After witnessing the travesty that was the TKD fight last night with Ivett Gonda - #3 TKD competitor in the world (who fights out of Port Moody), I HAD to write on the CBC board and leave her a message.
As you probably well know, our family are TKD junkies, with Sheldon and Evan competing in the sport. It's never been a gloomier day for the Landry household then after watching the fight last night that SHOULD have been won by Ivett. Unfortunately the judges didn't want her to face the next competitor and booted her out in the first round....sigh....
It was tough to explain to Evan, as he watched the fight, why "our girl" wasn't getting points....it's a sad day to explain to him that competitive TKD is very prejudiced. What is the motivation for him now?
My note to Ivett is below:
"We specifically came home from a night out so that we could watch your fight - and have had the pleasure to see you fight in person at events throughout the Lower Mainland.
To say that we were yelling at the television and the judges for the mockery that your match became is a complete understatement. I have never been so shocked at how a match is scored (and I've watched a lot of matches over the last few years).
You were plainly, and clearly, robbed of this fight. I have no idea why the judges and ref did not give you the points that you rightly deserved, other than to think that they know you a threat for medal contention and they didn't want you to go any farther than the first round. We all know that TKD judging is prejudiced to certain competitors, I am just sorry that the world had to see it for themselves in the Olympic venue, with you being the guinea pig.
It was sad to explain to my son, who has been doing TKD for 2 years out of Burnaby/Hastings, that a #3 competitor in the world didn't advance through the first round of fighting because the judges "didn't see" points being scored. It's a sad day for him to understand that no matter how well you fight, if the judges don't want you to win you won't.
You do not deserve this, and I am glad and happy that you and your Master, protested (though I also knew they wouldn't allow the appeal to go through).
We are very proud of you and all the hard work you have put in to your training and teaching. I only hope that this experience hasn't completley tainted your love of the sport and that you keep fighting - though I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear that you have hung your competitive belt.
It's a very sad day for TKD in Canada...a sad day indeed."
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Oh..continuation...
I totally forgot! While I was on the ward last night there were a couple of new moms and babes (and a very uncomfortable labouring mom!!!).
I woke up a few times in the night to hear a newborn cry....SUCH a beautiful sound. The visit really made me want to see our baby! What an amazing miracle babies are - and I can't wait to meet this one (though if it could hold out for another 14 weeks until it's due date I would be super happy about that!).
Babies!!!!
I woke up a few times in the night to hear a newborn cry....SUCH a beautiful sound. The visit really made me want to see our baby! What an amazing miracle babies are - and I can't wait to meet this one (though if it could hold out for another 14 weeks until it's due date I would be super happy about that!).
Babies!!!!
Cramping, Monitoring, Deltaparin Oh My!
Hi there,
You guys are all probably wondering WHAT that title means. I'll try to be concise and quick. :D
I had a regular doctor appointment yesterday afternoon with my family doctor. At about 10 a.m. yesterday morning I started having a lot of Braxton-Hick type contractions and pressure/cramping. I decided to wait it out till I got to the doctor's office and mention it to him.
We chatted about the cramping (this is the third time its happened, and keeps up for more than an few minutes) and he sent me to St. Paul's to go and get checked out and put onto the monitors to make sure baby was happy and I wasn't contracting.
I got to the hospital, and got all hooked up and checked out (ick!). Baby was happy and active - yeah!, but I was still uncomfortable. We did blood work, and chatted about the Factor V Lieden, heparin, etc. and then I had to wait for test results to come back. The tests were coming back normal and/or negative (including one that checks to see if you are going to go into labour in the next week or so) but we were waiting for a blood test which shows whether there are any blood clots forming anywhere.
At about 9 o'clock last night I thought for sure that I would be coming home - was practically getting my pants on when the OB on call told me that she wanted to keep me for the night for monitoring and to check everything out again in the morning - doh! Quite unexpected to say the least!
Sometime through the night (and 18 zillion glasses of water later!) the cramping settled down - and I only woke up 3 times - woohoo!
We did another run through of the tests again this morning and I received a heparin shot (which I am now "officially" on until 6 weeks post partum). Sheldon came down to pick me up but the nurse wanted to do one more fetal check. Turns out the breakfast I had woke the baby up and boy oh boy is this one a kicker! har har...it reallllllyyyyy doesn't like the monitor and was kicking the paddle, and running away from it, so we kept losing the heartbeat (which just makes the test last that much longer - sigh). It was nice to hear it again though - and Sheldon got to hear how much the baby was moving around!!!
The heartbeat was sort of all over the place (b/w 130 and 155 bpm) and the nurse noticed a little skip that happens when the heartrate goes up. I have noticed it in the past, and it's not a consistent skip....a sort of flup every 10 beats, or 5 beats. We monitored it for a bit more and then the nurse went and asked the OB on call whether I should get some extra monitoring.
So...here's where it stands right now.
I am now on the heparin shots - one a day - to keep the blood nice and thin until 6 weeks after baby. Blah!
