Kilometers away from ordinary

Life Path Number

2012-01-10T13:49:00.001-07:00

Watching Dr. Phil today and a numerologist is on... thought I would search mine

1 (10/1, 19/1)

The Life Path 1 suggests that you entered this plane with skills allowing you to become a leader type rather easily. Your nature is charged with individualistic desires, a demand for independence, and the need for personal attainment. Many of our military generals, corporate leaders, and political leaders are men and women having the Life Path 1. When you display positive 1 traits your mind is capable of significant creative inspiration, and it possesses the enthusiasm and drive to accomplish a great deal. You are very good at getting the ball rolling; initiating new projects is your forte. You are at your best when confronted with obstacles and challenges, as you combat these with strength and daring. This is both the physical and inner varieties of strength. With this strength comes utter determination and the capability to lead. As a natural leader you have a flair for taking charge of any situation. You have a tendency to do this, even if, at times, it is not appropriate for you to do so.

Highly original, you may have talents as an inventor or innovator of some sort. In any work that you choose, your independent attitude can show through. You have very strong personal needs and desires, and you feel it is always necessary to follow your own convictions. You tire of routine and highly detailed tasks rather quickly.

You are ambitious and assertive in promoting yourself. Although you may hide the fact for social reasons, you can be self-centered and demand to have your way in many circumstances. That said, for the most part, you are considered very good company, friendly, good-natured, and a wonderful conversationalist. People like you and are drawn to you. It is a good thing they are, because you are very sensitive to disapproval and you don't handle it very well.

There are several ways that the negative side of the 1 can show up. The 1 always has the potential for greatness as a leader, but they may fail as a follower. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to follow for a while before you are allowed to lead and this can be a difficult time. When the 1 Life Path person is not fully developed and expressing the negative side of this number, the demeanor may appear very dependent rather than independent, particularly in the early years. If you are expressing this negative trait of the number 1, you are likely to be very dissatisfied with your circumstances, and long for self-sufficiency. This might be defined as the weak or dependent side of the negative 1 Life Path. On the strong side of this negative curve, the 1 energy can become too self-serving, selfish and egotistical. Avoid being too bossy and demanding.

Find out your Life Path Number at http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-lifepath.html

Jaye Albright's Breakfast Blog: For WHAT? Go To WHERE?

2012-01-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Jaye Albright's Breakfast Blog: For WHAT? Go To WHERE?: Resolve to stop using "dated" radio phrases, like "for more details, go to our website." Why? 1. "For more" = more what? 2. "Details" =...

11 11

2011-12-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

November was a busy month for medicals with MRI and Ultrasound and now just the wait til next month for the results with hopefully no back surgery in the forecast but I sure hope the narrowing discs slow down or else it's me that will be doing a lot of slowing down.

Not this month though. An impromptu trip to Edmonton for my nephew and God son's 3rd birthday party turned into more than just that. A Bay City Rollers concert at Stoney Nakoda Resort outside Kaninaskis on Friday, CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) in Edmonton Saturday and his birthday party Sunday.

Last weekend at the last minute we went to Havre for their Thanksgiving weekend just to party on the Friday night with friends and ended up partying with two other couples from near Seven Persons, Saturday was spent in Maple Creek playing music for a birthday party. Still need to nail down a name for our band. Either "Nuts & Bolt" or "Once In A Blue Moon" because we really only get together then... How about "Blue Moon" for short?

After staying the night in the Redmond B & B, a beautiful house built in 1913, we headed to Seven Persons for a Grey Cup Party. Never did see my niece Kesley, cheerleader on the Blue Lightning Dance Team for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but our sales manager did manage to run across her and get his picture taken with her AND bring me back an autographed calendar. I don't follow football at all, but I'm happy to report I do not hold it against him that he's a rider fan... nor did she :)

10 11

2011-11-04T22:05:00.000-06:00

Oct 2nd Ray's youngest turned 18 so now all his kids are officially grown ups, well, adults now. On the 5th we were entertained by the Beach Boys at the Esplanade. Last time we saw them was in Penticton last May when we were registering Derek for training camp but all we saw was the sound check. It was great to see and hear the entire show!

Thanksgiving was celebrated at his parents with the rest of the family, and mid month we hosted a party for our social club from work at the farm. Turn out wasn't that great but it certainly turned out great. The dinner was awesome (Ray is such a great cook) and the bonfire was humungous, though next year, I think we'll have to get waivers signed, either that or hide the quad keys to avoid that foolishness again.

This month we bought a little 4x4 Ford Ranger to get me to work when it storms in the winter. Watch it be the mildest winter on record or something. lol

We also had 2 Halloween parties to attend and I can only party one night in a row these days so the birthday pub crawl in the Hat was full out fun, though as much as I drank, didn't get drunk and ended up making sure everyone was on the bus after our original counter bailed. The next night we hauled the trailer to Bow Island to host karaoke at the Tavern. I was not a happy camper that night, and not because we were camping in the parking lot, I'm used to that.. I'm just not used to the screaming drunks who abuse the equipment and don't care about anyone but them selves. Oh that headache had me cranky and 2 am couldn't come soon enough but everyone else had fun and Ray's brother & sister inlaw won prize for best couples costume. My Stevie Nicks costume went over like a lead balloon... maybe that's what I should be next year... a lead balloon.

September 11

2011-10-04T21:54:00.001-06:00

Ray and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary with a whirl wind trip to LA to visit my son Christopher who works at deviantART. We flew in Thursday night, Dodgers game Friday night, Saturday was Disney Land, Sunday Six Flags Amusement Park and flew home Monday.

September is also the Annual Toy Run and since Ray had to work, I had to ride alone... along with 800 other bikers. I did meet up with friends in Irvine where it all started and after breakfast at the hotel and the ride to Medicine Hat, Ray met up with us at the Cypress Centre and we rode to Dayzoff, the Boars Nest and then home.

August 11

2011-09-04T21:25:00.000-06:00

Tuesday nights are bike night and it was great to ride with friends to Seven Persons, 40 Mile, Foremost and more. It was also a great month for family when all of Ray's kids, one of mine and my parents came to visit all at the same time! We camped at 40 Mile, fished, boated, bonfired and had an awesome time. The following weekend my parents returned with my Aunt & Uncle for another visit and to meet Ray for the first time. What fun playing cards, reminiscing and getting caught up after such a long time since last visit, and their first visit to the farm.

Just Jammed July

2011-08-04T21:20:00.004-06:00

Years ago Ray was parked in the Walmart parking lot with the bikes behind the 5th Wheel when a couple of women approached him and asked if he was headed to Eastend for the Rally In The Valley. We had other plans that weekend but Ray was the first to buy that year's rally t-shirt. This year we decided to attend and talk about a blast. We met lots of new people and had great neighbours next to us in the campground. We won the balloon toss at the bike rodeo and enjoyed great music at the beer gardens and even had time to take in the local dinosaur museum.

The next weekend was the Clearsky Radio camping weekend that I convinced them to have at nearby 40 Mile Park so Ray could attend since he was on call, and boy did he get called! 3 times in 24 hours but was still able to grab a few hours sleep and a few hours on the boat as well.

We also spent a weekend at Quonset Days, a fundraiser for ALS and rescued a young lass who lost her purse and cell phone and ended up bunking on the couch for the night and I gave her a ride home the next day. Always mothering someone :)

We also went on several day trips on the bikes with friends who just got new bikes and a toy hauler so we now have our own new motorcycle group.. the Sunflower Gang! lol..Our logo has a lady bug and we plan on getting tattoos to honour our honourary president Lanabana!

One of the 2011 Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Night Shows was REO Speedwagon. I liked the band before but after seeing them live, LOVE the band now! I have a few new white guitar picks to add to my collection. Walked away a happy camper! After the show we headed to friends in Seven Persons for a 75th birthday party and jammed the night away!

This month we also go a few new kittens, the Jesse named the male RJ (for Rootbeer Junior) so the female I named PJ for the lighter brown on her that looks like the colour of peanut butter, so peanut butter & jelly she is! Though not farm cats any more, I over feed them and they are spoiled deck cats now that want constant attention that I am more than happy to give!

June 11

2011-07-04T20:45:00.002-06:00

The road to Radium was awesome as we towed the bikes to Radium Valley Vacation Resort with a stop in Fernie and spent a week riding, golfing and soaking in hot springs. The stay in the 3 bedroom house was a surprise and the riding in the mountains for the first time was scarey. I had to remember to breath when we went around corners on our way up to Panorama but after 5 days of experience up and down the road from Radium to Invermere to explore (and sing at open stages and karaoke bars) I finally felt comfortable and look forward to riding all the way to Penticton rather than towing next trip.

The trip home was though Golden where we stopped at the Glacier Raft Company to do a double run of the Kicking Horse River and what a rush that was! Next time we hope to do the lower half that is supposed to be even more challenging!

Mid month was another milestone celebration when Ray's parent's celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. With 4 generations in attendance, it was a good time had by all! End June was the 5th Annual Dead Hog Boogie. This year was once again at the Manyberries Rodeo grounds. Did not successfully defend my rodeo game title but Ray won the slow race so still came home with prizes and met a new friend, pictured below.. HARLEY!

Mmmmm May!

2011-06-06T19:40:00.004-06:00

From Ray's birthday dinner to a mini vacation to Radium Hot Springs it was a wonderful May! Mother's Day was spent at a branding party a friend's farm. I have been to one before and saw the branding, and even the culling of semen from a bull...ew...but this was the first time that I was there for the castration and even was involved hands on! Hands on the other end thankfully and left the rest to the experienced. I love animals and have my way with dogs, cats, a few horses I am far from a cow whisperer. I did help reunite a maimed calf with his mama and spent the rest of the day taking pictures and enjoying prairie oysters and beer popsicles on the porch playing with kitten and watching the sunset before riding our bikes back to the Hat!

On the ride home, I had to stop and take pictures because the sky was so gorgeous and it reminded me of my book that sits on my coffee table back home. "If you're not from the prairie..." by David Bouchard & Henry Ripplinger. "If you're not from the prairie, You don't know the sky, You can't know the sky.....If you're not from the prairie, You don't know the sky." And that began a string of photos just taken on my iphone that shows just how much I love my prairies too.

"You don't know the sun."

You've never heard grass."

"You don't know our trees."

"You don't know what's flat."

Cold, snow and me coming to a prairie girl blog real soon!

Another Awesome April

2011-05-04T19:32:00.000-06:00

This month, Ray's daughter graduated from Lethbridge College with a diploma in graphic design. It was a rush to make it to the ceremony to see Chelsey graduate but thankfully made it in the nick of time and then went for lunch after to celebrate with Japanese cuisine and rice wine. Good thing I didn't have to drive home! So proud of the girl who starts a new job on the Monday after grad with Data Boss to help launch a phone app called Mutranium! Can't wait for the release of the game so please buy it on your smart phone to help the girl's profit sharing!!!

Not so Mundane March

2011-04-04T19:18:00.003-06:00

Boy oh Boy was it ever boring this month other than celebrating Ray's eldest son's daughter's birthday. It was a wonderful day at the Family Leisure Centre swimming and a family party at Ray's Mum & Dad's. Monroe is so talkative and her personality so vibrant she was the star of the show at her 2nd birthday party!!

Mid March we headed to Cabo San Lucas for a weeks stay at The Solmar at the same time 8 other friends were there to celebrate a few of their 50th Birthday's so as a birthday present to Ray, I arranged for the flights and time share exchange and stayed right on the tip of Baha California on Thunder Beach. After 2 nights of barely being able to sleep because of the noise from the aptly name beach, we requested a different room and moved further back into the resort to get some well needed rest. It was a wonderful experience with time spent on a catamaran with our friends, dancing up a storm at Cabo Wabo, winning a Mexican hollering contest at a Fiesta and winning a bottle of tequila, getting a tattoo, renting a car to Todo Santos to see the Hotel California, touring a glass factory, free booze cruise and meeting a great couple from Alaska that we plan to meet again next year to do it all over again! Can't wait!

Fabulous February

2011-03-03T21:02:00.001-07:00

February was full of birthdays; Ray's son Brad and his mother Mary (80 years young) and our friend Dave who is pictured to the right. That was taken the weekend we went to Empress for to raise funds for a their friends who's house burned down. After the potluck dinner at the hall we headed to the local tavern and set up our gear there and entertained the townsfolk. First time I ever worked for wine! Too Much Fun!!!!

Jumpin' January

2011-02-12T19:43:00.004-07:00

Holy Snow Batman! Talk about a brutal winter so far. Apparently it hasn't snowed here this much since 1978! Travel is preceeded by checking the AMA road reports and it may be fine on the way but that could change midway or on the way back. With an approaching storm, we still traveled to Lethbridge for Rob's 50th birthday party.

Arriving a day, early we checked in and went to dinner at El Comel Mexican Restaurant before heading to the Sound Garden and then to Ezzies to dance the night away with Ray's daughter's friends and partied the next night away at Rob's birthday bash. I even got up on stage with the band to sing Me & Bobbie McGee. Even though I was the only one to bring cheat sheets, the manager loved what she heard and was ready to see a repertoire to hire me to sing in the lounge. Quite flattered, but not quite ready to turn professional, Won't be quitting my day job any time soon.

Nor will I be a card shark even though my first ever 24 hand on January 20th allowed me to stomp on the competition with ease! Sorry Ray, Just the way the cookie crumbles!

January 28the was a busy night cramming as much in as possible. After dinner at the Schiles', we went to the Esplanade to see Rich Little! He brought back so many memories of the family watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson! I would post a photo but no cameras were allowed! After his performance we gathered back at the Schiles' along with the Beierbachs, who were in town for hockey tournament then headed home in dangerous weather. We were supposed to go back into town the next day but Old Man Winter would not allow. I would miss out on emceeing the Tongue On The Post Folk Festival and Ray would miss out on a night of too much tequila with Evert! Thankful for at least one miss!

Damn Good December

2011-01-11T17:27:00.044-07:00

Canada Cup came to town and the Alexander Keith's Patch was the party at the Medicine Hat curling club. For a change, more time was spent at the Arena watching games than in the Patch! It was a great experience and we met lots of curling fans from across the country. I even won a prize this time around. Not first for my impression of Marilyn Monroe's Happy Birthday where as Ray won first prize at the Continental Divide during the Continental Cup in 2007

Ray's son Brad spent most of the month at the farm working on a huge doll house for his daughter Monroe and his dog Hot Rod became a regular part of the family. I know the red neck rules of etiquette state never allow a dog to eat from the table no matter how good his manners are, but it has to happen at least once, at least for the photo op!

We once again headed to Chestermere for the Beierbach's Annual Christmas dinner and I did eventually, sort of put up a Xmas tree. It may be only a 6" pre-decorated punk and the presents were bigger than the Charlie Brown mini me. It was a quiet Christmas Eve with Ray & I at the farm, Christmas Day was spent with family in the Hat and then it was a shooter party at friends in Seven Persons on Boxing Day. Back to Seven for a New Year's Eve Dance. Ringing in the new year with the one you love is the best!

Not too much in November

2010-12-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

November was busy with renovations but there was still time to squeeze in a trip to Butte Montana to check out the Copper Canyon Harley Davidson. It used to be Thunder Bolt Harley so I was on the search for anything with BOLT on it. We jumped in my car with our friends and made it as far as Helena the first night. After a night bar hopping, which wasn't two difficult as they were all attached in a row, we headed for Butte for lunch and a major dent to my credit card, then went on to Billings for another night out, meeting up with Randy & Julie for dancing at Montana Chads. Boy do I ever like late check out. That extra hour of sleep makes it easier to drive home, which ended up as plan B to avoid a major snow storm without winter tires.

For the next while it was driving Ray's4x4 truck to and from work. Winter followed us back from Montana and hit with a vengance. But we were in the Christmas mood for the first CJCY only Xmas party at Ralph's Texas Bar & Steak House. Found one picture I could actually post!

Too bad it's missing Sara and Janine, who along with Kristin created the absolutely beautiful creation for the United Way's Festival of Trees at Medicine Hat Mall. The Christmas trees are here and the snow is here and soon it will be Christmas. I don't know that I will even set up a tree at the house this year. With decorating two trees under the belt already, will have to see about setting up a third in a child free home.

This month there were snow days, music days,

October Firsts

2010-11-21T13:40:00.058-07:00

Although I had to work and missed the wedding ceremony, Wanda & Paul's Wedding social was an absolute blast. I wish I could have seen the bride ride away on her horse in her wedding dress. The Seven Person's Community Hall was beautifully decorated with saddle and cowboy boot figurines that were filled with Durum wheat and lovely souvenirs. Talk about a true Alberta country wedding. The first wedding I have ever attended in boots and Wranglers.

Thanksgiving weekend started at 40 Mile Park camping with friends and playing the board game Operation... yes, operation... for drinks! Pretty easy at the beginning but the tables turned when we used opposite hands and spent more time drinking than operating! On Monday, Ray's family came to dinner at the farm and so did grand daughter Monroe for the very first time. It was filled with a play mate her same age, puppy dog tales and a snake! What? Isn't that what little girls are made of?

This was the month to scratch something off my little bucket list. I have never been the the Dinosaur Museum in Drumheller so we jumped in the car and headed north west to explore. There were so many new things to see and do along the way my camera was going crazy. Good thing I wasn't driving. We stopped to walk the Star Mine Suspension Bridge in Rosedale, drove Eleven Bridges Road to Wayne to check out the Last Chance Saloon and the haunted Rosedeer Hotel (would have stayed the night but it was all booked up) before checking in and heading out again to the Outlaw Saloon for a night of karaoke. After a late check out, we toured the Museum and headed home the long way after missing a turn off but still made it home.. I was driving.

Then it was off to Edmonton to celebrate my nephew Matthew's birthday via Calgary for the first night to spend the evening with two of my sisters and cousins reminiscing over many laughs and glasses of wine. After a late check out~lol and a 3 hour drive to Edmonton it was the big birthday party and check in to a hotel with all 4 sisters (another first) and head downstairs to the Monkey Cage to make plans where to head next. We decided on the West Edmonton Mall to find entertainment. And that we did! From dancing and bonding with Rider fans at Whiskey Jacks to singing along with the dueling pianos at the red piano, it was a late night and check out again and a long drive home after visiting my wonderful friend Tami in Sherwood Park. My daughter even met us there and surprised us by bringing a guy friend, who joined right in the girl talk! Another first! Then I was on my way home. Then it was the first time ever handing out Halloween candies out at the farm, most years I've either worked or partied so it was nice to see all the kidlets dressed up! Now to emotionally prepare for our first Xmas alone at the farm. Our kids are all grown up!

Racing Through September

2010-10-10T13:38:00.086-06:00

The long weekend of September we jumped on Ray's Road King and headed to the Highway To The Sun Road through Glacier National Park to Whitefish. It was gorgeous weather at the start and a few flakes fell while descending the mountain but after checking in we rode around town and stopped in at the Wasabi Sushi Restaurant for a fantastic meal and wine. After a bit of shopping, we walked downtown to hit every single bar on the main drag, and after 7 stops, back tracked to the Great Northern where the Elvis impersonator rocked the bar, and so did Ray dancing up a storm. The walk back was a little longer than on the way to even though we took the same route.. if you know what I mean.

The next day's tour meant bundling up with rain and hail ahead of us but it also meant frequent stops to warm up. It's not the destination, it's the journey and the stopping in between is definitely the most fun. The fine folks at the Tall Pine Lounge in Big Fork were also riders and it was great to visit with the locals who pointed us in the right direction around Flathead Lake on East Shore Road for the next stop in at Swanee's Bar & Grill in Polson before heading back to Whitefish to rest up for the ride home.

On Sept 12th. I was finally able to take part in the Media Race at the Medicine Hat Speedway on their final night of racing. After a nerve wracking race, even though my time was not that great, I still managed to make it into the trophies! I got points for my default win last month and tied for first place... even though I came in dead last! lol. We even stuck around for their wind up BBQ for some burgers around a bonfire as the nights were getting quite cool to be on the track after dark.

It's always a treat to play music with my friends Dave & his father in-law Peter and it was even more exciting to head to Maple Creek for Peter's 75th Birthday Party. We parked the RV at Willowbend Campground & jammed at the Jasper Cultural & Historical Centre where the food excellent and the entertainment was entertaining. Even Ray, who has never picked up a musical instrument (can't pick up a piano) fell in love with Peter's birthday present, a hand made wash tub bass that he took to like a duck to water. First stop on the way back was to spend a night at Eagle Valley Campground located just off the #1 where the wash out occurred and was partially open after the June flood. Second stop was Peavey Mart to buy parts to build a wash tub bass for Ray!

Awesome August

2010-09-08T13:36:00.002-06:00

The Laval Family Reunion wrapped up on August 2nd after days of fun and games. Everyone of all ages took part in Wii Dance, Bolo Ball, Washaroo and the Picture Scavenger Hunt was a hit! Teams drove from Elgin to Souris to take pictures on a list in the most creative way. A major thunder storm put a slight glitch in the BBQ as everyone ran for cover and the power outage delayed the viewing of team photos, but creativity of Laval Family made everyone smile, laugh and proud!

The trip home through Saskatchewan encountered more bad weather but cleared up long enough for a photo stop in Corinne as well as Roleau at the site of the CTV series Corner Gas. After a stop in Regina for fuel it was home to go back to work and renovations and time with more family and friends.

Ray's grand daughter Sierra flew from Penticton last month & we brought her to the Medicine Hat Speedway. I presented the Junior Crew Chief Award & we all handed out trophies to the racers but since I was the only personality that came out for the Media Race, I won by default! First win in a stock car race & I never even got IN a stock car! Next time!

I also celebrated my 50th birthday in a big way that was drawn out for a week. From cake and presents delivered at work to a party at Union Hall with music, karaoke, cake and more. It was so much fun camping the entire weekend outside the hall with friends from The Hat, Seven Persons and Chestermere. Setting up the night before was as much fun as spending the day with Family from Souris, Penticton & Calgary. Thanks so much, especially my honey Ray for putting on the shin dig. I'll try to top it for your 50th next year!

