Zoe, the temporary resident kitty

Here are a few pictures of my daughter's kitten. She stayed here for about a week after her surgeries for declawing and spaying. The cat that is, my daughter still has plenty of claws and isn't fixed.

I wish to make a disclaimer on that bedroom. It is in my house, but my daughter was using it. She cleared off some spots so the kitty could stay there. I did not add the picture of what the kitty did on my comforter that my child took without permission and put on her bed.

They have both moved, and I hope they are happy in their new apartment. I hope they can find the floor.

I also added a picture from the Bellagio in Las Vegas that I think I missed before. It is from the lobby, I believe. There is also one picture from Toronto earlier this week. I took it from between my feet while I was standing on the glass floor at the CN Tower. You can see my problem is not fear of heights. It's just driving on bridges. Bridges in Florida don't bother me, and I can't explain that either.

There will be more Toronto pictures. Some of them need some PhotoShop work, and I haven't put the software on this new computer yet. 

xoxo

Biting off more than you can chew

I am using a bigger font today - is this a good thing or not?

The Wendy's finger thing disgusted me. Not because of anythig Wendy's did. The woman involved obviously didn't think ahead and bit off more than she could chew, so to speak.

Did she not realize that it is probably illegal to transport body parts of cadavers across state lines? I believe there are also laws about possession of cadaver parts? Disposal of body parts? Did she not think that they will have to find out where that finger came from? I, for one, am very curious as to how she got her hands on a finger.

Anyway, I always admired Wendy's chili. I think it is a healthy, low fat, low-priced fast food.

Even though it's very cold and has been snowing here all day, I plan to go to Wendy's and get some chili to show my support for their product.

After that, I will probably need a nap...and I hope to post some pictures today of my daughter's kitten, and maybe my latest trip.

xoxo

Weather forecast

SNOW is predicted here for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

To all of you people who live where it's summer already - do you need company?

The one day it hit 81 degrees here I was in Toronto, where it didn't even get to 70, although it was really nice out that day.

Pictures still to come once I get my energy back!

Hey, riding on a train is hard work. Why isn't it called riding IN a train? I wasn't sitting on top of the roof.

xoxo

Pizza and a smoke

I don't seem to have time enough to post pictures while I am here. I am having a lot of fun, though. I have seen a sign repeatedly that I think bears repeating:

"You wouldn't eat second-hand pizza. Why would you want to inhale second hand cigarettes?"

It's a great sign to read while you are on your way to a meal~!

I did go up the CN Tower and did get the hot rush I expected from the view and especially from the glass floor.

The part that surprised me when was I first went to step on the glass floor, 1400+ feet above ground. I felt a second of vertigo, like I wanted something to hold on to or I would lose my balance. I guess we just aren't used to seeing anything beneath our feet? I saw other people with the same reaction. Unless theirs was fear, lol. So I just closed my eyes and took a couple of steps and then looked down. It was incredible!

I did take pictures, but the morning was still a little hazy, so we will see how they turn out. Some should be decent. The glass floor was a little scratchy, so I am not sure how the pictures I took between my feet came out.

Tomorrow afternoon I will be home after the train ride. I enjoyed the train and I look forward to the return ride. I felt safer on the train than I do in a car or a plane. Who knew?

But for now, I walk. Double digits every day since I got here, and I am about to go rack up maybe 15 miles for today. A girl needs a goal, right?

