A Golden Eve

Good evening, All and Merry Christmas!

I'm sure you've been enjoying Christmas cookies, wrapping and unwrapping presents, preparing for outlaws...in-laws...cleaning, budgeting, spending....well, maybe it hasn't all been fun and good cheer, which is why you may be finding yourself here. I certainly hope you've had nothing but Christmas miracles this season (I've enjoyed one or two myself!), so I hope the Golden Perspective of Spiders, will help to change your moment around into something more bright! This is a story that my grandmother used to tell my sisters and me. She had these lovely golden beaded spiders that she would hang on the tree every year. I've posted this one once or twice before, but it's a classic we cannot let go. This is a section telling the tale from a book I published on this blog called Providence. If you'd like to see that read, here you go: Providence.

In that space of time the reverend stared at three faux-gold beaded spiders perched atop a mess of silver tensile on the far side of the room. The story of the three spiders briefly popped into the reverend’s head. He was very familiar with the tale of the arachnids being very curious about a tree, which came into their home. From their corner in the living room, they happily watched the family of the home adorn the tree with all sorts of sparkling decorations and candlesticks aglow. Once the family decided that their task had been one well done, the people left the living rooms to adjourn to their beds. The spiders took the opportunity to look at every limb and trinket upon the tree. They oohed at the golden beads. They awed at the knitted angels. But they were most struck and most impressed with the beautiful glass star that crowned the mighty tree. Quite simply, it was the most spectacular thing that the spiders had ever seen. Feeling satisfied by their explorations, the spiders lowered themselves to the ground, only to discover in great horror that they had unintentionally completely covered the entire tree and decorations with their webbing. The spiders began to wail and cry because they thought that they had had ruined the hard and magnificent efforts of the family with their mess of web. They wept from their despair. However, a shimmering light appeared and an angelic voice spoke to the three spiders and he said to them, ‘But, no, look again,’ and in an instant the grey web turned to silver tinsel and the three spiders glittered like gold from their unintended gifts. The tree was not ruined, but changed into something even more great. 

The reverend smiled to think of this story, which he told every year to the children of Providence on Christmas Eve with the intended message that no matter how messy or entangled life could sometimes become there is always a chance for a happy ending if one only looks at the situation another way. The changed perspectives of the spiders warmed the reverend's heart even though indeed his present situation  still appeared to be very dark. 

Merry Christmas everyone!!!! May it be blessed and full of peace!

Until next time dear readers,

Your humble author,

S. Faxon

This is Christmas

We've reached the season of Christmas. It was kicked off as it has been since 1924 by the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The balloons, the celebrities, the street performers were all there, but we all know there's really only one reason why we watch the parade; to see the man at the end. The world's most beloved soul, that magical being of Santa Claus, came riding down the streets of New York City on his magical red sleigh, with his dear reindeer leading the way. Thousands lined the streets and millions more tuned in on TV to see St. Nicholas, to be inspired by his cheer.

There's truly nothing like Christmas in New York. It can be a dingy, grey city, full of life and the buzz of millions doing their own routines. But, come Christmas, the city transforms. There's lights up and down Fifth Avenue. The ice rinks are filled with decorative skaters. There's a refreshing crisp bite to the air that makes you dream of sipping cocoa or sitting in warm pubs with friends. People transform. They're bright, they're kind. That's not to say New Yorkers aren't kind, but there's just a different lightness upon the air. The extra effort to smile at one another is made with almost every encounter. A good friend of mine in New York who is Muslim once told me that Christmas was his favorite time of year because everyone got along. This year, this Christmas let us carry that cheer, that warmth, that peace in our hearts with jubilant and joyous cries. Help your neighbors, help strangers. Extend hands to those you might not have before. Think of the pink-cheeked Santa riding up and down the streets of New York, bringing hope and glee to the children. Think of that lightness he brings to the city. Let your children know that he is real because he exists in our hearts. It is the love of Santa that we must share with our little ones this year and that, dear Readers, like the streets of New York, will also fill you with Santa's sweet cheer.

Until next time...

Your humble author,
S. Faxon

Thanksgiving Read

If you find yourself needing groceries today, but don't have time or the helpers to run to the store, use your Amazon Prime. They deliver fresh food from grocery stores to YOUR door within TWO hours. It's insane and amazing. I have a hard time in stores when there are a ton of people (shopping at Costco is always a challenge for me), so the Prime Now is a great deal. There are minimums, but they vary from store to store that Amazon uses. See for yourself. Try it out!

