Indianapolis

Sitting in the Toronto airport waiting for my flight to Saskatoon after just about a week in Indianapolis so I thought now might be a good time to update my blog.  I left for Indianapolis on Monday (terribly early in the day) and spent the week at the NAHCR (National Association of Health Care Recruiters) annual conference.  It was a spectacularly good time!  I went with 5 of counterparts from across the province.  We networked, discussed issues, learned about new trends and somehow managed to fit in some shopping.  Not really sure when we were able to do that, but, well, a girl has priorities! 

I wasn't really sure what to expect from our neighbours to the south (after all, they don't even include the "u" in "neighbours"!) but I was delighted by how friendly everyone was. We were greeted, welcomed and enthusiastically recognized by everyone there. By Wednesday I was responding to shouts of "Hey! Canada!" from across conference rooms. Lest you think the friendliness was just due to fact that the particular type of people that are attracted to Recruiting as a profession are outgoing and friendly, we were pleased to find that the staff at restaurants and stores were also delightful, happy, helpful people. I have posted a few pictures, though, in honesty, I was so busy I had very little time for phototaking.

My room.  SWANKY

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View from my room.  I should have taken one at night.  It was very pretty.
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 All dressed up for the President's Gala.  (See that orange bag?  Yeah, that's Kate Spade.  I won it!  WOOT!  Also, feel free to be jealous now)
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 Michele from Indianapolis and I smiling because we both have Hair-Envy for each other.  I love the natural curls she's got.
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 Ok, so the gala was getting a bit dry, so I made some napkin origami.  The crane's head wouldn't stand up though, so I was propping it... later on it accurately resembled Looney Toons roadkill.

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One of the booths at the exhibit hall had a caricature artist so we all got our pictures done.  This was the next day, hence the different outfits. 

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Those are about all of the photos I took though.  I wish I had taken more and had more time to look around Indy, but from what I did get to see it seemed like a really pretty city.  I'm glad to be heading home though, it will be nice to see Brad.  It's been a while! 

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Update: flight is delayed in Pearson.  Sigh.  This is the second time I've found myself sitting in this airport facing a delay.  And I've only flown through here three times.  So far, not super good odds.

Playing around wtih some photography

I've been dabbling a little in photography.  These are some of my better shots.  Yes, most of them are of Ollie.  What can I say?  He's always around and oh so cute!!

Birthday BBQ!

I didn't realize Brad was having a bbq for me for my birthday until I went inside and smelled potato salad.  Up until that point I thought he had just tidied the backyard, put out the fire pit and put up the gazebo.  But he had definitely planned a bbq for me!  Friends from work and family came by the wish me a happy birthday and help me ring in 30 (though it won't be for a few days yet).

After the bbq, once it got dark enough, we started a bonfire in the backyard.  It was a really wonderful time all around and I was so, so spoiled!

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The scene of the event, before anyone arrived.

 Karlene baked me a cake, complete with cream cheese butter cream icing and fondant decorations!  (Top layer was carrot cake, bottom was a butter chocolate...DELICIOUS)

I so didn't want to cut it!  The owl was too cute!

 And Rob stopped by with Alex who was very interested in my scooter.  I started it for him and let him honk the horn.  He also like to crank the throttle to hear it roar.

Fun and Adventures

It was a weekend of camping, zip lining and rock climbing as we celebrated our Nation's Birthday last weekend (by taking an extra day off! woot!!). Brad and I went camping with two other couples to the Cypress Hills Interprovincial park. It's becoming somewhat of a tradition (does two years consecutively count as "tradition"?) to go camping over the July-Long.
So, as is becoming the tradition and theme of my blog, here are some photos from the weekend:

Ollie was all cuddled up, so Sonny (far left) and Mona (middle) decided they wanted to be lap-dogs too

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 Ollie assumes that because there is a plate at nose level, those sausages should be his.  Obviously.
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