End of January

Well, I guess that's it eh? We've made it through January. Hallelujah!

Superbowl time and Valentine's around the corner. One event I look forward to, the other I don't.

January is a ridiculously challenging month. It's cold. It's depressing. Bills are on the table and the produce in the fridge tastes like plastic. Ever eat a strawberry in January? Yuck. Don't bother.

I guess I should look forward to planting a garden and eating real fruit and vegetables again, but that's going to take another 6 months. There was a time that each January I would look forward to the seed catalogues and even start my own plants. I always found petunia seeds frustrating... so small, so fussy and so incredibly long a process to start them yourself. I guess that's why I don't do it anymore. That, and you can buy a 6 pack of petunias on any corner stand for $2, when May rolls around.

Tomatoes... that's a better use of energy. You only have to start them 10 weeks ahead of time and even a couple plants can give you a garden full of fresh tomatoes. I start them myself (or I did) because I like off beat varieties like Lemon Boy and Cherokee Purple, things you don't find at the Home Depot.

Gardening used to really be my thing. Heck, I used to write a gardening column for the newspaper. And then, I had kids. And then they took all my time and energy. Now they use that time and energy to support their hobbies. Mine are just a memory. I guess you could say my hobby now is writing.  Travel isn't a hobby... it's what saves my sanity.

So anyway, good riddens to January. And, go 9ers!

Travelling Solo With Your Child

To travel is a gift. To travel solo with your child is an incredible gift and I treasure it.

I have done it a few times, and I will do it again. While I have two children, I like to take the occasional vacation with them individually.

My older son and I recently returned from a hockey road trip. If this sounds like an old story repeated, it's not. There is hockey constantly! LOL  It was three fantastic days on the road, sharing music, stories, food and adventure.  This time we also had the privilege of staying with our extended family and getting to know them better. Truly a special memory.

Note, I didn't drone on about hockey and our wins/loses? We are a hockey family, but winning isn't everything. Memories and shared experiences outweigh the win category every time.

Within 48 hours of returning the one son, I took off with the other. The younger boy and I then headed south to California. Head over to my travel blog to read my hotel reviews and see how much I loved California. (I'll make regular entries there, but it will take me a few days to get all my stories out.)

My younger son, toils constantly to keep up with his brother. There is on-going rivalry and posturing. A solo trip is a break from that. The younger one can be himself. He can cuddle if he wants to cuddle, express his thoughts and do things at his own pace without ridicule. Never once on our trip did I have to yell "get your hands off your brother! You two separate! Stop it!!" It was a break for me, since I always feel like I'm refereeing with those two.

There are a few key points to note when traveling solo with your child.

1. Make sure to have a consent letter for travel from your spouse (very important whether you are married or not.) In this letter, specify your dates, flights and destination. Include your hotel address and any tickets or plans you have. Contact phone numbers for your spouse that you can reach promptly if you are held up at airport security with questions.  If you can have a lawyer notarize your letter, it's preferable.

2. A thorough and detailed plan if you get separated accidentally in a restaurant or airport etc. Practice it.

3. Bright clothing easily recognized by each of you. It sounds trivial, but if you are separated in a store even by a few feet, you want to be INSTANTLY recognizable.

4. Thoroughly researched destination, with safety measures considered. For example, I was taking C to an NHL hockey game in a big city. We knew there would be a sold out crowd. I chose to pay a few extra dollars to buy club seats for us - knowing that the club level had restricted access, lots of security, fewer patrons and a far better washroom ratio. Why is this important?  At this age we go into separate gender washrooms. I could not allow him in good conscience to stand in a line of strangers for 20 minutes unattended to use the washroom. Club seats and facilities meant a 2 minute or less line and a far greater level of comfort and limited separation anxiety for both of us.

5. Do something special of the child's choosing. C wanted to go walking in the rain with an umbrella. He also wanted the waitress to bring him a fancy kid's cocktail on the patio. Easy, peasy!  I also try to arrange something indulgent that will be a special memory specific to that child. I can assure you my hockey-loving boy will never forget meeting Teemu Selanne pre-game and then watching the game from the padded club seats.

