Cuba 2017 - Part One

17 Nov 17

     Our journey to VAR started at YQQ with the first leg being from YQQ to YYC. My Lobster and I were on board a 737-700 for about an hour or so. Li'l Sis picked us up and after depositing our luggage at her abode it was determined that I immediately to go shopping due to a major wardrobe malfunction. So, it was off to Wally World to buy some new pants.

     For supper, we dined at Xan Mongolian Grill. If you have never been to a mongolian grill restaurant I stingy suggest that you check it out. You can have exactly what you want, a little or a lot with sauces or no sauces. I wish there was one here in the Valley because it sure would be a hit.

18 Nov 17
O-Dark 30
YYC to VAR

     Li'l Sis wished for us a safe journey when she dropped my Lobster and I off at YYC. This was the second leg of our journey. We would fly on a West Jet 737-800 with wifi movies that you can watch on your hand held device or on a rented tablet. Instead of pre-ordering and paying for an in flight meal that used to be free (Do you remember being asked if you would prefer the chicken or the fish?) we purchased a large sandwich from a corporate kiosk outlet located on the concourse.

     On the flight my Better Half held the window seat and I was next to her in the centre seat. Wedged into the aisle seat next to me was a Cuban national, at least according to his passport he was a Cuban national. He spoke no English and weighed in at about 400 lbs dressed thus requiring the use of a lap belt extender strap. His bulk caused his man spreading to put one leg into the aisle and the other one half into my narrow seating area. His girth was also the likely cause of his breathing issues that were unconciously eased when he napped with his arms behind his head. Unfortunately, his raised armed offered his armpit to me and the scent wafting into the enclosed cabin was akin to the north end of a south bound armadillo.

     After a five hour flight we landed in VAR. As there was five other airliners already on the ground our exit was via a set of stairs directly to the tarmac as opposed to the routine jet way. But could we walk or be escorted the 70 feet to the terminal? Nope! Wait for the bus.

     And that is the key when going to Cuba. Waiting and lining up. Or queuing up as our British cousins would say. The customs and immigation process for visitors coming to Cuba involves four line ups so be prepared for them. Once you are off the aircraft you line up to show your passport, have your photo taken, be questioned and be issued documents by a Customs officer. Next, you will line up to be physically searched (scanned as if you were boarding an aircraft) and questioned again by a Customs officer. This is followed by the line up to get your luggage and having it cleared through a Customs officer. Lastly will be the line up to board your bus.

     Welcome to Cuba.

Sayonara Pt. 3

17 Nov 17
07:55 hrs

     So, our Jr Couch Monkey has departed for the Far East to enjoy sushi, ramen and sweating his proverbial hole off working out in the Mother Dojo! We wished him well and sent him forth. I wish I was going with him as I never had the chance to Far East. Some day.

     My Lobster and I have our own travel plans. We are headed back to Veradaro. Rum, sandy beaches and rum on sandy beaches. The timing is right for both of us to enjoy the downtime. I believe the correct word is "Decompression". The neighborhood kid is watching over our furry children and his father is watching over him.

     There have been a lot of last minute purchases for both trips. My Better Half commented that at Wally World the Christmas music is playing and people are singing along. Pretty early for the Seasonal Commercialism I would say. Money grubbing capitalist bastards.

11:00 hrs

     Read any good books lately? The book house at the Wayward Inn has had a lot of activity. Novels in and tomes out. I came home from work last week to find a bag of pocket books that some reader wanted to pass on. Great idea but if the book house is full don't leave your books in a bag at the base of the post for some stray mutt to mark while making his rounds and besides I am not, despite my pleasant demeanor the bloody neighborhood librarian!

     I have been on a Baldacci kick lately. He has a number of different book series with various interesting characters. Good reads all. But I have taken a break from the mystery,  murder and mayhem and cracked open Anthony Bourdain's "Medium Raw". If you don't know who he his...I'm sorry. Look him up on Google. And then go to Amazon and buy his books. You'll laugh, you'll cry (maybe, but I doubt it), you may learn something (I highly doubt it) but you will certainly piss yourself laughing. Especially, if you do your own cooking or you have any knowledge of how a kitchen actually works.

     So, as I sit here at YQQ waiting to fly to YYG before jetting to VRA, it has come to my attention that the old jeans, that I am now able to wear once again because of the lost poundage, have a hole in the crotch. Oh, my Lobster has been giggling constantly at my plight ever since she was informed about it. The only thing I am thankful for is that I am not currently "going commando".