I am scheduled for an ultrasound for Monday morning at St. Paul's to check the baby's growth (yay! more pictures!) and to make sure my cervix isn't doing something funky (I know, too much information!).
After the ultrasound I am back to the Maternity ward for fetal monitoring - check how the heartbeat is doing, etc., and I guess to keep track of the little skip. I think that I will be receiving monitoring about once a week from here on out.
All in all, feeling really good and happy to be under watchful eyes at the hospital. The Assessment nurse remembered me from five years ago when I was there for Kira! har har...she looked at me and was like "you've been here before haven't you?". hee hee. Everyone at the hospital, the nurses and doctors, are all fabulous and make you feel really comfortable and confident that you are doing the right thing. I have no hesitation recommending the maternity ward at St. Paul's.
So all said and done, I am back at work tomorrow - and adjusting plans for the weekend so I can take it easy. I want to be able to make sure to get to the PNE this year with the kids, and get their back to school shopping done! :D
Hope everyone is having a great day and I promise to keep you posted about how things go on Monday and hopefully I will have new pictures to post (and no, we aren't going to find out the sex!). :P
Love and Hugs
You guys are all probably wondering WHAT that title means. I'll try to be concise and quick. :D
I had a regular doctor appointment yesterday afternoon with my family doctor. At about 10 a.m. yesterday morning I started having a lot of Braxton-Hick type contractions and pressure/cramping. I decided to wait it out till I got to the doctor's office and mention it to him.
We chatted about the cramping (this is the third time its happened, and keeps up for more than an few minutes) and he sent me to St. Paul's to go and get checked out and put onto the monitors to make sure baby was happy and I wasn't contracting.
I got to the hospital, and got all hooked up and checked out (ick!). Baby was happy and active - yeah!, but I was still uncomfortable. We did blood work, and chatted about the Factor V Lieden, heparin, etc. and then I had to wait for test results to come back. The tests were coming back normal and/or negative (including one that checks to see if you are going to go into labour in the next week or so) but we were waiting for a blood test which shows whether there are any blood clots forming anywhere.
At about 9 o'clock last night I thought for sure that I would be coming home - was practically getting my pants on when the OB on call told me that she wanted to keep me for the night for monitoring and to check everything out again in the morning - doh! Quite unexpected to say the least!
Sometime through the night (and 18 zillion glasses of water later!) the cramping settled down - and I only woke up 3 times - woohoo!
We did another run through of the tests again this morning and I received a heparin shot (which I am now "officially" on until 6 weeks post partum). Sheldon came down to pick me up but the nurse wanted to do one more fetal check. Turns out the breakfast I had woke the baby up and boy oh boy is this one a kicker! har har...it reallllllyyyyy doesn't like the monitor and was kicking the paddle, and running away from it, so we kept losing the heartbeat (which just makes the test last that much longer - sigh). It was nice to hear it again though - and Sheldon got to hear how much the baby was moving around!!!
The heartbeat was sort of all over the place (b/w 130 and 155 bpm) and the nurse noticed a little skip that happens when the heartrate goes up. I have noticed it in the past, and it's not a consistent skip....a sort of flup every 10 beats, or 5 beats. We monitored it for a bit more and then the nurse went and asked the OB on call whether I should get some extra monitoring.
So...here's where it stands right now.
I am now on the heparin shots - one a day - to keep the blood nice and thin until 6 weeks after baby. Blah!
I am scheduled for an ultrasound for Monday morning at St. Paul's to check the baby's growth (yay! more pictures!) and to make sure my cervix isn't doing something funky (I know, too much information!).
After the ultrasound I am back to the Maternity ward for fetal monitoring - check how the heartbeat is doing, etc., and I guess to keep track of the little skip. I think that I will be receiving monitoring about once a week from here on out.
All in all, feeling really good and happy to be under watchful eyes at the hospital. The Assessment nurse remembered me from five years ago when I was there for Kira! har har...she looked at me and was like "you've been here before haven't you?". hee hee. Everyone at the hospital, the nurses and doctors, are all fabulous and make you feel really comfortable and confident that you are doing the right thing. I have no hesitation recommending the maternity ward at St. Paul's.
So all said and done, I am back at work tomorrow - and adjusting plans for the weekend so I can take it easy. I want to be able to make sure to get to the PNE this year with the kids, and get their back to school shopping done! :D
Hope everyone is having a great day and I promise to keep you posted about how things go on Monday and hopefully I will have new pictures to post (and no, we aren't going to find out the sex!). :P
Love and Hugs
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Uh oh...boys names revisited...
As if the three choices we have aren't enough, we came across another boy's name this morning - sigh!
Dylan, or Dillon. Which means "faithful, loyal" in it's Irish Heritage and also has a nod to Wales (where part of my family comes from).
Liam, which is by far the front runner for us, means "strong protector".
So...Dylan Harold Landry....or Liam Harold Landry.
Maybe we are going to have to wait until we see the little one?
Ugh!!
