Kelly Date January 31, 2010

Viva Las Vegas People!

Ha, I had a great trip to the big and sparkly city of Las Vegas and a great time with Randy and his family. We were all there to celebrate the wedding of Randy and Janie who tied the knot in a Las Vegas style wedding. Actually, it was quite nice and I have pictures to prove it. The happy couple is to the right.............>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This was my first trip there and would have to admit it was an experience. I didn't spent much on the slot machines - I think the total damage came to approximately $29.00 so I have no complaints in that regard.

Not being much of a gambler Randy and I took off to see the sights and ended up walking the strip and checking out a number of the casinos and street shows available to passers by. Some of the street performers were amazing and one in particular seemed to do a great job. They seemed to be brothers and African Americans with amazing tone and who put on a wonderful show. We were very impressed.

We also took in two of the comedy shows; one 'Defending the Caveman' which Randy's parents kindly provided tickets to for Randy's birthday. We also went to see 'Louie Anderson' who

put on a great comedy routine about the chaos of travelling through airports, family memories, and his war with food. It was a hoot and lots of laughs.

Back to the wedding, Randy (the other Randy) and Janie made the perfect Las Vegas couple and seemed very pleased with themselves - full of smiles and hugs and enjoying the 'Vegas spot light'. A highlight was when Louie Anderson himself agreed to come over and have his picture taken with the happy couple. Priceless.

After all the festivities everyone started to leave for home, but Randy and I hung out for a couple more days to kick back and relax. We spent two great days eating, napping, eating, and taking long

walks.

It was wonderful and we actually ended up in the hot tub and

played snakes and ladders. Ha, we each won a game.

I've included several pictures of the wedding and snaps we took on the strip and inside the various casinos. Some of the pics are great and reflect a great time had by all as this was a reunion for some of almost twenty years in duration.

It was a great trip but I was glad to head home and back to Mr. Finnigan, however, I first had to traverse through a snowstorm to end all snowstorms just to get home. I could only go about 50 to 60 kilometers all the way back to Wolfville. It took almost two hours but I made it woo woo!

So, for now its back to books and writing and I am looking forward to a visit from my daughter, Chelsey. She comes for a quick visit on February 9th and that will be fun for both of us. I'll get to show her the big city lights of small town Wolfville lol. Always fun!

Having a great time here in Nova Scotia..........

Kelly Date January 17, 2010

Hey another week has gone by and I'm am quite glad to be back in classes and working on my thesis again. I hadn't realized how bored I'd gotten over the holiday. I've learned a ton this past couple weeks on putting together a thesis, well part of it anyway but as usual it is more work than I anticipated lol. John has me working on various aspects of the research methodology this week and that is challenging to say the least.

Try these words on if you dare.....phenomenology; ethnology; and grounded theory. And if those don't get you going try out 'emic' as apposed to 'etic'. Such fun! I actually didn't get too much done this week except the studying part of things. Managed to go for several walks with the pooch and oh yes, got re-hooked on Americal Idol again. Yeesh, what a time waster that is - argh. :)

I am getting excited about going to Las Vegas with Randy this coming Sunday. I can't wait to see him and just hang out and talk and hang out some more. We plan on taking in a couple of shows while there - probably comedy but will have to wait and see. I'll be there for five nights and my biggest worry is getting delayed in the US airports. Given all the craziness over the holiday it wouldn't surprise me at all to get stuck somewhere for hours on end.

So I have a tone of extra work to do this week so I don't get too far behind while I'm away. Mr. Finnigan is going to stay at John and Susan's place. In my humble opinion the best doggie place on earth. It is so nice to not have to worry about him while I'm gone. I kinda like him. Such a great dog. He is currently watching tv on the bed lol.

Well, that's it. Short and sweet. As I said, I've had no adventures this week to speak of so you'll have to wait until next Sunday. Oh right....maybe the Sunday after that lol.

Have a super great week! ! !

