Best place on earth... Kyle thinks so

Michael kissing a 'gold bar' - of course it is chocolate...

Two cute kids + one ground squirrel = good times

I got my sister to take this photo of me - I chucked a bunch of snowballs at the car - hoping to catch one of me throwing - this was taken on Saturday May 23 - between Jasper and Lake Louise

home

I'm home.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Happy long weekend.

Love to you!

good morning

Hello world - I'm in Second Cup in Edmonton (one of hundreds - seems like Second Cup is bigger than Starbucks here) enjoying a lovely soy carmel latte and a muffin (the muffin sucks) - they have free internet if you give up your facebook account... I have to catch the train soon and managed to weasel a free umbrella from the front desk staff since I wasn't smart enough to bring a jacket. I remember looking at my jacket and thinking - take it, don't take it... don't take it - you'll be fine.. and here I am in a great big rain storm jacketless... but the umbrella helps :)

I enjoy this part of the commute. Looking at people - seeing what they are like, what they are wearing - I'm people watching.

Anyway - just wanted to wish everyone a good morning and hope that your Friday is amazing and for those going away for the long weekend - enjoy and have a great one - and for those who will be home - I have no doubt that I will have some amazing photos from the drive back to Q-town tomorrow.

Hugs & smooches - love to you!

ps. insecurity #256 - I'm wearing yellow today - this is a phenomenon... I feel like I look like a chicken - I'm working to get over it :)

last night in edmonton

Well my lovelies I'm nearly headed home. It has been a long week of training - good training - but long. I'm not staying where most people are - but maybe that is for the best. It means that I'm not out too late and I've had time to work on my own little projects.

It poured here tonight - I mean it rained as hard as I've ever seen it rain. Guess what happens when it rains that hard - that's right - giant, honkin' puddles - I took a cab back from where I was tonight and he drove through those puddles like a pro. It was fantastic! FANTASTIC! We yakked the whole way back about where he was from and what brought him to Edmonton - it was nice - the best cab drive yet and a great ambassador for Edmonton.

So I'm packed and ready for the next leg - I'm headed to Calgary tomorrow and then me and Mel are driving home. I'm totally looking forward to that. Long drive - but we've never done anything like that before so I'm looking forward to it - plus I'm hoping to see Carmen tomorrow night :)


A beautiful bloom at the University of Alberat - great campus!

today in photos...

I'm burnt... just so you know - I'm sure that was something you were wondering about... I totally burnt my chest today - like a fool - I've never burned my cleavage before but it is burnt... burnt and I'm stupid... I know - what was my cleavage doing out in the sun... well the sun was shining down and it got the girls... and the girls are crying like an old woman tonight.


A beautiful plant that I found on my walk today and the building in the background is also a tea house... lovely.


This is me being a big girl in a big city. My hotel gave me crappy directions and sent me through a dingy terrible part of Edmonton - I actually took a different way home tonight because I was worried about it. Dark hall ways, long hall ways, corners, hidden spots - not good... but I made it - and then took the train to the uni...


So this sign is for those people that might try to use another body part to make the walk signal go... I actually didn't touch the button after this because I started thinking - if they have to put signs up like this - odds are - someone is using something other than there finger to push the button...

Edmonton

I'm in the city that has a rash of crime issues right where my hotel is - awesome - probably should have looked into that before booking... the hotel I'm in is right were some people were stabbed for no reason...

And tonight - well I wanted sushi - so I walked through the downtown to 'i love sushi' about eight blocks from here... and I get there.. and of course, it is closed. I make my way back a different way hoping to find something else - I don't - I find Sobey's - and get some sushi (brown rice sushi - and it is terrible) and then walk back. I'm about to cross the street - got my little walking dude single to go when this girl rushes through the intersection - cell phone in hand - gabbing away... she makes it another block - and that is where she blew a red light and t-boned a car - her car went end over end and then rolled... I stood in shock - I couldn't believe what just happened.

