Prairie Heat

Winner for 5 DECEMBER 2011 - Eirwen due to Lesley being a lovely sweetheart. Next draw will now be in January.
Win my new Socktopus book, and enter a draw to win a pair of socks, custom fit and hand knit by yours truly. Help out Hong Kong Dog Rescue by donating to help them rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned dogs. More details here.

Left grey and cold London yesterday sporting a huge cardi, to arrive to 32 degree sunshine in C-town. Leaving Term 3, I spied a woman wandering around duty free with a surgical mask – I guess we Londoners must be rather germtastic. I was disappointed however to find that Books etc was replaced by a smaller WH Smith but managed to pick up a book I finished on the flight. I love the inseat entertainment they have in planes nowadays – I remember when everyone had to watch the same movie from screens lowered in positions around the plane, and those huge uncomfortable earphones. Watched a couple movies (He’s just not that into you and Monsters vs Alien), some 30 Rock, knit on my Aurantium shawl, and generally coexisted in genial mutual ignoring with my row buddy. Lovely guy – waited until I was slightly freaking out about landing turbulence to strike up a chat. Good timing for distraction!

I just love our airport. It isn’t as pretty as Vancouver airport, which is my all time favourite of the airports I’ve been too. Just lovely to wander around. Calgary is little but well formed. And there are almost always greeters (generally seniors) in red vests and white stetsons welcoming everyone as they wander off the plane to customs. I love the ‘howdy & welcome to Calgary’ hospitality. Sort of a little virtual hug as soon as you get off the plane. So cute.

Mom & dad were there to pick me up, it was crazy hot as soon as we left the terminal. And in true chinese fashion, first thing we went to do was buy food. Off to T&T, our local asian supermarket, and picked up live crab (LOVE Calgary for the fact that locals appreciate their food. We’re landlocked here, but you can get fresh oysters, live healthy fat crabs, sushi grade fish, lobster etc etc all flown in live and fresh. The only thing that is hard to come by is fancy cheese), got some bubble tea, i got a few goodies to bring home (my favourite chilli sauce).

I zonked out at about 930 and up at 530, but I think today I’ll be fine. Woke up this morning to cool blue sky, and fresh cool air. The heat doesn’t really hit til 3 pm, so the mornings are fine and clear and not too hot to wander around and get errands done.

Found an Apple shop here so am fixing to head up there this week before Summit.

Took it easy today, hung out in my mom’s lovely garden, did some work, and am going to finish up the Aurantium clue tonight. Small glitch in that I don’t have access to my graphing software, but I have something that should work. Went to Safeway, our local supermarket. I love wandering the aisles of supermarkets. I don’t know why – I just like to look at the different things that are sold. Coming home, I also like to look at the things I can’t get in London. Sort of reminiscing I guess. Like Captain Crunch cereal, Stash teas, Old Dutch chips (I got some Ketchup chips today – my old favourite!), popcorn twists & bugles. I’ll have to find some of that triscuit mix stuff…. can’t remember the name. Familiar yoghurt, cinnamon spread, milk. There’s something comforting in the familiarity of it all.

Miss my hubby and Deuce – I hope the monkey is doing alright. Hubby is fine – off to the Latin American festival today and had churros! SO JEALOUS. Love them churros. But tis okay – tonight we are having a BBQ with tenderloin and a few pieces of juicy T-bone. Ha! Salivate on that!