More of Alberta

After I wrote my last post early Sunday morning, I thought I would run over to Michael and Craig's house and correct my omission, by getting pictures of the cabinets that Craig built. This first one is taken at a weird angle, trying to show more of the cabinets.  The back corner of the cupboard is kind of a facade to conceal a pipe. Craig did such a lovely job in the construction and staining and overall look of the cabinets.

I made Michael be in a picture, even though he was not the cabinet builder.

I was glad I went over, because they were doing this talking to each other thing on some app on their phone. Michelle's kids were on and Alice was singing to her Grandma, my sister Colleen.  Colleen sang back to her. I talked to Colleen and Heather for a bit, and then I ran back over to the other house to make sure my kids were ready to go because we were going to church but also leaving completely. (Those of you who know the houses know what my literal run was like. Not very long!) After I ran away, Colleen sang a song to me, which Michael played back for me later after church, so that was fun.

After church we had some R 'n' R at Abra's house. (Incidentally, on our way to High River, we saw a car license plate that literally was ARENARE.) Abra made some delicious enchiladas for lunch, and there was some game playing going on, and then some goofing around outside. Here are some pictures to prove we were there. Well, by we, I mean everyone but me. But someone has to take pictures, am I right?

Leaning Tower of Loved Ones

Piper, Malachi, Abra, Josie and Deklan having fun together. You can especially tell how fun it is by Piper's face, right?

We visited with Jim and Donna Thompson for about an hour in High River. Donna is the cheeriest, happiest, most chipper cancer patient you could imagine!  Then we went to the Lilburns, where we chatted for about an hour and then went to bed. In the morning, Bernie had made the most delicious breakfast with fresh cranberry orange scones, fresh fruit, oatmeal, yogurt, etc. So good!  We are blessed to have such good High River friends.

Then to the passport office in Calgary to get Patrick and Josie their Canadian passports. We had THE BEST civil servant we have ever met. Ever. He was funny and kind and awesome. Told us lots of rules that it is good to know. Like, even though I have been married for a long time, I still need my marriage certificate. And even though it costs an extra $100 to have a passport mailed to the States, if you apply on Monday and ask for it expedited to pick up on a Friday, it only costs $50 extra. Good to know. And after that we drove straight home, making for a very long day in the car!

Alberta Time

We drove all through the night on Thursday so that we could have an extra day (all be it a zombie-like day in our sleep-deprived state!) in Alberta.  We got to the border at 5:30 AM and were the only car. He asked us no hard questions, so our addled minds were able to cope!

We got to Abra's house at 6:30ish in the AM. We thought we would sneak inside, see Piper off to school and crash on the couches for a few hours. Instead, Piper was up and her brothers were there and also up(ish) so we visited and Malachi played computer games and it was different than expected! Josie did crawl into Abra's bed and sleep, and Patrick laid himself down on the carpet and slept, and I curled up in the loveseat and dozed a bit.  I ran to the store and bought some lunch fixings. Patrick made lunch; Josie and Patrick showered; we ran to the photo store to do passport photos. Deklan took Piper to the school to pick up her tuba. Fortunately, Josie and I came home from a second run to the store for something, because he could not start his car.

Deklan was allowed his first long trip in the car since he got his driver's license. He left the lights on, and his lanyard with the key, he dropped. It landed on the floor of the car, half sticking out the door. And he didn't lock the car either. So...fortunately an opportunist did not come along! Both D and us had jumper cables, so I just had to park the car in front of his, and then he knew just what to do.

Piper got dressed for band, and Deklan ran her to the community center's ice arena (sans ice) where she and the rest of the band would be playing for the high school graduation ceremony. Abra came home and changed, and then Patrick, Josie and I went with her to the graduation for the purpose of listening to the band.  Piper did a great job--I heard no wrong notes on the tuba. The trumpets, however, were a tad flat as they played "Pomp and Circumstance" ad infinitum.

Sorry for the blur, but you can still easily spot Piper, with her tuba.

Josie, Patrick and Abra. It has been nine years since Patrick and Abra have been together.

Too good a face on Patrick not to share!

