According to Mapquest, it takes 3 hrs 15 mins to get to Kingston from here. We left home at 6:00 Thursday night and arrived in Limestone City, Friday at 2:30 p.m. Our non-stop trip included stops at Habitant Arena for a league game, a lay-over at Summers' End followed by the tournament opener in Napanee and then K-town.
Kathy called about 1/2 hr. before the first game to find out if the games were starting on-time. I had no idea: I was sitting in the car running meds. I'd seen people loading and unloading players and equipment, but hadn't a clue as to what was happening inside the building. Turned out they were running early, but we saw almost all of the game.
After lunch and checking in at the hotel, we made a run for Hot Tamales and JuJubes. Jessica entertained in her loft. The players roved downtown Kingston looking for a late dinner and returned before curfew.
Early game back in Napanee the next morning. Kathy was challenged by an obnoxious fan from the other team over a penalty. The father yelled at her,"Get your head out of your ass and go back to Toronto." Kathy asked me quietly, "Does this happen a lot in the stands?" She wanted to clarify with him that her head was atop her shoulders and that she lived nearby, thank you very much, but exercised restraint. Besides, we couldn't take him. The team did lunch then some shopping. Jess caught a ride to the restaurant and to the mall. I didn't mean to, but ended up falling asleep.
And awoke with the "what time is it?" panic. I had to get the equipment to the arena on time...and I didn't have a lot of time. But I made it. The players wore tutus, Groucho-glasses and hummed into kazoos. I do not like this much activity when I wake up, so I found a quiet corner. The Dolphins were beaten up by the team from Russell and suffered their first loss. The players hurt from the many physical injuries. Only 4 players felt strong enough to hit the cinema. No curfew required.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Cup Runneth Over
Another game on Sunday morning. Funny things, tournaments:
1. They're not about what happens on the ice, and all about the off-ice events and
2. You travel half-way across the province to play the team from next-door.
Another intense game, but the girls had reached hockey saturation level.
Jessica and I went for lunch with Kathy, loaded up the car and headed west. The battery on my pump had died running meds prior to the morning game. That, coupled with a few days in a modified routine, and what else, maybe the alignment of the planets, made the drive seem interminable.
We approached the exit to Roni's house. It would be a shame to be so close and not see R,W,K and Z, so we stopped. We had only planned on a 20-30 minute side-trip, but it was lengthened because of our 3:00 family phone call.
Back on the road, we craved the diverse music selections available in the GTA. At the top of hills, we caught a station out of Syracuse, the valleys we picked up AT40. We discovered in Belleville that the MP3 adapter couldn't be repaired.
After dinner in Oshawa, we had spent time with 2/3 of our family on this day. Always nice, but we were ready to go home.
1. They're not about what happens on the ice, and all about the off-ice events and
2. You travel half-way across the province to play the team from next-door.
Another intense game, but the girls had reached hockey saturation level.
Jessica and I went for lunch with Kathy, loaded up the car and headed west. The battery on my pump had died running meds prior to the morning game. That, coupled with a few days in a modified routine, and what else, maybe the alignment of the planets, made the drive seem interminable.
We approached the exit to Roni's house. It would be a shame to be so close and not see R,W,K and Z, so we stopped. We had only planned on a 20-30 minute side-trip, but it was lengthened because of our 3:00 family phone call.
Back on the road, we craved the diverse music selections available in the GTA. At the top of hills, we caught a station out of Syracuse, the valleys we picked up AT40. We discovered in Belleville that the MP3 adapter couldn't be repaired.
After dinner in Oshawa, we had spent time with 2/3 of our family on this day. Always nice, but we were ready to go home.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Early Bird Tournament -T minus 28 h
This story begins before we'd even left:
Problem A: Early in the afternoon your vehicle unexpectedly requires repair. It will be on the hoist for 2-3 days. In 2 hours you are expected in another city to pick up players on the school's field hockey team. Two hours after that, your in-house goalie needs to be in Toronto. John, who is at the office, also has to get to a meeting that evening. Solve this in a way that each person gets to where he/she needs to be on time.
