tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52908147191870028952011-11-02T22:38:15.264-06:00Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.comBlogger1131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-35526595396607546292011-11-02T22:37:00.001-06:002011-11-02T22:38:15.282-06:00

Wow ... it has been over six months since my last post and well, that's because Jenn & Ben went back South!! Yup, after almost three marvelous years in Calgary, we decided to move back home to Nashville. (Which was always the plan, but we didn't expect to love life in Canada so much, or for the decision to be so difficult!) Since my first ever blog post was a "by the numbers," I offer up another

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-84776013567953886102011-05-04T12:37:00.001-06:002011-05-04T12:39:15.144-06:00

I have been a terrible blogger lately! I suppose that a growth-spurting, teething, super active six month old will do that. These days I am feeling exhausted and incredibly grateful and full of love, in almost equal measure! And yesterday I realized that we have three weekends left in Calgary - maybe four if we decide to travel after Memorial Day weekend. Holy cow, where did the time go?! I

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-87462811862026894572011-04-06T15:53:00.001-06:002011-04-06T15:53:44.910-06:00

While it was at first disheartening to watch a snow storm overtake Calgary at the beginning of April, how can I really complain when this is the view I got to wake up to on a beautiful Sunday morning? And who knows how many more days I'll have like this, with piles of fresh, fluffy snow, sunshine and blue skies? We headed off to the dog park and walked around with Max in his carrier while Bosco

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-55065459215136813422011-03-26T22:53:00.004-06:002011-03-27T08:40:13.438-06:00

As our time in Calgary nears an end (we move back to Nashville at the end of May!), Ben and I are realizing there are a few things we still need to do before leaving this amazing little corner of the world. Today was a snowy, slushy, windy day that looked like this: Beautiful to look at, but not so inviting for a nice spring stroll! So to pass our Saturday afternoon, we headed to Home Depot

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-18898562157313446072011-03-04T15:34:00.001-07:002011-03-04T15:35:37.859-07:00

For some reason I am totally in love with this photo. During me and Max's two-week trip to Nashville, we had a couple of amazingly warm and sunny days, and for the first time my sweet boy got to feel grass under his bare feet. Makes me grin every time I think about it! Our return to Calgary last night was a bit of a shock to the senses - going from 70 degrees and sunny to about -4 and windy! As

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-24454681128843766722011-02-16T10:03:00.004-07:002011-02-16T10:07:41.147-07:00

I just realized that Max's birthday is EXACTLY nine months after Valentine's Day! Do what you will with that tidbit :) Ok, ok, if you must know, I'm sure our sweet boy was not conceived on Valentine's (I was at the Olympics in Vancouver while Ben was hard at work in Calgary), but it sure would have been cool if we could say he was! I hope everybody had a great Valentine's - ours was low key as

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-63129434918815901252011-02-11T11:47:00.000-07:002011-02-11T11:47:50.309-07:00

I hope it's a relaxing one for everybody!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-77106692805632779762011-02-10T11:05:00.009-07:002011-02-10T21:02:30.920-07:00

This image is the perfect example of the American ideal that "doing it all" makes you a strong woman. Most countries don't expect women to have two full-time jobs at once ... When Max hit the 12-week mark a few days ago, it occurred to me that at home in the US, I would be expected to go back to work now. As a Canadian resident though, I still have nine months of leave ahead of me. Max woke up

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-50327685426635288512011-02-09T18:00:00.004-07:002011-02-10T09:27:16.404-07:00

It's almost Valentine's Day, which has me thinking about the new love in my life. He's blond, blue-eyed, a Canadian... and has no teeth. But before I reveal who this studly dude is, here's a by-the-numbers look at how my life has changed since this guy came into it: Average Hours of sleep per night: 6 Nursing sessions per day: 10 or more Diapers changed daily: 7 or more Length of showers: 5

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-41581497185288003342011-02-08T14:08:00.002-07:002011-02-08T14:11:38.516-07:00

There are TONS more of them (and video - that's right, we can get high-tech!) on our private Shutterfly photo page. Just send me a message asking for the password, then hop on over using this link: http://maxsondean.shutterfly.com/

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-15985818804979346402011-02-08T14:03:00.002-07:002011-02-09T12:45:42.007-07:00

Just a quick photo of our sweet little monkey, who is now 12 weeks old!!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-37017437662767421312010-11-27T11:39:00.002-07:002011-02-09T13:35:31.714-07:00

Maxson Dean, our perfect baby boy, was born Sunday, November 14th at 2:59 pm. It was an absolutely gorgeous, sunny, brisk Calgary day. Ben and I watched a spectacular sunrise from our balcony while I was in early labor, and I just knew that this was our baby's day to finally join us. His timing was perfect, because the next day brought a snow storm, and a few days later Calgary was recorded as

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-3643741271982691652010-11-12T14:53:00.006-07:002011-02-09T18:15:59.296-07:00

If anybody is interested in more photos of the nursery, check out this blog post! Eeny Meeny may make an appearance any day now, so luckily everything seems to be ready (as ready as you can ever be for parenthood, I suppose)! Here I am at about 37 weeks, one week ago. It looks like I will make it to 38 weeks - I wonder how much longer after that before we get to meet our sweet Eeny Meeny!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-5071075504720580482010-11-02T13:15:00.003-06:002011-02-09T13:24:27.185-07:00

