Edmonton

:: Wednesday ::

Nicole and Kenn stopped over in Calgary on their way to Vegas. We had a little dinner and played a little Wii. They gave us a new game as a house warming gift, Boom Blox. It was fun.

:: Thursday ::

After some early morning breakfast we saw Nicole and Kenn off and back to bed.

Then a quick pack and in the car with the little puppy.

He was very good. He sat or slept in his kennel the entire time, didn't complain once.

We had a fabulous dinner at Lindsay and Dan's, a nice long walk in the river valley and spent the night after a few Strongbows.

:: Friday ::

Lindsay and Dan went off to work and we slept in. We headed off to the West Edmonton Mall, mostly for something to do. There ended up being some great deals; bought a couple t-shirts from a Jacob clearance store, some essentials batteries and wrapping paper, but most importantly a bridesmaids dress for Kendra's wedding. (photo to follow).

Logan, Charlie and I checked into the hotel. We wanted to hang out there for a bit to let Charlie get comfortable. I don't think it was too much of a struggle.

Stef rolled into town at 6:30 and we picked up Jonathan and went out for dinner with Lindsay and Dan. Then back to the hotel, where Jason and Jenn were waiting.

:: Saturday ::

The wedding. Matt and Kim Royer. Logan met Matt at the Bay Sunridge when he first got his internal position here. Since he and Kim got together we have hung out with them a couple of times - including a great weekend in Canmore.

Ceremony in St. Albert.

Matt is a cop in Edmonton and he wore his Dress Uniform.

I love this photo. It is very blurry - but also very graphic. Back to the hotel for a quick beer and a sit down before the reception. This is us waiting for the van taxi we ordered. We requested it for 5:45. After it was five minutes late we called to confirm/order another. At 5:45 the next morning they called our room to tell us our cab was here. Lame.Cool Cake.They are a very fun couple and chose to enter their reception to the song "Bringing Sexy Back" It was very fun.Tyler was a groomsman. This was his entrance to "Bringing Sexy Back" First Dance - and a peek at the back of her gorgeous dress.Garder TossBouquet TossImpromptu Dance with the bride and the Groomsmen. After a great time (and an open bar) we returned to the hotel expecting the worst. It was the longest time he had ever been alone - from 5:45 to 1:30. But there were no accidents, just a pile of shredded something in his bed. But he was ready to play. He discovered that he was big enough to jump up on the beds as well as from bed to bed.

:: Sunday ::

After our 5:45 am call from the front desk we managed to sleep till ten, pack up the mess we had made of our two adjoining room and check out by noon. After breakfast at Tim Horton's the rest of the gang headed home while Stef, Logan and I went to Jonathan's.

We had a mellow afternoon (Jonathan had a big night too) and watched Knocked Up. Then the four of us drove out to Sherwood Park to visit my Auntie Alma and Uncle Paul (actually my dad's aunt and uncle). Cousin Carla and her family also joined for supper.

Jonathan got Koen all riled up. And Koen got Charlie all riled up. While Charlie was playing with Koen he made the most noise he has ever made. He made play growling noises and quiet barks - just like a regular dog.

Little Kaeleigh. The last time we saw her she was just a couple days old. It has been a while since we had seen the family. Kids grow really fast.

We had a fantastic dinner and then had to drive home. A great long weekend.

Huge success

The house warming was a huge success.

We finished the whole to do list with time to spare.
I finished all of the cooking I wanted before the first guest arrived with 20 minutes to spare.
The menu:

• Beef on a bun
• Potato Rounds (potato slices crisped with melted cheese, bacon and green onion)
• Surprise Spread
• Veggie and Dip
• Cheese Ball
• Fruit Salsa (peach, kiwi, raspberry, lime) with Homemade cinnamon tortillas
• Homegrown strawberry rhubarb tarts

There were plenty of people. This morning we were trying to count and we made it to 40 without much hesitation. So I am sure there were more.

We had a great time. And I am so proud of Charlie. There were a handful of very small kids and a couple of very playful older kids. He was very good with them. Very cautious and gentle. They loved him. So did all of the adults. There were many people that tried to sneak him out in their jackets.

And the weather co-operated. It was clear for most of the day. Long enough for Logan to cut the lawn and tidy the yard. The clouds rolled in and it rained round 3:30 for an hour. And then rolled out. We were able to be on the deck all night. I don't know what we would have done if it was raining.

All in all it was a success. I couldn't be happier.