So friends - family - stay off your cell phones - I'm sure she thought she had it all in hand - but she nearly ran me down and then destroyed lives and vehicles... it was complete madness. Lots of people went running - so I didn't feel like I needed to run over and see her hanging out of her car... but then upon calling home and telling the story I went back to see if they needed my story... I'm walking up to the car - it is a right off - done... and there she is - sitting on the ground - pissed - she is actually looking mad... she is lucky to be alive - very very lucky. They were writing up her tickets by the look of things - she had some obvious bruises and torn pants - but after seeing it roll over in such a violent manner I wouldn't have guessed she walked away.

Anyhow... so now I'm just going to stay in my room - I have to take a train from downtown to class and tonight I grabbed the wrong train (I had a 50% chance of getting it right) - I got on and kept thinking - I don't remember it being so much above ground and then we came to the end of the station - so then I think - I better get off and as I take two steps off I realize that this train is now going in the right direction - but it is too late and so I sit at a station in the middle of nowhere... I get on the next one and what should have taken me 20 minutes, tops, takes me 90 minutes... so I've had enough today. I'm in Edmonton until Friday.

a few more pics...

Boredom + Nothing Fun to do = Rice Krispy Sushi - that's right - everything in this photo is edible and sweet. Wasabi chocolate (green food coloring plus chocolate), ginger (chopped dried apricot), then the rolls are combinations of rice krispy squares plus fillings - licorice, dried fruit, chocolate... it has been a hit and is definitely something fun to talk about :)


Yep - the apple tree is in bloom - hooray :) And I can't help myself and have to be goofy... and have some fun.



And now I'm going to turn off the stupid canucks game and do some work. Hugs and smooches to you :)

admission

Friends, family - I'm retarded. I know. To many of you this comes as no surprise... some may have always wondered.. well now it is official. So why come clean now? Well tonight I was practising clarinet (I know - now I'm not right in the head and a geek) and I kept thinking - man, this really really doesn't sound right. You see, I finally bought a practice book so I could really start practising. I'm playing the lone ranger song, and things just aren't adding up.

Now Carmen may or may not remember the day she explained to me why dyed hair wasn't as big a deal as I thought. You see we were going to dye my hair for the first time in university and I said I didn't really want to get it done because I didn't want the tips to be different colors. That's right... Carmen, then explained to me that - poor, sweet, April - hair actually grows from the root, just like plants grow from roots... and then there is me finding out in February that beer is carbonated... that's right - there are bubbles in beer... to a none beer drinker - it was pretty unbelievable... how didn't I know that... well I'd never had beer before and I thought it was bubbly on tv because it was... well, frankly, I have no idea.. I just thought it was going to be like brown wine.. I know - it is a bigger hole I'm digging, but it is true.

And then tonight I decide I better look up the fingering charts because I must be just a little off. Well it turns out that all the practicing and believing that I was getting better was completely wrong. You see I was playing my clarinet just like a flute (no - I wasn't holding it to the side of my head - I just mean with and my oboe (which I totally and completely miss) and it turns out that the clarinet is TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY different! I mean, it isn't even kind of similar... and so now I have to learn a whole new fingering system... what it really makes me want to do is go buy an oboe.. but them's are EXPENSIVE... it is, however, my favorite instrument... maybe one day.

Alright - so there you go... how do I get out of bed every day and then do the job I do... not sure... but it all works...

ha

Well the legendary Ms Betty White was on SNL tonight - so I totally stayed up for it...

I loved the dusty muffins skit - awesome! They definitely pushed the envelope - it was great!



It is Mother's Day now - so Happy Mother's Day to all my fabulous mother readers and for my male friends reading - call your mom today and tell her you love her! Mom's like that.

another cup of above average joe

I know... my pants have been on fire since Sunday... sure I was going to load photos... I was.. really... but I'm back now - if you'll have me :)

I went to 100 Mile yesterday and had this...

This is a beautiful soy caramel latte. Now you need to think of So I Married An Axe Murderer and the giant cups they had - this was the same... it took a long long time to drink... now - it was not as good as the amazing Hawaii brew - that was fantastic and I don't know if I will ever top that cup of coffee... but this was good... best since then...


