3,600km Later

Last week was a week that I will always remember. My Dad and I drove my car from Woodstock to Calgary - 3 1/2 days, 3,600km. With that much time spent driving, I ended up hearing a lot of interesting stories from my Dad. He also taught me a few things about Canada (and the world in general).

1. My Dad has passed out on a picnic table more than once.

2. After his first year of university, he flew to Calgary, hitchhiked to Banff and camped for a week. (All without telling his parents where he had gone).

3. A police car can radar you from anywhere (including when they are coming towards you.....)

4. Moose are very big!

5. The windiest corner in Canada is Portage and Main in Winnipeg.

6. My parents drove out east for their first wedding anniversary. After seeing the east coast, they woke up very early the next morning and drove straight home because they missed it.

7. My Mom really misses my Dad when he is gone.

8. Potash is used as a fertilizer.

9. The prairies are even more boring the second time around.

10. My brother is becoming more like my Dad every year.

11. My Big Nickel really isn't that exciting.

12. My Papa lived in Brandon, Manitoba as a child -which is on the 100th Meridian (Tragically Hip song).

13. Driving for 16 hours is hard and exhausting - I could never be a trucker.

How Quickly the Tides Turn

Talk about a quick turn around. Two weeks ago I loved my job, last week I started hating it. Hating it to the point that I quit on Thursday.

The job wasn't what I expected and I felt a bit mislead - turns out I was a salesperson and had to make 100 calls a day. Not exactly my cup of tea.

It's all for the better though - I have a feeling there's something better waiting for me. Or so I hope.

I see London, I see France...

...everyone in Calgary can see Kathryn's underpants.

I've been working for the Underwear Affair for two weeks now and I LOVE IT! I get to walk around Calgary, be out at the bars and go to various expos and events to promote the event - all while wearing my underwear. Yes, it may seem strange, but believe me it's beyond fun. The crazier we dress, the better response we get....and it's also a good excuse to walk up to cute boys and talk to them ;)

But don't worry, I'm not in sexy underpants - I'm in Joe Boxers as they are our national sponsors. This is about the only place where being sexy doesn't sell - it's all about costumes and being fun.

Not much else has changed around here - still getting to know the city and liking it more each day. I'm starting to really miss home though and all the small things about it. Lucky for me, we have free long distance so I can make as many calls as I want to make me feel closer. Hopefully the time will continue to pass quickly and June will be here before I know it and I will be at home for a visit. Fingers crossed.

The Pros and Cons of Calgary

Pro: The business men that wear suits downtown.
Con: The homeless men that collect bottles all over the city.

Pro: Chinooks.
Con: The dry wind.

Pro: The city doesn't use salt, therefore I don't have to worry about salt stains on my boots or the bottom of my pants.
Con: The piles of hard snow that turns into ice, which never goes away because there is no salt to help it melt.

Pro: The c-train gets me downtown quickly.
Con: The 20 minutes it takes to walk to the station.

Pro: I share the same sense of humour with my roommates.
Con: Our jokes remind me of the people I left behind in Ontario.

First Encounters

It's official. I live in Calgary. Does it feel real yet? Almost.

Today my brother took me to Ikea and in the distance I could see the mountains. That definitely made it feel more real. The closest thing to a mountain at home was the hill at Southside Park, or maybe the hills on some of the country roads, so when I saw the mountains I knew I wasn't in Ontario anymore.

When I look at my bank account it also becomes more real. Who knew groceries would be so expensive?! Thankfully, I begin work on Saturday and after speaking with the manager I may be able to get by with just a part-time job until I find something more up my alley. She mentioned something about 30 hours a week? Splendid.

Tomorrow I'm venturing out in the city by myself to explore a little, get lost and hopefully make it back to my house in one piece. It's a bit frustrating not knowing the city, but I know I'll soon understand the set-up of the streets and will find a few favourite spots of my own.

Waiting for Eighty

Whenever people talk about how old they wish they were, they always give me a confused look when I say I want to be 80 years old. I get that it's weird - most people want to stay in their teens or their 20-somethings. But not me. I can't wait to be old.

Besides the ailments that will come (bad hips, backs etc.), it's the one age I look forward to the most. It's a time where I'll be able to look back on my life and be proud of what I've accomplished - in both my career and my family.

My face will be filled with wrinkles, every one of them telling a different story. I'll chat with my grandchildren and tell them stories about "floppy disks" and sing them Backstreet Boys songs. I'll be amazed with what they are learning and where they are travelling to. I'll wonder how we ever survived without the newest technology.

But most importantly, I'll be full of advice and wisdom. I'll have tips and tricks on everything from doing laundry to finding the best deal on canned soup. When my children have a problem, I'll be the one with the right solution.

My plan is to be the hippest Grandma around, changing with the times and keeping up on all the trends. I only have to wait 57 years.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Come January I'm sure I'll be shaking my fist at the weather, but there's something about snow during the holidays that makes me feel giddy. Maybe it reminds me of my childhood, when my brother and I would run outside on Christmas morning to see reindeer footprints on our front lawn. (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

Or perhaps it boils down to all those Christmas movies where something good happened when it began to snow. Case in point, Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy's passionate kiss on the street....and when Kate Beckinsale's and John Cusack's characters find each other in Serendipity.

Whatever the reason, when the first snowfall comes it feels like Christmas right away. It seems to get everyone in the holiday spirit - something I've been feeling for the past month so I was happy to look outside yesterday and see the snow falling to the ground. Warning: expect me to full of even more holiday cheer now.