Calgary In Spring

I haven't been posting much recently mostly because the city is in full bloom and I can't get enough of being outside. Here are some pictures I took last week of an area just outside of downtown Calgary called Kensington. Now that I look at them a lot more has come to life, most of the trees in my area have a full dressing of leaves. The air is so deliciously fragrant with blossoms and fresh sap.

Who wouldn't want to live in a little character house #732?

My BFF's 3 legged cat, Tripod.

Down the back lane

I'm not sure what these little faces are but they are everywhere

This one looks like Chewie from Starwars

I'm not sure if this if function or fashion. It all goes so well together

Longer sunlight nights are a delight

Who wants a white picket fence when they can have a periwinkle blue one

This house is adorable

It even comes with a bike on the peak of the roof.

and a Gargoyle tree out front

These little guys have a watchful eye. They even get dressed up in Santa Hats over Christmas.

 

Hello Spring, so lovely to have you join us. It's been too long since I've seen you- hope you stay a while!

What does spring look like in your neighbourhood?

Barley Green

A few weeks ago Laura (my BFF) and I drove east of the city towards a little place called Drumheller to pick up her new little pup, Barley. Calgary it situated in some what of a divide in topography. To the west of the city you have sprawling mountains, lush forests and a direct link to the ocean (if you have 11 hours to drive). East of the city you enter into an area called "the badlands"- it dusty, stark and often interesting in a totally different way. Parts of the area are exactly what you would picture if you were to think back to prehistoric times with the Dino's roamed the earth. sadly, on this trip we didn't venture to the Canyons and the Hoodoos. But we did see the little ghost town called Dorthy (which at the time we didn't even know we were looking for it.). Barley, who was just 7 weeks old is still a little squishy face teddy bear- he was the sweetest thing, sleeping in my lap the whole way home.

Little Barley- the first encounter

dry and dusty- the awkward stages of spring in the bad lands

this was considered part of the highway.

Llama's!!! My favorite!

The old abandoned grain tower of Dorthy.

Just a few little pics from our adventure. It does look a bit dryer then usual- coming into spring after an unseasonably dry and warm winter. The farmers are a bit mad but you can't blame them- it looks like the great depression. That sweet little face of Barley's though, it's something else. Check out the Drumheller link at the start of the post to see just how interesting the area can be.

Dear Spring

Dear Spring,

I am very pleased that you have arrived to stay with us for the next few months. Though your brother winter has been very kind to us, still, we are always so pleased to see you- minus the spiders.

Please take the spiders with you (while they are still small) when you leave in June- thank you!

Love from,

Flashback to 1988

Surfing in Tofino with the Olympic Torch

I was 8 years old when the 1988 Winter Olympics hit Calgary with a boom. And a Chinook- trust Calgary to have +20°c weather during the Winter Olympics. I remember the things that a child would remember from that time... the mascots Hidy and Howdy, the laser shows every night, the opening and closing ceremonies, making nose at the speed skating competition and that crazy pin collecting fad. Fast forward 12 years and I started to meet people who were old enough to party during those times. People with storied of parting with the Jamaican Bobsled team (I'm not allowed to repeat any of those!).... I heard a whole other side of the Olympics and just what joy they had brought to this city. We were the first city to actually make money from the Olympics and for years to come we were applauded for being the best.

The Torch in Drumheller, Alberta (Canada has interesting topography)

Last night, the torch, which has been making it's way across all of Canada (seriously), made it's way into the core of downtown Calgary. Me, Laura and 60,000 other people gathered at "Olympic Plaza" to watch as the torch made it's way here. There were cheers, fireworks and lots of noise. I giggled when the moment finally came, I could tell that it was coming by the growing cheers and the flash bulbs from digital cameras. With my camera ready my heart jumped at the first light I saw- which turned out to be a camera man. Ooops. He was leading the way for the torch and filming the whole things... so I got pictures of the camera man but NOT of the torch. I did see the torch though and it was pretty awesome. I can't help but feel sentimental and lovey to others during the Olympics (except during the hockey games when I get a little too serious for everyone involved). Sure, there are the "realists" that get grouchy over "misused tax dollars" and "a major road being blocked off for 3 hours" but I don't care... it's something special so why not indulge a little and maybe take a different way home- it's only one day.