Dylan, or Dillon. Which means "faithful, loyal" in it's Irish Heritage and also has a nod to Wales (where part of my family comes from).
Liam, which is by far the front runner for us, means "strong protector".
So...Dylan Harold Landry....or Liam Harold Landry.
Maybe we are going to have to wait until we see the little one?
Ugh!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
What's in a Name?
Well, as anyone who has had a name (which is all of us!) and for those of us parents who have had to think long and hard about choosing the best name for our little peanut...this has to be one of the hardest things to decide on before the baby comes along.
You want to consider your heritage, pay respect to any family members that have come before. You need a name that you can yell in the playground and not have it sound like your sneezing or throwing up or gabbering to yourself..and you definitely need to find a name that won't turn into a curse when your child is on the school playground. Kids have amazing knacks for finding tease words to rhyme with a child's name (I know, I've been there!).
With Evan and Kira we had very little difficulty in finding their perfect name, and of course as soon as we were formally introduced to eachother (after countless hours of labour!!) the names suit them to a T.
So why, oh why, are we having difficult with choosing this LO's name?
We have finally decided on middle names (or have we really?!). For a boy it will be Harold - which is a nod to both of our families history. For a girl - Irene, which is a nod to the great grandmothers of the families (Irene is also one of my middle names).
Anyways...so we have the middle names....but the first names?
Since we are Team Green and won't know until the babe's birthday exactly WHAT it is going to be (and no I have NO inkling whatsoever one way or the other), we have to pick TWO names. *sigh*
So I have polled the names we have thought up and that we like (the polls are at the right side of the page). We're pretty set on Paige for a girl, but I do love the name Jane too....
Your thoughts and any other Irish/English suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
On a totally different note, things are going well - HORRIBLE heartburn but what can you do? :P I have a doctor's appointment this Wednesday..a Glucose test coming up (it checks for gestational diabetes) and another ultrasound next Monday. Crossing my fingers we get some more pictures that I can post!
Baby is moving around and grooving and generally appears to be having a grand time cooking away in my tummy. Can't wait to meet it!!
You want to consider your heritage, pay respect to any family members that have come before. You need a name that you can yell in the playground and not have it sound like your sneezing or throwing up or gabbering to yourself..and you definitely need to find a name that won't turn into a curse when your child is on the school playground. Kids have amazing knacks for finding tease words to rhyme with a child's name (I know, I've been there!).
With Evan and Kira we had very little difficulty in finding their perfect name, and of course as soon as we were formally introduced to eachother (after countless hours of labour!!) the names suit them to a T.
So why, oh why, are we having difficult with choosing this LO's name?
We have finally decided on middle names (or have we really?!). For a boy it will be Harold - which is a nod to both of our families history. For a girl - Irene, which is a nod to the great grandmothers of the families (Irene is also one of my middle names).
Anyways...so we have the middle names....but the first names?
Since we are Team Green and won't know until the babe's birthday exactly WHAT it is going to be (and no I have NO inkling whatsoever one way or the other), we have to pick TWO names. *sigh*
So I have polled the names we have thought up and that we like (the polls are at the right side of the page). We're pretty set on Paige for a girl, but I do love the name Jane too....
Your thoughts and any other Irish/English suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
On a totally different note, things are going well - HORRIBLE heartburn but what can you do? :P I have a doctor's appointment this Wednesday..a Glucose test coming up (it checks for gestational diabetes) and another ultrasound next Monday. Crossing my fingers we get some more pictures that I can post!
Baby is moving around and grooving and generally appears to be having a grand time cooking away in my tummy. Can't wait to meet it!!
Alright, alright....options posted
I know, I know, strollers are EXPENSIVE!
This is why we only want to buy ONE!!! har har
I have posted websites for all the different strollers we are looking at for your viewing pleasure. Please chime in and let us know your thoughts on any of them - or if you find a terrific deal for a stroller somewhere let us know!
We aren't too keen on rejoining the Graco crowd (been there, done that)...and don't want an entire travel system (thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Dyer we have an infant seat already)...so we really just need the stroller.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Musings??????
This is why we only want to buy ONE!!! har har
I have posted websites for all the different strollers we are looking at for your viewing pleasure. Please chime in and let us know your thoughts on any of them - or if you find a terrific deal for a stroller somewhere let us know!
We aren't too keen on rejoining the Graco crowd (been there, done that)...and don't want an entire travel system (thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Dyer we have an infant seat already)...so we really just need the stroller.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Musings??????
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Strollers, Strollers, everywhere!!
You would think that picking a stroller for a new baby wouldn't be so complicated - but for this little one (LO) that is coming, it's been quite a task.
