My Epic Experience - Vacation day 3 & 4

Day 3 started early; I was up before the alarm went off as I was excited to get going.  I showered and dressed and had a cup of coffee in the room while I finished packing.  I have a bit of a routine, open and clear the safe, pack the carryon with a bathing suit and flip flops, sun tan lotion and camera.  Generally, our suitcases don't reach the cabins until later in the day, so I have everything I need for the day with me.

By 7:45 a.m. I was checked out of the hotel and was enjoying my breakfast (along with my luggage) in the breakfast room.  My shuttle was due at 9:30 a.m. so I was in no hurry.  I headed out to the corner of the building where we were to meet, and found there was a shuttle ready and waiting.  The driver said he had room so I was off to the port shortly after 8:45 arriving just around 9:15.  This seemed a bit early and I knew there would be quite a wait as embarkation usually starts no early than 11 a.m. However, I soon discovered I wasn't the first to arrive...there must have been 20-25 people in line ahead of me.  One of the things I appreciated about Port Canaveral is the waiting area outside the terminal is covered, so even if it had been hot (which it really wasn't) we were in the shade.

The terminal doors opened about 10:30 or so, I was checked in (mostly) and waiting for my group #1 to be called.  That's the first time I've been in the first group.  I had spotted Sandra and Amy in line behind me, they managed group #2; we sat and visited waiting for access to the ship.  When my group was called, I headed to the guest services desk on deck 5 to deal with an issue with my credit card.  At check-in the terminal agent didn't want to accept my credit card, as the name on it is my second name - the one I use regularly, while my passport has both first and second name.  Of course, there were no problems once I got to guest services. I didn't expect there would be as they accepted the card for payment of the cruise)  As I was about to leave the desk, I saw Amy and Sandra at the next station, they excitedly told me they were purchasing "Posh" passes so I decided to do so as well.  (More on that later).

By this time, it was near noon and we decided to do a bit of a walk-about to get to know the ship.  While we've all been on Norwegian ships before, the Epic is unique, she has no sister ship.  There is no central atrium as there are on other ships, but there is a beautiful chandelier, pictured here, that is the most photographed item on the ship.

Deck 5 comprises the atrium cafe, guest services, photo gallery/shop, internet cafe, library, and at one end, one of the main dining rooms (Manhattan).  Deck 6 comprises several bars including O'Sheehan's Irish pub, (includes a single lane bowling alley), the casino, and the other main dining room (Taste).  Deck 7 is the other lower public area, with shops - all pretty much high-end.  I didn't do any shopping though we went there occassionally for various raffles.

Our next stop was Deck 15, which included the Garden Cafe (buffet), two bars, and a pool deck.  We stopped at the buffet for pizza - I only had one slice as we were planning to eat at Taste at 1 p.m.  

We stopped on our way downstairs, as there was an announcement that our cabins were opened.  I dropped off my carryon, made a pit stop, and then met the Sandra and Amy in the solo lounge to head for lunch.  

I really enjoy the food on Norwegian; in fact I've only had a few poor meals on any cruise ship.  Today's lunch was an opened faced tuna sandwich with chips on the side.  Very yummy, and having table service is marvelous.  I always ask for lemon for my water glass - every time they brought a small plate so everyone at the table could have some if they wanted.

After lunch we headed up to the Posh area (picture below).  It is an adults only area with loungers and beds for relaxing.  We spent as much time as possible there, enjoying the sun, reading/visiting, and have a few drinks.  I was so impressed with Nestor, the bartended, after one drink was ordered he remembered and called us by our names for the rest of the week.

There was no pool or hot tub in the area, but for the most part, I didn't miss having the immediate access.  Posh was located on Deck 18 overlooking the pool deck, so we could hear the music somewhat but it was much quieter than it would have been below. We had one sea day when we weren't able to access Posh because it was just too windy.  Safety first!

 These are of the pool deck from the viewpoint of Posh.  There weren't many people out at this point, but by sail-away every chair would be full.  (Another reason why I liked Posh, not only were the loungers more comfortable but they weren't packed as closely together).  

The area under the overhang, right forward was the bandstand.  For at least a few hours a day, we had live music.  There would be people dancing, and lots more sitting at the bar to the right (not pictured).