Kelly Date January 10, 2010

Well school starts up again tomorrow and I for one and looking forward to it. I took the weekend to laze around and actually managed to fit in some exploring on the side. I decided to head south for a drive and dragged along the camera in case I came across something interesting. This approach worked quite well actually and I ended up in a little town about an hour and a half south of Wolfville.

Bridgetown is also on the Bay of Fundy and looks very much the quintessential fishing port - it faces west toward the coast of New Brunswick. There are small homes all along the bay and lobster traps stacked in heaps on the wharves. I stopped at the end of the road to take some pictures of the boats that have been brought up on the shore for the winter.

I didn't stay for too long though as the wind was so cuttingly cold I couldn't stay outside. The car was much warmer lol. Even Mr. Finnigan was none too keen on sniffling around for doggy scents. If you have anydoubt as to just how cold that wind is, the one picture shows the cliffs along the bay and you can see the sea ice and rain that has frozen right to the face of the cliffs. Even though it's only zero degrees the windy off the bay is surprisingly cold.

After that we can back along the coast and saw some ice fishers out on a small lake and some tobogganers on a big hill just outside of Kentville. There were several families and groups out enjoying the day and lots of smiles as people of all sizes raced down the hill to a bumpy stop. One young boy was particularly cute as his toque had fallen down past his eyes to rest on his nose. Ha, he couldn't see a thing but had the biggest smile as he blasted to a stop at the bottom.

It was nice that the weather had been clear enough, for long enough that I was able to get out and do some exploring. It's hard when you're pretty much stuck to town because the snow and rain have made the roads impassable. With school starting tomorrow it was a treat to get some pics and see something new.

It will likely be a busy week for me but I'll be glad for it. The holiday was a bit long and I would prefer to be busy with things rather than sitting around and waiting. Ha, I'll probably be complaining in a week that I'm too busy!

Hope you had a great day and an even better week. Bye for now....

Kelly Date January 3, 2010

Oh my gawd!

I totally forgot to do the blog lol. I was working on my thesis proposal on Sunday evening and got carried away. Actually, I was trying to get a draft finished for a meeting with my supervisor on Monday so was focused on getting through a certain chunk of the work. Oh well, the meeting was postponed and now I have remembered my blog.

The week was pretty quiet overall because of the crazy weather. It would snow one day and rain the next so the streets were backup and slippery as hell. Mr. Finnigan wouldn't even go down to the walkway to do his business ha ha. When it was raining really hard he didn't even want to go out the door. Little cutie.

The new year is here and so far things are looking good. I'm going to Las Vegas with Randy on the 24th of January and looking forward to that. Just have to find a temporary home for Finnigan while I'm away. Classes start this coming Monday and I'm getting excited about helping John out with the class in some way. We're meeting this Thursday or Friday to go over a few things.

All my girlies are well and happy and trying to work through the chaos of life. The two, Carissa and Celise, are still in Calgary and Chelsey in Oshawa. They too are looking forward to a busy new year and seen content to be where they are. Aw, new years can be exciting!

The top picture is of two Inuit girls and a small baby. Very cute and I'm still hoping to be going there in May. Have a great week and give someone a hug. Later....

Kelly Date December 28, 2009

HAPPY HOLIDAY ! ! !

I would have to admit that being away from my family at Christmas was very different and I missed everyone very much.

However, I made it through the holiday with the help of some very kind people in Wolfville who invited me for dinner on Christmas day. And, a fine dinner it was too.....lobster thermador, rissotto rice, salad, and plumb pudding with hard sauce.

It was actually amazing and I ate way too much. Good wine, good company, and good food made for a great day that went much more quickly than I thought it might. I think the 'hard sauce' was my favourite lol. I had never had it before and could have eaten a whole bowl all to myself. A happy thank you to Susan and John for sharing the holday with me!

Actually, most of the day was spent chatting with people on the phone, skype, or ichat. Chelsey, Celise, and Carissa also had a good Christmas and spent the day with friends and loved ones. They also liked the presents I had sent - pictures of my trip across Canada and the States. I received cards and pictures and letters from home, which were much appreciated. I didn't get many pictures as it has rained so much these past few days. In fact it is pouring right now and doesn't seem to be letting up at all.