First, we want a stroller that we can use until the kiddie outgrows one all together. We SO do not want to get a nice big fancy stroller and then buy some dinky Walmart $19 dollar special in six months (think we've gone down THAT road before?). :P
So Sheldon and I have been looking high and low, scouring the internet, visiting Babies R Us....alright...let's be honest. I'VE been surfing high and low on the internet - but this is "our" baby so I am giving Sheldon equal status here. har har
Anyhoo - I've fallen in love with the Peg Perego Pliko 3 - and really, if your at all interested in all things baby how can you not fall in love with this stroller? We checked it out at Babies R Us with Sheldon's folks and I LOVED it!!! I didn't like the pricetag so much though. *sigh*
We had our hearts set on a Chicco stroller - however, they don't sell them in Canada (yes, you heard me right!) and I am a little wary of spending $$ on something I might not like. Mah!
Then we ventured in to Baby's World in Coquitlam this morning and found the Valco Latitude stroller. It's a three wheeler - which I am generally not fond of, but this...this stroller is very different! It's smaller than your standard Bob Revolution stroller, is light, AND fits a car seat. It's big enough to feel that you aren't putting a newborn in an umbrella stroller, but it's small enough that when it's time, it won't feel that you are putting a toddler in a huge baby stroller (wow...did that make sense?).
Super like it and hoping that we will be able to afford it when the time comes. It is a bit pricey too - but...we shall see.
We have a "back up stroller" which is the Chicco from the US.
I guess we have time - but I am so wanting to get this last big ticket item out of the way. Mah!
Could I be nesting already? I did spend a hour organizing baby diapers and having a slight panic attack the other day. har har
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Alright, New Month - new blogs!
I know I have been awful, awful, awful about posting, and for that I totally apologize!!
As pretty much all of you know, I am back in Vancouver, and the Landry family is expecting another little baby! I found out, quite to my shock and surprise, while I was working in the Caymans (on April 6th to be exact). Sheldon and the kids (and Jeff!) came and visited me in mid-April and we had a great, great holiday. I returned home to Vancouver at the end of May (actually 2 months today!!! Time is flying!).
So right now I am 24 1/2 weeks pregnant and things are going pretty smoothly. We are due in mid-November and I can't wait for this latest addition (and no we don't know the sex yet).
Anyhoo, here are some recent belly pictures (at 22 weeks).
and a recent ultrasound picture at 23 weeks.
Friday, March 28, 2008
A few weeks worth of wrap-up
Hey everyone!!!!!
I know I have been REALLY bad lately with not writing to let you know how things are going, and haven't posted on my blog, so tonight's the night. Pull up a chair, grab a drink and get ready for some reading. :D
I know I have been REALLY bad lately with not writing to let you know how things are going, and haven't posted on my blog, so tonight's the night. Pull up a chair, grab a drink and get ready for some reading. :D
First off, all in all, things are going very well. Work is great, and everyone is super nice and friendly and very helpful. Been keeping busy, and billing, like crazy every day. Definitely interesting to actually have to bill my time...but I don't have to worry about billing a certain amount of time every day - so that's good. My team partner is still out of the office, but I still have work left to do from my training time, so am able to keep the days full with new things every day. I've been doing company and fund incorporations and terminations and all the lovely stuff that goes with it. Fun! Definitely a new learning experience and an area of law I am so not familiar with, but it seems to be coming together well, and don't forsee any huge hurdles I am going to have to jump (I know, I am knocking on wood!).
Got myself all moved in to Treasure Island - it's been about 10 days now since I moved in, and it's going great. I am attaching some pics of the apartment for you guys to see. The ocean is about 75 feet down the walk way...with a nice little beach and some palms to lie under. Though I haven't spent nearly as much time out there as I have hoped.
Why? Well, the weather has been mildly disappointing the last week or so. It's been cloudy, with sun, and some showers off and on (more on THAT later). No real suntanning potential, but it is nice to go out and sit after work and watch the sunset. Of course the day that I actually took my camera to take pictures my camera batteries died!!!! grrrrrrr
I venture out and walk 7 Mile Beach a few times a week. Usually head out right after work and walk for an hour or so, up to the Ritz and back. The Ritz is about 1 1/2 miles or so up the beach...so a good walk before dinner..then it's home to veg out and chat with Sheldon and the kids on the webcam.
The weekend before last I headed out on a boat charter with my roommate and a bunch of her friends. SOOOO fun!!! I know I have posted some pics on Facebook and probably sent some area already - so I won't get too in to it...but it was great fun....had a "few" mimosas and beers and did some snorkelling and went to Stingray City and swam with the Stingrays. Let me tell you, THAT is an experience I won't soon forget. The captain of the boat had picked up a whole bunch of conch (which is really good btw) and was feeding it to the rays before we all went in the water at Stingray City. Of course all the rays were swimming around and it took me a while to actually get the nerve to get in the water with these incredible animals......they feel very soft, and some of them are HUGE - like 5-6 feet "wing" span. Takes some getting used to feeling them brush against your legs, etc. However, there was this one guy (Roger) who was so in to it, and the rays were surrounding him and some of them were up on his back. He just loved it.....definitely had more nerve then me. :D
All in all the day was a massive riot and I can't wait to find an excuse to do it again! Good time...good people...good beer...beautiful sunshine. THIS is what Cayman is all about. :D
Last weekend was the long weekend for Easter and everything was pretty much shut down for Friday and the Monday. My roommate headed to Jamaica with her friend for the weekend so I had the apartment to myself...and got to borrow her car...which was really nice. Did some serious napping...some time at the beach...and on Sunday went and visited Anna (Nona's daughter) and her kids out in South Sound - which is about 15 minute drive from here. We had a nice visit and the kids are really quite sweet (they are little animals when they are in Vancouver!). Of course the boys, Michael and Thomas, wanted to know when Evan and Kira were coming to visit. They thought that I had them with me! Oh I wish I did!
