2009 Vacation - Places almost confirmed?

So I thought that I'd narrowed down the list of 43 places I'd like to see in 2009 due to having an Unusual Attraction - World's Largest or Roadside Giant..... BUT then I did some more research today and found more! I believe my list is up to 80+ locations. I've started a spreadsheet on this. This is gonna take longer than I thought!

2009 Travel Adventure

Well I was bored yesterday at work as AGAIN! I had nothing to do (sitting around for 8 hours looking at a screen can get tedious) when I came across the Travel Alberta website. There it listed unusual attractions. I thought, "Hey, I like the unusual!" and started looking at them. Some of the main ones are World's Largest Easter Egg in Vegreville, World's Largest Dinosaur in Drumheller..... and the list goes on.

So I thought to myself, "Self, you don't have any vacation plans this year so why don't you go see a few of these?". I looked at the list and it grew - why only go look at the popular ones? Why not see ALL that Alberta has to offer? Beside the website having "World's Largest" it also had "Roadside Giants". So after spending the afternoon looking up the locations and creating my own map in Google Maps, I have come up with 39 places I want to visit this year to get pictures of these locations!

After work, yes I left early because I couldn't stand being bored anymore, I went to the Visitor Information centre at the base of the Calgary tower and got some handouts on various locations/attractions in Alberta. On the train ride home I started looking through these and have found MORE locations I need to see to visit these Unusual Attractions! This is gonna be fun.

So I'm going to be doing research and will document my final list once I get it complete. I pulled an old Alberta Road Map out of my car and will be marking the places I want to go. Since these places are S-P-R-E-A-D-O-U-T all over Alberta, I'm gonna have to do these in groups. Some will be day trips, that way Snoopy will get used to traveling even though I doubt she'll have any problems. I want to also have a few weekend trips in there as well.

I think this is going to be a great adventure for the Snooper and I. Now just to find a cheap RV/van would make it all the better!

Let the ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Forever in My Heart

Cali
(Mojave Desert California Dream)

June 8, 1998 - November 12, 2008

Pawprints in my Heart
By Kimberly de Montbrun

My lap is too too empty, and cold
the soft resting head no longer there to warm it.
No comfort to be found, no furry body to stroke
my quiet companion gone....

My heart is broken, there are no other words
to write it - this empty ache, this space
you filled, loving always, never judging...
My friend has left, and my hands, arms, all
helpless to stop it.

Little one, fly free, where the fields are green
and filled with friends gone before. I will
carry you always, your pawprints ever beating,
running joyously to greet me whenever I call
and memory stirs in my heart...

One day...

It has been 1 day since my sweet angel Cali has gone. The hole in my heart seems to be huge and I doubt it will ever heal.

I miss the sweet angel kisses she used to give. I can still feel her little head in my head as she passed away to join others waiting for us.

Snoopy didn't sleep well either last night. We both awoke a lot and just stared at each other. She moaned a few times as I have done.

Cali's presence, essence, life is missed. I know my sweet angel is no longer suffering and I had to let her go.

I will never forget November 12 @ 10am. The day she left is etched in my soul.

Rest in Peace My Sweet Cali Girl

After a short battle with a growth on her spleen, Cali went to the rainbow bridge today.

Cali fell ill on my birthday - September 14, 2008 - Cali seemed to go down hill from there. Poor little girl had many expensive visits to the vet to find out that she had a growth on her spleen. She had a blood transfusion that gave her an extra month with me, but her poor little body could no longer hang on. Watching her waste away to nothing, stop eating and drinking was very painful.

I will miss you my dear angel.
I love you and hurt so much words can't express my feelings.

October 2, 2008

March 1999

Cali eating an Alligator - June 14, 2001

Funny Snoopy Story

Funny story from last night.....

Somehow Snoopy got into the pillowcase of my big body pillow and couldn't get out. I woke up with her wiggling in it. I tried pulling her leg to show her the way but that never helped. I had to pick up the pillow by the seam and drop her out of the pillow case. It sure was funny.

Poor Cali got woken and I'm sure she thought I was nuts! If I could have just taped it, it would have been a priceless video.

Rest in Peace Aunt Phyllis

Aunt Phyllis in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - January 25th, 2007

Aunt Phyllis died today. Mom was there and is taking it hard. I guess Phyl wanted to go to the bathroom and they had a hard time getting her on the toilet. After she got settled she died.

In less than a week of being diagnosed with acute leukemia she is gone.

It is hard to image just over a month ago she came back from driving her motorhome to Texas by herself!

Dad is flying out tomorrow on the red eye so will be looking after Paige and the house until they come home.

I was really lucky that we were able to see her and spend time with her when she came to Rod's wedding in January last year.

Cars, Cars and more cars...

