Our Crazy Life

HOCKEY HAS BEGUN - RANGER TRYOUTS THIS WEEKEND

Hello again from the nation's capital !

Carter has started competitive hockey tryouts with the Gloucester Rangers.  He played two games this weekend.  The first at 10:00am on Saturday and again at 10:00am on Sunday.  He was a bit nervous.  He was awake at 2:30am Saturday morning checking his facebook.  He said it was because he had to go to the w.c.. We all knew better.  He got up early both days, showered to wake up, ate some breakfast and arrived at the rink at the prescibed time.  He played very good both games with some very good shifts.  Paula's favorite shift was a doozy.  He managed to give the games first outstanding hit, block a puck with his shin pad, stop a puck with his glove then clear it from the zone etc etc.  He skated fast.  He kept his head up.  He made some very good passes and also made some very good rushes.  He studied what the evaluators were looking for and made a good attempt of accomplishing all their demands.  He never stayed on the ice to long.  He never hogged the puck.  He played smart hockey and kept it away from his goalie.  He did break out a couple of times.  He managed to toe drag the puck through the opposition and once get a nice shot and another stick handle the puck around the net, after picking up his own rebound, and making a nice assist pass to a team mate.  He also made some incredible hits.  One kid had to be hauled off the ice: he returned to the game in the second period.  He also made some very nice slap shots.  One slap shot today while playing left defense was blasted through a scrum over a couple players into the top right corner of the net.  It was so cool!  The majority of his slap shots came from direct passes.  He never stopped the puck and stick handled it to gain momentum.  He just pulled up his stick and blasted as hard as he could.  Both assistant coaches from last years Blues team were impressed.

His team won both games winning this afternoon 9-4.  We are also proud to report he never received a penalty.  Oh Yah, in the last few seconds of todays game Carter decided to go for the man in lieu of the puck.  He lambasted an opponent at the centre line with a solid check and flattened the kid like a pancake.  He garnered a lot of queries as he is relatively unknown in the Ranger hockey league.  Many parents wanted to know... who is number 91?  Naturally his parents were extremely proud and sat quietly watching from the bleachers.  Carter knew a few of the boys from previous hockey teams, hockey camps and lacrosse.  The first round of cuts took place after todays second game.  Paula and Carter returned to the rink at 3:30pm to pick up his results.  We are happy to report that Carter plays again on Wednesday at 7:00pm.  They have three teams to pick: one AA and two A teams.  The level is Major Peewee.  We are hopeful that he will make one of the three teams.  

The week was spent preparing Carter for hockey tryouts.  He played four on four on Monday for two hours and again on Wednesday and Friday each for an hour.  It was more than enough to get him ready.  The blisters from his new skates are healing but they still make his feet bleed during the game.  He grinned and bared it both games.  The fracture in his foot does not seem to bother him, as our lacrosse team mates noted.  His concussion has not made him leery to play contact hockey, as noted above.  He simply loves to play the game and has the smarts to play good hockey.  We went into the tryouts with no major expectations or entitlements, just the belief that if you played good you would achieve your goals.  

In other weekend news Paula and Carter went back to school shopping on Saturday afternoon.  Carter was given a budget on his ABM card and had to stick to the value.  It was agreed that he could keep the balance left over after all supplies and clothes etc were purchased.  He joked to his dad that he could be a good 'jew'.  We reminded him he could be as good a 'Scot' as anyone can be.  I don't know what they teach at Catholic school but all of his friends berate Jews!  I guess the murderers of Jesus Christ have really not been forgiven.  Ha!  Anyhow, they returned with lots of clothes, new shoes and a whole whack of school supplies including a lock for his 'locker'.  Nothing is as important as the lock for the 'locker'.  

Carter stayed home this week.  He managed to sleep in most days.  He also played host to a few friends.  On Friday he phoned Paula at work and asked if he could cook perogies for lunch.  We were sure glad he phoned first.  He had no clue how to cook perogies: he wanted to put them in the oven.  He also visited an orthodontist with some advise that warrants a second opinion.  We will definitely do just that before we proceed with anything.  He has a slight top teeth over-bite.  Who the hell doesn't!