And another photo... what do you see here...?


Boys are good - enjoying spring - plants are growing, apple trees are starting to bloom - all good.

why no photos...

Sorry gang - I've been busy this week and unable to offer photos. My grandfather died on Wednesday and we are holding a "service" ish type thing today. My sister arrived yesterday and it sounds like there will be about 30 people at my grandparents house tonight.

I will have photos to post - blogging is a nice distraction - love to all of you.

apologies

I made it home.

There will be photos soon.

I suck... but you still like me :)

More soon.

xxoo

is it possible...

Is it possible that anything could have gotten better between the last post and this... ah... well as it turns out I hadn't seen the last of the barenaked ladies. I was in the Halifax airport this morning and I'm sitting with someone from the training, when it looks like she is choking, but then I realize that she sees something behind me and then she shouts out "Ed". I kind of laugh and then jump up and point at my shirt - cause I was wearing it - and shout that it was a great concert.

Ed and Jim - just walking through the airport - awesome!

And then... I decide to get going to wait for my flight and get through security. Halifax goes through my bag extra thoroughly - xray and then by hand (see how I didn't say hand job... oh wait, and then I said it anyway... lol) and I make my way to my gate. Well I've got time, my flight is delayed so I walk through the airport and who do I see... Jim - sitting all by himself - and so I say "Hi, can I be an bad fan and have you sign something..." - sure - he has a sharpie all ready to go... AWESOME
I don't want to be a pain so I'm thinking this will be quick, but instead he strikes up a conversation - asks where I'm going, I ask where he is going. He tells me about his next concert - it was wicked. And then I said thank you very much and off I want - damn near flying away... awesome!

Ok - so now I was in Halifax at 6am at the airport (that's 2 am BC time) - I am now in BC and it is 4:45pm and I'm bagged. I slept through most of the flight from Calgary to Vancouver and then had to deal with an arse at the YVR check in to fly home... arg - should have just stayed on freakin' west jet... she actually gave me a speech on my luggage - I know - my luggage is falling apart - but it is falling apart because of the jack asses that chuck it around at the airport - I'm certainly not destroying it at home. In any case she labels all my bags and repeats a few times how bad my bags are... for five cents! Anyway - I was fully prepared to get crazy because I'm tired, but I just shrugged it off and carried on my way. Now I sit and wait - my flight to finally get home is almost two hours from now... booooo.... but at least I'll be home :)

And no... and I didn't get a photo of Jim, I felt like I'd ask for enough and was just pleased that he would sit and talk to me for a minute. It is, however, etched in my memory ;)

last night

Alright my fabulous family and beautiful (sexy, even) friends :)

Tonight I went to BARENAKED LADIES - and no, this doesn't mean I had a hand full of dollah bills, it means that I got to see my favorite band.. and I got to be in the 6th row on the freakin' floor and sing and sing and sing - it was fantastic! And I'm not talking a little fantastic - it was giant, exploding fantastic!



So here I am after the show in my hotel room - dawning my new shirt - hooray!

Today I had some free time and got to see Halifax - there is some pretty cool shopping and the best farmers' market I've been to in all of Canada! Unbelievable! I'm all about markets and that place is amazing!

So what else... well I took a few other pictures... (just a few... lol)


Ok - so I will share one more little story... so I went to get something at the drugstore across the street - drop off some more postcards - and walk around... ho hum... walking, walking, walking... um hold the freakin' phone - that is Tyler from Barenaked Ladies - I kid you not... but just to be sure... I walk by him again... and again...

I say nothing, because what do you say to celebrities... I know.. just a week ago Paula and I stalked Adam Sandler - but he was in a car and he totally could have done up his windows and ignored me... Tyler was actually shopping and really looking for something... so I didn't want to be a jackass and bug him. So then I take my time buying stuff and yes... friends - he totally joins the line - so I'm standing in line with Tyler - aaahhhhhhhhhh! Alright - so I go outside and tweet about my experience and then take my very sweet time walking out... I let him catch up... then I go outside and off he goes for the show... and then I see him on stage from my sixth row seat - well where I was standing from. And now it is nearly midnight here and I've got to catch a cab at 5:30am. Love to you - love and hugs and smooches.

