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 September 2003
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Ian and Marylou's Ennui Page
    ...keeping Dr. Kevorkian at bay...

September 2003

Kona
  Did anyone say coffee?
  Stay tuned... Top

August 2003

Janel and Brad Get Married!
  In Victoria, August 23
  Stay tuned... Top

July 2003

Fourth Average Birthday
  -  Boise! Boise? As in Idaho? Yup. We met at the airport on July 24, checked in and then off to see the Boise Hawks play Vancouver as in BC. BC won in extra innings! This Single A game was easily as much fun as most Dodger games! Better beer, too. Boise boasts some of the best micro breweries in America. The BitterCreek AleHouse serves a rotating selection of barrel aged ale. Not since England has so memorable a quaff slaked a thirst.
  -  The weather in Boise is interesting. Every afternoon, the clouds roll in and a deluge is dropped with winds about 40MPH. We got soaked running 10 feet from the car to a market. The upside is the city is pristine and one of the loveliest cities we've visited. Although, Ian is not very comfortable with air he can't see...
  -  Friday we drove to Idaho City, once the largest town in the area. Today it's an inhabited 'ghost town' and boasts the longest continuous newspaper publication in the state. The Sawtooth Mountains are spectacular with both the Boise and Snake Rivers and myriad crystal streams hosting some of the finest trout fishing and river rafting in America.
  -  The Boise area has a nascent [20 year old] wine industry and some of the wines have done well in local and state fair competitions. Production volume is low and prices are not competetive, averaging about 4x the quality.
  -  Dining in Boise was a very pleasant surprise with many excellent restaurants to sample. Saturday morning a very attractive 'farmers market' is set up in the middle of town, with several restaurants overlooking the market. Many coffee houses puvey a large variety of 'fresh roasted' coffees. 'Fresh' is a relative term when it comes to coffee. Anything much over 48 hours old is getting past its prime, but a week is much better than the months old dreck served at Charbucks!
  -  Friendly shopping, an excellent State Museum, a superb Rose Garden, the Boise Depot for lovers of nostalgia and a more relaxed pace make Boise an excellent vacation destination.

March 2003

Shhh... Marylou's 50!
  -  Marylou's relatives [requires a 747-400] all flew in, along with Lois, Peter, Ben and Caitlin and host of friends for a party at the Buffalo Club. David and Jay played together for a mini Airplay reunion, backing Michael Bublé. A fantasitc time had by all into the wee hours.
  -  From the reviews, the surprise hit was Ian as MC for a 1953 Trivia Quiz. Who knew he could be so funny?
  -  Ian's mum visited until mid-April. Try as we might to slow her down, Myrtle is a terror and wears us out. Myrtle is particularly fond of DVD movies that were hits when when she was a stunner in her 20s. Top

December 2002

Christmas Vacation
  -  Flew to Victoria Dec 24. We had an 06:30 flight so decided to stay overnight near the airport. First the hotel told us there was no parking, then a screaming baby next door... Up at 04:00 to be at the terminal at 04:30 only to find no one from the airline arrives before 05:30!
  -  Missed Bill and Marion's open house that night... asleep on the sofa...
  -  Julie and Vic invited us over for a superb dinner party with some friends from school. Great to catch up on 30 years!. Where has the time gone?
  -  Miscellaneous running about and then back home on Dec 30. Delayed 4 hours in Seattle... someday the under three hour flying time won't run into 12 travelling. Top

October 2002

The World Series
  -  The best damn baseball game, EVER! Go Angels in 2003! Top

July 2002

Third Average Birthday
  -  Since Ian had plenty of free time to play tour guide, Heather and Blair came to LA for fun in the sun.
  -  It's always fun to play tourist in your home town, so we visited Grauman's Chinese Theater to see K-19 The WidowMaker which Marylou had recently wrapped. Don't stop at the footprints if visiting, view a movie inside. It's well worth the price of admission to view the elegance of 1920's movie palaces.
  -  Shopping in Camarillo, strolling Old Town Pasadena, Chinatown, dinner by the beach in Ventura at Eric Ericsson's Fish Co., a Dodger game 10 rows behind home plate and lounging in the pool rounded out the R&R.
  -   Almost forgot! In-N-Out. NOBODY visits without sampling the quintessential drive-in burger. It's a step back 50 years when Quality subjugated Quantity! Ian's retirement goal is to become QA inspector for In-N-Out and travel the west sampling the burgers. He's already rated about half those listed in the official guide book.