Muster drill was held at 3 p.m.  Amy and Sandra had a different muster station than I did so we went our different directions.  I was sitting, reading and waiting for the drill to start when I heard a familiar voice at the next group of chairs.  It was Helene, who we sailed with two years ago.  She had told Sandra she'd booked, but hadn't been contact for some time so we weren't sure.  We sat and visited with a couple from Michigan.  Muster drill is a requirement of marine law - we watch the crew members don life jackets and listen to a standard message, 6 short, one long blast that will indicate an emergency.  On some ships (Princess) we have to put on our own life jackets as well, but Norwegian doesn't require this.  Good thing, as I usually end up with the one that some skinny Minnie had on and by the time I figure out how to loosen the belt to put it on, muster drill is already over.  

After muster drill, it was time to head back to the cabin to unpack my suitcase.

A solo cabin is small, at only 100 square feet but it has everything one person would need.  On the Escape (my previous experience with solo cabins), the bed was a double, on the Epic I had a queen though it was really two smaller beds pushed together.  As a result, I slept more often on the side closest to the telephone as there was a bit of a difference in height between the two.

Across from the bed was one of two closets, with a safe, the television and vanity area.  I'm a bit of a news junkie, my choices were Fox and CNN so it made for rather interesting watching.  No Canadian news at all, and of course, the immediate focus was on the Parkland school shooting.

You'll note that I haven't closed the closet door where my clothing was hung.  That was because there were no doors.  I believe they used to have doors on both, as Sandra had one removed in her cabin as it was broken.  I don't know when it is next due for dry-dock but I would anticipate these issues will be fixed then.

To the left of the closet was the sink and storage areas. Most of it was open, though there were two closed cupboards on the bottom far left.  As a returning guest I was given a bottle of sparkling wine.  It was still in the same place when I left at the end of the week.  Not my favorite beverage!

The shower and toilet rooms are separate, the shower is to the left of the sink, and the toilet room next to the cabin door across from the shower.  That concludes the tour. Once the suitcase is unpacked and stored under the bed, I'm ready for the rest of the week.

It's amazing to me how quickly that first day speeds by.  By the time I was unpacked and headed back upstairs to the deck above the pool area, it was nearly time for sail-away.  

We were in port with two other ships, Carnival Magic, (not pictured) and this Disney ship, the Disney Fantasy.  You can clearly see the Mickey outline on the smoke stack.

I did look into the cost of a Disney cruise....for someday when Eli is old enough to enjoy it.  Ha, the kid better get a job of his own before then!

We always have some interested spectators, in this case a pelican, gull and several people.

There are obviously a number of bars and restaurants on the harbour front and all were packed watching the ships go out.  I have no idea what message the individuals below were  trying to convey.  If you have any guesses, let me know. 

Once we cleared the harbour, it was time to get dressed for dinner and meet the crew in the solo lounge.  As a result, I wasn't on the deck for sail-away past Cocoa Beach.  Another reason to do another cruise!  There's always a positive. :)

We were a large group, 27 that first evening.  Our solo cruise director Lester arranged for us all to go to Taste for our first dinner.  We took up three tables - I made certain to join a different group so I could meet new people.  One of the group, a woman by the name of Diane is an artist.  She told us she did mostly landscapes and Amish art, though I see that is only part of her work.

Dinner ended shortly before 8 p.m.  I was exhausted from the day and headed back to my cabin to watch the news (and the Olympics) before turning in around 10 p.m.  This was to be the routine for most of the cruise.  I'm not a night owl by any imagination though I did try to stay up a couple of evenings to go for a drink with the rest of the crew. 

That end Day 3 of my vacation.  Day 4 was a sea day and I have no photos from that day.  It was very windy so we weren't able to access Posh for most of the day (late afternoon) it opened.  I spent the day wandering about the ship, attending various activities, finding a quiet spot to read, and enjoying the warm sea air.

Next up, Great Stirrup Cay.

Cocoa Beach, Florida - Vacation Day 2

I've managed to lose my notes from my vacation - had them yesterday - so I'll have to try to rely on my memory (and photos) to share my experiences. I suspect it will show up at some point, likely after I've finished these posts. :)


I spent the second day of my vacation walking on the beach and wandering the little community of Cocoa Beach.  This photo is actually from the night prior after I returned from the Space Centre.  There were lots of people walking on the beach and a few in the ocean itself.

