I don't recall which campground I stayed at, but it wasn't in the town of Banff. I guess the times I was there were slightly off season, usually in September, so not as crowded as I imagine it would be in summer. I think I spent part of a day in the town, but most of my time there was hiking and driving. It's probably been close to 20 years, I just remember the beautiful scenery, and that the park rangers had some interesting evening talks in the campgrounds, and I went on a couple of ranger led hikes to areas more remote than I would have done on my own. The groups involved with those were maybe 5 to 7 people, so it seemed more personal than just a group thing. I'm sure things have changed a lot since then. I think camping was $5 a day last I was there! When I can manage to head that way again, I'll have to contact you for some ideas of places to go and still avoid tourists!
Have a safe trip, Susan.
Deb
What's Happening in your neck of the woods?Chat with friends
I'm going to pack books to donate to the church book sale tomorrow, then off to the lung test at 11:30, then it's back home to pack stuff for my end of the church sale - hope to make a fair bit of change.......
Snow's all gone, and it's going to be summer-like weather for a couple of days...... we have a roller-coaster of weather now...............................
Deb .. Banff is a beautiful, BUT, overpriced 'tourist trap'. Costs have risen horribly.
One trip through we stayed at the Banff Springs Hotel , YES, that big huge hotel smack in the middle of town. I often think we must have been crazy to fork out the $$, but, it was an experience we'll always remember. We stayed there for 5 days and our son Murray still speaks of it ..
Betty, good luck in Frankenmuth .. you'll enjoy yourself and I promise to hold back the winds and cold temps here until you are home ..
Good luck with the lung test Susan, and, the book sale .. I go to book sales off and on, always hoping to find a 'PRIMER' .. you know .. Dick and Jane book from back in the late 50s
Seminar last night was awesome .. one thing the guest speaker (a doc from Waterloo) mentioned over and over again was 'TAKE VITAMIN D3 at least 2000IU daily, and, get your CALCIUM from your diet !!! Finding as showing taking calcium in pill form is not that effective, and, can cause heart troubles and/or kidney stones ..
All in all a great seminar !!
TTFN
~M~
M, I'll check with my brother, his business is selling used books. I remember the old Dick and Jane books from when I was in grammar school.
Deb
lol on Banff Marilyn - my sister went there for an anniversary many years back (when they were renovating) and got one of the older rooms. They didn't like it because the windows were so small. So, they got put in a HUGE room and it was TOO big. They weren't impressed at all. Banff is beautiful and all, but WAY too expensive - very much a tourist trap. Worst part is, the areas of town where the residents live is a 50/50. Some are pretty little houses (B&B style - very cute/rustic) and others are run-down and look like a slum...............!!! Bob & I did a "walking tour" of the back side of Banff and it was terrible......!!
Back from the lung test - seems to be clear, and when she had me use a puffer and take another test my lungs seemed no different afterwards. Years back I'd removed some asbestos tiles from a huge kitchen/dining room, and just recently we removed a wall with mould and rotted wood..... so I think that, and stress, have a lot to do with my "issues" right now.
I got a call from the Cardiologist and have an app't for Nov 29 at 1:30
Momcat, welcome!
All this talk of Banff and no one is mentioning my favorite , Jasper.
Much smaller and not as touristy. Quaint and if you splurge staying at the Jasper Park Lodge is amazing. Walk around the lake, sit by the fire. Watch the elk chase the golfers and the bears make the golfers freeze in place!
Years ago they had a Gardeners get a way so for 200.00 a person you would arrive Friday night and have a get together with food and sign up for your courses for Saturday and Sunday AM. Stay in a super room then have breakfast lunch and dinner with what ever gardening class you wanted to attend between.Back to your room. Sunday was a class or two then a huge farewell brunch. That is where I got to know Lois Hole, Donna Balzar (sp?) Jeff......I think he is out of Old College at the moment. Plus some gardening and cooking folks who had excellent advise.
I love the old hotels with all the glory restored , Chateau Lake Louise is another very neat place.
Betty drive safe. Sorry to hear about SIL , that will be a tough road for her. Jail is too good a place for those men.
M good advise with the Vitamin D3, sorry to hear about all the losses in your circle.
Susan, get lots of information and ask tons of questions.
Alberta Ann
I've never been to Jasper - guess it's on my list of places to go in Alberta! I love playing "newbie" in my province, cuz there's SO much beauty to see. and you can do a lot of it inexpensively too!!
