Our time in Veradero, Cuba was fabulous. The beaches were perfect, the weather was fantastic - we went shopping in town, spent lots of time at the pool and tanning, we went on a catamaran ride, saw a dolphin show, went snorkeling, went to different beaches - spent some time in the "disco". Resorts are kind of funny places - the people that you met are really interesting, cool and a bit strange as well. It's neat meeting people from all over the world. It's also so fascinating to people watch - I felt like we were undercover spy's or something the whole time - the people watching we did was amazing. From wild drunk people, to loud complainers, to unhappy couples, to the bizarrely sophisticated Russians, to the old men with young wives - it was a wealth of characters. True to form, the food was awful (note my grossed out face at my "breakfast" picture. Champagne helped.) - but thankfully, Raph and I are not food people. We found much more pleasure in the amazing sunshine and romantic company. The resort we were at was clean, classy, had really fun shows in the evening and the Cubans especially were simply wonderful, wonderful people. This generous honeymoon was donated by my in-laws are we are endlessly thankful for them splurging on us. It was so, so, so fun and we had the best time together. We can't wait to go on vacation again next year. Hopefully next year will be Costa Rica or Jamaica!
This last pic here is back in rainy Vancouver - our airport is so unbelievable. It's gorgeous. This is a huge piece of artwork/waterfall that we saw. We were pretty much in awe of our wealthy country when we came home, and in horror at the amount of rain there was. We missed the worst of it though, and since we've been home it's been sunny, clear and cold.
Benson, our cat - loved deeply and now has passed on.
This is a tribute that Raph wrote about Benson, our cat. Although I have sometimes been quite mean to Benson, especially when it comes to comparison with Tilly, I really did love him. It was very hard driving him to the vets in his little special bed, and those last few moments with him were emotional to say the least. But he had a hard, large lump him his tummy area, and there was just no way that he was going to get better. We second guess ourselves often, wondering if we could have done something more. We still wait for him to walk around, and come into the room or eat some crunchies. They are still waiting for him in the kitchen.
Benson: 1996 - November 15, 2009
Originally Benson was supposed to be my Mom's cat. I got him for her when because of her job she had to live by herself in Nanaimo. I thought she was really lonely out there (No offense but Nanaimo is a horrible city) so a nice cat would cheer her up. When one of my coworker's cats had kittens I thought what could be better so I went to her place and had a look. In the centre of the room were a bunch of cats playing rolling around and being kittens. But none of them really spoke to me, they were busy being dumb cats, but in the corner away from the group was this funny looking, white fluffy ball with big ears and huge different coloured eyes who looked at me and sort of said "do you believe this, I'm a fluffy white cat". I knew that this was the cat, at such a young age already having a cynical disdain for his position in life this cat really spoke to me.
So for the first few years Benson lived with my Mom, traveling back and forth on the weekends between the Island and Vancouver. But he was always kind of my cat and when finally my Mom moved back to Vancouver Benson came to stay with me. At first I kind of didn't want him, I was young and image conscious and what was a "cool" guy like me going to do with a fluffy white cat. I even gave him away once but within the hour he was back because he terrorized his new owner and tore up their whole place. So I was stuck with him and he was stuck with me but over the years we reluctantly became good friends.
There was always a real wisdom in Benson's eyes. It gave lots of people the creeps because he refused to be a cat, If you dangled a string in front of him he would humour you for a bit and play with it but that kind of dumb sport was really beneath him. Benson was a thinker. He liked to sit and watch the birds and squirrels run around outside the window, he knew he didn't have to chase them, there was plenty of food. He liked to observe the humans in his house. Most notably Benson was the proprietor of Benson's Bar, a bar I set up at home for me and my friends. Benson over saw us all and looked on us with the same disdain that he looked on at those kittens stupidly rolling around.
As Benson's Bar was closed down Benson and I spent more time reading and hanging out. He didn't really like to go on my lap but he would curl up next to me and jab his back into my thigh. If I had a monologue or audition to practice he would look on out of his kitty bed, meowing if I sounded fake or forced, always showing his disdain for nonsense.