We watched the new movie 'The Help' this afternoon.  It is one of those movies that has a little of everything.  Even Carter loved it.  Paula saw the ad then saw the book in Chapters.  She read it and was anxious to see the movie.  You will not be disapointed!

It was grey today with weird wind patterns.  We thinks residual wind from Irene is passing by.  It is alot windier out tonight than all day.  Other than that we enjoyed great summer weather.  

Last week we celebrated Paula's Birthday on Thursday night.  We enjoyed our best meal ever at Sushi Kan.  We selected quite a few choices from their new menu including General Xao's Chicken and some new Sashami dishes.  We don't know if it was because we were quite hungry or if the food was fresher but we enjoyed a very delicious meal.

Anyhow, wish Carter good luck on Wednesday and further tryouts.  Y'all have a nice week.  OH Yeah!  We look forward to hosting Megan after the Labour Day Weekend.  We promise not to bore her with any Peewee hockey.

HOME AND DRY AFTER GOOD CAMPING WEEKEND

Hello again from the nation's capital !

We spent the weekend in Bourget at a private camp ground called Paradis.  It is only minutes from our RV storage site.  Next time we go we will take our supplies and leave from the RV.  It took us longer to get home and return the rig than it did to travel from the storage site to Bourget.  Oh well - live and learn.  

Bourget is a small French community.  It is situated east and south from us and only a few kilometres outside the limits of the City of Ottawa.  We went to Paradis because everything else was booked.  We decided on Wednesday night to camp so booked what we could get.  It is a small campground with mostly seasonal campers.  Paula thought it was more like the Clampetts meet the Red Necks.  Carter brought a friend.  They enjoyed the pool, hot tub,  pool table, arcade and playing video games on his PS3.  They did sit out at the camp fire with us and enjoy smores.  Paula spent a lot of time knitting and Randy read half a book.  We arrived around seven on Friday.  The boys were quick to the pool so P&R enjoyed some private time with a cocktail.  We ate a late stir fry dinner Paula had prepared and enjoyed the fire afterwards.  To bed we were by 11:00pm.  The boys - who knows how late the games continued.  

Saturday we slept in until after 9:00am.  Can you believe it?  It was a gorgeous hot morning and the sun was shining brightly.  Paula whipped up some french toast with a captain crunch coating.  It was delicious with Aunt J syrop.  Had the locals seen the Aunt J syrop we probably would have been run out of town.  We were in the heart of maple syrop country.  The boys ate all but one toast.  They spent the rest of the day enjoying the previously mentioned list.  By noon the clouds gave us a scare.  The wind picked up and Randy quickly moved everything under the awning.  We were forunate that it quickly passed.  We had a couple of scares during the day but nothing materialized.  The camp ground ran a corn roast - hot dog feast - karaoke afternoon and evening.  The boys and Carter brought Randy a cob of corn and hot dog for dinner.  The corn was fantastic.  It tasted like it was fresh off the field.  R & P joined the boys pool side and listened to the karaoke for a couple hours.  There were also local fiddle players and cloggers.  It was quite entertaining.  We listened to the karaoke until we finally went to bed at 11:30pm.  Once in the RV we were so tired it didn't bother us at all.  It had been a very hot day spent mostly in the shade reading and knitting.  

During the night we were awoken a few times with loud thunder and lightning.  It pretty much rained from 1am until we ventured out of bed at 9:30am.  What a great sleep we all enjoyed.  Poor Bob didn't want to leave the RV this am because it was wet outside.  Randy cooked up a nice hearty breakfast that was chowed down by all four.  We were starved this morning.  We cleaned up camp just in time as the rain continued and did so most of the drive home.  

We made it home just as the rain hit Beacon Hill.  We raced into the house in the rain.  Randy had to quickly unclog the front eaves troughs.  Once again he was totally wet.  When the rain subsided to a sprinkle we hurriedly unpacked the RV, bikes etc.  Randy returned home just after five from taking back the rig.  Paula is busy BBQ'ing some smokies for dinner.  Carter has showered and has his PS3 hooked up downstairs.  Bob is probably starved.  