Problem B: The next morning is your turn to drive the student carpool to school. You have a med delivery and an appointment. John arranged earlier in the week to drive a co-worker to the office on this day. There is a field hockey game from 3:30 - 5:00, a social event for your other teen, another meeting for John to attend and you need to pack then get to a hockey tournament out of town. You still have one vehicle. Solve this in such a way as to minimize cancellations. Bonus: Feed the dog and walk him, too.
On the road - T + 100:
A little behind schedule, but it's under control. A driver in a Honda thinks that my 120 kmh on the connecting ramp (DVP to 401) is too slow and veers around us. He's at the top of the arc at 135 kmh, realizes he has too much speed, slides sideways to the concrete wall on his left and just misses it. Since he has over-corrected, he slides down to the wall on the inside, turns the wheels hard to avoid the crash, straightens it all by the end of the curve and merges onto the 401 without a scratch.
Summers End, a wonderful country retreat, will be our home for the next couple of days. We are used to placing floor lamps on top of tables to simulate an IV pole, and I have this 2-hanger-contraption I've developed that works well on wall sconces too. Ceiling hooks are the best, but rarely found. There are several tricks we've learned since tearing a curtain rod out of the wall at a hotel one trip. (Maintenance should've used anchors!). The ceiling hooks here are no good: the ceiling is 20-feet away, the IV tubing is only 30-inches! The lamps are far too delicate to handle the weight of the bag. I take a mirror off the wall, put the pump on the table and that seems to work, as long as I don't roll over! The original plan included bringing the IV pole, but had to be left behind as part of the solution to Problem B.
I have been awake for 40 hours and look forward to sleep. Set the alarm. Sleep.
Problem A: Early in the afternoon your vehicle unexpectedly requires repair. It will be on the hoist for 2-3 days. In 2 hours you are expected in another city to pick up players on the school's field hockey team. Two hours after that, your in-house goalie needs to be in Toronto. John, who is at the office, also has to get to a meeting that evening. Solve this in a way that each person gets to where he/she needs to be on time.
Problem B: The next morning is your turn to drive the student carpool to school. You have a med delivery and an appointment. John arranged earlier in the week to drive a co-worker to the office on this day. There is a field hockey game from 3:30 - 5:00, a social event for your other teen, another meeting for John to attend and you need to pack then get to a hockey tournament out of town. You still have one vehicle. Solve this in such a way as to minimize cancellations. Bonus: Feed the dog and walk him, too.
On the road - T + 100:
A little behind schedule, but it's under control. A driver in a Honda thinks that my 120 kmh on the connecting ramp (DVP to 401) is too slow and veers around us. He's at the top of the arc at 135 kmh, realizes he has too much speed, slides sideways to the concrete wall on his left and just misses it. Since he has over-corrected, he slides down to the wall on the inside, turns the wheels hard to avoid the crash, straightens it all by the end of the curve and merges onto the 401 without a scratch.
Summers End, a wonderful country retreat, will be our home for the next couple of days. We are used to placing floor lamps on top of tables to simulate an IV pole, and I have this 2-hanger-contraption I've developed that works well on wall sconces too. Ceiling hooks are the best, but rarely found. There are several tricks we've learned since tearing a curtain rod out of the wall at a hotel one trip. (Maintenance should've used anchors!). The ceiling hooks here are no good: the ceiling is 20-feet away, the IV tubing is only 30-inches! The lamps are far too delicate to handle the weight of the bag. I take a mirror off the wall, put the pump on the table and that seems to work, as long as I don't roll over! The original plan included bringing the IV pole, but had to be left behind as part of the solution to Problem B.
I have been awake for 40 hours and look forward to sleep. Set the alarm. Sleep.
Fall Classic
Up early. Make coffee. Get the paper. Wake up Jessica. She makes herself some breakfast. One owner of Summers End comes downstairs and finds his morning routine disrupted considerably. Dad takes it pretty well...He usually makes the coffee, then he usually gets the paper. He's reading the paper as the large equipment bag rolls by. We are out of there before 8:00 a.m. Gramm and Bubba will see us at the game.
