Return to Winter

January 18 arrived - nothing we could do to stop it!

The drive back to San Jose was simple – left at 6:40 am - a few slow point with vehicles, but made it to Avis in 3 hours 20 minutes and were through customs by just after 11.

Apparently American Airlines doesn't have a business class lounge in San Jose so we found a couple seats in the corner and read and internetted etc.

Flights were fine – both arriving early – but Miami airport - - OMG!

They weren't clear on where to send us for passport clearance – US citizens here and everyone else there (a line that had 3,000 people snaking in a room and another 3,000 in a line down the hall) – 3 minutes later – US and Canadian Passports here and everyone else in the long line.  So out we come for the line of hell and into an area with electronic kiosks – through in 10 minutes – then baggage – not a problem but really slow (ours were first out but almost 40 minute wait.

Now to the customs line – 2 exits with 4 customs officials each and about 10,000 people – the lines we so long that the ends of both lines (from opposite ends of the hall) merged in the middle and there were almost fists thrown as people jockey’d to move in one direction or the other - - an hour to get through that!!  We landed at 5:20 and finished with customs at 7:20 – lots of time for the next flight but 2 hours of my life I will never get back! No fun at all.

Walked in the door in Toronto at 1 am - - a very long day

Cats are happy and seem well cared for - - very interested in some petting and purring

So for the winter issues - Just as we were leaving Miami James texted – he was at the house – the outdoor faucet in the backyard had burst and was spraying water – the neighbour noticed it and called him – he came and turned off the inside valve – some water in the basement and next door’s as well, but apparently no real damage - - - such fun!!

Then - Polar Vortex 2.0 - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - high of -22 to -17 before windchill. Experiencing a 55C shift in temperature in 2 days is no fun!!

Today and tomorrow - we are supposed to get snow

Miss paradise already - 34 days is very attractive!