Moore, how is NCD? How scary! Let us know how it all turns out.
Kae, where is Nick again? Did you end up having a tree-trimming get together?
Shelly, when do leave for your next road trip?
Bran, did the wife make it up north okay? I'm going to drive up to Alberta, to Red Deer, someone this year or next.
The snow is supposed to move back in today. WE had a reprieve for a day or two, and I think we're supposed to get around 3 inches today, so not much. But, it's going to turn downright frigid. I think the high Monday is supposed to be -1, according to the tv guy. But, they can never predict the weather correctly, so we'll see.
I'm trying to some new dishes this weekend. I'm going to try a dish of grape tomatoes, shallots and capers cooked up in white wine. I may also *attempt* to bake some lemon cookies.
Hi Jojo! Happy that you are expanding your culinary expertise up there in Wyoming. Who's doing the Christmas dinner this year? Brother and s-i-l? I remember that last year, your Christmas wasn't a very happy one, so this year it ought to be wonderful, non?
Nick is in Whistler BC, teaching skiing and snowboarding, living in staff housing and is the go-to guy for problems. I can't remember what his title is, but for example, if someone is homesick (happens a lot) they go to Nick and he tells them which of the several counsellors on staff would be the one to see. Same thing with STD's which are a BIG problem amongst the many early 20 year olds up there. Think college dorm life minus any school work. Many of these kids have never lived away from home , many are from far away, NZ, Oz, UK so they do manage to get themselves into muddles. Nick's been on his own and far away too, so he's well past the silliness that lots of these others aren't. (Not that he didn't get into his fair share of mischief a while back, lol. He certainly DID.)
Anyway, our shopping expedition got stalled this morning. Ted will leave in a few minutes to do the big haul, then I'll go get my hair done (big party tomorrow afternoon at Christine and Bob's) then head out to the dreaded mall for the last Christmas present. Should be nuts out there.
We still haven't put the decorations on the tree. The lights are on but the boxes are still on the living room floor. As soon as d-i-l's mother leaves town, I'll invite Tony and his tribe over and set them to work over hot chocolate and sugar cookies.
Yes, based on what I saw at Thanksgiving, this Christmas should be much, much better! I'm sure we're doing dinner at Bro and SIL's house again. I'm not sure what they'll ask me to bring, so I wanna be prepared with new recipes and such. I also just found a cream cheese pasta with mushrooms, tomatoes and other goodies I'm going to try as well.
Does Nick love it there? Sounds interesting what he's doing.
WHen I head to walmart, I have a few baby dolls to pick up, then I'll be completely done shopping. Thank goodness.
I may also have to spring for this Wii game we rented last weekend. Jack and I have finally figured out how to play it, so we may buy it, or rent it again.
Little ones love to put ornaments on trees, so I'm sure little Vanessa will have a blast doing that! Especially with sugar cookies cocoa!
Yes, Jojo, Nick does love it out west. He'd been to Banff a few times but never had seen British Columbia before. He's madly in love with the Rockies and the scenery, loves snow and frosty air. It's quite the Mecca for kids just out of university, from all over the place. He likes the international flavour of Whistler and Blackcombe, notwithstanding bloody Intrawest's determination to turn it into a Disneyland as they have done to Mt. Tremblant and RUINED it, IMHO. They took over Collingwood too, the place we had a cottage for a long time and where our kids learned to ski and board. Now Collingwood, as well as St. Joviet (Quebec, where Tremblant is located) suffers from the millionaire/busboy syndrome. All the mom and pop businesses are gone. And if you don't work for the resort company, there's nothing else to do. I don't like that, but my opinion doesn't count for anything with those guys, lol.
But yeah, Nick likes it out there a lot. As I've said before, after 5 years of university, the boy decided to be a ski bum. Gah.
Well, I guess at least he loves what he does, LOL. Of course, it does nothing to help calm your nerves...Teehee.
Intrawest...sounds like some big faceless company with suits who don't care about the mom and pop businesses of the world. As long as they're making money, what do they care, right? Uggh.
It's downright FRIGID right now. We're under a blizzard warning, and negative temps keep going down. I've got all the heaters turned up getting it nice and toasty in here.