Well I've been searching for a new vehicle for 2 weeks now and have finally narrowed it down. I wanted a small SUV type vehicle to replace my beloved Subaru Forrester. My car wanted to be a pole dancer, but slide into it instead. Poor thing was written off but after 9 years I think it was time to say good-bye.

So I searched on Consumer Reports and last weekend went to the car show where I was able to sit in and look at all the vehicles that interested me. Thanks to Rod for telling me about the show and suggesting I go and take a look. Saved me from driving all over the city looking at vehicles.

I narrowed my search to two vehicles - the Saturn Vue and Nissan Rogue. Today I went and test drove them both.

First was the Rogue. It is higher off the ground than my Subaru but I was able to see over the dash and front - major points for me. The seat is adjustable - both front back and up down. The vehicle I test drive was very nice, easy to see all round and quiet on the Deerfoot. I really enjoyed the drive.

Next was the Vue. It was even higher off the ground and had a larger cargo area than the Rogue. Again I was able to see over the dash and front. The test drive didn't go as well. The vehicle felt tinny and was noisy on the Deerfoot. The only good points with this vehicle were the 0% financing and the ability to use some of mom & dad's GM points.

My decision has now been made and I am going for the Nissan Rogue. Monday I need to get a hold of the insurance company to find out where my money is for my Subaru. I want to be in my new vehicle by next weekend.

I'm still torn on the colour - either orange or the blue. Let's see what comes of this week.

Pictures from the Dominican Republic

Oldest Church in the Americans

Shop at local market

Shop in Santo Domingo

Forgiveness Cross - touch it for 5 seconds and all your sins will go away.

Mom trying to get arrested.

View from Christopher Columbus' son's house

The new Mrs. Annik Henry-Rattray and Mr. David Rattray - CONGRATS!

Beautiful beach and water.

Dad having a cold one.

Mom on the stairwell.

Leaving Punta Cana

Well we are in the hotel lobby - actually in an air conditioned room where you access the internet - waiting for our bus to come and pick us up. This time I can't wait to get home. This hasn't been the most fun trip. Everyone got sick and last night it was my turn. My stomache has been sore but I haven't physically gotten sick.

For a resort that is only 3 years old, this place is horrible. I stayed at better 2 star hotels in Peru than here. If anyone wants to know if I'd recommend this place it definitely will be a big NO!

I am going to write a big comment for anyone wanting to come to this resort on the internet when I get home.

The trip to Santo Domingo was OK, but when you went into any sites - Church, Columbus' son's house, etc. - there were way too many people to really enjoy or even hear what the guide was saying. I tried to stay back to get some pictures, but then I still had to fight for a good shot then run to catch up with the group. The old city was interesting. Our guide was opinionated and there were very rough roads.

The shopping wasn't the greatest either. Here I've heard people say it was good and it sounded like an open "flea" type market. we went into 3 stores - that's all we had to choose from.

The first market was run by Chinese people with only a few Dominican items in it. The second was more of a shopping mall type where you could not haggle and the third was an expensive 'designer' jeweler type shop. Needless to say I was very disappointed.

The other day we went to the little shopping centre just outside the resort. It had plenty of shops, but they all had the exact merchandise in it. Again very disappointing. I did buy a Dominican flag for $20 as that was about the only unique item there.

The paintings are all the same, the merchandise is all the same, the food is all the same - NOT a very fun trip this time.

You would at least think they had coconut here, but on no. I came all this way, paid good money and got crappy service, horrible food and a room that smelt like poo.

I can't wait to get home, see the girls and get back to a regular routine. To be able to sleep in my own bed tonight will be heaven. No more sore hips, neck and shoulder from a hard bed.

Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana

Well today is day 3 in the Dominican and it is not like last year.

First the resort is not very impressive. Dad kept reading bad things on the internet and I told him to make his own judgements. Well we should have listened to all the internet reports.

For a resort that is 3 years old it feels and looks at least 10 years. Jacki could have done a better tile job, there are huge cracks in the walls - not very impressive.

The food is the same every day in the buffet. I'm tired of it already. Plus everything is COLD! Cold eggs, cold meat, cold everything. We were at the seafood restaurant last night and everything was again COLD.

Mom got sick the other day from the main buffet and dad last night from the Chinese. I didn't feel great from the seafood but was better today. We went to the Mexican/Dominican buffet tonight and it was the first time I've eaten hot (temperature wise) food. The fruit isn't that good either - not ripe!

I did have a good bowl of coconut sherbet and a few coconut macaroons. Other than that, nothing is good.

To get a second cup of coffee for breakfast it is like asking for someones first child - next to impossible.

The staff is rude and lazy, service for anything is horrible, the "shopping" is disgraceful - on and on it goes. The Gran Bahia is 10 times better and we'd love to switch resorts.

The beach is OK but it is very corally so you have to be careful. The only thing I've enjoyed has been snorkeling daily.