Oh wait - one addition - so the ticket clearly said - no cameras or video equipment - so I bring nothing - I know - I'm retarded... but I haven't been to a concert in a while and I don't want my camera taken away from me - so I'm stuck using my cell phone for photos... and of course - we get in there and everyone has GD'n cameras... so here is one photo from the concert - but it sucks - it was, however, unbelievable to be soo close.



Ok - wait - one more story from the show (this isn't G-rated). This nice older couple sits next to me - late 50's/early sixties... they are nice and chatty and talk about other concerts they've been to - then the woman swears a bit - which I just roll off... people swear - then the older guy starts dropping the f-bomb .. ok - so I'm listening a little... they are just having fun... about 20 minutes later a "cute couple" (like the ones on my flight to Hawaii) are taking photos of themselves - lots and lots and lots of photos - I mean - at least 50... and so the old guy next to me says - wow that guy is so getting a BJ tonight - so I totally start howling - because - who says that... not old guys at a BNL concert - so being the arse that I am - I agree... because it made it funnier... I'd share another story from someone else we heard talking at the concert but it has waaaayyyyyy too many curses and terrible things to share... nearly embarrassing to repeat :)

day 3/4

Today is project day and I'm loving it. This is what I love to do - we get a problem and we need to solve it and we have a finite amount of time to get it done. I'm on a short break right now and then heading back.

Halifax has finally brightened up - it isn't what I expected, but there are some beautiful places... if you needed to go to a place with pubs and friendly people everywhere I couldn't suggest a better city. Our hotel is in heart of downtown Halifax and there are lots of shops and pubs in walking distance. Best thing so far - we went to a fantastic restaurant called the Wooden Monkey that serves organic foods and has amazing staff. If you ever come to Halifax or if you are here, it is the place to go.

So that is it for right now... I'm going to grab something to eat and head back to our assignment.

Why couldn't I get this excited and interested when I was going to university...

day 2

Nothing very exciting to report today - long day in class... had a good dinner and went for a run.
I'm heading to take more photos tomorrow - so there should be something far more exciting tomorrow night.

Hugs and kisses :)

day 1

Well after three hours of sleep I made it through the first day of training. We got out before it was dark and I managed to walk around downtown a bit. It is 11pm here and I'm totally not adjusting to the time change - it still feels like 7pm. Not much to share.. just some photos tonight.


Here is the streetscape overtop Toronto as we departed last night. I've always liked these kinds of photos.



This is the Citadel in downtown Halifax - I walked up to the top to take some photos of the harbour. It was super windy... as you'll see in the next photo.


Sorry I haven't started back combing my hair - it was just this windy :)


Last but, certainly not least, I went and walked over to the churches and on my way, passed this mannequin who had the largest mannequin boobs I've ever seen... this was a block from the church.

halifax

So I don't have a dramatic story to share with you today - no time line of events.. it has been a long long day! I woke up in the beautiful hotel room, packed up quickly and made it through check in and security in under 15 minutes. I met another ec dev officer and then we boarded the flight to Toronto - flight was good, but the landing - well it was a little worrying.. but I'm getting used to this whole flying thing and seriously - I zipped across a canyon on a rope - why am I worrying about flying...

Got off in Toronto - grabbed my second coffee and then got back on the plane - then we found out that there was a delay - so add an hour and then add two more for the flight. Then - because someone is playing a joke on me - I come from 75-80 degree weather to minus temps and snow... awesome - there are inches of snow here and it is cold - and I have my great Hawaii clothes and no sweaters... great...

