I haven’t posted in a while and wanted to talk about our trip to Seattle over the Easter holiday. We had a wonderful and restful time. We didn’t worry about the B&E since we hired a house sitter. Everything was fine when we got home.

We went to help celebrate our friend Glenn’s birthday. We felt quite at home and like family with Glenn, Clara, Leslie and Leo. We enjoyed spending time with the wonderful house pets, as well.
I must now admit that the fine drinking and dining in Seattle almost made me cry it was so wonderful. I won’t go on and on about the comparison between Victoria and Seattle when it comes to the prices, but I could. Oh my gosh! If I could find a way to have a case or 2 of the McManis that is only $7.99 per bottle at Cost Plus, sent media mail through the post office I would! It was so wonderful to spend time with folks who love and appreciate wine as much as we do. Glenn always pulls out very special bottles from his closet (that Clara is not allowed to touch:) From the Leoville that was purchased in 1998 when grandson Leo was born to the Chateaux Margaux. We were spoiled by the fabulousness of it all. I already lust for my next trip to Seattle. If I lived on the mainland I’m afraid the trips would be much more frequent.

Then last weekend we went to the open house for Wild Arc. An organization that hospitalizes and releases back into the wild injured animals and birds. It was a great experience. The picture below is one of the success stories.

We are now preparing for our upcoming trip to Las Vegas. The weather here is starting to turn into spring. If you don’t count last week when it snowed, then hailed, then was sunny, then rained and snowed again. All of this, in the span of 1 hour. That is life on an Island!

At work our accounting department at work has joined a walking challenge sponsored by UVic. Our team name is the Beancounters. Our friend Heather and I have a personal bet for the month of April. Whoever has the most steps buys lunch. Right, Heather? Or is it the other way around? Can I use the I’m-old-enough-to-be-your-mother excuse if I lose the bet? It is fun. We wear pedometers all day long and log in our numbers everyday. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.

Well, I’d better go for now. I have a date with the treadmill before our doggie walk.

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The latest news on Diane’s bonspiel (a word meaning tournament or “get really drunk at the curling rink”)

Yesterday was the first day of the long awaited bonspiel. Diane’s team arrived early and helped fill in on other teams that were short players. I arrived for the 4:00 game to be followed by the Curling Banquet (read: buffet line). I watched from the viewing gallery upstairs and let me tell you it was packed! I barely could find a space at the end of the viewing area to watch the game. When Diane said it was a 2 hour game, I thought ‘no way can that last 2 hours’. Two hours later, I almost missed the last shot trying to download a new ring tone for my cell phone.

I read up on the game before I went to watch by perusing the sports section of “How to be a Canadian” by Will & Ian Ferguson. I could not tell who had won the game because the numbers on the board are not really the score; they are a measurement of who is ahead at each end (what?). I would have asked one of the other onlookers but I felt very conspicuous drinking my 5-bucks (Canadian term for Starbucks, why drink one when Tim Horton’s is only 2 bucks?) chai latte while the others were heartily enjoying the Okanagan Pale Ale.

I must say I have not seen Diane smile so much in a very long time. She really loves this sport. And she is getting very good at it.

The buzz around the banquet hall was about the team of little boys called The Crazy Eights (sponsored by an area novelty store). They had shut out every adult team in the bonspiel. The game they had just won, 16 to 0, was called early because the kids were so far ahead the adults would never catch up.

Then they news came.

Diane’s team would play the Crazy Eights in the finals on Sunday. Strategy started being tossed around at the table. How to prepare? Doctor the little tyke’s cokes with some rum? See how well they can play with a hangover? At least convince them if they win they have to buy the adults their drinks?

It is Sunday and I just received word that Diane’s team has beaten the Crazy Eights, 12 to 6. The kids were very upset as they have been playing for 3 years and have not lost to adults very often. Diane’s team has been playing for 3 months. The one player on the ‘Eights with the Faux Hawk died burgundy threatened to quit saying he could not take this anymore. Poor kids. Their Dad’s approached Diane’s team afterwards and said it was really good for the kids to have to taste defeat and deal with it.

Moral of the story? Diane’s team will not be playing in the novice league next year, they have been bumped up to regular league play.

My overall view on curling is as follows. It is a gentlemanly and lady-like sport (except for the burping when drinking the beer). The only time you yell is at your own teammates and it is to cheer them on. I will go and watch again next year if they make it to the finals.