Benson was for the most part very docile, he never bit or scratched unless provoked, he liked to get rasty sometimes and play fight with me when he was younger but for the most part he liked sleeping in his kitty bed, going outside to take in the fresh air, munching on his crunchies, drinking out of the toilet, spreading white fur everywhere, and snuggling in my bed. He could be real fierce though when threatened. One time when in the middle of the night a stray Raccoon wandered into our house, Benson fought them off with a terrible racket. A saliva covered tuft of Benson's hair lying on the ground the only injury he suffered. I didn't see any raccoons near the place after that. He also fought off Skunks, suffering a good dousing, and when a friend brought a dog over once, the dog left needing serious psycho-therapy.
Just a couple months ago I was remarking with a friend who had noticed that Benson must be getting on in age, how well and healthy Benson was doing but in my heart I was getting worried. He'd slowed down a bit, spending more and more time sleeping in his bed. He took up the habit of now sitting on my lap which is something he never did before, and he didn't meow as often as he did in the past. Benson had different meows for whatever he wanted; dirty litter, water, food, going outside. I figured he was just slowing down.
Last month he started hiding under the bed, something he never ever did. After investigating it turned out he had a bad case of flees. So he got taken to the vet and while there it was discovered he had a tumor in his leg extending into his abdomen. So he came home, cured of the flees but not doing well. He started eating and drinking very little and retired to his kitty bed where he would spend all of his time. We tried to feed him directly and bring him water but he didn't want it. I hoped that the tumor was a slow one or benign and that he would get better, and there were days where he seemed to perk up, but finally today after so many weeks of getting thinner and thinner I knew and he knew it was time. He stopped purring and he gave a kind of feeble meow when petted that seemed to say "I hurt". So, with my mom, my dad, and my wife, the whole family took Benson wrapped in his favorite and only kitty bed down to the vet where in our presence they put him to sleep for the last time. He was very brave, he didn't meow or cry in the car or at the vet. He died quietly with his eyes open. He was one heck of a cat and an even better friend and he will be terribly missed around here. Rest in piece Bennio.
Last weekend, 14 lovely ladies and I went to Vegas to celebrate a good friends upcoming wedding. We did a lot of shopping, dancing, and sight-seeing. Vegas at this time of year is approx. room temperature. I won about $80 on the slot machines, however, I spent that much gambling as well - so nothing gained. You can imagine that with 14 really hot chicks we got into just about anywhere with VIP treatment. It was pretty insane - We had Gemma, the bride, all dressed up and she got a lot of attention. It was a super fun girls trip. I think Vegas is probably the most fun with a group of girls, cause it's just that kind of a town.
I truly believe that my wedding day was the happiest day of my life. There were so many reason for us to have a quiet, small day - with just a few choice family in attendance, but we are so thankful that we made it a major event! There is so much joy in celebrating with all of your family and friends, and the blessings are worth all the stress that come along with planning a huge event like this. From the sewing of the dresses, to the landscaping, to the weather worries, to the hospital visits (my dad stepped on a hornets nest three days before the wedding), to the arguments, to the general chaos, let's be honest here - planning a wedding is a little like putting a Broadway show on it's feet. But unlike a play, there is no acting. It's real-life and there are so many emotions attached to the day, it's hard not to take everything personal. Things seemed to be slightly out of control the days before the wedding, but the morning of August 29th, the sky cleared, the sun came out and a hot breezy day emerged. Everything went off without a hitch. It was so amazing how everything came together so perfectly. Walking down the isle was momentous. Both my dad and I barely held it together. I rarely cry, but it look all my willpower to not burst out into a major wailing fit when the music played and people began to stand. I really felt like I was going to loose it. Somehow we managed to keep it together, but not without me breaking out into massive sweat. I mean, it was INTENSE. From there on in, though, I just relaxed and enjoyed the perfect day. It really, really was a dream day - "magical" as Raph calls it. I can't express how deep and meaningful it was to have so many people there, and so much love in one room. And the reception was just a fun, fun, event. It was so incredibly classy and casual at the same time - it was just the way I had envisioned it. I really do understand now, why people celebrate anniversaries - it's such a special day, it's meant to be remembered for a lifetime.
The wonderful woman at Curves threw me a massive shower on August the 5th. Hosted in the happy home of Jill Rae 30 guests showered me love, food, presents, and laughter! I was so incredibly blessed by this event. What a memory! And what a fabulous job that I have, working with such generous women.
