good weekend

This past long weekend I had Sunday, Monday, Tuesday off so as soon as I got home from work on Saturday 2 of my brothers picked me up and we headed to Mom's for a few days.

I don't visit my parents place very often as they live in the boonies so usually we meet somewhere like my sister's. Last time I'd seen Mom was Christmas when she came down to the coast, but I can't remember the last time I saw my Dad (he usually stays home to take care of the pets).

Anyways, so yeah, boonies, north of Kamloops... and I know they have no internet... so I was counting on my crackberry to keep me connected via chat, email and texting. What do you know, about 25 minutes out of Kamloops there's absolutely no signal.

We saw 4 deer on the way to Mom's though - a group of 3 near the road and then 1 that was JUST off the road, like barely outside the painted line. That was a little worrisome, hopefully he kept away from traffic.

We reached Mom's around 11pm. I asked how they got cell reception and they said they're on Telus. Well, my brother and I are on Rogers and apparently totally screwed.

There was a bunch of family there we weren't really expecting - an uncle and his family (wife and 2 kids) plus another cousin. So, fairly crowded in my parents 2 bedroom wee little house, but I'd never met my uncle's family before and I enjoyed their company a lot, so cramped space was a small price to pay. I thought it was funny though that I was there 3 nights and each night slept in a different spot.

Sunday I went with Mom and aunt-in-law to a small town about 20 minutes away to do a bit of grocery shopping and checkout any garage sales that were happening. They had told me previously that I should get cell reception there... and, of course, I forgot my cell phone at the house because I had set it aside to charge it. Doh!

There were only 2 garage sales... at one I found a little plastic rack kind of thing that had "CLK" etched on it. I picked it up and showed it to Mom, "hey Mom, look, my initials" and one of the ladies selling the stuff overheard and she said, "those are my initials! if they're your initials too, you can have it for free" I said thanks and she asked what my name was, and she replied that hers was Carolyn Linda K. She said she used it for remotes as you always have so many of those. I said I'd probably use it as a mail holder.

At the second garage sale some NES games were on sale for 25 cents each... one was Dragon Warrior which is an awesome game so I picked it up, then figured may as well get all 3 since they're so cheap. (I don't actually have a NES myself but have a friend that does, so I was planning on giving them to him... but I forgot them at Mom's =P)

Saw 2 more deer on the drive back to Mom's.

Most of my weekend was playing Wii or watching movies. We played some Yahtzee as well. Steven mostly watched TV, read and played his DS. Wayne spent a lot of time outdoors with the other boys, shooting (targets, not animals), hanging out at the river, or enjoying the fire pit in the backyard. He really likes campfire hot dogs.

Monday around noon my uncle's family left. In the afternoon we headed to town to pick up a DQ ice cream cake for Dad's birthday... and I forgot my phone again! Steven said, "I think it's psychological now, you want to be off the grid" ha.

Tuesday we left around 2pm. On the highway this bald eagle came swooping down right in front of the car in front of us, to grab a squirrel on the side of the road. It was so close, very cool.

So it was just quality relaxing time at the 'rents... though I had to get 3 spiders killed as they were disturbing me.

It was weird seeing a bunch of knickknacks, art and decorations that I remember from childhood... and seeing all the old pictures Mom has around. I guess going back "home" will always be kindof surreal.

It was also nice to get home and sleep in my own bed however. Will miss the good home-cooked food though! Very appreciative for the bannock Mom made for us to take home.