Here's a few pictures from my Saturday trip to the 'Festival of Trees 2009' it was quite a nice event. The first couple of pics are for my mom...copper trees.




Ok, this isn't copper....it's a monkey tree. Yep, all monkeys.
Ah, there they are the pics don't really do them justice...I took all the pictures in total manual mode. I struggled with bright lights in a semi-dark room and I guess I really need glasses cause a lot of the photos are blurry.
Very hard to see in this picture, but it is a bird of sorts. There is another photo later on that is a colour close up of just the head.
And this would be it.
The gingerbread houses were truly works of art. This one is made mostly from pretzels.
I thought this little cake was quite elegant looking. Simple, yet sophisticated.
Victorian style gingerbread house.
Mr and Mrs Claus arriving at their home in the North Pole.
Isn't this fabulous?

You don't need to put a star or angel at the top of your tree...you could put this?!
Ok, I'm a sucker for glass and polar bears.
This tree was made of metal bits and bobs. It was about 6 feet in total, this is just the top few sections.
Upside down tree. The best upside down tree I have ever seen is in Corner Brook at one of the restaurants. It made perfect sense for it to hang from the ceiling...takes up less floor space.
Close up of a beautiful wire mesh tree.

And finally...me! I'm a star. Ok, maybe only in my own world, but if you look hard you can see the reflection of my camera and a bit of my face in the star.

This was a show stopper...a tree made out of wood. Yeah, I know...wood. Aren't trees normally made from wood? The paper thin sheets were a beautiful rich walnut colour and the careful cutouts of snow flakes was subtle and artistic. I think this would be the winner for me.

Not only did they have trees, but mantles and urns and decorations abounded. I loved this floral display.
The trees are all roped off so you can't touch them and they have two 'guards' at each section. In total I would guess there were 10 sections of trees. A true winter wonderland...except indoors...no snow and it was quite warm.
I finished the last bit of wrapping and boxed everything up and addressed the boxes...then today made a stop at Canada Post. All my gifts for the family down home are headed to PEI. Phew. Finally...on time...maybe, if the post office cooperates they will arrive a little early--they should!

I have Friday off this week. Whoo hoo...I know...another Friday! One of the ladies from work is going to be my date for the day as we attend one of the largest craft shows in Edmonton. I can't wait. I didn't go last year and was disappointed...so she and I booked the day off about a month ago and have plans to spend the day wandering the aisles and fighting the crowd at the craft show. Should be fun. I miss going to the Three Oaks craft fair.

Have a great week everyone.

At around 5am I woke up this morning and made my way out to the couch. I turned on the tv and tried to fall back asleep. It didn't work. Just before 6am I heard what sounded like a knock at the door. That seemed strange but I was awake so went to investigate. I quietly got up and tip-toed to the door a few feet from the door I tripped over some object that I had left on the floor (I don't know what it was and really there is a lot of stuff on the floor) and made a loud crashing noise. The knock did not come again and by the time I got to the door I could see my next door neighbour walking down the stairs. No idea what it was about.

I had the day off so I could run a few errands and take the truck in for a check up. I dropped the truck off and walked home. I was less than a block from the house when I happened to jay-walk and saw a kid walking into a house and for a brief second wondered if he was going in to 'score'. I shook my head and wondered where that thought had come from and then tip toed my way over some ice on the street. To my right I heard a vehicle coming and looked to see how far/fast/etc. I saw a big truck closing fast. He pulled up behind me and jumped out. I heard him shout "Police. Turn the vehicle off and step out." I didn't break my stride and I certainly did not look back or up until I was a few houses away. The vehicle the kid had gotten out of was the one in question and I could see the badge hanging around the plain clothes cop. A bust almost in front of my apartment. Hmmm. With the truck being broken into a few weeks ago and now this I am starting to question my choice of neighbourhood.

Work is super close (but not as close as it could be--or I would be next door and able to walk!), all the amenities I need are close by and the neighbourhood has never bothered me or frightened me and the rent is reasonable...I dunno. I may not look for a new place. The devil you know kind of thing.

Sleep....I remember how lovely it is...I wish I knew where to find it. I wish these episodes were fewer and farther between then they are unfortunately they are not and on a regular basis I find myself awake at all hours. The only advice I ever get from Dr's is to create a routine and only use the bed for sleeping. I think that is a bit of a joke. I go to bed I just can't sleep so it doesn't get used properly and I'm not one to do anything in bed but sleep...why else would I be there?

A long time friend suffered a loss in his family last night. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. I am selfish enough to admit I hope it is MANY years before I go through a similar loss.

Random thinks at 2:39am
Facebook is an interesting website. It can help you connect with friends near and far, old and new and I think it can also start you down the path to destroying friendships. You can on Facebook for those of you not familiar with the site post a daily (or hourly or however often you want to update it) status. Unless you have certain people blocked all of your friends can read your status. It is outthere for the world to see and interpret. I try to keep my messages light and fluffy...and not hide messages to certain people in it. According to a website I frequest not everyone does the same and there have been firings and lots of friendships ended because of this 'social networking tool'.