There are a lot of shit just on the coral so it is fun watching them. I've seen white/transparent fish from a few inches to a few feet, to large round blue ones that are very fast. I then saw some with long noses but very slim bodies. There are also a lot of small yellow and black stripped fish. Anyways, lots of fun.

I miss the girls but am enjoying the relaxing beach and sand. We might go off the resort shopping tomorrow as the wedding is in the afternoon.

End of Radiation and Other Problems

Well dad had his last radiation treatment yesterday. He had no problems or affects thank goodness. We can now sigh and take a deep breath. He seemed to have faired really well. I hope that this is the end of illness for him.

Mom - thankfully - has been healthy and in good spirits. She is full of piss and vinegar so that's a good sign.

My car was not towed this week so I'm hoping it gets picked up this week. If everything can be done while I'm in Punta Cana, I'd be a very happy girl.

I'm starting to worry about Cali as I think she is starting to get worse. She is drinking a lot of water again. Dad even mentioned this in the morning. This evening Cali shook her head and I heard the telltale sign of ear problems - water or sloshing when she shook. I cleaned her ears this evening and they weren't that bad. Her left ear was more watery as if she just got out of the water - neither very brown and dirty.

I have to do a 12 hour glucose test tomorrow so let's hope she is better than last weeks.

I keep having this horrible feeling that she isn't going to be here when I get back from Punta Cana. We leave this Thursday and part of me does not want to go.

Snoopy has been fine but I know she senses something is up. I also feel she is getting senile in her old age but maybe I'm reading too much into things and am paranoid on any little change.

I never realized that dealing with dogs as they got older would be sooooooo hard. I keep feeling the inevitable is going to happen at the next corner and it really frightens me. I love them too much.

Stories from Mom's Childhood

I was talking with mom on the weekend and she told me two stories I thought I better write down before they got lost.

Story #1
When mom was in school (before grade 9) she went to a one room schoolhouse. It had grades 1-8 in it. She remembers that every Christmas they would always put on a Christmas pageant. They would sing and put on plays for their parents. She said that 2 weeks before Christmas men would come and build a stage, blocking the chalkboards for the teacher. They would sing songs and then Santa came, giving each of them 1 gift and a bag of candy.

She also had a teacher who was always cold and wore a sweater. One day Aunt Judy asked this teacher if she could put on her sweater as she was cold. The teacher told her NO. Mom then said to Judy - "Go put on your sweater". At that point the teacher told mom to leave as she was expelled.

Mom ran all the way home and told Grandma what happened. Grandma drove mom back to school and had words with the teacher. She said that if anyone was cold they could put on their sweaters. Mom was back in her seat and no longer expelled. What a bad seed! :)

Story #2
Mom remembers having a dog named Collie. It was about 1 year old when it came to live with them. A neighbour had bought the dog and came for a visit. The dog latched onto mom and wouldn't leave so the neighbour said "It looks like you got yourself a dog Alice".

I guess it was a very smart dog. When Grandma was gathering the pails to go milk the cows, the dog would go and round up all the cows and bring them home. It learnt this by watching mom and the others go get the cattle when Grandma got the milk pails.

This dog was also a good watchdog. If there was no one on the farm, the dog would wait in the driveway for them to return home. One of the farm pictures has this dog standing in the driveway waiting for them to come home.

Collie lived a long life and when it got older and couldn't walk, Grandma took it to the woods and shot it. She did this one day when mom was at school because the dog was in pain.

This brought tears to mom's eyes when she told me this story. She said it was the best dog ever.

Weird Dream

I had this strange dream this morning and it got me thinking. Cali woke me up at 3:20am to go outside. We came back to bed and I tossed & turned. I did finally go back to sleep and this is where I had my very real and vivid dream.

We - Cali, Snoopy & I - were living in a basement of mom and dad's house. The house wasn't the current one, nor was it a house I've even been in or seen.

Anyways they were having renovations done when somehow the hand railing that was being taken down collapsed the whole house. It was weird as it was in slow motion and the house was falling down - one wall at a time. This did give us time to get out of the house safely though.

I had to go back into the house as I needed to get Cali's insulin and my purse so I could have my wallet. The reno guys helped me downstairs but the door to my room was closed and an eerie glow came from around it. OK here is the weird part. The door opened and you could see 2 graves and a whole bunch of satanic stuff. I didn't want to go in as none of my stuff was there. So I ran out and was climbing out of the hole which used to be the house when one of the workers grabbed me and wanted me to look at and take what he found down there. It was wrapped in his handkerchief. I helped Cali out of the hold and knocked his hand away.

The girls & I ran away trying to find mom & dad but came upon them leaving in a horse trailer and truck. I was told (by whom I don't know) that they found a place to stay and I better get out of the cold as it was going to snow.

It then turned dark real fast and started to snow. So the girls and I walked trying to find a phone to call for help.