The Torch at the most furthest north it's ever been Alert, Nunavut

So now, as Vancouver is counting down the days I wish the same experience for them. I wish for them prosperity, celebration and unity. All the things that the Olympics should stand for but seem to have lacked the last few years.

Mother Natures Terrorist Attack

Calgary went all of November with out a lick of snow and perhaps not even going below +1°C- but today that all changed. Mother Nature is reeking havoc of Calgary- warm, blustery winds sweeping across the city all night only to be met with snow at 8am- lots and lots of snow! 20 CM expected in the next 24 hours- how exciting! I don't have a car so I don't have to worry about driving- maybe I shouldn't have worn my high heels to work though even if it will help my traction.

I can hear the wind rushing through the building downtown and when I look out the window all I see is white- damn if it isn't actually going to be a white Christmas after all! And Damn Laura who just had knee surgery is driving to Ikea RIGHT as we speak. She's not suppose to- I told her we could go tomorrow but she really, really wants her Norden Gateleg table that's on sale for only $99 for the next 3 days. We went yesterday however "to be fair" they only had a select amount to put out on the floor so when we got there at 4:30pm- they were sold out. Even after I made Laura out to be a total charity case and pleaded my very best. The guy said that the tables were in the sky (what ever that is suppose to mean).

Hip-hip-hooray for nasty weather and stubborn best friends- Have a happy Friday everyone!

So Far This Week

So Far this week I've accomplished a lot but hardly anything from my 30 Things To Do Before I'm 30 list other then laughter. Monday was immunity day in which after I made a delicious batch of hot, cream broccoli soup with fresh, crusty whole wheat bread. Mmmm... I also purchased some Cherry Jam which I am pretty excited to eat (haven't had the time yet). I never use to like Cherry anything but somewhere a long the way that all changed about a year or two ago. I think it all changed when I discovered Black Cherry Yogurt again. Mmmm...

All this "Mmmm-ing" can you tell I haven't had a stitch of breakfast yet?

Today my two favorite people are away from work- Jeremy and Edith. Jeremy is my lunch time BFF. He took Rheann's place when she left- not that anyone can replace Rheann but I need someone to waste endless minutes with a few times a day. I am far too lazy to make the trek up stairs to the 26th floor to visit with J. C. (Jenn C. NOT Jesus Christ. That would be weird) and Chandara. Edith works in my department and we go for a walk every morning to get coffee... I usually get steamed milk ( I don't drink coffee) and some kind of baked goodness. We've become pretty close in the last few months.

Yesterday Morning I had some breakfast meeting at the Petroleum Club with my department at work. It was surprisingly fun, I got to spy on people while eating really good bacon. Plus I got a free pen, note pad and sunglasses clip- WOOP-WOOP! Fun times, some what made up for the fact they didn't have any fresh fruit and they had that scary scrambled egg stuff that comes out of a milk carton... Egg Beaters maybe? That stuff is gross and I would go on strike if I had to eat it on a regular bases. Sick. Yuck...

Yesterday after work Laura came and picked me up and I had to go driving, you see... I don't have a car and just don't drive. I lack total confidence in my skills and well, would like to change that. I have a deal with Laura that she has to make me drive (just like I had to call the Dentist and make an appointment for her)- no excuses, no nothing. I have to do it and I have to be confident come spring time. I saw 10 bunnies while I was driving- I was pretty excited. We stopped by my parents place, played with the dogs and had dinner. Then we took my mum out who has been couped up in the house for the last 2 weeks due to surgery. She's feeling better but still isn't able to drive just yet.

Tonight, I have a date with my Dad. It's opera season again and tonight is the season opener (Hmmm.. that sounds more like "sports" talk then "Opera" talk) with the production of Manon.
I hope that this isn't one of those long opera with only one intermission... I prefer it when there are two intermissions.

