Whirlwind Weekend
Well, it's 11:00 on a Saturday morning, and I'm already behind! I meant to get into the office by noon to fishish up a few things. I was on course at the Sheraton across from Canada Olympic Park for two days, my mileage for the two days was 118 km. Just goes to show you how big an area the city of Calgary covers. Anyway, it's kind of thrown me behind, but it was a very good course on communications and remembering things like names and lists. I met some interesting people, and it was kind of a nice break.
I'm meeting the girls at 1:15 today and we're car-pooling to the Vertigo Mystery Theatre which usually goes from 2:00 to about 4:30. We'll figure out where to have dinner, after which I'm heading to the NE to visit with Kathy to meet her newborn grandson. I found the cutest gift at Baby Gap! I have to stop somewhere to get gift wrap and a card. Tomorrow will be just as busy because we have Stage West brunch
(Forever Plaid). We usually try to space the two theatres in different months, but were unable to accommodate everyone's schedules to do so this time. After the play, I need to go into the office to pack my briefcase with all the essentials. Later Sunday afternoon, I'm driving to Medicine Hat for an early Monday morning budget meeting.
Luckily, Winona is in both of my theatre groups, and she's an accountant. I need her to check my income tax calculations - I can't really owe them another $1,300!!! Maybe she'll have a chance to look at it tonight and tell me tomorrow at Stage West that it's not that bad.
I was hoping to find time to re-install my scanner. I had asked Chris to do it and he is always very accommodating. However, the program that will allow me to edit and size documents is in Spanish which doesn't really work for me. I have a great picture of all the aunts on Mom's side, with the one uncle, that I'd like to post but it's too small and appears sideways. I figure if I un-install and start again from the beginning, following step-by-step with the manual, I should be able to figure it out.
Next week is the last week before our fiscal year-end at work so it will be very busy. It ends with my performance appraisal on the 31st. Of course, I have to find the time to write it up before then, in between budget meetings with my groups. I'm hoping April slows down enough so I can get my _ss to the gym. I start weekly evening courses on nutrition and how to deal with IBS next month, which I'm hoping to use as a catalyst to a better diet and lifestyle.
So I guess I'd better get going...
LeeAnne connected
Lee Anne's e-mail
labertin@nb.sympatico.caShe's finally on line. I invite all of you to surprise her with a bunch of messages to welcome her into the cyber world.
Progress Club Mini Convention - Jasper
The Western Region (Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC) has scheduled its Spring (mini) Convention at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre in Jasper, June 2nd, 3rd, & 4th and I can't wait! (See
http://www.sawridgejasper.com/). Looks like a really nice hotel. I haven't been to Jasper for at least 10 years. It's quite a bit further from Calgary than Banff where I would usually go to spend time in the mountains.
A typical mini-concention starts out with a golf tournament, registration, and welcome party on Friday. There's usually a hospitality suite open after the party where you can socialize and party until the wee hours of the morning. Saturday it's usually a buffet breakfast where you see how many survived the night before, then the Annual General Meeting. There is an awards luncheon after that, then a few seminars. Saturday night is the semi-formal President's Ball. Of course there's another hospitality suite after that. Sunday we have breakfast/brunch and some get ready to leave while some stay on a few days to spend more time exploring the area. It's sort of a mini-version of the national convention in the fall.
It can be expensive, the convention fee itself is $140 and the rooms are $119 double occupancy per night. I'll be driving up and sharing a room with one of the other girls. I'll leave on Thursday, and it will take most of that day to get there since I really want to enjoy the scenery on the way. Hopefully, by then, I will have my digital camera and can post pictures.
Crystal Lynn
This is my brother Louis' daughter, Crystal. She has turned into a beautiful young lady as well. I took this picture of her in downtown Calgary when she visited me this summer with Mom. She had her portrait done in charcoal by an artist on Stephen Avenue Mall and surprised her father with it when she got back home.
Crystal is an "A" student, and will probably be able to get into whatever field she likes when she graduates. She has an open invitation to come live with me and go to university or college in Calgary, much to Louis' dismay. Can you believe she's in 10th grade already.
Adrienne & Steven
I now have a scanner, thanks to 'Berta and Joe.
These are my sister Aline's kids, Adrienne and Steven. The picture was taken last summer. I know I'm prejudiced, but I think they're both gorgeous. I really enjoyed spending time with them when they visited me this summer. They've grown up so much since they left Calgary, and I've only been able to get to Pickering to visit them twice.
Aline got a new digital camera for Christmas, so I'm hoping she might consider starting a family blog as well.
LeeAnne Going High-Tech
LeeAnne and Al have purchased a computer, and are in the process of getting hooked up to the 'net at Mom's place. I can't wait to start exchanging e-mails with her. Anybody,PLEASE go over there and show her how to set up her own blog so someone in my immediate family can share in the experience. I'm older and probably more set in my ways than both my sisters, and I caught on pretty quickly. I've given up on Louis, but Crystal is a possibility.
By the way, an update on LeeAnne. She's back at school taking a Pharmacy Technician course and loves it.
Power Shopping
Spring is around the corner, time to freshen up and thin out my wardrobe. Although it appears I'm destined to be "sveltely challenged" for awhile longer, that doesn't mean I can't look good. Anything that I haven't worn during the season gets taken out and either packed for the shelters, taken to consigning, or stored for that time when I can fit into them (that includes most of the clothes I bought during my power-shopping trip with you 'Berta). Anybody who wants to benefit from the fall-out, visit me this weekend!
