The Color of Bliss

Just a quick update - Bree had an EMS conference this weekend in Banff and, I tagged along. We left promptly after work, well, after I drove home from work, packed (not enough clothes) in 15 minutes, drove in the middle of rush hour, trying to take a short cut, getting caught on way too many one way streets going the wrong way. That's when we left. 6:38. 1hr, 55 minutes after I finished work. Had a super trip up. (over? down?) Had a super trip THERE. Stopped in Canmore to meet up with a friend of her's. Ate really reallly bad food (bad for you food) and moseyed on our way.
Just leaving the Canmore exit back onto the highway, we saw a little car bombing along ahead of us, I noticed it was a little big longer than most K-Cars, those Reliant automobiles. I made her speed up - which didn't take much "making" and sure enough- A K-CAR LIMO!!! We were laughing so hard we were snorting and squeaking. I HAD to take a picture. I know its mean, but seriously, its a K-Car Limo, he has to expect some second glances (and the occasional photog). He wasn't as amused as we were ....... It also didn't help that Bree was pumping her fist in the air saying "RIGHT ON, MAN". He was the cutest little guy ever.

Saturday, a friend from Calgary came to visit for a couple of hours, I'll post pics later. We went to Lake Louise. It was gorgeous. Except we missed the turn-off somehow and ended up in BC! We went to a little place for dinner (the whole EMS crew) and off to an Irish pub for some music and other Irish pub stuff. I thought this sign was pretty funny.

Me, Bree n' Mo. The trio who bailed early.

This is Kevin. He's a Medic in Banff and organizes this annual conference. For Valentine's Day, his wife signed him up for a Tri-athalon. Seriously. He said "Honey, I got you a Nike heart rate monitor". She said "the triathalon is good for your heart too". He provided us with many belly laughs that night. The girl beside him is engaged to a Pictou County-er. Everyone I met was so nice. They told lots of EMT stories. And if you're out skiing and get caught in an avalanche, these guys are the ones you want to call! That was their workshop today. They had to find a dummy that was buried and get them out. Pretty cool stuff.

Today was Leanne day. I got up with the girls, went to Starbucks, got a coffee, came back to the room, read my book, didn't shower. Fell asleep from 8:50 to 10:20. Oops. Check out was at 11 and I was not packed.

I found a good hiking trail on a map and consulted the front desk staff, went to Safeway and got an apple and granola bar. (I still had my $3.10 water from Lake Louise Deli) I don't know why I even put these pictures up because you just can't even begin to understand what its like unless you are THERE. I was so happy I was alone. It was silent and breath-taking and you just feel so surrounded by unimaginable beauty. You feel peaceful and smiley and try to just drink it all in and hope it stays with you as muddle through the work week. I'm glad I got to do it on my own, but its definitely something that would be equally amazing with someone else. Bree, Mo and I are going to do it soon. It's crazy exercise. I was doing lunges up a hill, it was so steep. Next time, I'll have a hat. Cowboy hat, preferably!

This spot was gorgeous. I stayed long enough to snap this. I kept imaging bears emerging from the river and seeing me as a tasty entree ..... You had to go quite deep into the woods to get here.

Homemade whistle Bree made out of a soda can today in their training. She kept blowing it, (in the restaurant, on the street) just a little harder everytime to see how well it worked. It did. And everytime she blew it, she'd say "it works". We cracked up everytime. We must've been tired.

The weekend was just what I needed.

Peace Out,

Have a Super week!

L.

Awesome Quote

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."


I found this on another blog whilst being bored and wasting time. But I love it! Read it again. And once more. You'll like it more each time.

Boring, Mundane, Un-Inspiring, Not Exciting, But Took Too Long Typing to Not Publish Post

