RickGailBerry's Guestbook

Your writings and photos are a wonderful way for us to follow your adventures. I appreciate all the time you take to update the blog, Gail, so thank-you for sharing. Richard and Buff look great. It looks like every minute is full of either uncertainty, excitment or adventure so we marvel at the outcomes of your days. It all sounds so great and positive. We are continuing a cold and snowy winter here. We are preparing our travels to Israel and Jordan in a couple weeks. Egypt is put on hold. On a side note that you would be interested in, my sister and husband who have moved to Parksville have just experienced their 4th snow strom this winter so hang on to your winter duds!! We miss you especially last week on the Hento trails in PR.

Greetings from Canada
Hi Rick and Gail, We both enjoyed your entries of Dec. 28 and 29. What adventures you're having!! The guy in the Maple Leaf Staff Party pic looks just like Santa and from the other pictures, it looks like you were able to enjoy Christmas in style! Gail - I love your red heels! Your blog allows us to follow your adventures and get a big helping of history with a personal "Berry" touch. Gail, this fall the book club read "Sarah's Key", "Pope Joan", and "The Thirteenth Tale" - high ratings for all 3 and good discussions too. January brings us "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" which I"m already half finished. I plan on reading the complete trilogy by Stieg Larson. Your name always comes up at our meetings - we really should arrange a skype visit of some kind?? We spent Christmas in Mexico - all 19 of my family from my mom and dad to my youngest niece - it was a great time and we made many wonderful memories. Please keep us updated via your blog - I always look forward to seeing your entry appear in my hotmail. Take care. Happy New Year! Pat and Donna Brennan

Thanks for the armchair visit!
Hi Gail and Rick! It's so wonderful to get your blogs and photos--next best thing to your being here and make you feel so much closer than the thousands of km away that you are! I'm happy for you that your sister Barb made it over and cuts back on the loneliness for family. All is well here--still nice out but cooling down a bit. My family are back this weekend from Mexico for Diana and Jim's daughter's wedding. My boys went. ATA retirment do is coming up on the 29th--wish you were here to be with us. Donna W. asked if I would do the little talk for Salva. I could ask you a few details. Oh well, this way I'll keep it short! Eliana, Lynn and I have been having our "Early Interviews" this week and last--a new Pilot project to see if students/parents benefit from knowing how their child is doing--before report cards are started. It has been a hectic and busy start with so many new things to try to learn. many are getting the bugs ironed out still--such as Grade book. We have yet to see the new report card while the public system has already seen and done inservicing on theirs. Our PD day at the ranch on the 25th will be a workshop on the Write Traits and then Keri the leader, will work with students in individual classes similar to how Geri Lorway did the math teaching demo lessons. My children are all doing alright including Mark and Ashlea going through the divorce process. The grandkids seem to be rallying and doing the best they can with all the adjustments. I talked to Ashlea and Kaylie yesterday. Kole was in Red Deer with his volleyball team. They are one week with their dad at their house and one week with Ashlea at her apartment. I had Thanksgiving at Fred and Beth's with many others--Vinos (spelling?), Gel, a Newfie who is principal at Fairview and whose wife has been in Newfoundland since June, Ab, Fred's brother who has been out for the annual hunting expedition and myself. Ab stays at Dave Troup's and that's where all the hunting and follow-up activities take place. They have gotten two deer so far, I gather. Last evening Beth and I had a lovely walk down the Westbrook road and then wine, popcorn and the Sandra Bullock movie, "Blind Side" which I had seen before but enjoyed just as much the second time. A couple of weeks or so ago I went to the local theatre with Maureen to see "Eat, Pray, Love" with Julia Roberts. I had been reading the book but found it a bit slow going. However, I did enjoy the movie and will persevere with the book. As usual, I have about a half dozen other books on the go at the same time--both professional and fiction reading. My class is a very busy bunch but I am getting to know their individual personalities now and liking them despite some of their antics and behaviours that can be trying on the patience. I have two EAs -one two days and the other three days a week alternating--Kristine McGuinty and Joanne Crowley, so very lucky. I told my class about your having to do your own classroom cleaning and that they are lucky they don't have to help me with cleaning ours. So far Vern has trapped 7 mice. Mary-Anne is surprisingly nervous about mice in her room-especially now that one trap had only a front leg in it and she fears the rest of the mouse may be decomposing in her room or something.... I've seen Salva power walking in the hills and by ways and have seen her and Wayne at IGA a couple of times. Their kids all came home for Thanksgiving. Nicholas C. is still trying to find a job and thinking of raising his marks even further before going into Law School. Colleen Rotenburger was looking for a job but has now gone back to school and is studying linguistics to go into Speech Pathology. Darlene's baby shower was a school a couple of weeks ago. What a beautiful son Colton is--very fair and looks a lot like Nick. Darlene keeps in touch and goes for coffee with Mary-Anne, myself or whoever else is available. Mary-Anne keeps in touch with Rachel who has phoned her and e-mailed. I have not e-mailed so have heard nothing. It's been crazy busy--though no worse than for you--and I also have family to keep up with. Kathleen still writes letters--I had two last week! She is such a busy lady with her Home Care nursing which is being evaluated-not the right word, getting to move to new quarters, with the harvesting--which is finally done, her camer club, book club and keeping the men fed! She says that work gets in the way of her extra-curricular activities. She will have no problem enjoying retirement! Guess I should start the lesson planning and marking and get another mark or two on that Grade book! Wishing you all the best and hope you acutally see this e-mail! Love to you both and good luck in your teaching! As ever, Caroline PS Jean-Paul was in Africa and just back--going to start subbing here.