As I sit on my couch on this sunny fall morning, cuddling with Bosco and enjoying my second day of maternity leave, I must admit that I am a very happy preggo, and finally have a moment to reflect on some things... I recently read in one of my many pregnancy books (I couldn't tell you which one!) that women today are squeezing pregnancy into their busy lives, rather than re-arranging things a

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-50908380549584904442010-09-26T18:14:00.006-06:002011-02-09T13:25:27.314-07:00

This time of year seems to make me feel the most homesick, probably because autumn in Tennessee is by far my favorite time of year, and Tennessee is my favorite place to enjoy that first breath of crisp air and glimpse of leaves changing to orange and yellow and red. Plus there are so many great memories of the fall in Tennessee, like our amazing October wedding, football season, and of course

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-56492373549872934932010-09-14T17:45:00.001-06:002010-09-14T17:46:25.625-06:00

There is so much to say about pregnancy. And yet to my surprise, I find vocalizing what I'm experiencing next to impossible! Perhaps the problem is the schizophrenic range of emotions brought on by pregnancy - by the time I finally sit down to put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard just doesn't have the same ring), I have moved to a totally different frame of mind than the one I intended to write

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-8562925179959204722010-09-03T09:01:00.008-06:002011-02-09T13:23:09.401-07:00

I feel like the blog this summer has been replete of mountaineering photos and tales of our travel adventures - and this blog IS supposed to be about Canada ... and adventures HAVE been had here this summer!! Western Canada's summer weather has, I must admit, been pretty disappointing this year. We have fallen victim to several major hail storms, lots of rain, cool weather and a general lack of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-92037472215632274932010-08-20T14:32:00.000-06:002010-08-20T14:32:45.892-06:00

Well, I have officially entered the world of soon-to-be mommy-hood ... if you had asked me a year ago whether I wanted to get up early on my day off to purchase a car seat online, I would have laughed in your face and poured another glass of wine. But oh how things change! Baby fever has overtaken me! I was wide awake at 5:30 this morning after dragging myself to the bathroom for yet another pee

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-17522572210613296012010-07-28T12:38:00.001-06:002010-07-28T12:41:26.339-06:00

My heart is dancin', to a November tune And I hope that you hear it, singing songs about you -November Blue, The Avett Brothers Life has been a wild but amazing ride lately, and I have the feeling it will stay this way for quite a while without much pause! Ben and I have been blasting through this pregnancy and are in wonder and awe at the at the fact that this baby is growing and developing

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-25693570328966844312010-06-12T10:07:00.001-06:002011-02-09T13:38:16.041-07:00

Utter joy and complete frustration often seem to go hand-in-hand. As I get older, I realize more and more how important it is to learn to put the joyful things in the forefront; to allow the positive parts of life to guide you when struggles try to drag you down. For those who don't know yet, Ben and I are expecting our first addition to the family this November and are beyond excited!! I will

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-58193553943442817912010-05-13T15:11:00.002-06:002010-05-13T15:14:05.810-06:00

This was forwarded to my email account today - no joke, downtown Calgary had a very special visitor on this beautiful May afternoon. He even received a police escort. This is just a few blocks from my office! (In the second photo, look toward the silver car in the middle.)

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-46427474061102207312010-05-06T16:27:00.003-06:002011-02-09T13:28:08.393-07:00

It has been hearbreaking to watch from afar as my hometown has been engulfed in floodwaters these past few days. And yet while my heart continues to hurt for the immeasurable loss, it also swells with pride at the resilience and kindness of Nashvillians. As has been pointed out by other bloggers, Nashville has not experienced the looting and crime one might expect in such a crisis. Instead,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-40675112287475176572010-04-30T16:36:00.003-06:002010-04-30T16:41:29.480-06:00

The power of music to transform you to a different time and place always amazes me, and often catches me by surprise. While riding the bus this morning, still reeling from the shock of yesterday’s spring-time snow, my iPod shuffled to the song “Kids” by MGMT (listen here: http://tinyurl.com/2vglyg) , and suddenly I found myself in an emotional vortex of the past 18 months (we have been in Calgary

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-83943518735660712612010-04-11T13:17:00.002-06:002011-02-09T16:01:25.227-07:00

It's April - holy moly, how did this happen already?! I hope everybody had an amazing Easter holiday! We spent ours in Kelowna, a beautiful city in interior British Columbia, situated on some stunning lakes and in the midst of Canada's little-known and under-appreciated wine country. Our friend Angie's family was kind enough to include us in their Easter celebrations, complete with her hilarious

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-71490972618908009042010-03-19T16:55:00.000-06:002010-03-19T16:55:59.821-06:00

Like my mom and sister, and I’m sure my mom’s mom before her, I’m a pretty smiley sort of person. Tennessee has its flaws, but unfriendly people are definitely not among them - the stranger who does not return a smile is more the exception than the rule. Calgary is quite the opposite when it comes to its street culture and interaction with strangers. Perhaps I’m sensitive or simply pay more

