No Tubing = More Shopping!

Today was a bust on the tubing because it wasn't hot enough. It got up to about 22C, but if you stood in the shade, it was pretty cool. So just trying to imagine - if you will - sitting in a tube, in cold water, for about 3-4 hours. It didn't seem like it was going to be extremely enjoyable! I still want to go one day - but like I said in a previous post - the weather has just been so ... mild.

Instead, I went shopping with a friend and found some great items for my fall "wardrobe". I also splurged on a 4-in-1 grill. It's a sandwich maker/waffle maker/grill press/griddle. Excellent. I only have plans for the waffle and sandwich maker at this point in time - heck, even a 2-in-1 would still be amazing, and I would have purchased it, so the other 2 are a total bonus!

I also looked at some P&S cameras to replace the one I have that has been broken for a year. I miss it, and I know it would be simple to drop it off and have it fixed - but I think I deserve something new. I didn't commit and buy anything just yet, I think I'm going to wait one more month, and see if prices go down for the fall - you never know!

Well, other then that, I had an amazing day hanging out with a good friend, and I am in a feel good mood! So, here is some feel good music:

Hazy Dayz

Lately the skies have been grey, and very washed out, with a thick Haze that seems to surround us entirely. As far as I know, there aren't any forest or wild fires immediately close to us. There are fires still burning in BC, and I've also heard that there are fires on the other side of the world that have caused enough smoke to blow over into northern Canada... A lot of my friends are scattered along western Canada, and they all say the same thing - that it's hazy, everywhere. When the sun goes down for the day, and recedes into the horizon, it glows bright red, like its on fire! ...you know what I mean...

It's very eerie to see the hills in the distance look as if they are sitting in a layer of fog, and although its not nearly as bad as what Russia is experiencing... it still makes you wonder about the air quality! There is actually an air quality warning in some parts of BC right now, but nothing has been mentioned in Alberta. (This is the Alberta Air Quality webpage)

Last night we had a really intense thunderstorm - I think lightening struck my front lawn! - and I thought maybe the rain would "wash away" the haziness... No such luck I guess. The sun still set into a deep red glow, and the hills in the distance still looked like they were swimming in fog. But its not just the hills, you can actually see the haze in the sky. You can't really even see the blue sky, its like there is a pinkish overcast all the time - yet it still gets super hot!

I'll see if I can't take some photos later today and post them for you all to see!

**UPDATE** August 19 2010

Today is the worst! You can literally smell smoke in the air - it smells like camping, and its starting to bother my throat! YUCK! According to the news, there are an estimated 300 forest fires burning in BC right now, and the smoke is drifting our way... There is SO MUCH SMOKE!

Check out these photos I just snapped:

From my backyard, you can see the red tinge in the smoke, its so gross!

Looking South, to downtown Tomahawk.

The sun, behind a thick layer of smoke. Today would have been a beautiful, hot sunny day if it weren't for all the smoke!

"Store" bought Eggs VS. fresh "Farm" Eggs

I came across a very realistic comparison between store purchased "white" eggs, and "brown" farm eggs in a blog I was reading today.

"Chickens that are allowed to free range and eat grass, bugs, and seeds produce nutritionally superior eggs....and ask those that do love to get eggs from me....mine taste better too. The yolks are bright orangy yellow and the egg texture is superior. I have no problem with eating eggs and meat. I do have a problem with people who do so, but don't want to see how it's done."

She makes very good points, and I suggest taking a look at her post. Here is a picture of her chickens:

O Summer, where art thou?

Today is Wednesday, but.. it feels like Tuesday, because Monday was a Holiday. Although both Mikey and myself had to work Monday... it still doesn't feel like today is today... weird. Anywho, I've been noticing that these past few weeks have been super mild - weather wise. There have been a few days here and there that have been nice, hot and sunny... but other than the few, our summer has been very ... non summery. It actually feels like fall all the time, because it gets so cool at night! Now... I'm not complaining, I'm just making an observation.

I honestly don't really appreciate the blistering heat, or the freezing cold, so this milder weather is right up my alley. Normally it's nice out during the day. Mornings are a bit brisk, then the sun comes out for the afternoon, and then the clouds roll in during the evening, and there are normally quite a lot of isolated storms, and it rains off and on throughout the night. Some people around town say that this is what the Almanac forcasted, a mild and wet summer. Others have also said that even with all this rain, our water table still isn't close to where it should be. Makes sense, the slough at the farm is dried up.. and I can remember even 2 years ago it had water in it. I actually have a picture of it somewhere.. and birds are sitting in it... *looks* ...OK I can't find it.. But it does exist!

Well, regardless of pictures, I do hope it gets a bit more sunny and the temperature rises for the weekend. I really want to go tubing on the Pembina river! It's very affordable, even if you have a tube or not. For a tube, life jacket, and a shuttle ride, its $18-$22 depending on the size of tube you want. If you have your own tube, shuttle service is only $6! (That's cheaper than a cab ride!)

I have to say it was a good day.

Yesterday I bought myself a new (to me) typewriter! It's a Smith-Corona Coronet Super 12! My particular model is from the early 70's, and is in great condition. The guy I bought it from said that his parents bought it for him when he was young so he could type out his school papers. He said that he was sad to see it go, but I can assure him it's in good hands! It needs to be oiled, and then I'll take it for a short story spin. Here is a picture of my newly aquired typewriter, and You Tube video of a similar one in action!

Yesterday was also fun because Mikey and I went to a Ukrainian/Vietnamese wedding! It was very cool, and a lot of heartfelt words were shared - I teared up a few times. I think my favorite part of the night was getting photos taken in a photo booth that they rented! I will eventually scan all the pics, but that wont happen until I find the power cord for my scanner. (I still haven't unpacked anything in the basement...) Instead, I took some photos of the photos just so you can see how awesome they are!