Vacation Report (Second out of a lot)

Early Saturday morning - 12:50 am (note the links)

So we did make it safely to Jordan and Doralynne’s home. I have to just tell you about the big stone in their yard. They live in a Cul-de-sac and so the name of it is on this big stone. This big stone happens to be in the Dohms’ yard. Jordan tells me they picked this one because they figured all could find their place.

We go inside and eventually everybody gets up. We all stay up and chat and drink beer, and it felt very much like “home”. Eventually we did go to bed, and think it was like 3am (which was like 5am EST).

The next day was the big picnic. I know we hung out some that morning, but I’m foggy on the details. Let’s see, Mark, Jordan and I discussed 1 Tim 3, whether Paul inferred both Ruling and Teaching Elder offices in the qualifications of the “episcope”, or if he was only speaking of the Teaching Elder (or possibly only the Ruling Elder). The contention was in the qualification “apt to teach”. It was a rather edifying conversation. Mark, Jordan and I never really debate, but offer multiple differing views.

Mark also had to rent a van since theirs broke down, and they could not take it to a garage since none would be open til Tuesday due to holiday (though I don’t remember which).

We did finally make it to the “Party”… well it wasn’t really a “Party” ‘til Greg B arrived. (Elton John couldn’t make it). There were formal introductions. It was so cool to be meeting people for the first time, yet “knowing them”, through many different mediums. I must say that Moses Elossais did an excellent job as MG (Master of Grillimonies). I can still taste those delicious burgers. We sat around and talked “shop”. You know, Theology, Books, E-groups, People interested in the Cov Ref, People not interested in the Cov Ref, How different Societies were doing,… the usual. It was a blast.

The elders began Precommunion interviews and so people took a number and basically went off and did a host of things. Some talked, some watched kids, some of us played Volleyball… btw you want Kris Dubitz on your team. She’s all over the sand. And… Whats that? Oh, yeah I know… I was surprised too, but it’s true – they do have real sand in Canada... but you couldn't tell. Here are some pics of the fun we had...


So eventually we all gathered again and sang so many Psalms that I got light-headed. It was awesome! Greg Price concluded the events by giving a short meditation on the Sign and Seal aspect of the LORD’s Supper. Very edifying.

After mingling for awhile, we finally headed off to recuperate before heading over to Greg and Fran Barrow’s home. We got some Tim’s (that’s coffee for all you Americans – it’s like Star Bucks, but affordable) and catechized Calvin on Pastor Price’s meditation on the LORD’s Supper. Calvin did well.

So we go to the Barrow’s, and I have no idea who made this particular lasagna, BUT it was the BEST I have ever had (apart from my wife’s of course). It was like a chicken, artichoke, cheesy alfredo lasagna… WOW! Can I get the recipe? If I get the recipe I am posting it here. So we talked more shop - Books, Libraries, Seminary curriculum, Hermeneutics, Eschatology, more Hermeneutics, The Restoration of the Jews, more Hermeneutics. Yeah, it was great! All too soon it was time to go.

We got home, and everybody crashed, and that was Saturday… what a day. *sigh

Groomsmen Wedding Party

New York Cop

Back to the mundane - Vacation Report (First of who knows?)

So I went on vacation, and that’s why you haven’t seen anything posted here for awhile.

Thanks to all those who have visited. Hello James, nice to see you.

Let me give you a summary of my vacation, since it seems like the thing to write about.

Tam and I went to Edmonton, Alberta and to Prince George, British Columbia. (Since I did not know Canadian Geography before marrying a Canadian, here’s a map.)

If you have not heard me say it yet, let me say it now… I hate Chicago airports. They are the greatest traveling vortex that I am aware of. They lose you luggage, they delay all flights out, they close all flights in (and usually this is not your final destination, I mean who wants to go to Chicago?), the food is more overpriced than most airports overpricing, and usually the food is dry and over cooked at best, etc, etc. K… I’m done.

So yeah, they lost 15 people’s luggage. Not to mention they lost another piece of our luggage on the way home, but let me not get ahead of myself.

If you have not had the pleasure of attempting to go through customs… well I hope you never have to. That being said, this time was actually very smooth, now that Tam has her Green Card. That’s right, the easy-access pass. However, they have a magnetic strip on there that pretty much has its own polar force. We have to keep it in a special case so that Tammy’s purse doesn’t randomly fly through the air, hitting some poor bystander as it zooms toward some alluring magnetic machinery. I once got pinned to an MRI machine, but that’s another story.

“Where were you born?”
“Where do you live?”
“Business or pleasure?”
“Do you have the right papers?”
“Where are you going?”
“How long will you be stayin?”
“Do you have more than $10,000 on you?”
“Are you bringing any gifts in more than $60?”

I fight every temptation to give some funny answer, because they can and will arbitrarily send you back to the States.

We finally get through Customs, and the line for lost luggage, and there we meet our dear Jordan, Doralynne, and little Amos, who have been waiting for over an hour for us. So we hug, laugh, pack up and enjoy our 45 min. ride home, stopping of course for some Tim Horton’s coffee, because although it’s 11pm, we will be greeted by Mark, Belinda, and Jody who we will likely visit with till 3am.

Funny side note… only in Canada. They have these roadside checks. “Have you had anything to drink tonight, eh? (Their statements are phrased in interrogatives, and so their questions are usually double interrogatives) And so we say, “Only Coffee?” and they reply, “Well that’s great! Here is a beg (They mean bag) of gifts, just saying that we appreciate your efforts to not drink and drive, eh?” The bag was full of goodies... pen, magnet ( we kept it away from Tam's green card), notepad, and what-not.

Here in New York it’s like,
“You been drinkin’ haven’t chya!”
“No officer.”
“Don’t lie to me!” (flash light in your face).
“No, I haven’t been.”
“You mean, ‘No, sir’!”
“Right, No, sir.”
“Here. Breathe into this.” (She shoves some pipe in your mouth)
“Well, I guess 0.001 disqualifies you… this time! Go on.”

*sigh… gotta love Canada

(…to be continued)