I had a client text and call seconds after my alarm went off so I stayed in bed to solve his issues. We had a good laugh about it. Next was meeting a client in office to work on her two company files and she brought along her adorable 6 month old son, Zev. I love the name which apparently means wolf in Hebrew. Next was a new client in to set up his file. Got a few more things done and finally called it done.
Came home and made the perfect dinner for a day like this
Haha, a clip from Son of a Critch. I remember watching it back in ‘84 (although they say 88 in the show) and laughing. Holy Fodder, so East Coast
The best news of the day was that Mom finally got a Doctor after two years! I take her tomorrow to meet
I watched the Leaders Debate tonight and once again was impressed with the Green Platform. They brought their cards to the table and I do like their financial plan especially about cutting bureaucracy in Healthcare. it was good dinner entertainment
My frames arrived today and I got the first two filled with a couple of my souvenirs. The Marine Iguana is made of Banana Leaf and the Tortoise is from pop cans, both art pieces endemic to Galapagos
The sad news today was the death of 17 year old Nell Smith from Fernie.
A lovely start to the day was getting a message from Rae-Anne that the lead singer of The Hip Replacements had dropped off his feathers to give to me. What a sweet gesture! I shall add them to my fedora
After work it was off to Encore for the Friends With Benefits tasting evening. There were new foods to try and good company. I also came home with a new t-shirt, not that I need anymore, I just love Dad Rock
This followed immediately by the All Candidates Forum at Key City Theatre for the upcoming provincial election. I must say that I was very impressed by Kerri Wall of the Green Party, which quite surprised me The applause told me there were a lot of big C Conservatives in the audience.
The best part of this very warm (27C) Fall day was taking a good long soak in my tub as I watched The Fall Guy. I really liked it and take back my long ago judgement that I wasn’t a fan of Ryan Gosling.
Tonight was a lot of fun hanging with Dave and Deb at Encore for the show. I e seen the actual Tragically Hip three times and these guys do a great cover. The lead singer acknowledged my hat from the stage and afterward came to our table and said he was going to offer me his feathers but realized he didn’t have others with him.
I went to poker night with treats from M & M Foods where I was served by Tim whom I dated back when I first moved here.
Poker at Landon’s with Shawna and Tim, Kathy, Tyler, Galen, Alyssa, and new guy, Canyon was fun as we caught up with each other. I didn’t do well but had a good time.
I got a lot done today and made my way to Key City Theatre to run bar for a Rock Legends show. It’s been a while since I have volunteered and it was good to be back. People were happy to be at the sold out show and it was fun to see so many familiar faces. I picked up my gift from the Vollie party that I missed.
Not sure why I am dragging butt. I woke up before six, fell asleep again and struggled when my alarm went off. I got through the day, getting payroll and filings done as well as the invitations to or FPPAS Vollie party on the 25th at Encore.
Got home after 7, had a quick visit with Tracey and then made nummy tuna melts on garlic toast for dinner.
Currently crocheting and watching Celebrity IOU with intention of tucking in soon.
It was National Truth and Reconciliation day today. I acknowledge that I live in the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa peoples and have been blessed in the past to live in the Heiltsuk Territories. I have lived in other places, on unceded lands, but was not aware at the time. I am glad that I have been taught so much more than I ever learned in school about our treatment of those who were here first.
I awoke to a text from Rae-Anne asking if I wanted to go for a drive to Kimberley and catch up. I picked her up an hour later and we had a great afternoon strolling in and out of stores in the platzl. We also stopped at the Marysville Falls for me to enjoy the new boardwalk.
After a quick stop at Superstore it was off to Safeway where I picked up a free $200 Tassimo machine when I scanned my Scene card and bought 5 packages of coffee.
We ended the afternoon with a great meal at Heidout. It was so great to have time to catch up
I did laundry and chores today and crocheted a little.
I have a problem with Carlos wanting more than I have to give. For one, I am not impressed that we have to communicate only in Spanish. Two, he doesn’t ask me about myself at all, just expresses love and wants to chat regularly. The problem is that there is not much being said. I don’t want to break his heart but I may need to.
I met Leanne for dinner at Ella’s and had amazing fish and chips while we had a very nice visit. Next it was off to Key City Theatre where the Rotary ladies were gathering to see Menopause the Musical. There was an extra ticket so Deb met us there. The show was very funny and well performed. Expensive, but worth it.
