Happy New Year!

Started the eve of the New Year by meeting Aline's in-laws for breakfast this morning. Now, I need a nap. Nick's sister and brother-in-law are a lot of fun.
We went out for a family dinner last night at East Side Mario's and to the movie "Marlie & Me" afterward. What a tear-jerker, we were all sniffling. It's a good movie if you're sentimental. Adrienne and Steven both have jobs, but have been off enough to spend quality time with them.
On the 19th, Adrienne and a friend of hers took me to the Royal Ontario Museum where we spent about 4 hours, I really enjoyed it. They had a special diamond exhibit hosted by the DeBeers family, with one especially rare yellow that was the third largest cut diamond in the world. There was many millions of dollars worth of jewels with diamonds of every colour. I bought a really unique Christmas ornament at their gift shop.
After the ROM, we spent about 5 hours at the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. I took Adrienne and Robbie out to lunch, and we shopped until I was ready to drop. I did get my favorite perfume at Abercrombie & Fitch. People were actually lining up to get into the higher-end stores like Arizia and Hollister.
On the 20th we went to the local market which was a lot of fun. I couldn't believe the great deals, but I brought only so much cash, and when it was gone, I was done. I found the "perfect" wrap around scarf, a purple watch to add to my collection, and a pretty gray t-shirt.
Speaking of diamonds, Aline, Nick and Adrienne surprised me on Christmas morning with a beautiful gold/diamond ring. I guess they figured I'd probably never get one in the traditional manner. Stephen bought me a stunning silver necklace with Swarovsky crystal. I think I'm going to have to get rid of some of the costume jewellery, and start wearing more of the genuine articles. I believe I mentioned in my previous blog what I bought at the "going-out-of-business" jewellery store. It's a good thing I go back home day after tomorrow, or I'd go back there for one last look. A white gold bracelet would be nice...
Tonight, we'll toast in the new year with a "wine & Cheese" at home.
I'll take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy and safe new year with friends and loved ones. My resolution: Balance in 2009.

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and my debit card is still smoking! I didn't even use my credit card once!!!
The trip to Toronto was Oh yeah.....:0 right there...aaahhhhh ;-) (sorry, getting a back rub) anyway, waited 4 hours in the airport, arrived Toronto some time after 3:00 AM. Luckily, I thought to call Nick to let him know I'd be taking a taxi home, so don't even try to get to the airport. The roads weren't bad once I got here, but the taxi ride cost $78 plus tip. Aline is still beautifully slim (damn her) and Nick hasn't changed a bit. The kids are both beautiful, of course.

One of the jewellery stores here is going out of business (everything 70% off) and knowing this ahead of time, I had set aside one expense cheque. I finally got my birthstone (emerald) in a yellow gold pinky ring. I saw this white gold/black diamond chip ring in the window with kind of an "eternity symbol" design, and immediately fell in love with it. I spent about a half-hour in the store looking at all the bargains, and bought LeeAnne's birthday gift as well. But, of course, I had to have them take the ring from the window display, and it was the perfect size. So I bargained them down and am wearing it with pride.
Adrienne surprised me with a cordless "Blue Tooth" device for my cell phone - I'll now be able to talk on the road "hands free" when I need to.
I talked to LeeAnne last night, and the kids arrived late, tired, but safe and sound. I'm looking forward to seeing them upon my return. I'm sure they'll both love Calgary if they can get past the cold.
So, Merry Christmas everyone, and I hope Santa finds you warm and well.

No sense of direction at all...

Let me start this story by telling you that people in Calgary do not know how to drive on ice and snow, so traffic slowed to a crawl after our "blizzard". Last night after work I had to pick up our Deputy Minister and her entourage at the hotel and accompany them to the Drop-in & Rehab Centre Society (that's our biggest homeless shelter for those of you not from Calgary). A trip that would usually take 20 minutes took me over an hour. When I finally got off Macleod Trail, I turned on 6th Ave instead of 4th by mistake. I turned down 3rd Street to double back, and came upon 3 fire trucks and other emergency vehicles that I had to try to get around. When I finally got to the hotel, they were very understanding, even though I had them rushing through their supper because the shelter had called and wanted us to get there earlier. Then I found out my usual route to the shelter was closed off as part of the "gentrification" plan for East Calgary, so I had to get there via 9th Ave. It's only 3 blocks away, I could see the shelter - it's very distinctive and hard to miss - but I just couldn't get there without a lot of wrong turns, more barriers, and such. We finally got there, but missed the part of the Intake process we really wanted to see. We did give the VIP's a good tour and a feel for the place, and they were gracious enough to invite me for a Christmas cocktail afterward, but by then I just wanted to get home. Oh well, they'll probably never ask me to drive again. My department gave over $21 Million for an affordable housing project, and all the media, polititians and the people from last night were there. Their first question to me was "Did you drive?" I had caught a ride with a colleague, and we didn't run across any traffic jams. During his speech thanking the Minister for the government's contribution to their pet project, Pat Nixon singled me out for special recognition for my work with them throughout the years. I hope that's what they remember, and not the disaster of the night before. Another Lucie-ism?