The Race is on!

Joe is in a pool at work and drew Joseph & Monica for Amazing Race 9. It's nice to see where these people go. Often Joe has already been there! Such an exciting life Joe has had. Aaron & Joe wanted to enter but the network won't allow CDNs...too bad!

The Apprentice however does have a former CDN on. We watched last night and sure enough, it was easy to spot the Canuck! But he had the winning idea for his team and survived the first firing. I just can't stand The Donald's hair! What a joke...now the real question...does our new PM have a hairpiece or is it just plastic?

Things come in 3's

I was so focused on sports this past weekend...Olympics and Scott's tourney I didn't hear about the 3 celebs we lost. Darrin McGavin, Don Knotts and Dennis Weaver. I grew up with Don Knotts, either as Barney Fife,Mr. Fulrey,or in the Apple Dumpling Gang movies with Tim Conway.

We almost got a photo of Dennis Weaver the year he was the parade marshall for the Calgary Stampede. My parents were out west for this occassion, from Newcastle. We went downtown and enjoyed the parade, then we drove to the LRT station to catch a ride to the exhibition grounds. Well didn't we leave the camera in the car. And who should get on our car at the next stop, but Dennis Weaver! He was very nice, sat down beside Dad and chatted until our stop.

Great memories even without the camera.

Some days!

I think the machines are winning....what to do, what to do...I think I'll have a wet, some dinner and then decide...do I drop kick the computer or shoot it?!

Stayed tuned or not!

I'm really not ignoring everyone!

I am having a new adventure with my computer...I think it is winning! It is all my fault for wanting something better but not wanting to open my ourse! STOP LAUGHING GIRLS!!!! You know I squeak when I walk, just like my Dad...the Scottish line runs deep! I think in the next day or so, I will do some serious pondering and comparision shopping and perhaps get into this century! Oh...guess who!

2 cents on photo radar

OK, no body likes it, we all realize that it is a cash grab tool much like GST. However there are a lot of drivers out there in the Edmonton area trying to 'fool' the camera. I've seen plates that are so old, the numbers are all cracked and you can't read them...so no ticket. Recently I seen a car that had a piece of blue translucent plastic over the entire plate...it was so blue it glowed! Now that's obvious...but he has still driving around with it, so no ticket for obscuring the plate...Last night takes the cake. Driving home, I got behind a truck that had the paint over the raised numbers rubbed/sanded off! You could just make out the raised edge of the vaious letters/numbers! Why aren't the cops stopping these people?????? Too busy re-loading the photo radar camers????

BTW - No, I have not gotten a photo radar ticket...I prefer to be pulled over in BC, and get a ticket writtern out to Mr. Alberta!

Look at what I found!

Hey good looking, who knew you played poker way back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, or in your case, the high seas!

Oops, too many cards to be poker, must have been Euchre!

Long johns rule!

I wasn't lucky enough to get lined jeans for the holidays but I did get a great pair of lj's...came in very handy yesterday and today. It was -31.9'C @ 6 am...a good day to go back to bed and read! But I didn't.

I finally able to start setting up the new office area, or at least the part that is almost finished. My phone lines are still dangling along the floor. I don't know where all this junk came from...well I do...it's MY JUNK! I'll have lots of time to sort, purge and shred next week when the Big Guy is back on the road, unless Joanne wants to start her painting project. She's been in her house ~ 20 years and has decided to paint her living/dining room. Oh, did I mention cathedral ceilings and she has a wood ceiling, not so forgiving! She picked out a green, I hope it's a grey green because her kitchen is a rich terra cotta! From builder's beige to WOW! Hey, life is too short NOT to play with all the colours in the crayon box!

Brrr!

We are finally getting a bit of cold weather...I replaced the batteries in my weather station and finally got some wind chill readings. This would have been all good a couple of months ago, but not now when I'm getting ready to start my tomato seeds!

Because of the forecasted cold weather, I couldn't see Lesley bundling up all the boys and driving up for an 'inside' weekend. We will drive down and then the boys are in their zones. If the weather co-operates, we will drop off a couple of very tired and dilapidated bookcases for Lesley's basement. We may even get our heads together and roughly plan out the Maritime tour this summer.

Stay warm everyone!

Where did the weekend go?

Seems like we didn't get anything accomplished, except eat! And we ate very well...Joe flashed up the ol' BBQ no less than 3 times! I did manage to finish my library book which is due today. Now to not get blown into tomorrow when I head to town to drop it off.

Dungeon update, we moved the file cabinets, and Joe removed the first full sheet of panelling. It took some figuring out because the T-bar ceiling went over the panelling...so how to remove just enough to get remove the old panelling without the whole ceiling coming down in a twist of aluminum! But I think we have a system figured out. So tonight we move the computer desk etc and then we have clear sailing to remove the rest of the panelling. Yeah!