Summer Job

Well...I work at the Home Depot. Yeah me. Let's go back and look at some of the other jobs I have had to get me through summers.

Westjet

Shoppers

Both of these jobs have lead to posts like:

Ode to Shoppers
I hate you for the pants I wear
the grumpy people's nasty stares.
I hate you for the people in need
who don't see the sign, or just don't read.
The shit that happens everyday,
"I did this wrong, I don't wanna pay".
The drumming fingers and rolling eyes,
these people and things I truly despise.
A summer job that makes me say,
I hate you in each and every way.

Ripples become waves
Because there is no one else around I had to leave a note.
To Whom It May Concern,I will require/be taking a personal/sick day tomorrow, Aug 30.I will not being coming in for my 8:30 - 5:00 shift.Stacey.

If I see another hand in the air
Today was the end of the second of four weeks of training for WestJet, and I couldn't be more frustrated. The class moves so slowly that I might kill someone - I'm actually not sure how I have not done so yet. The class style is "wait for everyone to be on the same page". There are some people out there that I am unsure how they get to work every morning

I already can tell that this one is going to be no better.

I have been hired for Kitchen and Bath, and will be trained to be a kitchen designer. Hopefully, once I don't have to rely so heavily on other people it will be better. I am not sure I can make it through this one. I will be keeping my eyes open.

House Warming Party

We have decided to have a House Warming Party.

It seems like we have had the house for a long time. But I have only been home for a month. Lots of people have their house warming parties after they have been in the place for a month. Quit bugging me.

Anyway...

Thursday, June 12th

Come and Go

w/ light supper, appetizers etc

6:30 on into the evening.

Poor pup is bald

Charlie got a hair cut.

Previously

Now he has no hair. And I picked the longest cut length they do. Logan tells me that he has to look like a dork for a little while - all dogs do when they get their hair cut.

It is certainly a reminder of how small her really is.

The shirt he is wearing says "Danger: Chick Magnet".

Charlie Shot

Chick Magnet T-shirt

Before and After :: Kitchen

Kitchen

There is more in store for the kitchen - appliances and new flooring - but for now the paint job makes a HUGE difference.

New Faucet and decor (and the indoor herb garden)

New light fixture

Before and After :: TV

TV

So this is a very lame before photo - but I didn't anticipate this change today.

We were at Ikea and decided to upgrade our entertainment unit. The previous stand was a piece from Logan's childhood desk.

New, sleek, floating.

No visible cords.

LED lighting behind the screen - supposed to be easier on the eyes. (and look cool)

Armed

This morning, in a deep sleep I heard a knock. I don't know how long it was before I realized that it was outside of my sleep filled brain. When I did I have Logan a couple hits saying "he's here". We scrambled into clothes and down the stairs to let in the ADT man.

We had a security system installed today. In my opinion this is not to protect us from stealing our meager possessions - but protect from that feeling of violation when they do. More importantly it is so I feel safe when I am at home at night alone. I am alone at night three out of seven or eight nights. To know that when I come home there is no one within hiding behind a door with a crow bar (why I have that image is beyond me) - and that while I am in my pjs watching HGTV if someone does get in, or tries to, I will be alerted and have two way communication with ADT. I think it will be good.

Although, since we have this puppy I have only been alone one night where I was aware that I was in a space three times as large as the apartment with so many vulnerable points of entry. Not going to happen again.

Rhett Butler's People

I have just finished the novel "Rhett Butler's People" the authorized novel based on 'Gone with the Wind'.  It was superb.  If you have read Gone with the Wind I highly recommend it.  It was far beyond the other authorized novel sequel Scarlet.  Which I thought was good when I read it, but is in a bit of a different writing style.  

If you have not read Gone with the Wind - do.

Before and After :: Fence

Fence

The fence is 99% complete. You can see the gate leaning to the left of the opening there. It will take a bit of muscle to attach the monster. Attach a few 1x4 caps and it is done.

All we have to do is wait for the rain to stop.

And Charlie - he is getting big.

Charlie Houdini and HO2008-1747

Our plan for little Charlie while we are away from the house has been a Pet Pen.  This is a 16' length of fence that is 2' tall and in 2' sections.  You can create a wall or a square or a circle, all designed to keep your puppy where he should be.  Well that little monkey.  He has figured out how to climb over it.  It is the cutest little thing - he looks very human like.  He did this once outside while we were building the fence.  We saw him climbing but not higher than the first rung.  Then later he was out.  Having not seen him escape we thought maybe through the bush we were using as the other side of the wall.

