Camp Erika 2008

I took my little travel book with me this holiday, fully expecting to fill it up with all the things we did, but ended up ignoring it shamefully because we were having way too much fun to be bothered stopping to write it all down.  Same thing with the picture taking.  I did it in fits and starts, and so of course missed the absolute best times because you often don’t think of grabbing the camera to take shots of your life when you’re busy enjoying the actual living of it. 

On our flight out the kids sat with me, and D. had to sit “with strangers!”  Yikes! but she survived.   Kale had the window seat, and was glued to it for take off.  We got higher and higher and things below us got smaller and smaller.  Then we were into the clouds and Kale remarked that he hoped we weren’t going to end up in outer space!  Nope, nothing that exciting, just Winnipeg – after a couple of hours of tv with headphones, puzzles, snacks and intense coloring.  Grandpa W. picked us up at the airport and we hit Wendy’s, Superstore and Wal-mart before heading to the island. 

And from then on it’s all a blur.  So I’ll try to sort it out.  We had D. with us for a week.  She left on Sunday the 10th and K. arrived.  Ann and Murray arrived on Tuesday the 12th.  K. and kids left on Saturday the 16th.  A. and M. flew back on the 20th.  I came home on the 24th.  And then W. no doubt breathed a sigh of relief and went happily back to being an island hermit. 

What we ate and drank:  (Because this is important?  Must be – I thought of it first.)  Battered fresh fish and homemade fries.  Tacos.  Spaghetti and meatballs.  Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, cereal, juice boxes and toast.  BBQ’d chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs. The best baked potatoes ever done on the grill and loaded with ‘garlic plus’, butter and a slice of onion.  Lot’s of cole slaw and salad. Lot’s of deli meats on lots of fresh bread and buns with lots of fresh tomatoes and lettuce and mayo.   Water, water, water!  We have bags and bags of empty bottles to prove it.   Coolers.  Rum.  Caesars.  Beer.  Fat Bastard and Naked Grape wine.  (The kids skipped most of those.  Their treat was crystal light in their water bottles.)  And potato chips.  Because grandma says the salt is good for you when you’re getting all dehydrated in the sun.

Things we went through by the container full:  Sun screen. Bug spray.  Ice.  Paint and other miscellaneous craft supplies. 

Things the kids will remember:

1.  The books they wrote and illustrated.  Kale’s was dictated to grandma and was all about Thomas and Friends and going up and down hills and on picnics and resting in sheds.  Kenzie’s was about princesses, sleeping in beds, going to balls, dancing with princes, and finally for want of something better to do, visiting a volcano and jumping into hot lava.  Uncle K. wants to phone Disney studios and tell them that’s the best ending he’s ever heard of for a princess story. 

2.  Their wet suits, life jackets, paddle boards, noodles, minnow/crayfish nets, jumping off the raft and swimming at the beach and off the dock.  We’re all amazed at how they both so quickly turned into little leaping and diving enthusiasts, in and out of the water four and five times a day.  Next year we expect even more innovative jumping dives than the half twist backwards cowabunga, or whatever that was.

3.  The things they found important to record.  Their wildlife list.  In random order:  canada geese, caterpillars, mosquitoes, moths, butterflies, grasshoppers, snake, pelicans, squirrel, eagles, gulls, loons, crayfish, fish, tadpoles, minnows, deer, marmot, hummingbirds, frogs, toads, tree frogs, ducks, puppy, mouse, little green bug.  Their picnic lists for both Thomas and the Princesses:  water, bananas, apples, root beer, oranges, grapes, cake, cookies, watermelon, juice, lemons, lemonade, peaches, marshmallows, sandwiches, straws, yogurt, cinnamon buns, peas and carrots.  (Peas and carrots?  Yes, you should always include something that’s good for you.)  Their hangman games.  Where we had a hard time guessing Kenzie’s “summer” spelled with an ‘re’ at the end.  And especially the one where Kale had a whole notebook page full of little blanks.  Not just a sentence, but some kind of entire little story.   I told him it should usually be only one word, but we’d try to guess it anyway, starting with an “a”.  After inserting about six ‘a’s he got frustrated and said he couldn’t remember what it was all about and we should just forget it.  We saved the little paper.  We also saved his note that said “I need a day off”.  And the messages writen back and forth – Can you rabbit?  Yes I can.  Sorry, I can’t rabbit today.  Turns out rabbit is some kind of code word for ‘babysit’.  Nope, I don’t get it either.

4.  Many awesome pontoon boat rides, with cameras and binoculars.  And one crazy hot day in the sun fishing near the dam. 

       

 

5.  Feeding the squirrel, taking scraps to gull rock, Kale’s path in the bushes ‘cave’.   Playing, playing playing.

     

                                 

I’ve only skimmed the highlights here, there were days and days of activity and fun for all of us.  The grown ups mostly relaxed and the kids were happy and a joy to have around.  I hope next year our numbers will increase and Kale’s mom and siblings will make the trip too.  We missed them this time around.  Maybe one of these days we’ll become even braver grandparents and have all of them with us on our own!  This trial run has shown us it’s possible, and that staggered visits are okay, but probably not as much fun as having everybody there at once. 

