Things I didn't know...

Five years ago, there are many things I didn't know about myself. Things I could not have predicted. I should work on a big list, but right now I'll just share 3.

1) I didn't know how important my hockey family would be. The kids' teammates, parents and coaches are the people we spend the most time with. And, they are really great. They are so supportive of all the kids. I know if my child needed something.... anything, from $2 for juice or advice, or a kick in the rear, they would do it. And I would definitely do it for them and their kids. After a few years of the same core group growing together, I can really say this has improved my quality of life, sense of community and belonging.

2) A year is a long time. But it is absolutely nothing either. When you are stuck in the day to day, it can feel like nothing is accomplished, but when you reflect back on a year, it can seem like a lifetime ago. I really do think social media, like Facebook and Twitter have screwed with our sense of time. When we can receive updates from around the world, every hour, or even by the minute, it affects our sense of personal time and accomplishment. But so much of the information is white noise.

3) I didn't recognize 5 years ago that I'm a runner. Not in the literal sense. I wouldn't strap on sneakers and run unless someone scary was chasing me. But in the personality sense... I flee. When I stress, I want to flee/run/bolt/escape.  I've read, that it's easier to change your location, than your life and that's why people travel. For me, I think that nails it.  I have learnt that I LOVE travel. It's a passion. But I also don't think it's about the destination, or learning or exploring. I honestly think I can say it's my sanity break or my re-start button. Now, I don't think this is earth shattering, or unique but I'm glad to have recognized it.

Go ahead and laugh

I woke up today and felt terrible. Nothing to blame but a cold or flu creeping in.

My whole body aches and I can barely hold my head up. But there are kids and dogs and a schedule. So after a brief tap of the snooze button I got up. Tylenol, coffee and a little Twitter did its best to wake me up. I didn't find much energy, but I did find the motivation to try.

I dressed in several layers and grabbed my iPod. Then I invited the dogs for a walk. I figured a little fresh air would do me good. The neighbour dog, an overweight, ignored lab came bounding at us. Instead of shooing him away, I invited him to come too. Now that was a happy dog face and tail wag!

We walked for quite a distance. The snow was deep. I was listening to my playlist "pick yourself up and fight." I was motivated. I thought I was feeling decent again. The dogs had the best time! Maybe I was going to just work thru this cold and malaise.

Feeling accomplished, I had one more tylenol and I was off to take the kids to hockey. I was pretty proud of myself for remembering all their equipment, sticks, water bottle etc. I even had granola bars and ipod chargers with me. Yeah, "I rock" I was thinking.

Gosh the drive was nice and roads were good. I was half way to the rink when it hit me.  I had the equipment, but I left the kids at school. Forgot to pick them up.

U-Turn.

Best of 2013

I shudder to think about writing this year in review. I pretty much hated this year and frankly, I can't wait for it to end and get a fresh start with 2014.  This is simply my raw, generalized opinion of the year as a whole. However, when I pause to consider events and activities as individual moments, there were some pretty good times. I'll try to focus on those.

So, in no particular order... my best memories of 2013: 

Best meal:  A crepe in a casino! I was absolutely sober, and it was mid-day, but damn that crepe from the Aria Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas was amazing! The raspberries were so fresh and flavourful you'd think they were photoshopped in your mouth! Karen & I had incredible meals that whole trip.

Where I should have sat to see the concert.  

Where I got to sit instead! 

Rod Stewart 12 feet away & singing my song! 

Best compliment: A concert usher, at Caesar's Palace said to me "you're too pretty to sit in the back row. Here, take these tickets and sit up front."  And that's how we saw the Rod Stewart concert from the good seats! Seriously, an unbelievably lucky moment.

Best song: Well, you see, Rod Stewart kinda sang "Some Guys Have All The Luck" to me, at the above mentioned concert. He was looking at me, winked, and was belting out his signature hit. So, yeah, that ROCKED!

Best bliss: Late January, on a heated patio, in Newport Beach California, I was sipping a raspberry lemon drop martini while the music of Simply Red quietly played in the background. My 7 year old son  was exhausted and completely enthralled with the events of the day. He drifted asleep next to me, telling me how much he loved being my travel buddy and just hanging out with me.

Best scream: I rode a roller coaster. It was California Screamin' at Disneyland, and boy did I scream!  And since I've spent a lifetime avoiding these types of rides and saying "I don't do roller coasters" it was a pretty big deal. I'm glad I did it. It's good to face your fears.