xoxo

from ARMAND

  JOURNAL FRIENDS,   Please post my letter (below) exactly as I have written it - into your journals.  AOL "Service" has gone beyond the point of ludicrous .. LUDICROUS .. and until they give a flying-rip about their customers, this will only get worse.  If the wheel doesn't squeak now, AOL will have no incentive to solve the problems they are creating for the people who pay their bills.   Also, please forward this to other journalers.  I just don't have time to run through old comments to grab-up screen names as I try to get my journal back on line.  I did NOT take it down.  Apparently, AOL has done this over a supposed TOS violation.   I guess beach pictures from Cabo are questionable by TOS standards.   Thank you,   Armand
_________________ EDITORS(s),   I can no longer reach my primary journal at http://journals.aol.com/armandt/sense. I returned from vacation to find out that there was an apparent attempt to up-load improper files to my ftp space.  I loaded cute beach and bird pictures, not TOS violation trash.   My screen name was locked.  When this was corrected, I could no longer reach my primary journal; however, I can reach my other journals.   Attempting to deal with the Community Action Team is extremely .. EXTREMELY .. difficult.  Several .. SEVERAL .. times, I have to repeat .. REPEAT .. what I had already stated in very clear and uncertain terms.    I simply want my main journal put back where it was and with all of my past journals as they were - and I don't want to be transferred to 17 more people who have to struggle .. STRUGGLE .. through their communication skills to accomplish a simple task.   As I stated in my journal while I was featured at the top of your list, I would be more than willing .. MORE THAN WILLING .. to pay extra for every single call where I can speak to someone who understands English.   I am having to spell, re-spell, and re-spell, and re-spell my journal name - screen name and URL to people who continually "re-assure" me that they are going to help me... and that I should worry about anything.   This is ridiculous.  RIDICULOUS.   What do I need to do to get my journal back?   Please, oh please, oh PLEASE give me a phone number where I can speak with anyone .. ANYONE .. at AOL who speaks English and is capable of solving problems.   Regards,   Armand

Going to Do It

I tried to go up the CN Tower in Toronto;honest, I tried it yet again. This time it was too close to dark and I want to go up it in the sunlight. Tomorrow morning. Early, after my on-the-road donut. I will go up, and I will take pics.

No strip search. Sarnia, the border town on the Canadian side, has the teensiest little train station. The train ride to Toronto was most excellent except for the long delay and sudden stop in the middle of the fields - nothing in sight, and we suddenly stopped and didn't move for a long time. Something about a "hot box."

I got to Toronto about 45 minutes late, but it did not matter. I still got here first.

So all is well, and I will go up that damn tower and will stand on the glass floor and take pictures to post tomorrow.

That is my story and I am sticking to it.

BTW, Toronto seems to have an over abundance of street people. They are sleeping on the streets, doorways, and sidewalks. I have had to step over many of them. I am not sure what this is all about.

There are a lot of beggars in Toronto. In general, Toronto is a very clean and safe city. Just watch where you walk or you will step on a drunken man who is drooling in his sleep.

Ewww.

FYI, Canadian beer is stronger than American beer. I sacrificed myself and field tested it earlier this evening.

Twice.

I am not on the street and I am not drooling.

Yet.

xoxo

Diet soda

In my luggage will be at least a 6-pack of diet soda, specifically diet Vernor's. (After that, I will have to depend on diet Coke or Pepsi.) It's a local drink, or at least used to be. It's ginger and vanilla flavored. I live on it. The Vampire told me today to give it up and drink water. At least he didn't tell me to drink blood. Whew.

I only take a small pilot bag and a small backpack. They do get a little heavy with enough clothes for several days, several pairs of shoes, several books, and a few manuals. I have to take a manual for my new phone so I can learn to use it, one for the new computer so I can post new pictures, one for my camera so I can try to use it correctly finally, and I am going to download PhotoShop on the new computer while I am there and read that manual, too.

I sincerely hope I can do what I did on my first trip to Toronto last July. I left 5 pounds behind. Body weight, not luggage, lol. Just good old body clutter that I was tired of dragging around with me.

Christine and I are leaving early for the train in case of being strip searched at the Canadian border after crossing The Bridge. A girl can have hopes, right?

xoxo

Arrroooo!!!!

This time of year my beagles want to go out every five minutes and howl at either the rottie who lives behind us or some wildlife. The squirrels are out, the 'possums, the rabbits. Billions of rabbits. These are rabbit dogs. I hope my neighbors understand that I can only get to the door so fast with Cheerios in my hand to bribe them in. Beagles are not obedient when they smell rabbits, but they do love food.

The Gateway is now wireless. Apparently it takes a tech call and a very patient man in Bombay. I understood some of what he said, and we got it working and encrypted too. I am wireless again, sitting in my recliner chair, feet up, typing and reading entries. It's nice to have the speed back. Dial up, well, it sucks.

The 3 am ride to the train station in Canada should be a blast. I will have some beer first so I can sit quietly in the car. I am very grateful that my friend is taking me. It takes a major load off my fear center. I guess I need to get a map and figure out where the train station is before we leave.

The Vampire will be here tomorrow to give me a massage. It seems almost a decadent indulgence to have a massage therapist come to my house, but I imagine after he leaves I will be doing a deca-dance, since he does relieve the pains in my muscles. The student I had first after him sort of touched my skin and wiggled her fingers. I need deep tissue massage. My skin is just fine, thanks.

