Happy Birthday, Dana!!

Hope you're having a great day with lots of cool presents and a yummy cake!
Love, your California Family

Pregnant and lovin it!!?

Will you just LOOK at that belly!!! Thats what eight months looks like!

Pictures for Mitch!

Mitch made
a comment
about sweat
dripping off
his face for the above 30 temps, well how does minus 30 grab ya?!!!

Our first brush with fame! Sort of.

Mitch is always the one with political 'sightings', but finally we had one of our own.

We had our first ever celebrity/tv personality in the store on Sunday! Jay Ingram from such radio shows as CBC's Quirks and Quarks and Discovery Channel's Daily Planet. I made him a mocha and he got a strawberry and white chocolate scone to go.

I played it very cool and didn't gush, but I'm wishing I'd asked what he was doing in the area. Watch Daily Planet for something that happens in our area, I guess! Maybe something in SE British Columbia?

Mitch's Argentina Adventure 2006

Hi kids! Here's a link for you to follow along while I journey around Argentina starting next Thursday. I may update here but I will definitely update there. I've decided to take along my pda so I should have everyone's addresses for the purpose of postcard distribution.

Mitch's Argentina Adventure 2006

A little before and after for you

Life after the wall came down!

This was the Friday night before we opened on Saturday! It was such a major relief to finally be donw and ready to be open! All the renos took us 11 days..... thats it! We still have a few small things to fix and work out! But all is well and were running smooth!

The wall must come down!!

This was the first thing that had to go! They had this in place to give it a more dark evening experience and to inhibit the sun from shining through! In these shots you can see that the floor is also being ripped out. In the first 4 hours we had the floor gone, the wall was removed and the bar in the last shot was cut in half! Amazing!!

Underbird? I Think Not!

A cheap imitation.

Operation Christmas Child

Paul Brandt will be in Lethbridge tomorrow with a semi picking up shoeboxes of toys and things for third world countries so we will be there with four boxes. I have to get up town today to finish filling these.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

We celebrated by going to the Italian Heritage Day parade in San Francisco this morning. The band was marching, and the rest of the family watched from Fisherman's Wharf. It was really nice out-- sunny and warm, so Andrew and I were definitely cooked by the end!

Mitch loves tattoos

Will you just look at the size of that TATTOO!!!

how many months is she?

This is what five months looks like!
More than halfway there!

Steve's latest injury!

What do you think happened to me? Was it.....
A: A vicious attack by a herd of marauding squirrels?
B: A valiant defence against an angry and protective mother cougar?
C: A valiant defense against a crazed pregnant wife?
D: A run in with a low lying tree on my dirt bike?

Marked for Easy Identification

Last Saturday morning Elke and I went to the local tattoo shop and got ourselves some new body art. Don't be fooled by anyone who says it doesn't hurt (ok, so I'm a big baby when it comes to people jabbing me dozens and dozens of times with sharp implements) but I think it'll look pretty damned nice once it stops oozing and flaking. The photos are a blurry shot taken by a co-worker and a closer shot taken by me. It's on my right leg, just behind and below my knee. Oh, and say hello to Elke. :)

This post is for mom!

These guys were at around 1400 metres. When we got close the first time they thought this place was getting too crowded so they hid behind the rocks until we were out of sight. They were back to the same place again on the way down!
Crazy critters!

And what did you do today?!!

Today.... I climbed Crowsnest Mountain!! The guy i did it with was a 56 year old man, a good customer and a great Friend! After climbing to a hieght of 2785 meters, i have nameed him the "Old Goat"!! This was actually aour second attempt at the summit. The first try, Reg, got a little virtigo once we got out onto some of the more exposed out croppings of rock! This time was better, the weather was a little cooler which made climbing alot easier. This "hike" is not for the faint of heart or fearful of heights! This was more like mountaineering! The hike round trip took us around 5 and a half hours. Was a great was to spend my day off!!

Words to Live By

REALLY GREAT SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS

1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and, presto, the blockage will be almost instantly removed.

2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.

3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs.about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins.

Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.

7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget all about the toothache.

8. Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only need two tools - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

9. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

10. NEVER PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!

Thoughts for the day:

If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You get another chance.

Be really nice to your family and friends; you never know when you might need them to empty your bedpan.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT, THEY STILL BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.

AND THEY'RE OFF!!!!

