Lots of bison spotted on the side of the road during the September long weekend. Returned to the Alaska Highway. D and I went from Grande Prairie to Whitehorse and back. It was an extended long weekend away and a fantastic trip. For the most part the weather was fantastic and we had a wonderful time driving and chatting.

 Lovely herd of about 13 or so bison on the side of the road. They were not at all bothered by us stopping or me stalking them on the side of the road as they slowly munched their lunch. You could hear the munching from where we stood and the swish of the grass as they slowly walked.

 This one was a bit of a challenge but these two elk and a baby (not in picture) were taken at the end of my zoom lense. Chance sighting.

 If you click on the picture and make it bigger you should be able to see the mountain goats that seem to blend in with the rocks.

 Oldest remaining bridge on the Alaska Highway.

 Summit Lake. Isn't it gorgeous?

 Moose...same spot as the year before.

 Maybe the grown up moose that was a baby last year????

 So busy eating and watching tourists at the Hot Springs--squirrel didn't seem to mind the foot traffic.

 Laird Hot Springs....ahhhhh.

 Waterfalls on side of road.

 Rubbing his back in the dirt.

Pointing it out in Whitehorse.

So....since I last wrote. Spent September long weekend headed up and down the Alaska highway. Next weekend was spent in Banff and Jasper. This weekend also spending the weekend hanging around GP. Maybe some cooking...maybe.

Yep, another week come and gone. I headed out camping again this weekend. Headed out Friday after work and got a great camping spot. Not on the lake like I wanted but close to the waterfront and in a nice quiet place. I had the tent and tarp up in record time and was able to have a small fire for a little while--the rain put a damper on it around 9ish. Saturday was nice and sunny so a couple of walks and lots of reading my book.

Nothing too exciting. Sunday night after bedtime there was lots of rain and I found myself packing up early in the morning just as it started to rain again. Back to GP for a npa and some time with the kitties. :) Then some shopping for the upcoming camping trip--yes, another one. D and I are headed North this week. Leaving Wednesday even when I get off work and coming back Monday. We are following the same path that Kim and I took last summer but obviously not as far.

I haven't had a chance to flip through my photos yet but when I do I will hopefully post a couple.

Friday!!! No big plans for the weekend other than watching some movies and hanging out with the boy.

Last night we managed to put kitty nail caps on Hudson. They slip on over their claws and help them stop scratching your furniture. I hope they work. They are all still on this morning and she doesn't seem to notice which is great. My only worry is her grip when jumping up and down on the deck but that seems ok so far too.

A few pics from last weekends camping trip.

Edmonton weekend was terrific! We headed to Edmonton Friday noon so got in and we able to catch a movie. Saturday we hit up the mall, did some shopping elsewhere, hung out around Whyte Avenue and then ended the evening at my favorite Indian restaurant. Whooo hoo!! Sunday was a trip to the Telus Science centre to see Body Works. If you get a chance to see--do! It is an amazing view of the human body. My second time at this type of show and I will go again given the chance. Sunday afternoon we headed back up the highway to GP and the chores that had been waiting. The great thing about heading out early Friday was that even just two nights away was the perfect amount of time and still gave me a day in GP to do chores and get ready for the week ahead.

Isn't it funny how a short week at work can feel longer than a normal length week. Managed to get away this weekend for some camping. I had thought about going far away--4.5 hours up the road to a great spot but since I was having a LONG week at work decided to stay at a campground an hour away. Friday night was terrific as was Saturday. I read my book, lounged in my chair and generally did nothing but eat, read, suntan and take mini cat naps in the chair. Lovely, simply lovely. Saturday night was a bit scary. I woke up for a pee and saw all these wonderful stars in the sky and heard the thunder rolling in. Shortly after I could definitely hear the thunder and feel the ground shake...the lightening was so bright it lit up the entire area--my tent included. It was like someone drove into my camping spot and their headlights were piercing the walls of the tent with their light. Sleep seemed to evade for me quite a while as I shook in my bed. Finally the thunder seemed to relax and roll off into the distance but it was quickly followed by the rain. It rained very, very hard. I am usually not concerned about getting wet--my tent rocks. I fell asleep listening to the rain hitting the tarp a few feet over my head. And I woke up to the sound of the generator at the camp site next to me. Sigh. 8am was not in my plans considering all the tossing and turning I had done.

