I have reorganized this from the chronology of my website:  Now this begins with our wedding and honeymoon, the slips back in time to the preamble, the month preceding our nuptials.  Enjoy.

July 24, 2010  Married

It was a perfect day, and a perfect wedding. 

 
                                                             - wedding photos by Jerry Corwin unless otherwise identified.

Sam Baardman,  Susan Israel and Dave Clement provided music while the guests took their seats.  The event proper began with the sounding of a Chinese gong.  Then Dave Clement set the mood for the ceremony with a Kate Wolf song, "Give Yourself to Love".

Our wonderful officiant was Norma Drosdowech.  She positively radiates warmth and good cheer, and she kept the program moving along, handing scripts to Ruth and David in turn.

Scott, brother of the bride, provided the PA system and sound engineering services. 

 
Then it was time for the official paperwork to be signed.

During the signing, Dave Clement entertained with a song he wrote for his daughter's wedding - "Husband and Wife".

After the official signing, we sang the song that has become "our song".  "You Belong to Me" by Peewee King.

To wind up the ceremony, Ruth led the audience in a three part song she wrote for my sixtieth birthday.  Half the audience sang "Being gentle showing loving kindness." while the other half sang "Be aware, have self acceptance."  and Ruth and David sang the third part: "I am grateful, for everything I have in my life - with you."  The three parts fit together like a Gregorian chant.  Simply brilliant.

The wedding concluded with an open mic session.  Guests were invited to come up and sing a song, read a poem, present a dance or say a few words. 

   
                        - Blair Mahaffy photo

 
                                                                   - Blair Mahaffy photo                                                                          - Blair Mahaffy photo

This was followed by a pot luck feast in a Canadian/Chinese style - perogies and cabbage rolls eaten with souvenir chopsticks, and a music circle that continued into the late evening.

I can't say too much about the kindness and generosity of Ruth's family and friends.  Special thanks to Elizabeth Clement for all her hard work accommodating guests and arranging food.  Also, special thanks to all those who contributed so generously to our travel funds.  You have all made our wedding day special beyond words.

The Honeymoon Tour

First stop was a visit to Donna and Terry.  Donna was Ruth's eighth grade teacher, and is now a lifelong friend living south and east of Winnipeg, just north of the American border in a serene country home they call "the ReTreat". 

Their yard was full of dragon flies, snapping up the mosquitoes, and regularly visited by deer.

After a slightly tense border crossing (The American border seems to have turned ugly since 9/11 and visitors are no longer greeted with smiles.) it was on to the wedding recreation at Nancy's place in Minneapolis.

July 31, 2010 Minneapolis

A virus has messed with my camera card, so I can't download any pictures until I figure out how to clear it.  We're in Minneapolis today, visiting Ruth's friend Nancy Hansen.  There's another big party planned for tomorrow.  In the meantime, here's a message from one of our very favorite students, Spacefish (His English name is a direct translation of his Chinese name, Zhu Si Yu).

I suppose the downside of really liking our students is seeing them graduate and move on.  We're really going to miss the students of Spacefish's year. I do hope they keep in touch.  Keeping in touch is a lot easier now than it used to be, before websites and the Internet.

August 1, 2010 The Wedding Tour Hits Minneapolis

Another city, another party.  What can I say?  Food.  Smiling happy people.  Music.  We recreated the ceremony with Nancy playing the part of Norma for Ruth's Minneapolis friends.  Most of you won't know the people in these pictures, but the people in these pictures will know who they are.

There are more pictures to come, and tags to put on these ones.  But we're on the road again at 6:30am heading for Longmont, Colorado.  So refinements can wait.  My thanks to all of you for sharing in our celebration, and for bringing such good feelings to our lives.

Theft - an International Industry

As we were loading up to leave Winnipeg we noticed that the side window visors were missing from our little blue traveling machine.  Since both sides were missing, it's obvious that they were stolen by somebody who has a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier.  We didn't think that the CSI people would be very interested, and hanging around Winnipeg looking for a car like ours with (identifiably our) side vents seemed futile, so we got underway, trying to not let this bring us down.

In Minneapolis I tracked down an auto supply that could get new visors in for us.  $44 U.S., which is a lot less than I feared they would cost.  Installation was simple.  The toughest part was removing the old glue, and washing off the glue remover.

The little blue car has been running like a top, and using very little fuel.  We are constantly reminded of the kindness of my former in-laws, Sadie and Malcolm.