If you're looking for something different and easy to make, here's what I'm doing (all of these ingredients are available on Prime - guess how I know!):

4-5 ripe (squishy) persimmons
Box of mixed baby kale, baby spinach - or a box of each. Whatever you can find.
Soy sauce
Frying oil of choice -avocado works really well.
Mushrooms

Take 4-5 persimmons, dice them, then roast them at 350' for 15-20 minutes.

While that's going, pan sear mushrooms. There are a few tricks for mushrooms - if you can, buy prewashed. You want your mushrooms to be as dry as possible. If you can't find them prewashed (like I couldn't) wash them HOURS before you cook with a moist paper towel. Then, take a handful of mushrooms at a time, add salt to the oil to draw out flavor, and sear until brown. I use avocado oil. It takes about twenty minutes to do a standard box, so it works out nicely with the persimmons.

Next, mix the persimmons and mushrooms together and set aside.

Use a box of baby kale and baby spinach.  Mix in about a 1/4th cup avocado oil, and a tablespoon of soy sauce. Place veggies in oven and stir every few minutes. These really don't take long, so keep an eye on them. Once the veggies are about half way done, add the persimmons and mushroom. Once it's looking good, serve.

The flavors work beautifully together. If you have vegetarian folk coming to your Thanksgiving dinner, throw in a few Italian soy-sausages. We did this the other day when I hosted a Thanksgiving with Friends. Turned out pretty good.

The dinner was a ton of fun and I am so grateful to have such wonderful and dear friends.

What are you grateful for this year?

I'm also grateful for my dear readers! Thank you for tuning in and have a wonderful, happy Thanksgiving!

All my love,
Your humble author,
S. Faxon

From Her Eyes

The cat in the window peered into the night,

What her wide-moon-eyes gazed filled her with fright.

The humans went to bed, turned out the lights.

It was her alone who saw the witch take her flight.

On the lawn, the skeletons danced a jig,

The scarecrow played with the bugs in his wig.

The spiders in their sticky webs of white,

The slippery snakes searched for something to bite.

In brilliant pride, they all played their parts

To dare, to scare the children from afar. 

A dance on the lawn only one soul did see,

A tradition that occurred every Halloween.

Happy and safe Halloweens to you all my dear ghouls and booooys!

Your humble author,

S. Faxon

Beneath the Nightstand

The small beetle that tried to take refuge in my suitcase ought to have been the first indication that my hotel room would be less than perfect. The sheets and towels looked clean. There were fresh tissues a new roll of toilet paper, and a bed for the night. Those were the priorities of what I required, so I shrugged and thought, 'no big deal.'

I went about my normal nightly routine, freshening up, laying out my clothes for the next day, fetching ice and flipping through the TV channels. My day of travel had been far more trying than I had anticipated; the four hour drive from the airport to my hotel may have significantly contributed to this desire of wanting to tuck in ASAP. As one does these days, I started looking for an outlet near to the bed, so that my phone/alarm clock could benefit from a restful snooze. There was one conveniently located right beneath the shelf-nightstand beside my bed. 'Perfect,' I thought, as it would be in reach of my arm when in the morning I'd be drowsily seeking the button to silence the alarm.

Blindly, for what did I have to fear or to look for,?I reached to plug in the charger and to my absolute horror my unsuspecting digits were entangled in the trap of a villain most foul.

Spider.

Ripping back my hand, I immediately began to shake it as if the motion would purge my mind of the sticky sense-memory that still gives me the chills. After this ritual that was done in vain, I kneeled down to peer at the extent of her kingdom.

It was far worse than I imagined.

Three battalions of eight legged privates lie in wait for graduation day. Their queen and commander lurked in her protected cell, watching me watching her watching me.

Know that I have profound respect for spiders. I understand that they create a balance in nature and that the odds of her troops marching against me in the night were small to none. However, seeing this army and their master thriving in a hotel room implied that there was plenty to eat, enough to propagate not merely one egg sack, but three.

The milk duds beneath their fortress must have been her traps, the lure she used to draw unsuspecting crawlers to their tombs.

Not wanting any part of this war between the eight and the six legged ones, I came to a decision; it was the spider and her children or me.

With great haste, I dialed the desk and though they were less than thrilled with my complaints, they agreed to relinquish me of this post...the next day.

I'd have to endure another seven and a half hours in her lair, with no tooth brush, not that it's relevant to this drama, but it was a pertinent fact to me at the time.

