May 26, 2016 – One year ago today I was back in Vancouver to meet up with Larra. For months we’d been planning a Grand Tour of Canada and the US by automobile. Our relationship fell apart while we were on my farm in Georgia last August. I stopped smoking, got snippy with Danny the […]

By focusing on more and more rules, I lost sight of the basics. It turns out there’s only two rules for being a perfect husband: Make her laugh. Take her dancing. Do these two things all the time and the rest of the relationship will take care of itself.   This is still a good […]

James Francis Carey born Detroit, MI August 6, 1922 to November 6, 2016 Known to his friends simply as Jim, James Francis Carey was born in 1922 and raised in the Irish ghetto of Detroit, Old Corktown. He graduated from Holy Redeemer High School, attending on a football scholarship, and was the quarterback and captain […]

Nov. 2 – Larra and I spoke on the phone for an hour today, but I think the better conversation might have been our text messages. Life’s a Beach

Nov. 2, 2016 – One year ago today Larra was standing at Kahalui International Airport, wondering if I was going to show up to meet her. Larra’s Trip to Maui Here’s Larra last August, snappin’ beans & shellin’ peas on the porch of my cabin in Georgia. That’s Danny teaching her how.

No one is in charge of your happiness except you. I was depressed when I got back to Maui because of the terms that Larra and I parted on. This inspirational reminder allowed me to step out of the depression quickly. Jim

Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your x. She’s never coming back and don’t ask y.

The truth is that the more intimately you  know someone, the more clearly you’ll see their flaws. That’s just the way it is. That’s why marriages fail, children are abandoned, why friendships don’t last. You might think you love someone until you see the way they act when they’re out of money or under pressure […]

Sept 21, 2016 – By the time I got back to the house, it was dark out. Still, I had to walk down to the beach and see the ocean, just to feel that I was home.

Sept. 20th – I’ve never been to San Francisco before. The reason I’m passing through here on the way to Maui is that I saved 30% off my ticket price, flying Vancouver->San Francisco->Maui, versus the best price I could find for Vancouver to Maui direct. Sure, it doubled my travel time, but I’m retired. I […]

Sept. 20, 2016 Departing YVR airport

Sept. 20, 2016 – Saying my farewells to Vancouver as Larra drives me to the airport.  I took a dozen selfies in this attempt. LOL. I saved the one that made Larra look good. I have NOT gotten the hang of this, yet! Larra’s right – I did lose most of my tan during this […]

September 20, 2016 – This morning I celebrated 45 days of being free from cigarettes. I didn’t get a chance to post it on Facebook because of today’s travels, but the support I’ve gotten over the past six weeks has really helped. I noticed this – it sure made today’s 12 hours of traveling and […]

When we were on the road Larra and I saw a Minions/Despicable Me movie, and Larra fell in love with the characters, especially Agnes. Here’s a bit of the collection she’s put together so far.

Sept. 17, 2016 – Today Larra took me to the SAINTS animal rescue shelter near Abbotsford, BC. This is one of her favorite charities. From their website: SAINTS a home-for-life animal sanctuary for animals that have a hard time adjusting to a human world. As is appropriate to their temperament our animals live in groups, […]

Fun signs to use and share, collected on our travels. Man cave rules. Larra’s favorite. It helps if you have a bulldozer or monster truck. If it ain’t flat now, it will be when you get back. Where friends and marshmallows get toasted together. We have beer as cold as your exes. In Amish country, […]

Sept. 16, 2016 – Look! The leaves are changing! I haven’t seen that in years. It’s time to head back to Hawaii. LOL. I’ve now been on the mainland for 114 days.

Sept. 16, 2016 – It’s different here in Canada. The differences are subtle, but noticeable. Here’s one striking difference; the bicycle lane is next to the curb, and cars park outside of it.

Sept. 15, 2016 – For me, crossing the border from the USA to Canada always involved crossing a lake or river, because I’ve always done it from Michigan or points East. And the border with Mexico, where I’ve crossed it, always had a river and/or a wall, or at least a big fence. So driving […]

Sept. 15, 2016 – We found this old schoolhouse at the Campbell Valley Regional Park. It even has an outhouse.I was particularly impressed with this big old pine tree towering over the school. When I commented on it Larra looked at me funny. “Is it old? I didn’t even notice.” Pacific Northwest girl that she […]