Returning to the great white north

Well so much for my record - missed blogging yesterday. Was a long day, got out of work a 7 pm. Grabbed a pizza and then dropped off the car.

I watched the mighty ducks on tv (has been years since I've watched that movie) and talked to Lola. After that, it was bed time as I had to get up at 515 for my 715 flight this morning. 

I'm looking forward to being home for a bit - have hockey tonight, Jets game tomorrow and then not much planned for the weekend other than dinner with the Nedohins on Saturday for Janet's birthday and anniversaries. 

One thing I am not looking forward to is the weather. Oh well, I should be getting warmer soon (I hope)...

Lola Wednesday!

Well I decided that I better appreciate that I have been driving the Passat all week while Arizona adam has been in Tucson, so what do I do, bring the blue beauty to the car wash:)

While Arizona adam has been away, I have gone to the gym twice, enjoyed supper with Eric and Jamie, went for coffee with Jenna, and tried to catch up on some tv:)

I am excited for adam to come back so that I can stop being jealous of the nice temps he has been enjoying!

Night, Lola

Tuesday

I'm three for three so far. Doing pretty good with the blog. 

Today was another busy day. I was quite impressed with how the airplane came together. Only a few issues that really need to be fixed other than cosmetic things. We will see everything that the customer noted tomorrow and see what needs to be done. 

Not much to really say. Day went by too fast - didn't help that I spent a good couple of hours at the airplane answering questions and taking a few notes for things that need to be changed. 

Went for a run when I got back to the hotel. Only 1.4 miles I estimate from google maps. Weather was nice today, so said my car:

Oh yeah, should have mentioned that I have a "Passassat" (as Ashley calls it) so I don't feel too out of place here ;).  Although, I do miss the tdi power and better stereo. The seats in this one though are cloth which I would have taken over the leatherette that is the only style available in the comfort line. 

Hopefully the weather turns around, not lookin forward to super cold weather when I return - I only have a fall jacket with me...

Monday

Well today went ok. Busy but that's what was expected. Most of the guys (and gals) are happy to see me. The airplane is fairly well along but they have a ways to go to get it ready to show the medical staff tomorrow. 

I'm highly skeptical that ground testing will be completed before my vacation from 14 Feb to 24 Feb (when we go to Whistler for a 30th birthday celebration for our friend Eric). If that turns out to be true, delivery in Feb is most likely out of the question. Helps if they had all the parts ordered and all the wires strung...

Weather is nice, again as expected. After BBB posted his photo on Facebook I snapped this one:

Not sure whatelse to report out on. Ran 1.5 miles today after work and am now at Texas Roadhouse for supper. Mmm pork chops (said Lola NEVER). 

Hope the weather turns around before I get back, I'm enjoying 60-70 F warmth...

Arizona Adam is traveling again

Yep, that's right folks - I'm on my way to Tucson. I've had enough of this winter weather need some sun and heat. Or I just need to be present for meetings with the aircraft operator who is coming down as well. Hopefully things go well and that they don't expect too many changes - we are a month away from certification assuming the aircraft is ready for testing in the next two weeks. 

I'm wondering if we are departing on time today. No airplane at the gate yet and we are scheduled for departure at 830 (currently is 750). However the ground crew is clearing the snow at the gate - making way for the airplane I hope. 

Not much else to say this morning, kinda tired. It's going to be a busy trip. I return Thursday afternoon, just in time for my hockey game Thursday night and then the Jets game on Friday. 

How 'bout them Jets?  Someone lit a fire and got them motivated (or scared). Either way, glad to see them playing like they can. Just need them to stay consistent. 

More to come from Sunny Tucson. 

Arizona Adam, back to Arizona

Well his name stands true, and he is going back to Arizona....

He has is shorts, running shoes and hat packed and ready to enjoy the +22 degrees in Tucson Arizona.

Lola gets the Passat from Sunday to Thursday so she is not complaining... Although she would rather be in the sun than driving the Passat in Winterpeg, but hey... Got to look forward to something I guess.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekends!

Lola

First Fuel

Well the Passat got its first fuel up today. So adam let me take it to work so I could use the fuel voucher we received from Volkswagen. 

