I am in Toronto on business, a trip that I would have really not looked forward to a while back but now Margot is here I look forward to getting here and visiting with her. We have our regular spots where we like to eat but tonight we stepped out and went to a new place: Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar. It was great. We had a good time killing a couple of bottles of wine and eating some very good food, a tapas menus, so we had a variety of very good dishes.

Last night Margot, Gavin Brauer and I went out to 'Lee Gardens', our fav Chinese diner here in Toronto. Highly recommended for your next visit to this part of the world but be prepared for no frills Chinese dining. Always fun to get together with Gavin who I used to describe as the son of a friend of mine. Now I just call him a friend.

Business travel: there is no glamour in business travel. It is weary making. I came to Toronto on a 6:15 flight out of Calgary, 3 1/2 hours was to get me into Toronto at 11:45 with the time change. But no; a light dusting of snow meant that Toronto was down to one runway and my flight was put into a holding pattern for an hour before we landed. You know that does not sound too bad unless you have a fellow freakin' out 3 seats to your right - an increase amount of anxiety manifested by swearing and punching the wall/window and seats - and the fellow in the seat in front of you puking. LET ME OUT OF THIS TIN CAN!!!.
I am, at times, slightly claustrophobic, I am not sure it is being confined in a plane that really gets to me. I think it is being way to close to too many people in a confined space that really gets me.

Airports, flights, taxis, hotels, meals alone, taxis, flights, airports.

Toronto: Margot, a good thing.


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Guess not...

Sarah is back home.... we got the "Daddy I want to come home" telephone call, and of course Daddy gave in immediately. I was a boarding school kid, really loved being away from home and being with schoolmates, I can never remember feeling homesick. So to get a telephone call from Sarah telling us she wanted to leave Santa Barbara was a bit of a shocker.

Anyway I flew to Los Angeles and Sarah picked me up at the airport, got treated to my first burger from "In-n-Out", and we were off to Las Vegas. Spent the night at the Hardrock and time teaching Sarah the basics of Blackjack - we lost $100.00.

Two more days on Interstate 15 and we were home. It took us a total of 25 hours on the road in a Civic jammed packed with Sarah's stuff, and we actually had a good time. Lucky for us the weather cooperated and we had clear road conditions.


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Guilty Pleasure....

Sarah leaves for school in Santa Barbara this weekend following an extended Christmas break. We will miss her as she is the baby of the family and with her leaving all three of our kids are no longer at home. I miss having the 'kids' around but I also enjoy the quiet and alone time with Virginia.

Am I allowed to feel good about my children no longer living at home?


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Mr. Ken King, President of the Calgary Flames Hockey Club, was kind enough to take my good friend Boomer, his father Woody and I on a tour of the Calgary Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames. Here is Boomer with Mr. King in the home team dressing room.

Go Flames Go!! 

Note the pail of Double Bubble gum on the right side of the photo: a nutritional must for any pro athlete.

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I took this photo in May, 2005 while on an expedition to the North Col of Mt. Everest. This is base camp on the north side of Everest (Tibet) at the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier (approximately 5,000 meters).

Check out Jagged Globe - a top notch mountaineering expedition company.
Jagged Globe


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I am madly in love with this women.