Here at the Comox fair grounds.

 

The convoy was about how you would expect on the Friday of a long weekend.  About 20 left from Nanaimo.  We lost a couple just getting to the highway.  A few separated off to do the scenic drive starting in Parksville and we lost a couple more turning into Comox then a couple more at the lights.  In the end about 8 of us drove in together.

Then we lined up in rows, I saw 6 rows.  For an hour and 40 minutes.  Sigh.  We met lovely people while waiting and I got snacks from the trailer.  

Oscar is fitting in.  There are way more older toys here than fancy Jeeps.  A disportionate amount of Rubicons, clearly the wheeling Jeep of choice.  Not many Jl's like Onyx but we did see a couple, one was her twin.  Two other ones the color of Oscar but Oscar is much prettier ;)  

It is weird to have people come and chat about your car and take pictures of it. Haha.

And we're set up.

We had a late lunch.  Walked around checking out Jeeps.  Now I'm on my couch sewing ducks and Eric is napping.  It's pretty chill so far.

Oscar looks good.  He has garnered some attention.  Eric has been chatting all things Jeep with the men folk.  

3 am

 

In four hours we're getting up with Kai and Luk.  Dropping them at school and then Eric and I are off to Jeepapaloosa.  It's finally the day!!

And I'm way overthinking things as usual.

There is a caravan of Jeeps traveling together, starting in Victoria.  Stopping in Cabelos in Nanaimo and we're joining them there.

So fun.

Then the worries set in.  

We have the trailer.  Who would want to follow the rv butt in a Jeep train?

How do we make sure we're last?

Haha.  What a thing for the brain to be stuck on.

Oscar is ready. Eric has put in a lot of time and care into prepping for this event. I just read yesterday that there is an amazing black Jeep on route to Jeepapaloosa that we all must see.  She was shipped from Germany to Halifax and has come across Canada and is doing Jeepapaloosa.  Content creator. 

I told a mom from AA about Jeepapaloosa a while ago out on the trail.  She has a newer version of Onyx.  She texted me yesterday that her and her husband are going and wandered what time we were leaving because they're going now too.  They live across the street from us and she walked over to see Onyx and talk all things Jeepapaloosa. I'm glad we'll know someone there.  

I parked Onyx yesterday with the kms at 66666.  Yeesh.

Eric was putting the hitch on Oscar and he stopped and said "I just did the unthinkable".  These are NOT words someone should ever say to someone with an overactive imagination!!!

He had put the hitch lock on backwards.

Unthinkable to him.

Haha, my mind was all over the place thinking of all the worst things possible.  We won't voice the thoughts outloud to the universe.

Anyways, without being able to unlock it with the key he had to break it off.  He used a crowbar and sledge hammer.  It took three minutes.  It really wasn't stopping anyone from stealing it.  

Sorry in advance for all the Jeep pictures coming.

Onyx is home.

 

She's home after 16 days away in the big city.

I might be a tad excited about having her back.  I didn't care for the loaner car and Eric and I have been sharing Oscar for two weeks.  It's required some careful planning. All of the repairs were done. Plus another glitch we didn't even realize was there.  They did a detail and she looked so pretty sitting and waiting for us.  Fei came with me for company.  Eric told us to go over everything with the service guy.  But I had no clue what I was looking for.  Fei and I walked around her and agreed she sure was pretty.  Haha.  How the actual work looked?  We have no clue.

Eric is out tonight test driving her and taking Fei to a parking lot to have her first standard driving lesson.  It was discussed that if Oscar breaks on the trail it would be better if Fei rescued us with Onyx versus her car.  This is Eric overthinking things again.  Fei is keen to learn, so it's all good.

Crazy man!

Look how gorgeous the old pool is looking! The water took two full days to fill.  Eric hasn't put the thermometer in it so I'm not sure how cold it still is but I'm guessing in the very, very, very cold range.

He plowed through yard work today and he wasn't quite done when it was time to leave for Victoria so I offered to go on my own.  Then I watched him on the ring camera zooming around the driveway a few times on his motorcycle.  Honestly, this thing has proven to be extremely entertaining.  There is just so much action at our front door.  Who knew?!  

Lili is having a great time.  She loved Tokyo.  Today they're on a bullet train to their next city.  

Capyberas!

Capybera Cafe.

Goals met.

Kikomon factory tour.

 

Mother's Day and Japan Disney

 

We took a break for a DQ snack on a busy day.  Mom came with us for a vegan Dilly bar.  Our cones had the new confetti, cake batter dip.  The boys loved it, I didn't.  Curiosity appeased.

Eric and I headed out in the morning.  Canadian Tire, Dollarama and Walmart.  Solving problems and gearing up for this week.  We got the part we needed for Oscar for towing the trailer this weekend.  We have no faith that Onyx will be back in time to do her job.  We got spa and pool supplies.  A stand up ac unit for the living room.  $298 at Walmart if anyone needs one. Camping food for us and ingredients so Eric could make me lasagna for dinner last night.

I have nothing scheduled for today so my plan is to be at my desk.  In jammies so I can't get side tracked.  

