Thursday already???!

Tunes to get me out of a funk

1. Paul Simon - Kodachrome
2. Fleetwood Mac - Gyspy
3. REM - Shiny Happy People
4. Celine Dion - Drive
5. Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
6. Tom Cochrane - The Untouchable One
7. Mason Williams - Classical Gas
8. Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
9. Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash
10. Kenny Loggins - Footloose
11. Brooks & Dunn - My Maria
12. Katrina & the Waves - Walking on Sunshine
13. John Mellancamp - Pink Houses

Eric will be in the house!

Joe just got the location of our seats for the upcoming Eric Clapton show...we are in row 7! There's nothing quite like paying beaucoup de $$$$ & not know where you are going to be sitting! But hey, club seats al la Fleetwood Mac, can't be bad. Now to start saving some money for an over priced t-shirt or 2. Thanks for the big scoop Joe!

Deal or No Deal?

It would appear that they have enough contestants to select from and are now searching for some Canadian babes to open the case.

Seeing as most of the family would appear to have entered this contest, I thought perhaps I should be a Babe. However on second, third & forth thought NAAAA!

I think Miss Piggy could do a better job - now can we make her an honourary Canuck?

What do you do when the hot chocolate doesn't work?

It is so cold outside....I usually don't mind the cold. I have all the cold weather gear -I used to be outside all the time in Cold Lake, exploring the trails along the creek with Cody. This year, even with a down parka, sorels and such on...I'm feeling it. I can't remember the last time I had a hot flash! What is going on with me?

Please dont' let it be old age!

Joe plugged my little car in last night and it started easier today. Cody & I did a drug store &recycle run and got the temperature gauge to move a little bit. But it's just too cold to do anything other than curl up (Joe's not here to warm me!) with a good book or movie. Hey there's an idea, sure beats looking out the window at the chimney smoke going straight up! An old movie is better than a new day of shivering! Stay warm everyone!

1 squirt per visit!

Seeing as the highways were treacherous yesterday and we missed the great magic show at Joseph's birthday party, we decided to start the search for Joe's next signature scent.

The old standby - Old Spice - is a given. He's been getting it from Santa in his stocking, the girls on a tight budget, and so forth. But it's a good product, not expensive just the same every year. They don't change the packaging or the recipe.

But Joe has decided he wants something 'new'. He's not sure what it is, he just wants a change. He did the Givenchy Pi, Red Label, Blue Label and Davidoff Cool Water ( one of my favorites!) He liked Opium for men but they don't make that anymore. He liked Dolce Gabbana, can't find the right scent.

It would seem that part of the problem is the new concept of gender neutral scents! Why would I want to smell like my husband? Anyways, Joe sniffed away with a coffee bean chaser for about 20 minutes. He tried one he thought may be OK, not great, just OK...but after a squirt on, it was so WRONG! It smelled...PINK!

I'll be picking up another year's supply of something old & spicy!

Wasn't that a party!

After a failed attempt at getting my pantyhose on...I went with Joe's suggestion...wear pants and be comfortable! What a joke those sizes on the packages are! 1 size has never fit me since I became a Mom and those suggestions of A,B or C are totally off the mark.

Joe drove in, I drove home. What an arrangement - 50/50! So I had a sip of Bailey's while trying to wiggle into the hose, a glass of wine with dinner and then juice & water. Have to watch all those evil calories...I did have a huge slice of chocolate cake. Mmmm!

After prime rib & turkey dinner, we had a trivia game - our table lost - and then the hypnotist did his thing. There was 1 real star of the show, we knew that about 3 mintues into the seeion when the suggestion was - you are a fish. Slowly, ever so slowly Paul's hands crept up past his shoulders, and then they started to swell like fish gills! Game on!

So, good food, entertainment, door prizes and great company made for a memorable evening.

Dragging today!

We were 'blessed' with 20 cm of the white stuff yesterday. Poor Joe, you gottas feel for him. He left the house ~ 6:40 am and didn't get home until 6:45 pm! He's putting in half days again! Of that he put in 8-5 at the office, the rest was the lousy commute. Roads were horrendous, people advised to stay home or at least slow down. But in the oil patch, this is the busy time of year...eveyone wants their camp out NOW! Top that off with a little secret project Joe was working on for much of the day. I'll let him blog about that coup.