Etobicoke downs Brampton 2-1 in the opening game. The team heads to Summers End for brunch. We have a lot of time until the next game. The players are taken care of thanks to Laura, Barb and Lorraine and Mom. I'm running meds. Mark is inspecting the construction of the century-home. The team goes out to kill some more time. Later, while they're at dinner, I run some saline for hydration and meet them back at the arena. Etobicoke shuts out Vaughn in game 2 and racks up another shut-out against Aurora in game 3.
The team finishes first in their division and advances to the semi-finals. We never expected to make it to the semi-finals! There are several hours until the puck drops. The players want to see a movie. I had an allergic reaction at the arena and agree to sleep in the theater as their chaperone to Jackass Number 2. The girls agree that there will be no shenanigans, like forgetting to wake me up when the film is finished.
Etobicoke falls to the stronger Durham West 2-1 in the win-or-go-home semi-final contest. Nobody's disappointed with the showing at the tournament. It's a fun weekend for the team. There is a point when fans have mixed emotions: they cheer for the team to win, but would be happy to have it over, too. Tournaments are tests of endurance: long days, a lot of down-time for parents/fans, lots of hockey for the players and coaches.
We stay the night at Summers End. On Sunday, I consider heading to the Run in Kingston since I'm almost half-way there already. In the end I determine it will be too much. We head home.
Etobicoke downs Brampton 2-1 in the opening game. The team heads to Summers End for brunch. We have a lot of time until the next game. The players are taken care of thanks to Laura, Barb and Lorraine and Mom. I'm running meds. Mark is inspecting the construction of the century-home. The team goes out to kill some more time. Later, while they're at dinner, I run some saline for hydration and meet them back at the arena. Etobicoke shuts out Vaughn in game 2 and racks up another shut-out against Aurora in game 3.
The team finishes first in their division and advances to the semi-finals. We never expected to make it to the semi-finals! There are several hours until the puck drops. The players want to see a movie. I had an allergic reaction at the arena and agree to sleep in the theater as their chaperone to Jackass Number 2. The girls agree that there will be no shenanigans, like forgetting to wake me up when the film is finished.
Etobicoke falls to the stronger Durham West 2-1 in the win-or-go-home semi-final contest. Nobody's disappointed with the showing at the tournament. It's a fun weekend for the team. There is a point when fans have mixed emotions: they cheer for the team to win, but would be happy to have it over, too. Tournaments are tests of endurance: long days, a lot of down-time for parents/fans, lots of hockey for the players and coaches.
We stay the night at Summers End. On Sunday, I consider heading to the Run in Kingston since I'm almost half-way there already. In the end I determine it will be too much. We head home.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Back to School - Belleville - There
8:30 a.m. I see my family has been online through the night. 3:50 a.m.: Roni wants to redo her living room so that it'll be fresh to receive visitors after her surgery; she would like someone to weed her gardens, because they're getting overgrown; she wants to get a pedicure. Response from Joe at 4:15 a.m.: why is she online when she has this work that needs to be done? Joe is probably renovating his bathroom or building/fixing something with his Blackberry on his belt.
9:30 a.m. I call Roni, tell her I'm taking Kara shopping to get set for her freshman year at King's University College. Give me a list, give me your kid, I'll return her when its done. It'll be fun. It'll help.
12:30 p.m. I'm on the way. Idea: 'Hey, Ma. What are your plans today? How'd you like to spend 3 hours with your youngest daughter?" Quick side trip to pick her up. Back on the road.
We enjoy the drive. Mom tells me that if there's ever a time when I cannot laugh at myself, I can always laugh at my mother.
Arrive Belleville. Didn't look at the clock. I offer to do some work in the gardens (which don't look bad to me). I reach for this tall grassy thing, but apparently it is a plant. My theory is that avid gardening strikes at age 40; the same way homemade jam happens at 30. I still have a year of garden ignorance.
Leave Belleville.
7:00 p.m. Gramma wants to stop at a particular store to get started. I know the time because I called home. Spend a couple of hours looking at alarm clocks, throw pillows, accent rugs, stuff for the bed, small appliances. Get some dinner. Look for lost Medicalert bracelet. Take Mom home. Homeward bound for us.
Line of the night: Credit to Kara. "I don't know if I'm indecisive or not."
Casualty: Lost Medicalert bracelet.