When I find myself on these one-on-one vacations, there is far more opportunity for me to relax. I feel like a better parent, and a human being again rather than a referee. Of course I enjoy family vacations with everyone together, and it is great to have another adult present to share the responsibility and security duties, but I often find myself needing a rest after those vacations.  This California adventure, though short, did the trick. I feel recharged and like I'm ready to get back in the game.

Fast Five Travel Tips: How to get more from your hotel

Most vacations include a hotel stay or some sort of rental. Ask any hospitality employee, there are better rooms, perks, and services you may or may not be aware of. Here are 5 tips to improve your odds of seeing the best possible stay.

1. Smile and be patient when you check in. You, and every other traveller is tired and cranky after a long day. How would you like to be the clerk on the receiving end of this every single hour of every shift? So, smile, be patient and engage them in conversation like you would a friend.

2. Identify your priority. Choose one thing you would appreciate in a room, and mention it. Don't ask for the world. Want to be close to the pool? The lounge or the shuttle stop? Be realistic though. If you Hotwired a room, don't expect the Regal Suite without a serious upgrade charge.

3. Ask.  Just because they note a resort fee, doesn't mean it's mandatory. Ask if it can be waived or reduced. If you don't use the tennis court and daily newspaper you might not have to pay for it.

4. Loyalty club. Clubs are free to join. It's a way for the hotel to track your stays. The more you stay, the more important you become to them.

5. Money talks. Don't forget to tip your servers, your valet and even the front desk. Flash the cash when you walk in to enjoy a better stay. Don't save it for your exit. Gratuities are a form of appreciation and respect. The hospitality industry is hard work for generally little pay. Your gratuities make a difference.

Fast Five Travel Tips: Airports

Five great things about airports:

1. People watching. You see expert travellers, bag ladies (carrying big purses etc - too much stuff, lol), athletes, celebrities, and wonderful family reunions.

2. Candy stores.  Where else do you see such great and colourful treats in one place? Pick up a treat for your hosts, and one for yourself.

3. They are safe.  Consider the security and the lack of random people hanging around... very safe.

4. Time. Time to spend sitting quietly, sipping a coffee and watching movies or reading. It's refreshing to have a "forced" time to sit peacefully. It's a nice break from the ordinary.

5. Wine and magazines. You can have a drink, or two.... heck, you're not driving. Go for it! And where, other than an airport, do you ever see such a vast selection of magazines anymore?  Wine and a magazine... the perfect combo.

Trip Trinkets

What do you buy when you take a trip? Do you pack your suitcase full of new found treasures, or do you buy t-shirts, postcards, or salt shakers? What's your thing?

I limit myself to one personal souvenir. I travel light and almost never check a bag. Not only does this save on airline baggage fees, it naturally limits what I buy and bring back. Typically, I go for something crafty and definitely locally made. I purposefully try to avoid anything made-in-china. For me, it absolutely defies representation of the region and wrecks the memory.

In the Bahamas I have purchased handmade wicker baskets that I have actually witnessed the artisan make. Those are treasures! Last time there I bought a pretty little bracelet. It has such amazing detail in the beading I couldn't resist.

The craziest thing I ever brought home was a garden gnome. I was on a sports trip to Florida and fell in love with the goofy little statue in the window. I had to have him. After all, that trip was booked with Travelocity.ca And like they say, you should "never gnome alone."  After I bought it, I took the little statue out of his box and shoved him into my backpack. It was the only item I carried on that trip. So, when I got to security, my gnome got the attention of the security screeners. It looked like a little person stuffed inside my backpack. Ok, not at all like a real person, but he did garner enough attention to get re-run through the scanner and pointed out for other security guards. They pointed and snickered, as did I.

When I got home, my son named him Gibbly. Gibbly has since travelled with us on scavenger hunts, bowling nights and any other goofy family event that requires a mascot.

Resolution progress report

Well, ok, they're not resolutions, more like guidelines. I vowed to try to focus and be more healthy. Here's what I wrote:  I will try harder

So far things are going pretty well. Vitamin and water consumption is up in the house. I've been taking vitamins C, B, D & Echinacea almost every day. The kids do a multi vitamin, plus an extra C.

