Sunday, December 31, 2006

Auld Lang Syne!

Our Family in Disneyland

This was the year I turned 34 years old – getting old, next year is the big 35! 2006 has been a fabulous year for me and my family.

NEW HANGOUT: Starbucks (We’re hopelessly hooked)

BEST GIFT: Disneyland for Christmas!

FAVORITE SONG: Sweet Neo-Con

NEW HOBBY: Photography!

BEST MOVIE: An Inconvenient Truth

BEST DVD: Cars

BEST VIDEO GAME: Animal Crossing Wild World

BIGGEST CHANGE: Wesley changed schools this year

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Finding family time among the demands of politics!

BIGGEST BLESSING OF THE YEAR:
New Family Member
! Duncan's step Mom was able to join us from Vietnam this year.

MOST STIRRING POLITICAL ISSUE: I worked very hard on two Leadership Campaigns, Dave Hancock and Ed Stelmach, this entire year.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and our Wedding Anniversary which is on 07/07/07 (hopefully the two events will coincide). Also – Order of the Phoenix!

PREDICTIONS FOR 2007: A smoke free Alberta!

LOOKING BACK: 2005 and 2004 and 2003

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I wish you all the best for a happy, safe and prosperous 2007!

Monday, December 25, 2006

Why Men Can't Wrap Presents

As I sit here listening to my husband struggling to wrap my gifts in the adjacent room (he mutters a lot under his breath) I read this on Larry Johnsrude's blog. It is perhaps the most hilarious thing I have read in some time, and Duncan is in stitches as I read it out loud to him. Thanks to Larry for a laugh this early Christmas Morn!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Christmas time is for Family


Happy Holidays from the Wojtaszek - Smyth - Campbell Family!

Friday, December 22, 2006

Happy Chanukkah!


Thanks to Cora for inviting us to enjoy their last night of Hanukkah with them - the Latkes were delicious and we had a lot of fun getting a good spin on the dreidels - playing for chocolate money of course!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Disney's California Adventure Park


My Favourite shot of the day...


I think... it was a hard choice, as there are many! We spent all day today, after eating brunch at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney, in Disney's California Adventure - and we had so much fun! California Screamin' might just be my favourite ride (Roller Coaster) - everytime I was on it I had the thoughts that this (speed, wind in the face, happiness, freedom, adrenaline, fun) is what life is really about! Will have to go ride all the rides in Disneyland tomorrow just to make sure!

Friday, December 15, 2006

Disneyland, California


Where Dreams Come True!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Long Beach, California!


First day in California - we went from Anaheim to Long Beach to walk along the water front and visit Hooters, Long Beach. More pictures HERE.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Life Returning to Normal?

Not quite yet... I will still be busy with campaign related stuff until I leave for Disneyland. I haven't even given a first thought to Christmas yet (as some one said to me yesterday "Allie, you're running out of time!") but I am confident I will pull it together. Received a great blog related message in a Christmas card a couple of days ago (thanks Lilly). It said:

"Can't wait until after Dec 2nd for you to resume normal posting. Local Politics make my eyes glaze over - Sorry!!"

Hmmmm... Normal. Not sure I remember yet what normal is!

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Kevin Taft Can't Count


"Ed was everyone's compromise second choice" said Liberal Leader Kevin taft. "That's why he won."

Last Totals, before counting the second choice votes had Ed Stelmach in first place - with 482 votes ahead of second place Jim Dinning. Calculating the second choice votes gave 25,813 to Stelmach for a total of 77,577 - keeping him in first place by 22,068.

Here's another number Taft should count - 144,022 Progressive Conservatives came out yesterday to elect a new Leader. How many voted for him in his "Leadership" election?

And who invited Taft to our party anyway?

Nice Guys DO Finish First!

Premier Ed Stelmach


All this week my husband has been asking me "Why can't you just stop working and come to bed?"

This is why.

And it feels good.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

PC Alberta Leadership 2006



Running Total:

With 81 polls reporting:
Jim Dinning — 49,440
Ted Morton — 38,167
Ed Stelmach — 45,890

Total Votes Cast: 133,497

PS. Believe it or not, I am blogging from the ladies washroom - it's the only place I could find with a plug in.

Don't Forget to Vote Today!


When you go to the polling station in your constituency today to vote you will be given a preferential ballot listing three names (Ed Stelmach, Jim Dinning and Ted Morton). You will be asked to rank the two candidates that you prefer by placing a "1" beside your first choice and a "2" beside your second choice.

You can opt to only select one candidate (your ballot will be considered valid), but I wouldn’t recommend it. If your preferred candidate does not make it into the top two after the first count then your second choice will be counted instead; if you have neglected to make a second choice your vote just won’t count, meaning you won’t have an influence on the outcome (if no one candidate gets a clear majority on the first count then second ballot choices will decide the leadership). It’s worth noting they only count the second choice votes of the third place candidate, and not those of the top two.

You can not vote twice for one single candidate. You must make either one or two selections, indicating your choice with a number 1 and 2 respectively. Do not mark a third choice – if you do your ballot may be considered spoiled.

You can still vote even if you didn't vote in the first ballot last Saturday. Buy a $5.00 PC Alberta membership at the Polling Station in your constituency between 9:00am and 7:00pm today.

If you don't know your constituency you can find it using this link.

Duncan Wojtaszek, Debate Commentator


"Stelmach demonstrated a clear ability to listen and be inclusive while he never played down his ideas: a supplemental Alberta pension or money for municipalities were strongly advocated for. Plus both Jim and Ted thought so too - they were agreeing with Ed most of the time."

"All three echoed their same lines. Dr. Morton talking about Ottawa, Mr. Dinning offered broad visions and platitudes, and Ed offering an inclusive and effective government. I'm voting for Ed."


In Edmonton Journal (subscription only).