Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa: April 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Friday April 29, 2022 Ontario

PLEASE bookmark this page and check daily.

Older Blogs: https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/ and https://cuencaresidency.blogspot.com/

Please see my best artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

******

Friday April 29, 2022

So, I am on the move again, rising at 5:40am, and Angie and Russ get me to the Calgary airport by 6:30am. Again, I am SO very thankful to have such great friends and family helping me on this great odyssey. It would have been impossible without all of you helping me so unselfishly.

Surprisingly, for a full flight to Hamilton, there was zero line-up, so checking my bag and getting a new boarding pass was duck soup... Except that they said that security gate A was closed, so we had to go through Gate B, wa-a-a-a-y at the other end, of course.... The security was quick, except for the usual laptop check again, and then walk for a mile again back to our boarding gate. Shortly thereafter, as I stupidly tried to find a duty-free shop in the area (not available to domestic flights) I passed right by Security gate A, in full operation, just steps away from our boarding gate.... Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

The flight to Hamilton was only 3.5 hours through a lot of cloud until we hit Ontario where it was beautiful and sunny. I only had to wait 3 minutes for Lou and Yvette to arrive for the scenic drive through the budding vineyards to their lovely home in Vineland. We stopped at the Highland Country Market on the way and we each bought specialty goods to consume in the coming days. I came out with Back bacon, pepperoni and pickled eggs,, ha, ha, some things I get to rarely eat any more....

I got re-set-up in the cozy basement suite they have for my visits and enjoyed the sunny backyard, birds and scenery, including the bunny.

We got ready to leave around 6pm to meet with daughter Debbie at JJ's Marina on Lake Ontario to sample their delicious Fish'n'Chips. Yummy!!!! Lou and Yvette's other daughter could not join us as they were at SkyDome in Toronto for the Blue Jays game against the Houston Astros. We returned back in Vineland in time to watch most of the game (sadly a loss) while we tried to spot Shari and George in the crowd along the first base line... We will see them tomorrow.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

******

If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Russ + Angie support the Battle Of Alberta!

View from the airport, Calgary and the Rockies

A panoramic shot

Lou and Yvette in Vineland

Spring is here

Even the bunny has changed colour

Xmas cactus in the kitchen window

Xmas cactus or Praying Mantis?

The gorgeous marina near JJ's

Yvette, Lou and Debbie at JJ's

Lovely triptych art at JJ's

Stunning quintych art at JJ's

Canada Goose guarding the parking lot

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Thursday April 28, 2022 Alberta

PLEASE bookmark this page and check daily.

Older Blogs: https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/ and https://cuencaresidency.blogspot.com/

Please see my best artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

Thursday April 28, 2022

Packing is never fun but I tried to do it systematically and put more into the suitcase and still stay under the 50 lb limit. It will be ready to go once I pack my toiletries after I do my evening shower, etc to avoid that delay in the morning.

I tried to check-in at WestJet and was denied several times until I kicked out and used a secondary Rewards login, then I was able to check-in and pay for my suitcase ($30). Angie had me login to her work computer to be able to print theBoarding pass and the bag receipt. That gave us some grief too but we managed to fight through it.

After a homey lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich, I crashed for 90 minutes before I went with Angie to pick up Russ at work. Just to show you the consideration that these amazing people show me, Angie got up early to drive Russ to work in the early morning so the truck would be available here in case I needed it.... I didn't, but these guys wanted me to have that option. I can't tell you how appreciative I am of these caring people.

One reason that I was asked to go on the trip to get Russ was to be able to stop and pics of the expansive Rockies panorama. To show my appreciation, we found a nearby bar that was again having a wing night special,.. my treat...

Sister-in-law Eileen managed to get the Ancestry DNA kit and brought it over. A person can't just give a lock of hair or a piece of their ear.... A person must spit a huge amount into a long tube which is then sealed in a mailing kit. Eileen has much experience in this process so she will activate my code and mail the sample. Expected results in 6-8 weeks.... Maybe I will be my mother's uncle or something similar in our complicated family tree.

The Raptors bowed ignomaniously out of the NBA playoffs, beat by a whopping 35 points. Now we can turn our attention to the NHL playoffs to begin in a few days.

Goodbye Alberta.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

******

If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.