The Perpetual Weblog

Well, it’s been a long, tiring week, but we’re back in Orlando, Florida, getting ready to head home tomorrow…Well, Shel and Quinn go home tomorrow, I go on a business trip (direct from Orlando) to San Jose, California.  Whew.  I’ll be tired by the time I get home.

So, how was the rest of the trip?

• Getting to Florida:  We were flying a bit of a Milk Run to get down here, and our plane had trouble with it’s parking brake before we even left Calgary, so we missed our first connection in Las Vegas.  As it turned out, even though we had to wait a little longer, we got on a flight direct from Vegas to Orlando (rather than the original Vegas-Charlotte-Orlando route we were supposed to take).  The down side is that we got into our hotel pretty late at night.
• Orlando Parks:  First, we spent 3 days at the Disney Parks.  First day at the Animal Kingdom, which is basically a Disney Themed Zoo.  It was well done and we really enjoyed it.  That evening we spent at Epcot Centre.  Also fairly cool.  The Second day we went to the “Magic Kingdom” which is very similar to California version.  And the Third day we went back to Epcot.  I certainly enjoyed it more than I thought I would.  The Fourth day was spent at the Universal Studios Parks (there are two).  I can tell you that by the end of the fourth day we were getting pretty tired.
• Cape Canaveral:  After being at the parks for 4 days, we spent a couple days in Cape Canaveral.  Mostly relaxing, but the high point for me was watching the launch of a Delta II rocket carrying a GPS satellite to orbit.  Very awe inspiring, but in some ways anti-climactic.  You don’t get all the cool views like you do on TV, just — WOOSH — and it’s a speck in the sky.  I tried to take picures and video, and while this isn’t MY video, mine’s not TOO different from this.  The rest of the time in Canaveral was spent resting or going to the Kennedy Space Center.
• Cruising: After that, we had a three day cruise down to Nassau, Bahamas.  Nice little trip.  The first night at sea was very windy and we all were a little green from the rocking of the ship.  Dinner was not easy, but the next day we woke up in Nassau and spent the day poking around the market and shops, bought a few little trinkets, and then went to a beach.  Sadly, because of the wind, our snorkeling excursion was cancelled and the waves at the beach were really too big to enjoy swimming, so we went back to the boat for the evening.  What can you do?  The next day was an “at sea” day heading back to Port Canaveral.  The weather was BEAUTIFUL.  Great day at the pool, mini golf, water slides, the whole nine yards.

We had to get off the ship early (up at 5:45) in the morning, so now we’re back at a hotel in Orlando.  shelley and Quinn go home tomorrow (another Milk Run) and I travel with them to Philadelphia, then they go Las Vegas-Calgary and I go to San Jose, California from a business trip — one more week on the road.  Ah well, others want the computer now so I’ll let them have it.  More later I guess.

As Ian says, I’m upset with Facebook and the fact that most of the family info traffic is going there. Ian suggested that I join up to keep track of Dylan (fat lot of good that’s done!) and lo and behold, there’s the family. I’ve assumed over the past months that everyone else was supremely busy with no time to blog anything, but I guess everyone’s been Facebooking. It seems such a shame that we’re not making use of that which Ian went to a lot of trouble to set up! I guess my age is showing, and I probably don’t know how to use it to the fullest, but I’m finding Facebook extremely frustrating and almost voyeuristic–teeny weeny snippets of cryptic info. And no wonder certain members of the younger generation don’t know how to carry on a conversation–Vivian seems to be the only person who uses more than one short sentence. Also, Scott can’t get it so that leaves him out too although I know you all IM frequently.
There–now you can all rant at me!!
I’ll add a short update on my winter doings–and I recognize that I’m the worst offender in this blog world. It’s been extremely cold and snowy in Calgary–way above our average snowfall–and it was hard to get out of town as Harold was having cataract surgery in Februiary and March (next Monday) and wasn’t allowed to travel between operations. We did get to Mexico and spent two weeks with Don Turner in Manzanillo and Lake Chapala. Marilyn and I are going to Vancouver in a week on a garden tour and the beginning of May we’re all going to Las Vegas for a week. I wish I knew others who were as willing and able to travel, but we three get along just fine!
I also completed Carter’s John Deere quilt, have started a different quilt for Zenya, and in between knit squares and scan slides.

It’s been a while since my last update, but honestly, things have been moving a little slowly.

Dylan is, of course, down in New Zealand and seems to be having fun, but the updates from him are very light and erratic at best.  The best we can tell is that he’s moving on from Rotorua soon (tomorrow?) and heading out to the west coast..Raglan we think…for some surfing.  They had been trying to go sky diving all week, but the weather wouldn’t cooperate so they may have to take a miss on that.  After Raglan, we’re not sure what he’s doing.  He’s been in contact with Scott and plans a trip down to visit in the not too distant future, but only Dylan knows and he ain’t talking.

Here at home we’re gearing up for a trip to Florida.  Four days at the parks in Orlando, two days a Cape Canaveral (during which time there is actually a GPS satellite launch!) and then a short 3 day cruise to Nassau.  Sounds good to me!  After that, Shelley and Quinn and flying home and I’m flying to San Francisco for a business trip…another week of warmer weather!  I can take it.  But I had to pass up on a business trip to Scotland for this!  Not that Scotland would be very nice this time of year.

Not much else to tell, really.  Quinn continues to rack up FAR too much screen time (like father like son, I guess), but I have some plans in the works for try and remedy that.  Shelley is still working at Laura’s (retail clothing shop) and NovAtel always keeps me busy.

Joan has complained a little bit about Facebook taking up all the Squids traffic, and I think she’s right.  I’m trying to ween myself off it a bit and get back to doing my own thing.

As a side thought, does anyone here Twitter?  I’ve set up and account, but I really can’t see the point…maybe that’s why the kids like it, because us oldies don’t get it, but even Quinn can’t understand why.  Anyone else have any ideas?

hey ho team … in the spirtit of “way too much information” I got the histology results from the polyp extracted two weeks ago. It seems it was 1) tiny 2) a tubular adenoma 3) had no invasive maligancy.

I’m booked in for the next viewing in three years.

We’ve also heard form Dylan .. he may come visit.

The maple Hill team has not heard a word from Dylan and co, so we’re hoping that he is having a good time stomping around the north Island …