9:30 a.m. I call Roni, tell her I'm taking Kara shopping to get set for her freshman year at King's University College. Give me a list, give me your kid, I'll return her when its done. It'll be fun. It'll help.
12:30 p.m. I'm on the way. Idea: 'Hey, Ma. What are your plans today? How'd you like to spend 3 hours with your youngest daughter?" Quick side trip to pick her up. Back on the road.
We enjoy the drive. Mom tells me that if there's ever a time when I cannot laugh at myself, I can always laugh at my mother.
Arrive Belleville. Didn't look at the clock. I offer to do some work in the gardens (which don't look bad to me). I reach for this tall grassy thing, but apparently it is a plant. My theory is that avid gardening strikes at age 40; the same way homemade jam happens at 30. I still have a year of garden ignorance.
Leave Belleville.
7:00 p.m. Gramma wants to stop at a particular store to get started. I know the time because I called home. Spend a couple of hours looking at alarm clocks, throw pillows, accent rugs, stuff for the bed, small appliances. Get some dinner. Look for lost Medicalert bracelet. Take Mom home. Homeward bound for us.
Line of the night: Credit to Kara. "I don't know if I'm indecisive or not."
Casualty: Lost Medicalert bracelet.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Back to School - Around
We're not heading out blind. I've received some great advice on where to go, items to get and even some comparison pricing.
Kara wants to buy herself an MP3 player. That's first. She wants one that is searchable and it must be easy to manipulate. Found it. Good deal. Moving on.
We're in Etobicoke. Stop here. Stop there. If we're quick we can stop here, but we'll have to be quick to make it back in time for an appt. I couldn't change. Celebrate success. I drop Kara off to get some lunch while I go to the doc. Meet back in 1/2 hr.
Andrew joins us for the next leg. I tell Kara that I haven't been back in this particular store since I had an allergic reaction in it. She laughs at how I keep track of stores and shopping. Allergic reaction to peanuts here, reacted to balloons there, all-natural tropical something-or-other in another place.
Shopping with me takes some getting used to: we never stop for ice cream. Each time we get back into the car, we hear a Rihanna song. Kara says all these places to shop are just a Rihanna song apart.
We mark success with a shout of "Scores!" Near-misses/ D-list possibilities I call hitting the post. Score a little more in the evening. Develop some strong Plan B alternatives.
In the morning Kara gets to sleep in because I have a dentist appointment, plus I get fitted for the knee brace, which buys her a few more z's. Freezer surprise for lunch and we're out again. We bravely face some disappointments, celebrate some large scores and fill out comment cards for Mina, the salesclerk who went the extra mile. We're not only finding the things Kara needs, but we're winning the parking spot wars too! We remind ourselves to keep it all in check; let's not jinx it.
Confident and with the list relatively small, Andrew suggests we knock off what's left and celebrate with a movie. We're scoring something every 11 minutes. Looks like our record's about to be interrupted, when a few quick successes come up and our record improves to 8-1/2 minutes! Got it. Got it. Got it.
Transfer the haul from the car to the living room. It looks like Christmas! Open the secret hatch and surprise ourselves with items we'd forgotten about altogether.
Catch the late show. Kara calls home. It takes an hour to update the list. One necessity left to get. One extra. And one item in-between.
Line of the day: Salesclerk: "Can I help you find something in particular?"
Me: "Yes. We're looking for an accent rug that will match this perfectly," holding up the pillow case from Kara's set.
Casualty: Part-time employee was fired at the front of the store during our sales transaction.
Kara wants to buy herself an MP3 player. That's first. She wants one that is searchable and it must be easy to manipulate. Found it. Good deal. Moving on.
We're in Etobicoke. Stop here. Stop there. If we're quick we can stop here, but we'll have to be quick to make it back in time for an appt. I couldn't change. Celebrate success. I drop Kara off to get some lunch while I go to the doc. Meet back in 1/2 hr.
Andrew joins us for the next leg. I tell Kara that I haven't been back in this particular store since I had an allergic reaction in it. She laughs at how I keep track of stores and shopping. Allergic reaction to peanuts here, reacted to balloons there, all-natural tropical something-or-other in another place.