Jumping July

2010-08-11T13:34:00.027-06:00

July in Medicine Hat always begins with Canada Day Celebrations & The Sandfly Festival in Kin Coulee Park. This year, CJCY emcee'd the stage that included The Stampeders. Ray & I got the back stage view of the concert & hung around with the rest of the staff while ogling the stars. Will have to work on getting to know the Stampeders another time. lol

Ray's Father and his daughter Chelsey both celebrate birthdays in July and most of July was spent at 40 Mile Lake with family and friends... and dogs. My daughter's dog Izzy, aka Turd, looks very sporty in the neon green life jacket trimmed in grey. Quite the fashion statement but not to be outdone by Ray's son's Miniature Pinscher Hot Rod, who rocks it out in neon orange and black! lol. Both dogs love the boat although Hot Rod won't be going out on the tube again after her last dumping. At least she wasn't wearing sunglasses to end up in the bottom of the lake!

Mid month my daughter, Liz, moved to Edmonton to go to the University of Alberta and I spent the rest of the month at my duplex ripping out baseboards and carpets before redoing the floors... which turned into redoing the kitchen..which turned into redoing the bathroom... etc... you know how it goes. Lot's of hard work in a short time means a need for renewal and thankfully a much needed break was in the form of an 8 hour drive to Manitoba for the Laval Family Reunion. Elgin look out! Lavals are rockin' da house!

Jam Packed June

2010-07-21T13:31:00.253-06:00

An expansive and expensive month full of family, friends and fun. There were so many positives this month that didn't get overshadowed by the negative, but then the negative did not directly affect us but most certainly did for friends.

We began the month with friends at the Spring Dance in Seven Persons and parking the RV right on site that sure makes staying up and sleeping in late a breeze and not risking drinking and driving It's was just walking outside and continuing the party til the wee hours of the morn that is always a highlight of spending the night in Seven and bringing your own stocked bar on wheels helps too! $

The music was okay that night but Ray enjoyed way better music at the arena on June 13th when ZZ Top rocked the old "smartie box" and shook the roof of the loudest bin in the W. While the boys rocked the n night out, we girls enjoyed a different W and hung out in front of the tv watching the W Network and TLC and got our fill of chick flicks and decorating shows. The week was filled with girlie games, when on June 13th I attended my first Lia Sophia Jewelry party and splurged on three beautiful pieces that probably means I need to get wardrobe pieces to match $$$

That weekend I was on location at Simply Water in Crescent height when one of the worst floods in Southern Alberta's history hit but it wasn't Medicine Hat getting the most damage this time around. The bridges to the Village of Veinerville were washed out but they still had to come to town for water as they were under a water advisory. From Dunmore, Irvine and Walsh to Maple Creek, life as they knew it was being washed away because of heavy rains swelling the once tiny creeks that feed the South Saskatchewan River. A State of Emergency was declared after homes were submerged in almost 15 feet of water in less than 3 hours and washing away a portion of the Trans Canada Highway closing the route between the Alberta & Saskatchewan border causing a 2,000 km detour for travelers. Homes, crops, livestock and vehicles didn't stand a chance. The cleanup is going to be massive and expensive. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Father's Day weekend was spent at a family dinner with 4 generations and young Monroe kept us entertained the entire meal at Hat Restaurant and Sunday was still a go in Bow Island for even more girl time on the Bow Island Golf Course. Since Ray had to work, I spent the day with the Solberg Women. Judy, Carrie and Chelsey and I waded through lots of water from the recent rains and after a quick game of best ball, we met up in the club house with the men who where behind us and we were kept waiting quite a while. Guess they spent too much time in the rough searching for lost balls. $$.

On June 25, the entire staff of CJCY attended the Pack the Park event at Athletic Park for the Medicine Hat Mavericks ball game. The patio party was awesome with our own BBQ and bar and Monty the mascot even joined in the fun! -$

Then we trailered the bikes behind the fifth wheel to Manyberries for the 3rd Annual Dead Hog Boogie. The band was fantastic, (Gas City Shockers), the company awesome and the games way too fun! We even won a challenge and may have to return next year to defend our title. Better go shopping for the correct attire for next year - a mustard coloured shirt! $

The month wrapped up camping at our friends lot at 40 Mile Park. Both relaxing by the lake and invigorating on it, boating with the kids and their friends, until the tub popped. Going to have to get a new one! $$$

For the most part, Family is the foundation of the future, Friends are the foundation of fun! Both of which still cost $$ but well worth the investment!

Maniacal May

2010-06-02T12:20:00.000-06:00

Graduation month. Yikes! Errands, meetings and more to get ready for the big day and then add into the mix a freak snow storm the beginning of the month and then taking off to Penticton for Jr A hockey try outs for Derek the weekend before grad! CRAZY!

But lots of fun! And lots of snow in the mountains. We stopped in Castlegar the first night, then by the time we got to Penticton, spring was in full bloom. Between running back and forth to the arena, hockey banquets, family dinners, shopping and all in the midst of staying in a house in the midst of renovations, there was still time to find peaceful moments on the deck with a glass of merlot enjoying the view. There was only one vineyard stop on the way home at Road 13. How could I pass up a place where my lucky number was right on the bottle and right on the money! YUMMY!

After stopping in Osoyoos to visit friends, it was back to the hustle and bustle of decorating for grad on Tuesday, rehersal Wednesday, grad dinner and ceremony on Thursday, grand march and party on Friday, and safe grad party Saturday. We were all gradded out but now know what to expect next year when the youngest one graduates and leaves the nest. FINALLY!

At the end of the month, we pulled the trailer to Bow Island to celebrate my sister-in-law Cindy's 50th birthday with a party at the Legion. After setting up the RV in the town pool's parking lot, it was an awesome time at the hall and then wandering the town from party to party til the wee hours of the morning and still having a soft place to rest a weary head at the end of a long night, and a long month. MERCY!

An Entertaining April!

2010-05-11T11:52:00.002-06:00

There is nothing like starting the spring with a camping trip to the bush. The first weekend of Easter break was spent just outside of Cremona with the Beierbachs at Manyberry Acres, their 80 acres of forest off Burnt Timber Road. And burn timber we did! With snow still on the ground in the foot hills of the Rockies, Lana sure knows how to keep us warm plus feed us well The deep fried turkey was delicious as usual and the shenanigans by Evert, Barry and Ray's endless from horse shoes to horse sh*t, They know how to keep us laughing!

Bowling season wound up on Tuesdays at the Bow Island Bowling Alley with an awesome banquet at the Bow Island Legion, with wonderful food and awesome entertainment! Can you believe I shot a man in the face with a dart from an air gun and he caught it between his teeth? Or was it in the magician's mouth the entire time? hmmmm. This will probably be the last year bowling with the league. As much fun as it is with the gang, late nights on a weekday are brutal on this midday gal. Since there is no more getting up at the crack of 10 anymore, there is no more staying out at night past 10. As far as the banquet went, it didn't help that the night before we were at friends bottling home made wine and any spillage was not wasted... so two nights in a row playing hard was hard on the head!

The next weekend was followed by this year's Grade 11 Dinner Theatre/play at Senator Gershaw which proved to be another success despite having to peel potatoes for dinner a second year in a row. Jesse Krazy Kamp had some Krazy Komedy enjoyed by all!

It was also a busy month at work with two Friday's spent at Bourbon Street in the Coast Hotel with the weekly winners of the Workforce, a remote at Parker's Countrwide Furniture & Appliances, who I am sure request me because they know I am going to spend my earnings there, and Trivia night at Dublin's Pub on Sundays. It' not officially work, just some of the coworkers are usually there, with John Carter hosting, Steve Krysak's mini team in attendance, our Nut's & Bolt team and Jeff Michaels, who gravitated toward the Riders Rough team, and not just to bring their count up to 13!

this day in history

2010-04-26T15:49:00.001-06:00

Farewell February

2010-03-01T23:28:00.001-07:00

Sundays nights were spent at Dublins Pub for Live Wire Trivia. Talk about too much useless knowledge and too much rum! Our team Nuts & Bolt has won a few rounds thanks to at least one person on the team knowing at least one thing and Marc's major brains knowing pretty much everything. The Maine Coon Cat Legend, Darrin and Tracey will go by Just Plain Nuts once Ray and I stop coming out as often. Carry on my wayward friends with two less brains.

Monday nights were spent in front of the boob tube watching Two and A Half Men. Talk about too much much testosterone and too many puns, but hilarious is the only word to describe it and disappointment when it was a rerun. Hurry up and get outta rehab Charlie. While your fans are waiting, we're tuning over to CMT's According To Jim, where the estrogen always wins!

Tuesday nights were spent at the Bow Island Bowling Alley. Talk about too much wine and too much fun. Our team Knibbs & Bolts actually won the League and Ray was bowler of the month - twice! (That's Bullshit!!) Phantom Bowling, great grub and Doreen and June Bug were great subs! We will be bowling off in April for the titles, cash with a banquet at the Legion.

Wednesday nights were spent doing something different each week. From celebrating birthdays, (Mary and Kris) to meetings in Bow Island (Steer Butte Wind Project) and just running errands on hump day. With two days til the weekend on too little sleep, big plans to go to bed early will have to wait til tomorrow.

Thursday nights were spent resting up for the weekend. Talk about too much to do and not enough time to do it. Exhaustion sets in after 4 days on the go and batteries running low. Need to recharge for energy to keep going and going and going. Soon the week will be gone but none to worry, it will also begin again!

Friday nights were split between Ray going to hockey and me hosting Work Force Winners at Bourbon Street in the Coast Hotel, jamming in Seven Persons with Dave and Gail and making wine in the Hat with Stan and Brenda. Talk about too much of everything rolled into one!

Saturdays were spent puttering around the house, as in laundry, cleaning, organizing and maybe even a little baking, Ray spent most of his nights at the rink and squeezed in a night at the Esplanade watching Andre Phillipe Gagnon with the gang and I spent a night at Panorama Lanes for The Big Brothers, Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake! Talk about nonstop laughing and non stop fun!

One thing for sure about February was Winter wasn't going anywhere. The groundhog was absolutely right about 6 more weeks til Spring. Talk about too much cold and not enough sun but it was definitely a month of fun.

Time is precious and should be spent wisely, but every moment spent having fun with friends, be it wisely or not, is still well spent. From an hour with baby Monroe, a day ice fishing with Darrin or a week with friends and another month with the one I love. It's my time and I a privileged to spend it how I want to.

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”

~ Henry Van Dyke

New Years News

2010-01-29T20:20:00.003-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe the first month the new year is almost done. It definitely started out with a bang, and it was the weather that hit us hard and pretty much did so all month long. The calm before the storm started New Years Eve at the Conquerville Hall down the road from us. We were at the reverse raffle dance with friends Darrin, Tracey, Paul & Wanda. Inside the hall was hopping but outside the still night was a sign of what was yet to come, and even some of the members of Cold Shot, the band playing that night, were prepared for the worst and brought sleeping bags to bunker down in the Hall for the night. With 3 empty bedrooms at our place down the road, there would be no sleeping on the floors for them. After 2 am we slowly made our way down the 5 or so miles in the blowing and drifting snow. The party lasted til the wee hours of the morning and it was a breakfast of bacon & eggs, toast & hash browns for those that rose before 10. Good thing there were left overs for those who didn't. Even Ray did not go to work that morning, but was called out at 2 in the afternoon. You know it's bad when you can't see the Sauer's yard light a mile down the road at the Etzikom Highway, let alone the 5 grain bins in our very own yard . No one was going any where far. So we broke open the poker cards and did our best to eat, drink and be merry all day long. And this time all were in bed before midnight. The next day by 9 it was still blowing, but Nate, Abby and what's his name, the funny one.. ha ha ...had to go back to the hall and get their equipment and head for their day jobs in the Hat. It was cold as a witch's you know what and that southeast wind blew all week long, Ray calls it a Manyberries Chinook, and nothing good ever came out of Manyberries except an empty bus (Kidding!).

for cindy

2009-12-07T10:23:00.001-07:00

From an email forwarded to me today

This was made at Providence St. Vincent.

Our daughter-in-law, Emily (MacInnes) Somers, created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it.

When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer.

Ann Somers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw

redneck sleigh ride

2009-11-30T22:24:00.005-07:00

I am just tucked in bed with a heating pad on my aching feet, reading the new issue of Homemakers magazine. The minute I read this article, I immediately had to run to the living room and get my laptop to share. Susan Jurkowski wrote (and won a prize) about her plan to control holiday spending. Her idea is wonderful, joyful and inexpensive.

Rather than buy gifts for extended family and friends, she suggested everyone get together in the New Year for a free family fun days of tobogganing and building snowmen, It filled their January and February with "healthy, fun-filled play dates... Not one child complained about not getting gifts from their friends at Christmas." Her family alone saved almost $500 and everyone was grateful, since they were thinking about it as well, but no one wanted to be the one to ask. Even though I have no little ones at home, my circle of friends have children of varying ages, and the child in each of us will surely enjoy and outing of youthful fun.

Although it was never intended as a "Christmas" gift, just the other day, my friend Lisa was having a bad day and her friend Trudy drove all the way from Airdrie (4 hours away) to cheer her up. I suggested coming out to the farm (another 45 minute drive) for a sleep over. I even invited our friend Wanda with whom we haven't spent a lot of time with over the past two years to join us as well. With the extra work of packing and carting the kids for them and washing sheets and making beds for me, we all had a wonderful evening of bonding in front of the fire with glasses of wine while the kids played and watched tv on the other side of the house. After a late night and 5 hours sleep, the 4 mothers, 3 girls and 2 boys were treated to breakfast cooked by 1 wonderful man (not a partridge in a pear tree) who took all the kids for a "redneck sleigh ride" (pulling a hood off an old mazda truck behind the quad) while the ladies cleaned the kitchen and packed for their trips back home. The gift of time and energy is always well worth the reward of the smiles and hugs and laughter of everyone, who want to do it again soon.

not so feel good ripple

2009-10-28T18:10:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was cranky coworkers day and I would hate to have had to work with the jerk I encountered on the road - he's driving along at 60 in an 80, kind of weaving back and forth within the lane, I'm thinking he's texting or on his phone so I was going to pass, but a car was coming and I should have then- had lots of time, but decided to wait and then had to wait for 2 more cars. He was gradually speeding up, but when I did finally try to pass, he guns it and won't let me in, so I speed up more, and he still speeds and I'm running out of road - and dotted line. I have to back off and pull in behind him and at the stop sign, the guy gets out of his truck, comes over to my car and asks me - "What the f%#k my problem was??

MY problem?? - I'm the one with the broken line and I can pass!! You're the one who not driving properly!!! Well, after talking to the police, we were both in the wrong. Yes I was speeding...but i wasn't the one trying to run someone else off the road!!!!!- Two wrongs don't make a right and I should have remembered the feel good ripple rule for yesterday as well and just let him be, which i did in the end, but I know where he lives... muahahahah! (kidding)

Feel Good Ripple

2009-10-22T11:08:00.002-06:00

This morning when I got up I felt okay. Five hours sleep was not really enough but hey, I had my Servus Credit Union Feel Good Ripple Card tucked in my purse and gift ready to go so that made me feel good. My day started out as usual with shower, get dressed, hair, makeup and a 45 mile drive to work. On the way, I felt even better.

My Program Directer and Morning man Jeff Michaels at CJCY 102.1 The Lounge, played a song by Bobby McFerrin. "Don't Worry, Be Happy". It actually made me tingle, gave me goosebumps and made me smile as I snapped my fingers and sang along to the song. Talk about a feel good ripple just from a song.

When I got into work, I was telling Jeff how much that song made a difference and today was the day I planned on passing it along. I had gotten some foot and body scrub for the security guard that marks our tires in the parking lot in front of our building on Dunmore Road, who yes, has given me parking tickets in the past, but she's just doing her job. Then she walked by the studio window so I grabbed the gift bag of Avon along with the Feel Good Ripple Card inside and ran out the front door to hand her the gift.

She was totally surprised and then I gave her a big hug and left her standing on the sidewalk with a huge smile on her face! I wonder who she will pass the feel good ripple card on to, and I hope to find out next time I catch her walking her way through work. A thought, a song and an action has made today wonderful for more than just one person. Paying it forward with pride, at 102.1 The Lounge.

On the 12th day of Sturgis

2009-10-04T14:11:00.007-06:00

it was colder than can be....

fingers were a numbing

now here I sit a typing

the blog that I'm a keeping

and the clock I keep a glancing

to end this blog on biking

that you are now a skimming

my mind it is a straying

hope I don't DRIVE you away!

For I am lost for words

Me sitting in the den

waiting for my love

and thank him for a wonderful tree.....p!

I know, I'm lame. Plus I'm bored as I sit in my pj's on the couch for the second day in a row, doing laundry and watching tv. Here's the final day of Sturgis. Could I get a drum roll please? (If I had 12 drummers drumming but my fingers are just numbing) We made it through the border fine and stopped to plug in our heated vests, and got to the Hat and immediately began running errands. We stopped in to order my new lenses and even picked up my bike from Medicine Hat Motorcycle. Thankfully Corey was in, even though the shop was closed. I put my new black sheepskin cover on my seat and was off riding my own bike and not on the narrow back seat of the Harley (thank you Al for the gel seat cover you lent more for the ride home, or should I say my butt thanks you - lol)

We rode to Ray's parents and ate dinnner while it rained. When it stopped we rode to our friends Darrin and Tracey's, parked the bikes and grabbed a cab over to Alablamas to join them after their Golf Tournament. It was a night of fish bowls, tippy cups and prizes as it continued to rain. Then it was back to their place to listen to loud rock music accompanyied by live drums. I got my drum rolls after all, Might have been just one drummer drumming, but an awesome end to an awesome trip to our first Sturgis/Black Hills Rally! The end. (insert applause here) lol

On the 11th day of Sturgis

2009-10-04T13:03:00.004-06:00

My true love gave to me...

in heaven vipers sniping? typing?

K, I'm tapped out, lol - been blogging for 2 days straight but I want to get this wrapped up as the trip was winding down and has wrapped up almost 2 months ago. It was our final day in the US being able to ride without helmets, but we probably should have worn them just to keep our heads warm. It was the coolest day so far and I was not only cold but still tired. Maybe 2 week vacations are too much for me, because I am wiped and could have fallen asleep on the back of the bike. We stopped for lunch at the same place in Grass Range on day 2 and were back on the road again. With me not staying focused on the ride, and not keeping the GPS handy, we missed our shortcut turn to Fort Belknap and ended up headed to Malta instead. We stopped to fill up with gas and drop a 20 in the slots at the casino next door as the drizzle began. Hoping it would pass, we realized we were headed straight for it no matter what.

Donning our rain gear, we continued to Havre only stopping once along the way for cheap cigarettes and then checked into the Best Western Annex. We dined at the Duck Inn again and it was straight to bed (and watch the weather channel) I can't believe how tuckered I am. Move over Lewis and Clark - One more sleep!

On the 10th day of Sturgis

2009-10-04T11:18:00.005-06:00

my true love gave to me....

a night of snores & sleeping (kidding)

Actually I was dead to the world and slept in til past 10 and my camera battery was dead also. Have gone through both I brought and didn't bring the charger so pictures from here on in are from the web. We had to change plans about going to Yellowstone National Park since a) we were running short on time and b) weather was turning for the worse. Rather than head northwest towards the rain, we decided to head back to Billings instead. We arrived in time for an early supper at Red Lobster and after driving around for at least an hour, found room at the Inn, the C'mon Inn.

With a waterfall and fish pond, pool and 5 hot tubs, 8 jacuzzi suites - Happy Birthday and Anniversary to me all over again! We settled in and then found the vending and ice machine, held the door open for a couple of women unloading bags of groceries (It looked like they were getting hunkered down for a few days) and went back to the room for a nap. A very LONG nap. Glad you can't get stranded on a island after a 3 hour snooze! My kids called from their vacation in Ontario with their birthday wishes and I was pretty incoherant, but at least I do remember they called. We got up to wander the atrium and check out the hot tubs and pools, and ended up joining the 2 grocery ladies (notice I refrained from calling them bag ladies) for a drink outside their room by the pool . Then it was a soak in the tub and another night's sleep in a quite comfortable bed for a hotel. Only 2 more sleeps til back home in our own!

On the 9th day of Sturgis

2009-10-03T22:31:00.015-06:00

My true love gave to me ...

one night of romancing

Sweet! Perfectly rhymes with dancing, or should it rhyme with drumming? I've googled the lyrics to the song and discovered two different versions but i'll stick with this since it's the day before my birthday and romance is in the air, as well as the moon above Devil's Tower.

We rode only as far as the trading post at the base of the national monument as I was already hot and tired by mid morning and didn't have the energy to climb the rock. It's not like I was going to have a close encounter of the third kind. Instead I had a close encounter with a bird trying to steal my ice cream cone while sitting on the picnic table in front of the store. There we other bikers there, just not same amount that were probably there the week before, but we talked with other tourists, took pictures and jumped back on the bike.

After slathering ourselves in sunscreen, we "head out on the highway" (looking for adventure - like we haven't found enough yet eh?) towards Gillette, Wy for lunch. It was strange riding the red highways of Wyoming after spending the last week in the "Black" Hills of South Dakota it was strange to ride the Red Highways of Wyoming and return to the flat prairie like landscape. Felt a lot like home. Gillette is a coal mining town, and Ray was astounded at the size of the open mines and I am sure we will definetly return someday for a tour so he can fully embrace the magnitude of the operation. Working in a gas field, with everything underground, is quite a different mode of harvesting energy in comparison, and with a windmill farm being planned near his farm, it's quite intriguing to say the least. Anyhoo, I'm kinda paraphrasing but Ray has given me the okay to publish this so I'm all cool and he's down with that!

After lunch at Taco John's, it was back on the road which changed from straight and narrow to long and winding (went from quoting steffenwolf to the beatles now). We were planning on heading up to Sheridan and over to Cody but discovered, thanks to the GPS, that it was shorter to head southwest from Buffalo and also thanks to the locals, we even ignored the GPS and took their recommended shortcuts. The terrain on the drive reminded us of the drive from Lethbridge to Calgary, plains on the east, foothills and rockies to the west. Not exactly the magnatude of the Canadian Rockies, but still a part of them. I didn't realize they extended so far south, but then again I haven't picked up a geography book in ages, You would think the queen of google would know these things! ha! One is never too old to learn!