I skated today on our rink, and also walked the doggies for about 40 minutes through the snow. I note the snow because it's not as easy going as the indoor track I once frequented. The fresh air is good too. It's been awfully cold but I wore my big parka. Dogs and I go out for a big walk several times a week. I've skated twice this year. For the kids it's daily, if not more. Ry played 5 hockey games on the weekend, 6 if you count Friday.

Cupboards and freezer are pretty close to bare around here, so we've been successfully using up what we have on hand.

I had a little meltdown the other day and cried a bit. But I felt better afterwards. I think the key for me is to slow down and not always try to multi-task. Like everyone, I can get a little overwhelmed.

So tonight I took my son with me grocery shopping and we even stopped at a Future Shop because he wanted to look around. No racing through aisles and trying to set land-speed records at Safeway to make up for the unanticipated detour.  It was a nice change for us. Usually we're bound by time and lists.

We grabbed a couple Air Miles bargains at Safeway.  I hope to grab a few more. Air Miles do come in handy for gift cards, small electronics and that kind of thing. Last year we used Air Miles to buy Disneyworld park passes. That was an awesome use of them. Saved me about $500 on two passes.

I washed some more clothes and set them aside for donation, then tossed out some old leaky boots. So the house purge continues.

All in all, I think I'm doing just fine.  January is a tough month. Especially if you're cooped up indoors a lot with the cold weather or illness. If your resolutions are less than perfect, I'd encourage you to not give up. Just cut yourself a little slack, take a deep breath and keep going.

I think we're done

If you've been crazy enough to be a regular reader of this blog, you'll know I love Vegas and the Tropicana Hotel.  Well, things are a changing in sin city. The Tropicana has been sold to the Doubletree - Hilton chain.

It had been previously owned by a Canadian private equity firm Onex Corporation. They led the path out of bankruptcy protection in 2009.  With a failed night club attempt, a poker room closure and the lack of a marquee performance act the future did not look that bright. Thus, I am not that surprised that they sold.

However, 2010-2012 the Tropicana was awesome. Millions in renovations, fresh attitudes and fantastic food kept me going back. I did indeed love the TropLV. We had good times.

Hilton took over today. My favourite restaurant Bacio, and their chef Carla have parted ways.

I have no reason to return to the Trop. Good news for me though... next time in Vegas I'll get to try a new hotel. And chef Carla Pellegrino has opened up her own restaurant The Meatball Spot and the reviews I have read are outstanding.

I've also decided to separate travel from this blog and have moved it over to Escapethe204. I think I will get a little more specific over there.  Short and sweet travel blogs. Yes, Jenn, I'll still ramble on about how I love Delta Airlines and why it's cool to fly from Minot. ;)

Here, who knows... more Assorted Cathie. Hard to believe it has been over 2 years already. I continue to do it, just to write. It satisfies the part of me that needs to write. I don't do it for money. I don't do it for any commercial purposes. I simply do it to relax and empty my brain. Helps me sleep better. Keeps me out of trouble.

Cheers!

Fast Five Travel Tips: The week before you go

When the vacation is just around the corner, you have a lot to do. Here are 5 helpful tips IMHO.

1. Check the weather forcasts. This will help you pack better for your departure and arrival cities. It will also help you predict delays or other circumstances that might change your plans.

2. Contact the concierge at the hotel. Introduce yourself via e-mail, and let them know of your dinner requests or anything else that you might need. If nothing else, at least they should recognize your name if you DO need something while you're there. Don't be a last-minute Lucy.

3. Gather your frequent flier cards, confirmation numbers and itinerary. Photograph or photocopy for your house sitter or your "just in case" contact at home. Things are soooo much easier to find if you're not rushing at the last minute.

4. Gather your medications. Do you need any prescriptions refilled or labelled for travel?

5. Contact your credit card and place a travel advisory. Double check that your household bills or automatic payments are all set up before you leave. You don't want to miss a payment or risk insecure internet connections with your bank info when you are travelling. Only travel with the cards you need. Leave everything else at home or in your safety deposit box.

