Kiz_Paws Bag Of Trix

Trees Up North Dipped in Golden Sun Rays At The End Of A Lovely Day



Pinch Me I Am Dreaming This Can't Be True!!


Hmmm, wow, it has sure been a while since I have dropped by. I really miss having 'all the time in the world' to check in and out of my favourite internet places -- in particular, LitNet. I do believe that I'll be able to get 'my time' on this computer a couple of nights a week, but we shall see. I have to share this baby with my hubby, and he does work out of it when his workday didn't prove to be as productive as he would have liked. **sigh** Don't we all wish to have a couple more hours to get done what needs get done-ing?

What is new with me is that we have ALMOST got a lakefront property in our hot little hands ... a few legalities have to be seen to, and then we will know. But it looks good, and if it is our time to obtain such a wonderful thing, then it will all work out (you see, we have trod this path before, and it all came undone at the last, sadly). So keep your fingers crossed, all...

As well, I am sure that most of you have read or heard about the terrible forest fire destruction that swallowed up untold land/homes/lives in California, USA as of late. I followed the stories as best I could via newspaper, internet, radio (I have sworn off TV, as you may recall). Anyhow, my husband was to be on a conference up in the San Diego area from November 4-7, so I wondered if indeed that conference could be held due to what was happening. As it turned out, just prior to Nov.4th, we called the hotel hosting the conference, and all systems were go, that the fires were, for the most part, under control (there was still a bit of trouble, but with each passing day, the situation was looking more and more promising).

Well, to get to the point, my hubby, at the last moment, decided it would be grand if I could come along, too, and add a couple days past the conference, and spend some nice time in California. So that is what we did. I spent my days in the town of Coronado (right beside San Diego) shopping, reading, and talking to the people there (and at night my hubby and I did The Tourist Thing together). Wow, what wonderful people, we talked about the fires, and how folks were handling things, and all that. And of course, I got the usual questions about snow (being from Canada and all, eh?), lol! But what fun. And what great food! **gains ten pounds thinking about all that wonderful stuff**

I only wished I could have learned Spanish, as that is such a beautiful language, and it is spoken lots down there. At one point in the trip I actually cursed myself for not having learned Spanish. A lovely Spanish-speaking girl grabbed my arm while I was in the Disney park (YAY Disney Parks!), and had very round frightened eyes and was going on about 'mama', indicating that she had a problem. She was very pale, and very scared. I tried so hard to make communication, replying in French and everything, but no good. I tried sign language (pointing to my eyes and saying 'you see' then 'mama' and then pointed in one direction after another) until she nodded -- aha, making progress! So my hubby, myself and the girl headed off in the direction that she nodded about, and I saw a couple standing by a tattoo place (fake tattoos in Disney). I inquired "does anyone speak Spanish and English?" and the man narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me. But I went on to say that the girl with me seemed to be in a bit of an emergency. Without hesitation he asked her questions in her native tongue and then his wife translated for me that the girl was very upset because she and her mother got separated, and the park was incredibly busy. Crazy busy (I had my heels trod on by baby buggies, people, and even rolling garbage bins), and the girl was very upset that her mother would be panicking by now. Anyhow, the man and the woman told me that they would take care of the situation, and called one of the many 'ushers' that one sees in the kingdom of Disney, so I patted the girl's arm and said 'good luck', even though she probably didn't know what I said. But she smiled and said 'thank-you', so that was good.

Apparently, while I was away (from November 4-11, as it turned out), my mom told me that it snowed on and off, but the ground was free of it when the plane landed. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. I love snow, and it is high time that the snow fell and stayed, after all, it is how many weeks before Santa makes his appearance??

In my corner of the world, I recall that as a child, we were lucky if Halloween (October 31st) wasn't ruined by snow -- which occurred almost every year, hee-hee! And the years have passed and each progressive year, the snow seems to be delayed that much more. Weird. But here is something weirder. Today we had a high of +12 C, and they are telling us that tomorrow it will be -1 C, with the 'possibility' of snow. Good grief, get it over with already!! My hubby still has not put the riding lawn mower away, yet he has to tune up our snow thrower (every good Prairie dweller has one of these, believe me). What to do what to do. Glad he's the guy. [What does this mean? -- my hubby and I have a little understanding about who does what job, and neither of us nags the other about their 'token' jobs. If I don't pull out my vacuum for a bit, even though it gets obvious that the house badly needs vacuuming, he never says boo. And if the grass grows a bit long, I am not 'supposed' to say anything. But I can't help myself. I usually tell him that the neighbour asked what crop we are trying for this year.....] **sigh** At least he loves me!

OK, I am rambling, so I'll sign off by saying that I hope you liked my pictures of the potential summer home of Mr. & Mrs. Paws and the beautiful sun that cascaded on those trees up North in my province.

p.s. I have still NOT finished with Dead Souls, a book by my beloved Gogol...

p.p.s. I have started Dickens 'Hard Times', and must say that I totally LOVE this book! Dickens is brilliant....simply brilliant!!

p.p.p.s. It feels good to get a Blog Entry again....I missed my (almost) daily murmurings in here! YAY!

p.p.p.p.s. Up and coming – pix from the San Diego area…