Tow The Line!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

So, Kevin is really enjoying his work.  The staff he works with are very nice and he has an assistant who has been awesome and very helpful to him.  She has been helpful with getting office supplies that he needs and is reliable and accommodating.

Only one thing...  Kevin will have to behave himself around her at all times.  She is a former police officer!!!

Behave Kevin!!!

Calgary, TX!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

I guess we have accents down here.  As we are talking with people, some have been asking where we are from because of our accents.  When we told a lady we were from Calgary, she thought we were from Calgary, TX.  Can you believe it?  There actually is a small city called "Calgary" in the San Augustine county in Texas.  I googled it, but could not find too much about it.  Calgary, TX is about half way between Houston and Dallas and just a little to the East.

Check out the link and zoom out to see it's location between Houston and Dallas:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Calgary&state=TX

Calgary, Alberta is the BEST!!!

Sticky Business...

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

Does anyone else out there have a problem with the sticky labels that are pasted on newly purchased items???  I personally hate them and wish they would ban all sticky labels.  I really like the ones that come off in one piece with no sticky residue left behind as an annoyance.  I even like the ones that are attached with that rubbery glue that is fun to play with once you "roll" it off the item... again no residue!

Maybe you will all agree with me when I say that "guys" created these really sticky labels.  They did it so that they can drive women insane trying to clean the sticky crap off.

We have bought some new stuff here and, of course, everything had really sticky labels. I do have a product that I use to get the labels/residue off which works wonders and there are no scratches left on the item.  However, this product is sold in the hardware stores (Home Depot) - yes, that's right... a "guys" store!!!

So the "guys" create the sticky labels and they make more money by selling the Goo Gone to get the sticky crap off!!  Great plan!!!

Amazing Stuff!!!

Notice they sell it in 10 Gallon bottles!!!

Goo Gone!!!

Canadian Visitors!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

I had a few visitors drop by the other day.  It sure made me miss home.  I love these guys!!!

Yes, a flock of Canadian Geese flew over our back yard the other day.  I think they were heading to the pond not far from our house.  I really hope they come back for a visit.  It was a nice welcome to Dallas!!!

  

Oh Canada!!!

Boys & Their Toys!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

So when Kevin is home in the evenings and weekends, he is always busy puttsing around.  He drives me crazy...  oh, ya, I'm already crazy.

However, he is enjoying driving his sweet 2011 vehicle which his company has leased for him.  This vehicle is a dream come true for Kevin.  Finally, he got his wish and is driving a BMW!!!  Kevin's in heaven!!!

Vroom Vroom!!!

It's All About The Game!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

We are finding out a bit about what makes Dallas tick...  It truly is all about what game is on TV or in town.  The best time to go shopping is when a game is on.  The stores are dead!!!

The best time to stay off the roads is when everyone is going to the game.  Apparently, some folks have missed the first part of the game because they were stuck in traffic!!!

Merchants believe that if you buy a new game shirt or new team paraphernalia, that the team will win!!!  We have not been converted yet, but time will tell.

Go Flames Go!!!

Be Afraid... Be Very Afraid!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

Yes, there are some little critters here that give me the heebee geebees!!!  I have a plant in a planter in the back yard that has two geckos in it that I have seen so far.  As long as they stay where they are and don't jump on me, I'll be fine.  We are starting to get used to each other and I guess they are good to have around as they eat bugs!!!  Eat away!!!

Bugs Be Gone!!!

A Dog's Day in Dallas!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

There are some great things in our back yard that our dog - Cosmo - would love!  He loves to chew the wood mulch at home and we have some here too.

A Cosmo Day in Heaven!!!

If Cosmo had his way here, he'd chow down on some wood mulch and then rip his "hoodie" off and dive into the pool for a swim.  Doesn't he look like he wants to GO FOR IT?

Me and My Hoodie in Calgary!!!

   

After Cosmo's swim, he would love to go for a walk in the park and maybe even take another splash in the pond.  The park and pond are just down the block from our house.  I can't wait to go there for a walk with Kevin when we have some free time.

A Dog's Day in Dallas, Indeed!!!

Tid Bits...