We rode on through the prairies and the canyons to Cody, Wy and looked for a place to rest for the night so after dinner, and many phone calls in search of a jaccuzi suite, we got ready to settle in for the night. Ray asked me if I wanted a suite tonight or tomorrow, the night of my birthday (what's wrong with both?) and I chose tonight, for I would wake on my birthday to a huge tub to soak my aching muscles. It's not only hard on the driver but the rider on the back as well on such long trips. But then again, it's not all about me. Today is our anniversay (3 years, 11 months) We always celebrate it monthly, whether it's something extravegant like a jaccuzi suite or simply a card and an I love you, Sept 12th is OUR day!

We ended up at Buffalo Bill's Antler Inn. There were antler coat racks and antler chandeliers, but it would be better named Buffalo Bill's Tree Hotel. (hmm, sounds like a hotel for trees so maybe not) As you can see, the bed and frame is made of natural trees, as were the lamps, desk and vanity legs in the bathroom. There was the biggest (and greenest) jacuzzi tub that was calling my name. I had a wonderfully long soak while Ray went in search of...I can't remember now. May have been food, mix, bike wash or all three. It didn't matter at the time. The only thing that mattered to me was hot, steamy bubbly water and a soft warm bed. I was out like a light before midnight. Here my birthday was beginning and I'm already dreaming of the day to come.

On the 8th day of Sturgis

2009-10-03T11:52:00.017-06:00

My true love went with me, black hills caves a touring!

This morning we rode back down Vanocker Canyon to tour Wonderland Cave. I remember touring one, quite possibly Rushmore Cave, with my family during summer vacation as a kid and wanted to show Ray. I don't think he was too enthusiastic about it, nor was he thrilled about having to take the bike down a long, LONG gravel road. Then we ending up having to wait before the tour began for more people to join, but our group ended up just being 3 other ladies from Michigan and us, so it ended up not taking as long as expected. Nothing like power touring to get as much in as fast as possible! In the end, it was all worth it!

Ray was quite intriqued and I was busy snapping pictures left right and crazy. There were so many different types of stalagmites growing up from the floor and stalagtites growing down from the ceiling, and sometimes meeting in the middle. You would think once you've seen one you've seen them all, but the the tour guide not only had the correct names for each type but nick names for certain formations as well. There was bacon, the bat, popcorn, bugs bunny with carrots, and I even named one myself they missed and brought their attention to, and who knows, maybe next time they do a tour, they will use it! Benjamin Franklin! How fitting for the history of the area but gee you'd think an American would have caught that one rather than a Canadian - lol) He's just missing his glasses no?

After touring the cave, we headed back to the Nemo Road and the 385 to Deadwood to tour Mount Moriah Cemetary where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are buried. We even hiked to the top off the bluff to see Seth Bullock's grave, that overlooked Mount Roosevelt, where Seth had erected a monument after the death of hiss friend President Roosevelt and renamed the peak in honour of his late friend.

It was a hot and sunny afternoon and thankfully we had ditched our leathers but still huffed and puffed all the way to the top of the hill. Boy it's time to quit smoking soon (and glad to say have since then) but enjoyed the view and the walk back down before hopping on the bike once again to explore more.

Next on the agenda was to head back to Leads in search of The Boars Nest. I thought it was between Leads and Deadwood, but it was between Leads and Spearfish Canyon After stopping for directions, we found it, and even the owner was there. We may have missed all the action when it was open during the bike rally, but he was able to spend time telling us the history, the fire and the plan for the future. After buying a t-shirt for Morgan & Dee (owners of The Boars Nest in Seven Persons) we headed back to Leads and stopped at the Stampmill for lunch before touring the Adams Museum in Deadwood.

I used to work at the Glenwood Museum in my hometown of Souris Manitboa when I was a teen, and my parents are still on the board of directors, so museums are really my thing, or so I thought. I discovered Ray is also totally into them so I can't wait to take him to the Manitoba Museum (of Man and Nature) in Winnipeg next time we go to my home province. The Nonsuch Gallery is still there, and takes you back in time to waterfront of 17th century England. Now I am reveling in the future while reliving the past... while reliving the past!

Before leaving town, Ray got a chance to play poker at the Franklin Inn once again and I got to do some more shopping, okay we both did, and at the end of the day, we stopped for a beer at The Stockade to watch the entertainment, and breathe in our last breath of Deadwood. Even with all the foul language of the HBO series, it still was a great show and peaked our interest enough to want to visit South Dakota. How convenient that it's so close to the biggest motorcycle rally in North America. More like how lucky for us - even with all the bad weather and back luck of singers falling off the stage!

Tomorrow we leave for the Devils Tower, Wyoming and Yellowstone Park, which of course I have been to before as a kid and can't wait to show Ray Old Faithful Gyser and maybe even Jellystone Park, or maybe I should wait on that until we are with the grandkids! The trip is still moving forward and back in time, and I don't want it to end!

On the 7th day of Sturgis

2009-09-30T20:52:00.017-06:00

My true love went with me

Hot Springs Spas a swimming!

We got up early and headed down the highway towards Rapid City. Funny how being in the present brings thoughts of the past. As I rode on the back of the harley playing with the GPS, I thought of when Ray took his grand daughter Sierra on a harley ride to Writing on Stone while she played with her Nitendo DS. I also thought of the last time I was at a hot springs pool, once again with my parents during summer vacation. I can still see the ring over the pool you could swing from, the square hot tub in the corner and having to wash little pink shrimp out of our suits. First we stopped by the river to fill water bottles from "Kidney Springs". Then we checked out the public mineral pool but opted for the Mineral Spa with 2 hot tubs and a private pool. How relaxing and entertaining too. Ray the Rock could actually float and we met a several couples from canada, one from St. Albert who works for the forestry dept and know's my friends from Sherwood Park. Talk about a small world, and quite the change from Ray knowing someone anywhere he went. It was my turn! lol

After a long soak we headed to the old school that had been turned into a museum to see the local history and artifacts. 5 floors of household items, clothes, musical intruments and more. It was near closing so we breezed through and then when outside to discover an old cream separator with my maiden name.

That made me think about my family, school teacher parents, summer vacations, trips across canada and the US, and the good old days. Here I was in the same places in the good new days with Ray. We rode back to Rapid City and stopped at a little Japanese restaurant for supper, then with lots of time on our hands, we set the GPS to local rather than major routes and headed to Nemo and drove past a guest ranch, only to turn around and discover a rustic old bar. It was almost empty this night but over the past week it must have been filled with bikers going to and from Sturgis. We stopped for a glass of wine and then headed through Vanocker Canyon.

For a change, there was no race to the hotel for shelter to get out of the rain. It was a beautiful night and we ended up sitting outside the lobby on picnic tables til the wee hours of the morning with a father and 2 sons from Calgary. I forgot to mention, one night while we were huddled under the entrance by the lobby during a cloud burst, we met a gentleman from Denver who was 72 years old and had been coming to Sturgis since 1967, 42 consecutive years, and this was the worst weather he had ever encountered. For us, weather or not, it was the best time we had we had ever encountered, and it wasn't over yet.

On the 6th day of Sturgis

2009-09-28T21:15:00.013-06:00

my wallets getting light
but oh the sales were really out of sight!

It may have been the last day of Sturgis but thanksfully not the last day of vacation. It was the last day to take advantage of all the half, third and one fouth off sales!! T-shirts that started the week at $20 each were now 4 or 5 for $20. Even though slim pickings, we found a few good ones. Good thing I stowed away an extra back pack so we could bring back the more than 40 t-shirts that weighed at least 15 lbs and stacked high atop the bike along with our helmets and rain gear. It was nice when we got home no one complained - all I got was this lousy t-shirt - they rocked! After scouring what was left of the sales, Mainstreet was starting to look like a ghost town, as were all the local watering holes for the week but we still stopped in to see the aftermath of 400,000+ bikers that bring 10.5 million dollars to to local economy each year!

We then retraced our steps from the past few days so I could get decent pictures of all the places we had been in better light. Everywhere was pretty empty, but still open, unlike the next day when we found out 1 casino we missed was only open for the week of Sturgis. The Full Throttle was just as impressive in the daylight as it was in the moonlight. Although the Broken Spoke boasted the same sign, i do believe this could be the biggest biker bar in north america!

it was an in door out door bar that was usually absolutely packed, but today, we wandered round and shook our heads at the aftermath. After a ride and a drink and a bite to eat, it was back to the hotel to prepare for our big adventure tomorrow - Hot Springs, SD.

On the 5th day of Sturgis

2009-08-29T12:17:00.010-06:00

my honey bought for me

5 Sturgis t-shirts!

Well, more like 20 and not just for me. We had ridden to Main Street and parked the bike and walked in search of bargains and a tattoo parlour for Ray to get a matching tattoo of his friends but no such luck on the tattoo. I got a new rain suit since I split the pants in my yellow "duck" suit and Ray got several sleeveless denim shirts at hot leathers (.com) Paid $5 to climb the tower to take a photo of all the bikes on Main Street. There were more than 400,000 in attendance, but we didn't register at Sturgis headquarters, so were not counted in, but we were there. The proof is in the pudding, and photographs.

We wandered through all the shops, noting that local businesses cleared out their entire stock and rented their space out to Sturgis venders. Old signs were still up and new signs tacked on the front temporarily. 4 blocks of souvenirs and I think we walked both sides of all.

We grabbed a bite to eat before heading to The Knuckle Saloon to watch the fights (and flashing). Anyone could sign up but it was pretty slow going since there weren't a lot in the same weight category. They ended up going ahead, 160lbs vs 180 and Mr 180 had way too much to drink to barely stand. It was a quick one. The most entertaining were the girls, who put on a great show of taunting and teasing but still got a few good swipes in. We met some great folks to share a picnic table with for a great view and I spent most my time chatting with a lady who was stationed at a base nearby.

Then it was back to the Buffalo Chip to watch The Guess Who and wow what a concert! No one fell off the stage (aerosmith) or threw up on themselves (buckcherry) and we didn't have to stand in the mud pit of a concert bowl. We had prime seats upstairs in a little bar smack dab infront of the stage with a 3 tiered deck to watch and sing along. One more day of bike week left so it was plans for more shopping on Sunday and returning to all the bars to take photos in the day time as my camera is not the best at night. More pics to come! Hope you are enjoying my ramblings. Back soon with day 6!

On the 4th day of Sturgis

2009-08-27T21:02:00.013-06:00

we gambled most the day
and waited for the hail to go away!

We road to Deadwood today and stopped at the tourist information to get the scoop on all the places to go in relation to the HBO series we watched the prompted us to even want to visit Deadwood. It was rather shocking to find out that it wasn't even shot on location but at Gene Autry's Ranch aka Melody Ranch in Santa Clarita, California. Guess we will have to take a trip to California now too, but that shouldn't be a problem as that is where my son lives and hope to travel there at least once a year. We paid $5 to park in a hotel parking lot and you got free drinks at the casino (if you're gambling you do anyways, but I don't usually partake) We headed over to the Franklin Inn and grabbed a glass of wine while Ray sat at the Slots. I perused over all the pamphlets to design a plan of attack (on all the touristy places) I also went upstairs to the balcony to take photos and I ended playing the slots anyways, losing 20 at Jacks or Better, but finally my game of choice became available. Lobstermania! Oh how I love fishing for lobster to the tune of the B52's Rock Lobster. Oh how I love winning at the game of Rock Lobster. 60 bucks! Won back my loss, Ray's loss and walked away with $20! Now that's successful gambling to me!

We met a couple from Custer who come to Deadwood to gamble and have dinner on occasion and even offered an house exchange. We live in theirs for a week and they live in ours, which would be great next time we go to Sturgis for us to stay and them to get away. They also suggested heading over to the Silverado for the all you can eat Snow Crab buffet. So we exchanged business cards and filled our faced before heading down the street to explore the rest of the street.

We strolled down Main Street and stopped in where Wild Bill Hickock was shot (with the dead man's hand, Aces and Eights) and played Texas Holdem'. The rules were 5/10/kill and within no time, I was out $50 and stepped away from the table. Ray lost $50 and stepped towards the ATM lol! A while later he was out another $100 so we headed back to the street but it had started to rain, then hail, dime size, nickle, quarter then REALLY hail! Loonie and Toonie size! Ok actually golfball size but I was stay with the gambling theme of $$!!! We stood at the window and watched the bikes get pelted, and a sign us above get smashed with glass crashing down on the sidewalk. Ray threw a $20 into a machine while we were waiting for the storm to pass, down to $10 and won $460! Pretty much paid for the past two days! Thankfully the hail only lasted around 20 minutes (and no more money was lost to the slots) so we headed back to our bike to see how it faired and all was well.

Since it was getting late, we decided to come another day to tour the cemetery and museum but rather than head straight back home (aka hotel) we road around downtown and then headed south to the Spearfish Canyon, flying past The Boars Nest with bikes, bikers and picnic tables outside. We instantly thought of our favourite watering hole in Seven Persons and knew that stopping in was on the list of things to do when we returned next time.

The ride through Spearfish Canyon was wonderful and was lucky there were no animals at dusk this time round. After returning home, we road to the World's Biggest Biggest Bar, The Full Throttle to discover they did not fair so well. As we walked in from the parking lot there was a row of cars with smashed windows. Our bartender explained about the baseball size hail and since the bar is mostly outdoors, no wonder it was not busy at all. We headed across the highway over to Monkey's Rock and it was almost empty as well. Then it was back into town and stopped at the Broken Spoke, but even that wasn't very busy either. I guess the storm sent a lot of people home, especially if they were camping and the rest were at the other two big bars in town... or make that 3. The karaoke place was always hopping, but we passed it over to go back to the hotel to watch the news and weather channel about the recent storm, and rest up for the next plans. SHOPPING!

On the 3rd day of Sturgis

2009-08-20T15:58:00.014-06:00

We saw scenes old and new
got great pictures and got rained on too.

We headed out with our friends to Rapid City and I thought of the first time I went there as a kids on summer vacation with my parents as we rode past the Reptile Gardens. I still can see the polaroid photo in the photo album of me and my two sisters sitting on a giant tourtoise and the one of my dad holding a huge snake around his neck. No need to stop in and visit this time round as we have a huge cornsnake named Fluffy at the farm and over the past few years have sheltered a tarantula, lizard, frogs, hermit crabs and more (cuz that's what little boys are made of apparently)

We rode through Keystone then stopped on the side of the road to take pictures of Mt. Rushmore (from both angles), headed up the highway to Crazy Horse and then back tracked to ride through the Needles Highway. I was on the back of Ray's bike snapping pictures left right and crazy... and really need to learn to sit more still after a wobble near the edge of the narrow steep road sent my heart into my throat.

We road back via the Iron Mountain Road that had just as many tunnels as the Needles Highway but with views of Mt. Rushmore when driving through. We almost stopped in Keystone for a bite to eat but headed for Rapid City to try and out run the rain. Bad choice. We should have stayed put and waited for it to blow over since it was a good 15 minute ride in pelting rain before we could stop for something to eat in RC. After warming up and drying out a bit, it was back on the bike to Sturgis and then showered and ready for a night on the town.

We walked to Main Street and spent the night bar hopping, beginning the evening enjoying live music at the Loud American Roadhouse (great band, only 1 fight),

then over to the Oasis for some karaoke (crazy people, only 1 song for me), and got spanked at
One Eyed Jacks (not me, only 2 of the guys)

Then we took the long way home via McDonald's for $1 burgers and home and in bed by 4!!! I guess technically it was day 4, but sleep is much needed before heading out that day!

On the 2nd day of Sturgis

2009-08-18T21:30:00.010-06:00

My butt was sore and tired.
but all the way to Sturgis we did ride!

After a wonderful night's sleep at the Elk Creek B & B in Grassy Range, we rode through Billings and headed south to corner of Wyoming. We only stopped to fill up once and to check out the first biker bar along the way, The Stoneville Salloon in Alzada Montana, where we met a nice couple from Chicago that had just ridden in from the Devil's Tower. The place was packed but would not even prepare us for what was yet to come. We arrived in Sturgis and checked into the hotel with the constant roar of bikes going up and down the highway next to us. I wasn't sure I would be able to sleep with all the noise, but at that time I wasn't even ready for bed. We immediately jumped back on the bike to go down town and laughed as the people walking down Lazelle Street were moving faster than we were. There were bikes and cars, vans and trucks, trailers and motorhomes and a stop sign put up at every corner. We never even made it to Main Street that day, but stopped instead at Roscoe's for supper and to buy a sheep skin seat cover for extra padding for my sore butt!

We headed back to the hotel room as the rain had started and around 11 decided to go check out the Buffalo Chip and the Aerosmith concert. We arrived late, but the concert started late due to the rain so decided to fork out the dough and see what we could see. After all so far - $75 for the night at the B & B, $300 a night at Super 8 in Sturgis, $240 for aerosmith tickets. Saw 1 1/2 songs, the sound system blew up and Steven Tyler fell off the stage and was sent to the hospital - priceless!

We returned back to the hotel to find our parking spot gone so parked behind our friend's Al, Charlie and Jerry and left a note on their door to wake us if they need out before we did. It was lights out and sound asleep in no time - ready for day 3 and what ever it might bring. Rain or not, here we come!

The 12 Days of Sturgis - day 1 - travel time

2009-08-17T21:48:00.011-06:00

On the first day of Sturgis we got away so late
and split my rain pants right out of the gate!

Ah yes, we donned our "duck suits" and had to be trailered the mile down the gravel road from the farm to the highway to begin our journey. It was about 4 pm rather than noon when we left in the rain to fill up in Dumore and by the time we got to Elkwater the rain had stopped, the fog had set in, and we were thinking the dreaded "S" word - Snow - but it didn't. Thank goodness for heated vests and we were off. Sitting on the back of a bike with only the sound of the roaring wind and rumbling pipes in my ears, I had lots of time to think. Amazing how you think of the past as your ride into the future and take in the present. As we passed Elkwater, I smelled something sweet like honey and I thought of my old dog Jake, who would roll in dead carcasses that for some reason smelled like honey to me, and dead carcasses to my honey. We stopped for lunch at the Duck Inn in Havre and rode along Montana's Highway 2. As we passed the many, MANY white markers on the roadside, I thought of Randy Travis' song "Three Wooden Crosses" even though there where 3 times as many. Know wonder the signs say "4 the 2" and call your Congressman. So many lives lost on that lonely road.

We road through Belknap Reservation, but not that swift as there was a major car accident that held us up for at least a half hour. We had hoped to make it to Billings that night, but the sun was sinking, the deer were grazing in ditches, and we were on the road later than planned. We pulled into Grass Range Montana about 11 pm with no gas station open, no vacancy signs in sight and found our way to a bar and casino with but 4 people inside. After a warm welcome and wet one, they gave us the phone to call the local bed and breakfast in hopes there was room in the Inn. As luck had it, we were the first official guests at the Elk Creek Bed and Breakfast and the minute we walked in I thought of my friend Lorene. That would be her in 20 years, as the couple showed us around the newly renovated, 5 bedroom 2 bathroom luxurious ranch home on the side of the hill with a beautiful view. (not that we could see it at the time) but woke in the morning to fresh fruit and juice and a delicious breakfast in the nook and a breathtaking view.

7 hours to the end day 1 with 7 or so more to go to Sturgis, was just the beginning of luck, good and bad!

crazy craven crew

2009-07-14T15:18:00.022-06:00

This was the second time to the Craven Country Jamboree for Ray and I, and the first time with friends rather than with a radio station. Having to line up with the masses and camp in the back was not as discouraging as other moments, but I'll touch on that after a quick review of the first night in the beer gardens!

We arrived just as the Kentucky Headhunters broke into song and we sang along with every song we knew, especially their cover of Norman Greenbaum's 1969 hit Spirit in the Sky, but it was Jo Hikk that stole the show with their rocking country tunes and more classics from Doucette, The Doobie Brothers and Neil Diamond.

It was a later night than expected and my guy didn't even get to bed for an hour and a half before having to get up at 4 am for the gohper run. We joined them at 8am to finish off their 6 hour wait to get a seat near the front. Even as taxing as that was for 3 days in a row, our crew is ready to make up t-shirts that say "2009 Craven Gopher Run Champs!" Friday's performances were seen from the 4th row.

After a nap, it was the old hippies, The Bellamy Brothers singing their country, crossovers and some classic rock.

Charlie Daniels traditional country was classic and of course everyone was stomping along to Devil went down to Georgia.

Kellie Pickler's dressed down, down home charm won us over as much as her big voice from her little frame.

And the guy to the right is Moose Jaw's Country 100's morning man and my young friend Dustin Dion who was the host of the main stage for the day.

Taylor Swift's big time, big show dramatics was impressive but impersonal.

No beer gardens this night. It was straight to bed and up at 4 am for the gopher run for the girls who had the first row seats for the wait, and got 2nd row seats for the shows, a little too close as my neck was sore from constantly looking up but it was fantastic none the less.

Joe Diffie was awesome and I even got one of his picks and of course the minute he commented that it's not going to rain, it did, but only for a little while.

Joe Nichols was handsome and humble, singing songs he wrote about his wife in his low and sexy voice, looking just as sexy in a Fabio kinda way.

Williams & Ree were hilarious and the"attention Walmart Shoppers" comment was directed at our group in the funky hats.

Rodney Atkins was a simple country boy singing simply awesome songs about tractors, the south, his wife, and of course his little buckaroo.

Clint Black was freezing. He got the night with the cold north wind and was sharing hot shots with the band to keep their hands warm. Even in the cold, he performed perfectly on the guitar and even entertained us on the drums.

For Sunday's gopher run we were not as aggressive, wanting to be back a little from the stage so we could see the big screens better. 11th row was perfect with polite people in front for a change.

Jake Owen was all about whiskey, women and song

Doc Walker, the pride of Portage La Prairie, were singing through smiles as big as the prairie.

