An A++++++++++ Christmas in Halifax AND Moncton

Days after McKim-Mas the van took Kristina, Jackie, and me, all to Moncton and we had a lunch there and Franzi drove.

The Christmas tree and decorations were out.

The tree was lit up with new LED Christmas lights.

The Christmas Story decorations, including the Leg Lamp, the Flick’s-Tongue-On-A-Flagpole statue, and Ralphie’s House were on the shelf.

The mini wooden Christmas Tree Dad had made after Molly’s arrival was lit up beautifully.

Mom made some soup, chicken soup for some of us including me and veggie for Franzi, a vegetarian, and one soup blended for Kristina. We enjoyed this and then a little ice cream, some with cookies.

Then we had a chat and while we did it started to snow, so Franzi decided it was time to go so they would not get caught in snow.

Later Mom’s Aunt Pat showed up and we chatted and Aunt Pat gave me an early Christmas gift: A John Denver Christmas CD with one of the songs which he performs on his Muppets CD, but on this CD no Muppets sing.

That night Dad and I went to Irving to get some gas and then Wheaton’s Store to get Mom a gift:  5 foam bath soaps, one of her favorite things which we got last year.

Then we went to the new liquor store to buy drinks for Christmas celebrations.

That night we had fish and chips for supper and then we watched A Christmas Story together.

The next day we decided to work on the pies, so I peeled the apples while Mom made the crust, using the family cookbook with all the nostalgic photos.

Later we went out and did some shopping.

We went to Shopper’s to check the mail and we got the mail.

Then we went to Scholar’s Choice and I saw a small toy Border Collie and I wanted it, so Mom bought it. We also bought a new Scattergories game and a puzzle which would be a gift for Mom.

That night Jennifer had us at her house for spaghetti.

Then I watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

The following morning (Christmas Eve Already!) we packed up the car with gifts for Christmas and luggage, dog beds, our 2 Cotons de Tulear Liza and Lupin (we left our Border Collie Ella and old deaf Bearded Collie Sprocket home and Jen took care of them), got in the car, and headed out to Halifax.

While on the road I gave Stephanie live updates on where we were.

Once in Halifax, we found Stephanie’s house and set up.

I had the same room I had years ago.

Then we watched A Christmas Story on Stephanie’s Samsung TV with HD that made the movie look like a BBC show.

Then we waited for Mary, Glen’s mother, to come and join us for Turkey Dinner. She arrived and gave me an early Christmas Gift: A Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2017 book in which Momo, the hiding-and-seeking Border Collie in the book Jennifer gave me last year makes a cameo.

Then we awaited Turkey Dinner on Christmas Eve, which we had.

They had bought a Ginger Ale in New York that was not pop and did not have the sugar Sussex, Canada Dry, and Schweppes did, and I had and enjoyed that.

After Turkey Dinner came Dad’s Plum Pudding with Hard Sauce and Mom’s Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream, and it turned out to be a success.

Then we read The Night Before Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Next morning (Christmas Day) I opened my stocking while wearing the Santa hat which was next to it when I found the stocking.

In it were 2 packages of gum, the toy Border Collie which I saw at Scholar’s Choice, 2 DVD cases (one was a Christmas movie called Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas and the other was a movie called Hachi, [spoiler alert] about an Akita whose owner finds him at a train station and he waits for his master there every day, even years after his owner’s death), a deck of cards and a Crib game.

Then we had Stephanie’s Family-Famous Breakfast Burritos.

Then we sat in various places... and opened gifts.

Stephanie and Glen got me a New York by Subway book.

Erin and Oliver gave me a Holiday trivia game, a book called Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Very Good, Very Bad Dog and a 1981 Remember When book with all the facts and ads from 1981.

Mom and Dad gave me a DVD collection with a bunch of old dog stories, one of which stars Lassie and lots of which starred Rin Tin Tin, a Canadian Dogs Annual, art supplies to used at Creative Connections, a Border Collie Calendar, and a DVD called The Music Man with Matthew Broderick.

Jennifer got me a DVD called The Nut Job, Axe deodorant, shampoo, and body spray, and Old Spice shampoo.

Melody and the family gave me a book called Labrador on the Lawn.

Then the whole family opened the Scattergories Categories game.

Then we took a walk around the neighborhood and through the park and around Citadel, me taking Mo, Stephanie’s Coton de Tulear, Lupin’s Grandson on leash.

Then we came home, and then I watched Elf on Stephanie’s Hi-Def TV, and again it looked like a BBC show.

That night we had Hash with Sparkling Apple Juice and more Apple Pie and Plum Pudding.

The next morning we went to Miracle on 34th Street at Neptune Theatre, meeting Glen’s Mother there, and I got into the story.

Then we decided to head home as they were calling for a storm the next morning.

That night I watched the movie Hachi.

The next morning it was storming for some time, then it cleared up. We stayed home. And we played some of the new Scattergories game.

That night we watched Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever.

The next day we took a drive to do some grocery shopping at Sobeys and decided to buy some Sparkling Apple Juice and nacho chips to give to L’Arche to use for our New Years Eve Celebration.

Then we drove to Frank’s Music to pick out a few birthday gifts for my 36th Birthday.

I chose a DVD set of Season 4 of Friends, the CD Much Dance 2017, and the CD Raffi: Singable Songs for the Very Young for nostalgia.

Poetically, the night before I had a dream in which our Mason & Risch Piano came back and I found the goodbye card for Mrs. Weldon and Hillsborough School was putting on an Elf-based Christmas party for 1st Graders in 1987-1988 in which I was Buddy and my classmate Danah was Miles Finch, the small Elf-sized fighting writer in Elf.

Then I watched the movie Miracle on 34th Street, and the lines in the movie were the same as the lines in the play.

Then we got gas in preparation for my journey back to Saint John the next day.

Then I watched Eight Days a Week: a Beatles Movie on The Movie Network.

The next morning I woke up and we hit the road. Then I got back to Saint John and Mom headed home due to a forecasted storm.

She stopped at Chris and Milton’s house in Sussex Corner.

I believe this year was the best Christmas Vacation Ever! I loved everything about this holiday season! 

What is Upper Cape Like After Canada looking like the movie Frozen?

Day 1 saw Stephane, Vic, and me, all going to Moncton in the 2015 Kia Sedona which we used for Quebec City 2015 and staying for lunch En Route to Bouctouche so Stephane could see his family. 

Enjoying the beach.

Later Erin, Christopher, and Oliver, all met Mom and me at Costco, where the Camerons used to take me to browse, watch the TVs play a certain movie, and eat Twist ice cream before I moved into L’Arche. 

They didn’t have much of a DVD or CD selection, but we got groceries and Mom and I looked at TVs as ours upstairs was fading and I liked the LG LED TVs and the Samsung TVs like the one in McKim House, and Erin said she didn’t like the Hi Def TVs because it makes movies look like a BBC show or soap opera. 

We also looked at books and I saw an Eyewitness France book and an Eyewitness Australia book. 

We went home. 

Tonight after supper I watched my DVD of Pitch Perfect, enjoying the music again. 

Day 2 was the day I had been waiting for after 2 Frozen-like blizzard-filled winters and no Upper Cape or Camille’s. 

We love walking the beach when the tide is out.

We packed up the car...and headed out to Upper Cape, leaving our dogs behind.  

 Dad had left early to take his John Deere ride-on mower to mow out a path to the beach and Glen, who was already there with Stephanie and Mo, was mowing. 

Mom and I went in Erin’s red Toyota Rav-4 with Oliver in the car seat, and I enjoyed his company and his excitement and his chattering. 

 We got there and the sight of the cottage and our beach excited me. 

I had brought along, as with every year, my copy of Nop’s Trials, as a tradition which started in 2006 before I lost Molly when I was borrowing Jen’s copy of this particular book, and I read this most of the time while I was here. 

I changed into my bathing suit which went very well with my T-shirt! 

After a lunch of snacks, such as nachos with salsa, crackers and cheese, lots of berries, and lots of Perrier, we headed to the beach for a long-awaited swim in the water. 

I went in and so did Erin and Stephanie, and I enjoyed my swim so much after 2 years I was doing Jean Vanier poses from his pictures on his books.  

After this I went back and relaxed, reading the book while my feet and bathing suit dried. 

Relaxing in the cottage.

As a note, this was also my first Upper Cape visit since I had my BlackBerry Q5. Therefore I used this to take some pictures. 

After hours of relaxation, visits to the water, strolls on the beach, reading Nop’s Trials, and enjoying the cottage we drove to Camille’s and I went with Stephanie and Glen in their new Mini.  

Once we got to Camille’s we waited for the rest of the group. 

Enjoying Camille's with the family.

Then we ordered our traditional summer meals, which in my case was Fish and Chips, and Mom had a Lobster meal, and Erin had Chicken Fingers and Fries, and some had Fried Clams and Fries or just the Clams. 

I brought along a Perrier can as all they served as drinks was Coke and Pepsi pops and water. 

We went home and I went in Dad’s Porsche Macan in which I had gone to Camp Wildwood a couple months ago.  

When we got home I was so tired.  I was like a bicycle because I was “2 Tired” and would have fallen over.  Therefore I went to bed. 

At Camille's!