I wish I could think of a polite excuse to take a picture of the Vampire, but I can't think of one, lol.

 

 

Early dancing

The Gateway is sitting on the floor, waiting for another go-round on getting it to go wireless. I remember having trouble when I did it with this Dell, but this time I should know what I am doing. I thought I had it last night, then I lost it. Not sure what is going on, but I will figure it out. I am, if nothing else, tenacious.

So I continue to deal with two computers, dial-up on one, and wired cable on the other. The cable one requires me to sit in my office on a hard, wooden chair, so that doesn't last long. I have a nice office chair in the garage. Anyone want to drag it through the house and up the stairs for me? It has been sitting there for a year. I could probably do that, but with the wireless I just didn't bother.

Since I will be leaving my house in a few days for a trip, I am doing the usual pre-travel freak dance steps. I seem to have gone into ADD mode a little early this time. It's really pitiful. I went to the pet food store and bought two 40-lb bags of Science Diet for the dogs and a 20-lb bag of Science for the cat. Since she is 17, it might be a bit optimistic, but hey, Wiz looks good for an old fart. She is such a good kitty.

After lifting those bags into the cart, then into my car, then dragging them out of the car, I think I will cancel the massage school appointment for tomorrow and call the vampire to come do me. He really did eliminate the pain in my body, and it's all back again. Who wants to get on a bouncy, flappy train to do a Shake-and-Bake routine for 5 hours or so while already sore?

When I got home from the pet food store it was time for the dog's 6 pm milk bones. I went to the garage to the 20-lb box and found two baby mice in the box. They weren't there last night. They looked extremely terrified. I tipped the box over and let them out. Now I need to make another trip to the pet food store for fresh milk bones, untouched by mice paws.

Oh, the phone issue. Well. I ended up with T-Mobile, because they are the cheapest in town, plus they gave me a free phone. It has a camera, video, all the cute little toys, and it is about half the size of the Nextel phone. Nextel is not happy with me. However, I decided to stick with Nextel for a week more because calls within Canada and home from Canada are 20 cents a minute with Nextel. They are 70 cents a minute with T-Mobile. I have a vague fear that I should have just bought the expensive new phone from Nextel and stayed with them. I have never had a problem with service with Nextel. No problem in airports, basements, elevators, malls, any place at all. But the T-Mobile phone is so cute - I was hooked. I also have internet on it. I have it on Nextel now too.

I have to send in a million papers plus official transcripts if I want to be considered for doing Protective Services again. I didn't even mention to the HR woman that the job I had, the same damn job, required a master's degree at my classification. Go figure. Does she think I lost my degree in the last 2 years?

Gateway to the future

I have a new Gateway, so I am trying a new font to go with it.

This ink is blue because I am not sure I am happy with this computer yet. It's nice and small, lightweight. But it's easy to whack the fn key instead of shift, and that leads to all kinds of mischief.

No decision made yet on the phone issues.

My new walking partner, Christine, is the mother of my daughter's best friend from middle school. Christine has two full time jobs. She likes to be busy. Personally, I make a great slug. But she had rotator cuff surgery and is off work for a few months. My daughter told her that I walk often, and she volunteered to walk with me. So we have walked often the last few months while she recovers. She is doing great. She found that she loves to walk. We sometimes go every day, 5-7 miles. I also walk the dogs 3 miles a day now outside because the weather has been wonderful.

Yesterday Christine and I were walking and I was again lamenting The Bridge I have to go over. It's an hour drive from here. She said she would drive me to the train station in Canada. I reminded her that I have to leave at 3 am. She still is willing to do it.

I am dumbfounded. She offered to drive me to the airport when I went to Montreal, and that floored me. I am not an easy person to shock! I am so grateful. I can have a couple drinks, lie back in the car and not look, and just relax for an hour. It sounds wonderful.

Lots of thoughts for the thought salad today! I also heard last night, and I need the particulars for this, that I could go back to work as a CPS worker and also keep my pension. While I was glad to get away from that job, the combined incomes, plus just half of what George kicks butt and sends me statements on, would put me easily in the six figure range. I could live on that. I could have bought a better computer, too.....

xoxo

Changes

Red ink today for *seeing red.* I have had to use dial up for a week due to my cable service not working on my computer. I think it's a Dell issue, as usual, since I called the cable company today and their equipment tested fine. They told me my computer is not recognizing the ethernet connection.

