Christmas at the In-laws

Just a quick update on the happenings in my life... Had a fake Christmas at home in Calgary in early December.  It was so quick (4 days) and I feel very much like I gypped everyone from a good long visit but that will have to wait for my next trip home, in april perhaps.  We did however get to visit the Zoo in preparation for the wedding next year.  The zoo itself was amazing, so lovely and fun.  We were set on it until we by chance drove by Heritage Park.  I know it's a bit corny but I love history, and I love traditional so we might have there instead.  When I inquired about which venue we could host the event, due to the number of guests our only option is Gunn's Dairy Barn - so yes, I will be having my wedding in a Barn, complete with a Barn dance..... Somehow I never dreamed of doing that, holding a barn dance, but to be honest - as long as my friends and family are there I don't care where it is.

I also introduced Pete to Peters' Drive - In, which you all know is a Calgary must - needless to say he gobbled up his hamburger and fries and of course the obligatory milkshake (we had egg-nog ).

Back in Ontario we just had 2 trips up to Ottawa - we can't seem to stay away from that place... here's hoping to a posting in Petawawa next year then maybe Ottawa... Friends were seen, wings were eaten at minglewood's, trees were viewed at the Chateau (thanks to K for the suggestion )and all in all we basked in the glory that is Ottawa.

I did have to do one quick week at work between the Alberta / Ontario christmases - it was really quick and easy - a lot of schmoozing, dinners, luncheons, a BMQ (basic training) grad to attend, all cumulating with my last day in green combats (working with recruits means wearing CADPAT combats, but as it is the Navy's Centennial Year I have been directed to wear my Navy combats instead).

Now back at the in-laws for my 2 week christmas break means visiting with my new family, pilates / yoga in the morning, going for evening runs with Pete to see the Christmas lights (yay!) and relaxing - lucky me!

So, Merry Christmas to all, I hope your holiday season is just what you wanted it to be.

My mother?

Yesterday at work as I bundled up to stave off the cold front that was engulfing my office (it was seriously freezing in here) I decided that I felt somewhat like the Staypuff marshmellow man as I had a long sleeved shirt, a polar fleece vest, a jacket and a scarf on. But the funny thing was when I examined my pockets... they were full of stuff it made me even puffier.... much to my dismay - these objects made up the contents of my pockets: kleenex (I have a raging cold), tic tacs and clinique lipstick... Upon seeing what I indeed had in my pocket the thought that I've become my mother suddenly dawned on me... wow, I am my mother... how's that for a shocker?

In other news....It's the 2nd of November and I've already cracked open the christmas music. Last night on my way over to KQ's for a very productive study session I popped in the latest and greatest in Christmas music... Chrsitmas Around the World - a 3 CD collaboration including Christmas favourites from Ireland/Scotland, Italy, the US and England/ Germany. So far I've just listened to the Irish / Scottish one (of course I did this one first) and I've been quite pleased. Tonight maybe I'll switch over to Italian for fun - who knows?

What else to tell you... Big test tomorrowm, well 3 tests actually..... and we need to ace this sucker... KQ and I should in fact do well though, I mean we changed a tire all by ourselves so it seems just as plausible that we should be able to write a freakin' government test just as easily - right?

On Sunday I found a Christmas Bazaar at the Scandnavian Centre. I don't think I can remember the last time that I went to a Chrsitmas Bazaar, let alone one at a Scandanavian Centre - so I think I shall go. Maybe I'll join the Centre and revisit my Norweigan roots... and just maybe I'll get some christmas shopping done... or wait - I'll leave that for VEGAS!!!!

PS - I leave in 35 days, 23 hours, 6 minutes and 18 seconds

Christmas in January?

Quite the weekend I tell you.....After my Friday evening in homage to my good bud Robbie I had a great coffee date with Megs, we drank our starbucks, perused the shops - Honey B's to be exact, which by the way is my new favourite store (after Ikea and H&M of course), and purchased my secret santa gifts for Saturday evening. It was so nice not to work on a saturday, I actually got to take advantage of the fact that I live in a great neighbourhood. Afterwards I packed up and headed out to the mountains.

I haven't been to Kananaskis since I was a kid, but I don't think it changed much - it is still beautiful, and the air is just wonderful - the mountians are fantastic. The hotel is also quite nice, our rooms were great - really large, and the dinner, host bar, and brunch the next day weren't half bad either.

I tried to play the part of fabulous person staying in a posh hotel, I arrived with my rolling lugage and Harrods bag, hair pulled up decked out with a lovely wide black headband, dressed in black H&M pants, a black cashmere turtleneck and black sunglasses....very celebrity in hiding I'm told. In any case I did enjoy myself.......the company was great, although I did have to sit with patronizing IT guy from Toronto, but my other tablemates certainly made up for the fact. My secret santa gift turned out to be a bottle of wine, lovely but I don't drink wine, I drink scotch...so I will have to change my tastes I suppose....Cam's gift was chocolate pens that you use to draw sexy messages on someone.....quite the gifts!

I can't believe my weekend is over already, but at least tomorrow I have another Robbie Burns dinner, this time at the Drop In Centre, drums, complete with pipes and drums - I can't wait....

Be Still and Know

I had truly forgotten how much I love going out for an evening of entertainment. Jen (from job#2) and I attended the christmas concert of our co-worker Jackie. She sings in the choir of the Rocky Mountain College and they put on a spectacular show. The orchestra was amazing, the singing was absolutely fantastic - it even gave me shivers...now I'm winding down, sitting by the tree, eating waffles for dinner and having a lovely cup of tea... what I really should do is go to bed and actually get a decent amount of sleep for once. But that wouldn't be fun now would it?

Oh, almost forgot....I got my car back!! Yeah!!!! - best part is I didn't have to return my rental car back to Aldo the creepy rental car guy.....

I can't help but think I was going to write something......meh, it's gone - night!