Final Days in Aurora

Much of the final days of our holiday spent visiting Geoff and his family were a collection of events. We shopped, cooked, enjoyed music, movies, and TV together. Things that make a family, a family.

I saw Miles' classroom when we picked him up from school and Elijah introduced me to his teacher as my Dad's mother, Nana. Glen met both of the grandkids' teachers. We also monitored homework and decided that Kindergarten wasn't what it used to be. Elijah reads books and is not alone in doing so.

Thursday night, Geoff and Melissa went out for a quiet dinner to celebrate their 14th anniversary. I made a simple supper then we played Lego--well, I played Lego with Miles and Elijah then Glen listened to Elijah read. We were surprised when Geoff and Melissa came home before the kids went to bed.

On Friday, I accompanied Melissa as she took Miles to the doctor for his 4 year check and escaped seeing him get two booster shots. He was very brave and didn't cry. The after-shot treat is Chick-Fil-A for lunch which we all enjoyed. It was my first experience with this chain and it didn't disappoint. I had their chicken wrap and it was tasty. Elijah, intrigued by my choice, had some to augment the sandwich he shared with Miles.

Chick-Fil-A began in 1967 and its owner, S. Truett Cathy invented the first chicken sandwich so their slogan, 'We didn't invent the Chicken, just the Chicken Sandwich' is true. He pressure cooked the chicken in peanut oil to hasten its serving time and so could compete with burger joints. The only condiment he had was pickles so, to this day, the sandwich is served with two sliced pickles. A devout Christian, Truett insisted the chain close on Sundays and invest heavily in community services and scholarships.

Miles' rescheduled birthday party was Saturday afternoon and three friends showed up to become pirates and enjoy cupcakes and a treasure hunt. They also created their own pirate hats. When they refused help from Elijah, he cried so Grampy took him to the nearby park. As they dressed, I taped Elijah mastering the fine art of tying his own shoes.

Saturday night, Geoff and Melissa went off to a friend's birthday party. It was a Murder Mystery dinner (but only hors d'oeuvres were served) set in the 1920s. Melissa had borrowed a flapper costume from a friend and I bought Geoff a black fedora and small rose for his lapel to augment his suit. He was a mobster. Melissa was the murderer and was surprised when she herself was killed. She laid quietly for 10 minutes until somone discovered the body then watched the others solve the crimes. Geoff won an award for best performer so I guess his time doing high school drama paid off.

Meanwhile, Glen and I had fun with the grandkids. I made a spaghetti supper using Geoff's leftover pizza sauce then we watched Labyrinth. Elijah was a fount of questions so it was good we had seen the movie so many times. The music is always great so that was a bonus. Who can't like David Bowie dressed as the Goblin King? It was a box office flop in 1986 but has become a cult film. Since 1997, Hollywood hosts the 'Labyrinth of Jareth' masquerade ball and there is a series of graphic novels involving Toby's journey through the labyrinth when he's a teen (he is a baby in the movie).

Sunday, after I had packed our suitcase, we car pooled to church since we returned our rented car on Saturday morning. Elijah was not happy to go but this seems to be a normal thing. We then had a quick lunch and Geoff drove us to the airport. It was very crowded but the DIA security system is efficient and so we were at the gate in 45 minutes. My only complaint was this part of B concourse has few seats so many ended up sitting on the floor. We stood for 15 minutes before we were able to sit together. That's when we discovered we weren't sitting next to each other on the plane. Glen was in the final row while I was three rows up. The kind gentleman beside Glen switched seats with me before take-off so that problem was easily solved.

Three international planes landed in Calgary at the same time as we did. Normally customs is a lottery on which line will be quickest but they have modified their system so there were only two choices. We were the last leaving the plane and pretty much the last leaving customs but it felt as if the line moved quickly.

We dumped our bags at home then drove down to Boston Pizza for supper. This restaurant is an Alberta success story. Begun in Edmonton in 1964, it now has franchises across the States and Mexico. There are three in Denver, one close to Geoff's house, but the American versions call themselves - Boston's, the Gourmet Pizza. We ordered their Sicilian thin-crust pizza and enjoyed some Rickard's Red beer which was a nice end to our Reading Week hiatus.

