hi.

So.

It's been an interesting few days, can I start there?

I opened this page to start writing this hours ago.  This is kind of hard.

I'll start at the beginning.

I was born.

Oops, that might be a bit too far back.

About a year ago, at a regular appointment, my doctor found a lump on my thyroid.  My thyroid is next in line for my body to attack since it has already annihilated my ovaries. So he's been watching it's function for probably two years now.

I was a bit concerned but discussed with a friend and she said she had one too.  I was scheduled for an ultrasound 6 months from that date so I forgot about it and moved on with life.

6 months later, I go for the results of the ultrasound and received confirmation that yes, there is a growth.  Tears form in my eyes at this point.

He went on to tell me that it's very small, 1 cm (or maybe he just told me it was 1cm and I inferred small?!) and that the chance of, gulp, cancer, is only 5%.  At that point, there would be no biopsy and we would do another ultrasound in 6 months. If it grew, it was biopsy city.

I went out to our brand new Pilot (we had only had it for about a month at that point) called Jay to tell him the news. I thought I was okay. I still swear I was fine. 

It's called denial or shock, people, trust me you don't even know  you are doing it.
I guess denial is the right word then....

I hung up with Jay and backed up to head home.  And backed into a parking divider that was about 3 ft high.  Shit.

Good thing the Pilot is equipped with a back up camera, no?  Apparently it only works if you actually look at the display screen.  Who knew?

I didn't even stop to assess the damage, I drove home cursing in my head the whole way at already wrecking the new vehicle.

I got home and checked.  I only broke the plastic cover over the hitch. WHEW.

I was upset for a day or two and then just sort of put it out of my mind.  Again, denial.  From the outside, you are all thinking, how? Why? What is wrong with you?

Trust me, I would think the same thing. Turns out when it's you, you deal with things in strange, not necessarily rational, ways.

I told only a few people, maybe 3, and then never talked about it again.  This is weird for Kami who has taken over sharing to new levels in various other aspects of her life.

And now she's talking in the third person.  God help her now!

Fast forward to last week and I had the second ultrasound follow up appointment.  The day before I read this post by Angella about her friend recently diagnosed with, you guessed it, thyroid cancer. 

No, I didn't freak out at all.  (bold faced lie)

The week before, during the ultrasound, I had a bad feeling.  Then this post was like a sign.  I arranged for Jay to meet me at the appointment.  You know for the safety of the Pilot and everyone in a 50 feet radius of me behind the wheel.

The first thing the doctor checked was the results of the blood work and he remarkeds that my thyroid function is completely back to normal (it had been mildly low previously) and that I didn't need him anymore (Endocrinologist).

Say what?

"WHAT ABOUT THE LUMP?" I asked politely.

Did you have an ultrasound he asks?

(And doctors wonder why we question their abilities. Seriously, do you not have my file right there? Do you not review said file before you come in to talk to me?)

"YES." I reply politely. Last week.

(Do people with cancer or those who might potentially have cancer still have to be polite?  What? It's a valid question, isn't it?)

"Oh, yes, and they, and I, recommend a biopsy."

SAY WHAT?

"Oh, did it grow?" I ask.

"No, but they, and I recommend a biopsy."

By they, I assume he means the radiologist that would have reviewed the ultrasound. And I kind of love how he had to add his own little shout out there each time too.

(he's fine, I am just being snarky)

This is where shock sets in. I had no reaction other than confusion that we now had to have a biopsy even though there was no growth in the growth (say that five times fast).

(is it really evident that I use humour to deal?)

We leave, Jay ensures I don't run over anything on the way out of the parking lot after hugging me and just being overall awesome as usual and I head home.

I try to work. 

Text my mom.  Text Jay ongoing as he keeps me from losing my shit all over the place.

I won't lie.  I had a couple of really really rough days. Tears were common place.  The whole feeling of I can't believe this is happening to me alternating between relax, this is a minor thing, it's treatable and you don't even know if you have it yet.

It was exhausting.

I found it hard to break the news and actually still have only told a handful of people, and those that I told, I did over text.

It was easier.  We all deal in different ways and I am taking the approach that this is what works for me.