Day 3 was return-home day. 

I had breakfast again with Erin, Christopher, and Oliver there to have fun with. 

I watched a PVR recording of an episode of Amazing Race Canada set in Halifax and I came up with the idea of L’Arche Saint John being a place where teams would come to do something to collect a clue and I thought in this place I would play a song and the contestants would guess the title of the song and if they guessed it correctly I would hand them their next Amazing Race clue. 

After lunch we went to Chapters to browse at books and I looked at a few travel books and then looked with Erin in the children’s section and I tried looking for, and looking up, Mercer Mayer’s Just For You, my favorite childhood book which when I used to read it had a tape with a song.  But I saw a whole shelf of Robert Munsch stories in big style and little style, like Mortimer, the Paper Bag Princess, Murmel, Murmel, Murmel, Thomas’ Snowsuit, I Have To Go, Pigs, and Mud Puddle, and other Munsch favorites I used to read and listen to as a child.   

Then we went to Shoppers to get a Globe and the Mail, excuse the pun, and I browsed at the movies and I liked one which was a 4-movie collection in which one was Bingo, about a circus Border Collie who saves the life of a boy whose father is a pro football player and the dog and the boy become friends for life, and I wanted this. 

Oliver at the beach.

We went home and I watched another PVR recording of an episode of Amazing Race Canada, here set in Sudbury, Ontario. 

After saying goodbye to Erin, Christopher, and Oliver and kissing Oliver, Mom and I went to the bus station and she bought me a ticket to Saint John and I brought my 12-string guitar, so we checked a suitcase and my guitar. 

We watched the train leave while we awaited the boarding of the bus, which happened within minutes, and later we left and I got home safely. 

For details - check out www.patrickdanielmcgrath.com

Bonjour, Quebec City!

Chapter 1: Bonjour, Quebec City! 

With Gray in Quebec City!

Today was Day 1, or in French, la premiere jour.  We packed up the van, set up the 2015 Kia Sedona van’s built-in GPS to lead us to the L’Arche Quebec City L’Arche House at which we were to stay, then took off in 2 vehicles:  a rental Mazda small mini-minivan, and our Kia Sedona, to Quebec City.  On the way we stopped in Woodstock where all these years I thought the farm at which I first picked up Molly was, but I got a text correcting me that it was in Centreville.  But we stopped and picnicked with the whole group.  We later took off and stopped in a Tim Horton’s close to the NB\Quebec Border.  Once we crossed the Border we stopped in a Quebec tourist centre for some info on Quebec City.  We drove some more, watching Hairspray on Maren’s computer.  Within a couple hours we arrived in Quebec City and turned the GPS voice-over on, which guided us to the house we were staying at.  After settling, we watched a video the house’s leader produced.  Then Gray and I walked to a nearby pizza restaurant, ordered pizza, and left, stopping at a Jean Coutu for San Pellegrino and other drinks.  Then we had supper together at our house and watched Kristina’s copy of Mamma Mia on the house’s LG flatscreen.  Then we went to bed. 

Chapter 2: Bus tour, tour d’autobus

Today we woke up, had toast and got in our van, setting up the GPS, which guided us to an underground parking garage near the Chateau Frontenac.  We were to split into 2 groups and one would go on a bus tour and the other would browse and explore the area.  On the way we drove down the street with the McDonald’s where I had the hotcakes and sausages with Dad before meeting Molly but the Archambault where I listened to the listening posts had apparently went out of business a long time ago.  We had a picnic with sandwiches, chips, cheesies, juice, and, of course, our water bottles.  We walked, browsed at a few stores, and paid for and awaited our bus tour.  We boarded the bus, which was a double decker, and sat in the upper level, awaiting the tour.  We drove through Old Quebec as the narrator gave us information on each historical building, landmark, and monument.  After the bus tour Gray and I went into the Frontenac’s lobby and took a picture of me in front of the elevators which Dad and I used to go to our room that October 1999 time, and then we walked to the car...and found a water fountain at which people were walking and running through hoses spraying water, most in bathing suits, and we had a lot of fun!  Tonight we had supper...and watched Stephane’s copy of Mrs. Doubtfire on the flatscreen...and went to bed. 

Chapter 3: Frontenac area revisited

We left...and split into 2 groups again and this time my group was browsing and the other would go on the bus tour.  We picnicked again...and went back to the Frontenac area.   While the other group prepared for the bus tour, we toured the Basilique Notre-Dame de Quebec at which we heard an organ tuning in progress and had Stephane pray for his church friends and family, went to a gift shop where I bought a Quebec City book with photos and information, browsed at some stores, including a department store called Simon’s, walked down the streets in search of a gelato\ice cream store...and found a store at which our group, including Maren who needed a taste of Canadian Maple Taffy before she headed back to Germany, and all had a sample.  We walked further...and I found a Source by Circuit City...and bought a green mist fan, one thing on my wish list.  Then we walked back to the Frontenac area...and stopped at a bakery so all of us could have a Quebec croissant, including Maren.  Then we walked down the street...and found a gelato place and I had the Gateau De Fromage gelato for the first time, which I enjoyed.   Then we went to the underground parking garage...and went home.  That is, our Home Away From Home, which is what I call L’Arche houses in other places where I stay on Vacation or Exchange.  Then after supper I watched Babe on the flat screen, and with the Hi Def, Fly and Rex and the Puppies’ moves were so real it was like reliving the day Molly and I first met on that Centreville horse farm.  Rena, if you see this Blog, I would like you to know a few things:  That in 2006 I lost her at 6 years to a tumor, that I still think of her, that I hope her 3 other sisters from the litter live nice long lives, and that I still look at the photos of her at all stages of her life.  Then we went to bed. 

Chapter 4: Ou Est HMV, Ou Est Archambault? 

Today was Shopping Day!   After breakfast we got in both vehicles, set the GPS systems, and followed the GPS to the mall.  This mall was like Quebec’s version of Edmonton’s West Edmonton Mall and Minneapolis’ Mall of America, as this not only had cool shops and services, but this also had a roller coaster, an ice rink where people could skate/play hockey, an arcade, an amusement park, and a huge IMAX movie theatre with all showings in French, except for Minions or in French, Les Minions, starring the yellow gibberish-speaking characters from Despicable Me.  We gathered, went up an escalator from which we could see the hockey\skating rink (Kristina took the elevator as she was in a wheelchair and did little stairs and no escalators) and within minutes, found HMV.  Here I bought Annie, Mrs. Doubtfire, Pitch Perfect, and Jurassic Park on DVD and Now Party Anthems on CD.  Others made great purchases too.  Then we went down another escalator, while Kristina took an elevator, to a store called Forever 21, specializing in fashion and jewelry, and during that whole time, I tried looking for a sac a dos or backpack, but there was none in sight, and Gray had to take Kristina back to our Home Away From Home while the rest of us did more browsing...and ate at the food court with a view of the amusement park, the skating/hockey rink, and the arcade.   Then we went home.  Then I watched my copy of Pitch Perfect on the flatscreen, enjoying the songs again, and awaiting supper.  Back when I was with family on Stay-cation, we watched that movie with Erin, Christopher, and Jen and Brian on their Samsung flatscreen, with Danny by my side for most of the time.  But I still wanted to do 2 more things:  get a gift for Debbie for her birthday which was the next day, and see Archambault and listen and make a purchase, so later after supper Gray and I left the house, following the GPS back to the Galeries De La Capitale, also known as the Mega Parc.  We went into the mall’s Simon’s which was apparently a chain in Quebec, as earlier we were in one down the road and around the corner from the Basilique Notre Dame de Quebec, and this one was in a mall in a different location.  Here we got a scarf for Debbie which she wanted when we were in the other Simon’s and played with ideas of gifts to give the house we were staying in as a merci for letting us stay in the maison.  Then we looked for a sweet shop and found one on the end of the rink and got Debbie and Jocelyn each a treat bag.  Then we went through Simon’s, got in the car...and drove to the Archambault, which I found in no time!  There they had computerized and 3-disc listening posts so I had to ecoute.  This not only had DVDs, CDs, and books, but there was also an instrument department with pianos, guitars, other instruments, instruction DVDs and music books.  Here I bought Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3, thinking it was 2 and 3 because of the look of the case.  We also bought Debbie a DVD as a gift.  Then we went into a home décor store next door as Gray wanted things for her new apartment and we played with ideas for the house.  Tonight, once we went home, we watched my new DVD, which showed a CGI Chloe the Chihuahua playing classical music on a hotel’s piano twice, once slowly, and once up-tempo. 

