Cocker Rescue Auction Site

So, a couple of months ago, a friend of mine that runs a Cocker Rescue based out of New Hampshire asked me if I would think about being the Site Administrator for a new Cocker Rescue auction site. There used to be a fabulous site, but the woman that runs it came down with ill health, and she just isn't able to manage the workload right now. I'm a big supporter of Cocker Rescue, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to work on my site administration skills while making a valuable contribution.

Well, let's just say it's been a real learning experience! I clearly did not know NEARLY as much as I thought I did LOL I have relied more on tech support over the past month or so than I ever thought I would. Granted, tech support hit a few glitches along the way too, so it's not all my fault. I'm not really sure, but I kind of suspect that the folks that asked me to take on this role are questioning their choice. But I've learned, so that certainly helps.

Today was the launch of the actual Spring auction . . . and we discovered very quickly that using shared servers does not provide enough bandwidth for our auction. It is just way too intensive. So as I type this, I am trying to get the Name Servers changed, so that we can be hosted on a Virtual Private Server, and not experience interruptions to our service. When I woke up this morning, I couldn't have typed that last sentence if I'd tried . . . I don't think I even knew some of those words. I've come a long way baby, in just 9 hours!

Check out the auction at http://www.lifeslittlepawsauction.com

Learned Something New

I've been grooming dogs for about 9 years now. I've done a lot of dogs, and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the whole thing. For my breed of dog - the American Cocker Spaniel - I use a heavy duty dryer on a stand. It blows significantly more air than a regular human blowdryer, and I can use variable heat settings. About 8 years ago, I bought a second-hand stand dryer made by Edemco. I didn't pay any more than $100 for it (new ones go for about $700 depending on the model), and it was already about 20 years old at that time. It worked like a charm, but in the fall of 2007 I decided that I needed something stronger. So I ordered a brand new dryer with my bonus money from work.

I ordered the Edemco F7001, which is one of their top of the line models. I got a good deal on it, and I was super excited about it. It had variable air flow control and variable temperature control. I really wanted both of those features, because it's nice for grooming puppies and adults.

I got the dryer, set it up, and began using it. I played around a lot with the temperature control, but couldn't quite figure out how to work the air flow control. I put it out of my head.

Last week an online friend was asking me about my dryer, because she wanted to buy one. She pointed out to me that it should have air flow control as well as temperature control. That tweaked my memory . . . but I still couldn't figure out how to make it work! Today I was grooming a Sheltie for a family friend, and I played with the air vent cover on the side of the dryer . . . and voila! Now I can control the air flow!

So an old dog CAN learn new tricks!

Getting excited!

So, in just 5 more sleeps, I get to go to the City of Sin, Las Vegas! I've never been before, and I'm so excited, I feel like I'm about 5 years old :) We have tickets to see Cirque de Soleil, and a reservation to eat at a cute little French Bistro called Mon Ami Gabi in the hotel Paris Las Vegas. I'm not sure if the reservation will stand, as it depends on what kind of adventures we find, but it's fun to think about eating there, anyhow. It comes highly recommended by both Frommer's and a co-worker that I trust.

We plan to tour the strip, preferably with some kind of exciting beverages in our hands, and we also plan to sneak in some outlet shopping. It will be a packed 2 days (and one night), but we are definitely going to make the most out of it! I can't wait! Have I already said that?

I am women!

Okay, so the more correct title for this post would be "we are women" since it's about both my mom and I. But that doesn't have the same ring to it . . . hence my exectuive decision to title it as such. My mom and I had the most productive weekend that we've had in a long time. On Saturday she worked in our back room (the computer room), getting the rest of the Christmas stuff put away and getting rid of junk. As a previous post pointed out, we're ALL packracts, so this is a huge job. I raked the backyard, making sure the dead grass was gone. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but it was hard work!

On Sunday I started raking the front lawn, and got about half of it done (with my mom helping). Then we decided to trim the top of the cedar tree that grows in front of the house, as it was growing over the roof. We propped up the ladder, and I hiked up there with my trusty Japanese saw. It looks small and ineffective, but it actually has pretty good cutting power! Still, my arms were pretty darned sore!

We used to have this big stump in the middle of our front lawn. A few years ago we cut down the flowering bush that was there, but were unable to get the stump out. It's been a humungous pain to cut the lawn around. Well, my mom decided we were going to try and get that sucker out. I was doubtful, I'll admit it. But she did all of the work - digging the dirt away, hacking at the roots with an axe, and trying to get it out. She got to a thick, stubborn root, and her arms were tired, so I had a few hacks at it. Together we got it out! Talk about a sense of accomplishment and empowerment!

So there is the reason for the blog post - we proved that we don't need no stinking men to do the grunt work. It might take longer, but we manage just fine!

Happy Mother's Day!

Although the day doesn't officially start for another 2.5 hours, I wanted to wish all of the mothers out there a wonderful, happy Mother's Day! This goes out to human moms, dog moms, cat moms, and all other kinds of moms too. This is a day to celebrate somebody that has made an impact on your life in some way. Of course, it is meant to celebrate your mother - the person that gave you life, that nurtured you when you needed it the most, and that raised you into the human being that you are today. For me, this person is incredibly special. I am SO very lucky to have the world's best mother (feel free to disagree . . . but I would debate your arugments any day!). Not only is she my mom, but she is also my best friend. I can talk to my mom about anything, and know that she will provide me with honest, heartfelt advice. Growing up, she taught me about strength, independence, perseverence and the importance of educating yourself. She demonstrated that a strong, independent woman CAN succeed - in life and in business.

She raised me to be honest and ethical, and she raised me with a sense of responsibility. I see so much of who I am today in the person that she is. I couldn't be prouder of that if I tried. There is nobody else in the world that I want to be like as much as my mother. I'm not one of those women that shudders when somebody tells them that they're like their mother - I beam with pride. My mother instilled in me values that will take me far in life, and that make me a reasonable person (well, most of the time - hormones can mess with that!).

So Mother's Day is all about celebrating my mom, and thanking her for everything she's given me over the years. Not the physical gifts, but the things that I will carry with me forever. Threads of my mom, woven into the fabric that is me.

Thank you Mom, I love you always and forever.

Small Pet Peeve

So, I work for a company that is situated about 40km (roughly 25 miles) north of the city. The company is generous enough to provide bussing to and from work. The bus ride ends up taking anywhere from 45 to 55 minutes, depending on traffic. There are several busses that do various routes within the city. Folks that have been working at the plant for a while understand bus etiquette . . . we disembark in rows, starting at the front, we talk quietly (if at all) in the mornings, you check with the person behind you prior to fully reclining your seat. Most of the time, bus-riding is a congenial, relaxing experience.

But once a year, the idyll is shattered by the influx of summer students. Don't get me wrong, most of the summer students are great, and many of them contribute a lot to the company. But it appears as though a lecture on bus etiquette is required during orientation. They race to the front of the bus to get off first, they slam their seats back without looking, and they yak on their cell phones (rather loudly, often) for the entire ride. For the first few weeks of May, the adjustment period is a bit painful for us "veterans."

So it's a small pet peeve, but being that it's the first week of May, it has recently surfaced again. I promise, I won't complain about it again. At least not until next year ;)

Thankful Thursday

As the weeks of Thankful Thursdays go on, I half feel like I'm running out of things to write. I don't want to write about the small, seemingly-insignificant things that I appreciate, I want my posts to have depth and meaning (and an element of humour as well). But in all honesty, how many "big" things can I be thankful for before I start sounding corny or insincere?

So this week, I'm thankful that I have a good job. Those of you that know me might remember that this time last year, I was in a miserable position at work. I was in a job that was a bad fit right from the start, and there wasn't anything I could do about it. It was a very tough few months, but then I moved into Internal Audit, and despite everything that you've heard or said about auditors, they're a really good group! The work suits my nitpicky personality, and I continue to learn new things all the time (which is an important element of a job for me). I'm happier than I was a year ago, that's for sure.

So while this isn't a huge, meaningful relevation, it's still something that definitely makes me happy.

Something for everything

I was going to title this post "Another one of my favourites" but I think that post title has been used too much lately on my blog. So, I thought of something else appropriate . . . since the "food" I am about to discuss really DOES go with everything!

That "food" (which is in quotation marks since I'm not really sure it's the right word) is maple syrup. Nectar of the Gods for sure! The real stuff is best, but even Aunt Jemima will do in a pinch. Yesterday a good family friend brought a HUGE jug to the house. Her sister's husband's family makes it and sells it, and so she got some for us, because she knows my dad and I LOVE it. I was so excited I was almost giggling :)

I love it on breakfast sausages, ham, scrambled eggs and pancakes or french toast or waffles. I'm sure it's equally as good on all other types of food, I just haven't tried the combinations yet.

For those of you that don't love maple syrup, I really, honestly think you're missing out!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for my love of reading. The enjoyment that I get out of sitting down and reading a book has enhanced my life immeasurably. It provides me with an escape outlet to other worlds, time periods and places. When I'm having a rough day, or I just need to get away without spending big bucks, I can open up a well-written book and get lost in it. Reading has educated me - thankfully enjoying a wide range of book genres has helped. By reading biographies, I have gotten to know famous people. By reading business books, I have learned about the intricacies of business, the management of people and how to make ideas work. By reading dog books (non-fiction), I have learned an immense amount about training, health, structure, behaviour and various breeds.

