It's Good To Be Me

Working in the health care field gives you a somewhat different perspective on life. Over the last week I have found out that a fellow workers wife, who is in her late thirties, has breast cancer. Another co-workers mother, who is in her sixties, has cancer.

Today, I was able to drive to work in my own car, with my husband, and do a full days work. I was then able to drive back home, again in my own vehicle with my husband, and then stop and pick up groceries, without any worry about how I was going to pay for them.

Following a swim, in my own pool, in my own yard, I had a lovely supper, with my husband, on my back deck in the warm sun and looked into my garden full of flowers.

These are simply things that most of us take for granted, but others cannot imagine ever having or ever being able to do.

I am very fortunate and today came to realize and appreciate it on a different level.

I know it's an old, overused saying, but do enjoy each day and be happy with what you have.....there will always be someone out there far less fortunate than you. 

Vinyl Cafe "Story Exchange"

"Sleepwalking Camper"

by Dawn DeCourcey from Fredericton, NB

Our family has always enjoyed camping. My husband and I tented on our honeymoon 26 years ago. We upgraded to a hard top camper when we had kids. And finally, about 15 years ago, we opted for total luxury. We purchased a 24 foot travel trailer with a pull out couch for us at the front and bunk beds in the back for our two children.

We were on our maiden voyage with our new rig at one of our favorite campgrounds. It was Canada Day weekend and we were lucky to get a campsite.

We were located right across from the tents and trailers occupied by the young campground staff. Summer holidays had arrived.

We were enjoying the time together as a family and the conveniences of our little home on wheels. Life was good. We were still campers, just a little less rugged, and...we still hadn't caught on to locking the door.

One night I was awakened in the wee hours of the morning by my husband's voice saying"...This isn't your trailer.." In my sleepy state I thought to myself, "Well of course it's my trailer,...what's yours is mine and what's mine is ...mine...". Then I opened my eyes.

There was a young man standing next to our bed, an inebririated young man,... a naked, inebriated young man. My husband was trying to direct him to the door, telling him that it wasn't his trailer. Our "guest" kept calmly replying "Yes it is my trailer."

After a few minutes of discussion our intruder left. We quickly locked the door.

Our eight year old son had slept through the whole event, but not our five year old daughter. A little voice from behind the curtains near the bunk beds called out, "Is he gone?".

In my most reassuring mother voice I told her, "He's gone, you don't have to be afraid." She said, "I'm not afraid, I just didn't want to miss anything."

Then she asked, "What happened?". Since she'd been shielded by a curtain I tried to explain as best I could. I told her that the man made a mistake and had come into our trailer because he was, well, ah..."sleep-walking". After a moment's thought she asked, "Did he have his arms out in front of him?". "No," I replied, "not his arms."

In the morning a very sober and embarrassed young man came over to apologize. He explained that he had celebrated his birthday a bit too much and had become disoriented when he'd wandered out of his trailer in the middle of the night. I told him I'd known it was his birthday by what he was wearing.

As we parted on good terms he said that he hoped that someday I'd be able to laugh about the incident. Well, that day did come, very quickly... and this story continues to be our camping favorite.

Great Entertainment

Isaac and Sasha had a great time pushing Peter into the pool.......over and over again.

Day with the Van Kessels

Peter and the boys arrived for brunch this morning.

While breakfast was being made the boys played with the lego.

After the first swim the lego moved outdoors.

Love his hat. He has the matching swimming trunks.

Sasha is sizing the whole thing out.

The yellow and black snake is Isaacs. It's name is Chester.

The youngest and oldest cousins.

The youngest and oldest siblings.

Current Pictures of the Garden

A double center black-eyed susan

Gerber Daisy

Final Stretch

Paul passed his reading and writing french test. He received the results yesterday. What a load off his shoulders. Now he "JUST" has the oral exam to do and that will be next month. He can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Overnight in Moncton

Yesterday, after work, we headed to Moncton. Paul was doing his reading and writing test for french the next day. We spent a leisure evening, walked a bit of the downtown and had supper at the "Pump House Pub".Today after dropping Paul off  at 0900hr. I visited the old haunts from my nursing days........drove by the apartment I stayed in my first year, residence my second year (it is no longer a residence but I think a daycare area) the building where the school use to be and finally the hospital (my has that changed). From there I went to a fabulous cross-stitch store "Because You Count". While there I was talking to one of the employees and discovered that we graduated from the same nursing school, except she was a year ahead of me. She nursed for 20 years and now works in the store. Also while we were talking a customer walked in and she became involved in the conversation. Her daughter graduated from the same school but hers was the last graduating class from the 2 year program (???1994) You never know where conversations will take you. Paul finished shortly after 1300hr and then we had lunch at an Irish Pub downtown, sat outside, it was a lovely day. Paul hopes to have his test results within 2 weeks and if all went well, he'll do his oral exam in 1 month.

Emma and Jeremy's Wedding Day

A free picture slideshow by Smilebox

These are pictures taken randomly through the day. I just wanted to share some of them.

Brenna's 21st Birthday

Yesterday Brenna celebrated her 21st birthday on the 21st.

It was a rather layed back day.

We took in some sun, swam in the pool, read and just got caught up.

Emma and Jeremy joined us for supper.

That evening Brenna went back to Fredericton to "PARTY" with her friends.

August 20, 2010 Emma and Jeremy's Wedding Day

The big day was yesterday and everything went very well. The photographer has posted a few pictures on his blog and you can view them at http://bigdayfoto.com/blog

More pictures will follow at a later date.

Today is an R&R day and we are also celebrating Brenna's 21st B-day on the 21st.

Paul at Val Jalbert

This was a community built in the early 1900's for the workers employed at this pulp factory.

In 1927 the factory closed and consequencely everyone left the community.

The general store.

Example of a house.

This community was one of the first in Quebec to have electric power in the house.

The houses are being restored to their original color, white with green trim.

These house are available to the general public to rent overnight.

BEWARE. Local legend has it that the community is haunted.

The interior of one of the houses.

The color reminded Paul of his own kitchen on the farm in Grand Falls.

Convent within the community.

This is the foundation where the church once was ( across from the convent)

When the community was abandoned the church was dismantled and the material was distributed to other communities for their churches.

View of the community. The red bus was the tour bus.

View of Lac St. Jean

Pauls Three Weeks of Immersion

Cegep de Jonquiere

Members of Pauls Class

Beach Volleyball

Song night. Each class had a song they had to sing....en francais.

Volley ball team. They finished 3rd out of 8 teams.

Winners of the scavenger hunt. This was done around the school.

Paul Rock Climbing at Via Ferrata

Via Ferrata is one of the attractions within the Cap Jaseux Park.

Another weekend activity....on a Saturday.

All geared up.

Not something I would be doing!!!!

Pauls view as he hangs off the side of the cliff.

What a view.

Paul Whale Watching in Tadoussac, Quebec

This was a weekend trip and it was not a required part of the course.

Weekend outings were on a volunteer basis.

They were told that it was unusual to see as many whales as they did.

It was a good day to be out on the water.

There were alot of tours out this day.

Entrance to the Saguenay Fjord