@cdntripseeker

Nothing else will do

For some things there are no suitable replacements. But we try, don't we?

Like cake. There is no substitute for cake! It sucks when you can't have cake. You miss cake. And sometimes, just out of the blue you start thinking about cake.

So you grab a cookie. That doesn't do it. Maybe a donut. Nope. So now, maybe you hit the mall and look for a sweater, or buy a new leather jacket or two, just to distract yourself. But retail therapy doesn't help. You still can't deny that it's cake you want.

And there are days, like birthdays and anniversaries, you just expect cake to be there. And when there's no cake it's disappointing.

So why is it that we deny ourselves cake? "I'm too fat. Too old. I don't celebrate birthdays. I'm on a diet. I don't deserve cake. Cake is for other people. There's no good cake anymore."

There's no cake at my house. Well, that's not entirely true. I made a Rice Krispie cake last week. But that's not really cake. It was a feeble, lazy person's attempt at cake. Sure, I ate half the thing but it wasn't in any way satisfying.

I don't need a lot of cake. Just a taste of cake every once in a while. There are very few things on this earth better than cake. And this I know to be true... there are no substitutions.

Wearing a Target

I don't know if it's true or just a lousy coincidence, but it seems to me that my little league hockey superstar is wearing a target.

In the last seven days he has been knocked around significantly in a little kid, no hitting league. Whether you call it boarding, body-checking, body contact, accidental contact, charging or whatever, it's not allowed. At the novice level, there is no hitting.

And yet, C took a hit so hard into the boards that the team nurse had to take him for the concussion exam. That was one game.  Right at the end of the game. (Unfortunate.)

The next game he played he took a skate to the thigh which came with a secondary forceful kick and resulted in a black and green bruise the size of a puck.  That was his first shift that game. (Coincidence?)

Tonight's game, his team was leading 8-2 or something. We don't keep score if the spread is more than 6. It could have been 14-2 but the scoreboard would only ever show 8-2. I think that's fair and appropriate. What is NOT fair or appropriate is a deliberate slash and shove which takes my kid out at the ankles and into the boards. This results in him being carried to the locker room. With 2 minutes left in the game. (Now I'm mad.)

Yes, I get it. He often has the puck. Yes, he rushes up the boards. Yes, it's frustrating when your team is losing. Yes, he's fast and hard to catch. But here's the thing.... he IS THE SAME AS YOUR CHILD... absolutely precious. He loves hockey. He loves the fast paced game and he loves to have fun.

Why do I feel like he is wearing a target? Why is this making my blood boil?

I get these are all young kids and they get frustrated when they are losing or can't keep pace, but why are they acting out towards other players in an angry, malicious way? I stop short of saying "with intent to injure" on purpose... Because I can't in my heart believe anyone of the players would ever want to cause a serious injury. But damn it, we are getting close.

I will not blame their aggression on professional hockey. I will not suggest the NHL game is too violent, but I am stretching to find anything else to explain it.

For the record... my kid is no suck. He has a higher pain threshold than my other son. As evidenced by their simultaneous ear aches and bike injuries where doctors marvel that he isn't screaming when his brother is.  If C says he's hurt, he's hurt.

So what am I to do, as his mother?  But also his HOCKEY MOM. He lives to play. I live to see him play and be happy. I understand the sport and love the sport.  I can't protect him on the ice. (Though I surely was tempted to jump the boards and attend to his injury myself tonight.)

I'm not innocent in any of this either. Last year he took a bad hit, smacked his head and sat out a game. He wasn't hurt, but scared. The next game he played I got waved to the bench because he wanted to quit mid game. That was the pivotal moment when (without really giving it serious thought) I took him by the shoulders, looked him in the eye and said "no, you don't quit. You are not a quitter and your team can not do it without you. You are faster and stronger than anyone on the ice and they DO NOT push you around. Get in there and out skate them. Beat them on the scoreboard."  Since then, he's never questioned it.

Maybe at that moment I made the wrong choice. Maybe I should have taken him out, walked away from the season and enrolled him in soccer, or wrapped him in a bubble and settled for less physical pursuits. But that's not him and that's not me.