Seems I am doing a little "summary" every Sunday. So here's this weekend. Though you already know my Friday night social mishap.
It was hot all weekend. (my weekend to work)
I got the afternoon off work (my regular "9-5" job)Friday.
Went downtown.
Met a friend for coffee.
Walked 17th Ave.
Yes, I said friend. I have them here now, you know.
Went to Bree's for a wonderful homecooked Thai meal.
Went to the gym. Paid $80 for a month membership.
But got to sit in those crazy massage chairs after. Makes it worth it. Kind of. Maybe not.
Then my run-in with the law (well, the law was outside) occured (see prior post)
Worked Saturday. It was something like 24 degrees out. It was dead until 3:30 then we were flat out til 5.
Went to church. Sat around after until 9:00 not noticing time passing. Had Lavander Tea and laughed alot.
I now know Travis' last name. Its been a mystery for two months. Its Heide - pronounced Hide. I was saying Heidi? this whole time. Yes, with the question mark at the end because I didn't actually know the answer.
Went to church this am to see Auntie and Uncle Lloyd. Didn't stay since I had employment obligations. But had a 5 minute chat with them. While waiting for their arrival, I sat and had coffee with former strangers. I love that I am meeting so many people. Everyone's got a story.
Worked all afternoon in the boiling, un-air-conditioned store. Made two sales. One big. One small. Ironically, the small one took up most of my time there. (grrr ... but thats a 'hooooooe 'nov-va story)
Went to the Seed. Turned out to be a very eventful night. Thats all I'll say about that.
Now I am home - Sunday nights are hard. I am still very lonesome for Halifax and find my quiet time on the Work Week Eve pretty tough.
But bossman is back tomorrow and I'm sure by the end of the day I won't even know my own name! He's been away for 3 weeks and I'm in for a loooong week. But its been pretty slow with him gone, so I'm looking forward to the change in pace.

That's it. Laundry done, robe burnt, (secret) good deed done, going to bed and I'm ready to face another week.
I'm going to Banff from Friday til Sunday .... and a full schedule in between. I can hardly wait.

(i forgot to tell you - one of my roomies got engaged the other day - in the park in the spot where they first said the "L" word. cute hey? Maria said that every single (single) girl who's lived with here has moved out engaged. fyi. Though I am known as a trend-breaker. also fyi)

g'nite.
xo
L.

What's That Law Called? Oh Yeah! Murphy's!

So, along with most of my gender, I have a secret crush on firemen. In fact, its not a secret, it's quite public. So tonight, I'm getting ready for my early morning workout, ironing clothes for work, showering etc. I was cruising around my little house in my ugly, nubby, pilled, pulled, LaSenza clearance rack reject fleece housecoat. My hair pulled back into a greasy ponytail, I make my way with my gym bag and crisp cotton clothes for my big day at Rogers to the entry way so I don't forget anything. I whip open my bedroom door and notice the front door open. I continue into the living room and notice red flashes on the trees. I look out the window to see three emergency vehicles in front of the house and immediately notice four emergency personnel walking up my steps. I frantically scramble to the other side of the living room (please keep in mind that this is an average size, single dwelling bungalow living room) - picture a deer. in headlights. caught. My mouth gaping open in absolute disbelief that I am seen by anyone in this condition, the fireman and EMT's enter my house, politely say hello to me as I stand frozen (but boiling hot) and awkwardly wait for them to leave the room. I (think) manage an intelligent greeting (we will never know) BUT I need to get to my bedroom which is through the doorway that the tall, broad, tanned, quintessential fireman is standing. He wasn't moving along with the rest who were going to attend to the victim. I falter towards my destination, and mutter 'scuse me. sorry. He (is smirking, I swear) says, "no problem, are we interupting your bath?" I said, avoiding all eye contact "No, I just wasn't expecting company" as I slunk into my room, my face even redder than 10 minutes prior when I took the stinging collagen mask off.
But I wanted to know what was going on. So I grabbed the first strappy black dress I could find, threw on some makeup..... not really. I pulled a hoodie and non tattered pj bottoms and half yelled at a rolling on floor laughing Maria (who in addition to her amusement at my follies, told me to go down myself and find out what happened that there were LOTS of hot men in her basement) and found out that one of the roommates boyfriend passed out for about 5 minutes!

OBLIVIOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice to see some things don't change, hey? (he's totally fine - don't know what happened though. I've only met him once, so I didn't want to go down and inquire - I'm sure he was pretty embarassed as it was)