:0)
The two of you loiok so well! and happy! i'm still sulking at not making it to china for a hfh build anad to see you.... but such is life..... and there's no sign of it being any more possible in the coming year... i'll have to see china vicariously through you.... at least for now. be well.

another great blog
Txs for the update. only 18 in your class!!!!! and no Punjabi, handicapped, etc. Just kidding Gail, relax dennis

so much to see!
Wow!! all the travel you've done there, and there's still so much left to see. Makes me very sad that i won't be able to come visit this fall after all. A very dear friend died unexpectely this spring, and i used a good chunk of the money i'd earmarked for China spending time on the Sunshine Coast for her funeral, etc. instead. And, as it turns out, my son isn't able to come either, later this year. If i can scrape together the funds to visit before you leave in 2011, i'll do it, but won't manage fall of 2010 as hoped. i haven't given up yet!

Hi from the Zaitsoffs
Thanks so much for sharing the pictures and updating us Rick and Gail. Glad to hear the boys made it safe and sound after the delays. I bet you are glad the year is coming to a close---so are we! Lots of changes again next yr. as there always is. Are you coming back to P. R. at all this summer? Sure would be nice to get together with everyone if you are. Take care and enjoy your last wks. of work and a safe trip back to Canada. Wait to hear more and thanks for sharing.

Notes from Spirit
Hi, Rick and Gail. Been swamped...Jacson is getting married June 18th...gave us lots of notice:) so life is hectic. Work is nuts. Did you hear Dave has left? Rog has been out a few times on his motorbike but still too cold most of the time. George Murphy passed away this week so we are singing at the funeral. Wish we could see you guys when you are in Calgary. Jacson just bought a condo there so we may be popping down then. Talk to you soon.

Hi
Neehow! How is China? Looks like you are having a great time! Thanks for the link!

Amazing
Wow, that's amazing, 30 years! And you guys still look like you're on your first honeymoon! Way to go! It has to be a wonderful travel experience with your significant other of 30 years! Thanks a lot again for sharing. I look forward to your blogs.

Interesting
Glad to see you mobile again, Rick. Crutches are such a pain! Enjoy your trip. We are singing this weekend and will miss you. Mary Anne and Marty and Helly have joined us a few times. It's great!

I would love those beaches.