Best "why the hell not" moment:  I let my awesome hair dresser dip dye the ends of my blonde hair bright pink. What a great conversation starter and fun two weeks! It washed out and didn't stain my blonde hair. No harm at all.

Best silver lining. My 3 year old truck was damaged beyond your imagination during a routine oil change. The Titan needed a new transmission and a re-build on its engine. That was absolutely unbelievable and caused WEEKS of grief. During this time every man in my life and those associated with the issue talked down to me and did their best to make me feel like a stupid girl in a man's world. I hated that! Ultimately, the insurance of the dealership that destroyed my truck paid for all repairs, and in the end, I traded in the old truck for a brand new Titan. Of course there was 100% disclosure on the trade in. So, my "silver lining" in this experience was getting my first brand new vehicle ever. And it's silver. And I like it alot. Of course, I have to pay for it, and had to renegotiate my loan during this ordeal, but the dealership that sold me the new Titan was fantastic and really had my back in the process. Friends for life!

Best upgrade: $50 and a little Canadian charm got me upgraded from the basic room (read "cheapest room at the hotel") to the Bellagio Suite at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas. The suite had 3 bathrooms, a living room, a dining room and just total overall awesomeness.  The robes were so awesome, I had to buy one! That robe makes me feel like a princess every time I put it on.

Best history experience:  Touching the space shuttle Adventure, as it was on display at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston Texas. Everything in that NASA museum was an incredible glimpse into history.... history that has pretty much happened in my parents' lifetime. That was cool. Really cool.

Best kid moment: When my little one took my hand and said "let's do this" and led me on stage to sing karaoke on our Disney cruise. We sang "our" song and did a heck of a job on it! I'd never ever sung karaoke before. That was another fear and check on the bucket list accomplished this year.

Best instant party: My son's hockey team won the championship and he hollers "free ice cream" in the locker room and invites everyone back to our diner for a celebration. Since it was only 9AM, I suggested we do pancakes instead. So, on about 20 minutes notice (about the time it takes the team to change out of their gear) we whipped up a championship pancake breakfast with bacon, yogurt, fruit and juice. Finally... having a restaurant comes in handy!

Best golf games: I golfed with my boys 3 times this year. That was fun. They are growing up so fast!

Us photo-bombing someone's cheesy
Vegas wedding pic! LOL

Best spontaneous trip: Vegas with Shelby! I think she casually asked over the counter at work, on a Thursday, and that very Monday we were on a plane. I really needed that escape. Gosh we had laughs! Even better than our "great" Grand Forks adventure of 2010.

Best work moment: Hosting a charity milkshake event to raise money for a family whose dad is stricken with cancer. I have never seen a community come together like that day. And the staff were unbelievable! We accomplished more that day than we'd dreamt of. We put $2000 in the hands of a good family, for all the right reasons. That is my most proud teamwork moment for certain, maybe ever.  Thinking about that day brings a tear to my eye.

Reflecting back on a year is a good thing. I'm breathing better now for having reminisced and really thought about the individual events and moments. It's hard to grasp why I say I hated this year so much when it was, indeed, filled with much laughter and the company of friends. My loved ones are healthy and still with us. My children continue to grow and pursue their passions. I continue to travel and surprise myself with courage and strength. I've even had some fun writing about my travels. So... what do I really have to complain about? Not a damn thing.

Cheers! Here's to 2014. May our lives be blessed with good health, good friends and great adventures!

I'll Toast That

I have a very special bottle of rum from The Bahamas. It's more like a liqueur really. You drink it neat, or on ice if you have to. But, it's best served chilled, an ounce at a time on rare and special occasions. I save it, rarely share it, and ration a bottle sometimes for more than a year.

You see, you can only buy it in The Bahamas. So I don't get all wild and crazy and start drinking it freely until I know the next flight back is booked. And right now, since there are no flights booked and no plans... the rum is strictly for special occasions only.

Tonight I cracked it open and poured a snifter of it. You see, I went skating tonight. Whoo hoo. No big deal right? Well, I fell on my ass.  Truthfully, I fell and smacked my elbow the first time. Then I got back up and kept going. And about a minute later, I tumbled backwards onto my butt. So why the rum? Because I had not fallen in probably 20 years. (Unless someone can correct me otherwise.) And I got back up and skated for another 45 minutes or so. At my age (LOL) that takes guts and deserves a reward.