Next Friday I'm to call for an app't with my Dr as the Lung Test is due to be back in his office by then.
I know the results, but would still like to talk it over with him and see if there are details he wants to talk about too.
I loved Jasper. I got chased by an elk in the camp ground!! Jasper Park Lodge sounds neat. I've only ever done camping in a little pup tent. but it would be wonderful to be able to stay at the Lodge. The Gardeners get away sounded like it was nice!
Deb
Jasper was amazing .. am thinking that's where we went on a gondola ride up a HUGE mountain .. course, after a bit all the mountains kind of flow one into the other .. majestice and beautiful.
One in particular in a place called Valemount caught our eye, I almost thought we were going to seriously consider moving there, but, it was a pipe dream .. a nice one though :-)
Dreary day, been to town and back .. got more NCIS DVDs .. I think we're hooked !!
Going to spend the afternoon puttting away 'STUFF' .. lawnchairs/tables etc. HAS to be done soon .. slow and steady .....
Toodles
~M~
oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if we met up in Jasper? Not tooooooo far from me - only 5 hours.......
Be a BIG trip for me unless I flew to Calgary and then drove to Jasper ...
A nice thought though ^_^
Flippin COLD here today .. damp too.
Hung sheets on the line anyway ..
Still trying to get into the 'swing of things' re putting yard stuff away, but, inside chores keep popping up ..
And, so it goes
~M~
OK guys. Jasper is only 4 hrs from Edmonton which is about the same for Banff for us. Yep there is a gondola up there. Yep the gettaway was great. They don't do it anymore, darn.
When our daughter was younger and I had to work all of the summer my husband would take her on mini Holidays where they would go around Alberta. She would ok the pool in the Hotel and they would stay for a day. After one trip to Jasper I asked her what she liked the best ,and being about 5, said the Cannollie (sp?) ride. I asked her to tell me about it and figured out it was a Gondola ride not the Italian sweet treat. We still have a good laugh about that and she has some great memories of Dad taking her all over the place.
Weather is ok here but not as nice as I'd like to get the leaves cleaned up. It rained most of the night so the air is nice and clean and crisp! Blowing the leaves is a bit easier without the dust so we shall see.
The sky is bright today so that's nice.
Let's keep our fingers crossed for the little goblins that will be out at the end of the month.
Alberta Ann
Great memories of Jasper, Ann
We don't get any goblins on Hallowe'en here........ don't have many children living in the neighbourhood, and it's too far from other neighbourhoods.
Wow, you folks have been busy posting this past week. I've been in Vancouver - still am, but it's been busy. We all went out to dinner at Seasons Restaurant in the Queen Elizabeth Park for Thanksgiving. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, DH traveled to Portland, OR to work on details for his final aunt's funeral which will be tomorrow. I stayed behind and helped out DD on Tuesday. Wednesday both kids were in daycare and she was working; so I bussed nearly to UBC to meet with a friend, a retired viola prof who has several viola d'amores - and instrument with 6 or 7 playing strings and at least the same number of sympathetic strings. I've just commissioned one and needed to learn more about them.
Friday we took Leila to Science World all day and then we had b oth kids for the weekend while DD and DSIL went with friends to Whistler for a kid-free weekend.
Tomorrow we take an early flight to Portland for Aunt Alma's funeral. She's the older sister of the aunt we lost in June and the last one remaining of that family though DH still has one of his father's brothers who will be 100 next spring. Tuesday, another early flight back to Vancouver and then on to Ottawa. At least we won't be arriving in Ottawa on the awful middle of the night flight we would have taken tomorrow.
Better go help with dinner,
Hope you have a safe and early trip home, VAnn! Nice to you to help out your DD - must have been great to spend time alone with the GKids..... bet your DD and DSIL enjoyed their "date weekend"!
Safe travels ViAnn .. when will you receive your 'viola d'amore'? Sounds like a beautiful instrument.
Gorgeous day here .. the sun is back with us, and that makes even the lower temps easier to take ^_^
Can't believe we were all 'static' today .. no one has an appt., that all changes tomorrow mind you, and, for the rest of the week.
Wonder how Betty made out in Frankenmuth .. lots of great deals I can imagine .. sure hope her trip down and back was uneventful in the weather dept.
TTFN
~M~
Afternoon all, was late evening when I got in and lordy I was tired..getting old, put on 1378 kl in 3 days!!
We had a wonderful time, always love going to Frankenmuth..lots to see, mega things to buy and can always find a treat at the fabric shop!!
