Catching up on August: People and Places

We have been in transit: Hornby Island ... Victoria ... Birch Bay, Washington ... High River, AB. We will be returning to Edmonton soon.

On Hornby Island we enjoyed getting to know Amanda Hale, author of novels and short story collections. Currently I'm reading her book My Sweet Curiousity (novel, Thistledown Press, 2009) and Greg is reading In the Embrace of the Alligator (linked stories, Thistledown Press, 2011) .

Near the end of our Hornby time we connected with Al and Lynn Forrie for a mountain hike -- three hours! -- then back to their home for snacks and drinks.

It was so good to see them. I did some quick math and realized that Al and I have known each other since I was 26-years-old. I took his community college creative writing class, and a year later Thistledown Press, of which he is publisher,  released my first book of poetry, A Few Words For January.



Shelley and Greg at the summit of Mount Geoffrey

Greg, Shelley and Al Forrie on a hike

Al and Lynn Forrie, Shelley and Greg

After Hornby we were in Victoria for two days, meeting for a family picnic and celebrating Greg's mother's birthday.  

Greg and his cousin Cindy

Greg and his Mom on her birthday, lunch at Cadboro Bay

Shell and Greg at the family picnic in Victoria



Greg, his mother and sister Laura in ever-floral Victoria

 

Family Picnic people

This summer we've spent a fair bit of time socializing with my friends, so it was time to connect with a few of Gregs. This is John Newberry (below), former Montreal Canadians player and presently a firefighter in Victoria.

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Next up was Birch Bay, a new place for both Greg and I to visit. Frankly, it felt a little like a resort that was past its prime, but the company was fantastic.

This is the Therres place in Birch Bay, and friend Ed, from Chilliwack, below.

 Dawn, Alex and Ken Therres. The photo doesn't truly demonstrate how, in fact, Ken is a ringer for actor Ed Harris.