H IS FOR HOSTILITY

Internationally recognized as a
symbol for Canadian travelers.
TAKEN: APRIL 9th, 2024
Palm Beach, Aruba

As I mentioned with my chaos post, I have never had issue with any American when travelling. That said, before leaving, we knew the island of Aruba was an American travel haven, so my husband and I wanted to be easily identified as Canadian.

Well, this afternoon, when playing musical trivia around the pool, we connected with a few gals from Windsor, Ontario. 

When I snagged the fastest answer for my favourite song (September but Earth, Wind, and Fire) we were asked to choose a team name. We chose Canada Strong.

Without hesitation, we were immediately and loudly booed. Booed by Americans in Aruba. Unexpected hostility, met in a country that markets themselves as ‘One Happy Island!’

Heading back to our room, I mentioned to my travel buddy hubby that if that is the temperature for Canadians here, I am glad we have decided no to cross the border and enter their country for several years.

I followed up with, 'I think our encounter by the pool is simply further evidence that our old relationship with the United States is officially over'.

… Which truly makes me sad.

G IS FOR GUSTY

Very gusty, kite surfing winds!
San Nicolas, Aruba
TAKEN April 8th, 2025

As I mentioned, I have been looking at Aruba as a travel destination for about a decade and a half. The one thing that the travel websites always highlighted to potential travelers was that it was 'windy'. Well, we soon discovered that 'windy' was an understatement.

Anyway, the one thing we knew we wanted to do was rent a car and explore the entire island. First up was the world-renowned Baby Beach. With a 10am start, we packed up and were headed back through Oranjestad; the Capital.

With the southeast coast of the island in our sites, we stopped at the large landmark red anchor, and turned left. Through right was the direction to Baby Beach, our mishap was a view to behold. A backdrop of the deep blue Caribbean Sea and azure blue skies.

Though the anchor stands both as a memorial to all who have lost their lives at sea, it is also a silent reminder that San Nicolas is still a vibrant and gusty windswept part of the island of Aruba. 

Which makes me think it should also stand for the lives of any brave souls learning at the Aruba Pro Kite School

PS: My photo was taken from a distance, and the surfer of the kite captured is navigating the challenging swells. 

PSS: The bottom left shows a kite surfer staying closer to the shore - but I missed capturing their bright orange kite.

F IS FOR FABULOUS

Our fabulous view from the 18th floor
TAKEN: APRIL 6th, 2025

Well, after taking Sunday off for good behaviour, I am back at it this afternoon, this week sitting and typing from our 18th floor, ocean view balcony in Aruba.

Yesterday, after checking in and finding our bearings, we connect with a group of thirty travelling from Windsor, Ontario. Last night, we had an absolute blast!

My travel buddy hubby and I have made so many fabulous friendships via travel over the years. All of which we are able to stay in touch via social media. We've been invited to a wedding in Jamaica, by a couple we met on our very first travels there; back in 2012

As a matter a fact, we just received an invite to meet travelers in New Orleans for French QuarterFest - but we were already headed to Aruba. 

To offer excellent context, when I posted a story on social media of our room view yesterday, when tallied, all of our travel buddies sent us prop and asked our opinion. One even said they were going to check it out, "to try something different".

Now just how fabulous is that?

Crazy, bananas fabulous.... If I do say so myself!

E IS FOR EAGER

By mid-day tomorrow, I will be
strolling on the white sand in Aruba
(c) TripAdvisor

As my travel buddy hubby drives us south to our hotel in Toronto, I tap away on my laptop in the car, so not to miss my post deadline. (Tick, tick, tick. Backspace, backspace... Tick, tick, tick... Hard return.)

To be honest, I am having a hard time concentrating.  

I simply I can't believe that I am officially counting down our boarding a plane to Aruba in the morning. 

A bucket list destination I have always wanted to travel to - but never wanted to pay the hefty price tag. Well, Cyber Monday changed that for us.

After the year we endured in 2024, we knew we wanted to travel to special destinations to celebrate our milestone birthdays this year. 

Initially, I had set my heart on Barbados. But when I accidentally caught an unreal online deal (saving almost $2,000) I called my hubby, and we immediately decided to go.

Growing up, my mother only ever mentioned one destination she wanted to experience. She would tell me, "I want to see the white sands of Aruba." 

Back then, I really had no point of reference as to where Aruba was located, because all I ever lobbied for was to travel to Disney in Florida; which was always a hard NO in her books. 

