...day by day and days gone by!

GO WEST YOUNG MAN!

Kitimat means 'People of the Snow'...as opposed to Aruba...which means... 'People of the - We hate Snow!'

Philip has never been one to fight change. When we told him we were leaving Hamilton and moving to Newfoundland, he found it exciting...eagerly looked forward to the new adventure. Sure, he was saddened by the fact that he was leaving some dear friends behind...but the big picture was..."bring it on!". Then when we informed him in 2006 that we were leaving Newfoundland and heading 'west'...all the way to BC...he again was up for it. We told him it was temporary...like a filling. He's still chewing on it...feeling no pain...loves it here. And why wouldn't he?

It's been good for Philip here. Newfoundland subjected him to an all adult environment which proved extremely beneficial to his maturing process. Here in Kitimat, he's subjected to young and older...a healthy balance which he handles well. After all, he's a 'man' now...and 'boy'...don't you forget it!

Here's a look at Kitimat and its environs (Philip's world) through his eyes:

Mount Elizabeth,at 1850m, is the highest mountain in this area. Since arriving here 3 years ago, Philip has insisted on calling it 'Queen Elizabeth'...we can't seem to break him of it.

If you squint, and turn your head slightly to the left...he may have a point!

...family and community!

He loves his weekly card games...notice who has all the winnings!

And he loves the respect they show him at the dinner table!

He loved 'crazy bowling' night...strobe lighting...'50s music...and hilarious 'new' ways to bowl!

To escape the 'craziness', he loves walking the trails with his cousin/buddy Triston.

In fact, he enjoys any time he can spend with his cousins. They love him to pieces!

Actually, the whole town loves him. So much so that they gave him a parade!

And the women he picked up at that parade...it was shameful!

A fun-filled family outing at the lake...boating and sun tanning. It was 30 degrees that day...notice his attire...as well as the pop and pencil in his hand...and his notebooks in his lap. Never know when you might have to record a score!

He loves cruising the lake in Tio's boat!

Here he is enjoying a good laugh with Tio on another of his uncle's boats!

Too much fun...time to get him off the boat!

...wonderful wildlife!

The wildlife of BC is awesome...often very scary! By the way...have we mentioned that Philip's brother Johnny is coming for Christmas? Just 15 days to go...he's so excited. He's also asleep right now...time passes faster that way!

Philip has gotten used to the bears!

And the moose on the sidewalks...

...coming right up to the front door!

Philip spent several hours on Tio's sailboat with us...none of us noticed the eagle perched up on one of the riggings...watching us the whole time.

Eagles are common place around here (ho hum)!

Not so common are the grizzly bears, although every so often they are sighted here in town. (I've always felt safe myself...I don't have to outrun the bear...just have to outrun Diane!). We caught up with this one when we traveled to Alaska 2 summers ago.

Plenty of these around...whatever it is! I think it's a coyote...but what do I know...I'm a Black Hawks fan!

Philip loved to go fishing with Aunt Elaine...but he was sure to keep his distance. You saw earlier what happened in Newfoundland when he tried to fish. Notice Elaine always fished properly...with rod and reel...from the safety of the shore.

Unlike Diane who had little patience for protocol...she just waded in...grabbed the first unsuspecting fish...picked it up...and returned to shore! And poor Philip had to witness this barbaric behaviour!

Mind you...we ate well that night!

...north to Alaska!

Philip has enjoyed some beautiful scenery in this part of British Columbia

"Better than any movie", he would say.

The thrill of sun-splashed, snow-covered mountains!

The excitement of witnessing a black bear feasting on local berries! (and the added excitement of watching his mother walk to within 30 feet of this ferocious beast to get his picture...just kidding...she took it from 40 feet...I kept the car running!).

He couldn't wait to get to Alaska. The mountains...the wildlife...the thrill...the excitement...

..."the nerve of them...dragging me along when I should be back in my room keeping scores. No TVs out here in this god-forsaken wilderness. I know...I'll sleep...time always passes faster when I sleep!".

We woke him up to see Johnny get his picture taken in front of this glacier...

...and he was as impressed as the rest of us as we crossed the border into Alaska. What gives? Sarah Palin could see Russia...

...all we could see was this annoying grizzly slowing traffic as he lumbered along the road!

In Hyder, Alaska, we braved the elements to watch, from the safety of this nifty boardwalk, the grizzlies catching fish in the creek below. Philip was completely stressed...his pencil and notebook were getting soaked!

After we left Alaska, we passed through Nisga's Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park where 2 centuries ago a volcano erupted, killing approximately 2000 people and creating this pocked lava plain...an eerie moon-like landscape 6 miles long and 2 miles wide. We drove through in amazement. Can you guess what Philip was doing?

Not far from the lava beds we stopped in Canyon City (in the Nass River Valley) where we 'had' to cross this bridge! Philip actually was eager to...

...'til Johnny threatened to toss him over!

...back in Kitimat!

In February of 2010 the Winter Olympics come to Vancouver. We'll eagerly watch the games on TV...as will most of us up here in the north (Vancouver is 16 hours away...longer if you fly...delays and diversions are killers!).

But thanks to a local construction company here in Kitimat, a little part of the Olympic spirit greets us every day. Built by the Oviatt family, and standing proudly in our midst, is this huge , stone Inukshuk...right here in town...our very own cultural symbol of Canada's hosting of, and participation in, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

I asked Philip if he was looking forward to the Winter Olympics? He said, " Not really." I asked him if he planned to watch any of the games? "I doubt it", he replied. I asked him why. He answered without hesitation, and with no hint of guilt..."I'll be far too busy...keeping scores!".

The Scorekeeper...the Olympics! What am I missing here? Hmmm...