A little one on one time with the Han Man.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Going Back to Work
I got the call today .... I start Tuesday.
With Thompsons again, driving a Rock Truck.
Can't wait to get a paycheque again. Cannot wait.
Back to steel toes and hard hats, twin bed, shared bathroom.
Cafeteria style eating and sketchy gym.
But I don't care. I just want to work.
I'm going armed with books and good music and a renewed
appreciation for getting up in the morning with a purpose.
C y'all from the Bag in a few days.
Cheers
Leanne
With Thompsons again, driving a Rock Truck.
Can't wait to get a paycheque again. Cannot wait.
Back to steel toes and hard hats, twin bed, shared bathroom.
Cafeteria style eating and sketchy gym.
But I don't care. I just want to work.
I'm going armed with books and good music and a renewed
appreciation for getting up in the morning with a purpose.
C y'all from the Bag in a few days.
Cheers
Leanne
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A Little Mishap
Let me give you the background first, k?
Dad is working 2.5 hours East of Edmonton.
On back roads, routes east, routes west, turns to the left,
right turns, and mind numbing straight boring roads.
Dad drove there, I tried to pay close attention to the map,
etc. As I was driving back alone.
So we say our goodbyes, good lucks and see you soons, and I start driving
north ......
I was bopping along in the Wave, listening to/singing along to music,
TOTALLY had this under control .... I could do this, who needs a GPS
when you have a hard-to-read map, and a directionally challenged, kareoke singing driver??
I knew at some point fairly soon after dropping Dad off, I'd have to turn left.
Well, I see the T intersection and flick my signal, and turn left.
So proud of myself for being such a good rememberer.
I think I drove for 20 minutes, looking around, belting out the tunes, when I see a sign
that says "Kinsella". I start thinking about Sophie Kinsella and the Shopaholic series and how bummed I am that I'm not going to the movie with Liana ..... lalalalalalalalalala land.
Then I start thinking "I didn't drive throught this town on the way here".
I turn around. Trying to read the map. Turn the music off - I need to concentrate.
But no biggie. I had lots of daylight left. I was cool as a cucumber. I even budgeted time for stuff like this. I see a Junction sign and pull over to see if I could figure out where it was on the map in relation to where I knew I should be.
I pulled onto the shoulder - which wasn't a shoulder at all. It was a ditch.
Not a deep one. But a ditch just the same.
Just my front tires went in. But I couldn't back it out.
I broke out into a sweat and maybe I said a swear word. Maybe. I don't really remember.
Dad, had given me his CAA card at the last minute.
So I called them. Explaining that I was completely fine, the car too.
But that I was in the middle of absolutely nowhere and didn't really
know why I was calling her. I furthered my reasoning with at least someone knew
I'd slipped off the road in case she'd heard on the news of grisly crime in the back roads
of SouthEastern Alberta. As I'm on the phone to her, a huge truck was approaching, and I waved them down (as apparently, me standing in the middle of the road didn't raise any red flags with the previous driver who slowed only momentarily before hitting the gas again, speeding off into the desolate horizon) She promised to stay on the phone with me.
The truck came to a screeching halt, and backed up about 75 feet to come to my rescue.
It turns out they were hog farmers with a full load.
They attempted to push me out. I started spinning.
The older German gentleman went to get chains and they were going to pull me out.
However, a half ton came along, slowed to help and the Big Rig driver waved him closer and
just attached the chains to the other truck (without even asking the guy!!)
So the end of the story is: I got out safe and sound, smiles all around
and with refreshed directions from a german pig farmer.
Pretty sketchy. Off the road. In freezing cold. Not even able to tell the CAA girl where you were.
Thank goodness it was daylight and at least two people felt they should stop and help!
My first thought was "only me or Ashley, would this happen to.
Dad is working 2.5 hours East of Edmonton.
On back roads, routes east, routes west, turns to the left,
right turns, and mind numbing straight boring roads.
Dad drove there, I tried to pay close attention to the map,
etc. As I was driving back alone.
So we say our goodbyes, good lucks and see you soons, and I start driving
north ......
I was bopping along in the Wave, listening to/singing along to music,
TOTALLY had this under control .... I could do this, who needs a GPS
when you have a hard-to-read map, and a directionally challenged, kareoke singing driver??
I knew at some point fairly soon after dropping Dad off, I'd have to turn left.