August 03, 2010 On to Colorado

After saying goodbye to Nancy in Minneapolis, we were off on the tour.  First stop, a visit with Thomas and Marina in Longmont, Colorado.

We met Thomas during our first teaching job at the Shandong Electric Power Company International School (SEPIS) in Tai'an, Shandong, China, just before he trekked off to Russia to marry Marina.  They now live in Longmont, Colorado.

After two days in Longmont, with trips into the mountains, a soak at a hotsprings resort, and a visit to Boulder to check out their pedestrian mall, we were on our own, following Thomas's suggestions for places to stop -  Garden of the Gods, then on to Mesa Verde ancient Anasazi ruins, the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, the Grand Canyon, and the Little Colorado Canyon.  Details and pictures as soon as I get time to sort them out and post them.  For now let me just say that America is living up to its Chinese name - měi guó, "beautiful country".

The Honeymoon Tour - on to the Grand Canyon

Pouring rain in Flagstaff, no weather for viewing the Grand Canyon.  We decided to cut the day short and take a motel.  Unfortunately, all were full up or otherwise unacceptable.  So we pushed on.  By the time we reached the Grand Canyon we had clear blue skies.  The sunset was incredible.  We managed to find a motel room, then went out to dinner in a cowboy steak house, sharing a table with a nice girl from Paris and a clothing designer from Switzerland.
Pictures as soon as I have time to organize and post them.

 Next morning the canyon was fogged in and there was very little to see.  We left for Yellowstone Park. 

Tonight we're in Manti, Utah.  It's been a great day.  Tomorrow we should make Yellowstone National Park.

August 11, 2010 Dragon's Keep, Provo, Utah

As luck would have it, our route to Yellowstone took us right past Dragon's Keep in Provo, Utah. I mean right past.  On the route. We know of this place because it's the working base for our favourite web cartoonist, Howard Tayler, author of Schlock Mercenary.  We didn't expect to catch Howard at work (his blog said he's off at a convention), but we did get to do the fan thing of seeing his drafting table, and picking up a couple of his more recent signed books.

We also got to take a good look at Dragon's Keep, and meet Jeremy the manager. Ruth has been a gamer for years.  I haven't.  So some of the excitement goes over my head.  But I could see, and Ruth confirms, that Dragon's Keep is a deluxe place for gamers to hang out.  I just enjoyed seeing where Howard gets writer's cramp signing his books.

     I have great admiration for Mr. Tayler.  His site is good hearted and innocent, yet occasionally sexy and scatological, good clean fun. He's built himself a job based on the Internet and a business model that he claims to love.  His work ethic is impressive, and I expect him to become very famous in the near future.  He's got a good start already.  So all in all he seems to be living life the way it should be lived.
     My Chinese students should understand that many words that Howard uses in his web comic are made up to suit his vision of a science fiction future.  This is part of the fun, but if you expect to find "teraport" in a dictionary, you'll have to wait a few years.

The Honeymoon Tour - on to Yellowstone

Storms and rain chased us all the way to Yellowstone Park, but kept behind us.  We arrived late at night, and all rooms were booked and all the campsites full - it's the high season.  We slept in the car, making use of the Old Faithful Lodge washroom.  Breakfast in the lodge cafeteria at six in the morning, and we had a perfect day for exploring the park.  Rain clouds were rolling in as we left the park.  Our timing has been... miraculous so far.

Meeting People is Most of the Fun

I'm just not a disciplined enough person to keep track of the names of the people we meet. 

I remember this family we met in Yellowstone, and how much we enjoyed talking to them.  But unless they send me an email, their names are lost.
     Occasionally we would meet a family from China, and would enjoy shocking them by tossing off a few words of Chinese.  That was always fun.

This visitor to Yellowstone spoke Chinese, but she's now living in Calgary, Canada.  I'm hoping she sends me an email eventually.
And now I'm going to throw in some pictures, without comment.  The pictures speak for themselves.

Chinese Word of the Week:  美国
(měi guó literally "beautiful country") the United States of America

Chinese Word of the Day 蜜月
(mì yuè literally "honey month") = honeymoon (it's still happening for us)

August 17, 2010 Full Circle

I'm back in Maple Ridge, B.C. with my bride.  We've had a wonderful tour of the west that included five American national parks - Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde, The Painted Desert, The Petrified Forest, The Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone, plus at least one state park, the Garden of the Gods in Colorado.  All were impressive.  Most were unforgettable.
     Once we hit the Canadian border, we went up to Kelowna to visit my former brother in law, Tom, and then on to Williams Lake to visit my cousin Colleen and her husband Jerry.  We completed the circle with not a hint of a car problem, inconvenience, or grumpy word.  The impression I'm left with is that this world is beautiful beyond belief, and filled with friendly, loving people.  What a contrast to the impression we get from the media.

