Vancouver--The Saga Continues

Day two in Vancouver was much like day one: gray, drizzly and full of speedskaters. Because I'm not in the same hotel as the athletes, I get to ride shuttles and trains back and forth between hotels. Plus I need to walk to the Oval since there's no train, bus or shuttle that goes there. Good thing I brought an umbrella.

These are a few staff people at my hotel who are constantly answering my transportation questions. There's another lady off to the side because she didn't want to be in the picture.

Got hit on by a homeless, toothless, drunk guy in a head brace on the train. That's the kind of guy who finds me appealing. (Except for Tom, of course!)

Vancouver--Day 1

I arrived today in Vancouver and was greeted by drab skies and a $112 customs charge on the box I shipped up here. Welcome to f***ing Canada. Took the train down to the waterfront to find the Main Press Center, then spent the next two hours wandering in the cold and dark of downtown Vancouver.

Had a great, spicy shrimp bowl at a little Thai place to restore my energy and finally found my way back to the hotel. I'm staying at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel which is about a 10 minute walk from the Oval. I'll be doing a LOT of walking over the next month. Great.

My day starts tomorrow when the skaters have a training session at 8 a.m. I brought too much stuff--but how do you pack for a month?!?!?

Spoooooky

The annual Halloween dinner was tons of fun. We enjoyed tasty spider pizza with cheese ghost bread, spicy bones with blood, witch's brew with worms and a nasty-looking ghost cake. (Casper the retarded ghost).

The kids were cute: Payson the Ninja, Ryon the Little Devil, Dylon the Dragon, Kindra the Witch, Diego as Optimus Prime and Laya as Bat Girl. Fun times!!!

Bon Clay

Little Bon Clay was born today and is doing really well. He weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and has lots of dark hair. Darling! Ashley is doing well and is very glad he's finally here. She's also taking lots and lots of painkillers.

Happy Birthday, little baby!

Jumpin' The Broom

Peri and Tom

Well, we finally did it. October 1, 2009 marked the end of our single lives and the start of our married lives together. I hope Tom knows what he's in for. After spending two weeks of hell being freaked out and paranoid, the wedding and open house turned out just fine. The weather was a little chilly--but at least it wasn't snowing.

Cassi, Kelsee, Mick, Ashley, Kindra and Laya all looked gorgeous, and so did Heather, Shelley and Jenny.

The wedding cake was beautiful and delicious and Tom didn't smash it in my face--even though I'd been a total skank for 14 days straight. He must love me.

It was fun to have family and friends in our home to celebrate with us and we were SO surprised when Heather flew in for the wedding. It was so good to see her!

Fun moment: Chasing Olympic gold medalist Derek Parra down the street in my wedding dress so he could pose for a picture with Angie. You owe me, Angie!!

The Upper Peninsula

Unlike Jason's trip to far-off places, my last trip took me to the upper peninsula of Michigan to the little college town of Marquette. I did not have to eat shrimp heads or eel soup but they do have a speciality called a pasty that looked particularly nasty. You can have it with rutabaga or carrots. I opted for neither.

Local photographer Jim (pictured above with our waitress Stacey) volunteered to drive us around Marquette and show us the area. We had lunch at a little Irish pub, The Wild Rover. Excellent fish and chips--with handmade chips. We then drove out to Lake Superior and walked along the shore. It was gorgeous. He told us where all the local people liked to drown and/or commit suicide. I've decided Marquette is a dangerous/depressing place to live.

We spent some time on the main street and visited an old-fashioned soda fountain/candy shoppe, a darling bookstore, a Michigan speciality shop and a tattoo parlor called Impale (nope, no tattoos). Lots of really good diners specializing in whole, fresh foods! There was also a big party going on outside the funeral parlor on Saturday night. A little odd.

Puppy School

Ringo had his first day of school tonight. Despite the fact he's a pussy around other dogs, he made a couple of friends by stealing their playtoys and sniffing their butts. He also impressed the ladies by peeing in the middle of class. He was actually very embarrassed. So funny/sad.

He's doing great at house training and even uses the doggy door. Mick wants to get him a spiked collar. As soon as he stops being a wimp, I'll gladly get him one.