So thats what 440 racers looks like at 8 in the morning! This was the start of the toughest stage of the race. 107 km's from Crowsnest Pass to Elkford! Check out www.transrockies.com for full stories about each stage with a few extra shots thrown in for good measure!

Postcards

One of the items in the 'Goodie Bags' was a postcard for the rider to fill in and 'post' in a box Jessica made for the occasion with the words in different languages for mail decorating the sides. The local TransRockies committee here will cover the mailing for the entrants.
There were 46 cards 'mailed' in the box. , about 10%. Some bags were just left on some of the picnic tables so the people didn't even look in the bags. I would have thought they'd have kept the card as a memento because it wouldn't take up much room in their gear. Jessica bought only scenic cards...no cutsie bears or birdies.

I sorted the cards this a.m. They will go to New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Scotland, Wales, England, Italy, USA and Canada.

I read quite a few comments (how unethical of me!!):
-just finished Day 2 and although the views are lovely, we're both already very tired and sore
-hot day 30C ...62nd place....
-really hot, racing hard, we're in 4th place but still five days to go
- scenery is spectacular but too tired to look at it
- great food and people
-Dear Mom,
don't see much but rear ends in front of us
-finished 19th out of 87 men's teams
-saw the biggest truck in the world
-crossed the continental divide. What a feeling. We could see east for what seemed like hundreds of miles. Sure is a lot of ups and downs in this race. More than we expected.
-I can't wait to get home even though I'm having fun. You should go clean your room now.

Jessica called up stairs to see if I was there and said Jackie was waiting to take the cards to the post office so I didn't get to read any more.

There were a number of mixed pairs as well as a number of pairs of women in the Challenge. I forget how many countries were represented. I heard the commentator say someone from Ireland had just crossed the finish line. He didn't tell where the riders were from very often. Too bad. That would have been interesting.

TransRockies Challenge

Was this ever a busy time here! Nickie wasn't going to be coming in to work so I went over to help the kids. She changed her mind and came in after all so I didn't stay too long. I took Mook and we went out to watch the action of riders in teams of two, coming across the finish line which was set up on the pavement by the gazebo. The street was closed to traffic from 6a.m. monday until about 9:30a.m. today so the TransRockies organizers with the group could set up the archway and the banners, etc they move from location to location.
Riders had left Sparwood at 8a.m. and began crossing the finish line here about 12:15. The first two in were Pass guys so that thrilled everyone watching (which wasn't a lot of people. Where was everyone this holiday weekend???).
It was about 30 degrees C so we found a shady corner over on 17 Avenue where one of the local committee was directing traffic to be sure nobody was obstructing the riders when they came in sight. Mook and I watched from there for some time but we needed our afternoon snooze so we ambled on down to 13430 19 Avenue and joined the man and dog in residence for 40 winks.
About 3:15 we went back, expecting the most of the group would have checked in or were close to it. Not so!! Not even half had arrived by then. There were 220 teams altogether.
Earlier, I'd seen two women standing on the street in the hot sun, ringing cowbells as soon as they saw a team approaching the main drag from the south. They'd jump up and down and scream out a welcome and yell,"Good job!! " and that sort of thing. When I came back later in the afternoon, they were still doing their cowbell ringing bit and hollering encouragement to the riders but some kind soul had provided them with an umbrella canopy even though they'd be out from under it when they were greeting the racers as they rounded the corner onto 20 Avenue.
I took Mook home about 4:30 and went back to a shady spot under a tree where I could clap for each team. They were filthy with sweating and the dusty trails because it's been no rain here for so very long.
They left that morning at 8 a.m. and the rule is they must cross the finish line by 6 p.m. or they are disqualified and that ends the race for them....they just go on home. I stayed until almost 7 pm. and there were still 12 teams on the trail. A motorcycle escort brings up the rear so nobody is forgotten or abandoned if their bike is crippled or they are hurt. The dad of one of the riders told me they are a little flexible and will extend the time if the course is extra difficult or it's very hot, etc.
After they crossed the finish line, the commentator directed them to where there was set up fruit, juice, water, etc. Then they went back past where I was to get to 'Tent City" so I asked a few where home was....Calgary, Bragg Creek, England, Ireland, Grand Prairie. One guy who went by with two bikes said his partner was on his way to the hospital with what was thought to be a broken collar bone. There were flat tires and other mishaps.
Jessica said the campers, tents and motor homes parked in the spaces where the Rum Runner same vehicles were parked looked like Rum Runner days all over again.
This morning at 8 a.m. they were all lined up at the starting (finish line) gate and off they went. They rode east for two blocks so went right past the Stone's Throw. That was impressive....seeing 440 riders streaming past. Quite a few locals were out to cheer them on. This is the longest leg of the trip, Day 3, from here to Elkford. Yesterday's trip would have been about 1/2 an hour by car by highway. so you can feel for thos poor riders who were on the trail for 11 hours and more. They have two check points where they are fed and watered and have power bars in their backpacks.
This is getting tooooo long!! I'll let Steve put some pics on the blog!!

