So, it has been a few weeks since I posted last. The year end is always kinda busy for me and some things get dropped by the wayside. This blog, apparently, is one of them. But, I am going to try and make up for it with this post.
It has been a tumultuous year for me and Alex. Not necessarily in a bad way, but, it has certainly been a roller coaster of events.
January – 2018
January was the start of a fresh year for us. I had talked to Alex and we agreed that I would TRY and slow down with my work. We were on fairly solid ground, financially speaking and so it was time to slow down a bit. We were still enjoying the post holidays with friends and family.
Pat and his daughter, Marina were here for the first few days of 2019.
Just after they left, our new furniture arrived! We were so happy to get our new sofa, loveseat, chair and various tables.
We haven’t had new furniture in over 13 years and the old stuff was definitely showing it’s age. So, out with the old and in with the new
I was able to go and see my mom in January and that was a great chance to hang with her for a few hours. She was definitely feeling good.
Mom also managed to find some old pictures. This one stuck out like a sore thumb. *sigh
February 2018
Not too much happened in February, but, I was able to make it out for my Mom’s 91st Birthday. It was definitely a milestone event. I was also able to find a bunch more pictures of my family which I have scanned and saved.
I was staying at Pat’s place and came across this little gem.
April 2018 (March was a bust)
In April, I decided to surprise Alex with a trip to Tofino. We had an amazing time on the West Coast of Vancouver Island
I made a number of posts about this trip (see Tofino Abound). Suffice to say, that it was a memorable trip and one we hope to repeat in 2019
I was also able to jet off to see Mom in April
May 2018
May was a quiet month for me. Who am I kidding? I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off. This was the month that Alex was able to get a ton of yard work done. Planting abounds!
June 2018
June brought me back to Edmonton to see Mom and visit with Pat out at his campsite – Wizard Lake.
Wizard Lake is a beautiful campsite just south of Edmonton.
June 2018
DRAGON BOATS ABOUND
June is always a fun month for me. I get to do what I love: Stage Manage
The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival is a three day event where hundreds of paddlers from across Canada and around the world converge on False Creek for fun, entertainment and some pretty intense competitions. I am fortunate to be able to Stage Manage the Music Festival which takes place at the same time.
July 2018
July is another fairly busy month for me. Canada Day celebrations always see me on Granville Island running the Green Room for the various stilt walkers, performers, face painters, roving musicians. It is always a great way to spend Canada’s birthday
August 2018
August saw me and Alex staying home and doing some much needed work around the house. We repainted the house. It took us 5 1/2 years, but, finally got it looking like I wanted it to.
September – 2018
September saw Alex and I FINALLY making our way to the Netherlands. I have posted numerous stuff about it on this site, so won’t be repeating it here. But, here are a few highlights
October – 2018
October brought me back to Edmonton to see Mom. Mom’s dementia continues to wreak its awful effects on her. She is now in a new extended care facility better suited to her needs. In other words, she is no longer able to do most things. I am grateful, however, that she is in a facility where she is taken care of.
October also saw us biting the bullet and hitting the last room in our house that needed renovating: Our Master Bathroom!
November – 2018
November was a fairly hectic month, too. We finished off the bathroom, we did some more fine tuning of stuff around the house and I got to play Santa for the IRIS Staff Children’s Christmas Party!
November also saw Pat and Barb come out for a weekend visit. We had way too much fun while they were here.
December – 2018
December has proven to be a more relaxing month for me. Work responsibilities have slowed down on all fronts. But, we have added Blue to the Zylstra household.
And that, folks, pretty much wraps up the year. It has been a busy, crazy year filled with entertainment, joy, sadness and so much more.
I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings: 65th anniversary of the assassination of my Paternal Grandfather to be celebrated in May – still hoping we can go.
Ashley, Alex’s daughter is getting married in September and that is going to be quite the event.
A number of trips to Edmonton to see Mom
And, I am sure, so much more.
Al Zylstra 