A "memorable" journey

Let's say it was NOT memorable from a pleasure point of view. I knew it would be an uncomfortable trip and was not disappointed. 

I'm happy to report that I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I was at the gate at least 60 minutes BEFORE the flight was to leave. Positively loads of time. However, the airport was busy (Monday morning), and more and more people have NEXUS passes, so that line was long, but not nearly as long as the other one. It took time to get through security, but again, I had loads of time. 

When I arrived at the gate, I discovered no plane was there—even the pilots were waiting. We were delayed by 45 minutes as we waited for a plane to be towed to the gate. No worries. I found a place to sit away from the crowds and walked a bit. No checked luggage was required since I'm only here for a few days. 

I get to my seat at the back of the plane to find an older woman in the middle seat. And an older gentleman in the middle seat behind our row. As I sat down, she grumbled that she wanted to sit with her husband and made a big deal of asking him if he was OK and made it seem like he needed help. I said I needed to get up OFTEN and was not giving up my aisle seat. My apologies to the elderly for that call, but it was NOT happening. My needs were more significant than hers. And he was FINE. He even talked to the young man beside him for part of the trip! 

To make matters worse? My entertainment system didn't work! What a farce!! I managed to read some of my book, but I really wanted to sleep, but that wasn't happening. 

What was very strange was that when I changed my seat the night before, the plane was half empty. It was now COMPLETELY FULL. Some flights were delayed the night before, and those people got put on this flight. 

I stayed in my seat for the first hour of the three-hour flight. It wasn't comfortable, but it was manageable. Then, it wasn't pretty, so I tried to stand as much as possible. I'm sure the people around me were annoyed, but I didn't care. I was not bothering them. But do you know how often they go up and down the aisle with those carts? LOTS!!! People were going to the washrooms, so I also had my fair share of sitting. 

Thankfully, there wasn't a lot of turbulence, so the seat belt sign was mostly off. But the one time it was on, and I stood up, this young attendant waved me to my seat! I think they were new!

I got my vehicle for the time I'm here. I went with something different because it was less expensive than an SUV. 

My rental vehicle

Good grief—I have emergency equipment in this vehicle—a big flashing yellow light on the back seat, a big fire extinguisher in the back, a back rack, and a big radio antenna or something. I feel like a seasoned prairie person driving this vehicle. Do I like it? Absolutely not. It's sluggish and enormous. I will never rent one again, but to get me around for a few days, I'm OK. 

It's enormous for parking - who in the city would want to drive one of these? No idea. 

I made a quick stop at Robinson McNally bookstore in Saskatoon. Sadly, like all bookstores, the selection of crafting books and magazines is slowly dwindling, especially in the quilt world. I don't need anything anyway, so let's move on! 

I stopped to see Dad at the Museum because I knew he would be working there. So, I got to see the latest things he's done and what they are all working on. I have to chuckle, as Dad likes to refurbish old engines. Being more than 100 years old, these engines would qualify as antiques. In the day, they were used as generators to power equipment without built-in power. 

Currently, he has five of them in the shop. Doesn't that sound familiar to the quilters amongst us? So I asked him why five. Why not -- it's the same question we ask ourselves all the time. AH -- perhaps he is waiting on a part for one, an answer to a puzzle on another, and so on. Yep - just like the quilters do!! 

Then I went to the apartment to visit Mom while Dad finished at the Museum. 

It's a strange relationship that my brother has developed, and all I can say is basically, my parents are on their own, except he will drive my Dad to appointments and stop in to visit with him at the Museum. But NO ONE other than my younger brother is allowed to set foot on their property. Why? What has happened? He's become one old, eccentric, grumpy man! His loss. But what has happened is that my parents are on their own to care for themselves. I will have to come home every three months or so to ensure things are OK. 

Most elderly people don't want to spend money on things, or Mom says one thing, but it's not true. Well, you know how "old" people are!! So I'll spend two days sorting out many things, hopefully addressing these issues, and then wait to see what surfaces in the next couple of months. It's a struggle to be far away, but we'll do what we can. 

They struggle with how to do things and are reluctant to change. My Dad refuses to shop at Walmart because of the new self-checkouts, so he walks around with massive holes in his socks. Sigh. 

Some letters come, and they need clarification or just need confirmation that they read it correctly. Again, we'll do what we can, and I'll write notes for them to follow up on. I need to call more often and get them to read the stuff to me on the phone. 

I took a photo of the Christmas village at the Museum. Sadly, there is NO quilt shop! 

The Christmas village at the Western Development Museum

The other day, we were talking about the velvet pictures. I saw this in the shop at the Museum! Oh gosh -- those velvet pictures are still around!!!!

A velvet picture!!!

And if you think the weather sucks back home, look at this. This was the outside temperature last night as I arrived at the hotel. A tad chilly, and the weather app said it felt like minus 27 with the wind chill, but I didn't feel the wind. My suitcase had been in the truck for several hours, so I had to warm up my PJs before I put them on! 

The outside temperature last night

As they say, though - it's a DRY cold, so it's really not cold at all! And it's OK. But only in really cold places do you see electrical outlets in parking lots everywhere, so block heaters can be plugged in! 

Imagine making a temperature quilt and using the temperature of where I was! This would be a drastic color change! 

I won't be walking outside here. There is too much snow and ice everywhere, and only the main highways are clear. So, I must see if there's a treadmill at the hotel and get in a few miles. I'm so close to my goals that I would hate to miss them. 

On that note, I'm out of here. I must see if I can buy any kind of pills to relieve nerve pain before I head home. I don't think I can get anything OTC, but I'll hit the drugstore to see. I don't know if I can bear the journey home. The thought of getting off the plane even crossed my mind before we took off. Gosh - I'm such a big wimp!!

Anyway, have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!