A trip down memory lane...

Two More Sleeps.

Two more sleeps and we move into a new place. Away from our first home. A little sad, but also happy. New beginnings, etc, and to be away from the b#@&% below us. Here is a little photo look back on our little place we call home.

Oct 2004. We made a trip to Calgary to go apartment hunting.

The outside of our building.

Our Front Door.

Our Kitchen. (we were told that as soon as the old green oven broke we would get a new one. I made short order of that.)

A very empty nook which is now our 'office'

A view from the corner where our TV now sits. How spacious it was before we filled it with stuff.

Nov 2004. Moving Day. 1 Uhaul, 2 sets of parents and 9 helpers.

The dads moving a couch up the stairs. I look forward to doing that again... uh... watching that again.

The beautiful night skyline of downtown Calgary. Located only a block and half away is a hill that is said to have the best view of the city. It is certainly used in enough commercial and new clips for me to believe it.

Dec 2004. Decorated for its first Christmas. Please note how empty the place is, the white couches and the grandpa made coffee table.

The first project I made for our first place. A shower curtain.

March 2005. The second project. Bedroom curtains. I was very pleased to match the colour perfectly to the bedding that we had registered for but not yet received.

Janet and Logan play darts with a nerf gun in a slowly filling apartment. You will see behind the kitchen table and chairs that started the Ikea collection. A Christmas present.

Our first wedding present. A china cabinet to match the table and chairs.

Logan says good bye to his truck in front of that same great view as above.

July 2005. Coming home after the weddintg with all the wedding gifts sure made short order of filling up the small space. But appreciated. Logan had been living with nothing in the kitchen.

Dec 2005. Our first Christmas together as a married couple. Much fuller looking than the last picture shot at this angle. I am wearing all black because I had just come home from work on Christmas Carol.

Feb 2005. Premier Ralph sent everyone some Ralph bucks and we bought ourselves a projector! 110" screen.

Aug 2006. This place saw a lot of enjoyment, entertainment and drinking. Ken and Nicole visit.

Sept 2006. More visitors. More drinks around the coffee table.
Derek, Jesse, Josh are in town for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Dec 2006. We host Christmas with the Kotlars. New couch, more decorations, now a comfortable home.

And now it looks like this.

We had some good times, but now it is time to move on. This will probably be my last blog for about a week. Tomorrow I plan to pack up everything but our toothbrushes and a few clothes, 'Cause Friday night we get the new place and will start cleaning and moving the very breakable things like the computer. Saturday is the big move. Sunday is clean the old place. And then we don't get our internet hooked up until Wed.

So until Wed - wish us luck!

The move is approaching quickly

I can't say that we have really done anything more since our bit pack on Sat. We defrosted our most amazing stand up freezer and I cleaned it up. But besides that, all of the things that go together are packed. Boxes of books or the dishes from the China cabinet or the cooking dishes. The rest either didn't fit in their appropriate box, or they don't fit into a neat little group. It really is just a mess.

Wish us luck! 3 days.

Moving is no fun.

Well, we are one week from our move. And the one thing that I have learned is that packing everything you have into boxes is no fun at all.
We spent all day yesterday packing. I think that we did a good job as the place is really starting to look cleaned out. But there is still so much that you use every day. I guess it just has to sit there until Thursday or Friday when we can pack up the pots and clothes and stuff.
My next thought goes to cleaning.

We got a huge list of things to do. I knew that we would have to clean the place - but vacuum the back of the fridge? I suppose it is not that bad really, it is just a daunting task. Something that is hanging over our heads for next weekend. To smoosh the happiness of our cool new place.
And we are loosing helpers. We had lined up friends Jen, her boyfriend Chris, Jason and Craig, and Logan, Stef and I. Well both Jen and Chris work. We will make due. We have the huge 15 seater extended cab van from Quest Theatre and Uncle Bryce is lending us his pick up truck and trailer. So as soon as we load all the stuff out of this place and down four flights of stairs it shouldn't be that bad. I think that 5 of us can handle that.

On Sunday we were eating lunch on the patio!

Today it is winter again - must have been a foot of snow!

It was a huge job to dig out my big bus from under all this snow.

**********

Oh yeah,

I forgot to mention that while we were in Canmore we saw Colin Mockery.

Just out in the mountains with his family.