I enjoy reading books, magazines, newspapers and blogs. This love of reading has led me to enjoy crossword puzzles and word searches, as well as to enjoy writing. I have a bigger vocabulary than most of the non-readers I know, and I can spell very well.

So I'm thankful for my love of reading, and everything it has added to my life.

200 Posts!

I've spent quite a bit of time today trying to come up with the ultimate blog post to celebrate my 200th post. But unfortunately, my inspiration has taken a road trip. What a bad day to have a brain fart!

Today was interesting. We just moved to new offices this week. The person that had this office prior to me did not turn in the key, so I'm waiting on the company lockshop to get me another one. It's actually against company policy to leave my door unlocked overnight, but there isn't any other choice. Well, last night either the cleaners or security locked my door. So when I got in this morning, I was locked out! We called security (who have a master key), but they didn't make it over until 11am. So I worked in am empty cubicle for the morning.

As if that wasn't enough, I grabbed a can of Diet Coke, since my water bottle was locked in my office. I don't normally drink Diet Coke before lunch, but I made an exception. As I was getting set up in the cubicle, I knocked the can over, and spilled it into my work bag. All over two new books, a magazine, and some documents. Talk about crummy luck!

Fortunately I managed to salvage my day, and it turned out to be a pretty good one. So that just goes to show that just because the day starts out on a sour note, that does not mean that it can't improve!

Farley's New Friend

So, the day before my parents got home from their cruise, the doorbell rang. I answered the door, and it was a young man of about 10 years or so, asking if I had any dogs. The incessant barking should have given it away. He asked if he could take them for a walk, so I told him he could take Farley. I dug Farley's leash out of the closet, and watched them walk down the street together. After they turned the corner, panic set in. I mean, I didn't even know the kid's name! And what if he didn't bring my dog back? What would I do?

About 45 minutes later, this pair came strolling back up the driveway. The smaller half of the pair was just black with mud and puddle water, but he was also grinning from ear to ear, tongue hanging out happily. I thanked the young man for walking my dog, and proceeded to take Farley down to the basement for a bath. Halfway through the bath, I realized that the kid probably wanted to be paid. Oooops! I couldn't even go to his house with money, because I didn't know his name. I figured he'd never come back, since I was a bit of a deadbeat LOL

A few days later, he showed up again. My dad called me at work, and before I even really thought about it, I told him it was fine. I STILL didn't know the kid's name! But again, Farley made it back in one piece, albeit dirtier than heck. This time the kid's mom came to the door as well, and they introduced themselves. I paid the young man for walking the dog and apologized for not doing so before. Mom explained that their dog had died in January, and they couldn't get a new one, so the boy was missing his dog. How could that not tug at my heart strings?

Farley's new friend has been back a couple of times now, asking to walk his buddy. He now gets the leash out of the closet himself, and Farley is happy to have the outings with his buddy. I, on the other hand, am slowly going broke. Also, my back's a bit sore from the baths. But how do you say no to such a happy pair?

My favourite . . .

Back on the theme of things I love (aka My Favourites), I wanted to talk about one of my all-time favourite home-cooked meals. What brought it to mind is that we had it for supper yesterday and again today. Spiral ham with my mom's special glaze (which includes gingerale, maple syrup, crushed pineapples and other "secret" ingredients), potatoes and mixed vegetables. Oh my goodness, what an awesome treat! The spiral hams (so-called for the method of cutting, as far as I know) aren't nearly as salty as regular hams, and they are sweet and succulent. Mmmmm. Of course, maple syrup makes EVERY meal better, so that's a given.

The potatoes were mashed this time, although the ideal potatoes with ham are scalloped or au gratin. I won't complain, I like mashed too. Then we also had peas, corn and broccoli. What a meal! Despite the fact that I don't normally like leftovers that much, I was looking forward to tonight's meal all day long.

Feel free to share what YOUR favourite homemade meal is!

Family Fun Day

Today was my company-sponsored Family Fun Day. The company rents a local indoor ice rink and turns it into a fair for kids. There are all kinds of games to play, those big air-filled bouncy "houses" and some other climbing stuff. There is also a petting zoo with farm animals, face painting, airbrushed tattoos, food, and shows. It really is a lot of fun. My mom and I took my three oldest nieces (I now have 4 nieces and a nephew!) for a fun-filled day. First off, we all went to see the Amazing Brent, a magician. He really put on a good show, and the kids enjoyed it. Then the two older girls went off on their own, and mom and I went with Tashie to explore. It was fun - we got airbrushed tattoos (yes, me too - a fairy on my left arm), I took loads of pictures, and Tashie played and played.

I plan to write a letter to the event planners/coordinators, to thank them. The girls had a great time, and we enjoyed sharing this day with them. It was a day full of smiles and laughter!

Thankful Thursday

So here we are again, we've made it through 80% of the work week, and we're back to Thursday. I can't say that personally it's been a stressful week, since I haven't worked nearly as much as I normally do. One snow day, one day of packing, and one day of working from home because our offices are being moved to a new building, have added up to a lighter-than-average work week.

Today I'm grateful that my brand new niece (who will be 1 week old tomorrow!) is doing well, and isn't suffering from many of the ailments that preemie newborns commonly have. She was born 1 month early, so she's in the NICU for a bit, but other than some jaundice and a slightly underdeveloped sucking reflex, she's a healthy little girl. Given the health issues that her brother had when he was born early, it is a miracle that she is this healthy.

The miracle of life is really something to behold. This little baby is a perfect miniature, even compared to regular newborns. Her fingers and toes are so tiny and yet so perfect.

I was cranky this morning!

So, it finally quit snowing around 5pm last night, hallelujah! It also started to warm up, which has made the snow wetter and more compactable. Seems like that should be a good thing, but I disagree now.

Backed out of the driveway fine, because the neighbor's son shovelled it for us last night (I could have kissed him, but he's 16 and embarasses easily LOL). Got stuck in the street due to the depth of snow. The city is not plowing anything other than main arteries as it's supposed to warm up soon, and the snow should melt. I have a small car (Dodge Caliber) with front wheel drive. I rocked back and forth and managed to get going. Stopped at Safeway to get flowers for our Admin Assistant, as it's Administrative Professionals day today.

Saw that the parking lot had not been cleared, but figured it was no big deal. There were lots of tracks from people that had been there yesterday and earlier this morning. Hah! I got stuck right in the main laneway. Could NOT get out. I had 5 guys help me push the car out of the laneway, and there it sits, crossways in TWO angle parking spots. Hope those people don't want to park today!

Thanks to two wonderful co-workers, and one anonymous other person from my building, the car eventually got dug and pushed out, so that I could park in a cleared lot. It took about half an hour, a snow shovel, and lots of manual labour, but I was so grateful for the help. Now I'm home and heading to bed soon. I HAVE to sleep off this cold.

Snow Day

In my 28 years of living in Northern Alberta, I've never heard of the city busses not running due to snow. Cold weather comes now and again, but I can't think of the last time we've had this much snow in a short time period. I'm sure we've gotten around 15" of snow, if not more, since Saturday night. Today the city busses quit running, the major companies told people to stay home, and the roads were almost impassable.

I took a few pictures for everybody to see our little spring squall!

My favourite . . .

Okay, I thought I'd go back to favourites . . . so today I want to talk about my favourite time of year, which is spring time. I love that the sun makes longer and longer appearances with each passing day. I love the green grass, and the buds on the trees. I love seeing nature slowly wake up from its long winter slumber.

I most decidedly do NOT love winter. Especially not most of the way through April, which is a full month after the start of spring, according to my calendar. I do not love blowing snow, and drifts against the house that make opening the door tough. I don't love so much snow in the street that I almost get stuck on my way to work. I don't love brushing a foot of snow off my car in the morning, and I don't love the snow. Did I mention that?

Alberta is in the grip of a winter storm . . . a really nice, good one, with snow and wind and cold. All I want to do is curl up in bed and snooze . . . unfortunately my boss disagrees ;) So I'm here, wrapped in a sweater, with big slippers on, dreaming of hot soup and hot chocolate. Hope you're warm and cozy too!

Farley is a GOOD boy!

So in January 2007, the Canadian Kennel Club added a new event for dogs to earn titles in. It's called Rally obedience, and it's sort of like a combination between certain elements of agility and obedience, leaning heavily towards obedience. It's meant to be an introductory stepping stone to traditional obedience. Handlers can talk to their dogs all the way through the course, and offer praise and encouragement. There are stations that you go through (heeling your dog in between) and do what's on the signs.

Well, a couple of weeks ago I showed Farley in 2 Rally trials in Red Deer. We'd never been to a class or played in a sanction match, but I had watched it in Philly, so I figured it wouldn't be too tough. Especially for a dog who's competed in regular obedience.

Our first trial was definitely for learning, as we lost a few points for doing stations incorrectly. But we learned from our mistakes (okay, MY mistakes) and we did much better in the second trial. Farley LOVED that I could talk to him, and I found it fun. On Friday we went to one more trial, this time in Edmonton. Farley was amazing, and he earned his third passing score to earn a brand new title, at the tender age of 8.5 years old. What a boy! He is now Ch Silverwood's Northern Light Am Can CD, RN, CGC.