I think that is a way of saying that my computer's wireless card isn't working any more. Everything froze on the computer when I put the card in, and I couldn't even get through start up. But I can use dial up.

I do not like calling Dell.

I had noticed that my cable internet speed was getting slower, but figured I needed to delete some old emails. I didn't connect it to any issues. When I read in the paper that the cable company had doubled the speed, a faint bell went off that something might be going wrong.

This may mean a new computer for me. My daughter will be happy, since I will give her this one and she can figure out how to use dial up with only a cell phone in her apartment.

Segueing into cell phones, mine is about dead. I don't seem to get calls in, just messages. I have Nextel, and they seem to cater to businesses. I am willing to change carriers and get a new phone, I just don't know who to use. Anyone happy/unhappy with their service? Want to give me some suggestions?

When I called the cable company today, the tech asked me if I have dial up service with AOL. I had already told her I was using dial up right now, so that question confused me. I started to say "yes," then I said "OH NO!" when I remembered that I am set up with AOL for cable service, and very limited free dial up time.

So I had to go back online and IM with billing for AOL. I was upset when I saw my current bill, it's very high, and my own fault. So I asked her to change me to unlimited phone time, and asked her to make it retroactive.

She said it was retroactive. I don't think she knows what the word means, to tell the truth, so I asked her how I could copy the IM. She gave me incomplete directions, omitting the first step. So she immediately sent meto tech support, which canceled my IM with her. While I waited for tech support to get set up, I figured out how to copy the IM.

So I am stuck with the bill, since I can't prove that she said it was retroactive.

I am going to go foraging for a computer. Wish me luck.

 

Happy *belated* Anniversary

Happy *belated* Anniversary to me. I have been on the Journals for a year since March 3, but I forgot.

The title of my journal is rather apt, isn't it?

xoxo

Interview by Mon

My interview done by Monica:  

1  Why did you take early retirement, would you do it all over again if you had to do it over?  

 I was working for the state of Michigan as a Children's Protective Services Specialist. That means I investigated allegations of child abuse/neglect. I worked on average over 50 hours a week, often 60. These were not normal hours, they included a lot of overtime and on call hours. I often had to run out in the middle of the night and still be at my desk at 8 am. I had dated a man I worked with and it ended rather unpleasantly. We were on the same staff. I had been in social work with the state for 27 years, and I fully expected to work at least another 10 if not 15 years. Then the state offered one of the early-out retirement programs and I qualified for it. I went over my budget, decided I could swing it. I went over my mental state, decided I had to swing it. Unlike working for the Big Three auto companies, I was not given money to leave. I paid the state $25,000 to buy extra years of seniority towards retirement so my pension checks would be higher. I have a pension and excellent medial coverage for life.

Most things I do are geared towards 'later,' so I am comfortable with my decision and do not regret it. They could offer to double back the cash I gave them and I would not return. I was good at what I did, but taking children away from their parents and spending a lot of time in court as a result eventually erodes a person.  

2  What qualities are you looking for in a partner?  

I have certainly learned the qualities I don't want! Hm. I am lookingfor someone who is kind, patient, and gentle. I can't deal with protracted silences from someone who can't communicate. I can't deal with misplaced anger. Since I am someone who plans ahead and is very much into function, I could use some balance with a partner who has a touch of impetuosity and form. He would need to be in good physical shape or be willing to get there. The poor man would have to accept my daughter and her peccadilloes also. Someone who is faithful by nature and wants a strong love forever would rock my boat. Hopefully he loves to travel and would consider moving to a warmer climate with me. I do believe that any two people who really want to be a couple can, if they try.

3.  What destinations would you like to travel to and why?  

I always say I would go any where once, lol, I love to travel but I am not really a good tourist. I don't need to see a lot of tourist attractions. I like to go new places and walk around, just enjoy the sights and the sounds. I hope some day to get to Europe and Asia, perhaps Australia. England, Ireland, Scotland, see where my families are from. Hawaii, Alaska. I want to go to the Pacific Northwest, and had thought I was going in a few weeks. Maybe later! I love cruises, love Las Vegas, love Florida. I have wandering feet, but then I like to come home :)  

4.  What is the one thing you hope your daughter learned from you and do you think she has?  

My daughter has learned from me something I wasn't taught as a child, and that is to be happy. We have some rules at home, one being never leave a job until you have a job, and she learned that one very well. For all her irresponsibleness, she has worked steady since she was 15. But she throws herself into life and embraces it with a joy I can only watch with wonder.  