BTW...this sign is at Joe's warehouse doors. I was sitting & waiting while he did some troubleshooting last weekend...and I got bored and dug out the camera. The only other possible interesting shot would have been the stacks of milk crates! But that would only bring back bad memories of the White Elephant!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen (+ 4) Places I have Lived Algonquin Street, North Bay, ON Neebig Street, Manitouwadge ON Vanier Blvd, Bathurst, NB Bernon Street, Bathurst, NB Heath Court, Newcastle, NB Windsor House, Sackville, NB St. Margarets, NB Cunard Street, Chatham, NB Victoria Road, Dartmouth, NS Yypes/Normandy Cres, Kingston, ON Ottawa St, Ralston, AB Tribune Cres, Victoria, BC Dakota Cres, Summerside, PEI Caen Cres, Kingston, ON Erin Mount Place, Calgary, AB Elm Cres, Cold Lake, AB 90th Street, Morinville, AB Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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I shouldn't even look, but I DO!

For those who don't know, Joe gave me a weather station last year. I have an updated every 2 minutes report of outside temperature, wind direction & speed, wind chill factor, how much rain/snow...Humidity...Barometric pressure...Etc...And a likely forecast of what's to come. I also have the lowest temp to date and highest. Yeah, right, who cares about hot in November? I KNOW it's cold out there...So why do I torture myself by knowing EXACTLY how cold? I guess I'm just a sucker for punishment!

I'm going to NOT look so cute on Saturday, going to Joe's company Christmas bash, all dressed up in a little black dress, stockings & heels and a down jacket & Sorels! I guess we'll have to get there early and check our coats fast. My luck, I'll forget my dress shoes and have to clump around in my boots!

Maybe a miracle will happen and we'll get a chinook...one can always hope! Stay warm everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends! Gotta love turkey & all the trimmings!

Rough start to my day!

Joe was SUPPOSED to have an ultrasound today...he's feeling some pain where they did the surgery last year...BUT someone ate breakfast. Now we wait for a new appointment. I'll get over it...I did my part with a fat free supper the night before. Sorry Joe, I should have put your instructions in a more prominent spot...guess the front of the frig wasn't obvious enough. I am upset with myself.

Oh well, on the brighter side of things, I found Krista's blog and have added to it my list of nice people. We now have a personal point of view on this whole boil water scenerio that Vancouver is under. Those poor people, I just can't imagine that many people without drinkable tap water.

Well, back to baking, at least it should help keep me warm today. Minus 17 when I got up...brrr!

Happy Day!

As Joseph ( the 4 yr old version) would say - 'Happy Day!'

Eric Clapton is coming to Edmon-chuck in March! Now to dig out my seating chart and plan our next concert!

3 Hours shouldn't be that big a deal!

We drove down to Cowtown Saturday, the weather has nice when we left home. The snow banks changed into ice banks around the Red Deer area. You could see lots of spots where cars had ploughed into the ditches. About 20 minutes later...the white stuff was gone!

Calgary got up to +14 Sunday...people walking around in t-shirts etc. We drive back to our little town and there it is...snow banks! We still have snow knee deep everywhere! I guess I should just shut up, and enjoy what we have...rumour has it, the bottom will drop out of our thermometer this week. Talking about minus 20 by Thursday!

Lucky us!

Busy weekend ahead!

Our truck is back in the shop...more fuel injector problems...had 2 replaced last month...Joe said fix 'em all this time! So we may be heading to Cow town Saturday morning in the VW, loaded to the gills!

We are dropping off Joseph's birthday present - in case we can't do the return trip on the 26th, some baby stuff for Heather & Jeff and as many Christmas presents that we can fit!

Saturday evening is Ultimate fighting for the guys...not sure what the ladies will do...baby talk, wedding talk, or just gossip. Sunday we will make arrangements for Jonathan's crib mattress! Oops...leaving that until the last minute!