Not sure how to read Adams spreadsheet, so we got 25 MPG or 30MPG (uk).  Still have to break in the blue beauty but not complaining as we only took the car on the highway once and put almost 600km on the tank!

We also got this in the mail today.... Waiting for AA to get home before opening it....

What else is new... We finally got our door of our cupboard installed and glass in our china cabinet:) 

Very excited to finally get this Reno 100% complete:)

Other than that we have been trying to get back to the gym, staying really busy with work and trying to stay warm!

GO JETS GO!

Lola

Let the games begin...

So since getting the Passat, it has been a battle to see who would get to take it to work. So I thought I would make a bet with the winner getting to take the car to work the next day. What a great thing to bet on but who will win the jets game.....

Arizona adam said Phoenix Coyotes would win, while I picked the jets!

Guess who drove the Passat to work on Tuesday???? Lola:) to thank the jets and make sure adam sees I treat the car well, I even took the blue beauty for a bath during my lunch hour:)

Passat after the car wash, sporting the new winter tires!

Hope all are doing ok in this crazy weather we are having, stay safe.

Lola

Tire shop

I'm kinda feeling like te Coolidge tire shop in Warren MB:

A. A. 

Out with the old, in with the new

Well it happened. We finally got to take our Passat home!  I was a little sad to see the Spice Red Jetta go - we had some good times and not so good times:

- getting used to driving a standard - couldn't be any easier with DIESEL POWER

- daily driving to the U of M

- loading it up, strapping on the bikes and going camping or to the lake

- 50+ mpg

- countless trips to Morden and Warren

- many trips to Minneapolis

- one road trip to Banff

- driving 2,400 Kms to Montreal

- dealing with unfamiliar cities in a familiar car - Montreal, Quebec City, Peterborough, Boston, New York City, Chicago 

Here are some photos of the big day:

Last time seeing big red in the garage. 

The final odometer reading. Yikes look at that temperature. 

Gwen driving the car out of the delivery bay. 

The three beauties together:

Passat, Gwen, Jetta (L to R)

I'm looking forward to driving the car tomorrow for the first time. I let Gwen drive it the first day and today I wasn't feeling well so worked from home. Saturday we will get some new winter tires for the Passat, or passassat as some people like to refer to it as.

Excited to drive the blue beauty tomorrow ;)

Going home for a rest

Well Christmas is officially over... We haven't been home since dec 24th.  In that time we:

- visited Karl, Debbie, and Paige in stonewall

- went to church on Christmas Eve in stonewall

- celebrated Christmas with the Mankewich family at the Coolidge residence 

- opened presents Christmas morning with the Coolidge Clan.

- celebrated Christmas with the Coolidge Family at Murray and Phyllis'

- drove to morden from stonewall to wish the Nedohin family a merry Christmas on Christmas Day!

- celebrated Christmas on Boxing Day with the Nedohin Family

- packed up and meet the Coolidge clan in brandon on 27th to pick up passengers and make our way to Swift Current

- 28th, traveled to canmore

- 29th, snowboarded at Lake Louise, and went to Banff upper hotsprings

- 30th, snowboarded at Sunshine

- 31st, played at "elevation place" in canmore, shopped in Banff and celebrated The New Year with thousands of others in canmore

- Jan 1st, went snowboarding at Sunshine, beer and appies in Banff and upper hot springs once again

-2nd, made the sunny drive from canmore to regina

-3rd, made the very stressful drive from regina to morden, stopping in virden for lunch

- 4th, watched team canada lose the semi final at Melissa and Devins, enjoyed the company and food to celebrate Ukrainian Christmas at the Nedohin house.

- 5th, finally slept in, celebrated Julian's 38th birthday and packed up the car to make the trek home! 

It has been a crazy holiday season and bittersweet about going back to work tomorrow. Not looking forward to unloading this car... Hopefully we get our new car this week!

Here are a few photos of the drive home!

The backseat (the truck is full too)

Adam driving.

The passenger, trying to stay warm...

Well we aren't quite home yet but we have already put about 3,800 km on this loaner Passat!