I wanted to blog about it Friday but I think it's good that I waited. I was too raw, too emotional then.

I have come a long way since then thanks to the amazing people in my life.  I have to admit that being the one receiving the words of encouragement was hard for me. It's much easier being on the other end.

Thank you, I love each and every one of you and am so thankful you are in my life.

By Saturday morning I was feeling much better.  As I ran up the hill during boot camp, I came to the conclusion that my body is strong and it can do this.  If I have to fight cancer, I'll take this kind and I'll fight with all I have.

Now I coast waiting to hear when the biopsy will be. In the meantime, I will be living life, working out and eating clean (ish)  and loving on all the amazing people in my life.

Ciao.

14 Years!!!

Fourteen short years ago today, I finally got to walk up the aisle and make it official with this guy.

 

I love the pure joy on my face.  No cold feet here! And also it may have felt like a short fourteen years but damn if we don' look like young 'uns here. Not that we look old now, just older, more refined, like fine wine.  Or something.

 

Jay, the time has flown by and I couldn't ask for a better best friend, husband and father to our boys.  You exceed my expectations daily.  I have to constantly check myself so that I don't take you for granted.  I know how lucky I am, truly.

If I am half of what you are to me, to you, I call that success. 
 

 

I wish for another 50 years just like the last fourteen. With you by my side, life is not just good, it's amazing.

 

 

Kamden and the cheesy smile, oh how I love it.  And I should really dust off the real camera because these phone pictures are sub par at best and yet, still better than no pictures at all.

 

Happy Anniversary my love, you are truly my one and only forever and ever amen.

My Valentines

I have three very important men in my life. This post is for them because I don't think it's possible to tell those that you love how important they are to you often enough.

My oldest son, the one who first made me a mother.

He's now 11 years old. Technically 11 and half. His teachers have always raved about his behaviour at school. He has been awarded student of the month every year since Kindergarten. This couldn't make his Dad and I more proud.

He is smart. He can do math in his head at a rate that surpasses my ability by about 100 times. He can also remember just about everything he has read and is full of interesting facts. He amazes me daily with this ability.

He is also very responsible and ensures he gets his school work done at school on time. Almost always. When he forgot last week, we couldn't even be upset. It was literally the first time ever. At home, he gets his chores done, almost always without complaining (he's not perfect after all) and helps out where he can.

He loves his brother fiercely. So fiercely that we have to sometimes remind him that Kamden is his own person and doesn't want to spend 24-7 with him. Their interests are diverging more and more as they grow and it's been hard to watch that struggle. They want to spend time together but agreeing on what they will do is not always easy.

I tell him I love him more than once a day and he always responds, "I love you too." I will never, ever, get tired of hearing that.

He is growing up pretty damn nicely despite my feelings of inadequacy as a mother. I am so lucky he is my son. He has taught me a lot and I have grown as a person because of him.

and then he went and did this on Valentine's Day:

This was after our family dinner out and the cards Jay pickted out for each of them.  He disappeared downstairs to my office and made this on the computer.

I cried.  Clearly we are doing something right.  Or despite what we are not doing right, he's turning out right.  Either way?  Score.

And then there is this guy. Who came along and showed us just how different two boys that come from the same gene pool could be.

He is easy going, silly, and loud. Case in point, the following video.

   
He specifically asked me to video him doing this and to post in on Facebook. How could I not?

He is all about soccer, football and mini sticks and would play any combination of them all day, everyday, if his brother had any interest in playing with him.

His antics have us laughing daily.  It's really hard not to love this kid.

He is also doing very well in school.  Math is his thing, he loves it and is very good at it.  He has also been awarded student of the month each year since Kindergarten.  Again, how could we be more proud?  It's one thing to have kids who do well in school.  It's quite another to have them recognized for their behaviour.  Now if they could save some of that behaviour for home, we'd be golden.

 I tell this guy I love him just as often as Jack but he only responds when he is very tired and forgets that the mushy stuff just isn't for him.  It's okay dude, I know you do.

And then there is Jay.  The one who walks beside me in this life.  This wonderful life we have the privilege of having together.

 

This summer, it will 20 years since we first met and became inseparable.  A little over half my life.  Thank you isn't adequate. 