I'm sure most of this reads like gobbledygook, but thanks for letting me share my pride!

Thankful Thursday

Back to my favourite blog day of the week . . . I love spending time thinking of things that I'm thankful for. It's such a positive day for me.

After watching Randy Pausch give his "Final Lecture" on Diane Sawyer last week, I am very thankful for my health. Randy Pausch is a former professor from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsbrugh. Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer some months ago, and although he is battling it bravely, it appears that the cancer has spread. When you read my sentence, it sounds infinitely sad. Randy has a beautiful wife and young kids, and his life is being cut short. The great thing is that Randy doesn't see it as a sad event. He sees this as an opportunity to truly live out his dreams. Instead of wondering when the time will come, he lives each day as fully as possible. He tells people what they mean to him, and he does the things that he wants to do. He spends as much time with the people that are important to him as possible, and he takes nothing for granted.

His "Last Lecture" (both an actual 90 minute lecture and a published book) is basically his advice for living out your dreams. It's heartbreaking, inspiring and full of words of wisdom. Much of it has been said and heard before, but somehow, it sounds fresh coming from Randy. I wish him the best of luck with his ongoing battle. I truly hope he wins it.

So even though I have to admit that I don't always live my dream, I am thankful for my health and the fact that I don't have to be fully aware of what each day holds. I'm grateful that I am able to get up for work, feed the dogs, do chores and other mundane things . . . because it means that as far as I know, I have lots of life left to live.

Enjoy your weekend friends and loyal blog readers!

Welcome Home!

Well, yesterday was the big day . . . the end to pretending that I own this house and I don't share it with anybody LOL My parents came home from their 3 week vacation yesterday. I surprised them by meeting at the airport - I have to admit that I was pretty excited to see them too. Despite being able to sit online as much as I wanted to, the house was kind of quiet and lonely without them here.

My mom had a real adventure on the cruise - her blood sugars went WAY out of whack, and she ended up spending all kinds of time in the ship sick bay, getting IV treatment and having injectable insulin. Not an expensive adventure, and certainly not a part of the ship that folks want to see. But they got everything under control, and she's feeling better now. Thank goodness!

I have looked at all of my dad's pictures, and he took some awesome ones. I can't wait to see what my mom took now :) They did have some formal pictures done on the ship, and those turned out beautifully. It is so cool to see my dad in a tux!

My family is whole again . . . life is good ;)

Life Is Good

Okay, okay I know that's a corny title for a blog post . . . and goodness knows, I've probably already used it at least once during the life of this blog. But honestly, these days, I can't complain. Yes, there is some added stress at work, and yes, I've had some "friend" issues recently (they *seem* to be over now, thank goodness). But overall, life is very good for me. I have a great vacation coming up, my folks will be home from their cruise soon (don't tell them I missed them though!), two healthy dogs, and things are just on track.

Now, ask me if I feel the same this time tomorrow! I have to get groceries, buy dog food, get a massage (okay, that part won't be hard), clean the house, do laundry and clean the yard. I might not be as excited about life in 24 hours ;)

Thankful Thursday

Here we are again, having reached Thursday. There's something somewhat exciting about Thursday, because it's tantalizingly close to Friday. It's most definitely the best night for prime time TV, and you go to bed happy, knowing that Friday might be more casual than the rest of the week, and you have a different feeling than you had all week.

This week I'm thankful for being spontaneous. This is not normally something I'm good at - I tend to plan everything, if not OVERplan it. I'm very averse to risk, and I feel that planning takes away a lot of risk. But yesterday, when my friend emailed me and asked if I wanted to take a quick trip to Vegas, I had enough spontaneity in me to say yes! We're planning now, of course, but just that rush of adrenaline that came from saying yes without thinking it through helped get me through the day. I'm still feeling good about it. I know it sounds silly, but for somebody that plans everything to a "t" it's pretty cool to just "do it."

I hope you guys are enjoying your Thursday!

Tagged!

I stole the idea for this post from a friend's blog . . .

So here's goes nothing....

A- Attached or Single: Single

B- Best friend: I have four if you can imagine that! - Ange, Jackie, Brandi and Jes

C- Cake or Pie: Chocolate cake!

D- Day of Choice: Fridays . . . it's a more casual day at work, and usually a fun, relaxed evening

E- Essential Item: Water... for the need to live kind of essential. Books... for my sanity! (sounds good to me)

F- Favorite color: Purple

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Gummi Bears from Dominion in Scarborough . . . yummmmm

H- Hometown: Fort McMurray

I- Indulgence(s): Novels... I love to get into a good book.

J- January or July: January - my birthday falls then!

K-Kids: Two furkids - Farley & Grace

L- Life is Incomplete Without: My family

M-Marriage Date: Not applicable

N- Number of Siblings: 1 brother

O- Oranges or apples: Oranges

P- Phobias or Fears: Losing my loved ones

Q- Quotes: Let me be the person my dog thinks I am.

R- Reason to Smile: I'm going to Vegas, and it's going to be awesome!

S- Season: Spring

T- Tag Seven: Weeza . . . nobody else I know has a blog!

U- Unknown Fact about Me: I love jigsaw puzzles!

V- Vegetarian or Meat Lover: Meat lover . . .

W- Worst Habit: Nail biting! I need to join nail-biters anonymous.

X- X Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasound . . . I had one for my gallbladder once, and the U/S tech showed me my heart beating, which was super cool!

Y- Your Favorite Food: Hamburgers & Jackie's lasagne

Z-Zodiac: Quintessential Capricorn!

Crazy Days

It's funny how life can change so suddenly, based on the people around you. One day everything is fine, and then bam! things change. I want to preface this post by saying that the changes are affecting me negatively, so this isn't a complaint or rant. Just an observation, if you will.

Yesterday I got back to work after my trip to Devon/Red Deer. I've been working on an audit with a co-worker, and she'd been off the week prior, so I was eager to chat with her and to have us align our work again. She dropped a bombshell - she told me she was leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. I wasn't surprised, as she isn't completely happy where she is, and this will be a much better place for her. But I was disappointed. She's a good co-worker, and I've enjoyed getting to know her and working with her. I'll miss her.

The bigger aspect of this is that the company she's going to work for is the one we have been auditing! So, to prevent any perception of impropriety, she is being taken off the audit, except to finish off her paperwork. That leaves me with more responsibility than I had two days ago! It's a bit daunting, but I do think I can handle it. It just caught me off-guard. So the last two days have been busy, filled with adjustments, emails and phone calls.

On another, much more fun and exciting note, I'm going to Vegas baby! A couple of friends and I found a good seat sale, and now we're jetting off to the city that never sleeps :) It's over the May long weekend, just for a couple of days. I think we're going to have a lot of fun, and I can't wait to see what the hype is about this fabulous city!

Fabulous weekend!

Well, I know it's Tuesday and for most people, that means the weekend is a distant memory. But I had such a good weekend that I'm still glowing with the happiness of it.

I travelled to Devon to spend the weekend with my good friend, as well as to attend a dog show with my "old" guy Farley. In January 2008, the Canadian Kennel Club added Rally Obedience as an event that dogs can earn official titles at. It is like traditional obedience, but more fun and less stressful. Since Farley has been trained in obedience for years, I decided to take him out of "retirement" to see if he could earn a new title. He did me SO proud!

On Saturday he passed the trial, despite never having seen a Rally obedience course before. He trusted me, and worked like a little champ. I was so proud of him. Sunday he passed the trial again, and managed to earn the "bonus" win of High Scoring Cocker Spaniel in Rally (don't tell him that he was the only Cocker LOL). Two passes down, and one more to go, and this guy will have earned a new title at the tender age of 8.5 years old!

I had a fabulous time visiting with friends and watching dogs compete. There were some nice Cockers entered at this show, and everybody had a good time cheering each other on. A group of us went out for supper, and had a blast. This is what dog show weekends should be about! Camraderie and laughter and good dogs.

Hope you had a good weekend too . . .

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am so very grateful for good friends. This has really been a roller coaster week, discovering that some people I thought were friends are not, and trying to sort through the "wreckage" of those friendships (or what I thought were friendships). It has been quite discouraging, but the bright spot has been my truly GOOD friends. People that don't care that sometimes I'm nutty, and that don't care whether or not I look good or whatever. Those are the people that are really important to me, and they're they people that I am so glad to have in my life.

Over the years, as I've gone through some struggles, the same people have been supporting me and looking out for me. I'm sure they know who they are, and I would like to thank them. These people, along with my family and dogs, truly do make my life complete.

Gordon Ramsey (Spoiler below)

Yahoo! Hell's Kitchen is back and with a vengeance! I've only watched the first few minutes (I taped it last night because I was busy with other stuff), and already I'm feeling the vibe! The introduction was particularly amusing . . . it started almost like a fairy tale, with pretty music and a soft, pleasant voice. Then they introduce the big monster - Gordon Ramsey! It was perfect!

Now he's tasting the first meals that the aspiring chefs have made. Never in the three prior series of Hell's Kitchen have I seen him throw up, but this time he did. Several times. It was awesome! Not that I like to see people puke, but come on . . . that's not a good start for some poor schmuck!

I can only hope that the season continues on as it has started. I'm so glad that Hell's Kitchen is back!

