Marco Moves On

Just about a month ago Marco decided to move out.

He found a good deal on a house for rent, and since his wife Jana is arriving here in a few months' time, he felt it best to take advantage of the opportunity.

Actually, the house he'll be moving into is basically across the street.  We'll be neighbours now.

I'm at peace about his departure.  I'm ready for some solitude.  I yearn for it.  Particularly in the morning, before going to work, I'm ready to focus my energies on reading (devotions), prayer, and practising the guitar.  Of course, all of this, over a cup of coffee.

The time is right to begin finishing my basement now too.  I've found the right person to take charge of this project.  The aim is to complete the project by the end of August.  I'm also toying with the idea of renting the extra bedroom upstairs on airbnb from time to time.

The Hope Within

Today was a busy day, as we had the semi-annual memorial service at St. Ann's.

But afterwards, an interesting conversation came up at my coworker Carla's place.  A few of us were sitting around the table, and out of nowhere the unthinkable conversation about religion erupted: "Is there a God"?, we mused.  For the first time in a few years' a genuine conversation about such matters came up, and I have to say I found it so rich, interesting, and refreshing.

At the table were an Adventist, an ex-Mormom, a "progressive" (ex-United Church), an atheist (ex-Catholic), and me, a recent convert to the Catholic Church.  And each of us came at the question with our own experience and belief.

Not everyone appreciated the conversation, though.  Things got personal.  Feelings are hurt so easily.  Convictions are tested, as is patience and the ability to not take criticism personally.  It's so hard though, when one's deepest beliefs are challenged.  It's a hit to the very core.

I need more conversations like these.  And I need to practise expressing "the reason I have this hope within" (I. Peter 3:15) more.  With grace.  And understanding.

Hiking Elk Trail

One of the things that has given me great joy over the past year has been the regular hikes I've been able to plan with a local hiking group.

The people I meet along the way, the conversations, the traveling (getting there and back), the fresh air of God's beautiful creation, and the physical rigour of a good hike all add to the overall sense of fulfilment I get from these experiences.

Today a group of us went to PANP and hiked 28+ kms.  Before we began I suggested we do 20-22 kms, and the group gave me a resounding "No."  They felt that 15, maybe 20, max.  When we reached the 9 km mark and I suggested we turn around to make sure we keep the hike under 20, everyone was so energized that they insisted we continued.  So onward and forward we went.

Until the 14km mark.  That's when people said "Uhmmm....maybe we better turn around."

On the way back we caught just the outer edge of a small thunderstorm.  The contrast between the various shades of blue above us throughout the day was splendid - light blue and joyful in the morning when it was sunny, dark blue and ominous late afternoon when the rains came.  There were also lots of greys and browns still in the trees and the shrubs around us - winter has just finished,  spring has not completely arrived yet.

We live in a very beautiful place.  Below a few pictures other hikers took.

Thank you Lord for a wonderful day of hiking.  Thank you for the glory of your creation.

Summer Project

I met with Wade today, to discuss finishing my basement.  It's going to cost me about $30K, plus a 20% commission fee for him.  He's going to find all the contractors to do the work, and oversee everything to make sure it's done right, on time, and under budget.

We will save some money by doing some of the painting ourselves.

I can't build a full kitchen because of silly city bylaws.

I hope that once Jana arrives, Marco and Jana will move down.  Then I'll have the upstairs to myself.

Downtown In April

I've attending a conference downtown for the past few days, and while there I took the opportunity to take a few pictures.  Hard to believe this is April.  Please, summer, please, reveal yourself to us.  We're waiting!!!

Back To Basics

Away with annual fees and privileges, and back to free services.

Tennis: Aches And Pains

I played with Fred tonight, and since next week is Easter, I'm taking a break for a few weeks to let my body rest and recover from a busy winter of tennis.

I'm very glad I've taken up this game again, but my goodness, I'm feeling old and tired lately.  I ache every morning after I play, and it takes me almost a week to recover from a hitting session.

A few weeks ago I felt a tweak on my left knee after serving in a doubles match.  I continued playing,  but I felt it in the days afterwards, and now, every time I go out on the court I'm hesitant, afraid of doing in my ligaments again.

Taxes And Magic

I made my annual pilgrimage to Moose Jaw this weekend, to have my taxes done.  I'm getting a return.  Not quite the amount I got the previous 3 years, but a return is a return.

While in Moose Jaw, I met up with Andra.  We've been in touch for a few months now.  Mennonite background, converted to the Orthodox Church.  Kind, gentle, a woman of great, even heroic Christian character, but there was no magic for me.

