Limos, Rodeos and Deep Fried Oreos

Stampede in Calgary happens every July and is like a religion with a fanatic following. For months, its talked about, anticipated and planned. People fly in from all over Canada and the US for it (i.e. Sandra) and the locals drop what they're doing - dust off their cowboy hats, bring out their boots and wear all sorts of combinations of demin and plaid. Myself included - though I only wore plaid once. 10 days of free breakfasts all over the city that consist of pancakes, bacon, sausage and eggs, orange juice and coffee. You can just walk up and eat for free. Then theres the famous Rodeo/Chuckwagons and Grandstand show. I didn't make it to the latter two this year but the rodeo was amazing.

Snowbirds treated us to a show the first day of Stampede while the parade was on.
The Cowboys and Girls formed a horseshoe for the National Anthem

Crazy sights and sounds on the Stampede grounds

Heart attacks waiting to happen

The classic games (check out her biceps!) I'd just met her that day (she is a friend of a friend)Safe to say, I didn't stand close to her. Ever. Given my current bicep condition.

Stampede is also famous for their mini-donuts. (for good reason)

DEEP FRIED OREOS. What the heck ? you say?! It was like a party was happening in my mouth. Like a local radio dj said "Theres more grease in these than a carnie's hair".

Cutest little boy in full cowboy gear, complete with spurs on his boots!

On Sunday, Conrad had his 2nd annual Stampede Breakfast at his house:

The newly/nearlyweds with the newest nephew. (i want to squeeze all their cheeks!!)

So lucky to have such amazing people in my life. You all know Sandra, and the other girl is Jaime (a friend of Conrad's - great girl)

Me n' Dave chillin

Ashley and Conrad arguing; well, Ash telling him whats up about something and everytime she'd talk, he'd turn the blender on. We were dying laughing outside. I think I see a smirk on her face too.

Conrad and I trying to figure out why we weren't getting Blackberry Messenger messages from each other. Its hilarious. We look like we're posing but its a legit problem ... (solved, in case you were wondering)

This sweet little thing was with us and she's from PEI and said bay-ad and say-ad for bad and sad. Such a cutie, moved out here all by herself at 19.

Me n' San, it was so hot that day (one of 6 hot days in 2010!!) that my makeup was already melted off!

This guy was cutting in on C's dances with his girls! haha!!! Our attempts at country dancing - I love this pic for that reason!! He's literally telling the guy to scram! Looks like I'm saying "Yeah, what he said".

Ha! I love this of her!! (her friend made her earrings!!)

Boys acting silly

I heart her.

Soooo .... we couldn't find a cab and C decides to rent a limo. So we got a tour of the city? Ummm we live here, we don't need a tour. However, it was a fun thing to do and had to push aside my dislike of limos - haha.... somehow I managed!

The highroller and myself trying to act tough.

If you saw the movie The Hangover, you'll get this picture. This pager is from First Alliance babysitting service and Iris forgot it when she was here and I kept forgetting to bring it to church with me and it was in my handbag - so I posed with it on.

That was Stampede '10 - It was fun and it was awesome to share the experience with Sandra, but I'm glad its over because theres so much pressure to pack so much craziness into 10 days and well .... I'm not made of that stock. My quiet side came out and I retreated from alot of invitations, it was almost like sensory overload. But the city comes alive, everyone loves everyone else and its the event of the year here and I was glad to be a part of it.

Cheers,

Leanne

EWW

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Many, Many Pictures

MISH MASH OF PICTURES - NO ORDER WHATSOEVER. SORRY - BLOGGERS NOT VERY USER FRIENDLY WITH PHOTO UPLOADING.



I went to the Nationals - horsejumping. So cool. I want a horse so bad.... ( i sound like i'm 12)



Backyard Sunday lunch at Ray and Dees with all the Matheson children and Joyce's kids and their kids. Such a great time. I was there early and had the priviledge of having a UNE (as deep talks are called by my Halifax friends - loosely translated from a "one on one" to the french version of "une on une" to a simple UNE) with Morris - we had such a deep talk for about 30 minutes - it was great!


Love love love this picture. The bride and groom (Dan and Caryn) with Dee and Dee's brother. They laughed so hard for so long - they were the loudest table in the room and it was a beautiful sound.

Surprise cake for Gerry's 60th - and his sisters made him (because his brothers are way too demure to do so) sit in Aunties walker. You can see him here literally asking "you want me to sit in Mom's walker?"

Yup - they do. So he did. Obedient little brother.

Marion, Mora, and Ruth. They all smile like this all the time. They are all this happy and real, its amazing to be around.

Owen chillin in Ray and Dees back yard (Joyce and Floyd's grandson)

1000 watt smiles.

The newlyweds making fun of the painting in their grandparents seniors complex. (pretending to be hiking)

Bella - sweet little girl of Matt and Sarah (Mora and Craigs daughter)

Morris and Ray goofing around

Dad conversing with Uncle Lloyd

The Matheson Clan.

As follows:L-R

Marion - lives in Toronto. Ruth married to Morris and lives in Seattle. David - lives in Chicago. Ray (we ALL know Ray). Gerry - married to Betty and lives in Edmonton. Mora - married to Craig and lives overseas. Joyce - married to Floyd and lives in Toronto.

Dang you double chin!!! (is this an age thing?? i've just noticed it!)

This is Darkise - after 12 years we see each other again - and she hasn't changed a bit! Love it!

Remember Banff last year? This is Mo who was part of the trio who made the trip. Bree is completely unaware that I'm taking a picture and is, at this point, asking herself "What the heck is Mo doing? She was just in the middle of a sentence."