In a flash, all of my scattered belongings were returned to their bags. The spider and her minions would not be throwing their grappling hooks into my trappings if I could help it! Even my shoes were artfully shoved into my suitcase with whom I have shared so many adventures. We have weathered far worse than that spider's glare and we would indeed live to travel another day, leaving our foe in peace after what was a very long night.

Until next week, dear readers,

Your humble author,
S. Faxon

PS - Don't forget to look beneath the nightstands...

Home Again

At the top of a hill lie a market. Over the years, the market has had many names and the emblems of numerous companies on their carts, but there was one that has been a part of my life for its entirety; Keil's. 

Every day of my childhood, yes, every day, my grandma and I would drive Morena Boulevard, make a left up Clairemont Drive and go to the neighborhood market. Grandma and I would enter the automatic door, she with her full size cart and I with the quarter-size one made for minis like me. Right after we'd enter, we'd divide the list and conquer the groceries as a team. 

While strolling up and down the aisles, grandma would almost always find a neighbor, a racquet tennis mate, or a familiar face with whom to pass the local gossip or catch up. This was the Keil's experience. It was a dry Cheers, a place where people may not have known your name, but they knew your face. And they smiled, quite often they visit too. It was an exceptionally friendly and welcoming place.

Cans of peaches, cottage cheese, Lawry's Taco seasoning, Kraft slices, turkey sausage, tomatoes, Folger's instant decaf, lettuce and ground 'round, as we called it, would fill our carts and we'd reconvene at the front. While in line grandma would grab one Snickers bar and add it to the batch. 

She ate one Snickers every day of the latter half of her life. Just one. It was her treat. Sometimes for me, the treats that I liked to get were the raspberry hot cocos or Zebra or Double Bubble gum. Though it's been well over fifteen years, I still recall the taste of that chewy gum. 

Almost always we would know the cashier and would visit with them too. The baggers would pass our aisle as they knew that I liked to help and would bag our own groceries. We'd then take our bags, get back in Snagglefang and drive home to enjoy our treats.

After after grandma passed away and after I went to college, my accessibility to the old neighborhood dwindled. It wasn't until recently that I started shopping there again and to my absolute HORROR Keil's was closing. CLOSING!!! This sweet community hub was being pushed out by the increasing rent and a corporation. The people who had worked there my entire life were being let go and the neighborhood market was coming to an end. 

I knew that there wer but a few days left, so I went to the Keil's and filled my basket with the familiar items of old. As I was on the verge of crying in this place that I considered an extension of my grandma, I ran into a friend who is a volunteer at my nine-to-five. He and I visited for about twenty minutes beside the onions and their accompanying produce. In the back of my thoughts, I realized that this visit was a little gift from grandma. She knew that this moment of closure wouldn't be complete without the full Keil's experience.

I visited for the last time with one of the cashiers and with a heavy heart, I walked out those automatic doors for the last time. It broke my heart as I sat in Snagglefang, crying and clutching onto my bag of goodies. I thought, "This is it. You really can't go home again."

This fall has been one of change. Not merely the leaves or the weather (ironically ours is increasing in heat); one of these changes has been particularly exciting and terrifying all in one. I recently moved to a new house, a completely new neighborhood and I even have a new member of the family, but more on my new baby later. 

Of course my cat child Bella-Beep has come along and she is less than completely happy with the move, but she is adjusting nicely. It's taken some settling, but I think that Bella and I will be ok. This is a completely foreign neighborhood to me, so it's taking some trials and errors to figure out traffic, lights, lanes and where to go for food. Thus far, I've been deemed a regular at one taco shop, one drive-through-cafe, and one brewery and I've only been here a week! What does that say???

I was having a bit of trouble finding groceries - obviously with so many takeouts. I asked my friend who helped me find this home and is far more familiar with this area than I if he had any recommendations. He said, "Yeah, follow me." So we both jumped in our cars and he took me to the nearest grocery store and what do you know...

You can go home again. 

In a completely different part of town, in this period of change in my life, here was something quite familiar and something I loved ready to welcome me to my new home. 

My first night here in the house with Bella, I made a comfort meal that would make my grandma proud.  

Almost every dinner we enjoyed at grandma's would be accompanied with pears in a bed of cottage cheese laying atop a leaf of lettuce. It was usually garnished with paprika or cinnamon. I had neither at the time, so I used turmeric, which was delicious.

I can hear her sweet laugh and I'm so grateful to God that of all neighborhoods I moved to, grandma was already here waiting for me at the Keil's up the street. 