 
In Williams Lake, Colleen and Jerry took us to Karen's Cafe.  Great food, and I would say this even if Karen hadn't given us a complementary piece of pie.

Chinese Word of the Day: 恭喜
(gōng xǐ) = congratulations

August 23, 2010 Kids, Dogs, Friends and Family

What a great party my family threw to celebrate our wedding.  Just perfect.  Great food.  Wonderful atmosphere.

Isabelle is about to make a big splash at our wedding celebration.

   
High overcast but no rain, which means comfortable weather for a party in the yard.

All topped off with an extensive sing along. Life is good indeed.

 
                                                                                                                                                                                     Ruth Anderson pictures

Thanks everybody, especially Alice and Steve, our hosts, my sister Catherine, the chief organizer, all those who contributed food, those who made the long drive from Vancouver, Surrey, or Kamloops, my fabulous sisters and assorted cousins, and the kids and dogs who added so much to the festival atmosphere.  Uh... I guess this just means thanks everybody.  It was all good.

Congratulations are also in order for my niece, Amanda Sublett.  She won a silver medal in canoeing at the Canadian Summer Games. Congratulations, Amanda.  Way to go.

Chinese Word of the Day 巧事
(qiǎo shì literally "coincidental event") = coincidence

August 19, 2010 Death by Nostalgia

The mermaid above Ya Ya's Oyster Bar in Horseshoe Bay was carved in my front yard in
Gibson's Landing by my friend Godfrey Stephens who was living in a dugout canoe after
losing his sailboat on the coast of Mexico.

Our summer continues to be magical. Yesterday I took Ruth for a ferry ride to the town of Gibson's Landing, where I owned a large house on the ocean many years ago. Julie and Frank, the couple who now own that house, welcomed our visit very warmly, and I was able to show Ruth some of the renovation and improvements I made when I owned the place.  I also showed Ruth my daughter Reba's tiny hand print in the concrete of the sidewalk.  Reba was born in Marina House.

Here's where the coincidence (see the Chinese Word of the Day) comes in.  Julie and Frank married on July 28, just four days after Ruth and I were married.  They met over the Internet, and lived together for ten years before tying the knot.  Apparently a period of living together before marriage is becoming much more socially acceptable, which makes a lot of sense.  It never seemed like a good idea to me for virtual strangers to make a lifelong commitment to each other.  That's asking too much of luck.

History Lost

This is all that remains of Coles Machine Shop and Marine Ways.  My memories of this building go back to the sixties, when my uncle's commercial fish collector, the Advise, was hauled out here to change the propeller after he hit a log going under the Lions Gate Bridge.

Decades of boat owners added their boat name to the wall, making it a pastiche of history.  When I lived in Gibson's, Dave Coles, the owner of this shop, lost his life while kayaking in Chaster Creek.  The current swept him under a log jam, then sent his body out into the ocean.

Don's Water Taxi

After a pause to feast on blackberries, and a brief stop to swap tunes with a young fiddle player, we made our way to the marina where I bumped into my old friend Don Scagel, owner operator of Don's Water Taxi.