Shopping with me takes some getting used to: we never stop for ice cream. Each time we get back into the car, we hear a Rihanna song. Kara says all these places to shop are just a Rihanna song apart.
We mark success with a shout of "Scores!" Near-misses/ D-list possibilities I call hitting the post. Score a little more in the evening. Develop some strong Plan B alternatives.
In the morning Kara gets to sleep in because I have a dentist appointment, plus I get fitted for the knee brace, which buys her a few more z's. Freezer surprise for lunch and we're out again. We bravely face some disappointments, celebrate some large scores and fill out comment cards for Mina, the salesclerk who went the extra mile. We're not only finding the things Kara needs, but we're winning the parking spot wars too! We remind ourselves to keep it all in check; let's not jinx it.
Confident and with the list relatively small, Andrew suggests we knock off what's left and celebrate with a movie. We're scoring something every 11 minutes. Looks like our record's about to be interrupted, when a few quick successes come up and our record improves to 8-1/2 minutes! Got it. Got it. Got it.
Transfer the haul from the car to the living room. It looks like Christmas! Open the secret hatch and surprise ourselves with items we'd forgotten about altogether.
Catch the late show. Kara calls home. It takes an hour to update the list. One necessity left to get. One extra. And one item in-between.
Line of the day: Salesclerk: "Can I help you find something in particular?"
Me: "Yes. We're looking for an accent rug that will match this perfectly," holding up the pillow case from Kara's set.
Casualty: Part-time employee was fired at the front of the store during our sales transaction.
Off to School - Back
The plan is to meet Wayne at my parent's to get Kara back home. Along the way, there are still a few places Kara and I want to get to. Definitely looking for that one 'must have' on the list. We arrange the day around hitting a shop in the city. Timing on a Friday will be important. Summary Tuesday through Friday
Success. And again. And a close-call. And then a success. That's a wrap. We want to leave on a high note. We're at the exit and I stopped to put my sweater on. The chocolate store that's right beside the entrance/exit has just finished a run of truffles and they're handing them out. I can tell there are nuts in the truffles. We leave in a hurry.
We find the place in Toronto, but it turns out it's not quite as advertised. Based on my sports descriptions, call this 'wide of the net' or 'fanned-on-the-shot'.
Kara's a good sport about it. We head east. I point out some landmarks. I'm still looking at store signs to find a substitute, but striking out. She tells me about some of the school trips she and others made into Toronto: food was great, hotel choices should be reconsidered for future trips. We make great time through the city, but when we reach the Pickering city line, all traffic stops. We sit a while, then I look for an alternate. I love to drive. I hate to sit. And I'm in brain-fog because of the nuts at Dixie.
North, nothing moving. South, nothing moving. Go over another mile. North, nothing; south nothing. Can't change it. We
Kara and I have come up with a bit where a frustrated and tired Aunt Chris grumpily goes into Gramma's house and complains that Kara is unbearable and whining. I carried off the frustrated and grumpy part easily, but I couldn't complain about my favorite Kara with a straight face. Gramma and Bubba didn't buy it.
We set up a display on the table and Kara walks them through everything. She tells them about Mina. Our inside jokes require too much explanation and, oddly, are not funny to others.
I do not feel well and bail before dinner is ready. Sorry I missed you, Wayne.
One Tank of Gas: $45.
Night at the Movies: $30
Shopping with Kara: Priceless.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
St. Clair Shores - There
Michelle and I took a road trip to see Kimberley. A 24-hour excursion.
Michelle got to my place around 11:30 on Thursday morning. I was running my meds off the dining room light fixture. Once I finish, we're ready to go. I grab my knapsack and the care package I put together for Kimberley. That should be it, right? We'll be home tomorrow. What else do I need?
Well, there's a box full of supplies: a handful of tube sets, arm load of saline syringes, alcohol, cannulas (2 different kinds, lots of each), and a couple liters of hydration. There are bags of meds packed with ice packs in a thermal bag, the pump, hangers, and a blackout kit to keep it all going, just in case there's a battery or power problem.