Until next time when I tell you about my new baby,

Your humble author,

S. Faxon

Letters At Last!

Haaaaarryyyy Potterrrr....

You know how to read that, but if not, please take a moment to go catch up on some reading and movies.

There are few Millennials I know who were not mortified when on their eleventh birthdays the post failed to deliver their Hogwarts acceptance letters. For you non-HP peeps, when young witches and wizards turn eleven they receive their letters telling them that they have been accepted to the most prestigious Wizarding school in the world: Hogwarts.

As Muggles, non-magical folk, we hoped and we prayed for our letters, but it was just not to be. The years passed by and we grudgingly accepted that it was just not meant to be.

But then, a ray of hope was born. Dumbledore, the Head Master of the school and the greatest wizard of all time brought great change to the Wizarding world; Muggles would be admitted to Hogwarts.

AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!

And with this news an idea was born.

My bestie, Ms. Victoria, has a birthday a-comin' and for those of you who've been reading a while, you know how much I love a surprise. It had been a few years since I'd done a big one, so I realized the time had come.

With the aid of Victoria's mom and sister, an owl bearing her acceptance letter arrived.

Victoria and I were going to Hogwarts.

We boarded the Hogwarts express at the San Diego Old Town platform, which we'll just go ahead and call Platform 9 3/4s. On our train, we had a little visit from the Honeydukes express trolley. We ate delicious gluten free pumpkin pasties (I used gluten free flour).

We stayed at a B&B that made the Leaky Cauldron seem like a five star resort, then we braved the underground of Los Angelas to find our way to the gates.

(It may have taken us 40 minutes at the sub station to even find the map and another 10 minutes to figure it out, but I digress...)

We were among the few who were granted access through the gates an hour ahead of the rest. We and a group of Muggles dressed in our robes and uniforms, entered the Magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

We walked with the others to the music for the Ministry of Magic surrounding us, until we passed through the gates of Hogsmeade and there she was.

Hogwarts.

It was like walking into the pages of the stories. Every detail was there right down to the trees. We 

all entered Hogsmeade with eyes aglow.

As we explored the grounds of our new school, my eyes filled with tears.

It was beautiful.

Having written a creative word or two, I could only imagine the pure, honest joy of Lady Rowling as she walked through the images of her own imagination. Seeing my books available for sale alone has been a blessing, but to have your imagination brought to life for the world to see on the screen and now to have the campus of your school become palpable, interactive and living to Muggles, it was moving. I was so happy for her, so excited for us!

Victoria and I entered the school and raced through the skies with Harry and Ron. 

We took flight with Buckbeak. 

We sipped butter beer AND it was delicious.

At Olivander's, our wands chose us. 

The kid in the background's face says he's thinking, "You guys are way too old for this." My response, "Someday, you'll get it."

Strolling through the streets, we put our new found magic skills to the test! And what d' you know? There was a bit o' magic in us muggles after all!

Hogwarts is THE most magical place I've seen. If you haven't been, go get your letters folks. 

A magical adventure is awaiting. 

Until next time dear readers,

Your humble magical-muggle author,

S. Faxon

Gas Town

A brief word aside - as you know, my readers, I do not complain (mostly) in this blog, but I do find myself in need of your help. I recently fell hard (literally) and caused some serious damage to my knee. With it being my left leg, I can't drive my manual transmission. To see how you can help me trade my crutch and clutch for a safer drive in an automatic ride, click on the following link or in that box to the left with the image of me entitled, "Crutches, Canes and Cars." Thank you, Readers!!!

Now back to our story!

May 1, 2016 - The last full day of our vacation.

It was an easy going morning, this day in Canada. I did get up and dressed in a hurry so to not miss breakfast inside the lovely and elegant Victorian B&B. Half awake, my comrades and I enjoyed egg quesadillas. It was a heavy breakfast, but pleasant.

Dennis, the owner, visited with us for some time and then we headed out for our adventures. It was surprisingly warm when compared to the day before when we were all freezing. The day was GORGEOUS so we set out to the beach on the north west side.

Beach-side Seats in Vancouver - Yes, there is snow on the distant mountain range.

Three of us stopped for coffee before we stopped to watch a marathon run by. It was a lot of fun cheering on the runners!

A Canuck saw us looking over a map and began to give us advice on what to do next. The conversation brought us to a well known place in Vancouver, perhaps your city has one too: China Town. We asked if China Town was sketchy as we had heard that there were strange happenings over there, and she told us that there were some odd areas surrounding the area. Being that I have some experience in New York, I asked, how odd it was and added, "Do people get mugged there?"

