Starting with a bang!

What a tremendous first week of summer it’s been! School ended with a rather long meeting, and left me a little bit behind in finishing the cleanup of my room – but Gabi came over and helped me and we got it done. Since the kids were both out with Baba and Vera, Gabi and I took advantage and went out for our favourite sushi lunch at Makimono, although our attempts to get out to Salem Road failed miserably when we hit major traffic. We also hit Chapters and the RCSS to get ready for the cottage, stocking up on magazines, books, and beef tenderloin, all important necessities indeed.

So the girls came home, and Maya and Gabi headed for the final spring swimming lesson while Chloe and I hung out with Vera and Mom, before we did something that I’d long waited for. Chloe and I headed over to our local library, Chloe picked a few books and DVDs, and I myself picked a few books and DVDs. We also got Chloe her first ever library card….

So Friday morning, the plan was to pack leisurely and be on the road by 10. Ok, maybe 11 will work. Well, how about 12? Or what about 1:08pm? Yeah, let’s go with that one. We got slowed down by various things, including a neighbour dropping by to get Gabi to fill out an application form for her kid, the first time that’s happened, along with some laundry drama. We then got caught in traffic on the 401. Ok, we’ll try Bayley. Nope. How about Highway 2? Nope? Rossland Road? Ok, that’ll work, at least until we get stopped in Port Perry for 35 minutes. Traffic was ridiculous, and we didn’t make it to Lindsay until well after 3, by which time all of us were ready to eat our arms. Gabi took the girls in for lunch in McDs, and Cora and I did the drivethru, as it was way too hot to even consider leaving her in the car. Darn McDonalds – I can avoid them 99% of the time….but if they bring back McRib…well, I’m weak, I guess.

So we had our first weekend of the summer with Ter, Jen, the boys and Jake, and it was fabulous. We ate well, we tubed, we boated, we swam, we consumed some beverages, we made smores, we played in the sand, we played fetch (a lot), and something I’m rather proud of – I started the C25K training program. I did run this morning, day 3 on the program, but with rain threatening I didn’t really want to run with my phone. For Terry’s birthday dinner, I slow-roasted the beef tenderloin and we had a pretty good cake that came from the Wilberforce Foodland. For a couple of months, anyways, I’m only two months his elder.

So, on Sunday afternoon everyone left, and we stayed. 48 hours on our own up here as a foursome (plus Cora), and we had a very nice time. Went into Haliburton on Sunday night, and just our luck, sitting outside the Rexall next to one of 3 traffic lights in town, when….BOOM. We didn’t see anything, but we sure heard it. Of course, I got out of the van and ran towards the accident. I sometimes wonder if I’m an idiot about things like that, but I wound up escorting one of the drivers away from the accident. I stayed with Pat (the driver making the left) until the firemen showed up and took charge of the scene. Airbags are awesome – both ladies were shaken up, nothing more – or at least that I know of. I left once the paramedics were there, since I was useless as a witness (didn’t see it happen). Now, of the 3 traffic lights, this is the main one where 2 highways intersect, and Haliburton was very quickly reduced to an absolute mess. I know a few of the backroads, so we were able to get around, albeit slowly, get our gas, get some groceries, deposit a cheque (whole reason we went to town in the first place).

So Monday was a family day, and we mostly did the same stuff we always do, some swimming, a boat ride to Elephant, and as always, good eating.

So Tuesday, which also happened to be Baba’s birthday (Happy Birthday Baba!), we were awaiting the arrival of Nonna and Tata. I noticed the garbage was getting a bit fragrant, so Chloe and I (she likes to look for bears) headed for the dump. We were almost there when I recognized the gold Hyundai, and I was waving out the window at them when I noticed the OPP cruiser tailing them. Being the curious type, I decided to forego doing the recycling, dumped the garbage as fast as I could, and hightailed it back to the cottage, expecting to see the Hyundai pulled over around every corner. To my surprise, they never did get pulled over and the cop pulled off into Martinwood rather than follow them all the way to the cottage.

So we had a nice time with Nonna and Tata, and again, we ate well, did a boat ride, some swimming, went into Bancroft for a rather nice picnic, went over to Kawartha Dairy (Marty’s World Famous Butter Tart Ice Cream – Serious Yum!), did a bit of shopping in town, then headed back, where the rain hit hard, and after it stopped, the skeeters hit harder. I took most of my bites in the last 12 hours, including a horsefly who managed to take a nice chunk out of my calf – it cost him his life, but he got me, indeed.

Home today, and I have to say it took a while cleaning up after a week – sealing up the boat, picking up all the toys, bagging up all the scrapbooking stuff, finding all my camera paraphernalia, etc. Gabi and Nonna did a lovely job inside while Tata and I did outside and watched the kids and got bit. You know how it goes.

The drive home was kinda nice – we took it easy, everyone was in a great mood, we stopped in Fenelon to watch boats and let Tata pee, then we hit Chloe’s favourite McD’s in Lindsay, while Cora and I enjoyed a McRib in the car (still too hot to leave her there alone). Unfortunately, I drank a can of DP, two 500ml waters, and a large coke zero, so I personally caused two stops on the rest of the trip home. What can you do?

We were amazed that Chloe didn’t fall asleep, something that we think is a first. Of course, she passed out at 6 on our way to buy shoes for her, so we’re in for a long night.

Other than our rest being way off routine (thanks to those American renters and their unbelievably loud 4th of July fireworks, it was a fantastic start to the summer indeed. In fact, if it’s gonna be this good, I can’t wait for the rest. I worked hard this year – I think I’m gonna play even harder this summer!