Well, I see the T intersection and flick my signal, and turn left.
So proud of myself for being such a good rememberer.
I think I drove for 20 minutes, looking around, belting out the tunes, when I see a sign
that says "Kinsella". I start thinking about Sophie Kinsella and the Shopaholic series and how bummed I am that I'm not going to the movie with Liana ..... lalalalalalalalalala land.
Then I start thinking "I didn't drive throught this town on the way here".
I turn around. Trying to read the map. Turn the music off - I need to concentrate.
But no biggie. I had lots of daylight left. I was cool as a cucumber. I even budgeted time for stuff like this. I see a Junction sign and pull over to see if I could figure out where it was on the map in relation to where I knew I should be.
I pulled onto the shoulder - which wasn't a shoulder at all. It was a ditch.
Not a deep one. But a ditch just the same.
Just my front tires went in. But I couldn't back it out.
I broke out into a sweat and maybe I said a swear word. Maybe. I don't really remember.
Dad, had given me his CAA card at the last minute.
So I called them. Explaining that I was completely fine, the car too.
But that I was in the middle of absolutely nowhere and didn't really
know why I was calling her. I furthered my reasoning with at least someone knew
I'd slipped off the road in case she'd heard on the news of grisly crime in the back roads
of SouthEastern Alberta. As I'm on the phone to her, a huge truck was approaching, and I waved them down (as apparently, me standing in the middle of the road didn't raise any red flags with the previous driver who slowed only momentarily before hitting the gas again, speeding off into the desolate horizon) She promised to stay on the phone with me.
The truck came to a screeching halt, and backed up about 75 feet to come to my rescue.
It turns out they were hog farmers with a full load.
They attempted to push me out. I started spinning.
The older German gentleman went to get chains and they were going to pull me out.
However, a half ton came along, slowed to help and the Big Rig driver waved him closer and
just attached the chains to the other truck (without even asking the guy!!)
So the end of the story is: I got out safe and sound, smiles all around
and with refreshed directions from a german pig farmer.
Pretty sketchy. Off the road. In freezing cold. Not even able to tell the CAA girl where you were.
Thank goodness it was daylight and at least two people felt they should stop and help!
My first thought was "only me or Ashley, would this happen to.
Serenade
Haley singing Jesus Loves Me for me. It's her specality.
Now on to the next Instrument. Jingle Bells this time.
Old MacDondo
This sweet little girl is granddaughter to the Flynn's and has
really taken to dad. Calls him Old MacDondo.
And asks for him all the time.
She is perpetual personality.
Highly intelligent and so much fun.
She has a baby sister who is 11 months old.
Here she is looking at the map with Dad. Until she spotted me with the camera.
Okay - back at 'er! Looking to see where "Unnca Johnny" lives.
I took her to the mall with me and she couldn't figure these guys out !
She was talking to them and knocking on them. so cute.
Baby sister not so happy. Sweet little girl. This photo isn't painting the
rosiest of impressions. She is truly a wonderful little girl.
All ready for bed.
I walked in the door and she said "take your toat off".
All her "T's" are "C's" and its so cute to have a conversation with her.
That's it folks
As Ever,
Leanne
really taken to dad. Calls him Old MacDondo.
And asks for him all the time.
She is perpetual personality.
Highly intelligent and so much fun.
She has a baby sister who is 11 months old.
Here she is looking at the map with Dad. Until she spotted me with the camera.
Okay - back at 'er! Looking to see where "Unnca Johnny" lives.
I took her to the mall with me and she couldn't figure these guys out !
She was talking to them and knocking on them. so cute.
Baby sister not so happy. Sweet little girl. This photo isn't painting the
rosiest of impressions. She is truly a wonderful little girl.
All ready for bed.
I walked in the door and she said "take your toat off".
All her "T's" are "C's" and its so cute to have a conversation with her.
That's it folks
As Ever,
Leanne
West Ed Mall
I've heard about it all my life.
The West Edmonton Mall.
This far away, fantastical, magical, mystical place.
Not no more!
I finally go the chance to go this weekend.
Dad and I drove from the Fort to Edmonton on Saturday morning,
and as soon as we hit the city, I was incessantly asking to go to the mall.
