Who woulda Thought

Who would a thought that to go THAT direction I needed to take the bus going the other way............Well, maybe if I could read more Chinese..........The bus does a couple over here loops in each direction and then turns back towards the opposite direction and to top it off it is a one hour loop with 2 buses so at the stop I was at you get to see both buses within 5 minutes and then wait almost an hour!  I think I missed them by 5 minutes the first time........BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO GO FROM THIS STOP.  I got home 5 hours after I said bye to Colleen as she went for a hairwash!!!!!  The marvel is that I knew quite well where I was in the city the whole time! I ALSO KNEW I WAS NOT WHERE I WANTED TO BE.  

Golden Lion Lake is quite a nice area but they are working to remove major amounts of silt from the lake so the beauty takes a bit of visualizing.  I think it is actually a water runoff catch basin for north eastern Kaohsiung City.  VERY nice walkways and paths around and over the lake.  the east side has 2 maybe 3 temples.

AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH when I had looked around enough I walked the 3, 4, 5, 6 blocks back to the main road to catch the bus home.  It seemed like it was almost as long to wait for the bus as it was to walk home especially since there was a 5-7 minute walk from the bus stop to Melissa's place.   WELL  I was about 8 blocks farther east than I thought...................Google Maps says 38-41 minutes to walk............I must have sauntered because it took almost 50 minutes according to when I called Colleen and told her I was headed back and actually walked in the door.  I don't think I waited for my iced tea that long!

AHH the stories of Steve & Kaohsiung!

ooops 10 days have passed

We've done kind of ordinary stuff, well it seems ordianry for here.........Youth events, Church, A wedding, ride the MRT,  Lantern Festival Watershow, ride the MRT,  do laundry, ride the MRT, Lantern Festival Fireworks, Lantern Festival lanterns, ride the MRT, teach an English class at church, ride the bus for almost 2 hours, walk for 45 minutes, eat another of Colleen's wonderful meals.

Here are a couple wedding photos...

 

The Artistry continued into the wedding banquet.  I am  not posting the other food because I don't know what most of it is called.......

We've known Marco for several years and Tracy is super sweet.  She's very fortunate to have such a fine husband and I'm sure he knows how beautiful, gentle and loving she is!










Wow, we've been here 6 weeks and head home in 6 1/2! Tomorrow we are going to Taipei to visit friends, see Cirque de Soleil, The Taipei Flora Expo and get back early enough Melissa can survive teaching Tuesday morning. Feb 28th which happens to be Monday this year is a Holiday. A bit of a strange one, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/228_Incident


Oh my bus escapade deserves a seperate post.......................

OK uploaded some photos and recalled a couple mini adventures

A couple Sundays ago there was a Baby shower for Melissa's friends.  They are from a different church that meets in the same building as we do but in the afternoon.



This is the outfit we bought.  I was slow on the camera/had a bad setting....you can see the colours it was a top and pants.  It will fit Anastasia when she is aobut a year old.




One day we went with Melissa to her school and explored as she went in to teach.   This is Boai, the main road around the house and school.   One of the main North/south routes in Kaohsiung.




A few blocks west of Melissa's school is "Handwich Cafe"  The foccacia bread was very good.  Taiwanese chicken is NOT Canadian chicken presentations but the BLT was very good.




Oh and you almost ALWAYS go to the bathroom before leaving somewhere!   This one had an extra humour reward!

  Then as we walked back towArds home we passed through The Heart of Love River which is on both sides of Boai right near Melissa's school.   I think this bench sign is actually referring to the bike paths and possibly the local political reorganization.

 Parks and green spaces are plentiful in Kaohsiung.  Look at the flowers in the next shot.

 

that's MY finger! but it's the best curve shot....

I'M PRETTY SURE OUR MELISSA DIDN'T TAG THIS................. 

February 14, 2011

If I had done much less I would have stayed in bed all day today..................Oh I did make it up the stairs to 5th floor to do a minor repair and Colleen and I had a nice AT HOME dinner of IKEA meatballs, Idahoan potatoes and Taiwan Market Carrot.   WE DID WISH EACH OTHER HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.

It was rainy and cool today so our only outdoor venture was for the garbage and recycling.

Yesterday Melissa received her baby for the day (friends run a home for unwanted babies and facilitate adoptions)

and then after church we went to E-DA World Outlet Mall. Interesting how malls are different around the world and yet are all the same!

 Well some have unique features.....................

 And then of course STARBUCKS and some relaxing.

Wednesday

The screen is repaired.  No new damages today.  My market guys greeted me with grins, smiles and a grand time.  I got my watermelon and tomatoes and 3 dim sum pieces.  The dim sum  is at a different stall!