April Fool's Day

Since I'm not really a jokester or prankster, I don't usually pay a lot of attention to April Fool's Day, other than to fervently hope and pray that nobody plays a joke on me. I tend to be quite gullible with stuff like that. Today was no different - in fact, I forgot about it being April 1st until well after lunch time.

A friend of mine was going to get her pregnant friend to pee on a pregnancy test stick, and then leave it in the bathroom for her boyfriend to find (you have to understand that they have a sick, twisted sense of humour in their relationship, so after the shock, he'd be fine with it). I would have liked to have seen his face this morning!

Other than that I haven't really heard of any good April Fool's Day pranks. If you have a good one, please share!

Pleasant Surprise

Be forewarned that after reading this, you might think I'm a bit off the wall. Moreso than usual, I mean.

Last week I ordered a book in the mail, based on a recommendation from a magazine article. I really respect the person that wrote the article, so I thought I'd give the book a try. It's called "Best in Show" and it's written by Bo Bengston, who is very well known in the dog world, as a breeder, a judge and an author. Anyhow, since it wasn't very expensive (around $30 with my Chapters membership), I figured it would be a typical book, around 200 pages or so. Well, I could see the box in my mailbox as I pulled into the driveway, but I had NO idea how heavy it was! This book is almost 650 pages long! Which I personally think is a GREAT deal for about $30!

So, I was pleasantly surprised. It looks wonderful (after a quick skim) so I can't wait to dive in and read it!

Fun Weekend

I had a really nice weekend :) A good friend of mine came to town for a visit, and we had a great time catching up and having fun. Friday I left work early and had lunch with my friend, and then we came to the house and played Wii. She brought up Karaoke Revolution: American Idol, and we had quite a bit of fun with that. Amazingly, Simon Cowell is quite nice . . . which is just odd. Neither of us can really sing that well, but we managed to win some Platinum and Gold records.

Saturday we went for lunch at a local sushi place and then ran some errands. After that we came home and played Wii again. This time we did Dance, Dance Revolution (with the floor pad). It sounds like a kids' game, but let me tell you, it provides quite the workout! I'm sure I got more exercise playing video games than I have in a long time. And believe me, I know that just sounds wrong LOL Saturday night we had tickets to see Aaron Lines in concert. He put on a fabulous show, and we both enjoyed it a lot.

Today was low key, as her flight left in the early afternoon. Still, we managed to get in lots of visiting in what felt like two short days. I'm sure glad she came for a visit! I hope you had a great weekend too!

Thankful Thursday

Last week I had a brutal migraine, and couldn't post on Thursday. This week, I'm glad to be back on track. This is my favourite post of the week, because it really gets me to think about the great things in my life.

Today I'm thankful for my family, and the fact that we're so close. Yesterday my parents left for a South American cruise, and the house is very, very quiet without them. If I feel lonely without them today, how will I handle the next 3 weeks? It's not necessarily loneliness . . . just noticing how quiet and still the house is without other people moving around. Thankfully the dogs make up for some of that silence . . .

I have heard of so many people that don't have close relationships with their parents, and I always feel sorry for them. My mom and I are especially close, but even my dad and I have a good relationship. I know that I can talk to them about almost anything, and they'll provide a good perspective for me. I know that they love me and care about me, and will support me through anything. And I know how lucky that makes me.

Take some time to think about what you're thankful for today . . .

New Music

Over the past few weeks I've added some new music to my collection. Having received an iPod Touch for my birthday from my best friend, I've been downloading from iTunes like crazy. Thankfully I got lots of gift cards for Christmas for iTunes, so I haven't spent money out of pocket . . . yet.

Feist - a Juno-nominated Canadian artist, Leslie Feist has a very soulful and haunting voice. I purchased her most recent CD and am enjoying it. It has a slower pace to it than a traditional rock or pop CD, but it's very musical.

Sara Bareilles - Her single "Love Song" has been all over the radio, and I liked the catchy tune, so I purchased the whole CD. It's a nice, mainstream, female pop album. Upbeat, and Sara has a very nice voice. It's perfect for listening to at work. If you like the American Idol type of music, I think you would enjoy this CD. If you don't like pop music, give this one a miss.

Regina Spektor - This CD was recommended to me by a good friend, so I felt like I had to purchase it. I wasn't disappointed. Similar to Sara, the first tune was a hit single (can't remember the name of it off-hand - sorry folks!), and very catchy. This CD isn't really as "poppy" as Sara's, it has a bit more of an edge. Not raunch or hard core at all, just not as . . . carefree. Another wonderful female artist.

Trace Adkins - Greatest Hits Volume 2. Okay, I admit that I fell in love with Trace's gravelly voice from watching Celebrity Apprentice, so my dad thought he'd surprise me with Trace's CD. I'm not typically a huge country fan, although I do have some albums (Aaron Lines is an incredible country artist). I really enjoy Trace's album - it's a mix of "classic" country songs, along with some more modern, edgy country. There is a wide range of song types, from ballads to upbeat. Thta being said, if you don't like country music, don't buy it.

I'm always open to suggestions for new music, so if you have any ideas, feel free to share them!

Boo Hoo :(

I should have known better than to post a "Welcome spring" note, but I couldn't help myself. As punishment, it has been snowing since sometime through the night. YUCK! I don't like to use my blog to whine and complain, because that's no fun for people to read, but I am so sad to see winter back. I sincerely hope it's a short visit, because I am in desperate need of more sunshine and warm weather.

Apparently, in central Alberta, the weather is much better. So please take note that I'm jealous of the central (and southern) Albertans. Sigh.

Happy Easter!

I just wanted to wish all of my friends and blog readers a very happy Easter! It's been a nice day here - the sun has been shining and it's been a glorious 6 degrees! Everything is continuing to melt - at this rate we will be rid of the snow by the end of next month. I had two of my nieces visiting, and they spent some time dying eggs and decorating them. It was a fun day.

I hope everyone is enjoying their friends and family this Easter holiday!

It's the Easter Cockers Charlie Brown!

Okay, okay . . . I know it's not really the Easter Cockers, but I didn't have a Beagle for my photo shoot, so I had to make do. My dogs are such good sports about it all - I just want to tell you that right up front. Not only do they tolerate the bunny ears, but they sit and stay while I take a bunch of pictures. I couldn't ask for easier models to work with! I can't say the same for the fuzzy pink guy in the middle . . . he refused to listen to any of my requests. Oh well, it was all in the spirit of Easter.

Wishing my friends and blog readers a very happy Easter! May it be filled with fun, good food and the love of family and friends!

Daffodils

Every year, the Canadian Cancer Society sells daffodil bunches, to raise money and awareness. Last weekend I bought two bunches, and they opened up through the week. They are gorgeous, and another welcome sign of spring. I thought I'd share some of the pictures I took, using the "macro" function on my new camera. Enjoy!

Welcome Spring

So yesterday was the first day of spring, as per my calendar. Since I live just south of the North Pole, spring doesn't arrive here quite as quickly as it does in other, more temperate climates. But I think that I'm finally seeing signs that the solid grip of winter is being loosened! The snow is slowly melting, what with temps slightly above zero, and I can even see some small patches of grass! Granted, it's dead and brown, but at least it's showing. I'm so thankful for that. I think there are more birds out, and the sun is shining longer every day.

I know that given where I live, there could be more winter to come. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the sunshine and spring weather, and I'm going to soak up some Vitamin D!

More favourites

I am really getting a lot of mileage out of this whole "favourites" thing! Thank you Vicky for suggesting it :)

With the famed Writer's Strike (over now, thankfully), a lot of my normal favourite TV shows have been on hold. I am in withdrawal from such great shows as NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, House MD and Brothers & Sisters. I can't wait until April, when they all start coming back on the air. It will be a momentous month! But, the strike has given me the opportunity to watch new shows - shows that are somewhat off the beaten path, and are just being aired on major networks as filler.

"Big Love" which stars Bill Paxton is about a polygamist and how he functions in the normal world (along with his 3 wives and their kids). The relationships within the family are explored, as is living "normally" and dealing with the church and their beliefs. It's on Thursday nights, and I think it is normally shown on HBO. I've gotten interested in the story, so I try to watch it.

"America's Most Smartest Model" is one of a plethora of reality TV shows that has cropped up to fill the void created by the strike. It is hosted by Ben Stein and a former model (her name escapes me right now). It is comprised of "smarts" and beauty competitions, and it's very entertaining. It's also on Thursdays, on CityTV. Definitely good for a laugh!

As always, TLC can be relied on to have quality programming. Now that Paige Davis is back on Trading Spaces, the show is more interesting again. This time around, the storylines of the people trading homes are featured as much as the re-designs themselves. Saturday nights on TLC are enjoyable with this show back to its former glory. Also of note on TLC are What Not To Wear (Fridays), Moving Up (Saturdays) and Flip That House (Saturdays).

I'm always open to suggestions for other new shows, so feel free to share your favourites!

My reading list

Somebody had asked about books . . . and I'm always willing to talk books. I've been reading up a storm since 2008 started!



Earlier this year I read "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett, which is a historical fiction novel based in the 1300's in England. The story centers around Kingsbridge, which is a town attached to a priory with a cathedral that is being built. It spans about 100 years or so, and goes through several relationships over those years. This book was written in the late 80's or early 90's, so it is readily available.


