Banff for the weekend!!!

Any chance I get to have a three-day weekend I will take. Fortunately Cam was able to take the Friday off so that we could both have a three-day weekend together. Friends of ours invited us to join them in Banff for the weekend. We would rent a chalet/condo for the weekend and live it up in Banff. The nice thing is that the suite is complete with a kitchen with everything from utensils to a full sized fridge and stove.

So this morning we woke up around 8:30 and got ourselves out of bed, showered, and ready to go. We were busy packing and making sure that we didn’t forget anything. My heart went out to Zoe because we have arranged for Danielle and Ryan to look after her for the weekend. So she got to watch us pack and leave her behind. Then we were off.

I don’t think I really appreciated the mountains or just the general beauty of our provinces joining together till I moved to Edmonton and my new skyline and view were tall buildings. The Rockie Mountains are something to be admired. I love them this time of year because they are capped with snow, yet the roads are still relatively dry. Living in BC, I’ve now realized, I took the beauty and the enjoyment of it all for granted. There are so many activities that you can do. Hikes, bike rides, snowshoeing, cross country skiing. Now you can do all of that stuff in Edmonton too, but the scenic views are lacking. I guess if you aren’t into that kind of stuff then Edmonton is great. There is a lot to do here, but most of those activities occur indoors.

We made good time and arrived in time to meet up with your friends and go in to town to have a quick bite to eat before our supper reservations at the Fairmont Castle in the Mountains here. It was an amazing meal and amazing service. Saturday our day included a great breakfast and then we were off on a road trip to the Athabasca Ice Fields. It was amazing up there and just looking at how far that glacier has traveld and the debris it has left behind. It was very cold and windy there, thank goodness for car starters to get the car warmed up before you get in :o) We went out for a really nice supper to Saltlik Steak House. I belive it was called. It was good. I don't know what it is about the service in Banff, but it is a wonderful experience. It is almost like the people are happy to be there working and serving you. It is a nice change from some of the service you recieve in the city. Once we were done with supper we wondered over to Wild Bills bar. It is very rustic, but enjoyable. After a few drinks we headed back to the room to drink some more and have a fire.

Sunday we just got up and left early. We were going to go into town and shop around, but we decieded that we just wanted to get home at a reasonable time and get ready for work on Monday. Besides the pug probalby missed us and wanted to go home. All in all it was a great weekend with great friends! I would love to go back to Banff, but I think I want to see it in the summer months. Or even late spring. I don't mind the snow, but it is really quite cold there with the wind. It chills you to the bone. I am glad to be home cuddling with the pug and my husband on the couch watching the Grey Cup. What else would I be doing on a Sunday afternoon?

De-junking and De-cluttering

39 Days and counting till we move back to BC! The next 6 weeks are going to go by so quickly I won't even know what hit me. Between plans that have already been made, to Christmas parties, to packing Cam and myself are going to be quite frantic getting everything organized and ready to move. This weekend we decided to get a start on it. So we went down into the basement to take a little inventory of stuff that we have, and get rid of the stuff that we don't need anymore. There was a huge pile by the end of our tirade, stuff to get thrown out, stuff to go to Goodwill, and boxes we need to keep to pack the stuff we have upstairs. Like my mom says though, no matter how organized you are, you are still going to be busy and frantic getting everything packed up. I want to disagree with her because I think that Cam and I did a pretty good job this weekend getting everything together and separating things that need to go to the dump, or go to Goodwill. We have all the boxes organized in a corner of our basement that are waiting to be filled and ready to go. We have always had the room to store boxes so we have managed to keep the majority of boxes from stuff that we have bought, for example: my kitchen aid mixer box, or our x-box box, or the box from our computer. So that will make packing that majority of the belonging that we are still using easy. Our philosophy when cleaning up is; if we haven't used it in the last year that we have lived here we obviously don't need it at all. I find it hard to let go of some things, only because some things hold some sentimental value to me, but I have to be realistic when it comes down to it. Even when I am packing the stuff that we still have out I will be eliminating a lot of it. Because for the past year and a half it has just sat there and not been used, so I don't see me requiring it down the road. I have gotten along just fine for the last year without it. If that make sense?
We really don't own a lot of stuff, so moving for us will be rather straight forward. I am just excited to what the new year holds for Cam and me. It will be interesting to see where we are this time next year. I am hoping in our own house.