Miles' Birthday - February 22nd

Miles woke up with a slight fever on his birthday but that didn't dampen his excitement. He tore into his presents with gusto as Elijah hovered nearby to 'help'. One gift, a Wii game from us, they shared so Elijah opened that one. The favourite toy was Joker's Hideaway which seemed activated by static electricity. Without warning, Joker would say, "The joke's on you, Batman" then cackle maniacally. The kids thought this a hoot but when they were in bed, it was rather disconcerting.

Since Glen needed new boots and Melissa wanted a successful letterboxing outing, we all went to REI in downtown Denver. We met Melissa's friend, JoAnne, and her daughter, Claire, did the letterboxing, then let the kids play at a nearby playground while we had a picnic lunch.

REI reminds us of Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-op as both stores offer good quality outdoor gear at reasonable prices. I've been a member of MEC for 30 years and it has served us well so I'm sure Geoff and Melissa will get the same benefits from their membership in REI which began as a co-op in Seattle in 1938. In fact, both companies do more than offer quality gear as they also contribute to environmental and community causes which benefit us and future generations.

The flagship REI store in Denver is housed in the restored 1901 Denver Tramway building and there are still tracks and tram cars outside. It also has a Starbucks (another Seattle success story) where we bought mango juice for our lunch. However, we first had to buy Glen his boots. Since winter is pretty much over there, we found them in a discount rack at the rear of the store. They had several styles in Glen's size and he chose two to try on. The price decided the sale as each boot had pros and cons (who knew Glen could be so discerning--his old boots I bought in Bonnie Doon Sears over 25 years ago).

A couple of years ago, I had looked at travel purses in this REI store and decided against buying. This time I found something I liked that would fit all the gear I've begun to carry, like an iPhone and small Olympus camera.

We left the store just as JoAnne and Claire arrived at the 'three bears' where the letterboxing clues began. Apparently, this particular box has a different stamp every month of the year so is a favourite among Denver collectors. JoAnne showed me the stamps she had found in places as far away as Hawaii. She also had found a "hitchhiker" stamp and wished to add it to the REI letterbox. We had no clue where the stamp had travelled but its ziplock looked pretty old.

Our next stop was the Denver Children's Museum playground. We looked after the kids while Melissa and JoAnne hunted for another letterbox. This one's stamp was an incredible piece of artwork (most stamps are hand-carved but you can use store-bought ones, too). We ate our lunch but by this time Miles had had enough.

We walked back to the car along the South Platte River. This river begins as two branches in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. One flows north into Wyoming and the other flows across Colorado. They merge in Nebraska to form a tributary of the Missouri River and hence was an important route for settlers moving west.

After a nap, Miles perked up and was ready for his birthday supper. He had chosen Five Guys so Glen and Melissa went to pick up our order. I had forgotten they offer free, shelled peanuts and Glen jammed a paper lunch bag full of them. For those in Alberta who might be interested, there is a Five Guys in Sherwood Park and one opening in Airdrie soon. Their burgers are awesome and their fries tasty.

Red Rocks

Miles was still sick with a high fever on Monday. Medicine helped ease it but everyone agreed he should rest. Everyone except Miles. When told he could watch movies, he quickly collapsed on the couch.

Melissa suggested we visit Red Rocks. Glen and I were game when Geoff said he'd look after Miles, so we piled into the Rio with Elijah, and headed for the hills. It was a lovely day for a drive.

I thought Red Rocks was a place featuring geology as its name suggests and it is, but it is also so much more. A natural amphitheatre formed by two rock formations, Ship Rock and Creation Rock, creates a place of perfect acoustics. Originally called The Garden of Angels, it attracted the attention of John Brisben Walker in the 1900s who produced a number of concerts there. In 1927, the city of Denver bought the area and built an amphitheatre designed to compliment the surrounding geology. Since 1947, it has attracted performers from around the world and is famous for its annual Easter Sunrise Service.

We wandered the main hall of the information center to read the names of artists who have performed at Red Rocks from The Beatles to k.d. lang to opera stars. The park itself is 868 acres laced with hiking and biking trails and featuring broad vistas of the prairies and city of Denver.

After we had a snack in the amphitheatre and watched a boot camp prepare to run up and down the seats (a favoured activity for the fit), we wandered out to an empty parking lot so Melissa could find the letterbox hidden there. Glen and I were to watch for security guards while she followed the clues.