Chapter 5:  Poissons et Oursoms de Polar a L’Aquarium

At the Aquarium

Today we were to go to the Aquarium and there were amphitheatres like in Free Willy where Jesse is assigned to clean off graffiti after being caught by cops for vandalism and stealing restaurant food and a caterer’s cake with his friends and makes friends with the whale of the title.  Then and there I wondered if the whale tank draining scene was just CGI like the Jaws shark and the Jurassic Park dinosaurs and that amphitheatre is the same one in Free Willy.  Here we saw all kinds of sea life, 2 polar bears, some seals, and a walrus.  Here we picnicked, got a tour...and went home to get changed as while we were outside it poured rain, cleared up, poured rain, cleared up, and poured rain some more.  Kristina sat this outing out and it occurred to us she may not have been feeling well, which worried me.  Tonight we went back downtown or uptown (Monctonians call downtown “downtown”, and some Saint Johners like me call downtown “uptown”) and got some gelato (I got Gateau de Fromage) and we searched the downtown area for a restaurant, stopping in Notre Dame churches for a tour during which Stephane prayed to himself for his church friends.  After a short walk we found a pizza place called Pizz. I got the Hawaiian Pizza with a San Pellegrino Limonata as did someone else.  I ordered in French as I had been practicing my French skills for this entire trip.  Then we found the car...and went to our H.A.F.H. (Home Away From Home) 

Chapter 6: Bienvenue, Andreanne, et Bonne Fete, Debbie!

Today was Debbie’s Birthday and she wanted a pancake breakfast for her birthday.  And Andreanne visited us from Montreal.  BTW, Andreanne was an Assistant in 2011/2012 and was with us on Vacation, McKin-Mas, said goodbye to me when I went to Atlanta with John O’Donnell, Jocelyn, and Don Dickson, and went with me and a few people to hockey games.  She joined us at our table.  After breakfast we sang Happy Birthday to Debbie, gave her a cake to blow out the candle...and gave her the birthday gifts which we had bought 2 nights ago.  Then we relaxed...and went downtown just one more time.   Here we parked by the Terminale de Croisiere, and went to a few shops.  Today some of us went to a few shops, had a few of us, including Maren, but except for me, try a Beaver Tail, which was like a giant donut sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, another Canadian delicacy, and went to the Farmer’s Market, where Krista, who now had a sore hip, had a Diet Pepsi, and Gray had a San Pellegrino Aranciata, and looked around for oven mitts for the house as a merci gift without luck.  Then we took the Funiculaire, which was the train-like elevator that leads from way below the Frontenac to the area, which was so much fun.   Then we went to the gelato shop in the Frontenac AGAIN and I, once again, had the Gateau de Fromage in a waffle cone and others had the same thing.  Then Gray, Stephane, and I, all went to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Quebec for a Mass in French, which was on Stephane’s wish list and I shared this wish, as finding an all-English mass in Quebec City was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.  But I enjoyed this too with the music from the organ, and I donated $2 to the church.  After this we went to the first Simon’s, which was my idea, and looked for oven mitts and other kitchen accessories, as their current ones were not very good.  We bought some with pictures of lobsters to remind them that we were from New Brunswick, home of Shediac, dubbed “The Lobster Capital of the World”.  Then we took the Funiculaire again for the way back...and drove home...while at home Debbie and the others were thinking of places to eat for her Birthday.  She wanted nachos like she gets when she goes to a local Saint John restaurant called Thandi’s, so we walked, while some drove, from the house...to a Mexican Restaurant.  Here we were celebrating 2 things:  of course Debbie’s Birthday, and our last day of a successful, all-dream-filled vacation in Quebec City.  I had chicken nachos minus the onions with a Pina Colasa minus the alcohol.  Others had Mexican favorites.  Then the waiters, holding a cake, sang Happy Birthday and some of us added harmonies.  Then we went home...and straight to bed after our meds were taken, as it was a little after 10:00pm and next morning we had to pack up, clean the house, and head home! 

Chapter 7: Au Revoir, Quebec City!

Enjoying the drive

We indeed had breakfast packed up, cleaned the house, made sure we had everything...and headed home, saying good-bye to Quebec.  On the way we stopped at Subway for lunch for all different subs.  As a note, the Subway chain was Krista’s favorite place as she always says this was healthy with lots of veggies to choose from, compared to McDonald’s and burger places.  Then we drove some more, watching one of Kristina’s new DVDs, the 2014 update of Annie which we watched at the theatre the previous Winter after my New York Christmas, and I recognized the places shot in the movie from being there, and I was amazed at the size of the building where Annie stays with her adopted family.  Once we crossed the border we stopped at Tim Horton’s and we had snacks and I ordered in French. Then we went home a little after 10:00, unpacking our things and sending the rental car back to Enterprise.  

Carry The Dream: Atlanta 2012

John O’Donnell and I were to go to Mobile, AL., for a weekend, and then to Atlanta for a L’Arche International Assembly.  The day John O’Donnell and I met for the big trip I was met with a surprise:  He and I were to take a night at a hotel near the Airport.  And it was so.  We took a room at the Halifax Airport Comfort Inn.  I swam in the hotel’s indoor pool and went to bed that night. 

The day we woke up we took a shuttle to the Halifax Stanfield International Airport from where we were to take not 1, not 2, but THREE different planes (thank God all jets) to Toronto, to Atlanta, and then to Mobile.  We went through security without so much as a chirp.  We boarded plane #1 of 3.  In no time we took off and in no time we landed at Pearson International Airport.  Here we were to fill out a US Customs & Border Protection declaration that declared purpose of trip, age, address, whether or not we were carrying fruits, vegetables, or forbidden things, and reason for trip, and then go through Customs before going through security.  We went through US Customs successfully, and then checked our bags again, and then proceeded to our gate only to discover that plane #2 was experiencing mechanical difficulties, and so we were diverted from the original designated gate to another one.  Due to the delay we missed the connecting Delta plane to Mobile.  We booked another one, boarded that one, and landed in Mobile at 10:10 pm Central.   There were people there to pick us up. 

Day 1 in the U.S. we took a drive to the Mardi Gras Museum in Mobile and saw exhibits that told us Mobile was the birthplace of Mardi Gras parades.  Then we took a drive to a house with a pool; a beach nearby; and a Bel Air-style house.  We had a BBQ and a swim. 

The next day we took a drive as a 3-rental-car convoy to Atlanta and on the way we stopped at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant.  A friend took my camera and took a picture of me holding a case of glass bottles of Coca-Cola, the reason being I read in my Atlanta Book that Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta.  Soon we got to the Agnes Scott College, set up, and I went with my driver to the Airport so as he could return the rental car, and the 2 of us took MARTA (the city’s transit train) back to the College.  We had our opening ceremonies and our theme song was called “Carry The Dream”, written by John Coleman, inspired by Martin Luther King, Junior’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.  All the songs during this week were beautiful.  I met lots of friends from all across the world.   

The next day we had a couple assemblies and a Catholic mass in both English and French.  Other days we had church services of all kinds.  We also went to church services at a Presbyterian Church and an Episcopal Church.  The assemblies we went to were spoken in English, French, and Spanish.  We had radios with headphones that translated to English French and Spanish, like say words and prayers were spoken in French or Spanish, we could listen to it in English nonetheless.  That was helpful.  Every night from that night on we had pub nights, and we had 7 pub nights in a row.   John and I went to Decatur CD store and I purchased the DVDs Like Mike, Space Jam, and Beethoven/Beethoven’s 2nd Double Feature, along with the CDs Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. and The Black Eyed Peas The Beginning, all for great prices.

On our final full day in Atlanta we went on a bus tour on a school bus to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, with education about how before “I Have A Dream” people were separated from each other because of their races, cultures, colors, religions, faiths, and abilities, which I already knew about after being in STAR (Students Against Racism), and learning about the World Wars, at Catholic Church to which Dr. King went; got a tour of a museum; and listened to a gospel choir from Mobile singing beautiful songs like O Happy Day, We Shall Overcome, and other gospel favorites.  They then played a video of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.  The next day the same gospel choir sang at our assembly at the College. 

After the final night in Atlanta we said goodbye to our new friends; took the bus to the MARTA Station; took a MARTA Train to the Atlanta Airport; tried to find the ticketing agent; checked our bags; boarded plane #1 of 2 planes, which took off in no time and took us to Pearson Airport.  We went through Canadian Customs and connected planes to plane #2 to Halifax Airport.  We stayed in L’Arche Halifax the day we landed.  At Toronto Airport I had purchased the CD Mumford & Sons Sigh No More.  ​

The next day we drove to Saint John, and that was the end of the journey, and therefore,  the end of the story. 

An A+++++++++++++++++++++ New York City Christmas Week!

Chapter 1: The Food

The day we landed we went to the hotel, the Smyth Tribeca, put things in our room, freshened up, watched a bit on our rooms’ LG flat screens, and went to a nearby restaurant and I had a New York meatball pizza with Pellegrino sparkling water for lunch. 

That night we went to a restaurant (Minetta Tavern) and I had a hamburger with fries and some others in our group were having the same thing, so I could say the famous When Harry Met Sally line “I’ll have what she’s having” after Meg Ryan’s oohs and aahs. 

The next day we gathered in the hotel’s restaurant and I had a New York bagel with cream cheese. 

The lunch was a Chinese buffet at a restaurant with a sparkling orange drink. 

The supper was a Fettuccini Alfredo supper with both sparking and regular water at an Italian restaurant in Times Square near the location for our play. 

The next day breakfast was Greek yogurt with berries and a croissant with sparkling Orange Pellegrino. 

The lunch was a McDonald’s McChicken with fries and a strawberry smoothie. 

The supper after the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall was chicken tenders with fries, sparkling water, and an ice cream plus some shared New York cheesecake at Rockefeller Center’s café and we had not only a good meal, but we could see the outdoor rink and fountain where Buddy the Elf and Jovie kiss on their date scene. 