Anna and I took a drive around to the property that she and her hubby have bought - and also the property that Nona has bought. There are some cute houses in the South Sound/Prospect area, but I really think, to start, I want the family to move to the Snug Harbour/7 Mile Beach area that I was in when I first arrived on the Island. MUCH closer to everything (see...you can't take the city out of me that easily!).
Last Friday night went for dinner with a friend that Nicole and I met on the boat trip the weekend earlier. Him and Nicole seemed to have hit it off and are spending time together - very cute. Nicole is a great, great girl...very generous and open and happy all the time...couldn't have found a better roommate!
On Monday I went with some people from work to the Million Dollar Race..which is a yearly boat race they have on the Island. It's all speed boats and was very cool - except for the RAIN!!!!! We left the 7Mile Beach area on a boat called the Nina, which is an exact replica of the boat that Christopher Columbus used on his voyages to the "new world". Very neat...and what a way to go to see a fast boat race! We headed up to North Sound to an area called Kaibo (which is ...surprise...another bar!) and watched the race from the boat and then headed to the beach. Unfortunately that is when the rain clouds decided to break open and we all got SOAKED! What a way to spoil a really neat day!
I have experienced rain showers here...but they usually last 10-15 minutes or so...and then things clear up. Not last Monday - it rained for 6 hours straight!!! Of course as soon as we landed and were heading home it cleared up...go figure.
We also had some wicked winds this past week - they blow down from Florida and the waves we have been having have been incredible. We have been having 6-7 foot waves which is unheard of here. Some of the cruise ships had to be diverted to another part of the island to dock because the waves were too rocky and the wind was too strong.
It has FINALLY died down and we are back to cloudy, muggy, 1/2 sunny weather. I have heard that Vancouver has been having SNOW and hail, so I won't complain too bad. :P
This past week I have pretty much been keeping a low profile. Haven't been feeling 100%, but there is a bug/flu going around the office so I might just have a twitch of that. :(
However! This weekend is going to be full!...with some serious tanning and napping taking place too. :D
Tomorrow I am laying low and plan to sit and read a good book all day and then possibly head out with an acquaintance to go up to West Bay and do some horseback riding! Yay! I haven't been able to touch base with the girl for the past few days..but hopefully everything will work out. Promise to take lots of pictures!
Then Sunday Nicole and I are heading to the Humane Society to help walk the dogs. They have dog walking every Sunday and you can just go and show up and walk however many dogs you want for however long you want. The Humane Society is run strictly on donations, so every little bit counts. I am definitely missing animal interaction so thought that might be a cool thing to check out! I promise I won't come home with a dog. :D
The Sunday evening Nicole, Paul, Lucinda and I are heading out to a World Cup Qualifier soccer match! Cayman and Bermuda are playing and tickets are almost sold out and it's going be awesome! Cayman just needs a draw or win to go on to the next round, so there is actually a chance they could make it! Should be great fun, and I have never been to a soccer game - so whole new experience for me. Promise to take pics of that too!
So that's it...that's my last few weeks...some major downtime...some playing around and getting to know new people...and working my butt off! har har
The family and Jeff are coming out for a visit on April 18th for a week and Sheldon is lining up interviews and meetings like mad....he's been doing a great job getting organized. The tickets are bought, the passports are all ready....and we are just all counting down the days! I am starting to plan the activities for the week and am very excited that work is giving me the entire week off!!!! We are going to go on the pirate ship, and do Stingray, and Sunday Brunch and Rum Point...and lots of time at the pool and beach. It will be SOOOO good to be with the hubby and babies again...I have been missing them like crazy...sniff...
Got myself all moved in to Treasure Island - it's been about 10 days now since I moved in, and it's going great. I am attaching some pics of the apartment for you guys to see. The ocean is about 75 feet down the walk way...with a nice little beach and some palms to lie under. Though I haven't spent nearly as much time out there as I have hoped.
Why? Well, the weather has been mildly disappointing the last week or so. It's been cloudy, with sun, and some showers off and on (more on THAT later). No real suntanning potential, but it is nice to go out and sit after work and watch the sunset. Of course the day that I actually took my camera to take pictures my camera batteries died!!!! grrrrrrr
I venture out and walk 7 Mile Beach a few times a week. Usually head out right after work and walk for an hour or so, up to the Ritz and back. The Ritz is about 1 1/2 miles or so up the beach...so a good walk before dinner..then it's home to veg out and chat with Sheldon and the kids on the webcam.