 

He is my strength, my balance and ever present support.  I can only hope I am the same for him.

 

To borrow from one of our wedding songs (and his email to me this  morning):

 

I couldn't find another man

Who loves me like you do

I couldn't hold another hand

Who holds me quite like you do

Such a love was heaven-blessed

Couldn't find another man

Read more: JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT - COULDN'T FIND ANOTHER MAN LYRICS

 

Every day, I love him just a little bit more and cannot fathom how I got so damn lucky.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!  May each of you have love, hugs and a little chocolate today and every day of the year.

The Dad

The only testament required as to how much these two boys love their Daddy is the smiles on their faces.

Jay, when I met you I knew.

You would be a wonderful husband and you are.

But I also knew, that you would be an amazing father.

You have, by far, exceeded my expections.

(Also you are making me look bad, maybe knock it down a knotch or two so my short comings as a mother aren't as obvious?)

New Do

Yesterday was a day. You know what I am talking about, stress, check, wanting something different (check), ready to throw in the towel (hell to the yes check).

Bad day to have a hair appointment, no?

I have been humming and hawing about a change for months now but when push comes to shove, I have not gone the change route.

Yesterday was no different, I stuck with the same colour and when she started cutting, we discussed going shorter.

FYI, my stylist is also Jay's stylist. She has been our stylist for years (lots of years). She knows Jay. Jay likes my hair long.

You see the issue right?

We decided that we would do it next time, you know to prepare Jay. So instead she trimmed off an extra inch.

I am liking it. That extra inch gave is some gusto. My hair is curly, yes, but also loses it's oommph really easily. It needs to be washed to get back it's mojo and since doing that more than once a day is in the "it will happen when hell freezes over" category, well, this is really something to make my day.

Related: there is a bottle of my Dad's best white wine chilling for later.

These yahoos were home for lunch when I set up the old tripod to take the pictures. They were a big help, can you tell?

This was seconds before I herded them out the door and back to school already for the love of all that is holy and good in the world.

Ah, much better.

So, you know you want to know Jay's response when I broke the news that I was cutting much more of my hair off next time.

It went something like this:

Me: So Kristy and I decided we are chopping it next time.
Jay: *crickets accompanied by dumbfounded look of pure confusion*
Me: I need a change! I have had my hair in this style for years. YEARS!
Jay: If you need a change, why don't you get implants?
Me: That will happen when monkeys fly out of my butt.

Okay so I modified that conversation slightly for the sake of humour but he really did say implants. I think that goes to show you the lengths (snort!) he will go to keep my hair long.

He is just lucky I didn't come home with pink buzz.

It's Been 12 Long Years....

and I love you just the same.

Okay, so the song says 5 longs year but we surpassed that years ago.

Yesterday, May 8th, Jay and I celebrated our 12 wedding anniversary. It was also Mother's Day (as I am sure you know) and May 7th (Saturday) was my birthday.
Do you feel a little bit sorry for poor Jay trying to handle all those occasions in one weekend?

I do.

But if you know Jay, you also know that he handles this like a pro.

Saturday morning, my 37th birthday, I ran a 10 km race with my friend, Terry-Lyn. When it comes to running, she is the hare and I am the turtle. But she happily (I think) ran at my pace, encouraging me, cheering me on, even yelling a bit to get me mad to run faster. You see, I had a goal. I started the race hoping to finish in under 60 min. Well actually I started out wanting to run it in under 55...turns out if I would have thought about it a bit, that just isn't possible for me, yet.

Thanks to her I finished in 58:37. And I literally almost lost my lunch steps from the finish line. Gross eh? But what the proves is that I ran as fast as was physically possible for me. I recovered in about 30 seconds and was very happy I met my goal.

Next up, Jay informed me I had an appointment at noon. I had no clue what it was and I loved not knowing. I had my suspicions but he pretty much fouled every guess with a rational explanation. Dude does his surprises up right.

Turns out it was an Indian head massage (which as I found out has very little to do with your head) followed by a hot stone massage. Oh my word. Let me just tell you that every ounce of pain I felt during the run was more than made up for by the massages. I was as relaxed as a puddle of goo when I was done.