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-21918596316848618872010-03-18T15:34:00.001-06:002010-03-19T10:11:52.914-06:00

I know this blog is supposed to be about Canada, but I must digress for a moment to write about my super duper hometown south of the border... When I saw today that Gwyneth Paltrow was offering a write-up on her blog about Nashville, I was skeptical. What sort of real advice could a big-city actress possibly divulge about a friendly southern city that prides itself on an eclectic mix of modern,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-1695931331357939622010-03-14T18:46:00.002-06:002011-02-09T16:02:41.667-07:00

We had to bid farewell to our good friend Alicia a few weeks ago as she headed to London for another adventure, but not without a final ski trip to Lake Louise! This winter has been unseasonably warm, making for some beautiful days on the mountain (if not the best snow conditions). We also enjoyed a foray deep into the Calgary Farmer's Market and then took a stroll along the Bow River which is

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-226659802553273422010-03-14T18:28:00.002-06:002010-03-14T18:30:25.229-06:00

Have I mentioned yet that I was lucky enough to go to the Vancouver Olympics last month?! Sadly, Ben is in the middle of "busy season" and could not escape work to join in the fun, but Almudena and I managed to sneak out for a short but sweet weekend. It was all completely last minute - we booked airfare on a whim when a sale popped up a few weeks prior to the Olympics, booked one night in a

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-91584368229780736012010-03-14T13:34:00.003-06:002010-03-14T13:38:21.577-06:00

Many of you have been hearing rumblings of this for a while now, but it's official: Ben and I are extending our time in Calgary by one year!! After much debate, we decided it's the best choice for us right now - life is pretty darn good here and the winter has been significantly milder this year, making the decision a bit easier! Of course don't ask how I feel when it drops back to -30 degrees

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-68976979459066197372010-03-05T12:38:00.000-07:002010-03-05T12:38:42.366-07:00

(On a less positive note!) 1) Escalator standers - you know who you are! If you insist on not walking up the escalator, then at least stand to the right, please :) 2) Not being able to smile in passport photos - which for me means ten more years of carrying around a passport in which I look like a stoner! 3) Local residents (most of them) who don't wak on the right side of the road or follow

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-54519761655390227572010-03-05T09:42:00.001-07:002010-03-05T09:53:38.790-07:00

1) Unseasonably warm winters 2) The big, wide-open Alberta sky that so many locals take for granted, but that repeatedly inspires awe in me 3) The spectacular sunsets that occur on every clear day, in aforementioned big sky. Extra love for a view over the city skyline or the mountains (which is not hard to do around here) 4) Knowing that in my heart, in spite of all the directions and places I

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-91461343354141690852010-03-02T10:12:00.006-07:002011-02-09T16:05:00.440-07:00

I think that every company should offer employees the opportunity to volunteer during work hours. I’m not talking lots of time – just a few hours a month or every couple of weeks. I would make the argument that giving people the chance to take a break from the frenzied work day to volunteer for causes they care about will sustain a happier, more productive workforce. Individuals who volunteer

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-85769394125312276102010-02-25T12:16:00.001-07:002011-02-09T16:07:27.232-07:00

So last night, I broke my 18-month vegetarian (err... flexitarian?) streak with half of a filet mignon at Canada's favorite steakhouse, The Keg. Not only did I dig into a meaty piece of steak, but I also happily devoured the pepper bacon wrapped around said steak. Now I know a lot of you are really happy to hear this news, but don't get too excited - this meat "fix" will probably tide me over

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-59827670651971289712010-01-27T22:51:00.003-07:002010-03-02T12:03:27.432-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again... the winter blues! I could blame Canada, which would be an easy scapegoat, but I think "the funk" (as I endearingly like to call it) will find you no matter where you are. Whether it's below freezing, snowing and I'm sliding around icy sidewalks - or just gray, rainy and blah (another of my favorite descriptive terms) - January and February are not my cup of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-28524978186339712802010-01-03T12:46:00.003-07:002011-02-09T16:10:15.393-07:00

I have been the ultimate blog slacker of late ... and the farther behind I got, the more daunting it sounded to catch back up. However my ever-helpful sister-in-law (thanks Jenny!) pointed out that it's not necessary to comb over every detail of the past few months, since our return from our epic roadtrip in September. Perhaps a photo highlight reel will suffice to cover our adventures (my

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-23559237996955993862009-10-30T12:42:00.014-06:002009-11-07T10:31:16.905-07:00

Okay, okay - it's almost November and I realize I need to finish summing up our road trip! I can't believe that we arrived home more than six weeks ago. So here it is, the last week: DAYS 16-17: From Tofino, we headed southeast to Victoria, considered Canada's most British city. This small, charming town offered up idyllic streets for wandering, shopping, flea-marketing and more. Our hostel was

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-26424934244375116982009-10-07T09:35:00.007-06:002009-10-07T11:03:34.677-06:00

DAYS 13 & 14:After our super exciting day of whale watching, we got up early the next morning, packed up the campsite and started southward again, back along the same (and only) island road that had carried us to Telegraph Cove. We cut due west across Vancouver Island for another gorgeous drive through parks and small towns, although I was feeling a bit too tired of driving at this point to