We made pretty big fools out of ourselves when Chris says "that guy looks like Colin Mockery". We all look. Obviously he heard his name and looked at us looking at him. "It is Colin Mockery" and now we are all smiling at each other. It was funny - but very cool. Celebrity sighting!

Ah the mountains

One of the best parts about Calgary is how close the mountains are. It is also great when you have friends who have a family cabin in the mountains. The Haughey Brothers have a cabin in Canmore and on Friday we all decided that it would be a great idea to go out there for the weekend. So after Jen finished work on Sat Jen and her boyfriend Chris, and Logan and I drove out to Canmore to join Jason, Tyler and Craig. After hitting up the local liquor store we watched the Flames lose in overtime, then watched the movie Borat and hit the sack.

In the morning we walked downtown for brunch,

played games while it rained

and then BBQed.

We had a great time.

Happy Birthday Logan Earl!

Yesterday was Logan's 25th birthday. 25 is a big number. A quarter of a century!

He marked the day with a class to learn about Lateral Neck Restraints - a move that ranges in three stages from getting control over a subject to cutting off the blood flow to the brain so the person could potentially pass out.

Then home for supper with my sister, Auntie Shelley, Uncle Gord and me. I made a roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and grandma's pea salad. Stef brought over a cake, chocolate with caramel and skor bits with a Dream Whip frosting.

Logan is wearing the pants that I made for him. Soccer print feety pajamas.

Happy Birthday Logan!

I scanned this picture from the brochure we were given about the apartments. This is the mirror image of our apartment.

On the previous entry I had listed one web site - there is also the main page with a little more detail. Most people won't care - but I had a request.

Real Star Property Management

Rouleau Premium Apartments

Our little world just jumped up a few rungs!

We found a place. It is not one that I have mentioned before. It is next door to the Mansion and AMAZING! It is called The Rouleau and is Premium Apartments. And Premium it is. The building is owned by the same people as the Mansion (the one bedroom they showed us was on the main floor and had no balcony - so no BBQ - no good for us!). So I asked about the other buildings. They had a couple one bedrooms and were willing to show us. We opened the door and our jaws dropped!!!! The building is 18 months old so everything is brand new. The floor plan is great -

It is about 100 sq ft bigger than ours. Ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathroom, beautifully painted walls and big windows! We were already in love with the open style when he told me about the walk in closet. And then the dishwasher. And then, wait for it - the in-suite washer and dryer. That is huge! It is on the 12th floor facing south. We are high enough to see over the close by buildings and are facing the street - not some dirty back alley.

It is so secure to! You need a key pass to enter the building or use the elevator or any other room. When you are buzzed in, the guest needs to get to the elevator and press a button in 90 seconds. Your key pass will get you into the building and only onto the floor you live on. There is also a gym full of equipment and an entertainment room. This room has a pool table and 62" TV and couches. You can use the room anytime - or book it for a party!

The location is amazing to. The Bow River curves around to the east of it and then south at the next block south. We googled the location vs our current location. From here to Theatre Calgary is 2.2km - the new place - also 2.2 km. Walking to work still works!

We are so excited that I think we won't stop smiling for a week!

Check out the web site. The 1st picture in the series is what our suite looks like. I think the other pictures are just of other peoples furniture. (And we don't have a fireplace.)

The Rouleau Premium Apartments

We are having great luck! (Knock on wood)

The first place that I mentioned on the last blog turned out to be great! The location is not the best, but it certainly isn't bad - just compared to our current place that is just blocks from downtown. But it was beautiful! The kitchen was all brand new - great hardwood, new fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen. Very nice. Not huge, but big enough. And the balcony faces south, away from downtown, not a great view into the back alley- except that there are huge pine trees blocking the crappy view! So it is very private and great. See the details here.

The other place, The Mansion, we see tomorrow at 1:00pm. Still a huge contender as the location is superior.

In all of the calls I have made over the last few days I have made many appointments to view. At the last minute last night we saw that I had made another viewing. I knew nothing about it off the top of my head, and no time to look it up. So we went in blind (not an easy thing for me.) It was also great! The two are so different. The pros and cons list is so close and back and forth. If we could put them together they would be the ultimate place. See those details ... oh wait... I just clicked over to the listing so I could link it an it now says rented - I guess he didn't choose us! Oh well, that is the market here. But is was a surprise entry. I guess we are back to two.

The link to The Mansion

New place

I thank you for the support out there in blog land (and by phone). The manager is abusing her power and we know it, we have called the management company but it doesn't take away from the fact that she is crazy. If she moved we would stay in our perfect little place - but as long as she is here we don't wanna be.