Photogenic

For once a picture that turned out good on first attempt:

Spring Is (Almost) In The Air

I made my quarterly trip to the monastery again this past weekend.  The days are getting longer, the sun warmer, and the wind less biting.

Walking to the refectory on one of the mornings, the smell of fresh bread.

 I also took the opportunity to go for a few walks around the monastery.

I'm Loved

This was the "Welcome back" that awaited me this morning when I arrived at the office.

My smile says it all: it's a genuine "I feel loved" smile.

Jackie and Katie were behind it, as well as a few others.

I'm grateful and feel tremendously blessed.

Out With The Wisdom (Tooth)

While in Mexico I had a toothache the likes of which I don't think I've ever had before.  I had to decide whether or not to go to the dentist there, and chose instead to pump myself full of medication, to be able to bear the pain.  The pain was so bad that I could not keep my mind on anything other than it.

So much for mind over matter.  My mind could not focus on anything other than the matter of my aching tooth...

I went to the pharmacy and, following the advice of the pharmacist there, bought some pain medication.  It worked like magic.  Or a miracle.  Every 4 hours I popped back a pill.  I didn't dare delay taking the pill after the 4-hour mark: without it the pain returned, rendering me next to useless.

Upon returning to Saskatoon I immediately called my dentist and asked if he could fit me in on an emergency.  He promptly gave me an appointment, that same morning.  Thank you Lord.  Two hours later I had one less tooth in my mouth.  A wisdom tooth, no less.  Turns out it had a massive cavity that decided to act up precisely when I least expected it - while on vacation.

For the rest of the day I had a sore mouth, but it was a bearable soreness.  I didn't feel a jolt penetrate my whole body when making the wrong motion with my mouth.  Now it just needs a few days to heal before I'm back to normal.

I've been critical and sceptical of dentists.  I didn't trust them at all.  After this experience I need to re-evaluate my outlook. 

Another Trip Coming To An End

Lunch with the tennis gang:

As usual, we're only watching tennis for the first 3 days of the tournament, so today is the last day.  Including the 2 days of quallys, I took in 5 consecutive days of exquisite tennis.  Along the way I saw:

Practise:

* Nadal

* Djokovic

* Goffin

* Cilic

Tournament matches:

*  Thiem - Mannarino

* Djokovic - del Potro

* Jack Sock

* Joh Isner

* Rafa Nadal

* Nick Kyrgios

* Bernard Tomic

* Sam Querrey

* Bouchard - Tomlijanovic

* Puig - Schiavonne

* Christina McHale

* Andrea Petkovic

* Anika Beck

* Julia Goerges

* Jelena Ostapenko

* Kristina Mladenovic

* Chloe Paquet

I even saw Vero Cepede play.

Amazing.  Simply amazing.

Views from Top

Night views of the tennis grounds:

Acapulco...Tennis Heaven!

I'm living the good life.  Really.  Like views such as the one in the next picture aren't enough...

I got to see the likes of Goffin, Cilic, Djokovic, and Nadal ... that's right ... NADAL practising.  Unbelievable.  Two nights ago Ruth, Marty and I went to the tennis complex in Punto Diamante to watch some qualifying, and upon arriving at the stadium we noticed everyone was piling into central court, so we went in too.  People were saying that Nadal was about to come out and practise.  Cool!

So we waited, and about 10 minutes later, Marin Cilic came out.  The crowd roared.  It wasn't Nadal, but hey, we were still pretty excited to see a top-10 player out on the court.  Then, it happened.  Pandemonium - when Nadal and his new coach Carlos Moya came out.  Incredible.

Cilic and Nadal then proceeded to hit the ball for an hour, before playing two sets.  Nadal won both, 4 and 4.  I've never seen tennis like this.  They hit the ball so incredibly hard and accurate, it was breathtaking.

Things got even better the next day, when early in the evening David Goffin and Rafa came out and hit the ball again for an hour, before playing a set.  Rafa won 6-3.  Throughout the practise, the crowd was mesmerized.

After they left the court, and before we'd even had the chance to process what we'd just witnessed, Djokovic came out and hit the ball with a hitting partner for another hour plus.

This, and the tournament hasn't even started yet.  Del Potro is here.  And a plethora of German women: Petkovic, Goerges, Beck.  Puig too.  Even Vero Cepede is here.  And of course my favourite,  McHale!

It's going to be fantastic.  Let the games begin...