Billy Ray Cyrus was a tad over dressed. I wondered if Clint texted him to tell him to bundle up for the cold Canadian nights. Within minutes his leather jacket, scarf and over shirt were off, but by the end of his show, they were back on as it cooled down fast when the sun lowered in the sky, but thankfully not as cold as the night before. His voice varied from song to song, from raspy and deep for his harder edged newer songs to the young clarity of his older hits, of course Achy Breaky Heart a must for the crowd.

George Strait was and is all about the music. With more than 50 number 1 hits, he couldn't fit them all into one show, but we still got an ear full of his finest!

That's Craven 09 under our belts and next up, all the music and events at Sturgis 09! Just hope there aren't as many disrespectful drunken idiots like there were in Craven. (yeah right)

My First Poker Run

2009-06-21T19:26:00.011-06:00

Once again, our weekend starts on Wednesday, and we are camped at Centennial Park in Bow Island. The same gang from last year was there, so it was a visit around the fire and catching up with our old new found friends. The music on the radio was cranked from their RV sounded familiar, but Jackson and Donna are from Lethbridge and it was our sister station, 94.1 The Lounge that was on their dial!

Thursday night was a quite night of cards in the trailer, and Friday night we all headed down to the Bow Island Tavern to watch the Stanley Cup final game. With several ex Medicine Hat Tigers on the team, it was Go Detroit! Oh well, maybe next year.

Saturday morning it was up early and off to Harley Davidson out side of Medicine Hat for pancakes and sausage and our first card. 2 of Spades was not a great start but maybe for a flush or a run! Then we went fill up in Dunmore before heading down the 120 to Hwy #3. I wanted to hang back from the group so as not to feel too intimidated, but we ended up catching up to the group on the 887. What a wonderful view of all the bikes in tight formation along the hilly, winding road. First stop was the Etzikom Windmill Museum for a card. Q of hearts just ruined my prize for low hand.

Onward to Foremost to fill up with gas, and then rather take the Skiff road because of construction, it was up the Foremost Highway past the Spitz Plant (world famous Spitz Plant i might add) and onto the #3 to Taber. Lunch was on at the Oilmans Club and next card, 6 of diamonds. My hand was going down hill fast.

Next stop was Hays via Vauxhall, but we ended up driving down the Hays road or Hays Maze instead. Twisting and winding was all good but not at full speed. I was not about to risk life and limb taking the corners too fast and kept it around 55 Mph. The card pick up was the Hays' campground, so we stopped for a visit and some water and then headed back to Bow Island for the final card at the Blues Club. I forget what the last two were but they weren't worth a nickle so it was back to the trailer to change and then back to the club for supper. Mike's Meats makes the most awesome ribs! We were stuffed and in need of a nap before the live band, but I never made it back at all. My one hour nap turned into 4. After being woken by rowdy friends on their way to the lake (you know who you are) I ended up reading a novel and waiting for Ray to return to the trailer around 1 am.

Sunday it was up early as I had to work at the Parade of Homes in the Hat, and came home to all the kids at the trailer for supper and steak from the Bow Island IGA so tender you could cut it with a plastic knife! Then it was another bike ride to 40 mile to visit Monika and Ed who were just packing up from the weekend and ready to go home, but still stopped long enough to smell the roses, and the wine corks with us! Monday it was back at work and back to the farm after five days of fun on the H.O.G Poker Run. Next year we might have to pull the trailer out a week in advance just to get a spot!

The Unforgettable Forgetful Weekend

2009-05-26T11:58:00.010-06:00

The following happens between 2 pm Friday, May 22 and 2 pm Tuesday, May 26

24 fans might think that as funny, but anyhoo...

It was a slow start to the weekend. Friday after broadcasting my show live from Merle Norman in Medicine Hat Mall for Bras For a Cause, we went to Bourban Street for dinner. I wasn't feeling well so Ray stayed in town to watch hockey with the boys and came home and cleaned and puttered around the house before being in bed before midnight.

Saturday Ray had to work, and since the house was already clean, I headed into town for shopping, with my dog in tow. Ray takes his dog Maggie most days to work, so I thought Jake and I would spend the day together. Wrong! I FORGOT you should never take a farm dog off the farm. We didn't even make it to the #3 Highway before he was stressing out in the back seat. Last time I took him in the car, past the Shnee's farm where he used to live, but would keep coming to our farm, (They were going to get rid of him but I said I would take him since he is always over here) but he would keep going back there, and I would keep dragging him back) I left him at my daughter's house in town for more than a month. (can't wander off the farm from there eh?) Was he having flashbacks? He wouldn't settle down and I wasn't about to leave him in my son's new car with leather interior while I shopped for him to possibly paw and claw and tear apart! Thankfully it was Lisa and Kobe to the rescue, who where finished their shopping when I arrived, and took him off my hands so I was able to shop without worry. On the way home he just curled up in the back seat and slept. Must have known he was headed back home to the farm!

I was 3/4 the way home when I found out Ray was already in town...at the Harley Shop! You know what that means... expensive! He was told by his nephew that he could punch a hole in his muffler to get louder pipes, but Shane FORGOT to tell him to punch it only half way. So after punching it ALL the way through and piercing a hole out the end, $880 and a new set of pipes later, Ray's bike is back on the road. His mother always said, "Live and Learn" but I wish she was a dyslexic like me and said "Learn and Live". Either that or "Research first and learn!" A costly lesson, but he loves his new and louder pipes!

Since he was already in the Hat, I ventured on my bike alone to meet him in Seven Persons (first time riding since my dumping) but still didn't make it off the farm without tipping it over and his son Derek having to pick it up for me (farm terrain is so not conducive to street bikes). Soon I was cruising down the highway, feeling free as a bird. No one behind me to stress out, therefore I wasn't stressed out at all. Went to the Boar's Nest first then Monika and I went to Premium Sausage and we all headed out to Irvine for a BBQ. There were a lot of bikes on the road headed to the Hat so when we arrived there was no one else there (was it something we said?) But we had a great time and even better, was the fact that I found my Harley Headwear I had FORGOT there the year before. First time going to Tuesday night Bike Night and I lose my brand new attire! doh! We even went back that night to try to find it in the dark. We went back the next day and looked in the cook house. Nothing. This year, I searched for it on the first bike night and still couldn't find it. Then sitting around the campfire I look over to the tree with the Tasmanian Devil Doll perched in it...someone had slid my headgear on a the branch below the stuffed animal and even though weathered and worn from the elements, not from use, it was there!! I was stunned! But so glad to get it back. Honour among bikers is immense!

After Irvine we stopped in to see Lisa again and then before heading home, we washed my bike. It was noted earlier it was pretty filthy and how could I ride it in such as state! Apparently the dirt must have been holding it together! After the wash, it wouldn't run properly. No,... just got it wet where it shouldn't have and it crapped out on the College overpass. Ray got on and took it down the hill to the Paradise Valley Par 3, and ended up having to push it half way up the hill back. Then he had to push it to the Bohan's who lived down the block. A very frustrating day for both of us, but in the end, a great day with friends who can laugh both with and AT us!

Sunday, Ray had to work, so we missed out on the H.O.G Poker Run. It was overcast and drizzle so I spent the morning prepping, taping and painting the hallway. Then we went into town with the truck and trailer to bring back my bike. If it had dried out, Ray was going to ride it back, but I FORGOT the key in my leather jacket pocket, and had brought my work jacket instead! It was back to the Boar's Nest for dinner with our Poker Run Pals, and then home. There's a message on the phone when we arrive.. I FORGOT my Lounge jacket at the pub with cellphone and car keys in my pockets. Me forgetting my phone is nothing new (usually on the kitchen counter at home) but thankfully I had a spare key for the car, just had to knock at work to be let in (Thanks Christy!)

Monday after work, we headed to 40 Mile Park with the boys to help Ed and Monika put in their dock. I met Ray in Bow Island but FORGOT to put my leathers in my car so I couldn't ride to the Park on the back of his bike. Oh well, just means I get to go home via the short cut on the dirt roads in 20 minutes rather than the hour drive home through Bow Island. The wind was calm and the water was warmer (than last weekend but not by much) but I FORGOT to pack extra clothes so I was only able to watch and take pictures from the top of the hill in my heels and dress clothes. (How convenient eh?) 4 hours later, the job was done. Just in time before the wind picked up and a storm looked to be blowing in, so they quickly loaded the boat back onto the trailer and we sat in the warmth of the RV for beans, sausage and pulled pork sandwiches. My stomach became upset shortly after we arrived, but I figured eating something would make it feel better! FORGET that! It just made it worse.

After a rough and painful night, I sit here nauseous (tmi?) and tired and in no mood to finish painting the trim in the hallway. It's Ray's birthday today and instead of having fun celebrating with him, I will be on the couch or in bed for the rest of the day. He did however, like is birthday present I got him that had been sitting on the fireplace mantle tempting him for 4 days. The Harley watch is a big hit! I FORGOT to get him a card. If the first thing to go when you get old is your memory, then I am living proof!

May Long Gone

2009-05-18T18:05:00.009-06:00

Still recuperating from my dumping but am having a good laugh reminiscing brutal bruisings of past, like when my Dad dropped a trailer hitch on his groin. Okay, it wasn't funny at the time, but every time I tell the story, the women laugh and the men cringe... and he still went on to have another daughter! I thought getting hit in the thigh with a softball was big and bad (it was the same size as the sattelite remote) but now I can laugh at my latest one... kinda the same colour as a granite counter top, but I digress, on with the weekend!

As per usual, Ray's long weekend started long before mine. Wednesday night we were going to camp at Cottonwood Golf Club, but with the extra trailer of bikes behind the 5th wheel, it was far easier just to go to Walmart. Nothing like free camping in the parking lot. $220 and two hours later, we were settled. (Takes a long time to shop when visiting with so many friends is involved, from my boss Jeff and family to my friend Rosalyn http://www.cmt.ca/castingcall/SemifinalistRosalyn.aspx who i would just love for you to vote) It's a good thing Walmart is open 24/7 so we could buy batteries for my electric tooth brush that was dead or I wouldn't have been able to brush my teeth! ha ha! After getting my butt whooped in crib, it was off to bed and then enjoy the 5 minute drive to work in the morning rather than 50. I didn't even over sleep like last time, probably much to my boss' surprise!

Thursday after work, it was off to Centenial Park in Bow Island where Ray had moved the RV. Loading up on hot dogs and potato salad before heading to Ray's nephew's graduation ceremony at Senator Gershaw School, it was a touching and entertaining evening of slide shows, pet peeves and goals. Then I got my butt beat in crib again (don't tell Ray I let him win because I wanted to go to bed early) and it was back to the 50 minute commute in the morning.

Friday after my remote broadcast at Medicine Hat Motosports, and collecting donations for "Bras For A Cause", it was burgers in the trailer before the Grand March and celebration at the Voeller's. I bailed early since I had another remote broadcast at Windmill Garden Center at 9 the next morn.

Saturday, after buying begonias at the greenhouse (boss says that's why they request me for remotes... I am always shopping) it was back to the farm to feed the dogs and off to 40 Mile Park to party with my friend Monika, who's birthday was the next day. There was enough food for an army (with Ed's family and all us friends, it WAS a small army) and homemade wine by the jug. The campers in tent city across the lake made enough noise to wake the dead and for most of the night it sounded like a cattle pen, but after police and ambulance were called, they shut it down before our fire was even out. It was quite the obstacle around folding chairs back to our beds, but thankfully no one fell into the fire or backwards off the bench, so entertainment was just the conversation itself. Boy did we laugh all night (Lori is just too cute when she's had one, or two... or five!)

Sunday we got up at the crack of 10 (oh how I miss those days) to bacon, eggs, sausage, waffles, you name it for breakfast. Now if only the head would cooperate with the awesomeness of the day ahead! It was a wonderful do nothing day of lazing in chairs enjoying the sun. Oh but the wind! Did Lethbridge leave the back door open? Even with all the man power we couldn't help Ed put the dock or boat in but we did help put a dent in their wine cellar! Another awesome dinner, we took shelter in our RV but it was early to bed for most except the die hard cribbers, at least it wasn't me this time getting my butt kicked!

Monday morning we woke to the neighbour cutting wood, but it was almost 10 AM so no biggie. Egg Sandwiches in the drizzle and cold and we were packed up before noon. I took the back roads home (20 minutes) and Ray took the highway (1 hour) and the bikes are back in the shed, the trailer parked and unloaded, and the smell of campfire laundered away. Now 9 more days til we can do it all over again. Next time in Taber, or Cremona, or where ever the wind takes us, because one thing is for sure, as long as the wind shall blow and the rivers shall flow, Razor and Corona will be there!

Marvelous Mother's Day Ride

2009-05-12T20:36:00.005-06:00

Another gorgeous weekend to chalk up to fun fun fun! It was debatable to ride to the Hat on Mother's Day because Ray's daugher Chelsey needed a ride into town and packages, purses and presents in tow. After rearranging and repacking, we loaded every thing up and I jumped on the back of Ray's bike to let the lass who lent her bike to me last summer, ride my own into town (the little speed demon!) One thing i do enjoy about riding on the back of Ray's Road King is that I can take pictures (like the one to the right) can chat and can gawk and NOT have to concentrate on the task at hand.

After a quick visit with Mum and Dad Voeller, Chels rode to her Mother's and Ray and I went in pursuit of a suitable Mother's Day Dinner. Even though I am not Ray's mother (his usual excuse) I am still a MOM so it was my choice! (crap, Phoa Dao is closed on Sundays) So off to Superstore for chicken, riblets and coconut shrimp. Add on pototo, pasta and tossed salad and we are set. Feast fit for a feline! The men barbequed and the women visited. The guys even did dishes! However, I still don't know how I ended up on the receiving end of the towel fight! Boys will be boys!

After dinner, it was back on the bikes. Oh how I love the fact that I get to lead since I am the rookie. It was off to Medicine Hat College where the parking lot is marked for motorcycle classes so Ray followed me around and around and around as I tested all the marking... they mean absolutely nothing to me without the pylons... but it was still fun.

Then it was off to visit Lisa in Riverside, who sat in her red flannel PJ's on her front porch while her boys slept in the 5th wheel (ha ha - you're so busted) When it was time to leave, we didn't made it very far. The neighbours across the way were familiar from bike rallies and poker runs so we had to stop, check out their bikes and compare stories even though I was itching to get on the road again.

It was so wonderful to actually enjoy riding in Medicine Hat. Each day I become more and more confident, and with the idle reset, I don't fear stalling at stop signs. So now I don't fear the city!! It was over to Ray's son's Brad, then over the Darrin and Tracey's and THEN we filled up and headed home. Okay, I still am not comfy riding in the dark, but I do it... and the heated vest certainly helps. I am going to have to learn to cut the ride shorter and to head out sooner if I want a COMPLETELY comfortable experience but it truly was the BEST RIDE SO FAR! I think I am getting the hang of it!

PS
after note - we parked the bike behind the house rather than in the shed when we got back. Tonight after work, (Tuesday) I asked Ray if we could move the bikes to shelter before the storm hits. Choke on. Idling high. Ray takes off and I try to ease the bike around. Clutch in, Clutch out. Clutch in. Clutch out. Rev is too high. Spin out on damp grass.. KATHUMP! I dump the bike and I am tangled and break the windshield! F&^%$##&!!!K!!! With a bruised and battered left leg I am typing this. At least it wasn't 60 miles an hour.. I still need more time to get the hang of it! lol!

12741.4 - 11875.3 = 866.1

2009-05-03T19:49:00.007-06:00

I must have changed my mind at least 3 times this weekend. Ride our bikes - it will be fun. Take the car - it will be more comfortable. Just ride Ray's bike - it will save on gas. But I would have been so dissappointed in myself had I not made the effort, so ride we did.

Every time I don't want to do something, I always remember the book "Feel the Fear and Do it's Anyways." So I got on my bike and rode to Chestermere anyways. It was my friend Lana's birthday and for the past week I had been in cahoots with her hubby via text. Saturday morning at 10:38 I text him to to say we have packed the bikes and are headed to Bow Island to fuel up.

After a quick visit with Rob and Tellisa, who didn't even recognize us, I texted Evert to say we were leaving (11:35) and headed west. Cool! Bow Island now has a traffic light! Then it was north onto Hwy 879 and over the river (ew, being afraid of heights and crossing the bridge sent my stomach into my throat) and travelled past all the kids on highway cleanup of the ditches (slowing every time we encountered a group, who waved in appreciation) and we met a couple of other bikers at Hwy 524 and stopped for a quick visit before heading west again until Hwy 36 and turned north. We always stop at the Oasis outside Ranier for a bite to eat and today was no different, other than the fact that we needed to. My bike will only go about 100 miles before running out of gas. After lunch and catching the tail end of the Boston/Carolina game, I text Evert (1:30ish) and it was back on the road to the #1, then westward ho! 110 Km speed limit. I kick her up to 120.

Now I'm never one to be intentionally rude, but I refrained from waving to oncoming bikers. I mean, they are across a divided hiway, 2 lanes away. Don't expect me to release the tight grip on my handle bar while going 75 mph! I've asked Ray the rules of the road when it comes to that. Do Harleys just wave at other Harleys? Is it okay for me to wave when I am on a Yamaha? Ray's explanation was; Bikers wave at Bikers. Truckers wave at Truckers. Farmers wave at Everybody! I only wave when I am comfortable to do so, which is becoming more and more often than not!

After a quick stop on a roadside turnout to adjust my helmet (darm pony tail holder felt like a knife in my head under my helmet) we fueled up in Strathmore (3:15ish) and pulled into the birthday girls driveway just before 4 and beeped Happy Birthday in unison with our horns, then sang along for a second verse! No one in the house had an idea what the racket was (what are you tone deaf Beierbach's?) but apparently the neighbours were impressed. It was a first for them! and Ray and I are definitely all about firsts. (That and killing two birds with one stone)

So after more family arriving, dinner, hockey (Chicago/Vancouver) and crib, we were all tuckered out, but more so our hosts who partied into the wee hours of the morning the night before! After a good nights rest, it was brekky, then Seven Persons Sausage for lunch, more crib (at least I let the birthday girl win. lol) and it was back on the road again.

Just as we were heading out their gate, Ray informed me we were taking a different route home, and going through Lethbridge. I didn't think anything of it. That is until we got to Vulcan to refuel. I was already looking for an escape route. The windiest city in Alberta and you are taking me there? It's like searching for the eye of a hurricane! Driving towards a Twister! And to find out right then that his daughter had to work and going through Lethbridge wasn't even necessary? I grin and bore it. I was cursing him under my breath all the way south as I leaned to the right as it became windier and windier and it kept trying to push me into the oncoming lane. (Now I have practice in wind gusts from either side! Last trip it kept trying to push me into the ditch!) But I made it through Lethbridge (with my crib face on) and with the wind at my back on the #3 we stopped in Taber to refuel, then to Bow Island to visit Ray's brother and sister-in-law, top up the tanks and I was almost home.

NOW I can start to relax, and I start to be daring. I slide my glove off my left hand (can't release the throttle with my right), tucked it under my crotch (tmi?), grab my cell phone from my pocket and capture a picture I thought I could only get from the back of Ray's bike. But I did and now I never have to do it again. But I DID it again down the Etzikom highway, with the sun at my side and my man at my back, and my second trip under my belt. 866.1 Miles since it was registered just 20 days ago and at least 406 just this weekend.

The farthest I've been and the most confident I've felt, other than the 50 miles in wind that makes biking so not fun, and me so not happy. How would 50 DAYS of no fun and no happy sound to you mr razor?!? KIDDING, KIDDING! Just check the weather forecast before you take me anywhere. I can be a fairweather biker if I want to! Can't wait to get my licence so I can ride my bike to work. On the warm, sunny, calm days that end in Y!

Biker Chick-en Rides Again

2009-04-27T18:57:00.010-06:00

No sooner had we come home from Saskatchewan and my first big ride on my own bike, we were back at it again. Tuesday after work, we leathered up and rode to Irvine to meet our friends Monika and Ed. Oh how I love the 120 and NOT having to drive through the Hat. We filled up in Dunmore and headed east, I was a little worried about going through the narrow gate when we got there, but the big gate was open and I sighed a sigh of relief and maneuvered through all the other bikes to park safely away from everyone. For THEIR safety not mine. I still don't feel in control and I don't think the confidence will come until I do.

After a quick visit with old friends and new, we headed out (big gate closed but I made it through and uphill to boot!) and even though i stalled twice at the highway (damn idle) we were on the road again, with me leading the pack to Rusty's Roadhouse in Dunmore for a bite to eat. Well, i was in the lead for a while. I forgot the speed limit was 110 kmph and having a U.S. bike, 65 mph is as fast as i like to go - in the dark - when you can't find the high beam/low beam switch... Guess I Should have checked BEFORE we left Irvine at dusk! But after all was said and done, and a little swerve here and there where I shouldn't have, no major wind to contend with, no major stall or falls and no bee's in the bonnet.

oh yeah, forgot to mention last blog, last time we left Dunmore, Ray could see my brushing the hair around my ears, thinking to himself... oh, we're going to town, (just to walmart for dog food) and she has to fix her hair... NOOOOOO - riding along I heard a THUNK above my ear, so I looked in the mirror and saw a little black fuzz in my helmet - I try to dig it out and it's a BEE and it's stunned and it's stuck in my hair. So i start trying to flick it out and it won't get unstuck!!! When it finally did, I didn't know where it went, so I had to stop and take the helmet off, the jacket, the neckguard, you name it, I didn't want ANYTHING under my leathers that shouldn't be there!!! Plug the heated vest in a wee wee wee, all the way home! First time riding in the dark. I must say, I'm getting pretty good at the mile of gravel to the farm too. I'm already looking forward to a bigger bike, maybe that will help my confidence. Maybe I won't feel like the prairie wind is going to blow me to the next province. Maybe I better learn to keep her between the ditches first.

There was no riding for the rest of the week and weekend as the weather was crap and it's turning crappier as I type. More snow on the way, but not as much as expected. And I don't feel like wrapping up in leather right now. I'm a bit tender from the two new tattoos I got today. Revolution Tattoo on Dunmore Road had the exact tattoos I've wanted since the Dead Hog Boogie but didn't want to have to ride to Red Deer to get them. So today, I got a mouse in honour of my home town, Souris Manitoba (souris is French for mouse) and a little butterfly on my hip just because. An early mother's day present to me but I made Ray come into town to be there when I got them. Almost chickened out after he finished the first one, but grinned..or ground my teeth through the second.