The woman drew back and said as if offended, "We don't use that word here." Then she asked me what it meant, so I explained (robbed violently or pick-pocketed) and she explained, "No, they won't bother you. There's a LOT of homeless and a ton of druggies, but they mind their own."

Sounded good enough for us. Our tour guide then recommended a few streets for us to see and off we went!

It was really warm and our path was mostly up a rather steep grade. I regretted not wearing shorts, but my short sleeve shirt helped tremendously. The trek was all uphill and we passed some unique shops, including a Popeye Supplement Store that's neighbor had a poster in the window advertising a familiar cruise...

The streets that we trod were a very different side if Vancouver than what we had been seeing. There were the most interesting things for a social scientist to observe. There were a number of people sleeping on the streets and yet they were doing so on the stoop of a Nordstrom. This main street that we were traversing is essentially skid row and Rodeo Drive in one. It was strange. We learned through the steps of our travels that the city is VERY expensive. From rent to food, everything. This being said coupled with the housing issues, it wasn't surprising to see so many homeless, but it only went downhill from there (literally).

But there really was FANTASTIC architecture there.

We made it to the east side and visited Gas Town, their Old Town. Although the plan had been to go to China Town for lunch, it was after noon, so it was time to eat. We found a nice street side cafe and watched the day go by. Gas Town was full of fun facts and things to see. There was a steam clock that played beautiful tunes every 15 minutes. The cobblestone streets, trees and brick buildings made for a charming scenery. We learned that in 1873 Vancouver had a poppin' population of 75. Just 75. A man called Gassy Jack, due to his gassy winded speeches (of course), was one of the founding fathers and helped to name the city.

The Steam Clock.

The Heart of Gas Town

Vancouver grew exponentially after the Hong Kong colony became independent more recently. People of that region moved to Vancouver because it was cheap, but as a consequence, many historical buildings were torn town to build high rises. There are now a growing number of restrictions helping to prevent further destruction of housing/historical or affordable, which brings us to our next section - skid road (or row, depending on what you prefer). 

We came across what we thought was a street fair, but turned out to be a homeless swap meet - I'm not being mean, this was genuinely what it was. We walked through and made it to China Town. The China Towns that I'm used to are full of life, bustling, active. This China Town was a GHOST town. Apparently, skid row keeps tourists and locals away, go figure. The locals are taking huge measures to restore and revitalize the whole situation, but it takes time. I really do mean this people of Vancouver, your China Town is beautiful. 

View of the Pond in the Chinese Cultural Center

We found a fun Chinese Bakery and picked up a few snacks. Turns out that we stopped at the most popular Chinese Bakery in Vancouver as according to their local post, so that was a delightful surprise.

The cultural center was lovely. Imagine a high walled bastion surrounding and protecting a forest with an ancient castle inside. It was almost like a fairy tale. In the center of it all was the pond. We watched the turtles and coy fish swim and tan. Carolyn and I gave two turtles a dialogue as they competed for a rock. But alas, our companions had moved on, so we never were able to see the end of the duel.

Up the steep hilled street we went until we found a rest-stop: a Starbucks. There was a whole bunch more craziness happening in this square where we stopped than I would have normally accepted as normalcy, but we didn't linger long before we began to trek back. However, the rest of the journey was up hill. Finding our way back was a tad stressful, but we found our way. Once we were back in our neighborhood, we did some independent explorations. I went to the teashop I had visited the day before to get another Boba/Bubble/Pearl tea (remember, this name varies by region). It was a lovely stroll across Vancouver, but we were ready to head back to the B&B - there was a Jacuzzi with our names on it!

Carolyn, Felicia and I were the first ones in, but Maggie joined us soon after. We laughed and relaxed in the pleasant steam of the ensuing bubbles. I ended up staying with the girls after Maggie retired for the night. Carolyn and I helped Felicia distribute the weight of her luggage and we just laughed and laughed. It was getting pretty late and we had a long day of travel awaiting us.

As I went to sleep that night, I thanked God for presenting me the opportunity to travel with these three ladies. This was one of the most fun trips, certainly one of the most unique, that I have yet enjoyed. It was a pleasure, a blessing, a gift to expand my horizons with this cruise and my company. Thank you, Maggie, for popping your head into my office on a whim to see if anyone was interested in hopping aboard a great little ship called, "Nieuw Amsterdam."