The following morning, after breakfast at the hotel, I headed down to the beach again.  I was so disappointed when I saw this equipment.  The workers would not allow us onto the beach at this point, so I walked down the street to another breezeway to get to the water.

My understanding is from talking to others, this was a project to reclaim the sand from the ocean.  Definitely worthwhile!

The waves were big enough for surfing.  This young man was quite good, definitely the most talented of the riders there that day.  I hung out and watched them for a good while before heading further down the beach.

By the way, I did walk along the water's edge, though didn't go into the water as I had my camera equipment with me.  The waves were strong enough that I did get splashed up to the knees a few times.  The water was cold, but lovely as the air temperature was near 78F (25C).  Perhaps I wouldn't have thought so if I had actually gone into the surf.

This viewpoint is looking down the beach towards the area where the sand reclamation was going on.  That tall tower-like equipment on the right moved back and forth between the beach and the sea.  I'm not sure what it's purpose was, but obviously it was a necessary part of the operation.  You'll also see the sea fog still hanging on.  Both days I was there the fog didn't entirely burn off until noon, even though the sun was strong.

Further down the beach is the Cocoa Beach pier.  I didn't get there, this shot was taken with my zoom lens.  

The fellow who drove me to Cocoa Beach told me the covered portion is a restaurant and bar.  I believe there is a cost to walk on the pier of $2USD.  Apparently it's also a prime spot for fishing.  Next time, I'm in the area it will be on my list of things to do in Cocoa Beach.  It has the small town feel I enjoy and oh, that beach...

After a very tasty lunch of fish tacos at the Shark Pit restaurant in the hotel next door, I wandered down the street to check out some of the local stores.  The Ron Jon Surf shop is open 24 hours a day (really, why?) and I spent an hour looking but not buying - a child's t-shirt was over $20USD!  From there I went looking for the Dinosaur store because I'd read they have a couple of alligators. I never did find them and didn't really like the products so that visit was short lived. Walgreens was my next stop where I picked up some more sunscreen and a couple of magazines.  On the way back to the hotel, I needed a washroom, so stopped at a gelato store.  Salted caramel gelato on a hot afternoon hit the spot!

I spent most of the rest of the afternoon by the pool, reading and relaxing.   About 4 p.m. I headed back down to the beach to see if there were any cruise ships sailing out.

There goes a Disney ship! If you look closely at the smoke stacks you'll see Mickey ears.  I was excited to see it go by, as it I'd be o the Norwegian Epic the following day.  

I've always wanted to be on the beach to watch sail-away, though I always assumed it would be Fort Lauderdale.  I'll still keep that location on my bucket list for someday. 

One final photo of the ocean and my day on the beach ended.

I headed out to find something to eat for dinner (though for the life of me I can't recall where I ate...must not have been that good).  It gets dark quiet early, about 6:30 or 7 p.m. so I went back to my room to watch some Olympis and turn in early, as the alarm for the following morning was set for 7 a.m.  

Coming up next....embarkation day.

Travel Day/Vacation Day 1

I arrived back at home on Tuesday, February 27, after a wonderful two week vacation.  Since I had limited internet access while I was away, I’m going to take you back in time with these posts (and pictures). I’ll preface the first post by saying, every time I travel I am reminded how fortunate I am to be able to do so.  To have both the time and the means to do so is something I will never take for granted.  So I won’t grumble about the fact that I lose a day on either end, since it takes that long (most times) to get “there” from here.

Wednesday February 14, saw me awake bright and early for my 6:30 a.m. flight (first flight of three).  I was worried that I would sleep through one alarm so set two of them for 3:45 a.m. which meant, of course, that I was awake five minutes before either went off.  The flights were uneventful – I arrived in Toronto about 10:30 a.m., was through customs and at my gate by 11:30 with boarding starting at 11:45. 