I could ramble on about the outdoor ice quality in March, but I won't. I will note however, that after a lifetime in figure skates I've only used men's skates for two months now. I still kinda expect the pick to be there to push off with, or to catch me when I lose my balance. But, apparently not.

So, cheers:  To being old and still trying.

Ok, Bell, Let's Do This

#BellLetsTalk

It's a Canadian corporate driven day, initiated by Bell Canada, to talk about mental health issues. For each Facebook share, and tweet with the hashtag BellLetsTalk the company is donating 5 cents.  Considering there were over 25 million hits by Noon, this is going to be a big day.

Depression is just one of many mental health issues that plagues "Normal" Canadians. I say, normal, because I believe most everyone understands, feels, or can relate to depression. If we don't battle with it ourselves, we certainly know someone who does.

It comes in varying degrees. People guard it... some better than others. Whether you burst into tears or not, depression affects your health. It also affects your family. It can affect your job, your relationships and your ability to feel whole. With depression, it feels like something is missing. Like you can't muster the strength to compete or fulfill your duties.

I get depressed. I've talked about it a little. I elude to it at other times. I've never sought medical help or have taken medication for it. That makes me "normal" too. Many Canadians, most even, DON'T ever bring it up with their doctor. Rather, we turn to each other. Try to talk it out with friends. We keep busy with activities and we deny that its a problem.

I thought I was pretty good at keeping my emotions in check, until one day my young son said, "I know why daddy let you get the puppy." Surprised, and confused, I pressed for the answer. His reply, "because the puppy will make you get out of bed and do things. You can't just lie around being depressed."

That was a little shocking to hear. And I guess, it's true. The puppy does force me to participate. The puppy takes me for long walks. That helps. The puppy looks at me like I rule the earth... that helps too, I guess. The puppy depends on me. That keeps me going. The puppy is an extension of my family. I am here, and will always be here for my family.

My self-diagnosis is less about depression and more about exhaustion. I work many 70 hour weeks. I don't always eat properly. I don't get enough sunshine or family time. Work keeps me from having a social life. All true, but not excuses. I try to help myself with motivational words, photo reminders of my family. Dressing in bright colours, connecting with the outdoors, travelling, pursuing hobbies, listening to music and getting enough rest... these things all help.  But it doesn't solve it. Depression just sits there. It waits for the opportunity to spread. Some days are good. Some days are lousy.

Sometimes it makes me very quiet. I disappear from communication. I hide. I do the minimum required to get through the day. But if anyone needs me, I'll be there. I put others first. I probably alway will. Myself I don't believe I need outside help. This isn't a cry for attention either. I'm just saying... if you feel like this too, it's OK. Depression is just one of many emotions that we share. It makes us human.

Depression isn't about weakness. You can be the best athlete, or scientist or doctor. You could also be a receptionist who greets everyone with a smile, or a television personality. You could also be a child. If depression affected your child, your brother, or your neighbour you would help if you could.

Bell Canada has the right idea. Start talking. If you want to help, don't stop when the answer to "how are you" is Fine or Good. Ask again. Ask, how are you really doing? You might just get a different answer.



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#BellLetsTalk has a toolkit. There are resources out there. If you, or anyone you care about is just hanging on by a thread, please throw them a lifeline.

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.

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.

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!

Cleaning therapy

Today I tackled the all-purpose closet... aka, the giant junk drawer behind a door. In this hiding place I've accumulated a couple yeas worth of partially used craft supplies, or unused craft supplies with the best intentions. There's also some wrapping paper, some photos, some colouring books, some shipping stuff,  and all the birthday cards I bought for people but never sent because I couldn't find them. (If that was an olympic sport, I'd be on that podium.)

So, I spread everything out in the living room with a garbage can, a recycling bag and a few clear boxes for keep items. The puppy was thrilled with the "buffet of toys" and things to taste that I put before her. LOL. She's a little goof but she did help me decide on a few things that should go into the garbage can immediately. Or immediately after she had them in her mouth!

All in all, I feel good about the project. I managed to release myself from the guilt of having unused craft supplies with no purpose. As a hockey mom, with barely enough time to make meals and clean jerseys, crafts are not really realistic for me at this stage.

Once I conceded I would never tackle that project that a starry-eyed me once envisioned, I lumped them all in a box labelled "Kindergarten/School." Surely, the classes at my kids' school will know what to do with these goodies. Perhaps they will even consider them a gift, and not the burden they have become in my junk closet.

