Where have I been?

The million dollar question. I have been sitting here trying to think of what exactly I've been doing for the past 6 weeks, other than not updating my blog, that is. Nothing too substantial, really.

We got our front door and nearly all of our windows replaced in early January - it makes a huge difference. Our windows were 30 years old and some had condensation between the panes, so when it got cold they would frost over and you couldn't see out. Now they are all nice and new and crystal clear. Here's a few shots of the front window before/during/after:





Good thing it was 10 degrees that day! Actually, it hasn't been too cold here since the -25 snap of mid-December, seems as if the weather's been hovering around zero for weeks. Today it was beautiful and sunny, around 6 or 8 I'd guess? Fabulous. I'm hoping for an early spring but an early spring in Calgary means April... bleh.

School update: I finished another university course at the end of January and have taken the month of February off. Next up is Critical Thinking - the books have been taunting me from the corner of my desk all month - but I really need a break. Work is busier than usual and I am trying to beat the winter blahs by playing Wii and Bejeweled in my spare time and catching up on tv.

I finally replaced my old iPod nano with a new, beautiful iPod Touch - it's been less than a week and I am loving it.



So far I've downloaded apps to help me count calories, find the closest Starbucks, make decisions (Magic 8 Ball), find restaurants (and make reservations right from the iPod!), get recipes (both food and drink), convert units of measurement, and a bunch of other semi-useful and fun gadgety things. Plus it has all of my music on it and I can even text message for free, as long as there's some wi-fi to tap into.

That's all for now - in parting, here are a few belated Christmas shots of my favourite little elfs:

Is it really 2010??

Happy New Year! I was thinking about the past year and what's to come in this new year, new decade in fact... when I remembered that I posted an entry last year listing some New Year's Resolutions for 2009. The list:

• blog at least once a week. This year I had 34 posts, next year I'll have (at least) 52
• limit business travel to Vancouver only
  
• take a couple of nice holidays, thanks to my overtime and holidays that are being carried over
• really settle into this house. It's been a year and we've barely done anything - I am starting with the little spare room which will soon become my home office. Then there's some painting and minor repairs to do before we move to the big stuff which needs to be contracted out - windows, doors, fence, landscaping, oh my.
• start eating healthier and getting more exercise
• get going on my university courses!

Let's see.

• I made 26 blog entries in 2009 - so only 50% on that. That's still a passing grade, right?
  
• I travelled to Vancouver, indeedy I did. Last year I spent about 7 weeks in Vancouver - and made one extra stop in Victoria, which was nice. I also, sadly, had to go to Ottawa for 4 days in late October and I seem to recall a brief trip to Edmonton for a meeting. I am happily now on a business travel embargo until March 2010. Except for a day in Regina. Hmph.
  
• As for holidays, I went on the cruise in March, to Toronto in August, to Toronto and NYC in October, took a couple of road trips to Medicine Hat and went on a couple camping weekends very close to home. I'd say the cruise and NYC trip fulfill this one nicely.
  
• I finished my office (mostly anyway) and got the spare room fit for company. We have the windows and doors ordered, to be installed in January, and had the landscaping done in June. Never did get around to the fence, but that's tops on the list for 2010. We also got some new furniture and whipped the basement into shape. I'm so very pleased with our house now, I'll have to post some pictures, when it's clean, I mean. Ha.
  
• I think the healthy eating and exercise was probably the lowest on my list. I did go through a few healthy phases throughout the year, but considering that I've not used my gym membership since August (eep), I think I deserve a fail here. This year I got Wii Fit for Christmas so I'm hoping to get into a routine with that in January.
• On the university front, I completed almost 6 courses this year, of 13 total: Professional Ethics, Business Communications, Administrative Law, Canada's Legal System, Employment Law and am just wrapping up Administrative Principles. 7 more on tap for 2010 as it is my resolution to Finish These Effing Courses Already and attend graduation in June 2011 (it's only held once a year - but I will have until April 2011 to actually complete all coursework and still be able to grad in 2011). I started this degree at Ryerson in 2004 - I may just receive the award for longest undergraduate degree taken of all time.

So, that was 2009 in a nutshell. For 2010, I have the following goals:

• Finish university as mentioned.
• Become a little more financially responsible. I was tallying up all the money we've spent this past year between holidays and renos and the like and let's just say it was a spendy year. We paid in full and still saved a little, but overall 2009 was definitely the year of living large and consuming plenty. We've already declared January as No-Spend Month - we are buying essentials only and saving everything that's left to give 2010 a nice financial cushion. Of course, I've left myself a wee loophole as I will be able to spend a few gift cards I received for Christmas and my birthday so as not to go through complete shopping withdrawal. We also have lots of small projects and tasks around the house that need to get done so that's how we'll spend the month. That, and playing Wii.
• Buy a Tent Trailer. There, I said it. I have wanted one since we moved here and after 2 years of frigid mountain camping, I have the boy convinced. Just a wee second hand one that we can stow in the garage when not in use. I am hoping that this year, we can take some nice chunks of time in the summer and hopefully, we'll have some people come visit and we can tour around with them a bit (hint, hint).
• Get the fence done, maybe a few other small jobs around the house, but that will be about it. Unless, of course, the Home Renovation Tax Credit gets renewed... then we may look at a few other non-essential type renos.

So, the million dollar question is, is anyone still out there? Have you all abandoned me after 6 weeks without a new post? Drop me a line if you're still there, it helps me to stay motivated.

And I'll be back this week with a few Christmas photos, I promise.

Umbrella reflections...

It's been raining a lot here. Not all the time every day, but most days have had at least some - ranging from a few sprinkles to a full out downpour.