We arrived in New York about 30 minutes ahead of schedule (1:30 p.m.) which left me with about a 3 hour layover.  I wandered the concourse looking for lunch – no real restaurant in sight – instead you use an I-Pad to order your lunch and someone brings it to you from some unknown location.  I ended up at a deli counter where fresh sandwiches were being made.  I ordered a ½ sandwich (roast turkey and Swiss) along with a bowl of the cheddar broccoli soup.  The sandwich was so large I only ate half and tucked the rest in my carryon for later.  I was impressed, too, as the roast turkey wasn’t the rolled stuff – it was true roast turkey...and the soup was the best I’ve had. Of course, I hadn’t had anything to eat since about 5:00 a.m. which may have colored my impression. 

The flight to Orlando also arrived early; hooray for tail winds!  I had arranged transportation through the hotel (a third party company) and although the e-mail warned I could be waiting up to an hour, the shuttle was there within 10 minutes after I grabbed my luggage from the carousel.  It was dark by then so the drive to Cocoa Beach wasn’t scenic, but the driver (whose name I’ve forgotten), was very informative.  He lives in Cocoa Beach, and during the 45 minute drive he shared lots of information on the history and the sights of the area.  One thing I learned is there is no longer a statue (or perhaps there never was) commemorating the filming of I Dream of Jeannie and the street sign has been moved down to the other end of town.  Hence I didn’t bother looking for it.

Check-in at the Comfort Inn and Suites was quick and painless and I was in my room by 9:30 p.m.  I left home at 5:30 EST which meant I spent 16 hours travelling that day.  Despite the long day I was wide awake, so I watched some of the Olympics on television while munching on the other half of my sandwich.  By 11 p.m. I could no longer keep my eyes open, and I slept right through until 6 a.m. That might not sound exciting but I’m frequently up several times in the night.  I was up briefly, and crawled back in bed and slept until 7:30. 

After cleaning up, I headed over to the breakfast room.  To be honest, I don’t think I had realized when booking the hotel provided breakfast…but they did and did it well.  Choices included, scramble eggs, sausage, fruit, cereals, bagels, yoghurt, toast, and DIY waffles.  Though it was difficult, I limited myself to just a few items.  After breakfast I contacted the front desk as the room safe wasn’t working properly.  The maintenance man came by and fiddled for a bit, eventually going away with it and coming back with a brand new one.  I was happy to safely tuck away my passport, extra cash, and debit card before I left the room.

By the time this was accomplished it was 9:30 a.m. so I headed back down to the lobby.  I’d noticed a sign indicating a regular shuttle to the Kennedy Space Center at that time.  I thought I’d likely be too late to catch it, but was fortunate as the driver was just outside when I called.  He had been waiting for four others but they never showed up, so Frank drove me to the Space Center for only $30 return (paid upon safe delivery back to the hotel).  He, too, is a local living in Cape Canaveral and during the drive provided lots of information on the Space Centre and what to see and do.  He texted me about 3:30 to see if I was ready to call it a day (I wasn’t) and when I called at 4:15 he was there to pick me up with 15-20 minutes. 

What to say about the Space Centre….wow!  It’s quite the place, part museum and part commercial enterprise.  Two private companies, Space-X and Blue Origin have set up shop and are busily working on current projects.  I don’t have many notes, so will use the photos as my guide.   

The first show I attended was Journey to Mars: Explorers wanted.  This event provided some history of NASA and went on to discuss the possibility of travel to Mars with the goal of one day, having permanent settlement there.  The rocket that would get the space explorers there would have an inflatable habitat.  Upon leaving the earth’s atmosphere the habitat would inflate and provide living quarters, as well as the ability to grow plants for food (and to cleanse the air), and water purification, etc.  It all seems rather far-fetched to me….but they say it can and will be done….someday.  I’ll be happy to stay here on this planet but this was an appeal to the younger generation; I have no doubt some in the audience will have the courage to meet the challenge.

I also attended the IMAX theater on site to see a documentary "Journey to Space 3D".  It was very interesting, and sad too, watching the film of the failed missions and acknowledging the lives lost.  After the theater I grabbed lunch at the large cafeteria and headed to the bus stop for the ride around the grounds.  This took close to 2 hours.

This is one of large buildings (photo taken through bus window).  If I remember correctly, the flag is 27 stories high!

The next photo is of a piece of equipment that is used to move the rockets from the building next door to the launch pad.  

 To give you a sense of how large that equipment is, the width of these two roads relate to the tires on either side. We were informed by the guide that these were built by digging down 8 inches, and filling with packed gravel.  The area is swamp land so it makes sense they would have to ensure the roads were solid.

