Lookin' good!

Hi Everyone!

So, Jerry's roommate got married and the ceremony was on Saturday. It was very small - no reception that day as they had difficulties finding a hall. They're going to put it off for a month or so, which I think is a great idea - it will be a lot more relaxing and memorable for them without that pressure. It was held at Deane's House, a historical house that doubles as a restaurant (with gorgeous gardens). Short ceremony, no decorations (the flowers and natural setting was all they needed). Just family and a couple friends.

So, Steve wore a suit jacket and Jerry wore a vest. They got a 1 1/2 weeks before the wedding and they looked great. I hadn't seen Jerry's outfit but my dress (summer dress, hem just below the knee) worked perfectly with it. It was warm and sunny for the ceremony but it rained that evening for the bbq. Oh well - the food was good and everyone made the best of it. And, they had ice-cream cake!

I think more people should have weddings like this. Low key, low budget, lots of enthusiasm and an overflow of love. They are such a cute couple and you could tell how much this wedding meant to them.

Jerry'll be in transition now - this is the first time since he was a teenager that he'll live by himself. I think it'll drive him crazy since he's a social persom but I think it's important for every person to live on his/her own just to see what it's like. I've offered him Whiskers and he's thinking about it ;-D She can be quite rude to him - scratching at carpet, trying to chew on his pants, giving him the evil eye, knocking his bag over... She takes a while to warm up to people. I think some quality bonding time would do the both some good. Either that or Jerry will have holes in all his clothes and she'll be in a pot! And who said I wasn't an understanding girlfriend hee! hee!

Have a great day!

I can see again!

Hello Everyone!

I just picked my new glasses and wow, what a difference! I was using my really old glasses from almost 5 years ago because my cute pink glasses broke during the winter. Everything is so much clearer and sharper - I didn't realize just how far my eyes had changed.

They ended up just over $600 since I have to get the special lenses because my eyesight is so bad. They're a dark green, with a turquoise hint plastic frame, rectangular with a circle pattern on the arms. Very cute and fashionable. I'll be able to show you pictures next week.

Karen

Rafting down the Bow

Hi Everyone!

I've had a great weekend. On Friday, it was rainy/overcast in the afternoon and I was thinking, "What a crappy day." I wasn't expecting to see Jerry all weekend as he had a bunch of plans.

Then I got a phone call from him to go see the new Batman movie. It's been years since I've been to opening day for a movie that big and the whole experience was a lot of fun. We ended up sitting in the front seats (but it actually wasn't too bad for viewing) and it was great to have the audience get involved in the movies (with the "Wows" and gasps and collective laughs). Later that night he gave me a present (we went on our first date a year ago Saturday). It was a Chinese butcher's knife. I had mentioned several times that I wanted one and we hadn't gotten around to visiting Chinatown for me to buy one. And, neither of us believe the gift of a knife will cut a relationship. My view is he was thoughtful enough to buy me a great present that he knew I would like.

I was planning on using the weekend to work on his present but he then invited me to go rafting on the Bow on Sunday. So, Saturday I was busy making his present. I'm always short money in the last third part of the month so I decided to make it. Since our first date started with Ben & Jerry's ice-cream, I bought a tub at the grocery store, emptied out the ice-cream (will share it with him the next time he's up at my place) and used it as my present container. I then took blank business card paper, wrote mushy-cute notes on them and folded them into what looks like envelopes. So, his container of ice-cream contained (hee-hee) reasons why he's such a wonderful guy. I then finished up by covering the "Ben" part of the labels and putting "Karen" over top. Corny, yes, but he's quite a romantic and sweet guy (although he tries to hide it and does a terrible job). I'm also going to make him a fancy picnic on Thursday after work. Here's my tentative menu:

fresh veggies with hummus
potato omelet (well, frittata - it's yummy and is eaten at room temperature)
fresh salad with ingredients from my home garden and oil/vinegar dressing
oatmeal/dried fruit/chocolate chip cookies
caramel chocolate bars
fresh fruit cups
pink lemonade

We both like picnics and this one will have food that's a bit fancier than I normally would make. I was going to get a picnic basket from the fancy restaurant on Prince's Island (our picnic spot) but they were too expensive. Yes, it's super high end stuff but Jerry seems to really appreciate my cooking attempts.

Anyways, back to the reason for the title of this entry...

I went up to Jerry's this morning and we headed down to Kensington Sun & Salsa festival. Basically, you buy a bag of chips for $2, money goes to charity, and you go around sampling free salsa. You then vote for your favourite salsa. There's also music, dancing, shopping, performers etc. After that, we headed to Bowness Park, met up with friends, and spent the next three hours floating down the river on rafts. The sun was hot, the water was cold and it was very relaxing. I'm a bit sunburnt where I missed with sun screen. As much as I love the convenience and feel of spray-on sun screen, I find it's harder to make sure you're completely covered. Maybe I need the kid's stuff that's purple when comes out but dries clear. I'll put some aloe on tonight to help minimize the skin damage.

I've got a busy week ahead of me - there's a gardening seminar on Monday, I'm having coffee with a friend on Tuesday, dinner after work on Wednesday with another friend, the picnic on Thursday a wedding to attend on Saturday and a meal and/or coffee with yet another friend on Sunday. So, the furry family may not be impressed with me (they get upset when there's not enough Karen time) but I'm looking forward to everything.

Have a great day!

I just sent my first text message!

Hi everyone!

I've received messages on my phone but I've never actually sent one until today. It was rather difficult as my phone wanted to put in different letter than I was trying to use. Afterward, I explained my problem to a co-worker and was told my phone was set to "predictive". I've now switched to alphabet.

Hmm...I may need to look into what my plan has for text messaging.

point form 2

Hi Everyone!

Tues
-did a whole bunch of driving
-rain
-Fort Macleod: opening Canada Day ceremonies, part of musical ride (rained out), museum
-Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump: wet, great interpretive centre, will return for outdoor hike
-Waterton: deer everywhere, very pretty

Wed
-hike to Bertha Falls, partway to Bertha Lake
-climbed Bear's Hump
-rented 4 wheel bike (seated 2 people on a bench across). Let Christine steer/brake. Think I got my first grey hairs
-lots of ground squirrels
-will return for more hikes

Thurs
-Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
-sunny, hot
-climbed on hoodoos
-heard a rattle snake
-Japanese garden in Lethbridge
-very pretty

Fri
-Stampede parade
-rodeo
-Stampede grounds
-lots of fun, not as crowded as in the past (less American tourists because of high dollar and economy)

Now: very tired

Saturday: laundry, relax, Stampede chuck wagon races & evening show
Sunday: Banff
Monday: Lake Louise
Tuesday: zoo, Calgary Tower
Wednesday: back to work, family leaves