Lake Louise Feb 2010

My desktop computer is acting up and I can't get the Geek Squad out till next month, so I'll try to do this with the laptop.  It will take much patience on my part--something with which I'm not overly gifted.  Here goes:
The ice sculptures were interesting.  All had an olympic theme.  I can't seem to download them to this blog, so I'll try to put a bunch on Facebook.  Now let's see what I CAN download.   Before you start out, you have to take pictures.  This is me getting ready to walk.

Here are the sisters

Gretchen ready to head off for her day of excitement

I had my own path to follow

I didn't take the Lake Agnes hike, but here's a picture of the teahouse Monica and I tried to visit in July

Now, back to my walk on the lake

This was my goal

Once you get there, you have to go back.  the road back

I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a little graffiti

While I was doing this, Gretchen was off an a cross country ski towards Moraine Lake.  She pushed herself, as she does, but had a grand time.  We had a lovely dinner at the Fairview Dining Room Saturday night.

Sunday was our dog sled adventure.  Gretchen went for a walk on the lake in the morning while I rested.  I knew I would need to husband my energy for the afternoon.  Here I am getting dressed and ready to go:

It would have taken most people ten or fifteen minutes to walk down to the Continental Divide where the dog sledding started.  It took me half an hour.  But we got there.  Here is Gretchen, meeting the dogs

Here's our Musher--same one I had in 08

And we're off!  Well, maybe not that easily--we had to get me into the sled first

Getting me OUT of the sled was even more entertaining than getting me in, but we did it, with lots of help.  I was game for letting them call a cab to take us back up the mountain to the hotel, but Gretchen said she thought we could walk it, so walk it we did.  I failed to tell her about the blisters that were causing my left heel to burn.  We made it.  It took about 40 minutes, but we made it.  When we got past the steepest part, I warned Gretchen, then butst into tears--partly from pain, partly from making it.  God bless Gretchen--she didn't push me, just knew I could do it and kept encouraging me.  I was oh so happy to see the hotel--happier yet to see the inside of our room.

No visit to Lake Louise is complete without a visit with my friend Taffline--and now her son Logan.  Logan is 13 months old and adorable.

It wasn't a long enough visit, but Logan was VER busy and had places to go, people to see

Bye, Logan.

Monday was pack up and go time.  By then, both of us had colds.  Mine crept in on Wednesday and kept me company the whole trip.  It didn't catch Gretchen until Sunday.  Thank goodness for Tylonol Cold.  Our driver picked us up at 2ish.  Like trips to Yosemite, leaving Lake Louise is the hardest part.  I hold on to the thought that I can always go back.  The drive back to the airport was fun and uneventful.  things got way too eventful once we got to the airport.  Our flight ws delayed.  A lot.  We were supposed to leave at 6:22--we left after 9.  Not that bad for me, but it meant that Gretchen would miss her connection to Santa Barbara.  Could she spend the night with me?  Of course she could.  Now we had the problem of luggage.  I had too much.  Normally on a trip, I have stuff mailed home.  I didn't think about it this trip, more's the pity.  There at the check in counter I had my suitcases open and rearrangedstuff--even let Gretchen take a few things.  Eventually, everything worked out, but it took it's toll on me.  My face was bright red, I was in tears.  The counter attendant said "Are you all right?  Do you want to sit down?"  I said, "I'm fine."  Gretchen said "You're NOT fine."  I said "I'm fine.  All right, I'm not fine, but I just want to get this done."  Everything worked out in the end and we had the suitcases ready to take through customs and my wheelchair was there.  I was still sniveling, but I calmed down.  It took a while to get through customs, but not as long as the counter attendant had warned us.  We certainly had plenty of time.  We got to our gate and settled down for a long wait.  The wait was broken up by a less than satisfactory dinner at Harvey's--probably the bottom of the Fast Food Chain, but we were hungry.

Eventually, the plane got in from Chicago, got loaded, was de-iced (Oh yeah, please do that) and we were in the air.  I did lots of praying.  We got home safely.  My wheelchair was there waiting for me.  This NEVER happens, but our luggage was within the first 10 peices that came off the plane.  Glenn picked us up, bless him and got us home--well, to my home.  Elaine had been at the house earlier and changed Glenn's sheets for Gretchen.  Glenn is such a prince.  He just goes with the flow.  We got some sleep--up at 6:30 so that I could get Gretchen to the airport for the last leg of her trip.  That was the most satisfactory part of her flying experience.  The plane was ready to leave about 10 minutes early and landed early.  Jim was at the airport to greet her--and she went to work in the afternoon--after she unpacked.  I've got one suitcase unpacked.