So I had two cups of coffee and a granola bar today, so once we arrived we found a pub, grabbed some food and now I'm back in the hotel room and figuring out how to get some sleep - it is 2am here and my class starts at 8. Yep, tomorrow is going to be fantastic! I'm going to unload some stuff, and then try to get some sleep.

Halifax first impressions - cold, sad that there is snow, saw a rat within 15 minutes of walking to pub, pub was nice and the people here are loud and fun, hotel room is nothing like last nights but I knew it couldn't be that good.... although - it was actually cheaper in Vancouver at that beautiful place than here...

Ok - I'm going to clean up and get some shut eye - photos tomorrow night of Halifax :)

in Vancouver

I made it back to Vancouver. Arrived at 10:45 ish - made it through customs quickly - and made my way to the hotel. Coming to this hotel was a great decision. The hotel room is the best I've stayed in and is beautiful. I'm bagged, but also adjusting to the time change - since I just lost three hours. So what happened on the flight... well I thought I'd share another story of my flight - so I took notes :) This starts this morning while I was still in Hawaii.

So we knew this week that there was a film crew on Maui and I guess I'd been keeping my eye out for the cast... a little...
Paula and I went out this morning for a quick jaunt that turned into a paparazzi job :) We were driving along the ocean and I see a green shirt and then I take a closer look and I blink... no... can't be...

I say to Paula - "um, I think we just passed Adam Sandler"
Nah... can't be... but Paula being a true celebrity hunter pulls into the middle lane and pretends to turn. We sit and wait since no one is coming - and then he passes us and I say "I think that really is him." But we really can't tell for sure - but there are two cars in procession - one in front of his - they are the same vehicle and we start to think - maybe this is security... Paula knows the road better than me - for sure - and says - 'ok, let's follow him to where there are two lanes - if he stays in the right lane we can pass him and see... so we get there... giddy... is it him... and then we pass and it totally is - we pass and see security - security can see it is a bunch of goofy morons and so they just smile at us - and then we sit and wait at the turn... so here are the photos of Mr. Adam Sandler.




Alright - so that was pretty cool and it gave us a story for a while :)
But what else happened...

