finally, pileated


For years I've missed pileated woodpeckers. Mary would always say, "There's one."

"There's another!"

And when I whipped around she would say that it flew off.

I'd never seen a pileated woodpecker, North America's largest woodpecker, before today. Well, I headed down to the bird sanctuary today because it was a nice day. And not only did I see a pileated woodpecker, but I saw him at very close range. That's him on the index page. And I added ten birds to my list of 2012 bird sightings to bring my total up to 61.

The moving van with our last

belongings from 225 arrived on Saturday. It was good to see it, but we have no room for any of this stuff. I know I keep harping about this, but we are all of us talked into buying big houses and then we fill them up. The closets, the storage room, the garages and attics, they're all full. When you downsize like we have, you realize not only that you don't have room for all the stuff you've collected, but you don't even want it. It all just seems so absurd and kind of sad, though. That we spend so many years collecting stuff, only to store it for years and years and then eventually ship it off to the landfill.

Uncle Rick comes for a visit this week. Emma's friend visited this weekend. Next weekend Mary's friend from Calgary visits!

So far it's working out just like we hoped; that our move to Vancouver would bring

us lots of company. We love to have visitors! There is so much to see and do here in Vancouver, and it's such an unusual and dramatic environment.


Mary applied for another casual position. Again, they hired her before she could even leave the interview! And all of the doctors Mary has worked with have been so complimentary: "you've done this before, haven't you?" I think they're so used to seeing a new face and thinking that they have to break in another newbie. And then they discover all the years of experience and people skills that Mary has and they're just so pleased. Doctors have even come up to me at Vancouver General and said, "You're Mary's husband, aren't you?"

Well, it's good to be known for something!