The weekend before last I headed out on a boat charter with my roommate and a bunch of her friends. SOOOO fun!!! I know I have posted some pics on Facebook and probably sent some area already - so I won't get too in to it...but it was great fun....had a "few" mimosas and beers and did some snorkelling and went to Stingray City and swam with the Stingrays. Let me tell you, THAT is an experience I won't soon forget. The captain of the boat had picked up a whole bunch of conch (which is really good btw) and was feeding it to the rays before we all went in the water at Stingray City. Of course all the rays were swimming around and it took me a while to actually get the nerve to get in the water with these incredible animals......they feel very soft, and some of them are HUGE - like 5-6 feet "wing" span. Takes some getting used to feeling them brush against your legs, etc. However, there was this one guy (Roger) who was so in to it, and the rays were surrounding him and some of them were up on his back. He just loved it.....definitely had more nerve then me. :D
All in all the day was a massive riot and I can't wait to find an excuse to do it again! Good time...good people...good beer...beautiful sunshine. THIS is what Cayman is all about. :D
Last weekend was the long weekend for Easter and everything was pretty much shut down for Friday and the Monday. My roommate headed to Jamaica with her friend for the weekend so I had the apartment to myself...and got to borrow her car...which was really nice. Did some serious napping...some time at the beach...and on Sunday went and visited Anna (Nona's daughter) and her kids out in South Sound - which is about 15 minute drive from here. We had a nice visit and the kids are really quite sweet (they are little animals when they are in Vancouver!). Of course the boys, Michael and Thomas, wanted to know when Evan and Kira were coming to visit. They thought that I had them with me! Oh I wish I did!
Anna and I took a drive around to the property that she and her hubby have bought - and also the property that Nona has bought. There are some cute houses in the South Sound/Prospect area, but I really think, to start, I want the family to move to the Snug Harbour/7 Mile Beach area that I was in when I first arrived on the Island. MUCH closer to everything (see...you can't take the city out of me that easily!).
Last Friday night went for dinner with a friend that Nicole and I met on the boat trip the weekend earlier. Him and Nicole seemed to have hit it off and are spending time together - very cute. Nicole is a great, great girl...very generous and open and happy all the time...couldn't have found a better roommate!
On Monday I went with some people from work to the Million Dollar Race..which is a yearly boat race they have on the Island. It's all speed boats and was very cool - except for the RAIN!!!!! We left the 7Mile Beach area on a boat called the Nina, which is an exact replica of the boat that Christopher Columbus used on his voyages to the "new world". Very neat...and what a way to go to see a fast boat race! We headed up to North Sound to an area called Kaibo (which is ...surprise...another bar!) and watched the race from the boat and then headed to the beach. Unfortunately that is when the rain clouds decided to break open and we all got SOAKED! What a way to spoil a really neat day!
I have experienced rain showers here...but they usually last 10-15 minutes or so...and then things clear up. Not last Monday - it rained for 6 hours straight!!! Of course as soon as we landed and were heading home it cleared up...go figure.
We also had some wicked winds this past week - they blow down from Florida and the waves we have been having have been incredible. We have been having 6-7 foot waves which is unheard of here. Some of the cruise ships had to be diverted to another part of the island to dock because the waves were too rocky and the wind was too strong.
It has FINALLY died down and we are back to cloudy, muggy, 1/2 sunny weather. I have heard that Vancouver has been having SNOW and hail, so I won't complain too bad. :P
This past week I have pretty much been keeping a low profile. Haven't been feeling 100%, but there is a bug/flu going around the office so I might just have a twitch of that. :(
However! This weekend is going to be full!...with some serious tanning and napping taking place too. :D
Tomorrow I am laying low and plan to sit and read a good book all day and then possibly head out with an acquaintance to go up to West Bay and do some horseback riding! Yay! I haven't been able to touch base with the girl for the past few days..but hopefully everything will work out. Promise to take lots of pictures!
Then Sunday Nicole and I are heading to the Humane Society to help walk the dogs. They have dog walking every Sunday and you can just go and show up and walk however many dogs you want for however long you want. The Humane Society is run strictly on donations, so every little bit counts. I am definitely missing animal interaction so thought that might be a cool thing to check out! I promise I won't come home with a dog. :D
The Sunday evening Nicole, Paul, Lucinda and I are heading out to a World Cup Qualifier soccer match! Cayman and Bermuda are playing and tickets are almost sold out and it's going be awesome! Cayman just needs a draw or win to go on to the next round, so there is actually a chance they could make it! Should be great fun, and I have never been to a soccer game - so whole new experience for me. Promise to take pics of that too!