I don't recall how far it was from the build site to the launch pad but it was many miles. The morning that I was there, the area was experiencing heavy sea fog.  As a result, we really weren't able to see much of the launch pads.  And, of course the sites have restricted access so we simply drove past launch pad 39 and 39A before heading to the Apollo/Saturn V Centre.

The Centre tour starts off with a film covering some of the history of the Apollo missions.  Then we were allowed to move into the main areas of the building and wander about as we pleased.  I was so busy looking about that I didn't take many photos.

 I was most interested in the space suit.  If you look at the feet, you'll notice there is dust - it was indicated this is actual moon dust.

Beside the space suit (which was glassed in) was a piece of moon rock.  It certainly didn't look like I expected it would as it was black and shiny.  It was merely a sliver of a piece of rock.  

I don't recall which space craft this is - it was a smaller so I'm assuming it was one of the earlier versions.

You can see some of the damage on the exterior from re-entry into earth's atmosphere (and I assume some from the launch as well). 

Back at the visitors site, I went to the Atlantis building.  This tour also started with a film, but I was tired of standing in a dark room for 15-20 minutes so asked if there was a way to simply see the exhibits...there was through the gift shop!Again, I was so engaged in seeing the exhibits I didn't get a lot of photos. 

This next shot is of the Canadarm. I have some vague memories of when it was built and the pride that we were involved with the space station and space exploration.  Of course, we've had several astronauts (Roberta Bondar and Chris Hatfield come to mind immediately).

There was an opportunity to sit inside a model of the space craft.  It was a popular exhibit!

On the way out of the grounds I stopped for a cold drink at the Rocket Garden Cafe, called Frank for pick-up and then as I had a bit of time before he arrived, I walked the Rocket Garden with the tour guide.

 The rocket garden is exactly that, with 10 or 12 rockets on display.  The guide walked us through the garden, explaining which program each belonged to and the impact the mission had.  I wasn't taking notes, so to be honest, I don't really remember much of the details.

I do recall her talking about John Glenn, his first foray into space - he was the first American in space.  She also advised that he was the oldest person in space, in the Discovery space shuttle, at the age of 76.  (I had to look this up in Wikipedia).  

It was definitely an interesting day, though as I posted on Facebook I suspect a 10-11 year old would have enjoyed it even more.  I can see how it would inspire a young person to dream of what could be.  

After my return to the hotel, I dropped some things at the room, and headed down to the beach.  As this is a long post, I'll leave you with this photo.  More to come!

Almost time to go!

By the time this posts, I'll be mere hours from making my way to the airport for my 6:30 a.m. flight to Toronto. I expect I'll be in bed attempting to get a few hours of sleep before the taxi arrives at 4:00 a.m.   From Toronto I fly next to New York, and then finally to Orlando.  It will be a long day as I won't arrive at the hotel in Cocoa Beach until close to 10 p.m. local time (9 p.m. Regina time).  Luckily I can sleep on the plane...

Packing is almost complete, just need to tuck my driver's license and my cellphone in my purse.  Also a few first aid items, band-aids, Tylenol, cough drops, as well as my magnets, towel clips, a laundry bag, and a hat for the sun.  Maybe I'm not quite as far along as I thought I was!

I take the license as my identification to take with me in port, rather than a passport.  I'm so afraid that if I were to lose my passport, I wouldn't be able to get home...at least without a hassle.  So if the driver's license gets stolen or lost I'd still be upset but not nearly as concerned since it would be far easier to replace.

I'll take my cellphone but only for limited use - to contact transportation mostly.  While I'm in Cocoa Beach, the hotel should have a guest computer I'll be able to use to post, however on board ship I don't/won't have the internet package so this blog will be silent until I get back to Orlando.  I'll be staying at the Point Orlando resort (if you want to see pictures, follow the link).  I've done a bit of research and discovered there is a TGI Friday's nearby ... I love their crispy green bean fries appetizer...so I'll be sure to get there one evening.  