As for the rest of the week I have an appointment with a periodontist (oh joy) and then my company Christmas party which is in Banff this year (Yippee!). That's a change from the last few years so this will be nice. I'll take pictures, hopefully it's snowing in the mountains. we haven't had ANY snow in the city... It's been dry and some what warm for November.


Now that I have spilled most of my thoughts out of my head and into my post I can start my work and hopefully get it done. I have a fair bit to do and haven't been in the office much this week- sort of. So mush-mush, time to get some stuff done!

It's Coming

Tonight it's suppose to start raining and then by Saturday- snow. Welcome to Calgary weather 101. 2 weeks ago it was +35°C and now it's going to snow. It's lovely and makes for wonderful small talk, I'm sure things will be back to normal in a week or so and everyone will be wearing shorts again.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Hope you all have lovely plans for this first week in October...

Thats Hot

This week Calgary is having record breaking weather- hot weather. With highs in the +30°C mark that's seasonally unlike us for this particular season.

and I am not complaining, it can never get to hot for me!

This morning as I stopped to enjoy the view from our reception area. I'm lucky to work in a building that towers above the city with panoramic views of the Rockey Mountains. The tree's are starting to turn as autumn is now in the air (officially as of 3pm Tuesday September 22), it is absolutely stunning. As my eyes wandered further south I noticed something hovering in the sky...

...a hot air balloon! I squealed with delight (if you know me in real life you know that isn't an exaggeration), I haven't seen one in years! I remember back in the day when I was 8 or 9 they had all types of balloons hovering over the horizon. They had the classic shapes with advertising for local TV stations and Realtor Companies. They they had an ice cream cone, a dinosaur and the Petro-Canada Propane Tank, it was awesome!

Gone are the days though of the fancy shapes in Calgary but at least there are still balloons. Though heights often bother me I could see myself enjoying a hot air balloon ride (though, really... that might be a BIT optimistic of me). I just looked into it and found out that other then getting a free ride if you buy a house from a certain realtor, you can float above it all for a small fee of $250 a person. That's totally do able!

Have any of you ever taken a ride in a hot air balloon?

A Frozen Golf Tart with a Happy Birthday Shout-Out To Hans

Today is my company's Golf Tournament for the clients. Thankfully because it's a blustery +12°C (OK-that was a white lie. Right now at 7am it's +°9C Brrrrr... where the HECK is summer???) I won't have to dress ultra Golf Tarty and whoooo those clients *bats eye lashes*.

I'm a good sport and plan to have fun, regardless of the rain and the chill. My goal today sitting at the Lisa Longball Hole is to generate as much money as possible for STARS.

Wish me luck and send me WARM thoughts!!

on a second and even quicker note I went to Google to grab my link info for Lisa Longball and STARS and found that Google changed their little do-hickey logo thing:

Hans Christian Ørsted:"a Danish physicist and chemist who is most widely known for observing that electric currents can induce magnetic fields, an important aspect of electromagnetism. He shaped post-Kantian philosophy and advances in science throughout the late 19th century."

If I weren't at home and about to jump in the shower I would pay tribute to him buy writing a much better post then this. Anyway, go check it out! Happy Birthday Hans!!

Happy September- no wait...

I just had the strangest thought (and I must admit that it illustrates my current mental condition perfectly!)...

I haven't posted ANYTHING for September yet.

Why? You ask, is that strange? Well... it's August 12th 2009. September hasn't happened yet but my head is already there! I was in and already past the long weekend and loving every moment of it. Geesh!

So yes, it's Wednesday, August 12th 2009 and I haven't posted anything since Friday, August 7th 2009.

It was a busy weekend, didn't get a chance to put on my bikini because it just wasn't warm enough. Our summer has been mild this year with just a few weeks of above +25°c weather. I went to a football game Saturday night which was a total blast (it always helps if you have amazing company, killer seats and the home team wins!) wandered about Sunday- I think I watched a movie called Fanboys but the best thing about it was seeing a cameo from Kevin Smith. Maybe I need to know more about Star Wars to fully appreciate it. Regardless, I think my IQ went down a few points (which I don't mind. I'm sure that you are aware that I am ridiculously smart and could use a little "dumbing down". A perfect example of this would be seeing that I spelt "ridiculously" as "ridiculassy" before the spell check. Genius material over here! Gotta keep that spell check in check and on it's toes, it gets lazy if you don't).