It feels good to tackle that one. Where to next?

Activities & Adventure

Quite often when we travel as a family we have a well researched, planned activity scheduled at some point during the week. Like when we went to the Bahamas we paid to splash around and kiss dolphins. I would be wrong if I called it "swim with the dolphins." That would make it seem much more glamourous. This was a controlled encounter with dolphins, perfect for young kids. That was in the Bahamas and we loved it, and of course, we paid for the overpriced tourist photos.

When we went to Maui, I organized a private surf lesson for our family. It was my Christmas gift to everyone. That was a blast. We all rode the waves and thought we were rockstars. Again, I bought the touristy photos. But doesn't my boy look like he was born to surf? Takes after his mama!

We have had the character breakfasts at Disney World and panned for gold in Alaska. When we were planning a the trip to the Turks and Caicos I was really tired. I was out of planning energy. I could hardly lift a finger to research any more beyond studying our resort. I thought, perhaps, I would consider planning an excursion once we arrived on the island. 

Instead of pushing for another adventure or splurging on a once-in-a-lifetime activity we all agreed to just chill. And holy heaven that was nice! No praying for good weather on our whale watching or rushing to catch a charter just to stand in line. No $200 photo package to purchase. Instead we simply walked on the beach, played on the beach, swam in the pool and generally just lounged around like lizards. Lounge lizards! And we all loved it. 

I'll admit, there were times before the trip that I worried the kids would be bored. When we arrived I worried that they were going to be expecting something magical... another one of mom's fun travel surprises. But rather, they surprised me. They went all old school.... sandcastles, imagination activities, physical fun (swimming/running/jumping/diving/walks) mixed in with some cards, some reading and a couple ipod games. Oh, and "Jimmy" aka Mr. Crabs, the hermit crab they found. He was 3 hours of fun for sure! They kept building him new fortresses and making sandcastles to contain him. They had fun.... without me ever having to plan it, pay for it, or buy the photo package. Ahhhh. Score one for true relaxation! 

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I've finally joined Twitter. I basically plan to use it to tweet travel tips, and bargains that I spy. If you are at all interested, please follow me.   @cdntripseeker    But be prepared for a few tweets about hockey. I'm a hard core hockey fan. And I likely will gush about my new favourite tv show Dallas, from time to time. JR Ewing is mixin' it up again and you won't want to miss that new John Ross.   Hey, maybe I should plan a trip to the Lonestar state?  

Looking back on 2011

Each year is different. I used to summarize each year in a photo collage of eight or ten pictures and put it in one frame and hang it on the wall. Then for a few years I made gifts of photo calendars for family members. Now, I don't know. Life seems to change by the week. Is it the way we receive our news, our information or the absolute constant contact we have with our friends?

You need an answer? Google it. Want to know what someone had for lunch? Text them. Want to know if your neighbour is at the coffee shop down the street? Facebook it. 

So, does this mean we've stopped thinking and acting in months? Is a year a ridiculous length of time to look back on?  I wonder. And I wonder while I type... obviously. 

My computer is jam packed with photos taken over the last 12 months. Lucky for me the computer has an organizing system and it makes it really easy to take a visual look down memory lane. But, I think all that we do in a year could not ever be summarized by 8 or 12 photos. Things have gotten too fast, too easy to record and sadly... too easy to forget in a blink. 

But to reflect on this past year, I would focus on the great trips and great hockey moments.

2011 started off in Maui!  Best New Year's eve of my life! We were oceanside, at the luxurious Marriott Wailea resort. I slipped the host a $20 and we were seated right in front of the stage for the incredible show. The dancers and musicians were everything you wanted them to be. The sunset and meal were so beautiful and delicious. We had a lively visit with our table mates and even though our homes were thousands of miles apart, we found great things in common to talk about. 

In that inspired New Years moment, I vowed to take more trips, to better stay in touch with friends and most of all, relax and enjoy the moment. 

In April I took a very spontaneous trip with my brother. We flew to Tampa Florida to see a hockey game. We planned it on 6 days notice and were away from home less than 72 hours, but it was one of the best times I've ever had. And even though my team lost and my brother has only vague recollections of conversations "I claim" he had with strangers, I'm pretty sure he remembers it fondly as well. 