Happy Birthday, Laura!

Hey, kiddo!! You're chasing those teen years!! I suppose you have a bunch of friends celebrating with you. Are you saving a piece of cake for Andrew when he gets home from camp?
I was just thinking about what to write next and up on the screen came a picture of you with your painted chair. Very timely! I'm going down to the art gallery to see if any more have been brought in. The Communities in Bloom judges were there yesterday. The chairs were all in the front entry when I was there last so they'd see them as soon as they went in. I'll bet they were impressed!! Happy Birthday, Kiddo!!

Baby shots reworked a little!

I am probably the happiest i've ever been right now! Jess is just starting to get a little belly and I love it! I can hardly wait! The last two pic's i posted are waaayy better, easier to see it's spooky little face!

just seeing it what i did made a differance

First Pic's of our new little one!!

If you can see them in this format, heres the baby!! We went to Lethbridge yesterday for the ultrasound. Pretty cool to see it moving around in there, snug as a bug in a rug!
I will try to photoshop these to make these single shots and maybe a bit larger! Crazy! I'm going to be a DAD!!

One Passport in the Bag!

My passport arrived today, talk about a speedy turn around!

The Governor General's Foot Guards

I was on my way yesterday to the passport office when just before Parliament Hill on Wellington Street the bus was blocked by the daily parade to the changing of the guard on the Hill. The bus driver let us all off in the middle of the intersection and I managed to get a batch of photographs of the soldiers marching up the street. Oh, and I submitted my passport application too (ready by August 1st). They've become very efficient.

A nice day off at Chinook Lake

What a perfect way to spend a day off! We walked around Chinook Lake and had a nice little lunch by the water.

More faces in food!

Jessica thought this little guy looked just like....
"WILSON" form "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks!
But really, it's just a slice of swiss cheese!!!

Rum Runner Days

We survived the weekend!!! Poor Steve was sick as a dog during the night Friday night (wee hours of Saturday, actually) so Jessica and Nickie carried the day. I honestly don't know how. I worked the dishwasher and did some background tasks (I can't make sandwiches like Steve !!) . The weather was absolutely perfect and the weekend was advertised on the local radio, Cat Country, and on the CBC, someone told me. I guess people wanted to escape the Calgary Stampede and came down here.
By the time Thunder in the Valley started, Steve and Jessica were in bed and only heard the very beginning and the very last blast.
I thought we'd be sleeping by then, too, but CoCo was absolutely terrified. It began with Dave and his drinking buddies setting off fireworks that give a whistling sound and then a big boom at the end. They were setting them off about 7 pm. behind his house. Idiots! We were going to keep Mook (Dad kept her over here all day so nobody ocver there would need to walk her) but then we thought she might be more secure in her own surroundings so I took her home about 7:30. She actually had little or no reaction to any of the noise, they said.
Then I walked on down for the mail. We were going to walk both dogs over to the Stone's Throw but as I was getting my Book Crossing books into a bag, Dad was waiting at the corner of the house with both dogs on their leashes and Dave & company set off two more firecrackers....CoCo bolted for the door at the first one and into the kitchen at the second one so he stayed home with her.
When I got home, Dad said she'd jumped up on his knee twice and crowded right close to him in between times! She was terrified...shaking and pacing and when I came in, shadowed my every move. After we went to bed, she jumped up and got right in between us curled up by my head and shoulder and every time they set off another, she popped up. We thought when Thunder in the Valley was done about 11:30, everyone would just have their drinking parties and only be yelling, fighting, etc but the idiots had more fireworks of their own to set off and did. I don't know when it ended but it wasn't soon enough for us.
Dad said there were more people around than last year. He found a $10 bill on one dog walk, a $5 on another and a $2 coin. I found a total of 80 cents penny by penny, a couple of quarters, dimes and a nickel. Big deal!!
There was just a continual parade of people walking up and down the street which began early. We thought there's be quiet time while the parade was going by when we'd catch up on things we needed to do but it never happened. People sat in the coffee shop and watched it from their table or people were coming in and out for stuff. Today a young girl at the drug store told me the Stone's Throw is the only place where you can get healthy food...she said there were so many places selling fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.
The carnival people were in and out for food, bottled water , coffee, etc all the time. They leave tomorrow, unless they pulled out tonight. When I came home about 5:30, they were dismantling the rides. Steve got just about the last of the mini-donuts. He didn't even feel up to eating them in case it was too much for his stomach. Maybe they'll nuke them tomorrow so he can enjoy them hot!
Oh, I must get to bed.

