Sunday, July 14
WE'RE BACK!! We arrived at the resort and settled in at 4:30. Before that though we stopped at MacDonald's near Barrie for lunch and in Orillia, where we played tourist. There we went into the dollar store and like true Rosens, bought some plastic wine goblets. Jordi got a dog puppet.
When we finally arrived Jordi headed to the gift shop by herself, where she made inquiries into buying a present for her mom's birthday. Later she headed back to buy a wristband for her room key. She then announced she wanted an afternoon swim, so off she went. She is now by the pool with a group of friends she met up with from last year. She is very self-sufficient and confident. Lisa is resting and I'm off to read by the pool.
It is just so nice here. We just finished dinner. This year they put in a kids' buffet.
Jordi had chicken strips, hot dog and pizza with a Popsicle for dessert. I had salad, chicken curry with wine and diet chocolate mousse, while Lisa had roast beef. Well, we we're off to see a ski show and then a hypnotist.
It was a great evening. They put on a ski show with the theme being Austin Powers. Later we went to Mary Lou's. First they had a hypnotist and I was one of the volunteers. He had me give him my watch and then I had to ask for it back.
It was totally weird. Afterwards we saw Sheridan Style, a musical-dance group from Sheridan College in Oakville.
They are marking their 20th year in existence, meaning the group started in 1982, the same year I graduated as a journalist. Very strange.
One of their tributes was to Barry Manilow, who Lisa and I saw so long ago at Wonderland. Time continues to roll on.
Well the day has drawn to a close and I'm tired so I'm calling it a night (a night) and going back to our room. Till tomorrow...
Monday, July 15
Welcome to the start of the week. After breakfast I settled in outside The Main Inn to read the Toronto Star (as I do every day). This morning I took part in a session on nature photography, while Jordana went to Duck Soup (drama group) and other activities with her friends.
Lisa played bingo and the two of us had a nice walk.
We sat at a different table for breakfast and had lunch by the pool. I'm off to archery soon and will take part in a session on martini making a bit later.
3:52 p.m.
Just heading into martini making class. After archery I went kayaking and swimming. Kayaking definitely is better than canoeing. You ride lower in water, are less subject to waves and it is easier to control.
The biggest change this year is that Jordi has her own room key which gives her complete freedom to come and go. Sort of like a teenager with their license.
Also, she likes the fact that she can sign for her own drinks at the poor bar (pop).
Like I said, each year we go on vacation she grows up a bit more. This morning she dressed before us and told us she would meet us for breakfast. Where did she go - to play on the computer of course - like father like daughter.
Hi
Finished the martini tasting class where we had 4 different martinis in 30 minutes, which was followed by a wine and cheese party. So much fun. Imagine the feeling. The only sad part is watching Jordi (that is what she wants to be called now). I can see the child slowly vanishing.
9:34 p.m.
We had a nice dinner tonight - turkey and cranberry sauce, Lisa had veal parmesan and then we saw a magician. Not bad, but then there was some musical group - very ho hum.
Lisa is still at Mary Lou's listening and Jordi back at the room. I'm headed back for the night.
Tuesday, July 16
Kids never seem to amaze you. Today Jordi is up and dressed before us and heads down to feed her neopets (on the computer) and by the time we arrive she is seated at our table with a chocolate milk and is talking with one of the program directors about the day's events.
This morning I took part in a nature walk session for 90 minutes and got some great shots, including a close up of a bee. Hope they come out. This afternoon Lisa and I are going to see a different type of wildlife...at Casino Rama.
Back from the casino. I lost $30 and Lisa won $3.50.
Every year I see a difference in Jordi on vacation...kids grow socially and emotionally at this time just as they grow intellectually during school year. I lost the $5 hat I bought in Kingston today (but Jordi found it later sitting beside a computer terminal in the bar)
Tonight is kids' night out, so its just two of us for dinner. After that we go see Oliver.
The cast includes members of Duck Soup Productions (the boys declined, the girls all joined). After that there is entertainment in the lounge, so we are getting a hall sitter to check in on Jordi every 20 min. She loves the idea.
10:27 p.m.
