Coldonion

Monday came and went with out much of a hicup.
Played with the cats...played some Halo2....washed the car.... dropped off our newspapers at the recycle bin...and had Subway for dinner....
The chipolte steak sandwich is pretty good, though I find that things that are supposed to be *HOT* in Canada are pretty mild. Except for some strange reason, Chicken wings, but even that varies from bar to bar.
Other than that, no revelations today..
& neck still a bit sore.

Up this morning early, fed cats and had coffee.
Last night we went to see The Aviator, it was pretty good. Don't think I'll be watching the awards tonight though....
I am gonna try reading a book about human societies this month, instead of the usual sci-fi I read. I picked it up in 2004 but did not really get into it. Might be interesting to actually learn something from a book for once.

Out of bed with coffee in hand.
Another weekend with nothing planned.
Household cleaning and chores to do.
And don't forget the toilets to.

Well, here we are at another weekend, neck feeling better now, just really really tired. Think I'm gonna climb back into bed for a bit, and plan out the weekend. Saturday I think we are gonna go to a movie, I have been wanting to see the aviator for a bit. Maybe go look at some houses for a bit on Sunday.
Have not heard anything good from the immigration, someone who is going though the same thing sat next to a immigration officer on the train this week. Apprently if everything is not in PERFECT order it gets pushed into a review later pile. *Sigh*. Not that work there moves at any sort of speed anyway!! Well, either we hear something in 1 month or 1 year, who knows???

Well the neck is feeling a bit better, don't think I will be boardin' till next week. Had some really crappy dream about being back in Bermuda on my last day at work. Woke up feeling kinda weird, hopefully I can try to shake it off, with a whole day of nothin'.....!
I think I will go for an early walk before lunch today, try to keep the sore bits stretched.

515pm

Coffee, cookie & a whole lot of readin' down at the starbucks, nice & relaxed beside the fire. What a warm day it has turned out to be, sweating a bit walking back and trying not to step in the big puddles that are forming everywhere.

Made some pizza dough, and am getting ready to cook in about another hour and a half. Well off to watch the boob tube.

My neck is pretty sore this morning but I am feeling pretty good in the knees, I really start to feel old after I snow board, with all the aches and pains the day after.
Today is going to be a quiet day, wonder down to the shops to pick up dinner, and maybe a coffee at Starbucks.
I read in the Royal Gazette that there was strike action yesterday with the customs workers, brings back warm, fuzzy feelings ...... no wait that's disgust.....
Today it is pretty warm, and supposed to stay this way, I think, now I think I'm gonna pop of read a bit, and try to figure out those wierd dreams I had this morning, they were pretty Sci-fi'ish, a mix between Andromeda (tv show) and Alien (the movies). I will upload some photo's to the web a bit later.

Relaxed at Starbucks reading for a bit, walked back home and picked up some dinner fixin's.
Man, both sides of my neck are really, REALLY sore, guess I bashed by head a bit harder than I thought.
Watched the New Iron Chef show, a Canadian chef went up against Morimoto, I was a bit disapointed in the judging, ah well.
Gonna take some asprin and head off to bed.

Picked up Mark yesterday morning and went to Lake Louise, it was a pretty drive going Banff, I left home at 6 a.m. and was watching the moon set over the mountains on the way in, with a light touch of sunrise behind in the rear view mirror.
Mark and I ski (and boarded) the back area of the mountain, it is a great ski area, not very much people on the mountian either since we got there that early.
Had a pretty good fall and hit my head pretty hard, it was good that I had my helmet on, I think I paid for the helmet right there. I think that next week I will enroll in some group lessons to pick up some more tips.
Had lunch and chatted about Bermuda and work, then when up on the mountain in the afternoon.
I went down earlier than Mark because I was pretty spent by then.
After we left we stopped for a couple of photo's then dropped Mark off at his hotel. Zipped back to Calgary to find that most of the snow has melted, and picked up Roanna, went to dinner, home & bed.
A pretty long day.

Here in Alberta they have Family Day (I think on the third weekend of the month), so it is a day off to do things with your family (hence why Banff hotels were jammed pack this weekend). So we decided to probalby get caught up with cleaning house, and washing clothes. Though it did catch my eye that we may go to the town of Vulcan when the roads clear up & it warms up later in the year. They apparently tie themselves into Star Trek, so there are some things to see and do (and buy).

Well off to get coffee......and probably a McGriddle meal, man those things are addictive!

Stayed around the house until about 4ish then went to Roanna's parents for a light evening meal. Ended up at a pub later playing those golf games where you have to spin the ball to move you golf glub. Played to games, I knocked about 40 strokes off by the second game. It was a pretty quiet day. Roanna went on a walk to a park and feed birds out of her hand, she was pretty excited by this. May have to try it and take the camera next time.