A 15 week Milestone!

Steve and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat the other day at the doctor's office! Wow, talk about a spooky and unreal experience! This parasite inside me is alive and kicking! It was racing along at 154 beats per minute.

On July 25th we go to Lethbridge for an ultrasound, so that should be another exciting day. Hopefully everything is going along as it should be. And don't ask if it's a boy or girl, because we don't want to know in advance! There aren't enough good surprises in life, so we thought we'd savour this one. :)

A few more shots for ya

Hike to Ironstone lookout

We decided to try this hike again this week since I was feeling better! But unfortunately my directions were non too good! We ended up doing a little bush wacking and some crazy steep side hilling only to find our path blocked by a super striaght up cliff! We back tracked for about 20 minutes and found the way up over the cliff, and what a view!!! 360 degrees of nothing but mountains! We were gone for 6 HOURS in the baking sun! We left the truck at round 9 am and returned to it at 3 pm! All four of us are totally knackered! We figure we hiked a 12 or 13 km loop, not too bad for a 14 week pregnant lady who rarely gets out of a hike!

Ushuaia Webcam - Tierra del Fuego - Patagonia - Argentina

One of my planned destinations. I think I'm going to need to take warm clothing. Ushuaia Webcam - Tierra del Fuego - Patagonia - Argentina

Booked, Now I Need a Passport

Well, the only way to do it sometimes is to close your eyes and jump in with both feet and hope the water is deep enough (or in my case, not too deep). I booked my tickets to Argentina about ten minutes ago. I'll be leaving Ottawa at 15:00 on the 2nd of November and returning on the 6th of December. It's another 20 hour flight each way between Toronto and Buenos Aires.

Californians hit the highway!

We're counting the hours. What time will we start looking out the window?? Supper Sunday will be prepared ahead of time so we don't have to be watching the pots on the stove.
Bring umbrellas and rain boots!! The weather report is for clearing late tomorrow but we won't believe it until we see it ourselves.
Safe trip! Don't forget your green cards.

NDP Meeting

I went to High River to an NDP meeting today and drove up Highway #22. It is a beautiful drive. At times I was above the clouds....could look down into a valley and see clouds below where I was.

It reminded me of highways in New Brunswick and Vermont.

Met a lot of very nice people. Volunteered to be on the fundraising committee. The organization is not up to SK constituency organization!! But the enthusiasm is just as strong. A plus today was that two people volunteered to be candidates so we will have a nominating convention in the fall. An MLA from Edmonton was there and said the feeling among NDP MLA's is there will be an election in the Fall of 2007 but the leader wants as many candidates in place this Fall as possible.

I dropped off Crowsnest Tourist Guides at many places between here and there....gas stations, gift shops, jerky shop. I left some at a coffee/icecream shop called 'Navajo Mug' which I think is owned by Ian Tyson but he wasn't dishing out the tarts or ice cream so I guess Sunday is his day off maybe????

I took along the petition re: the CPR proposing to put a siding in between Blairmore and Coleman in the wetlands. 14 people signed it which is one side of the page. Nobody was on the side of the CPR....wonder why???

Am I the only one posting on the blog?

Demolition

A huge bin was plunked down on the side of the street two doors up from us. We aren't sure if it's for whoever bought the house or for the previous owner who is throwing everything out that he doesn't want. It's a biggie and I can see the man at 13430 casting an appreciative eye, thinking he might like a 'go' at the house now that he's done a good job on unbuilding the garage. Dare we let Steve see the bin?? Between the two of them, they'll have that house tossed in there in no time flat.