Hay is for Horses

The day finally arrived!
So heres how it went down: We, (Jim and myself) get to the ranch, which is in Millarville, about 50 km SW of Calgary and see the horse trailer in use. The girl who is the new, i don't know her title - caretaker? is using it to move stuff from her house in Okotoks to the ranch. So we, and by we, I mean, Jim told them we'd be happy to lighten their load and help them move. Which was totally fine - they were super nice people. Marci is great, Darren, her boyfriend is with the Calgary Police and her daughter(grade 11) was there too. So we trekked to her old place and packed up her garage and office and filled the trailer and Darren's truck, and helped unload it at the new house. I totally didn't mind. I was just really warm and icky by the time we started to saddle up the horses. And by we, I mean, them. I didn't ssaddle a thing. I stood around and watched. Sooooo ..... continuing on. THEY loaded the now saddled horses onto the trailer and away we went.
BELOW is Red. He's the king of the castle. Apparently, he's quite a prestigous breed and is equivilant to the hot, buff guy at the gym. You know, doesn't really care because he's just too cool. But a real nice horse ( I wouldn't know a nice horse if I ..... you know the rest of the expression)

Marci getting the saddles unloaded from the trailer.

The sweet ride.

Red getting loaded.

Now at our destination, the horses are tied up, tack put on and last minute instructions and precautions to Leanne made .....

Ahhh,,,, heres my horse. Banana. Whom I kept calling Buttercup. Ugh. My brain sometimes takes unscheduled vacations. She is so beautiful! And patient and calm. A Cadillac, I was told.

She was a little apprehensive of me at first, but we made fast friends.

This was taken at the top of the Mesa Butte. I 'd show pictures of the view, but theres no point. Theres no way you can get the full value of it. But this was my view when I looked down.

Here I am!

See this ice? Well, we come up to this and (I'm totally going to give you the Reader's Digest version) Jim got off Red, who got real skittish and walked him across and tied him up on the other side. Meanwhile (about a 3 minute span) Banana is starting to spook too, I'm spooked, and trying to remember all the rules about keeping the horse still. But Banana is going backwards, trying to go forward, turning around on me, everything I was telling her (speaking through reins of course) not to do. I was patting her neck saying soothing things while I'm absolutely freaking out inside. So Jim is walking back to get my horse, I say very firmly and maybe not so calmly "you have to hurry". I jumped off when he got there was was absolutely shaking. Because this whole time, to my left was a steep bank, then the river. Maybe I'm a fraidy cat, but I was literally scared. But it all ended well.

All done now, There goes Banana back into the trailer for the ride home.

Heres Red, looking in the window after her.

View from my side of the truck.

I had such an amazing day. And it all started off with breakfast at Cora's with Bree. I'll definitely have breakfast with Bree again, but not at Cora's. $20 later I had a tasteless, cold egg breakfast and coffee that got cold and seldom refilled and a runny fruit cocktail. But the company made up for it, as did the rest of the day. I truly am a country girl at heart.

Insert Own Clever Title Here

It was a busy week, with work and work. And social (things are looking up ;-) Mom and Dad came to visit Friday afternoon. So awesome to see them again. I took the afternoon off work and (we hit the mall - like I needed to tell you that) Then dinner at Ray and Dee's - With Mora and Craig. Auntie , U. Lloyd, Gerry and Betty. I didn't even care that I was the youngest by almost 30 years and that it was a Friday night and most people I know are whooping it up with their peers. I felt so amazingly lucky to be sitting around a big table, laughing, hearing stories from their childhood, having my parents there, feeling very very loved and safe. I tried to just be in the moment and soak it up. It was such a happy, carefree evening. Its so neat to meet so much family - and continue to be in awe of how raw their happiness is and how they instantly love you. No questions asked. No criteria to meet.
Today, Dad, Mom and I cruised downtown Calgary. Dad looking so handsome in his Birthday outfit from Barry and Iris, er .... Iris, and Mom cruising around in her fancy new glasses and ner hair! We had a super time. It was fun being the host and just to be around them again. It was my first time down there on a leisure trip. It's very cool: lots of neat buildings, statutes etc. My friend Bree met us and we went to Red Lobster for lunch with Aunite and U.Lloyd. The camera battery conked out after about 10 pictures, but I got a couple of good ones. The pics posted are from my little point and shoot. I'll post some Rebel (yes, I used the Rebel ... the love affair continues) pics later.
Enjoy!

Mom's Mom's Day gift. She loves it and wears it all the time. And we love her.

Nephew and Aunt - one just back from the hairdresser. Can you guess who?

Auntie and my sweet new friend Bree. Everyone should know Bree. Love this picture of Auntie.

Nephew and Uncle. Both very special people.

My nephew. My Desktop Wallpaper. Makes me warm and fuzzy everytime I look at it. Then I laugh because the picture is from Ramona's blog where Landon says to her "Hey you in the Ramona suit."