We looked at two places last night. Both were a bust. We were quite excited about the one place. Great location - a block from 17th ave, two bedroom, 720 sq ft and a 250 sq ft balcony - and laundry hook-ups. But it was the worst layout ever. The master bedroom was huge! The second bedroom was more of a den - fine. But the living room barely fit the couch, coffee table and entertainment center that the current tenant had in there. And the second was just a block from us but was dirty, gross and had shag carpet, avocado green appliances and harvest gold tub, toilet and sink. Gross.

But we are quite excited about two places. We haven't seen them but have driven by, seen pictures and talked to the people. Either will work - unless their there are major surprises.

This place is on 14th St and 26th Ave, is a one bedroom with 720 sq ft. It looks very nice and the guy is nice too. He owns the condo and is renting it out - which seems really appealing.

The other is called The Mansion. It is right on the river and next to two very high end apartment buildings behind and beside. Very nice - they just called.

We have been approved by both places - I think Logan being a cop really helps the application process. So we just have to see them both - the first tonight and the second on Sat - and then make a decision!

We are moving

Well, on Saturday night we had another run in with our Resident Manager. She has a little bit of a problem abusing the power she has been given. I may or may not have written about this before, but this is not the first time. She actually informed me that it was the 6th time she has told us to be quiet. Usually what happens is: we are in our apartment doing nothing terribly loud (eg, having a couple people over, watching a movie, climbing the stairs - or not, or even sitting at our kitchen table carving a pumpkin.) She came to the door and I answered knowing full well what was about to happen. We had a small argument where she would say something and I would repeat what she said with the accent on a different word. Dumb ***** "We all have to live here." Me "Yeah, we all have to live here." Needless to say the argument went no where. The last time this happened we called the manager of the building to let him know what was happening. This time she threatened me if I was to call him again, and then threatened me with a written warning.

So we got a written warning - and a fire under our butt to move. Can't live with a crazy lady with too much power living right under you.

So we have been searching for a new apartment and have 4 viewings lined up before the end of the weekend, one tonight. Wish us luck!

Catch up

So my first week of rehearsals with Quest Theatre on The Curse of Shri children's play is complete. It started off quite a bit of work. Then we started rehearsals and the first few days have been fun. And lately I have been feeling the difference between working in an A house (the most prestigious, largest and best paying venues) and Theatre for Young Audiences (close to the opposite of the previous bracket). Never the less, it is a job, I am the stage manager and it will look great on my resume, and an interesting experience in patience and planning (and keeping my mouth shut).

As a perk (and a long story I won't go into now) I was given the very odd stat. holiday, Family Day, off. This is the second or third year for Alberta to have Family Day and the first time around for Sask. And I don't think any other province has picked up this odd three day weekend in February. On this occasion Logan and I decided to go home. Further to that long story mentioned above, I flew home on Saturday night. Logan and two friends of ours; Jen and Jason, drove with Logan on Friday after work. We had a great time. Not near long enough to see even half my list of must sees - but it was short notice and I was there for only one full day.

We had a good time at the Kotlar's for a early birthday party for Logan on Saturday night:

Above is Dad doing his drunk giggle, Stef laughing and Owein being embarrassed for the both of them.

Sunday we spent the day visiting. Stef and I went to Lisa & Curtis' and got to try out the New Nintendo Wii. Good fun.

And then Sunday night it was over to the Glass House. For much boozing and a little bit of the game Pit.

This is Jason and I after we feel off a stool...

... trying to take this picture.

Going home is always a good time! Especially when you wake up Monday morning and have to drive home with Sambuca shots still rolling in your belly!

Catch Up!

To wrap up my time on The Retreat From Moscow I will add some pictures to my blog. Here you will see Gina Moe the Stage Manager and myself.

And here Mr. Duncan Ollerenshaw - Calgary Actor, Ms. Martha Henry - First Lady of Canadian Theatre primiarily of Stratford Festival, and Mr. David Scherman - of Shaw Festival. If you Google the two latter names you are sure to see the amazing career that they have had - and I have had the opportunity to work with them. Yeah for me!