I think that's it for a while. Tattoo wise that is. I mean, have I been going through mid-life crisis or what? The only thing left on the list of things to do before I'm 50 is sky-diving, but I think I will leave that for the rest of the Voeller Clan to persue. Maybe I should go back to knitting or bowling. Maybe I should join a club. Maybe I should just shut up now and enjoy what I've got...and go put ointment on my wounds. lol

Burstall or Bust - Biker Babe-y

2009-04-19T19:15:00.005-06:00

I finally got the registration signed over and registered my new bike. New to me, the 1985 Yamaha Maxim X 700 sat in a hangar for 12 years and after spending the winter getting refurbished, Monday I got the plate and was ready to ride. The weather however didn't cooperate all week, so finally, Friday night, I rode down the mile of gravel (alone) to the Etzikom and waited for Ray, who got off his bike when he arrived and faux choked me not waiting for him when he had to stop and get his back rest from the shed. So down the Etzikom highway, and no hitting the ditch when I cornered to head to Medicine Hat, my first trip to the big city. I'm so excited.

Since I am not licensed, Ray has to ride behind me at all times, so I get to lead the way. The whole ride down the #3, not a bike on the road for me to salute with the low 5 wave. East onto the 120, North on 13th, stop light at Strachan... stall. I need to get the idle set higher. Stop light at Dunmore... stall (grrrr) Pull in to Dayz Off Pub... not a friend on the patio to see me pull in. I'm so disappointed.

Couldn't stay long since my headlight was burned out, but as we were going to lock it up for the night, it suddenly came on. Just a sticky starter button, so after a couple of O'Douhls and dinner, I get to lead the way to the hotel of my choice. Howard Johnson. Jacuzzi Suite. I'm so spoiled.

The next day we head down the #1 to Dunmore to fill up with gas before going to Burstall. Stop light at Dunmore Rd... stall... but it wouldn't start. I ran out of gas. I'm so embarrassed.

Ray switches it to reserve tank but the gas station is to the left and we're in the right lane so while turning right I spin out on the gravel and end up in the other lane in the path of a truck. omg ... stop light... stall... turn to left... stop. Ray rides my bike to the gas station and i sit and wait. I'm so rattled.

After filling up in Dumore we head north on the 41 and the wind is gusting....REALLY gusting. I stop and ask if this is a good idea for my first solo ride of the year. Ray says I can't be a fair weather rider, even though his sunglasses where blown off his face. I have to lean to the left to keep the bike on the road and I have no feeling in my hands from gripping the handle bars so tight. I pull over at the first rest stop and as much as I try not to, I just start crying. I'm so terrified.

After a short break so I can stop shaking, we continue down the road and then head east to Burstall. Thankfully the wind is at my back the rest of the way there. Ray fills the bikes up and after an O'Douhls served by Blanche at the Burstall Hilton, and we are on our way again. The street sweeper isn't due through until Monday, and there is far too much gravel on the roads for me to practice, so we head to Leader where the streets have been cleaned and the 2 hour rain that morning has dried. I still am stalling at most intersections but after touring the town, we stop at the Leader Inn. Bar hopping is out of the question since it's the only bar in town, so we spend the night. I'm so exhausted.

The next morning, the sun is shining, the wind is calmer and we retrace our route back to the Hat. 65 mph all the way home. I'm so happy. And so is Ray. I made it home safe and didn't give him a heart attack. And I'm not sure that riding is my thing. I miss talking to Ray, taking pictures, enjoying the scenery, heck even resting my head, closing my eyes and taking a nap! I'm so glad I am not taking my bike to Sturgis this summer. I am SO NOT READY!!!

27 today!

2009-03-25T22:15:00.001-06:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

March Madness

2009-03-07T14:29:00.005-07:00

I've been lax on blogging since i've been busy on life... okay make that on facebook. lol - i try to post at least once a month about me personally - but facebook sucks you right in but it's so great to keep up with all my friend's activities and posts - which i have trimmed down to less than 200, and that's with high school and college friends that i want to KIT with for future reunions. I can't Believe it's been 30 years since graduating from high school in Souris Manitoba and 10 years since i graduated from Camoson College in Victoria BC.

I got the biggest compliment ever the other day from a listener (which we call lounge lizards by the way). He asked if i ever worked in calgary because I sure sounded like Charlie Morgan. My first program director that hired me after college to do midnights, gave me her tape to listen to and said i should model myself after her. It may have taken me 10 years but to be put in the same category as one of the best female radio personalities in canada has just made my day.. heck week, month, and year! Oh i may not be quite as smooth as she is. I may not be as flawless, but I sure am trying my darndest. We all try to be perfect, even knowing there is no such thing, but to not even try would be a waste.

So every day i try my hardest balance work and life. Weekdays are spent doing a job i absolutely love and am blessed to have. Weeknights are spent with my razor and his two boys when they are home from hockey, snowboarding or hanging with friends. Weekends are spent on the occasional remote broadcast (which i usally spend more money at the client's than i make, but look at the lovely chairs i have flanking the fire place now - thank you Parkers Countrywide.) or at hockey rinks watching derek play on the iron horse hockey hounds midget AA team. Just being with ray doing whatever crosses our path...okay, make that trying to keep up with ray which is a challenge and a half.

Soon, weekends will be spent camping, fishin and riding bikes. This year i will get to ride my 1985 yamaha maxim x 700 that i just got out of the shop. I was a little choked that ray got to ride it before i even did (he took it off the trailer - lol) but yes - i rode in february - and i think it's the only month that ray didn't ride HIS harley since he bought it march of 08, but he did ride A bike! i don't think i will be ready to ride on my own to sturgis this summer, but hopefully i will get more comfortable and confident and stay out of the ditch. What ever this summer brings, i know it will be spent with my hunny, who loves to spoil me with flowers every big occasion (valentine flowers most recent) and to spoil me with every little thoughtful thing he does for me every single day. I am truly blessed.

Go Google Yourself

2009-02-19T06:15:00.002-07:00

Here's how this goes. Type in each phrase below with your own name in it (Type it in quotations!!!) into Google search. Paste the first thing it gives you. Have fun!!!

1. Google ''[your name] needs'':

Corvey CW3 Journal (Corinne needs to be refashioned in a more demure British "garb.)

2. Google ''[your name] looks like'':

and..corinne looks like a doll pictures from summer scenics photos ...(second link)

3. Google ''[your name] says'':

reality blurred + The lost Survivor Gabon interviews: Corinne says “the final five are boring"

4.Google "[your name]' wants":

MySpace.com - Corinne - 26 - Female - Leeds, UK - http://www.myspace.com/ ...

5. Google ''[your name] does'':

corinne does croydon on Vimeo

6. Google ''[your name] hates'':

Re: yesterday, Winifred never likes until Corinne hates the outer code rigidly

7. Google ''[your name] can'':

YouTube - Corinne can touch her nose!

8. Google ''[your name] goes'':

YouTube - corinne goes crazy

9. Google ''[your name] is'':

Corinne; - Google Books Result

10. Google ''[your name] loves'':

CORiNNE lOvES PAULiE C MySpace.com

How Canadian Are You? T-Bone's Canadian Quiz

2009-01-27T13:45:00.002-07:00

18 pointer!

[1] Were born in Canada.

[1] Currently live in Canada.

[1] Have lived in at least 2 provinces.

[1] Listened to the Barenaked Ladies in the Gordon years.

[1] Have been ice fishing.

[1] Have been cross-border shopping.

[1] Have seen the Snow Birds.

[0] Like Ketchup chips.

[1] Have eaten poutine.

[1] Know what a double-double is.

[1] Have a toque (+1 point if it has a maple leaf on it)

[1] Have skated on a frozen lake.

[1] Have shopped at Roots.

[1] Have curled.

[1] Have slept outdoors in the winter.

[0] Have played hockey.

[0] Have collected maple syrup.

[1] Have watched the Littlest Hobo.

[1] Have had at least $5 in Canadian Tire money somewhere.

[0] Have been to an NHL hockey game.

[0] Have been to one of the territories.

[1] Have seen a moose in real life.

[1] Have discussed and/or seen geese migrating.

Purging The Past

2009-01-14T11:42:00.002-07:00

Every year I declutter and purge more and more items collected over the years, trying to simplify life. In doing so, I ran across my college entrance essay from 1996. I forget what the exact questions were, but here were my answers.

1. The Media has always been a large part of my life. Music, Museums and the Arts were strongly emphasized during childhood. Television and Radio were a constant factor, yet taken for granted. Now, as my children are growing up, I enjoy introducing them to a variety of music and encourage reading and watching educational television. I am able to influence their choices and communicate my own tastes. What excites me most about a career in the media is that I will be able to express this appreciation on a larger scale. I will be able to relay my opinions and preferences to the general public. I will continue to educate and enlighten myself and those around me.

2. The Applied Communication Program is a general studies program which enables students to obtain a wide range of knowledge and skills in all aspects of media; photography, print, audio and video.

3. As a mature student, I feel the past 15 years have been leading me to my career choice today. I have held many leadership roles in various organizations across the country. I sat on the board of directors of the Lake font Ladies Activity Centre in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. I was also an aerobics instructor and headed a committee that designed playgrounds and canvassed for new equipment. As a member of the Catholic Women's League of Canada, I helped host the Annual National Convention for the Military Ordinariate in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba where I assisted in designing the handbook and was Director of Music for the 3 day convention. In Bangor Maine, I was the Publicity Chairman of the Over The Horizon Backscatter Wives Club, Secretary of the Rookie Bowling League at Heritage Lanes, and Coordinator of the Mothers Support Group at Saint Mary's Parish. There I was also a member of the Music Ministry and a Parish Cantor. Music is my main passion. I sing and play guitar, flute and piano. I was in the musical My Fair Lady, produced by the Acadia Repertory Company as a fund raiser for the Bangor YWCA. A year of study at the University of Winnipeg included drama and theatre. All past activities, incorporated, have readied me to embark on a new journey in the media field and I am looking forward to returning to school.

4. My philosophy for getting along with others; acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness. When ideas conflict, it is usually personality differences that create friction. Every person has their flaws and you cannot change them. You must accept them as they are, tolerate their idiosyncrasies and forgive them should they do you wrong. I feel I am open minded and willing to listen to ideas and how others feel. I do not hold grudges or brew anger. It is unproductive and a waste of energy.

5. The past 15 years have been focused on raising a family. Although I have worked outside the home in various jobs, it was never necessary. I have numerous outside interests and keep busy in the local community. As my husband is soon able to retire, I would like to focus on a specific career and reach a concrete goal for further financial security. Extra-curricular activities will have to be decreased and as the children become more independent, so do I, enabling me to fulfill the commitments of being a full-time student.

2008

2008-12-16T10:28:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends and Family

Déjà vu! Another form letter with another recap of another busy year for the Bolt/Voeller family with another 12 paragraphs about the 12 months of 2008

JANUARY
This year we rang in the New Year at the Conquerville Dance just down the road from the farm. I helped to design the centrepieces and decorate the night before, but wasn’t too much help the morning after, mind you. Still, good fun was had by all. The boys are still on two different hockey teams and Ray’s working away in the cold at Iteration’s Gas Plant, and I am working Tuesday through Saturday at CHAT and embark on being their spokesperson for Herbal Magic. The Union was just voted in. The big fat raise turns out not to be so big or so fat, but I buy a new truck anyways, a black Ford Ranger Edge 4x4.

FEBRUARY
February is heart month of course, and I volunteered at Boston Pizza to serve heart shaped pizzas. Boys are in hockey full swing and February thaw is not really thawing. Reading break is filled with hockey rather than skiing or boarding and saving for our trip to Florida at Easter.

MARCH
Derek's team made it to provincials in Warner and after his final game, Ray and I headed to Grand Forks to Big Sky Harley to pick up his 2007 Road King Classic. He had the bike off the trailer and on the road almost as soon as we got across the border, then a few mini road trips, first to Etzikom and back and then to the Hat with his buddies for supper and to pick up milk - any excuse to ride. Easter was spent in Florida with Ray’s youngest boys, 4 sun and fun filled days in Orlando and 3 in Daytona Beach. My blog http://corona4242.blogspot.com/

APRIL
I was kept busy this month running back and forth to Bow Island as Poll Captain for the Canadian Cancer Society’s door-to-door campaign and Ray joined the S.E.A.R. Bike Club out of Seven Persons. Have I mentioned I lost almost 25 lbs on Herbal Magic? Did I mention Ray lost 20 along side me NOT on Herbal Magic? Short lived success unfortunately.

MAY
Weekends this month were meant for riding, no matter how cold it was - well, it does matter but we rode any ways. It was off to Moose Jaw to visit friends and we were treated to being allowed on the set for country music singer Jason Blaine's video shoot in a junkyard for My First Car. On the way back we stopped in Swift Current to catch Aaron Pritchett in concert and then returned home, only to jump in the caddy and go see Aaron again in Lethbridge! The next weekend we are packing the 5th wheel for a weekend with friends in Cremona. After Ray realized the keys to the Harley we are towing behind us were in his pocket back at the farm, he met his daughter ½ way back and we were able to enjoy a bike ride in the foot hills of the Rockies. The last Friday of the month was the launch party for the newest radio station in Medicine Hat, The New CJCY 102.1 the Lounge! I have the honour of hosting the midday show, Monday to Friday 9 am to 2 pm. You can listen online at http://www.cjcyfm.com

JUNE
It's been so busy since i started the new job and getting used to getting up at 6 am (okay 6:30 after hitting the snooze button 3 times) after getting up at the crack of 10 for the past 5 years is a big adjustment. But having weekends off is awesome. The Harley Owner’s Group poker run was spent socializing with the fellow campers in Centennial Park in Bow Island, then supper at the Bow Theatre and more socializing at the park. Most of the month was spent building planters for the deck Ray and the boys extended around the pool at the farm. Ray and his oldest son Brad installed garden doors from the master bedroom and I built ALL 4 planters and 2 benches ALL by myself! We enjoyed the band Skavenja at the Blue Turtle with my new coworkers, we took the fifth wheel to the Seven Person's “Here comes the sun” dance and the next day it was back on the bike to the Foremost Rodeo. At the end of the month it was off to Penticton to visit Ray’s eldest daughter Lisa and granddaughter Sierra.

JULY
Every weekend in July was busy with something different – after a week of wine tasting, tubing and biking in the Okanogan, and a few close calls of dehydration in 40 degree weather, the next weekend was spent in Seven Person’s for the Dead Hog Boogie. From outhouse races to mattress pulls, rock bands and tattoos, my first bike rally will not be my last. The next weekend was spent with friends taking refuge from the storm of the century and cleaning up torn siding, shingle and toppled grain bins. Then it was stampede week with parade, concerts and another bike trip to Cremona and beating the hailstorm home.

AUGUST
I got my first motorcycle lesson on Ray’s daughter’s 750 Custom Honda one day and the next day we were headed to Burdette. After stalling out, tipping over and nearly giving ray a heart attack when I missed a turn and headed straight to the ditch – but recovered nicely and found my way back to the road without missing a beat… yeah, I need a little more practice before heading to Sturgis in 09!

SEPTEMBER
Ray and I went to Vegas via L.A. to visit Christopher, who hasn’t been back to Canada in almost a year. After touring Chris’s work place on Sunset Boulevard we wandered the Hollywood Walk of Fame we all jumped in the convertible rental and drove to Vegas for a few nights stay at the Sahara and taking in a Magic Show, riding the mono rail, watching the Bellagio Fountain and stopping for a quick one at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill and of course, Lunching at the Harley Davidson Café.

OCTOBER
This month I got my own motorcycle, a Yamaha Maxim X 700 which has been sitting in the shop ever since so i spent most of the month painting and redecorating the spare and master bedrooms at the farm. After all the work was done, I was treated to weekend retreat with a group of girls from Medicine Hat and Airdrie at a cabin in Mountain View. Hat Night, 80’s night, and games night were a blast and soon it was over and back to work and chores.

NOVEMBER
Ray and I saw David Copperfield at the Medicine Hat arena, I was hypnotized at the Conquerville Dance and portrayed Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and a gopher protector. Our company Christmas Party was in Lethbridge along with our sister station 94.1 the Lounge in the midst of Derek’s Midget AA Home Tournament. (Jess is snowboarding instead of hockey this year - Which brings us to

DECEMBER
Which started with celebrating my best friend’s Mother’s 85th birthday party and continues to this day with preparations for the station’s client party at the Esplanade on Friday, Turkey dinner in Chestermere on Saturday, lunch in Calgary on Sunday and hockey game at the Moose Sunday afternoon. Once this weekend is over, I might get a breather to prepare for Christmas Eve dinner with the boys, Ray’s parent’s, brother and family, Chris home from California, Liz and her boyfriend Joel from the Hat. The tree is up and the shopping almost done, just one last thing on my list.. get this in the mail before 2009! Merry Xmas and Happy New Year! - xo Corinne & Crew!

Who I Am

2008-12-03T11:37:00.001-07:00

All my life I have been known as somebody else. Paul's daughter. David's wife. Christopher's Mom. Will I ever be known as just Me?

Buried deep below the surface, beneath the layers of all the different people I once was and have now become, is the real me. The realization of self-discovery is a journey that sometimes has no end. It is constantly changing. With different paths ahead and destinations unknown, the decision of who you are and who you become is your choice. Circumstance may control the situation but your reaction will decipher the outcome.

As daughter of not just a school teacher but Vice-Principal, it is difficult to try to fill the shoes of the highly respected and renown man. As youngsters, my sisters and I would walk behind him every day to elementary school, trying to match the footprints of his large stride. He would break a trail in the knee-high snowdrifts for his three scarved ducklings lagging behind. Sheltered from the wind and blowing snow, we followed the echo of the muffled crunch of the crisp mantle that broke beneath his steps. In high school, his constant presence was resented. We were never allowed to be as free as our peers. Classmates were unforgiving of his status and unacccepting of us into their circle.

As wife of a career military man, it is necessary to be supportive yet flexible. The sometimes, confining role of the woman behind the man was dutifully assumed. Sea duty kept him away for lengthy duration and career courses were interspersed throughout the years to accelerate his promotions. We have moved from one end of the country to the other and have accepted the fact that home is where the Air Force sends you. The five moves have been exiting and exhilarating, yet have taken their toll. Every few years our lives are uprooted and must start from square one all over again. Shallow roots are never allowed to fully take hold. The nomadic lifestyle is inconceivable to native towns folk and temporary residents are not usually invited to fully participate in the community.

As mother of two, it is difficult to be many people rolled into one. To be a housekeeper, cook, maid, servant, chauffeur, seamstress, laundress, baker, teacher and nurse all in one day is no easy task. There are endless chores to tend to at home and away. Meanwhile the children have to be nurtured and pushed only as hard as they need to be pushed. They need to be allowed to test their wings safely before they are thrust into the world once they leave the nest.

For the past 15 years, a career has been sacrificed to be a housewife. Dreams and aspirations have been temporarily set aside. With this last move, the focus has been switched to take care of rediscovering me. Going back to school to learn a trade has not become necessary financially but also personally. It has sparked old interests and many new ones too.

As I tucked my daughter into bed last night, she said to me. “I’m sad.” It was because “I never get to hardly ever see you any more.” Our days used to be filled with building castles on sandy beaches and exploring playgrounds, flying kites, building forts, packing picnics and sightseeing. Now there is only the frenzied in-betweens, the clips of conversations in-between driving from here to there. That will soon have to cease to take time for second thoughts about priorities. I will always be Paul’s daughter, David’s wife,* but most importantly I don’t want to hear those two words again. Somebody needs me more than I need to be me. Somebody needs me, more than me. I, am Somebody’s Mother!

Corinne Bolt
English 082
October 19, 1995

(*ex wife now ha ha)

vegas baby!