Letterboxing involves finding a box containing a rubber stamp that is hidden in a public place. The origin of this idea is credited to a guide who left a bottle on the moors of Dartmoor, England in 1854 in which visitors would place their cards. Later, others left letters in boxes along the moor's trails, hence the word, letterboxing.

As Melissa hunted the area, Glen helped while I did my photography thing and Elijah did his Elijah-thing. Unfortunately, after 30 minutes of combing the edge of the parking lot, we had to leave empty handed. We were very careful not to step on the rock formations as there were signs warning that the penalty for doing so was a $1000 fine or 180 days in jail or both. Elijah read the sign out loud several times so we wouldn't forget.

We drove home through the tiny town of Morrison, "The Nearest Faraway Place" (it is close to Denver but separated from the city by the Hogback Rock formation). The village boasts many fine restaurants, museums, and parks with hiking/biking/horseback riding trails. We had no time to linger but Melissa is determined to return and I so want to be part of that adventure.

We enjoyed PF Chang's for supper and Miles even nibbled a few mouthfuls. His fever had abated and even though he wasn't his usual sunny self, he appeared to be on the mend. I asked Geoff what the PF stood for and he was quick to goggle it.

This American Chinese restaurant was founded by Paul Fleming and Philip Chiang and is based recipes Chef Chiang developed. It also has a menu dedicated to those who must follow a gluten-free diet. The first restaurant was in Scottsdale, Arizona but the chain now has over 200 worldwide although none are in Canada. More's the pity.

Proud Parent/Grandparent Moment

We arrived at the Denver International Airport on Friday evening of the long weekend (President's Day [US], Family Day [Alberta]). We came in at the final gate of the B concourse--#86. This meant a long walk down the United Express corridor, then over three moving sidewalks to the train. After a brief bathroom break, we rode the train to the main terminal where Geoff waited. Our bag was one of the last ones left on the carousel. Calgary International Airport could learn a thing or two about efficiency from those who handle bags in Denver.

Saturday was spent playing with grandkids. Well, one grandkid. Miles woke up sick and was soon back in bed with a fever. Elijah was his bouncing, questioning self and we loved it. Geoff spent the afternoon making cinnamon buns for church while we drooled and threatened to lessen the amount he would serve.

Glen and I also rented a KIA Rio from Enterprise Rent-a-Car. They do indeed send someone to pick you up and Joe at the Red Lion Hotel outlet was more than friendly. Of course, once he discovered we were from Canada, he had to talk hockey. It is funny as we aren't avid fans but I guess when it's your unofficial sport, you learn enough of the game to make small talk.

Sunday we headed off to church in two waves. Geoff had to arrive early to set up to play his violin while Melissa dropped off the cinnamon goodies, some fruit, and juice for the volunteers. She drove back and we left with Elijah. Miles was too sick to attend so Melissa stayed with him.

We knew the routine to get Elijah into Sunday school and everyone there knew him so there were no problems signing him in and getting him to his class. Glen enjoyed a chat with Larry while Elijah escorted me to his room.

We were in the auditorium (the church uses a local high school) by 10 as Glen had been assigned the task of recording Geoff's playing so Melissa could watch it. I took pictures but did so without a flash which is why the one above is fuzzy.

It was a proud parent moment when Geoff played his solo as everyone gathered. His violin was a nice counterpoint to the rest of the instruments in the band as we sang three songs of worship before the sermon. Afterwards, Geoff had to pack up the gear so we retrieved Elijah. As soon as he left the class, he sprinted away telling us he helped Mr. Dave. He was gone from sight in an instant but I wasn't worried as I figured Mr. Dave was the band leader. I was right. We caught up with Elijah in the auditorium. We even filmed some footage of him goofing around when all his jobs were done.

Afternoon napping gives everyone a chance to recuperate and allowed us to watch a DVD of Elijah performing in his play, "The Three Piggy Opera". He played the part of the Big Bad Wolf and his singing and acting were entertaining. I cried at times but as I explained to Elijah, they were proud Nana tears.

