Showing posts with label Catch-Up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catch-Up. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Catching Up
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Blog Catch Up - Would you like Fries with that?
A lot has happened since I started my Blog Hiatus... so a quick update is in order. 
Rocking in the free world...
Happy Blogiversary to Summer's Daydreams, which turned 5 years old on Feb 18th! 5 years ago I started this blog for my random thoughts, petty complaints and various political opinions - but more importantly as a journal, recording events and experiences as they happen to me. I don't know if I planned for the blog to still be alive 5 years later, but it is very interesting to see the evolution of me over those years. I have to admit now the blog has become an important part of my life.
Election Central in Meadowlark
I was appointed Returning Officer in Edmonton Meadowlark which proved to be an amazing experience. I started very late in the process due to the resignation of the previous RO and almost immediately found the challenges I faced to be very unique. I had to hire and train enumerators for a partial enumeration and assess the constituency growth areas (I even created a new polling area), all before Feb 1. Then I had to hire two full time office staff (and find said office) and proceed to hiring almost 200 people to work on election day. Reading that back, it doesn't seem so hard, but consider that all election officers have to be eligible electors and live within Meadowlark (in this job market) and that I wasn't legally able to sign a lease until writ drop yet we legally had to be open for business by day two. Once the writ period actually started we were so busy that it went by at an incredible pace - candidate nominations, training (I ran five training sessions), arranging for ballots and polls on election day, etc. If it wasn't for my amazing office staff I'm not sure it would have been so rewarding - but I really did enjoy it. Working as an RO allowed me to be part of the democratic process in a way I've never considered before and has given me a greater appreciation of the process and everything that goes into running an election.
Another year older, another hole in my head!
I had a birthday in March... and turned... well, it's not really a secret. I'm 36 years old. I had a lot of fun and was spoiled terribly which is always good in my books. I also died my hair dark and had three new piercings done.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Blog Catch Up - Would you like Fries with that?
Yes indeed, it is time for another installment of "Blog Catch Up." A lot has happened since the summer and I haven't had much of an opportunity to sit down and blog about it. So, without further ado, here goes.
The Columbia Icefields
Due to the fact that I contracted E-Coli this summer we had to cancel our family trip to Ottawa, which I felt very guilty about since it also meant we missed Elaine's wedding. When I felt better we went to Jasper for four days, during which time we explored many lakes, crevices and mountains - it was gorgeous. We also went to see the Columbia Icefields - the glaciers were very impressive - but receeding.
My sister Kate
For the first time in my life I met my sister Kate, who came out to visit from England. The experience of welcoming my sister to Canada, my home and even more so my family was life altering - but it felt completely normal and never uncomfortable.
Duncan meets Brian Mulroney
As part of Duncan's birthday celebrations this year I got tickets for lunch with Brian Mulroney, which included Mulroney's new book, which he signed. All in all the lunch was enjoyable - but that Duncan got to talk to Mr. Mulroney was the high point.
My sister's Ambulance
Life is sometimes full of surprises... Part way through my sister's trip to Canada she woke up (after having back pain for a couple of days and seeing a chiropractor) and couldn't feel her legs below her knees. That started a flurry of activity that involved two hospitals, a CT Scan and an MRI, emergency spinal surgery and the long road to recovery - she's back in England now but still can't walk. I would issue a strong warning here to everyone thinking of going to a Chiropractor - don't. The guy she saw said she had to come back 72 time to get fixed... but in reality what he did was push her disk into her spine - the Surgeon said another hour before surgery and she would have been paralyzed. For Life.
Raven's New Glasses
Raven turned 12, got accepted into the Junior High that she applied to (and she is loving it) and had to get glasses. The real story behind the glasses is how many places we had to go to find a pair she liked - these were eventually found at the university in HUB mall where they had many cool frames.
Duncan turns 29 years old
Duncan turned "almost 30" this year - and like a fine wine he is getting better with age! The way things worked out he had two birthday parties - the traditional one at Hooters and one at home on his actual birthday, so he got spoiled. (Here is the Pic everyone wants to see).
Happy Thanksgiving!
With my sisters surgery and recovery she missed her flight back to England - which meant they got to stay and share a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with us, which was wonderful. I used our Dad's china and cooked a turkey with all he trimmings. Neither Kate nor Mel have ever had a Thanksgiving meal since, well, no pilgrims in London I guess. I was delighted to have them with us.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Blog Catch Up - Would you like Fries with that?
This is what happens when I don't alot myself enough time to blog; I fall behind and I make myself feel better with a hefty helping of "blog-catchup." So, without further ado:
Duncan's Lobby Conference is this week and he's been very busy recently putting everything together to ensure a great conference for all involved. Thankfully he wasn't too busy to take me for green beer on St Patrick's Day - a first for me! Being a religion scholar means St Patrick isn't my favourite Saint, so I'd hadn't yet indulged!