I also found there is an outlet mall, as well as a Ross Dress for Less within a half hour walking distance from the resort.  I've printed out the walking directions and tucked these into my paperwork so I'll be able to find them easily without using the data for the GPS on my cellphone.  Old school I know, but less expensive!  Ross Dress for Less is another favorite - I've been to the one in Fort Lauderdale several times, and found one in Hawaii too.  It's much like Winner's or Marshalls here.  But they tend to carry larger sizes....as a short fat older woman I truly appreciate that!  One of my favorite pairs of jeans came from RDL, NYDJ - not my daughter's jeans.  They fit perfectly and were a good price as well.  

I plan to arrive at the resort about lunch time on the 24th, though I don't expect to be able to check-in.  I'll drop the luggage and head off to shop!  I still haven't decided what to do on the 25th, though the pool and amenities at the resort look pretty darn tempting.  I might just spend the day relaxing since the following day will be a long exhausting travel day. On the other hand the resort does offer shuttles to various parks.  Hmmm...decisions, decisions.  

I'll get a bit of sleep in on the 26th, as my flight isn't until 1:30 p.m.  From Orlando, I fly to Toronto where I will clear customs, then fly to Calgary and finally to Regina.  It is never easy to get anywhere from here, nor to return.  By the time I arrive home it will be near 1 a.m. (or midnight Orlando time).  That, of course, is assuming there are no delays along the way.  I've scheduled a vacation day for the 27th so I have time to rest a bit, probably do laundry, get photos printed, and catch up with my grandson.

I'll definitely post photos (none with this post as the camera is packed though I did buy a great pair of shoes for the trip!) along with some commentary of each port when I return.  We're visiting Great Stirrup Cay (in the Bahamas), Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Cozumel, Mexico.  I've pulled in the map and realized I've got Grand Cayman and Jamaica in the reverse order.  I've never claimed to be good a geography!


Stay tuned for Cocoa Beach later this week!  

Take care and have a great couple of weeks.

Two sides, one story

I don't suppose there are very many people who haven't heard about the verdict rendered in the Stanley trial last night.  But if you haven't read or heard anything, a land owner shot and killed a young aboriginal man on his property in August 2016.  Last night, Gerald Stanley was acquitted of all charges.  Today there is outrage and anger from the Boushie family, the First Nations leadership, and many others. 

Of course, there is more to the story than the short synoptic above.  On a summer day, five young people decided to go swimming at a local river.  While there they drank copious amounts (30 shots for one of the participants alone).  On the way home, the driver was driving erratically, so much so that a tire blew but he continued to drive on the rim.  Along the way, they decided to stop in at a farm where they attempted to steal another vehicle by smashing a window with a loaded shotgun.  When they realized the truck had a standard transmission they left in their SUV and made their way to the Stanley acreage.

The story the young people later told was they were seeking help with the tire.  However before asking for help two of the young men attempted to start an ATV, while another looked through another vehicle.  The two young women were said to be sleeping in the back seat of the SUV while all of this went on.

At the sound of the ATV the land owner and his son came running from the field where they were fixing a fence.  The three young men jumped back into the SUV and attempted to leave, however the driver made a wide turn and crashed into the SUV of Mrs. Stanley.  Meanwhile the son, Sheldon, used a hammer to smash the windshield of the SUV.

In the space of these few minutes, Gerald Stanley grabbed a handgun from his shed, loaded it, and while two of the men ran from the SUV he fired two warning shots into the air.  

The tale gets more tangled at this point.  According to the testimony shared on-line one of the other men had been in the driver's seat but when Gerald Stanley got to the SUV, Colten was in the seat.  Stanley indicates he reached in to grab the keys with one hand, and accidentally shot the young man in the head.  According to one of the women in the back seat, Stanley held the gun to the young man's head and fired.  

What really happened?  We'll never know for sure.  The defense lawyer suggested that the cartridge bulged which would suggest a hang fire...that is, a lag in time between pulling the trigger and the shot actually firing.  The experts who testified for the Crown suggested this would be rare and the gun would not fire without a trigger pull.  (My brother, a police officer, had another theory - muscle memory.  After firing off the two shots, he wonders if Stanley's hand didn't tighten).  When Colten's body was pulled from the SUV (by one or both of the women), a broken shotgun was between his legs. 

