The boss was in town

Quinn, my boss was in town today, so we had a leadership session in Houston, and then we caught the private jet to Dallas and did the same session there.  This photo is from a few of the guys in Houston

When I got back to Dallas, there was no rental car for me....so I ended up having to go to a different Avis close to the office at the end of the day, then we had a dinner celebration to recognize the employees that had worked so hard on the contract with the Chinese joint venture...a delightful evening :)

2011 in one book

I decided to get my blog printed for 2011 - this alone is enough to motivate me to keep going with the daily photo;  I have thoroughly enjoyed looking back on the past year and remembering things that I would have otherwise forgotten. Was it President Kimball that encouraged us all to keep journals?  Or was it David O McKay - anyway, either way, I TOTALLY get it.

Here is the lovely book...

Another late night

It was a lovely day at Church; and after Church I went home and had dinner with Arlan, Dad and Boyce which was quite nice.  Then I caught the flight to Houston - the downside of the late flight to Houston is that it didn't get me in until quite late, and as I still had a few things to do I didn't get to bed until about 1.30am, but it was still worth it.  And, unusually, I got an upgraded room at the Westin...

I can't wait to be back in Calgary

I feel like I'm missing all the progress on the temple - I take a photo every time I'm back, but I'm missing the landmark events...soon enough the whole exterior will be done and there won't be much else to take photo's of...until the landscaping - which will probably be in the summer.

It's amazing how much whiter the temple seems when the scaffolding comes down...it truly is beautiful :

Time for a new lens

The sunrise in Banff was amazing this morning, so I stepped out of our meeting to take a few photo's.  The sky was a gorgeous pink colour, but I couldn't catch the colour perfectly with my camera....so as I happened to be in Banff, I went to the Banff Camera Shop (I think its my favourite camera shop) and I bought a new lens and also a UV filter which apparently helps with colour...another good excuse to find good sunrises and sunsets!  I also invested in a new camera bag.  I needed a new toy!

I have been very slow in uploading blog photo's this year, but I have still been religious about taking one every day, however, I really need to start giving the photo's more thought and planning....the quality MUST improve this year!

The photo's are very slow to upload at the moment, so I may need to add them later :)

This is why I like the Rimrock...

The views really are spectacular, at all times of the day and night!

Banff - one of the prettiest places in the world

It really is very lovely.  We had a meeting based out of the Rimrock hotel....which has always been one of my favourite hotels, but I realized this time that I'm not quite sure WHY it's one of my favourites.  A couple of things bug me....firstly, they have no bath-robes; secondly they have those stupid hairdryers on the wall...but the location is amazing and the views are majestic.  Also I think it is a sentimental thing, because I came to stay here with mum about 10 years ago...so I guess it will always be special!

We had a little soiree at the hotel this evening, it was nice to meet some of the folks that I hadn't met before.

A lovely evening!

Let's go Flames, let's go!

It was exciting to get tickets for the Flames game tonight;  I called Jan and she came with me and we thoroughly enjoyed it (even if we lost 1-0 to San Jose!)  - I bought myself another Flames shirt, and hopefully I'll get to wear it if I go see them play in Dallas!

Iginla is my favourite...glad he was playing!  Our seats weren't as good as the 2nd row seats I was hoping for, but still a good view (especially with the zoom lens!)

Criminal Minds

We got a private jet from Dallas to Calgary today - this one was bigger than the normal one we get from Dallas to Houston, and it reminded me of the plane they use on Criminal Minds....it was GORGEOUS! Enough room to stand up and we even had a flight attendant!

After about an hour, a couple of the guys noticed a vapour coming out of the oil tank...so we alerted the captain who confirmed that it was an oil leak; but that he wouldn't do anything unless he saw the the fuel levels drop - how exciting is that!

A typical summers day

...on January 22nd.  I went for a drive after Church to see what I could find to take a photo of; I found a lake and it was just like a summers day.  25C and sunny, everyone out running, playing, cycling or just having fun in the sun - unbelievable!

Movie night!

A couple of high points today....firstly, I decided to FINALLY invest in a Vitamix.  I have always wanted one of these for the longest time.  I see myself making all sorts of really healthy things and becoming a very healthy eater!  I was at Margaret's place and she was trying to make a veggie smoothy with a tiny blender, so I thought it would be  a good idea to buy the vitamix so that she could use it while she's still here in Dallas, then I'll get it back from her when she moves back to Calgary in a couple of weeks

Then this evening, we decided to go to the movies and we watched "We bought a Zoo" with Matt Damon.  It was a cute and fun movie!

Don't do this at home

I can tell you one thing I will miss about Texas is the sunsets and sunrises, it seems that they are just spectacular,  and I would guess that would be the cause the most of the traffic accidents with people like me that get totally distracted - and decide to take a photo while I'm driving up the highway :)  I managed to get away with it this time...took the photo at about 70 mph and didn't even crash the car!

Taking time to smell the roses

...well, the Lilies actually.   I was leaving the office this evening and I noticed the lovely aroma of fresh flowers in the lobby.  I have never noticed these before, I wonder if maybe they aren't usually there - anyway, for whatever reason, I stopped by to take a photo and have a wiff....lovely!

The best team in Texas

We had our HR strategy off-site today, and then went to Maggiano's for a long and delicious lunch - not good for the diet, but VERY enjoyable!

We covered a lot of ground, and then after all our work, I managed to leave the flip charts at the restuarant - typical!

This is a photo of the team just after leaving the flipcharts in the bar :)

L-R Annie; Elizabeth; Emma; Mark; Jeanne; Tina; Paula; Meg; Laurie; Thomas; Tarra

Check out how lovely the weather is...and to think it is -32C in Calgary at the moment!!

