We Might Be Crazy...

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 everything we're looking for: quieter residential neighborhood but close to town (a five minute express bus will get us there!); walking distance to the best park in the city, and in turn the fabulous Bow River; hardwood floors; two bedrooms; a spacious kitchen and back deck; a garage; and a petite fenced-in back yard with a nice big tree. As an added bonus, our pals Greg and Angie live on the same street - I hope they don't get tired of us!

Now we have our fingers crossed that our current place will rent out by September 1st so we don't have double rent ... please send good vibes our way! The crazy part of all this is that we signed the lease exactly one week before we need to move. We'll move on Monday and Tuesday of this week, then leave Wednesday for our three-week road trip, so it's a lot to cram in. But I think moving is like pulling a band-aid: it's going to be a pain no matter what, so you may as well just do it fast and get it over with!

Although Ben and I should be doing tons of packing and organizing this weekend, I am happy to report that instead we spent our Saturday morning eating chocolate chip pancakes, sipping coffee and listening to Jack Johnson while enjoying our city view for one of the last times. I will definitely miss this apartment! Things I will NOT miss? Panhandlers, drunk people shouting in the street at all hours of the night, sirens, riding an elevator every single time I want to step outside onto solid ground, and not being able to do laundry in my pajamas :)

Family!

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) and a walk around our lively neighborhood. In spite of weeks of rain, the weather could not have been more perfect by the time she arrived! Luckily, the sunshine and warmth stuck around all week; on one occasion it was actually warmer in Calgary than in Nashville! I never expected Liz and I to be sunbathing way up in the Rocky Mountains during our trip!

The quick rundown: After two nights in Calgary and a quickie tour of the city's sights (there are not too many!), we hit the road and spent the better part of a day driving through the mountains and into the tiny but beautiful town of Jasper. Some highlights of our drive along the Icefields Parkway were Liz and my dad drinking pure glacier water from a stream on the side of the road (it gave them an energy surge!); possibly the most beautiful picnic spot in the world (at a mountain overlook); and Athabasca Glacier - burrr!

Once in Jasper, we grilled out at our adorable cabin and checked out Athabasca Falls, Mount Edith Cavell and the massive Angel Glacier - which included a live avalanche in front of our eyes, Maligne Lake, which we saw from the vantage point of canoes, Maligne Canyon, with mossy, old-growth forests and deep-carved canyons, a horseback ride and wildlife sightings galore.

After a whirlwind two days, we drove back toward the town of Banff, whose upscale charm and liveliness is a total contrast to the laid-back, peaceful feel of Jasper. Both spots are wonderful in different ways. On the way, we stopped at Lake Louise and my parents said they finally understood what all the fuss was about!

From our Banff homebase, we took the Lake Louise gondola for an amazing view, hiked around Morraine Lake (an even more spectacular turqoise color than Lake Louise!), relaxed in the Banff natural Hot Springs, and enjoyed the culinary offerings and charm of the town of Banff before heading back to Calgary. It was sad to see the family go, but we had a great week!

Prairies, Lakes and Friends, oh my!

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 meant that our well-intentioned camping trip could not come to pass: every last campsite within driving distance was already booked up! Luckily our friend Angie has a fabulous cousin who invited us all to her family's lake house about 2 1/2 hours north of Calgary. So on Friday night, we packed up and headed north, through prairies and out into the middle of nowhere, until suddenly we were upon an enormous, beautiful lake in a sleepy but oh-so-charming Alberta town.

This was a lake trip in the very best way: not overly touristy with swanky rentals everywhere, but instead with families who have likely passed cabins down for generations, with just the right amount of kitsch to make you feel totally at home. Angie and our hostess are linked through the Italian side of their families, and therefore we enjoyed amazing cooking (and lots of it!) and the best hospitality I could imagine. What a treat to escape the city, enjoy good food and friends, and not look at a television or computer for three days. Bosco came along, too, and I'm pretty sure it was his idea of heaven!