So, instead I'm wide awake while the rest of the world sleeps. And at dawn I will drive him, on snowy highways, to his game because it's Saturday. And that's what happens on Saturdays when you are a hockey family and your son plays little league. Whether his ankle is too swollen to put on a skate, or even if it hurts to walk and he does't play, we'll at least be there with the team.

I'm going to have faith that these accidents are just accidents, and sometimes bad things happen in threes. However, you can rest assured that I'm going to keep a watchful eye on this and I will file formal complaints against players and coaches who identify or label my C as a target. Because that's what any hockey mom would do and that's exactly what HIS hockey mom will do.

Little League Ruckus

Here's what I know as a parent and here's what I teach my kids:  You win some and you lose some. Celebrate with dignity, lose with dignity. Play fair, do your best and enjoy every game. Make friends.

Apparently not everyone sees things the same.  And so what? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and encouraged to raise their kids as they see fit.

We are not in hockey to lose friends. We are in hockey to make friends. We enjoy our kids and support their passion. To say we are a hockey family is an understatement. We see more ice times than movies every week. We have a backyard rink and enough jerseys on hand to outfit a tournament.  That's just us. We don't coach, but we support all who do. It's a huge commitment and a great thing to share skills that way.

But we also have a little league storm cloud brewing over a recent tournament game. Seems everyone with a chat moniker wants to chime in. Apparently my kid saw more ice time than he "should" have in a game. Ok??!!  What I saw was an exciting game, where a great crowd of parents and grandparents gathered. We cheered every goal... for us AND the opposition. Every kid walked away with a medal and smile.

I asked my player how the tournament was. He told me awesome, "we all danced (like this & he demonstrated) to Gagnam Style in the locker room. It was so funny."

The next thing he asked was "when do we play next?" I told him about the tournament in the small town upcoming next weekend. He replied... "is that the rink with the good hamburger soup?"

All in all, my son's answers were all I needed to know. He was oblivious to the adult angst. He had fun with his friends. There's more to hockey (or any sport) than the competition. Sometimes there's good hamburger soup and a dance party.

Incidentally, we lost that game. My son was not player of the game, did not receive a giant trophy and was not secretly awarded a $2million dollar contract with Nike... just incase you worried that was at stake. LOL

It's little league. Relax. Enjoy some soup.

Don't Punish the Jets

The NHL lockout has been frustrating to say the least. I'm not shy about saying that.

Hockey fans, myself included, have missed the games, the players, the competition and the quality entertainment it brings to our communities.

We have missed the pride, the camaraderie and the cache of having our own NHL team. NOBODY understands this like a Winnipeg Jets' fan.  We had a team. We loved our team. And then we lost our team. For 15 years we fought to get our team back.

Then, on May 31, 2011 it was announced we would get an NHL team back to the community. That summer we learned they would be called the Jets again. We got our "mojo" back!!! We were back on the map...back in the game.

The names Chipman, Thomson and True North are religiously praised. (And for good reason!)

To be in the MTS Arena (aka the phone booth) and sing Oh Canada, you just know to scream "true north" and put your heart into it.   This is what we love. This is who we ARE as Jets' fans.

So here's the thing:  There's anger and apathy and even a movement to boycott and protest NHL games. The on-line social movement is suggesting a fan walkout at the opening games around the league.

I say no. HELL NO.  That's not who we are. WE ARE JETS' FANS.

This lockout must have been incredibly stressful for our organization. It certainly has been stressful and a huge financial blow to our arena area businesses. We as fans, and as Winnipeggers can not, and SHOULD NOT make any effort to punish our Jets. This was not a Jets' strike, nor True North lockout.

We, the hockey fans, need to support our team. The league is the league. Naysayers are just that. Jets' fans are a different breed. We are passionate and supportive and grateful to have our team. We need to act that way. Let the others protest with their feet.  Let us be the ones to show our pride with our hockey hearts. We'll be the ones to fill the stands and again say "welcome home."

Long live True North.  Go Jets Go!

Departure Gate GFK

Grand Forks, North Dakota has a great little airport. GFK in your airport codes and search engines. Very recently, United Airlines has decided to offer connecting flights from GFK to DEN. From Denver you can go anywhere in the world.