Andrew packs the road trip staple (Tootsie Pops) into my purse. We rearrange the trunk to accomodate my extra gear. If there weren't 4 of us loading the car, I wonder how many trips from house to car this would take me. It seems everyone has an opinion about whether my bony butt is suited for travel. I do not think my backside is too bony and when I defend my derriere, everyone's a comedian, like they've been holding onto these lines forever just waiting for the chance to use them, you know?
We stop in Woodstock. Not because we want to, but because we have to: a truck had rolled over earlier in the day. We clear the area and get back to cruising speed. Michelle's car is comfortable enough. As we come to London, I remind Michelle that we only have a few exits before Hwy 402. And we stop. Everyone stops. It takes us an hour to clear the construction zone and get to the exit we want. We laugh at how incongruent it is to almost be crushed by a lasagna truck in the process. See, I was afraid you wouldn't find that funny, but if you loved lasagna yet couldn't eat it, and were crushed by a truck carrying lasagna...
The precarious pasta predicament reminds me of that box of Oh Henry bars I won. I relate the story to my sister, who laughs uncontrollably. She says it is another example of how life is cruel to Chris. She likes the account so much, she reaches into the backseat, grabs her day-planner and writes it down, so as to not forget it. Our family is generous with compassion, but we are a little short on sympathy, you know!
The Tootsie Pop is the running joke. Apparently, it is not so usual to have the pop and leave the Tootsie.
A 45-minute delay at the border and we're across. People are sometimes uptight at border crossings. Michelle travels a lot, but what's she thinking here:
Customs officer: "Are you bringing anything into the U.S.?"
Michelle: "We're going to see our cousin."
Customs official: "Huh? Go ahead."
We need to stop. Michelle is the scout. She checks out places to make sure there isn't a display of coconut cream pie or pecan tarts and that the place isn't decorated in balloons. I stretch my kneecap and walk around in the parking lot. The first place fails the inspection. The second place passes.
Back on the road, we roll out our first car-game: 'Name 5 things that...'. I discover that my sister easily recalls dead celebrities, but is, sorry, a little out of touch with pop culture and late night television.
We look for a grocery store close to Kimberley's to get stuff for dinner. Michelle won't let me go into the store, because we don't know the layout, and can't guarantee the safety. She worries too much. It's not like I shop by some special arrangement with the grocery stores at home. I drop her off and head back on Gratiot to get some coffee. I am not even embarassed to order Michelle's triple-milk coffee. It is unlikely I will use this drive thru again, but we all know that no self-respecting coffee drinker takes triple milk!
She recounts for me her exchange with the cashier...who carded her over the wine. Michelle admits the clerk was truly surprised to discover that she is over the age of 21.
Catching up. Listening. Perspective. Focus. Humor. Laughter. The light fixture in Kimberley's dining room is suitable for hanging IV's, too. Agree that we need a Cuz-in-Weekend - Spring 2007.
Michelle got to my place around 11:30 on Thursday morning. I was running my meds off the dining room light fixture. Once I finish, we're ready to go. I grab my knapsack and the care package I put together for Kimberley. That should be it, right? We'll be home tomorrow. What else do I need?
Well, there's a box full of supplies: a handful of tube sets, arm load of saline syringes, alcohol, cannulas (2 different kinds, lots of each), and a couple liters of hydration. There are bags of meds packed with ice packs in a thermal bag, the pump, hangers, and a blackout kit to keep it all going, just in case there's a battery or power problem.
Andrew packs the road trip staple (Tootsie Pops) into my purse. We rearrange the trunk to accomodate my extra gear. If there weren't 4 of us loading the car, I wonder how many trips from house to car this would take me. It seems everyone has an opinion about whether my bony butt is suited for travel. I do not think my backside is too bony and when I defend my derriere, everyone's a comedian, like they've been holding onto these lines forever just waiting for the chance to use them, you know?
We stop in Woodstock. Not because we want to, but because we have to: a truck had rolled over earlier in the day. We clear the area and get back to cruising speed. Michelle's car is comfortable enough. As we come to London, I remind Michelle that we only have a few exits before Hwy 402. And we stop. Everyone stops. It takes us an hour to clear the construction zone and get to the exit we want. We laugh at how incongruent it is to almost be crushed by a lasagna truck in the process. See, I was afraid you wouldn't find that funny, but if you loved lasagna yet couldn't eat it, and were crushed by a truck carrying lasagna...
