Happy New Year

Have a safe and wonderful New Years. We are heading out to the "Hat" momentarily and wanted to wish all our friends and 3 readers a happy night!! Have fun. See ya next year :-)

The Day Global Warming Died.

Remember all the Y2k hype? The legend that foretold all the world's computers would shut down at the stroke of midnight January 1, 2000?

The Great Global Warming Debate feels the same to me. I have been immersed in the computer world since 1982 when my brother lost interest in his newly acquired $800 Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer. My career choice was made way back then but it took me only 16 more years to realize it. In 1999, all the hype about all these computers crashing just did not make sense. I knew the wrong date simply could not create the electronic devastation all the experts of the day were saying. And even if it could, a quick software patch would fix the problem and life would go on. And we all know it did.

I had a moment today that removed all my doubts about Global Warming being in any way man made. The planet cools and warms in cycles as it always has and there is not a thing we can do about it. Energy conservation is a great thing but pointless hysteria is not.

On to my moment - I was sitting here reading a wonderful Christmas gift, How Starbucks Saved My Life, when I heard what my brain identified as part motorcycle part chainsaw coming down the formerly quiet street. I had to go to the front window and see the face of crazy. Maybe a mishap would find this person who would go out on this skating rink on only two wheels. However, the sight that greeted me was not some rum and egg nog inspired crazy trying to accidentally entertain me. The moment I saw it, I knew that apocalyptic man made global warming does not exist.

The vehicle shot passed at a pretty good clip. I sensed a blog opportunity so I hoped the pilot of the rig would swing round again so I could photograph this vehicular anomaly. Well, he did and you can see I managed to hastily snap a photo of the object my brain first identified as a motorcycle:


When a snowmobile passes in front of your house in what is supposed to be a place where green house gases are supposedly produced with suicidal abandon, it may be a sign that while the world may cease to exist some day, Mother Nature in the form of man made global warming is not how it will happen.

Sorry, Mr. Gore. But Y3K is only 991 years away.

Vegas Makes Drudge!

Global Warming (?) Hits Vegas! We got out of there just in time. But snow would have been kind of cool to see on the strip. The Las Vegas Review Journal says that this was the biggest snow storm to hit Vegas in 30 years. I have to call Al Gore - I thought the earth was warming?


Click above to enlarge the latest example of global "warming".

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow - IN VEGAS?

During our trip to Vegas, we got to experience a whole bunch of rain. Well, apparently Mother Nature has been losing at the tables this year because she threw a wack of snow on Las Vegas today. The Bloomfields sent us some pictures. Wow! Sheila said that no one in Vegas has snow shovels, gloves or anything to really deal with the white stuff so it was quite the experience. According the the Las Vegas Review Journal, the last time Vegas saw snow was 30 December 2003. The Strip did not get any. However, the paper also adds that on 22 December 2006, the strip got "trace amounts" of the stuff. Wow - I thought the planet was supposed to be warming? What say you Al Gore?

Christmas Party

I was at the funnest Christmas Party last night. Our staff party was a blast! We have 22 people that work at the store, and ALL 22 people were there. That says something, when a crowd that size can all get together, at once, in December! I was impressed. That's what you get when you work with a great group of girls! Anyway, enough blabbing, here are some highlights....
When we walked in there was a runway of bags. We all brought 22 items, not expensive, random items and placed them in each of the bags.
at the end of the night, we got to see what the other 21 people put in our bags. It was such a collection of fun items. I love this idea! It was great, I had fun thinking of what to put in the bag, and had so much fun looking thru it after!

We got to play a Christmas Trivia game.

We had to hunt thru the store, to find a wrapped gift, then open it, then trade it 2 people to the left, then..... steal it from one another, until everyone had a turn... mean, but fun!

All the tables were equipped with crayons. so we could draw on them.

FOOD GALORE!!!!!

Secret Santa, gift exchange.....

.....all the gift stealing of the Secret Santa gifts, again, mean but fun!

Time with friends

and I learned how to make a rabbit out of a pair of gloves!!!

Awesome evening!!

Bundt Table

When we were in Vegas we had the privilege of trying the famous Bundt Cake of "Nothing Bundt Cakes" and it was really yummy. Although our table wouldn't taste good, it has a striking resemblance to a Bundt cake!

Invasion!

My cousins kid, Tyler was also driving in the snowstorm last weekend, Him and his buddy are in the military and they got their posting in Edmonton. They drove from Barrie Ont. and called me Sunday afternoon to see if he could come visit. As it turned out he called passing thru the Hat and we were still there! But we left a few hours later and caught up with them in Calgary. They came for a quick visit and the next morning were off to Edmonton. He's there for 4 years, so I'll get to see him more often now, he's 24 now, and the last time I saw him he was Maddie's age.

We saw this sign while we were driving home Sun. and thought it was fitting, so of course we snapped a pic!

Winter Buschenshank

In the summer, whenever we went to the Napa's we spent as much time out in the Buschenshank as possible, the smell of the grapes overhead, the nice breeze, it's a great place to sit in... so now it's winter and the poor Buschenshank is all covered in snow... the grapes are indoors, turning to wine and Nana and Papa wondered how to make a winter shack?? The answer was right under their noses... convert the garage!! So table and chairs joined the wine barrel, decorations went up, fireplace put in, and voila! A nice cozy, home beside home, away from home...I just got word that they had carpet put in, so now I'm waiting to hear they repainted and installed a TV!! It's a great getaway, just like the summer one. Hmmm, wonder if I could move some stuff around in my garage??

