From the update desk...

The Van
The van has officially been shuffled out of the rotation. It now occupies prime real-estate in our heated garage and the family sprints out to the recommissioned Mazda wagon encased in ice provided by what is turning out to be a true Old-time East Coast winter. Lots of fun. The obvious question, springing to your minds is, why, oh why would you not park the dead van outside and move the Mazda back into its rightful place of familial vehicular prominence – all warm and cozy? The damn door won’t close. It’s stuck open; on the van that is. So unless I want to truly destroy all potential of the van seeing the road again in the future – inside it will reside and cold will backsides be for the foreseeable future. Currently, waiting on my guy to get back to me after he talks to his guy, that knows a guy who may or not be some kind of old Dodge van door magician. I shan’t hold my breath. -16 today, the old beauty almost got driven to the woods and left. I’ll give it to Monday and then will not be held accountable for any drastic deeds.

Hockey
One cannot overstate how hockey crazy is the Fair Isle. Impossible. While barely keeping myself awake, and in my addled state trying to decide if my confusion was as a result of having JT on the ice at 6 AM or was it the first signs of hypothermia associated with a core body temperature dropping below 30 Celsius, I was amazed to hear parents near me actually complaining of the lack of ice time the kids were getting. For Novice house league. They’re nuts. In a typical week JT is on the ice four times in three days – and twice a ‘fun’ road game has been added. In house league; novice house league. The kids are getting more then enough time. All families not bank-rolling their future on the one in a zillion chance that their kid will need an agent and make millions - building mom and pop a new house and leaving them a bow rapped car in the driveway - for all of the rest of us, two days would meet the bill. I’m not complaining, and that’s my point, the kids are treated like gold and you could not get a more supportive environment for them to sharpen their skills, including an excess of ice time – ice time that would never be available in Halifax for house league and if so would come in the form of costly skills camps. But more, I am completely and utterly baffled by the mere thought, threat really, of standing in cold rinks more often then I do now. This morning started at 5:30 and tomorrow begins at 6:00 followed by a road trip game that starts at 13:30; Sunday skills camp at 17:45 and a practice at 16:40 on Monday. This is just to give you a taste; again no complaints – just illustration of the completeness of our immersion in Island hockey life. JT continues to love hockey, never once complaining when I wake him or when he’s rushed to finish homework after an evening game and is progressing remarkably fast for a kid who until late last winter never had a puck on his stick.

Used Clothing
We continue to stop by Value Village periodically and have a look-see. As luck would have it, a new funky retro clothing store called, ‘The Green Man,’ has opened recently in downtown Charlottetown. A grand total of $50 dollars later and I have a lovely new suit and Jennifer has a party dress that is nearly as gorgeous as she. Hopefully the holidays will afford the requisite opportunity for us to sport our new vintage duds in your presence; oohs and ahhs, and ‘wow, you two look great,’ s will surely be appropriate. And too the shoppers in our associated families – keep a close eye on the Value Villages, the Frenchies, and hipster vintage clothing stores in your respective towns and let us know if you see anything of interest. Think cool, lovely old suits and funky dresses.

The kiddles
Lily is a tich off, having a hard time this winter kicking completely whatever viral or bacterial bug has affixed itself to her wee passages. Still a ball of fire, and still the light of all lives that peer upon her perfect and round face and become entranced by her mysterious, bright and ever playful eyes, just not completely herself. She spends the bad times attached permanently to her Mom’s side and the good times destroying gleefully whatever room into which she has chased her brothers. JT we chatted about earlier, but I must add that for the last several days if not weeks he has exemplified near 8 year old perfection. A wonderful big brother, a dutiful student and real gamer as he struggles to catch up to his much earlier inducted hockey mates, he impresses both Jennifer and I more everyday. And Matt, ah Matt; well tonight, to site a recent example, we finally got through to the Santa Hotline. Matt after being passed the phone announced to Santa that he would like three things: an electronic carnivore, a phone, and…pause worthy of a stand-up veteran…and his two front teeth (that one caused even Santa to laugh out loud). This is just one of many recent humorous murmurings that spurt weirdly from that sweet and seemingly too young face.

Never a dull moment. Most importantly we hit the road very soon to do some much needed catching up with many of you. We cannot wait. Talk soon and love form us to you.

b