Patience! OMG what is that!

It's Saturday, cloudy and cool!  Someone made a funny the other day that winter is back!  Calgary gets about one really warm week a year and they classify this SUMMER!  OMG...really...  I am back to the heavy sweaters and complaining already about being cold!

OK it's not that cold but by the feel of today, the white chitt will soon be here!

The week was something else...good news is I still have the job and look at it in 5 minute segments now.  I can't even do it day by day or hour by hour now.

This is about 1/2 of my work load

The interview went fantastic and I should know by next weekend if I am the chosen one for the position.  So many things are happening for us at the moment...don't dare put things on here, never know who reads this and can't have stuff getting into the wrong hands....LOL

I managed to get 1 day of bank time...APPROVED...so I am off next Friday.  We are heading to the US...we are leaving after work on Thursday but will stay close to the border that night.

The City of Kalispell

City of Kalispell, Montana

Kalispell is a dynamic community located within a thirty-minute drive of Flathead Lake, Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, Glacier National Park, several National and State forests and parks, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area. Kalispell is the retail, professional, medical, and governmental center of the Flathead Valley serving approximately 140,000 people in Northwest Montana. Between 2000 and 2010 the population of Kalispell increased 40% to 19,927. While the growth of the previous decade has slowed with the nation's economy, investment in the City of Kalispell continues and tourism remains a strong economic driver for the region.  

Kalispell, MT

We may even take a drive to: Sandpoint, Idaho

Sandpoint is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Bonner County, Idaho.  Its population was 7,365 at the 2010 census.
Sandpoint's major economic contributors include forest products, light manufacturing, tourism, recreation and government services. As the largest service center in the two northern Idaho counties (Bonner and Boundary), as well as northwestern Montana, it has an active retail sector. It is the headquarters of Coldwater Creek, a national women's apparel retailer; Litehouse Foods, a national salad dressing manufacturer; and Quest Aircraft, a maker of utility aircraft.

Sandpoint lies on the shores of Idaho's largest lake, 43-mile-long Lake Pend Oreille, and is surrounded by three major mountain ranges, the Selkirk, Cabinet and Bitterroot ranges. It is home to Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Idaho's largest ski resort, and is on the International Selkirk Loop and two National Scenic Byways (Wild Horse Trail and Pend Oreille Scenic Byway). Among other distinctions awarded by national media in the past decade, in 2011 Sandpoint was named the nation's "Most Beautiful Small Town" by Rand McNally and USA Today.

Of course will be taking lots of pictures and sharing when we get back.  Don't leave home without camera.

Flights are scheduled for the 2 day trip to Ontario for Alan's niece's wedding.  Will be a very quick trip and won't have any time to see friends.  I am hoping to get to B'ville to see the house.  I miss that place so much.  Also miss family, friends, familiar doctors and specialists, not to mention an easy commute to Daytona Beach!  And being able to DRIVE again......Think Alan misses JR's as well!

Have a great week everyone!

What a week!

2014 Calgary Stampede Grounds

The Saddledome and City of Calgary 2014

Most people who know where we live know that it was Stampede week....very little work gets done as companies are busy "entertaining" their clients at the big event.  Alan was supposed to go but apparently there weren't enough tickets....(talk about an unorganised company).  All festivities come to an end tonight with a big fireworks display.  Another year that I did not attend.  I hurt my back somehow and for the last few days have hardly done anything. Work had a big Stampede BBQ and about 500 people attended. YES, I somehow got delegated to stand behind the BBQ and serve!

Calgary Stampede Parade 

The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing and First Nations exhibitions.
The event's roots are traced to 1886 when the Calgary and District Agricultural Society held its first fair. In 1912, American promoter Guy Weadick organized his first rodeo and festival, known as the Stampede. He returned to Calgary in 1919 to organize the Victory Stampede in honour of soldiers returning from World War I. Weadick's festival became an annual event in 1923 when it merged with the Calgary Industrial Exhibition to create the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.

Reba in Concert Calgary Stampede 2014

Cher in Concert Calgary Stampede 2014

OMG, almost forgot, I had my interview this week as well for the National Accounts Coordinator for Westburne....I was one of three chosen to be interviewed.  The guy who interviewed me could not believe my portfolio.  When I applied I was told the position would either be in BC, Winnipeg or Mississauga, ONTARIO!  Well I told the person that interviewed me that I still owned a home in B'ville, ONT and that I was 10 minutes away from the Oshawa branch and could work out of there and travel to Mississauga as necessary! Fingers crossed everyone.....I want to go HOME!  The other two people will be interviewed this week, they are from Mississauga.  I will know by end of month!

B'ville prior to fence (that I haven't seen)

Hubby has a few irons in the fire as well....there is the possibility of him getting a transfer to Ontario as well....we would have to pay our way back, but  at least we would be home with jobs!  He is also working on some other things so it seems things are changing day to day for us.  May need some "packers" soon, any volunteers?  LOL (OK, a girl can dream!)

Move to AB

I saved all the boxes!  All ready to load again for the move back!

What a mess!

Sunny here today so may go for a drive later...just to get out of the house.  Or should we start the painting in the ensuite????  We've had the paint for about 3 weeks now but the motivation to get it done was left at Home Depot I think...LOL
Have a great week everyone!  Fingers crossed for good news for both of us!!

Cold, Wet, Dreary

We arrived back from Las Vegas last Saturday around 4:30 PM. LightFair 2014 was a fantastic trade show, lots of new products and technologies coming our way!
I'll post of couple of pictures here of the sight of Vegas!

Paris

The Casinos of Vegas!

