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!

Maniacal May

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 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!

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!

this day in history

Farewell February

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 team will go by Just Plain Nuts once this Bolt stops 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! 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 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, squeezing 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 or a week with friends and another month of living and loving life. It's my time and I am 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

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

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

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

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

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.