Our visit with A. and M. was wonderful as always.  Ann and I made our trek to see the eagles.  They’ve abandonned their old nest and built a new one.  The guys got in lots of fishing and whatever else it is guys do when they get together.  A lot of Lucky’s were consumed. 

Ann and I also took a trip to Dryden to visit our cousin-in-law who recently lost her husband.  We got to see her two sons as well, one of whom is so much like his dad it was just a kind of startling thing for me!  I remember them both as little boys.  I’m so happy we did that!  She has her own health issues, but is doing okay, all things considered.  It was wonderful to catch up.  Wish we could have visited with her daughter as well.  (Next time! )

The last four days it was just me and W. holding down the fort.  And a couple of those days I was completely on my own when W. made his trips into the city and back with his brother.  I’m a very boring person on my own, but no suprises, I already knew that.  I just chilled and did crossword and sudoku puzzles and soaked up the sun.  And missed the company.  And then the weather turned windy and cold, but that just made it a little bit easier to leave.  As always, lots of plans for next time!  Maybe I’ll take better notes.  But if I don’t, that’s okay too – it just means it couldn’t be worked into the time jam packed with having fun.

What’s Better?

What’s better than sitting on your back steps in the sunshine eating chocolate ice cream?  Not much.

CI Top Four

If anyone tuned in to last night’s show as the first idol episode they’ve watched this year, I think it might also be their last. I’m trying to be objective, but with all guys on an Anne Murray night, well that was just dull. Didn’t stop me from watching the whole thing, though. 

Mitch (boy next door with breathing issues): Cotton Jenny. It was okay in a comfortable laid back kind of way. Jake thinks he’s always flat off the top. Sass loves his phrasing. Farley wants more edge and angst. Zack tells him he’s like Perry Como on the couch wearing a sweater and should start tap dancing his way back home.

Earl (oh oh oh la la la): Killing Me Softly. Earl has lost his groove. And maybe even his will to live. That might have been better if he’d been sitting down and left out the arm waving and finger pointing and skulking around the stage. Sass loves his beautiful eyes. Farley likes his funky soulful version. Zack says Who? Where? What? Emotional aimless meandering in your back yard?? Jake disagrees with Anne’s advice and advises Earl to NOT try to draw people in or play to anyone. Be EARL and force the audience to watch. And that performance would take some force.

Drew (guitar guru extraordinaire): Hey Daddy (There’s a hippo in my bathtub). I’m SO happy somebody decided to sing this one! And after hearing it, even more happy that it’s Drew. He concentrates on the vocals instead of the guitar, and what a difference. Farley says it’s clear. It’s concise. It’s very very nice. Zack thinks Drew has turned a huge corner and sounds great. Jake agrees it’s the best singing he’s heard from Drew. Sass tells him he’s a really good singer. I think we’ve all got that now, thanks.

Theo (king of the riffs): You Don’t Know Me. I love this song too, but good as Theo is, it sounded like he was trying way too hard. Just sing the damn song and stop trying to emote yourself to death. Zack finds it radically flavourless. Jake says he’s a matinee idol with heart and soul. Sass tells him his phrasing is outstandlingly great. Farley likes how Theo becomes a part of the song. Theo is beating himself up to be that voice that is like no other and instantly recognizable. I like him better when he’s a little more chilled.

Mitch: Elliot Smith song Between the Bars (?) Hmmmm. Pleasant. But apparently it wasn’t supposed to be, exactly. Now Jake says he’s SHARP off the top. And blathers away about the dynamics issue, indicating that with Mitch there just isn’t enough of that. Sass likes the contrast of the dark song material with Mitch’s charm. Farley goes on again about lack of edge. Zack thinks Mitch has no clue how to win CI.

Earl: Steve Miller’s Joker. Yay Earl for picking such a great song!! Boo Earl for looking like you’d rather be anywhere else but here. Sass likes the cool ending and his phrase endings which go ‘whooo up, and oooop down. Or was it whoo down and oooop up. Farley enjoyed the middle and the end but wants a little more Earl. Earl shouts Yyyyyeeeeaaaahhhh, but it lacks conviction.  Zack says there’s no joie de vive, no ‘I’m lovin’ this moment’ stuff goin’ on. Jake gets the feeling that Earl just doesn’t want to be here anymore. Earl says I don’t know. And then quickly adds, no, that’s not it. Which means that yeah, that’s probably it alright.

Drew: Gravity. Wow guitar playing. And I liked that even better than his first song. Drew just keeps on getting better! The judges are all anal about it though. Farley calls it reasonably good, a lighter side of the blues. Zack thinks EVERYBODY’s got the YIPS. Jake likes Drew without the beard and compliments him on dressing better. And that would be all because Jake suggested it in the first place. Uh huh. He likes Drew’s Jim Cuddy moments. Sass just loves it (yay Sass!) and says he pulled it off great.

Theo (Piano Man): Chariot. Okay, this is way better Theo, with a song he obviously likes a lot, and some animation to go with it. Zack appreciates a man who flaunts his body all over the stage and calls it the performance of the night. Jake says yep. Consistent. You. Sass yells GOOD JOB MY BROTHER! Now let’s blow this pop stand. That last part under her breath, of course. Farley says really good performance and I’m with you Sass, can we get the hell out of here already.

I believe Drew and Theo should be safe, and Mitch and Earl are both at risk.

And I miss Mookie.  Boo hoo.