When my darling "little" boy all of a sudden told me he needs a haircut and new dress shoes (he wears a size 11 mens now!) I suspected something was up - turns out he had a big concert band competition - the very next day. They did wonderfully, of course, and the Ajudicator awarded his Band with a "Superior" and a "Very Excellent," top marks!
My lovely daughter has always been a straight "A" student, with the lone except of PE, where she always seems to get a "B." While I don't think a "B" in PE class is anything to be upset about, it has become an obsession of hers to increase this mark (she does remind me of myself at times). I do suppose it could be worse, she could discover Facebook! 
Duncan was invited by the ATA to be part of thier Political Action conference by being part of their Blogger Panel. Ken Chapman, Nicole Martel, Daveberta and of course, Duncan, spoke to the Political Action Officers about blogs as alternative media, as political tools and about how to have influence in the blogosphere. I was happy to be there and I enjoyed the dialogue. It was interesting to hear the personal motivations and stories behind each of their blogging and some of the questions that the teachers asked are still rattling around in my head, daring to provoke some non work related thoughts. The horror!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Blog Catch Up - Would you like Fries with that?
First I will sheepishly apologize to my Blog as the many things that have kept my attention this past little while have also kept me away from it. Of course I have relevant excuses, but they are just that - excuses. I will now try to make up for it.
We had Ed Stelmach for Dinner last week
My political worlds continue their mad crash into each other; My (now) full time campaign job seems often to overlap with my Constituency and Party obligations (hosting my Leadership Dinner Series, recruiting leadership neutral people for the Meadowlark Polling Stations, attending party meetings and of course preparing for nomination and the next election) and leaves me artfully changing hats in mid stream - this really is an exciting time to be involved in politics in our province and despite all of it I am happy I have the opportunity to participate! And I will add that every time I hear my candidate speak I know with even more conviction that I am supporting the right guy for the future Alberta I imagine and want.
Go Oiler's GO!
Living in Edmonton right now is also interesting in it's own right - The Oilers are heading into the Stanley Cup Finals and the entire city literally buzzes with it's collective excitement (excepting some miscreants on Whyte Ave) - and I have even begun to cheer happily for the Oilers. They carry my hopes and Stanley Cup Dreams into this next series and I am dreaming some big dreams! In addition, anyone who doubts the hearts and spirits of Canadians everywhere should listen to this. My heart swells everytime I play it. Oh Canada indeed!
True Blue Edmontonians
See, the world really does revolve around me!
Duncan and I found such an amazing fare (well, actually, our wonderful travel agent found it after about three months of looking) for our upcoming Anniversary trip that Quynn decided to come along as well - so all three of us will be heading to Washington, DC at the end of June to visit with the Smiths and celebrate our second wedding anniversary. There are many activities that are being planned but I think what I want to say about it right now is that it feels very right to be celebrating this occasion with Murray, Barb and Quynn. Plus our dollar has never been worth more in Duncan's entire life - now is certainly the time to visit the USA!
The first meal on Duncan's new BBQ
I recently used my raise to buy Duncan a BBQ... it was quite the process - BBQ Shopping - and after a few different trips and a many different stores finally the perfect BBQ was selected (it even has a side burner!) and I am happy to say that since the BBQ has been constructed I have not had to cook anything! YAY for BBQ!
My recent spoiling of Duncan may have contributed to his recent spate of romantic attention towards me; he bought me roses out of the blue, he purchased me a computer game so that I could play online with him (I must admit, even though I don't get a lot of time to play, I am enjoying it immensely!) and then this email appeared in my inbox the other day:>
> You are gorgeous and divine. I love you. Thank you for being my loving wife
>
> Love,
> Duncan
Pssst... You're Welcome!
Duncan makes some very good Martinis
In my "spare time" I have been having fun with my camera, with LOST (just finished reading the Bad Twin), with Guild Wars, with West Wing (too bad it's over now) and planting my vegetable garden. In other news Duncan and I have been busy discussing preparations for the addition of a family member (that's my coy way of saying "baby" without causing too much fanfare) in the next couple of years and the purchase of a new vehicle (which is becoming a neccessity but I have mixed emotions about). Wesley and Raven are very much looking forward to the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation and I am happy to just enjoy life as it comes these days, even if it is busy - it makes the down time all that more precious. Hopefully in the near future my downtime will include X-Men III, DaVinci Code, Flight93, V for Vendetta and whatever else time has conspired to make me miss (...don't get your panties in a bunch).
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