Until Next Week, Dear Readers, when things take a Magical twist...

Cue Harry Potter Music

Your humble author,
S. Faxon

Canucks and Us

Our last morning on Nieuw Amsterdam.

Maggie was out of the room early. I slept in until 7:45 (it's a big deal when your daily grind begins around 5am).I hopped out of the bed, pulled together the last of my items, then said, "Fair winds!" to our little room. Up to our table I traveled to write and to enjoy our final morn. This ritual of being at the table first had become something of a routine and it was nice to have downtime. The view from my table was superb. Before me lie the great city of Vancouver. My particular window-scape looked out over Stanley Park, the West-North-West snow topped mountains, an enormous train station, and a floating Chevron Station (a fuel dock). On the port side was the odd Convention Center on steroids.

Floating Gas Station

This was the major stop for most passengers and as such the vessel was relatively empty. I made up my breakfast - bread-less eggs Benedict, a banger and two cooked tomatoes. Coffee happened. The girls joined me and we took our time. We wanted to be the last off and we just about met that goal. Our bags were literally the last to be picked up. Exiting the cruise boat and the area surrounding was extremely easy. The nice Canadians hailed us a van and in we all hopped, off to see our B&B.

The drive to Barclay House B&B was quick and easy. In no time at all, we found ourselves before a yellow and white trimmed Victorian from 1904. It was storybook cute. We met a lovely German family on the porch as we brought in our bags. Our two rooms, the Haida Way and the Garden were the ground flats. We passed through a lovely garden with gold, white poppies, maroon colored leaves of Japanese maples and a whole ton of untamed flowers. Essentially, exactly what I hope my future front yard will look like.

Waiting to check in!

Maggie's and my room was adorable. It was all yellow with red furnishings, tulip lanterns and a sitting area. The red couch in the fore room was to be my bed so that Maggie could enjoy a proper bed. Our room was referred to as a "bachelor," which I had never heard of - I would describe it as a kitchenless studio, option one bedroom. The bathroom did have a door, so I suppose that makes the difference. There was a deep, white coffin tub with a long shower pipe. Adorable. If it had a kitchen, I could live there, but I hadn't seen Carolyn and Felicia's rooms yet. 

Their room would be my first choice, but mostly because it had a Jacuzzi tub!!!! That's right, a full, raised, corner jacuzzi in the room. We didn't jump in right away, as we had adventures to get through, but we made a date for it later. There was no way we were going to miss that opportunity.

With no plans, no reservations, we headed out to see what the road would bring. 

A block hadn't passed beneath my feet before a Canuck stopped us to visit and then give us travel and sight seeing suggestions. She recommended that we go to a local store called Chocolate Mousse, a particular Italian restaurant and that we go to Stanley park. Following our guide's suggestion, we went to the little store in which I found a fun rucksack, which has since become my favorite bag ever. It's next to me now as I type this. I LOVE sturdy canvas bags and this one came with a lovely selection of pockets AND the option of turning into a backpack or shoulder bag...#sold.

While Maggie ran back to the B&B to grab a sweater Carolyn, Felicia and I went to an Asian Tea store to get something refreshing and so that Carolyn could experience Bubble/Boba/Pearl tea (It's called something different everywhere you go). At some point we also stopped at a Starbucks where we received a free drink because they made one of the orders incorrectly...but this met expectation and I got free caffeine, so all was good.  

Once Maggie rejoined us, we strolled through Stanley Park which is alongside the waterfront in Vancouver. We were amazed by the lush green, forest park. It was beautiful. We found a bench that looked out to the Rowing Club and ate the sandwiches we packed from the cruise boat. We were well prepared travelers.

As we were sitting there, we spoke to a lady for well over a half hour and it all started because we four women locked on to the cutest dog any of us had ever seen; a Black and Tan Pomeranian. Trust me, I know - but when they are shaved, they are adorable. I'm not much of a fan when they are Pom-Poms, but holy cow, this dog was cute. 

Lunch time!

At some point we resumed our walk and the race was on. Maggie took off with Felicia, so Carolyn and I stopped and admired the roses, the flowers, the birds, the scenery as we strolled along. The first pair were CONSTANTLY waiting on us. Felt bad, but I could have easily enjoyed the entire day exploring the park, reading the historical signs and watching the people, the boats, the seaplanes, and the Eagles. Yes, Eagles. When we sat at lunch, I spotted the beauty soaring over the trees and it was breathtaking. 

EAGLES!!!