Following that I read "World Without End" which is Ken Follett's follow-up novel. You don't have to read the first one to "get" the second one, but it would clear a few small things up, especially around ancestry and heritage. The second book starts in te 1600's and it also takes place in Kingsbridge. Both are length novels, but well worth the read.


Following that I read "Atonement" by Ian McEwan. This novel was recently made into a movie in Hollywood. I haven't seen the movie, but wanted to read this book. I have to say that I found it quite slow . . . lots of descriptions and discussions about peoples' thoughts, but not much action. It took me a while to get through it, simply because it wasn't hard to put down.



Now I've really gone serious, and am reading Danielle Steele's "Sisters" LOL Not exactly intellectually challenging, but it is a nice, light read and so far I'm enjoying it. It works for a time when work is busy, and I have lots to think about there. This gives me an escape.

Curling Follow-Up

I am VERY proud to report that Kevin Martin, the skip (leader) of Team Alberta led his team to victory last night, in a narrow 5-4 win over Glen Howard and Team Ontario. Despite the excitement of the win, the game was played fairly cautiously, and wasn't all that exciting to watch. Often, finals games are full of risky draws and take-outs, but both teams strugged with the ice (the rocks weren't moving down the ice as they had all week), and that made the game feel almost mundane. Keep in mind, this is coming from an armchair curler - I couldn't DREAM of being as talented as these men are. As much as I enjoy curling, other than the occasional bonspiel, nobody will ever be watching ME curl. They might watch me fall, because that's entertaining on occasion, but my curling is not.

Oh, and Vicky, if you're aiming to play at the 2009 Tim Hortons' Brier (being held in Calgary), you may want to start planning the sex change now. The Brier is the mens' national championship. I think you'd be much more suited to the Scotties' Tournament of Hearts :)

Curling

Since I was on a theme about my favourite things before my thankful Thursday post, I thought I'd talk about one of my favourite sports today. I do love dog shows (and I do consider it a sport, but so many people debate me on that point), but I also love curling. Not curling my hair - curling the sport! It looks so simplistic to people that don't watch it - throw rocks down ice and get them on the bullseye. But to those of us that are avid fans, we know that there is so much more strategy involved than that. The skip (team leader) has to think ahead, and try to figure out what his competitor is going to do. And there is a lot of math involved, as well as understanding the ice, and how it is affecting the movement of the rocks.

On Friday night I was watching a playoff game between Kevin Martin of Alberta (and his wonderful team mates) and Pat Simmons of Saskatchewans (and his great team mates). Although Kevin Martin's rink was outplayed by Saskatchewan, it was his understanding of the ice and his accurate prediction of what Pat would do that helped him win the game.

Tonight is the final of the Tim Hortons' Brier, which is the Canadian national mens' competition. Kevin Martin of Alberta is playing against Glen Howard of Ontario. It should be one heck of a game! I warn those of you that could possibly call - all phone calls, emails and text messages will go unanswered between 4:30pm and 7:30pm . . . my mind will be focused elsewhere!

Thankful Thursday

Yes, it's another edition of Thankful Thursday! I really like this blog topic, because it makes me stop and think about the good things in my life, instead of just being angry about stuff, depressed about stuff or just unhappy.

Today I'm thankful for my dogs. The weather outside isn't as warm as it was on the weekend, but the sun is shining for the first time in several days, and it's nice. Seeing the shining sun and feeling the warm rays on my arms made me want to get out and walk. Normally, I'd just get home, eat supper and get online. But today, I walked in the door and I could tell that the dogs were feeling the same "goodness" that I was. So instead of eating and sitting, I grabbed their collars and leashes and took them for a 30 minute walk. It was our first walk of 2008, and it was a great way to celebrate the coming of spring.

I'm also thankful that on the days that I feel like the world is against me, I come home and these two dogs are smiling and wagging and jumping on me. They're acting like the best part of their day just happened . . . and that ALWAYS makes me feel better. Well, unless one of them has a chewed up leather shoe in their mouth, but that doesn't happen as often anymore.

I absolutely love bedtime with my boy Farley (Grace still sleeps in her crate because she eats books at night while I sleep). He snuggles in as close as he can, and sighs and goes to sleep. I love that feeling so much, and it's the thing I miss the most when I travel. That feeling of closeness.

I could keep typing the things I am thankful for with regard to my dogs . . . but I think you get the picture!

My favourite . . .

Colour! LOL Just kidding . . . I'm sure that would earn me another humorous rant from Vicky ;)

Soup . . . I'm kind of fussy as far as soup is concerned. I don't like soup with lots of "stuff" in it . . . like barley and vegetables and stuff. And I really don't like stuff that I can't identify . . . "mystery" ingredients. I like to know exactly what's in my food. Unidentifiable objects scare me. It could be anything!

My favourite soup is cream of mushroom. I love it . . . it's so yummy and creamy and tasty. I don't like Italian Wedding Soup, Beef & Barley Soup, and Florentine Soups (with spinach in them). I LOVE Miso Soup . . . which I never thought I would. But it tastes so good, and it's actually good for me too. I also really like Won Ton Soup.

So that's the lowdown on Soup from me . . . hope this satisfies my loyal critics . . . er . . . um . . . I mean readers.

Hey thanks!

I got a few replies to my request for inspiration - so thank you my friends!

I can't quite offer a review of the Canon Rebel XTi yet, as I'm still just using it on the Auto settings (it has several). From the pictures I've taken, I'm VERY happy with it. The pictures are crisp and clear, with lovely colour. I played around a bit with the long lens the other day (75-300mm) and was thrilled with the pictures I got. It's very easy to use, and I can't wait until the weather is really nice and I can be outside more, playing with it. If you're looking for a "mid-range" camera with SLR capabilities, this one is great value for the money, in my opinion. That being said, I haven't tried any other D-SLR cameras, so this is a biased review.

I just finished reading "World Without End" a couple of weeks ago. It's written by Ken Follett, and it's a follow-up to his famous book "Pillars Of The Earth." It's sort of a historical fiction type of book, that covers a span of about 75 years or so. The first book covers the building of Kingsbridge Priory (in Britain), and the second book covers a later period in the same village. Both are long books, but both are really enjoyable. I had trouble putting them down!

I'll end there, and not use up all of my inspired topics at once ;)

Inspiration

So, I want to keep posting here regularly, but I'm having a tough time coming up with interesting topics to write about. I used to write about the dogs a lot, but I think that appeals to a limited audience. I have written about my life, but to be honest with you, it's just not that exciting right now. I can only rave about the weather so much, before I bore people to tears, and they give up reading here.

So, I'm looking for suggestions . . . what do YOU, my loyal reader(s), want to see me write about?

Incredible

Yes, that is truly the only word for what Mother Nature has given us today. The sun is shining to brightly I need shades (no really, I need shades!), everything is melting, and I can't get enough of being outside. I never thought I'd want to hear the sound of running water, and I never thought I'd be happy to see a muddy vehicle. But I am. After a long, hard, cold winter, spring is finally tempting us with a bit of her presence. It's supposed to stay above zero (Celsius) for the next few days. They're forecasting a dip in the weather next weekend, but hopefully that will change as the days go by.

Oddly enough, even with a glorious temperature of +9 today, I need to shovel the driveway. The issue isn't the daytime weather, it's the sub-zero temps we're getting at night. If I leave the slushy snow on the driveway, it freezes overnight to turn our driveway into a skating rink. It might be fun, but it's most definitely not safe. So, after I get off the computer, I will go outside and get rid of some more of the slushy snow.

Enjoy the weather folks!

Thankful Thursday

Thank you Sarah for "lending" this to me - I really appreciate taking a moment to think about what I'm thankful for every week. This week I can name one thing that I am supremely thankful for, and that's the SUN! I have been back in my office this week, instead of out on an audit, and the sun has shone through my big window every day this week. I am thankful that I had to close my blinds to reduce the glare on my computer monitor. I am thankful that I had to take my sweater off (it's like a blazer, I had a shirt on underneath) because the sun's rays were warming my back. I am thankful for slushy, slippery roads and walkways, because it means winter's tight grip is loosening.

I am also thankful for my dogs . . . I would say this every week if I didn't think that people would get sick of me, but these two animals really do restore my sanity on a daily basis (well, except on the days they chew computer cords or eat my dad's expensive leather shoes). When I've had a horrid day, I come home and they run to greet me like I'm the most incredible person on earth. After a meal, they come and sit beside me on the kitchen floor (it's a ritual, but I know it sounds weird) and push into me, to get closer. At night, I'm thankful for Farley's snores, because they mean that I have another day to look forward to with him. In the morning, I'm thankful for Grace's mad dash up the stairs (I personally think it's attempted murder, but they deny it), because it means she's healthy and agile and full of life.

I'm also thankful for the people (yes, I hope that's plural!) that read this blog, and allow me a creative outlet.