Cabo Redux
  -  A week in our time share overlooking the arches and cruise ships. Mas Cervesas y margaritas! OLE! Top

May 2002

Acapulco Getaway
  -  A weekend trip to Acapulco to relax in the sun to celebrate Linda's birthday. Cervesas y margaritas! OLE!
  -  Ian, forced into endentured service making margaritas, was the only one who came back with less tan than he left. But a significantly stronger grip from squeezing limes! One sip and you're spoiled for anything else! Top

April 2002

30th Anniversary Celebration
  -  After much deliberation about various cruises and possible places to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary we decided on Cabo San Lucas. We searched the web and decided on Meliá Las Cabos. While the facility is very nice, it is isolated on the tourist corridor and there is nothing around, necessitating a shuttle [once every two hours] or a $25US cab ride each way. If visiting Cabo, we recommend staying closer to town. We did take the bus back to the hotel a couple of times. The fare is $9MN [9 Mexican Pesos], or about $1US. It is very clean and comfortable, runs every 20 minutes between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. It even dropped us right in front of the hotel.
  -  Comparing San Jose to Cabo, it's more laid back. Cabo now has a large marina and an enourmous mall in the center of town with shops like Häagen-Daz, Johnny Rockets and Ruth's Chris. If you're looking to party and 'American' amenities, Cabo is the place to be. San Jose is more geared to those looking for a more relaxed visit to a piece of 'old Mexico'.
  -  Wanting to explore a little more of Baja than we could do on foot, we rented a car and drove up to Todos Santos, where legend has it that the Hotel California from the song by the Eagles is located. The lyrics seem to describe the setting perfectly. Anyway it was a nice drive through the desert to a sleepy little village. The Tequila Sunrise cafe across the street from the hotel plays Eagles music most of the time. If you go, look for 'Marylou + Ian' about 10 feet up on the left wall as you enter the cantina. If you visit us here in LA, you can see an original print of Hotel California and the T-Bird by Chris McClure.
  -  The water is purified and completely safe to drink in the resort hotels. Arrowhead [and many other] bottled water is available everywhere. A real find was at Latitude 22. You can get a prime rib dinner for $10US, including a glass of wine! One of the most reasonable places we found. There are dozens, if not hundreds of places to eat, serving every cuisine imaginable. Stay tuned for further updates.
  -  We took a couple of time share presentations and purchased at Villa Palmar. We've stayed a few times with Lois and Peter in various time shares they've exchanged for theirs and in every case, it has been most enjoyable. We decided to take the plunge. Cabo is a great home resort for us in LA. It's only a two hour plane ride and all time is premium which is great for exchanging. The Villa Palmar is a 5 Star Gold Crown resort, ensuring the easiest trading anywhere. If you plan to visit Cabo, we maybe able to get you a room at Villa Palmar for a better rate. The best deals are available on short notice as the exchange companies try to fill unused rooms. Two days after we confirmed our reservation at Meliá, Travelocity offered us the same resort less than 1/2 price! Top

December 2001

Christmas Vacation
  -  Flew to Victoria Dec 22. Unbelievably, we made it from Woodland Hills to the gate, checked in and sitting down in one hour, 10 minutes. Never happens.
  -  Started the round of open houses at Pat and Norms on Dec 23, then Bill and Marion on Dec 24.
  -  Breakfast at Eleanor's, dinner at Rob and Jeannie's on Christmas.
  -  Brunch at Blair and Hugh's on Boxing Day, then off to visit at Rob and Jeannie's open house.
  -  Julie and Vic's didn't have an open house, but invited us over for a visit. Great to find that Julie is as big a fan of Single Malt whisky as is YHC.
  -  Dinner at Lois and Peter's on Dec 27.
  -  We missed a visit with Chris and Sue on Dec 28, Chris' 50th. We've got them pencilled in for next year.
  -  If you are looking for fresh coffee in Victoria, check out Caffe Fantastico. They roast all day, every day with several blends and roasts availabe. Highly Recommended. NO CHARBUCKS!
  -  Miscellaneous running about and then back home on Dec 30. Delayed 4 hours in Victoria and then two more in Seattle. BUT, my shoes are not concealling any explosives! Our luggage was hand searched in Victoria and I was searched head to toe several times. Next year I'm going to travel in my skivvies to save time on the searches! Top