2008-09-24T14:07:00.020-06:00

thursday night
flew into LA and rented a white convertible sebring and went to my son chris' place just off sunset blvd - went to dinner with his boss angelo and girlfriend janina (angelo's - not chris') and coworker andrew at a restaurant called asia de cuba with ultra modern decor - they just kept bringing us plate after plate after plate of food... stuffed!

friday morning
got a tour of where chris works, deviantArt in the hollywood plaza. went out the front doors and walked right onto hollywood blvd. We walked up and down to see the walk of stars, take pictures and even though we didn't make it to hollywood and vine (running out of time) we drove downtown and toured the data centre chris and his roomy matt are in charge of.. impressive!

friday afternoon
headed out of LA to Las Vegas - the freeway was packed (everyone else leaving LA on a friday afternoon) and drove through up the hills (elevation 4,000 ft+) and through the mohave desert with the heat reaching it's highest at 102 degrees fahrenheit (same temp as our hot tub).... the trip took almost 5 hours... good thing we had sunglasses and sunscreen for the convertible....windy!

friday night
after imputing the wrong address into the GPS (ray wants one for xmas if not sooner) and driving past the strip to freemon street rather than fremont - we left the ghetto and found our way back to the strip, checked in at the saraha and gambled the night away... winless!

saturday morning
went to harley davidson shop and checked out all the merch - then to strip to the harley davidson cafe for lunch - toured the cafe and then went back to wake chris...tired!

saturday afternoon
gambled a bit, got tickets to the mono rail, ray went for nap and chris and i booked tickets for the Steve Wyrick magic show - took monorail to planet hollywood for the show at 9... wow!

saturday night
walked the strip to video the bellagio fountain, stopped in at the flamingo to grab a drink and continue to harrahs to check out the dueling piano bar and toby keiths i love this bar and grill.... ray saw a fight (big bald guy beaned with a bottle) and chris and i watched 3 girls get hauled off stage by security... funny!

sunday morning
back to the sahara to gamble - bed at 4:30 and got up at 10, brekky and more gambling - check out of hotel. drive back to LA... slowwww!

sunday night
went to dinner with chris and roomie matt, then watched them play rockstar. to bed before midnight... beat!

monday morning
up at 6 am to fly out of LA to calgary, 4 hour layover between flight to lethbridge - which was cancelled. make that a 5 hour layover... frustrating!

monday night - drove to foremost to ray's boss to pick up new charts for work next day, visited and then got home at midnight.... wiped!

did i mention that i shopped at pretty much every place we stopped!...broke!

another nickname

2008-08-17T10:11:00.007-06:00

we found out last week that you don't need a learners licence to drive a motorcycle with another licenced rider, your class 5 licence was good enough, so friday after work, ray gave me my first lessons on his daughter chelsey's honda 750 custom. after a few tours up and down the etzikom highway, yesterday was my first solo trip. i rode her bike the mile of gravel to the paved road, and went to the number 3 highway, pulling over just before the turn off. we stopped to get more pointers, especially about me being scared to give it a little more gas from the get go. after all was said and done, i stalled out and lost balance and the bike went over and my legs were still not strong enough to reset it upright, so over it went, not completely, just on it's extra stand and engine guard, but i still was not able to set it straight, big ol ray on his 1200 lb bike had to lift the 800 lb honda back up. no damage (that's what i worry most about is damaging chelsey's bike). so off we started again, and came to the number 3. my first 90 degree left turn, after waiting for all traffic to pass, i started off, and oops, didn't lean into the corner, and instead of grabbing the break or clutch, i gave it more gas, and went straight into the ditch. ray's going turn turn TURN in his head, and all of a sudden i disappeared, down into the ditch. but you know what? i didn't panic. i just kept going. thank goodness for dirt bike riding over the past 2 summers, i just avoided obstacles (like road signs and rocks) and guided the bike back along the edge of the ditch at an angle that would take my back up to the road. i made it safely and just kept going. we filled up in bow island, rode to the burdett bar and laughed and laughed and laughed. ray had tears running down his cheeks from laughing so hard. then we stopped in at the bow island tavern on the way home, and told the story to the patrons, and they laughed and laughed. they asked what ray was thinking and ray said his heart can't take stuff like that any more. i wondered what the semi driver that had just come over the hill. probably saw it thought - stupid bitch! ray has a hat from daytona beach that just has the initials DB on the front, and we have always joke it was dumb bastard when he wore it, and dumb bitch when i did. now there is a new saying. DITCH BITCH! i don't think i will live this down for a while, but i am proud of myself for not DITCHING the bike, and held my cool the entire experience. can't wait for the next ride. will practice on cornering first!

jumpin' july

2008-07-29T20:35:00.012-06:00

all year long i have been waiting to be able to do something. I have been waiting patiently for the opportunity and it finally arrived. i was able to write a huge love note to ray on a big marshmallow bale of hay. finally it was the season, and for a short while, anyone driving down the etzikom highway would be able to see my profession. forget john deer green, forget two names on an overpass. corona loves razor in black marker on a bale. not sure if there's a country song in there some where, but i am sure if i tried hard enough, one will come to me. ray took a picture with his phone and it's now his wallpaper. i never did get an answer back on another bale of hay, but ray said - why, was it a question? lol

so much has happened since cleaning up after the storm. our friends from calgary brought their trailer to our place and after bbq and bonfire, spent the night and were gone. then it was stampede week. i decorated the station (martha stewart on speed another of my nicknames) and it was dress western week. the stampede princesses competing for the queen's crown visited the studio, so i bought dollar store tiaras and crowned christy the queen of news, karen the queen of sales, and i, the queen of google. christy had to work during the stampede parade but karen drove the station vehicle with her daughter shotgun while i walked the entire parade route, taking pictures of people i knew watching the parade. that night we went to the sawyer brown concert at the stampede grandstand and after work on friday, it was back on the bike to visit our friends 80 acres of forest near cremona.

for a change we packed lightly and added tent and 2 sleeping bags, arrived near midnight and set up the tent. on the way we passed an acreage that had a beautiful metal art sign. i missed seeing it the first time we passed, so ray turned the harley around so i could take a picture.

the weekend was spent quadding, swimming and biking, and though back home called for sun sun sun, rain was forecast for the foothills of the rockies, so the next night we pitched the tent in the old cabin. fun fun fun. we weren't planning on leaving til later, but we could hear thunder in the distance and packed quickly and we on the road, racing ahead of the storm. 20 minutes after we left, lana texted to say they had nickel sized hail. it was back to work monday but the fun was about to start again on thursday for mj's surprise 50th birthday party and camping at 40 mile lake. more on that next time. i have to get back to yard work. with my bad back, it's 1/2 hour of work and a 1 hour break. Life is good.

storm of the century

2008-07-16T19:28:00.000-06:00

no sooner had we recuperated from the dead hog boogie, our friends from calgary arrived in town and were camping in the gas city campground for the week. last week we came home to find what looked like snow on the front deck, but it was what was left of a hail storm we while in the city. tuesday, we got together at their trailer and i couldn't believe ray rode his harley since there was rain and thunderstorm in the forecast. after dinner the wind came up and we headed out to our other friends for a drink before heading home, always in the plans, but now it was for shelter. we were headed into dark clouds and lightning and no sooner had ray pulled his bike into their garage, the rain started, and the wind, and the severe thunderstorm watch turned into a warning with possible tornadoes.

We called our neighbours to find out how they were faring, and they told us of their shed blowing into our field and tall trees bent so far over their tops were touching the ground. they called us later to tell of the damage to our farm as we had to wait longer for the storm to pass through our area. we didn't get home until after midnight, and the next day say all the damage done. 1 of 5 grain bin toppled, and another tossed and crumpled in the field behind, siding ripped off the old house and shingles torn. strange how some things were left untouched while others were obliterated. no tornado. they were proclaimed 'flat line winds'. seeing the damage to the irrigation pivots, downed trees and 2,000 lb hay bales rolled like bowling balls through fences and moved from field to field on my drive to work. it was astounding. the county declared a natural disaster and thankfully uninsured will see payment for the damage. thankfully no one was hurt since friends were on the road when it hit and had to pull over in their van, one even on a bike. ray was thankful he took the bike into town after all, since the garage it WOULD have been in, was twisted, bent and broken. we were thankful we had safe haven to wait out the storm. if you have to get stranded somewhere, what better place than a basement with a fully stocked wine cellar! and as usual, there is a wonderful rainbow to enjoy after the storm.

Dead Hog Boogie

2008-07-15T14:41:00.001-06:00

Since Ray works 9 days on and 5 days off during the summer, his weekends start on wednesdays so i am usually extremely tired at work on thursdays and fridays. so it was because wednesday night we went to ralph's texas bar and steakhouse for karaoke and stayed in town, in the trailer, in the walmart parking lot. yup. there's a first. did you know that all walmarts across north america let you stay in their lots for free. Glad to know this infomation since i made a deal with ray that when we retire and travel i will pay for the campsites and he pays for the rest. sweeeeet! more money for me to shop - at walmart where else? it was a nice change having a 5 minute drive to work rather than 50.

after work thursday we moved the trailer to morgan and dee's farm where the a bike rally would be happening the next day. Ray has joined the south eastern alberta riders (SEAR) bike club in seven persons and it was their 2nd annual dead hog boogie. so we had an awesome dinner at their bar "the boar's nest" in seven persons and then spent the night in the trailer listening to the rain pour - or it could have been the pivot irrigation spraying us in the middle of the night, but either way we woke to sunny sky and drying dirt so the farm wouldn't be a pig sty for the dead hog boogie, as fitting as it might be.

friday night was night one and ray and i had to work or 2 hours selling t-shirts and raffle tickets. i looked through the tattoo artist's books and was this close to getting 3 tattoos that night, but thought it better to wait til the next day and let the man get partying. unfortunately for me, he was thrown in the drunk tank and thrown off the property so i was out of luck, that is until the new crew came in from sleeping dragon tattoo in medicine hat and ow, ow, ow, ow ow. felt like someone sawing me with a steak knife - but only for 3 minutes, thankfully it was a small tattoo and it was only 1. i will save the other two for another day. i want a little butterfly on my hip and a mouse on my ankle to cover a scar and to represent my home town in manitoba. in french, "souris" means mouse and my home town was named after the mouse river which flows through it, and the water is the colour of a field mouse, hence it's name. i would love to get corinthians 13 tattooed somewhere because it's my favourite bible verse - because my name corinne stems from corinthian, and i was born on the 13th.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
but i think i will just wear my bracelet that has it on instead... that would be super OW

Saturday there we bike games and ray didn't want anything to happen to his new bike, so i ended up pair up with a fellow from saskatchewan for 2 events, the mattress pull and the outhouse race. too much fun even though we didn't win, i will have to remember next year not to put sun tan oil on BEFORE being dragged across a dirt field with chunks of dirt flying on me from the bike wheels spinning to get the mattress going from a dead stop. and the outhouse race - we girls had to down a drink, jump into the out house - whip our pants down (don't worry, had my bathing suit underneath) and then hang on for dear life. then it was another night of dancing and no dunk tank, or drunk tank for that matter.

sunday morning we pulled out of seven persons and went to 40 mile lake to camp with ed and monika and visit with her friend wendy - and enjoy eddy's new toy. what a boat! the fun never ends with my forever fiance. ray keeps me forever young... or aging me quickly... it's hard to keep up with ray but i will try til the day i die... might just kill me trying.

okanogan over

2008-07-03T16:28:00.001-06:00

the final day in the okanogan was spent biking from one end to another. we rode to kelowna to visit my sister ,debbie and al, who live in the dolphins, a beautiful condo overlooking the canals by the lake. i was not just hot and flushed but thirsty since i only brought one bottle of water for the hour and a half drive - and after a beer (wrong choice) i felt a little better, then we turned around and went back to penticton. by the time we got there i was just exhausted. Grabbing 2 bottles of water this time (and a monkey's lunch - wrong again. ) and after another hour or so drive to osoyoos, i was shaking. heat exhaustion and dehydration. i never realized riding on a motorcyle in jeans and a t-shirt in 40 degree weather is a big no no. but i know know now - after a quick swim in the lake and lots of water, i was back to my old self and was enjoying dave and rosies great company and beautiful view from their deck. the drive home was cool, both temperature wise and view, with the lightning from a distant storm lighting the way. thank goodness we were following it rather driving into it and made it home without a drop - the only water to hit was in my belly on the drive home.

okanogan 08

2008-07-02T13:38:00.001-06:00

it's been too long since we went to penticton to visit ray's daughter lisa and grand daughter sierra - so this year - we towed the bike and dragged the boys along for 5 fun filled days in the sun. we spent the first night in sparwood and unloaded the bike the next morning and took turns driving the truck. jesse started on the back of the bike in the coolness of the morning and i drove - then derek drove while i rode, and then it was derek's turn (in shorts and a tank in the pelting rain) while jesse drove until we reached osoyoos - what a treat to ride in the mountains compared to the prairies. from there on in it was sunshine and just a goat or two in the middle of the road to keep us on our toes.

then it was my turn to ride in to penticton, through oliver and okanogan falls and talk about hot - i learned my lesson to never ride uncovered - jeans and a tank top is not protection from the dehydrating effects of the combination of sun and wind. more on that later. the first night was spent relaxing and bbq'ing and getting all caught up and organized.

day 2 ray and i went on a wine tasting tour. i googled (yes, how else does one find information) okanogan wine tours and discovered the red rooster, so off we went and saw free wine tasting along the way, so had to stop - besides, we live on township rd 84, so when i saw township 7, it was a must. after a couple of whites, a rose and a few reds, i picked up a bottle, tucked it in the saddle bags and continued to the red rooster, or so we thought til we met the manager in the parking lot and she informed us of the soaring eagle further down the road which had an amazing view. so we passed the original destination and continued on and enjoyed more wine tasting at the soaring eagle, bought two glasses to enjoy on the patio, and another bottle of red to tuck in the saddle bag.

on the way back we were supposed to have lunch at the red rooster - but being the ADD DJ that i am, 'hillside cellars' caught my eye with a beautiful patio with umbrellas and a lunch menu posted. so we stopped in and had a wonderful salad with strawberries and nuts and vinagrette dressing. ran up and down the stairs to every level to check out the HUGE stainless steel kegs of wine (no ray, you can't do a keg stand) and then found even BIGGER ones after cutting through the kitchen. after another glass of wine and another bottle of red to put in the bike (might be running out of room soon)
and THEN it was off to the red rooster - by that time, we are wine tasted out, believe it or not - and grabbed another bottle of wine, took a quick tour and pictures and were back in penticton getting ready for dinner and a performance by a couple of jazz artists with Lisa and Walter. after wine and port and good food, we were ready to find a couch and it would be sooner than later if we didn't hush during the show... lol. so we left early and went back and played poker til the wee hours of the morning.

i can sleep when i'm dead

2008-06-23T14:54:00.014-06:00

yeah - i am still quoting country songs even though i have changed jobs and work in a different format, but the saying is still true. it's been so busy since i started the new job and getting used to getting up at 6 am (okay 6:30 after hitting the snooze button 3 times) after getting up at the crack of 10 for the past 5 years is a big adjustment. And now all my errands need to be done after work rather than before, so i don't get home til around 6 and it's go, go, go.

Last weekend we camped in Bow Island and i drove back and forth to work which is no farther driving from the farm. Contruction work slows me down a bit, but once the passing lanes are done, it will be a sweet drive down highway #3. Friday nite was spent socializing with the fellow campers in centennial park, most from Taber and saturday was the poker run, supper at the bow theatre, aka blues club. We never made it back to the dance with the big pink performing, we were too comfy by the campfire, ours and the neigbours until 2 in the morning. then sunday it was into the hat to pick up ray's parents for father's day dinner at ABC restaurant in redcliff. It's really hard to sit at a buffet and not eat EVERYTHING possible, but it is possible to eat and not gain weight. i have been choosing properly and still hover around my goal weight thanks to herbal magic.

pretty much every evening last week was spent building planters for the deck at the farm. the deck extension has been finished for a while, and ray and his son brad just installed garden doors from the master bedroom. I built ALL 4 ALL by myself and they didn't turn out too bad, now just to find the time to sit back and enjoy the deck.

tuesday night rather than ride to irvine, our friends met us at the boars nest in seven persons for dinner (take note that steak night is cancelled for the next two weeks) but we had a small task before settling down for dinner. Our cat josie is on her third batch of kittens, the first going to wanda's farm, the second just went to deb's farm, minus one... just couldn't catch the skittish 'sprite'. so after 3 weeks, finally got her into the cage and dropped her off, that was monday morning... monday night - ray had to go under the house, and found 4 kittens, and they weren't josies... apparently sprite is no longer a kitten, she's a mommy now, so we loaded the little ones into the suitcase that fits on the back of the harley - and they had their first (and last) bike ride... and are now reunited with mother. and josie's latest batch is still waiting to go to monika's farm. thank goodness most of my friends are in need of mousers

by the end of the week, all i wanted to do was relax on the deck - but no dice... friday we went to the blue turtle with the gang from the lounge (seriously, greg dances like elaine from seinfeld) and saw an awesome band out of regina called skavenjah - check out their site at http://www.skavenjah.com/ and saturday after work, we took the fifth wheel to the seven person's 'here comes the sun' dance (i not only handed out the door prizes but won one as well) and after getting to bed around 4 am, ray towed the trailer back to the farm 3 hours later (with me still sleeping in it - it was kinda like trying to sleep on a train) after he was done work it was on the bike and out to the foremost rodeo and tough trucks. the bull riding may be the most dangerous but the pig race and 12 year old wild pony ride was just as precarious for the youngins. after tough trucks and mud bogging (neither chevies or ford even made it through) it was off to dinner at the golf club (they make the best nachos in south eastern alberta) and home to fall asleep on the couch trying to watch 'at the end of my leash' with christine and duckie and the gang from chat 6 & 3.

so much for studying for my bike learners permit, so much for getting housework done, so much for reading or the suduko city hall reporter harve gave me, time for relaxing later but it's more like ray will sleep when he's dead. i got more sleep this weekend than he got in the past week i'm sure.

Lovely Lounge Lizards

2008-05-30T12:59:00.007-06:00

Last friday was the big launch party at Desert Blume Golf and Country Club for the newest radio station in medicine hat where i have the honour of hosting the midday show during their 9 to 5 no repeat workday. I also have the honour of working with my old ... ok, make that dear friend (because i'm older than he is) jeff michaels who keeps us company on the drive home from 2 to 7 before the john tesh show. And then there's Greg Shannon... what can one say about greg shannon in the morning other than you'll never hit the snooze bar. you might hit your alarm clock with a crow bar - just kidding greg. i am thrilled to be privy to your wit, humour and charm, too bad your good looks are wasted on radio - did i mention he's also the program director and ergo my boss so i better butter him up while i still have a job and hope to remain so.

It's the music you know and love with superstars from the 60's, 70's and 80's (and greg shannon who thinks he's one... dang - i just can't stop myself) Christy Mitchell has your CJCY news from 6 to 11 am and stops in to harass greg on the odd occasion - but it's more like the other way around... and joe mcFarland is our news director and on the air with your local news, sports and weather from noon to 6 pm. You can listen online at http://www.loungeradio.ca and sign up to be a lounge lizard to win great prizes - like our 'love in las vegas beatles getaway'.

week one is in the bag and has had it's ups and downs includng dead air during a power outage just before breaking news was set to go on - it was during a lock down at a local high school. We even has a visit from zack warner of canadian idol fame with medicine hat band haymaker who are playing at ralph's texas bar and steak house this weekend. so it's friday afternoon just before my time to sign off the air so i better sign off here too - i have lots of errands to run before going to see the band and taking in spectrum at some point and time in the next 2 days - have a great weekend and tune in sometime to the all new CJCY 102.1 the Lounge!

manyberries acres

2008-05-30T11:40:00.007-06:00

It's always an adventure camping with Ray, and always a rush no matter what. This time it was me in the middle of starting a new job, so pulling long days and not much help in preparations, other than pack my suitcase and guitar in the 5th wheel, everything else was up to ray. after i was done work at 9pm, he picked me up and we were off to cremona...and the manyberries acres there, name aptly for all the wild berries and for the wild man who owns the 80 acres off burnt timber road, who is originally from manyberries. we arrived at 2 in the morning, and parked and hit the hay. the next morning was when we rearranged the trailer and unloaded the quad, dirt bikes and the harley - and then i heard a scream - ray forgot the key and fob to turn off the security alarm for the harley back at the farm in his overalls. I should have taken video instead of a picture since that is ray making harley noised - He was ready to drive the 5 hours back just to get it - but no sense wasting the entire day - good thing his daughter was running out to the farm to pick up the cheque for her new motorcycle - so she was willing to jump on her boyfriend's bike and meet ray half way with the key. after a quick ride to the cremona hotel and back, we settled for the night by the fire and the karaoke machine - or 'oakie doakie' as we call it out there.

I've always said things are bigger in alberta, and the bierbachs have double of everything. they built a bigger cook shack, with two beds, two gas stoves, two fridges, two picnic tables... everything is either twice as big or two of them. It's also twice as fun camping with them too. This was the first time we ever took our dog Maggie camping and she was awesome. she has to work for a living - she wasn't our waiter - but there was a bit of a wait if she didn't go straight to the out house out back when sent.

the next day we ventured to sundrie on the bike under billowy clouds and blue skies. i took pictures the entire drive there and tried to capture the mountains in the horizon - we headed north up the highway and then hung a left - and the signs directed us in the right direction - either that or called us names - oh well, i thought it was funny.

my first car

2008-05-06T21:47:00.010-06:00

you might wonder what my first car has to do with our motorcycle ride to moose jaw, but i will explain in a minute. it was a matter of choosing to turn left or right at the end of the road, so we turned right and started off with a plan of going to walsh for dinner at the trailside restaurant and then maybe spend the night at the elkwater lodge, but the trailside restaurant was closed (now only open monday to friday) so i said, how about lets go to moose jaw! Roz Church (my ex weekend news gal and now CHAT TV promotions director) was there visiting dustin dion (ex my96er, now morning guy on Moose Jaw's Country 100... our little guy is a big kid now!) so we said what the heck. it is so wonderful on the bike, i feel so close to nature. i could hear the trill of the meadowlark, see the huge red ball of fire setting in the prairie sky, smell of cool dew on freshly turned soil that reminded me of digging for worms in the garden as a kid, and jack frost nipping at your n-n-nose and t-t-toes because after the sun sets, it gets cold on a bike very fast and my chaps won't be in until friday. forget bad to the bone.. more like cold to the bone. we stopped in swift current to find a jacuzzi suite we could warm up in and gave my buddy darwin gooding (ex CJSW morning man etc) a quick call to see if he could come out to the big eye for a round, but his daughter was being baptized the next day so ray and i danced to the live band until the wee hours of the morning.

no need to set alarms for the next morning since my internal body clock is set for the crack of 10, enough time to be checked out by 11 and on our way to the jaw. dustin gave us a quick tour of his newly renovated 1912 home and then we followed him out to a farm with tons of old cars for jason blaine's video shoot! how cool was that. we met jason as they were breaking for lunch, his wife amy was there and his little brother matt (drummer) kept us entertained til the shoot began. we were going to get a picture taken with jason sitting on one of the old rusty cars but he warned us against going into the long grass, it was tick season and they had spent the last two days picking them off themselves... brad paisley's song tick was definitely going thru our heads til jasons new song (which we just added to CHAT today) began playing. can't wait to see the final product when 'My First Car' debuts on CMT and we were even asked about our first cars on camera.. and asked if we would mind if it ended up on CMT in a promo for the song - HECK NO!!!

