Thank you!

Yes, just taking the taxi to our lodging (booked a vrbo). I figured it would be safe, but the fearful side of me had to ask. Thanks for your reply!

No, I would not. I had a pretty minor thing last summer, a broken leg requiring surgery. My total bills were 26K for the ER and same day surgery. I ended up paying a little more than 7500, which is my deductible, because the ins. company negotiated the original amounts down to that. When I called the hospital to inquire about why my original ER bill was so high ($5500), they told me not to worry, my ins. co. would negotiate and knock it down. When I asked them if people without insurance would have to pay the whole amount, they said yes. I told them that was crazy! (The ER bill in my opinion was ridiculous. It seemed like alot of double charging to me. I went through it charge by charge with them.) There's only a discount if you pay right away, but it's very small compared to what the discount after insurance negotiation is. The surgery center told me they offered no discount for cash pay and if you didn't have insurance, you would have to pay the full amount. I've known people with MUCH larger medical issues who were very happy to have the insurance once the unexpected happened. Key word being unexpected.

To take a taxi from the airport to downtown at midnight? I'm aware this will be spendy, but I don't know if busses run that late and I don't want to rent a car. The cost of the taxi would be less than the increased cost of airfare if we land before midnight. Thank you!

So very sorry for your loss. Hugs to you.

Well, I'm super close to 50 (about two months away) AND I'm a grandma. It sounds like we dress quite a bit alike. :) I have those same shorts from Old Navy, except 5" inseam and khaki and black, and I just bought a couple tops there. I also wear skinny jeans. Mine are stretchy and very comfy. I wear what I like and what is comfortable. I also look younger than I am. While I don't look like a teenager, I have my 1 and 3 yo grandkids with me all the time, and most people think I'm their mom. All that said, I think women should wear what makes them feel good and what is comfortable. I don't really care how other women dress. I am more interested in who they are. In my opinion, life is too short to live by other people's fashion rules. :)

Thank you SO much for ALL the info! I'm glad to hear we probably won't need a car. I much prefer walking/public transport. I will probably just rent a car for the time(s) we want to go somewhere to hike. And the passport info is good. I do have a passport and the girls have theirs in progress, but the last time I went to Canada, no passport was necessary. Things do change. :) I can always count on the Hive for the best BTDT info!

My baby graduated from homeschool a year ago, so I haven't been active here in quite awhile, but I need info and this is the best place to get it. :) My daughter, her bff, and I are planning a trip to Victoria in August. We will fly to Seattle, spend a couple nights, and then ferry over to Victoria. I just need some suggestions of where to stay and any other BTDT advice. Things we want to do: high tea--where is the best place for this? (Does gluten free high tea exist? Only I am GF, so I can still partake of tea, no matter what.) hiking--any suggestions for good trails not too far from Victoria? Butchart Gardens Craigdarroch Castle girls might want to SUP Provincial Museum Night life suggestions--girls are 18 and 19, nothing super wild though :) I am open to any other suggestions. We aren't shoppers so don't care about that. I would love suggestions regarding good centrally located hotels in a safe area. Is driving there fairly easy? And since I haven't been here in awhile, other than to look something up, an update: I am truly enjoying my post-homeschooling life. I have two older sons and the daughter, who graduated last year. Both of my sons live out of state. My daughter works two jobs and took one college class each semester this school year. She is still trying to decide what she wants to do with her life, but enjoying both jobs in the meantime and working about 50 hours per week. I had many ideas of what I wanted to do after I "retired," but broke three bones in my leg in June 2016. That kinda shut down my plans, as I had to have surgery and wasn't allowed to be weight bearing for three months. I then began the journey of trying to get back in shape. (I was previously very active and a runner.) In the meantime, my son and his wife separated and divorced, she moved back here, and I began watching my grandkids (3yo and 1yo) full time while she works. I volunteered during tax season as a tax preparer and LOVED it! I still do all the bookkeeping for our business. I won't have the grands for 3.5 months this summer (they will be with their dad, my son), so I am going to do another volunteer job at a low income tax clinic that goes year round. I am also contemplating taking some science classes at the local CC beginning this fall. I already have a Bachelor's degree from many, many moons ago, but if I decide I want to get a second, I can go to the university a couple hours away and live with my brother there during the week (don't I have an awesome little bro?). However, I'm pretty committed to helping with my grands when they are here, so university may be a ways off. I'll just take all the CC classes I need first, and then go from there. I was able to take my first ever solo vacation this spring. Just my dog and I headed to the Oregon Coast and hiked and ran in the rain everyday. It was awesome! Well, thank you for any and all advice you can give regarding a trip to Victoria, BC! We have wanted to go for a few years now, and it is finally working out that we will be able to.

