From Grads to Nomads

Today was an adventurous hike out in Kananaskis with Tina, we got out there around 1030 am to head to Memorial Lakes. At the trailhead was a bear warning, but for Galatea which always has bear warnings, so we headed off down the trail with a note to self to be cautious of bear signs, but we saw none all day. We managed to find the trailhead, and headed off into the trees, winding along by a creek. We managed to then miss the turnoff to the lake and before we knew it we were scrambling through dense brush where there was a hint of a trail, so we thought we were still going the right way. Finally after looking around and seeing so many trees and the book had said the lake was right after the waterfall, we concluded we went the wrong way.

So we turn around and Tina walks right into a spiderweb, which is just a gross feeling, and ends up throwing her prescription glasses off her face in the process of getting the web off. We then spent 20 min looking with no luck, when suddenly the sun came out and what do you know, there are her glasses glinting into my eye!! We headed back, found the turn to the lake and arrived shortly to eat lunch. We both came close to losing our lunch to a family's puppy who almost inhaled my pasta salad and stole a bite of Tina's bagel!!! Following lunch, we set off to the 2nd lake, over steep scree, to see a ominous cloud looming over the mountains. Suddenly thunder began, with lightening, and we are on the scree slope. Turning around to hike back to the trees, it starts to hail and soak us. Within 20 minutes the storm ended and the sun came back, then another rain storm, then more sun the rest of the day until we got back to the car at 530.

I love the mountains!

Summer is just flying by, and before we know it on September 11th we fly to England where we will stay until returning home for Christmas on Dec 22. The big goodbye party is September 8th so do come out for it!

The summer is going well, I now work both the lounge and weddings and tournaments at valley Ridge, and we just spent the weekend in Golden in a teepee with Kirby and Krista, it was so relaxing and we spent part of the afternoon splashing in the river and the mud, and throwing rocks for the dog that lived out there. And yes, he would retrieve rocks from the river!

Now it is back to work, until we leave for Loon lake on the 23rd of July.

Jenn and I left for Hawaii last friday morning, after getting an awesome package for 4 days/3 nights to Honolulu. We were laying on the beach with our magazines by 11am on Friday, taking in the pleasantly warm ocean air and rays of sunlight. Friday night we had some delicious Thai food at Keo's, and hit the sack early. Saturday morning, Jenn's birthday we were up early to hike up Diamond Head crater, and after this we went back to the beach for more lounging before going for a scrumptious dinner at the Hula Grill, consisting of fresh Red Snapper with purple yams. Also creme brulee for dessert!

Sunday we did a kayaking tour, it was too rough out to paddle to the islands a mile offshore, so we went to a closer island, saw some Hawaiian birds ( one flew out of a hole in the ground almost into Jenn's foot!) and we went over very large waves in the kayaks ( we were the only kayak to not flip over!! Hurray for having some paddling skills!)

Oh and on Saturday night we tried to go dancing at Zanzibar, but the combination of bad 70's pop music, unknown R & B music, cheesy gold cat statues everywhere, and lots of navy men on leave was not the best combo, however we did have an entertaining few hours until we called it a night!

We had all day MOnday, did some boogie boarding ( I had a great wipe out involving pounds of sand accumulating in my bikini and hair) and we flew out at 1030pm. It was a fantastic girls getaway weekend!

I was able to close up at work early tonight, so I went down to Kilkenny to meet my friends, and I was stopped at the door by the bouncer not to ask if I had id, but if I had any friend pre holding a seat for me, since it was 100% full in there!! Great game tonight, 5-2 is always a nice win!

Work is going very well, I am hoping to get out golfing tomorrow since it is still a little slow with the tee times, and since I never work until 2pm....well, that leaves lots of time to get a round in!

Rob and I have secured a 2 bedroom residence room in Oxford now, so for any visitors we may have, you now get your own bedroom, instead of the couch in a living room!

That's all for now, and for anyone in Calgary who gets hungry or thirsty, feel free to come down by Valley Ridge and visit me at work!

I am off to work in a few hours here, I am enjoying my job, and I can't wait until the golf course opens, so that there are both more customers, and so i can begin golfing myself, due to my nice benefit of free golfing!

I have to admit, there are days now where I miss the carefree existence of being a traveller, as that now feels like a long time ago. However, I love summer in Calgary and I am looking forward to getting out to the mountains on days off, and golfing, and a full season of soccer. The first outdoor practice was the other day, which was great except for the two high school boys watching us while believing they were discreetly smoking a joint. Too bad for them that they were upwind of us on a windy day.....so hence the entire field had a pungent odour to it!

Well, I should go walk my dog Tess and find my black pants for work!

I have officially begun working now after my 7 or so month hiatus from the working world. I am now the Restaurant Supervisor at Valley Ridge Golf Course until September the first. I especially enjoy getting to use their computer system that requires scanning my fingerprint to login. Work is going well, and I intend to make use of the free golf I will get there all summer long. Anyone reading this in Calgary, feel free to come in there for dinner, the food is excellent (as is the service!)
Our trip to DC/Vegas was fabulous, despite both cities being around the same temperature, which is a little weird. However we made the most of viewing American history and the sinful pleasures of food, shopping, and gambling in Las Vegas.

I will periodically update this throughout the summer, for anyone reading it still.

As our last full day in Vegas was today, we wandered over to the Wynn for breakfast, and it is just a phenomenal place, with silk woven walls, intricate placed tiles on the floors in bright colours, and splashes of vibrant colour everywhere you look. We wandered the shops in the afternoon, and as it was quite chilly, our afternoon plans of sitting by the pool were kaiboshed. Now I must face the feat of packing my bag, and get ready to enjoy tomorrow as we have until 10pm still to spend in LV.