The incident sparked much reaction, a good deal of it negative.  Charges of racism were met with horrific comments, including one person who suggested that Stanley's "only mistake was leaving witnesses".  Emotions ran high in the fall of 2016; the verdict has opened these wounds once again.  I can only hope that calmer heads were prevail but to be honest I won't be surprised if there are not some ugly scenes and situations played out over the next few months.  There will be those who want to retaliate and those who will respond. 

I've watched the trial in interest for the past two weeks.  As some of you might know, I grew up on a farm.  I can remember several times while I was growing up, being along in the farm house when a strange vehicle came into the yard.  Usually they were there to steal gas....I stayed put and let them have it.  There would have been no point calling the police, as we lived 12 miles from the nearest dispatch.  Nor would it have crossed my mind to pull a gun (not that I've even fired one in my entire life).  

But I do know what the fear feels like and thus I was surprised that the Stanley lawyer did not bring that fear forward.  But perhaps I'm wrong in my assumption that this family would have been afraid when five drunken young people arrived in their yard.  The fact the two men immediately grabbed weapons (hammer and handgun) would suggest this may not have been the first time someone attended the acreage for less than friendly reasons.  Yes, I tend to believe the assertion the young people were there to steal another vehicle rather than to request help.  As the defense attorney stated, "they were up to no good".  

However, regardless of the reasons, I feel the landowner went too far.  His stated intention was to frighten them off.  But in the end, someone died as a result.  That, in my mind, is manslaughter.  The jury, none of which appeared to be aboriginal, decided otherwise. 

Today, there are protests planned across the country, seeking "Justice for Colten".  I understand.  On the other hand, until individuals of all races, colors, and creeds are accountable for their actions.  IF, these young people had not been driving and drinking, IF the landowner and son's first reaction had not been to grab weapons, IF there had been one indigenous person (or more) on the jury, I suspect the outcome would have been different.  

I suspect the decision will be appealed.  The Crown has every right to do so, and the family of Colten Boushie will push for it.  Yet, even if Stanley is tried by judge alone, and found guilty of second degree murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter, I suspect they will find no closure.  This is a no win situation but perhaps will be the impetus for change.  

Time will tell.

Welcome February!

Happy belated groundhog's day!  We woke this morning to three inches of fresh snow, -21C (-6C) so winter is definitely here to stay.  Not surprising given where I live.  

According to Wikipedia, if the groundhog does not see his shadow, spring will come early.  Heck, if spring arrives here in 6 weeks, that would be early, very early.  

I do recall seeing pussy willows open at the end of March, when I was a young child but that's many years ago.  

No, I'll be thrilled if all the snow is gone by the mid to end of April.

In the meantime, I'm done to 11 days until I fly off to Florida.  I'll arrive late day on the 14th - it takes a full day to get there from here (or pretty much anywhere from here).  Cocoa Beach, here I come!  Did you know that "I dream of Jeannie" was filmed there?  I didn't until a friend mentioned it to me.  There is a park named for the television program so I'll try to find my way there to check it out.  

First, though, I plan to visit the Kennedy Space Center in Port Canaveral.  I've been checking the maps and it appears I'll be able to take the local transit from Cocoa Beach, though I'm not entirely certain.  I'm sure the hotel staff will be able to point me in the right direction, and the bus driver(s) will know when to tell me to get off. :)  I've been told it will take a full day to take in the sights.  

Day two I'm planning to wander about Cocoa Beach, perhaps visit the Dinosaur museum, look for the "I dream of Jeannie" park, and most definitely walk on the beach.  The weather forecast is for temperatures of 22-24C (72-75F) for those days with mostly sunny skies.  Sounds absolutely lovely to me. 

I still have some research to complete for my time in Orlando post-cruise.  I definitely won't be doing Disney World!   I arrive mid-day on the 24th and fly out on the 26th so only have a day and a half to explore.  I might visit the Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, and do a bit of shopping along International Drive...I'm sure I'll play it by ear and enjoy whatever I decide to do.

In the meantime, I'm in the midst of preparing for the trip, while continuing with the day-to-day routine of work, home, life.  More changes coming at work, there was a cryptic message received by all staff last week about resource realignment.  In plain language, though it specifically says no jobs will be lost the reality is generally that as work moves from one location to another, the ones whose work moves are offered a transfer but many will not accept.  I don't expect we'll see wholesale change in our area but it has already had an impact on some of my staff.  More to come, I'm sure.

