Baby Beck

Yesterday I got to meet my new nephew. My friends Mike and Angie welcomed baby Beck Everett into the world three weeks early at the end of October. This was the first time I got to meet him.

And hold him.

I so can't wait to watch him grow. We can watch Roughrider and Oilers games together (you've even got the gear buddy)!

Best of all I love to see his mommy and daddy so happy (great work Mike and Angie ~ he's perfect).

Love you Beck!
Auntie Andrea

Another birthday weekend!

This past weekend saw me back down in Calgary to celebrate another favourite girl's birthday. Happy birthday Paisley (the number will always remain secret)!! I'm so happy to count you as a friend, you're an amazing listener, fantastic adventurer and true kindred spirit. May this upcoming year bring you much change but for the better!

I remember...

what Remembrance Day is all about. I remember my grandparents who grew up in the middle of the two terrible wars. I remember how it felt to stand on the edge of the de-militarized zone that splits North and South Korea. Remembrance Day still reminds us all of how things were not always so easy. On the morning of November 11, the prairie sunrise reminded me of all the freedom we enjoy thanks to those who served and still do. Thank you to the brave men and women who serve our country.

The coffee break of the new age

This post is inspired by my readings this week in my master's program and a thoughtful conversation I had last night with @matt_bisson. This week we had to digest the theory of Marshall McLuhan - of "the medium is the message" fame.

Our class has talked a lot about electronic media and how it's changed our society. Last night Matthew and I started talking about how more and more people are taking time during their work day to surf Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. He mentioned that studies were showing people need that time to disconnect from work, let the mind roam free and then they can return to the task at hand refreshed and ready to go.

What Matthew was saying makes sense to me, and it also made me think of YouTube'ing becoming the new coffee break for the new generation. Instead of taking 15 minutes away from the desk to go for a coffee with co-workers, are we now switching the rules by surfing the Net instead?

I'll leave you all with this - my MACT classmate @CarolynFreed did a YouTube mash-up for our readings this week. I find it hilarious! I would definitely take time out of my work day to watch this.

What a season

Last night I was able to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders cap off their season in Edmonton. We haven't had the best season ~ finishing with a disappointing 5 wins and 13 losses. This coming from a team that has made the playoffs every year for nearly 10 years. No matter, I've stuck by them all season long and last night I wasn't disappointed.

Many thanks to my Twitter friend @rbfleming for giving me a ticket to last night's game. It was a chilly -6 Celsius at kick-off and I was wearing enough layers to make me feel like the abominable snowman. While we had already lost out of the playoffs the Riders played the game last night like they were still in contention ~ making the Eskimos work hard for the win. When it was all said and done Edmonton walked away with 23 points, we walked away with 20.

Thank you boys for a great run this season, and while some "fans" may have been disappointed I never was. Enjoy the off-season you've all worked so hard. I look forward to seeing you play again in 2012!

Three cheers for 'real' people

I've been pondering this for quite a while, the concept of what makes a 'real' person. Of course you exist in the physical and lately, online, sense. But there's more to just physically occupying space in the world.

Real people are those genuine souls who are the same person from work to play, from online to face-to-face. People who don't misrepresent who they are and what they like. Folks who know who they are inside and out and embrace it. Someone who says something and you know you can take them (and keep them) at their word.

I spent quite a few years growing up and then in certain relationships trying to be what I thought the other person wanted from me and I realized that inevitably I always end up unhappy. So a few years ago I decided to just be ME and love all of the quirks that make me different than others. I've found it's connected me with a lot of people who are like minded as me. Thank you friends for liking me for who I am and for not trying to change me.

So now I ask you: Are you a 'real' person?

I'm thankful for.....

A little late with this post but here goes anyway! Last weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada and as usual I headed home to Saskatchewan to spend some time with my family. I am truly thankful for them because over the years as we've grown up, grown old, grown apart we still manage to be the same loving people that we all started out as.

I've spent a lot of time away from these amazing people and away from my home province and it just makes me miss them and love them more. Thank you family for the wonderful values you've instilled in me, for the ambition I'm blessed with and for the support with each new challenge I tackle.

My furry little friend (Sassy) enjoying some sun!