August 2001

Kyle and Nhu's Wedding
  -  On August 5, Kyle and Nhu were married at Cecil Green House at UBC, Vancouver.
  -  David, Linda, Ian, Marylou, Leeds and Jaymes attended from LA. Photo Gallery Top

July 2001

Second Average Birthday
  -  Heather, Blair and Ian met in Bellingham on July 19, 2001 for the Second Average Birthday. If you ever need a cab in Bellingham, call Evergreen Cab. The cars are all Cadillacs, non smoking and the drivers are excellent, very friendly and helpful. Bellingham is not renowned as a culinary capital, but we managed a good meal at Mi Mexicali where the staff were very friendly.
  -  Friday morning we boarded the Amtrak Cascades for the trip to Salem, Oregon. These new trains are made in Spain and are built like the TGV in France. A pair of trucks is situated between each pair of coaches. This arrangement gives a more stable ride, with less side to side motion and better performance through the corners. I can attest that the ride is much better than the old style trains Amtrak used to run.
  -  The track runs close by the shore from Bellingham to Olympia giving some spectacular vistas of the shore and the islands. We received many a friendly wave from the clam diggers and beach combers.
  -  The train stops for about an hour at Seattle's Union Station, only a couple of blocks from the site of the old King Dome and Safeco Field. F.X.McRory's is a two block walk from the station, so we popped over for lunch. Without a doubt, the best darn clam chowder to be had anywhere.
  -  Back on board, we settled in to enjoy the scenery through Washington and Oregon. By the time we reached Tacoma, the train was completely full, with some folks having to sit in the dining car. So, if you plan to go, book early and get reserved seats. There is food and drink aboard, but the menu is 'limited'.
  -  We had a short layover in Portland waiting for the Starlight Limited from Los Angeles. The word is that the Starlight Limited is always several hours late. Soon we were on our way and in Salem by 18.40. There are two cab companies in Salem. Neither of them would win any prizes. Hop in any London cab, give the driver the address and you are soon at your destination. Not so here. We had to get the map out of the luggage and give the driver directions to The Marquee House, a lovely 30's Bed & Breakfast creekside inn. The rooms are themed on classic movies and there is a huge video library to view.
  -  Friday night we dined at Monroe's Northwest. The menu is incredibly varied and very fine. Oregon is gaining a reputation for fine wine, especially Pinot Noir. While the vintage we tried was good, there is still room for improvement compared to the best that France and California have to offer.
  -  At the Marquee House, Rickie is our host and creates sumptuos multi course breakfasts, including fresh fruit from the garden. Delicioso! Our breakfast companions were all artists. Bill Halopoff was visiting the Salem Art Fair & Festival 2001. Bill does exacting pencil sketches of ghost towns and steam locomotives. Needless to say Ian and he had much to talk about. Our other companions were Karen Hale and her husband. Karen creates the most beautiful paper collage art work. IOHO, these pieces are world class.
  -  Needing substantial exercise after the guargantuan repast, we opted to walk to the fair. Our walk took us through the State Capitol and the Willamette University grounds, both lovely with shade trees and flower gardens.
  -  We spent most of the day at the fair, all availing ourselves of the wares. The setting in perfect. The stalls are all laid out under the shade of huge trees, a very pleasant experience all around. Later that afternoon, we attended an 'Antique' fair at the Deepwood Estate nearby. Let's just say 'collectible' would have been a more appropriate moniker.
  -  After a stroll back to the inn and a lazy afternoon in the garden next to the creek, we opted for an Italian dinner at Alessandros. We can recommend everything but the Tira Misu, undoubtedly the worst we've ever tasted.
  -  Another leisurely stroll back to the inn and a viewing of 'The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse' starring Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart. After another huge breakfast next morning, we took the train to Portland. Not having a lot of time to spare, we opted to cab it out to Portland International Airport where we had a very decent lunch in the restaurant. Undoubtedly, the best food we've had in an airport in quite some time, possibly ever.
  -  Quick goodbyes and off back home again. It's great to hang out with siblings and let your hair down. What's up for next year? Stay tuned. Top

