Merry Christmas 2000

Well it is that time of year again, and once again we are not ready. Don’t know where the year has gone, but there never seems to be enough time to do everything we had planned. I used to believe that we were being overly ambitious, but I have slowly come to realize that I am just getting older and can’t do as much as I used to (or maybe never did – I just can’t remember).

So, what have we been up to? Well, after many set backs and false starts we finally were able to start spending weekends and more in our cabin at Moyie Lake (the new Spirit Ridge). We took a couple of weeks off this summer and put on a textured covering (similar to stucco – but that you paint on), and then painted the cabin (‘denim blue’ I believe Deb calls it). Well it hides most of the flaws of the building being joined together, and definitely brightens up the neighbourhood. We were also able to get the water system up and running (after and episode of each of us going into and getting stuck in the icy cold water cistern), the porch screened in (ha ha mosquitoes), and most of the rooms set up and functional. We still have panelling to put up on the basement walls and ceiling, but that we will put off until next summer. We have now come to appreciate the cabin as a place where we like to spend as much time as possible, and if it were not for all the kid and work activities in town, would probably consider living out there on a more permanent basis. It has a sense of serenity and relaxation that we used to get from our log home in Creston, without the work. The kids love it, and have even brought in a lizard they found at the cabin to spend the winter with us.   (Deb just loves picking up his meal of crickets on a monthly basis). We are considering spending some time there between Christmas and New Years. (Don’t worry about trying to find us when we are at the cabin – our home number is usually call forwarded out there).

So now that we have a more permanent relaxation destination – what do we do? We go out and buy a used camperized Volkswagen van (so that we can travel more). Makes sense right. Being that it is diesel it gets good gas mileage and is relatively economical to drive as a second vehicle. It also paid off big time when we went on holidays in late October and were subject to some torrential rains – which would have been absolutely unbearable in a tent with two kids. Mickey can even open the fridge while we travel and get snacks for he and Keelan, so it works quite well. Although I once again rationalize this as a practical idea, others point out that I am just getting too old to enjoy tenting (ouch).

In addition to the work at the cabin, Deb had some great plans for the house in town. There were debates about re-siding, changing some of the windows, entrance way, etc. All of those were too expensive after the cabin work and new van so have been put off indefinitely.   Pat then moved the computer room (yes another upstairs to downstairs move), built 10 ft. of floor to ceiling book cases, and some wardrobes and the “stereo room” now has multiple functions and looks great. Deb still wanted to make some changes outside which she has always viewed as plain and ugly. Therefore, cedar shrubs were moved from the front to backyard. At the entrance way the sod has been pulled up and a patio being built, and then there is the pond. Deb made a triangular pond, and a three-foot waterfall out of rocks that we picked up from around the area. These rocks have probably been placed and replaced twenty times. Once Deb was satisfied it was just right water was added and voila – we had mosquitoes. Seems like the little nymphs really like the water as a breeding area and there were hundreds and hundreds (every day). On the risk of being evicted from the neighbourhood Deb tried everything – (having the kids scoop them out, bleach, filters but nothing worked). Finally the solution – gold fish. So about 10 very small goldfish were placed in the pond. The result – no mosquitoes, and 7 very fat and content goldfish being wintered in side the house in an aquarium (yes so now we have a lizard and fish – how come I feel like I’m loosing control – thankfully all the ants in Mickey’s ant farm reached the end of their life cycle in about April and he had not had the interest to replace those).

Deb continues to enjoy her work with Elderly Services at Mental Health. She has had a brief hit of the other end of life this fall facilitating a Nobody’s Perfect class for six weeks which is with parents of children under five.

Pat finds his work much more frustrating because of how dysfunctional the regional management structure is. He covered another managers job for three months (18 hour days) and caught up for nearly three years of incompetence and was able to prove to himself and others that the job was do-able. Unfortunately all of his hard work and his not being as young as he used to be have begun to have impact on his health. Deb finally managed to get him in for a physical and he was found to have a high cholesterol level, high blood pressure and a slightly elevated blood sugar level (pre-diabetic). In the doctor’s own words, anything you enjoy eating you can’t have anymore. So being one to never do things half way, Pat has quit smoking, gone on a low cholesterol and diabetic diet, and began an exercise program. He has stuck to it very well, especially since he will not know for several months whether it has had effect on his cholesterol, etc.   (The hardest thing for him to accept is that he can not abuse his body the way he used to and bounce back the next day – mortality is a tough thing) He’ll get a recheck in about Feb and if all of his efforts have not been able to have the desired effect, he’ll have to look at cholesterol lowering meds (and the order will be 2 in. thick and blue rare).

Speaking of getting older and changes in life, Mickey began Kindergarten this fall. He was really ready and so far is really enjoying himself. He has made lots of friends and while we went away for two weeks in October his teacher had to make public announcements as to when he’d be returning on a daily basis to deal with being asked repeatedly when he was coming back. He is happy to display his memory and fund of knowledge explaining to his class one day that a “fossil is an organism that lived a long long time ago that got covered by earth and dirt and was compressed into a rock”, and telling the teacher that the moon does not shine – it reflects the light from the sun (silly teacher). On the other hand he is being challenged by some of the crafts, phys ed and the intrusive behaviour of some of his friends.

Keelan continues to forge ahead with little understanding that he is younger than Mickey. He was very upset when Mick started school and they were separated for the first time. He would not accept Mickey’s gifts of pictures that he had made at school. However he is now enjoying being his own character. Keelan was very worried when we recently mailed our letter to Santa. He looked at me and said “but Mommy Santa can’t get the letter there” when I asked why, he replied, “there is no chimney” on the mailbox. Keelan continues to be more of a challenge to his parents with his effort at individualism (defiance). The challenge is not the behaviour itself, but rather trying to correct it with a straight face, when all you want to do is laugh. There have been numerous times when mom and dad have had to leave the room because the comments or efforts of having his own way or last word are just too funny (Don’t know where he gets this from).

Both Mickey and Keelan are enjoying gymnastics and skating this fall. They also were delighted with Butterfly World, The Bug Zoo, the Natural History Museum, Science World and the Seattle Zoo while on holidays. It is also really scary to watch Mickey teach Keelan how to use the computer and how much more quickly they pick it up from each other rather than Dad who has always assumed this role.

Christmas lights are on, tree is up, presents are bought, Christmas letter is done. Thank goodness its just about over. Take care and Seasons Greetings.

Pat, Debbie, Mickey, Keelan, Sabre, Jacknife, Striker (the lizard) & Fish