Any Blue Collar Comedy fans?

I was cleaning out some files the other day, while the paint was drying...yeah, that's a good story...anyways, I came across a page from an old Jeff Foxworthy calendar...the date...December 23, which was a Wednesday. Those who have too much time on their hands can figure out which year...

You Might Be A Redneck If...

You've ever picked up

a woman in a

convenience store.

Aaron, I think I will keep the original in a safe place. I'll give it to you on your 25th wedding anniversary! Some things/people are worth having around.

Taking the night off!

I'm pleased with my effort, but I have so much more to do. But isn't that what weekends are for...working your *ss off and crawling back to work on Mondays???
I cleaned up my mess and shampooed the carpet where the bookcases will go. Maybe I'll get some other housework done tomorrow...maybe yes maybe no!

BTW - Willie is on the road again, should be home in time for tea & duff!

Progress

Well I got the sanding done and applied the drywall sealer. Yeesh...who would have thought that I'd be the one to seal the drywall in a house 27 years old!

I can paint some of the final colour on these 2 walls, but then I have to wait for a strong guy to show up and help me move my desk. Then we have the panelling to remove and more mudding etc...a vicious cycle! But the good news, so far I haven't spent any $$$ on this project. I'm using stuff I already had at home. Psst - don't tell Joe, but I'm going to get a couple new bookcases. I figure the old news are about ready to fall down unless I do some major repairs...cheaper to just replace these Victoria day relics! Right Joe? Thought so...now if you would help me pick them up - they are heavy!

Equal time

Well didn't Chow cop an attitude today! I found her sitting on my kitchen counter, looking out the window as casual as all get out. I tried to shoo her down but she just turned and looked at me. I think she seen the blog with Cody's picture...but no Chow! I eventually got to make peace with her but she wasn't going to put much effort into posing. So this is as good as it gets! Gee, what a great title for a movie...maybe Jack should be the star....mmmmm!

Who pulled the plug?

For the second day in a row, I've lost my electricity for ~ 90 minutes or so. Tonight it happened right when I was starting my supper. I was not impressed...what should have been a quick meal before I got back to Mudding 101 turned into an epic. Beans and weiners shouldn't take that long to cook. Now I don't have the interest or energy to get back to work. Not after re-setting all those digital clocks!

So goodnight, I'm going to bed to read! Goodnight Willie! Come on Cody...beddy bye time!

In his element!

That would be Joe! He called last night and by the sounds of it, he is so enjoying being back in Canada. He drives from remote camp to the next one, checking with managers, staff and the clients and trouble shooting whatever the current problems are. Sometimes it's something as simple as replacing a worn out meat slicer or as complex as replacing a whole crew. Anyways, I could tell Joe was smiling all the while calling out his postion over the radio. Now does heavy mean you are coming out, I've forgotten, over!

Water + Electricity = ?

I'm not sure why I'm hesitant about removing wallpaper around electrical outlets, but I am. Probably because I'm home alone and Cody & Chow don't know how to use the phone. It seems wrong that you need so much more moisture to remove the paper than to stick it up in the first place.

Looks like I put the in progress pic before the before pic...oh well use your imagination...it isn't very pretty either way. I did find out why there were 2 layers of paper in one certain area...Yup, it was covering something...dart holes! There are quite a few pokes all around a dart board size circle. So remember that if you ever need a quick fix before selling your house! Save the extra paper. What a bunch of morons!

In the dungeon today

For those not in the know...that's my basement computer area...I just hate the wallpaper over raw drywall and the fake wood panelling...how depressing is that?

Well I'm tending to this week's bills etc...mostly Dad's, then I'm off to the city to do Dad's banking and after lunch...I'm cranking up the tunes and getting at it.
I will try and get a few before pics as this progresses.


A quick and some what public thank you to Henry. I recently upgraded my computer system and it almost came to a stand still. At first I thought I had a dual boot. Henry asked about anti-virus/ anti spyware...and Yes it seems I had a second firewall running. The second came from the upgrade...a quick disable and things are running much smoother.

And...he's gone

He has his rented diesel 4 x 4 , his maps, hard hat,steel toed boots and a travel mug of java! Next stop, who knows! Oh, did I mention he has his company credit card??? I wonder what fuel costs in Fort St John this winter?

February already!

T4's are already coming in fast and furious. I just don't want to think about them right now....RRSP's seem to have jumped to the front of the line! What am I gonna do? I just wish that the Ralph bucks would spread a little wider than they did! Sleep tight Joey & Alex on your new beds at Nannie & Papa's house! That, my friends and family was a most excellent investment!