Then we had to run to the store to get a card for Piper's graduating friend and some poster board to use for the concession stand at the next day's rugby tournament. Somehow, though, we ended up near the pawn shop and the kids all ran there while I napped in the car. (Abra was not sure if leaving me alone in the car was elder abuse or not.) Well, she locked the car so nobody would kidnap me, but...when I finally got too hot, because I was cold so it took awhile, when I opened the car door, the alarm began to sound. And it alarmed and alarmed and alarmed, and I could not figure out how to turn it off, and it was getting embarrassing, so I thought I would walk to the pawn shop. Abra had parked a long ways off because it is on a little one-way street, and she didn't want to drive around the block to get to it.

And I found the kids deeply engrossed in looking at (and trying) every single violin or viola in stock, and Patrick was examining the workmanship of old cases. Who knew they were all such antique buffs? By the time Abra went out of the shop, the alarm had stopped--and believe me, you could hear it for a hundred miles! So they played some more, and the man brought out more stuff to show us. My favorite was a 1944 ten dollar bill with King George on it instead of Queen Elizabeth. (Josie took a picture of it, but I did not--later, we told Michael Torrie, who collects currency from many lands. Maybe he will go and buy it. It cost only about $40.)

Then to the store, back to the arena to meet Piper to give her the card and to meet Deklan who was going to pick up the tuba again, and Patrick walked home and we drove home, arriving all of us our separate ways at about the same time--and we jumped right into food preparation for the rugby tournament. I did a gazillion dishes, there was fruit chopping (Abra and Deklan) and candy bag stuffing (Josie and Malachi) going on. Patrick cooked dinner for all of us. Then we departed because EXHAUSTION and came to sleep at Auntie Colleen's house. Weird to be here without her and LeRon. Short visit with Michael and Craig, and then sleep.

Up in the morning and rugby tournament all day. All day.  We had not even gotten to town yet when Josie got a text asking us to please buy more burgers, so we stopped at Walmart and bought two boxes.  We would do that again later in the day. They had lots of help at the concession stand, so Patrick, Josie and I hung out with Piper and watched rugby the live-long day. Broken up with store runs. Patrick was a very nice uncle and bought food for his niece and nephews.

Piper is not even in this picture! I was blinded by the sun and just shooting hoping I was getting her. But it is a good action shot, at least!

My best one of Piper

 
And then, as soon as Piper's last game was over (thought the tournament went on...) we hit the school's home-ec room (as we used to call it in the olden days) and started to clean. Patrick and I washed and washed and washed dishes. Malachi dried dishes. Josie cleaned every stove in the school. Did our people use them all or were they just dirty? We didn't know, but following the principle of "Leave it cleaner than you found it" she cleaned them all. And then swept the floor with a broom that was not anybody's favorite.

Then we loaded up Abra's car and headed home. Again, all three vehicles arriving at about the same time. And we unloaded the car. Inside, waiting for me, were all the dishes from more food prep that Abra and Deklan did after we left the night before. So I washed dishes again. And then Patrick and Abra made dinner (leftover hamburgers from the concession stand, and leftover pasta from the night before) and then I did the dishes AGAIN. (I am good at that, and I like to share my talents!)

Then we went over to Michael and Craig's house and looked at the new bathroom cabinets that Craig designed and made and which are awesome. And I didn't take a picture of them! And Craig played the organ for us, and we did passport stuff, and then back into our beds.

Even with the blinds pulled, when the sun starts coming up around 4:00 or 4:30, I just WAKE UP. So...here I am, awake and with time to write this before it is even seven AM!

A Nice Note

One of my graduating students, Nick, wrote me a really nice note. It is worth keeping, so here is the content, transcribed:

"I want to thank you for being a great supervisor, teacher and mentor to me these past three years. I have been grateful every day for the chance to work in the music library, and I am so glad you hired me. My time as an employee here has truly shaped my college years and has opened many future opportunities for me.

It has been a tremendous privilege to work with the music materials, to help put up the Primrose portrait, to update the viola website, and to be here in times of transition (merging with Humanities, CD relocation).

Thank you so much for all you do for the Harold B. Lee Library and for its patrons. Thank you for showing me the path of a librarian. Thank you for allowing me to be here. I love the library (not just in February, but every week!)"

Sincerely, Nick Totten

Isn't that cool? This is part of why I love my job! Such great students!