miscellaneous rambling

We've been back to work for a week now. I have managed to find this one day to sit down and blog for a little bit. Our trip back to Canada was insane. I ended up needing a schedule planner and borrowing a cell phone to be able to keep in touch with everyone. It was not the ideal thing.

Edmonton wasn't the trip I planned it to be. hectic meetings with the banks, and other various government offices... personal family matters that happened....but I come out of it at least with a sense that there was a big leap forward in terms of focus for the year 2005.

I have to say that I accomplished everything I set out to do, and more. How many people often get to say that? The trip wasn't all work and no play. I met everyone I wanted to, needed to. Although time never seems enough, I was able to sit and have afternoon tea, evening wing nights with the boys, and relaxing nights sipping scotch. went down to Calgary and met old friends and new ones.- one being a world famous potter ( artist ), whom I bought some pieces from while I was there. That was a good day. Very interesting to talk to him and his wife, while looking at pottery both modern and ancient.
Good food and good company all around.

I was able to meet with my two grandfathers, which was the main purpose of the visit, despite all the other things that happened.

I was reminded again about how important family and friends are.

At the end of 2004 we sold our half of the black dog pub to our, now Ex- partner, Andy. It was a roller coaster ride for 6 months since the bar opened in July. There were management ideology differences, and basically, we couldn't handle it on top of our other businesses. Dallas is happy to be out of the pub, but I am still sad to see it go. Perhaps again in the future, there will be another chance at it, or I"m sure, something else will happen...

We arrived back in Taiwan on Chinese New Year's EVE, which meant, straight out of the airport. home and cleaning the house. then off to dinner. By 9pm, I went home to pass out. Then woke up at 11:45. The tradition there is to light firecrackers at midnight on New Year's Day.

The next day was a full day of Mah jongg. Unfortunately, the tiles were not very forgiving this year, and money was bled from my pocket.

After that our friend from Kyoto came over for a weekend visit, and we took him shopping and sightseeing.

So our return to Taiwan was the same as our return to Edmonton. Just hit the ground running...

Last week we started work and started two new classes at the school, so it was a bit stressful. Then mid week we found out an old friend of ours was getting married, so I went to the wedding last night. This girl was the Chinese M/C for our wedding years ago. And it was good to see her and some old friends who are no longer in South Taiwan.

So now we are in the year of the Rooster. I haven't checked the Chinese almanac to see what that really means yet, but I'm confident this year will be a good one.