but then we had to head back home and let them get back to work so we drove past my old place (414 Fairford Ave W) and took a picture for old time sake. ray couldn't believe how small it was, but that was back in 82 when my son was just born. we moved to dartmouth nova scotia 6 months later, but that was our first real house we lived in, but i digress, back to the bike trip, we were planning to head all the way home, but once again, it got cold, and started to rain, and me with no chaps, we decided to stay in swift current again, and aaron pritchett was playing at the pavillion, so we went to the concert, (thank you carmen) bought his last cd (new one is coming out in november) and a shirt and back to the hotel until, yes, 10 am the next day, and headed home. this tim we were able to have lunch at the trailside (missed jeff and carol though, next time we hope to be able to visit) and admired all the ranch brands on the wall (especially dimented acres golf and country club) and then headed home, only to jump in the shower, repack, and jump in the caddy to go to the aaron pritchett concert in lethbridge! lol. we picked up Roz at the end (or would it be beginning) of the etzikom highway and were chauffeured by a hot cowboy to another hotel room and met up with roz's cousin from calgary and my friend andrea from edmonton (ex power92er and now adtel extrordinaire) and then to suede for the concert. Lethbridge's own brianne urban opened the show and WOW! that young girls voice just blew me away. i hope she has another single coming out soon, she made it to #80 with her first one. we had a blast at the concert but ray and i were so tired after so many late nights, we hit the hay early and missed out on hanging with aaron at Boston Pizza (yes, AP goes to BP when he is on tour) and then even to denny's at 4 am.

but it was up and at'em at 10 am, some burger king to get us fed and then drive back to the etzikon to pick up the vehicled, drive to the hat and head to work. so it's been a whirlwind weekend and lots of good memories with ray, roz, dustin, jason and aaron and i haven't been in my own bed for 4 nights and can't wait to crash when i am done my show at midnight. as long as i don't crash ray's caddy on the drive home!

billboard top country

2008-05-02T21:04:00.001-06:00

me and my gang

2008-04-27T18:55:00.007-06:00

ha ha - love that rascal flatts tune - ray and i are slowly breaking in the new bike - it's a 2007 harley road king classic (don't forget pacific ocean blue blue) and before the snow flew, our first mini road trip was to etzikom and the wind mill museum.

today was our first trip to medicine hat. al and bob met us at the number 3 and we road in to the garage for some fries (k, i had salad) and then around town (leather and steel was closed, grr) and it was wonderful to smell all the scents of barbeques in each neighbourhood, beef, sauce and onions...mmmmm. (much better than the manure on the #3 by the 120) and then it was to walmart for milk (mustn't forget the kids' needs) and then back home again (would have stopped at the boars nest in seven persons but it was closed :( 16 and sunny and the roads are totally clear, now just for the street sweepers to get out and we will be set for the summer. next trip - lethbridge! will keep you posted :
)

we be stylin'

2008-04-23T20:50:00.030-06:00

today was the office proffesional luncheon and fashion show hosted by my 96 and chat 94.5 fm. and for a third year in a row i have modeled for lammle's western wear. There were also models from great garb and desert bloom pro shop. such a wide array of choices for attendees to choose from if they won the gift certificates... i know i definitely was going home with a few pieces of clothing i modeled. here are a few of the high lights of the show and thanks to every one for being so wonderful.

lammles models in casual, western and formal attire

desert blume and great garb gals... look at that skirt swing... and look how high!

not sure what all the hootin and hollerin was about when i wasn't on stage but i do know that it was sharon and the gang from lammle's when i was up there, so it must been the good looks and stylin clothes everyone had on eh? every year there are new faces and fashions and it's all about fun and entertainment. i have never seen jim duce blush so much when a great garb model grabbed a lammle's hat and stepped beside jim with the hat covering their faces to steal a kiss! it was all in fun... she knew agnes was in the audience!

sorry about the wonky eyes on the guys - my camera seems to do that and it makes them look like someone decked em!!!

so much fun and so little time but we sure crammed it in, along with the free food and the champagne and orange juice... well, some of us.. i was accused of having too much energy and they were worried about me falling off the catwalk. it was the ginsing from herbal magic i swear!

damsel in distress

2008-04-23T00:59:00.005-06:00

to quote Blanche Devroe, I "have always relied on the kindness of strangers." (Tennessee Williams - Streetcar Name Desire) and today was no exception - as i was rounding box spring road turn to the radio station - i hit the slush and spinned out for control. thankfully there was no on coming traffic and i ended up on the other side of the road in the ditch... and immediately called AMA. unfortunately it would be more than an hour and a half before they could get to me, and i needed to be on the air at 6. even though the flames game was not at 6 tonight and dolly would have been home in plenty of time for face off... i didn't want to risk being even later, so while on the phone, a HUGE MXT 4x4 pulled up (after passing me once - how can you miss THAT huge blue monster) and they asked if i wanted help. They had to run back to the shop and get a chain, even asked if i wanted to ride back with them, but i passed as i was in heels and would have to step out into the deep ditch (i knew i should have worn boots to work that day). so after calling dolly to tell him my predicament, by the time Justin and Lorne returned, Mike and BK were razzing me on the radio - telling everyone to wave as they went by... and sure enough.. everyone one did.. including a few co-workers leaving the media centre just after 5 o'clock. My rescuers commented that i sure knew a lot of people but it was really dolly encouraging everyone to wave and explained what just occurred on the radio. within mintues justin and lorne had me out and were on their way, and i don't know if they were even chat listeners, but it was definitely the topic for the rest of the day on the air. so thanks so much to Justin and Lorne of Black Jack Swabbing and International respectively (i think). i hope you believe in paying if forward, for for that night i helped the diabetes association in Power Point distress with less than 24 hours away from their presentation..what goes around, comes around, and i thank my two knights in shining armour for their kindness

spring break 08 - day 4

2008-04-17T19:39:00.008-06:00

jumping ahead to day 4 because i got bored with the last post - nothing like being an ADHD DJ. that and suffering from CRS (can't remember sh*t) so will start fresh and go back to day 3 later. speaking of jumping - as to the pictures - jump to that later too. tis sunday and we had a lazy day, sleeping in late and going to the lunch and tour of the time share...son of a gun - after 3 1/2 hours (they say 90 minutes, yeah right) we actually bought - not where we were staying but further down the 192 in kissimmee. so now that the day was half gone and not wanting to spend major coin on disney or seaworld and only getting a half day in... we decided to check out the major rides in old town. ray and i went on 1, the boys at least 6, big mistake... which we find out later - don't take kids on the biggest rides first... anything after will seem miniscule....sorry disney... but the bull riding, slingshot and super shot in old town and then sky coaster, drag racing and nascar simulator next door in fun town - we should have gone to disney first. but dinner was awesome at Kool Katz and we stayed til after dark and was one of the most memorable days in orlando.

spring break 08 - day 3

2008-04-04T17:39:00.013-06:00

it was up early to take in universal orlando resort. we piled in the convertible with the top down even though it was cloudy and threatened to rain. not the warmest weather they have had but certainly balmier than back home. the line up wasn't too long and with vip parking (which is only 5 bucks extra) it wasn't too long of a walk to the gates to decide, which first.... islands of adventure or universal studios.... we figured get the rides in before it rained and we could keep dry in the shelter of the shows.... wrong.... first stop was marvel superhero island and ride the Hulk - and wow what a ride... well worth the long long wait for even such a short ride - but it was double wrong for going on the biggest ride first (makes all the rest lame in comparison) and the water rides next - nothing like getting soaking wet right when it starts raining and turns colder... we shivered are way from rip saw falls and bilge rat barges in toon lagoon to jurassic park river adventure... oh wait - we were too cold to even try that one... so how about drying off on a fast ride - so it was off to the dueling dragons in the lost continent - another long wait but at least there were things to see along the way..t. many a men lost their lives battling the dragons... and many a bones were scattered along the way... lots of time to take pictures of each and every grave. the line up for sindbad was too long and as i said, looked lame compared to the other high flying rides we had already gone on... so it was off to suess landing... passing by poseidon's fury only because we were still cold and damp. it was neat to see all the big replicas of the books we used to read when we were tiny, green eggs and ham, one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish and the cat in the hat. i have oodles of pictures of jesse with all types of the hats... saved a wack of money on having to buy none...lol ...so almost dry, we proceeded to universal studios and the parade was just starting... being mardi gras for the month of march... i'll tell you the bead story later... we headed straight for the event with the shortest wait... shrek... but i am running out of time so better get back to work and finish this off tomorrow

spring break 08 - day 2

2008-04-02T23:15:00.001-06:00

one thing i like about staying in a hotel, is check out time isn't until 11 am, so it still gives me enough time to shower, hair, makeup and pack and still be able get up at the crack of 10. ray and the boys were up early and brought be breakfast in bed, and i readied myself while they exchanged rental cars. As we walked out to the parking lot - there were only two vehicles along the back, one being a convertable mustang... i jokingly called shotgun to derek who was walking over to look at the red and tan car rather than towards our blue rental, and son of a gun if it wasn't the new rental car! sweeeet! not so sweet when we tried to fit all our luggage in the itty bitty trunk! did i really need all 4 of my suitcases? of COURSE i did - well, at that moment anyways. as per usual... i over packed, so the boys had to sit with their suitcases atop them as we drove to check into the Vacation Villas on Parkway. after a long wait in line, they weren't ready for us and we would have to return after 3... so what is the first place you hit when you are in the disney triangle? - that's right - wall-mart. we got everything we needed to stock the kitchen for 5 days.. and my favourite wine was less than half the price compared to in canada - AT WALMART!!! (later we even found more varieties for $2.97. i think i could become a wino if i lived in the states.) so with food, 2 new bathing suits and sunscreen (jesse already had a sunburn just from the drive from orlando to kissimmee in the back of the convertable) - it was back to the condo - more waiting to find out - still not ready for us... ack - so we went to dinner and finally were able to check in... after waiting in line.... just warming up for the line ups to get on rides at the theme parks i guess .... so the boys headed to the pool and hottub and ray and i went for a drive down the 192 and ended up at callighan's custom bike bar to check out the bikes... and then back to the hotel and make plans for our stay on the balcony overlooking the pool, listening to the cicadas song - just like the crickets would sound like back home from our deck, but with palm trees and a tropical breeze - which was shortlived.... day 3 tomorrow :)

florida spring break - day 1

2008-04-02T08:38:00.006-06:00

nothing too thrilling on day 1, as much as i hate gett ing out of bed before the crack of 10, we were heading to the florida. i may groan at the thought of sleeping in cars and planes, rather than in my comfy king size bed, but it's my first time to florida and i was more excited to be in the car and out the door at 7 am to calgary than recuping any lost sleep. there were no screaming kids on the flight, unlike our trip to mexico last year, and the stewards, or "flight attendants" to be politically correct, on TED airlines were hilarious. It's spring break and the boys, 14 and 15 were looking forward to having fun and meeting pretty girls... we were not seated together and both boys were seated to snoring old men... lol. Our 5 hour layover in chicago was trying, since they changed our departure gate 3 times, from one, to another and then back to the original gate, but at least we weren't delayed days like fellow travelers we met. Since the flight to Orlando was overbooked, we had the opportunity to change flights to boston, spend the night in a paid for hotel and then on to florida the next day, but thankfully we chose to continue onto florida that night and enjoyed the in-flight movie, alvin and the chipmunks. Plus, the boys were seated in the midst of 8 teenage girls! talk about heaven and we hadn't even stepped foot in florida state. we learned the next day that chicago was hit with a huge storm and 300 flights were canceled, and the entire eastern seaboard had horrendous weather. Good thing we didn't switch flights, for we were safe in orlando being shuttled to the car rental agency and then tucked in the hampton inn for the rest of the night before we could check into our resort.... problem... car doors wouldn't lock... so we emptied the entire car and would exchange the next morning...after a restful nights sleep.

heart and stroke month

2008-02-21T20:49:00.011-07:00

february is heart and stroke month and every year on valentines day, boston pizza serves heart shaped pizza and donates a portion to the heart and stroke foundation plus - you can donate a dollar and write on a heart that is posted up at boston pizza. my buddy blake from our sister station, my96 was there with me as we were the celebrity servers for the lunch hour. we had a blast and there were some cute stories on the huge hearts and there were lots of cute servers - including the soon and very due destiny. so on my heart i wrote 'destiny's child' with an arrow down to her tummy and pinned it on her chest - yeah lame - but thats me - corny corinne.

a big thanks to valerie of the heart and stroke foundation of alberta, nwt and nunavut for taking the photos and helping us serve (haven't waited tables in over 20 years, but i didn't drop anything, a few close calls, but it was all good. looking forward to it next year. i say they should make clover shaped pizza for saint patricks day for 'march for dimes' how bout it?

happy valentine's day

2008-02-08T20:50:00.001-07:00

you may live in Canada

2008-02-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canucks

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Canada.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you may live in Canada.

If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Canada.

If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Canada.

If ‘Vacation’ means going anywhere south of Muncie for the weekend, you may live in Canada.

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada.

If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ in the same day and back again, you may live in Canada.

If you can drive 90 kms/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Canada.

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Canada.

If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Canada.

If the speed limit on the highway is 80km — you’re going 90 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Canada.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you may live in Canada.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Canada.

If you find 2 degrees ‘a little chilly’, you may live in Canada.

If you actually understand these jokes, you definitely live in Canada.

xmas letter

2008-01-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family

Another busy year for the Bolt/Voeller family. It was a toss up between a paragraph hand written in the card or a page typed from the computer. Then I saw a note posted on facebook and decided on a bit of both, so here goes 12 paragraphs about the 12 months of 2007

JANUARY

The year started at Ralph's Texas Bar and Steak House where Ray and I rang in the new year with friends and family. 13 year old Jesse got his tonsils out on January 5th and missed 2 weeks of school and hockey. Derek was busy studying for his learners and playing hockey. Both boys were on the same team this season; it was enjoyable since next season they would not.

FEBRUARY

February 5th Brad turned 24. We all went to dinner at Moxies and then to Ruckers for games. My first time ever. Too much fun. Even more fun was Valentines Day, a flight to Cancun and 6 days at Holiday Inn Arenas. My first time to Cancun Mexico was wonderful despite getting a major cold and chest infection, but we explored the Mayan ruins of Chichenitza and partied hearty at Coco Bongo (and our new American friends STILL want to vacation with us again)

MARCH

The boy's bantam team made it to provincials in Killam Alberta. We spent 3 days between the rink and hotel in Camrose. We volunteered for a few games, with Ray announcing and me doing the music and we had a great view from the press box. The annual Laval sisters ski trip was in Fernie instead of Banff this year. Chris and Liz were unhurt for a change and Derek fell off the chair lift mid-ride. Luckily he didn’t break anything, including his neck, though Ray wanted to.

APRIL

Easter dinner was spent at the farm with Ray's parents and his brother Larry and family. Liz won the egg-decorating contest with her pair of eggs, a girl walking her dog. (Liz has a white Chihuahua/miniature pincher cross by the name of Izzy) During Easter break, Ray's oldest, Lisa and her daughter Sierra visited from Penticton. We spent lots of time on the quad and dirt bikes and even went to the musical CATS at the arena.

MAY

Derek got his learners license and has now turned 15 and his was the first of our hot tub/pool parties. I threw a surprise party for Ray's birthday on the 26th and BBQ Bonfire and BYOB being the theme. It was also the beginning of golf season with lots of weekends on the bow island golf course with either the boys or our friends.

JUNE

This month included lots of fishing, camping and golfing. Father’s day golfing with all the kids ended up being rained out, but we still had fun. Although it was late being organized this year, I was once again the poll captain for Bow Island for the Canadian Cancer Society's door to door campaign so weekends were spent busy with that, and one weekend was spent in Lethbridge at Chelsey and Jared’s tearing down the old fence (which my husky Kiko had a paw in bringing down, he now has a home in Seven Persons with friends with his own futon in the den)

JULY

Too many events and not enough time. Ray stayed in Medicine Hat for his best friends wedding while I drove home to Souris for the strawberry tea for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. The next weekend I was broadcasting live from Craven Country Jamboree. VIP camping in Ray's new 5th wheeler with a slide out. You can see pictures here http://corona4242.blogspot.com/2007/07/crazy-craven-crew.html . Then it was camping at Writing on Stone Provincial with tubing down the Milk River to Ray's truck needing a tow home by Ray's boss.

AUGUST

August began with camping and watching the Chevelles band perform @ 40 mile park, bush camping with our friends north west of Calgary. Quading on the trails in the forest and HUGE campfires were the highlights, and Ray bonding with a bear – but that is another story in itself. Ray and I also went to the chuck wagon races for the first time. Ray creates the best memories.

SEPTEMBER

September also began with camping, this time at golden sheaf park, AKA rattlesnake for their fall festival and a friend’s birthday. Ray and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary (year - of the day we met, we celebrate it monthly as well), My parents came to visit and we then winterized the trailer and boat and put the golf clubs away. Did I mention I got a set last month for my birthday? The brand is Razor (Ray's nickname). Derek and Jesse are back to school in Bow Island and Chelsey and her boyfriend Jared are back to U of L in Lethbridge. Brad had his hip operated on and is back to work at Moduline and Lisa got a promotion at Moduline in Penticton.

OCTOBER

Boys are back in hockey and this season on two different teams. Jesse turned 14 and studied hard for his learners. We had two thanksgiving dinners at the farm this year, family on the Sunday and friends and co-workers on the Monday. My shifts have changed at work; I am now Tuesday through Friday from 6 - 11 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 6. I record my solid gold sunday show Ray also got a new dog, Maggie the golden lab, so my dog Jake (border collie/blue healer mix that also did not work out because he is a roamer) is at my house in town and oreo still has company.

NOVEMBER

Chris moved down from Sherwood Park and is all settled in my house in town. He was around for about a week before heading to California to visit and wait for his work visa papers to be approved. Liz continues to work at Staples and has been promoted to inventory control manager. Basically this month is work, hockey and getting the boys passports in order for our trip to Orlando/Daytona beach at Easter.

DECEMBER

And here we are, so far, so good. Great actually. We had my work Christmas party on Friday where not only did I win $100 as the runner up for employee of the year, but also won $500 in mall bucks, so tomorrow, it's shopping, That’s the news from here. Hope this finds you and yours happy healthy and if not wealthy, at least well fed. Bye for now, until next year, xo Corinne

ps wall hanging made by tracey schile

redneck christmas

2008-01-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

you know, just because ray grew up in southern alberta, does not make him a redneck - but it does make this manitoba girl a redneck wanna be. however that probably goes only as far as leaving my christmas lights up all year round (hey, they are white - they are deck lights the rest of the year round) but unlike the wind chimes ray got for christmas from my children, beer and beans are the last thing on my diet. i like to shop at walmart and i am definitely just the girl next door when it comes to being a redneck woman, or a redneck girl, like cruising around in ray's pick up truck, staying out all night long, yeah, i'm a redneck girl. but when it comes to calloused hands and a heart is tender... that is ray all the way.

We had a wonderful christmas but pretty quiet compared to usual. after i had accidentally discovered part of my christmas present when i was rearranging furniture a week before xmas, (a music stand hidden behind a chair in the piano room) and then ray was rather dissappointed that i guessed the next part of my present since my list of 'what i want for christmas other than my two front teeth' that i gave to my daughter, the first thing on my list was what i found so it was easy to guess the second. But that didn't stop ray from surprising me on christmas eve. My daughter Liz and her boyfriend came for dinner and we all opened our presents but there was no long box that a tripod would be in under the tree. there was a small wrapped gift and when i opened it - there were a pair of funny glasses and a note that said.