We found some amazing totem poles that told of the legends and the stories of the local artists, many belonging to the local tribes, the Haida people. The Haida were either the dominant local people or the local nation, can't quite recall which (if you know, please leave a comment below!), but they were the featured tribe. There was a gift store, so of course we went inside. There were some BEAUTIFUL Canadian jade pieces, but I ended up purchasing a moon bracelet. I now have a sun and a moon symbol, thus I am complete (my own interpretations).

Discovering Totems

Downtown and the Nieuw Amsterdam in the Back

We walked/ran some more then we made our way to a restaurant for snacks (fries and bread) so that we could watch our vessel depart. We raised our glasses as we watched our girl, Nieuw Amsterdam, head off to other adventures without us. It was strange seeing her leave, but it was a relief to be back on land.

After we rested, we set off and found an Italian restaurant. The girls enjoyed their food and we made a new friend. His name is Gavin and as it turns out, he was a Kiwi and possibly had connections to a little boat we knew back home. I gave him my card and told him I'd do some investigating when we returned and he was excited to find out more about how his ancestors made it to New Zealand. 

After the restaurant we strolled around before making it back to the B&B. Maggie checked out for the night, so Carolyn, Felicia and I tried out the Jacuzzi! We had a blast. We only dipped our legs/calves in to help ease our aching legs, and it was wonderful. The hilarity came from us figuring out how to turn on the silly thing. After MUCH trial and error, we discovered that there were eight steps, yes eight, to turning on the jets. Eight. 

Half the fun was figuring it out. We enjoyed great conversation, some silly, some serious. Hot tub time was my idea of vacation; no itinerary, no schedule - just friends and a relaxed environment. 

We stayed up past midnight visiting and then I snuck back into the room, quiet as a mouse, ready to sleep on my red couch. 

Total steps > 21,006.

Until Next Week dear readers when we spend a full day in Vancouver! 

Your humble Author, 

S. Faxon  

First Burn in Canada

Yes, that's right a burn. Not one of fire, not one of insult, from the great life bringing fireball above, the sun, but more to that anomaly in just a bit.

Time slips by ridiculously quick, doesn't it? I realized this morning that I've now worked with the same employer for two and a half years!!!! That's a record for me. It's like I'm becoming a big kid or something. There are numerous times here and there when I'll have an "adulty" conversation and be talking about "mortgages," "interest rates," "debt-to-income-ratio," and I realize, hot dang, I'm becoming a pirate ("all grown ups are pirates"), so I return to the ways of Neverland and recall the phrase from Hook, "No growing up. Stop, this very instant." 

.....The soundtrack to Hook may now be on in the background. 

Off from this rant and on to our cruise!

April 29, 2016

Woke up this morning to see Seattle! 

We had such limited cell service during the trip that I was unable to fully communicate with my aunts until this first morning back in the States. It was great being able to call them and speak with them over the phone. We made plans and couldn't wait for them to meet my friends! My travel companions and I had our breakfasts (just one today), then we bundled up for our Seattle adventure!

We took one of the cruise ship shuttles on a rather circuitous and scenic route to Pike's Peak. It took us to the Space Needle first and we were all laughing as we were trusting this driver blindly. In the typical bus fashion, we took the bumpy, steep tight turn roads. At one turn we applauded our driver for her amazing skills at driving the bus.

Eventually we made it to Pike's and who was there awaiting or arrival?

That's right, my aunties!

We were welcomed with smiles, laughter, and hugs. Nothing short of what you'd expect from these two wonderful people. 

They led us to the market, but the shop keepers were still setting up their wares, so Arnie and Jan led us across the street to the first ever permanent Starbucks location. Armed with our favorite coffee drinks, we were now officially Seattle tourists. Felicia was super excited because she is a mocha girl and the one artisan coffee she had aboard was less than satisfactory. These drinks were great (yes, the Seattle Starbucks are pretty good - but no, not the best.)

The man with the banjo started us all singing, "Blue Eyed Gal". So much fun! 

We left the Starbucks only to have Arnie duck into another shop, which none of us expected, so we all followed. Inside were some darn good French pastries. We were all quite pleased to have made the sharp and unexpected detour. With our bellies full, we dove into the bright and eccentric world of Pike Street Market. Our group was greeted by American gypsies. A nice young pair of gypsies with sweet pups and a cat that rode on the shoulders of his dad. And this all was happening beside "the pig" and it was drizzling. We stood by the Pig and watched the Fish Fly. It was an amazing show. It was very Seattle.