The big excitement today was a trip downtown to get my hair cut.  Woo hoo!

Please excuse spelling and typing errors.  I'm now too tired to proof read.  I still have to figure out how to get all the pictures on Facebook.

xxooxx

In no particular order

My camera is being annoying, but we'll try to add pictures. We will attempt to start with the suite in Calgary:

Next, I hope, will be Gretchen and me at Bow Falls

Here's our welcome amenity at Lake Louise:

This is the view from our room Thursday when we got there.  And here's our room at Lake Louise:

I'll give you one ice sculpture to whet your appitite for more.  I think the rest and the pictures from today's 4k hike on the lake will just have to wait till I get home.   Downlading on the laptop is annoying:

Having a really wonderful time.

xxooxx

Made it to the Lake!

Gretchen got to the hotel around 11 last night, safe and sound, so it is all good.  We were picked up at 10 this morning.  It was a PERFECT drive up here.  The sky was clear blue.  The roads were dry.  Our driver was outstanding--good driver and full of personality.  We took a little stop at the Banff Springs Hotel, so Gretchen got to see that, the village of Banff, and Bow Falls.  Pictures are coming--I just don't have the energy right now.  We have a lovely room with a perfect view of the lake.  I showed Gretchen part of the hotel.  I'm resting now; Gretchen went out for a walk.  I can do that tomorrow.  Just a quick note to let you know that we had arrived and that things couldn't be better--well, they could.  I feel like I'm trying to catch a cold, but this is such a wonderful place just to be that it doesn't matter.
xxooxx

Still in Calgary

I'm having a relaxing time; my sister is having an adventure.  First off, I got an e-mail from my niece that Gretchen forgot her cell phone.  Semi annoying, but can be dealt with.  I went to the Bay to see if I could find some shoes. 
While I was waiting for a clerk, and waiting, and waiting, I checked my cell phone.  Missed call from Gretchen.  What?  Checked the voice mail--the plane was late leaving Santa Barbara.  San Francisco was fogged in, so they took her to San Jose--then back to Santa Barbara.  She has a flight out to Denver this afternoon, then a flight from Denver to Calgary, getting in here at 9:20.  So I have another night in Calgary--she'll take a cab here from the airport.  We'll have a lovely breakfast in the morning then the car will pick us up at 10 and we should have a lovely drive up to Lake Louise.  Everything works out.
In case any of my followers are the least bit worried about the rail road business in Canada, not to worry.  My room is RIGHTNEXT to the train station and I think the trains run through the room. 
Tomorrow will be a lovely day.  It was snowing lightly when I went to the Bay.  It has stopped now.  I'm just going to settle back and watch the Ladies Downhill.
xxooxx

In Calgary

Here I am, back on vacation again, and back where I was in July, at the Palliser.  I have a lovely suite to stretch out in for the next day.  To catch up on the last week, I was a very good girl and went to Curves Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  They were closed yesterday due to the holiday.  That was a good thing, because I felt wretched yesterday.  Fortunately, I lived.  I got up early to do the last minute packing--and got most of it.  The only things I left at home are my little blue shoes that I wear most of the time.  Think I'll take a little walk to the Bay Company tomorrow morning (two blocks) and see if I can find a suitable replacement.  It may be a good thing, because my little blue shoes are getting old and probably secretly wanted to be replaced.  What's a trip without a surprise shopping trip?
I'm planning on dinner here at the hotel then a relaxing evening of Olympic watching.  Gretchen gets in tomorrow then we are off to Lake Louise.
Life is good.  I think I'll go look for dinner.
xxooxx

The Picture of Dorian Child

I have lived in the same house for 31 1/2 years. It is on the side of a very steep hill. Behind our house, so up the hill, to the back and left have lived the same children for the entire time I've lived in this house. They are somewhere between seven and twelve. And they have been somewhere between seven and twelve for 31 1/2 years. They NEVER go inside, and they NEVER stop screeching at the top of their lungs. I have never seen these mysterious children, but I hear them. Every so often, I'm overcome with an urge, like right now, to go out on the back porch, and shout at the top of MY lungs, "Don't you children EVER go inside?" I don't know if I'm old enough to do that yet. One of the joys of growing old is that you can be as eccentric as you've always wanted to be, and people just think you are a crazy old person. It's dark. It's late. It's cold. It's a school night. And still these ageless children are out caterwauling. It is past MY bedtime. I love children, but I like them well behaved and in small doses. I got a baby fix at church this morning, when I got to hold Emilie May, age 9 days. I'll bet Emilie May is not in her backyard, screeching.