So that's it...that's my last few weeks...some major downtime...some playing around and getting to know new people...and working my butt off! har har
The family and Jeff are coming out for a visit on April 18th for a week and Sheldon is lining up interviews and meetings like mad....he's been doing a great job getting organized. The tickets are bought, the passports are all ready....and we are just all counting down the days! I am starting to plan the activities for the week and am very excited that work is giving me the entire week off!!!! We are going to go on the pirate ship, and do Stingray, and Sunday Brunch and Rum Point...and lots of time at the pool and beach. It will be SOOOO good to be with the hubby and babies again...I have been missing them like crazy...sniff...
Okay...that's it for now - I have to go and eat or I will fade away to nothing! har har....uh huh..sure!!!
Love to you all!
Ang
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Week Wrap Up - sorry it's took so long!!!
Hello!!!!
I’ve been getting complaints that I haven’t been writing near enough – so tonight’s the night! har har
I always do intend to write more often, but with having to drag the computer outside every night to the patio (because I can’t get wireless in the condo) it’s a bit of a pain you know????
You’ll all be happy to know that I am watching Hockey Night in Canada right now – yes!!! They have Hockey Night here on Saturdays! It’s only Toronto and Buffalo playing right now, but hey it’s hockey right?
So….week wrap up. Let’s see….
I just finished my first full week of work, and it’s going great!! I’m at my “training” desk right now, and have been receiving training from the head paralegal this week. We’ve done a company incorporation, a fund strike off, a company strike off and I’ve done some research for my partner. It is very different from what I am used to, but it’s a great challenge to learn this new part of the law, and I find that I really enjoy it. There is a lot of autonomy for the paralegals and the lawyers are quite happy to let you do your thing while they handle their thing. Gives you a huge boost of self-confidence to not have to double check everything with your lawyer. They know you are experienced and have the knowledge to do the little things…and some big things. For example, I’ve e-mailed a few clients sending documents…with no checking by the lawyer first (of course the paralegal checks it first right now). It’s totally liberating!!!!! The lawyers that I work for are all very nice, and the secretaries are great. I’ll be working for one partner and four (soon to be five) lawyers and there are three support secretaries. Everyone does what they are supposed to do and it just clicks along.
Alright, enough about work!!! Har har
Last Monday and Tuesday night I didn’t do much but hang around the house and chill. The weather was still a little off (sunny with clouds and windy and showery off and on). I met up with Nicole and Lucinda (who is from Nova Scotia! – small world!) on Wednesday evening and we headed to Aquabeach, which is a restaurant on West Bay Road – the main road that runs along 7 Mile Beach. They have an inside area, and also an outside area that has picnic tables and sand on the ground – so it feels like your on the beach! Very fun. They also have big screen TV’s around and loh and behold what did they have on? A Canucks game!!!! Woohoo! Of course we got our butts kicked…but ah it was nice to see the uniforms even for a little while. :D
Thursday night Nicole and I met right after work and headed to the beach for a pre-dinner walk. We started just up near the Public Beach (which is about ¾ of the way up the beach) and walked all the way down to almost Treasure Island – which is on the south end of the beach. Round trip was about 6 kms!!!! We just started walking and talking and next thing we knew the sun was going down and we had to huff it back up the beach before it got too dark! We had no idea that we walked for about an hour ½! Got to see the beautiful Cayman sunset and feel the surf between my toes. Not much that I can compare to that!!!
We stopped at the Marriott Courtyard for “a” beer and some dinner when we were done….one of her guy friends works behind the bar there. Next thing you know it’s four hours later, four beer down, pizza being delivered and we were still there! Met some great people including a former Army guy from the mid-west who was on his honeymoon. His poor new wife was up in the hotel room suffering from strep throat so we kept him company for a while and wished him well. Very nice fellow – best of luck to him! Finally dragged our butts home around midnight and then another day of work! Thank goodness for casual Fridays. Har har
I took it easy last night – since my tummy has been a little off the past week or so. Not sure if it’s the water or what…but every once in a while my tummy just gets upset. So laid low, fell asleep on the couch and then had a nice chat with Sheldon and the kids and Kaye & Bob who were over visiting the house. Nice to hook up with all of them.
Today I did some chores around the house, went and got some groceries and suntanned by the pool. It was beautiful out today – high of about 85 or so with just a few clouds. Ahhhhh….
Tomorrow off for a boat cruise with Nicole and some of her friends and co=workers. We are heading up to North Sound for some snorkeling and then hitting up Stingray City which I am super excited about! You actually get in the water and swim with the Stingrays!!!!! Then we are boating over to Rum Point for some lunch and lounging. A full day in the sun and surf planned and yes I plan to take massive amounts of pictures!
I move in to Treasure Island on Tuesday night and am very excited! Great little condo. Nicole is heading to Jamaica next Thursday for the Easter weekend so I will have the digs to myself, it will give me lots of time to unpack and get settled and get used to my new surroundings.
Sheldon, Jeff and the kids are going to be getting their plane tickets this weekend to come and visit in April – woohoo!!!!! They will be arriving on Friday the 18th (afternoon) and not leave until the following Saturday. I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!! I am missing them so much….the webcam just isn’t the same. It will be great to grab Kira and Evan and wrap them in my arms and give them the biggest mommy hug and kiss ever! Hee hee
Alright…that’s it for now. I promise to report tomorrow or Monday on how the boat trip went tomorrow. More pictures to come!