Don't get me wrong, she loved Walt Disney as a visionary, but travel inside Canada was always my parents' focus. Their thought process being that after experiencing all of our own homeland, Florida might be an option. 

Truth? When we were first engaged, we travelled to Disney & Epcot in Orlando, and I have never been eager to go back.

On the other hand, I feel Aruba will be an experience I think I will remember for the rest of my life.

...And will forever be yearning to return.

D IS FOR DARKNESS

The dead of winter in Muskoka
(A 6am pic snapped from our kitchen)
TAKEN: JANUARY 16th, 2025

I don't know about you, but as a person that suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) the darkness within the days of winter is something I seriously struggle with.

For those that aren't familiar with the condition, it is categorized as a type of depression that is related to changes in seasons. My symptoms generally begin when the clocks fall back for daylight savings time, worsen over the holiday break, and begin to lighten once the days begin to get longer in March.

It took me years to understand what was happening but once I did, I decided to battle it head on. 

I do my very best to keep my mood and body motivated.  I have often joked here that during the winter months I end up in the bedroom closet, with a blanket over my head, eating gravy from a ladle.

Aside from personal motivation to overcome symptoms, I will admit that my 'happy' lights work really well for me. I know some people don't believe in light therapy, but I swear by it. For over ten years now, my ‘happy’ lights automatically come on in the house to trick me into thinking the sun is rising, when in fact it is pitch black outside.

A commitment to light therapy, and the fact that I can afford to give myself a good jolt of vitamin D in the last week of November, are two of my blessings. A fall trip into the sun and self-awareness are key. By the time I travel (mid-April) for my birthday, I feel I have come out the other end. 

As I am preparing to hop an airplane this weekend, I am pleased to report that my inner darkness has lifted.

So here's to a really great six months of sunshine, until this vicious cycle begins again.

PS: Be sure to stop by tomorrow, to read where the jet plane is taking me, to celebrate my making it through winter!

C IS FOR CHAOS

Image downloaded from Facebook

CLICK HERE: To listen to Rhondi read this post on her new podcast platform.

The Oxford English dictionary describes chaos (noun) as complete disorder and confusion. 

In keeping with that definition, my mind immediately offers the perfect example of it in,  "the sweeping new 'Liberation Day' tariffs are causing total chaos." 

I have said it here before and I will say it again, I am not a political person looking to stand a top a soap box and pontificate my opinions. What I will say is that I am generally an intelligent person with a keen grasp of common sense, that follows the political climate. And I can't seem to figure out what the hell is going on!

I am confused at the rhetoric that is perpetuating that Canadians are nasty. 

In all the decades I have been crossing into the United States, I have never had a bad interaction with our neighbours (yes that is the correct spelling) - and it is to be hoped they can say the same when visiting us.

I am generally sad that I won't be crossing the border to visit my friends next-door for the next four years. In fact, the thought in general makes me anxious. 

Though I will concede that the comments on our becoming the 51st State have calmed since a new Prime Minister was named - I don't think the back and forth surrounding a lot of silly political stuff will stop anytime soon.

...Which is just simply unfortunate, and definitely something I never want to laugh about.

B IS FOR BRUTAL

By mid-afternoon, the tree in the centre
of my photo filled the driveway with
fallen debris.
TAKEN: MARCH 30th, 2025

CLICK HERE: To have Rhondi read you this post on her new podcast platform

Though we live within our small town limits here in Muskoka, we are fortunate enough to live on what I have labelled the ‘waving street’. Where the homes are nicely staggered, and all you usually do is wave at your neighbours as they pass by.

Well, around dinner time last Friday night, it started; a three-day freezing rain event across the province that was brutal.

Hydro service left us about 10pm and was off for the majority of Saturday. It returned long enough for dinner to be prepared, warm the house, then ZAP; just like that the power was out another 24 hours.

The photo I am sharing displays what we woke up to Sunday morning. (That is one of the light fixtures on the garage and you can see a downed tree below it.) We spent the day huddled around the BBQ to stay warm, listening to the ice storm take tree after tree.

There were so many downed trees around us that by early afternoon the air smelt just like a sawmill filled with the aroma of freshly sawn wood.

With still over three hundred thousand residences without power, I am not sure what to expect as another round is to hit us by dusk tonight.

Which proves, yet again.... that Mother Nature is definitely off her meds!