I woke just before my alarm to a call from Rae to go for coffee but it was my ABC zoom day. About half of us were on and it was nice, but I feel the connections fading. I don’t want to talk about those not there and shut down a line of questioning that was about someone else. I think I have just had a tough week with the vimf news and it was all a bit much. Straight from there to a client who I really like. 8.5 hours later I had to call it a day and promise to return. About a half hour before that her husband had come down joking that he was still waiting for his dinner. 15 minutes or so later the smoke alarm went off and we had a good laugh that he must be cooking.
I made it home just before 9 and am exhausted. I was supposed to play a game and catch up with a friend but I have no more in me. I plan to sleep until I am rested this night.
Today was a productive day of work and volunteer time and then I went to meet Dave and Deb at Encore to have dinner and see Ryan McMahon play. It was a whole lot of fun. Was so great to chat with Ryan and reminisce about meeting on SSI when I hosted a music night of him back in June 2009. He was amazed that Rae is my daughter and told me Well done.
Just before Rotary lunch I received an emailed announcement only moments before it was blasted out on media.
Organizers of the Vancouver Island MusicFest have announced there won’t be a Festival in the summer of 2025.
The Board of the Comox Valley Folk Society and MusicFest staff have announced they are taking a year off from the annual summer festival to rebuild resources and determine a sustainable vision based on the current economic reality and cultural changes. Sadly, this difficult reality is being faced by numerous Festivals around the world as all grapple with escalating costs.
“Economic challenges have increased dramatically across all aspects of the Festival – from travel costs to certain production costs more than doubling what they were before the pandemic. When paired with decreasing sponsorships, zero local funding and reduced ticket sales you have pressures on all sides.” say organizers. “We have no desire to raise ticket prices to the level we would need to in order to make things work, which would make our Festival unavailable for so many members of our community and loyal patrons. It’s all caused us to realize, for the moment at least, our Festival model is no longer sustainable in the Comox Valley.”
The Board and staff have not come to this decision lightly, realizing how important the Festival is to many volunteers, friends and families who have attended the community gathering over the last 30 years. “It’s a hard day for us all.” says Festival Artistic Director/Executive Producer, Doug Cox. “But it’s time for us to pause and consider the future of our event and make strategies for a sustainable future.”
I sent out over 180 email to current and past volunteers to thank them and let them know that I hope to see them again. I am struggling to process the end of a 16 year relationship.
I had a good day although I am rather tired as I think my brain is still trying to figure out what time zone I am in.
Had an appointment mid afternoon to get my nails done as I had broken one while snorkeling. I let Minh choose and he did a gorgeous job.
He and I have good conversations and he was very perceptive about a situation I was in. We saw it the same way and had a good chuckle.
I picked up Moms pills and dropped them off in time to have a short visit, pay her bills, and read her email that comes to me.
Once home, it felt like I was barely in before the winds kicked up. Before long there was a good thunder storm and rain. It seems to have mostly passed over now although I can still hear the wind chimes singing.
Ugh, I woke up at 5:30… managed to sleep a little longer but was at the office by 8:30
It was nice to share with Brett some of the highlights as I know he loves flora and fauna.
I calmly got the day’s necessities done and then spent over an hour going through over 700 email.
I have also made time to keep a bit of conversation going with Carlos. He is so sweet and openly expressive about his feelings for me. He seems to not care that we speak different languages and live on different continents. I can’t imagine this will go anywhere but for now it is nice to know someone is thinking well of me.
The weather was hot today and the air conditioning felt especially cold.
Tracey has had x-rays of her foot done as it still hurts. Hopefully there is nothing seriously wrong.
We had a good sleep, gathered ourselves and checked out. Ash gave directions to cheaper gas and then it was off to Cranbrook. I don’t have a lot to say tonight as I am very tired. We made only two stops more. One at A & W for some grub and one to take a picture
I do have something serious going on with only some bites. Growing larger and itchy
I somewhat unpacked,
Ate some food, did this and am off to bed.
Ok I also took a client call and cleaned litter box, neither of which I really wanted to do.