The office environment is better...but not yet great. I am desperately trying to get a couple of managers to stop and take lunch breaks but it doesn't seem to be happening. I want them to set the example to the employees. I think people are more productive if they take lunch. It gives the mind a few minutes away from the tasks at hand and allows the mind to rest. Plus a does of vitamins, protein and carbs mid-day never hurt anyone. It does a body good. It does morale good and it sets a good example. The employees know there are a few of us working extra hours, day/nigiht/weekend I like to think that showing the softer side by having lunch and getting to know them is important in the overall health of the office.

The snow that arrived on the weekend is still here. The temps have been hovering around 0 all week and perhaps it is time people admit that fall/winter is here. It is late November in Canada and snow is not an unexpected event...at least in my thinking. I'm not saying I enjoy the non-plowing of the roads that happens here and the accumulation of snow on the streets and in the parking lot but it is a reality...and I'm all about reality.

Under the heading of Murphy's Law

I normally buy my groceries at Safeway. I have noticed from the few times that I venture to other grocery stores a major discrepancy in prices. One must be very vigilant to keep track of all the prices and who offers the best deals...a little too much if you ask me.

I was out on Saturday and needed to pick up a few items at the grocery store but instead of heading to Safeway I decided Walmart was a better choice. I needed a couple of non-grocery items and I like to wander the aisles at Walmart. What I found in the grocery section didn't surproise me, they have great prices on most of their food but here are a few examples.

Tuna Helper--$1.67 (no-name tuna helper is $1.00---but I don't recommend it)
frozen dinners (I can't remember the brand and I'm too lazy to walk to the freezer) $2.97

At Safeway those two items are:
Tuna Helper $3.99
frozen dinners $3.97

And at Sobey's the Tuna Helper comes in at $2.99.

I don't hit Walmart often--too easy to spend WAY too much money--so I loaded up the cart with frozen dinners and tuna helper. Then today I happened to stop at Safeway to pick up some fruit and low and behold my frozen dinners are on sale 3 for $8 and the tuna helper was on sale as well.

I wouldn't normally pick a couple of different stores to do my shopping in...oh wait, actually I do. Fruit and Veggies at the new Asian supermarket and the rest at Safeway, but given the MAJOR difference in costs I may start shopping at Walmart...on a regular basis I think it would be cheaper....but then that involves a lot of math.

The weekend flew by as per normal. Maybe next move I should head to a country that only works 4 days a week...if anyone can help me out with the destination I'd appreciate it.

What I did accomplish this weekend is some cooking. I made a madra curry chicken and my usual butter chicken and then some large muffin sized meatloaf. At this point I have enough lunches in the freezer to last until Christmas. Now if someone would stop by the house every evening around 6pm and cook me supper I'd be a happy camper. Oh, and do the dishes. I did dishes about 6 times this weekend....good thing I at least have something to show for it.

This week at work is going to be BUSY. I'm doing my regular duties AND payroll. And we got the keys to our new office on Friday so this week will be busy with meeting contractors and getting everything in place for the move. So much to think about and get lined up. I may try and take Friday off...hmmm....or Monday next week...hmmmm. Wonder if I can swing that?

A long weekend that is a normal workday would go along way to making me feel rested. I can't tell you everything I did this weekend...Christmas is coming and so is secret time. LOL And speaking of Christmas...here's some trees from Christmas past.

The pink trees of Paris.



The tulips that marked my Christmas day in London--2005


Tree from Christmas 2006 that arrived via Canada Post.




He isn't a tree, but he did visit recently. Christmas 2007.


Another from Christmas 2007.


My Ikea tree, Christmas 2008.



My fun tree Christmas 2008.

I view a number of websites on a regular basis...which is to say I am addicted to the internet. I can surf aimlessly for hours. As each new thought pops into my head I am off to google.ca I love it. One one of the sites I visit on a regular basis was the following link:

LINK

The website I found the link on is for lost cameras and re-uniting them with their owners. The story above may not seem overly but I like how at the end of the comments section there guy writes in and I like the story.

North and South collide.

Ok, that is a huge exaggeration. But I am headed for supper tonight with another Northern friend. Yeah! That's 2 in a month. I was thrilled that MA could squeeze me into her schedule a few weeks ago and a Sunday brunch turned into a day of shopping! It is always nice to see a dear friend.
Tonight it is a neighbour from the North--literally from down the hall of my last apartment. We met in an odd way...and became friends.