The precarious pasta predicament reminds me of that box of Oh Henry bars I won. I relate the story to my sister, who laughs uncontrollably. She says it is another example of how life is cruel to Chris. She likes the account so much, she reaches into the backseat, grabs her day-planner and writes it down, so as to not forget it. Our family is generous with compassion, but we are a little short on sympathy, you know!
The Tootsie Pop is the running joke. Apparently, it is not so usual to have the pop and leave the Tootsie.
A 45-minute delay at the border and we're across. People are sometimes uptight at border crossings. Michelle travels a lot, but what's she thinking here:
Customs officer: "Are you bringing anything into the U.S.?"
Michelle: "We're going to see our cousin."
Customs official: "Huh? Go ahead."
We need to stop. Michelle is the scout. She checks out places to make sure there isn't a display of coconut cream pie or pecan tarts and that the place isn't decorated in balloons. I stretch my kneecap and walk around in the parking lot. The first place fails the inspection. The second place passes.
Back on the road, we roll out our first car-game: 'Name 5 things that...'. I discover that my sister easily recalls dead celebrities, but is, sorry, a little out of touch with pop culture and late night television.
We look for a grocery store close to Kimberley's to get stuff for dinner. Michelle won't let me go into the store, because we don't know the layout, and can't guarantee the safety. She worries too much. It's not like I shop by some special arrangement with the grocery stores at home. I drop her off and head back on Gratiot to get some coffee. I am not even embarassed to order Michelle's triple-milk coffee. It is unlikely I will use this drive thru again, but we all know that no self-respecting coffee drinker takes triple milk!
She recounts for me her exchange with the cashier...who carded her over the wine. Michelle admits the clerk was truly surprised to discover that she is over the age of 21.
Catching up. Listening. Perspective. Focus. Humor. Laughter. The light fixture in Kimberley's dining room is suitable for hanging IV's, too. Agree that we need a Cuz-in-Weekend - Spring 2007.
And Back
In the morning, we walk around the marina and back. It's time to go. No trick questions at the border. I prime the IV at a park, test-hang it in a few different spots and find the visor is the jackpot. Back on the highway.
Cruising along. People who pass us stare. I mean stare. They turn their heads and keep watching. It's the hot red sports car, the IV hanging from the sunvisor or both.
Somewhere around Forest, I mention that Theresa Baird is a real estate agent in my area. We went to school with the Bairds. Our parents were friends. I was riding with Van Baird, speeding down Zion hill, when I fell off the bike I borrowed from Lisa. It was a pretty severe crash. I was unconcious. I don't even know how my parents got there. Zion hill is paved now, but still intimidating.
We name the Baird children: Van, Lisa, Theresa, Mike, Derek. Michelle insists there was one more boy in the family. Older. I don't remember him, but then again, if he was older than Derek Baird, he had to be at least 10 years older than me. It's not surprising that I don't remember him. Naming him is now an obsession. Michelle is certain his name started with 'D'. From London to Kitchener, we name every D-name we can think of. I mean every name. Dewar? That's not it either, but we know a Dewar. Michelle comes up with a lot more than me. My brain is very slow. I'm dehydrated. I've had some water, a little lemonade, a little lemonade mixed with water, some water mixed with lemonade. A collection of nearly-full bottles at my feet, other unfinished beverages have been unloaded as we go.
For no particular reason, I take Michelle into Waterloo via the scenic route. Several times, she thinks we're lost. I reassure her. I've never been to Shannon's place in Waterloo, but I can get us to WLU, and count on the driver from there. I'm back. My brain is working again. Two hours running the IV (1/2 liter of fluid) and there's a definite difference. Michelle notices it too.
While Michelle cuts the grass, I stroll around the neighborhood. Discovery! There's an art gallery right behind the house. It is incredible. The owner is closing up. I explain that we are from out of town and my sister is an artist and would die to see this place. That's her right there. I point out the window where, 30 feet away, she's mowing the lawn. The owner agrees to stay open for a few minutes. Michelle cuts the motor, hops the fence and goes in. There are some really breathtaking pieces here. Her eyes light up in the gallery. She and the owner discuss the Pino and that Michelle is studying at Michael John Angel Studio in Toronto, and so on. This is all above my head. Michelle is passionate about art. We thank the owner for staying late. We keep to the sidewalk and return to the house.