5.  What did you accomplish today?  

Uhm, it's early, I haven't been up long. I fed the dogs, took my weekly Fosamax, and am answering email with my 17-year-old cat lying across my arms while I type. She will have to move soon or I will really ache, but she loves me, lol. I may go to a movie today. I haven't been to one in a long time and I used to go at least once a week. I will probably do some yardwork, the bane of my existence.  

So - if you wish to be interviewed by me, leave me a comment stating "interview me." I will do the first five. 

Need a Wishing Star

I talked to my friend Cindy, the one who comes now and then for jammie parties. We had much to catch up on, since I went to Montreal and she went to Florida. I told her I am planning a trip to Toronto late next week.

She was all excited. She lives in the country, between me and the bridge. She offered for me to spend the night there, although I could not get it through her head that I won't be sleeping that night. She tried to encourage me to stay there by telling me I would not have to get up so early. I said I don't have to worry about getting up early, since I won't be going to bed. She sleeps 9 hours a night, so she can't comprehend the concept.

If she goes another step and offers to drive me over the bridge, I am so staying at her house. She has the most adorable puppy that she and her husband got for their son. This dog and I bonded, and I miss her.

I just don't know if the child will stay here an extra night to watch the beagles. The girls just don't sleep alone. Molly would prepare her own breakfast if I tried anything like that, and it might include something like stair railing followed by a chair leg, with some Tupperware as dessert.

Sadly, I don't see Cindy getting up at 3 or 4 am to drive me any place. She really does need her sleep. I honestly don't see anyone getting up that early to drive me over a bridge. Besides, having my cold, stiff fingers pried off of the armrest of a car could be embarrassing, you know?

Odd thoughts

Where did I leave off? The child is still in the process of moving, which seems to be taking way too long. I would pack up some stuff in bags for her, but she already stole most of my bags.

The temperature went up to 78 degrees one day this week, and tonight's low is 34. It has been a typical spring ride, weather-wise. I just hope Mother Nature soon remembers how to make warmth in this part of the country. We get so little of it, so she doesn't get enough practice.

The computer is still ill. The child left me in a rotten mood about the time it broke, so I knew calling Dell and the cable company would not happen right away. I needed to be able to be civil to get what I need done. Then it got hot out, and I was too happy to call. Now I just need to do it.

I need it fixed so I can take it with me to Toronto and post daily pictures of my travels there, assuming I survive the bridge and the train. I have no fear of the train, other than being shaken to death, lol. I will be up all night before I go, so hopefully I will sleep on the train anyway.

Everyone seems to love WalMart so I made my first foray into one last night. I won't be rushing back there again. I felt like I was in a building full of four-year-olds at recess who have no concept of personal space. I never saw so many people who just had to be glued to their phones while talking at the top of their lungs. Kids were screaming and running all over, bashing into everyone else. No thanks. I will stick to my nice, quiet upscale mall with occasional visits to outlet stores and maybe Target. The local dollar stores should fill in the rest of my needs. Home Depot is much more pleasant than WalMart. I know, because I have spent hours in there getting supplies for home projects.

I hope everyone has a good weekend! Lots of yardwork to do, spring cleaning, walks with the pets and family, wardrobe changeover (you know, some of us have to have seasonal wardrobes, not just 'hot' and 'warm'). I know most of you have your flowers already in bloom, but I am still watching my forsythia. It might bloom one of these days soon, and then the lilacs will open, sending their lovely scent through the neighborhood. Then maybe I will stop bitching about the weather!

Choo Choo!

I decided on the train for my trip this time. I am also going to take the Bad Bridge route and work on my fear. The return time home is better, the price is much better, and the parking is free. It will actually cost me less to take the train than to drive and park my car at the hotel.

I am hoping someone will be willing to talk to me on the phone (hands free, of course) while I go over the bridge. It will be about 4 am EDT. Anyone up at that time? Any offers?

 

 

Another kind of freeze

My daughter and Molly, the beagle-goat, have been trying to one-up each other to see which can ruin more of my things faster and drive me crazy.

Last night I was online late, IMing. Suddenly my computer totally froze. It was completely dead. I tried to restart, but it wouldn't even go through the restart process.

