This weekend Dirk and I decided that we would babysit our one-year-old nephew while his mom and dad enjoyed a night out. Yes – the kid is fine if you are wondering. But, we had a tense moment at bedtime with crying that lasted a little longer then we would have liked. After a brief strategy meeting, it was decided that we would not pick him up, but I would go in and rubbed his tummy – and viola he was asleep. Score one for us!!

I do have one funny story to share. While getting the little guy ready for bed, Dirk was having slight troubles with the pj’s. Upon my observation, I noted that he was trying to ram his toes into the heel of the pj’s. “”You have the pj’s backwards”” I state. Dirk then flipped the kid over.

Our friends Autumn and Allan came for a visit, and had this cool duffel bag that could be wheeled or carried as a backpack. Yesterday we were at MEC and found something very close. As I was examining the bag – I needed to test the wheels. I rolled the bag back and fourth a few times – then over Dirk’s toes. He proceeded to kick me in the knee. “”What the hell was that for? That hurt!!”” I exclaim. “”Yeah, well, so did rolling the bag into my toe.”” Dirk replied. “”Well you could of said that and I would have apologize for hurting you, you didn’t need to act like a three year old and kick me.”” I stated.

Later that evening, Dirk grabbed me from behind a littler rougher then I would of like. I turned around and kicked him in the knee.

As most of you know, Dirk and I have been living on Vancouver Island for the past year. This island is full of beauty that at times, takes my breath away. The ocean is only two blocks from our home, and across the water a short distance is the majestic mountains.

While driving over one mountain to my inlaws home for dinner, I notice the sign that stated ‘Salmon Run’. I have heard how amazing this event was, I promply told my husband we needed to stop. This event really pointed out that I am a complete city girl and had no clue what it really was.

It started out okay – seeing the salmon swimming and frolicking in the shallow slow moving water. I then started to notice a dead salmon here or there. We walked a little further, and two more dead salmon, then another and another. WTF, I think. Then the smell started to bother me. Dirk then states: “”Hey, look at that one, he is settling in to die.”” WTF, I think again.

So here is the thing: The males fight for the right to fertilize the female eggs. The females batter their bodies as they dig holes to lay eggs. After they are spent, their carcasses lie rotting along the riverbanks, providing food for scavenging birds and bears.

Yeah, apparently they all drink kool-aid after sex rather then just have a healthy cigarette.