First Snow of the Year

Sunday morning I woke up rather early due to the time change. So I was out of bed making my coffee at about 8:00 am.....on a Sunday I know pathetic. Meanwhile the pug and Cam slept upstairs. I don't have many complaints with it though. Only because if Cam and the dog are both upstairs sleeping that gives me my time to do what I need to get done and things I want to do. Usually when they are up I have to entertain both of them. Whether it be taking the dog out, giving her a treat, feeding her, or playing with her.... to giving Cam things to do, or entertain him in one way shape or form. Usually there is football on so I can put that on and he is happier than a pig in mud. So, I really do enjoy the few hours of the weekend mornings that I get time to myself. This Sunday morning I woke up to snow. There was a good blanket of snow on the ground! Usually this would upset me and make me want to curl back up into bed and hide from the fact that winter is approaching us. Not today, I embraced the fact that there was this white snow on the ground and the sun was shinning brightly through the windows. It made me really happy. All day Sunday I was thinking about how great the holiday season is and how much I enjoy going home to the Kootenays. Generally I don't like snow because I don't like winter driving. It scares the crap out of me. But today I didn't really have to go anywhere or do anything.
Then Cam got up and decided that we had to be productive humans today and actually do something other than sitting on the couch. We only had till 2:00pm because that is when kick-off was for the Indy/Dallas game. So we went and did our running around the city, we went to Rona (to fix the door I kicked in, I guess I did more damage than I had thought), Save-On-Food, and London Drugs (so I can finally finish the thank you cards I have been procrastinating, although I did just get the professional pictures). It felt a lot like Christmas out there while we were out. The decorations are coming out, the trees are put up in the stores to be sold.... all this kind of stuff excites me more than Cam would like. He isn't a big fan of Christmas, but I am working on that. AHHHH I love the holiday season. All the baking, and the holiday cheer.
The pug loves the snow. She loves to go out and eat it, and run around in it. It wasn't quite deep enough for her to really enjoy it, but I am sure more is coming soon. So pull out your mitts, scarfs, and toques people the snow is a comin'!

Happy it is Monday...Odd...

Yep I am sure glad that it is Monday. Only for the simple fact that Cam gets home today. This week of him being gone hasn't been the best week. I have realized that I am the type of person who likes to look after others not myself. I find that I have a very nurturing personality and I enjoy looking after others. Making sure that their needs and wants are satisfied before my own. So, when I have no one to look after I guess I feel lost in a way. With Cam being gone for the past week I have had no one to look after or feed. That is the major issue I have, when it is just me I don't feel like cooking or preparing much in the way of nutritious foods for myself. I will eat out too much or I will have a bagel for supper, or a sandwich, or soup. Something quick and easy. It definitely takes a toll on me and my body. The lack of vegetables and fruit. Today I woke up with a really bad stomach ache. So I am thinking because of my lack of nutrition that my body is accustom to my immune system is a little weak and I am getting sick :o(
Tonight I am going to go home, go grocery shopping and get some vegetables, fruits, and a whole lot of other healthy foods. Because Cam is home tonight I am sure that things will get back to normal and I will start looking after him and myself!

Although I did have a really good weekend. Saturday was a much needed day indeed for myself, as well as my girls here. I spent the day at the mall with my sister Danielle and my very good friend Michelle. After we finished our pedicures I went home and picked up my dog and headed over to Michelle's house for the night. She has two dogs and all three dogs got along really well. Us girls went out for a very nice supper at Opium and then headed back to Michelle's for more drinks and we played with Michelle's new hot rollers. We were up late gabbing, laughing and sharing past stories with each other. We have quite the history us three girlies. Living in the city I tend to feel lonley at times and miss my friends from home. Having Michelle and my sister in the same city as me is so wonderful becuase I know I always have them. I have new friends that are from here, but friends that I grew up with and know me and who I am is the most wonderful thing to have. We don't hang out nearly as much as I think we would all like to, but we all have rather busy lives at the moment. Michelle is in the nursing program at UofA, and my sister..... well she works a lot. It was just really nice to have a weekend of girly things and girly time.

Kicking Down the House

Yesterday wasn't the best day for me in anyway. Cam dropped me off at work in the morning, and we said our goodbyes. I won't see him now for a week. He got sent to Prince George for work :o( So I carried on my day at work how I usually would. When I got home from work Zoe was happy to see me as usual, and so I leashed her up and got her ready to go outside so that she could do her business. As I was walking out the door I for whatever reason locked the handle on the door and closed it..... instantly as soon as the door slammed shut I realized what I had done..... oh crap, I just locked the dog and myself out of the house..... Keys are hanging on the key hook, purse with wallet and cell is sitting on it's regular perch..... crap crap crap.... what am I going to do the only other person with a key to get in is Cam and he is on his way to Prince George. Otherwise I would have just gone for a walk around the neighbourhood till Cam got home from work at his regular time. I didn't have a phone to call anyone with, or find numbers to people that could rescue me (other than my sister and Ryan their numbers are the only ones I remember). I was screwed. I thought for a second to walk to my sisters house but then that would mean that I would have to walk through a sketchy part of town..... So that was out. I am not very close with any of my neighbours to use their phones to call a lock smith, provided one would still be open. I thought to beg the bus driver to let me ride the bus back down to work, but I had the dog with me.
The only choice I had was to kick my own door in. Three kicks and WABAM!! I'm in. Minimal damage was done to the door, I am still able to close and lock the door. I had to screw in the handle back into the side of the door a little bit, but all is well and I learned my lesson. I guess worst case scenario I might have to replace the door. We will see what Cam has to say when he gets home.