Well another day has come and gone. Tonight Lisa and I had dinner without Jordi as she had kids' night out. She had her dinner at Mary Lou's.
After we watched a production of Oliver with the Fern Resort kids acting as choir to a local group of children who performed very well. Well I'm off to the room. Good night.
Wednesday, July 17
I have found that being around water is refreshing, even if you don't go in. It cools the temperature. So this morning spent some time kayaking before picking up my book and heading to the pool. Read a bit (the Stone Monkey by Jeffery Deaver) and swam before having lunch at the pool with my family.
Soon I start scuba lesson in the pool (do this once a year), archery, play some TV Guide trivia game and cocktail mixing class.
Lisa won $5 in bingo this morning (actually a certificate for gift shop), while Jordi spent morning practicing skits for talent show tomorrow night. Life is just so difficult.
Had some bad news here. Could not go scuba diving, but made up for it by going kayaking with Jordi. It was her first time and she did great. Just waiting for cocktail mixing to start
ta ta
Hello
Had a nice dinner by the poolside - steak and baked potato. At that time a photographer came around and took family photos.
Afterwards Jordi went fishing and then we took a sunset cruise from Fern to Orillia and back. Saw some beautiful homes, including Stephen Leacock's. Took a lot of photos, including some breathtaking ones of the sunset. Lisa and Jordi are playing bingo now and when it is over Lisa and I plan to check out Bertyl's, where an entertainer will perform.
Thursday, July 18
Boy the weather has changed. It rained last night and today is overcast. So far the outdoor lunch BBQ is cancelled. Not sure what is going on today. I thought we were going to see a singer last night, but It turned out to be line dancing. So we left...boring!
Its 11:47 a.m. now and I am surrounded by my family.
Despite being overcast it is very mild out and the lake is perfectly calm. So calm in fact that I took a kayak out and went to closest island, the furthest I have gone. It was like cutting through butter. Lisa played bingo and took a mini course on how to use the Internet. Jordi practiced her skits for tonight's talent show. It's funny, but I prefer a kayak to a motor boat and an SLR camera to a point and shoot. If I were to analyze myself it would say a lot.
2:05 p.m.
Lisa and I just got back from a walk on the nature trail.
The trails here are great. Will play trivia game at 2:30 and mini-golf at 4:15
6:00 p.m.
Hi again
Well I finished my book, Stone Monkey. It was very good.
Also played mini-putt with Lisa and Jordi acted as scorekeeper relaying our score to the judge. I also played trivia game and my team won. Jordi is at a kids' movie now. The kids had an early dinner and Lisa supervised her in the dining hall. Now Lisa and I are going to have dinner. You know the three of us have not had dinner together in the dining room since Monday. Very strange.
Tonight is different from Tuesday night as then the kids had dinner out and tonight they had it in dining room.
See you later
Don't know if I mentioned it, but it was an early birthday for Lisa today. A few weeks ago Jordi decided she was going to buy something at Fern for Lisa for her birthday.
I told Jordi she would have to give it to her at the resort as it could not be returned after. So last Sunday when we arrived she went to the gift shop by herself and talked to the salesperson and found something. Yesterday she went back by herself again and picked out a nice beige shirt with flowers and a gift bag. Today she presented it to Lisa. As well, Jordi also made her a beaded necklace.
The kid is so amazing and has gone through
so much in her life. I am amazed at how she has come through.
She truly is the best of both of us, even with Lisa's limitations.
Maybe it is Lisa's own disability that makes her such a special mom to Jordi. Maybe they would not have had the same relationship if things were "normal". Maybe I over-analyze things. Who knows and who cares.
It's been a great vacation. Tonight the kids had a talent show and Jordi was in three skits. They also had the annual staff talent lip sync show. This afternoon, while I was lying in a hammock looking around and reading, I was thinking that things can't get better
than this. Things are so peaceful and life is truly beautiful and even with Lisa's problems. There are truly more stupid things in my life. Anyways I babble. This is usually where our vacation would come to an end.
However, we have an extra few days so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Take car.e
PS - I broke a personal record today by kayaking across the lake to a nearby island.
Friday, July 19
Good morning. Well the sun is back. A typical morning.
