Coldonion

Here you go I just uploaded the picture. A smoked meatloaf, done on the BBQ, with hickery woodchips, took just under 2 hours. And tasted great, if you look around the edges you can see the pink "smoke ring", that smoked meat should have. 

Hi all,
Got in from work an hour ago, and just checking on the ol internet to see what the worlds done since I last logged on.
Yesterday was a scorcher up until about 9ish, poor Maxine was on her side from about 4 until 9, I guess it was a bit warm for a furry cat. Today seems alot cooler, and not so much sun out, actually it is a bit darkish right now.
Tuesday's meatloaf came out very well, and as usual I took a couple of photos, but I have not downloaded any yet.....
Let's see, so far in Calgary with the weather being so hot we have had 1 drowning and 3 near drownings and lakes, pools, and rivers. They are telling everyone to be carefull of themselves and thier kids. The one death was a 21 year old, and two of the near drownings were revieved. 1 was a woman who got her arm caught on rope tying three rafts together, she ended up having to be cut from the rope by the fire dept. water rescue team, and even though it was summer, she was treated for hypothermia!!
For further news in Calgary, it doesn't seem to be safe in the water, and especially the roads, alot of accidents this week as well! One of them was a daughter of Roanna's parents friends, her car was T-boned by a drunk driver, luckily three men jump out of thier vehicle to chase down the driver since he tried to run away. The woman was alright, and went to the hospital, though the rescue crews were a bit unsure how she wasn't worse off or even killed.

For good news, or at least a good feeling story, I was walking home from work today and passed by the school next to our apartment, they must have just finished their last day, as kids were walking around with locker contents in bags or boxes, taking pictures, and saying goodby to thier classmates. I remembered when I graduated from high school all those years ago. It took me a while to realise that it was 19 years ago!! Man how time flies, next time I get the yearbooks out (I did bring them up) I'll have to scan some pictures and post them.

Anyhoo, here is a photo I was trying to do something with the colors.

Well just sitting back relaxing at home, since Saturday is a Holiday and Costco is closed, I have only one day off (today). Which isn't so bad, good news on the job front they have raised the starting pay by 2 bucks to try to attract more staff (and keep them), plus since I have been there for over 90 days I get another 50 cents extra, which was quite a supprise for me. Unfortunately, they have lowered the pay bump up when you hit 800 works hours from a dollar to fifty cents. Ah, well, you win some you loose some. This week is supposed to be pretty warm, luckily there is quite a strong breeze out there so it doesn't feel as hot as it is.
Saturday we are (hopefully) of to Millarville, to see the horse races, then spend the evening at Trish & Jeff's house for a afternoon/evening dinner in the back yard. The way the weather is out there right now, I might have to break out the sunscreen for the weekend. Not much else happening right now, Roanna's job is going well and she has gotten back some good news that she has been doing a good job in the position she took over since her boss went on maternity leave. This Friday, we plan to go to Redwaters a new grill that opened up last month, it is just around the corner from us. During the last holiday Roanna got a call from a client from her job (this was on a pulic holiday), she tried to help her as much as possible and (I think either cleared up the problem or pointed her to the right direction to solve the problem) well a few days later her boss got an e-mail from this client singing praises about Roanna. Her boss called her in and said go out to a restaurant and have a meal on him as a thank you. So we finally decided to go this Friday, they had some nice looking dishes coming out of the kitchen (we went there and though it was a bit pricey so just ended up ordering pasta dishes cause they were about the cheapest on the menu). So we are looking forward to that, and since I don't have to go work on Saturday we can stay out a bit later and do something afterwards.

Lastly, we have finally cleared out the fridge of party foods from Saturday night, next time I think I will have to hand out some tupaware so people can take some dishes with them, it was a lot of food left over.
In another hour or so I am gonna throw on a meatloaf onto the BBQ and attempt to smoke it, this time I picked up a meat thermometer, so I can see when it has hit the right temperature, instead of cutting into it. I also picked up some corn on the cob, so with some salad, there should be a nice meal to relax out on the balcony and have dinner. Man I am looking forward to the day I can sit out on the porch or deck of our house and have a nice evening meal.

Anyhoo, hope everyone is OK

Ian

Hi all,

Here it is Sunday morning, the day after Roanna's suprise TIKI party. We had it at the rec hall across from our apt, with friends and family. This has been quite a long month of buying things, hiding stuff, making things, hiding stuff, e-mails, cell phone calls and all the other joys of trying to suprise someone.

