Arizona & Alberta
San Diego was followed up by a restful stay with Celine and her friends in Maricopa, Arizona (nearby Phoenix). Hot sunny days were spent around and in her pool, hiding from the sun and having cocktails in her fully equipped outdoor living room. We did manage a tour around the area and a visit to the local casino, but overall is was a lazy time in Arizona.
After 6 days it was off to join my brothers in Alberta. First was a stop in Calgary with Ivan and his kids. Jennie did a pretty good job in a carpentry competition, Cole has settled in to another summer job in the engineering industry, and Ashlee and Ryker were getting ready for school to be done for the summer. The jaguar continued to need its annual infusion of money - this time for a wheel alignment. Then Jeanne MacMillan dropped on by for and evening of dining and drinking (she was in from her new home in High River - actually was still with her sister waiting for the new home to be ready, which was ready just in time for her to move in and have the Alberta Floods have her evacuated from it... she and her dog are well so everything else is replaceable).
Onwards to Lethbridge with Carmen & Sharon and Kathryn & Jessie. I was put to work helping Carmen erect a set of sun screens to protect the lower patio from the afternoon and evening direct sun (started off slow until we figured out the instructions and then things went a whole lot faster). I went out for a round of golf with Carmen and the teachers from CCH and had my best score ever! (an average of double bogey per hole was 2 strokes better than I normally do on each hole). I headed out for Whitecourt when Carmen & Sharon left the girls and headed to Vancouver Island for a couple of weeks (mostly vacation, but a week worth of work for Carmen as well).
Then Whitecourt. First with Blair & Romona and Tylor & Morgan with rounds of cribbage, and evenings of partying, including a big birthday affair for family friend Randy. 2 weekends I headed out to Eagle River with Neil & Gayle & Abby and the circle of friends that I have made out there. The weather at the river was coolish and only the occasional sunny patch to break up the rain but we still managed to have good times around the fire. Then over to stay with Neil & Gayle and to watch Abby at her final gymnastics class (she is a strong little girl who loves the parallel bars and anything she can hang around on). Finally over to Mark & Carmen's home with Luke busy building longboards (and a fantastic job he does) for people that are now placing orders with him. It was also a time to head into Edmonton to see Alana graduate from the University of Alberta (well done!). It was finally here that I have managed to reverse the weight gain that I had been creeping up on me - so back to a more sensible eating plan and back out for my runs (well.... fast walks!).
Mom finally was notified that her court appointed status as executor for my Uncle Ed's estate and she called me to make the arrangements to help her in Alaska with that. So see next blog for my Alaska sojourn.
After 6 days it was off to join my brothers in Alberta. First was a stop in Calgary with Ivan and his kids. Jennie did a pretty good job in a carpentry competition, Cole has settled in to another summer job in the engineering industry, and Ashlee and Ryker were getting ready for school to be done for the summer. The jaguar continued to need its annual infusion of money - this time for a wheel alignment. Then Jeanne MacMillan dropped on by for and evening of dining and drinking (she was in from her new home in High River - actually was still with her sister waiting for the new home to be ready, which was ready just in time for her to move in and have the Alberta Floods have her evacuated from it... she and her dog are well so everything else is replaceable).
Onwards to Lethbridge with Carmen & Sharon and Kathryn & Jessie. I was put to work helping Carmen erect a set of sun screens to protect the lower patio from the afternoon and evening direct sun (started off slow until we figured out the instructions and then things went a whole lot faster). I went out for a round of golf with Carmen and the teachers from CCH and had my best score ever! (an average of double bogey per hole was 2 strokes better than I normally do on each hole). I headed out for Whitecourt when Carmen & Sharon left the girls and headed to Vancouver Island for a couple of weeks (mostly vacation, but a week worth of work for Carmen as well).
Then Whitecourt. First with Blair & Romona and Tylor & Morgan with rounds of cribbage, and evenings of partying, including a big birthday affair for family friend Randy. 2 weekends I headed out to Eagle River with Neil & Gayle & Abby and the circle of friends that I have made out there. The weather at the river was coolish and only the occasional sunny patch to break up the rain but we still managed to have good times around the fire. Then over to stay with Neil & Gayle and to watch Abby at her final gymnastics class (she is a strong little girl who loves the parallel bars and anything she can hang around on). Finally over to Mark & Carmen's home with Luke busy building longboards (and a fantastic job he does) for people that are now placing orders with him. It was also a time to head into Edmonton to see Alana graduate from the University of Alberta (well done!). It was finally here that I have managed to reverse the weight gain that I had been creeping up on me - so back to a more sensible eating plan and back out for my runs (well.... fast walks!).
Mom finally was notified that her court appointed status as executor for my Uncle Ed's estate and she called me to make the arrangements to help her in Alaska with that. So see next blog for my Alaska sojourn.