I did get pictures of a snow storm a few days ago of several decorated homes in the area. Some of the homes

here are quite pretty and the snow storm made them look amazing. You can see the Christmas trees decorated outside and one fellow almost invisible in the snowy landscape.

I trust you all had a wonderful holiday as well and looking forward to an amazing new year. I know I am.......

Kelly Date December 20, 2009

HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU AND YOURS ! ! !

Hello, I have to finish up the blog yet, but waiting to get one more thing finished......I do have a picture though of Mr. Finnigan's new boots. I can assure you he was none too pleased by the addition to his feetware lol. It was so funny to watch him try and flap them off; wouldn't put one foot down or the other. Then we went for a walk and he kinda got it sorted around. He was doing quite well with the new equipment by the time we got home. The next night he did much better with his walk and seemed much happier with his warm feets. Ha, such a cutie.

This week will be taken up with work on my thesis proposal. I have been gathering journal articles that speak to Aboriginal and Indigenous tourism, community development, and related issues to ecotourism. It's actually quite interesting and there is a lot of discourse about the impact on social policy of tourism development. I've read a number of article on circumpolar tourism and related background material on Nunavut's history and present day development, or rather non-development in some instances, of their tourism industry.

Other than work I have been low key what with the snow and everything. Mr. Finnigan and I have been managing walks and still jogging, but the snow and ice has kept us somewhat homebound. I've watched some movies, a bit of television, but of course some reading. It will be a great Christmas week and I was happy to hear back that all of my presents had actually arrived and unbroken. Yes! I guess my extra care and effort to wrap the gifts really well paid off.

I will be having Christmas dinner with Susan and John Markham-Starr. They are serving lobster - wow - and I am to bring dessert wine, myself, and Mr. Finnigan to the festivities. This of course means that I have to get out and go shopping asap and pick up a few gifts. Should be fun! Bye for now....ho ho ho!

Kelly Date December 14, 2009

It's Sunday evening 12:04a.m. and I've just finished my last paper. Yea. However, given the lateness of the hour I plan on updating the blog in the morning. I'm too tired just now to give it a go with any umph at all. Until tomorrow.....

Considering I was up so late last night I surprised myself by being awake at exactly 8:18 and ready for the day. Slept like a baby. Yesterday, I had asked the English professor if he would edit my paper for grammar and technical errors, which he kindly agreed to do. I met him at the little coffee shop at the far end of town and had just settled in to work when about 10 carollers came around the front of the building and sang a Christmas song for us. That was the very first time I had ever seen anyone do this and it was so very nice.

There were two very young children at the front who stood quite close to the glass with big smiles. They were so cute, but since I didn't have my camera with me I decided to use the built-in camera in my laptop to snap a picture. As you can see they were adorable.

My other Christmas moment was when Doreen, my 86 year old landlady, put up the tree last night. Her son, Jim, brought it by for her that afternoon and called it a 'ditch' tree of little or no value whatsoever. I beg to differ. Doreen dragged out what few decorations she had and one string of small red lights and fancied it up all by herself.

I was huddled in my room working and didn't realize she was quite so busy. When she finished she was quite pleased with herself and came to get me so I could see for myself. So, I turned out the living room lights and after some fiddling around she succeeded in getting the tree lights working. Perfect! She had managed to get the ornaments placed all round the tree nicely but the lights were mostly on the bottom to the left. I love it and is quite possibly the best tree I've ever seen.

These things have decidedly put me in the Christmas spirit and suddenly it actually feels like that time of year. I will spend the remainder of this week doing some marking and getting busy with my thesis proposal. In addition, I plan on getting out with the camera to get some photos of the snow when it gets here. Ha, I hadn't anticipated a green Christmas here in Nova Scotia, but it is a possibility seeing as it rained last night.

Have a fabtastic day and merry ho ho ho.