Heavy rain thoughout the weekend but didn't drown the excitement of the day.
Just off for lunch, will come back to chat in a bit..warm out there
Good to hear you made it back Betty .. that's a lot of Kms LoL
The house is still 'a buzz' with the news of Dalton M resignation as leader of the Provincial Liberals .. quite the move.
Busy day .. physio with Lorna before 9am .. then some shopping .. hoping my hips will let me .. I sure am pushing myself ..
Take care everyone
~M~
Morning, soooo damp out there, all the bones are aching, what a joy to get older!
That was quite an unexpected turn of events. Do you think he is setting up for Federal Government?
Ohhh how exciting ViAnn not only spending time with the family but getting to commission a 'viola d'amore' any idea when you will receive it?
AlbertaAnn did the weather co-operate so that you were able to get the leaves cleaned up? Note to self, next time I buy a house please make sure there are no trees on the lot..lordy, as I drove out of the yard I saw nothing but yellow on the property..talk about leaves.
This will be the first year that the boys are of an age I'm not asked to make costumes..will save mega $$$ re purchases for the costumes but will miss it.
We have from time to time had snow on Halloween, let's hope that is not the case this year
Betty - heard there were some pretty strong winds in your neck of the woods..........
Sure were, thought it would pick me and my vehicle right off the road. Talk about leaves in my yard...
The boys will be by to clean up your yard, won't they? Don't want You blowing away lol
No, no boys to help
Jeff is away on business these next few weeks, his boys are in hockey so unable to come up
Greg/Mel have a huge yard of their own, their boys are always into something..all up to me, don't really mind, just have to get at it. Sometimes I wait until spring, doesn't damage anything.
My problem is that when am I home, rarely..again this weekend it's off to Buffalo
quick check-in from YVR - have already come from PDX and will soon leave for YOW.
The viola d'amore, I won't have until late spring. Olivia is making a cello first for someone else. So there's time to think about it.
waving as you rush through..
Happy trails to everyone who is travelling .. I am staying put for a bit ..
Rainy day here .. off and on spitters and spatters of rain .. supposedly freezing rain overnight .. we'll see
Parked beside the Mall where the physio dept is located, put a quarter in the meter (thankfully not a Loonie first) and, it was jammed .. well .. what to do .. here's Lorna all unloaded and on her way in in the rain .. and I help her with doors etc .. so .. I left the meter as was ..
texted my son a bit later and he said to take a picture of the meter .. but, not to worry, when we got out, there was a "FAILED' advisement inside the top of the meter. .. I still took a pic tho .. don't think I'll use that meter tomorrow ..
HUGE sale on 'stuff' at Shoppers today, went in to pick up meds and was so surprised by the crowds .. I didn't really see anything too outstanding, got some Vit D3 for a good price though ^_^
Should get supper on the go ..
TTFN
~M~
arrrrrrgh........ I just got my new internet service/TV/phone, and my email isn't set up by them yet.
I'm waiting for an email regarding my potential position (being emailed by the agency to my old and new email addy's, but now I can't receive either......)............ arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
I called them and was told it could take up to 24 hours from now.......
I asked him to put it on priority because I'm waiting for info on a JOB. He said he'd "make a note on my file" arrrrrrrgh!
Oh my Susan, how frustrating, and, I do understand.
Computers enhance our lives, but, at times I could literally throw mine out the window.
Gord brought home some articles from a Fish and Game meeting he attended. He wanted me to scan them to file and send them to another member. No problem, I do it often .. well .. DANG ME if the PRINTER has decided it really doesn;t want to appear to be CONNECTED to my computer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have unplugged it, changed USB ports .. you name it ..now I think it's having a hissy fit because it needs a colour cartridge .. we'll see.
I do hope your problem is solved quickly Susan.
~M~
Thanks Marilyn - my trouble is that I'm a techie (or used to be, when it was my job) and I don't want to admit defeat!
BUT - I DID get my laptop connected through WiFi. Now, to wait wait wait until I get email........ I'm waiting for an email re: a job, and not happy with my first day on the new server........
I'm HOME!
Marilynne - when that happened to me with a meter I HAD thrown a loonie into it. Left the car with a note stuck in the meter but got a ticket anyway even though my errand only took 15 minutes. But I successfully fought it.
Good for you, Ann - it's nice to know you can win a fight against a ticket! Congratulations to you.
Glad to know you're home, too!
