Cow Town
Many places I have been
Many sorrows I have seen
But I don't regret nor will I forget
All who took that road with me
I am in Calgary at least once or twice a month these days. I'm guessing about 25 trips in the year by this coming Februrary - 99% of which are for business training with Make Your Mark. I typically tack on more work - consulting with MYM trade for service clients mainly. I typically also have to stay nights on occasion and after a few times staying at various places, I've settled into a routine of staying with my new friend Allison. At first I was staying at her place on her roommate's futon, but then I started to hang out more with Allison and her boyfriend, who just moved in together with his two brothers as roomies. Hanging out with them is like a constant comedy show and my gut usually hurts from all the laughter. My hands usually hurt from all the high fives I get when I reference awesome things from the late 90s too, like consumate Vs. (If you get it you get it, if you don't, TROGDOR.) We have a ton of fun.
A very good friend of mine also recently moved to Calgary, then one of Paul's cousins brought their wife and young son over from Vancouver, which brings the Calgary connections up to an all time high. Eight of the hubby's cousins on one side including significant others and babes in arms, two sets of Aunts and Uncles and five young cousins on the hubby's other side. Two close friends of mine, and several developing connections. It's becoming a big hub in my life.
You people better know I love you because I have to take the Deerfoot all the time. Ugh. I am becoming a bit more familiar with the south end of Calgary now, but the traffic is atrocious... always.
Unfortunately since almost all my time is business I barely see the family-folk. I'm hoping to remedy that closer to the new year, however. Mostly it has just never been a good time. I have a little Facebook group I use to warn friends when I am on the way to Saskatoon, and it's probably about time I had another for Calgary, too. The miles, man. The miles. I'm so glad that my car is trustworthy.
Yesterday was another such Calgary day trip, which afforded me time to enjoy music, podcasts, part of a book, and more as well as our usual BEST business meeting and two consulting times. (I often make phone calls on the road, but today I needed some me time.) After that I went on a brief shopping trip at the very swanky Chinook Centre mall and picked up a couple of specialized things. Red Deer now has a Peter's Drive In. Probably not good for my calorie count because their licorice milkshakes are the nectar of the gods.
On an annoyance note, I wish I'd known how bad the OS update on my phone would be. I've so far had no end of trouble with it and this time my screen went completely unresponsive. Kind of a big deal. A hard reset fixed it at the Apple Store. But a full day of poking at a phone that wouldn't listen to me was a bit exasperating.
In other news, this whole year has been a rash of announcements and engagements and births and new relationships and new jobs and moving for everyone I know. I think I would probably label 2015 the "year of change." I had a 3 hour chat with my friend Kori yesterday after she recently got engaged and bought a house they had formerly been renting in rural SK where she teaches. It was awesome catching up and telling stories and I can't wait to shoot her wedding next September.
Home is behind, the world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Mist and shadow, cloud and shade
All shall fade, All shall fade