The breakfast was a brunch at Mom and Dad’s luxury suite with fruit, yogurt and berries, crackers, croissants, and sparkling lemon and sparkling orange Pellegrino. 

The lunch was a New York street-stand hot dog with ketchup, mustard, and relish RIGHT IN FRONT OF MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!  [See the full story of why this part is great in the Sights chapter] 

The supper was at Mercer Kitchen and I had Fish and Chips (Flounder, Ariel’s friend in The Little Mermaid, as opposed to the cod and haddock I order in Canada) with sparkling water and mango sorbet for dessert. 

The following breakfast was another yogurt and berries with orange drink. 

I had one of the store-purchased New York cheesecakes with a Starbucks strawberry smoothie. 

For lunch I had a pizza sub at a Potbelly’s sub shop with sparkling blood orange Pellegrino. 

For supper before the Movie On-Location bus tour, I had, yet, another street-side New York hot dog with all 3 condiments. 

For breakfast before takeoff I had another New York bagel with cream cheese with water. 

Chapter 2: The Sights

From the first plane during takeoff I could see the highway and most of Moncton before dawn. 

When we landed in Montreal I could see the Olympic Stadium, home of the Bio-dome and the old MLB team the Montreal Expos. 

After customs we headed to our gate and I could hear final boarding calls for places like Chicago, Orlando, Minneapolis, and then finally...Newark, where we were landing. 

When plane #2 finally landed in Newark it looked like the opening of The Blues Brothers before Jake is freed and is picked up by his brother…”IN A POLICE CAR!”  When we got out of the gate we went up an escalator…and met up with Stephanie, Glen, and Mary! 

When we got in the shuttle van, I could see the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State Building. 

Enjoying Smyth Tribeca to the fullest.

When we got into the hotel and finally saw our rooms I could see we had a large LG Flat Screen, a bed, a luxury bathroom with shower, and an excellent street view. 

Then we went to a few shops to browse and one had lots of good clothes, and another had great jewelry and another had lots of furniture…and a Steinway grand piano with a picture of New York City above the Steinway logo on the cover. 

The first day we went to Schwartz’s Toy Store where the giant foot piano Tom Hanks and his friend/s play with in the movie Big and I was hoping the foot piano would be there so I could play Let it Go from Frozen, but it was not there. 

Then I saw the Empire State Building and the inside looks almost exactly like in Elf.  The decorations throughout the building were beautifully lit up for Christmas.  When we went into the elevator we soon arrived on the 25th floor where we were to meet Glen’s friend at LinkedIn, who would give us the free tour to the observatory.  When we went through security, we went onto another elevator, which took us to the 80th floor.  And there was the observatory.  Too bad it was too foggy to see the buildings from the observatory, but we went anyway.  Then we saw the gift shop and I bought the movie Sleepless in Seattle, which ends right in the observatory of that very building with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks finally together with their son!  Mom also bought some souvenirs for McKim House! 

Waiting to go up to the observation deck inside the Empire State Building.

After this we saw the giant department Macy’s, AKA Gimbel’s in Elf.  We went up several wooden escalators and had drinks at the 6th floor’s restaurant.  Between floors Stephanie and Mom bought clothes there and I wanted to see the electronics/movies/music section if there was one. 

After this we walked down the streets and I saw and went in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and I wondered what New York’s bishop’s name was as it is often read in the Eucharistic Prayers before communion at Mass, and I thought of my grandparents, Stephane, and Marilyn.  I paid 2 American dollar bills and lit a candle in memory of my grandparents. 

After this we walked past several stores and then past Rockefeller Center and saw its giant Christmas tree and its outdoor skating rink where Buddy and Jovie skate in the date scene of Elf before the big fight with Miles Finch.  Then, after walking for several miles, that’s right, US miles (if we were in Canada I’d say kilometers) we took a cab back to our hotel room. 

We then saw Times Square at night and the lights were unbelievable!  It was like giant flat screens and video screens on giant pro arena and field scoreboards. 

The following night we went to an Italian restaurant in Times Square [see the menu in the food chapter]. 

Then we saw It’s Only a Play, at a nearby theater, starring Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’s Matthew Brocerick, Grease’s Stockard Channing, and Stuart Little’s Nathan Lane, whom you may know as Snowbell, the snooty and funny white cat.  Each star, on their appearance, got a rousing cheer and applause. 

Across from the theater was a huge Marriott Hotel, which, judging by the size, was, I guess, very expensive to stay in.

We took a cab after this through and past the big, amazing lights of Times Square back to our hotel. 

The following morning Mom, Stephanie, and I, and Mary, all went to Barnes & Noble, and we went up an escalator...and there was the bookstore.  Originally, I was going to buy, that’s right, buy, my own copy of Nop’s Trials, expecting it to be in stock here, but it was not in stock, so instead I bought a Border Collie book and Stephanie bought me a James Herriot book, a compilation of short dog stories, and Mom promised me she would order Nop’s Trials and Nop’s Hope for my birthday, in fact coming up on January 7th. 

Then we went to Whole Foods to pick up some local groceries for the hotel room, like small New York cheesecakes, 2 Pellegrino sparking lemonades and 1 Pellegrino sparking orange drink, BBQ chips and nachos, lots of berries, Greek yogurt, and croissants. 

Tonight was the big show at Radio City Music Hall, where Warbucks and Farrell take Annie for Camille in the movie Annie, with the Rockettes and a fabulous Christmas Story with real live sheep and camels!  There was a huge rising stage, a 3D movie, a giant moving orchestra pit, and 2 huge pipe organ keyboard sets with 2 organists dueling with each other! 

Then we had supper at the Rockefeller Center Café and it was amazing.  [See the food chapter for the menu}  From where I was sitting I could see some Christmas trees and the outdoor skating rink, where some people were putting on skating shows.  When I walked around I took a picture of the giant tree where Kevin and his mother meet up near the end of Home Alone 2 and the rink. 

The cab that took us home drove, unexpectedly, past Madison Square Garden where the Knicks and Rangers play. 

When we got to the hotel, channel 26 had started 24 Hours of A Christmas Story and it was probably the only year I got to see this movie on a hotel’s LG flat screen, and as you see in the picture, something else rare, on the LG flat screen in the hotel, the closed captioning under Miss Shields reads a famous Christmas Story line “You call this a paragraph?” 

The following morning Mom gave me my socks back, which I had given her to use as Christmas Morning stockings, and in it were a package of mints from the Empire State Building with the picture on it, shower gel from the hotel, a New York t-shirt, a New York key chain, and 2 extra US dollar bills.   

I watched my new Sleepless DVD on Mom and Dad’s suite’s flat screen and took a picture of the Empire State Building scene where Hanks and Ryan meet in the end.  We noticed that from the suite we could see the peace tower, which replaced the World Trade Center after the horrible terrorist attacks with hijacked planes on September 11th, 2001, and the Empire State Building, which is beautifully lit at night, as you can see from Kevin’s room in Home Alone 2.  We also Face Timed Melody and Erin. 

Then we took the subway to a place called the High Line, where there used to be train tracks and a train, now a park, with good views.  Also from here we could see the Empire State building. 

We looked for a place to have lunch… and where should we find a hot dog stand on a nice sunny day…but Madison Square Garden, where a Knicks game just finished.  My memory associated with that arena was that every February the Westminster Dog Show happens in 2 days, and my favorite year was 2005, where there was a Cardigan Welsh Corgi by the name of Harry Potter, and the winner of the herding group, the last group before Best in Show, was, in fact, a Border Collie by the name of Merlin, a big moment for Border Collie lovers like me, and I hoped he would win Best in Show, but he was shortlisted.  Other events that happen here include pro hockey games, pro basketball games, college basketball games, and concerts.  This building is also Penn Station, a train station.  And from where I was standing it looked like a giant mall, linked by escalators.     After this…we went in to find a gift shop.  Then we found the subway station…and took the subway to our hotel.  Tonight we went to a restaurant for supper by cab [see chapter 1 for the menu].  Then we walked down a street past several stores, including the furniture store.  Then we picked up a cab and went back. 

Madison Square Garden

The next day some of us went to Central Park by subway and it was like living in the movies set there.  At a gift shop mom bought a book called Strawberry Fields.  We thought of going to the zoo, but we decided to skip it.  We walked past the Plaza where Home Alone 2 was set.  I took pictures from all angles.  Then we walked past this and went past several stores.  We went into Tiffany’s Jewelry Store, where the new locket comes from in Annie.  Then we walked past several other jewelry and department stores, one more time past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one more time past Rockefeller Center and its giant Christmas tree, and past Empire State Building, which now had a 2-hour wait to see the observatory due to the now nice sunny day. 