Another highlight came in May when a friend breezed through playoffs and had his hockey dreams come true when he won the Memorial Cup. Even watching that on TV, it was powerful and special. 

Then after 15 years, the NHL agreed to give Winnipeg an NHL franchise again and the Jets were re-born. It was incredible! The city and province and hockey fans all over Canada rejoiced. Manitoba got its mojo back thanks to True North Sports & Entertainment.   Grown men cried. Others danced in the street.  I did both.  

This Jets announcement also made dreams come true for two good friends who work in radio.  Knowing how much the return of the Jets would mean to them made me sooooo happy. Hearing them speak to audiences that share their passion for hockey... priceless. 

In August, my own kids won their hockey summer league championship. The best part of that was the boys were on the same team. As teammates they worked together and celebrated together. This was a family first. I hope it's not the last time. And it was quite the game. It really was exciting little league stuff. My goalie son was named "MVP" but he declared it an honour he shared with the team's best defenseman.... his little brother. Awwww. I still melt remembering that moment. 

In October, I took another trip. Big surprise... it was to see a hockey game. This time in Phoenix Arizona.  Again, definitely one of the best weekends of my life. This time, my brother and I travelled with a group of friends. Honestly, it was near perfect! The sun was out, the drinks were cold, and the party carried over into the streets. The camaraderie among Jets fans, and the laughs we had were incredible. 

The year has had, as all years do, ups and downs. But as families we get through them. Friends hold each other up in good times and in bad. The calendar keeps going. And we find things to cheer about. We all NEED to find things to cheer about... each and every year. Life is too precious not to celebrate.

Damn it's been a good year for hockey in my house.  Go Jets Go! 

National Pride

Canada is a pretty amazing country. Count yourself blessed if you've been able to see it from coast to coast. Recently, I took a trip to Montreal Quebec. It was a homecoming of sorts. For me, it all started in Quebec. The daughter of an air force pilot, my family had been stationed in many difference cities & provinces. I just happened to arrive on the scene in Quebec.

So here I was, an adult, back in my home province. Though attending a conference, there was a little bit of time to explore. Montreal has an absolutely amazing series of tunnels. It's an underground city. You can literally visit thousands of shops and restaurants below ground. It does take a bit to get used to and like the prairie girl I am, felt the need to 'pop up' to the surface every now and again to see daylight and get oriented on exactly where I was.

As a hockey lover, I had a very important event planned and had been looking forward to it all week. It was, to be, the absolute highlight of the trip. The Montreal Canadiens were playing the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Center.  The game itself was pretty 'beige". A 3-2 loss for the Canadiens. But, I will have to say that I enjoyed cheering for the Canadiens, wearing their hockey colours and experiencing hockey in this historic place.

Though, the moment engraved in my brain absolutely has to be the singing of the National Anthem.
So there we were, wearing our hockey colours, standing among 20, 000 hockey fans when the anthem started. The next thing I knew we (myself included) were belting out 'O Canada", the bilingual version. I had goosebumps. 20,000 hockey fans, filled with Canadian pride putting their heart and lungs into our song. I'll never forget it. There, at the centre of Canadian hockey history, a swelling of National pride that I could feel.  Such a good feeling.

The Many Hats

Last night I started washing and organizing the winter wear for the boys. Coats, hats and mitts. Mitts, like socks in my house can be a bit of a challenge. The boys, CJ & the older one, have a tendency to play hard and sometimes lose things in the process. As their mom, and household psychic, I try to use my powers to keep it all together.

Keeping it together, can be a challenge. I myself have many hats. I am a business owner, a mom, a wife, a writer, a friend, a daughter, and a frugal shopper.  And a hockey mom. Yes, a Canadian, hot chocolate swilling, cheering, hockey mom. Not one of those crazy screaming hockey moms. Whoa, definitely not. But I am passionate about my boys, their health and happiness. I also love to see them do well and be happy. I work hard every single day to make sure they are happy and getting what they need. Need... big difference from what they want. "Wants" are another topic!

My favourite hat right now is getting to know CJ and having fun with him. He's at the stage where he is starting to figure out who he is himself. Does he like to cook? Does he like to dance? Does he like to dress up? We try to figure these things out together. I let him take the lead, and I try to keep up. Yesterday we baked brownies, last week muffins and cookies. Tomorrow, I understand he wants pumpkin decorated cupcakes...

Right now, it's time to put on my dishwashing "hat" before I report for chauffeur duties.