This is a good thing.

More choices means better prices. I have noticed that Delta airlines is consistently offering below market price fares out of GFK. Why? Because they don't want to lose existing business. They want to keep their plane loads at viable levels.

What does this mean to you?  You can now fly Delta, United or Allegiant out of Grand Forks. You can save yourself $200 or more on a return trip if you fly out of GFK. It can mean a difference of $1000 to a family of 5. Is that worth it? Yes.

What if it means an overnight stay in Grand Forks? Great news there too. There are tons of great hotels within 15 minutes of the airport. An average night's stay will run you about $70.

More options means more travel. More travel means more life experience.

Of course, prices vary on your travel dates and destination.

Visit their local tourist blog to learn more about Grand Forks.

I Will Try Harder

Each January 1st people around the globe make resolutions. They start fresh, quit bad habits and try to make changes.

It frightens me at how intense the diet push is this time of year. It seems that every second TV commercial is regarding weight loss, or fitness. Now of course I understand marketing and timing... strike while the iron is hot, but still, I take offence to these messages capitalizing on people's personal insecurities. I do think that there are things that everyone can do to be more healthy. I support that fully. But emotional marketing and intense commercial pressure is what I object to.

I do my very best to only make promises I can keep. Not everything works out, but that's life. I try not to rationalize my way out of something that is difficult, but accept that things change and other things still are beyond your control. You can not control the actions of others, but only how YOU react to it.

In regards to New Year's Resolutions, I don't do anything formal or life changing.  Instead I make vows to work harder and stick to the things I already believe in. As in... "I will try harder" because these acts are important to me and how I run my life.

Here's what I want to work on in 2013. I will try harder...

1) to make sure we (my family) take more vitamins and drink more water.

2) to keep walking and skating regularly.

3) focus more on quality rather than quantity.

4) give more compliments.

5) continue to support charities that support people, not corporations.

6) to purge the house and recycle as much as possible.

7) to sleep more.

8) to use what we have before we buy more. (groceries, gifts, shampoo etc)

9) to moisturize more.

10) to stress less.


Is there anything on your personal list?  What will be important to you in 2013?

Bleach. It's a good thing!

What? This isn't about travel?

Boring $3 chlorine bleach... Cathie... what's going on?

Well, I own a restaurant. And I am unbelievably motivated by fresh starts. Mondays... New Years... that kind of thing. So, today, since I didn't have a hang over (designated driver syndrome) I started cleaning and purging the house.

Purging clothes. Gosh there's a lot of things my kids have grown out of! And why do I harbour fancy clothes that I never wear? Time to be realistic. Time to make more room in the closet for things we all actually wear.

So, where does the bleach fit in? Nearly everywhere! Chorine bleach is the restaurant owner's best friend. By law, we are required to soak our wash rags in a chlorine bleach solution at all times. As a homeowner, if I see a j-cloth or kitchen sponge sitting next to a sink with obvious usage... an odour perhaps, I grab the bleach! Bleach, then run through the wash. Gosh... spreading bacteria is just gross.

Where else can you use the $3 jug of bleach?

1) Drains. A 1/4 cup followed by 2 litres of boiling water.

2) Toilets. 1/2 a cup, scrub brush, wait and flush.

3) Socks and underwear. Soak in a bleach & hot water solution, then wash.

4) Dishwasher. A quick rince cycle will flush away accumulated bacteria.

5) Pillow cases and face clothes. Soak in a bleach & hot water solution, then wash.

These things don't have to be done all the time. Once a month. Can you add it to your list?

I take a lot of pride in my restaurant and its constant A+ rating.  My house tends to get cluttered because most of the year I focus on the restaurant. In my down time, I try to tackle the projects at home.  While no Martha Stewart, I try to keep things clean and healthy.  Bleach is just one of those easy-peasy things that we should all have. Lots of fancy cleaning products on the market... but not much more efficient than bleach and water for tackling germs and killing household bacteria.

And if you're working with raw chicken... bleach is very effective in the fight against salmonella. Make sure you clean your tools and cutting board with bleach and water, every time.

Lecture over!! :)