One evening coming back from a movie I was walking with about 3 men. I didn't know them, they didn't know me we just happened to be all walking back to the 8 storey. The movie theatre and 8-storey are connected in one of the largest complex's in Iqaluit. As we continued down the hall together a bit of nervous laughter erupted from the group. As we all boarded the elevator I asked "Did everyone enjoy the movie?" We all laughed and started to chat--as one does in an elevator. One gentleman got off on my floor and we said good night and he went down the hall to his apartment. The next day we happened to run into each other again in the elevator and started chatting (I'm a great one for elevator conversation!). He had moved from Cambridge Bay. Turns out he was the friend one of my old work pals wanted me to meet and show around town. So we became friends because of and in spite of our background connection.

Anyway, he is in town tonight and taking me out for supper. YEAH! I love supper out. And I love catching up with friends.

A bit of relief in my very busy week.

And now more photos from my escape last weekend....

This is the distance from the top of the mountain to Rome...where I hope to be in March.
Taken from the top of the gondola ride. Notice at the bottom of the picture is the ledge to the viewing platform a sort of jumping off spot to fall down the mountain or at least that is what it looks like to me.

Hard to see in this picture but just below the stairs are some mountain sheep.
Here is a blurry close up of them.
Patriotic sheep taken from inside the restaurant.
I was trying to use the camera completely on my own--no automatic settings. Some of the photos came out great, some not so good....this would be a GREAT shot if the colour was right. The exposure was off and my simple picture fix program can't fix it...maybe this winter when I learn photoshop I can correct it.
The elk would not cooperate and both face me at the same time for a photo. It was nice to see them up close.

The only part of the hot springs I got to see, touch and smell. I think a soak would have been amazing.
You are going the wrong way....kind of scary to look up and think which one of us is on the wrong side of the road. Turns out no one he was being towed.
The Three Sisters Mountain.

More to come later but I have lots to do today. I almost had a ticket to the rodeo playoffs but I had prior plans for this afternoon. Ah well. Can't do it all.

It is a good news bad news story at work this week. The lady who makes my life ____ at work is off on indefinite medical leave. I can't say I'm sorry to see her off for an extended period of time. She doesn't have any physical illness...so I am not being a total _itch. Let's just say the timing is oddly coincidental. I am thrilled that the office environment will be more relaxed for everyone and that I finally get to tear apart the payroll/personnel files. Yeah! It is sad that she couldn't try and get along with everyone prior to this and that it has moved to such a drastic step.

Some of my good news from last week at work is that I got a promotion of sorts. I have a new title Director of Human Resources. It is a title change only. The title change was necessary to make me a second signer for cheques at work. I'm delighted with the change in title and responsibility. Being a signer is a huge deal (at least in my mind) and I'm thrilled. AND all my policies went through with two exceptions and I am taking those two back to the drawing table to re-jig.

My extended weekend behind me I am preparing for my return to the office tomorrow. Not really a big deal, but with the wonky sleeping pattern of the past few days I know 6am will come as a bit of a shock. And then working for 2 days and having 2 days off again will certainly screw with my attempts at 20 winks.

Sleep...not really an interesting topic, but something we all do--daily. Or at least try to do daily. For as long as I can remember I have not been a good sleeper. The snoring noises that emerge from my bedroom may claim efforts to the contrary. I recall a sleep-over when I was young around 10?. We were living in Lethbridge and one of my cousins was my guest for the night. I apparently stole all the covers and while I ended up with a mere sliver covering myself my cousin had none. I had pulled them off us and onto the floor. It was not a good time and I recall being very cranky.

I just wrote a few paragraphs about my inability to sleep and how I snore. It was so dull I almost fell asleep re-reading it. I have random thoughts and ideas for posts all the time but never seem to get them 'on paper' before they disappear.

Small brag...my Christmas shopping is almost finished. Only 3 more presents to buy or rather 3 more people to buy for. And I have started the wrapping.

The weekend in Banff and Calgary was a last minute decision. I am filling in for the nasty person at work and while she is expected back next Monday the money is on her not returning and if I needed to do payroll in her absence it was going to be from a mere 3 hours away rather than from Vancouver.....where accessing the files in the office would be much more difficult. I have decided to not go to Vancouver for the time being....so the decision was made to go to Banff and Calgary. I have friends in both locations and I apologize to the ones (the many) I did not see while passing thru.

It is often hard for people to understand how a person that lives alone needs time away and alone. I think it is all about location, location, location. Being alone at home is routine. Being alone in say...Banff...is majestic and enables one to explore thoughts and feelings that are often lost at home base in the daily routine. Being alone in a city one knows well...Calgary can enable a person to become anonymous yet still have their bearings. Wandering around a city you don't know can be intimidating and at the very least one must pay attention to where you are going and where you are on the map. Wandering around a city you know means never getting lost...expect for in your thoughts.

More thoughts and images from the trip in the upcoming days.

Here's my playing from the other night in Calgary....some of the pictures might make you dizzy...I was enjoying playing with the lights and motion.