Summer Camp

Well, the days are flying off the little page-a-day calendar in my head as the big trip approaches. I'm still finding it hard to believe that in less than two weeks I'll be strolling down the Rue De Rivoli with my darling wife. Tonight I plan to go through some of my favourite photo books of France to get myself all excited. I also need to organise my shopping list. Thus far, it consists of:

• Medieval-style spiced wine from Provins
• Cidre from Normandy
• A CD or two of traditional music from Normandy
• Antique fencing weapons from Maitre Jacques Castinet
• Fencing odds and sods from the Prieur store
• Something cool from the Louvre Gift Shop
• Something goofy from the Parc Asterix Gift Shop

I'll admit, I'm a shopper when I go on vacation. I like to buy myself things I can't get at home. I try to stay away from most of the tacky souvenirs (although I do own a miniature Eiffel Tower from my first trip over). Mostly I look for stuff that will evoke the place for me once I get home. There's the Laguiole pocket knife, bought last time I went, that I carry everywhere with me. A fair amount of fencing gear has come home with me from the Prieur store, and kept me happily armed and dressed on the piste. Then there's the CD of medieval music I picked up my first time over, on a day it happened to rain. The liner notes in the CD got wet, and warped and puckered as a result. It reminds me of rainy Paris every time I open the case.

As much as I like shopping, I think my first delight in travel is sending postcards. I'm hoping to wrap up my list of postcard recipients in the next few days. If past trips are any indication, a significant amount of my spending money will be used on cards and stamps. I've promised to do my best to find fencing specific postcards or stamps for my friends at the club, except for the one or two who will receive cards with naughty photos on them. Can't say I don't know some interesting people!

If I haven't already offered, and you know me well enough to have my email address, drop me a line and I'll send you a postcard too. Please specify if you prefer naughty or not ;D

On a completely different subject, in case any of you are wondering, my parents have made an offer, which has been accepted, on a house in Nova Scotia. They will be listing their Calgary home shortly, and my sister will also list her apartment.

Did you ever have that dream as a kid, where you went away to summer camp, and returned home to find your family had moved away without you?

See you all when I get back, I think. . .

I'm feeling a little hypocritical this afternoon. Whenever I get on the computer I check all of my friends' blogs to see what is new, and when someone doesn't post for a while I feel like they're neglecting their duty to keep me entertained. And here am I; haven't posted in almost a month.

It's been a hell of a month, a lot going on around me that I could report, but I don't know what to say about a lot of it.

Back on Saint Paddy's Day Sheila and I attended a function hosted by a couple of friends who are in the midst of emotionally trying times. I won't go into detail, that's their business. The end result for one will be the opportunity for the complete reinvention of self. Hopefully they both get that opportunity in the end. I wish love and happiness for both of them.

We returned home from the party to two serious-sounding phone messages, and on returning the calls, learned that Sheila's Grandmother had passed away. Her Mom hopped the next flight to Denmark to deal with all of the things that need doing under these circumstances. She gets back Thursday, and we'll all be glad to have her home again.

Last week Sheila and I pet and house sat for my parents while they went on a little trip. Most of you know my folks have always wanted to move to Vancouver Island, so you'll understand why I was a tad shocked when they announced they were taking a trip to Nova Scotia to go house-hunting. We had dinner with them last night, and after hearing the full report of the trip, I'd say it's about an 80% probability they'll go. If they do go, it seems my sister will likely go to. All I can say is that's a hell of a long way away.

Our manager at the bookstore continues to look for new digs. I'm completely in favour of a move, but I get the feeling I'll be hauling a lot of heavy furniture this summer.

Our trip to France looms closer, and I think I'm a few days away from starting to panic. It doesn't quite seem real yet, even though we're booking the last few hotels. I'm nervous because I had hoped to have a little more French under my belt before we went. As a matter of fact, I should be practicing with the software right now. I know it'll be fun and great when we get there, but it gives me the willies just at the moment.

Through all of this I've been distracting myself by planning our backyard railway. I've ordered a half-dozen books about layout planning and operation, and have been tinkering with track plans whenever I get five minutes. There are still a lot of decisions to be made, but the nice thing is, it's a hobby, and none of those decisions will have any great impact on our lives if we choose one way or another. If we make up our minds, and break our backs, and luck is on our side, we might get track laid by the end of the summer.

All this other craziness can wait; I want to run my trains.