The Stagette

We took Genitta out for her stagette last night.

She just wanted to go out for a nice dinner with the girls... so that is what we did.

We had a really nice dinner at Buon Giorno Ristorante on 17th Avenue.

About ten to twelve people came out for the dinner so it was nice that everyone was able to chat and enjoy the evening out.

Bald Ass

Look at my poor little bald ass cat...

Jaike was getting really matted around his ass and shoulder blades again this year so I finally got the scizzors and started cutting them out while distracting him by giving him many treats and bowls of food. I ended up cutting off TONS of fur and the poor guy has quite the bald ass now :(

I feel kind of bad for making him look so odd... I had to do it last year too and it really didn't grow back until almost fall but it is better than letting the mats get bad. If it matts all the way to the skin then it can start tearing his skin...

My baby look funny but I am happy to report there is not a matt left!

Butterfly Invasion

I was standing on the deck chatting with my sister when all of a sudden I looked up and saw hundreds of butterflies flying over my roof and into the bushes beside my house. It was crazy and kind of scary to have so many butterflies flying towards my face!

I took the camera and got a few pictures of the little critters!. Jessica says that they have a four year migration pattern and right now it is their time to mate which is why there are butterflies EVERYWHERE right now...

One Year Ago Today...

I started the blog one year ago today.

I began reading other people's blogs and decided that I wanted to create my own... I really wanted to keep it up for a year with the intention of copying all of the material after a year, taking it to Kinko's and having a book created.

The perfect photo album with a quick write up and a few pictures from every day in the year... kind of like a year in the life of Sasha... I think it's pretty cool that I can do that now.

The blog has really turned into so much more than my own evolving photo album however...

I have gained an invaluble readership, and I know deep down that with out them I would have probably abandoned the project long ago! It is a strange forum... this blog thing.

My cousin Ronaye was most definitely my first commenter and reader. In fact she started up her own blog once I started mine and we both got our digital camera's on the exact same day. Ronaye is very helpful and leaves me comments reminding me to update when I get lazy and fall behind :)

Genitta and Tavis also got onboard right away and motivate me to run next door to get my camera, post pictures, and Genitta always lets me know that she has been by and that she has read the post by leaving me a few words in the comments (all bloggers really do love getting comments). I appreciate that they both take a few minutes out of their day to check for a new post.

Jenna works the overnight shift on the crisis lines at work and is usually the first to read my post and leave a comment. I think Jenna was the first person at work that I showed my blog to and she always leaves me the most supportive comments. She was even supportive when the phone electrocuted me in January and everyone else laughed!

Nav is definitely at the top of the list of MyDial Fans. I really look forward to Nav's comments... both on the blog and at work in the hallway. Nav is moving away to become a doctor but I've seen his new laptop and will be expecting DAILY comments to keep me updated on what he is up to... better yet maybe it is time for "Nav's Reality Dial On The Net"!

Jav... well what can I say, you were really climbing up to the top of the fan list... but then you disappeared... and when I think about it you really didn't have much to say.

Then there is the blog community... There are a few blog's and a few people out there who have become a part of my daily life. I was in seventh heaven the first time that Jack left a comment on my post, devistated when he decided to stop blogging and estatic when he reconsidered. The same when Jay left a comment... it was like being contacted by a celebrity! I love reading about their views and seeing what they are up to every day and honored that they were by to check out my site.

I came home with a story to tell,

but had no one to share it with,

I wrote it up,

sent it out,

and you told me that you listened

Mom, Dad, Kent, Rob, Becky, Bruce, Patty, Daphne, DC Staff and everyone else who has left comments or even just shared my blog with me this past year Thank You...

Genitta's Bridal Shower

My mother hosted a bridal shower for my sister Genitta this afternoon :)

I think all of the guests had a great time catching up with Genitta and watching her open her bridal shower gifts.

I was surprized to see how many of the guests were currently pregnant or have had babies very recently... I would say the room was almost 50% pregnant!

It was a really nice get together and there was tons of delicious food to have... I ate so much I was stuffed... mostly on cheesecake and chocolate YUP!

Congratulations Genitta, I can't believe the big day is going to be here before we blink :)

Vitalize

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the volunteer program team attended a volunteer conference called Vitalize.

There were quite a few really good courses throughout the last two days and great meals served for breakfast and lunch as well. I took a courses on conflict resolution, happiness is a choice, grant writing, dealing with difficult people, goal setting, and I ended up the conference doing a drum circle!

...

I didn't write about it on the blog but many of you who know me know that one of my volunteers had a stroke in Saturday training about a month ago. The news we received from his family was that he was in critical condition but that his chances for a full recovery were good as long as the swelling in his brain went down...

I received a call from his son this evening and he passed away yesterday morning...

I really believed that he would be alright, that it would take time but that he would be back to volunteer on the lines... I can't believe that his last words were spoken in a role play... he looked really scared last time I saw him and I really pray that he wasn't scared yesterday morning...

I didn't know him well... or for very long... but from what I did get to know about him he had a great heart... and a lot of wisdom he could have shared on the lines.

Rest in Peace Jim

High River Is Flooding Again!

This is a picture of the Highwood River in Southern Alberta... the water is way too high... the town of High River is flooding!

My good friend Richard and his family was living on the golf course in High River last time this river flooded over ten years ago almost to the day. I was working with Richard on a video production called "The Home Review" at the time and his house was an absolute mess. Richard spent alot of his time fixing up the basement of his home after the flood... and as soon as he was finished he sold it and built a home in Millarville.

I remember sitting on the deck with Richard and him pointing out into the horizon explaining that they had built the golf course, and all the homes in a flood plane... for miles all we could see in the flood plane was additional home construction going on... he guaranteed me that it would flood again... and it did... imagine that... in a flood plane.

I really feel for all those families that are now sleeping on a high school gym floor and who have tons of cleanup and heartache on the way... I wonder how many of them knew they were buying a home some greedy developer decided to build in the flood plane?

Annual Awards Banquet

The cadets had their Annual Awards Banquet on Friday night. It is where we hand out the majority of the trophies and awards for the year and celebrate the cadets accomplishments.

The banquet is attended by officers, cadets, parents, members of our parent sponsoring committee, and other special invited guests.

For a few of the cadets this will be their last Cadet event before moving away to college and getting on with their lives (two of our cadets have been accepted to the Royal Military College!)

These are my first year cadets receiving their 100% atttendance award!

It was a really nice evening and a great time to celebrate with the officers and cadets.

... and this marks the end of the training year... a few weeks off for summer... and back atter in September.

I'm Selling My Buick

yep.... I'm selling the Buick... I'm gonna miss this car :(