Saturday I managed to get myself out of the apartment and down the road to the Elk Island National Park. It's about 35km outside of Edmonton. Well worth the drive. See that...look close, do you see them?

Buffalos! Hmmm, buffalo?

Even though it is called Elk Island and according to the brochure there are a few hundred of them in the park they didn't manage to cross my path. Oh well. I had a lovely time--and will be back. (Soon I hope!)

This guy was rolling around in the dirt and having a great time. Then he kicked and bronced his way across the street in front of me. It was awesome. He certainly knows that spring is here.

Close up of the inside of a tree that fell down during the winter. It was really neat in person...maybe the picture doesn't really do it justice.

It's Wednesday. Tomorrow is Friday--in the sense that Friday is a day off and Thursday becomes the last day of the week. We are having a short and sweet open house in the office tomorrow. My idea. Want to meet the other people in the building, introduce ourselves and answer their questions about what we do. I am debating bringing in some of my paintings and carvings to show the neighbours.

No big plans for the weekend. I was hoping to find a cheap weekend trip to...somewhere...but didn't. So I guess Edmonton and I will be spending the time together. I am helping a friend pack. She is moving within the city...and I get her boxes afterwards in hopes I get to move myself in June.

Spring is in the air here in Edmonton. The sun is still up when I get home from work regardless of how late I seem to arrive. My shoe collection is getting good rotation as it has been nice enough to wear open toed shoes and sandals the past few days...I sure hope this continues I have a few more pairs I still haven't taken off the shelf since last year.

PEI.

I was downloading some pics from my camera last night and realized that I hadn't posted any pics from my PEI trip. Oops. I guess my first thought was that most of you are in PEI--been there--done that. But then looking at my stats I realized that in fact most of my readers are not in PEI. Huh.

So without further adieu here is some of my PEI trip...


The big birthday party. Glow Bowling.

Oh yeah, they got fine form.

The dog loves the snow. She must have some of the North in her. On this fine sunny day she was making puppy snowangels for my entertainment.

Paint peeling on a door in North Rustico. I don't know...I just liked the look of it.

View of the harbour. The next group of pics are all from North Rustico.

Abandoned chair. Art is in the eye of the beholder.

Ice pans floating on the tide.

Breakwater.

The view was breathtaking. The contrast of colours isn't even close in this picture to the actual, but I tried. The deep dark green of the trees against the red of the rocks combined with the blue water, white ice and pink sand. Oh, it was grand.

I picked up a number of shells, rocks and bits and pieces. I love beach combing. Unfortunately or fortunately I wasn't able to take any of it back with me. I probably already have enough here with me...but that is part of the charm of going to the beach. Picking up the odds and sods.Like this beautiful piece of coral? seaweed? whatever it is, I like it.

Yes, for those of you who have never been to PEI the dirt really is red. See the red mud puddle.

Long abandoned lobster traps.

And some waiting for a tourist with more taste than money to buy one and take it home to turn into a planter.

And finally the whole gang. First group photo since Christmas 2005.

I'm having a lazy Saturday--which isn't a new concept for me. It is almost 10:30am and I'm in my bathrobe. I did manage breakfast and a shower but can't seem to make the next step which is getting dressed and heading into the great outdoors. Maybe later. It was suppossed to be 16 and sunny. Right now it is 4 and overcast.

Ok, my big news. I talked to my mom this morning and hopefully she has filled my father in. I quit my job. Yep. I'm done as of May 7. It is a truly liberating feeling. I walked up the stairs to work after breakfast with my boss and I felt as though I had lost 100 pounds. I was light as a feather. I'm sure many people would not quit without having another job lined up, but I'm confident in my abilities to get something in the next couple of months.

I'm looking for something in Edmonton. I'm open to other areas, but Edmonton would be easier at the moment. I'm done the first Friday in May and then hope to head over to Vancouver with a friend the next week. I need to be in Vancouver the weekend of the 15th for my leadership training for Global Village.I can't wait. I will be able to lead a group of people on an amazing experience this fall/winter.

So that's it. That's the big news. Wish me luck!

I am so glad it is almost Friday. While the week has actually flown by fairly quickly I am glad to see it end. I'm not sure why I'm so happy to see it end, cause the past 2 days have been awesome. I'll tell you about that in a couple days. Need to fill in my parents first. Hey Mom/Dad...call me! I even bought a lottery ticket today, something I rarely do. Things are going my way the past couple of days so it seemed appropriate.

The weather is suppossed to hit some nice mid-teen temps this coming week. I can't wait. I would like to get my act in gear and get my bike on the road. Maybe I will actually use it this year.

Hope everyone had a great week.

The first day back from vacation is always the hardest. That's what they say. I agree. I still can't remember the code I put in the alarm system...oops and I have no idea where the keys are to my filing cabinet. Yeah. Hmmm.