Alarm went off at 4, got ready, picked up our boxed breakfasts and the car was ready. At the airport before anyone else, had coffee and relaxed until the flight. Check in was so easy and I laughed as my suitcase was exactly on the 23 Kg limit. My carryon is a bit heavier than it was though!
We had seats together on the first leg to Panama. What a lush green surrounding Panama City sits in. I saw freighters that seemed to be in a holding pattern.
The plane ended up in a holding pattern and we had a furious walk from one end Terminal B to the other end of terminal 7 where we barely had time to use the loo before once again going through screening and being ushered immediately into line for boarding. They poured out our water bottles and took my sealed bottle even though we were just a transfer. What a waste.
We are not seated together on the leg to LAX and we traded seats so Tracey could have the aisle which she prefers and I have a window. I have been intermittently watching The Way Back and napping. Lunch was awful.
I am so glad that for this long stretch we may be separated but are in rows 6 & 8 which are premium with extra legroom and a seat screen. I am wishing that I hadn’t booked the last odd middle free seats for the next leg as we may have been blessed again. Ah well it’s a shorter leg.
I did manage to break my nail where it chipped when I finally made my way to the loo. I quite enjoyed the movie This Beautiful Fantastic
My triple feature of this leg is charming and disturbing so far; Blinded by the Light which appears to be based on real humans. I recommend it.
I was stunned to realize when we finally reached my car in the Park & Jet that I had left my phone in the loo. I went back and used my iPad to summon Find My Phone. Ultimately I heard it ringing in a security guards hands. I proved it was mine by logging in the password. We finally got checked in to the Coast Hotel in downtown Calgary. It was decent although we shared a king bed due to availability
A great sleep in a gorgeous room led to an easy wake up and go. We had a delicious breakfast and then joined Steven and Jo to meet Fernando in the lobby for our tour.
We are blessed as he is not a tourist guide but rather a marine biologist who studies dolphins and other mammals!
Cotton TreesSable (cotton) Tree
There are two tides, twice a day, two hours apart. Very unusual. In Guayaquil, Jan-April is rainy humid season, May to December weather stays the same everyday. At most 12 degree difference over the year. Cold current from south creates this unusual coastal current. This is considered a coastal town even though it is 90 Km from ocean. This is because the river is influenced by tides.
95% of farmed shrimp that is exported comes from this area. most important industry after petroleum.
These dolphins are an endangered species. He estimates that the ones we see today will disappear within 45 years.
Orcas are same species as Dolphins
Rosette Spoonbills use their beaks to lure shrimp when tide is low
White Ibis and Blue egret
First was Brown Pelican, group are bigger Peruvian ones ( so many pics, so many notes)
Whimbrills brown on branch
Tiny kingfishers
Edwin was the helper. Fernando said he gives him coins and is the only child he lets help
El Morro has most hours of sunshine in Ecuador just like Cranbrook does in Canada.
Once back at the hotel we got ready and met Ricardo in the lobby for our walking tour of Guayaquil which should have happened when we arrived last evening so we would know what to be sure to do this evening. Too late!
9 de Octubre is Guayaquil Independence Day
We did have a nice walk and then the bus picked us up and dropped us in Old town. As Steven, Jo, Tracey and I hadn’t had an actual meal since breakfast, we chose to stay and eat at Camaleon. We had good food and drink and great conversation before strolling back along the water on the Malecon. It took us up through the arts district and then down through the entertainment area and market. A lovely lovely evening and I was able to find a Panama hat for Will.
Back at the hotel we headed for the 18th floor where I bought myself a certified handmade in Ecuador Panama hat and then we sat at the bar for a drink. The two young cuties behind the bar have served us well the last two nights. One even told me a good spot to go for a really good martini if only I had one more night.
A guy saddled up to the bar and we found out he was from San Diego. Russel is 68 and funny, travelling solo. He is on the same tour as us just one day later. Tracey headed up to the room to pack and I stayed for a chat and martini. Two of his travel mates joined. Joseph and Daniel are 40 and fun. Joseph asked me for my IG and is very interested in them coming volunteer at MusicFest next year. Apparently it’s super cheap for them to fly LA to Vancouver.
The time came quickly to head to the room and pack. I had to move some heavier things to my carry on. With no scale it’s all a guessing game.
triumphgal 