Finally it's warming up

Our cold snap is breaking. It is a balmy -21 today and SNOWING! I believe the weather is attempting to cooperate with the 2007 Canada Winter Games being held here in February/March. Spent an hour outside this morning shovelling and it's still coming down. MJT requested a picture of snow (I guess they have forgotten what snow looks like in Ontario where they are still golfing!), so here it is. As you can see if you make a request in the comments section, I try to accommodate.

Monday, November 27th

Sorry MJT, no snow pics. I am going outside as little as possible these days as #1 IT'S COLD OUT THERE!!, yesterday we were the coldest spot on the PLANET apparently. Although it has been colder than it now is (-35C)...when I was young, it was -55C for three weeks! (true)..., I still don't want to romp around outside in this weather. The good news is, it is suppose to warm up to -26 in a day or two, so things are looking up, and #2 I have had the worst cold (and I'm not talking weather now - but cannot get away from that word). I have been flat on my back for 2 days and barely moving since. It keeps hanging on and I feel like a semi ran me over. Luckily there were good soccer games on tv this weekend, so lying on the couch was almost a pleasure. I do have a bit of energy today tho, so hopefully the worst is over and I'll get back to blogging soon..

The Little Hungarian cooks

My Hungarian dinner was eaten (enjoyed??) by all. Made cabbage rolls (comments upon serving were, "oooo are they ever big!") and gulyas in case someone hated cabbage. Needless to say, everyone ate both. Michele brought the dessert, freshly baked from the Christmas bake sale and very tastey. She also brought her pictures from their around-the-world vacation which I threw on my DVD player so we visited many many countries last night. Great spending the evening with them, something we should do more often.
Weather?? Cold, cold, cold, and snowing, snowing, snowing. My arms are getthing a work-out with all the shovelling. I'm staying in and cozy today and making Xmas presents (until the snow stops, then I go out to shovel) and this evening I am going to enjoy Birthday cake with a one-year-old ... (birthday cake is my favourite food).

Here's a couple of pictures of my hard work. This is for Jenn, as she was asking.

Edmonton

10th day in Edmonton, and we're all smiles now. Here is SR sitting at his computer in the newly painted dining room. It was a tough slug getting the painting done in 9 days, but I did almost all of it. Would have liked to stay about 5 more days to wash carpets and do a bit of decorating, but a son can only handle a mother for so long... I feel like I accomplished a lot and am satisfied. On my next visit I will be involved in upgrades only. Entered Edmonton October 27th in their first snow storm. Left Edmonton Nov 6 in their freezing rain storm. I have no luck weather-wise there. Sat on the plane for 1-1/2 hours while they de-iced the plane and de-iced one runway (the 2nd runway was way too icy to even attempt to de-ice) and had lots of turbulance when we finally did get up into the air. Many thanks to Sue who waited patiently at the airport to pick me up very very late on a work night. Arrived home to -23 degree temperatures, but alas my house is still standing and not frozen - and warming up nicely now.

For those of you who do not know James Blunt, there is a link to a song:
click here

James Blunt

Received my Xmas gift from SR tonight. Went to see James Blunt in Edmonton. What a concert he puts on! He did mention that we must all be pretty tired of his CD and are likely using it as a frisbee now. He played a lot of new music, so all you James Blunt fans, there is a new CD in the making. His energy was amazing. In one (new) song, he was playing the guitar so hard the strings were a poppin' off. He jumped off stage and hugged a bunch of people (not me tho - even tho our seats were 2nd row) and often he walked along the stage and made eye contact with individuals - this one did include me and I did get one of those cute smiles from him. As we have all played his album and know all the words to all the songs, he gets the audience singing along with him. And in his last song - You're Beautiful - he had the audience singing the words following, "she could see from my face that I was" and we sang ... "__ __" . Now in my days, when we went to concerts, we all held up lighters. Today (since so few people smoke) they all hold up cell phones! My next concert, I'll have to buy a cell phone I guess. These pictures are courtesy of SR. I asked him to take pictures and he did a great job throughout the concert while I clapped and sang and swayed beside him.. If you ever get to see James Blunt - GO ... you'll be happy you did!