Well got in touch with Mark & Leanne, I was calling the wrong hotel on Friday, so after a breakfast of champions (the McDonalds "McGriddle") We were on the road to Banff. It was quite a nice day, we picked them up and drove to Canmore, had lunch and gossiped about Bermuda and the old "job" at the Fire Department. Ate at a pretty good restaurant then proceded to walk of the dessert as we wandered around shopping and window shopping. Canmore is pretty cool, with lots of small shops offering different stuff than Banff shops.
After we drove back to Banff, we went a pub on the hotel grounds (the Banff Springs), man that hotel is HUGE. We had a drink and then came back home to Calgary. It was my first time driving from Banff to Calgary in the dark, and with the wind and snow it was a bit scary, I was glad to get back into Calgary.
The cats were very happy to see us, when we walked in the door, and was even left with a little "present" upstairs. One of the cats ate something that did not agree with them, though it was not to messy, the joy of being a cat owner.
Still reading my book, though it has reached a very cool plot twist! I really love reading Iain Banks.
Looking forward to Tuesday, gonna meet mark early and go to Lake Louise for some boarding.
Will edit in a pick later when I get it on the website.

Not much to do right now, found out last night that I had to get a replacement cord for my xbox. So one is on the way.
Reading in todays paper, that Calgary is in need of Firefighter, it's about the third time in a month that I have read this. Pretty good news there.
Got some news back from Bermuda, which all in all was pretty good.
Going out later in the evening to do some stuff with April & Mark, probably play some pool or something like that.
Tommorow we are supposed to go to Banff to meet friends, so hopefully I can get in contact with them before this evening.
Other than that not much going on.

Moved Maxine last night, she was comfee on the bed when I got out, (cats on both sides), I picked her up to get into bed and placed her back in her spot, when I leaned back she *squeaked*, I let her go after that, she seems none worse for the wear.
Having a lazy day that usually follows the "active boarding day", walked down to Starbucks and drank coffee & had a Pumpkin scone, while reading my new book. Found someones keys & turned gave them to an employee, about ten minutes later a lady showed up and asked about them, I pointed the way for her.
Walked around the Superstore, man is it big, they expanded, the place is huge, I love the selection of ethinic foods that they have, but Roanna does not like to shop there since she can never find anything.
Picked up some sushi and had it for lunch at home, not bad for sushi that has an expire date. Usually I don't eat this but everything is cooked, not a bad price for what you get.
Been thinking of that new Dr. Pepper comercial, the one where the woman starts to imagine her date singing that Mi-na-mi-nah song, while she is drinking it. Now I want to see that muppet show act when they did that. Takes me back quite a few years.
Tomorrow it is more of the same, thinkg I'm gonna price the parts to repair the toilet in the main bathroom, Roanna saw water leaking from the bottom of it the other day, though it has not done it since, whipped out my plumbers repair handbook that I brought, like, 5 years ago but never used. It says that the wax ring needs to be replaced, looks do able, gonna do it probably Monday or later next week. Kinda grossed out about it, you know what happens on a toilet, don't you? But hey, I can eat sushi from a grocery store, (packed in Edmonton no less), don't know how those two subjects go together so I'm gonna go.
Gotta make some mashed potatoes.
Do-doooo-dee-do-do

Took the car and drove to Banff, missed the turn off to Lake Louise, but did and illegal "U-we" and got back on track.
It was great, thought I would practice riding "fakie" (my opposite foot forward, the right foot), on the Bunny hill after lunch, did that for about twenty feet. Then went up the Grizzle gondola and rode down, I was pretty happy, getting better now (only about one wipe out per run). And feel pretty confident on the Blue runs.
Went back to Calgary and MAILED MY IMMIGRATION!!! Whahoo! after 5 months of being here, so now the immigration process can start it slow wheels turning. According to the web site, it will be about 20 to 22 months before they mail me my official beaver skin touque with stitched on maple leaf. I should get permission to look for work in about six months (hopefully).

Must get another hobbie.........

Well got my photos, and completing my forms.
Spent the morning going downtown to get my photos, train broke down one stop before I got off (a long stop mind you so I had to wait for the replacement train). Then a trainride back home, since I ran out of money and could not get any lunch (which was cool cause I had leftovers from last night at home anyway).
Had a quiet semi-romantic dinner with Roanna, dim lights, candle lights, music ....and lounging clothes, you know the scruffy stuff you don't wear out of the house.
I gave Roanna flowers in the afternoon at her job, she gave me a book I have been wanting for a month.
Dinner was nice, Proscutto wrapped scallops, salad with sesame dressing, Grilled lamb with Rissoto & asparagus, chocolate dipped sponge cake. took about three hours to make & clean up. It was quite fun with Maxine meowing at me for all that time, when I work in the kitchen she is behind me meowing!
Watched Romancing the Stone, afterwards and had desert. Hmmmm Valentine's.
Wish I had something else happen that was cool, but the train breaking down was about the most excitment I had.