I was then picked up by three handsome boys and whisked off for a hot coffee and bagel followed by mini-golf and a steak supper out. At home I was treated to homemade cards.

And gifts. Which Kamden felt he should model.

It was, as birthdays go, pretty damn fantastic.

And then, just because that wasn't enough, he also got me a make-up 101 lesson to share with a friend.

I am not sure I deserve all this. I don't really need to say this, it is quite obvious but I'll say it anyway because he deserves the credit. As husbands go, I hit the jack pot.

Jay, you are unbelievable. Simply the best. Sharing my life with you is well, beyond fantastic. Thank you for all you did to make me feel special and loved this weekend and every single day of the year. I love you more than I could ever express in words!

It was Grand and so is he

I promised more pictures from our Vegas trip and when I make a promise, I deliver gosh darn it all anyway (anyone remember that from SNL back in the late 80's - it was that guy who said "I am good enough, and strong enough and gosh darn it all people like me!).

Anyway, here are the pictures from our Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon. I would highly recommend this if you can do it. It was, aside from hanging out with our friends, the highlight of the trip.

Our pilot was very cute (a nice bonus), young and a Mormon from Utah. He even knew where Saskatchewan was as he had been in Alberta on a church mission. Poor guy (the Alberta part, I got nothing against Mormon's!)

As an aside, I was pleasantly surprised how many Americans knew where Saskatchewan was...normally I just say that we are from Canada because I have to admit I have a skewed view of the average Americans knowledge of Canadian geography. After this trip, I have to stand corrected, y'all know what you are talkin' about.

Just outside the city limits of the bright lights, big city, nature competes with its own show and I, personally, think it gives the strip a run for its money.

More stunning rock formations a bit further outside the city limits.

Hoover Dam - it doesn't look to big from way up here. But thos white specks towards the bottom right of the photo are boats. That kinda puts in perspective, no?

Our first view of the Grand Canyon. To state the obvious, it is grand, beyond adequate words.

We flew down into the canyon after our pilot (his name escapes me but I can however picture his face) dropped us down. I just about lost my breakfast at about that point too. I took Gravol, however, it either wasn't enough or wasn't working. I was never so glad to be out of the copter in the 44 degree C heat (111.12 degrees F for you imperial folks). It was hot but much preferable to the motion sickness!

The Canyon walls are 4000 ft above us down on the Colorado River (in my head I totally say CALL-er_RA-do with some good American twang).

Mind blowing. The walls people, not my sad attempt at an accent.

Then we flew up the canyon wall in the helicopter and took a bus to Eagle Point (click to see why it's called that) home of the Sky Walk. We didn't go out on the Sky Walk (had to pay even more for that) since we had such amazing views from the helicopter.

Having friends with us was great for taking photos of each other. We did lots of that but you know what we never did? Take photos of us with the friends. Nor did we take photos when we were dressed up later for dinner and the David Spade show. We are so smart.

Next we took a bus to Guano Point. Our helicopter pilot was telling us that Guano means bat poop in one of the Native American languages and that it is used in cosmetics. I am going with ignorance is bliss on that one.

Here you could walk out over this big rock ledge - see picture on link above. It freaked me right out. In places you were inches from the edge of the canyon wall. Which judging by the sheer edge of the side on the opposite side of the canyon, was deadly. We stayed as far away as possible. I am very clumsy. AND there were people on there with kids. Like kids my boys age. I nearly had a coronary. They can go when they are 18. No wait 30, around the same time they can start dating.

The rock formation is stunning. It is really that red. My running shoes still have the red dust on them from walking on the path.

I am running out of commentary. The photos speak for themselves and this has no bearing on my ability, it's the subject that takes all the credit.

And this guy, my handsome Jay, he turns the big X-O today. The X is the number of his age but it's a secret. Well not really, you can probably figure it out.

Jay, this trip was amazing. It reminded me of how much I love spending time with you. Thank you for the last 17 years (seriously, this is the 17th birthday we will celebrate together). You are my everything and it is an honour to walk beside you in this life.

Happy birthday Jay! And my big brother, Trevor too!