Thank you!

My youngest is graduating this year. I want to do a study of physics on my own. I haven't done this in our homeschool, as my two older kids went to the local high school, and I chose not to do physics with my daughter. (We did do a physical science course, but not an actual physics course.) If my self study goes okay, I want to follow up with a community college course. Any recommendations? Thank you!

Ya, if my grandkids' pics weren't on there, I might just deactivate my account.

Pretty sure it wasn't sarcasm. The next sentence in the comment said that public school had benefits, too, which was referring to the opportunity for debate in the classroom.

So I'm really tired tonight and spending too much time on FB. Someone posted a pro-homeschool cartoon and here are a couple of the responses about why you shouldn't homeschool. "But your kids won't be able to share who God made them to be by debating a nonbeliever in front of a classroom of other nonbeliever sand believers of other religions on if God is real. " Nice sentence structure (please note my sarcasm). Plus, I went to public school and I never debated a nonbeliever or believer of another religion in front of the classroom. The best debates I've ever heard have been between homeschoolers. Saxon vs. Singapore, unschooling vs. boxed curriculum, cupcakes vs. no cupcakes, yoga pants vs. denim jumpers... ;) "Plus they have no social skills and suffer college freedom by going to extremes." Okay, I may be dense, but what does it mean to "suffer college freedom?" Maybe I don't know what this means because I was never homeschooled so I never had to suffer college freedom. I want to know what this means! Enlighten me. :) Carry on...

The Ginger Runner has some great films (on Youtube) of trail races he's done. Warning: there is some language in his videos, but the scenery is spectacular!

This has been a fun thread to read! I love running trails, but have never run in an actual trail race. But I'm going to sign up for this one as soon as registration opens. I can't wait! http://www.rainshadowrunning.com/oregon-coast-50k--30k.html

(((Hugs))) abcmommy.

I have no advice, but I wanted to say that I'm glad there are people like you in the world. Thank you for caring for strangers. (((Hugs)))

I LOVE being a grandma! It is the best thing ever! The highlight of our day today was dumpster diving. While driving through the neighborhood yesterday, we saw a big fake tree by someone's trash and I told my dil I was going to go knock on their door and ask if I could have it. She told me that anything by the trash was fair game. I got the toddler all excited by telling her that we were going on a "mission" this morning. I really played up the mission thing. So I loaded the babe on my back (those Tula carriers are AMAZING) and let the toddler pull the wagon. We walked until we got to the plant, loaded it into the wagon, and drug it home. The toddler was so excited to show her daddy our "mission." We also walked to various playgrounds today, and toddler made some "fwens." She is going to be very social, I can tell. Such a fun time this is, but I can honestly say, I'm glad it's my grandma season and my mom season is over. :)

I'm in the same spot you are. I began homeschooling my now 24yo, 19 years ago. My youngest is 18 and will graduate this year. I'm actually looking forward to being done. Of course, I have grandkids now, so my life has taken a new direction. I am still figuring out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. :)

Not thrilled with it either. I actually like a candidate outside the party I typically vote more than inside the party I typically vote, if that makes any sense.

Ya, I usually feel 25, until I look in the mirror and ruin the whole charade. :) (I'm 48.)

I didn't buy, but checked out from the library, Ree's (Pioneer Woman) newest, which is called Dinnertime, I think. I loved everything I made from it. She's not everyone's cup of tea, but I've liked her recipes that I have tried.

I am visiting my son and daughter-in-law for 10 days. They have 2 kids, a 2.5 year old and a 9 month old. I have been doing a lot with the kids to give my dil a break, plus I try to help with housework. I have been amazed that I have so much more energy now, at 48, than I did when I had kids this age. At first I attributed my increased stamina to the fact that I took up running a few years ago. Then after a very full day, as I took the kids to the park until after it got dark, came back home and cleaned up after dinner while wearing a 9 month old on my back and at the same time entertaining the 2 year old (so their parents could watch a movie alone and undisturbed), and then entertaining them both some more, I realized that the reason for my increased stamina is that I no longer have kids this age. :) My point: it does get easier. Blessings my fellow homeschooling mamas who are in the trenches of raising little people.

Stacia, thanks for all the pictures. I loved them!

That's the one! :) Thanks again, Creek!