Updates

Greetings all,

Since the Christmas holidays K and I haven’t really had a chance to update the blog. And it’s not that some noteworthy events haven’t transpired so I thought I could write an update post today bringing things back up to date. This might come out a little random.

It’s been a birthday blitz the last while. I think the majority of our friends, and family have birthdays between the late Dec and the end of March. Consequently it’s a time of year where there is certainly no shortage of reasons to get together and celebrate. It starts off in Dec with Mrs. Kerstin Hurd and the infamous Mr. Brendan Bianchini. Then in January we have mine. With Feb it picks up a bit with my Dad on Feb 12th, Greg Tychon on Feb 17th (we were just in Calgary for his 30th birthday surprise party), then it’s the always exciting, Jon “Fireball” Hagan on Feb 19th. Last, but not least is Kirsten’s sister Megan on Feb 28th. March is the grande finally though with Mr. Ken Hurd on March 11, March 12th is my Grandma Wilson’s (97 this year!!!! And it sounds like, although K and I won't be able to be there, it’s going to be a big party in Bellevile) and then the next day is Mr. Eric Tam on March 13. A Miss Laurie Keehn is next on March 27th and then the very next day we have Mrs. Kirsten Smart on March 28th. That’s a lot of birthdays in a pretty short time, and I am sure I am probably missing a few. At any rate, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to everyone!

Besides birthday parties, K and I have been keeping busy. She’s teaching 4 days a week at the U of A, and working 2 days a week for Advanis. I’m still at the Oilers and having fun there. I only wish they weren’t on the verge of missing the playoffs this year. After last season, who would have guessed…

Outside of work, K and I are still going to the dojo on a regular basis, 3-4 days most weeks. It’s going really well. Kirsten could be up for another promotion in the next month or so.

I’ve been training pretty religiously the last 3-4 months for the up-coming Adventure Race/Mountian Bike season as well. I’ve been riding the stationary bike 2-3 days a week, keeping up with a weight routine for my legs and running stairs. I think, if things continue, that this spring promises to be the first season I am actually going to start out in the kind of shape I always hope to be in. Let’s hope I keep it together.

On the house/condo front, things are still up in the air. As many of you will know, K and I have been looking to buy something since the fall, but in the Edmonton market, where people are buying sight unseen, with multiple bidders on properties and sellers are getting more than their asking prices, this has proven difficult. We’re still hopeful though that we’ll find something, eventually.

Other news, Kirsten’s sister Nicole is still in India and loving it. We get regular updates on her adventures and are living vicariously through her. Tyler and Carla are also still abroad, living in SouJou China. Carla is teaching at an international school and they're having a great time. Recently they were off in Thailand basking on the island beaches of Ko Chang.

My brother Darryl was in Seattle for a week or two last month on training for a new project. He’s still in Toronto, working for Honeywell and living the big city life. My Dad was just out there actually and had a great time. They ate at the Barbarian Steak House, played pool and battled it out at the poker table. They’re both getting too good for me.

Graeme and Myra are still in the UK. Myra is working on her Master's there and Graeme is working for Mini Cooper and loving the ‘British’ life. They spent Christmas in Paris, and I think they should be in Italy right now on term break. Doesn’t sound like they’re doing too badly does it?

Dave and Jody, who not that long ago moved to Winnipeg when Dave took a new position with CN, just had their second baby!!! A beautiful healthy baby girl. The Lilley family just keeps growing :-)

So, I think, that’s most of it. A bit of news about us, and of those around us. I no doubt missed a bunch, but I’ll catch up with that on a later posting.

Cheers!