We took a few speed boat trips around the water, laid in 80+ degree sunshine and at night watched a booming thunder and lightning storm, complete with hail, over the lake. Amazingly, we woke up to another warm and lovely day afterward. The weather was so ideal that it was tough to believe our hostess, Meaghan, when she described the winter ice fishing that takes place on the lake. The ice gets so thick that trucks can drive across. I was just in love with the flowers and gardens in the area, too - probably because they reminded me of Danish gardens, which made me very happy :)

I'm constantly surprised by Canada - the multitude of ways to enjoy the outdoors continues to impress me, from hiking, skiing or camping in the mountains, to sitting by a lake in the middle of the prairies, to tubing on a river through the city (which we hope to try next weekend!). Ben and I are now a mere two weeks away from our great road trip of 2009, and I can't wait to see what else is in store for us.

Stampede Has Come and Gone

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 than I've ever seen it. For the first time, there were lots of tourists around, and the streets and restaurants were overflowing. I hope the festive spirit carries into the rest of the summer! Here's the crew enjoying our $3 pancake breakfast on Stephen's Ave. downtown - for some reason pancakes are a major theme of Stampede!

Ironically, after essentially nine months of drought, the thunderstorms all rolled in over the Stampede celebrations. They still have not left entirely but are at least slowing down.

And as most of you probably would have guessed, the actual Rodeo was my least favorite part of Stampede. In spite of reassurance from people in the know that rodeo animals are happy and very well cared for, I still found elements of the show pretty horrible. The calf roping was one event that I had hoped never to witness.

And then there was the calf wrestling, which I had never known even existed: basically a 200 (often more) pound man rides out on a horse alongside a calf, then dives off the horse, tackles the calf and throws it to the ground by its neck. All I could think about was how those poor unsuspecting animals had no idea what was happening to them! And then they ran out of the ring with their tails between their legs, looking so traumatized. Poor cows have a bad lot in life, even though they're docile, sweet, and proven to be as smart as dogs! I later heard that one of the cows that had been wrestled at Stampede never got up, and had to be euthanized. Does it make you feel like a man to tackle an unsuspecting baby animal? Really?? But anyway, the photo below is from the Chuckwagon Races, for which we were up front and center and I actually DID enjoy :)

We also had a great time at the fairgrounds (imagine the biggest state fair you've seen in your life); at "Nashville North," a stage where various country music artists play throughout Stampede; and at the Grandstand Show, which was a massive Cirque du Soleil-type evening show that included acrobatics, singing, dancing, comedy and motorcycle tricks, and culminated in fireworks.

Phew! Now Ben and I are both just trying to recuperate. I'm so excited for my family to come in town this weekend, so am saving up my energy to party down with them. Calgary better watch out, the Kiilerichs are coming!!

Outdoors, Outdoors and More Outdoors

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 Nashville, Calgary's days have been long (light until around 10pm), sunny and pleasant, with temperatures in the 70s during the day and the 50s and 60s at night. The climate is ideal for camping and all sorts of active pursuits, and we have spent every free moment this past month taking advantage of this fact.

I have to admit that I also feel a sense of urgency about the summer - I'm nervous about cramming everything in that we want to do before winter visits again!! I think the looming winter has stayed in the back of my mind all along, reminding me to get all I possibly can from these warm months.

Our first trip was a 14 km hike at Lake Louise. For the first time, we saw the lake in its element: the most indescribable glacial turquoise color.
We went as early as we could in the season, as this hike is popular and we wanted to avoid mass crowds. Luckily the trail was not crowded and we made the uphill hike to a tea house at the top of the mountain, where we sat and enjoyed killer scenery. Being the cashless wonders that we are, Ben and I realized after sitting for ten minutes that the tea house had no electricity, and therefore could not take credit cards. Our waiter was so kind - he snuck us a huge rice crispie treat, and when I asked to refill my water bottle, he ushered me quickly into a small kitchen. Turning on the tap, he joked, "We never saw you here!" Apparently they are not supposed to give out water, so I felt honored - especially since he told me it was fresh glacier water, simply the best. We hiked a bit further beyond the tea house, where we were able to see several glaciers and even tromp through a bit of left-over snow.