Monday night I walked around with a runny nose because there is something in the air that I am super allergic too. If I didn't know better I'd say that clouds were made out of cats because I am really allergic to cats and the way I've been sneezing that makes the most sense to me. I tried to get some important shopping done but sadly got distracted by the dollar store (the dollar store is like those celebrity gossip magazines at the front of the store- I don't want to go there but I can't help myself. It's such a wonderful cheap guilty pleasure.) which had some Halloween costumes in stock- ie: WIGS. Laura and I played as we usually do but then something got broken *gasp!* I was SO ashamed. I carried the shattered angle to the front counter and sheepishly informed the employees that I had broken it and would be willing to pay the $2 it was worth. The guy just grunted at me and said "No worries, no one would have purchased it anyway." and that was it. I felt horrible for the rest of the night. Oh and I don't really have bad blond hair- just in case you were wondering. OH and I don't usually look stung out- that is a result of my random allergies.
Last night after eating 2 grilled cheese sandwiches, a bowl of organic veggie soup and over a half dozen fresh chocolate chip cookies, I stayed up late with my eye glued to the sky. The Perseid meteor shower is making it's way though Calgary between August 11th and August 14th- I've seen them before but never like this. I live downtown in a city of over a million people. There is a lot of light pollution so it can be hard to make out more then 50 stars in the night sky when I look out over my patio. I could see some small flares in the sky but nothing until about 11pm when I saw a bright, fiery, slightly-bigger-then-a-star speed across the sky for just under a second. It was lovely! I saw a few more and got really excited for a moment went I saw a HUGE ball of light- but that just turned out to be an airplane. There should be more of a show tonight. Ideally I should go to a place outside of the city limits and watch to get the full perspective. I've been lucky to have witnessed a meteor shower while I was away on a small island off the west coast of Canada. There were maybe 3 street lamps on the whole island (plus one taxi cab) and so at night I would sit by the ocean and watch as hundreds of tiny stars speed through the sky seconds at a time.


Tonight I have advance screening passes for The Goods so I'm sure once the movie is done (Hopefully this one won't add to my lowering IQ but I have a sneaky suspicion that it might.) I might be able to deek out of the city for a bit and see what I can spy in the sky.

Anyone get into any interesting trouble these last few days? Spot any meteors or shatter any angles of your own?

Wasn't It Just Friday LAST Week?

The weekend is here, the weather is going to be nice (I plan to dig out my bikini and book sometime- I've been neglecting both.) and I'm excited to see my girl Reena in about say... 15 minutes. She picking me up and we are heading out- first thing on the agenda (are you ready?) buy hairspray! YES! It;s true, and the fun doesn't stop there! We also have to return something as well! teehee...

It doesn't matter what you do it's who you do. No, who you do it with... you know what I mean.

On that quick little quip (OK maybe not a quip- perhaps more of a quirk?) I will leave you with...




a video of Gwyneth Paltrow showing us peasants how to cook a chicken.

Make what you will of it!

When I Know It's Actually Summer

Summer has OFFICIALLY arrived! I know this NOT because of the warm weather or the flowering gardens or the fact that my calender tells me that June 21st is "the first day of summer"... I know that it is summer because I got my first mosquito bit on Saturday! It happened sometime between the beer run and the cake run during a friends backyard birthday bash... I felt the little bugger bit me and I slapped him hard. I've been relishing in the whole "scratching it good!" feeling since.

I'm fortunate- unlike most of the other people in my life, I don't get bitten that much.. the bugs don't really bug me. I run from wasps because they are just mean and spiders are... spiders are a whole other story.. ugh. I just find them a little creepy- NOT that I have anything to worry about living where I do... I just don't like all those itty bitty furry legs. Mosquito's though- they would rather dine on the other people then me. I'm like leftover Jell-o to them- tasty but who'd want boring ol' Jell-o when they can have Chocolate Mousse , Crème Brûlée or Pecan Pie.

