Mr Cooper's year in review

Merry Christmas from Mr Cooper

Soon Santa will be dead and Christmas will be over.

Thankful

Thanksgiving prep is well on its way. Turkey in the smoker, pumpkin pies in oven, apple pie waiting in fridge.

Halloween 2013

Palm Springs beauty queens!

Happy Halloween!

The girls are OUT tonight!

Autumn harvest

This picture is corny. 

Twenty-four years

Happy 24th Anniversary to us! Here we are 24 years ago when we first met and fell in love. See, I can still pass for 29.

And... we're back.

Finally back in Palm Springs, settling back into our groove. And by groove, I mean "OH MY GOD I NEED COFFEE!"

The devil made him do it

Mr Cooper is not a fan of rainy days trapped indoors.

The perfect pear/pair

A very special thank you to our friends Richard and Christine who had us over for dinner on Monday and made the most beautiful (AND tasty!) pear tart.

Give a hoot

Went for a walk in the woods yesterday and well, I'm a guy, and I needed to pee. I stepped off the trail to take of the situation. Midway through, I felt like I was being watched. I looked up and saw this guy. Very thankful it wasn't a bear.

He's learning...

Caught "red pawed".

A bad sign

It's time to head south.

4 Layer Coconut Cake

4 layer coconut cake, recipe from Bobby Flay. Totally low calorie... except for the 2.5 lbs of butter.

Blueberry pie

Homemade blueberry pie / tarte aux myrtille. In Canada, my pie is bilingual.

Jammin'

Raspberry/rhubarb jam today. 20 jars. (Also 14 jars of blueberry jam, after the pickles.)

It's Pickle Day!

Thanks!

Thanks Calgary, we'll be back! 

Rodeo Zamboni.

Hokey Pokey

You put you right foot in, you put your right foot out... That's what it's all about! 

Stampede

They've had the high water, I guess we're bringing Hell? 

It begins...

"Cruise Canada"

Um... Okay. (Glacier National Park)

Not interested

Mr Cooper says, "So this is what it's like to be in the zoo."

Moo

How'd I get outside?!?

It was breezy on the hour and a half hike tonight.

Good morning!

My morning view (as long as there's no rain) in Kamloops.

Raspberry fields forever.

Super fresh strawberries!

Super fresh strawberries, slightly old parents. 

Make your own caption

Biggest/Little

Adios, Reno, arrivederci! #roadtrip2013 

Bodie #2

The old school house.

Bodie ghost town

The road to Bodie was finally open when we were driving by. It's truly an amazing place to visit.

South before North

An hour before we leave, Mr Cooper won't get out of the car.  Take Me! Take Me! Take Me!

Winter makes a comeback

Woken up early this morning by the sound of the snowplow in Mammoth. 

Town loop

Out for a walk with those guys again.

Oh hi biscus!

Mr Cooper says...

GET UP.

Pushy!

Somebody pushed me out of bed last night. I'm not going to name names (ahem, Mr Cooper), but this photo was taken just after. 

It's never too late

Today the Supreme Court of the United States is hearing arguments on the whether same sex couples in California can be denied the right to marriage.  Tomorrow the same court will hear arguments on whether the federal government can deny same sex couples federal benefits.  Then we all sit back and wait until June, July or maybe even November to find out what they decided.

Fantastic America, keep up the good work.  I'm keen to know the answer BUT, I'll be reading all about it from my future home in Canada.

Canada has already approved same sex marriage.  Canada is where I got married 8 years ago.  Canada is ready to accept my petition to live legally in the same country as my husband.  And after 23 years together, 8 years legally married, quite frankly we are ready to have that stabilty and acceptance.

Don't get me wrong, I love America.  I love my friends and family here. I very rarely experience discrimination in my day to day life.  And yet, discrimination is an overlay to everything I do every day.

Even though my husband has been in this country legally for over 20 years, the federal government provides no way for me to sponsor him to live here permanently.  Every tax season we pay more.  Every border crossing we are not a family. Every visa renewal means we pay a bonus dollar amount that no straight couple has to pay just to live together.

I see the tide is turning.  I am excited for the future.  But I can't wait any longer. Starting in May we are establishing our primary residence in Canada and will see America for extended visits in the future.

Riddle

What's black & white and walked all over town?

.... MR COOPER!

Out on the town

Mr Cooper & Miss Skinny are now walking friends. Mr Cooper doesn't have as many friends as he should. 

Mr Cooper in a coat

It's as if his eyes say, "Please tell me this isn't going to wind up on the Internet." Poor Mr Cooper. 

Storms a'coming!

As the sun sets, a storm blows in over Mammoth Mountain, completely obliterating it from view. 

WHEEEeeeeEEEE!!!!

Being an adult is overrated.

I scream!

It's bigger than my head!

Manzanar

Manzanar Japanese internment camp. 11,070 Japanese Americans lived here from March 1942 and November 1945. 

Post hiking

Today's hiking crew, post hike. At Convict Lake, CA. Mr Cooper is worn out!

An outdoor adventure

Bloody Mountain reflected in Convict Lake.

Recycle here

"ASS, PLASTIC, ALUMINUM".

What's for dinner?

Homemade cinnamon rolls!

Then & Now

In 5 short months, I no longer recognize my life, or myself.