It's meatloaf night! (not even kidding, we are going out for meatloaf - it has become a tradition)

Viva Las Vegas #1

Jay has a big birthday coming up next week. I won't give the number away though, as most people think he is much younger than his actual age. Like under 30 young. I wonder what they think of his cougar wife robbing the cradle though?

Friends of our suggested quite some time ago that we meet in Las Vegas to celebrate this monumental (ish) event. I was shocked and surprised that Jay was up for it. He prefers when we are all together and this trip involved leaving the boys behind. Vegas is no place for kids. And would someone kindly tell that to all the people that we saw there dragging their poor children around the strip at ungodly hours of the night?

Thanks.

Anyway, this past weekend we journeyed to the city that never sleeps, just me and Jay. We had a couple of days on our own before our friends joined us. We did many of the touristy things, grabbed an icy beverage of the alcoholic variety for our walk down the strip, toured the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, dined at Border Grill at Mandalay Bay, went through the Titanic: Artifact Exhibition at Luxor, and finished the night off with Disney's the Lion King at Mandalay Bay.

If this picture befuddles you, see this picture. This one is for Kamo.

And that was only the day we arrived. Yes, we were tired. And the heat, oh the raging heat of the desert. It gets hot in the desert in the summer, who knew?

If you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing this kind of heat, here is my best description. Picture what the hottest day you can imagine is, add 15 degrees Celsius, remove any humidity and add a giant hair dryer blowing on the hottest setting. That is what Vegas is like in the summer.

It's hot people, like the pits of hell hot.

If you know me, you know that me and heat do not get along. The only reason we planned our trip for the middle of summer is that it just works easier for our kids to go to their grandparents rather than the grandparents coming to us, which would be required if they were in school.

So you go outside and walk between hotels, sweating profusely, then you enter the glorious bliss of the hotel and it's air conditioning is like a beacon from heaven. 10 minutes later you are a Popsicle. This is why they liberally ply you with alcohol, it's the only way to survive the extreme difference of the elements.

Now I sound like I am such a complainer don't I? Actually I am, therefore this is very realistic. I am just trying to give you the real version, that's me, keeping it real.

Aside from that, Vegas really is like no where else on earth. The opulence is all around you and you see it but you don't really process it until days later. Pictures do not do it justice, you really have to experience it with your own eyes and other senses.

The food was, after the company, my favourite part. Every meal we had was fantastic. And the drinks were just as good.

I have many pictures but have to say that most are disappointing as they do not really capture the reality. And I am over my limit on Flickr. I may upgrade but after being in Vegas, do I really want to fork out the $$?

In Vegas you can just sit there and watch the cash jumping out of your wallet.

This was our first day. We called it a night before midnight. Don't judge us, we were up at 4:30am to catch our flight.

To be continued. You can't wait, can you?

Some time ago

Sometime ago (it is not proper to reveal a woman’s age right?) a little girl was brought into this world. I was a four year old boy getting into trouble but I distinctly remember pausing for a brief second. It felt like there was a major disturbance in the force. (oh Star Wars had not come out yet. I guess that may give away her age oops. I shrugged it off and went back to playing with my GI Joe doll or was it Capt. Kirk? Who am I kidding it was probably Lt Uhura. I did have a way with the ladies. The girl dolls were just attracted to me what can I say. They thought I was a righteous dude.

19 years later our paths crossed and life has never been the same since. At that time she was a shy teenager but over the last 17 years she has become an incredible mother to 2 wonderful boys, a loving wife, a devote supporter but above all truly my best friend.

It is not an easy life to be surrounded by males. Sometimes your buttons get pushed to the limit but always remember that you are and always will be our number 1 girl.

I am not one who is good with words so I will take an excerpt from Ms Shania Twain instead and her song you got a way.

You've got a way with me
Somehow you got me to believe
In everything that I could be
I've gotta say-you really got a way
You've got a way it seems
You gave me faith to find my dreams
You'll never know just what that means
Can't you see... you got a way with me

You've got a way with words
You get me smiling even when it hurts
There's no way to measure what your love is worth
I can't believe the way you get through to me

Oh, how I adore you
Like no one before you
I love you just the way you are

This is your weekend, Happy Birthday, Happy 17th Anniversary and a very happy Mother’s day. You are life and we love you.

The boys.