This message was edited Oct 17, 2012 11:52 AM
It was Ann that won the 'ticket fight' .. I escaped unscathed ..
Dreary day here .. physio was PACKED .. lots of aching bodies out there, and, winter hasn't even arrived ..
Bought a 'moist heat' heating pad today .. my gosh is it nice .. just hope it works after a few treatments ..
Have a rather brazen 'CHIPMUNK' terrorizing the dogs and cat, he has even tried to scoot into the house !!!!!
Cake in the oven, watching it rise .. this cake recipe is so easy and, the results are wonderful .. I know Carol was going to try it .. it's simply a can of crushed pineapple mixed into an angel food cake mix, poured into a bundt pan, baked for 35 min @ 350 .. take out .. suspend the bundt pan on a bottle of some sort ... I use a beer bottle, place it on a plate, and let it cool and drop .. sometimes you have to gently go around the pan with a knife and loosen the cake .. OH .. it has to be on the bottom rack of the oven as well ..
Off I go
~M~
Going to have to try it "M" if I ever stay home long enough!
One minute its sunshine and another its windy/cold..guess that is why they call it fall.
Is the moist pad for your shoulders? Dying here, pain is totally exhausting me
neck and shoulder blades, lordy feels as though an army or two are sitting on my shoulders, can hardly keep my head up. Been taking pain killers galore, not helping.
Today I'm trying to put my feet up, back into the chair in hopes of relieving the pain, works for a bit then not. ahhhh the joys of getting old!
Betty .. I was a 'doubting Thomas' with this Moist heat heating pad. It's pricey, but, it is also GOOD ~~
Have used it twice today and really feel some relief .. mind you, as I am dealing with arthritis, the relief is short lived, but, ANY relief is GOOD.
There are varying sizes .. mine is 14" by 14" .. you need that much to kind of wrap around the hip area .. no lying on these units, or sitting, they are to be laid over the area .. how it makes the moisture is anyones best guess, but, it does .. very soothing ..
Bought it at Shoppers Home Health Centre (not the drug store) .. it's a digital moist heating pad .. can't remember the name .. "therma something" ..
Hope you feel better Betty ..
Wind is up here and rain ...
Tea time
~M~
I Got A Job! It's a "temp to perm" position, but I start it tomorrow at 9am!
It's an Excavating company, and the wages are in line with what I've been making.
The agency called me about it this aft, asked if I would like to start, confirmed me with the company and I just got the call back to start tomorrow!! woo hoo!!
Came home, hot bath, pain killers and fast asleep..Darlene called soon after so now I'm wide awake!
Great news Susan..how many office staff are there? Guess you will fing out in the am..
Not sure "M" we have that type of shoppers in our area..will have to go looking.
Just hate the thought ig going to Buffalo this weekend but after going several times in past month mom would think its because I just don't want to go. I'll be taking her sister Muriel and my step dad Jim..Lord have mercy on me!
Time to try and drift off again!
I went to a dollar store, and got a 10" rotating platform for $2!!
I'm going to use a shelf liner to hold the cutting mat in place, and as long as what I'm cutting is smaller than 10", I'm Good!!
Here's the website for the company:
http://www.ourlifeisdirt.com/about_profile.bpsx
They started in Winnipeg, and I'm going to tell them I started in Winnipeg too LOL
Congrats on the job Susan, hope your first day is a good one, kind of exciting.
Your trip to Buffalo will be busy Betty, just have fun
Rainy Day, staying put, Lorna will go to her dental appointment on her own, I'm not feeling all that well. I took the pain patch off its doing me no good at all. See my doc next week.
TTFN
M
Congrats on the job Susan - I hope you enjoy it and it becomes permanent.
Hi - 1st day at the new job was great - team is very friendly, and they seem to think my attitude/work ethic is JUST what the Dr ordered lol I think I'd enjoy working with the people at the company, and the work seems to be offering me a challenge - I like that very much. :-)
Just one issue and it's a big one - I start work @ 8:30 and no breaks, finish at 5pm. Actually they said I could have 30 min lunch, but cannot leave my desk! In addition to Office Coordinator position (very busy role), I am also their receptionist. No mid-morning or afternoon coffee break either. I've emailed to the employment agency about this. There is no way that I cannot leave my desk except to fill my coffee and go to the washroom What if I want to sit in the lunchroom, or go for a walk? There is no one to relieve me from the front desk. Sure, I need to leave my desk to do other work like go to someone's office, but that's still work.