The Back Story on the Russian Hydrofoil

Everything about this day brought back such memories for me.  When I lived here, I owned a Russian hydrofoil, identical to the picture above, built for taxi work on the Volga river.  The boat had a Czechoslovakian made Volvo AQD32 diesel motor that put out a hundred and five horsepower and would scoot my boat along at twenty knots on less than a gallon an hour.  It was a fun boat, and we had some good times running into Horseshoe Bay for an ice cream with the kids, a trip that would barely get the motor warmed up. But Dasvadania, as I called her, was only good for relatively smooth water, a heavy chop at most, and so not ideal for commuting to Vancouver, which is what I bought it to do.  I decided to sell it.  With my son, Casey, age about six, in the passenger seat we set off for a marina in North Vancouver to put Dasvadania up for sale. 
     Once up on the foils, Dasvadania cut the tops off the chop and gave a very smooth ride. Unfortunately it couldn't handle more than a three foot swell without turning into a submarine, and off the foils it wallowed along at only three or four knots, giving a most uncomfortable ride.  Leaving the Gibsons gap, the entrance to Georgia Straight, we had three foot swells hitting us broadside.  We were rolling along cautiously, and I was thinking the trip would take the whole day. But then we turned the corner toward Vancouver, giving us a following sea, and I began to give more and more throttle.  Finally we were up on the foils, flying out of each wave and sending up a glorious sunlit spray as we smashed into the next.  Then we hit a wave a foot higher than the previous ones.  Suddenly green water was rolling down the bow.  It slapped the windshield down, smashing it.  For a moment I was under water.  I couldn't see anything.  When my vision cleared, Casey was not in his seat.  I thought he'd been washed overboard, and was frantically searching the seas for his red life jacket.  Then I realized that he'd been swept down to sprawl under the dash at my feet.  I pulled him back onto the seat and tried to calm him down while I inspected him for damage.  There was blood everywhere I touched.  I was trying to find the source of the blood on Casey when I realized it was all mine.  The knuckles of my hand holding the steering wheel had been lacerated by the shattered windshield.
     We limped on to our destination with me peering through a four inch hole in the broken windshield.  The man at the marina gave me a lift up to the hospital to get some stitches on my knuckles.  I arranged to have the windshield repaired, and left the boat in hopes of finding a buyer. But when no buyer came forward, I gave the boat to Don on the "never never" payment plan.  Don eventually sold it to a drug dealer from Lasquiti Island, and handed me a brown paper bag containing ten thousand dollars in very used bills.

Now for the surprise.  While I had a bad time with that boat, Don fell in love with it.  He's since tracked down and owned five of them, sequentially, and has made his water taxi from the latest, removing the big old diesel motor and replacing it with a 250 horse power outboard, modifying the windshield to handle water over the bow, and installing a top that let's him play submarine with impunity.  So this is the boat he took us out on.  What a machine.  After a spin in the harbour, he took us out the gap to pull up a crab pot and present us with two very large Dungeness crabs.

Ruth mugs in front of Molly's Reach, famous as the set for the Canadian TV series, "Beachcombers".

After a brief visit with Don and his lovely wife, Nancy, we bought some ice, collected our crabs in our cooler, and went in search of Paula and Dennis. 

Dennis and Paula O'brien

Paula is an amazing artist, founder of Pavelka Designs.  Dennis is a scoundrel and adventurer with an amazing knack for making money.  He regaled us with tales of sailing single handed from Cape Town to Brazil with a boat load of whiskey and a bucket of Krugerrands. To tell you about this couple in detail would take a whole book.  Suffice it to say that they are incredible.  They now have Canada's largest company making toys and games for restaurants to give to children when families come for dinner.

b
Ruth reads her SF anthology in the car while waiting for the ferry back to the mainland.

We caught the last ferry home, and got back in time to cook up the crabs and have a great crab feast. So all in all it was a perfect day.

Steamed, cleaned and ready to eat. 
Two large Dungeness crabs on a very large platter. Thanks Don.

The Guitar Hospital

Before heading over to Vancouver Island, venue for our last Canadian wedding celebration, I made a stop in  Vancouver to drop my guitar off for a setup.
     There's nothing much wrong with my Martin D28, but I've known since I bought it that the action is heavier than it needs to be.  So I brought it back to Canada with me hoping to find somebody who can set it up. I was toying with the idea of just lowering the bridge saddle, which I'd be willing to attempt myself if I had a duplicate to replace it with if I messed up the job.  But the process of finding a bridge saddle lead me to Nicole Alosinac, Luthier, in Vancouver and one look at her website was enough to sell me on her services.  The $45 she charges for a set up makes doing it myself a fools choice.

What a pleasure it is to meet an articulate and competent technician.  Nicole gave me a quick education into how to look at a guitar, and the condition of mine.  Her first observation was that it is dehydrated (probably a result of its first owner living in Arizona) and she showed me how to tell this by the ridges in the finish.  She checked the alignment of the neck and fingerboard, recommended a new set of strings, explained that a light dressing of the frets might be necessary, and promised to have the guitar ready for my by Monday when we'll again pass through Vancouver on our way back to Maple Ridge.  I'm really looking forward to playing my guitar once it's been set up.  I'm expecting a big difference.