However, take me to the sea side and put me on the sand in sandals and watch as the sand fleas eat away at my tender feet! Sand fleas totally dig Jell-o, I think! It's really not that horrible, I end up with about a half dozen tiny red bites along the tops of my feet and ankles that last for about a week. I get optimum scratching out of them and the mosquito's still don't bother me! Plus it means to me that I was at the beach and that I had fun- THE most important thing in my life... To have fun.

I've Been Away

Oops- I guess that was a little rude of me. I took off without even saying Goodbye. I'm sorry!

I've been away for the last few weeks on a magical adventure exploring the west coast of Canada. I have many tales and the pictures to illustrate but haven't really felt much like sitting in front of the computer and putting the work into publishing them (so to speak.). I haven't even spent much time unpacking.

I got back home late Saturday night- I threw all my bags and such on the floor and went straight to bed. The next day- kicking it all to the side- I showered and dashed out the house. The sun was beating down and it air was finally warm (that was a loooong winter *shudders*) so I spent most of the day going into shops and trying a few new pub that opened up near my place. I read my stolen Sunday paper in the park and didn't come in till the thunder clouds became alarmingly close (false alarm).

When I got home from sunning myself I ended up doing a bit of unpacking but I avoided the laundry. I did empty my suitcases (half heatedly.), put my shoes away and make a small trip to the grocery store so I wouldn't starve to death. I listened to a few of my accumulated Podcasts and watched a little 24 (I'm half way through season 2- I'm so behind in the times.). To be honest- and forgive me if I offend any of you- Jack Bauer is a bit annoying and Mr. Sutherland looks like he drinks too much in real life. He has that stringy-limb alcoholic look to him. Not sure how accurate that assumption is.

So here I am at work- not really sure where to start. It feels semi-good to be back but still... I'd rather be fishing.

Just Wait 10 Minutes

I live in a place called Calgary, Alberta... I've pretty much lived and considered it to be my home my whole life. Though I do dream of living by the ocean or at least a small body of water.... In time. Maybe I'll become what they call "Snow Birds" when I retire. Of all the large cities in Canada, Calgary happens to have the most unpredictable weather of them all- it's an on going joke that if you don't like the weather here just wait 10 minutes (and it will change.). In order to illustrate this I have copied a quick little synopses of what someone has written about what the Calgary climate is really like.

"July is the warmest month with a 24-hour average of just over 15 and January has about minus 7.The city gets about 169 frost free days per year on average. Some of them occur in the fall and even winter (during Chinooks) after the growing season has ended, so we normally have only about about 115 consecutive frost free days per season, from around May 23 to September 15.

The wild temperature fluctuations characteristic of Calgary weather are partly attributed to the continental climate. The high altitude plays a role, and some of the remaining credit goes to the turbulent winds in the wake of the Rocky Mountains. The temperature reaches 20°C or better, about 85 days each year. And 30° only about four times. Chinooks and cold fronts can result in temperature changes of 10° or more in a single hour.

Calgary has a definite dry season and a moist season. The city gets a little over 400 mm of total precipitation in an average year. Of that we often get 120 cm of snow between September and May, which melts down to about 120 mm of water. That's the drier season.

The better part of the 300 mm of rain falling between May and September constitutes our wet (and growing) season. This still makes xeriscape gardening, a technique that conserves water, worthwhile in Calgary weather. We can go months without significant moisture even in the summer.

Most rain in one day - 95.3 mm on July 15, 1927. Most snow - 48.4 cm on May 6, 1981. We usually see some kind of precipitation on 113 days out of the year. And we normally have about 88 days with snow on the ground (1 cm or more).

The winds around here are worth mentioning as well. Southern Alberta in general is recognized as a windy area year round. Calgary's highest gust at 127 km/hour occurred in June, 1956, probably during a thunderstorm not during one of the winter Chinooks we are so famous for.

Is it sunny there? At over 2400 hours on average of bright sunshine per year, Calgary weather, along with many other south Canadian prairie locations, makes us one of Canada's sunniest places.It can be bright, sunny and extremely cold and wind all at the same time in winter. It's something to experience."


