It's all relative

A couple of weeks ago, Chuck and Jacquie were golfing at Lookout Mountain in Phoenix AZ.  They met a guy at the canteen who remarked on the Meagher name on Chuck's golf cart.

"I'm reading a book about a guy with that same name," he says.

"That would be The Immortal Irishman," says Chuck.  "Thomas Francis Meagher is my great-great-great-great uncle!"

Two days later, on another golf course in Phoenix, they meet a guy from Butte MT.  Chuck says, "I have a relative who used to be Governor of Montana."

"That must be Thomas Francis Meagher," the guy says.  "My cousin, Paul Wylie, wrote a book about him called The Irish General."

And Chuck bought Tom the book for his birthday!

They even dress alike.

4-20

4-20 may be the day when all and sundry get together to smoke pot in defiance of the laws, but .... it's also the birthday of the Sweet One, who is 92 today!

Yay!

Bryan, Emily and Tom, the Birthday Boy!

Change of season

Today it is Spring.

Not because the blossoms on the tree outside our front window are ready to POP.  Not because the daylight is stretching more and more into the evening.  And not because I've stopped wearing a sweater under my fleece.

Today it is Spring because, when I took my black jeans out of the dryer today, I put them in the back of the closet, never to see the light of day again until October.

Today it is Spring!

Christmas in July - Part 2

Well .... April ...

The good news is that I didn't lose a single stitch over 357 rows, and only had to tink a half dozen times, and only for three or four stitches at a time ...

The bad news is that I'm a little behind schedule (you think?).

But Easter Sunday, the McNeills finally get their 2016 Christmas present!

The Beagle has landed

We had a great party tonight to celebrate my brother's birthday ...

Too bad he wasn't here to enjoy it with us!

Next year?

Invasive species

Emily arrived in Victoria a week ago and has already settled in.  She starts her new job with the BC Auditor General on Monday, and moves into her new apartment at the beginning of the month.  Until then, she's staying with her sister, Allison.

Gwyn, Rick, Tom, Emily, Penny

 Bryan has guests, too.  His older brother, Tom, and his twin, Rich, have come from Ontario to celebrate the twins' 27th birthday.  I have been told that there was beer involved.

Tom, Gwyn, Rich, Bryan

And if there's beer, their dad, Rick, must be here, too.  He came out at the beginning of the month to experience Victoria's Beer Week, and stayed to spend more time with us (and the boys at The Beagle Pub).

Rick, Tom, Bryan, Rich

Sadly, Rick, Tom and Rich all return to snowy Ontario next week.  They'll be back!

And we get to keep Emily.

I can't believe I ate the whole thing

The weather has cooled since we left Puerto Vallarta.   Today it's only 18C, and a bit cool for lounging on the deck in shorts.  Forecast for tomorrow in LA is 15C.  Getting us ready for Victoria weather ...

Had our last breakfast in Sabatini's this morning.   After 14 days,  the staff automatically bring my mimosa and Tom's V8; my grapefruit and Tom's cottage cheese and prunes; and my cappuccino and Tom's coffee.   All we have to do is choose our main course.

I had a second mimosa this morning ...  just because ...

Last dinner on the cruise tonight.   Said thanks and goodbye to Christopher (from the Philippines) and Alexy (from Serbia), not to mention Herman the German (also from the Philippines).  Had to finish the bottle of wine that we started the other night.  Tom Turkey on the menu, Tom's favourite,  provided that it comes with LOTS of cranberry sauce.  Pineapple salsa with my salmon!  Baked Alaska on Parade for dessert.

Christopher presented Tom with a special fork for squeezing lemons, one he has been coveting ever since he saw it the first night.

Suitcases are packed and in the hallway waiting for pickup.  Boarding passes are printed.  Next stop .... Victoria!