The following weekend we headed with Almudena to Dinosaur Provincial Park. Ben and I have often discussed how we both loved dinos as children, although I think Ben was a bit more fanatical than me! With Bosco in tow, we drove 2 1/2 hours east of Calgary through the Alberta prairies and canola farms and set up camp for a night in a shaded but flat grassland area (thanks, Chris and Marian, for the awesome tent!!).
So this is what the rest of Alberta looks like! Bosco had a field day chasing the numerous gophers all around the campground. They literally popped up from their holes every couple of minutes, just like the arcade game - Bop-It, I think it was called? I don't think I'd ever seen gophers in person before!

Dinosaur Park was amazing - the dry, rocky, wind-carved badlands seemed to go on forever, all in place of a former tropical oasis that was once filled with dinos. There used to be a huge straight of water that cut through the western part of North America, which is why it was so full of life. Now, this is as close as you can get to the desert in Canada, with cacti growing and harsh sun beating down. This area is the largest site for dinosaur bones in the world! And we saw plenty of them, sometimes just scattered on the ground.

So now we're almost caught up...

This past week was Canada Day (July 1st), and Ben had half the week off, so again Ben, Almu, Bosco and I took off for a camping trip, this time at Jasper National Park. I will not give too many details away, since my family is coming very soon to see for themselves, but I will say that it is easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We camped for two nights, drove around to view the scenery, and took a nine km mountain hike. I was in heaven!

We are now in the midst of Stampede, and the city has come to life more than ever before. Everybody wears their cowboy gear to work, bars and restaurants put out bales of hay and saloon signs and play country music, and nobody seems to go to work!

So far we've attended the Rodeo (fun but a bit traumatic for me at times - the poor little calfs that get roped and wrestled), enjoyed one of the pancake breafkasts that are all over the city, and attended a show at Nashville North, the "country" stage where some of the big concerts take place. I say "country" in quotes because it felt a bit forced to me, and the singer we saw mostly covered classic rock songs! It was fun nonetheless :) Tonight Ben's company has reserved space at a club downtown, so we'll be going there for dinner and drinks. Though I was skeptical, there are actually some pretty big country names performing, including Taylor Swift, Kelly Pickler, Kenny Chesney and Reba MacIntyre. If I'd known earlier, I might have actually tried to buy tickets!

Anyway, I hope everybody is having a fabulous summer and making the most of it!! Much Love :)

Refreshed

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 support of family or the way longtime friends just understand, without me saying a word - or most likely all of the above - but somehow life feels more clear again. I feel more aware and present in my own life and less worried about the future knowing that I have so much good around me.

Some highlights of the trip:

- Lingering, muggy nights by the pool at my parents' house, drinking good wine and chatting about life
- Mom's spaghetti and Daddy's grilled corn on the cob, red peppers and shrimp
- Relaxed hours on the back deck of Ben's parents' home, goofing off and watching the birds and squirrels fight over the bird feeders
- Riding the carousel in downtown Chattanooga with the whole Reeves family and seeing their brand new beautiful house in progress
- Laughing my way through the Nash Trash tour and cooking an impressive dinner with my sis
- Hunkering down in the Oak Bar for dirty martinis with Campbell
- Las Palmas with Ally & Conor, in our grand tradition of eating Mexican at every possible chance :)
- Hot, hot, hot afternoons laying by the pool - the best way to spend a June afternoon in Nashville, in my opinion
- Honky-tonkin' in Nashville with friends old and new

And of course there's Bonnaroo, sweet Bonnaroo ... which I'll elaborate on in my next post ;)

While you wait eagerly for that one, here are a few photos of the rest of our trip:

I'm back!