A Short Blog From Log

Wow, my first time "blogging". don't like talking about my training because it seems like it's all I ever do, and I don't want to be one of those people that other people say 'shut up about the cop thing already...'. Here goes:
I love it. The people that are in my group are great, and so are our instructors. The instructors are very level-headed and make us do very difficult tasks, but always include an explanation as to how this will help us. The majority of Police officers are great people. We are told what we can and can not do constantly, but they throw in a side note of "but if there are kids involved, do whatever you can", letting us know that we may be sued civily for our actions....but would you want to save a child's life and get sued, or let one die? It won't seem like it when you get your speeding ticket (I have lots!), but most cops really want to help. I know I have been sitting at a red light and a cop car will turn on the lights, blow through the light, then turn them off again and I thought 'fresh batch of doughnuts eh??' but now I think....I wonder if that guy has a 1 month old baby at home and is enroute to a sids death, or rape-home invasion.
I'm just lucky that I have Stacey and my family and God to keep me flying steady.

First time bloggin'....hmmmm. It was ok, but don't hold your breath.

Happy Valentine's Day

Who says red wine and pizza don't go together?

Logan and I both worked until 5 today - and then there is the drive home. Did I complain about that yet? I hate rush hour. Since we have moved here I have either walked to work - or when I was working at Westjet - was going the opposite direction of rush hour the whole way. Well, by time we make it home it is 6:00. And I had forgotten to take out the steaks we were planning on having for supper. So Logan wanted pizza. So pizza it is. Panago pizza and red wine. We were also planning on having a little fondue with the chocolate and fruit we have in the house. With both of us working early mornings it is hard to say if we will be awake enough to feel hungry for dessert before we go to bed.

Hope you all told your Valentine's you loved them!

Nothing new

There doesn't seem to be anything new to report, but I haven't written in a while so I thought that I should. Today is the first day of the last week of The Retreat from Moscow. I have also started prep on my next show The Curse of Shri - a children's show with Quest Theatre. I am the stage manager on this one and am starting to feel nervous. All the work is on my shoulders, not just assigned to me by someone else. Oh well. I have spent many hours today (and right now during the show) typing out the script. I was given a copy that has rewrites in pencil all over it. I tried to scan it in, but if you have ever tried text recognition on a scanner you will know that if you type quickly it is just as fast to retype. But it is time consuming. Good thing it is short!

Homesick

I haven't been home since the last weekend of August. This is the longest I have been away from home - correct - Regina. Even when I went to England it wasn't this long. I see my sister about once a week, and my mom I went to Vegas with in Oct and she came to Calgary for the Dixie Chicks in Nov, and my brother came for his birthday in early Dec. But I haven't seen my dad in forever! Or my grandparents. Family is so important. I especially feel that this has been a long time because we all used to get together on Sunday. Sometimes both families in one day, Church and then brunch with the Glass family and then supper with the Beatty's. And everyone in the city would be there. It is what I have come to think of as Sunday. I haven't had a Sunday supper in I don't know how long. And we are having one tomorrow. Auntie Shelley is cooking and I only have a matinee with no evening show! Yeah family dinner. It will be nice.

Proactive Defensive Driving Coarse

Now that I have gotten over feeling bad about not paying attention to the show I can tell you what I did today. I went to a Proactive Defensive Driving Coarse. Most of the people were there because they wanted to reduce their demerits. I was there because the next show I am working on is a in city tour - and I have to drive the company van.

What a waste of eight hours. Sitting in a room with delinquents talking about the cons of speeding and drinking and driving. All I really walked away with was a renewed sense of how dangerous it is to drive. Like I needed a reminder. I am living in a city of a million people that has outgrown it's current roadways long before they thought - and we had a huge dump of snow yesterday and it is like the people of Calgary have never seen it before! (it took me over twenty minutes, not in rush hour to get from home to work - I can walk there in that time) I am already afraid for my life when I'm behind the wheel.

But the long and the short of it is, I got 98% on the end of class test, got the certificate and will be able to do my next contract. As a bonus, if I get any demerits in the next 2 years this coarse will erase them - and the company paid for it!

In the middle of a show

Well, this show doesn't have a lot for me to do. When I sit back stage I sit right outside the head stage carpenter's office. This show is so slow that he is on a two week leave to go back and work for Cirque de Soleil. They have brought on someone else. He quickly realized that there is nothing to do and is sitting in the green room reading. So I thought I'd jump on the computer and check out what everyone else in the world is doing - via blogs - but feel a little bad about blogging myself. Oh well, the last show and my next show will make up for my slack performance on this show.