Lili made it to Disney Circle C.  Unfortunately it's pouring, windy and cold.

She has a friend to spend the day with.  They're soaked.  She bought another poncho and umbrella.  They're making the best of it.

The universe owes Lili a dry Disney day.  It was torrential when we last went together.

Ring camera antics.  Coming home from shopping, desperate to get to the potty, starving and feeling a bit dizzy and have a lot to load in the house and Lili starts talking to me from Japan through the door camera, wishing me a Happy Mother's Day.  Hillarious.  Definitely creepy.  Haha.

Japan

 

Lili has landed and her friend Devan who left a couple days earlier was at the airport to meet her.  She was on a flight with 15 others from the group.  They are all in a bus on route to the hotel.  So fun.

She was able to join a couple of the other travelers in the airport hotel the night before.  This was their view. So handy.

She left her packing until the day before.  That big case was only 23lbs.  So I'd say she did a great job.

Tinkering.  What he loves the most.

So, Oscar's horn is wimpy.  So when he was mine Eric installed an air horn for me but I said it was also wimpy.  Fast forward to Oscar being Eric's.  We drove by an elementary school the other day and the kids wanted us to honk.  He used the air horn.  And said nothing.  But I found him in the garage set up at a little table working away.  Trying to get two non working air compressors into one working one so he can increase Oscar's air horn capability because apparently he sounds wimpy.  So, how does Eric stay sane....by tinkering, alone with no one talking or having drama or asking for things.

The water is going in.  Since we've been metered our water pressure is so low that I fear this will take days to fill.  

The red lines are appointments and events.  Things that someone has to show up to at a particular time.  It doesn't include school or my work or Lili and Fei's things.  I really do think a cartoon map of our little Jeeps running all over the place would be funny.  

Onyx is still at the dealership.  Sigh.  We're not impressed.  We need her back before Friday.  She is towing the trailer to Jeepapaloosa.  And we are going there is a caravan of Jeeps.  I'm oddly freakishly excited about it.  Fingers crossed the missing part comes in Monday.

Fei texted this morning asking about the weird guy at the porch.  Our front door was open and I had assumed it was Isabel setting off the ring camera.  By the time I got there he was gone.  Fei watched the live feed on her phone from Nanaimo and saw him leave.  He staggered up the steps.  One of Duncan's finest.  Arg.  The dogs didn't hear him and didn't bark.  I'm not delighted with how close he was.  I've asked Lili to recalibrate the camera to alert at the gate versus almost in the house.  

Lili's Graduation Picture.

 

So beautiful.

Such an accomplishment.

Miss Lili leaves on Friday for Japan.  I'm driving her to the ferry.

Graduation convocation is mid June.

Bachelor of Business Administration Majoring in Finance.

McHappy Day

 

It's McHappy Day.  Kai was thrilled to meet Grimace.  Jia and Luk were trying to disappear.  Haha.

Jia is working tonight and again on Mother's Day. Jia is consistently getting 10 hours a week.  Which Jia still thinks is too many.  Sigh.  

There is a long list of things to get done around here but I'm pushing for the time crunch things.  We need to fill before June so he's started.  I found him out there is this contemplative moment.  As always, this job is way bigger and considerably more involved than I knew.  It was shocking to see how bright the old liner is under the coping.  It was definitely time for a replacement.

I just paid for my 40th grad reunion dinner in July.  I'm going with Christine.  This was my date, Rob.  How cute were we?!  Which started a hunt for grad pictures.  Mom came through with this one.

We ducked Jerry

 

He is just the sweetest.

The wee blow up duck was from Shein, we got him a couple wee fabric huts and a better wheel too.

Early Mothers Day

 

Lili and Fei planned a high tea date at Butchart Gardens for me and as a bonus my Mommy came to.

Early because Lili leaves on the 10th for Japan.

I have always wanted inside this dinning room :)

Trifle as a starter.

So fun!!

Thank you girls!

Bucket list events.

The tulips are all in bloom!

My favorite.

Fei's picture.

We were so lucky with the dry weather. It was a perfect day.

Updates,

Luk has some issues with his eyes.  His eye pressure is too high.  The specialist doesn't believe glaucoma.  He has a ring of fluid build up behind his retina.  Eric and I feel this is likely hydrocephalus related but the eye dr doesn't.  He however spouted a bunch of hydrocephalus things from crazy town so faith in him is greatly diminished.  I'll let the Children's team know his opinions and request we see the eye specialist at Children's.  Kai sees both of them.  

It's crazy to me that the three younger kids all see the same eye specialists. 

Still no word on Onyx.

Jia had to work yesterday and again today.  Jia is doing great at the job and looks oh so cute at the front counter.  As with everything Jia, the actual event seems fine but getting him out of the house motivated and ready is a struggle.  Getting paychecks again has been a plus though.

Lili has a friend coming today to stay for a few days before they leave for Japan.  He's going to stay in the moho. Eric and Lili finished emtying it out. Getting it ready to sell. Sigh.

I have a girl coming today to see the Commander.  She is totally smitten.  Asking tons of questions. Her Wrangler had a tree fall on it so needs a replacement.  I am not thrilled about this. At all.