Canada Post

I have to say, I typically appreciate Canada Post and their services. As a regular buyer and seller on eBay, I make use of their shipping options with frightening regularity. I'm not quite a power-user, but I'm not too terribly far off. I have never had complaints about our mail carrier, because she is SUPER reliable. I used to just about be able to set my clock by her. I made sure to keep a path shoveled for her - since she's so good to us, I might as well return the favour.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, the letter carriers in my area went on strike (could quite possibly have been called job action, as I'm not sure it was a strike in the true sense of the word, although that's how it was worded in local media). They were off carrying for a couple of days, but then they were asked to return to work. It took almost an entire week for us to get any mail at all . . . and even a week after that, delivery was patchy, at best.

Now, I am left waiting for several "important" items. Things that are very important to me, although their total value might not be what some consider high in the true sense of the definition. I sure hope they come soon! And I hope we get our regular mail carrier back too. I miss her and her dependability.

Hello???

So Alberta just elected the Progressive Conservative Part for a record 11th term in a row. While I think that's a nice win for the PCs, I'm wondering why only 40% of eligible voters turned out to execute their democratic right? Come on people, how can you complain about the government when you didn't even take part in choosing it? I'm sure this sounds like a pointless rant, but I hear people grumble about the government on almost a daily basis . . . so I would think that with the nunber of people complaining, voter turnout would have been better.

I didn't want to vote . . . it's a pain in the neck to go out when it's cold, vote, and then head home. But I did it, because it's a personal right I have. People went to war so that our country would be democratic, and so that we could elect our leaders.

I know that a rant on a random blog won't change things, but I just had to vent about it.

Some pics

I wanted to share some pictures that I took earlier this week with my new camera . . . I sure do love my new toy!


The first picture is my girl Grace, who is about 18 months old. I know, she looks very innocent, but she is heck on wheels, let me tell you! Busy, busy, busy. She has the makings of an obedience star though . . . very smart and eager to learn!


The second picture is my "old guy" Farley, who is now 8.5 years old. I've never been able to get pictures of him with his eyes open, due to my old camera having a big flash. I'm so happy to know that he has eyes!


Anyhow, thanks for indulging me!

In like a lion . . .

March has certainly come in like a lion in Northern Alberta. We woke up to a winter storm warning this morning, and it has been snowing and blowing all day. Yuck! I have already shoveled the driveway twice this week, and it looks like the third time is coming sooner rather than later. It's been so nice all week, with some of the snow melting and the sun shining. This is just disappointing. I sure hope that March goes out like a lamb!

Those of you that know much about me know that I do NOT cook. However, I bought a new cookbook a couple of weeks ago, sort of like "Cooking for Dummies" so I've decided to make a beef and broccoli stroganoff for supper tonight. Please pray that my family doesn't end up in the hospital with food poisoning LOL

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Well, it's already Thursday again! Time sure flies when you're having fun . . . or just busy LOL

This week the thing I'm most thankful for is that the audit that I've been working on for forever is finally done! This is my first large audit of plant operations, and it was a long haul. It was a good learning experience, and I enjoyed working with this team, but it's a relief that it's over.

I'm also thankful for the time I get to spend with my nieces. Yes, sometimes they drive me nuts (especially the 3 year old, who is . . . ummmm . . . active, to put it mildly), but I love them immensely. They have such beautiful, unique personalities, and I see so much of US in them.

I am so lucky and thankful for my wonderful job and my wonderful family. Enjoy your Thursday, and think about what you're thankful for.

Amazing show

This weekend my mom and I had one of our girls' weekends. We try to do this once or twice a year, at a minimum. We buy tickets to a musical, concert or some other performance, and make a weekend out of it, full of shopping, pampering and fun. We stay in a good hotel (not 5 star, but very nice) and we try to eat out at different restaurants.

This past weekend we saw Riverdance - the celtic dance troupe. Oh my goodness, they were incredible! The performance is full of dancing, singing, exquisite music and emotions. Guests included the Moscow ballet (6 dancers) and a tap dancer from New York City. This is meant to be their retirement tour, so if you get the chance to see them, do it!

We also did some shopping, and I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade my camera. I bought a Canon EOS Rebel XTi. What a great camera! I can't wait to learn how to use the manual settings, so that I can do the camera some justice. Stay tuned for photo updates!

8 Thankful Things

I stole this idea from somebody else's blog (I do that a lot, it seems!), but I really liked the sentiment. And it goes with "Thankful Thursday" which I borrowed from another blogging friend.

Eight Thankful Things

• My dogs, who keep me sane and balanced
• My job, which I am constantly learning at, and I enjoy a lot
• My wonderful friends - there are several in particular that come to mind, that I lean on on a regular basis, and that mean the world to me
• My family - especially my parents, who I'm very close to and lucky to have a good relationship with
• My computer, which keeps me connected to the world, and to my many friends that live far, far away
• The fact that I make good enough money to be able to buy what I need, and often what I want, without worrying about how to make ends meet
• The Northern Lights, which are so spectacular and beautiful to look at, especially on a crisp, clear, cool winter night
• My ability as a writer - it might not seem like much to those that read my blog (and can't imagine being forced to read my writing on a daily basis), but I'm grateful for this God-given skill

Thanks for the idea, my blogger friend . . . I enjoyed thinking about the things I am most thankful for today!

Busy Weekend

Well, I'm happy to report to my faithful readers that I am over being bitter about Valentine's Day. For at least another year, anyhow. Who knows what next year will bring?

So far my weekend has been pretty busy. Saturday was "kitchen cleaning" day, so we took everything out of the kitchen and cleaned it from top to bottom. It was pretty hard work - it's almost scary how dirty and grimy a kitchen can get when it's used for cooking. When I have a kitchen in my own home, it never gets that kind of wear and tear. In the afternoon I had to get up on the roof to shovel some of the snow off, as it was leaking into the bathroom again. Not being a fan of heights, it was a bit of a challenge coming down from the roof . . . but I talked myself down.

Today was busy too. I have decided to dedicate some of my time to volunteering for the SPCA this year. I decided that I would help out with sorting bottles at the bottle depot, as that can be a big fundraiser. In Alberta we pay a deposit on soda and alcohol bottles, as well as tetra packs. So people bring bags and bags of bottles to a fenced-in area of the shelter, and volunteers do the icky task of sorting and counting the bottles. We did three truckloads today, and it took 6 people about 3 hours. We did well for the SPCA . . . this was my second stint, so I've put in about 6 hours total. It's a good feeling to be helping out, though.

Tomorrow I'm doing some grooming, and I have some articles to get written as well. Thank goodness it's Family Day, and a statutory holiday. I need the extra day to get everything done!

Hope you're enjoying your long weekend, and making the best of the improved Alberta weather.

Happy Black Thursday

Yes, I realize that everybody else in North America is celebrating today as Valentine's Day, which is arguably the most romantic holiday on the planet. Not for singles. For singles it is a terrible holiday. Who wants to send themselves flowers and chocolates, and sign the card "Your Secret Admirer"? It's just embarassing! I hate those lovey-dovey cards. I hate the hearts all over, and pink and red stuffed toys. All of it is jeering and mean to singles.

So happy Black Thursday. All you singles out there have a nice glass of wine, get into your jammies and enjoy some "good" reality TV. That's my plan!

Thankful Thursday

Okay, so I stole this idea from a friend's blog . . . the idea for Thankful Thursday. This blog post will have some of the things that I'm thankful for.

• The fact that I have a wonderful job that is challenging and rewarding, and that I continually learn from
• I have two dogs that I love greatly, and that enhance my life to no end
• I have fabulous friends that support me when I need it, and that let me do foolish and crazy things when I need to
• That I have a good enough lifestyle that I can afford to get the things I want without worrying where the money for my next meal will come from
• That I am able to write regularly for 2 magazines, and that people actually read my articles!

I'm really a very lucky person, and I could write about this all night long. Like the friend that I took the idea from, I don't want to do the sappy, obvious thing by writing about being thankful for my health and my family, although I think I've been sappy enough.

Congrats!

What an exciting day today! My best friend is a new Aunty again! Her brother and sister-in-law had their second child today. There's something amazing and exciting about a brand new life. I don't know the details, other than the fact that she's a girl, but I can't wait to "meet" her :) Welcome to the world, little angel! Have fun wrapping mommy, daddy and sissy around your little, wee fingers!

Breathing . . . underappreciated!

So, as part of my Christmas gift from a good friend, I got a wicked cold. Sore throat, temperature, the whole nine yards. I had that for almost a month. Around the end of January, I finally started getting rid of the cough and feeling better. Imagine my delight when on Tuesday night, I had a sore throat and trouble breathing (stuffed up nose). What the heck? Shouldn't everybody just get ONE cold per season? It's totally unfair that I have another one, on the tail of the first one. YUCK! It's Saturday night now, and I still can't breathe well. My teeth are covered in "fur" and I have the ever-lovely cotton mouth. It's such an attractive feeling. I went for lunch with a good friend, and I was almost embarassed to eat, because it's tough to eat when you can't breathe. Fortunately she didn't make me sit at another table. Good friends are worth their weight in gold!

If you don't have a cold, I'm green with envy. Enjoy your health, and enjoy the luxury of breathing!

Holy Moley!

Yep, when the centigrade and fahrenheit scales match up (because it's so cold), there are only two words to use. Holy and moley. Together. One after the other. At this moment in time, it is -39 C and -38 F. YIKES! Skin freezes in less time than it takes me to walk to the bus stop when it's like this. Thankfully I own enough winter clothing for somebody living in the Yukon, so my skin isn't really exposed to the air. I don't know how the dogs can manage to be outside long enough to pee and poop though. It's one of those times that I feel REALLY bad for making them go outside.