I managed to do a little painting of some metal bars that we'll use to change up some things in Melissa's garage for displaying brochures and maps.  Oh and of course a bit of bike riding, exploring and a trip to Shao Bae for 3M stickers.

We wimped out and had Mc D's for lunch as Melissa met a friend for lunch to discuss wedding decoration plans.  It will be a time squeeze in 10 days.  Church til 12:30 wedding at 2 in the same space!

OH I see it warmed to -14C in Saskatoon!

Words and intentions..............

I was reminded this evening of the importance of words and feelings.  Within the last couple weeks a Taiwanese friend commented about the harshness of Taiwanese family communications and I responded that it is not ONLY a Taiwanese or Asian issue. 

The circumstance is not important nor are the actual words.  My realization and contemplation of my reactions to the words is however.   There was no ill intention in the words but at the moment my mind and heart needed to hear softness and kindness rather than bluntness.  OH there are times when I need to be spoken to directly as I often am a tiny bit dense.  I chose to not verbally respond and continue on my way with the balance of my task but the thought process of a 60 year old guy, prone to thinking rather than reacting, prompted this sharing.

I'm not sure there is much more to say or share........... when you speak try to include love, when you hear interpret with love and understanding.

Tuesday was break day-it's Wednesday in Taiwan!

Not long before Melissa came home for lunch I was emptying the coffee pot, flip flop, juggle CRASH...one less coffee mug and half a cup of coffee on the kitchen floor.  Well it needed mopping anyway!

In the evening we were headed out and I needed to leave a note on the door so back by the phone for note paper and CRASH, hooked the cord with my foot and yanked the cord right out of the phone.......FIVE cords in Saskatoon and NO spares here........$20NT($0.65 CDN) later and all is fine....except for the frustration!

At least our Afternoon Market visit went well and I was able to give my watermelon guys their picture from last year!  It is really gratifying when people recognize us from last year!

Now off to do a screen door repair...maybe that's the peak of today's list.   the screen was dog usage damage NOT me......................

I must be part dog...........................

oooooo I LIKED the shoulder and head massage that comes with a Taiwanese hair wash.  HA HA HA

Vicarious Living

We met Australian and British parents this weekend.  Both Davids!  It seems parents have pretty similar concerns and desires for their children around the globe but some talk funny!   I may be one of the unofficial Kaohsiung ambassadors which may be getting a bit annoying for the women in my life.  well the two here......it seems the OTHER women in my life want me to say more via this blog!

We are reminded on a daily basis how BLESSED we are to have healthy independent children,  
We are reminded on a daily basis how BLESSED we are to be in Kaohsiung with Melissa,
We are reminded on a daily basis how BLESSED we are to be healthy and happy,
We are reminded on a daily basis how BLESSED we are to have friends in Saskatoon and other parts of Canada and the U.S. that are interested in our lives.

Today a Pastor and his son from Nebraska checked in for a few days before returning home late this week.  They have been here working with Free Methodist Missionary David Clemente at a winter church camp.  Colleen toured parts of NE with the Aldersgate Trio in 1969, I went to Kindergarten in Sidney NE in ??? and I have an uncle and cousins that live in NE but not in the small towns Brian McGee pastors in........  I almost always have a connection within a few hours of Melissa's North American guests!!!!   I think it is somewhere between amusing and annoying for her........

Sorry no new pictures today I didn't want to take away from the break in Saskatoon weather!

We are meeting one of Melissa's friends at a salon for a HAIR WASH in 3 hours so we will grab some lunch.  No stinky tofu or chicken butts today.  or squid on a stick for that matter.

Photographic update

These are from the last THREE weekends, quite a variety of life and experiences.  We are tremendously blessed to even be here in the same city with Melissa.  We received an Anniversary cake and gift.

A bus trip with Melissa and some of her school staff

And a 2 family car trip that turned into a van trip because Melissa's car needs major repair that will likely turn into replacement..... It's much better travelling in one vehicle!!!

Donggang gates gold plated

And the boat that gets launched and burned every 3 years.  Okay and rebuilt.

Zoom in to see all of us.

And even more to see out various sea food that we bought at the market and then had it cooked at the end of the market.  The Taiwan Strait is jsut on the other side of the wind barrier.

My oyster and clam shells........................and below the Donggang bridge

Is it Jet lag or something else

This morning I woke at 5:30! I laid there…………..then I thought why am I awake? I laid there and prayed for about 85 people that came to mind, yeah at least 85. And I laid there……. around 6:50 I got up, I know because Colleen asked is that a 6 or an 8? So I spent a couple hours working on various quiet things. At 8:30 Colleen came down…..Melissa was off to work about 8.

We had a light breakfast as we had plans to go the soft opening of K Town diner. It was pretty good but they have a fair bit of learning to cook eggs enough, either runny, runny or hard cooked to beyond hard.