June 2001

Summer Vacation
  -  Off to England and Sweden. Left Los Angeles June 1 on the 17.40 to London and then on to Manchester. Ian slept almost the whole way, so was raring to go upon arrival in England. Marylou was a little tired, but soon perked up after a cuppa.
  -   - Visited David in Norden, Lancashire. Dinner with the gang in Rochdale, then off the Blue Ball for a pint. Can you believe Marylou ordered a Budweiser! Must have been the jet lag!. Sunday we went to Old Trafford for Day 4 of the 2nd Test between Pakistan and England. The pitch was in great shape and the weather cooperated. It was alternately sunny and cloudy with a mild breeze, but no rain. For a while it looked like England could take the series 2-0, but poor batting by England and great bowling by Pakistan resulted in a 1-1 draw. After the match, we had a great curry and then off to the pub for the quiz and a pint. We won the quiz, but not so lucky on the JackPot question. (What was the name of Rod Stewart's first band? [Steam Packet])
  -  Monday we drove to Scarborough in North Yorkshire to visit David's parents, Ron and Joan. Talk about being spoiled. Ron woke us up each morning with a cup of tea and Joan sent us off to bed with a cup of hot cocoa. How civilized can one get? Tuesday we visited York, walking the walls of the old city and then York Minster. Sadly, we did not get to see the National Railway Museum. BUT, on Friday while in Grosmont, we did get a tremendous treat. Ron is a railway man from way back and while he and Ian were walking down the quay inspecting the rolling stock, a very musical whistle blew. Ron exclaimed, "That's Sir Nigel!" You never saw two grown men do an about face so quickly. Marylou said we looked like a couple of five year olds, grinning ear to ear and racing down the quay to see Sir Nigel back into the station. It was the experience of a lifetime to see Sir Nigel Gresley pull out the North Yorkshire Moors Railway train. Sir Nigel has just undergone a major refit and admittedly the train was short and lightly loaded, but Sir Nigel fairly glided out of the station. I dare say that if one had set a champagne glass full to brim on the connecting rod, nary a drop would have been lost. Many thanks to David, Ron and Joan for their incredible hospitality in showing us Scarborough and Yorkshire.
  -   - Saturday, June 9 we flew to Stockholm to meet Kerstin and Lage. Stockholm is an incredibly beautiful old city. Sweden has been neutral since 1812 and thus spared the destructive ravages of two world wars. Walked through the old city, Gamla Stan, and had a pint (.5 litre actually) of Fresh Beer sitting out a downpour at the Gamla Stans Bryggeri, overlooking Stockholm's harbor on one side and the Stockholm Marathon on the other. We stayed at a new hotel, the Clas På Hörnet, built in 1731! The hotel only has 10 rooms and is more famous for its incredible restaurant4 Stars, where we dined Saturday night. Sunday we went to the Vasa Museum. The Vasa was to be the flag ship of the Swedish navy in 1628, but sank less than a mile from where she was launched. Too tall, too narrow, too many guns, too little ballast! She sat on the bottom for 333 years, raised in 1961 and undergone preservation and restoration ever since. A truly fascinating experience. That evening we went to an Organ Recital at Santa Clara Kyrka. Afterwards, a fabulous Italian dinner at Tarantino. The sauces and the Tira Misu are superb. Definitely4 Stars!
  -  Monday more sightseeing and then fly to Umeå to stay with Kerstin and Lage and their wonderful children Stefan, Peter and Terese. Umeå is not a tourist mecca, but it is incredibly beautiful. The countryside is completely unspoiled. Myriad small farms surround the town, looking as much they did 100 or more years ago. The air is so pure that the sky barely goes red when the sun set at 22:50. [Only to rise again at 02:20!] It never actually gets dark during the summer. The water is so pure that only filtration is necessary, no chlorine or other nasty chemicals are added. Another nearby highlight is Norrbyskär, once the largest sawmill in Europe. The owners carefully selected the workers for the mill and the model community built for them. The workers' families at Norrbyskär had many more benefits than those working at other sawmills, like free lodgings and firewood, medical care, access to land for growing potatoes and places for woodworking. Many thanks to Kerstin, Lage and family for their incredible hospitality in showing us Umeå and Västerbotten. And a very special thanks to Lage (bass), Stefan (keys) and Peter (drums) for the private concert.
  -   - One of the most amazing things about Sweden is the almost universal ability of the Swedes to converse in English. The second they realize we didn't speak Swedish, they instantly switch to almost perfect English. Couple that with the broadband internet network being installed across Sweden and Sweden may become a powerhouse of the Information Age. Top