They're forecasting at least 2-3 more days of this . . . so if I didn't have to be at work, I'd be hibernating. As that's not an option, hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go. Oh well, at least the heat works there!

Life Is Precious

This morning I woke up to a very sad post on one of the forums I belong to. A lady that I consider a dear friend lost her son to suicide last night. He was a handsome 25 year old with a new baby boy and his whole life ahead of him. This is such a heart wrenching tragedy, and a loss that will never be forgotten, especially by those who loved him.

All day I've been thinking about this friend, and how her whole world came apart in such a short time. I wonder if she's thinking that she could have done something different, or something to prevent it. I'm sure she just doesn't understand. I don't think I would, if I were in her shoes.

Life is precious - no matter what happens, always make sure that the people you love KNOW that you love them. Take the time to let people know that you care about them and that you appreciate what they add to your life. It might not prevent a situation like what happened to my friend, but it won't hurt matters, that's for sure.

Clean Sweep, we need you!

Hi. My name is Kelly, and I am . . . I'm a . . . I'm a packrat. There, I said it. It was hard, but they say that acknowledgment is the first step. Well, I know it. Now I need to figure out what to do. The thing is, I love my stuff. Not all of it, so I could get rid of some without tears. But a lot of it has been collected over a period of years. All of my Cocker Spaniel stuff has been chosen by me, and the thought of getting rid of it makes me sad. But I have to do something. My bed is covered in books, magazines and papers. Stuff is stacked all over the place, and it gets knocked over with a puff of breath. I think the dogs will appreciate less clutter too.

Anybody have any good tips on how to "break the bond" with stuff? I watch Clean Sweep all the time, but every time I see it, I think about how they'd NEVER convince me to get rid of my stuff. That's kind of a bad mindset to go into this with LOL

Take it from me, don't get into the habit, and your life will be easier in the long run!

New Look for 2008

I want to thank Nikki from Blogs for a Cause for giving my blog a facelift. I think the new look is beautiful, and it ties in very nicely with my website now. If you're interested in getting a blog make-over, contact Nikki via http://madebynikki.blogspot.com. She does excellent work!

Why?

Why are there always people in the world that think the rules don't apply to them? No matter how clear the rules are, there is always somebody that refuses to follow them.

Case #1

There is a Safeway (grocery store) just a few blocks away from me. Along the front of the store are several very clearly marked NO PARKING signs. They're impossible to miss. Every time I stop there to do some shopping, there are people parked there. Their vehicle lights are on and the vehicles are running. Now, last time I checked the sign, it didn't say "No parking unless yur vehicle is running." So why are those people clearly violating the signs? Oh wait, I know! It's because they're just too darned important to take the time to find a spot, park the car and walk to and from the store. Who has those extra 2 minutes?

Case #2

At my doctor's office there are signs on all of the doors asking people to please remove their shoes before entering the clinic. It's very clear, there is no mistaking it. And just in case you miss it, there is another sign inside, asking the same thing. So I was at the clinic on Monday, to see about this stupid cold I have. All of us patients are waiting in sock feet. I know my socks are going to get dirty, but I can live with it, because we're ALL in the same boat. Then this woman in fancy clothes come in. I know (because of her name) that she's a higher up at one of the local oil companies. She just will NOT take off her shoes! So there are the rest of us, with dirty socks, and she's all prim and proper in her pumps. Why? Oh wait, let me guess. The socks will get dirty, causing her to do more laundry, which would waste her valuable time.

Do these people really think that they're above and beyond rules? If so, I wonder what makes them think that. I mean, in some circles, I'm very important. Just ask my dogs, who rely on me for everything. But I would never assume that it gives me the right to blatantly break rules.

Just my rant for the day!

Happy New Year!

Well, it's a few days late, but Happy New Year to my faithful blog readers! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and a great start to 2008. I sure did! My best friend was here from out of town, and we had a fabulous visit, as always. And to start the year off right, I made my way to King of Prussia, PA (right by Philly) for the American Spaniel Club Flushing Spaniel Show. What a wonderful experience that was! I saw tons of gorgeous dogs, and I met some people that I have been emailing with for years.

Best of all, I got to see Billy and to meet his new mom Mary Ellen! I guess she's not really his new mom anymore . . . but to me she will always be his new mom. Mare and Billy (and Mare's gorgeous niece) picked us up at the airport. It was great getting Billy kisses :) I made sure to give him extra hugs & kisses from his Alberta fan club.

I found lots of dogs to fall in love with, and I found some potential boyfriends for Grace down the road. I met lots of wonderful people, and I hope to return next year. It was the perfect way to start off 2008!

My world is almost complete

Yes . . . in just over 2 hours, my best friend will be here from Toronto. Last night another very close friend flew in from Calgary for a visit. And on Monday, all of my family will be gathered to celebrate Christmas. My world is almost complete. I have another good friend visiting family in Northern Ontario that I wish was here, along with a great friend in Edmonton that I'd love to see. But I get to see her soon, so I can't complain too much.

I could hardly sleep last night for the excitement of it all. I guess I'm still a kid at heart :) It's nice to be feeling so excited though . . . it's definitely better than feeling blase.

Tonight we have a Christmas party at a friend's house - it is an annual tradition. Tomorrow night is supper with the good friend from Calgary, along with her mom, mother-in-law, my best friend and my mom. Talk about good times!

Yesterday I made the annual visit to Santa, to tell him what I wanted for Christmas . . . it's another tradition that I try to keep up with. I've been able to go almost every year for the past few years. You know what they say - if you don't believe, you don't receive!

Take care everyone . . . I'm not sure if I'll be able to post through the holidays or not. It'll be pretty busy here!

Happy Holidays from KLAD Cockers!

Wow, time is sure flying by quickly . . . it's only a week to go until Christmas! I can't wait. My best friend is coming out from Toronto on Saturday the 22nd, so that's the first milestone. Then on Saturday night we have the annual "Chinese Gift Exchange Party" at a family friend's house. Everybody brings a homemade gift under $25, and then people draw numbers to determine who chooses first. People can "steal" gifts, and the game ends up lasting for a few hours. It's great fun. Sunday night is supper with a very dear friend of mine . . . a bunch of girls just getting together to catch up and exchange presents.

Monday is Christmas Eve, which is when we do our family gift exchange. We tell the kids that since we're so close to the North Pole, Santa makes his first stop here. It's a lot of fun opening presents with a 6 year old and a 3 year old . . . and this year my brother's "new-to-us" family will be with us too, so the baby, who is about 6 months old, and my new niece, who is 9. We're going to have a great time!

Tuesday is Christmas, and our traditional Christmas brunch. This is my mother's big day, and something she spends many hours planning and preparing for. We usually have around 20 people over, and the brunch usually has a theme. This year it will be a Mexican Christmas. Christmas supper will be at a family friend's place, as it has been for almost as long as I can remember. They're moving in the spring, so this will be our last holiday celebration together.

And then, finally, time to rest, relax and lay around like a vegetable. Hooray! Hope your holiday preparations are going well, and that you will have lots of time with friends and family!

Oh the weather outside is frightful . . .

But central heating is delightful :) Actually, the temperature itself isn't too bad - around -15C which is pretty standard for this time of year. Certainly preferable to -30C, which was the temperature not that long ago. Unfortunately, along with the warmer weather comes snow. Lots of it. Enough to require shoveling twice a day, so that the dogs can get to the backyard to do their thing. Enough to require shoveling of the driveway, so our postal carrier doesn't have to wade through knee-deep show.

The dogs don't seem to mind the snow, and I know they're glad that the cold weather is just a bad memory at this point. There were days that it was so cold that the dogs needed boots on, just to go outside to potty without freezing their feet. It's times like that that I almost wish they were litter-trained. I say almost, because I can't imagine cleaning THAT up daily. Yikes!

Tomorrow is our Secret Santa gift exchange at work, which I'm looking forward to. It should be a lot of fun, and I got almost everybody to take part, which was a major challenge. A few of us are bringing in desserts, and I intend to bring my Christmas music in, to give the celebration a little bit more of a holiday feel. Should be a good time!

Merrily we roll along . . .

Especially now that our car is fixed! Last Sunday, I took my car for a ride to stop at the post office. It was -35 Celsius outside, so the car was sluggish (so was I!). The steering was super hard to control, but I thought it was the weather. I fought my way to the post office and then home, and slowly realized that something was amiss. As I tried to pull into the driveway, I saw a scarlet stain in the snow. It almost looked like somebody had been shot. Like my car. The steering fluid had leaked out of the car.

So I had it towed to the dealership, and waited impatiently to hear the news. Good news, it wa repairable. Bad news, the part was coming from Montreal. At this time of year, that never happens fast.

My dad called me today (we have been carpooling for the past week, which has been an adventure), to tell me that the car is ready! Yippeee! I'm embarassed to say that I almost cried when he pulled up to the house. It's stupid, but I am just that happy to have my car back.