Black Ice and Blinding Blizzard

We postponed our annual trip to Golden, BC due to a major snow storm that hit Calgary last weekend but this past Saturday, we awoke to clear skies and a forecast of flurries later in the day.

We left the house at 8:30 a.m. and joined the ski bunnies driving to the mountains. At the Nakiska exit, the traffic dwindled with more leaving us at Mt. Norquay in Banff and Sunshine Village west of the town. The road between Banff and Lake Louise was once a death trap but now the highway is twinned so it should have been smooth sailing. It was, except for the black ice. We saw one accident where the car had spun around and another where the SUV became stranded on top of a snow drift. Both vehicles had careened past us at high speeds. They'd hit the black ice and that was it.

Slow down folks! Just because you have 4 wheel drive, it doesn't mean you can drive as if it were summer.

There is a viewpoint at Castle Mountain, east of Lake Louise, that has pit toilets. We usually stop here when driving to Victoria. Even though it was cold, the smell is a lot better in the winter. Besides, the view was spectacular as you can see from my photo.

There were at least 100 cars waiting on the highway to exit to the Lake Louise ski area so I was glad we weren't skiing. We had another hour to go before reaching Golden but the road conditions grew worse so travel was slow. This meant I could take photographs from the car window. The new span across the Kicking Horse River has an incredible rock cut that I was able to capture.

After renewing the insurance on the van, we went to our favourite restaurant, the Whitetooth Bistro. I had carrot & zucchini soup with sour cream and dill--it was a fantastic burst of flavour and the Veggie Press sandwich which has become my 'usual'. Glen had the Daily Deli which consisted of a bun stacked high with barbecue beef and red and banana peppers. He had to resort to using a knife and fork to eat it. We enjoyed Okanagan Spring's 1516 then good strong coffee.

The day was sunny in Golden so we walked down to the Columbia River. The snow was deep powder. Apparently, they had new snow late in the week and on Friday, the highway to Calgary was closed due to avalanche control. I did mention to Glen as we drove under the high cliffs that we should be alert to avalanches.

The drive home was uneventful until we left the mountains and ran smack into a blizzard. Visibility fell instantly to about two car lengths and everyone, except the idiots, slowed down. Scott Lake Hill is the highest point on the TransCanada Highway and the storm was worse there. However, once we dropped down onto the grasslands, the snow vanished and it was good winter driving into Calgary.

This will be the last trip we make to Golden as our insurance renewal will now come due in the summer when we're usually in Victoria.

What I Learned

For those who read this blog regularly, you know we've done a lot of traveling over the past year. It is good to get out and see the world and each time, I learn something other than the history and culture of a different part of this global community. Here are some basics I learned from the trip to Sint Maarten:

1. Always have a packing list. Every time we travel, I add to my list as we may be golfing on one trip and snorkeling the next. I have forgotten socks and underwear so it's important to list even mundane items.

2. Always carry a universal plug. In Sint Maarten, the Dutch side was 120 volts like Canada, but the French side was 220.

3. Remember to bring all the plugs for devices like cell phones and laptops. Some hotels don't offer wireless so include an internet cable with your gear. Don't forget camera battery chargers and make a habit of charging these every night whether they need it or not (you will thank me for this).

4. All places in the Sint Maarten took US dollars however, on the French side, euros were the currency of choice. Cash registers made the conversion so it wasn't a hassle carrying only US cash

5. Most restaurants included a tip of 15%. We didn't realize this so received excellent service in our resort as servers vied to wait our table. One girl told us we were her favourite couple! Being friendly and polite also went a long way to good service.

6. No matter how much 'product' one uses to straighten curly hair, it can't compete with the affects of high humidity. Leave straightening gels, etc at home when in the Islands!

7. Bring more than one book. Glen normally reads one book per year but when traveling, he doubles his consumption. I thought his book on the Battle of Little Big Horn would last him but not so. I ended up buying the paperback version (which I couldn't buy in Canada) of Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest in the Princess Juliana airport.

8. Or do as I did and buy a Kindle or other e-book reader. I had three books loaded on mine and read 2 and a half. It is much lighter than lugging around a hard cover book. I read mine in the bright sun and never felt myself straining. Turning the pages is easy and mine has a cover with a small light so reading in a darkened plane works, too. Each e-book costs about $10 but there are many free ones available and if the book is 'old', the price is lower. Only downside is one must power-down while landing and taking off but that's what airline magazines are for.