After such a great Saturday I guess it was in the cards that I would struggle on Sunday. The drivers side window was down in the truck--still not sure why or how that happened. And then the little 'gun' lighter that I use to light my gas burner and fires wasn't working...which was going to mean no hot food. I kept trying and trying and about an hour later final got it to go...phew. Tea was at the top of the agenda. It clouded over about then and as soon as I had finished eating packed up because it started to drizzle. Weekend of camping--over.

Back in GP and spent the afternoon hanging out with the kitties and do odd chores around the house. Like airing out D's tent. We will be taking seperate tents on our trips. I didn't do well at sharing mine on our last camping trip. I set it up in the living room and let the kitties play in it. It's on the deck now airing out. I'll leave it up for a couple days to air it well. It has a real rubbery kind of smell to it. Got almost 400 pages of my book read during my camping trip so will look forward to finishing it the next weekend D works--and maybe do some camping again.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Weekend was a success. I managed to cook a great big pot of butter chicken, meatballs, pork meatloaf, and some pork dumplings. The pork dumplings were WAY too much work and I doubt I will try that one again. Sigh. But the rest of the food is tasty and well worth the effort. The freezer is full and I have meat to last me for a LONG, LONG time.

Today marked one year with my current job. YEAH me. Still in love with it and hoping to stay for along, long time. Ah, isn't that nice to hear. :)

This weekend we are off to Edmonton to enjoy the extra long weekend that is staring at me. I'm done at noon on Friday and not due back to the office until Tuesday at 8am. Whoo hoo!!! We are coming back to GP Sunday night so I still have Monday to get ready for the week ahead...and so Dave can get ready too for his next set of shifts.

I had a great weekend with him working 8-8. I got to do my stuff during the day, settle into my evening with a glass of wine and then a short visit with him before I would kick him out for the evening. Perfect. LOL I think he was finding the 12 hour days long but I understand that he will get used to them. They usually do. I'm happy to only work 8 hours a day but he advantage of working 7 days of 12 hour days is that you have every other week off....and I only have weekends. Hmmm. Maybe I should become a mechanic. LOL...nah.

Can you believe that summer is half over?

Not much new and exciting going on the past week. I'm sitting on the couch right now sipping my morning tea and listening to Tundra purr. She loves tea time with me. I have nothing to do but pet her so she kneeds the air while I rub her belly.

It's our favorite time of the day...

Dave started work yesterday and so far so good. LOL He will be working 12 hour shifts for 7 days in a row which means he will work all weekend...so I can get caught up on my home stuff and maybe do some scrapbooking. Plus I see a cooking marathon in my future as I am out of my freezer lunches.

Yep, pretty boring stuff going on around here.

Weekend of camping and adventures. Headed to the US border with Dave to get his work visa/permit thingy so he can work legally here in Canada. A few minor issues but he has it and is looking forward to starting work next week. I am looking forward to him starting too and getting into a regular routine. He hasn't been working so his time is his own where as my time is owned 5 days a week and free time is limited and precious. Also hoping to get back into more of a routine once he starts working.

Fun times.

Visit to Drumheller to see the hoodoo's and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Lovely.

Happy Birthday to my little girls...a day late(?) Can you believe that I have had these two cats for almost 3 years? I can't. LOL

So I've been hanging with a special someone for about a month now--actually we first met for tea a month ago today. He's been occupying a lot of my time and I'm ok with that. LOL. He is very nice and nice to me and the cats. Heck, he even remembered their names from the first time he met them. He even gets down on the floor and plays with them. I know. :) Oh, and did I mention he does dishes! Without being asked?!