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-40119301106227957992009-10-04T13:07:00.019-06:002011-02-09T16:13:22.252-07:00

Sorry for the huge lapse in my trip report - I hope I haven't left anybody hanging in total suspense for too long! I have been busy settling into our new house, job hunting, volunteering and enjoying the last few weeks of amazing weather we had here in Calgary. During the week of my birthday, September 24, we actually had highs in the 80s and lots of sunshine. Quite UNLIKE today, which finds us

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-6199260729200106162009-09-20T11:35:00.012-06:002009-09-21T10:01:23.506-06:00

DAY 5:We woke up in Whistler on a brisk morning to sound of a bubbling stream that ran right behind our campsite. Not a bad way to start the day! We had made reservations to do a zipline tour at Ziptrek Ecotours - after a slight wardrobe malfunction (the zipper on my pants broke!), for which I ran back to our car to change pants, we got started, flying through the air on five separate lines that

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-60419729630325302072009-09-16T10:13:00.010-06:002009-09-16T12:11:02.347-06:00

If you read the below posts about the planning of our road trip, cheers! If not, no worries - this is my first actual post reviewing the trip in detail - sorry it got so long, but once I started writing I found there were many details I just couldn't leave out! :)DAY 1:Left Calgary on Wednesday, August 19 - I can't believe it was almost a month ago. We made the drive westward through the Rocky

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-48115481481956798342009-09-14T12:50:00.006-06:002009-09-14T13:32:36.228-06:00

It took Ben and I months of organizing and planning to decide where we wanted to go for our road trip and what activities we most wanted to do. We were amazed to discover that we could easily have spent twice as long in this part of the world, camping our way through all the mountains and parks, exploring further south into Oregon and northern California - but three weeks turned out to be perfect

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-85921752480688402042009-09-14T12:36:00.005-06:002009-09-14T13:38:09.774-06:00

I've been procrastinating on updating the blog, as I know this will be a long one! Ben and I returned a few days ago from our amazing three-week road trip across western Canada and the US, and are still trying to re-adjust to normal life. Luckily, the gorgeous weather in Calgary is making this task much easier! It also doesn't hurt that Ben has this week off of work so there's time to recuperate

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-88993764366778338472009-08-15T12:16:00.005-06:002009-08-15T12:40:41.093-06:00

So Ben and I made a bit of an impulsive decision ... we are moving into a new rental unit!! We had been casually looking, since our current lease ends in October, and were surprised to stumble onto a really, really great house. We are taking the main floor, and there's a basement unit below us with only a single lady living there, so we'll have so much more privacy.The house has absolutely

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-4391395816482772982009-08-05T10:42:00.012-06:002009-08-05T11:46:30.371-06:00

In the midst of our hectic summer, I've not had a chance to write about the amazing visit from my family two weeks ago! It was so different to have the opportunity to host my parents and show them around a place where they had not been before (there are not many!)Liz arrived a night earlier than the parents, so I got to take her to a few of my favorite hang-outs (Melrose, Molly Malone's and Farm)

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-63185333848523126272009-08-03T15:32:00.009-06:002009-08-03T16:14:07.848-06:00

I'm writing this entry in a very tired but content state of mind - just returned from a long weekend at the lake. Yes, there are lake houses in Canada, and the lakes do melt in the summertime (albeit not until May)!Today (Monday) is a holiday here, although I'm not sure what for - from what I can gather, many locals don't really know, either. Ben and I only learned of the holiday last week, which

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-39930369947620935402009-07-14T16:48:00.006-06:002009-07-14T17:40:19.054-06:00

Before moving here, we had heard so much about Stampede, the ten-day festival that Calgary is famous for - ten days of partying, concert-going, rodeo watching, pancake eating and general mayhem! It arrived before we even knew what had hit us.Ben and I did our best to jump right into the mix - I think we made it to at least one Stampede-related event every day. The city really came to life more

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-45371594541496904772009-07-08T10:10:00.012-06:002009-07-08T11:22:16.813-06:00

Once again, I have to apologize for being SO behind on my posts! It is not that I have nothing to blog about - quite the opposite, actually. Summertime in Calgary has transformed this city. We have gone from bundling up and drinking hot chocolate and brandy to stay warm, to the most spectacular weather imaginable for enjoying the bountiful outdoors all around us!Since returning from our trip to

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-47724823104065654262009-06-19T14:51:00.008-06:002009-06-19T15:36:03.192-06:00

I feel I've returned to Calgary with a rejuvenated sense of self. Going home to the people who have known me the longest and the best always seems to remind me who I am. I hadn't exactly lost that knowledge in Calgary, but I was feeling off somehow, like something was missing, a piece of my confidence lacking perhaps. I'm not sure if it's the comfort of a hometown, the unconditional love and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-9995916827040846312009-06-18T17:51:00.002-06:002009-06-18T17:53:22.808-06:00

I can't believe that almost a month has passed between my blog updates! For the past few weeks I have been enjoying the good life back in Tennessee, so over the next few blogs, I'll do my best to update you on all the great times that were had, from Nashville to Chattanooga to Bonnaroo...