Our week was much the same.  We spent the evening rushing Carter and his friend Liam to a hockey skills camp each night from 6:00 to 8:00pm.  It was a hitting and shooting camp.  Both boys had fun and learned a few things.  The instructor was quite mature, patient and spent a lot of personal time with each boy.  There were only eight in the camp.  Carter is in an 8am to 5pm camp this week and also plays four on four on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening.  The Ranger information night is Monday at 8pm.  Our Monday is going to be busy.  

Both Randy and Paula remain busy at work.  Paula took advantage of the hockey camp and worked until 7pm most nights.  Not much time for home or yard work.  We are sure glad we don't have any annuals to tend this year.

We look forward to reading your reports !

RELAXING SUNDAY

Hello again from the nation's capital !

We have enjoyed a nice relaxing morning.  The clouds have covered the sky and there was thunder earlier this morning.  It is quite warm and humid.  Rain was forecast for the weekend so hopefully we will receive a few drops.  We all slept in past 9:00am.  Bob snuck in between R & P very early.  He is such a sneak.  He never made a fuss to go outside and was snug as a bug in a rug.  We were awoken with thunder very early this morning so naturally we thought it was raining.  Thus our reason for staying in bed.  Not much to do outside if it is raining.  The rain has still to materialize.

We just finished a late hearty breakfast.  Hopefully Carter is busy doing the dishes.  We have no plans for today but relax.  Yesterday was work work work.  We had lots to do in the yard and house after two (three) weeks with no attention.  Randy started with the weed wacker and continued until the mid afternoon raking, trimming the hedge, cutting down another group of bushes and cleaning up the yard.  Paula ordered the disposal truck and all of our branches and refuse was hauled away.  It was 29C at the peak of our day.  Thankfully the humidity was low.  Carter helped out by supplying freshly made gatorade to help rejuvenate his father (the espresso machine died).  Paula had a big scary mouse run over her foot as she started cleaning out RJ's old dog house.  After a while she continued to find more refuse including the frame for the composter.  

It feels nice to have the yard finally looking good.  The grass still does not need to be mowed.  We had a couple of rain showers earlier in the week.  They helped the grass turn greener but that is about it, not grown enough to grow.  There is wisdom in not fertilizing.  After the garbage guys loaded up the truck and left we found a few more trees that need removed or trimmed.  Yard work never seems to stop.  It makes us appreciate our RV and not another property to tend.  

Paula did the grocery shopping and prepared a few meals for the week.  Carter got picked up by Liam and his Dad.  They went to the AAA baseball game.  Paula and Randy relaxed and enjoyed the football game.  The Argos and Tigercats each played an exciting game.  Not like the buldrum we tried to watch on Friday night.  The Lions certainly struggled against the Bombers.  Not great football this year eh!

Carter enjoyed his Hockey '99 hockey camp this week.  He looked forward to it each morning despite the blisters from his new hockey skates.  He did real well and the head master was impressed with his behaviour and enthusiasm.  A couple of boys were asked not to return as a result of their behaviour.  Carter knew a few of the players from last year and previous hockey or lacrosse teams.  He has added quite a few friends on his face book page as a result of all the sports.  He will relax at home this week.  A few of his friends will do the same so hopefully the neighbor hood is prepared.  Actually they rarely go out alone, only twelve, on their bikes.  Carter has been brave and gone out on his own a few times this week.  He met the new girl on the block and her friend.  She is a year older but sounded friendly.  

Well, best find a book and start relaxing, wait the front drive needs sweeping so Carter can shoot on his net.  Will we find more chores...

FANTASTIC HOLIDAY OVER - BACK TO WORK AND HOCKEY TOMORROW

Hello again from the nation's capital !