Christmas Shopping

So, my fellow bloggers (and anybody else that happens to be reading my random ramblings), are you all done your Christmas shopping? There are only 19 days to go, and as I drive around the city I live in, parking lots for retail establishments are full of cars. People walk out of stores loaded down with bags and boxes, either shopping for loved ones or for themselves. Personally, shopping at this time of year makes me stir crazy. I love the music and decorations, but I hate the crowded stores, pushy people and endless lines. I start to go a little nutty, and that's never a good thing.

So I do my shopping early. By mid-November I was mostly done my shopping. My mom and I took a trip to Edmonton, and I did the bulk of my shopping then. Any of the small items were either ordered online or purchased in store before it got crazy. Once the last few items are delivered, I'm good to go! I just have to wrap (which I love doing) and give.

Hope your holiday shopping is almost done, so you can avoid the crowds too :)

My new "thing"

My latest addiction (well, for the past few months) is the Facebook application Scrabulous. Now, if it isn't completely obvious what that is from the name, it is Scrabble! Two player or multi-player games can be organized (up to 4 players), and the computer does all the hard work of scoring. It's a blast, especially for somebody that me, who enjoys writing and wordsmithing. Of course, it has taught me something - that I'm not the best wordsmith out there. There are better ones, and man, I bow down to them! They know who they are :)

Anyhow, if you're on Facebook (which is a great application itself, and worth checking out), check out Scrabulous and start a game. You might just really enjoy it!

Ho, Ho, Ho

Yes, it's certainly that time of year again . . . and I'm lovin' it, to steal a quote from the McDonalds commercials. I have a cute little reindeer wreath on my office door, and an Eeyore stocking too. I got my first batch of Christmas cards mailed out this morning, and have dug out my holiday music. Of course, having about 2 feet of snow helps too. I would enjoy this a lot more if it wasn't quite as cold outside, but I guess I can't have it all, right?

The most exciting part of my Christmas holidays will be my visit from Ange . . . she arrives on December 22nd for about a week and a half. I can't wait to see her :) I see many games of Euchre, Quiddler and Scrabble smushed into those days :)

I'm very excited about my first trip of 2008. I'm heading out to Philadelphia to see the esteemed American Spaniel Club show. I'll get to see all kinds of beautiful Spaniels (not just Cockers), and best of all, I'll get to see Billy! For faithful blog readers, they know his antics. It will be so exciting to see him again! My friend Jackie and I are going together, and I know we'll have an awesome time.

Other than work being super busy, nothing much is new. Just trying to stay out of trouble . . . some days are more successful than others ;)

Yet another pet peeve

Yep, I know, I'm chock full of pet peeves LOL But there are just certain things that drive me nuts. Like people being messy in the house. Not clutter, because anybody that has been to my house knows that I live amidst clutter. I know how to find stuff in my own clutter, and I can live with that, most of the time. Sometimes stuff topples over, and I hit my breaking point, at which I toss stuff to make the piles smaller. No, I'm talking about garbage being left around, dishes in the sink instead of in the dishwasher and people being lazy in general.

Don't get me wrong - I will occasionally leave a sink full of dishes until the next morning or evening, because I'm feeling lazy. But when I know I'm going to use the dishwasher, I load the dishes right away. I don't leave dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink, for somebody else to deal with. And I always throw my garbage away. I don't leave it by the side of my bed, or on the floor, for the "maid" to come and pick up. Because, truth be told, there IS no maid here.

Don't know why this is driving me nuts right now, but it is . . . so that's my rant for the day.

I learned something new about myself . . .

Yep, I never thought it would be true of me, but I have discovered over the past few months that I'm a suburbanite yuppie. Sort of. Granted, I don't have a white picket fence, but through the summer, I'm obsessed with the lawn. It has to be cut regularly, and I don't want to see weeds or grass clippings scattered on the driveway or sidewalk. Even worse, if the neighbors have not trimmed their lawn, it's like a little thorn in my side. I mean, come on, why should I even care?

The town I live in is booming . . . the population is growing a lot more quickly than the housing is, so lots of homes have many people living in them, instead of just one family. The new "fad" is for people to park their vehicles on the front lawn, thus killing the grass. Guess what? Yep, you're right, it drives me CRAZY. I can't stand seeing vehicles parked on the lawn . . . it just seems so - hillbilly - to me.

Sorry about not posting for several months. That's the worst lapse I've had yet. I don't really have a solid excuse, other than the myriad of changes that I've gone through since June. Some have been fabulous, some have been stressful, and everything's been busy. But I'm hoping to at least post weekly, so that folks that read this blog regularly won't think I've disappeared off the face of the earth.

Hope y'all are well!

Happy Birthday!

I just wanted to wish my special girl a happy birthday. Gracie Lou Who turned 1 on Monday August 6th. I had been away on holidays, so she got to spend her birthday being groomed. Not her favourite pastime, but she was a really good girl. Afterwards we had a photo session in the backyard.

I am so happy with this girl. She's pretty, funny, and full of personality. She never fails to bring a smile to my face.

On Vacation!

In the last 48 hours, my blood pressure has gone down, my stomach is less upset, and my smile is everlasting. Why? I'm on vacation in Toronto - my favourite place to be! Not because it's the Center of the Universe (although many residents feel it is), but because it's where my bestest friend ever lives! We are having a wonderful time so far :)

Tomorrow night we're going to see the "new" Harry Potter movie - not new to most people, but we held off on seeing it until we could see it together. On Monday I'm getting a new tattoo, and we're going to the Bata Shoe Museum. Wednesday we're going to Hillsburgh to visit a good friend of mine. And after that, we're SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss the dogs immensely, and apparently they miss me, because they're pottying in the house. That's not completely unusual for Grace, but it's almost unheard of for Farley. It's nice to know I'm loved, I guess, but I hope my mom doesn't drop them off at the SPCA before I get home! This house is very quiet without a dog - I wish I could have brought Grace with me. She'd love it out here!

So I'm going to sleep in, chill (in the air conditioning, since it's hotter than heck outside!) and have fun. Hope y'all are doin' the same!

Just two words

Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hot, hot, hot!

Yes, we have been experiencing a heat wave here . . . it's all relative, I know, but to us it feels hotter than Hades! It's been in the low thirties for about a week now (that's Celsius, not Fahrenheit) and we are melting. Fortunately, that's only when we're outside, as my mom had central air put in, so the house is a glorious oasis.

My youngest niece is still with us and keeping the house lively. Farley is enjoying her company, especially when she throws food on the floor for him, or carries it in her hands. He's eating well. Grace is enjoying it too - she's learned that crayons taste good, as well as Barbie feet. Her poops are SO interesting.

I am SOOOO excited about my upcoming trip to Toronto, to visit my best friend. We always have a great time together, and it's nice to get away from everything. I am getting a new tattoo (oh I know, I'm SUCH a rebel), and other than that we just have fun stuff planned. We'll be seeing the new Harry Potter movie (YIPPEEEE), and I'll be saving the book to read until the flight out east.

And that's it from the (hot) Western front. Hope everybody in cyberspace is doing well!

Time marches on . . .

And as time marches on, I keep not updating my blog. At least I have the decency to be embarrassed about it . . . and I'm trying to rectify the situation. For now, anyhow.

Things have been busy here, but to be honest with you, I wouldn't be able to manage life any other way. My two youngest nieces have been living with us off and on (mostly on for my youngest niece, who's been here for 6 weeks), and that keeps all of us on our toes. It takes a toddler to show you how kid-proof your home is NOT. Farley & Grace have been just excellent with the kids . . . they tolerate a million times more than I can! I'm so impressed with how good they've been.

Work is not busy at all. In fact, I just hate being so slow and quiet . . . but that's just the way it is right now. My company is undergoing a significant re-organization, and everybody is waiting to find out what their job roles are going to be. For some it's a big change, for others it's not.

I've been grooming quite a bit lately. Everybody wants to get their dog groomed before they go on holidays. This coming weekend I haven't booked any dogs, so that I can get my own dogs groomed. By then they should need it!

And other than that, it's just been little stuff taking up my time. But I'm glad to have plenty to do, otherwise I'd just be bored. And then I'd be watching too much TV, like Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen and the rest of my favourite reality TV shows!

Oops, gotta go! Hell's Kitchen is on ;)

Ooops, I guess I forgot . . .

Sorry everyone, I have been so busy that I have forgotten to post on my Blog. I have hit the ground running over the past month, even though school is done. I thought things were going to quiet down once school was done, and they haven't. Not one bit.

On Father's Day (June 17) my brother's girlfriend had her baby, about 4.5 weeks premature. He ended up getting flown to Edmonton to go to the NICU. He's actually still there now, but they're thinking he might get to come home soon. Baby Ian faces some pretty amazing challenges, but he has a great support system so hopefully that helps.

Then last weekend I had another dog show . . . feels like I've done so many shows this year, but it's actually the same amount as last year. It just seems like a lot. I guess maybe because at the last one I had two dogs to show instead of one, but that was a really fun show. My friend Vicky came, and brought Grace's brother and sister, as well as a dog from the US that she has here to show. Lots of work, but we had SO MUCH fun. Every show that Grace, Diva and Levi were entered in, at least one of them took home points. That sure says a lot about the consistency of the breeding program.

And now I'm grooming a lot, to catch up on the grooming I didn't do in May and June. But that's short term busy-ness, so it shall pass. Anyhow, that's the quick update. I promise to try and write more in July.