We then went to Dollars to buy some groceries... Familiar but yet much unfamiliar. What is pork floss anyway? And all those little round balls! And those long thick mushrooms that look like, well, uh, never mind but tough and rubbery no matter how they are cooked. All mushrooms in Taiwan seem to be rubbery, hmm, palates sure differ.

This evening Melissa’s private lesson had to cancel so we walk to the MRT and bought our ICard so we don’t have to have cash on hand and then rode to the next stop with the new Shin Kong Mitsukoshi store, it opened only a few days before we left last spring. Very nice and some floors VERY exclusive names, Harrod’s, and other’s I don’t recognize but sure looks like big $$$$$$. Colleen and Melissa did manage to find some grocery items they couldn’t do without. There really isn’t anything you can’t find here except maybe particular brands and there always seems to be that hint of sweet in things……..

January 17 musings

Listening to the quiet rrrrRRRRRrrrr of a scooter approaching and passing and occasionally hearing one sound like it’s going to rattle apart before it passes. Hearing the clamouring or maybe it’s the clicking, clanking and clunking of cars, trucks, vans, scooters, wide and narrow steel overhead doors, bicycles, tools, pipes, hammers and shoes makes walking in Kaohsiung a strange symphony.

Tonight Colleen made pan fried chicken breasts, broccoli with cheese sauce and salad so I got to clean up as Melissa stopped in after a full day of work as she went to her Chiropractor. Balancing the efforts and work!! Of course I was MSN chatting with a friend in Taipei while the cooking took place. Tomorrow Colleen may be ready for the afternoon market; today her brain was not quite ready to deal with the smells and sights. AND as we were walking back from the shopping center the girl from the (my) tea shop saw me and we exchanged recognizing smiles so I HAD to go get my iced tea even though it is a bit cool for it. Mmmmm and brr mixed together. She even asked if we were back from Canada. Well I’m pretty sure that was what she said……….

We are settling in

We had absolutely no catastrophes..........We arrived Friday night as scheduled.

We weren't able to see my nephew's wife in Denver because their little girl was sick. The Best Western in San Francisco was fantastic and we had a nice breakfast included. A funny thing was that the shuttle driver to the hotel was playing some Chinese music that sounded JUST LIKE one of the artists a Taiwanese friend sent me over this past year.  I hummed and smiled all the way!  We were only in SF for 12 hours so all we did was take the edge off the tiredness.


Oh the Taiwanese memories.  When we got to the hotel in Taipei I discovered not my heart, but my sleep shorts, were left in San Francisco. A comfortable bed and a great breakfast were included, scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, sausages, sliced ham, cooked cabbage, seasoned baby parsnips, toast and jam, Americano coffee (STRONG), and LOTS of mystery food.

We were honoured guests at a wedding banquet Sunday afternoon and even received a 40th Anniversary cake and marriage mugs. The handles are in the form of the Chinese character for Double happiness. Then in the evening Melissa treated us to an Anniversary supper at one of our favourite restaurants, The Bayou.  We did have a nice day and it was cool to hear "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" playing on the radio as we were driving home from dinner. That was the song that played when I walked down the aisle. Cool, eh!  Pictures will follow in a few days. 

We are both feeling the travel weariness and Colleen is fighting her cough valiantly. A few more days and all should be good.  

This morning we walked the the 3 blocks to McDonald's for breakfast because we didn't have coffee or want the iced coffee at the breakfast shop a block away.   It is an interesting comfort to hear the onslaught of car, scooter and truck traffic sounds and the familiar but completely NOT understood sounds.  And to get at the corner near the Hanshin Mall and remember (across the street, not at the door) it doesn't open for another hour!  So 7-11 here we come.  Eggs and bread so Colleen can craft Melissa's lunch!  Melissa will be spoiled......

Travelling

It was with sadness we left Jay, Julie, Alex and Gaby in Saskatoon but we are EXCITED to see Melissa.  Flights have been on time but we had to wrestle our bags to the hotel in San Francisco overnight.  My grandniece in Denver was sick so we didn't get to meet her and her mom.  The Best Western Grosvenor was nice and we had a great hot breakfast. too bad we were in the hotel less than 8 hours!

Colleen is fighting her sinus cold so we will have an early DR visit in Kaohsiung.....

So I have accessed wifi in Saskatoon, Denver, San Francisco and since we have almost 4 hours in Tokyo likely there too.   We are meeting Chester/Chris at the Taipei airport to pass along BABA gifts.

We board in about 20 minutes.   OH I see it has warmed a degree in Taipei.......it looks like it will be rainy and 17......................info only not GLOATING

All for now!!

whaaaaah I'm sick

OK I know I am SICK, but this is a cold!   at least it isn't a COLD...... I am so seldom sick or ill feeling that I don't know how to suck it up and keep going.  All the years of good health benefits and now no REAL schedule enable my whimpering and lounging.  I am getting better because the Jacuzzi just didn't have the restorative draw that the 2 hours did yesterday!!