Unpredicable Calgary Weather. Taken on Thursday. One-way-ticket -East-inducing.

***** YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HEARD THIS, BUT I AM GOING HORSEBACK RIDING TOMORROW ****

(BRINGING SAID REBEL ...... HOPE TO GET SOME GOOD ONES! )

And just to acknowledge the pink elephant, yes, I know fully that I am spoiled and am too old to be. My parents are better to me than they need to be, but please note, I do not expect it nor do I ask for it. Well, maybe I asked to use the Rebel (that way, she'll HAVE to come back to visit - cagey hey?) I promised her beautiful mountain and horse pictures and I think that closed the sale. Let's hope my charm works on people who need Rogers cell phones!

xo

L.

A Little Sunday Night Round up

So heres a little mish mash of the rest of my week:
(I keep forgetting that Blogger puts the pictures on in the opposite order you picked them in, so this is going to be backwards because its 10 pm and I don't feel like fighting with the pictures and having them delete by mistake etc ......)
It was Mother's Day today, as we all know. And Dee had a brunch at her place after church. Adi and I were invited and arrived fashionably late because we were hanging out in the gorgeous sunshine downtown and lost track of time. So anyhoooooow, Mora and Craig were there along with their daughter Sara and son in law Matt, and their 6week old daughter, Bella. Such a sweet little thing! And Matt is so super nice, totally outgoing and just an all around nice guy. And Sara, is gorgeous and laid back and a total sweetheart. She's got some good genes and can't really help her goodness! It was fabulous to see Craig and Mora again.
So below is the 4 generations of Matheson women. Pretty special, hey?
Its totally not a great pic of the baby, theres a better one later.

Heres Auntie quietly waiting for the instructions and who sits wheres for the photo session. Check out her glam outfit!

Friday night was Adi's apartment warming. She has hit the jackpot with her new place. Its one street away from 17th Ave, which is the swanky, shop-y, downtown. It's completely renovated and fully furnished with very expensive 'things'. I get a little green every time I'm in there. Its gorgeous! Isn't she just the cutest little thing ever?! She's a super cool gal.

Kitchen - with dinner fully prepared by Dee!

Totally switching gears here, I found this pic on my camera. I took it a couple of weeks ago. And someone was coming up behind me at the intersection so I couldn't get the entire building and had to keep driving and this the next best shot. But check this out. See how huge this entire building is? They aren't hiring for two years! That is amazing to me. Thats just a little insight into the magnitude of the oil bust!

Thats it! Just getting ready for my work week. I am doing alot better and crying less :-). I'm still really missing home but feeling more settled here and making new contacts all the time. Adi's landlord is an avid horseback rider, so we're going to go riding in the mountains in a couple of weeks. I can't wait. How amazing is that going to be? And I met a super cool girl at the Seed who is my age, similar situation etc. I was there for 4 hours today and it just flew by. We manned the clothing store and the bin room. So very eye-opening. My time spent there makes so thankful that I have the means and the mind to provide myself with the basics of life. I had no idea the things I took for granted. None. Like privacy for one. A bed. Dignity. Pj's. A bookshelf. Because really, theres alot who are just one paycheque away from it. I hope I never forget the lessons and sights I am seeing, and sounds I am hearing from this experience.

I don't mean to end on such an intense note. Sorry. But I'm too tired to think of anything cheery and sunny right now!

Have a good week everyone!

xo

L.

Random Facts of Mindless

Today is just a collection of silliness. Nothing important, vital, I'm not solving world hunger here, just rambling on.

I had to get blood work done this morning and answered "no" when the technician asked if I was a fainter. COMPLETELY forgetting the time when I'd gotten my splints changed when I had my feet operated on and I totally passed out. Or when I had to lie down when I was in the delivery room when Han the Man was born (how embarassing, seeing the super cute engineer-turned-anesthesiologist had to help me to the floor). So I get my blood taken, so proud of myself for doing this in the morning and I'd even manage to get to work before 8! Not so. I immediately felt faint, and a sharp wave of nausea hit me, and the sweet, old, Swiss (ish) tech literally held me telling me "not to worry, you are safe here". It was actually quite touching. So I laid on the floor there, then she took me to lay down for about 30 minutes on a bed in another room. I was pouring sweat. Like I'd just gone for a run. It was so weird. Then I started shivering and got really sad. I didn't cry but I just felt sad. It was a very very strange experience. I felt so out of control. I felt like I had to throw up, like the room was spinning, and I was freezing, but sweating. Very odd. So my pulse came back to normal and they let me go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If my GPS was a person, I'd have to beat her up. The amount of times she doesn't tell me East or West in time, thus resulting in a detour, probably equals a full tank of gas by now. Though I couldn't navigate through this city without here. If I had a packer, she'd be done in! :-)

