Shout out to Chapters St. Vital!

Another successful book signing at Chapters St. Vital, done and complete!

I met all sorts of folks. Avid readers, burgeoning writers from ages 9 to 29, parents looking for books for reluctant readers, and of course grandparents. Again, I was astounded by the numbers of grandparents buying books for their grandchildren.

Most awesome.

Pat, me (chinless), & Christina - "An Anitas Writing Group Selfie"

Throughout the afternoon I was joined by my writing friends, my
parents, and my daughters who came and went, keeping me company and enticing shoppers to buy Spaghetti! My dad in particular had a delightful time speaking to customers and to Joseph, who looked after us throughout the book signing, making us feel like part of the Chapters team.

They say employees are a reflection of the general health and attitude of a business, and if that is so, Chapters must be doing everything right. Every staff member I've dealt with has been enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and a joy to work with.

Three Cheers for Chapters!

Off to America

Lexie our Ford Flex is packed stem to stern.

Family Road Trips!

Love em' or hate em', 'tis the season to set off to explore designations unknown.

(Read: a jaunt across the U.S. border to shop outlet malls and visit waterslides.)

For we Carmichaels that means farming out Zoe the Dog to Grandma Carmichael, Pink and Floyd the Gerbils to Granny, and Billy the Beta Fish to Grandpa Dave. Yes, it takes many grandparents to allow us to flee the city for five nights in the metropolis known as Minneapolis.


Ah America, our southern neighbour, how shiny and exciting you are to our soon to be nine-year-old and twelve-year-old daughters. The Lego Store, American Girl, Valley Fair and more, a mere eight hour drive
away.

When I suggested this adventure I was absolutely sure The Drew loved long car rides.

I personally would avoid them like mosquitoes in a bog, but I was certain he had a passion for them. Who doesn't want to sit crammed in a stuffy car, slowly losing all feeling in your buttocks, while your patience flees as quickly as a mangy dog flees a bath under a garden hose?

Apparently, I was wrong. In fact, he thought I had a yearning for a Carmichael Car Trip, because as kids my brother and I spent every summer at our cottage at Brereton Lake and never partook in this Canadian tradition.

Yes, yet another classic Three's Company Moment Ala Carmichael Style.

So, wish us luck as we cram ourselves into Lexie tomorrow at 7 am and head south.

First stop: Timmy's for two extra large double-doubles, followed by a Xanax chaser. 

No need to judge, people.

Coffee = Happy Mommy