The Plaza

We played with the idea of going to Macy’s again, but it was crazy busy.  We steered out, picked up a cab, and went to the hotel to relax and freshen up.  Tonight we went to Time Warner Center, a giant mall, and we had another street side hot dog, went into the mall, browsed a little, and went to the second floor to watch the Christmas light show and to gather with a group, as this group was to be led with a tour guide to a bus, and this bus was to take us on a guided tour of Christmas movie locations, with clips and trivia on the screen.  This took a couple of pit stops, and at one, at Barney’s Department Store, we had to stop for 15-20 minutes, as we witnessed a robbery in progress, where a woman was caught red-handed stealing a purse and was screaming at the top of her lungs, denying that she did it when she knew she was caught, and fighting as security guards, dressed and posing as fellow shoppers, were holding her until NYPD cars came and took her to jail, and someone behind me on the bus said it was not her first time doing this and being caught here.  After a few locations, we bailed at a pit stop at Macy’s, flagged a cab, and had it take us back to the hotel room.  It was so sad to see New York at night for the last time. 

The next morning we woke up, had breakfast, enjoyed our hotel for the last couple hours in which I made a video to thank Franck, our hotel’s concierge as I had not met him yet, flagged a cab, and had it take us to Newark Airport.  And it was so sad to see New York City and its amazing sights in the cab’s rearview mirror after such an amazing once-in-a-lifetime Christmas vacation.  We went through security and found our gate, and I was expecting to go through customs here.  Within hours our plane showed up, and within less than one hour we boarded.  We took off, and after less than an hour we landed in Montreal and I saw the Olympic Stadium.   After we came out of the gate, we saw Stephanie, Glen, and Mary en route to their gate, next to ours!  We gathered, went through security one final time, found a restaurant, and ate together one final time on our vacation.  We went to our gates and within minutes Steph and Glen’s plane showed up, then ours showed up.  Within hours Steph, Glen, and Mary, boarded their planes and later we boarded ours.  When we landed in Moncton it was about 11:30pm!  We were so tired. 

Thank you, Stephanie, Glen, and Mary, Mom, and Dad, for making this possible.  And thank you, Franck and the Smyth hotel staff, for the hotel room and its many great amenities!  A thank you to the salesperson at Barnes and Noble who sold me the Border Collie book, a thank you to the LinkedIn people at the Empire State Building for the free tour of Empire State Building, a thank you to the salesperson at the gift shop who sold me the Sleepless movie, a thank you to the waiters at Minetta Tavern, Mercer Kitchen, the pizza place on the 22nd, and the hotel’s restaurant, a huge thank you to the hot dog stand people who sold me the hot dog, and all the people I met who served and helped me during the whole trip, all without whom this trip would not be a huge fun success! 

An Absolutely Grand-In Toronto Trip!

Patrick Skywalker

Chapter 1: Take off/finding the L’Arche Toronto House

Today we went to Saint John Airport.  We were to take 2 different planes:  A Bombardier Dash to Halifax International Airport and from there in 2 hours we would take an Airbus jet to Pearson International Airport. 

We went through security. 

Then within minutes our plane to Halifax showed up, again a Bombardier Dash with one row per side, so Gray and I sat across the aisle from each other AND we had window seats. 

Gray and I put our cell phones on Airplane Mode.  Within minutes the engine started and we headed to the series of lines…then took off! 

In just 45 minutes we landed at Halifax International Airport.  Then we went through the gate, up an escalator to the other gate, then down another to browse at stores and have supper at Burger King, eating like a king and queen, as we had a 2 hour layover. 

Then we went through security again, up an escalator, then to the gate, and within minutes our second plane showed up: An Airbus, the same kind John O’Donnell and I had taken to Toronto En Route to Atlanta 2012. 

Later we boarded, and in no time we took off. 

I looked at the En Route magazine that was in front of me…and put it in my backpack when we landed.  We got off, and then we went through the gate to Pearson International Airport. 

We went to the baggage claim, through 3 escalators and 2 moving walkways. 

Before the alarm went off denoting the bags were on their way to the baggage carousel, I texted Mom and Stephanie, saying I made it there safely and was having fun.  Then the baggage carousel started and we got our bags.  Then we left, going up 2 escalators to catch the TTC Airport Rocket to Kipling Subway Station. 

The name of that subway station makes me thing of Disney’s The Jungle Book and my Cubs years.  Once there we got off the bus, gathered our bags, went down an escalator to the Subway station, and awaited the Subway. 

Within minutes a subway arrived and we boarded.  It took off. 

We went to Greenwood Station and caught a bus that would take us to the L’Arche House we were supposed to stay in and got there…only to discover there was a change of plans, so instead of Greenwood House, we would stay at Gamble House, which had a piano! 

So the house people called a Beck Taxi to take us to Gamble House, charging it to Greenwood House.  Within minutes a green and orange Toyota cab showed up…and took us to the house.  We settled and met the house people who were friendly. 

Chapter 2: Symposium Day 1

We got up quite early, had breakfast, and then we freshened up. 

Then we called a Beck Cab, and within minutes another orange and green Toyota cab showed up.  The cab took us through the city and within minutes we came to the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. 

Then we went in, took a long escalator down to where the speeches would happen…and went to registration.  We got our badges…then we browsed where the books and the copies of the Temple Grandin movie starring Romeo & Juliet’s Clare Danes as Temple, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, and Beetlejuice’s Catherine O’Hara as Temple’s Aunt Ann, and Julie Ormond as Temple’s Mother were all sold.  I kept convincing Gray to get a copy, that way we would both have a copy. 

Then we went to the first speech: Antecedent Manipulations: The Behaviour Analyst’s Crack Cocaine, by Dr. Merrill Winston, not only a brilliant expert on autism, but also a comedian who did a legit and entertaining rap, compared behaviors to movies, and finished of with a mixed up clip with The Blues Brothers cussing at the nun and getting slapped with the ruler with Aretha Franklin swearing in the restaurant scene. 

Then Gray and I looked for a place to have lunch, so we went through the Skywalk, where my Grandmother and sisters used to go through En Route to a Blue Jays game when they had the players that helped them win the World Series in the early 90s.  The last time Mom and I went through there we had found an A&W restaurant there, but due to recent construction, now it must have either moved or closed down.  We went to the Toronto Tourism Office and we got some information, like maps and pamphlets that had info and pictures. 

Then Gray and I went to a nearby Tim Horton’s and we each had kettle chips, me with a chicken burger and I forget what Gray had.  Then we were supposed to attend a the next session in the same room as Dr. Winston, but the subject didn’t seem appealing, so we decided to do more exploring.  We did go to the North Building. 

We went through the CBC museum and it showed artifacts from old shows.  For example there was a TV at an artifact that played the Mr. Dressup theme, which remained stuck in my head from that moment on. 

Then we went through mall after mall, trying to find the P.A.T.H. 

Then after more exploring we found the Royal York Hotel, took the P.A.T.H. from the Royal York to the Union Subway Station, discovering that this was under major construction.  We took the Subway to Bloor/Yonge and transferred to the line, getting off at Broadview Station, and taking the #87 bus to Todmorden Street, then getting off and walking around the corner to our H.A.F.H. (Home Away From Home) 

Then we relaxed and had supper with the Gamble House friends, and then we had a prayer service, then I played the piano, doing songs from our L’Arche Songbook which we had used the previous weekend in Halifax and songs from the Disney Movie Frozen.  Then we settled down and headed to bed. 

Chapter 3:  Shopping/Aquarium/Tiago/Souvenir Day

Today we walked down Gamble to Pape Street.  A bus picked us up and took us to Pape Station.  From there we took the Subway to Bloor/Yonge and transferring and getting off at Union. 

Then we tried successfully to find the Toronto Eaton Centre.  There we went down an escalator and down the hall from this was HMV! 

At HMV I bought School of Rock and Jumanji. 

Then we went to the food court for lunch and I got the KFC Popcorn Chicken with Fries and an iced tea, while Gray got a pita. 

Then we met Tiago at Ripley’s Aquarium, and boy were we in for some fun together! 

First we met, then we registered, and then we got some tickets!  We saw all kinds of sea and marine life!  We saw some stingrays, sharks, and all kinds of fish! 

There was a whole section about Disney & Pixar’s famous Finding Nemo with an aquarium with clownfish like Nemo and blue fish like the forgetful Dory who keeps singing Just Keep Swimming/Just Keep Swimming.  Then Gray got me to touch a crab and if I did she would treat me to an ice cream…so I did! 

Then after seeing all kinds of marine life we walked down streets to find the Real Sports store where they sold lots of Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Marlies merchandise, and I bought a Raptors keychain.  We walked down more streets…and saw a busker playing ragtime on an old Willis upright piano outside!  I gave this busker 2 toonies. 

Then we went to the North Building of the Convention Centre…as Temple Grandin was having a book signing…and as a bonus…if we were one of the first 100 customers to line up to get her book signed, which we were, we would get a free signed copy of her book The Autistic Brain!  So we not only got a book signed and had our picture taken with her…but we got a free book!  So now I have 2 copies: a hard cover copy…and a paperback signed by her!  Gray took some pictures of the 2 of us and I told her I saw the movie, as last time I did not see the movie, but I saw the cases were there, and I found the sight of this appealing, so when Mom and I got back last time she showed me a PVR recording of the movie and I loved how she thinks in pictures and in the end gives a speech on autism in a convention centre, just like I see with Mom and now Gray! 

Then we went to St. Lawrence Market and at a gift shop I bought a Blue Jays water bottle, as on seeing it I thought of Gram and thought she would be smiling in Heaven if I bought this. 

