The Engleson Files

Wow. I am very sorry for the long delay to all my longtime viewers but I was getting everything ready for my re-application to the Masters program at UBC. Everything is now pretty much done and now, once again, I can only wait and see what happens. It was nice to have a little vacation from the blog but I am eager to get back at it and show you all what it is us Engleson’s do over here in the Middle Kingdom. Thanks again for your patience and it is now time to Get Back to work!

I apologize for the lack of posts done recently, but my reasons are this: a. the body is not responding too well to this thing called work, and b. I am trying to get everything ready for my Sept. 12th application deadline for the UBC Masters of Creative Writing. All systems will be normal soon.

Holidays are over and tomorrow we go back to work for real - enough said…

I need to get a few things off my chest here: I think Air Canada as an airline and a company is an absolute joke and I am embarrassed and ashamed of them. This airline used to have world wide standards and now they are as bush league as it gets. For 6 years we have been doing the same routine flying from Victoria to Vancouver (and then onto China) and for 6 years I have basically just witnessed a reduction in services and an increase in fees; I also think their customer service is disgraceful and should not be tolerated by paying customers. I simply cannot believe how horrible this entire airline has become and that we as Canadians have allowed it happen - shame on you Air Canada you are as pathetic as it gets and I hope your company crumbles and burns in hell!!

If you were to go and rent this movie you would see that me and my family play the starring role. Due to high humidity and neglect, our house and clothing were infested with mold and everyone is still tired and cranky from the flight - this is not fun people!

Well, we are back. The journey home was, in my opinion, the worst one to date with the kids bouncing off the walls the entire time. The actual flight was non-eventful (thank god!) but no one was able to sleep and/or rest and now our internal clocks are all screwed up. We had a great summer vacation but it feels good to be back in our own home and our normal routines - thanks again to everyone for a great time!

I am getting very sick and tired of this routine. The past few days have been chalk full of shopping and packing for an entire year’s worth of Canadian goods. We leave to go back to China on Wednesday but until then it will high stress and lots of chores.

Totem Poles are some of the coolest things on this planet!

Well, sadly our time has come to an end here in Penticton and today we journey back down to Victoria. It has been a wonderful vacation visiting everyone and soaking in the beautiful Okanagan weather. Being here again solidifies our desire to live here permanently after we return from China. It is a great community and we are excited to come back! Thanks again to Mom and Dad for all their efforts in putting up with us and giving us a good time - we will all miss you!

Today the Snowbirds rolled into town and gave a wonderful flyby show down at Okanagan Lake to kick off this year’s Peachfest festivities. In preparing for the big event tonight, in the morning Magnus, Grandma and I rode our bikes down to the airport in order to get a closer look at the planes. He was very excited to see what they were and did a great job riding the whole way from beach to beach. Then after our boat ride, the show began right at our front door at 6pm. Now, I am a sucker for the Snowbirds and always feel that Canadian pride in watching them and this show was an absolutely spectacular back drop for it. We had a perfect night for viewing and many times the planes flew right along the Okanagan Lake shoreline and then right over Mom and Dad’s house (we were up on the roof drinking wine). It was a fantastic show and a great way to end our trip.

Whew! After travelling roughly 1400 kms in a 24 hour span I am finally back home and just beginning the process of winding down and relaxing once again. Both the trip up and down were nice and fairly uneventful (no real crazos on the bus from what I could see) and it was great to see some old friends up in Quesnel as well, but right now I am just happy it is over and everything went well. Now for some rest and a picnic…

Well, today I am off on a one day blitz up to Quesnel to drop off my good friend, Darren Brown, and his family who have been visiting Penticton for the past week. A few weeks ago Darren broke his leg and needs a little help, so what I am going to do is drive their car up to Quesnel and then catch the midnight Greyhound back to Penticton and arrive home Sunday morning - and yes, I am a little tenative to do this and will be very careful with who I sit with! Click here to see why…

One of the things I love about being in Penticton during the summer is the sights and sounds of the water bombers. Pretty much everyday you see these old red and white beasts bombing in and out from the airport either checking out for fires nearby or putting one out somewhere close by. These old planes have a great look to them and I also love the low throttled purr they make as they fly above. It has been at least 40+ years since they have been stationed here and I hope they are here to stay for good - summertime fun in Penticton!

No guilt here folks, just plain old-fashioned goodness coming at you with every box of good, good whole wheat Shreddies. Yes, I love this cereal dearly and always have. While I have usually had a weakness for the sugar based cereals (ie. Cap’n Crunch, Froot Loops) I have always had Shreddies a part of my morning routine - and c’mon, how can you not love Freddie and Eddie as well! It has pained me to go cold turkey from it in China, which is why I am back on the program as we speak. Also, much like the KD secret I just disclosed with you all earlier, I have the can’t-miss formula for fully enjoying this cereal:

1) Pour cereal into bowl
2) Pour milk into bowl - milk must fully drown all cereal
3) Wait exactly 2:34 minutes before eating
4) Enjoy!