We've gone on driving trips to explore the local surroundings and are headed to the US this coming weekend for a very short trip. He's British you see and needs to cross over the border to activate his visa. I'm just tagging along for the ride--you know me, always up for a road trip.

Couple photos from Canada Day Parade.

Had a fantastic weekend. Took a drive through Northern BC...just a quick circle in/out but a nice drive none the less. Great sunny weekend with temperatures in the high 20's. Looking forward to summer if this is how it started.

Still hoping for a camping weekend sometime soon. Fingers crossed that it happens soon.

BBQ at work on Friday went well. Too many steaks--who'd a thought a group of hungry men couldn't eat 100 steaks. Oh well, more for the next bbq.

Looking forward to week of no bosses, etc at the office and no travel. Might actually get a few more things done and a few things in the evening as well.

I'm not promising that I'm back but I'm here this morning.

Since coming back from Vietnam I've been working hard and playing hard.I turned a wooden pallet into planter and have a number of flowers and a few herbs. Nothing major but it is fun to tinker in for a few minutes in the evening. A real garden someday would be fantastic.

Summer isn't officially here==Friday but it has been pretty summer like the past month. Hot, sunny, thunder showers then sunny again. The cats are certainly enjoying it. I cut a hole in the screen door so they can go in and out all day/night onto the deck. I don't know if they spend time out there while I'm at work but they certainly spend a lot of time there when I'm home. Hudson likes to jump up on the railing and watch the world go buy. Tundra isn't stupid enough to jump up there-she must know that her weight combined with the momentum required to jump that high would take her up and over the deck. But she can lay down and watch through the space between the wall and floor of the deck. They both seem very content. I'm just glad we are on the top floor of the building away from the other cats, dogs and people.

I often go out on the deck in the evenings and drink a glass of wine, read my book. It's very relaxing.

Haven't been camping this year but it is definitely on my mind. Maybe next weekend I keep telling myself but it hasn't happened yet...maybe next weekend. :)

Best get myself off the couch and ready for work. My bosses boss is up visiting this week and I need to be on time for a change.

Posted a couple of videos on the Fat Girl Snoring of the trip to Vietnam. There is music so if you aren't into it then just turn down the volume.

Hoping to get the write up done at some point till then....enjoy the videos.

Edith. I dont think I have it blocked to anyone. I cant adjust any settings on the phone. Email lori she got on

Catch me for the next couple weeks at:

http://www.fatgirlsnoring.blogspot.com

I'm in Vietnam!!

Gotta love long weekends! I left the office at 5pm on the dot Friday and haven't really thought about work since. That is so great! I finished all my packing which isn't a good thing because it means I will have time on my hands later this week and will end up wanting to pack more.

The house is almost completely cleaned and I'm ready to go...just need to put in some more time. Friday is going to be a rough day at the office....I won't want to be there. LOL

Weather was decent and I made sure to get out to enjoy some of the sunshine. Hope everyone else had a great weekend.

I had been looking towards V day up until the BF decided to leave and since then I've been dreading it. The day was overall pretty good but it did start off on a down turn.

I fell down a few stairs at work. 3 or 4 of them. I was doing a good deed--I took cupcakes to work and as I was carrying them downstairs to share I fell. I bruised my knees, hurt my ankle, my hip and of course my pride. The cupcakes took a tumble in their container but survived. My container may not have survived though. It has a couple of missing pieces. Ah well. No major harm done.

The week has flown by and I was surprised to see that tomorrow is Friday. And Friday here in Alberta will be the start of the long weekend in February. I can't wait. I can have Monday to work on packing my bags and cleaning the house before I fly out Friday evening. Ah, Friday....so close.

Yes, still super duper excited. Met one of my teammates today and that got me even more excited.

The two kitties are still in the dark about my upcoming departure but they will be well looked after--of course while I am gone. I have two people scheduled to come in and see them every now and then. They will miss me but of course I will miss them too.