Being that I live in one of the driest climates in Canada, I am so not used to this. It definitely gives you a renewed appreciation for the sunny moments! It also gives you an appreciation for a good umbrella.

I brought my Roots travel umbrella with me. It's not tiny - but it's definitely not the largest umbrella out there. The first time I had occasion to use it, it was laughably inadequate. The wind blows the umbrella up and makes the rain come at you at an angle - I had to resort to pulling it down so it was sitting right on the top of my head and still managed to keep only the area above my shoulders dry.

Judging from the garbage bins full of abandoned, mangled umbrellas that I pass on the street on days like this, I'm not the only one who overestimates the usefulness of a small umbrella in Vancouver. (It does seem logical to keep a small umbrella with you at all times when out and about in a rainy city... I guess you just have to have lots of spares.)

Fortunately, the good people at my hotel realize that tourists and visitors will arrive woefully unprepared for the Pineapple Express. My room came stocked with a giant umbrella that would be completely ridiculous in Calgary - unless maybe you were using it for a shade umbrella - but is very appropriate for Vancouver.

The only problem is that most Vancouverites have already learned their lesson and carry similar monstrosities. As a result, I've quickly learned that umbrella etiquette is as important here as subway etiquette is in Toronto. Watch where you're going - look behind you before making a sharp turn - tilt or lift your umbrella when passing people on a busy street - and watch out for those who don't, or risk getting an umbrella spine to the eye!

Here is the link to the long-term forecast for Vancouver. Don't you love how they add more rain coming out of the cloud, to indicate a downpour??

(For the record, I am fully expecting a number of sympathetic comments when I check back in here.)

I never used to understand people who said, "I'd rather have rain than snow, you don't have to shovel rain"... I'd think, yeah well, I don't shovel the snow either. Whatevs.

However, 2 years going on 3, of brutally cold Calgary winters has me agreeing with them. I'd rather carry an umbrella in my purse everywhere I go, than stand at the bus stop when it's minus 40. Plus windchill.

Boy, it's gonna be a long winter.

Three Weeks in Vancouver

So, here I am back in Vancouver again. It's a good thing I like it here, considering how much time I seem to spend here.

The forecast for the foreseeable future is nothing but rain, rain, rain. However, it's supposed to stay above zero, which I like. Today it rained and rained and then at around 3:00 p.m. the rain stopped! And the sun came out! And I could hear the angels singing...



Hee.

I can't complain though - I'm less than 10 minutes' walk from work, in a very nice and well equipped hotel that has a gym, spa and pool. My room is like a one bedroom apartment, so I was able to pick up (healthy) groceries, which will help me save my per diem allowance for this:

It's November

Time is flying by. I haven't updated this blog for almost 2 whole months, oops. Well, let's see...

- I was in Vancouver for a week in September
- Left on Oct 7 to take a red eye to NYC to celebrate my good friend Tim's 30th birthday
- Stayed in NYC until the 12th
- Spent 6 days in Toronto
- Came home only to leave 3 days later for 3 days in Ottawa
- Came home again and basically collapsed in exhaustion... got sick and also was studying for a challenge exam
- Wrote the exam on Friday, it was hard and took me 3 1/2 hours to do...
- Finally relaxed and got some sleep

And now I'm great, feeling a lot more like myself again. Did some shopping yesterday for things we needed around the house and even started my Christmas shopping.

So, now I have another week at home and then I am going to Vancouver for 3 weeks for work. It should be a pretty decent work trip, 3 weeks in a suite hotel near work, I'm hoping to get some exercise in and get some of my next course done, which is Administrative Principles - basically Management 101. I've actually had the books for ages but have until the end of January to complete it.

Here are some recent photos for your viewing pleasure:

My backyard in early October:


New York City:




We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge....



...to go to a famous pizza parlour on the other side. Turns out we were not the only ones with that idea. (We didn't bother waiting in line. Turns out that pizza in Manhattan is pretty good too.)


Getting ready for a night on the town:


The birthday boy:




I believe they were dancing to Bon Jovi...

Just a boring little update :)

Time is flying along - well into September already - boo hoo. At least the weather is decent. It's been about 25, consistently, with a few hotter days thrown in. This weekend is supposed to be 27 I think. Nice.

Last weekend my friends Robyn and Trevor came to visit with their little kids and we spent Saturday at the Zoo, which was fun (if not busy - that's a long weekend for you). Sunday we checked out the new giant mall, CrossIron Mills. (For you Torontonians, it's almost exactly the same as Vaughn Mills - same developer even.) And Monday, we did our weekly chores and I did my assigned school work. I set a schedule for myself as my exam is booked for October 30 and I have quite a bit on the go between now and then. So far, so good.

Next week I'm headed to Vancouver for work and the spousal unit even gets to come. I am hoping for more sun and lots of seafood. And maybe a new purse.

Summer Recess is Over...

Six weeks has gone by, I cannot believe it. I've finished my courses (A+ and C-), started 2 new ones, returned to work, gone on holidays to Toronto and Niagara... and am now gearing up for Fall which includes trips to Vancouver, NYC (!!!), Toronto, and Ottawa. So far. Good thing I got over my fear of airline travel.

While we were in Toronto, we attended a Holland America reunion party with our friends that we went cruising with back in April. Denise, with the help of sous-chef Alastair, prepared a fabulous 5 course meal reminiscent of those we enjoyed on the ms Westerdam ... we pulled out all of our HAL swag for the occasion and even drank buckets of MGD. Bonus points to the hostess with the mostess, for printing out the menus complete with the HAL logo on them.