If I leave the computer, in the back of the house, and hop into bed to read, I will only have to contend with street noises and the occasional airplane. Beats screeching children.

xxooxx

Just in Case You Are Keeping Score

I rounded out the week with another Curves morning--twice around the circuit--good for me.  I set my alarm or 6:30 so that I could wish Glenn a good trip--he was off to San Diego after he finished work today.  I'm praying that he gets there and home safely and has a good time while he's gone.  It is perfectly fine for me to run around the country--I'll be lonely while he's gone.  I think I can cope.  There is lots to keep me occupied--stuff I should do, stuff I want to do, and stuff that I really need to do.  And if I run out of stuff, there are always books to read.  I spent a few minutes on the next cleaning project--but that's so far down on the things I don't want to do that a few minutes was all I could spare it. I'm waiting for the skies to open up again.  It was actually sunny for a bit this morning--well, the part of the morning that I saw.  Gretchen is driving north for a visit with Victoria, so the longer the rain waits, the better for her.  She's probably to Victoria's by now, so i guess the rain can come any time.  Last night, when I was driving home from band practice, it looked like it was raining from the ground up.  Great weather to watch from inside.
I won't bore you with the exercise statistics.  I'm a little proud of myself for getting out and doing it this week.  The goal, of course, is to make it a normal part of my week, so not even worthy of comment.
xxooxx

Did it again

Just in case anyone is keeping score, I took myself to Curves again this morning, doing the circuit twice this time.  I figured I could stop any time I wanted to in the second round and it was all gravey, but I made it through.  Once again, it was a Past Bethel Guardians meeting, since I saw both Jean Tulee and Lois Ames there,  I was quite tired and very drippy when I finished.  I might even take myself to the mall this afternoon--depending on the weather.  Right now, it is gray but dry.  I got enough books yesterday that i probably don't need to leave the house for months, or days, depending on how fast I read.  I actually that tasks to do at the mall, so maybe I will...or maybe I won't.  This is what keeps life exciting.
xxooxx

Thank you, God, moment

When you come down to it, they are all Thank you, God, moments, but some are more memorable than others.  It was a downtown day today--seeing my therapist.  Just when I think I've got it all together and I don't need him anymore, life throws me another curve and it is my most important appointment.  Mark, my therapist, moments are always thank you moments, but that's not the one that stands out today--we'll talk about him a little later.  The amazing moment today was after my appointment.  I had a check to deposit at Wells Fargo, so I crossed Market and Montgomery to the ATM at the big bank on the corner of Post and Montgomery.  No problem, deposit made.  I turned around to leave, and there, at the bottom of the stairs were two gentlemen I worked with at Advent--Eric and Richard.  They were with a third Adventer that I didn't know, but Eric and Richard got hugs, so gentleman number three got one too.  While we were chatting, out of the bank came JJ, another Adventer.  More hugs.  What a treat it was to see them.  I really miss the people at Advent.  They were off to lunch--I was off for a walk to Powell.  I love happy surprises like that.
Now for my Mark appointment.  I REALLY needed to see him this week.  I've been having all sorts of strange emotions these last couple of weeks.  Mark assured me that they were all pretty normal feelings and that I'm entitled to feel them.  Whew.  I got great news, I'm in remission, how could I be depressed?  Pretty easily, it seems.  I'm still a little in shock.  It's OK to sift through my feelings.  It took some time to get used to the diagnosis, it will take some time to adjust to the remission.  So if I can get myself up and out to Curves again in the morning, that will be another little step.
Glenn and I had old and dear friends to dinner this evening--so that was another good part of the day.  Little steps. good steps.  So I guess it was a Thank You, God, day all around.  Now to curl up with a good book.  Life is pretty grand.
xxooxx

Did it!

After a week or so of reading and sleeping and little else, today I actually got myself dressed and out of the house and down to Curves for the first time in months.  I only did the circuit once and stretched, but at least I got up and out and did it.  I was dripping when I finished, but I did it.  I didn't want to do it, if fact I tried to use my walk from the parking lot into the storefront as my exercise.  But I did it.  I've also set my mind on the next picking up project.  I'm not going to tell so I don't jinx myself, but it is implanted in my little pea brain and now just waiting to get done.  It all isn't much, but it is more than I did last week--not that I didn't enjoy snuggling under the covers and reading when it was so gray outside, but it was a pretty wasted week.  I'm taking tiny little steps, but I'm moving.  I read two great books last week and I just finished a knit hat, so it hasn't been completely wasted time.  I think moving is better for me.  I don't know if I can call myself a Curvette after only onece around the circuit--but I...well, you know the drill.
xxooxx