It was a wonderful two week adventure.  We arrived home from Fitzroy Provincial Park this afternoon.  The weather was perfect, quite hot and humid, for the weekend.  We left just as the rain clouds moved into the region.  It rained most of the way home but stopped a couple of kilometres from our neighbor hood.  It is desparately dry.  There has been no precipitation since we left.  Anyhow, we enjoyed two enjoyable nights in Fitzroy.  On Friday we arrived just after 7pm and after a quick dinner we all headed to the beach for a nice cool dip.  We swam until after dark then returned to the RV for a fire and smores.  The fire was not really needed as the heat from the fire was not required.  We spent Saturday sleeping in, a hearty breakfast then to the beach for swimming, the woods for a walk, ice cream, a game or two of crib, dinner then back to the beach for a cool swim.  We sat by the fire but once again but the heat made it unbearable.  The boys enjoy their smores.  This morning we slept in again, that will not happen again until next weekend, vegged around the camp site, the boys and Paula went to the beach and Randy cleaned and packed up the RV.

On Monday August 1st we arrived at Cabyss Bay in Algonquin Park.  We had a long drive with a few stops to break up the ride.  We stopped in Lindsay for groceries and were pleasantly surprised the LCBO was also open.  LIndsay is in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes; a very popular cottage country destination.  The high way from Lindsay to Algonquin was bumper to bumper with tourists and families returning home from the cottage.  It made rush hour in Ottawa look tame.  The highway a bit tricky with the wind, curves and steep climbs.  The RV kept pace and handled the turns okay.  The driver was a little worse for ware.  We arrived safe and sound and on schedule.  We registered, bought our wood and ice, found our camp site and settled in for the next four nights.  Oh, did we mention we brought along a friend of Carters in Darlington (Whitby).  Paula and the boys were off to the lake while Randy set up the RV.  Our camp site was perfect.  All the sites were spacious and very private.  The closest camp site was through the woods.  We heard nary a word from our neighbors.  Anyhow, the first morning we booked a canoe and two kayaks.  They arrived at 2:00pm and we were on the lake like lightning.  The weather on Tuesday was picture perfect.  We canoed for awhile then found a perfect little beach and parked the boats.  We spent the afternoon swimming and horsing around in the water.  Bob absolutely loved the water.  Did we mention it was warm.  It was so warm you went out far and deep to find cool spots.  There was no algae as the lake is fed well and drains well.  It rained Tuesday morning so we stayed indoors and played crib and watched a movie.  The boys also enjoyed the PS3 player.  We were out on the lake by 2pm and spent the next five hours at our private beach and paddling on the lake.  We actually paddled all the way around the lake.  While at our beach we watched three loons feeding.  When we left to paddle around the lake they followed us for a few kilometres sometimes surfacing right beside our canoes.  It was amazing.  When we got to the north end of the lake we spotted a family of loons with two young ones.  The mother or father for all we know made a lot of noise until we left the vicinity.  The call of the loon is as wild as we got.  Liam saw a deer in the bush other than that the only wild life we saw were two squirrels.  We did hear the call of the wolf every night.  That is amazing.  They howl for quite some time.  We were going to take a walk in the woods after our picnic on Thursday but Bob started barking at something in the woods so we packed up our things and took off.  We don't know what he heard and quite frankly we don't care.  We had just finished our picnic lunch and obviously attracted something.  We paddled back to the main beach and swam until we had to return our boats.  Once again it was a perfect day.  We spent each night sitting around the fire roasting marshmellows and making smores.  For dinner we were adventureous and made packages with meat and vegetables and roasted them in the fire.  The boys gladly chopped the wood for each nights fire.  We left Friday morning for Fitzroy but had a nice adventure on the way stopping at a Driver. Drive-Inn or Dive for lunch.  We found a small gas bar restaurant for lunch and had a spectacular lunch which kept us full for hours.  The drive was quite an adventure as we took a wrong turn twice.  We had no map and the GPS had no reception.  The forests of the Algonquin are quite simply amazing and we will definitely return.