My tax issues with Revenue Canada continue. For some reason last fall they did not allow my moves or my Northern benefits. I don't understand how they come to these conclusions or why they make these decisions. Did I move from Nunavut to Alberta...yep. Here's my plane ticket and uhaul receipts. Oh, and hotel, gas and food receipts from PEI to Alberta. Did I live in Nunavut in 2008? Yep, here's my light and cable bills to prove it...not to mention the tax returns I filled the previous two years for NU. I don't have the official paper work from them with the big fat rejection stamp on it...I get to wait for it to arrive hopefully later this week. What an end to my vacation.

My return to the office has reinforced a few decisions I made while on holiday. The office temperature was definitely chilly and the games and crap have continued...but I said I wouldn't talk about work anymore. Oops.

I am already looking forward to the Easter long weekend...maybe a trip to Banff is in order. :)

My ode to spring has been cleaning all day. I have organized, re-arranged and generally tipped my bedroom and closets upside down and inside out...and I'm not quite finished but I was hungry and decided I better stop for supper.
On a recent shopping trip I picked up some vacuum storage bags. They actually work. I can't believe it. I put my winter coats into one bag and while it is a bag that can be hung up I decided it was better off lying on the top shelf of the bedroom closet. It takes a chair to reach all the way up to the top shelf so the space is good only for long term storage. My duvet and extra blankets went into another one and I filled a third bag with an old sleeping bag that I have misplaced the stuff sack for. Basically I ran out of things to put in the bags and still have bags left. I wandered around the house looking for things I could vacuum seal.

Last fall I purchased a cheap over the door shoe holder. I actually don't use it for shoes. I use it for my hats, mitts, scarves and other winter accessories. In the winter months it sits on the outside of the hall closet door and during the spring, summer and fall it sits on the inside of the door--nicely tucked out of the way. It is ideal for organizing the multitude of winter accessories I have. I highly recommend you purchase one.
My attempt at under the bed storage has once again failed. My bed frame is not tall enough to allow anything over about 4 inches to be shoved underneath. I have under the bed totes that I can't put under the bed. On the same shopping spree as the vacuum bags I purchased bed lifts. Guaranteed to give you up to 5 inches of height. I also bought a bed skirt to avoid the unsightly look of the totes and boxes under the bed. They didn't work. As I wandered around the store I noticed that the 'beds' on display have the same frame as my bed--but they don't use the bed lifts they sell. They have a smaller cone version. I need the cones. I asked the lady and the counter and she assured me they would be fine. I had my doubts. This afternoon I took the mattress and box spring off, moved the bed into a new position removed the wheels from each foot and placed the lifts under each foot. It didn't work. The minute I plopped the box spring down they tipped and fell off. I packed them and the bed skirt up and figured at least I would get my money back. Then...as writing this note to you fine folks I had a thought. Why did I take the wheels off? Could I leave them on? Turns out I can. The wheels fit perfectly into the space and the whole thing seems quite stable. Unfortunately the bed skirt is about 5 inches too short....oops. But at least I will be able to use the space in the mean time which means the re-arranging is not done yet. So my attempt at under the bed storage has finally succeeded.

During my time on the Island I purchased some clothes and brought back a few heirloom items, including a quilt my mother’s mother made. (It is now on the bed!) The two backpacks I had arrived with would not fit all my new possessions. My sister provided me with a suitcase to take back. A suitcase that I in actually purchased over 10 years ago for myself. It was a set at one point. It is a flimsy piece of fabric that has no wheels, no support inside and I was surprised it was still in the family. It is sitting by my front door full of clothes that no longer fit me waiting to go to Value Village along with a box of assorted things. I love the high from purging!
My freezer is once again full. I spent yesterday cooking butter chicken and vegetable soup. I have enough lunches and suppers to last me for a few weeks. The only problem with having a freezer full of food is that I like to cook—but I can only cook and freeze so much. Perhaps I should consider chef as my next job. (Kidding—I couldn’t handle the pressure, or be able to time my cooking so that anything was done on time.) Or I need to make more friends and have them over for supper.

I am about to watch one of my favourite movies “You’ve got mail”, sip a glass of wine and start my first knitting project--a pot holder.

NOTE: Indigo--thanks for your suggestion but I don't think that is it. Here is another photo--it really seems like multiple shoots coming out from under the ground. About 20 inches high.Or it might be...what do I know. :)

I don't usually celebrate Spring in any big way...but for some reason I feel the need to mark it this year. I don't know what I am doing to mark it...or why I feel this way...but this Spring it is different.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always To be Blest.


Alexander Pope

I am so glad I decided to take the rest of this week off. I had all day yesterday to recouperate from the time change and my minor illness from Tuesday morning...and today I managed to get my living room and kitchen in order, buy groceries and pick up a few things to help with the organizing and re-arranging that will take place in the bedroom tomorrow. And It isn't even the weekend yet...ah what a great feeling.


Finally...some pictures from my trip to Victoria...hard to believe that was the last weekend of February.