That's right! It's something to experience!

Copied from Stuff In The Air

The Secret Is Out

*whispers* I don't want to say this too loud but I think spring has finally sprung though I don't want to get my hopes up. It seems to be the trend this year for snow to pop up out of no where for no apparent reason.

See article from the Calgary Herald last week:
Spring, Calgary Style.

Though living in Calgary my whole life I've come to accept that each month is peppered with it's uncharacteristically seasonal weather. Warm winds blowing over the mountains in the middle of January causing a mid winter thaw. A good example of that would be the 1988 Olympics- we had such warm weather for them that the Bobsled run was melting mid day.

I've also seen snow all the way up into June (that really makes the farmers cross.)

Regardless, these unpredictable weather patterns are a part of living in Calgary. I've heard that people who live in places where the weather fluctuated like this are friendlier. I think it's because we always have something like the weather to talk about with people waiting in line at Starbucks.

It was close to +20 degree's yesterday and so I decided that I would go for a walk around my neighbourhood (oh damn, I'm doing laundry and it's ready... HOLD ON!), the sights, sounds and smells had "spring" written all over them.

• Strapy sandals on soon to be tanned feet...
• busy, crowded patios of pubs full of laughter and yelling...
• the smell of a freshly painted something...
• the sight of Ferrari's, Lamborghini's as well as other sports cars trawling up and down the avenue.

Delightful!

I keep waiting for the trees to bloom though... cherry, apple and lilac trees spring open with softly colored fragrant flowers.

Mmmm my favorite...

Wishbone: The Worlds Most Colorful Taste

I am a sleeeeeeepy girl today. A week of no sleep can make me duller then a sheep. Baaa.
ok. That was Baaaad.
That too.

I tried to buy Kings of Leon tickets today but sadly I've forgotten both the Pre-Sale and the Regular Sale so all that was left when I remembered were Level Two seats. I don't pay for Level Two seats.

There's still snow on the ground and up in the hills. I'm waiting for it to warm up because I know underneath all that white stuff is green stuff and trees just waiting to burst into life.
And spiders that are waiting to invade my home. Dun-dun-dunnnn.

It's 11:11am (or so my computer says.). I'm going to make a wish.
*makes wish making face almost fell asleep because eyes were closed for longer then a nano second it takes to blink*
There. Wish Made.

I use to wish all the time, on things like stars, eye lashes, that wishbone in the chicken and birthday candles. I do believe that they come true because much have come true for me. I am very lucky to have what I have and I am just starting to get the hang of what to do with it. This wisdom I believe has come with age.

Today I like my age. Maybe it's because I'm a bit dull due to the sleepiness. I still get curious about my wrinkles and what I will look like when I get older but regardless... today I like my age. It's not that old. I'm just 19 in "Blanche Years".

Grouchy

I woke up after a nasty night of not sleeping only to think "Yay! It's FRIDAY! I can wear Jeans!" and then remembered that it's actually THURSDAY and it's a frozen hell outside. At the end of April.


Oh Winter- you are sooooo last season.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my work and I love my job but when all I want to do is sleep in and relax... my job looses it's appeal. Hence why I am blogging so early in the morning at work.
Plus it's a little slow...
Slow.
Slow rhymes with snow...

I think I'll go get some breakfast... a cookie and a Half Denver should cheer me up. Or at least bring my blood sugar back up to where it should be.

For Umbrella or Against Umbrella

So I've been spending the last 2 hours trying to decided if I want to use my umbrella on the way home.

• It's snowing (Pro Umbrella)
• It's wet snow (Pro Umbrella)
• It's windy (Against Umbrella- counts for 3 points)
• I'm wearing non-waterproof mascara which by the time I got home would make me look like a dead Gothic bunny (Pro Umbrella)

Looks like a tie to me.

Maybe I'll just have to wait until I actually get out in the snow to see what I should do.
Really, it doesn't matter becasue I'm going home anyway- the mission is to get home as soon as possible...don't you think a wet, dead, goth bunny would be a hell of a lot faster then posh umbrella princess?