PS: It is time to change your password.

Yet another running post

(from my Mom's garden, I can't resist sunflowers these days, they just make me happy - thanks Mom!)

This weekend, as I mentioned in my last post (would someone tell me to get a grip already, enough with the wallowing in self pity) that we, as in Jay and I, were running a relay this past weekend. Some people go to church on Sunday mornings, we run (don't judge until you've run a mile in our shoes).

The relay distance was a full marthon distance of 26 miles or 42.2 km split five ways. Terry-Lyn, Jay's boss's wife (say that 5 times fast) ran the first 7 km leg in a lightening fast 37 min. Jay and I were waiting at the first exchange zone so she could pass the timing chip off to me. We almost missed her! Thank goodness Jay saw her and I yelled. Here we are passing the baton (figuratively of course, it was actually a velcro timing chip).



I feel bad for any one behind me when this picture was taken but on the other hand, it is my best side. And I was off. And everyone passed me again. (Warning, I am my own very worst critic) But this time I was only running 10.5 km not 21.1 km. The people passing me where either doing 21.1km or 42.2 km. Me and a turtle have a lot in common. I finished my leg in 1 hour 5 min and 27 sec. EXACTLY the same pace that I ran the first 10km of my half marathon. EXCUSE me, but can someone tell me how in the world I did 11 more km after that?

Anyway, I passed the baton to Jay, who the previous day had come down with the cold from HELL. He went to bed at 8pm with a raging fever the night before his first race. I was shaking in my boots thinking I might have to run his leg too. That would mean I was running the equivalent to a half marathon. WITHOUT training for a half marathon.

Needless to say I was overjoyed when he woke up felling 75% better.

He ran his 11.5 km in 1 hour and 1 min and some seconds for change. Yes, that's right, he ran 1 km farther than me in 3 min less. But I am not dwelling on that (okay, okay, so maybe I have told everyone who will listen about it, whatever) because I am so damn proud of him. He is amazing and this just further proves it. A bad cold and he has a personal best!



Next up it was Jen's turn. She did a great recap of the race over at her site too, go check it out and you will see my very hot legs (yes that was sarcasm). She ran her leg in 1 hour and 6 min and change. A good 6 min faster than she and I did it together a mere 6 days before. I am so proud of her! She has gone from not running a stitch this spring to finishing a 9.5km race. GO JEN! Next up is our 5km race (see button on top right to donate!).



Here is Jen coming in to pass off to the last runner, Kent, Jay's boss. Poor girl was hot and tired and almost ran right by me as I was snapping away on my camera. I believe I reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her in!

And off went Kent on the last leg.





We all met up at the end to run across the finish together. Unfortunately we have no photos because they require your first born as a small payment to purchase the ones taken by the professional photographer. No thanks, I have become quite attached to Jack.

A big thank you to my Mom who came and took care of the boys while we ran, it is much appreciated Mom and so good to have you around!

This racing thing is quite fun, I might keep it up.

Today is his birthday

Today, this smashing young man turns 39 years young. This marks the 17th time we will celebrate his birthday together (yes, we have been together THAT long). It seems like forever and yesterday all at the same time.

Jay, you are our anchor and our strength. You are always there for us. ALWAYS. Thank you for all you do. We love you more than words could ever express here.

Happy Birthday, my one true love.

Mini he

I know this kid! I mean, I think I know him but the problem is, this picture is circa 1970 something...

But he looks so much like someone who is around that age now....

The kid on the left, cheeseball smile...

Looks familiar doesn't it?

The platnum blondie there, repeating the same cheesy smile, hmmm.....

Maybe it's just because I know them both so well, the 1970's boy is Jay as a kid but when I saw these pictures all I could see was the resemblance between Jay and Kamden.

Either way, they are both stinkin' cute, no?

Can you imagine?

Jack: How do babies form?

Jay: Well, there is an egg and a sperm that come together.

(me sitting there thinking uh oh, how do we handle this?!)

Jack: Did you say WORM?

If he only knew the truth! Thankfully for now, he was satisfied with knowing it was an egg and a sperm. But it's only a matter of time before he asks how the sperm gets to the egg.

Do you think he's too young to understand osmosis?