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-76937852502674809992009-05-20T09:35:00.009-06:002009-05-20T11:26:04.011-06:00

Once upon a time, in a cold, northerly land, over Canada's May long weekend, Ben and Jenn bought a set of shiny new bicycles that brought the couple much happiness. They biked up and down the river with the sun on their backs. They adorned the pretty, new bikes with bells. Jenn even rode to her volunteer job, making it on time for once. Yes, it was a lovely period of prosperity bestowed by

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-55987017502667491292009-05-11T10:52:00.005-06:002009-05-11T11:02:54.279-06:00

No, this is not a racial comment, just a note on one of my favorite Canadian-English idiosyncrasies. When you order a sandwich, you are asked if you want white or brown bread. Try to order wheat or rye, and you'll likely get a quizzical look or a correction: "Oh, you want brown bread." I love it! Why not simplify life?!I know I talk a lot about the weather so will simply leave you with a photo of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-91814601615154332192009-05-08T09:11:00.006-06:002009-05-08T10:27:19.259-06:00

This past weekend was fantastic! For the first time, I felt that spring was (probably) upon us. It's impossible to make this assertion with any real sense of finality, as locals tell me they have seen snow in every month of the year, including July, but here's to hoping.Ben and I discovered a huge off-leash park where we took Bosco on Saturday. With lots of hills and trails and a river-path,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-78795836410846106122009-04-29T10:21:00.003-06:002009-04-29T11:12:07.734-06:00

Yesterday I heard the story of a Holocaust survivor. Completely unexpectedly. And with great respect and sorrow all at once.For the past few months, I have been volunteering alongside an older lady named Kaye. Whenever she's in the back sorting clothes, I offer to help because I get such a kick out of working with this sassy, tough, sharp-minded woman. I love hearing her stories about catching

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-14252342910911185112009-04-26T18:49:00.003-06:002009-04-26T18:52:22.922-06:00

And this is what is looks like. Just your average spring, Sunday afternoon in Calgary!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-9855492739692588462009-04-26T18:13:00.008-06:002009-04-26T18:38:49.924-06:00

Ben and I finally tried one of Canada's most emblematic pass times - curling! We went with a company outing, so were given a quickie lesson and played several rounds. We were off to a rocky start, with Ben arriving in loafers and me in two-inch boots, thinking we'd rent shoes just like in bowling. Not the case! We had to run home and get tennis shoes. Then you get a slick, plastic footie that

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-82950513429948665712009-04-23T11:21:00.009-06:002009-04-23T12:22:47.990-06:00

It's been a week of highs and lows across the board. From weather shifts to hockey games, it's definitely not been dull around here!The week started off beautifully, with Tuesday warming up to 70 degrees. It was the light at the end of a long, cold tunnel! Ben and I made the 35-minute walk from our place to the cute Kensington neighborhood for some birthday drinks in honor of Almudena. We had all

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-53385408273448586282009-04-17T09:57:00.007-06:002009-04-17T10:33:10.872-06:00

Well, the Calgary Flames have made it to the playoffs. While I'm still trying to wrap my head around the sheer length of hockey season and hard-core dedication of its fans (I mean, how do you drag yourself out to two or three games a week, every week for months on end?!), the playoffs excitement has reinvigorated my interest in the sport. Obviously Ben didn't need much encouragement to show off

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-50789845562091837542009-04-15T13:34:00.002-06:002009-04-15T13:46:33.219-06:00

Well, not entirely, but Ben and I realized that part of the reason Mexico was so blissful was that we had a week with no technology! Yes, there was a TV in our hotel room, but we made a point of never turning it on.With summer on the way and long days that already linger until almost 9pm, there must be more to weeknights than watching a crappy TV show I'll forget about in an hour! So today I made

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-41085096994249826192009-04-14T16:59:00.006-06:002009-04-14T17:09:35.026-06:00

Hi Amigos (still pretending to be in Mexico)!After seeing how great our friend Kristin's new blog looks (you can check it out in my links section, Yancey en Panama), I decided ours needed a spring update! Hope you enjoy the new look, and thanks for reading and sticking with us for all this time. I just love being able to keep everyone abreast of our goings-on and share photos and stories, and to

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-69399373306188996902009-04-13T16:59:00.031-06:002009-04-14T17:13:32.344-06:00

First off, I hope that everybody had a FABULOUS Easter! Ben and I were definitely missing our families, friends and festivities back in Tennessee!Our Mexico trip has finally come and gone, and it was heaven! My secret (or maybe not so secret) wish was for Calgary's snow to melt by the time we got home and - shockingly - that wish came true and the weather is up to the low 50s this week. Hardly

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-44069241635779635442009-03-26T09:43:00.002-06:002009-03-26T09:49:56.060-06:00

So... shortly after writing my last post (about six hours later, to be exact), we got another four to six inches of snow! Yep, Ben, Bosco and I took an afternoon hike in sunny and decent weather, and immediately after we got home, the sky went dark and down came the snow! It has been snowing off and on all week, with heavy winds and no signs of clearing up.All I can say is, our trip to Mexico in

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-61270471433972133842009-03-21T11:08:00.016-06:002009-03-21T11:37:15.644-06:00