Happy Birthday, Dawn!

Did you go out to celebrate somewhere? For a nice dinner? Or did you fire up the grill? You have some good cooks right there at home to serve you up a special meal. Hope your day was a happy one and all your little folks at school behaved extra good today.

The garage came-a......

tumbling down! You'all should have been here. Grampa had leaned a 2X4 against one on the east side near the front corner and the west wind sort of pushed the structure against that piece of wood. Today Steve came over and brought his chain saw and other tools he was sure would be needed. He'd come over last evening about 6:30, I think he said, with a friend who has a construction business and lives three doors east of us. He gave him some suggestions (e.g. cut a v shaped notch in one of the centre posts holding the centre beam up, etc). Steve and Grampa decided,'Today's the day!' (Steve's day off.) Steve removed the 2X4 the garage was leaning against, moved around to the west side of the building skeleton and gave it a push and down she went as neat as you please. I'm not sure if he used one hand or two. You'll have to ask him. One, I think. We couldn't believe it was so easy. Grampa's removing the rest of the roof boards and stacking everything neatly to reuse what is okay. Much of it looks okay because it has been inside and not out to the elements over the years.

Museum yard clean-up

I went over to the museum in Coleman this a.m. at 10 and all we did from then until 3 p.m. was clean up the branches that bit the dust when the snow storm took them down last Sept. 9th. You can't imagine what a mess there was. There was Wendy, Rudy, Donna, Bruno, Len, Lowry, Barbara and Tony. The last two were just there for a little while. We either dragged or moved the branches in two wheel barrows until someone suggested backing a half ton onto the grounds. That was a BIG improvement. Some of the branches were tossed over the chainlink fence by the people who lived above the treed area. Two of the girls pitched some of it back into the yard. Someone also disposed of the dog poo over the fence. Not the nicest neighbours! I guess they thought the space was public property and because it had so many downed branches, didn't think anyone would notice a few more. The spring garbage pick-up starts Monday and starts with Coleman so we had to get it out or pay for it to be taken away if it couldn't be put out as regular garbage. Dad brought home two sets of Xcountry skis and poles which we'll take to the Thrift Shop in October.

Eye appointments

Dad has an appointment in January, 2007, with a surgeon in Lethbridge who will do his cataracts.
Jessica and Steve bought him one of those magnifying sheets about 8"X11" for in the meantime.
There was no change to my eyes. The health system gives us each one appointment per year so the visits cost zilch. That was okay!

How many ___ does it take to screw in a light bulb?

How many women with PMS does it take to screw in a light bulb?

None. Change it yourself, dammit!

How many surrealists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Goldfish on a tricycle.

How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A totally obscure number, you probably haven't even heard of it.

How many therapists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Only one, but the lightbulb has to want to change.

How many Bush Administration officials does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

None. There is nothing wrong with the lightbulb; its conditions are improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are a delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served honorably and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you hate freedom!?

Earth Day 2006

It's not nice to fool Mother Nature. Why is it okay for her to fool us?? Friday was a perfect day...warm and sunny...a day for shorts and t-shirts. Earth Day was windy and rainy/snowy as we prepared to clean up the Pass. 9 people from Blairmore came at 10 a.m. to the Gazebo for garbage bags and to 'sign in'. The wind was wild as we tried to hang onto the bags but luckily there was lots of garbage caught in the hedge so bags were soon weighted down. About lunch time, the wind had blown off to somewhere else. During the afternoon, the snow began to fall , big fluffy flakes that fell straight down like you see in a Christmas card scene. It was very pretty but not the sort of day to encourage anyone to keep on with the clean-up.

Tie dress!

Here's my prom dress! Mom and I made it over the past couple weeks. It's taken a loooong time but it turned out pretty well. There are still a few finishing touches to do but you can get the idea!

Just gloating now

It just feels good to out on the bike again after a loonnngggg lazy winter.

Willow on Her Chair

It used to be my chair. I really need to buy a couch. :)

Just got back from my first ride this year!

These are a couple of shots form the ride. The climb up was a little messy but the ride down was all swwet with a few thinnly placed patches of snow. Super fun!