December has come and gone. Can't say as much for the snow it left us with. But we survived. Earlier in the month for a change, because the last NHL game we attended was a few years ago in Florida when we went to see the Panthers, we went to a hockey game at the Bell Centre between the Habs and Sharks. Unfortunately we watched le Bleu Blanc Rouge lose to their usual packed out crowd. We had good seats, not too expensive, but at least we were not in the nose bleed section where you can't even see the numbers on the jerseys. They are a frustrating team to watch with a lot of new young players but, after one of their worst seasons a year ago should make the playoffs this year. You heard it here.
We also had a problem with our big generator and while waiting for a part to come in bought another one to use for backup, a big 9000 watt Champion Dual Fuel, gas and propane, which we hooked up to our outside BBQ gas line to charge the batteries on those cold and snowy days when the sun seemed to have abandoned us for weeks on end. I think we have used our backup power more this winter than any time since we have been here. I eventually got the new part, put it in and with a sigh of relief got it working again. The Generac is actually running better than it has in years. Marie had a quiet birthday at home, another bitterly cold day, but I kept her warm by plying her with wine. She ages well, like a fine wine, so why not.
We spent Christmas in Montreal, enjoying some warmer weather and taking the grandkids out a few times. They are all growing like weeds and we enjoy them as much as we can. William can be a handful and roughhouses with me if I let him but I tolerate it because I still can. Maybe in a few years I won't feel the same way. Amy is fast becoming a young lady, sweet, beautiful and intelligent and yet she will only be 7 in January. Christina came down with Alex and Damien - he talks a blue streak now and looks like he is going to be a big boy when he grows up. Probably has Marie's Dads genes.
Phil, Fer and the kiddies flew on December 25th to Halifax, and returned on January 1st. We opted to stay in Montreal during that time. Christina, Alex and Damien stayed on for a few days, exploring around the city, including taking the Metro, which Damien just loved! We spent a bit of our time resolving the issue of malfunctioning washer and dryer for our rental unit above us. Marie had found some excellent used ones on line, and the owner even delivered them. Installing them proved to be quite a chore, but we eventually conquered! We took advantage of our stay to go to the Trattoria down the street: soooo very good!
On our way back, on January 2nd, just a few minutes from home, driving back in the truck, a snowplow threw up a rock that cracked our new windshield we had just put in 2 years before. I hoped that wasn't going to be a harbinger of what was to come in the New Year. Stay safe, stay warm and have a happy 2019! gws
