Saturday?

It's Friday. Usually that means I have work tomorrow, but this weekend I finally get a Saturday off!

We had a small crew this week as 2 members were on vacation and James (my roommate) had to leave unexpectedley. James' dad was having chest pains last week and was admitted to the hospital in Taber, AB. He was flown out to Calgary and so James drove down be there with his family. Apparently he had a hardened blood clot in his coronary artery...the doctors were shocked he didn't have a massive heart attack. A miracle if you ask me. He had an angioplasty and is now doing much better. Please keep James' family in your prayers as his dad recovers. He's 59.

Quite a heavy note to begin a blog with I know, but it will get lighter.

With a small crew, just two labourers (me and my friend Ben Folkman), our site supervisor and project manager we managed to finish our site today. This was a mere $54,000 job. No big deal. Check facebook for photos. And so we get the day off tomorrow, which is nice.

It was pay day today too, bonus!

I came home and made burgers and had fresh raspberries for desert. I sat outside in just my shorts and listened to Iron & Wine through my bedroom window.

Our raspberry bushes are loaded that its hard to eat them all. Bill picked us a bunch so that we can have them at breakfast. He is also making us (or his wife) a raspberry rhubarb crisp!

I don't know what I'll do with my extra day. Sleep in, go for a run or bike ride and maybe go geocaching with Ben Folkman. He has his brothers GPS unit.

I'm glad to see someone has posted a blog on here...way to go Sarah! I hope to see some more bloggings...perhaps with some pictures of home or even from Rocky Mtn. House. I'll try and post some pictures when I get my camera back.

The Power of Play

The CBC has become an integral part of my day. In the mornings (if I'm up early enough) I like to listen to Tom Allen on Radio 2. But it's hard for me to choose because Anna T. on Radio 1 is wonderful. Some of her programs can be quite interesting. My favourite program is Radio 2 Drive with Rich Terfry. I think it's his voice and personality. He also plays great music!
On Monday afternoon they had a really interesting program on Ideas called "The Hurried Infant." It as a two part series. I blog about it here because while I was listening I found myself imagining the kind of a childhood I think you all had. The psychologist they were interviewing talked about the power of play and how important that is for the development of a child. I've included a link to the website where you can either listen to the program or read a synopsis of it. Please indulge my imaginations and give me a good story of Brouwer play time. I've heard some from Peter but another perspective is always better!

Some Edmonton Summer

This is the first weekend since I've been back that I have a Saturday off. It feels like a long weekend.

Most of the house went to the Calgary Stampede this weekend and Bryce left for camping on Thrusday night. I didn't feel like going to the Stampede and thought I'd use the weekend to catch up on things.

Jeff and Janna were in town this weekend trying to find a a place to stay come the fall. Jeff stayed at our house so it was a good thing I stuck around the weekend. They ended up finding a place 2 blocks north of Whyte Ave and 3 blocks east of the farmers market. Janna left Saturday morning and in the afternoon Jeff and me went to the driving range and for a 9 hole golf round with Tim and Dank. Not trying to make you jealous Pete, but it felt like you should have been there.

We golfed at a course just outside of Sherwood Park, which I can't remember the name of now. And unfortunately we got rained out by a thunderstorm after 8 holes. Dank won.

That has only been the second real thunderstrom I've experienced since being back in Edmonton. Somewhat disappointing. This storm cell however did form a funnel cloud just north of Red Deer - you may see video of it on the weather network

It's Sunday afternoon now and I've been doing a bit of cleaning around the house. I also took a few pictures of our garden and raspberry bushes. I am also listening to the new Iron & Wine cd "Around The Well". It is excellent.