Woke up with a serious hangover, and decided not to go downtown today. Dropped off Roanna @ work and had breakfast at Denny's.
Went shopping for Dinner tonight, Scallops, salad with sesame dressing, lamb & asparagus rissotto, and sponge cake dipped in melted white & dark chocolate. Hopefully it call comes out well. We both dicided (after last night) to just have soda water instead of wine.

Other than that, everything is melty and my sneakers are wet. Tommorow will go downtown & get my photo take (again) for the immigration forms. Fun & exciting.....

Got up & got some breakfast and coffee.
Went back to be and slept to 2 p.m. Guess I was a bit more tired than I thought.
Tried to upload some hearts on my website for Valentines but am having trouble with publishing the changes. Oh Well, hopefully the techs can get it fixed soonish.

Planning the day Tommorow, a nice quiet dinner with Roanna at home, should be nice and romantic. Gonna run around and finish the last of the immigration stuff in the morning then give Roanna the car back & train home.

Other than that planning it was clean house day, kinda dull and grey like the current weather. Cats are going bonkers as well.

Think I deffinately will be going snowboarding on Tuesday, need some excitement.

Ah well, tah for now.

Well drank beer & watched TV, got my last bit of info for my immigration forms so will be spending the rest of the weekend "crossing t's & dotting i's".

Watched enterprise last night, pretty good, big plot twist but it is a bit moot now that the show is finishing up. ah well.

Thinking about boarding on Tuesday, just to keep in practice, the weekend Roanna & I will drive to Banff to visit some friends visiting from Bermuda, we could not find a Hotel to stay in since it is the long weekend, we left it to late, and the hills will probably be quite busy.

Ah well, now gonna go find some breakfast.

Well been back for a bit now, walked down to Shawnesy, and had lunch at Boston Pizza, sat and read for a while, then walked back.
Got to hear & see the freight train go by as I was walking back, it is a bit spooky, took me a few weeks when I got here to figure out what the low rumbling was at 3 in the morning. Then one day I got caught at the train tracks watching this mile long train go by. Lots of chemicals & Propain tanks, thinking to myself its gonna be a great evacuation on morning if anything ever happens. It reminded my of those disaster films I used to watch for Hazardous Material training of these huge tanks flying though the air landing miles away. Anyway, probably being a bit on the pesimistic side. No the tank WILL land on my house, there thats better.

Anyhoo, got a picture loaded up, and I swear it's leagal. Not that that makes much of a difference up here.

Maxine (my tabby cat) has been at my feet for the last half hour making her sad little meows at me, she is getting a bit hungry, only a little bit more before feeding. She is a great cat though.

Well thats about it, I hope some exciting things happen to make this a little more interesting for you all. Gonna go play some Xbox live.

Lots of enthusiam,

It's been 15 minutes and an update all ready. Update the profile, added interests, etc, etc. Hmmm could this be another way for goverments to collect info???? Hmmm, well gonna figure out how to upload pics, I don't feel like installing another photo editor on my computer so it may take a while.

Got the night free tonight, kinda in the mood for Sushi, but have no way to get to a restaurant and back other than train and hoofin' it, and I don't wanna haul sushi around for an hour. Star Trek is on tonight, so I get my Sci-fi fix. Hopefully this is the end one to the story arc that they are doing, these TO BE CONTINUED shows get me all worked up for some strange reason (and not in a good way). To bad they cancelled the show.

Now I am really gonna get my butt out of the house, and wander around for a bit, just to get some fresh cold air.

Well I have finally started a Blog. Just got my website up last week and after making many changes to it I think I will blog here and keep the basic stuff on the web.

If anyone want's to see it is here http://members.shaw.ca/ianfoggo/.

Well I guess the first question is what is a Coldonion? Well Onion was a term used back in Bermuda for a local, and I moved up to Canada, hence Coldonion.

Now what else, I really don't do much right now since I cannot work yet, havn't put in the papers just yet, but next week everthing will be in, then of course comes the usual buracratic speed. At last update a six month process was taking 20 to 22 months to complete, though in all fairness if and that is a big IF things go correctly in six months I should be able to look for work.

Well I keep saying, it took Roanna a year to get permission to look for work when she moved to Bermuda back in 1999 so it is not to bad.

Occasionally I get inspired and actually get something productive done (like my immigration paperwork), or get in the mood to drive to the mountains and do some snowboarding.

Well hopefully I will find some things of interest to coment on, I am looking forward to Monday, Valentines day, I plan to cook up a nice asparigus rissoto, wine candles maybe some duck or something like that. Should be nice. Gotta remember to get some flowers for Roanna at work. Maybe I will deliver them myself with some chocolates. Sounds good.

Now, I think I will publish this and go look for some exercise equipment on line, I still need to get a cycle or exercycle.

Ian