October Firsts

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, the 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!

Awesome August

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.

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 to everyone for putting on the shin dig!

Jam Packed June

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 the guys 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. 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!

An Entertaining April!

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 endless male shenanigans, 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 they request me personally 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!

May Long Gone

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!