That night Gray and I went to Lone Star Café for supper and I had Quesadillas with rice and vegetables with a Perrier.  We went home, taking the Royal York P.A.T.H. to Union and getting off at Broadview, taking the same bus to the same street and arriving at the same house, remembering the way. 

Chapter 4: Temple Grandin speech/pack up/take off

Posing with Temple Grandin

Today we took the Beck Taxi to the North Building, went down the escalator, and went to the theatre. 

Today’s first speech was by Drs. Paula Kluth and Stephen Shore, called The 5 Myths of Autism.  This lasted from 8:30am-10:00am. 

Then Gray and I went up an escalator to Second Cup and each got a Strawberry Banana smoothie…then headed back to the theatre for the next speech. 

The next speaker really doesn’t need introduction, like the MC said at this speech and the ones Mom and I attended in 2006 and 2010.  This was writer and animal behaviorist, Clare Danes’ character, Dr. Temple Grandin!  This was interesting as she compared her brain to normal people’s brains, and her comparisons of Airports and her Cattle Machines on farms which she herself had designed, as seen in the Temple Grandin movie.  She talks how people like her were sensitive to sounds, colors, and other things.  In the 2006 speech Mom and I had attended before I had moved into L’Arche Saint John, Temple mentioned that in school she was harassed, being called “Tape Recorder” because she was constantly repeating the same stuff over and over again. 

Then Gray and I went to Boston Pizza and I ordered the 6” 4-topping pizza with Caesar Salad and Perrier. 

Today’s third and final speech was by former U.S. Supreme Court Judge Helen E. Hoens, Moderator Jennifer Krummins, and Temple Grandin’s mother, Julie Ormond’s character from the movie, Ms. Eustacia Cutler.  Here Cutler talked endlessly about her daughter Temple, using endless references to the movie and its concepts, and talked endlessly about Temple’s school years, like how Temple had hit someone with a book, injuring that person, and that person reported it to the school, and the school expelled Temple from that school, ordering her not to go back after New Year’s, and that they found a suitable school for autistics and disabled people on a farm with horses and cows, which gave Temple the idea of designing cattle moving devices, also shown in the Temple Grandin movie.  Cutler also mentioned that most of the beef used in Burger King and McDonald’s burgers came from farms at which Temple Grandin had installed some of these brilliant devices. 

Then we headed to the Union Station…only to discover my water bottle was left behind, so we went back and I said a prayer to St. Anthony, the Patron Saint of Lost and Founds, and went back to the North Building…and found it in the theatre where we had gone to the Temple Grandin speech. 

The water bottle is safe!

Then take 2 on the way to Gamble House.  We got back, packed up, signed a card, left a candle as a gift, relaxed, said goodbye to our Gamble House friends…and headed to Kipling Station, catching the Airport Rocket to Pearson Airport, and checking our bags.  We went through security, went on 2 moving walkways, browsed at the stores, located our gate…and had supper and then Gray had a smoothie at Starbucks and I had a Frappuccino.  Then we waited for the plane to show up, and we boarded.  Within minutes we took off…and in 2 hours and 15 minutes we landed in Saint John, getting picked up by Jocelyn and grabbing our bags…and heading home, with New York Christmas 2014 to look forward to!  

An Epic Thanksgiving Weekend!

Chapter 1: Day 1

I took the Maritime Bus Service to Moncton, the 10:30 bus that got into Moncton at 12:40, but I arrived later due to waiting in Salisbury on some transferring passengers.  But nonetheless I had a great first day. 

Ella

Mom and I went to the nearby Sobeys to get things for the Thanksgiving weekend meals.  This included 2 bottles of sparkling apple juice. 

Then we went to Shoppers Drug Mart and Mom bought me a 4 movie collection that included Bingo, a movie about a circus dog who saves the life of a boy whose father is a place kicker for an NFL football team, that I used to rent in Grade 11 and used to own on VHS with my old tubes that I missed. 

Stephanie showed up later from work. 

Then we headed home and Erin and Oliver were there and we had fun together. 

Then I played the new guitar for Oliver which he loved. 

Pat & Oliver just hanging out

Then we had supper together and then I watched the new movie. 

Later that night we planned Days 1 and 2 of our New York Christmas. 

Chapter 2: Day 2

I woke up and had breakfast while Erin and Oliver were having fun.  We were singing Oliver a song from the Stand by Me soundtrack, except instead of “Lollipop” we sang “Oliver”.  He loved it and laughed. 

Best Buds

Later Mom, Erin, and Oliver, all went shopping, stopping at the Banana Republic and buying some new pairs of pants for me, one of which I kept to wear back at home, and the rest to save for the New York Christmas 2014.  Then we went to OshKosh and the clothes and the logo made me think of Brennan and Connor used to wear as toddlers when we filmed them for Gram while I was in Grades 11 and 12.   Originally we were going to do this and see if I could get a haircut.  But Oliver was feeling tired and we went home.  

Then I watched the show The Best of New York where this wacky and funny Food Network host goes from restaurant to restaurant to see the recipes for the local cuisine and get some samples.  It was also interesting when this host walked through the streets of New York to get to a certain restaurant, diner, or tavern.  And it seemed fitting that I had lunch and then resumed the show while having 2 of Mom’s oatmeal cookies. 

Chapter 3: Day 3

Today was shopping/browsing/haircut day.  I had breakfast and then Stephanie and Glen took me to Champlain Place to get a haircut at Cut 2000.  First we went to Sobeys to buy pumpkin flavored baby food so Oliver would have a Thanksgiving meal just like the rest of us.  Then we went to Starbucks for a drink and I had a strawberry banana smoothie.  Then we went to Cut 2000 for my 10:30 hair appointment and during the whole haircut I chatted with the barber about L’Arche, the 50 Fest in Halifax, the Toronto Symposium with Gray where we see Temple Grandin, and the New York Christmas. 

Then we went to HMV and we browsed, looking for New York movies such as When Harry Met Sally…, but that was not there. 

Then Steph, Glen, and I went to Moxie’s for lunch.  Jen showd up and let me borrow her copy of the book Finding Danny and I loved it.    Then we watched The Best of New York again and I loved it again. 

A selfie at lunch

Later that afternoon I peeled potatoes while Brennan peeled apples for pie.  Later Glen took Brennan and me to Spin It and Mom gave me a polymer $20 and I got the DVDs Dante’s Peak, Sister Act 1 and 2 collection and the CD Jock Jams 4 for Zumba music, and I got the CD for free with the 2 DVDs.  This evening we had supper with a sample of Mom’s apple pie for dessert.    Tonight we also planned Days 3-6 of New York Christmas 2014.  Tonight I watched Sister Act and I loved the 60s Motown hits that come up. 

Chapter 4: Thanksgiving Meal day!

Today was not only Thanksgiving Meal Day, in which we had turkey, Mom’s Apple Pie with ice cream, AND Jennifer’s Strawberry Shortcake, but Ella got 2 surprise walks.  The first was with Mom and me and we saw beautiful leaves and a Corgi-Border Collie mix, which made it look like Ella was playing the giant in My Giant.

Our beloved border collie Ella 

Later Glen took Brennan, Dad, and me to the BMW dealership, not only a nice car dealership with lots of cars to look at, but close to the Moncton Airport, from where we will fly to New York City this Christmas. 

Family shot before our walk

We went home and within an hour or less we were seated at the table awaiting the Turkey buffet with the sparkling apple juice we had bought earlier at Sobeys.  This meal included, of course, our turkey, our “cranberry sarce,” which is what Dad calls cranberry sauce, the turnip, Jennifer’s Sweet Potato Casserole which I took a stab at several times at L’Arche since I had gotten that cookbook with the pictures that Christmas, and 2 kinds of dressing: sausage dressing, then the traditional kind we use in Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Then, as planned, came the pie with ice cream and it was a hit!  Then we went for a group walk down the path to the field, again with Ella on leash with me.   Then we paused for a photo op, for which I did the Jean Vanier pose from his pictures in our house and on some of his books. 

Yum!

Then Jen served the Strawberry Shortcake, which made up for the fact that I did not get any strawberry shortcake with the McGrath family this summer or get to Upper Cape. 

Then we watched a movie called Chef with Elf’s actor and director Jon Favreau and it was funny with lots of Twitter tweeting action.  The food pictured was delicious looking. 

Chapter 5: The Journey Home

This morning Steph, Glen and Mo all went back.  Then I had breakfast and had fun with Erin and Oliver.  Then I realized how much better Lupin was getting with me, with little to no growling or barking at me.  Then Mom and I played Take 2 and I schooled her big time in 2 games.  I brought my stuff up and returned Jen’s copy of Finding Danny on the desk between the stairs and the porch door. 

Then I said good-bye to Erin and Dad and headed to the bus/train station.  Within minutes it was announced my bus was boarding, so I boarded, and so ended the Family Thanksgiving 2014 Together with the 50 Fest in Halifax, the Toronto Autism Symposium with Gray, and New York Christmas 2014 to look forward to! 