Me and the gracious host.

The BBQ at Bree's didn't work, so we Foreman Grilled the sausages and cooked the burgs on the stove.

HAHA! This pic makes me both cringe in horror and burst out laughing. I look like I've been superimposed into the photo. I have put some weight on, but honest, not to this extent!! Isn't Uncle Lloyd precious?!

So in love with this kid.

Iris and Auntie.

Big Bro and Auntie.

Me and Auntie. She's the cutest little thing ever.

Handley and Auntie - after showing her how his Transformer worked. Tooo flippin' cute.

Ash and her fiance - Dave. He's awesome!!

Me n' Conrad. Somehow there is always a series of pictures of us trying to get a picture together. This is the in fact, the 'real pose'. Sad. :-)

Crazy Brit and I at Ash's surprise Bday party

Me n' ' the other Ash". Love that I know her!

Long Time, No See

Between moving and not having internet yet, having nothing productive to say and just not having time - I've been neglectful to my blog and to you, my faithful followers. BAHAHA. I kid. I kid.

I will give a run-down of what is happening.

I signed a 6 month lease on a sweet little apartment in a really cool part of Calgary. Its bright and airy and newly reno'd with a brand new stuff. I'm finding little things like wall art (stick on quotes etc) to make it nice for my time there. Because in 6 months, I can't imagine still being in this situation, so I'm sending positive energy to the universe so hopefully positive energy will come back to me and I'll be on my way to bigger and better things .... (your prayers for this anticipated event would be very very appreciated ;-)

I started working at a super cool Electrical Engineering firm in the trendiest part of the city;I love it there. I'm working at the front desk (thats where all the office administration work is done) and work with really neat people. And the office closes at 1 on Fridays. Every Friday!

I saw someone steal a bike the other day. Dirtbag. The person who owned it couldn't catch him. And I was in flipflops and office clothes, otherwise I'd have loved to take out my aggression on a lowlife bike thief. I would've grabbed him from behind and clobbered him. THEN told him he needed to know Jesus! How's that for vigilante evangalism?? Oh! And I was standing outside of Starbucks with Bree who was in her EMT uniform and this customer comes to the door and tells Bree that its her responsibility because shes in a uniform to go after the guy. She told him she was ambulance, not police and he said it didn't matter, that she in a uniform. Lazy guy. He was in a lot lighter clothes than her, if he was so concerned, he could've done it himself! haha

I got to spend a wonderful weekend with my dad all to myself, on Fathers Day at that. Ray and Dee's son got married to a girl from SA and the reception for family and Calgarians was here and Dad happened to be here that weekend and got to meet all the Matheson cousins. Amazing family, amazing weekend.

Bree had a bbq with all the crew from our whitewater rafting trip. (plus a few, minus a few). We had a lot of laughs, good stories, crazy antics and over eating.

Barry and Iris and kiddos came for a visit, and it was as usual, action packed and crazy. We had a great time and it was wonderful to hang out with the kids and be foolish and to have a much overdue heart to heart with Iris.

My friend from Vancouver, Darkise, was in Calgary and we went for dinner at Montanas. She's met, married, pregnant, and will give birth all within 11 months of meeting her now husband. Ain't that CRAZY ???!?!? She's completely happy and is literally mesmerizing to look at. She glows and has the sweetest smile and is the very same person I was lucky enough to meet while living in Van. She was the nanny to people I worked with and since we both went to church, were outgoing and 19, the mom thought we'd be great friends so she hooked us up!! She was right!!

Thats about it for now. I'm going to put up pictures in another post. Kinda backwards, but so I am these days, so as Landon says, "Let's just go with it".

xo Peace yo xo

Reality Check

So, as anyone who follows this blog knows, I've had a pretty harsh 1/2 year. I've come to terms with it recently and am just accepting that this is where I'm supposed to be right now. I hate it. But accept it. Is that combo even possible?
anyhoo ...
I was at Streetlight last night and one of the semi-regulars who is pretty outgoing, outspoken, has strong opinions on 9-11 and world leaders etc was there. Near the end of the night while he was once again waxing eloquent, he happened to mention that his mother was only 36. Now this kid is 6'3, had great clothes on, talking about finishing up some tickets for drilling - which wouldn't surprise me if it was the truth - he's highly intelligent.
I stopped him - put my hand on his arm as I often do when making a point - and asked him again how old his mother was followed by "how old are you???"
20 he said.
I was just staring up at him - up being the key word - I think my mouth was like a cod fish and I said to him and anyone else who would listen
"Oh my goodness, I am one year younger than your mother, you could be my kid" He continued on explaining his theory on life's cards we're dealt, I clearly was listening because I interrupted him with "I can hardly believe it, YOU COULD BE MY KID!!"
Dan, the biker dude who makes hysterically inappropriate remarks whenever he can, says appropriately enough this time "Do you feel old?"
The kid unfazed and a little annoyed that I was icing his game said "Yeah, she had me when she was 16", pats my back and says "but I thought you were 26, so you're doing ok." And without missing a beat, proceeds with his conversation.
I was torn between the sincerity of his comment and the dual reality that I AM old and that my situation isn't all that bad - I could be 35 with a 19 year old eating at a drop in center for street kids.

I'll take my life and its little bumps and bruises, thank you.

I Heart Mika

This just makes me happy .... favorite part is 3:19. Makes me want to put my sneaks on and go for a good run!! Trippy video, may not be your scene, and in fact, I don't even know what the song is about, but I love it and it evokes positive in me.