Jasper then T Dot

Going to Jasper this Labour Day long weekend for a few days of relaxation.



Then the day after I'm off to T Dot (Toronto) in an area called Kleinburg for some contract work until the 12th. This will be my first time movin' and shakin' in the Toronto area. Am I looking forward to it? No, no I am not, but we'll see. You never know.

Houston, you have a problem

Last week, me and four fellow co-workers, two from Cowtown (Calgary), and two from Hogtown (Toronto) headed on down to Houston, Texas to meet up with one of our software vendors for several days of training. We stayed in Kemah, Texas, in a house right on Galveston Bay. With several bars within two blocks, needless to say, it was a great time. Karaoke, piano playing, and a trip to Galveston for some seafood made it a fun, worthwhile trip.


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Peter's Drive-In

Being a true blue Edmontonian and Oilers fan, I'm not a big fan of Calgary. Call me jaded. Call me loopy, but it is what it is. Besides the airport, I haven't spent any time there in 25 months. I used to go all the time. My company even has an office there. I'm even working on two projects for companies based there.

If there's one thing Cowtown has going for it, it's Peter's Drive-In. Shoebox fries. Rootbeer shakes. Greesy double patty burgers. Love it. Always a good stop for a busload of drunk skiers on the way to the mountains to recharge the batteries.

Anyway, the founder, Gus Pieters, just passed away. I hope it stays open. I love the fact that despite being asked numerous times to franchise it, he's refused. Could you imagine if there was one open in Edmonton? What would Calgary have going for it then? The Stampede? Um, yeah, it's great to see so many oil executives and politicians in cowboy get-up and yuppies who put on a hat and wait in long lines to pay $20 cover at the same shitty bars to drink $7 beer. Real fun...lol..

So without further adieu, I give you...

Life is Golden

Over the June 20 weekend, a lodge brother and I took a trip to Golden, BC for some whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River. He brought a waterproof disposable camera and probably has some amazing photos, but for now, here are some pics I took of the town, the scenery and our trip up the Icefields Parkway in Alberta.

We also saw a really cool band, The Steve Elmo Murphy Band. They're like a younger Blue Rodeo mixed with some reggae and blues. With songs like "Baby I'm Drunk", it's tonnes of fun. In fact, I liked 'em so much, I bought both their CDs.

Anyway, absolutely breathtaking postcard scenes...

Trailer Park Boys

The past week I was in Alexandria, Virginia again, wrapping up the project.

Now on to other things... like The Trailer Park Boys, who are live at the River Cree Casino in Edmonton tonight. I'm going with my boss, who's wife got him tickets for his birthday. She called me a month ago to tell me I'm going with him.

I've never seen them live, so I have no idea what to expect. Beer, guns, music probably. Rawk!

"Now fuck off, I've got work to do."

House of the Temple

Two historic Masonic buildings visited in two days...

Thursday April 24, 2008, I made another trip to the George Washington Masonic Memorial and Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 for their regular meeting, which wasn't so regular, as it was their annual Charter Night, where the lodge was opened in the Colonial Replica Room, which is a copy of the original Alexandria Lodge that Bro. George Washington attended. Over 30 visitors were in attendance, many from Florida, one from Wyoming, and one from the U.K., which was nice to see a familiar looking apron style to mine! (If you're not aware, American Masons wear a different style of apron than Canadian and English brethren.)

On Friday April 25, 2008, I made a visit to the House of the Temple of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, U.S. Southern Jurisdiction, headquarters for the Supreme Council 33rd Degree. The building is located in basically a residential neighbourhood in the north downtown area of Washington, DC on 16th Street between S and R Streets. It faces West (for obvious reasons to any Mason).

The amazing part for me was the curved, multi-tiered library, which is entirely dedicated to Masonic and related philosophical works. Now I know why some say that Freemasonry is one of the most written about subjects ever. This library and its extensive collection is prove-positive of that. It's certainly a room that I could spend hours ... make that years, studying in.

Lots of photos... but they still do not do it justice...

DC at Night

My last night in DC before I headed to Kansas took me to the National Mall again, but this time, at night. Enjoy the photos...