Power shopping is not to be confused with impulse shopping, oh no, it has to be researched and carefully planned out. I've been stalking the Pennington store that is undergoing renovation for a month now, and they are finally having their "Buy 1, get second for 40% Off sale". When I get into the store, I make sure I have at least an hour, two would be better, and wear a quick-change outfit to save time. I enlist the help of a good sales rep to help me pick out sizes and colors, then we fill up a dressing room with dozens of outfits. The sales rep hovers by the door to snag the items thrown over the divider with instructions to get one size bigger/smaller, etc. Be prepared to try on 3 to 5 pairs of brown pants to get the ones that match a few jackets, are already on sale, and fit comfortably. By the way, did you know brown is the new black this season? I found three separates that go very well together, olive brown shorter-length blazer matching pants and a wonderful satin blouse with turquoise, brown, beige, pink, in a sort of tie-dyed pattern, a great business suit. Add a brown tiered long shirt with a matching peasant blouse, and of course a second peasant blouse in blue at 40% off to wear in summer. Found a nice blouse with a kind of sky-and-clouds pattern. Got light-weight tweed blue pants with a tailored blouse in a pin-stripe pattern of corresponding colors, 4 pairs of trendy cotton capri pants (brown, navy, beige, and black) which were a great deal, 2 funky belts marked down from $16 to $5 and 40% off that. Whew, what a rush! When I got the bag home I found the sales rep had thrown in a bracelet to match the belts. I had to take back one of the blouses next day because the snaps kept opening, got it replaced, then also bought a coral "hoodie" and a great tan purse that will hold everything I like to carry around. All for under $400! There's a 3-piece pant-suit that I have my eye on too. It's only $89 but I'll wait until it goes down some more before buying it.
Now for the impulse shopping. I was in Chinook Mall and happened to be passing by Payless Shoes. I did my usual quick walk-through to check of the Size 7's and did a double-take at a wonderful pair of fashion boots. You know, the kind you can't stand in for more than an hour at a time, and that you wouldn't get anywhere near rain or snow. They're tan suede and leather, with almost a cowboy boot kind of trim, on sale for $30. And to top it all off, I saw a fancy shirt in a butterscotch color while walking by Ricki's that I just had to have.
Now I'm ready for the Spring Convention in Jasper, the Fall Convention in St. John's and all the business meetings I have to attend at work and out of town in the next couple of months.
Oh yes, and right beside Pennington's is a Goodwill store. I'm always amazed at the treasures you can find in those places, sort of like "Frenchies" in New Brunswick. There was a satin evening bag that is a perfect match to the gown I bought when I was maid-of-honor at Kathy's wedding. Found a tall bud vase that matches the green glass collection I have in my downstairs bathroom; some traveling cosmetic/toiletry bags; an owl to go with the bird house collection I have on top of the bookshelves in my living room; and miscellaneous wall hooks for belts and necklaces. All for under $15.
It's a good thing I allow myself only one credit card for business purposes. Sometimes my shopping forays can get a little intense.
Winona & Shirley
I count these two ladies among my best friends, and spent a very enjoyable day with them yesterday. We went to see Tristan and Isolde at the movie theatre because we enjoy historical dramas. This one was post-Arthurian and kind of a star-crossed lovers story. It gave some insights into English history that were very interesting - did you know the Irish used to control most of England? Of course, we had to go out to eat at the Carriage House afterward, what's a movie without a dinner afterward to discuss it? Shirley isn't a Progress Club member, but always helps us out with our fundraisers and attends most of the events, so she's considered part of the Progress family.
Winona is a charter member of my club, the Calgary Eves. Winona lives in Nanton now, and is also the one who connected me to the two groups with whom I attend Stage West and Vertigo Theatre plays. There are 5 girls in one group, and up to 7 in the other. Shirley, her sister-in-law, lives here in Calgary and is the one who organizes all the tickes to these many events for us. We like to go to the local dinner theatre in High River as well where they put on some very entertaining productions for such a small theatre group. We count on Shirley to give us a call a few days beforehand to make sure we don't forget. There's a turkey dinner coming up there as well that I'll attend with Winona and Shirley. It's a fundraiser the church ladies put on, and always a big treat. In summer, we all like our impromptu "day trips" where we pack a picnic lunch, and just drive - may end up in Crowsnest Pass, or Waterton Lakes, or Kananaskis. We're thinking of maybe doing a tour of southern Alberta's ghost towns sometime this summer.
This week at work will be very busy, and I really hope to complete a lot of those projects that have been sitting in my "to do" piles for so long.
American Idol (1)
H
ey, check out Chris Daughtry
http://www.idolonfox.com/contestants/chris_daughtry/Looks like Vin Diesel, sings like Jon Bon Jovi
Definitely my pick of the guys.
I think Lisa Tucker is the best of the girls.
The Power Within
I attended The Power Within at the Telus Convention Centre Tuesday with about 2,500 other women. Speakers included Suzanne Sommers, Bianca Jagger, Lynne Cox, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Irshad Manji and Loretta LaRoche. All very inspirational and entertaining. To learn more about the conference check out
http://www.powerwithin.com/ . It's the first time I've been to one of these, and I hope to make it a yearly experience. My boss approved it as an expense item because it is considered a "personal growth" thing. It's hard to stay motivated somethimes when you work for the government, and perks like this really do help.