Today, I left for work and put him in his little circle in the kitchen with all of his accoutrement.  When Logan stopped by on his lunch to let him out - he had let himself out and was upstairs.  He had made his way to his favorite spot in our whole house, the nook at the end of our bed beside the hope chest.  Little turd.  

Our first line of defence is to remove the angles and just pen a straight line across the opening of the kitchen to the living room.  This will give him access to the whole kitchen - but may make it more difficult to climb.  We will see.

In other news.  It may seem like a long time since I have talked about my little business since the new house and new puppy.  But today I sat at City Hall for over 2 hours to get myself a Home Occupation Permit.  Glass Imagery is officially a business.  Up next - the launch of my web site!

Before and After :: Guest Bedroom

Guest Bedroom

While waiting for the cement to cure for 24 hours this morning we finished what was the little boys room.

Put the baseboards on and moved the bed back in.
The above photo is a little closer to the paint colour than the photo below.
I intend to make a duvet cover and roman blinds out of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and cream fabrics.

Today's Progress

We spent the day outside again, continuing work on the fence. We completed all of the rails...

And then started on the boards. One 6' section before supper, off to a BBQ, returned at nine and completed one 6' section and two 8' sections.
It looks really dark but it was just twilight when we wrapped things up tonight.

The BBQ we went to was great. One of the officers Logan works with. His parents run a Chinese restaurant and supplied some of the food. We had a hot pot - flash cooking lobster balls, noodles and beef, and BBQed ribs, steak and fried chicken wings. It was very good. This guy also supplied the beer. It was a great supper.

Our Yard

Today, like millions of other people, we did yard work.

Logan started working on the fence.

Logan completed all of the posts (just in time for it to rain - so we covered the fresh cement with bags).

I planted a garden. I know it doesn't look like much because I don't have the a before picture. It was over grown with weeds and grass that I dug down to the clay to get at some of the roots.

I planted cucumber, peas, carrots and strawberries (shown below). I also wanted to start a little herb garden in the bay window above the sink in the kitchen. I started that and had enough seeds left over that I planted them in the garden too.

It was pretty fun. While we were working this morning (I had a matinee today and left Logan to work alone for most of the day) I stopped raking and looked at Logan digging his hole and said "Is this what you imagined". "Pretty much."

Our current projects

All of the rooms in our house need to be painted. Even the hallway at the top of the stairs has stencil painting in the pattern of a quilt.

Our first stop, the guest bedroom. This may seem like a weird choice. Logan has never done any painting before, I have done tons. I figured that this was the best place to practice.

Before I left for Regina, on our Home Depot shopping spree, we picked up a gallon of "Oops" paint. For $9. We both thought that the paint was beige/taupe with a bit of green.

Today we painted the room. It turns out that the colour is actually green with beige. Photos will follow.

Our latest dog related project. We have been having a lot of accidents lately. I feel that some of them could have been avoided had I been able to read the body language of a dog. We decided to try a trick from Andrea and establish a bell ringing system for him to let us know when he had to go out. Now, we know that Jaxson abused the system and had it taken away. And very likely little Charlie will do the same. But in the mean time if it saves a few clean ups I think it will be worth it.

So, this afternoon we bought the bells and hung them on the back door. Before we took him out to pee we used his right paw to swat the bells and then opened the door and took him outside. We showed him twice. Later on Logan went outside to check on something and Charlie cautiously walked up to the bells and gave them a little hit. I let him outside - he investigated - he peed - we celebrated. Tonight, I got home and let him out (using the bell first). About the time I was thinking of going to bed Charlie jumped off the couch and trotted to the kitchen and rang the bells. I let him out - he did not pee. In three total bell rings he figured out how to work the system. Oh well.

Major Purchases

We have been talking about new appliances. They all came with the house - but they are original to the house. Now ten years is not that old for major appliances, however, if you ask either of my mothers they will tell you that the previous owners were not very careful with their house. There is no major damage but everything was quite dirty and ... weird. When we were first talking about appliances I thought it was more of a want. After being here a week I can tell you it is pretty near a need.

The home inspector told us that the dishwasher would go soon and that we should start saving. The fridge door makes a terrible noise when you open it. It sounds as though you have pulled the whole door off, a terrible metal on metal sound. The oven door and drawer are broken. They are in working order - but not great.

While in Regina I went appliance shopping with both Janet and my mom. Coast appliances, The Bay, Sears. I have a couple of brands that are standing out to me. At Coast appliances I discovered a great Jenn-Air fridge and looked at the matching stove. I have also been impressed by a LG and Kitchen-aid Fridge and a GE Profile Dishwasher. The research will continue.