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

So, we are enjoying our time here and the great weather (this time of year).  I just called the Dentist in Calgary to update our Dental Provider and spoke directly with my dentist (reception is closed on Fridays).  He asked how we are doing and told me that it was 23 C. in Calgary yesterday and snowing today!!!  Oh My Gosh!!!  It is currently 22 C. with a high of 31 C. for the next couple of days.  Then it gets really cold and drops to 25+ C. for later next week.  Hmmm....  I am not sure if we'll be able to stand the cold here...

Tid Bits to Ponder...

• Power Bar for Computer - Store clerk had no idea what we were talking about.  Suggested we were hungry and needed to eat an energy bar - Power Bar.  Go figure!
• Furnace & Hot Water Tank - We searched the entire inside/outside of the house looking for the furnace and hot water tank.  Unseemly to us, they are both located in the Attic (the last place I was going to look).  HOISH!!!  Who would have thunk?
• Ma'am - I have been called Ma'am more times than I can count (or care to remember) since we have been here.  Very polite, but I feel like I've aged 20 years.  Takes some getting used to...
• New Pet - Yes, we have a new pet named "Spot".  He lives under the mailbox and freaks me out every time I check the mail.  "Spot" is a little spotted Gecko.  He also has a couple of friends who live in a plant/planter in the back yard.  They are really harmless, but they freak me out because they move faster than the eye can follow.  OK - where did he go???
• Mail Truck - Not much bigger than a very small jeep delivers the mail to our mail box.  They even deliver on Saturdays!!!  Gotta love it!!!

          

          It's lil ol me.  Yes, Ma'am!!!

"Spot"

Yes Ma'am.  Thank you Ma'am!!!

Enough Already !!! ???

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

Don't you hate it when you think you have completed everything you needed to do before taking a trip somewhere and then major crap happens?  Well, we thought we did everything we could before we moved to Dallas to make sure our Calgary home was in tip top shape.

Our sons (Aaron 23 and Brandon 19) remain in Calgary taking care of everything Kevin and I would normally do.  The only thing in the immediate future was to make sure the roofers showed up to put new shingles on the house/garage.  Easy peasy!!!

However, not so...  Here's what happened in Calgary while we were experiencing our first week in Dallas.

• Jeep - Needed to be booked in for new brakes as this was noticed after we were dropped off at the airport.
• Furnace - Making weird noises, booked the furnace guys in, they had to order a new part, booked them to come back and fix it.
• Huge Flying Ants - Aaron came home to huge flying ants inside the front door and foyer (too many to count according to Aaron who is afraid of spiders, so I'm thinking ants too?).  Found a bunch more at the bottom of the stairs. Vacuumed them up, discarded the bag, called the exterminator and booked them in a few days later.  Gross!!!
• ADT Emergency - Exterminators sprayed quite heavily in an area sensitive to the alarm system.  So, while Aaron and Brandon (and Cosmo) were outside raking leaves (yes, Cosmo helps too), we got an emergency call in Dallas with ADT telling us that the alarm was going off in the house as a flooding sensor was alarmed in the basement.  HOISH!!!  This obviously was from the exterminators spraying.  Aaron and Brandon had to reset the alarm system with the ADT rep.

Could anything else possibly go wrong so soon?  Let's hope we're good to go for a long time!!!

Great Job - Aaron & Brandon!!!

Stage 3: Adios Apartment - Hello House!!!

Hello Fellow Blog Followers,

Today we are moving out of the apartment completely.  It will be nice to be in the house and away from the noisy downtown.  We spent 12 hours yesterday running around and trying to unpack our Calgary stuff from the movers, but still have a lot to do.

As this is the Canadian Thanksgiving, I am sure you all are enjoying ham, turkey and all the trimmings!!!  We might have to celebrate the US Thanksgiving as I will not be making  a turkey dinner this weekend.

Have an extra piece of pie for us!!!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!!

Directionally Challenged !!!

Hello Blog Followers,

As many of you may know, I am extremely directionally challenged.  So, to say the least, there was a hint of panic and fear to make the drive from the apartment to the house in Plano to meet the movers (Calgary stuff).  OK, to be honest, I was really apprehensive and quite nervous!!!


I managed to make it all the way there with only one small error - turned right too quickly, had to turn around and get back on track.  HOISH!!!  I was really happy to have arrived at the house after travelling over 35 miles on the Freeway (4 lanes each way and sometimes 5 & 6 lanes).  I am now patting myself on the back and Kevin is probably relieved as well.