I know it's early to get up my hopes, and we will no doubt have several more bouts of cold weather before spring really settles in, but these past few days have been lovely in Calgary! Those who are friends of mine on Facebook may have already seen some of the photos from my walk through Prince's Island Park in downtown Calgary on Wednesday: snow was evaporating, clearing the walking paths little

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-67441479621762455842009-03-17T16:05:00.003-06:002009-03-17T17:19:53.873-06:00

I had the best weekend in Atlanta, where I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with my best girlfriends from UT Knoxville. It's been a while since we managed a trip that was not centered around a wedding or other major event, so it felt like there were years' worth of things to catch up on! I don't think the four of us stopped talking for more than a few hours to sleep both nights - literally

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-58918096938950344102009-03-09T11:23:00.010-06:002009-03-09T17:12:22.572-06:00

I think it's safe to say that my honeymoon period with Calgary has ended, just as I knew it eventually would. Don't get me wrong - there's a lot that I love about this city: kind people, walk-ability, a good farmer's market and restaurants, our lively neighborhood, and most of all - proximity to the amazing Rockies. But as time goes on it's only natural to find flaws alongside the perks.What has

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-69021069279764625552009-02-23T19:58:00.002-07:002009-02-23T20:01:25.382-07:00

when I looked outside and saw it snowing yet again, and the forecast called for -16 Celsius by Wednesday:

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-653232571385652282009-02-20T09:05:00.019-07:002009-02-20T10:21:32.857-07:00

I have been neglecting the poor little blog lately, so wanted to offer a quick update on our past two weeks here in Calgary:DatesI explained to Ben that, while skiing on the weekends is a blast, it does not exactly constitute romantic "alone" time, so we decided to institute a new Thursday date night. Our first date consisted of a visit to an intimate wine bar in downtown (Divino). We intended to

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-42019594006266785712009-02-11T15:55:00.004-07:002009-02-11T16:04:52.765-07:00

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." -Mark Twain

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-59081278286651876612009-02-11T10:03:00.003-07:002009-02-11T10:27:56.300-07:00

I want to give a shout out to the fabulous organization I've started volunteering for: the Making Changes Employment Association of Alberta. For the past few weeks, my Tuesdays have been dedicated to this group, and it's one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I've had in ages!At the Walk-in Closet, women in transition (from shelters, survival jobs, imprisonment, abusive relationships, etc.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-78119739463681402912009-02-02T12:34:00.021-07:002009-02-04T13:46:01.442-07:00

Yes, Ben and I went skiing this weekend, and yes, we had fun throughout, with dinner, drinks and boardgames with friends - but I thought you might be tired of hearing those stories. Instead, I decided today to offer some thoughts on my foray into vegetarianism, since it's now been six months since I began this metamorphosis. I've survived (even flourished) with no more than a few bites of meat

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-24746892786994962602009-01-26T14:07:00.006-07:002009-01-26T14:40:54.134-07:00

We had a fab girls' weekend in Las Vegas, my first trip to Sin City as an adult. It was so refreshing to wander around in the sunny, 60-something weather for two days, especially since Calgary had dropped back down to -6 Fahrenheit by the time we left early Saturday morning!The trip reminded me of some of my favorite things about the US - namely, the people. I love the openness and warmth of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-32403095916244083222009-01-20T18:30:00.003-07:002009-01-20T18:55:37.351-07:00

Today's inauguration was inspiring and overwhelming, and I am still absorbing the emotions of the day. I am proud to announce to Canadians today that I'm from the US, and I cannot wait to get to Las Vegas this weekend and step back onto American soil for the first time in this new era for our country. All that's left to say is a phrase I'm not sure I have ever uttered, but it seems totally

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-31569590479563969212009-01-12T11:48:00.007-07:002009-01-13T19:20:06.028-07:00

My relationship with skiing, that is. Our relationship is emotionally charged, and still a bit rocky as we navigate through the early stages of our affair. Oh, young love, full of highs and lows and uncertainty. (Below is a pic from the top of one of the hills at Fernie, where we spent the weekend.)On a given day on the ski hills, I go through such a wide range of feelings: excitement to be

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-39484698378055865442009-01-07T17:17:00.005-07:002009-01-07T17:41:14.181-07:00

As I sit watching the gray, misty, snowiness outside our window, I can't help but think that life is just too good to be true right now.There was a period of time, when Ben was traveling for months on end, when I couldn't imagine ever getting here. It seemed impossible, improbable, that we would ever have a normal day-to-day life together. And yet, here we are, cooking dinners at home on

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-54082454835557168852009-01-06T12:32:00.005-07:002009-01-06T13:00:36.600-07:00

First off, Happy New Year! Ben and I enjoyed a cozy dinner at home (I tried my hand at cooking black eyed peas) and then headed to one of our favorite neighborhood bars, The Ship & Anchor, to celebrate.The year's off to a good start so far: thanks to a little help from my new best friend, the Chinook winds, the abysmal -20s Celsius weather Calgary has endured over the past month has moved north,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-90910014422111479752008-12-28T16:43:00.006-07:002008-12-28T17:31:59.895-07:00