Four weeks from RIGHT NOW we will be 12 hours from seeing Melissa in Taipei!  We will have seen family in Denver and spent midnight to noon in San Francisco.  I'll blog about THAT.

Waaah, my eyes burn....................

Grieving ................

I just got word of a friend's passing after a long battle with cancer.   It brings sadness and tears and broken voice and happiness that her suffering is passed.  I think it brings back those little pieces of grief from all those I have lost over the years.  AND an increased understanding of my own grieving process.   God is stronger and our fullest hope is in Heaven and eternity with Him.  All our lives have a limit so we do our best to deal with it when it happens.

It hurts to be involved in people's lives and then lose them!!!  It is also a TREMENDOUS JOY.   I will continue to welcome people into my life because the pain is far less than the joy and happiness it brings.

My life will continue pretty much the same until Friday arrives and we say another farewell.  My heart aches for her young daughter as I have known her best through my youth group work.  Joyelle prayed every day for the several months my sister suffered with cancer before she died and now she is grieving the loss of her mother!  My voice quivers and my eyes weep because she is so much a part of my heart. 

I will be OK.  I have been OK through other loss and heartache so I will endure and persevere.  And after all tears and broken voices are what make us who we are.

Wednesday night means not much

I was challenged to 'woo' Colleen this week!  Not by her but by a younger friend of mine.  Why does it have to be so cold this week?  It just gives me one more excuse!

I think we will have to get ourselves reorganized as we prepare for 3 months in Taiwan and when we return.  We have had a pretty laid back, sit back summer and fall...............MOTIVATION

Oh here's a couple photos that may seem random but enjoy them.

I am managing to keep this cleared



If I remember right this is Marilyn, Barry and David with their mother Beulah
and Milford with his mother Hazel

This reminds me that this week Elizabeth showed me a 1922-23 Free Methodist Annual Report and a 1921 Treasurer's book for Saskatoon.  Neat to see the local history and the contributions from long ago

Some things DON'T get photographed

We had a 22 hour sleepover with Alex & Gaby!   playing, eating, puzzles, games, eating, stories, attempting early bedtime, waffles breakfast, cheesy noodles lunch, veggie snacks, Puke, PUKE, PUKE, clean, clean, clean, games, I'm hungry, snacks, puzzles, games.

REMEMBER  do not let a little girl with a sensitive gag reflex have stringy celery sticks!  Cough, cough and at least we were at the counter!  then wouldn't you know it big brother can't hold it back either.  AND ABOUT NOW SOME OF YOU MIGHT NOT EITHER.........one end of the counter getting covered and as the  flat Tupperware bowl gets half full......Gaby says wipe off my Grandpa's hand!  WIPE GRANDPA'S HAND!   How do you comfort one child while the other is spewing?   and then the next takes a turn?   And Grandma is trying to catch, clean and comfort!!!!!  All I can do is try to keep it all on the counter until we get a bigger bowl!    If your still reading it OK to laugh..............

A VERY MEMORABLE TIME  not all pleasant but still very memorable!

Their Dad and Auntie used to play this same board (Yogi & Boo Boo)

OBSTACLE COURSE

Who says the train needs a track!

We are booked

Flights to and from Taiwan, accommodations at IFH and I AM EXCITED.  It's a curious and almost strange feeling.   It will be 3 months of feeling at home and being away from home!  AND we get a 12 hour layover in San Francisco......midnight to noon will cut down on the activity list though.

This early retirement life has been SURREAL at times and very real as we adjust to climate and financial changes.  It was great to have July and August to be able to care for Alex & Gaby almost full time.  We are working toward developing business with Immunotec, nutritional supplements, so we have fully mobile business activity.

Well bedtime so more another time.

Some photos from the last few months

This last Saturday brought creative cookie making................

 Cooperative yard work and a Fantastic Grandma moment

 And some citified off roading!

OCTOBER brought a surprise from Baba Brenda.........sharing her treasure until Gemma and Guiness return

 And snack times......we sure could see their personalities develop as we spent more days together

SEPTEMBER also had our first trip to the Haugen Clan Cabin at Nemeiben Lake, I call it Wendell's even though that would be wwwrrrrong.  I contributed a bubble machine.  It will be there in the Spring.

 I enjoyed helping with the seasonal closing.  Oh for a winch........and warmth.

AUGUST was Melissa's visit, Jerrod & Shefalee's Wedding

Daily time with Alex & Gaby...the one parade day was rainy but we had a great time anyway.  Colleen DIDN'T get run over by the parade......

And Melissa's last day we got a quick photo!   We are still cautiously working on rebuilding the connection.