Day 222 - A Rare Day Out...Together

Wow! Dr & Mrs actually got to go out together! Almost like a date! Although we didn't have much time for anything, but we were together!


We took a trolley ride, checked out the Mac store, I tried to persuade Jaco into a pair of jeans & a nice polo shirt, but he was a little too picky & we didn't have the time to sit in a shop for the afternoon. Maybe when he comes to Canada I'll get him out of that Quiksilver shirt... :o)


We bought a few treats from the Godiva shop & also from the Cheesecake Factory. By the time we found our way to the taxi station, we were pressed to get back. Jaco had to be on the ship by 1400 & there were no minutes to spare! 


I didn't have to be back until 1530, so I stayed out for a little more snooping around. I was in a jewelry shop when a lady beside me wanted to continue looking at the display, so we moved around each other. I looked at her as she said, 'Excuse me'. I think my jaw must have hit the floor.


Her name totally escaped me, but I couldn't help but blurt out, 'Hey! I know you!' She remembered my name & I fumbled... finally she said, 'Katie'. Oh my gosh! Katie!!! I worked with Katie on my first contract & we had a blast together. She was a Steiner & we hiked AB mountain in Skagway together, flirted with Welsh brothers & all sorts of other mayhem... She left ships to work in a salon in Florida & we were supposed to meet one day & she never showed. I never knew what happened to her. I never heard from her again. I have thought about her countless times, so I was floored to see her!!! 


She is married now, with 2 beautiful children & lives in Arizona. She just so happened to be visiting her Mom & Mother-in-Law & the rest is history! I was so excited to get in touch with her again! I hope we can connect on Facebook soon! She is such a beautiful person & the world is certainly a better place with her here! What a crazy day! Small world! I love it!


I picked up a few sweet treats for Jaco & headed back to the ship. I was mortified to find out that my wigs weren't on the ship! WHAT?!?! Oh, the dark side of me came out. I was so angry! I paid express shipping! I spent hours ensuring the packages would get to San Francisco on time! I sent 2 emails to the ship's agent. I called this morning & they had lost the notices, so I couldn't even get to the post office to find them! WHAT?!?! Argh!!! Now I'm headed back to Canada & I'll be bald & wigless! Hmpf. NOT a happy camper. Or Sailor. Jaco managed to find out that one of the boxes made it onto the ship at 1542 (we were supposed to sail at 1600, gangway's up at 1530). I'm sure they tossed it from the shore into the gunport! (It took about 3 hours to find out that the box was on the ship, so I was good & grumpy for awhile) 


Additionally, the Godiva bag went missing. I had sent Jaco back to the ship with the bags & apparently he forgot it when he came through the security scanner. I was miffed about that too! Luckily, the day was saved when I checked at the Purser's desk & they had the bag! Yay! I returned to the cabin with the sweets to find the wig box! Ahhh. Almost perfect... Now, if only they could locate the other box of wigs with all the supplies in it. No luck. Looks like I'll have one more thing to deal with when I get home. 


I went up on deck for sailaway & called Jaco to come up too. It took him far too long & by the time he did, we were long past the pretty parts. Oh well, I visited with the Senior Nurse's wife & their friends that were onboard. We are going to go for dinner tomorrow night.


Jaco was busy again at work, so while he saved lives & made people feel 'all better', I watched some Big Bang Theory... Thanks Werner & Karen!! I am totally a nerd at heart. I get such a kick out of that show. I think I watched 4 or 5 episodes before I fell asleep.


Sadly, tomorrow I'll have to pack & get ready to leave the day after that. Why oh why does the time fly so quickly? I'm really going to miss him when I'm gone. Here's to a quiet day tomorrow so we can spend some time together. 


Love & hugs,
Maria & Jaco
xxxxxxx

...So happy together...

Oh the places you'll go.

Just in case you needed a reminder

Making a Mac Man outta my Man!

Jaco poses purdy...

Mrs Katie! What a beautiful surprise!

What a fun city!

Alcatraz - I got a day pass

Always a cloudy day over the bridge.

And the clouds lifted...

Day 129 - Boyle Bound!

Now... where were we??? Oh yes, hot yoga & perogies... I was up around 0900 at Corre's the next morning. I wanted to get a good start on the day & make it to Sylvia's before dark. I enjoyed another great visit with Corre & Mike in the morning & said farewell around 1300. I wanted to swing past the Bay & see if they had any hoodies left, but nothing. I texted Sylvia from the mall to see if she needed anything. I didn't hear from her, so I guessed that was a 'no'.

I managed to find my way out of the city thanks to Corre & Mike's directions. I must say, I find Edmonton crazily confusing to navigate. Perhaps it's the mountain view I'm missing to help me keep my sense of direction! Regardless, I was en route towards Redwater. I had told Sylvia in my text that I would text her again from Redwater to let her know I was getting close to Boyle. She had emailed me a few days ago & said she would meet me in town. I took that as either she thinks I'm terrible with directions or she lives way out in the middle of nowhere. Either way, I was excited to see her!

I made it to Redwater & still no news from Sylvia. I checked the number I'd texted & lo & behold, it was her old cell number. I texted the new one & no reply. I called. No reply. Hmm. I sure hope she's home! I certainly don't know anyone else that lives this far north! :o) (It's really not that far after all, the map just makes it look intimidating!) Finally, I pass the sign that reads: 

Boyle        54 km

Okay. Time to call the house & cross my fingers. I call. She answers! She casually chit chats & I come to realize that she doesn't know I'm on my way to see her! I ask her if she still wants to meet me in Boyle & when she says yes, I tell her I just passed the 54 km sign. 'OH! OH MY GOSH! YOU'RE ALMOST HERE! YOU'RE COMING!' I love Sylvia! Her reactions are worth their weight in gold! She quickly says goodbye & hops into the truck. 

Sylvia & I met when we both worked at Three Bars Ranch in Cranbrook, BC. We were both Wranglers, taking guests out on the trails & boy did we have a blast! We were both set to work on cruise ships together, but those darned boys kept intervening! Anyhow, she's happily married with the most adorable son, who steals my heart every time he calls me Aunty Jill! Yes, Sylvia was a bridesmaid too! 

So we met at 'Hooters' - don't worry, it's the name of the gas station! I was beginning to wonder what kind of a town Boyle was when she said Hooters! :o) I followed her along the highway & when we turned off the pavement, I understood why she met me. It was a maze! Curves, turns, north, south, east, west, I've never been so lost! But it was well worth the trip. She has a beautiful home, tucked back in the woods & her husband, Gary, has done a marvelous job to create the yard, garden, tack shed, & corrals just for her! What a sweetheart!

Drayton, their son, had a blast playing with Valentina. They put a lot of miles on in a few short hours! We went for a walk outside, met the ponies & pooch, as well as their nearby natural skating rink. Little did I know, but there are a lot of lakes around that area & just a few minutes from home, there are 100+ summer homes. But the best part is the beautiful playground & park area. What a wonderful place to spend your days as a child! Picnics with Mom on the dock, swing sets & a jungle gym! How fun is that?!?

Gary was off to work that evening, so Sylvia & I enjoyed a wonderful visit while we watched the closing ceremonies for the Olympics. We were both wiped, so we called it a night & planned to be up around 8 or 9.

Sweet dreams!

Maria & Valentina

xxxxxxxx

Out for a stroll...

What a cutie!

Time passes by.

Big dog, small dog.

Tweet Pea has a sleep with Drayton!

Valentina's first slide ride!

Born to be buddies!

The Family!