I made an error on the trip back home to the downtown area - missed a turn as I was not far enough over for the right hand turn.  YIKES!!!  So, I knew I was in the right area and just drove around the apartment community until I found my little apartment.  Yes, I made it home unscathed!!!

Moral of the Story:  I now have a new best friend!!!

My previous best friend was (the "Undo Icon" on my computer for all the mistakes I make):

My new best friend is (the GPS Navigator in the Jeep):

Hey Baby:  Which way do you want to go?

Safe & at Home in the Apartment!!!

Stage 2: On the Move... Calgary Stuff Has Arrived!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

Our Calgary stuff is being delivered today.  Yipee!!!

So, Kevin is at work and I'll be heading out into the traffic to find my way from the apartment to the house for the first time!!!  Pray the GPS will guide me all the way there. I am hoping I can make it there without breaking down - me crying that is - not the Jeep!!!

Wish me luck!!!

Driving in Dallas!!!

Stage 1: On the Move... Rentals Arrive Today!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

We have been busy this past week trying to pick out rental furniture and managed to stay within the allowed budget!!!  However, we did not have enough $$$ to furnish the whole house.  So, there is a huge "games" room area upstairs that will remain empty.  The room is so big that you could easily do cartwheels across the room (I have been tempted, but my age is holding me back!).

This is stage one.  Once we get the furniture set up, I will need time to buy a couple of essentials, then we'll move out of the apartment this weekend - Oct. 9th and 10th. Yippee!!!

No Sweat!!!

Happy Moving Days Ahead!!!

Trivia... Answer & Winner!!!

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,

Well, we finally have a winner.

• Question:  What TV Show was filmed here?
• Answer:    Dallas!!!  (For the young people, this was an evening soap opera starring characters of The Ewing Family - Bobby & Pamela, JR & Sue Ellen, Miss Ellie, etc.)
• Winner:    Miss Julia Giglio (one of my best friends!!!)
• Prize:       Free Entry to tour the Southfork Ranch where the TV show "Dallas" was filmed (I'll pay the Admission/Entry fee).  This prize also includes "Free Accommodations", but the flight is at Julia's own expense.

            

You might ask yourself - Why did I pick that prize?  I picked the tour of the Southfork Ranch because our home in Plano is just a mere 5 minute drive away!!!

Congratulations Julia!!!

Trivia...

Dear Fellow Blog Followers,


The first person who emails me with the correct answer to this question wins a prize!!!  I am not telling what the prize is until it has been won.

• What TV Show was filmed here?

I will announce the "Blog Follower Winner" on the next posting.  Stay tuned...

Congratulations ???!!!

We Hit the Jackpot!!!

Dear Blog Followers,


Any one up for a poker game???

Must be our lucky number!!!

Yes, we looked at houses on Tuesday (Sept. 21), found a nice one, saw it again on Thursday (Sept. 23rd) and filled out our application for lease.  Friday (Sept. 24th), the realtor called and said the home was ours!!!  We finalized the lease paperwork on Wednesday (Sept. 29th).  How quick was that with a possession date of October 1, 2010!!!


We will not be able to move in that quickly, but at least we can stop looking as we can stay in the apartment for a month.  I think we will be out of here as soon as we can arrange for rental furniture to be delivered to the home and then the movers will be able to deliver our stuff from Calgary.  Ya Baby!!!


Our new address will be at:  Blackjack Oak Lane.  Plano, TX, USA, 75074-7790.  We won't have a phone number until after we move in and get settled.


Click on link below for Web Pics (may not be online much longer).


            Click Link ==>  Pictures of 3908-Blackjack-Oak-Lane

Poker Anyone???

The Rath Men Take on Phoenix!!!

Hello Blog Followers,


So, if you think it is bad enough to have a "Rath" around, feel sorry for Phoenix.  Kevin and his 5 brothers are there from Friday through Monday for some brotherly male bonding. I think they are just trying to get away from the "Rath" women!!!  In any case, Kevin could use the break away from the stress he's been going through for several months.

Phoenix at Night...  Pretty Sky!!!

I, on the other hand, will be in the small apartment all weekend with some plans to take a long walk through the neighborhood.  Maybe I'll find a quaint coffee shop.  Hmm...  Maybe I'll find some great shopping.  I must remember to take the plastic.

A Quiet Time for Me in Dallas...