The Candela Group took us to the Trade Show and they were amazing hosts.  To our surprise, we were given tickets to attend the Shania Twain concert on Sunday. On Saturday, they had arranged a party bus to take us shopping.  Monday they rented a cabana by the pool for the day for the group.  There was a private dinner for the engineering firms at a expensive restaurant and we were included in that as well.  When we left Las Vegas last Saturday, they had arranged a private limo to take us to the airport.  BTW, we stayed at the MGM Grand!  What a trip, lots of wonderful people and great times was enjoyed by all!

http://www.candelagroup.ca/

Concepts in lighting change with the times. Candela Group recognizes the need to orchestrate the initiation of those changes, by making the lighting designer aware of new technologies and styles, so that they may offer the best visual presentation for their client, while maintaining a budget that fits their needs.

Candela Group is "right at home" in the design stages of any given project, and offers years of experience and expertise in managing your clients needs through to completion. We also continue to service the client after the project is final, as we have adopted the philosophy "your customer is our customer". Candela group is a leader in Southern Alberta, and the East Kootenays of British Columbia , for lighting concepts and service. We are proud to help you to find the information that you need in order to choose the right products for your project. The team we have has earned a collective 60 years of “experience” in the lighting and electrical industry.

From Timmins, ONT  An amazing Concert

MGM Stay June 2014

Leaving Vegas at the airport on the runway!

Over Vegas from the air!

From the airplane shortly after leaving Las Vegas...
Lake Mead???

I managed to get to the Bellagio, had to visit the conservatory to see the "summer" display...beautiful as always.  Here are some images. I took some pretty neat pictures of the "dancing waters" as well outside the Bellagio.  Have a peek!

Dancing waters (to music) beautiful

Dancing waters

At the main desk Bellagio

Conservatory June 2014 Bellagio

Bellagio Conservatory June 2014

My new friend "Froggie"

At Christmas, the glass house was a snow storm, in March it was full of butterflies, June had all different types of birds

We went to, are you ready for this, Margaritaville on Saturday, two ladies walked in and sat down at the end of the bar.  I heard them say they were from Ontario....well that peaked my interest....I got up and went to chat, apparently they live right around the corner from our home in Bowmanville....(and they thought, I would have no idea where B'ville was)...LOL  Their names are Diane & Karen and I have since had emails from Diane...wonderful ladies!  Couldn't resist telling them both how much I miss HOME!  (Who knew!)

Margaritaville

Back to work tomorrow...oh joy!  I thought I would post a pic of my work station....way too many projects for one person to handle (and this is only part of the projects).

Some of my work!  Don't say anything about the "Merry Christmas & Santa" I don't have any place to put them!

Alberta Flood 2013

Here are a few images from the Flood of 2013 in Canmore! Happened almost one year ago to date!

The grey used to be grass and trees!  Back yards of homes

Still working on the damages

Rocky Mountain Sheep

Cochrane, AB

Saw thig guy at a local nursery!

Have a great week everyone!  Catch you later!

Spring! Nice Sunshine!

We've had a few days of nice weather and I managed to put my plants outside for a couple of days.  They sure are thriving in the milder temperatures and sunshine.  Hope they'll be okay while I'm away.

Flowers at the nursery!

Went for a drive today to Kananaskis Country...and YES there is still snow in the mountains.  The water is rising but everyone is hoping there won't be repeat floods like last year.

High Country with the mountains!

Kananaskis Country, AB May 24, 2014

Snow on the peaks! May 24, 2014

The road ahead!

We stopped at Black Diamond Gallery on our drive....

The Black Diamond Gallery hosts a unique collection of teak furniture and art that is imported from Indonesia and art gathered from local artists in southern Alberta. The teak art we sell is carved by hand in Bali and neighbouring countries and ranges from the image of the hand carved last supper shown below to teak bowls. All of the wood is from the roots of the teak trees which allows for unique pieces with every carving made.  Here is the website if you want to check it out.  We met the proprietor, Rusty Davidson.
http://www.blackdiamondgallery.com

Here are some cool pics....the one of the last supper, the owner told us it took a year to carve.  I didn't ask the price but it was beautiful. Everything in the store was beautiful so thought I'd share some of the pics here.

The Last Supper...stunning detail!

Motorcycle that doesn't need gas!

So many horses!

Off to Las Vegas on Friday afternoon....attending LightFair (largest lighting trade show in North America).  Philips Lighting is paying for us to attend...how nice of them.  Guess they see the value in this where our company doesn't.  Alan & I are both thinking of taking our LC this year....could open a lot of doors!

Paris!  Had a birthday drink here with Jackie, John and Alan!  December 2013

Was concerned about our friends Bill & Carol as she hadn't blogged since Tuesday....went on her website today and there she is! Glad things are ok.  

Finally, have a kitchen table...still short a chair but we have a table! Looks nice in our dining area, we got so used to a little two seater that I had brought with us and have on our deck.  Alan said if we get another defect and have to have it replaced, we are experts at putting together so the next one would only take us 5 minutes.  NO, I don't want to do this again...just hope this is the end of this story.

Alan has all the flights booked for the "Lighting Champions" to go to Atlanta, GA in June.  I wanted to go and then fly on to Florida but there is no way I could get the time off.  Funny thing is I STILL have 18 days vacation to book that I have to use by the end of the year.  Getting approval is a different story!

December 2013 with Jackie
Freemont Street Las Vegas

Murial on Building on our drive today!

Other side of the building!

Water and the spring melt in the mountains.

Standing where the road was!

The damages of water!

Showing the devastation of last years flood!

Everyone have a great week....catch you later!