Will be happy to sleep in my own bed tonight,

Lola

Arizona Adam - ZZZZZZ

And he is out... That drive tuckered him out! Has to rest up for the feast tomorrow:)

Lola

Coolidge Clan - drive home

Well yesterday was a long 8 hour drive but we arrived just east of regina at the "sleep inn" just in time to take a dip in the brand new pool. The hotel was brand new, I think we may have been the first ones in the beds, using the showers and using the alarm clocks.

The drive from canmore to regina was long but beautiful. The temperature fluctuated all day from 10 degrees to -10. It was sunny most of the way which felt so nice:) we stopped in Brooks (Blair's town) for lunch at Denys and then in Moose Jaw for supper at joeys seafood. 

Riley having fun at supper!

Baileys monocle! 

This is the view that I wanted Ashley to see as we approached Calgary on the way to canmore but the clouds wouldn't allow that to happen. I made sure to tell Ashely to turn around to look out the back to see the incredible view.

The view as we travel east.

Driving from Canmore to Brooks

Our passengers from canmore to regina

Today's drive hasn't been as pleasant as yesterday. A picture tells the story.

Jan 2 drive.

Jan 3rd drive from regina to morden.

So we were planning on going to winnipeg today to try and pick up our new Passat, but turns out it hasn't even arrived in Winnipeg yet. Thanks auto Haus VW for letting us know. We had to follow up. So since it may only arrive on Sunday, we decided to go straight to morden for Ukrainian Christmas celebration tomorrow!

It's been a stressful drive with our passengers...

Our snowboards were in the back seat as the Passat left 1 hr before the rest of the Coolidge clan, so we traded graham and Ashley for our snowboards.

It was an excellent ski trip, only thing that would have been better was a sunny and clear 6+ hour drive home. It has been a tense and slow drive home.

Trying to stay calm passenger,

Lola

Days 5 and 6

We forgot to blog yesterday so we need to catch up. 

Yesterday was a relaxing day. Breakfast in the condo then some of us went off to the rec Center for swimming. Gwen, Graham and I went with Bailey and Stuart and Jasper met us there. 

The pool was really neat - there was a water slide, 25 person hot tub, lap pools, lazy river and general swim area. Gwen's favourite part was the foam floatie toys - especially the canoe. 

Jasper had lots of fun - life jacket on and he was ready to go anywhere. Bailey too was very excited and did lots of swimming. The boys had a good time too, only a few errant balls were thrown into non-suspecting bystanders.

After a tiring swim, we went back to the condo for a lunch/snack. Mom and dad went shopping so we didn't see them all day. 

After our snack, G squared and A squared went to Banff in one car and the Coolman family in another. Once in Banff, the two cars wandered around taking in the sites and doing some light shopping. Gwen was upset she didn't buy a sweatshirt so we are back in Banff on day 6 (I am writing this from the Banff brewing Company lounge with a beer in hand along with everyone else in our car). 

Supper was bbq'd steak and baked potatoes. It was excellent. Then we continued to have a drink or two, took some family photos and then went to see some fireworks at 930 in Canmore at the skating pond. 

After the fireworks we made our way back to the condo and celebrated New Years on Manitoba time. Early(ish) night for some as we were going skiing again the next day. 

Day 6

Started early so we could get to Sunshine before the crowds. B, N, A and G took the "passassat" to the hill and arrived at 8:15, well ahead of most. With rental gear sized up and everyone ready we made our way to the gondola and up to the village. 

First run was at 9am. By 11 we had completed 6 or 7 runs. A quick lunch break and we were back on the hill by 1245. In total we completed probably close to 15 runs, even taking a few blue runs (as we had to get to the great divide chairlift and then down to the green runs). Blair was all smiles today - lots of skiing and not many wipe outs. 

We skied out at 2 pm as we were all pretty wiped from the runs we had already taken. From sunshine we went to Banff for some quick shopping and a pint of beer ($2 off with our lift tickets) and some appies. 

Tonight will be roast beef and potatoes at the condo. Gwen and I will probably go to the hotsprings again and then will need to pack up for the journey tomorrow.