An Epic and Fanci-ful Vacation

Chapter 1: Monday 

At St. F X in Antigonish

          We got into the new just-won Kia Sedona van and headed to Antigonish.  We stopped at the Salisbury Tim Horton’s and I got a smoothie, trying it with the Greek yogurt.  We connected our phone to the sound system and played our summer mix, then played the other group’s mix CD.  Our group, by the way, consisted of me, Stephane, Silvana, Justine, and summer student Tricia.  We entered Nova Scotia and went through the Cobequid Toll Booth.  We passed the Only Exit to Halifax, which we skipped.  We then passed Stellarton, not only the birthplace of Sobeys grocery stores and Big 8 water and pop, but where Mom and I picked up Ella, my second Border Collie, after losing Molly, my first Border Collie, at 6 years of age before my move into Saint John.  Within minutes we entered Antigonish.  We first stopped at Sobeys to pick up groceries, including our traditional vacation snack Sun Chips and traditional vacation cereal Cap’n Crunch.  We went to Hope and Dixie Houses, and then went to find Horizons, formerly L.E.A.P., as someone there had the key to our house, Covenant House.  I learned that Yeshua House had closed and was being demolished, and I was saddened.  It has to be sad for a loyal L’Arche person when L’Arche houses in the Atlantic Region close and get destroyed.  We went to Covenant House, down the road from the former L’Arche House and down the road from the Sobeys.  We set up and got settled.  Tonight we wanted to have a campfire and noticed we did not have a lighter or matches, so we walked back to Sobeys and picked up a lighter.  Tonight we had a campfire with a guitar and songs and roasted marshmallows. 

Chapter 2: Tuesday 

          Today we drove to a close beach to Antigonish and some swam while I took pictures with my Blackberry and played the guitar.  We also picnicked.  We went back to Covenant House and walked to a nearby dairy bar and got ice cream.  Then we walked back, and tonight we went to a nearby pub to have a drink in hopes that live music would be playing, but none was, so after my Perrier I went onstage and sang Danny Boy, Cockles and Mussels, and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. 

Chapter 3: Wednesday 

View from the Harbour Hopper

          Today we took a day trip to Halifax.  First we went to Mic Mac Mall and we shopped.  At HMV I bought Bruce Almighty/Evan Almighty collection on DVD and the Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits CD.  We headed to Downtown Halifax and got tickets for the Harbour Hopper.  There I saw a book I really wanted called the Harbour Hopper’s Best Halifax Stories.  Then we took a walk, caught some of the Busker Festival, walked some more, and then headed back in time to board the Harbour Hopper.  Within minutes it took off, and the narrated tour commenced.  The narrator got us to go “Ribbit-Ribbit” twice on this tour.   We went up a hill, through the Citadel, past the Public Gardens, down Spring Garden Road (I saw the place HMV used to be and I also find it sad when an HMV I had shopped in and listened to top 40 music in since grade 11 closes), back to the waterfront… and went into the water.  The narrator talked about history I already knew about from school and the Heritage Minutes videos from TV.  Then after going past ships that were there and then past the waterfront, and then emerged from the water.  Then we got off the Harbour Hopper.  Then we went to the ferry terminal and took the ferry to Dartmouth… and took the ferry back… and went to Cows Ice Cream and had our favorite ice creams in waffle cones there.  Then we went to the Old Triangle where the Alexander Keith’s commercials with the angry guy was set and had supper there.  I had fish and chips with a Perrier.  Then we headed home.  

Chapter 4: Thursday 

Basketball

          Today Silvana and I went to Coles Antigonish Mall to see if I could find the book, which I did, and buy it, which I did, and to see if I could find a souvenir for Debbie who always felt left out if I mentioned vacation.  We headed back… and went to a local interest store and I bought a book for Debbie to enjoy and to read to Kristina.  We also bought a bottle of blueberry syrup and a CD for Covenant House as a thank-you for letting us stay there.  Then we went to Hope/Dixie Houses for a multi-community barbecue and I played the guitar.  Then we went to Hearts and Hands and got a tour and then we went to Horizons and we got a tour, and there I played the piano.  I played while Stephane and Silvana went back to Hearts and Hands and bought a souvenir for Stephane and one for Silvana: artwork by Tom Landry like we have in our kitchen at McKim House.  Then we headed home, had supper, and then some of us got a tour of St. F. X.  University where Mom, Dad, and Jennifer, all went to university, and which had the basketball teams I loved to watch play.  There I saw the big football field, the hockey rink, and the basketball court where the varsity teams I watch plays and practices.  I went home and enjoyed my book.  Then Stephane, Silvana and I walked to Sobeys and we got snacks for the drive home:  I got Sun Chips and Stephane got Lay’s Old Fashioned BBQ chips. 

Chapter 5: Friday 

          Today we visited an old friend of Jocelyn’s and our community’s in a nursing home named Carroll.  Then we walked home, packed up, got into the car, fuelled up, and headed home, passing Stellarton and the Only Exit to Halifax along the way… and stopping at Holly’s in Hampton, where I got chicken strips and fries and a strawberry milkshake.  Then we headed home!  So ends Vacation 2014.  

Saint John New Brunswick Tour Guide: 2014

Hotels connected to shopping and restaurants.

Hotels

For accommodations in Saint John nothing beats the Delta Brunswick, with a pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, flat-screen TVs in each room, connection by pedway to Brunswick Square with 3 levels of shops linked by escalators and elevators including a cool glass elevator, a restaurant with lots of great menu items, and a massive parking garage. 

If you love seafood, try the hotel restaurant’s Fish and Chips.  If you love pancakes, nothing beats a hotel restaurant’s pancakes with fruit and whipped cream and/or syrup.  Rain Man would be impressed with the timing if Charlie Babbitt would order pancakes for them because as Rain Man says, “Maple syrup’s s’posed to be on the table before the pancakes.”

Escaltor

Another great accommodation is the Hilton Saint John.  The rooms have a view of the harbour or the city.  From some rooms, on Wednesday in summer, you can see Saint John Idol from the room.  It is the same thing on Thursdays for Alpine Country Star. 

There is a pool, a fitness centre, flat-screen TVs in each room, luxury suites, and a restaurant with great meals.  There is a pedway link to Market Square, another mall with 2 levels lined by escalators and elevators with a library, a museum with historical and neat artifacts, some stores, a food court, and a nice fountain that gives it a park-like feel.    Again fish and chips are a favorite here among seafood lovers and pancakes with fruit and whipped cream and/or maple syrup is a hit with breakfast lovers. 

Cruise Ships

 In summer cruise ships visit Saint John.  The Cruise Terminals, the Marco Polo, and the brand new Diamond Jubilee, named after Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, are awesome to see, especially when cruise ships are in, because down the escalators at these places come visitors when the ships dock, and up they go when they are about to take off.  These ships are fun to watch too.  At take off time these ships slowly, in the same speed as the alien ships in Independence Day, turn around to prepare for takeoff, blare their loud, low horn, then take off, and you can wave goodbye to these ships’ passengers.  These cruise terminals also host things like charity barbecues, dances, parties, and also conventions for organizations. 

Digby Ferry

Digby Ferry

The Digby Ferry, also known as the Princess of Acadia is another fun thing.  Although pretty soon this boat will be replaced with a new one in a year, this is fun To Do activity.  The Digby Ferry will take off at a certain time, and prior to take off, foot passengers can board, while passengers with vehicles also board.  The sailing will take approximately 3 hours.  During the sailing the vessel’s Sea Breeze Lounge will play a movie on its huge LED flat-screen TV, while the Fundy Grill will serve great cuisine, like Fish and Chips, famous Digby scallops, and famous Digby clams.  On the upper level there is an LED flat-screen TV and a Starbucks coffee shop.  Sometimes if the weather and things are right, during the sailing there are whale-watching opportunities.  After approximately 3 hours this vessel will dock at the Digby terminal.  There is also a gift shop with books and lots of souvenirs.  The best time to come back, if it sails at this time, is at night when it is dark, as the lights of Saint John are beautiful.  

McKim House

McKim House

 L’Arche Saint John, also known as McKim House, is home to residents with and without disabilities.  Visit here and you get a tour, you may get a hot chocolate or tea, and you may be serenaded by someone with music.  That someone is me.  The people in this house travel, celebrate, and have had assistants from all across the globe, including Germany, India, Kenya, the Philippines, and other places. 

L’Arche Saint John, AKA McKim House is not only welcoming, but also has friendly residents, tours, music by residents, and often tours around the neighborhood.  Some residents can play the piano and guitar, some love traveling, some love dogs, cats, and children, and others love to talk about their family and past events.  The house also has a lending library. 

From some rooms or the fire escape you can see the buildings of uptown, cruise ships arriving and leaving, and fireworks for Canada Day and New Year’s Eve.  This house is about to celebrate 50 Years of L’Arche International. 

Martello Tower

Martello Tower

Across from McKim House, just a short walk, is Martello Tower, what CN Tower is to Toronto, Chateau Frontenac is to Quebec City and Cinderella’s Castle is to Disney World Orlando:  skyline domination. You do not have to go into the tower or to the top of the tower if afraid of heights, just walk around, to get a good view of the city.  You can see McKim House, its neighboring church Our Lady Of The Assumption, cruise ships if in or during cruise ship season, The Delta Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick Square, Market Square, The Hilton Hotel, The Howard Johnson Hotel (formerly Fort Howe Hotel), The Harbour Bridge, St. Luke’s Church, The Digby Ferry and its terminal, St. Rose Of Lima Church, The Irving Pulp And Paper Mill, The Irving Oil Refinery, and Partridge Island.  There is also a museum with audio narrations in English and French.  Just take the phone receivers, put it to your ear, and press the buttons that read English and French, and a voice will come on the receiver telling you history behind the tower and the figures that made this spectacular attraction such a wonderful historical site.  On Canada Day, tours of the tower and the museum are free. 