Since Ben's parents were sweet enough to send us a camcorder for Christmas, we decided to capture some footage of our drive from Banff into Lake Louise, where we spent a day skiing right after Christmas. Video proved to be a great way to capture the beauty of the Rockies! This is 4 1/2 minutes of mountain vistas with a bit of chatter from Ben and I, so perhaps not the most exciting video ever,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-82744061537719013152008-12-28T12:05:00.034-07:002008-12-28T18:37:45.512-07:00

I hope everybody had a fabulous Christmas! Ben and I were sad to be so far from our families and friends, but we made the best of the situation by heading to Banff for a few nights and soaking in the amazing Rocky Mountains. I apologize in advance for the length of this blog - but we want our families to feel like they are able to experience a bit of our Rocky Mountain Christmas!DAY 1, Christmas

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-10896319243421273312008-12-15T09:49:00.009-07:002008-12-15T10:54:07.497-07:00

Temperatures plummeted this weekend, with Saturday and Sunday hovering between 26 and 30 below Celsius (-20 F). The horror!! To say I was shocked by the cold would be an understatement. It was much more emotionally challenging than I would have thought. Coming from such a temperate climate, there is something that feels restrictive to me about the extreme cold. I miss wearing dresses and high

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-43155770985840592162008-12-10T08:52:00.007-07:002008-12-10T09:15:22.994-07:00

So we went back to Sunshine Village this Sunday, in spite of the throbbing bruises still reminding me of last week's snowboarding adventure! I made a last minute decision to try skiing this time instead, and boy was it the right choice. The photo below is the lodge at the end of the day, as the sun was going down.Almudeena was my personal coach and did a fantastic job of showing me the basics and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-2248368804505610712008-12-04T09:45:00.005-07:002008-12-04T10:09:25.000-07:00

This is not officially Calgary related, but I finally took the plunge and cut my hair short again, and it feels great. It was kind of a shot in the dark to find a salon, but I love the spot I found and am trying to send Ben there as well.Our relocation coordinator had commented when we first moved here that Alberta has lots of skilled hairdressers. I thought it was kind of a weird comment, and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-89893958595018449942008-12-01T12:35:00.005-07:002008-12-01T12:50:04.067-07:00

Although we didn't take our camera onto the slopes yesterday (see previous post for details of our snowboarding trip!) we did snap some photos of us all geared up in the parking lot, and also of the amazing drive in as we saw the sunrise over the mountains. I love that the Rockies look different every time you see them. Some days they are crisp against a clear azure sky, others they are a moody,

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-26040755685481595412008-12-01T10:28:00.003-07:002008-12-01T11:03:08.704-07:00

Ben and I finally took the plunge yesterday and headed out to the Rockies for our very first snowboarding lesson. Having hit the ski hills just once when I was 14, I was feeling pretty intimidated by the masses of people at the mountain who clearly felt right at home cruising around with their skis or snowboards. Here's a look at one of the lifts at Sunshine Village, where we went (we're hoping

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-20736111305089510922008-11-28T07:56:00.008-07:002008-11-28T08:54:18.933-07:00

I have been promising for a while to post photos of our apartment. Since I spent yesterday cleaning up and decorating for tonight's Thanksgiving dinner party, it seemed like a good time to finally snap some photos! Granted, we need some more wall decorations, but I am really happy with it so far.What a nice change to go from 1700 square feet of unruly house to under 900 square feet of neat and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-27813030111933944242008-11-21T09:11:00.003-07:002008-11-21T17:55:45.378-07:00

Ketchup Chips. Very weird, but addictively delicious.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-8667807594507056352008-11-21T08:37:00.006-07:002008-11-21T09:09:32.049-07:00

One thing that I love about cold weather is that no matter who you are - rich or poor, fat or thin, guy or girl - once bundled up to walk around in below freezing weather, everybody looks the same. Anybody in a mismatched hat and gloves might appear homeless. A homeless person with a newly-found leather jacket could be mistaken for a tenant of my apartment. The cold simply brings us all to the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-66584859660911271452008-11-17T16:42:00.004-07:002008-11-20T09:43:44.794-07:00

As of last Friday, our house is, well ... not ours anymore. It's been an emotional journey, from making the decision to sell, to working like dogs for a month straight to get it ready, to negotiations, and finally to letting go and moving on. (Note the before and after shots!! We gave that place some love over the years!)I have no regrets about the choice we made to move forward with our lives

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-71961190928029125642008-11-11T09:28:00.004-07:002008-11-11T09:57:50.665-07:00

After a frustrating day of waiting for our sofa to finally be delivered (2 weeks late), finding that it would not fit in the elevator, and two Ikea delivery men ultimately dropping the sofa in our lobby and wishing me luck on moving it to the 8th floor, Ben and I were floored by the kindness of some residents of our apartment building.We initially thought we could manage to push our behemoth of a

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-46255146336766829052008-11-10T09:59:00.015-07:002008-11-10T11:09:44.676-07:00

Ikea will be here sometime between 10am and 4pm today with our sofa (since moving in, Ben and I have been battling it out for our one comfy chair). I just love appointments that require you to stay at home for six hours at a time. So anyway, this provides ample opportunity for me to update the blog!Yet again, our weekend was amazing. I realize that having been here for only a month, we are still

