10@4:04

1. It has been raining here in Calgary. A lot. The Bow River is so high!

This is on a morning run through Bowmont Park. If you knew this particular off-leash area, you would be quite amazed at how high, fast, and dirty this water is! Arianne, this is where we went swimming in our clothes one time a few years back:

2. Alex, Arianne, and I have been going on Thursday evening runs recently.

We jog on a path next to the Glenmore Reservoire. It's so beautiful in some parts! We found a wooden tipi on our first run there.

3. Have you ever been to My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe?

After our first Thursday evening run, we decided to reward ourselves with some ice cream! This shoppe looks so ghetto but it's so awesome. I had Grape Float ice cream. It seriously tasted like a grape float. It was so good!

4. I bought Kobe a harness.

I have been meaning to do this for some time now, and it was so worth it to get it! I no longer have to worry that I'm choking my dog to death, or worry about him choking himself to death when he pulls really hard on his leash. Or worry about collapsing his trachea or something weird like that. It's a lot easier to control where he goes and his collar would always slip over his head when I ran. The leash would get tangled in his legs, and life was just a nightmare when we went running. All my troubles are over!

5. I'm dog-sitting Luke's dog, Georgie, for two weeks while Denise is in Utah. He's a nice pup.

6. On our last Thursday run, Alex, Arianne, Lita, and I did a pretty good job:

This makes me feel good. And accomplished. And that I'm actually doing something to train for the half marathon in September that Alex and I registered for.

7. Christine Lyons has pneumonia so on Saturday I invited her over for some chicken noodle soup and a restful couple of hours. We watched Hugo, had some ice cream, and snuggled with the pups.

8. Saturday evening Lita and I went to Sabrina Hynes' and Darren Lynn's wedding reception at Ralph Klein Park.

We went to the wrong address at first because the GPS on Lita's phone auto-corrected 'st' into 'ave'. It was a little out of the way, but we made it there finally ha. I'm really happy for Sabrina :D

9. On our way back from the reception, Lita and I experienced some pretty great scenery.

It was such a nice evening, so Lita suggested that we visit the temple. So pretty:

10. I hear Saskatchewan has the most amazing sunsets.

I haven't witnessed any, myself, but I sure do love our Alberta sunsets. Lita and I noticed that there must have been a really great one happening while we were at the temple, but we couldn't see it because of all the trees and buildings and hills in the way! The sun was going down fast, so we raced out to Bear's Paw, found a hill, and captured it in all its glory.

Then I went home and snuggled with the puppies. Plus also, I miss Burns.

sunday adventures: kutarna haus

Sunday, June 10 was a disasterpiece of a day outside. Joe had picked Elbow Falls for our outside shenanigans, but since it was so miserable, we decided to visit The Kutarna Haus for an attractive dessert and a little playing of games.

When we first arrived at this exciting new location, we were greeted by a baby with blood all over her lips. We knew, then, that the Zombie Apocalypse had surely begun. We rushed around trying to gather all the food storage, axes, and chainsaws we would need to defend ourselves from certain doom. Marshie and Joe seemed to be the most prepared out of all of us for some reason.

Okay, okay, so the ZA isn't actually here, but we did go to Kutarna's to make a new dessert. We made some kind of strudel and Naves has berry filling all over her face in the picture.

Here's the dessert:

It was pretty good, a little rich, but it was good. We then played a round of 'Things in a Box'. I'm glad we can have fun together in any weather.

an expensive piece of paper

I graduated from the University of Calgary on June 5, 2012, about two weeks ago. With that graduation I received a little piece of laminated paper telling me, and anyone who reads it, that I now have a BA in Linguistics and am finally worth a little more than a high schooler. It tells people that I went through four years of learning, stress, late nights, procrastination, early mornings, stress, anger, joy, and more stress. Hmmm...that sounded a little like motherhood.

Anyways, I find it funny/fascinating that no stranger could ever know this about me by just looking at me. I mean, I clean houses for heaven's sake! While I was working at Sunnyside, it was insane how many people thought I was still in high school or just beginning my secondary education. I'm glad I got that one out of the way quick. I wonder how many bums I pass on the street who got into drugs or have mental issues but have a degree, just like me. Sorry, I'll save my deep thoughts for face to face conversations.

Sooooo about the grand graduation day! As I mentioned before, Burns was not able to make it down for my convocation, but he did spend time and celebrated with me the weekend before. I got up super early to look nice for the event, headed over to the university at about 7:00am to get there on time at 8:30. I found my parents, rented my gown, got my degree, and lined up to march with the rest of the morning grads into the gym for convocation.

The first speaker was really awesome and entertaining. Then the honorary grad gave his speech and I just about fell asleep because he made most of it about the economy. I have no interest in such things. Then, row by row, the grads lined up to be recognized in front of all who came to support their friends, daughters, sons, and more for their special day of graduation.

This is me looking as smart as I possibly could. My parents are so proud.

Theeeennn Mom, Dad, and I went to get some lunch while we waited for Arianne to finish a photo shoot she was doing with another grad. Then I got some pictures taken :D

I'm so lucky and blessed to have such amazing siblings. Arianne did my photos, and Alex and Marshie came out for some support and to celebrate with me.

Be prepared for an overload of pics!

Joe and Daryn then joined us for some dinner at Chianti. Long day, but it was definitely a good feeling to be finished my degree and celebrating that with some of the most amazing people I know. Thanks for coming out, everyone!