O’Leary’s

Nothing beats pub life in Saint John.  Its only Irish pub, O’Leary’s, does not serve lunch or dinner, but hosts concerts by well know artists and on Tuesday evenings, be sure to go there, order a club soda, Pepsi, Ginger Ale, or any kind of beer and a bag of chips, and go to the back area, and listen in as a group of Irish musicians sit in a circle and go around the circle, singing well known Irish tunes and reciting Irish poems and stories.  On St. Patrick’s Week this pub hosts a breakfast to support L’Arche Saint John, so if you are here at this time, purchase a ticket, present it, get a nice breakfast of sausages, hash browns, eggs, bacon, and orange juice, go into the back area, and listen in while you enjoy your breakfast as Irish musicians play and sing well known Irish songs.  Sometimes the main area where you were just served breakfast plays CDs of well known folk tunes like the Great Big Sea albums Play and Up, The Chieftains, and The Irish Descendents.  The main area also has flat-screen TVs tuned to the important sporting events like C.I.S. basketball, CHL, NHL, NBA, soccer, and football. 

Harbour Station

Harbour Station

Harbour Station is THE place to be for things like sporting events.  The well known hockey team - the Saint John Sea Dogs, who were Memorial Cup champions in 2011 and Memorial Cup Runner Up in 2012 - play here.  The city’s first professional basketball team, the Saint John Millrats, formerly from Manchester, also plays here.  In winter 2014 the Ford World Women’s Curling tournament was hosted here and played on TSN.

Sports are not the only things hosted here.  Well known musicians have concerts, like country sensations Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire, and pop sensations Rihanna and Fredericton’s own David Myles.  Musicals come up as well.  In October 2010 this fabulous facility hosted a wonderful musical in which the Saint John Chorale, the Saint John Theatre Club, and the Harbour View chorus, and a well known orchestra, all joined forces to create a wonderful musical, called Marco Polo: The Musical, about the world’s fastest ship (sorry, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jack Sparrow fans, not The Interceptor or The Black Pearl but it was savvy, and, to quote a repeated Commodore Norrington line with my own version, it was, without doubt, the best musical I had ever seen)The Marco Polo, after which our first Cruise Terminal had been named after.  It was wonderful and spectacular.  It outshined The Lion King.  The Saint John Theatre Club also did comedy plays at the nearby Imperial Theatre, like The Importance of Being Earnest. 

An Epic, Fanciful Stay-Cation!

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Enjoying a New Brunswick Stay-Cation

Chapter 1: Monday

Today was Day 1 of Stay-Cation.  Sophia, Silvana, Krista, and Stephane, were in PEI to go camping in tents.  Debbie, Tricia, Gray, Kristina, and I, all went in our brand-new just-won Kia Sedona van with automatic-almost-anything, and went to Rockwood Park to walk and picnic.  Then we went bowling at Bowlarama.  The first string Debbie had 95 as total, I had 87, Kristina had 82, Tricia had 73, and Gray had 70.  Debbie won that one.   And in the 2nd and final string I had 94, Debbie had 93, Kristina had 90, Gray had 78, and Tricia had 73, so I won that game. 

Chapter 2: Tuesday 

            Today Jocelyn, Debbie, Gray, Kristina, Karen (Kristina’s Mother), and I all went to Campobello Island via 2 ferries: one to Deer Island, and one to Campobello Island.  On Campobello Island we picnicked with Karen’s niece who was a Border Patrol officer.  Then we walked to the nearby beach to the picnic table.  We got a tour of Eleanor Roosevelt’s cottage.  I took pictures of these with my Blackberry’s camera app.  Then we had Tea with Eleanor Roosevelt, where we had tea (in my case water) and lemon cookies and gingersnaps as we listened in on a speech on all of Eleanor Roosevelt’s great accomplishments.  Then we got a cookbook on cookies.  Then we went to the beach.  Then we went for a nice scenic drive, stopped at a restaurant where all of us, except Kristina and Debbie, had fish and chips (Kristina had chicken strips and a baked potato and Debbie had a cheeseburger with ketchup and relish and fries).  Debbie was allergic to fish, and Kristina’s eyebrow went up on chicken strips and a baked potato.  Then we headed home by ferry. 

Chapter 3: Wednesday 

            Today Debbie, Kristina, Tricia, Jocelyn, Gray, and I all went to the Kennebecasis Island for some time and supper at Jo’s camp.  On the way we took the Peninsula Princess, then a smaller ferry.  I played the guitar and sang some songs from Frozen, Camp Rock, and The Wave.  We barbecued sweet potatoes, and salmon and pork chops for Debbie who, again, is allergic to fish, and me, who only likes fish if it is fish and chips.  We then had s’mores.  Then we headed home, taking the same 2 ferries. 

Chapter 4: Thursday 

            Today was like living all 4 Free Willy movies, Flipper, and Andre.  Debbie, Stephane, Krista, Kristina, Jocelyn, Sophia, Silvana, Justine, Gray, and I, all went to St. Andrew’s to witness a whale-watching cruise.  It was my first whale watching tour. First we picnicked again, and then we went to a store to buy a rainproof hat for the tour and a St. Andrew’s hat with a whale on it.  We then went to the building, paid for our boarding tickets, and then waited to board a boat.  Then we boarded the ship and within moments it took off as fast as an Air Canada Jazz jet on takeoff mode, so, imitating an airline captain, I told a joke, “Please make sure your seat and tray tables are in their upright, locked positions.”   Within moments we passed where we had taken the ferries to Deer Island on Tuesday en route to Campobello Island, then we came to a little island where a whole bunch of seals and porpoises were playing together, so it would be safe to say we took this trip on porpoise!  Get it?  Then we took off again.  Later we saw some eagles and 2 kinds of seagulls: gray-backed, and black-backed.  We also saw some dolphins.  Then we passed Campobello Island and its ferry.  Later, within moments, we saw a few whales!  I tried to capture it with my Blackberry’s camera app.

Sorry, Free Willy fans, no orcas, no Willy.  After an hour and a half, we turned around.  A tour guide then came with a tank, and in it were a starfish, a baby starfish, urchins, crabs, and other sea creatures.  Later we docked at the wharf from which we had taken off.  Then we headed home and celebrated Jocelyn’s Birthday! 

Whale-Watching off St. Andrew's New Brunswick

Chapter 5: Friday 

            This was the nostalgic day.  Today Silvana, Stephane, Justine, and I took the rental, a Nissan Pathfinder, to Fundy National Park.  The reason this was nostalgic was, back in the day, while I was a child and we lived on Taylor’s Lane, Mom, Dad, Erin, Stephanie, Jennifer, Melody, and I, all, several times, took the Ford van to Fundy Park to go camping, listening to Dirty Dancing, Lionel Richie, The Big Chill, Stand By Me and other memorable music along the way, all three dogs:  Nicky our mongrel, Katie our older Golden Retriever, and Simon our young Golden Retriever, all with us. 

Back to now. 

We hiked in the Caribou trail, or should I say, the Karibu Trail? (Karibu is Justine’s language, Swahili, for “Welcome”).

Hiking the trails in Fundy National Park in New Brunswick. 

 Then we picnicked, and we went to the visitors centre as I remembered, as a kid, this had a series of shops, and I had a question:  Why the direction signs had changed colors from dark desert tan with yellow lettering like some that remained, to dark green with white lettering, and they said the previous color was for Provincial Parks and this was a National Park.  I noticed they had Jennifer’s second book in stock: White Cave Escape.  And I totally forgot to tell the salesperson that the author was my sister.  I had already told the salesperson in the Digby Ferry’s gift shop that the Chocolate River Rescue author was my sister.   Then we took a scenic route to Moncton, and on the way I gave a Harbour Hopper-style narrated tour of Albert County, Hillsborough, Riverview, and all points in between, then we passed Bessborough School and I showed them.  Then we went to my Mom’s house, and we talked over a Pellegrino mixed with orange juice and Greek yogurt.  Then we walked to Jennifer’s house to show them Danny and the house.  We were just about to leave when Jennifer showed up with Brennan and Connor, who all got brand new electric guitars!  So they gave me back my electric.  We headed back up to Mom’s house and a couple expected guests showed up.  Mom prepared supper and we had it here.  Then, using my returned electric guitar, I gave everyone a concert of Catholic hymns and well known old songs.  I played a song written by one of my fellow Key Industries In-Key Choir members, called Passion for Music.  Then we headed back, and I took my stuffed Collie from Universal Florida, which I named Troy, and my black and white stuffed dog, which I had gotten Christmas of Grade 12, which I named Kevin, after Kevin Jonas from Camp Rock. 

So ended Stay-Cation 2014!  Stay tuned for a story of Vacation 2014!  

Same L’Arche Time, Same L’Arche Channel!