Goodbye 2008!

This year has been one of ups and downs. We started with Hedgehog Dog's successful "rump bump" removal, progressed into a fun March of wine tasting with Barrels on the Brandywine, and rounded out the spring with me finishing up grad school. The summer hit with some new needs - a job, a new home, a way out of Newark. The fall brought the job and new homes, but we are separated by 2500 miles and still trying to find the way out of Delaware for good.

On a happier note (better start on that New Year's Resolution...), I have seen coyotes twice up near UBC. They are really big and look like wolves. Maybe they are... I was pretty scared after the first sighting (even though I was in the car just driving by), but the second time I progressed to "oh, cool, a coyote again". Hedgehog Dog indicates that he would rather not met them in person.

Happy note #2 is that I got the three big branches that came down with the snow cut into bite-size pieces that will fit into the yard waste collection bin. I think the neighbors were laughing at me trying to saw through the things. Must have made a good picture with hair and small branches and sawdust flying. Made me feel at home - the neighbors on Quail Lane always got a kick out of us.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays?

Merry Christmas! Hedgehog Guy and I had quite the holiday this past weekend. The snow really got to me. I think it started when I got the car stuck in our road on the way home from the airport. An hour spent digging it out over and over again between 12:30 and 1:30am after a 5 hour plane delay wasn't exactly a great beginning to our vacation.

Christmas itself was great - great food, great presents, great to be with Hedgehog Guy and Dog.

Then it snowed again, which crimped my plan to buy a TV and play Wii all weekend. I had no back-up plan and really felt I should be out showing Hedgehog Guy how amazing the city is. So I began to obsess about this lack of a TV and the fun that would ensue, which made me mopey, which made Hedgehog Guy mopier, which sent Hedgehog Dog into hibernation. I mean you can only play so much "Crazy 8's" - it takes a long time to get to 500pts!

We did manage to have a really great lunch at a local noodle place on Friday and a lot of fun at a bar in Richmond watching the Florida State-Wisconsin football game on Saturday. And we finally got a TV on Monday - taxes here suck. Hedgehog Guy even got a taste of the bus system and the nearest shopping centers.

Then Hedgehog Guy went home, and it's just me again. I think my New Year's Resolution will be to be more positive. We were together for Christmas! We aren't in debt! We have shelter (2 apartments!) and clothes and food and cars! We have a great dog and family! And we love each other. The rest won't fall into place magically, but I'm sure it could be worse. But I'm not going to dwell on how it could be worse, just in case it happens.

Snowfall #4

Ugh, yeah, it has snowed again, another foot or more. My "character" building continues to "adept" up from "novice" in snow shoveling. Even Hedgehog/Ostrich Dog has found the swimming through snow tiring. Try getting a bottle of wine home in this...

Note the snow piled up on top of the trashcan in the back on the mid-left hand side

The Dark Side of Snow

Yes, it has a Dark Side.

Brown slush at intersections
Shoveling your car out from under a foot of it
Owning a scent addicted dog
Wet feet
Living on a street that doesn't get plowed


Any you would like to add? Leave a comment!

6 hours of snow later...

Here are a couple comparison pictures to gauge the snow accumulation today...

10:30AM

4:30PM

Snowfall #3

A lot of people ask me about the weather in Vancouver. Imagine everything you have heard about Seattle and Portland and then add several more cloudy days. Thus far, it has rained a lot. Until the "Arctic Blast" two weeks ago. Then all the rain turned to snow. The temperatures were all above freezing, not even evening frost, until it began to snow. So we have green grass under our 6 inches of snow. I mean the rose bush was blooming until early December. So I'm not worried about a successful garden next year, I am just worried about making it to planting.
The approach to snow here is very different. The big, huge, major traffic arteries are dutifully cleared and sanded, but not the neighborhood streets. Not the bus stops, not the sidewalks outside your local business. The dog loves the snow. I mean craves spending time out there. I set the oven timer so that I remember to drag him back in after 20 minutes at a time. He will go over the same "trail" every time he goes out. Even suggestions of dinner or treats will not sway his concentration. He gets so focused that he doesn't even investigate all the tracks in the yard! I would think his ears and muzzle would get cold, but... I'm excited because Hedgehog Guy will be here for a white Christmas. So far the first year in a new place is always snowy (or icy). Think 1991 in Conway, 2002 in Newark, and now 2008 in Vancouver!

Snowfall #2

So we have about 3-5 inches of snow on the ground here from snowstorms on Saturday and today. It's pretty neat, the trees are gorgeous, and the dog loves following cat tracks by pushing his nose in the snow up to his eyes. Only problems are shoveling snow and walking to the bus stop without boots! Here's a couple pics courtesy of the Vancouver Sun, the local newspaper, as the camera is with Hedgehog Guy.

A week ago Sunday...

So the Florida fun wasn't over on Saturday! Sunday afternoon Hedgehog Guy's grandparents and aunt visited us (oh yes, and Aunt Jamie and Uncle Eric came by on Sat. afternooon) much to our delight. Everyone seemed to be doing great after a year of various knee surgeries and traveling. The breadsticks from Olive Garden might have been the best part. Or maybe it was watching all three dogs beg from each person in turn. Megan and Jay came over in the evening, and we just got to veg out in front of the TV for a change. Almost makes me wish I lived a little closer so we could enjoy these get-togethers more often.

Aunt Cindy with Hedgehog Guy, Marilyn, and the Dog Pack.

Hedgehog Guy, Marilyn, and Pop-Pop Keeler

Nana Winget, Mom Winget, Me, Dad Winget and a dog booty


Derek, Tiffany, and Aunt Cindy

Florida Weekend

Last Thursday through Monday Hedgehog Guy and I visited his family in Kissimmee, Florida. We both arrived late on Thursday night, and the shock and joy of just seeing each other again pretty much filled that evening. On Friday we woke up late and then took a tour and wine-tasting at the near-by Lakeridge Winery with the folks. The tour was fun - lots of new innovations in eco-friendly wine-making these days from new drip irrigation to vat cooling technology. Unfortunately the native Florida muscadine grape is not a favorite of either Hedgehog Guy or I, and we didn't take any bottles home with us. But the hamburger afterward at 5 Guys was amazing! That evening we visited Megan and Jay's new apartment and had dinner with almost the whole Winget clan.

Saturday was a day for sleeping in and shopping! I love the Florida Mall. But Sat. night was the big dance with several of Hedgehog Guy's parents friends. We really had a great time, dancing to most of the swing songs, and my father-in-law even got me out for some of the other "easier" steps. The dinner was a great combination of steak and halibut. I really have to try the halibut at the local fish and chips shop now. They had about 35 door-prizes given away throughout the night in addition to dinner and dancing, but we didn't bring our table any luck. Maybe next year.

Teaser...

So I've been a bit swamped since returning from Florida, but here's a taste of the fun we had.


Hedgehog Guy, Gal and Hedgehog Guy's Parents before the big dance.

Soon!

Only one more work day until I fly off to Orlando! I can't wait to see Hedgehog Guy for the first time in 6 weeks, or rather more than just his head on the webcam. If only I had a teleporter or Tardis I could be there now!