March 2001

Spring Break
  -  Met the Mason's in Sedona AZ for a week.
  -  Flew to Phoenix and drove up to Sedona on Mar 18.
  -  On Marylou's birthday, we drove up to the Grand Canyon and hiked part way down the Bright Angel trail. Had a picnic lunch in the sun, overlooking the Indian Garden campsite. Grand Canyon Explorer will take you out to see for yourself.
  -  A couple of days later we hiked up the Oak Creek Canyon and had a picnic lunch beside the creek.
  -  Lot's of reading, laying around the pool, jacuzzis under the stars. Sure beats the heck out of working! Top

December 2000

Christmas Vacation
  -  Flew to Vancouver Dec 23 and then by ferry to Victoria, missing the ferry by three cars.
  -  Started the round of open houses at Pat and Norms on Dec 23, then Bill and Marion on Dec 24.
  -  Breakfast at Eleanor's, dinner at Rob and Jeannie's on Christmas.
  -  Brunch at Blair and Hugh's on Boxing Day, then off to visit at Rob and Jeannie's open house, dinner at Willi and Voleska's, sadly missing Julie and Vic's open house. Oh well, maybe next year.
  -  Dinner and an Ascot Road reunion at Lois and Peter's on Dec 27.
  -  A visit with Chris and Sue on Dec 28. It had been 8+ years, but seemed like yesterday. Listening to Chris's system made me realize just how bad mine is. Time for new electronics.
  -   Miscellaneous running about and then back home on Dec 29. FYI, 11.2% of the time away from home spent in travelling! Top

October 2000

Mom's 80th Birthday
  -  For Mom's 80th, Heather, Marylou and Ian spent a few days in San Francisco.
  -  Had a very good laugh at the sea lions at Pier 39. Seeing them lie about in the sun makes me wonder who's smarter.
  -  Went up to Napa and sampled some of the wines, but didn't find any to add to the cellar. Had a lovely lunch under the trees at V. Sattui winery. Ah, a loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou
  -  Had dinner in Chinatown at the Empress of China overlooking San Francisco Bay. Highly recommended for both the view and the cuisine.
  -  For the big day, we had dinner in Sausalito at Ondine's, a converted 19th century yatch club. The cuisine is both eclectic and excellent. The weather cooperated the whole weekend, with the moon rising over San Francisco Bay as we ate the most decadent chocolate desert and quaffed cappucino.
  -  Heather went home to Abbotsford and Mom came south to visit for a couple of weeks. Top

August 2000

Austria and Germany
  -  Ian went to Austria and Germany for business, staying in Lenzweiler in the wine country of Germany. On Sundays, they close the roads to cars. All the wineries set out tables and chairs for the patrons to sample the wines.
  -  Vienna is very beautiful city, with a long heritage as a cultural center. For the whole of August, there is a festival in the gardens in front of the Rathaus (parliament). There is a very large outdoor screen set up and concerts are shown every night. Dozens of vendors sell food and drink from all over the world. Watching Der Zauberflaute live from the Staatsoper, eating calimari and drinking Hefeweisen can only be described as idyllic.
  -  On Sepetember 3, Ian saw La Boheme at the Vienna Staatsoper. The production can only be describe as magnificent. The sets are unsurpassed anywhere. Top

July 2000

First Average Birthday
  -  For our average birth date, Heather, Blair and Ian spent the weekend in Seattle, staying at the MarQueen in Queen Anne.
  -  We rented a Chrysler PT Cruiser for transportation. When you drive one of these, be prepared for lots of stares and finger pointing.
  -  Did the usual touristy stuff, shopping, Space Needle, Monorail and Pike Place Market.
  -  The highlight of the trip was dinner at Il Terrazzo Carmine, just off Pioneer Square. If ever in Seattle, EAT HERE! The food is beyond superb, with atmosphere and service to match. Top