I hope to be back home for the second half of the Grey Cup game. I'd like to see it all, but let's be realistic about the roads etc. We aren't quite as crazy as we were in 1997 when Joe & I, along with Ted Steinke did a return trip from Cold Lake to Edmonton to sit about 8 rows up from the 50 yard line...and then afterwards, drive BACK to Cold Lake for work Monday! No drinking for us! Great game...TO beat SK 47-23, Doug Flutie MVP. So I would be happy with even the last quarter, some chicken wings or nachos & a cup of tea - all in my pj's! For those not in the know, Cold Lake is ~3hrs from Edmonton...so 6 hours of driving plus time to find parking, sit through the game, try and make your way out to where you think you parked, grab some food/coffee for the return trip yada yada yada...extremely long day, but well worth the memories!

Have a great weekend!

My head hurts!

Picture it...I'm in the kitchen chopping the veg for our supper stir fry...The phone rings. I figure it's Joe saying he's running late.

Nope, it's WalMart wanting to know if I'm going to be in soon to pick up my photos...They have been sitting there for quite a while. Photos, I don't remember dropping off film for developing...I ask again which Wal Mart, the one in St Albert...No...Milton. Milton, where's Milton...I figure it's one of the city suburbs...After the third time of her saying it...it went ding! Milton Ontario! I said I hadn't dropped of any film, she must have the wrong number...I'm in a small northern AB town. She again confirmed my name...But she said the envelope was a little smudged...She was trying to be very persuasive...But I finally had to say, sorry I won't be in to pick up this film! I think she must have did an online 411 search with the few letters she got decipher. That shouldn't have thrown off my night's rhythm, but it did. What was I thinking...Milton!

It's not cool to PANIC!

I'm not sure why this sense of urgency came over me today. That's not like me. What with cookie exchange baking to do, I do have my ingrediants, sewing for Jonathan's room - done except to figure out how to make the bedskirt so Heather can shorten it when the mattress is lowered, sewing ultra suede curtains for Lesley, making burb cloths for J, planning the best safe investment for Dad, and then, oh ya...I'm not going to be home from late November until 10 December! I think I found the problem!!!!!

Jeff has a road trip to go on and I volunteered to go down and keep HL company...just in case she has the baby early. I can be the coach, right?! I'm looking forward to the visit, it's just the logistics of the trip. If the roads are bad, I'll go by greydog, but I can't take much , including Cody. Joe will be down there for Dec 8 ...so he's my ride home. But if the roads are good and I drive, I can take all my junk and my dog. Joe can either go by greydog and come back with me OR drive & we have 2 vehicles down there! See my dilema. Decisions, decisions!

I just realized we have Christmas gifts to bring down as well as Joseph's birthday gift. I hope to come back with my carpet cleaner. We loaned it to HL when we painted, not knowing that our cat Chow would be sick on the carpets a couple of times! Thanks Chow...that should help me get my new carpet!!!!

Well have you figured out what the photo is of? I made 6 assorted burb cloths for Jonathan's care givers! There's not a teddy bear to be seen, closest cute one is the green with lady bugs on it. The others should be manly enough for Daddy Jeff, Papa Joe, Uncka Aaron and Grandpa Bob. There's even a couple of spare in case Joseph and Alex want to give holding Jonathan a try...under Mommy's supervision of course! I did the work, Lucie supplied all the fabric except for the lady bugs(Les'). She gave me those about 2 years ago and they were so small I didn't know what to do with them...behold...burb cloths. All ready to go, now where is Jonathan hiding???

Looking out my windows!

To see what I can see - lots of white stuff!

Did I scare everyone away? No comments on this glorious winter scene! It is November you know.

The first 2 are out the back door and the last is out the front towards the street. For those not in the loop, Alberta cities NEVER or ALMOST NEVER plow residential streets. The exceptions are along bus routes but they are the lowest priority. Joe likes to pretend he's a snowplow when he has his snowblower out and will blow from Linda & Des's house, past ours and over to the other side of Joanne's driveway. I do wonder about him sometimes!!!! But it sure makes parking along the front nicer!

A little too much?

I got used to working off a clipboard at my last job. I had a lot of papers pending etc and had to be on top of everything. The office was a shared space with Dale-owner & site operator, Buffy-food manager and me, assistant manager/purchaser. Needless to say, because I spent most of my time out of the office, I had the smallest bit of real estate - a clipboard! I had my time on the computer, ordering, inputting inventory etc...but between telephone calls, meeting with salespeople, delivery drivers, receiving goods and keeping my stock room in order...I was nowhere close to a desk. And the clipboard became my best tool. My second best was 2 dry erase calendars.