The Forever Debatalbe Topic

I don't know why but I think for as long as humans exist on this planet there will always be the debate as to why girls are different from boys. The other night Cam and myself were out walking Zoe around the block so that she would do her business before bed. We have been rather busy the last week and a half and she has been couped up in the house with no one really around for her. So, we decided on taking her for at least a little walk. Anyways, as we were walking we got to discussing about me :o) hahaha.... I was saying about how I am unable to shut my brain off. I am constantly thinking about my day, things I need to do, things I've done.... everything. I can't just not think. Cam was saying how he can sit down and turn his mind off no problem and not think about his day or things that has to be done. Not think about anything? I asked. I find this hard to believe because the human mind has to be thinking about something at any given point. He assures me that he is pretty mindless when he is sitting down and watching tv, or in bed going to sleep. He isn't thinking about his day, he isn't thinking about things he needs to do. I guess that is where I come in, I have to remind his ass of things he has to do. So I guess what I am wondering is.... can all men just shut their brains off? Can other woman shut their brains off and think of sweet nothings? Am I the crazy one? hahaha don't answer.....
I find that because I am unable to really 'turn' my brain off I'm constantly thinking and it affects me more than I realize. The constant racing thoughts are a symptom of my panic disorder. Just if I am in one of my attacks the thoughts are fed through a lot quicker pace. I believe that this blog site for me has been a really good vice for me to be able to voice my opinions and share my thoughts and just put them out there. Who's reading my blog that would care? Well I am sure there are friends and family members that read it every once in a while that care for me and care about what I have to say..... oh dear..... I am letting my mind wonder. ON that note I am going to end this here.
But if anyone out there in blog world has any input to tricks or ideas on how to shut their brains off I am all ears....boys and girls..... I am interested to test my theory if woman can possess the power to shut off their brains and if there are any boys out there that can't shut off their brains, or if I am just making assumptions based off of Cam and me?

An Exhausting Weekend

It was a long weekend. We started on Saturday morning with classes at Aqua-Tek Scuba with Shawn. We went over a few chapters, got our gear organized and ready for the afternoon in the pool. We got to go home for a break before we had to go to the pool (lucky pug she didn't have to hold her pee/poo for the whole day) then it was off to the leisure centre for our pool training. We learned a lot of useful things in four hours. Then Cam and I had to rush home to get ready to go out for supper for a friends birthday. We made it to the dinner an hour late...oops...others were late as well. It was a great supper! Awesome food! It was a little pricey but that's okay Cam and I both don't mind paying for good food.
Then on Sunday morning it was back in the pool for more training. Then more classes in the afternoon at the shop. When they are teaching you to scuba dive they are basically teaching you 'worst case scenario' situations. So what to do in case something goes wrong, because lets face it you are 100 feet underwater and you can't just go to the surface because you can die you need to know what to do if something goes wrong. After we finished filling out the rest of the paper work at the shop we were done that part of our training. It is just the open dives we have to complete now. Which we are doing this upcoming weekend.
Because we are braving the elements and doing our dive in COLD water we opted to take our dry suit course. So, again we were in the pool last night learning how to dive with our dry suits. What a feeling that is. It is amazing the difference that you feel in a wetsuit compared to a dry suit. I somehow managed to injure myself while learning. I guess I descended to quickly and my ears didn't equalize for me on the way down how they usually do and by the time I got to the bottom my left ear was in a bit of pain, but I HAD to finish this course. My dives this weekend depended on it. So I cleared my ear the best I could and equalized it the best I could and continued on with the lessons. I just couldn't go as deep as Cam could because the pressure was too much for my little eardrum to deal with. It is still a little tender today, but I think a good nights sleep as well as sleeping with my left ear on a magic bag will help to dislodge the discomfort. So I should be in top form by the weekend because we will have to go 80 Feet by the end of the weekend. Or at least I have a feeling we will because once we are fully certified we are able to go 80 feet on our own. I don't intend on doing such deep dives in the future, but you never know.