There and Almost Back

Well, with tearful hugs and a bent thumbnail (sorry if I scratched you, Tick), we set off on the road with a van full of useless items, namely our clothes, toys, and a 'Cozy Coupe' bed taken apart and attached to the roof. Ready to leave at six AM, we hugged and said 'goodbye' so many times, we actually drove out of the driveway at 6:14 AM. But that's okay, every moment spent with family was precious. We had a wonderful time in British Columbia (which Bram dubbed "God's Country"), and we were very sad to leave. It was, indeed, a melancholy departure.

What was even more sad were the drivers on the road. I'm sorry, I mean no offence (yes I do) when I say "People from Alberta are MORONS.". And it's true. Why do they insist on driving 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone? Or why do they keep passing me, slow down, and force me to pass again? Seriously, I was THIS close to passing you and slowing down just when there was a pile of oncoming traffic. I, too, can act like an Albertan. However, I will not stoop so low as to pretend to be a jerk. I'll be 'Manitoban' about it, and write to the wide world Internet society for them to read and say "Oh yeah... I've noticed that about people from Alberta."

And now that we've checked into our 'delightful' hotel overlooking the train tracks (and shaking the entire room while pummeling by), we take a dip in the tiny little pool and head off to the room to catch some sleep. Well, my boy, anyway... as I sit here typing this away on this ÜBER quiet Qwerty (yes, my Scrabble score has risen a little since spending time with two people who have WAY too much time on their hands) and Bram keeps running down the three floors to the van because I keep forgetting things. He's such a sweetheart. I blame my semi-laziness on "Oppositional Defiant Disorder" (self-diagnosed). However, tomorrow I shall take on the 'motherly' task of packing and cleaning, and may add a bit of a stress attack somewhere in between just for good measure. We'll head down for the Continental Breakfast (Continental referring to Europe... but I never see any Europeans at these breakfasts [except Bram claims there were a bunch of Germans in the lobby on the way up from one of his trips to the van]), then we get OUT OF ALBERTA.

Tomorrow, we'll stay in Swift Current at the Best Western. Enjoyed the stay last time, hopefully will have the same room with the MASSIVE bathroom (not that I'm handicapped, but it was a 'specialty' room). Maybe if I walk with a twitch, I won't feel bad. Ah, who am I kidding, I don't feel bad. It was a nice room. Now why couldn't they do something like that for the able-bodied, I'll never know.

There is one thing I won't miss about BC...

THOSE INCREDIBLY DISGUSTING, REVOLTING HISSING BEETLES (Polyphylla decemlineata) Thanks a bunch, California, thanks a whoooooole bunch.