21:00 hrs

     My Lobster and I are hanging out at Li'l Sis's place in Cowtown. For supper we went out to the Xan Mongolian Grill. Nice place and great food. I wish there was one in the Valley. A truly different kind of dining experience. But before going for dinner we stopped off at Wally World and picked up a new pair of jeans. They cost a whole $10 and no pst. I should have bought a couple of pairs. And it was definitely time to get some new jeans because on the way out of the store I felt a cool breeze blowing over my left inner thigh and it wasn't even erotic!

     Well, I don't know when I'll be able to send you another installment. But, stay tuned. In the meantime rent "Bad Moms".

Sayonara - Pt. 2

11 Nov 17
07:31 hrs

     My Lobster and I are in the throws of finalizing the training trip our Jr. Couch Monkey will be taking. In less than a week he will be winging his way, along with the senior members of his dojo and led by his Sensei, to the Mother Dojo in Okinawa. Yes, have I written about this before but we are so proud of him that it can't be helped.

     On a more personal note. Chef Blaine was acting as a Sous the other night and took an injury. It had been a long day and he wasn't paying attention when his right hand middle finger, one of his favourite fingers, was shortened by a mandolin. If he had used the guard to hold the zucchini he was slicing or if he had used his chef's knife the injury would not have happened. Lesson learned. A special thank you to my Lobster and my Sr. Loin Fruit for assisting in bandaging my digit. A very special shout out to Chef Irene for finding the slice of meat before it ended up somewhere it shouldn't have. I also have to thank the staff at the new hospital  for tending to my inquiry in a timely and professional manner.

     Today is Rememberance Day in Canada. For our friends South of the 49th Parallel it is called Veteran's Day. The difference is that we celebrate and remember the sacrifices of all persons affected by wars. Not just the military members but the civilians who were caught up in its midst as well. We wear the poppy as a symbol of our commitment to remember the fallen. I read somewhere that the You-alls may be catching on to this pact.

     I have participated or attended Rememberance Day ceremonies for 40 years and each one only strengthens my resolve to honour the past to protect the future. I am a veteran but I am more able bodied than some and I wish that there was a means where I could help veterans who require assistance. There is a national/corporate Wounded Warrior program and I did look into how I could contribute. The answer was "substantial financial donations". It would seem that companies are using the program to reduce their taxes by donating. That's great because veterans are able to partake in the activities but it shuts out veterans who just want to help out their Brothers in Arms. If you have any ideas on how I can help them drop me a line.

Auf Wiedersehen

02 Nov 17
06:45 hrs

     Yes, it was time to say goodbye. Quite a few goodbyes actually.

     Our two German exchange students have now departed after their whirlwind two weeks on Canada's Left Coast. During that time they visited local highlights and what the school didn't show them we did. They were nice. Very polite as you would expect. The only thing that surprised my Better Half and I was the amount of bread they consumed. If left to their own devices a six pack of bagels would last a day. Sure, one of them ate some meat and the other was one of those "veggie only people" but it was the buttered bread that was the shocker. Now Yours Truly really loves a hot crust of bread right out of the oven with a couple of pats of butter smeared across it. Who doesn't? But for  these girls their diet was primarily bread with some veg thrown in.

     I read in the local birdcage liner that one of my first desk controllers/crew chiefs has passed away. Percy "Spider" Crawford was a sergeant in 409 Sqn. He was great to work with and I learned some valuable lessons from him. I may not have applied them but I did learn them. In recent years I would run in to him from time to time. We would catch up and remember days gone by when the airforce flew real planes and lots of them. Thanks for being there "Spider". You will be missed.

     My Lobster and I are saying goodbye to some extra poundage too. So far we have dropped 35+ pounds and are feeling much better for it.

     In another week or so we'll be saying sayonara to our Junior Couch Monkey. I wish I was going with him.

     An intitution is closing here in the Valley. Portuguese Joes has been the iconic go to fish store. Through the 70's and 80's military aircraft passing through would have their order of Joe's smoked salmon waiting for when they landed. Their iconic bumper sticker was seen across the country, "I GOT CRABS AT PORTUGUESE JOE'S". So long Joe.

     Today we're saying goodbye to summer as the Valley and a large portion of the Left Coast was whacked by our first winter storm. We may have lost one limb on the tree at the front of the Wayward Inn but our neighbour has lost three or more on his tree. I don’t know if he has noticed yet but he will.

     Until next time...

     Adios