(some things never change)
So I dragged dad there. Though I can't say surprise was the emotion he
was feeling. (Is surprise even an emotion??) I figure with 4 daughters and a wife
who can hold her own in shopping marathons, he was expecting this repeated request, and simply resigned to going.
We parked and wrote the Section on a peice of paper which was put safely in my handbag.
I was like a tourist in NYC.
Taking pictures.
Stopping and gawking.
Getting in people's way.
The mall is absolutley amazing.
Wanna hear something weird?
Its smaller than I'd imagined.
Its not small by any standard, in fact, you'd need a full day for the shops,
and a full day for the indoor fun stuff.
But it turns out, I guess I was somehow imagining something bigger.
Its filled with your everyday Smart Set, Reitmans, Body Shop, etc, but then you see stores like,
Rolex, Zara, Coach, Apple. The stores us East Coasters only see in Mag ads. (until of course, we venture outside the New Brunswick border!)
So having said all that, and I know you've seen picture of the place a million times,
but you have to see it to believe it. (descriptions are below the pictures)
This is the lounging end of the wave pool. The whole thing is encased in glass.
So theres at least some privacy from the general mall.
Check out the red slide in the background.
They're packed in like a Tokyo Train. And the waves would
randomly come and the kids would be toppling over each other.
It was so congested in the middle it made me feel weird.
I fear I am getting quirky as I age ....
The skating rink where the Oilers practice sometimes. V. Cool.
I laughed. Then instantly starting singing (to myself of course!!) "Chimpanze Ridddddding on a Segway".(go to youtube and enter Chimpanze riding on a segway)! Tooooo cute)
For $10, you strap on a helmet and go around this course and
voila! You're certified.
Maybe my favorite part. (besides Zara and Coach and Lululemon and ....)
The West Edmonton Mall.
This far away, fantastical, magical, mystical place.
Not no more!
I finally go the chance to go this weekend.
Dad and I drove from the Fort to Edmonton on Saturday morning,
and as soon as we hit the city, I was incessantly asking to go to the mall.
(some things never change)
So I dragged dad there. Though I can't say surprise was the emotion he
was feeling. (Is surprise even an emotion??) I figure with 4 daughters and a wife
who can hold her own in shopping marathons, he was expecting this repeated request, and simply resigned to going.
We parked and wrote the Section on a peice of paper which was put safely in my handbag.
I was like a tourist in NYC.
Taking pictures.
Stopping and gawking.
Getting in people's way.
The mall is absolutley amazing.
Wanna hear something weird?
Its smaller than I'd imagined.
Its not small by any standard, in fact, you'd need a full day for the shops,
and a full day for the indoor fun stuff.
But it turns out, I guess I was somehow imagining something bigger.
Its filled with your everyday Smart Set, Reitmans, Body Shop, etc, but then you see stores like,
Rolex, Zara, Coach, Apple. The stores us East Coasters only see in Mag ads. (until of course, we venture outside the New Brunswick border!)
So having said all that, and I know you've seen picture of the place a million times,
but you have to see it to believe it. (descriptions are below the pictures)
This is the lounging end of the wave pool. The whole thing is encased in glass.
So theres at least some privacy from the general mall.
Check out the red slide in the background.
They're packed in like a Tokyo Train. And the waves would
randomly come and the kids would be toppling over each other.
It was so congested in the middle it made me feel weird.
I fear I am getting quirky as I age ....
The skating rink where the Oilers practice sometimes. V. Cool.
I laughed. Then instantly starting singing (to myself of course!!) "Chimpanze Ridddddding on a Segway".(go to youtube and enter Chimpanze riding on a segway)! Tooooo cute)
For $10, you strap on a helmet and go around this course and
voila! You're certified.
Maybe my favorite part. (besides Zara and Coach and Lululemon and ....)
It's like you're in a European Village. I must go back and spend a day.
And a fortune. With Iris. We can spend fortunes together. Barry doesn't know
it yet .... We'll just distract him. We'll yell "Theres Ozzy" and run the other way.
Cute little family on a aquatic bumper car. Or whatever its called.
The "something Maria" I think. Regardless, its very cool and you can rent it for parties and wedding (ugh, seriously?? you're saying forever on a boat in a mall??).
The Sea Lion was so much fun. I'll post video of him later.
The Sea Lion was so much fun. I'll post video of him later.
More to follow .....
As Ever,
Leanne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)