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...

Once, in a far away land...

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 Calgary's weather gods. But then it grew rainy and cold and the evil weather people predicted snow...

Ah, well, so it goes in Calgary-land! Summer is a big, fat tease in these parts, and we take every ounce we can get! When it's good, it's very, very good, and when it's bad it's horrid. Okay, enough with the nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Life is good and we really did have a blast on our bikes. We also had a great Saturday afternoon sitting outside at the Farmer's Market in the sun with great friends.

But sadly, as soon as the weather warms up here, Calgary is thrust into rainy season, so the nice days are still fleeting. However, I have never seen people with such enthusiasm for the outdoors when it does warm up!

In other news, I will be home in Nashville on June 2, with Ben following on the 6th. We cannot wait to see everybody! Perhaps it is the knowledge that we're so close to heading home that's made matters worse, but Ben and I have definitely both had some pangs of homesickness recently. (It could also have to do with our ideas of what May is supposed to feel like, and what we're getting here instead!) I can't believe it, but it will have been eight months by the time we reach home - the longest either of us has gone without seeing our family.

Please email me with your plans for June 2-17, because we want to catch up as much as possible!

Cheers!

White or Brown?

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 how we (including Bosco!) enjoyed our Sunday evening (after hosting a Cinco de Mayo party Friday night and getting some good outdoor time for the rest of the weekend). Happiness! I hope that by the end of the day, we'll have some bicycles to show off as well...

Sunshine & Wine Make Jenn a Happy Girl

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, there is something for everybody; after Bosco had his fill of playing with other dogs, we hiked around for a while before stopping in at Greg and Angie's house. They have an adorable place with a little fenced back yard that fills with sun, and were kind enough to let Bosco run around outside while the rest of us sat on the deck sipping beer (no heat lamps required!). It's times like this that I really miss having a house. Beer simply tastes better when you're sprawled in the sun with your feet in the grass than it does on a small covered balcony eight floors up.

We were all so drugged by the power of a (much anticipated) warm, sunny day that we were hard-pressed to get moving again. But move we did, eventually! Greg, Angie, Almu, Ben and I drove up to Banff to meet Alicia and another Aussie friend, Stef, for the city's annual wine festival. We spent the evening sampling wines (most were average) and foods (top-notch!) from local restaurants, then headed to a bar that was not unlike a honkey tonk in Nashville's Lower Broad. Except that when singing "Sweet Home Alabama," the band changed the lyrics to "Sweet Home Alberta," which irked me to no end.

We had a big breakfast Sunday morning at Melissa's, Banff's answer to Loveless Cafe, and Greg and Angie, who have lived in Calgary for a while, drove us to some spectacular vistas on the way out of town. The mountains look so different when the snow begins to melt! You can see in more detail the craggy edges and many colors of the stone. We are moving into the rainy season - which I don't think means much here - but regardless, with a bit of hydration, I expect that we'll finally see trees filling in and flowers blooming. It will be our first time to see the city actually looking green and alive, I can't wait!!

In other news, we had to bid farewell yesterday to Michael, a Dutch transfer who had been here for three years with his young family. He's been heading up the international club and will definitely be missed in Calgary! I get the feeling that if not for the thousands of miles between Calgary and family back home, many transfers would stay here. I'm still fairly sure I could not cope with the winter for more than a few years, though!

As for today, I'm decorating and getting food ready for the Cinco de Mayo party Ben and I are throwing tonight. Good Mexican food is a rare commodity in Calgary, so we're hoping to create some of our own. Ben worked hard last night re-creating a traditional Tortilla Soup, which we ate almost daily during our vacation in Cabo. I think he did an excellent job! I also tracked down a Mexican market to purchase freshly-made snacks, so at least some aspects of our meal with be authentic, even if my black bean and tortilla casserole is more Tex than Mex :)