Chinese Word of the Day: 野地
(yě dì literally "wild earth") = wilderness

August 27, 2010 Waking up in Pristine Wilderness

It's twenty after eight in the morning.  Clouds hang low on the mountains and the ocean is glassy calm.  The air is so sweet I feel like I'm drinking it rather than breathing it.  The day before yesterday I discovered that we had time and opportunity to spend a night at a floating lodge managed by my old friend Joëlle Rabu.  An opportunity not to be missed.  Clint and Linda, our hosts in Nanaimo, decided to come along, and provided the transportation to Moutcha Bay, between Gold River and Tahsis here on Vancouver Island, a three hour drive, the last of which was over a well maintained logging road.

The Nootka Sound Lodge sent a boat to fetch us from Moutcha Bay, and here we are, sitting in the lap of luxury in the West Coast Canadian wilderness. 

 
Joëlle welcomed us to the resort she manages so brilliantly,  where the appetizer tray looked too good to destroy in a feeding frenzy.

 
Joëlle, besides being a great resort manager and old friend, is also a famous singer. She was one of the first performers to be invited to China after the opening up, singing at the Grand Theatre in Beijing in 1986.

A night of playing music and singing with Joëlle and her brilliant musician son, Nico, was a delight beyond description.  My heart wells with gratitude and love for my friends. 

The Nanaimo Wedding Party

This was the conclusion of our Canadian wedding tour.  Now all that remains is our party when we get back to China. 

Clint's been my friend since grade seven.  He and his wife, Linda,  have been my summer hosts since I went to China.  Not too shabby.

It was another wonderful party.  A delight to see my Nanaimo friends again.  Special thanks to John Kenchentan for video taping the highlights and burning six DVD discs for us to give out.

Last Day in on Vancouver Island

And what a day it was,  starting with a visit with my old friend Tim Johnson and his family, then proceeding to  Victoria to visit Ruth's cousin Denise, husband Andy and three of her children,

pressing on from there to see my artist friend Godfrey Stephens,

who coincidentally moors his boat on the same dock as our friend

  and former Lambton teacher (which means we met her on OUR campus) Lynne Kailan has her floating home,

and winding up the day with a visit to Doug Dodd to return the guitar he lent us for the party. 
None of this would have been possible without the little blue car that Sadie and Malcolm bought for our summer use.  Once again we're feeling gratitude.

August 30, 2010 The Beginning is Over, The Marriage Begins

Chinese Word of the Day: 感谢
(gǎn xiè) v./n. thank; be grateful

End of the Honeymoon Trail for the Little Blue Car

We left the little blue car parked in front of Sadie and Malcolm's, where it was when I took possession.  Sadie, my former sister-in-law and her mother, Carrie, my former mother-in-law, gave us a lift back to Maple Ridge, 

with a stop to visit Aunt Jolly in Whiterock, before picking up my guitar on route.

The Guitar Setup Results

Nicole handed me my newly set up and strung Martin D28 this afternoon.  It was everything I hoped it would be.  Not only does it sound wonderful, it is infinitely easier to play.

I want to thank Nicole Alosinac for making my guitar a priority, and getting this done in time for me to pick up the guitar on my way through Vancouver.  Great work.  Great service.

The Honeymoon is Over

So, that was the end of our incredible summer.  After picking up the guitar we went back to Maple Ridge to say goodbye to my mother and sisters, and pack for the flight home.
     It was hard to leave such great friends and family, especially my mother, who reminds me each summer now that this could well be the last time we see each other.  Of course she's right. This is always true, all the time, for everybody.  I'm hoping my mother might last for another twenty years.

We still have one more party planned, this one to celebrate with our friends in China.

September 5, 2010 Good to be Back

After our incredible summer, I had mixed feelings about returning to China.  I love my work here in China, love my students and friends.  But... well, Canada is a beautiful place to live.  Fortunately, the warm welcome we once again received on our return went a long way to ease such ambivalence..

We found Jenny's note on  our white board when we returned to our apartment.  Jenny is the friend who made the arrangements for students to look after our dog.  The Chinese characters in the note read: "GouGou had a shower, we don't want to leave her."
     Last night, Jin Bo, our liaison here, presented us with the perfect Chinese wedding gifts, a pair of bedside reading lamps.  These are modeled on ancient oil lamps, converted to electricity.  One is a phoenix, representing the wife.  The other is a dragon, representing the husband.  Very Chinese.

The Tension Builds

Now let me take you back to the fun time as we returned from China with the wedding planned for July 24.

June 25, 2010 I'm Back in Canada

But just for the summer.  My updates may be a bit spotty, even more so than usual, for the summer months.  We return to China at the end of August.