There was lots of food, and even a quiz with a prize (won by April & Mark).

Anyhoo enjoy the pics.
Ian


















My "home made Tiki Head"













Foods














A pirate birthday cake
















Roanna opening birthday gifts















Mark & Conner, on a side note, Conner did NOT like his first taste of Spicey Italian Sausage!















Roanna & Ian playing some Dance Dance Revolution

Hi all,
It's been a while since I have updated anythings, for any Fathers who read this, I hope you had a nice Fathers Day yesterday. We ended up at Roanna's parents yesterday, took some burgers and cooked them there for dinner. Roanna's brother took their dad to the drag races for the afternoon. Roanna & I and her Mom sat outside in the garden relaxing and chatting until they came home.
We are getting over Jenny having left, a lot less hair being sucked up in the vacumme cleaner. Though we still miss her lots.
Anyhoo not much else has happened during the last week so I will say chow, tonight we watch the final hockey game for the Stanley cup, it should be very exciting.

Bye all,

Ian

Just came across this video on the intarweb. This video is amazing! Just goes to show I should have payed a bit more attention in science class......(or video, or music class).

http://www.eepybird.com/

Enjoy Ian

Well, the day has finally come, Jenny has gone back to her previous owner (and our previous house sit owner / landlady). We knew it was coming, but it came on quite quickly this morning after I got home from work. By noon she was on her way to her temporary home for the next two weeks then flys out to Ontario. We will both miss her, as she was a very friendly cat. Now hopefully Maxine improves a bit more since she will be the only cat in the apt.
It is amazing how quickly pets attach themselves to you and become part of the family, and we loved her so much, but like we agreed, this apt was WAY to small for two cats that tolerated each other. Anywho, now I am getting all teary eyed, here is a nice pic of our lovely ex-cat.

Bye Jenny, we will miss you!!!

Ian

Hi all,
Not much happening at this moment, work, home, sleep, rinse, repeat. We are heading out in another hour to meet Trish & Jeff and Chilli's restaurant. It's is Trish's birthday, we shall see what happens after that. Roanna & I just finished tidying the house up so it smells of various floor and window cleaners. Jenny has finally come out of her hiding spot, that she ALWAYS runs to when the vacume starts up!!!
Let's see, what else, yesterday morning I was walking to work, and noticed that all the cars with protruding arials, had been bent. I guess it had happend earlier that morning, since there is a bar within walking distance. It pissed me off though, one of those stupid, acts of vandalisem, probalby most of these people will pay out of pocket to replace or repair these arials, so as not to raise the premiums on their insurance. Well hopefully that person (who probably will not be caught) trips and breaks a tooth or something later in the week.
So far in the last 1 and a half, people (and young teenagers) take some sort of pride to vandalise rows of cars. Last winter it was slashed tires for about 10 cars in one comunity. Early spring this year was smashed front and rear windows (luckily someone was awake at 4 in the morning when this was happening and the teen was grabbed and handed over to the police).
Tonight Edmonton is hosting the Stanley Cup, win or lose there is probably gonna be celebrating that is going to end with violence, or the fans are gonna be pissed off and drunk and it's going to end with violence and vandelism.

Well to end this on a happier note here is a picture of a nice flowers I saw the other week, from Roanna's Mom's garden.

Keep it safe all and have a great weekend

Ian

Hi all,
not much been going on up here in Calgary, the weather is great, I think I may have to dig out a hat for the walks back from work. Sunday was a big clean up day around the house, tidying and returning the recyclables to a depot. You get the cash back, so a car load gets you about 30 bucks, which part of it went right into buying kitty litter.
Last night we invited over one of the neighbours to watch the hockey game, she is taking her RN exam on Wednesday and needed a break from studying. Her and her husband own a fluffy persian cat, which she brougt over (cause he was loney in the apt), this apparently did not go well with Jenny and Maxine, it was kinda funny though, we think that since the cat (Winton) is all fluffy both jenny and maxine must think he is in "fighting puffed up form". Though now they seem a bit calmed down. There was no scrapping, just growling..... stupid cats.

Anywoo, not much else going on, we have a party to go to this Saturday, Then a Fathers Day / anniversary the following week. Then Roanna's and Debbie's birthday the week after that, so lots of celebrations coming up. Everyone take care

Ian