Did you know that all of the shop owners in Pike Street make, bake or produce their wares themselves? How fun is that? 

We gawked at the rows and rows of beautiful bouquets. It was tulip season. Eighty dollar bouquets back home were selling for $15. We couldn't believe it. It was so hard not to purchase a batch to take with us. We all left with arms full of goodies. I bought a square knot ring, nitrate free jerky, and a hair-bun tie. The girls bought a variety of goods and once we were through, we walked to Arnie and Jan's Toyota RAV to head on to our next destination.

We drove over to the Space Needle with Arnie and Jan telling us all about the area and the sights. There was a famous glass art designer museum/exhibit that Maggie and Jan went to see while the rest of us made our way up the Needle. Arnie kept us laughing the whole way. Felicia and I did our own tour to let Arnie and Carolyn get to know one another. I knew that those two would become fast friends. It turns out that they have mutual friends via the San Diego chapter of Girl Scouts, interestingly enough, so did Jan and Maggie. So Fun!

Freezing and looking out over the beautiful view!

Eventually, Felicia and I sat inside to hide from the cold. We had some great, deep conversations and then we entertained ourselves by watching the girls (Maggie and Jan now as well) circle round and round the top. 

When we were sufficiently warmed, we rejoined the group, took some fun photos then headed down. The girls wanted to take us to one of their favorite restaurants. Maggie's Bluff. The Restaurant was within stone's throw of our cruise boat! I have fond memories of Maggie's Bluff. When I was thirteen I visited my aunts with my Grandma Faxon. I have a photo of grandma, my aunts and me at Maggie's. It was a very special trip. 

The sun had emerged so we sat outside to look at our ship and enjoy the day. Most of us had fish and chips. Carolyn was able to enjoy an Alaskan beer on behalf of her dear husband.

We treated my aunts to lunch and then, alas, it was time. 

Our goodbyes at the port were quick, but all the girls loved my aunts. I was so happy and glad that we were all able to connect.

Once aboard we ran up to the top decks to watch our departure. Maggie went off to rest, so Felicia, Carolyn and I made it to the top decks where the sun was shining and the weather was beautiful. It was so funny - here we were in long sleeves and long pants out in Seattle, Canada bound, while out tanning in lounge chairs. 

Felicia came up with the best name of this series: "First Burn in Canada." 

After sunning we moved to the starboard side to watch Seattle disappear. I spotted harbor dolphins following us along. They would just pop up then dive back down, keeping an eye on our behemoth vessel. There were a few times when our vessel would honk (in a series of seven), which neither Carolyn or I could understand. We spent some time in the Crow's Nest, sipping hot drinks. While Carolyn went to check on her acupuncture treatments. Felicia and I tried to find ways to both be comfortable and to see out the forward window, but alas, we failed. We laughed a ton trying through. 

Maggie wanted us to reconvene for dinner at 6, so we headed down and spruced up for our last supper. Our final meal was extremely entertaining for us and the people in the tables next to us. A new young crowd had boarded in Seattle and you knew who they were there. We laughed at the judgment  expressions of our older comrades and we "judged" the ages of the youngun's aboard. The best part was when I ordered the left side of the dessert menu. I told the girls, "It's go big or go home and we can't do that." So we had seven. Seven desserts. We had been increasing the number of dessert plates, thanks to my influence, but this was extravagant and it was wonderful. For the looks we received alone, but it was all really tasty. Our fellow crew mates probably thought that we were stoned, but we didn't care, we were livin'.

Before

After

After our enormous meal and with all of our goods from Seattle, Maggie led us out. We wanted to purchase photos, so I took care of that. Carolyn, Felicia and I went on a walk after changing into comfy clothes. In our comfy things, we three walked around, seeing parts of the ship we did not get to see because of the earlier rough seas. It was night, so it was chilly, but it was so refreshing. This was one of my favorite outings.

Eventually we did need to get back to our rooms to finish packing. Our bags were going to be picked up at midnight. I was mostly packed, but I wanted to ensure that everything was ready. 

The Heart of the Sea movie was on, so that was rather interesting to be watching while aboard a vessel. I imagine the white whale could have taken on our boat and may have been during those high seas. 

With dreams of whales and excitement for what our land based adventures would bring I drifted off to sleep just after hearing crew roll our suitcases away. 

14,069 steps. 

Until next time, dear readers, when we will chat about vacation among the CANUCKS! 

Your humble author,

S. Faxon 

Jan, Grandma and Arnie waaay back in 2003