The weather here is up and down. This morning it was -13 and by noon it was -1. Coat this morning and no coat this afternoon. I was wearing shoes and the other people I saw around town were wearing snow boots.

Friday...yeah! There seem to be a lot of people at work who are happy that today is Friday. I guess everyone had as long a week as I did. We were under the gun to get some information in and my group did a great job. I'm so proud and happy with them for getting it in on time.

The two furry roommates are full of spit and vinegar this morning and are chasing each other around the apartment. Maybe that means the weather is going to be super nice for the weekend...maybe it means they found the cat nip I put on their new scratching post. I suspect it is the cat nip.

Two weeks today I will be heading to Edmonton and within 12 hours of my arrival in Edmonton I will be flying out on my next adventure. Ah, adventure how I seek and cherish you.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Change of plans on a number of different fronts. The BF is no longer in the picture. Yes, that is disappointing but it is what it is. I feel bad for him. He is going through a lot and I was just one more thing to think about. I'm not the least bit mad--just sad for the moment.

The other change is that I am going to publish the Vietnam trip on the other blog:

http://www.fatgirlsnoring.blogspot.com

In the long run it should be easier for me. Not sure when there will be pics but you know...whatever.
17 days and counting and yes, I'm counting. Even my assistant at work knows how many days until I go so either I am talking about it too much or she is paying attention. Either way I think it is funny.

 Still planning the first week of travel. Went to a travel agent the other day and got a quote on a tour of sorts and it was a LOT of money. I called and asked if she could find a lower price for me since $132 a night in Ho Chi Minh is a lot for a hotel. Most of the other hotels we are staying at charge around $25 a night. I rarely pay that much here. Hoping that she comes back with a less expensive option for that otherwise I may not book anything and just fly by the seat of my pants so to speak.

Hope everyone is well.

24 days until I leave for Vietnam. Yeah!! My visa came back yesterday so I am good to go. Looking forward to the trip but it still seems a bit far away at the same time. I think once Friday and February roll around it will seem that much more real.

What have I been doing in  January? Not sure. LOL. I seem to be keeping busy but couldn't really tell you doing what because I am not sure myself. LOL. I'm sure though that there will be news when I finally hit Vietnam so stay tuned for that.

Hope everyone is surviving January.

Welcome to 2013!

I brought the year in with a bang and then a fizzle. Went to a house party and then spent most of the next day sleeping. 2013 has been extremely unproductive so far. LOL. We actually missed the countdown completely and while there was a few half-hearted attempts to do a countdown as soon as we noticed nobody really seemed to care. There was some drinks, dancing and just general chit chat all night. Plus a very drunk 15 year old boy who I suspect had a much slower start to the new year than I did. I'm not used to staying up until after 3am.

51 days until I head to Edmonton for my flight to Vietnam. The flight is early the morning of the 23rd, February but I need to drive down the day before. I can't believe the trip is coming up so quickly. I still haven't booked the first portion of my trip and can't seem to make up my mind on where I will be going for the first week of travel. All in good time.

Things seem to be going well with the new BF. We have just made plans for me to meet his two daughters in February just before I leave. BIG step for me. I'm terrified at the thought. Given my track record with kids it isn't entirely surprising.

I met his nephew in December and that didn't go well. LOL. He is the son of a friend of mine from up North and when I went to the house to pick up a board game the poor little guy cried nearly the whole time. His dad was holding him at one point and took a couple of steps towards me as he did the little guy leaned away from me. Testing the theory he did it again and each time his son physically moved his body to be as far away from me as possible.

At least the girls are a bit older--9 and 11 so there shouldn't be the same show of tears. I'm just not sure what to expect as my experience with 9 and 11 year old girls would have been MANY years ago when either I or my sister were of those ages. Anyway, I have about a month to figure that out so no worries for the moment.

Today I need to focus on getting through the day with some energy. Happy New Year!