Anyways, I digressed there! I seen this idea for altering AKA decorating, a clipboard. http://creativeorganizing.typepad.com/creative_organizing/2006/04/weekly_challeng.html
I book marked it for reference in 2007, when money is tight and time is long. Let me know what you think!

Does this make it official?

I got a link from my dear friend Joanne and she reminded me I should get my Dear Santa letter done pretty quick. So much pressure...what to put down...Between toy commercials, newpaper inserts and that silly calendar all screaming...get off your couch and spend, spend, spend! How can a person win these days? Leave the credit cards at home!

Be careful out there, it's a virutual jungle!

Moose & money!

Ahhh...I have your full attention now, don't I?!

The hunt is done, too much snow in the woods - waist high already, so the guys stopped after the 1 bull moose. Hopefully someone will post some photos...I heard the snout went up the Joe's chest. I wonder...was he laying down beside this snout?

Now I'm researching investments for Dad. I have been in cruise control mode for about 3 years...but now EVERYTHING is due and I have to make some wise decisions. I'm not happy with the rate of the returns BUT it could be worse...I could have had all his money tied up in income trusts. We all know how that bottomed out! How did I manage to avoid that pitfall and the Nortel pit is beyond me. Wish me luck....

GO ROUGHRIDERS!

ps

SNIFF SNIFF...too bad BC decided to play today :(

Please page down to Nov 3/06

I was working on this tribute for Remembrance Day. I saved it as a draft until I got the photo scanned and the link working. But for some unknown reason, I can't seem to post it for today...so you have to go back to read it.

It's been a week or so of looking back. We lost Art on November 3, 2003 and my Mom on November 4, 1999. How things have changed since that time but yet have stayed the same. Our family has expanded and are just as close or perhaps even closer in the past year or so.

I know they must be so proud of us!

This isn't even close to being funny!

What is going on with our weather? We've had snow since late october and now this. Our temperature was at zero this morning and it's going to drop until it bottoms out tonight at -19'C.

Brrr....good thing I dug out my long johns!

Slowed it down

Our calendar was looking very crowded with almost every weekend until the New Year booked with committments. So we did the smartest thing possible and played hookey all weekend! We drove out to Camrose, stopped in at the HD shop - not much in the way of clothes for little bikers but someone did see a few large shiny bikes! Thank goodness one of those won't fit in a Christmas stocking! The downtown area is very nice, lots of cute shoppes...we stopped into an antique store and hard as it was, we came out with empty hands! Saturday night was hockey night in Spruce Grove...can't beat the price or the seats! Sunday was also a casual day. Joe prepped for hunting this week, and got the mess kit all together for Uncle Ed and then we watched football. Monday came much too quickly, but at least I have help with all my emails and blog update! Thanks Chow!

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month

It only seems fitting to take time to reflect on the freedom we enjoy (and sometimes take for granted) and the ultimate sacrifice made by others.

This is a photo of my father when he was enlisted in the Army during WWII. He was the youngest child of 5 and all had a military career. Uncle Bob was in the Navy, Aunt Kay in the WACs and Uncles James & Markey were both RCAF.

Warrant Officer Class II James Hendry Johnston died at the age of 23 on May 7, 1943. He is remembered with honour at the Malta Memorial.

Officer Pilot John Markey Johnston died a year later on June 17, 1944 and is remembered at the Gorssel General Cemetry.

My father got a compassionate release before being deployed, something like the Saving Private Ryan movie.

I got a lot of this from Commonwealth War Graves Commission

LEST WE FORGET

How thoughtful!

Larry Chow and his lovely wife Diane, just returned from a 3 week vacation in the far east, and brought presents! A gorgeous lavender pashmina for me and a serpent king key fob for Joe. What nice people!

So proud of him!

Joe brought home his newly mounted medals this week and about the only thing I could say was WOW! I'm not sure why something so inanimate could represent so many memories. I can't imagine how this affected Joe. He done his family & country proud!