Yet another snow day....

I can't believe the amount of snow we're getting this winter.  Every week it seems that there is a BIG snowstorm with at least 20cm to cope with.  I actually don't mind snow...it's the freezing cold that puts me in hibernation mode.  Another storm hit Moncton this morning but I am very thankful for a couple of reasons:

1.  I get a snow day!!  Since I teach Mad Science most afternoons, I am free when school is cancelled.  Well, not exactly free as I also have office work to complete, housework to do, blog work for my cruise blog, etc.  For some reason, this time I didn't seem to get a good jump on my planning for our trip and left things until the last week...yikes!  At the end of last week, we got the news that Jonathan Procopio would be in Moncton for some ministry meeting....THIS WEEK!!  Well, needless to say, with prepping for teaching a new segment for Mad Science, teaching and going to meeting...there hasn't been much done in the way of housework or packing.  Now that I have a snow day, I can actually catch up on stuff and not feel like I am forgetting something critical.  Thank goodness I am a compulsive list maker because I can't rely on my memory for much ☺

2.  The fact that the storm hit today means that things should be pretty well cleared up by tomorrow night when we head out to Halifax.  We are staying with Donald & Sarah H. on Friday night and we fly out at 7am on Saturday and should be in Puerto Rico around 2:30pm.  We are flying through Philadelphia and the storm went through there yesterday so we should be safe from any major snow during our flight out.

So, as I sit all nice and cozy in my house, the snow and wind bluster around the neighborhood!  We are supposed to get about 30cm and the snow should taper off later this afternoon.  Here's to a productive day!

Packing some heat!!!

Well, I guess I'm not actually packing heat but it was a 'punny' title and my clothes do smell like sunscreen☺

My normal approach to packing for a big getaway is to lay everything out across the spare room bed...weeks in advance...and start the process of whittling down the options to something resembling an efficient offering of needed items.  My plan did not proceed as normal this time.  We had guests a couple of weekends (so the spare room wasn't free) and I needed some other warm weather clothing options that I could only get by skulking through my sister's closet so the clothes actually got laid out on the bed just last week (gasp)!!

I laid out my lovely options and then started on my 'wardrobe analysis'.  No, really, please don't laugh like that!!  This is where my off-the-charts list making propensity gets really interesting!!  I list the days that we will be away and what activity we will be doing each day (ie: travel, beach, scooter outing, etc) and then I start making outfits that will work for each activity and for the evening on board the ship (our usual getaway).  I try to recycle items several times because I really don't like packing too many clothes and then not wearing half of them.  I think I have got it down to a science now.

Once I have all of my options selected, I then toss the excess to the side and then let things sit for a few days.  I'll go back to it again and make changes or get rid of more things before I finalize my choices and put them in the suitcase.  Yes, I realize that if I had several kids, this would probably fall by the wayside but since it is just Dave and I, this is the approach that works best for me.

I have a Word document with my packing list and list of things to do before leaving.  I print it out and work through the tasks.  It is really my way of staying sane during the packing process because I've discovered that my mind really isn't all that sharp and I need written reminders of things so I don't forget something critical.

I have to get our footwear together today and then start rolling clothes and packing them in our suitcases.  Time is counting down and I am praying that the snowstorm doesn't hit us on Friday!!

Don't Be Hatin'

I have to chuckle over how people are people...and can be amazingly similar over the generations.  When we were younger, Dad & Mom took us to Florida every couple of years starting when I was seven years old.  A co-worker of Dad's would complain and say "Man, I wish I was rich like you and could go to Florida every two years!!".  Dad finally got tired of hearing him say it so he sat him down and added up all of his cigarette purchases and booze purchases over a two year period.  Once he had the total, Dad pointed to it and said "There...that is our trip to Florida!!".

Beginning in 2001, Dave and I started going to the Caribbean every winter.  It is amazing how we would hear the same (or similar) comment from friends or co-workers "Wow, I wish I was rich like some people who can afford to cruise every year!!".  Let me give you an overview of how we can cruise every year....

1.  I grocery shop using flyers and tend to plan our meals around what is on sale!
2.  I rarely buy any clothes retail, unless they are on the sale rack and have their prices slashed dramatically.
3.  I buy most of my clothes at Frenchy's.
4.  We buy a used car and drive it until it is just about dead.
5.  We run our own business and can deduct many of our household expenses that pertain to our home office.
6.  We rarely go out to eat at restaurants.  For one thing, I hate spending money for things that I can make myself and another thing is that Dave's very restricted dietary requirements make it very high maintenance to order a meal in a restaurant.