KitchenAid Fridge
Jenn-Air Fridge
LG Fridge white only
LG Fridge

GE Profile Dishwasher - video demonstration

The other major question left is White or Stainless Steel.

Puppy :Day 9

House training has taken a few steps back. The last two days we have seen a few accidents. I shouldn't even call them accidents - he peed in the kitchen right in front of us twice. The second time Logan scared him good so hopefully he will be scared straight. Or at least think twice.

He has been sleeping in his kennel with no complaint.

A couple of firsts. Friday Jason and Auntie Shelley came over to visit. Jason and Logan were playing with Charlie and he discovered that he could run really fast. He found his wheels. Sunday night Logan and I were playing with him outside before bed. He was running from Logan to me, took a sharp turn, up the deck stairs, across the deck and leaped off the edge into the cedar bushes. To make matters worse it was dark outside and it took a bit for Logan to find him.

Today, while I was outside setting up the last pieces of our patio set he was walking calmly around the deck. All of a sudden he leaped off the front edge of the deck without a problem. He landed and then walked around the yard. I discouraged, but I have a feeling it will happen again.

And perhaps the biggest first happened moments ago. He barked. He was playing at the foot of the couch with a stuffed frog and a red ball. He was going between the two pushing them under the couch. I reached under and pulled out the wrong toy and he gave a playful bark. It was a little, quite high arf. It surprised him - and me. He instantly was trying to jump on me for comfort.

Right now he is sleeping beside the lap top with all four limbs on the number pad. What a cutey.

1st before and after :: Patio

Patio

Our empty deck.

Yesterday we set up our house warming gift from Stef, Matt, Lindsay, Dan, Tyler, Jason, Craig, Jenn, Cris and Raveigh

A patio set with a glass top table, six chairs, two ottomans, a side table and an umbrella (not seen here- still in its box in the shed).

We enjoyed the sun last night with Uncle Gord, Auntie Shelley and Jason. It was warm enough to enjoy appetizers and drinks in the sun before the wind became too much and we moved inside.

Puppy: Day 6

The puppy of last weekend is gone. He is now a wild dog running around, exploring and being a puppy. When our little puppy was Beau, he sat quietly - including the long drive from Regina to Calgary. Charlie, on the other hand, likes to run around and then under our bed in a circle as fast as he can. It snowed here last night. When I took him out to pee he was a maniac. This morning he ran full tilt up the five steps of the deck, over the couple feet of deck and then leaped through the air the ram square into the door.

He has figured out how to play with a ball and a little stuffed pig, how to get up and down the stairs (up alone, down with encouragement), is figuring out how to get up and down from the couch with a little foot stool. He is doing not bad in his kennel - he likes it when it is day time and he can choose to go in there and chew a bone - is not so keen at night. We even took him to the groomer to have a little puppy clean up - it is designed to get him used to being groomed. They gave him a bath, trimmed his nails and hair in important places - like his eyes.

He is a very good puppy. I think I am very lucky - as a first time pet owner - to have such a good pup. I wasn't totally thrilled with the idea, then I reluctantly got on board, but now I am happy to play with the little guy. He knows he is Logan's dog (he goes looking for him when only I come home), which is fine by me. He likes to cuddle and play - and only once has he left me a poopy mess...

Yesterday when we left for work we caged him in a small space in the kitchen with his kennel, toys and a puppy pad. We stupidly put the puppy pad in line with the door. When he heard me come home he started begging at the fence right on his little poop. In the time it took me to cross the deck, unlock the door and take off my shoes he had poop all over his feet and thus everywhere in his little pen. Super. Oh well. He has been really good with going to the bathroom outside when we are around. A few accidents but they have all been times when he couldn't ask to go out, our fault for playing too long without a bathroom break or leaving him alone. He is just a little puppy and I am happy with his progress and how much he seems to learn everyday.

News

Back in Calgary. Glad to be home.

Logan drove in on Friday to pick me up.

Had a good closing weekend.

Before we left town we picked up a little something.

3 months old Cockapoo puppy.

At first we called him Beau. Then we heard just how close it is to the word No.

Back to the drawing board.

Today we let him choose. We put out little papers with the different names and he picked up the one he wanted and gave it to Logan. Though there were many that made the short list; Jersey, Duke, Sergeant, Taser, there were only three little pieces of paper; Brave, Charlie, Mocha.

Charlie