1:15pm (Hawaii time) - getting ready for flight back to Canada, can't believe we say freakin' Adam Sandler
4:40pm (BC time) - on plane - rescue gum, check, sitting with another cute couple - with any luck they will control themselves till we get to vancouver
4:46pm - Kahului Airport - looking at sign - flight attendant just asked if any of us wanted to stay... 5 hours and 17 minutes to get home today... and we are leaving early...
4:50pm - tired - wondering if I can sleep or rather, if I should sleep - crazy schedule ahead - hopeful hotel tonight is amazing and I can get a good nights sleep - though to sleep without crashing waves in background - it will be sad... oh... crying child alert - please hand out the drugs - please...
4:55pm - moving - hooray
5:16pm - in the air, 16,000 ft - got some good photos of haleakala, 435 mph
5:18pm - "ain't no rest for the wicked, till we close our eyes for good"
5:21pm - fill out declaration card - yawn, tired, coffee isn't helping - it was lame starbucks - missing cafe des ames in pa'ai - mmm soy latte - soooo gooooood!
5:26pm - thought bug climbed down my top.. turns out it was my ear bud for my shuffle... yep - I'm that tired... at least I didn't shout
5:37pm - sleepy - trying to read - was going to watch another movie but nothing I wanna see is on. New love birds are sharing a sandwich... great... maybe I could sleep for a little while.. wait those great cookies are probably coming soon - ha ... mmmm - popcorn would be good right now
5:45pm - I love the string piece in 'as time goes by' - one of my favorites
5:47pm - gum is now stale - need tissue to toss - no sign of less than fantastic cookies - can't believe I saw Adam Sandler this morning - still laughing about that
5:49 pm - completed photo assignment - must remember to mail to magazine
5:53pm - couple update - male subject is going through bag of mixed nuts and picking out his favorite and leaving the rest behind - turns out they just got married...
5:55pm - I see the crappy cookie cart - woohoo!
6:01pm - still waiting for crappy cookie - couple is watching twilight
6:06pm - ok - so the twilight guy just peeled off his shirt - holy moly - yes, I'm being nosy... again
6:10pm - ah.... juice and crappy cookies - hooray
6:15pm - much better after snack - much, much better - 36636 ft, 527 mph, 4 hours and 10 minutes till vancouver
6:58pm - alright - I'm caving - I'm going to try and sleep, 52 pages of book read... need nap...
7:25pm - yeah for me, I slept, and now my jaw is locked, for five cents, and I'm cold. brrrr - ice on windows, 38,000 ft 525 mph
7:30pm - queen of style that I am - I just tossed my water bottle between the seats like a moron - nice person behind me gave my bottle back which gave me the chance to consume tylenol to aid jaw and ear - thank goodness I packed some in my bag
7:34pm - couple is cuddling and watching burned tv shows - smart - I could get my laptop out, but if I do that it will lead to work - trying to avoid till vancouver - ok - so I answered emailed while I was away - but I didn't actually pack my phone with me - well most of the time - I know - it is shocking
7:52pm - turbulence - I see burnt people - many, many burnt people - I was so good - lathered up on my sunscreen - only burned one spot that I guess I didn't get... but it is all better now...
8:07pm - starting to notice sky change - ear still hurts, a lot, didn't know I needed to keep receipts for stuff I bought - great - didn't buy much so I should be good
8:13pm - didn't mention that I was the lucky winner of being screened more thoroughly - the guy was nice about it though - he also gave me $10 after - is that normal? (lol)
8:17pm - pilot is in our part of the plane - when did they start getting breaks - who's flying us through the turbulence - great 38,000 ft and he's having coffee
2 hours and 10 mins left - that was good turbuance - yeeha - and pilot is still gabbing
8:20pm - zip trek guide had going to Calgary stampede on his bucket list - he was pretty excited that our group knew country music - well my friends did - me - well I know some, but not lots
8:25pm - more crappy cookies - orange juice - awesome - 578 mph, 37000 ft
8:36pm - pretty sure my left hearing is gone - I can hear the roar of the plane but everything else is dull and not really making sense - very garbled
8:42pm - definitely not hearing correctly in left ear - pilot just came on and I had to take out right headset to hear - just got the canucks score - love that.. 2-2 tie
8:44pm suns going down - intense cloud cover nearly the entire flight - 577 mph, 37195 ft... ah, princess bride music that's nice with the sunset
9:15pm - I see a star, time to make a wish
9:26pm - bored and jaw continues to hurt
9:45pm - hooray - the satellite is working again...
10pm - wow - 15 min of SNL - my day has come full circle - got to see an SNL cast member and now I"m watching an episode - a crappy one.. but SNL nonetheless - we should be landing soon - hooray for that - I'm hungry
11:02 - luggage has arrived
12:00am - food
12:30am - bath
1am... alright - need to get ready to sleep for a while... stupid time change

What of the hotel... ah... well a few pics...


So the tub was about 6 1/2 ft long and super deep and amazing - and when I left the door open I could lay in the tub and watch tv... awesome!

So tomorrow I'm off to Halifax. Just four hours ahead of Vancouver (that's seven hours change from Hawaii) - good times!
I'm sure I'll have something to share tomorrow night...
Hugs and smooches to everyone! Love you.

last full day...

So tomorrow morning I head back to the main land and the real world. I've pretty much avoided the news this week - other than to look at CNN once and start hoping that volcanic ash will head in this direction so flights will be cancelled out of here.. :)
Not really though - I'm a little home sick and I've still got another eight days to go.

Today included more fabulous coffee, some shopping (first I've done this trip), beach hunting and a look at a nice church. We went to dinner at the Outback and not australian and had terrible service. I had six shrimp and they weren't that good... then we went to a sushi place late tonight - which - I gotta say - didn't hold a candle to the sushi in Quesnel... which was good to know but rather disappointing...

And now for some photos...

This little flower was smaller than my pinky finger nail...

This plant was bigger than my hand - it was HUGE!