Tatiana and Ruben

Yesterday afternoon Marty and I took a bus to Cuernavaca, where we met up with Tati and Ruben.

I hadn't seen them in a few years, so reconnecting with them was great.  Last night we went out for a dinner, and afterwards Ruben showed us the renovations he'd completed at their place which now includes half of the neighbouring lot which was previously unoccupied.

This morning Marty and I went to Tati's university where she gave us a tour of her workplace.  Afterwards we met up with Ruben, who gave us a walking tour of their neighbourhood.  I'd been there before a few times but it was all new to Marty.  Still, I enjoyed getting out in the hot weather, checking out all the artisan stores.

The picture below was taken in the evening, before we headed out for dinner.  Sadly, we didn't go to the Tortuga Cucufata this time. :(

Tomorrow morning at 7am Marty and I will board the bus again and head further south, to Acapulco. I'm bursting with excitement to get my annual fix of great quality tennis!

Xochimilco

I spent the day with Ruth and her mom to visit Xochimilco and Museo Dolores Olmedo Patiño.

The Dolores museum was interesting and peaceful, as it had several colonial-style houses and a large chapel, surrounded by beautifully landscaped lawns.  The grounds were adorned by massive cacti and gorgeous pavo reales (peacocks) like the ones pictured below.

Once done at the museum we headed over to Xochimilco.  What an interesting place!  It seems almost unimaginable that an hour outside of Mexico City there's a Venice-like place, where water canals act as streets.  There are whole neighbourhoods only accessible by boat, and Ruth was telling me that many of the fruits and vegetables sold in Mexico City actually come from these farming "islands" that span back hundreds of years.

Comida Corrida, Customer Service, And Settlers

After a few days of frantic walking, biking, and bussing from one end of the city to the other, today was a day to just relax.

In the morning I walked to a mall and did a bit of shopping.  I bought a hat (see pic below!), a black shirt, and a white polo.

Afterwards I had lunch at a comida corrida place near Ruth and Marty's, followed by an espresso.  That's when I realized that I didn't have enough money with me to pay for lunch.  I told the waitress, and said I'd run home, get the money, and come right back.  She smiled and replied: "That's ok, our waiter will walk home with you and you can pay him there."  I was floored.  Was she doing this because she didn't trust me I'd come back to pay, or was this customer service at its best?

I think it was the latter...

The waiter did walk home with me.  We had a nice conversation along the way, about life, work, education, and of course fútbol.  Once at my place, I paid him, and gave him a nice tip.  He was ever-so grateful and went back in the direction we came from.

Mid-afternoon I went to Ruth and Marty's and we immediately parked ourselves on the outdoor patio on the 14th floor of their condo complex, ordered some piña coladas, and played Settlers.  I brought a travel-size game along, and it proved to be a big hit.  Small.  Complete.  Practical.

There was a cool, gentle breeze on the patio all afternoon.

Tomorrow: Xochimilco!

Bikes And Operas

After a healthy breakfast of fruits and yogurt at Ruth and Marty's, we set out for a journey through the city on bike.

One of the great things about Mexico City is that every few weeks the city shuts down some of the main streets and opens it up to cyclists, rollerbladers, walkers, runners, even skateboarders.  And everyone seems to love it and take advantage of it - kids, teens, adults, and the elderly.  You don't even need to own a bike, you just need a membership with Eco-Bici, an organization that promotes biking throughout the city.  Virtually every 2-3 blocks throughout the city there are bike racks where you can pick one up.  Its brilliant.  

Along the way we saw vendors selling all kinds of stuff, from refreshments to clothing; we also saw outdoor yoga classes, large group dance and exercise routines, and yes, protests.  Every time I visit, there's a protest against the government about something...

In the evening we went to the Palacio de Bellas Artes for an opera.  I'm not much into opera but tonight I found myself drawn into the story.  Perhaps it's the gorgeous building and interior.

After the opera we made our way to Cuauhtémoc, where we had a drink at El Barril.   for a drink.

Tomorrow we plan to lay low at Ruth and Marty's house.

San Angel

I usually visit Coyoacán when I'm in México City, but we visited San Angel today and came away with quite a positive impression.  Much more so than previously.

The Latin world is so colourful, it always strikes me.

Below Ruth, Marty and I are having an espresso "cortado" break.

In the evening we went to our favourite place, Centenario 107.  We seem to end up there every year when I visit, and this year we even sat at the same table as last year.

I'm tremendously blessed with friendships such as Ruth and Marty's.