Lazy Day

Saturday morning Glen had his last scientific session. Some think these trips are junkets but science is discussed as well as issues related to being a chair. Glen comes home feeling a little bit wiser and often helps other chairs solve problems he's already faced.

I had taken to enjoying our balcony when Glen worked, reading to while away the time. I also watched those who sauntered the beach or lounged by the pool. It was a great way to spend the morning.

But, I was ready to go on our Island Tour when the meetings ended. Seven of us piled into the van at 12:30 and were whisked away with promises of lunch on the French side. First, though we had to stop at the biggest souvenir shop, Rima Beach World, in Philipsburg. We all grumbled as we alighted but Glen found some cheap Hawaiian shirts that appealed to him. The shopping bag was decidedly feminine so I ended up carrying it. We took some funny pics of him in a mock-microbus then departed for a lookout.

Several on the bus hinted at hunger and our driver assured us we'd eat soon. The view from the mountain was great but a fastfood stand had our mouths watering. No one wanted to chance eating there so we boarded the bus with hopes the next stop would mean food.

Not so, our driver took us to the airport to show us where the people stand to get blasted by sand and jet engines. He said he usually stops there to wait for planes but the bus was becoming surly so we moved on.

We then saw time-shares, condos, and a new shopping mall that was supposed to be finished 2 years ago. After crossing into the French side, we passed the gates to Oprah's house and van Morrison's. Our guide pointed out everything from the island's biggest car dealership to the local elementary schools but gave us little in the way of history of the island and I never learned why English is spoken by most of its inhabitants.

Finally, we demanded he stop soon for lunch as we were all starving. It was 3:00 pm when we stumbled out of the bus and into Sarafina's deli in Marigot. I was so hungry my brain had shut down and I couldn't choose my meal. I told Glen I'd eat what he had and we ended up with fancy cheese sandwiches. I barely tasted the brie and crispy baguette, though. We wandered the market area but most stalls were empty. Sarafina's also sells ice cream but Glen waited until we had to leave to be served so I guess we came at the wrong time.

We drove through Marigot passing the French side airport, and onto Orient Bay where the famous clothing optional beach is located. Apparently, a man bought the property for $40,000 many years ago and then leased the land to hotels, restaurants, and condos. There are several beaches and access to Pinel Island (where we had lunch on our snorkeling trip). It is here those who come to the island via cruise ships go to enjoy the sun and the sand.

We returned to the hotel in plenty of time to shower and prepare for the final banquet. I ended up ironing in the bathroom as it was big enough and had the most accessible plug. Everyone commented that you could have a party in the bathroom and they were so right. The shower was a good 5 feet square and the bathtub was almost a spa. A four foot vanity ran between the two and that's where I set up the ironing board.

We had a buffet supper with an island band playing in the background. After eating, a singer and four dancing girls came out to entertain us. He hauled Glen and Joel onto the stage and had them trying to swivel their hips like the dancers. It was pretty funny. Then he sang an island song in which I anticipated the ending. He came over and shoved the mike into my face and asked me to explain the final verse. I struggled (too much wine and nerves) and he wasn't happy with my version so sang it himself. I told Glen I should have pulled a Bruce Willis from the movie Fifth Element and said nothing.

The girls changed costumes and returned for the next song. It was fun to watch and the music was great but having seen so many dance shows, I realized these girls needed more rehearsing. I've been spoiled with many years of watching incredible dance.

Then the band began a lively number and the singer pointed at me and told me I was to lead the conga line. I hoped he meant the lady beside me but no. Well, I can't do the steps of a conga line at the best of times but I didn't let that stop me. I began dancing, waving my cloth napkin in the air. Glen and Sheilah jumped in behind me. We danced around the room and pretty soon most had joined us. It was a blast!!

Having broken the ice, it didn't take long before couples were up dancing and enjoying themselves. The evening ended at eleven but we joined the other Canadian chair, Ray, and his wife, Kathy, (from Sherbrooke, Québec) for a beer at the lobby bar.

The next morning I was accused of being the life of the party so I had to relive a rather embarrassing moment. Hopefully by next year, everyone will have forgotten my escapade.