Michelle has this thing about cutting the lawn. She puts patterns in the grass. A different pattern each time she mows. I insist on cutting the front lawn. She watches. I divide the lawn by making a large X. I go to the center of the yard and cut a circle. Around about 5 times, then back to the X pattern. I stand on the porch when I'm finished and look. Very erratic. Perfect! I think Michelle will go back in a few days to "fix" it.
On the road again, we consider calling Mom to get the name of the oldest Baird (if he really existed). Batteries dead on both phones.
Take the scenic route home so we can check out the country mansions. At home we unload the car and Google the Bairds.
"There!" Michelle exclaims.
"Where?" I ask because I still don't see this irrefutable proof.
"Right there!" She points at the screen. "Stephen!"
The gallery: Double T Fine Arts. 76 Regina St. N., Waterloo (519) 746-1291.
Cruising along. People who pass us stare. I mean stare. They turn their heads and keep watching. It's the hot red sports car, the IV hanging from the sunvisor or both.
Somewhere around Forest, I mention that Theresa Baird is a real estate agent in my area. We went to school with the Bairds. Our parents were friends. I was riding with Van Baird, speeding down Zion hill, when I fell off the bike I borrowed from Lisa. It was a pretty severe crash. I was unconcious. I don't even know how my parents got there. Zion hill is paved now, but still intimidating.
We name the Baird children: Van, Lisa, Theresa, Mike, Derek. Michelle insists there was one more boy in the family. Older. I don't remember him, but then again, if he was older than Derek Baird, he had to be at least 10 years older than me. It's not surprising that I don't remember him. Naming him is now an obsession. Michelle is certain his name started with 'D'. From London to Kitchener, we name every D-name we can think of. I mean every name. Dewar? That's not it either, but we know a Dewar. Michelle comes up with a lot more than me. My brain is very slow. I'm dehydrated. I've had some water, a little lemonade, a little lemonade mixed with water, some water mixed with lemonade. A collection of nearly-full bottles at my feet, other unfinished beverages have been unloaded as we go.
For no particular reason, I take Michelle into Waterloo via the scenic route. Several times, she thinks we're lost. I reassure her. I've never been to Shannon's place in Waterloo, but I can get us to WLU, and count on the driver from there. I'm back. My brain is working again. Two hours running the IV (1/2 liter of fluid) and there's a definite difference. Michelle notices it too.
While Michelle cuts the grass, I stroll around the neighborhood. Discovery! There's an art gallery right behind the house. It is incredible. The owner is closing up. I explain that we are from out of town and my sister is an artist and would die to see this place. That's her right there. I point out the window where, 30 feet away, she's mowing the lawn. The owner agrees to stay open for a few minutes. Michelle cuts the motor, hops the fence and goes in. There are some really breathtaking pieces here. Her eyes light up in the gallery. She and the owner discuss the Pino and that Michelle is studying at Michael John Angel Studio in Toronto, and so on. This is all above my head. Michelle is passionate about art. We thank the owner for staying late. We keep to the sidewalk and return to the house.
Michelle has this thing about cutting the lawn. She puts patterns in the grass. A different pattern each time she mows. I insist on cutting the front lawn. She watches. I divide the lawn by making a large X. I go to the center of the yard and cut a circle. Around about 5 times, then back to the X pattern. I stand on the porch when I'm finished and look. Very erratic. Perfect! I think Michelle will go back in a few days to "fix" it.
On the road again, we consider calling Mom to get the name of the oldest Baird (if he really existed). Batteries dead on both phones.
Take the scenic route home so we can check out the country mansions. At home we unload the car and Google the Bairds.
"There!" Michelle exclaims.
"Where?" I ask because I still don't see this irrefutable proof.
"Right there!" She points at the screen. "Stephen!"
The gallery: Double T Fine Arts. 76 Regina St. N., Waterloo (519) 746-1291.
Wipeout Hill on Zion Road 
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