Could I be any busier?

Seriously, I wonder if I will EVER catch up!

This scene looked way better in real life, the sunset behind the highway, taken from the parking lot at work, it actually quite delightful, I wish I'd had my good camera.

COLD!!!

Days like today make be happy to be in Dallas...

Welcome home Taylor!

Taylor Hudson just got home from his mission to Montreal, so I went to Panorama Ward for his homecoming, and then off to Royal Oak Ward and then back to the Hudsons for a little soiree - another lovely Sunday!

...and yet more food

I had so many photo opportunities and I missed all of them!  Alyson brought Trystan, George and Jack up to help move my personal things into storage - lots of photo ops...but I missed them!  Then we went to lunch, still no camera.  Then this afternoon I went for a test drive in a BMW X3 (which I LOVED), and still no photo's.  I found myself driving back to the hotel before I remembered, and so the photo is of dinner at the hotel.  I need to do better :)

Friday 13th

Apparently there are only 2 Friday 13th's this year and they are 13 weeks apart.

I raced home from work tonight so that I could get to the temple before sunset...it was worth the race!

I had a lovely evening at the Evans' this evening, just playing cards and visiting with a group of people - lots of fun and great company!

I missed Moroni!

The Moroni was put on the temple this morning,  I would have SO loved to be there, but I couldn't leave Dallas until this evening.  In the meantime, here is a photo that Jan took at the event...

Apparently there were hundreds of people there, but I wasn't one of them...but just to be true to the rules, here is a photo of my hotel room, that I actually took :)

The best thing for a diet

...is when we get to go out for dinner and they bring a magnificent tray of food that I just don't like...

Catherine was in town this evening, so we took her out to dinner tonight, and they served this, which was apparently lovely if you like fish!

I love this little journey

It was a big day at work - we were announcing the new org changes in both Dallas and Houston;  and suddenly there was an announcement last night that our CEO would be leaving the company - so that almost trumped all the work we had done to get it to this stage.

Nonetheless, the meetings went quite well, and we hopped on the little plane back to Dallas this evening - just in time to see the lovely sunset.

Back on the plane to come back to Houston tomorrow afternoon....oh joy.

A VERY late night in the office

This is going to be such a busy week - I was at work from 7 in the morning until 10.30 at night - the car park looked very lonely at that time of night..

Home sweet home?

I actually drove around Dallas looking for something interesting, but I didn't have much time...so I ended up with this photo of the outside of my apartment building - I thought it would be good  to remember this lovely little place.

I went in search of President George W Bush's house, which we drove past on the way to the furniture place the other day, but I couldn't find it again - I wonder if he'll be in the phone book :)

I think this is my favourite mall

I mean, seriously - I LOVE this mall;  I actually didn't do too much shopping, but I could spend all day walking around.  I just needed to get a new hair straightener, but then I did a bit of window shopping and just enjoyed the ambience of the mall.  Surprisingly, I didn't spend too much!

There is an ice rink in the middle of the mall, that doesn't appeal to me at all, but I do enjoy watching people skate on it!

Pretty flowers

I finally went grocery shopping today - the fridge had been empty for days.  While I was out, I couldn't resist picking up this beautiful orchid.  I think I should start a habit of having fresh flowers in the apartment - just like dad does.  

Maybe I'll put that on my list of 51 thing to do this year !

But is it furniture?

We went to see the options for office furniture for the new building in Houston, and after watching 3 companies pour water on tables, write on them with permanent marker, and subject them to hot irons, I realize that office furniture is probably more robust than the stuff I have in my living room.

However, we didn't choose these very odd and uncomfortable chairs for our office - thank goodness.

Happy Birthday to me

I spent my birthday working very hard in the office, I could have worked until 10, but decided I should treat myself to dinner - especially since I'm starting my diet tomorrow.  I have noticed a "Ruths Chris" when I drive home from work, so I sought it out and had a lovely, lovely steak and veggies...WITH and lovely, lovely HUGE cheesecake for dessert. It was delightful!   Maybe next year I'll talk someone into eating with me for my birthday!

Happy Birthday to me

I spent my birthday working very hard in the office, I could have worked until 10, but decided I should treat myself to dinner - especially since I'm starting my diet tomorrow.  I have noticed a "Ruths Chris" when I drive home from work, so I sought it out and had a lovely, lovely steak and veggies...WITH and lovely, lovely HUGE cheesecake for dessert. It was delightful!   Maybe next year I'll talk someone into eating with me for my birthday!

Home again

It wasn't until I got home (to my Dallas home) that I realized that maybe I now have enough clothes.  I enjoy shopping in Marks and Spencer's and I enjoy having new clothes, but there are a lot that are very "samey"  -lots of plain sweaters - WAY too much grey!  But I will enjoy them nonetheless.

I put my birthday cards and presents on the table....it seemed like a good opportunity for a photo at the end of the day :)

From me to you at 39,000 ft

I like the fact the American Airlines has wifi on board, I feel like I can actually get stuff done.  I'm not sure why more airlines don't do that, or maybe they do and I am just using the wrong airlines :)

I think I'm jet lagged - which is very unlike me.  I went to bed nice and early last night,  I just couldn't get up this morning, and then I've been napping at every spare moment.  If I didn't have over 600 emails to deal with I would be napping now!

I watched the plane get ready today, and I actually saw my very own case being loaded - so I know that one of my cases made it....I didn't see the others, but I'm sure they're on the plane somewhere!

Yep - that's my case :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012 already - and what better way to start the year than with a photo of the Calgary Temple.  I don't think this has changed a lot since the last update, but I decided it would still be a good idea to start the year with this, and the year-end version will, of course, be complete!!