It's a Small World

Good Evening on this Lovely TGIF,

Yesterday, Kevin went down to the main floor (we are on the third) to the apartment's Business Centre.  They have two computers, printer/scanner, and a few tables in case tenants need to use them.

Kevin met a guy who asked if he was from Canada.  Hello!!!  How could you not tell that Kevin was from Canada???  It was really quite obvious.  Kevin was proudly attired in one of his favorite wardrobe items - a "free" Canadian Beer Shirt (just one of many that he owns)!!!  How obvious is that!!!

After conversing with this guy, the guy said he had just met one of Kevin's colleagues from BG just the other day.  She was transferred here from the UK, but was a native Calgarian.  Kevin did not know her from the BG Calgary office, but will have the opportunity to meet her here soon.

You just never know.  Maybe Kevin knows her from the oil patch in Calgary?  It can be a very incestuous industry.

Nothing else new.

Enjoy the Weekend!!!

In the Dark!!!

Dear Devoted Readers,


Another long awaited event finally happened!!!  We ordered a new Jeep back in January to be picked up back in February and we were finally able to get it on Wednesday (Sep 22nd).  Yippee!!!


On our way to pick up the Jeep, we were on a major road just before we turned into the dealership.  McCallum Boulevard!!!  Yes, unbelievable!!!


However, by the time we were done with the car salesman, it was dark.  I have never driven in Dallas (with all the tollways and freeways), but we were on the road heading back to the apartment in the dark (I was driving the new Jeep, following Kevin in his rental vehicle).


Needless to say, it was a little nerve racking for me (not for Kevin) even though we did not take the freeway or tollway.  We made it home safe and sound without a scratch!!!


Kevin went out to the parkade to get the manual.  I wondered why he was taking so long and just thought he was sitting in the Jeep playing with all the bells and whistles.  Time passed and he returned to the door.  He had locked himself out (forgot to take his keys - hee, hee).

Sweet Ride!!!

Wanna go for a Ride?

Trying to Get up to Speed !!!

Hello Friendly Blog Followers,


This will hopefully bring everyone up to speed on where we are at now.


Kevin started his job on Monday, Sept. 20th while I stayed at the apartment doing some multi-tasking which I love.


I was busy trying to set up my laptop experiencing difficulties in email and limited access.  I dealt with a couple of maintenance guys who dropped by to fix the threshold at the apartment door.  I was in contact with the property management as well as our realtor to get things moving.


One main concern for Kevin was to try to find the sports stations on TV.  I also did some channel browsing to find some favorites.  The cable here is not great at all... bare bones.  However, this is temporary - right?


On Tuesday, we looked at some lease homes.  One nice one that we liked, but the rest were axed.  Our realtor suggests to "name" the houses after seeing them.  Here are the names of the axed homes:

• House #1 - "The Dog Pee House" - Gross!!!  Also full of clutter (not staged very well).  Axed!!!
• House #2 - Quite nice.
• House #3 - "The Puke House / Stinky" - Even more Gross!!!  There was all kinds of gross pukey looking stuff spewing out of the bathroom sink, splashed all over the counter/mirror, and on the floor.  Also found the same stuff in another bathroom (sewage problems???)  Double Axed!!!
• House #4 - "Stinky" - Not too bad, but had a funny smell.  Triple Axed!!!

...  And the Search Continues...

Arrival Day in Dallas

Hello again!


Well, we really had no problems with our flight here, picked up a rental car, and drove to our temporary housing (a 661 sq. ft. apartment).


When we got to the apartment at around noon, we found the lock box that had our key fob to open the front gate/door and the key to our apartment.


Only one small problem, the key fob did'nt work and so we could'nt get in to even try the key to the apartment.

After several phone calls, we sat and waited (in the shade) on the front step of the apartment building for some help to arrive.  It was only 96 degrees F. and we were getting quite hot - jeans sticking to our knees, sweat rolling down, and the "hair do" a muck (Kevin's too - he was really having trouble with his "bangs").


After 2 hours of waiting, a tenant let us in the building!!!  Luckily the key to the apartment worked!!!  Inside the apartment were more key fobs that worked to get us in the gate/door, parkade, etc.  All was well.


PS - We later found out that our mail box keys did not work either which have since been replaced.  Hoish!!!

Thank goodness Day 1 was almost over!!!