Miss you all….really…come visit!!!!! Love and Kisses.
xoxox
I’ve been getting complaints that I haven’t been writing near enough – so tonight’s the night! har har
I always do intend to write more often, but with having to drag the computer outside every night to the patio (because I can’t get wireless in the condo) it’s a bit of a pain you know????
You’ll all be happy to know that I am watching Hockey Night in Canada right now – yes!!! They have Hockey Night here on Saturdays! It’s only Toronto and Buffalo playing right now, but hey it’s hockey right?
So….week wrap up. Let’s see….
I just finished my first full week of work, and it’s going great!! I’m at my “training” desk right now, and have been receiving training from the head paralegal this week. We’ve done a company incorporation, a fund strike off, a company strike off and I’ve done some research for my partner. It is very different from what I am used to, but it’s a great challenge to learn this new part of the law, and I find that I really enjoy it. There is a lot of autonomy for the paralegals and the lawyers are quite happy to let you do your thing while they handle their thing. Gives you a huge boost of self-confidence to not have to double check everything with your lawyer. They know you are experienced and have the knowledge to do the little things…and some big things. For example, I’ve e-mailed a few clients sending documents…with no checking by the lawyer first (of course the paralegal checks it first right now). It’s totally liberating!!!!! The lawyers that I work for are all very nice, and the secretaries are great. I’ll be working for one partner and four (soon to be five) lawyers and there are three support secretaries. Everyone does what they are supposed to do and it just clicks along.
Alright, enough about work!!! Har har
Last Monday and Tuesday night I didn’t do much but hang around the house and chill. The weather was still a little off (sunny with clouds and windy and showery off and on). I met up with Nicole and Lucinda (who is from Nova Scotia! – small world!) on Wednesday evening and we headed to Aquabeach, which is a restaurant on West Bay Road – the main road that runs along 7 Mile Beach. They have an inside area, and also an outside area that has picnic tables and sand on the ground – so it feels like your on the beach! Very fun. They also have big screen TV’s around and loh and behold what did they have on? A Canucks game!!!! Woohoo! Of course we got our butts kicked…but ah it was nice to see the uniforms even for a little while. :D
Thursday night Nicole and I met right after work and headed to the beach for a pre-dinner walk. We started just up near the Public Beach (which is about ¾ of the way up the beach) and walked all the way down to almost Treasure Island – which is on the south end of the beach. Round trip was about 6 kms!!!! We just started walking and talking and next thing we knew the sun was going down and we had to huff it back up the beach before it got too dark! We had no idea that we walked for about an hour ½! Got to see the beautiful Cayman sunset and feel the surf between my toes. Not much that I can compare to that!!!
We stopped at the Marriott Courtyard for “a” beer and some dinner when we were done….one of her guy friends works behind the bar there. Next thing you know it’s four hours later, four beer down, pizza being delivered and we were still there! Met some great people including a former Army guy from the mid-west who was on his honeymoon. His poor new wife was up in the hotel room suffering from strep throat so we kept him company for a while and wished him well. Very nice fellow – best of luck to him! Finally dragged our butts home around midnight and then another day of work! Thank goodness for casual Fridays. Har har
I took it easy last night – since my tummy has been a little off the past week or so. Not sure if it’s the water or what…but every once in a while my tummy just gets upset. So laid low, fell asleep on the couch and then had a nice chat with Sheldon and the kids and Kaye & Bob who were over visiting the house. Nice to hook up with all of them.
Today I did some chores around the house, went and got some groceries and suntanned by the pool. It was beautiful out today – high of about 85 or so with just a few clouds. Ahhhhh….
Tomorrow off for a boat cruise with Nicole and some of her friends and co=workers. We are heading up to North Sound for some snorkeling and then hitting up Stingray City which I am super excited about! You actually get in the water and swim with the Stingrays!!!!! Then we are boating over to Rum Point for some lunch and lounging. A full day in the sun and surf planned and yes I plan to take massive amounts of pictures!
I move in to Treasure Island on Tuesday night and am very excited! Great little condo. Nicole is heading to Jamaica next Thursday for the Easter weekend so I will have the digs to myself, it will give me lots of time to unpack and get settled and get used to my new surroundings.
Sheldon, Jeff and the kids are going to be getting their plane tickets this weekend to come and visit in April – woohoo!!!!! They will be arriving on Friday the 18th (afternoon) and not leave until the following Saturday. I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!! I am missing them so much….the webcam just isn’t the same. It will be great to grab Kira and Evan and wrap them in my arms and give them the biggest mommy hug and kiss ever! Hee hee
Alright…that’s it for now. I promise to report tomorrow or Monday on how the boat trip went tomorrow. More pictures to come!
Miss you all….really…come visit!!!!! Love and Kisses.
xoxox
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