When we select a cruise, we generally go for the cheapest one we can find on-line and we take an inside cabin, which is always the cheapest option.  We do not take any excursions through the ship as I scour the Web for great excursions that go for half the price than the cruise lines charge.  We take the local bus, if at all possible, and save a lot of money that would be wasted on cabs (ex: on St. Maarten, we spend $1.50 for the bus to the beach instead of paying $7 per person to go to the exact same beach).  Also, we spend very little on the ship.  We buy bottles of water at a grocery store before embarking and check them with our baggage instead of paying $4 a bottle for Evian on the ship!  We generally don't spend a whole lot more to go on a cruise than most people would pay to go to a resort in the Dominican or Cuba.

It is amazing what people will spend on cars, houses, clothing, restaurants, coffee, the newest gadget, etc. and not even think twice about why they can't afford to do other things....like travel!!  I can't even say that we sacrifice during the year in order to take a cruise every year.  It is more that we choose to spend our money in certain ways throughout the year so that we can afford to go to the Caribbean.  We prefer to spend our money on experiences and memories instead of stuff.  Others may make different decisions on how they spend their money but if they really, really wanted to travel, an amazing number of people could make it happen.  Now, don't get me wrong...I know that some people really are living in very tight financial circumstances and truly cannot afford any luxuries.  I am talking about those who do actually have the money but it gets spent on other things that they decide are more important.

So, please, don't be hatin' each year when we head south☺  We aren't rich...but we are truly blessed!

SNOW DAY!!

Well, I was supposed to teach today but got a snow day instead!!  We definitely got dumped on by a hearty Nor'easter during the night.  I went outside to dig my car out and the snow was up to the roof on one side.  I was too bundled up and full of snow to even bother taking a picture.

This is what it looked like just after midnight last night.  I cannot believe that our power stayed on all night!

It was truly a winter wonderland when we got up this morning.  I can't imagine the trees are going to be able to take much more weight before they start to snap under the pressure.  Perhaps if I get really adventurous...I will bundle up in my $12 Helly Hansen snowsuit (stellar Frenchy's deal) and trudge through the snow for a bit?? 

Out of all of the places in this house that Sam could choose to lay down...why do you think this is the spot he chose this morning???  Do you think it's because of the mouse nearby?????  Sorry, Swan humour kicked in there for a second ☺

Getting It Together....

At the start of a new year, lots of people make resolutions.  I don't like to wait until the start of the year, I think changes can be made at any time during the year.  I like to start the new year out by purging and organizing.  I tackle drawers, closets, pantry, etc. in my quest to restore order to my humble abode.

I only tackle a project for a maximum of an hour...usually 30 minutes.  It helps to have immediate gratification and check a task off quickly!!  When I'm done, I feel instantly rewarded and it gives me more motivation to keep going....

Yesterday, I dealt with the top shelf of our bedroom closet.  This morning, I tackled my linen closet and part of the kitchen pantry ☺ Who knows what adventures tomorrow will bring??

Focus

There's not much more to be said...except that we could all take a lesson from a cat's intense focus on the object of his attention ☺

2010, A Year In The Life....

JANUARY - we started 2010 out with a nice big storm, which is par for the course in our area.  The month was filled with a lot of cruise details as I was coordinating a group cruise for Heather’s 40^th birthday.  There were lots of details to work out and lots of info to send out to our fellow cruisers

FEBRUARY –  I spent a lot of time this month helping friends (and friends of friends) with cruise vacation planning.  In fact, I spent so much time that I decided that I would start a cruise blog to give me a spot to send people where they can read for themselves about what is available on each island and have most of the info they need to enjoy a fantastic trip!  Check it out at:  http://thegangwaygazette.blogspot.com/ .  I am working on finding a way to make this hobby into more of a small business since I love doing it!

MARCH – finally all of the cruise planning came together and ten intrepid cruisers headed out to San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 20^th for a 7-day southern Caribbean cruise to six islands.  Cousin Becky and my Mom & Dad had never cruised before and had a fantastic time.  Our fellow travelers were Heather (obviously necessary since we were celebrating her 40^th), Brian & Michelle Johnson and Steve & Carlene Budd.  We enjoyed lots of food, fun and family/friends.

APRIL – we were so excited to finally move into our new Gospel Hall building at the beginning of April.  Things were not quite completed but we moved in and found a way to deal with the unfinished items…and the lack of heat for a couple of weeks.  We were blessed in the process of getting all of the details worked out and the building completed.  We are so thankful for our wonderful new ‘digs’. 

Pretty much the entire Patterson clan headed to Sackville near the end of the month to take in Jonny’s percussion recital. 

Later in the month, he asked our niece, Kristen, to marry him☺.

