March 14

Well, I just wrote a long message about what's happened over the last three months but the computer automatically shut down and it's gone. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Here is is in point form, since I don't want to write it all again. It has been one of the hardest times of my life and I just didn't want to write. Ironically, it has also been full of happy moments. . Christmas was great, with all of us here for a big dinner. It was busy but fun. We rented a car so it was a little less crazy car-wise. We helped look after Ava, who was only two months old, and of course, Jackson was over a lot. . Alex got a lead on a job in Airdrie. He flew out on January 9th or so, very soon after getting a call for an interview. After a month of highs and lows, he got the job and started Feb. 1 at Pro-Pak, where Paul works. We will be forever grateful to him for finding that job and for helping Alex through that month while he waited to hear. Alex seems to be doing well. . Alex can get his license now but he can't really afford a car, so he is just walking to work. Friends drive him to the mountain or into town. He seems to be making new friends but misses the old ones a lot. He hopes to come back for Easter/John's birthday. . Heather has not had a great winter. She had a huge phone bill from roaming charges in the U.S., and hasn't had a phone for months. She is working at the daycare. I think roller derby is keeping her going. She wants to get out of Saltspring by May. .Andrew, Sheralyn and Jackson got nicely settled in to their apartment in Berkeley. Just two weeks after they moved in, Sheralyn and Jackson were back, looking after her mom, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It got complicated when she developed a perforated bowel. She has been transferred to Jubilee where she is slowly recovering and waiting to start chemo. . I have been working a lot. I am enjoying spring break right now. We are still hoping to get away on a trip but I am waiting to see about a job possibly starting around April 11th. . We have a new car! It's a 2007 Yaris and we really like it. It had less than 21,000 km. on it and it's in great shape. Nice for Catherine's visit in just a few days! .As soon as Alex moved out I cleaned out his room, and painted it. That was a hard job, with so many dings and nail/tack holes. John put laminate down on the floor and just this week we moved the furniture back in. It's looking good! Next job, maybe the office. I have spent about an hour each day power washing the deck! It is looking good - I'm pretty stiff though! John has been busy out in the yard, trimming things down. We want to be ready! . John checked his mason bees and was so happy to be the proud father of more than ten bees! He put them outside and is kind of worried about them, but I think they will be OK. . We have been going out a lot! We went for dinner at Ferris's on Monday, then to the Debater's taping - very fun. Last night was the Belfry, and tomorrow we are going again. I am enjoying going out, and enjoying just having time during the day to do stuff. Maybe Sheralyn and Jackson will come over today. That's a bit of a catch-up!