Morning all:

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” — Benjamin Franklin (referencing beer since neither Happy Hour nor Labor Day had been invented yet)

This morning, still in our unheated cabin, I got up real early to post and check my mail. I quickly realized that it was 50 degrees and went back under my warm blanket. When I did get up at 8:30 Marcia had the coffee made. Mmmm, hot coffee.

Over a lifetime we all waste a bit of time here and there, over the years this adds up to many months. Seldom do we reflect on any of this and we happily plod on. When starting life losing three months of development time with mom is huge! Yesterday at 2:25 PM Marcia and I welcomed our newest grandchild—at 26 weeks (three months early).

Adrianne bravely argued with her body trying to gain a little time for her little one to develop a bit more. Yesterday her medical team announced that enough was enough and hours later, at 1 pound 14 ounces Vaioleti Boleyn was born. She is stable and starting well on the great adventure called life. Marcia and I are thrilled.

The next three or four days will be the most critical and your thoughts and prayers are solicited. The hospital she’s at is a highly certified neonatal trauma center and is rated number 1 in the State. As a preemie, this is the place you want to be!

Last week, I forgot to mention our border crossing into Canada. We were dragging a trailer load of furniture into the country. Canada is quite interested in gathering any tax they can. On the other hand, my goal is to minimize any tax they collect. Goods coming into this country are taxed. To offset I had downloaded the forms, which, when properly filled out, allow for a one-time entry of ‘used’ furniture to enter untaxed. The evening prior to our entry, I spent two hours sitting on my motel bed filling out these forms.

The next morning at 10:22 AM we approached the Sault Ste. Marie immigration checkpoint:
Canadian Immigration Inspector (CII): “Where are you coming from?”
Me: “Cincinnati”
CII: “where are you heading to?”
Me: “Cumming Lake, north of Thessalon”
CII: “any weapons?”
Me: now with a very tired outstretched arm holding our passports – “no”
CII: “what’s all of this?” (pointing at all our junk overflowing our SUV, stuck between our seats, and the overpacked brave little U-Haul trailer)
Me: “some household furnishings and odds & ends”
CII: second time – “any weapons?”
Me: “no”
CII: “have a good day sir!”

10:24 AM we were driving in Canada.

No passports were checked, no laboriously filled out paperwork scrutinized. Our only worry now was we wouldn’t exceed the speed limit of 80 Kilometers per hour (let’s see now, in MPH you multiply by .6, then divide by the quotient of the maple and birch trees flying by, then…).

Marcia has been working like there is no tomorrow. Meanwhile, I have been strutting around carrying my power drill. Together this little fishing camp has become a wonderful little cabin worthy of our kid’s and grandkid’s laughter and joy. The photo is proof that we are oh-so ready to entertain the little tykes.

Make it a great week. Make it a safe weekend

Cheers,

Dirk