A Family Farewell

Monday, July 19th, 2010

LOCATION:  Vancouver, BC

WEATHER:  Overcast in the morning; clear and sunny for the rest of the day

Well, thank goodness for our evening visit from Mom's cousin Diane and her husband Derek or I would've had close to SQUAT to blog about today.  But I'll catch you up on our mundane Monday activities from the beginning anyway!  How about that!

Today was our last day with the rental car, so before turnin'er back in, Dad and I made a quick trip to the bank so I could get a new debit card to replace the one that flew from my pocket, never to be found again, on yesterday's bike ride.  After that, Dad hosed the car down to rid it of the multiple layers of pine tree droppage that accumulated while in the parking lot so as not to be charged even more (although after the fortune he paid anyway, who would've noticed!) for a spit shine by the rental company.

For din, we ordered some Papa John's pizza, which turned out to be (Mike:) "the best pizza I've ever had in my life," leaving him unsatisfied still after finishing off an entire small pizza to himself.

Dad:  "You ate YOUR whole pizza and now you're eyeballin' ours!  Eat what's on your shirt - that oughta finish you off."

After contemplating another hot tub attempt, Mom inspired the sickest evacuation plan yet.

Mom:  "I'll just go with a piece of toilet paper hanging out the bottom of my bathing suit."

Dad:  "And smear some peanut butter on it."

Mike:  "Then take a butter knife and smear it down the inside of your leg."

Something tells me we're going to have no friends left when we get back if I keep airing the inner workings of our family mentality in this fashion.

But there you have the grand events of our afternoon!  Oh, and a helpful tip from Mike.

Mike:  "I read that you're supposed to put flour on a burn after you ice it."

Steph:  "Too late for that."

Mike:  "Well, you'll probably do it again."

Thanks for the vote of confidence!  But it's true.

Around 7:30 p.m., Mom's cousin Diane and her husband Derek found their way to our home away from home and spent some time visiting and taking in the indescribable splendor that is Beula.  It was great to see them again, especially since the last time we were out this way and spent time at their home was roughly 12 years ago.  The night Princess Diana died was actually the same night they came to pick us up from the airport - one of those moments in time where you'll always remember where you were when it happened.  But we had a great visit and were glad they could make it out to see us on our last night in the city.  They left just after 10 p.m. and after that it was just more of the usual in terms of our nightly routine, and then off to bed!

Tomorrow we're back on the road after two weeks, beginning the long drive back home.  Here's hoping Beuls is still up to the challenge!

Letting the good times roll,