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-59493172406050279912008-11-07T09:27:00.004-07:002008-11-07T09:53:18.784-07:00

My nimble hubby was quick on his feet yesterday and nabbed us a pair of hockey tickets from a fellow KPMG'er. And let's be realistic - these tickets are hard to come by. I figured we might catch a game after another few weeks of trying for seats. The best part? The Calgary Flames were playing the Nashville Predators!We put on whatever red clothes we could find as to blend with the hooligan-like

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-36451144035094977282008-11-06T07:32:00.010-07:002008-11-07T09:25:18.803-07:00

As Ben and I (and most of Canada) celebrated Barack Obama's victory yesterday, Calgarians also rejoiced for the first snowfall of the year, which arrived much later than usual. Sorry, skiers, but I am thrilled we had a grace period to adjust to the weather here!To commemorate the occasion, Ben and I headed to a highly recommended outdoor shop and proceeded to pour our life's savings into gear.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-76608272604118180102008-11-03T09:46:00.004-07:002008-11-03T10:24:42.331-07:00

I am feeling so lucky and blessed right now. As Ben and I sat in our cozy apartment last night sipping red wine and listening to music, me reading a magazine and Ben browsing a cookbook, it hit me that we are finally where we want to be. I realized how much help and support we have had along the way to reach this point, and how special it is to have the chance to be newlyweds exploring a brand

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-10738051753466565112008-10-31T09:27:00.005-06:002008-10-31T10:24:54.776-06:00

I am so happy to say that we've finally migrated out of the hotel and into our new apartment. Ben and I have always wanted a bit of an urban experience before settling down, and this place is the perfect way to satisfy that urge.We are smack in the middle of the Uptown 17th District, which is filled with bars, restaurants, shopping and people, and is a quick walk (15 minutes) to downtown. Our

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-59701607720701153912008-10-27T15:33:00.001-06:002008-10-27T15:34:51.333-06:00

This cracks me up!!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-11314337774327054012008-10-27T10:02:00.010-06:002008-10-27T10:18:53.729-06:00

We headed into Lake Louise this weekend and saw some of the most stunning mountains yet (and the most bitter cold so far!)! I'll post more details later ...

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-37099095835613860302008-10-24T14:44:00.007-06:002008-10-24T16:00:18.789-06:00

It has been hilarious watching people's reactions to Bosco, our furry, 90-pound black baby. Since downtown Calgary is a mecca of corporate headquarters, hotels and short-term corporate housing, I think many people are taken aback to see a dog of his size wandering the streets.Some people literally cower away or shriek! Coming from the super dog-friendly East Nashville, I had forgotten that some

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-69505846989585304582008-10-22T14:04:00.011-06:002008-10-22T14:32:27.540-06:00

I can't believe we have been here for more than two weeks now. In this short amount of time, we have noticed a strange phenomenon - the sidewalks are chaos!On one of Ben's first days at work, a manager of his said, "Have you noticed Calgary's sidewalk culture yet?" Ben was puzzled and said he had not, to which the manager explained that people walk all over the place and will just as soon run

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-23874709959728296532008-10-20T11:35:00.007-06:002008-10-20T13:00:29.629-06:00

We had a really fun weekend, complete with good food, new friends and outdoor adventure. On Friday night we met up with two other lovely ladies who just transferred here with KPMG - one from Spain and another from Australia. What a great, international group!We enjoyed some Canadian beers at a popular pub, Ship & Anchor - SITTING OUTSIDE! It seems the Chinook winds (warm winds that blow in

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-48687456872784789342008-10-17T15:43:00.017-06:002008-10-17T16:42:08.451-06:00

Exploring local shops and styles is one of my favorite things to do in a new city. While I have not been overwhelmingly impressed with Calgary's fashion options (what can I say, Nashville has come a long way and is hard to beat in that area!), today I wandered into some amazing home decor boutiques that will have me coming back for more, especially since they are blocks from where we'll be

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-9646447366033666902008-10-16T10:39:00.004-06:002008-10-17T10:19:15.332-06:00

It's been pretty interesting here over the past few days. The Canadian election was on Tuesday, so Ben and I had to quickly do our homework on how things work here!Canada is a constitutional monarchy that operates under a federal parliamentary democracy. Hmm... So basically, Elizabeth II is recognized as the queen of Canada and serves as a symbolic figurehead, while the prime minister is the head

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-73677355103391939642008-10-15T19:35:00.003-06:002008-10-15T19:40:41.706-06:00

I have noticed a small but positive change since moving here - the dry, cold air is AWESOME for my hair! It stays smooth, straight and de-frizzed with much less effort than it takes in the humid Nashville basin. Yay!

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5290814719187002895.post-42266496299530785652008-10-14T12:34:00.008-06:002008-10-14T13:16:29.739-06:00

I finally got some photos of the downtown riverfront and park yesterday during a stroll with Ben and Bosco. Prince's Island Park is HUGE, and I think we've only seen a fraction of it so far! By Calgary standards, it was a very warm fall day with sun shining and a high temp hovering in the low 60s.I guess that by most standards that is a gorgeous day! The street you see Ben standing on is

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444953491393722554noreply@blogger.com0