MAY – In May, a bunch of friends became (un)professional estheticians when we gave facials, pedicures, and manicures to several of Bethany’s friends for her birthday celebration.  The girls all enjoyed the pampering!!  I attended brother-in-law, Richard’s, RCMP 20 year service award presentation with nephew, Dave and niece, Clara. 

We made a trip to Sackville to see our niece, Karissa, perform in the musical “Anything Goes” and also had a visit from Janet and Gary, who came up from Connecticut to visit and hosted a family lobster supper at the cottage. 

At the end of the month, a bunch of us headed to our first beach outing of the year to Parlee Beach to enjoy some beach volleyball.

JUNE – Our niece, Kayla, graduated from high school and we were disappointed that we couldn’t make it to her graduation since we had a business meeting that we were co-hosting in Moncton. 

My cousin, Amy, got married in Sydney at the end of the month.

JULY – the summer months are always packed with activity and tend to fly by!  At the beginning of the month, Dave and I headed to Connecticut to visit Janet, Gary and Katherine.  The highlight of the trip was going to the Cirque du Soleil show (OVO) in Hartford.  I have wanted to see a show for so long and it was even more amazing than I thought it would be!! 

I also had my first ‘major’ volunteer experience when I volunteered for the World Junior Track & Field Championships which were held in Moncton.  For about a week and a half, I worked the Welcome Desk at a downtown hotel and at the airport and then worked in scheduling for Security Access Control. 

Our nephew Kevin turned sixteen and we headed to PEI for a birthday party and the annual Cutcliffe family picnic at the end of the month.

AUGUST – we made several trips to the cottage this month.  We spent several days with Janet, Gary, Rich, Jen and the kids and had lots of fun adventures on the boat and out on the water with Big Mable. So much fun!! 

We enjoyed a baseball game with a bunch of friends and on the 21^st, we hosted a shower at the Hall in honor of Caroline (Cairns) and Graham Webb’s recent wedding. 

On the 28^th, we hosted an Open House at our new Hall building and had an amazing number of people show up to tour the facilities and enjoy a BBQ snack.

SEPTEMBER – September was an incredibly busy month.  We started Daily Vacation Bible School on Aug 30^th for an entire week.  Part way through the week, we picked up our niece, Kristen, at the airport.  She flew in to take care of last minute details for her wedding and stayed with us for a little over two weeks.  At the end of DVBS week, we headed to the cottage for our annual 'Recoup and Recover' weekend with Heather, Kristen, Brian and Michelle.  The fact that a tropical storm blew through didn’t dampen our spirits one bit!! 

We attended a couple of bridal showers for Kristen and then picked Jonny up at the airport on the 15^th. 

Now that the bride and groom were in the same city, it was full speed ahead for their wedding on the 18^th.  It was bittersweet to watch the little girl, who was born not long after Dave and I began dating, getting married and starting a new chapter in her life! 

We hosted a Youth Conference at the Hall on the last weekend in September and then I started a new part-time job teaching Mad Science (a science-based, after-school program) a few afternoons a week.

OCTOBER – Things settled down a bit in October.  On the 9^th, we headed to Oxford for the Annual Patterson Family Wood Chuck.  Putting wood in for Grandma and Grampa might as well be turned into a fun family day!!  I have fond memories of us and our cousins doing the exact same thing for Gram Swan way back in the day☺. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and then Dave’s family.  We have so much to be thankful for!!!

NOVEMBER – November was relatively peaceful and quiet.  We started Kid’s Club at the Hall on Monday nights for six weeks and had our first significant snowfall of the winter.

DECEMBER – As with most people, December is filled with tons of events and activities.  On the 4^th, Heather hosted a baby shower for Michelle who was due on the 25^th. 

That same day was our Sunday School Christmas Program and Dave’s birthday!  Heather and I took most of my nieces to see the Nutcracker ballet on the 10^th.  Annie, Sadie and Selina had never seen it because they stopped performing it in Moncton before they were old enough to go.  We had taken Karissa and Clara to see it several times when they were younger.  Heath’s roommates, Becca and Laura, joined us along with Gi and little Josée. 

The following morning was our Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange brunch which is always a wonderful time with great friends. 

On Christmas Eve, we headed to Heather’s to spend the evening with Mom, Dad, Rich, Jen and the kids which is something we’ve done for several years now. 

Christmas Day was spent with Mom & Dad and we celebrated with the Patterson clan at the cottage on the 27^th.

Brian and Michelle welcomed little Nolan into the world, exactly on time, on the 25^th!! 

We closed out the year with a New Year’s gathering at the Hall.  Another year past and it will be interesting to see what the new year brings!  I am so thankful to my heavenly Father for the blessings that He has given me and His care of our family throughout the year.  May God richly bless you all in the year to come!!