This is the view out of my hotel room.

One of the most amazing bathrooms I have ever been in. Soaker tub. Double sink. Large all glass shower. Ah.

One of the many figures at the wax museum.

One stop I would skip...the under water aquarium.

Daffodils. In bloom.

Magnolia blossoms?

China Town--Street? I spent most of my time and money within a couple blocks of China Town.

Cherry blossoms.

Does anyone know what this yellow flower is?

I rarely have my camera on hand during takeoff and landing because there are limited opportunities and the camera becomes more of a hassle to handle. Tonight would have been the perfect night to have it with me. The sun was starting to set and the sky was filled with orange and red...and you could see the Island. The WHOLE Island. We flew out of the Charlottetown harbour and headed west flying parallel to the south shore. It was as if we followed the Trans Canada highway all the way to Summerside before we took a left and headed over to New Brunswick. It was so nice. You could see the South and North shore and everything in between. It was the perfect last look at PEI.

My two weeks have flown by in a blur and I’m thankful for every moment I had. It was a pleasure to see many of you again if only for a brief period of time. The weather with the exception of the first couple of days was perfect spring weather and I certainly enjoyed watching the snow melt.
I’m on the plane back to Toronto as I write this and then hopefully following a brief stop on to Edmonton. I get in around 11pm but by the time my luggage arrives and I grab a cab I don’t expect to darken the door to my apartment until after midnight.

I’m watching Oprah. I love free tv on airplanes. It certainly makes the time go faster and you don’t need to strain your neck to watch the screen. My tv is a bit farther away than most as I am in a PRIME seat. 12F. On this particular aircraft that means I am at the emergency exit and there is no seat in front of me...so I am viewing my tv from two rows ahead instead of one. The extra leg room is well worth the $15 I paid to pre-select my seat. If you are going to be on a long flight I highly recommend it. Anything less than 3 hours and you can put up with almost any seat, but spending 6-8 hours on a plane can start to cramp anyone’s style. The other preferred seat for me is 2A. Window seat in the front row. You don’t have the convenience of a drop down table tray (actually, I don’t have that in my current seat either) but you do have a bit of extra leg room and the ease of getting off the plane first.

I have so many things I want to start/do when I get back to Edmonton I don’t know where to start. Groceries, laundry, re-arranging furniture, pick up truck, buy some craft products for future projects, apply for new job, check apartment listings and do some research on getting my kitten. Yep, I’m going to FINALLY be a pet owner.
Yep, I’m finally getting a pet. It has only been about...10 years that I’ve wanted a dog or cat and due to my schedule/living conditions/work travel have not been able to do so. Enough is enough...a kitten (or two) will be joining me in the new apartment sometime this spring. Once I get a new job. My current building doesn’t allow pets and if I am getting a new job I should wait until I know what part of town I will be working in before relocating. So the kitten will wait until all that happens. But with any luck before June.

Spread the news, one slightly used and abused HR person looking for an amazing opportunity to challenge my brain and expand my skills within the city of Edmonton. I’d look outside of Edmonton but I’m feeling too lazy and too tired to start fresh in a new city—unless an AMAZING opportunity presents itself. I mean if I am packing my belongings anyway there isn’t much difference between moving across town or across the province but a new city can take a lot of energy and I don’t think I have that in me at the moment.

Did I think about looking in PEI for a new job? Yep. The time just doesn’t seem to be right at the moment. I still want to climb the corporate ladder and expand my skills and experiences in HR and other areas. PEI is limited in those opportunities. In a few more years when I have found a rung that I am comfortable on and when the drive to move up has lessened I will head east. For the moment Edmonton is going to fill that bill and will provide me with a ton of opportunities to move up and over. Or into a completely new area—you never know.
In the next one or two days I should be able to post some pictures from my trip to Victoria and PEI. I guess if you are reading this I am officially back from vacation.

Obviously having too much fun visiting and eating to update....should be one soon. Need to recharge battery and upload photos from Victoria.

Busy. Lots of visiting. Too busy to post pictures and comments. Stay tuned I think I have a day off from visiting coming up next week. If not, updates when I return to my normal dull life in Edmonton.

Mom, I'm sorry.

It is 9:41pm and I am getting ready to pack some of my dirty laundry. I don't expect you to clean it for me but I do apologize for arriving home with a bag of smelly socks. I don't think I have done this since my undergrad days.

I arrived home after 11pm last night and didn't get home until almost 7:30pm tonight....which left little time for laundry, cleaning, etc.

The house will be dusty and dirty when I arrive back in Edmonton...because it is dusty and dirty now. I wrote a final entry for the trip to Victoria but it is sitting on the work laptop and won't be accessible until I return...I'll make something up in the next few days. I can't wait to download some photos for you...all the green grass and flowers. Ah.

Ok..I better go pack the dirty smelly clothes...thank goodness for febreeze!