This morning I tried again. I almost restarted in safe mode and did a restore, but it froze again. I spent much time and wasted a lot of special magic words and gestures.

Eventually I found that when my wireless card was in, it froze. I also found that I could not get the cable to work when hooked directly into the computer.

Alrighty then. I am on dialup. I had noticed that my speed was down, but didn't attribute it to anything. I read in the newspaper that my cable company recently doubled the speed. Hm. I am not finding dialup to be much slower that what I was dealing with recently.

I do find that leaving comments is sometimes not happening. I do time out there once in a while, so do not be shocked if I normally leave you comments and suddenly you aren't getting any. I am reading as always.

Perhaps this is a Dell issue. I still need to call them yet again about the CD reader/writer I paid for 2 years ago. So far I have had two different readers only. Sigh. I have heard they excel at the bait-and-switch. I may go to law school just so I can get Dell after I graduate.

In the meantime, now it's the computer, the dog, and the child. Three makes a conspiracy, right?

Erosion

They are wearing me down. I think of myself as a strong person, but I feel like I am being sandblasted. I am used to a nice, quiet, peaceful life now. After a quarter century as a social worker and spending years mostly in court and removing people's children from unsafe homes, I deserve some peace and quiet.

It's not just the child. She does her share, though. Yesterday she stole my perfume, curling iron, and tried to run off with my razor and some underwear. (!!) Her kitten is still here, and I have become the primary provider for it, of course.

I found out today what the kitten is using for kitty litter. It seems my daughter took my comforter that I had to wash after Molly had an accident on it. It was drying on the stair railing. Child put it on her bed. Kitten pooped on it. Poop is still there. Child didn't come home last night. Neither did my curling iron or my perfume. Who knows what else is gone.

There is no laundry detergent, bleach, or kleenex in the house. I won't be buying any until I live alone again, either. This is not a full-service hotel for adult children. I also miss all of my grocery paper bags, which I use for recycling newspapers.

Molly, the older beagle, is apparently concerned that child has become the bigger thorn in my side, so she had to one-up her last night. I was gone about three hours. It seems I left some things too close to the edge of the counter.

We know Molly prepares her own meals if I am not here at the right time. She had not, however, missed any meals or snacks. It seems that I had a small candy from Winnipeg in the bottom of my Prada purse, which I kept as a souvenir. It made me smile to see it.

I did not smile when I saw the wrapper on the carpet upstairs. I did not smile when I saw that she also chewed a hole in the lining of the purse, and chewed up a new container of makeup and permanently stained the side of the Prada with it. There was also a new tube of gloss in the purse. I got most of the pieces up.

Not content with ruining a Prada, she also managed to reach one of my Coach wallets.

One Prada and one Coach, garbage, in one fell swoop. Molly had a full hour time out.

Do you think I can lock the child in the laundry room for an hour?

Bridges

Anyone who has been reading me for a while knows my fear of bridges. It's a serious fear with me. When I get on a bridge and I am driving, I have control of the car but feel like I don't or that I will lose control of it. It seems silly when I am not on the bridges. I mean, after all, all I have to do is drive in a straight line, right? So the line goes up and then down. I have driven on hills before.

I am planning to take the train into Canada. I can drive south through Detroit, take the tunnel under the Detroit River, and pick up the train in Windsor. Or I can drive northeast through Port Huron, over the river to Sarnia via the BlueWater bridge again. I did it twice last summer. It ruined my drive to Toronto both times. I was a wreck. I am shaking now just thinking about it.

It's not a fear of heights. I am looking forward to going up the CN Tower and standing on the glass floor. In fact, I think I would enjoy the adrenalin rush from that. I want to do it. I am not afraid of elevators, although I prefer escalators. I have always wanted to sky dive. Just not off a bridge, OK?

The train from Windsor is more expensive than the one from Sarnia. There is a big charge for parking at Windsor, but parking in Sarnia is free. The area is safer going to Sarnia, and I don't mind the fact that it is about a 45 minute longer drive. There is just that bridge. The time coming home to Sarnia is more convenient than the Windsor train.

Do I do the bridge and hope that my fears subside a bit since it will be my third time over it? Is it possible to get over fears like this?

Flying, while much more expensive, is starting to look good....although I really do want to do the train this time. I am not afraid of the tunnel, although maybe I should be. It's narrow and it leaks.