'ha ha your present is not here!! go look under the cushion in the old house living room'
there was a present with some lottery tickets and a note that said

'awwww honey it's not here hummm i wonder where it might be look in the broom closet'
in the closet was a note that said

'oo my dear you might have to look in your corona cooler'
in the cooler was a present with so fake ears that said

'ok honey are you having fun yet?? ok now put on these ears and go listen if the old deep freeze is running i love you. xoxo'
and in the freezer was my new tripod - lol

even liz and joel had fun too!

so as far as ray being a redneck, far from it, and the proof is in the pudding, because there are more are nots than are too's on this list

299 Reasons you might be a Redneck...
Thank you Jeff Foxworthy!
You think "loading the dishwasher" means getting your wife drunk.
You ever cut your grass and found a car.
You own a home that is mobile and 5 cars that aren't.
You think the stock market has a fence around it.
Your stereo speakers used to belong to the Drive-in Theater.
Your boat has not left the drive-way in 15 years.
You own a homemade fur coat.
You burn your yard rather than mow it.
Your wife has ever said, "Come move this transmission so I can take a bath."
You read the Auto Trader with a highlight pen.
The Salvation Army declines your mattress.
You've ever raked leaves in your kitchen.
Birds are attracted to your beard.
Your wife's job requires her to wear an orange vest.
You were shooting pool when any of your kids were born.
You have the local taxidermist's number on speed dial.
You've ever hit a deer with your car...deliberately.
Your school fight song was "Dueling Banjos".
You think a chain saw is a musical instrument.
You've ever given rat traps as gifts.
You clean your fingernails with a stick.
Your coffee table used to be a cable spool.
You keep a can of RAID on the kitchen table.
Your wife can climb a tree faster than your cat.
Your mother has "ammo" on her Christmas list.
Every socket in your house breaks a fire code.
You've totaled every car you've ever owned.
There are more than five McDonald's bags in your car.
The Home Shopping operator recognizes your voice.
There has ever been crime-scene tape on your bathroom door.
You've ever been kicked out of the zoo for heckling the monkeys.
The taillight covers of your car are made of red tape.
You think a subdivision is part of a math problem.
You've ever bathed with flea and tick soap.
You think "taking out the trash" means taking your in-laws to a movie.
You have every episode of Hee-Haw on tape.
You've ever been involved in a custody fight over a hunting dog.
Your considered an expert on wormbeds.
Your kids take a siphon hose to "Show and Tell."
The dog catcher calls for a backup unit when visiting your house.
You've ever bought a used cap.
Your CB antenna is a danger to low-flying planes.
You pick your teeth from a catalog.
You've ever financed a tattoo.
You've ever stolen toilet paper.
You think a hot tub is a stolen bathroom fixture.
People hear your car a long time before they see it.
The gas pedal on your car is shaped like a bare foot.
You prefer car keys to Q-tips.
You take a fishing pole into Sea World.
You think a turtleneck is key ingredient for soup.
You've ever stood in line to have your picture taken with a freak of nature.
You think the French Riviera is foreign car.
You go to a stock car race and don't need a program.
You've ever filled your deer tag on the golf course.
you have ever used lard in bed.
you own more than 3 shirts with cut off sleeves. (k, this is ray's first)
you have ever spray-painted your girlfriends name on an overpass.
your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand.
someone asks to see your ID and you show them your belt buckle.
The primary color of your car is bondo.
directions to your house include "Turn off the paved road."
your dog and your wallet are both on a chain.
you owe the taxidermist more than your annual income.
you ever lost a tooth opening a beer bottle.
Jack Daniels makes you list of most admired people.
your wife's hairdo has ever been ruined by a ceiling fan.
you see no need to stop at a rest stop 'cause you have an empty milk jug.
you consider the fifth grade you senior year.
you have a rag for a gas cap.
the dog can't watch you eat without gagging.
you have a hefty bag where the window of your car should be.
you have ever bar-b-qued Spam on the grill.
your brother-in-law is also your uncle.
Redman Chewing Tobacco sends you a Christmas card.
you bought a VCR because wrestling comes on while you're at work.
your dad walks you to school because you're in the same grade.
you view the next family reunion as a chance to meet girls.
your wife has a beer belly and you find it attractive.
your front porch collapses and kills more than five dogs.
the main course at potluck dinners is roadkill.
you mow the front yard and find a car.
your other truck is made by John Deere.
you think suspenders are a type of shirt.
going to the bathroom at night involves shoes and a flashlight.
you keep a spit cup on the ironing board.
you ever got too drunk to fish.
More than one living relative is named after a southern civil war general.
Your front porch collapses and more than six dogs are killed.
You've ever used lard in bed.
Your home has more miles on it than your car.
You think that potted meat on a saltine is an hors d'ouerve.
There is a stuffed posum anywhere in your house.
You consider a six-pack and a bug-zapper high-quality entertainment.
Fewer than half of your cars run.
Your mother doesn't remove the Marlboro from her lips before telling the State Trooper to kiss her ass.
The primary color of your car is "bondo".
You honestly think that women are turned on by animal noises and seductive tongue gestures.
You stand under the misteletoe at christmas and wait for Granny and cousin Bobby-Sue Ellen to walk by.
Your family tree doesn't have any branches.
Your hairdo has ever been ruined by a ceiling fan.
Your mother has been involved in a fistfight at a high school sports event.
You've ever barbecued Spam on the grill.
The best way to keep things cold is to leave'em in the shade.
The neighbors started a petition over your Christmas lights.
Your brother-in-law is your uncle.
You have refused to watch the Academy Awards since "Smokey and the Bandit" was
snubbed for best picture.
Your only condiment on the dining room table is the economy size bottle of ketchup.
The rear tires on your car are at least twice as wide as the front ones.
You consider "Outdoor Life" deep reading.
You prominently display a gift you bought at Graceland.
You use the term `over yonder' more than once a month.
The diploma hanging in your den contains the words "Trucking Institute".
Your mother keeps a spit cup on the ironing board.
You've ever worn a tube top to a wedding.
Your favorite christmas present, was a painting on black velvet.
You think that Dom Perignon is a mafia leader.
The most commonly heard phrase at your family reunion is "What the hell are you looking at, Shithead?"
You think that beef jerky and Moon Pies are two of the major food groups.
You think that Campho-Phenique is a miracle drug.
The first words out of your mouth every time you see friends are "Howdy!" "HEY!" or "How Y'all Doin?"
You have more than two brothers named Bubba or Junior.
Your father encourages you to quit school because Larry has an opening on the lube rack.
You think a Volvo is part of a woman's anatomy.
You think that the styrofoam cooler is the greatest invention of all time.
You've ever been too drunk to fish.
You had to remove a toothpick for wedding pictures.
You've ever used a weedeater indoors.
You have a rag for a gas cap (on a car that does run).
You consider a family reunion a good place to pick up girls.
You have to go outside to get something out of the 'fridge.
Your richest relative invites you over to his new home to help him remove the wheels and skirt.
You've ever financed a tattoo.
Your idea of a 7 course meal is a bucket of KFC and a sixpack.
You go to a tupperware party for a haircut.
You have spray painted your girlfriend's name on an overpass.
Your Junior/Senior Prom had a Daycare.
Your dog and your wallet are both on chains.
Your kids are going hungry tonight because you just had to have those Yosemite Sam mudflaps.
You owe the taxidermist more than your annual income.
You have lost at least one tooth opening a beer bottle.
Jack Daniels makes your list of "most admired people".
You won't stop at a rest area if you have an empty beer can in the car.
Your dog can't watch you eat without gagging.
You have a Hefty bag on the passenger side window of your car.
You have a very special baseball cap, just for formal occassions.
You have to scratch your sisters name out of the message: "for a good time call . .", because you feel guilty about putting it there...
Redman sends you a Christmas card.
You are still holding on to Confederate money because you think the South will rise again.
You consider pork and beans to be a gourmet food. You have to go down to the creek to take a bath.
You participate in the "who can spit tobacco the farthest contest".
You roll you hair with soup cans and wash it once a year.
You consider a three piece suit to be: a pair of overalls, a plaid flannel shirt and thermal underwear.
There is a sheet hanging in your closet and a gun rack hanging in your truck.
You think the Mountain Men in deliverance were just "Misunderstood".
You've ever made change in the offering plate.
If the fifth grade is referred to as "your senior year,"
You consider a good tan to be the back of of your neck and the left arm below the shirt sleeve...
You own at least 20 baseball hats.
You know of at least six different ways to bend the bill of a baseball hat.
You can change the oil in your truck without ducking your head.
When you run out of gas, you put gin in the gas tank!
Your biggest ambition in live is to "git thet big'ole coon. The one what hangs 'round over yonder, back'ah bubba's barn..."
Three quarters of the clothes you own have LOGOS on them.
When you leave your house, you are followed by federal agents of the Beurau of Alcohol Tobbaco and Firearms, and the only thing you worryabout is if you can loose them or not.
You bought a VCR so you could tape wrestling while you are at work.
Your dad walks you to school because you are both in the same grade.
Your wife has a beer belly and you find it attractive.
Your house doesn't have curtains, but your truck does.
You have started a petition to change the National Anthem to "Georgia on My Mind".
You call your boss "Buddy", on a regular basis.You consider your license plate personalized because your dad made it in prison.
You have been fired from a construction job because of your appearance.
You need one more hole punched in your card to get a freebie at the House of Tattoos.
You need an estimate from your barber before you get a haircut.
After making love you ask your date to roll down the window.
The biggest fashion risk you take is which plaid you'll wear to the 4-H Fair.
You have flowers planted in a bathromm appliance in your front yard.
Someone in your family says "Cum'n heer an' lookit this afore I flush it."
Your wife weighs more then your refrigerator
If going to the bathroom in the middle of the night involves putting on shoes (if you have them) a jacket and grabbing a flashlight.
When you see a sign that says "Say No To Crack," it reminds you to pull your jeans up.
You go christmas shopping for your mom, sister, and girlfriend, and you only need to buy one gift
You are still holding on to Confederate money because you think the South will rise again.
You consider pork and beans to be a gourmet food. You have to go down to the creek to take a bath.
You participate in the "who can spit tobacco the farthest contest".
You roll you hair with soup cans and wash it once a year.
You consider a three piece suit to be: a pair of overalls, a plaid flannel shirt and thermal underwear.
There is a sheet hanging in your closet and a gun rack hanging in your truck.
You can change the oil in your truck without ducking your head.
You have 5 cars that are immobile and house that is!
You gene pool doesn't have a "deep end"
"Honey? Are the lights out? Is the door locked? Is the parkingbrake set?" is what you hear right before you and your wife/girlmake love.
Your `huntin dawg' cost more than the truck you drive him around in.
You'd rather catch bass than get some (if you can't guess...)
You have a Hefty bag for a Car/Truck convertable top.
Your belt buckle weighs more than three pounds.
You think that safe sex is a padded headboard on the waterbed.
You have an Elvis Jell-o mold.
You own more cowboy boots than sneakers.
You've been to a funeral and there were more pick-ups than cars.
You have a picture of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, or Elvis over your fireplace.
You just bought an 8-track player to put in your car.
There are four or more cars up on blocks in the front yard.
The theme song at your high school prom was `Friends in Low Places'
It's Easier to spray weed killer on your lawn than mow it.
You think that John Deere Green, Ford Blue, and Primer Gray are the three of the primary colors.
You've ever climbed a water tower with a bucket of paint to defend your sister's honor.
You idea of talking during sex is "Ain't no cars coming, baby!"
Your vehicle has a two-tone paint job--primer red and primer gray.
The tobacco chewers in your family aren't just men.
Yer mom calls ya over t'help, cause she has a flat tire...on her house
The ASPCA raids yer kitchen
Ya have to check in the bottom yer shoe for change so ya can get grandma a new plug of tobacco
Foreplay consists of slipping off her saddle
Ya can't get married to yer sweetheart cause there is a law against it.
Ya celebrate groundhog day (cause ya believe in it!!)
You've been on TV more than 5 times describing the sound of a tornado.
You fish in your above-ground pool, especially if you catch something!
When a sign that says "Say No To Crack!" reminds you to pull up your jeans.
Helping your cousin, Billy-Bob, move into his new place consists of the wheels off his doublewide
Your beer can collection is considered a tourist attraction in your home town.
You know you're a redneck if you wake up with both a black eye and a hickey.
Getting a package from your post office requires a full tank of gas in the truck.
"Buck Naked Line Dancing" isn't a videotape, it's "Ladies Night" at the local bar.
Your wife wants to stop at the gas station to see if they've got the new Darrell Waltrip Budweiser wall clock.
You dated your daddy's current wife in high school.
You're moved to tears everytime you hear Dolly Parton singing "I Will Always Love You".
You've ever parked a Camero in a tree.
Exxon and Conoco have offered you royalties for your hair.
Your dad is also your favorite uncle.
The most serious loss from the earthquake was your Conway Twitty record collection (you insurance man is one too if he pays you for it).
You actually made a pyramid of cans in the pale moonlight with Alan Jackson.
You have spent more on your pickup truck than on your education.
You've ever hit a deer with your car..on purpose! "
You can tell your age by the number of rings in the bathtub.
Your mom gives you tips on how to sneak booze into sporting events.
The blue book value of your truck goes up and down depending on how much gas it has in it.
Your classes at school were cancelled because the path to the restroom was flooded.
On your job application under "SEX" you put "As often as possible".
During your senior year you and your mother had homeroom together.
You're a lite beer drinker, because you start drinking when it gets light.
On your first date you had to ask your Dad to borrow the keys to the tractor.
Your parakeet knows the phrase "Open up, Police!".
You saved lots of money on your honeymoon by going deerhunting.
In tough situations you ask yourself, "What would Curly do?".
Taking your wife on a cruise means circling the Dairy Queen.
You think the last words to the Star Spangled Banner are "Gentlemen, start your engines." or "Play Ball..."
Your child's first words are "Attention K-Mart shoppers!".
Your wife's best pair of shoes are steel-toed Red Wings.
You have a color coordinating rope that ties down your car hood.
You bring your dog to work with you.
You replace a flat tire on your truck with a tire from your house.
You've ever put a six-pack in a casket right before they closed it
Your family's No. 1 enemy is revenuers.
Your belt buckle doubles as a serving platter.
You use lava soap more than three times a day.
You wear cowboy boots with Bermuda shorts.
You have a hook in your shower to hang your hat on.
You buy your wife tube socks at the flea market.
You consider orange peels left on the coffee table as potpourri.
You grow flowers in an old commode in your front yard.
You can't take a bath because beer is iced down in your tub.
Your kitchen doubles as a bait store.
You've ever picked up a woman in a convenience store.
You throw a beer can out the truck window and your wife shoots it.
You've ever fed your date french fries in a Denny's.
Going to the laundromat means cleaning out the back of the truck.
Your family reunion features a chewing tobacco spit-off.
Your front porch collapses and more than six dogs are killed.
You think that potted meat on a saltine is an hors d'ouerve.
You stand under the mistletoe at christmas and wait for Granny and cousin Sue-Ellen to walk by.
You've ever barbecued Spam on the grill.
The best way to keep things cold is to leave'em in the shade.
The neighbors started a petition over your Christmas lights.
You prominently display a gift you bought at Graceland.
The diploma hanging in your den contains the words "Trucking Institute".
Your favorite Christmas present, was a painting on black velvet.
You had to remove a toothpick for wedding pictures.
You've ever used a weedeater indoors.
You look upon a family reunion as a chance to meet `Ms. Right'
You have to go outside to get something out of the 'fridge.
You have a very special baseball cap, just for formal occassions.
You consider pork and beans to be a gourmet food.
You have to go down to the creek to take a bath.
You participate in the "who can spit tobacco the farthest contest".
You roll you hair with soup cans and wash it once a year.
You have a picture of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, or Elvis over your fireplace.
You just bought an 8-track player to put in your car.
The theme song at your high school prom was `Friends in Low Places'
It's Easier to spray weed killer on your lawn than mow it.
You think that John Deere Green, Ford Blue, and Primer Gray are the three of the primary colors.
You idea of talking during sex is "Ain't no cars coming, baby!"
Your vehicle has a two-tone paint job--primer red and primer gray.
Foreplay consists of slipping off her saddle
Ya can't get married to yer sweetheart cause there is a law against it.
Ya celebrate groundhog day (cause ya believe in it!!)
You fish in your above-ground pool, especially if you catch something!
You come home from the garbage dump with more than you went with.

continental divide

2007-12-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

here i am with team finland, mike was going on and on about how cute the european girls were - he forgot to mention how hunky the guys were - to each their own i guess eh? we had so much fun at the continental divide on saturday night after the continental cup of curling that was all week at the arena in medicine hat. the curling club was transformed into a night club with great music and great prizes - ray and i won a 19" tv and console from parkers countrywide. of course ray had to embarrass himself to do so - but we won and had fun and that's what counts!i of course the best part is meeting new people and we met lots that night. but if one more person calls me molly shannon - i think i am going to scream - but then again, i can be a superstar when i want to. here are some more pictures of the fun night,

likea couple of crazy edmontonians cheering for team USA,

the girls from the table behind us which one was also involved in the competition - 4 couples went up and the women had to supply an article of clothing and the men had to take their shirts off, don the article of clothing and strut their stuff to "i'm too sexy" the competition was fierce, but he made 5 bucks from a table of girls from swift current and even got up on the stage so he won by applause from the audience. yes, i have pictures. no, i won't share. leave it up to your imagination. ray rocks!

kelie pickler on 'are you smarter than a 5th grader'

2007-11-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

check out this video!

American Idol alum Kellie Pickler
i just couldn't stop laughing when i saw this, bless her little heart - i wonder what her reaction would have been if the question was - ottawa is the capital of what north american country? tooo funny

happy halloween

2007-10-28T19:23:00.000-06:00

it was a busy day saturday, straight from work to the trade show and then to ralph's for the halloween bash. i felt like an idiot because i didn't dress up and everyone else did. there were so many great outfits and even listener rosie k was dressed up and was getting her picture taken with everyone in an awesome costume - she even let me get my my picture taken with her.

and thanks to everyone else who gave me permission to put their pictures on here
the blind referee and fans
-
bubbles

rubics cube and friend

colonel saunders

backward bride and groom

cute chick

pappa smurf and smurfette

not so scarey fairies

tall monster and girls

our lovely waitress

susan powter and richard simmons

- devilish angel and angelic devil

fun in foremost

2007-10-24T21:34:00.000-06:00

saturday night was a flurry of activity. after announcing my first hockey game for the bow island midget rebels first spud league game at the bow island rink, where they won 8 - 3 over the coaldale cobras (top scorers were cody schussler with 2 goals and 2 assists, and chad weatherhead with 2 goals and 1 assist)

then we rushed to the foremost legion to celebrate ray's boss' 50th birthday. dj services from etzikom kept everyone on the dance floor til the wee hours of the morning.

sunday, my do nothing day was more like a do everything day. i must have had ants in my pants or something. after cleaning the kitchen i mowed the lawn (gotta love a riding lawn mower), unloaded a trailer full of lumber for the deck addition (that's in stall mode at the moment) and then got the skill saw out and measured and cut old fence boards to crew under the deck to protect the dog from drifting snow and wind this winter, then it was into town to pick up screws (deck screws too long for that job) and pick up the new dog house. WOW - maggie's got a doggie condo - it's HUGE! why i need to build them a shelter beneath the deck is truly unessessary because there is room enough for a queen size air mattress - of which we have plenty, and even a heat lamp - one would be quite comfy -but not that i should mention cuz if i ever end up in the dog house - only thing i might have to complain about is the flees! maggie (yellow lab) and oreo (black lab) are in doggie heaven especially with 6 cats to chase as well. pepsi, cola, sprite, pepper, crush are being chased off their favourite deck but mama josie is letting the dogs know who's boss!

gobbledy goop

2007-10-09T21:39:00.000-06:00

what an awesome thanks giving weekend! i hope you had one too! the weather was absolutely beautiful. i remember a few years back we went horseback riding on xmas day and this was my first thanksgiving we went swimming. the new pool heater works great!

it was a double full house this year - sunday was spent with ray's family, 14 for turkey roast in the bbq and there we even compliments on my stuffing! after last years fiasco, i went a different route... but not intentionally - i had no poultry season so used greek seasoning instead. i swear i can cook anything with that and it tastes wonderful. on monday, my 2 kids and friends and the poor orphaned coworkers came out to the farm afer work - 14 once again for carribean ham (once again on the bbq, even the scalloped pototoes too) cuz they are a bunch of hams.

okey dokey

2007-09-27T19:09:00.000-06:00

another busy week for me. ray is quite the social director - friday night we went to the bow island roadhouse to watch a couple of bands - saturday was glow bowling at panorama lanes with friends. did you know there is a bowling alley radio station? complete with live dj, requests and birthday wishes for all across canada and the US - it was cool when they wished the girl in lane 13 in medicine hat a happy birthday!!! after us gals sandbagging the first game - the guys still beat us the second game and just as we were ready to go in for the kill, they forced us to bowl with our left hand for the final game - guess they were afraid we were going to kick their butts so better safe than sorry - i cannot bowl left handed what so ever and have never thrown so many gutter balls in my entire life - it was a blast.

sunday, friends came for dinner and few rousing games of crib (and then we golfed in bow island monday. after golf we drove straight to medicine hat to pick up my new engagement ring. ray had goldpro jewelers redesign mine to match the one i had designed for him so now we are perfectly matched peas in a pod - we celebrated with dinner at sari, a new restaurant downtown so i could check out their tempura fried veggies - yumm - and we toasted our anniversary with tropical drinks - i hung our rings on the straws to take a picture - and oops - they fell in the drinks - so much for our nice clean shiney rings - lol

it was back to work for me on tuesday night after spending the day in the yard - transplanting perennials and getting the decks ready for winter - the fun continuted right through until wednesday - after work we went to kareoke at ralph's. struggling through the bad singers was well worth the wait for the good singers because they were great. louis stappler had visiters from england who sang awesome tunes and i promised to (from left to right) jim, tom and arthur cowley and bill - to post their picture IF they called the station the next day - which they did and now have a souvenir on tape of their visit to medicine hat as well.

boy oh boy

2007-09-18T22:25:00.000-06:00

what a busy week it's been. on wednesday, I had the honour of picking up the wilkinsons for their radio and tv interviews. steve is so congenial, tyler as quiet as a mouse and amanda so likeable.

it was able to catch the last half of their show at the esplanade on the 12th and i thought amanda would fly across the stage because she reminded me of peter pan, dancing around like a sprite.

friday night, ray and i attended the end of summer party at the elkwater lake lodge and had a blast with meagan and jared weaver of burdette and all their friends. the food and staff were superb, the games a blast and the company awesome. chat listeners are the best.

sunday we golfed with the station at ross creek where i golfed my best round ever (45) the meal was great - taber corn even better and we even won some cool prizes including a sleeve of golf balls, which i promptly lost the next day when we golfed at desert bloom -

we only golfed the back 9 and boy is that ever tough. but since it was cold and windy and the course wasn't busy, we stopped on the 11th water hole and found 15 balls!!! now i won't have to worry about losing good golf balls anymore!

fun in the forest

2007-09-06T21:04:00.000-06:00

wow, i can't believe that summer is over but what a summer it has been. hope you had as great as one as i did. mine was filled with camping, camping and more camping, from 40 mile park (chevelles cabaret) to rattlesnake (troy's birthday party) writing on stone (k, not so fun when the truck breaks down and ray has to call his boss with the toyota to tow the ford) to our friends forest near cremona, (does a bear crap in the woods? no he parties with ray). THAT was the most fun of all, and it was like having your own park to yourself, with quad trails, a cookhouse and HUGE bonfires day and night (no fire ban on their side of the road) with that under our belt and out of our system, this week will be spent cleaning and winterizing the 5th wheel and getting the hockey equipment ready. the season is upon us and the next few, several - MANY months will be spent at the rink. but before that, thought i would post my latest pictures from the forest. hope you enjoy

chucks ahoy!

2007-08-26T21:51:00.000-06:00

i just saw my first chuckwagon races today at the medicine hat stampede grandstands. the 1 o’clock races with the miniature horses were absolutely adorable and at 2, the pro races began and after listening carefully to the explanation of the rules and the roles (okay i was busy asking questions and talking the entire time but eventually caught on) i was quite enthralled with the event and can’t wait until next year. here are just a few of the pictures i took.

road rant

2007-08-06T15:56:00.000-06:00

i was driving in to work for solid gold sunday yesterday from 40 mile park and just at the entrance on the formost highway, a road crew was setting up for construction - setting up on a sunday - the day before the long weekend is about to end - what??? why? - to be sure people have to go slow on their way home?? i guess it’s better than on their way TO the park when they were beginning their holiday - but of the all the roads, of all the counties, of all of alberta - who on earth thought it was absolutely neccessary, that stretch of road before 40 mile was in imminent need of repair? and not even of GOOD repair - just those stone chips that end up chipping your windshield even at the suggested speed of 80 km/hr. it made me cranky. it reminded me of the commercial from the government about improving alberta roads - don’t rip through construction zones - i don’t - but why don’t they get their employees to use their heads when it comes to repairing roads on long weekends unless ABSOLUTELY NECCESARY! and then PAYING people time and a half to work on a long weekend that is coming out of my taxes!!! how about giving them the time off and giving albertans a stress free long weekend. rant over - road rage done - thankyou ! lol