Since I am planning to stay in Red Deer with Kam for this week, because grad school is beginning tomorrow (in Lacombe, 20-30 minutes away from Red Deer vs. just over 1 hour away from Edmonton), Kam decided to show me around town. I didn't realize that Red Deer was the size of the community I live in in Edmonton (so relatively small for a city)!! I'll probably still manage to get lost anyhow.

Kam also showed us his (very wealthy) parent's house, which made me feel like I was walking in Paris Hilton's home. Some of the really cool things I found fascinating can be seen here:

On top of that, they were renovating the basement to add in a tanning bed, pool table, built in tv on the wall to watch while playing pool and a huge bookshelf, with a murphy bed covering it. WOW!!!!! If I were Kam, I wouldn't have moved out of my parent's place!

In other news, later that afternoon, my parents were driving on their way back from holidays (they went to Spokane, Washington, of all places- don't ask me why!) and they had decided to pass through Red Deer and stop in for lunch with Dan, me, Kam and Nikhol. We ended up driving to four different restaurants before finding one that was actually opened. I guess they there's not much action happening on Sundays in Red Deer. We ate at Moxie's, then Dan went back to Edmonton with my family in a VERY, very compacted Matrix, as you probably saw in the last photo.

So now here I am, the night before THE FIRST DAY OF GRAD SCHOOL. Actually it's a week intensive course on how to write graduate psychology papers, so I'm quite excited to start! Wish me luck!!!!

August 14 & 15: Camping in Jasper. Here we are at Jasper Park Lodge overlooking the lake. I have a story about those 2 runners in the picture....

Dan and I were standing on a platform overlooking this view, when these two runners came by. They stopped and started discussing where they could go next.

Suddenly...

the male runner farted...and I don't mean just a small toot...I'm talking about a LOUD, LONG, 5 second one! Dan and I had looked at each other, stepped back from the ledge and burst out laughing. We couldn't believe the guy just let out a huge ripper like that, and the female runner just ignored him! HAHA!

We camped with Jenn and Steve at Whistler's Camp. The National Parks were all on strike starting this weekend, but it didn't really effect us camping wise. We still got to do all the stuff we usually do, like have a fire, even though we didn't have a permit.

The next day, Steve and Jenn went to Whistler Mountain, while D and I debated on whether to go to Lake Maligne (where there are beautiful waterfalls), or to climb Pyramid Mountain.

We decided to do the latter, because Dan's mom always brags about climbing all the way to the top with baby Dan on her back. We decided we would show her up. BIG MISTAKE NUMBER ONE.

The trail was ultra boring. IT was like a long dirt road, wide enough so that cars could drive on, and all we could see for miles were trees. No scenery. No lakes. Hell, not even any mountains. The trail seemed to lead on forever, we were wondering when it would eventually lead us to the BOTTOM of Pyramid Mt.

When we walked about 6.5 km, we decided that the road was not going to get more interesting, so we started to turn around. After walking for about 0.5 km, we ran into a biker. He informed us that if we keep going, there will be a fork in the road. To the right would be the Palacades, where you can overlook Jasper. To the left, you could climb up the mountain via the cable way.

So we decided to keep going and take the LEFT side. BIG MISTAKE NUMBER TWO.

THREE HOURS LATER...the road NEVER got more interesting, it STILL was the same, boring, dirt service road. It finally lead us to the START of the mountain, but since there was construction going on, there did not seem to be a clear hiking trail to go up it.

And it looked really, really, really big. And we were really, really, really exhausted (more mentally than physically) as we realized how big the mountain was. Before we started the hike, we had talked to a guy down at the bottom of the trail, who informed us that it was a 10-12 hour hike (up and down).

So we decided to turn around...AFTER THREE HOURS of FINALLY reaching the damn mountain! We just couldn't handle how boring it was, so we ran most of the way back. It took us about an hour.

Both Dan and I agreed that it was THE WORST HIKE we've ever done! We're going to have to discuss with Dan's mom and compare notes about Pyramid Mountain. We don't think this was the same hiking trail she went on, since we know she's into scenery - and trust me, there wasn't much to see here!

See more camping photos !

AUGUST 8: Celebrating my 23rd year of life. Potluck BBQ at my place.

Although I didn't get to go to Sylvan Lake during the day and have my potluck BBQ at Hawrelak Park as planned due to crappy weather, my birthday turned out to be an excellent one. I held the potluck at my place instead, and about 30 people in total showed up. Thanks to all who made it out! It wouldn't have been the same without any of you being there.

Since I wanted more of a family gathering atmosphere, then say, a wild keg party, I dug out some old games (horseshoe, back yard mini-golf) that I use to play as a little girl, and Dan helped me set them up in the backyard for the kids. It was awesome, it was like I was 10 years old again!

The food was amazing, I love potlucks so much! It's been awhile since I've had a bday celebration at my place, and it was probably one of the nicest ones I've had yet.

Thanks again to all of those who were there to make my day. For those of you who missed the event, there's always next year...and the year after...and the year after that! ;o)

Please see more photos here!

