1-24-23 SHORT HILLS: I have a feeling of loss, an empty feeling that has robbed me of energy and purpose, an ‘on the edge of an abyss’ feeling—Judy’s brother Ken died yesterday. It was not an unexpected death because of health issues, but even when expected, still a jolt. Judy feels the loss even more than I, he was her life-long anchor. We have told many people the sad news, but I’m sure we forgot people who need to know.
1-17-23 NAPLES, FLORIDA: We’re here to visit Judy’s brother Ken, who has some health issues, and is in a rehab facility at the moment. We’re doing a quick turnaround. This is the first time we have been here at this time of year. It’s cold. It’s not VT or Québec, or NJ for that matter. The locals are complaining about the cold, but we are fine with the temps.
On the way down, we were sent to a Newark Airport departure gate in the new Terminal 'A'. We took the tram from parking lot by Terminal C to Terminal A, now closed, an to a random spot where we could catch a bus to the New Terminal A. it was a long wait, but ultimately we got through check-in, TSA screening and on the other side found out that our flight to Ft. Myers was now moved back to Terminal C. Fortunately a shuttle is available to take people back to Terminal C without having to go through the TSA again. The shuttle, a packed bus load, drove on the taxiway to the other terminal, dodging airplanes and food trucks and luggage trains.
We had two great dinners with Carol and then Carol and Audrey. We spent most of the rest of our time with Ken, but I got a couple picks of birds from the apartment.
1-11-23 SHORT HILLS: Well, it’s been busy. We didn’t go to the fireworks—rain and fog. We checked out of the Frontenac in the morning and had an uneventful drive back to Thetford. Lily was there with friends, Danna, Matt and Harrison.
We spent the afternoon with them, and then we went to Cousin John’s for his southern New Years Day feast with ribs, fried chicken, black-eyed peas, cornbread and other stuff from his Carolina childhood. It was nice to see Becca, Bob and Nate and their friends and some of John’s neighbors.
Lily et al, left in the morning and Judy did the house clean-up with help from me, but I was getting sick with a cold and then tested positive for Covid. I started Paxlovid immediately.
The next day I was worse, and Judy drove us back to Short Hills. I notified everyone we had been in contact with about Covid. I slept for the next two days. On the fourth day of Paxlovid, I felt OK and felt well by the fifth day. Nobody I was in contact with got it. A couple days later I had a negative test.
The tenth arrived and with it my BDay, 85, doesn’t feel much different from 84. Judy served king crab with creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin with an ice cream cake. I did the dishes.
The next day Bill and Lynn took us to Serenade in Chatham for dinner with surprise guest Roger. Old friends are the best! Thanks again, guys
Now it’s back to the bleak mid-winter where the earth is hard as iron and water like stone. [thanks, Christina Rossetti.]
12-31-22 QUÉBEC: Today dawned with dense fog over the river, the other side didn’t exist. We watched the ferry leave to cross the river and vanish in the fog. A bit later a ship moving downstream came by, appearing and disappearing.
We went for breakfast, and after walked to the promenade next to the hotel and over-looking the lower city and the river. It was still foggy, and most of the snow and shush was gone. The toboggan runs were closed—no snow. It wasn’t very cold but very misty and damp.
We walked up Rue St. Louis, our street, to the city wall and gate from colonial times. The street is festive with flags, hanging signs, Xmas decorations, parkas, awnings, lights. Outside the gate is the Grande Allée where midnight fireworks will mark the New Year. It was foggier than anywhere else this morning. We went back and inside and read.
Later we went back out to explore and had fancy coffees at Getränke, and after hit the Xmas market again and heard a rock band for a couple songs.
Our last excursion was to dinner at Chez Jules, another excellent meal. There was moderate rain after dinner. Our last excursion, that is, unless we go the the fireworks.
12-30-22 QUÉBEC: We were late to rise and managed to head out for breakfast at lunch time. We ate at Les Mordus and then headed down to the lower city, le bas-ville, down along the river, down a steep, twisty street, down several flights of stairs, at the bottom of the cliff. The haute ville is at the top of the cliff and dominated by the Frontenac, which looms over the lower city.
The lower city was the first settlement and has several narrow streets and hundreds of old stone buildings with steep roofs. Today a lot of them are snow covered and some dumped snow onto the street into the crowds. The crowds were everywhere with everyone swaddled for the weather. Warming stations are scattered around with fires and play houses for the kids, many kids following Mom and Dad.
It was overcast and very foggy and about forty degrees. There was maybe a little less slush. We saw an acrobat perform on the side of a building hanging from a wire. That was a surprise, but a few minutes later another acrobat was performing on a slack wire in front of the Notre Dame des Victoires church. This one juggled snow balls as well as wire walking and other stunts.
While we were walking down further and further to get to the lower city, I thought that it would be a struggle to walk back up and decided to ride the funicular to the top of the cliff when we were ready to return. But no! Funicular closed for maintenance. I struggled and huffed and puffed my way back to the top in slow stages with Judy’s encouragement. Then back to the room for a nap.
12-29-22 QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC: We drove north today in clear weather and light traffic after dropping the dogs off at the kennel. We made good time and arrived in mid-afternoon, checked in to the Frontenac, bundled up and started walking around.
There was a lot of snow here and the sidewalks are slushy and the gutters have puddles. The city is still beautiful and bustling with people all here for the Holidays. First we had a late lunch, and the we went through a Christmas market where I bought a scarf, there was music, food, beverages and lots of stuff. We looked in at a church from the 1600’s, checked out the nearby streets, looked at the St. Lawrence, which has a lot of floating ice covering 80% of the surface, but still floating downstream.
We went back to the hotel to nap and warm up before dinner at Le Continental at 8:30. They do a lot of flambé at table side. Great dinner.
The party on Xmas was excellent, Judy outdid herself, as we all have come to expect. I had to put out an emergency call for red wine, and the neighbors rallied to the cause. A last minute invite went out to Ben and Jenna, who came and enjoyed.
12-24-22 VERMONT: After a couple days to get shoveled out, do shopping, admire the snow, we got a new storm. This one started with a little snow then a lot of rain and temps in the mid forties. There was a gusty wind but nothing like other areas of the country got. There was one to two inches of rain. It melted a lot of the snow, but both basements stayed dry. The deck got cleaned by the rain, as did the roofs.
We lost power again, but not all the comms this time. The power came back after about 12 hours. As the storm ended, there were periods of no rain, one gave us a nice sunset, between downpours. It got cold as the rain ended, in fact, the last precip was more snow, a new half an inch.
The temp fell lower and lower, from 45° to 20° to 12° and 6° this morning. We went to the dump in max cold weather gear this AM. We stopped at the town yard for several buckets of sand/gravel mix to spread on the ice.
Speaking of the ice, yesterday during a lull in the rain I was outside in the driveway, an icy driveway covered in rain water. I fell flat on my back in an instant and was soaked from head to butt. Getting up, getting in the house and changing clothes was exhausting and called for a nap.
Judy has been prepping for the Xmas day party through power, no power, rain, snow, cold, wind and has triumphed. Alison, Dan, Lily and Claire are due to arrive this afternoon.