Locked In...

So as you read, Dean and I were stranded in the Hat, Maddie on the other hand was safely at home, after travelling from Banff. So... she forgot her key. Not thinking she would need it to get into our house, she didn't take it. When it came time to get the things she needed for school, she wasn't able to get in. Oh well, what can you do right? Haha, the key situation came into play again in the morning... Maddie's dad, locked the door and went to work. Maddie, got up for school, and realized... she was locked IN! Her Dad's house doesn't have a dead bolt, you need a key. So to make a long story short... Maddie was locked out of our house, and locked in her Dad's!! Lucky her she got a snow day, funny thing tho', when you stay home on purpose you're not bored, when you are locked in.... verrry boring.

Beary Christmas..

No I didn't spell Berry wrong, and it's not that kind of Beary, leave it to Nana to make the coolest tree ever! She was tired of the same old tree every year, and made her very own Bear Tree. It is adorable!! There is even an angel bear for the top!

We decorated it with home made snowflakes afterwards too. Ruby and family have a tree they decorate with handmade ornaments and this year they were making pipe cleaner ornaments. She brought them over and we were all playing around making a few, and some ended up sharing a few branches with some bears!

RED = Poor Conditions

The whole lot of us had planned to go to Medicine Hat this past weekend, but one by one every one's plans got squashed. So it ended up being just us, not even Maddie, she was heading to Banff for the annual Santa Parade. We couldn't leave til Saturday night, and we thought, well, a short visit is better than no visit... so off we went... into the FOG! We couldn't believe the sights surrounding our car?! It was like a movie set, I was waiting for someone to yell " Cut, too much fog" but that yell never came! With fog lights and crossed fingers we made it into the Hat in time for supper.. a little late but there!

We had a great visit as usual, but too short. Careful what you wish for... we TRIED to leave on Sunday afternoon, but the roads, according to the road report were RED. Poor conditions. We figured we would try and maybe the storm was going the other way. Maddie had phoned safe from Calgary to say the road from Banff was terrible it took them twice as long to get home. But we were all the way to the East... how bad could it be... haha we had our answer soon enough. At first it seemed ok, it was clear in the Hat, but as the snow built up on the windshield, and the roads got icy, then the fog was back, and when it came in low enough to shield our view again, we turned back..... so our short visit, just got longer!

Which the Napa's didn't even bat an eye, they already steaks out for everyone ready to BBQ!! The next day we waited til the roads were "Green, or at least Yellow" before we attempted again. We arrived safe and sound around dinner. Phew, not a fun ride tho.... how dare it snow in December?

KA photos

I almost forgot to post the pix of us @ KA. When we were sitting waiting for the show to start, we kept wishing we could take pictures ( little did I know about the camera mishap... but that's another story? ) when the camera crew came out and asked if he could take our picture. I jumped up YES!!! Silly me, I was going to ask him to take it with the stage in the background... I din't have to, he said" do you want the stage in the background?" and before my next request could leave my lips... he asked, "did you want me to wait for the fireball?" haha, I loved this guy!!! So we sat with a permasmile waiting for the fireball to go off behind us, and click, the master at work captured the perfect picture!! Twice!!

We also met the Coca Cola bear!! Great, Fun pics!!!

Canada Makes Drudge!

As some of you may know (my wife certainly does!), I am a little, wee bit of a newsy. My constant driving campanion is 660 News because I ALWAYS want to be up to date. Every so often something really newsworthy and interesting happens. Well, this was one on those weeks!

One of my favourite sites to visit is the famous (famous to newsies) Drudge Report. It apparently gets 25 million hits a day and breaks many new stories first even before some major networks do. It is named after Matt Drudge who became famous when he scooped every major news organization in 1998 by breaking the Clinton-Lewinsky story. Anyway, today was a special day on Drudge as Canada was literally front and centre on his page for everyone to see. Drudge has ignored the exciting drama up here in the Great White North until today... Cool! (if you are newsie, I guess)

(click above to enlarge Canada's glory!)

The Grey Cup

Things that make you go hmmm??? Maddie's school had one of the Stampeders come with the grey cup so the kids could see it up close and personal. But?? when Maddie went to take a picture of it, they wouldn't allow it because she can't use her cell phone in school? What do they think, that they are pilots and can't have the cellular interference? I just don't know sometimes. Anyway, luckily for Maddie, she has already seen a Grey cup up close, with a football player too! Here is Maddie and Roco Romano in 1999.

Safe Camera Etiquette

Now I know that the odds of someone stealing your camera when you ask them to take your picture are low, it would be really hard to make a clean get away in a crowd with 2 people chasing you, but this is a risk I would NOT take. Nobody gets to have my nikon in their hands.... well, there are some exceptions. Here are my "safe photo" tips....
1. Ask the professionals. It's hard to run off with someone's camera when you are working! The bartender that served us our drinks here, took this picture.

2. GET collateral. A girl asked us to take her picture, which I happily obliged. Then she said "I'll take your picture too".... so... I kept her camera, and handed her mine. She took the picture and we traded back! Haha, see her camera in my hand in the photo!

These 2 methods have worked well for us, getting the odd picture of both of us together in amongst the hundreds of other photos. Another "safe" method, is to have a second camera. We carry the little camera with us for that reason. Also it's easier to hold the little one up and take our own self portrait!

Hope you enjoyed my tips. Safe picture taking!