At home, D and J have had the no contact lifted, with some remaining conditions.  She can deliver Eli to J's home (or pickup from), but cannot go inside nor attend to his work site.  Of course, the very first thing he asked for was a ride to work.  I took some pleasure in learning D told him that she could not do so.  The case continues to wind its way through the court system, perhaps by the time I'm back from the cruise it will be settled.  She is adamant that their relationship is truly over and in the past month has started to create a life apart from J.  She and Eli have been attending the library for reading circle, taken him on play-dates with two of her friends, and been out to lunch while Eli was at his dad's.  I'm so thankful to see these first steps and am hopeful she's starting a new path that will make her happy.

Well, enough babbling for today.  The Page 3-4 game of the Scotties Women's curling is about to start!  

Have a wonderful week everyone!!

Tick Tock!

Retirement is looming…not for me but for my mentor/coach/BFF at work.  C’s last day in the office is February 8 and I am already dreading the time when she won’t be there.  When I started 20+ years ago and had completed 4 weeks of training, C became my supervisor.  She was my coach and went along when I went out to do my first field work and continued to review my work over the next couple of years.  I learned so much from her, and until very recently, still had copies of the notes she provided during that first year.  I used these not only to refresh my own knowledge, but as examples for writing similar notes to my own staff. 

Over the years, as I moved from her group to others we continued to talk almost daily.  She was my advisor, my life coach and my friend.  She cheered me on as I continued my education and on the day the results of my final exam were released mid-afternoon, C told my current supervisor to send me home as I was too excited to work and was literally bouncing off the walls (yes, I passed).  The two of them even bought me flowers to celebrate.

In the early years, we went to a nearby restaurant for coffee together on a daily basis, along with a larger group.  I recall the group sitting in stunned silence on September 11, 2001 watching the planes fly in the World Trade Centre in New York on the television at the restaurant.  When we eventually returned to work, after an extended coffee break, very little was accomplished.

Later on, C took on a job in corporate support and moved to another building.  Soon after, I went to another area as well.  We kept in touch by e-mail and I still bounced ideas off her.  When we returned to the same location, C encouraged me to advance my career, and provided invaluable advice and support.  When I was successful in the competition to become a supervisor myself, I was frankly stunned.  I’d applied as a way of letting management know I was serious about that career path but never dreamed I’d get the opportunity that soon.  My first reaction was to run to C and say “what the h*ll do I do now?” 

As she has been throughout my career, she was there for me, coaching, guiding and encouraging me.  C has a way of leading you, so that when you ask a question you end up answering it for yourself.  It is a method I’ve never mastered.  Shortly thereafter, C became my manager for an interim period and the informal coaching became formal for that time.  By the time I’d been in my position for a year or so, my confidence level had increased and I no longer felt as though I was in over my head. 

Outside of work, C and her husband N, have become good friends as well.  Back in 2003 when both my parents were ill and I had to dash off to care for them unexpectedly, they went to my home daily and cared for the cats.  (C is also a cat lover – at that time they had three tuxedos, all have since run to the Bridge but I suspect there will be another cat in their lives soon).  They also invited me to their annual New Year’s Eve part (and N’s birthday), and with one exception, I’ve been at their gala every year for nearly 15 years. 

For about 5 years, I’ve been joining their ‘crew’ for Friday night dinners.  These started about 20 years ago with C, N and another friend Cu.  Over time they added to the crew, most were met through N’s volunteer work with Air Cadets.  C and N met in pilot training, C has since let her private licence lapse, while N is now on crew with WestJet.  They love to travel too and someday I hope to join them at their timeshare in San Diego.  They go every fall for the annual airshow – which is spectacular.

I truly will miss our almost daily conversations and the ability to send her a quick e-mail saying, AARRRGGGH, and knowing I need say nothing more, she just gets it.  We’ll continue to see each other on Friday evenings and I’m sure we’ll make time for lunch and/or coffees at least every month or so.  I know she’s looking forward to leaving work, to spending more time travelling, and when the weather gets nice in her yard and garden (it’s absolutely gorgeous in the summer, full of perennial beds and 60 or more containers… and that’s just the back yard). 

I know I’ll learn to manage without her at the office…but she will be missed!

Have a great week everyone!