Stupidity Tax

I got nailed for a stupidity tax at the Shanghai airport. Two reasons - I wanted to take my guitar back to Canada with me, and I wanted to take back my new bullwhip so I can compare it to the whip I bought back in the seventies.
     I thought I remembered taking my guitar on an airplane with no extra charge, but those days seem to be over.  The guitar counts as another piece of luggage, and since they only allow two pieces the nice girl at the checkout told me there would be a... gasp....$220 Canadian charge for the additional case.  I whined and whinged and she suggested that I check the guitar, but hold back my smaller suitcase and take it on as carry on.  Whew.  Problem solved.  Except... I had forgotten that I put the bullwhip in the smaller suitcase.  Naturally one can't take a bullwhip onto an airplane.  Why, I could... wave it at somebody and make threatening noises?  What?  There's no room on a plane to swing or crack a twelve foot bullwhip.  What could I do with it?  But there you go.  Security theater demands that nothing that could be in any way threatening be allowed on the plane.  So they sent me back to check in the bag, and pay the extra baggage charge.
     Gotta hate those stupidity taxes.

July 13,2010 Not much about China (It's all about me.)

Travels, friends and family - I'm back in Canada visiting all the people I love back home.  It's been an incredible vacation so far, and it promises to get even better. 

   
This hill is steeper than it looks in this picture.  My morning exercise was to walk up it to visit my mother.

 
Cousins thrice removed.  It's a growing family with great kids.

  
My son Casey took me out to his sailboat for a night of spiced rum and conversation.

 
A great visit with the grand kids.

My grandson Saorsa with his present from China - pi xiu, ninth son of the dragon.

   
Nothing like a good plate of lingini.

Right now I'm writing this in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at Ruth's mother's home, after driving all night in the car that Sadie and Malcolm bought for me to use this summer. 

  
The little blue car that Sadie and Malcolm bought so they could lend it to me for the summer has been running smoothly.  All I had to do was wash the bugs off it, and it's all sparkly again.

Along the way I visited my nephew Ean in Kelowna, and taught him how to play Chinese chess.  We've got a game going online right now. I also stopped in on Sheila, my ex-wife's sister, and went hiking with her and her boyfriend, Les.

Next morning I met Sheila and her sister Sadie for coffee.  Sadie had been traveling with Laara and Zel on their big honking motorcycles, but she was heading back to the coast, and I was on my way to Saskatoon.

The People You Meet on the Road !!

It's not often you see a couple on a tandem bike working their way up the highway in the Rockie Mountains.  Shortly after I pulled off the road to put my lunch together, the biking pair pulled in too.  They stopped a fair distance ahead of me, either not wanting to impose on my space or not wanting any company.  But I was curious and walked up to introduce myself.  And that's how I met Emanuel and Nawal, who started their bike ride in Bangkok.  Bangkok?  You mean Bangkok, Thailand?  That's right, with a ride all the way through China.  Now they are heading for Jasper on their way to Winnipeg and ultimately Venezuela in South America.  Inspiring couple.

You can check out their adventure on their blog. It's in French but the pictures tell the story.

July 17, 2010 Summer Vacation Continues

After leaving Sheila and Sadie in Kelowna I did an all nighter to Saskatoon, to the home of Ruth's mother.  It was a beautiful drive through the badlands of Alberta.  I should have taken more pictures.

I had a great day of hanging out with Ruth's mom before Ruth arrived by bus from Winnipeg, to take the curse of the last leg of the drive.

Ruth's sister, Deborah, runs a cancer research lab in Saskatoon.  She treated us to a tour and running commentary on her work.  Fascinating stuff. 

They recently had a breakthrough and verified a molecular switch that was previously not understood.

     
We all got a chance to look at cancer cells through the microscope. 
Not that we could tell what we were looking at.

Ruth and I enjoyed a pleasant and uneventful drive from Saskatoon to Ruth's house in Winnipeg.

Dangerous Toys

Our friend David (Yes, another David.  This house is full of them.)  is working with us.  He was very impressed with my new bullwhip (scroll way down if you follow this link), which I've been showing off wherever I visit.  But below is the result when he tried to crack it.  Ouch.

I thought it would be easy to teach people how to crack a bullwhip. Apparently I was wrong.  So far I've managed to teach the skill to nobody, and have only succeeded in inflicting pain on two of my friends.  Fortunately David came back for more, and I had to convince him to stop trying when I couldn't stand to watch anymore.  He says he wants a bullwhip of his own.

And What Did You Do Before Your Wedding?

 Now we're renovating a bathroom in the days before our wedding.

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