I read the paper at the front of the Main Inn then took a kayak out. The water was very choppy today, but was enjoyable. Nothing much new but still very relaxing. Jordi bought two pens for her leaders. Nice touch!
The weather has returned to very hot, but the humidity is gone. Things are very different today as a lot of people go home and some arrive for a weekend stay.
Tonight we are are going into Orillia for Chinese food as we are a bit tired of resort food (it really is good though). We could not eat lunch by the poolside as it was closed. They don't want people leaving to take advantage of it, so they close it off on Friday and Sunday.
Played archery this afternoon and Lisa joined me for a game of TV Song Trivia where you have to guess theme songs. We didn't win, but was fun. Enjoyed a nice Long
Island Ice Tea, which has no ice tea in it but plenty of punch! Tonight going to see Sheridan Revue at Mary Lou's.
10:24 p.m.
Another day has wound to an end. We went to Orillia and after dinner Jordi and I walked along the docks, while Lisa went grocery shopping. Back at Fern we saw another show by Sheridan Style, a different show from last Sunday. They are so very good. We made a good decision to extend our vacation from 5 to 7 days.
I have learned so much today - like it take 7 types of booze to make a Long Island and that a Zombie is for living people and tastes like a strawberry shake. Such an educational holiday. One more day to go before the holiday is over.
Saturday, July 20
Well it's the last day. I'm going to read the paper and see how day goes. See you later.
Hi.
I finished archery where I hit one balloon and later played TV Guide Trivia with Lisa. We now have 25 points, but don't know what we will get. Lisa bought a cover-up with her
bingo winnings
FINAL JOURNAL ENTRIES
Well the holiday is rapidly winding down. The extra two days this year was so worth it. Not that we did anything special in those two days, but the extra time was nice. Today was the usual stuff, went kayaking, archery and played TV Guide Trivia (with Lisa). Jordi did lot of things, including playing ball hockey with a bunch of boys. Lisa won twice in bingo today, in the morning and afternoon. In the morning she won a $5 gift certificate. She put it together with her other gift certificate she won earlier in week and bought an evening cover-up throwing in some extra money. In the afternoon she won a T-shirt.
Also, when you participate in things like archery,
trivia and sports you earn points and end of week you can redeem them for things. This year we had enough for one coffee mug. The weather today, like rest of week was perfect.
Jordi had a PJ party with her friends, so she had an early dinner in dining room and then saw a movie in her pjs. Lisa and I had a final dinner by ourselves.
We also filled out the return reservation form for 2003 for the same week, same room and same table in dining room. As it will be our fourth year, we also applied for alumni status which will give us another discount.
Will we return?
It is still too early to tell. As long as we have our health. A lot depends on whether Jordi goes to overnight camp in July or August next year, but Lisa and I talked about it and think we might come even if Jordi does not.
This evening the entertainment is a magician followed by some singers.
Well the sun is making a very slow decent on the horizon.
There is something about looking around the resort that brings an inner peace to me. It is so beautiful. I really enjoyed the kayaking this year. It is wonderful sitting in middle of lake looking around
you. It is nature at its finest. At that moment, any and all problems cease to exist.
There is a certain sadness also knowing this holiday is coming to an end and will soon be relegated to the history of Rosen vacations.
Like I say every year, it was wonderful witnessing Jordi's growth and maturity. Both Lisa and I are honoured to call her our daughter.
10:30 p.m.
The day is gone now and Jordi is sleeping. Just took a walk along the waterfront. It is so peaceful with the calm water, sky full of stars and, in the distance, the lights of Orillia.
It brought to mind an old tune from camp overnights.
Day is done, gone the sun, from the hills to the lakes
the skies, all is well, safely rest,
goodnight...goodnight
This definitely is it for Fern Resort 2002...
So long, goodbye and farewell....
POSTNOTE: SUNDAY, July 21, 2002
Today we had breakfast and we're out of Fern by 9:45. Before we left though, we had a real surprise. It turns out I had overpaid back in February. So after totaling all the weekly expenses charged to our room, we managed to get back a little over $6. Even when you err, there is a benefit.
So long!