The second leg of our trip was to Fitzroy Provincial Park to take part in the Provincial Lacrosse Tournament in Whitby Ontario.  We arrived on Wednesday July 27th after a nice drive from Sand Banks.  We stopped for cheap gas and cheap cigarettes enroute at a first nations reserve.  We couldn't resist the prices.  Fitzroy is situated on Lake Ontario and very close to Whitby.  There were not nearly as many lacrosse players there this year as last year.  Carter still found kids to shoot the ball with and play with during the evening.  We could hear the kids singing and playing in the open space.  The also met up with an Asian Christian group.  The weather was okay with rain a couple of mornings.  It cooled the weather nicely.  We enjoyed our privacy from last year and had a very nice camp site in the woods.  We had no encounters with skunks like we did last year.  Carter rested well each night for his games.  The tournament went as expected.  The team actually won one game and came very close to winning their last game.  Carter came out blazing the first game scoring four goals.  They were down two goals quickly in the first period.  Carter scored on a nice break away to get the team back in the game.  He was on fire with his passing, blocking and break aways.  He even scored one of his goals on a penalty shot.  The second game on Friday was a white wash for the other team.  Carter played very good but his team mates seemed to be in a daze.  It was a hot, muggy day and we played at 7:30pm.  Who knows what happened but we lost big time.  The third game was on Saturday at 1:30 and was very exciting.  We were once again down 0-2 in the first.  Carter bounced a picked pass down the rink and shot after the ball.  He managed to bounce it twice more while running, eventually he picked it up and sped in on the goalie and scored on a quick change left to right hand shot.  It spent the team and crowd wild with excitement.  The team was once again invigorated and went on to score six more goals.  However, we also took six more penalties and the opposition scored on every penalty.  It was sad as they played a very good game.   We spent Sunday watching some very exciting lacrosse as the National Championships started.  We watched the first period of the Peewee Sask vs Iriquois game.  Sask lost by sixteen goals but we cheered hard as they scored the only goal in the last minutes of the game.  We also saw the Peewee Ontario team play Alberta.  We only watched one and a half periods as it was a total white wash for team Ontario.  The best game we watched was the Bantam Ontario team play team Alberta.  It was a good game in the first but the Ontario team was spectacular at moving the ball and quickly ran up the score.  We had played team Quebec and New Brunswick at previous tournaments and beat them handly.  Overall the Ontario and B.C. teams dominated the tournament.  The Saskatchewan and Alberta teams had nice uniforms but were very short on height, speed and abililty.  It is obvious that lacrosse is not very popular other than in Ontario and B.C.  It was exciting to watch the games we did.  We did so want to cheer for team Saskatchewan and Alberta.  We also asked a friend of Carters to join us on our adventure on Saturday.  Liam Lucas, a friend of Carters, who also played lacrosse but for the Peewee two team, joined us on Saturday night.  He and Carter had a blast and kept each other entertained the balance of the trip.

Our first leg of the holiday was to Sand Banks Provincial Park.  We left on Sunday, July 23rd.  It was a very hot day and drive.  We even turned on the air conditioning a couple of times (needless to say it wasn't the only day).  Our camp site was a tad open with one tree.  We arrived just after check in time.  Paula and Carter were anxious to get to the beach so Randy agreed to open camp.  First off was a cold beer to cool off before unpacking anything.  The shade of the tree was a welcome treat.  We had an awesome time walking, biking and swimming each and every day.  The beaches are spectacular.  The water was a little colder than our last day visit but the heat kept you in the water.  The wind was a tad strong but Carter and Randy had a blast jumping and riding the waves.  Paula enjoyed reading and tanning on the beach.  We took Bob to the water in the evening as dogs are technically not allowed in public places.  No one complained or ratted us out.  He loves the water.  We had rain a couple of times but it was no big deal as it cooled the temperature and we stayed indoors and watched movies or read.  It was hard for Randy to sleep in this week but did manage until at least 6:30am.  Bob enjoyed his morning strolls as we left him in the air conditioned RV during our visits to the beach or biking.  

Overall we had a wonderful vacation.  It is kind of hard to return home but two weeks is just the right amount of time for a holiday.  Tomorrow we return to work and Carter starts Hockey 99 camp.  He will enjoy quite a few hours of ice time each day with a scrimmage at the end of each day.  He is anxious for it to start.