I started my part time job the other night. I love downtown. Its so alive and loud and busy. I live in the NE, which is totally residential, and I work in the SE, which is totally industrial park-y. So to be downtown is going to make me feel better I think. I'm seeing all these awesome restaurants and cool shops that I haven't been to and really feel like I'm missing out on what Calgary is all about. I'm enjoying my time with the people I get to hang out with, but I am really wanting to go to the downtown core to hang out. I NEED SOME COMPANY ..... TO DO THE TOURISTY STUFF WITH. hint hint

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boss man is away for 3 weeks. Isn't it so strange - it doesn't matter how nice or fun or helpful your boss is, if he's away, its just better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I helped out again at Street Light, the homeless youth mobile drop in center. That was Monday night. It's pretty amazing what Maria has started. These kids, some regulars, some first timers, some last timers (some just go missing) would break your heart. I'm such a sheltered person - having lived in only small places for all but 18 months of my life. And to see them, see their faces, and their stuffed backpacks and ripped clothes just kills me. I nearly came undone though, when near the end of the night, a guy came in, and was standing in the line for food, which I was serving, and he was staring at me, and making a strange facial expression and squinting. Me, not knowing that he was completely out of it on drugs, thought, (I'm just going to confess here - so don't be hatin') Well, he's got his Edward Cullen look down pat. He was really freaking me out. So when I turned to pass him his soup, I saw his face and my heart dropped. He looked so sad. When I made eye contact, he immediately dropped his and looked over to the other two girls (Maria and Ivy) who had been small talking with him. He hadn't been there before and was asking what it was, and when they explained that it was just a safe place to come and play some video games and get a hot meal, or soap or shampoo, and just to talk . He said "Well, noone talks to me, I'm a hooker, and noone talks to hookers". Uggggh. I had to turn away because I was going to break down. I felt so helpless. This poor little guy. He was probably 18 and so alone. Thats when Ivy took him and they sat down and chatted. I had to go - and get groceries before the store closed. But I can't get him out of my mind. All night I kept thinking, "Thank you God that my little sisters are safe and sound". I just wonder if their parents are worried and scared, are they looking for them? Or are the kids who they are based on behaviours observed growing up? I love going because I really feel like I am giving back to society, seeing how very fortunate my life is. But, my heart .....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So to end on a lighter note (sorry for depressing you all). If you lets say, I dunno, work with someone who picks their nose when they are talking to you, how would you deal with it? Glance at something else besides their finger and nostril merging, or glance away while trying to keep your lunch down? Would you say something like, "uh, dude, your finger is up your nose while I'm trying to talk to you, have a bit of class." Or do you just let it go and hope the airways are cleared by the time you get there? I'm in a pickle. In fact, my stomach just turned. And my chest feels funny. So I don't want to think about it anymore. Besides its 11:06pm now and I need to get to bed. I'm going to my friend Adi's apartment warming tomorrow directly from work. Dee told me I didn't have to bring any food. Lucky for us all.

Later!
L

Room With a View

This is what I see when I look out my office window.

The mountains to my left

The skyline to my right. All I have to do is swivel in my chair to see both! I am amazed every single time I see the mountains. And every morning driving down Memorial coming up to Barlow the moutains just appear ... And every morning its like the first time I've ever seen them. Its kinda weird. Thats one benefit of my bad memory. (jk)

My view is nothing (even a drop in the bucket) compared to where Rachel used to work. OMeGawsh - its breathtaking. But I'm in an industrial park with no much else pretty around me - so I'm quite happy to have what I have!

Thats all. Kind of stuck for news these days. But wanted you all to see my view as I sit in my office with my space heater on. I'm just sayin'. Calgary weather kind of blows. Though I am really loving the no rain.

Later,
L.

See What I Mean??

They're stupid looking, right??

If I Had Cats ....

This is what they'd say ! HaHa!

picture courtesy of www.icanhascheezeburger.com