Cali was getting disoriented because she is going blink, so I had to find a rope or something to keep the girls safe. They did have their collars on which they normally don't while in the house.

I found a rope but was about to get caught for stealing it so we ran.

I tried to use several people's phones to make a call to John & Sheila but no one would let me. Also I didn't know their phone number off the top of my head.

That is when my alarm went off and my dream ended. It did get me thinking of would I be prepared in an emergency? Would I have everything I needed? What would I need?

Scary Evening

Tonight I had the scare of my life. Cali went into hypoglycemic shock. It was very frightening and I didn't know what to do. Even though I read the symptoms and knew something was definitely wrong, dealing with it is completely different. I panicked and freaked as I didn't know what to do or how the outcome would be. It didn't help that Jacki was yelling orders when she know what to do and expected me to be able to do and handle it like her. She made me so made I felt like hitting her. I was frantic as I've never had to deal with something like this before - I've never even seen anything like it before.

Cali was drinking a lot of water and then was like she was drunk as she couldn't even sit without falling over. It was truly scary and I was paralyzed with fear.

After getting her blood sugar up by giving her corn syrup, she stared to come around. It was as if nothing happened.

Fires, peeing and childhood memories

I was chatting with dad this evening and he told me a story about his dad as he doesn't remember much about him. He does remember getting a spanking from him for burning down a lumber yard. It wasn't big and it was part of the general store. He doesn't remember much other details of this incident.

The general store was owned by his childhood buddies parents. He remembers the two of them stealing candy from the store and easting it in the woods.

This friend of his also lived above the store. It was a French family. His buddy had his own room and dad remembers his buddy used to stand on his bed and pee on the walls. Nice friends dad!

They used to go swimming and fishing in the river all the time.

Dad has a whole bunch of stories like this that I wish he would write down, but he won't. I will try to capture them as best as I possibly can.

Highs and Lows

What a day of highs and lows. I was on the internet this morning and dad & I got the lottery numbers. We didn't check the ticket. Mom saw the numbers and got excited. She didn't believe the numbers so went to the 'net herself and verified them. We got 5 out of 6 numbers! We were all excited and tried to figure out what we won. Dad said about $10 and I thought about $200. We checked the webpage and saw we won 4.75% of the pot. Here we figured we won $712,500!

Excited we called Jacki. I even made sure she was sitting down. She couldn't believe it and was going to look into it when she went to Brenda's office. We hung up the phone and had breakfast. Making all these wonderful plans was exciting. After breakfast Jacki called back. I went to have a shower and never got to talk to her. When I came up dad said not to hurray as we didn't win the huge amount we thought. Jacki had looked into it further and found out that there were 175 winning tickets that had 5/6 numbers. Our spoils shrank. So instead of winning $712,500 we won about $2,100. Divided by the four of us, that was $500 each. There goes the down payment on my condo!

We were all gloomy after that. Oh well, guess I have to go to work tomorrow now. :(

GlobalFest Fireworks Finale

I took mom and dad to the fireworks finale at Elliston Park last night. I was worried mom wouldn't be able to go, but she did great. With all the walking we did, we'll see how she fairs tomorrow.

I hope and think they had a good time. The fireworks were OK and I've seen better, but it was their first time. The only complaint was that it was just too short. A half hour does go by fast.

I was impressed by the bus transportation to and from the event. They were quick and efficient. All in all it was a good time despite the little rain we got hit with.

Mom's Surgery

Today was mom's surgery on her legs. I thought they would be home from Canmore around 5pm, so I left work early to have the dogs settled down and to help dad. Well 5pm came and went. I tried calling mom's cell but there was no answer. At around 6pm dad called saying that they weren't releasing mom but all was OK. Of course I worried.

At 7pm mom called and said they were on their way home and should be there in a couple of hours. She sounded groggy.

They finally got home at around 9pm. Mom looked horrible and reminded me so much of Grandma it was freaky. She also was this horrible grey colour. We got her into bed and I fed dad. We were all in bed by 9:30pm. It was a long day for all, but I think dad had it the worst. He had to sit around all day waiting and worrying by himself.

Jacki had called several times throughout the night so I kept her updated. I am very disappointed in my brother who never bothered to call even after I called and left him a message.

My Dad meets the INTERNET!

A funny story..... This evening, as soon as I got in the car, dad said something about wanting me to teach him to use the computer. After all his shows were watched, I took h im into the office and showed him how to use the computer and get onto the internet. He did really wll for a one finger typist. He got notes, asked questions and got excited when he knew how to do something. We got 2 bookmarks in there and found some information he was looking for.

Dad, being the loving goofball he is, even created himself a sticky note with the word GEEK on it. He stuck it onti his shirt.

So dad is now on his way to surfing the internet. Look out world (OK mostly mom!).