Tonight I played Ultimate Frisbee for Dan's team again (for the second time), and the team did awesome! We usually lose (by ALOT), but today, we were kickin' butt. By half time, we were at 7-1. However, I think we started to get cocky and lose it in the second half, and the other team racked up points alot faster than we did. The final score was 15-8, and yours truly scored the winning point. YAY! Ok...I can't take all the credit, since the pass was probably less than a metre away...but who's really counting?

I didn't think I could really get into Ultimate at first, but once I got the hang of it, I really enjoy it. Of course, not as much as karate and soccer. ;o)

After our game, Dan and I went back to my place to make carrot-raisin muffins for one of his coworkers, because his company is throwing a surprise wedding shower for her. The muffins turned out okay, they were a bit crunchy (as oppose to the usual softness that muffins should be), but we figure after adding the cream cheese icing, no one would notice. Heheh. Mmmmmm....the cream cheese topping tasted like a piece of heaven.

D and I even made a small, separate batch for ourselves to take on our camping trip that we're going on this weekend. Except of course, I substituted some ingredients for lower fat content ones, and they actually turned out much better. They were super moist and delicious, and healthier!

Being the cooking/baking geek I am, I really enjoy collecting recipes, then figuring out ways to make them low-fat. Yes...I actually find it quite fun.

Ps: Birthday pictures to come soon!

New Face for RADS Digitized

You digging it, or what? Well I think it's pretty groovy!

Tonight, I played my first (real) game of ultimate frisbee on Dan's team. This was my second time ever playing, and I had a great time. I even managed to score a point! However, I didn't realize I scored a point, and threw the frisbee to another teammate, who dropped it. Unfortunately, the other team had to be anal about the fact that I didn't hold on to it for four seconds to mark that I had scored a point, so it didn't count. Boo! Dan's team wants me to go out and play for them again next Thursday, I guess this is a good thing, meaning...I don't suck!

In other news, I am turning 23 in 2 days (August 7th). I think I already think I am 23 because when one of Dan's teammate asked how old I was, I accidentally answered "Twenty-three". Oops.

Since Dan and I are attending a wedding on Saturday, I will be celebrating my bday on Sunday by going to Sylvan Lake, then having a potluck BBQ at Hawrelak Park. I can't wait! YAY!

And a short message to those of you who haven't RSVP'd me about my birthday, damnit, get to it!

Cutest thing ever happened to me today.

I was at a park, playing tag with one of my little guys that I work with, and his brother.

Suddenly, a cute girl, about 6 years old, comes up to me and says, "You're beautiful". And here I am, makeup-free, and wearing some less than flattering clothes (i.e., kid-friendly wear).

Doesn't stuff like that make your day?!

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That reminds me about another time, back in first year of university when I shared a sociology class with an ex-boyfriend, who recently broke up with me. A girl sitting behind me tapped my shoulder and told me, "My friend and I were just talking about you, and we think you're so pretty". As if that comment didn't already make my day, my ex probably heard her say that, since he was sitting beside me. HAH! Too bad it wasn't a hot guy though, that would have made the situation all that much better. Regardless, it's nice when strangers tell you (genuinely and randomly) that they think you're beautiful.

July 31: Suzy's Stagette! Here she is with her stud at The Druid.

See more "wild" photos here. (Don't worry Stefko, they aren't that wild!) ;o)

July 25 : Suzy's Bridal Shower. Christy and Irene helping with the finishing touches of the guests' beautiful creation for Suzy.

See more photos here. Warning: Sorry for the crummy photo job, the pictures aren't in the best quality.

July 24th: Happy 25th to Adam! Jenelle supervising Adam in making sure he cuts the amazing cheesecake (that Adam's mom made) evenly.

Adam had a BBQ at his parent's place, then we headed to the Thirsty Turtle on Whyte Ave. It was a pretty great night, aside from the part where I had to babysit a drunk, rowdy Dan! Adam, I am surprised that you didn't get extremely hammered and pass out on the hood of a camaro, like you did on a previous birthday. ;o)

July 23rd : Happy 23rd Birthday to my best friend, Michelle (second from left).

Byron, Michelle's boyfriend, threw a surprise bash at O'Byrnes Irish Pub for her birthday. However, Michelle seemed to miss the point, as she had thought it was a coincidence that Dan happened to be at the bar (I wasn't with him yet because I was still in karate class), and then, she still didn't get the hint when she bumped into Suzy and Stefko...two people who rarely go to the bar. HAH! Sadly, she wasn't drunk yet.... Oh well, we all have our blond moments! ;o)

As for the rest of the night, let's just say...Michelle couldn't remember much about it. She ended up having to be dragged out of the bar, vomiting on the sidewalk outside O'Byrnes, and having a cabbie driving away with ONE of her shoes AND her purse (which luckily, she got back a few days later with everything still inside it...hooray for honest people!)

See more photos here!
You won't be sorry (except, maybe I will be, after Michelle tries to beat my ass for posting these pictures!) Hey Michelle, what are best friends for? I love ya! ;o)